Happy New Year!

1. What did you do in 2009 that you'd never done before? Went to Disneyland by myself!
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year? This last year was to take it slow and steady since I had a new baby. For 2010 I want to get back in shape.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? In 2008, yes, me, and 3 good friends. We all had baby girls. In 2009 a wonderful kindergarten teacher at my school did to a beautiful baby boy.
4. Did anyone close to you die? No one close to me, but sadly family from close friends.
5. What countries did you visit? No countries or other states this last year, but we did go to Yosemite and it was beautiful!
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? To get our finances in order because we might be taking a huge pay cut and that will not be good for our two teacher family income. We had thought about sending our oldest to Catholic High School, but we will have to wait and see.
7. What date from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? April 18th, 2009 because that is the day the Squiggler was baptized and the Tejedas became our compadres. They are very special to us and it is good to have them as family now!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Being a mom to 3 beautiful girls that are completely different. And being the teacher to 5 of my collegue's children. I am so honored and touched that they chose me to be the teacher of their children. I hope I don't let them down.
9. What was your biggest failure? Not being organized at work! It’s driving me crazy, but because I leave right after work to pick up my oldest daughter and pump during my breaks, I never have time to organize. I hope to do better in 2010.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? No! Thank you God!
11. What was the best thing you bought? Hmmm? Haven’t really bought anything. I’ve received some great gifts.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? My girls!! My two older daughters are just the greatest! They are both straight A students and get compliments from their teachers. I am so proud of them because they are good sisters to each other and to Squiggler.
13. Where did most of your money go? To Squiggler! We had to get all new things because we had given everything away. Some things we bought used, but it was still new to us.
14. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Having a new baby in the house and being able to really enjoy being a mom to a newborn. I cherished every minute with her and still do. I know it goes by so fast and just want to take it all in one step at a time. No rush!
15. What song will always remind you of 2009? I've Got A Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas
16. What do you wish you'd done more of? Exercise, keep my class organized and keep my faith in the right place.
17. What do you wish you'd done less of? Getting involved in other people’s drama. I am the mother of 3 and I don’t have time for all that.
18. How did you spend Christmas? With my beautiful family. Christmas day was low key, but oh so wonderful and peaceful.
19. Did you fall in love in 2009? Yes with my wonderful hubby, my beautiful daughters and my awesome class of Kindergarteners.
20. What was your favorite TV program? Say Yes to the Dress and Gray’s Anantomy.
21. What was the best book you read this year? I did not read one book for myself this past year. I did like Moo Baa La La La. Love that book!
22. What was your greatest musical discovery? I don’t think I had one except that my daughter has really learned to play the violin well and I love to hear her play.
23. What did you want and get for Christmas? Gift cards so I can buy myself a new outfit. I seriously had not bought myself any clothes since the dress for the baptism in April.
24. What was your favorite film of this year? The Proposal with Sandra Bullock. (it's actually the only movie I saw all year except for the two movies I saw this past week and that's only because it was my bday present)
25. What did you do on your birthday? I went to Disneyland with the Squiggler and met my friend Mrs. Pooh there. We had a great time!!
26. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Staying strong and not losing my faith. I have it, but it’s not at the level that I want it to be.
27. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? This year because I was nursing it had to be easy access for the Squiggler. LOL!
28. What kept you sane? My faith!
29. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? Ellen De Generes. She is always so happy and so giving!
30. What political issue stirred you the most? I stayed away from politics this year, but it just irks me on how the Education System is being handled. Our children are our future, but they always seem to come in last.
31. Who did you miss? Someone who I thought was my friend, but it turns out that person never was. That makes me sad.
32. Who was the best new person (people) you met? I haven’t really ever met her, but it would be Kelly from Kelly’s Korner. I think she would be a great friend to have in real life.
33. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009: To trust your instincts. They never let you down!
34. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year: "Everything’s gonna be alright!"
    

Happy Birthday to Me!

My birthday was Monday and I decided to celebrate it at the Happiest Place on Earth. For 2009 they were giving free admission on your birthday and I decided to take advantage of it with my darling Squiggler. (She was free too!) I was a little nervous and first and explained to my two other girls why I wasn't taking them and they understood. (No extra $ after the holidays.) So I ventured out and arrived at Disney at around 8:30 am. We got a great parking space and walked to the park. We had our picture taken right away at the C with Mickey and C for Squiggler's name. Some nice people took the picture for me, but cut off part of the C. Oh well!

As luck would have it, my good friend, Mrs. Pooh was going to be at Disney on that day too and so we met up with her. We got into the park with no problem and they gave me a special pin that said "Happy Birthday". Wow that pin gets you lots of attention! I got sung to 3 times in the first 30 minutes of being in the park. For the rest of the day, everyone was so nice and kept telling me Happy Birthday! We got a silhouette of the Squiggler done right away and then headed to Small World. The Squiggler loved it!! She could not get enough of it and kept swaying her head to the music. We got to sit in the front because it was my birthday and then they gave the Squiggler a pin that said "1st Visit."

We then decide to go to Toon Town and see Mickey. Well with all the excitement the Squiggler fell asleep and so this is what our Mickey pix looks like. I love it!

We then had a great lunch thanks to my wonderful friend Mrs. Pooh and ate at the Carnation Cafe. We stayed to watch the Christmas Parade and Squiggler loved that too! I think she overall really loved Disney and I know she won't remember her 1st visit, but I will. We left the park at around 5 pm and came home to a lovely dinner with my girls and honey. The girls made me a cake and it was so scrumptious! My birthday falls between Christmas and New Years and usually gets lost. This was the 2nd most favorite birthday of my life! (The first being in 1996 when I married my husband in the church and had a church wedding.) Last year I had a "big" birthday, but since I had just had a baby there was no way to celebrate it. This year totally made up for that and it was pretty economical too. Thanks again Mrs. Pooh for a marvelous time. You gave me a present I will never forget! Also thanks to my hubby for letting me go and not trying to talk me out of this crazy idea!

Merry Christmas!

From our family to yours, we wish you the Merriest of Christmases! We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and started the evening by attending the Children's Mass at 5pm. This is the first year that my girls hadn't participated in 9 years! It was nice to sit and enjoy the mass and not worry about the Nativity play and what parts my girls had. Afterwards we went to celebrate with my Sister Cousins. The youngest of my Sister Cousins bought a big house in Valencia and invited everyone to come celebrate with them. It was great! There was so much good food and it was just awesome being surrounded with so many friends and family. There must have been at least 80 people there! The Squiggler was so happy to see my nephew there. (She's in love with him!) Today we spent the day just relaxing. The girls woke us up about 7:20am and we went to see what Santa brought them. He bought Weegie some perfume she wanted, Speedy Cheetah a movie and a promise of what she really wanted to arrive in a few weeks. (He had to special order it) The Squiggler got a musical table to keep her occupied. We had a wonderful day and just snacked on tamales all day. Speedy Cheetah stayed in her new jammies all day. For dinner we had mole and cookies for dessert. It was a glorious day. Celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus and just being together. Tomorrow we are celebrating Christmas with my husbands family and that should be more great food and company! Merry Christmas to all and may the Good Lord bless you abundantly!

The Squiggler is 1!

Oh my! Where does the time go? Our little Squiggler is 1 years old today! Earlier I blogged about her birthstory, but now I want to write about her and all the things that she has learned this month. She has just grown by leaps and bounds this last year and I just can't believe how time flies! It's just like yesterday we brought her home from the hospital!

• Shew can crawl really fast and explore all over the house!
• She has 3 teeth all on the bottom, none on the top.
• She loves to dance and sways her little head to the music.
• She says Hi Dad!, mom, bow wow and baby really clearly.
• She loves to get my cell phone and puts it behind her head.
• She can stand and has even taken some steps, but has not started to walk on her own yet.
• She loves boys and loves to flirt.
• She loves to eat beans and rice!
• She got her first pair of real shoes and wants to take off in them.
• She loved wearing a princess crown for her birthday and did not try to take it off once.
• She loves to hang out with her sisters and just talks and talks to them.
• She loves to be outside.
• She loves our dog and doesn't watch much tv except the other day she wanted to see Beverly Hill Chihuahuas.

Tomorrow she goes to the doctors for her check up and shots. I will post her stats because I am so interested to see how much she weighs. She currently wears a size 3 1/2 shoe and can still fit in her 9 months clothes except for length 12 months looks better. We were so blessed and she got a lot of clothes for her birthday so we are set for the winter. Tomorrow I will try to post about her birthday party.

We love you so much Squiggler! You are such a blessing to us and mommy firmly believes that God sent you to us! Thank you God!

The Squiggler's Birth Story

One year ago today I went to my prenatal appointment with the head of OBGYN. I also had my non stress test that morning too. There were no signs of baby on the way and I was only 1 week away from my due date! The doctor said that we had to schedule me to be induced! I did not want to be induced! I wanted my Princess to come on her own! But it wasn’t up to me, it was what the doctor said was best for the baby. I was scared to say the least because I had heard so many horror stories about being induced. Doctor checked the appointments at the hospital and scheduled me to come in at 4:00pm Saturday, December 6, 2008. He said I could eat a light lunch, but not to eat anything after noon. I had wanted to go to my friend Almita’s daughter’s Quince Anos, but that was not going to be possible. I stopped by my work to tell everyone that Baby was going to be making her big arrival that weekend! I walked all around the school and got everything ready that I could think of for my sub. I went home and had a nice evening with my family and was worried about what to do with my girls. My mom had a party to go to on the night of the 6th and I wanted my husband with me. I asked my tio and tia to take care of them for me. It was just going to be my and my husband at the hospital. That night I stayed up later then my family, watching TV and writing thank you cards for baby shower gifts. I didn’t feel well so I decided to go lay down. It was about midnight. Well I couldn’t lie down because I was uncomfortable! I decided to use the restroom and it was then that I realized that I was in labor! I didn’t want to worry or wake anyone so I stayed up walking around and making sure my bag was packed for the hospital. I also started writing the times of my contractions and at first they were every 5 minutes apart, and then quickly they moved to 4 minutes and then 2! It was time to wake my husband! I woke him at about 1:00 am and then we woke my mom. We had no where to leave the girls and my mom wanted to go to the hospital with us. The girls wanted to go to so we decided that they would follow us there with my mom. My pains were getting very close together and so my husband and I headed for the hospital with my mom and girls on their way. I tried calling my comadre, but she didn’t answer her phone even though she said she would have it next to her bed. I tried calling my cousin Sister, but she didn’t answer either. I tried calling all the way to the hospital. My husband and I arrived at the hospital at around 1:30 and got checked in and into a room at about 2:00 am. By this time my mom and daughters were there and my cousin was on her way too! (She had been out and had just gotten home!) The nurses said that I was 7 cm dilated and we needed 3 to go! By this time the pain was getting pretty intense and I had to decide if I wanted an epidural or not! I had given birth twice before without one, but this time I wasn’t sure! I prayed for strength to do it again and it was too late for the epidural because I was already at 9cm. Things were happening quickly!! I felt the baby squiggle her way down into position and it was the weirdest feeling. One I hope I never forget. I felt like I was really aware of my body and even though I was scared because it had been almost 10 years since I had done this before, I knew I could do it! (Even though that is not what I told my family at the time!) With my husband and cousin at my side and my mom and girls in the room it was time to push and what seemed like an eternity but was more like 5 minutes….the Squiggler was born!! It was 3:50 in the morning and she came out mad!!! She had been taken from her nice warm cozy sleep and now she was cold and probably hungry. She weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. (only 3 ounces more then her sisters) and had what looked like curly hair. All together her labor was less then 4 hours!! I love having babies!! I think she looked a lot like the Weegie when she was born, but now I think she looks like her sister Speedy Cheetah. She had an apgar score of 9/9 but her blood sugar was low and they wanted to give her a bottle of formula right away. Grandma fed her first bottle. This was probably a result of the gestational diabetes. I was tired, but so HAPPY that my baby was here and she was and is BEAUTIFUL! I know I say this all the time, but she is such a blessing to us! She brings so much joy into our hearts and we love her so much! I thank the Good Lord everyday for picking me to be her mother here on earth. How blessed am I that I have 3 beautiful and wonderful daughters! (That are all so different!) I had wanted to post this right before midnight, but she woke up and barely went back to sleep! More to come later!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are 3 of the things that I am most thankful for!! (My Weegie, Speedy Cheetah and Squiggler) I am also thankful for my wonderful husband, my mom, all of my family (cousins, in-laws, aunts, and uncles), my friends, my house and my wonderful, outstanding, super class! I am also so thankful for our Heavenly Father! Thank goodness God loves us no matter what because he is always so good to me and my family and for that I am ever so thankful!

Yesterday I had a Thanksgiving celebration in my classroom and it was so cute! We arranged our class so that all the tables were together and we could eat as a "family". We had tableclothes, placemats and namecards. We even made pilgrim hats and indian headbands to wear. The children went around the table to say what they were thankful for...we got family, mom, dad, toys and Mario Brothers! You got to love 5 year olds!!!

Today we celebrated with my favorite aunt and uncle and their family. Something wasn't quiet right and I'm not sure what it was, but I am trying to instill in my kids that Thanksgiving isn't just a day to eat, but a day to say Thank you for all the blessings we have been given. My Cheetah girl said the sweetest thing because she often gets it even when I think I'm not doing my job. Life is good and again for that I am so thankful! Thank you God!

Squiggler is 11 months!

11 months! I can't believe it!! Our little Squiggler is growing so fast and in just one short month she will be a year old! She has soooo much personality for such a little thing and everyone always comments on how friendly and sweet she is. As always I took the day off to spend it with her and of course we went to JCP to have her pixs taken. They did such a good job and I just love the outfit she is wearing. It will probably be her Thanksgiving outfit. Check out her boots! She loved them!

At 11 months:

• You still wear a size 2 diaper and size 3 shoe.
• You are about 29 inches long and weigh about 19 pounds. You are long and lean!
• You love to pull yourself and up and can stand by yourself for a little while!
• You crawl so fast and love to explore all over the house.
• You clap and love to be sung to. (Especially Happy Birthday!)
• You have your two bottom teeth. (The first one came in 10/6 and the second 10/30.)
• You can say mama, dada, baby and bye.
• You love your mama, sisters and daddy so much!
• You hang out with grandma all day and love to go outside with her.
• You like to watch the Price is Right and that is probably the only tv you watch.
• You love to flirt with boys and this cracks mommy up!! I wonder where you got that from?
  

• You love music and dancing.
• Your favorite books are Moo Baa La La La and All About Me.
• You like to headbutt people and just hold your little head to other people's and I think this is your way of showing affection.
• You love to eat. We still give you some baby food, but you love chicken, rice, beans, noodles and potatoes.
• You love to play with mommy and sister's hair. In fact you have to be holding my hair before you go to sleep.
• You don't like to sleep in your crib instead you sleep with mommy. Curled up right next to me.
  
  
  Squiggler you are such a wonderful little baby and are so full of life. My friend (Your tia Almita) says that you are that way because you know how loved you are!! I like to think that is so true! You are such a dream come true and being your mommy is such an honor and blessing! You love your sisters and they love you too! They are always willing to take care of you and you love to just hang out with them in their room or the living room. You are always calling to them. We thank God everyday for picking us to be your family! Thank you God we couldn't be more blessed!