Toddler Talk Tuesday

Welcome to Toddler Talk Tuesdays. Tuesday will be a day where I write about my experience it Toddler Land. I'm linking up with Kristen at Rock A Bow , she is doing Toddler Talk Tuesday!. You should link up also if you'd like to share you ever changing experience in Toddler Land.

I want to share something I heard  from Toni Morrison she asked a question that really hit my heart "Does your face light up every time your child walks in the room" I had to think about it and my answer was no. sometimes I am so rushed because we need to leave or I am trying to clean or tend to mason. One of the ways I care for my children is by making sure they are happy and well taken care of. But to children that doesn't mean much to them. They see how we feel by our expressions. I have made a commitment to light up with the biggest cheesiest smile whenever my children walk in the room. Even when he is calling me to his room at 6 in the morning. I take a few minutes to gather myself, I go in and great him so he know he makes his mommy happy.

Yesterday I took Dustin to see Twinkles the clown. It was a beautiful day out and he scored a pair of Roxy glasses. Dustin is just like his dad, he LOVES hats, sunglasses and shoes. All genres he will not discriminate. That really goes to show that our children do watch us closely :)

Dustin loves the rain, but unfortunately we had to change our plans. It's important to keep him entertained so I decided to bake "pupcakes" with him. But first I had to try and get my sandals off of his little feet. lol

While taking a break from cupcakes Dustin decided he would sneak some pictures. I had no idea he took these until right now when i went to upload I see about 5 of these pictures.

 He was such a great help in the kitchen. he was very patient and anxious to eat his "pup cake". Whenever I would take a bit longer doing something he would say "Share mommy, my turn"

 My toddler is so brave, braver than I ever was. Over the weekend we went to Boomers for Arts company picnic. Of course Dustin wanted to participate in the water games, so as mommy I had to step into toddler like and play like a child. Our team won. It was great fun and I am glad I put my adult cap down, and enjoyed this moment with my child.

 Dustin also wanted to go on this big kid ride. I could not handle it because I HATE rides, my stomach is so week. I don't like showing my fear because I want my children to know they can do anything. Art was brave enough to go on with Dustin and half way through the ride my brave lil boy was screaming "I no like it, not nice...PLEASE" I could not help myself from laughing. But that little boy of mine stuck out the whole ride and when it was finished he ran right up to go on again.

 Me and Dustin were able to spend quality time on the carousel. It was a fun time for us. I love seeing my kids smile.

If you know Dustin you know he is pretty dramatic. I wonder where he gets that from?

 I love being able to spend everyday with my children. I have to admit Toddler Land is a lot more challenging then I had ever imagined, but the reward is so worth the "werk".

Happy Mother's Day

I don't know if it's normal but on Mother's day I just want to stay home in pj's and watch chick flicks ALL DAY LONG. This year I told Art I just want to rest but we decided to go to lunch after church. We brought along Long, Crystal and Chevy. WE chose Famous Dave's and thank God we did because there was no wait. The sun was out,  there was a slight breeze, everything was just right! After our walk, we headed out to San Pedro to visit with the Hernandez clan. It was good fun, lots of laughter and food :)  I may not have stayed in my pjs but it was a WONDERFUL day and I was thankful to spend it with my family..

I wanted to share this with all of you moms. Sometime I wonder what am i doing? But when you read a scripture like this it helps me remember that I am doing something right. Proverbs 31:25-29

25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

                       26 She speaks with wisdom,  and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

     27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.


    28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:

     29 “Many women do noble things,  but you surpass them all.”

 I am so blessed to  be a mother to these two. Although it can be rough, challenging and trying, I look forward to each day I have with them.

 We walked around the beach and this band was play....I took this picture because LOOK AT HIS DREADS.....

Hope all of you Mother's out their know how special you are and that everything you do in say in imparted into the tiny hearts and minds of those that call us Mommy. as are children grow older and go through different stages and changes, one thing will remain... Their Mommy :)
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!

Mason's Surgery- Week 1

On Tuesday April 26, 2011, we were up at 4:30 am getting ready to take our baby boy to the Hospital for his first surgery. I don't think Art or I got much sleep, how could we? Every time I closed my eyes I pictured my baby's face would come out looking like something on discovering channel. Black, Blue, and Bloody. I was not sure what to expect.

We arrived at the hospital around 5:30 am. Mason was asleep until he was called in around 6:30 a.m The nurses came to take his vitals and change his outfit, all the while he had a smile on his face. The surgery lasted a little over 3 1/2 hours, surprisingly during that time I was calm and I felt a peace within. I know that was from all of the prayers that our family and friends had been prayer. God definitely heard them because I should have been a wreck.

I was not really sure what to expect after surgery, but this was not what I had expected. As you can see it was very hard for me, because I did not recognize my son. For the last 4 1/2 months I had been caring for this wide eyes wide smile baby and then they bring me this child and say "He needs mommy to hold him". I have to be honest I did not feel like his mommy. I felt that somehow my baby had been swapped.

As you can see this baby looked nothing like Mason. Don't get me wrong he looked amazing, everyone kept telling me so. There was this heaviness that I could not shake, I could not comfort this baby because I was so disconnected from him. He was very swollen from the IV fluids and his voice was different because the tubes had messed with his vocal cords. I expressed my feelings to my mom about how I felt and she said "Mija you need to pray, and you need to talk someone for help" That scared me becasue I knew how serious this could become if I let this fear and heaviness burden me.

She was right I did need to talk to someone. I needed to talk to God. He had always been there before right? I spent most of the night praying and crying and asking God to help me love this child. MY CHILD. After all he was mine. Then at 2 a.m. I hear a little squeal, it was the sweetest sound ever, it was my son's squeal. I went over to him and his eyes were opened wide and he just looked at me with so much love. I knew then that this was the baby boy I carried for 9 months, the baby I rocked to sleep, the baby I loved no matter what his imperfections were. This is MY baby.

Once he meds wore off he  started displaying the behavior of our little monkey. he would try to laugh and smile and of course try to stick his tongue through where his cleft was.

Dustin came to visit mason and he said ' Dr. fix his lip?"

He was very sensitive and wanted to give his baby brother some TLC

Thank God my mom was here for a week to help us. Mason needed to be fed with a syringe and it was very difficult. Working through the pain, and being cautious of stitches made fore very complicated feeding. She was a great help and support to both Art & myself.

After a day in the hospital it was time to bring our baby home! We were a Little scared but were thankful to have him safe and sound with us!

Mason was not a fan of the arm restraints. His first night at home was awkward for him, I don't think he was very comfortable.

Mason managed to have some fun without bending his arms. No worries he soon realized how to remove both arm bands.

Before my mom went home we had a nice celebration lunch at Rain Forest Cafe. It was a great time and I think we all needed a little break.

We decided to allow mason to have the arm bands off a few minutes a day while we were watching him so he could stretch and exercise his little arms

Happy Easter

It's been a tradition since I was a kid to spend Easter with my friend Delia's family. They are some of the best people I know. They all gather at Aunt Josie's and have a HUGE HUNT. Not just eggs. Every family provides a treat that is personalized with a name. You get to search around her HUGE yard for all items with you name :)

       Mason woke up very happy on Easter Sunday! Why not, we celebrate Easter for a very special reason

 Art and I spent the morning sharing with Dustin the Easter story and how its important to us christians because Jesus rose from the dead. Well after all that we ask him "So now do you understand what Easter is?" He nodded his head with great confidence and said "YES!!! EASTER BUNNY" LOL

 Confetti eggs are a tradition. Rosemary saves eggs all year long and does each one by hand. I'm sure its worth all the smiles she gets to see :)

                              Dustin would crack the egg in his hand then sprinkle the confetti on people

                                             Everyone feels special with personalized goodies

                                    There is always a big egg war, this time Boomer was the target.

                                          "More Please"

                               End of the day volleyball game. What a fun way to end a great day!!!!

                                                    Happy 4 months Mason!!!!!!!