Happy Birthday Jayla!

2 days old

About 8 months

1 year old

2 years old

My beautiful baby girl turned 3 today. How I love this adorable face. Jayla arrived pretty much on time and giving birth to her was the hardest thing I've ever done in my life. My labor was 12 hours long and I pushed for 1 hour before she finally arrived. I was completely changed forever after that moment. I remember exactly how she looked the first time I saw her. The thing that caught my eye first were her big dark brown eyes. I had never seen eyes so dark on a newborn baby. She had just enough black hair and the most gorgeous skin. The doctor had to use the forceps on her but she barely had a mark. She was perfect. Jayla was such a good baby and hardly ever cried and I'm not just saying so because I can't remember. She really was such a sweet, content baby. Oh what the little young person she is becoming. She is so smart! And she has such a caring nature. Some of her favorite things right now are Dora the Explorer, coloring, making crafts, playing at the park, and pretend cooking. She makes me laugh everyday with something she says or does. I'm so happy that she has chosen us as her family. I love you my Sweet Pea! Happy Birthday!

Birthday Post Coming Soon

I know its been a while since I've last posted. We had Jayla and Blake's birthday party last week and I still need to post some pictures and stuff about that. They had such a great time and loved all of the presents they received. They were excited to finally get some new toys. Its been great for me because they have been easily entertained this week. We're switching apartments this weekend so as soon as I feel a little settled I will post some more pictures. Until then...

My Little Man Blake

Blake at 2 weeks old.

Blake at 3 months old. WOW!! What a difference!

6 months old.

1 year old

Today was my little guy's birthday. He was the biggest surprise that I've ever gotten but he also was the best. All day I've been reminiscing about this day two years ago. Blake surprised us again by coming five weeks before his due date. I remember that I saw my mom the day before on Monday, Memorial Day, and she told me that I better not deliver soon and I told her that I was far away from it. Wouldn't you know it, I started having steady contractions the next morning. They were only 3-4 minutes apart by the time I got to the hospital and the nurses checked me and said I was definitely having a baby that day. Twelve hours later and with one push he had arrived. As a mother you'll always have that image etched in your mind of the first time you see you children. Blake was so tiny and red all over. He had the sweetest lips (still does) but didn't have much hair and no eyebrows at all and he was the most beautiful boy I'd ever seen. He was letting out good healthy screams and appeared to be just fine. He weighed in at 5lbs 4oz and was 17 1/4 in long. I was lucky enough to hold him afterwards but disappointed that it wasn't for very long. He was having difficulty breathing and he needed to be monitored. He stayed in the hospital for a couple more days than what is normal for some testing to see why he cam so early but they all came back fine. How blessed we were!

He is such a pure joy to me and he's such a good brother. He shares with his sister so well and always tries to make her laugh. He's always been on the shy side but I see the comedian coming through. Blake loves his Papi and likes to look at pictures of him when he's not around and he is head-over-heals for his grandpas. He just tugs at my heart so much and it's difficult to describe all of my feelings for him. We are so blessed to have this little man in our family. We would not be complete without him. Happy Birthday my Blakey!

Something of Everything

Daniel made it back to us and it is unbelievably wonderful to have him home. He had a great visit with his family and its always bittersweet when he comes back. He loves his born country Uruguay and takes such pride in it and it's people but he knows it doesn't hold the opportunities that he wants for his family so at times he is very torn. The kids think its great to have him home and every time he leaves they get a little worried and ask, "Papi coming back?" When he got back into work Jayla kept asking that all day. I hope that we haven't traumatized them. I am so relieved to have my best friend, my partner, my man, my husband home.
The picture above is Blake giving Daniel a big kiss right when he got home. We were outside waiting for our friend to drop off Daniel from the airport and when he got out of the car I told Blake it was Papi. Blake didn't quite believe me at first. He kinda took his time walking up to him and scoped him out the whole way to make sure it was really him.

I wish that this picture would have turned out better. My camera doesn't do well with motion and I should have stopped walking but I think that you still get the essence of the picture. Jayla took off running when she saw him and gave hime a big hug and kiss and showed him her Ariel ball.

This is what we did while we waited for Daniel. I was getting antsy and I needed something to distract me. The kids love writing on the sidewalk and its a great way to be creative and not get messy. The chalk washes off the sidewalk when the sprinklers come one and wipes easily off the clothes. Plus, the kids get to be outside. What could be better?

Jayla is wearing the same shirt but its a different day. We made kites one day when Blake was taking a nap and she was bored. I think its so funny how dependent she is on Blake as her playmate already. She doesn't know what to do with herself if he takes a long nap. The flowers we made earlier as you can tell from them curling petals but she loves to show off her masterpieces with everyone who comes to our home.

We cut Blake's hair about three weeks ago. We did it while Daniel was gone because he didn't want me to do it. This is only Blake's second haircut. I did a faux-hawk and I was trying to get a good picture but he wouldn't hold still. It's already too long to do it like this without it looking too crazy. I want to cut it some more but Daniel says absolutely not. I don't get this thing that he has with hair. He never wants anybody to get a haircut. Maybe I'll get Blake's done again and just won't tell him about it and see if he notices it. I always say I'm not going to tell him and then I do. I'm bad at keeping secrets from him.

Check This Out!

Isn't this hilarious!? I found it on the website www.awkwardfamilyphotos.com Check it out if you want a great laugh.

So I've been two weeks without Daniel and I have two more weeks to go. Hopefully these last two will go faster than first two. Everybody who has been apart from their husband told me that, "Sorry, it doesn't get any easier." It actually has for me. The first week was the hardest. Every little thing reminded me of him. I dreaded washing his clothes because I didn't want to think about him and things like that. I still think about him a lot but am not saddened when I do. Of course I still do have my moments when I'm a little overwhelmed. I don't know what I would do without my Heavenly Father listening to me at night, in the morning, and everywhere else in between. He has provided me with much comfort. It really is a blessing that Daniel is in Uruguay now because two days before he left his sister called him and told him his dad was in the hospital and it didn't look good. Daniel has never had a relationship with his dad so I doubt he would have made a special trip to see him. This is good for Daniel that he can be with him and say his goodbyes. His dad's liver is shutting down and the doctors don't give him much time. He lays in a hospital bed and is given so many drugs that he sleeps most of the time. I am saddened for him but at this point it will be a blessing when he passes. Everyone else in his family is doing well and he's enjoying his time with them. Hopefully soon we will all be able to go on the trip together because I really do love my in-laws and neices and nephews and I miss them. Un beso!

Family Photos

My friend Amanda Yates Laing has become a very talented photographer and I was able to schedule an appointment with her to update our family pictures. I am so happy with how they turned out! This is just a sampling and I will be getting more soon and when I get them I'll be sure to post them. These pictures were taken at the Ogden Botanical Gardens and if you would like to check out more of Amanda's work, or schedule an appointment, her blog is http://www.amandalaingphotography.blogspot.com/

I've also changed the kids' pictures on the side and added one.