Work, laughs and everything in between...

I have this pretty ridiculous idea about father new year. In my wacked out head, mr. New Year is kind of like a social worker. At midnight on December 31st of every year, he passes by and makes a visit. He catches up with you because since he spoke to you last probably a lot has happened!
So I imagine what this wacky conversation with mr. New Year would be like... first he'd point at my belly (a la little robert) and say "again?"... then I'd catch him up on all the things that have happened to us. My new nephew on the way, Lucas is now reading, Tyler is a little wiz who is slowly warming up to the idea of being happy and feeling deserveful of love, my mom is back to school and hoping to work soon, my furry nephew Rigby is gorgeous and an ever constant topic of discussion at our house, we've managed to save money this year, my husband and I are still in love with eachother and still in love with work, in love with our family and our children and probably the happiest we've ever been.
Yeah, the economy sucks, but we are hanging out and hoping to emerge on the other end with as much of our sanity as possible. Everyone is healthy and happy and where God wants them to be. We managed to get away for one big trip, celebrate birthdays and do some fun stuff. Made some big purchases and met some new friends along the way. We've lost touch with some and even lost some others, but we wish them all the best.
Life isn't too drastically different thankfully... but this time of the year also makes you think about next year's conversation and what that will be like. If I could replicate most of the details then I would be thrilled.
It's all so exciting and so scary at the same time. All you can really do is your best. Make smart well thought out choices and always prepare for that rainy day that is sure to come at some point.
So to all my friends, who are all the supporting cast of my crazy ever exciting life... I wish for you contentment... stability and happiness. I hope you are successful at everything you embark on and that you get to live life, not just survive it.
Happy 2009 and so long to 2008!

Lukey's Christmas Debut

We woke up early, and with anticipation in our hearts attended Lucas' very first Christmas show!
We are always proud of our oldest boy, but there's something special about his smile and his excitement that is truly contagious. He appreciates and loves and fills your heart with joy... and who wouldn't wake up early to go and see him?!?!?
Though he picked his nose through most of the show and spent most of the time waving at his mina in the front row while she took pictures, he managed to drag out some pretty funny dance moves.
Hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S5_ubSCTxq0

Mission Accomplished!

It seems like the moment i finished typing that last post, the stars aligned, the saints finished their conference call and my husband was finally listening!
Saturday, the same girl Carlos gave her name to came up with the suggestion that would stick!
CASEY!
Androgenous, short, sweet... 5 letters like her brothers' names... not too girlies, not too boyish and over all, pretty darn cool.
Casey...
It was 3rd on my list of 5... but really, how was I going to sell Harper and Harlow to my mom?
So now we call her by name. Lukey said "that's a good name" and really, his opinion is the only one that matters right?
We are all so anxious for the impending arrival of the member that will complete our family. She will be the crowning achievement and the perfect addition to our already rambunctious crew of freakazoids. One more creature to look at in amazement, to laugh at for her adventurous spirit... two more hands to hold, two more feet to tickle... one more baby to worry about and another bundle of joy to adore more than I love myself.
Meeting her is just around the corner... less than 140 days to go!

4 months to go...

AND STILL NO NAME!!!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

What's in a name? ummm... everything! Your name is an identity, the first thing people hear that leads to a mental image or a perception of someone. A name is yours for the rest of your life!
SO WHY HAVEN'T WE FOUND ONE YET???
How do you find a name that fits all the things you want someone to be!?!?! Girly, smart, important, friendly, likeable, cool. On top of all those things, finding a name that none of your friends has "reserved" for kids they don't yet have... and on top of making sure that it's a name that will bring propesperity and happiness according to the Kabalarians... LMAO!

The #1 question after you tell someone the sex of the baby you're having... SO DO YOU HAVE A NAME PICKED OUT? when the answer is no, this question is usually followed by some pretty HORRIBLE suggestions.
Genevive
Carlotta
Eden
Chayenne
Anabel
Mabel
WHY DIDN'T I THINK OF THAT?!?!
So as these...umm... special names are handed on to me, i always promise to "put them on the list". Only problem is, this list DOES NOT EXIST!
So the search continues... for a name that won't embarrass my daughter on the first day of school... that won't make people think of a stripper when they hear it... that won't have her going by a nickname when she's 80 because old ladies aren't really comfortable with the name "Pixie".
It's a girl! I thought this was going to be sooo easy!

A time to give thanks...

Times are so tough, people are struggling and finding themselves out of work, out of a home, and out of options and ideas. I can't remember the last time there was so much hopelessness and dispair in people's faces. Holiday time is especially hard for people since meals, presents and all the trimmings that come with Christmas and Thanksgiving all require a chunk of what not a lot of people have... the all mighty dollar.
I am lucky enough to be hanging on for dear life this holiday season... and our family is trying to make it out of this alive and retaining as much of our property and valuables as possible. We've been lucky and blessed so far, while still always waiting for the other shoe to drop.
I feel sort of bad being thankful for things other people long for, or for having the fortune others don't possess... but I am very thankful for how God has blessed my life and kept us focused and on the right path.
No matter what your situation is this holiday season... there is always something great to be thankful for. Whether it's your family's health or your own, the fact that you can be together... the mere blessing of having SOMETHING to eat and something to celebrate. There are many out there who have it worst than you... TRUST ME!
If we're not going to be thankful for material things, jobs or family... let's at least be thankful for hope. Because things can always get worse, but they can also get better. I believe if you do your part, God will help you to provide and will give you the wisdom to find your way.

I hope this Thanksgiving is a wonderful one for you and your family. I hope next year's turkey finds you even more at peace and happier than the previous year's did. I hope to still be here to say I am thankful for you... and for all you bring into my life, good and bad... because you are what in turn makes me the person that I am.
Happy Thanksgiving to you... your family... and all the people you hold dear in your heart.

Lions and Tigers and Bears...

I'm very excited. Tomorrow I get the privilege of accompanying my son and his class on his very first field trip!
I am now an officially certified Miami Dade County Public School Chaperone... not sure what that means but I can legally go to the zoo and make sure my son doesn't jump into any of the animal containments.
Lucas is excited too! Not because he's going to the zoo... he's been there before and to him this place is old news. He's excited because for the first time ever, he gets to ride on a school bus. Kids get excited about the weirdest things.
I cross these tiny little milestones, to which some may seem so unimportant, and look back on the short time Luc has been ruling my life and I can't help but feel so OLD! I gotta admit that sometimes I drive around time, both kids strapped into the back seat... and I've got the radio blasting... I look back in the rearview mirror and think OH MY GOD THERE'S KIDS BACK THERE! It's hard to still feel like a kid at heart and think of yourself as the kid still driving the red acura integra and realize you're now the adult that use to drive you around.
I try really hard to be really involved in everything the boys do. I think my parents could have probably done a better job of being a part of my activites, but I don't want my kids to ever say that about me.
I may be a little too clingy... stay too long after the bell rings to make sure Lucas is writing his first and last name correctly... but when I joke around and his school friends laugh, I see the look of pride on my baby's face, and any doubts I have that he may not want me there are gone.
He's a full grown boy that son of mine! He's got the writing of his first and very long last name down packed... he writes in his journal every morning! His drawings are usually about skateboarding with his dad and brother, his mino in his fire station, and his favorite dog Rigby. He's learning to read short words, knows all about animals in Australia and Africa... and is mastering the use of words like awkward, obnoxious and special. He's even learning a prayer to say at Thanksgiving! He still picks flowers for me every morning on our walk to his classroom and he loves looking for worms crawling up the walls in the halls of the school. Our morning drives are full of questions, he now eats his breakfast in the car and loves to come outside on a cold day and tell me how lovely the weather is.
He is big beyond words and I adore him more than I could explain. He is the most AMAZING person I've ever met and truly the man of my dreams.
So tomorrow I will cherish another memory we will make. I can't wait to see his smiling face getting on the bus, and I hope he doesn't get lost... get eaten by an animal or break into anyone's cage. I will be the proud momma, watching over a couple of brats, hoping no one gives me a hard time. WISH ME LUCK!

WHEN WILL IT END?

So i see this is quickly becoming a baby in the making blog huh?
Sorry about that!

This is a great way to vent out my frustrations without dumping them off on my poor husband. And whether anyone reads them or not, it sure makes me feel better!

EEEEneeeeways... There are many lies spread over the internet. The biggest one I recently encountered is "nausea and morning sickness will most lickely cease after your 12th week of pregnancy".
See? I just passed week 16 and that fucker is still around! Today, I had a 2:30 meeting. I sat down and one of my co-workers became alarmed at the Exorcist like looks I was getting on my face... he looked at me and said "you gotta go throw up huh?" to which i nodded to which he yelled (in the middle of the gathering) "just go! what are you waiting for?"
The mad dash began to the bathroom, lunch was exiled... and then, the walk of shame baaack into the conference room with paper towel in hand.
So embarrassing.
So this makes 2... the times i've vomited because of the baby... and considering I can recall only about 5 times i've thrown up IN MY LIFE before baby... the ratio doesn't make sense. What's wrong with me? Maybe i will be one of those freak of nature women who throw up all the way until the day before they give birth!
Gosh I hope not! I haven't got enough medicine to get me through until then! But then again, I had just taken my medicine right before this incident... Useless if you ask me!