On the Perfect Day...

I wake up feeling great with energy. 

I know what I want for breakfast, and I find all the ingredients in my fridge. 

Benjamin eat's all his breakfast. 

I am cool and refreshed all day long. 

Laundry was done yesterday. 

My hair is not a frizz ball. 

Benjamin is happy all day long. 

My house is still clean from yesterday. 

I find something cute and comfortable to wear. 

There is absolutely no need to try and bend over for any reason at all.

I take a nap. 

Grocery shopping was done yesterday. 

Dinner is delivered to the door. 

I go to church. 

My husband offers to give me a foot massage.

My child requests bath time and bed time.

I knock out when my head hits the pillow.

Baby Jay doesn't decide practice karate in my belly at three in the morning. 

So... One day?
What would your perfect day be like?

          Top: Winners, Skirt: Old Navy Maternity, Shoes: Old from F21, Bag: Indigo Chapters. (cool eh? I know) 


Thank you Eunice for these photos.

Fort Building

Since Benjamin and I have been spending so much time together, we have found some creative ways to keep entertained. Since I am in the lookout for a tee-pee or tent for the kid's room, and felt inspired, I decided to make a fort with Benji.

This is our very first fort. 

When Benji woke up that morning, we moved the dining tables chairs and built a simple little fort. It was very plain and basic, but Benjamin had so much fun with that simple fort, that the next day he requested another fort.  This time, however, we were a bit more creative.  I say we are getting good at this fort building business.

Things that happen in the fort: 

There is, of course, your basic fort usages. For example: Movie watching, lounging, nap times, snack times and story times.  These moments are wonderful & tender for every mama. (and dadas too) 

Then, at moments, it becomes a home owned by Mrs. Mama. She is pregnant and makes a living selling Pupusas and Tamales.  Her number one customer is a gentleman by the name of Benjamin, who always stops by after work. She only speaks Spanish, but he understand every word she says. He seems to always responds in English, though, and As you may have imagined, there is a slight communication error in this scenario, and orders often incorrect. Oops. 

When Miss Mama is not living there, the home belongs to Mr. Benj.  I'm not sure what this young man does in his home... I only know he is ALWAYS in need of repairs.  He pretty much spends all his time calling the plumber for overflowing toilets, or the roofer because his roof has flown off or electrician because his house was hit by lightning and is now out of power.  Mr. Benj is also quite popular. Many door-to-door sales people come knocking to offer supplies and fixed hydro rates, and he also gets many visits from faithful evangelists delivering the good news of salvation. Halleluyer! 

It is also place to hold wrestling matches. Personally, I think these matches are rigged because one of the contestants is a giant compared to the other, and the little one always wins. Hmm..

Oh and lastly, I must not forget, it is also a war shelter...where one can hide and spy on enemies with awesome green binoculars. We must not forget we are living at war here, people!!!

These photographs were taken with the smart phone LG G3. 

Right before the move

Dress: Forever21,   Top: H&M,   Shoes: Aldo,  Bag: Danier   Sunglasses: Forever21

We moved. We need more space now that we will be a family of four. Before the dreaded process, however, I took my little man out for a celebration. "Mom, i would like a coffee, and a cookie, please" he requested. It's not coffee, it's hot chocolate. He calls it coffee because it looks like the one mama drinks. I said to him "go sit down and I will bring it to you", he did so very obediently, and chose a small round table for two.

So there we were just him and me chit chatting. He was telling about all his friends, and why they were his friends, and very few selected best friends, besides his mom and dad, of course. He then pointed out the bird across the street, and explained to me how it was trying to find something to eat. If you know my son, you know that he is a chatterbox.

After he was done chatting, He looked at me and said "mom, we should go", and while he packed his cookie he stated "This is for my brother."

I'm not really sure when this growing up happened, but it makes me a little bit more confident that Benjamin is going to be an excellent brother, and the quite the photographer, as he took all the photographs of me. (with a little instruction, of course)

Photographs taken with the Smart Phone LG G3

It's a ...

About two weeks ago, we headed to the "ultrasound of revelation", or so I called it. We were finally going to find out whether it was would a beautiful little girl with amazingly long hair, or a handsome little fellow with good ol'charm. At least that's what one expects.

After what seemed like an eternity of rubbing on my stomach, the nurse finally called my husband in and said "ok let me show you!"  We saw the little angel sucking it's little thumb, the little legs moving around, and then we saw proof of gender...and indeed... It's a BOY!!  

Yes we are having another little boy. Soon we will be having another little one running around and we couldn't be more excited.  We love him already!!  

They days couldn't come faster to meet our Baby Jason. 

There is hope for the future

Being a parent has presented itself to be quite the challenge. Even though you try and do everything right children have a mind of their own, as I am beginning to realize. I’m not exactly sure when my lovely sweet little boy turned into an over-exaggerating-tantrum-throwing-“I’m not your friend anymore”-rude-child-"I threw out everything you have taught me out the window-person-thing .  It may be a phase or the fact that he is three and a half, but I am not too fond of it, and I can only wonder how this child will as he gets older, and if we are actually being fit parents. 

Even though… there are many times when this child sheds some sort of light to our parenting skills.  For example when this above-mentioned-child who has said we are no longer friends walks up to me and says, proceeded with a hug and kiss, “I’m sorry mama, I will never do it again” and “Can we be best friends again?”  :) 

Or the times like the time when he pretends to take the baby out of my belly and takes the baby to the room to play together, and as we head to the laundry room he remembers he forgot the baby in the room, but he’s not worried because the baby is safely in his/her bed playing on the iPad, and we will be right back.

Or like when we were sitting in the balcony and he asks me where outer space is, and I say way past all those clouds and then he asks me if I could buy him a telescope so he can look into outer space.

When the nice man from my building got down from his car to open the door for us Benji was so surprised and said “THANK YOU! Wow mama, he so nice he opened the door for us.  He is a nice boy!”

When are about to eat he says “I will pray by myself… Thank you Jesus for the Food, Amen” or when he extend his arms out as far as he can and says “Jesus loves you this much”

When he forms the church band in our living room and says “Dad you be Isa (pianist), Mom you be Dada (guitarist), and I’ll be Danny (drummer), and proceeds to sing a church song”

When he talks to the people riding the elevator.  NO…actually he talks to everyone in general not just the elevator. He is quite friendly.

When without me having to asks he says "Here mom, have some, I want to share with you" and if I decline he says "I want to share with the baby" 

When he hugs Ruben and me and says we are his best friends and his favorites.
                     
So, I guess this child has more good in him, then I acknowledge.  I guess we are good parents after all!

Ps. Do you see the bandage of his leg? That is a battle wound. 

Benji vs. the ground.

A baby is on it's way

We are excited to announce that we are having a baby, praise the Lord! If you read my previous post, then you already knew this important piece of information. If you didn't know, then SURPRISE! and if you knew already there is no harm in celebrating, once more. (Raise the roof!)

I suspected I was pregnant about 3 months ago.  When I finally got the nerve to take a test, my suspicions were confirmed. Although two positive pregnancy test most likely mean there is a little person growing inside of me, it wasn’t until we saw the ultrasound that it finally felt real.  Indeed it was in there, and moving around like it was having a grand fiesta. Our hearts melted as we saw those little tiny arms and legs just dancing away, and that is the moment we all fell in love with this baby. Now we just wait to finally hold that precious gift from God in our arms.  sigh. 

On another note, Benjamin has been unexpectedly supportive. We thought he might act jealous, but no. On the contrary, he is being quite the exemplary big brother. He likes to rub my belly when I say it hurts, randomly give my belly kisses, and always asks if I am okay. The most interesting thing by far though, is that apparently Benji and the new baby are telepathic. Yup. Mr. Benj often knows the baby's concerns and will express them by saying things like “Mama, baby says he’s hungry” or “Mama, baby says she wants to come out” and “Mama, baby says quiet, he’s sleeping.”  But even with their telepathic abilities, Benji does not yet know if it is a girl or boy. This is why he alternates between “He” and “she”.  I"m pretty sure this makes him the smartest little boy ever! 

Dress: Free People  Cardigan: Old Navy

Although I am only 17 weeks, this pregnancy has been extremely different, and more difficult from the previous. Nonetheless, I am ready to endure what is to come…

Sort of...

Not really...

Pray for me!

I was spoiled on Mother's Day, and I think I know why...

My Mother's Day went a little like this: 

I woke up and was immediately congratulated by the hubby and a delightful little man who said to me "happy birthday".  Sure, it can be measured as a birthday, this year it almost felt like one. After breakfast while I cleaned up, Benjamin serenaded the birthday song to me, and Ruben so generously offered to clean my vehicle. Of course, I agreed! Who would deny such an offer? Seriously.

When he returned, Benjamin had already taken a bath and I was working on some things for our Mother's Day service at church. They quickly, and not so quietly, took off, and I was left alone at home.  No complaints there, quite honestly I get a lot done when alone.  I finished my tasks and as I was getting ready, I overheard the guys come in, and as I turned around there was a little shadow figure approaching. Benjamin walked through the doorway carrying a small white paper bag with the word “Fossil” printed in the center. I heard a subtle voice, in the not-so distance that whispered “Give it to mama, and say Happy Mother’s Days”, and as Benjamin handed it to me he once again repeated the words "happy birthday mama" accompanied by a sweet little hug. The bag contain two little boxes and inside them were a wallet and a watch, both camel colored and both I love very much. That was simply the beginning of my mother’s day.

Shortly after the gift, thanks giving, hugs and kisses we headed to music practice at church, in preparation for our service. Well we were in the middle of practicing a song, when I noticed through the door my mother, and sister walk in.  This doesn't happen too often, as they live rather far. So I ran off the stage, as when would do when excited, to greet them, and to my disbelief they greeted ME with chocolate, balloons, and a gorgeous Orchid! It was very sweet, and a complete surprise.

We had a wonderful service, lot’s of mothers, and many visitors.  After the service, we headed to the fellowship area to eat a meal prepared by our youth department.  They served us the most amazing soup I have ever tasted in my life. I cannot even describe how delicious it was.  Well once we were done indulging in this lovely meal, and as if I hadn't received enough already, my mother-in-law called me up in front of everyone (yes this happens to me a lot) and  had all the ladies come up and pray for me. She then handed me a card that was signed by all of them and a lovely bouquet of roses! Benjamin may have been right after all, it certainly felt like a birthday. I felt so much love around me.

I was thinking to myself, why was this mother’s Day so different from the rest, and the answer came to me like a kick in the stomach…

Literally.  Yes that is a small baby bump that you are seeing!

Details? coming soon!