Winter Camp

We are right in the middle of our Children's Winter Camp, so we're running full speed with tons of activity at church. For my loyal and faithful friends who take the time to visit, I'll share pics of the past few days until I can sit again with enough time and inspiration. Enjoy...

Estamos a medio campamento infantil de invierno, asi que estamos a millón con actividades en la iglesia. Para mis fieles amigos que se toman el tiempo de visitar este sitio, les comparto fotos de estos últimos días hasta que me pueda volver a sentar con suficiente tiempo e inspiración. Disfruten...

Elena, loving the huge snowfall we had last week
Elena, disfrutando de la nevada de la semana pasada

She loved every minute and nothing would make her want to come inside.
Disfrutó cada minuto y no había poder humano que la hiciera quere entrarse.

Adriana though, wasn´t so keen of it.
A Adriana, en cambio, no le pareció tanto.

But she still looked lovely!
¡Pero de todos modos se veía preciosa!

Our van also took part of the action...
(this is for my Guatemalans who haven´t seen snow this high)
Nuestra van también salió a jugar...
(para mis chapines que no han visto nieve de esta magnitud)

This has nothing to do with snow, but I thought it would be funny to share. Two nights ago Elena comes running to the kitchen and says: "Mami, Oh no, Ana!!!" Moved by the urgency of her message I went to look and little Adriana had found Elena´s markers... Cute, isn´t she?

Esta no tiene nada que ver con la nive pero pensé que les gustaría. Hace dos noches Elena entró corriendo a la cocina y me dijo: "¡¡Mami, Oh no, Ana!!!" La urgencia de su mensaje me hizo ir a ver y mi Adriana había encontrado los marcadores de Elena... Qué linda, ¿verdad?

Explanation/update

* I think I need to explain my last post. See, Elena crawled and walked a bit faster than we expected. She sat by herself at 6 months, pulled herself up to a standing position at 9 and walked at 11, and I was expecting Adriana to do the same or go a little slower than that. Instead, this intense little person sat by herself at 5 months, at 6 1/2 is already crawling AND pulling herself up into a standing position. Too quick for my preference!

* The all so long hoped for snow has finally arrived. My sweet Elena would check out her window so often asking for the "nos" or "nose" as she calls it and much to her disappointment we hadn't had enough for her to play in. Today we got what we wanted, though. And I was reminded afresh of why I love winter. I absolutely love the beauty of everything covered in white and watching the big fluffy chunks falling off the sky... maybe it is still novel for me, but I still love it. In fact, I was a bit disappointed to have to come back inside because Adriana was too cold and not really enjoying the whole thing! Elena and Ben did stay out a little longer burying their feet knee high into the white plush! I love it!

* We made an executive decision to postpone our valentine day's celebrations for another day. So today we only had a special breakfast of "fruit stuffed chocolate crepes" which really ended up being just a glorified pancake with fruit and chocolate sauce but we still loved it and had fun eating it. The reason behind our need to postpone, well my dear man has relapsed with the throat malady. It's not strep this time, but it is bad enough to make it so painful for him to eat. He made his best effort to get out there with Elena for a little while and now I hope he stays in for the rest of the day and just get the much needed rest his body is craving for. It will be a slow day for us, but we will celebrate when his palate can really enjoy the meal we had planned on having.

* That's about it for today. Have a wonderful day and enjoy your loved ones!

One day in the life of...

So I go to the kitchen to get dishes done and leave the girls in the TV room watching a children´s video. Elena looses interest and comes join me in the kitchen, so I go check on Adriana and this is what I find:

Fui a la cocina a lavar trastos y dejé a las niñas en la sala donde está la tele viendo un video infantil. Elena perdió el interés y se me unió en la cocina asi que fui a ver a Adriana y esto es lo que me encontré:




She is in such a hurry to move on to the next thing!

¡Tiene tanta prisa por crecer y enfrentar su próximo reto!

Time flies

But then again, we already knew that. And so it is that time to sit and write has been elusive these past few days. What can I say, life is busy and I seem to be running on empty in the inspiration department. We are all doing well though, and I'll update soon! If anyone still reads, that is! Be blessed!

Adriana gatea

Can you believe this?? She is only 6 months old! This was yesterday, today she is even better at it. It is almost unfair how quickly she is growing! ¿Pueden creer esto? ¡Apenas tiene 6 meses! Este fue ayer, hoy ya lo hace mejor. No es justo... ¡mi bebita está creciendo demasiado rápido!

Happenings in this little home

A birthday weekend left us with a very happy two-year-old and two exhausted but happy parents. Elena repeatedly asks me to play her the "apito" video (that would be the "happy birthday to you" video of her little party) as she loves to see herself blowing her candles out. She'll happily report that she is "dos" now, whether asked her age in English or Spanish.

We had doctor checkups yesterday and are happy to report that our two little girls are thriving. Well, that is if I don't attempt comparing them to other little people we know. Her baby, her baby and her baby are all younger than my Adriana and still look (and some actually are) bigger than her! Adriana is weighing 15 lbs. and measuring 24" while Elena weighs 27 lbs and measures 34". What can I say, if anything, my daughters inherited "petite-ness" from their parents who don't have much to offer in the "size" department!

Our first official and formal attempt at potty training ended just two hours after it began... that would be because I ran out of training pants in only two hours (I didn't think of buying more than three!), and before we could actually figure out to get in the potty before needing to go. Also, for some reason she decided today she did not want to sit on the potty at all. That doesn't help. So much for my enthusiastic determination! She seemed to be so excited about it, constantly asking to sit on her potty, so I figured it was time to get serious about it. *sigh* We shall try again later.

Adriana has spent the past 5 nights in bed with me. I can't figure out yet if it is because she is spending so much energy during the day trying to figure out how to move around that she needs to nurse so much during the night. It could also be a six-month-old cluster feeding due to a growth spurt, I really can't tell. I'm also trying to decide whether I should just let it pass on its own or if I should keep on insisting to put her back in her basket. Naturally, that would entail my staying awake for as long as it would take her to finally stay there. As it has gone these past few nights, she'll be sound asleep but the minute I put her in the basket her eyes open wide and she starts crying instantly, no "shaking" or "rocking" the basket helps her go back to sleep. So I'll take her out and let her nurse again for her to drift back into what would seem a deep sleep again in no time, and so it goes time and time again.

As always, any advice from experienced mommies out there is more than welcome! Have a good day all!

Happy Birthday my sweet girl!

She loved her Mickey Mouse cake!
¡Feliz con su pastel de Mickey!

She could hardly wait to dig into it...
estaba intrigada por el pastel y no hallaba las horas de entrarle

the little people (and some of the big ones) sported ears
los niños (y algunos adultos) lucieron orejas

Look at the size of these babies! Can you believe their four months apart?

¡Miren el tamaño de estas bebés! ¿Pueden creer que se lleven 4 meses?

Like the blink of an eye!

In no time this baby is already wanting to eat table foods! The carrot is mostly for entertainment, though she did get a bit of potatoes.

On the other hand, we will be celebrating the second birthday of this little girl on Sunday. Her birthday is really on Saturday but we are celebrating it on Sunday. The Moore cousins will be coming for our little celebration and, of course, Mickey Mouse will be our theme this year. The cake is my challenge right now. We'll see how all that goes, stay tuned for pics. and video.

I never thought I'd

* walk out of a store with a baby who lost a sock on a chilly day without even caring to go back and look for the missing sock.

*check the toilet in the downstairs bathroom (and the upstairs too, just in case) before using it to make sure there are no mice in it. Ben found one last week... yes IN the bowl.

*sit at a restaurant and play with the cardboard advertisement on the table (you know, those "cube" looking cardboard things that display their seasonal stuff), putting it on our faces and making noises with it without even thinking what the people around must have been thinking. Trust me, they were thinking, they were close enough to not be able to avoid the spectacle!

*take a diaper from a complete stranger upon realizing that I thought I stocked the diaper bag with two different sizes and finding myself with a naked baby and no diapers for her! It really has happened three times, except that the second time it happened at church so it wasn't a complete stranger and the third time I just made Adriana wear one of Elena's.

*be going over a mental checklist of stuff I was supposed to bring as we drive away from home and realizing that I never looked in a mirror and have absolutely no idea of how I look!

There are really many more stories like these that I'd be just too embarrassed to share!

Round 3

This house is on the third round of antibiotics, this time it's me. I'm still grateful the girls haven't seen any, they haven't gone past runny noses from mild colds and we are believing they WILL stop there. I, on the other hand, am now battling the same strep Ben had and so I've had fevers, pain, etc., etc., etc. YUCK, how boring and so not fun... especially when my little ones still need me so much. Ben has stepped up to the plate and taken over so much of their care just so that I can get some rest at times, but there is only so much he can do with a nursing baby (and by "nursing" I mean every-two-to-three-hour-at-least-40-minute-sessions-nursing-baby). I have enjoyed Adriana's attachment to me so much throughout these months, trust me. Elena at this age was "soothing herself" and would wake up maybe once through the night. Not Adriana, this little one as much as stirs through the night and realizes she is not nursing and asks to be nursed again. But if there ever were moments when I really wanted her to sleep and stay asleep, they were these past two nights when my fever has been up in the 100s and I've been achy and cold allover! And sure enough, this happens in the middle of our week of fasting and prayer at church. We've been having glorious times of prayer, worship and testimonies as we surrender to the Lord and gather twice each day this week to seek God's face and direction for the New year! Oh well, this too shall pass! God knows what He's doing and most importantly, He knows the "whys" of what He allows to visit our lives. My trust, my hope and my strength is in Him, always!

*********************
Esta casa va por la tercera ronda de antibióticos, esta vez, soy yo. Todavía sigo agradecida de que las niñas no han tenido que tomar nada todavía, no han pasado de estar un poco mocositas de catarros y estamos creyendo que no pasarán de allí. Yo, por otro lado, estoy ahora batallando el mismo estreptococo que tenía Ben, asi que he tenido fiebres altas, dolor, etc.,etc.,etc. ¡GUAGH! ¡qué aburrido! Especialmente cuando mis chiquitas todavía me necesitan tanto. Ben se ha portado a la altura y ha tomado el cuidado de las niñas lo más posible para que yo pueda descansar por ratos, pero no es mucho lo que puede hacer con una bebita que todavía "mama" (¡y con eso me refiero a que es cada dos o tres horas, por lo menos 40 minutos!). He disfrutado mucho lo apegada que Adriana está conmigo todos estos meses, créanme. Elena a esta edad se calmaba solita y se despertaba ya sólo una vez por las noches. Adriana no, esta chiquitita apenas se mueve un poquito en la noche y se da cuenta de que ya no está mamando y pide mamar otra vez. Pero si ha habido veces en que en realidad le he pedido a Dios con todo mi corazón que se quede dormida, ha sido estas últimas dos noches en que mi fiebre ha llegado a los 40s y me he estado muriendo de frío y me duele todo el cuerpo. Y por supuesto, todo esto viene a pasar a media semana de ayuno y oración en la iglesia. Hemos tenido reuniones de oración, adoración y testimonios que han sido gloriosas y nos hemos reunido dos veces al día a buscar el rostro de Dios y su dirección para el nuevo año. ¡En fin, esto también habrá de pasar! Dios sabe lo que hace y lo más importante, el por qué de las cosas que visitan nuestras vidas. ¡Mi confianza, mi esperanza y mi fuerza están en Él, siempre!

Whipped cream

Adriana´s first tiniest taste of whipped cream. Adriana probando crema batida por primera vez

Aniversario y cumpleaños (English, please scroll down to previous post)

Bueno, eso fue ayer y ante-ayer, es sólo que no he tenido oportunidad de escribir. Habrán de saber que mi dulce esposo, a pesar de haber estado tan enfermo todo el fin de semana se las ingenió para planificar el día de mi cumpleaños. Desde temprano en la mañana me sacaron de la casa y este es el relato de lo que pasó:

* A las 8.00 a.m. vino mi "anfitriona del día" y nos fuimos para McDonald´s en Cobleskill a encontrarnos con ella y con ella y sus respectivos bebés. Platicamos mientras desayunamos y los niños jugaron en el área infantil. (Vean la entrada anterior para ver las fotos)

* A las 10.00 a.m. nos dirigimos a la iglesia para la reunión de oración. Inmediatamente después de la reunión, Colleen había hecho un pastel y nos lo comimos.

* Como a las 12.00 p.m. Elena se fue con los Wolford y a Adriana y a mí nos mandaron con mi anfitriona (Maria Hackel) a los eventos que seguían. Conforme nos acercábamos al mall, mi celular sonó y me dieron instrucciones. Nos teníamos que tomar una taza de café y ya que no puedo entrar al cine con mi bebita, tenía que comprarme una película de mi elección y luego vitrinear a mi gusto. Para muchos esto no será gran cosa, pero vitrinear es algo que yo disfrutaba mucho hacer en mi tiempo previo a los bebés. Asi que para mí sí fue un gusto.

* Como a las 2.45 p.m. llegó mi otra llamada con las siguientes instrucciones. Mi anfitriona me tenía que llevar a mi "cita". Más tarde descubrí que mi cita era aquí, asi que me corté el pelo.

* Luego se me instruyó dirigirme a la casa y pasar recogiendo a Elena. Cuando vinimos a la casa encontramos a mi dulcísimo esposo trajeado y estrenando corte de pelo. Además de lo siguiente: (Ver fotos en entrada anterior)

La mesa estaba exquisitamente decorada hasta con platos, individuales y servilletas nuevas. Había una sola rosa roja decorándola y se nos sentó y atendió de inmediato. En honor al primer cumpleaños que pasamos juntos hace cuatro años aquí, preparó pollo con fettuccine Alfredo y abrió una botella de jugo de uvas para la ocasión. Para terminar la velada, me presentó un obsequio de aretes con mi piedra de cumpleaños que casualmente hacen juego con un anillo que me había regalado dos años atrás.

El plan original incluía acostar a las niñas y ver juntos mi película, pero para entonces mi convalesciente esposo estaba muy cansado y yo también, así que nos acostamos temprano, contentos y satisfechos con un día maravilloso. Luego de una larga noche decidimos que Ben necesitaba volver al médico. Ahora resulta que tiene un estreptococo en la garganta. ¿Pueden creerlo? Asi que nuestro aniversario lo pasamos en la clínica del doctor y la farmacia, poniéndonos al día con la compra de la quincena y empezando a retomar nuestra rutina. ¡Pero aún eso no lo detuvo de obsequiarme un pendiente que hace juego con mis aretes!

No podría sentirme más bendecida. Cada pequeño detalle fue planificado con tanto cuidado y con tanto amor que habla tan fuerte del hombre que él es y del amor que me tiene, eso sin mencionar lo enfermo que ha estado. ¡Realmente soy sumamente dichosa!

Happy birthday and Happy Anniversary!

Well, that was actually yesterday and the day before. I just haven´t had a chance to write. I´ll have you know that my sweet man in spite of having been so sick over the weekend, he managed to plan the day for my birthday I was whisked away in the morning. This was my day:

* At 8.00 a.m. my "host for the day" checked in with us and we all took off to McDonald´s in Cobleskill to meet her and her with their corresponding babies. We chatted over a quick breakfast as the little ones played in the playground.

Becky & Cailen, and Dee & Sophie

Adriana and myself with Becky & Cailen

Can you believe my baby can seat already? Of course, notice that Cailen & Sophie look as big as Adriana.

* At 10.00 a.m. we headed to church for prayer meeting. Immediately after the meeting Colleen had made a cake and we partook of that.

* At about 12.00 p.m. Elena went with the Wolfords and Adriana and I were sent with my host (Maria Hackel) to the events that followed. As we approached the mall, my cellphone rang and I was given my instructions. We were to have a cup of coffee and since I can´t really go to the movies with my nursing baby, I was to go buy myself a movie of my choosing and window shop for a while. Now, to many of you this may not be a big deal, but window shopping happens to be something I used to enjoy doing a lot in my pre-babies time. So it really is a treat to me.

* At about 2.45 p.m. came my next phone call and instructions were given to my host to take me to "my appointment". I later found out I had an appointment here, so I had my hair cut. I was thrilled to finally find someone in this area who really listened to my needs and worked with my wavy hair!

* Next I was instructed to head home and pick Elena up on the way. When we came home we found a sweet man all suited up with a fresh haircut and all! Plus this:



The table was beautifully set with new dinnerware all the way down to the place mats and napkins. One single red rose and a candle adorned the table and we were immediately seated and waited upon. In honor of my first birthday we spent together four years ago here, he made grilled chicken with fettuccine Alfredo and a bottle of sparkling grape juice was open for the occassion. To top the evening I was presented with a gift of earrings with my birth stone that happen to match a ring I'd been given two years ago.

The original plan included putting the girls to bed and watching my movie together, but by then my still ailing husband was exhausted as was I as well so we took an early bedtime happy and satisfied with a wonderful day. After a very long night we decided Ben needed to go back to the doctor´s. He now battles strep throat! Can you believe this? So our anniversary was spent at the doctor´s office and pharmacy, catching up on grocery shopping and beginning "life" again. Still, that didn´t stop him from giving me a beautiful locket that matches my earrings!

I could not be more blessed. Every single little thing was planned with so much love and detail that speak so loudly of the kind of man he is and the kind of love he lavishes upon me, not to mention how sick he´s been. I truly am so blessed!

2007 español (please see previous post for English)

El Año Nuevo me encontró en mi cama con una bebita mamando en un lado y con un esposo convalesciente en el otro. ¡Esto nunca había pasado en mis casi 33 años de edad! ¡Este feriado se ha hecho largo con tantos virus por todos lados! Desde que regresamos de Guatemala hemos estado peleando algún tipo de virus estomacal. Primero fue Ben, luego fui yo, después fue Adriana y ahora es Ben otra vez. Elena se ha mantenido invicta y mi oración es que siga asi. Mi pobre esposo estuvo tomando antibióticos y justo cuando pensamos que estaba mejorando recayó con fiebres tan ridículamente altas que hasta estuvo delirando por un ratito el sábado. Asi que no ha sido divertido.

Por otro lado, el año viejo me dejó una hermosa bebé que está determinada a moverse por todos lados y sentarse sola. Mi otra dulce niñita está mostrando interés en el "inodoro", asi que primero Dios le estaremos diciendo adiós a los pañales más pronto de lo que pensé estar lista. Hemos empezado un negocio de bienes raíces que está echándose a andar lentamente pero estamos confiados en que Dios nos ha dirigido y que definitivamente le veremos fruto este nuevo año.

Las fiestas de fin de año atesoran tantos momentos para nosotros, no sólo por lo que significan en sí mismos sino porque las Fiestas vieron los inicios de esta historia de amor. Fue hace cuatro años que estábamos sentados donde mi ahora cuñada y hablamos del futuro y de la posibilidad de un "nosotros". Fue hace tres años que estabamos rodeados de familiares y amigos y nos preparábamos para una boda. Fue hace dos años que estábamos tan emocionados y esperanzados de ver la llegada de nuestra primera bebé. Y así es que las Fiestas no terminan para esta pequeña familia sino hasta que hemos celebrado el último de nuestros aniversarios y contemplado todo lo que una temporada puede contener. ¡La vida es buena y Dios es aún mejor! (Vean las fotos en el siguiente post).

2007

The New Year found me in bed with a nursing baby on one side and an ailing husband on the other. Never in my almost 33 years of age had this happened before! This Holiday has been so long with bugs all over the place! Since we got back from Guatemala we have been fighting some sort of stomach bug. First it was Ben, then it was me, then it was Adriana and now it is Ben again. Elena has been standing undefeated and I pray she continues like that. My poor husband has been on antibiotics and right when we thought he was getting better he came down again with ridiculous fevers that even had him delirious for a little while on Saturday. So it hasn't been fun.

On another note, the old year left me with a beautiful baby who is now determined to move around and sitting on her own. My sweet toddling girl is showing interest in the potty, so we'll hopefully be saying good by to diapers sooner than I thought I was ready. We have started a real state business that is getting going very slowly, but are very confident God has led us in this direction and we will definitely see some fruit this new year.



The Holiday season holds so many treasured moments not only for what it means in and of itself but because the Holiday season saw the beginnings of this love story. It was four years ago that we sat at my now sister in law's and talked about the future and the possibility of an "us". It was three years ago that we were in Guatemala surrounded by family and friends and getting ready for a wedding. It was two years ago that we were thrilled and expectant at the arrival of our first baby. And so it is that the Holidays aren't over for this family until after we've celebrated the last of our anniversaries and contemplated all that one season can wrap around itself! Life is good and God is even better!

Duck, duck, goose!

She learned this game at church and loves playing it! ...her own version, that is. Sorry if we´re boring you with videos... this is just the easiest way to keep my Guatemalans up with my daughters and they want to see them in every possible way! I´ll take time to write soon! Spanish readers: En este juego que Elena aprendió en la iglesia, una persona toca las cabezas de los demás diciendo "Duck" y al azar escoge a quién llamará "Goose", cuando escoge al goose éste "la lleva" y persigue a todos los demás. El primero en volver a sentarse gana y el último en sentarse o al que agarre el goose le toca escoger. Elena ha creado su propia versión, como podrán ver.

Christmas morning

Elena opens her "dream" gift.

Elena talks to "pito"

Elena figured out that my dad requires to be talked to differently as she observed all of us finger spelling to him. She quickly picked up on it and began doing it herself!

It's almost Christmas

Christmas shopping is done... all our gifts are wrapped and sitting under the tree and we are so excitedly looking forward to Christmas morning to open them. It's amazing how 10 days away can throw you off so much! I still don't have everything planned or baked for the rest of the celebration but I will get there. For now we're looking into church regular service this evening, and tomorrow morning, then Christmas Eve service tomorrow night after which we will settle quietly in our little home and watch our Christmas Eve movie "It's a Wonderful Life" in waiting for midnight. This is where we have incorporated the bit of Guatemala, we wait till midnight and in honor of the Guatemalan tradition of opening gifts then, we exchange one gift. Then we go to bed and eagerly wait for morning. First is our stockings and then we do gifts. After that we will go off to Dad and Mom L's for a late brunch.

In being away I really feel as though I have missed so much of the festivity but even if this may be a "lighter" Christmas in the sense of decorations and building up the anticipation for it but we will still try to make it memorable for Elena on the day of and we always have next year to do better!

Oreos and.... coffee?

We landed this morning at 12:38 a.m. I forgot to mention we left Guatemala on Thursday but were, again, splitting our trip by spending another night with our friends the Timers. We spent a wonderful time with them catching up even when it had to be done with a week in between!

Our flight was supposed to arrive in Albany at around noon, but wanting to spend a little more time with our friends we changed it for the night flight. Everything was great until we got to the airport and were delayed. Now, had it only been the two of us, it would have been easier to handle, but with two little ones, delays are really not that welcome. Our 9.45 p.m. departure was changed to 10.20 p.m. which meant we were to sit in the gate area, keep them awake AND happy longer. It was a tough time! But we're home and there's no place like home! Of course with an original arrival at around noon, we made sure our fridge was clean. After all, who wants to come home to spoiled milk and food, right? This explains the title of my post, having arrived home at about 1 a.m., this morning our breakfast consisted of oreo cookies for Elena and coffee for Ben and myself! No milk, no eggs, no anything in our pantry!!! Guess we'll have to fit in some quick shopping in between church services today and tomorrow!!

Flying back

Well, in no time we're heading back already! Life happens and there is no way of stopping it. Another good by faces us and in realizing God's goodness to let us travel and see each other often, we're getting better at it.

This trip to Guatemala has been an interesting one. It wasn't a trip "home", the Guatemala I left is no longer here. People's lives have changed, everybody has moved on with their lives and I haven't been a part of it so you can't just squeeze in and expect everything to be the same it was. It is so interesting to drive down streets that are so loaded with memories and to be so far away from those memories. Life is so different now! I miss what I left, but that has left me as well and is not coming back. What is left now is to embrace each day and the goodness it brings, enjoy each individual and what they represent, enjoy our lives where God has led them to be.

We were part of a beautiful wedding this weekend. My family and friends met my youngest daughter and enjoyed my oldest. I got to see everyone once again and I trust in the Lord that I'll see them all again, sooner than I expected.

Now we look towards home, Christmas shopping and all the fun of the most wonderful time of the year!

Off we go!!!

All our bags are packed and we're ready to go!!! North Carolina tonight, where we'll spend the night with Josh and Paige Timer, and Guatemala tomorrow! Ben will minister the blessing at my cousin's wedding and we'll be back on the 15 to pick up where we left, finish Christmas shopping and enjoying the season.

Take care you all!

Elena & Adriana

Is this precious or what? Elena didn't know I was taping them. I love my girls and the fact that Elena won't ever remember life without her sister and Adriana won't ever know it either. They will always be there for each other!

Three years ago!

Three years ago this past Saturday we celebrated the first of our three wedding ceremonies. I can't believe it has already been three years (and two babies!) from that day. This particular wedding wasn't even really planned. The original idea was that in compliance with the immigration laws that required me to get married here in the US we were only going to have a very intimate family thing, maybe over Thanksgiving and "sign the papers" with Pastor Jim. But considering how many people wouldn't get a chance to go to Guatemala somebody came up with the idea of doing it on Sunday morning during church. So many people stepped in to decorate, spread the word, and have refreshments ready. I have Mom L. to thank for the beautiful roses she surprised me with that morning! But when all was said and done that Sunday afternoon... Were we or weren't we married? We certainly were! Well then what about the Guatemalan wedding? Now, I'm not complaining, it all turned out great and I have three wedding ceremonies to remember. However, those were confusing times and I am so glad to be "on this side of the altar"!

On another quick note, Kris and Becky welcomed today at 5 a.m. a little girl! Her name is "Cailen Grace" and she weighed 8.1 lbs. and is 20" long! Congratulations to our dear friends! Both Mom and baby are doing well and Cailen came just one day before her Mommy's birthday! 

If Mamma ain't happy!

I am sad to report that all three girls in this household are sick! The only one healthy is Ben who gets to deal with us. Last night I didn't sleep for more than 40 mins. in a row, between a coughing little girl, a stuffy baby's nose and my own sore throat, headache and plus symptoms! Yuck! It's a good thing we have enough left overs to not have to cook at all today! So many things to do and just NO energy at all to do them! Oh well, this too shall pass!

Little bits...

• Yesterday morning I came downstairs to get the coffee going and heard a beep. Not thinking twice about it when I came upstairs to finish getting ready I said: "Honey, I think that smoke detector must need a battery change because I heard it beeping". So my sweet husband, instead of having his breakfast before going off to the office he went to check on the detector. Thn he said: "Well honey, that is a problem because the smoke detector runs on the house's power, not on batteries. I don't know why it's beeping." I replied "Something has to be going on, it is beeping every two minutes," (I had already timed it). He went on line, read and read and was getting increasingly frustrated as the time to leave for the office was getting closer and he couldn't figure out the beep. Finally, ready to give up I just hear this: "Oh my goodness!! Honey, it isn't the smoke detector beeping... it is my cell phone!!!" What can I say, we hadn't had one of those in quite a while =0)

• We have begun training Elena to go to sleep on her bed. Don't ask me why, I am not ready for my baby to turn into a little girl, but still. The first night we failed to think ahead of her and the rule was not to get out of bed. In complying with that command, she did absolutely everything she could on the bed, thus making it 4 hours until she finally went to sleep. The next night we said she was to keep her head on her pillow, and her feet were not to touch the groung. Then is where the fun began:
• As every child her age, she began to test her limits: her legs were hanging off the bed, they weren't touching the ground mind you, but they were off the bed. We stated it was unacceptable and she dealt with it.
• A few minutes later: Legs were on the bed but her feet were placed so that her toes would be off the bed. So we dealt with that thinking that would be the end of her "limit testing".
• A few more minutes later: Every single part of her body was on the bed but her bear's legs were off the bed! Welcome the bear into the discipline process!

But that was truly her last attempt and with all those little tricks of her she went to sleep in less than two hours. Each day it has been getting less and less, I don't think it even took half an hour last night. Next thing on the list: have her learn to use the potty, but I will hold that one off a bit longer!

The world we live in...

I tend to forget that we live in such a different world from the walls that surround my home. I forget that people don't always think the way I do and that often times, even family and friends close to my heart do not understand where we come from when dealing with certain issues of life. Yesterday, for instance, I had an eye exam. The doctor was this beautiful young woman, which I found quite perplexing until I realized that it will be 15 years from my highschool graduation next year. So it is ok to have doctors looking my age, or even younger, had I chosen to be a doctor that's exactly what I would look like. At any rate, she asked to make sure I had my eyes checked in a year because I was past due my check up this time. I replied I had intentionally missed my last check up due to the fact that I was pregnant at the time and didn't think it worth it as my eyes behave differently during pregnancy. Being as good a doctor as she could she strongly recommended to have regular eye checkups. Now mind you I have no plans of having another baby yet, but I do want more babies in the future, so I innocently asked: "Should I still have them checked during pregnancy?" She looked at me sort of puzzled and though I can't bring to mind her exact words her tone was enough to realize that she was surprised that I wanted more. I guess in some people's eyes I've filled the "quota" of a familly.

Then as we were paying our bill as Ben and I switched girls back and forth with the respective strollers and "accesories", the lady looked at us and smiled. "I remember those times" she said. "But don't worry, soon enough you will realize having them together was a good decision. I did it myself and now that my children are grown I'm still young and can enjoy life" (emphasis mine). Puzzled by her comment as she didn't look past her early forties we asked her grown children's ages. "Ohh, they're 9 and 11!" she said. Now, there was no point in even hinting that we "aren't done yet", not that I think she is for at such grown up ages of 9 and 11 it is my humble opinion that her children still need her, but hey, what do I know, my oldest is only 22 months old!

And then there is this. I don't know what the laws are and I have flown Delta before with a nursing baby. I don't know if people give me looks or not, I don't care and I don't pay attention to it anyway. Now I am always covered with a blanket and in the rare ocassion that I forget one, I do always wear a nursing camisole under my shirt to make sure I'm completely covered, but that is only a personal preference. Now, I am not an activist of any type so this is not a suggestion for any kind of boycotting anything. I am all for nursing my babies and am glad I wasn't the one escorted out of the plane for I don't know what a godly response to that would have been. I am just bringing it up as another illustration of the huge difference between My Own little world and this world we live in.

Ohh well...

Catching up again

Well, I can´t tell when last week finished and this one started for we continue having a full schedule and something planned for every single day. Even if it is only one activity, our days are busy further than my mind can keep track! Let´s see what I can share, that is, what I can remember!

This whole weekend with Ben gone to the conference and all the bumps I found attempting to accomplish a peaceful bedtime routine with the girls left me with more than mere tiredness. I have been reminded afresh that as I release my husband to be filled of the Lord and stay in the homefront, it´s not just about making sure things get done, but it is also about fighting the good battle to foster a good environment for him to get back to. Instead of lamenting how he got to go and I got to stay I need to strive to keep my fire burning so that when he comes back I´m ready to take all the new things he brings and run with them. We are one, so as he is filled so am I. I fought my battle as the enemy tried to distract me from the things that really matter.

On another note, I got to meet my prospective sister-in-law! It´s another one of those long stories that I just don´t have time to share but, here it goes in a nutshell: Josue went to Colombia with CRM last year and met there a young girl from Connecticut who was serving temporarily as a missionary at an orphanage. God spoke to several people about the matter but it was His leading to let things rest for a year. Now, a year later, as the opportunity to pursue a relationship arose, he was sent back to Guatemala as his visa status was no longer satisfactory to the immigration authorities. At present, he is in Guatemala trying to figure out the next step which involves applying for another type of visa. There were plans for them to meet here in our end of the woods this week, as CRM had a scheduled visit to this area but with Josue unable to come into the US yet she is actually going down to Guatemala. She came on Saturday and spent a couple nights with us. She´ll be traveling down to Gatemala on Friday for more extensive and final "talks" but it is pretty certain that they think of getting married next summer. Can you believe that? My little brothers ARE men now!!! When and how did it happen?

The mystery of life

I love how God has decided to keep to Himself both the time when one life begins and the time it is to end. Nobody else knows, no matter how hard they try to! I know I've said this before but I´m continuosly awed by His sovereignty in this sense. All that to say, she had her baby today! It was a long day, and I don´t have all the details yet, but I can share with the world that it was a girl who came in weighing a good 8+ lbs.! Both mommy and baby are doing well and I´ll hopefully get to meet her tomorrow.

On another note, going without a nap has worked well for Elena. Though she has still fought upon realizing it is time to sleep, last night it only took me one hour and today it took even less!!!

Well my baby cries for me... I´ll write again later!

I love my babies

*Edit* Since I wrote that earlier, we´ve been doing better. I´ll give it a try and keep Elena awake all day long in the hopes that she´ll be ready to go to bed at bedtime. In the process of it all last night it hit me that she may just be as full of energy as her dad and could live through the day without a nap. That may make bedtime easier on an everyday basis.

On another note, how can anybody´s heart stay discoraged when you have a Father who lavishes upon you so much and a husband who is ever thinking of you... I just got a knock on the door and a lady from our church delivered some beautiful roses on behalf of my husband. He had called her and asked her to do that for him. She accompanied the flowers with her description of how precious she can tell I am for my husband as her own eyes welled up with tears... I am crying again, but feeling much better. How sweet is my husband and just how perfectly awesome is my Father?!

******

Trust me, I do. With all my heart!!! So, could anyone help me understand why yesterday (last night especially) was so difficult? I have been able to go through Elena´s will fights so calmly and collected all this time, not last night though. Last night I was getting angry at her! Angry at her fighting so stubbornly to go to sleep! Angry at not being able to do any better in minding them both by myself! Angry at finally managing to put the little one down to go literally takcle the other one just to have her start crying and waking up the little one again. I started the bedtime routine with a bath for Elena, knowing she´d love it and would probably put her in the mood for bed. By 8.15 I was ready to put her down, I nursed the baby, bundled her on the couch right next to me so I could hold Elena and have her go to sleep. Elena played with my hair, my nose, my eyes and as delighted as I could be by her ability to recognize them I kept reminding her to close her eyes and go to sleep. I will spare you the details and just tell you that by 10 p.m. I was upstairs in their bedroom trying to calm a screaming three-month-old and almost laying on top of a toddler to make sure she stayed in bed. More times than I can count both of them were crying very loudly and I finally got in bed with a still awake Adriana at 11. I feel so disappointed at myself. I cried, through it, after it and this morning I´ve still found myself crying. Ben won´t be back until Saturday night and I really want to be the Mom that can put her babies down peacefully and joyfully! I want to bless him that way, I want to bless them that way, and more importantly, I want to honor Him that way... I just don´t know how... Please pray for grace for tonight... I know that it may sound silly as so many of you, wonderful mothers out there handle more little ones than I do, but please pray for this little house, we will need your prayers today.

P.S. Yeah... did I mention that I haven´t showered?

Bumbo seat

Walking through a store we found this seat that holds Adriana up in a seating position. This pic. is to honor my mom's wishes of seeing Adriana actually using it! She doesn't last long on it, but she doesn't last long on anything else anyway! Trust me though, as tiring as it can be and as complicated as it may get at times when I'm trying to get stuff done, I still love the fact that my arms are the only place where she is truly content! 

Little moments...

It only takes a few little moments for the funniest and cutest things to happen with babies. Sometimes I don´t even want to wink in the fear of missing something they´ll do.

Yesterday Adriana was in the swing while I did dishes and Elena was coming in and out in her little world of play. I have learned to constantly turn to check on them because Elena loves to play with her little sister but doesn´t understand yet that her little sister can´t do all the things she wants her to. Sure enough, I turned around and catch Elena holding a water bottle to Adriana´s mouth.

Me: Elena, what are you doing?

E: Mami, Aana agua! ...ok Aana? OK!

So I explained that Adriana can´t drink water from the bottle yet, but thank you for sharing with her. A few more minutes and I turn again...

Me: Elena, what are you doing sweetie?

E: Mami, Aana cookie!!! (as she holds a cookie to Adriana´s mouth) mmmmm Aana cookie!!

And so my day goes...

As for Adriana, she is quite an intense baby. There is no middle ground for her, it is black or white. She´ll be happy and laughing one minute and, literally, screaming off the top of her lungs the next! This morning, Ben sat in the rocker with Elena, reading her a book. I was sitting on the bed with Adriana nursing. She was nursing very restlessly and I couldn´t understand why. I thought she may have gas and I turned her over my arm to help her release it. To my surprise, all she wanted was to look at her daddy and sister and be a part of their time together, for she was content just looking at them and addressing her own little "conversation" to them as well. How amazing that they have such unique personalities that can be appreciated at such a young age!

I love my two girls!

Life finds us today:

• Grateful for a personal and intimate God who speaks to us thourgh even the little things of every day life!
• We are car-less. Our van that didn't pass inspection and needs to be fixed. Ben left early to drop it off and there is no knowing when it will be ready.
• I am holding (and shaking, and bouncing, and nursing, and anything that will work) a little tiny one who seems to be having gas troubles in her tummy. So far my morning has been devoted to trying to ease the pain... my poor baby!
• We are considering a trip to Guatemala early December! Today I am looking for affordable tickets... pray we find them!
• I don't know if we'll be able to do our grocery shopping today because of the car, and that also may affect some other shopping that needed to happen... we'll see how that goes.
• Elena has been receiving lately hand-me-downs from a little girl in our church. We are very grateful for nice and good clothes that have pretty much set us up for this next season. We are only left to buy her a few long sleeved shirts. Ahhh, yeah and also to find someone to share in some of the blessing... we got around 10 pairs of shoes that (as much as I love shoes) we don't need that many!
• Realizing afresh that He is our All in All, our source of everything and a loving Father in whom is our every hope!

She

...is reaching for toys already. She has discovered her hands! Can you believe it? My little Adriana is 3 months old!

 

Home

Finally, it feels like we're stopping at home. We haven't gone too far for too long, but we've gone so much it certainly feels like an awful lot of time. And so, we try and pick up where we left:

*Christmas cards are here! We order them so early so as to make sure we can timely send those that are headed to Guatemala.

*Elena is now sleeping in her very own bedroom!!! And to add to the success, she is sleeping in her very own toddler bed!

*I had the best sleep last night than I had had in a while. I was in bed by 10.30 (unheard of in this house!), Adriana slept well in her basket until about 3 a.m. when she nursed and very satisfied (to my surprise) stayed back in the basket until around 5.30!! And Elena didn't fall off her little bed or woke up until 6.45 a.m.! So, it is 8.30 a.m. and we are all dressed and have already eaten breakfast!

*Yesterday we walked out of church with a new car seat for Adriana, a bag of clothes for Elena and a sleeper couch (well, this one we still have to go pick up but it was offered to us at church)! I am a very happy wife as I look forward to upgrading our furniture a bit. When we got married we kept an old couch Ben had gotten from someone a while back. It is big and comfy, but rather old and dirty and it's not in so great shape anymore. In moving downstairs we inherited Grandma L's couch that had been sitting at Mom and Dad L's who kindly passed it on to us. However, we were still looking forward to get a sleeper as we were looking ahead at having my family come spend Christmas with us (and all the guests we receive throughout the rest of the year!)... now we have it! As for my family coming for the Holidays, well we're not sure anymore, but, that's another story and I'll share it with you later.

Transformations

So, I know it isn't so clear, but this is the BEFORE picture (you know, back a few months ago when this room was our living room).












and this is the AFTER picture (pardon the blue tape still on the trim). As you may recall (or not), this is becoming our girls' bedroom. Sooo exciting!!!!






 

Here I am...

Exhausted from a very busy and long week but looking forward to the rest of this season as we now figure out life with two babes on our own. Now that the eager arms of "Pita" (long story, but that's what Elena calls my mom) we are trying to discover new distractions to keep our little ones entertained while life needs to happen. If you must know, I am only able to sit here for a few minutes now because Adriana finally fell asleep on the carrier where I'm holding her and Elena is enjoying her "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse". I could fill this post with all the little details of the days that have past, which are many, but I don't want to bore you so I'll just say that we have been reminded afresh of God's personal and intimate care for each one of us. Not only have we seen Him work miracles as my brother, Josue, was returning from a missions trip to Europe (another long story that I'll share some other time), but in the midst of all this busy-ness. After a very emotional Monday and Tuesday I really, really wanted to get prayer during ministry time. It was one of those times when I couldn't really sit through the message because of two exhausted little girls who needed a break and my only request to the Lord at that point was "I am just hungry to be hungry". But so it happened that my husband had the same urgency for prayer and we both came up together. It turned out that God gave us such an amazing word that came in such a timely fashion. God spoke of so many things that brought refreshment and encouragement to our hearts. He is so intimate and so personal! I can't say it enough. I hate to leave you with nothing but ramblings about these past few days but it just so happens that that's exactly how I feel right now... I feel I'm just rambling through it all, but as I sort things out I'll be back and try to share something more substantial.

Dedication

It was Adriana's dedication, but Elena managed to charm the audience (and cameras)... Adriana didn't mind though!

Our little family as Pastor Jim prepared to pray for us.
Adriana didn't really like the whole thing... there was only one thing she was interested in: eating!
but we still enjoyed it all! 

The gift of interpreting

Those pics. I posted yesterday are not showing on my blog... Go figure! Here I was so happy thinking you'd see them and alas this thing is throwing fits at me again! Oh well, I'll give it a try on another day that finds me more patient =0)

As to my title... these are the days when I feel as though I desperately need the gift of interpreting tongues as my sweet little girl comes up with a new word each day. You know, she enrolls in these ellaborate convesations that make her look so cute but unless you have followed every single one of her little steps you probably will have no clue as to what she's talking about. Then add to that the "bilingual" element and you first have to try and figure out the language and then what she might be trying to say. It is so comical! Especially when she has been gifted with both her parents' ability to talk anyone's ears off! How amazing to see her evolve into this little person who has stories to tell and questions to ask! And I can only pray that I am perceptive enough to know what she means!

where we've been and where we're going

• We dedicated Adriana on Sunday at church and decided to "kill two birds with one stone" and although our "house" is still far from perfect we had an Open House after church. It was amazing!!! It was the first time we hosted SO MANY people in OUR VERY OWN house! I loved it! We are still exhausted, especially because the days of food preping began around Wednesday considering the very little times I get to do these kinds of chores. Between the daily to-do's, baby feeding times and the attention that Elena requires, unless I cook from 10 p.m. till midnight, nothing really would've gotten done. We had fun though, I really like having people over.
• We don't really live close enough to our "shopping" places to run to the store at any time, so we do our shopping every other Monday. Yesterday was our shopping day and we also met with our friends, the Falcos who tagged along with us to a few different stores. We are so grateful for their friendship! It is really so good to just "hang" knowing there are absolutely no expectations but that of being yourselves as tired or sick as you may feel =0) We love them!
• At church, we're getting ready for a weekend of special meetings. This morning we had a prayer meeting which will be followed by more tonight, tomorrow morning and tomorrow night.
• After that, on Thursday, we will take my mom for a foliage drive around the Adirondacks as she has never seen the beauty of the fall in full "bloom". That is pretty much our last real outing so we are kind of doing her "send-off" day. We'll start with breakfast at a nice diner about an hour from here, then a couple hours of driving up into the mountains, maybe a picnic up there and then we'll head back home for a special dinner.
• The weekend will have us busy with morning and evening meetings that will go up until Wednesday, so in the middle of those meetings we'll say good by to my Mom and start praying for their making it up this way for Christmas.
• Here are some pics. of the dedication...

Take my moments

"Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.

Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.

Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee."

My moments and my days... all that came to mind was the numerous times we've been addressing "obedience" issues with Elena and those little battles that I know I need to win but feel extremely tired and overwhelmed to do it. Oh how we need Him!!!

My mom leaves a week from tomorrow, I am nervous and anxious as I look ahead at not having her help around. I am going to miss her help and how wonderful it has been to walk away from the little messes of everyday life only to have them "magically" disappear! She has helped us so much! But more than anything I'm sad because I will miss her, her company, and her friendship.

Projects ahead and behind

Today the "cable guy" comes to set the downstairs up for our computer, TV and phone. That should free up the girls bedroom-to-be and we'll start working on it. Of course, my mom and Ben worked late last night and early this morning to finish painting the room where we're setting all that up. The only problem is that I like the way that room looks much, much better than our living room and am trying to convince Ben of painting it the same colors soon! He is good to me. Our past few nights have been rather long... we are fighting colds, even little Adriana is all stuffed up! Oh well! The days are looking beautiful outside and next week we'll take my mom for a "leaf-watching" drive as she has never seen the fall before. I have so much more to write, but hardly any time or energy, so pray for us, bear with me and don't forget me!

2 months

Adriana is two months old today. Our day began at 4.30 a.m. when two little girls woke up. The "littlest" was happy to nurse and snuggle to go back to sleep while the other one was "done" sleeping. She had her cup of milk and we kept her in bed with us to no avail. Needless to say, she needed more sleep than she got last night (as it seems we all did!). We spent the morning visiting cousins, then we ran errands and didn't make it home until about 3.30 p.m. We were all spent! Want to guess what we did the rest of the afternoon? NAP!!

Ben couldn't resist the "moment"
(notice Elena's "bee-bee" napping with us)

Let photos do for the moment...

*Edit*

When and how did this happen? They are growing so quickly!!! Just about a week and a half ago Elena's fingertips would barely brush the banister of our staris. She couldn't even dream of turning the shower "on". Yesterday I was coming downstais with her and was speechless to see her hold on to the banister without any difficulty. Later on I was giving her a bath and while I turned to get the soap I heard the water running again! Every day she attempts new words that make us guess and scratch our heads while we figure out what she's trying to say. In the meantime, Adriana is happily smiling back at us and starting to "coo" (sp?). I'm afraid to blink and miss something!

I don't really have time to post, so enjoy this pics. while I get back on track!

We learned how to use the fork and knife...

the challenge now is to transfer this wonderful skill

to the table at meal times!

Grateful!

• Grateful for the freedom of worshipping without fear.
• Grateful for having enjoyed amazingly perfect weather for 28 years of my life.
• Grateful for having grown up wrapped in the colors and beauty of Spring.
• Grateful for all the history that paved the way for the establishment of my family and my life.
• Grateful for a country that though not perfect was the wonderful setting of my childhood and part of my adult life.
• Grateful for 185 years of independence!

Can it get any worse?

• Kept reminding myself of a specific date to remember a birthday... the day came and went and I never realized what date it was! So technically, I forgot the birthday!
• Kept telling myself to send a card to a young mother from church that I hadn't seen since before Adriana was born. I wanted to send a note of encouragement to let her know she was in my heart. Sure enough, I stumbled upon her in town!
• Going over all my "decorative" stuff that was put away while I had room to display it I found a wedding gift I was supposed to have sent a year ago!!!
• I still have sitting in my room some souvenirs I brought from Guatemala in January, I haven't mailed them...
• I can't figure out how to make the sewing machine work and now I have all the unfinished nursing blankets I started. These were intended as gifts and some for myself.

Instead of being on top of things I sometimes think things are on top of me! Is it possible to forget something else?

On another note, I am excited to know that very dear friends of ours are expecting their second baby!

A Milestone?

It is public knowledge that I am no baker. It wasn´t exactly a part of my life growing up. I learned how to cook, but save for a couple of cakes here and there that was it. I also come from a home of very picky eaters and where dessert was very rarely on our table. Of course, I married someone who likes to have dessert and I live in a world where everybody bakes for everything. So soon after getting married I was determined: I shall conquer baking! Out of embarrassment I won´t tell you how many batches of cookies have remained uneaten in our home but today I mastered my first batch of brownies made from scratch! I can´t tell you how thrilled I was when we tried them and they actually tasted good! I know, it is silly... but I am happy!

Pics. from camping trip

Bannon and Elena, she took to trying to imitate what he did.

The Moores

My tired girl

Two little cousins playing together

wearing the matching fleeces their "Maama" gave them

Pheww!!

Long fun days! Last week we had some family vacation time and went here for a couple days. We "camped" on their cabins with Dad and Mom L. who hosted us in their cabin and with her family who were staying in the next cabin. Then on Friday, we joined our youth group on their outing here. Of course, my mom and I just walked around at our own pace and took Elena to the kiddie rides that she could do, while all of the big guys (my husband included b/c he was one of the chaperones) did all the fast and exciting rides. The whole week was a very welcomed break from the non-routine we have been having, especially because it just happened to be my 6th week after having Adriana. Now, I have been very, very spoiled! My mom has been here really watching over me and making me take it easy these 6 weeks. The way I see it, this past week was the best way to close my "forced vacation". Now I look ahead at a very long list of projects I want to get done but the good news is I can do it myself! I am not required to lay low and take it easy anymore. So hopefully by the end of this week the two apartments will be finally "integrated" and we´ll be completely "spread" out through both floors in more of a house fashion. Home will feel like home!