Getting antsy

Well, it is just about that time of year when I feel like I've outlived our present arrangements and a desperate need for change starts to creep in. I just mean in the way our house is furnished and distributed right now. Granted, we are on a very limited budget right now and we can't really afford any projects.

Our "family room" which is supposed to go in our old kitchen upstairs was supposed to be done over the winter. Come spring time, we were hoping to move our TV and some kind of seating up there thus freeing up the space down here for an office. Having the TV and the computer in this room throughout the winter ended up being a good idea because it provided for a smaller space to heat where the girls could bring their toys in and pretty much everything could be done in here. We have electric heat and it gets pricey to attempt to heat every space in the house. However, here we are... mid April already and the "family room" is but a collection of boxes with books from the old living room, plastic tubs with our winter wear, suitcases that upon moving were without a place and are hoping to go up in the attic some day, cupboards that were taken down just to take a look at the wall behind them--leading us to--two walls' upper halves stripped of said cupboards and displaying nasty, old wall paper, bare walls. And that is what we walk through to use our main bathroom upstairs and our bedrooms.

We have no curtains, anywhere... the girls' room didn't really get past the painting stage, the bathrooms are still waiting for their fresh paint, and boxes upon boxes of stuff await to be unpacked and organized somewhere in this dwelling. You know how it is... you can't do one thing until you do this other one, but then again, that one can't really be done yet because it needs for this other one to be done as well.

Now, mind you I am not complaining but merely realizing that my projects will take longer in being completed than I hoped for, but that's ok. There are things far more important than having all I think I need and if God hasn't provided for it, I probably don't need it quite yet.

I will, however think of re-arranging the things I do have for a fresher look and maybe a more efficient distribution... off I go.

This is the Scoop

I am working on translating a book. Back when I said yes, we thought it would be a good idea to brush up on my skills and make a bit of money. However, by the time I got the book, well I haven't caught up with life yet. So, long story short, I am working like crazy to finish and if I'm not nursing a baby, feeding us, kind-of cleaning the kitchen, changing diapers and seeing to immediate little girl needs, I am taking every other minute to sit in front of the computer and work as much as the next situation that needs tending to arises. Movies have been playing non-stop, meals have been kept to the bare minimal and I feel like my house will fall apart. All that to say I am ever so grateful for the opportunity of being a stay-at-home mom and not having the need to go out and work everyday. My heart goes out to those moms who need to go out and work and can't stay home and tend to their little ones. I certainly do not want to add more work to my work load, but above all things, I don't want to be home and not be there for my little family!

There she goes...

I will be happier...

* the morning we wake up without any hoarse voices, runny noses and unhappy little people.

*the day I get dressed in the morning and my clothes don´t look like I´ve been wearing them for weeks after just a couple hours of little noses rubbing against them.

*the temperature outside is at least 50o and we can breathe some fresh air without feeling like we´re about to freeze.

*the morning that goes by normally with no added sadness and crying spells of little girls who feel so sick they don´t know what they want.

ughhh!

One of those weeks

Boy! Do I feel like a palm tree that has just withstood a hurricane! Yet when I look back at my week there aren't really many BIG things, just a bunch of little tiny things that, this week, have just added up to too much for my liking! We have dealt with fevers, bugs, messes, meetings, teething, tantrums, and the list could go on, and on. And though I know I could glean some wisdom from some of my experienced mom friends it is just too much to go into detail right now.

All that being said, though, I feel the need to remind myself afresh of the things I have to be thankful for so I can keep my perspective (and my sanity! ;o) he,he) .

**Above all things I am deeply thankful for the most amazing sacrifice that brought me life! "Jesus paid it all! All to Him I owe!" And, of course, in light of such an sacrifice of love, I feel ridiculous even thinking that my week was "hard".

**If that hadn't been enough... Is there anything more reassuring than knowing that the God you believe in, the God you love, the God you trust is LORD above all things! Not some things, all things. That means all those things I cannot control. That means the times I don't know what to do, not only does He know what needs to be done, He also know why I don't know and will be loving enough to "inform" me as I need to know. All I have to do is trust.

**I am thankful for the opportunity of learning more about being good stewards, not only of our spiritual gifts, but also of our finances and resources. Financial Peace University has come very timely for us and though it has been tricky to make it all work, we feel like we now are telling our every Dollar what to do for us and how. We were already budgeting, had been, actually for quite a while, but there's always room for learning and improving and this has been an awesome opportunity.

**How could I not be thankful for a wonderful man who is committed to be by my side on my bad days as much as my good days (and still loves me after my bad days!). As time goes by and we continue to seek God's purpose and vision for our little clan, we realize how truly "meant for each other" we are. Not that I ever doubted it, but we are amazed at times at how God had all the bases covered when He brought us together!

**And then there's my two little rays of sunshine. The most difficult of days fades away at the sight of their smiles and the touch of their little hands. Both of them love to snuggle, which makes for many a pretty crowded night in our bed, but it is just wonderful to wake up at around 5.00 a.m. to the sound of little feet on the carpet and a little sleepy girl who wants to climb up on our bed and finish her night with us. Once settled between the both of us, she'll stretch her little hands so as to touch us both, and if we happen to be too far, she distributes herself "hand and feet" accordingly. And she even goes as far as to try to be also touching Adriana if she happens to be in bed with us as well! Adriana takes on her own little role when Elena fails to wake us up, and then there's the loving slapping on my face to let me know she's awake. Oh... I would fill this space with the delicious stories of my sweet babies, but I'm sure you get my point and I don't want to bore you.

**What else? A roof over my head, food on my table, clothes on my back, loving friends and family who not only love but support us... need I go on? No, I think this little heart has had enough to realize it wasn't such an awful week after all.

Happy Easter to all!!! He is risen! Can anything else matter more?

God of all

My husband and I lately have been "lending" our individual ears to two different friends. Consequently, we have been watching the amazing ways in which God moves to lead people's lives. I must say not only has it been an honor to witness God's fulfillment of a person's destiny but it has been exciting as well, and I have been reminded afresh that our faith is not blind. We haven't chosen to trust a careless God! He truly is in the details and when it comes to leading one person to their purpose and destiny, if they are truly submitted to Him, there is absolutely nothing to be concerned about. Nothing and no one will stand between that person and that divinely appointed destiny. God will do His will in spite of anyone and anything! Have I seen it before? Of course! I have experienced it myself so many times!

When you are in the middle of it though, relinquishing your control is such a tough thing to do. Because you see, you have told Him you want to do His will, but there is still a preference in your heart. There is a desire that deep down inside you may be afraid He won't grant. Yet we don't realize that in saying "Your will, Lord, not mine" we are really signing up for an improved and better version of the dream we thought we had. We fail to understand that our dreams are not the original... His is. His plans for us WERE the original blueprint to that notion of a desire we have in our heart. How amazingly crazy, isn't it?

I will never cease to marvel at how carefully He orchestrates events and situations to create a beautiful story that only He could have authored!

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Mi esposo y yo, individualmente, hemos estado siriviendo de confidentes para dos amigos. Como consecuencia hemos estado observando las formas maravillosas en que Dios se mueve para dirigir la vida de las personas. Debo decir que ver el cumplimiento del destino de Dios en la vida de una persona no solamente ha sido un honor, sino que también ha sido emocionante y me ha recordado de nuevo que nuestra fe no es ciega. ¡No hemos escogido creer en un Dios descuidado y desinteresado! En realidad Él está en los detalles y cuando se trata de dirigir a una persona hacia su propósito y su destino, si en realidad están sometidos a Él, no hay absolutamente nada de qué preocuparse. ¡Nada ni nadie se interpondrán entre esa persona y su destino divino! ¿Lo he visto antes? Por supuesto que sí. ¡Lo he experimentado yo misma innumerables veces!

Cuando se está en medio de la situación, es difícil rendir el control. Porque le hemos dicho que queremos Su voluntad, pero en lo profundo de nuestro corazón hay una preferencia que tememos Él no nos concederá. De lo que no nos damos cuenta es que al decir "Haz tu voluntad, Señor, no la mía" en realidad estamos aceptando una versión mejorada del sueño que creemos haber tenido. No nos damos cuenta de que el sueño nuestro no es el "original" ...el de Dios sí es el original. Sus planes para nosotros ERAN los planos originales de la noción que nosotros tenemos de ese sueño. ¿Qué increíble, verdad?

¡Nunca dejaré de maravillarme del cuidado con que Él maneja las situaciones para crear bellas historias que sólo Él podría haber escrito!

little girls

This little girl likes to come in the kitchen and asks: "Mami help me nena?" And this is what she ends up looking like after she helps in the kitchen!

The other day I was in my bedroom and I could hear her at the top of the stairs yelling "aani"... finally I realized she was calling Ben. When he is downstairs and I need him, I usually go to the top of the stairs and call "Honey" so she was doing the same!

This little girl just figured out how to clap, how to wave and
when she is in the mood she'll do "so big"

She loves to snuggle, in fact, she has a hard time sleeping if she is not. This picture is one of those rare occasions when she stayed sleeping when I put her down and it was just too cute to pass

Eight months today!

My little one is eight months today. How fast time is going! It is funny how months and years seem to fly by and sometimes hours and days feel so long! Yet whether they feel quick or slow, there´s just no stopping them.

Yesterday, we were ready for church and it was still too early to leave (amazing, don´t ask how we managed that, I don´t know myself!), so we decided to linger around in our TV room letting the minutes go by. I sat in front of the computer, Ben turned on the Playstation 2. Between us, on the floor, where two little girls playing. Elena was on her little car that she "rides" around the house, Adriana standing in front of her holding on to the car. In that "zoned-out-but-still-tuned-in" mode that we seem to get into at times I heard Elena say something that sounded like "Walk, Aaana, walk", a quick glance to my right to see what it is all about and lo and behold, Adriana took three steps on her own! For her sister, nonetheless! They kept on playing as if nothing had happened as Ben and I stood still unable to respond. We knew she was close to letting herself go, but we still didn´t expect it yet.

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Mi bebita cumple ocho meses hoy. ¡Qué rápido se está pasando el tiempo! ¡Es curioso ver cómo los meses y los años parecen volar mientras que las horas y los días a veces parecen eternos! Pero vayan lento o rápido, lo cierto es que no hay forma de detenerlos.

Ayer, estábamos listos para irnos a la iglesia y era muy temprano para irnos (no me pregunten cómo, yo misma no sé cómo logramos tal hazaña), asi que decidimos quedarnos en la sala de la tele y dejar pasar el tiempo. Yo me senté frente a la computadora y Ben encendió su Playstation 2. En medio de los dos, en el suelo, dos niñitas jugaban. Elena estaba montada en el carrito en que "pasea" por toda la casa, Adriana estaba parada frente a ella, agarrándose del carrito. En ese limbo en que a ratos parecemos estar en que no estamos poniendo atención pero todavía estamos conectados, oí a Elena decir algo así como "Walk, Ana, walk" (instándola a caminar), di un vistazo rápido para ver qué estaba pasando y para mi gran sopresa, ¡Adriana dio tres pasos sola! ¡Y para su hermana! Ellas siguieron jugando como si nada hubiera pasado mientras que Ben y yo estabamos mudos de asombro. Sabíamos que pronto se iba a dejar ir, es sólo que no lo esperábamos tan pronto.

Weekend

We just got back from a great time here. Courtesy of Dad and Mom L. we had a wonderful time with a good portion of the "Levendusky Clan". Do I really need to say more?

About Adoption

To begin with, I am sorry is I misled anyone with my previous entry into thinking I had been to Guatemala. By having been home I meant her home, which I called my own for a season and is still my "home away from home". Sorry about the mix up.

Now for today's thoughts:
I was browsing a new magazine that reached my hands last week. I don't have much to say about the magazine in and of itself except for a couple articles that caught my eye. One of them, "Adopting Helen" not only caught my eye, but my heart as well, and with a choking voice and tears streaming down my face I read it to Ben in the car. We have a heart for adoption. Not a heart that is moved to tears by every adoption story we hear, but a heart that feels the gentle "tug" of the Spirit with certain stories we've come across.

My experience with understanding and appreciating the miracle of adoption began in my teen years, when we foster cared for two babies that were in the process of being adopted by friends we had in Arizona. I have seen firsthand how miraculously God opens a place in a family's heart for a child. I have witnessed the heart of a little child be knit to that of their "new" family with a bond stronger than blood. Early on I understood that adoption is more than a legal action, it is a Godly endeavor, it is a calling.

We don't necessarily know if and when God may call us to the loving task of adopting but we do know that we have a heart for it. It is so close to my heart, it is so close to Ben's heart, and we know it is even closer to God's heart for He adopted us as His own.

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Estaba leyendo una nueva revista que me llegó a las manos la semana pasada. No tengo mucho que decir de la revista en sí, excepto por un par de artículos que me llamaron la atención. Uno de ellos, "La Adopción de Helen" no sólo llamó mi atención sino también cautivó mi corazón. Con la voz quebrada y lágrimas rodando por mis mejillas se lo leí a Ben en el carro. La adopción tiene un lugar importante en nuestro corazón. No hablo de un corazón que se conmueve al punto de las lágrimas cada vez que escuchamos una historia de adopción, sino de un corazón que siente el gentil toque del Espíritu Santo con ciertas historias que escuchamos.

Mi experiencia en entender y apreciar el milagro de la adopción empezó en mis años de adolescente cuando cuidamos a dos bebés que estaban en el proceso de ser adoptados por amigos nuestros en Arizona. He visto en primera fila la manera milagrosa en que Dios abre un lugar en el corazón de una familia para un niño. He sido testigo de cómo el corazón de un niño se entreteje con el de su "nueva" familia hasta formar un vínculo más fuerte que la sangre. Desde muy temprano me di cuenta de que la adopción no es solamente una acción legal, es una tarea divina, es un llamado de Dios.

No sabemos necesariamente si Dios nos va a llamar a adoptar ni cuando pero sí sabemos que en nuestro corazón hay una pasión por la adopción. La adopción está íntimamente ligada a mi corazón, está íntimamente ligada al corazón de Ben y sabemos que está aún más íntimamente ligada al corazón de Dios porque Él nos adoptó como Sus hijos.

In more ways than one

There's no place like home! It is good to "be home" and it was great to "have been home" over the weekend. It sure was a long weekend of travel that rendered my little girls way too tired but that allowed this Mami for a wonderful time of "retreat and recharge". I have been reminded afresh why it is that we do what we do and that it does work for the glory of the Lord even when the daily grind clouds my vision and I can't see it all so clearly. God does have a reason to let us face the challenges we face and we are indeed fulfilling a kingdom purpose. Ben, in turn, had a different kind of retreat where he was also reminded of important things. Once again we see the blending of our individualities into the wholeness of our union and realize that in God's speaking to both at our different "levels of management", He gave us each a piece of puzzle that we now can make into a whole. There is fresh anointing, new details to tweak our vision and new tasks to accomplish our mission. All that from a weekend away... Isn't God great?

Finally!

This is the first morning in over a week that I feel like a normal person. Yay!! I'm still quite congested but at least I can function a little better. And just in the best of times for we have been busy and are about to go out of town.

Let me tell you how much it blesses me when we have people over. I love planning for invitations and having people over for meals but I love it even more when people feel comfortable enough to drop by on a very short notice. We had friends over after church on Sunday for a movie and dessert. An "adult" themed movie (and by "adult" I mean something that has no animated anything in it!) was very much welcomed by yours truly after almost memorizing whatever the "trend" is with Elena, lately it's been this. Monday night we had other friends for dinner. This time we had a wonderful time with a little family just like ours. Elena had her friend to play with and we fellowshipped and enjoyed the conversation. Last night we had even more friends over and we ended up having two more unexpected but very welcomed friends and we had a great time watching American Idol.

Tomorrow we leave town to visit family and won't be back until Tuesday. Laundry and packing are the main activities of the day, followed by cleaning so we can come back to a clean house. So off I go to make sure I travel with everything we need!

How can you not love this face!

I'm telling you... even in the worst of days how can a smile like that not refresh you even a bit!

New discoveries

*Well, there's still no major improvement in my health yet. I'm really getting tired of this. I have no energy or desire to do anything and everything is piling up. My sweet babies have crusted little faces and cry at the sight of a tissue! They are also tired of being sick.

*Today we are just lounging. Ben has a lunch meeting so Elena is happy to have her all time favorite hot dog and I'll see what I can throw together for myself that won't hurt my throat and make me cough. This too shall pass, right?

*Interestingly enough, the last time I lost my voice like this was exactly four years ago in Turkey.

*When I went to bed last night I composed in my mind a most inspiring post that I just can't remember now, so the following little story of Elena should have to do... sorry.

*I came downstairs to find Elena sitting in the couch playing with her fingers. As I got closer, very excitedly she held out her finger and said: "Mami! Kook (look)! Nose!" I looked at her finger and realized the discovery she had just made. I explained that though a very interesting discovery, we don't go around playing with the "surprises" we find in our noses. She is still quite mystified though... how do you tell her that this wonderful new discovery is not so wonderful after all! he,he,he...

Three days...

and still sick... I wish I could be feeling better but that's not the case. Much to my frustration, my voice is still shut, I'm still coughing like crazy and my head is pounding, and I could go on and on, but why bother. Tuesday we were blessed with dinner from a church friend (thank you Lord!) but life needed to get back on track so we have had to go out these past two days. Tonight we're home for good and there are no needs to travel until Saturday night. Leftovers for dinner tonight and "prayerfully" tomorrow I WILL feel better to cook again. I'll check with you again when I feel more like a normal person!

As the day goes...

* BAD: Adriana is having a tough day, my poor sweet thing, tougher than I am! Considering how I feel, I can't even imagine how she feels. Tylenol has been keeping her fever controlled and ibuprofen has been helping ease my body ache that just got worse after "sleeping" on the couch.

* GOOD: Been doing a lot of reading.

* BAD: While napping yesterday Adriana's diaper came off and she soiled our sheets and comforter instead of the diaper. The sheets were washed right away, the comforter had to wait until today, so achy body and all, I had to wash it and am now in the process of drying it.

* GOOD: Yay! for frozen chicken soup I saved from the last time I made it!

* GOOD: Thankful for a caring husband who ran to the grocery store with Elena to pick up the most basic (and urgent) things and left Adriana and me to rest.

* EVEN BETTER: Hubby is excited trying out a grill someone handed us down so he is taking care of his own dinner. Elena has had cereal upon her request (who would have thought that such a little person would have such strong opinions about what she wants to eat! On a normal day we would've probably dealt with it but today I am happy to oblige). I am not really hungry so teas, chicken soup and more warm drinks shall suffice for me today!

How many deaths

...must a mother die to herself? I often wonder about this, I think about it when I have to leave the shower half way through to get Elena out of some kind of mischief she figured out. I think about it when a whole morning has gone by and I haven't been able to use the bathroom because Adriana refuses to let go of me. I think about it when my meal is cut short by a little girl's urgent need, and I especially think about it during the eternal nights I sometimes seem to face.

Last night was one of those. Adriana is cutting a tooth and to add to her discomfort she has a cold, so do I (have a cold, I'm not cutting teeth mind you). We didn't go to bed until about 11 p.m. and by 1 a.m. I just moved to the couch downstairs with her as I realized we were just going to wake Ben and Elena up. From there on my sleep was limited by Adriana's discomfort and my own. Today I am exhausted, feel like throwing up with all the coughing. If it were up to me I'd sleep but my two girls need me and I have no choice but to "tough it up ". The kitchen is dirty, so are the bathrooms, our beds are undone and I'm sure I must look awful but dread looking in the mirror.

But I realize that however sick or tired I may feel, one of their smiles is all it takes for me to find some strength within me. They are so precious! It is just amazing how powerful the sound of their laughter is. I could spend hours just watching them interact and make each other laugh!

The other day we were in the bathroom upstairs and as I came out of the shower I noticed Elena sitting on her "potty", holding a book in her lap. Of course she was fully dressed, there is no other way she'll sit there. What caught my attention though was how many used dryer sheets were on the floor next to her. I went to pick them up and put them in the trash when she stopped me and put them in what she considers their rightful place! I don't know for how long she's been fishing those things from the garbage and storing them in her potty seat. When she goes to sit on it she piles them up at her feet and when her little game is over she proceeds to "wipe herself" with the sheets and put them back inside the potty!

On the other hand, Adriana will cry and crawl through the room just to put on the best and widest of her smiles when I bend down to pick her up. Speaking of her, she will soon have to be transfered from her little basket to the crib. It's not that she has outgrown the basket at all, but she is now standing and is so quick to move around that she wakes up and stands in the basket. So that would probably be my cue to put her in the big crib, at least for the couple hours a night she sleeps by herself.

And so it is that I am sick and tired and my house is a mess. We were supposed to go grocery shopping today but that's not going to happen, thus I have no clue as to what my family will eat today but I am happy and blessed.

Coloring

More pics. to keep you entertained!

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?!

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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!