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.