Elaina's 2nd Birthday!

The Birthday Girl. She was SO excited!

Mommy and Elle with her cake

Marcus wanted one with little sis too. :)

Elaina LOVES Minnie Mouse! She was fun to watch as her cake was getting made and she recognized that it was Minnie! She loved it which made all the prep work SO worth it for the Mama!

Popi and Elaina before her party. Love this picture of you two. xoxoxo

Oh darn. I got this one in the wrong place but here's her with all her gifts, minus her new wheels! So spoiled [loved] Elaina. I hope more than the nice gifts you received, you remember you have a family who loves and supports you in all you do! That is more valuable than ANY thing anyone of us could have bought you [even though all the nice cute clothes and other gifts and necessities were nice and VERY much appreciated. You are very blessed to have a family that loves and adores you! Don't ever forget that.]

I didn't really think this gift through, once all the kids saw, they SWARMED the car! Cute Megs ran for it, pushing Justin out of the way and hopped right in next to her! LOL I wasn't able to get my reaction picture due to the utter chaos following the exact moment they all saw it but it was fun to watch them esp. the birthday girl.

I love this picture! All the kids went CRAZY when they saw it! They couldn't wait for a turn!

You wouldn't know by their faces, but they were lovin' it! I think Justin just got to get back in for another turn and then they went down the steep drive way and he wasn't too sure about it.

2 years old and already a pro at walkin' in Mommy's 4 inch heels.

Mommy and Elaina on her birthday at Chili's! She got to share some of my DP...another generation started. ;) Not the best picture of her but she's getting hopped up on DP and it's her birthday so the Mama let her!

Our handsome boys at Elaina's birthday dinner. Owe owe.

Elaina and her best buddy and friend, on her birthday. She LOVES her Papa!

I cannot believe you are already 2 young lady. You have taken us on more adventures and thrills than I could have ever hoped for and it's been 2 short years. Popi and I have loved watching you grow and develop. It's been esp. fun lately to watch as you learn to talk and is always amazing and a surprise when you just repeat a word we didn't know you knew. You have developed quite the attitude and personality. You are THE sweetest, most thoughtful, caring little thing but you also have a a saucy, sassy side too, kind of like your Mama. ;) You love purses, shoes [you love wearing Mommy's shoes around plus you always show off your shoes to ANYONE who will look], cell phones, Minnie Mouse is your FAVORITE but you also like the Princesses and TinkerBell. You love Cafe Rio (and their mints) and whenever we drive by a Rio, you shout, "Mommy, Daddy...Rio!" and throw your arms up in excitement. You love going for drives and special trips in the car esp with Popi and "Maca" -your word you CREATED for Grandma. You crack me up when you turn your cell phone backwards and say, "Cheese." If that's the worst thing I teach you, I can definitely live with that. ;) You have a very kind and tender heart, you get HEARTBROKEN if Daddy or Papa tell you no or scold you! It's the end of your world and looking at your face I can feel the pieces of your little heart just breaking. You love your Papa and Daddy, you've had both of them wrapped around your little finger since the day you were born. You take such good care of your Papa. One example is if you see his oxygen has come apart, you immediately pick it up and say all frustrated/worried, "Papa." and run it straight to him-I know you've watched "Maca" and I do this over and over and it kills me how cute you are every time I see you do it. Your buddies include: Papa, Maca, Marcus, Justin, Megs, Josh, Emmy, and Jaxon. [Besides Justin, I think you and Papa and Maca get into the most mischief together.] You love ALL your cousins, Aunts and Uncles and frequently call them on your phone to talk and say hi. You LOVE spicey foods including chips and SALSA which you have been known to drink on more than one occasion!

For these reasons and SO MANY others, you have forever captured my heart and I will love and cherish you for eternity as I know your Popi does too. Thanks for being our ray of sunshine when things go wrong or get hard. You are truly a blessing to all who are lucky to be a part of your life.

My Love Forever, Mommy xoxo

New Arrival Coming May 2011

It all started January this year with a very strong impression it was time for baby #3. Elaina still being pretty small at 16 months I wasn't really ready to have another one. The feeling persisted ALL year long. It was very frustrating seeing how Manny was out of work for 5 months the beginning of the year, I didn't feel like it was the responsible thing to do to get pregnant when he was out of work and not knowing what the future would bring. In May, I couldn't deny the feelings any longer so I called my OB's office to see about when I could have my IUD out. Soonest I could get in was July 28th. I figured it'd take 2-3 months to conceive like they said it does with most woman [even though you idealy can get pregnant right away] so getting pregnant in September or October seemed perfect. This baby had other plans though. ONE month and he's on his way, guess they were really in a hurry to get here after all. The end of August I was EXTREMELY tired, dizzy, and had brief moments of nausea. I remember sitting for a patient at work wondering why I was so tired and not feeling so hot. I kept telling myself surely it wasn't that I was PREGNANT already but thought about how I was with Elaina and then knew that I was. Elaina's 2nd birthday was coming up soon so I decided to wait to take a pregnancy test the day of her birthday so we'd officially find out on a special day. On Elaina's birthday, we got home from Chili's for her birthday dinner and I headed to take the test. About a half a second and it was very much POSITIVE. Manny and the kids were their room talking so I took it in to show him and we just told them right then. They were SO excited. I don't know that Elaina really knows what it meant but she was sure EXCITED. Marcus yelled, "I get to name it. If it's a boy it's Tiger, if it's a girl it's Tiger!"

September 2nd, the day we officially found out, too excited to wait. My plan was to order T-Shirts for both the kids to wear to Sunday dinner to make their big announcement. Marcus' would have said, "I'm going to be a BIG brother, again!" and Elaina's would have said "I'm going to be a BIG sister!" We wanted to wait to make Marcus a part of it but we wouldn't have him again for another 2 weekends because of the holiday; factoring in Manny's big mouth and the fact he can't keep a secret we decided to go ahead and tell Grammy and Papa the big news and tell the rest of the family that Sunday. My ghetto sign isn't a cute T-Shirt but at least it was somewhat creative vs Manny just spilling the beans. We wanted the kids to make the announcement and since I couldn't get a T-Shirt made in 2 days, this worked.

Here's a few of the families reactions to Elaina telling the them about her big news! I love the expressions on the kids faces!

So proud! She was so cute prancing around showing everyone her big news!

Marcus Man

Here's just a couple of Marcus from the day we took their pictures together...I'm not posting all of them but I didn't want to leave him out because there were a LOT of handsome, studly ones of him. :)

* One of my favorites* I did an arrangement on their bedroom wall with expression shots in black in white and I love it!!! This is one of them that I used of Marcus. Elaina is so proud to take people in their room and show them her wall with her and Marcus, she loves to show them her handsome big brother!

What a handsome little devil, just like his Popi. Love you kiddo.

Miss Elaina - 18 Months-ish

Here are some of Elaina's pictures I took of her this Summer. With bad weather, a late Spring and things that kept coming up we got to these a little later but here they are.

I love this one of my little sassy sweatheart

My little poser, love it.

Her sweet little smirk.

The wheels are turning....I wonder what she is contemplating so hard about.

The BIG Move!

We finally did it. Elaina moved up to Marcus' room last Saturday. When we first started talking to both of them Marcus was only ever VERY excited to get to have Elaina as a room mate and Elaina was pretty excited too! Her little stories and animations as we talked to her were adorable. She felt so big all day as we moved her things and talked to her more to try and make the transition an easy one for her.

Marcus excited to share his room with his sister and have a room mate!

Getting her blanket ready just so....

Total poser! ;)

Trying to settle down. SO excited!

Marcus pretending to be asleep....funny kid.

SO HAPPY!!!

We have a monitor in their room but I had to go sneak a peak of my sleeping angels. They were passed out! The transition for her and Marcus was smooth and positive. Only problem we encountered was the first night. After I got a few pictures and said goodnight for I dunno, the 10th time, I just hung out in the kitchen for a minute to make sure they were going to settle down. All of a sudden I hear Marcus screaming and shouting at Elaina. I go in to see what the matter was and through his alligator tears he tells me that Elaina got up and out of bed and closed the door all of the way and he didn't want it closed all the way!! He has always slept with the lamp on and the door open enough that we can stick our whole head in - many nights us having to prove to him that we can in fact fit our whole head through the opening. We told him with him starting preschool this fall it was time for him to graduate to sleeping with just a night light and the door being open just a crack. Reason being, Elaina is use to sleeping with the lights all off and the door closed and I don't want to make her afraid of the dark and afraid of having doors closed at nearly 2 years old so this is ONE of the times little sis gets to help her big brother to be brave and strong. After I reminded him that he was a big boy now and that Elaina was right across the room and she would help him to not be scared and that she's not even 2 and wasn't afraid - he found new found courage and was OK after some more hugs and kisses. Marcus slept from then until morning and Elaina did wake up with her said little cry twice but after hearing a reassuring voice [Manny the first time and me the second time] she was out for the count. Sunday night she fell out of bed but otherwise slept through the night. Only draw back thus far is both Sunday and today she woke up early [it's much brighter in their room in the morning] but that's going to put a damper on me getting to sleep in the days I have to work at night but I'm sure we will adapt to that in time as well. This was a perfect weekend to do it because we had Marcus 3 nights instead of 2 so he was really able to help to make the transition easier, more fun and positive for her - and us too.

Marcus when I checked back to make sure they were okay. ;)

Love you two to pieces!

Sweet Dreams

xoxoxoxo

4th of July

C E L E B R A T I N G INDEPENDENCE DAY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA!

Elaina and Marcus at our 4th of July BBQ on Sunday. Looking mighty patriotic and cute!

Getting so big!

Mom's festive "Patriotic Trifle" - Very pretty

Mmmm...yummy and so festive!

I had to work Saturday night so obviously no pictures of the annual BBQ at Andrus' or of fireworks but Manny, Marcus and Elaina had a blast with the family. I am so grateful to the men and woman and their families who sacrifice so much so my family and I can enjoy the freedoms and lives we have today. God Bless the USA!

Montes Nino's - July 2010

Love the expression in her hands in this one. She does this with her hands all the time when she's playing adorable or trying to get out of hot water for being in trouble. I love the expression on Marcus' little face too. *Happiness*

Around 17-18 months she discovered her pockets and loves to put things in them as well as walk around struting her stuff with her hands in her pocket.

I love Marcus' expression in this one.

I love this one and the one below. These two have their moments like any other siblings in the world but most of the time, they are so sweet and like 2 peas in a pod. They've always had a close and sweet bond - I hope as they grow older that never changes. I'm so in love with them. They are my greatest joys.

These pictures were taken July 1, 2010. I've needed a good picture of the two of them since Elaina was born and I finally got a few that I love. Elaina was a little bear so the fact I got any of her that she wasn't screaming was a miracle in and of itself. Most of them she isn't looking at the camera but they are still some of her adorable smiles and natural candid facial expressions she pulls. As a Mom, those are some of my very favorite ones!