Busy as can be.

Well, things have been crazy lately. Carlos and I took turns keeping Cristian last week. Our sitter had a conflict, so Carlos took off Monday and Tuesday and I worked from home Wed-Fri. It was fun to see Cristian all day, but working from home was hard. My VPN was slow and the work I was doing did not jive with a slow network. Anyway, I got through it and as a weekend bonus, 4 of my favorite ladies came over. My mom came Friday and spent the entire weekend helping me with Cristian so I could reorganize the house (more on that later) and Lisa, Franny & Zooey came Saturday afternoon. At this stage I was really excited to see Cristian reacting to the girls (who are now almost 8 months old). He was so typically an only child. He looked at them with amazement, but had no intention of sharing mommy and grammie with them. In fact, he NEEDED to be held pretty much the whole time they were here. And, he spent the afternoon engrossed in watching football instead of playing with the girls. What a total guy? Carlos picked up a shift at the resteraunt Sat night, so it was just us girls (and Cristian) for the afternoon. We had such a good time, passing babies and chatting. Really more of a mommy playdate.

So, Cristian has been growing and growing. He has now outgrown his carrier carseat and his changing table. When he was born we bought a small changing pad (made for a bassinet) to use while he was little. Well, this weekend, we had to upgrade. We added the changing table extension on his chest and bought the bigger changing pad. He seems to like the larger pad and now he can kick mommy while I try to change his pants! So, since we added the extension, the changing table would no longer fit on the wall by the closet...so we had to rearrange the nursery which set off a whole house rearrange event. I change the dining room, our spare room and the hall closet. Yeah I am a glutten for punishment.

Yesterday Carlos helped me install our 3-in-1 carseat in my car. Carlos had the carrier base in his car, so he was going to continue using the carrier until we could get a second 3-in-1. Today, when I picked up Cristian and he rode in his big boy seat for the first time, we was sooo cute. He sat up and looked out both windows. He just smiled and his eyes lit up. It was like he was watching a tennis match, his head went back and forth from window to window. It was precious! And, Carlos was cruising Craig's List and found an identical 3-in-1 for his car! He asked all the right question when talking to the seller and he promises to really check it out before agreeing to purchase. The seller is a realtor and they have planned to meet Wed. afternoon (when she is near his office showing houses). I can't wait until he gets to watch in the rear view as Cristian sits up in the truck looking back and forth.

Just a quick update of our week. More pictures to come when I find time to upload them!

Just Pictures

I told mommy, cut to the chase and just post pictures of me doing what I do. It's what people come for anyway!

Grammie D & me at the Kyle Music Festival.


So cool I decided not to smile.


Golf anyone?


Jumperoo + TV = Complete Happiness


Daddy & me taking a little nap before the UT game.


Happy to Bee in my 1st Halloween Costume.


Flying Baby Bee


I'm over it. Can you get this thing off of me now?

31 Years...4 Months...2 years of remembering

Yep, I am the 31 years and Cristian is the 4 months? Bet that was hard to guess, huh? Yeah sure. Well, last Saturday I "celebrated" 31 years of life. It was a nice day: a visit to Philip's place, an AWESOME UT football game, and dinner at Pappasitos. Mom came along for dinner and we had a great time...topped off with more charms for my charm bracelet, a great piture frame, comfy PJs, and ice cream cake. Today, Cristian turned 4 months old! Somehow the time has flown. People warn you about that when they are born, but grasping the concept of flying time is wow. He smiles and giggles, burps and farts, grabs at his toys and fits his whole fist in his mouth. He watches football on the weekends and sleeps through the night. He is the keeper of my heart. Cristian had his 4 month well visit today. He weighs in at 16 pounds 1 ounce and is 27 inches tall. His weight is in the 75th percentile, his height in the 97th percentile...but his head circumference...only the 50th percentile. Yep, a peanut head. Oh well, an efficient brain does not need excessive space anyway! Oh, and I think Cristian is going to be left-handed. Too early to tell...maybe. But, he really favors his left hand. He uses it to grab toys and his bottle, while the right just kind of lays there...always the 2nd to join in.

October 15th is pregnancy and infant loss rememberence day (hence, the 2 years of remembering). So, on my way home Wednesday I stopped by to see Philip. Twice in one week...I haven't done that in some time. I pass the cemetary everyday driving home, but most days I just want to get Cristian as fast as I can. I spent many afternoons when I was pregnant visiting Philip and now I don't always feel like I have time. It was nice to spend a little time with him alone. I can't believe March will be 2 years. Again, my how time flies.

So the week has been a busy one. Here are a few new pictures of Cristian.

We ate gelato, cleaned the cup, then gave Cristian a new look...hehehe...

Cristian's first rice cereal...he likes it, he really likes it!

Could you move a little faster with that spoon?

Nevermind, I'll just suck the excess off your arm. Thanks.

HAVE TO RANT...

WARNING...THIS POST CONTAINS ALOT OF OPINION

Now that Cristian is here, Carlos and I finally "get" it...the big picture...the love of your children. Now that we get it, it makes it even more confusing when we hear of people hurting their children. I don't mean abusing them, obviously with or without children you would be appalled by abuse. I am talking about just the average, everyday, ignoring of kids. Even before I had kids I didn't understand it and now I find it even more unforgiveable. I look at Cristian and I can not imagine not seeing him everyday and hearing all his tales as he grows. I can not imagine missing a sporting event or recital or concert that he is performing in. I can not imagine leaving him with his grandparents for weeks at a time (maybe one week...when he is much, much older...yeah, I'm pretty attached right now! Sorry Mom!). Kids need attention...lots of attention. And, you WILL have to give up many of your selfish needs for them. A roof and food is not parenting, that is caregiving and that is not enough for raising children. You will also be expected to not be their "friend" but be their "PARENT". Children can make their own friends, what they need from Mom AND Dad is parenting.

Need I remind you pregnancy is completely PREVENTABLE. If you don't want the responsibility of children then don't have any. If you do not want to be a parent you don't have to be. Instead of abortions, lets hand out contraceptives so we never have to cross that bridge. This is not rocket science people. We all know how babies are made. Duh.

Sorry for the rant, that is so one of my hot buttons, and it has been coming up in conversations alot this week (Have you heard about the guy who left 9 kids ages 1 to 17 at a Hospital in Nebraska?) I had to get that off my chest. Thanks for "listening".

Please appreciate your little miracles, you will never get a second chance to raise them and enjoy all the stages they go through.

New Law!!!

I was so excited today to open my email and find that a new law will soon be signed by President Bush. This new law will give parents who have received pre-natal diagnosis of Trisomy 13, 18, 21 (Down's) and other genetic syndromes access to information about their diagnosis and networks that could offer assistance and support. This is a BIG victory for families (like us) facing those difficult decisions. We were blessed to have doctors that (for the most part) supported us and gave us all the info they could. We also had friends and family that supported us and gave so much during our journey with Philip. I have been so amazed and saddened by the stories from other familes that were not so lucky. They had doctors and worse, friends and family, that were not supportive or helpful. They were given inaccurate information and made life altering decisions based on that bad info; having to live with the consequences. Hopefully this new law will insure that families are making decisions based on facts and not opinions. So they can be really comfortable with all the decisions they make regarding their little babies. Here is a link if you want to read more about the specifics.
http://www.trisomy18.org/site/DocServer/S_1810_passed_by_House.pdf?docID=1041

Of course with this good news, I have spent much of my day thinking about my little Philip. Here he is, with a few new pics of little brother Cristian.

3 months old...

Look how cute I am in my 3-month pictures!


Not to sure about this whole sitting up thing.

I really prefer my back better, especially when I watch TV.

I was trying to tell mom I was so over the photoshoot, but she just kept snapping!

We took Cristian to Pappasitos for his 3 month birthday dinner last night. He didn't get to have any of the delicious food or margaritas, but he enjoyed sitting outside on the patio and watching the waterfall while mommy and daddy cleaned their plates. We even threw pennies into the fountain with wishes for both Cristian and Philip. It was fun. We haven't really had a whole lot of family time outside the house since Cristian was born, so this was such a treat. Carlos has taken to saying that everyday is Christmas at our house. Cristian is our daily gift that keeps on giving. We are amazed everyday as he takes in the world around him and continues to change and grow. We are so in awe of him.

Update!

The past couple of weeks has been pretty busy. Work is starting to pick up, the fall is our busy season. Sorry for the lack of a post in awhile.

Cristian had a cold last week. We took him to the doc on Tues just to make sure it wasn't an infection. Luckily, just a cold. He has gained another pound and another inch! 14 1/2 pounds and 25 inches long. This kid is so tall...must get that from Daddy! Our doc is so great, everytime we go he teaches us something new. This time we learned to put vaseline on the end of the rubber sucker thingy before putting it in Cristian's nose. Apparently, the rubber can take some of the inner nose skin off if you use it without the vaseline! I had no idea. Poor kid, no wonder he hates that thing! Bad Mom, Bad Mom. Cristian sat on Daddy's lap for most of the appointment listening to everything the doc said. His only objection came in the form of a raised eyebrow when the discussion turned to the role of vaseline in assisting in the relief of constipation. He didn't seem too keen on that one. The raised eyebrow got a big grin and laugh from the doc. My kid, what a comedian. In the end, we are rockin' the saline nose drops and moving past the "first cold". The jury is still out on the constipation assist, I am hoping a little extra H2O in his bottle will do the job and we won't have to cross that bridge!

Oh, for those of you who have sweetly asked, my family is all safe and sound after the hurricane. Ike did very little damage to the houses of my family and my Aunt Ellen and Uncle Carl were able to fly out of Louisianna to make their Alaskan cruise! I wish I could have gone with them...I hear those Alaskan cruises are relaxing and the scenery is fantastic! Plus, I wouldn't have to squeeze my two babies in two years butt into a bathing suit! Double bonus!

BTW- Cristian LOVES football! He hangs out with Dad in the recliner and watches game after game! Here are some recent pictures with all his longhorn gear! And that outfit...a size 12 months! It's big on the sides, but lengthwise...perfect!

All smiles!!! I tried to get the raised eyebrow, but my camera is too slow!