1st Birthday (four months later)

I am SO behind on posting about Alex's birthday party, it's ridiculous. Regardless, my baby boy is 1 year old. We had his birthday party in October and it was loads of fun. It was all about cowboys (and cowgirls), with pony rides and a small petting zoo.









Alex loved touching the animals...and licking their cages, but that's another story. He also thoroughly enjoyed the red velvet cake (by the amazing Jane Holmes!).











We were so excited to have so many friends and family members make it to the party. And some of the adults got in on the 'costume' action with the kids! (I took a ton of pictures, but seriously...Blogger is so super-slow on the upload feature, that you'll just have to relive those moments in your mind if you came to the party, or I'll email you some files separately. I don't have time for a nice little blog design.)










For me, the 1st Birthday is partly a celebration that Armando and I survived the first year of a new baby and all the stress that goes along with it and also a realization of how most of that stress is really insiginificant in the grand scheme of things. We are so blessed with two healthy kids that make us laugh, make us stretch ourselves to be better parents, who teach us about the beauty of simple things, and bring us such joy.

Happy (very belated) Birthday, Alex! I love you forever!!

three.

And so, my girl is three. There was a party, we decorated, she ate cupcakes (her favorite!)...she was so excited! Tonight I found this picture I snapped a few weeks ago and realized that a.) she's sitting on the same bench and wearing the same headband as a similar picture from last year. weird. and b.) that time is completely flying! This time next year, she will be in preschool. That's it - I have nothing else to write. I have to go cry now.

Redneck Hospitality

Entertaining. It's one of my most favorite things to do. I love decorating for a party, having friends over or just having an impromptu party with my family. The other day, Sofi wanted to have a picnic. Unfortunately, it just wasn't a picnic kind of day... it was a thousand degrees outside and I was busy getting ready for a shoot, needed to do some laundry, needed to prep dinner before I left, needed to do lots of things. But oh, how we long to please our children! So I grabbed a blanket, a bag of chips, turkey sandwiches (disgusting, nitrate filled lunchmeat - gasp!), some baby food for Alex and our drinks. We plopped down on the blanket and had lunch on the living room floor. Sofi, who lives for parties, says to me, "Mommy, where are the decorations?" It makes me proud to know that even an (almost) 3 year old can recognize good or bad party planning. If she knew the word 'redneck', I'm pretty sure she would have applied it to that picnic. Alex, on the other hand, thought it was a great party. Just like a typical guy...he ate with gusto, belched loudly and picked some fuzz between his toes.

defending the homestead

And so it begins. Each Spring, word gets out among the bird community that wreaths, bushes and ferns, all prime nesting real estate, are available at the SanMiguel home. It started a few years ago and now the amount of birds we deal with each year gets worse. I've never been much of a bird watcher, but I've admired my share of winged beauties in the past. Unfortunately, a few bad birds has ruined any admiration I had for pretty much the whole species. (Except maybe flamingos...because they're pink and I like the way Sofi says "flaminko".)

So this year, on those long, cold days of winter, I began to plan my attack. Any time I felt a twinge of sympathy for the poor little mama birds looking for a place to lay her precious baby eggs...I would remember the poop. And I would recount the amount of money I spend each year on ferns, only to have them become a brothel for bird lovin'. Then I get mad again and resolve NOT to spend another spring and summer scraping bird poop off my porch and Sofi's swingset. No more will I try to keep those devil birds off my tomato cages and watch as they peck away at my growing crop!

And so...two weeks ago when those nasty things appeared and started pecking on my kitchen windows (YES, they peck our windows as if to insist we bring out the ferns immediately), I knew it was time to gird up my loins and prepare to fight. We're taking extreme measures this year. For all you bird lovers or PETA members, turn away - do not continue reading this post.

Introducing....The Garden Defender.

















I did some research online and found there is a whole community of us who are trying to defend our homes from the attacks of these winged demons. Apparently, they are afraid of owls...and as luck would have it, Home Depot carries owl statues, appropriately called The Garden Defender. I'm starting with one, but if those things don't stay away, I'll perch one on every corner of my house. And what the owl doesn't take care of....

the Marksman Repeater BB Gun will!













Birds beware. We're armed and we're coming for you.

kids ruin everything

My body...ruined - at least in the sense that I'll probably only wear a bikini again if I visit a beach in Europe. No one there cares what they look like, as I've witnessed first hand.

My house...ruined. It's slowly becoming consumed by kid gear. I trip on their junk a thousand times a day even though I'm a "toy minimalist". I don't allow a lot of stuff to accumulate in toy boxes and bedrooms. But still, everywhere I look, my cute home accessories are being replaced by things that light up and make irritating noises.

My tv time...ruined. Now I only get to watch Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and some retarded show called Jungle Junction. I used to allow Dora, but she gets on my nerves. I've got enough Mexicans in my house and if we need to be bilingual, I'll order Rosetta Stone.

My private bathroom time...ruined. I haven't peed by myself in over two years. And if you know me well, you know that I live for my evening bath. It's one of my favorite parts of the day. But now Sofia wanders in almost every night and sits on the edge of the tub saying things like, "Mommy, are you taking a bath? I see your boobies".

My sex life...ruined. At my 6-week checkup the other day, my OBGYN told me I was 'cleared to resume sexual activity'. I asked for a second opinion. "Resuming sexual activity" is what got me into trouble to begin with...twice!

My wardrobe...ruined. The baby weight is gone (insert "Hallelujah Chorus"), but my body parts seem to have shifted into new positions - primarily shifted "south", that is. I ask myself the same question every morning, "When can I start wearing cute clothes again?" Then the Anthropolgie catalogue comes in the mail and I'm tormented again. I don't want spit-up and gravity-defying poop to get on my cute "not-too-momish" outfits. This must be why so many moms give up and start wearing those velour running suits I so despise.

My mode of transportation...ruined. There is no way to look cool while you're driving a minivan. On a rare trip to the store by myself recently, I decided to crank up some Joss Stone and rock out for a few minutes. You know, to feel like my pre-mom self who had great taste in music and fashion. But as I parked the van at Target, I caught another mom looking at me as she pushed her school-aged children in the "mega cart" (while wearning a velour running suit). Her look was one of jealousy that I was shopping alone, mixed with a knowing smile because she, too, used to try and look cool...while driving a minivan.

Going out for dinner...ruined. Now, as we load everyone up in the van, we ask questions like, "Do kids eat free there?" Because every parent knows that when your child, who loves chicken fingers, orders chicken fingers, they will refuse to eat the chicken fingers. If we had the $4.99 back for all the uneaten chicken fingers we've purchased over the last year, we would be rich. We've figured out why smart restaurants advertise "Kids Eat Free". Instead of eating a late dinner at cool downtown eateries like we used to do, you'll now find us eating in "kid-friendly" (I used to hate that phrase) locales with a bunch of retired blue-hairs at 5pm.

All in all, these kids have completely ruined me...ruined me for wanting anything else but to be their mom. They are the most fun I've ever had, biggest challenge I've ever tackled and greatest joy I've ever known. I know my body will take shape again and I'm so grateful for two uncomplicated pregnancies, labors and deliveries. I'm thankful for two healthy babies. Thankful that I've never known the agony of sitting in a hospital room unable to make my sick child feel better. Thankful that God has allowed me to be a mother when so many women ache to hold a child in their arms. Thankful for the privilege of being a stay-home-mom with a nice house to raise our kids in, when so many kids are without a parent and without a home. Thankful for a wonderful husband who shares this burden...I mean, adventure, with me. :0)













(Side note: these kids ruined my annual trip to Dickens Christmas last weekend. That is unforgiveable and will not be tolerated next year.)

'thankful' for my friend...

Thanksgiving was a little different this year...Sofia was very sick and Armando was slowly catching the bug, too. Only Alex and I escaped the funky coughs, runny nose and fevers. Thank the Lord!













While we missed celebrating with our families, we did have an impromptu Thanksgiving dinner on Friday night with Amanda.













She joined us for a dinner in our sweats and PJ's and brought awesome sweet potato casserole just for me! That's how I know she's a good friend...she knows I can't have a holiday dinner without sweet potatoes. Here's Sofia licking her lips to dig into some good food!













For those that don't know her, Amanda is one of my very dearest friends. I met her when we worked at AIM Healthcare and it's truly one of the best things that ever came of my move to Tennessee 10+ years ago. I always say she's the kind of friend who makes me relax. Meaning, I can tell her about things that are going on in my life (whether important or trivial) and once I'm finished venting, I feel better. She's like my brother, Daren - she's willing to "hate" anyone I'm angry with and is always on MY side. Everyone needs one of those friends (and/or brothers!). Plus we laugh at the same kinds of things...ok, and people. Armando and I have always loved hanging out with her and Donnie. Even better, my daughter loves them...or maybe it's just because they have dogs.

The best thing about our friendship is the way we can make completely inappropriate photo memories of Alex's first Thanksgiving...

4 weeks

Alex is growing fast and getting big - as evidenced by my tired arms at the end of the day. (I'm hoping it will help me achieve those Jennifer Aniston arms I so covet.) He's four weeks old today - can't believe it!

Sleep evades us and some days I feel like he must surely be a year old because it seems that long since I've had a full night's sleep. :0) Nonetheless, he is a very good baby; easy going, laidback and happy to snuggle up with his mommy. Sofia has adjusted well and is becoming quite the doting sister. I find myself slipping on some of my motherly duties...like religiously making notes in his baby book, snapping pictures of each day of life, reading books to him with different voices for each character...all of the things I did with Sofia. This time around, I try to remember to snap a pic here and there and scratch a quick note in my planner so that I can transfer it to the baby book one day...ah, one day. To help ease his tummy troubles of late, the pediatrician has me feeding him smaller 'meals' every two hours. By the time I nurse him, burp him, change his diaper and make sure Sofia is staying out of trouble, it's about time to feed again, so my days are running together. Oh, these are the things that God causes you to forget over time or surely women would not continue to have kids! Even so, I do see light at the end of the tunnel and a routine is slowly emerging. I am amazed at how the Lord causes us to love each child completely and yet differently. Sofia and Alex are my joy and even with bags under my eyes and four weeks of no sleep, I am so grateful to have my little ones with me every day...each and every long, long day. :0) Just kidding!!