The Fog is Lifting

Moms, you know that feeling after you have a baby where you kind of feel like you are in a fog. Not that its bad, but you are just in a mode of functioning in which your brain is not totally functioning. That feeling where if you worked on household finances or tried to do a meal plan for the month or even thought about all the project that need to get done, you might start crying even though you really are totally fine? Well I can finally say that my own personal "fog" is finally lifting. Here are the factors that contributed to my prolonged "fog":

1. Having Charley- this goes without saying of course

2. Elinor breaking her leg- looking back now, this was a minor event. However, at the time, it was very difficult to process everything working out. She has had her cast off for about a month and so far the doctor says the bones are not growing funny.

3. Finishing up a very long and emotional short sale of our home- We happened to buy our home right before the economic crisis began and before we knew it we were upside down. God has graciously delivered us from this situation and we are FINALLY done with the whole ordeal. It was sad to let go of our home because it is where we brought home both of our babies and we have some sweet memories there.

4. Getting moved and settled into our new home- we are renting a fabulous home in Simi Valley and it is really perfect for our family. It is taking a little bit of time to totally get settled in since we are caring for two kids under two, but it certainly feels like home.

Some things I am really looking forward to now that I am starting to feel like myself:

1. Celebrating Christmas with my family. I bought a book at the Christian store that counts down christmas for kids with an activity everyday. We are going to actually celebrate advent this year and do something special everyday. Things like decorating cookies, reading christmas books, and making paper chains for the tree. Every night we are going to light a new candle, one for every day counting up to Christmas. I really think Elinor will love this.

2. Cooking- cooking is something I really truly love to do. I have had a fascination with cooking (not baking mind you) since I was really young. I love finding new recipes and eating something new all the time. But this is also something, for whatever reason, that takes a back seat whenever I get really busy or overwhelmed.

3. Working out- I didn't want to take Charley when he was so young, then Elinor broke her leg and I was not sure how she would do in childcare, then people started freaking me out about the swine flu...... but I am over it, I tell you! It is time to get back to the gym!

4. My quiet times, It always happens that when I should be in God's word more, I end up being in it less. I have a dream, that one day I will be mature enough that this will not be the case :)

In the end, I can see that God's Grace is truly sufficient through everything. I have a beautiful family and nothing to complain about.

Life with Two

The Day Before

I have to admit that there have been some huge plusses to knowing the exact date I am going to give birth. I have been able to plan out the days before labor to the minute! ;) hmmmmm..... Haven't I learned yet that things never go exactly as planned?!!! Well let's just say we had a slight "hitch" in our schedule when we found fleas on our dog Roxie monday night. AHHHHHH!!!!!!!! I know I am not totally in my right mind right now but someone PLEASE agree with me that this is just about the worst thing that could happen while 9 months pregnant, with an infant coming in a few days and a toddler that enjoys licking just about every surface she comes across. Fortunately we caught it early and though I went into a slight panic waking up the whole house late Monday night to bath, vacuum, strip sheets, and wash clothing, we had it under control quickly. But like I said my in depth cleaning, packing, and memory making schedule was messed up. Thank you Jesus for reminding me you are in control and I am not, I would not want it any other way. And might I add that I have the most amazing and understanding husband in the world!

However, there was one thing that was so incredibly important to me and I am actually rather emotional about the whole thing. And that was purposefully making memories with Elinor before she is no longer my only baby. I have had a plan for a long time now that the day before Charley comes I wanted to have a special day with Elinor. I am so very thankful to God that He allowed us to have the sweetest most precious time together today as a family. I know I will cherish these memories. It is hard for me to put into words all the emotions that are going through me when it comes to Elinor becoming a "big sister" so I will not try. Here are some pictures of our last day before we become a family of 4.

Silly Elinor and Daddy

Winning some tickets at the arcade

"Look what I won!"

Our last Family of 3 Picture

Mommy's Choice for Elinor

Elinor's Choice (the one we actually bought)

My babies

Greek food! She loved gyro

She totally got sick on sherbet

Not so photogenic moments, just for fun....

Some of Elinor's "less than best" moments :)

This is what we like to call her "Napoleon Dynamite" Hair

High on Life and Pretzel Sticks

First time eating Chinese Food........

Quick trips to the beach = not rubbing sun screen in all the way

Quick Potty try after swimming in the pool

5 Years Later and I Couldn't Love Him More

WARNING: this is the sappiest blog I have ever an will probably ever write. However, it was on my heart and I now share it with you.

When I first saw Joe it was at a basketball game at Grace College. He was on the team and my friend Annika (whom I was visiting since I was not attending the school yet) pointed him out to me as he ran on the court. If I did believe in "Love at first sight", I experienced it at that moment. I will not say that Joe was the reason that I transferred to Grace College the following semester, but I do believe that my life story which lead me to make the decision to go to Grace was all designed by God to bring me to Joe. I even remember being in Elementary school and watching a high school basketball game in which GBHS played a team from Manila, Philippines called Faith Academy (Joe's school and Raina, Joe's sister was actually playing on the team) I remember thinking to myself, "My future husband could be anywhere in this world, he could even be in the Philippines" Yes, a silly romantic thought of a young girl, but it is a memory that stuck with me and in the end came true. Like I said before I don't believe in love at first sight, but I do know this: I prayed fervently for God's perfect mate for me since I was a young girl. I prayed that God would never let me settle and that I would patiently await His best for me. Since the day I married Joe I have never doubted for one second that he was what I had been praying for my whole life. From the moment I saw Joe, I only had eyes for Joe. Thank you, Jesus for the amazing blessing my husband is to me. And thank you Joe for waiting patiently for me as well. I love you, I admire you, I respect you and I am so grateful for our life together. Here are some pictures of our first trip to vegas exactly 5 years ago, And our recent 5 year anniversary trip to Vegas exactly 5 years later.


  
 

Free Summer Fun

This summer we have been exploring some of the free things that Simi Valley has to offer for Kids. Here are some pictures of a free craft time offered at the Simi Valley Mall. 

Only One Year Later

Here are some pictures that we took last year while camping in Yosemite. Elinor was 4 1/2 months. And here are the "same" pictures taken while camping in Morro Bay. Elinor is 1 year 5 months old.

The Gift of Freedom

Elinor LOVES to swim. Since the beginning of May she has been swimming between 2 and 4 times a week. Mommy loves Elinor to swim because she inevitably will always take a 3 hour nap post water activities:) Elinor is incredibly fearless (to a major fault) and she gets rather peeved off when the person holding her will not let go of her. She clearly has no idea that letting go=sinking=a very bad day. So Joe and I bought a tube that she can sit in and move around on her own. It lets her sink into the water up to her chest. She hated it. It hindered her desire to put her face under water at will and to roll onto her back. So we searched for the perfect solution. First we bought this amazing little bathing suit that has floaters inside the body of it. She loved it but it didn't exactly keep her upright, not that she cared. Joe and I just have this odd desire to have our daughter with us for the next many many years so we decided not to let her float face down in the water. So we bought the good old arm floaties and PRESTO, we have found the perfect combination for Elinor's freedom. Now mind you we are never more than a few feet away from her at any given moment. But to Elinor we handed her adventure and bliss on a silver platter. To see my little girl that excited and happy without endangering her life is a good thing indeed.

Our Little Guy

 Its hard to tell what's what in this picture but I know that little thing sticking out was NOT in Elinor's picture :)

Recent Cuteness

Cuddly Girl

Elinor lately is super active. She runs around at a mile a minute and I feel like she will never slow down sometimes. She also loves to entertain people. She knows how to make people laugh and she practices her skills whenever she gets a chance. Oftentimes when we go pick her up from church childcare or the childcare at the gym we will catch her in the middle of the room (doing whatever it may be) with all of the workers watching her and laughing. Needless to say she is also a handful! But we love every second of it. One thing I am loving the most about her right now, is how cuddly she is when she finally slows down. Here are some pictures of her more docile moments.