Let's Count Our Blessings

Tonight I was talking at dinner with A.J. about how sometimes things happen during the course of the day, and we dismiss them as good or bad luck and don't take the time to realize the hand that God has on our lives and how He is in charge of every waking moment we are on this earth. Today a painter came over to get some paint colors and to go over last minute details (we are getting the inside of our house painted this week). While I was in the hallway with him, Hannah found her way to the glass bowl that I had just put out for Ruby in the house, in case she was thirsty. Part of me did this out of laziness (I am tired of letting Ruby out multiple times a day to get water) and another part of me thought Hannah wouldn't play with it, since it has been out before and I thought lost its novelty to her. Well, as I was with the painter in the hallway, I heard what sounded like glass breaking. I walked out to see what happened and Hannah was bringing to me what was now the glass bowl in two broken pieces. As she was running over to me, she took a hard fall on her face and sent the two glass pieces shattering into many little pieces. As I watched this happen I was fearful for her but once I saw that she was fine, I quickly got her up, checked her hands for cuts and proceeded to talk to her about why we don't touch Ruby's water bowl. After I cleaned up and the painter left, something hit me. How quickly I dismissed her fall as no big deal just because she was alright. The reality is, this could have been a disaster. She was carrying two sharp glass pieces when she fell...it could have poked her eyes out, could have sliced her throat, could have punctured her heart...anything. She could have fell right on top of these glass pieces. I had to stop, rethink what had just happened, and thank the Lord above that He had Hannah in His hands and kept her safe. If it was a different day, who knows, this outcome could have been very different. So, I am counting my blessings and so thankful that God protected my baby and kept her out of harms way. I am also pondering on the fact that moments like these happen everyday, blessings sent down from God that go unrecognized and unappreciated...I am humbled and in awe of His faithfulness despite our human ingnorances. As far as mommy's lesson...why the heck would I put a GLASS bowl on the ground? Ever heard of plastic?? Oh by the way, this picture was taken a couple weeks ago, and it was the first time we gave Hannah spaghetti noodles to eat all by herself. She loves pasta and got a kick out of the long stringy noodles...another little blessing it was to watch her eat it all up :)

Our Beloved Norma

Well today we said goodbye to our Norma. Norma was the grandmother to the Papi side cousins, Michelle and Jason, but was also my grandma Doris' best friend. So needless to say, she has ALWAYS been present in mine and my sisters' lives, and has been just like another grandmother to us. Every holiday came with a little gift to us, and as we got older and started having children, Norma would always have a special gift for our kids on the holidays. Her presence will be especially be missed at grandma's on Sundays when we don't see her in her same little spot on the red couch anymore. Her sweetness, gentleness, patience and love left an indelible impression on my life and heart and she will forever be remembered for these qualities and the fruit of the spirit which lived so evidently in her heart. Her funeral was such a special tribute to her life and her relationships with all of us. A couple times during her eulogy it was mentioned that Norma loved watching Hannah and my sisters' children playing and growing up. The feeling was mutual Norma and all of our kids loved you so much. In fact, as I was saying prayers with Hannah tonight, I told her that Norma was with Jesus and to say hello to her and she answered back with "I love Norma." She truly did. The last time Hannah and I saw Norma she was in the rehab facility and we visited with her for about an hour. During that time Hannah must have given her four hugs, completely unsolicited. Norma we all love you so much and you will be dearly missed. Thank you for your unconditional love and constant presence in all of our lives.

Where Do You Want Me?

Sometimes I am filled with questions, questions I can't answer and don't know when God will, or if He already has. For the last couple years, that daunting question has been, "God, where do you want me?" Why can't I hear Him? Sometimes my heart says to be patient and that I am right where He wants me, and other times I feel just like I am treading. God, is my purpose to be a mother and raise our children to love you? To be a faithful wife? To love you? Is this all? Is there something more out there for me, someway that I can reflect your love and light on the world and change it for the better if only in my one little way? What is my ministry Lord? This body is your vessel, please use me.

Hannah and her Barney

I really wish I would have started filming Hannah doing this earlier when her love for Barney first developed. I kept telling myself, "you gotta get this on film." She would literally dance nonstop through the whole song. Not just swaying or stomping feet, but legitimate swinging and jumping and getting low to the floor kind of dancing. Witnessing this has brought so much laughter and joy to me and A.J. that we have now resorted to purposely starting Barney (with no intention of letting her watch the whole episode) just so we can watch and marvel in her little Barney dance routine. This video was taken probably two weeks late as now we are getting the shorter versions of her dance routine. Having said that, it is no reflection on her love for Barney lessening as she asks for him multiple times a day.

We're Pregnant...It's a Boy!

I haven't posted until now about us being pregnant because I was waiting for an ultrasound so that I could post a picture of our baby. Well, we found out on Father's Day that we were going to be parents to a second child. We both were really giddy and smiley as it was the PERFECT day to find out. After we shared a smile and hug, A.J. looked at me and jokingly stated, "ok, I have to go sell a house now." That guy, always the jokester. Fast forward to today, who would of thought that at my first ultrasound, I would find out we are having a baby boy!! I am only 12 1/2 weeks pregnant and went in today to have an ultrasound to screen for birth defects. Half-way through the appointment the tech asked me if I wanted to know the sex of the baby. A.J. wasn't with me, but I had a feeling this would happen, as the same exact thing happened to my sister just three weeks before me. She found out at 13 weeks that she also is having a boy. I don't think it has quite sunk in yet that we are having a boy. I am so used to Hannah, that I can't imagine switching gears to boy stuff yet. Also, I can't picture what a boy version of me and A.J. will look like. I hope he is tall like his daddy. One of the most special feelings about all of this, is that my sister, Katie, like I said is having a boy also. She is due four weeks ahead of me. Both our first born children are girls and they are only 13 months apart. So our families are mirroring eachother's perfectly. I can only imagine all the fun times ahead for our children and us, as we watch our families grow and mature together.

Morro Bay 2009

Instead of Santa Cruz in July, we went with the Lakovich side of the family to Morro Bay in August. Oh what fun Hannah did have with all of her cousins. Every morning, without fail, she would wake up (EARLY) and say "Jack and Max." She could not get enough of the boys! It was a very relaxing week. We went to the beach, I got a few naps in, cooked dinners, watched movies, went to the petting zoo...just had a great time with eachother. Thank you to Tooky and Jeddo for taking us again this year on vacation. We love you dearly!! I wasn't quite sure what to expect of Hannah at the beach. Until this trip, she has never liked cold water much. So, I was up for anything. Much to my surprise and delight, Hannah was quite the beach baby. She LOVED playing in the sand and absolutely loved running in the ocean. I was very pleased and got such a kick out of watching her get excited as the waves would come up and crash against her little legs. We are back home now and Hannah is going through withdrawls from all the action she was a part of with her four cousins. It was a great trip.

The Sisters' Kids

When my two sisters and I grew up together, we were close in our own ways. There was definitely a lot of sisterly battles through the years and sibling rivalries, and just those times when you feel your sisters just bug. But those years growing up were also filled with tons of laughter and goofiness and an unspoken sort of closeness that you just get from being sisters, and being used to eachother, and comfortable with one another. When we were younger though I never really thought about our own kids that we would have, and I never wondered if they would be close...I guess I never could really picture how that would be. Fast forward to today...my heart if so full of sweet joy and just so much thankfulness that our kids, all of them...are close. They absolutely LOVE being with one another. I can't tell you how happy that makes my heart. It just makes my relationships with my sisters that much more fulfilling and rock solid. These are pics from our latest trip to the zoo with all the kiddos, then to the waterpark at Playland...which is awesome by the way.

Day with Daddy

My husband is very very good to me...although he owes me one because he has been in Vegas all week for a real estate seminar while I have been home with Hannah. I can't complain, I love my time with my baby girl...although lately Hurricane Hannah has been showing up again around our home. I think my little one is slowing entering the infamous "terrible twos." I have to wonder where in the heck she gets her little temper, as my mom looks at me and giggles under her breath. I guess payback is a you know what :) Back to my husband...he took Hannah for the whole day pretty much last Saturday, so that I could go to a baby shower and have some quiet time to myself. Daddy's day with Hannah included a trip out to the ranch on Brawley to hang out with Jeddo (AJ's dad) and her Mahoney cousins...who she loves being with. Jeddo has built a go-cart dirt track out at the ranch for all the boys and bought two fun go-carts to ride. Hannah got her turn to sit in the go-cart for the first time by herself. A.J. said Hannah had an absolute blast, wasn't afraid to get dirty with the boys, and even took her first spill on the ground. I guess no day with dad would be complete without a little fall. True to Hannah form, she got right back up and started playing despite the blood that was dripping from her lip. Daddy was proud.

Where Does the Time Go?

Okay, I feel like it was literally a month ago that we brought Hannah home, a week ago that she said daddy, and yesterday that she started walking! Where does the time go? It is really sad if I think about it for too long. It makes me feel for my sisters Annie and Katy. Their oldest boys will be 9 and 10 this year. Crazy. I bet they felt like it was yesterday when Nicholas and Jack were just little bitty babies. Hannah is growing at rapid rates and I feel sometimes I can't move fast enough to capture every precious moment of hers as it flies by. She is definately coming into her own personality, becoming more of an entertainer everyday and transfroming into a little girl right before our very eyes. Some of her favorite things to do right now are to change shoes every couple minutes (my shoes included) and roar like a lion at anybody who walks by so she can scare them. She is such a gift of joy from above.

Great Friends, Great Birthday

My 31st birthday was on Monday, and I was suprised with a last minute lunch get together with two of my closest friends, Wynema and Melissa, and their little girls. It was exactly what I needed...some good girl time and a fun outing for our little ones, who love being together. The older I get the more I realize how much good girlfriends are hard to come by, how much I value them, and how much I absolutely NEED them in my life. I love you girls...thank you for making my day.

The 4th in Tiburon

This year for the 4th we traveled to Tiburon, California with A.J.'s folks. If you haven't been to Tiburon, you are missing out. It is a little slice of heaven...one of my favorite places. Tiburon is just north of San Francisco, right over the Golden Gate Bridge. You have everything you would need in this town for the perfect weekend getaway. Once you park your car you won't get back in it until you drive home. I'm telling you, it is very relaxing...and BEAUTIFUL!! Anyway, I talked A.J.'s parents to trying Tiburon for the weekend and I think they loved it just as much as I do. We ate ate ate...ferried over to SF....veged....ate lots of ice-cream....watched fireworks over the city....went shopping...just a perfect weekend. Thank you Tooky and Jeddo. We love you!

One, Two, Tree

I was in the backyard with Hannah this afternoon and she was behind a chair where I couldn't see her, but knew she was playing with something that she shouldn't have. I decided to see if sternly counting to three got her attention and would make her stop and come out from behind the chair. So I started ONE, TWO....I paused for a second to here a sweet little mousy voice from behind the chair answer back at me with "TREE". I didn't even know she knew how to count. I couldn't help but to laugh and just love on her.

Sacred Time

Today I went to the funeral of a 4 month old little boy. Tyler Rumley was the little boy of Jerrod and Jennifer Rumley, my sister and Trav's best friends. It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to witness in my whole entire life. My heart is so so heavy with grief and sorrow for this family...this is by far the toughest thing I am sure anybody could ever go through. I have so many questions for God and just feel so helpless. I wish there was something I could do to take this poor family's pain away or make them smile. One thing this tragic event has helped me to realize is how sacred minutes are. Every one of them. Today after the funeral, I came home and held my daughter. I had so much to do...our house was a mess from the weekend bbq we had, laundry had to be done, we are planning on going out of town for the 4th so I had to start planning for packing...I just came home and held my daughter. Why do we get so wrapped up in the chaos we call life where we can't just stop to cherish every single sacred minute we have with our loved ones? I know the Rumley's are longing for just another minute with their Tyler...let's not let ours pass us by.

Hannah & Mommy Laugh Together

Last week when I was putting Hannah down for her nap she burped at the same time as I was putting her binky into her mouth. I kind of jumped because it caught be by surprise and we both started cracking up at her burp, and the fact that it startled me. It was such a sweet moment between the two of us because it was the first time I wasn't purposely trying to make her laugh...we were just laughing together. I love my sweet girl.

Blogging Back On

I am going to take the advice of H. Spees. My husband once heard him in a sermon say that if you get behind, like in reading your bible on a bible through the year plan, just read what you are supposed to read for today and stay on track. Don't try to go back and make up what you have missed, because you get too overwhelmed and get off track. So, I am doing this on our blog. Initially when I started blogging I was so excited and wanted to backdate a bunch of posts, so that I could include past dates and events in our lives. I got pretty far but then didn't have time to finish or got too busy....so I just stopped. So, I am just going to pick up present day and go forward from here. I am excited to start blogging again. I feel it is such a neat and special way to journal lifes precious moments, but also to connect with people and other families and get to know eacthother in an intimate yet non-threatening way. So, here we go :)