That Late Morning Block ...

You know the one.

It's nine o'clock, the kids are ready(ish).  You're ready (more or less).  You've decided you just can't let your two year old watch yet another episode of Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

So what do you do?

Once a week, grocery shopping and errands fill that 9-12 block.  But if that's out of the way, our week typically consists of:

• The library for story time, books, and blocks.

• Parks ... ideally with friends.

And that's about all I've got up my sleeve.

Any other ideas?

New Addition to the Family

Introducing our newest member:

Mark's not sure these pictures will be seven times better than our previous camera, but I am sold.

I tell you, blowing green bubbles has never looked so good.

Now if I can just figure this thing out ...

San Diego

We took off to San Diego last weekend to talk to a chiropractor who turned out to be quite crazy.

You know, the difficult thing about chiropractors is that they all seem to take things a different direction.  I guess that could be good, though.  If you like how Mark treats you, you sure aren't going to find anyone else who treats you the same.  (Maybe his two brothers will be similar ... but even they feel different to me.)  So hopefully his clientele will be quite loyal.

Anyway. 

The job may have bombed, but our weekend did not.  Favorite memories include:

• Walking straight in to Tijuana, Mexico.  The two guards at the border weren't even looking at us.

•  Becoming a superb haggler.  Turns out my indecisiveness really worked in my favor.  If they only knew that I just couldn't say no ... but Mark did, thank goodness.  If it weren't for him I think I would've walked away with a lot more than a ring and this adorable dress:

• Donkeys painted like zebras.  Five bucks for a picture.  I tried to sneak one with my own camera, till Mark reprimanded me for robbing them of their livelihood.  Fine.
• Witnessing all the different tricks merchants use to get you into their stores.  My favorite: "Come inside, I promise I won't say one word to you.  I'll just let you look around and won't bother you!"
• Mariachi bands ... I think I saw at least fifteen walking the streets, trying to play people a tune.
• Stopping to feed sister, while Mac did an intense photo shoot.

•  Waiting about two hours to get back into the USA.
• Having a great conversation with Blake, the drifter.  He's lived everywhere, and currently resides in tent on the beach in Cabo, where he teaches surfing lessons.
• Learning Blake's friend's girlfriend just got kidnapped out of their hotel the night before.  The kidnappers want $150 in ransom money.  Her dad won't give in to terrorists.  (WHAT.)
• Meeting Elizabeth Taylor's biggest fan.  This man could not stop talking about her, except to give an honorable mention to some eighty year old actress named Shirley, who much to his disappointment, declined an offer to pose for Playboy.
• Getting a real stink-eye from the American guard when asked if this was my baby.  Yes, she may be dark haired, and her name may be Belen, but she is as Caucasian as they come and most definitely belongs to me.  Luckily he only glanced back at "the room" a few times and never made me go in there.  We made it across all in one piece.  Boy those Americans are grumpy.

• Staying in a hotel room with two queen beds:  one for Mark and Mac, and one for me and Belen.
• Mac puking in the middle of the night.  (Sorry Mark.)
• Sister sleeping through it all. 

• Walking through Balboa Park the next day ... wow we could've spent the entire day there.
• Pushing a stroller and holding two children.  My word.

• Almost going inside this gorgeous museum ... but deciding against it as we had two exhausted kids who wouldn't be quiet enough for us to pay money to check it out.

Very memorable.  We both fell in love with San Diego a little, and wished that the chiropractor had been a little less crazy.

Valentine's 2012

Valentine's was spent a little differently this year.
We shipped off family ... and cleaned.

But don't worry, there was a lot of love going around.

Mark brought these home:

Along with a love letter.  (My favorite.)

And I made him filet mignon.

So we covered the basics, but I still came away feeling like I had Scrooged out of the holiday this year.  I think the whole limbo thing has got me waiting on life in general ... and that needs to stop. 

What holiday is next?  St. Patricks?

Okay little family of mine ... Mom is ready to create some magic.

Belen's Blessing Day

This past Sunday we were able to bless Belen.

My attempts to time things perfectly (feeding/dressing to end with a happy, clean baby) almost ended in disaster, but Mom and I hit our seats and handed off little Belle with a whole verse of the opening song to spare.

Dad was on the ball with the binky, (which she won't take, but sometimes enjoys chewing) and those wonderful priesthood holders had a nice, smooth bounce going the whole time.

She didn't cry.

I'd like to say there's a long family history to this dress ... but nope, it's starting here.  Got it on ebay, Mom stiched up some holes and fixed the neck.  Turned out gorgeous.

 Mark did wonderfully.  Have I said yet how much I love him?  How grateful I am to have such a good man to help raise our beautiful kids and spend the rest of my forever with?  Well ... now you know. 

The day was filled with food, family and friends.  Mac played his heart out.  We talked ourselves hoarse.  Belen smiled and cooed at everyone ... and promptly slept when needed.

Couldn't get any better. 

Lindy even brought those brownies.

Disneyland, One Last Last Time

I think it was the last time, anyway.

We had a crew come out for Belen's blessing, and naturally we had to hit the happiest place on earth.

Okay ... most attractive boys in the world.  And they are mine.

Thank you for the adorable pictures Chris ... my my I need a new camera.

The only way Mac would fall asleep at the park.

Magic.

Child Star

Belen had her first modeling gig. 

A friend from church recently started a cloth diaper business, and Belen rocked those undies.

 And by the way, if you've ever considered cloth diapers ... these are the way to go.

She's almost convince me to give it a try ...

But not quite.

Click on the picture to go to her website

Let's Wrastle

One of my favorite things that have changed in Mac since baby girl came around is his newly found love of friends.

He requests friends and parks all the time.  "Mommy, Feff come to Macky's house."  "Macky play toys, find friends!"  "Macky share, take turns Molly!"

And he actually plays with them.

 

And he's finally about big enough to take Seth on.  We've been waiting for this day for quite some time.

Colic

I guess that's what it was.
Bummer.

 I used to feel like colic was some vague excuse for why parents can't figure out how to make their babies happy.
(Maybe it's my fault she had it?  Lesson learned.)

Turns out it's pretty legitimate.  Mark has been working on this knot in her back for quite some time.  A knot in an area that is connected to the digestive system.  Her doctor told us the newborn "walking reflex" correlates heavily with colic, and this girl can do the two-step all over the table.

But I think we're finally getting over it.

We're experiencing significantly less of this:

And much more of this:

She still quite vocal, no doubt about that.  This girl loves to be heard, and loves almost nothing better than a good conversation.

But it appears the world has become a much brighter place for all.  We're figuring this out!

So glad you are feeling better, my little love.

Limbo

We are lucky enough to be able to comfortably experience a long, slow job search.

Mark has finished the last of his projects, hours, and adjustments to be able to graduate.

We are set to move on.

But, we don't have to quite yet.

The school lets you intern at their clinic that last semester until you find someone you'd rather learn from.  Or, you can just stay through April and finish things out there.  With the ability to leave the school whenever we want, we've been taking our time looking at each option that has come our way and heavily weighing it.

As antsy as we've been getting to move on with life, I'll have to admit ... it's been quite a luxury.

We've been able to just be together, as a family, getting used to our adorable little addition and helping her get used to the world.

And we've been doing a whole lot of dreaming ...

Just wait till you hear what our options are for the next phase of life.  Wow.

The world is at our feet.