2009

2009

A new year means new goals! So here it is in writing..

Put more time into my faith. I want to not just show up every Sunday at church I want to strengthen my relationship with Christ. I so often forget that it takes daily work just like any other relationship and it is easy to drift.

Dedicate Sunday to our family meaning the four of us (no computer and no TV). I want Sundays for us to spend quality time together. I also want to spend 30 minutes Sunday nights to devote to Jackson learning about our faith. We have several books and I want him to start learning them.

Be a better wife and have more patience with my husband. Let go of resentment and have one date night at least twice a month (which means let go of my fears, bite the bullet, and hire a baby sitter). Oh and stop waiting for him to plan a date night (we may be 65 before that happens)!

I have already started, but I am going to write it here anyway. I am devoting 30 minutes of book to Jackson and Ava before afternoon naps. I used to be so good about this and then started getting more rushed. It got down to one quick book and I want this time back with the two of them. The cleaning, laundry, cooking, what ever can wait!

Get Ava on a schedule!! I was so strict on this with Jackson I have gone the TOTAL opposite extreme with Ava. I am reading the Baby Whisper since we have created a baby girl wanting someone to cuddle with while she sleeps. So far so good, I got her to sleep last night and today with out rocking, holding, or laying with her. I am not saying I will never do any of these things, but I by far do not want it to be a habit!

Take one room at a time and get rid of anything we are not using. I feel like our house is closing in on us. We can not possible store all the stuff! I am hanging on to Ava’s clothes and that is it. I am going to get rid of the baby stuff as we out grow things as well. If we do have one more it will not be for years. I will get organized again!! No more stuffing the closets and under the beds lol!

Last continue to work hard at being healthy not just for myself, but my family as well. I have been working out 5 days a week and plan to keep that up. Jackson has a physically active class at the YMCA twice a week. He will start T Ball, soccer, and do swim lessons again this year. Ava will do swim lesson as well. I plan on keeping her only on breast milk until 6 months. Then I will keep her on an organic diet until she is one. For Greg I will keep healthy meals and healthy food in the house to try encourage him to be healthy as well.


Last, but not least I plan to have an UN eventful 2009
2003 Greg and I started dating
2004 we got engaged
2005 we got married
2005 we got pregnant
2006 we had Jackson
2007 we got pregnant
2008 we had Ava
2009 we are taking a BREAK!!!

Christmas 2008

Our Christmas celebration was off with a rough start, we all caught a stomach bug! Jackson just threw up once and was fine, then Greg and I got sick the night before Christmas Eve. It affected us much differently. We had the chills, aches, throwing up, you name it. We were so sick Christmas Eve all of our plans got cancelled. We decided to post pone Santa and hit were off to bed at 8:00. We woke up in the middle of the night exactly 24 hours from when we first got sick and were 100% better. It was crazy, but we decided at 5:00 am to get up and do Santa. I made a breakfast casserole and we went to 10:45 mass. Ava was acting funny so I took her to the back to try and feed her and she threw up everywhere. She never acted like she felt bad and we went on to Greg’s parents for the day. Friday we had Christmas at my Mom’s with my family. Saturday night we met my family at Rajin Cajun in Sugar Land for dinner. My brother and sister were both in town with all of their family. It was a fun time and especially fun for Jackson to be with all his cousins! We are lucky to only be 4 hours apart so we see them often.

Christmas this year was very different for me. I am so much more aware of the true meaning of Christmas as we are trying to teach that to Jackson. He woke up and knew it was baby Jesus’ birthday and wanted to sing to him. He knows we give gifts to show our love for each other and really appreciates them at such a young age. I can only hope that over the years that will continue. He got three presents from Santa, three from us, and three new books. It was a way for us to not go over board and we picked three since that is how many Jesus got. I have to say it was so hard for me to stick to the number, but I am so glad we did (I also stuffed as much as I could in his stocking lol). All in all it was a great Christmas!

Stay at Home Mom

So I have had several comments in the last week on how I do not work and it really got me thinking. Why do they call it Stay at Home Mom? I never get to just stay at home! I was thinking about our weekly schedule and let me just break it down.

Monday we go to the YMCA so Jackson can play with his friends and I can work out, we come home I make him lunch, get him down for a nap, then I feed Ava, get her down, I eat my lunch, then I have maybe an hour to get the house picked up from the week end before Jackson gets up from his nap, he gets up and I usually do an activity with him, then I let him watch a movie while I cook diner, then I clean again, and that in the end of our day.

Tuesday I take Jackson to school, I grocery shop, I clean, I pick him up, I do an activity with him, and then I let him watch a movie while I cook diner, then I clean again, and that in the end of our day.
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Wednesday Jackson has Excer Tots at the YMCA and I work out, we come home I make him lunch, get him down for a nap, then I feed Ava, get her down, I eat my lunch, then I have maybe an hour to get the house picked up before Jackson gets up from his nap, he gets up and I usually do an activity with him, then I let him watch a movie while I make dinner, after we all eat I clean again, end of the day.

Thursday I take him to school, I work out, I run any errands for the house, do laundry, pick him up, I do an activity with him, and then I cook, clean, and that is the day.

Friday we go to the YMCA and then play dates with Jackson’s friends, we come home I make him lunch, get him down for a nap, then I feed Ava, get her down, I eat my lunch, then I have maybe an hour to get the house picked up from the week end before Jackson gets up from his nap, he gets up and I usually do an activity with him, then I let him watch a movie while I make dinner, after we all eat I clean again, end of the day.

On top of all this I nurse a baby which takes 30 minutes every 2-3 hours, I make all the meals for our family, I do all the grocery shopping, I pay all the bills, I make sure this house runs smooth. So I take personal offense when people say I don’t work. I work damn hard I am a wife, a Mother, a care giver, a day care, a cook, an accountant, a maid, you name it. There is no actual pay check because no one can afford to pay me what I deserve. I think there is a major misconception of stay at home Mom’s especially with older generations. Women used to just sit at home while kids ran around and hell no that was not hard. Times have changed and if anyone thinks what I do is easy I challenge them to a week at our house!

Tomorrow it all begins

The craziness of the holidays. Ever since I was a small kid we bounced around from place to place during the holidays. We were going from one house to the next and it was always stress. Tomorrow we are off for a 5 hour trip to Dallas, we come back Sunday, two days to get up packed, get back into our routine, Wednesday have Christmas Eve day with my Mom, sister, and brother inlaw, that night we go to Greg's family, Christmas Day we are at home and open our home to who ever wants to come over, Friday we have Christmas with my Mom's whole family, and then we can finally relax! I made the rule that we are home Christmas Day so Jackson can have Santa that morning and play with all his new toys. Next year and from then on we will not travel in December, we will go to church at our parish, we will be home for Christmas Eve, will will be home for Christmas Day, and we will will open our home to all! I am so excited for Christmas. I have been working hard with Jackson explaining what Christmas really is all about. I think it gets so out of hand with gifts so we decided 3 new books, 3 presents from Santa, and three presents from Mommy and Daddy. We decided 3 since that is how many baby Jesus got (one from each wise man). I am going to make a cake Christmas Day and we will have a birthday celebration for Jesus. I love this season more every year and especially now as Jackson gets older. Teaching him helps me keep Christ in Christmas!

Christmas Program 2008

Tuesday Jackson had his first Christmas program at school. I had prepped him before hand and told him if he did a good job singing he could get a new train. I was not expecting much since the stage was huge, there were two huge drop screens filming the kids, and a ton of people there. Jackson did not seem the least bit phased by any of that! He got on stage and while he sang very little of This Little Light of Mine, he ate his costume, roared like a lion, danced, and gave everyone a little shake of his booty. The last song was Feliz Navidad and he sang much better. Over all the program was GREAT! I could not be happier with is school. His is learning so much and learning about Jesus which makes my heart smile. I truly feel my number one job as a parent is to teach our children the word of Christ. Today on the way home he was looking at the book his teacher gave him. I heard him making up a story of his own while I was on the phone. I asked him to read the book to me when I got off. He said Mary holding baby Jesus, oh Mommy where is that Man, I said who Jackson, you know Joseph I think he is with the Donkey. Too cute!

Merry Christmas!

4 months

Ava had her 4 month well check today. She is doing great and could not be more perfect! He said we could start solids when ever we wanted, but I am going to wait. I feel no need to rush things as I am trying to cherish every baby moment with her. I still have not introduced a bottle, but will try to start working on that maybe at 6 months. Things are going so well that I am just taking it one day at a time. As most of you know I plan on at some point printing all this out and making a book for Jackson and Ava. I thought it would be fun to compare the two of them.



Jackson's 4 month Stats
16.9 lbs
26.5 inches

Ava's 4 month stats
13.4 lbs in the 50%
25.5 inches in the 75-90%

Dec 08

Dec 08

MHR Friday

So it is almost Friday so I thought I would do this. My husband rocks for bringing me flowers today. God is so good! Today I got a comment on one of my previous posts from the girl who started My Husband Rocks. It led me to read her blog. Every person should read this article. I or I should say we needed this right now!

Does your Spouse see you in Jesus?

Thanksgiving Party

So this a little late, but better than never. I knew Jackson was having a party at school, but I some how missed the sign up sheet outside the class room. I showed up in my gym clothes empty handed to drop him off that day. Everyone was bringing in stuff and I could not figure out what was going on. Well I rushed home, showered, came back for the party, and forgot my camera. The first thing Jackson said was, "were is my daddy and were is you camera". Lucky for me anotehr Mom took our picture. I felt like the worst Mom and promised myself to try and get more sleep!

Preschool 2008

Here is Jackson's first school picture. He looks so BIG!

We went for a follow up today with the ENT. A set of ear tubes usually lasts a year and his lasted a little longer. The left one was in the canal so she pulled it out. The right one is no longer working and is on its way out. If he has three ear infections before March she wants to do another set of tubes. He has already had one so we are just going to pray for no more!

Quick update

I have about 5 mins before I have to get ready for church so this has to be quick. Since Jackson's horrible middle of the night ear infection that landed us in the ER desperate for a quick fix Greg got sick. He went to the Dr Wed before we left for Dallas. The Dr said he had a viral infection (fancy name for a cold). Well Friday night in Dallas Ava started sneezing and having congestion. Saturday when we got home I noticed she felt warm and then hot. We took her temp and it was 102.2 which for a little baby is high. They say if they are younger than 4 months and it is over 100.3 you have to get immediate medical attention. Ava is right on the fence since she is 3 and a half months, but the nurse told me I still had to take her in. BACK TO THE ER UGHH!! She had a some blood in her diaper so I thought she may have a UTI. After three long hours and some not so fun tests, she just had Greg's viral infection and a small rectal tear (common in babies from staining). Yesterday was the worst (sneezing, hacking, and tons of green stuff coming from the nose). Today she seems not so congested and has been asleep most of the day. It has been a busy and long week. We some how still managed to get all the Christmas decoration out, tree done, and the outside lights are just about done as well. Off to church. Here is to a happy healthy week!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Not only do I love all the wonderful food, but it is a a time to reflect in all the blessings in my life. Every year with my family we go around the room and every one says something they are thankful for. I always have so much to say so this year I am writing it down to keep in our family blog/book.

Most of all I am thankful for my husband. He works hard (kind of an under statement) to provide for our family. He unconditionally loves me and adores his children. He continues to work at being the best father he can be. He is the spiritual leader of our family and for that I love him.

I am thankful for my precious first born. He made me a Mommy and I am thankful for everything he has brought to my life including patience. He makes my heart full. I can not imagine life any other way than with him in it.

My precious baby girl!! As long as I can remember I have wanted a baby girl. I am so thankful Ava is not Jayden lol!! I look at her and feel my heart over flowing with love. There is no possible way to explain it, if you are a Mother you know.

I am so thankful I have the opportunity to stay home with my babies. I am hear for every milestone, giggle, and even cry. I am so grateful my husband is as willing as I am to make the scarifies it takes for me to be at home raising our children. There is no pay check worth me missing my days with Jackson and Ava.

My family. I am thankful for each person in it. Most of all this year I am thankful God placed a precious baby girl in my sister's life. She was the most anticipated baby in our family by far.

I could go on, but duty calls. Happy Thanksgiving!!

Jackson

So why is it when you stay up late your kids always need you all night long? I had a spa night with my girl friends last night and it was almost midnight when I went to sleep. Between Jackson and Ava I was up every hour. Jackson was crying that his ears hurt. Finally at 6:30 I bundled him up and we headed for the ER. I can see his left tube. It is in the ear canal and the Dr said it should fall out on it's own since he was not comfortable digging around in the ear. He said I should take him back to his ENT for that. That ear believe it or not is ok. The right ear has a nasty infection. The tube is still down in place, but covered in gunk and not draining. As most of you know this kid has had probably close to 30 ear infections. I am just praying we don't need another set of ear tubes. Well at least if we do we have a little better insurance coverage. It will be Dec 1st before we can get in with the ENT.

Sweet Babies

You both are growing so fast. I grow more in love with you every day (if that is possible).

Our sweet baby girl we all call you Ava Bear (even Jackson). You are so easy going, happy, and adore watching your big brother. You are starting to hold your head up and are getting very strong. Every one has been saying how much you look like mommy lately. You are so sweet I can't help but hold and love on you all day long. You are so irresistible even the ladies at the YMCA hold and rock you. You follow me with those eyes of yours every move I make. Sometimes when you can't find me you stick out that bottom lip and whale. Ahh you love Mommy as much as Mommy loves you!

Jackson Jackson Jackson!! You are one busy boy! You are not as easy to get picture's of these days. How ever you were so good for Christmas pics (more to come soon). I can tell such a difference in you since starting pre school. Your speech amazes me daily. The other day I was telling you how to put on your under wear (make sure the tag is in the back). You told me you could not do it so I said sit down and put them on. Your response was, "Mommy that is a very good idea". I had a little tear in my eye. You are getting so big. You are a big sleeper and if you don't get that sleep LOOK OUT!!! You are such a good boy, but when you don't get enough rest another child is born. You are so fun and I cherish every minute with you. You even let me rock yo today for maybe a whole 2 minutes before your nap. I love you so much!

3 months

My precious Baby Girl you are three months old tomorrow. Where has the time gone and how do I slow it down? You are such a good baby, always happy, and always smiling. You have started to coo and want to talk so bad. You are still exclusively nursing and I can’t bring myself to start pumping just yet. I know when I do giving a bottle will just be so much easier and way to tempting. We have an amazing bond and you love your Mommy so much. You still wake up twice in the night, but when I get you out of your bassinet and you smile at me I melt.

You have taught me so much! With Jackson I did not want him to sleep with us, did not want to hold him too much in fear that we would spoil him, etc. He is almost three and I would do anything to rewind, co sleep, hold him, and rock him any chance I had. It goes so fast that I want to do it all and enjoy every minute of it. You have taught me to slow down and enjoy each step. I was always waiting for the next milestone instead of enjoying the one we were currently in. I packed the rest of your 0-3 month clothes today and just cried. Why does it happen so fast? You may be the last baby as I am feeling very complete so it helps me even more cherish every moment.

Ava I love you so much. One day when you are reading all this I hope you see how much you complete our family.

Lyssie Lou

Her Daddy gave her this nick name and I LOVE it! She is so perfect and I can't stop thinking about her! I am making plans in my head already of ways to see her at least every other month!! I hope Alyssa and Ava will be the best of friends just like Tiffany and I (with out all the fighting). I love you so much Tiff and I am so happy for you and Andrew!!

She is here!!

I got a text message about 11:19 tonight that Alyssa was here!! Tiff had a long 24 hours before they decided to do a c section. The Dr said the baby is beautiful, that she looks like Tiffany, and she has lots of dark hair. She weighed 6 pounds 7 ounces. I could not find anyone to help me with Jackson so I had to bring him. I am so sad I can't be at the hospital. I am sitting in the quite house anxiously awaiting the next phone call. This is such a blessing for Tiffany and Andrew. God knows they went through hell and back to get Alyssa here. I just wish I could be a part of it. I always thought I would be with her when this time came. I will post pics soon.

I will tell you this has been birth control for me! There is no way I could handle more than two kids alone.

October Fun

This month has been tons of fun! We have been to several festivals around Katy, The Zoo Boo, and the Children's Museum. This week we are hitting Dewberry Farms, a festival at Jackson's school, and a Halloween party with good friends. I have a feeling October will be one of our new favorite months!

Daddy and Jackson

This is one of my all time favorite picture's!

SNIFFFF!!!

My baby boy is getting so BIG! He had school picture's last week which I will post as soon as we get them. Well this week he got his first invitation to a birthday party from a little girl in his class. We have been to other parties, but this just seems so grown up! An invitation lol!! That is not all, we have a canned food drive this week and field day! How did this happen? How did he get so big so fast?

Yee Haw

Happy Halloween from The Hamilton's!

My husband ROCKS!

It is that time again. This week my heart is so full from the love of my beautiful babies. My husband rocks for helping me create two perfect precious souls. I know these babies mean the world to him and he enjoys being a Daddy so much!

Betty Boop

Daddy said she looked ridiculous in this outfit (like Betty Boop). I have to beg the differ!! I think she is so precious and so did everyone else we came across today. We went to the pedi for her 2 months well visit. I had nurses coming from behind the counter wanting to hold her. Jackson on the other hand could not figure out what the fuss was about and why no one was paying attention to him. I am so proud to say that she is 10 pounds 13 ounces. She is still nursing like a pro. I have not even tried to give her a bottle yet (I have not even pumped any milk). She is doing so well why mess up a good thing? It is super easy and so convenient. The only down side is there is no schedule yet. It is much harder to get a schedule down with a nursing baby. I am really ok with it and we will figure it out as we go along. So anyway she is in the 50% for weight and 97% for height. The Dr said she may look a lot leaner than she actually is do to her length. I think she looks pretty fluffy lol. After the Dr’s visit we went on to get her ears pierced. The look great and she did great! She jumped on the first one and the second one she let out a cry. I just put the paci in and she went right back to sleep. She does not seem to be in any discomfort! I could not believe it was so easy. After talking to many Mom’s I am glad we got it out of the way. She will never remember it and it was not traumatizing.


Ava is such a good baby. She is a Mommy’s girl for sure. I am sure that has a lot to do with what I can offer her that Daddy can’t ;). She loves to snuggle and sleep right next to Mommy when I let her. She is such a blessing! Greg asked me if I was ready to have another one. It is a good thing one of us has some sense!

FUN

It is so fun to sit and compare Jackson's baby picture's with Ava. I wonder what she will look like! Jackson looks so different now and she changes daily!

My husband ROCKS

I have not been keeping up with this like I should. This week he deserves it more than anything! My husband rocks because as I am going through an extremely hard time my husband has been there for me. He stayed home with me Friday morning, went to his Grandma's with us for distraction, and to lunch with his family. He has been all ears for me to talk to. He has proven to me he is the one and only person I can 99.9% trust. I love you! Please say an extra prayer for me.

First Smile

I had my camera and started talking to Ava, before I know it she smiled at me. This is the third time and I got it on camera. She is such a wonderful baby. Jackson has been wild lately. Giving up his binki has made some early mornings in our house. Lack of sleep for all of us has been extremely hard between a nursing baby and a cranky toddler up at 5:45am. Today he slept until 7:45 and it was a great day. I am so blessed to have these beautiful children. As a mother you experience something so amazing. You do anything and everything for your children and to protect them.

The MAGIC red scooter

I all of a sudden one night right before bed time I decided that it was time for the binki to go. Jackson’s teeth are starting to stick out more and more. I knew since he did not even ask for it at school he could do it at home! So with out thinking it through and not allowing time to rationalize why he still needed it I told him it was time. I knew he wanted a scooter since most of his friends have one. I was waiting until Christmas, but heard that this works so this is what we did. I told him he was a big boy and it was time for his binki’s to go bye bye. If he went two nights (anything more than one is two too Jackson) he would get his scooter. He said he wanted a red one so we pumped it up. We told him red scooters were for big boys, etc. That night it took about an hour for him to go to sleep. He wanted to ask for a binki so bad, but was determined to get the scooter so he never asked. He woke up once in the night (still never asked for it) and that was it. It had been one solid week and NO BINKI”S!! Before bed I told him the binki fairy was coming to drop off his scooter. He was so excited when he woke up to his red Car’s scooter today! He was outside at 6:45 riding down the side walk. It took all of 10 minutes for him to figure it out. He told everyone that passed by he got a new red scooter. He keeps saying, “I can do it” and “I’m doin it”. He is so happy he is a big boy with his big boy scooter. Here are some action photos.

My kids have brought more than I could have imagined to my life

I don't have a lot of time as usual, but I have so much to say! I spent last week end with my Dad, Sheri, Jackson, and Ava. This week end with my sister, Andrew, Greg, Jackson, Ava, my Mom, and we got to see my brother and his family. Having kids has made me a better person. It has taught me so much. It has taught me to be the person God intended me to be. My family has come a long way and been through quite a bit to say the least. Growing up I always looked at what was wrong and what some one else did. It was always someone else's fault why I was doing, acting, or feeling a certain way. Hate the one's you love the most kind of thing. My heart feels so full finally! Having my kids has shown me how much my family loves me and how much they love my kids. My Mom is hear once a week to see them. My sister and I though 5 hours apart seem to see each other once a month or at least every other (most her doing). I vow to make more effort this coming year. My brother though a man of few words does not have to say much anymore to make me feel ok anymore. I accept him for who he is. I can see how proud he is of me by the way he loves and enter acts with my son or the way he holds my daughter. My sister in law is amazing and is another sister to me. We adore our neice and nephews and can't wait for our kids to have so many great memories with them. My Dad and Sheri always welcome us and open there home for our family. We have tons of summer fun in Austin! Our family always manages to get get together for many holidays out of the year. I am just so grateful that I know my family and I are as important to them as they are to me.