Just Because

Snow Day

After we all got over our colds and bronchitis, we decided to venture north to the mountains.  It was a clear, beautiful day!  This is his first sleigh ride.  He kept asking me where Santa was and I told him that Santa was in the pet store behind us.

Just like with dirt, sand, mud and hay, all he wanted to do with the snow was kick it around.

A new friend.

I can't get over how cute he looks with all of these clothes on!

This has to be my new favorite photo.  We had a wonderful day with our family and Salvatore even went tubing with Daddy!

Taking After Aunt Sara

Salvatore has an Aunt Sara who loves to take great pictures.  We went out for dinner last night and to entertain him after he ate, I gave him my camera to see what he could do.  He honestly took all of these photos on his own!

Tias (aunts) and mommy

Daddy and half of Tio Jorge's face

Tias

Tio Flavio y Tia Rocio

Abuelos (grandparents)

How did these FIT down the chimney?

I got Salvatore a wagon!  He helped me put it together, sort of.  He really just kept handing me the wheels and stepping on the directions while I was assembling the rest.  I love it because it has a canopy, an extra storage space in the back and even little seatbelts.  Far more advanced than the rusty wagons we had as kids, but same function and fun.  We pushed him around at the park today and he loved both pulling it and riding in it!

Daddy and his uncles bought him this little motorcycle and helmet.  It has a little motor (like those little cars or jeeps you buy from Toys R Us), but he mostly just sits on it right now.  He has very good balance from riding his other motorcycle and push cars.  Most of the dads will think, "Awesome, where can I get one for my boy?" and most of you moms are thinking, "Never, ever would I let _______ even near one of those."  OH, the many joys of parenting!

Miracle on Greenwood Ave.

With David's family visiting, we are celebrating many Mexican traditions.  One is to have a late Christmas Eve dinner with the whole family and then to stay up til midnight and open presents.  So, last night, we had 50 people over to celebrate our Lord's birth!  It was a great night filled with laughter, good food, great presents, and such.  Some of my family (we dearly missed the rest of you all) joined us as well, which is a gift to me, as I have never spent a Christmas without them!  My family presented a small, but loving number-me, Salvatore, my dad, Brian, Sita, Fred, and the miracle....which was my real maternal grandfather Bobby.  Without going into much detail, with Sita and Fred together since I was a young child, we have spent our holidays with them, and my grandfather choose to celebrate in his own way and do his own thing, which we all respected.  Changes have occurred this year that I can not explain, but they have been for the better, and my grandfather Bobby has chosen to spend more and more time with all of us, including my Sita's husband Fred.  This was the first Christmas that Brian and I got to spend with Bobby and it makes for a wonderful memory.  (For those of you who have known the Keysors for years, I am sure you read this with your mouths wide open-because you get how extraordinary ( a miracle really) this change is in our family!)

Vacation Monday

With company here, Salvatore gets to sleep with mommy and daddy!  We love it!  After brushing his teeth, I brought him into bed with me in the back bedroom by the backyard.  He is not used to sleeping in this room, so I was initially concerned.  No need...we crawled into bed and I read to him from Aesop's Fables.  He listened until his eyes fell heavy and he rubbed my arm as he drifted off.  We all slept soundly until 9:30 a.m. this morning!  Salvatore woke up happy as usual and I made a quick breakfast in bed.  We sat up eating and watching some Dora Christmas special.  He was answering every question Dora asked in Spanish and English!  We are still snuggling and I love that I don't have to get up or go anywhere or check my phone or anything!  Ahhhh.....vacation!

Here was his favorite Aesop's Fables story from last night:

Father and Sons

A man had several sons who were always quarreling with one another, 

and, try as he might, he could not get them to live together in harmony.

So he determined to convince them of their folly by the following means.

Bidding them fetch a bundle of sticks, he invited each one in turn to break 

the bundle across his knee.

All tried and all failed: and then he undid the bundle, and handed them the sticks one by one, which they had no difficulty at all in breaking.

"There, my boys," said he, "united you will be more than a match for your enemies: but if you quarrel and separate, your weakness will put you at the mercy of those who attack you."

Griffith Observatory

Today, we visited the spectacular Griffith Observatory.  If you have never been, add it to your list now.  It is free to park and free to enter.  We paid to watch one show about the universe and it was AMAZING! The views from every terrace were incredible-we could see from the Hollywood sign to Long Beach and Palos Verdes.  The best part, though, was to see it all through Salvatore's eyes.  

Preggo in the Club

Last night, we all went dancing in a club in Glendale

So nice to dance and laugh with my husband

So nice to get dressed up with his sisters 

 Aren't they just gorgeous?

Her Sweet Face

Today my doctor confirmed that we are expecting a little girl!  I will always remember the feeling when I first saw her face staring at me...

Play that Funky Music

This was his present from his Godfather, Daniel (who is also a great DJ)!!

Too Young for a Gingerbread Train

So I was shopping at Albertson's the other day and saw a kit for a Gingerbread Train.  My imagination immediately went wild-oh, how Salvatore will love this, we can make it together with David's parents, we can laugh and smile while we take pictures and make lasting Christmas memories, blah blah blah.  Here is how it REALLY went:

1. Salvatore's only interest was opening the candy bags and pouring them into bowls.

2. Benedict trying consistently to lick and/or eat anything that was close to or on the edge of the table.

3.  I was horrible at putting it together and had trouble following simple English directions. ( The picture did not represent what was in the package and vice versa).

4.  Salvatore lost interest after 2 minutes, Benny lost interest after about 15, and I gave up after 20. 

5.  David's mom, Lourdes, stayed up for awhile afterwards and finished it, and when I woke up in the morning, it actually looked better than the picture on the box!  One of the many reasons why I love her, she makes everything look easy and special!

They Have Air Hockey Here????

Salvatore now shares mommy's love of Air Hockey!!  If I am anywhere, and I see an Air Hockey or Skeeball game, I will play.  We taught Salvatore how to play Air Hockey the other night and he loved it.  $5 later, he finally ventured off to look at the other games.   He also really loved the game where you aim the water gun at the target and spray the water continuously until your light reaches the top. I sat a stack of tokens on the table next to me while he sat on my lap for this game and he loved helping me aim the water gun.  At the end of the game, while I had my arms in the air cheering, he grabbed the whole stack of tokens and said, "Mira (look) momma, la fuente (the fountain)!" and threw the whole stack in the water! We always go to this fountain close to our house and I let him throw in all of my pennies.  I guess he thought this was the same thing!!!

Suegros (In-Laws)

David and I are both blessed to have in-laws whom we love and love us back.  After a wonderful holiday visit with David's family, they returned home today and our house feels empty.  We are always grateful for the time that we can spend together, and this visit was no exception.  Each year, we try to see new things and travel to new places.  I will miss them so much, but know that we have our next visit to look forward to, especially with our baby girl coming this spring.  I am thankful to Lourdes and Armando for giving me David and his sisters.  And I am honored to share my growing family with them.  My mom will be visiting next and more good times lie ahead.

We Love Cake!

Desserts have a special place in life.  My family could eat dessert after every meal.  Chocolate, cupcakes, Sita's brownies, candy, pudding, we love it all.  But there is something about a cake that brings everyone together.  And we love being together!

My favorite is the frosting!

Looks like his is too!

Big bite!

Last year at his first birthday party!

David got me on the nose with our wedding cake!

Happy 2nd Birth Day!

I used to rarely think about moms or dads on birthdays, only the person who was having the birthday.  Now, I can't stop thinking about the moms and dads on people's birth days because I KNOW!  A parent will know the difference between a "birthday" and a "birth day".  One is for the person and the other is for the parents. Salvatore's birth day has been, by far, the best day of my life.  His first year was PRECIOUS, and this year has been FUN!  I am so thrilled to find out what this year will bring.  Thank you God for our family, our friends and for our son!

I Knew my 100th Post Would Be a Good One!

I went with Salvatore and my friend Sara tonight to a free ultrasound that was offered through ATI College in Santa Ana.  We went knowing that it would be a fun, free experience that also helped many student nurses and technicians learn how to conduct sonograms.  I arrived only expecting to just see the baby move around.  With the main nurse and doctor there, I got to really see my baby and they took all of the measurements and assured me that everything was great. Bonus! I laid there for about an hour while each student tooks turns "practicing" on me.  And then they could see the sex of the baby, not 100% clear, but pretty sure.  They said , "Looks like a girl to me."  EXTRA BONUS!  The ultrasound that is scheduled with my regular doctor is Thursday, December 17th, and he can confirm it then.  It pretty much looks like a girl to all of us too!  Mi dulce nina-my sweet girl!  Our sweet girl!

 

What is a Friend?

"A friend is someone who knows all about you, and loves you anyways."  A friend is someone who gets excited for you and your excitement over whatever you are excited about.  A friend is someone who does all that is takes to accompany you on these exciting endeavors.  Someone who waits for you at the restaurant and has your food ready at the table when you arrive 40 minutes late.  Someone who packages up the rest of the food for you to take to work tomorrow.  And drives with you to the doctor for your ultrasound, and brings the CD you need and has perfect directions when you forgot to google them.  Watches your son for you with the perfect blend of teacher, mommy and total entertainer.  Oohs and aahs at your ultrasound photos while caring for and teaching your son.  A friend is someone who hugs you just as hard as you hug them and delights in your new delights.  Thanks Sara!  Tonight meant more to me than you will ever know!

Please come...

see my two year old smile

while we remember the newborn baby smile

at my 2nd birthday party this Sunday, December 6th at 1pm.  

We can't wait to see you!!