Thankful

Every day this month on FB, people have been posting what they are thankful for. Some are kinda crazy and some are nice to read. I decided to not put them on FB, but to post them here where I can come back in 6 months and remember what I am thankful for.

This is not everything I am thankful for, but these are the top most important things:


1. God – I wonder sometimes where I would be without him. I don’t always feel close to him, but I know when I need him he is there for me. He has helped me through so many hard times, and has been present through so many good ones. I am thankful he is there for me every time I turn to him and even when I don’t. I need to be closer and talk to him more, but I am O so thankful for him. Thankful that he died for me.
2. My Alana Rosie – She is the sweetest 5 year old I know. She is caring, loving, and so kind. I see myself having the same relationship with her as I had with my mom. I hope she will be my best girl forever! I know when they turn into teens they can be a handful, but I pray she always stay close with me.
3. My little buddy Jack – I am thankful to God that he blessed me with a little boy. He is so completely different from Alana, the last 10 months has been very challenging, throwing another kid into the mix sure changes everything. But every day I am thankful for his love of his mama. I am thankful for every time he wants to be in my arms and cuddle with me.
4. Victor – I am so thankful for my husband. It’s been 10 years this month. We have had a lot of ups and downs but we have stuck through it and came out so much better on this end of it. He works so hard for us in everything he does. The days I come home to a super clean house when laundry is done, it means so much to me! He really does share the parenting with me 50%. I never thought I would say that, but it has been amazing to share my life and children with him. I am thankful in so many ways to have him as a husband! I do pray that when we are old, we are out sitting on our porch having coffee watching our grandchildren play.
5. My children are healthy – I know this sounds kind of broad, but I am so thankful that both of my babies are healthy, growing strong and have no health issues. Sometimes I look at some of my friends that have a child with a disease or I hear a story about a child and I just stop and pray for them and then give thanks to God for giving me healthy children! I am not sure I could handle it any other way, and I know God knew that when he gave them to me.
6. My job – I recently changed jobs and I am so grateful for the opportunities that I have found. There have a been so many times that I have not enjoyed my job for one reason or another, but I am so happy to be in a position that I get to make that choice to leave a company for another. I am thankful of the choices that have been put in front of me. I have met so many awesome people through my life at each job, I am ever so grateful for that. My job helps to keep the house over our head and the clothes on our back. It helps to put food in our mouth and I am very happy to have a job, not only that I enjoy but that has many benefits to my life.
7. My sisters – I am thankful to have two sisters. Growing up we loved and hated each other and now as grown-ups we do the same, but I love them both dearly! I am grateful to have a good relationship with them and their daughters. They may not always be around, but they sure are there when I need them. I am thankful to have Julie as an older sister that has taught me so much. Sometimes I think she made mistakes in life so that I could learn from them! I am thankful to her for silently being there for me when I need her! I am so grateful to have my little sister Jacquie! She has always been right at my side when I needed her the most! Believe it or not, we think a lot alike. From the time my mom was dying, to being there for me when my children were born. She has helped me through so much in life. I am thankful to have two sisters to lean on when I need to!
8. My In-Laws – Gosh, some people hate their in-laws and have such a horrible relationship with them. I couldn’t be more thankful for mine! I may not be able to understand my father in law half the time he mumbles to me, but the love he shows my children just blows me away. The love he has for all of his grandchildren is amazing to me. Victor was really young when he met Oscar, but Oscar has always treated Victor as his own. He is Victor’s dad and that is that. We are lucky to have such a wonderful loving man in our lives that my kids and my husband look up to! What can I even say about my mother in law? I love her so much. She is so kind, selfless and loving. She treats my babies like her own. She takes care of my children like no other woman ever could. She does everything, she cooks everything, she cleans everything, she just DOES! She is amazing and I am so thankful for her. She cares so much for me and would do anything in the world for us, it amazes me. I am really thankful for her every single day. I don’t find many way to tell her how much she means, but I should try more often!
9. My Mom – Even though she is no longer here, I am so thankful to have her in my life for as long as I did. She was my best friend and such a great role model to me. She really did teach me so much and was always there to support me. I am so very thankful for the time God allowed me to have her on earth.
10. My dad – When I was a little girl I would always hear noises in the middle of the night and I would swear someone was trying to break into our house. I was about 4 and 5 years old when Richard Ramirez, the night stalker was in the news and I just knew he was coming to my house! Even after he had been caught I still had such bad dreams and freaked out every time I heard a noise in the house. The reason I tell this story is because my dad was my protector! When I would wake up in the middle of the night because I heard something, I would be frozen in fear laying in my bed. It would either take me about 10 minutes (which feels like a lifetime when you are little) or I would hear another noise and then I would be able to unfreeze and hop out of bed and go get my dad. I remember I would run my fingers across the bed frame at the foot of the bed and make my way around to my dads side, just to tell him I heard a scary noise and I think someone is in the house. He would get out of bed, grab his bat behind his bedroom door and go investigate for me. Of course there was never anyone in the house, but each time we would never hesitate to grab that bat and look just to make me feel better. I grew up with him as my protector and even to this day he looks out for me. In his own sort of way. I am very thankful to be close to my dad growing up. He has always been such a man of strong faith and I am so grateful for that! A girls first love is her daddy, that’s for sure!
11. This Blog – Although this is a place you may stop by ever so often, or maybe this is your first time reading my crazy words, this blog has been amazing to have! I am so thankful to have a place that I can document my best and worst times. I can write and re-write my stories, my memories, post pictures of all that happens in my life. There have been SO many times that I have said, I don’t remember when that was, let me check my blog. This blog has been an outlet for me, a support group for me. A place that I don’t feel judged. It’s just a blog, but I am very thankful to have a place that I can type my words out of my head! That being said, I am also very thankful that I get to stay in touch with people through blogs. I love to read other people’s stories and see pictures and the thoughts in their head! To be able to give my friends and family a place to check so they know what’s going on and can see the latest pics of the fam. (If I stop lagging and post them).
12. Music – I am very thankful that music is such a big part of my life! Almost every moment I am awake I am listening to some kind of music! My hubs shares the same love of music and therefor we have passed it onto our kids. Alana is only 5 and she knows more Michael Jackson and Beatles songs than you probably do! Our love of music is awesome! Some days it cheers me up, some days it makes me cry. Some days I just go home and put on my mom’s old Beatles Rubber Soul album and watch Alana dance to it, feels my heart with joy! Music is amazing and I am so thankful to the people who have made and continue to make it!
13. My church – A few years ago we became a member of NOCC. It was right down the street from our new house so we decided to try it! We loved it! They were so very welcoming to us and invited us to come back. So we did! We have been a member there for about 2 years now. I am so thankful for the leadership and the great decisions they make there. I am very thankful for the friends and families I have met there! The people there are so nice, and really reach out to us right when we need it! I am so thankful to have a place that I love to go to and worship.
14. My friends – Yep, I’m gonna lump ya’all into one. ONLY because I could really go on and on about my friends! I am thankful for the few that are super near and dear to me. The ones I talk to on a daily basis, the ones I talk to once a week and even the ones that I only keep up with on FB or through a few texts every now and then. Each friend in my life is really important to me! Each one is in my life for a reason! There are a few out there that I miss as a friend and wish we could be close again, but each in time I’m sure. I am thankful for my friends that support me. That let me cry on their shoulder, that let me vent. I am thankful that after all of that, they stick around. I am thankful for the ones who call me when they need something. Thankful for the ones who just need a night out and I can be there for them. Or the ones that just need some baby love. Close or not so close, I am thankful for each of them, for their love and support to me and my family!

10.5 Months

One day he took a step or two and the next hour he was a walking boy! He's been so ready to walk for a month now so I knew it was only a matter of time. Everybody thinks it's so early, but Alana started walking at 10.5 months to so I assume it would be the same for Jack!

He doesn't talk all that much, he says mama, but that's about it. He baby babbles, but I guess with Alana for a sister he really won't need to talk much. He eats everything in sight! There's not one thing that I've given him that he won't eat. I only don't give him shellfish, sugar and peanut butter. Other than that, he eats meat, pasta, every fruit and every veggie I give him. I am lovin that! We don't need to buy him baby food anymore!

He is still the biggest snuggle bug! He loves to cuddle and sit in my lap and hug me! He is super sweet. If we go somewhere that he is not familiar with, he will just stop and look around. It's like he is just taking it all in. He has such a serious face most of the time. But when you get him laughing he is hilarious! I can always leave it up to Alana to make him smile or laugh. No matter what she does, he thinks it's so funny! The love between the two of them is awesome right now. Gosh I hope they are always this close. Dreaming, I know.... but I am enjoying it right now!

I HATE to compare, but by this age Alana was sleeping well through the night. Jack, no so much! I have started a new routine this week that has him sleeping through the night, but only time will tell. I need my dang sleep!!


o,

Laguna Love

Every few months we get to go with Daddy to his hotel and spend the night! We love it, we get VIP treatment and everyone loves to see the kids! We had some beautiful weather this time and we were able to spend time in the pool and on the beach! Yay for Daddy's hotel! Love these babes!