3 Months and more 3 year old stories

It's hard to believe Zoe is 3 months now. It seems that the time goes so fast and while I enjoy each milestone, part of me is a little sad my baby is growing so quickly and my little boy keeps reminding me that "I am a big boy now mom...I am almost four. And four is big, but six is really big." I think I was in such a sleep deprived daze most of Derick's first year of life (understandable since the boy was NOT a good sleeper until he was about 2 1/2.) Yet since Zoe is such and awesome sleeper (about 10 hours a night--praise the Lord!) and I am not in that same tired state...I treasure my days with my kids. It's kind of funny that I feel I almost forgot about the stage she is in. I remembered the newborn stage, then in my mind remembered Derick sitting up playing with toys on a mat. I mentally skipped over this stage where the baby pretty much has to be held, in the swing, bouncy, or something as they can't do much yet. Yet the pure joy of their smiling faces and willingness to engage socially makes it all worth it and is so rewarding.

Derick continues to crack me up...but not always at the ideal moments to laugh:

-A few weeks ago he was acting up. As I was punishing him and sending him to his room he tells me that he needs cold water. Knowing he already had a water bottle by his bed, I told him too bad and to drink what he had. He started telling me..."When I am big and Kurt Warner and my dad is 'that other guy' and we play for the Cardinals...you can't watch."
-Ricky convinced Derick to go with him to the man store (Lowes or Home Depot) by advising him they could also stop at WalMart to ride the motorcylce [a video game in the arcade there]. Ricky said he only had $1 so he could only do 2 rides and made sure Derick knew what he was saying..only 2 rides. Derick replied..."Yes daddy, cause you have to save the other money for poker." [side note--Ricky had gone to play poker the previous night with some work friends for the first time, yet the guilt that the thought his 3yr old son thought he was holding out on him led him to provide his son with 2 additional motorcycle rides :)]

-With all the hype of Derick talking about turning 4, I asked him if he knew when his birthday was. Derick tells me "July". I reply, "Yes, but do you know what day?" Derick says, "8/ 7 central." Thankfully I had the video camera rolling to capture that classic moment! [sidenote--he really does NOT watch that much TV]

-My sister has taken Derick hiking a few times which he really seems to love. After returning from his hike up to the top of Squaw Peak (which can be a pretty intense climb, over an hour and half each way for them to hike), Derick tells me, "Next we are gonna hike Camelback, then the Grand Canyon!
_______________________________

I do have to report though he is doing so much better with his sister. He has really grown to love her and is sometimes just a little too affectionate. I spend half my day telling him to give her some space, to back off, be gentle, etc. We try our best to maintain her wellbeing while not discouraging him too much from showing his love. I think the days of him being an only child are beginning to fade in his mind and he seems to be forgetting what life is like without her. Yet I know we both look forward to spending some mommy/son time together at the waterpark this summer.

Happy Baby

Our Loves in Life

We have continued to adjust as a family of four. I am so thankful for all the blessings we have...especially for our family. We are in an amazing season of blessings and are joyful for each day we are given as we journey through the challenges and treasures of our children.

One of Derick's favorite things to do (aside from Chuck E Cheese) is to take pictures and videos with my cell fone. He loves to take some of Zoe and also of himself. Many family members receive videos of him telling him how much he loves them. It is usually very close up...often of his nose or one eye (as his arms aren't very long to get full face shots) and him saying how he "Loves you all the way up to the stars...not the mountains, as the stars are higher than the mountains." It is so sweet. He often asks me if I love him all the way up to the moon or the starts...always wanting to hear its to the stars since they too are higher than the moon.

Yesterday in the morning I advised him we would be going to Wal-Mart. He was so excited and can hardly contain himself as he loves the motorcycle video game in the fun center (as after Chuck E Cheese is probably his 2nd favorite thing in life). I advised him it would be after breakfast and after Zoe woke up from her nap. She was sleeping in the pack n play setup downstairs and he and I were upstairs. I told him we needed to get dressed...so off he ran to get himself dressed. I was still getting ready about 10 min later when I hear..."Mom she woke up." Knowing it was highly unlikely she had woken herself up so soon, I went downstairs to check out the situation. On my way down I asked Derick if he woke her up and he said..."No..she is still sleeping." Yet I could hear the crying that would counter his statement. I peeked in and could see her blanket pulled off her...something she is not capable of doing...so it was obvious who the culprit was. She continued screaming for quite sometime even after picking her up...you know where the face turns nearly purple as she holds out for air, then belts it out like the world is going to end. I tried to calmly point out to Derick that she has not been feeling well and really needs her rest. I also explained that it would now take us longer to get to Wal-Mart. Awhile later as he sat eating his breakfast, he told me that he would not play his Pac-Man game (probably his 3rd love in life) because he had woken up Zoe. He did kept saying sorry to her as she was crying and I could tell he really did feel bad about it.

Wow...the last couple weeks with Derick were challenging for me. Derick finally started verbalizing his jealousy over his sister and it was heartbreaking to hear. He would tell me not to hold Zoe and just leave her there to cry. He would stand in my way...arms stretched as wide as he could and say "You can't get her...I am blocking you." One day after stepping around him to pick her up, he waited til I turned around then stood on my foot. He stayed there bouncing up and down after several requests that he move, so I advised him one last time to please move or he would get a spank. He refused so I carried through with his little spank and asked him to go to his room until he could be nice. After his initial burst of tears and catching his breath through his cries, he said to me..."You tell me to be nice, but you are not being nice to me!" Yikes...how was I to respond to that one? My 3 year old is putting all this together and turning it back at me!

Thankfully my sweet Derick returned the last couple of days. He has been so thoughtful and kind...the boy I have known until his alter ego showed up these past couple weeks....is back...I hope to stay!

Zoe started smiling a couple weeks ago. It just melts our hearts. She has been a pretty easy going baby and really is pretty mellow just taking in the world around her. In the last few days she seems to have an appreciation for her brother. Instead of being jumpy when he shows his face in fear of being clobbered or slimed with kisses, her face lights up and she smiles. So now he is on a mission to always make her smile. She even coos a little when he sings her Rock a Bye Baby.

I am truly thankful to God that she seems to be a much better sleeper than Derick ever was. She is already sleeping through the night most of the time...a good 6-7 hours, wakes up to eat, then back to sleep for another couple hours. Praise God for that..as I don't know how I would function. That first 6 weeks was rough...waking up every 2-3 hours then trying to get through the day without a nap...as Derick dropped his naps a year ago. When praying for her during my pregnancy, I specifically and adamently requested she be a good sleeper...as Derick never was until he was nearly 3yrs and still has issues. So I am very thankful for that answered prayer. She did have her first cold this past week...quite congested and mild fevers...so had a few rough nights, but seems to be back on track now...just in time for our trip to Kingman today...headed up so she can meet her great grandparents for the first time :)

So I close with the thought as displayed on our family collage above...The love of a Family is life's greatest blessing. What truth that is and I am forever thankful.

Rationale or Justification?

I have every intention of adding more to this on a weekly basis..at least...yet time seems to slip away before me. My days are filled with so many things like running to and from preschool, meals, diaper changes, baby feedings....sometimes I wonder where does the day go? And I don't feel I have much to show for it to the eyes of outsiders...for sure not a clean house or any spectacular accomplishments...but I do have two growing children that seem to display love and happiness...that is enough satisfaction for me. A new appreciation came to me in my church mom's group newsletter this month. I think I have read it some time ago, yet have a new appreciation for it at this stage in my life.

If I live in a house of spotless beauty with everything in its palce, but have not love, I am a housekeeper-- not a homemaker. If I have time for waxing, polishing, and decorative achievements, but have not love, my childre learn cleanliness--not godliness.
Love leaves the dust in search of a child's laugh.
Love smiles at the tiny fingerprints on a newly cleaned window.
Love wipes away the tears before it wipes up the spilled milk.
Love picks up the child before it picks up the toys.
Love is present through the trials.
Love reprimands, reproves, and is responsive.
Love is the key that opens salvation's message to a child's heart.
Love crawls with the baby, walks with the toddler, runs with the child, then stands aside to let the youth walk into adulthood.

Before I became a mother I took glory in my house of perfection. Now I glory in God's perfection of my child. As a mother, there is much I must teach my child, but the greatest of all is love.
-Author Unknown

So I like to think of this as my rationale for my less than spotless house rather than my justification for it :)

Multi-tasking and The Growler

Yesterday as we were preparing to sit down for dinner, I made the usual request for Derick to go and wash his hands as it was almost time to sit down. As I am serving the plates I hear him talking to himself in the bathroom. As I listen closer to what is being said, I hear that he is saying his prayers as he is washing his hands. It was so cute that I couldn't help but chuckle to myself. I know it has been hard for him lately to wait patiently while his food is in front of him. He sits and eats and tells me that he just can't stop eating...not even for a minute to pray. Well I guess he found a way to solve the problem himself...to multi-task and take care of two things at once :) I was just greatful he was prompting himself of what needed to be done, but will eventually turn it back into a family affair at the table.
--------------
We had a hard time picking Zoe's middle name. We had considered several different options and it was up until the time we were filling out her birth certificate prior to leaving the hospital that the decision was made. I am sure I have mentioned before that Derick wanted to name her Zoe Kicker Ruiz. As far as he was concerned that was all she did in utero...well at least all he could feel. However, now that is out of the womb, it seems a more fitting middle name for her would have been "The Growler". She is quite a noisy and growly baby. I thought Derick was loud with all his farm noises and squeaks, but he didn't hold a candle compared to this little girl. You would think she was a ravenous bear fighting for the last piece of meat as she nurses. She makes such loud noises and heaven forbid she has to be covered...she thrashes her head around and cranks up the volume several notches. At home I find it quite entertaining, yet as we are venturing out more and more in public for extended periods of time and I have to nurse her...it can become quite un-nerving. Well hopefully we will both get more comfortable with it.
-----------------
Hmmm... last shared piece of info for the day. Derick has mentioned a couple times about having another baby. He thinks he is ready for another baby...specifically requesting that it be a baby brother. In fact last week he reminded me to "pray for the little boy who lost his baby" then followed up with a prayer for himself to have a baby brother...and we could save the name Kicker for him. Then tonight at dinner he said that when we go to Chuck E Cheese (something he talks about at least 30 times a day) that I would have to hold one baby and Daddy would have to hold the other baby. So again I say...Hmmm.... only God knows what he has in store for our future :) I do miss my sleep, but am treasuring this time with our sweet girl...as since don't know what is in store for us...keep reminding myself that sleep deprivation is only a temporary state.

Our first 2 weeks as a family of 4

Well we have survived and actually enjoyed our first 2 weeks as a family of four. It was a little hectic coming home from the hospital and having a whirlwind of visitors. We then enjoyed a few days to ourselves trying to get settled in. Derick had a rough few days then has gotten better, though many days now just have rough patches mixed with the good.


I think I have cried twice for him having a hard time adjusting. The first afternoon we were home I was in Zoe's room nursing and he spotted a toy up in her closet that he wanted. I explained to him I would be happy to get it for him but he needed to wait patiently a few minutes til sister was done. A moment later he returned with his stepstool and determination to get the toy himself. I again asked him to wait just a few minutes. He looked at me with tears welled up in his eyes and said, "You are too busy doing that. (Pointing at me nursing) I will do it myself." The fact he wasn't fussing, but just more hurt... broke my heart. Thankfully with his stool he could reach what he wanted. He left the room feeling proud of himself for accomplishing his task all on his own.

Then yesterday I offered to take him to the park. He was so excited and ran to get his shoes. He sat on the stairs and asked if he was putting them on the right feet. Again as I was nursing I asked him to bring them down and I would check it out. He lost it and it turned into a 10 minute tantrum so I cancelled the park. He ran to his room and closed the door. Still attached to the baby, I went in and sat on his bed. I asked what was wrong and he just stared at us and said "I don't know." I could tell in his eyes that he was having a hard time sharing me, but didn't want to say anything bad. I teared up, hugged him and talked to him about how he was doing such a great job being a big brother and how we have to share our time.

Overall though he is doing great job. We are trying to encourage showing his love but being careful not to smother and squish her too much. I am understanding why 2nd children get to be so tough at an early age :) My mom spent the last five days with us and was a big help entertaining Derick. I appreciated having time to bond with Zoe while knowing Derick was being loved and played with as well. She left yesterday morning. Ricky returned to work yesterday as well. So we had our first day just me and the two kiddos...and we survived :)

Zoe is doing well. I think many babies are really good babies their first two weeks, as they just sleep all the time...so I don't want to jinx anything as we are just crossing that timeline. She was jaundiced but seems to be getting better although at times her eyes still look a little yellowish. She also has a little congestion and cold. I know she got it at the dr. office from her first well visit. So frustrating to see all the parents that think they are above sitting in the sick room, rather they sit in the well visit room and let their kids cough all over!! Thanks alot people.

She is so precious and we adore her. She is having more alert moments and it's fun to watch her check things out. Maybe it's having been through this once already, maybe it's that she has been so long awaited, or maybe both...but I find myself more relaxed and patient with her...even in her crying moments. At night when she has a hard time settling in I find myself wanting to hold her knowing this is such a short time of her being so little and not knowing what God has in store for us...whether or not we will experience it again with another baby. So while Ricky has opted to let her settle herself, yet I often find myself holding her..cherishing the moments...hoping and praying that the sleep I get will be enough to sustain me through the day with a good attitude and patience. I thank heaven for this treasure and for all my precious family.

My friend Sarah the photographer has been over 3 times taking pictures. Hopefully will get some from her in the next couple weeks and have some more to post including some of us as a family.

A few pictures of our precious Zoe

You can click on any of the pictures below to see them enlarged. [just trying to conserve some memory space :)]

Baby Zoe has arrived!

WARNING: This may be more info that you care to know...if so then just check back tomorrow when the pictures of our sweet baby Zoe are posted (or skip to below the *** marked below) ;)

Last Thursday I had my 39 week appointment. Dr. said I was showing to be dialated at 3.5...so not much change from the previous week at 3. He offered to help matters along by stripping the membranes, so I agreed. It was a relatively painless process but proved to be effective. As the evening wore on, I did start having more contractions. After eating a spicy Pad Thai dinner out with Ricky and Derick we came home and went for a family walk...well curb walking for me and scooter racing for them. A little more contractions but still mild. As we put Derick to bed that night at 745pm I thought I better pack him a little suitcase...just in case he ended up needing to go to his aunt and uncle's house that night...as I didn't want to be doing that once real labor kicked in.

Ricky and I enjoyed watching the Olympics...and it was about 9:45pm that the contractions became 5 minutes apart. They weren't too bad so I wanted to wait it out at home as long as possible (as we only live 2 miles from the hospital). At 11pm I told Ricky to go to bed and thought I would get some rest as well...knowing could be a long night. Yeah right, resting while one is in labor does not really happen. So I walked around our walkin closet while catching up on my Route 66 bible reading. At around 1am I woke Ricky up and said we better call his brother to get Derick as the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. Dennys arrived to get Derick and we headed to the hospital arriving about 1:40am.

Apparently 3 people had just checked in and we were #4. They did send me into the triage room right away and got me hooked up to all the monitors. The nurse came in and measured me at 4.5...so a little more progress. But wow..once I layed down did the contractions intensify. I let her know that I did want an epidural but would hold out for a little while longer. She said I had to be admitted to Labor and Delivery first and since we were #4 we had to wait to be processed and she left the room. What seemed like and eternity, but in reality was about 30 minutes I sent Ricky to check the status. They said they called my Dr. and should be admitted shortly. A few more minutes she came back to check me and then left the room. A couple of them came back and then wheeled me in. I could see my Dr. in the hall which was a hopeful sign. He came into my room and I asked "Can I have an epidural now?" He replied, "You don't have any time. You are dialated at a 9 and won't last 3 more contractions." WHATT?? I didn't sign up for this..but when you are in an extemely painful state just struggling to breathe..it's hard to find the energy to complain. Ricky ran out to the car to get our bag which contained the camera. It was at that time I overheard a nurse saying she didn't think he would make it back in time for the birth. WHAT was this I was hearing?? They told me to breathe through the next contraction to give my husband a minute to return. He walked in the room and they told be to start pushing. The first one I had no idea what I was doing so it was a wasted effort. They then explained exactly what to do and that it would go fast. [I really thought they were telling me what I wanted to hear and it could NOT go fast enough as I was on my deathbed in pain]. Well I should have trusted them as 2 pushes later out came our precious baby girl. I was shocked... and it was only 3:09am...less than an hour and half since arriving at the hospital.
***********************************
Zoe Isabel Ruiz weighed in at 6lb. 10oz and was 19.75 inches long. She had a head full of black hair (something I adore in the hispanic genes) and beautiful skin coloring. At first glance she looked very much like Derick, but more and more people are saying they think she looks more like me with a little bit of Ricky...the exact opposite of what we hear about Derick. Regardless of all that, we love and adore her...what a precious addition to our family.

We are sleep deprived and enduring the challenges that come with a newborn. Derick is excited a good portion of the time yet going through his own adjustments of having to share his parents. It has been a whirlwind weekend of family visitors so I am looking forward to some quiet days adjusting to be a family of 4 together. I am also looking forward to taking some pictures of our precious little one and will download some of the first few days. So please check back soon for that!

A glimpse of Zoe's room

Here are a couple of pictures of Zoe's room. It is hard to see the color with the bright window, but is painted a light sage green and of course we had to add a little pink to our lives!

<--- I made this bowboard to keep some of the flowers and bows on to keep from getting squished. Ricky's sister gave us some cute headbands/hairbows and this cute little onesy with Zoe's name and a matching tutu so we can do some fun pictures.

Cute Nuggets of a 3 Year Old

Derick has such a sweet and tender heart. He says so many priceless things that I wish I could record many of our conversations for later down the road. However due to my pg brain and overall forgetfulness I fail to remember so many. Yet here a few cute things he has talked about recently:

Last week:
D: You sure must have been a good girl.
Me: What makes you say that?
D: Jesus sent me to you. I think he only sent me because you were a good girl.
Me: Yes, Daddy and I prayed for you for a long time...just like we prayed for baby Zoe.
D: Yeah, but you were a good girl.
[Nice to hear that he has a good perception of me!]

A common mealtime prayer:
D: Thank you Jesus for Mommy, Daddy, and Derick, and Baby Zoe. Please help her get out of Mommy's tummy really carefully. Amen.

When talking about being a big brother:
D: Mommy, when baby Zoe wakes up in the night I will go sing to her.
Me: Oh really, what will you sing?
D: Mama, I think she likes Twinkle. I will sing that to her and you and Daddy can sleep.
[what a nice thought]

Learning and Praying through Tragedy

It seems that sad stories have been all around lately. Thankfully we have been spared of being in one, yet our hearts are so heavy for those around us experiencing them. Yet we know there are no guarantees in life so have been talking to and utilizing them as teaching moments with Derick.

Now as I parent I often question myself as to what is the right thing to do in so many different situations...what is appropriate for our 3 1/2 yr old to learn and what is best to shelter him from. Yet life is life and I want him to gain some understanding at how precious it is and also to learn how important it is to trust in God and especially learn that praying is so important.

As we shared the broken hearted story with him of a family that lost a baby..due within just a few days of his coming sister...he asked a number of questions like why and where is the baby now. As he heard of their other little 2 yr old boy, Derick really seemed to take it upon himself to pray for him. After lunch prayers and so often in the middle of the meal Derick would say...I want to pray for that little boy and he would do just that. Even at night after stories and prayers we sing songs...then he would remember and tell me again that he wanted to pray for that little boy. I am so thankful for his precious and sensitive heart...being prompted and he is following the lead from above.

Derick loves to check the mail and will open anything we allow him to get his hands on. Yesterday we recieved a letter requesting donations for the Haiti relief. He asked what is said and then a ton of other questions trying to make any sense of things. He didn't know why they needed our money. He said he didn't want to give any of his money because he likes to ride the motorcycle at Wal-Mart. Trying to explain to a 3 yr old how that compares to kids who have no food/water/houses/parents can be challenging. So I picked a few pictures off the web to show him of houses crumbled and kids looking for food/water in dirty places. He softened a little then said we could send them "one big money" [aka a quarter].

Today we recieved news of yet another tragedy, yet I am opting not to share with him as I know where to draw the line and not stress him too much. An extended relative lost her life due to pregnancy complications. She was due the day after I am. Thankfully the baby is ok, but sadly she will leave behind a husband to raise four young boys.

It's often so difficult to make sense of such tragedies, yet all there is left to trust God's purposes and plans are higher than our own. Yet why do I feel selfish when I stop to count all my blessings? I am reminded to be so very thankful for every moment and everyday...even through the rough days. I know what I experience is often just a minor aggravation rather then anything substantial. I hugged both my husband and son just a little bit tighter today and can only be greatful for what I do get to experience.

3 1/2 Years

Derick had been telling me on the way home from school that 3 1/2 year olds don't cry about silly things. I agreed and re-emphasized it is ok to cry if hurt or really, really sad, but there is no need to cry over silly things like toys or not always getting our way. He was telling me how he is so much bigger now...so we thought we would celebrate it and baked a cake with sprinkles. It will be interesting to see how a cake tastes with half a bottle of sprinkles in it...but that was his favorite part of helping...and one should never estimate how quick a preschooler can shake if you turn your back for a split second! :)

He started preschool again today after having a month off for Christmas vacation. I was concerned all our sleeping in until 8am would be tough to get back on schedule, but he must have been excited because he was up at 6:20am...the earliest in a couple months! He will be going 3 days a week now...Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays. I think it will be good for both of us as we anticipate the arrival of baby sister and will be even better for after she is here!

Derick is also learning to ride his bike without training wheels. Since he has only had his bike (with training wheels) for about 5 months...I was thinking it was a little soon. What prompted it cracks me up. On the rare occasion we find ourselves at Walmart, Derick would plead to ride this motorcycle video game...one where you sit on and use the gas/break and looks like a crotchrocket. After coming in 2nd or 3rd place on this game...he started saying he wanted to ask Santa for one of these next year. Ricky insisted that he must learn to ride his bike without training wheels before they could think about getting a real motorcycle. Within the next couple days the training wheels on his bike came off and they have been practicing several times a week. As the mom I am going to have to think about how this is all going to work...as I didn't want my baby on a motorcycle bike (especially not this early!)

Visit to Santa the last 4 years....

Funny how the first year they are too small to know the difference...then when 1 year old it is frightening....

By age 2 he wasn't sure, but still sat on his lap...

This year at age 3 he was excited to see Santa.

The same pattern is seen with his cousing Taylor who is 1 this year :)

Christmas Letter

Well our cards are going out in the mail hopefully tomorrow as they have been written and addressed for a week now. The new family picture was printed and put in yesterday...now it's just a matter of buying stamps. However we thought we would just try and update our blog to share our news rather than sending a letter...we like to think we are 'going green' rather than it being so much effort to get so many letters printed!

This year has been a year full of blessings. There was Ricky's baptism, the new baby on the way, and the new house--among so many other things. But all in all we are just so thankful for all the Lord has provided to us as we have walked this journey of faith. For more details on any of the above, just scroll through our blog and you can read more of the stories.

In short, we are all doing very well. We anxiously await our baby girl to join our lives late February/early March. Her name will be Zoe and her middle name is still being decided upon. The first time I read Zoe, it said that it means "God breathed life." After waiting patiently for her for over two years and then completly giving it to God and He being the one to make it happen...I found it every so fitting. Plus to say "Derick and Zoe"---how cute is that! So with less than 12 weeks to go I am attempting to get all I can done now...while I am still feeling pretty good and have a fair amount of energy. I still work in the travel business very part-time from home and am so blessed to have such a wonderful company who know the value of family first.

Ricky has been working hard as usual. When he is not "at work" he does alot of things around the house. While we moved into a house that is only 3 years old, he finds projects of things we want to improve...like removing an inground spa and preparing the ground for a trampoline... getting his garage organized, etc. During his Christmas break he will be busy painting both the kids rooms. I call him the Energizer Bunny. I mean who decides to run a 10K race the night before... and still does like 8 min miles? Did I mention he had not even run or jogged or anything in the previous 10 months?? Wow... I am constantly amazed with him. He is incredible...yet I will have to keep my eye on him as he is already enthralled with the idea of Daddy's little princess!

Derick is loving preschool. He has been going 2 days a week but in January will be going 3 days. He seems to learn so much and enjoys the social activity. Since I will not be up to doing quite as much in the spring I think it is an answered prayer for both of us. This year we have tried some new activites like Spanish and soccer along with our usual music class, gym class, etc. It is such a joy to see him grow and learn each and every day. Even on the rough days I try and remind myself that I wouldn't trade it for the world...and am very thankful to have such a supportive husband that allows me this incredibly time.

We send our love to all our family and friends and thank you for sharing in our lives..each one mean so much!

The Christmas Program

One of Ricky's favorite Christmas songs is Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer...as it was the first song he learned in English. When we realized this would be one of the the songs Derick was going to sing in his school Christmas concert, we listened to that song time and time again. Derick and Daddy would sing and dance on many different occasions. Derick even learned all the reindeer names and my favorite would be after naming them all he would say "Hit it!"... then continue into singing the song.

Well last night Derick performed his little concert program at preschool. The first song up was our beloved Rudolph. Derick stood the top of the stage along with all the other 3 year olds of the school and at first looked a little distracted, but once he heard the names of the reindeer begin to be played on a background recording...he straightened right up and started saying the names quietly...then the music paused...and then came the big and loud "Hit it" followed by a very loud rendering...well more like shouting from my 3 year old of his favorite song. His voice could be clearly heard over the other 29 kids on stage. Many parents around me commented.."Wow he really likes that song" or "He really likes to sing."

With that song ending, so did his attention span. For the remaining 5 songs he seemed to get a little stir crazy and was ping-ponging off the girls around him. Every 5 minutes or so he would run up on the stage and take a lap around the Christmas tree. While my sister and I just could not stop laughing, I was feeling bad for the parents of all the pretty girls in their Christmas dresses trying to be so poised yet being knocked around by my rambuncious boy. Several staff members of the school commented to me today how Derick was the little lap runner around the tree, yet reminded me he was only 3 and its always some kid every year. Well I guess it makes it more memorable. Would I really remember this down the road if he stood still and did what he was supposed to??

Baby Sister

Derick is very excited to have a baby sister (as we all are) and seems to always know what she thinks or wants. One night after I had a bowl of soup he tells me, "Baby sister says that soup is yucky. Here have some of my nuts so she can be happy." Or "Baby sister needs a drink...have some water so she can have a drink." Another thing he likes to do is if he wakes up before me, he will climb on my bed and pull the covers down and shout..."Wake up baby sister, the sunshine is up. It's time to wake up now." Or another of my favorites, he says..."Baby sister needs a hug...she wants a hug from me" then will proceed to hug my belly. Sometimes if he has too much energy and I need him to calm down I will ask him to help put baby sister to sleep and he will sing her Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star. He will say "Go to sleep Baby Zoe." How sweet these moments are, but sometimes I wonder what we are setting ourselves up for when she out of the belly!

And it is going to be a....??

We feel so blessed that God has granted us another family member...we honestly feel so thankful and really would be happy to have either a boy or a girl. Fully trusting that HE knows what is best and has in store for us leaves such a peace that we don't question what we are given. It's funny as everyone around assumes we want a girl maybe since we already have a boy. I honestly didn't have one preference over the other as I could see benefits and drawbacks to both. Yet upon hearing the news I find it so interesting that so many others seemed to have stronger feelings about it than I did.

I am happy that we will have the experience to raise a little girl and will have fun watching my tenderhearted husband have a little girl... Yet I do have to admit the drama that comes with a girl truly scares me!! I guess I know what area I will need to pray ferverently about:)

This morning I asked Derick if he had thoughts about having a baby brother or sister. He said, "I know I am having a baby sister." He has been saying it pretty consistantly with confidence. While we didn't want to buy into it too much, maybe there is something to be said about it. Anyway, everything else seems to appear like it is going well at this time and baby is right where she needs to be...on the smaller side of the average scale, but Derick wasn't a huge baby so will be fine if she is in the same 7lb range. You can see the above little video clip of her rubbing her hand on her face. I am always amazed at how inticate they can see things even when babies are so small...I think she said around 9oz? Amazing work of our creator!

Good Health and Great Weather

It is nice to have both my boys back and feeling much better. The weather has been awesome this week...in the 80s. So nice to have the windows open and be able to outside or run around without roasting. We are excited as some of the neighbors want to start a Friday night dinner at the park tradition. Derick LOVES playing especially if he can make some new friends and have some consistent kids to play with.

We had an interesting week with attitudes. We had our first 'go to bed without dinner' night. He was goofing around at the table and after numerous reminders and corrections he just ran out of chances. Derick cried in his room for quite some time and kept telling me over and over that he was hungry... yet we had to make a point. How heartbreaking to hear. I did give in a little and let him have one string cheese but that was it. These past couple days he has been doing great at eating...finishes most of his food then asks to be done. Hallelujah...that message got thru...at least temporarily!

We are looking forward to hitting the 20 week mark next week and having the ultrasound that will hopefully reveal the gender of this little one so active. I have been feeling this one move around for a few weeks now. It seems this one likes to ball up and press their back out causing my stomach to be lopsided. Funny to feel so early as with Derick it was well over 5 months until I felt anything. Anyway it will be fun to start preparing either way...whether we have more blue or pink in our future. I think it will also help Derick get even more adjusted as we can start talking in a more specific relational sense rather than just 'baby' all the time. So look for the update next week...starting Wednesday or later!

The Flu Strikes

As I am dealing with two sick boys I am posting this picture as a reminder of how my days usually are. I love having two very happy and smiley boys in my life... However the flu has struck my cute 3 year old and wiped him out. I have chatted with my hubby on the fone and he has a cold. Yikes... I have become a handwashing fanatic...trying to protect myself and the unborn baby the best I can. I am praying to God that we will be spared. So we missed preschool and picture day...which I was sorry about...would have loved to have the first little school picture to commerate our preschooler...even as cheesy as many of the pictures are.

The House

So I was waiting until the house looked all put together and all cleaned up before I really took pictures to share; but since I realize that may take quite some time, I thought I would share some pictures now. I also thought I would make the effort to take some pics with my nice camera, but in an effort to get it done...here are some with the point and shoot. [*note..my house is currently NOT this clean...!]
Front of House

Kitchen/Dining nook

Family Room ..
<---Master Bedroom

Derick's room

Derick's bathroom

Loft/Playroom Upstairs

Future Dining/Formal Living Guest Room

Guest Bathroom

Neighboorhood Park where we spend our evenings.

***COMING in next few months: Baby Room and Photo studio***

6 Years

I am so happy to have enjoyed 6 wonderful years with my husband and our growing family. We took Derick to his Grandma's house and enjoyed an evening out of dinner and a movie. It's funny how those dates seemed so commonplace once upon a time before kids, but now it is a treat to get to spend time together without insisting some little one sit still and eat their food. And to watch a movie that is not a cartoon was a treat as well. It has also been awhile since both of us were able to sleep until 8am! It was an enjoyable weekend and I look forward to the many wonderful years to come.

The Miracle of Life and Blessings!

We have anxiously awaiting this day. It has been an AMAZING last 6 weeks or so... Where to even begin??

Well after the last post and the scorpion house falling through, we just sucked it up and continued packing up our things as we knew we would have to move out of our home...regardless if we had a new one or not. We had until July 4th to be out and it seemed time was ticking...

After another round of househunting over the course of a few days, we found 2 more houses we decided to make offers on. At this point we had made 6 offers on homes and had to go well above (sometimes $35K) above asking price. We like both of these homes yet weren't willing to go up too much in asking. Based on the comps, we decided to offer $10K more than asking on both of them...as they were newer houses and foreclosures...so we thought they would most certainly go for much higher, but we better give it a shot. A couple days after submitting our offer, our realtor had called and asked us for our highest and best on one of the houses...as we were once again competing with multiple offers. Ricky and I had discussed it before he left for an out of town business trip... Ricky thought we didn't have much of a chance so just to leave it as it stands. I said we should go $5K more...as in the skeem of things what is another few grand. So he left it up to me to handle while he traveled. So I advised the realtor to go up another $5K and if it is meant to be then it will be...and if not, well it would not be our first disappointment..as we had been through 6 already. Ricky and I both wondered if we really needed a 3100 sq. foot house, but it was such a great deal if it worked that we thought we would give it a shot.

Well Ricky left town on Sunday and Monday I start feeling a little strange. I felt all the lovely things we women get to experience on a monthly basis and knew I should be expecting my 'monthly visitor' at any time. I started analyzing all the symptoms and as I have every month for the last 2 years...wondered if I could be pregnant?!? Yet I was sooo tired of being disappointed I dismissed the thought and decided I couldn't handle another negative thing right now. Then I looked at the calender again...hmmm...has been nearly a week late now, maybe I should check. I took one test that I had leftover from my last round of disappointments [as I had been taking fertility drugs for 5 months then stopped just that prior month since I had enough stress from the house situation...couldn't handle both]. Sure enough it was positive. I had a few happy tears, yet still was in disbelief--could it actually be true, what I have been praying/hoping for...have I mentioned for TWO years?!?!! Well I found myself at Target again the next day purchasing more tests...as I really wanted to make sure, as it was just too good to be true. Sure enough...it was just good and true--Praise God!!!

So I tried to think of a clever way to tell Ricky. I had talked with Derick about it and although I don't think he really 'gets' it, he could still say the words. When Ricky came in the door, Derick started to say "Daddy, we have a surpise for you! I am going...." I ran over as quick as I could and covered his mouth just in time. I walked over to the kitchen and said let's give daddy his surprise present first before you tell him. He unwrapped the two pregnancy tests I had taken and immediately knelt down and gave Derick a long hug as the tears streamed down. I was taking a video of it all and as soon as I shut the camera off and layed it down thinking I had captured the moment, Ricky started jumping up and down shouting with excitement. It was precious and I wish the camera was still rolling...but I will always hold the memory dear in my heart!

It Could Only Be the Hand of God

So we had made an offer on this house Thursday night the 11th. Friday morning Natasha sends me a text picture of a bag of scorpions from one of her co-workers houses. She knows I am paranoid about scorpions [not that I have ever seen any since living here, but have heard stories]. Well after some back and forth of the counter offers as previously described, we got the news of getting the house Sunday evening.

Then last Tuesday our realtor comes by and drops off the clue report from the owners of the house we are buying. It states on there..."A few scorpions over the years, but mostly in front near the neighbor.." Well I was not happy to hear of that news but it didn't end the deal for us, as we know it is AZ and it could very well happen in any house we get. Well we go to the bank, schedule the appraisal and inspection. Then on Wednesday morning I am glancing at the clue report again and see it is faxed from Natasha's work. I get sort of excited as I figure if we have a connection with the people then maybe they would be willing to let us pre-posses...rent it until our loan goes through to avoid a double move. I also wanted to ask them a few questions about preschools in the area, etc. So I send her an email to ask if she knows this person. She calls me back about an hour later and says she knows this guy and he works in her department. [Good news so far...] Then she asks me if I got that text picture of the scorpians...and those are from the guy selling the house. Ugghhh... And did I mention there were like 14 scorpions,which he brought 'live' in a sandwich bag to work to show. And apparently this was not the first time either. So then we hear they are both inside and outside the house...so we think these are way more than just "a few over the years". After doing some research with pest control companies, we decide it is a bigger battle/risk that we are willing to take.... so we cancelled our offer.

But to see how this string of events came about...it could only be the hand of God...as what are the odds of all the happening. I don't believe in coincidences. So we are back to square one.

Nearly half of our house belongings now reside in storage. I am feeling the disconnection from this house, as it no longer is our home, but rather a house filled with boxes and piles of stuff. It is sad as it has been a wonderful home and we have so many memories here, yet I know there will be something great in store for us one of these days :)

An Exciting Weekend of Answered Prayers

We had such an exciting weekend that it still sinking in. I'll start with the most amazing and meaningful thing...Ricky and Natasha got baptized on Saturday night. It was nice that both our families came to share in the experience and meant alot to us all. I have a couple of videos of them that I will try and post in the next few days. Nothing compares to an experience when the Lord has touched and moved so much in someone's heart.

In other news our prayers have been answered in our quest for a new home. We had made 5 other offers over the course of the last 6 weeks and been getting pretty discouraged over the whole ordeal. On 3 of the houses, we offered well over $30K than asking price and even would have the highest offer in a case or two, but then someone would step in and pay cash for the house, which would be accepted over our higher offer. While it was discouraging at times we continued to trust in our faith and accept it as a sign it was not meant to be.

A few weeks ago I woke up in the night after having a dream and thought, what about that house on Kilarea?? We had seen it, but thought it was overpriced so moved on--yet still kept it saved in our favorites on our real estate search site...just to keep an eye on it. Well we had been talking about making them an offer for $15K less than asking price to see if they would bite...yet we didn't...we kept checking what was new on the market...along with all the other real estate vultures [you should see how people swarm to the new houses...it's crazy...three cars may be there at a time checking it all out] Well after putting a few other offers out that fell through, we decided to revisit this one. Just as God would have it, they dropped the price on the home last week. So we decided to make our offer and after some back and fourth counter offers actually got the home for $20K less which seemed more than fair for all parties [depending on how it actually appraises which will be in the next 10 days or so...].

Yesterday afternoon when we were to submit our counter offer, Ricky starting stressing over raising it. Our realtor did advise us that we were competing with a cash offer but if we raised our offer $5K then they may consider. I was in a happy/faithful mood and said "In the whole scheme of things when you are talking about so much money, it seems like such a small amount...Let's make the offer and leave it in God's hands. If it's not meant to be, then I am sure they will accept the cash...as it's way easier for them anyway...no appraisals, no waiting for our loan to close, etc."

It's funny...we found out about 9 last nite that they accepted the offer...but neither Ricky or I got super excited because we were so used to being disappointed that we stopped getting our hopes up, yet we were happy as it was an answer to prayer. I think it starting sinking in more later and it will be nice to just focus on getting packed and moved rather than packing for the unknown.

***OK, for the super cutest part of the story.... ****
Every night the past couple months I take Derick to bed, I tell him we need to pray for our new house. A typical prayer might go something like:

"Thank you Jesus for Mommy, Daddy, and Derick, and all my family.
Please help us find a house and please send me a baby brother sister together*. Amen."

So this morning I was telling Derick I had some good news for him. I asked him if he remembered that house he had found the choo choo train in the yard and played with it on the slide... he said "Yes I do remember." I told him that was going to be our new house and then he said... "And I am going to have a baby brother and sister together in that house and I am going to be so nice and share all my toys with them in that house." I smiled and said "I sure hope so...I hope God will send you a baby brother or sister soon."

[*Footnote on the above 'baby brother sister'... I think they maybe since Dora the Explorere has both a baby brother and sister who are twins , Derick thinks he will have one of each at the same time too ;-) ]

And in other good news since the last post, I am happy to report that Derick is fully potty trained, even at night... It has been so nice....at least one way I am happy to see him grow up!

We have been busy househunting...more like consumed by it. Needless to say I have neglected my photos. Yesterday after doing some pictures for my neice I got 'reinspired' and had some fun playing around again. Hopefully I will post more up soon...but I thought this was a fun one!