#Sibling4jag

Events recorded previously:

For the past year we have been trying to get a little sibling for Joaquin.  I've always imagined my kids 2 years apart just like my brother and I were but my plans rarely happen as I imagine.  I know better than to complain about a year of trying because that really isn't that long and I am grateful to already have one growing boy! I also know that there are others who have been trying for plenty longer and I don't want to dis-credit that. But for me personally, it has been a long year of waiting.  I got pregnant much faster when I started trying for Joaquin and trying for a second baby became that consuming game of being late, getting my hopes up and then seeing a negative pregnancy test.  After another year full of dramatic life changes, maybe we needed to feel more settled financially, emotionally and overall just more stable before we could get Joaquin a sibling.   Not to mention during the year, I spent some time both in the Dominican Republic and back home, getting more medical answers about that whole septum thing... I finally have some peace and faith to move forward although there's still unanswered questions but they are ones I can deal with for now.

Today I reluctantly bought a pregnancy test and took the test right away in the Target bathroom so I could do it without my husband knowing. I didn't want to jinx anything and I wanted to surprise him creatively if maybe this time it were positive.  I took the test, threw it in my bag and right before leaving the bathroom I checked and saw the result with a grin on my face and then left the bathroom as if everything in my life was still the same...guess what it said...

Later that day, we left Joaquin with my mom and checked out the Mall of America on Black Friday.  Somehow I convinced my husband to get in a photo booth with me and that's where I gave him our surprise.  Here it is captured on film!  The first photo shows his frustration of my dumb idea to get in a photo booth that we had to take money out of an ATM for and pay the ATM fees.   Then he wonders why I'm digging in my pocket instead of looking at the camera after all that!  Photos 2-4 answer that question and remedy the situation quite perfectly.

Needless to say we are beyond grateful!  We both have wanted a little brother or sister for Joaquin (and our puppy) and now is as good a time as any. Joaquin was so sweet to his baby cousin Richard when he was smaller, from helping with his bottle to trying to hold him that I just know he will love a new baby. Of course he'll get jealous but I believe his love for the baby will prevail!  I have been a bit nervous this pregnancy now that I know about my uterine septum and there are extra risks of late miscarriage and pre-term labor but I pray every day things will go just as smooth as they did with our little JAG. I feel very hopeful.

We decided to surprise our families with the news at Christmas.  While in Miami with Jesus' family, we gave Joaquin a shirt for his Christmas gift that said, "hermano grande 7-2015" (big brother) which he unwrapped in front of everyone. Here are the videos but they don't play on mobile devices, only computers.

Back in Minnesota, we left a gift for Joaquin's baby cousin Richard, which was a shirt that read, "Primo Grande 7-2015" (big cousin) and he opened that in front of the family back home.

Disney World with a 2 year old

I used to say things like: "I'd rather go to Disney when I have older kids."  "A 2 year old won't remember much anyway." Etc. etc.  Know what I say now?  All of that is garbage!  Disney world was amazing for a two year old!  Disney is designed to be the happiest place on earth for all ages and they seem to know what they are doing.  There are so many rides that don't have a height limit so Joaquin could ride no problem.  Then there are random parades, shows and characters everywhere and what two year old doesn't want in on that action?  It's also still free for two year olds so that helps!  With a little advance planning, Disney World is a great place for a toddler, or at least it was for us and I am so grateful!  I am grateful the day went on without a hitch including a nap in the stroller which hasn't happened in ages for my active little guy.

Before our trip, we booked a character lunch with Winnie the Pooh and friends.  We also reserved three fast passes to the Teacups, Dumbo and It's a small world.  Guess what?  All of those rides had 10 minutes or less wait times so we didn't even need to wait for our fast pass allotted time slots.  There is also a great Disney App that allowed us to look up ride wait times, included a map, show and parade times and allowed us to change our fast passes to different rides after we realized we didn't need the ones we initially reserved.  Along with some snacks packed and gatorade, that was all the advance planning needed.

I don't know how to choose my favorite photos so here is a small album of our day at the park.

1. Reserving a lunch with characters was one of the best ideas I've had.  No lines and all the photos you want!  And oh my gosh, Joaquin loved the characters so much!  I wish you could have seen him chasing Pooh to rub his belly and practically jumping up and down!

2. For rides, we rode the teacups, dumbo, a small but surprisingly fast roller coaster (that Joaquin was just tall enough for), It's a small World and the steam engine.  My favorite was flying high with Dumbo and the second coolest part of that ride was they had an indoor playground which helped us blow off some steam.

3. Have you heard of a dole whip?  There was a ridiculously long line for this pineapple soft serve with pineapple juice float so of course I had to try it!  It was indeed delicious...not sure the most delicious for a line that long but definitely good!

4. And finally some random fun and family shots.  Cheers to Disney World!

Just one shot of one of the rockin' musical parades

JAG's 2 Year Old Birthday Poem

When Joaquin turned one, I wrote him a poem and committed to writing him one every year.  Here is his second birthday poem.

On this birthday Joaquin, you turn two

You’re a toddler now, being a baby you’re through!

Your personality has really begun to shine

The things I’ll list about you will remind you of this time.

Daddy says you’re “becoming a little parrot”

Because you can repeat all we say even if we don’t think you hear it!

With your words, you can ask for anything you need

From your puzzles to bano, to “more leche please.”

It’s cute when you say “frio” outside in the cold

And even cuter when you pray for all the vocabulary you know!

You’re very active and love playing sports

You like basketball, volleyball and any ball of course!

You can throw your arms in the air and yell “touch down”

And then you yell “Yaaaaaay” your happiest sound.

You love Spider-man, Elmo and Cookie Monster

And you love toy trains, especially Thomas.

More of your favorites include blocks and building towers

And you love crashing tunnels and forts with all your power!

You love milk, corn, edamame and sushi

Vitamins and gummy bears probably because they’re both squishy!

You love to put on mom’s chap stick and lotion

And you really love any spinning motion!

Your love watching Arthur, George and Daniel Tiger

And of course, Youtube’s Itsy Bitsy Spider.

You know all the actions to your fav nursery rhymes

Patty cake, wheels on the bus and so many more kinds!

We love hearing you sing in the back seat of the car

To your children’s CD or the radio’s pop stars!

“’Bout that bass” and “Animal” are favorites for you

And you always applaud when a song is through.

Your puppy has proven to be your best friend

You cuddle him, walk him and even discipline

You tell him “down” and “no barking” just like mom and dad

Then you play by slapping him in rhythm to “This old man.”

Our great sleeping baby has entered a rut

As a toddler, you prefer to sleep with us

But I have a trick that works just for naps

Before putting you down, your arms around me you wrap.

I sing Twinkle twinkle and hold you tight

After I lay you down, you’re out like a light.

(If only my trick worked at night!)

It’s amazing to see you becoming so smart

How you know your shapes and touch your chest when you say “heart.”

You are bilingual in speech and understanding

And when shown a photo or Facetime, you can name all your family!

This past year we went through another change

We moved back home to the United States

Maybe all the change caused your separation anxiety

But you’ve overcome that and it’s been most exciting!

Feliz Cumpleanos to my little toddler

You keep getting better and I keep growing fonder!

Joaquin is 2...say what?!

Today my friend Heather wished me a happy “birth” day.  While it was Joaquin’s second birthday,  it was also two years since I gave birth.  That phrase got me thinking and I thought how cute would a blogpost form my husband be about what he remembered from our “birth” day.  Well it’s like pulling teeth to get Jesus to be sentimental and write something for my blog.  I asked him to write a paragraph on what he remembers about the “birth” day.  He said he would talk and I could write down what he said but the thing to be noted here is that this was all said well afer he had taken his sleeping pills but before he had fallen asleep...

"What I remember. I remember changing clothes and being nervous and feeling tired ‘cause I hadn't slept the night before.  I remember going into the operating room once they had Becky ready and I remember Becky being scared and me trying to help her. Then they started opening her up and I saw blood everywhere and Becky kept asking me when they would start opening her up but they were already halfway done.  And then they started pulling Joaquin out and his back was toward me and his butt was up so I couldn't tell that he was a boy.  And then he was blue so the doctor pulled him out and he had big balls (please excuse the language) and I said, It's a boy! Note: he was blue not because he was sick but because that's how they come out and I didn't realize that. I felt all happy and tingly.  And then all I could think is, oh my gosh I am not going to sleep ever again. 

I remember when Joaquin pooped and threw up for the first time together all a once and the black poop just kept oozing out as I was trying to change him and he kept throwing up.  And I thought, how come my lazy wife won’t get out of bed? I don't care if she has stiches, it's 2 in the morning. 

It was overwhelming knowing that there was a little person there that I was, not in charge of, but responsible for. "

How sweet right?  But hey…he contributed to my blog even if I’m not sure how he will feel reading this in the morning!

On a more sentimental note…Joaquin has changed my life…as all babies do.  It has been a difficult year full of transition and Joaquin has been the steady rock in my life that has kept me calm and happy.  Whenever I hear his laughter or see his smile, I know I am doing something right and that all is well in the world (well in my little world).  He needs me but sometimes I think I need him more.  He really is my little sidekick, my little buddy.  I am grateful for him every second of every day and grateful for birthdays that cause us to reflect.

We had such a fun party at the mall tonight!  We ate at the food court and I brought an Elmo birthday cake.  Then we headed to the mall’s indoor play area to let the toddlers run free.  I think they all had a blast and it was good to catch up with our friends.  Thanks to everyone that came and for your fun prescence and presents!

And a special thanks to so many family members from all over the country that called us to wish our sweet boy a happy birthday!

PS I promised myself I would write Joaquin a birthday poem each year to follow tradition of what I did when he turned one so that is yet to come...

                                          

Makeovers round 2!

I went to a fun girls night last weekend and so many girls were kind enough to let me practice on them!  Here's what went down!

I gave Allison a pretty natural look and made her blue eyes pop with an all over copper shadow!  We used Kat Von D's mauve lovecraft for lipstick.

On Stephanie I got to use this pretty almost burnt red shadow from my Urban Decay Vice 3 palette. She has some of a hooded lid so I practiced putting the crease color above the crease and onto part of the brow bone and look how well it worked!

Caitlin already experiments a bit with makeup and was my personal consultant while I worked.  Her makeover was the most dramatic with a smokey burgundy eye and nude lip.  Do you see the green liner on the bottom inner corners of her eyes?  That's my favorite part!

For Kristen we did a gold lid with winged liner (that I still haven't mastered) and a bright red lip that has flecks of gold shimmer! I love this lip color called Adora, from Kat Von D.

Are these women not all gorgeous?!  Thanks friends for letting me practice, you all look great with or without my practicing!

Oh I almost forgot!  Each model got to try Younique's 3d Fiber lash mascara and all were impressed (you have to take my word because my photography skills don't do it justice). That stuff is pretty magical if you haven't tried it yet.

Makeovers part 1!

This make-up thing is still new for me and I have been so nervous about practicing on other people besides myself!  The time finally came that I offered my services to others and so many graciously accepted!  Here are some of the looks I've done lately:

I'm so lucky to have my beautiful mom around who lets me practice on her on Sundays for church.  Without this beginning, I don't know where I would have gotten the confidence to work outside of myself.  Here she is with bright pink/purple lips and a little blue eye liner making her literally look ten years younger!

This is Rachel.  Rachel wanted a natural look that pops for her brother's wedding. I still need practice on this particular eye shape and how to make a natural look look like you aren't wearing makeup but also look like you are, but her complexion looks flawless and glowing with a great wash of blush.  Oh and fill in your eyebrows ladies, look how they just frame Rachel's naturally pretty face!

For Selena, we used natural eyeshadows and winged her eyeliner to make her already stunning eyes stand out even more!  We also used a bright red lipstick which I love on her!  Upon further examination of this photo, I see that my winged liner needs some work because I'd like it be thicker in the middle and more thin/winged at the end.  So of course I practiced on myself and then on Anna that you will see next.

For Anna, we did a similar vintage vibe as Selena.  You can see how my winged liner is thicker and improved!  It took a million tries but practice makes perfect they say.  Anna has gorgeous cheek bones and overall bone structure so it was really fun to contour and highlight to bring that out even more.  With Anna, we also remembered to take a before and after...I'll be doing that more from now on.

I have to be honest and say that Cami is my favorite makeover to date.  She typically wears little make-up and we both decided "go big or go home" to see if she could pull it off.  Can she ever!  We did a dark blue smokey eye paired with a nude lip.  Not only are her eyes piercing but look how contouring gave her perfect apple cheeks.  Come see me for a smokey eye because this technique I have down...I think... Cami also asked me how to wear a nude lip in a more every day look so I came up with the photo below.

And finally a fun fall look. I wanted to try this lipstick I received in my Ipsy bag.  Never did I think I could pull off such a dark color but it's amazing what a little practice with make-up can do.  I love the colors I used on my eyes and how I blended them to be less dramatic but of course, I can't remember what I did!  Back to the drawing board for this look I guess!