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.