The Family is of God

I am sort-of combining different things in this post.  This afternoon, Luz and Ezra were playing and I thought it would be a perfect time to snap some photos.  Then I teared up and thought of one of my all-time favorite songs that talks about families.  I hope you enjoy both the photo and the song!

What my vote means this year

This year, my vote represents several significant things to me.  First, it always represents the opportunity to have been born in this country which, despite its many faults and flaws, is still one of the best options in the world.  It also has always represented the many people who have sacrificed much to maintain my freedoms, including my freedom to vote.  This year it also represents my desire for those who wish to call themselves American to be able to do so.  And something new that I thought a lot about this year is my responsibility to teach my children the importance of voting.  I started out by taking them both with me.  Luz talked about voting all day long.  She even got a sticker.

Today I feel like Super Woman

After yesterday, I'd like to think that it could only get better...but as most of us know, it usually can get worse.  However, today was an amazing day.  I feel like a great person and a good mother and wife today!  Yeah!  Luz woke up happy!  Not really anything to do with me, but obviously a good start to the day.  That was also a pretty clear indication that she was feeling better.  We got out of the house by around 11 and went to the doctor, the social security office, bought a sit and stand stroller, went to the bank, and voted!  Then we came home and took naps.  Well, I rocked Luz and put her down just as Ezra was waking up.  I snuggled with him for a bit.  I made a simple dinner...and everyone was still happy at bed time.

New Addition

As many of you know, I have been looking for a Joovy Sit and Stand stroller for a couple of months now.  I did find them for a pretty reasonable price online, but hadn't gotten around to purchasing one yet.  Suddenly, while stalking craigslist I found a used one for a great price.  Today it became ours.  I am so excited!  And I will be posting pictures of the kids actually sitting in it soon.

Reading catch-up

During the past month and a half, I have not stopped reading.  I have just stopped posting about what I've been reading.  I will attempt to catch-up now (abbreviated version).

1. Leadership and Self-deception by The Arbinger Institute - Great

 
2. A Thomas Jefferson Education by Oliver Van DeMille- So great I bought it

3. The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom - Enlightening

4. For One More Day by Mitch Albom - Also enlightening

5. Key Lime Pie by Josi Kilpack- Great

6. On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo - I've read it before and I'm glad I read it again.  I really do believe and practice many of the principles outlined in this book with amazing success!  This time around I actually bought the book. :)

7. The Happiest Toddler on the Block by Harvey Karp, M.D. - Good

8. Surviving Your Blessings by Lynn C. Jaynes - Good, not what I was expecting, but good

9. Promise Me by Richard Paul Evans - Great, as always

 

10. Tranquil Light by Anita Stansfield - Great, as always

What a day!

Wow!  I am sure glad today is almost over!
Score today--
Theresa/Motherhood - 0

Actually, the day started out great!  Ezra slept straight through from 9pm until 3am this morning.  I should have started out the morning on top of my game, but that wasn't the case.  He is still pretty congested and I had to repeatedly clean out his nose with saline drops and the nasal aspirator.  I really hate it more than he does, but I don't think he believes me when I tell him that.  Poor baby wants to be held all the time.  Luz is also congested and very grumpy.  Poor girl doesn't know what she wants.  She spent most of the morning in trouble for grumpy behavior.  Then I finally realized that she really just didn't feel well.  So, I gave her a Benadryl and put her on the couch in front of a movie.  We made peace while the movie lasted but once it was over...back to super grumpiness.  By then Juan was home.  However, he was also grumpy.  He had severe back pain and had to go to the specialist to relieve it today.  He hates going.  He hates paying the money and the massage is pretty painful.  But he did come home feeling physically better.  I put the 2 grumpy ones downstairs playing together while I finished up with dinner.  They actually had some fun playing for a few minutes.  On another good note, I made some fabulous chicken soup today.  It was a miracle worker.  As soon as we all had a few bites in our bodies, everyone's disposition changed and we had a very pleasant evening.  Note to self: next time make the chicken soup for breakfast!

One Month!

Ok, time is officially going by way too fast here!  I can't believe that Ezra is a month old already!  He is just growing and growing.  He is such a cutie and a great baby and little brother!

Happy Halloween!

We are pretty much the most awesome parents ever!  Right...we recycle Halloween costumes.  I'm not sure why I even used the plural form of costume, actually.  Luz has had a total of ONE costume in her entire Halloween life...3 years worth.  She was a cute little mariposa again this year. :)  Ezra did not get a costume.  He wore a sleeper and a Jack-o-lantern bib (which I don't think we got a picture of because it was removed once he started trying to eat it).

6 ounces!

Today Ezra turned 4 weeks old.  With Luz we started her on 1 bottle feeding each evening at 4 weeks to get her used to the bottle.  Juan usually gave it to her while I pumped at the same time.  It worked great.  We decided to do the same with Ezra.  I produce quite a bit of milk and often have to pump frequently during the first few months.  I got a bottle ready for Ezra with 3 1/2 ounces in it.  I sat down to pump and Juan came back down about 5 minutes later saying that Ezra needed more.  I promptly handed over the 2 1/2 ounces that I had just pumped and he drank all of that immediately.  Yes, my friends, Ezra downed 6 ounces of milk at 4 weeks old.  I was really impressed.  No wonder he is growing like a weed!  And no wonder I produce so much milk!

Piano Recital

On October 22nd we had our first piano recital.  I think dressing up for a Halloween theme eased some of the nerves, but not all of them.  Luz didn't play, but she did dress up and did want her picture taken by the piano. :)

 

 

I can't believe my baby is 2 weeks old!

Wow!  In most ways the past 2 weeks have flown by...  We went for his check-up today, which is actually one of the best check-ups you have to do.  They do have to do the PKU poke at 2 weeks, but no vaccine pokes.  Ezra's stats are fairly amazing to me.  He is apparently a very efficient eater, which is not a huge surprise, but still amazing.  At birth, he weighed 8 pounds.  Upon release from the hospital, he weighed 7 1/2 pounds.  Today he weighed 8 pounds 10 ounces.  He has also grown from 19 1/2 inches to 20 1/2 inches.  However, his head circumference is in the 10th percentile, which means that clothes fit him. :)

He is really grasping the day/night thing pretty well.  Mind you, he is still a sleepy-head during the day, but we try to keep him awake more.  Luz is doing her part by playing with him lots right after feeding which is when I want lots of stimulation.  She is also trying to help him learn to sleep through the playing of the piano, singing at the top of her lungs, and various other loud noises.  He will have to thank her someday for all that she is teaching him at this very young age.

The only confusion seems to be at 6am.  He goes to bed around 9-10, wakes up around midnight, and again at 3...all of those times he just goes right back to sleep like he's supposed to.  But at 6am, Ezra thinks that it is daytime and wants to interact.  I have explained to him several times that our family schedule indicates that 6am is still nighttime and that no one is up to interact with at that hour.  He does eventually go back to sleep and then usually wakes up about 9-9:30 for the day, which is much more appropriate.  We are obviously still working on this though.  Too bad Luz is sleeping during that time or I'm sure she could help teach him a thing or two. :)

Juan has been a lifesaver this week!  Last week he worked normal hours, which was fine.  I asked him to try to be around more this week though, and he has been.  He has been home all week and it has been fabulous!  I'm gearing up for him going back to work on Monday...

10/4/10 Relaxing on the couch.  I actually think that Ezra is the only one who is really asleep in this picture.  Juan and Luz are faking it.

10/4/10 After Ezra's first bath.  He was a little stressed out at first, but warmed up pretty quickly.

 10/14/10 This picture makes him look pretty big, but Ezra is still actually a very little baby.

10/14/10 On the other hand, Luz is getting HUGE!

Our New Arrival!

Ezra Juan Escalante was born Friday, October 1, 2010 at 10:43 p.m. after a quick delivery.  He weighed 8 pounds even and was 19 1/2 inches long.  We are so excited and blessed to have him with us.

Before:

Ezra's debut:

With Proud Papa and Big Sister Luz:

We are famous!

We made in Robyn's blog!!! 
http://www.greensmoothiegirl.com/blog/2010/09/29/a-cute-green-smoothie-mustache-on-luz/

39 Weeks!

Today I went to the doctor again.  He offered to strip my membranes, induce, etc.  But I decided to see what my body wants to do on its own.  So, here's hoping the rest of the week is full of lots of contractions and some big news!  He did have me schedule another appt. for Friday morning just in case.  Hopefully I will have had a baby by then. :)

38 Weeks!

Well, today I went to the doctor.  He was very surprised that I am still pregnant.  I am dilated to 3.5 and, according to the doctor, could have a baby at any moment.  I'm still contracting a lot, but not much more than I have been for the past month or so.  The waiting game...

Bye Tia! :(

Today Tia Stephanie left for Maryland.  We are very sad that she won't be around for Luz to cuddle with in the mornings, paint toenails, make cookies, read stories, and the many other fun things that we have done together this summer.  On the other hand, we are excited for her to experience new and exciting things such as rooming with Mom again, going back to school, dating, etc.  Good luck Tia!

36 Weeks!

 

36 Weeks!  Obviously BAD hair day.  Other points of interest are the swollen upper lip, big zit on my face, shirt that no longer covers my belly, and hugely swollen feet that you can't see.

Happy Birthday to me (cont'd)

And now for the official birthday post:
Saturday - What I really wanted this year for my birthday was to spend some time together and for Juan to work on a list of small things around the house that I've been saving up for him.  He was thrilled, of course, with the idea.  So Saturday, he and Luz played together.
Sunday - Sunday morning my counselors popped in, surprising me with some original mango cupcakes (of which I did not get a picture unfortunately), a book, and a cute card.  Thanks!  Then we got to go to Diego's baby blessing and hang out with our friends Antonio and Veronica.  So fun!  We got home and Samuel cooked dinner.  Thanks Samuel!

 Baby Diego and Mama Veronica

Monday - Juan and Luz played, hung out, and did some errands together.  I got to go to Sam's Club with my friend Tepoe.  Then Juan barbecued hamburgers for me (and the rest of the family).  We had some great ice cream sundaes and I got to open some fabulous gifts.  Thanks to all!

Me, Samuel, and Victoria...all ready to blow out our candles!

Bye Tio! :(

Today Tio Matthew left for Rexburg.  We are very sad that he won't be around to help Luz go potty, play purses and babies, eat paletas after nap, help us start the car, and the many other fun things that we have done together this summer.  On the other hand, my baby brother has grown up and is off to live with roommates, study, buy his own food, clean his own apartment, and all of the other exciting adventures that come with being a FRESHMAN in college!

The anatomy of peace : resolving the heart of conflict by The Arbinger Institute (Non-fiction)

My Rating: I really, really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it!
Appropriate for: Adults, Young adults
My very favorite parts of this book are in the 2nd and 23rd chapters where it talks about "helping things go right!"  I realized as I first read that, that that is innate in me.  I don't want to just fix problems, I want to make every effort to help things go right.  I thought this book was very well written, well explained, and good advice for everyone.

No More Newspapers!!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, after 11 months of newspaper delivery between the hours of 1am and 6am without any sort of sleeping in or break or anything, that chapter of our life is over!  Juan's last day was yesterday.  He claims to have almost cried himself to sleep last night over the thought of not waking up at 3am, but I know better. :)  I'll be so happy for him to sleep through the night for a couple of weeks...until Baby Boy is born.

Happy Birthday to me! :)

Today I am grateful for a wonderful family...Mom, brothers, sisters, husband, daughter, aunts, uncles, grandparents...all who have taught me how to love. Thank you!

Book Review: Tower of Strength by Annette Lyon (LDS Fiction)

My Rating: Great!  Loved the plot, fairly revolutionary for the time period.
Appropriate for: Adults, Young adults
From the back cover: Weaving themes of loss and renewal, this poignant tale explores a vital choice each of us must make: to seek safety in isolation or to embrace the painful yet beautiful complexities of life and love.  I enjoyed this book because of the strength of character each of the people displayed in the face of great affliction and trials.  It was inspiring to me to read of their hope and faith.

1 Year Anniversary

I have the immense privilege of serving with 3 amazing women in my calling right now.  I am grateful to Natalie, Michelle, and Tepoe for their dedicated service and for teaching me so much.  It's hard to believe that we were sustained on August 30, 2009...and that it's been a whole year already.  Thanks ladies!  I love you!

Book Review: Have a little faith: a true story by Mitch Albom

My Rating: Very well thought-out and inspiring to read

Appropriate for: Adults, Young adults
From the book jacket: Have a Little Faith is a book about life's purpose; about losing belief and finding it again; about the divine spark inside us all.  It is one man's journey, but it is everyone's story.  From the author of Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom brings us yet another opportunity to look inside ourselves and feel the desire to be a little better and do a little more.  I enjoyed this book for just that reason.

Pregnancy update - 34 weeks

I will post a photo soon.  Well, today I went for my 34 week check-up.  Good news: blood sugar is good, blood pressure is also good.  Bad news: Dilated to 1.  Dr. says I need to take it very easy and behave myself the next 2 weeks and he will take the cerclage out at 36 weeks.

On a different note, Baby Boy is beating me up from the inside out!  I do not remember feeling this much movement with Luz.  We are in for a wild ride with him, I am certain.  Also, I have decided on a name for him.  Juan is not quite on board yet, but I am still working on him. :)

Dinner tonight

FINALLY a healthy meal!  Cafe Rio style salad (tortilla on the bottom, lettuce, tomatoes and cucumbers from the garden, beans fresh out of the pot) and Green smoothies!!!  Yeah!

Book Review: Women of the Book of Mormon by Heather B. Moore (LDS Non fiction)

My Rating: Very good, insightful, would recommend it.
Appropriate for: Adults, Young adults
Heather Moore describes in detail the history and culture surrounding many of the Book of Mormon scenes featuring women.  She also expresses appreciation and empathy for their difficult lives.  I enjoyed learning more and gaining additional insight while reading this book.  I absolutely loved the artwork!

Wedding reception adventure!

Carolyn and I, along with 3 little girls, took a drive up to Ogden for a high school friend's wedding reception.  Well, it turned into a much bigger adventure than we had bargained for.  While exiting the freeway, my car decided not to work anymore.  Here's me parked on the side of the road.  After figuring out that the car could drive in reverse but not forward, I was finally able to get to the side. 

We had to have it towed. (sad) But met so many wonderful people in Ogden. (happy) We did make it to the reception, just as it was ending. (sad)  But had a chance to visit with the family in a less crowded environment. (happy) It was so fun to see the Young family after so many years - the last time being at my wedding 5 1/2 years ago!!!  Congrats Eric and Trish!

Book Review: Divinely Designed by Rachael Renee Anderson (LDS Fiction)

My Rating: I LOVED this book!  I loved the characters!  I couldn't put it down!

Appropriate for: Adults, Young adults
From the back cover: This delightful tale by Rachael Renee Anderson combines wit and romance with the reality that change is difficult, but it can bring about some of life's greatest adventures.  Divinely Designed is a sure antidote for gloom and a light-hearted reminder that even the darkest forks in the road can lead somewhere brilliant.  I enjoyed this book because it was so well-written and I felt like I was part of the story.  I seriously couldn't put it down and didn't get much sleep last night finishing it.

Dinner - Wednesday

Mexican Soup...some people call it taco soup.  Other members of my family make it with ground beef, and chips.  I have it down to only 3 ingredients, which is perfect for me!  I ladle some of those Crockpot beans into a pot, along with some of the juice/liquid (whatever variety I have cooked - sometimes pinto, black, or red), along with a can or two of corn and a can or two of diced tomatoes Mexican style.  That's it.  Plenty of flavor and those beans add the carbs and protein your body needs.  Heat through and serve in big bowls with a sprinkle of grated cheese on top.  No chips.  I sometimes add zucchini also. :)

Book Review: Turning Hearts by Deanne Blackhurst (LDS Fiction)

My Rating: Uplifting, intriguing, true to life story

Appropriate for: Adults, Young adults
From the back cover: Amanda knows there's a certain family out there that needs the gospel--and she also knows she's the one who's supposed to bring it to them.  I enjoyed this book because of Amanda's struggles and what she learns in the process.  We're all in different stages of the process.

New Recipe: Stuffed Mini Peppers

Monday dinner: Pinto beans cooked in the Crockpot, corn tortillas heated, a little bit of grated cheese and sour cream, lettuce, carrots, and stuffed mini peppers.

The beans and tortillas along with a salad is a pretty standard meal for us.  My brother Samuel has recently come to live with us and he eats a lot.  I decided the meal was missing something.  I looked in my empty fridge and saw the rest of the bag of mini peppers that I bought last week to go in the stir-fry.  I then had used them in a great salad, and still quite a few left.  There was a recipe on the bag that went something like this, but I modified it with what I had.

Recipe:
1 package cream cheese, softened
Herbs (I used a little bit of thyme, a little bit of basil, and a little bit of dill)
I cut open the tops of the peppers most of the way, leaving the tops attached, took out the seeds and stuffed the mixture inside.  I sprayed a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and put them all on it.  I think I baked them on 400 for about 15 minutes.
My Rating:  Yummy, pretty easy

Book Review: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez (Fiction)

My Rating: I read someone else's review and thought this book might be a good fit for me, but sadly, I was very disappointed.  I did not think it was very well-written, very entertaining, and it was somewhat vulgar.

Appropriate for: Adults
From the back cover: When their father's part in a plot against a cruel dictator forces them to flee the Dominican Republic, the Garcia sisters--Carla, Sandra, Yolanda, and Sofia--come to America.  In America, the Garcia girls try to assimilate into the mainstream.  Through it all, they remain caught between the old world and the new.  Julia Alvarez is also an immigrant from the Dominican Republic, so I wondered if some of this was biographical.  She says that it is fiction.  What I did enjoy about this book was that it started in the present and went backward.  I thought that was an interesting way to write and gave more understanding as time went back.

What do you eat?

People ask me, "If you don't eat as much meat, what, exactly, do you eat?"  I have decided to post what we eat for dinner for a week or two for my own benefit.  We eat more meat than is ideal, in my opinion, but we generally use it as a condiment.  We are not a "raw" family.  That means that my husband is a little resistant to things going too far, so I do what I can.  One more disclaimer is that I'm pregnant and don't have much energy.  So, we'll see how my posts go...

Sunday dinner:  A casserole with almost all of the veggies in my fridge.  Potatoes (scrubbed with skin on), carrots, broccoli, zucchini, mushrooms, green onions.  I diced the potatoes and boiled them with the carrots until they were tender crisp.  Then I cut everything else up and mixed it together with a can of cream of mushroom soup (completely unhealthy) and a can of cream of celery soup (also bad for you).  Sprayed a casserole dish with non-stick spray, put the mixture in the pan and sprinkled cheese on top.  I cooked it on 400 for about 25 minutes and we enjoyed a tasty dinner.  Pretty good for no dinner plan. :)

Happy Birthday Mom!

It's my mom's birthday today!  She is an amazing woman!  I love her dearly.  And I think this song describes her very well.  She continues to watch over me.

Green Smoothies

As a follow-up to my previous post regarding a healthier lifestyle, I wanted to post a cute picture of Luz and her smoothie face.   Juan got me a Blend-tec for Christmas and I have tried to put it to very good use.  My normal recipe is 2 bananas for sweetness and creaminess, a lot of spinach (stuff the blender full of spinach, blend it up, stuff it full again), 1 cup water, 3 handfuls of frozen fruit.  I find that when we are all drinking our green smoothies regularly we are healthy and happy!

More Meatless Meals

About a year ago I embarked on a journey of a healthier lifestyle.  It all started when I began running every evening as part of my Personal Progress project.  Exercising has always had a certain effect on me...that is, when I am working hard to get fit, I naturally tend to watch what I am putting into my body very closely.  About the same time, I read several books on nutrition and decided to start phasing out the meat.  I had to start slowly and gradually I have achieved about a twice per week meal plan that includes meat.  The other days we simply have plant strong meals.  Luckily we love beans around here, so that covers it most nights.  Since Matthew and Stephanie have been living with us, they each take a turn to cook and their nights pretty much cover us meat-wise.  Tonight I made an amazing stir fry in my new-to-me wok.  (Thanks Grandma!)  It was very exciting!  I told Luz it was my new toy, and she gave me a funny look. :)  One thing I love about this meal are the colors!  Green onions, green beans, broccoli, celery, red peppers, orange peppers, yellow peppers, carrots, mushrooms.  Another thing I love is that everything was fresh.  I served it over brown rice.

Some may laugh at my endeavors, but I lost 30 pounds beyond the pregnancy with Luz weight-gain.  So far I do not have gestational diabetes this time around.  And although I am large and pregnant and unable to exercise right now, I am not on complete bedrest yet.  All of those things make it very "worth it" to me to have a healthier lifestyle.  Not to mention any future benefits for my family.

Book Review: Take Four by Karen Kingsbury (Christian Fiction) - Part 4 of 4

My Rating: Amazing!  Karen is one of my very favorite authors and has never disappointed me yet!

Appropriate for: Young adults, Adults
Wrapping up the "Above the Line" series, Take Four is another fabulous novel about how everyone has an opportunity to change their life.  I enjoyed this book because of the amazing people in the story.  I feel like they are part of my family because I have come to know them so well.  If you have never read a book by Karen Kingsbury, I highly recommend doing so!

Baptism

One of Luz' favorite things do to is attend baptisms.  She talks about them for weeks!  She loves looking at pictures of Jesus being baptized and talks about the future when she can be baptized too.  Seriously.  It's cute.  I happen to be in charge of monthly baptisms for the Primary children, but she only gets to go with me when Papa is working.  Today we all got to go to a friend's baptism, Dylan.  It was a great day!  Thanks for inviting us!

Jenny Phillips Concert

Thanks to a reminder phone call from my lovely sis about 6:00 tonight, Juan, Luz and I were able to make it to a free concert featuring Jenny Phillips.  She was great!  Her music really reaches out to all.  I am very impressed with her as a person.  She just had her fourth baby earlier this year and it doesn't seem to have slowed her down.  But I think I know why.  Toward the end of her performance tonight, she shared an experience she had that changed her life.  She was driving on the freeway and a railroad tie was about to be flung into her windshield.  She just knew that she was going to die and quickly reflected on whether she had done all she should while on the Earth.  She didn't feel quite ready and prayed for more time.  Talk about making the most of each and every day!  Am I doing what Heavenly Father expects of me each and every day of my lives?  What more can I do to make the most of my unknown time on Earth?

Book Review: Spires of Stone by Annette Lyon (LDS Fiction) - Part 3 of 4

My Rating: A little slower than House on the Hill and At the Journey's End...or maybe I was just way more tired.  Also, this book did not have the same characters as the previous two...I was expecting more connections.  All in all, still a very good book.
Appropriate for: Young adults, Adults
From the back cover: When Ben and his two brothers come home after more than two years of serving a mission to the Eastern states, Bethany's feelings of heartache and anger also return--fiercer than ever.  And so do Ben's feelings for her.  What follows is a charming historical romance complete with wonderful characters and witty dialogue that explores the redemption and power of finding--and rediscovering--true love.  I enjoyed this book because it had a more complex plot and I felt like I came to know the characters.

Panty Update

Luz woke up today and said she wanted a diaper on instead of panties.  Ok fine.  Then about 11:30 she brought me the panties and said she was ready.  Not sure what to think of this.  Maybe all the activities this weekend have her tired and wanting less stress in her life?