So happy together!

Ezra's blessing

Our Family

The men in the family

Ezra with Abuela

2010 Babies: Addelyn, 10 months - Ezra, 7 weeks - Lucy, 8 months

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!