Silent Sunday: Best Friends

Giada enjoying some quality snuggle time with her BFF Loli

PS: I know I've been a bit MIA here for the past week... I plan on returning and catching up with all of you soon : - )

Family Photos Fiasco

Yeah, don't let this sweet little face fool you, because, holly flying monkeys!!!!, the girl has a set of lungs on her! Aaaand, she HATES having her picture taken! HATES IT! I mean, I was completely aware of that since I have to take about 50 picture to get a successful shot of her, but yesterday, was a whole different ball game.

We went to have some family pictures taken, and let me tell you, it was an hour and a half of a crying nightmare! I picked a time of the day when she would be sleeping to have them taken, in hope that she would cooperate. However, that kind of backfired... like a lot. She was so exhausted and really wanted to sleep, however each time we moved her for a pose, she was waking up and screaming bloody murder for another ten minutes until I was able to calm her down and take our next shot... just to start the whole vicious cycle again! NOT FUN!

And can I say that a crying, uncooperative baby can put me in a bit of a funky mood? Let's just say that I might have raised my voice a couple of times at Brandon for not following (ok at times maybe even guessing...) what I was trying to say. Sorry hubs...

So that's how we spent our Sunday afternoon. A few hundred dollars, a very frustrated family, and a completely cried out, exhausted baby later, we ended up with about 15 semi-successful pictures. But I guess it's all about keeping the memories, right? RIGHT?!!?!

There's always next time I guess. Fingers crossed.

So all you mommies out there, what tricks do you have when you take pictures of your noncooperative babies? Please do share!

Happy Monday!

First Date

Have I told you before how crazy busy it is being a mommy??? For realz now! IT'S CRAZY BUSY I tell ya! Some days I don't even have time to take a shower, eat breakfast, or even pee before 1pm, let alone spend time with my hubby. So, this past weekend we decided to take full advantage of the fact that my grandparents are still with us for a few more days. We entrusted Giada in their hands, and took off to one of our favorite pizza places for a couple of hrs for our first date night since she was born.

I LOVE custom made pizzas! Anchovies anyone? NO? It's ok; I'm used to everyone giving me the stink eye when I order them. What can I say; I'm a big fan of what others may consider "weird" foods.

{sorry about the SUPER crappy lighting}

So back to our date night... It was so nice to have a little break, relax, and just eat without being worried that we were going to get interrupted by a screaming, cute-as-a-bug, baby girl . Just the two of us, some yummy food and great non-baby-like conversation. It was so simple, but oh so amazing. We talked a whole lot about our (ok... my) dream gourmet coffee/sandwich shop and how maybe one of those days it will become a reality. We also talked about how blessed we are to have our baby girl in our lives. She makes us SO tired, but also more blessed and happy than our hearts could ever dream of.

So after all I would have to call this first date a total success. I even ended up going home with the guy. Haha... I so hope we can do this again soon. Preferably before Giada turns two.

Wishing all of you lovelies, a very happy weekend!

What I'm Loving Wednesday

So this Wednesday I'm loving quite a few things, and I really felt like sharing. Haha

So here they are:

Hanging out with this sweet little doll

Watching the two loves of my life bond... Be still my heart

Spending time with my grandparents who have been such a HUGE help with Giada! They're leaving in one week and the thought alone makes me want to hyperventilate!

I've been looking for a chair for a really long time, and I love this one from Pier One.

Too bad I'm not crazy about the price...

How about this Pottery Barn nursery?!?! Love, love, love it! I mean, look at it! What's not to love?

So what are you really loving this wednesday? I hope you're all having a fabulous week!

An Act of Kindness

Happy Monday Lovelies!

Today I'm joining Megan in her "random act of kindness." Doing something random and helpful for someone sounded like such a great idea! Thank you Megan for hosting it!

Does NOT killing my cat (meet Jasmine everyone) for breaking one of my favorite vases last week and just for being a total crazy spaz, count as a random act of kindness??? No!?! But it should! It totally should!

How about giving up half of my nighttime sleep for this DAYTIME Sleeping Beauty who takes FOR EVER (like FOUR hrs sometimes!!!) to fall asleep at night? Oh, I guess that's called being a mom.

Fine than! I will post a REAL act of kindness. I made this little card with an encouraging quote that I plan on leaving on the windshield of a random car when I go shopping today. It says:

"Dear Passerby,

'If one dream should fall and break into a thousand pieces,

never be afraid to pick one of those pieces up and begin again.'

~Flavia Weedn "

I really hope it makes someone's day!

Now, please bare with me a little bit longer... I've been thinking that February is SO close and of course Valentine's day and all it's glory is just around the corner. SOOO.... I've been thinking some more. How fun would it be to have a SWAP with things WE LOVE in honor of this LOVE DAY? It would be something small like a 10$ budget, but so, so sweet! Wouldn't you just jump with excitement to get something special from Blogland a few days before valentine's day? Let me know what you think and spread the word around. The more the merrier! If you're interested, send me an email at: myblog DOT tatiana @ gmail DOT com. You know I would just LOVE (have I used this word enough for one post?) to hear from all of you! If enough people are up for it, I'll post all the details this week!

Now go spread the word about our Valentine's day swap and check out the rest of the "acts of kindness" over at Megan's blog.

I hope your Monday is nothing less than fabulous!

Our home: The Dinning Room

Can you believe it's Friday already?!!?! I LOVEEEE the weekends! Especially because I can spend some extra quality time with ma man {insert high pitch squeal}! Love that guy! Speaking of love... Have I mentioned I LOVE our new home? Like a lot a lot! Even though most of it (like 75%) is nowhere near being decorated to my standards, I still really like it. I would love to put my creative side to work and decorate the rest of it to my heart's content, however, life (aka the holidays, aka Giada, aka being so freaking broke) got in the way a wee bit. Ok, maybe it got in the way a whole lot. Aaannnnyyyy wayyyy. I digress... So now, my favorite rooms are the ones that we've painted and are somewhat decorated to my liking. Sooo...

Without further ado, I give you our dinning room

I am still on the hunt for the perfect mirror that would go on the right wall, as well as two paintings of some sort to go on either side of that front window.

An above the table view.

The reason you're seeing my Christmas dishes is because I've taken those pictures a few weeks before Christmas.

So that's our dinning room folks! I'll update more pics as I continue to decorate our home. I love having a "fresh canvas" to work with! Now only if I had an unlimited amount of cash to satisfy my hobby.

Have a wonderful and blessed weekend ladies!

Strong Enough

One of the gifts my husband got this Christmas was the Matthew West CD. We were driving to the airport the other day to pick up a friend and he played one of the songs on it. As “Strong Enough” was playing, I was no longer in our car. I was somewhere in my past. Not the pretty part of it either. And as I was listening to the beautiful melody, the lyrics were resonating in my head, and they sounded way too familiar.

I lived that song.

So many of us have lived that song.

Once upon of time, that refrain was my nightly prayer:

“ I know I’m not strong enough to be

Everything that I’m supposed to be

I give up

I’m not strong enough.

Hands of mercy won’t you cover me

Lord right now I’m asking you to be

Strong enough

Strong enough,

For the both of us.”

“I’m not strong enough to go through this.”

How many times have you heard this voice screaming inside your head while the entire world outside your window seems to still be going on with their everyday lives? How many times have you felt stripped down to your last ounce of strength? Just plain defenseless, naked, and exposed for every passerby to see, ‘cause that fake, forced smile on your face is no longer fooling anyone.

How many times have you felt like “rock bottom” was about 1000 feet of misery ago, and that there is nothing in this world to get you out of the black hole you’ve been stuck in for way too long. And you just can’t help but wonder “How can the birds still sing? How can the world still spin? How can life still exist when my heart is on life support?”

When I started this blog I never fathomed the impact this blogging community would have on me. But it has introduced me to so many wonderful people. People that have opened my eyes to a different kind of beauty. People with helpless and sick babies, husbands, and loved ones; people who have felt more pain in a few short months, than others feel their entire life. People with bleeding hearts. Hopeful, and hopeless people who just don’t feel strong enough to play the hand that life has so mercilessly dealt them. People who have the same thing in common: They all so desperately want to be survivors.

I know I’ve had a good walk in those shoes. A lot of us have. They are painful shoes, too. No, maybe you and I have not lost a baby or watched our husband go through a horrible disease that make him less and less the man you once knew. But pain hurts the same no matter the tragedy. Pain is not bias, and neither are the deep, life long scars it leaves behind.

But I’m here to tell you that there is hope. Trust me, I’ve lived it. Even when you feel like you’re surrounded by nothing but darkness, there is light at the end of the tunnel. How do I know this? I know because God has been so good in my life! Once I realized that He has come on this earth to mend my broken heart, I knew that there was hope for a better tomorrow. I let the tears that burned my face for way too long be wiped away by His strong hand. He picked up the pieces from my unrecognizable, broken heart and glued them back together with his love. He made me whole again. And in many ways He has done that through other people with broken hearts who have decided to help others with their stories. A lot of those individuals will never know the impact they left behind, but in many ways, I am who I am today because of their courage. I’m a better me.

What I’m trying to tell you is that it doesn’t matter where you came from, what you’ve gone through, what you did, or who you once were. Yesterday does not define you. This is your life! Your story! Yes, life will throw you all kinds of obstacles, but in the end, you’re the one that will write the final chapter. Make it a good one! Give it all you’ve got! You’re the only one that can make something good out of all this hurt. This is not the time to throw in the towel. Your story can bring heeling to so many other bleeding hearts. Be a healer not a victim. There is a world of bleeding hearts out there, so don’t be afraid to show them your battle scars. They are beautiful, just like you. They prove that you ARE strong enough!

“ I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13

One Month Old!

Guess who turned One Month Old yesterday?!!??!

This gorgeous little lady!

She is the best little snuggle bug...

... and when she looks into my eyes,

her gaze can pierce my soul and my heart turns into mush

I can't believe you are already one month old, Little Love! I love you more than I could ever imagine loving someone, and I'm so excited to watch you grow!

Here's to many more beautiful months together!

Letter to my Little Love

Dear Giada,

This might sound foolish, but my love for you began long before I found out you were growing inside of me. I’ve dreamed about you for what seems like my whole entire life. I imagined a million times in my head your beautiful eyes, your little face, your pink lips, and your sweet smell. However, you my Little Love, have surpassed my wildest imaginations and my biggest dreams. You are perfect in every way and so much more than I could ever ask God for.

Even though you joined us just four short weeks ago, I can’t imagine my life without you in it. I don’t even know how I made it all my life without the funky faces you make every morning and your toothless, still unintentional, smiles that take my breath away.

In just a couple of days you are going to be one month old! I don’t know when this time has passed! In your four weeks of life, you have already experienced a whole lot. You’ve had your first “cold” (that you were born with, you naughty kid), your first Christmas, and your first New Year. Not that you care about any of those, but your momma sure had fun documenting it all. You also are learning how to use your neck (that you were able to hold up by yourself since you were two days old) and you’re getting better and better at it every day. You are such a strong little girl! You also are able to follow me with your big blue eyes if I literarily get right in your face. And your sleep! Boy is that a big challenge! Your mami is still trying to get adjusted to your night-time sleeping/eating pattern that come way too soon every 3 1/2- 4 hours. Both your daddy and I are SO looking forward to the part when you sleep through the night! When do you plan on doing that by the way? ‘Cause really, any day would be ok with us.

I know that you will grow way too fast right before my eyes, and before I’ll know it you won’t be my newborn anymore. However, no matter where you are in life, kindergarten, high school, or college, never forget that you will always be my baby girl.

As the years go by, I can’t promise you that you won’t face any hardships, or that your innocent little heart won’t get broken someday, because, as much as it hurts me to say this, you will get hurt. But this I can promise you: I will always be there by your side when you need a shoulder to cry on or a hand to wipe your tears away. Even if the entire world is against you, I’ll be the one fighting for you. You’ll always feel my love, even if you’re thousands of miles away. Yes, this I do promise you.

Both your daddy and I will do our best to raise you the way Jesus would want you to live your life. We’ll try to teach you that life is full of magnificence and that at times it can be hidden in the smallest places. Look for it. It may change your life. We’ll try to show you what real happiness feels like, how to love with all your heart, how to laugh until it hurts, how to treat all people equally, how to respect and help others, and how to stand up for what you believe is right. We already are your biggest supporters and fans, but also the ones who will tell you if you have crossed the line. Sometime we may do it with a look, and other times stronger discipline may be applied. However, you should know that it will always be done because we love you and want the best for you.

Please my dear child, never forget that beauty is way more than just skin deep, and that you should really read the entire book before you judge the cover. Make Jesus and your family your best friends, and you’ll find that you have a lot more joy and peace in your life. Be patient, pray, and fight hard for what you want, and if it is in God’s plan, you will have it. Always remember that God knows your future better than anyone else, and His plans for you are so much more wonderful than you or I can ever fathom. Just follow His lead, let Him carry you on His wings, and He will see you through any hardship life may throw your way.

Sweet Little Love, thank you so much for bringing this abundance of love into our hearts and such profusion of joy into our lives. I thank God everyday that He chose us to be your parents. What a privilege and honor that is! I love you more than life itself, and am so excited about all of the adventures that we’re going to have on this new journey that we’ve embarked on together!

Forever yours,

~Mami

Adventures of New Me

How can something this small turn my world completely upside down?

I mean, seriously!

Ever since she showed up, I kissed my previously peaceful, silent, full nights of sleep goodbye.

Most days I'm embracing the fact that I'm too freaking exhausted to put on anything other than sweat pants on, and have to make a REALLY conscious effort to put on some makeup so I won't look like a zombie.

Messy hair and being pooped on is a new fashion around here, and I seem to be rocking it proudly quite often. Don't judge.

Also, in one day she single handedly has managed to take over my "ladies" and turn them into "tools." Very, very painful "tools," may I add, thanks once again to her careless and oblivious mishandling of those sensitive objects.

Yeah, this seems to be the new me... The hot mess New Me that's taking tiny baby steps to look more like the old me. Some days I'm better at it than others.

Let me be clear when I say this:

Mommyhood is not for fainthearted fools! For reals now!

However...

All it takes is one look at this precious little face, and I completely melt away.

One tight squeeze and a munch on the cheek from me, and a toothless smile from her and I forget all about the above mentioned dilemmas.

Thanks to her, my life has 100 times more joy and happiness in it, and honestly, I can't imagine my world without her in it.

I'll admit that I'm an addict; She's my drug. I wouldn't have it any other way. 'Nough said.

Happy Wednesdays Lovelies!

Letter to 2011

Dear 2011,

I hope you are at least as great as 2010 has been to us. You really have a tough challenge ahead of you, because 2010 has been truly amazing; I would even dare say the best year of my life. Here are a few things that this last year brought to us that you would have to top:

I have learned first hand what it truly means to be an RN in a community hospital and how challenging and rewarding this career can truly be.

On April 10 we found out that we are expecting our first precious miracle baby that would make us first time parents. Our life has never been the same since...

On August 5th we celebrated our 3rd year anniversary at Cheesecake Factory with some really yummy food! Oh, and by the way, those three years have been some of the most wonderful years of my life spent next to the love of my life. Just sayin..

In October we left the hot state of Texas and moved to Idaho, my hubby's home state. Here is where we bought our beautiful "forever" house that has already become our home. Yes, we truly love it here.

And dear 2011, I don't know how you would EVER beat the gifts that December 2010 has so graciously brought to us, the most precious one being our sweet little daughter. Giada Joliet has stirred up in me feelings I never knew existed. This little girl has my entire heart and soul. I never knew I could love this much until my eyes have laid upon her gorgeous little face. She completes my world. It's just that simple.

Not only did we become first time parents in 2010, but my parents have become first time grandparents, and my grandparents have become first time grate-grandparents. They also couldn't be more in love with our Little Love.

Also, for the first time ever, we celebrated Jesus's birthday this Christmas as a family of three! It truly was a magical time.

As you can see, 2010 has really outdone itself. So here is my challenge to you dear 2011... Bring us happy mornings, and safe evenings. Bring us closer to our Creator and let us raise our daughter the way He would. This year, let us be kinder, more patient, and less selfish with each other as well as with others. Let our Little Love grow healthy and strong and also help us make the right choices for her. I challenge you to bring multiple blessings to us and our loved ones, and that whenever you throw in some hard times ('cause let's face it, you will), let us face them with our heads held high and never forget that we serve a God that is bigger than any problem we could ever come across.

As you see, you've got some hard work ahead of you. I shall check in with you again sometime in December. Till then, please, oh please be good to us.

Much love,