The Velasquez Family

Fall has fallen.

2011-10-31T09:22:00.000-07:00

We LOOOOVE fall in our house. Probably our favorite time of year, we just wish it would be a little bit "crisper" outside during the day, but other then that we love the colors and all the fun activities and food that come along with tihs time of year. This year is even more fun because Lilley is a toddler now, the photo opps are great! Last weekend we headed out to a family friends pumpkin patch and had a great time while we were there... Lilley has a favorite toy these days, and it happens to be a "bawwll" or ball. So you can imagine as we walked through the patch how excited she was... she was running literally from pumpkin to pumkin screatching with shear excitement about the bawwlls that were everywhere.

We had such a great time, I just wish Sawyer had been a little bit older to enjoy our day as much as we did... he just slept in the stroller
while we cruised the pumpkin patch, walked the corn maze

enjoyed the petting zoo... Lilley had a full on meltdown when it was time to leave. She loved petting the goats and chasing the chickens, (the picture is blurry, but you get the idea)

Tender Mercies...

2011-10-26T01:19:00.000-07:00

So, since pretty much everyone who reads our blog is also my friend on facebook, you are probably aware that little miss Lilley gave us a MAJOR scare a few weeks back. So much so, that i now have her baby monitor glued to my hip and the slightest little hiccup has me calling her Pediatrician. Ive never been the "worrying" type of mom, i had a lot of baby and kid experience before my own babies arrived, but that all flew out the window the night of October 2th. Readers beware, this post might get rather lengthy, but its a great story, and one I have been trying to record in both mine and Lilleys' journals without balling each time. (Note: IVE YET TO SUCCEED AND ACTUALLY FINISH).
So,it all started Sunday afternoon (oct. 2nd). We were home listening to conference, and Lilley woke up from her afternoon nap with a low-grade fever. Not too out of the ordinary because she is 16 months old and teething still. I attributed her heightened temp to her teeth and didnt think much of it. Before her afternoon nap she was totally fine, no fever or sign of discomfort, she was busy rolling around on our bed and playing her version of tag with Frank. AS the afternoon progressed we noticed she was a little grouchy and rather sleepy. My dad happened to be in town for a few hours so we spent some time with them and by the time we had finished dinner we thought Lilley was more sleepy then normal because she didnt want to eat anything or even dring a cup of milk. (she loooooooooooooves milk) so I was getting her ready for bed and noticed that she felt warmer then a few minutes ago, almost hot to the touch. I gave her some tylenol and put her to bed. Frank had to leave for work at that same time, so i said bye to him, got sawyer ready for bed and went about the rest of my night as normal. A couple hours later Lilley woke up crying, which is really rare since she's a 13 hour a night sleeper, so i checked the monitor and figured maybe she needed more tylenol. I went in got her out of bed and we ended up watching part of a movie before her fever broke and i put her back to bed. The first two times i checked her earlier she had been right around 100. degrees. this 3rd time she was at 102 something. I remember telling Frank around 9pm to say a prayer for Lilley because something just didnt seem right. As we finished the movie and i put her back to bed, it was around 11:30 so then i went to bed right after.

Now there is a major key here- WE HAVE TERRIBLE, I MEAN TERRIBLE, PHONE RECEPTION AT OUR HOUSE. i NEVER get service, rarely even text messages... so when my phone beeped at 12:29 am with a text from Frank asking how Lilley was, it was the first in a series of tender mercies from Heavenly Father. When it came through, it was 30 minutes later then when he had sent it. The very second it came through is the very second that Lilley started having what we later found out was a horribly traumatic FEBRILE SEIZURE. As i read his text, i immediately glanced at our video monitor as i periodically still do thoughout the night... for exactly this reason. Well much to my horror i saw my baby shaking violently in her crib so i ran in there i swear in a milasecond, and stood over her as i thought she finished seizing... i picked her up when i though she was done only for her to continue to shake in my arms, i ran in to my bedroom layed her flat on my bed and frantically called Frank... first off- HE ANSWERED! HE RARELY ANSWERS WHEN HE'S AT WORK, SECOND, I HAD FULL SERVICE. i NEVER HAVE FULL SERVICE. ALL I COULD GET OUT WAS LILLEY IS HAVING A SEIZURE CALL MY MOM AND TELL HER TO GET OVER HERE. (SHE LIVES ABOUT 300 FT AWAY) I NEEDED HIM TO CALL BECAUSE I DIDNT KNOW HOW LONG MY SERVICE WOULD LAST. I HUNG UP ON HIM AND CALLED MY SIS IN LAW WHO LIVES ABOUT 100 FT AWAY AND ALL I SAID WAS LILLEY IS HAVING A SEIZURE I GOTTA GO TO THE ER... ( I WAS THINKING SHE COULD STAY WITH SAWYER). IT WAS 12:30 IN THE MORNING AND SHOCKINLGY SHE ANSWERED TOO!! WELL A FEW SECONDS HAD PASSED AND I FRANTICALLY PUT ON MY PAJAMAS, I WAS JUST IN MY GARMENTS, AND FROM THE TIME I GOT DRESSED AND STARTED TO CARRY LILLEY DOWNSTAIRS SHE HAD COMPLETELY STOPPED BREATHING AND HER ENTIRE BODY, STARTING WITH HER FACE TURNED BLUE... AS I CARRIED HER DOWN THE STAIRS SHE WAS BLUE AND BREATHLESS IN MY ARMS, LITERALLY LIFELESS, EVERY PARENTS WORST FEAR AND NIGHTMARE WAS COMING TO FRUITION RIGHT BEFORE MY EYES... AS I GOT HER DOWNSTAIRS MY SIS IN LAW CAME RUNNING IN WITH 911 ON THE PHONE, SHE TOOK LILLEY FROM ME AND IMMEDIATELY STARTED TO GIVE HER CPR I MANAGED TO GET THE INFORMATION THE DISPATCHER NEEDED AS I WAS BALLING AND BEFORE I EVEN HUNG UP WITH HER I COULD HEAR SIRENS COMING TOWARDS MY HOUSE... FIRST TWO POLICE CARS SHOWED UP, THE OFFICERS RAN IN AND KNEALT BY LILLEY, THEN SECONDS LATER THE AMBULANCE AND FIRETRUCK CAME. IT WAS LESS THEN 5 MINUTES SINCE THE FIRST WORDS WERE SPOKEN TO THE DISPATCHER THAT THE FIRE ENGINEER WAS GIVING MY BABY GIRL CPR TO SAVE HER LIFE. AMAZING RESPONSE TIME! I AM FOREVER INDEBTED TO MY SIS IN LAW AND THE MURRIETA FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR SAVING MY BABY GIRLS LIFE! ONCE THEY STABALIZED HER BREATHING, THEY GOT HER ON THE GUIRNEY AND WE WERE OFF IN THE AMBULANCE TO THE ER. AT THE TIME, I WOULD HAVE JUST LEFT SAWYER AT HOME, I KNEW EITHER MY MOM AND OR SIS WOULD BE THER WITHIN A COUPLE MINUTES, BUT FORTUNATELY BOTH WERE THERE BEFORE I LEFT IN THE AMBULANCE. WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL AND THE DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY WENT FOR LILLEYS EARS, IT WAS LIKE THIS TUNNEL VISION- NO JOKE, I SAW HIM IN THE HALLWAY HE WAS WALKING TOWARDS US AND DIDNT SAY A WORD TO ME, HE WENT STRAIGHT TO LOOK IN HER EARS AND FOUND A HORRIBLE EAR INFECTION JUST ABOUT TO RUPTURE HER LITTLE EAR DRUM. BY THE TIME WE GOT TO THE HOSPITAL, LILLEY HAD A FEVER OF 105.5. NOW POOR BABY GIRL WAS SCREAMING AND WHEN I CALLED FRANK TO TELL HIM WHERE WE WERE, HE TOLD ME HE WAS ALREADY MORE THEN HALF WAY HOME, BY SOME MIRACLE, HIS WORK FOR THE NIGHT HAD GOTTEN CANCELED BEFORE I EVEN CALLED HIM ABOUT THE SEIZURE AND HE WAS ALREADY ON HIS WAY HOME. HE WOULDNY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO LEAVE HIS JOB OTHERWISE. ANOTHER MIRACLE! SO HE RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL, WE CALLED A DEAR FRIEND TO COME HELP WITH GIVING LILLEY A BLESSING AND ALL WITHIN A COUPLE OF HOURS WE WERE BACK HOME AND OUR BABY GIRL WAS PEACEFULLY ASLEEP IN OUR BED.
There is so much else i could write and say, but the experiences were far too sacred to share at this time, all i need to say is that Heavenly Father was truly watching over my little girl that night because the ER doctor plainly stated that had i not woken up wheni did, i would have found my baby girl dead in her crib in the morning. The fact that she had stopped breathing for so long without her body naturally starting to breath on its own shows the severity of her seizure and it's all because of these tender mercies happening in the time and manner in which they did that my little Lilley is still with me tonight. I THANK GOD EACH DAY. I couldnt even imagine the alternative ending to that night. She has since had 2 high fevers and i turn in to a complete wreck, and of course it only happens at night, and the nights when Frank is at work. I still close my eyes and see that blue lifeless baby in my arms and my heart just aches. Its by far the most traumatizing experience of my life, and i just can't get those images out of my mind. Now maybe you can empathize with my paranoia and newly inherited fear of the night.Whew! Happy to report however that she is in good health now.
Later that morning when she woke up for the day she was pretty much happy, just wanted to lay on the couch with her blankey, two favorite balls, and favorite stuffed animal and all i could do was hold her so tight and cry my eyes out with joy that i could still hold her.

baby Sawyer is here!

2011-08-24T12:11:00.000-07:00

Not any good pics to post yet- theyre coming soon...

in the meantime, SAWYER BENET VELASQUEZ is here, and perfect.
He was born Tuesday August 16,2011 at 10:42 am. He weighed in at 7lbs 4oz and 20.5 in. (Lilley weighed exactly the same weight and was the same length when she was born too).
My labor was pretty much awesome, started contractions around 12am Tuesday morning, headed to the Hospital around 3am got all settled in, pushed for 20 minutes and then, this red headed little angel was here. :) He's such a sweet little guy. He loves to be held and snuggled. We're so in love, and happy to report that miss Lilley adores him too... she's already a good playmate for him. She loves to give him hugs and kisses and sit right next to him whenever we have him in our arms.

Life is great... stay tuned for some pics. :)

ANY DAY

2011-08-08T09:46:00.000-07:00

any day now... we'll have a baby boy any day... in the meantime, I am spending my days enjoying my little girl and our time to ourselves... these have been the most precious days, days ill cherish forever!!!!!

I have kind of fallen off the face of the earth lately, not because I don't want to talk to anyone. I am just enjoying my time with Lilley so much and i love that it is uninterrupted mama and baby time. it's a little bitter sweet though. I've loved every moment ive had with her over the last 13.5 months and part of me isn't ready to give that up and welcome a new baby, mostly just because we have such a routine and im a little nervous to add a new baby in to the mix. BUt i am super excited to have a little boy, and to experience the joys of motherhood from both perspectives! The news of baby boys arrival is just days away, so stay tuned!! :)

Just wondering...

2011-07-15T21:08:00.000-07:00

Where do you put anything boyish in here? (the pictures aren't very good) but you get the gist... it's all girl, and atleast, for a little while, Lilley and baby boy will be sharing a room, even if it's just for clothes and stuff. Theres no room for boy stuff!

4TH OF JULY

2011-07-08T00:13:00.001-07:00

Every year since I was born ( i think) my family has spent the 4th of July at the beach. We've gone to the same beach with the same friends forwever. When Frank and I started dating I introduced him to the beach 4th of July, and he's hooked! So now it's become one of our family traditions to spend the entire day and night at the beach for the 4th of July. We usually get there around 10 am and stay until the firework show at 9:00 pm. This year was the first year we didn't bbq there. We invited some good friends to spend the day with us, and they obliged and we spent the day at the beach, left for a little while to get some food( but mostly so the kiddos could nap in the car) and then came back for the show. It was a really nice day... I learned that swimming in the Ocean at 8 1/2 months prego causes extreme water buoyancy! I was making fun of myslef because i cuold lay in the water on my tummy and totally float! It was awesome, who needs a raft when you have a gut to make you float! :) Here are just a couple pics from the day. :)
PS- have i mentioned how much Lilley loves the water? pool, ocean, blow up pool at the ocean... doesn't really matter, the kid loves water! She was so good at occupying herself in her splash pool we brought her, and then taking a few trips in to the ocean with mommy and daddy. too much fun!

Posing at 8 1/2 months prego

here i am again 8 1/2 months prego with baby boy! :)

it's my party and ill cry if I want to!

2011-07-06T21:43:00.000-07:00

Overall- Lilley had a nice birthday. She got tons of clothes and toys and a new pool, and all kinds of fun stuff, but the birthday party day itself, wasnt our best day. the poor kid was teething soooooo bad, her top two teeth decided it was time to come in between Tuesday (her actual birthday, and Saturday when we had the party). She was such a little fuss bucket, but she looked so cute we couldnt help but still adore her. :) and then on top of that, the weather was so not cooperative, hence the lack of pictures from the outdoor part of her party. It was so darn windy at the lake, we ended up having to take the party back to our house inside. I felt really bad for Frank actually, he spent the morning decorating the gazebo so cute, and by the time the party started he had to abandon ship on most of the balloons we got and that he hung from streamers and the flowers kept blowing over, etc... etc.. so we ended up just moving the left over food and remaining party guests to our house. It turned out just fine in the end, just a bummer about the wind. Here are a few pics from the day... pretty much all i got were of the cake and cupcakes that i made and a couple of her hating her own cupcake! :) two tries in a week and the kid still doesnt like birthday cake. Good to know. :) atleast she eats every other kind of food! haha

All and all it was a nice day, and now were moving on with the summer with Franks birthday this coming Friday, and the arrival of our baby boy in just over a month. It's starting to get a little hectic around here.

"1st" birthday day

2011-06-23T14:56:00.000-07:00

We were very fortunate to have Frank home with us for Lilleys birthday ALL day, he had to work overnight so we had a very pleasant family day, before we had just a tiny little party. We started off the morning at my bi-weekly doc appt for baby boy, then came home and made Lilley some strawberry and banana pancakes. Then we headed off to the park before nap time. Then, after the park, we came home, ate lunch, put her down to sleep, watched a movie, and when she woke up we spent the rest of the afternoon in the pool. Dumb me, I forgot to bring the camera out, but Lilley is turning in to a water baby. She loves the pool now and loves to splash around. She was exhausted so she came home and took a nice afternoon nap (which rarely happens these days) and then we had a couple of our good friends over to celebrate her special day since they wouldn't be able to celebrate with us at her party this coming Saturday. I think she had a nice day, Frank and I sure enjoyed our time together with our baby girl and now are looking forward to her party and then the rest of this busy summer with his birthday, and the arrival of our baby boy.

"B" is for...

2011-06-22T06:31:00.000-07:00

BOY!!!! Yep thats right- im only 32 weeks prego and we found out yesterday on Lilleys birthday that baby #2 is FOR SURE a baby boy! Were excited for a boy in the house- not going to lie- it's a totally foreign world for me, ive never even changed a boy diaper, never-the-less, we're so excited to welcome him in to our little family in mid August. ")

Our Birthday Girl. xoxoxo

2011-06-21T06:51:00.000-07:00

Today is Lilleys' 1st birthday- I CANNOT believe it! A year has gone by all too quickly. Time please slow down. If i keep writing i'll get all emotional, so i'll just keep it short-ish. :) The past year has been the very best year of my life so far, welcoming Lilley in to our family with Frank has been the greatest blessing and watching our family grow has meant so much to us. She is truly such a joy and I feel so blessed that Heavenly Father gave me the privelege of being her mommy. She is such a delight to be around, I could not have hoped, or asked for a better baby. She puts a smile on everyones face who gets to interact with her and although I want to keep her this innocent little baby forever, I know that she is going to grow in to a strong and beautiful woman, and honestly, I am excited to see the woman she will become. I love my baby girl so much and I hope with all my heart when she looks back on the memories we created together as a family in her early youth, that she will know that, and know what a special loved little spirit she is. HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET SWEET BABY GIRL. I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART.
~Mom

Daddys' Girl

2011-06-19T00:25:00.000-07:00

So miss Lilley and her daddy are like kindred spirits- she has already inherited so many of his traits and she has this uncanny love for anything her daddy touches. His clothes-his shoes- his plate, cups, etc... When he walks in the door from work she's usually sitting in her high chair eating her dinner and the minute she sees him she yells out (in a very loud voice)- "DADA"!!!! Which is then followed by an ear to ear grin and shriek at him to come over and give her kisses. She just adores him, and I LOVE to watch the two of them play together and interact. This week is a big week for us, we're celebrating Lilleys first birthday and i cannot believe a year ago this weekend i went in to labor with Lilley. We thought for sure she'd be born on Fathers Day, so i tried to make it special but i think I failed miserably, mostly because I was contracting so bad. I sent Frank and my dad off to go play some golf, it was a new hobby he was really starting to get in to- and now, a year later, he still LOVES the game of golf just as much if not more then he ever has before. I was trying to come up with ideas of things to get him for his first "official" Fathers day, and one of the things I thought, was his own picture of Lilley with some of his gokf gear- why not combine two of the things he loves so dearly in his life. LILLEY, AND GOLF. and since Lilley loves anything her daddy touches, it wasn't hard to capture her with her hand inside of Franks golf shoe just pushing it around and playing with it. My silly baby- she's too cute!

Anyways, wishing you all a happy fathers day! We love our daddy here in our home, and we hope he has the most wonderful relaxing day. He deserves it! We love you tons my love and were so glad to spend the day honoring you. HAPPY FATHERS DAY!

"KISESSSSS"

2011-06-06T21:15:00.000-07:00

recently Lilley has discovered her own reflection in the mirror and she loves to give kisses to it. :) She loves to give kisses anyway, but she gets so excited to crawl up to the mirror and lay a big slobbery open mouthed kiss on it. And then sit back and stare at herself. hahaha. too cute.

Technology confuses/frustrates me sometimes!

2011-06-06T11:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, I feel really stupid when i use the internet- IE- I made an evite for Lilleys' birthday party a few weeks back because I was too lazy to make her invitations, so I filled out all the info, sent the message and everything was good. Then, a few days later, my sometimes short-term- memory challenged husband told me he had something going on the date of her party. :( Umm, HELLO!! We already discussed, in detail, what day we were going to have her party on... grrr, so anyways, I signed back in to evite to change the date and send out a notice saying we changed it to the following Saturday. That was fine, the notice was sent out no problem,and i even received a few reply of those unable to make it. But now, for the last week I have been getting emails everyday from myself with her invitation and the notice saying I changed the date, so I APOLOGIZE TO ANY OF YOU WHO MAY BE RECEIVING DAILY EMAILS FROM ME, IM NOT TRYING TO BUG YOU BY ANY MEANS ABOUT HER PARTY I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON im not even the one sending them! SO I JUST DELETED HER INVITATION ALL TOGETHER SO HOPEFULLY YOU DONT RECEIVE ANY MORE EMAILS! IM SO ANNOYED WITH THAT!!!

ILL post it on my blog once, with regard to the date change and that is it...

Saturday June 25th @ 12:30 pm @ Harveston Lake Gazebo.

i can't keep track anymore of who received what. So LAME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OK, VENTING SESSION OVER! Thanks for listening. :)

The Blueberry Queen

2011-06-03T14:53:00.001-07:00

This is her- don't mind the grubby face, she had already eaten about 10 blueberries at this point in our adventure. :)

She LOVES, and i mean LOVES BLUEBERRIES! When we go grocery shopping, I have to hide them from her because she screams at me to eat them if she sees them. Same thing at home, when im feeding her, if theyre on her plate or in her bowl and she runs out, I have to distract her with other food. I'm not sure where the obsession came from, neither Frank or I love them, we like them, but deffinitly not as much as Lilley. Anyway, we went to the Blueberry Farm with a friend and her little girl and the two liked it... Lilley was uncharacteristically grumpy- that darn second tooth is bugging her, but she did manage to eat several while we strolled through the orchard... wasn't really planning on taking the stroller, I was hoping she'd be walking better, but she hasn't quite mastered it yet so the stroller was the best way to go. Morgan, my friends little girl enjoyed the experience a little better I think because she was cruising down the orchard by herself. But overall it was fun and can't wait til next year to take Lilley back and revel in picking her own favorite fruit. :)

note the blueberries clutched in her hand while waiting for me to take a picture. :)

And then, this is how we finished off the day. Back to her normal smiley happy self. :)

FOR SALE!

2011-05-29T21:27:00.000-07:00

So, I have been a busy little bee making some fun little baby girl stuff and I have sold a lot, but have just a few little things left that i'm hoping to sell soon to clear my little space at home for new stuff. SO, if you have a baby shower coming up and need a gift, or have a little girl at home yourself, check out these few things. I also have TONS of those "thick" crochet headbands. They're the 2" thick ones and they are still available in bright colors. I also have some flower headbands and one of a kinds i can make with the extra material I have at home, so let me know if you need something in a particular color... I will try in the next few days to get some pics up of the flower headbands and fabric headbands I have, but in the meantime here are the shoes and onesies that I have left. Feel free to email me @ sabrinaleiferman_3@hotmail.com, facebook me, or call me @ 951-775-4685.

$18.00... this onesie has fabric rolled flowers, vintage lace, and pearls. The awesome things about ALL of these onesies that I am going to list is that the embellishments ALL velcro on and off to make washing easier... ESPECIALLY if baby spits up. :)3-6 months or (small 6-9 months)

$18.00- this one has a silk flower attatched with velro and adorned with pearls. It is on top of vintage lace. 3-6 months (or small 6-9 months)

$18.00- this adorable onesie is ultra feminine (well, so are the rest) it's lilac, the pics arent true to color. It's adorned with little diamond studs, velcro fabric flowers, and lace. 3-6 months

$20.00- this onesie "dress" is made with vintage lace, a silk binding, and velcro-on rosettes. Super adorable on, Lilley wore one in one of her "photoshoots" around 3 months old.

$22.00- onesie and leggings set- 0-6 months. lace embellishments

$10.00 each. leopard print are 6-9 months zebra print are 0-3 months. Both are embellished with bows and flowers and jewels.
Lilley has both pairs and we seriously have been stopped every where we go with people asking about them! I have sild tons! These are my last two, but will be ordering more so please let me know if you'd like a different size... they are also available in pink leopard, black and white polka dot, and a couple of other prints.

Once again, please contact me any of those three ways, and keep checking for the posts with the headbands! :) thanks!

How big is Lilley?

2011-05-29T16:06:00.000-07:00

"Sooooooooooo big". Im temporarily lacking the picture to accompany that statement, my cord is missing for my camera, but in the meantime, just know that is her new favorite thing to do... It started on Easter Sunday, and now the minute you get out "how big" she throws both arms up in the air with the most giant grin from ear to ear and we finish saying "lilley" and then "soooo big" and she's happy as can be.
At 11 months and 1 week, she's truly getting so big.

~stands alone for several seconds
~has taken a couple accidental steps (but is desperately trying to figure out how to do it again)
~still sleeps 12-13 hours a night
~eats a little less (she's teething big time)
~has 1 1/2 teeth (neither has fully risen yet)
~has decided she's not in to signing much anymore
~says mama,dada,dog ~ she yells a lot- LOVES to hear the sound of her own voice in extremely high pitches
~still LOVES the tv show "SIGNING TIME"
~ LOVES music and loves to dance... we tell her to shake her booty and she does this twisty shake and little bounce. too cute!
~crawls like a wind-up toy... shes quick!

overall she's still such a happy girl, a bit dramatic the last week or so, (we think she's growing more teeth) and has been grouchy, but of course we still love her.

She thinks she's big, and wants so bad to walk and talk, if youre around for any length of time, you can just see the determination in her eyes and the way she studies people. Especially little kids. Our neighbors have a 2 and 4 year old and Lilley plays with them a lot, and she babbles at them while she's playing like she's having a conversation and when they walk somewhere she follows them and always tries to stand up but then eventually just gets on her knees and takes off crawling after them. So fun to watch! :)

As for me and the new baby- STILL dont know for sure what were having. 2 times they said boy, 1 time, and most recently it was a girl, but we can't tell for sure because the ambilical cord has been and still is lodged directly between the baby's legs and we haven't been able to get he or she to move so the cord moves slightly.
Just as i have thought- this baby is going to be super stubborn! :) hahaha. I'm 29 weeks along, so at this point we're not sure we're going to find out. If we do, we'll be sure to pass the news along!

10 month pictures

2011-05-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

so these are a little behind the post about Lilley's 10 month stats.... The pics are mostly the same as the ones on facebook, but i thought i'd share them here too. :)

Happy Mother's Day.

2011-05-06T14:23:00.000-07:00

***The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new. Truly beautiful and among the most sacred of all gifts. ~ author unknown***

Happy Mother's Day! This year, as for all first time moms, this day has a whole new special meaning. Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Pretty little face

2011-04-28T22:21:00.000-07:00

i just love this pretty little girl. and i love that she is alllllllll girl. she already loves to dress up, we play everyday! hahaha. :)

Dear Hormones...

2011-04-27T14:35:00.000-07:00

DEAR HORMONES-

GO AWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I mean, i guess technically not the hormones, just being moody! I never got moody at all with Lilley, you can ask my husband. He will happily tell you I was an extremely pleasent pregnant lady with Lilley. This time around, not so much. I am grumpy, short tempered, irritable with everyone and everything, and honestly, I just can't help it. Trust me, I've tried. And the worst part is, I know it must be bad, if I'm aware of it.
So dear friends, don't judge me, i'll try not to get too irritated, but if I do, know that it's a momentary thing and I'm sorry. Im truly, sincerely, trying to keep my moods under control. :)

10 months!

2011-04-21T17:51:00.001-07:00

Can't believe 10 months has already come and gone so quickly. My little baby is growing so fast each day, I know I always say that, but the time just seems to be passing more quickly each and every day. I just posted most of her stats about two weeks ago, so I won't add much other then she's still a "little" baby, but doc says she's perrrfectly healthy and visibly happy and thats all that matters. We went in for shots today and she weighed in at 16.8 lbs... 27 1/2 inches... so 10th percentile for weight and 25 for height. Momma is also happy with that, I love that she's a petite little girl, it makes her all the more precious in our eyes. (Plus, she's gotten more then enough wear out of her clothes)!
After a nice long nap (both of us slept for hours) my dad came in to town from a trip to Colorado and we headed out to the park to swing and play ball with Buddy. My dad hasn't spent much time with Lilley since she was born, so it was nice to get a few pictures of them "playing" together at the park.

Week of Firsts

2011-04-17T21:49:00.000-07:00

So a week ago saturday Lilley decided (out of the blue) it was time to crawl. She has shown absolutely ZERO interest in crawling and has made no attempt to try to move, scoot, roll, army crawl, etc... and then, last saturday, we were sitting on the couch while she sat on the floor and played and all of a sudden she went forward to her knees and then scoot, scoot... on the knees forward. She only went a couple paces, but she loved it. Now, a week later, she is crawling everywhere!! We can't keep her still. She's ventured from the carpet on to the tile (which is pretty much our entire place except the bedrooms) and loves it. She spends the time she's on the floor crawling after Buddy and his toys as he runs away from her and then brings his toys to her, and then runs away, and then brings the toys back. It's actually quite comical. They truly are best friends. I'm so grateful he's so well mannered too, she steals his toys (much to my dismay, im constantly taking them away and moving them and then the dog gets them and brings them to her) and then he carefully and gently removes them from her grasp. Awesome playmates for each other HAHAHAHHA.
The video is like 10 minutes long, so here are a couple pics as she firsrt took off...

Then, a week later, for our anniversary, we headed to the beach. She has been to the beach twice (last summer) but wasn't old enough to enjoy it or really know what was going on, so with the beautiful summer like weather we had over the weekend we decided it was as good a time as any to introduce her to the beach and the ocean. SHe LOVED it. LOVED the sand... took her a little while to venture off the towel and on to it, but once she did she was our little beach bum. Its good that she is because Frank and I love the beach and spend most of our free time there in the late spring and summer months.

and then we topped off the day with a nice dinner, but sadly only got a picture of Lilley on the stroll there.

For our actual anniversary, I received a BEAUTIFUL bouquet and we had a nice dinner and then headed out for a date to the movies and some nice husband and wife time without baby LILLEY. I think we're weird because we really like to take her with us everywhere, especially since she's so good and pretty much just goes with it, but last night, we just decided we needed to go out on a date sans baby. :)
This picture came out blurry, lame i know, but it's the only one we got of us on our special day.

MEN.AT.WORK.

2011-04-09T09:19:00.000-07:00

So the other day Frank came home early from work and we decided we were going to venture out to FINALLY buy a new area rug for our family room... we've been talking about getting a new one for months, (the one we have now was a donation from my mom), but its old and well used, and now full all of the stains that were nicely carpet cleaned out when we first got it... so in short- WERE SO OVER IT! We stopped at a few places, but didn't seem to find any we really like so then we headed off to a furniture store as a last stop on our way home and three hours later, purchased a new couch, which we werent even planning to buy, we've sort of talked about wanting a new couch, but nothing serious, but then this one happened and it was a great deal and something we felt really good about investing in. (our old couch was also a donation when we got married and starting to get uncomfortable because it was so well used).
So everything fell in to place and my brother was able to arrange to come pick up our old couch and two chairs and take it to their house and our good friend ryan came to help with the old one going out and the new one coming in...
It took them a little while to realize that the couch just wasnt coming in through our front door and up our stairs so they had to get creative and call in our friend and neighbor mike to help hoist the darn thing up and over our balcony on the side of our condo... hahaha. It was a bit of a funny sight, but an excellent idea and seemed like it was A LOT easier then they thought it would be. GREAT JOB GUYS!!! Thanks for all the help, I LOVE MY NEW COZY COUCH!!

We are also very fortunate that Frank is able to use the "big trucks" at work aside from his own work truck to move stuff like this because it saved us like 60 dollars because that is what they wanted to charge to deliver the couch like 3 miles away!

A HIDDEN GEM.

2011-04-03T21:10:00.001-07:00

Today I was looking through my craft cabinet for a spool of ribbon for something for Lilley and I came across this first typed version of our Family Mission Statement. For some reason it got misplaced after we got married. We were planning to have it framed and displayed as you walk in our home so that everyone could read it. After a couple of years it has resurfaced, just as we had an amazing conference which seem to touch lot on the importance of covenant marriage in many different capacities, so I thought I'd share our family mission statement with you before I go have it framed this week! :) (its much prettier and spaced out but as you can see it didn't copy and paste that way).

The Velasquez Family Mission Statement
We are now and forever more sealed as man and wife. An eternal family. Through that sacred union, we are and will always strive to honor and keep the sacred covenants we have made on the glorious April 18th day. On that day, in the house of our Lord, we covenanted before God and promised to one another and to our posterity to establish a home of order. In our home of order, wherever it may be that Frank R Velasquez will stand as the head of this household and be the Patriarch of our home and family… that he will use his holy priesthood to bless all of the lives of those who enter our home and always set the proper example.
We establish that Sabrina L Velasquez will stand beside Frank as the matriarch of our home, to be an example of righteous doing to all who enter our home, as well as our lives. We establish that Sabrina will counsel with her husband always, and to be a “help mate” to him. There, a feeling of joy and nobility will fill our home as appropriate role responsibilities are fulfilled. The men of our family will understand and find happiness in the offices of the Priesthood in which they will hold, and the women will learn the joy that comes with womanhood and the nobility which accompanies being a wife and a mother.
We covenant to follow the counsel of our Heavenly Father and prepare every needful thing; to establish even a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of glory, a house of order… A HOUSE OF GOD. We will increase our testimonies of and in Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father through daily prayer and scripture study.
We will seek spiritual strength by following the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
We will dedicate ourselves to one another and to strengthen our family.
We will love life and learning.
We will stand for truth and righteousness
We will sustain the Priesthood and authority of God on earth.
We will rejoice in the blessings of the Temple and visit often understanding our divine
Destiny and striving for exaltation.
We will always follow the prophet through prayer and sacrifice.
Last, we count our many blessings both in each member of our family and in others that we
meet and love them for all that they are and contribute to our lives. We will count our
Blessings for the stewardship God has blessed us with in our lives.

my little person

2011-04-01T23:15:00.000-07:00

lately lilley has started to act more like a little person then a baby. she babbles non-stop and gets so excited about what it is she's saying to you... sometimes the decibles go up and down, sometimes her heads shakes yes and sometimes it nods no as she tells you her story...
shes such a little social butterfly who seems to find so much joy in life and all it has to offer us, and she's getting more and more adventurous and trying new things... here is a few shots from our adventures yesterday

time is marchng on

2011-03-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

sadly, as time does, it marches on in our house. our little baby is now 9 1/2 months old and the days keep passing faster and faster and, honestly, i hate it!! i want to freeze her like this. Shes too much fun, and each day is a new fantastic adventure filled with so much joy and laughter. I love this little girl so much, and so does her daddy. We're basically baby hogs, we dont like to share her much, or even let her out of our sights for long. We miss her terribley when we are apart for even a matter of minutes! I live for the mornings and after naps when i can whisk her in to my arms and snuggle and kiss her all i want, and the best part is, she lets me, and more importantly, she loves it!!! i always get a smile and a giggle whenever she sees me. Never fails to melt my heart.

Our little girl is now 9 1/2 months old and...
- weighs in just under 17 lbs
-sleeps 12-13 hours at night
-still eats like a pig, anything she can get her grubby little fingers on and we love it!
- just moved from 3-6mth clothes in to 6-9 mth and even some 12 mth clothes
-LOVE LOVE LOVES "BABY SIGNING TIME"
-signs "more" "and eat" (when she wants to)also nods "yes" when asked a question
-starting to clap her hands if she sees you do it
- pulls herself up on just about everything she can
-still refuses to crawl
-says mama and dada
-still happy as can be
-loves to be outside in nature
-loves dogs
-thoroughly enjoys people and people watching

pretty much just getting cuter and cuter each and everyday!!

just a few more...

2011-03-03T15:55:00.000-08:00

got just a few more back the other day... is it weird that i just want to hang pictures of her all over my house? We have so many awesome pictures from these first 8 1/2 months i just don't know what to do with them all!

it's fun to play dress up!

2011-03-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

so, my dear dear friend got some new studio lights at her house and she invited us over so she could take a few shots of miss lilley. A few turned in to like a 2 hour session and we didn't even get through all the outfits and props we intended to. She is sooo fun to take pictures of 'cuz she's such a happy girl, and some how (maybe cuz i snap a million shots a day) she's developed a total fascination with cameras. She's obesessed with the lens and how it zooms in and out. It can be the most basic camera, or a few thousand dollar camera. Doesn't really matter, she likes 'em. :)
Heavenly Father knew I was suppose to have a little girl so that we could play dress up all day every day, and he blessed me with the perfect child because she's totally ok with me changing her clothes 20 times, always adorning her precious little head with flowers and bows, and she even leaves the jewelry on when i put bracelets and necklaces on her. My goodness, she's too much fun. I just love her to pieces. Here are some of the gazillions of pictures from the other day... ENJOY!!!

here is a link to my friends photography blog so you can pop in and check out her new blog and some of her many talents... she's just starting to add to it, so keep checking it for updates of all her work!
http://sweetpoppyphotography.blogspot.com

this baby...

2011-02-22T08:27:00.000-08:00

this baby is too darn cute. She's seriously such a great baby, rarely fusses, so happy, loves to eat, loves to snuggle, loves to play, is super independent and is just so much fun to be around. I feel very lucky to be her momma!

At 8 months she's;

~15 lbs (she's such a piggy, can't figure it out... she's got her dads super fast metabolism we think).

~is 26.5 inches.

~loves to watch "baby signing time" (shes starting to pick up on a couple ie: eat, more.

~sleeps 12 hours at night

~usually naps twice a day. (a 2 hour mid morning nap and a 45 minute late afternoon nap)

~babbles mama most of the day, is starting is say dada or something close to it.

~still wants NOTHING to do with crawling... she pulls herself up on us and the couch, and sort of scoots backwards, but wants nothing to do with going forward.

~still loooooooves her baths.

I think thats about it for now, she's just growing and getting more and more fun each and every day!

Can you read what it says?

2011-02-09T14:05:00.000-08:00

look very closely at the papers behind my head on my fireplace..

NEW BABY VELASQUEZ. On Christmas day, we had a big family get together, both sides of our immediate family came to our house to celebrate this year, which gave us the opportunity to play lots of games and make a rather large announcement to everyone since it was the first time our ENTIRE family has been together... ever.
We asked both of our sister in laws to bring a board game, (totally forgot the name at the moment) sort of like charades, so that we could be creative in the way we made our big announcement... however, both of them forgot the game (not knowing anything) so we had ti improvise and after some brainstorming, the next best thing was hang man. :) It took everyone a while, and my mother in law assumed we were talking about our baby nephew who was still in the hospital, but then his dad pointed out that there were only two Velasquez families present, and only one was still of baby birthing age, so then after a few second pause and some confused/ excited facial expressions, we confirmed that we, Frank Lilley and I were in fact expecting a new baby! Then a loud roar and cheer followed. It was classic, and that same brother-in-law- who pointed out the obvious, got everyone'`Zs expressions on video unbenounced to any of them. :) hahahahahahaha. It was HILARIOUS! Now, we realize we have seen most of you atleast a few times since christmas and have yet to share our news with you, not for any reason in particular, we just feel that now is a good time to announce that baby velasquez #2 will be coming in to this world sometime in mid August, which makes me a little over 13 weeks along to date.
Yes, we're aware how close together our children will be :) I mean that in the nicest possible way, and join in our excitement as we anticipate the newest addition to our little family.

HERE IS OUR FAMILY OF THREE JUST AFTER WE ANNOUNCED THAT WE ARE BECOMING A FAMILY OF FOUR (AND BUDDY).

Anyways,i'm feelin great, not any sickness , just a little fatigue.

I have tons more to post, just don't have time at the moment, so stay tuned! :)

dear EVERYONE!,

2010-12-21T15:33:00.001-08:00

Were sorry you didn't get you christmas cards... either frank or myself (not sure who) accidentally threw away the addressed and stamped envelopes filled with the cards. :(
So just know that we love you all, and were and are thinking of you this holiday season even though you didn't get our cards.
<3 us.

It's TRUE!

2010-12-17T16:31:00.000-08:00

"This church is true. It will weather every storm that beats against it. It will outlast every critic who rises to mock it. It was established by God the Eternal Father for the blessing of His sons and daughters of all generations. It carries the name of Him who st...ands as its head, even the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. It is governed and moves by the power of the priesthood. It sends forth to the world another witness of the divinity of the Lord. Be faithful my friends. Be true. Be loyal to the great things of God which have been revealed in this dispensation. " ~pRESIDENT Hinkley

A little seperation anxiety...

2010-12-13T18:23:00.000-08:00

Yep, thats right we are starting to suffer from a little bit of seperation anxiety, but ironically when I say "we" I mean "me"! Frank's annual work christmas party was this past Saturday evening and for weeks we had been trying to figure out who would be best suited to stay with Lilley for several hours while we were away... unfortunately, more for us then for her, this was the first time we've left her with anyone for more then like an hour. And if you know either of us very well, then you've heard us make mention of the individuals that we really didn't feel comfortable leaving her with. Well, we figured after some deep contemplation that we better let Franks parents spend some time with her epsecially since they don't make too mauch of an effort to come see her.
*on a side note, it's kind of our thought that the grandparents should make most of the effort to see the grandchildren instead of the parents always having to take the grandchildren to see the grandparents... does anyone else agree? "cuz my mother in law seems to think that we should be the ones always going to visit her. Thats mainly Franks frustration-not mine, but I do have to agree with him.

Just before leaving:

Anyways, long story short, it came time to leave and my mother-in-law STILL WASN'T THERE... SHE WAS 45 MINUTES LATE!! (how rude) she knew we were on a time schedule and had to be somewhere by the time she FINALLY arrived. So i hurried her through the routine with Lilley... how much to feed her, what to feed her(she likes to do her own thing apparently-from my sis in law) what NOT to do in big bold letters, how to rock her, how to lay her in her crib, etc, etc, etc... she probably was annpyed with me after telling her, but WHO CARES, it's MY KID she was watching so I was entitled to tell her as much as I needed. Then it came time to say goodbye. WE kissed her on the head and hurried down the stairs and out our front door and didn't look back. SAD MOMENT. WE got in the car and had a nice conversation about who knows what for about 5 minutes and then Frank looked at me and said "I miss Lilley, should we just go home"? It took me a minute to respond, but FINALLY i uttered... "NO."
WE made it to the party enjoyed ourself for a little while, then Frank called to check in on her and she was peaceful as could be. He could hear her babbling and squawking with excitement in the background so I guess he felt better.
The rest of the night was okay, the party was as fun this year, I think 'cuz we both missed the baby, and also because there were some friends of ours who also work for the company who were extrmely inappropriate due to large amounts of alcohol consumption which was TOTALLY TRASHY AND WITHOUT CLASS. So we just wanted the night to hurry and be over so we could go home to baby girl.
In the end we all survived, she did extraordinarily well (I do always hand her off to other people so she's okay with strangers) and we too did much better then thought. Frank thought I'd for sure cry, and I thought he'd shed a tear or two but nope, WE DID IT! and this is what we came home to...HEAVEN.

Earlier in the day, we were busy doing a few things, here's what we were up to...

Made a trip to the NORTH POLE (aka the Dowdens) to meet Santa... was a HUGE SUCCESS! She loved the beard!

Tried out some green beans for lunch:

"I don't know mom"

"mmmmm"

AND FINALLY, A NAP WITH DADDY AND BUDDY.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

2010-12-09T19:14:00.000-08:00

It's a little early, but what the heck... Happy Holidays everyone! We wish you the merriest of Christmas's and the happiest coming year!

All our love,
Frank, Sabrina, Lilley and Buddy too.

6 MONTHS IN 1 WEEK!

2010-12-07T12:10:00.000-08:00

OMG!!!!! I cannot believe Lilley girl is 6 months old! Well, technically she will be next week. Time is just FLYING by, and I want it to stop and just stand still. This girl is toooooooo much fun. Her personality has really come out over the past few weeks and she keeps her daddy and myself giggling and melting over her each and every day. We were blessed with such a great baby, I'm sure every parent says that, so we'll just join in. She is so happy, laughs and smiles all day long, babbles and screaches like she's a big kid and eats like a champ.

At 6 months, she:

LOVES LOVES LOVES LOVES LOVES to be held... (mom and dad love it t00)

loves to learn- she is constantly watching us like a little hawk and very intently no matter what we're doing.

loves baby einstein, would probably watch all of the videos all day long if I'd let her.

LOVES to stand up and can hold herself up when leaned on something. Likes to sit up on her own, but only for a few seconds, then she topples over. She can totally do it, I think she just gets a little distracted. :)

LOVES Buddy our dog, and my moms dogs too. She screatches at them any time she sees them.

LOVES the outdoors... she babbles the whole time we are outside.
Shes really enjoying her new stroller that we cruise in a few mornings a week on the way to the park.

Shes a fabulous shopper- mom loves that about her. We go on dates to the mall and other stores all the time and lilley loves to help me pick things out and pull them off the shelf or rack.

Shes OBSESSED with my cell phone

Likes tummy time now, and thoroughly enjoys the car... however, i think she prefers her dads car over mine, his back window is at her level so she can actually see whats going on. :)

hmmm what else? oh! SHE'S A PIGGY! but still only weighs 14.5lbs which is just over double her birthweight. She nurses 6 times a day and eats fruit for breakfast and veggies for dinner.

We just adore her and each and every day she does something new that reminds us she's growing so quickly so we have to make sure we revel in these early months because they go by in the blink of an eye!

Lilley- we love you. TRULY. MADLY. DEEPLY.

Up, Up, and AWAY!!!

2010-11-16T22:09:00.000-08:00

It's a rare thing to have a full UNINTERRUPTED day home with Frank. There are either phones ringing, computers on, places to be, things to be fixed, hobbies to play with, time alone in his garage (aka man cave) chores to do, etc... etc...
but this particular day, (after spending the previous one at the hospital with the rest of the fam) we had no other distractions so we just devoted the day to "family time" and it was probably one of the best days ever! Towars the late afternoon we took Lilley to the park in our neighborhood and decided she was ready to try out the swing... As you can see by the expression on her face, IT WAS A HIT! She smiled and laughed pretty much the entire time. I guess it was to be expected though, she adores her swing at home, has since the minute we first put her in it, and she likes the highest setting. She laughed everytime i'd push her and say "up, up, and away." We took turns pushing her while the other played with buddy. We still try to include him in as much as possible so he doesn't feel left out. Here are just a few shots from her first swing experience.

Then after 45 minutes or so on the swing, nap time crept up on us, and the little one began to melt down as we call it in our house... she was done, and ready for bed. After about 6 minutes with daddy, she was passed out in the stroller for the walk home.

Beautiful Evan.

2010-11-14T22:48:00.000-08:00

My heart is so full of emotions right now, mostly happy, but a tiny part is aching just a little... you see, yesterday morning at 4:59am (according to the alarm clock) Franks phone rang and immediately, we both knew something was wrong. It was sort of a "middle of the night" call, you know, the ones you dread and make your heart sink a little in your chest.
Well, on the other end of the line was Franks baby sister, who was 7 months, i think almost to the day, pregnant with a little boy... i didn't hear all of the conversation, but from what i gathered after the first few seconds, and the tone in Franks voice, i knew that heart sinking feeling was true and something was wrong, and i knew it had to do with her pregnancy. For a day or so before that we had noticed on her facebook that she had been saying that she was experiencing some head aches and that they weren't getting much better. Well, long story short, she ended up driving herself to the hospital in the early morning...
Let me quickly explain why she drove herself... her husband is a pilot and had just left a few days before for some flight training in Dallas, Tx. and so therefore she was home with just their little doggie BANDIT.
Anyway, she had been at the hospital a couple hours and they discovered that she had developed PREECLAMPSIA~which is the development of high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy. She was 30 weeks along.
The only solution was to deliver the baby. That is potentially a very serious condition if it gets to the point where she was. Your body can swell pretty bad and blood pressure can go over 200. In some casas, like our sister, your body can become allergic to your placenta. It's a very scary thing.
After Frank hung up the phone, we both got this sick feeling. We layed in bed for a few minutes in silence, i didn't ask what he was thinking, but i know he was praying to HEAVENLY FATHER that both his sister and the baby make it through this. I layed there thinking, and this is just being honest. HOW AWFUL SHE MUST FEEL. HOW ALONE. HOW SCARED. NO HUSBAND THERE TO HOLD HER HAND AND CALM HER. NO MOM AND DAD THERE TO EASE HER PAIN. NO BROTHER OR SISTERS WITH HER TO ASSURE HER EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE OKAY. JUST ALONE, IN A COLD STERILE UNFAMILIAR PLACE, WITH AN UNBORN CHILD WHOSE LIFE IS IN QUESTION, AND HER OWN LIFE PROBABLY FOR THAT MATTER. I wanted to hurry and get there. We had an hour drive, she was at HOAG HOSPITAL IN NEWPORT BEACH. I don't know why I wanted to hurry and get there so bad, it's not like I could do anything for her, i knew we wouldn't even be able to see her, I guess I just wanted to be there so she could know that I LOVED HER AND SUPPORTED HER AND THAT UNBORN BABY. she's family, and thats what family does right? Well, wish as I might, my wish to hurry and get there didn't work out as well as planned... as Franks sisters know, he's kind of slow moving and notoriously late to just about EVERYTHING. except work! thank goodness. he was even late to our own wedding!!!!! hahaha. anyways, as much as i could try to blame it on frank, it wasn't his fault that we got a later start, we now have a baby, and lots of baby things to bring, and ironically, a car that all of a sudden started having transmission problems the day before. So we had to scramble to get a few things taken care of before headin out... We knew she would be having her surgery at 7:30 am and it was just before that time that we actually got on the road, so the car ride up was somewhat reminiscent of our quiet moments in bed just a little while before. Again, i'm sure Frank was in deep thought and fervent prayer.
Before we left the house Frank and I were talking about PRIESTHOOD BLESSINGS and how he should give her one and the baby too. For those who don't know, a PRIESTHOOD BLESSING, (IN THIS CASE) IS A BLESSING WHERE A MAN OR PREFERABLY TWO MEN WHO HAVE BEEN ORDAINED TO DO SO ANOINT THE SICK OR AFFLICTEDS HEAD WITH CONSECRATED OIL AND THEN FOLLOWING A FEW SPECIAL WORDS, GIVE A BLESSING AND SEAL IT UPON THE HEAD OF THE SICK OR AFFLICTED IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST. (thats the cliff notes version, for questions or more info on the matter, please refer to (www.LDS.ORG)
We talked about how he could share his humble testimony of the power of FAITH IN THE LORD AND IN THESE SPECIAL BLESSINGS.
As we were driving to the hospital, most of the time it was quiet in the car except for a few ROars from Lilley telling us she was there. But then as we got closer we started talking about blessings again, and how in these kinds of situations people probably start out wanting a blessing to immediately fix the problem, but in reality how sometimes, these prayerful blessings seem to go unheard, and the situation might even continue to get worse. We were talking about how important it is to remember that God ALWAYS HEARS AND ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS, but that it might not be in the way we had hoped or on the time frame we had hoped for either. We weren't trying to think negatively about our own sisters situation, I think we were both just trying to be realistic and help one another to remember that even in our darkest hours, when all hope might seem to be lost, The Lord has promised us that "HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US, BUT THAT HE WILL COMFORT US." These are the times when it is most appropriate to "BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD."
In the Church, we as members believe in the use of modern medicine and all of the scientific knowledge and techniques available to us coupled with a PRIESTHOOD BLESSING AND OF COURSE, MOST IMPORTANTLY, OUR FAITH. anyways, back to the story, so we finally arrive at the hospital and search on a couple floors for our sister and nephew, not knowing how the surgery went or anything, and we FINALLY run in to Franks mom and she tells us no surgery yet, that our sister is tired, but hangin on and that they are desperately trying to wait for her husband to get there before they do the c-section and get the baby out.
After a couple hours and most of the family and extended family in the waiting room, we see our brother in law, fresh off a plane at John Wayne Airport (10 minutes away) run down the hallway... he didn't see any of us, and in to labor and delivery, i'm telling you, that whole situation could have been straight out of a movie. He missed them take the baby out by just a couple minutes, but was finally able to take his rightful place next to his wife and hold her hand through the rest of the day, and now, indefinitely as they take it one day at a time.

Sweet baby EVAN DANIEL VANDER VELDE was born (around) 11:42 am Saturday November 13 2010. He WEIGHS approx 3lbs 1oz and 16 1/4 in.
My mother in law was in the operating room with Alexis as they brought baby Evan in to the world and as soon as she could, she came out to share the news that Alexis is doing much better and that baby EVAN is here and ALIVE and was BREATHING AND EVEN CRYING!!!! EVERYBODY was so relieved, i swear it was like the weight of the world had been lifted from each of our shoulders and all of us shed some tears! :) happy tears! then through out the day each of us made our way in to see Alexis, and much to at least my surprise, when i went in her room, she was so calm, so peaceful, so strong, so courageous, SO BEAUTIFUL. she only briefly saw her baby as they wheeled him away to the NICU, BUT SHE TOLD ME HOW BEAUTIFUL HE WAS, AND WHAT BIG FEET HE HAD AND THAT SHE FELT SO PEACEFUL ABOUT ALL OF THIS.
What a truly incredible woman she is, so MUCH faith and optimism at such a trying time. Only the grandparents saw baby Evan in the NICU, so the rest of us are eager to meet this special little boy. We know that tiny as he may be, he's a FIGHTER, he wants to be here, and he knows he is loved. Yesterday, for a Few moments, I was able to sit alone with my brother in law in the waiting room just after he had been with the baby and he told me how when he spoke to Evan he could see his tiny little eyelids opening in response to his voice. Awgh, my heart was just bursting, i had to REALLY fight back the tears, i even did the biting the lower lip thing. I was so happy for him. Then, just tonight Frank and i got a text from Alexis saying "got to hold Evan for the first time for about 2 hours, it was awesome, his vitals went up and he was totally content!" After Frank walked away, the tears started flowing...
Frank never was able to give either of them the blessings he desperately wanted to, mostly due to the fact that there was so many people in and out of alexis' room and that the baby was taken so quickly up to the NICU and for a while no one was able to see him. But we trust in the LORD that they are in his care now, and he has already bestowed the blessings upon them that Frank would have done. We are truly grateful for that knowledge, and I am so happy for her, and for them. This all happened so quickly and extremely unexpectedly, and only continues to get better.
As of now little Evan Almighty has a 90% survival rate and is doing well. I pray from the very bottom of my heart that he continues to progress each day and grow bigger and stronger so that he can go home and continue his beautiful and blessed life outside the walls of a hospital! Their family is in need of all of our prayers, that little boy is in need of all of our prayers. each of us is in need of each others prayers, so tonight, as you bow your head to pray, ask for a special blessing for those who stand in need of a blessing or a miracle. The Lord hears and answers our prayers, maybe not when and how we'd always like him to, but he does, and my nephew baby Evan is proof of that. may he accomplish all that he has been sent here to accomplish in his life is my humble prayer.
i love you baby Evan.

my daily gem

2010-11-04T23:39:00.001-07:00

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Each morning I wake up to this beautiful little gem smiling and cooing away.

She is kicking her feet with excitement and flailing her tiny little arms as I walk down the hall way in to her bedroom (carrying the monitor of course, that's how i know) and as I take my last step towards her, before she sees me, she lets out this most adorable squeal as if she knows i'm right there to whisk her out of her bed and it to my arms for our morning snuggle. There really isn't much else that could be a more perfect start to my near perfect days... except of course when Frank gets to sleep in with us and experience these daily gems himself. I know every parent loves their child, I just don't ever think i thought let alone comprehended the depth of that love until miss Lilley arrived in our world. Best thing that ever happened to Frank and I! :)
It's very rare as you other moms know to have pictures with your babies and you, so the other day we were sitting on the couch playing and I decided to be a bit cheesy and take some of lilley and myself with my free hand...

corny as it may be, it's documented proof that at this time in lilley's little world, I am just about the best thing ever to her and that melts my heart time and time again. haha here are a few shots of our play date on the couch, observing the outdoors from our front porch and our play date/ photo shoot today at the park...

just slightly obsessed with these tini feet and the little slippers that fit oh-so-perfectly!

there you have it friends, simply stated, she is my daily gem. and I heart her for it. just wish her daddy could experience all that is beautiful and right and good and perfect with our world through her big greenish eyes as much as I get to.
the end~

pretty in pink!

2010-11-04T10:06:00.001-07:00

Since baby Lilley was too little to trick or treat this year, we didn't even really want to dress her up, but then one day I was browsing the aisles of Target, and these adorable mini wings jumped right off the shelf and in to my cart so I knew I had to buy not really knowing if they'd get used for another year or two til she's big enough to play dress up, but then I got home and the ballet slippers were out on her dresser, so alas, my atempt at making a baby fairy costume was born! I was going to go all out and decorate a onesie too, but i just decided to make due with what I had, with the exception of making her tutu. The pictures don't really do justice to how adorable she actually looked. even though we didn't trick or treat, we did make it to see some family and friends. All and all halloween was a nice mellow evening.

"sooo big"

2010-10-26T08:54:00.000-07:00

Well...
the little one has hit 4 and a half months of age already and with each day she is growing at an incresingly rapid rate of speed. Just in the last week she has mastered;

*roaring/growling at anyone or thing in sight

*succesfully reaching for and holding on to rattles, cell phones, spoons, bowls, just about anything she can get her little fingers on

*squealing in shear delight at first sight of frank or I in the morning or after a nap, when lifted in the air to 'fly" as frank calls it, bouncing on my knee or if she really seems to enjoy something i'd said to her in the last few seconds. The same goes for laughing out loud.

*She has learned to roll over on one side, she doesn't have a preference it's just one or the other. :)

*loves loves loves rice cereal and this week we're going to start playing with fruits and veggies!
(yes don't freak out poeple, we got the go ahead from the pediatrician)!

*weighs in at 12lbs 2 oz and is 23.6 in long. (puts her in the 20th percentile for height and the 16 percentile for weight). she's bound to be short, just like her mama!

*naps only twice a day for 45 minutes down to the second like clock work and now wakes up once a night instead of all the way through but sleeps 7 hours at a time.

*Snuggles and snuggles and snuggles mom and dad.

Overall she's perfectly healthy and happy and growing "sooooo big" everyday!

Busy being a mom!

2010-10-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

So we've moved and are slowly settling in, and have yet to set the internet up...which has been fine with me. I access the things I need to just fine from franks I phone and all of my "extra free time" has left me with so many more fabulous moments to just be busy bein a mom. I love it . We have the best time together, we laugh and play, and sing and dance the day away. So farewell for a little while my friends because I'm just too busy being a mom to do anything other then revel in this most precious of all gifts...MOTHERHOOD!

To whom it may concern

2010-10-08T22:44:00.000-07:00

we've moved. We're busy unpacking and settling in. No Internet except the iphone,so it might be a while before we get in touch!
<3 us.

play time!

2010-09-28T09:09:00.000-07:00

we just love to play with this sweet little girl any chance we get... even if she is a little grumpy still fom teething! :)

TEETHING SUCKS!!!

2010-09-27T10:19:00.000-07:00

my sweet even tempered smiley happy baby is quickly becoming a little crab cake, and I don't like it! Poor baby is REALLY, AND I MEAN REALLY starting to teethe. She's fussy most of the day (several minute long crying bouts, pick her up, calm her down, put her down and it all starts over again), barely sleeps, could fill buckets with all that drool, puts just about everything in her mouth and her bite is extremely strong (trust me, i know all too well) and she's just not herself.
I'm starting to regret waiting til almost a month old to give her a pacifier, because even though everything else goes in her mouth, that is the one thing she won't take!
I feel so bad for her, i give her cold spoons and teething rings, but they only help for so long... any one have any other suggestions? :) i will gladly and willingly try any and all to help the poor girl out!

A little bit bitter. A little bit sweet.

2010-09-26T23:00:00.000-07:00

I'm feeling just a little bit bitter and just a little bit sweet. We're moving in a few days... we're moving less then a mile away from where we live now to a bigger and better home in every sense of the literal meaning, but I'm not quite sure if anything will ever be better then this place and this time in our lives. We've moved a total of 8 times in 20 months of marriage but this little home we've built together, this beautiful place is full of so many great memories, so much love and so much joy. Everyone is asleep, my adorable husband, my beautiful baby, and my loving buddy dog and I'm filling the boxes and one by one putting away the memories of our first "real" home as husband and wife, and packing the memories of the day we brought Lilley home from the hospital. My heart is hurting slightly simply because I know we'll never experience this time and this special place again.
It's not that I'm not excited to move, because I am, so much more space and new adventures, a new ward, new friends, new life experiences... but this is my home, my sacred space where our lives truly began together and went from a family of two (plus buddy) to a family of three (plus buddy)!
Dear home,
You sure have been good to us, we'll never forget the time we shared here with you. I hope we'll always remember how special you were and reflect often on the lives we began with you and your help! I will always love you... <3!!

my little worker bee...

2010-09-16T23:20:00.001-07:00

This man is the hardest working man I know, and have ever met in my entire life. He is always the first one to offer a hand. He goes above and beyond what is asked and never settles for anything less than perfection. I used to think that was annoying, being married to someone as anal as Frank can at times be trying. :) Fortunately for me though, I have learned to appreciate his standards for task completion and thoroughly enjoy the opportunities we have to work on projects together because I know I loved to see his amazing mind at work. At times I get a little down when people call him to do work for them because i takes away from the time we have to spend as a family, but then i think how grateful I am that he cares for Lilley buddy and I enough to give up his free time to earn some extra money for emergencies, and necessities and provide us with a great life. I am so proud of him, and all that he has accomplished over the past year. He's in an indusrty that was huge terribly hard by our nations recession, yet he found a way to perservere and keep looking for a better job, and now he has that better job. Each month with them brings with it an added level of respect and appreciation for his efforts and inturn provides us with the ability for me to stay home with our little one. It's thanks to Frank that we have that "luxury" and to him i am eternally grateful. I love my little worker bee with all my heart!

Lost in these moments...

2010-09-16T21:05:00.000-07:00

She is divine, HEAVENS' most precious gift and she has us both in COMPLETE awe.

2 1/2 months!!!!

2010-08-31T14:27:00.001-07:00

WARNING!! i JUST REALIZED SHE'S NAKED ON TOP IN ALL OF THESE PICTURES... SHE HAD JUST SPIT UP ALL OVER HER SHIRT. DON'T JUDGE ME, HER EXPRESSIONS WERE TOO FUNNY TO PASS UP! :)ANYWAYS, I cannot believe my little one is already 10 weeks and 2 days old?! It's amazing how quickly they grow. Everyone says that, but until you experience your own child every day, it doesn't seem like it! Today we were just playing at home and I was able to capture a few of her "every day" expressions. This kid already has sooo much personality, and we just can't get enough of her! Hope you can enjoy the many faces of Lilley girl as much as we do. She is such a sweet little girl!

At Last...

2010-08-15T22:56:00.000-07:00

better late then NEVER i guess... :) here is the official announcement. I made all of them, we decided we were only going to send them to family since they just get thrown away anyway. It's not as cute as the final product, but atleast you get the idea.

Blessings and more

2010-08-12T23:02:00.000-07:00

Well the end of July and beginnig of August was busy for us, we had some family in town visiting, all the Velasquez siblings and kids got together with cousins for a family picture, we blessed little miss Lilley the next day,(Frank gave her the most Beautful blessing) it was so AWESOME to have all of our family there and extended "mormon" family as well. Such awesome men stood around my little girl, truly a gift! Later, Frank had some free time so we introduced Lilley to the pool and man was it fun, she cried when she had to get out, so we put her in the spa and after we took her out she was asleep within seconds. :) thats my girl!! ha ha, anyways, here are a few of the most recent pictures...

On our way to church:

A few shots of her dress:

Hangin out with grandpa (my dad)

Mama and Lilley girl

and then, there were three

nice and relaxed

good night world!

watching baby einstein while mom cleans the house

Oh the babies...

2010-07-26T12:48:00.000-07:00

Frank and his older sister are really close... (well he's close with both of his sisters) but they are a little over a year apart and have shared much of their life together, so when we found out we were pregnant we were so excited to share the news with her and her husband because they had just shared with the family that they were expecting their second child. We were due just about a week and a half apart, and just about two weeks after "baby Jake" was born, we welcomed "baby Lilley." We can't wait for the two of them to grow up and share their life and experiences together just like their parents did. :) here are a few pictures of the two of them... (and also aunt Kris, jake and sophias mommy and aunt alexis)

a MONTH old already!

2010-07-19T18:21:00.000-07:00

here are just a few pictures from our afternoon outside on baby Lilley's one month birthday...

I can't believe our little one is already a month old! So much about her has already changed, and is continuing to change each day. It's amazing the difference in a baby a few days old and a baby at 4 weeks. She's got a few new tricks she's learned and is learning yet...

* FIRST AND FOREMOST: SLEEPS THROUGH THE NIGHT!! (since the beginning) occasionally waking for one early morning snack about 5:30.

* rolls over to either side in her sleep.

* mastered the art of nursing within the first few days of life.

* follows mom and dad with her eyes when they are walking around near her.

* LOVES LOVES LOVES to be held and snuggled.

* adores her swing... DESPISES CAR SEAT AND BOUNCER.

* starting to do push ups during tummy time and hold her weight. (not for very long though).

* she doesn't like to be alone... it's strange, since her first day of life she would cry if you walked out of her range of smell... she can sense when shes alone or something and cries until she hears you even when shes asleep... as soon as she hears a voice or sees you when awake, she's fine.

soooooo in love!

2010-07-12T15:18:00.001-07:00

31 years and counting!

2010-07-08T20:54:00.000-07:00

Happy Happy Birthday to my WONDERFUL husband. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, and am so happy you chose to come to earth this day. Our little girl and I are so happy to have you in our lives and look forward to an eternity of happiness to share with you.

We celebrated last weekend a litte with the Velasquez family, and today we had our celebration with us three, and the BIG celebration is coming this weekend...

HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! XOXO

the many faces of a newborn...

2010-07-07T23:43:00.000-07:00

Born in the USA

2010-07-07T19:33:00.000-07:00

It was a fabulous 4th of July for us, unfortunately we weren't able to follow through with our plans for the day due to a fussy little baby (turns out she had a bad rash, promise i'm not a horrible mother, just an allergic reaction)...
So, we improvised and had a great day. Usually we spend our holiday at the beach with tons of family and friends, but this year we just hung at home all day, caught up on some sleep and movies and then took little Lilley girl to the sports park here for some great fireworks. We got there really late, so we wanted to get as close to the exit as possible so that we weren't caught up in all the chaos after, so we sat as close to the street as possible. Turns out we had the best seat, 'cuz the fireworks were right over us, and the noise was minimal for baby girl. She did so good, slept through the first few minutes of the fireworks... opened her eyes wide to watch for a minute... :) then right back to sleep as if nothing was going on! We seriously have the best baby. Huh... it was a lot of fun, and nice to snuggle up with my sweet hubby and watch the show.

MY HEAVEN.

2010-06-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

As most of you know by now we welcomed our sweet baby LILLEY GRACE VELASQUEZ in to our lives on June 21st 2010. She was born at 3:28 pm, weighing in at 7lbs 4oz and 20 in. in length. Truly, the most beautiful experience of my life. It topped our beautiful sealing even. Such a sacred and blessed event, and hopefully as I write about it here I don't turn in to a blubbering baby. :)

It all started early morning on the 19th of June. Started having real strong contractions around 2 in the morning they went on for hours and grew increasingly more intense and began coming closer together. After about 4 hours and trying to wake a deep sleeping husband we finally headed off to the hospital. Long story short, we got there, they hooked me up to the monitors, and I wasn't dialated enough to be admitted so begrudgingly we headed home. I was grumpy, especialy since I was still having contractions and they were paiful. Then as the day progressed they pretty much seemed to go away. We had a big family BBQ planned for the afternoon so we went about the afternoon as planned and NOTHING! It was as if nothing ever happened inside my stomach that morning. Then as the evening progressed, I began to progress as well... contractions came back, this time stronger, but not as close together and that carried on all through the night and in to the next day which was Father's Day. I desperatley wanted the baby to come on Father's Day because my dad was here in town, but more importantly, because I knew how excited and anxious Frank was for the baby to come and I just thought it would be the most special day for him. (Plus I bought a card and present for a "first time" dad thinking the baby would for sure be here by now). Anyway, by dinner time on Sunday evening I was having full blown contractions, enough so that I couldn't eat my dinner, I had to SSSSQQQUEEZEE Frank's hand with each one and then, alas, for 5 minutes, I was fine... until the next one came. :) By about midnight, I think Frank knew he wouldn't be going to work the next day because he was wide awake on the couch holding my hand through each one and talking me through it. We tried to sleep for a while so he made me a bed on the couch and pulled our oversized chair up next to it and slept in the chair so he didn't have to leave my side. The sleeping only lasted about 10 minutes. we tried to wait it out as long as we could because we didn't want to be sent home AGAIN for not being ready, but this time was different and we knew it... off to the hospital we went at 3:45am they checked me and right away admitted me and stuck me with my best friend the EPIDURAL! awesome, highly receommend it!
After about 9 and a half hours of virtually no pain until the last few pushes out came this BEAUTIFUL DARK HAIRED PERFECT LITTLE CREATION. Leading up to that, though not entirely conscious, drained from exhaustion and two sleepless nights prior i fell in love with my husband all over again. HE WAS PERFECT!! We weren't planning on him being such and intrugal part of lilley's birth, but the nurse put him to work holding my leg and he made his way in to my head and calmed me down and talked me through and hour of hard pushing, and then just as the baby was making her way out, the flood gates opened and tears flowed from his face in such a special way. Everything about his countenance changed in that instant and I swear it was as if the veil between here and HEAVEN opened just for him. The expression on his face is one I will NEVER forget... truly sacred.
Then with one last push out came Lilley!! i let out a good yell I guess, and just in the same minute she looked at me and yelled back... everyone in the room started laughing. I don't remember, i could barely keep my eyes open, but each of the nurses said it was hilarious.
Then came the first night, the one and only time Frank and I have ever spent a night apart since we've been married. The baby and I were exhausted so we slept pretty much the entire night, but in the moments before falling asleep we layed in the hospital bed and jsut stared at each other... so special.
Then the next day first thing in the morning Frank came back sat by my side the whole day and jumped right in to daddy mode and has been going ever since. The first week he stayed home from work and took care of everythig... gave baths, changed every diaper, lotioned her dry skin, carried and dressed her each day, drove me to the pediatrician, woke up to help feed, helped feed (by helping me get in to position or holding the baby. rocking the baby, everything he could do, he did. It's so amazing to see him with our baby girl, our lives are so full, and I know, the arrival of our sweet baby has deepened our love for one another tremndously, and brought even more of Heaven in to our home and to our lives. We love our little girl so much, she is such a joy, and we can't wait to introduce her to the world!

PS, Buddy the dog is still like our other child and he has transitioned perfectly to our new addition. He loves to snuggle up near her but still keep a safe distance. you can tell there is no jealousy!!! we are so blessed! :)

PICTURES WILL BE POSTED SOON!!!!

lots of special celebrations!

2010-06-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

So, as my last post stated, we've been pretty busy these last several weeks with weddings, babies, and even a funeral. We've has the pleasure to be surrounded by so many of our loved ones, and it has been so special for Frank and I... we're down to the last few days before our abby girl gets here, so it's been fun to celebrate in all of life's special moments together in anticipation of our BIGGEST life changing moment thus far. Here are a few highlights of all of the celebrations we've been a part of.

(adorable cake courtesy of my friend Erica)

(my mother in law in front of most of her yummy creations!)

(the velasquez women sis in law and my mom)

(lots of goodies)

then a surprise shower with the gals from work;

there was one more FABULOUS shower given for me, but unfortunately i don't have the pics for it...

next was a funeral for my old ice skating choreographer... if you didn't know, i used to ice skate. 12 hard years of my life were given to my skating so when the sad news came that my former coach had passed from a horrible battle with cancer, all of my old skating team came together from all over the country to celebrate. here we are all grown up. Some married, some in grad school, some jsut starting in college, and some even still in high school but this group is forever bound by all the time we spent during our childhood traveling and competing all over the world.

then we were off to another wedding, a good friend of mine was sealed for timeand all eternity to his beautiful bride in the San Diego Temple and the day was great... it ended with a sort of reunion with lots of friends and some adopted family. we even found our other preggo friends and captured a few shots with the mommies and daddies to be! So much fun!

First comes LOVE, then comes MARRIAGE, then comes the BABY IN THE BABY CARRIAGE!

2010-06-02T16:55:00.001-07:00

WOW!! This is the year for engagements, weddings, and babies!! I was just counting up all the announcements, wedding invites, and baby shower invites and announcements we've received so far this year and are expecting rather soon and it's insane!!

Here is the tally so far:

Engagement Announcements: 4

Wedding Announcements: 8

Bridal Shower invites: 2

Baby Shower invites: 3

Baby Announcements: 4

that is just before June started... in the next month we will attend two weddings, 1 shower and welcome a nephew and our baby girl!!

yay for families! they truly are FOREVER!!! :) XO

Does this mean i'm officially a "grown-up" ?

2010-05-13T18:06:00.000-07:00

So, last week was my last week at work, atleast for now, we're not sure yet if i'm going to go back a couple days a week after Lilley comes, but for the moment, i'm home and obsessed with afternoon TV. This is odd for me 'cuz i don't even really like Tv, let a lone watch shows everyday! but from 2-5 everyday, you can find me either in bed or on the couch G-L-U-E-D to:

I've been able to learn some awesome new crafts to work on while i'm waitin for the baby, caught up on some current events and oprah's pledge to stop texting while driving, and some celebrity gossip with ellen! I remember when i was little and my mom had her "afternoon" shows and all of a sudden i flashed forward to my little girl thinking i was so weird 'cuz i watched afternoon talk shows almost religiously! yikes! :)

a sneek peak...

2010-04-29T00:22:00.001-07:00

So, a fabulous friend and adopted "big sister" of mine organized a little maternity shoot for me the other day, and it was fun... slightly weird to actually see myself pregnant other then by looking in the mirror though. Its a totally different me to get used to, but soon enough the little one will be here and i'll be back to my normal self. :)
NOT that i'm complaining though, i haven't gained that much weight, somewhere around 25 lbs at 34 plus weeks. It's mainly the discomfort of this stage of pregnancy that is startin to get to me. I don't sleep, my stomach is rock hard, can't bend much, and startin to get those "braxton hicks" contractions. But i am happy to endure 'cuz all this means is that my little girl is gettin closer and closer to makin her GRAND entrance in to this world and in to our lives! Frank and I can't wait! We love her soooo much already! :)

Just a few updates... :)

2010-04-21T14:24:00.001-07:00

First of all, this past Sunday, my adorable husband and I celebrated our 2ND FIRST Anniversary!!!! not too many peeps can say that huh? :) April 18th is our Sealing anniversary, just three short months after our first anniversary. Unfortunately, I think i had a slight case of food poisening 'cuz i spent the whole day passed out on the couch. :( Frank was sure to take advantage of my sleeping and caught up on some much needed sleep as well! It was, in it's own way, a perfect way to spend our special day together. I could write so much about my husband, but this time i reserved those words for him on a homemade card which seemed to be a huge hit!!

I have also been working on some new found hobbies lately, including tending to my own "little garden", i've always wanted one, so Frank and I decided I would start off small and see how it goes before I ever think about a regular size one in a yard... here is a shot of how it looks two weeks in! :)

and speaking of growing, everyone i know keeps asking for a shot of my belly... i will have you know i hate this picture, and think it highly inappropriate, however, it's all i have, so i apologize for the lack of clothing in advance! this was at 32 weeks.

umm, what else? oh, i dyed my hair...

and been feelin crafty lately, so i've started sewing some things (will post pics later) adding embellishments to onesies, painting nursery decorations, etc... heres a couple onesies...

thats about it for now!!

Spring is in the air... and I LOVE IT!!!!

2010-04-15T23:37:00.000-07:00

here is how we've been enjoyin it...

ONLY IN CALIFORNIA

2010-04-15T23:02:00.000-07:00

Only in southern california I should say, can you go from this:

to this:

and then here in-between!

Frank and I LOVE to be outdoors, and fortunately, we've had the opportunity to enjoy three seasons within about a weeks time. We were fortunate enough to get away to the mountains, and then later in the week take a trip to a beautiful and somewhat secluded beach in Dana Point, and then venture to our own little slice of heaven just out our door at the lake near our house. :) such a beautiful place in which we live! We don't mind hoppin in the car and ending up at the mountains or the beach after just about an hours drive what-so-ever!!!
here are a few more pics from our ventures out and about (sorry, there is no real good "belly pictures")

birthday fun and sunday sun!

2010-03-15T17:33:00.000-07:00

this past week has been such a beautiful week, the weather here in so cal has been near perfect and although spring is still five days away, it sure feels like its here!! So needless to say we took FULL advantage of living lake-side and took a full strolls around the lake with buddy and baby belly. I also celebrated my 24th birthday this past week and it was such a fun day. My sweet husband spent the day pamering me including a beautiful breakfast, and romantic dinner followed by our friends and family coming over for some yummy cake and ice cream!

oops, i meant to post this instead!!!

2010-03-04T23:06:00.000-08:00

so i posted two posts accidentally that were drafts... not sure AT ALL how that happened oh well!!!

anyways, some of you have already commented on the facebook link, but i thought i'd try it out here also.

anyone care to share their favorite most functional baby gifts? I E... the Diaper genie, does it really work and do you really like it? etc...

also, the lame stuff, the things you wouldn't register for again!! i'd LOOOOOVE your comments!!

worth mentioning again!!! :)

2010-03-04T22:46:00.001-08:00

OBSESSION!!!!!!!!!

2010-02-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

OK, i'll admit it, I am obsessed with a particular brand of baby diaper bags. I stalk them at Nordstrom, I stalk them on their website, I even stalk them when they walk in on the moms at the baby store I work at.

I FINALLY have Frank convinced we should splurge on one, we've been shopping around for them for several months. Sadly however, I think he has me convinced that I don't need the "higher end" version of the bag which is a chenille fabric and dry clean only. :(

While I am wishing away for this bag, I have come to my senses, and have opted for the glazed, wipeable fabric. It is still really cute, not the one i've dreamt of for months, but I will be more then satisfied once I have her in my posession at the end of this week!!

I am finding it rather strange that my obsession with purses has now changed to an obsession with diaper bags, but i am happy to make the switch as long as i can have arm candy as eye pleasing as this! :)

updates...

2010-02-22T13:50:00.001-08:00

well, for starters, frank and i do not have the internet at the moment so i feel so disconnected from the rest of the world. if i didn't have a cell phone i wouldn't mind, but not having the internet, ughhh... life is sometimes boring without it!! :)

umm, as for what we've been up to the last month or so...

celebrated our first anniversary
started buying a few things for the little one
adjusted to the 5 plus month of pregnancy, and thats about it!

til next time,

It's a GIRL!!!

2010-01-18T12:25:00.000-08:00

So, as of the last two doctors appointments they have confirmed we are expecting a girl! We are so excited to welcome the baby.
Just a quick update on the pregnant lady... doing well, FINALLY eating full meals and moving about well. We all were pretty darn sick over the holidays, didn't make it out of bed much for nearly two weeks, but all is well now. A belated happy new year to everyone, and be looking forward to updates soon!
all our love,
the velasquez family!

a quick peek inside our little home...

2009-12-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

so i know it's been months now, and i've been saying i'd post a few little shots of our place for those of you who've been wanting to see it... sorry it's so late but here is a few shots, including one of Buddy in his most favorite of places... (on the bed, snuggled in to me). :)

Make it STOP... PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

2009-12-14T09:26:00.000-08:00

Reader Discretion Advised!!!!... I am moving about in my house trying anything and everything I can to get my mind off of feeling like I'm going to HURL!!! I've been doing so well, no sickness for weeks now, and then all of a sudden, Saturday night brought with it this DREADFULLY AWFUL, DOESN'T WANT TO GO AWAY, feeling of needing to throw up.

So for nearly 48 hours now i've had this awful urge, but nothing has come of it. Just a crummy feeling. Then early this morning, about 6ish, I got a call from Frank that he forgot to leave me some important papers when he left for work, so he needed me to hurry to his work to hand it to me, so i got up, drove the 5 minutes there, felt ok, headed back, started feeling awful pulled into my spot at home opened the door, and then it happened, the most miserable, embarrassing moment ever... I lost it, projectile junk out my mouth as my next door neighbor is walking to her car. She had the most grossed out look on her face and unfortunately there was not a thing i could do about it. After a few unsettling minutes I felt ok enough to start heading inside... I got out of my car, walked around the nastiness to head upstairs to find something to atleast cover the nastiness with, and before I even made it past the grass to my house, there I was having a relapse of 5 minutes ago... this time it was even worse because there were more neighbors outside, walking their dogs, heading to work, going somewhere other then there. At first i was a little bugged that no one even asked if I was ok, clearly they saw me puking my guts out, (sorry for the graphic description) but then I thought about how I might react in that situation, and I'm not sure I'm a good enough person to walk even remotely close to that.

Hmm... Ironically, now that i've written how crummy I feel, I think i'm startin to feel a little better! :)

Thought for the day... and FOR LIFE!!!!!

2009-12-01T14:02:00.001-08:00

an ode to my husband...!

2009-11-30T14:18:00.000-08:00

So just about everyone I know thinks that their husband is the best husband in the world and they are constantly bragging about this or that in reference to things their husband does for them, etc... I too would like to take just a few paragraphs to "brag" about my husband. I would not feel comfortable saying he is the most wonderful husband in the world, but I would go as far as to say he is genuinely the most wonderful man I know. He is PERFECT FOR ME, and wonderful to me. He supports me in all that I do, believes in all that I am, and can be. Helps me to accomplish all that I have in me to accomlish. He provides for me in all ways imagineable, he is my rock, and aside from the Savior, he is my best and most true friend. Time has revealed in him all that I could have ever hoped to find, and we haven't even spent that much time together yet. He teaches me each day to be a little more patient (which is undoubtedly one of my BIGGEST STRUGGLES in life), a little more kind, a little more humble, more believing, more hopeful, more faithful, more kind,more giving, more compassionate, more service oriented, to have pride in myself and all that I do, to work harder, care deeper, and many more things.

Many of you who have watched our life together blossom, might have heard Frank say at to you that in the beginning, "Sabrina didn't like me at the beginning". It's kind of a joke with us, he tells people I used to hate him, but he didn't give up on me, and now here we are!
All kidding aside, I have loved this man from the beginning. Apparently I didn't show it very well, but I knew that there was something special about him. I tend not to write much about how I feel about Frank, especially not to him, because i feel it so redundant, but that is simply just an excuse, and a pretty crappy one, because all along, in many ways, both large and small, he has made sure to make me feel so special. He has made sure to make me feel loved, and adored, appreciated and admired. He does his best to only speak kindly and softly. He helps me to create the kind of home that we read about in church books, and hear about in conference addresses. I am in no way trying to say that we have it all together, and that we do things perfect, or even remotely close, but what I am saying is that, mostly because of my husband, and his example to me and to others, we are able to have a home in which the Spirit abundantly resides, and a marriage in which the basic principles and doctrines of the faith that we so deeply love are guiding truths by which we live.

A few months ago, I wrote about our own personal hell, and the struggles and adversities we had recently faced and how they nearly pulled us apart. I removed that post, not because of embarrassment, but because I felt that it took away from the strength our marriage has become to each of us. We have come so far in such a short time, after some of our experiences as of late, it feels as if we have already been married ten years, but I would say that they have been the most WONDERFUL ten imaginery years of my life! Heaven has a way giving you glimpses in to it's glorious realm, and my life and my husband are daily glimpses in to what is to come for us, of that I am certain. I am SURE we will have MANY MANY MANY more trials to endure and opposition to overcome, but there is no one else in this world that I would rather go through it with, and no one else that could be more perfect for me then my Francisco! (HE HATES TO BE CALLED FRANCISCO) :) HE HE HE.

ANYWAY, thanks blogspot for allowing me to hop on the "brag wagon" for a few minutes to declare to the world how wonderful my husband is!

And Frank, when you read this, sometime in the next few months since you never read the blog anymore, know that I LOVE YOU. Always have, Always will. FOREVER!

With a little hesitation...

2009-11-17T12:35:00.001-08:00

Hello again! Well, as previously discussed, Frank and i are looking forward to some exciting changes heading our way throughout the next few months. In a brief way, I will do my best to fill you in...
As life would have it, our plans have once again changed and the things we had set out to accomplish this coming summer are going to have to take a back seat to a new little blessing that should be arriving sometime around mid-june. (give or take a couple weeks) Yes that's right folks, Frank and I are expecting a little bebe. Word of this comes after making some plans for me to FINALLY finsih my bachelor's degree this coming summer, and try to fit in some traveling before we strted our family. Well, obviosuly, that's not going to happen now. :P

we've known for a few weeks now, and have been reluctant to inform anyone just yet of our exciting news, but then I took a trip to the doctor and they informed me that at that time I was already just about through the first trimester and that everything looked good. So we decided it was probably safe to start sharing our joy. So here I'm thinking I've made out pretty well the first ten weeks being pregnant, 'cuz I didn't even know I was pregnant! Then, today, I headed off to a different "fetal specialist" to do a special ultrasound to make sure all is well, and the ultasound specialist then informs me that my doctor had misjudged my due date by nearly a month!! Hold the phone! A month! That's HUGE in the pregnancy world!!! What the heck? Here I am thinking we're nearly in the clear for the "scary" part, all of my fears and anxieties could be laid to rest, and then BAAAAAM! she hits me with the news that I am only 8 weeks. After that sobering comment, she did go on to say that all appears well, we could hear the heart beat racing and everything seems perfect. That was great news to hear even though the IDIOT DOCTOR i had been seeing was so off. Needless to say, I'm going to be seeing someone new! I've just been worried and hopeful that we will make it through these early stages ok, and here I thought we were through it. For those of you who have babies already, you might think i'm overdoing it by worrying, but for some reason, that's all i've been doing. I do however feel much better after seeing that little life inside of me and hearing the heart. It's a beautiful thing! Frank was unable to make today, but that worked out to his benefit because when we go back to do the 12 week ultrasound we thought we were doing today, the baby will actually almost look like a baby instead of a little cashew looking thing. :)

In the mean time, with all sincerity, we are hoping that all is well and growing strong in my tummy, but we also know that Father in Heaven knows the end from the beginning and so we turn our hearts and our trust to HIM that all will go as he has planned.

OH! and just for the record... FRANK IS SOOOOOOO EXCITED TO BE A DAD, AND I am so excited to be a mom...Hopefully no one is offended by what seems to be my lack of excitement, I'm sorry if you are,It's not that we are not excited, I am just a little worried I guess. I've never been a worrier, but all that has gone out the window since the moment I found out there was a life created and growing inside of me!

It's been a while!

2009-11-14T10:54:00.000-08:00

Hello blogging world... it's been too long since we last wrote. We have been so busy these past few months with life in general, but it finally seems to be slowing down, at least for a few months anyway. So as far as updates go... Around the middle of August Frank and I both found really good jobs have been busy working, he's been working 6 days a week for a month now, the poor guy! And i went from working 3 jobs, down to one, it's certaintly not ideal, but in today's economy, I'm just grateful to be working. And last, but probably most importantly, we are FINALLY, for the first time in a nearly a year, settled in, almost all the way in our own first place in a little piece of Heaven called Harveston. It's in Temecula, and if any of you have been there, you know that it's like a movie set or something... we love it here, there is a beautiful lake/giant duck pond that the community is built around, there are tons of young families, and the best ward we have lived in yet! We are so happy here. Life is great, which I am so happy to report, because if you remember from my last post, which was short lived on the blog, you might remember that we had recently returned from a trip to HELL and back. All in all Frank and are doing really well, we have some large changes heading our way soon, but we'll save that for another post, on another day... until then, PEACE OUT!

I guess when you're married you kiss long and juicy!! ha ha ha

2009-08-13T20:10:00.000-07:00

** Keep in mind that what you are about to read is in relation to two sisters age 3 and a half, and almost three*** that makes what you are about to read even cuter in my opinion.
So today I was driving along in the car deep in thought about our current life situation, and then out of the blue I get the funniest text from a really great friend of mine about something her two little girls just said and then acted out. Maybe it's just me and the fact that I adore them, but it provided me with a much needed laugh. :)
TEXT MESSAGE: " the girls are playing and one said to the other ok, I am Brina and you are Frink (she calls frank frink i think cause she couldn't say his name right when she learned it) the other said OK, I GUESS WE NEED TO KISS NOW!! THEN THEY KISSED LONG AND JUICY. "

I guess you could look at that as strange, but when you live in the land of little people, I think it's deemed highly appropriate because they are just reinacting what they have observed in the past. Although, I am 100% certain they have never witnessed us kissing long and juicy!!! They have however spent a lot of time with frank and I. I responded to my friend that I wasn't quite sure how to respond to that other then to crack up and she said well, I guess they know that when you're married you kiss long and juicy.

thanks for the great laugh my friend!!!!

Just a quick update...

2009-08-12T19:48:00.000-07:00

As some of you may have noticed with our recent encounters with you... Frank and I may seem a little distant, not very chatty, and genuinely humble, or like we ve fallin off the earth.That is a great observation, mainly because it's true. Frank and I are enduring several hardships at this present time that are leaving us both emotionally, and physically drained which leaves us with little energy to do much but small talk with most of you. PLEASE, we urge you, don't take offense to our distant behavior. We just have limited energy these days to do much else but endure and do it together, so what little extra "umph" we may have, we are trying to save it for one another. It's a beautiful thing, this life in which we live and the highs and lows we experience while making our way through it. These days, Frank and I are just trying to hold strong to our covenants we made with God and one another and be grateful for each day and the experience with which it brings us. We see these troubled times a a gift, and at some point we would like to share our experiences with you, we just aren't quite ready to do so at this time. :) We greatly appreciate all the kind words and deeds we have received recently, and hope you know how much we love and cherish each of you. Until we chat again, we send our blogging family and friends all our love!
xoxoxo Frank and Sabrina

30 is the real over the hill!

2009-07-09T16:00:00.001-07:00

That is what my husband says atleast. Yesterday was his 30th Birthday, and everyone kept asking him if he felt old, and he just blurted out each time, "THIRTY IS THE REAL OVER THE HILL," "IT'S ALL DOWN HILL FROM HERE."
Poor guy. I thought i'd remedy his feelings of sadness about leaving his twenties by giving him some classic toys from childhood, including a beach ball, a lacrosse set, some music from back in the day, some old fashion brownies and a birthday party with close family. Poor guy, it was an all around crummy day for him I think. :(

I love you even if you are over the hill honey!!! Happy Birthday!! xoxoxo

POSTED! Check out my facebook page.

2009-07-02T22:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I'm in the process of uploading pictures on to FACEBOOK. Who would of thought they would upload there, but not on to blogger? Weird... anyway, we've put just a few of our favorites on my facebook for your viewing. Feel free to tell us your favorites! There were so many pictures, that the photographer told us to pick our favorites and then she would touch them up once we've given her our list. Otherwise, she'd probably still be working on them!!

SO after a long wait, here they are!!!!!

OK... OK...!!!

2009-06-21T18:20:00.000-07:00

So, word is getting out, (by way of me) that our wedding pictures have FINALLY arrived. It's true, I've been trying to upload them on the blog for almost a week now. Unfortunately, I am beginning to think that it's not meant to be because the files are too big, and they are not wanting to upload. :( Sadly, I think they are going to have to be viewed on an individual basis. (Meaning I'm going to have to take them from friend to friend). You can tell how beautiful they turned out by the new picture at the top of our blog. Until I see you... PEACE!!! :)

Here is a little preview until the real ones arrive!

2009-05-12T17:12:00.000-07:00

So, our professional pictures are in the works, so I thought I'd post the only decent pictures captured on the family camera... the quality isn't good, but atleast you get the jist of what an beautiful day it was. Until the REAL ones arrive... here they are.

the drive to our new home...

2009-05-12T06:19:00.001-07:00

The last few hours before arriving in Houston... What a LONG LONG DRIVE!!! It took us about 28 hours to drive here. I'm not really looking forward to the drive home to Cali in 3 months!

A few more shots of the riverwalk and the Alamo in downtown San Antonio...

THE ALAMO (In San Antonio) interesting story... apparently they don't like people with dogs, they threaghtened to have me put in jail if I didn't remove myself immediately from the premises. Guess we'll never be going back there!

Pictures Galore!!!

2009-05-11T15:03:00.000-07:00

Here are just a few snapshots of some of the things we have been up to since arriving in houston... as soon as life slows down again for five minutes I will be sure to post pictures from the road trip here to Houston!

the entrance to our apartment complex...

A day in the life of Northstar... :) (Cinco De Mayo festivities to be exact)

AN AFTERNOON IN GALVESTON... cruisin, on a sunday afternoon. :)

A couple remnants from HURRICANE IKE... (you know... just half a pier missing with a random truck slammed in to the side, and the paneling on a house ripped away. Nothing big)

EVERYTHING is built on stilts now... (thanks to hurricane IKE)

The Gulf Coast... ugh! (I'm sorry, but NOTHING compares to southern california's beaches)

Just about the only two nice houses in Galveston...

Eww... fuzzy for a reason, we didn't want to get any closer 'cuz we thought we'd barf!!! I have NEVER in my life seen such disgusting people as we did yesterday in Galvseton!! too bad, the place had so much potential!!

Welp! Here is what we have been up to the past few weeks, I'll be sure to update the blog as often as time permits... just so everyone is clear, I went from working MAYBE 25 hours a week, to working 70 hours a week. Now do you understand why I have been TOO BUSY TO TALK!!!!! :) xoxxo love you all

Too busy to talk!!!

2009-05-04T16:53:00.001-07:00

Hi everyone, just wanted to let you that we have safely arrived here in Houston. We've been here just about two weeks and in that time have battled a wicked rain storm/ mini hurricane, a beyond hectic first week of summer sales, and an even crazier week of life in general. :) All this aside, I'm happy to report that we are happy and busier then ever... give me another week or two and I should be back on the blogging band wagon with pictures and stories galore... until then, just know that Frank and I love you all and are thinking of you even though we are too busy to talk to you.
til then,
~sabrina~

One down, One to go!!!

2009-04-16T14:32:00.000-07:00

What a whirlwind two weeks we have had. We packed up, moved out (of our temporary first place) headed off to Utah for some work/vacation time, headed back to Cali, bounced from house to house (and still bouncing) prepapring for wedding pictures and our sealing in two days, then saying our good byes and off to TEXAS!!!!! (four days from today! aaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!!! We're just excited to be settled (temporarily)atleast for four months this time. He are a few shots of our adventures over the past week and a half or two. Enjoy!!! I'm signing out, (more then likely until we're in Houston)!!
xoxoxo

For all of TIME... AND NOW ETERNITY.

2009-04-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

Well, the big day has finally arrived, after much planning (only to fall apart COMPLETELY) we have reached our Temple Sealing Date. SATURDAY APRIL 18TH, 2009. As to be expected, Satan has worked EXTRA hard on us up to this point, but we're still going and GREATLY anticipating Saturday and the sacred nature of what will happen that day. We are so excited to finally Solemnize our marriage in the holiest of places, the place where Heaven and Earth meet and hearts and minds are turned toward God. we are excited to celebrate this day with many of you have become like family to us over the years, and to feel the sanctity of our union. Being married for 2 and a half months by civil law only has left us feeling empty. Yearning for more, and eagerly anticiapting the day when civil law meets Heavenly Law and binds us as man and wife in COVENANT with FATHER IN HEAVEN, not only through the end of our days in this life, but for ALL of the days in the ETERNITIES to come.
What a special day it will be.

*Pictures to follow, we are shooting them tomorrow!

Two FAIRY PRINCESS'

2009-03-30T12:50:00.000-07:00

Two little fairy princesses come to life...
These two fairy princesses are sisters and they are about as different as any two people could ever be, but they do have a few things in common, one of which is me. You see, I take care of these two in the afternoons four days a week, and for the past year and a half, I have fallen in love with them and the little people they are quickly becoming. They have grown up so much even though they are still "little people". Before we know it, they will be grown and off on their own adventures in life. My time with them is drawing to a close ever so rapidly, as Frank and I pack up and move on. Today as I sat here and played with them, I felt my heart begin to ache just a little. I think each day until we leave it's going to get worse and worse. I just adore them.
We have experienced so much together, and I greatly anticipate each day I get to spend with them because each day is a new experience. We get to learn about things outside and things around the house, we pracitice our ABC'S and NUMBERS. They even teach me primary songs!! We go for walks and play at the park. We have the most interesting conversations, and at the end of each day, we say our good byes in a way that could melt just about anyone's heart. To hear a two year old say, with the sweetest little voice "I love you" is pretty much an indescribable feeling. It's so fun to be around them and experience life from a two year olds point of view. There is only excitement and fascination. There is NO SUCH THING as a "bad day". Just a temper-tantrum that lasts a little while, then you put them down for a nap, and voila, life is perfect again!!! :)
I love these little girls, they're like my best friends, and thankfully, most of the time, they feel the same way about me and even whisper it in my ear! :)
I am so sad to say good-bye, but I greatly look forward to hearing about all the life they have left to live. Even Frank is going to have a hard time saying good bye because he has grown to love them almost as much because he spends A lot of time with them as well. He has helped me tend them several times, including our first week of marriage. Here are just a few pictures of all the fun we've experienced together...

To my love...

2009-03-29T20:33:00.001-07:00

For those of you who read this, you might have noticed by the tone of my writing (if that is possible) that at times Frank and I have experienced some frustrations, either with one another, or for some other rediculous reason. These past few days have been no different. In fact, they may very well have been our most trying both collectively and individualy thus far. We've struggled through it, but made it through and this time it feels different, this time I think and hope we've reached the turning point where things start to go our way, even if it's just slightly. :)
We had a VERY VERY trying day, then as life or luck would have it, not sure which one, we had the opportunity to spend some EXTRA time in the Temple and do some work vicariously for some special people waiting for us, and I think in some very real, and notcieable ways, it has changed us for the better. Never have I felt more love, the kind which runs down to the very core of you, towards my husband nor have I felt the kind of emotion I do as I look in to his beautiful eyes as I do now. We have a song that has become "our song" and it is the first song that plays as you enter our blog site. It's called "Man and Wife" by Michelle Featherstone. Tonight, I decided to write Frank a letter, (I am MUCH MUCH better at communicating through written word) and as I sit here writing it, I keep hearing these words over and over again:
We Are Man And Wife

All the things you are to me
Darling you have set me free
I'll always give you what you need
and what you deserve
All the joy and all this love
I know that it is from above
and now together there is enough
to fill this world
Cause you are the love of my life
you are the love of my life
and now we are man and wife
Of all the things that you will do
Yet now I'm standing next to you
Darling I will see you through
the rest of our lives
With you beside me I am one
I'm glad I've waited for so long
there is no doubt that
you are the one for me
Cause you are the love of my life
you are the love of my life
There'll be times
and there'll be things
but everything
is going to be fine
now your in my life
So I give you my heart and soul
It's yours to take where ever you go
and through the years you'll always know
it's yours to keep
God has blessed this sacred vow
and angels high above look down
they see the two of us have found
the perfect love
Cause you are the love of my life
Yeah you are the love of my life
and now we are man and wife

Frank, I just want you to know how much I love you, and I know that some day soon, :) things will begin to look up for us. :) ha ha ha!! Trials mold us, they shape us in to the people we promised Father in Heaven we would become and that is when we reach our "best", and I know that as long as we keep the "eternal perspective" we will make it through all that life throws our way.
xoxo

JOOP DAY!

2009-03-24T22:14:00.001-07:00

So the other day Frank and I decided to take "joop" our jeep wrangler, on a little adventure. The weather here in Murrieta has been sooo great lately, spring has certainly arrived, so we wanted to take advantage and spend the afternoon outdoors. There is this hill a few miles from our house that has an old water tower on top of it and the views from up there are gorgeous. It's a FULL 360 degree view of our town and all that is in bloom around us. It's too bad our camera SUCKS, 'CUZ it was a fantastic day for photos. We love the outdoors, and we like to take joop out to play so it was a good combination. We took the car off roading after and I did some mean donuts in the mud and we went 4 wheeling. I've come A LOOOONG way from my prissy days. I'm a whole new woman. I'm out playin in the mud and shooting guns, even sometimes enjoying driving the old beat up jeep over my nice luxurious Infinity. Wow. anyway, here are a few pics from the day, including the view, the flowers, even our "cow" friends. Hope you enjoy!

my MAMA and the NASA channel...

2009-03-24T21:25:00.001-07:00

In our household, (or atleast in my mom's) we don't believe in having cable. NO dish network, comcast, nothing. Simply the "free previews" which are usually limited to any kind of channel in which they don't speak English. The one "constant" though is the NASA channel. My mom is G-L-U-E-D! She comes home from work each night and flips on the NASA channel, and watches the AWESOME ASTRONAUTS do their thing up on the International Space Station. The crew orbiting somewhere above us presently include a crew of 10, 8 being American and the other two are from Japan and Russia. It's to the point where she knows them by name and what their individual responsibilities are. It really is a cool channel. It's dedicated STRICTLY to the INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION and it's daily happenings. Each night there is a call in session that goes on with the general public, most of the time it's young children calling in from their classrooms and today, President Obama called and talked to them. Frank and I used to make fun of her, but now we sit with her when we come and visit and watch in awe how far our space program has come, and the incredible things they accomplish while there. We always learn something new. It's kind of become a new tradition. :) ha, ironic since we'll be spending our entire summer in Houston. The main headquarters of mission control.

march SHOWERS bring april FLOWERS...

2009-03-22T22:50:00.000-07:00

march SHOWERS really do bring april FLOWERS because my bridal shower was held yesterday in the latter part of March in preparation for our Sealing in April. (hence the flowers in April). It was such a fun day. I had the chance to visit with so many family members whom I haven't seen in a while, and many friends as well. The food was great, the setting was fabulous, but the company was the best. I couldn't have asked for a better day. There were a few who couldn't make it for one reason or another and they missed out, but I know they were there in spirit. I'm not a game fan at showers, so my darling friend beth limited it to one, i'll have to post the questions and answers at a later date. :) We munched on all kinds of goodies from croissants filled with delicious chicken salad, cucumber mini sandwhiches, quiche, scones, home made cupcakes ( I made them, that's why they don't look very cute) and much more. I truly was showered with love and great gift for Frank and I to use as we "officially" start our lives together. My "BETHIE" did such a wonderful job on hosting the shower and I'm so lucky to have such a true friend in her. It was another perfect day!
In the photos below are my friend beth with the cupcakes, and my grandma's, mother in law and sister in law, aunts, cousins, momma, friends, and all my loved ones! Thanks to all who were in attendance!
xoxo

A look at and inside our Holy Temples... (be sure to STOP the music on the side)

2009-03-16T12:18:00.000-07:00

Why Mormons build Temples...

2009-03-16T11:40:00.001-07:00

MORE BIRTHDAY FESTIVITIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-03-12T00:52:00.000-07:00

YAY for Birthdays!!! Oh how I love these special days. Since I was a little kid my birthday has been treated as nothing less then a National Holiday!! This was my second birthday with Frank and not that last year was anything less then wonderful (he sent me to the day spa to get pampered) this year he made my birthday last TWO WHOLE DAYS and he did without my even knowing about it! Thanks all you sneaky people who were in on the secret, it made the festivities even sweeter knowing my sweet husband went through so much trouble to make sure I wasn't in on anything.
Tonight he planned for a little party, he invited several friends, (some of which could not make it) but those who could were great company.
My two beautiful sister-in-laws even came and my ADORABLE 5 month old niece. I was so happy they could be a part of my celebration as well!!

It was kind of sad because the party was suppose to start about 30 minutes before it did, but unfortunately for everyone else, I was upstairs on a conference call for my summer job and it ran WWWAAAAAAAYYYY over. So needless to say they were partyin away in my house downstairs without me for quite some time.

Thanks again honey for such a special birthday, oh and thanks to you too mom!! Between the two of them they did a GREAT job!

A Happy Day Indeed!

2009-03-11T09:15:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (March 10) was my birthday. This year's birthday by far topped all twenty two years before. This year, for my 23 birthday, my love spoiled me. He spent the entire day with me, brought me balloons and more, took me shopping, (my favorite birthday past time, and well, just my favorite past time.) Then as the sun began to set, drove me down to San Diego for a SUPRISE romantic sun set dinner aboard "LORD HORNBLOWER" of the Hornblower dinner cruises. We sailed away in to the sun set on San Diego Harbor and enjoyed a wonderful evening together. The nights festivities included (as mentioned)getting ALL DRESSED UP, enjoying the sunset together, dining by candlelight on some spreme delicassies, some romantic dances, and even some kisses for good luck under the Coronado Bridge. It was a WONDERFUL DAY, and I'm so happy to have shared it with the love of my life.
Thank you love for such a perfect day!
xoxoxox I LOVE YOU!!

standing on sacred ground.

2009-03-04T13:34:00.001-08:00

When inside the walls of The Holy Temple, we, as Latter-day Saints, understand that we are walking on sacred ground. We understand that the magnificent structures which have been erected to stand as "The House of the Lord" represent just that, "The House of the Lord", the place where Heaven and Earth come together for faithful children of God to gain more knowledge in order to let their light so shine.
In this most beautiful place, Latter-day Saints are taught in greater depth the purposes of this mortal life and the necessary tools to one day enter the presence of GOD and be able to dwell with him forevermore.
The awe-inspiring beauty found within is insurmountable to anything found "in the world". By that statement I mean... LDS Temples have been dedicated to the Lord for the purposes of building up HIS kingdom. They have been erected as "REFUGES" for faithful saints to go to escape the darkness and evil that fills the world. There is NO feeling of guile, or contention, ne'er a feeling of maliciousness, deceit, or hate.
There are only feelings of peace and tranquility which abound. Feelings of Hope, Love, Charity, Kindness, and Brotherly love flow free. Each face you see is accompanied by a smile and a warm kind greeting or gesture. The Temple is a haven for children of God to go to be taught from on high many things including "The Plan of Salvation, or GOD'S Plan of Happiness" and even the importance of the Atonement, or the sacrifice our Savior made for every living thing to repent and be made clean and whole again. There is a lifetime of learning to be had about the "House of the Lord" and the ordinances performed and the covenants made therein. NO ONE has the ability to learn all he or she needs to enter the presence of GOD from just one visit. It will take an entire lifetime of living and learning and Temple attendance and Service to even come close. That is why Latter-day Saints speak so reverently about this place. Not because there are weird rituals that we participate in, or because there are dark mysteries hiding behind every door. It is because this is the place where Heaven and Earth come together and we learn that we are standing on sacred and holy ground. The ground that we believe allows us the opportunity to commune with a kind and loving Father in Heaven and to feel His Spirit, the Holy Spirit at it's most measure because there is no "unclean" thing found there. We are taught that the Spirit CANNOT dwell in unclean things therefore leaving us with the reason we value and respect our Temples so much, and the Sacred nature of the work performed inside.

My husband and I had the privilege last night to enter the Temple with many loved ones and to see them in their most pure and innocent states. We had the wonderful opportunity to learn more about this place and ALL OF IT'S GLORY. It is a night that neither of us will EVER forget. Our lives have been forever changed for the better because of sacred things we were witness to and the knowledge we have gained. We intend to spend the rest of lives striving to learn all that we can to enter the presence of GOD, and to feel the fullness of HIS glory.

NOT TOO MANY PLACES LIKE IT!

2009-02-28T19:00:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't, couldn't, shouldn't, wouldn't LOVE southern california for it's most beautiful weather. It's the last day of February and I have spent the better part of the weekend in the beach town of San Clemente. Today it was sunny as can be and in the mid 80's. I'm not usually one to like the heat, especially when it's suppose to be hovering around the mid 40's this time of year. However, today I felt overly appreciative for this beautiful climate and the fact that I could walk outside and be more then content in shorts and a T-shirt in Februaury.
Isn't it great how last weekend we headed to the mountains for a "winter get away" and then the following weekend we were off to the coast for a "spring get away." (well kind of Frank had some work to do here this weekend).
THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY PLACES LIKE IT, and even if it's just today, I am happy for the "spring like" weather, early or not! :)

Happy One Year... :)

2009-02-24T18:47:00.000-08:00

Today is Frank's one year anniversary of being baptized a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I love him so much and am so proud of him and all the wonderful progress he has made and the growth which has taken place. It's late now, so there will be more thoughts tomorrow!

our MUCH NEEDED weekend "winter" getaway

2009-02-22T22:11:00.000-08:00

My wonderful husband decided we needed to get out of town for a little while (with a little bit of hinting from me) and whisk me and our little doggy boy to the local mountains for a weekend winter getaway. The mountains have been blanketed with an abundance of snow in the last week and a half so we decided we'd take full advantage including snow fights, snowmen building, strolling through the "village" in downtown Big Bear, and even indulging ourselves in some fine chocolate (which is funny 'cuz I don't even like chocolate)!

Oh, and I apologize about the unorganized pictures, I pushed something and they got messed up and I don't have the patience to redo them at this moment!!