The Gift of Gab and other Freebies

First of all, I want to apologize. I'm sure it seems that with all my latest posts and pictures it seems like Mia is taking over our world. Well, quite frankly, she is. And for some reason everyone around here seems okay with that. For some reason Mia just isn't "getting old." Here are a couple videos (hot off the press), filmed less than an hour ago. Just a glimpse of what we all find sooooooo entertaining from day to day. Also, I wanted to share some pictures with you. So, sorry, and yet not sorry. ;)


Da Da Da Da Blah Blah Blah Blah

With Abuelita Alfa on her 70th Birthday! Mia stopped crying in time to say goodbye.

This is Ben and Miss Mia saying "goodnight." Going in for those eskimo kisses.

I am surprised how often the boys will plop down on the floor and read to Mia. She LOVES it. On this particular night, each book Will was reading to her began like this, "Lets discover colors!" and then he'd read the book, "Lets discover animals. . . " and so on. Priceless.

Spencer is our professional Mia entertainer. He sings to her, dances for her, talks silly till we all go cross-eyed. She absolutely loves it.


Solid proof that Mia should always, ALWAYS wear a bib. And it doesn't hurt to have a burp cloth handy too.

New Tricks

Mia discovers not only how to bend and reach her toes, but to eat them as well.

Help of the Helpless

My friend Cristi gave me a great c.d. for Christmas this year, called "Sabbath Morning." I love it because it is so soothing and peaceful and meaningful. It is performed by the Jennie Phillips Choir, which Cristi is a part of. My favorite track is #10, Abide With Me. This is a great hymn anyways but with the arrangement, her voice AND the powerful extra verse she wrote at the end, its just that much cooler. I bring this up because I'm learning that like me, Mia has a thirst for music. In fact she loves it. One day a few months ago, I was driving and she started crying. . . a lot. In an effort to calm her, I turned on track #10, Abide With Me. She quickly stopped crying.

Time and time again, this has happened. I'd say 9 times out of 10, she hears the song and literally STOPS crying. It is amazing. Alfonso and I just look at each other in bewilderment each time. I don't know exactly what it is that she loves so much. It could be the resonating violin solo, it could be the gentle voices, I think it might be the song's message. These words alone are touching; "Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me."

I just need to tell my friend Cristi, thank you for the music, and you need to know that you have made a strong impact on this little baby. Know that there is a mom, not too far away, who plays your song daily, and a baby who adores it.

Here are some pictures from our recent trip to California. The earphones on her little head are playing her favorite song. You can see the effect it has:

Leg Godt

It's Danish for "play well" and for 5 days in sunny Cali, that's exactly what we did. We went to Legoland and it was extraordinary! The rides were great, the exhibits were BREATHTAKING, and the experience was our kid's dream come true. So, we have literally hundreds of pictures, all fascinating. All fun. But due to the super-needy-saddness of a teething 4-month-old whose name I won't mention, I'll be sharing only a handful. Perhaps it's for the best.
(Mia on the airplane. She was SO GOOD! Never underestimate the power of good music and a lollipop.)

The Abyss

What do you do when you're down in the dumps? Stuck in a dark abyss? And how do you get there in the first place. I have a hard time opening up about this because I really can't complain. My life is really great. I have an amazing family, and everything I could possibly ever want. I have a quote on my wall stating, "A rich person is not the one who has the most, but needs the least." I like that statement. And honestly, by that definition I am rich, I don't need much. I don't knead much either, but that's another story, bread's never been my forte.

The last few days I've felt really low. After waking in the morning from frequent disturbingly bad dreams I'd feel yucky all day as a result. Kind of empty, like I've gotten lost in the daily grind. Do you ever feel that way? I realized last night why I'm struggling so much. Two important daily habits recently have become non-daily. Not "daily" enough? Anyway, if I don't get down on my knees and talk to my Heavenly Father, and if I don't take time to pick up his words and study them, and listen, I feel noticeably empty. This is a fact for me. And to be honest with you, I'm feeling better just talking about it. Now the trick is to do it.
p.s.Forgive me for talking about religion. I know it's personal. But I'm doing it anyway. We're friends, right?

I think it's important to know yourself and your needs. Take care of yourself,so you can take care of others. So I'm saying "Sayonara" to this abyss and taking the first shuttle out. I'm going to do the things that are essential to my happiness so misery won't take over. In the words of a song by Jenni Phillips, "There's just no room for darkness in our lives." Here's to choosing light.

3 Months

So, I had a minor foot surgery in February. I developed a neuroma (google it) between my second and third toe during my pregnancy. Since it was getting worse, & cortizone did nothing, I decided to have the inflamed nerve removed. No big deal. Here's a lovely picture though. Looking a lot better! Mia is 3 months old now! My good friend Mandy gave me a little empty photo album for me to fill with pictures of Mia next to a stuffed animal each month of her first year of life. This months pictures are too cute not to share. 1st one was taken in the a.m. Very sad.
p.m. happy

Faboo February Update

Ben is getting so tall! Everyday he seems a little more grown up just to be counterbalanced by moments a pure immaturity. We love our Ben. He always makes me laugh. Always makes me smile. Sometimes makes me crazy. He has decided he loves techno music and the "Black Eyed Peas." As his taste in music updates, my iPod outdates. Gotsta get some new tunes. Ben is very proud of the fact that he can hold Mia when he's standing up, as he should be. He's very good at it! Spencer loves, I mean LOVES to read. He is currently devouring the "How To Train Your Dragon" series and the "Fablehaven" series. It is not unusual for us to have to pry him away from a book in order to participate in other activities. I'm so thankful he enjoys it! February was literacy month at the school and he ran with it. Spence loves his little sister and just melts and says, "Ooooo Miii-yaaaah" when ever she's around.
Will is too stinkin' smart for his own good. I cannot keep up with the witty, funny, amusing things he says. His vocabulary is growing daily. He's reading at a third grade reading level. He LOVES to play Wii. In fact, yesterday when he said the prayer in primary he ended his very heartfelt prayer with, "Please, bless the Wii." Here's a picture of him listening to my iPod, dressed in his sunday clothes, and snowboots. Priceless.
Mia continues to grow exponentially. She smiles everyday. She has recently discovered her hands and loves to suck on them and swat at her toys with them. She loves to see her brothers smiling faces. She cannot resist falling asleep in daddy's arms. She is such a joy. I've been singing to her, and it feels good to be doing it again. Our favorite diaper changing songs are, "My Favorite Things," and "Getting to Know You." When I sing them she often will stop crying and listen with big eyes. She's my sidekick and partner in crime. I feel like we're becoming quite the dynamic duo. p.s. I can't help but play dress up with her all the time. She has so many clothes, I don't want to miss seeing her in them. She's usually a good sport about it :) This having a baby business takes it's toll on the emotions and Alfonso has been and continues to be my rock through it all. I cannot help but lean on him for support. He helps me to laugh when I'm too serious, and helps me to believe in myself when I feel like a failure. I'm so glad I have him to keep me grounded and can only hope that I'm giving as much as I'm recieving. I'll try at least.
He took the guys to the Monster Truck Rally and to see the Harlem Globetrotters last weekend. I didn't go because I was recovering from a little foot surgery. Which is ok, it's good for them to have some "guy" time together. As you can see, they had a GREAT TIME!!!

Blessed

Yesterday we blessed Mia at our church. It was a small affair, just some close family members and our ward family. I was so rediculously nervous that Mia would spit up on her dress, like that would even matter. She didn't, by the way. Alfonso gave her a beautiful blessing. He decided to bless her in English even though it is his second language. As the blessing began, he did great, but I could tell he was struggling a little to find the words he wanted to say. Later I found out that Mia was wide awake during the whole prayer just gazing up at the faces of the preisthood holders around her. By the middle of the prayer, Alfonso paused for a long moment, and then proceeded to pray in Spanish til the end of the blessing. Although I dont speak spanish, I was able to catch glimpses of he was saying, I felt the spirit and knew that he was speaking directly from his heart. It was absolutely beautiful. After sacrament meeting we planned to head home for a small get-together at the house. One small hiccup, Ben and Spencer didn't get the memo. And in the chaos of the emptying chapel, we lost track of them. Alfonso and I lingered at the church for a while trying to figure out if they had gotten a ride home or if they had gone to the bathroom or something. Hoping they had gone home with family, we left for home, all the while trying to call various family members on their silenced phones. When we got home, they were NOT THERE. Alfonso rushed back to the church only to find them sitting in their primary classes, with no clue what was going on. I felt like I had experienced a genuine "bad parent" moment. Anyway, we finally got them home safe and sound and the eating, visiting, and playing could begin.






Here's a picture of Mia and her little cousin Natalee. They are only one month apart, I can already tell they are going to be good friends.

My dad and brother-in-law Rob, were able to sleep through most of it :) Aren't sunday naps the best?

Midway Ice Castles!

This was so beautiful and fun! Dress warm though! It's -18 degrees outside right now!