Happy Birthday Little One!

Dear Marisa,

You keep me quite busy these days and watchful of your exploring nature. You are eager to learn about anything you can get your hands on. This may include my make- up, bathroom items, grocery items, dvd's and your recent favorite--the pantry. You love washing your hands frequently and you are still in love with shoes only now you take them off immediately when you get into the car and in the stroller, or park, or anywhere. This always adds an extra step to our arrival anywhere and is not very conducive to this winter weather. I am utterly grateful for converse high tops which you can also remove within seconds but at least they stay on when we're out somewhere.

Your vocabulary is growing by the day and you use a few sentences now and then. You often speak with an intensity to your voice as if to say "hey I'm saying words now!" You have surprised me with the "I do it!" phase and are persistent in doing what you know you can do yourself. I usually here a very intense "I do!" "I do!" Which reminds me, you have successfully used the potty twice and I love to hear you announce, "I do pee pee, I do pee pee."

I love your considerate nature and love to see how aware you are of other's feelings. I can sense your empathy when you see another child upset or how if you upset Elena you come to hug her and give her a kiss to make her feel better.

I think you are finally down to 1 nap although I can sometimes squeeze in two once a week which you usually need and you like to nap around 11am.

You love to dance and will usually break out in a dance the moment you hear music come on. You are very aware and observant of your surroundings and quick to tell me when something is not right. The other day you made me follow you into the living room from the bedroom to point out that I forgot to close the front door all the way. Another funny instance was when we went shopping for the Christmas tree. It was just you and I when we got it. As we headed to the parking lot with the tree in the shopping cart I picked you up out of the cart to put you into your carseat when you (with your usual intensity) brought to my attention that the cart was rolling away with the tree!! Awareness is not my strength and I can see we already make a great team! I love your laughter when you wrestle with Elena and when you are tickled and I love your smile with the one dimple we passed on. My little one keep learning and reminding me how great it is.

Cold weather pics

Well no significant snow afterall but at least we got to bundle up and I even wore my down coat which I am glad I didn't sell on e-bay afterall. Wondering why we're playing at the park in the cold? Well, turns out Boston taught us how to truly stay warm in winter--layers, more layers and accesories make all the difference.
Day of flurries
Tree lighting at the State Capitol

Elena is four!

Cupcakes at school


Dear Elena,
I can't believe you're four! I know, I know, I say this every time, but every year I can't help but wonder where my baby went. I have to say the 3's were trying and much different than your 2's. A lot of your learning and need for independence happened this past year so it's not a surprise that it would be hard. But now you're four and I'm looking forward to seeing your personality blossom more and more. These days you talk---A LOT---about everything! There's hardly a break for silence when you're around and you're determined to let us know everything you're learning and discovering every minute. You use mostly English now and I love hearing your little accent with certain words. You are still cheery and bubbly and more often than not bring smiles to our faces. You can't help but make Daddy and I laugh with your silly sayings and comments. Marisa adores you and the moment we pull up to the front of your school she starts estatically saying, "Lena, Lena" Some of the things you enjoy are playing with play-doh, playing on the see-saw, drawing on your Magna Doodle, anything pretend, singing and making up your own songs with familiar tunes but different words, listening to stories, actually watching the entire length of a movie, wrestling with Marisa and making her laugh even when it's serious time.

Let see, some milestones--You are using complex sentence structures in Spanish and English. You continue to nap (thankfully for me) 2 hours a day. You tend to stay dry most nights and I think I won't be buying anymore pull-ups. You're not quite as cautious as you use to be which means you climb more and fall more but you rarely cry. Today at your 4 year check up we learned you are still in the 50th percentile for weight and height just what you'd expect from a tall father and short mama. Elena, I really enjoy your joy for life and the way you light up a room. My sweet baby girl thank you for reminding me to laugh, smile and enjoy life.




Homemade car


drawing of herself with a red balloon

Photo Sharing - Video Sharing - Photo PrintingMaking cookies

Off to school

Elena started preschool today. I was thrilled to have found a Spanish Immersion Preschool for her and was actually surprised that there were several to choose from. As I predicted, Elena was more than ready to begin school and had no problem leaving our side. I wish I had that same quality and took change with ease. Marisa on the other hand had separation anxiety from her sister. As I buckled her into her seat to head home she whimpered, "Nena" (Elena) pointing to Elena's seat, then, "uh oh" thinking we must have forgotten to bring Elena back to the car. Luckily my explanation that we would return sufficed and she didn't begin to cry.

Trick or Treat

Elena was Jesse the cowgirl from Toy Story 2

watching some ducks
When Marisa realized the routine she would say "moa" (aka more) when they brought out the candy. No worries though she didn't forget her manners and said "Tah you"

Wish this one was not blurry.

Wedding and early b-day party

We had a lovely time at Dora's (Omar's sister)beautiful wedding this past weekend. The girls were flower girls and Omar walked Dora down the aisle with his mom. The cutest thing happened as the girls headed down the aisle with their baskets. Elena and Erin, the other little flower girl, did just as instructed and dropped their flower petals one by one. Meanwhile Marisa followed right behind them, but she had a different agenda. When she noticed that the girls were dropping their petals she began picking them up one by one right behind them and putting them in her basket. It really was adorable, and I wish I had it on video. Instead I had to intervene otherwise the bride would've never made it down the aisle since Marisa is excellent at "picking up." In hindsight I should not have been surprised since she enjoys picking up after herself and Elena often. Congratulations and best wishes to Dora, Doug, Briana, and Annabelle!!















Later that afternoon we had an early birthday party for Elena. She had been insisting on having a pinata for her birthday and we didn't know how we would have one without invitees here in Austin since we just recently moved so we took advantage and had it in Brownsville with all her cousins present. And her cousin Andy also has a November birthday so we made it a double birthday party. Luckily Elena loves Cars so the theme was liked by both.








Finally, Mark Chesnutt had a concert that we had planned to attend Saturday night. We didn't make it, but he was staying in the same hotel we were and ran into him during check out so of course I asked for a picture with him. Two celebrity sightings in one year, I wonder who I'll run into next? ;)

Fall stuff