Oliver: 10 months

Today Oliver turns 10 months, which means we're so much closer to his 1st birthday and also nearing the end of the baby years in our family.. it is a sad and happy feeling at the same time so we're enjoying him as much as possible...

Oliver is SUCH a sweet baby.. I can't handle how cute he is sometimes and how affectionate he can be even at his young age. 

This month was HUGE for Oliver, especially in the sleep department (I can't believe I'm actually saying this!).. he FINALLY sleeps through (ish) the night! It was a long road but we finally made the decision to "sleep train". We were traveling for a month and the sleep situation kept getting worse and worse; he'd wake up every 45 minutes at night (sometimes waking up even 12 times per night!).. We were so exhausted and it came down to us even crying of desperation because we didn't know what to do..he just wouldn't settle. 

So on the night we came back from our month long trip, we decided to just let him cry to sleep, following some version of the CIO (Cry It Out) method. As controversial at it is, I will gladly admit the method worked for us and my only regret is that I didn't do it sooner. He cried on and off for about 20 minutes the first night, less than 5 on the second night and not even a whimper on the following nights. It has now been 2+ weeks and he has been sleeping up to 7 hours at a time and going to bed without any issues.. I feel like a new woman and I'm glad we took the plunge! I hope he keeps sleeping the way he has and even longer stretches!

This month Oliver also visited the beach for the first time; he really enjoyed the sand and the warm water and it was so cute to see him crawl around without fears!

Oliver can now pull up to standing more firmly, he cruises around furniture, climbs stairs and is as mobile as he can be even though he's nowhere near walking, which I'm TOTALLY ok with! Ha ha!

He also babbles and talks up a storm even saying a good amount of words very clearly.  He follows simple commands, mimics sounds and movements, interactively plays with his sisters (or whoever!) and eats like a MANIAC! (with his two tiny teeth). We're still breastfeeding full time even though he eats all kinds of food in crazy amounts...this boy really loves food! :) He also mastered the skill of drinking with a straw and loves drinking water and juice boxes...

He enjoys music and starts shaking as soon as a song comes up; he laughs so much and his latest "thing" is grabbing his head when we say "oh no!"..it's so cute!

He currently weighs 23 lbs and is 30 inches long; wears size 12-18 clothes and is into noisy and rattly toys.. such a big boy!

Here are a few pictures of the newly 10 month old boy! ;)

9!

Today is Olivia's 9th birthday! My little lady is at the last of the "single digits" and she couldn't be happier about it even if she tried! 

Olivia is SUCH a wonderful person and can light up a whole room with her beautiful smile; she truly is my best friend and is so much like me in so many things. The more she grows, the more affinity we find in each other and that makes me so happy. 

Olivia is so inquisitive and has some good antenas for ears...nothing gets by her.. really.. NOTHING! I really love that I can have mature conversations with her and get pretty good feedback about particular situations or scenarios; she really rocks!

Olivia is also incredibly friendly, sweet, very family oriented and such a joy to be around! I love the way she views life and how energetic and positive she is; I wish I could be more like her!

At age 9, Olivia is into art, Legos, music (her favorite artists are Meghan Trainor and Taylor Swift), singing karaoke, going to the movies and all things iPad! 

Aside from it being Olivia's birthday, today is also the day I celebrate the anniversary of becoming a mother; which is by far one of the biggest and most fulfilling accomplishments of my life. My kids have taught me so much and I know this is only the beginning.  I feel blessed to have the opportunity to be a mother to my two girls and cute little boy and every time they celebrate another birthday, I can't help but thank God for these amazing gifts that keep on giving!

Happy Birthday, Olivia! You're so awesome!

Here's a little collage of Olivia through the years! She has grown so much!!!

7!

Today is Gaby's 7th birthday and she has grown into SUCH a great girl.

I came across my Facebook "memories" from today and they brought me back to this day 7 years ago when I was frantically broadcasting my labor and then happily announced the arrival of our second daughter, the one we also thought would be our LAST child (ha!). She was so tiny and cute and she resembled her older sister; some people went as far as saying they looked like "twins". 

But even as a baby, Gaby was SO unique; she displayed her very own and funky personality from the start and even though she has matured and evolved with the years, the core of her spunkiness hasn't changed much!

Gaby is our "toughest" child; she is stubborn and has more self awareness than

 any adult.  She is self reliant and incredibly independent in every aspect of her life. She isn't afraid to be herself and her genuineness is amazing... I really love the fact that she is her own person even at the young age of 7! 

In the past year she has developed a bit of a "middle child syndrome", which even though usually carries a negative connotation, it's actually a good thing.  According to research, middle children tend to be more cooperative and trusting in their friendships; they are more independent and outside-the-box thinkers. Research also supports the idea that middle children are true leaders and more empathetic towards others; all of these are qualities that Gaby definitely possesses and I am glad she's so mature that she has been able to use her environment to her advantage. 

At 7, Gaby is into Legos, Barbies, fashion accessories (especially cat ears!), Shopkins and cat print clothes and pajamas. She enjoys music and singing and loves spending time with her friends and family. Gaby also loves swimming, math, reading and eating sweets...she is funny, she is creative, she is inquisitive and most of all she is HAPPY!

I am so proud to be Gaby's mom and I can only hope she stays so sweet through the years!

Happy 7th Birthday, Gaby! We love you!!!

Here's a little collage of Gaby through the years! 

This is 40!

A week ago my husband turned 40 years old! When I casually asked him "what has been your biggest accomplishment in life so far?", he quickly answered "marrying you!", to which I replied "no.. really! I'm serious!" and he said again without hesitation "I'm serious, YOU have been my biggest accomplishment"...he proceeded to elaborate and told me that everything that came after he met me has been part of the "happiest time of his life". I will admit to the fact that I never saw myself as someone's "accomplishment" so the concept he was trying to explain was a little hard to grasp. 

On another day, I asked him "what do people constantly thank you for?" and he replied "cleaning up!"; this was much less romantic and deep than our last conversation but his answer got me thinking... "do I thank him enough for everything he does for us?".. I felt weird and sad at the same time.. There he was, turning 40 and basically telling me that I'm the center of his world and all I thank him for is "cleaning up"?... While I'm sure he didn't mean to make me doubt myself as a wife and life partner, his answer really resonated and struck a chord so I decided to write this post, which will be part of this blog book that I will print one day...

My husband is a "workaholic" (or so I think!); he has a tendency to immerse himself in his job to the point of ignoring everything and everyone around him; if I had to name the one complaint I have about him, this would be IT! We bicker often because I feel like he works "too much" and his travel schedule is insane...

With that said, Iggy is also the most selfless and caring husband and father anyone can ask for.  He is loving, patient, gentle and incredibly helpful and we don't thank him enough for his dedication to our family (although we apparently DO thank him for cleaning up! LOL) . HE is the reason we are such a happy family, he provides for us, protects us, loves us and makes us proud every day and I can never thank God enough for putting this wonderful man in my path.

What this 40th birthday conversation taught me is that it's never enough to *think* something of someone because even if we spend all our waking hours together (and we really do!), Iggy is not a mind reader and I know showing him (and telling him) our thankfulness will come a long way. 

So, on the octave of your 40th birthday, I want to say THANK YOU Iggy for EVERYTHING you do and everything you are! You definitely do more than "cleaning up" and I see it and we feel it. 

We know you're here and our world is better because you're in it. Our kids are lucky to have you and I am blessed to call you my husband!

I hope you feel more appreciated by the time you hit 50..and thank you always for "cleaning up!"...you also are my BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENT!

We love you, Iggy!