lola rose.

January is kind of "blah" month. I mean, it starts in October. All the fun. Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and of course Christmas. Then topping it off with New Year's. It's a few months of just pure fun and activities. Then January comes and it's kind of just "blah." Nothing to really be excited about really. 

Except for me. 

I had my last baby in January. 

And today she is two! 

I can't believe it has really been two years since I had her. I love that she was born in January. It gives us another excuse to do something fun and to be excited about something. She has started to recognize so many things lately, which makes it so entertaining to be around her. Mostly, I love that she loves to sing the birthday song, particularly when we get to the part that we say her name. She is a feisty little person. Since she was tiny, it has always felt as if she was a big girl stuck in a baby's body. She wants to do what everyone else is doing. 

Lola is social. 

Lola is happy.

Lola looks like her dad.

Lola is definitely the baby of the family.

Lola has two mommies.

Lola loves shoes. 

Lola is a princess. 

I'm so glad she was born...Miss Lola Rose. 

 

back at it.

The holidays came.

The holidays went.

Too fast.

But we were able to be home in Arizona and it was perfect. We stayed with my sister for the entire visit, which was totally insane, but I will always treasure it. I had the privilege of attending both of my cousins' weddings and being a bridesmaid in one of them. My kids got to spend Christmas morning with Grandma and they were so happy. I enjoyed time with my family members, time that it very special to me. I got to be with my friends, which for me, means more than they could imagine. Being able to do all of this was enough to fill my cup. And this time, it was hard to say goodbye again. I'm not sure why, but this time, saying goodbye, was harder than ever.

But we are back at it here in Guadalajara and it feels good to be back in our own place. It feels good to start a new year. A new year means new goals and new projects. 

So I have to make a conscious decision, sometimes every.single.day. Which is, I cannot walk away from this experience thinking of it as the worst time of my life. What a waste! I want to speak Spanish better. I want my kids to know Spanish. I want my kids to make friends and be happy here. I want my husband to be successful in his endeavors. I want to accomplish so much. I want to walk away, bigger, stronger, smarter, happier. I have to chose this. Every.Single.Day. 

Hardest thing.Ever.

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

Happy January. 

Happy 2012.

 

Good: I can run again. I mean it just feels good to run. And I need to do a lottaaa runninnnnnn!

Bad: They say this year is the worst year for medical school. Hmmm..what do I even say to that right now?!

Loving: One more time...

"The happiest people don't have the best of everything, they just make the best of everything."

XO

one year.

It was one year ago that we first came to Guadalajara and decided to make the biggest move of our lives. 

It has been quite a year for us. I feel like we've learned a lot. All the changes have been one of the most difficult I have yet to experience. Medical school is hard. Really hard. If someone could have provided a glimpse of our lives right now, I would have said NO WAY. We aren't doing it. But perhaps I will look back in 10 years and think, that was awesome. And to be honest, to be a medical student in Mexico, is kind of awesome. So many things here that I love. SO many things I am grateful for. So many things I will miss when I leave someday. 

Hard to think...but it's true.

J works hard. He always has. 

But I've never seen him work this hard. 

Cheers to being done with our first year!

We took a picture at a restaurant called, "La Bodeguita del Medio" when we came last November. We recently went there again. Funny to look back.

Good:I am going home for the holidays. I look forward to seeing everybody that I love. I love this time of year. It makes me happy. We survived the first year...phew!

Bad: My car has been broken for over two weeks. It's been a nightmare. We drive J's truck...3 seater truck, with all 5 of us. Not cool. My washing machine broke. I'm supposed to pack in three days and I have an enormous amount of laundry that can't be done. I want to scratch my eyes out.

XO

comida.

I love food. 

I love trying new restaurants. 

And I love going back and reliving the experience. 

I love how food brings people together.

My experience with new restaurants in Guadalajara thus far has been an amazing one. The food here is amazing. Anywhere from street tacos to a fancy restaurant. I seldom walk away disappointed. Ok, perhaps a little disappointed at the amount of calories I just consumed. But truly, how do I resist??

november.

this is the month of thanksgiving... 

thank you for being a great roommate.
thank you for loving my babies as much as your own.
thank you for your constant generosity.
thank you for introducing me to new music.
thank you for always keeping a secret...the vault.
thank you for trusting me with yours...I'm also the vault.
thank you for flying me home when I was desperately wishing to be there.
thank you for being there when I came home from the hospital that day and listening to me...and crying...with me.
thank you for always saying the right thing at the right time.
thank you for making me feel beautiful, inside and out.
thank you for knowing exactly what is on my mind...because we are in kahootz.
thank you for having the same sense of humor as me.
thank you for teaching me how to make bread.
thank you for letting me come listen to you give your sunday school lesson.
thank you for bringing me dinner when i came home from the hospital.
thank you for letting me complain about the same thing over and over.
thank you for knowing when i'm upset, just because you know me. 
thank you always getting me the best smelling candles.
thank you for asking me my opinion.
thank you for being the one person who genuinely helped me get through the first semester in mexico.
thank you for calling me to tell me random things about your day.
thank you for being a great mom. you're a good example.
thank you for getting frozen yogurt with me.
thank you for making sure I have a good birthday.
thank you for being the reason I have been on some amazing vacations.
thank you for staying up late with me to make bows for our girls.
thank you for always having a good plan.
thank you for being honest with me.
thank you for sending a suit case full of american items for me.
thank you for giving me my job back...even if it was just for a month.
thank you for all the dance parties in the olds (aka...boat) or the suzuki (aka...the humper)
thank you for always having the best treats in your pantry.
thank you for letting me eat them :)
thank you for watching my kids.
thank you for laughing with me at the Nacho one-liners.
thank you for girls' night when our husbands were gone.
thank you for being the first and last person I see when coming and leaving to Mexico.
thank you for being constant...never changing who you are.



thank you friend.

you know who you are...

xo

ava grace.

Today I celebrate the day my oldest child came into my life. Many thoughts and emotions flood my mind as I think of her. I don't really even know where to begin...
Ava Grace,
1. You had the most amazing hair when you were born. It was the first thing we noticed about you. I was able to put pig tails in your hair before you turned 1. You still have the most amazing hair. 
2. You are so smart. Too smart sometimes. I used to read to you every.single.day when you were a baby. You still love to be read to. But you are learning and enjoying reading on your own. You are learning Spanish. By the time we leave Mexico, I am certain you will know more than me. When you don't understand something right away, you get extremely angry. This is because typically, things come so easily to you. We are the same in this. I used to get very angry too when I couldn't understand.
3. You love to sing and dance. You love to have dance parties, which is why you are my child. We have dance parties together. 
4. You love to watch tv. Mostly, movies. It's a problem. But you love it.
5. You are contagious. People love to be around you. In the short time we've lived in Mexico, we've been invited to so many birthday parties because you always get invited. You are happy and loud. Very loud. You are the life of the party.
6. You are a perfectionist. You work hard at making sure things look perfect. This is why you close your door before you leave for school. You don't want Lola getting in your room and making it a mess. You get upset if your hair is falling out. Things must be symmetrical for you. Everything....even-steven.
7.  You are the pickiest eater. If I let you, you would survive on bread and fruit. That's all. Actually, you'd eat icecream too. It drives me crazy.
8. You need to be recognized. You perform very well when you feel like you are impressing someone. It's important for you to receive positive feedback. 
9. I have high expectations of you. Probably set too high. But I always know you can do what I ask. I used to think I wanted my oldest child to be a boy, but it has been simply perfection having my oldest be a girl, to be YOU.
10. You are beautiful. I know you are mine so I am biased. But no, you are so beautiful. 

I cannot believe another year has gone by that I've had the privilege of being your mother. I love remembering but I love looking forward. 

So very glad you were born. So very glad we get to celebrate your birthday. 

Muchisimo amor Ava.

mexican independence day!

This past weekend we had the fortunate experience of driving to Puerto Vallarta with some friends. Lucas, a friend and fellow med student, is from there and his parents still reside there. They invited us to stay with them for a long weekend. (I had a make sure they knew we had 3 kids with us...yikes)It was a great time. The drive was beautiful. The roads were very windy... narrow, windy, dizzy roads. But beautiful. Very green. Trees everywhere. It felt like we were driving in a jungle.

The house was perfect. And Lucas' parents were wonderful. They fed us dinner. They were loving and patient with the kids. They had a swimming pool. The weather was very hot and humid, but thankfully it rained while we were there and it cooled things off.

And the best part...the beach. I have decided that if I am ever to go to the beach, and it is my choice, I will always choose beaches in Mexico. You don't have to bring anything! Or do anything for that matter. There is always something there to buy, always cheap. 
So here's what we did...we got up, only brought towels, camera, money, and a few other things, and headed to the beach.
When we got there, we set ourselves up in front of a restaurant that was recommended by Lucas. They provide chairs (that recline), umbrellas, tables, and a waiter that will be there for you the entire time. He brought us coca lite, chips and guacamole, salsa, nachos, pina coladas with strawberries, coronas (hahaha) anything you want. We spent the day there and our bill was around $10. 
The kids really had a blast. The water was perfect. The first day it rained, but it didn't prevent us from enjoying the day. We stayed and swam, in the rain. A unique experience that we all loved. The second day was sunny and we left with "tourist marks." 

Thank you to Lucas and his family for a wonderful weekend. 

Viva Mexico.

Bad: The rainy season is over I think. I am so very sad about it. I have completely loved having the rain. It makes me happy. It's different. It makes everything green and pretty. Also...I am officially injured. I cannot run. I realize how much I enjoy running and I am sad. And I am going to get fat now. 

Good: Both of my cousins are getting married...in December! It's going to be a party!!! 

Loving: "The best thing about the future is that it only comes ONE DAY AT A TIME." -Abraham Lincoln