spending the day at home

Today has been the first day andrea and i have spent at home this entire week... we've been pretty busy!!! next week should let up though... but i have to say it did make the time pass quickly!! anyway today i spent the day taking care of the angel baby and cleaning which was definately much needed!! thankfully she let me get stuff done today :)

im so looking forward to spending time with my fam this weekend!!!!! my mom is home from her trip so i definitely want to bring andrea over to see gramps and grammy im sure they need their ruby fix lol!!! in case you're wondering ruby is the nickname my dad gave andrea since ruby is her birthstone and since her skin was a pink/redish color when she was born so there you have it!!!

lets see... i finally bit the bullet and registered for my photography class... i had been beating around the bush about it until the hubby called me out... he threatened to register for the class himself and sit in the back with andrea in her stroller lol so i did it!!! i start on monday.. im excited because i've been wanting to do this for so long... im nervous because i'm scared i'm going to completely suck at it and i'm anxious because i'm going to miss my baby !!! sooo all in all i'm a total crazy lady lol!! but i know im going to love it and its probably a good idea for me to start weaning myself away from the baby so that when i finally get back to work i'm not a total wreck which i'm completely aware is a huge possibility!!!

i'm still pumping!!!! wow i cant believe it ... i really thought my milk supply would have been gone by now but its still flowing lol!! so thats good news... my ob appt was great!! i love my doc!! i gave her a thank you card and two pics and she started to cry!! she's so great... she's a truly special person and doctor.. the kind you dont find to often these days... she's really in it for the people and because she cares .,. its not just about the money which i find to be a true quality!! she has a wonderful bedside manner and there's something about her that is so calming especially when you're a hormonal pregnant woman!!

Well i think that's about it for now ... i need to go finish cleaning before my little precious wakes up!!!

~Andrea's Mommy

cant sleep...

WOW i'm actually shocked to say this but i cant sleep... UGH!! I DONT BELIEVE THIS!!! Gustavo and Andrea are both fast asleep and i'm wide awake... Gustavo even offered to stay up with me so i wouldn't have to be alone lol!!! i told him no because the poor thing is clearly exhausted... at least the week is almost over for him.. since this is his first week back to work i think it's taking a toll on him...my poor baby!! this week i've been trying really hard to keep the house clean and cook dinner!!! so all he has to worry about when he gets home is relaxing and spending time with his ladies!! of course he thanks me constantly for what i do which is nice.. we make it a point to always let each other know how appreciative we are of the other persons work no matter how big or small the task is and i think that is very important in any relationship!! marriage isn't always easy but its definitely worth it!! im so blessed to have such an amazing husband...

on another note today i had lunch with a new friend... yes i said it I MADE A NEW FRIEND !!!! yayyy!! i have a very tight knit small circle of friends whom i love dearly and am very thankful for... we have been blessed with wonderful God fearing people that we can call friends... i consider myself to be a very social person but at the same time i dont normally make new friends that often which is why i'm so excited to have met a lovely lady named Adriana and one of her daughters named Gaby who is just a week older than Andrea!!! so looks like we both made friends!! It was great.. we had a great lunch and hit it off right away!! She's just an all around great person and we have so much in common!! i can't say enough how great it was to be able to meet another mom who understands everything i'm going through and not just with the baby .. but with life in general...Once again God has blessed me by putting this wonderful person in my path!!! i cant wait to get together again!!!

Tomorrow is my follow up with my ob... i'm definately looking forward to it because she's my favorite dr. ever!!! but of course i'm not to thrilled about the actual appointment lol!!! i'm sure everything will be just fine though!! Man, Andrea and i have had a busy week this week haven't we lol!!!

Lastly,
Andrea is doing wonderful!!! today she turned five weeks old... she's so beautiful and such a blessing in our lives!! she's really interactive now, and really beginning to make her baby sounds and move as well as kick her little legs... i love it!!! She loves her crib although i only put her in there during the day.. i think in another couple of days though we may make the big switch!!!! so that should be exciting!! i took several pictures of her today but haven't uploaded them yet so they should be posted in a few days.. well i think thats about it i'm going to call it a night!!!

~Andrea's Mommy

helloooo there!!!

well... last week was kinda crazy... we had company from out of town soo i didn't have much time to keep up with my blog... but i'm back now!!!
i have so much to report!!!
Andrea turned one month old on the 22.. she's doing soooo well... i'm such a happy mommy!!! today i took her to the ped.. and it was a fantastic visit!!! she is weighing 8lbs 7oz... and is 20 3/4 inches long... she's reached each of her milestones... baby talk, smiling, and getting stronger with holding her little head up!!! she also got a second dosage of the hep b vaccine today... she cried for a few minutes but seemed to feel better after i held her for a bit... i cant say what a great feeling it is to know that just by holding her close to me i seem to soothe her... its such a beautiful feeling...

Gustavo went back to work today ... it was so weird waking up to the complete quiet and no hubby snuggling close by... but so far day one minus the hubby is working out well... i made my coffee took andrea to the ped... came home sanitized some bottles... fed her... put her down.. clipped some coupons ... scheduled a play date... put a call in to set up an interview for a potential sitter...defrosted and seasoned chicken for dinner tonight... and now here i am!!! i feel like i've had a pretty productive day so far.. also i'm trying to get a full day of power pumping in today so far so good!!

On another note... i found what looks to be a pretty informative photography class in weston that i'm going to register for... it starts next week i'm definately looking forward to that its only once a week at night so i figure it shouldn't be to bad... i'm gonna miss the little one though...but i'm sure daddy will have it all under control :)

this weekend was nice... friday the hubby and i went on another date :) we walked around downtown hollywood and stopped in for some pita and humous at a greek restaurant... it was nice... we had some coffee and came back home.. i love going on dates with my husband... lucky for me we get to do it for the rest of our lives!!!

Saturday we stayed home for the most part... i developed some pics of andrea to give to the family ... and sunday andrea and i went to church..and then we went to my aunts house for my cousins birthday... it was nice to see everyone and they were all happy to be able to see andrea...all in all it was a great weekend!!!

thats it for now...
~Andrea's Mommy

feeling exasperated!!

well this is the hubbys 4th and final week off of work... i cant say enough what a blessing he is in my life as well as what an amazing father he is to our daughter... i just fall more and more in love with him as each day passes... since andrea was born hes totally taken the reigns he takes such great care of her!!! im going to miss him so much for the rest of my maternity leave!!! hes not just my husband hes my best friend!!!

on another note andrea will be four wks old tomorrow her one month dr appt is on monday and my post delivery check is thursday ... looks like andrea and mommy have a busy week next week!!!

i've been feeling great!!! no crying ... i thought fore sure i had kicked those baby blues.. UNTIL LAST NIGHT!!! i dont know what happened... we had dinner and then all of a sudden i picked up andrea and brought her into bed with me and i just laid there snuggling with her.. but i had this wave of sadness come over me... and today i felt angry all day... one thing about me... angry and i dont usually go hand in hand.. im always bouncing off the walls with happiness...so feeling this way doesn't exactly go along with my personality ... i'm feeling a little better now but nothing to write home about... it's just so weird how i was fine and now im not.. ughhh!!!

on another note at almost 4 wks old andrea is cooing, smiling, kicking those strong ballerina legs like crazy!!! she loves the water so bathtime is great!! she's eating 4 ounces each feeding... i'm still pumping my breast milk so she's not on formula yet!! already i'm doing better than expected with the pumping.. for a little while there i thought it wouldn't be possible at all and she's been able to have it for almost four weeks now... so thats great!!! i think thats about it for her milestones... she's all around a great baby.. not fussy just happy... i couldn't ask for more from my beautiful angel baby!!!

well its time to try and get some sleep...
~Andrea's Mommy

Happy 3 Week Birthday Andrea!!

The Angel is 3 weeks old today!!!
i wonder when i'll stop being such a novice and count the months and years instead of how many weeks old she is!!!
i know i'm a total beginner but i'm just so amazed at how the time with her is flying!! pretty soon she's going to be huge and i just dont want to miss any part of it...anyway enough of that..took some cute pics of her today after her bath!!


I found an 8 week photography class starting on september 3 its once a week from 6-9 pm so i'm thinking of taking it so i can continue to get my photog feet wet!! we'll see...

Friday, Gustavo and i will be going on our first date since Andrea was born... my mom is going to come and stay with her so that we can go see the time travelers wife!! i cant wait.. i'm dying to read the book as well!! this has been in the makes for like two weeks so it should definately be fun.. but it will also be the longest period of time either of us has been away from the little one but it's good to get used to being away from her little by little.. or so i hear.. LOL!!! AGAIN I'M SUCH A NOVICE!!!

anyway thats about it for now!!
~Andrea's Mommy

not much to say today...

Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished.
Luke 1:45

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
John 16:21

She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue she watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her. many women do noble things but you surpass them all charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the lord is to be praised.
Proverbs 31: 26-30

My true success

Well.. it's been a few days since my last post!!! Tonight Andrea had her first tub bath!!!! it was great.. literally a no tears bath... apparently she loves the water :) she just wasn't a big fan of the sponge baths!!! so now that we're past the sponge bath phase she's a very happy baby... it was great we put her in the tub, gustavo got her hair and her back and i did her body!! she was such a little cutie in there... just in a daze completely relaxed lol!!! and after the bath she passed out until now when we woke her up to feed her!! i love bathtime!! anyway on another note... we've started taking her out little by little ... Friday the three of us went on a little date to target and then to a little coffee shop nearby.. it was nice to get out for a few hours...and on saturday we went to my parents house to spend some time with them!! they were sooo surprised and excited to see their little grand baby!!! when we left there we did some groceries at bjs... it was so funny to see us.. now a family of three i pushed the stroller and gustavo pushed the cart...and today i got away for a bit to go to church this morning just me... gustavo stayed home with andrea!! service was AMAZING i'm so happy i went... i was able to just get lost for awhile and connect with God in a way i haven't been able to in awhile...the pastor's message was wonderful as well!! then it was family time at home for a nice lazy sunday...

i can't say enough how great it is to now be a family of three... it's crazy.. its like she's everything i never knew i always wanted.. if that makes sense... a little background on that would be the fact that when gustavo and i got together he had baby fever as i like to call it... he was always telling me he was ready to start our family and i being the nutty "safe" person wanted to have all of our ducks in a row ... i remember always telling him (and everyone else that wanted to know when we'd be starting our family) in a year ... then that year would come around and i'd say ok in another year so on and so forth... having a baby for me was so scary ... in my mind life was hard enough as it was i couldn't imagine adding a baby into the equation... how would we ever manage!!! well here we are and managing is something we're definitely learning to do with each passing day but i have to say being a wife and a mom has not only changed my life but my outlook on life as well...i've realized that this is what i was put on this earth to do... to be a mom to my children and a wife to my amazing husband!! of course the career and day to day routine and obligations will always be there but the reality of my life the purpose behind it is my family and i know that now... i used to think that what i wanted out of life was to be successful.. i was literally terrified of failure... but thats not what its about... its about the bigger picture...its about what makes life so worth living...its about getting through the rain in order to see the rainbow... it's about the happy moments that make the harder moments so unbelievably worth it... it's about going to work every day and knowing that you are the lucky one that gets to come home to a beautiful family that loves you ... waking up in the morning full of joy because of the blessings God has laid before you... it's pure amazement with each day that passes ... this is it this is what i was born to do...i was born to have a family and to love them each and every day that's my true success...

Happy Mommy

Well today definitely got away from me!! Andrea had a dr appt.. which ALWAYS takes forever!! appointment or not.. it's crazy.. but the pediatrician was very happy with my little one!!! she's gained a pound since last week so now she's 7 lbs!! my little chunkers!!! she's drinking 4 oz... which was also good news for my doc... and her umbilical cord fell off!! so all in all it was a great visit... very positive!!! later my cousin came by to drop off some dunsten baby language dvd's which i can't wait to watch... and i spent some time catching up with my sister...then after a nice lunch the three of us took a much needed nap... i was out for the count.. until gustavo woke me up at 7:30 to let me know dinner was ready!! HE'S SO WONDERFUL!!! so that was pretty much my day.. it was nice yet went by quick!!! now it's off to bed to get some sleep before tonights festivities!!!
~Andrea's Mommy

Happy 2 Week Birthday Andrea!!!

Happy Mommy over here!!! My little angel baby turned two weeks old today!!! i took some shots of her like i do every day but these are special to me because she's two weeks old today... i know i'm a total mommy nerd!!! but i cant help it... i'm so in love with her and with each day that passes i feel more and more connected to her.. she's such an amazing blessing in our lives!! Her umbilical cord has almost all but fallen off... i'm sure it will be by tomorrow.. it's hanging but a tiny little piece of skin!!! i freaked when i lifted up her onsie to change her!!! but i know it must come off.. it just looks so painful.. my poor baby!!! Tomorrow we have a dr appt for her with her ped. for a weight check!! that should be fun... looks like i better pack some patience.. her ped is great.. but the wait is usually tremendous!! we shall see...anyway i'm off to go finishing watching tonights shark week episode with the hubby before another crazy night!!! Although i cant complain to much about last night since he took her 7am feeding... i have the most wonderful husband in the world!! it's the little things people!!

~Andrea's Mommy

Quality time

tonight my parents stopped by to see us it was so nice to spend some much needed quality time just us and them!! i love my family and i especially love seeing how much they adore my beautiful daughter!!! we had a nice time just catching up for a bit...

i practiced some more shooting in the manual function on my camera today... i think im getting the hang of it!!! and im finding that im really enjoying it as well!!! its like i kind of drift off when im taking pictures ... its a nice distraction..

today was a no tears day for me which is progress yay!!!!! its nice to know that i wont always feel sooo emotional!!

well its off to bed .. another funfilled night of feedings awaits us!!

~ Andrea's Mommy

Bathtime was a success...today!!! Apparently Andrea loooves to have her hair washed... she's not to fond of the rest of the bath though... its ok.. kinda like a save the best for last type deal!! but after we bathe her she's out for the count.. so usually the process is bottle burp bath!!! that seems to work out pretty well!! and Gustavo and I have gotten it down to a science.. he's the rinser and i'm the soaper... lol we double team her and move things along much quicker... i love taking care of her together... it's nice to know i have my hubby by my side in every aspect of our lives and now that includes our daughter... its just nice to know he's always there for me to count on!! my other half literally... i'm still so in love with him with each day that passes.. it amazes me sometimes...

Meanwhile my brother his wife and my oldest neice came over today to visit andrea they bill and tracey live in arizona and my neice natalie lives here!! it was nice to see them as always!!!

and now after a nice dinner that the hubby cooked ... some desert and a hot shower i'm ready to hit the sack before another long night of feedings, diapers, burps, and above all else sleep deprivation!!! YIKES... how i'm beginning to absolutely dread the night time ... but it's all a part of it!!! every day we're getting that much better so thats always a plus... and i'm still pumping away... i hope i can continue pumping my breastmilk for Andrea for as long as humanly possible..but we'll just have to play that one by ear... it can get draining thats for sure.. only because i'm usually up pumping between her feedings so it can get a little taxing...but its worth it and i plan on doing it for as long as i have milk to pump... anyway i do believe its about that time!!
Goodnight

~Andrea's Mommy

Monday

Well... i was thinking with each post i'm going to try to add a pic of andrea just to keep everyone up to date with the little angel that i've become oh so obsessed with!! lol!! nobody told me mommyhood would become somewhat of an obsession for me... anyway.. also... yesterday when gustavo went to bj's to do some groceries.... he came back with beautiful roses for me and a beautiful card.. just to cheer me up since i was feeling a bit out of sorts.. it was very sweet and i of course in turn cried yet again lol!!! but thats to be expected these days... today i finally got out of the house ... just down the street to publix but it was out of the house and driving none the less... i also made my self some half caf coffee so i'm up and i feel good!! i think today i'm feeling the best since i had Andrea.. its progress at least... i've also started practicing shooting my camera in the manual function which i've been scared to do because i'm afraid the pics are going to look like total poo!!! it wasn't that bad... i'm definately going to try to practice shooting a lot more often... besides i have the perfect little subject to focus on!!

Child care is becoming a serious concern for me... we haven't had any luck finding anyone...it's so difficult when you don't have references to go by... thankfully my mom and gustavo have been very reassuring that somehow it will get done... and there's always a solution.. dont get me wrong i am aware of this fact.. however when i think of leaving my baby girl with someone ... anyone.. daycare included .. my mind becomes flooded with what ifs... and it's driving me bonkers... fear of the unknown is the worst isn't it...but i'm going to make a few phone calls today to see what i can find out... wish me luck!!!

~Andrea's Mommy

feeling blue...

since i've had Andrea i've had a really hard time keeping control of my emotions... everything makes me cry and nothing at all makes me cry... i hate not feeling in control!!! sometimes i just feel sad and i have absolutely no idea why...it really is the worst... i'm so happy that i have my beautiful little angel and i know i have no reason to feel sad.. but it just sweeps over me like a tidal wave ... and then its gone just as quickly as it began.. i'm not sure if its baby blues or just plain hormones... who knows...

well i think i'm going to get some snuggle time in with my beautiful daughter while gustavo is doing some groceries..

~Andrea's Mommy

Sneak Peek!!

Here's a sneak peek our photographer sent us from today's shoot!!! they are perfect in every way... exactly what gustavo and i wanted!!! more soon to come!!!! ahhh i'm in love

~Andrea's Mommy