Every year for the past 8 years our family has spent Labor Day weekend together out in the Hill Country of Concan, TX. We've seen people come and go from our group. Every year always looks a little bit different, whether it be the new person, kid, or house, but that is what makes it fun and exciting. 

We've Moved...

We've been keeping a little bit of a secret. Well, we just haven't told anyone but family, but this past week we moved. These past few months have been an emotional and physically draining whirlwind, but we've finally moved. 

Annual Family Getaway

This past weekend we had our 6th Annual Family Getaway to the hill country in Concan, TX. We go every year and it's always fun, well except for around 10pm or later when everyone is drunk and you're trying to get your toddler to sleep but it's SO loud, ha! 

24 Weeks

Excuse me for not posting a chalkboard pic this week, but this photo was taken quickly after arriving home from a 8.5 hour drive from Corpus. 

How Far Along: 24 weeks, 4 days
Size of Baby: Canteloupe

Weight Gain: 11.6 lbs

Gender: Baby Cole is a BOY!
Maternity Clothes: Still wearing regular clothes. Dresses and bigger sizes of clothes are still working. Tanks and linen shorts are my best friend. I've purchased one maternity shirt in an XS and its still too big.
Belly Button: In
Symptoms: None.
Cravings: Half a pickle everyday when I get home is a must, accompanied with a glass of sweet koolaide and I'm set.
Sleep: Waking up 1-2 times every night to use the restroom. Getting harder to sleep at night because every time I switch sides there is some discomfort in my belly. Hips cramping up while sleeping which is why I have to switch sides frequently at night. Max no longer likes to sleep next to me, except for when I sleep on my left side. If I'm asleep on my right side he usually sleeps next to my head on my pillow. Houdini still sleeps above my head, so not much has changed for him.
What I miss: Still missing cold sandwiches.
Movement: Lots of movements noticed during the day, especially after eating. Some moving at night, but nothing that wakes me up...yet.
Best Moment of the Week: This week I went back home to Corpus to visit my family who hadn't seen me at all since becoming pregnant. Everyone made comments about how I "was all belly". Aunt Chayo did ask if I was having twins...uh, no thank you! I'm pretty sure I'm not having twins, just one sweet baby boy! July 28th marked the 6th year since my grandma's passing. Before leaving town, I went to the cemetery to visit. I know she would be surprised to see me pregnant, but happy for us. 

My mom, brother and I at my aunt's restaurant. 

Sand, Bulls, and Eggs

This past Easter Weekend we decided to go to Corpus and spend some time with my family.  As usual, we had a great time with little rest.  
Thursday, shortly after we arrived in town, we went had a birthday day dinner for my cousin Jacob who turned 21.  Anytime it's anyone's birthday, it's celebrated at Kiko's Mexican Restaurant so that is where we went. 

Sweet Ava

Happy Birthday Jacob

After dinner, we went to watch Jacob play some baseball. 

Friday was a day spent at the beach and later that night we all went to the rodeo.  

Saturday, we spent time at the cemetery to celebrate Easter with my grandmother.  We sure do miss her tons!

Sunday was Easter and we all had a blast. 

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter weekend filled with fun!

The Year Before 30

This past Thursday was my 29th birthday.  I spent a relaxing day with my husband in Delray Beach.  It went something like this:  breakfast, massage, salt glow scrub, facial, manicure, site seeing, and dinner.  Needless to say, it was a wonderful birthday.  I celebrated my birthday with my family in Corpus Christi this past weekend.  On Friday, we went to Bayfest.  I must say it just isn't quite as fun or large as it use to be.  It's sad when the farm animals are the highlight of the festival. 

Saturday, we had a little lunch time get together with the family at my mom's house, specifically for my birthday.  Below are some of the highlights!  

My sweet 8 year old cousin sang his version of happy birthday to me...it brought me to tears.  He is the sweetest boy with the biggest heart.

On Saturday, we also attended an unexpected wedding.

After the wedding festivities, Jeff and I decided to go to a local bar where my cousin works.  We had a blast!

On Sunday, before we left, I had lunch with my family and then we all headed to the cemetery to pay a visit to my grandmother. 

It was a fun-filled weekend with the family and, as usual, there was never a dull moment! 

We're definitely looking forward to spending this Thanksgiving in Corpus with my family!

Family

Yesterday, my husband and I went to Houston for the day to see his mother.  On Monday, my husband was notified that his mother was in the hospital and that she was not doing well.  The plan is to remove the ventilator today and should she fail to breath on her own, she would not be reintubated, as those are her wishes.  
For those who know us well, know that my husband does not maintain very a very close relationship with his family.  So, yesterday was the first time in over 4 years since he had seen his mother and the first time I'd ever seen or met her.  We both thought that should any thing happen, it was important that he see his mother.  
While we were there, my husband had the opportunity to see his aunt and uncles of whom he had not seen in over 14 years.  I had the pleasure of meeting them too for the first time.  They were all very nice people.  I think it's unfortunate that times like these are the moments when people finally get to see each other, or say what's important; however, I'm a firm believer in that all things happen for reason.  Yesterday my husband, his aunt, and uncles agreed that they would all continue to communicate with each other and maintain a familial relationship.  For this I am grateful for some difficult times, because it makes us realize what we are all missing and in my husbands case it was his family. 

Happy Birthday America

This July 4th we went to Kaboomtown in Addison and met some of Jeff's friends out there.  The weather was not very cooperative, but we weathered the storms with our umbrellas.  The firework show was spectacular and longer than I had expected.  Below are some photos that captured our night! I hope everyone had a wonderful Independence Day with their family and friends!

              

Father's Day

This past Father's Day we celebrate all of those important fathers, most importantly (to me)my husband.  I am grateful that my husband is such a great father to his children, despite all of the obstacles he faces with them living so far away.  It's comforting to know that when we decide to have children of our own, he will be an even better father.  I also celebrate one of my uncles...Joe! He has always been the father figure that I needed in my life.  Thank you for being so supportive and for going with me to those father-daughter events.  You are more of a father to me than you'll ever know!

We decided to spend the day at Lake Lewisville with friends, kids, fun, and good food.  Our plans for the day were: spending the day at the lake and later go out onto the lake in a pontoon boat.

Before we went to the lake the kiddos gave Jeff the Father's Day cards that they chose and his gift, that I chose.  They chose those fancy new cards where you can record your own personal message and that they did!

Jeff had been wanting Nike Shox, so I thought that this was the perfect opportunity to purchase a pair for him. 

Jeff and I enjoying the sun and good company.

Vick and his wife Adrienne.

Some of the group: Sina, Cesar, and Maria.

The kiddos really enjoyed spending time in the lake.  I managed to get in the water, just once, and I was extremely grossed out with how the bottom of the lake felt against my feet. 

Oh, what it's like to be kid.  I can remember going to Lake Mathis quite often, but I most certainly do not remember the bottom of it feeling so gross.  Children are so oblivious to these type of things...gotta love them!

Gotta love this silly girl! Arm floats on her ankles...creative!

We all kind of felt like this by about 4:00 P.M., or perhaps he was so tired from lack of sleep, due him being up all night long...teenagers!

Despite us all feeling exhausted and burnt out, we headed to a local boat rental company to ride away in the pontoon.  Unfortunately our boat, the boat we had rented for 4 hours, was anchored somewhere in Lake Lewisville and unable to make it back to shore in time.  We waited patiently for about an hour and decided it was time to give it up.  Needless to say, we were not very happy; however, we went home, showered, and had a great dinner at Johnny Carino's!  I'm thankful that we had such a wonderful day with a few great fathers! Until next time, Lake Lewisville!

Mother's Day

This Mother's Day, I reflect upon my life and all of the women in my family who have had an enormous impact in my life.  Amongst these women are my mom, my grandmother, and my aunts!  Each one of these women has played a significant role in my life. 

Mom

Mom you are an absolutely wonderful and caring woman, who is extremely independent and strong-willed.  You are also a survivor. You are my hero for carrying along so strongly for your children.  You have always been extremely supportive of the decisions that I have made in my life, even if it was something that you disagreed with.  I do realize how sacrificing you have been with your time and money when it comes to my brother and I, and I will forever be grateful.  Throughout the years, you have instilled morals upon me that I will always remember and I will emphasize the importance of an education to my own children, as you did with me.  You have always been one of hardest working women I know.  You worked hard to provide me with the things that I wanted growing up, most importantly needed, and you continue to work hard to provide Alex with the same; I will forever be grateful for your constant willingness to give.  Growing up, we all acquire certain habits or values that are displayed in front of us from day-to-day; I'm proud to say that I've learned good habits and wonderful values from you.  I love you and I'm proud to call you my mom!  Mom you remind me a lot of grandma, your mother.  This is something to be extremely proud of, as she was such a remarkable woman. 

GRANDMA

Grandma, you were and continue to be a very important part of my life.  With every decision and milestone in my life, I'm glad that I could make you a proud grandmother.  Like my mom, you were also a very hard working woman who raised six children on your own.  Although, you could rarely provide my aunts and uncles with the things that they wanted, you always assured that they had what they needed, including the home that I also grew up in and that mom now lives in.  My dear grandma, you gained your wings almost two years ago, and although I miss you dearly, I'm certain you are in a better place and that you continue to watch down over us and celebrate our lives with us.  I have so many memories of you, but the one that I'm thinking about today is of when I was a child.  While I was in Elementary school, I always walked home and every time I got home, you would offer to give me money for a raspa (snow cone).  I remember that you would dig into your little coin purse and give me some change so that I could walk down the street to buy one from this little old husband and wife that made them for all of the school kids down our street.  I always recognized just how generous and giving you were as a person.  Sweet nothing memories like this make me miss you so much; however, I do appreciate the time that I had with you on this earth and that we were so blessed to create memories that I will never forget.  I love you, miss you, and think of you every single day!

Since the year that my grandmother has passed, my mom has organized a mass, at a local church, for her every Mother's Day, of which the entire family attends.  Thereafter, they all go to my grandmother's burial site and sit and mingle, it's a way that we all feel like we can still spend time with this incredible woman that we all loved so much.  My grandmother loved mariachi music, so aside from being with her on such an important occasion, they also get mariachis to sing at her burial site.  I love these special moments and I wish that I could have been there to celebrate this Mother's Day with all of these incredible women, but since I could not, I am thinking of them and wishing each of them a very Happy Mother's Day.  I think that you all are extremely remarkable women and I love each of you dearly. 

(photo features all of my aunts)

I hope that all of you who are mothers know that you are so important to your children and that you too will have such an enormous impact upon your own children, and grandchildren.  I appreciate all of the mom's out there, because your job, as a mother, is extremely important and difficult all at the same time.  This job requires unconditional love, patience, sacrifice, and so much more.  I hope that someday, when I become a mother, I will be at least half of the mother that my mom and grandmother were to me!

Happy Mother's Day!!!