Park Days

November 2010

February 2011

March 2011

September 2011

March 2012

September 2012

As I was looking through iPhoto today, I noticed that we have a number of pictures of our little family at the park!!  When Little was born we had a park literally 2 steps away from our tiny apartment and we took him there often.  After we moved it got a harder to take trips out to a park, which is when we decided to sign Little up for Gymboree.We didn't take photos every time we went to the park, but I wanted to share a few shots of Little from when we did remember to bring the camera along.   The weather is getting more and more pleasant these days so I foresee many more park trips, hopefully I will be catching some more huge smiles from a happy Little swinging in the park in the near future.

<3 Mama Chuca

Weekend Recap

He's not crying or sleepy, he just didn't want to be photographed!

HELLO HELLO!! Here is the rundown of our weekend!!

On Friday we had dinner at Tia Linda's house and watched the movie What to Expect When You're Expecting.  Which turned out to be hilarious, Elizabeth Banks always makes me laugh!! Oh and Dada would definitely be a member of the Dudes Group!

Saturday we had a big yard sale, we usually have a big one every 6 months.  This one was a little smaller than usual but there was a pretty good turn out.  Although most of the time we end up just trading goods with each other.  Ill usually trade a couple of Little's old outfits to Tia Rachel for baby Noah (her 1 year old) for some of Cousin Rene's old toys (he's 7).   One woman's size 5 toddler shoe is another woman's slightly used lego set, this works out pretty well for us!  After that Little and I stayed in because Dada had to work, due to the new iPhone!  Little's daycare gave us homework that I worked on that night, we had to put together pictures of family for a book that will be made.  So I had a couple of pictures of the family printed and Little had a blast going through them over and over again, quizzing me on the family members.  Whenever I asked Little if I could take a picture of him, he would smile and throw his face into the blanket!

Sunday, Little went to Gramma's house to watch the football game with Papaw so that I could have lunch with my girlfriends.  I needed a little bit of girl time, thank goodness for loving grandparents!!! That night we went to dinner with a good friend of ours who we've asked to be our wedding photographer.  He said yes (YAY!), we are very excited about it, he mostly photographs bands and has quite the eye.  We ate pizza, caught up and Little was a very well behaved big boy!!

Today Ive been very excited about our new home we will be in next month!! Ive been dreaming up canvas's and art I want to make for our new walls.  Im even thinking about wall colors, Ive always wanted a yellow kitchen!! Right now I have a lot to be grateful for and Im very excited about all the new things headed this little families way.

See you tomorrow!
<3 Mama Chuca

Big Boy

I know I've said before that I have a big boy but I think its really starting to sink in with this Mama.  This big boy of ours has become a master builder lately.  He received a small lego set for his birthday and when he remembers he has it, takes it out and builds away.  He'll build a towering car and say "MAMA big brrroom", in return I tell him what a good job he's done.  So over and over he builds a huge car or airplane, calls me to look and then knocks it down to rebuild.  I also find him reading to himself, or at least a version of reading.  He sits with a book and flips through pages saying... uh nuh...uh nunhh...uhn uhnhuh.... in a sing songy voice.  He could possibly be mimicking my voice when I read to him, either way its darling to watch. Does this mean he's ready to start learning to read?? Ok ok I won't get a head of myself!!

Yesterday I went to pick up Little early from daycare and caught the him doing the cutest thing.  I walked inside and saw him in a little line of kids (his age) all walking with their hands behind their back, he was walking and laughing with another kid.  WHA?? Hold the phone!! He can be good, follow directions and have fun without Dad or I around??  Perhaps I haven't been giving him enough credit.  When he comes home with me I see a little baby turning into a big boy, but maybe I already have a big boy.  All the times I worried about him being at school alone, I never even stopped to think that he is a big boy who can handle it!  Part of me thought he spent the hours we're apart thinking about me, as I do here in my office about him.  But no my big boy is learning and laughing with his friends at school, as he should be.  I can not wait till he can actually come home and tell me all about his day. 

<3 Mama Chuca

According to my Phone

It's Wednesday, its September and its been forever since Ive posted here! ** FACEPALM

Im very very sorry for my absence and I promise I will have big news to share very soon.  But for now I will enjoy this photo of a napping toddler who finally gave me a break from reading the Hungry Little Caterpillar over & over again and having me put lotion on every single itch & booboo he finds.  As I said I promise I will be back to share some very big and happy news with you. By the way, where did August go??

<3 Mama Chuca

25 Months

Favorite Foods: Macaroni and cheese, cheese, yogurt, juice, oranges, water, rice and of course pasta.

Watching: Toy Story 2, Pocoyo and Diego.

Reading: Lately, Little has been wanting to read the same books over and over again (see monthly posts 21-24).  So Dada and I decided that we would change up the books that we read at night before bedtime, of course if Little fusses were not gonna put up a fight.  So we're reading the following books:

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, 8 Silly Monkeys Jumping on the Bed,  Potty, Just Me and My Puppy and The Very Hungry Catapillar.  There are a few more but these are the books that he seems to enjoy the most, especially the hungry caterpillar. 

A few of his favorites:  Little's new favorite friend is a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Leonardo) that Tia Linda gave him for his birthday.  He has also been loving bubbles, running around outside, daycare (yes praise the good Lord), playing with a little golf set his Dada bought him, and brushing his teeth.  Brushing his teeth is one of Littles favorite parts of his day, lately he has been wanting to brush on his own so I usually let him have a go then I brush them after.  He has also been loving going "under" things lately, especially while driving!  As soon as we get in the car he starts asking for under, then when we go under a freeway, a tree or a stoplight he is all grins and gets very excited. At dinner time as soon as I put his plate of food together and get him in his high chair, I put his plate in the freezer to cool off and we count to ten.  I count out loud and show him my fingers as I am counting, he follows and tries to mimic my fingers all the way to 10. By the time we reach ten his food is warm enough for him to devour, he has been eating like crazy lately. 

A few of our favorites:  Little has been following directions very very well, of course he is a toddler and sometimes he just isn't having it when we are trying to calmly show him something.  But Ive found that if you ask him questions or give him options he behaves better and will follow directions more willingly.   This is deemed as a favorite because although we aren't having full conversations (not that he should be right now) we do know that he has a comprehension of what we are asking.  A favorite "game" of mine is to ask Little if I can give him a kiss, then he'll point to where i can kiss him- mostly his shoulder, head or knee.  He also has been finding random cuts or older gashes and says "bobo" for me or Dada to kiss.  As I said before conversations have yet to ensue but he is learning more and more words everyday and is starting to repeat words, lately we (Dada, Little and I) have been working on numbers and letters.

Dada and I are constantly telling Little that he is a big boy, mostly to congratulate him when he accomplishes something.  Now when we ask him where the baby is, instead of pointing to himself (like he did before) he points to a picture on the wall of him as a baby.  This makes me laugh and it makes me sad. Yesterday Dada sent me an old picture of Little at around 5 mths, barely sitting up smiling like crazy and bald! He asked if I missed that baby and I replied, "Yes because I could squish him and he wouldn't beat me up afterward".  

Oh right, I forgot to mention that Little recently realized that Mama can wrestle too, and he doesn't take it easy on me either. 

<3 Mama Chuca 

*Sorry for the double post of photos from our session, but I really loved these pictures and they are the most recent... perfect timing if you ask me!

A Cute Kid

Sorry I was MIA yesterday, Tia Lorri and I took Little out for his 2 year old photos.  We set out super early to one of my favorite places, Herman Park right by the zoo, and let him wander around.  We marveled at the fountain, watched the ducks and took a stroll. 

When we got there it was nice out, there was a cool breeze and the sun was barely peeking through the clouds.  That quickly changed, so Tia Lorri took as many photos as she could before the wind died down and the sun really started staring at us!  I think she did an amazing job with this kid, because well.. as you can see it is hard catching him sometimes.  Im still going through them and I have to lighten a few up (sneaky sun) but I just had to share a couple of them here.  Please excuse my excessive gushing in the next couple of lines--- OMG Isn't he soooo adorable?! I can't believe how big this little guy is, why is he so cute?? That outfit fits him perfectly and looks awesome!!--- Ok done, once I pick a few that Im sending out to family I will definitely post them here. 

Here is a funny story that I almost forgot to share- Every morning when I drop off Little at daycare there is one little girl (a bit older) in the room that says hello to him and touches his arm as he walks by.  Well last Friday he sits right in front of her and next to another little girl his age.  As the older girl starts to say hello and reaches to touch his arm, the younger girl next to him says "NO! mine!" and puts her hand there instead.  Little didn't seem to notice either girl, he was concentrating on his stuffed weenie dog he brought for Pajama Day.  To this story Dada says "Its starting already", I happen to think its his lack of a full head of hair that makes little girls think he is still a baby and thats why they gush!! 

<3 Mama Chuca

*In case you were wondering: 

tee & shorts- Target / cap & shoes- Baby Gap

A Very Happy Birthday.

I have a whole mess of photos to add to this little blog! Not only did we have Little's birthday party on Saturday but Dada and I took Little to Moody Gardens yesterday as a special birthday surprise!  Im catching up on some work and going through pictures, I promise Ill have some here very soon!!

I have loads to share but the most important thing is that I have a happy healthy beautiful 2 year old boy.  How did I get so lucky to have this guy in my life? Why were Dada and I blessed, we have no idea but we are fully aware. 

Happy Birthday to my darling Jude. 

<3 Mama Chuca

Scramble Mode

13 months

14 months 

15 months 

16 months

17 months

18 months

19 months

20 months

21 months

22 months

23 months

24 months

With only 2 more days til Little's birthday party, Im pretty much in party/scramble mode right now.  Just finishing up a few last details like checking the grocery list one more time, going over the to do list and crossing off the projects that I didn't have a chance to get to.  Today Im printing out the photos above for a small photo banner, so guests can see how much this guy has changed.

The ole laptop is giving me more and more problems as of late, so thats why I've been a little behind and lacking in the photo department.  Hopefully, Dada can take a look and see what the problem is so I  can get back to adding awesome photos of Little once again!!

Btw: look at that adorable baby, he has grown so much!! I honestly don't remember him being so chubby and squishy.

<3 Mama Chuca

Party Progress

Hello all!
So my laptop is acting pretty wonky because I have yet to put all of my old work onto our hard drive. I know I know its soo bad of me!! To bring me to my point, I used iPhoto to tweak the photos a bit so the colors are a little off today (especially in the invite photo).  I usually only need to brighten them because I often take pictures with horrible lighting!

I just wanted to give a little peek of the invite I created for Little's second birthday.  I wanted the invite to match the party, simple and sweet.  I really only handed out invites to grandparents and the rest of the  family was pretty much word of mouth, like I said its a very small party.  The big number two is a DIY I'm working on for the party table or the door (haven't decided).  I just wanted to show a little progress  and a couple of cute pictures of my Little.

LOOK at that curl, I want to throw a party just for that one curl alone!! When you have a kid who's hair grows slower than grass you get excited for these things! I just want to cut it off and keep it in my purse!!! But I won't, Ill leave it be. Promise.

On a very special note: Today is my parents 15th wedding anniversary!! Math off a bit? Well 15 years ago Papaw and Gramma (who was just called Mama then) got married and we got the best Dad we could ever ask for!! Thank you to both Papaw and Gramma for giving us an amazing childhood.  At this very moment they are off on a road trip to celebrate like the youngins they are!!

8 more days till the birthday party... scramble mode ON!
<3 Mama Chuca