terrible twos

Mister Maddox turned two a few weeks ago.  He is a handful most days and kicked off the twos like a boss.  I can already tell the terrible twos will hold true for him.  Poor kid goes to time out no less than three times a day.  He started biting.  Carson looks like he was attacked by a bear, he has bite marks all over his back to show for it.  He is now in a toddler bed because he would not stay in his crib any longer.  He naps in the bed really well but it takes him about an hour to fall asleep at night.  On most nights he is and was ripping all the socks, underwear, diapers and wipes out (not just the container-every single wipe).  Or I'll go in and find him in Carson's bed.  He also likes to rip the monitor out of the wall and then the parent unit beeps like the house is burning down.  This also means that now he is wide awake and in my room at 6am.  To which I promptly return him to his bed kicking and screaming.  I'm sorry-I have a rule that we do not wake before 7am in this house. He is exhausting.

The dozen or so of words he has, turned into a hundred or more and he will even put four words together.  He can ask for things and tells me what he is feeing.  One day he woke up and started calling "bra-bo" aka Carson by his name. "Cah-sten".  A little piece of me died that day!  He calls me Jenny sometimes too. And baby is now getting called "Why-dit."  He knows a lot of his colors and can count to 5.  He is interested in using the toilet.  He is still in a diaper, as the pediatrician advised me not to train him quite yet.  But he tells me when he has to go and is actually successful 50-60% of the time.  Hopefully he'll be a breeze to potty train.  He has no fear and will try almost anything without hesitation.   He loves to help me with chores and even got his own vacuum for his birthday.  He is a lover and a Mamas boy at the moment.

Jared had drill in Housron on his actual birthday so we spent the 11th with Caroline, Finn and Mary.  It was a beautiful day so we played at the park, had chick-fil-a for lunch (his favorite) and made him cake-pops for a birthday treat.  

 We celebrated a few days later at Pump It Up. They boys made their own pizza for lunch and we had cake and presents that afternoon.  Minus him being in time out 10 times that morning and not wanting to share his new presents with his brother and cousin-it was a great day celebrating our two year old little boy. 

2013: a year in review

2013 proved to be a wonderful.  We had so many life changing events happen to our family.  And 3 seemed to be a good number for us.

We welcomed our 3rd son, Wyatt Miguel on August 21 (2+1=3) , 2013.  He is named after his uncle, Daren Miguel who also is a 3rd born son. I was in labor for 3 hours and he was born at 11:13 am.  We were surprised to find out I was pregnant with him on New Years Eve 2012.  Wyatt was the missing piece of the puzzle and he rounds out our family so well.  He is happy-go-lucky and very social.  The boys adore him and Carson told me the other day "Mom I'm so glad we have a baby.  He is so cute." I couldn't agree more!  I thank God everyday for giving him to us. 

Maddox turns TWO in 11 days!  I feel as though I have blinked and two years have flown by.  He is wild, energetic and fiesty but he is so caring, loving and thoughtful for a 2 year old.  He waits, each morning in the kitchen for me to fix his milk.  I hand his milk to him and instead of running to the couch, cuddling up and guzzling his milk, he waits for Carson's cup as well and delivers it to him.  He is alert to Wyatt's every need and even if Wyatt isn't fussing, he is shoving a binkie in his mouth.  His speech has exploded in the last week and he is talking like crazy.  He refers to Carson as "bra-bo" but the other day he actually called him "Ca-sen."  And while it was so cute to hear him say Carson's name I was hoping he would call him "bra-bo" until he is 40.  I'm just hoping he defies the terrible two's and actually makes them the terrific two's for my sanity.

Carson started preschool in September and seems to enjoy it.  He dreads chapel on Thursday morning, I'm not sure why but it seems as though most of the little boys dislike it. So typical.  My cautious child seems to be a talkative one and I think he gets reminded often by his teacher to use his inside voice.  Typical Hidalgo.  And although he is loud I am told he is a good listener.  He is interested in spelling, can almost write his name and loves to be read to.  He is happy, silly and in no rush.  Our lack of friends in Texas has made our boys very close.  They fight like cats and dogs but most of the time they play very well together.  I love hearing Carson tell me "Maddox is my best friend" Or today when it was time for Maddox to take his nap he begged me to let him stay up and play.  I hope that all 3 boys remain best buds forever. 

  

Jared just graduated from the academy on December 13th. I am so proud of him for being so successful at all that he does and for being a great provider, hard working husband and father.  He is working 3rd shift and it has been an adjustment for all of us.  Change takes time and we'll find a rhythm soon enough.

We completed our 3rd (another one!) cross country move from California to Texas and are enjoying the lone star state.  It is no San Clemente but when I win the lotto I'll move back.  An added bonus was having Miles and Caroline in Texas, just an hour north of us.  Over the past 8 years Caroline has become my best friend.  Caroline was at Wyatt's birth and I was with her when she delivered her 3rd child as well.  When they move this coming spring I may need Prozac.  

I couldn't ask for a better year.  It was the first year in awhile that something awful didn't happen to us. I can only hope 2014 will be as great to our family as 2013 was.  

37 weeks bumpin'

240 newborn diapers waiting in the nursery 

160 baby heart beats per minute

104 today's temperate 

21 days until baby's due date

6lbs 14oz is the baby's current estimated weight

4 ultrasounds done

3 fudgesicles consumed by Mama 

2 big brothers excited to meet their baby brother

1 new diaper bag purchased 

1 teething toddler 

0 items packed in the hospital bag

be kind

Kindness

"One of the greatest acts you can bestow upon another.  If some one is in need.  Lend them a helping hand.  Do not wait for a thank you.  True kindness lies with in the act of giving with out the expectation of something in return."

*****

Recently I took the boys to the Cedar Rock Railroad.  It is a fantastic quarter-scale train that takes passengers on a 1.3 mile ride through the nature-filled fields of the Williamson County Regional Park.  The boys are both obsessed with trains and it had been a particularly great morning.  Everyone was well behaved and getting along nicely.  As we pulled up to the train depot I realized I only had a $1 bill in my wallet.  I didn't think too much of it and figured I could just pay with my debit card.  After all, the farmer at the farmers market can swipe my card on his iPhone.

We waited in a small line at the depot for the train to come back and pick us up.  As I approached the conductor he informed me that he only accepted cash for the train tickets.  I told him that it wasn't a problem and I would come back with cash.  I held Carson's hand and as I was about to tell him we needed to go find an ATM, a woman behind me, who had just gotten off the train said "I want to buy your tickets."  I was shocked that a perfect stranger would offer such a thing.  I thanked her but told her, she didn't need to do that.  She said "no I insist."  She pointed to my big round belly and said "I have been there and I know how hard it is to be pregnant and have little ones.  Please I want to pay for you."  

She would not take no for an answer.  As she handed the conductor the $5 for our train tickets, I had tears in my eyes (I am a very emotional pregnant woman).  I don't know her nor does she know me but we both know the daily struggles of motherhood.   I was so taken aback by her gracious gesture and I thanked her about 20 times.  I just wanted to hug her.  I kept my hands to myself but I just hope that mother knows how much her random act of kindness meant to me that day.  

It reminded me that there are still kind people in the world.  I immediately felt compelled to pay it forward so on the way home I drove thru Starbucks, got Carson a cake pop and paid for the woman behind me.  

I don't care if the boys grow up to be doctors or janitors.  But I do want them to be gracious.  I want them to be as kindhearted as the woman who bought our train tickets.  To be genuinely nice men.  That would make me the happiest mother.  

happy July 5th

A year ago today, I looked like this.  Bald and pale with bags under my eyes.  Carson sent me this picture of himself while I sat in my recliner hooked up to bags of poison that would save my life (a  picture that still bring me to tears.)  I was at chemo a year ago today.  It was one of my worst treatments in terms of how sick it made me but it was one of my happiest.  Before my 5th on the 5th of July, I learned that not only was chemotherapy working but I had gotten a full response from it!  BEST NEWS I HAVE EVER RECEIVED.

I get to tuck my boys into bed every night and kiss Jared before the day is done.  Something I never take for granted even on my worst Mommy days.  I am here.  I am healthy and on top of it all I got to hear our unborn son's heart beat today. 

 So the 5th of July does get even better. 

           

30 weeks bumpin'

145 baby heartbeats per minute

95 the average tempature in Austin this month

70 days until my due date

16 the approximate length in inches of no. 3

10 elephants items in the nursery 

5 names seriously discussed

4 ultrasounds

3 infant sleepers purchased 

2 naps taken by mommy

1 case of baby hiccups

1 toddler who crawled out of his crib

1 minivan purchased

0 glasses of wine consumed

superhero

Enough said!  Jared is a superhero, well almost.  Technically he is a cadet superhero but in the eyes of Carson and Maddox he already has super powers.  He is selfless, kind and determined.  All things I hope my boys become.  Though, life isn't easy, the one thing I can count on is that he will always be at my side.  I couldn't have chosen a better partner in crime.  Thank you for all you do to love and provide for our family.    

It is also fun to watch my own Father being a Grandpa to the boys.  The joy that the boys and my Dad (and Mom too) get from each other is a very cool thing to see.  

Happy Fathers Day to all the great Fathers in our lives.