What makes a Mother?

Its hard to miss, and completley unavoidable. Its Mothers day once again. I remember back in my previous life when I was pregnant on Mothers day and recieved my first Mothers day cards. I kept thinking that Mothers day was meant for those people that had children running around. My how niave I was then, living in my world without the concept of loss or complication. I lived without any idea of the sacrafice that is made for children.

Sitting here now, a handful of years and a few unfullfilled due dates later I ponder the question again. What makes a Mother? Is it the process of expelling life from you Uterus? Is it the long nights staying up comforting a sick child? Is it the daily injections, Pills and procedures to try and create life? Is it letting go of everything you had planned willingly to give your fetus a fighting chance? Is it driving to the airport, flying to a foreign country or taking in a child with no genetic similarity to you?

Seriously, what makes a Mother?

All of the above are mothers to me. Also including people with no earthly or heavenly babies who comfort and provide for others. The people with furbabies and Godbabies. Those are Mothers.

On this Mama’s day I am going to try and enjoy it. Baby Bean is kicking up a storm, the sun is shining through the living room windows, and I get the priveledge of be a Mama. Life is good today. It will be ok.

So to everyone, Happy Mother’s Day. And especially to my Mother who has flown across country to “Bedrest Babysit” me, I send extra thanks and love!

Happy Birthday to my sister

Today my baby sister turns 19! I can barely believe it. I remember 19 years ago coming to the hospital to visit her for the first time, and I knew then that my life would be changed forever.

It has been so interesting watching her grow and change. And I have to say that I love the relationship that we have right now.

TO my Little Bratty Sister,

Happy Birthday! I love you and I am so glad that your survived all those little attempts I made to send you back! I couldnt imagine my life without you in it. THank you for being my first kiddo, and letting me screw you up (it saves my kids!) I cant wait to see all the big changes you are going to make this year!

Happy 19th! I hope it is the best year yet and that all your wishes come true!

Love,

Your Big Evil Sister

Me as the gypsy holding my baby sister

Me holding my brand new baby sister just days after she was brought home!

Happy First Anniversary!!

Today marks one glorious year of marriage to the most amazing man in the universe.

Its obvious to most that we decided to get married on Valentines day. And we get asked by many people why we chose that day, so here is my reasoning…. Both my husband and I feel that love should be expressed every day and so should appreciation so neither of us have a particular use for Valentines day. And We wanted a day that was memorable, so we chose Valentines.

Other benefits to being married on this day are that there are tons of sales on Jewelry and flowers and men are bombarded by sales ads reminding them to buy their sweethearts THINGS. For women its a little harder since for
Some reason Valentines is all about buying women gifts.

We spent our anniversary very
Low key. The night before we attempted to enjoy a luxurious restaurant with great reviews. I say attempted because I was unable to enjoy much since BB was not in the mood for food. Today we spent the day exploring Legoland and did some shopping for maternity clothes and then saw the movie Its Valentines Day. Great movie! Oh and we had an amazing lunch at Maggiano’s!

The best part of the day was having my Hubby all to myself and getting to have some great laughs!

Happy anniversary my love! Here’s to another 50 of newlywed bliss!!

Planning for the anniversary

Im so excited! In just a couple weeks the Hubby and I will be celebrating our First Wedding Anniversary!

Some days it feels like we have been married for 10 years, especially when you think of everything we’ve done and been through. Other dayd I cant believe its already been a year.

Ive been told that the first year is the hardest, so if that was that hard part then I cant wait to see what the easy stuff is.

Our first year of marriage survived Iraq, family deaths, orders that kept us apart, traveling abroad, and a second set of orders keeping us on separate side of the US. Not to mention Nursing school.

Nursing school alone makes marriage more difficult. The time constraints that studying, clinicals and lecture cause dont leave very much time for romance or being spontaneous. But we manage.

And now here we are, almost a year in and I have to say that I am even more in love with him than I ever.

What did you do for your first anniversary?

Martin Luther King Day

Just wishing everyone a happy Martin Luther King Day. And hoping that today everyone can try to do one act of service.

Im not sure what act of service I will do…perhaps donate to the relief fund for Haiti. I strongly encourage everyone to do something! Share here what all you did!

Pictures Pictures…

Yup...he's in a coffin.

Look....Im in a coffin!

While we were in California on Vacation (on one of my many mini vacations) we went to Old Towne San DIego and walked around and saw the sights. It also happened to be right before the Day of the Dead celebration so there were alot of decorations up for that special event! So interesting, and very fun!

My new friend

My amazing hubby surprised me with this beauty as a back to school gift!

Im becoming a huge Coach bag fan!

Merry Christmas!

We are spending Christmas at Disneyland with my amazing Mother-in-law and one of the Tia’s!

Pictures to follow!

Hope everyone is having a great Christmas day with family!

Other traditions

Some things make me homesick, one thing in particular at this time of year. That thing is a smell, and a sound…combined they make up the holiday for me.

Cinnamon rolls and the noise of the mall. My family has a tradition of going to the mall every year on christmas eve and we sit and watch the crazy last minute shoppers.

This year is different. This year is the hustle and bustle of the in-laws household. Cousins comng over, family talking, and kids laughing. Lots of kids laughing! That has to be one of my favorite smells in the world.

And even with all the wonderful sounds and fabulous smells, I miss my family. I miss my puppies, and I totally miss the smells of my holiday traditions. Next year we will have to learn to integrate…..but we will be at NewHome, so I guess I will be tasked with ways of bringing both of our traditions into the house.

What are your holiday traditions?

What better way to celebrate the holiday then by going to the zoo!

Off to the zoo we go!!

I wanna see the monkeys!! Pictures to follow!

Christmas is in the air

I love when I can drive in the car and stations are playing Christmas music. There is just something soothing about it.

Jingle bells, santa baby, o holy night…. They all bring smiles to my face.

My final exam is over. Life is good! Only two clinicals left and then I have finished fall quarter!! Yipppeee!!

5pm…..

We’ve all napped and are now about to eat dinner with the Madrinas. Seriously wish I could remember how long it takes to digest food, guess I didnt pay enough attention in nutrition!

Dinner with the neices, nephews, cousins and madrinas! Yummy and so much fun!

In other news, Ive managed to dodge the baby question the entire day! Not one person has asked us about when we are going to have kids! Not one!! What a great day!

Now to celebrate….Margaritas!!

Yum

Best thankful ever…

Tiff: Honey what are you Thankful for today?

Hubby: Happiness….

Tiff: thats perfect!!

Hubby: you are my Happiness.

-now tell me that isnt the most perfect think to hear at 4am!

Happy Turkey Day!!

Its a little after 4 am and my household is up and moving.

Off to my inlaws house to start cooking before the cousins and neices and nephews start showing up!

What does your family do for turkey day breakfast?

Will you watch the game? The parade?the dog show?

Fall Holiday festival

We spent today enjoying the local holiday festival! What fun!! There were a ton of vendors selling everything from jewelry and quilts to every type of food you can imagine!

Bavarian Bratwurst!

Caramel rocky road apple supreme!

We had a wonderful time supporting local merchants and then stopped at the whole foods market on the way home to get some organic produce. It was the perfect fall day!

And how did I manage to screw it up? Well, you know those stark white scrubs we have to wear for clinicals? Yeah those horrible marshmellow suit looking uniform…well, I washed mine with a pen in the pocket and ruined an entire set. I dont know where my brain was. So now I am attempting to do some damage control and wipe away my tears.

So to try and make it better the Hubby and I opened a bottle of wine and are snuggling down to watch a movie on our super HD TV!! I love Blue Ray!!

Did I mention Happy Halloween?

The cutest costume ever!

Happy Daddy’s Day to the worlds best Dad.

Dear Dad,

Thank you for always being the shoulder I can cry on, the hug I can run to, and my never ending cheer leader! I love you more than words can say!!

As far back as I can remember you have been there encouraging me to be better, follow my dreams, and to achieve my goals.

Even when Ive screwed up (and I know I have!) you made sure that I knew how much you loved me.

Not a day goes by that I dont talk to you. Thank you for being not only my Dad but my friend.

I love you,

Your Oldest

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Also A happy Fathers Day to my Wonderful Husband, All the Uncles(You too Tio Todd!), Grandfathers(Both on the groud and in Heaven), and to my Father-in-law (Who I know is looking down at his son with pride).

We love you all!

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And a final Happy Fathers Day to all the soon to be Dads, Dads of furbabies, and oneday Dads!

Happy Fathers Day everyone!