Monday, November 14, 2011
Thankful 13
Day 13: I am thankful I am able to stay home with my family. We definitely don't have the financial freedom we once did, but getting to be with my kids all the time and not have to leave them screaming for me at a sitter's house is priceless. I feel like I missed so much with the older two because I was working all the time. There are days I feel like I might rip my hair out but if that ever happens, I'd rather rip it out over my kids than over a job.
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Thankful 12
Day 12: I am thankful for my grandparents. I am so fortunate to still have them and they are able to be a big part of my kids' lives. They are two of the neatest people with some incredible stories. My grandma is an incredible cook. I've never eaten anything she has made that I haven't liked. My grandpa is the most hardworking man I know and he would never complain about it. I hope they stick around for a long time but I cherish every moment I get with them.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thankful 11
Day 11: I am thankful for men and women who are willing to put their lives on the line for complete strangers. That, to me, is the ultimate act of selflessness. Thank God for people who are willing to do this...to protect our country, to fight for our country, to fight against injustice around the world and to proudly represent our great nation. I am so proud of my cousin Austin serving in the Air Force.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Thankful 10
Day 10: I am thankful for friends. We have so many wonderful friends and I am so thankful that they would all be there in a heartbeat if we needed them. They are all the type that we can go days, weeks and even months without talking and then pick back up like no time has passed at all. Most of them are just as busy with life as we are and all of them are understanding. I am blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by people who love life.
Thankfulness
I've wanted to "join the club" and write a note of gratitude each day this month but I've been finding reasons not to. How silly. I used to keep a gratitude journal and it's high time I started again. I will begin reforming that habit by joining the thanks train.
Day 1: I am thankful for my partner in crime, my best friend, my husband...Nicholas. We have been through so much together - especially this last year - and I can't imagine a more perfect person to be sharing this journey with.
Day 2: I am thankful for a personal, meaningful relationship with God. He is so good and I am ecstatic to have renewed my faith in the last year. So much happened that I would not have made it through without Him holding my family and I and being able to rely on His strength instead of my own.
Day 3: I am thankful for my mom. Of course because she gave me life, but also because I can't imagine a better best friend. She understands me like nobody else, we think the same way and can finish each others' sentences. She is my hero. I wish everyone had such an inspiring person to not only look up to or consider a friend, but to call a parent.
Day 4: I am thankful for Madyson Alyx Cruz. My firstborn, my "squirt". She amazes me more every day. I am so glad God picked me to be her mommy. She has so much love to give and she radiates joy. She learns things lightning fast and at 4 years old understands what being a good Samaritan is and wants to do things "because it's the right thing to do". She is a gentle, kind and (mostly) patient big sister. I adore watching her "mommy" her younger siblings and know she will see her younger siblings as I do mine - her first attempt at parenting. I am so proud of her and love watching her grow into an incredible little girl.
Day 5: I am thankful for Daegan Nicholas Cruz. My only boy, middle baby, "Bam Bam". He is such a loving little man! I wish every mom got hugs as sweet as his. He is also absolutely hilarious. He does and says some of the most random stuff and makes some incredibly goofy faces. I love his "oh man" every time he fails to hit the foam baseball with his little bat (which is most of the time - he's 2). I love how he tip toes when I ask him to be quiet; I love that he is a pirate most days; I love that he loves Michael Jackson; I love that he absolutely adores his baby sister. There can't be many things in this world more precious than a 2-year-old being protective of his baby sis. I am proud to be his mommy and am thrilled to watch him continue to grow into a little man.
Day 6: I am thankful for Lillian Faith Cruz. My baby girl, my "Lillybug". When God decided to give us our surprise blessing, we had no idea what we were in for. She gave us simultaneously the best and worst year of our lives. Our family was completed with a funny, loving, happy baby girl. We also had a year containing 3 surgeries, 10 months of colostomy bag and so many unanswered questions. Ultimately we ended up with a completely healthy baby and closer relationships with God all around. She has been our little angel. She is so strong and resilient. And I'm not sure there has ever been a happier baby. She adores her older siblings and it's precious watching her as she tries to emulate them now. She has filled all of our lives with so many blessings.
Day 7: I am thankful for my brother, Rob. Even though he is younger, I learned a lot from him growing up. I loved watching him play sports and was devastated when he gave them all up as we got older. He was always so protective of my mom, sister and I and still is. His smile can light up a room and his laugh is infectious. I love watching him with my kids and our nephew. He's going to make the best daddy someday. He is so full of love and life and has a fantastic sense of humor. I'm glad we get to journey through life as family.
Day 8: I am thankful for my baby sis, Lauren. Though we were more worst of enemies growing up, now we are best of friends. She is an amazing young woman who has rolled with the punches of life extremely well and I admire her adaptability daily. She is so sunny and caring. I loved watching her with animals growing up and now I love watching her with my nephew. She's such a great little mommy and though I like to give her a hard time for being a people-pleaser, it's also one of the things I love most about her. She has always done an excellent job of keeping the peace. She's a selfless wife and I admire the woman she has become. I am so proud.
Day 9: I am thankful to be an aunt to 6 of the most amazing children. My baby sis give me Logan who is crazy, funny, loving, giggly and ornery. My sis-in-law Kami gave me Kadan who is hilarious, sweet, sensitive, kind, giving and talented as well as Brooklyn who is sweet, loving, silly, funny and talented. My sis-in-law Kara gave me Mattea who is silly, sweet, ornery, giving and playful as well as Cecelia who is hilarious, defiant, too grown up and sweet as well as Lydia whom I have yet to meet (she's due to arrive in 2 months)! I am so blessed to have a life surrounded by such amazing children who inspire me every day to be a better person.
So I am officially caught up! Whew! I can't believe it but I could still go on! I guess I won't have any trouble completing this challenge...other than punctuality! :)
Day 1: I am thankful for my partner in crime, my best friend, my husband...Nicholas. We have been through so much together - especially this last year - and I can't imagine a more perfect person to be sharing this journey with.
Day 2: I am thankful for a personal, meaningful relationship with God. He is so good and I am ecstatic to have renewed my faith in the last year. So much happened that I would not have made it through without Him holding my family and I and being able to rely on His strength instead of my own.
Day 3: I am thankful for my mom. Of course because she gave me life, but also because I can't imagine a better best friend. She understands me like nobody else, we think the same way and can finish each others' sentences. She is my hero. I wish everyone had such an inspiring person to not only look up to or consider a friend, but to call a parent.
Day 4: I am thankful for Madyson Alyx Cruz. My firstborn, my "squirt". She amazes me more every day. I am so glad God picked me to be her mommy. She has so much love to give and she radiates joy. She learns things lightning fast and at 4 years old understands what being a good Samaritan is and wants to do things "because it's the right thing to do". She is a gentle, kind and (mostly) patient big sister. I adore watching her "mommy" her younger siblings and know she will see her younger siblings as I do mine - her first attempt at parenting. I am so proud of her and love watching her grow into an incredible little girl.
Day 5: I am thankful for Daegan Nicholas Cruz. My only boy, middle baby, "Bam Bam". He is such a loving little man! I wish every mom got hugs as sweet as his. He is also absolutely hilarious. He does and says some of the most random stuff and makes some incredibly goofy faces. I love his "oh man" every time he fails to hit the foam baseball with his little bat (which is most of the time - he's 2). I love how he tip toes when I ask him to be quiet; I love that he is a pirate most days; I love that he loves Michael Jackson; I love that he absolutely adores his baby sister. There can't be many things in this world more precious than a 2-year-old being protective of his baby sis. I am proud to be his mommy and am thrilled to watch him continue to grow into a little man.
Day 6: I am thankful for Lillian Faith Cruz. My baby girl, my "Lillybug". When God decided to give us our surprise blessing, we had no idea what we were in for. She gave us simultaneously the best and worst year of our lives. Our family was completed with a funny, loving, happy baby girl. We also had a year containing 3 surgeries, 10 months of colostomy bag and so many unanswered questions. Ultimately we ended up with a completely healthy baby and closer relationships with God all around. She has been our little angel. She is so strong and resilient. And I'm not sure there has ever been a happier baby. She adores her older siblings and it's precious watching her as she tries to emulate them now. She has filled all of our lives with so many blessings.
Day 7: I am thankful for my brother, Rob. Even though he is younger, I learned a lot from him growing up. I loved watching him play sports and was devastated when he gave them all up as we got older. He was always so protective of my mom, sister and I and still is. His smile can light up a room and his laugh is infectious. I love watching him with my kids and our nephew. He's going to make the best daddy someday. He is so full of love and life and has a fantastic sense of humor. I'm glad we get to journey through life as family.
Day 8: I am thankful for my baby sis, Lauren. Though we were more worst of enemies growing up, now we are best of friends. She is an amazing young woman who has rolled with the punches of life extremely well and I admire her adaptability daily. She is so sunny and caring. I loved watching her with animals growing up and now I love watching her with my nephew. She's such a great little mommy and though I like to give her a hard time for being a people-pleaser, it's also one of the things I love most about her. She has always done an excellent job of keeping the peace. She's a selfless wife and I admire the woman she has become. I am so proud.
Day 9: I am thankful to be an aunt to 6 of the most amazing children. My baby sis give me Logan who is crazy, funny, loving, giggly and ornery. My sis-in-law Kami gave me Kadan who is hilarious, sweet, sensitive, kind, giving and talented as well as Brooklyn who is sweet, loving, silly, funny and talented. My sis-in-law Kara gave me Mattea who is silly, sweet, ornery, giving and playful as well as Cecelia who is hilarious, defiant, too grown up and sweet as well as Lydia whom I have yet to meet (she's due to arrive in 2 months)! I am so blessed to have a life surrounded by such amazing children who inspire me every day to be a better person.
So I am officially caught up! Whew! I can't believe it but I could still go on! I guess I won't have any trouble completing this challenge...other than punctuality! :)
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Life Took a Chill Pill
My life has taken a chill pill and I am grateful! A month ago I wasn't sure where life was taking me and I was terrified. I had never prayed so hard in my life. I needed answers. I needed a sign of where to head next. God answered my prayers. My hubby came to me out of the blue and said he had been praying and had decided to quit drinking and that the kids and I deserved better. I had said nothing feeling it would fall on deaf ears as it had so many times before. He became helpful and took initiative with the kids. He has apologized numerous times over the last 3 weeks for putting us through what he did. When I have thanked him for being so helpful he tells me he has a lot to make up for and is just trying to be the husband and day that he should have been all along. This has been music to my ears and just the infusion I and my marriage needed to bring us back to life. I had given up hope. I felt like we were roommates. We engaged in meaningless chatter at the end of each day and that was it. We weren't on the same team. Now I feel like we're pretty close to being "us" again. It's wonderful and I am so relieved. I was dreading a future living with a person I didn't like and hardly spoke to but was even more terrified of the alternative. Thank you, God for answering my prayers and bringing my husband back to me!
I've had my nephew for the last 2 1/2 weeks and it has been wonderful getting to spend so much time with him. He's full of energy and tries to break his head every 5 minutes but we are having a blast! I can already tell a difference in him. When he got here, he didn't listen AT ALL and now he listens about half the time. I'll take it. He's also absolutely precious with my kiddos. Especially Lilly. It's like he knows she's smaller and everything she's been through. He's so gentle and loving with her. And she eats it up. She tries to tickle him and kisses him. I'm still working on he and Daegan with the concept of sharing... :\
I'm really looking forward to the Christmas season this year. I think the kids are great ages and I'm feeling much more Christmassy this year now that Lilly's surgeries are behind us. We went to a Christmas show the other night and the kids had a blast. Even Lilly! She was pointing at everything and trying to sing along to some of the songs. Maddy got to go on stage and sit there while they sang a song and Daegan was dancing and clapping the whole time. I'm about ready to put our tree and the lights up. I'm definitely ready to do some holiday baking! Bring on those holiday pounds! :)
I've had my nephew for the last 2 1/2 weeks and it has been wonderful getting to spend so much time with him. He's full of energy and tries to break his head every 5 minutes but we are having a blast! I can already tell a difference in him. When he got here, he didn't listen AT ALL and now he listens about half the time. I'll take it. He's also absolutely precious with my kiddos. Especially Lilly. It's like he knows she's smaller and everything she's been through. He's so gentle and loving with her. And she eats it up. She tries to tickle him and kisses him. I'm still working on he and Daegan with the concept of sharing... :\
I'm really looking forward to the Christmas season this year. I think the kids are great ages and I'm feeling much more Christmassy this year now that Lilly's surgeries are behind us. We went to a Christmas show the other night and the kids had a blast. Even Lilly! She was pointing at everything and trying to sing along to some of the songs. Maddy got to go on stage and sit there while they sang a song and Daegan was dancing and clapping the whole time. I'm about ready to put our tree and the lights up. I'm definitely ready to do some holiday baking! Bring on those holiday pounds! :)
Friday, October 14, 2011
Gaining Ground
The photography business is starting to take off for me! I've been playing for about a year and the word is starting to get out! I did pics of a couple of my good friends with their little man a few days ago and they are so happy with them! I put their pics up on my photo blog, www.cruzviews.blogspot.com . I talked to a couple more of my friends last night that want me to do their family pics the next time the hubby comes back to town. Plus, one of my besties is prego and will be needing some preggie pics this winter. Add to that the fact that the fam I just shot is expecting and I'm going to have some newborn sessions! Yea! Now I need to come up with a logo and all that jazz. Expanding business in a downturned economy = wonderful problem to have.
My baby is 13 months today! That means my big girl will be 5 four months from today with my big man turning 3 two weeks after that! Where is the time going? It's all happening so fast. Maddy is doing basic math and blowing it away. I just hope she's not bored in kindergarten. Hopefully she will have a fabulous teacher. Daegan is finally starting to really get verbal and most people who are around him much at all can understand everything he says. He is also making some serious ground in the potty training department! It will be so nice to only have one child in diapers!
In new news, I get to have my baby nephew in 9 days! He's coming to stay with me/my mom for about a month! Can't wait to get some awesome nephew time in, lots of cousin time and get some great pictures. He's been stuck in Vegas with Daddy but he's had two uncles, a grandma and a friend of the family watching him and no other kid interaction. I'm super excited for him to get some cousin time! Plus I'm going to start weaning him off the binky for my sis. Speaking of my favorite, if only, sister...she got certified at her tower yesterday and was working the runway all by herself! Note to self, don't fly into Cedar Rapids. ;) Totally kidding, Lauren! I'm so proud of her and can't wait for her to get that transfer to Vegas to be with her family. It can't come soon enough. She is so strong. I would have gone crazy by now for sure in her shoes.
My baby is 13 months today! That means my big girl will be 5 four months from today with my big man turning 3 two weeks after that! Where is the time going? It's all happening so fast. Maddy is doing basic math and blowing it away. I just hope she's not bored in kindergarten. Hopefully she will have a fabulous teacher. Daegan is finally starting to really get verbal and most people who are around him much at all can understand everything he says. He is also making some serious ground in the potty training department! It will be so nice to only have one child in diapers!
In new news, I get to have my baby nephew in 9 days! He's coming to stay with me/my mom for about a month! Can't wait to get some awesome nephew time in, lots of cousin time and get some great pictures. He's been stuck in Vegas with Daddy but he's had two uncles, a grandma and a friend of the family watching him and no other kid interaction. I'm super excited for him to get some cousin time! Plus I'm going to start weaning him off the binky for my sis. Speaking of my favorite, if only, sister...she got certified at her tower yesterday and was working the runway all by herself! Note to self, don't fly into Cedar Rapids. ;) Totally kidding, Lauren! I'm so proud of her and can't wait for her to get that transfer to Vegas to be with her family. It can't come soon enough. She is so strong. I would have gone crazy by now for sure in her shoes.
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