Cracking me up

So, this may be a little too much info, but I just have to share this funny conversation between Emilio and I today while I was trying to nurse Luci because I am still having fits of giggles over it.

Emilio: Mommy, that looks kind of yummy like one of those candies.
Me: What looks yummy?
Emilio (pointing towards my breast): That looks like one of those bumpy candies that you hid for us at Easter time.
Me: My nipple looks like candy? What kind of candy?
Emilio: You know those kind you really liked at Easter that were bumpy.
Me (thinking really hard): OH, you mean those Bumpy Nerds Jelly Beans?
Emilio: Yeah, those, it looks like a bumpy jelly bean.

See Bumpy Nerds Jelly Beans to get the idea.
I'm still cracking up at the comparison of Bumpy Nerds Jelly Beans to my nipples. Thankfully, he didn't ask for a taste because he would have been denied!!!

But, if you do find yourself at the grocery store on the aisle where they have all the Easter Candy 50% off and you happen upon some Bumpy Nerds Jelly Beans, go for it and make the purchase, they were my favorite this season!

Wiggle Worship vs. T-Balll?

On Friday night, John took Emilio to his first T-Ball practice, and I took Gabi to church for Wiggle Worship (a singing performance by all the little ones at church, nothing to do with the singing group The Wiggles thankfully). Emilio was supposed to sing at church as well, but opted for the T-Ball practice instead since he had really been looking forward to starting that up. The only concern he had was making it back in time for "Family Fun Night" after the performances at church (where they had blow up bouncing toys, slushies, hotdogs, etc). So, that was the plan.

Gabi was darling up on stage, singing away and doing all the hand motions. When I retrieved her from the stage she said, "Mommy, I sang really loud for you." She was too cute. The only thing I was disappointed about was that she's short compared to her classmates and so it was difficult to see her. Emilio ended up LOVING his first T-ball practice (too bad we are going to be missing half of the practices and games due to other planned events, trips, etc), and made it back for what John and I deemed "Not so Fun Family Night," only because it was so crowded in the church's gym and hard for the kids to do the activities planned. Next year I think we'll just promise to take the kids to the Bouncy Place on Sat. morning after the Wiggle Worship performance.
Gabi Joy showing off
silly kiddos



and a sweet little bambina for good measure

What the heck?

Today my son came up to me while I was feeding Luci, and announced that he had just eaten an ant. What? We have had those little tiny annoying ants ("piss ants" according to my friend Rachel, because they "piss you off.") in our kitchen lately. The ant traps have done a pretty good job of taking care of the pests, but occasionally you can find a stray one walking about. Anyway, I asked Emilio why he would do such a thing, and if it tasted good. He said he didn't know why he had eaten it, and said it tasted good, but then proceeded to fish half an ant body out of his mouth somehow. Ewww!

Shortly after the "ant" episode, I was zipping up Gabi's sweatshirt before we headed to the park and noticed the tiny jewels missing from her butterfly necklace around her neck (a Christmas present from her Daddy and I). I asked her what happened to the jewels, and she in turn said, "They in my tummy." What? She must of bit them out during rest time. I told her they would have to come out in her poop now, and since then she's been crying periodically through the evening, "I don't wanna have sparkly poo poo." Well, too bad kid, they gotta come out somehow.

You'd think I'd deprived my children of nourishment today with their weird intake choices. What the heck?

Luci June

Luciana is one whole month old today! I can't quite believe her sweet little presence has graced us for a full month already. We are so thankful for her. Emilio & Gabi really seem to dig their little sis, and don't even seem fazed by her crying anymore (when she first arrived Emilio would often tell me, "Mommy, please make that baby stop," when she cried).

Luci weighed 8 lbs 6 ozs at the Dr's office last week, and although she still seems little to us, we can tell she's growing and filling out. She absolutely loves being talked to, is focusing better on faces these days, and started smiling (although it is still seldom) last Friday. She did smile at me three times this morning though, nearly bringing me to tears! She loves being taken outdoors and it seems to calm her. Miss Luci can definitely let us know when she needs something as she's got some good strong lungs and a loud cry, so we can tell she's going to have some sass to her like our other two. She has mostly been having 4-5 hour stretches between feedings at night, with a few occasional "ROUGH" nights here and there. But, I know it won't last forever. And now, presenting... lil' Luci.
Ready to watch TV with Mom & Dad after big bro and sis went to bed.
Napping with Daddy
Lovin' bathtime
Bouncer time
Luci June
Tummy time


Oh, and a cute picture of Luci's big sis, Gabi Joy.

Clean Teeth!

We just returned from the dentist where Emilio and Gabriela (for the first time without freaking out) got their pearly whites all cleaned up. They both did such a fantastic job at being cooperative with the hygienist and dentist today, I was a proud mama. They cracked me up because they both picked out "cookie dough" flavored tooth paste and when the hygienist was using it on them you could see their little tongues following the toothbrush everywhere she used it. They were like little lizards. They also both milked the hygienist for all the toys/prizes possible in the building. They went home with three stickers each, a pencil, a ring, a rubber duck (Emilio picked a lizard though), new toothbrush, floss, gum, and toothpaste, a balloon animal (Gabi had a pink poodle or "ploodle" as she calls it, and Emilio got a green sword), and a prize from the token machine. Whew! It was like coming home from a birthday party, they scored big time! The biggest prize for me was that they didn't have any cavities. Oh, and Luci was good too, she slept through the whole appointment thankfully (although she screamed through our Target errand earlier in the morning).

Happy Easter

We had a nice Easter Sunday with John's parents in town, even though the weather was gross the whole day. The kids found their Easter baskets in the morning. We then went to church and enjoyed the rest of the day at home playing games and watching BOLT for Family Movie Night. We had a pork loin, rebaked potatoes, salad and rolls for dinner and finished it off with angel food cake and strawberries. There was also a lot of candy intake going on with the kids and adults. I'm having to detox myself today because I'm such a sucker for the candy. Here are a few pix of the kids, although it is getting quite difficult with three now to get everyone to cooperate for the camera.


She looks sweet here right? Looks can be deceiving though, as this little jelly bean is getting quite colicky, and cried much of Easter Sunday afternoon, evening and night. Please say a little prayer for her that she'll get over it quickly, for her sake and mine. :)

Easter Eggstravaganza!

Daddy, Grandma, Grandpa and the kiddos dyed Easter eggs today. I was surprised at how entertained Emilio and Gabi were with decorating their eggs today. They loved dipping them in the dye and then putting stickers all over the eggs to make them look fancy.

Pacific Science Center

John's parents arrived from Chicago on Wednesday evening. We took the kids to Seattle on Thursday to the Pacific Science Center and had a blast! The kids loved the dinosaur exhibit, the butterfly house, the naked mole rats display (of all things, those little rodents are UGLY!), and the Under the Sea 3-D IMAX show as well (although Gabi was frightened at certain points in the show and hid under one of Luci's blankies). Here are a few pix from their time there.

Daddy & Daughter

Here is little Luciana hanging with her Daddy a few nights ago. She loves being talked to and is really studying our faces lately.



Oh, and someone is beginning to enjoy her bath time now too.

Oh happy day. . .

We are all loving the weather today, sunny, close to 70 degrees. After church this morning, the kids and I packed up lunches and went down to our park and spent two hours there playing and picnicking. Unfortunately John has had to work on a paper all weekend long that is due tomorrow night, and couldn't go with us. We met some other nice moms and kids at the playground, and soaked in the sunshine! It was really good medicine, especially after a hard night with baby Luci (she was on such a good roll for a few nights of sleeping 4 hour stretches between meals, but last night was rough). Anyway, it has been a great day outdoors with the kids.

Here are a few pix of the kids from the weekend. . .
Emilio said that Luci laid eggs!
Sweet Sleeper
Now, if we could just get this peaceful sleep to happen at night too.
DRAMA

This is how we found Emilio fast asleep last night, his Children's Bible still propped up on his chest.

Highlights

I know I've totally been slacking on updating my blog, but you will all have to cut me some slack because I'm a sleep deprived mama of three now. :) Actually, I can't complain too much. Luci slept two four hours stretches between feedings last night, which was amazing! Now, if only I could count on her being consistent. It isn't in a newborn's nature I'm afraid.
For the most part, things have been going fairly well this first week without my parents around, and with John back to work and school at nights. My sis in law, Emily has been a great help coming over to help with lunch a couple days this week, and I have an awesome group of friends that are bringing me meals every other night (such a blessing since much of my time is consumed with feedings every three hours, wanting to spend time with Emilio & Gabi, and housework). We all feel very loved and fortunate, and a little sleepy too....yawn.

Luciana is a little bundle of love, and we feel so thankful to have her in our lives. John and I are really savoring how itty bitty she is right now because we know that the kiddos get big sooooo fast, especially our babies who tend to love to eat and get rolly polly quickly! We've also all been having fun coming up with nicknames and sayings that revolve around her name. Things like:
"Lucy, I'm home" (said in Ricky Ricardo accent) or
"Lucy, you've got some explaining to do," (also said in Ricky Ricardo accent) or of course, "I love Lucy." We've been tempted to call her "Lucy Loo" and "Lucy Goosey" too and sing, "Lucy in the sky with diamonds" as well. Although our Luci is a little unique because her nickname will be spelled with an "i" instead of a "y." I sometimes call Gabriela, Gabi Joy, and so I've also gotten used to calling Luciana, Luci June. We are happy with her name.

Here are a few highlight pictures from this week and last.
My parents with their FIVE grandchildren before they left. Obviously, my kiddos weren't cooperating.
My dear friends Laurie and her daughter Jenny sent this cookie bouquet to us. Emilio's cookie is a "monkey" and Gabi's is a "pig". Emilio noticed right away that the cookie place misspelled his name, but we assured him it wouldn't change the taste of his cookie. :)
The Three!
Ballerina Girl Gabriela
My friend Julia sent us this onesie before we had Emilio. Now, it is tradition to put it on each child and take a picture.
Luciana is a little more awake this week than last.
"Sisters" My pink ladies. I'm still getting used to the fact that we have two girls! All along I assumed we were having a boy, maybe because that was my family set up (1 girl, 2 boys), so we were so surprised when a little girl came along. We are delighted of course!