Raining Cats & Dogs

One of our many rainy day activities includes driving a short distance to the local Humane Society to visit the dogs and cats. Esperanza and I took a trip there last week for a little browsing of the animals. It had been awhile since our last visit so I was a bit surpised when we were greeted by a woman as soon as we walked in. We told her we were just looking, something fun to do on a rainy day. She wasn't impressed. She provided us with some fairly strict rules: make sure to disinfect your hands after you touch a cat and before you touch another cat! I could swear she smirked a little as she looked down at Esperanza. For a 2 year old, this means constant disinfecting! The lady followed us around like a hawk, glaring at me the few times that Esperanza's hands were quicker than mine and she touched a cat without disinfecting her hands first. So, I carried a gallon of their disinfecting goo around with us and squirted a dab on Esperanza's hands every few seconds, or just whenever that woman was looking...if anythings gonna get those kitty's sick, it's that goo!

Despite the rules, we had a good time and met a lot of furry animals.

If we were to have taken any animal home, it would have been this sweet girl. Too bad I don't like dogs.

I Love Lucy

My Very Own Cinderella

As I was replenishing my containers & bottles of home made cleaning supplies this evening, Esperanza got excited about getting involved in my little project. She loves to clean, cook and do laundry. I do hope this phase lasts her awhile because she's got many, many years before she's allowed to go to the ball and meet some fairy tale prince. About 25 actually. And don't think I won't lock her up. Still a princess though.

I gave her a few squirt bottles of water, a rag and a towel. For the next hour (yes, it was at least that long) she cleaned the table, the bench and parts of the floor.

Lucy disappeared not long after the squirt bottles came outAnd all her hard work was rewarded with cookies

Bedtime Bubbles

Blowing bubbles isn't typically part of the bedtime routine. Esperanza will do anything though to prolong the inevitable moment we climb into bed for the night. I often give in. Sometimes it's for a snack, one last book, jumping on the bed, a drink of water, tickles, searching high and low for a certain stuffed animal and last night it was bubbles...

She likes to eat the bubbles

And In Other February News

We went to a wedding. Armando's sister Cathy married Camerino. They make a beautiful couple, had a long beautiful ceremony, threw the biggest party after and honeymooned in Hawaii. Esperanza had a hard time sitting threw the long Catholic ceremony, but was happy to run wild once it was over. Here she is with her cousin Zeke and she's wearing a dress her Grandma Angelina made for her.

Esperanza and I keep on cookin'...oh, and I knit her that super cute headband that she hates! I had to bribe her to wear it..."if you want to help cook, we have to pull your hair back."

The Rodeo finally died...

We were hit with a big, huge, media hyped 'February Storm'. You can see for yourself just how big this storm was by all the snow on the ground pictured below. We actually did get a little more, but as usual it melted, then froze, then it was gone all within 24 hours. It was on a day that Esperanza wasn't feeling well & by the time she did want to check out the snow, it was all gone.

I continue to grow our little boy and love being pregnant! My friend Alisha from Alisha Photo snapped a few belly shots while we were visiting with her a few weeks ago. I think I was about 22 weeks here. We're gonna do another photo shoot when I'm bigger and I might even decide to brush my hair.
I've decided to get some knitting projects finished before starting any new ones. I finished Esperanza's sweater first, and that inspired me to get back to mine. Knitting a toddler sized sweater is much quicker than knitting up an adult sized sweater. Low and behold, I put the final knit stitches on it last night!!! Yay. However, I do still need to block it, stitch up the seams and sew some buttons on it. It'll still be awhile. Either way, I can finally say I'm done knitting my sweater (just can't wear it yet).

We're still sick. And when I say still, I mean since about October-ish, off and on. Our immune systems have been useless the past several months. This particular bug has been with us for almost 2 weeks now. Esperanza has it the worse and has spent several days off and on laying in bed sleeping. I gave her some super high doses of vitamin D for two days along with homeopathic Phosphorus which has helped alot with her runny nose. She freaked out when I tried the warming socks and a castor oil pack the other night so her cough is still really bad and today he has a fever. I may end up taking her in to see Catherine if she doesn't perk up a lot more soon.
We went to visit my sister, her kids and her horse a few weeks ago. Here is Esperanza and Anycia riding a horse.

We have another artist in the family. Here she is painting a picture for Neva before we left home to visit her.

Esperanza has finally started to show a little bit of interest in using the toilet. She's far from wanting to use it consistently, but it's a start and she got a lolipop for going pee in the potty here (not sure why she has her shoes in her hand, but no, those were not a reward for using the potty).

Also, after 3 months of care at the VA Rehab Center, George was finally released to go home during the middle of February. There was yet another set back though after being home just a week and he went back into the hospital to get treated for an infection. He'll be home again soon, but the infection still needs to clear up. Keep him in your thoughts, it is crucial that this infection heals or he may loose his other leg.

25 Weeks

My neighbor crochets and made this super soft & cute blanket for Blue. Our first baby boy gift! Decided my blog could use a belly picture too.

Ta-Da

I finished knitting Esperanza's sweater!

It took me 6 months! Good thing it's several sizes too big. The time, energy & money put into it was totally worth it - she LOVES it!

She picked out the buttons, doggies & kitties
Did I say she LOVES it!

It sure does feel good to complete a project like that AND get the added benefit of Esperanza being as excited about it as she is. She might even get a matching hat soon.

February Friends

As usual, we've been out and about lately, hangin' with some friends. We've even had a few friends over to play with us. Esperanza is much more social than I am, and always asks to go 'bye-bye'. Every now and then, I give in and we leave the house.

We went to Val's daughter Annabelle's 9th birthday party recently. It was pirate themed! As Annabelle opened her gifts, Esepranza was right next to her. Val had all kinds of games and yummy treats for the kids. Esperanza was feeling a little under the weather, so she spent most of her time snuggled on my lap and occassionally got up to steal a little girls stuffed horse and burn off energy she didn't have.

Happy birthday!

We had a very brief dusting of snow early in the month that melted at our house shortly after we woke up. Fortunately for us, it was on a day that we planned on heading to a higher elevation to visit with my friend Sarah and her 2 year old Michael. Michael was already outside playing in the little bit of snow when we got there.

That same Michael came to visit with us one day while his mama went to work. He's such a sweet little boy...if I have a boy half as easy as he is, I'll be one happy mama. A little wild, but completely drama and attitude free.

Mando takes Esperanza over to his sisters house often to play with her cousins Rafael & Sergio Jr. When they go, I usually stay home and use the opportunity to have 'me' so I rarely get any pictures of these 'play dates'. Mando had my camera for some reason one day thoough and snapped this photo of his cousin Lucy's baby that was over there (we can't remember her name but she'd be Esperanza's second cousin I think). She's a cutie - half Mexican & half Korean. This is the usual crowd. Esperanza and her stuffed friends playing together at home. She's getting really good at playing by herself (I mean, with her 'friends').
We went to visit a good friend Alisha and her daughter Adalaide this month also. Adalaide is about 4 months younger than Esperanza (and born at home with the assistance of the same midwives). She's just as spunky as Esperanza and is even taller by just a hair. When they get together they battle a lot over everything, but still end up having a good time.

See, they do love each other

We also stopped and visited with Jai, Yasmina and Jenny after a prenatal visit with my midwife last week. Jai is also about 4 months younger than Esperanza. He and his little sister were also home birthed with Catherine as the midwife (and there you have the connection between Alisha, Jenny and I). I didn't get any photos of Jai and Esperanza when we were there recently, but I did decide to borrow this beautiful shot from Jenny's FB page. Love you!

Hope to see all our friends again soon. We love you!