A Year In Review

       Another year has passed and I can now say that it went so fast. There is a lot that we were able to do and a lot that we were able to accomplish. I don’t even know how to begin summing things up.  I guess the biggest things that happened this year were:  Devin got accepted into pharmacy school, we took one last vacation and Laila was born.  As for Natalia she keeps getting smarter and more beautiful as the days pass by.

            I guess I need to start back from when Laila was born. She was born on June 14, 2010.  She was just this beautiful chubby baby. Natalia fell in love with her the first minute she saw her in the hospital. Natalia was such a big helper and loved to kiss her, hold her and lay next to her while she told her stories. It was a bigger adjustment than I thought. At the time Natalia was my whole life. We did so many things together and I love being able to spend all day just with her. I love teaching her ABC's, numbers, colors, shapes and playing any game she wanted to play. When Laila came around she needed me just as much as Natalia needed me and I wasn’t getting enough sleep (Natalia would wake up at around 3 times a night and Laila had acid reflex and needed to be held most of the night). I felt like my patients with Natalia were trickling away. Thankfully Natalia would do the sweetest things through out the day to help remind me how much I needed her and how much I love her.  It was also good to have Devin remind me at times that Natalia was only two, a smart two year old, but still only two.

            Now Laila is six months and I can’t imagine my life without either of them. They bring me so much joy and happiness and I am grateful everyday for them. At six months Laila sits up, talks all day long, and loves to give out a very high pitched squeal, she is in the 98% in height and weight. She eats puree foods and loves it, she likes to chew on anything and drools all day long. But the best part of it all is, how happy and smiley she is. Her smile is a very contagious one, when she flashes you a gummy smile you can't resist smiling back. I love that she reminds me everyday that there is so much love to give and love is never-ending.

            Natalia is a little over 2 ½ years old. I hate to brag but she truly is one of the smarts little girls I have ever met. She talks so well and has been talking clearly and in sentences for a long time. She is fully potty trained and has been for almost a year. She knows her letters but forgets at times. She can count anything up to 15 and I think she is beginning to understand basic subtraction and addition. (she will have 4 candies and when she gives me one she says “you have one and I have three”) She loves to dance and can wiggle her hips like you wouldn’t believe and she love to sing. I think one of the things that she does well is comprimising with us. It seems like she always has something better to offer (for instance - If I tell her "Natalia you can have 3 skittles as your treat." Natalia would respond “o.k mom how about I get 2 skittles a cookie.”).Whatever she does and says makes me feel so proud because she truly is a very thoughtful, caring, loving little person. I think one of my favorite things she does right now is when I am upset at her she goes to her room and draws me a picture and then she says “I made this for you are you happy now”

            My children bring me such joy and I have to thank Devin for that! He has made a lot of sacrifices for us so that I can stay home and I am very blessed to have him as my husband. Devin is a hard worker that loves to dream big. The best thing about that is they tend to come true. For a long time before we got accepted I was doubtful that we were going to get into pharmacy school. I don’t know if it was because I was scared or I just wanted to start a real life with a house and a regular, real job. In either case Devin never gave up on the dream.  After graduating he went back to school to take some pharmacy prerequisites, he continued to work and then he decided he would get certified as a pharmacy technician. It seemed like he was bouncing from one place to the next. I am so grateful to say it has worked out. Now we are in pharmacy school and he is gone most of the day and most of the night but he knows this is a another milestone for achieving his next dream. You guys need to understand that I really hate bragging but I just have to say that Devin has received 100% on every test he has taken. I just know that he sets a great example for our family and anyone else that takes the time to get to know him.  I am a kind of person that believes in fairy tales and he is my dream come true.    

I love a good smile!

We went to the airport to check out some really cool airplanes

I got this for Valentine's day, two of my favorite things Natalia and a basket of fruit.

I love this picture because it takes me back to how relaxing it was to be on vacation.

Devin and I really enjoyed our tours in Cancun.

My baby is born just as perfect as I could have hoped for.

First time meeting her sister.

Hanging out!

From the day she was born, Natalia can't stop hugging her.

Reading a book to her Oso (Bear). I wish you could see the clip it is so cute.

Bath time in the sink. It was alot easier then filling up the tub.

Grandma Cheney always knows how to make you feel very special and very loved.

Nap time for both girls.

Our really good friends at Laila's baby blessing.

Her hair has always done its own thing.

Lagoon Day, thanks Grandpa Jackson!

My three favorite people.

I hope we can always remember the good times.