Now it's September - WOW

So, it's now September and my Giana is turning 2 on 9/15.

I cannot believe how much time has flied since she was born. I reflect back on her birth-day and just remember how much my life changed because of her. It was 11 hours of labor and worth every minute, contraction, and excrutiating pain! Having a baby in Sept was the best time to be pregnant b/c you're soo pregnant in the summer time. Talk about swelled up all over! Drove me nuts but worth it like I said.

James & I both plan to take Tuesday 9/15 off and spend it with the little one. Maybe take her to Gilroy Gardens, if the weather permits, and let her run wild - which is what she does best.

For a two-year old, Giana is pretty darn smart. A few things she can say/do:
~ ABC song (grant it, she skips letters but she gets the jist)
~ She can count 1-12 in English & Spanish
~ Animals and the sounds they make
~ Shapes
~ Distinguish family members with each other
~ Knows when it's bath time
~ ALMOST potty trained - I say almost b/c she does not quite know how to match the "sensation" of peeing to run to the toilet yet. But she sits on the toilet and will pee every once in a while.
~ When I ask where's mommy's baby, she pulls up my shirt and grabs my belly & says "there it is" THEN she lifts up her own shirt and says Giana's turn (she has a baby in her belly too lol)

~ Favorite songs (and she does the actions too):
*Wheels on the Bus
*Twinkle Twinkle Little Star
*Mr. Golden Sun
*Row Row Your Boat
*Ring around the Rosy - Mommy gets so tired after falling so many times lol
*The Ants go Marching 1 by 1 - she does the cutest march

~ Sentences:
*Mommy, step up* means Mommy, stand up.
*I do it*
*Stop it, Mommy (or Daddy)*
*I want dish* means I want this
*Mommy, come ear* means Mommy, come here
*Awnt roni cheese* means I want Macaroni & Cheese - her fav food
*Giana's turn* she says this when she wants to do or say something and when she wants me or Daddy to do or say something - she'll say Mommy's turn or Daddy's turn.
*She prays for her food (a tradition from my family) before meals and when she goes to bed
The real prayer for food:
Thank you Jesus, for the food. Bless the food. Hallelujah, praise the Lord, Amen.
Giana's version:
Jesus, food. Food. Hula, Amen.

There is many many more things babygirl does and say but that's the jist of it.

We're celebrating the weekend of the 18th & 19th for small family parties for her. I will post pictures then!

Potty-time!

Giana sat on her potty and PEED for the first time this morning when she woke up!

Her diapers have been dry when she wakes up from the night which shows that she can hold it at night. I decided to put her on the toilet by chance and after a few seconds we both heard the music go off on the toilet (the toilet has a censor to play music when pee hits it) and looked at each other like "what's that?!" Then I realized she was peeing! I screamed & clapped for her and she started to get all excited and jumped up..I was like "no, mama you have to sit b/c you're peeing!" LOL So she sat for a while cheesin' it, clapping with me. I went to kiss her and she grabbed my face and said "hug!". Omg, let me tell you how special that moment was to me!!!!!! :D

I then took pictures of her on the toilet to celebrate her accomplishment and got her dressed for school.


Before I dumped her pee, I got a pic of that too (dont worry, I wont post lol). Sounds gross but you have to capture all these moments, so I don't care. As long as I'm not bronzing her first poop like Tom Cruise & Katie Holmes did for their kids first poop ever, gross!

I can't tell you how proud I am today. I feel so good knowing that my daughter accomplished this milestone with flying colors. Now I can't wait for her to sleep in a big girl's bed!

Here she is after her milestone!

What's with the attitude?

Lately Giana's been miss snob. Annoying. I guess most people who know me are like, "hmm, where did THAT come from?" hahahahha. Not too funny though when she's saying no to everyone and stop it! Cute? No. I am trying to teach her to act right and respect others. While I feel in some areas, I'm successful, the important ones I don't feel she's learning. She IS only 22 months, so time will tell and as long as we continue to teach her that things are not right to do or say...she'll come around.

What frustrates us most is that she won't even give family hugs or kisses when we see them! I always tell ppl don't take it personally b/c she does to our parents too! I literally have no idea why she is so mean like that. My mom said I was like that when I was young too so maybe she got it from me?! I'm not rude when you first meet me now lol so hopefully it's just a phase. I definetely know I need to tone down my attitude all in all though. I don't want Giana growing up watching me get pissed and irritated at small things in life. It's not right & James has told me time and time again that I'm like that & he hates it. For instance, when Giana tries to put my flip flops on and she can't get her toes in the right way she screams & throws the slipper! OMG, I can get that way when something small doesn't go right either! Well, maybe not right but my way.

I need to make some changes with my attitude so it can rub off on her. I just do not like how mean she is when people just want to kiss & hug her. Ugh.

Feeling happy for once!

James, Giana, and I are all settled in our new apt. We did a down grade into a smaller place to save money as we want to be part of the new home-buyers club in about 2 years. But what is most important is that it's ours and we made it like home. So far Giana is loving the living rooms space b/c she can run all around it!! Let me tell you, this little girl of ours is FAST! James swears she's going to be a track star lol. Of course, I want her to hula dance and be girlie but he wants her in sports. Which is fine, she can do both :) She can hula down to the 1st base line. Haha! Anyways, so she loves our new space so that's most important. Plus the neighborhood is wonderful. It's where I grew up going to Jr High & High School in Burlingame. So, needless to say it brings back memories!!

Giana is counting to 12, knows all the colors of the rainbow + more, and knows her animals and the sounds each makes. She is also mastering sign language. This makes me pat my and James back for making the great decision of putting her in daycare. We had many doubts of putting her in daycare with a stranger when she was in the comfort of my mom's home all day. However, it started to take a toll on my mom (she has my young sisters to care for too) and even though mom was sad that we Giana wasn't going to be there often, she knew it was best for her too. When G turned 1, that's when she went in. She has grown so much and yes, being a mom you miss some moments of her life! I stayed home with her for the first 6 months of her life so I got to see all her main first milestones and we even got to see her walk. After she turned 6 months, that's when I had to go back to work so she went with my mom. She started walking at 10 months, everyone would trip out seeing this little midget walking and stumbling around. I would get stopped and asked how old she was and how LITTLE she was to be walking! I'm like she was born small!

As Giana's 2nd birthday is creeping up on us in Sept., I am getting sad b/c my little girl is growing up. She is the single best thing in our lives and we cherish her to the length of the moon & beyond! Giana is the epitemy of a Daddy's Girl. James is just too much with her - anything she wants, she gets with him! AAAGH, the teen years of that....just the thought ;) Just as much as she is a daddys girl, she is a mommys girl too! She knows how to get me b/c she reminds me so much of myself and I see it more and more everyday. James calls her mini-me and it's the truth and I will soak that up to the fullest!

Here is Giana reading one of her books. Enjoy!!

God is in my life for a reason

This weekend was crazy. Friday night, we went to an A's game with my father in law & his wife. Giana was at home with her Nana (James' mom). The game was fun, not my team but I was there to support James & his A's. They blew out the Orioles by like 8 runs and the weather was pretty nice too. Our seats were tight too. J got the tickets from through his work, Aramark. Aramark does the uniforms & all that for the Oracle Arena so we always get tickets to Warriors and A's and I think the Raiders (but I will NEVER go to a Raider game - F that!) When we were leaving, we were asked to move to the side. Next thing you know, there's a girl being wheeled through on a strecher drunk as hell! This chick had throw up on her shoulder! Nasty. I dont' get why people get sooooooooo drunk at a BASEBALL game!! I understand tailgating & having fun with a few beers & friends but damn...it's a game. But all in all, we had fun. Here's a pic.

Saturday we went to a grad party at a park for James' lil cousin. It was ok. Giana had fun running around.

Sunday was church in the AM. It's so crazy how the pastor can preach on things that are going on in your life at that VERY moment. I'm telling you...Pastor Paul was preaching on topics that I was like.."um, do you have a tape recorder in my purse?" LOL! Anyways, I won't get into detail about my stressful life but it was so good to hear encouragement about life and how it's dealt to you by God. One thing he said that I won't forget is "God will put people in your life to test you. And it's how you deal with it that makes you stronger and you have to say yes to God and stop running from His will. If you keep running from Him, he will keep bringing people in your life to test you. Once you're done with those people & their problems, he has a brand new batch of people with issues waiting in the wings to drop down in your life". What I took from that is, there will be people in your life that will drive you UP THE WALL with their problems and issues. All that comes from God. My question is why? haha, I know WHY but sheesh! God tests us like that. And God knows me & how I am being (selfish I guess) so he's testing me like that b/c he knows it's one of my problems is dealing with certain people.

I guess I need to pray and seek His guidance. Especially right now because I'm going to tear my hair out and God is the only one that can keep me from going bald.

Caught up

Time to catch ya'll up...if you care lol

James and I hosted Cousin's Night at our place a last weekend. It was so very nice to get together with my family. I miss my cousins and how much fun we have when we get together. Laughter & happiness was in the air for sure. Even though we're family, there is still something missing...I feel. Since we don't see each other often b/c of busy schedules or what not, it's hard to keep up with everyone. We all have evolved and changed so much since growing up at 89 Menlo Ave. That was our Grandpa and Grandma's house in Daly City where we grew up and spent most of our childhood. If you didn't live in that house at least once, you at least spent 1 weekend a month or year there visting Grams and Gramps.

I often think about how we were all so close and somehow life allowed us to drift apart. Not by choice, but that's just how life goes. You grow up and start your own families. My cousin Miriam and I were ALWAYS together until their family moved to Livermore during the last yrs of elementary school. I remember crying b/c she wasn't around anymore often. It sucks seeing family only on the holidays. I want to hang out with my cousins more. I miss them. I never had siblings so they were the closest I had to them. 3 of us have kids born in the same year and I hope God will make a way for them to grow up together. It's impossible to see ALL the time but why can't it happen often at least?

Here is a pic of the kids. Order: Ella, Giana, Jacob





Let's see...we went to a graduation lunch for friends of James' in Jr high yesterday. It was nice for him to catch up with old friends. Now that he knows that some more friends are going to his 10 yr HS reunion, he for sure wants to go. I wanted him to go, how fun is that stuff! His is in Oct and rumor has it, mine is in Nov. James went to Serra so it's all guys. But it'll be fun to get dressed nice and get together with all his HS buddies and their significant others and party! I know he'll love it...

Crazy how it's 10 years since high school. Even though there are some people I would rather not see at the reunion, I still want to go. I'm still in touch with a few people from HS. My close group of friends are still around and even though we have gone through hella crap after we graduated and drifted apart, it will still be fun to hang out with them again. All of our differences seem to have been put behind us which is a great feeling!

Speaking of old friends, after the grad lunch we had a couple of kidless hours (my dad picked Giana up from the restaurant we were at so J & I could enjoy ourselves lol). So James suggested we call up G and see if her & Serge were around to meet up for a drink. I'm like, Hell ya!! So the 4 of us met up at Elephant Bar. Bought a round and chopped it up. It was soo much fun, James & Serge clicked, talking sports and what not. Sports seems to be the ice breaker for guys lol. Anyways, it was a great time. I missed Gee.



That's all for now folks. I gotta get Giana's blankets outta the dryer and put her butt to bed. After that, I'll be waiting up for James to get home, he went to a movie with his mom & bro. Went to see Terminator...I can wait for the DVD lol.

Nite Nite.

MY Mother's Day

Needless to say my Mothers Day was a good one. I woke up to James hopping out of bed, changing Giana's diaper, and going to Stacks to get my favorite breakfast ever - fruit crepes and my usual mocha from Starbucks! Then we lounged around in the AM which is EXACTLY what I wanted to do. Giana gave me her gift she made at daycare...a little flower picture frame with her pic in it. I love it so much :) These are the things I love about being a Mom!


Around noon we went over to James' mom's house for a lil BBQ and then off to my Grandma's for the usual Sun lunch. That was nice to see my Grams and some family. We then stopped off at my moms b/c she didnt make it to Gram's house. Hung out there for a while and then off home.

James watched the rest of the Celtics game - they won by the way lol, the last hit by Big Baby House! Haters out there don't know wussup w/ Boston!!!!! Anyways, off track hehe.

Mother's Day was great. I got a watch from James super cute! But he gave me the option to return it for another. Which I will, I don't normally return gifts for him but I want an "everyday" watch that I can wear. He got me a white one, which is cute too though! It's GUESS. My baby has good taste though =D always has.

So, that's about it. Had another cool holiday, now what to do for Father's Day...lol.

Back in full effect

I have been sick for the passed week and a half. Funny cuz I never get sick! And I got the dang flu. No bueno or no fun. The pain was all in my head & I was just in so much pain, got pale, chills, bodyaches especially in my back. It drove me insane. When you're sick, you're like out for the count. Cannot function or do anything. But being me, I still would get up and take care of Giana, knowing that my husband can do it but I cant relinquish control sometimes and I want to do it myself. He works hard too and is tired so I'll still do some things I know I shouldn't. I was also coming into work - I dont get paid sick days!!! So, you best believe I'm going to be in if I can keep my head up. At least, I wasn't sneezing or coughing on anyone haha! I did stay home 1 full day and worked like 2 hrs some days but at least it's something on my paycheck.

Giana has not gotten sick yet (knock on wood!), Thank God! Neither has James. They are both suffering from allergies bad though. Thank you James for giving it to Giana ;o) ....

She has sneezing, runny nose, and coughing for allergies. No watery eyes yet. When she had her sinus infection the dr suggested Zyrtec for kids. Now those kinda meds are meant for kids 2 yrs and older & being that she's 19 mon, you can only give her 1/2 tsp which is half the dose of the regular. I must tell you, IT WORKS WONDERS! It does last up to 24 hrs. Yes, she'll get her occasional cough & sneeze during that time but it goes away for the most part. I might have J try it since Claritin does NOTHING for him but make him sleepy.

Today I got a pedicure and my eyebrows waxed. Finally! I was dying and my eyebrows were starting to look like Oscar the Grouch LOL. I love my toes, this time I got pink! I always go with the french b/c J likes it. But I wanted to go a color which I'm sure he'll like anyway.

We've been trying for another baby - just started. So we'll see where that goes. We're hoping for a boy this time around but who doesnt want the opposite when they have the other? I do have a girls name picked out but I never tell until I know for sure what I'm having. People steal names, man!!! I don't get that. Anyway, I hope this name I have for the girl won't get taken b/c I love it and Giana happens to say it allll the time! A girl in her daycare has the name and it's totally cute. A boy...we have a couple. I'm pretty sure it'll be named after James. Since there are James', Jimmys, Jims, etc all up in the family already...our boy will simply be JUNIOR. Typical Samoan name though haha! But it fits since he will really be a Jr and he's part Samoan lol! Well, however long it takes us to get pregnant, I can't wait. I've passed the Dec baby mark and this one will be born in 2010. The kids will be 2 1/2 yrs apart which is perfect.

Giana is gonna be a great big sister. She is so sweet w/ the babies in her daycare. She'll find the pacifier for them if they are crying and run to give it to them lol. The teachers love her sense of careness. Always telling me she's ready for a little bro or sis. I can't wait to have more kids running around. But we got to spend some time w/ our 1st baby and it was wonderful, still is!

Yet, another holiday approaching

I have been trying not to think about Mother's Day. Sad because I am a Mom myself and should be able to enjoy this day.

We have so many people to see on holidays, it's ridiculous. I've always told myself that once I have kids, going every which way would stop. But here we are 2 years later and we are still having to split our time. I don't know how people do it, not only that but how they are fine with it! I guess I'm selfish. I don't care though. I want to one day spend this day AT HOME with just Jimmy & Giana (and whatever other kids I may have). But nooooooooo, we have our moms to see. Which is completely understandable - afterall, they are OUR moms and would not be here w/o them so they deserve to get honored too. It's just hard for me to deal with.

Now that I'm a mom, I feel I deserve a day for me. Maybe it doesn't have to be on that actual day - maybe that Sat? I don't know. But what I do know is that once my kids are old enough to bring me cards and breakfast in bed, the day is ours, and others will have to wait.

James says he's planning something for me that morning...such a great hubby! But I can't help but think that it will feel rushed b/c we have to go to his mothers, then see my mother...bleh. Maybe I'm reading too much into it and should appreciate things a little more. Any opinions? I can take it really ;)

So, should I put aside my feelings of selfishness right now since my daughter is still young and wait till my kids are older and then tell people how it will be that I will set my OWN traditions with my family? I need to pray that God gives me the strength to bite my tongue and tell everyone to leave us the hell alone haha! I understand that James needs to see his Mom and Grandma too on that day. Hey, at least he knows that I come first. For him to at least think of planning something for me, is the best gift I can ask for. Afterall, I did give him the most beautiful babygirl in the world...

Here is Giana and I on my very first Mother's Day, 2008. How little was she?!



Last year, James & Giana gave me some gifts that were so sweet. El Cantante, the movie with JLO and Marc Anthony, the MC CD, and some homemade coupons for a haircut and hair dye. How sweet was that? Hella thoughtful, I must say. Then he made me breakfast, which he does every once in a while ;) Here are the gifts...




So we'll see what's in store on May 10th - which is also my parents 29th wedding anniversary!
So much to do, so little time...
Besitos - Lissa.

Hmmm....

I'm not sure what to write about today. I'm tired from this week. Giana's just getting over her sinus infection but I still have to give her Omoxacilin for a few more days though or until she finishes the bottle.

Lately, she's been testy. She is approaching the terrible 2's (turns 2 on Sept 15th) but her attitude is unbelievable. She has this look that she gives when she's irked - kinda funny, kinda not. I tell her that I'll slap it off if she don't stop. Haha! My cousin & aunt told me that I'm a strict mom already but I gotta be or else she's gonna think she act up whenever she wants. I refuse to be one of those moms that let's their kid "express themselves". Bull! Yes, my kids can be independent BUT respect adults. My mama raised me to respect other people's property and don't touch stuff in their houses! Drives me nuts when parents let that happen in other people's houses. Best believe I am slapping her hand if she continues to touch after I say no.

I think it's great that Giana is going to be her own person one day, but as long as she is under 18...she's alllllllllllllllll mine! Like my mother always said, "I brought you into this world & I can easily take you out." Now, literally you can't take them out of this world and like push them back in lol but you can take stuff away from them. For example, if my kid messes up in school...I will threaten them that I will go down to their school & embarrass them in front of their friends! Cruel you say? Hell yeah! But best believe they won't mess up anymore!! Haha, I was always scared that my mom would come down to the school lookin' all tore up yelling Melissa!!!!! Those of you who are laughing probably are imagining my mother doing that b/c you know her, lol!

Anyways, I love my Giana and she will be a good girl but just gotta make sure she has attitude for the right reasons. I guess when I don't know what to write about, I focus on my kid. Best thing in my world!

This time of year

This time of year bring great memories. James and I started dating 8 years ago. Let's reminisce on our first date in 2001, shall we....

We had seen each other a few times prior to dating. I went to his 19th birthday at his best friend, Tom's house in SSF with a few friends. You know house parties...well Tom's house was a big party house back then lol. So much fun. James was pretty drunk that night but having fun with everyone there. So, that was my first real encounter with him I guess you can say.

About a month later, we start hanging out more at school due to mutual friends up at CSM. He was on the football team, which explained his nice body lol :o)...and I was just your average chick hanging out with her friends during breaks from classes. He liked me for a while so we started talking on the phone and hung out more. He finally asked me to a Giants game on a Sunday which is the day my family goes to church. I had to beg my dad to let me miss church but he gave in and I was sooooo happy & nervous. It was like my first REAL date with a guy.

So I got all dolled up, in overalls...wth was I thinking wearing overalls? LOL oh well he thought it was cute. He picked me up in a cute Nissan Pathfinder, only to find out later that it was his Mom's car and he took it cuz he didnt wanna drive his broke van which was called the Local Motion by his boys haha! Anyway, we got to the game, the Giants were playing the Brewers that day. It was such a nice day too. We sat in the bleachers. Before we left, he bought me a JT Snow beanie baby. The cutest thing EVER! I still have it, even though the head of the bear is almost ripped off. I love that thing! He knew I had a crush on JT back then so I thought it was cute that he bought it for me :)

After the game, we said bye...no kiss yet. Later that night, I was going to dinner with some friends at La Cucina (restaurant in Bridgepointe but it's not there anymore) for a going away thing. I decided to call James and invite him along. He came! YAY!

Well, that was our first date. More to come when I blog about our anniversary on 4/28 :)

Besos,
Lissa

Lonely

I kinda wish that my sisters were around my age. Don't get me wrong...I love the fact that they look up to me and I can be the cool older sis. But literally, I will be in my 40's by the time they have kids - so I'll be the old Auntie. lol

Now that I'm starting to have kids, I don't see her having anyone to grow up with. I myself grew up as an only child until Cel & Gaby came along 17 & 19 years later, just as I was leaving my parent's nest. I had my cousins that I grew up with in my Grandma's house and I consider them like my bros and sis's. But its' not the same b/c they have each other to lean on now that we're older and I feel kinda lonely, in a way. I have a great friend, Tanya, whom I love to pieces. She is ALWAYS there for me, been there thru my trials since we became bff's 8 yrs ago. She has 2 sisters of her own who are there for her too no matter what.

I guess what I'm saying is that I have been missing that piece of my life where that one other person is there for you forever and ever. Don't get me wrong - I know my cousins & friends are there for me if I really needed them to talk to or lean on. But the feeling's not the same. I dont know...I may be sounding needy but that's not at all how I'm trying to feel or look like. I have my wonderful husband who is my ultimate Best Friend though and he is always there for me 100%.

Playdates...I'm not sure how to go about that. I feel bad for Giana b/c when we take her out, I wish there was other kids that can come with her. I know I know - she doesn't even know or care b/c she has me and daddy whom she loves to death and haves so much fun with. I guess this gives me more reason to have more kids so she can have sisters and/or brothers to have around 24/7 to play with. I want her to have that commrodery of siblings to grow up with and be close too.

I want her to have all the things I didn't growing up and this is one...

Baby #2

So we have been thinking of Baby#2 for a while now. Ever since Giana turned 1 last September. I guess we wanted to enjoy our time with the first baby as much as we can before we start our tribe of kids.

I am a stickler for not having a baby in December - hell no! No baby around the holidays!!!!! You may think that why not on the holidays? Well let me tell you...December is the busiest time of year for James and I. There are 3, yes 3 birthdays around Christmas - his mom's, dad's, and stepdad's!!! So therefore, no baby of mine is going to get lost in the shuffle there. Why am I talking about this right now? I have to stay clear of getting pregnant this month b/c according to my ovulation time and due date calendar, if I were to get preggers this month, the baby would be due on Dec 31st! Yikes! Off limits until next month.

I actually want a Winter/Spring baby =) Numero dos would be due Jan 31st if we were to get preggers in May. I am happy with that b/c if we don't get preg then, we still have allll summer to get preg for a baby to be due in Spring time! Love it.

Another upside to this was Giana was born in September which meant that I was pregnant all summer. Yes people being pregnant in the last trimester being Summer is a draaaaaaaaaaaag. I was miserable as hell, could not get comfortable in anything I wore - only wore dresses and lava lavas (for those of you who don't know, a lava lava is a Samoan material that you tie around as a skirt). Jeans - say bye bye to those in the summer when pregnant. Plus my feet swelled up to freakin' watermelons LOL. So, now I look forward to being in my last trimester in the Winter where I don't have to feel bad wearing sweats and my husband's tshirts.

Wish us luck as we start our journey in beginning the next chapter titled, Baby #2. Hoping for a boy this time around, but if we get another girl...best of luck to James! Haha, j/k. I'd love to have 2 girls too =) Whatever God wants us to have is fine with us!

Ttyl! Besitos.

Just the beginning

I'm starting this blog thing so our family & friends can keep up with our lives. I think this is a real neat idea!

Let's see...our lives are good & busy right now. Giana is a thriving 19 month old little girl. No longer a baby that's for sure. She says many words, sentences. Her favorite thing to do is walk around the house in Mommy's shoes. I can't wait to see how she is in her teens - wait, yes I can. LOL

James is working his butt off at his job at Aramark. He's under a lot of pressure everyday but he pulls it off real good. It was hard in the beginning b/c we'd fight a lot due to his stress at work. I try to understand where he's coming from but it's hard. Men & women are different in those aspects of life. But he's trying his best to move up so I have to give him mucho credit for that! Most men don't wanna do better for themselves or their families. Could be laziness, selfishness, whatever the case. But James is not like that. He wants better for our fam.

Well, that's it for now. Gotta get back to work before I leave!

Talk to ya'll soon.