Two!

Who turned 2 years old?! That's right, our Little Lu!  I returned home on Monday from my Mexico getaway and Lucia had been so well taken care of by her aunt Ashley and family...in fact, I'm sure the little bird enjoyed spending time with her cousins and extended family, rather than just her two furry siblings at home.  Jason thankfully had a successful surgery on Saturday-and was also well taken care of by Mario and Linda .  And although Lu came down with a little fever and sniffles on Saturday, all in all everyone did GREAT!   Thank you so much Ashley and Lee.  It was good for me to get away so that I know she WILL be OK without me or Jason able to be by her side...because we are so blessed to have such great family!

Then on Friday...Friday! our Lubird turned TWO years old!  Some days it seems like we've had our girl for years and other days it seems like -really, she is already 2!?   

We celebrated with a girls lunch out and then had a quiet dinner with just our little family at home.  Lubird had chocolate pudding with a candle, Jason and I opened up a special "L" bottle of wine we received as a gift just after Lucia was born from the Killea family.  We went back and forth telling Lu all our favorite things about her..we could have gone on and on...it was perfect. 

Saturday was the big BBQ birthday bash.  Hotdogs, cupcakes, juice boxes, adult beverages, some games and a perfect sunny day with family and friends.  When we all sang Happy Birthday to Lu she was so sweet.  A little grin and shy look on her face...so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.  I'll try to upload the video.  

 Happy Birthday sweet Baby Bird.  Two years old and almost a big sister.  So in love with our girl named Lu.  Tweet tweet, she is SOOOO sweet!

our girl!

Anniversary and an unexpected cousin slumber

Happy 3rd Anniversary to me and my loving husband, this past Tuesday, April 16th!  I was impatiently awaiting Jason to get home so we could continue our ongoing search for a new home...and had just dialed his number to give him the ole 'you're so late, where are you!!??' , when he busted through the door with one of the most beautiful orchids I have ever seen.  'Happy Anniversary Bugs!" So beautiful and sweet.  Lu, Jason and I took off for the next 2 hours and visited some homes we had been eyeing...no luck yet, but it was still fun.  We also drove past a school where Lucia would probably attend, if we ended up finding a house in that part of town.  She's only almost 2 but I'm afraid school and growing up will come up fast...
After a generous and enthusiastic offer to 'birdwatch' we then dropped off Lucia at Laura and Adam's house and Jason and I had a delicious dinner at our favorite restaurant, Tables, owned by our friends Amy and Dustin Barrett.   www.tablesonkearney.com YUM!  Great little Anniversary. Thanks Huffs and Barretts!  The week would only continue to get better...perhaps?!
I knew the following day, Wednesday would be a somewhat busy day as I had to mentally and physically get ready to go on a highly anticipated girls trip to Mexico to celebrate my sister and amazing friend, Kimmy's BIG 40th b-day!  Although her birthday isn't until June, my baby girl number 2 will be arriving right around that date, so Kim pushed the trip up a few months so we all could go.  So...Wednesday was set aside to pack and go over last minute details with Jason watching Lu, all by himself.  Nervous Mom am I- YES!
Anchor Center in the morning, folding laundry in the afternoon, and about to start packing, when I receive a phone call from Jason's gym.  Jason was doing one of his most favorite things, CrossFit, when a 'power clean' went wrong, and he broke his arm!!!
ER for the next 5 hours, and x-rays of a big fracture, pointing to surgery...ugh!  Once I knew he was ok, I couldn't help but think...worst timing EVER!  So...here it is Thursday night, and I'm cuddled in the spare bedroom at Jason's sister's house with Jason and Lucia.  Jason is scheduled to have surgery on his arm Saturday, and I'm a day postponed, but leaving for Mexico bright and early tomorrow morning.
Back in forth, do I go, do I not go...I can't go, I can't NOT go.  Lucia is a lot of work, Lucia will do great.  Jason is having surgery, I need to be here,  he's in good hands regardless if I'm here or not..Ugh..what to do!!!
Jason would only get mad, really mad, when I said I shouldn't, wouldn't, couldn't go..."Lu will be fine, everything will be ok.." so here I am writing it out that I'm heading to Mexico for 3 nights with my husband having a broken arm, surgery, and my Lubird getting taken care of by his loving, gracious, awesome family.
Thank you Ashley and Lee for offering, without hesitation and with enthusiasm to take care of Jason and Lu. Thank you Linda and Mario for helping out immensely too.
I know my precious bird is in good hands, and if you were not here I would, NO DOUBT, be canceling my trip.
I love you, Lucia! I love you Jason(but please don't break anything again- ouch! not to mention we need fully functioning dad in less than 2 months! ) I love you Hunts and Mapellis!  Thank you to my mom for watching Kim and Joey's kids!
So blessed to have this family! Thank you God and PLEASE watch over everyone this weekend. Lucia will love spending time with her relatives and especially Kayla and Taylor on her first cousin slumber weekend!
Thank you Emelio for watching Frieda and Blue!
Happy 1st b-day to Taylor, Happy 2nd b-day to Lizzie!

Happy Early B-day Kimmy! I'll see you with my giant 33 week old baby belly manana!

Toys!

testing out having a 'little sister' :) 

Every baby, child, adult and even animal likes toys, right? It's just a common fact of life, I would have always thought.  Well...when your child is considered legally blind, has other significant disabilities, doesn't like to really hold anything, and more...it might make you wonder if they like toys, or if they ever will.  I remember thinking, a few days before this past Christmas, as I had procrastinated my shopping until then,  that I wanted to get Lubird some gifts.  I got her a new pink coat, a cute knit hat, some fun socks and clothes and a rubber ball, a ball that was supposed to be easy for her to hold, if she decided to do so.  I also looked for a toy but didn't see anything that I thought she would like.    With a few tears in my eyes, I started to check-out and realized that she HAD to have a toy. She had never really showed much interest in toys (just her prize piano) so it wasn't high on the list, but it was my baby girl's second Christmas, and she needed a toy from Santa!  So, after some searching, I found a toy that was easy to see and touch, and would be easy to activate the noises and lights.  She doesn't really play with it, but I've had it out for the past 4 months, just in case she is ready to test it out.

This past week I decided to put that toy away...because there are other toys that she prefers instead!  In the past month or so, our lubird has some toys that she really enjoys! 

She loves her drums from our friend's the Greens.  She loves her bells from her grammy.  She loves her piano from her great aunt DeeDee. She likes her pink toy laptop from her nani and she's starting to like her miniature pony from her babo!  Our Lu has some favorite toys!  Our baby girl likes toys, more than ever. 

This past weekend she sat at the dinner table, in her special seat and played on her drums, for over an hour, 3 nights in a row!

Lubunny in her orange seat and drums!

Easter weekend she took a ride on her miniature pony and she even cracked a smile!

testing it out...

she likes it! 

Monday at the Anchor Center she sat in her orange chair during music class and pounded on her bells, highly impressing her music teacher, more than she ever has in the past year!

It makes us so happy to see her entertain herself and PLAY! 

Our Lu likes toys!  Watch her go after her drums in this video...

http://youtu.be/0M3eHAzPkAs

Yes, a dream and prayer answered.  TOYS!

Our thoughts continue to go out to the Zapata family..their little boy, Lincoln, is having a rough start, just almost 2 weeks into life.  www.littlebigmanlincoln.wordpress.com   Keep fighting Little Big Man!
Soon you will be home and will play with toys too!