Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Baby Seaman Numero 2 - Update

6 more days to go!!! and I can't wait for my body to be released and start enjoying motherhood all over again. I know John can't wait for me to go back to my normal self..emotionally too.

Today, was my last visit to my Doctor and I'm thankful because, I had to sit down twice on my way in and on my way out. Just tired. This belly of mine is just huge and my body is telling me it only has 6 more days to cope with the baby.

I do have good news, I was wrong about my weight last week! I didn't gained 6 lbs, I only gained 3 lbs! I looked at the wrong number on the scale I guess. This week I only gained 2 lbs, so that puts me total weight gained at 42 lbs! So, if my baby arrives by next Tuesday, I should have only gained 45 lbs! Not bad! I gained 65 with Sofia and it was brutal to loose the weight.

At any rate, Dr. Kaye said it will literally take a miracle for me to dilate, so he didn't even check. So, November 3rd here I come! -Sandra.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Sofia's Corner

Anytime now, she'll be sharing picture space with her siblling.


Now, she's doing the disclipine thing with her doll. How quickly kids learn.

Hey, I want you to feed me!

John and pumpkins are like best friends and he's doing all he can to pass on the tradition.
By looking at this picture below, John is achieving his goal!

Sofia is climbing on top of everything. We heard noise in her room and I went in and this is what I saw.

Monday, October 26, 2009

Miles Austin is DA MAN!


Where have you been dude! Ok, I'm still not in the Romo bandwagon just yet, but it was refreshing to see connection between these two guys and it was suprising to see Romo actually throwing the ball for more than 5 yards and made no interceptions. I have to say, we did get worry the first 8 minutes of the first quarter when our defense just couldn't stop the Falcons and allowed them 16 plays for their first touchdown.
But everything turned around and we were not yelling at the T.V. But I was dissapointed at the fact that Favre did loose to the Steelers. I love the Steelers, but it would have been good to see Favre win that one. However, the big game to watch next weekend is the cheese heads against the mighty Favre.
I just hope, I haven't delivered yet...I will hate to miss this game.
NEXT: Seahawks (2-4) again, we SHOULD win this one. If Romo can keep the same game, that would make things alot better in Big D. -Sandra.

Friday, October 23, 2009

Halloween Outfit...or sort of an outfit...

Alright, so due to our budget and the second baby coming and the fact that Sofia has not yet reached an age where she can go trick or treating anywhere because her bed time is 7:30pm every night, I decided to make her Halloween outfit this year. So, I looked around on the Internet for something to make that would be easy and not too expensive, and I found this cookie costume that was of felt fabric. I have tons of felt fabric so I went for it.

Here's Sofia persuading me not to do it. To spare her from embarrassement. I'm sure we'll have more of these moments in the future.


So, here I am cutting the fabric and watching football all at the same time. Priceless!


Here's Sofia wearing her "Super Sofia" hat made by her daddy.


And here's the final product. I didn't make a chocolate cookie. I went all out and made an M&M's cookie! This thing also serves as a seat cushion or to hide your face.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Baby Seaman Numero 2 - Update

Not much has changed besides my weight. Up 6 pounds! How could I have gained six pounds? I am drinking lots and lots of water so that may be it. In other news, Hollis and Andra welcomed their daughter Eva last night. Congratulations! It is a very exciting time. Even though it was a C-Section delivery, baby Eva and Mom are doing fine. Nothing wrong with C-Section deliveries of course when the situation calls for it. What should matter is that both are doing fine!

Next week, marks my 39th week and if my baby wants nothing but to stay warm in my belly then next week should be my last full week walking funny. -Sandra.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Tony Romo playing too much golf?


Ok, so this guy is working hard on his golf ranking but not on his NFL ranking? WTH!!! Shouldn't he be practicing more on his throws than on his golf? I want to puke. -Sandra.
______________________________

By Josh Harvey- Dallas Morning News

The honors just keep coming for Tony Romo.....Oh wait, the football honors haven't been coming as of late, but he did pick up some hardware recently from Golf Digest.
Romo has been ranked the No. 1 amateur golfer among professional athletes. He beat out the likes of people like Craig Hentrich, Jerry Rice, Mark McGwire, Mike Schmidt, Brett Hull, and Pete Sampras. The difference between those guys and Romo is that the Cowboys gunslinger is not retired.

What are your thoughts on this? I'm all for athletes taking the off-season off and playing some golf. Romo is human! But, to be a sub-par handicap you have to practice. How is Romo playing this well if he is not practicing during the season?

Other notables that made the list:
No. 14 John Elway
T-17. Mike Modano
T-20. Dan Marino
T- 35 Michael Jordan
44. Brenden Morrow

Pumpkins and more Pumpkins

This past Saturday, we went to Flower Mound, Texas to a Pumpkin Patch Festival. There were actually two in one but we only made it to one. Next year, God willing, we'll make it to more than one! On this particular one everything was free except the pumpkins of course and the food. All the kids rides were free. On the other one next to this, everything was the same, but they had CORNY DOGS!!


Here I am 2 weeks away from delivering my second little pumpkin.

Here Sofia and I rode this thing. Yes, it was hard to get in and get out but I'm a sucker for rides.

Here's Sofia playing at a haystack.

This year she's about 2 1/2 feet.


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Marriage Weekend


Tomorrow begins another Retrouvaille Marriage weekend with 25 registered couples. Couples who are angry, bitter, separated and some going through divorce.

I will ask for anyone who reads this blog to pray for these couples. Pray that they see that there is still hope in the midst of their differences and problems they face. As John and I experienced in our weekend back in 2007 is that nothing is impossible in the eyes of the Lord. Pray that these couples see the love they had for each other and that love is a choice, a decision we make to love each other every single day.

Thank you for your prayers. -Sandra.

Baby Seaman Numero 2 - Update

I'm tired. 37 weeks and full term. I have gained one pound and that puts me up to 36lbs gained. I can hardly walk. I can't go out shopping or to the store anymore because I feel tired. Even my baby belt is not helping much anymore. Maybe just a little but not much like before. I'm sleepy and tired and I just want to pop this baby out so I can be free and feel a different type of tiredness afterwards. Like no sleep. I will not breastfeed my baby. There is an issue and I will not go into details because that will be too much info, it hurts not to but I feel is the best thing to do.

The only good thing happening right now is that I will be working from home starting tomorrow until the baby arrives. I feel so blessed to have this job and to have an understanding boss who is human enough to care.

Last night, I had Taco Bell's Taco Shell. Gosh! that was amazing! I haven't had that for such a long long time, I'm talking years! I couldn't get it out of my head and John just went out and got it for me. God bless him. He's been helping me so much around the house. I'm still bathing Sofia, but he's taking care of everything else. God bless my mom as well. Without their help right now, I'll be a complete mess! - Sandra.

Monday, October 12, 2009

At Work in the World

I'm going to get me one of these and check it out! -Sandra.
________
God’s World News
By Chuck Colson

How do you help your kids understand the world from a Christian perspective? Well, I’ve got a good tip for you.

In the early 1980s, Joel Belz, who would go on to become the founder of World magazine, had five daughters in grade school or getting ready to head there. He was eager to show them how a Christian worldview had something to say about everything they were going to be studying.
Belz had fond memories of his own elementary school days and how he looked forward to the arrival of Weekly Reader and Scholastic circulars, with their colorful pages, new stories, features and puzzles. He mused to himself, “Wouldn’t it be terrific if we could do the same thing for Christian kids now?—except that to all those good features we would add a faithful biblical perspective.”

That was the genesis of what today is God’s World News children’s magazine. Belz started the publication in 1981, and by the late 80s, had four age-appropriate editions of the magazine reaching a quarter of a million children in Christian schools and home schools in all 50 states and dozens of foreign countries.

Each week, the magazine’s writers produce 24 pages of original news coverage and commentaries on a range of topics. From political and international affairs, to scientific and technological achievements, to art and music—these publications, with their colorful maps, photos, and posters, bring God’s involvement in the world alive to young readers in a way they can understand.

Belz says, “We want kids to ask the question over and over: ‘What do you suppose God is up to?’ We don’t want to be preachy on that front—but we do want to be persistent.”
And that persistence is definitely needed. A recent study by the Center of Public Values at Trinity College reveals that 15 percent of the U.S. population doesn’t identify with any religion. That percentage is highest—almost 22 percent—among the youngest adults, those aged 18 to 29. That trend, researchers predict, will only continue to grow in the next 20 years.

For Belz, the growing trend in secularized thinking has a clear root. He says, “One reason our nation is as secularist in its mindset as it is, is that we’ve left [God] out of the conversation. Sometimes, even in our Christian schools and homes, we’ve left Him out of our discussions and out of the curriculum in so-called ‘secular’ topics.”

Well, I agree with Belz. And that’s one of the chief reasons God’s World News exists—to help families and schools learn how to talk about God’s ongoing activity in the world as both creator and sustainer.
Almost 28 years since its founding, the staff is beginning to see a generation of young adults who’ve been raised on God’s World News. One young lady, currently a student at the University of Virginia, wrote them to say, “I’d always enjoyed [the publication], but now I realize that you were teaching me to think like a Christian.”

It thrills me to hear that because my greatest worry at this point is the lack of worldview training for youngsters. When they go off to college or enter the workplace, the studies show that most of them lose their faith.

So I’ve got a great idea for you for a Christmas gift for your children or grandchildren—give them a subscription to God’s World News.

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Cowboys Win...barely


I hate complaining about the same subject week after week. However, there is really no reason why the Cowboys needed to go into overtime to beat a team who was 0-4. We should have dominated this game from start to finish but who are we kidding, right! There were so many penalties against us that our team is pretty much a joke and an embarrassment to the entire State of Texas. So what if we won this game, we looked worse than KC Chiefs. They had nothing to loose and we, pretty much, everything to loose.

This team is mentally not in their game every week. Thankfully, next week we have a bye week. I'm glad. They stress me out with their lack of toughness and participation in every game. My baby and I don't need that.

After our bye week, we face off with the Falcons on Oct. 25th. I'm not sure whether or not, I'll be around to watch this game, if so, I may probably be sleep deprived. The Falcons are currently 3-1 right now. Until then, we will be watching more exciting games than watching the cowgirls, like Giants vs. Saints next week.

Until October 25th. -Sandra.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Baby Seaman Numero 2 - Update

Went to my Doctors appointment today and everything is fine. Total weight gain: 35 lbs!!!! Not bad! I don't know how I did it but it is very nice not to have gained so much weight like I did the first time around. I still have 3 1/2 weeks to go and a few more banana splits before I deliver and I'm already feeling pretty tired. I can't walk long distances because when I do, I start breathing pretty hard like I have just ran a marathon. My doctor told me it was my age...I said, you are kidding...he said no. So, I was reminded again that I'm almost 40 in a couple of years and that this pregnancy should be my last one. Which it is, but it is weird thinking that your body is slowing down. It sucks!

At any rate, tomorrow, I will be taking my flu shot, God willing, of course and my doctor also asked what I was doing to prevent a third pregnancy. I sincerely, didn't want to sit there and explain to him that I am a firm believer in the Rhythm Method and that it actually works, so he went ahead and gave me all this information about different forms of contraceptives. I am so bad at taking any type of pills, heck, I even forget to take my Advair in order to breath here in Texas! I'm sure I'm not the only one against contraception but if I am, that makes me unique, which I always strive for. -Sandra

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Sofia's Corner

Here at Baby's R Us, buying Sofia her winter jacket. She doesn't look very thrilled. She was sleepy and moody and didn't want to try anything but this jacket was the winner!

Well, we are not doing the laundry basket anymore, but switched to the Huggies box. She doesn't mind as long as John is pulling her.

Here she is helping her daddy assembling the crib.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Swine Flu

Q: Who's first in line once enough vaccine arrives?

A: Pregnant women; the young, ages 6 months through 24 years; people younger than 64 who have conditions such as asthma or diabetes that increase the risk of complications from flu; health workers and caregivers of newborns.

Last week, I got strep throat (i think this is how it is spelled) John had it and gave to me. Went to my Doc and he gave me the Z-pack with the Tamiflu. At the same time, I am reading that 1 out of 3 pregnant women are dying due to the swine flu. Chances are higher if you have respiratory problems like asthma to get the swine flu. Well, I am one of the high risk people. I'm pregnant and I have asthma. I got the flu shot when I was pregnant with Sofia. And I have been trying to get it but got sick. This isn't fun! I'm ok with taking the flu shot, but I do feel nervous about the swine flu. I rather wait until I deliver to get it.

Sofia will take the other half of her flu shot next week, and she will definitely take the swine flu shot when it is available for her. There is no reason why she shouldn't, I believe in protecting our children. But the swine disease is definitely bad.

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Baby Seaman Numero 2 - Nursery

This weekend, we purchased the crib for baby Seaman numero dos! I had to go white because the dresser that I found on Craigslist is white. I love the dresser, but I never thought in a million years that white would look so cute! Now, we got a few more things to purchase before the room is ready to go, but God willing we should be done before the baby gets here.

Here's John assembling the crib.


And here's John's little helper. Always giving a lending hand or her opinion.

Here's Sofia busy playing with the styron foam.
The finish product!

And here's the dresser that I found on Craigslist. I'm not much of a "recyclist" person but I don't mind finding gently used furniture. I paid $100 for this, the original price for this was $750. There was no way, I would have ever paid for something that high. But this dresser is very well taken care of. I feel blessed for having found a nice piece of furniture like this. It wasn't easy but perseverance and patience pays off!

Romo just doesn't have it


Another loss for the Dallas Cowboys. Romo just doesn't have the mental strengh to chew it all. I say he should be benched. John says he and the coach should be fired. After three years of becoming our starting quarterback, he still plays like a rookie, fumbles like a rookie, intercepts like a rookie. Romo said that he doesn't let criticism get to him. Whatever! -Sandra.

Next: Chiefs (0-4) hmm...there shouldn't be any doubt that we "should" win against KC Chiefs, but since the Cowboys are not riding on the high confidence train, I will just say Romo will loose this one as well.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Sofia's Toy Box

So, yesterday, I went to Target during my lunch break to shop for a few things I needed and while walking through the aisles I saw these beautiful pink ottomans and I thought, "gosh, those are so cute! I bet they are expensive though." So, I stopped and admired what I couldn't for sure afford and then I saw a clearance tag on the shelf. So, that peaked my interest, but I still though that even if they were on sale, they could still be too expensive for me to get. I looked at the tag and BANG! $4.99!!!! EACH!!!! No way!! I looked again to make sure. Original price was $20 bucks.

We have been looking desperately to get Sofia a toy box to store her toys that have been stored inside her playpen. I have been looking for weeks through Craigslist for quiet sometime with nothing that I like. So, I looked at these Ottomans very carefully and I thought that these could well serve as storage for her toys. Why not! So, I grabbed three.

My mom loved them so much, we are going back today and she's getting herself a couple of these as well to store her jewelry making stuff.
I divided her toys in three sections. Books, stuffed animals and miscellaneous toys. Got them out of the playpen and placed these ottomans in her room where all her toys belong. So, starting today, she will learn to put her toys in these three ottomans before she goes to sleep. It will take every day practice and definitely some tantrums before Sofia gets used to picking up her toys but our key to discipline is consistency, so far it has worked. Much like brushing her teeth everyday, she's fights sometimes but the idea is starting to set in.