Our Year in Review

I was just watching the Year in Review on GMA - what a year! So much joy for some, so much heartache for others. It's hard to believe when you see all the stories put together, that they all happened in the same year. And I'll admit, the In Memorium always gets me.

It's been quite a year for Team Lua also, full of both joy and heartache. 2009 marked our first full year as a family of 5. How amazing that one little person can change everything at the same time making it feel as though they have been a part of this family forever.

The year started with me finally joining this century (and my appropriate age group) by finally signing up for Facebook. Breaking news, I know ;) But I am addicted to Facebook, so in this house it is pretty important. I even got the hubby to sign up. Somewhere later in the year I signed up for Twitter too, but I've now concluded what I already suspected - I'm not interesting enough to tweet.

March found us upon our oldest's birthday - her 5th birthday. That was a big one for us and I had a really hard time with it. It seemed like such a big number. And yet here we are just a few months out from #6. March didn't end on a great note for us though as my grandfather suffered a stroke the day after his 86 birthday and was hospitalized for the remainder of the month.

April brought us our first real heartache in years as my grandfather passed away in the first week. While at that exact moment, we were expecting it, going into his illness we weren't. My grandmother had been very sick the year prior and we were all so busy with that none of us knew my grandfather wasn't feeling good. And from the time we did find out, things went really fast. I miss him all the time, but am so thankful that we have another guardian angel looking out for us.

In May we had his service and while the remainder of the month was hectic, it was quiet. Mainly filled with family & friends, which is exactly what we needed. Expecially since June was going to be a busy month for us.

June started with Samantha's graduation from preschool. Not a huge milestone to most, but as MY child (and my first born), it was huge for us. That was followed shortly thereafter by the girls' first ballet recital - I'm still amazed by how much they love ballet and how good they are! The kids also went to their first major league baseball game, which of course was to see our faithful SF Giants play. June also marked our last weekend at Sea Ranch, which everybody in our families know was a part of my childhood. But what a send off we gave that house & how blessed I am to have been able to take my own children there! June wrapped up with our vacation to New Mexico, which was wonderful! Oh and the girls took swim lessons and actually learned to swim! Reading back on all of that, I wonder when we actually slept!

July held a major milestone for us - Nacho and I celebrated 10 years of marriage. I can't believe a whole decade has gone by since we said "I do", but I am so proud of us! We also had our 1st annual 4th of July block party - at least I hope it's an annual thing.

August was another busy month for us. Nacho and I both celebrated birthdays - a milestone one for me as I turned 30. I have to be honest though, it doesn't really feel all that different. Maybe because being the mother of 3 had already made me feel old? ;) We celebrated both our birthdays and our anniversary in a week long road trip that took us to Beverly Hills, Las Vegas & Disneyland. It was a world-wind trip, but oh so much fun. Right after we got back, Lexi started her 2nd year of preschool and Sam started kindergarten. We had a school aged child!!

September was another quiet month for us, but a huge one for my brother as he got married. We were all in the wedding (sans Jack), so that held some excitement, especially for the girls! It also was the month where Jack started crawling, giving me 3 mobile children!

October rang in Lexi's 4th birthday and started off the holiday season for us, with Halloween. Halloween isn't a holiday I really love, but the kids do and through them I learn to love it. And besides, it'll probably be the only time I get to dress the baby up as a bear.

November was another quiet but busy month for us. The highlight was going up to my dad's for Thanksgiving. We hadn't been up there for this holiday since Lexi was a month old, so it had been awhile.

December is always a busy month, but even more so for us as it started with Jack's 1st birthday! What, 1 already? That's how I felt leading up to it and even feel a bit today. This month was filled with the usual Christmas parties, holiday shopping, school commitments, etc. Christmas was wonderful and New Years Eve seems to shaping up nicely.

Reading back over this, it seems like our year was jam-packed and I suppose it was. And it some ways it felt like it went on forever, but mostly if feels like it passed in the blink of an eye. What's that saying - the days are long, but the years are short. Nothing is truer in our house. So where are we now? The baby has started taking steps and it won't be long before he is running circles around me. Lexi is excited about finishing up preschool and starting kindergarten. Sam is already looking forward to 1st grade, even though she has accomplished so much already in kindergarten - mainly, but not only, she learned to read! Nacho seems to have found security in his current job (*knock on wood*), which is a nice change from years passed. As for me, I'm still trying to find that balance between woman, wife, mother & daughter. Most days I think I do pretty good job and for that I feel blessed.

All around us this year, we watched marriages crumble (both in public and with our own friends) and families fall apart. We celebrated as new life joined welcoming families and cried as others had to say goodbye. We watched with pride as our children started to spread their wings and secretly rejoiced every time they needed us. But mostly, we came together as a family, more united than ever, determined to stand by each other. We've made a vow to make memories with our children, both big and small, for it has become apparent to us, more this year than any other, how quickly the time is going.

2010 holds a whole slew of possibilities for us. For now, we don't have much planned. We've got a trip to San Diego in June and I'm trying desperately to take the kids to Disneyland again, although that last one might not be a reality. I do know this is the year that I will have 2 school aged children and lots of time to fill. However I will have a very mobile little boy who I'm sure will be more than happy to fill it! Whatever this new year has to offer, I'm looking forward to it. I've got the best team surrounding me and as this blog says "it's not where you go or what you do, but who's beside you that counts."

Merry Christmas from Team Lua

Photo Shoot

Recently a ballet mom friend asked to take a picture of Jack as a test shot outside the ballet studio. It turned out so well, she asked if she could use it in her promotional material in exchange for a much discounted photo shoot. Now that the Christmas cards have been sent, I can share the pictures, which turned out awesome. Here are a select few:

















Ok, admittedly more than a few, but I can't tell you how in love with these pictures I am. They managed to capture the love, the happiness & the goofiness of my family. There is nothing I love more than seeing these people smile - especially when it's their genuine one!

Check back on Christmas Day to see the one we used for our Christmas card. Although the handful of readers I have already got it in the mail.

We're So Lucky

We really are, in so many ways.

But today I'm talking about our neighbors. We seriously have the best neighbors ever. As was proved again last night at the Christmas party. That lasted until almost 2am. I got home way before that though. Like 1am.

It is the first time we've ever been friends with our neighbors and I have to say this a great bunch to have!

Happy 1st Birthday Jonathan!

Exactly one year ago, we were blessed with the birth of our third child, our first son. Jonathan Ignacio was born almost a week early, Dec. 5th at 8:00am weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 5oz! We didn't know the gender going into the delivery and to say I was shocked when Nacho told me it was a boy would be an understatement. I would have bet money that we were having another girl and I was thrilled with that idea. What I have learned in the last year though is that I was meant to be the mother to a son. I love all my children equally, but I have to admit in this house, the old saying is true - little girls have their Dad's wrapped around their little fingers while little boys steal their Mother's hearts.

I don't know how an entire year has gone by. How the little baby boy we brought home from the hospital is now a mobile, funny, talking little boy with his own personality. You'd think this, being the 3rd time around I'd be used to it, but I'm not. When I say I feel like his first year went by in the blink of an eye, I mean it. I have never felt time going so quickly. Which is in itself so ironic because at the same time I feel like he's been a part of our family forever.

And now, Jonathan, this is to you. Thank you for being my son. I can not imagine you not being in my life. You are a wonderful baby - happy and patient. You are a great little brother, who loves anything your sisters do to you. Although you do get the back! You love to explore and now that you're mobile you're always checking something out. Yesterday, the day before your first birthday, you took your first steps! And you can crawl faster than any baby I've seen.

You are by the far one of the sweetest babies I have ever met and I don't say that because you are my son. You are willing to give anybody a smile and you seem to sense when somebody needs some lifting up. You like to cuddle, but you are also ok just doing your own thing. You love to laugh and just like the first time you laughed, your sisters still evoke the loudest, most joyful ones.

You first year being over is bittersweet for me. I am so proud of the little boy you are becoming, but I am so sad to see my baby grow up. Although you still need me for most things, I can see you growing more independent each day. And I know that's a good thing. It means we're raising you to believe in yourself. But as your mom, I like to know I'm needed. I look forward to your second year and all that you will do.

Happy 1st Birthday to my sweet, adorable son. You make my life brighter and I am so honored to be your mom.

Date Night

Not with my husband, although that would have been nice....but with my oldest daughter. Between her full day kindergarten schedule, after school activities and well, the fact that she has two younger siblings, one on one time with her has become scarce. And I feel guilty about it. While she loves having 2, count 'em 2, playtimes at school, there is a downside in that she misses so much of what goes in our day.

Today she had a rehearsal for the Nutcracker, so I decided it would be the perfect time for us to go out to dinner just the two of us. And it was so nice. I loved that we got to talk uninterrupted, she loved that I had all the time in the world to color the kids' menu with her. II wish we could do it more often though. She's the only one of the 3, right now, that I don't get one on one time with regularity. With Jack, I get it three mornings a week while the girls at school and with Lexi I get it on the other 2 days while Sam is at school and Jack naps. But Sam? She's just so busy! I try to stay involved as much as I can - volunteering to help out with her school musical, joining the PTA, even helping out in her classroom. But so far all of those have included bringing one, if not both of her siblings along. And she loves showing them off, especially the baby, but I also know she craves the solo attention. I'm just glad there are still opportunities, even if they are few and far between.

Of course, now Lexi has requested a date to have coffee (hot chocolate) with me so I've got to figure out how to squeeze that in. But I'll find the time because I know all too quickly they won't want to be seen with me. For now, I have figured out a way to help out in Lexi's classroom followed by a field trip with Sam for next week, so I guess I'm doing ok.

It Won't Be Like This For Long

This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
‘Cause it won't be like this for long

(this is an excerpt from the song by Darius Rucker. If you haven't listened to it, do so because there are no truer words spoken about how quickly these are going by.)