Even my days off don't belong to me...

... lately I've been feeling down. I just feel like I can't catch up with this forever growing list of things to do and the things I want to do. The holidays just make having every other weekend off tougher! Take  this weekend for instance.

• Pick up a tree & trim it.
• Do house work (a list all it's own).
• Go grocery shopping.
• Buy a wedding shower gift.
• Pick up things for Sunday's wedding shower.

Here's an ongoing list of things I'd like to be doing on my weekends off.

• Taking our family photos for holiday cards.
• Take Donovan to see Santa
• Just relax at home with my family.
• Go shopping.
• Clean out the house (the nesting period is beginning to set in again).
• Just hang out with my friends.

See, it just never seems like there enough time to do the things I need to do and especially those I want to do. It's a flaw I have, I can't say no. I take on more than I can handle at times and especially now, those extra things seem that much harder being pregnant and caring for a 13 month old.

I feel it taking it's toll on my body. I got sick earlier this week and am still fighting the body aches. I'm trying to be a big girl and suck it up and not go on early modified duty at work, but work on top of everything else makes it even harder.

Somehow, I'll manage through this and things will come together, they always do for me. That's why I have no right to complain, it could be much worse.

Our firsts.... Part I

So, we're leaving on Thursday after noon for the weekend to visit some good friends in Colorado. It's a first for the Gutierrez Family. Donovan's 1st time on a plane, it'll be the first time he sees snow (hopefully) and our first time for Jose and I to experience traveling with a 13 month old, plus I'll be 5 1/2 months pregnant. Let the adventures begin.

For more than a month now I've been contemplating on what to take for Donovan. How many diapers, how many sets of clothes, what types of clothes, etc. I also had to consider his transportation needs- i.e.- lap child during the flight, umbrella stroller, car seat, rental car, etc?

I think the biggest thing I have to consider is how am I going to occupy a 13 month old on a 2.5 hour flight? Here's what I have in mind:

Snacks: goldfish crackers, juice, milk, cereal bars, fruit

Toys: 3 books, 2 cars

DVD player & movies?

Ipod

I'm hoping to keep him up for a late nap and that way he'll just sleep on the plane. If not, I hope I'll have enough to occupy him and God Bless the poor person who sits next to us if he doesn't do well!

... to be continued

Many thoughts, many feelings...

Since I've become a wife I've learned many things. Since I've become a mother I've learned even more.

I've learned to appreciate the small things in life and that truly at the end of the day my family is me, my husband, my son and my lil' sweet pea in me- the dogs too! I cannot control life and life cannot control me. It's okay that my house is a mess as long as I'm okay with it. I've learned that my husband is not perfect, but neither am I. I am still truly lucky, I have a husband who goes out of his way to make my life as easy as possible. It's okay that I cannot please everyone as long as I'm happy with the choices I've made. And when you have a sick child you also are sick. Although you do not feel the illness that your child feels, your heart aches knowing that your child is not well.

I've learned that life goes on and each day is a new opportunity to make it better than the day before. I've learned not to compare my life to that of others and to be envious of things I care not enough to strive to have for myself. I've learned that I'm still naive and as my husband once told me, sheltered. I do know though that I am strong- stronger than I could have ever imagine, stronger than what others think of me.

I've learned that I'm getting older. I'm no longer a twenty something, better yet, I'm nearing my thirties. I've grown to have less tolerance for selfish and petty people and things. I've leaned that I don't care to be the center of attention other than in the eyes of my husband. I've leaned that the smile and laughter of my son is much more gratifying than jet setting and spending money I do not have. I've leaned that I can no longer be the single twenty something whose only concern was herself and having a good time, but enjoys being in the company of good friends, the closer to home the better.

Since I've become a wife I've learned many things. Since I've become a mother I've learned even more. I continue to learn, grow and love life. I am a wife and a mother.

Time is going so fast...

  This same time last year I was pregnant and beginning maternity leave. It's hard to imagine how quickly time has gone and how rapidly Donovan has grown. Our screen saver on our home PC shows images from our pictures on the hard drive. It's amazing to see pictures of Donovan as a newborn and think, "wow, I thought he was such a big boy then!" "he's so much bigger now, he doesn't even look like that same baby anymore."

I do miss when he wasn't so wormy and independent, the times he fit into my lap and I could nuzzle with him in bed. Now I have to block of flaling legs during diaper changes and times when he pushes me away to state his "I'm a big boy" status.

Here are  random things Donovan has learned over the last 11.5 months:

blows kisses

wave

cover his mouth when he coughs

open cabinet doors

close doors

he also seems to understand the purpose of a doorknob (reaches for it when the door is closed)

babbles and says the following words, but still is learning to associate correctly:

Dada/ Papa 

Bur (bird, sometime plane)

ba (ball) 

doh (door)

well those are just a few things off the top of my head.

here's a then and now photo to leave you with.

A blog for my babies...

I think once baby #2 comes I'll create a blog about my children. I only say when #2 comes because I don't wanna be biased and be postin' stuff all about Donovan now since he's still an only child.