Grace's Bath Time Fun

Baby Grace

Growing, Growing....

I wanted to post some updated pictures of my babies. They are growing amazingly fast and this blog is one way I am keeping the memories of their childhood. I figured out a way to print this blog and, even now, going back to read entries from last year bring tears to my eyes - just thinking about how much they've grown, how much they've changed in just under one year. Here they are....
Angel is our baseball star. He's upstairs right now playing video games while the rest of the family is down here in the living room. I'm told that I need to get used to it, because as he grows he'll be spending more time up there. He misses us every now and then though because he'll pop his head in the room and say, "Hey Mommy!" Yes, I think I'll always be "mommy" to him. :D

As for Miss Alliah....she is such a fashionista lately. She takes almost a 1/2 an hour picking out her clothes and then pants have to come down to a certain length, her shirts can't be too small (hallelujah) and her jackets have to match her outfit. She's seven. She is learning to make new friends and is becoming more responsible everyday. She's such a good girl.

And Miss Grace? The girl weighs 17.4 pounds, is 27-1/2 inches long and, as you can see in the picture, can hold her own bottle now. We get to start baby cereal and baby rice in just a few days. I'm looking forward to that; I know it will be hilarious to see. She brings so much joy into our family and we fall more in love with her everyday!

Beach Day!

We had the most beautiful day at Del Monte Beach yesterday! It started off a little windy, but by mid-afternoon the waves were big, the sand was warm and the snacks we took were simply delicious! :D This was our second trip to the beach this year. Twice in one week, mind you. We had so much fun watching the kids jump and splash in the frigid Pacific Ocean. There were lots of boogie boarders, surfers and skim borders everywhere catching some great waves, and even some dedicated joggers hitting the ocean sand. We, on the other hand, spread on out on the blankets under our umbrellas and watched the tide roll in and out. We stayed until almost 8 o'clock. Thank God for the awesome pizza delivery guy from Me-n-Eds Pizza who brought us dinner! (Yes, they deliver to the beach!!) It was a day of much needed rest with our family we love so much.

Congrats!

Congratulations to my baby sister Nicole and my newest brother Corwin on their Wedding Day, May 30, 2009!!!

My Cutie Pie!

Me and the girls had a quick to visit to Fresno for my nephew Jesse's high school graduation last week. We stayed with Grandma Silvia and Grandpa David (well, it's actually Tia Sandy' house)and got to swim in their wonderful swimming pool. Tia Sandy bought Alliah and Gracie new suits and we hit the pool! It wasn't quite hot enough for Grace to swim, believe it or not, but me and Alliah got a few hours in. We swam and danced and played games...it was so fun. Alliah loved floating in Tia Sandy and Uncle Laz's swimming pool. She's just like her Mama...she's just got to be part fish!

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Here's a pic of my handsome nephew Jesse James Valadez Jr. in cap and gown. We're so proud of this young man. He has great things in his future. We love you, Jesse!!

Dad And Grace Face To Face

The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk

I don't remember having a better time with the kids than we did at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk on Thursday, June 18th. It was Alliah's first time on the Giant Dipper and the Double Shot and oh did she love it! Angel felt like a professional ride "rider" as he led us all down the Boardwalk recounting all the memories of the many times he's ridden each ride in good times past. Larry and all the fam hung out at the beach while I walked all the kiddos from ride to ride. Poor Uncle Tom got burnt like a lobster (sleeping in the sun) but we had a BLAST! I don't know if there is greater joy than seeing the child-like smiles on my babies' faces. They were in pure delight. I also loved seeing the "I think I'm gonna puke" look on their faces while the rides were spinning uncontrollably and then watching them break out in laughter when they held it in and made it through the ride successfully. We had pizza, corn dogs, ice cream, icees, shaved ice, etc. We truly lived the Boardwalk experience. Yes, that day is a day I will never forget. Grace was amused by all of the people and all of the bright lights and spinning colors. She'd let out an occassional giggle all by her little lonesome when something stimulating caught her eye. Yes, I definitely will take the kids again. And soon...

Our First Day at the Beach In 2009

Tuesday, June 16th was our first time to the Beach in 2009. Not only was it a memorable day because all of Larry's family was with us, but it was Gracie's first time to feel the ocean wind blowing through her hair and the soft sand between her toes. She absolutely LOVED it! Angel and Alliah started off splashing in the water with their cousins, Alexis and Daniel, but by the end of the day they were full fledge body surfers. The boogie boards took a beating that day! Here are some pics from a very fun day!
Angel and Alliah laying out in the sun...

Grace's first time to feel the Monterey Sand...


A very proud Daddy poses with his baby girl...

Angel kisses his bulging muscles...

Alliah

Today I decided to write about my beautiful daughter, Alliah. I took this picture of her as she handed out the programs at my little sister's wedding last Saturday. She is just too cute! Alliah is growing so fast. She's becoming quite the young lady. She'll be eight this August, but has the vocabulary of a 10 year old. Some of the things she says sometimes are just amazing. Yesterday, for example, we were playing catch outside in the front yard. She had her baseball glove and I was using her spare glove, which was much too small. I threw her the ball and she caught it right in the pocket. She gave me a HUGE smile and said, "Did you see that, Mom?" I said that I did and that she did a great job. Before throwing me the ball she said, "Okay, Mom, now let's see if you can do it. I believe in you, Mom...just watch the ball..." and she threw it way over my head. When I turned to run after the ball I heard he say, "Aww...that's all right, Mom. Not everybody catches every ball; you can try again." I asked myself: Now who's the adult and who is the child? I wonder what she'll be like when she's 10?