New Discovery

I love it when children take an interest in something new. Today, Q'Orianka found a "new" book to look at. Its called 'Active Labor' I was watching her flip through the pages, to see what she would do. The next thing I know, she's showing me a picture, with a concerned look on her face. "Mom", she said, why is she sitting on her baby". A woman in active labor in the squating position, with a baby half out. I told her she wasn't sitting on the baby, she was having a baby. She said no mom, she sitting on the baby. So ask her where the baby was, she said her bum. I told her that's how the baby comes out. She's been fascinated with the book all day. When Luis woke she showed him the picture and told him how the baby comes out. We then explained that the baby doesn't come out of your bum, and where it comes out of. She took this new information really good. Which made me very happy. I was wondering when she would get around to asking how the baby comes out. The pictures were in black and white and probably from the 70's or 80's and not really very clear, but it gave her an understanding about how our baby will be come out of my tummy. I pulled out another book for her tomorrow, 'Spiritual Midwifery' which has more pictures of woman having babies. She liked to see the pictures when the new mom was holding the baby and smiling. One picture, had the mom, delivering a baby, with her mouth open like she was saying Oh, Oh, Oh,....Q'Orianka asked why she made that face. So I asked her what she says when Luis has a surprise for her. Her eyes lit up and she said OH,OH, Oh. I said that is that's what she's saying, having the baby is like having a special surprise. She looked at the picture and said ok.

Now I need to follow her example and decide how much information to give her. If she shows interest tomorrow will talk about it again. Then maybe, maybe, I'll look for some non-graphic, non-hysterical women having babies on youtube to show her. I'll play that one by ear, I don't want to bombard her with more information than she is ready for.



By the time, she had to go to bed, she had Suri looking at the book with her. So I had them sing a couple of songs to our new baby, then say goodnight and give him a kiss. It was really cute!! I might have war over the new baby, both girls will want to always be holding him. Q'Orianka still tries to hold Suri. And Suri usually fights back, because she doesn't want her too.

Kitchen Decorating

Now that the reality of getting a house is here. I found the perfect design for my kitchen. Luis picked the color. I wasn't to sure about, since I had another idea in mind. Then as I was looking through the design binder I created, that has pictures of design ideas for different areas of the house. I found these pictures. I'm really excited, I can't wait until we move in and I can start working on making it ours.

Father's Blessing

The cutest thing happened tonight. Luis gave the girls and I a blessing, (the girls haven't been sleeping well the last couple of days.) After the blessing, we explained what a blessing was and who it comes from, Q'Orianka's eyes were so big as we explaining. So almost before we'd finished talking, she was wanting to give papa a blessing, so she stood behind him on the couch, put her hands and his head, she asked Luis what she should say, so he gave her his name then she proceeded to give blessing/prayer, it was so cute, she's talking about a couple of things that were mention in the blessing, plus a couple of other things she says at her bedtime prayers. We could hardly keep a straight face. Then Suri, the little copy cat, stood up put her hands on Luis' shoulds and said amen.

Kids can be so amazing!!!

Health Care Options

I want to share with everyone a wonderful way to share everyones health care burdens that I discovered today. A friends of mine's midwife was telling us about this program, It's called

Samaritan Ministries International.

-This is how it works!
Samaritan Ministries is a health care sharing ministry, not health insurance, so members’ needs are handled differently than insurance. Each month every Samaritan household is assigned to share in the medical need of another member.

Here's how the process works:

-Medical Need Begins
A Samaritan Ministries member has a need and calls the Samaritan Ministries office.
Packet is sent and prayer begins A Samaritan Ministries staff member sends a Need Processing packet to the member, who is added to the prayer list so fellow members can begin praying.

-The need is presented
He completes the form in the packet and returns it, with his medical bills, to the office.

-The need is processed
The Samaritan Ministries staff verifies the need information and prepares it for publication in the monthly newsletter.

-The need is published
The need is assigned to specific members, who are informed through the monthly newsletter.

-Members respond
The members send their shares along with notes of encouragement to the need assigned to them. They also pray for the member with the need.

-The burden is lifted
The member receives letters with financial gifts, notes of encouragement, and confirmation of prayers.

-God is glorified
The member is encouraged and praises God for His provision.

Memorial Day Weekend

Here are some fun pictures from the Beach. It was the first time both of the girls had really been in the water. For Suri this was amazing progress. She hate water, seriously, tub time is a nightmare and she won't play in the little pool we have for her. She prefers to put dirt in the water instead.

I can't believe it's been so long since I gave an update about our family. A lot has happened since the last time wrote. Luis and I are expecting another baby in November. I'm pretty sure it's a boy, since was so sick. I am not usually sick, I've just started to come back after about a month and half. Our poor kids, have been so neglected. Since for an entire month, I could barely get off the couch. We are finally getting back to normal or at least a little more normal of not 100% normal.

Luis contract was not renewed at the local high school, he is working at. The school district had serious budget cuts and anyone with less then 6 years of teaching, were giving a warning, that they might be let go. And he was. Which was bummer, since we were in the middle trying to buy a house. We've put that off and are looking to move, hopefully out the Fredericksburg Area. Where we will go or what he will be doing is still in the air, but we know we will be moving.

The kids are growing like weeds. Q'Orianka is 3 1/2 and is talking up storm, she has become such a little mommy to Suri. Suri doesn't usually appreciate it, but that's normal and they play so well together. Suri is 18 months and is so independent. She also talking like crazy. Her favorite word is apple. Since she loves to eat them and wants to eat them all day long.

Here are some recent pictures of the girls and us.

This is Luis and the girls outside the DC temple of a youth temple trip.

Luis and Q'Orianka fell asleep watching TV and Suri stayed awake to cuddle with her papa.

The girls pretending to play checkers at George Washington's Childhood home.

Bath Time, this is one of the few times, Suri has been happy during her bath. She hates her baths.

Here is a picture of the girls and I at the National Zoo in DC.

We are just about to become offically new homeowners. We've made an offer on a beautiful house. We finished our counter offer yesterday evening, so we are expecting the owners to accept the offer today. HipHip Hurray!!! Even with the owners accepting the offer, it could be up to 4 to 6 months before we can sign the papers on the house. The house is a short sale, so the process can be long. We will have to wait for final approval from the sellers banks, I say banks because 2 banks are involved in this process, which could extent the amount of time we wait. Lucky for us Bank of America is not involved, if they would have been we would not have even made an offer. They are a guaranteed 6 month wait. We have a feeling that this house is meant to be ours. Here are some pictures of the inside and outside of the house. It has 4 bedrooms 2 full baths and 1 half bath. It's about 2000 square feet with a large fenced yard. My garden plot is already for me.