Valentines Day

Our family had a wonderful Valentine's Day. It started off to be a very relaxing Saturday. Later in the day we went to the Booker T. Washington Monument, which is about 30 minutes North of here.

If your not familiar with Booker T. Washington is, he was a very famous educator of African Americans. He was born into slavery, (the monument we visited is the plantation he was born on). After the Civil War, he eventually went to school and became a principal of Tuskegee Institute in Alabama (which I believe is still around today).

The Plantation was beautiful, they had some animals there, which was a little difficult for Q'Orianka. The horse scared her to death, she almost started crying. Then we saw some sheep, she didn't like them at first, but then once she got used to them, she didn't want to leave. She loved the chickens, roosters, geese and turkey's as well.

Here are some of the pictures from our outing. This first one is inside the house were Washington lived.

This is Q'Orianka running away from some sort of storage barn. When she saw Luis taking her picture she started running.

These are the sheep that scared her at first, but as you can tell, she's not scared any more.+

This was taken on the side of the barn, where the tobacco was stored after it was cut.

Stress Management

Some people when they're stressed eat or exercise or sleep. Not my husband, he cuts his hair.

Snowy Winter Mornings

Every morning when I wake up, one of the first things I do is look out our bedroom window. Usually the days look the same, the only difference is the cloud cover. This morning I woke up and found snow. Not a lot of snow but enough. I realized I love to watch the snow fall. And the world around me becomes a winter wonderland. At this moment I do miss Utah and the snowy winters.

Christmas 2009

Here are a few pictures from Christmas.

Our little candy cane dancing with her papa.
Opening a present from Mama Nina.
Once again she's holding her Suri.

Our tired Christmas girl all dressed up for the big Christmas Eve Party.

Catching up

I realized today, its been 5 weeks since we posted anything to the blog. I have not meant to be just a slacker, but I have been busy. It's been a bit more challenging than I realized to get used to taking care of 2 little ones. But I do love it.

Last Monday I had my 6 week visit from Wanda and Crystal (the midwife and her assistant). Suri and I are doing great, and Suri weighted in at a whopping 11 1/2 pounds. Holy Cow!!! She as really grown. Then on Tuesday, I took the girls to Roanoke to Wanda's Mother's Group. It's a wonderful way to get to know other women who have had homebirths. All the women there have or will deliver with Wanda and Crystal. We get to share our birth story or stories with each other and discuss other subjects. This time we discussion circumsion, it was quite interesting. I had no idea, circumsion was a billion dollar industry. Hospitals sell the foreskin, its used for grafts and they use it to regenerate new skin cells. The foreskin will eventually grow to the size of a 3x5 card. It is something for us to eventually think about, when we finally have a boy, I don't want to have to PAY for a circumsion and then have it sold for a profit. I won't get into to much since I haven't done much research on the subject, ok, I haven't done any, this is what I learned on Tuesday.

Luis and I are also looking into moving. The area is nice, but since the fall, Luis and Q'Orianka have a horrible wet cough w/ flem, that doesn't seem to go away. Luis says it feels like his mission, when he had real problems with his asthma. He's worried Q'Orianka will develop asthma. For Christmas we went up north to visit his family, Q'Orianka's cough pretty much went a way, Luis' was much better. It was only on the really humid days that it bothered them. I'm thinking we need a dryer climate. Next weekend we're planning to visit some of Luis' friends in West Virginia, and see if we like the area. They live on the border of Virginia. So Luis could work in Virginia, but we could live in W. Virginia. Which would have its benefits, since it would be cheaper to live there, then in Virginia.

I'm sure you're ready to seem some recent pictures of the girls, well here they are....
Q'Orianka is crazy about her sister. She loves to hug and kiss her. When I say hug and kiss I mean maul. Here they are in a moment of gentleness.

Here's Suri, just chillin' with her mama.
Q'Orianka loves to cuddle, I think this picture is priceless. Q'Orianka is always trying to feed her baby or the remote control and even Suri her teta (breast). I have to submit this one to Mothering Magazine. How could they not print it. It's adorable.
Our little diva!!!

Another Q'Orianka and Suri moment. This time Q'Orianka practically moved Suri into the position she wanted. Crazy girl!!!

Luis is putting Suri to sleep. He's amazing and getting to sleep quickly. I love it!!!

First snow of the season

Here is picture I took today from our balcony. Our first snow of the season.

Recent pictures

Suri is just chillin with Grandma. Luis' family says Suri looks just like her grandma.
Isn't our little princess so beautiful!!!!

Saying Bye to Grandma. :-( Q'Orianka was so sad to see grandma leave. Still is still asking for her every morning.

Q'Orianka just can't get enough of holding her little sister. All day long she wants to hold her.