Merry Christmas!

Yes, Christmas in July. It takes me this long to recover from the previous year's holiday season. But, it never fails that by July 25th, I'm ready to gear up for the upcomoing festivities. One of my new favorite traditions is celebrating Christmas in July each year, and thanks to QVC, I can do that. Even if I have to do it by myself (which I do). Last year, my mom and I sat at home, each with a cell phone in hand and a plate of Christmas cookies in front of us, watched hours of Christmas programming and shopped. This year I was flying solo and had to watch in between taking care of the kids, but I still had a great time. No Christmas cookies this year, but I lit my favorite holiday candle and that helped me forget the fact that it was 98 degrees outside with 90% humdity. So, once again, I was able to kick of my Christmas shopping season nice and early. Laugh all you want. When my shopping is done by Thanksgiving and we are not penniless the entire month of December, you'll be admiring me!

QVC is my vice. No I have not purchased any holiday sweaters or useless figurines, but I do love finding some unique bargains. Where else can you get a Dooney and Bourke bag on 5 easy payments (with NO interest- thank you very much)? And, with two small kids, there is nothing better than shopping from the comfort of your living room. QVC doesn't care if I haven't had time to shower or brush my teeth!

Happy Birthday Buddy!

We celebrated Daniel's birthday this year in the desert with our family. It's so hard to believe he is three years old already. And yet there are those days that we find comfort in the fact that two summers from now we will be buying his first set of school supplies. Doesn't everyone know that 3 is the new 2? What fun we are having with his darling new attitude and cute little sayings, such as, "NO!", "MINE", and my personal favorite, "YOU STOP THAT!"

Regardless of this stage, which I've been told will pass in the next few months (I'm holding you to that, Steph). The past 3 years have been full of blessings and it really does make me sad that my little boy is growing up so fast.

Happy Fourth of July!

A Tale of Two Kiddies

Whoever said that having a second child would be easier needs to be clubbed over the head with a tire iron. "You'll be so much more relaxed", "everything will come so much easier"- these are some of the things we were told by, what we thought, were wiser, more experienced parents. What we didn't know was that they were also delusional. There is nothing easier about having two kids. I'm reminded of the old Wrigley chewing gum adage, "double the pleasure, double the fun" and wondering exactly at what point the "fun" will begin. I'm trusting that it will come in time, but can honestly say that there is not much fun in having an almost 3 year old and a 6 week old simultaneously.

(I should note, it is 5:30 in the morning. I have already been up for an hour. I could go back to sleep, but opted for a shower today rather than a measly 45 more minutes of sleep.)

Maybe it's just our kids. Perhaps we should have thought more about bringing into the world two individuals that were of Mexican/Italian decent. This is something that no one tells you about in pre-marital counseling. If someone would have mentioned that the combination of our ethnic heritage would result in the creation of what appears to be the world's two most high-maintanance children, perhaps we would have thought twice before deciding to become parents. We knew they were going to be loud, over-eaters, who were all up in everyone's business, but we had no idea they would be so...passionate and intense about EVERY single aspect of life.

I realized this yesterday while taking my children to the pediatrician's office for a routine check-up on a rash that Daniel has had...on his face. This should not have been a difficult procedure. I prepped him several times before going so he would know what to expect. Next time, I won't bother. It was utterly futile. I thought things were looking good when Daniel proudly walked into the new doctor's office. "Hi!" he exclaimed to everyone in the waiting room, as if they had been waiting anxiously for his arrival. He immediately made his way to the toys and started playing (this passion and intensity may prove to have it's benefits as he gets older). His sister, on the other hand, waited until I received the 14 pages of paperwork that needed to be filled out and then proceeded to throw a royal fit. Based on prior experience and the lie that "second-born babies are easier", I assumed putting a perfectly healthy, fully fed, adequately burped newborn into the car would result in a sleeping baby. However, I should have been familiar enough with Murphy's Law to realize this would never happen. The screaming commenced as soon as I sat down in the waiting room and lasted until I was able to pick her up out of her car seat and bounce her on my shoulder.

Baby in one hand, stroller in the other, I carefully guided Daniel to the exam room as if I was a dog herding cattle. It was at that point that I realized how terrifying it was for him to step on a scale (I thought that only happened once you reached adulthood- Praise God he'll never have to deal with the joys of baby weight-oh the horror!). He immediately started crying and shouting "NO! NO!" (my least favorite word in English language to date) and didn't stop until we were headed OUT of the office. The doctor weighed him, listened to his heart, and looked at his face- this, to my son, was apparently the equivalent of sawing off his right leg with a butter knife. His screams were matched only by those of his sister who has the incredible talent of appearing to be asleep until you sit down or attempt to move her for any reason. Suffice it to say, by the time we were finished, I was mourning the days when it was just me, my OB/GYN, and an invasive vaginal exam.

I often wonder why they call the process of giving birth "labor". I know it is hard work, but the true "labor" comes after you bring your kids home. My question is...why hasn't anyone developed an epidural so you don't have to feel the first 3 months? (or maybe that's what Martinis are for...)

One day, I'm sure I will look back on experiences like these and laugh- at least that's what I tell myself to keep from losing my mind. And I am confident that the time will come when we will wish our kids were still, as Daniel says, "cuddly and cute". I know we will beam with pride as we watch them grow and mature and become the dynamic, passionate, influential people they are destined to be.

Will someone remind me of that the next time we go to the doctor?

When It's Time to Change...

Most have you have probably heard the recent news that about a week ago, Verizon officially purchased Alltel Communications. It was news that we anticipated eventuallty, but certainly not this month, or this year for that matter. It is such a huge thing in the life of this city and so many of our friends. Alltel has literally been our family in a place where we have had none. And although the acquisition is far from final, it almost feels as if there's been a death in the family.

There is a myriad of emotions we are feeling at this point. We are sad, stunned, frightened, and humbled; feeling a little bit like the new kid on the playground that gets picked on his first day at a new school. It's like we were just given the ulitmate corporate wedgie and it will be a while before we fully recover.

We knew, when we made the decision to move to Little Rock, that it was most likely a temporary move. What we didn't know was that the job would be temporary as well. We have no idea what changes may come as a result of this buy out, but the odds are that major life change will be occuring, yet again.

I can hear all of our friends and family in Arizona asking when we are going to return. The answer is...we just don't know. It would be wonderful to return home to friends, family, and our home. But the truth of the matter is, "home" may end up being somewhere else.

The good news??? The sky is the limit! We have NO idea where we may end up or what opportunities await Fernando professionally and we are SO stoked to see what God has in store (I haven't used the word "stoked" in about 10 years!).

More details will come in the next few months and as the deal finalizes by the end of this year. We ask for your prayers for our family and our friends here in Little Rock as we all adjust to the changes and make plans for the next steps in our lives, as more than likely we will all be without jobs shortly.

We are so thankful for the time we've had in Little Rock and look forward to making the most of the next few months should God choose to move us on. We have learned so much about others and about ourselves. We have grown as individuals and as a family. Our faith has been stretched and challenged and we pray that we have been and will continue to be a blessing to those that the Lord has brought into our life. We are blessed that Fernando has had this opportunity to gain the experience he has and to work under the amazing, servant leadership that exists at Alltel.

The bottom line- if we had to do it all again, we would in a heartbeat. It's all part of the story of our life that God is writing. We can't wait to read the next chapter!

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day

Today I was reminded (again) of the fact that I am so blessed to have married the most amazing husband and father. I couldn't help but think back on the last 12 years and thank God for everything he has given me. This is for you, babe.





THE LOVE OF MY LIFE
What's his name? Fernando Daniel Orona

How old is he? 32

Who said "I love you" first? He did and I even remember where we were standing when he said it. It was 1997 and he was actually dating someone else at the time. We had a special connection, there was no denying, and I knew he meant it.

Who can sing better? I vote for him, although he might argue with me

Who is smarter? He is. I might have more "book" smarts, but he's got the street smarts and when it comes down to it, that's more important. Plus, he manages to retain more info than I do. He teaches me a lot.

Who does the laundry? I try to, but when I'm slacking, he'll step in and do it. I gotta give you props babe, you worked wonders with the towels today!

Who does the dishes? We both do.

What are his guilty pleasures? Hmmmm. Watching UFC, Blue Moon, and tacos from Jack In the Box.

Who sleeps on the right? I do. Unless you're looking at the bed, then he does.

Who mows the lawn? Thankfully, we don't have a lawn at the moment, but when we do, it's ALL him. :)

Besides you, who's his best friend? That's a tough one. He's very loyal and has lots of old friends (not friends who are old- well, I guess he has some of them too). I have to say his brother, Alex, ranks a close second to me. :)

Who cooks dinner? I usually do, but he makes a mean Mexican rice and, quite frankly, is much better at making breakfast.

Who drives? He does. He claims he would like me to drive sometimes, but I know he hates how I drive.

Who is more stubborn? He is. I've tried to win this war a few times, but he always manages to be more stubborn than me.

Who kissed who first? He kissed me. But he got kissed, right back!

Who asked who out first? He asked me out, right after the Christmas banquet. He was relieved that I wasn't interested in my date (thanks Justin!) and I guess he figured he had better act quick. I'd been waiting a LONG time! ;)

What was your first date? We went to dinner and a movie. When the movie ended we did a little kissin'. Okay, so we did a lot of kissin'. :) I told you, I'd waited a LONG time.

Who proposed? He did- six years after our first date...

Who has more siblings? I do. I have 2 he has 1.

Who wears the pants? We both do, although I prefer crop pants or capris. :) Truthfully, he's a wonderful husband, father, and spiritual leader. I have NO problem letting him take the reigns. I wouldn't have it any other way.

What is your favorite thing about him? Okay, this could get pretty sappy. I love so much about him. I love that he makes me laugh- all the time. We have so much fun together. I love how dedicated he is to his family and friends. He is such a hard worker and has the best work ethic. People he works with love and respect him. I'm so proud of him for that. He is honest and straight with people, myself included- and he makes me be a better version of myself. He is wonderful with his kids. He makes ordinary things fun for them and teaches them so much. There's more but my parents are most likely going to read this...let's just say, he is one smooth Latino. :)

I love you baby!

Parenthood 101

Apparently 2 1/2 years is just enough time to forget how exhausting life is with a newborn in the house. I came across the following 11 step guide to preparing you for parenthood. To all of our friends who have recently embarked on this journey with us...this is for you.


Thinking of having kids? Please complete this 11-step program first-

**Lesson 1

1. Go to the grocery store.

2. Arrange to have your salary paid directly to the grocery store's head office.

3. Go home.

4. Pick up the paper.

5. Read it for the last time. Ever.

**Lesson 2

1. Before you finally go ahead and have children, find a couple who are
parents already and berate them about their:
-methods of discipline.
-lack of patience.
-appallingly low tolerance levels.
-allowing their children to run wild.

2. suggest ways in which they might improve their child's breastfeeding, sleep habits, toilet training, table manners, and overall behavior.

Then enjoy it because it will be the last time in your life you will have all the answers.

**Lesson 3

This lesson is a really good way to discover how the nights might feel.

1. Get home from work and immediately begin walking around the living room from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. carrying a wet bag weighing approximately 8 to 12 pounds with a radio set to static (or some other obnoxious sound) playing loudly. Eat cold food with one hand for dinner.

2. At 10 p.m., put the bag gently down, set the alarm for midnight and go to sleep.

3. Get up at midnight and walk around the living room again with the bag until 1 a.m.

4. Set the alarm for 3 a.m.

5. As you can't get back to sleep, get up at 2 a.m. and make a drink and watch an infomercial.

6. Go to bed at 2:45 a.m.

7. Get up at 3 a.m. when the alarm goes off again.

8. Sing songs quietly in the dark until 4 a.m.

9. Get up. Make breakfast. Get ready for work and go to work (work hard and be productive).

Repeat steps 1-9 each night for 3 to 5 years. Look cheerful and together.

**Lesson 4

Can you stand the mess children make? To find out:

1. Smear peanut butter onto the sofa and jam onto the curtains.

2. Hide a piece of raw chicken behind the stereo and leave it there all summer.

3. Stick your fingers in the flower bed.

4. Then rub them on the clean walls.

5. Take your favorite book, photo album, etc. and wreck it.

6. Spill milk on your new pillows. Cover the stains with crayons. How does that look?

**Lesson 5

Dressing small children is not as easy as it seems.

1. Buy an octopus and a small bag made out of loose mesh.

2. Attempt to put the octopus into the bag so that none of the arms hang out.

Helpful hint: Time allowed for this exercise: all morning.

**Lesson 6

Forget the BMW and buy a minivan. And don't think that you can leave it out
in the driveway spotless and shining. Family cars don't look like that.

1. Buy a chocolate ice cream cone and put it in the glove compartment.
Leave it there.

2. Get a dime. Stick it in the CD player.

3. Take a family-size package of chocolate cookies and mash them into the
back seat. Sprinkle Cheerios all over the floor, then smash them with your foot.

4. Run a garden rake along both sides of the car.

**Lesson 7

1. Go to the local grocery store.

2. Take with you the closest thing you can find to a preschool-age child. A
full-grown goat is an excellent choice. If you intend to have more than one child, then definitely take more than one goat. Buy your week's groceries without letting the goats out of your sight. Pay for everything the goats eat or destroy. Until you can easily accomplish this, do not even contemplate having children.

**Lesson 8

1. Hollow out a melon.

2. Make a small hole in the side.

3. Suspend it from the ceiling and swing it from side to side.

4. Now get a bowl of soggy Cheerios and attempt to spoon them into the swaying melon by pretending to be an airplane.

5. Continue until half the Cheerios are gone.

6. Tip half of the remaining Cheerios into your lap. The other half, just throw up in the air. You are now ready to feed a nine-month-old baby.

**Lesson 9

Learn the names of every character from Sesame Street, Barney, Disney, the
Teletubbies and Pokemon. Watch nothing else on TV but PBS, the Disney Channel or Noggin for at least five years. (I know, you're thinking What's'Noggin'?) Exactly the point.

**Lesson 10

Make a recording of Fran Drescher saying 'mommy' repeatedly. (Important: no
more than a four-second delay between each 'mommy'; occasional crescendo to the level of a supersonic jet is required). Play this tape in your car everywhere you go for the next four years. You are now ready to take a long trip with a toddler.

**Lesson 11

Start talking to an adult of your choice. Have someone else continually tug
on your skirt hem, shirt sleeve, or elbow while playing the 'mommy' tape made from Lesson 10 above. You are now ready to have a conversation with an adult while there is a child in the room.

Anyone who is parent will say 'it's all worth it!' Remember, a sense of
humor is one of the most important things you'll need when you become a
parent!