M + E

Antonio Celebrates Mother's Day!

2010-08-30T19:31:00.008-05:00

I decided I would attempt to cook for my family during this year's Mother's Day. I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful and close-knit family and I really wanted to do something for them. I invited my parents and sisters over and to their complete and utter shock - they watched me make pancakes, eggs, and bacon! Yes, this is a rare moment in history and it is to be documented as such.

Behold, evidence of me cooking...in heels and a dress of course! I need an apron.

Antonio wasn't sure what I was doing...he was curious.

David and Antonio were patiently waiting for brunch.

my beautiful flowers and cake...mmm...cake

My Mom! She looked so pretty in her new shirt. She's my hero, of course.

The boys like looking out the window and watching the dogs.

After the boys ate pancakes, they headed upstairs with Grandpa to play. I think they got a sugar rush!

Two chubby kids.

Antonio is quite a little boy. He loves cars and trucks these days. Here he is with a big truck...

Here he is with the tiny matchbox cars...

...and a bottle to finish the day off!

What a wonderful Mother's Day! Thanks to my sisters and parents for their Mother's Day gifts and for coming over.

Antonio Attends a Birthday Party

2010-08-29T16:05:00.008-05:00

Noah - the Birthday Boy!

Antonio's not too sure about that water slide.

These two are adorable!

I love Kendall's new kissy face!

Antonio loves his cousins. He is especially fond of his oldest boy cousin, Noah. In May, we drove up to Lubbock for Noah's 4th Birthday Party. It was a pool party at one of the local fitness centers, which is a fantastic idea because the kids get to run around and go crazy and the staff takes care of everything.

The first part of the party was at the pool which has a tree house in the middle and dumps water out every couple of minutes. The water dumping out makes a loud noise and Antonio was not a big fan of that. He and Ryder stayed close to me while the bigger kids played. They dipped their legs in the pool but that was the extent of their water experience.

Then, it was time for pizza and cake. Antonio ran around the room and did not want to sit down with the rest of the kids. He was wearing himself out! We're fine with that because that means he'll sleep hard when it's time for a nap.

...And while we were in town, we got to visit with Cameron! He's growing so fast and I love those cheeks!

Antonio, David, and Richard Easter 2010

2010-08-09T21:35:00.006-05:00

I am a couple of months behind on the posts so, these are the pictures of the boys at the Arboretum last Easter. They ran around like crazy and most of the pictures consisted of us running after them, or of their backs! Antonio and David sat in the wagon for a little while becauase they are best buds, and Antonio actually sat on top of David at one point!

Antonio Loves...

2010-08-09T21:05:00.005-05:00

Antonio is growing and learning so much these days!! Here is a quick rundown on the latest and greatest on Antonio....

1) He loves to count - and he can count to ten in Spanish and in English.
2) He's such an amazing little guy who likes to talk and run around and do his own thing.
3) Antonio likes to dance (like his Mama!) and sings himself to sleep sometimes.
4) He knows different shapes but his favorite is the "star".
5) He likes to sit and play with his cars and trains and builds his little train track very meticulously.
6) He is definitely patient and he takes his time building things with blocks. He also loves to read books and stares at the pictures, studying everything about them.
7) He LOVES Cheerios, baby cheetoh puffs, Chick Fil A, and yogurt. Those are essential in his food groups!
8) He can run like the wind! He ran in a children's Fun Run at one of my races and he totally lapped a kid that was twice his age!
9) He's friendly to other kids, but completely indifferent with adults. He calls other kids "baby" and is fascinated with kids slightly older than he is, but he is super aloof with adults.
10) He has a FANTASTIC memory. He will leave toys in particular places and days later, he'll go looking for it. Crazy!

Enjoy the pictures of Antonio smiling for the camera!! He was in a really cute mood that day and looked so cute with his popped collar, so I grabbed the camera of course!

Antonio Lounges with Cousins

2010-08-02T21:23:00.008-05:00

There's nothing cuter than little boys sitting on the couch together watching movies....especially when the couch is tiny! Antonio loves visits from his Lubbock cousins and definitely enjoys being "one of the boys" when they are around. What a cute bunch of little boys.

Noah is Antonio's hero because he is a big kid. Ryder (who is basically Antonio's twin) is funny because he sees Antonio as a "baby", which is funny because Antonio says "baby" when he sees Ryder! But when Ryder leaves, Antonio likes to walk around saying "Ryder" and acts like he's looking for him. It makes me wonder what these little guys think...

Antonio is holding his all-time favorite movie at the moment - Monsters vs Aliens. He stares at the DVD cover and then will run up to us and ask, "Movie?". He also knows how to turn on the Play Station 3 so that the Blue Ray disc can be inserted. The only thing the child doesn't know how to do is get the remote and change the input to HDMI 1. Other than that, he's got it figured out! We try not to watch too much TV but it's hard because we all LOVE to sit in front of the TV. And, it's a great way to get all the kids to sit and relax and maybe even fall asleep.

Antonio Crashes Wendy's Baby Shower

2010-08-02T20:50:00.006-05:00

I remember when my good friends and sorority sisters threw me a baby shower for Antonio when I was eight months pregnant. More than two years later, we were throwing a shower for Wendy and baby Annabelle! Antonio mostly hung out upstairs with Michael because he was watching his shows and relaxing but the ladies demanded he make an appearance. So, Antonio crashed the shower for a bit and my friends got to see my crazy toddler and his beloved hanger. He swung it around a couple of times and hugged on some of the ladies. After the craziness, Antonio ascended back up the stairs to the mancave....

Antonio and Mommy

2010-08-01T22:22:00.008-05:00

Antonio has always been a Daddy's boy. Recently, there has been a change in him and he has really taken to me - his Mommy. He asks for me, gets excited when he sees me, and even hangs all over my legs like you often see small children do to their mothers. And while some mommies may find this annoying, I love the newfound attention that my toddler gives me these days. I love his hugs, I love cuddling with him and I love his kisses (he's stingy with those!). And as you can see on this post, he even likes getting his picture taken with me!

Antonio Celebrates Mommy's and Daddy's Birthday

2010-08-01T22:20:00.007-05:00

Michael and I never really do anything big and spectacular for our birthdays. We were born one month apart so our birthdays are pretty close together and this year, we decided to celebrate our birthdays by throwing a big party at our house. After all, this year was the year that we both turned the big 3-0.

We successfully threw an adult and child-friendly party (thanks to the grandparents!) and everyone had a fantastic time. It took us about a month to prepare and plan everything for the big day. We got decorations, catered food from Market Street, and ordered some delicious cupcakes from a co-worker who is a spectacular dessert chef.

Throwing this party made us realize that we can still have fun with friends and throw a mean party, while being responsible parents of a fun little guy. Antonio hung around until eleven o'clock before the grandparents took him to their house. He's a party animal.

Balloon + Luna = Balluna

2010-05-23T15:16:00.003-05:00

Antonio loves to talk. He loves looking up at the sky and pointing at the moon and saying, "Luna!". He also loves balloons. Well, he has combined "baloon" and "luna" and walks around saying, "balluna". It's hillarious!

Antonio's 1st Haircut

2010-05-23T15:04:00.004-05:00

We finally got Antonio's hair cut. We have trimmed the "tail" in the back that he gets every once in a while but Antonio has never officially gotten a haircut. Well, Michael took the clippers and the kid has got a short, new, summer 'do! He looks even more like his Daddy now!

Antonio Loves Hangers

2010-05-23T14:37:00.006-05:00

Antonio has cars, puzzle, baseballs, footballs, soccer balls, transformers...but his absolute FAVORITE toy is a clothes hanger.

He goes to the laundry room or to the closet, points up, and says, "Hanger, hanger". He demands certain hangers. The plastic ones with the metal hook or the small, baby hangers. Either way, he is picky and knows what he wants and he tries to go everywhere with them. We have carried hangers to the grocery store, the mall, the park, everywhere. He sleeps with them, sits with them, walks with them. Oh, and he also has to carry them a certain way so he throws them on the floor and picks them back up to his liking.

It's an obssession. And I can't imagine where he gets this OCD (ahem - Michael and myself - ahem). He did have a nasty fall with the hangers so we are trying to take them away but he looks for them all of the time. We have managed to replace the hangers with tiny, juice box straws which is a relief since they are so much smaller than those huge hangers! I can't imagine what Antonio will say to us when he gets older and realizes that his first love was hangers!

Antonio holding a hanger during Wendy's baby shower...

Antonio holding a hanger while getting his haircut.

Antonio Attends Beerfest

2010-05-23T14:02:00.007-05:00

Roadtrip! Back in March, Aunt Rocio invited us to visit her in College Station. We don't get too see Rocio as much as we would like since she moved so we were very excited to get away and get some quality time with her and Ryan. Oh, and they also invited us to attend a family-friendly event called BeerFest. How could we not go??

Antonio's first BeerFest was a success. He had a great time people-watching and the weather was nice enough to let him run around and stay out in the sun all day. We ate a ton of great food - fajitas, more fajitas, and jalapeno poppers. We also sampled tons of different kinds of beers. Mmmm...beer...

So, thank you to Ryan and Rocio for being such gracious hosts during our visit to College Station. We ended the night by jamming out to Rock Band, Beatles' edition. Antonio loved the drums. I think he's definitely got an appreciation for music!

Antonio's New Talent

2010-04-05T23:07:00.004-05:00

Our child is a natural athlete. Obviously, he did not inherit these skills from us because we can barely walk straight and have never excelled at organized sports. We are thrilled and contribute his skills to his grandfathers.

Antonio Celebrates His Tia Rocio's Birthday!

2010-04-05T22:52:00.007-05:00

Here is the birthday girl! Mmmm...Godiva chocolate.

Nancy and Eddie were in town too! They played with the boys too.

Antonio looks tired but fancy in his vest :)

Sisters and babies.

Antonio's room has been changed into a playroom!

Antonio Meets A New Friend!

2010-04-05T22:07:00.008-05:00

One of my best-friends had a baby while we were in El Salvador! Krystal is one of my dearest friends who I have known since I was in 9th grade. She is really more like a cousin to me, and her and her husband Jason welcomed an adorable baby boy!

Cameron Paul was born on December 28, 2009 (which was a little early but ok with his Mommy) and weighed 7lbs and 1oz. He was 20 inches long.

We headed to Lubbock the weekend of January 9th to meet baby Cameron and visit Krystal and Jason. We were still tired from our 10 day vacation in Lubbock but we would not have missed meeting Cameron for anything.

And while in Lubbock, we also celebrated another special person's birthday. But this person turned 30. My sister-in-law Jennifer's husband welcomed his thirties with a celebration at his house. Aunts, grandparents, kids, everyone was there to join in the fun! What a great way to bring in your thirties.

Here we are on our way to Lubbock!

We took the pets. They are so spoiled.

Beautiful baby Cameron! Bright eyes and very sweet!

Quint's birthday lunch at Rudy's BBQ.

Antonio learned how to put his own straw in his juice box.

Michael and Jennifer with Ryder. I love taking brother-sister pics of them!

Look at all those cousins.

Antonio with his hero Noah.

Happy Birthday Quint!

Me and Jennifer.

My handsome baby.

Goodbye El Salvador! Hello Texas!

2010-04-05T21:55:00.006-05:00

Antonio was up early waiting to check-out of the hotel. Here he is getting a last look of the lobby.

It was still dark when we drove to the airport to go back home to Texas. The sun was barely breaking through the clouds and it was like I was dreaming that I was going home.

Wow. It was sooo early.

When we finally made it to the airport in Dallas, we ran into some friends! Here is little Regina playing with the boys.

Taking the shuttle back to the extended stay parking lot was cold. Antonio holds on tight to his blankie.

Wow. I can't believe we spent 10 days with family in El Salvador. Our trip was challenging with three toddlers but also relaxing, exciting and fun. And we are also taking very special memories of spending time with family with us. I don't know when we will visit El Salvador next, but I'm glad Antonio got to go for the first time when he was so young. He's already a pro at eating pupusas and dancing! He may look like his Daddy but his Hernandez genes are strong in his character!

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 10

2010-04-04T21:51:00.010-05:00

We spent our last day in El Salvador at the beach and then visiting with relatives. The beach trip was quick and the babies were exhausted. Our visit with the relatives was bitter sweet and it made me realize how important this trip would be to Antonio when he grows up. I don't know when we will be able to visit El Salvador again so I'm glad that my little boy got to meet so many important members of his extended family. And who knows, maybe he will be able to speak Spanish to his second cousins the next time he visits!

Visiting with my aunt Mirna and her daughter.

At the restaurant by the beach :)

Richard and my Dad getting into the sand

Me and sweet David

Eating chicken nuggets from McDonald's

Running around the hotel room!

Brothers.

Family photo!

Passing out tres leches cake! We had to end the night with dessert :)

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 9

2010-04-04T21:02:00.009-05:00

We spent the first day of 2010 at the mall. Are you surprised? :)
Afterwards, we visited with my Grandmother from my Mom's side. She was quite smitten with the boys and they were very curious about her. Antonio loved the giant, shiny round wheel on her wheelchair and wanted to push her along.

I can't begin to describe how special it was for me to have Antonio meet my other grandmother. I feel like I want Antonio to meet as many members of my family so that he knows how many people love him and have influenced me. I'm sure you have felt the same way about your childrend or grandchildren. He's our little gift to share with the world!

We walked to a late dinner at a wonderful Mexican restaurant in the Galleria and stuffed ourselves until we couldn't move. The nightlife was jiving that night so there were tons of people out with their families eating and enjoying the night. There is a beautiful fountain in the middle of the entertainment square with a Christmas tree and lights that the boys loved to watch.
All in all, we had a nice day and looked forward to the next day where we would have our last chance to go to the beach.

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 8

2010-04-04T20:23:00.007-05:00

It's New Year's Eve!!!! We spent this day with our extended family. And of course the best part was seeing all of the kids run around with each other. They are just so cute. The smallest boys got themselves messy by playing in the dirt which we didn't mind because the looks on their faces were priceless!

I managed to take a picture of a picture of my grandparents. My grandmother currently lives in Spain and my grandfather passed before I was born so I don't see many pictures of him. I love this picture because it shows them in their youth and it looks like they were dressed very fancy.

This is my little cousin Elisa playing Wii with the boys. Don't let her petite frame and dress fool you...she can hold her own with these boys!

Antonio's biggest fan.

Me and Richard.

Boys playing in the dirt.

David going shirtless...reminds me of Taylor Lautner!

The Marks!

Antonio snuggling with Elisa.

Michael, Antonio and me!

The proud grandmas!

My Dad making Antonio smile :)

By this point, the babies are getting tired.

Back at the hotel, we watched fireworks from our bedroom window. What a wonderful way to end the day. Can't wait to see what is in store for us in 2010!

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 7

2010-03-08T21:25:00.005-06:00

We left the luxurious Decameron Resort on December 30th. Noooooooo! As you can see, Antonio was not ready to leave but covered his sorrow behind sunglasses.

Here is Antonio waiting to get his luggage packed.

Goodbye resort! Man those smiles are forced.

One of my favorite things to do in the car...watch the traffic! This is by far the largest Virgin Mary I have EVER seen on a vehicle! This is a public bus.

Next...we went to a great sight-seeing spot on our way to eat pupusas.

We got to the pupuseria and there was a couple of nuns there who loved the boys!

Mmmm....plantains...

Happy Grandma!

Look! Pupusas as big as my head!!!!

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 6

2010-03-02T22:04:00.005-06:00

We were so lazy on this day...

We finally got out to the pool and then went to dinner in time to see a sunset...Michael and I took a picture at this same exact statue about five years ago. Now, me and Antonio stand in front of it :)

Here's the beautiful sunset behind us

A family picture :)

A dip in the pool at night. Antonio points at la luna. It was one of his first words.

The moon behind some palm trees.

Late night snack after dinner :)

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 5

2010-02-07T21:42:00.012-06:00

By now, it was December 28th and we were due to visit the beach again! Antonio woke up having fully recovered from the day so we packed up and headed to grab food before we hit the beach. Next stop - McDonalds!

Believe it or not, Antonio had never visited the children's playground at McDonalds until this day. We usually visit the drive-trhu in a fury so we can get back home and watch TV (yes, we are couch potatoes). It was fun seeing the kids get to play. David, Richard and Antonio all wore themselves out running and climbing on all of the bright things in the playground. I got a piece of the action too and stuffed myself inside one of the tube slides. Haha! I would also like to add that the Avatar Happy Meal toys we received that day made their way back to the USA and are currently in Antonio's toy box!

Once the boys were stuffed full of chicken nuggets and golden french fries, we got back in our minivan and continued on our way to the Decameron Hotel and Resort in Salanitas.

After almost two hours, we finally made it! At this point, any sense of day-to-day worries or thoughts about work completely melted away. We stayed at the Decameron resort for two nights and three days and it was glorious. The food, the beach, and the swimming pool were our only responsibilities each day. This was the vacation from our vacation.

Here are the boys @ McDonald's

On our way to the beach!

It's Exxon

David waitin in the lobby of the Hotel Decameron! That little smile is adorable!

Michael is happy that we made it!

Antonio and I are ready to get our bathing suits on!

Our nice room.

Our view!

Relaxing and watching TV

Antonio smiling!

Me and my Mom.

Me and Susana :)

Grandpa and Richard.

Antonio loves water!

This is my favorite one of us!

Snack before dinner.

Richard at the table

Michael and my Dad @ dinner

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 4

2010-02-03T22:01:00.005-06:00

Our poor baby woke up on this day with a slight fever. He didn't want to eat, looked very sad, and then slept for the rest of the day. My Uncle (the doctor) came by and made sure there was nothing seriously wrong with Antonio and luckily, there was not. We gave the little guy some Tylenol and let him rest. That is what he needed after the previous three days of partying. We didn't go anywhere outside the hotel that day and it made me very appreciative of the fact that the hotel we stayed at was so nice and comfortable. These are the only pics from that day. Poor baby...the good news is that our sweet baby was back to normal by the next day :)

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 3 Part II

2010-01-30T13:59:00.007-06:00

After a wonderful day at the beach, we got ready to attend my cousin's wedding!!! I LOVE weddings :)

The wedding and reception was at my Aunt's house so we had a house full of people! The boys had plenty of other kids to play with and stayed up playing until late at night. Antonio loved watching the big kids play Wii and at one point, tried to take the controller from someone! Haha. I had fun eating cake.

Here is my cousin Lauri getting married to Juan Carlos

My cousin Gaby, her mom Rosario, and me! Can you tell we're cousins?

I LOVE this picture! My cousin Rebeca, my cousin-in-law Claudia, cousin Gaby, cousin Melisa, Aunt Rosario and me! I feel tall :)

The bride and her family!

My parents with my Dad's brother Eduardo and his wife Rosario.

Rebeca and Melisa are sisters. I remember when my Aunt was pregnant with Melisa and then when I used to play with Melisa as a baby. Wow. Makes me feel old!

Antonio and Richard playing on the bed

My Uncle is a doctor and his wife is a nurse. We asked them to check out the boys to make sure they didn't have ear infections. They checked out ok.
Wedding cake!!!!!

My Aunt Rosario with Antonio.

Cousins playing Wii!

Cheers!

Melisa with Richard. He was smitten with her.

The whole fam!

My Dad with his littel brother Rene. He is the father of Rebeca and Melisa.

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 3 Part I

2010-01-25T23:48:00.013-06:00

Day 3 was spent visiting the lovely Hotel Tesoro Beach.

I remember being very young and my parents taking us to Tesoro Beach so it was fun to share that experience with Michael and Antonio and Richard and the twins. While we were there, there was a bunch of guys in soccer uniforms who we later learned was the professional soccer team of El Salvador, La Selecta.

This was a beautiful beach and the weather was just perfect. We spent the first part of our day at the resort pool since they had a shallow area for kids. Then, we visited the beach which tired out the babies. I think everyone (except me and my Dad who was driving) fell asleep on the drive home.

Richard was dancing and making Antonio laugh on the way to the beach.

Can you tell it's hot?? Antonio was ready to get in the water by this point.

Antoni LOVED riding in David or Richard's stroller! He didn't want to ride his own.

Finnally at the pool.

Richard Sr. and Richard Jr.

Antonio's expression is priceless in this photo.

Sweet David and his Mommy.

Our water babies

Beach time!

Me and my Dad!

Grandparents.

The water was soooo nice.

Wow.

Us :)

La Selecta's bus.

Snack on the way home.

Goodbye Tesoro Beach!

Richard filming the cows roaming the streets.

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 2

2010-01-17T10:59:00.012-06:00

We pent our 2nd day in El Salvador having a lovely lunch at the Cafe Volcan. It's nice and cool at the top of the volcano so Antonio was not sweating buckets! It's also a good spot for a panoramic view of the City down below. The best part (besides the nature) was the FOOD! It was delicious and we spent the rest of the trip reminiscing about the food at the Cafe Volcan.

It always took us a bit of time getting all the babies ready in the morning. This morning, we were waiting on the grandparents so the boys spent some time wrestling and trying on sunglasses!

We finally got ready to go and here I am, a proud Aunt to David and Richard.

The trio.

We finally made it to the Cafe. Beautiful, clean air and lush scenery.

These lavender and cream hydrangeas were ginormous! I wanted to take one but didn't.

The cafe was two-story and we found a spot outside where we had our very own playground.

Grandpa and baby Antonio.

Me and my cousin Gaby. She is very sweet and smart.

Antonio running.

Grandma and baby.

This Christmas tree was huge!

This is what Salvadorean coffee looks like!

Our table was a tree stump.

My uncle Eduardo and my Dad trying to get all the boys in a picture.

Me and Michael :)

Antonio was worn out after lunch. Nap time!

We stopped at a viewing point where you can see all of San Salvador down below!

Can you see the twin volcanoes in the distance? They look like they are floating.

Our second day is done! Time for bed Antonio!

Antonio Visits El Salvador Day 1

2010-01-14T22:48:00.014-06:00

The boys at the airport around 5 AM

Antonio is offically an international traveler! We spent the Holidays visiting family in El Salvador introducing everyone to Antonio, Richard and David. There is so much to tell and so many pictures to show that I am going to try and break this up into many posts...

We left on December 24th at around 3 AM and headed for DFW Airport. It was painfully cold and I later found out that Dallas had a winter wonderland for Christmas. I'm glad we went south!
We met up with the Marks at the airport and found that we would be together on our flight from Houston to El Salvador. The boys did well during the flight after getting food and tiring out and we all managed to make it alive.

We arrive in El Salvador at around 2 PM and my parents are there to greet us and take us to get some pupusas! We strip the babies down and immediately begin to relax in our 15 person minivan that would become our new home. Many, many pupusas later, we get to the hotel (which has GREAT AC, cable and a workout room) and try to relax. A couple of hours later, we all begin realizing that it is Christmas Eve and we are due to party at my Aunt's house!

My Aunt's house is fun. My cousins have babies our babies' age and we all watch them play and get to know each other. And after lots of food, cake, and drinks, we head back to the hotel and try to settle in for sleep. At this point, I haven't slept for over 24 hours and I immediately fall into my dreamland when my head hits the pillow...end of day one.

Us on the airplane.

El Salvador! Volcanoes!

We arrive...

Grandparents who have missed their boys! And our van.

David ready to eat.

The guys.

Some seriously large pupusas, cold cokes, and Antonio's bottle.

Sweaty baby!

Me and Susana cheesin'.

Hotel

Elisa and Elisa!

Sisters!

Antonio's Peacoat

2009-12-23T01:34:00.006-06:00

Everybody knows that I LOVE clothes and anything to do with clothes. I love to shop for myself and for Michael and of course for my little baby boy Antonio. A year ago, I was shopping at Baby Gap and I found the cutest little peacoat on sale. I love a good bargain and I couldn't resist but buy the little blue jacket as I envisioned Antonio wearing it in the future on a cold, crisp day. It didn't matter that I had already bought him a jacket for the next winter because this jacket was so adorable and I couldn't pass it up.

Well, behold Antonio in his navy blue peacoat!!! It's an even better fit than I thought it would be!

Klein Christmas

2009-12-23T01:02:00.008-06:00

Klein Christmas is a tradition that Michael's family has had forever. All of the brothers and sister get together the Saturday before Christmas and have a good time with tons of food and drinks. Actually, the first time I met most of Michael's family was at my first Klein Christmas almost ten years ago!

Anyway, this year Klein Christmas was at Alisha's house in Fort Worth and so Eddie, Nancy, and Jennifer and her fam came to stay with us. Antonio loves when his cousins come visit because he is fascinated with his older cousisn, Brooklynn and Noah. He wants to be just like Noah and follows him around, and he likes to just "hang-out" with Brooklynn so he'll sit next to her and watch TV. Haha. So cute! This time, he paid a little more attention to Ryder as well who is only 3 weeks older than Antonio. He also acknowledged baby Kendall who he refused to look at before. I think he gets a little jealous of her!

Klein Christmas was a lot of fun for all of us. Thanks to Alisha, Keith and Rylee for welcoming all of us to their wonderful home!

Antonio sitting with Brooklynn. They both like watching TV!

Antonio sitting with Ryder. They are practically twins!

Antonio, Ryder, and Rylee watching TV. Antonio is yawning.

Group pic! I'm the only one looking at the camera!

They boys all had the exact same shirt on. Cute!

Princess Brooklynn with Mickey.

Brooklynn showing her present.

Antonio playing next to Ryder.

Ryder has a sweet smile!

Couch potatoes.

Noah!

He likes her hair.

Antonio wearing jeans :)

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Chrismas Tree!

2009-12-06T23:06:00.009-06:00

Christmas has become even more special now that we have been blessed with Antonio. Last year was our first Christmas with Antonio and Michael and I went giddy buying him toys and decorating the whole house with Holiday cheer. This year is even more special because Antonio is old enough to understand what is going on. Sharing holiday traditions and celebrating the miracle of Christmas is something we plan on teaching Antonio as he gets older. He will know Santa and of course the story of Jesus.

We put up our Christmas Tree and he was fascinated by the whole process. He fluffed up the branches just as we did and then he sat under the tree to look up at the lights. Antonio studied all of the decorations and danced to the Christmas music that we played. He seems to really like what is happening around here :)

Later on, we attempted to take some family photos.

Of course, the most important thing to us this Christmas (like in years past) is to spend time with our huge, wonderful family.

Antonio Visits Galveston

2009-12-01T22:49:00.009-06:00

We LOVE the beach. What better way to wind down before the Thanksgiving Holiday than spending time at the beach with my two favorite boys. It was an amazing seventy degrees in Galveston the whole time we were there and we stayed at the East Islander as we had back in August. Still loving that location!

Antonio continues to love the beach as much as Michael and I do. He ran around throwing his football, just like a big boy, and pointed at the water. Plus, the humidity and salt water do wonders for his eczema!

We went on a new adventure during this trip by visiting the Moody Gardens. Antonio loved the penguins and all of the fish and we were glad to see that he could enjoy a place like the aquarium. They have a neat little museum called "The Heritage Museum" where you can see the history of the immigrants who have come to the USA and even those go came through Galveston. There was a wall at the end of the museum with a timeline where you can post your name, date and place of origin. It was a fantastic feeling to post my little name on this huge board with all of those other post-its.

Overall, a very successful and relaxing trip to Galveston. I can't wait until we visit the beach again ;)

Antonio Meets Great Grandma Hernandez

2009-11-15T21:02:00.009-06:00

My Dad's mother flew in from Spain on Saturday to visit for the next two weeks. Antonio, Richard and David all got to meet their Great Grandma Hernandez and she was all smiles at how rambunctions the boys are! I am looking forward to spending time with my Grandmother but I am even more excited that she will get to spend time with and get to know our baby boy.

I think that you have a whole new level of appreciation for family once you have a child of your own and I am excited that my Grandmother will get to see Antonio every day while she is here. When the boys first saw Great Grandma, they were shy and curious about who she is. By the end of the night, they would not get out of her room and wanted to "show off" by dancing or talking to her. Haha! Anyway, here are pictures of our three little angels with their Great Grandma!

G.Grandma got the boys gifts :)

Antonio's 2nd Halloween

2009-11-01T20:10:00.011-06:00

Michael and I LOVE Halloween. Before Antonio was born,we used to throw Halloween parties and I would force Michael to dress up with me! Halloween has taken on a whole new meaning since Antonio was born. Now, instead of spending hours looking for the perfect Halloween costume for myself, I spend endless hours looking for the perfect costume for Antonio!

I found two costumes for Antonio last year so he wore a lion costume and a pumpkin costume. We didn't go trick-or-treating because we were in Lubbock for a TTU game but Antonio did help his Grandma Nacy pass out candy.

This year was different because Antonio and his cousins are bigger and can actually eat the candy they are given and they can fit into cuter costumes. Antonio had three parties to attend so naturally, I ended up getting him three different costumes. I didn't mean to do it, I just couldn't help myself.

The first party Antonio attended was my work's annual Fall Festival. Here is Antonio in his boxer uniform meeting Noah who was dressed up like a sock monkey! How cute!

Our next party was a week later at Michael's work's annual Halloween Festival. Here is Antonio in his Tony Romo outfit. I really wanted him to be Jason Witten (big, husky boy like Antonio) but they only had Tony's jersey.

Last, here is Antonio during Halloween night. He went trick-or-treating with David and Richard and we had such a wonderful time in the neighborhood. We even ran into cute, little Meadow who lives down the street. I love that Susana, Rocio and I got to share these events together with all of the boys and grandparents!

Antonio, Richard, and David Go On A Walk

2009-11-01T19:53:00.005-06:00

The weather is finally getting cooler and so my Mom and I decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and take the boys on a walk. We got all the babies in hoodies and warm pants and packed them into the limo stroller.

I have a new appreciation for my Mom and how she manages to take care of all three of the boys during outings. Especially since she somehow manages to push the 70 lb stroller with three 30 lb babies inside of it. I had to give up after a while and let her "drive" because I was panting and my arms were sore. I'll run ten miles any day over pushing that giant stroller!

Antonio Shares Supper

2009-11-01T19:42:00.003-06:00

Do these guys look hungry?

We visited David and Richard a couple of weekends ago on a lazy Sunday afternoon and made fat all day. So nice to do that sometimes. Richard took a long nap that afternoon so I only managed to snap some pictures of David and Antonio sharing a meal. Behold, chubbs #1 and chubbs #2. Haha!

Antonio Visits Chuck E. Cheese!

2009-10-04T20:10:00.007-05:00

Chuck E. Cheese is like a rite of passage for children. So, it was only natural that Michael and I would find our way to the local Chuck E. location and let Antonio go wild on pizza, games, and large animatronics.

We all headed to Chuck E. to celebrate Aunt Susana's birthday and it couldn't have been a funner time for all. Aunt Rocio was also in town for the special occassion and Grandma Leah was there too! I think the funnest part of the evening was watching the babies eat pizza! Richard took a whole slice and just took bites out of it like a grown-up! It's still amazes me how the boys are now little toddlers who are always trying to be little independent people.

I sometimes get sad (like every mother does) that my baby boy is growing up but then we have fun times like the night at Chuck E. Cheese and I know that there are so many things to look forward to with Antonio as he grows up. He is not going to need me to do everything for him anymore now that he's trying to be a little person but he still needs me in a lot of ways. I love to hear his little voice calling me, "Mama"! It melts my heart everytime. So, our trip to Chuck E. Cheese was a milestone in Antonio's life and Michael and I continue to cherish our little angel.

Antonio Visits Meadow

2009-09-29T21:39:00.004-05:00

Antonio paid Meadow a visit this past week. She lives on my parent's street and has been Antonio's friend since she was born and it is so fun to see the two babies growing up together. Meadow was wearing some very fashionable stripped leggings and is just too cute for words! It's funny because Antonio and Meadow's playdates mostly involve the mommies talking and catching up while the babies just do cute things :) I can't wait until these two can actually interact. Haha.

Antonio Walks!!!

2009-09-27T21:41:00.002-05:00

Antonio has been walking for about three weeks now but I failed to post a video. So, here it is!

Some of Antonio's new developments include:

Eating everything and anything. He takes food off our plates if we don't watch him.
Wrestles with his puppies and with his cousins.
Says "Mama", "Daddy", "Uh-Oh".
He LOVES to dance. And he has many different dance moves according to the type of music that is playing.

Antonio's Mama (Me) Takes Over

2009-09-20T21:51:00.017-05:00

Antonio wearing his baby undershirt!

All mothers love to talk about their childrend and how great they are...hence, the millions of blogs on the internet. We are proud and we love our children. :) That is why I'm going to put my disclaimer at the beginning of this post because this entry is going to be about me. Well, mostly...

In 2006, I had gained a good fifteen pounds from my "normal" weight and didn't know how to get it off. I couldn't starve myself for a week and shed it all off like I used to in high school because I was a full-time student and had a job. My sister-in-law Jennifer had two children at this point and mentioned that she was ready to get her baby weight off. That triggered me to join her in her running sessions. It was late summer and our goal was to run the Race for the Cure 5K that fall. This was the beginning of my addiction...

After my first 5K

Another 5K

I continued running and found myself at an all-time-low of size 6 during the summer of 2007. Well, I got pregnant in November of 2007 and succumbed to my appetite :) I gained about 50 pounds during pregnancy and my 8 plus pound butterball was born in the summer of 2008. Antonio was the chubbiest little pink thing that I had ever seen and immediately fell in love.

Me days before Antonio was born

Me and my bebe

About a month after Antonio was born. Egh.

Like many other moms before me, I was going to nurse my child so I could shed the remaining 40 pounds after Antonio was born. Eh, that didn't really work. I was instructed not to exercise for 6 weeks (due to childbirth) and so I sat around staying fat and frustrated. The weekend before I had to go back to work, I had to buy new clothes. I was embarrassed. I bought a skirt in size 14 and a pair of pants in a size 12. NO!!! Then, I remembered how Jennifer had just had her third child (Ryder is 3 weeks older than Antonio) and I knew what I had to do to get back into shape like this inspirational lady does - I had to RUN my ass off!

A month after I started running.

Turkey Trot with Rolo Nov 2008

I started working out September 9, 2008 and haven't stopped since. Rocio (my little sister) worked out with me until she moved this past February. She was also my inspiration. We worked out together and did races together and pushed each other to the limit. I think she supported me waaaay more than I did her because there were times when I didn't think I would make it and then I would hear her little voice next to me saying, "You CAN do it Elisa!"a!". And of course my friend Kendra, who talked me into running my first 10K back in January.

It's a year later and I finished another 10K this past weekend with my friend Veronica. She is also a mother and very inspirational in that she pushed me up those crazy hills when I wanted to stop. I'm training for the White Rock Lake Half Marathon and so far, training has been good. I couldn't do it without the support of my husband Michael. He watches Antonio and has morning duty when I sneak out of the house at 4:30 AM three times a week. He took Antonio to the race this weekend and cheered me as I crossed the finish line! They are my heroes :)

So...I don't know how much I weigh. I haven't weighed myself in 5 months. I don't really care at this point. I run and run and watch what I eat. I know that exercise is the only way to control my weight. I can't starve and I can't trick myself into doing anything crazy. I can wear a size 8 and sometimes a size 6. I workout to get healthier and so that I can teach Antonio how exercise is a way of life. I workout because my family has a history of heart disease and I want to avoid having to take blood pressure medicine when I hit the age of 50. I workout because I want to live to be 90 and see Antonio's children's children :)

Antonio Visits with Cousins

2009-09-20T14:28:00.006-05:00

A couple of weekends ago, Michael's sister Jennifer and family came to stay with us for the weekend. We love having them over because Antonio really enjoys playing with his cousins and Grandma Nancy. We also got to visit with some of Antonio's second cousins who live in the area and what can I say - we had a full house!

The weekend started by going to Mr. Gatti's for lunch where we could be as loud as possible and get a meal quickly. I haven't been toMr. Gatti's in over ten years so discovering this children's food castle was fantastic. Next, we stopped by Carter's and did a little bit of shopping :) Then, back to our house.

The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent with the kids playing endlessly and I am so glad that they enjoyed playing with Antonio's toys. I always think that we don't buy Antonio enough toys but we were able to entertain almost 10 kids with no problem! They all loved Antonio's Superman couch! We grilled food and watched movies and at the end of the day, we had all of the kids in front of the TV laying down. So cute!

Oh, the only mishap of the day was that we discovered our sweet Antonio is a BITER!!! Noo!!!! Our child gets excited and tries to bite people. I think Noah was a victim so the rest of the day, we watched Antonio like a hawk so that no one else would get a chunk taken out of them.

Antonio Visits an Attorney

2009-09-13T22:35:00.003-05:00

We have a lawyer in the family! Aunt Rocio has been practicing law for the past six months or so and we finally got the chance to go visit her in Bryan, Texas. Ryan and Rocio were very nice to let us all stay at their apartment and show us around town. We even toured Texas A&M while wearing our TTU t-shirts. haha! We also got a chance to see Aunt Rocio's office! We are so proud of Rocio and Antonio says that her chair is super comfy.

Antonio Meets Spyke

2009-09-13T22:07:00.006-05:00

Michael has an affection for puppies. Coby is a mild mannered Boston Terrier who was Michael's birhtday present in 1999. She-ra joined our family because we went to the mall in Lubbock one weekend and Michael wanted to hold the half chihuahua, half Boston Terrier puppy. Next thing I knew, we took her home and she was acquainted with Coby.

Coby has had multiple litters of puppies and Michael's parents currently have Rusty who is one of Coby's sons. Well, Rusty and Roxy had puppies and that is how Spyke came along. So, Coby and She-ra have welcomed Coby's grandson Spyke to our home and now we have three dogs!
At first, Antonio really didn't like all of Spyke's licking and he would swat him away. Now, Antonio is liking Spyke much better and they wrestle and play tug of war. It's very cute to watch puppies and babies :)

I also have to give Michael credit because he is extremely responsible for his new puppy. He wakes up in the middle of the night to let Spyke out and feeds him along with the other two dogs. I also have to admit that Spyke is exceptionally cute and mild mannered. He is a lot like his grandfather Coby in that he doesn't need a lot of attention and he doesn't mind putting up with the diva She-ra.

One Year Pics by Tina Rogers

2009-08-24T22:04:00.004-05:00

Antonio and his cousins, David and Richard, all had their one year photo session together! I can't say enough good things about Tina Rogers because she is an amazing photographer and we love her work. This is the third session we have had with Tina and we hope there are many more to come!

And here are the wonderful pictures of the boys. We will treasure these forever!

Antonio Visits Galveston

2009-08-23T20:47:00.008-05:00

I think we have visited the beach every 3 months this year! The mini-vacays that we plan are always last-minute but are always worth our while. It is such a wonderful and relaxing time for us to go to the beach. When we win the lottery one day, you can be sure that you will be able to find us on a beach somewhere!

We LOVE Port Aransas but it is a bit far and we were looking for a quick get-away and I managed to find a condo in Galveston (for a very reasonable price) that is ON THE BEACH!!! For those of you who may not be familiar with Galveston, the hotels on the strip are not on the beach. There is a street that separates the beach from the restaurants and hotels so none of the hotels are actually on the beach....except for three! There is a small strip of beach on the East side which is very private and consists of a new neighborhood of mansions and three condo high rises. Well, I think the condo we stayed in is the only condo that is a rental and not beachfront living. Anyway, our stay was spectacular!

We had a view of the beach from our room, the beach was super private and not packed like the public beach, and it was so clean and calm. I am so impressed that we managed to find this place on-line without being familiar with Galveston. We had a wonderful time and I am pretty sure that Antonio loved the beach even more this time than the two previous times!

The first thing we did after we checked in is go to the beach.

Antonio was ready to get in the water.

Michael swinging baby Antonio!

Sunset at the beach :)

Us!

Dinner @ The Lantern

Beach again...

Bucket at the beach.

The bright sun!

Antonio in the low tide pool.

Splashing!

Daddy and baby :)

After a bath. Looks like a mobster.

Ready to go eat!

Our view.

Dinner@ Salsa's (awesome shrimp enchiladas!)

Our last morning at the beach.

One last dip in the beach.

We will miss Galveston...

Richard and David Turn ONE!!!

2009-08-10T23:21:00.007-05:00

The first time Antonio met his cousins, David and Richard! Sweet baby angels :)

Antonio has two little cousins that he gets to see almost everyday. David and Richard were born eight days before Antonio and I was so glad that I got to spend some time with them before Antonio was born.
David, Richard and Antonio will grow up together and be friends and even now, we can see that they have a little bond with one another. Richard is very independent and David is calm and usually plays alongside with Antonio.

Michael and I feel lucky to have these two little miracles as our nephews. I remember the day they were born just as clear as I remember Antonio's birth. They are so special and I cannot believe they are all one year old.

Richard and David attacking their cakes (baked by their Mommy!)

The Cake

More cake smashing.

Heather and Sharon visit with Antonio.

Babies in party hats!!

Aunt Rocio and Richard.

Antonio and David sitting on the new couch.

Antonio tries out Richard's new car.

Antonio tries out the new tricycle.

Big Me and Mini Me

David smiling!

Michael playing with David and Antonio.

Antonio Turns ONE!!!

2009-08-04T20:55:00.007-05:00

Our little angel when he was born. So sweet :)

Our baby had his first birthday on July 25th. We didn't have a big party for Antonio this year but we managed to have two small gatherings with close family and friends (one in Lubbock and one in Dallas).

I remember the first moments Michael and I set eyes on Antonio. We held him and were both completely shocked and amazed! Then, we took the little pink baby thing home and everyday, we loved him more and more and we were always wondering if he knew we were his mom and dad.

Now, it is unbelievable to us that our baby boy is turning into a little toddler. He knows what he wants and communicates with us about his surroundings. He points to things if he knows what they are called like "puppy", "Daddy", and "light". He LOVES to dance and has multiple dance moves depending on the beat of the song.

We feel blessed to be Antonio's parents and it gets more fun every day! Ok, ok, enough mush, here are Antonio's birthday pics! Thanks everyone for all the birthday wishes and gifts! You all made Antonio's First Birthday a memorable one!

A Transformers Birthday Party *of course*

This is how it all began...

Brooklynn and Noah help Antonio out.

Ok, I think he's diving!

Trying to smash cake on Mommy!

Party in Dallas!

He's a pro at this now.

Fam and friends!

David and Richard :)

The only sweet baby girl - Meadow!

All the cousins! Check out Antonio's fake smile. Love it!

Ryder is ONE!

2009-07-29T07:56:00.005-05:00

Ryder turned 1 on July 2nd. Here are some pics of that sweet baby boy and his cake followed by a wagon ride. Could these two be any cuter!?

Antonio Has A New Cousin!

2009-07-29T07:40:00.004-05:00

My sister-in-law, Supermom Jennifer, just recently had a fourth baby. I am now an Aunt of six nieces and nephews :)

Elisabeth Kendall was born on July 16th and if you are keeping up, you will realize that four of the six grandkids were born in July! Ryder, David, Richard, Antonio and now Kendall will all be July babies along with yours truly! July has always been my favorite month and now there are four more reasons to make it the best month of the year!

Here is Michael (proud Uncle) with his new niece Kendall. Then, Grandpa with Kendall.

What a beautiful baby girl!

Antonio Goes Swimming

2009-07-27T19:41:00.005-05:00

Antonio loves baths and splashing around in the water. We frequently find him splashing in the dog's water bowls too! If there is any kind of container with clear liquid, he wants to dump it over and splash around. He is even fascinated by getting those little chubby hands washed. So, we couldn't wait until it was hot enough to get that little guy in a pool.

We have gone to visit the Klein Grandparents twice in the past couple of weeks and we managed to get Ryder and Antonio to play in the pool. Notice that Antonio is the only one splashing while Ryder works on relaxing. These little guys are such sweet babies and it's fun to see them both fit in a tiny pool! Cute overload ahead :)

Michael's First Father's Day!

2009-06-28T23:33:00.010-05:00

Michael's first picture as a Daddy when Antonio was born (July 25, 2008)

Michael with Antonio (5 days old)

We had a wonderful Father's Day celebration with family this year. I'm so glad we live near family so Antonio can spend time with his Grandpa, Unlce, and cousins. And of course, I am most thankful for the wonderful husband and father that Michael has become. Here are just a few of the many reasons why Michael is a spectacular Daddy:

1. He takes morning duty during the week so I can go workout and get to work early. I don't know how he manages to do it but every morning, my Mom reports that Antonio has made it to the house with a fresh outfit, tummy full, and his hair fixed like his Daddy!

2. He still takes care of our firstborns - Shera and Coby - who are the most spoiled little dogs on the block.

3. He adjusted to fatherhood marvelously. I think it's bc he is ridiculously unselfish. Seems like everything he does is for baby Antonio or myself.

4. He continues to keep himself busy with house projects bc he likes to improve things. Our house is slowly coming together and all of the do-it-yourself projects are fun to watch. I also have to add that Michael let's me pick out the paint colors and doesn't complain if I change my mind.

5. He picks up dinner on the way home so we can sit down and eat together.

6. He LOVES holding his baby boy! He will carry him all day if you let him and sometimes, I have to pry him away so I can get some love too. Haha!

7. He is extremely patient, unbelievably caring, and never loses his cool. Sometimes, the crazy Latina rears its ugly head and he always knows how to calm the seas and the world makes sense again.

8. He grills the best steaks ever! There is very little cooking going on in our household but Michael always manages to throw something on the grill on the weekends. Mmmm....

9. He is not grossed out by anything! Comes in handy with baby around.

10. He supports me in everything that I do and loves me unconditionally!

Happy Father's Day to all the great Dads out there!

Antonio's Chair

2009-06-21T22:05:00.005-05:00

Every now and then, I set Antonio in his Superman chair and try desperately to make him smile. My baby was especially happy so we got several smiley photos! He looks so much older to me these days. I'm still in denial that he will be 1 year old in a month and a half!!!

Updates and Huggin' Our Bebe

2009-06-15T21:58:00.009-05:00

One of the best things about having a doughy baby is squishing him all the time. I *LOVE* feeling that soft baby fat on his little legs and arms. I know - that is such a chick thing to do but I can't help myself. He he. He's such a little doll :)

We are also always amazed at all of the things Antonio likes to do these days. Here's a list of new things Antonio does at 10 months old:

1) LOVES to eat real food and doesn't care too much for Gerber baby food

2) Grandpa Hernandez has taught him how to turn the light switch on and off - this is a little problematic when we go out to restaurants and Antonio notices light switches. Haha!

3) Grandp Klein taught Antonio how to pull on the chain that hangs down from the ceiling fan. Again, we will go out and he looks up at the ceiling looking for chains to pull and points at them.

4) Is a pro at the baby walker. He glides all around the living room chasing after the dogs. haha! It's hilarious!

5) Hikes his leg up on a pillow when he sleeps. So cute!

6) Has got like 10 teeth. I stuck my finger in there and got bit pretty hard! Ouch!

7) Continues to watch TV but is becoming more selective in his programs. He seems to love music and will dance anytime there is a beat. haha!

8) Sings and talks all of the time!!! I'm amazed. My Mom says he is saying things and we just can't understand him yet. He also mimics sounds and often "talks" like me.

9) Loves to play with that toy in the picture above. We got it at IKEA and I put it together myself :) He has totally mastered it and it's so fascinating to watch his chubby hands grasp each ball.

10) Is attached to Grandpa Hernandez and Michael! He cries when he leaves his Daddy in the mornings, and he practically leaps out of people's arms if my Dad is around. Very cute to watch but I've still got hope that he is going to be a Mommy's boy!

Last, Antonio also continues to have the best baby laugh around. We can tickle him these days and get a reaction almost immediately. He LOVES being tickled. I think I've said it before and I'll say it again. Hearing baby Antonio laugh is happiness in my heart and a cure for any foul day. It reminds of when the Grinch's heart finally swelled up to normal size after he discovered love. That is how my baby makes me feel.

Antonio and Grandparents

2009-06-15T21:35:00.004-05:00

We got a great surprise one weekend when Grandpa Eddie and Grandma Nancy decided to come visit us. We had good times cooking out a TON of food and shopping until we couldn't shop anymore. Haha. It was great. Thanks for coming to visit us and I know that Antonio loves seeing you!

Antonio Crawls!!!

2009-06-08T22:58:00.005-05:00

My child is super smart and has great motor skills but has been a little slow on getting around. He recently started doing the Army crawl and then a week later, he was full out crawling!!! He is ten months old now and I was getting really irked at the people that would say, "He doesn't crawl?" Haha...Antonio seems to do things on his own terms and I'm not going to rush him. I have to say, I was dreading the day he would become mobile because that meant that mommy and daddy couch time was over.

Luckily, it has not been too much of a difference for us since Antonio learned how to crawl. About the only difference is that we re-arranged our living room and bought a new rug so that he could have a big open area to wander around. I think She-ra and Coby are more surprised than anyone else! She-ra is excited and yet very cautious that the little guy is face-to-face with her when he's in his crawling position. She enjoys the easy access to licking his cheeks but doesn't know what to make of him if he's going after her!

So, here is my beautiful baby boy moving around. He is definitely not an infant anymore and I can see how much he has changed and grown over the past few months. I really can't bear to have him get any older. It is going by waaaaay too fast. I think Michael and I really just want to run away to the beach and watch our baby grow while we lay in the sand. Yeah, that sounds good :)

Antonio Visits Port Aransas

2009-06-08T21:31:00.011-05:00

A week before Memorial Day holiday, Michael and I scrambled to make plans for a quick trip back to Port Aransas. This was right at the end of the swine flu pandemic so we kept saying to ourselves, "We better stay at home and not expose ourselves to germs!" Haha. Well, the beautiful beaches and warm sunsets called our name and we couldn't resist...And thank goodness for the economy and/or other people's paranoia because we were able to find a condo in not time!

The Gang arrives!

Our first family vacation included me, Michael, Antonio, Grandma Hernandez, Grandpa Hernandez, Aunt Rocio, Ryan, Aunt Susana, Uncle Richard and the twins, David and baby Richard. Fun was had by all and I think we all got to unwind and feel the sun as it warmed our skin. *sigh* If anyone ever wants to get away for a quick vacay, Port Aransas is the way to go. It's calm, has a beautiful beach, and is reasonably priced.

The most successful part of our trip?? Antonio did not get sunburned!!! We dressed our baby in a hat and t-shirt 99.9% of the time and lathered - no caked on the Aveeno SPF 1000 sunblock. Oh, and he sat under an umbrella.

Family getaways are the things that Michael and I remember the most about our childhood. It's wonderful to be making these memories with our baby boy. I know he won't remember this particular trip to the beach but he will remember future ones!

My First Mother's Day!!!

2009-05-11T21:35:00.008-05:00

First of all, I am completely overwhelmed by all of the messages of love and kindness from everyone on Mother's Day! I felt like a rock star all day long :) I look at all of the women around me who are mothers or aunts and I always learn something that I can take away from them to make myself a better Momma. It's amazing how many amazing Moms are out there and how they are always looking out for everyone else. Being a Mom is the most amazing responsiblity that I have!

Michael, Antonio and I spent Saturday with the Hernandez Grandparents and Marks Cousins. We had a fantastic Salvadorean dinner and watched the boys play until they wore themselves out. That's the glory of having them all together - you just set them down with toys and watch them go! Hehe.

Here is Grandma with our chubby cabbage patch baby.

Grandpa gets a turn too!

Susana brought over a Mother's Day cookie! It was delicious.

Antonio likes to dance with his Tia.

Wow! Look at the Marks! Grandma Leah loves her twin grandsons!

Antonio hangs out with Dada.

David likes baskets.

All of us Mommas.

Cousins sharing :)

My first taste of pupusas and platanos fritos!

The Grandparents gave Antonio a beautiful cross necklace that he can wear when he gets a little bit older. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Hernandez!

I feel very lucky to have such a wonderful Mother. She inspires me to be a Super Mom just like she has been all through my entire life. I know that my sister's and I are grateful for everything she has done to make us happy, healthy and comfortable in life. Thanks Mom!

And I can't forget to mention my sweet Mother-in-law Nancy. Thank you for being such an awesome Mother to your son Michael. I know that my husband is the man he is today because you molded him that way. So, thank you for doing such a good job!

Last, I want to brag some more about the little guy who calls me Mama. Antonio is the sun in my skies. He makes it so easy to LOVE and be a Mom and Dad to him. He is a blessing that reminds us everyday what we live for. Our little family unit is perfect because he is here.

Antonio Is A Crazy Sleeper!

2009-05-11T21:21:00.005-05:00

I had to throw this picture in the mix because my baby has such a cute smile!

I like this next picture because Antonio looks mad even though he's asleep. Apparently, Michael says I look mad when I sleep too so that is something that Antonio and I both have in common! haha.

When I walk in and see Antonio laying on the bed like this, I can't help but think of a teenage kid sprawled all over their too-small-for-size bed!

Doggy Door

2009-05-11T21:10:00.003-05:00

We finall installed a doggy door for She-ra and Coby. They use it very well when we are home but pretend it's not there when we are gone so we have to block them in the laundry room when we are gone. Crazy dogs.

Susana, Richard, David and Richard came to visit Antonio the other day and we did an experiment. Richard can crawl better than I can walk so we tried to see if he would pay any attention to the small flap of a door that the doggies go through.

Turns out, he almost went through the doggy door when being summoned by Daddy Richard on the other side! Haha. Note to self - kids will go through doggy doors. Oh, and we didn't let baby Richard go through the doggy door...we stopped him because even though we are crazy parents, we try to not put our children in danger.

More Visitors!

2009-05-11T20:56:00.003-05:00

I am always amazed to see my college friends who have children. It's like we are in a parallel universe where we have swapped sorority shirts and fraternity parties for bibs and Chuck-E-Cheese.

Aimee is an old friend and roommate from college who stopped by for a quick. Aimee has a daugther named Brooklyn who is three years old and very much a girly girl. I loved having her over to visit Antonio and his cousins David and Richard. The four of them were adorable together!

Thanks for coming to visit us Aimee and Brooklyn and we hope you can come back soon!!!

Big Me and Mini Me

2009-05-03T22:50:00.007-05:00

Antonio doesn't only look like Michael, he also makes the same facial expressions. Priceless!!!

Uh oh...There's that Mommy lady with the camera again...

Look away...maybe she'll stop.

Crackin' a smile...

Bahahaaha!

Mommy's Friends Visit Antonio

2009-05-03T22:31:00.004-05:00

I'm like every other Mom in that I want everyone I know to visit with Antonio and see what a joy he is in my life. Antonio got to visit with two of my good friends recently and we had a really good time.

First, Antonio got to see my long-time friend Heather. She is really more like family to me and I don't get to see her very often because she lives in Austin. So, it was really great to have brunch when she came into town and catch up.

Next, Antonio spent time with Brianna who is a college friend of mine. Brianna is really good with kids and Antonio always has a blast whent she comes to visit.

Thanks to Heather and Brianna for visiting us!!!

Antonio & Meadow

2009-05-03T22:11:00.005-05:00

Antonio had a wonderful playdate with the adorable and sweet Meadow. Antonio always shows lots of interest in other children so it was no surprise that Meadow held his attention as well. She is several months younger than him but she is very attentive for her age!

At first, Meadow was not very comfy in the boppy and Antonio kept looking at her as if to say, "It's Ok". It was so sweet! Later on, we put the two adorable babies on a blanket on the floor and Meadow kept grabbing for Antonio's little chubby feet! So cute!

Look at that cute pouty lip! She's already a charmer.

Proud Mamas with their cute Babies!

Antonio hopes to have many more playdates with Meadow ;)

Antonio's Christening

2009-04-27T22:22:00.008-05:00

Our baby boy was baptized on Easter Sunday :) Both sets of grandparents were there as well as great grandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles!

Antonio never ceases to amaze me. First of all, he let me put him in a cute little baptism outfit that consisted of a pair of shorts and a little bowtie. He also behaved exceptionally well during Mass and then proceeded to sleep right through his and his cousin Ryder's baptism ceremony! Amazing.

We had a wonderful time that day with all of the warm people of the church and all the good food and loving family. Thank you to everyone who attended and who gave Antonio gifts :)

It was a special day for us and one day, we will be able to tell our baby boy about the day he was Christened and tell him about God and and spirituality.

My Easter Bunny!!!

2009-04-07T22:20:00.005-05:00

So, I decided that I'm not only obssessed with photographing my child, I'm also obssessed with photographing my child at the Dallas Arboretum. Especially when Antonio's cousins, David and Richard, are there too!

I love the fact that the boys are like triplets. They greet each other every morning and they show extreme excitement when they see and recognize one another. All of their personalities are very different and they have their own little quirks. They are just like me, Susana and Rocio.

Susana and I decided that our adorable babies were due for another set of pictures so we packed two strollers, two sets of grandparents, nine baby outfits, and many, many diapers and we were on our way!

The results speak for themselves! I am elated to share these with everyone!

Swing Time!

2009-03-22T22:57:00.004-05:00

Antonio got to ride in a new swing at his Grandparent's house in Lubbock this weekend. I think it's safe to say that everyone had fun!

Antonio Attends A Wedding!

2009-03-22T22:40:00.005-05:00

Our good friends Krystal and Jason got married this weekend! It was a perfect occassion to find a miniature tie and a pair of matching blue dress pants for Antonio. Our baby boy attended the ceremony and behaved marvelously. And of course, he got a ton of "oohs" and pinches on the cheek! I also have to thank Michael and both of Antonio's Grandmas for helping take care of little Antonio while I ran around like a crazy person with the Bride.

Antonio Attends A Birthday Party!

2009-03-12T00:25:00.005-05:00

My niece Brooklynn had her 5th birthday this past weekend. She is the most energetic and charming little girl and she adores Antonio. We went to Lubbock and had lots of fun visiting friends and family and even though it was a quick trip, we enjoyed ourselves very much.

Here is the birthday girl on the right with her fabulous princess cake!

Brooklynn loves Antonio :)

Antonio has a way of greeting other people these days. When they get close, he puts his little forehead on the other person's head and stays there. It's so cute! That is what he is trying to do in the picture below to Ryder.

There are many colorful toys at Jennifer and Quint's house. Antonio was fascinated with one of Brooklynn's fluffly pillows. He kept running his little hand over it and then just started putting his face in it! I guess Ryder likes the pillow too!

All the kiddos!

We had so much fun at her party and it was very interesting to see a "child's birthday party" through my new parent eyes.

Half of the party was at the pool so here is Antonio in his new swim trunks. I think he looks buff. hehe!

Ryder and Michael seem to have the same hair!

Antonio was shy with Jason at first but then just wanted to rub on his head!

Krystal is a good substitute for Mom. Antonio really liked pulling on her long, pretty hair!

Kinsey is good with all children and Antonio was no exception. He smiled and laughed with her the whole time she held him!

Antonio in Random Cuteness

2009-03-12T00:14:00.003-05:00

Antonio's hair is not growing that much except in his mohawk. It's so funny! He has a long strip of hair and he gets bed head. We usually just use lotion to style it because I'm so vain about the way my child looks. Haha!

Here is Antonio in his big boy car seat. He is much more comfortable in this one than his infant car seat.

I LOVE baby feet. I especially love Antonio's little fat feet because I think they look like mine. He has little round nuggets for toes exactly like I do! haha..

Last, here is our precious baby in his Batman T-shirt. He's such a funny and happy baby!

Antonio Meets Meadow

2009-03-12T00:08:00.003-05:00

Our neighbor and friends had a beautiful baby girl named Meadow. She is destined to be Antonio's little girlfriend! We are so excited that she is here and let me say, shopping for a baby girl was so fun!

Antonio and Granpa Klein

2009-02-23T22:30:00.004-06:00

A quick trip to Lubbock left us exhausted and in a daze. But those crazy trips all worth it when I get to see images like the one above. Antonio gets some special one-on-one time with his Grandpa Eddie.

Here are the cousins with Grandma Hernandez.

Noah tries to take it all in.

Babies! Ryder is only 3 weeks older than Antonio and already so much taller!

Baby Antonio Looks Like...

2009-02-21T01:03:00.005-06:00

There is no doubt that Antonio has Michael's fair skin and red hair. But I am totally convinced that he has my nose. Here is a picture of Antonio and us (as babies) for comparison purposes. Who do you think the little guy resembles the most???