Houston Heat

It ruins everything! I'm getting a little tired of staying home so I try to take her to walk around the mall or something because God knows I do NOT want to be walking outside in this heat! If you're from Houston, then you know that just the walk from your front door to the car is already REALLY hot. THEN you have to wait until the car cools down which by that time, you are already sweating bullets if not more. Yes it gets cool eventually but by that time Toni is already pissed. She gets very hot very easily! By the time we get to the mall or even the grocery store, she is upset and even if I calm her down or even nurse her, it's short lived. So I blame the heat on her foul mood these days. haha! She seems happy when we are at home and she doesn't get hot. I can step outside for a bit, and she's fine as long as someone is holding her. I think her car seat gets warm easily. Holds in a lot of heat. So all the heat she is producing just stays in there. Sigh.... I can't wait until this heat goes away. I really believe she'll be a much happier camper.

Oral Fixation

My little pooper is almost 11 weeks (this Mon)! Which means she is only one week short of 3 months! whew! Time flies and she has come such a long way from her newborn days. It's incredible. Just recently (more so today) she is in this oral fixation phase where babies explore the world around them by trying to grab and put things into their mouths. Yes... that means she is grabbing! She hasn't prefected that quite yet, but the concept of trying to hold onto to something and then bringing it towards her mouth is definitely there. Sometimes she gets so frustrated she can't grab it the right way and bring it to her mouth she gets quite pissed off! So that is something we are trying to cope with. But it's for a great cause. haha! As you can see on some of the pics I took she is spending more time on her tummy which is strengthening her neck muscles. Pretty soon she may be holding her head up all by herself! She's already better at it in that I don't always need to support her head but I leave a hand there just in case her head falls. Did you know that our own head accounts for 12% of our weight? On babies, their heads account for 25% of their weight. Interesting fact, huh? The more you know... (tune in music)


Friday she had her first play date! Well not really. well kind of. haha! Actually it's more like Junior and I had a playdate with some of our friends at Muna's house. But little Sachin who is only 7 months older than Toni was there. So it was cool. But he's much further along playing and running around. She just stared. haha! It was so cute. I can't wait until she is running around playing with him! It's cool to think they are the same age and can grow up with each other. There's also Zach, Kathy's baby and he's just 3 weeks younger than Sachin. Then there's Nicholas, Dennis' baby who is 5 months older than Toni and there is Giovani who is about a month and hald older than Toni. So they'll all be in the same grade!!! And yes, I know... they are all boys except for her. Should Daddy be worried? Maybe later? But if she's anything like me, then maybe not. I was such a tomboy growing up and mainly because I was surrounded by boys. So we'll see.


She is growing quite fast too! She has graduated diaper size from a 1 to a 1-2. haha! Hey... these are big milestones to me! And she has outgrown her newborn onesies and is just about to outgrow her 0-3 month onesies too. She hasn't even worn some of them. Some of them are just really tight on her. Others fit her body fine but the length is too short and buttoning them in the crotch area is like making those buttons hold onto each other for dear life. So I think by next week I'll put away her 0-3 month stuff and graduate her to her 3-6 month stuff.


Other news... I got a new job! Well actually, technically not. haha! Muna got me and interview at her company Mercer where I would actually be using my MIS degree! Anyway, from what she tells me the interview went well and a few days later she text me to tell me that they were going to make me an offer! She told me that Thurs and I haven't heard from them yet. So probably Monday... I hope! So I'm excited to get back out there and start a career and be able to better provide for my little munchkin, but yes... that means I have to leave her. That part I hate! Junior and I are going to shop around daycares soon. sigh... I wish I could take her with me. haha! I feel like I will miss out on so much! It makes me jealous to think that these day care people will get to see something she does first before I do! I'm her mother! It's not fair! Sigh... but it's a part of life. Unless I win the lottery, life most go forward as planned. So what about the family business? Well, as much as I hate to leave it they can't afford me. And I can't afford to accept low pay for the good of the company. If I could, I would. But my little booger comes first now.


Sometimes Toni's hand (which are still a bit uncontrollable for her) grabs a good chunk of her hair and she pulls at it causing her to scream her head off. Hahaha! It's kind of funny. I'm sure not for her, but as I see it, it is.


Just a thought. Today I took her to the mall (Memorial City Mall) and they have a nursing room there! It's pretty awesome. There they have the mens, women and family restroom and then there is a separate room with a nursing sign on it. It's equipped with a rocking chair, changing area and sink. Pretty cool! Big ups to Memorial City Mall! All malls should have this!

Tummy Time

Check out my Slide Show!

That's The Best Smile You're Going To Catch

I Guess It's Ok

Why Are You Always Taking Pictures Of Me?

Happy Days

Two Months One Week

It has been some time since my last blog! So much has happened too! Well, by my standards anyway. Toni's first fourth of July came. That's her little fourth of July outfit. It has a matching hat too... she's so cute in it! My brother has better pictures of her in it. Hopefully I can get that from her sooner rather than later so I can post it. We went to my brother's for the fourth for the traditional BBQ get together with all the family, friends and relatives. His neighborhood had a fourth of July celebration with concert and fireworks in their little amphitheatre area. We all went there in the evening and found ourselves a spot at the top of the hill. The hill was awesome too! Do you ever remember as a kid rolling down a hill??? This is the perfect hill to do that. It was quite tempting... but my better judgement told me I am too old to do that and I will only have severe headaches and vomiting afterwards. hahah! But I did get to watch my 5 year old nephew do it so that was good enough for me. Anyway, so it was really loud as expected and little Toni seemed to do just fine with it. We had her in the stroller for a bit, but she eventually grew tired of that and so we held her and danced with her to the music the band was playing. As soon as it got dark enough, they did the fireworks show. I was little weary about it because I wasn't sure if she would take it well or not. To my surprise, it didn't phase her one bit! She didn't even flintch (sp?) one bit! In fact, half way through she fell asleep what with all the bangs, cheering and whistling! So that was pretty cool! We went back to my brother's afterward and everyone hung out for a little more. Junior, Toni and I stayed the night at my brothers for Toni's sake. So I went to the guest room to feed her and then put her down for the night.

WELL, my five year old nephew Merrill came with me. See, he's a very caring cousin. He's always trying to take care of her; it's so sweet. Anyway, he followed me into the room and after he played with her a couple minutes I told him I had to feed her... hoping he would take the hint. But he is only five. How do you explain breastfeeding to a five year old boy?

He said, "ok. Where's the milk?" "I have it." He proceeds to look through the diaper bag and says, "where? is it in here?" "No, I have it with me." "Where?" This is not my conversation to have, mind you. So I say, "I'm going to feed her." "Ok, where's the bottle?" "No, I'm going to feed her from me." He has the confused look in his face then he says, "How?" Oh boy. So I tell him I am going to breastfeed her. Of course, he looks at me like what the hell is that. So I contemplate on comparing it to the way dogs, cats amd cows do it. But then I think he might look in the wrong spot... a little south if you know what I mean. So I just say it how I know he'll understand. I say, "I feed her from the boob." Hahaha! He tried to compose this mature "I understand" look but I could tell her was uncomfortable. So I started laughing and he started laughing with me. But then he left. haha!

The next day Toni had her first birthday party! It was Avery's fourth birthday. Well Toni slept through it all basically, but she was still there! It was funny, though, because Avery said to me, "Is that your baby?" "Yes." "How did you make her?" Oh boy. Big weekend for me, right? I shouldn't have to make these conversations for a few years atleast! Anyway, my aunt saved me because as I sat there going, "uhhhh..." and everyone laughing she said, "We bought her at Randalls.. on sale!" hahaha! Whew! The breastfeeding conversation was enough for me. Don't think I know how to explain the baby one!

Fast forward to last Thursday the 10th. I have Toni on the changing table, ready to change her new diaper. She usually sticks her fist in her mouth, no big deal. Well this time just as she is about to do that, she stops and stares at her fist! She has found her hand! She has regard for her hand! I know that may be a small thing but I was (and still am) so excited!!! I took that pic above as she was staring at her fist.

This pic I took shortly after of her really studying it... plus it's cute because she looks crossed eyed! haha! She still does that. haha! I read that once they've found/have regard for their hand it's the first step to them trying to grab things. I'm so excited! She's developed so much in such little time. In fact, she now can see color. She has this little book that folds out with pictures. One side is of black and white pics and the other in color. Well we've been showing her the black and white ones at first because she the contrast is easier for her to see until color kicks in. But now, she loves looking at the colored side of the book. So much so that she does this squeal like she wants to laugh. Which, I just know she is going to let that laugh out any day! I'm waiting!

This pic I took the same day she found her hand just because I felt that this blue compliments her so well. I always tell her, "baby, this is your color." She looks good in pink too.

Last weekend was the wedding AND her two month birthday! Yes, the one where I had to fit into a dress I had no idea would be my size. Did i fit? BARELY. May as well have painted me blue. I bought a girdle to help me out but it was giving me major muffin top. So i decided to go without. Toni worev her little white dress with her matching, ruffly bloomers. so cute! Thankfull we had family that was also invited to the wedding so they were able to watch her b/c both Junior and I were in the wedding. She did good up until the end where she cried like crazy but luckily Rachelle got to the cry room before she let it out. Before all that she did manage to take her up during communion to get blessed... it made me cry. Mind you I held my own during the ceremony and didn't shed one tear but when I saw my baby get blessed for the first time, I cried. hahaha! I'm such a mom.

She was pretty pissed, though, by reception time. She barely ate and I think it's because she isn't too fond of the rubber nipple. So when my duties were over, I took her into the dressing room and breast fed her. Well as I was about to do that, she made some major #2. So I thought, ok I'll change her first so she can feed comfortably. So as I'm changing her I'm telling her no0t to poop on me b/c I'm in my dress. Well guess what. She sharted on me. yep. It was funny b/ she sneezed and I guess whatever remnents were left sharted out at the same time. Yes, some of it got on my dress. Guess that was her way of getting back at me for leaving her side for so long! I was able to wipe it off without it leaving a stain. But after she fed, she was a much happier camper. Thankfully Rachelle came with me b/c there was no way I could get back into that dress by myself!

Toni did develop a cold around that time. Somewhere between Thurs and Saturday. It wasn't too bad though. A small cough and some boogies. But not that bad. Anyway, she had her doctors appointment Monday to get her shots. So we weren't too worried.

Sunday we did go to another birthday party, my neice Alyssa's 10th birthday. It was a pool party and I so wanted to buy Toni a little swimsuit and let her play in the water. But with her cold and she hadn't had her shots yet we figured it wasn't a good idea. So we hung out for about an hour before we decided it was way too hot for her to be out even under the shade and in just her diaper. So while the party continued on at the pool, we went back to my brothers house to cool down and to feed her again. She passed out after that.

Yesterday was Toni's doctors appointment. I was so anxious because I KNEW she would cry her head off. But let me tell you, she took the shots pretty good. Four shots to be exact. Or actually it was three shots and a syrupy type thing. The syrupy thing was given first. The doctor said most babies hate it and spit it out. She took it like it was not thing. haha... my little fatty. But then the shots came and yes, she did cry but she died down after he was done and got over it. Unlike last time where she cried and cried and even whimpered after we left the office. So I think she did well. Plus, I didn't cry so she must've done ok. haha! So far there haven't been any side effects either. So we're pretty lucky. The doc did tell us to give her infants tylenol for her cold. We got the grape flavor and she seems to like that too. hahah! That aside, she is now 10lbs and 23.5". She's grown so much and the doc said she looked small when we walked in. I don't think so. Maybe because she was scrunched up. Oh... and he said she looked dark and have we been spending a lot of time in the sun. haha! I wanted to say, "have you seen my husband? did it not occur to you that it could be hereditary?" But I didn't say that. I just said, "no, I think she gets that from my husband." Aside from the one hour in shade at Alyssa's pool party she hasn't really gotten any sun at all. He said it was ok, as long as she gets a lot of shade. Which I knew that, baby skin is sensitive.

Her cold is going away and she still hasn't experienced any side effects from her shots. So, so far so good!