First, a health update. We've had some pretty sick kids for about half of that time. It started out with Ben throwing up at Wednesday night church. A stomach bug had been going around that we thought we had avoided, but poor Ben got it. He threw up 2 or 3 times at the church building, then another several at home. Fortunately, the throwing up only lasted about 8 hours. And none of the rest of us got it... then at least. So, as he was bouncing back from that, Lila came down with a horrible cough. We were concerned for a little bit that it might turn into pneumonia, but fortunately it didn't. Then, a couple of weeks later, Ben woke up covered in hives, with his hands and feet swollen. It got worse throughout the day, and we ended up in urgent care with him that night. Still don't know what caused it, but it was just like my break out a few years ago that put me in the hospital, so needless to say we erred on the side of caution. Less than a week and a half after that, about an hour after we had bought our new used Honda Pilot, I was over at mom's (Hector and Ben were at a birthday party) and Lila proceeded to puke all over Dad. Then all over Ang and Savannah. Then all over me. She smiled through the first 3 times, but then stopped smiling. She threw up about a dozen times in an hour and a half. So we ended up at Cooks downtown with her. Fortunately, we got there before she got dehydrated. They gave her some anti-nausea medicine and she stopped. That's our first real scare with her. In the waiting room, she was just lying listless in Hector's arms. We had never seen her like that. Fortunately, we got all of that out of our system before Christmas, and stayed healthy over the holidays. Except Yaya who ended up with an ear and sinus infection, and Nana who ended up with pneumonia! Craziness. I compared it to Chinese water torture. We counted our blessings the whole time and realized it was all very minor in the grand scheme of things, but sick kiddos can really take an emotional toll on a mama!
Now onto the good stuff. Christmas was great! Ben was so much fun this year. He loved every minute of it. Last year, we had enough gifts to open one each day after Christmas for a whole week. We planned on doing the same this year (with very inexpensive gifts). But Ben couldn't stop opening presents! He cleaned us out on Christmas day. His daddy then went on to by more on Ebay. Ben now has every super hero action figure and costume in existence! When he sat in Santa's lap the first and second time (at the mall and at church), he asked for, and I quote, "Captain America toy and Captain America Shield". The third time (at Grand Prairie lights which was a ball!) he added on Iron Mon. It's great when your kid asks for $10 toys from Santa! He now has all the Avengers, Power Rangers, Batman, Superman, Green Lantern and the corresponding costumes for each. He also got a camera and an ice cream maker. He loved all of his toys and was very appreciative. He hugged everyone and said thank you. Such a polite kid. Lila did great. She was pretty oblivious to what was going on, but she behaved great. And she looked so cute in all of her Christmas outfits. I always thought it would be so fun to have a little girl at Christmas time, and it was. She was in a different Christmas tutu and bow each week! Who knew I would be a bow mom! This Christmas baby Janessa was with us. And next Christmas, we'll have a new baby cousin. Can't wait to see the cousins begin to interact as they get older. Janessa and Lila are a month and a half a part. And Baby B and Lila are less than a year apart. So, I think it's going to be fun! And Ben's close enough, to where I think he'll enjoy them too.
Lila is growing up so fast. Just in the last month, her personality has really emerged. She smiles all the time. And it's a smile that lights up the whole room. You can't help but smile. That could be trouble for us later! She also just started cuddling, which completely melts my heart. She'll just lay her head on my shoulder wide a wake. It's the sweetest thing. Ben never really did that. She giggles the sweetest giggle. She also reaches out to you. She lunges for me. It's really stinkin' cute. She is definitely a mama's girl. I love it. But no one else does. She also loves being with her Yaya. Ben did too. Something about yaya! She started off as our little Latina, and now she looks just like me. It's so much fun. The way her hair falls. Her hot temper. Her fair complexion. Her big smile. The way she scrunches her nose. It's just like pictures of me at that age. It's so special for me. I never really had that with Ben because he looked so much like Hector. And she's definitely got my strong will, but so does Ben! She's now refusing to take a bottle. Since I'm not working, she's gotten spoiled to nursing, so next week, Mom get's to come with me and Dad to Houston next week, so that I can nurse Lila. She's a trooper! She started on solid food at 5 1/2 months. We skipped right over cereal and went to green beans. She eats a jar a night, but is still getting all of her nourishment from milk. I think that starts to change at 9 months, but I'm not sure. I'm appreciating the extra calorie burning right now. 15 lbs down, 30 to go! I better hurry before I stop nursing.
Ben continues to develop before our eyes. He's got the coolest imagination. He definitely gets that from his dad. He's about 4 different super heros every day. He and Hector have a ball playing together. Lila and i even dress up from time to time. Sometimes I'll catch him pretending to put on a Super Hero costume. He'll start at the shoes and work his way up to the mask, totally through his imagination. I love it! From his birthday to Christmas, he went from loving Woody from Toy Story to the Hulk! And it seems like just yesterday he was obsessed with baseball and Sandlot! How fast things change. He's definitely three. He's pressing his limits just to see our reaction. Obeying the first time we ask is something we're really having to work on. He seems to think we mean it after about the third time. But he's still such an awesome kid, and so low maintenance compared to his friends. We sometimes take it for granted.
Just recently, God's really convicted me to slow down and breathe in every moment I have with my family. My mind is constantly moving if I let it, and it makes me miss little things that I should appreciate. Giving my kids my undivided attention, not in a spoiling way, but in a "you are more important than facebook or email" way is my goal for this year. I want to slow my mind down and allow God to grow me and make me more aware of how he's moving and working every day. I'm anxious to see all I'll notice in 2012 with less chaos in my life! Praise God for His unfailing love and never-ending patience with this hardheaded child!
