the 8 year old

Andrew's birthday was this past weekend. This year I made sure to make the boys easy and simple birthday celebrations. When Andrew awoke that morning, he was greeted with a Pikachu & a tin box of his beloved Yu-Gi-Oh dueling cards. He can't decide what he likes best, so it was just a stew of all his favorite things. 

Looking at him nowadays, it's just baffling that I have an 8 year old. I don't know how we got to this place. I've seen him mature quite nicely into his own self & am really proud of his accomplishments. But he is still that quirky weirdo we laugh at and love. 

His Nana & Papa came to celebrate him. After we sang happy birthday & opened gifts, we ate breakfast and headed to Moody Gardens Galveston.

We basically went and spent most of the day at the water park. It is quite small but these kids don't care. They love any water action and turned into happy sunburned fishes. 

After a while, Gary, me and Andrew went to the ziplines! Andrew wasn't afraid one bit...he just climbed those stairs, didn't even hesitate. We were so proud. 

Before leaving Moody Gardens, we stopped at the theater to watch Great White Sharks movie in 3D IMAX. 

While we walked around the grounds, we came upon the tornado tunnel. Normally I wouldn't let the kids do it, but I happened to have a couple of bucks in my purse and why not?

It. was. hilarious. 

The boys each got some red cheeks and smiling faces and we were ready to head home. 

Can you tell my kids became grumpy butts right after the movie? Yeah, they were tired. 

We love you, Bubs. 

Pikachu doll from McDonalds Happy Meal

Pokemon "Gotcha" Snapchat emoji

Nintendo 2DS

Moody Gardens Galveston Beach

snapshots

when i was a kid, i remember bits and pieces of my parents splitting up. but i remember still having to go to school. i remember staying with dad for some time, no mom. and one fond memory i have always had is when he would "pack my lunch" with only a can of V8 tomato juice, a slice of a lime and a napkin. i've always loved that drink. until i looked at the sodium content! so, this week, i treated myself to a V8 {low sodium version of course} since i'm not feeling up to eating my proper amount of vegetables & fruits in this pregnancy, mostly just pigging out potatoes and fried eggs. 

oh my, i loved every. single. sip. the lime is what hits the spot, you know? 

anyway, here are just snapshots of the past few weeks i just had to share. 

i guess i go through times where i photograph one kid more than the other...i have gaps of photos of andrew and vice versa with jonah. next week, i will prepare myself as i photograph my kiddo entering kindergarten! 

happy hump day everyone!

when life happens too fast

my oldest is turning five in a couple of days five today. never mind the husband's birthday that passed a week ago--he's lived a lot already. but the boy? my beautiful-eyed, hard to birth, silly-as-they-come boy? holy bananas, he will be is five. and will start kindergarten in less than a month. and wears the cutest little man's clothes. and has a head full of unruly hair that he refuses to let me chop.
i cry just thinking about this phase of parenthood. where it all starts to feel that they're just slipping out of your grips and be ready to join society.
i don't think i ever wrote his birth story on this blog. i began this blog in '08 but only after he was born. we lived at my parents house because hubby nor i had a job (straight outta college) and we were newly weds (not even a year of marriage, but years of dating). my aunt is a midwife, how cool would it be to birth at home? confession: i dreaded the birth. i was not prepared emotionally or physically for what was to come and I knew it. but contractions just wouldn't stop. and after 26 hours, this beautiful cone headed boy came out. and i was insanely exhausted and sore. holy bananas. i had a baby. i did it. and he was mine.
there's no way i am the same person that i was before he existed. nor do i want to be that person again.

From L to R: Me + new baby, Daddy + baby, my grandmother + baby + my mother, my midwife + mother-in-law + baby

i remember saying that our babies were going to be born hairy and big-headed. and Andrew, you were those. 

you were such a small baby. like me when i was born. you were spoiled rotten by Moomie + Tia Dawna.

you have provided me with countless hours of entertainment. love. and trials. 

we finally moved and had our own two bedroom place. we were poor but happy because of you. 

peek-a-boo, playdates, two-year old potty training (you were incredible!), and nap times all fit in our schedule

a piñata for your birthday and boat rides on lakes with Nana + Papa were main events

and going to support your coach of a daddy on all his football games? was so much fun because you played monkey on those bleachers.

you were always wanting to draw and scribble when mommy was drawing and scribblin' + besos were never in short supply

when you got a new bed, one night you put Ironman and Teddy to bed with a Dr. Seuss book--heart = melted.

these were some of your first scribbles and had lots of playground time just to keep you busy and spend that energy!

i remember when you held still for 5 seconds so i could capture those eyelashes and when you napped with Woody + Bullseye.

and when you begged to be spiderman for halloween or when we rode that thing(?) at Nana + Papa's and I had to push you--boy, you wear me out.

i remember how hard and tough it was when we began pre-kinder homeschool and yet you had a blast building weapons out of anything!

remember that time when you let me take pictures of you and you actually looked into the camera? no? well here's some good ones.

you had to have your own band on our front patio. no lie. you were rockin', dude.

and now you want to leave me and go to school? you're kidding me, right? how many nights I couldn't wait for you to be old enough to be able to go to school just so i could get some of my crap {i.e. art + crafts} done? so i can have some peace and quiet? so i could maintain this house clean for at least 2 hours? and now, i can't bear for you to leave me. you are a mr. independent, i-need-my-lunch-and-my-backpack-ready, and mom-doesn't-even-get-a-goodbye-kiss kid. this is so unfair!
you have been so patient waiting for your birthday to arrive so that we can go to chuck e. cheese's. you cannot wait and you ask daily if it's your birthday yet. your attitude and your actions have been near perfect because you know the consequences if they're not good.
kid, you say the funniest things. i really can't wait to see the great man you grow up to be. i am so proud of you son, you're nothing but my greatest joy. happy birthday.