Earl May field trip

Today Mateo and Mommy went to Earl May for a field trip with his preschool. I am so grateful I was able to go, and Mateo and I had so much fun. Although I expected the field trip to be a bit more structured, it was the simplicity of it that made it so wonderful. We got to walk around the nursery, meander through the greenhouse, plant a flower, eat popcorn and browse the store. Mateo was so happy and I wouldn't have traded our time together for anything.

After Earl May, Mateo and I went to the Munroe Meyer Institute to watch Francesca in her speech class. That was fun, too, especially since it was the first time I saw in person where she has been spending her Wednesday mornings with Grandma. I was so proud of my little girl as she sat in her chair and little desk listening to Maisy, opening and shutting the curtain, signing "fish cracker."

When I asked my principal about taking a half personal day today she told me to "enjoy all the mommy moments you can." Today I enjoyed them all!

Strawberries

Flower wonder

Walking with Cecilia

Planting our flower

Popcorn!

Pinwheels Meeting Grandma at Cesca's therapy

Coloring and Snack table

Francesca in "Goodbye" circle

Haircut

Mateo got his hair cut this week. He kept moving around to see who was coming through the door, so the stylist said,

"Mateo, you better sit still or your going to get a hole in your hair."

Mateo responded,

"My Grandpa has a hole in his hair."

Out of the mouth of babes...

Spring Break

Tonight marks the end of Spring Break. It's funny because I can remember marking my calendar at the beginning of the school year in anticipation of this week in particular - a chance to enjoy being with my children without any particular agenda.

We played at home, went to the zoo with Grandma and Emma, sat around in our pajamas a couple of mornings, went to open gym at Saddlebrook, had breakfast with grandpa at Summer Kitchen, painted Mateo's new bedroom, welcomed our new cousin Felipe, ran errands, took long naps, baked cookies, went to swim lessons, and just enjoyed being together. It has been a great week.

The thought has struck me quite a few times this week that this is the last big chunk of time I'll have being Mommy to just Mateo and Francesca before our new baby girl is born. My mom reminded me this week of the importance of choosing JOY. I carry that with me.

Tomorrow's back to work. We celebrate Mateo's 4th birthday on Thursday ... I can't believe that. Before you know it, it will be summer (and our littlest girl will be here!)

Snacks at the zoo

Butterfly patrol

Checking out the fish

Jellies!

Gorilla Mama and baby

Polar bear swim

Little Guys Gym at Saddlebrook

Cone head

Francesca and Mateo played really well together. They especially loved the parachute. Francesa was walking all over the place - it has been so great to see her exploring while walking and choosing to walk over crawling consistently. Our goal of walking independently by May is becoming a stronger reality each day.

Hanging out at home

Reading Napping House with our services coordinator, Beth Schultz

All smiles

Man dance

Daddy is out of town, and we had dinner at "The Pizza Place" next to the Family Video store right by our house. Normally Mateo is not a big pizza fan (definitely his father's son), but tonight he gobbled it down! We had quite a nice dinner together, including orange Fanta. Francesca was not sure whether she loved or hated the bubbly orange drink and made quite a funny question face after each drink. It was a fun eating experience.

Needless to say, after dinner the kids were nice and sugared up. Mateo was dancing around and Francesca was ready to run out the door. When we got into the car, Mateo said,

"I was doing a man-dance in there, Mom, not a girl dance."

I'm so glad he clarified that.

New cousin!

The kids have a new cousin! Felipe Caleb Lopez-Cogua Born March 24, 2011 2.8 pounds 13 1/2 inches Tia Jas had some complication with the pregnancy and they did an emergency C-section on Thursday. She got to go home today, but little Felipe is still in the hospital. He's doing well and seems to be quite the fighter. He also has very big hands and feet! You can see little Felipe at www.misobrino2011.blogspot.com Daddy went down to Florida to be with his sister and to meet our new nephew. We miss him, but are so glad that he could go and be with our growing family. Please keep little Felipe in your prayers!

It's a New Day!

This morning Francesca woke up happy for the first time in a week ... she and Mateo had both been sick, but today marked a new day in a couple of ways. The most exciting was a new sign!

I went into her room and she was all smiles. As I changed her diaper, she started signed something that looked like "cracker" and saying "de." "Cracker?" I asked. She shook her head no. She kept trying and signed it again. I still didn't get it. Then she signed "time" and "signing" and one more time her new sign. Then the lightbulb went on for Mama.

"DAY! You're signing DAY! Francesca! You're right, it's a new DAY!" And she signed "day" and said "de" once more. Then we sang the song from her Baby Signing Time DVD.

I couldn't have been prouder.

Now you sign "day." :)
http://www.handspeak.com/word/index.php?dict=da&signID=537

Grandpa's Birthday!

Today is Grandpa's Birthday and although we didn't get to celebrate together tonight due to the snow and ice, we did have a great birthday lunch yesterday at the Hog Stop! Happy Birthday Daddy!

The birthday boy and his sweetheart

Mateo was mostly interested in this game, although he did a great job of staying at the table and eating all of his lunch.

Francesca was really into dipping her fried pickle into ranch dressing and sucking off the dressing. Eating has now become a "challenge" since she has decided to assert her independence. It is a certainty that any meal will end in a change of clothes for either her or me or daddy or all of the above!

Dad and his Mom - she remembers yelling to the medical staff when he was born "Don't let them steal my baby!" Her 3 oldest children had been kidnapped and missing for several years when my Dad was born. She has quite the stories. An incredible woman.

Mateo loves Great Grandma and is always sure to give her special attention. (While typing this post I just realized that when my grandma had my dad, she was the same age as I was when we got Mateo... I hope Mateo and I look this great 60 years from now!)

Mateo and Francesca (and Chester) adore their Grandpa Jim.

Watching original Superman videos on Sunday afternoon

Grandpa lets Francesca dig into the jell-o