Black Friday Shopping!!

I forgot to tell you my shopping adventures on Black Friday! Billy hates shopping but ironically he ended up going with me because of his iphone... :)

I went to BB&W and got lots of wallflowers! Thanks Alicia for getting me hooked on these! ;) hehe I got Warm Vanilla Sugar, Black Raspberry Vanilla, Blissful Blackberry, Japanese Cherry Blossom, Sensual Amber, and Velvet Tuberose. I only got 3 starter kits and I think I should have gotten more... silly me!

Anyhow, after that I went to Target and got a set of the 1000 thread-count sheets they had for sale. WOW! Super soft!!! Also got a couple of other things. After that, went home and picked up Billy and Bella and drove 1 hr to another city. Billy had to go to the MAC store cause his phone wasnt working and I got to do more shopping at Babies R Us and Js. I even got 2 Christmas presents - one for my dad and one for my brother! :)

I had to return some things at BRU and so after buying diapers, some toys, a Santa outfit for Bella, a feed helper, and a Turkey plush toy I didnt spend a penny!!! I then went to Js and got some Cropper Hopper paper organizer (50% off) and a scalloped square punch (50% off) and some plastic organizers (50% off too!). I just loooooove getting good deals!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's been a crazy year, but we are thankful for all the blessings, especially for baby Isabella!

Moving Out

Billy and I finally agreed on moving Isabella into her own room. Billy installed the curtains we bought for her room, and not just any curtain but blackout window treatments!! :) They are supposed to block 98% of the light! wow!! We also had to take the crib apart and put it back together in her room. And we had to move the dresser/changing table, diaper pail, humidifier, wipe warmer, diapers, and other little things. But we did it!! And it looks awesome!!

Now, we are just waiting for her to sleep through the night so WE can sleep through the night. It's been over a year since I had a full night sleep, although last night was close since my wonderful husband fed her at 2 am (but I still woke up when I heard her crying). She's almost 6 months, but being pregnant was no easy trip! Waking up every so often to go to the bathroom, sleeping with 6 pillows and trying to stay on my left side ALL night long, plus you get some nasty pains in the hips and back and shoulders... not easy I tell ya! Anyways, I'm just praying that she'll start having full nights!!

I'll post pictures later! (sorry)

Life Without Limbs

A friend sent me this video and after watching it, I watched a couple more. It's just amazing that somebody can be so positive and brave to live life without fear or anger despite of his disabilities. It also makes me thankful for having all my "body parts" working well!



Part 2


Part 3

New Discoveries

I couldn't pass the chance of sharing some cute pictures of little Bella. A couple of weeks ago we bought her an Evenflo ExerSaucer Triple Fun and she loved it! We put it together last night and today she played in it until she threw up (literally). LOL! She can't stay in it too long because she's not strong enough to hold herself and she leans forward and that puts too much pressure on her tummy and then spit... but she still loves it! :)

Trying to decide which toy to play with...
That gorgeous face of wonder! :)

Billy's Ordination

About a month ago, Billy and I had an interview with some of the leaders from the Central California Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church - Jerry Page (president), Ramiro Cano (executive secretary), Nelson Tabingo (treasurer), Dennis Seaton (HR), Steve Horton (youth min), and Dan Escamilla (Hispanic min). They basically asked us questions regarding our stand on different beliefs and values. It was quite interesting. Well, after the interview they voted to Ordain Billy as a Minister. When he first started working in the CCC he got a Missionary License, then he got a Ministerial License, and now he will be an Ordained Minister. It's a long process of time and evaluation to make sure a pastor REALLY wants to be a pastor and that he's "proven" his ministry to the church.

So, Billy's been a pastor for 6 years now. He was an Associate Pastor, and then an Interim Pastor, at the Milpitas Adventist Center, where he preached, taught a Bible class for the Elementary School, and baptized many people. After being there for 3 years, we moved to Andrews University where he attended the Theological Seminary to get a Master in Divinity and I got my masters as well. In April 2007, he got a call to pastor the Merced and Mariposa Churches in California. So, after graduating in May and having our baby girl in June, we moved to the central valley!

All this long story to show you the invitations that I did for his Ordination on January 5th, 2008! :) We are really excited and I'm very proud of him!

Rice Cereal - yummy!!!

Since the pediatrician gave us the O-K to start Isabella on solids, WE DID!!! :) And she loved it. I think she's been ready to eat solids for a while now, but we wanted to make sure we didn't rush her. You should've seen her opening her mouth really big to take each spoonful (tiny little spoon) of rice cereal. And in about a month we'll start veggies and then fruits. It's so exciting seeing her grow.


And some more cuteness!


Also, after much research Billy and I got a camcorder yesterday. We are hoping to take lots of videos of little Bella and post them here or on facebook to keep in touch with family and friends. This is the one we got - Sony DCR-SR82.

Home Sweet Home!

wow! It's been more than 2 weeks since I have posted and so much has happened!

Isabella is 5 months today and she's growing more and more every day. She's smiling and cooing all the time, colic is getting a lot better, the medicine is really helping the reflux and the pediatrician gave us the OK to start solids!!! :) We are hoping that will help her sleep through the night! That would be a miracle and a wish come true!!! We had an appointment today and she got 3 shots on her legs. Poor little one cried and cried...

The last 2 weeks we were in Michigan. Isabella and I flew to visit my parents in Berrien Springs and we came back yesterday. She did o-k in the flights. Not great, just ok. She screamed a little bit but I think it was because her ears were hurting. And she slept in between screaming! I think it'll take a couple of days for her to adjust to the PST plus the extra hour with the Daylight Saving change. But it was a good trip. I got lots of scrapbooking shopping at Hobby Lobby and Pages in Time and JoAnn's and Michaels. Plus my mom and I went to the Outlet Mall in Michigan City and JCPenney in Mishawaka.

I'll post some pictures later. I took some gorgeous FALL pictures and of course of little Bella.

Nothings wrong...

We saw this t-shirt some time ago at Target and couldn't resist buying it. There was another one that said: "Party at my crib at 2 am!" wow that one would have been just as appropriate! But given the endless crying and screaming episodes day after day, this one was the winner: "Nothings wrong, just testing you." Indeed it is a test of love and patience! And I think I'm going to fail the test... *gasp*

Boy it's been a long and busy week between feedings and packing and cleaning and organizing and swaps and waking up at 2 am for more feedings... Just one more day and Isabella and I will be flying to Michigan to spend 2 weeks with my parents! Free daycare and free massages are in my future!!! :) Plus I get to go to Hobby Lobby and Pages in Time!!! yay for me!!!

And even more cards!!

Isabella took a good nap this afternoon and I got busy creating some more cards for the SOF challenges. Here they are! Enjoy! :)

A Clear Challenge (clear stamps)

Birdie Challenge

Quote on a Card Challenge
Fall Leaves Challenge

More cards

Some cards for the SOF Challenges at 2Peas!

Tag Stamps Challenge

Brighten Up Your Day Challenge

Scraplift Challenge

The True Meaning of Christmas Challenge

The True Meaning of Christmas Challenge

Tag Stamps Challenge
Shadow Stamps Challenge

She's definitely growing!

She can push herself up to a 90 degree angle and look around. She's so alert and loves looking at the paintings and decorations on the walls.

Some cards for challenges

Here are some of them. I'll post more later...

One Card Two Ways Challenge -- All materials are Stampin Up!

Monochromatic Challenge -- All materials are Stampin Up! except for the ribbon.

A Day Overture by Mom

If you are a mom (especially of older kids) you can sympathize with this lady, but either way this video is hillarious!!!

Grandma Thompson had a farm...

E-i-e-i-o!
And in her farm she had some cows!
E-i-e-i-o!
With a moo moo here and a moo moo there
Here moo, there moo, everywhere moo moo
Grandma Thompson had a farm
E-i-e-i-o!

Isabella is 4 months!!

WOW! Can you believe it? She's already 4 months and it feels like it's been 15 minutes -- under water that is! :) LOL... But in reality, it's been an adventure with ups and downs and a test of faith, love, and hope for both Billy and I.

She's not sleeping through the night yet which wouldn’t be so bad if after waking up and eating she would go back to sleep. BUT NO! She has to stay awake for 2-3 hrs and keep everybody awake with her! She's been doing this for over a week now and it's driving us insane. I think I have an ulcer and this week I went to the doctor to check on my thyroid because I've been loosing so much hair. My thyroid is fine but I have an UTI. I know, TMI! But I'm already taking antibiotics and pain meds it. On top of that my hair keeps falling by the handful and I have nightmares that I have to wear a wig because I'm bold!!!! And on top of all that SHE DOESN'T SLEEP DURING THE DAY!!!! For example, the other day she woke up at 6:30, ate, played for a little bit, then started fussing so I took her to her crib. Nope! She doesn’t wanna play but she doesn’t want to sleep either. So she pushes herself up (she sleeps on her tummy) and because she has reflux she vomits. So I gotta clean the bed and keep trying to make her fall sleep. Billy takes over so I can take a shower before he leave because otherwise I won't be able to... and she falls sleep... FOR 20 MINUTES!!!! Then wakes up and cries, cries, cries, screams, screams, more cry... nothing consoles her. And believe me, we don’t mind letting her cry on her crib but I can only take so much before my ears start to burst so I picked her up, carried her around some more and put her down... she finally starts dozing off but every 30 seconds jitters and opens her eyes... like she's scared or something... what's wrong with my child!????

Well, we have some friends (who will remain unnamed) who had their baby about 3 weeks after us and she's sleeping through the night, doesn’t cry, has no colic or reflux, takes 2 to 2 and half hour naps during the day, doesn’t spit or vomit, poops a couple of times a day, loves her car seat and it's super quiet and peaceful baby... don’t take it personal, but I HATE "NORMAL" BABIES (and their parents)!!! Especially when everyone try to tell you all the things you are doing "wrong".... I keep asking my Billy what I did wrong on a past life that I get to endure all this... not that I believe in a past life or karma, but seriously! WHY WHY WHY?!!?!? BTW Isabella is the total opposite from the things in the list above... AND MORE! And people wonder and think I'm joking when I say we are NOT having any more kids... Billy's theory is that God doesn't give us more than we can handle. I think God trusts me too much...

Amazingly enough, after being a complete nightmare and whiny baby for hours, all she has to do is smile or stick her tongue out or coo baby words or giggle and we forget that we were about loose it and all we can do it smile back and eat her up with kisses! :) And as her daddy says, "she's lucky she's cute!" ;)

In any case, I've joined a thread on 2Peas and I love it! The moms, their babies, and their stories are as "normal" as mine will ever be (or so it seems that way!) and so I feel among friends!

What scrapbooking item are you? I'm Paper!!!

You are an all natural basic person who likes to act as a foundation to others. You are willing to take a backseat in most of your relationships and let others take the spotlight, while you show your support and help them shine! Underneath it all, you are the one who makes it all happen. You are the focus and stability in any group, even if you are not the leader. Others look to you to set the pace and provide ideas for ways to get things done. But Paper Beware - sometimes you get a little edgy with the people who look to you for support and can give them some papercut remarks that can hurt their feelings. Remember to watch what you say, because you are best when leading by example.

Sleepless in Merced and Pachelbel Bedtime

So, after 2 nights of being sleep deprived because of Miss Isabella not wanting to fall sleep after her 2 am feeding, a friend sent me this video and it just made me laugh so hard. It's just all so true! :)

Our Beautiful Girl!

We went to JCPenney's for some professional pictures of Isabella at 3 months. And here they are! Enjoy! :)

Raymond Crowe - A Wonderful World

It is indeed a wonderful world!!! And isn't he amazing!?

Happy Mail Comes in All Sizes and Colors!

I love getting mail. All kind of mail. Even a bill can be happy mail! Especially when it's reduced $509.42!!! Gotta love our health insurance! :) But even better, I got my order from Frugalities, plus a Precious Moments figurine I got on Ebay, my "consolation" prize from the Fav Five Challenge from Sandy's blog, a RAK from Lori (from 2Peas), and some cool magazines.


My order from Frugalities:

And my "consolation" prize from Sandy aka Colourful! Loved everything!!! :)

The Little Princess and Her New Throne!

On Monday, in between my scrapbooking shopping, Billy and I went to Babies R Us and got Isabella a new swing. We had bought one before she was born, but there was a recall on it and we had to return it, etc, etc, etc... But now she's getting too heavy to carry all the time and I can't get anything done while I'm carrying her. So, here's her new little throne! :)

Ribbon Galore and Other Shopping Adventures Before Joining HA!

A friend and I (Hi Sandy!) have decided to join Hoarders Anonymous for Scrapbooking Addicts. But before that I had to visit a new (new to me at least) LSS in Fresno. Billy was gracious enough to drive on his day off with me about an hour south of Merced AND he took care of Isabella while I shopped at the Scrapbooking Store - Pocketful of Treasures. Then, I dropped him off at Barnes and Nobles and headed to Michaels and JoAnn where I found some really cute Christmas ribbon for the swap I join at 2Peas! Plus some other goodies! :)



Then, I came home to some wonderful mail!!! My order from Linnercards arrived and lo and behold - more ribbon!!! :) PLUS I got some RAKs from my friends at 2Peas! What an awesome day!!!

Enjoy all the wonderful scrapbooking goodies!!! I sure will! ;)

And you thought I didnt have multiple personalities...

I saw this at another blog and thought it was hillarious! Enjoy my other "personalities"! ;)

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) -- Rufo Highlander

2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fav ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) -- Turtle Oreo

3. YOUR "FLY Guy/Girl" NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) -- SSIS

4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) -- Pink Dog

5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) -- Nathalia Bucaramanga (ah?? too weird)

6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first) -- Sissy (LOL)

7. SUPERHERO NAME: (2nd favorite color, favorite drink put "The") -- Brown the Lava Flow

8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) -- Carlos Abelardo

9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne, favorite candy) -- Contradiction Twix

10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother's & father's middle names ) -- Eugenia Olivo

A Colourful Challenge!

A friend at 2 Peas (Sandy aka Colourful) posted a challenge on her blog and I decided to give it a try in between Isabella's naps...

The Challenge: Create a card using all of these fabulous five:

1. One stamped image
2. One piece of patterned paper
3. One piece of ribbon
4. One button
5. One flower

Extra credit:

1. If you want to double your entry, use the numeral "5" on your card somewhere too! I'll add your name twice in the drawing.
2. If you're really out to win, try using five of each of the fabulous five! You'll be entered five times if you complete this one!

So here is my card with extra credit and all! :)

Remember Me

It's been 6 years since the attacks on 9/11 and while chatting at a message board someone asked "Where were you when the towers fell?" -- I was in a 9am class at Southern Adventist University when we started hearing rumors about the news. I went to the student center where they had TVs and sat there ALL DAY just watching the news. It was so sad and everyone was in so much shock. For the next couple of days the university had prayer meetings and counseling sessions for people. It was very thoughtful and helpful for many students. I didn't loose anyone that day mainly because we don't have family there but I wanted to post a video a friend posted on her blog.

Isabella Update

We had our 2nd doctor's appointment today. Isabella just turned 3 months on Sept. 5th. She's 13 lbs 4 oz and 22 in. The doctor said she's on the low end of the percentiles, but still normal. She eats really good (although she does spit a lot) so the doctor said not to worry. Besides, Billy and I are shorties - so no hope there! But the important thing is that she's doing ok and growing strong!

Well, the appointment went well until the nurse came with 3 BIG shots for her - 2 in one leg and 1 in the other. Poor thing. She was falling sleep and then the nurse told me to put her on her back and BAM! One right after the other. No mercy. Just ruthless. Then she started screaming crying and turned purple, like she's not breathing. Always freaks me out! So I picked her up and she fell sleep almost immediately. Poor thing... As soon as we got home, she passed out sleeping on her crib.

She' still not pooing everyday on her own (I know TMI) and spitting up every time she eats! I really thought that being pregnant and giving birth were going to be the hardest things about having a baby... well, it turns out that's FALSE! The first few months ARE indeed the hardest. But I have hope since everyone says "Oh, it gets easier..." I'm waiting for that time!

Meanwhile, here are some pictures of her...

http://andrews.facebook.com/album.php?aid=17971&l=f9220&id=585325080
http://andrews.facebook.com/album.php?aid=11160&l=365ec&id=585325080

Honorary Member of Hoarders Anonymous

So, I was talking to a friend last night and we came to the conclusion that we must join Hoarders Anonymous... I just love shopping for scrapbooking and stamping supplies. They are so colorful and pretty and delicate... The bad thing is that (like technology) they come up with something new and better everyday!!!

Here's my scrapbook room as proof! Yes I know. You must be thinking I'm spoiled for getting a room all for myself. But God blessed us with a 4-bedroom house and so I got my wish for a Scrapbook Room!!! :) It's still a little messy but I'm working on it as much as I can!