life according to the diaz's: Fall is here!

It seems like so long ago that I sat down to write about Elena and our family. Well, I guess it has been a long time. It is so crazy how once a new school year begins, time just seems to fly by faster and faster. Our days are so routined and there is little room for extras...especially during the week since our baby girl goes to bed by 7:30-8:00 every night. Juan and I just cherish every single second with her when we get home each evening. She would sometimes rather play on "her" iPad than play with us, but we do our best to get her on the floor playing some blocks or something! Since Labor Day, Elena has not changed a whole lot. She is getting so much hair and her vocabulary just keeps growing and growing. She no longer likes to eat in her high chair, she'd just assume stand on a regular kitchen table chair and eat with the rest of us. Fine with me ;) As long as she eats something, that is what matters. Elena has become extremely picky over the last few months and there are just a select few foods that she will consistently eat...and most of them aren't healthy. We try hard everyday to get at least on serving of fruit and vegetable in somewhere, but I'm thinking we are going to have to start getting super creative with things and disguising some of the healthier foods in with things she likes to eat. I have been seeing lots of articles about pureeing veggies and putting them in spaghetti sauces, etc. Will definitely be looking into this more since our little lady needs to gain some more weight. She is currently weighing in at a whopping 23 lbs. We will see the doctor again in December for her two year check up. She is tall and skinny...I guess we shouldn't be complaining too much...don't we all aspire to be long and lean?!
We have been spending lots of time with family on our weekends and watching football. I feel so lucky to be a part of one of Juan's fantasy football teams this year. I even sat in and made some decisions during the draft a little over a month ago! That was a lot of fun, even though our team isn't doing so great right now...Elena enjoys spending time with her aunts and cousin Blake as much as possible. She got to see her Tia Oly a lot while she was in town with Juan's mom while she had surgery. Elena knows how to "work it" so she can get "nems" (M&Ms) out of her Tia. Every time we were visiting at the hospital, she knew what vending machine had what she wanted...of course Elena got "nems" every time ;)
My mom has started coming to babysit Elena again and Elena has been loving her "mawmaw" time. They go out to HyVee to get some things...especially donuts...every time my mom comes to babysit. I don't know that Elena can go to HyVee anymore without getting a donut...it's kind of become a tradition now. BUT, they do have the BEST donuts!! It is hard to believe that my baby sister is moving to Florida tomorrow...we will miss her so much, but she is going to fit in just fine down by the beach. Baby Blake is going to be the perfect beach buddy!! He has grown so much in two months...I can only imagine how big he'll be when they are back in MO for Christmas.
Family time and school are pretty much life right now. We are so so blessed to be living the life we have and are so appreciative of the blessings God gives us each day. Juan and I have been reminded so much lately of how important each day is with your loved ones and there is no amount of money in the world that can make you as happy as the people you love. To our families all over...personal, friends, work...we love you all!!!

Elena will be 23 months old on 10/30...here are some pics/videos of our beautiful girl!!