Busy...Busy...Busy

Sorry it has taken us so long to get back onto our blog, but life around the Diaz house continues to get busier and busier as the weeks go by.  I know this happens every year when the school year starts to wind down, but boy, there is SO much to do both at school and at home.  Children to test, books to put away, graduation to attend, mulch to put down, grass to cut, bottles to clean...you name it, we have something going on!  However, I won't complain one bit because it just means we are surrounded by all of our loved ones and things we love as often as possible.  Since Easter, we have been spending our weekends just catching up around the house.  I finally got around to putting all of Elena's clothes away from her closet that she can't fit into anymore...sigh...she is growing so fast on us.  I couldn't believe how much I put away the other night.  This girl has so many clothes and I was so disappointed that many of her items she has only worn maybe once or twice.  Wish I had that problem...  :)  Elena has been spending her time during the week with her favorite babysitter, Brenda, and she continues to end each week with her grandmas.  It is so special to have all of these wonderful people to care for Elena and be so flexible with our time.  God has really blessed us in this department for sure. 
Today was Elena's first Pinto Pacer, a 5K run at my elementary school.  We had a beautiful morning to be outdoors with lots of coworkers, friends, neighbors, and runners.  Juan even brought Homer along for the second year in a row to be a course marshal at one of the major points during the race.  They always do a find job!!  We made it back home this afternoon with a crabby and hungry girl.  We laid down together for about an hour before she got uncomfortable.  I put her in her swing and she is MUCH happier now.  Sleeping away soundly...just like she wanted.  I thought I might be able to fall back to sleep for a little while, but I couldn't.  So, I decided it was a good time to catch up on the blog. 
Elena turns 5 months old this Monday...yes, I said it...FIVE MONTHS OLD. Where has the time gone?  Juan and I are just cherishing every day with her because we know she is just getting bigger on us by the day.  We just love her snuggles, genuine smiles and laughs, and yes, even her cries.  She is just the sweetest thing ever. All toys are now going into her mouth for exploration and she is gripping anything she can get her hands on.  I don't even have to hold her bottles for her most of the time.  It's pretty amazing the progress she is making with each and every week that goes by.  Our parents as teachers teacher came by earlier this week to work with Elena and she told us that Elena is making excellent progress.  Flipping over from her back to belly is very easy now...basically automatic.  We just need to work on getting her to learn how to go from belly to back when she gets frustrated.  Elena also likes to stand a lot with my support.  I think she just likes the awesome view of her surroundings.  I bet it gets kinda boring laying down all the time and looking up.  I put her in my body carrier and bring her around the house a lot when I am cleaning up or cooking.  She enjoys looking at everything going on...a regular busy body already. 
I have put just a few pictures up from over the last few weeks...I am even attempting to attach the video of Elena from several weeks ago of her laughing at Juan ripping paper.  Hopefully it will work.  If not, I have it on Facebook for you to see if you would like.  Love you all and thanks for keeping up with Elena!!

 Cereal is GOOD.

 Love.

 mmmmm...rubber ducky

After my bath...in my mom's old towel from when she was a baby!!

 Again...cereal = good.

 This was the third try to get her to look at me...then abuelo gets all serious. HA!

 Sittin' cute in my new toy!!

 Abuela and me.

 I am SUPER funny...

 ...and silly.

Just checkin' out some colors...Mittens wanted to read too.

Happy Healthy Baby!

Elena went to see Dr. Hagen again this morning for her four month check up.  As expected, she did just fine.  She is now weighing 13 lbs and is 25 inches long.  Elena will get to eat rice cereal for the first time later tonight for dinner.  We cannot wait to see her reaction to some solid food.  I think she is going to love it.  Elena has never turned down any food before, so why start now?!  We will be sure to post pictures of her reactions to the cereal very soon.  She will also need to go see the dermatologist soon to have a birthmark on her leg checked out.  From what we've seen since she was born, it is nothing to worry about.  But, the red mark on her thigh has raised and Dr. Hagen doesn't want it  to get to a point where it bleeds and then it's too late to have anything done about it.  So, we got a referral and will go make sure it is OK to be on the safe side. All in all, it was a great appointment...Elena got 2 shots and did great just like she did last time.  They have made her sleepy this afternoon, so it has been quiet around here this afternoon!  I'm hoping to get the grass cut after while...we'll see if she can sleep that long ;)

 I am learning to hold that bottle up!

 Hungry girl with abuela

 I love, love, love my princess rubber ducky!

Another milestone this past weekend was our first Easter as a family.  Juan became a member of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil on Saturday night and Elena got to be baptized as well.  It was a beautiful night and one that we will never forget. Our families were there for the 3 hour service and we are just so grateful that everyone could come! 

 With all my aunties!

 My godfather, Jon, and my godmother, Erin

Deacon Bill and Rose...our teachers!

 My first Easter...mom couldn't get a smile out of me...these ears are serious business.

We just continue to inch closer and closer to summer vacation...just a few more weeks and it will be here!

4 Months Old!

Elena turned 4 months old yesterday!  I know I just keep on saying it, but time sure is flying by.  It seems that everyday now, Juan and I just look at each other and realize how much she has grown over the last few months.  She was just so little before and now she is getting her little baby fat rolls on her thighs that she just loves to have tickled!!  This past month has been just wonderful because Juan and I both had a chance to have a week off work to spend with Elena.  Neither one of us have anymore breaks until the end of the school year, so this month was particularly special having spring break.  Being able to "catch up" with our baby during the day was so much fun.  Made me long for those maternity days I had just a few short months ago...I am SO excited that the days are warmer because that just means that summer is on the way and we cannot wait!  Today, Elena surprised us by rolling over from her back to her stomach!  Neither Juan nor I saw it, but she was just playing with her toys on the floor and when I peeked in to check on her, she was on her belly grunting like she was doing something else...if you get my drift ;)  I couldn't believe she rolled over like that!  She has been going from her belly to back for some time now, but not the other way around.  It seems that she is learning new tricks everyday.  I also went out this morning to use up a gift card from Christmastime and bought Elena a Bumbo...she enjoyed sitting in it when I brought it home...I think it will be another great alternative for her instead of laying on the floor or in her swing/bouncer.  Since she is strong enough to hold her head up now with little to no support at all, this was a great buy. Elena goes to the doctor for her 4 month check-up and shots next Monday.  She did really great at her 2 month appointment, so I am hoping for the same this time.  As always, we will keep you posted on her results.  Lots of pictures to share from the last few weeks...she is our little sunshine smiling all the time and talking our ears off.  Happy 4 months, Elena!

 Chatting with Aunt Michelle

 Hangin' with Uncle Ross

 Aw man, it was a long day...

 Wrapped around daddy's finger.

 Havin' fun!

OK, OK take the picture, mom.

My new bumbo!!

What a Year!

One year ago yesterday...March 28, 2011...Juan and I found out we were going to become parents.  It has been the greatest blessing in the world to be parents to a beautiful and healthy baby girl.  She is the light of our lives now.  Everyday Juan and I just look at each other and marvel at her and how we could have possibly been so lucky to have this precious gift to enjoy each and every day.  I still remember feeling that I was going to have a boy and Juan always said we would have a girl first.  Well, he was obviously right and boy does Elena have him wrapped around her little finger!  I just feel so overwhelmed everyday with emotion as a new mother and what the future holds for our family.  It's a wonderful feeling, to be quite honest! It's amazing to think that just one year ago we were beginning on this journey of growing a healthy baby and here we are now trying to figure out if she's ready for cereal.  Time continues to fly so fast...I just hope I am stopping enough to enjoy all of the little things everyday...the smiles, giggles, cries, whines, kicks, rolls, dirty diapers, etc...all the reminders of how blessed we are to have Elena! She will turn 4 months old tomorrow...pictures from the last few weeks to come!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today is Elena's first St. Patrick's Day and it wouldn't be right if she didn't have a new onesie to celebrate the day!  I wasn't able to make it to the store yesterday to get her some shamrock accessories, so her green and pink ensemble will do!  This past week I was able to enjoy a nice long week off for spring break and it was absolutely wonderful.  The weather was just perfect which made me yearn for summer vacation even more.  Words cannot express how thankful I am that Juan is taking over the summer school job this summer so I can stay home with Elena.  It will be priceless time for sure.
Since I had this entire past week off, Elena and I just enjoyed our time together.  We just hung out on Monday at home doing some housework and then on Tuesday, she had her doctor's appointment to check on that healthy heart of hers.  We were also fortunate enough to make a mid-week trip up to St. Louis to visit grandma and grandpa.  We also got to have lunch with great grandma and great grandpa. Elena even stopped in to visit her grandma at work at the dentist office.  Everyone was so happy to see her in person since all they ever get to see is pictures!  It was really great spending some extra time with some of Elena's favorite people.  She even got to go for a walk outside with grandpa while she fell asleep on Tuesday night.  Thursday was our cleaning day here at home and Elena slept well so I was able to get a few things deep cleaned...like the tubs and toilets...I HATE CLEANING TUBS!!  They wear me out...too much work!! Ha! On Friday, Elena met her new friend Wyatt.  Jessica, another reading teacher from Jefferson City, was due with her baby the same day as Elena.  We enjoyed our pregnancy together!  Wyatt was born just a few days before Elena.  He came over yesterday and we played for a few hours.  He is a big boy!!  Their picture together is priceless!!  We can't wait to get together more over summer vacation.
Now we are enjoying our last weekend before "normalcy" kicks in again!  I have a feeling these next few months are going to fly by for us.  I'm not complaining...summer is on the way!

 Hi grandpa!

 Tummy time with Uncle Bob

 Rocking with grandpa

 Sitting up very well!

 Tummy time is easy with lots to look at!

 My new friend, Wyatt!  He and I were supposed to be born the same day!

 But, he decided to come a few days before me.

 Sleeping upside-down on the couch.

 Lovely!

 I'm ready to PARTY!!

Elena is 15 weeks old!

 Still loving my books!

 I'm getting good at this now!  And look...no crying!

 Praying. ;)

 OK, maybe just sleeping ;)

 Mom needs to learn how to take a picture without the shadow in the way!!

 Wish this hat would fit when it's Cardinal's opening day!

Hi!

Yes, we even got our broom to stand up on it's own ;)

All is Good!!

Today, Elena had an appointment with the pediatric cardiologist to have her heart murmur checked on.  She was born with it, then it went away, and last month at her well baby check-up, it was back.  Since it wasn't consistent, Dr. Hagan wanted to have her heart checked just to make sure there was nothing wrong.  We are happy to say that Elena's heart is just fine and she is perfectly well.  Her cold is finally starting to go away too, so that is great news.  I think being home this week on Spring Break is going to help her get rid of those nasty germs.  The windows are open and the wind is blowing out all that winter air stuck in the house!  We will go back for Elena's 4 month check up in April.  I can't believe the time is flying by so quickly!  Before we know it, we'll be spending our afternoons out on the patio in the pool...gives me butterflies just thinking about it!!  Lots of pictures over the last few weeks...I will post them another day!!