Last post of the month

As January comes to an end I can't help think I have 3 more months till I have my baby.  I wish April was next month!  There is so much to do and celebrate before the big day though.   January has become one of my favorite months out of the year now.  Fun celebrations take place such as New Years, Lulu's and Gabe's birthday and countless friends and families birthdays too.  To top it off, the weather is superb in Central Texas during the winter months.  We have very little days of extreme cold misery.  For the most part I like to compare our mild winter to Southern California's all year around weather.....perfect 70's\80's.....minus the beach smell and crisp air!   Our summer months are just cruel because not only do we have months of triple digits, but high humidity that is just a killer.  October is the month we all look forward to once we hit the month of May.   January is the month we look forward to for some rain and to pull out our nice scarves and boots just for a week or so until we have to switch to sandals and a light sweater ;)

Gabe is so low key when it comes to his birthdays that usually I do something special and make a big deal.  However, this year I took advantage of his low key attitude and just celebrated at home.  It has to be the pregnancy because I never back down on an opportunity to dress up and go out to eat without kids!!  As I predicted Gabe was happy go lucky when I told him I'm ordering pizzas for his birthday.  He came home to his happy girls and to some yummy yummy sweets my mom baked for him.  My mom perfected her cake pops for his birthday and they came out so good!   She also made him a lemon souffle, which hit the spot too.  It's no secret that Gabe loves 4 types of sweets:  Red Velvet, cake pops, anything with lemon, and his newest addiction- Petit Fours.

                                                      Lulu loves cake pops too!!!

The celebration continues.....

About two weeks before Lulu's birthday I asked Hannah whether Lulu would like to go to Build a Bear Factory or Chuck E Cheese.  Hannah's response-BOTH!   Of course Hannah would like to go to both- the last time she went to Chuck E Cheese was in Utah...over 2 years ago and she has never been to Build a Bear because she isn't into stuffed animals.  So, I decided to do both- Build a Bear on her actual birthday (which we didn't do because it was raining hard, we went the following day)  and Chuck E Cheese on Saturday so that her dad and grandparents could be there to celebrate too.  My sweet two year old had a blast at both places and I was so happy we did something special for her.  Her big smile just warms my heart and she is just a huge blessing in everyone's lives.  I love how she has her Abuelita and Papa (my parents) wrapped around her chubby little fiinger!  She is the queen at their house...my mom's spotless\non-kid friendly house and Lulu knows she can do what she wants! As every year that blows right on by I get excited for what is in stored for my kids, but sad about how quick they grow up.

Lots of fun pictures.....

                                                               At Build A Bear!!!!!

                                        My beautiful baby in a new outfit my mom bought her
                                                 

                                               Lulu loved the place but not Chuck E Cheese!

                                                            Hanging out with papa

                                                Yummy cupcakes my mom made :)

Birthday Celebration!

Jan 9 quickly snuck up on us this year!  However, we still made this day special for our birthday girl. Lulu must of known it was her day early this morning because she woke up before Hannah and Gabe left for school.  We were able to sing happy birthday to her and Hannah was so jazzed to give her a present she wrapped herself.  She digged through all her stuffed animals yesterday and found a small sheep and she figured Lulu hasn't seen it so she wrapped it up because she knows Lulu loves stuffed animals.  It was a cute morning and we were glad she woke up early to be serenaded :)  Shortly after Hannah left she found another hidden present that I planned to give to her later that evening, but her reaction was so cute...

Thank you cousin Mila & Christian for my elephant pillow....I Love it, especially when it sneezes!!

I was hoping the weather would lighten up and stop raining, but it didn't.  So unfortunately Hannah and I couldn't take her to Build a Bear.  We were bummed because as mentioned before she loves stuffed animals and we knew she would have been on cloud 9 enjoying a new experience with stuffed animals!  The evening still ended with great memories and great gifts....

                                                            An adorable cake my mom made

                                      Yup, that's underwear!! Now she doesn't have to wear her sister's!

   

                                               She likes them on her head instead of her bottom

                                                          Liking her new wheels!

2013

Once again we ended the year with lots of fun, laughter and fireworks!  As the girls get older it is so much easier to travel for a long period of time.  I love how the cousins are just a year apart because they play so well.  Lucia and I had some alone time shopping and taking advantage of after Christmas sales.  Gabe had a blast catching up on some movies and of course blowing up some fireworks with Stewart!!

I am so glad 2012 ended as I anticipate a great year ahead.  There is always good and bad in each year, but 2013 will definitely have more GOOD than bad.  SO much to celebrate.....I'm having a baby!!!!!!  Then to top it off, we are celebrating 10 years of marriage.   After the birth of my baby, each day will be a great day because they grow so fast during the first 12 months.   So much to look forward each day as a little baby explores,learns, and overcomes milestones.  I feel 2013 is our year for joy, peace and just fabulousness :0)

I love how we have spent the last two years with my sister in law in Louisiana for New Years eve. Celebrating a new year with laughter, good company, and fireworks can not get any better.  This time all the kids stayed around even though the fireworks were super loud.  All four kids wanted a piece of the action.