Good-bye 2010

I just don't know how I got here and still don't feel like an adult.

I feel like a kid trying to be an adult most of the time.

Like I'm running to try to catch up to all the other grown-ups

but they're always 10 steps ahead of me and I can't catch my breath.

Like I will never have a house that looks like  the Pottery Barn magazine,

at least one of my daughters will always have an all-out tantrum inclusive of at least 1 drama-fest

right when I'm trying to look like the mom who has it all pulled together,

like I will never have a home cooked dinner on the table every single night of the week...

like I still forget to buy milk for Syniah when that was my sole purpose of going to Target.

There will always be  a pile of laundry in the corner  for the rest of my life.

I used to get really weighed down by these things that I might never be...

This year has been quite a ride.

It's been emotional and things have happened that I would never of imagined.

I have been mad and hurt with  God at times but know that his love for me is unconditional.

Through all of it my Beautiful Leilah Faith was born and has grown into an amazing loving little girl who will be 1 year old in a few days.

Syniah has this personality that wins hearts over and over again.

I think I have done a great job as a Mom even though I have had those days where I feel as though I have failed them.

When I see past all the materialistic stuff and look into the inner-beauty of my daughters I know I have done something right.

This year I've learned to see beauty in the little things. I've learned that no matter how

crappy your surroundings and circumstances are, they are not nearly

as important as the people in your life that you love and who love you back, unconditionally.

I've learned that it's OK to not be all those things that I feel like I fall short on being.

I'm a good person. I try to be kind and loving. I try to give when I can and

I try to make those around me feel loved and important.

I've learned that that's what matters most.

A perfect home and laundry-less corners can kiss my ...

I've got 2 lively and lovely little girls, yes-- who scream every now and then,

but they matter most right now and everything will stay perfectly clean

when they're grown and gone...

I will continue trying to be the best Mom I can be and this coming year I know God has bigger and better plans for us. I realize that good things come to those who wait and I Can't wait for God to reveal those things to US. 

Most of all though, the most important thing that 

I've learned this year is that leaning on God can

get you through just about anything.

Bring it on 2011!

11 months/ Christmas pics

Dear Leilah,
We have officially hit that day where Mama begins counting the days  to your first birthday.  Maybe it’s ridiculous, but I have begun looking back on your newborn photos with an ache in my heart – I hear your first innocent cries in my ears, remember the feel of you sucking on my cheek as if you were giving me kisses but you were just telling me that you were hungry.   I catch myself yearning to get back your newborn days  & then I remember that eleven months later, life is even sweeter with you as I watch you grow into your own person and even sweeter as I watch you and Niah's relationship develop.
Leilah, I am so proud of you.  When I look at you, I can hardly believe that you are MY daughter & I simply want to shout to the world that at 27 years old, I have already achieved my greatest accomplishments. You and Niah have made me such a proud Mama. I love to take you both out & even though these days you two wish to be on your independent, it fills my heart  to know you still cling on to me a little more than Syniah, it reassures me that you still are my baby for a little while longer. I been so lucky to be home with you this year and watch you grow into such a loving baby.

This month you are

• Waving
• Crawling super fast
• Climbing on everything you possibly can
• Eating most solid food/ and jar food
• You are still a picky eater
• Copy everything Niah does
• Throwing yourself back when you get upset
• Clapping
• Waving
• lots of screaming
• started standing and balancing unassisted

You girls are growing like weeds! I Can't stop you. Makes me sad but also makes me excited to watch your relationship grow. I took you both to get Christmas pictures done and well here they are............

My Favorite

                            

I couldn't get these girls to behave they wouldn't cooperate and this picture says it all but I love it.

This is the best one we could get. Aren't their smile cute?

 Look at the camera and smile (Not so much!) Syniah kept running away.

Niah before she ran away. Leilah laughing at everything niah was doing wrong :)

Leilah with he sly smile............thinking about getting out of the box

 Trying to escape

Cute picture. Right before she threw the bulb :)



HAPPY 11 MONTHS LEILAH FAITH AND MERRY FIRST CHRISTMAS

This was a very rough and chaotic photo shoot but we got some great pictures that definitely shows both your personality and relationship.

It's getting a bit harder with an almost 1 year old and 2 year old but with all the headache and all the coffee I must drink to keep up with you two. I wouldn't change it for the world.

LOVE,

     MAMA

Going to meet Santa

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THIS IS THE MENDEZ GIRLS 2010 CHRISTMAS PHOTO

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Extra loving.

Leilah is tries really hard to keep up with Niah. She follows her around and jumps at any opprutunity to play with Niah's toys. Niah is not always the sharing type especially with Brobbie but this morning Niah was extra loving and decided not only to share her green monster but to teach Leilah how to kiss him as well. These girls are too much sometimes but they are my girls and they make me proud to be their Mama: )

Leilah's first Pancake

Leilah had her first pancakes this morning. Not just any pancakes but chocolate chip pancakes.

Her expression says it all!

Yummy!

Thank B-Bana for the Mini chocolate chip pancake specially made for these little hands :)

Silly girls

Never a dull moment being around the

Mendez babies..............................

Leilah watching Niah be very crazy!

Such a happy Leilah Faith!

"Get me MAMA"

Leilah really adores her sister just look at the look on her face

 Seriously maybe the funniest picture I have seen in awhile..........Niah's face.........Leilah's little hand!

"Cheese" not so much!

Niah not so happy anymore!

Poor Leilah. Always being wrestled by Niah.

This is their relationship and personality all summed up in one little video clip!

Starting to feel a lot like Christmas OR Hanukkah?

We started out the Christmas season this year by celebrating Hanukkah. Daylin is attending a Jewish school and is learning about all their rituals. So he shared with the girls in the lighting of the Menorah. This is all new to me because I didn't even know what the Menorah was for. Daylin didn't hesitate to fill us all in on why the Menorah was being lit. The girls all loved watching Dayin light the big colorful candles. They were SO EXCITED because they thought it was their birthday..............What party doesn't have big colorful candles? Daylin wasn't too happy about the girls reaction to Hanukkah .........especially when they were trying to blow out the candles and sing "Happy Birthday."

Check out Lexi trying to blow out the candles!

Daylin took the lighting ceremony very seriously.

The Girls........Not so much!

HAPPY HANUKKAH

NOW ON TO CHRISTMAS...................

We decided to get the kids together to take a Christmas picture. It was last minute and thrown together but we finally had them all under the same roof so we took advantage of the opportunity. This is how is started.............

Girls aren't look, Leilah is in a choke hold, and Daylin is photogenic and looking right at the camera.

We give them Lollipops and put them against a wall and Niah kept running away, Leilah is drooling all over, Lexi is interested in what flavor Daylin has, and Daylin is photogenic and looking right at the camera.

Then Auntie Ivana goes behind a wall and jumps out.............and this is what we got....

One of my most favorite pictures since I starting photography!

The girls and their lollipops with such sweet smiles and Daylin looking at the camera and photogenic as always!

HAPPY 11 MONTH BIRTHDAY LEILAH FAITH!

Daylin definitely has his hands FULL! The evening turned out great and we accomplished a few great photos through all the chaos.

Goodnight!