AVA'S 2ND BIRTHDAY

7 years ago I started working for Autism Solutions for kids and 7 years ago I met a pretty amazing women. My BOSS! Ha. Who says their boss is amazing? I did. I met Bridgette Brooks who was my supervisor. A very business oriented women who had lots of boundaries at work :) Who would have known that I would even become friends with her. Ervin and Ethan (Bridgette's husband) started working together and set up this double date that I was horrified to go on. "I can't go on a double date with Bridgette Brooks" ,"What will we even talk about?" Who would have known the most awkward date would have turned into a lifetime of friendship.  From that day forward we were inseparable. Bridgette still kept her boundaries at work (super hard for me) but once we clocked out that's where the fun began! Bridgette and Ethan were our first Married Christian friends. We started going to church with them. Ervin and I were still really new into our relationship, it was really nice to have a couple guide us and support us. We were always together and shared so many fun memories.Years into our friendship I became pregnant with Niah and Bridgette became the first friend I told, even though I was so nervous to tell her. Like always she supported me, but only a month into my pregnancy she stopped working for Autism Solutions and moved to Burbank. I moved to Rancho Cucamonga. We were no longer minutes from each other which made us lose touch (not a good excuse but a true one). She missed out on my pregnancy with Syniah and experiencing me being a Mama to not one but two babies and along that way she had a baby of her own. I missed out on her joys of mama-hood. We definitely lost out on a few years of each others life.......I think some of the most important years and it makes me sad. I keep thinking only if I had called her more but it is what it is and now we just have a few years to make up.

Which brings us to this.......................

OUR THREE LITTLE GIRLS

Leilah Faith, Syniah Grace, and Ava Grace  (Great middle names huh?) They say great minds think alike :)

When Bridgette invited us to Ava's birthday party I couldn't pass this up and so glad I didn't.

The girls met and seriously.........Instantly they started hugging and became best friends. I think their encounter could only really be seen and not explained. It was so cute. It was as though they knew each other their whole life.

Ava is such a beautiful little girl. So lovable!

It was so special to see Ethan and Bridgette's love for their daughter

We got me meet Sweet Bella (Bridgette's Niece).

Eat lots and lots of candy

Share some good memories

Sing Happy Birthday to little Miss Ava

Watch these girls friendship grow in a matter of hours

They got to meet my Leilah Faith

 We got to see and talk to the amazing Shay

Dada had fun

but most importantly I got my friend back.

We had so much fun and so much to catch up on we couldn't leave. We all hung out till almost 2 in the morning. The girls were still on a sugar high and it gave us a chance to catch up and do what we do best DRINK WINE. Check out this crazy after party! Looks a lot like the parties we use to have before kids took over.

THE AFTER PARTY

Today was a great day for me.We got a friendship back that we truly thought about often and missed. My girls gained a friendship that I hope they will always have. I thank God for putting the Brooks in our life many years ago. They were our mentors, our friends but more like family. This time we won't let them get away :)

4TH OF JULY 2011

4TH of July with the Navarro and German family was everything I had imagined it to be.

FOOD   FUN   LAUGHS   FESTIVE  KIDS  FIREWORKS

This was our first year that we didn't go to San Diego and watch fireworks off the pier. We wanted the girls to experience 4th of July with family and friends. I think it is special for Ervin to get light fireworks with the girls and share their excitement. So we tried something different this year and joined the Navarro and German's.........................

All the kids dressed up festive and looked super cute so we had to do a quick photo shoot of these cuties.

Ava's first 4th of July and she wasn't loving the feeling of grass.

 

So hard to get them all to look.

Leilah, John-Paul, Syniah, Trinity, Ava, Mariah and Luke

1 1/2 Year Luke

We can't pass up a good photo opportunity of these two Best friends.

She really does adore him. Can't you see their future prom pictures already??

These two are definitely Tanya and my Little Firecrackers

FOOD!! Lots and lots of food. Joe's Famous Ribs! Yum! We got happy kids oh and Stacey and Vanessa :)

My favorite picture of the evening. The loves of my life.

The kids take a break after dinner and relax.

The Germans with their first baby Mariah

My Sweet pea and I

Niah and Dada

He just loves his girls

Leilah being a little grumpy......whats new? :)

and the time we all been waiting for....................

Sitting down getting ready for fireworks!!!

The girls with Auntie Stacey

SPARKLERS....there is something about sparklers that had me freaked out the whole night. I think little kids with fire just don't mesh but I tried not to freak out and let my girls have a good time with them but inside I was freaking out!

The kids with Sparklers





Niah holding a sparkler for the first time.

Leilah holding a sparkler for the first time.

Dada enjoyed this time with the girls. I think men have more of an appreciation for fireworks as for me......I freak!

Two of the best Mama's I know.

The Navarro sisters and Calvin

Leilah loved watching the fireworks

But it wouldn't be Leilah if she didn't stop what she was doing to eat a little snack and enjoy the view

Niah, Trinity and Leilah watching the ending of the fireworks

I love this pic.

John was so funny to watch with the fireworks. I should have recorded him. He would dance around and do crazy movements.

What a great way to spend 4th of July with our favorite families. So thankful for the love and relationship we have with the Navarro and German families. The way they love and cherish my girls as if they were their own is something so special to me. I thank God for them everyday.

 

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY EVERYBODY!

Happy 1 1/2 Leilah Faith

It seams like just yesterday I was freaking out about being pregnant again. How can I be pregnant I already have a baby.........She just turned 1!!!  I had so many mixed emotions mainly just scared and worried about how I will love two babies. It was hard to except. I didn't tell many people until I was almost 5 months pregnant. I didn't know how people would except the fact that I was pregnant again when Syniah is barely celebrating her 1st birthday.  What the heck did I get myself into??!! My pregnancy was horrible I was always sick and gained so much more weight. I worked a lot and trying to balance an 8 hour shift  and have a 1 year old who I had to drop off at Kindercare everyday for 9 hours a day was so hard. Everything was chaotic. I always didn't want a boy. I couldn't imagine my life with a boy. I think life was already too hectic........I was always sick....... I think I was going a little crazy with emotions. Until I went to the doctors office to find out the sex of the baby...........................

It's a GIRL 

It instantly became a reality. I watched Syniah look at the screen of her baby sister and instantly I felt peace. I was going to be a Mama again, Niah is going to be a big sister and I get to have my dream of having little girls. Everybody excepted the pregnancy..........I never had anything to worry about. Now to prepare for this baby girl and prepare Niah to become a Big Sister. That was the easy part. I saved all Niah's baby things and Niah is a super affectionate, motherly, happy little girl that I think God was preparing her heart to be a Big Sister for a long time.

At 19 months old Niah took her role as a Big Sister very seriously

Leilah arrived into this world on January 2, 2010 7lbs 8oz with light skin and Asian eyes. Instantly all my worries and fears went away and we couldn't imagine life without her. She was a difficult baby. Had colic really bad and cried all the time. I prayed a lot. I prayed for patience and understanding. I think Leilah is one of the most beautiful babies I have ever seen (not because she is my daughter). I often wondered how can a baby so beautiful cry so much. God gave me peace and helped me to get through it. She has such a crazy and cute personality.  Leilah hates car rides. She doesn't like people very much. She is super attached to her Mama and Dada. She adores her sister. Loves Elmo, Minnie, Dora, Ariel, and Brobee. She loves to put on tutus and dance around. She cries for Nana when she walks out there door as if the whole world is ending (exactly how Niah does). She is warming up to Lady. She walks around with her blankie and chupie at all times. She loves to give dirty looks, but most of all...................... She LOVES to sing. We definitely have a singer on our hands. Niah is the dancer and Leilah is our singer. She can really hold a note. Ervin and I said that when she was born. She came out crying and Niah didn't. We said that's our singer. She really is.

I couldn't imagine life without are feisty little ladybug. She keeps us on our toes. I can't believe how fast time has gone by but I thank God for everyday he gives me with my Girls. I see the love Leilah has for Niah and how much she looks up to her and pray that never goes away. Today is Leilah's 1 1/2 year birthday and we have another party to plan (ugh!) but this has been the toughest yet most blessed and humbling 1 1/2 I have ever had. Leilah's middle name has been my motto this past year. FAITH. I couldn't have gotten through is all without it and I  wouldn't be complete without my FAITH and GRACE.

Best-friends

Thank you JESUS for LEILAH FAITH. HAPPY HALF BIRTHDAY. You make me smile.

                                                I love you to the Moon and Back
                                                                                           Mama