Happy 2nd Birthday My Syniah Grace

To my baby girl, Syniah, on her 2nd birthday.

On August 24th, 2008, I found out news that would change my life forever for the better. I found out I was pregnant with you, my sweet little Syniah. I didn't know you were a girl, but oh my gosh was I thrilled to hold you in my belly. I loved feeling you grow. I would sit there watching tv or driving and I would just hold my hand over my belly. I would listen to music in the car and you would move as if you were already dancing in my belly. With every kick and roll and tickle, I grew more and more in love with the little person growing inside. You were a stubborn one even then. Every time your dada came to feel you kick you would suddenly stop kicking. I knew when I went for my ultrasound to find out if you were going to be a boy or a girl and you hide your face, that you were going to do things your way. You weren't going to be pressured into doing anything you weren't fully ready for. And that was true from that moment on... even still now. I expected you to come early and I thought I would never be ready. But you weren't ready quite yet. When we went for our last doctors visit on a Monday Dr. Be told us you were breech. He told us if we were ready to have a baby that weekend. I was scared. I knew you were coming but the thought of becoming a mama that weekend made me nervous. I had to have a C-section. I was scared but more anxious to meet you, to see how you look but most of all just to hold you and bring you home. I can still hear you Dada saying "here she comes sweets.... i see her feet." As you were pulled out at 10:11am on April 13th, 2008 he then was in awe of the fact that you came out with so much hair. "Sweets she has lots of hair!" You didn't cry right away. You were very calm. It wasn't until a couple minutes later that I heard your cry. That is the moment it that is became real "I have a Daughter." With your head of dark hair and your , dark brown eyes and light skin. You were absolutely perfect. Nothing about your birth was ordinary and absolutely nothing about you is ordinary. You are everything I have always longed for in a daughter. Big beautiful brown eyes, chubby kissable cheeks, soft brown curls, a little wild but cuddly and sweet, super funny, sensitive and loving and so, so smart. Not only smart, feisty as well. I love that about you. You have amazed us so much every single day with the progress you've made in your little life. I can't get over how many people love you so deeply and how many people you love back. You have this way of brightening any room that you enter. your truly have and amazing personality.

This year you did so many new things that it's hard to keep track:

~You began to walk at 15 months

~ You Attended Kindercare where you learned so much and made lots of crafts and learn lots of songs.

~You were a bumble-bee for Halloween

~You inherited a love of Disneyland because we got season passes on your 1st birthday and you love Minnie Mouse.

~You gained and immediately loved your new baby sister Leilah and best friend for life. You call her "Yeah-Ya" and are very nurturing and loving towards her but don't always enjoy her crying and tend to tell her " Yea-Ya NO MORE CRY." You are always trying to give her a pacifier and tend to her needs. You are a great Big Sister. I want nothing more than for you girls to form a lifelong bond that nothing can ever break.

~You loved your baby dolls so much. You never were without at least 2 dolls at a time. You're such a little momma.

~You love watching Mickey Mouse Club House, Dora the Explorer, Yo Gabba Gabba, Barney and you had a short Wiggles and Elmo Phase.

~ You have this love for Music and Dancing. You love to dance around and you have such cute Rhythm

~ You started Gymnastics this year and love it but you are still working on listening and waiting your turn.

~ Your favorite Phrase "Dada....Dada.... RAWWWWWWWWRRRRRRRR"

There are a TON of things you have done this year and learned. You have made your Dada and I very proud. We are so proud to have a daughter that has such a big heart and makes of smile and drives us crazy all at the same time. And so now, on your 2nd birthday, I want to tell you that I will always be here for you, when you want to read a book or cuddle. Or when you fall and get an OUCH. When you wake up at 3AM crying because you "Want MAMA." I will always hold you and keep you close to me. But I will also try to let you go and discover the big world around you, I know you need that. As you experience and live your little life, please always know, I am your BIGGEST fan. I want everything in this world that's good and kind for you. You, my love, are the one that made all my dreams come true. You made me a MOM. I still can't believe sometimes when I look at you that you are my daughter. I am the mom of a daughter. I can never thank you enough for that. I am forever grateful. You are so special. Don't you ever forget that.

Always and Forever, Mama

Luke's Baptism

Today was Luke's Baptism and our first real time taking Leilah out. It was a misson to get out of the house with both girls but we made it just on time. I love Baptisms. There is something about the ceremonies that are so much more meaningful than christian dedications. So I did enjoy it. The girls were good. We were able to get Leilah and Luke to lake a picture together.

Aren't they cute? 8 Days apart.

The Kiddies at church

Little photoshoot of my Girls

  Turned out to be a great one! Look at this smile!

 and these little toes............

and that little tougne

But this one is my favorite...............My sweet Leilah Faith

Can't forget Big Sister

And these little toes

These sweet kisses

Love you Sister

 These girls melt my heart...........

 What a great day!

Leilah Faith is here!

We woke up about 4 am in the morning. All the bags were packed. Syniah was sleeping and we were waiting for Nana to come and take over so we could go to the hospital. I had so many emotions running though my head. I was excited that we would meet out baby, scared of the surgery, sad that Niah would have to grow up a little faster taking on her new role as a big sister, anxious to see what Leilah would look like, nervous for the recovery, depressed that I would be away from Niah for 3 days, and most of all in disbelief that this was really happening..............We we having another baby!

 Syniah woke up right before we left. I got to cuddle her a bit and kiss her. I got to reassure her that I will see her later and let her know that she will meet Leilah today. Nana got to the apartment and I went over all the last minute details. Showing her where everything was in Niah's luggage and going over Niah's outfit that she would wear to meet her new sister in. I kissed them both then Dada and I were on our way to St. Joseph hospital to have Leilah! I teared up a little. I had never been away from Syniah and I didn't want her thinking I abandoned her. She is just so small still and I know she is smart but can't understand everything that is going on. She had no idea how her life would change in a matter of hours. How she went from the center of our world to having to share it. We drove into the parking garage and it brought back all the memories from just 19 months ago. We were just there 19 months ago. Who would have known we would be back so soon. We walked through the halls and knew exactly where to go. Checked in and I was already shaking. It's as if I was really cold but really just nerves. i put on my gown. I continued to shake. My stomach had been tightening up all morning and as I was hooked up to the fetal monitor the nurse told me I was having contraction. I had no idea because I never knew what a contraction felt like since Niah was a planned Cesarean as well.   My IV was put in and then we just waited for Dr. Bewhile watching Full House (same thing we did when we were waiting for Dr. Be the day Niah was born).........................

The nurse came and told me it was time. I kissed Ervin and walked me out to the surgery room. I started shaking. Tears started coming down my eyes. I was scared. I sat on the operating table bare back with my gown open. Seamed like forever until the anesthesiologist came in. He explained everything and I started crying but also started feeling really sick. He gave me the spinal. As I was told to lay back I started gagging and felt so dizzy. Ervin came in and all the nurses and Doctor Be walked in. It was time........................

It all felt so familiar............I had been there before. In that same room. Same Doctor. Same shaky feeling. As they were cutting me open tears rolled down my face. Ervin explained to me everything that was going on. They pulled her out and it was as if they pulled out Syniah's identical twin. 8:57am

                       LEILAH                                  

 SYNIAH

7lbs 9oz  20inch long

Niah's comes to see Leilah for the first time it's official she is a BIG SISTER

I was afraid of how she would react. Would she feel replaced? Would she like her? 

I shouldn't have been. She was perfect with her. A little shy but curious.

She held her and she touched her eyes, and her nose, her mouth and her hair.

First kiss to Baby Sister

Niah's first time holding Leilah

Our sweet Leilah Faith

It's funny thinking back at how I thought I wouldn't love her enough.

Instead of not having enough love to go around, she made my heart even bigger,
stretched it right out and found a little nook in there that was all her own.
There was more than enough love to go around.

I learned that from Leilah.

SHE IS COMING SOON..............

ANYDAY NOW............................

2ND ANNUAL CHRISTMAS EXCHANGE

This year The Pinedo's hosted the 2ND annual baby gift exchange in their new house. They made Yummy Posole and the babies played. This year they all kind of had a love hate relationship for each other. One minute they were playing and the next minute somebody was taking someones toy away or pushing. It wasn't as easy getting them to pose for pictures and be as happy and giggly as last year. Regardless it was a fun time and Niah got some great gifts. It's so nice to share these kind of memories with close friends. It's so fun to watch our kids grow up together. Niah is such a lucky girl to have so many people love her. I thank God everyday for the tight knit friends I have. They are more than friends but our family.

Lily, Lil Anthony, and NIah opening their presents.

The Gang....And Niah is not too happy to have to share..... It was harder this year to get the Monkeys to smile and look at the camera.

The girl and our babies. All there girls 1 years old and Lil Anthony just turned 2! Leilah in my belly (Her Scheduled c-section date is Jan 2... A few more days!"