Settling Down

Life feels like the calm right before a storm right now. Don't get me wrong, life is as crazy as I can possibly imagine it but I think that we are finally settling into a routine which is nice.

I love my mornings now, John takes Isabella to Mimi's in the morning and Genesis to pre-school or to Mimi's depending on her schedule. When Gen has school I love dressing her in the morning and brushing her beautiful hair. She is the sweetest little lady.

I also have the awesome chance to sleep in about another hour (Tyler doesn't start school until 9:15) and then spend alone time with Tyler. That alone time is so very special to me because these days it seems that he is growing and maturing by the fricken minute!! He is such a little man. I guess Kindergarten is really doing it's thing. I don't know whether to enjoy it, or cry about it. I guess I do my fair share of a little bit of both.

In the evenings it is quite the marathon. We leave work and John picks up the girls, then I pick up Tyler and we meet at home. Then the real fun begins, ha. Some play time for the big ones, dinner, baths, bed time stories, tuck them in bed, get everything ready for the next day, make lunch and snack for Tyler, put in a load of laundry pick up the house, and read through the stack of papers Tyler's school sends home every night. WHEW!! After all this then it is finally time to relax.

John and I then hang out for a while. We watch the shows that we have DVR'd (that thing is a life and time saver, even the kids say fast forward when a commercial comes on now). We just have some alone time and bonding time. It's the best.

The kids are great, as are John and I. We are really enjoying our special times and know just how valuable it is. Our marriage is in a good groove right now; has been for the past like 8 months. Just having a great time. I love sleeping with and waking up to the love of my life and best friend.

Then we do it all over again. And again. And again. And I wouldn't change a thing. God has Blessed me with a great family. How great of Him to entrust three of His precious gifts to us.

Bella's Baby Bullets

Time is going sooo fast!

• Isabella will be 8 months old in just 6 days.


• Say "give me five" and you shall receive.


• She now has 2 baby teeth on her bottom gums that are just adorable.


• I think she is teething and so she is a bit grumpy. Poor baby girl.


• She waves bye bye!


• Her smiles come in abundance. She is smiling from the time she wakes up until the time she goes to sleep!


• Isabella finally mutters mamamama. Seems like she has been saying dadadada forever so this is sooo great to hear!


• Still throws the sweetest kisses ever.


• Madly in love with her daddy in every way.


• Her next hip appointment which I am dreading is on 08/07.


• She gives the greatest baby cuddle sessions.


• Her diet now consists of roasted organic squash puree, smashed bananas, organic rice cereal and organic oatmeal. Her brother and sister looooved avocados, but her not so much! I have tried a couple of times, but she isn't keen on it at all. Too bad, they are just packed with great nutrients for growing babies.


• Pretty soon is when all the fun begins as she is starting to be more and more mobile. She scoots her cute little body to wherever she wants to get. She is very determined. I think she will be crawling in the next few weeks.
• Her favorite toys are my cell phone and the TV remote, what a gal ;).

Just an Update

Long time no write!!! I have been slammed at work and the home life has been so hectic with Genesis now in Pre School and Tyler in Kindergarten. We did however survive the first week of both. In the midst of that I even had a birthday! (it was the 14th). So all in all we are doing well.

His first week of school Tyler was "Hedgehog of the Week" (that is their mascot) , and we couldn't be prouder. He is pretty excited to be line leader this week!

Genesis is doing better at preschool but the mornings are rough for her which is so heart breaking. I was thrilled to bring her in to work with me yesterday on her day off though. She was a cute little helper and on her best behavior. I just got word that she was "Child of the Day" at school today!! Wow, she is giving Tyler a run for his money! They make me so proud and happy!

I will post some pics soon of each of their first days of school soon, but here are some of Tyler's preschool graduation. He was quite the little man.

A Letter To My Son

My Dearest Tyler,

You had a 5th birthday on 6/18 and I don't know where the time has gone. I am so sorry for the delay in writing this to you but every time I tried I couldn't bring myself to it. It is almost like my little boy is all grown up and I am not ready to face that just yet. Ready or not, here I go though.

Tyler, you are simply the kindest hearted child I know. You love all living things, even nasty bugs and spiders. You cry at the SPCA commercials, whenever those come on I have to run and change the channel!! Animals are your life. You beg for a doggie and I cannot wait until your Dad and I have the time to go on that adventure with you but I already know how important and lucky that dog will be. One day soon little man I promise.

Have I told you how smart you are? You teach Genesis everything, what am I saying, you teach all of us! You know all these big words, your speech is completely crazy it is that good!! When you ask us something and we don't know the answer you insist that we "Google" it right away,(you can be pretty demanding)! You love all books and being read to, and no joke, you make us read to you from the encyclopedia! Do you have any idea how boring those are? Nope you sure don't!

You are in love with dinosaurs too. Yes you correct me all the time when I pronounce those God awful names incorrectly! You know where these guys lived, what they eat, how big they were, truly amazing Tyler. You tell us that when you grow up you want to be an animal dentist or a dinosaur scientist. How you think of these things I will never know, but I hope that you grab on to those dreams and never let go!

You take such good care of your toys. You must have like 500+ animals and dinosaurs, which you class accordingly and never mix. Your style of playing is quite genius. Daddy says you got it from him, but I think you are leaps and bounds ahead of him already!! Ha.

The "Earf" as you says is special to you too. You want to take care of the "Earth" you say. No littering at all!! You love globes and want to know where everything is located on Earth. Pretty soon you will be teaching me everything because your mind at your tiny age is really wise beyond its years. I often wonder if I can keep up.

Your kindness extends to people. No one can be sick around you, it breaks your heart. You want everyone happy and healthy and will not have it any other way. If I have a simple headache I can't tell you because you worry way too much sweetie pie.

You are a great big brother too. Wow did your sisters ever luck out having you as an older brother. Sure you fight with Genesis but for the most part you take care of her, show her the way, and play with her even when you don't want to. Trust me you are getting to the point where you want "alone time" as you call it, and you get maybe 5 minutes if you are lucky, but you know what, you get over it really quick, you just suck it up. That isn't fair to you either but when I pull Gen away and she cries, you give right in. You are so good to her. You even saved her life once already. THANK YOU Tyler!

Preschool is all right with you. You love to go now and have a lot of friends. You had about 24 kids at your birthday party. Are you already popular? I didn't think I had to worry about that yet either. One of the moms at the party told me that Kate talks about you all the time and couldn't wait to come to your party, OH OH! Another little girl told your Daddy that she wore a shirt with a horse on it because you liked horses. I guess I am in for it aren't I?

Now, you are hard headed as all get out! Oh man you have some lip on you baby boy. I love it though. When you give it to me, I have to reprimand you, but you know what, a lot of the time, you are RIGHT! Yes parents make mistakes too Ty, but you are something else. You want to work with animals but you would make a heck of a lawyer!!!

Your sweetness can turn to incredible frustration at the blink of an eye. You can push our buttons without intention to a boiling point. You are so strong willed that you can only see things one way, yours! My goal is to tame that characteristic but not to take it away, for one I couldn't do that if I tried, but most importantly, it can be the thing that makes you very successful. You push, prod, and succeed with great determination. I have to learn to cultivate this into a positive thing for you. Really, little by little your rants and rages have gotten so much better, so I would say we are on the right track.

We are a pretty good team Tyler Jon Lara, sometimes I cant get through to you but I am learning every day just how to do it and nothing can take away our special bond that is definitely there; even if it isn't as seemingly obvious as the one you have with your Daddy. Your Daddy is your hero. He is your best pal. You respect him and look up to him tremendously. I wish that this never changes through the years ahead.

I will never forget that pregnancy test, it was positive FINALLY (I am pretty fertile now, but you were quite the process) I dropped to my knees and I can still feel that overwhelming happiness in the depth of my heart. Being pregnant with you was so special. Then you were here. This perfect bundle of love that I would die for in an instance. I held you, smelled you, took you in, stared at you, and instantly loved you without limits or borders unconditionally. Some things never change though.

You are so big and handsome now Tyler, but you will always be my first baby. My only son. A big piece of my heart is yours forever. I will always hold you, stare at you, comfort you, love you, smell you, touch you. You will always be my baby even when you are a grown man. I hope you can put up with that.

It is so hard to imagine that we just attended your preschool graduation and you are starting Kindergarten on the 14th. I just cant keep up with all the changes. I wish I can just freeze time and hold on to you a little longer. Time is going that fast.

These past 5 years have been an honor. It has been amazing to watch you grow, mature, play, develop and learn. It has been quite the ride. I never want to get off. I thank you for the meaning you give to my life , the love you put in my heart and the song in my soul. You are incredible. God really blessed me with a precious precious gift.

Daddy, you and I (and the TV show "Friends") have an inside joke.........I wonder if you ever read this if you will remember but ..... "I am going to love you so much no woman will ever be good enough for you"

I love you Tyler Jon Lara, more than you will ever know......
Your Mommy,
Veronica

Tylers 5th Bday Pics