Happy 3rd Birthday to our Bri'elle

Our lil big girl turned 3 on 12/10. Time really goes by fast. I think this is a repeated saying by those who watch their kids or other kids grow up.

This past year Bri'elle you have grown up so much. You have learned so many different things. Most importantly you learned how to give love to someone you didn't know and you really didn't have time to get to know. Sisterly bond is one that I cannot describe but watching the way you treat your little sister and how protective you can be over her makes me so proud of you. You seem to amaze us every day. May God continue to guide you and bless you.

We love you - mom & dad

I will post a separate post about her Peter Pan Party off to Never Never Land

Big Sister in Training: The new baby

It was love at first sight when Bri'elle got to meet her baby sister.

I have never seen anyones eyes light up the way Bri'elles did when she saw her. 

She totally understood...Mommy has no belly...sister is here!

Bri'elle was so excited to hold her. She just stared at her with awe and amazement. 

Bri'elle came to visit us at the hospital about 8 hours after I delivered which was the early afternoon. I was missing her so much and wanted our family to be together. It was so much fun to spend time with her. My mom left to grab something to eat with my sister so we can have some family time with her. Jay put on a movie on his laptop and we all sat in the bed and watched the movie together, as a family of 4. We wouldn't get to all be together until the next day when we were to go home. Until then my sweet little Bri'elle. It was so hard to let her go home but I knew the day and night would quickly go by, and that it did. 

My mom took Bri'elle home to wait for us about an hour before we arrived. She cleaned the house and kept Bri'elle occupied. When we walked through the door the first thing Bri'elle asked for was her sissy. It was so cute. I wondered if she would soon realize sissy is here to stay. She was so excited as soon as we set the carseat down she began to "share" with her by placing her toys on Jalilah's lap. It was super cute. I couldn't get a decent picture because Bri'elle was too excited to sit still. 

Sine then these two have been inseparable. Bri'elle always wants to help feed her or hold her. We gave Bri'elle the job to throw the diapers away. Also she helps us bath her by washing her arms, legs, and belly. It's actually nice to have her help with different things. It always makes me smile. Now on another note, we didn't have too much trouble with Bri'elle. She did have a hard time listening for the first couple weeks. She knew I was preoccupied and I would have to tell her to do something twice sometimes even three times. She has gotten a little better and I have realized its normal for a kid her age. They are discovering so much at this age and beginning to talk and make sense. I have learned to take a deep breath, release, and start over. Being 2 months into having a little sister she is much much better. We don't really have any issues. She does have her days but there the usual up and down days, who doesn't have those? 

I couldn't be any happier at the moment.

To my sweet Bri'elle: You are growing up so fast. I'm having to treasure each moment more and more. You are a great big sister and can only pray you will continue to be one. Remember, your little sister is littler than you so you always have to look out for her and protect her. Your job from now on is to teach her things that you know. She will learn so much from you. She already looks up to you. I will let you know now, she will get on your nerves and at times you might not want to play with her but always love her and know she does it because she loves you. God has blessed our family so much and we need to always be thankful for what we have. You will be a good teacher and leader of the Lord. Mommy and daddy love you so much our sweet Bri'elle.

Pictures of Labor & Delivery

Not exactly pictures of Labor & Delivery but just about. Here are some pictures of the day of our journey to the hospital, and at the hospital.

Big Sister in Training: First Day of Preschool

Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of Bri'elles first day at preschool because daddy was in charge of it and hasn't sent them to me yet. Grrr! lol. 


Bri'elle has been in Preschool since early January. She has been doing extremely well. At first she would get a little upset but then when we would go to pick her up she would cry. Jay's sister Shelly would take her and pick her up since I wasn't able to drive. In February Bri'elle started to play sick or deathly scream when Shelly would show up to take her. We were starting to worry why she would do this. She would tell us she didn't want to go to school. It boggled us especially since she was only going one day a week. Come on Bri'elle it's only one day. 


We decided to put her in preschool to get her more socially active with other kids. She is a social butterfly and we wanted to help her learn by putting her in a preschool setting. Plus, our preschool prepares them for Kindergarten at the age of 2! She is learning how to spell her name and all kinds of other things. The preschool is also Christian based so she does teach the kids at the different holidays about Jesus which is nice since none of that is allowed in our public schools. 


Starting in March Bri'elle goes to school twice a week and my what a difference it has made. She loves going to school and has even made some friends. Now I take her to and from school. Oh boy does it take me so long to get her out of that place. She wants to show me everything or she is busy telling everyone bye for the third and fourth time. 


Bri'elle: Mommy and daddy are so proud of you. You are turning into such a big girl! You crack us up with the different sayings you have started to pick up and the question phase... What's that? What are you doing? Where are we going? What's his/her name? etc. It is so cute and I'm glad you are learning how to explore. You have been asking for Disneyland ALOT lately, okay that is an understatement. You will say it everyday. "Mommy go disneyland?" "Can we go disneyland?" "Let's go to disneyland". So we are taking you to Disneyland sometime this year. Daddy wants to go sometime during your birthday/Christmas but I think we should go sooner since you are extremely interested. Maybe Halloween. We shall see. Lately your obsession has been "lipstick" which is chapstick or little lip gloss. You will sit on the top of the toilet putting your lipstick on while I get ready. It makes me feel so good to have you there watching me get ready. You will sometimes ask for me to put some blush on your or mascara. And it amazes me that you actually know where to put the different makeup at. That's my girl! Every night for dinner you will lead the prayer. It's so cute! Sometimes you will pray over and over. "Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for food, family, friends...and whatever else you thank him for. I love you Jesus and then you yell AAAA-MEN!!!! It makes me and daddy feel so good to see that  you have picked it up to do on your own by our example when we pray for dinner. We do have the Lord to thank for that. Oh one other thing, you will point out letters everywhere we go and say ABCDEFG. You know that they are part of the alphabet and will say look ABCDEFG. It's so funny. Lately we have been trying to get you to tell us the particular letters that you are seeing so we need to work on that with you some more. You are such a smart explorer. These last few months since turning two have definitely been your learning period and you are soaking it all up. I love you my dear!!!!


I will do a BRI'ELLE post on all her likes/dislikes and more new things soon with some pictures of what she has been up to lately.

Big Sister in Training: The Great Outdoors

February posting:
 Lately I've felt bad amount doing things with Bri'elle since I haven't been able to do much the last 7 months especially during the months of Sept-Nov. At my last few appointments the doctor said that there is very little concern for my tear and diagnosis but still to be careful. I don't have to be as careful. Well, I decided I'm going to dwell in the moments I have with Bri'elle to a certain extent. 


It has been extremely nice the fast few weeks on and off. On the nice days, I've been taking her outside. We live in a condo so we don't have a front/back yard only a patio which is actually a good size. Currently Jay is working on a project so it is being occupied. But within the complex's there is a really good size grass area near the pool and clubhouse. It is only a door down from our complex. I got the blanket, some snacks, my homework, and headed out there. Bri'elle loves it especially since most days she is cooped up with me in the house doing the same thing we do everyday because I'm not able to drive or lift/carry anything at the moment. I try to change it up a bit but I'm still limited. Most of the time I think of a really good idea or project but it has to be in advance so Jay can get me the supplies if we don't have it. 


Bri'elle: You absolutely love being outside!!!! You will go and pick me flowers, find ladybugs, run up and down the little hill, collect sticks, pick at the bark on the tree, and run through the leaves if there is any. You have been very tempted by the pool and I'm glad it is gated. You ask me every time were out there to go swimming. If my keys are laying on the blanket you will grab them and try to unlock the pool door not knowing they are only for our front door. It is so cute! It will be fun to take you swimming in the summer. We are sending you to swim lessons at the college. This will be great for you. You have been interested in the water since being a baby and swimming in the pool at grammy and pappy's house. Auntie Haley teaches there so I'm crossing my fingers she will be your teacher.

This will be a fun year for you!!!!

She loves to find lady bugs

running down the hill

next favorite thing is picking flowers for momma

Moms pad outside - camera, phone, homework, and other goodies

sliding down the hill into the leaves

she now likes to collect sticks

A Day out For BOTH of my Girls

February 4th, 2012:

Mommy was feeling pretty rested up today and just in a good mood. I went with daddy and big sister to run some errands. My first store trip since being pregnant with you....BABIES R US!!!!

I was so excited to go in. And really wanted to. I haven't been able to feel that anticipation when being in a store and walking by the baby stuff so I really wanted that chance. Plus, we needed to add some things to the registry. Daddy loves picking out stuff for you girls, I think he was more excited than mommy. We went to the nurseries to check out the bedding in person we picked out for you. And we fell more in love. It goes so well with the one we picked out for Bri'elle and is just so cute. I can't wait to set it all up for you. It was a great day gearing up for you as daddy, me, and Bri'elle prepare for you more and more, today was a family outing for you. Big sister even got to pick some stuff out for you, there was a piglet doll she had to hold while we shopped bc she wanted it for you. It was so precious. We are ecstaticly waiting for your arrival that will be here before we know it. You are already so loved :) 

After our shopping date we headed over to Benihanas for dinner. This is one of our favorite places to eat and I highly recommend it. You get to sit around the grill top were the chef cooks your dinner and puts on a little show. AND they have the best fried rice, YUM! It's nice for the little ones because their menu turns into a chef's hat. Bri'elle LOVES to cook so it was perfect for her. She even pretended she was cooking us dinner along side the chef. It was so cute. We definitely have a cooker in the family. Dinner was delicious as usual. Jay and I order one of the bigger platters and share it amongst the three of us, great way to save on money. We order Bri'elle her own little drink and if one of us is craving a certain kind of drink we order one and share it (most of the time its unlimited refills) while the other one of us will order water. So that way we have pretty much everything but for a cheaper price. To top it off our dinner comes with a dessert so we share that too. Couldn't be better right?!? Oh while we were there we signed up for the special where if you go on your birthday your meal is free! Looks like we will be going back at least for ONE of our birthdays. 

Today was a good day out and even though Jalilah is still in womb it was nice to spend the day full of things for our girls.

Big Sister in Training: Back on Schedule

We finally have a routine!!!! Since moving in and being so caught up in everything we were able to get back on track. It was important to us that we get Bri'elle on a routine quickly since she was also starting preschool. It is also nice because now the hubby and I have some time at night to spend with each other rather than all three of us going to bed at the same time. 


Ms. Bri'elle - you are so stubborn when it comes to sleep and getting back on track. You LOVE your sleep!!! You are not a morning person unless it is on your time. You are definitely a night person like your mamma. You can stay up for hours even if it is waaayyyy past your bedtime. It's like it doesn't phase you. And you get more energy the longer you stay up. When you do go to sleep you can sleep for hours and I mean hours. You can sleep about 10 hours if we let you, probably even more then that. 


Right now you are still sleeping in mommy and daddy's room since we had to return the bedding we got you (it didn't fit your bed). We're hoping to get the new one in the next week or two. You will even climb in bed with us and you are so sly that we don't even know you're there until we wake up the next morning. I remember doing that when I was a little girl. I loved sleeping with my parents so I understand. It's the comfort we give you to know that we are right there by you. It's also nice when I do know your there and you snuggle up closer to me. I love smelling your sweet little "baby" scent as I sleep and giving you tons of kisses as if for you to have better dreams. So at the moment I don't mind :) It's only when you start to move around in your sleep that you get put back into your little bed on the floor. You have a tendency to move around ALOT when you are sleeping and talking. Sometimes I think that you and daddy are having conversations back and forth because when I get up to use the bathroom at night you both will be mumbling things in your sleep. I would hate to see all three of us sleeping because I have the same "talking in my sleep" habit. We probably continue our conversations from the day in our sleep. Now wouldn't that be funny to watch!?


You were sick this past week so the schedule kind of caught kicked to the curb but we are reinforcing it this week. Today you tried to sleep in a little past your wake up time for school but as soon as I started to talk to you and show you your clothes for school you began to wake up. You even held on to me for a good few minutes as I stood you up to put your pants on. It was a nice feeling. Will you always stay my little girl? I surely do hope so. I'm loving the love bug stage your at. You are such a sweetie pie. 


I got an update from Auntie earlier saying you have more energy today. Most likely since your cold is pretty much gone. You only have a little bit of phlem in your chest. I tried to teach you how to cough it up but you looked at me like "really, mom". So I guess it will have to pass over time. I'm really glad you are doing better and feeling better today, even if it means you missing your nap. You will just go to bed extra early tonight. 


Now we need to get back on track with POTTY TRAINING - you recently started asking again so let's hope that means more progress. Oh and you are in LOVE with your new stool for the potty and counter so let's hope that gives some persuasion..


I love you my sweet little girl!!!! You sure are growing up quick! - Love, Mommy

Such a Great Feeling

Its such a great feeling when...

You Love yourself

When it pleases you to make someone else happy

Can embrace the little things in life

Have so much love for someone you have never met

Can teach love (Bri'elle giving little sister kisses)

Share love, joy, moments, laughter, tears, with other great women -picture by Olga

This post was inspired after church three weeks ago. We have been in the book of Revelations. At first, I was a little scared to tackle this book that is said to be mysterious and can lead to fear by what it says, but I never really dived into it so I was excited at the same time. Now, I'm loving it and it may just be one of my favorite books. On this Sunday we learned about suffering {{God is speaking to me}}. I knew I had to pay great attention that this message is tugging at my heart. 

Not that I feel like I'm suffering but it has been a challenge these last 6 1/2 months and for majority of my life even at a very young age. I struggled for the longest time accepting what happened to me and most of it I kept inside. From what everyone else saw I was probably one of the strongest people they knew. As the sermon went on there were some things that struck me with the most pleasant delight of satisfaction. God will never allow us to suffer for nothing. God promises a reward for our suffering. Of course, a believer and follower of Christ knows that their eternal reward is the day we get to see His face and live for eternity in the streets of gold. But, I see that on this earth there is more rewards God gives us and its such a great feeling to know you have these rewards. Right now, I know that all the pain, loneliness, and worry is all a now factor meaning it has an end, and end that will bring great reward to not just my life but my husband's life, Bri'elles life, and anyone who is part of our lives will experience the reward that I (and Jay) have been given through the birth of our daughter. God has already blessed us and rewarded us with Bri'elle now we are being rewarded with another sweet great daughter. 

He is no fool that loses what he cannot keep here in this life to gain what he cannot lose, rewards in heaven - Jim Elliott

Lean on Christ - Focus on Spiritual Wealth - Expect Persecution - Stand Firm

To hear the audio podcast go here: How to Deal with Suffering