Our Cleaning Baby (not Lady!)

Yesterday, Carmelita found a napkin on the floor and started sliding her hand on the tile. Upon closer observation, we found that she was actually wiping the floor! No particular area. She just moved from one spot to the next wiping the floor. It was so cute. In these pictures you can see her move from the back door to under the table to the high chair!

Adult Taste-Buds

So, Martini started out as one of the pickiest eaters ever. As a matter of fact, when he started eating food, he would gag and vomit at every meal. He just was so sensitive to texture and taste. BUT!!! He has now developed such an adult palate. He loves crab, fish, shrimp, steak and asparagus! He still loves his sweeties and would prefer them any day, but enjoys some nice "adult" food as well.

Yesterday at around 11AM, after asking for the usual popsicle, candy, and cookies, I told him he had to eat a healthy snack. So, he thought about it and suggested, "Beef, cheese, and ranch (dressing)."

"Beef?!" I asked.

"Yes. Beef, cheese, and ranch."

"Martini, I don't have any steak or anything like that right now. You need to choose something else."

"O.K. . . . Hmmm" (he says with a finger on his chin, no kidding.) "I want cheese and grapes."

"O.K." I am thinking, "what a combination! Would you like some wine with that as well?!"

So, I get out the colby jack cheese and a tiny bunch of grapes and I watch him take a bit of cheese then a grape and then after that bite, he stuffs a bit of both in his mouth and shakes his head approvingly while he enjoys his snack. He cracks me up!

Thanks, Babe!

The other day, I was heating up some pizza for the boys to eat for lunch. Ethan asked for another piece and I set it on his plate. "Thanks, Babe," he says as I walk away. I looked at him surprised. He usually says this with a little smile on his face knowing that this is how Daddy talks to me. This time he looked like all was cool and this was of course how he would respond. My little man!

"MAMA!!!"

A wonderful thing happened two days ago and it has been such a special gift to me! Carmelita started saying, "mamamama." I don't think she knows what it means yet, but it sounds so precious. We will say something to her and she will respond with some syllables and, "mamamama." We love it!

Chronicling the Kiddos

The idea of starting a blog was toyed around with a while back. A couple of years ago, I started a journal with little snippets of funny things the boys would do or milestones so I wouldn't forget. I am terrible at journaling, so MyLove suggested I just type down a couple of words and date it so I could remember. Then we thought about doing a website, but that seemed like too much upkeep. Then we heard about blogs and very recently after reading a couple, we decided to start one.

In light of the original scope for this endeavor, here is something special that happened the other day.

Ethan got sick after breakfast and laid down on the couch. Martini came over and laid down next to him, hugging him saying that he wanted to take care of him and that he was "worried about him." They stayed like this while watching a movie for quite a while. It was precious.

Again, this is Ethan's "smile" when I told him to smile for the picture.

Baby Boys vs. Baby Girls

I was talking to a good friend of mine today, Cassie Haney (her blog is listed to the left;-) and she asked me if Carmelita was different from the boys when they were babies. I answered, "definitely!" I have been asked this before but decided that I would share some ways in which they are different with you!

1.) First off, the pregnancies were different. I had less acne with Carmelita and I gained less: 40 lbs. vs. 50 lbs. (Ethan) and about 60 lbs. (Martini). No, I am not a graceful gainer!
2.) Carmelita nurses much more gently than the boys did.
3.) She cries in a more girlie way. Her cry isn't as strong, although I know that can change!
4.) She does "girlie" things with her hands. See Photo!

If you look at her left hand, you can see her fingers daintily open, not touching the blanket or the couch. She does this all the time. I don't remember the boys ever doing this. She loves to play with her fingers and hold her hands together.

5.) A common milestone with babies is they discover their hands and do this little rolling of the fists that looks like a boxer hitting the speed bag. The boys did this but Carmelita never did.

6.) I don't think this has to do anything with being a boy or a girl, but the boys rolled over fine. Carmelita still does not know how to roll over! She is crawling and almost cruising, but still can not roll over! It is so funny to watch her fall on her back and cry because she is stuck like a turtle. The only way she knows to get up is a sit up: if her legs are held down, she will sit straight up.

Anyway, that is all I can think of for now. Here are some other recent photos.

Martini, Carmelita, and Ethan in front of the Christmas tree. This was the best photo out of about 20 or 30! That is orange popsicle around their mouths. I didn't notice it 'til it was too late.

Look at those smiles! Ethan has a hard time with just smiling normal for pictures. He is so funny.

Martini and Ethan just hangin' out.

Little Carmelita crawling to Mommy to see the camera.

Merry Christmas!

Dear Family and Friends

Merry Christmas!!!!

What a joy it is to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God! We have been teaching our little babes this year that because God gave us such a special gift, we can take joy in giving others such special gifts . . . even the gifts we would rather keep for ourselves, i.e. the Star Wars Obi Wan Kenobi figure or the Optimus Prime Transformer!

Martini is now five years old and just finished his first semester of kindergarten. Cristina is still homeschooling and has committed to finishing out the year. We continue to pray about what the Lord wants each step of the way. It is definitely a challenge. Next year, Martini may attend public school, private school, or, if the Lord leads this way, homeschool again. Martini still loves Star Wars and Transformers. He is very orderly and likes everything in its place. He is such a thinker. He is an incredible big brother to Carmelita. He is very protective of her and calls her his Princess Leia and sweet names like “Precious,” “Gorgeous,” and “Beautiful.”

Ethan is quite the big boy at three years old. He follows right alongside Martini in his love for Star Wars and Transformers. You should see him acting out fighting scenes from both movies. When he imitates a Transformer, he does the sounds with spit flying from his mouth and folds and contorts his body into a car or into the robot. It is such fun to watch. He loves “Sister” so much as well. He and brother stick up for her when I, Mommy, tell Carmelita not to get so mad when I am changing her diaper, or when I tell Carmelita to be patient. Ethan will say, “Mommy, don’t say that to Sissy. She is just a baby!” Out of the mouths of babes, right?!

Carmelita, our sweet, little Carmelita. She is almost nine months old and as precious as can be. I call her my sunshine because her smile brightens the room. She is crawling all over the place and says . . . well, she now says . . . “mama.” O.K. not really. Actually she says . . . ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT! She says “dada” just like the boys first said. No way am I bitter! We got her ears pierced at around six months, and she did great. She still loves to be on my back in the wrap. My wrap has been such a blessing. She is as comfy as can be on our many trips to Wal-Mart just riding on my back either looking around or conked out. Grocery shopping with three wee ones is much easier when I have her in a secure place rather than gnawing on the shopping cart handle!

Martin is thriving at work. He loves his job and the Lord has blessed him with favor and great productivity. He has become quite the programmer and loves coming up with solutions to technical issues. Martin has also enjoyed being involved with the evangelistic ministry at our church called Acts 2. They go out to various parts of Houston and reach out to the homeless with practical needs: clothes, food, hygiene needs, and at the same time encourage them and minister to their spiritual needs with the love of Jesus, pointing them to the way of eternal life. He is the best daddy in the world. The boys can’t wait for him to come home from work and play with them. Just hearing Daddy’s voice makes Carmelita smile.

Cristina (me) recently started a business making and selling Nursing Cloaks with so much support from her hubby and parents. I haven’t sold many, maybe six, but am steadily working on it. You can check it out at nursingcloak.com in the near future. Jim Owen, my dad, is creating the website. MyLove and I try to go out on dates occasionally, big thanks to Mom and Dad Owen, but because we can’t get out so often, we have ice cream and/or movie dates at home. He or I will ask the other out for a date and when the babes are in bed, we break out the Blue Bell and veg on the couch either to catch up or watch a flick. We treasure these moments. He is truly my best friend.

We love you all and would love to hear from you!

Love,
Martin & Cristina