It's been a long time...indeed.

I cannot believe that October was the last time that I posted something here.  I am not quite sure why I just did not feel like posting.  Ari has been growing and given us tons to see, to laugh, to pull our hairs, to enjoy, to love. So, I guess it was just me not wanting to post.  2010 closed the year with many emotions and I guess all in the family felt exhausted.  But we look up to 2011 with hope that this year will be better than the last one.
I am looking forward to the spring.  Ari said that she will help me plant tons of flowers.  I think this year we will see our backyard differently and we will enjoy having the game (baseball) on the radio, some cold drinks, nice weather, and a beautiful and colorful backyard.  Maybe we will play ball, or just play with the hose.  All my nieces and nephews will be here and we will all get wet.  That sounds like fun.
She also said that she wanted to bake cookies with me.  I bought one of those frozen cookies that I just need to put in the oven.  We will do the real deal soon enough.  I am just trying to get myself out of the non-bake feeling for now.  Those chocolate chips cookies look great and we can still do it together.
And I think all of these hits close to my heart.  You see, I did not know I was pregnant until about 3 months, but I kept having dreams of this little girl that was helping me in the backyard, that was baking with me quite often, and that was playing tea parties with me.  After the nth dream, I thought this is too weird.  I remembered telling my friend Tiffiney that this "little girl" was pretty persistent. At that time, my brother's girlfriend was pregnant so I figure she was having the little girl (She had a boy).  So, I guess she was trying to tell me that she was here.  She was sending a HUGE HELLO! and I just could not hear it.  Now, all those dreams are starting to become a reality.  She has a voice now, and God knows we can hear her :)
(In this video, she had an itchy nose, but love her smile)

Time flies.

Wow, I found this picture of Arianna.  It was taken sometime last year.  How quickly time goes by...

Arianna's latest artwork

I love how colorful this drawing is!  What do you think?

Moments in a toddler's life

Rebecca gave her this pony pad with crayons that she plays with all the time. 

 The red bucket is her hat when she has it on, she turns into a princess.  Great imagination!

 She loves to play with her ponies.

 and her cups.

 and her train.

 She was watching...what else?  Little Bear.

Arianna's 3rd Birthday Party

Here are the party favors for this year just waiting for this party to start.  This year I tried to really stayed within the party theme " Fisherman's Bear and Balloons".  (Fisherman's Bear is Little Bear's bear).  This is Arianna's favorite cartoon right now.  She had asked me for a fisherman's bear awhile ago and when I was making it, it just hit me that this would me the theme for her birthday.  I also put some oreo's cookies, cow tales, lemon heads, chocolates, etc...

 Arianna was sick for her birthday.  The day before she had a high fever, I was not sure if I was going to have to cancel or not.  The day of her birthday she was still with fever, but the fever was less and tylenol helped her enjoy her day.  Plus, having a blanket by your side is always a plus in her book.

 This is Dennis's little girl she got better once Kerri's son came by.  I guess it is not just our little girl that is so shy.

 Kerri's son.  He has the best cheeks ever.  You just want to squeeze them with a big kiss :)

 Arianna was playing with her cousins and friends on her swing set.  She was going up and down on the slide.

 Hello Mr.  Glenn.  He was having a blast as well.  It had rained in the morning and we were not sure how temperature was going to be, but it cooperated and we had a nice day.  No more raining until about 8 pm and we were cleaning by then.

 Raven helped me with Arianna while I was busy she kept a close check on her.  Thank you Raven!

 And Scarlett, she did an awesome job of keeping up with my daughter as well.  Both cousins are so good to her.  I guess if she is the only child, I don't feel as bad because she has wonderful cousins.

 This was the cake!  I ordered a chocolate cake (her favorite) and this was the closest to a bear picture that Jewel had.  It was cute though.  We also had her favorite - pizza! Plus, I ordered some Portillo's salad, and we had something new - ice cream sundaes! Yummy!

We were singing happy birthday (and unfortunately our heads got cut, but you can see the kiddies) 

 Arianna and her grandmother sharing a piece of cake.  The cake had fresh strawberries, and whipped cream for frosting.  Our Jewel actually has a good baking section.

 Here is the proud papa!  He loves his White Sox T-shirt that I got for father's day.  Maybe I should get him another shirt.

 The kids started playing with the balloons.  They created their own game where they will count to 3 and throw the balloon in the air, it looked nice.  Then, they just started hitting each other with the balloons. 

 I wondered what the conversations between toddlers are...

 Still playing with the balloons.

 Now, it is balloon and swing...

 Arianna's favorite part was when everyone let go of their balloons in the air!

Time for everyone to go.  It was getting dark.  Bye Dave and Tiff!

 I think Glenn liked his bear :)

 Myrna and family.  Thank you for coming :)

 Sarah trying to hide!  I did get you with my other camera.  I'll post some of those later.

 My sister enjoying a relaxing moment after helping me a lot.  Thanks Sis.

 Myrna's kids getting their party favor.  I hope they enjoyed the bear and the candies.

 My good friend Jeaneth!  She is soon to be a mom.  Next time your here, you will be going after your little one as well. :)

 Oh, here you are Sarah and Jamie.  Thank you for coming :)

 Nice picture.  Maybe next time Paul can join us as well.

 Thanks to my mom for helping me as well.  Here is my cousin Marcela :)

 

Arianna was so tired by now, but we thank everyone that came to celebrate with us our little girl's birthday.  Until the next one! (I forgot to contact some friends of mine for this celebration. Sorry, I would make it up to you :)  )

Mommy's Date!

I am so behind my posts.  So, this actually happened a few weeks ago (September 10, 2010), but here it is anyhow.  Mike was very tired and Arianna and I wanted to go somewhere.  We decided we will go to the library and then for some ice cream.  When we got to the library, we found out that they changed the hours and it was closed :( but then we went for some ice cream faster.  Arianna's favorite flavor? Chocolate!  Mom's was butter pecan.  So, we shared a two scoop ice cream of our favorite ice creams.  Arianna was so excited to see balloons and they gave her one.  She went talking and singing all the way to the house.  Nice date.

"It takes a village to raise a child..."

I had heard that phrase/ quote awhile back, well back when I did not have any children.  Now, I can really understand it after three years of wonderful and sometimes challenging parenthood.  What can we say about year number 3?
I can start by saying that her cognitive development has exploded tremendously.  She talks in full sentences and not like a parrot.  She makes her sentences according to what is going around her.  Like the other day she said to me:
 "Let's open the polka dot present." Once we opened it.
"What is this letter", she said.
 "I don't know", I said.
"It looks like me that the letter is a g, a big G", she said.
" I think you are right", I said.
She had a huge smile because she knew her letters.

Yes, she knows all the letters, numbers up to about 27, can count backwards, lots of shapes, recognizes her name and knows that her name starts with an A.  She knows lots of colors.  Loves to say stories and to be told stories.  It has exploded.  Now, with that explosion comes her realization that she has to follow some rules.  Yes, toddlers do not like to follow too many rules.  So, we got a few tantrums here and there.  Thank God it was not that bad, but I hear that "terrible 3's" are worst than "terrible 2's".  I guess God willing we will know if it is true.

So here is the list of things that Arianna liked this year: (Not in order)

1.  TAPE. TApe. TaPe. tape. TapE.  Anyway you write it.
2.  To fingerpaint.
3.  Books.  Those are still one of her favorites.  Her imagination has reached a new level.
     Dr. Suess's Books.  The crayola box (book).  Tales of Peter Rabbit and Peter Cottontail and the           Valveteen's Rabbit.
4.  Softies.  Purple Dog.  Blue squirrel.  Charly Bear.  Fisherman's Bear.
5.  Dollhouses.
6.  Gum balls.
7.  Colors.
8.  Swing.
9.  Playing with Grandma.
10.  Purple dressers, purple shirts, purple pants.
11.  Little Bear.  Wow Wow Wubbzy. Team umizoomi.
12.  Jamie's Birthday Card. (musical)
13.  Beginning to like puzzles (more pieces)
14.  Little pony.
15. Legos.

Sentences:

1.  "I can't see  it, but I know is in there"
2.  "I can't go to bed now Papa.  I need to wait for the moon"
3.  "There is no vacation for mamas"
4.  "It is ok mama".
5.  "I love my cousins".

And I will end with a Thank You to everyone that has helped us one way or other to continue to be the best family that we can be.  And I promised the next post will be about her birthday party :)

52 Projects #33 - Fisherman's Bear's Friend

Arianna loves Fisherman's Bear from Little Bear.  He is Little Bear's friend and he goes to sleep with him.  I made a prototype which is not exactly like fisherman's bear looks, but the idea is there by using Fisherman's bear from the t.v. and a book that I have from Aranzi Aranzo. I still need to work some kinks and such, but I like my first try. Although the bottom part is a bit smaller than the top.  It looks like the bear is a body builder :)  Ari likes it though. 
On a side note, I'd been out of my crafty side - or fairy crafty as I was calling it, but my daughter's birthday is trying to get me back in the mood.  I missed it that is for sure :)

WPP#32 Arianna's 1st picture

Arianna's first picture ever!  So, she has known cameras since ever.  We took a lot of pictures that the phrase "Say cheese" comes naturally.  But this week she started to play with my camera and has realized that she can take pictures too! That was a big realization for her and for me since now besides posing and wanting to see the picture, she says to me " It is your turn (to pose)" so it is time for my little darling to get a camera of her own! 
Can you tell what was the first picture about?

Sometimes...why bother with toys...

when Arianna can find creative ways to entertain herself... Well, she still likes some toys (Balls, colors, pencils, littlest pet shop, little doll houses, etc).  But, I love when creativity strikes and she entertains herself for hours, even if I need to be holding the hanger for those hours...  Do you see her new love, the tape?