Tis the Season to be Sicky

...Fa la la la la la la la (sniff, cough, puke)

As much as I hate to admit it for one prideful reason or another, the decrease in family documenting and the increase in pregnancy related symptoms are directly proportionate these days.

We're in survival mode, folks. 

Survive to make it through. Through nap times that is. 

 Then, a nap for mommy is sadly, one of the only ways I survive to see the sun go down. On top of nausea, frequent dry heaving, excessive spitting (ptyalism or sialorrhea are their medical terms, in case you were wondering) and more nausea, Spicy has caught a mild cold/cough. This means, spending most of the night sharing a twin size bed with a hacking, stuffed up toddler. 

Fun stuff!

Forced myself to get out for a long (interpret as you wish) walk today. 

I'm sure I looked pretty pathetic pushing a double stroller that was barely moving while my head rested on the hand rest but I think it did us some good!

Oh Lord, please let the light at the end of the tunnel be just a couple more (2) weeks away!

He's still At It

I think a big reason why I am feeling better this week is that I get to see this wonderful man first thing in the morning. 

 I get to share about my degree of nauseating discomfort, complain about a certain child who does not always want to stay in her bed at night and just smile more than usual.

Just in case you were wondering, he's still at it...

Still the beloved Bapa by his two puppies granddaughters who follow him around everywhere.

Still making their day, showering them with love and fun and bringing joy to their spirit...

 And still improving the functionality and looks of our home.

Meet the helper bees...

While I do wish he would use his vacation days to sleep in, relax in Hawaii or get a massage for those overused muscles, I welcome, am thankful for, and absolutely relish in the opportunity to spend so much precious time in his presence.  

Oh, and he babysits and does dishes while on Spicy watch for over 2 hours! 

Seriously, can a dad and 'Bapa' be any cooler (even with his briefs pulled over his T-shirt) and can I be any more spoiled blessed??? 

 I think not!

Friday Freebie

Attention All Bloggers!!!

Thanks to my good pal, Mandi over at the Hott Spott, I found out about a great deal over at Shutterfly. So great, it's free. Really. FREE! 

You don't believe me, do you? (dad!) Well, read on.

So, I had just browsed through the Shutterfly holiday catalog advertising all of their great products and although I have ordered photo books (just fabulous gifts) & birthday invitations in the past and been very pleased with their quality, traditionally, we get our Xmas cards through Costco. This is mainly because I'm just crunched for time. We're talking, the day before Xmas, I'm ordering the photo cards (sometimes, taking the photo), picking them up an hour later, addressing them and mailing them all within a couple hours so that people get their cards before New Years.

But seeing their enticing product line and deals this year, I vowed to get on the Xmas card making process much earlier and now reading about this fabulous promotion, I'm extra extra motivated! 

I think the best thing about Shutterfly Xmas cards is the countless choices for card styles and layouts. My frustration with Costco cards has always been that there is one or two card choices with more than 1 or 2 picture slots and I'm always looking for more since I have such a hard time picking a great photo. 

Case in point. 

And this one.

 I just love the collage-y style.
Something about capturing random snapshots of many joyous memories and occasions to share with loved ones!
And so perfect for this year's card since it will include all 8 of us Emde/Soto's with varying combinations of those 8 individuals.

Not certain but a little sneak into the one I'm leaning toward...

I'm loving the color combination and think it might be neat to try the folded card for a change!

Anyway, check it out here and enjoy!

Tired

Warning: This is not my typical upbeat, cheerful post so if you are looking for something positive to start your week off, you probably want to stop reading now. 

(But as a combo family scrapbook and personal diary, this is my free therapy to help me, coupled with prayer, gain some peace of mind and heart.)

And so with that disclaimer, here goes...

-I'm tired

-I'm tired of being tired

-I'm tired of being sick

-I'm tired of having no energy to play with my toddler, run, lift her, throw her over my back for piggy back rides spinning around and around.

-I'm tired of having no desire to cook or clean 

-I'm tried of being hungry all the time but not knowing what I feel like

-I'm tired of stuffing my face with comfort food to alleviate the nausea

-I'm tired of feeling guilty about the comfort food I am in-taking

-I'm tired of worrying about my increasing tummy and thigh fat because of the comfort food I am constantly eating

-I'm tired of hearing Genevieve's lingering cough in the middle of the night and being completely helpless because I know if I go into her room to comfort her or pick her up, she will awaken too much rather than putting herself back to sleep which she does without a fuss.

-I'm tired of feeling indifferent about everything 

-I'm tired of being irritable

-I'm tired of people overstating how glad they are that I/we are excited about the pregnancy as if most people in our shoes wouldn't be excited or that this pregnancy was some sort of "accident" or "oopsie" 

-I'm tired of people asking if we are done or stopping after #3 (immediately after the courtesy Congratulations) as if 1) it's any of their business, 2) as if we can't control ourselves or shouldn't, oh, I don't know, "Be Fruitful and Multiply" and 3) as if that's some sort of taboo to have more than 2 or 3 kids nowadays

-I'm tired of focusing on the exterior side effects rather than interior reality that an immortal soul made in the image and likeness of God is dwelling within me.

***And***

-I'm tired of complaining.

Ahhh, I feel better already. I promise the next post will be much more uplifting! :)

The ingredients behind the Spice

With all of Sweet's publicity lately, I feel as though Spicy has been somewhat neglected. And with all my talk of her "spicy-ness" I figured it was due time to expand on her little person hood.

Alizea Ann, you are an absolute jewel.

The more and more I see you amongst your peers and with others of varying temperaments and  personalities, the more I appreciate and love your individual characteristics and traits which make up the special, unique person you are...

*You have such a spirit of LIFE! A spirit of laughter, of showing love to all, of jumping and dancing at all times (like David dancing before the Lord), of making friends, of getting out and trying new things, of happiness, of JOY! Your eyes sparkle with this life. 

This picture sums up your personality...joyful!

(an oldie from over a year ago but since you didn't get in the family blog until you were 2 1/2, I thought it appropriate and fitting on this Veteran's Day)


*You are unselfish and take pleasure in seeing others rejoice (except, that is, when you are ripping a toy out of your sisters hands!) While this is partly due to constant instruction on sharing and the like, at the young age of 3, I realize you have a generous spirit and for that, I praise the Lord. 

*You take instruction seriously and to heart. In your classes, be it ballet, pottery or catechism, your teachers all report how impressed they are by your focus and attention. You are intense and you go 100% in whatever it is you are doing. For example, in ballet, you don't lolly gag around or get silly waving to mommy (or Mimi) like a lot of the other girls do. Oh no, you are completely immersed in your activity, focused, intense, as if you are the prima ballerina and all others are your back up dancers in the performance of the year.
(When watching you, we are assured every penny spent is well worth it).

3 going on 13! 
Even at home, you practice with such intensity

*You have a thirst for learning. You must get this from daddy but you love to understand, to gain knowledge, to be taught. Mimi is by far your most beloved instructor and as a trilingual distinguished teacher of 30 years, I'd say we have a great match!

*You have a special interest in all things "techy" but especially lately in video games which most definitely comes from daddy. You literally beg him to play his games calling out the characters: Demo Man, Engineer, Spy, etc. I think he is secretly bribing you because it just doesn't seem right. Why don't you beg to watch me blog or sew??? The other night you asked daddy to play with you and he responded that he was going to eat dinner and talk to mommy. Your response, "And don't forget to play your Batman game af(t)er!"

 *You are still so so incredibly lovable with your baby sister and so proud to be her big sister. At random times, I hear you announce "That's Genevieve, my baby sister" which melts me and it truly is hard for me to talk sternly and discipline you for smothering her with tight hugs and kisses because you still don't know your strength (& strong you are!).

*You are extremely competitive and this you must get from your Bapa. When daddy or I are racing with you (short sprints on the sidewalk) you get very upset when you lose. We are working on not becoming a "sore loser" and teaching you that to be a good sport you need to give a "good job (say person's name)" and high five to the other person. But you skim over this as quickly as possible in a monotone unemotional voice and follow it up with a "let's race again!" running even harder the next time! Daddy and I have fun talking about the possible activities in which your competitive nature would thrive.

*You are very mature when it comes to interacting with others, be it babies, older kids or adults. You are a people person and love the human spirit. You remind me a lot of your Mimi in this way. There is something special about the way you see and love others. 

 *You are so inquisitive and your little mind is always at work. Case in point. While in the car, you are constantly asking "what's that sign mean?" to which we go through a process where you explain to me what is on it, color, shape, etc. and I try and explain to you the meaning (or make my best guess). No sooner am I finishing and you fire away with the the infamous question again, and again, and again. 
The other example...Lately, I've been tuning into a classical music station, you know, thinking it would create a quiet, peaceful, soothing environment. Well, you aren't satisfied merely taking in the relaxing harmonies, you ask what instrument is playing and you don't simply want me to tell you but describe it with shape and color so you can guess! It's definitely forcing me to brush up on my ear training skills.

*You are a nature girl. You love sand, dirt, leaves, sticks, mud, using your hands. You love rolling in the dirt especially after you have just taken a bath. You also love tools and helping Bapa do anything that involves manual labor (That comes from mommy). 

*You do have a stubborn streak and a bit of a temper. I understand this may be a gene inherited from Grandma Sandra (daddy's mommy). However, you also seem to have acquired her full, beautiful, voluptuous lips so I guess that's a fair trade.

*You are becoming so independent. As I write this, you are next to me on your computer surfing around the PBS & Nick Jr. sites, stumbling upon new math & art games to try out. If we let you, you would stay there hours on end. Until midnight. And no, we don't know this from experience. (wink, wink) At the same time, you will never turn down some "play time" with anyone who is interested

* You love to help out and you are not afraid of work. Be it, putting silverware away, helping to fold little towels, clean mirrors and windows, you do it cheerfully and with a great deal of concentration (let's hope it stays this way into your teens)

* You are quite the negotiator. There are many examples daddy and I share and laugh about but here's a recent dialogue to show my point:
A: I wanna watch a movie just a little tiny bit!?

M: I don't think so. Do you remember when you threw a big fit on the floor just a little bit ago?

A: Do you remember when I was so nice to Genevieve? 

So, yes, while everything you do from give a hug to your verbosity contains some extra spice, there is clearly so much more to you that we treasure and cherish, deeper and wider than we can even imagine.

And in years to come when you stumble upon this, know that you are such an incredible blessing to your mommy & daddy & siblings & we are so in love with you and consider it a privilege and honor to teach you, to help form your character and to help you discern God's will for your life.