Thankful for Traditions

I love that Ryder Jeremiah gets to partake in so many family traditions! The older he gets, the more he understands and interacts and I love watching him take it all in. Today was tamale making day and what a day it was! 12 hours, 4 kids and 7 adults = 432 tamales! 

Because of mom undergoing chemotherapy last year we didn't get to make tamales in 2013, so this year's tamale tradition was all the more special! To say that each tamale is made with a lot of hard work and love is an understatement; that's probably why they taste so good! Ryder J had his first tamale taste and it's safe to say that he's definitely a fan! I am so thankful we have this family tradition! 

The assembly line. 

Our cheering squad!

The last tamale was finally made and wrapped. We did it! 

36 dozen tamales! 

Ryder J's first bite of a tamale. 

Already looking forward to next year. Until then, we'll enjoy eating this family tradition! 

Thankful for JOY!

While we have SO much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, we are particularly thankful for little girls today! Introducing our baby girl, Joy Stocking! 

At yesterday's ultrasound, we asked our  doctor to put the baby's ultrasound   photo, along with the gender, in an envelope so we could privately have a gender reveal and celebrate! After some bloodwork and a late lunch at PF Changs, we went to Farrell's, handed the envelope to our waiter and ordered an ice cream sundae. If the sundae came out with nuts, it was a boy, if the sundae didn't come out with nuts it was a girl. A few minutes later, out came a sundae.....nut free. It took a few minutes before my husband actually stopped looking for the nuts. 

The envelope....we waited a couple of hours before we actually opened it. I was impressed with us! 

15.5 week bump! 

Like a little lady, baby Joy had her legs crossed throughout most of yesterday's ultrasound. It took the doctor a few minutes before he could 95% confirm baby was a SHE!

Today we had a fun gender reveal with the family! We wrapped pink balloons in a box and had my parents open the box, revealing the pink balloon and baby's first ornament - a pink stocking (of course) with her name on it! I have it all on video but not sure how to post videos yet....I'll have to look into that. 

Holding a #7 because this is grandchild #7 for my mom and dad.....grandchild #8 is in heaven and baby December was remembered today.

After celebrating with my family, we went to share the news with my hubby's family. 

My cousin Jen is expecting a little boy a few weeks before baby Joy's due date!

Oh how thankful we are for little girls! Happy Thanksgiving!! Love the four Stockings - Ryan, Serina, Ryder Jeremiah and baby Joy! 

"Consider it all JOY, my brethren, when you encounter various trials." James 1:2

"Weeping may last for the night, 

but a shout of JOY comes in the morning." Psalms 30:5

Nuts or No Nuts?

Nuts or no nuts, what shall it be? Whether boy or girl, I'm thankful for this blessing inside of me! 

Today is ultrasound day! It comes every two weeks and every two weeks I wake up with anxiousness. It's always exciting seeing our baby on the ultrasound screen but it's very unnerving as well. I hate the silence that comes with ultrasounds. While the doctor is scanning every inch of our baby, the silence absolutely kills me. I hold my breath each and every time! We are still on the fence about finding out our baby's gender. My husband doesn't want to know until the baby is born but I continue to go back and forth. I know this sounds so cliche but I mean this with every ounce of me - all I want is a healthy, growing baby! 

Today's ultrasound should reveal whether baby Stocking will be wearing bow ties or tutus...better yet, nuts or no nuts? It's a good thing I happen to love both! 

The Little Things

It's the little things I've grown to be thankful for!  On this morning of Thanksgiving Eve, I woke up reflecting on this year and the MANY things I am oh so grateful for, despite what a journey 2014 has been.  

I'm am thankful my husband has a job that allows me to stay at home with our children. I am thankful for the roof over our head, even though there are a million of "to do's" under this roof. I am thankful that Ryder Jeremiah is surgery free for the next year. Thankful for the palate he has, even if it does have a hole in and he'll need yet another surgery. Thankful for my pregnancies this year and all that they have taught me - emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Thankful for my angel baby who will welcome me in Heaven with twinkling eyes! Thankful for this precious bundle of joy growing inside me, even though I'm on bed rest from time to time and have zero energy. I'm thankful for our bills that get paid, even though it's not fun receiving medical bill after medical bill.  I'm thankful for the bounty of family that I'll be surrounded by tomorrow as we celebrate Thanksgiving day. I'm thankful for my mom who continues to be a true example of a God-fearing woman. Who has taught me what it is to be a wife, sister, friend and mommy; I treasure her wisdom and love. I'm thankful for her 7 months of being cancer free and for the breath of life God continues to bless her with! I'm thankful for ALL of those prayers that have been said for our family. For the outpouring of love and encouragement we've received from so many! I'm thankful for waking up this morning, next to a husband who adores me and to a baby who cries out for me. But most importantly, I'm thankful for a Father who loves unconditionally, who hears ours prayers and answers them faithfully! 

Happy Thanksgiving Eve! 

Thankful

"Peace is not about the absence of troubles, but about the presence of Christ!"  - Sheila Walsh 

As we start this week of Thankfulness, I'm oh so thankful for the presence of Jesus in my life! This year we've had an abundance of peace, not because our life has been trouble-free life (it's been far from that) but because The Lord's presence has been evident throughout all of our problems!  As I've grown older and become a mommy to the most precious babies, I've realized the importance of having Jesus as center of my life! It doesn't mean that I'm perfect, that I don't make mistakes or that I don't sin. it means the exact opposite. It's because, I'm imperfect, make tons of mistakes and  am a sinner, that I NEED Jesus Christ to be the center of my life. I'm simply human and cannot do it on my own so I need His presence to bring me through this journey we call life! This year I am thankful for many things but above all, I am thankful for the presence of Jesus in my life, the feeling of peace amidst a storm, He's the reason I dance when it's pouring rain! I am thankful for Jesus! 

Always Happy

All things considered, Ryder J is an incredibly happy baby! Even throughout all of his surgeries he's been one happy boy! Now that he's 16 months, and in full toddler mode, he is constantly on the move and is ALWAYS climbing things. Whatever he can climb, he will, and whatever he can't climb, he will try. 

He is constantly climbing onto this piece of furniture in our play room. Nearly gives me a heart attack but now he just thinks my reaction is funny so I try not to react....it seems to be working. Sort of. 

He's still a little book worm and loves reading books. We have a book that teaches bedtime signs and the other morning I watched Ryder turn each page and give each bedtime sign. I was in baby awe. Pure genius!! I wish I could have captured it on video but my jaw was literally on the floor as I almost couldn't believe what I was seeing. He was totally reading and signing!

He's even happy when it's time to go down for a nap. I pray this inner joy is forever with him. That his happiness never fades and that he is always spewing with smiles and laughter.  What they say is true - laughter is contagious and so is joy and happiness!  Thank you for always being so happy Ryder Jeremiah!