A Little Bit of Lately

This is not a very exciting post about anything specific, just a few random pictures from the last little bit. I'm horrible at getting the camera out and taking pictures these days. I'm sure it will only get worse once we have another little baby around. Only 6 weeks left by the way...yikes!



Josh has been doing a lot of studying the past several months. We didn't see him much for a while. This is the reason he spends study time at the school, not at home.



My kids at the county fair. This was right after their pony ride.



My buddy loves to play "moo-sit" on my mom's keyboard. And wear her shoes.



Isn't he so handsome? He's always happy. Ty also likes to climb up to the desk and play "pewter".



Macie is great at coming up with all sorts of poses. She likes to do fashion shows where my sister dresses her up and takes lots of pictures. They are hilarious. I'll have to post one of her fashion show slideshows one of these days. If I remember.

She Had A Birthday Shout Hoo-ray!

I always say this, but I can't believe how fast my little girl is growing up. Macie is now a full-fledged girl of four. I rarely backtrack, but I didn't want to skip what was probably the biggest event of the year for her. All month long discussions seemed to include her birthday and it was taking FOR-EV-ER to arrive. Here's a brief re-cap:

Her actual birthday was March 20th, and we celebrated early with a quick trip to Disneyland.



Macie and Ty with Princess Jasmine. Yes, Ty has a black eye.



Josh took the kids on the teacups and they loved it. I could hear Ty yelling, "weeeeeeee, weeeeeeee" the whole time. And by the way, the little guy was almost not invited for the trip, but I'm glad we took him because he was SO good and had a great time.



March 20th, approximately 7:30 AM. She ran in our room and asked, "Is today really my birthday?!?" This was the response. I love it.



We had a small party at the park in the afternoon, meaning my sister made the cupcakes and a few friends were invited. It was GREAT because I didn't have to decorate, entertain, or do any other hard work like that. The kids played and ate strawberry cupcakes. Here's several of the friends waiting patiently for a cupcake. Macie wanted to wear her crown and I love it.

I tell Macie all the time that she is growing up too fast. She tells me all the time that she has to keep growing up so she can be a mom. I guess she's right, because being a mom really is the greatest joy.

The Most Handsome Dentist I've Ever Seen

We stopped by to see Josh in action at his dad's office. He and his dad both did some fillings on each other. It was Josh's first time working outside of school, so I decided to make it a family visit. The best part about the whole office was my conversation with Macie on the way there. She had lots of questions like, "Why does Drandpa have tavities? He doesn't brush his teeth?" and "Will Daddy wear his white coat? Do I have tavities?" etc, etc. She knows too much about dentistry for a 3-year-old if you ask me. I love her interested face in the background here.

Macie really liked her dad checking her teeth. Plus, she gets to keep the disposable mirror afterwards so that's always a bonus.

Ty wanted to sit in the chair and have his own mirror, so Josh took a look in his mouth too. He only has 8 1/2 teeth so it didn't take long, which is good, because he only thought it was funny for a minute and then wanted down. I'm sure he's the cutest patient they've ever had.

This is not related, but it's super cute. Ty loves to give hugs. He always wants to hug other kids (or tackle them). He is generally a happy little guy so it's pretty easy to get smiling pictures. Sitting still is another story. 

My Little People

I was playing on the floor with the kids this morning, our usual post-breakfast pastime, and it went something like this:

Macie: Put this trown (crown) on Mom so you tan be the tween. Pretend I'm the princess and I live over there. (She points to the entry way.) But now I'm here in your land. Say, "Who is that dirl in my land?"

Me: Who is that gorgeous princess that came to visit me?

Macie: Hi it's me, Princess Aurora. Is this Unitorn (unicorn) Land?

Me: Sure. Do you want to live in Unicorn Land with me? You can be my daughter and I can be your Mommy.

Macie: Oh yes! I love Unitorn Land. It's my favorite. 

Me: Well what land do you come from?

Macie: The land over there, um....that one.

Me: Did you live by yourself in your land? Who else lived there? Will they miss you?

Macie: I lived with, um...Heavenly Father. He won't miss me.

I love this girl. 

And so I don't leave out my little buddy, he had a cute moment the other day worth noting. He is really becoming quite the communicator. His language is really developing and he tries to repeat most things I ask of him. It's great to have him telling me what he wants with his voice instead of signing it, because he adds great little inflections as well. For example, when he says 'please' it comes out in a really high voice saying 'pees.' It is the cutest thing I've ever heard. 

Whenever Ty hears me come in the door after being gone he starts screaming "Ma! Ma!" over and over and comes running to get me. I usually stand there and wait because I love to hear him yelling my name with excitement and his little feet padding across the tile as fast as they can. It is one of my favorite things about my little boy. The other day I came in and, like usual, I hear him start calling me and running to the door. Except this time was different. He rounded the corner, saw me, and stopped and stared for a second. Instead of running up to me for a hug he yelled, "NAAACK!" and turned the corner and was gone. Apparently I came home during snack time and he was letting me know. 

I love this little dude.

So Yeah, It's True

I have returned from my blogging hiatus for a brief moment. I'm not going to upload dozens of pictures from the holidays or fill the world wide web in on all the aspects of my life. I find a journal more suitable for personal details, not the internet. Anyway, I am digressing. My real reason for this quick post is to end the rumors and suspiscions. I would now like to make the following statements: 

- Yes, I am pregnant. We are having a baby girl in June. I am 19 weeks along and feeling so very tired. 

- Yes, Ty and the new baby will be less than two years apart in age (21 months). 

- Yes, that fact scares me to death. 

- Yes, this new baby will arrive about three years earlier than planned, give or take a few months. 

- No, we don't have any names picked out. We will probably start thinking about that in late May when we have time.

- No, I have no clue how I will juggle three little children. Did I mention the thought frightens me?

- Yes, we are excited at the idea of having a new baby added to our family. Having a newborn in your home feels like a piece of heaven (when they aren't crying of course). We feel very blessed.

- Yes, Macie is excited beyond belief. She has great questions and thoughts all the time about the new baby. She wants to name her Diamond. Ty has no clue, of course, and most likely won't until we bring his new sister home from the hospital. 

Bunch O' Stuff

I am backtracking a bit to give a condensed recap on the month of October:



Macie rode her first ferris wheel. She was very adamant that she wanted to give it a try. I thought she would get scared, but much to my surprise she walked right in with Josh and my mom, and waved to me and Ty every time they came around.



This is what Ty did while we waited.



Amanda, one of my best friends from high school, came to Vegas for our 10 year reunion. I've missed her. We partied like it was 1999...and then I was sick for a week and half.



Our cute kiddos: Elizabeth, Macie and Ty. The girls had so much fun together.



My friend Erin (in the back on the left) put together an awesome party. I almost didn't make it because of all the other things I had going on, but I'm so glad I had a chance to go. Josh was home studying (what a nerd) so it completey felt like high school days all over again. It was fun to see everyone and hear about their lives. Pretty much everyone looked the same, which I didn't expect. How can we be 10 years older if we all look the same? The best part was that all of the boys, when put together in the same room again, still acted immature. Some things never change, or cease to be entertaining. Maybe we will see you again, good old Bonanza, in 10 more years.



When Halloween rolled around I was surprisingly ready for it to be over. I think we had Halloween overload this year (probably only me). Here is my festive witch. She insisted that she was a good witch, and a purple one.



And my handsome ducky. This was Macie's costume 2 years ago and it is still adorable. He didn't want to wear the duck feet, but didn't mind the rest of the costume. What a sport.



I threw a Halloween party for Macie's little friends. Macie doesn't go to preschool and all of her friends do, so I knew she wouldn't have a party to go to like most other kids. She is old enough to be excited about Halloween and I thought it would be fun to have a festive party. By the time you count up her friends and a few little siblings, I had over 10 little kids in my house. They had a great time and I'm glad we did it, but once is enough for me in this lifetime. Aren't they a cute looking bunch?



These were their take-home goodies. A Halloween cup filled with popcorn and a few toys. Boo for me, the no-candy lady.



All of the cousins on Halloween night: Ty (ducky), Sadie Roses (little Red), Gus (Gus-Gus the mouse), Bella (Barbie fairy), Macie (the purple witch). The kids enjoyed trick-or-treating and hanging out with friends from our old ward.



Family picture at the Bulloch's house.



Josh's pizza smile. Your welcome.



And finally, don't be fooled by this innocent face. The best word to describe Ty is crazy. I knew he would give me a run for my money and he is living up to that in every way. Every single day he does something even sneakier than the previous. I love my crazy guy to pieces though.

Birthday Boy Turns 28

Happy birthday to the best looking man I know! I captured a rare moment snapping a picture when Josh took a nap today. He works hard and crashes hard. Love you Josh!

Oh Please

I had to take a quick second to get this down. My youngest sister, Miranda, is a senior in high school. She had a friend over this evening so they could get ready together before going out for the night. They ran out to her truck and a couple minutes later her friend comes back in the door. We look over, she looks at us, then she says, "Um, where's the porch?" WHAT? Apparently my sister sent her back from the truck to drop off her school books so they would have more room in the car. Miranda told her to put them on the porch, so she walked in the door trying to find it. Seriously. This is not a joke. This girl, a senior in high school, had no idea what a porch was, or where to find it.

A Fond Farewell

I have a great dad. He has taught me so many things and always been a positive influence in my life. Friday was a bittersweet day for my family. Lt. Col. De La Paz got on a plane and flew to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas to undergo special training before heading to Iraq for a year.

The military has always been a big part of my dad's life. He joined the National Guard when I was only a few years old. His deployment is a choice that we all, as a family, completely support. He is excited to serve our country overseas and continue to make a difference in people's lives around the world. I am proud to be his daughter.

I learned first hand about generosity and being a good person from my dad. He has sacrificed his time for over 20 years as a patriotic member of the Armed Forces. I am proud of the person he is, and his desire to make a positive impact in the lives of others. I think being part of the military speaks volumes for someone who stands by his convictions and wants to give back to a country that has given him so much.

We will miss him tremendously, and the few days he has been gone already seem to drag by. Macie told me that she is 4 now, so Papi can come home. She is so sweet. Too bad she's still 3. Luckily he will (most likely) spend a few days with us in December when he finishes his training, before leaving for Iraq. Thank you Dad for all that you do. You are admirable in every respect. God be with you.

All Things Ty

I feel like Ty is getting the short end of the stick. Such is the life of the second child. I don't do monthly updates or have half as many pictures as I did with Macie at his age. His personality seems to fit my neglect because he is WAY too busy to care about what I do. He has his own agenda and doesn't let Mom or anyone else get in his way. Here are a few things about my Ty Guy:

• He loves food. Basically any kind will do. I've discovered that the only way I can get him to hold still while I change his diaper is to put a snack in his hand. I love to watch him walk into the kitchen, head straight over to the snack cupboard, open it up and pull something out. If the package needs to be open he brings it to me, otherwise he just helps himself. 

• His attention can be diverted by the word "outside" at any moment. He runs to the door, bangs and yells until it opens. However, if he sees someone going outside and he isn't invited there will be a crying protest. "Shoes" is one of the words he can sign, and he asks for them often so he can go outside and walk around. 

• He picked up signing pretty well so far, considering I didn't teach him too many words. I feel like it makes life a little easier. He will show us signs for eat, all done, more, shoes and please.

• Ty loves his blankies. Any of his soft blankets will do, he doesn't have a favorite yet. I suspected he would cling to a blanket because he never took a pacifier or sucked his thumb. 

• I love when he says "Ma-ma" although "Da-da" seems to be his favorite word. He is quick to recognize Josh's presence, but to be clear, he is still very attached to me. He also says hello, sounds like "I-lo", "woo-woo" (he barks) for dog, and "sho" for shoes.  

• He is very inquisive and likes to figure out how things work. He enjoys putting things together, taking them apart, fitting them into spaces...all that boy stuff.

• His favorite toys are balls and books. He spends a good portion of the day playing catch with himself. He throws the ball, hurries over to it, picks it up and throws it again. He also pulls books off the bookshelf and brings them to us to read. He gets really into the animal ones and tries to make the right sounds. He's getting there. Books are one of the moments I can get him to sit still voluntarily. 

• He is a daredevil. I am amazed and the physical power of my little guy at age 1. He watches Macie and tries to do what she does. For example, the bottom of our stairs are blocked off, but Ty grabs onto the rails from the outside and climbs up the side. He stands on the bottom step with white knuckles yelling for me to come see what he's done. He is very proud. He also gets mad when I pull him off because he wants to keep climbing. Luckily he hasn't figured how to climb sideways yet. I snapped a picture of him trying to walk around a raised pillar like Macie does. He can also open doors. Fortunately, he can't open any of the doors to get outside yet. I have a feeling I will find him trapped in the garage one of these days though. 

• We celebrated his first birthday with some swimming and a BBQ. Ty had a great time despite everyone's disappointment that he didn't devour his cake and make a huge mess. I'm sorry my child prefers peas to birthday cake. He is my child, what can I say.

• He weighs almost 23 pounds and his height is in the 95th percentile. The pediatrician asked me if people think he is older than 12 months. Not really, they just comment on how tall he is. No surprise there.

• My sweet little guy never fails to make us smile. He cracks us up every day with the things he does. He is very loving and happy. He greets people with a toothy grin and gets even happier when they smile back. He loves to laugh. It makes us laugh when he does. He and Macie have a special bond that I know was formed before this life. They love each other so much (eventhough she pushes him around once and a while). When I think back to the time he was born and how hard life was for me, I know Ty was worth every minute. I love you Bubba.