Bathing Beauty

Since her first bath...ok maybe not the first sponge baths when Jose and I were miserably nervous and bumbling around...Aubriella has loved being in the water! Bath time is so fun for all of us, and Jose and I love to watch her enjoy her bath.

I think she looks so cute with her hair plastered down, and her eyelashes clumped together with little water droplets. Even though she has learned to splash the mirror it is still worth it to see how much fun she has!

She was making a funny face because we got water in her eyes!



We recently started finishing her bath with her on her tummy. She likes it!


She loves to talk to the pretty little girl in the mirror!

I love how she smiles at her daddy!

Look how long her hair is!!



I love my little wet ducky!

Aubriella 5 1/2 month update

Aubriella just had her 4 month shots yesterday (we delayed a bit!). She weighed in at a whopping 16lbs 15ounces! They didn't ask us to take off her clothes so I think that is a little off. The doc said that put her at the 75percentile for weight, but when I looked it up it was between 50 and 75th percentile. Either way she is a chubster! But most surprising is her height! She is 27 1/4 inches--that is the 95th percentile for height! Are you kidding me? Where is she getting this height from.

She is getting more advanced every day. She is sitting up for short periods of time unassisted. She easily rolls from her stomach to back, and back to stomach now- and two days ago figured out how to roll all around the room! She tries so hard to crawl! Right now she can get in the plank (push up) position, can get on all fours, lunges forward (sometimes face plants!), and yesterday started showing signs of moving the knees forward.

She smiles ALL the time, giggles often, and really laughs when being tickled or playing with the Whitaker's puppy Obie. When she gets really excited she waves her hands together and "claps." EVERYTHING she grabs goes in her mouth, and her little grasp is strong! She doesn't mean too, but she loves to grab and yank my hair- ouch!

She is a very happy baby, but she makes her wishes known! She is a wiggle worm in our arms now, constantly lunging and diving for things out of reach. When she can't get something she wants she whines.

Aubriella is good in the car most of the time, and when she isn't turning the music up really loud does the trick. She gets to suck on her pacifier on car rides, when going to sleep, and at church. She takes her toys Crunchy Bug, Love Bug, Elefun, and blankie bear with her everywhere.

She still exclusively nurses, and is doing great. She used to wake up once a night, but for some reason now wakes up a lot- sometimes every 3 hours! She naps and sleeps in her crib now.

We love her so much, and so does everyone who meets her!

Jasen's Graduation

My "baby" brother is going to be in high school! I can't believe the same little guy who I had to help wipe his butt (I had to write the most embarrassing thing I could think of) just graduated Jr. High! It has been fun to see him grow up and go to the same schools. I am so proud of him and the young man he is. He has become involved in his youth group and is serious about his relationship with God. My mom told me that she found out he was taking his Bible to school to read during silent reading so that someone might ask him questions about it! I can't wait to see how he continues to mature through high school!

At his graduation, I was a little concerned that the 5 of us attending wouldn't make enough noise for him. I was surprised to hear SO MANY girls scream for him. Hum...Poor guy didn't see it coming. Jesse and Jose surprised him by covering him in silly string!



He should have learned! He was shocked when they did it on his way out!


Aubriella loves her Uncle Jasen and wore the bib to prove it!
I've got to add that Jasen (like his big brother Jesse) was voted best eyes in the yearbook.

Hawaii!

Our biggest recent highlight was our trip to Hawaii! Jose's friend Kirk and Melanie got married on the Big Island and we were blessed to be able to attend!

If I had a sliver of worry that Aubriella wouldn't travel well, I shouldn't have! She did amazing! The flights were great and we constantly were told how beautiful, smiley, happy, and well behaved she was! She was quite the little show off too!

I got to admit I was kind of disappointed with my first impression of Hawaii. The Kona side of the Island reminded me of San Diego and mars (because of the lava rock) and was not the tropical jungle I'd envisioned. It felt a little silly to pay so much and travel so far to see the beach that wasn't all that different from what we have here. However, soon the sea turtles and coconuts won me over!

Jose was able to spend his first Father's Day in Hawaii and I know it will be a memory that lasts a lifetime! We hiked out to Kiholo Bay that Sunday, and Aubriella had a blast too!

Of course the highlight of the trip was the Davis' wedding. I LOVE all things weddings, and let me tell you this was by far the most impressive wedding I've ever seen! From the great welcome dinner/lawn party to the day after farewell brunch- no detail was overlooked!

I could post a million more pictures of our trip, but my facebook album pretty much sums it up already. Click HERE to see them!

Where to begin?!?

It has been over a month since I last posted! I have thought about sitting down to update many times, but the truth is it has seemed a little overwhelming! So many things have happened in the past month and so many pictures have been taken I haven't known where to start!

Life has been good. I love being a mom and I'm enjoying my position as Children's Pastor! Aubriella and I are getting more into a groove and she has improved in her napping schedule. The hardest thing for me is prioritizing what needs to be done while she naps! I have to find time to have a daily devotional/quiet time, work on Children's ministry things, clean, eat, and get ready...We look forward to when Daddy gets home so he can play with and entertain her and I can get a few more things done uninterrupted!

So here we go, my plan is to post at least a few updates soon- lets see how far I get!

Twinkle Toes

Could this really be the same ballerina?

At 7 weeks she tried on her little tutu onesie from my mom

And look at her in the same shirt at 17 weeks!

This is her "I-may-look-cute-but-I'm-tough-enough-to-punch-your-lights-out" look

I know it is only wishful thinking that she could be ballerina with the anti-dancing genes she inherited. I'm hoping though that if I start her young enough nurture will over ride nature!

Baby Jesse Joaquin

Jose's family has been busting at the seams with new babies! He and all his cousins announced pregnancies back to back. To recap... In August baby Adam was born, November Gulianna, January Aubriella, and now May brought Gizelle and Jesse's baby Little Jesse! (Don't worry there are more coming! In August Derek and Lindsey will have a girl, and September Maria and Tavo are having a boy!).

We were able to meet little Jesse at the hospital! He is so cute and we love him already! I've already offered to watch him while his parents go to Vegas in November- I hope they will take me up on it!!

Jose, Gigi and the very proud Great Grandparents with their two youngest.