Video video video

I finally got the time to edit and load some videos.  Hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy her!  At least check out Miss Club Hand in the third video.  Yea, we're mean.

Advent

I love Advent the most of every season of the liturgical year.  Advent comes from the Latin word, adventus, which means "coming".  It is a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas.  The Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, which is commonly used in reference to the Second coming of Christ.  For Christians, the season of Advent is a reminder both of the original waiting that was done by the Hebrews for the birth of the Messiah as well as the waiting of Christians for Christ's return from heaven.  The theme of readings and teachings during Advent is often to prepare for the second coming of Christ while commemorating the first coming of Christ at Christmas.  

"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." ~ Matthew 24:42 

"For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." ~Luke 2:11  

Advent starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.   I think I love this season the most because it is so hopeful.  It reminds me of good times past, and the good to come in the future.  I struggle with hope and can often get bogged down in the glass half empty mentality.  This season shakes me from that and helps me to look out of myself for the bigger picture.  "All things are possible to him who believes." ~ Mark 9:23  Maybe that's why I blubber like a baby when watching "It's a Wonderful Life."  Even though I may forget it from time to time, it IS a wonderful life!

 I love the traditions of an Advent Wreath, with extra time for reflection and prayer, and the Jesse Tree (a sort of advent calendar with a bible reading everyday that goes through salvation history).  If you count the ornaments on our tree so far we are clearly behind already.  It's been hard with Tony's work schedule.  We might have to start doing the reading separately (he's on the night shift so our down times are different).  What's stopping me from taking the time for more prayer during other parts of the year?  Nothing of course, but that is why I love the seasons of the liturgical year which call us back when we have gotten complacent. The Advent traditions help me to focus on the real reason for the season and to not get too caught up in the "stress" of gift giving.  Don't get me wrong, I've already watched my fair share of Christmas movies, listened to Christmas music, helped make some Christmas treats and done my part to boost the economy (love me some online shopping), but it has all been enjoyable.

 As far as Monica's preparation for Christmas, she chews on and plays with her nativity set and plastic ornaments.  I can see her becoming holier by the moment. :o)  She has started hugging and loves to wrestle-hug this reindeer stuffed animal that my Grandma Alice made when I was young.  It is one of the cutest things she's done yet.  I love it!

We are still pondering and praying about future traditions for our family.  What to do about Santa- to believe or not believe, or in what way to make sure the day is still Christ focused?  The number of presents- I love some of my other friends' practices of only giving three (from mom and dad) because that was enough for Jesus (gold, frankincense and myrrh).  I'd love to hear about your family traditions if you'd like to share.  Happy Advent everyone, may your preparation for Christ's coming be merry!

9 months

 

I feel as though I start every month update post with something like, "I can't believe how much Monica has grown."  But this month I really mean it.  Her growth has been exponential!  She is fully crawling (EVERYWHERE)!  Nothing in the house is safe.  She even knows she can move the gate we have blocking the TV/ wires/ plants.  She pulls herself up on anything she thinks is stable and somethings that aren't.

She will sit and play with her toys, her new favorite is a a children's nativity set and two plastic ornaments.  She babbles and moves them around.  She also chews on them.  I don't think anything is safe from going in her mouth.  She cut two more teeth.  This time on the top.  She has her right front tooth and the tooth directly to the left of where her front left tooth should be.  Weird.  Both teeth just appeared, no extra fussiness.

She waves, claps, gives high fives and blows kisses.  She doesn't quite do these on cue, but the skills are there.  She gives hugs to us and stuffed animals.  It's super cute and I pretty much will drop anything to linger a little longer with her.

She's eating a ton now- three meals a day.  The thing she refuses to eat- peas? green beans?  No, she refuses to eat peaches!  Really child, peaches are what you turn down?  She also just learned to sip from a sippy cup instead of chew on it.

She loves the book Pat the Bunny.  She will turn the pages and do all the things that Paul and Judy can do.  She even sniffs the flowers (i.e. brings the book to her face and blows air out through her nose).  She also loves a pop up book, Where's that Bear?  She uses her thumb and pointer finger and pulls the tab herself to get the bear to pop up.

We love her so much and have so much fun with her everyday.  Her personality is shining through more and more.  She just loves to play, laugh and explore.  Sitting still is not her forte.  As I've been writing this post she has crawled all around the living room, playing with every toy she owns, babbling and laughing and climbing all by herself.  She is such a joy and I can't imagine my life without her.  I love getting up with her every morning just to see what she will do today (well, I like getting up if its after 6 am).  She's definitely a morning person, but I'm adjusting and I like how much I'm able to get done when we get up early. 

Thank you, God, for our beautiful and goofy little girl.  Happy 9 months, Monica!

Christmas Tree Hunting

 On the first Sunday of Advent, we went to a Christmas tree farm to find the perfect tree.  It was a beautiful 60 degree day which was nice, but didn't click with my childhood memories of tromping through deep snow in the woods to find a tree. 

 We found a tree we liked pretty quickly and Tony sawed through it, only to leap backwards just before it would have fallen on him.  It's not that big of a tree so if it had fallen on him the most damage would have been from sap. 

 After loading the tree we headed down to see the reindeer and Santa.  I didn't have any expectations as to how Monica would react toward Santa and I wasn't even planning on taking pictures with him.  We approached Santa walking in the yard.  Monica was in my arms, eating a mum mum (a rice cracker that she loves) when jolly Santa smiled and said hello.  The saddest, most pitiful cry erupted from my little girl.  Who knew?  At least now we know not to waste time dressing her up and standing in line at the mall to have her cry in the face of some poor guy.

  

I would have felt bad for her, but it was too dang funny.  Sorry my love.

I kept the tree decor simple this year.  I didn't want to make it more tempting for my curious crawler.  

So far she's left it alone. 

Thankfulness

I am thankful for the birth of my healthy and beautiful daughter, Monica Marie.
I am thankful for my husband, how generously and sacrificially he loves.
I am thankful for my husband's job in the US Navy and the security and opportunities it provides for our family.
I am thankful for my family.
I am thankful for my friends, local ones that I have enjoyed getting to meet and distant ones whom I miss dearly.
I am thankful for my health and for my desire to be healthier.
I am thankful for opportunities to grow and improve myself.
 

Thanksgiving included a turkey trot and the cooking of my first turkey.  My brother helped out and beside the fact that it took an hour and a half longer than I had planned, it turned out pretty well.  Thanks to a friend's suggestion, we covered the bird in bacon (because everything is better with bacon) and that helped keep the it moist.  The parade and football were watched.  Three other couples with their babies joined us and brought along all the fixings.  Monica (thanks to no good naps) was a whiny cranky face the whole time.  It was a full stomach, hearty laughter, kind of wonderful day!

Scootching and Crawling

Here are a couple videos of Monica's mobile progress.  She has started venturing off of the carpet (baby gates are going up today) and is getting more adventurous.  I can never seem to capture the best crawling exhibitions so the videos aren't that amazing.  The first is her scootching after a ball (her current favorite toy) and the second shows her stellar sound effects.  She is quite a skilled whiner.  Hey, if you're going to do something, might as well be the best at it, right?

8 Months!

Miss Monica is 8 months!  As I write this, she is sitting on the floor, happily munching on and talking to (da da da da) a wii nunchuck and pulling the lid off of a shoe box.  Only the best for our girl. :o) 

It's been a busy month!  Monica has two teeth.  Two painful-for-everyone teeth.  She turned into a cranky face for a couple weeks, but now our sweet, easy going child is back.  She babbles quite a bit, usually da da and na na.  She says ma ma when she's cranky and wants something.  She also makes a guttural loud dinosaur roar.  This is pleasant. :o)  She also wrinkles her nose and sniffs in and out quickly when she wants something.  It's pretty funny.

She started crawling on Nov. 3rd and loves nothing more than to pull herself up to standing.  She does this quite unsteadily so I've been spending a great deal of time playing stabilizer.  She also can stand up in her crib.  We lowered it this week.  Her crawling is still slow and some days she forgets she can do it.  So she resorts back to whining at me when she wants something out of her reach.  My video software is acting up, but I promise to post the videos I've been taking of all her milestones soon.

She has so much personality (big surprise) and certainly expresses likes and dislikes now.  She LOVES animals and children.  She kicks, squirms, giggles and stares whenever she sees them.  She especially loves dogs and wants nothing more than to pull their fur out.

Her favorite play time activities are pulling apart anything that will come apart.  I put her blocks away, she takes them out.  I build something with her blocks, she tears it down.  We make a good team.

She has graduated from elementary pictures books and is now only entertained by interactive books with pop ups or flaps. 

I feel like her 8 month old self is so aware of everything and it is so amazing to watch her grow in understanding and ability.  Mama and Daddy love you Monica!

Florida

                    We were blessed with the opportunity to go with my folks to Florida for a vacation and to visit my brother, who is in the Army.  It was wonderful to go on a destination vacation as a family and even more wonderful to see my brother.  He was the last immediate family member to meet Monica and we were so excited to be able to spend some time with him.  The trip was GREAT and I think family destination vacations to warm beachy locations should be a regular event (especially when you miss an early snow storm at home). 

                We stayed at a big resort where snow birds own houses and wannabes (like us) stay in condos.  Tony and I played tennis twice and had massages.  We sat on the beach and swam in the ocean.  Monica was not the biggest fan of the beach.  Was it the warm sun, soft sand, salty water or the fact that everyone she trusted smelled different and was wearing weird clothes?  She took to the pool a little better. 

Grandma! Stop tickling me!

We learned the effect of a cross breeze on a card game played from the balcony on the 17^th floor.  But this allowed us to go on the Great Card Hunt.  Sadly we lost a player and had to call in the joker.

We ate lots of yummy food, of course.  I got my seafood fix and I think Tony got his hamburger fix. 

                My brother and I talked a lot of smack about who was going to win at miniature golf and after a fierce battle the victor was quite clear . . . our mom. :o)

Yes, that's right.  She's wearing a dress with a sweater, sun hat, socks and nursing cover.  No, she did not dress herself.

Okay, folks, my turn.

Plotting my next move.

Go Dad go!

                Tony, Monica and I were able to meet up with Tony’s cousin, who is in the Air Force, and his family.  It was a fun dinner to catch up with each other.  Once again it would be nice to live by family.

                Besides the fact that Delta has the worst baggage handling and customer service EVER, the trip was wonderful and I didn’t want it to end.  I am so grateful for the quality time with family.  We are very blessed! 

*In case you were wondering, I intentionally left pictures of my brother off of the blog at his request.  They can be found on facebook if you are our 'friend.' :o)

Mac family visit

My mom, dad and youngest brother, Mike, visited us at the end of October.  It was such a treat, and it made me step up the prayers for God to lead us to live closer to family after Tony gets out of the military.  We were able to have lots of good family time and, thanks to the generosity of my mom, had a month's worth of dates with my hubby. 

The week included:

• LOTS of yummy food (this might have been why I didn't reach my November goal)
• a movie date
• Pumpkin Patch/ Apple orchard
• walking and driving tours of the area
• shopping with Grandma
• a dinner date
• bar hopping with Uncle Mike (it was tame, we were home by 11 pm)
• a visit to the Saratoga Battle Field with Grandma and Grandpa
• dinner at a friend's house (thanks for the yummy food, Bree)
• naps!

The best part was watching my family with Monica.  Despite teething crankiness, she took to them and seemed to know that they were good company- especially my mom.  Grandma got some big smiles and giggles out of her.  When are you guys coming back?  Next weekend?

10K and Goal Update

On Saturday, October 22nd, with friend Breanna by my side, I completed my second 10K.  The second half of the run had some hills, but I bested my previous prepregnancy time by 3 minutes and felt great.  We intend to keep running through the winter (indoors, I don't like running THAT much) and challenge ourselves to keep running longer distances.

November arrived quickly.  I didn't reach my goal of losing 20 pounds (lost 12lbs for inquiring minds), but I have gotten to a good place with my eating and have decided to set a new goal for myself.  Soooo, new goal: 15 pounds lost by January 1st.  That's about 2lbs a week.  Obviously the holiday season is a tricky time of year for weight loss, but the eating plan I've been on is all about portion control.  Eat what you would like, just a smaller amount, that way you don't feel deprived by all the things you can't have. 

Tony's work schedule makes it hard for him watch Monica so I can exercise.  Because of this she ends up coming in the stroller for runs or going to the babysitting room at the gym.  I often feel guilty about this and struggle with throwing off routines or allowing people I don't know that well to care for her.  I have to remind myself that she will grow up seeing a example of living a healthy lifestyle, get fresh air (on the runs), socialize and build immunity (babysitting room). :o)  Other parents may disagree, but I don't want to end up like moms on the Biggest Loser who sacrificed everything, health included, for their families.  You can't give what you don't have.  If I don't have a joyful and healthy heart I won't be a good wife or mother for my family.  So that's the plan, next update in December!  

Pumpkin Patch 2011

This weekend we participated in a new Souza family tradition of visiting the pumpkin patch and apple orchard.  Tony had not been apple picking before and was a little confused by the concept.  His explanation, "At one point the farmers thought to themselves, 'How am I going to get the apples off of the trees? I know, I'll have my customers travel to me, pick them, charge them and tell them it is fun!' Brilliant!"  He said he had fun watching us pick them. :o) 

We met our friends Breanna and Chris there with their son, Ethan, and took tons of pictures, which is the purpose of pumpkin patches for adults ~ getting cute pics of their kids.  A friend passed down a costume to use which Tony kept apologizing to Monica for making her wear.  She is usually super smiley for the camera, but I think she was overwhelmed by the whole thing and didn't grace us with a smile until after she got out of the costume.  You would be overwhelmed too if you looked like Pepto Bismol and were sitting on something pokey surrounded by orange orbs larger than you are.  My mom is visiting right now which added to the adventure.  The day ended with a large purchase of yummy apple treats in addition to the apples that will be turned into pies soon.  The outing was a great success!!