OC Family - Moms. Kids. Life. - (Yo Soy Mommy)

Changes...

Sun, 18 Apr 2010 21:05:00 GMT

I've been blogging for about a year and a half now, and I have to say that I love it. Although the perks that come with it are nice, I love it because it's changing me for the better. Never in a million years, would I have thought that I would be where I am now. Living in el OC, blogging as a Latina Blogger, meeting wonderful bloggers (like the ones here), and most of all, the blessings that come with blogging.

My kids are so spoiled by my blog. S P O I L E D! I would like for others to see it as blessings as I do. My kids have been to more places in their young lives, than I have in my ** years here on earth! The only one who get's left out is my hubby. It's ok, though... He says he's happy as long as we're happy. Oh boy, are we happy!

Now, here is where I come in with changes. I have publicly blabbed on my blog, that I am the most frumpy mujer you will ever meet. Since becoming a Mamá , I've let myself go. Even more now with 3 mocosos. I never really went into keeping up my appearance. Never had a Mani/Pedi. Never got my hair dyed. Never shopped at the mall for make-up. Never been to a spa. I've just never had the need for it. This has all changed now.

Since my blog kinda took off when I moved to el OC, I am starting to feel a little self conscious about how I look. I wanted to make a better change for myself. I wanted to feel better also. Now, when I see something I like, and fits me well, I buy it. I look for clothes for me, not just for the chamacos! Weird, I know. It's been years since I've bought something for me, and ya know what? I like it! lol...

I've lost some llantitas around my waist. I'm a little obsessed with shoes right now. I want to style and dye my hair. I love the cute summer dresses that are coming out. I love it all!!!!! Now, if only my hubby would let me shop a little more... le da un ataque al corazón si le digo eso! ja ja ja!

All in all, I am starting to feel a whole lot better about myself. I think others can see it, too. I'm praying that I keep it up. Thanks SO much blog, for this awesome change in me!!

You can also find Liz at Thoughts of a Mommy and on Twitter

Tears of Felicidad

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 23:17:00 GMT

Yesterday, I did something that brought me to tears. Call me a lloróna if you want, but they were tears of joy. Yesterday, I braided my daughter's hair for the first time. Two trensitas for my nena. I am one proud Mamí.

They're not the best tresas. She does have the Asian flatness to it, but they are trensa!

I clearly remember my mom braiding my hair, time and time again when I was young. She would add ribbons and bows matching my outfits. When she would take me shopping, I would always convince her to buy me listónes. Those are memories that I will never forget. What's funny now, is that I never really gave braiding my own daughter's hair much thought.

Almost like... I forgot I had a daughter that I can do things like this with!

My nena is such a rough little toddler... just like her kuyas. Not entirely a tomboy, but not a girlie girl either. She can get down and dirty with her older brothers and the next thing you know, she's talking to Snow White on her Cinderella cell phone. She's the sweetest little thing that takes no bull from her older kuyas. Go figure!

When I dressed her up yesterday, I don't know what gave me the idea to braid her hair (little did I know, what I was about to discover). I sat her in front of me and I proceeded to braid. Then the thought came to me (along with the chilladera) that for the first time in my life, I got to braid my daughters hair.

Ugh! How could I have let this go on for so long? She's three already! Three years old, and my baby girl has never had trensas in her hair! I remember when I found out that we were having a girl, all that came to my mind were thoughts of pink, pink, and more pink! Things like dressing her up in little cute dresses and zapatitos de muñecas, were never far from my mind. But, this... THIS.... sigh.....

Until Saturday, I had forgotten all about the little stuff, like braiding her hair or playing with pretend make-up. Heck, even walking in my heels! I feel so bad. I think I'm gonna braid her hair all next week, just to make up for lost time.

I also need to take her shopping for moñitos and listónes and start making memories of my own with her. For when the time comes for her to braid her daughter's hair, she will think back to that moment, when I braided hers.

Oh man... can someone get me a tissue?

The colors of the laundry

Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:41:00 GMT

Camo green, Spiderman red, Princess pink, and Postal blue. Amigas, today I am talking about the highlight of my week: Laundry Day. I've only had my washer and dryer for 9 months. Before that, I went to the laundromat. Yup, I did our laundry there for 12 years! I used to lug 3 plastic bins with me...even through 3 pregnancies. Oh, and I always took the kids with me. Thinking back now, I don't know how I did it?!?

Now a days, I normally do laundry about 3 times a week, at home. Last week, as I was sorting the clothes, and I noticed all that kept coming up was Camo green, Spiderman red, Princess pink and the occasional Postal blue. I thought to myself "Well, well, well. Isn't this nice?!?".

Doing the laundry and folding the clothes for my family is a way of life for this housewife, but is this really it? What about me? All I washed for myself were my "grandma lookin' chones", my camisoles, and my sweats. Knowing that Valentines day was only a month ago, the thought of anything sexy seemed so distant. Do I even know where I left my sexy underthings?

Hmmm? Where did they end up?

Oh yeah... back to writing...First thing first: I got to shop for new chonies even if it IS at the tienda de las gorditas (wink, wink).

All this, so that next time there will be Camo green, Spiderman red, Princess pink, Postal blue, and black, lacey, you know whats.

Oh yeah, baby!

Experienced Mamá

Sat, 13 Mar 2010 10:10:00 GMT

The other day I was writing info in Sarai's baby book, and I remembered about the time when I went for Sarai's first doctors appointment. I remember her speaking to me about the general care of a newborn. Jonah was with us, walking back and forth inside the tiny exam room.

As she was explaining how to give my newborn a bath, she paused and turned to Jonah and then to me and said,"Well, anyways... you're an experienced mother, so I don't have to explain a whole lot of things" Oh really???

Even until now, I don't know why that phrase stood in my mind? An "experienced mother"? Yo? Ummm, ok?!? Does this mean I'm qualified for the job? Does this mean I could ask for a raise from someone? You know...having "experience" and all.

It's silly to think like this, but I wonder what makes us qualified mama's? Do you have to have more than 1 kid? Do you have to be a mamí for at least a year? Should the "Experienced Mother" have at least a couple of ear infections, colds, bouts with projectile vomiting or several childhood diseases under her belt, before applying for the job?

Dios mio... I tell ya!

Are you an Experienced Mother?

You can also find Liz at Thoughts of a Mommy and on Twitter

Sibling Rivalry

Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:36:00 GMT

What is it about Sibling Rivalry? My four and three year olds go at it, all the time. Most of the times they are the best of friends, and then all hell breaks loose when their not. I know for a fact that Jonah is very competitive. He wants and likes to win at everything, and Sarai is just like her kuya.

For anything it has to be a competition. Who gets their food first? Who gets their shoes on primero? Who gets undressed or dressed first? Who gets in and out of the tub first? Who gets in the car first and who puts on their seat belt first? I mean the list goes on and on! DIOS MIO!!!

They are the worst of sore losers. They have BIG tantrums when they don’t win. I don’t know how to stop it!?! I tried to tell them that it’s not a competition or a race, but try explaining that to a 3 and 4 year old! Ugh… I have to put an end to it. It drives me nuts! ” Mommy , me first, me first” , “I’m the Winner, you’re the loser” , “Ha, ha I won, I won” I hear this EVERYDAY. What to do?

Sometimes I think it's even worse when we're in the car.

My one true wish, in my little mundo, would be a Van in which the back seats were about 10 ft. apart. I know it would look absolutely ridiculous, but at least I would have peace in the back seat. The kind I used to have while going to or coming back home from work. Even just a little tranquilidad that I get when I run over to the store without the niños.

Nope... not me! The car seats are in bucket seats. Right next to each other. A simple trip to Target or Walmart, or where ever, is HELL(for me). They fight like there is no tomorrow. Either Jonah hits Sarai, or Sarai keeps singing the same song over and over again, which of course, annoys the heck out of Jonah. I swear, I totally sympathize with the lady who pulled off to the side of the road a couple of years ago and let her fighting girls out and simply drove away. I don't think I have enough nerves to pull what she did, but I sure do sympathize with her.

How do you deal with all this? Until I figure out what to do, I guess I'm that crazy loca Mamí in Orange County driving around screaming and yelling while trying to referee the kids in the back seat.

And to all I say, just keep driving…..

No more babies

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 13:10:00 GMT

Last Friday, my life changed forever! My daughter, my last child, my baby stopped drinking "Titi". Titi is what we called the bottle. My God! How did this happen? How can it be that this is the LAST of all things baby! That's it. Gone. Over. Wow, this is the first time I write about it, and I can feel the sick feeling in the pit on my stomach.

I know what you're thinking, and I get it. Yeah she's on to better things like role playing and barbies.... Oh, you're not thinking that? So, you're wondering how old she is, right? Ok then, YES, my niña is three and she still had a Titi! It was only 2 bottles a night. One to fall asleep and another during the night. She did not have it during the day. Now, I give it to here in cups to drink with either lunch or dinner.

I look at her now and I think about how fast she grew up. My son and daughter are a year and "nine" months apart. For the past 4 years we've had baby stuff here at home. (Although, I don't think I'll ever give up on buying wipes. I love those things!) Now it's all a distant memory. I'm sure my husband is glad she's done with the bottle, since he was the one getting up to warm up the milk. I, on the other hand, I have an lump in my throat every time I think about her not wanting Titi anymore. What's next? No more shopping in the toddler size clothing section anymore? No more cute moñitos for her hair? School, boys, college? AHHHHH!!! What is happening in this world? I want my baby to stay a baby!

Yeah...ok, I'm done. I've vented, released, and have taken lots of deep breaths.

Sugar and Spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of. She is the apple of her daddy's eye. Esta niña linda, que nació en el día, quieren que la lleven a la nevería.... I'm gonna miss having a baby around.

GROWING UP LATINA

Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:32:00 GMT

Growing up Latina has it’s perks! Really…. it truly does. We have culture like no other! Things like Piñatas , Quinceañeras, novelas, carne azada’s are the norm from infancy. One thing I can never get used to are the “remedios”.

My mom, who hails from Durango, Mexico has an unusual obsession with….anacin!

For any little thing… “Tomate unas Anacines”

A headache-Anacin
A cold-Anacin
A rash-Anacin
“Woman stuff”-Anacin

See what I mean?

I keep telling her, every time she offers me the dreaded white pills, that they don’t solve everything! “Yo siempre he tomado estas pastillas, y nunca me ha pasado nada”

Try arguing with that! I totally beg to differ! My dad was a firm believer of 7up.

A headache-7up
A cold-7up
A rash-7up
“Woman stuff”-7up

One Christmas season he made Menudo. If you have never cooked Menudo in your house, consider yourself lucky!. The smell is HORRIFIC! I got so sick….so nauseated. Next thing I knew, I had a can of 7up in my hand. It cures the incurable!

Same thing with Vapo-ru! Right?

A headache-Vapo-ru
A cold-Vapo-ru
A rash-Vapo-ru
“Woman stuff”-Vapo-ru

And to add insult to injury…. my husband LOVES this stuff. He has his little frasco under the pillow.

It never ends... Dios Mio!

You can also find Liz at Thoughts of a Mommy and Mamá al Día.