11 thousand

DREAMERS.
I'm so excited for my brother and sisters.
It seems something might happen with them
The dream act was signed last June and now they can apply
There are tons of requirements
and they qualify.
Once they're approved they can receive
a social security card
then apply for a work permit
and finally a drivers license.

Look at the line ^

We went down town to navy pier for a free workshop.

It was hell, with two kids, hot, humid.

We didn't stay.

But it was a shocker seeing how many are really here just like us.

With dreams of bettering themselves. 

My brother was 4 when he came here my other sisters 1 and 2.

I'm so over the moon that they are able to put this program into gear

and we don't have to worry about Ice, driving, ect.

Thank you all the dreamers that have worked hard to get this going 

we appreciate you.

Sweater Weather

Today was the first time L wore long sleeves. Honestly I'm so over summer. It wasn't kind to me, at first it was all great and dandy butAnyway, me & the kiddo we're exploring our backyard. Well it's not actually ours, it communal but we like to pretend. I put on his cute raincoat (salvation army 2.99) and got stepping outsid then shit got real. So I'm happy to see summer go. I'm gonna welcome Fall with this post, even though we still have a couple of weeks left till fall. 

We finished the day eating some yummy dirt :) 

See ya summer..I'm done with ya

Meeting old friends..

Remember those lovely P.A.L ladies I spoke of.

The ones that I met while pregnant w/ Lucas and was scared out of my mind

Well I recently had the good fortune of meeting one of the closest ones to me

RUTH!!.

A little about her

She has five adorable kiddos

She lives in Indiana

and is an awesome mama.

I don't know how she does it.

It was quite something finally meeting a friend I speak to almost daily

It wasn't weird

It wasn't awkward 

We met up at the Dunes in Indy 

and had a fun day with the kiddos.

I look forward to many years of meetings. 

In Sept, I'm gonna meet another lady, Marissa.

I cannot wait, Florida has been calling for a while now.

We're taking a road trip.

Dh, the babe, a cousin(that we love) and I.

So exciting!!!

and where back here again....

Heartache later, for now just a post about how I have to basically start from the beginning with L and his sleeping habits. So I have had the hardest month of my life. This month has tested my families ability to cope, and be as strong as ever. It is unfortunate that our strength  has to be determined by how well we get up when we get knocked down. Those are the rules of life, and I hate them. Last, last week when I dislocated my shoulder, basically doing nothing. I allowed L to go back onto our bed. He was sleeping 4-5 continuous hours but I was loopy and didn't wanna get up. The husband works early and I've never made him get up when the baby would wake up, and I was at home for five months I always got up..ALWAYS! It sometimes sucked, but I was committed to nursing. He does so much for us, I think the man could get some sleep at least. So, anyways I allowed him to sleep with us, Then other stuff happened that I won't got into right now and I didn't wanna wake up too much. I was a little numb, and then its been two weeks of straight co-sleeping again. I seriously still don't hate it. I kinda love it, but it doesn't work for our space. So here I am back at waking up every 2-3hrs. Trying to get him down in his crib. I still go in there, I lay with him in his crib. Tonight He nursed twice and the third time I sang him to sleep. That's something new, I actually sang him to sleep. How awesome is that.? We have a lullaby, and he fell asleep to it. I absolutely love that, I never thought we would get there. I promise once day to not have a whole blog dedicated to my son's sleeping. For now it is all we struggle with.

Our city

I don't think I'll ever tire of living so close to downtown Chicago.

It is so beautiful.

Whether it is summer or winter.

Or my favorite..FALL.

It is absolutely gorgeous.

This weekend we took the kiddo to Millennium park

He had so much fun

He even tried drinking the fountain water.

I think the city gets more fun the bigger Lucas gets.

We only wish we could have that as a backyard.

FOREVER & A DAY

I've been so busy.
having a crazy One yr. old makes you very busy.
I can't sit down in front of the laptop.
I can't sit at all.
well.. maybe I can, but he commands attention.
When I'm in front of a computer, I feel like a bad mama.
& by the time he's ready for bed, mama is too.


Since I last wrote,
We've seen the lawyer again.
Celebrated my 23rd bday
 (got some exciting news)
Lucas is teething yet again..sigh
Dislocated my shoulder
Got my car towed
Got pulled over 


Needless to say I'm glad this month is over
Even though it wasn't all bad, I'm looking forward
to August, maybe I can start on my goals

& he sleeps

 In his crib!

The reason; I jumped in his crib.

He has learned to love his crib, & now sleeps 5 straight hours at night

which is a whole lot for us.

& naps, oh lovely , sweet naps.

(angel's singing)

He sleeps about 2-3 hours!

He doesn't freak out about his crib.

He goes down and stays down.

& we sleep well, If he awakes I immediately get up

We nurse and back to sleep it is

Summer 2012

With party planning and just life uninterrupted

 we have barely celebrated the beginning of summer

For me summer usually started on my birth day

As a previous self-centered individual "that was all that mattered"

Now life is fuller, more awesome!

(yes i am one of those that uses awesome..alot)

Our life revolves around him ^

I never over indulge him, he's very well mannered

As well mannered as a one year old can get

He doesn't hit or bite..Yes quite proud of that

because he is a smart boy, he understands,

He does throw fits and tantrums but I think some of that is allowed.

sometimes..

Anyway we took Lucas to his first town carnival, or fest.

It had very limited rides for the junebug, he only rode the horseys.

Being 28 1/4 inches doesn't get you very far.

I hope to one day get on a roller coaster with him

I hope he loves them like I do, otherwise, he will be sitting on the sidelines

with dad.

I had an awesome time riding them. 

L & dad are some of the people beneath watching crazy mom plunge

Hurray for summer! & for another year of life 

with my crazy boy.. To being 23 and having such a great hubs.

BROKEN RECORD

Lately,
I've been trying to get the booger back in his crib.
I need to be a good wife, to balance it all, We need our space back.
Co-sleeping & bed sharing is awesome don't get me wrong!
but he really needs more space for himself even.
I hope to succeed, i think this is attempt numero 4-5 LMFAO..

Happy 4th

Lucas saw fireworks for the first time,

I was a bit apprehensive about it.

I thought  they would be too loud

The little booger

 lost interest after a while

So I worried for nothing! it wasn't too loud.

We had a blast!

Weight of my shoulders

I can breathe a little easier, It's kinda silly to me. I've finally reached my ultimate nursing goal ; 12 months. I know why it was important to me, but did I have to put such pressure on myself.? I was always anxious around my newborn, always feeling like he was hungry. Now it's so easy, like breathing. He eats so much other good stuff, I barely worry about him nursing. If we do it's awesome, but it's not like before. I'm not stressing out wether my child is starving or not. In these last 12 months I've learned so much about nursing. I may even consider myself a "lactivist". I really wish all women could experience the beauty and pride I feel to have nursed my son this far. Every thing beyond this point is a plus.
Today I gave him his sippy full of cow's milk. He loooved it. Also I might be ovulating, because I pumped today at home & at work and only was able to produce 3 measly ounces together!!. Last week this would have devastated me, but today I combined a little of my milk along with the cows and apperantly he loved it or tolerated it enough to fall asleep to. I will be ready if he soon decides to wean. I doubt it though, we'll see

Birthday party..he's ONE!

Ok, so I failed at posting daily this week!
I had no time, I was on full planning mode.
Excited for the first birthday, I completely forgot about my posting goals.
Counting his baptism, and my hubby's graduation party, this is the third party I've hosted.
His birthday was not without glitch, but it still seemed perfect in my eyes!
First off, It was hot.
The weather had predicted scattered showers
Next to the alteranative, rain. Hot seemed lovely.
The party started at 2pm.
2pm was my deadline, I had been up since 7.
I baked some goodies, and got my stuff ready.
Thank goodness my mom suggested me taking an early shower, because time was constricted
My day was so busy, I'm still sore!

We had sno cones, makeshift photobooth, a bouncy castle..
Kids were running, having fun.
I made me feel so happy that they were trully enjoying themselves.
Lucas especially, he was content, even if we didn't nurse until like 4.
I was a bit sore by then.
I also had a time capsule, Lucas got some great stuff, that were planning on opening come 2030.
I still have yet to write him a note, I will think of something to tell my soon to be 18yr old.
My hubb literally busted his ass getting stuff together.
He was sore too!

Over all, everything was oh so lovely!
I have to come up w/ some thank you notes
more work, but I feel a little better.

Party planning stresses me out!

Birthday week DAY- TRES

Ah shit, I was supposed to post every day leading up tp the big day ...oooops
Day 3 was uneventful, I got caught up in reading Twilight, yes folks, I gave into the mania!!
My little sis hung around and helped me w/ most of my birthday-pinterest projects!!

Birthday week..DAY-DOS!!

Pictures throught the months ..
He has changed sooo much!!
I love him to pieces

rumbunctious

Birthday week DAY-UNO!

So I've expressed my goal & dream to one day become a photographer.

Obviously I have practiced on my kiddo many many times

And I will continue to practice on him. 

While I'm not even remotely ready to be a professional 

L allowed me to do his birthday pictures

I clearly gave him a family discount ; )

I took him to a forest preserve

Along with balloons

Him dressed so damn cute, with a bow and all

and I started shooting,

I still have to edit a lot, In order for me to like my silly little pictures

I know They aren't the best focused or sharp

My equipment isn't there yet

But still I tried to capture him smiling 

I'm starting to realize, Photography is hard.

Yet I will continue to pursue the dream.

These are the pictures I took of my son for his invite, I feel kinda silly because I feel anyone can do this. 

This one ultimately made it to the invite, not sure why but I loove it (below)