Big Man

Lorenzo had his 4 month check up today. Poor guy had to have three shots and an oral vaccine. He is a growing boy, measuring in at 26 1/2 inches long and weighing 15 lbs. 15 oz. He is in the 95% for his height and 75% for weight. He is the total opposite from Rayna, which is fine since he is a boy. Boys are supposed to be bigger.
These are some pictures I took the other day. You can see how big Lorenzo has gotten and Rayna too. Soon Lorenzo will be bigger than Rayna at the rate he is going.

4 Months Old & Rolling Over

Ok. so Lorenzo turned 4 months old yesterday and he decided that he wanted to roll over tonight. And it wasn't a fluke as he did it three times in a row!!! He rolled over from his back to his front. Too bad Randy wasn't home to see it! :( He is once again out of town, in NY this time. He will be home tomorrow. So it has been a long and busy week here with just me and the kids. I'm actually patting myself on the back tonight because it is 8:45 p.m. and both kids are in bed! Wow!! I can't even do that when Randy is home. (Oh, I spoke to soon! Rayna is now up and Lorenzo.)

On Tuesday we had a potluck dinner for Rayna's classroom at school to just socialize and get to know other parents. It was fun to see Rayna play with the other kids in her class especially since it's a mixed age group. Next week there is another dinner at her school for the entire school celebrating 30 years of the school on the 30th day of school. I can't believe she has been in school for almost a month already. She really likes it. This month they are studying Cananda and next month they are studying Mexico. So of course I had to dig out my "loonies" for Rayna to share with the class.

Here is my laugh for the day: Rayna went to use the bathroom today and she went to sit down on the toliet but forgot that her little insert seat wasn't there and fell in the toliet. It scared her at first until I started laughing about it. Then she thought it was funny too. It was pretty funny if you think about it. Then the other day she was telling me how she went poop and how big it was. Instead of telling me, she demistrated by holding her little arm out to me and said, "I made a big stinky poop as long as my arm mommy." I just about died laughing. I asked Randy if he told her to do that and he said no, she came up with that all on her own. She cracks me up. Maybe I should write Bill Cosby and tell him that one so Rayna can be on the show, "Kids say the darnest things."

A Year of CrockPotting: CrockPot Falafel Recipe

A Year of CrockPotting: CrockPot Falafel Recipe
I found this recipe and it is next on my crock pot to-do list!!!

My Review of Stay-Put Adjustable Swim Shoes

Originally submitted at One Step Ahead

These shoes have a larger fit than others in our collection. Please be sure to find the perfect size with our printable .
Waves can't tug our swim shoes loose, not with their quick-grip anchor strap! Our swim shoes provide kids with outstanding protection against pebbly beaches, h...

Stay-Put Adjustable Swim Shoes

Great Shoe

By Jacki Mom to preschooler from Athens, GA on 9/8/2008

 

5out of 5

Sizing: Feels true to size

Width: Feels true to width

Pros: Comfortable, Durable, Breathes Well, Stylish

Best Uses: Daily Wear

Describe Yourself: Casual, Stylish

This was the perfect shoe for my daughter to wear at school for her "quiet" shoes. They are easy for her to put on and take off by herself. They are comfortable and stylish. The other water shoe I bought from here was not as easy to get on and off. But I love One Step Ahead return policy. They made it so easy to return and exchange it for this shoe!

(legalese)

In Memory of Sharon Counts

This post is in memory of Sharon Counts. Sharon was a very dear close friend of the family. She was my dad's best friend's wife. Sharon was like another mother to me. I always called her Aunt Sharon because that is what she was to me. She was the kind of person who would do anything for you. She loved life, her husband Brian, her family, ballooning, University of Michigan and dolphins. I was very fortunate to be a part of her life. I am so glad I was able to see her while I was in Michigan last month. She was able to see how big Rayna has grown and was able to hold Lorenzo. I know that meant a lot to her. She loved babies and kids. Sharon had been sick for a long time, first with the cancer and then the last few months with the brain virus thing. She was a fighter. She fought that cancer and was doing really good until this brain virus thing came along. She is now resting at peace, waiting for our Heavenly Father to come and take us all home again.

She will be greatly missed and she was loved by all. I only wish I could have been in Michigan to go to the funeral not only to say good-bye, but to also support my dad and Brian and family. Here are a couple of pictures that I took while I was home. I will always have the great memories of hot air ballooning and going to U of M games with her, Brian and my dad. We love you Sharon!!!!

Here is the link to her obituary:

http://www.legacy.com/Link.asp?I=LS000116678192X

I Measure Every Grief...
by Emily Dickinson

I measure every grief I meet
With analytic eyes;
I wonder if it weighs like mine,
Or has an easier size.

I wonder if they bore it long,
Or did it just begin?
I could not tell the date of mine,
It feels so old a pain.

I wonder if it hurts to live,
And if they have to try,
And whether, could they choose between,
They would not rather die.

I wonder if when years have piled--
Some thousands--on the cause
Of early hurt, if such a lapse
Could give them any pause;

Or would they go on aching still
Through centuries above,
Enlightened to a larger pain
By contrast with the love.

The grieved are many, I am told;
The reason deeper lies,--
Death is but one and comes but once
And only nails the eyes.

There's grief of want, and grief of cold
A sort they call 'despair,'

There's banishment from native eyes,
In sight of native air.

And though I may not guess the kind
Correctly yet to me
A piercing comfort it affords
In passing Calvary,

To note the fashions of the cross
Of those that stand alone
Still fascinated to presume
That some are like my own

"And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work. I am the Alplha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last." Rev. 22:12-13

"Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed." 1 Corinthians 15:51-52

"In You, O Lord, I put my trust;
Let me never be ashamed;
Deliver me in Your righteousness.
Bow down Your ear to me,
Deliver me speedily;
Be my rock of refuge,
A fortress of defense to save me.

For You are my rock and my fortress;
Therefore, for Your name's sake,
Lead me and guide me.
Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me.
For You are my strength.
Into Your hand I commit my spirit;
You have redeemed me O Lord God of truth."
Psalm 31:1-5

8 hours of Sleep!!!

I can hardly believe it but yes, last night I got 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep! I am probably jinksing myself now that I have said it. Lorenzo slept all night and didn't get up until almost 8:30 this morning. Rayna also slept in!! I can't remember the last time I have had 8 hours of sleep! I actually woke up at around 7 a.m. and had to go and check on Lorenzo to make sure he was still breathing. He was sound asleep so I went back to bed. It felt soooooo good!

Rayna had a good first full week of school. This next week is her class open house, so I will get to see more of what she is doing. I have to go by myself though, because Randy has to go to Detroit for the week. Yikes, me at home by myself with two kids for the week, does not sound like my idea of a good time! Wait, it gets better! In October it looks like he has to go to China for two weeks! Lucky me! The are going to think I am a single parent at Rayna's school. Randy hasn't been able to come to anything. He hasn't even ever seen the school!

Poor thing, Rayna scraped her knee up at school. She is deathly afraid of band aids, I don't know why, but she is. Randy told her she could play doctor and gave her a big band aid, some tape and some "magic saave" to put on it. She was very proud of herself for putting it on herself. Whatever it takes to get the band aid on!!
Ok I'm going to bed now. Maybe, just maybe I can get another 8 hours of sleep tonight!

Rayna's 1st day of school/Monster Baby

Rayna started school yesterday. I can't believe my baby girl is in school already. She is attending Athens Montessori School five days a week from 9 a.m.-Noon. She has had a great first two days. She walks right into her class and barely says good-bye to me. I guess that is better than clinging to me. She seems to really like it so far. I ask her what she did and the only thing she tells me is she played in the sandbox and what she had for snack. You know, the important stuff. I think school is going to be really good for her. She is so smart. Her little mind is just like a little sponge.

On another note, I think I am growing a monster. Lorenzo went for his two month check up this week. I know, I'm a little behind since he is actually three months old, but we've been gone.
Anyway, he is in the 95% for height at 24 3/4 inches and 75% in weight at 13lbs. 9 oz. He is HUGE!!! I had to go to Walmart today and buy him 6-9 month pjs!!! That is crazy!! It is such a big difference compared to tiny little Rayna. She is still tiny at only 27 lbs. and 36 1/2 inches at three years old!

Here are some pictures. The first one of Rayna is on her first day of school. The next picture is us taking a boat ride on my sister's lake. The third picture is at my dad's birthday party. The next picture is Rayna with her cousin Delina. The last picture is of Kennedy and Rayna reading a book. Rayna had a really good time hanging out with her cousin Delina and going for a boat and tube ride. Lorenzo liked the boat ride so much he fell asleep.

Stay tuned for more Gaytan family adventures.