Dana's Graduation

So that Friday, we reunited with Todd's sister Dana, her husband Scot, his brother David, his wife Michelle and their two kids Matthew and Brian, and his Mom Joyce, Step dad Tim, his dad Ernie and Step mom Pat. It was a reunion indeed. Everyone all in one place is very rare. I was so nice seeing everyone. The last time we were all together was almost three years ago for mine and Todd's wedding. That night we had a dinner all together at Dana and Scot's house. We had hot dogs and tater tots. Something that everyone could enjoy. We had a great time getting reacquainted with each other and telling everyone what was new in our lives. It was really great that everyone was able to meet Taelyn and get to know her. It was the 1st time all of the cousins were together. I was forewarned that I would only be seeing Tealyn to eat and other than that she would be with Oma, Opa, Grampy, Grammy, Auntie Dana, Uncle Scot, Uncle David or Auntie Missy. That stood pretty much true. Everyone was in love. It is hard not to be, she is such a beautifully pleasant baby. Who wouldn't fall in love with her?

Taelyn with Opa

Taelyn with Oma

Taelyn with Auntie Dana (Gosh they look alike!)
Crawling over Auntie Dana

Oma putting Taelyn down for a nap

My flower girl with Uncle David

Auntie Missy getting some Taelyn LoveTaelyn trying to run away from her cousin Matthew

Just a cute shot of my Bebe

Dana Graduation brought everyone together again and we took that opportunity to take a million pictures in every style and combination. We wanted to take advantage if it. We planned an easy wardrobe that everyone could follow and this is what we got:

Drive to Arizona and New Mexico

On August 12, 2010, we set off on a road trip to New Mexico to see Dana, Todd's sister graduate with her Bachelor's Degree. We left at 5am right after Taelyn woke up and ate. We wanted her to sleep the majority of the way, so we planned as soon as she was ready to be put back down that we would head out. It worked! She slept nearly the entire way. We stopped at 9am to get gas and to feed her again. She went right back to sleep. We drove for 2 more hours and made it to Grampy and Grammy's house in Williams, Arizona.

Taelyn sleeping on the drive

She totally kept herself entertained when she was awake

At the lake with Grampy

Family shot at the lake in Williams

We stayed the night there and continued on to Albuquerque, New Mexico the next day. Same plan, wake up early and get there as soon as we could. Taelyn was Amazing!!! She was such a joy during the drive. She slept and when she woke up, she entertained herself. What a good girl we have. It was also really nice to spend that time with Todd. I am really amazed and thankful that I have a husband who I still never run out of things to talk about. We enjoyed the drive together. I was just overwhelmed with happiness. I have pretty much everything I have ever wanted. It was a beautiful drive and didn't seem quite as long as it was the last few times we drove out to Arizona. I love my husband so much and our lives have been enriched even more since we had Taelyn. Happy and loved is how I felt on the drive out to Arizona and New Mexico.

Crawling Taelyn

My little baby is trying really hard to crawl. She is sitting up on her knees and rocking back and forth. She pushes her feet, falls on her face, then moves forward with her head. She just doesn't have the concept of how to move all at once. She tries, gets frustrated and then cries. It is the most amazing thing to see her determination! I'm sure by next week, she will be fully mobile because Todd is "practicing" with her and showing her how to crawl. I think she will learn to crawl at Auntie Dana and Uncle Scot's house in New Mexico. We shall see!

Concentrating really hard!
Falling over Frustration sets in

Thoughts of Daddy

While driving today, I got a flash thought of my dad. It was weird. I think of my dad quite often, but it seems like in the past few months I think of him more and more. It has been a little more than 8 years since his passing. There are many things that I don't remember, and there are things that come to mind that I haven't thought of in forever. My dad was a great photographer. While watching some documentary. I thought about sitting in my dad's office/dark room for hours watching him develop his pictures. I wonder what kind of photographer he would be now. What kind of pictures he would take of his granddaughter. It comforts me to think that he is watching over us and taking care of my baby boy Trent. I wish that our relationship could have been better towards the end of his days, but things didn't seem to work out like that. We argued over the silliest things and being young and stubborn, that kept me from him. The one good thing that came from my daddy's death is that I don't ever take people for granted, and I ALWAYS let people know how I feel about them. I don't let stupid arguments last. I will never make that mistake again! Rest in Peace Daddy, I love you!

Brave Maya

I had an interesting morning. Todd was called into work on his day off because of some promotion the casino has going on. He was supposed to drop off my car at the dealership for a recall. So instead, I had to do it. So I called and asked if I could come early and and get a loaner because I had a dentist appointment at 9am. So I drove to Riverside at 7am expecting to get a loaner so that I could make my dentist appointment. When I got there, they said that they could send me in a shuttle, but there was no telling when they could take me and when they could pick me up, plus I had Taelyn with me and they did not have accommodations for Taelyn's car seat. Talk about mad! I called in advance, they told me I would get a loaner for the day while they fixed my car, I drove out there and then they tell me that they can't? I pitched a fit! So the final say was that I would come back tomorrow and they would take care of it. So that was a waste.

Since Todd had to work, I had to take Taelyn Whalyn to my dentist appointment. I called my mom to see if she could watch her, so she said that she would come and pick her up when she was done with what she was doing. I am so thankful that she is such a pleasant girl. She sat in her car seat and played with her little friends while I got my root canal. My mom came in and got Taelyn and was shocked that she was awake and not fussy.

Russell came in with Maya who needed to get her teeth worked on. My poor Maya after her x-rays found out that she needs 10 teeth worked on!!! She needs 2 baby root canals and a bunch of fillings. My poor girl was so brave. She had a baby root canal done and needs much much more. I was so proud of my girl. We both had root canals done and I know 1st hand how painful that is. My Maya is such a big girl. I love her so much! I love my family. Thank God for all of them. They make me happy.

Sleepless Nights

Here I am once again, wide awake while everyone else is sleeping. What is wrong with me? I am tired, I want to sleep, but it seems the more I try to sleep, the more awake I am. The more frustrated I get and the angrier I get and the more anxiety I get. It is AWFUL!!!! I just lay in bed thinking, and thinking, and thinking. My mind just goes a million miles a minute. I think good thoughts about Taelyn and how she will grow up and be the perfect child and teenager and how she will make us so proud, then I have crazy, ludicrous thoughts about how she will be trying and defiant. I don't like those thoughts at all. I look forward to her 1st dance recital, her 1st soccer game, her 1st A in school. I have such high hopes and expectations for her. I pray I don't put too much pressure on her to be perfect that she fails. I pray I don't put too much pressure on myself to be the perfect mother that I get lost in that and do just the opposite. These are just some of the crazy, random thoughts that go through my mind while I am awake at night while my family is sound asleep, dreaming. I sure do wish I could join them and not take myself so seriously.

Family...

I HEART MY FAMILY!!! All of them, in laws included. Let me start off with my mom and brothers. These are some of the most important people in my life, but man, are they crazy!!! My mom especially. She says and does the craziest things. She is losing her mind. Today my mom comes over and Todd, Me and Taelyn were gone at a doctor appointment, when we get home, she has managed to clean the kitchen and the dinning room and has started to clean the living room. Gotta love her. Just by trying to help put she has managed to insult me. Not really, I don't care (that much). My Brothers are a comedy act, some one on the outside watching us can be fully entertained. Russell has a cast on right now and is on crutches. I just recently had surgery and still walking around gingerly, Richard is the last man standing. How is that even possible??? Richard has cerebral palsy and grossly overweight, but he seems to be just fine. Total change to all of us. I talk to all of them on an everyday basis, we see each other at least 1-4 times a week and that is normal to us and that is how we like it. If I tell my mom something I know I don't even need to relay the message to Russell or Richard because it will get to them. I have an amazing step dad Eddie, who takes great care of my mom and cares for all of us equally. I guess that is all you can ask of step family. With him comes Jonathan, Christopher, Nathaniel and Rachel. Jonathan, I really don't know at all. Chris, I am getting to know better everyday as we get older. Nathaniel is who I have always been closest to, and Rachel who sadly moved to Maryland, just as we started to gain a closer relationship. We are all family and it is all LOVE <3



My in laws are pretty amazing as well. They are spread out all over the states, so it is hard to stay in touch, but we manage to do fairly well. Todd's Dad and Pat are very present in our lives even though they live in Arizona. They are here visiting nearly once a month and we communicate through the wonderful invention of SKYPE. Todd's Mom is ALL the way in Alabama, but she has come out to visit 2 times since Taelyn entered the world. Sometimes we argue and have misunderstandings, but we always seem to work it out. Todd's brother David and his family have been away our whole relationship, but we try to keep in contact through facebook, they live in Chicago. His sister is in New Mexico. I was very close to Dana before they moved, but they will be moving back to Chico, Ca in September.

Next month we are all going to meet up in New Mexico for Dana's graduation. I am really excited because we haven't been all together since our wedding in 2008 AND because we have a new addition to our family. I realize how truly blessed I am to have such amazing people in my life. I just wanted to take some time to write about the people in my live that I love so much!

Maya's Tooth

Maya lost her 1st tooth yesterday. She was sooo excited about it. She slept with it, not under her pillow, but in her hand because she didn't want the tooth fairy to take it before she got the chance to show it off to people. So when they came over today, she was so excited and proud to show me. This little tooth was the smallest thing I think I have ever seen a tooth to be. Well it was in a plastic baggy that she left on the couch. Our little Maya has the makings of a hoarder. She asked her Uncle Todd and I to save our popsicle sticks so she can make a house. So we have. She was holding the sticks we saved for her in her hand, so I told her to put them in the plastic baggy with her tooth so that she won't forget them. Well, when it was time to leave, Maya looked in the baggy and saw the popsicle sticks, but no tooth. To her dismay, she began balling. So Me, Maila, Richard and my Mom got on all fours and started looking for this little tooth, which happens to be the same color as my carpet. Russell being the person he his said that we will continue to look, but they had to head home because he didn't want to hit traffic because this is the 1st time he has tried to drive since his surgery and he is still in a lot of pain.

We looked everywhere, I even went as far as calling my dentist to see if they had a tooth that was a similar size that we could pass as her tooth. I was desperate because I know how much this 1st tooth means to Maya. Well, when my mom and Richard decided to give up, Rich went to the kitchen to throw something away, something white caught his eye and there it was.... MAYA'S TOOTH!!!! She was thrilled!!! Bapa Rich saved the day!

Allan, Maya and Leah

I just love my nieces and nephew. They are really the sweetest kids anyone could ever meet. They are kind and sharing and really pleasant. That is a lot to ask of 6 and 3 year olds, but the they have it all. The twins, Allan and Maya are 6 and Leah is 3. I love them so much I named my only daughter after them. I combined their names, Maya, Allan and Leah to get Mylanah. I just love how caring they are. They make me so happy.

Dreams

The other night, I had the worst dream ever! I was at the gas station getting gas and I opened Taelyn's door (something I never do) which is on the other side of the gas tank, because it was so hot. I went around to pump and while I was pumping my gas, someone came and took her, car seat and all. She was put into a black car and was gone in a blink of an eye... I don't remeber what else happened, but I woke up in a huge panic. I immediately grabbed Taelyn and didn't want to let her go for hours after that horrible dream. I KNOW that was a dream and that I need to not have thoughts like that in my mind, but man! I was so upset, I still am.

I totally blame my mother. It is all Tess's fault! When I was a kid, she would always say, "Teresa, don't leave my side, you are gonna get kidnapped, Teresa, Don't go over there, someone will take you. Teresa, You are so little, someone is just going to pick you up and take you away from me." I seriously have some seep seeded fears of getting kidnapped! It is one of my greatest fears and I don't want to pass that on to Taelyn. My mother never had to hold my hand because I NEVER left her side... I ALWAYS had an eye on where she was at all times. I hope that Taelyn does the same with me without me putting that fear in her. Oh, being a mommy has seriously given me so many more worries than I ever thought I could even think about. This is some seriously hard stuff. I guess if you want to do it right, these are some of the concerns to have. I just pray that nothing happens to her or me or Todd for that matter. I try to keep in mind that it is God's plan and if that is the way it is supposed to be, let it be, but I struggle with that. I feel like I need to be in control at all times. Maybe that is just the way that God made me and this is what I am supposed to be thinking. Who knows, just follow in blind faith, I guess. Please Lord rid me of these horrible nightmares.

Oh and on a side note, this dream is totally unrealistic because anyone who knows me, knows I don't get my own gas, unless it is a super emergency, and in which case, I wouldn't open Taelyn's door while I did it. I don't know why, but this fact makes me feel a little better! (^_^)

NEW PHONE

I was forced to get a new phone today because my old phone decided to just quit. It completely just shut down. It was black and wouldn't turn back on. When I took it in, they said that it is not the battery, it was the phone, it just died. No reason, just quit on me. I did use and abuse that phone and I guess it was time. I got the new lavender Blackberry Curve. It is bigger than my old phone, but it will do.

The worst part of having to get a new phone is that I lost all of my contacts! I am NOT happy about that. There was nothing that they could do since the phone wouldn't even boot up. Now I have to start all over on getting people's numbers. I had over 350 contacts!!! Ugggghhhhh TECHNOLOGY.... I curse you, why am I so dependent on you???

Taelyn's Many Nick Names

I have so many nick names for my Taelyn. Where do I get them from? Who knows. I just know that when I see her there is always a new name that comes out of my mouth. I wanted to take some time and write them all down because I don't want to forget them.

When she was 1st born and attached to her Billirubin Blanket for her Jaundice, I was calling her "Taelian My Alien" Todd REALLY didn't like that one. Then I was calling her "Umpa Lumpa Girl" because her skin was orange. "Glow Worm" for the obvious reasons.

Now, I call her:
Taelyn Whalyn Maylyn
Taelyn Whalyn Maylyn Jaelyn Shaelyn
Mylanah Lanah Girl
Bebe
Bebebe
Drooly Bug
Booger Nose
Fart Monster
Sir Cries A Lot
Wiggle Worm
Little One
Love of My Life

I'm sure there are more, but that is all I can think of right now. My poor little bebe is gonna be so confused!

I'm Back Part 2: Pictures!

These are a few pictures from the past few months.

Cousin Patrick and Brennen with Todd and Taelyn
Taelyn is now pulling herself up to standing and if you hold her she will already try and take steps. Way too soon for a 3 month old. Its gotta be the steroids!
Not only is she becoming a Linus with the thumb and the blankie, she sometimes tries to stick all of her fingers in her mouth. The beginning stages of teething. The Joys....

She was laughing and awake, but the flash made her eyes close.
Cute outfit! Love the Jean Skirt.... thanks Oma
My strong Baby Phat girl

Taelyn is already trying to learn to ride a bike... better than Mommy already! The Cooper Family
Our 1st 4th of July as a Family of 3... 143 (I love you) its kinda cheesey, but a coincidence.
UGGGGHHHH My little thumb sucker girl. I hate it, but she loves it, so what can I do? She is really dependent on this thumb, but it soothes her so I will allow it.... for now.
Taelyn's hair is growing and getting crazy when she wakes up!
Taelyn had her 1st trip to Universal Studios. It was the San Manuel Company Picnic. It was a very good day. She was a good girl nearly ALL day.

The Wonderful Jessica Hekman came over to take some more pictures of out Taelyn at 3 months. She is doing amazing in her photography, check out her blog on my page. www.JessHekmanPhotography.com

Taelyn is holding her head up and scooting around like crazy. She is definitely a mover.
Scott introducing Kailey Reed to Taelyn Mylanah. Such proud Papa's they are! These girls are going to be the best of friends.



Taelyn went to her 1st Dodger game. She was so into it. The whole time just extremely wide eyed and watched everything. Very minimal tears. All around good day as a family.
Smiling in Todd's hat.
Troncuso gave Taelyn a ball.... she didn't seem to happy about it.

Such a gorgeous girl you are! You melt mommy's heart!
You met Opa for the 1st time.
Todd turned 33 and we went on a Party Bus to the Temecula wineries. It was his 33rd bday celebration, his 1st Father's day AND Taelyn turned 3 months all on the 20th. It was hard work for me to plan all of that just right! Me and my numbers!
I got my hair done and showed Taelyn off to everyone at Luv'd Ones. Taelyn was such a good girl the while time.

You and Daddy watching the Lakers win another Championship!
This is one of mommy's favorite pictures! Such a beautiful smile!
This was taken right before we left for the Huggies Commercial. You did an amazing job Bebe!




Taelyn LOVES bath time. She is a true Pisces. She is a fish!


I enjoyed my 1st mothers day. Taelyn got me sweet card. Thank you baby!
The twins Allan and Maya turned 6 years old on May 27th.