Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 In Review

So here it is. Another year of blogging everyday done and done. For the last day of the year I give you our year in review.

January
  • started the new year in a very mellow fashion
  • new bedding for The Phi, PR Dad and Uncle Matty
  • we review the gripit flosser
  • i give you mine and PR Dad's top 5 list
  • Phis school is vandalized
  • despite being too busy The Phi give thanks
  • more Chicana guilt at the spa
  • The Phi called me stupid. TO MY FACE
  • Phi invents Cramalina soup
  • I fall in love with bangs again
  • I give an interview for HAU
  • We go to a hip-hop video shoot
  • I cried and The Phi clapped at the inauguration
  • we discover the buffet at the casino
  • we ended the month at our favorite place, Santa Barbara
February
  • Project 365 #1-31
  • We went to the Zoo
  • The Phi blogs about Baby Eli
  • we made lip and mustache valentines for The Phis class
  • we visit the stuffed animal/egg museum
  • valentines day in the snow with heart shaped pizza and bowling
  • The Phi is the Student of the Week
  • The Phi becomes memorized by live mariachi music
  • Roo gets a haircut and is almost unrecognizable
  • Phi asks A LOT of questions
  • my photography makes it to Baby Eli's walls
  • We end the month with plumbing problems.
March
  • project 365 #32-59
  • Phi the art collector
  • weather warms up and we head to the park
  • we plant some flowers and gain a gnome
  • I take an HR law class with Dr. King
  • we start reading chapter books for bedtime
  • PR Dad changes his facial hair, again
  • my photos get rejected
  • The Phi goes on a green photo shoot
  • we meet with a douche bag doctor
  • we meet with Crystal and Ben for the first time!
  • The Phi get bangs and changes her whole look
  • my parents walk for days in Mexico
  • we take The Phi to see a 3-d movie
  • Phi spends the night with her godparents and PR Dad and I have a 24 hr date in San Diego
  • The whole family stops to grab a hoagie at Tommy's shop
  • I re-vamp my photo blog
April
  • Project 365 #60-90
  • The Phi begins rehearsing her life
  • my parents celebrate 34 years and my sister and Luis celebrate 2
  • we went to the science museum and caught a bubble show
  • we missed, loved and remembered Roman
  • we throw the devil horns at catholic school
  • we get a visit from Baby Eli
  • i finally saw the movie Twilight
  • the easter bunny left tracks all over my house
  • we take The Phi and The Chone to the LA Zoo
  • we go to Booga's soccer game
  • i apologize to my parents for 1989-1991
  • we went to a NKOTB concert
  • another amazing weekend in SB
  • The Phi and I visit with Aunt Crissy and Baby Eli
May
  • Project 365 #91-120
  • i get stood up by my 7th grade boyfriend
  • Flip has a birthday
  • The Phi introduces us to "Cash Money Eyes"
  • my parents are evacuated. again
  • i do a college grad portrait photo shoot with the beautiful Holly
  • i pay respect to my Mom on Mothers Day
  • we celebrate mothers day with family and fun
  • i confess to a weird thing
  • The Phi gets a big girl bike as an early birthday gift
  • The birthday celebrations begin
  • we do up Disneyland...big time
  • Baby Eli get rid of his original sin
  • We end the month in Santa Barbara
June
  • project 365 # 121-151
  • The Phi has a sleepover at Nana and Tatas with her cousins
  • we get stuck with The Phi all summer long
  • we celebrate Day-Days birthday at CA Adventure!
  • The Phi begins her Adventure Book
  • we see some amazing side walk chalk drawings
  • i lose a hub-cap and have to drive around all ghetto
  • Grandma Watt visits from Florida
  • The Phi tries Pop Rocks
  • we headed to Venice, Ca
  • i cried at the bank
  • The Phi finishes her first year of school
  • I interview The Phi about her Dad
  • we celebrate Baby's Daddy Day with glitter and lowrider bikes
  • PR Dad and I celebrate 3 years of wedded bliss
  • I get spoiled with Coach and perfume
  • we are shocked by the death of Michael Jackson
  • i get some amazing necklaces from my cousins Sass
July
  • project 365 # 152-181
  • Artful Chica enters our lives and her art adorns our walls
  • Phi goes to the dentist
  • we spend 3rd of July in moorpark
  • i get into the show 6 feet under and did not understand the hype about the ending
  • The Phi and PR Dad fall in love with "Wipeout"
  • did a Senior portrait shoot with my cousins Mikey and only get yelled at by the cops once
  • PR Dad and I spend a day in Santa Barbara without The Phi
  • Roo has dental surgery and we miss him
  • The Phi and I have a perfect evening under the stars watching a movie
  • we get a free upgrade at Dodger Stadium
  • i fall for mineral water
  • we end the month stressing about vacation
August
  • Project 365 #182-212
  • Roo comes home. Yea
  • we head to Bass Lake for 5 days of tent camping
  • we get a glimpse at a WAN weekend
  • we enjoy a baby shower for Rosie, Gio and Baby Vivi
  • The Phi adds to her list of medications
  • Lili and Felix turn 3
  • i give you a glimpse of our Bass Lake talent show and my Ode to Bass Lake
  • Angelica turn 10 years old!
  • Uncle Matty gets a giant mug for his Diet Coke
  • The Chone hits the jackpot
  • We find a cute local shop
  • Baby Vivi enters the world
  • As school nears The Phi learns the important rule "don't talk about butts at school"
  • I end the month by launching The Altaristas Co-lab with Artful Chica
September
  • project 365 #213-243
  • The Phi starts a new school with uniforms and everything
  • Mom celebrates her birthday
  • I bitch about the school pick-up line
  • Phi flies high in the air at the LA County Fair
  • we discuss the hoop-la about the presidents speech on education being shown in schools
  • we hit up a motorcycle stunt show
  • The Phi becomes DJ Eczema
  • Moorpark High C/O 95 loses a very good man
  • The Phi rules the dance floor as the flower girl at Crystal and Ben's wedding
  • Tio Luis has a birthday
  • we spend a hot day at Route 66 car show
  • A classic Malibu make me write about my friend Ozzie
  • Roo goes missing and I panic
  • Nina Patty and Tia Uh-laine celebrate their birthdays
  • The Phi becomes a published author
  • The Dre's have a great baby shower
October
  • project 365 #244-273
  • i wonder if parents have favorites
  • we celebrate Grandpa Andy's 80th birthday
  • The Phi gets a giant list of allergies
  • The Phi is not the next Tiger Woods
  • My family partied until 4 am
  • Lunch and Wine with my Boo
  • we find a car show in Temecula and PR Dad looks hot in glasses
  • We go with The Phi on her first field trip
  • Her first college lecture and she falls fast asleep
  • I can't believe that Roo is already 6 years old
  • I refuse to use the drop off line at school
  • I turn old
  • After a rough start we have a good time at the pumpkin patch
  • I have an amazing birthday weekend
November
  • project 365 #274-304
  • the kids stay close thanks to the internet
  • Baby Matias is here!
  • we head to Riverside for Dia de los Muertos
  • we head to Arizona to meet up with Artful Chica
  • i read the bell jar
  • i rock a Caboodle
  • The Phi brings home a neck-less turkey
  • Uncle Matty turns 20-11
  • We finally cut The Phi's hair
  • Thanksgiving is here and we share our amazing news
  • The baby gets a nickname already
  • Our house becomes Christmas-y
  • Santa needs help deciding between a nintendo and a leapster
December
  • project 364 #305-334
  • i do another photo shoot for my cousins business
  • we get to meet Sweet Baboo
  • I am humbled and honored at the HAU 10 year anniversary
  • PR Dad finally gets his Drank on
  • The Phi meets Santa and shoots stuff
  • we head out to the LA Auto Show in the rain
  • The Phi shines in her school Christmas Paegant
  • the doctor drama begins
  • Baby Eli turns 1 and we celebrate Sesame Style
  • Christmas was amazing
  • I try to teach The Phi to dress herself
  • The Phi gets a Leapster and Roo gets a Snuggie
  • The Chone comes for a visit and the girls make an awesome movie
We are spending New Years Eve here at home. Day-Day, Luis, Lili and Felix are coming and we are going to eat pizza, play board games and ring in 2010 together.

2010 holds a lot of promise for the PR Family. We wish nothing but awesome and amazing things for our friends and family for this new decade.

Happy New Year

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Annual

Every year since I have moved out here I have had my niece The Chone
spend a few days with me. The Chone is my first true love and I hate
being apart from her. I hate missing her school functions and most of
her sports events. I usually have her spend a few days during winter
break and a few days during the summer. We go to fun places and try to
do things she will enjoy. I guess it's my way of trying to make things
up to her. Now that The Phi is around The Chone is her idol. The Phi
LOVES The Chone like crazy. So my few days with The Chone have turned
into sleep-overs and pure heaven for The Phi. They have an 6 year gap
so I know that The Chone will not want to hang out with her little
cousin for many more years. She will be a teenager way too soon and
playing ponies and making movies with her little cousin won't be as
fun as hanging out with her friends. So I will enjoy these times I
have with The Chone for as long as I can.

Monday, December 28, 2009

Gift for the little guy

Roo's Dog-Mother Uh-laine did not forget him on Christmas. Roo is now
the proud owner of a pink Snuggie!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Tougher

Teaching The Phi how to dress herself has proven more difficult than
potty training was.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Good News, Bad News and A Birthday Boy

Good News: The new doctor's office called and scheduled an appointment for me.

Bad News: The new doctor wants $400 up front as a deposit for anything my insurance will not cover.

The Birthday Boy:

Today Baby Eli turns 1 years old. Wow its been a whole year. Over the weekend The Phi and I made the trek out to celebrate, Sesame Street style!



Happy Birthday Little Man. You are such a doll and we are so happy to have you in our lives and that we got to celebrate with you. I know that this new year will find you walking and talking and driving your Momma crazy, but in the good way.


We love you so much.
Happy 1st Birthday Eli!

Tuesday, December 22, 2009

"You heard that right?"

Another doctors appointment today. Seems like I am going to the doctor all the time. And I am. Instead of every month, I have been seeing this doctor every 2 weeks or so. And things are not getting any better. Today I only waited 45 minutes to see the doctor. Saw her for about 10 minutes and she had bad news. My glucose levels came back high, and I am losing weight, instead of gaining. Basically I have gestational diabetes. Already. Oh Joy! This means a strict diet, checking my blood sugar level about 4 times a day and even more doctors appointments.

The next step was to hear the Baboo's heartbeat. I remember the day we heard The Phi's heartbeat for the first time. It was mind blowing. This time she searched around and I could hear faint sounds. I heard the baby move and then I heard the heart beating for about 2.5 seconds. She removed the device and said "you heard that right?" And that was it. It was a giant let down. I could barely hear Baboo's heart beating and when I did it was only for a few seconds. She said everything sounded fine but it wasn't the same as when I heard The Phi.

See things were a bit awkward with the doctor. I am trying to switch to a new doctor and I know that her office already had faxed over my medical records to this potential new doctor. So she knew that I was trying to get out of her care. So I think she half-assed my appointment because she knew I was totally over her.

And this may seem like a strange thing to be bothered by but I have been to her office 3 times since early November. You know that sound smoke detector's make when the battery needs to be changed. That chirp every minute or so. Well since early November her smoke detector has been chirping. For a month and a half they all work in that office with the constant chirping and no one has bothered to change the battery. I really want to send her a 9-volt battery.

I remember when I was pregnant with The Phi and thinking "wow pregnancy is not as fun as I thought it would be" and this time around has been even more frustrating and more stressful already. I am hoping that a new doctor will be a bit more personable, more positive. When I leave my doctor now I feel more worried, stressed and frustrated. Being pregnant comes with so much worry and stress already. I would like a doctor that will help eliminate it not add to it.

Am I asking too much?

Sunday, December 20, 2009

She stumped the clown

Today The Phi and I went to Baby Eli's 1st birthday party. There was a
clown who was doing face painting. I Was surprised The Phi got in
line. She had a bad experience with face painting at the pumpkin patch
last year. But she went and when it was her turn she asked for an owl.
The clown had never been asked for an owl before and had to do a few
sketches before working on The Phi's face.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Phi Sees the LA Auto Show

You may have noticed in some of my LA Auto Show pictures The Phi was sporting her camera. The kid took lots of photos. So head over to The Phi's photo blog to check them out.

Click Here

Friday, December 18, 2009

My Freakin' Doctor

I have been nothing but frustrated with my current OB doctor. Well not really my doctor but with her office. She is nice enough but there are other issues:

  • The average wait time for my appointment in over 2 hours
  • out of the 3 appointments I have had 2 have been rescheduled.
  • I was suppose to have an appointment Tuesday and they called me 10 minutes before my appointment time to reschedule. I was already in the parking lot.
  • Her second office that is closer to me is in an Urgent Care so when I wait for 2 hours I am surrounded by sick people.
  • The doctor she referred me to for some testing also made me wait 3 hours and had cockroach traps in their rooms.
These are just the big deals that I just don't want to deal with anymore. I am in the process of trying to switch to a new doctor so wish me luck with that.

So after the last rescheduled appointment I was pissed. I was in the car with The Phi in the back seat and called PR Dad to vent. Apparently The Phi was paying very very close attention. This is the conversation I had with her yesterday morning.

"Mom, when are you going to see your Freakin' doctor again?"


"Its just doctor, not freakin' doctor"


"Can I go with you next time you see the freakin' doctor?"


"Yes, but don't call her freakin' doctor."


I told PR Dad about this exchange and he let out a sigh of relief and said,


"I thought I was going to be the bad influence, but it's you"

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Christmas Pageant

On Tuesday night The Phi had her school Christmas Pageant. And it was a real Christmas play with Baby Jesus and all. That's what a religious private education gets you. To say that she was excited is an understatement. She was very very excited. The pre-k girls were going to be Baby Dolls and the pre-k boys were stuffed animals. Luckily we got there early, thank goodness, because the place got packed really really fast. I saved seats for PR Dad and his Mom.

Before her teacher showed up The Phi and her buddy Eduardo got to play for a little while in the chapel. Shhhh don't tell Eduardo, but The Phi is his Secret Santa for the big class Christmas party.



The Pre-k-ers were on stage for about half the play and only had 2 big songs. So there was a lot of time for The Phi to attempt to sit still while the rest of the play went on. She used her time on stage to practice what I like to call.....


"The Many Faces of The Phi"




But when it was time to sing, man did my kid sing. She dug deep in her soul and sang with her whole heart.


I will admit it watching The Phi on stage singing made me one very proud Mom. Complete with tears, but I blame that on the pregnancy hormones. But she did so great.

The Phi with her awesome teacher.

That night as I put The Phi to bed I asked her, "Did you like being on stage with the lights and the audience?" She looked at me with those giant chocolate eyes and said.....

"Mom, I LOVED it"

And with that A Star is Born!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Interruption

We interrupt this blog so that we can finish our Christmas shopping. Be back tomorrow with a recap of The Phi's Christmas Pageant.

Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Over the Fear

Last year The Phi was scared of Santa. She did not want to go near the guy. One night last year we spotted Santa hanging out with some firemen in a parking lot and The Phi refused to get out of the car. Instead we did a Santa "Drive-by". Santa came up to the car and handed The Phi a candy cane through the window.

This year she understands that Santa is the man who brings the presents. He is the one who needs to hear her list if she has any chance of getting what she wants. So as we waited in line to see Santa she had to giver herself a little pep talk. She had to talk herself out of the fear.


She got over her fear so much that when we saw that same Santa with the same firemen this year she asked to stop. So we did and she went right up and hopped onto his lap to remind him that she wanted a Leapster 2. He asked if she wanted anything else and she said no. She has somehow concluded that Santa only brings you one thing.


I won't correct her. I will let her be super extra stoked on Christmas morning when there are a few gifts from Santa.

Monday, December 14, 2009

LA Auto Show

I spent Friday morning at a lab where despite the fact that the other ladies there were well into their 80's. I was the only one knitting and listening to AM talk radio.

After that we drove out in the rain to go to the LA Auto Show. PR Dad loves auto shows and we go to at least one a year. Since most of our lives revolve around what The Phi and I want to do, its nice to do something PR Dad likes.

This year was not nearly as good as the last few years have been. Not many cool concept cars. Must be the economy.



PR Dad and The Phi checking out a sweet van.
PR Dad really wants us to get a giant A-team like van.

The ultimate toy hauler.


Shiny spokes

giant rims


I really do not understand the need or want for rims as big as a 4 year old



PR Dad is his dream Benz.


The Phi liked the Soupie-Sized Smart Cars


She can't resist these things.

Getting bored.


Home of the Lakers.

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Phonetics

When PR Dad picked out The Phi's name we disgreed on how to spell it.
I wanted to spell it "Sofia", the Spanish way. He thought "Sophia"
looked more feminine. Since I left the name up to him we went with the
"ph". Well The Phi has known how to spell her name since last summer
and at school she is learning all the letter sounds so yesterday she
showed me a drawing she did and at the top she had written her name.
Except she wrote "Sofphia". I asked her way she spelled it like that
and she said "Listen to my name Mom So-F- ia." she gave a major
emphasis on the "F". I told her to talk to her Father about that.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

Ornament for 2009

A tradition I have taken from my Mom is the ornament of the year. Every Christmas since PR Dad and I have been in this house we have bought an ornament. We have had some big events in the last 6 years that we have lived here and we have some great ornaments. This year we could not think of a big significant event so we went with what has keep The Phi's attention all year. Snoopy. She has watched almost every Charlie Brown special out there from It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown to It's Arbor Day, Charlie Brown. So we thought Snoopy on his decorated dog house would be a great ornament for 2009!

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Christmas (Window) Shopping

Yesterday we braced the cold and headed out to the Bass Pro Shop and an outdoor mall. Not for Christmas shopping (because we like to wait until the last minute for stuff like that). The Bass Pro Shop is a hunters/campers/fisherman heaven. We like to shop for my Dad there being that he likes to camp/fish/hunt.

They had a whole kids winter wonderland set up where The Phi was able to race slot cars, laser shot deer and use a Nerf machine guns to shoot squirrel targets. Ahh Tata is so proud! She can't golf but the kid is a good shot.



We noticed a sign that Santa was going to be there soon and they had a free picture. Sweet. So after looking around (Did you know that Tommy Bahama shirts go for over $100!) we got in a very long line to see the man himself.


While in line The Phi psyched her self up. She kept repeating she was not scared and what she was going to tell Santa. Even practiced her smiling for the photo. She did great and when Santa asked her what she wanted for Christmas she said "Leapster 2 and The Princess and the Frog game". So I guess the Leapster/Nintendo debate is over.


Then we headed over to the mall where we had some fun at Urban Outfitters.


The Phi found a Heidi Kenney donut pillow. These are too adorable!

Then she fell for this.....



"Hold On a second I'm on my hamburger phone"

Next week we hope to get actual Christmas shopping done.

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

Drank

After reading about this on the Internet PR Dad had to try it. It's
called drank and it's the opposite of an energy drink. It's suppose to
help you relax. It has melatonin and rose hips. Both sleep aides. Well
PR Dads friend Luka finally found a can and bought it for PR Dad. See
PR Dad can't sleep, like ever. I would say on average he gets about 4
hours of sleep a night. And if it's a good night he will get those
hours all together. So he drank his Drank and he said he slept a
little better but not much. Unfortunatley Drank was not the cure to
his insomnia.

Tuesday, December 08, 2009

Cartoon Heaven

The Phi has a deep love for all Christmas cartoon specials. Thanks to
our DVR we have watched Merry Madagascar, Shrek the Halls and How The
Grinch Stole Christmas atleast 10 times already. But tonite is the big
night. Tonite is A Charlie Brown Christmas. It combines two of her
favorite things, Christmas cartoons and Snoopy. As I write this she is
watching the show and mimicking everything Snoopy is doing. (Cari this
picture is for you! Haha)

Monday, December 07, 2009

HaU 10 Year Anniversary

On Saturday night I put on a maternity dress and spent the evening at a fancy hotel on the beach in Santa Barbara. It was a night I will never forget and it all started back in 1999 when I was a student at UC Santa Barbara and I was introduced to this amazing woman.



Veronica Burgos would be the one who would be by my side, working our asses off to get a new organization up and running on the UCSB campus. In April of 1999 Vero and I held the official first meeting of Hermanas Unidas (HaU) at UC Santa Barbara.

This year HaU celebrates it's 10th anniversary. When I first got the email I could NOT believe that it had been 10 years since the days of writing constitutions and recruiting members.

The banquet room was filled with over 130 Hermanas from some of us OG members to current members and many alumni in between. The night was filled with funny slide shows and as soon as I saw pictures from my HaU days tears came to my eyes. Those were some great times.


Vero and I were presented flowers and asked to speak. Girls stood in line to thank us and take a picture with us. As I stood next to Vero at the podium staring at the sea of women it was a surreal moment. We looked at each other in disbelief. That little organization we started 10 years ago has become one of the biggest and best organizations on campus. Watching these girls get through the UC system and graduate with help from their hermanas. Watching the bonds that have formed over the past 10 years is so beautiful. To know that Vero and I had a hand in all of it is one of my most proudest accomplishments.

There are really no words to express the love and the pride I felt in that room that night, or how thankful I am to those original members who believed and embraced the vision that Vero and I had for HaU. How thankful I am to each and every member over the past 10 years who just make HaU bigger and better and more than we ever imagined it could be.

Vero, you will always be such a big part of who I am. You were my first Hermana and I love you.

Sunday, December 06, 2009

Home

Finally in my own bed after an amazing weekend and a grueling 2 and a
half hour drive home where I had to actually drive! Came home with a
car filled with maternity clothes and frozen beef.

Saturday, December 05, 2009

Mom Time

Spending the day doing things for me. It's been great and long overdue.

Friday, December 04, 2009

Wands

I had a doctors appointment on Monday and PR Dad and The Phi got to tag along with me. We were pleasantly surprised to get to have an ultrasound and meet the latest member of our crew. I had an ultrasound at like 6 weeks and Babboo looked like a bean. After the first ultrasound we told The Phi about it. We told her that the Dr. takes a wand and puts in on my belly so we can see the baby on a computer screen. So on Monday when the doctor pulled out the ultrasound wand The Phi remarked....

Is that your wand? I thought it would have a star on top."

She had the whole room laughing.

And then the 3 of us got to meet our Sweet Babboo. And now we are very proud to introduce to you our Sweet Babboo.

Babboo say hi to all the nice people on the Internet.




Thursday, December 03, 2009

Working on Thanksgiving

While out with my family on Thanksgiving I got to spend about an hour working with some of my cousins. My cousin Vanessa is a make-up artist. She did my make-up for my wedding and most recently did my cousins "Lady Gaga" make-up for Halloween.

Vanessa has started her own business called "Beauty by Ness" and on Thanksgiving she dolled up my cousin Erika and her friend Ivanna and we headed over to the train station for a shoot.

Now I don't have a ton of experience when it comes to photo shoots, but this one was so easy and so fun. Vanessa knew exactly what she wanted and Erika and Ivanna are super easy to photograph. And with Cassie there to help it made it even easier.

We took about 300 shoots in about an hour and in the end had about 20+ polished up images.

These are my favorites from the day.


Like I said, it was a lot of fun and really hope Vanessa and I get to work together again soon!

To see the complete see CLICK HERE

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Giving Thanks

Thanksgiving went really well for us this year. Normally we would divide the day between our 2 families. Which would mean that our visit with my family would be cut short and PR Dad's family would be waiting for us to get there with whatever our food contribution was. It meant most of the day spent in the car. This year we decided to just go to the one celebration. This meant for a much more relaxing day.

My Tia Angie hosted this year and the weather was still nice enough for us all to eat outside on the back patio. The Phi claimed one table as the kids table and even kicked her own "Fath" out when he tried to sit with her. She also asked my Tia Angie to switch out the bowl of salsa for a bowl of candy. Which of course my Tia did for the kids.

Since everyone was sitting, talking, enjoying the amazing food. We let The Phi make the big announcement for us. She stood up on a chair and said. "I am going to be a big sister"





Everyone cheered and clapped. I think my grandparents were the most excited. When I went inside to tell my Tata that we were having another baby he thanked me. I told him "It is the least I can do for you".


The Phi was keeping the kids table entertained.
I swear Lili and Felix think she is some crazy internet celebrity!

Dirt Road Diary- Berdoo Canyon

It had been awhile but Joey recently convinced me to head out on an off-roading adventure. Mostly because the San Berdoo trail ends inside J...