Nothing

I have always wondered how some people can go without blogging for weeks and say, "I haven't had anything to blog about." But here I am and that's exactly how I feel. I have nothing. Nothing interesting anyway. Yesterday we went to the park and fed birds old bread and threw pennies in the fountain and went swimming. Yeah, I'd agree that's nothing. Maybe I wasn't meant to be a writer after all. I feel like a good writer always writes at least something but even though I am writing something it feels all like nothing. I don't think that made sense but, oh well.

So here goes a lame blog post just to keep my page up to date.

Things I want to do this summer.

-Go to Disney World, Sea World and Animal Kingdom.

-Host at least ONE friend in our new place.

-See Eat. Pray. Love.

-Lose ten pounds.

-Brave it out and leave the kids with a sitter so my husband and I can go on a date. (This is SOOOO hard! Even though I have met some totally amazing people I feel like I am just not ready to leave my kiddos with anyone yet.)

-Finish the book I want to give Mario for Father's Day.

Chosen

Yesterday was a beautiful day with our new church family and the babies. It was also pentecost Sunday and I can assure you our church celebrated being pentecostal and proud. In the early service until the late service I couldn't help but to look around at the amazing congregation God has allowed us to be a part of. It's a moving thought for some reason God has chosen us to be a part of such a powerful move happening here in Orlando. Mario had the awesome priveledge to lead a 12 year old boy to Christ and the altar was full of people speaking in a Heavenly language for the first time.

After church we went to eat with our Pastor and his wife and more of their family. God has so blessed us with a family away from family. They always let us tag along and treat us like we are one of their own! I am absolutely loving it here.

Hope you enjoy the pics above of little miss in her new bathing suit and the picture of the three reasons I love my life.

A Whirlwind of Firsts

I can't really explain the last week in our home. The best words I could come up with is that it's been a whirlwind of firsts.

1. As you can see in the video above, Dalen learned his very 1st memory verse. 1 John 4:8. He has called my dad and told him several times he will be speaking at The Cleveland Church for Pastor Rony (Maloney). When I get his appearance date I'll be sure to let you guys know ;)

2. Cola laughed for the very first time! I don't know why it happened this way BUT Dalen was doing something outregeous (are you surprised?) and she began to laugh so hard. Leave it to the one who constantly tortures her to bring her a little comic relief. I have it on video and will post it soon.

3. I spoke to our brand new youth group last week. The first week we had 22, the 2nd we had 40! Our kids are to die for-I REALLY mean that. They are a diverse group of excited and passionate souls ready to embrace transformation only God can bring. I just LOVED the one girl who told Mario "Yeah, I'll definitley be back because you black people, ya'll just have so much fun!" HAHAHAHA! What can you do but laugh?! I am so convinced that I need to contact all of my friends in youth ministry and have an open site where we can ananamously post funnies from week to week. I am so sure it would TOTALLY be worth reading!

4. If you are looking at my post time you will find it's 3:19 am! Little Miss C slept upstairs, in a room and crib all alone for the very first time. She has slept by my bed in a playpin for the last 3, nearly 4 months. I must say, there is a totally different feel about my baby girl sleeping all alone than when Dalen did. I can't explain it. Besides her waking up one time for a feed she has done exceptionally well, I would know I think I have watched her all night on our TV monitor (which is a MUST HAVE for you ladies who have a two story house!).

So, as you can read we are adjusting well. God has blessed us with good health, a great church and two entertaining babies. Here are a few funnies from this week.

I don't know if you remember reading about my insane moment when I took Dalen to the eye doctor with me around May of last year. I think I vowed to NEVER do that again BUT considering...I had no choice. New town, new people-no babysitters.

So I went to a walk in place and had BOTH kids with me. Yes, I know-it wasn't an act of bravery it was a total display of stupidity. Within the first 15 minutes Dalen had knocked over a whole display of glasses, torn down the sign in the window and made two friends who I am sure went home to tell their wives of a young girl who had no idea what she was doing.

Dalen's first friend was a man named Nicholas. He had white hair, fair skin but spoke with a Spanish accent. Luckily, Dalen didn't comment on how he spoke. The man tried his best to ignore Dalen. I mean Dalen would go straight up to him yapping away and he would look right passed him like he didn't exsist. Finally, Dalen stood about a foot away from him and began to recite the pledge. This man was SO not impressed and continued reading his pamphlet without even looking up. Finally, Dalen thrust his hand at him and said, "You so im-shure (immature)." Even though he was being so annoying, I couldn't have agreed more. He also told the doctor, "You for-thetic (pathetic)." Luckily, he thought Dalen said, "Just forget it." His vocabulary is out of this word! He is picking up more words than I count!

And I'll leave you with my favorite. Tonight we all went swimming as a family. After all bathing and getting ready for bed Dalen and I sang Healer together. After a few lines I let him sing solo, "You walk with me through the forest and heal my ding-a-ling!" Oh wow, it will forever be a mystery where that word came from! I promise we do NOT say it here!

Much love and thanks to all my readers-unless of course you are the freak that keeps sending me porn links. Oh yeah, and on that note my computer was almost completely destroyed for clicking on one of the links before I knew what it was. Too bad I had one tech savvy hubby!

Friends

If you could attatch background music to individual blogs I would so be blaring the Friends theme song or possibly Michael W. Smith's Friends Are Friends Forever. My sister came to visit with Livi and left yesterday. For three days my apartment had three kids the age of 2 or under. To say life was interesting would totally be an understatement. How I even have a voice left, I do not know!

I am soooo mad at myself for only taking one picture of the kids at the pool on Sunday. After my dad picked my sister up Dalen had a complete meltdown begging to go with "Dad" (my dad). Then he began begging to just leave period.

D: I want to leave!
Me: We have nowhere to go.
D: YES! I want to go!
Me: Where? We are going to church in a few hours!
D: To the friends! Your friends!
Me: I DON'T HAVE ANY FRIENDS HERE!
The look on his face was priceless! He tilted his head, completely calmed and said, "Aw, that's so sad!" Yeah, tell me about it I thought.

So I was finally convinced to leave. I know how to get to three places-Publix, the mall and church. The mall has an indoor playground so off I went. While getting the entourage loaded in the car a lady walking a dog strolled by. Of course Dalen said hi and asked the dog's name. We get in the car and pass the lady again and Dalen waves. He then says, "His name is Stooter (Scooter). He's our friend." So, I then began thinking, which is sadder-The fact that I have no friends or the fact that our only friend is a dog named Scooter? Oh and I have to add that when Dalen asked me what kind he was the only response I could think of was "Not sure, but he looks like part ugly and part mange."

We get in the mall where 6 moms sat with their kids. It's amazing how some people just have the gift of yacking away to a complete stranger. Honestly at that point I would conversed but there was a slight problem-All of them were speaking Spanish and two women were speaking something I don't know. Boo, on communication barriers! Apparently saying we had no friends REALLY got to Dalen. He was practically dragging the kids on the playground over to me saying, "This is my friend!"

To make a VERY long story short-I get to church, Dalen refuses to go to class, after an hour of Cola crying in the nursery I take her out, force Dalen into his class and try everything known to man to calm her. There I stood in the foyer of our church spinning in circles. I had nowhere to go, no one turn to. I didn't know where to sit with a crying baby. I found a side room with a bathroom and decided to try another bottle. A woman I met at the young adults get together came and helped. She rocked and sang and prayed and there I stood believing that I had just made my first friend. You can meet 1,000 people and nothing ever flourish but then there's that one who instantly connects in a time when you need them.

Eventually I left church early, got lost for a entire hour, both kids were screaming in the back. It was so dark, my husband was in Miami, I could barely read the signs and just couldn't remember if I took the East or West ramp. Finally I just tried both and eventually made it home. I had to park two buildings way and carry both kids in alone. How I am not Kelly Ripa buff is a mystery I will never know!

Friends are NOT to be taken for granted. The lifelong ones that will do anything for you are God given treasures that just don't ever get old. I miss mine! And I miss my husband who should be home by noon-FINGERS CROSSED!

Perverted Comments

To say that I am infuriated would be an understatement. I LOVE blogging but I am sick and tired of getting comments on my blogs that aren't even in English and have links to pornographic sites.

First of all, if you (Asian commenter) can actually read English QUIT GETTING ON MY BLOG AND LEAVING DISGUSTING AND PERVERTED COMMENTS! You are sickening and you make me want to puke.

Second of all if anyone out there knows how to make this problem stop please let me know because if it doesn't stop I will totally delete my blog and go to journaling...don't think I won't because I will.

These comments are unacceptable and disgusting. It makes me livid that someone who is involved in this behavior reads my blog and it's mainly about my children. Isn't it such a shame that literally we can't do ANYTHING enjoyable these days without having to put up with crap like this.

20th Century

Well, after a week without a phone I got a new one! WAHOO! I was so excited and then realized, "Oh crap! I don't know anyone's phone numbers by heart so, I can't call anyone!" Slowly but surely my contact list is beginning to build itself back up. We currently have two cars because Mario has a rental for the church trip this weekend. YAY! It's a van and Dalen thinks it's soooo cool. We are also getting cable right now as I type. I still don't have contacts, so let me just tell you how stylish I am rockin' my glasses. Besides that I feel totally 20th century again.

I bought a new bathing suit today. It's a one piece. Yeah, I am soooo super Hollywood cool in my glasses and one piece. The one cool thing about a one piece is that it's kind of like a girdle too. Which we all know I totally need. This morning I saw Letters To Juliet. This movie is a gorgeous, hopeful, creative story that is a sure reminder movies can be GREAT without profanity, nudity, sex or horror. I absolutely LOVE this movie! It's so beautiful and uniquely written. Cola loved it too. At one point we had to stand in the hallway because she kept squealing at the pictures.

I am super excited to see my family this weekend. I spent the last two days cleaning and making everything perfect so that my mom would be impressed and she called this morning to inform me she wasn't coming anymore. I learned a major lesson-don't clean for company, clean because you should.

Eternity

I was a little disturbed by a lot of Facebook statuses that were talking about the death of a young Cleveland girl. I wasn't sure what happened to her but I knew one thing-as a senior in high school I don't think anyone expected her to die so soon. I googled the story through the Cleveland Daily Banner and come to find out she was tragically killed in a car accident and was buried this week. This story is so sad and has been on my mind since the beginning of the week.

It's sad because a beautiful girl should have had her whole entire life ahead of her. This is a saying we have all heard a million times, "You have your whole entire life ahead of you!" The saying is so untrue and so bothersome to me. The truth is the only thing we can be certain of is that we have all of eternity ahead of us. You never know when you will take your last breath and therefore today should be your greatest opportunity yet. You know more than you did yesterday and today you can do something with that knowledge.

I am so speaking to myself. There are things in life I want to do and I am so guilty of saying I will do it tomorrow. Really the truth is I don't know if tomorrow is an opportunity or if tomorrow is my death. There are a few things I'd like to do more everyday.

1. Write, write and write some more.
2. Take time out to admire my growing babies.
3. Be intentional about spending time with my husband.
4. Share Jesus more and lead more souls to the kingdom.

Today I had a moment. I'm not sure if it was because of this story being so fresh or if was just a coencidence but it was a moment I won't forget. When I was pregnant with Cola Leese I was a Case Manager. I had so much paperwork to do all the time and there was a lot of sitting. I would allow a cheap pair of headphones to hug my belly for a better part of the day and it played Celine Dion's Miracle album. I would play A Mother's Prayer and Have You Ever Been In Love over and over to her through Playlist.com.

Yesterday, she was really fussy at her naptime and I played A Mother's Prayer and she calmed almost instantly. Today she was really fussy again. I nearly ran to the computer to play those two songs again. It was so amazing that it moved me to tears. As soon as she heard the beginning notes of Have You Ever Been In Love she exhaled deeply and drifted off to sleep. Isn't that amazing? In my womb she learned these songs and months later they comfort her greatly.

This moment made me realize we can miss so many amazing moments when we aren't paying attention. We don't pay attention because we think moments will come again. We must start stopping to cherish life today because tomorrow-it could be gone.

I have so many different subjects to cover today.

First, I haven't had a cell phone since Saturday night. We think it got wet at the pool and it's done. No fixing this one. It's pretty annoying when I have needed to call Mario while we haven't been together but other than that it's kind of nice to not be checking constantly for texts, missed calls and see how far I am running behind.

Second, last night was my first night with the youth. There were 40 in attendance and that's double since Mario's first week. WOW! Forty new faces to etch in my brain and 40 new names to memorize. I was really excited to get to know each new student through their student profil cards we made. It's interesting to see how much you can still have in common with individuals so young. It was pretty funny last night when Mario challenged the students to invite two friends each because if they could get to 100 people he would purposely buy an IPOD touch and have a drawing for someone to win it. Of course, I am thinking in my mind, "WHAT?! I don't have one of those and how in world will we afford one!?" Here is the funny part-all the kids were like we already have one of those! lol

We didn't get home until 10:30 last night. Tuesdays are going to be LOOOOONG days! Mario went to the office later today and I caught a movie before he went. I have recommend the new movie out called Babies. I love movies that display cultures richly. I was absolutely amazed at what I saw through movie. I will not spoil it for anyone but I have to confess I absolutely loved the baby from Malaysia (sp.?) I loved him because he had an older brother who tortured him constantly! It made me feel that Dalen's behavior is totally normal. My favorite scene would hands down be when the older brother pushes the baby who is probably 6 months old in a stroller into a pasture of cows and leaves him there! ALL ALONE! No mom, no dad, no babysitter-just an infant looking at cows! Oh, and I must mention they had horns! YIKES! I took Cola with me and she watched the entire thing. No matter what culture, race or place where are from ALL babies have some things in common.

They all cry to communicate. They are ALL curious about their private parts and OTHER people's private parts. They all poop and turn a darker shade when they do it. And every baby LOVES to be swaddled. I loved this movie. Not only did it show me diverse cultures it made me want to hold my babies close and thank God I am an American and I don't mean that offensively but when see an African baby use sticks and rocks as a chew toy you just can't help but thank God for such a blessed country.

Swimmer's Ear...
I have realized lately that if I want Dalen to talk to me just take him to the pool. He will tell you or anyone else anything if he's in water. He still occaisonally laughs at the poor pool man who can't speak English and still asks him what he's doing. He plays with his frisbee and shovel in the water and pretends to make breakfast. I asked him if he wanted an omelet the other day and he said whats that. I explained to him an omelet is eggs that kind of make a blanket to other foods like cheese, sausage, bacon and so on. So he got excite and said yes, I want an omelet. I acted like I was scrambling eggs and played along with the special toppings he wanted. He is so a boy. He told me he wanted boogers and poop. Wonderful. He also told the lawn man who tried speaking Spanish to him that he couldn't talk good. Hopefully he didn't know what he said.

Highlights/Lowlights

I would do a big elaborate post about Mother's Day BUT I am the horrible mom that let the special day come and go without taking one single picture with my little ones! We had an awesome first Sunday at our new church and Dalen really enjoyed his class. The kids made handmade cards for their moms (which he totally destroyed in the back seat on the way to the restaurant) that was so super cute. Dalen's card was absolutely covered in glue. I can just envision how that happened lol.

Saturday was filled was fun family events as well BUT my phone got wet at the pool and at first gave me slight problems with texting and now won't even cut on! Luckily my contract is up and I am eligible for a new phone. I will blog about those events when I have the pics to upload from my phone memory card.

There has been a blog in the making for a long time now but for one reason or another I have decided not to post it. Can I just express HOW annoying it is for people to only blog, tweet, or update their statuses with the HIGHlights of life? I mean seriously we ALL know there are some LOWlights of life too! I had the most hilarious conversation with one of my friends a few months back about how Facebook was causing me to sin. Seriously, it was. Of course the choice was ultimately mine but there is NOTHING more annoying than the whole positive status on a daily basis when you know what is REALLY going on in someone's life.

I explained to my friend these are my Facebook Foes not my friends. I just can't stand anything that is not completely honest, genuine and transparent. That doesn't mean you have to air your dirty laundry but it also is no excuse to lie to the world that you life is full of sweet nothings and sunshiney days. What really kills me is women who are constantly talking about how wonderful their husbands are. Don't get me wrong I can and have blogged on the great husband I have but then there are those days where yes, he leaves the toilet seat up or the bowl of milk from his cereal sitting out for days. The truth is no one is perfect and therefore somedays our life is just plain crappy. I'll put it this way if I read your blog it isn't because I like fairytales it's because I love to hear the highlights and the lowlights and how you celebrate and move forward through both.

Now onto another kind of highlights...I am 25 and I have NEVER colored my hair. I figure if I can't even afford and remember to keep up with my own eyebrows I wouldn't be consistent on coloring my hair BUT I have been thinking about it. It's amazing what you contemplate when you are bored. I don't know we will see!

Missing

Yesterday I ventured out on my own. I made it to a movie by myself, laughed my head off and did the family grocery shopping. I didn't get lost at all thank goodness. Prices here are outrageous! From a gallon of gas to a gallon of milk-it doesn't matter you are looking at a major increase! I honestly thought about asking customer service if they took returns our bill was so high. It was at LEAST twice the amount of what we would have paid in Cleveland and yes, frugals, I used coupons.

Just to give you a little idea a frozen pizza was $6.49! I wouldn't even pay that for handmade, hand tossed, crust with UNprocessed cheese! Yesterday my prayer was-Lord, do you remember that story from so long ago? You know, the one where you sent a raven to feed the hungry ones? Yeah, him! Send him on over! Rather quickly please! When I got home from Publix I noticed my contact would not stay still. I took it out cleansed it and realized it has a tear. I haven't made it to the Super Wal-Mart yet but I am praying they have one of the ghetto fabulous vision centers here like they do in Cleveland!

Yesterday Dalen started running a fever. He became whiney and really that was the only other symptom. This morning he drank orange juice and literally spewed the worst smelling vomit all over me and our carpet that was just cleaned! It literally went like this...

SPEEEEEWWWWW!!!!!!
Me-High pitched gasp.
Dalen-Oops. Sorry I throw up mom. Can I watch Alvin?
Me-Go to the bathroom before you puke again!
Dalen-I said sorry. I not going to pute (puke)again!

He didn't even miss a beat! His fever went away and hopefully we didn't spread whatever he has to the pool because he begged to go swimming. Yesterday and today we went and it just so happened the pool man checked the water both days. Poor guy! He barely speaks English and when he tries to answer Dalen's questions Dalen just laughs and laughs because he thinks he sounds funny.

So I haven't cried since we have been here and I have done great emotionally. But there are a few things I already miss about good ol' Cleveland!

1. I miss being able to get ANYWHERE in 10 minutes or less.
2. I miss my hairstylist and I am CONVINCED to wait until June to get my hair cut again JUST so he can do it.
3. You can say whatever you want about Pi Kappa Pi but I SOOOO miss my green discount card! It was the purchase that just kept paying for itself!
4. I miss the great photographers. I need someone to capture my little one before she isn't little anymore!
5. I miss Minos at Gondolier and being yelled at when I didn't approach the counter fast enough.
6. I miss Walter's because I am convinced if I tried to clean my car myself I would die of a heat stroke.
7. I miss my gynecologist. I really bonded with her!
8. I miss Dalen screaming he has to go to work when we pass by "Cleveland Church".
9. I miss Parent's Night Out.
10. And last but certainly NOT least-I miss my amazing family and wonderful friends.

Home.

We landed safely in Orlando today. So far we have been to Wal-Mart, Target and Publix. I feel like everything I am going to need on a weekly basis is within just a few blocks from our apartment. I am super happy with our choice in apartments mainly because of the spaciousness and location. The community seems really quiet. I guess that will all change now that Dalen is in town. Bless his heart, he is having quite the adjustment coming to terms with the fact that someone lives under us.

I said all of my goodbyes yesterday and last night and there was no bittersweet goodbye-only bitter. I honestly cannot comprehend the distance between myself and friends and family yet. The trip here was let's just say interesting. Security check is impossible with two children! I had my 40 pound diaper bag, carry on, Cola, Dalen, Boppy Pillow, two boarding passes and my ID ALL in hand. Actually Dalen cooperated and walked most of the way. I literally could have screamed when the security woman asked me for my hands to do some new test for bomb residue. She asked me for my hands after watching me get everything picked up and situated . The seatbelt sign wasn't even off yet when I realized Cola had already pooped in her diaper and when the family across the aisle began to sniff and look confused I knew I had NO choice but to brave the itty bitty bathroom. If I were 10 pounds heavier it would have been impossible! While I stood getting my diaper bag ready Dalen stood on his seat, put his hand over heart and began to recite the pledge of allegiance. After I got him down he charged for the bathroom which happened to be in the direction of the cockpit. Luckily the stewardess didn't seem to be alarmed.

Our house is a wreck and boxes are covering every square inch. I am so ready to be settled. So far I feel like we are just passing through and this unfamiliar house is not home yet but soon enough it will be.

That certain age

It's Monday! On Wednesday I will be braving it to the south with one carry on and two little ones! I can't believe I am finally leaving. My parents were generous enough to let us crash at their house until Wednesday. I have learned a lot here.

There is a certain age where you should never move back home. I am not sure what age it is but I am totally convinced I am way passed it. My mom is totally convinced I hold my newborn around the clock which is why she won't sleep in the crib here. My dad says someone is going to report me for napping while my newborn is awake (she was TOTALLY safe, I swear!)

No really, it has been nice to spend the last few days here in Cleveland with my parents. I can tell you this-I will be fine in a single wide trailer after chasing Dalen with Cola on my hip throughout this massive house. The bigger the house, the messier the mess, the more places to hide and the more stairs to climb. Seriously, it one chase after another with him.

Sunday afternoon I got cozy in my parents bed and Cola laid beside me. I dozed off and I guess she didn't and the next thing I knew my Dad was standing over me shaking his head.

Dad: What are you doing, girl??
Me: Well, I WAS sleeping!
Dad: You're gonna be reported if you don't be more attentive to these kids! She could have rolled right off of here!
Me: Well, isn't it a good thing she can't even roll over yet?? Don't you think I thought of that Dad?
Dad: No, no I don't.

My Dad snatches the baby up, takes her downstairs and claims later he had to "care for her all day because of parental neglect." Dalen loves the stairs. He goes up and then he goes down. For some reason my parents think its necessary to watch him go up and down. My theory is-if he falls he is gonna fall. There will be no catching him in time. After about the 5th up and down my dad began to get super grouchy. Dalen was a little confused why this wasn't fun to him. I grabbed Dalen by the arm, went into the room we are staying in and explained (with the door shut), "Sometimes when you get old, things annoy you REALLY bad. So just stay in here with Mommy and we can play in here." I turned around only to find my Dad had listened at the door and opened it to let me know he was fully aware of what I had just told Dalen. He took a quick glance around and then said, "In your spare time, why don't you see if you can manage to throw a few more things on this floor."

We are driving them nuts! I have had some awesome times with my family and friends this last week. Somehow everyone has known better than to say goodbye. My greatest fear is that eventually we will all grow apart and be distant names on a Christmas card list. We mean well when we say we will visit and call but eventually the emotions of the moment become distant and so does communication. I so hope I am wrong and that not one friend is lost in this transition.