Life As a Torres

Sunday, June 28, 2015

Gender Reveal

January 29, 2015-Isaiah 4.75 and Jonathan 3 years old

We had originally planned to find out the sex of our third bundle of joy two weeks ago. The night before Isaiah and Jonathan helped me decorate a cardboard box with blue stars (for our potential All Star) and pink crowns (for our potential Princess). Isaiah was much more partial toward the blue stars and was adamant he was getting a brother. All while John-John was sure he was getting a baby sister. The next morning while the boys attended preschool, Jaime and I met for the 17 week gender reveal and complete screening ultrasound. The ultrasound tech told us he could only tell us his/her gender with 70% certainty (his/her knees were tight locked for the whole 45 minute review) so we decided to wait and not be told the gender until the sex could be 100% determined. Of course, at the time I had figured there wasn't a blatant penis, so the 70% certainty was for a girl. Our next medical ultrasound could not be scheduled until April 10, 2015.
Fast forward to Thursday January 28, 2015. Dying of anticipation I made an appointment for the next day with an outside ultrasound company. For $50 and at 19 weeks they told me they could tell me the gender of our baby. I'm so glad it worked out this way. The boys were able to be with us and the set-up was super cool. The live ultrasound of our baby was put up on a huge movie screen right before our eyes. Right when the ultrasound tech placed the probe on my tummy she goes."oh yeah, I know what it is." Which made me think it might be a boy (thinking penises are the most obvious). She was dumbfounded the hospital ultrasound tech could not tell us. After looking around a bit more...and asking us a few times, "are you ready to find out?" I was soooooo nervous. I went in saying girl, I wanted a girl, I was afraid to feel disappointment or sadness if I heard boy...but then she goes "YOUR GETTING A BABY SISTER!" And immediately I started to cry only to be abruptly ripped from MY MOMENT by Isaiah who right when hearing "sister" darted down from the side of tummy to go throw a temper tantrum in the corner of the room. "NO! I wanted a brother," he cried...and cried. Jonathan on the other hand gave me a big kiss and was all smiles. Can you guess who was my favorite at that hour? Jaime seemed to be in utter shock as well. He was so sure it was a boy. He was very quiet. But as he has said, "he is very excited to have a girl." Excited (and terrified).

Getting ready to find out the gender of our next family member.

Two of my boys in SHOCK, after hearing "GIRL".

That's our baby girl on the screen!!!! (19 weeks)

So much for the "balloon box" idea, but we had fun decorating it.

THE INTRODUCTION OF STARWARS

January 2015- Isaiah-4.75 years old and Jonathan 3 years old

Jaime is a Star Wars fanatic and when the new "Star Wars Complete Saga" came out on Blu Ray this month Jaime did not hesitate to purchase the six dvds and start "Torres Family Movie Night." With all the house lights turned off, a bowl full of popcorn and lots of couch snuggles the boys SAT through all SIX movies one by one through out the month. Needless to say, they are now fanatics themselves. Isaiah is already asking to watch each movie again.

Christmas 2014

December 2014-Isaiah 4.5 years old, Jonathan 3 years old, Audriana 12 weeks in utero

We got to spend Christmas up at my parents house this year. We baked cookies, had a big Christmas Eve party with our extended family, and Avery managed to teach Kennedy, Isaiah, and Jonathan countless dance routines that they loved putting on for us. I got such a kick out of watching the boys take their "cheer leading" moves so serious. Mom and Dad were once again great hosts supplying countless meals and letting their house be overtaken.

Participating in the Christmas Eve gift exchange

Christmas Morning in their PJ's

Helping Grandpa Gary open his gifts.

Opening gifts Christmas Morning

Jaime got a guitar and a NEW hobby begins.

Cookies for Santa

Santa's gift to them...THE POLAR EXPRESS TRAIN (it lasted 2 hours until parts started to fall off).

Our first Santa picture with both the boys SMILING.

Disneyland Christmas

December 2014- Isaiah 4.5 years old, Jonathan 3 years old

Diana and Steve wanted to take Andrew to Disneyland for his third birthday and asked if we wanted to come along. I was hesitant at first; being we were just at Disney World in April (can you say spoiled?) but Jaime was adamant we seize the opportunity to create and enjoy as many family memories AS we can, so it didn't take long for me to get on board. I'm so glad I did. We had the most amazing time taking in all the Christmas lights and decorations Disneyland had to offer for the Holiday. The boys can not stop talking about the magical time they had and I think this trip made them OFFICIALLY obsessed.

We loved California Adventure

The Ferris wheel in California Adventure was one of our favorite rides.

All of the Spectacular Christmas lights throughout the Park:

Birthday Breakfast with the Characters for Andrew's B-day

Friday, June 19, 2015

Our First Preschool Christmas Porgram

December 2014-Isaiah 4.5 years old, Jonathan 3 years old

To my heart's delight, Isaiah and Jonathan started coming home from preschool mid October already singing Christmas Carols. Pastor Ken (the boys attend a Baptist Preschool) started working with the children fairly early so by the time their Christmas Program rolled around on December 7th, they would be more than ready. And boy, were my boys ready!

I was terrified for them when I realized they would be marching up and singing in front of well over one hundred family members. The stage was set in the Baptist church, were their congregation meets every Sunday. And there was not one chair left available. People even had to stand.

Obviously, all the practice paid off because all the children marched in with such confidence and ready to sing. Pastor Ken played his acoustic guitar and led the kids to sing well over ten Christmas songs. My heart beamed with pride as I watched Isaiah flash his charming smile and repeatingly dance a jig while singing all the songs. Jonathan was much more subdued while performing. Every once in a while the spirit would move him and he would shot out the words and burst with happiness to a familar song, but for the most part we was just chill and rolling with it:) This little program MADE my Christmas this year. I was so touched by the children's sweet voices and enthusiasm to sing. What a treasure. *We forgot our Cannon camera, so these are poor zoom in quality pictures from our phones:(

Jonathan is front row, right in front of microphone.

Worked out well that I didn't dress Isaiah in red. Isaiah singing his heart out.

Isaiah was so proud of himself after his performance.

Jonathan still dazed by ALL the commotion.

But now he's ready to PARTY!

Thanksgiving 2014

November 2014-Isaiah 4.5 years old, Jonathan-3 years old

The cold weather has finally set in and Jaime and I decided to make good use of our wood burning fire place. The boys have been loving the roaring, warm fires we make every night. Jaime made sure to take them with him when he went to buy and load the fire wood. The first go around they were both so proud to help Jaime unload and stack the wood. On the second go around, Isaiah was over it but not Jonathan!
We spent Thanksgiving up at the "Big House." Being in preschool this year the boys were so cute talking about the first feast between the Pilgrims and Indians.

Halloween 2014

October 2014-Isaiah 4.5 years old, Jonathan 3 years old

We start Halloween early in the Torres house. I make a concerted effort to take the boys to pick out their Halloween costumes early in October, so they have a full month of enjoying their new costumes and getting into character. This year, we also stepped up our home Halloween decor. Isaiah decided he wanted to hang this huge black spider with cobwebs right above the downstairs guest bathroom. Jonathan is our big chicken and for the first week he would not walk past this spider unless I or someone else was there to "protect him." This was the first year I dressed up too. When, the boys would excited ask me "Mama, what are you going to be?" I felt like such a party pooper, saying Halloween is just for kids. Truly, I don't believe that, so I stepped up my game and dressed up as Jessie from Toy Story. Jonathan LOVED it!