White Xmas it is.... yey :-/

Well, as you all probably know, I am an island girl.
I love the heat.
I love wearing lighter clothes.
And I love love love, wearing open toe shoes!!!

But in a day, this is what I will be looking like!

We are going to travel up to Boone, NC to spend the holidays with Jodi's mom, dad, brother, niece and grandmother.

I have heard nothing but GREAT things about this place, so in a way, I am excited.

I can't wait to have a lovely Christmas with my inlaw's, who I love to pieces!

Well, maybe I can!! Can we celebrate it in the summer instead?

Or maybe all fly down to Puerto Rico?

I promise it is still "Christmasy", even though it doesn't snow!

Ok, enough whining.

I will be back with pictures I am sure.

Well, here, or on my facebook account.

Let's hope I dont turn into an ice cube!!!

Oh! and how in the world did I manage to live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin again?

Did I drink that much that I don't remember anything to do with freezing to death!

I guess it is "funner" to wear winter clothes and look all cute while playing with snow when I am not 20+ weeks pregnant, tired, fatigued and HUUUUGE!!!

How I feel:

I am just a "bit" smaller :-P

Merry Christmas to ALL OF YOU,  my faithful, wonderful bloggie bloggie readers!!

MUAHZ!!!

A daughter!

Last night, I sat on my couch watching one of my now favorite shows.  They were doing short biographies on the top 10 dancers left. 
Molly was one of them.  She is 18 years old and such a talented young woman.
They showed pictures and videos of when she started dancing as a little girl. 
She was (is) very pretty.
I couldn't hold back my emotions when her mother started talking about how proud she was of her daugher as they where showing the video of her dancing in her pink tutu and her ballerina shoes.
Her mom kept saying how proud she was in between many many tears of joy.
I started crying too and thinking, "Oh my God!  I am having a daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I am carrying a little girl inside me, right now!!!
A little girl who will also wear pink tutus and ballerina shoes!!!
A little girl whose hair will be just like Molly's, dark blondish/brownish and curly!
A little girl who will have a breathtaking smile that will melt me and her daddy's heart!
A little girl who will grow up to be a young woman and become my best friend!

Ever since I found out I am having a girl, my days have been filled with new dreams.

I am not sure if this obsession is due to the fact that I grew up in a house filled with women.
2 sisters, my mom and my grandmother.
I also went to an all-girl Catholic School from kindergarden to Senior Year in high school.
And even our pets were always females.
Everything was girly all over the place, and of course, I loved it!
I love pink bows and dresses and high heels and chic flics and weddings....


When I was 10 years old, my younger sister was born and for me, it was like having a real life doll.
I spend almost every second I could with her and was just totally into taking care of her and being like a second mommy.  It was fun and I embraced every minute I spent with her!
She was always closer to me than she was with everyone else, and we had a bond that was unique and special.
Then I went to college and moved out.  Things changed.

I NOW will have another real life doll to "play" with, but this one will be mine! all mine! Forever!!!
Forever she will be my baby doll, no matter how old she is!

I can dress her up, and take her to places in her cute pink stroller and kiss her, and hug her, and love her and see her grow into a gorgeous woman....
I can sit in an audience and cry with pride when I see her twirling around in her gorgeous girly outfit!
I can teach her how to paint her toe nails and put lip gloss on!
And play with her hair and go shopping together!
I can talk to her about her latest crush!
And teach her how to value herself like my mom did with me and my sisters!

And cry of happiness the day she tells me she found the man of her dreams.
And cry even more when she announces that he proposed!
(hopefully I can watch this happening!! )

And stand up in church and see my hansome husband and proud Daddy walking her down the aisle, wearing the most gorgeous wedding dress I had ever dreamt of,  (that I helped her pick) towards the man who will become her husband.
And be right next to her as she gives birth to my grandchildren...

Oh GOSH!
I can't type this without crying!
God only knows how much these dreams mean to me!
And how happy I truly am that I get to live them one day!

God knows how much I already love her and how much I want her to know that!

I am having a GIRL - and to me, it is a dream come true!

--------------------------------------------------------
I ADORE my SON with all my heart!
He is just everything to me and he will always be.
And NOW I get to ADORE my daughter too!

CAN SOMEONE PLEASE PINCH ME?

Seriously?
Is this all a dream?


I spend hours looking at crib bedding for her and so far, I have narrowed it down to 3 choices.
That has been a LOT of fun!

Want to see?
These are my absolute favorites so far!
I am actually so anxious to start decorating and getting her room ready!!
Aren't they just perfect? :-)

I think of the day when I get to hold her in my arms and introduce her to Jonathan.
My 2 angels side by side!
It is by far one of the best dreams I have ever had and I can't wait for it to happen soon!

So yes, I am pregnant and maybe sometimes a little hormonal and sentimental, but I know these feelings I am feeling lately are pure and filled with so much happiness and joy!
--------------------------------------
To my 2 children:
I promise I will try to be the best mother I could possibly be, ALWAYS! 
I promise I will love you unconditionally, no matter what.
I promise I will try to help you become a good person with a great heart!
A heart filled with love, compassion and good intentions.
I will support your decisions and be there for you ETERNALLY!
I will laugh at your jokes, clap when I am proud, praise your accomplishments and be the PROUDEST MOM in the universe!
----------------------------------------
I can't think of a better feeling in the world than being proud of your own children.
Even the other day, when Jonathan was in the car for 10 hours without fussing, I looked at him and wished he knew how proud of him I was.  That feeling has been one that I had never felt before, and I liked it.
No, I didn't like it! I loved it!
I can just imagine how much more of those moments I will have with both of them!
More DREAMS! 
--------------------------------------------------------------
I am about 18 weeks pregnant now.
22 more to go.

I am excited, anxious, scared and extremely excited about our new journey as parents of 2.
Our cute little boy, who is just PERFECTION to me!
And soon a little princess - due in May 2010!

Life has given me so much more during these past few years.
More than I could have ever imagined I would have had.
Yes, I always wanted to marry someone like Jodi and have 2-3 kids, but now that I have what I wanted I can truly say, WOW! I am truly blessed.
It definitely has had its up and DOWNS. And for those who know me, you know what we have been through and what I am talking about.

But it still "is a wonderful life I live, My wonderful LIFE"!

...and no matter how good or not so good of a day I am having, I am enjoying every second of it!

I leave you with the video of our Gender Ultrasound #2, another one of my happiest moments!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N0dQLuNgdK4

A little bit of this and a little bit of that

I really haven't had much to report.
I sometimes want to sit here and write about how happy I am.
And sometimes maybe about how tired I feel.
But never get to it.

I have had a huge to do list for some time now and it seems like I add more things every day than I can check off.

One of them was updating my blog.
And even though I don't even have much time right now, I kinda wanted to check that one off TODAY!
Even if i have to write a new one on my list about updating my blog again with a longer, much more entertaining post!

I have been doing a few things here and there - but for most part, I have felt tired and lazy.

Jonathan is transforming into the little bratt I always knew I was gonna have for a child!
lol
I remember watching Dennis the menace and always thinking: I want a child like that!
how fun! i don't want a boring child who is never doing anything!
Well, be careful what you wish for, huh?
I love it though!
It is not annoying me much!
At least, not yet!

He is funny!
SO DETERMINED and so STUBBORN already!
So curious! So silly! So FREAKING CUTE!!!!
He is never still - NEVER!
Unless he is napping or sleeping or drinking his BABA (bottle) in his little couch while watching Blues Clues, Yo Gabba Gabba or Lazy Town.

He has this new thing now of just standing right infront of you and laughing as loud as he can (of course faking it) so you can pay attention to him and basically start laughing with him.
He did it @ the grocery store a few days ago while we were paying and I am not kidding, every single person around was histerically laughing! Me, well, u can imagine!!

He does have his tantrums!
Uff, and those are getting louder and louder!

Other than that, he is such a happy baby!
Everywhere we go, everybody says it!
And I just love it!
His smile is just captivating!
His giggles are still the best noises I could ever hear!
(even if they are fake! haha)
His puppy eyes are just cuter than the cutest puppy you have ever ever seen in your entire life!
U know how you feel when you see a cute puppy just looking at you like "help", "love me"...
Well, I get that feeling when I look at my baby boy times 10000000!
He is just SO ADORABLE!!!
Anyways, I can sit here for hours talking about him.
Back to the other stuff:

WE had an AMAZING halloween weekend with the family: Mother, brother & father in law, 2 nieces and us.
I have never seen so much going on for Halloween in my life!
The spirit of Halloween was definitely present in this town and I really liked it!
(I can't wait to see people during Xmas!!)

I was seriously amazed by all the fun activities and things for the kids to do!
And even though Jonathan was a little too young for them, he had a BLAST!

I have been to the Dr to see new baby J #2 twice since the last blog!
THIS BABY IS SO active!

Wait! Can I put videos here?
I think I do!!!

Well, I will put one of the ultrasounds videos here for pure entertainment!! :-)
(it is seriously crazy how much this baby kicks and I never get tired of looking @ it)

These past few weeks have been a little more exciting.
Been to the Aquarium, a Mom's night out, a Meet and Greet for another mommy group, playdates and I even signed up Jonathan for a Jump Bunch class!
@ least I am getting a little more active, right?

I am growing incredibly fast (Well, my belly!)- that's been kind of crazy!
It is out there, lemme tell you!
I am not nociting too much weight gain anywhere else - which is good, but still!
I am what? 15 weeks only!!!
ahhh!!!

I would post pics here, but I am going to wait a little longer until I am more advanced in the pregnancy bc it is sorta embarrasing for me to be this big.
I love it, don't take me wrong!
But I can sometimes get a little tired of the: "are you sure you only have one in there?" "are you sure you are only 15 weeks pregnant?" etc etc
So I am avoiding it by hiding my 15 month pregnant belly and posting the pics a few months down the road... :-P

Daddy is still working SUPER HARD and we are still waiting for some good things to happen with one of his jobs!

And well, that's pretty much a little bit of what is going on over my neck of the woods!
(I love AL Rocker. Is that how u spell it? the weather guy from the Today Show...)



WAIT!!!!!!!!
If I do not post before next wednesday, November 18th, then the next post will have to do with baby J Shelton #2's GENDER!
Yep! We find out (hopefully) that day!

Let me tell you, I was NOT this anxious and nervous with Jonathan!
yes, of course, I was dying to know but i was "so sure" with him that I was having a girl!

With this one - I have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA!
Nothing is making me feel one way or the other!
I HAVE taken the lil myth tests and of course, the chinese calendar says it's a girl (which it did with Jonathan too) and I even did the ring over the belly one. (But that one sucked, bc when I held it over my belly it went in circles: girl! and when Jodi did, it went side to side: Boy!)

I want to believe it is a boy, just so that when they tell me it is, I don't get too too disappointed.
Yes, You all know I want a baby girl BAD!

All of Jodi's family is telling me is a boy.
And everyone that sees me in the streets or knows me (well, not everyone but a lot of people) tell me it's a girl.
Which doesn't help bc that is what happened with Jonathan as well!

OF course I am ok with either and of course all that matters is that the baby is healthy and does great inside and outside my belly!
But hey! I would have a little more fun buying those mary jane socks I so want to buy!!!
And the bows, and the tu tus!!

So, in 8 more days we get to know!

AHHHH!!!!!!

Gotta go!
The boys are back from the groceries!!!

CIAO!

Bye Bye Curls - hello big boy look!

I was not looking forward to this as much as I should've.
My baby looked perfect, why even change anything?
His baby curls are adorable, why cut them?

Well, I had to finally agree with Jodi, his hair was getting a "little" long.
And after he was called a girl twice at Disney, I gave in.
(not that he looked like a girl. What are these people thinking?! Are they blind!?? lol)

No captions needed, as you will see! Enjoy!

Where were we?????

So, I am finally giving my blog the time and attention it so needs and deserves.
I apologize to it and it's readers for not being around. I am sorry.
I hate excuses, but my life has been a bit crazy and I have not had either the time, energy or muse to sit here and write.

But I do now.

As I sit here on the sofa, with Jodi's laptop on top of a pillow, on top of my lap (while he watches the FL/LSU game tonight), I begin to think and to ask myself, where do I even begin?

It has been 2+ "quite" eventful months, so I am going to break it down for you into chapters.

Chapter 1: The Move, The Celebration and.....
Chapter 2: What are the chances?
Chapter 3: Short and Sweet summary of my September
Chapter 4: (untitled)

Chapter 1

So there I was, waiting for Jodi to call me to tell me the Uhaul truck was fixed and he was going to be able to make it that night. But no, him and Joel had to stay in a hotel somewhere near Jacksonville, FL because the stupid truck did not want to drive any faster than 25 miles an hr. Could you imagine? They would have arrived like 2 days after!
The day after, some mechanic came to meet them, fixed the truck (the computer got wet bc of the rain they encountered on their way up) and they continued their journey.
I was anxious, I wanted all my stuff (furniture mostly) to finally get here. I had already gotten all the boxes we brought up unpacked and everything ready for when they came.
My friend Ashley came to visit me and she arrived before the boys!

How sweet of her!

Around 3pmish, they finally made it!! YEYY!!! (both looked pretty rough! I wish I had a picture to insert here, it would have been funny!)
The guys worked hard and it was kinda fun for me to tell them where I wanted the stuff to go.

Even though I was sweating bc I noticed a bunch of scratches and dents on a LOT of furniture.

THAT WAS NOT GOOD!

But who am I to open my mouth and sound ungrateful about all their hard work!

(ugh! I am still feeling the pain)
We finished up (kinda) and we all went to Christian & Lisa's for BBQ and had a nice, peaceful, entertaining dinner.
We came back home, got all cleaned up and played Poker. I don't even remember who won. (weird, considering how competitive I am)

It was a fun, eventful night... (and I will leave it at that!)

Chapter 2

Soooo.....
That fun eventful night, pretty much changed our lives.
Let me start from the beginning until how I found out.

My best friend, Nina, had been talking, explaining and kinda trying to convince me that taking my basal temperature may be a reaaaaally good thing for when I wanted to try to start to conceive a second baby. She did it and it was very succesful for her.
Considering I am a planner, I never really got into the whole temping thing.

I wanted to be more laid back about the whole process.
However, after long chats with her and learning more about it, I decided to at least buy the thermometer.
August 8th (take a day, give a day) I took my first temperature.
I wanted to start learning about my body most of all.
I had in mind that when I knew how "everything" worked, then I would start trying to plan things better and maybe even try to "help" with trying to conceive a little princess.

With the move and with so much happening, I took my temperature I think every day. NO biggie. I posted it on the site that charts the cycle and tells you everything you need to know about conceiving for a few days.

August 15th, 2009, we moved into our new house, and as I mentioned before, we had a fun, eventful night.

2 days after, Jodi left to go to Mexico to close some deals.

I continued temping, but since I didn't have his laptop and had no internet connection yet, I just wrote everything on a little piece of paper.

He got home 4 days after. I don't recall how long after I sat down to enter everything on the website, but when I did, I was quite caught off guard.
Those of you who DO KNOW how to interpret this, may be thinking right now, I could've told you already you were pregnant! lol

But I didn't know much about it. I actually sent it by email to Nina and she mentioned that I could be... I think I ignored her when she said that. lol.

However, the website had a first month trial period where it would "help interpret it" and it did - it said: "Chances of conception = GOOD!"
So I realized, I ovulated a day after that night we moved.
Meaning - that egg could have been fertilized!
Meaning - AHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know, a lot of information - but it is what it is - and it's no secret how things happen...

WHAT?
I, WHAAAAT?
How could that possibly happen? AF just left like 4, 5, 6 days ago?
Maybe this month was a little wacky with the temperatures because of everything happening!?!? Right? right?

I mean, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES?????
There is NO WAY I could be pregnant, right?
Well, there is a way! I did go off birth control about a month or 2 ago and I did celebrate that night.... but, but....

I really did not think for 1 second I was. Yes, I knew it said chances were good, so yes, I kinda had that in the back (waaaaaaaaaaaaay back) of my head, but I was trying to ignore it.

Jodi's parents, Susie and Toby came that weekend first. We had a great time as usual.
Then, Nina suprised me and told me she was coming to visit me the weekend after!
I COULD HAVE NOT BEEN MORE EXCITED!!!

Friday, August 28th, we went grocery shopping and I decided to buy a box of pregnancy tests. Why not, right? We were going to try to start having a baby towards the end of the year, and u never know....
We bought a bunch of beer and I bought my GREY GOUSE (sp?) for tomorrow night!
I was planning to have my Red Bull and Vodka drinks and have a few laughs with Nina, Vic, our neighbors and Christian on Saturday night.
I even remember writing on Nina's facebook Wall about how funny it was that she was going to be the only one sober that night, for the first time ever.
I was totally already making fun of her and I was loving it!

August 29th. I woke up early and felt a sharp cramp.
Hmmm.... This doesn't feel right, I thought to myself.
It was painful and long.
Something about that cramp, and remembering Nina telling me about the cramp she also felt before getting her pregnancy test result, and the cramps I had felt before when I was pregnant with Jonathan, made me get up, open one of the drawers in my bathroom cabinet and pull out that big blue CLEAR BLUE box I had bought the day before.
I was NOT nervous. I was expecting a NOT PREGNANT.
I did what I had to do and waited.
Plus, I wanted to really drink that night and I wasn't going to feel good about it after I had seen my chart... so I wanted my peace of mind.

Tic Toc Tic Toc, no butterflies yet, until....

I looked down and I see:



WHAT?
ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

I did not know how to react.
All I know is that my heart just started racing, I felt the instant butterflies, stepped out of the bathroom and threw the test on my husband's belly as he layed in bed while looking at him with a face that looked like I had just seen a ghost!!!
I don't know how much longer I waited, but I tried to take another one and it didn't work.
I didn't have enough liquid I guess. UGH!

Jodi got dressed, got in the car and went and bought a few more tests.

I took a 3rd one, and yep, it said the same thing. And a fourth one!



LORD!!!!!!

I was so nervous!
Nina and Victor were on their way.

Do I tell her right away? NO WAY! She is pregnant for the first time. Let's talk about HER first. Let's enjoy her pregnancy and celebrate it.

They got here and immediately after, I started giving her the tour of the house.
We went upstairs (and keep in mind, I HID the tests) and I walked her into my room.
She had been playing with her hair I guess, so she decided she was going to throw some of the loose hairs she had in her hand in that little hidden garbage can nex to the toilet in my bathroom.
And there it was - the EMPTY CLEAR BLUE box. No tests, just the box.
She did NOT miss that!
She came out of the bathroom yelling "AHAA!!! I saw that! Are you... (and as she was asking me, she noticed the terrified look in my face) PREGNAAaaaaaant??? (she had also seen and discussed my chart with me prior to all this).
I didnt have to say a word, SHE KNEW!

She went CRAZY! jumping up and down, laughing hysterically, screaming and running from one room to another back and forth...
It was like a scene in a comedy show.

Who would have thought?
Me and Nina both pregnant at the same time, only 1 and a half months apart!
We spoke about this while lil girls, but now it was a reality!
How cool was that?

Anyways, needless to say, there were 2 sober ones that night while everyone had their cocktails. It was fun though. I laughed all night.

Chapter 3

September is my favorite month. Of course it is! It is my birthday!!! woo hoo!
The month started great - we went to the doctor so they could confirm my pregnancy. HCG #'s were great. yey!
Nina and Vic came to visit again the first weekend of the month. They had planned their honeymoon vacation in Myrtle Beach, but that didn't really work out for them. So after having a horrible experience there the first day, they decided to just leave and drive down here instead.

Towards the middle of the month, the symptoms started. Morning Sickness (all day for me), tiredness (exhaustion) and latin food cravings!

We got to see baby J 2 on Sept 16th! WOW! Here we go again ladies and gentleman! There is a beautiful peanut growing inside me!

My birthday weekend was FANTASTIC!
We went to Disney - and for those who know me, I loooove Disney!
This time it was different. It was all about experiencing it as a mommy. And let me tell you, what a dream!
My baby had a blast and there is nothing better in this life, than seeing my baby happy!

We got to see the baby again and this time, hear her/his heartbeat on August 24th! How exciting! Dr estimated I was 7 weeks, 2 pregnant.

Here she/he is again! How cute, right? hehe!

Other than having my moments, when I start really missing my family and friends in Florida, I had a great month!

Chapter 4

I don't have a title yet for this chapter, but if I come up with something clever, I will update it.
I mean, it has been exciting so far.

Well, not really! lol

Just these past 4 days.

Why?
We got to go to Florida and see everyone! YEYY!!!

Well, I saw some of my most special friends and that made me very very happy!

I have to admit, I have had a little bit of a rough time here so far.

I get very lonely sometimes. I day dream about winning the lottery and moving back to Florida. That would be the only way, so far, we could move back, according to the deal me and Jodi made.

I have met some new friends (not that many) and there are 2 girls I really like.
I know they are great and I can probably say we will become close, but it takes time.
Plus, anyone new I meet, has some huge shoes to fill... I have to say, I have been one lucky gal when it comes to having great girlfriends!

And of course, we have Christian and Lisa - who we LOVE DEARLY and our wonderful neighbors too.

BUT STILL!

I miss my momtourage!!!!!

I am definitely NOT A LONER, that's for sure!

Anyways, life is good. It really is.

It is still wonderful! :-)

My husband is working like I have never seen him work before and building the best future we could possibly imagine having.

And I am AN EXTREMLY proud wife!

His hard work will be all worth it very very soon!

I leave you with Jodi's favorite picture of our precious son!

Our future SUPERSTAR!

Thanks for reading, as always!

no, I have not forgotten...

I really do think about my blog.
And I really do plan on blogging on it.
Soon, very soon...

I need to wait.
I have a lot to say, too much to keep certain things quiet.
But I have to keep them quiet for a little longer.

So for now, this is all I got.

I should be sleeping

I am tired.
My eyes are hurting.
I am laying in bed with the lights off and the fan on high, making that sound that makes me sleepy, with the laptop on my lap, writting on my blog.

I should be sleeping.
Conserving energy.

Today was hard, yesterday too - tomorrow, probably a little bit harder.
So much work!

2 full days of unpacking box after box after box while trying to occupy my darling son all by myself in the new house.
Up and down stairs probably over 100 times.


I should be sleeping!!!!!

I probably wont make any sense right now - I am exhausted.
Maybe I AM sleeping.
Instead of sleep walking, sleepblogging.

Feels like it, anyways.


I am annoyed.

My dear husband should have been here right about now.
That would be a better reason to be up right now.
But noooo.... plans changed and we are NOT happy about this!
Him and Joel left today with all the furniture in a huge Uhaul truck at 3pm.
The plan = get here before midnight.

Then I get a call....
The Truck broke down in the middle of the highway!
Poor boys.
I am happy nothing happened to them.
I am also happy I WAS NOT in that truck!
I get scared with stuff like that!
Anyways
Mechanic came, he wasn't able to fix the problem!
grrr...

They went to a hotel, in which they r probably both symphonically snooring right about now.

Tomorrow morning, they mechanic comes back in hope to fix that stupid crappy piece of SHIT truck!
Sorry, I am grouchy!


If, and GOSH I HOPE THIS IS NOT THE CASE, the truck cannot be fixed, I assume they have to unload all of it and load it up to another piece of (ok I will refrain to use it twice) crap truck!

R U KIDDING ME??

That TRUCK better be fixed.
I want my stuff out of that truck, but NOT onto another one! I want it in our house!
WE will see tomorrow what happens.

Tonight I sleep in Alex's bed again.

Let's hope tomorrow I spend the first night in my new house, on our mattress, with my husband on my side.

That's all.

time to close the laptop and go to sleep!

7 dias (7 days)

As the minutes go by and I sit here in my home, I get more and more emotional about what is to happen in 7 days.

I have known for what? almost 3 months, that this was coming. But it feels like I just got the news.
Like my dear husband just came to me and told me to pack my things, that we were moving.
Like I have no time to say my goodbyes and see everyone I would like to see.
Like I am racing against the clock.

First, it is very important that you know that I AM happy about what is to come.
That I AM looking forward to my new life somewhere else.
To my new friends, my new home, my new everything.
I am scared, of course, it is something completely new and I have become quite a chicken when it comes to changes as I get older.
But I am optimistic. And deep inside, kind of excited about it all.

However, I DO have to admit one thing: these next few days are going to be "just a little" overwhelming for ME.

As I prepare for the move, my mind has been taking me to different chapters of my life.

As I fill up boxes and tape them close, I remember the day I drove down in the Uhaul truck from Wisconsin, eager to start my new life as a college graduate.

As I stack one on top of another, I remember a night when I went to Miami and partied inside a huuuuge party bus with a whole lot of strangers until early hours in the morning.

As I sit down to rest for a little bit, I remember the time I decided to buy myself a ticket to go to France to visit a friend I had met down here and got stuck in the airport over there for over 2 hours without finding him. I was not scared. I told myself, "oh well! If I don't see him, I will get a cab, stay in a hotel in Paris, go see the Eiffel Tower at least, get a cab back to the airport the next day, and go back home." Thankfully, he found me. I was in the wrong spot.

As I organize a few things in the drawers, I remember all the places I went out to dance. Cafe Iguana, back in the day... Vodoo Lounge, my second home... Opa, dancing on the tables. geezzz... dancing was my thing back in the day... NO alchohol needed. Just good music and a spot for me to dance all by myself on top of a little stage, a cage, anywhere...

As I go grab a water bottle, I remember all the places I had lived in. All my little boyfriends(cough). All the jobs I had. All the fun times. All the heartbreaks. But most important, all the friends I was able to make.

I AM sorry if I sound a little too sensitive, but to me, it IS a big deal.

I spent ONE THIRD of my life here and let me tell you, what an incredible journey it has been.
Hey! One third IS a LOT!

I came young, naive and ready to start a heck of an adventure.
I don't even think I knew what I wanted at that time.
But I was "unstoppable"!

That was in 1998, 11 years ago!

Now I look back, nod my head, sigh, close my eyes, and smile.

How can I NOT miss "my" Florida?

How can I not get emotional when reflecting about the life I have lived here for the past 11 years?

I am who I am, and where I am, because of the life I lived here, the people I met, the experiences I had....
(OH! you had something to do too, mom! ;-) xo)

and to close this chapter, or should I say book, makes me cry.

Here, I have grown.
I have felt sad, lonely, mad, angry, betrayed, scared...
I have been loved, admired, wanted, (or so I think :P) needed....
I have felt happiness that I only thought was possible in movies.
I have come to love like I have never have loved before.
I have made friends that are just like angels.
I have met an amazing man who I was lucky enough to marry and call my husband.
I have birthed a son who has made my life a fairytale.
I began to find myself.



In 7 days I leave.
I will jump in my car very early in the morning, with my husband, our baby and our dog.
I will sit next to Jodi as he drives and I just know, what I am feeling right now, will be nothing compared to what I will feel sitting there looking out the window, reflecting on everything and praying.

I will be wiping my tears and saying, bye bye Florida. I will miss you!

I will be sad to leave my father, sister and the rest of the family behind.
I will be sad to know I can't just jump in the car and go to a playdate with my mommy friends, who I have fallen in love with in so little time.
Or sad to not be able to see any of the tons of friends I made thru the years, that even if I don't see often, I do love and will miss just having them "close".
I will be sad to know I wont be able to tell Jodi that I am craving some Shrimp Scampi from La Bamba (yes! that is WHAT I LOVE to eat at that mexican restaurant! THEY are super good!)
and I will be sad to leave all the rude drivers behind!
HAHA! well, maybe not that!

I leave a piece of my heart here.

If you were part of my life here in Florida, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Thank you for making me who I am now.
Thank you for teaching me something.
Thank you for being a part of this whole beautiful journey.
And thank you for still being part of my life to this day.



Last, thank you for reading this post.
My apologies if it came accross a little sad.
It is 12:55 am, I can't seem to sleep lately and I needed to release all these emotions.
Where else than in my diary/blog?


I am going to try to collect a few pictures - one of each year I lived in FL - and post a collage here of the 11 years that just went by.
Can't promise it, bc I am quite a busy lady these days, but I will try.

Going to bed now.
Will be waking up in a few hourse (whenever baby decides he is hungry) thinking, Oh my, 6 days now!

Good night!

Day 5

Day 5 of my stay in the beautiful town of Mount Pleasant, SC.
It is kind of surreal, to be driving around town thinking:
"Wow! I am going to be driving these streets a LOT!
That is going to be the Publix I shop at!
That mall is going to see a lot of me! hehe!..."

I remember when we used to drive up for our wedding preparations before our big day.
I was in LOVE with this town!
We used to always daydream about the day we were going to move up. We used to talk about it non-stop.

And look! The time has come!

We are going to be official South Carolina residents in a matter of days!!!!!


Ok, let me rewind a little and go back a few days...

Last Saturday was such an eventful day for me.
My emotions were all over the place, to say the least.

First I dropped my beautiful mother at the Fort Lauderdale airport. It was just so sad to know that was going to be the last time she stayed at my house in Delray. We had so many great times this past year and a half in my lovely little house.

Then after spending a little time at the house, I drove up to West Palm beach to pick up my sweet husband, who had been gone all week, as usual now.

And at night, I went to a Bye Bye Bunco game w my Boca/Delray mommy group friends! It was for them to say Bye Bye to me :-(
I had a phenomenal time, like I always do!
These girls are just such a joy. They even had a cake for me!
It was definitely sad to hug them goodbye!

4am Sunday came and we got ready, carried the baby to his car seat and started our journey to SC.

Met with Mandy, Skylar and Davin at the Crackell Barrel for breakfast (in Jacksonville). WE had a GREAT time!!!! They are all so cute!!! I was left wanting more, to say the least!

Then we continued our drive up.
I have to say, it wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be.
It wasn't bad AT ALL!
Baby J did AMAZING!!!
(thanks to the new phonics dvd I had playing)

The anticipation of going inside my future house was just driving me nuts! I know I had seen the pictures (24 to be exact) over and over, but still!

Then we finally met w the landlord outside and went in! yey!
Such a lovely, nice, big house!
I dont know if it was worse after I had seen it - cause now I am just desperate to bring all my stuff and move in!!!

Anyways, we have spent the week here.
Daddy working, of course.

Little by little, I have been getting aquainted with the area. I even drove myself to the Town Center (yes, the same name as the one I go in Boca) Mall and did not get lost!
(well, I have to admit, I had a whole page with Very very detailed directions and Jodi on the phone guiding me through)
Haha! but the point is, I can go there now without getting lost!
(oh! and its only like 10 minutes away! lol)
Oh well, I am still gonna feel good about it no matter what!

Anyways, tomorrow we get to spend the day together (that is if Jodi doesn't go golfing w Xtian) and then Sunday we drive back down to my Florida.



It's been fun

....watching two little boys do their thing, which half an hr ago was giving each other wedgies in their power ranger and cowboy costumes.

....watching Jonathan try to play with them like he was a big boy too.

....sleeping in a full size bed, all 3 of us!

and just picturing our life over here!

Oh and big news!
I am going to be an auntie!!!
Nina and Vic are pregnant.

I found out at the same time she did!
Just like when I took the test with her on the phone!
How exciting was that?!!!
I was as nervous I think as I was when I was the one counting every second that went by, waiting for that little window to say something!
She started hyperventilating, just like I did and saying "Jenise! Jenise! It says pregnant!!!"

Nina is having a BABY!
Those that know her, know exactly how funny/odd that sounds!!
lol

Well, it's been a few months for me since they have been on baby mode, so I have had a little more time to get used to it.

For all of the rest of you guys (that know her too) y'all have 9 months to get used to it!
No more allergy to kids!!!
whohooo!!!
Everything IS possible ladies and gentlemen!
haha!

Anyways, enough teasing her! I am so so so anxious already to meet this baby!!!

Ok - time to finish this post.
I leave you all with a picture of my soon to be new home!
I can't wait to get the keys!!!

Pure Craziness

Has started.
I am going to try my hardest to blog tomorrow in between:
Taking my mom to the Fort Lauderdale Airport
Picking up Jodi in the West Palm Beach Airport
(gotta go aaaall the way down, to then go aaaall the way up, pass my house and then go even twice as far north... lol)

Then come home and pack and get everything ready for our trip.

Go to my Bye Bye Bunco Goodbye Party - thrown by my mommy friends here in FL.

I have been looking forward to this for so long and now I have to leave early and not drink since we are leaving at 4 (or 5 latest) to SC the next day for a whole week!

AHHH!!!

So yea, I am gonna try my hardest to do all this, BLOG and run after my lil Tazmanian Devil, Jonathan, who is a real ball of energy!
AND I LOVE IT!

Funny thing is - this is only the beginning of this chapter of my life where I finally move to South Carolina!!

Ta ta!
gotta go nite nite, it is late now.
:-)