Where Did My Baby Go?

My sister was over for a visit and we were talking about our boys. She asked if when I looked at Jayden I saw a baby and I responded “No”, without batting an eye. She went on to say how she still thought about her 2 year old son as a baby and I drifted off into thought. When? When did the change happen? When did Jayden stop being the baby? Was it when he lost his curls? Was it when Maya was born? Was it when he started to use his words? Was it after his first big boy haircut? Or was it when his body started to catch up with his head in proportion?

I was on a mission. I started to go through pictures for one of those picture projects you say you are going to get around to and never actually do. I gathered my most favorite pictures of Jayden from just before his 2nd birthday to present day and I was shocked at what I saw. The pictures were in order of date taken and at the very beginning I saw him. There was my baby boy. But when did I lose sight of him? I started to scrutinize the pictures. One by one, over and over again. I couldn’t pin point the moment.

Sadly, what I came to realize was that it didn’t happen overnight. It happened slowly, over the course of time. The changes were subtle and if you weren’t paying attention, you missed it. The only sign left of babyhood is his baby talk. And even though it’s frustrating when he doesn’t use his words, I’m happy when he babbles on and on. Even though my baby boy is now a little boy, that’s what I’m holding on to because the time is passing by way too fast. Everyday he becomes less and less childlike.

Now, I ask Jayden if he’s my baby and he always laughs and says “BOY!”. I know he’s a big boy now, but he’ll always be my baby.

Me! Me!

Thanks to Lauren I have been selected to share 7 things about myself.

So here's how the Me! Me! tag works:

First, share 7 facts about yourself. Next, tag 7 people at the end of your blog by leaving their name and a link to their blog. Last, let them know they're tagged by leaving a link in their blog.

Here are my 7 things:

1. I met my husband on a cruise ship. Celebrity’s mv Century… I was slightly down in the dumps at the time and waiting for someone to else to wake up and realize that I was the best thing that ever happened to him, but my now husband won my heart. It wasn’t love at first sight, but it was pretty darn close and we were engaged within three months.

2. This is one Puerto Rican that DOES NOT eat beans. I know. How can that be? But it is. My dad sat for countless hours with me at the kitchen table trying to force me to eat them, but he never succeeded. Now, I cook beans, but I don’t eat them. My mom will still actually pick my beans for me when I go home for visits.

3. I had a lovely beach wedding that was only interrupted by a hurricane, a hotel evacuation and a delayed honeymoon. Hurricane Gabrielle made landfall on September 14th with winds of 70mph about an hour and a half from Clearwater Beach. It was the weekend after September 11th so the combination of the tragedy and the weather brought my guest list down to 35 people. During the reception, someone there was a phony bomb threat so we were evacuated and then of course our honeymoon was delayed by a couple of days.

4. I attended an Arts High School. My first two years, I took dance and drama and finally majored in Drama. It was a wonderful experience for me. Some of my happiest memories date back to my days at Rosa Parks High School. I made some of my best friends in life there. I also got to meet Rosa Parks, Gregory Hines and Dizzy Gillespie. And before you ask, no. We did not dance on top of the lunch tables at school.

5. I’ve worked at the Happiest Place on Earth for 16 years now. Most people think that has to be the coolest job ever. I don’t think I ever appreciate it as much as I should. I’ve spent every major holiday in a theme park at least once. Where else can you watch fireworks, a laser light show or see Tinkerbell fly from the castle?

6. It took me almost 15 years to finish my BSBA. Is that nuts or what? Long before I reached the end, I already knew I had no interest in Business, but I just knew I had to finish. I thought I would never want to go to school again, but lately I’ve been thinking of going back for my Masters.

7. When I was a kid, I had long hair. Really long hair. Hair that was so long, people would sit on it. It was well past my bum and my dad wouldn’t let me cut it. Little by little, I took a few inches off here and a few inches off there until I was up to the mid back at age 19 and then one day after I moved to Florida, I chopped it off. I don’t remember when that was, but its never been long again.

Alright, so now I've got to tag 7 people. That's going to be tough, since I read a lot of the same blogs that have already been tagged.

Here we go:

Alyssa
Denise
Sabrina
Kendra
Cindy - PS Sorry, I know you were already tagged but I don't have very many fellow bloggers.
Blogger #6
Blogger#7

TO BE CONTINUED...

Jayden - Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family tree - Genealogy - Celeb - Collage - Morph

Maya - Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Look-alike Meter - Pedigree - Roots

L I S A B E T!

Last night, we were at the grocery store picking up ice cream. I was cruising up and down the freezer aisle looking for a specific flavor (birthday cake) and Esteban had wandered off into the wine section with the kids. All of a sudden, I could swear I heard Jayden say my name. I turned and looked but Esteban didn't seem to have any type of reaction. Was I hearing things? I asked him if he heard Jayden say my name, but he wasn't sure so I left it along and kept on.

All of a sudden, clear as day, I hear Jayden yelling down the aisle. What? "L I S A B E T!" Jayden, my name is mommy, ok. Ok he said.

This morning, I was getting ready in the bathroom and Jayden came in to see if I was done.

Jayden: Lisabet, wedy?
Me: What's my name?
Jayden: My name is Jayden.
Me: Ok. What's my name?
Jayden: Mommy.
Me: Ok. Good. My name is Mommy.
Jayden: My name is Jayden.

What a character! Now, it's thank you Lisabet, it's ok Lisabet, don't worry Lisabet etc. I don't correct him every single time, but we have the above mentioned conversation every 2 or 3 times. Is this a phase? When will it stop?

Afternoon Play Date

We had my girlfriend, Maria, and the kids over for some afternoon summer fun. Here's Maria's grandbaby, Leila. She's just a tad bit older than Maya, by a couple of months or so.

Here I am in the pool with Leila. Jayden is hogging up all the cups and Devonte was brushing my hair.

They were afraid of the ball at first, but quickly got over it.

They had fun with this thing! They were trying to catch the water with their mouths.

Jayden is such a big boy now.

Devonte is so big for his age. Hard to believe he's just 4. Well, he's almost 5, but he's tall! Just like his mom and dad.

After playing in the water, they went to the swings. Finally, someone big enough to push Jayden on the swings. Thanks Devonte! You're welcome to come over anytime! LOL

A Cute Church Activity

Our friend and neighbor invited us to an activity at her church. It really took me back to Little House on the Prarie. The kids got to see what it was like being pioneers out in the wild west. They manuevered wheel barrels and walked in the wilderness (mulch). Then we stopped at camp and the kids got to wash clothes like they did in the olden days. At the next stop, we saw how the wheat was ground. Here's Jayden working his way through the wheat. He had a long way to go considering we needed about 6 cups to make a loaf of bread.
The wagon took everyone to the next stop. Here's Nicole with Kaylie in the wagon. Jayden of course refused to get in.

Jayden was still trying to grind wheat. This time, he switched to the new fangled device, but it was still alot of work. Didn't mean he stopped trying though.

After I tore him away from the wheat, the kids got to see what it was like to travel through snow (ice). Jayden wasn't interested even though all the kids were thankful to be able to cool off a bit. At the end of the "trail", there was tug of war and hoola hoops and Maya was happy to get out and stretch her legs.

Afterwards, we went inside for lunch. The kids got together in front of the tent and fire to sing a song and I thought it was hysterical that Jayden was actually trying to listen and be a part of the group. If I had asked him to stand there and play along, he would have run in the opposite direction. LOL

Here's Ivy. She's Nicole's little girl. She had been whisked away by an Auntie I believe and returned safe and sound and cute as ever.