New Bangs

In a moment of exasperation, I cut my bangs today. Well, no, it was a little more premeditated than that. I watched approximately 6 YouTube videos to learn how before I did it. Then naptime came and out came the scissors. I think I did an ok job. I'm just not a fan of how I look with bangs. Marcelo's not either. Sure, he tells me I look great no matter what, but I do that, too, even when he's got a mustache, soooo....;)

Anyway, it'll do the job. "The job" is covering up those annoying little baby hairs around my hairline that are growing in after all the hair I lost in the first few months after having Camila. They were driving me insane. I couldn't take it anymore. I mean of course it's totally worth it, but geez, the things that the post partum phase brings!!

Diego and Celo said I look "really cute". Diego is a big fan. But Eliana has been telling me all day that she doesn't like them one bit. I said, "I have bangs like you now! You don't like it?" She said, "No, I don't like your bangs. I like my own bangs." Later, the boys were telling me I looked nice and Eliana walked in on the tail end of the conversation. Diego said, "I really like your bangs, Mommy." And in true Eliana fashion, acting like she wasn't even paying attention to the conversation, she very nonchalantly said, "Well I don't." At least she's honest.

Anyway, here they are. They'll be temporary. This pic makes them look way better than real life.

Serious Conversations

On our way home from visiting Tata the other day, my boys were asking me a lot of serious questions about divorce. I explained to them why people get divorced as best as I could. I know what prompted this, so it wasn't like I was shocked that they were asking me. But I was really happy that they asked so many questions. Sometimes I feel like they just hold things in and don't ask, so I was really happy that they wanted to talk to me about it. I reassured them as much as I could that Marcelo and I are best friends and love each other very much and that they didn't need to worry about us divorcing like other people's mommy and daddy.

Then the conversation turned to the boys talking about growing up and going on missions. The boys said the wished they could go on their mission together and be "partners". (Mission companions.) Then Celo asked, "Mommy, when are we going to get married?" I said, "Sometime after your mission." He said, "But when?" I said, "Well, it's kind of up to you and when you find your wife." He said, "But what if we can't find her?" I said, "Don't worry, you will." He said, "But what if we can't? What if all the people we like are already married?" WHAT? Where did this come from? How can a 5 year old be worried about that? It was so strange to me that he was asking this question! Such a big worry for such a little guy. I still have no idea where this came from. I just kept telling him that wasn't going to happen and then I changed the subject to the fact that the moon looked like a banana tonight. That did the trick.

Then today, I had to have a serious talk with them that I hated having. Marcelo and I try to keep our kids in a blissfully ignorant bubble. We shield them from all the ugliness of the world...probably to a fault. But the news I've been hearing for the past couple of days about burglaries in my area made me decide that it was time to get a little more real with them. Apparently there is a group of criminals knocking on doors between 10 and 2 in my area and if no one answers the door, they go to the back and throw a brick through the sliding door (or something similar) and break in to rob the place. There have been many times where I have gone to the bathroom/shower and the FedEx guy has come, or my mom, or someone else, and my kids run to the door without giving it a second thought. Even though I have repeatedly told them not to do this. But I've never told them WHY they can't do this. So today I did. I risked freaking them the heck out to tell them that there are some bad people trying to break into people's houses. We devised an emergency plan that involved calling 911 and hiding out in a secret location of our house (pshhh, did you really think I'd tell you where?! ;)). We did some practice runs and I think they've got it down. It was SO SAD to have to talk to them about this, but honestly, whenever I've heard of some 5 year old kid being heroic and saving the day by knowing what to do in an emergency, I always think, "That would not be my kid." Because I haven't prepared them for it enough. They handled it really well and don't seem too scared by it. They've asked questions all day, but they really don't seem too scared. We'll see how much that changes at bedtime!

It is amazing to watch our kids growing into more mature/responsible versions of themselves. Amazing and sad. But mostly amazing.

My Spunky Girl

I have been a wreck today. Last night around 6pm, Eliana suddenly spiked a fever and said she was too sleepy for dinner. By 6:30 she was asleep in bed. We moved her to our bed to keep a close eye on her. It was a long night as we tried to keep her fever down with a couple of baths, and several rounds of Tylenol. When the medicine kicked it, it kept the fever around 101.6, but as soon as it started to wear off, her fever hung out around 103, 104.7 at it's worst. It stayed that way all day today as well. I took her into the doctor this morning and he ruled out influenza A, B, Strep Throat, pneumonia, and meningitis. He said it was most likely a viral infection that just has to work its way out. She has no other symptoms besides a high fever and no appetite.

I think I held this girl 80% of the day today. Thank goodness Camila is still the easiest baby ever and played nicely and quietly on the floor while I cuddled my sick girl. It was so sad to see her so miserable. I mean, she turned down candy for goodness' sake. That happens never. At 3pm today, I was really worried because all she had ingested in 24 hours was a few sips of gatorade, a tiny bit of water, one saltine cracker, and 4 Vitamin C gummy bears. Finally at 4pm, I got her to have about 1/3 cup of a strawberry slushy (I crushed a strawberry fruit popsicle) and a couple bites of a soft pretzel.

Seeing your children sick is so horrible. This is the sickest she's ever been. All day I've been praying that it's over quickly so she can go back to being her spunky self. My girl has so much personality in a tiny little package. I absolutely love that about her. She cracks us up on a daily basis. And it's obvious that she loves it when she makes us laugh. She's usually pretty heavy on the funny and pretty light on the sweet. She's too busy trying to be hilarious to be sweet. Unless she wants something from you. Then she'll try to work you with her intense black eyes, fake sweet smile, and even more fake high pitched voice. "Please, Tato, can I have more yogurt?" But right now while she's sick, she's so super sweet. Today when I was laying next to her, she started brushing my hair away from my face and singing "You are my Sunshine" to me. At the doctor's office, she randomly started saying things like, "Mommy, you're the best. I love you so much." Melt. My. Heart. She also said "No thank you" every time I asked her if she wanted something to eat or drink. That was weird, since her usual response is, "No, I don't want that!!"

As cute and wonderful as seeing her sweet side is, I am dying for her to throw a giant tantrum about not getting to drink another glass of chocolate milk just so I know she's okay. I really really hope this thing is on it's way out and that she's back to herself tomorrow. I also really really hope that no one else gets it!!

Some recent pictures I've posted of her on Instagram.

She said she wanted to take a picture of the bathroom. I love this picture.


I have no idea what she was doing here. The skirt was Camila's (size 6-9months) and her booty was practically hanging out. The shoes were 3 sizes too big. And the labels?? No idea.


How she leaves the house at 7:40am to drop the boys off at school:


I love this girl to the moon and back.

She's Mobile

Noooooooooooooooooooo!

Pray for me.