Walking!!!

I can't deny it...I was a little down (even though I felt guilty) that my little Maxie was not walking by the time he hit the One Year mark...it seemed he was not interested in the least since he is an incredibly FAST crawler. I tried everything...walkers or as we say in Spanish andadera, walking/pushing toys, talking and encouraging him by walking along side with him, holding on to a scarf, to my hands, in the grass, etc...it seemed Maxie was not giving in...until Sunday....AHHHH the moment I had been waiting all along..I placed him down in the kitchen floor and he looked kind of serious as he was all squared, standing up straight...and took off!! I was in shock! It was the most adorable thing I have ever seen! He combined crawling with walking. And as soon as he saw his cousins he kept walking back and forth!!! I love that he took his time but most importantly that he teaches me so much to have patience and trust...together we are an awesome team he is my forever!

This is what life is all about right...?

Having a full time job and being a mom can be pretty stressful...specially when you love your job....but love your cutie pie even more! I gotta say....when working for an awesome company such as eBay...it makes my life a ton easier...it's definitely all worth it tho....specially when I come home to this....

I love him so so much!! Finding the right balance to both can be difficult..realizing that you only have an hour or two to spend with him before its time to sleep or have his nap...makes things a bit difficult. It's definitely all about the quality of time...he seems like a different baby boy every day that I see him...but the same beautiful smile when he sees me....

As tough as it is I love being a working mother...something about being able to pass my wisdom on to Maxie as he grows just really hits home...not that I don't think about being a stay at home mom...heehee I already have a "back-up" job if that were to be the case. 

"Don't you know that when I see your face its like sunlight dripping....you're just like, just like sunlight...."

Mi Piojito

Coming home was incredible! I felt adrenaline rushing every time I saw Maxie move. It was finally real! We were going home with or cutie pie! And then I shortly realized that it was true....time  does fly...before I knew it I was to my current present O_O'

First week home!!! 

Two weeks :) 

Four weeks!!! Already smiling with momma and daddy :D

6 weeks....

Wait...

What...

It's August already? I have to go back to work??? But...

Then it hit me. Modern day mommy...

The day I never prepared for or thought about. My first day back to work. As I left my home I couldn't help by tear up...I knew Maxie was in great hands with his grandmother, but I felt a pain I was very new to. My first day seemed incredibly long. New position, new Jenifer, new responsibilities, new life. 

Now instead of taking breaks to relax and socialize I had to figure out this whole "Tommy Tippee breast pump" 

Life was crazy! I was constantly torn between loving my career and missing my baby. Then I kept on moving back and back my date of when to stop nursing. I can proudly say I pumped until Maxie was 8 almost 9 months with leftovers to last until 10 months. Still working on the weaning...but that's another topic!! Getting back on track!

Already 3 months!!! I could not believe it...I only did when the clothes actually fit him....his "aunty" Eliana got him this cute tiger outfit...I can't deny, it was one of my favorites!!

Then came my favorite part...foods!!!! At 4 and half months I decided to start giving Maxie tastes of solids. I was so lucky that although he loved his foods he loved nursing even more. Which made it so easy to introduce him to new flavors. His favorite...avocado!!! And to this day banana mashed with avocado is his "comfort food". 

5 almost 6 months...it was insane...my little Santa came around the corner and I just was in awe still. This is right around when my friend Gisselle promised me a formula to make our baby boys stop growing heehee. 

 7 months...he loved his jumper daddy got him...hahaha but this picture was priceless...he really wanted my arepa but I couldn't share! Not good food for you yet n_n

By the time Maxie was close to 9 months it was time for my family that visited from Venezuela to leave...my grandmother bottom left, came to visit for 3 months to help with her great grand child....it was beautiful to see them together. My aunt and cousin that also came to visit left after one month and a half. I admit it was great to have the experience and knowledge of my family to help me with Maxie. I was so scared to be without them. But just thinking that I still had my mother, Ricky, Ricky's mom, and great friends, made it all better. 

Maxie was just around the corner of being one!!!  Wow...it was crazy! Almost a year had gone by. Almost a year on my life making a 180 degree change. I loved the feeling. But not sure how I felt at Maxie growing so fast. I love this picture. I love taking pictures of him! I have to try and hold back or this would just turn into Instagram :D 

There it was...the big day arrived....the day Maxie turned one...here we were July 5th 2013 3:11 pm....and I was holdings in my arms a big big boy!!! (87th percentile for his height!!!) 

Mommy Maxie and daddy!! 

He absolutely loooooved his cake!!! It was hilarious this picture is perfect!!! 

Here he was...one year old. I can't believe how much has happened in this last year. So many memories. So maybe laughs. So maybe tears. So many surprises...but here I am...I made it! I am proud to say that I did it! I consider myself a good mother to a wonderful child that is making it work. Full time career as a business process analyst. Home owner to a beautiful home and crossing my fingers that we will own a new vehicle soon as well...if did it...anyone can! So many sacrifices...but in the end the look on Maxie's face when I come home and we finally get to be together....priceless!!! 

"What I like about you, you really know how to dance. When you go up down, jump around. Talk about true romance, yeah! 

Keep on whispering in my ear, tell me all the things that I wanna hear, cause its true, that's what I like about you!!!"

Here comes Maxie!!

It's crazy to think that over a year has flown by! I think I'll will start from day one with Maxie in order to carry on.....the day I found out I had a little bean inside me...it was INCREDIBLE!

This was what saw...I remember setting the appointment and sharing the news with Ricky...he was ecstatic! I was extremely nervous. When our appointment was set up, I refused to believe they would see anything, "there's no way, I'm not that far, they'll send us home.  I know it!" But, on we went. The day finally came when we had to go see doctor Dinger (sweetest Man I've ever met that now is retired). As I laid in bed waiting for the ultrasound specialist, I couldn't stop shaking, my hands were sweaty. As soon as the cold tool pressed up against my belly....there he was...my little bean...my little guy. I was 9 weeks. It was incredible!! The ultrasound above is when I was about 15 weeks. Its my favorite! 

It was incredible seeing my belly grow day by day!!  

Here I was about 5-6 months this photo was taken by my incredible friend, Gisselle Fotography. 

Here we are just thinking we couldn't wait to see you! 

I was already 7 months!!! Can you believe this??? I have to admit, I felt like Renzo, my brother, and my relationship got stronger with my pregnancy. I didn't think that could be possible! He is practically my BFFFF! He loved my belly and day dreamed about his first nephew. "I am going to buy him everything Jeep! He is going to be so spoiled". 

As the day got closer...it felt like the summer got hotter...AND hotter! I lived hanging out my the pool. Something about letting your chubbies free with no judgement felt amazing heehee. I have to admit it felt great showing off my belly! I was one proud momma-to-be! 

 Finally my last baby shower! I was EXHAUSTED!!!!! I couldn't wait to lay down...I was so grateful for all the love, blessings, and gifts I received. I could already tell Maximiliano was going to be the center of attention! 

I clearly remember July 4th 2012....we are lucky to live on the higher side of the valley where we can see all of the valley. I asked Ricky to join me for a walk around the neighborhood and enjoy the fireworks. He always worried and got mad at me for not "relaxing" I loved to walk. We had walked a little over half a mile when I felt like something was just literally going to fall out of me!!! I immediately wanted to go home! I refused to have a 4th of July baby!! Hahaha...I'm a dork...we went back home and and I hurried to lay down. I didn't rest very well. I felt like I tossed and turned all night. Thinking back, I'm not sure  if it was due to my nervousness, anxiety, excitement, or when my contractions started kicking in. I started texting my friends during the middle if the night around 2-3AM, asking how they experienced their day. When did they know it was time. When did they exactly know.  It want until 7:30 AM that I started to bleed a bit when I decided to go to the hospital. 

Everything seemed so fast! I was laying in a waiting room by 8:30 AM my best friend Eliana and Ricky never left my side.  Due to a complication with my cervix, Maxie was not able to break my water, plus the small but nonetheless concerning bleeding; the doctors decided to break my water. I was in my delivery room waiting for Dr. Dinger by 11AM. Then I received the bad news he was off and not available but his partner would be taking over. The staff did not believe I would give birth so quickly. When I was instructed to wait for the doctor...this took over 2 hours!! FINALLY dr. Hutchinson arrived!!! And as the clock hit exactly 3:11 PM I looked out the window to see the massive thunder storm and rain through my view, when I heard the cry of our baby boy....

And....

My mind went blank....I couldn't believe the day had finally arrived...it couldn't be true! Me Jenifer...a mother???

 Omg! It's true! I couldn't Wait to hold him close to me! To feel his heart beat close to mine! To have his eyes meet my eyes....

 Proudest father I know :D 

Welcome Maximiliano Lopez! July 5th 2012 5lb 3oz 17in. 

The next few hours felt like a blurr  all I remember was Maxie...

Officially one day old!!! 

Then came the visitors and the pictures and the hugs. Did I really make it? I did this? I really just brought to this world this beautiful healthy boy? 

Let's go home!!!! 

"Te pido que me que me cures está herida, yo se muy bien que no es tu obligación. Tan sólo si amortiguas mi caída serás mi salvación. 

Promete intentar no hacerte daño, prometo darte todo lo que yo. Prometo regalarte sin reparo, mi corazón...."

Hi My Name is Jenifer!

I finally got the guts to set up my own blog 😁 and share my story! 

As mentioned above, my name is Jenifer. I am originally from Venezuela and now living in the US of A 😜. I am a "new not so new" mother to an amazing 1 year old named Maximiliano. It has been quite the journey from the first day that we brought him home to the first taste of his birthday cake! 

I will be using this blog to share my story as a "Modern Day Mother" or "Modern Day Superwoman" and partner to a wonderful man, Ricardo a.k.a. Ricky. 

Here is my cute little family (left) me! (Right) Ricky and our awesome nephew Ethan (bottom) my sleeping beauty. 

I guess you're wondering how this all started and truly why I am where I am soooooo...I'll start from the beginning..of some sort..

This is one of our awesome times together. Ricky and I loved going to Park City, UT. We didn't plan in being parents for another couple of years...but when we found out I was expecting our baby boy, our world took a sharp 180 degree turn down our new journey of new parents. 😍

In going to create another entry to summarize my pregnancy time! 

Talk to you soon!