And then there was Travis...

Here is a little something that i have in Travis's Baby book and since his 4th bday is coming up, i thought i would share it with everyone...


Well hello my love, I wanted to take a break in your baby book to give you a little insight on how your life began…

When I was 21 I decided that living in San Diego , CA wasn’t doing me any good, so I moved to Arizona in December of 2003. My cousin Lindsey was staying in her moms condo and asked me to move in with her, so I packed up all my stuff, got in a Uhaul with Adrienne and her BF at the time and drove to Arizona. It was a cute condo in Mesa , and we had some really good times there. January 23rd, 2004 I went to a bar with a friend from work and was hoping to meet a nice guy. Of course that didn’t happen, mostly because I was in a bar but because I was too young for the crowd there. So the next night Lindsey and I decided to have a few friends over and play cards. That’s when I met you dad.

A friend of ours had left to go pick up friends, and when he got back I was afraid he was going to be bringing over girls… BORING, but as I turned the corner to see who he brought, I saw your dad. First impression was that he was so good looking. I can still remember what he is wearing. Black adidas shoes, black pants, blue shirt and a black adidas jacket with an Atlanta Falcons hat. And I remember while we were playing cards I made it a point to sit next to him and flirt with him. Then he got a call on his cell phone and started arguing with some chick on the phone and told her it was over. Boy was I happy to hear that he was freshly single. All night we talked and hung out and when your dad asked me for my number to hang out I was ecstatic. We ended staying up all night talking and watching movies and fell asleep on the couch together. We pretty much hung out everyday since then.

I can still remember our first date and how nervous I was to meet your Dads family. And to make things worse you dad’s aunt and uncle were in town from Nebraska . So as your dad showered and got ready I sat in grandma Coni’s living room scared to death. We went to the movies and watched Butterfly Effect and there was a scene where he wakes up and is missing a body part and I swear your father was the only one laughing. That should have been a clue to me that your father is twisted, but I didn’t care. So after about 3 months, I moved into my own apartment and you dad moved in with me. About mid May we got Tyra from a downstairs neighbor and she was our baby. She went everywhere with us. About the last week of May I had a weird feeling that I was pregnant. Your father insisted that I take a pregnancy test and I argued with him saying that you need to take them first thing in the morning because the hormones are stronger at that time and low and behold I took in the afternoon and it showed positive RIGHT AWAY. It was Memorial Day. A day I will never forget.

I first called home and told Adrienne, and then I told Grandma Laurie. Your father was nervous and I can’t remember if he told Grandma Coni or if I did. We didn’t have a phone so we had to do all of this on the pay phone. So after telling grandma Coni we drove to her house to discuss this. We were excited and yet everyone was scared since we were so young. Then we drove to Aunt Veronica’s house and your dad asked her how do you feel about becoming and Aunt… and the look on her face I will never forget. She looked so happy.

That day will always be a memorial day to me.

Due to some unfortunate things I moved back home to San Diego when I was about 3 months pregnant. I remember the first time I saw you through a sonogram and I cried like a little baby. And then when I had my next sonogram to find out your gender I cried even more, I wanted a little boy so bad. I think everyone else wanted a girl (I would have loved you no matter what), and when the lady told me I was having a boy, I was so happy. Now came the hard part figuring out your name. Before leaving Arizona you father and I, I think, had agreed on Nicholas, but I didn’t like nicknames, so I wanted to choose something without one. I remember I was lying in bed and watching CMT (country music television) and someone was talking about their son Travis, and it was then that I fell in love with the name.

Choosing your babies name is hard, its something that you would have to live with for the rest of your life. You start to think of names and then you think of the people with that name that you know, and if you didn’t like them for some reason then you automatically don’t like that name. And of course everyone puts in their opinions, but for some reason I wouldn’t let up about travis. Your middle name, Anthony is from Grandpa Yturralde’s middle name, and I am sure that meant a lot to him to share it with you.

A couple of days before Halloween in 2004 your father came out to San Diego , (he was still in Arizona ) to visit. I think he was shocked when he first saw my belly, I was definitely showing then. He spent about 3 weeks in San Diego , we went to Disneyland , hung out, saw movies, even tried to get you to kick for him. You were stubborn, you wouldn’t kick for anyone… rarely someone other than me would get to feel you move. Sometimes you would kick and roll so much that I would have to push on you to stop. You were quite the active little one.

We had your baby shower in the beginning of December, I then flew to Arizona to surprise Grandma Coni for her 50th birthday before Christmas and that would be the last time that I saw them until you were born. I stopped working 4 weeks before you were born, and you father came out twice to spend some time with me before you came. You were due January 29th, 2005 and I was ready for you to come about the first week of January, but of course like most things in life you were a day late.

I was sitting at home with Adrienne and Michelle (she had spent the night) and I wasn’t feeling you move to much, and then I thought my water broke, so we went into the hospital at about 2pm and was admitted and in a room by 3pm. Grandma Laurie, Adrienne, Michelle, Natalie, Grandpa Yturralde and your father (who flew in right away) were all in the room with me. I remember getting mad at your dad since he was eating a cheese burger and drinking a coke in front of me (I couldn’t eat or drink), but I would get over it.

Around 10pm, the Dr came in and said that nothing progressed in the next hour that we would have a C-Section. Honey I didn’t care how you came, as long you came out and were healthy. Your father panicked I think, he was so nervous for me to have a C-Section, that he was tearing the scrubs just to get them on. 11:41 pm they said “you have a baby boy”, and I didn’t hear you cry right away, I looked at your father and said why isnt he crying, and then right then and there, you screamed. Again I cried. Its funny you spend all this time carrying a baby and you become a baby. I briefly got to see you and the only thing I said your hands are huge. Your father was with you constantly that night; while I was in recovery he would leave me to go see you in the nursery. That night I fell in love with your father all over again. We spent 3 days in the hospital and your father never left my side.

Bringing you home was hard; I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t want to sleep because I was afraid something would happen to you, so again I would cry to sleep. If you would wake up in the middle of the night the only way you father could get you back to sleep was to sleep on the couch with you on top of him. You were always a happy baby, always smiling and got along with anyone. To this day you are still a happy little boy… still smiling… and still easy to get along with.

I just wanted to write this to give you a little insight on how you became the glue that held your father and I together. Due to having you I have found what it feels like to love someone unconditionally. You don’t get to choose your family, but I am so glad that god has given you to us. I was never a believer of miracles or angels until I met you.

I love you more than words can tell you-
-your mom

Baby Steps...

I will have to admit that I have done very well with no cursing, and I have been paying more attention to my son when I get off work, and talking to him instead of telling him to leave me alone for a few minutes (even though that’s what I want to say, sometimes) but the eating better and losing weight I swear is killing me slowly. I have yet to be able to work out mostly because funds are tight, and I need a gym to work out. But when I get bored here in my cube of misery aka as work, I find myself dreaming about rolled tacos smothered in guacamole (El Cuervo in San Diego by my moms work has the best), bean and cheese burritos with sour cream (Alejandro’s in Mira Mesa has the best), lumpia (again in San Diego), pupusas (again in San Diego), and a "veggie burger" from Fuddruckers (in San Diego)... I think you get the point, home has the best food! But so far I have had awesome will power and will not buy lunch, eat out or eat "bad" foods. We started with baby steps, cut back on the portions, no extra butter, fat free milk, light popcorn instead of butter, juice instead of soda (I miss you coke), but something about the foods at home make me want to cry inside.

Did I just say I want to cry over food? Yes, yes I did. And to be honest I have. CSP will tell you, we have been in fights because he didn’t get the order correct, or he got me fries instead of onion rings... get a grip Jennifer its just FOOD. But it wasn’t just food a few months ago, it consumed our life. Our days revolved around it, our bills revolved around how much we ate out. We became lazy because picking up food on the way home was (still is) a lot easier than making dinner. But when you ask your child what they would like for dinner and all they say is McDonalds, you have a problem. I never wanted soda or fast food to become my son’s diet, but when that’s all mom and dad eat, how can it not be.

I can’t remember the last time we ate out, or went to dinner (even though I am craving the chicken avocado club from cheesecake factory...yum!) I have really come to enjoy cooking dinner at home. I finally feel like a mother, a "wife" (CSP and I haven’t made that official yet), and a grown up. So to all the moms that think they can’t lose weight and learn to cook for their families, I want to tell you that you can. Start small, and soon you won’t miss the fast food. Can you even qualify Taco Shops as fast food… I think CB will agree with me that there is nothing wrong with a little Mexican food every now and then… :)

So for the 7 dozen cookies that I baked monday night to keep me busy, I hope you dont mind sitting the tupperware container and not being consumed all in one night!

LIKE FATHER LIKE SON

Officially Obsessed

Ok I am officially obsessed with the colors red and teal or turquoise together. I have never really liked red, until I met CSP, and now want all the walls in my house red or teal. I have always liked blue, but dark, until i met KHW and now love turquoise... so i need to send a great big thanks to CSP and KHW. THANKS GUYS FOR MY NEWFOUND OBSESSION!!!

CSP and I know that we want our wedding to be red, and I always thought I wanted red, and orange with yellow. Not anymore, bring on the turquoise/teal... load me up. I have only seen one person that loves these colors together, so i know that i am not the only crazy person, but is there anyone else out there that likes them?

I am off to surf the web for more ideas on how to incorporate these colors into my dull white wall home!!! If you have any ideas, please let me know...

2009

A little something I stole from Krisha's site:


1. If you could have done something different in 2008, what would it be?
I would have loved to have lost weight...

2. What is something that you know will happen in 2009?
I will start classes online

3. What is something that you hope will happen in 2009?
Lose weight and hopefully set a wedding date... or be spontaneous and go to vegas (hint hint CSP)

4. Do you already have a vacation planned for this year?
Europe in OCT

5. Are you relieved that the holidays are over?
Kind of but i really miss the "spirit" of the holidays

6. Did you make a resolution? Will you share it?
I did make one, read below...

7. How old will you turn in 2009?
27... 3 more years and i will be 30... apparently i am the one excited about turning 30 :)

8. What did you do to celebrate the New Year?
I stayed home with my fiance and son, and watched tv and drank champange... i know boring, but it was safe, and that is all that matters to me now...

My New Years Resolution...

I know, I know every year someone makes a news years resolution and swears that they will own up to it... but this year is different... I have to own up to mine. I have decided that I won't set goals that are either unimportant or unatainable.



So here is my list:



1. Stop swearing so much

2. Start taking classes online

3. Lose weight

4. Become a better mother for Travis

5. Work on getting better with CSP

6. Go to Europe in OCT





I need to stop swearing so much because Travis is definately starting to pick up on the things I say and repeats them. I have decided instead of punishing him i will just try saying them. Also i want to start taking classes to become an elementary school teacher and i definately cant swear if i do that.



I need to lose weight. I need to make myself healthy so I can be around as long as possible for Travis and my family, plus I want more kids and at this rate i will never get there.



I feel like i have missed out on doing things with Travis because i have been so lazy, which mostly comes from my weight. I used to tell him no when he would ask to go outside or if he wanted to go to the park. Now that he got a new bike from Grandma and Grandpa Stiles, I tell him yes everytime he asks to go outside. I am also learning to not sweat the small stuff when it comes to him, so what if he didnt put his toys away the way i wanted them picked up, things could be worse...



CSP and I really love eachother, I have never doubted that, but I have wondered if we really do all we can to show and tell one another. Maybe one of us needs more work than the other (i would have to hint at it not being me) and maybe we need to learn to not sweat the small things either, but its hard. We are both so very stubborn and feel like if we give into the other person then we have lost. But when did this become a competition or battle. What war are we fighting? We need to get better because I want to get married and that wont happen until we do.



I WILL get to EUROPE, I work an airline and I have awesome benefits and I NEED to use them, hopefully by then I will be a lot smaller in size and will fit comfortably in a plane seat! Adrienne start packing your bags and save some money!!!


I hope everyone has a great 2009, dont wait for next year to change what you want...i know i wont be!