December Pictures

Rhowan loves the caruosel...

I love all the Christmas decorations all over...a bit too sunny for Rhowan :)

Total daddy's girl alllll the way!!! She loved having daddy home during the holidays.

Christmas shopping at South Coast...

And next year it will be four!!!!! :)

I miss you Blog...

Oh wow, its been awhile. I swear I wish I had a keyboard attached to my fingertips so I can continue to blog the way I used to...I really do miss it. I enjoyed venting, sharing, remembering stories as I wrote about them, etc. I just don't have the time!!!! I will one day again, soon...like four months soon!! ;)

Anyway, I wanted to post some pics of Christmas and give some updates.

I am now 20 weeks preggo, we are wanting to keep it a surprise of what we are having but to be honest, daddy is having second thoughts!!! Yep, daddy, not mommy...all you guys think I am the control freak and will have to find out, I am totally ok with letting it be a surprise. I already have colors picked out and can add to it boy or girl after he/she arrives easily. I mean they are in your room the first 8 weeks anyway!

Yes, we would have no boy clothes, but come on like the grandmas won't take care of that while we are still in the hospital?! :)

I think daddy wants to know because there is a big possibility he will not be there for the birth of this baby...I am totally ok with it and hope he isn't because that means he is in playoffs for baseball. Everything he has worked toward these past five or six years, so I am ok with it. I will have my sister, my mom and my mil in the room to coach and hold a leg! :) Now, four years ago or even two years ok, I would have a huge problem with this, but we have grown so much in the past two years and I have learned and adjusted to his career in such a way that has made our marriage stronger. I grew up with a dad that after he punched the clock that was it, he was always there. That is what I always wanted in a marriage as a little girl. But that is not the man I married and I support that and am finally at a point where I get it, I really get this career for the first time. It is tough, I tease about being a single mom, baseball widow, but he tells us how much he loves us and that behind a good coach, is a good wife at home. I know he couldn't do what he does without us, so that is what will get us through another chaotic, baseball season. You learn to love it and hate it. I love the games, etc. But the 7 days a week and 15 hour days have already started up again, I hate that part!

Anyway, daddy wants to feel a bond to the baby knowing what we are having in case he misses it and I understand that. We'll see what we decide when we go next Wednesday for that ultra sound?????

Christmas was great. Just the three of us, me, daddy and Rhowan (oh and baby bruce #2) went to Disneyland. We had a great time, but boy what is PACKED!!! Never again on Christmas Eve. Plus we wanted to be back in time for church, dinner, etc.

Then Christmas morning we woke up at our home, had our small Christmas with just us. Then headed over to grandma and grandpas and had Christmas with Uncle Brian and Auntie Kate and "ramma" and "rampa" (thats how Rhowan pronounces it!). We ran a bit late and had a quick breakfast, but that is ok. Then headed over to Oma and Papa's house where Nate, Lexi, Aunite Nichole and Uncle Anthony were patiently waiting for us! It was a great morning and afternoon. For the first time I enjoyed our time at each house and didn't feel pressured or under an agenda. That was very important to me this year. Then we finished off with TJ's grandma and grandpa's house where all the family gets together for gifts, dinner, board games, LCR, etc. It is always a fun way to end the holiday.

Life has been crazy even with the holidays over. I am still working full time. TJ is back to his crazy baseball hours and Rhowan is just growing sooooo fast. She is so busy and smart. I am tooting her own horn right now. She talks a lot and tries to repeat everything. She will shake her head yes or no when you ask her things and really understand what it is that you are asking. I know you are saying yeah right, but seriously. She knows when she has pooh, wants something to eat and what she wants to eat or doesn't want to eat for that matter, wants a drink, etc. She still loves, loves to read and has books with her all the time. You can read her the same book over and over again. She loves music and to dance. She will just start dancing, shaking her hips, her shoulders and feelin the music when we sing or put music on.

Yes, she is still in mommy and daddy's bed, but we are in the process of re doing her room to a toddler bed and re doing the office to another baby room with her crib. So, stay tuned. I am reading books to make this as easy a transition as possible. She goes to sleep so good after her bottle (yes she still has a bottle, dr said til 18 months for night time is fine, so there!!!), we lay down with her lady bug that lights up starts all over the walls and ceiling and within 15 minutes she is sleeping by just flopping her self tired all over the bed. So, we will then move this process to her bed, hopefully soon, VERY SOON! :/

Well that is about it for now, I could talk for days to catch you all up, but I am going to post some December pictures. Not a whole lot of Christmas pictures because I used the video camera mostly that day. Anyway. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday and Happy New Year.

We are so excited for another blessed year in 2011.

love you all.

The Bruce's

More Birthday Party Pics

1st Birthday Party

We had face painting

All the kiddos that came to play with Rhowan

An art center with paint and water colors

Chalk to draw

And Rhowan's favorite...the bouncy house! I wanted the kids entertained!!!!

After months of planning and prepping the day was finally here where our princess was turning one. TJ has always been against 1st birthday parties, saying they are for the parents and pointless because the kids don't remember them and have no idea what's going on. I will agree that we don't remember our 1st birthday parties, however, who doesn't have pictures to show for it in their baby books???? That is an absolute must. Was it a lot of work? Absolutely! Was it expensive? Yes, but with help of family not too, too bad. Was it stressful? A little, considering we had an entire crew here the night before helping made it easier (thank you Ana, Grandpa, Mark, Joe, Brian, Uncle Tom and Grandma for watching Rhowan) that helped a lot and the day of everyone pitched in so that I could be a host, walk around, say quick hellos and play with Rhowan! Was it worth it? ABSOLUTELY! It turned out great. We had good food, lots of drinks, yummy desserts, tons of candy from the pinanta, and a good turn out of people. All our close friends and family came to share this special milestone and it meant the world to us. I am sorry we didn't get to visit more with each and every one of you, the day got away from us with so many people and so much going on, but it was such a success and I couldn't have pulled it off without the help of everyone who pitched in! THANK YOU. We are truly blessed with friends and family that care.

1st Trip to Disneyland

I had just gone back to work on Rhowan's birthday week with one more week of planning for all her party to do's. I had been wanting to take her to Disneyland, so I kept that promise to her, well to myself really, who am I kidding, she doesn't know yet! lol. Anyway, she went to daycare for half day and Amy had baked a cake for her and did the whole nine yards of having all the kids sit around the table and sing to her and then eat cake! It was so cute and she was beside herself with excitement. Then off to the Happiest Place on Earth we went!

Oma (my mom) and Grandma (my mil) both came to join in on the fun. It was a great day, all decorated for Halloween and we even bought year passes! I loved going to Disneyland as a kid, who didn't. I have so many memories of going with my family when I was a little girl and my dad taking us on all the rides we loved to go on. While I was there with Rhowan it brought back so many memories.

OMG, time flies...

Ok, so I have had many complaints/comments (haha) as to where the hell I have been this past month...well I guess working full time has pretty much taken over the extra hours of my life that aren't with my beautiful baby girl and hubby. I am working an 8-5 office job, blahhhhhh (such a huge change from my teaching hours and going from something you love and are passionate about to just a job), pick up Rhowan from day care, feed her dinner, give her a bath and then its time for bed, not to mention, half the time I put her down, I fall asleep with her! So there goes my night, my hours to blog, to do laundry, pay bills, catch up on my dvrs, and the list goes on! I really love the money, but I hate the hours it takes me away from Rhowan. I hardly get to see her during the week. She is so exhausted after I pick her up, she plays hard all day and even with a 2 hour nap, by 6:30 she is ready for bed! So, to say the absolute least, its been a real hard adjustment. I am blessed to have work and have the extra money at a time like this, however, my biggest fears have come to life...daycare raising my daughter and her getting to see them, more than her own parents. That makes my heart ache in so many ways, I can not explain it to you. So all those hard times of staying home, bad days, frustrating moments, adjusting to life as a stay at home mommy...I take it ALL back!

So that is where the hell I have been! LOL.

In the meantime, we've had Rhowan's 1st Birthday Party, last month (wow, time flies), 2 real bad "accidents," Rhowan is a bruiser and going to give me grey hair before I hit 30, Mine and TJ's 4 year Wedding Anniversary, Thanksgiving, a new car and oh yeah...we are EXPECTING again!!!!!! I am finally able to officially announce it as I am past my first trimester! :) PHEW, what a crazy month you all have missed out on.

Now be patient, I am going to catch you all up on everything, but bare with me. I am sooooo extremely tired ALL the time with this pregnancy, new job and my busy, busy princess, so I will promise to do one post a night until we are all caught up.

Stay tuned for Rhowan's First Birthday Party pictures and updates. It all turned out so well. Months of planning and prepping made it a success with the help of many family and friends. :)

Muah, more tomorrow!

xoxxoox

Our Princess is Turning 1

Dear Rhowan,

I want you to know just how much you are loved, however there aren't enough words, actions, thoughts or things to show or say just how much that is. You are truly a blessing in our lives as well as our families. You have brought together so many memories for me and your daddy that I can't put into words just how happy you make us.

It was one year ago tonight that I was sitting in the hospital room, going through the motions of being induced and wondering just how long the process would be for me to finally get to meet you. I had a flood of emotions going through my mind awaiting for you to arrive. You were a dream come true, a reality finally coming into our lives that we would be a family and parents.

Once you were born it was instant that I knew God put me on this Earth to be a mommy. There is no other feeling in this world that can describe my love for you. I still remember day by day from the moment we were in the hospital together to coming home. I can never thank you enough for all the joy you have brought into my life and all the lessons you have already taught me as a mommy and person. I am still learning and always will be. I am learning there is no perfection on mommy hood, just love, laughter and life. I cherish every moment we have together to play, read, rock you, snuggle with you (yes, you are still in mommy and daddy's bed), walk with you, teach you words, etc. You have grown up so fast and this year has truly gotten away from me. My eyes are filled with tears of joy as I can not wait for the years to come, yes, even the puberty years of hell that will arise with attitudes and all! LOL.

Thank you Rhowan for being an angel sent from above, mine and daddy's biggest blessing and lesson to life that you only live once, so love and cherish one another and family is always your core, your rock and where it all began. Happy 1st Birthday Princess!!! (Mommy can't wait for your big party this weekend!) :)

Love,

Mommy and Daddy