The Jenny Munoz Blog

The Mother Bear

2011-04-26T11:09:00.000-07:00

At Ella's last doctors appointment, which was her four month check up, Ella weighed in at 17 pounds and was 26 inches long. She landed at the 95 percentile for both her height and her weight on the charts, and was off the charts for her head size. She is now in 9 month clothing (mostly because of her length) and keeps on growing like a weed! As happy as I am to find out she is growing and healthy, I've run in to some issues with her size.

Never have I seen my mother bear protective instincts come out like they have since I've been hearing all the time, "Wow, she's a big girl," or, "She's huge!" and my favorite, "How old is she's about 8 or 9 months?" I've been hearing it so much lately Im starting to get a little mad when I hear people mention her size. And last night, when someone told me my daughter was "huge" I felt like laying the smack down!

I wish I had the same attitude as my husband did, that is..."Who cares what people think?" but I don't, I care quite a lot about what people think, and now I'm worried that Ella will grow up being teased for her size. I wish I could just put Ella in this protective bubble where nothing could ever hurt her, and no one could ever say anything to her to hurt her feelings, but I can't do that, and she will never learn how to go through hard things.

So how does an over-protective, sensitive, cares what everybody thinks mom supposed to do? First of all, probably get over some of my own issues, but second of all, always make sure that Ella knows God made her special, and that she was fearfully and wonderfully made, no matter what people tell her, she's beautiful and just the way she should be. Now I want to cry just thinking about the future hurts my daughter will go through, not just with her own body image, but with life in general.

I guess that's why God's in the picture...how do people attempt to try and be a parent without the wisdom and strength and grace of our God? Its boggles me. One thing I do know, God has such an amazing plan for Ella's life, and he made her for a purpose. I need to trust that God will help me raise her in a way to help her discover that purpose, and to be confident in who she is in Christ.

Crying it Out

2011-04-09T19:59:00.000-07:00

Recently, I have been reading quite a bit about crying it out, talking to friends that have done it with their children, and have been trying to figure out which way I would like to train Ella to sleep. I just read an article on babycenter.com (link below) and I think I know now I don't want to let her cry it out. Especially now at 4 months and the affects it has on her brain. In the beginning I decided I wanted to rock her to sleep for as long as I could, but she is fighting that, and its not really working much unless she is really tired, or sick. Well, let me rephrase that. She goes to sleep when rocked, but then wakes up the second we put her in her crib. Little Stinker!

All this to say, I am searching for the best way to teach my little lady bug to sleep. The way the is best for her, me and her dad. That's the beauty of being Ella's parents. We get to decide the way we want to do things based on what we feel is best for her. I love it and I love her.

http://blogs.babycenter.com/mom_stories/parenting-expert-claims-sleep-training-can-damage-your-babys-brain-really/

Getting in to the swing of things...

2011-04-04T19:56:00.000-07:00

I recently had a friend ask me if I was starting to get the swing of things as a mom. It took me a minute to answer because I really had to think about what that meant. Did she mean, am I finally starting to feel normal after my hormones went all wacky? Or did she mean, am I getting the hang of this mom thing? And then I thought, well if I say no, would that mean I should have it all together, and I don't and need professional help? When I really thought about it, getting in to the swing of things probably looks different for every new mom. In no way are things back to normal, and I know they never will go back to normal, but what getting in to the swing of things looks like for me is...

~Being able to shower while Ella takes a nap in her crib. Timing it just right so as soon as she falls asleep, I've already rushed to the bathroom, got the water running, and have about 10 solid minutes to quickly shower and basically just get rid of the stench that has been accumulating on my body for the past two days, and wash the grease out of my hair.

~Getting house work done when she's awake. This is tricky because she is still learning how to sit up. Since her head has gotten a little flat since she started sleeping in her crib, I try to keep her on her belly or sitting up in her little chair. Today, I had less than a minute to switch the clothes from the washer to the dryer before Ella got tired of holding her rather heavy head up in her chair. I'm sure if you could see me doing housework I probably look like I'm either crazy, or trying to break some world reacord. For your information, I probably have broken some records...

~Getting out of the house. Now that is a chore in itself. I plan an outing hours ahead of time because I need to know how long we will be there, how many bottles I should pack for her, make sure she has an extra outfit if she should have a major blowout, pack a bib, restock her diaper bag with diapers, and make sure I get myself looking halfway decent, whether or not I've had a chance to shower or not. However, I love getting out and going over to a friend's house (usually we go see my good friend Regina and her 8 month old daughter Haddassah), meet a friend for coffee, or just go to Target and look around. I have found if I don't do this at least once a week, I start going a little coo-coo. Just ask Jesse, he can attest for my craziness when I don't get out.

~Spending time with Jesus...when I get a chance, but mostly my prayer life has increased since I've become a mom. I pray a lot, and God has actually worked through a lot of things with me since I've become a mom. The Mom Guilt has been the worse, but lately I've really felt a lot less quilty about things, thanks to God taking that from me, and have allowed God's grace to cover all of my short comings as a mom.

Ella will be 4 months old next week. I can't believe it. She has already moved to size 9 month clothing. She's growing a little too fast for me to keep up with, but I'm enjoyed every bit of it. I love her so very much and I'm so proud to be her mommy!! <3

Ella's sleeping in her crib!!

2011-03-17T09:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from this week. Ella got to hang out with her cousins Sadie and Ruby (my brother's girls) and is now sticking out her tongue in a lot of the pictures I take of her. Im wondering if she's starting to teeth because she is also a drooling machine.

This week Ella started sleeping in her crib at night! I decided I was going to start putting her to sleep in her crib when she turned 3 months so I started this Monday. She had no problems, slept all through the night except for the 2 times she wakes up to eat. I had a harder time than she did! I cried the first night I put her in her crib. Jesse thought I was crazy, but if you are a mom reading this, you probably understand why I cried. For some reason it was sad to know she needed me just a little less than she did when she was born and I realized she was no longer this little infant. Jesse said I was going to be a wreck on her first day of kindergarten, and he is right, I will be!

Ella is so much fun right now, she smiles all the time and has definitely outgrown the fussy baby stage. She is holding her head up really well and is so close to figuring out how to grab things, right now its just my hair. Ouch!

Ella Rose is 3 Months Old!!

2011-03-08T10:31:00.000-08:00

Here are some recent pictures of our sweet little lady bug!

Ella now weighs 15 pounds, is 24 inches long and will be 3 months old next Tuesday. She is cooing, smiling, and has recently learned how to make a fist. Most of the pictures we take of her now are of her smiling or looking like she's going to punch you. As far as motherhood goes, I have to say I am loving every bit of it, from changing the poop filled diapers to the late night feedings...I love it! I also am loving her more every day, which I didn't think was possible, but I am very thankful for. I've been praying a lot that God would grow the bond between us, and help me to just love her more each day, and He is definitely doing that. Speaking of God, I've also been finding I have been in desperate need to spend time with him each day. As I was talking with my mother in law about that, I realized it doesn't have to be time spent the way it used to be where I could sit down and read my Bible and journal for an hour...that just doesn't happen. However I have begun filling our house with worship music throughout the day, getting up early to journal and read my Bible when I can, and reading my devotional book to Ella when she's laying on the floor playing. God has also showed me how much grace he has for me being a new mom. Now I have to admit, I have taken advantage of that, but when I got to the point where I was no longer feeling any piece, getting so easily upset at everything, and just missing that time with Jesus, I had to find a new way to have a relationship with Him. And it has brought me so much joy!

Big Week for Ella Rose

2011-02-16T16:16:00.000-08:00

This week was a big week for our little ladybug! She got her first round of shots for her 2 month appointment (Im a mean mom, I took a picture of her after she got the shots. She was not happy!), and she is going to be dedicated at church this Sunday, the same Sunday her dad gets to preach at church for the first time!

The picture above of her in the pink dress is the dress we went and picked out for her to wear at her baby dedication. That was very fun for me, and she looks so stinkin' cute I can't wait to show her off on Sunday!!

I have been going to church my entire life and seen many of baby dedications, and it never occurred to me the full meaning behind why parents do it. Well now I'm a parent, and I want to fully understand why we are dedicated our child to the Lord publicly, in front of all of our church family?

We are dedicating our baby to the Lord because we believe Ella is a gift from God, and in dedicating her to the Lord, we give God fully appreciation for the gift he has given us. We are also presenting her before God and His people (at Tacoma Foursquare Church) asking for grace and wisdom in carrying out our responsibilities. Our pastor Billy Sarno will pray over Ella also that one day she might come to know Jesus as her personal Savior.

So that is why we are dedicating her! I can't wait!

The Struggle

2011-01-25T17:06:00.000-08:00

So last night, as I watched Ella struggle in pain from being constipated all day, I felt the guilt of my decision to formula feed come on strong, and keep me awake for most of the night. My decision to stop breast feeding was not from the usual reason, low milk production, it was just for the plain reason it hurt, and I was frustrated. The biggest reason was, I just didn't want to spend this time that was supposed to be a wonderful bonding experience, frustrated with my child for not moving her hands out of the way, or not latching on properly, or her falling asleep late at night when I'd like to quickly get back to sleep. Perhaps I made the wrong decision, and now I am putting my little girl in pain because of it.

I struggled thinking about this most of the night so of course I prayed, because I know God is not one who gives us these feelings of guilt, so I just needed guidance on what to do, and why I was feeling this way.

The only conclusion I came to was to start pumping again, and breast feeding when I could, then giving her what I was lacking with formula. Sure enough, today I breast feed her twice, and pumped twice and she pooped right away. The only thing is, my milk supply went from being very sufficient to being very sparse. I then thought I had made the decision to go back and breast feed along with formula too late...

All I know is, I'm doing the best I can with what I know is best for my daughter. Perhaps I made the right decision in the beginning and I just need to "stick with my guns" like my husband told me this morning. Whatever the outcome, I need to know that I'm doing my best, and God will take care of the rest! (I don't know if that saying fit totally in there, I just wanted to say it!)

Ella Rose is One Month Old

2011-01-19T17:00:00.003-08:00

Pictures from Ella's first month on this planet...

2011-01-19T17:00:00.002-08:00

2011-01-19T17:00:00.001-08:00

2011-01-19T17:00:00.000-08:00

Being a New Mom

2011-01-10T14:32:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, if you were to ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would tell you, "A wife and a mom." I knew from when I was a child that's what I wanted to be, but I never knew when it would happen, or if it would happen.

When I was 26 I moved to Tacoma and became a nanny for two kids in Brown's Point, and for 6 years I help raise two of the coolest kids on the planet. It was by far my favorite job, and as close as I thought I would get to being a mom, having no prospects and closing in on the big 3-0. Little did I know what God had in store for me!

Right after I turned 29 I met Jesse at a college group at the church we currently go to. He was the only other person there that was close to my age and I took interest in him and tried the best I could to let him know that. I was not aware at the point that he didn't get any of the hints I was giving him that I was interested, until I sent him an encouraging email after Bible Study one night. That is when things got rolling!

To make a long story short, Jesse and I dated for 3 months and then got engaged, just knowing that we were M.F.E.O. (Meant For Each Other). What's even stranger is one year prior to meeting Jesse, I had a dream I got married to a man with dark hands. After we started dating I noticed his hands were a little darker than his arms...him being half Mexican, and it clicked, he was the man of my dreams, literally!

Moving forward to our first wedding anniversary, we started talking about trying to have our first child, and shortly after that, surprisingly, Ella was conceived! I spent the next 10 months trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was finally going to be a mom...and now that she is here, I still am trying to wrap my head around it!

This past month has been a whirlwind of emotions as I have adjusted to being a new mom from the high on the mountain top in love feeling with my baby to the overwhelmed, crying for no reason break downs from hormones and lack of sleep. I even have felt a tad crazy at times and have had to make late night calls to a good friend to talk me down from my craziness!

The other part about being a new mom that I have felt up and down about has been the whole breast feeding thing. At first Ella was tongue tied so she could latch on properly and was actually causing me to blister...this caused an additional pain to what I was feeling from my c-section. Not a pleasant experience like I hoped for. I thought after this that i was not going to be able to breast feed and that devastated me.

Once she got her tongue clipped she started feeding like a champ, but I kept waiting for the pain in my breast to go away. I developed a sharp pain in one of my breasts that would continue on hours after I fed her. Breast feeding was not what I expected it would be. I heard about a friend who switched to formula and I started to feel a little jealous.

I have very mixed feelings about whether I should continue through the pain and frustration, which isn't fun for me or Ella, or ween her off the breast and bottle feed her. I want what's best for her, which I thought was breast feeding, but could my constant frustration and pain be what's best for her and I? Am I worried about what people think if I stop breast feeding? Will they think I was just a wimp and gave up? Or is the guilt of quitting and not giving Ella breast milk getting to me?

Whatever is going on with me, what I do know is, Jesse and I know what's best for our child. I never realized how much advice and people's opinion I would get when I became a mom. Its almost too much and I have to learn sometimes to just turn their voices off. With that being said, Ella will soon be a formula fed baby, and I will make this decision based on what is best for us, and not on what other people are telling me to do.

My Ella

2011-01-07T18:18:00.001-08:00

She's my cute little diaper girl! As you can see she's working on her rolls on both her arms and legs. I think she might be perhaps be the cutest baby on the planet!

Welcome Ella Rose Munoz

2011-01-06T15:12:00.001-08:00

Ella Rose Munoz was born on December 15, 2010 at 9:19 p.m. She weighed 8 pounds 7 ounces and was 21 inches long. She is now 3 weeks old and on her last doctor's appointment had gained the weight back that she had lost and weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces. By now, I am positive she is passed that weight with the amount of eating she's been doing!

We are adjusting to our little Ella and the late night feedings and learning all her little noises and cries and what they mean. We love her so much! I am so proud of her I could burst! I am a Mom, I can hardly believe it!

38 weeks and our 2nd wedding anniversary

2010-12-12T14:14:00.001-08:00

On Friday December 10, 2010 I turned 38 weeks! Full term and very, very pregnant! I have been done with work now for 3 weeks and on bed rest for 1 week. Things slowed down quite a bit once I wasn't able to go anywhere or do much. It also has made this waiting for Ella to arrive a little harder. But I am trying to enjoy it as much as I can...all this free time and rest because I know I won't be getting much once she is here!

On Monday we found out that I am low on amniotic fluid and her estimated weight is 8 pounds 12 ounces. I was put on mild bed rest and told to drink lots of water. That's exactly what I have been doing! I also have to have 2 non stress tests done a week to monitor our baby's heart rate and make sure it goes up every time she moves. We have had to very good NST tests come back so she is doing well despite the lack of fluid in there!

Next week on Tuesday we have another ultrasound scheduled to see how she's is doing (growing) and to check on my fluid levels. The end is near! I am so excited we are so close! If time could just go by a little quicker, that sure would be nice!

In the mean time, I will rejoice in this gift of rest that God has given me and consider myself blessed!

Speaking of blessed, Jesse and I are getting ready to celebrate or 2nd wedding anniversary! These 2 years have gone by so fast, but have been, by far, the best 2 years of my life! We've been through a lot these past 2 years. I went through school and received my bachelor's degree, we lived with my parents for 3 months, moved twice, accepted the position as youth pastor at our church, became pregnant with our first child, bought two new cars, got a dog...we've done a lot! But that's just how this Munoz family rolls!

May I just finish by saying I love Jesse so much! I am truly blessed and happy being married to him, he has made me one very happy gal!

2010-12-05T21:14:00.000-08:00

Week 37...still no Ella. I have less than 3 weeks left until her due date...but I am ready for her to come now. Besides having her car seat installed, her bassinet set up, all her clothes washed and put away, and packing my overnight bag for the hospital...there's not much else I can do to be ready for her. She just needs to arrive!

My feet have really begun to swell, as well as my hands, and I just feel large and in charge. Physically I am ready to have her too! I also just can't wait to meet her. Im so excited about meeting her I can hardly contain myself!

Come soon Baby Ella!

December Blessings

2010-11-28T17:10:00.000-08:00

As of Friday, I am now 36 weeks pregnant. 9 months! Thank you Jesus for getting our little baby this far and for keeping her healthy! In 25 days, she is due! We will see if she comes on her due date, or before or after!

This past week was Thanksgiving and we had it at our house. I cooked my first turkey, with Jesse's help, and it turned out really good! It truly made us feel like grown ups to cook dinner at our house, and it was all together such a great time with our families here! And as always, there was a lot of food left over, and it stayed here! Woo Hoo! Left over apple and pumpkin pie!

On December 6, we have our next ultrasound to check on Ella and how she's growing. I have been horrible this past week with my eating habits, so I'm sure that hasn't helped. Tomorrow Jesse and I are going to go to our gym and work out. When I say work out for this 9 month pregnant lady, its like walking for ten minutes, which is all I can handle right now with this heavy load I'm carrying and my sore lower back!

I'm looking forward to being able to get back in to shape and go back to my normal size after Ella is born.

Christmas is coming soon, and I have started trying to figure out an alternative to buying presents, being that I am not working and there isn't any money to buy presents. Plus we are having a baby...so I have some ideas to get me started!

I love this time of year, especially this year because it, well, it's Christmas, I married the man of my dreams December 13, and we are having our first child December 24. Thank you Jesus for all these December blessings! You are so good to me!

35 weeks, Prom Night & other stuff

2010-11-21T19:59:00.000-08:00

I am now 35 weeks pregnant! Wow! I made it this far! I remember first finding out that I was pregnant and thinking it would take me forever to get to 35 weeks, but here I am! We are getting so excited to meet Ella! Jesse and I both agree that the thing we are most excited about is just seeing what she looks like.

My last midwife appointment I did not gain any weight over the two weeks since my last appointment, so that was exciting for me! I was very proud of myself! Ella still measured 4 cm bigger than what she should. Jesse and I think she just might be a normal sized baby after all and all this worry about her being a big baby might be for nothing!

We also had a formal/prom night for the youth group this weekend. It was a blast. By far the most fun we have had at one of our events for the youth. Those kids were some dancing fools! I had a pretty cute date too!

I am done with work now. It will be weird not having to get up and go in to work on Monday. It was hard on Friday to know that I wouldn't be coming back on the following Monday and spending my days with two of my favorite kids. I sure do love the Pape family. They will forever be family to me, and Jesse too.

We are having Thanksgiving at our house this year. We bought a turkey and I am going to cook one for the first time. I am really excited about cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the first time at our house. It should be fun!

Naming Ella Rose

2010-11-14T20:21:00.000-08:00

When Jesse and I were on our honeymoon, we began talking about our future, the children that God would bless us with, and the life that God had planned for us together. When it came to the topic of children, we started to come up with names for our future children. We quickly agreed on a boy name, Logan Grayson. Logan is the Wolverine's name and Grayson is a name that I have always loved, so it was a good compromise. However, coming up with a girl name was a little more difficult for us. We somehow came across the name Ella and it immediately became a name we both liked.

After being married for a year and about 3 months, and I finally completed school, we decided to start trying for children. I was convinced that it would take us a while to get pregnant, so we went off birth control just before I was done with my student teaching. Little did I know, one try was all it took and we became pregnant after only a month!

As my pregnancy progressed, Jesse and I both thought we were having a boy. We were both almost certain! We both also agreed that having a boy first would probably be easier, especially for Jesse having such a big heart, and being such a pushover for little girls. :)

Right before my first ultrasound was when God starting showing me subtle signs that we were, in fact, having a girl.

Across the street from the apartments we first lived in when we were first married, there was a housing development called "Rosella." Before I had seen this sign, we had decided her middle name should be Rose. When I drove past this sign one day, perhaps when I was about 12 or so weeks pregnant, I saw this sign again and said to myself, "Oh, that's like Ella Rose backwards, that's funny." But it was more than just funny, it struck a chord with me. Every single time I passed that sign after that, its as if God was continually telling me..."You are having an Ella Rose..."

A couple of weeks later, we had our first ultrasound to find out her gender, and we in fact, were having an Ella Rose. This blew my mind! God was preparing our hearts ahead of time to have a little girl! Even before I found out we were having a girl, I started looking at little girl outfits in the store, and getting excited for if were having a girl, and I didn't even know yet.

I know a lot of people usually put quite a bit of thought in to naming there children, and what the meaning of their names are. I felt bad, because I hadn't thought much about the meaning of Ella's name. I just knew that was her name, and I loved it!

At the baby shower with the ladies from my church, a lady named Stormy, whom I had not met, but used to go to our church, asked me what my baby's name was going to be. I told her Ella Rose, and she pulled out this magnificent baby name book and told me what it meant. The meaning of Ella is; Bright One and the scripture for her name is Isaiah 62:3, "You shall also be a crown of glory and honor in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God." And the name Rose means; Giver of Love. The scripture that goes with her middle name is: 1 Corinthians 13:13 "And so faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love."

What an amazing blessing to be given this, not only the meaning of Ella's name, but scripture to go with it. I know that when you name a child, it often reflects itself in their character! We are going to have ourselves a bright young lady who has a big heart full of love! We will be so blessed!!! I can't wait!

33 Weeks: Ultrasound

2010-11-07T13:39:00.000-08:00

I am 33 weeks now. We got another ultrasound done to check on Ella and how she is growing. They estimated that her current weight is 5 pounds. I was told to stay away form sweets completely, and start exercising a little. I just have to be careful because I still have 7 more weeks until her due date. I don't necessarily want to give birth to a 9 or 10 pound baby, or have a cesarian. Jesse has been helping me to stay away from sweets and since Friday I haven't had any. Its easy to avoid them when my options are birthing a giant baby or not having sweets!

I have 2 more weeks left of work, and this weekend I retake the West E, and have my second baby shower with the ladies at church.

People still ask how I am feeling, and for the most part, I'm feeling pretty good. Im definitely tired, and my back is starting to really hurt, but I can't complain about much else! I am about be a mom....!!!! Jesse going to be a dad!!! Its so exciting and keeps me hanging in there as I wobble around and try survive with this giant belly until she arrives.

32 Weeks/Halloween

2010-10-31T09:38:00.001-07:00

This week I am now 32 weeks pregnant. I just had a midwife appointment and Ella is measuring 4 cm bigger than what she should be. I have an ultrasound scheduled for this Friday to find out what's going on in my belly, to make sure she's not growing too fast. Im not sure what it means if she is, but Im trusting God and trying not to worry about it. Good news is, I'm not gestaionally diabetic! I had 3 separate tests done, and all of them came back normal. Which is a miracle to me because diabetes runs so rapid in my family, and I did not exactly hold back on eating sweets throughout my pregnancy! Other than that, things are going well.

Jesse and I had our birthing class yesterday, which was really good. We learned a lot. I was all for no pain and getting an epidural, until I learned the risks of getting one. Jesse and I both agreed that I should try to go natural unless I absolutely have to get an epidural and then I will get one. I didn't realized they don't even give you one until you are actively in labor, which is very close the the time you need to start pushing. I guess we will see what happens!

We also had our youth group costume party last night. It was so much fun! I loved watching our youth enjoy themselves, dance, and get crazy on sugar, whilst taking pictures of the whole event. Jesse dressed up as Mario and I was a penguin. I have to say, that is my favorite party about Halloween, getting dressed up! But now October is ending and November is already here! I have about 2 weeks left of working for the Papes. I am so sad about this because I have to go through the whole process of something great ending, and another great thing beginning. I will miss not being a part of their everyday lives, but I know that they are like family and we will always be a part of each other's lives if its not every day. Charlie told me he wants his new nanny to look and talk like me. Melt my heart why don't you!

Anyways...that's all for now!!

My 32nd Birthday/30 Weeks Pregnant

2010-10-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

Today was the best day ever! Woke up at 8am, got Jesse and I some Starbucks, and then got ready and headed to the Space Needle for brunch. On the way there, Jesse let me open my present which were real diamond stud earrings!!! He also got me a gift card to Bath and Body Works, which I am very excited to spend! When we got to the Space Needle, we rode the elevator up and at some of the best food for brunch as we took many pictures of the awesome view! Best date ever! Best meal ever! Best husband ever!

On our way home Jesse said I could get my hair highlighted (which I really needed to get done badly), so I the next thing I did was get my hair done. While I was getting it done, he also did the grocery shopping!! I have an amazing man!

We relaxed a bit around the house, and then went to Olive Garden for dinner. We just finished a girlie movie and my perfect day is almost over.

This was by far the best birthday ever. My husband is the best, and really went out all out for me today! I heart you Jesse Lee Munoz!!! Thanks for such an amazing day!

Oh...and I'm 30 weeks pregnant too! Ella ate well today with all the fancy food we had!

Week 28

2010-10-13T18:13:00.000-07:00

28 Weeks. Getting bigger! Ella is really growing and moving a lot! She moves the most when I lay down at night go to sleep. Sometimes she wakes me up from her kicking! I can now sit and watch my belly move as she kicks and moves around in my belly. No matter how much I experience this, its still so exciting every time I see it! Im so excited to meet her and see what she looks like and kiss her and hug her! On Friday, October 15, I will be 30 weeks and will have only 70 more days left to meet her. (Hopefully a little less...)

Baby Shower For Ella Rose October 9, 2010

2010-10-13T18:04:00.000-07:00

My sister in law Shawn threw me a baby shower for Ella Rose this last Saturday. Ella got a lot of cute clothes, receiving blankets, blankets, diapers, and much more! I felt so blessed not only to get these gifts for Ella but to have all of my loved ones in one room together. My school friends Krissy, Peggy, Dominec and Sarah came, which was nice because I haven't seen them since we graduated. By BFF's Briana, Jamie and Janelle were there, Jodi, Maggie, and Mom came. Stephanie, Amelia, Kate and Zoe came too. Anyone else I'm forgetting? Sara Bohannon, and Chelsea...Im so glad they all came!

The most exciting part was getting all those cute outfits and knowing in 2 short months I will have a little baby to fit in to them! I am so excited to be a Mom!!!!

2010-09-26T18:38:00.000-07:00

Friday September 24, 2010 I am 27 weeks pregnant. Now I am starting to get asked when my baby is due, which I love! It's rather obvious I didn't just put on a couple of pounds, I am very pregnant now!

It's crazy that in a little over 2 months, we will have a little baby to hold and love and kiss! I am getting more and more excited the closer I get to my due date! We still have yet to get our crib and finish setting up Ella's room, but luckily, we still have time!

I got my 3 hour glucose test done last week, and I have to go in for another test called a glucose hemoglobin test, where they test my blood sugar over the last 3 months. If I don't pass, then hopefully they can tell me one way or the other whether or not I have gesational diabetes. Sheesh, just not knowing is killing me!!!

I am having my first baby shower on October 9, which my sister in law Shawn is throwing for me! I am excited about that, mostly to be able to have all my loved ones together in one room. Oh and getting fun stuff for Ella is exciting too!

Youth group is going really well. It's growing and thriving, and Jesse and I both believe God has us right where we need to be. It's funny when you allow God's will to happen in your life, and what follows after that. We went through some rough patches in our first year of ministry, but now if feels like we are coming out of that valley we were in. I feel pretty blessed by all of the youth! They are pretty rad!

I have 2 more months left of working as a nanny. My last day is the end of November. It's sad to once again say good bye to the Pape kids. Well, its not really good bye, but not being able to see them every day will be rough. What's awesome is they are like family to me, and will still be a big part of our lives, and Ella's too! I know Charlie and Amelia are really excited for her to arrive!

I'm looking forward to the time I get off when Ella is born to stay home with her and bond with her. This is the first time in my life I haven't had to work for a couple of months and have gotten to stay home (besides when I was a kid) so I am really looking forward to it!

And most of all, I just can't wait until Ella is born. I cannot wait to meet her! But I guess I'll have to.... :)

25 Weeks and counting...

2010-09-11T19:26:00.000-07:00

25 weeks today! To celebrate, I went in and had a glucose test done to see if I am gestationally diabetic. I have no fear of having gestational diabetes because I know diabetes runs in my family, and I am very likely to get it. If I don't, well Praise Jesus! I will be happy about that!

Jesse and I had to go and buy bigger maternity clothes today because I have already outgrown the hand me downs I got from my sister Shawn. Its so nice to have clothes that fit! And with Ella growing in size, her kicks are also getting stronger. Sometimes her little kicks shake my belly! Its pretty cool to watch!

I also got my hair cut last week, mainly because I couldn't deal with the long hair anymore! It feels so nice to have it short, although I know it will grow back quickly being pregnant!

Last night, Jesse and I started Search for Significance for Teens at our youth group. It was so awesome! I get to lead a small group of high school girls through an amazing book, and I love it! God is doing some really great things in the youth at our church!

I am really loving fall now! I can't wait to start burning pumpkin spice candles, and getting to decorate for Halloween and Christmas! This year will be the first year Jesse and I have lived in our own place at Christmas time so I am excited to actually put up a Christmas tree this year!

And....that's it for now...

6 Months Pregnant

2010-09-03T22:01:00.000-07:00

Its September 3, 2010 and I am now 6 months pregnant. I still get asked the question of how I am feeling, so if you were wondering that...I will fill you in on how I am feeling! As far as emotionally, awesome! I finally have felt like I have gotten over my fear and anxiety of giving birth, and have fully begun to enjoy being pregnant, and am sooooo looking forward to meeting our sweet little Ella!

Physically, since I already have a pretty jacked up back, the weight gain in my stomach has really made my lower back hurt pretty bad. I cannot sit or stand for very long or it starts to really hurt. I am also still getting migraines, but since I am seeing a chiropractor, it has really lessened my symptoms and made the migraines just minor headaches. Thank you Jesus for my chiropractor!!!

I have also really felt the need to start setting up Ella's nursery. Even though I still have 3 more months to go...I really am looking forward to getting everything set up and decorating so that I will feel more prepared for her when she arrives. This may be something God has naturally designed within us to feel as expecting mothers, or its just me, just being excited to set up my baby's room.

This weekend we plan on cleaning out part of Jesse's office and closet and rearranging things so there is room for Ella's crib and changing table. This excites me beyond belief! To just start the process of getting ready for her makes my little heart flutter! I also have found some cute little letter's to hang of Ella's name in her nursery...let the decorating begin!!

22 Week Ultrasound & Cannon Beach

2010-08-26T19:28:00.001-07:00

August 19, 2010 Jesse and I had our follow up ultrasound from our 18 week appointment and all went well. It was confirmed during this ultrasound that we are definitely having a girl! In the picture of her, she is looking up at the camera. That was cool to watch on the ultrasound. She is already a girl, posing for the camera!

After our ultrasound, I headed to Oregon with my pal Briana to meet up with my other friend Laura for a fun girl weekend in Cannon Beach. It was a blast! Its amazing how much time it seems has gone by since we were all at Ecola Bible School, making memories and learning about Jesus! Our lives have changed quite a bit since then. Being there 12 years later, married and pregnant really made it feel like I lived there in another life!

It is so amazing to me that Laura, Briana and I have remained friends for all these years. No matter how much time goes by, whenever we get together it feels like no time has gone by at all. We all got a chance to pray for each other after we cooked smores and roasted hot dogs over a campfire at the beach. It was pretty awesome! We also met up with our friend Becky who went to Ecola with us too. Always good to see her!

I will be 23 weeks tomorrow in my pregnancy. It is going by so fast, and the closer I get to having Ella, the more excited I get! Jesse and I are starting to make plans for her nursery. We just need to get her crib, and start decorating! I am also excited for that part! I cannot wait to meet her and see what kind of little baby girl God has blessed us with!

22 Weeks!

2010-08-19T20:38:00.001-07:00

It is August 19, 2010 and I am now 22 weeks pregnant. Tomorrow we have another ultrasound to get baby Ella measured again as a follow up from our 18 week appointment. She was hard to measure because she wasn't in the most visible position. She is much bigger now, so hopefully we will be able to get a better view of her tomorrow! After that, I am headed to Portland with my best friend Briana to meet up with my other BFF Laura, and then we are headed to Cannon Beach! I am so excited to have a girl weekend with two of the most awesome gals I know!

2010-08-11T06:26:00.000-07:00

20 weeks pregnant and going camping with the youth group! I am half way there! Hooray!

2010-07-25T18:51:00.000-07:00

On July 23, 2010 we went in for our second ultrasound to have our baby measured and to find out the sex of our baby. I have never been so excited for something in my life!! Our appointment was not until 2:45 in the afternoon so I had to try to keep myself busy otherwise I thought I would explode!

Once the ultrasound began, I still had to be patient because they measure everything, their legs, heart, head spine, and look for things like down syndrome or spina bifida. I also think our ultrasound technician was a trainee because she took a very long time, and had to have someone come in and check her work.

Finally, after two people scanning me, and a very full bladder, they asked us if we wanted to find out the sex of the baby. I felt like I could have screamed yes, but I politely and collectively said, "Yes we do, please!"

The only thing is, that darn baby of ours had her legs crossed, or her knees together everytime we tried to look! I could feel myself almost ready to cry because I was really looking forward to finding out what we were having. I prayed and said, "Lord, open up our baby's legs!!! Please!" Right after that, they checked one more time, and that baby's legs were spread eagle. It was rather obvious that no boy parts were present.

So, we are having ourselves a baby girl. Ella Rose Munoz will be her name. I am so in love with her already and all I have seen of her is some warped ultrasound pictures of things that possible look like her leg, or her head. I cannot wait to meet her, and am filled with so much joy right now I am afraid I might burst. I have always wanted to be a mom and now it is happening!

Thank you to all that have prayed and please continue to pray for baby Ella's health while she grows bigger in my belly!

2010-07-02T17:09:00.000-07:00

I am 15 weeks pregnant today on July 2, 2010. I finally decided it was time to start taking pictures of my new little (or quite big to me) baby bump. I started feeling the baby kick last weekend. It was the neatest thing. I thought for a minute it was gas, but it happened several times and I realized it was the baby kicking. Being pregnant is pretty fun! We find out what we are having on July 23...will it be a Logan or an Ella?

2010-06-05T21:52:00.000-07:00

Here is the first picture of our baby at 10 1/2 weeks. Its a side profile and you can see a little arm sticking out. It was truly amazing to see our baby for the first time. Every time I look at this picture my heart fills with joy and I can't stop smiling. I love this baby so much already and I haven't even me the little gummy bear yet! My heart is full!

First Ultrasound!!!

2010-06-01T19:06:00.001-07:00

Jesse and I went to our first ultrasound today! We heard our baby's heartbeat and saw it beating on the ultrasound. I am 10 1/2 weeks along now, and I got a healthy little baby in my belly! It is by far one of the most amazing things I have ever experienced! I cannot wait until we get to find out if our little baby will be a boy or girl! God is so good and He is taking care of our baby!

Changes...

2010-05-23T18:10:00.000-07:00

About a month ago, I was in the middle of finishing my portfolio for my student teaching, and was not feeling so swell. I was very tired, and had some horrible stomach cramps. I thought for sure I was getting the flu. After being convinced by my sister in law Shawn to take a pregnancy test, I did so, not expecting to be pregnant at all. The test came out positive (after a very long 3 minutes of waiting), and I indeed have a little baby in there that will be born December 24th, 2010!!!

Its amazing to me that Jesse and I will be parents. It brings me so much joy to think about, and even to see Jesse as a Dad. He is going to be the best Dad ever! I have always wanted to be a wife and a mom, and now God is truly giving me all the desires of my heart!!

I went to my first doctor's appointment already where I just met with the nurse, but my first actual ultrasound will be June 1 where Jesse and I will get to hear our little baby's heartbeat. I cannot wait!!!

On another very important note, I graduated from college! I finally did it! Friday May 21, I got my bachelors degree...YAY!!!!! It was such a long and hard road, and it is the best feeling in the world to be done with school. After I receive my degree and my teaching certificate, I plan on substitute teaching in the fall.

I ended a big part of my life with school and I am beginning a new big thing with the baby coming. I could not be more happy!

Here is a picture from my graduation...

Roxy, Our New Dog...and other stuff

2009-10-04T16:31:00.000-07:00

We got a new addition to our family. We got our first dog together. A little 4 year old Chihuahua named Roxy. We got her form a co worker of our friend Kirstin. She is the best dog. She is really shy and skiddish around new people but she is suprisingly ok with children. I was worried about this because I didn't want her to not get along with our kids we when eventually had them. Roxy just got to spend the night with her grandma (my mom) and she won over my mom's heart. My mom wanted to keep her, but we love her too much to give her up! Roxy has that way with people. She is very sweet, and people tend to want to keep her. I just bought her a little pink doggie sweater. She looks so cute in it!

Jesse and I just launched the first Sunday of youth group today, which went really well. Jesse is having them do 29Elevens which are reading a Bible verse and writing down how it applies to your life. We are pushing to get these kids into the word, and motivating them to do so by rewarding them for what they read. Jesse has a lot of fun stuff planned over the next year for our kids to have a lot of fun, and I hope to gain close relationships with the girls in the youth group as well!

I have 3 months left of working for the Papes. It is very bittersweet because I am sad to leave them, but excited to start student teaching, and my teaching career. Homework has gotten very intense lately. Huge projects, ugh! But they have really helped me in regards to planning out how I will do things in my classroom. I am getting so close!

Jesse and I have been married for almost 10 months now. I can't believe it has almost been a year since we got married. I am looking back to what we were doing last year, and not missing having to plan a wedding, work and go to school. I couldn't have done that without Jesse helping plan as much as he did.

I am turning 31 on October 16. Its weird cause now I feel like I am really in my 30's. I definitely don't feel 31. I am excited to celebrate it with Jesse and my family.

Jesse just got a raise at his job! $4.50 raise! Praise God! It was very needed since we will be living off his income for 4 months while I student teach. We will probably be moving in to a smaller apartment come the end of November since we won't be able to afford our place with just Jesse's income.

Lots of change is coming! I am excited!

Here are some pictures we have taken over the last couple months...

Roxy wearing her new pink sweater I bought her.
Took a trip with Briana to Portland to see my friends Laura and Becky.
Jesse, Roxy and I.
Me and my doggie Roxy.

Rockin' out with our friends Adam & Kristin Smith.

Summer time, the livin's easy...

2009-07-21T21:50:00.000-07:00

It is summer time! My favorite time of the year! I love being able to go outside and lay at the beach (with Jesse now), and play with the kids I nanny for outside. It something we Washingtonian's have to take advantage of because its rainy and cold the rest of the year.

I have completed one year of school and am well in to my teaching classes. They are much more intense than I thought they would be. Lots more work, and less time for procrastination, which is what I am very good at! I am posting pictures of some of my school friends. We have a lot of fun together! Which is good, cause we have to spend a lot of quality time with each other.

On July 13 marked our 7 months of marriage! I can't believe we've already been married for 7 months! It has been flying by. I could not be happier, or feel like I could love Jesse Munoz more than I do. But each day I think I love him a little more. Crazy thing this love stuff is!

Jesse just got asked to be the youth pastor at our church. Which is so very exciting! Nothing is really finalized, but we meet with our pastor this Friday to go over details. Which was a complete answer to prayer. I was really stressin' about how we would be able to live off of one income, in January, but it looks like we just might be ok! God is so good! We are so excited for the things He's got in store for Jesse and leading the youth. Jesse is so excited too, and it is so awesome to see how he lights up when talking about it!

I can't believe how blessed I am right now. God is really taking care of us and teaching us to have complete faith in His provision for our lives. Anyways...I think God is pretty rad!

So here are a couple of random pictures from Jesse's 28th birthday, school, and the past couple of months...

New Things

2009-03-02T06:48:00.000-08:00

It has been a couple of months since I posted on here so I thought it was time to update it! Lots of new things have been happening in my life. I've been married now to Jesse for almost 3 months, which has been completely awesome! We are having a good time setting up our apartment, getting to know each other, and growing in our love and relationship...its been pretty rad! If you think you have the best husband in the world, well you don't, cause I do!! :)

I am still going to school. In June I will have completed my first year towards my bachelors, I am almost done people! I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! The cohort I am in, I've made some really awesome friends, we are having a good time learning together!

I am still a nanny, and I'm sad this will be my last year with them. Im trying to enjoy every minute I have with the kids I watch, cause pretty soon it will be over. Im going to cry right now just thinking about it!

Everyone keeps asking Jesse and I when we will have kids. Geez, we've only been married for 3 months...but our plan is to have kids after I'm done with school.

And last but not least, I dyed my hair brown after many years of bleached blonde hair. It was getting out of control, not being a natural blonde and having to bleach my hair every 2 months, so I took matters into my own hands. I didn't think I'd like it, but I love my brown hair!

Ok...that's it for now!

Jump Kicking!!

2008-12-04T20:35:00.000-08:00

My new neice, Mataya turned two last Saturday, and her birthday party turned in to a jumpkicking extravaganza! It brings me pure joy to see others sharing the love of jump kicking.

Bridal Shower

2008-12-01T18:48:00.000-08:00

On November 30th I had my bridal shower. It was a ton of fun...we got alot of awesome presents for our new home, and I had such a good time hanging out with a bunch of gals I know and love! I thought I'd share some pictures, especially for my aunt Kathy, and those that couldn't make it.

We only have 12 days left till we get married!!

2008-11-09T08:34:00.000-08:00

Here are some more pictures from my birthday. I celebrated Thursday with Jesse, Friday with the family I nanny for, Saturday with my girlfriends, and Sunday with my family and the Papes. I can't figure out how to not underline these words. Sorry!

2008-11-09T08:25:00.001-08:00

I haven't updated this since Jesse and I got engaged and alot has happened since then! I turned 30, YIKES!!!....I am going to school and have almost finished 3 quarters towards my bachelors, we are 1 month away from getting married....what else?

Jesse and I have been doing pre-marriage counseling with our pastor Billy Sarno. I am still a nanny for the same family and will be for another year. Everyone keeps asking me if I will still be a nanny when I get married and I am, at least for another year!

Things are going really well, what can I say? I wish things would slow down a little cause it all feels like kind of a blur, but I'm not complaining! God is so good to me, that's all I have to say! Oh and, I love Jesse Munoz!

Here are some pictures from my birthday. I had 4 parties to celebrate my 30th. That's how you gotta do it!

Being Engaged

2008-08-12T22:14:00.000-07:00

Can I just say that being engaged is pretty dang exciting? Well I am going to say it. It's pretty dang EXCITING!

Let me also say that when I was a little girl I used to dream of what my husband would someday be like, and thought that I would never meet such a man. I even wrote a list down of all the things that I would like in a man, and asked God to give them to me. And God did! I got the man I always dreamed of! I can't even believe it.

So I'm here to say that I am just in love with Jesse Munoz and am so excited to soon be married to him!

2008-08-02T10:17:00.000-07:00

Jesse and I got engaged yesterday, August 1, 2008. He took me down to my favorite beach in Dash Point where he first told me he loved me and got down on his knee and asked me to marry him. Of course I said yes! He is just such an amazing man and I love him so much and can't wait to spend my life with him! We are going to have a good life together!

Oh and in the picture...I do have in on my left hand, it just looks like its on my right because of how the picture got reversed.

Jesse Munoz

2008-07-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say that when it comes to boyfriends, mine is pretty boss. His name's Jesse Munoz. In a contest of best boyfriends, he wins by far.

Jeff and Kathy

2008-06-27T11:47:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to say that I have the best parents in the whole world. You might think you parents are the best, but you are wrong, mine are.

Graduation Day

2008-06-21T14:38:00.000-07:00

I graduated last weekend from Tacoma Community College. I actually got my degree in January, but wanted to be a part of the ceremony last weekend. It wasn't as exciting as I was expecting. I didn't know the person to my right or my left and none of the people speaking. BUT, the people I nanny for threw me a great graduation party and that was the best part about it. This degree was a huge accomplishment and it was good to finally get it done and celebrate with people I loved! I also just started my bachelor program for my teacher certification on Wednesday June 18th. Its hard to get back into homework and school mode after being out for 5 months. But I'm excited!

New Things

2008-06-10T14:36:00.000-07:00

So I am dating someone. His name is Jesse Munoz. He's pretty amazing and things are going really well. Its been a little over a month now. I thought I'd post some pictures of us...enjoy!

Sadie Time

2008-04-26T14:32:00.000-07:00

I got to spend a whole 24 hours with my neice Sadie this weekend babysitting her while mom and dad went away. We had alot of fun! She discovered her belly, we played at the park, and she let me put pigtails in her hair. We did lots of girl stuff. Here are some picture from our girl party weekend.

California Women's Retreat and Aunt Fest

2008-04-14T14:26:00.000-07:00

So this weekend I went on my very first Women's Retreat in California at the Redwood Christian Park in Boulder Creek. It was a beautiful place and very quiet and peaceful, very much like a place should be to "retreat" to. I needed that too!

We spent the Friday traveling there, meeting up with my cousins, and picking people up for the retreat. I got to have breakfast with my cousin Drew and his girlfriend Victoria. I then went from breakfast to lunch with the group of gals we were going to the retreat with: Margie (my dad's neighbor growing up), Marlene (my uncle Roger's sister), Kiersten (Marleen's daughter), and of course my Aunts. It was fun getting to meet all those people, but the one lady I was so touched by was Margie. (That's here and I with her owl "Hootie" below).

First of all it was just awesome that I got to meet the lady that used to babysitt my dad when he was little. I tried getting some stories out of her but she couldn't remember any. Shoot! And Margie was just the funniest, kind hearted, spunky Grandma I have ever met. I hope that when I get to be her age that I am exactly the same way. Its hard to find someone who has lived through as much as she has and still see joy in them. You know that has to be God.

At the retreat we had an amazing speaker named Lori Saleirno. She was a very good speaker, spoke boldy about God's truth, and wasn't afraid to share the gospel with anyone. She had some great stories to tell. On the last night she had all the women who had children, grandchildren, neices and nephews come up and pray for them on their knees. She made a very valid point that the generations coming up after us are further and further away from a relationship with Jesus, and as a result we are seeing a lot more violence, sex, drug use, etc...become almost out of control. I think its awesome to be reminded that as our role as women we should be on our knees praying for our kids, grandkids, neices and nephews everyday that they will know the Saviour of their souls, the God that so dearly loves them and wants to know them.

My first Women's Retreat was an awesome experience and how awesome it was that I got to experience it with my two very cool aunts, and my new friend Margie! I have conquered my fear of large groups of women...now onto my next fear...clowns...

Above is a good lookin' group of ladies...me, my Aunt Bonni, Margie, and my Aunt Kathy.

Above is me sitting on a bench with spiders on it at the boardwalk in Santa Cruz.

The Gals from the retreat

I also got to see my cousin Ross and his wife Jessica on my way back to the airport, and spend some time with my Uncle Roger too. We ate at a fancy country club after shootin' nine holes...just kidding, we didn't golf, we just ate.

The Roomates

2008-04-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Here's a picture of my roommate and I with her two dogs Josie (I'm holding), and Sadie...the big one. We have a lot of fun...!!!

Goin' to Cali

2008-04-07T14:23:00.000-07:00

I'm getting ready to go spend some time with my two aunts Bonni and Kathy this friday in California. I'm excited because I don't get to see them a whole lot and I think its going to be fun. I'll be going to my first women's retreat with them, so I hope I'll be ok...they'll have my back, sort of like the Mafia, I'm sure of. :) They are also taking me to Santa Cruz which I haven't been to since I was a little girl so Im SUPER excited about that!

Hopefully I'll have pictures to post on her when I get back.

The First Post!

2008-03-23T14:22:00.000-07:00

This is my first time as a blogger! Thanks for introducing this to me Bethany! I hope to use this as much as I can to keep people in touch with what I'm up to! With that in mind, why don't I update you right now?

First of all, I'm so excited that it is Easter tomorrow! It is the celebration of Jesus being risen and a time to remember what He has done for us on the cross. I'm excited to get together with family and friends tomorrow too. My parents are making a huge meal at their house and they make some good food!

Second of all, I've been a part of this small group at the new church I've just started attending and its called "Search For Signifigance." It has been so amazingly life changing. I have really enjoyed it. God has been revealing alot of things to me, mostly about what He thinks of me and I'm just seeing that in a whole different light. Finding my self worth in the truth's that God says about me, rather than in what other people think, or how successful, or not so successful, I am in life.

I am also getting ready to attend Lesley University in June, which will be on Tacoma Community College Campus. I am looking forward to starting this program, and I already know where I want to do my student teaching, so I'm just ready to get this underway!

Im trying to spend as much time doing the things I normally can't do while I'm in school because I only have about 2 months left before my freedom is gone. Im spending as much time as I can with my friends and family and working out as much as I can. (hopefully I will continue that through school too.)

I moved in February too. I live in Federal Way now and I have a roommate too. That was totally an answer to prayer because I was very done living by myself. Her name is Sarah, and she has two dogs, Sadie and Josie. One's a big dog and one's a little Chuauah. (sorry don't know how to spell that.) We have been having lots of quality roommate time...she's very fun to live with.

That's all for now. Happy Easter!