Making her film debut...

Please put your hands together for Christina Eloisa Morales!!

Lately I can't stop thinking how Christina is the happiest, easiest baby.  The moderate fussy period she went through has pretty much disappeared.  As a second child, there are a lot of times she has to sit in her rock n' play or bouncy seat and wait as I tend to some crisis.  She rarely complains, and sometimes even drifts off to sleep.  This astonishes me after having a certain baby boy who wouldn't fall asleep on 1.5 hour car ride (I'm thinking of Thanksgiving 2010 when we took him to pick Andy up at DFW hoping he'd finally nap).  And any time I stop and check in on her in one of these devices, she rewards me with a big smile.  She pretty much always has a smile for her Mama.  It makes me feel kind of guilty for not devoting all my attention to her!  If I add a little babble and some raspberries, she just comes to life and chats with me.  As seen above.  What a great little gal.

In other news, she wore jeans today for the first time:

I think green was not a good background color choice.  Lesson learned.

Christmas 2012

This post is embarrassingly late.  We spent Christmas in Dallas with the Arazoza's and it was pretty much perfect.  Since I've been on maternity leave for so long (boohoo, it's ending soon) I can't keep track of days of the week, but we got there a few days before Christmas and stayed a few days after.  It was just great spending quality time with family.

Below are pictures from the trip.  I always feel that it must appear self-centered that 95% of the pictures I post are pictures of my own kids - even when we are spending time with other friends and family.  It's because I have this difficulty taking pictures of other people.  I don't like having my picture taken, so it feels intrusive to take pictures of others without getting their permission, and most of the time that would just be awkward.  This is one reason I will never be a professional photographer!

Dominic had so much fun playing out front with Michelle and Andy.

He hadn't seen her in over a year, but he was her biggest fan within minutes.

There's Hudson in the window!  Dominic warmed up to him a bit by the end of the trip.

Christie took lots of naps on Ita. <3

We went to check out Klyde Warren Park on Christmas Eve. It was neat!

It was absolutely great to see Tio!

How many Dominics can you find?

Cool observation deck - thingy.

There were several cool rope jungle gyms.

And spinny things.

Christina was bundled up in her stroller.  Her right eye has since cleared up completely.  It was gunky for weeks.

Dominic couldn't stay up late enough to eat with us, so he got the first plate.

Cuban food, mmm.

Judi and Erin made this pretty center piece.

Hanging out after the big meal.

Christina ready for her Christmas dinner.

Christmas morning.

Dominic was pretty thrilled to find M&Ms in his stocking.

He took them to Michelle for opening.

And squirty applesauce!

Santa got Dominic and Dada a joint gift: remote control helicopter!

Wait, what's the white stuff outside?  It snowed for hours on Christmas day.

Playing with the helicopter a day or two later when the snow was gone.

Tio had to have a what-a-burger before returning to Seattle.  It was Dominic's first fast food burger and he demolished it.

I think Hudson was just passing by because I never once saw him beg for food.  Very good puppy!

Dozing by the tree.

She opened her eyes just wide enough to say, "I see you taking my picture, Mom."

More Sibling Love

Happy New Year!

I get pretty excited to get a picture of both kids together.  Toddlers aren't the easiest subjects to work with.  Here are some pics of Dominic hanging out by Christina in the rock n' play on 12/28/12:

And below are some pics from 12/30/12.  Dominic asked to hold Christina.

He suddenly said "All done" as he slid out from under her.

Tummy time on 12/31/12:

She is so strong!

And because my Mom requested more pics, here are some I took 1/3/13:

This is what I got when I asked him to smile.