Monday, April 28, 2008

Going Green and Organic

Several things have made me decided to finally take action and to "Go Green" and organic. The final straw I must say was a show on Oprah last week on being "green". After I saw the show I made several goals and plans for me and my family and I must say I am pretty excited to start. My list isn't anything extraordinary but I want to do as much as I can. Here a few of my goals:

-I want to be a better and healthier cook. (I really want to research, study, and find better recipes and dinner ideas.)
-Switch to brown rice instead of white rice.
-Only organic food for Marisa at home.
-Only organic meat, cheese, and egg at home for Mom and Dad.(Plus other organic food as much as possible.)
-Bring my own bags instead of using plastic bags at the grocery store.
-Recycle

First of all, I come from a family of health freaks so I am pretty used to the idea of never really eating fast food, frozen food, or junk food, and never really drinking soda but instead drinking organic milk/soymilk, eating fresh food, fruit, and vegetables, and literally having everything in the fridge be fat free. Me, my mom, and my sister are big fans of exchanging food ideas and exercise habits we learn from Dr. Oz on Oprah (haha), books, doctors, friends, etc. and implementing them into our lives as much as we can. It is really fun and exciting and I'm pretty happy that I have tried to keep up with it since I left home, but now I am super excited to really get down and serious now that I am a stay at home mom with more time on my hands.
So, a friend of mine who is also a health freak referred me to an organic grocery store called "Trader Joe's" and right after I went shopping there I called Tim excitedly saying, "This is my new favortie store!!" It was so fun to buy things that you know are better and healthier.
Also, with Marisa off the bottle now and eating foods that we are eating, I have become extra worried with what she puts in her body. There is a lot of pressure as a mommy to make sure your child eats right. I was so excited to find at the store great snacks for her plus great lunch and dinner foods for our family.
To my surprise it really isn't that much more expensive than a normal grocery story. Probably since it is only us three there is not much of a difference, but I can see how it would be more expensive for a large family. But I don't fit that mold yet. If any of you have great healthy recipes, not necessarily organic, I would love to hear it! And I'll make sure to post healthy recipes and "green" ideas during my search of becoming better at it. =o)

Sunday, April 27, 2008

First Fever

We have been really lucky this past year in that Marisa has never really been sick. A couple runny noses but that is about it. Well, last night it finally came. Marisa got sick.
After coming home from the beach, Marisa was extremely tired, irritable, and really hot. She also had no appetite during dinner which is EXTREMELY odd because trust me, this girl can eat! After going to bed for the night Marisa woke up around 11pm just uncontrollably crying and extremely hot. She looked absolutely miserable. My first thoughts were, "Does she have heat exhaustion? Does she have a fever?" So we decided to take her to the hospital. To make a long story short, Marisa had a fever of 103 but not due to being in the sun. Just coincidence the doctor said. After some tylenol, a urine test, and 4 hours later, we were able to go home and be in bed by 3:30 in the morning! It was a very, very long night, especially for Marisa who had it the hardest being sooo tired and sick.
On a side note: One of the worst things a mother has to go through in my opinion is watching your child hurting and crying. I guess it is just mother's instinct to want to protect your child at all times and never see them suffer in any way, shape, or form. I'm always worrying about Marisa. Is she cold, is she hot? Is she happy? Is she safe? Is someone hurting her? Is she learning? Is she eating healthy? Is she tired? Is she comfortable? Is she thirsty, is she hungry? Is she clean? Is she sick? And the list goes on and on in my head. I hated watching Marisa go through jaundice as a baby and being under phototherapy lights and I hated watching Marisa go through tests at the hospital. It broke my heart and it brought me to tears in the hospital when they were doing a urine test on Marisa and she looks right up at me with her big brown eyes filled with tears, crying her little heart out for me to stop the nurse. I just don't have the strength to go through things like that.
But in good news, Marisa is feeling a lot better. Just tired and not much of an appetite still, but no more fever. I have a happier baby again!

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Beautiful Day at the Beach

Today was a great beach weather day and there is no better way to spend the day at Newport Beach than with family. This was Marisa's first time at the beach since last summer when she was only a few months old. She definitely got to enjoy it more this time around and it was so fun to see her explore with her bucket in the sand and in the water. And I must add that she was the cutest little giraffe I've ever seen at the beach! =o)

Cute lil' beach babe!

Loving the sand!

I asked Marisa, "What does a dog say?" And she is replying, "Woo! Woo!" haha

Playing with a shell her Daddy found just for her.

My two California beach bums. I love you two!

Feet in the water!

The cutest giraffe I have ever seen!

Tim buried Haylie in the sand. I love the necklace!

Laughing little girl!

Sunday, April 20, 2008

Polka-dot Birthday Party

Marisa had her birthday party today! It was a polka-dot birthday party. I got the idea from her birthday party invitation I made. Everything was pink, orange, green, or red and everything was polka-dots. Her cupcakes and birthday cake were polka-dots and had polka-dot sprinkles. The ballons, the confetti, and the decorations were polka-dots, and to complete the theme, her party favors were bubbles with the outside decorated with polka-dots!
I also made the cupcakes, the birthday cake, and the chocolate frosting. It was my first time doing all that and they turned out delicious! Much thanks goes out to Haylie my niece for helping me make, bake, and decorate!
The party was suppossed to be at the pool but, of course, on the day of her party, sunny California decides it wants to be cold. So we moved the party to my sister-in-law's house and it turned out beautifully. Thank you soooo much Matt and Kari for opening up your house! We love you guys so much and we don't know what we would do without you guys.

Yummy cupcakes with chocolate whipped frosting and pink sprinkles!

Lots of yummy food!

Strawberry lemonade!

Happy Birthday!

Lots of pink, green, orange, and red polka-dots!


Marisa invited family of course to her party along with her two little friends Emma and Cruz and their parents. They loved playing on the trampoline, with legos, and the balloons! They are all so cute together.

The birthday girl playing with legos!

Marisa's friend Cruz!

Emma, Marisa, and Cruz playing together!

Thank you to everybody near and far for the birthday wishes and gifts. Marisa is so lucky to be loved by so many. Thank you for making her day a special one!

Marisa opening her first present!

Her cousins got her a stroller and a baby!

Banging on the drum!

Finally, Marisa loved her second birthday cake. She knew exactly what to do this time around. She loved her cake so much in fact, that once she was full she just laid back in the highchair and lounged. haha

Blowing out the candle!

Digging right in!

Oh yeah!

One happy and full tummy!

Sleepover at Tim and Tanya's

We had our cute niece and nephews sleepover last night. Tim and I thought it was long overdue for us to be a fun Uncle and Aunt. We ate pizza, played at the park, and watched Alvin and the Chipmunks. Also, Haylie and I baked for Marisa's birthday party while Cade and Tim played video games. Weston,Tanner, and Marisa crashed early.

The whole gang in pajamas! (Oh yeah, the boys didn't want to wear their shirts because Tim used to sleep with no shirt on growing up. The boys think that is so cool. haha)

Haylie and Marisa!

Is Tanner flashing gang signs or flipping the camera off? haha

Cade and Tim showing off their guns! haha

The girls!

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Happy Birthday Marisa!

I used to daydream about this day before Marisa was born. And the day has finally come.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY MARISA!

I can't believe it. It really does seem like yesterday we were in the hospital awaiting for Marisa's arrival. And the second she entered our lives, it was love at first sight.








And a year later, she still manages to steal our hearts with all that she does, especially with her big beautiful brown eyes, precious smile, and contagious giggle.








Today, to celebrate Marisa's birthday, we went to the mall to get her pictures taken, bought a few books at Barnes and Noble(Marisa loves to read), and then we went to CPK for lunch. Later in the evening, the Calls came over to sing "Happy Birthday" and eat cake. It was a perfect day! Her birthday party with family and friends is this Saturday and we are looking forward to more celebration!

Marisa's first birthday cake!

"Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday to you, Happy Birthday dear Marisa..."

A little hesitant...

going for the icing...

liking it...

Loving it!

OH YEAH!

A happy birthday girl!

What a successful first birthday!

We love you so much Marisa and we look forward to many more years filled with endless amounts of smiles, laughter, happiness, and love. Love you baby girl! XOXOXOXOXOXO

"Before you were conceived I wanted you,
Before you were born I loved you,
Before you were an hour old I would die for you,
This is the miracle of life."

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