Playing the Drums!

Noise Making! Xia's new favorite activity:)
It's sooo cute to watch her!

Zoo

Xia and I went to the zoo today with some friends. She was such a happy baby and had a great time. The animals didn't grab her attention as much as the other children that were at the zoo!

Xia (6.5m) and Caitlyn (8.5m) at the fish tank

Happy baby @ the zoo!

6 Month Check Up

Xia Bliss had her 6 month check up on Wednesday. She is doing fabulous! Here are her stats:

6 months, 3 weeks
16 lbs, 12 ounces
26 1/2 inches long

She got 3 shots and did very well. The first one wasn't bad and she didn't cry until the 2nd and 3rd shot. Afterward, I picked her up and she was fine:) Between 7 - 8 months we will start to introduce meat and mash instead of puree her food, per the Dr.'s instructions. I was reflecting on all the different foods we've fed her so far...

• Sweet Potatoes
• Pears
• Peas
• Prunes
• Acorn Squash
• Apples Pumpkin
• Bananas
• Carrots
• Green Beans
• Peaches
• Papaya
• Avocado
  

The Dr. commented on what a happy baby she was! So nice to hear as a parent. Which brings me to part 2 of this post - the reason our little cupcake has been such a great baby...

XIA HAS BEEN SLEEPING THROUGH THE NIGHT!!

Yes, it's true! Our baby girl has been sleeping between 9-11 hours a night for nearly a week! We had to let her cry it out and sticking to it has paid off. The first couple of nights she cried for 1.5 hours, the following night it was an hour and last night she cried for only 10 mins!! Way to go Xia!! A few months ago, I couldn't handle her crying herself to sleep, but these past few weeks I knew something had to be done differently. I did a lot of praying and felt confident and at peace with her crying in her crib. She was fed, changed, and reminded that we loved her very much every time we would check on her:)

Below are her 6 month pictures that my mom took:)

Yes, I'm Type A

Since Xia Bliss was born, I realized I've been pushing away my true personality type: Type A...that's me! I never really thought of myself that way until this past weekend when my dear, sweet Aunt Lea (my mom's sister), enlightened me! Fortunately for me I just got back from vacation, was relaxed and rejuvenated and took the news well!! It made perfect sense. When Xia entered our world, I kept my normal routine and didn't change it much... of course we all know how that works... it doesn't! I didn't know how to alter my routine and would get so frustrated most days that everything wasn't just so. It was no wonder why I always felt like I didn't accomplished anything, when in actuality I did. My to-do list never seemed fully accomplished, instead it grew longer and longer. Having a child only help me discover who I am more. It's been a journey, but verbalizing my frustrations and issues over dinner with my aunt, really helped. I always thought type A was a bad thing, but as long as I work with it and not push it away, it can be a very positive attribute. I can find a new, revised routine that works for me. The key is to re-prioritize my schedule and goals. Easier said than done, I know!

Step one on re-prioritizing my schedule is hiring a maid (finally!). I don't feel so bogged down with housework now. Xia Bliss is at an age where she needs more "activity" time and requires more attention. Housekeeping is my number one thorn in my side. I have to have the house just so or I go crazy! Not having to deal with it takes a HUGE load off my shoulders.

Between my post-vacation buzz and understanding the whole re-prioritizing thing, I can see it has already made a difference these past few days. I feel like a new woman! My whole attitude is different. I found out that I got so much more accomplished in my day just by going about it a different route that I didn't even know existed. Yesterday, I played with Xia on the floor on several different occasions throughout the day, did 3 loads of laundry, ironed and put away the clothes, vacuumed the whole house, edited and ordered hundreds of pictures from our vacation, straightened the guest room, Xia's room, and living room, cleaned the guest bathroom, cleaned the kitchen, watched a couple of shows on demand while nursing, made some baby food, made dinner AND picked up my aunt and cousin from the airport. I even got in an evening jog!! Instead of feeling frustrated when interupted during a task, I decided to make my task an interruption and include Xia in them. I can't tell you what a good feeling it is to have found what seems to be a good balance. Thank you, Jesus!

Milka What?!

Xia has been successfully nursing for 6 months so far. I've always said that I was going to nurse until she decided not to or until she was 1 year old, which ever came sooner.

While on vacation, she took 2 formula bottles from me. She was just fussy when she would nurse. I thought our nursing days were over and I wasn't sure that I was ready to give it up. I shared this with a friend and she mentioned drinking more water... of course! I started drinking more water and like magic, no more fussiness during nursing, just nursing! So, my daughter remains a breast milka-holic (see video below)!!!

Here are a couple nursing pictures below:)

Easter Sunday April 2010 8 wks old

Coronado Beach Aug 2010 6 months

Vacation Highlights 2010

7/31/10
We are half way through our vacation and it has been marvelous! XBG has been a good girl and travels well:) I am going to wait to post until we get back home so I can add pictures (I left my cord @ home and can't download any pictures - boo hoo).

Here are some highlights from our trip

Day 1:

• Xia's first airplane ride - San Antonio, TX to San Diego, CA (she was a perfect airplane child!)

• XBG got to meet her Great Granny (my dad's mom).

Day 2:

• Xia's first beach trip to the Coronado Beach while Oscar and I took turns running. I ran barefoot in the sand/water. It was amazing.

• We visited / stayed with Oscar's fraternity brother and his wife in Orange County - Janie and Ed Yashar. They have the perfect baby/kid friendly house and XBG was most entertained! We wished we could have visited with them longer.

Day 3:

• We drove up to Santa Monica/Venice and visited with San Antonio friends also on vacation! We enjoyed both beaches, SM pier, and Venice walk.

• Oscar drove me around Hollywood - We saw UCLA, Sunset Blvd, Beverly Hills, and the Hollywood strip.

• For dinner, we met up with more of Oscar's fraternity brothers college friends @ Universal City Walk @ Samba Brazilian Steak restaurant... all I can say was it was a lot of fun! What an experience.

Day 4 & 5:

• We stayed with Xia's Tio Mateo (also O's fraternity brother) through the weekend in Van Neyes/Lake Balboa area. We visited the Hollywood strip, saw the Chinese Theater, the Stars, ate @ 25 Degrees in the Roosevelt Hotel. Later that night we attended a get together at another fraternity brothers home. Oscar enjoyed and appreciated all his brothers getting together for a mini reunion. It was nice for me to meet a lot of his college friends and seeing him reunite with the guys after so many years.

• Sunday we went to Zuma Beach in Malibu. It was XBG's first time in the sand! She was a great little girl and smiled for all the beach pictures! We saw so many dolphins in the water - so amazing! We finished off the evening @ Salsa and Beer... what great food they have! You must visit there if you go to LA!

Days 6 - 12:

• We drove up to Santa Barbara on Monday morning to visit Oscar's sister and her family. Oscar's parents are also up in SB for the summer. It's great to have the whole family and all the grandchildren together:).
• We've been walking/jogging the mountain trails, shopping downtown SB, watched Eclipse with my niece, the beach - saw more dolphins, Went to wine country, visited the Santa Barbara Zoo, more beach, visited the Santa Barbara pier at night fall, climbed the mountain peak behind Oscar's sister's house, and spent quality time with Oscar's family.
  
  

Days 12-17:

• We spent the final leg in Coronado with my Granny and Xia's GiGi (Great Granny). It was so relaxing and fun. We jogged the beach, walked Orange Ave. everyday, Xia enjoyed her first sink bath in GiGi's sink, went to the shops at the ferry landing and shared Cold Stone's Cheesecake Fantasy ice cream cup (Yum!) and Xia watched people feeding the birds, enjoyed several happy hours, Xia turned 6 months, and we enjoyed together time with our little family and Granny.

8/8/10
Pictures are downloaded (as you can see!), post posted, memories made and we are ready to take on the weeks and months ahead strong! It's amazing how time away refreshes the soul:)

Celebrating 6 months of Xia Bliss

Dearest Daughter, Xia Bliss -
Where have these past 6 months gone? I cannot remember life without you and don't want to. You have made your mom and dad's life complete. I totally and utterly adore you, sweet girl:). You are are an amazing daughter. I love the way you wake up smiling and keep smiling all day long, the way you grab your toes while nursing, the way you laugh at the silly faces and sounds we make, your wet, open mouth "kisses", and the precious sounds you make. Everything about you is perfect.

Sheer amazement describes your birth-day best. Your labor and birth went better than expected, and oh how happy I was when you were delivered and in our arms after 9 long months of waiting! I just wanted to stare at your beautiful face and your perfect little body. I will never forget your dads glow that day. He never left your side. We finally named you 10 hours after your birth... Our little angel, Xia Bliss Garcia.

These past months have seemed like a blur; a real whirlwind of excitement. Around 2 weeks is when you started making "coo"ing sounds. It was the sweetest sound I have ever heard. At 5.5 weeks we started putting you on your floor mat. You loved it! You enjoyed looking at all the bright colored toys. You would get excited and kick one of your legs! 3 months marked one solid week you slept through the night for 7-10 hour stretches. It was a treat while it lasted! Bibs became apart of your wardrobe as you started drooling, drooling, drooling! At 4 months you started eating solid foods. You love to eat and I love feeding you! You open up and say "ummmm" with each bite! It's so precious. You smiled and laughed so much more this month. It was also time to move you to your crib... And you've successfully been sleeping there since. 5 months has been filled with "big girl" things like, rolling over and sitting up. You also took your first plane ride to see your Great Granny Dill and your dad's sister and her family in CA. Every stage has been amazing and I always look forward to see what the next one has in store.

Thank you, Xia, for making me the happiest, most proud, and satisfied Mother in the whole entire world! Stay sweet, lovable, and kissable:). Te amo, mi amor. I love you with all my heart, Mommy