Backseat Driver

Lately Oliver will sit in the backseat in his carseat and try to direct us where to go. It's pretty funny. We of course don't go the way he wants unless they happen to coincide. I don't know if he sees something that interests him or what but all of a sudden he'll say "mama, that way" and point. It's funny!

Oliver actually has a really good sense of direction. He always knows where we are. When we're driving home from somewhere and we pass the street that Berto's parents live off of (no matter which direction we're coming from) Oliver starts asking to go to "Tito's house." It's so cute! I don't know how he at 2 years old knows exactly where his grandparents house is! But it's pretty funny!

Oliverisms....

It took Oliver a while to really get into talking.. now we can't shut him up! We love it though! He is such a clown! He has the most fun personality! It's kind of funny Oliver is actually a little shy I think. He is such a clown for us but when we're around new or even just people we haven't seen in a while he gets completely shy and quiet and tries to hide. His usual trick for "hiding" is to put my hand in front of his face so he can't be seen.

His recent things that just crack me up:
1. When I ask him if he wants a Quesadilla (one of the few things he'll eat frequently) he says "ok mama, dilla (dee-ya)."
2. The other day I was making him a quesadilla and he was making sure I had all the ingredients out. "Mama, where tilla (tee-ya or tortilla)?"
3. Lately he says "ok mama" or "no mama" about EVERYTHING.

We frequent the library but Oliver has been uninterested in letting us read to him.... until last week. Suddenly he loves "storytime in Oliver's room" and begs us to read him "story books." I am so happy. I LOVE to read and have wanted him to enjoy reading as much as I do! And he is finally grasping that! He grabs every book he can find and adds them to the pile in his room. We've started story time 30 minutes before bedtime so that he's going to bed on time and still gets his fill of books!

One of his favorite books is a Thomas The Train book that plays music. (Most of the books are just plain old books this is one of the exceptions). He jumps off his bed and starts dancing to the song that's playing, runs back and pushes the next button and then runs around dancing in his room while Berto sings the words to the songs. That is my favorite time of the night! We have to put that book first so that the rest of story time is wind down before bedtime!

I love this little boy! He's getting so big! I definitely think he understands that a new baby in a few months means big changes. Ever since I became pregnant he has become the most clingy kid EVER. He wants to sit in my lap (with toys) and snuggle most of the day. I am having a hard time getting him to play with his toys or give me any kind of personal space. I'm loving this time with my boy... but at the same time I could use a few inches of space!

He is just so much fun though! Love, love, love my Oliver Cole!!!

Oh the joy...

I am sorry if this is a super lame post... but since this is my journal as well I am just going to vent big time.

I feel like crap! I hate to complain about morning sickness because I know it's a sign that this pregnancy can be sustained, I know it's a good thing. I know so many people who are struggling to get pregnant for a first time, or a second time, or who have to adopt (not that adopting is a bad thing because I think it is an amazing way for people to become parents and give sweet little ones amazing families that love them) . I know that I am truly blessed that it is relatively easy for me to get pregnant and I should be suffering in silence because there are way worse problems to have.

BUT I just feel like crap. I have thrown up at least once but more usually twice a day for the past week. When I'm not throwing up I feel such extreme nausea that I literally have to force down each bite of food that I take in (most of which comes back out at some point). Everything grosses me out. Anything "sets me off." Yesterday I walked into Oliver's room to grab something there were no smells I just walked in his room, walked out and ran straight for the toilet. I'm so useless. All I do is lay around. I can't cook, the dishes make me gag, every time I open the refrigerator I dry heave. It's getting really unbearable and I know it's only just beginning. I feel like I can't function and I feel so bad for Oliver. I know he wishes his mommy were back. I have ZERO patience, I can't hardly get up without feeling like I'm going to have to make a mad dash for the bathroom so we lay around the house all day. It makes me sad that I am neglecting Oliver. I know he misses his mommy.

And to make things even more frustrating Oliver has become SUPER clingy since I became pregnant. All he wants to do is sit on my lap, lay by me, he won't play with his toys unless I'm sitting inches away from him. And that is trying my patience as well! I know I should be glad that my little boy wants to spend so much time with his lazy, boring sick mom... but it gets to be too much. I get the feeling that he knows change is coming....

Okay, I'm done with my pity party. I just wanted to record these feelings so I would remember them.

Oliver and Vandana's Annual JCP Photoshoot

We took Oliver and his cousin today for their annual photoshoot. Once a year when Terry and V are here we take the kiddos to JC Penney and get their cousins photos. Here are my favorites!!

The Countdown Begins

Berto is on the downward slope. He has one more time going to school for one class and then he starts his LAST CLASS EVER!! So he only has seven weeks left until he graduates with his bachelors degree in business administration! With UOP you only go to class one night a week. I am so proud of Berto and his hard work, dedication and the many sacrifices he's made to get his bachelors degree to hopefully provide a more financially sound future for our little family! He's such a great dad, husband, employee and student!

We love you babe!!! Only 7 more classes until... SCHOOL'S OUT FOREVER!!!!!!!!!

Goodbye Lauren

Today was a bitter sweet day for our family! We sold our Mercedes. Berto bought this car before we even met. It has fond memories of our dating, engagement, newlywed, bringing home Oliver from the hospital times. It's fun to ride in but at the same time has been a source of stress to keep up the monthly payments. (they were big ones). So today Carmax took her into their inventory and we said our goodbyes!

It's definitely a weight lifted off our shoulders but it's a little sad too!

St. Patricks Day Fun

My friend Megan called me today and invited Oliver and me to go with her and her kids to a little St. Patty's day celebration. It was at a regional park right here in Queen Creek. They had a one mile little treasure hunt for the kids where we found 5 little markers and collected treasure on the way. Then we made a little St. Patrick's Day craft! It was super cute.. and fun. I didn't realize it was going to be so involved! Oliver ran the ENTIRE time and would not listen and stay on the trails so I did a lot of running too... this morning sick mama was WORN OUT by the time we were done but it was a nice afternoon to get out of the house! We both had a great time!! We love our friends Megan, Mikayla and Ryan!! They lived around the corner from us when we lived with Berto's parents and Megan and I would take the kids to the park almost everyday to play! Now we have to schedule our play dates but it's always a fun time!! Thanks again you guys!!!

Terry and Vandana are here again!

My sister in law and niece came in from Spain last Saturday! We finally got over to see them yesterday afternoon! Since Oliver and I had still had our little sinus stuff going on we didn't want to spread any germs to anyone at my in laws (especially my mother in law who is still undergoing chemotherapy) so we stayed away! It was fun to see them! Oliver is the same height as Vandana who is 3 1/2! They had fun playing in the backyard with Tito and running around the house chasing each other! It's so nice that little kids are so easy to please!!

Number 2 is in the oven!!

Okay, we probably should wait longer to drop the news that we're expecting baby number two... BUT I wanted to be able to complain about morning sickness which is in full force so I thought now would be a perfectly fine time to spread the news!!

Seriously though we are so super excited! This baby is Due November 7th which incidentally is right around the same time Oliver was born. Kind of crazy!

Oliver is such a boy and loves to rough house. I'm trying to steer him away from that (because I always seem to get kicked in the stomach and I just don't think that's a very good thing if you know what I mean) so we told him the other day that he needs to be soft because there's a baby in my tummy. He proceeded to lift up my shirt and say "Hi baby it's me Oliver!" It was super cute!

I guess if I am anything like my last pregnancy I won't be able to hide it for long anyway because I start showing so incredibly early so rumors would've been flying soon enough!

Anyway, we are happy to share the news with our friends and loved ones!!

Love,
Berto, Elizabeth, Oliver and baby #2

On The Mend... Almost

Oliver and I came home from California last week and woke up the next day sick! :( We both made visits to urgent care (Oliver because it was a weekend evening me because my doctor couldn't get me in) and have been on antibiotics... 10 days later... we're both feeling almost human. Oliver turns out had an ear infection and was put on antibiotics for the 2nd time in his two years. I had a lovely sinus infection and was also put on antibiotics. We're both still a little congested and have little coughs... but we're both REALLY looking forward to not being cooped up in this house. I for one am super stir crazy and need a couple of days out of the house!!

Oliverisms

Okay, so Oliver is becoming quite a chatter box! FINALLY!! He's so much fun! He is trying so hard to speak in sentences. Sometimes we understand everything he says... ans sometimes we hardly understand a word. I'm sure this is typical! Today he totally said a complete sentences it was so cute he said "mama, open bag of cereal! I loved it!

Also today he grabbed these two trolls (pictures above) that I am pretty sure we've had since my sister was a kid and now somehow we have them. Anyway, he brings them to me and points to their butts and says "mama poo poo chotky?" I have know idea what chotky is (that goes back to the sometimes we have no idea what the heck he's talking about) but I found it HILARIOUS that he made the connection between their butts and his own! I guess (even though he's not fully potty trained) at least from all the potty talk we do he at least understand the function of a butt!

Family Photo Shoot

While we were in Cali my brother did a little photo shoot of our family! It was fun.. kind of exhausting because Oliver can be a little handful but we got some fun pictures! Here are some of the results!!

Out most recent trip to Cali- Goodluck Sis B.!!

We just spent a week (well Oliver and I did Berto spent 4 days) in Cali again!! It was super duper fun! We made another trip to Disneyland. This time my mom came along as well as one of my bff's Rebecca and her little boy Cameron AND one of my mission comps Robyn and her two kids Stone and Regean! It was a fun day!

The purpose of our trip was to spend some quality time with my little sister and hear her farewell talk at send her to the airport! She's all checked in now at the MTC! We are going to miss her tons and tons but are so happy she has chosen to serve the Lord for 18 months!! She's going to be a great missionary!

We had a great time! Also while we were there we had the chance to do a little family pictures shoot with my brother! That was fun! (The header picture on the blog is one from that day! ) We're waiting for more of the pics and will post those as soon as they are up!!