Almost a YEAR!

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On July 22, Alexander will be ELEVEN MONTHS OLD!! That's one month shy of a year (and surprise, I did some math!).

Well, obviously we've (I've) been busy. Our little family has definitely settled into our routines. Morning, breakfast, naps, playtime, lunch, playtime, naps, Daddy's home!, dinner, bedtime. We all get a bath in there at some point, although some bathe more than others *clears throat*.

Last time I wrote, Alexander was starting "solids". Well, he has well surpassed his purees and refuses to eat anything he can't pick up and shove in his mouth himself. He has moved on to a sippy cups and is getting pretty good at it (yes, he is still nursing...whenever he wants, mostly at night). On that note, he has SIX TEETH now too. Two bottoms and four tops...and "No Biting!" is Manny and my new mantra. Big Boy is working on his problem solving skills and likes to take the vegetables out of the refrigerator one at a time and the movies off the shelves at Blockbuster one at a time. We actually only go to Blockbuster to play now. He has been standing on his own for a while now, but has officially graduated to WALKING. He took his first steps at 9 months and is practically walking across the room now. His skill increases daily and surprises me every moment.

Our Visit to my mom (Bumble Bee) in Texas.

Not only are his cognitive and physical developments on par at the least, but he is quite the character. Alexander smiles ALL THE TIME, will laugh at the most simple glance, and flirts like his mommy...I mean his daddy...I mean his mommy... ... He adjusts to strange environments well as he is too curious to care where he is or what's going on. He is one of my new best friends...but not at night. I don't like him at night. Okay, well not HIM per sa, but his sleeing habits, or lack there of. I know it is a monster that Manny and I created, so I can't blame The Boy.

I'm doing well. It seems like I spend 80% of my day in the kitchen cooking or cleaning, but practice makes perfect and I am a perfectionist. I bust my butt working for our HOA (home owners association), but they are paying me now. I feel epowered knowing that I can buy our groceries and contribute monetarily, at least a little. Alexander and I spend a lot of time outside, swimming in big pools or mini pools, walking, bubbles, eating leaves, delivering HOA letters, etc. Manny just reminded me that I broke my foot in April. The first week on crutches was IMPOSSIBLE, but I had lots of help from wonderful friends and family. I had a walking boot on for about eight weeks after that. It wasn't a blast and it still hurts, but I'm glad to be out of the boot.

Manny's good too, doing his thang in the Sales Dept. at Quad. Most mornings, Alexander is up by 6:30, so we get to make breakfast for Daddy and wave bye bye bye to him. He's usually home by 6:00 and gets to see Alexander at his most excited when Daddy gets home. It's a hoot to see Alexander's arms and legs trash around in excitement. We've been attending quite a few Dodger games and they are #1 in the league, so that's ahhhh-sum.

4th of July 2009

The rest of the fam is good. Karen's in her own place, so we see her every couple of weeks or so. Now that it's Summer, we've been grillin' with Uncle Xandy and Aunt Kara more. VJ is home for the summer, but working with Karen at UCLA, so she is only here at our house on the weekends. Carmen is working hard, but is home most evenings to kiss Alexander good night.

Check out all of the latest pictures online. They probably tell more stories that you would prefer to read. Enjoy and we'll see you at Alexander's one year birthday...or is Alexander turning THIRTY?!

Hugs, loves, and snuggles,

ManTevXan

SIX Months and Counting!

Boy have we been busy! Blog updates seem to take a back burner the faster Alexander moves!

Check out all of our Pics at DermonDiaz.Shutterfly.com!

Well, I haven't written since before Christmas. I won't bore you with our thousands of Christmases, but the pictures ARE posted online, so you are welcome to see the multitude of First Christmas photos of our Nug (Nugget).

The most recent news is that two days ago, Alexander sat up all on his own. He was on his tummy and I turned around and he's up on his tush. THEN, the next morning and he sticks my finger in his mouth and sure enough...TEETH! Well, I call them little razor blades protruding his gums. No he hasn't bitten me while nursing...yet. He hasn't officially started crawling yet, but I can' turn my back on his for a second already. He squibbles his way over to every electrical cord and electronics light he can find!

Alexander has been sleeping better lately. For the most part, he's asleep by 10:00-10:30 and wakes around 4:30 to feed and sleeps again until 8:00 or 9:00. Of course I still wake up every 2-3 hours to make sure he's still breathing.

Manny is doing well at Quad still, but since times are rough, he's been working "late" lately. Even an extra hour is rough on me (and he commutes an hour). Alexander and I are settling into a pretty good routine with daily walks and checking of messages and writing letters for the HOA...they may actually start paying me soon. This semester is my first on campus at CalState Northridge, so Manny rushes home on Wednesdays and Thursday to take Xander and drop me at class. I've managed to keep A's, but honestly, it's tempting to give up sometimes, but I guess I manage to plow through.

I want to thank everyone for all the wonderful gifts we received while I was pregnant and after Alexander was born. We have used EVERYTHING! I think of each of you individually as we put on his cute little Gap sweatpants, sit him in his play saucer, play with his wolf puppet, chew on his vibratey teether, read him a dinosaur sleep book, etc., etc., etc. We are all very grateful.

Thank you for all of your love and support,

Tevis, Manny, & Alexander

Holidays a Go-Go

Wow! What a difference two months makes! Alexander has been a busy boy and we have the photos to prove it!


See ALL of our photos online at DermonDiaz.Shutterfly.com!!

1st HALLOWEEN

Alexander actually got to meet his Grandpa Dee-Daw and Grandma Wee-Maw for Halloween. My dad and Lisa came to meet their first grand-son and hang with their children as well. Dad stayed several days with Xandy and Kara and several with us. They were here just over a week, but just in time for our annual Pumpkin Carving Party. We didn't get a costume for Alexander since we didn't want to invest the $25 and I am too tired to create. Dad, Lisa, Manny, Alexander, and I all went to a pumpkin patch to pick our pumpkins and made a HUGE mess at the house carving pumpkins with friends and family. Dad and Lisa were amazing with the baby and Manny and I even got to go on a date!! A date with my husband...imagine that!

See ALL of our photos online at DermonDiaz.Shutterfly.com!!

1st ELECTION: Yes we can!
Alexander will forever be able to say that he was born in the year of the rat and the year our first non-white male president was elected. We were with friends the night of the election and it only took minutes after the California polls to close for CNN to announce our new President Elect, Barack Obama. It was amazing to say the least. Alexander's Aunt VJ is in Chicago for school and was IN Grant Park for his speech. Living in history.

1st THANKSGIVING

Turkey Day!! We had our second annual Diaz Thanksgiving this year at home. So far, it is a small event with BIG food. I organize and cook the whole meal and feed whomever will show up, usually just the immediate family, Manny, Carmen, Karen, Alexander, and this year, Veej was in Chicago, but we got Karen's sugar daddy, Jules. The Turkey was beautiful, although the picture taking was lost on the wayside as I cooked and Manny research flatscreens (silly boy).

See ALL of our photos online at DermonDiaz.Shutterfly.com!!

OUR SUPERSTAR!
Manny and I had been discussing the exploitation of our children since before we were pregnant. So, now we have an ADORABLE child, we are in the process of choosing a modeling agency. It is quite the elitist industry and few get in, but Alexander has agencies fighting over him now and we just have to make a decision as to which one. We will be looking for print and commercial work. All he needs is a national spot sometime in the next few years to pay for his college, or if he goes to art school, his first year at least. Check out his great pics and headshots!

See ALL of our photos online at DermonDiaz.Shutterfly.com!!

ME, MYSELF, and I, and MANNY, and ALEXANDER
I am officially a stay-a-home mom, busy with a beautiful baby nugget boy. Alexander is just getting to a point that we have some what of a routine of eating, peeing, and sleeping (anywhere between 3 to 7 hours a night). He's lifting his head really well, he found his hands, and chit-chats with me all day long. OH! He rolled over for the first time yesterday, so..Yay!

Things with my office didn't work out as hoped, but I'm not giving up completely. I'll be on the lookout for any way to make extra cash at home (secret shopping, transcription, exploiting my son, etc.), but for now, we are one less income.

I'm finishing up my first semester at CalState Northridge (online courses), and should be writing a term paper right now and not updating the blog, but Alexander is much more fun to write about than the Electoral College. I have two more classes scheduled for next semester (Hist.of Latin American Art and Art Across Cultures), which I will have to attend in person. Luckily, they are offered in the evenings, so I will not have to put Alexander in a daycare quite yet while I'm at school.

See ALL of our photos online at DermonDiaz.Shutterfly.com!!

QUESTIONS? COMMENTS? CRITICISMS?
If I left anything out, just let me know and I may update with details sometime next year! ;-) I'll definitely get back with more pics and more stories after Christmas and closer to the new year. Hope this blog finds everyone well and Happiest of Holidays!!

I think he's gotten bigger!

Check out all of our photos at Shutterfly.com!

Most of the pics posted here are from Manny's iPhone and they are not available on Shutterfly due to quality.

Wow! I just checked out the last blog and realize how far we have come in the last 5 1/2 weeks. Alexander is much bigger and SO much better than he was last time I wrote. It's been a long road.

First, everyone has been asking what we plan on calling him, and I must say, I don't know. Mom came up with "Gummy" from the Montgomery, but Manny has protested. He's "Dermon" (alexanDER MONtgomery) as far as Xandy & Kara are concerned, in protest to Alexander stealing Xandy's name (and birthday). I came up with "Ali D" as his gangster name, but don't think that will stick. Very often, we are calling him "Mr. Montgomery", but God forbid he become a lawyer (no offense Pappy). I figure for now, we'll go way off the hinge and call him Alexander.

Alexander had a rough first couple weeks (as well as did Daddy and especially Mommy). After two weeks of crying, about 6 pediatric appointments, a visit to the chiropractor, and several appointments with my midwife, I came to the embarrassing and undeniable conclusion that I do not produce enough milk for my baby. I never got the typical "let down" of milk (neither did one of my aunts or my grandmother). He has been supplemented with formula since he was two weeks and three days old. He immediately took to the formula as it actually fed him. He was quite ravenous with the bottles at first. Luckily, my pediatrician suggested a contraption called the Supplemental Nursing System design for adoptive mothers to bond with their babies and has since become quite the breastfeeding aid. It's a bottle of formula that hangs from my neck with tubes that distribute formula to Alexander's mouth as he nurses my breast. I debated including a picture, but figured most of the family would see me whipping it out at Christmas anyway, so enjoy!

Since the moment he went on formula, he has been an amazing boy. The first night, I got to see his eyes for the first time since birth (as he was either crying or had cried himself to sleep). He has been putting on weight beautifully and has been alert and giggly ever since. He's not too fond of the car seat, but who is? This kid has never wanted to be strapped down and I don't think that will be changing any time soon.

Manny and I have gotten to know Alexander pretty well now. He cries for four basic reasons, all of which we can take care of pretty quickly. The basics: hunger, gas, wet diaper, or he's sleepy. When those needs are met, he's fun and beautiful. We've had lots of outings and just this past weekend we went to two birthday parties and a wedding!

Manny goes back to work tomorrow (well, today, 10/29). It's going to be interesting for Mr Montgomery and myself. We'll be working on establishing some type of routine which will need to incorporate feedings, school, sleep, work, laundry, etc. I guess I gotta eat somewhere in that cycle too.

Anyway, thanks everyone for all the gifts we have received from pregnancy to today. We have used darn near everything and are VERY grateful for all of your love and support. Enjoy the photos and I'll try to get back with an update for Month 2 or so...goodnight...good morning?...*sigh*

IT'S A BOY!!

Welcome Alexander Montgomery Diaz!

08/22/08 - 5:17pm - 7 lbs. 0.5 oz. - 19 inches
For a complete collection of photos, click here!

Well, it might have not been "Plan A", but "Plan C" worked out just fine to produce a beautiful, healthy baby boy and mommy.

It all started 3 weeks ago when I walked and walked and walked because the baby wasn't dropping. Two miles a day would bring this bugger down temporarily and he'd pop right back up into my pelvis overnight. Contractions were just NOT on the horizon. With the lateness of the baby, and the size estimated at about 8.5 pounds, Birth Plan B was put into effect and we knew we would not be having the baby at home.

Thursday night, the baby just wouldn't stop kicking me in the ribs and the frustration of being 5 days late was just getting to me. Manny was as wonderful as ever and gave me a midnight massage and we worked and worked to relax me and do some of the exercises we had been shown to bring the baby down...well, it worked...to start contractions at least!

So, at 2AM on the morning of the 22nd, I started timing contractions. As they became regular intervals at 5 minutes apart for a couple hours, Manny and I decided it was time to call the Birth Center and tell them that we were in early labor. I labored for another 2.5 hours or so as the contractions got stronger and closer together and we headed off for our baby's birthday at the Birthing Center at 8AM, Manny, his mom, my mother, and me in labor.

Baby and I were monitored through another 3 hours of contractions and were doing well as far as our heart rates and general health were concerned. Unfortunately, every time I was checked or I'd have a contraction, the baby would travel through my pelvis in the OPPOSITE direction of the exit. It was a red flag to Tonya, our midwife. We still had the option of staying at the Birth Center, but Tonya and my back-up obstetrician advised that we head to the hospital just in case.

Birth Plan C was now in full effect as I was transported with my midwife to Glendale Adventist Hospital. Most likely they would want to give me an epidural and some pitocin to relax my pelvis and open up my cervix without the baby doing it on his own since he wouldn't come down. I was also put on standby for a C-Section. Dr. Wu would decide that quickly upon my arrival.

We got to the hospital and I was hooked up to all of the lovely machines and poked seven times before they could get the IV in right. Dr. Wu established that I should continue to labor and that the epidural should do the trick to get me dilated and get my baby OUT! After laboring on my own for 13 hours, getting halfway there to 5 cm., the anesthesiologist came in and gave me the epidural. An hour and a half later, around 4:15 pm, I was check and had completed dilation to 10 cm. I was suddenly pushing to meet my baby.

I was left for a while with my contractions at full dilation as they prepped the bed and the area for delivery. 5:00 rolled around and at every contraction I started to push. I don't know how many of you have been this numb before, but it is the most strange experience to be pushing my child out with NO feeling below my belly button...none. Manny got to help too. After crowning with a full head of dark brown hair, the doc told me to stop and told Manny to just press on my abdomen. As he pressed, he got to watch his child's head being born. Seconds later and a couple of pushes, the whole room met our beautiful Alexander Montgomery at 5:17PM on August 22. It was my brother's birthday.

He was placed on my tummy and Manny and I stimulated his nerves and immediately began bonding with this handsome new fella. We found out shortly thereafter, when I birthed the placenta, that the cord was only 6 inches log and the shortest my OB had ever seen. We had a natural born bungee jumper. Every time he tried to come down into my pelvis, he was just pulled right back up by the cord. Luckily, my placenta was low and there were no further complications than that and we both made it out unscathed.

We were required to stay 24 hours after the birth, so Manny and I stayed up all night taking turns holding the baby so the other could dose briefly, and Alexander just slept. We all came home on Saturday just after 5:00 and have been eating, pooping, and sleeping ever since...yes, all three of us. Feedings have been going very well and with the help of my mom (grandma Bumble Bee), Manny and I have even slept a little. I am a little sore for obvious reasons (we have the photos to back me up if anyone is interested), but nothing a little epsom salt won't fix.

So that's it for the most part, leaving out stories of my WONDERFUL midwife, Tonya, and the HORRIBLE nurse, Lilian, and the amazing support from Manny and both of our spectacular mothers.

Welcome home my sweet baby Alexander!

Nursery Ready at Full Term

36 Weeks and 2 Days...I think the universe is trying to tell us something...

For a complete Nursery photo gallery, check out our pics on Shutterfly.com!

Well, I think we are prepared...Ready? That's a whole 'nother story. Is anyone really READY for their first child? or the second for that matter? I figure by the 3rd or 4th, you get the hang of it.

We are totally excited and I am doing well. I'm still sleeping all night minus a few potty breaks, but I can't complain about that. I started weekly checkups with our midwife so she'll be abe to keep an eye on Baby Diaz'z progression down, down, down, my pelvis. This baby is active on the high end of the charts. It's had a heart rate of a super active kid since it was three inches long. TBD had a little more room to do flips and turns then. I think it still thinks it's 3 inches long though!

The pictures above are the nursery, which is housed in our bedroom. Thank goodness we have a GIANT bedroom or the baby would be in the closet. We have a lovely collection of yellow and green items, in another couple weeks, we'll actually be able to start buying gender SPECIFIC stuff!! The changing table is one of my favorite spots because we are choosing to venture into the WILD and cloth diaper. We have all of our cloth diapering needs. You see here a diaper cover, a prefold diaper with it's "Snapi" (safety pins aren't really used anymore), and an All-In-One diaper. It's been quite an adventure researching it all and we are proud of our environmental and economic decision to cloth it up!

I must say, I feel like quite a torpedo now. People are definitely starting to stare in public. I walked up the stairs at Borders yesterday and a guy at the top top me that I shouldn't be going up stairs like this. When the bathroom is the goal, I can do ANYTHING!

We got the green light to have our home birth and as long as several women don't go into labor at one time, that's where we will be having this little bugger. If multiple women go into labor, we will all have to be at the birth center so Tonya, our midwife, and her staff can multi-task. I think we will be good though.

We are doing a photo shoot next weekend, so there may be one more Prego post before TBD is greeted into the world via Blog, so keep your eyes out....I won't be pregnant forever!!!!

Then and Now

A whole year has flown by (mostly pregnant), but we can't believe it was a year ago today, Manny and I vowed our lives to each other.

June 30, 2007 to June, 30, 2008

It has been an awesome year and 2008 is definitely the Diaz Family Year for Change. Manny and I are going to be new parents, there are several new grandparents out there for our precious Baby Diaz, VJ is headed off to Chicago for college (August 21st, lets cross our fingers for an on-time baby!), and Karen has moved out into her own apartment. We are all changing and growing...and growing...and growing! WE can't wait to meet our little one and it has yet to stop reminding me that it's in there. Luckily, The Baby Diaz sleeps at night (as it dances ALL day). As full term approaches we are almost 100% ready for this little nugget to arrive. Pictures of the nursery are to come next! Keep a look out!

Baby Shower, Week 27

With my lovely mother in town for the weekend, a shower of epic proportions was thrown in honor of The Baby Diaz. Manny's sister, Karen, did an amazing job with the help of VJ and a few others to pull one giant co-ed shower together. It was a blast!

We had a taquero (a guy that comes in and makes fresh tacos) and it was DELICIOUS. I think everyone came for the tacos and stayed for the great company. There were people from all over, Carmen's friends, VJ's friends, Karen's friends, Manny and my friends, and of course family.

The aim was to just have a party, without all the screaming yippy women (no offense to an screaming yippy women), so it was all safari themed and we only had a couple games. One was a silent game of "Guess how many candies are in the Lakers baby bottle", and the other was the "Name that Poo" game. It was rather disgusting and delicious at the same time. There was melted chocolate bars folded up into "dirty diapers" which were passed around the room to see who could guess what candy bar it was. It was pretty gross...yet hysterical to watch the patrons sniff and even taste the poo....weirdos. ;-) All of the shower pictures are posted online at Shutterfly.com.


As far as baby and I go, we are doing well. Definitely into the third trimester, starting to feel the weight of my protrusion impede on my general comfort levels. I am up four times a night for a pee break (that's up from 3 in the first trimester), but luckily, I am able to get back to sleep relatively easily...relatively (thank you Tempur-Pedic). I really have no complaints for the task my body is accomplishing right now, I have no doubt many women have it worse.

Manny and I are in love with the baby already and I get to enjoy it kicking and squirming in my belly all day. Everyone else can enjoy the occasional stiff jab to the ribs if they are patient enough. For those of you that haven't heard, we do have names picked out that are pretty solid. Unless something sudden changes as the kid comes out and we decide otherwise, the names will be as follows:

Girl: Lia Jasette Diaz
Boy: Alexander Montgomery Diaz

Lia is derived from "Elias", Manny's maternal grandfather. And Jasette is a combination of Karen and VJ's middle names, "Jasmin" and "Lisette". Alexander, most of you probably know is my brother's first name, but is also Manny's middle name, so we get a two-for on that one. And then of course, Montgomery, from the middle name of my astute paternal grandfather.

I, personally, am in love with both names, so no matter what we end up with, our child will be well named! Little Lia or Xan is about 2.5 pounds now as I write this in week 28 and about 15 inches long...that's alot of kid...and a LOT more growing to go!

3 Weeks later, 15 to go...

With only a trimester to go almost, we are kicking it into high gear to get ready for this nugget! Everything is still going along beautifully. My chiropractor is my new best friend and Manny is a wonderful daddy already. We've been working VERY hard to reorganize the house to make room for The Baby Diaz! The garage has been gutted of clutter so we could move half of our junk out of our closets and into the garage. From there, our closets (yes there are 2 in our giant master bedroom) have been consolidated into one. The leftover empty closet has received a makeover and is practically the new nursery. Since Baby will be in our room we have limited "nursery" space, but it's all still super fun!! I've ordered $400 worth of cloth diapering stuff that should last me a good 18 months, we've ordered the crib and the stroller...we'll have to see what else we get off our registry!!! (Babies 'R" Us)

I'm also stoked because we have now enrolled in the Cord Blood Registry which will cyrogenicaly freeze the baby's cord blood (stem cells) for future use if anyone in the family ends up with any terrible illnesses. It has been shown to solve leukemia and other cancers as well as diabetes and MANY other genetic disorders. It's pretty amazing and imagining where this technology will be in 20 years is the most intriguing part.

I'll stop for now, if anyone would like further details or more info, feel free to ask!

Takin' after Aunt Virginia with the belly and the power tools...we'll see how long I last though!


It takes a village! We have already enrolled the help of Cokie to paint the room with Daddy-To-Be!