Lily, Easter and Some Great Shots!

We had a great Easter at my parents house with family. And Lily was 2 months on the 9th! So I wanted to share some of my favorite pics from the past week and of Easter.

Tres Hermanitas

Just some recent pics of the girls. They are looking so cute these days. I can't help sharing pics of them. They drive me crazy at times but I love them soooooo much!

Lily is 1 Month Old!

Well I can't believe it myself, but Lily turned 1 month on the 9th. I know that means that she is still very tiny, but time flies way too fast for me - before I know it, she will be a year old. OK, I need to slow down before I break out with the tears!

I don't know how many of you have heard "Lily's Story" as we call it. It is the story of how we came to choose Lily's name. I have been meaning to blog about it for quite some time now. Well, after we found out that Lily was a girl (at 20 weeks) we had a different name picked out for her. I even blogged about the name and I told the entire world that we had picked a name for her. Then a week or two after we picked the name - I just could not do it. It just did not fit! I explained it to my friends by using the example of shoes. We women love shoes! And, sometimes we see a pair of shoes that we just have to have. So, we buy the shoes that we absolutely love, and take them home. But after wearing them a few times and realizing that those wonderful, cute shoes are really uncomfortable, we decide that we do not like them anymore. And no amount of breaking them in will make them more comfortable - they have lost all appeal for us - they looked good but feel horrible! Well, that is what happened with the first name that we picked out. So we went weeks and weeks without a name. In fact, we did not have a name until 2 weeks before she was born. This is what happened:

Two weeks before Lily was born, we were yet again talking about names, when Mauro suggested the name Lily. He said he really liked it because it was so sweet and cute. Well, I about blew my top! I think steam was coming out of my ears! You see, weeks before, I had suggested the name Lily and he said, basically, no way. So the night that he suggested the name Lily, he also had to apologize. He said that it made him upset that I ended up hating the previous name that he had picked out. So, for weeks, he let that brew inside of him, and any name that I suggested, he acted like he hated it. Umm hmm! OK, so, once he said that he really liked it, something clicked! I just knew that was going to be the name. Then it took me about a day to realize that Lily was going to be Lily all along. Even without a name picked out, we were putting the nursery together - setting up the crib and dresser again and putting up art on the wall, etc... you know, trying to make it look cute and unique. I had decided weeks before picking the name that I would do a cute little garden/bird theme in the baby's room. So I put together 2 framed pictures of flowers and a set of 3 painted (pink, blue and green), cut-out, wooden birds to hang on the walls. So, finally the nursery was put together and we had a name - Lily. But wait a minute... in scripture, in the book of Matthew, Jesus was talking to his disciples about not worrying about their lives, what they will eat and if they will be clothed. He says that even the Lilies in the fields were clothed more beautifully than King Solomon, in all of his splendor, and the birds/ravens have plenty of food to eat - so why won't God take even better care of us, there is nothing that we need to worry about...Lily...that's a flower...we decorated her room in flower pictures...the same scripture that speaks of the Lilies of the field also talks of the ravens...those are birds...we also used birds to decorate her room...wow! And that scripture sure does give me a lot of HOPE that the Lord will take care of all of our needs...hmmm...Hope -When I think of Lilys name, I think of that scripture about the Lilies, and that scripture gives me hope that the Lord will take care of me- LILY HOPE! Wow! Isn't it neat how God works it all out. All that time I was so worried that we would not come up with a good name. My friends and family kept telling me not to worry - that the Lord will give me a name and I will know it when I hear it. And, that is exactly what he did! Because I sure did know that Lily just had to be her name - how could I not. There were way to many signs - literally- you know, the ones hanging on her bedroom walls!

Welcome Home Lily Hope

Lily was born on Monday, February 9th at 11:27 am. She weighed 7 lbs. 9oz. and was 21 inches long. I was surprised to see that she had a full head of really dark hair - border line black - and it was more than either Kyla or Emery had! She is very healthy, and Kyla and Emery are completely in love with their new baby sister. They constantly want to hold her. Emery says, "I hode it?" It's cute. Thanks to all of you for your prayers and all the well wishes.

3 weeks to go!

If ever there was a true test of patience, I think pregnancy would win, hands down. Am I right or am I right ladies?!?! I am finally in the last part of the race and I am exhausted! We only have 3 more weeks until this baby's due date, and I am ready to go, any day now. The last 9 months have gone by really fast at times and then really, really. really slow at times. It's funny how that works. It would be nice to have the baby in January, since Emery's birthday is on Feb. 15th. But it's all up to the good Lord now. And, no, we don't really have a name yet...we are tossing one around...but I am not sure yet. This whole baby naming process sure has been a thorn in my side, let me tell you! I wish now that neither one of us were so picky and we liked names such as "Charlie", "Beth", "Anne", "John". There is absolutely nothing wrong with those types of names. But, no, that would be too easy for us and too common. Come on! What is wrong with us! Anyway...I'm not frustrated or anything. No, really, I have enjoyed my pregnancy, and as always, I am a little sad about parting with this baby which has been a part of me for so long. I know it will need me for a long time, but there is something special about it just being the two of is right now. Sniff, Sniff...

Ok, anyway, on Saturday we spent a few hours down on the waterfront to finally get some pics of my baby belly. It was a lot of fun. So, I thought that I would share some of them with all of you. Enjoy, and have a very blessed week! We also have a couple cute pics of the girls, but that will have to come later, no time to download them now.

December... Where did 2008 go?

Ahhh...December...love this month! Today is December 31th - the last day of the year 2008! It seems unbelievable! It went by so fast. As I look at these pics of my girls, I must say, it's a little bittersweet. The year went by so quickly. Did I say that already? And, at times, I find myself wishing the world would just slow down a little so that I can have a few extra moments to enjoy my little ones, while they are still little and so precious. The Lord is bringing us another little one in the new year of 2009, just 5 1/2 weeks away. And that is very exciting - but at the same time, it is just another reminder of how quickly the ones I already have are growing. But, I have to say that I have had a great year. And, this December was especially special. I love Christmas time and watching my kids during this time of year - Kyla was absolutely excited to wait for Santa to come on Christmas Eve. She could barely sleep and kept waking up to see if he had come yet or not. And Emery, on Christmas morning, just followed along with anything that "Sissy" did. So, she was just as excited. And, Kyla just turned 5 on the 19th! So much happens during this month. Here are a few snap shots from the month of December. Such a great time of year!





Hey Mauro, where did my head go? Needless to say, this pic did not make it onto the Christmas card.



Kyla and Auntie Holly at the park near Auntie Holly's new San Fran apt. Michela and the kids were there too to make Christmas cookies.




The HUGE buzzard that landed in my back yard - and no, it is not a Hawk - it's a turkey vulture - or as we call them, "Buzzards".




Kyla and her birthday gift. Her my Twinn Doll, "Lyla". Get it - Kyla and Lyla! Ha - I'm so clever!




Yay, SANTA!!! But notice how Emery was not too excited about seeing him??? I'd be careful if I was her. Doesn't he see you when you are pouting, and naughty and nice and such... Oh wait... He was right there, of course he saw her...




My mom made me a pair of pajamas for Christmas...Something doesn't feel quite right??? Do these make me look fat?




Emery opening her Diego doll on Christmas Morning - it even says her name! And it tells her when it is time to wake up, eat, take a nap, and go to bed. So cool! She is totally in love with Diego. Can't blame her - he's a hot latino - she is her mother's daughter, after all!

Christmas Time!

We love Christmas here at the Cortes Casa. I love to decorate the house and plan what the girls will get from "Santa". I attempted to take our Christmas card pics this year. They are not as good as when my friend Nicky does them - actually, no where near as good. But it was a challenge and I was up for it. We even got my sister Holly to do a Christmas Picture as well. She recently got her hair cut and she decided to get a makeover just for the picture. We had a lot of fun!






Auntie Holly's makeover. Compliments of Kyla! Kyla had a lot of fun doing this. So did we. We did not even plan to get pics until after the makeover was done. I told her to put on that huge, red, maternity sweater (it's even huge on me) and to stand in front of the tree. I was laughing so hard I peed my pants a little. No joking - remember I am pregnant and have a baby pressing down on my bladder! Sneezing, caughing, eye blinking, any amount of added pressure - VERY DANGEROUS!