Christmas starts early....

I always have the best intentions to wait to open gifts until at least Christmas eve, but for some reason it never happens.  Once again I didn't prove myself wrong and we began the Christmas celebrations on December 23rd. I promise I will do better next year when Julian actually understands Christmas, as I need to set a better example on patience, an unestablished trait of mine. I hope everyone enjoyed their Christmas holidays as much as we did with our baby boy. It was his second Christmas and we definitely outdid the last year. Merry Christmas to everyone, we love you!

December 23, 2011

Giving grandpa and grandma their gifts

Starting the gift giving early, but I promise it was the little gifts

Unwrapping ~ Already a pro

You see ~ it was just PJ's! (ignore the hot mess holding the jammies)

 Happy boy

A cell phone of his own so he can stop calling random people on mine

 December 24, 2011

Ready to go to Tia Buca Buca's

Mommy and Julian

Daddy and Julian

More presents!!!

A powerwheelz from Grandma and Grandpa

He loved it!

And more presents...

Another Elmo

His expression is priceless!!! My favorite picture!!!

Daddy gets presents too

And his big gift that we have yet to open ~ A SLIDE!

So tired

More new PJ's from Santa

Hanging with mom

A new Balderas tradition

December 25, 2011

Christmas morning ~ such a happy baby in the mornings

MORE TOYS courtesy of Tia Mollie and Tia Orfe!

Almost done!

Paci-Free!!!

Yes, you heard it right, Julian is paci-free as of December 21st. I had to record the monumental day because if you knew him well enough, you knew that this kid could NOT and would NOT sleep without his pacifier if it were up to him.  I had the courage to do it over the Christmas break thinking this was going to be the hardest thing yet this year, but I was amazed at how well he did and we haven't looked back since.  I must admit, I was expecting the worst, but my baby always surprises me in the best possible ways.  He is growing up too fast! We love you, Junebug!!!!

Christmas with Sophie

Who can forget the new tradition we started with our new best friends?! Here we are at our second annual Christmas exchange with two very special babies! Sophia and Julian are some very fortunate babies, see for yourself...

 

 Thank you Heather and Kevin for loving Juju as much as we love SoSo!!!

Already 18 months Old...

Oh where, oh where, has the time gone????  I ask myself this question everyday as my dear sweet baby boy amazes us with the wonder and joy of his world.  I can never describe the feeling I get when he smiles, when he kisses, when he hugs, when he repeats, when he sings, and most of all, when he says "I love you." My life has forever been changed by this amazing wonder that God has blessed us with.  Here we are in December and the comparisons from one year ago are mind-blowing. Which brings me to what Julian is doing at 18 months...

• Wears size 5 diapers, 18-24 month clothes, and 6.5 size shoe
• Loves to go "Bye-Bye" as soon as I get home from work. Can we say cabin-fever?
• Will repeat ANYTHING we say. Now we have to be careful what we say!
• Loves to sing and dance
• He's bilingual! :)
• Can say well over 75 words: mama, dada, grandpa, grandma, Tio (Uncle Lupe), Buca Buca (Tia Monica), Amber, Kiwi, kitty, dog, car, carro, juice/jugo, leche (milk), up, down, flower, Mickey Mouse, Elmo, bus, cheese, aqui (here), cereal, cartoons, tv, papo (short for zapato, which means shoe), papa (food), caca, pipi, pamper, toy, trash, hot, light, seat belt, aww man, oh oh, oh no, outside, dirty, agua (water), candy, pop (aka lollipop), bump, spoon, apple, yogurt, pasas (raisins), uvas (grapes), book, whoa, pan (bread), cookie, lay down, again, ball, teeth, foot, pansa (tummy), che-ches (boobies ~ what do you expect from a boy?), mano/hand, head, ears, nose, phone, hello, I love you, thank you, please, sorry, socks, blue, purple, red, turtle, mine, Soso (Sophia), one/uno, two/dos, three/tres.  He actually says waaaay more than 75, but you get the gist of it. I'm not bragging either, well maybe just a little bit, but I'm soooo PROUD!
• Loves loves loves and knows exactly how to put on his seat belt
• Can live outside if he could
• Absolutely adores his Tia Buca Buca, who adores him right back!
• Loves to grab strangers ~ something we need to teach him not to do
• Has the cutest grin (see pic below)
• Requests mommy's attention 24/7
• Gives the B-E-S-T hugs and kisses
• Loves grandma's sopa
• Sleeps from 9:30 - 8:00
• Can count in English AND Spanish to 3
• We are in the process of learning our colors
• Knows what letter comes after "A"
• Has officially eaten dirt ~ not sure what compelled him to do that?
• Knows how to feed himself
• Has ants in his pants and can never sit still
• Was as brave as can be with Santa this year
• And million other things he does that makes our hearts smile

We love our little Junebug!!!!!

What's wrong with this picture??? (Dad has got to learn how to put Juju's shoes on!)

 I told you he has the cutest grin!

 There is no denying his love for Tia Buca Buca

Julian and Santa

What a difference a year makes?! And that is quite an understatement!!!! Julian has been doing considerably well with strangers and now here he is with Santa, one year later, brave as can be. Santa is going to be extra nice this year just for being such a good boy (most of the time). Don't you just love the yearly comparisons? I do! :)

Big boy

This kid is growing up too fast...

Juju and mommy :)

Reading his favorite book

Playing at the park

First time he ate dirt. I can't look away for one second anymore!

Chillin with daddy 

Our big boy!

Eating all by himself!

Dancing with daddy