Welcome baby Wes!

Wanted to update everyone - Baby Wes is finally here! We welcomed Wesley Edward Ballesteros on May 30, 2010 at 10:10 pm. He weighted 8 pounds and 1/2 ounce and was 19 inches long. He was my smallest baby, I keep calling him the runt. So our Memorial Day weekend was very special this year, and to think that that Sunday night I thought I was going to grill out burgers =) So that Saturday, I was pretty miserable. It has gotten hot here and I am limited on summer maternity clothes. That afternoon I laid out on the couch and watched tv and napped. For lunch I was wanting some pizza, so Carlos went to Jonathon's and got us one of our favorites - spicy cajun pepporini pizza! I was ready to just call it a day however both Carlos and my mom kept telling me that I should go for a walk, that it might make me feel better. I was very doubtful of this, however that evening it had cooled off and Carlos and I set off for a walk. We walked the trails by my mom's house for atleast 30 minutes. I even threw in a few little "jogs" which I am sure was a sight to see. Anyways, that night mom took Marisa and Alex to the fair and then Carlos and I headed home. We watched a movie and I called it a night by 10:30. At 3:45 Sunday morning I woke up to what I now know was my water breaking. We made it to the hospital by 9:oo, I was still pain free and was just hoping that my water had broken, I did NOT want to have to go back home. So I was checked and indeed my water had broken and was 2 cm dilated. The previous Thursday at my doctor's appointment I was not even dilated. So I was admitted and planned on having a baby by that afternoon. My previous pregnancies I delivered after 6 hours of having arrived at the hospital. This however was a bit different. Baby was still high and I remained at 2 cm for several hours. I eventually got my epidural and dozed off a little. The afternoon came and went. By the evening I was making slow progress, I had gotten to about 5 cm. By 9:30, I was 7 cm and the nurse said she would check me again in an hour, however about 15 minutes later I was feeling strong pressure and even pain. I figured this was normal, but Carlos was determined that I should call the nurse, so he did it for me. She checked me again and I was 10 cm and she said she could feel the baby's head. So I was ready to have my baby! I pushed about 3 times, and he was born. He came out crying! Although it was a VERY long day, it was a good day. Finally by 1:15 in the morning, Carlos and I had moved to our postpartum room and were ready for some sleep. Here he is not even one day old!! This is the picture from my phone. I have many more on my camera, however have been having some problems uploading. Wanted to let everyone know he was here and we are doing so well. He is eating well. Last night I fed him at 11:00 and he slept until 4:00. He is not too thrilled to sleep in his crib just yet. He loves to be held. I would let him sleep in my arms all the time but I know he needs to get used to his crib, so we continue to work on that. Although I am not too worried yet, he is only 11 days old.

Already he has been a baby on the go! At three days old, we were at the softball field for Marisa's game. And now he has been to 5 games totoal. We went out to dinner last night for our first restaurant experience to celebrate mom's birthday. He slept the whole time.

Marisa and Alex love their baby! Marisa is the little mother and Alex just wants to love on him all the time! I think baby Wes will have a great big sister and brother.

Our first doctor's check-up is next Monday. I will update with his new stats and get some other pictures up soon.

Spring happenings and our newest member of the family

To start all of this off as I typically do with any of my blog entries, we have been very busy! Lots going on around here. Both Marisa and Alex are playing soccer, Marisa is also playing softball, we continue to try and sell the condo, I just completed my spring term of graduate school, Carlos is still playing kickball (even with a broken wrist...don't even ask me), and we are now only weeks away from meeting our new little man! My last doctor's appointment, my doctor told me he will not let me go full term because that makes the chances of me having a 10 pound baby greater, so at the VERY latest it will be June 4th! My last day of work will be May 21st, which is also the kids' last day of school. So I hope to spend some time with them before this guy gets here. However, if I went into labor by then that would be ok with me as well =)

For Easter this year, I actually had to work but was able to get off of work in time to join our family's Easter brunch and egg hunt. We went to our friend forever, Vicki's house. She brought the kids out in the golf cart which they love!! As you will notice Marisa is missing from this picture, but for a good reason. She and mom went to Disney World for Spring Break and missed our Easter celebration, however I think they had a great time and I wouldn't say that "missed" anything!
We have attended lots of birthday parties this spring! I feel like they get invited to the same parties OVER and OVER (Pump It Up, Jump Zone, Let It Shine gymnastics), however Alex got to do something that he has never done before...ride a pony! He was great and really had a good time. Other than he told us repeatedly how it smelt like horse poop!

Two weekends ago we were in Knoxville for Marisa's soccer team. We missed the bad weather here in Nashville that weekend which was also the Country Music Marathon. Made me realize glad I hadn't been able to run it this year anyways. Well the whole family went, even Aunt Beth met us in Knoxville. The girls on Marisa's team had a great time, especially hanging out at the hotel. They swam, had a pizza party, straightened their hair, and painted nails. Wish I had a good report about the actual games, let's just say it was a fun trip and a learning experience on the field. Alex just loves the girls on the team as well as they think he "is so cute!" I caught this picture of him with a few of them...I have no idea what he is saying to them but they are very interested in whatever it is he has to say. What a ladies man! His father is so proud.

In Knoxville they had this really neat covered turf field which Marisa played several of her games on. Ok so not the best action photo, but there she is #8!

Now onto some exciting news...our newest member of the family! Here he is - Huck! Our new 9 week old puppy. Go ahead and say it, everyone else has...I'm crazy, hormonal and totally lost my mind! He is so sweet! And Gretel needed a playmate. They are so funny together. Tonight they were chasing each other around the house. We have had a few accidents in the house, but for the first night, he didn't cry at all and slept great! Hope this keeps up.

He is just so stinking cute!!!

That's all for now. Chances are my next post will be welcoming another member of our family, so stay tuned!

Fall Recap

I don't even have to say it...I'm so behing on blogging! In fact, I am not even going to apologize for it at this time. We have been so BUSY!! Lots going on around here.

We will start with Alex, he started YMCA soccer this past fall and Carlos was the asst. coach. Alex seemed to enjoy it and even scored a few goals when he was actually engaged in the game. However, there were times when he wandered towards the woods or decided that he would pretend to shoot spider webs at the opposing team members, either way he was fun to watch and he said he had a good time and plans on playing this spring. In fact, our first practice will be next Saturday.

Marisa joined the Brentwood Soccer Club girls 2001 travel team this past fall. We didn't travel too far away. We had a tournament in Clarksville, Goodlettsville and Murfreesboro as well as other more local games. This has been a big time committment. She had and will contine to have practices this spring for an hour and half on Monday and Wednesdays as well as a foot skills session on Friday evenings. The season went on into the winter where she played indoor. She has REALLY enjoyed playing and has not seemed to mind how much time is involved. We are on board to play this spring, in fact her first practice will be tomorrow. Most of the tournaments are similiar in location as the fall, however at the end of April we will be going to Knoxville. The girls are so excited about this tournament. I have to admit I am excited as well. I always enjoyed traveling to play soccer. She also decided she wanted to try basketball this year. So we signed up with the YMCA and are just about done with season. Another success! She has loved going to practice and games as well for this. I hope she grows up to be my athlete!

Carlos has not had anything fun going on for him ever since he blew out his hamstring playing old man softball last summer. He had plans of doing the Country Music half marathon, but looks like that will be post poned until next year.

As for myself...I started graduate school at Lipscomb University last fall and am continuing this spring. I am working on my masters in exercise science and nutrition. Not entirely sure, but I hope to graduate etiher in December or next Spring. I also found out last October, that Carlos and I will be expecting #3! For most of the fall, I felt ok and continued to run which then turned into walking. I am due in June but really hope it is more like May. It is another boy and no we don't have a name yet. This has been probably the hardest one for me to decide on a name. For the most part I am doing Ok, just ready to not be pregnant anymore. So the Country Music marathon will have to wait until next year for me as well.

This last October, Carlos and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary! We went to Destin for a long weekend. As you can tell by my picture, it was a bit chilly. We had a good time none the less. Restaurants and traffic were lighter than what we are use to in August. We ate good food, enjoyed some nice walks, and enjoyed not being at work and being able to relax some.

Halloween this year was fun. It was the first time Alex really was able to enjoy running from house to house collecting candy. Gretel was sure to dress the part as well!

My favorite little chef and power ranger!! Trick or Treat!

In November, Alex celebrated his 4th birthday with family and friends at Pump It Up!! You may not be able to tell, but he is so sweaty from running and jumping! Here he is blowing out his candle on his Spiderman cake.

Christmas was fun as always. I was able to take a good break from work to spend time with the kids. We made all kinds of dishes and sweets. They both really enjoy helping me in the kitchen, which I love. Alex had his school program where he sang and danced up a storm. He really is quite the entertainer!

This was a quick recap of about 4 months. I have some more pictures already from January and February that I plan on getting on here either later tonight or later this week. I am being questioned as to what is for dinner so gotta go for now. We have lots of exciting things going on and will need to fill you in soon enough!

Not enough time in the day!

I just looked at the clock and realized that it is now ten after 10:00. My hope was to be in bed 40 minutes ago. So what am I doing with my time these days??? For those of you that I have not talked to I started graduate school this fall. I am attending David Lipscomb University as the first class to go through the Masters of Exercise Science and Nutrition program. I am taking 9 hours while I continue to work full time. I am not sure that I really thought this through a few months ago because the demand of the classes are starting to catch up to me. I really enjoy the classes but am SOO busy now. So wish me luck as I continue with my school work this fall.

Along with school and work, both Marisa and Alex are playing soccer this fall. It has been a lot of fun going to Marisa's games and tournaments with her travel team, again it is just very time consuming. This weekend we are going to Hendersonville for a tournament, that is if the rain will STOP. Carlos is the assistant coach for Alex's YMCA soccer team. The first game went ok, very entertaining for the parents. At one point, Alex was wandering off the field going towards the woods. He did have a goal...well he dribbled to the goal and then at the last second decided to throw the ball into the goal. More importantly, he told me that he is having fun!

And then as if I did NOT have enough already on my plate, I am playing soccer with my women's soccer team that I have been a part of for 7 years now. Our first game was a success, we walked away with a W and I even had a goal! And Carlos is playing on his men's softball team, which I may have already mentioned.

Gretel is doing well! She is still just as cute as ever even if she is not the smartest. We often refer to her as "special needs."

Carlos and myself have been so busy, but we did manage to go out this past weekend to a friends engagement party. It was nice to visit with friends and see some that I have not seen in a while. It is hard to believe that a year ago, Carlos and I had our engagement party and that we are quickly approaching our one year wedding anniversary! We had always thought that going back to Maui would be great, however with trying to sell the condo and everything else going on we decided to do something a little bit more low key. We are going to go to Destin for an extended weekend. It should be fun! We always have a good time in Florida.
Carlos and the guys at Wrigley Field for a recent boys weekend.

Me, Carlos, and Laura at Charlie & Shannon's engagement Party!

I hope to be back this weekend with pics and updates of the kiddies activites and events!!

So far behind

First of all I should apologize to anyone who actually continues to try and keep up to date with our lives and have been sadly disappointed with my inability to keep this blog updated. whew! That was a mouthful and I'm sure improper grammar. But you know what I am saying=) Funny enough as I type this, I am eyeing the clock and yelling down the hallway to Marisa making sure she is ready to leave for soccer practice in 5 minutes. So you have now already figured out this will be short. HOWEVER, I really enjoy this blog and am seriously going to try to make it more of a priority. I want to share the kids activities (which at the moment there are PLENTY) and update you on our selling and hopefully purchasing a new home, as well as share some fun recipes I hope to make this fall. I have started Graduate school and Carlos is playing "old man softball." That is what I call it, but if you asked him each night he plays it is like the World Series =) So I gotta run. I am going to leave you with some pics of the summer as long as I can download them on here. (I'm working from my new laptop which I purchased on tax free weekend) Ok will be back soon!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRETEL!!!!

July 1st was Gretel's 1st Birthday!!

More Marisa Activities

This past Spring was a very busy time of the year for us, in particular due to the many activities that Marisa had going on. We were doing soccer, softball, and dance. Dance has been a lot of fun for Marisa. Her teacher is actually one of the teachers from my mom's school - Ms. Missy. Both Marisa and Alex love her, she is so good with the kids. She even thinks Alex might have a future in Hip Hop =) So to end the year, Marisa was in a recital. She had a ballet and tap number. Here she is backstage getting ready to perform.


The other activity, actually the one that was the most time involved, was softball. Typically she had practice one night and then games on Tuesday nights and Saturdays. They had a pretty good team. The girls decided on the team name - Purple Pirates! It was actually kindof fun this year. The girls would field the ball and 75% of the time they knew where to make the play. Their skills improved so much as well, throwing, fielding, and hitting all got better as the season progressed. Marisa played pitcher, catcher and center field a bunch. They finished 3rd in the Civitan tournament, but had a great season.

This is a picture taken at the begining of the season. I believe it was a Wednesday night that we had to make up due to all the rain we got. It was a rather chilly evening. There were some new rules as well this year. Marisa moved up to the U8/U9 and each girl would get 5 pitches, however if you swung and missed 3 times, you struck out...no more bringing the T out to hit off of.

Ok, I just had to share these guys!!! For the end of the season party, they had a pool party and I agreed to bring some sort of dessert. After a little research, I found this recipe for buried treaure pirate cupcakes. Not only do they look extremely cute, there is a peanut butter cup hidden inside the cupcake. The girls, and parents too, thought they were very cute. I think they were good too =) Alex says they were.