Five Years Ago

Yesterday was five years that I lost my father. I was only 21 and my youngest sister was 18. He passed away suddenly from a drug overdose and my youngest sister is the one that found him. His death was very hard on us. Even though he'd battled his drug addiction for many many years we prayed that it wouldn't be the cause of his death. I can't explain to you how it feels to loose a parent that way and at such a young age. Over time I guess I have learned to deal with it better. Its funny because I don't tear up on the anniversary of his death or his birthday but when I hear a song that reminds me of him or about a father and his daughter or when I see anything on a movie or TV regarding dads I always ball!

When my dad passed away he was buried in Converse, LA where my grandparents had an extra plot beside theirs and decided to bury him there. It is about a 4 hour drive one way from Houston, TX so my sisters and I don't get to visit his grave often. Yesterday my youngest sister and I along with our husbands made the trip and met my grandparents there. My grandparents put new flowers on his tombstone and we visited for a little while. Sorry I didn't take any pics yesterday as I looked like crap. When my dad first passed away my best friend made me a pic of me and my dad and had the frame engraved "In Loving Memory" with his birth and death dates. Here is a pic sorry for the blur:

Even though my dad had his issues he was the sweetest man and so smart! I would talk to him frequently about how school was going and life in general. We were very close and I miss him dearly every day!

Pregnancy: 25 Weeks

24 Week 4 Day Ultrasound

How far along? 25 Weeks 3 Days

Baby's size? At last doctor's appointment last Wednesday she weighed 1lb 8oz

Weight Gain? +5lbs since last month. Total gain +14lbs.

Maternity clothes? Of course!

Stretch marks? Yes on my sides but none on the boobs or belly yet!

Belly button in or out? Still innie but looks like its closing in a little

Sleep? Sleep hasn't been that great lately! Cant seem to get comfortable and my left wrist hurts so bad at night thanks to my carpel tunnel

Foods I am loving? I have been craving a cupcake with icing!!!!!!

Foods I am hating? Nothing

Best moment this week? Got to see little miss at last week's doctor's appointment

Symptoms? Peeing more, not getting comfortable, carpel tunnel

Exercise? Need to start back up!

Gender? She's STILL a girl!!!!!!!

What I miss? Nothing at the moment

Doctor's Visit: We had our doctors appointment last Wednesday and we finally got to see our little girl again! She's doing great! She now weighs 1lb 8oz. Her spine looks good and shes forming just fine! We are now down to every 2 week appointments! Unfortuntaly we dont get another ultrasound till 34 weeks which totally sux! My next appointment is next week and I have my glucose test which i'm totally worried about. Fingers cross i pass!

Belly Pic:

 

Pregnancy: 6 months!!!!!!!

How far along? 24 Weeks 4 Days (We are finally in our last month of our 2nd trimester!)

Baby's size? From Baby Center: having gained about 4 ounces since last week. That puts him at just over a pound. Since he's almost a foot long (picture an ear of corn)

Weight Gain? + 9 lbs last time I went to doctor. Will find out how much more I've gained when go to doctor tomorrow.

Maternity clothes? Of course!

Stretch marks? Yes on my sides but none on the boobs or belly yet!

Belly button in or out? Still in

Sleep? I've actually been sleeping throughout the night.

Foods I am loving? Nothing in particular

Foods I am hating? Nothing

Best moment this week? Getting to the 6 month mark!

Symptoms? I recently started having pain in my hands thanks to pregnancy carpel tunnel. Its no fun. Its worse in my left hand than my right and bothers me more at night when i'm sleeping.

Exercise? I haven't excerised in a couple of days thanks to something wrong with our TV. TV repairmen come out tomorrow to look at it so hopefully will start again at end of week.

Gender? Shes a girl!

What I miss? Nothing at the moment

Belly Photo

Nursery: Tree Decal

We bought a tree decal to put on the wall in Elizabeth's room. We are going to put her butterfly decals around it later this week. The tree came in different pieces and were numbered and we had to put it together. It looks really great in her room.

Here is a pic:

We ordered this online at weedecor.com and we purchased the larger size. We also plan on buying the wall letters for her name through this site.

Blueberry Pie Recipe

I mentioned yesterday that I make an unbelievable blueberry banana cream pie. It was one of my dad's all time favorites and its so easy to make and delicious! I made one for my in laws for the Super Bowl and on Monday we celebrated my boss' birthday so I made one for work as well. Everyone at work just loved it and had to have the recipe so I thought I'd share with you as well.

I forgot to take a picture of mine so I found this one online. I don't put blueberries on top of mine.

Ingredients:


8 ounce package of cream cheese
1/3 cup white sugar
2 bananas peeled and sliced
1 cup of blueberry pie filling
9 ounce graham cracker pie shell

Directions:

Combine cream cheese and 1/3 cup of white sugar
Spoon mixture on pie shell
Put bananas on cream cheese mixture
Spread pie filling on top of bananas
Top with cool whip


Enjoy!!!!!!

Weekend Recap {2.8.11}

After a few boring weekends we had a pretty busy weekend this past weekend. Friday Mr. Lopez and I didn't have to go to work because of the Ice Storm that came through Houston. Yes I said ice storm. There was over 800 accidents that day and 4 fatalities that I know of. Us Houstonians are not used to driving in that kind of weather. Most people forget how to drive when it just rains. So we stayed inside during the morning and in the afternoon we headed to AT&T to get me a new phone. We were up for an upgrade and the phone I wanted had a deal for $100 cheaper than normal until Valentine's Day. I had an IPhone for the last 2 years and I was getting so over it! I didn't really use the apps anymore and I was tired of using just a touch screen. So I got a new white Blackberry Torch. So far I love it! Its still touch screen but also has a keyboard.

Also this weekend Joey's uncle got remarried to a great lady! Mr. Lopez was asked to be an usher for their wedding so we had to attend the rehearsal on Friday night and then we went to Olive Garden for dinner with his aunt and cousins and grandmother.

Then Saturday was the big day. It was a VERY VERY long day! The wedding was a catholic service so the wedding started at 1 p.m. and was over around 2:15 p.m. Yes an hour and 15 minutes of standing up and sitting down and standing up and sitting down some more. After the wedding the immediate family took pictures at the church. The reception started at 4 pm. so until then we went to Joey's aunts to hang out. His 10 year old cousin and I are very close and we always play when were together. She wanted to take a pic of me with her baby doll. I look totally pregnant in this pic.

Then we headed to the hotel where the reception was. It was soooo crowded that you could barely walk through the aisles of the tables. The reception lasted from 4 until midnight! Around 10:30 p.m. I started feeling horrible. My whole body hurt! I think it had just been a long day but I was so ready to go home.
Here are some pics of the wedding. Sorry I didn't get more buy my camera seriously sucks!

Then of course Sunday was the SuperBowl and we had Joey's mom and brothers over to watch the game. I was rooting for GreenBay as I dispise Ben Roethlisberger. We had bbq and I made my famous Blueberry Banana Cream Pie. Receipe to come later! All in all we had a great weekend.

What did you do this weekend?

Pregnancy: 23 Weeks

How far along? 23 Weeks 3 Days

Baby's size? From Baby Center: more than 11 inches long and weighs just over a pound (about as much as a large mango)

Weight Gain? + 9 lbs last time I went to doctor

Maternity clothes? Yes

Stretch marks? Yes

Belly button in or out? Still in

Sleep? Been sleeping a little better. Still tossing and turning and getting up more to pee at night

Foods I am loving? Cake

Foods I am hating? Nothing

Best moment this week? Nothing really exciting this week but feeling her move more.

Symptoms? Been having more leg pain and my hands are starting to feel some weirdness.

Exercise? Day 4 of prenatal pilates video

Gender? Baby Girl, Miss Liz

What I miss? Getting up without it being a chore

Belly Photo

Remember Alex Brown

So Sunday night I was watching Extreme Home Makeover and they were rebuilding a  home for the Brown family in my home state Texas who lost their daughter Alex to texting and driving. It just broke my heart seeing their story and of course I felt quilty because I text and drive a lot. I've come to the point in my life where I have to start thinking about the little one growing inside of me and that my decisions affect her. I want to make sure when I have her in the car with me that I don't text or even talk on the phone while I'm driving. I would hate myself forever if something bad were to happen to her because of that.

So I took the pledge to remember Alex Brown and not text and drive. If you text and drive please take the pledge to remember Alex Brown and help save a life! http://www.rememberalexbrownfoundation.org/take-the-pledge/sign.php