Thanksgiving 2011

This year we decided to go camping (pop up camper) at Bethy Creek on Lake Livingston. It was a fun experience but one I won't try again until SJ is a little older and the hot water is fixed. Cold showers are ZERO fun and actually kind of painful!
We arrived on Thursday afternoon and began cooking our Thanksgiving feast. Really it was just heating up some of the cook and cooking my favorite... green bean casserole! Too bad I forgot the cream of mushroom soup. I also forgot the biscuits and gravy for breakfast and the lettuce for hamburgers. I had all the time in the world to get things packed and ready, I just flat out goofed and forgot it!
We ended up leaving Saturday morning (a day early) to avoid the rain and because we had no hot water...

Top 5's

There are many things that having a child have changed in my life. SJ has brought so much joy and laughter into our home. He opened my heart and as cheesy as it sounds, he truly completes me and our little family. He has taught me to be more patient, to love freely and unconditional and most of all he has taught me to smile! I can come home from a terrible day and take one look at my handsome little man and he makes everything better. I now understand what my mom had been telling me for so many years. The love you feel for your child is by far the greatest and nothing can ever compare. I'm in love with being MOM! Here are my top 5 about being a mom - good and not so good..

GOOD
1. Knowing that he was created from a part of me and Sean and was a gift from God. Created from pure love.
2. Hugs and wet sloppy kisses! Love, Love, Love them!!!
3. The daily changes - saying bye bye one day and clapping the next. The daily milestones are awesome!
4. Snuggle time - I love it when SJ is calm for a second and will lay down and snuggle with me. It never last long but I take it any changes I get
5. Never alone - I never get lonely while going potty. SJ is always there to keep me company

NOT SO GOOD
1. spontaneity - Its GONE like the wind and will not be returning for ummmmm 18 years or so. There is no spur of the moment motor cycle rides or weekend getaway. Even the trip to the grocery store take some planning.
2. Sex - Kind of goes hand and hand with spontaneity but its hard to make time to do the wild thing when you have a little one around. Get it when you can!!
3. Responsibility - You are responsibly for a life! There is no time for being sick or just wanting to be lazy. SJ keeps me busy from sunrise to sunset. Whether it feeding, changing diapers, laundry, cleaning or simply playing with him - He keeps me on my toes
4. Fear - SJ has turned me into the biggest wuss! I cry at the drop of a hat. I constantly worry about the future. Is this or that good for him... am I being the best parent I can.
5. Never alone - I never get lonely while going potty. SJ is always there to keep me company

All in all, the good out weighs the not so good and I wouldn't change a thing about my life! I love SJ with every ounce of my soul! He has made me a better person and opened my eyes and heart to so much.
I LOVE MY LIFE!!

Scrub a Dub Dub!

Ahhh bath time.... its the best! It doesn't matter if SJ is having a good or bad day, he always loves bath time. Splashing in the water and doing his best to get momma or daddy soaking wet. Here's a couple pictures of last nights bath... And yes the soaping horns are fitting at times! I'm blessed to have this rambunctious little boy in my life!

Almost 1 year....

Wow!! Can you believe its been almost 1 year?!?!? Time has certainly flown by!!

So I'll briefly back track ....
12/12/2010 - I gave birth to the sweetest little baby boy God could have ever blessed Sean and I with! It was the most beautiful greatest day of my life! Of course the day we got married is now the runner up... He was 4 weeks early and it happen just the way I wanted it to... As much as I wanted him out of my belly and in my arms, I really wanted him to join the world on his time and when he was done baking. I also wanted to experience my water breaking... I know that sounds weird but I did!
12/11 I had just order pizza and was relaxing on the couch with Sean and our good friend Greg, POP! My water broke! I thought for a second I pee'ed in my pants and then I realized what happen... IT'S TIME, HE'S READY!!! Well I wasn't quite ready... I was stinky from a long day and hadn't showered. Off to the shower and then to the hospital!
The next morning they gave me pitocin and I was pushing an hour later. So here are a couple of pictures of my little love bug, perfect as can be!




I wont over whelm you on all the pictures of SJ from the last 11 months because I will be here all night.
So the last 11 months have been spectacular!
I stayed home with SJ until the beginning of February and it was the most amazing months!I was very blessed to be able to stay home as long as I did.
My first Mothers day was great!
In July SJ and I visited my best friend Tara in California and had a great time!
September 22 Sean and I celebrated 10 years of marriage! i am so blessed to have such a wonderful husband. When it comes to the mushy gushy love stuff Sean is a man of few words. But on this special day he posted some incredible words on facebook that made me cry many happy tears! of course I saved them... So check it out!

post #1
‎10 years ago today, I was married to the most wonderful, beautiful, and really just perfect women in the world . Nina you are the love of my life, and make me so happy. Thank you for the best 10 years of my life, and the most beautiful child. Happy anniversary my love. Fate, love, eternity.

Post#2
I was 16 yrs old working at holiday foods, when I was introduced to this hot little Mexican girl named Nina . I spent the rest of the shift thinking wow that chic was fine. We wouldn't meet again for 3 years or so, and when we did, I remember thinking,wow this is fate. I said to myself, Sean, time to turn your a-game on and get this girl. Well I guess for what game I had, it worked. We started dating, and I was in heaven. I knew I had found my soul mate. 3 years later were married on 9/22/01. 10 years later to the date at age 33, I know now that day long ago, it was fate that brought us together. I Love her more everyday that I spend with her. So be patient people your soul mates are out there, fate will bring them together as it did for me. I love you Nina and thank you for coming into holiday food that day and making my life fall into place. Happy 10 yr anniversary.

And October was SJ's first Halloween - Baby T-rex had a blast! I did learn one very important thing this night.... Too many Dum Dum will make a baby sick to his stomach!! Those Dum Dum lollipops kept him from pulling off his cute dinosaur hat but in the end had him throwing up and mommma cleaning the floors! Fun stuff!!





So I'm sure I probably missing some important event but this is all you get for now.I'm going to try my very best to keep this blog update from now on but we'll see.... We have some special events coming up very soon... This coming weekend SJ and I are traveling to Austin for Ty's second birthday. The following weekend is Thanksgiving. Sean and I decided a couple of weeks ago to take SJ to Livingston for the weekend. I'm planning SJ's first birthday on Dec 11, then Christmas and New Years!!

My sister Amanda

November turned out to be shitty month! On Tuesday November 23, 2010 my sister Amanda Renee Chase went to be with our Lord. What an awful day. My beautiful sister Amanda was such a kind hearted beautiful woman. She had her demons and battle with addictions. The last 4 years of her life had been a bumping road and she had just turned over a new leaf. She had finally seen the light and cleaned up and started focusing on her son Landon. She was excited about her future and wanted to spend every waking moment with Landon.

Every time we would talk she would tell me how excited she was about meeting her SJ. She shared so many memories of her pregnancy and how much she enjoyed pregnancy. We reminisced on the all of the good times we had as kids. Growing up with Mandy was awesome! When my mom met my step dad Jeff and they introduced us kids to one another, Mandy and I realized that we already knew each other from the skating rink. He had hung out together at the lock ins. We both thought that was so cool! He clicked immediately.
Mandy was the good one and I was the bad one. I would always try to get Mandy to sneak out and smoke pot with me. Nope! She never would. She was always so scared "the parents" as we liked to called them would find out and she would get in trouble.

It's bitter sweet. I know that Mandy is in heaven looking down on me as I cry my eyes out and saying "its okay". I know shes finally at peace and I know she is sitting with Papa Chase and her twin Sandy that died 24 hours after birth.
I wish I had more time with her. I wish she had cleaned up years ago so we could have spent more time together. It hurts to know that I pulled away from her cause it hurt to bad to see her battle with addictions. But we all make our choices in life and we have to live with them. The good and the bad. The whole family tried over and over to get her help, begged and pleaded for her to find the old Mandy that we all loved and missed so dearly.
I made you a promise and I intend on keeping it. I will make sure that Landon grows up knowing who his momma was and how much you loved him.
We lost you here on earth but we gained a guardian angel. One day we'll see you again. So until them, I love you dearly Mandy and miss you so very much.

Exactly where I want to be!!

October has drawn to an end and November is now here. duh right!
Well October was a busy month filled with birthdays (mine included) a wedding and my baby shower. Pictures to come as soon as my slacker sisters hands them over...

I've done a lot of thinking lately and I've come to understand a few things.

1) Just because someone is no longer in my life doesn't mean they are bad people. It just means we've grown apart for some reason or another. I have a handful of people I still love, think about and wish nothing but the best. But I now know that that were a part of my past and not in my future. They were in my past for a reason and each of them had an impact on the person I have become today. simple as that

2) Family is forever! My crazy,crazy family... At times I want to kill someone of them and others I will never fully understand but that's what makes them so special. Who wants a family were everyone is the same, some boring family with no drama?!?!?!? Not me!!
There is never a dull moment in our family and they keep me guessing "whats next"..
but at the end of the day - I can count on them for ANYTHING!
Especially the wonderful women - Aunt Julie, my mom and my sister Jennifer
I love you all so very much and I'm blessed to have each and everyone one of YOU!

3) I'm 30 and exactly where I want to be in life! Yes, 30 years YOUNG and I couldn't be happier! No big celebration needed, no birthday cake, no glitz and no glamour. I spend the day at work and then came home to Popeye's chicken, Sean, my dad, Blanca and my little brother Ralphy.
Here's a picture of Ralphy chewing on a chicken bone... I know, GROSS!


Then I spent the evening cuddled up on the couch next to the man I love. What could be better? Nothing!
And here's the love of my life..

And if I don't add that Sean not me a gift he'll probably kill me. He went to JARED'S!! I love that store! For our 9 year anniversary Sean bought me a Pandora bracelet and he's been filling it up since. My absolute favorite piece of jewelry that he's ever gotten me. From left to right, sunburst stopper, frog, pumpkin, Murano glass hearts, baby boy and swirl stopper.
Here's a picture....

When Sean and I started talking about kids almost 2 years ago, I told myself that I wanted to have a baby by 30. Well mission accomplished! I'm pregnant and enjoying every moment! I'm blessed to have a great job and family. Thank you for all your support! I'm thankful for everyday that God gives me and all the blessing that come with it!

This post was started with the intention of being short and sweet....I've noticed I do a lot of rambling lately and sometimes it doesn't make sense. So forgive my pregnant brain!
Speaking of pregnant.. As of today I'm 31 wks 3 days

Embarking on the end...

I'm now 29 weeks and embarking on the end of my pregnancy. Although I'm anxious to meet baby Sean, I don't want this pregnancy to end. I am thoroughly enjoying being pregnant. Yeah so I've gained some (alot)weigh and have horrible heartburn... I still LOVE being pregnant. I find myself holding my belly or staring down at it just waiting for that kick or punch.... The feeling indescribable!!

So in the last week we've put together a 3 wheel jogging stroller, bouncer, papasan swing and pack n play. Sean's not even here yet and my house is beginning to look like Toy R Us! Which brings me to space or lack or space. I'm now kicking myself in the butt wishing we would have bought a bigger house.


Oh yeah and on Saturday Sean and I took the Newborn Care Class and the hospital. It was very informative for new parents. They covered everything - diaper changing, umbilical cord care, bathing, stages of labor and delivery and a whole lot more.
Sean did great! He only made the instructor blush once... She was talking about changing a diaper and said " You need to scoop the testicles to the side over to clean.." And Sean had to confirm that you indeed "scoop" them over as if their huge and you need additional tools to move them!! Pretty funny!!