my VALENTiNE.

i love my widdle valentine! he's all i need...

It's Official...

Cayden is ONE today. I can't believe how fast this past year has gone. A lot of changes, a lot of growing up, a lot of loving my little guy.

To be honest, I never really wanted kids...but now...I couldn't imagine one day of my life without him in it. He is the littlest love of my life and a momma's boy to the max. :)

Love at 1st Sight

ONE!

Cayden will be turning ONE in 4 days. ONE?! I can't believe it. Totally makes me sad that my little baby is turning into a big boy right in front of my eyes. This past Saturday we had a huge party to celebrate his birthday. Had to go all out for his first birthday. ELMO to the max...Elmo invitations, Elmo bounce house, Elmo cakes...you get the point. Had such a great, yet exhausting time.

Here are just a FEW of the many pics that were taken. (Sorry, not in any particular order)

Cayden showing Bella his new phone, lol.
Time to get cleaned up.

Mommy make it all better.

LOViNG his cake.

Cayden & hims daddy.

Birthday Boy!

Elmo Cupcakes.

His own cake.

Playing with his pal, Jaxson's toys.

"I like this box the most!"

"What's over there?!"

Mmmmmm, cake.

Happy Birthday, Bubba. Mommy loves you.

1 year ago today...

I was HUGE & so ready to pop.

2OO9 In Review.

Where did the year go?! I can't believe it's already 2O1O. Let me re-cap what has happened all in the past year.

January 2OO9: I was 8 months pregnant and HUGE! So ready and anxious to meet my lil guy. My mom and Marisa threw me the best baby shower ever! All my girlfriends & family was there, we played the best baby shower games, took two hours to open all the gifts for Cayden & ate the best cupcake cake. Yummmm.

February 2OO9: The month that forever changed my life...for the better of course. I began my maternity leave 5 days before my scheduled C-Section. On February 11th at 2:O3pm I became a mom for the first time. It was definitely love at first sight. Cayden weighed in at 7lbs 8oz, which was smaller than what the doctor said he would be.

March 2OO9: I was adjusting to my new life as a mommy. At this time I felt super exhausted and emotionally drained, but I was still totally in love with the little fella. I also turned 23 this month.

April 2OO9: At the beginning of this month Cayden and I moved into my parents house. I feel it was the best decision for both of us. I was totally depressed while living in the apartment. Cayden celebrated his first Easter, which wasn't really fun cus he was still so little. I also had to return to work during this month. 8 weeks went by way too fast. I cried every morning for the first week.

May 2OO9: I was juggling a 3 month old baby and a full time job. It was so so hard to leave Cayden 8-9 hours a day. I could not wait to get off work & rush home to see him. Also celebrated my first Mothers Day. At this point he was a GREAT sleeper, slept all through the night in his crib. Mom was lucky!

June 2OO9: During this month, the company I had been working for for almost 4 years decided to lay me off. (Geeeee, thanks...I just had a baby and now you're laying me off). I was the 5th person to be laid off from this company, yet the first one to be denied of unemployment benefits. I won't get into that bs though, it makes me mad. All I could do was believe in Karma, what goes around comes around. Also this month, my sister & brother in law drove out from El Paso to drop off my niece and nephews to stay for a couple weeks. Cayden & I spent our days, hanging out & playing with his cousins.

July 2OO9: At the beginning of this month my parents, Cayden & I drove the kids back to El Paso. Cayden did so great on his first road trip. We only had to stop once for him and his poopy diaper. We didn't get to stay long in Texas cus there was a bit too much drama. This was also the month my dad let my nephew & his B of a girlfriend stay with us until they got on their feet.

August 2OO9: I was still unemployed and loving being a stay at home mommy. I can't really think of anything MAJOR that happened this month. Around this time Cayden was choosing mommys bed over his crib. Ohhh, I took Cayden to get his 6 month pictures done. They turned out super cute, of course. And Cayden was able to hang out with Talon & Tylie.

September 2OO9: Still unemployed at this point and quickly running out of my savings. Began to turn in applications at all kinds of places this month. Oh & Cayden was sitting up on his own by this point.

October 2OO9: No luck in finding a job yet. My brother in law brought the kids out for another visit and to celebrate Alyssa's 11th Birthday. (Still can't believe how grown she is). It's always a great time when they come to visit cus I sure do miss them when they're not here. Cayden celebrated his 1st Halloween. He was Spot the dalmation...many people confused him for a cow though. He wasn't too thrilled about trick-or-treating. I'm sure he will learn to love it in the upcoming years though.

November 2OO9: Still haven't found a job & starting to stress out about it. Cayden celebrated his 1st Thanksgiving, which was just like another ordinary day for him. We went to my Grandma Mauricette's for dinner. Cayden wore a shirt that said, "Who you calling a Turkey?" So funny. Big news this month, Cayden got his very first TOOTH. Only took him 9 months. Also, at the end of this month I took Cayden for his Christmas pictures. Super cute, my little guy is such a ham.

December 2OO9: Woo Hoooooo, I finally found a job this month. Part time, 3 days a week 12:3O to 5. I love it though, and love the people I work with. It's so nice to have a little bit of income. My brother in law brought the kids back to Arizona to celebrate Christmas. Which I was super happy about. I asked my nephews & niece what their favorite present was this Christmas and when my niece said her answer I got tears in my eyes. Her favorite part was coming to Arizona to spend Christmas with us. I miss them SO much. Cayden celebrated his 1st Christmas this month. He got a TON of toys that he could care less about. He wanted nothing to do with ripping the wrapping paper off those things. So mommy had to do it, lol. Like with Halloween, he'll love it in the years to come.

And now, it's already January 2O1O. Cayden will be 11 months in just a week. I'm working on getting his Birthday Party invitations out. I still can't believe my baby is gonna be 1. It's happening way too fast. I am trying to cherish every second I can.

Cardinals!!!

Cayden has been a Cardinals fan since day #1. still is...and always will be!

Funniest 6 year old I know...

Scenario: My mom, dad & nephew were driving from my aunts house to my sisters house. While driving they pass a store called Cowtown. (A store that sells cowboy boots and what not.)

Gabriel: Grandma, what's Cowtown?
My Mom: A store that sells cowboy boots.
Gabriel: Ohhhh, I thought they sold cows...

A few seconds later.

Gabriel: I want some cowboy boots, but not the kind that are pointy cus I don't want to look like an ELF.

Bahahahhahahahahahah! Hilar.

My nephew, Gabriel is the most clever kid I know.

He actually wants boots like Indiana Jones. =)

Cayden's 1st Christmas

This year was Cayden's first Christmas and even though he's almost a year old...he didn't want any part of ripping off wrapping paper and getting to those presents. I think he had fun visiting with his cousins from El Paso though. It's a rare occasion when they come to visit. It was a good time though. He got the cutest pair of Vans from my sister-in-law and nephew. Along with a ton of toys, including the Elmo Encore Live that he seemed to enjoy in the store but now not so much. I've played with it more than he has.

Check out some pics of Cayden enjoying the Christmas Holiday.

What's this?!

Do you know how hard it is to take a picture of 3 babies on the go?!

IMPOSSIBLE!

Cayden, me & my niece Alyssa.

Cayden with his cousins. Alyssa, Cayden, Gabriel & Jakob.

Cayden in his new swing!

Cayden with his daddy on Christmas.

LOOK CLOSE!

At the picture below...

That's right, you can see hims little toofers. =)

(And I love his Ralph Lauren sweater, thanks Steph)

Birthday Countdown!

My baby will be ONE in less than two months. What the heck, where did this past year go? I can't believe it. With that said, I have already begun planning his 1st birthday bash! Already ordered the bounce house, picking out the invitations...so many cute ones to choose from, menu is picked out, but there is still so much to do. I can't wait.

P.S. The theme---ELMO! =)

tis the season

Cayden and I had our Christmas pics done a few weeks ago at Target. The only place we'll go! Krystal and Lea do such a good job & Cayden is a TOTAL ham.

Check out a few of the pics...

Cayden looking for Santa!

Eating Santa's cookies.

"WHAT, they're fake?!"

Mommy & Cayden.

The best Christmas present everrrr!

My handsome little guy!

Santa Baby, ♥.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

J O B.

For the past two months I have been looking for a part time job, DESPERATELY. Well, today I finally landed one! YAYYYYY. I had an interview with one of the nicest ladies ever, Laurie. She told me she was sold on me just by our emails back and forth from Tuesday. Ha Ha. So I will now be working Monday, Tuesday & Friday 12:3O to 5:OO. Perfect hours. I can still take Cayden for our morning walk, feed him breakfast, be home in time to feed him dinner & give him a bath. I am so so so so HAPPY. =)

The company I will be working for...