Just like that.....

....7 months and a few days have passed and we now have a baby that we are days away from chasing around the house. It is so hard to believe that it has been 7 months since we were blessed with Cruz. This little man is so hard to resist! There are times when I pick him up and just want to squeeze him and never let him down, he is so lovable!
Cruz loves to eat, but not baby food! From the first taste of baby food he gagged! Bananas, Sweet Potatoes, carrots, it did not matter, he was not having any of it. But mash up a banana you just bought at the store, and you cannot feed him fast enough.  You must be careful if you are holding something he will go straight for your hand and pull it into his mouth! The other day we were at a birthday party and my dad was eating a piece of pizza, so he ripped off the crust and gave it to Cruz. Cruz was so happy, yummy! When it became to soggy and pieces started falling off  we had to take it away and Cruz was so mad!
When Degan was Cruz's age we had him watching Baby Einstein and he learned to sign. After sitting back evaluating some things we realized that Prestyn was never exposed to it like Degan because when he was watching tv it was whatever Degan was watching. I wish I would have realized this then, but oh well. So, now back to the baby Einstein. Its actually really cool because Prestyn will tune in to it, has picked up on the signs and will sign in front of Cruz. So far Cruz will sign.... you guessed it MILK! We are working on please, more and thank you!
Cruz has figured out how to get up on all fours, after he is in the position he springs forward, and lands flat on his face. Silly boy, he figured out it hurts less to do a sideways scoot to move.
No teeth yet, but he is a drool monster and we think we may see one soon.
He is still not sleeping through the night. We've tried the "cry it out method" several times, but its just easier on us all to get up and make him a bottle. No matter the time he goes to bed, we can count on the 3 o'clock cry for milk! He is lucky he is so darn cute!
Cruz loves his brothers, he gets so excited when they are running in circles around him and I know he can hardly wait to chase after them. I have a feeling this will happen sooner then I would like with the way time is flying!

The Woman with You

After I graduated from college I was fortunate enough to land a great internship for the Legislative Council Service in Santa Fe. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, nor did it matter. All that mattered at the time was I was getting my butt out of Portales and had 6 more months to find a job! The internship was AMAZING and I learned more then I could ever imagine. Long story short I was able to land a full time job at the Council Service, I worked through 3 legislative sessions, and all I can say was WOW. Being behind the scenes and learning about the legislative process was so great. I had to leave my position in Santa Fe to be closer to home and my boys. I regret leaving, but it was something that had to be done. I left on good terms and think that if the time was ever right I could go back and work for them. This leads me to this......
New Mexico is the middle of a 60 day legislative session! I read many political blogs, newspaper articles and publications about the legislature in general as well as issues surrounding something that is very near and dear to my heart. Since Prestyn was diagnosed with PDD-NOS in June I knew I wanted to take a more active role in issues the Autism Community was faced with, mostly at the local level. I understood that I would not be able to dedicate as much time as I may like until I finished my degree. Or so I thought.....
I happened to read an article on Early Childhood Education and Programs and some funding suggestions for them. After the article people were leaving comments, "pre-k is a day care" "early childhood education needs to be handled by the parents" "pre-k is a waste of money." After reading this I had a range of emotions. I was angry, I was LIVID,  then I was sad.  I confided in my husband and my parents and they informed me they saw the Principal for Prestyn's school on the news talking about this issue. I immediately got on the phone and called his school. I talked with the Principal and offered my help with anything concerning the legislature, whether it be testifying in front of committees, calling legislators I knew from my gig at the council service or writing letters .She gave my name to another lady and I was contacted and invited to a meeting the following night. Well turns out the school district is organizing a parent legislative advisory committee and the meeting was thanking us for being the newest members! HAHA oh goodness, all I can think was what have I gotten myself into? Then I had flashbacks to the comments people were leaving, I thought about Prestyn and what his school and the school district have done for him and all of the sudden it did not matter that one more night of my life was going to be consumed by a meeting, or that I will have to take off work to go be a voice in Santa Fe. I am really looking forward to returning to Santa Fe on the opposite side of things. Now I will be using what I know to make requests to legislators rather then them requesting something from me!

When I told Amos about my newest adventure I could not help but think of that Kenny Chesney song "Woman with You." The lyrics speak so clearly of my life right now....

She hit the door 6:55 sack full of groceries split down the side.

Can goods scattered all the way to the curb.

Look on her face saying don't say a word.

So, it's me and her and a can full of beans sitting here on the front porch swing.

Western sky all turning red.

Head on my shoulder she sighed and said:

Been gopherin, chauffering, company chairman.

Coffee maker, Copy repairman. 

Anymore there ain't nothing I swear man that I don't do. 

Been juggling, stuggling, closing big deals. 

Dancing backwards in high heels. 

Just when it feels like I can't make it through.

She said it sure is nice to just be the women with you.

She said the girl with the business degree probably wouldn't recognize me.

I was gonna run the bank.

I was gonna run the math.

Now all I want to run is a bubble bath.

Back then you I had this plan. 

Before all of this reality set in.

Here comes life boy ready or not.

Hey I wanted it all and that's what I got.

......and in the end I would not want it any other way!