MERRY CHRISTMAS &
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
2011…Where did it go!?! We have been reflecting on the past year and
look back to when the twins were Giancarlo’s age…14.5 months, and he had just
arrived. To recall how we made it with
two of him and a new born...the truth is we don’t know or remember. However, I did ask John this week, if he
would ever want to adopt (can you tell I am already getting the baby
itch!!) His response, “I don’t know
honey…maybe, but NOT ANY TIME SOON!” At
least he responded to my question this time about more babies!! I am making progress!
So, this appears to be the year titled “NEVER
SAY NEVER.” Three things I said I would
never do…1. Drive a mini-van, 2. Buy my children those dreadful Disney
character light up shoes, 3. Own a motor home!!! Never say never!! Regarding the van, the fact that Clark and
Kennedy can load themselves is worth the embarrassment of driving it around,
and truth be told…the automatic doors are AMAZING!! 2. The kids LOVE putting their shoes on and
it totally speeds up the morning process, and 3. Our visions of the children
getting frisked at the airport, 3 children (all 2 and under) and only 2 adults,
confined in a plane for 3 hours, and then getting stuck in a blizzard in
Minneapolis trying to catch a connection to SD was not the Christmas vacation
John had in mind! We are really looking
forward to all of our new adventures in the Ortega Minnie Winnie and especially
being home for Christmas!! Floppy the
black lab can’t wait to be John’s co-pilot while Lisa attempts to corral and
entertain the kiddos in the back! By the
way…Clark ’s response to the RV, “I LOVE my new
big truck!!”
Our 2011 news year’s resolution was to have
at least one of the 3 out of diapers. We
are extremely proud to announce that Kennedy has been day time diaper free
since Oct.! The great news is that the
weekly diaper bill has decreased by 33%; the bad news is that she refuses to go
in her diaper at night…so, for example most nights both John and I get a turn
at taking her potty at 11:30pm and 2:30am!
I just adore her determination & perfectionism…J We also quickly learned that we have to call
her panties underwear as Clark also wanted
panties…
We
have learned a few more things about parenting in our 3rd year…we
hope they make you laugh and smile!
- If
your son will ONLY wear his Superman shirt…Just buy 5 of them and don’t
worry about how the other parents at school are judging you. If it gets everyone in the car on time
in the morning…it’s worth the judgments!
- If
your daughter no longer wears her PJ’s to bed because she has to wear
leggings and a skirt at ALL times…no problem. Actually, the upside is that provided no
accidents…she is automatically ready to go in the morning!! ;-)
- When
given the opportunity to take a vacation without your children…Sleep…just
sleep and sleep and sleep! Our
first night in
- DATE NIGHT…mommy and daddy need this…It is CRUCIAL to the Ortega family functioning. Last week Kennedy was having one of the worst terrible two tantrums ever…John honestly performed an exorcism on her…we were laughing through it, but only because we had a date night the previous evening and know there will be another one next week!!
- Laugh…you
just have to laugh through it.
Seriously, if John and I did not have a sense of humor about how
crazy our life is…we just wouldn’t make it. Particularly around Sunday afternoons
about 3pm…it is at that point we both look at each other and are not quite
sure Monday morning and the board room will ever arrive! Whether it is planking with your
children, putting on funny hats or just playing the music real loud…laugh and
have fun!!
- DO
NOT place the 3rd baby in school, let the nanny go part-time
and start a new job all in the same 2 weeks, unless you want to have a
nervous breakdown. Lisa’s new job
at Hess is going great, but there were a few weeks in there where early
retirement seemed like a really good idea!
- Pray,
pray and pray some more…we could not be on this crazy ride without the
Lord’s help and guidance. We are so
blessed to have each other and these 3 amazing children who are so
completely different.
The children descriptions/stats:
Clark: Almost 2.5 years old, is supposed to be 6’2” and
currently 37lbs. - “The
Calm Child” when the other two are fighting like cats and dogs,
Kennedy: Almost
2.5 years old + 1 minute, is supposed to be 5’10” and currently 32lbs.
- “The
Boss” and a fashionista (if putting all of the colors of the rainbow in
one outfit is stylish)!?!? Loves
puzzles (is the quickest in the class at putting them together and the
youngest!), must always wear a skirt, has daddy’s dimples, is the first Ortega
to wake up every morning, LOVES going to dance class and wants to follow
Clark to the beach on the moon when she grows up?!?! She really enjoyed the beach apparently!
Giancarlo W.: 14.5 months, will be at least 6’2” &
currently 27lbs. He & Kennedy are
already being mistaken as the twins…
- “The
Escape Artist” is always hiding in a closet or trying to sneak out the
front door! Loves to make everyone
laugh and look at him, the talker at school during nap time, and is
ALWAYS fighting w/ big sissy!
Additionally, had a TEXTBOOK football tackle of his big brother
last week…he wrapped up and everything.
With his thighs and intense personality, he is sure to follow in
daddy’s middle linebacker footsteps!
We are thinking sales/business is in his future with all this
talking and jib/jab...
LOVE THE ORTEGAS!
Giancarlo, Lisa, Clark, Kennedy and Giancarlo W.
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