Living the good life

thestabios
Apr 8, 2015
5 min read

From the mouth of someone who hates cooking, my breakfast was a piece of lunch meat, a handful of chocolate chips & bagel bites. I am not ashamed.

These last few weeks have been very blessed. I adore spending my days with Camila, she is learning how to stack her blocks, put things away, and she actually loves to share! She gives everyone hugs, she'll wrap her little arms around strangers legs, & she picks up my phone, puts it to her ear & says, 'HI!' I'm feeling like a proud mommy thinking it has everything to do with my parenting (when in fact I know it's just cause I have a good child, & that this will pass). Until the temper tantrum phase comes, I am going to sit back & enjoy the view.

Last weekend was the Women's Conference & wasn't it AMAZING! I was so inspired, & I always get emotional with the primary videos. I come away from those conferences always feeling a renewed sense of confidence, a sense of love, not competition. I find myself getting caught up with trying to look my best, be the best mom, act like everythings all good, when in fact most days I end up with food thrown at my face, & watching my girl destroy the messes that I just cleaned (so sometimes I just leave the mess). I get so worked up about being the best rather than focusing on service, loving others, and being confident in just being me. For now, that's enough :)

After the conference I went to dinner with a friend, Jessica, & Camila went with me. Everytime I take her out I always say, never again. Whelp, here's to the again. She would not sit in her booster seat, she wanted to touch all the food on the table & it ended with my nice skirt covered in steak sauce. I get home & Rodrigo was skyping his parents. As I'm talking to his parents I hear a deep voice coming from Camila's room, 'Hey Cat can you make me some food?' The voice was Nico's! He had come from Utah to celebrate Camila's birthday with us! He leaves in a few months for a 2 year mission so it was so fun spending time with him while we still can!

It was his senior spring break so I tried to make it as fun as possible! We played A LOT of soccer, & he went over to Rodrigo's work during his lunch break to play with him as well. We went out to eat almost every night (which was a huge treat for me), & he met up with a couple of friends who are also down here from Utah. The first night we went to a friends house, the Salgados for an amazing dinner & I decorated eggs with their son Aaron! Next we hit up Moody Gardens at the aquarium and the ice age exhibit, and one day I took him out couponing, which he actually enjoyed! Probably because I spoiled him with a Birthday cake Frappe from Starbucks. I love my brother-in-law & I can't wait to spoil him with lots of packages while he's away. He is going to serve in the California San Fernando Spanish speaking mission.

Moody Gardens Aquarium!

Camila was so disinterested during the Ice Age exhibit. Her highlight was pushing the stroller.

Pasta at the Salgados leads to this adorable messy face

Olive Garden :)

I told you he had fun couponing! ;) On a serious note, he actually rode in this around the whole store. He got a few looks, but he was genuinely injured! He hurt his foot playing soccer the night before & was limping everywhere!

Sunday best :)

In the pretty dress from Abuelita Stella

I am obsessed with her smile :)

We celebrated Camila's first birthday on March 31st, 2015. I cannot believe she is a year old. I swear when I was pregnant, those 9 months lasted years. This last year has lasted a week! She just doesn't even know how much joy she brings into our lives (just kidding, she totally knows, & works it). We went out to lunch at a Hibachi grill so that she could watch the fire & food being cooked in front of us. I spent all morning & afternoon decorating her cake. It turned out a lot better than I thought it would, but now that I've accomplished that task, never again. It took way too many hours & time. If she asks me to make her a cake in the future, I will do it out of love, but I did this to prove that I could. Next time, tres leches from Kroger will suffice. That night we went bowling for Young Women's, & Camila had a fun time walking around & seeing all the crazy colors & fun activities! Her birthday also marked the end of the chupete (pacifier). She is doing surprisingly well!

Opening presents from Grandma!

I thought the vent would be a nice backdrop to the cake ;)

I told Rodrigo, give her a small pice of cake because otherwise she'll be up all night. Then he plops this hunk of of piece on her tray. Yikes

Birthday lunch at the Vintage

Finally around midnight she passed out!

We ended the week with Wisconsin beating Kentucky & General Conference! For the game we went over to our neighbor's house (who are from Wisconsin) for burgers and cookies. I swear that second half was longer than any other I've ever watched. I was super excited the badgers won. Monday night we had a repeat party at their house & unfortunately the outcome was not the same as the first. Huge bummer that Wisconsin lost since the whole game they were leading, I thought they had it!

Conference was just what I needed. After all my wisdom teeth drama & feeling blue, it was the reboost I needed. I loved all of the talks, but two of my favorites were Elder Oaks, & Elder Hollands (shocker). I also loved the first session theme of families & children. I feel so lucky to be where I am right now in life. I know I'm in the right place at the right time.

We have no easter photos, but they are coming, on account of we are not celebrating the actual material side until later this week. We had a beautiful lunch at a friends house, & we took time on Sunday to celebrate that our brother, Savior & Reedemer still lives. As far as the easter eggs go, some random morning this week Camila can go hunting :) Last week with Nick being here, and everything else going on I completely forgot to get things. However, I think this is to my advantage considering she is still young enough to have no idea. Therefore, I can buy everything at clearance price, and give her the same experience :) Does that make me a bad mom?? hahah, I figure this is probably the last time we can ever do that since next year she will know.

I'm also extremely grateful for Texas weather, we finally went to the pool last week & the park! Today I'm taking Camila out for a walk, and enjoying the short springtime until 100 degree weather takes over!!