6.28.2010

Orlando's Best Breakfast!

We all headed to The Townhouse in Oviedo for breakfast this morning. It was voted "Best Breakfast" by the Orlando Sentinel and it DID NOT disappoint! Lola had the amazing French Toast (dipped in custard, then sprinkled with cinnamon and powdered sugar), Ren & Johnny had the famous Biscuits and Gravy and I had the Eggs with Virginia Ham. YUM!

On a side note...wild chickens and roosters roam free in downtown Oviedo--while where Mom & Dad live is very suburban, downtown Oviedo still has some rural-country flair to it. Kind of fun and different!

The Hernandez Crew.


She's so hooked on Mikey this trip--it's so sweet.
Lola impressing G.G. with her color-recognition skills. She even wowed her with some Alphabet & Number skills as well.

6.27.2010

Disney Sneak Peak

Lola & Daddy, Magic Kingdom, Florida, June 2010

We had the most magical time at Disney with Lola on Thursday. I promise to post many more pictures of the day once we get back from Florida, but I wanted to share one of my favorites with you now--since so many of you helped us earn our free day at Disney with the food drive we ran back in March.

6.26.2010

Hello Second Trimester!

I'm 13 weeks today which marks the start of the second trimester and feeling so fantastic. I'd wonder if I was actually pregnant if it wasn't for this growing belly of mine. (See above!) :)

6.25.2010

6.23.2010

Congratulations!


....to our very dear friends Tom, Alissa & Ellyana. They welcomed Kyleena Katherine into the world this morning. I just love how beautiful, peaceful and happy Alissa looks in this picture. A precious newborn will do that to you! xoxo

6.22.2010

Bella & Lola

When we were down for Christmas last year, our cousins Joe & Traci welcomed their daughter Bella on New Year's Eve (about a month and a half early). She was such a peanut when we met her, only a few days old. Yesterday, we got to see her again--what a happy, bubbly baby! Joe & Traci didn't even get past the front door before I stole her out of their arms. She's just great!

Lola really wanted to hold her and sat down on the floor where I told her and wrapped her sweet arms around Bella for hugs and kisses. She was very good with her and so gentle.
Lola is so John and Bella is so Joe.
She was very proud of herself and said "I did it!" while flapping her arms and accidentally hit sweet Bella in the face. No harm though!

Balloon Bouquet

We've arrived safely in Florida and we're already having so much fun. In just a short 24 hours, Lola's already spent tons of time with family, going swimming in her new baby pool (complete with slide and sprinklers) and been gifted with a very fun surprise from Papa. Dad came home from running a few errands with this awesome "arrangement" for Lola. She carried them around the house the rest of the day.

I caught her in mid-word, saying "balloons"...

Where's Lola?


6.20.2010

Happy Father's Day!

Daddy with Lola at 1 day old.

It was love at first sight for these two. There is something so sweet & special about the love a Daddy has for his little girl. He loves her with all that he has and would protect her to the ends of the Earth. My heart smiles just knowing she couldn't possible have a better father if I searched every corner of the Earth. We love you Daddy!

6.19.2010

"Story"

Mommy & Lola, June 2010, on the way to Toy Story 3

We bought Lola Toy Story right before we left for Ireland. Shortly after that, we got her Toy Story 2--and an addiction to the series quickly developed. She asks to watch it daily--she loves all the characters so much and sleeps with her Buzz Lightyear & Rex dolls nightly. Like any big kids at heart, John and I enjoy anything Disney. The classics are amazing, but Disney-Pixar is just something else!

It's crazy to think that Ronnie and I used to watch Toy Story with Brittany when she was little all the time and this afternoon, John and I took our daughter to see Toy Story 3 in the theater. For not even being quite two-years-old yet, she did really well. She sat great and enjoyed the flick pretty much the whole time. We did have to leave for a few minutes just so she could stretch her legs but that's to be expected. It was such an awesome movie--we can't wait until the DVD release. No doubt we'll be watching that one over and over again as well! Thank goodness they're great movies!

**I tittled the post "Story" because that's how Lola refers to the series. Simply "Story"**

6.18.2010

Grow Baby Grow!

Just a quick update on #2. Lola and I headed to U of C today for my first trimester screening. It's a combo ultrasound and blood test--the results tell you the likelihood of your baby having Downs Syndrome. I'm 12 weeks tomorrow and baby is growing and measuring right on track, which is always so reassuring. It's crazy to think in just one week I'll be starting the second trimester. (A certain sister-in-law might want to make me a special cupcake to mark that milestone--hint, hint!) This pregnancy is already flying by!

Lola was so good throughout my appointment and lab work. She was especially good during the ultrasound. I think it was because she was so mesmerized with what was on the screen. I did tell her that was our baby so of course she kept saying "Baby." And then I gave her a picture from the ultrasound and she kissed it. Melt my heart a little more why don't ya!

6.17.2010

One more week!

When Lola wakes up in the morning, she asks for 3 things: 1. Milk 2. Toast 3. Mickey On. She usually gets up right when Mickey comes on so of course, she wants to see him. This morning, it sounded like instead of asking "Mickey on?" she was singing "M-I-C-K-E-Y"! Too funny.

Mom dropped off this lunch box for her today--she's going to freak out when she sees it after her nap. It'll be so perfect for our day at Disney in JUST ONE MORE WEEK!

Popsicle

Grammy got Lola some awesome summer seating for the patio and it's perfect for enjoying a Popsicle outside. Which she REALLY enjoyed. This is a "picture-overload" post, but sometimes, I just can't resist!










Sweet Corn

One of the top 10 best things about summer, hands down? Sweet corn. This year, Lola can dig in all by herself. She loves it. While it'll still be a few more weeks until we can get some at the farmer's market, we can still count on Walt's for a few tasty ears.
Corn is best enjoyed with friends :)

everyday play



6.12.2010

IRELAND

Two months ago today, we arrived home from our 10-day Ireland adventure. We took countless pictures and created memories to last a lifetime. Shortly after we returned, I began to journal our experience. This journey required a blog of its own! So grab a pint (or two) of Guinness and enjoy.

Click here:
John & Kristen's 2010 Irish Adventure

Happy Birthday Ronnie!

A happy #32 to one simply amazing brother. Here's some oldies from back in the day...

Celebrating #6.
Celebrating #5. This cake says "Happy Birthday" to Ronnie, Dad & Me. We were huge Dukes of Hazard fans at the time, hence the sweet cake replica of the General Lee.

6.11.2010

Zoo Friends

Ellyana & Lola, Lincoln Park Zoo, Chicago, June 2010

6.07.2010

The Family Expansion Act

You’re looking at a picture of the BEST souvenir we brought back from Ireland. Our second bambino is on the way! Our baby is due 1.1.11 (New Year’s Day)--though I’ll probably have another c-section just after Christmas so he or she will be here by year's end!

We found out at the end of April we're expecting. A week before we got the positive test, I swore on my life to John and my two best girlfriends that I was pregnant. I just knew. I took a test and it came up negative. I shrugged it off and knew that it was just too early. A few days later, I took another. Having absolutely no privacy as a mother, Lola was with me in the bathroom. I decided to have her deliver the news. She walked into the living room and handed it to Daddy. Pretty awesome moment!

We had a very early ultrasound at 6 weeks and saw a beautiful heartbeat that was actually 10 beats faster than Lola’s was at the same time (a very good sign). This morning (John’s birthday!), we went for my first doctor’s appointment at U of Chicago. Before the appointment, I had another ultrasound which showed baby to be just as he or she should be. Something about it was even more special than our ultrasound with Lola at the same age--probably because now we know just how amazing the final result is! It was fun seeing all the same people we got to know at the office while pregnant the first time--I was glad they were just as excited to see me :)

Boy or Girl? Those we’ve told have asked which we prefer. Our answer: HEALTHY! We ask humbly and kindly that you keep the health of our child-to-be in your prayers. It would mean so much to us. That being said, boy or girl, we will be thrilled either way. We see nothing but “pros” to having a boy OR a girl. A girl would be fantastic: we already have EVERYTHING she could need and the thought of sisters sounds like so much fun. A boy would be simply wonderful: one of each, a little prince for me, a little baseball buddy for John. The most exciting thing though is that Lola will have a sibling. We can’t wait to see her with this baby. She is so kind and loving to her dollies, we can only hope that sweet heart of hers extends to her brother or sister! We know there will be trying moments of sibling rivalry, but that comes with the territory. Just last night she was kissing my belly over and over again when I told her our baby was in there.

We’ll keep you posted!

6.06.2010

"Princess"

I taught Lola the word "princess" the other day. I said it to her twice. Tonight, while playing with her Melissa & Doug Princess puzzle, she said it over and over again as she took the pieces out. Little does she know we're going to the land of a thousand princesses in just three more weeks! Perfect timing.