Preschool Graduate!

They all looked so cute marching in.
Then in what felt like forever, it was her time to
give the Welcome Address...

Good evening Local Manager, Principal, Administrators,

Teachers, Parents and fellow classmates.

When we started Pre-school we were very small,

You see how much we have grown.

We’ve learned so much the whole year through,

Like our ABC’s and our 123’s, our shapes and colors too.

We’ve made friends and know how to share,

Making our parents and teachers happy.

Now our graduation day is finally here,

And Pre-school is over but learning never ends.

I can assure you that we will remember,

All the fun we had and all the things we did.

But most of all we’ll remember our friends and teachers.

Today with great hope and expectations we graduate.

On behalf of the graduating class of 2010,

It gives me great pleasure to extend a warm welcome

To all of you who have made this day a reality.

Thank you.

We went over the last few lines

as she woke up, at the beauty parlor, and finally on the ride to

the auditorium. And guess what? She nailed it!!!!!

Then after some presentations was the handing out of diplomas.

What a proud and happy day! Hopefully one of the many

happy eventful days into a bright a fulfilling future, God willing.

Graduation Day!

It's been so crazy ... the planning for the arrival of the IICA rep and the consultant the BTIA hired to help us assess and organize the issues of Orange Walk and Tourism, planning and executing the dinner with them and the members of government, taking them on a tour of Orange Walk showcasing our tourism-assets. All the while still making sure I'm not neglecting my real work... the actual bread winning work, between machinery failure (printer died and new one doesn't want to cooperate) a flighty night guy, customers who don't want to pay up. Thank God for team work. I must say that the Board of BTIA Orange Walk Chapter really know how to communicate and work together. I'm really happy to be a part of it. Today I can finally breath and tend to my children. Well of course the focus is on Hala. She is after all graduating from preschool. One of many stepping stones into her bright future, God willing.

Took her to the beauty parlor to get all prettied up with an up-do. I tried to find a hair accessory that didn't scream beauty queen contestant. I didn't want it to look like a crown or tiara in her hair but I think it still ended up as such. Any who she looks lovely and I she seems to recall all the lines of her Welcome Address so I hope, please dear Lord, that she doesn't have a problem saying it in front of everyone.

Well wish us luck.

Patriotic Cupcakes

Well I guess it worked. Roy said everyone loved the cupcakes. My favorite remark was from my daughter this morning. "Oh mommy! My cupcakes are so beautiful!" The look on her face was all I needed. I did them really simple. VERY simple. Just 1/3 red, 1/3 white and 1/3 blue with the flag on top. Less is more I guess. She was very excited to take it to school. I told remember 50 cupcakes for 50 bay leaves on the flag.

Second Day of School

Scene: Rashidah is sitting across from me at my office desk. She's playing with the paper we were using to practice her writing.

Me: So does your teacher know your name now?
Rashidah: (tearing bits of paper off with a ruler) Yes
Me. Does your teacher ask you any questions?
Rashidah: Uh-huh. (nodding her head in confirmation)
Me: What did she ask you?
Rashidah: "Rashidah please go sit down."
Me: Your teacher asked you to go sit down?
Rashidah: Uh-huh.

The End.

Some Li'l Creations

Well, I've finally compiled some pictures of Delightful treats and cakes that I've made in the past... in no particular order. Some definitely could have used some improvements. Others I can smile about. It's all amateur stuff but was definitely fun making and decorating.

Wedding treat left in the honeymoon room, the cupcake was covered with buttercream frosting, the white chocolate I made with some wedding themed molds. I love making chocolate. The first time I ever made chocolate was for a wedding for a friend of mine in Florida. Boy does that bring back memories.

Easter cup cakes. Simple but fun and fun looking. Who doesn't love a good easter egg hunt. Used jelly beans and peanut m & m's for these ones.

I called it the "Valentines Day Treat Box" it was an assortment of Cherry cordial cookies, coconut macaroons dipped in chocolate, cupcakes and my special brownies.

This was last years Christmas Treat Box. Again an assortment of Chocolate Pecan Cubes, Christmas Crispy Treat, Brownies, Cake, and Peanut Kissy Cookies.

Birthday Cake for a 3 year old simple yet yummy lemon flavored buttercream frosting on a moist yellow cake.

This was my very first cake order. The nanny ordered it for her son, and she knows I'm not a professional but my yellow cake is a favorite of theirs.

This Thank You cake was a very tedious cake to make. It's a lemon-orange-pineapple cake with whipped cream frosting. Really Yummy.

This here is a December birthday cake I did for a friend. Her daughter loved Jojo. She told me she always has trouble ordering a cake since her little girl's B-Day is on December 26th. So I offered to help. It was a far cry from the picture I got off the web but I think the color helped out a lot.

This by far is one of my favorite cakes to make. Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake. Simply Delightful. Too bad Grandma was too sick to enjoy it.

This was the first time I ever used royal icing. It was for my daughter's Baptism. It's a little on the small side. It's when I truly learned the definition of tiered cake.

Another Birthday Cake

I made this cake last night. Hubby's beating up that i charged so little for it. I was approached by our nanny's daughter who wanted to do something special for a friend of hers. She loves my cakes (or at least that's what she said to win me over).



Previously her mom placed an order for a graduation cake for her but requested that instead of a cake to use my specialty brownies. It came out rather nicely but unfortunately I have no picture due to that camera being stolen the day I took the photo.

I must say the nanny's family is getting the best of my baking...then again they are one of my only only paying customers... some may think its a "give-away-price", but I chalk it up as practice.

Go Bye-bye.

Rafiq: Active, energetic, and fun loving little boy. Seeking persons to take him bye-bye.

He hears a key jingle and he's there like a bear. He sits by the door waiting for someone to open it so he can make his escape. He turns away if you want to hold him but if you say bye and you try to leave he will want to go with you.
What can I say the boy loves outings!

He Walks!

It's been about a month since Rafiq has started making little steps on his own, but honestly I thought how much longer will it be until he finally builds the confidence to go the distance on his own?  Today after 14 months and 4 days he finally took his first walk into toddler-hood, walking across the room and even changing direction at the last second.   Neil Armstrong eat your heart out.  

Boys certainly are different.  Unlike his sister at this age, he tries to eat fruit from the garbage, climbs on anything that will take him up a level or four, throws anything he's bored of in the fish tank including but not limited to bottles, toys, TV remote, keys, and sunglasses. He tries to climb out of his crib even though he still didn't know how to walk yet, and has an irresistible urge to go after his weenie as air touches it.  

Did i mention that I think boys are weird.   Cute but weird.  He even laughs at his own farts.  What can I say gotta love em.

Parenting=Change

Before becoming a mother my interests were volleyball, rollerblading, going to movies, and alternative/rock music. My time was for me. Meals were anything that could be eaten on the run and if nothing is edible in the fridge then that meal gets skipped with out so much as a second thought. 

Now, my interests have changed and my likes are now pretty much dependent on that of my kids interest: playing cards, arts and craft, tickles. My body's idea of exercise is changing diapers that stink so bad it makes me sneeze causing my body to stiffen and do an involuntary abdominal crunch. There HAS to be something edible in the fridge, you think a hungry man is an angry man, just wait until you meet a baby with food on its mind.  

Who would have thought an avid listener of groups like: Godsmack, Disturbed, and Linkin Park would turn into the cream puff that runs to the TV when  Noggin's  Papa Moco Jumbie comes on.  

Lyrics 

Part I

It's carnival time in my town today
So papa & I get our costumes ready
Oh I cannot wait for everybody to see
when papa stands on his stilts
he becomes a moco jumbie

My papa's a moco jumbie
Stands tall as the eyes can see
I wish I was tall as daddy
He dances to bring harmony
Come on son, dance with me
(while) I know I may be small but I wish I was tall
So for the carnival day I could moco jumbie my way

repeat chorus 2 x

My papa's a moco jumbie

Stands tall as the eyes can see
I wish I was tall as daddy
He dances to bring harmony
and now he's dancing with me

And while I may be small we came up with a way 
So for the carnival day I could moco jumbie my way 

Me and my papa today, dancing down the carnival way

Can't help it.  I LOVE this song.   

Inner Passion: hereditary?

Ever since I've known myself I've loved baking. As a child the mixing, the measuring and especially the spoon-licking would call to me. I'd wait eagerly by my mom hoping that she'd let me help and award me the beater when she was finished.

Now I see my daughter, my little helper, being the eager beaver. "Can I put the' suga' in? I want to mix it." She'd run and grab the bar stool and push it up to the counter where I'm working and offer a lending hand because "I'm a good helper, right mama?" a response like "Yes, you are Pumpkin." would have her smiling happily. As she waits the question "can I taste it now?" would pop into her chatter more often than one would like to hear, setting it right up there with "Are we there yet?"

Here is my darling glowing at the sight of the cookies she helped make. I think she may just develop a passion for the culinary arts herself.

As much as I love her helping out, sometimes I just want to be alone with my thoughts and ingredients. Baking and creating is my door out of the ordinary. Call me selfish but at times I just want it all to myself. It really is one of my only"me times." That's mainly why I bake at night. But for fun little small treats like cookies and brownines or cakes for the family, that's the day time stuff for me and my little chef.

Earth Hour: Save the Earth!

Vote Earth everyone! It's our earth and we ought to do what we can to save it. No matter how small the deed it still helps.

Here at the Orchid Palm Inn, we did our share by turning off our lights and air conditioners of course we could not do it without the support of our guests. As a big THANK YOU to them for their understanding and support we had serviced juice and cheese dip with tortilla chips.

I'll be putting up some of the pictures that my hubby took.

Be still my aching heart.

Mom and Dad just got back in from Florida yesterday the 23rd. They were out for a week. So I guess work is going to be up and at-tums today, not that I haven't been busy managing the two businesses on my own. The load just wasn't quite as heavy having my brother look after the field work. Normally when my folks would be out of the country I'd have to manage the office and the field jobs and manufacturing plant. But thank the good lord its different now.

Roy and my little angle Rashidah went to Cancun yesterday and will be flying out to New Jersey today. I feel like my heart is being ripped out of me, I've never been apart from my daughter for more than a day. The past two days I was dealing with the reality that I won't see her for bit. But it hit me last night like blow to the chest. I was choosing her outfits for her trip and folding her little clothes and the tears just rolled. I couldn't let her go. I know that may seem ridiculous because its only vacation and will be returning on August 3rd, but I can't help it. It feels like a lifetime away. I broke down into tears when we arrived at my in-laws, because I felt like I couldn't do it. I was so near panic that I'm glad Roy noticed and reassured me that they'll be alright. It's true it's not like she's going by herself. He's going with her and her grandparents will be going too. Here great-grandmother is already there so she will be fine. I know that. So, I mustered up some courage. But it was hard when she hugged me and told me "But I want you to go to Tia Sandra house, too." when I told her that I had to stay with Baby Brother she just hung her head down and said "awww." She's only just turned 3 and is such a small thing. But she'll steal your heart quicker than you know it.

My husband will take care of her, I know. I hope. If all else I know his parents will help. It's not that I don't trust him it's just that I know them both, but then again things are different when I'm not around, they're fine and she listens and obeys him. But when I'm around, he always tells me to talk to my daughter cause she wont' listen to him. I hope when they return they'll be best buds.

So for now the man of the house is little Rafiq. He got vaccinated on Tuesday and has not been his usually bubbly self; I guess it's the fever reducer I've be giving him. Yet, he still smiles as though he knows I'm in need of some cheering up.

Its funny that even at the small and tender age 3 months he's sensitive to my feelings. I could understand when he sees/hears me upset about something that he starts to whimper, which usually snaps my attention back to him and quickly settle down. I'd smile at him and tell him to "hush darling" that "it's ok, its not him I'm upset with" (very necessary especially when he's suckling cause he won't continue until I relax and reassure him.) That may or may not seem natural, but what's even more perplexed is the way he gets me to smile. How does he know to instigate smiling and conversation when he sees me staring off and feeling depressed? All I can feel is that he's God's little angel sent to me. Both of them are. I never knew I could feel so much love for anyone. It's so true:

Having children is seeing your heart walk around outside your body.

I'll miss them both so much already and will be counting the days.

Do we want to live to be 150?

Lanza featured in the TV podcast is a board member of Eden. He was featured on ABC back in March. Click on the link..it's pretty freaky. For those of you who don't know. Eden has a base in Corozal, we (Sealand Harvesters & Developers Ltd.) did their piles and pile works for their foundation. They will be opening a larger clinic in the Belize Free Zone , near the airport.

We along with other investors of the Belize Free Zone went to an familiarization seminar they hosted in February. Eden (Stem cell research organization) is part of starcapital . Interesting yet super creepy. As my dad and I sat there we both couldn't help getting willies. As though we both had the same feeling we scoped out the nearest exits and summed up the dudes by the doors. I figure hmmm can I fake that I'm going into labor in order to escape if they try to lock the doors or will they try to hold my baby for testing.

By the end of the seminar we were like cool, very interesting...were we brainwashed? I mean it all seems to be going against God's will...are we/they trying to be like God? Funny thing is that I had a question and was interested in stem cell research without really knowing that's what it was...cord blood banking. I was interested in collecting and saving the blood from the umbilical cord as an insurance for my baby. But thankfully I spoke to the Scientist in charge Dr. Ramesh Roshan who measured out the pros and cons for me and aided me in my decision. He also informed me that here in Belize they will not be doing cord blood collecting at this time, which was basically the answer to my question.

Food for thought: I recall them emphasizing that they will NOT be doing anything like cloning and experimenting to create different species and such mad scientist nonsense...they they are simply doing research to improve and hopefully extend life through stem cell research. According to Lanza that's what he does...so does that me that here in belize there will be testing such as cloning occuring? Cloning not to create a "whole human" only "human organs" as they say. do-dee-do-dee-do-de-doo-dee have entered the twilite zone?

Sibling love

Portrait of a Baby

Sleeping with Angels

You sleep so soundly,
Looking so peaceful.
Carefully I set you down.

Your tiny being,
is holding me here.
So sweet is your expression.

You have caught my heart,
I'm still standing here.
'cause you're smiling in your sleep.

Bedtime games

Have you tried to stage a photo with kids...it's funny what can happen...

I was trying to get my daughter to take her nap but as usual she didn't want to. She just loves her baby brother, so I told her come and sleep next to Baby Brother, an offer she couldn't refuse. Unfortunately, the bribe didn't hold too long so her next favorite thing is taking pictures so I told her to close her eyes, I'll take a picture of the two them sleeping. By the time I snapped the photo... here's what happened..Second attempt...Rafiq joined in on the joke on mommy...Third times a charm...
By the way it still took a lot more coaxing and back patting/rubbing to get her to sleep.



Another incident:
I wanted to capture a moment of sibling love and obviously someone got bored.

Rafiq Hassan Rosado

Photo Ops

Hi son, I'm your daddy.

Eyes Open

"Sleeping with angels"

Rafiq's first bath.

Napping after bath.

Active Labor: My stories

Well as some of you may know, my darling son finally decided to join us and made his grand entrance on April 20th at 1:57 AM.  I'd have to say that this experience was better than the first..at least this time I knew how to push. 

Yes, the whole experience itself was rather pleasant...not the pain...but the events and mood leading up to point of "I need to push!"

This time: I knew I was in labor, but chose not to go to the doctor right away.  Instead we decided to go to a birthday party for a close friend, besides my doctor was invited to the party too. 

First time: I thought is was false labor and was forced to go to the clinic by my mother and tattle-tale husband. 

This time: I wasn't mad at hubby, he was clearly aware that I was experiencing labor pains but also wanted to party. 

First time: I was mad at hubby: he slept even though I told him I was feeling what I thought was false labor pains...hmm...maybe that's why he continued sleeping even after I had awoken him a couple times with my "ou's."

This time: I arrived at the clinic 9 cm dialated

First time: I arrived at the clinic 6 cm dialated

This time: I handled contractions a whole lot better... But I must give props to info I found on the net. Expectant moms heed my words... mediation is the key (well at least it was for me)  I just relaxed and concentrated on the fact that contractions have a beginning, middle and end. Beginning is mild and builds up to the middle which is the climax, then fades off to the end.  I knew the pain was coming and waited for it and listened to it...oh and it definitely helped that I took a deep breath in at the start and slowly released it during the contraction.    

First time: Fear caused me to tense up, but thank the good Lord above, hubby was there to rub my lower back while I was feeling this horrid pain. I had him apply pressure to my lower back until he felt as though his hand would fall off.  Hey, it was the least he could do. Besides the pain his hand felt was in no comparison to what my coochie ("cucus" as Roy calls it) was feeling. 

Two things that happened that were similar was 1: Doc had to break my water.  2: The pain I felt after that can only be described as mind boggling.  

This time: For a moment I couldn't think, and felt like I couldn't catch my breath. I felt the need to push but couldn't because 1: we weren't in the delivery room 2: I was standing: 3: I needed to sit on the wheel chair to get to the delivery room.  I thought the task to be impossible but again thank the good lord for nurses, doctors and family support. Nurse Briceno snapped me to reality with a calm, sympathetic but firm "deep breath. Take a deep breath." Once I managed to do that my whole body relaxed and I sat in the wheel chair and told Roy "Hurry!" 

First time: I remember being wheeled through the waiting room and upon seeing our families I held my hand to my head and did a sign that said put me out of my misery. 

This time: I started to push as I got on the table, but they kept telling me not to (I was too high on the table and needed to slide down.)

First time: They were telling me I was pushing wrong... LOL Can you imagine...I was pushing up apparently when I was suppose to be pushing down...hence bare down: For all you first time moms push like you want to poop...there I said it, I wish someone had told me that before I went into labor.

Both times: My darling angels came out with the woosh and my whole being relaxed, hearing their cries and seeing them for the first time all covered with yucky stuff but still looking so beautiful and so REAL.  "Ten fingers, ten toes?"  

Ten fingers. Ten Toes. 

Can you feel my thoughts?

This photo was taken on Friday, April 18th.

On my mind? When will he come into this world?
Is he ok in there? Will delivery be complicated?
Will I be blessed with a quick uncomplicated
labor for the second time?
Will I be blessed with a healthy baby?

Desiderata

GO PLACIDLY AMID THE NOISE & HASTE, & REMEMBER WHAT PEACE THERE MAY BE IN SILENCE, AS FAR AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT SURRENDER BE ON GOOD TERMS WITH ALL PERSONS. Speak your truth quietly & clearly; and listen to others, even the dull & ignorant; they have their story. Avoid loud & aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain & bitter; for always there will be greater & lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity & disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue & loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

author unknown

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