My baby boy is 8 years old!!!

I can't even think the words, Danny is 8, without tears in my eyes and a lump in my throat. Daniel Matias Delgado came into this world 8 years ago, without a peep. Now he brings such a wonderful noise to our home with his chatter, shooting noises and non-stop imaginary battles. Danny is an amazing son and a fabulous big brother. He doesn't complain when I ask for a little help with his sisters. He loves the role of big brother. He looks out for his sisters' safety and loves teaching them new things. Danny still wants a little brother and becomes sad when I tell him it isn't going to happen, but perks up when I tell him that I don't want to divide my time any further.

My little man is very sensitive and gets his feelings hurt so very easily by those he loves most. A little teasing often results in tears. Danny is very righteous and expects everyone he knows to do the right thing. Danny rarely needs discipline and is very upset when he is punished. Danny is very generous and understanding when Mamma asks for cuddles. Although Danny no longer seeks out cuddles on his own, he obliges with a shy smile when asked.

Danny is into everything! He is in several sports throughout the year. This past year he played basketball, soccer (spring & fall), baseball (coach pitch), swimming and ice skating. He loves to watch TV; Phineas and Ferb, Super Ninja's and Star Wars (animated series) are his favorites. He also loves video games, he plays Wii everyday for 30 mins. (he'd play more but Mommy & Papi had to put in a limit). He loves to shoot hoops outside and play "guns" with his buddy Nick from next door. Danny loves to build and play with Lego's. He has a Star Wars battle set up on his dresser. This past year Danny built a Star Wars ship that had 389 pieces, all on his own. He holds his friends from IL (Luke & Dominic) very close to his heart and loves when he gets play dates with them, but he isn't a very good pen pal quite yet.

Danny is an amazing student. Thankfully, his 2nd grade teacher, Mrs. Grace, is working hard to keep him challenged because his was quite bored earlier in the year. Danny has a perfect score in spelling, is two grades ahead in reading, and doing very well in math also. He was recently selected for placement in an advanced math academy group where is learning multiplication and division - he is very excited about this.

This year we have been "church breaking" our family. We have added Sunday service, Sunday school and vacation bible school to our lives. Within a few months, Danny read his student Bible (over 500 pages) during his free reading time. Danny has sang in church with his class twice now and went caroling with families from church to nursing homes in December. While Danny still doesn't look forward to Church related activities, he goes and does a good job while there. We have been learning so much together!

I take requests for birthday dinners. Danny makes it really easy on me. He asked for frozen chicken parmesan, creamed corn and brownies.

These past 8 years (gulp, snif) have gone by in a flash and I can honestly say that I have loved every day of being Danny's Mamma! Happy Birthday Baby!

Karina Lynn is 2 years old!!!

My little gift from God is 2 years old! Wow, time really does fly. Karina is my little socialite. She loves to interact with people. Like her father, she doesn't like to be locked up indoors. If she doesn't get outside or get some social interaction she turns into Karina the destroyer (think a mini hulk or Taz). She loves to go shopping now and search for "friends" who are other little people like herself, so that she can say "Hi!". Karina loves to go to "play school" - this is the drop in day care at the YMCA. If too many days pass without a visit, she will ask to go. Speaking of which, Karina is an amazing communicator. She was speaking in full sentences at a year and has always been able to get her message across. I regularly hear Karina use words like; delicious and hippopotamus - it still floors me. Even her Spanish accent is impressive. Karina's manners are pretty good. She has consistently said "Thank You" since she was younger than one. "Excuse me" is not a problem but she often has to be prompted for a "please". She calls Danny, Naniel and calls Cecilia "Shya or Shya Rose". Karina can say almost every one's name including all the runner up choices for her own name, but she can't say her own name very well. She used to say her name was Seema and now says Tamina Yinn. In addition to calling her Karina, we call her by a few others as well like, Kk, Patczi, Boom Boom, and Angel Kisses.

Karina loves to run, jump and climb. That is run away from me, jump on the bed and climb to dangerous heights at the park. Yes, she is a handful (I do say this quite a bit). My little angel has a personality that is bigger than life. She has us rolling in the aisles every day with her ridiculous facial expressions. Karina likes to pass the time by reading or tearing books and playing with her babies. She reads to them, changes their diapers, sings to them, takes them for walks and shopping. She teaches her dolls all about how it is "bad to color on walls"....a lesson she continues to struggle with herself. Karina often calls her babies by her own nicknames. I am having a bit of trouble disciplining Karina. So far, consistent time outs, hand slaps and bottom swats don't appear to be very effective with her. The best way to stop Karina from doing something naughty is to surprise her with a big yell - not so fun at the ranch, I'll tell ya that. Karina adores her brother and sister. She misses them when they are gone but loves playing with their favorite toys when they are away. Both Danny and Cecilia have a large stack of favorite breakable toys and books with paper pages high up on their dressers to keep them safe from Karina's little hands.

Karina is a bit of a brute and very brave. Karina and her sister (3 years her senior) experienced many of the same first this year like certain slides, splash pads and staying at play-school. Karina is brutish in how she likes to move furniture and wrestle with Danny. Although, now that I think of it, Danny is wrestling less and less with her since Karina fights dirty and he gets scratched or bit. Karina immediately goes to the aide of her brother or sister when they are upset. She asks "what's wrong?" in a high pitched voice and offers hugs and kisses. Like her brother and sister at the same age, Karina does not sleep through the night. Now that Mario took down her crib gate, she gets out of her bed and comes into mine during the night. This is much preferable to the screaming that was taking place during the night previously. Karina has successfully used the potty once - but hasn't even wanted to try again since then.

Karina finds comfort by using her pacifier "chupy" and her "cuddle". We have taken it away during the day for the most part. She still needs a little bit of down time with them about twice a day. During these times she has to lie down in order to keep them, when she's done she will bring them to me and say goodbye to them and say "see you at mimi's" (next sleep time). The hardest time without the pacifier continues to be in the car. She likes to chill with them and without that mute button, there is a lot of whining and at times screaming going on.

Photographing this little angel has been a challenge. Karina doesn't stand still for 2 seconds so my pictures are often blurred and not quite what I had imagined. When prompted to smile, she gives me a forced all teeth grin with an upturned face that is so ridiculous I can't help but to laugh!

Karina is such a blessing to our family. She is growing by leaps and bounds. She has been in a size 3T for a few months already, we often wonder when she will catch up to her sister. Karina is a blast to be with. She is so much fun. Karina gives me dancing and singing shows every day - complete with a ticket and a big bow at the end. Karina is very good at cuddling. It is such a blessing to be with her all day and I really cherish our mid-day cuddles to get her down for nap time. I am looking forward to so many adventures this next year! Happy Birthday baby girl!