The Pumpkin Patch, Year Two

What’s an adventure day at the pumpkin patch made of?

For Miggz it meant…

– having unlimited viewing rights to the “baby chickens” while waiting for Auntie and Uncles to arrive

– being able to roll off as many (and as big) pumpkins as he can from the hay bales

– seeing Mommie rock some shorts in this sunny (and rather silly for Fall) 80-degree weather

– climbing up on some hay stacks (by himself!) and getting to hang out with Auntie Anna and Joci

– showing his cousin how a farm tractor works

– picking the best one-oz pumpkin from (what’s left of) this lot

– NOT wanting to wait around for the hayride pick-up

(so Daddy took him and Joci to the little kids’ maze while we waited)

– getting on the (super ghetto) hayride with the best people in the world

– NOT remembering about the super-ghetto part

– being able to run free and go through “tunnels” (when he could barely run on his own last year!)

– and finally, coming home to Gramma’s AWESOME-as-always cooking

It was a good day.

It was a good day, indeed.

Revisiting Sedona

Terrence and I decided to revisit Sedona for our five-year wedding anniversary. It was nice to return to this beautiful and peaceful place–the site of our honeymoon. We went here for three days after our wedding, where we relaxed and rejuvenated at The Enchantment Resort, toured Sedona’s quaint little town, rode the trolley, stopped at the Chapel of the Holy Cross, and saw its magnificent Red Rocks from a helicopter.

This year, on our return, we had Miggz in tow for our day trip. My mom also came along. It was a short and sweet stop compared to the three days we had for our honeymoon. But aside from what seemed like an endless number of roundabouts they added to this whole town, nothing’s changed. Sedona is just one of those places that leaves you BREATHLESS.

We decided to stop by the Chapel first. You park at the foot of a hill and climb to the chapel site up a ramp.

Even at the parking lot, the views everywhere are already postcard-perfect…

Good thing I decided to bring flat footwear…the short hike to the chapel is a work-out! And try pushing a stroller up the hill and on the ramp!

This is Miggz and Daddy walking up the ramp…

It was hard to get a decent photo of–and with–Miggz. He just wanted to run around and explore.

These are a couple of good ones…

Inside the chapel…

And outside…

Miggz and Daddy

My Mom and I

Terrence and I

After the chapel we headed to Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village. Miggz decided to nap during the entire two-and-a-half hours we were here!

I had mixed feelings about this nap.

On one hand, Miggz sure missed out on–and would have gone bananas for–the little village’s number of fountains and archways (or “tunnels” as he would refer to them). JUST for these, a return trip with him is in order…

On the other hand–with Grandma with us to watch Miguel while he naps–Terrence and I had free rein to explore this photographer’s dream of a place, like honeymooners on a date.

So my husband did what he does best when not distracted by the bundle of joy and energy that is our child–appreciate the beauty of faith, hope, and love that is his wife.

Truly rare is a husband who breathes joy into your every day, loves your child with every bit of life within him, and treats you like a super model (and a super mom–despite your flaws) during his every waking moment.

Such is my husband, and for him I am truly blessed.

Photography by Terrence Guerrero | Writing by K. Guerrero a.k.a. NewMamma | Copyright 2011 | All Rights Reserved

Beautiful Song

Like many New Mammas out there, I hardly ever get to watch any tv. We’ve never had any DVR, so for my shows, it’s either watch or miss.

It’s gotten so much better. Now that Miguel is two, I actually get to catch my How I Met Your Mother and Big Bang Theory episodes when they go on. If not, I am readily able to steal a moment to watch them on CBS.com a day after airing. Ahhh…the sweet little things mothers enjoy.

Last night Miguel and I were able to catch a quick glimpse of the results show of Dancing with the Stars, right when Julianne Hough and her Footloose movie co-star Kenny Wormald were about to go on. I am glad we had the tv right when they were about to do their dance. Their performance just blew me away. More so, it made me discover this song, Holding Out for a Hero by Ella Mae Bowen.

I can’t stop listening to it. It turns out it is a ballad remake of the 80’s song of the same title by Bonnie Tyler.

Here are the lyrics…

Holding Out for a Hero

(original by Bonnie Tyler, remake ballad by Ella Mae Bowen)

Where have all the good men gone
And where are all the gods?
Where’s the street-wise Hercules
To fight the rising odds?
Isn’t there a white knight upon a fiery steed?
Late at night I toss and turn and dream
of what I need

[Chorus]

I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ’til the end of the night
He’s gotta be strong
And he’s gotta be fast
And he’s gotta be fresh from the fight
I need a hero
I’m holding out for a hero ’til the morning light
He’s gotta be sure
And it’s gotta be soon
And he’s gotta be larger than life

Somewhere after midnight
In my wildest fantasy
Somewhere just beyond my reach
There’s someone reaching back for me
Racing on the thunder and rising with the heat
It’s gonna take a superman to sweep me off my feet

[Chorus]

Up where the mountains meet the heavens above
Out where the lightning splits the sea
I could swear that there’s someone somewhere
Watching me

Through the wind and the chill and the rain
And the storm and the flood
I can feel his approach
Like the fire in my blood

I just LOVE the ballad remake!

Here is the DWTS clip of Julianne and Kenny’s dance. I think it will blow you away too.

Falling for Fall

Being a Mom makes you fall in love with all sorts of things you’d never think you’d fall for.

His incessant giggles. Phineas & Ferb. The monkey boots he refuses to take off. Peppa Pig. The smell of his un-bathed head.

You get the idea.

Here’s one of those things–it came on TV as my son was watching some Nick Jr. and it instantly found a little place in my heart. It’s a song about my favorite season, sung by Moose A. Moose & Zee.

Words that are simply too cute, from NickJr.com.

Who would have thought???

Update (October 11, 2011, 7:05 AM):

I figured it would help to have to have a clip of this song along with this post. As it turns out, it’s on YouTube. Enjoy!

And So I Turn 30…

I’ve had various mixed feelings about today. Mostly along the lines of panic (“eeeek!”), indifference (“who cares, it’s JUST a number”), excitement (“psshhh…30 is the new 20!”), and defiance (“I refuse to believe that I’m old!!!”).

What it all comes down to–I’ve realized–should be not so much how I feel about this milestone, but what wisdom I can impart my two-year-old son. What, with all the highs and lows, blessings and blows, rejoices and regrets of life thus far, can I gift him, on this my 30th birthday.

THAT wisdom can be summed up into this Holstee Manifesto, for which I am grateful someone else have already come up with–but pretty much sums up my every thought of lesson and legacy for Miguel.

This is your LIFE, son. Live it, and live it well.

Related articles

• Turning 30 & My Mighty Life List (thismamathing.com)