My Undoing

Don't get your hopes up. I'm not back. I have huge aspirations to make this blog happen someday, but not right now. Baby #4, Zion Ryle, born May 12th, 2009 was my undoing when it comes to blogging. He is the sweetest and our family is now complete, but something had to give and so my blog did. Someday when all my babies are out of diapers and can complete the bedtime routine without me I may be ready to blog again. Until then... may your grow in faith in our Victorious, Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

The Bike Ride

This is our precious church.

Home Sweet Home

We live in Lancaster, CA. It's an hour north of L.A.  We live 7 miles outside of town on the property of our church.  We're surrounded by alfalfa fields.   
This is the view looking East.  (Moses on the bike with one of the kids.)
This is the view looking South.
This is the view looking West.  The church is actually just west of our house but I walked North a bit.
A sunset from the front of our church.

Ballerina Eden... with tap shoes

Here I actually think she may have been doing the hula.  Grandma learned in Hawaii and taught her.  



This Fall Eden is taking a combo Ballet and Tap Dance class.  SHE LOVES IT. (understatement).  In August I found this leotard at a Thrift Store for $1.99.  Later at home as I examined it I realized it was 1)Brand new (tags inside) and 2)A fancy shmancy Dance brand.  I looked the leotard up online and found that Eden has a $25 leotard that the Lord provided for $1.99.  Thank you God!

Sweet Silas is One

October 1st we celebrated Silas Piper's first birthday.  He is a very sweet and happy boy.  He laughs easily and loves his sibling.   He's walking and trying to talk, favorite words being "All done." and "Uh Oh."
"Are they really going to let me get close to that glowing thing?"

Enjoying an earful of birthday cake.
Has anyone else had a child who likes to use his foot to help hold his drink?
The morning of his 1st birthday Moses buzzed his head.  This is the before picture.  It was actually his 4th haircut since birth, but just for fun we did it on his birthday.

Achy Breaky Heart

This is Malachi dancing to "Achy Breaky Heart".  No kidding.  In his favorite firetruck jammies no less.  He got the boots as an early birthday present from Grandpa and Grandma and they hardly leave his feet.  Sometimes (often) they are the only thing on him.  

We have this silly kids video from the early '90s with a kids rendition of "Achy Breaky" and he loves it.  The other day at church two visiting girls had boots on and he yelled at full volume, "Mommy, can they dance the 'Achy Breaky' with me?"

Out of the Woods

After weeks of nausea and vomiting I am starting to feel a little better.  Now I'm just exhausted and spitting.  (With all 4 pregnancies I have had ptyalism.  It's overactive saliva glands so my mouth waters all day and I have to spit out the extra saliva.  Makes me feel real lady-like... pp-too-ee.)

Thank you for praying for us and for the encouragement.  This round of morning sickness has definitely been the most severe I have endured.  I would probably think I was pretty sick right now if is wasn't such an improvement over a month ago.  Please continue to pray for a safe pregnancy.

Pregnant

I can't imagine that anyone is looking at my blog who hasn't already heard through some other means, but just in case, we are pregnant again!  With #4.  The part of the story that is somewhat unknown is that this was/is totally unplanned by the Estradas.  This is completely a "God's idea" baby.  I took 7 positive tests before Moses and I would believe it (especially Moses).  Now we, of course, are thrilled and already talking about having 4 kiddos like if he/she is here.

Morning sickness.  Why is it called that? I actually don't know anyone who only had it in the morning.  It has been BAD.  Especially at night.  Our precious Church Family has stepped in and helped with cooking, cleaning, laundry, child care.  I don't know how I would be doing it without them.  Please pray that we all would persevere during this hard time and honor Christ and that the "all-day" sickness would end soon.  My Mom comes Sunday... Praise the Lord.  Thank you for your joy and prayers.

Far to go...

So Ben, a little boy from our church, is here playing with Eden and Malachi.  3 kids+2 swings=conflict.  Malachi is whining about not getting a turn.  I remind him of the privilege of loving and serving his friend and sister.  

Ben hops off the swing and says, "Here Malachi you can swing.  I'll push you."  

I say, "Wow, Malachi, Ben is serving you.  What should you say?"  

Malachi, "Higher!"

Broken toe?

I may have broken my pinky toe on my right foot.  I'll never know for sure because I don't intend to go to the doctor, but each step reminds me how thankful I am that usually I function in a mostly pain-free capacity.  I know people who suffer daily from different medical conditions that cause almost constant pain to some degree.  What a precious reminder of heaven.  I know that the real joy of heaven will be being able to know, serve, worship, love Jesus in a sin-free capacity, but the end of pain will be a wonderful perk as well.  

Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I am going there to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take  you to be with me that you also may be where I am.  You know the way to the place where I am going.  John 14:1-4