The Mendoza Family

Going on three months

2009-07-27T18:37:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of James and Estela. It has been an amazing three months with our little boy.

Estela's Birthday

2009-04-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

Estela at her party

James Ignacio Mendoza

2009-04-25T16:22:00.000-07:00

James Ignacio came into the world on April 23rd at 9:35pm and so far is another great blessing God has given our family. We are thankful to God for his safe delivery and health. Here are some pictures.

For Guelo and Guela

2009-04-02T18:53:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures for guelo and guela. Estela say she loves bouu

The New Video

2008-10-21T19:14:00.000-07:00

Here is a new video for you all to enjoy.

A Little Girl now

2008-06-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

Estela is finally learning to appreciate the finer things in life:

1. Dinosaur picture books, especially ones that show lots of balls, dogs, and socks.

2. Feeding herself arroz y frijoles at our favorite taco joint.

3. Hiking with mommy in the Rocky Mountains

A view going up the hill.

At the top of a different hill.

The view of the plains
from previous outcropping of rocks. Look closely. Firestone is a blip in the distance.

4. Wearing Grandpa's sweaty old baseball caps.

5. Gigantic green exercise balls.

6. Screaming at the fish in Walmart

7. Being taught to play the piano by Auntie Hannah.

That's all for now. We miss you!

Estela Walks the Earth...

2008-03-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

Hello!
So much has happened in the last two months since I posted that there are many photos I want to share...so bear with us.

In April, Estela had her first birthday party. She was unsure of what to do with the cake, but enjoyed ripping the paper to open her gifts. After a while, she got into the spirit of eating whipped cream, but it took a couple of demo runs by mom to convince her it was good.

She also received two of her favorite things in the world: puppies! A dog puppet and a stuffed dog. She has learned to sign "dog" by patting her thigh whenever she sees one.

Estela began walking about two days after her birthday, and has decided it is the way to go.

This is one of my favorite smiles of Estela's, and usually the one she gives us early in the morning.

Even if it is 60 degrees, Estela loves to play with water!

We visited Texas in April, and Estela had such a fun time with her grandparents.

Eddie and Abbey in Rocky Mountain National Park

Estela also loves to play the piano and "dance" (mostly just shaking her leg, although yesterday she did sit on the floor and wiggle her arms and legs spasmodically in an obvious attempt at the Chicken)

One of my favorite pictures of Daddy and Baby.

Estela continues to grow and learn every day. She is really a joy to be with (but a very active baby, nonetheless.) She is learning how to use sign language, but she doesn't yet speak (any) words. Her laughter, her curiosity, and her love of puppies are some of the things that make her so fun.

Eddie and I are well, and enjoying the spring (even though the tornadoes yesterday were somewhat scary. They didn't hit us, though). We hope to hear from you soon!

Updates - New pictures of Estela

2008-03-15T11:20:00.000-07:00

Estela's First Date

2008-01-23T11:43:00.000-08:00

December, 2007:

Dear Diary:

Be still my beating heart. I have just been on my first date! It was such an exhilarating experience, although Mom and Dad were there to chaperone. We visited the Bartel's, and that was where I met Micah (again. Mom says we were friends before, but I was too little to remember. Now I'm a big girl, and he is sooooo cute!)

At first we started playing with toys. Micah shared his trucks with me!

Then Mom read us a story.

As she was reading, Micah put his arm around me!

We like each other!

My first play-date was very fun!

P.S: This is me in January. I can now pull up on the furniture. I even get to pull my clothes out of my dresser drawers (when Mom is in a good mood...)

Estela's Crib

2008-01-16T15:56:00.000-08:00

Yes, she finally has one! No more Pack-n-Play! Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Mendoza for her new place to lay her pretty head.

Raise your hand if you love my new crib!

Come a little closer...

I am so happy!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~

We also had a great Christmas. We traveled to Fresno during the week of Christmas, and then came back for New Year's for the family Christmas. Estela loved to open gifts. She found the sound of ripping paper very satisfying.

No, we're not done yet!!

Yea! I love them presents!

TOYS!! Look at my new toys!!!

New Pictures

2007-11-23T19:48:00.001-08:00

So it whas been a while since we put some pictures up on the blog and we have had many requests for updated pictures. Estela is growing up fast and now has to little nubs on her bottom gum. Here are some her most recent pictures.

Estela Laughing

2007-10-04T21:05:00.000-07:00

This is Estela having a great time on her quilt.

Trying to crawl

2007-09-17T14:48:00.001-07:00

As you can see, Estela is growing bigger. I think she changes day by day, now! She is a happy and beautiful girl and loves to be around people. She also loves to play with her toys:

And she sleeps...sometimes!

Estela's first trip to Omaha with Auntie Sarah and Auntie Hannah!

Estela Meets Solid Food

2007-09-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

Well, our little girl is growing up. Today she had her first taste of solid food as she wolfed down some rice cereal. We are very proud parents and she is very good eater. Here are a couple of videos of her eating her first few bites. The first video is from Daddy's perspective and the second is from Mommy's.

Daddy Cam

Mommy Cam

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did.

Some new pictures

2007-09-14T19:47:00.000-07:00

There's Gold in Them Thar Hills!

2007-08-29T09:47:00.000-07:00

A Baby's Guide to Gold Panning

First, I take a good nap. Being a gold-panning baby is tough work!

Then I tell Grandpa to dig out some dirt from the stream. He shows Dad how to look for the right dirt to get some gold. "Dad," I say. "Get to work!"

They pour the dirt and all that glittery goodness into their gold pans...hey, wait a minute! There's no gold in those pans!

I have to do lots of

supervising. Gotta crack that whip, yup.

Look at that technique! I must say, Dad has his gold panning skills down pat.

Rodeo Drive, here I come!

Ummmm, no wait a minute. You're not supposed to be sitting down. Where's all that gold?

Oh.

What's that you say?!

Gold Dust will not get me to the expensive college of my choice!!

Yes, getting rich through gold panning is tough, but how else will my parents be able to maintain my life of leisure?

What a gorgeous four-month old baby!

2007-08-17T16:22:00.000-07:00

Estela Isabel Mendoza

Why I love Colorado

2007-08-17T16:15:00.000-07:00

Specifically, Boulder.

Some recent Pictures

2007-08-16T17:14:00.000-07:00

Estela and Alyssa on Alyssa's visit to Colorado. We miss all our friends.

Estela in her new swimsuit. It is all we could find at Wal-Mart.

Mom and Estela in the hot tub. She loved the hot tub but hated the pool

Estela and Her Amazing Drool

2007-08-16T17:08:00.000-07:00

Well today was the day that Estela first learned to roll over. However, at the time we don't have video of that yet but we are working on it. When it becomes available we will make sure and post it but here is wonderful view of Estela engaged in one of her favorite activities: DROOLING.

Estela's Swing

2007-07-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

Estela loves her swing. Mom and dad really like it too. We found it at garage sale coming home to Dave and Donita's. When on her swing she can be quite talkative as this video demonstrates. More importantly there are times when it is only her swing that can calm her down. Thank God for swings.

How do you like my new Bumbo!

2007-07-26T19:17:00.000-07:00

Estela is sitting up right and happy in her new bumbo.

Trying new things

2007-07-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Estela, like her mother, loves trying new things and Grandpa Joe is helping out by introducing her to an ice cube.

New skills

2007-07-18T21:43:00.000-07:00

July is moving quickly. Estela has learned many new things, including:

how to hold conversations with stuffed cows that play "Old MacDonald";
the wonderous nature of the ice cube;
the wild outdoors, flies, birds, trees and other elements of nature that are amusing;
creating a baby opera with Boccherini and Bach with her new toy.

Colorado or Bust

2007-07-13T16:30:00.000-07:00

On a recent, warm July morning, the Mendoza family arose, packed their belongings, and motored a rented Penske truck from California to Colorado. Though they were sad to leave, the family was excited to find a new life and more adventures in Colorado. They traveled for two (very long) days through California, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, finally arriving in Colorado. Although Mama and Daddy were nervous about taking little Estela Isabel halfway across the country, the baby was a very good passenger, and complained relatively little about being stuck in a car for many, many hours. Abuelo Beto and Abuela Dolly helped the family move to Grandma Carol and Grandpa Joe's house.

Now we are a big happy family!

Traveling is fun with Mama & Grandma to entertain you!

Baby Estela Isabel meets Uncle Brad and Aunt Sarah for the first time.

Just chillin' with Auntie Hannah.

Estela Isabel's first tortilla-making lesson.

An all-around cutie!

Estela on the Donkey

2007-07-12T17:23:00.000-07:00

This is at the Leaning Tree Museum in Boulder, Colorado. Abbey is taking the picture of Abuelo Beto and Abuela Dolly and Eddie.

Estela Smiles

2007-07-12T17:20:00.001-07:00

Estela Smiling

And crying.

And being loved by Grandpa Joe.

Baby Estela

2007-06-06T16:04:00.000-07:00

This is Estela's first venture into the wide world of blogging. Here are some recent pictures.

Baby and Daddy share a hug.

I love to be held...especially by my Grandma Carol.

I make Daddy very proud. Go Longhorns!