Photo update!

I always try to take pictures so I can have memories to hang on to. So here is our lives in a photo update:

Stassi likes watching tv with daddy even when he is playing his video games

Stassi sits in her boppy at our house, grandmas house, and her babysitters house :)

Grandpa Rick loves Stassi so much!!

We took the pups to the dog park not too long ago and they were so rude to the other dogs and acted like they were too good for them haha

We walked in honor of Baby jax and Jax's mommy held Stassi :)

Grandpa David passed away and it was very hard on our family. 

Lucy loves her baby Stassi. 

Our family of three 

One of my favorite outfits that Stassi has

See how she fell asleep on daddy's knee? Sometimes that's the ONLY way she will fall asleep. 

We lit candles for baby Jax and baby Jones. And it was actually a really emotional day/night for me just thinking about my friends who had lost so much. 

We bought our first car as a family :) and it was extra special because it was my grandpas. 

We went to a marriage seminar one weekend. It was called "laugh your way to a better marriage." It was amazing 

Stassi trying to get the hang of holding her own bottle 

Grandma Leigh with Stassi at work!

I love good quality time with her beautiful self!

We bought a new keurig and kinda made a little coffee station. We have used it every day. We love it. 

Grandma Margie loves Stassi to pieces. 

Stella helps with everything when it comes to Stassi. She even helps me put her in her car seat. Such a good best friend ;)

Lately all Stassi wants to do is stand. Of course she needs a little bit of help but this girl is so good at bearing weight down on her feet. 

Stassis first pumpkin patch and our first pumpkin patch as a family!

I always make him take pictures with me haha

A coworker bought Stassi this dress. And this morning daddy bathed her for the first time by himself and then picked out her outfit. She of course looked ADORBS!!

Stassi was Minnie Mouse for Halloween! 

Morning snuggles are my fave

I had to get glasses. What a nerd lol

Daddy's birthday. Don't mind my freaky face. I was trying to get little stinker to smile. 

I want to make a cactus garden for my desk! 

I also may or may not want to dye my hair this color

I was letting my husband know we got our packages in the mail. What were they? Head lights and the toy story trilogy pack!

When my house is clean it's such a good feeling

Stassi's doctor appointment where she got her second set of shots

Breakfast with her grandma Feliciana, grandpa Juan, and auntie Evelyn 

My absolute best friend and lover

Those shoes are to die!

Our new bed set for our bed came in. And it was supposed to look like this. Sadly it's not as quite gray as it looks in this pic but whatever well work with it. 

Decided Stassi will be getting some uggs. Best part is, this style is called "Erin" I'm pretty sure it was meant to be. 

I made some fajitas for the first time & they were BOMB

I got a presidents award at work which is a HUGE deal and got a big fat bonus with it. So that was nice :)

I'm gonna do something like this on the wall behind my couch. 

Well that's all for now! 

xo - erin

Stassi Leighann Saavedra-Medina

Every time I write out Stassi Leighann Saavedra-Medina I think "poor girl, she is going to have a tough time learning to write her entire name."

BUT that's not my point here. So, Stassi is growing up A LOT. I mean, I seriously can't believe it was JUST 3 months ago that she was born. I mean where has the time gone? It feels like there was no life before her but it also feels like she was just born. I remember her birth so clearly. Best. Time. Ever. Seriously. 

Anyway, here are a few Stassi "isms"

1. Stassi ROLLS HER EYES! What? I mean, what 3 month old rolls her eyes at her own sweet mom? This girl...legit rolls her eyes with attitude. 

2. She is active. she's all over the place and she can't even crawl yet, so when she does start crawling I am sure she will be all over the house. 

3. She sneezes a lot actually and when she does, it's always twice in a row. 

4. Stassi can roll over when she feels like it. I myself, have only seen it once. As for her babysitter, she's seen it a couple more times. Little stinker only does it when she feels like it. 

5. Which leads me to SHE ONLY DOES STUFF WHEN SHE FEELS LIKE IT. Stassi is a sassy pants. Period. There's no other explanation other than she is a total diva. Even her babysitter says, she will not do something unless she wants to. And I mean, I get it...but she's three months guys. THREE. 

6. Stassi is a total daddy's girl. She loves me and her grandparents and aunts and everyone, but if she's crying and she has been fed and changed, I can guarantee, like to the point of betting money, that she wants her dad and she will calm down as soon as she is in his hands. 

7. I think she is getting ready for real good. She makes chewing motions and she is always staring straight at our food drooling.  Like no joke. 

8. The sweet girl is teething. She drools so much. 

9. She sleeps through the night. She has never been a bad sleeper. But she sleeps from about 930/10 to 630/7 on weekends. Of course during the week I have to wake her up at 500 (sorry baby girl)

10. She is starting to notice the little things. Like her tongue. Her feet. Her hands. The dogs. She just stares. She's very aware. 

11. She is the sweetest and she smiles and laughs like crazy BUT she has her moments where she has the driest sense of humor. If she doesn't want to smile or laugh she will actually give you dirty looks. What a sass. 

12. She likes music and she likes watching videos on her daddy's phone. She also enjoys anything that's on tv. Especially basketball and football with daddy. 

13. She sits in her bumbo really well. She will whine when she is over being in it, but she does great. 

14. Stassi is officially ticklish. She laughs when daddy kisses her neck or when we tickle her sides and tummy. It's the sweetest little laugh. I love. 

15. She is still in 0-3 month clothes but they are getting a little small. So she is slowly but surely moving up to 3-6 month clothing. 

16. She chews on everything. Blankets, toys, fingers, but especially her hand. She is always sucking and chewing on her hands. 

17. She likes "standing" A LOT. she puts pressure on her legs to stand and as long as you hold her she will go to town going "up and down" - she is seriously so strong. 

18. She likes taking pictures most of the time. She is a total ham. I love it. She's a mommy jr. 

19. She blushes when daddy kisses her in the mornings. Usually Yonatan is in the shower when I wake her up. So I wake her up and change and feed her so when he comes out she's usually awake and ready to see him. He comes over and says hi and kisses her and she laughs and turns her head away and burries it in my chest like she's blushing. It's the sweetest thing ever. 

20. Last but not least, Stassi is like her mommy and daddy in the sense that she can't handle too much time around crowds of people or away from home. When we go to church and lunch, usually by the end of lunch she is just whiny and over it. As soon, and I mean literally AS SOON as we walk into our home, she's fine. She's happy. She's good to go. She def gets overwhelmed with too much company. 

We enjoy our little bean so much. She is the sweetest girl we could have ever asked for. She smiles every time we ask her if she wants a sister, but she just stares at us when we ask if she wants a brother lol so hopefully soon enough, we will have a sister for our sweet girl. 

My best friend.

I never quite understood what it was to be content with just my husband until recently. 

Of course, family & friends will always be a part of my life. But I've always had to have a best friend other than my husband. I've always had a best friend since I can remember. And I always felt like I had to have a best friend. Everyone says it's healthy to have a good girl best friend you can always go to. 

But the more I grow up, the more I realize I can't really depend on anyone all the time. It's not a bad thing. People have their own lives and their own business to handle. But you know who is always there for me? My husband. 

My husband is my best friend. What better best friend to have than someone who shares all your moments with you, roots for your success, holds you when you fail of hurt, and truly cares about your goals. Someone who shares your goals with you...? That's my husband. 

I never quite understood why my mom and dad didn't go out with their friends. Or why they never really had a "go to" friend. But I do now...their go to friend was who they shared their life and home with...it was each other. And what a beautiful thing to have. 

As I said, I don't think it's bad to have friends that you go out with or that you have lunch with or talk with...I think that's really healthy and good. But what I have realized for myself is the only best friend I can have in my life that will truly understand me, is my husband. And I think we make a great team. We put each other first, and I think that's how it should be. 

I love you my man...my husband. My Mexican. My vato. My honey buns. My handsome pantsome. My everything. You have turned my world upside down in the best possible way. You have made me see things I could have never seen on my own. You have told me things I didn't want to hear so it could better me as a person. You have put my thoughts and feelings above your own. You have supported me in all my goals. You have told me when I'm being childish or petty. You have been honest with me in the most loving and kind ways. You truly make me happy. Something I haven't been in years. You have made all this possible for my life and I love you so much for that. You are truly the kindest most genuine person I have ever met. And I love that our daughter will learn what a guy's love should be like from you. 

Marriage.

I've been married, divorced, and remarried all by the young age of 25. Some may say I am an expert. Some may say I obviously know nothing at all. And I would say I am somewhere in the middle. 

Although I have made plenty mistakes, I have learned a lot about marriage or should I say relationships in general. But I thought I would write down a couple key factors I have learned about marriage just from my own experiences. It doesn't make them rules that people should follow or even look up to, but maybe this could help someone - maybe even my own daughter one day someday. 

1. Always marry your best friend. Sure, girls have their "girl" best friends. But marry the man who adds to your life. Who is not only your lover but your best friend who has YOUR best interest in mind instead of his own. It is important to build your relationship on friendship first. 

2. If you have doubts that he is the one for you, do not get married. I remember with my first marriage, I had doubts about marrying him...these little voices in the back of my head saying it was the wrong choice for me. But I chose to ignore it, and it ended in the result of a painful drawn out, divorce. 

3. Study the way your spouse thinks, reacts, and works with things. For example, what makes them irritated? What makes them happy? These are key factors that will help your relationship. If you choose to ignore these, you can very well be doing the things that irritate your spouse and neglecting the things that make them happy. 

4. Listen. Truly listen to what your spouse wants and needs. Hear them out. What is bugging them? Do they feel neglected? Are you working too much or out with your friends too much? Is your family taking priority over your spouse? These are all things that can deeply damage a marriage if not attended to. Listen to the problems and then work on a way to fix them together. 

5. Remember to separate yourselves from your parents. You are to leave your parents, brothers, and sisters, and join in a union with your spouse. Avoid comments like "well this is how my mom did it" or "my dad never told me no" News flash. Your husband isn't your dad. And your wife isn't your mother. Do not expect them to be the same or do things the way your parents did. 

6. Stay away from the opposite sex friendships. I know people who have a problem with this. I have heard and even used the statement "but he's just a friend" "we have been homies for years" "she has been my best friend since I can remember" That's all good and well...when you are single. You may disagree, but I see relationships fail all the time due to a close relationship one spouse has with the opposite sex. Wives, your husband should be your guy best friend and husbands, your wife should be your girl best friend. Inappropriately close friendships with the opposite sex can deeply damage any relationship. 

7. Put God in the center of your marriage. In this day in age, I really have no idea how couples make it without God in the center. I think this guideline is pretty self explanatory. 

8. Arguing and fighting is a normal part of marriage. It doesn't mean your marriage is bad or damaged. Arguments happen and fights can break out. The important part is how you deal with it in the end. Are you always blaming your spouse but never taking any blame upon yourself? If so, that's a double standard and your spouse deserves an apology. It takes two to tango, just as it takes two to argue. 

9. Say sorry! Apologize to your spouse if you know you have hurt them. Even if you don't know how they could have possibly taken what you said to heart. Everyone deals with emotions differently, and let's face it, women tend to be a little more sensitive than men. I know I am. I take small things that my husband probably didn't mean to be rude, to heart and it hurts my feelings. Be aware of your spouse's feelings and apologize. 

10. Do not hold a grudge. What good does that do for your marriage? Your spouse is not perfect and either are you. Grudges are damaging. When you say you forgive each other, truly forgive each other. Do not bring up a past fight, and do not start keeping score of which spouse has done more things wrong than the other. That's childish. You are married for goodness sake. Forgive your spouse, do not hold a grudge, and just love one another. 

11. Encourage your spouse in all they do. It is important that you are both happy individually as well as together. Believe it or not, your happiness does not depend on the other's happiness. You actually can have your own happiness that is sustained by God and yourself. With that being said, encourage your spouse's happiness. Do they like fishing? Do they like camping? Do they like going places? Or working on cars? Whatever it may be, encourage them to do so. 

12. Pray for your spouse. If I could stress how important this is to everyone, I would. Prayer is so important. So powerful. My husband and I are no where near perfect and I do not think either one of us are super spiritually mature, but we sure do pray for each other. Not only does it encourage the other, it is also helping put God in the center and really just asking God to encourage each other and bless one another. Prayer should actually be number one. 

13. Be fair. Don't do something and then tell your spouse they can't. For example, have you ever gone out for a girls night and then found yourself completely uncomfortable with letting your spouse go out for a guys night? Doesn't seem quite fair does it? Which leads into....

14. Trust your spouse. If your spouse has done nothing to break or damage your trust, trust them! Do you trust their character? Do you trust their intentions? If not, work on that trust with your spouse. With that being said, husbands and wives, do not do things that would make your spouse question you. Don't put yourselves in positions that do not look right. For example, do not say to yourself "oh my wife trusts me so I can go to a strip club because she knows I won't do anything" - no! Keep away from positions that would make your spouse question you. Trust is such a vital part of marriage. 

15. Honor your spouse. And honor your marriage. Pornography, strip clubs, clubs, etc...none of that honors your marriage or your spouse. Your spouse should be enough to fill you up. Your spouse should be the only man or woman that holds your attention. When you look at those naked women on your computer screen or when you Inappropriately flirt with that man at the club, you are making a fool out of your spouse and treating them as if they are not enough for you. 

16. Continue to flirt and date your spouse. My husband and I always flirt. Whether it's a wink here or a little butt slap there, we remember to always flirt with each other. Take your spouse out to dinner or a movie. If you have a child, remember it is vital to have your own time too. Get a babysitter at least once a month and go out together. 

17. Don't wait until a storm comes to fix  the hole in your boat. In other words, don't wait until you have problems to work on your marriage. Marriage consistently needs to be worked on. Couples don't realize that they often neglect each other and then it seems as though "all of a sudden" a problem occurs. This couldn't be further from the truth. Problems don't ever suddenly occur. It's a slow fade. Remember that. Work on your marriage always. 

18. Put your spouse before your children. So many people disagree with me on this. But I have found that as a lot of children grow up, they try to play mommy and daddy against each other. To the point where the parents start fighting. When you put your spouse before your children, you are able to have the same game plan as them. You are able to be on the same level, on the same page. This is so important in your marriage. Your children are extremely important, but do not let your child take priority over your spouse. That's not the way it was meant to be. 

19. Fight for your marriage. Despite all the precautions you take, temptations you resist, and problems you try and fix, your marriage will have dry spells. It will have hard times. And you'll feel like giving up! But fight for your marriage! I promise you it's worth it. 

20. Have fun! Marriage is hard. It's not easy. But it's the most rewarding thing I have ever experienced other than being a mom. When you take the time out to have fun with your spouse, it brings in a joy that nothing else can. Laugh. Smile. Play with your spouse. 

Like I said, I am no expert. But I do know what works and doesn't work when it comes to certain things. You can take or leave my advice but I just thought I would share :) 

xoxo

Erin 

The little things.

I think relationship's biggest problem is expecting someone to do the things you would do. Maybe you are a super affectionate person, but your spouse isn't. Or maybe you leave little notes of love around the house, but they don't. And you may think to yourself (as I have) why can't I get back what I give? But I've come to the realization...if they want to do it they will and if they don't, they won't. But what if they show you love in their own way? What if their little things aren't shown in the same way yours are & you're completely missing their signs of affection and love? Crazy thought huh?

For example, I am the type of wife who will lay out my husbands clothes. Or buy cards and leave them on his bedside table. Or draw pictures and leave them for him to find. Stuff like that. But my husband usually doesn't show his love in that kind of way. It used to irritate me. WHY CAN'T HE SHOW ME LOVE?! Well he does...I was just missing it while I was expecting to see him do the same things back for me. 

My husband doesn't do laundry. But when he does, that's him telling me "Babe I got this one." My husband doesn't wash dishes and bottles but we he does that's him telling me "I know you do this all the time so let me get this round." My husband rubs my feet and back and that's him telling me "I know you're tired, let me make you feel better." My husband makes me wear my seat belt and tells me buckle up and that's him saying "I love you so much and would never want you to die if something were to happen." My husband shows me affection in the smallest ways and I used to miss it all the time and solely focus on why he couldn't just do what I do. But how silly would that be? If I wanted someone just like me, I should've dated myself. 

Just a thought.