A long month

I realize it has been over a month since my last blog. I can assure you it is with good reason. Life has been very hectic since the last time I wrote. On December 22nd we left Fresno and flew to Virginia to spend Christmas and New Years with my family. Everyone was there, my parents, Luke and Marla, Eliecer's parents, Marla's parents and siblings along with their families. It was a wonderful trip full of sight-seeing, celebrating, and visiting with family friends. It was a beautiful first Christmas for Isaiah.
On New Years day Eliecer, his parents, Isaiah and I drove to New Jersey and I met 40 family members of theirs, many aunts, uncles and cousins. It was a bit overwhelming, but very fun to meet that side of his family. Ana and Eliecer Sr. were staying for a few weeks, but Eliecer, Isaiah and I had only a few days to spend there, but we made the most of it. One day we traveled to Atlantic City, guided by a cousin's husband, Juan. It was a smaller, east coast version of Las Vegas. Nothing special, but we did get to see the ocean, which was the highlight of that day. On the 3rd we traveled to New York city and spent the day as tourists, visiting the Statue of Liberty, the Empire States Building, and the most impacting for myself, Ground Zero. Tears ran down my cheeks as I held Isaiah in my arms and thought about all of those families affected by 9/11. It was a powerful sight.
We left on January 5th. After carefully surveying the map we realized we had traveled to 6 different states in those two weeks. Not bad! Isaiah's state count is increasing quickly.
Things haven't been nearly as exciting since we got back. We have been adjusting to a new schedule and routine, Eliecer is home with Isaiah during the mornings while I'm at work at Rio Vista Middle School, and then drops him off at the end of the day so he can coach the 8th grade boys soccer team. I take Isaiah home, make dinner and shortly after eating, Eliecer leaves for night classes, or we both go to Easton for Hispanic Ministry service. We are very busy, but blessed to have wonderful opportunities, great jobs, a beautiful child, and the flexiblity that one of us can always be taking care of him.
Isaiah is growing so fast. At 5 1/2 months he is already almost 19 pounds. He is finally beginning to eat solids well, he resisited the first few weeks of trying. We stopped for a week and on Wednesday picked it up again. He loves it now! He is an expert at rolling over, and now is beginning to scoot. He can scoot himself backwards right off his blanket on the floor. He can sit well, although sometimes his big head makes him fall over if he leans to one side or the other. We are working on sleeping longer in the night, which Eliecer has been helping out with a lot, due to the fact that I have to get up so early for work. Isaiah is exploring his vocal range as well, he loves to scream and squeal to get your attention, and then flashes a huge smile when you look at him. He is babbling, too. I few times his sounds have sounded like is saying his name...Aih Zaa Yah! His laugh makes our day and we thank God every day for a happy, healthy boy.
That's all for now. Now that I'm back at work my blogs may not be as frequent, but please keep checking. I'll try my best to keep you updated as much as I can. Blessings!