"It's probably a brother,"- Joel, Age 3

Well Joel was right! Baby brother is due this Thanksgiving and we couldn't be happier. Benny says he knew all along that it was a boy, and he really didn't ever mention much about it possibly being a girl. I honestly didn't have much of a hunch this time around. With Joel, I did really feel like it was a boy. This time, I think I was maybe preparing myself for it being a girl since we already have a boy- but I went back and forth as to what "feeling" I had. But on Thursday, June 27th we solved the mystery.
We went as a family to the sonogram to find out if Joel was having a brother or a sister. Everything looked good on the baby, weighing about 9 oz and all healthy organs. At the very end of the appointment we finally got to see the goods :) Henry David Del Castillo was clearly a BOY!
Joel isn't sold on the name. I think because he has a little boy at his daycare named Henry, so when we say the baby is Henry, he thinks we're saying it's that Henry. Before we found out the sex, Joel wanted to name the baby Pancake if it was a boy, and Cupcake if it was a girl. Now he says we'll just call him Baby Boy.
We came up with Henry David before we even got pregnant this time, so we haven't had to do any name searching or going back and forth. I loved the name Henry when we were pregnant with Joel, but Benny didn't like it. After Joel was born, we were talking about the possibility of baby #2 and Benny all the sudden loved the name. I think the idea of maybe calling him Hank sold him on the idea. His name is Henry, not Hank, just to be clear. David is my Dad's name and since Joel's middle name is Benjamin after Benny's dad, we thought that would work nicely.
I am so happy to be a mommy to two boys. I can't wait to see them play together and pick on each other likes brothers do. I hope they grow up to be close, best friends and always watch out for each other.
This will probably, 99% sure, be our last addition to our family- which of course is bittersweet. It's nice to know this is our family and we are set, but of course a little part of me will miss the possibility of having another baby. We were going to name the baby Mabel if it was a girl, so maybe we'll have to save that name for an addition of the four legged kind :)

Father's Day 2013

Potty woes

This is the first week of summer, which means we get to spend a lot more time with Joel! I'm not teaching summer school this year, which is for the best because I get to squeeze in some more time with my little man before baby #2 comes in the fall.
Today we worked more on potty training. Joel is getting pretty good at realizing when he has gone (if he has a diaper on) but he freaks out if he has an accident in his underwear and shorts. Makes sense because Joel doesn't like to be dirty at all. He has had two accidents so far, and now he's starting to hold in his pee, even if he has a diaper on. I think he is afraid it's going to make a mess when he goes potty, because he keeps talking about when he pee pee came out of his shorts. Poor guy. Tonight he was to the point of crying and squirming around because he was trying so hard to hold it. He finally went on our second trip to the bathroom (I had put his diaper back on in hopes he would just go). Hopefully it won't be long now until he is potty trained.
But other than that he has been a complete joy to be around. He is so talkative. Just a minute ago he told me, "Mommy, did you know you're the best?" Ahh, I love him so much. I know we'll love our kids the same, but it's going to be close ;)

3rd birthday

Joel turned three on May 19th, and it's been a year since I've updated this thing! Bad mom. We had our first birthday party with friends invited, so that was fun. We went to Kiddie Park and had about 14 kids show up. The kids had a good time riding the rides, hitting the pinata, and eating cupcakes.
We also have the exciting news that we are expecting our second baby in November! Joel seems to be excited (most of the time) about having a little brother or sister. He will talk about helping teach the baby how to walk on the snow (?), or he'll ask to see my baby in my belly. He was there at our first sonogram, so he was able to see the baby on the screen and hear the heartbeat. He seems to get it that there's a baby in there, or at least he plays along :)
Joel has been a lot of fun lately. He's into pretend playing with us and with his toys. He'll say things like, "Mommy, just pretend I'm the sweetie (baby) and you're Ms. Pat." He'll make his toys talk to each other- mostly baby/daddy conversations where the baby asks for something and the daddy says, "No sweetie." Do we say no too much? :)
He has moved into sleeping in his big boy twin size bed as of two weeks or so ago. He probably stayed in his crib longer than most kids, but he never tried to climb out of it and loved sleeping in there. But I decided to move him out of it so there will be enough time for him to get over before the baby comes and he says, wait, that's MY bed.
We're still not potty trained, but we're working on it. He has been doing pretty good this week, but today he's been sick so I'd rather not push it when he doesn't feel well.

I asked him what his favorites were from the list below on his birthday, so here's his answers:




Show: Thomas (? He never watches this anymore. It's more like Chuggington, Bubble Guppies...but we'll go with his answer)
Color: blue
Food: Kolaches and Donuts
Toy: Toy Story toys, Lotzo Bear and Big Baby
Store: Walmart ( we've been here twice in his life)
Friend: Cousin Josh and Mason
Drink: Chocolate milk
Movie: Toy Story 3
Holiday: Halloween
Place: Train
Animal: Dinosaurs
When you grow up? Garbage Man

Funny Boy

Some things Joel has said in the past couple of days"

• Benny and I were whistling in his bed last night and he puts both hands of either side of Benny's face and says, "It's okay little bird". Turns to me, does the same, but says, "It's okay big bird"!
• He came around the corner and saw Benny and me and says, "Well there you are my family!" <3
• While leaving SoccerTots, Joel shouts as loud as he can, "Bye Coach Mel!!! I Love you!!!!"

Things this kid says...

• Good morning mommy/daddy. Nice to see you!
• (Joel, can I play with you?) Of course!
• (after I've said something like let's get some breakfast) Good idea mommy!
• I'm so proud of you.
• Good girl mommy, good girl. (while patting me on the back with both hands)
• Oh no! The crocodiles/dinosaurs are going to get us!!! (While driving in the car)
• Are we safe? (Referring to "are we safe from mommy" while he waits for me to jump around the door at him and Benny)
• No silly mommy! (when I start laughing at him and he wants me to stop)

Two Years Today

My dearest baby Joel,
    Somehow two years have gone by since the first day I held you in my arms.  That was the beginning of the best part of my life. You have made quite the impression on your father and me little man. You are so sweet. If you accidentally bump me on the head, you'll rub it and say, "I'm sorry Momma." "Please" and "thank you" are part of your everyday language, which makes me so proud. You are also VERY funny. You will do things intentionally to make me laugh. Like peer at me out of the corner of your eye and try not to smile when I'm trying to get you to look at something. Or when you make your sad face and then start laughing. Or when you toot on purpose. Yes, that has begun.
   My hopes for you at two years is that you continue to grow and thrive and learn and laugh. You have the best laugh. Especially when me and Daddy tickle you. I love talking to you and seeing the world from your perspective. I can not express how deeply in my heart you have rooted yourself. You've carved out a little spot in there. Well actually, a rather big spot. It's in that spot that floods with happiness when you hit a new milestone, or say something precious during your nighttime prayers. It's in that spot that aches when you're hurt or sick and I can't make it all better. And it's in that spot that I hold this special bond that you and I have that could never be replicated by anyone or anything.
   I am so proud to call you my son Joel. I can tell you have a good soul and a kind heart. Wherever your life takes you, I only hope that the road is paved with your happiness. And that you don't forget to call your mother. Often. If the time keeps ignoring my pleas to slow down, it will be no time before you are reading this and going off to college and getting married. But I hope if it's your 2nd birthday or your 42nd, you'll always know that you have made me one proud and tremendously happy woman. Just by being you.
I love you son. So, so, so much.
Mom