Almost Done, 2017

We just finished our last vacation of the year and I would render it a complete success, except, we worked harder than either of us do when we are not on vacation... Starting on Wednesday before Thanksgiving, PJ came home and we were GO GO GO!!! We started by heading to the mall and changing our phone plan, which took far too long with 2 toddlers in tow. They were quite gracious and we were able to enjoy dinner and settle the girls down before the long drive to San Jacinto to start the festivities with Jessy's parents.

On Thursday, Jessy battled the temptations of several different pies and extra Thanksgiving starches. PJ indulged in all of the potatoes and mac n cheese, and the girls were basking in all the attention. We had wonderful family time and welcomed in the Christmas season with movies after dinner.

Thursday night we headed up to Reno to visit PJ's family. Though his parents live in our area, they and his brother (Peter) were there to visit his sister (Christine). Christine just moved there this fall after landing her first position as a psychiatrist! She was so excited to host everyone and it was such a beautiful place to visit. We weren't in the touristy area, but close to the Reno-Tahoe Airport in a nice neighborhood. All that to say, the drive was not too bad and the girls slept wonderfully!

It was a calm few days up there playing games, cooking lots of food, and catching up since we don't get to see PJ's siblings very often. It did not take long for AJ and E to warm up to and love their auntie and it was so precious to see her enjoy her time with them.

After a long trek home, Jessy had doctor and dental appointments, PJ had a DMV appointment, we ended up having maintenance done on the family car, we had a dinner and lunch with our small group then Jessy took AJ to Disneyland with her parents to top off a fun week. In short, we committed to too many things and I lost site of our schedule until it was too late to change anything. We over-committed and ended up more tired than before. It's okay, though, we were thankful for all of the family time we had as well as the ability to take care of things (like vehicle maintenance).

PJ found out that there is going to be some corporate management changes, which may or may not alter his leadership program, but definitely has altered his manager over him. Hopefully, he will have the opportunity to meet his new manager soon. In the mean time, we are praying for wisdom as PJ seeks to get his store back to normal after his absence. Please be praying for him, as there are a lot of changes happening and he is uncertain how to encourage his team through all of the issues they are having lately.

Jessy is overwhelmed with trying to get everything back to normal at home, update the schedule and organize. Please be praying for discernment and intentionality with time. AJ seems to be coming down with something, so prayer for swift healing would also be appreciated. They both also seem to be teething and going through growth spurts continuously, hopefully this will be a short season of growing pains.

Toddlers, Vacations, and Personal Growth

We have made it to October, which means that I missed the 1 year post for E and the 2 year post for AJ. I have no excuses, but life goes on and here we are; so let's get started.

E turned 1 year old last month and I am coming to grips with the 2 toddler thing. She is walking and jabbering and climbing and squealing! She is simply a happy kiddo whose only complaint is teething and exhaustion. I am so grateful for the way that she shows love and cuddles with me when she is sleepy. E also learns quickly and AJ is teaching her how to climb. Right now it's on my yoga block, strewn about boxes and their picnic table.

AJ is 2! I am floored by how quickly these stages are going. She tells me when she needs to poop (yeah, that's a big deal), she's in a twin bed now (which is going great at bed time - not so much with the afternoon nap), and she prefers cakes to cookies ;) She also likes pizza. AJ has such an independent spirit and loves to help PJ and I get things done. It is so humbling to see how much she knows and understands and exciting to grow as a mom teaching her how to serve others.

This weekend my mom is throwing them a Little Mermaid themed birthday party and I'm excited to take photos of the frosting all over their faces! The girls love all of their grandparents and it melts my heart to see their smiles and hear their squeals whenever they see any of them walk through the door. We all joke about how it's because, "toddlers know they can get away with a lot more when they have grands around," but I know that it is so much more than that. My girls have a beautiful bond with their grandparents and I see it in their eyes even when our parents are not around. AJ asks for them and they yearn to spend time together. It truly is precious.

As far as life goes, things have been going really well. I am at the gym 4-5 times a week. Team Training is 2-3 times and I like to swim laps on the weekends. It has been so awesome to feel the progress and see the numbers climb for personal bests. I feel more energetic and see how God is using my fitness goals to grow me in self-control, diligence, discipline and endurance. You can read more on my fitness blog, I won't take up too much space here on the family page.

PJ is doing great at work. I am so proud of his team, and I know he is too. In the past, vacation has been a headache to come back from because things have backed up and the technicians were overwhelmed without him there. Last week we were on official vacation, but he actually left work early on Friday and was gone from his store a total of 9 days. He went back to a great setup and there were no crises while he was out. I do not even remember him receiving a call but once while he was off.

God has been so faithful to soften my own heart and help me put things into perspective this week. I typically dread the end of vacation because that means I am back at home without help throughout the day and I do not get to have as much time to myself. I feel selfish for wanting so much time to myself, but that's where I'm at. The Lord has given me an extra measure of His patience and grace as AJ is bed training and having a difficult time harnessing the freedom during her only nap of the day. E has developed preferences for food and has not been eating as well as she was before; also, she is still using the bottle as a pacifier and takes 2 per day.

As much as I feel like she could probably go down to 1, I'm having trouble letting it go because the 1st is in the afternoon and I think it helps her sleep even though AJ delays that nap. Also, I am putting off potty training because I simply don't want to deal with it. I am being real, here. I know it has to happen, but I will likely wait until after Thanksgiving so PJ can help for her first week.

All that to say, I am so grateful for the Lord's constant provision and faithfulness to help us through every milestone. Thank you all who have been praying for us, I know that has been a HUGE impact for us. We are so grateful for the church family and our families He has surrounded us with.

August 2017 Life Update

It is official, we are moving! As many of you know, we have had a few issues with our current rental property, and have been seeking living arrangements elsewhere. Yesterday, we found a new place that is less than our current rental and we will be signing a new lease today! Thank you for all of your prayers and support as we know that without the godly encouragement of our friends and family, the success of finding a new place while growing and learning in our financial stewardship would not be possible. We are not moving far, so keep an eye out for an invitation to help us on moving day ;)

PJ started his leadership courses this month and is very encouraged by the direction of the program. He will take a class each month and have the opportunity to implement what he learns in his store. He also found out that he may have the chance to move to a higher volume store and grow as a manager in new capacities! He is very excited for this possibility and we would appreciate your continued prayers as he prepares for the move. He really loves his team and would be sad to leave them.

We love extra snack times on Disney Days! 

AJ and E are growing quick, as you would expect. They are both teething and seem to be going through growth spurts at the same time. AJ is struggling with patience (as many almost 2 year olds are) and trying to communicate hunger verses pain have also been a challenge. You would hardly be able to tell that anything was wrong with E, she does not seem to share any grumpy tendencies until she is tired. Even if we display unhappiness, she glows with joy.

Jessy has been having a difficult time balancing everything (weight loss, home management, training the girls, and her general spiritual health) lately. She joined a gym in June and may have jumped the gun, since we are moving and have a lot of expenses hitting at once. We are grateful to be in the middle of Financial Peace University with a starter emergency fund (baby step 1), as well as having paused baby step 2 in order to prepare for the move. However, we have decided to cancel the membership for now so Jessy can refocus on her priorities with the girls and embracing her time at home with them.

That is all for now. Thank you again for doing life with us!

<3 The Molina Fam

E at 10 Months

Wow, what a whirlwind! This little nugget is, well, not a little nugget! She is WALKING, has 4 teeth - & 2 more coming - still adores big sis, is learning how to climb and loves to smile.

E is a growler who tends to to be unsure as to whether she should growl or giggle when you hand her a bottle. She steals Ate's milk and thinks it tastes far better than her formula. Who can blame her, once you've hit table food, it's difficult to find that powder stuff appetizing. Sometimes, mommy still struggles with the fact that she didn't push harder to breastfeed, but it is what it is and both babies are happy, smart and healthy, so mommy can't complain.

It is such a joy to see the love these girls share and how much they enjoy one another. It is crazy to me that E is taking steps so consistently now and it is fun to watch them communicate in their own little language. AJ is the most helpful toddler I know. She comforts MeiMei when she cries at diaper change time and throws away the trash so her little sis doesn't get a hold of it. On the flip side, it is difficult to share her blankie, but you know how that is!

Life Update - July '17

Sisterly Love

Wow, it has been a while since we have posted one of these, huh?! Well, best type to it.

E is 9 months now, as you may have seen in our previous post. She loves her Ate and is about ready to walk! It is crazy!!! AJ adores her MeiMei and gives her lots of hugs and kisses. It is such a joy to watch them grow, play and learn together.

PJ was selected last month to begin a leadership program with work. Right now, this entails going to monthly classes at the area office and implementing suggested management techniques at his store. Later, it could mean moving to different stores within his district to develop under-performing pharmacies; then it may mean a corporate promotion as a district manager. One step at a time, though. Jessy is so proud of him and excited to see how the Lord develops his leadership skills and uses his work ethic within his company.

Jessy is continuing in her weight loss journey, and right now this means taking a maintenance break in order to allow her body to balance out after a 65lb weight loss in 6 months! If you would like to follow her journey, she has a separate page here. She has begun to do some team training classes at Chuze fitness which has been awesome! It is such a fun place to work out.

The Great Escape

PJ and Jessy were blessed to see Christine (PJ's sister) graduate from her residency program last month and spend a long weekend in Ohio to celebrate her's and Peter's (their brother's) graduations. He completed his undergrad in Washington. It was a good reunion and we are excited that Christine and her boyfriend will be working in Reno beginning this Fall as they start their first official careers. It was so much fun seeing all the places Christine has lived over these last few years and enjoying some of the sites. Columbus had an amazing Farmer's Market, we found an escape room (and won!), there was a beautiful hiking trail and old town area we were able to visit, and we saw the largest Air Force Museum in the country!

Disney Babies

The girls had a difficult time spending those 4 days with Jessy's family. They (we) were blessed to have the time at home since Jessy's mom stayed overnight, but it was still pretty hard, particularly on E, as she had just started eating table food, was (and still is) teething, and found it difficult to eat while mommy and daddy were away. She had a bit of stress issues and tummy problems and it took a couple of days to get back on track, but Jessy is so proud of her troopers!

I think that is it for now. Thank you, everyone <3

Number 2 at 9 Months

Wow, it has been far too long since I have shared life here! There is part of me that feels so much guilt for not keeping up as well as I did with AJ for E, but the other part reminds me that I have 2 to watch over and it is better to enjoy them than to keep up the baby book. Although, my little brother might have a different opinion!

Anyhoo! E is 9 months old already and I don't believe it! She has 3 teeth and 1 more coming in. I began calling her MeiMei because Lolo (grandpa) calls her his little Chinese girl - as those features are a bit more prominent in her than AJ, and it means "Little Sister" in Chinese; I also read it in Joy Luck Club, loved it and am sticking to it.

This girl cannot wait to walk; she is constantly pulling herself up on whatever is in front of her, trying to take steps (and succeeding) when she has a hand on something. These 2 sisters love one another so much, they enjoy wrestling and hugging one another and making each other laugh. It is so wonderfully precious to watch.

E Is Five Months Old

Well, I guess she is technically 5 and a half months old now. I am sorry we are a little late, but I guess you can just expect that until there is some semblance of a schedule. It is unclear right now as to when that may become a reality as we have a 5 month old and an almost 18 month old. So, good luck with that!

Anyhoo! As I said, E is 5 months old and is growing so much! She's rollin, she's rockin, and she is grabbin everything in sight! I call her flipper, she tends only to flip over when no one is looking ;)

*I am about 18lbs
*Ate (Big Sister) makes me laugh the most
*I am currently a mommy's girl, but I reserve the right to change my mind
*Bright colors and big smiles make me turn my head
*Talk to me and you can keep me from eating, since I need to be social and cannot be bothered to take in nourishment hehehe

For the Grandparents

Dear Grandpa & Nonna and Lolo & Lola,

I want you to know how incredibly grateful PJ and I are to have you so close and so willing to love on our family. Thank you for dropping everything and spending time with the girls. AJ and E will never understand how valuable it is for them to have their grandparents so close and so ready to spend the day with them.

PJ and I do not know what we would have done these last few weeks without you! With me going to the hospital, needing to go to dental and other doctor appointments, having to run long errands that stretch through nap times... It would be so stressful without you. We have so many friends who are far from family or have to drive long distances from home to see their families/ We also have friends who have lost or are in the process of losing their parents and are facing the challenge of seeing their little ones grow without their grandparents in their lives.

I grew up with so much family, it's ridiculous. I never understood (and probably still don't truly comprehend) how immensely blessed I am to have known 4 grandparents - and even 1 great grandparent until I was 13. At 27, I still have 3 living grandparents and so have the opportunity to see my babies loved by 4 grandparents and 3 great grandparents!

Knowing what I am going through and understanding the stress I am experiencing in this season of motherhood, I am grateful for all of you and the difficulties you had to face in your season of rough parenting. Mom, you faced single motherhood for 14 years! Ryan and I were adults (for the most part) before you married again. Dad, we have had our disagreements and rough patches and seasons of growth in our relationship, but I am so grateful that the Lord brought you into our lives when he did. And you are such an amazing Grandpa! Daddy and Mama, you guys had a few siblings here in the states, but you were on your own! Your parents were in the Philippines and passed without having these opportunities to love on their grand babies like you are. Thank you for the many sacrifices you made for Baba, PJ and Pete.

I just want you all to know how much it means to us to see you enjoy your grandbabies and that you are so willing to drop your days off, vacation days, and weekend plans to help us with them. Besides expressing myself through this blog, and tearing up as I do it, there are not enough words nor is there enough money in the world to compensate for the amount that we appreciate and love you for your support and encouragement as we tackle this parenting thing.

We love you guys!

Familial Healing

As many of you know, last week I was in the hospital for an infection. I had surgery on Saturday and was able to come home Sunday afternoon. It was a rough week, but I am so incredibly grateful for my parents and in-laws for taking the time to come and take care of our little ones while we were gone. It was so hard to be away from them under such a stressful umbrella, but I am happy to be home. We are also blessed by our church community! They are bringing dinners over for us this week so that I can take the time to get back into the swing of things and not have to worry about cooking and meal planning.

God is definitely using this time to humble me, as I tend to get a little ambitious and stubborn in trying to work toward goals and having good schedules. I have been forced to rest, unable to push my limits in my workouts. I have been forced to consider my goals for long term fitness and what this looks like for our family and evaluate my inclusion of hubby and the girls in these goals. I have been forced to pause, which many of you know I struggle to do, so that is the way the Lord has seen fit to get my attention.

I have to say that I am grateful to take this time and have the opportunity to re-evaluate how I can manage our home in a more God-honoring way. As I was able to finish my women's study while in the hospital, I can also re-focus my spiritual goals in the form of devotions and Bible study.

This has been a great time to reflect on God's sovereignty and the call of humility He has placed upon us. I appreciate the chance to repent from my selfish ambition and desires and will probably spend this next week looking at Proverbs 31, embracing this time of rest and honoring this season of motherhood.

Thank you all for your prayers and encouragement. I am excited to see how the Lord will use this time of healing and refreshment to strengthen our family.

-Jessy

Defining Success

I just wanted to check in with a quick family update!

PJ continues to do well at work. It was tough for him to receive the December results on their store's numbers and find out that they were not number one, a spot they had held pretty tightly for a few months prior. It was a slice of humble pie for him to remember that there is never a time to stop pushing. However, it was a good opportunity for me to support him and encourage him in the accomplishments that he has achieved beautifully over this last year. Just because they did not make number 1 in December does not negate the hard work that has been put into making his store a success over the last year.

In the last year they have gone from underperforming and stress-filled to a well oiled machine where the environment has been uplifting in the coworker relationships. Please be praying for the growth and maturity of one of his new coworkers who is working to find her place in the store. Also, the lead technician will be taking some time off to recuperate and connect with his family before his paid family leave runs out. Pray for a time of refreshment for him as well as diligence for us. That PJ would take care of the schedules in a timely manner and that I would encourage him every step of the way over the next 3 weeks.


I have been working on finding a flow that works for the girls and I as I am amping up exercise and meal planning. May the Lord help me to be creative in making new meals that keep AJ interested and keep me in check not to deprive myself of so much at once so that I may continue on my weight loss journey with success not only for myself, but also for my family. This journey is not just for me, but it is for me to be a more fruitful home manager and trainer for my little ones, as well as a biblically submissive wife who takes care of her hubby as he leads us through the challenges and blessings of life.

AJ has been testing boundaries day after day. It is a continued challenge for my patience and drawing a clear line of consistent grace and discipline. Each day seems to bring difficult set backs, but when I take her to lunch and she eats well and socializes with our family or I can sit her in a chair while I get my eyes checked at the doctor, it is clear that the Lord is giving me enough grace to successfully teach my children well.

E is taking rice cereal at night, which is elongating her sleep time, but there is still a challenge to get her through the night. Please pray for consistency in her schedule and that we would not be lax in what we know might work for her instead of taking the easy routes of feeding when we know she is capable of rest. She is rolling from back to belly pretty consistently now, in that, whenever she is placed on her back, she flips for a better view then gets frustrated with her lack of strength to hold herself up for an extended period of time. It is adorable and she is enjoying the flip game!


That seems to be all for now. Thank you for your love and encouragement as our little family continues on our journey! It is such a blessing to know the love and support we have from our church family and all those around us. We love and appreciate you all so much!

-Jessy

This Year at Work

I wanted to take the time to share (brag about) my husband's success. I am so proud of PJ for all the work he has accomplished at the pharmacy this past year. He has completely turned his store around from having an "underperforming" status to being among the top in his district and his "area," which includes, I believe, all or most of Southern California.

A few months ago, his supervisor asked him to share his success on a monitored panel for other District Managers in the area so they may take away from his experience in improving customer service and other numbers for their own stores. When that went well, he was invited to speak at a national conference in Boston. My husband was recognized by his company on a national level! I did share about that already, but to update, he made it out there and back and it went wonderfully well!

He had made his first hire last summer, but after her training, she has only been at his store for 3 months now. Unfortunately, it has been a difficult adjustment. I am praying for a turn around, but it has been stressful for his whole store, with staff being effected in their motivation and performance.

Please be in prayer for PJ as the Lord guides him through this time at work and in approaching the situation among his colleagues. Praise God, I have been able to not only encourage hubby in his work, but also help him through a few stressful situations this past week. We are so grateful for the Lord's faithfulness as I have been growing and being gracious in late evenings and making the most of my time at home instead of sulking in waiting for PJ to get home.

E is 4 Months Old

E turned 4 months old the other day! She is such a happy baby, just in case you couldn't tell. She has rolled over a couple of times, but is not interested in making it a regular thing. She loves to eat her fist and is beginning to establish a regular schedule. She is up to 6oz of formula every 4-5 hours! She still wakes up once between 10pm and 5am, but will take her paci to go back to sleep until 5:30/6! We are so proud of her.

She also enjoys watching her Ate (big sister), AJ, very intently and it makes her smile to get kisses from her. They enjoy watching Frozen together, but any parent with a child between 0 and 14 (maybe even older) knows that this is a staple film in the house!

E is beginning to enjoy her tummy times (not only tolerate them). She is really strong and even pushes herself up to get a better view.

Life's Encouragements

About a month ago, PJ told me that his district manager wanted him to recreate a panel discussion regarding his store's success at the national conference in Boston for Area Managers for the company. I really wish that my response was, "Oh my goodness, honey, that is amazing! I am so proud of you and the work you have accomplished at your store this last year!" To my shame, however, I responded with, "Well, how long will you be gone?" in a tone of contempt for his accomplishments. I felt the excitement drain from his demeanor and I knew there was no way I could take that moment back.

I was being completely and unreasonably selfish.

I wanted him to say he would bring ME with him. I wanted him to acknowledge how difficult his absence would be for ME. I wanted to feel as needed as I feel I need him.

It is not easy being a full time mommy and housewife. But I think that being a true helpmate and encouraging wife are even harder. As much as I give myself to my precious little girls each day, I have to give my full support and encouragement to my husband each day. That is a lot of work and takes a lot of investment. I want my husband to be successful and I desire him to do well. If I am aligning my life with his, which is what I am called to do, then I need to be more uplifting in my attitude.

Gee, this wife thing is tough, but I am so glad to have this opportunity to love and minister to my husband in this way.

Please pray for PJ as he heads off to Boston tomorrow. There is an ice storm warning in effect this weekend on the east coast and I pray his flight is not delayed or cancelled coming home. He will be flying out tomorrow morning, his meeting will be all day Thursday, and - Lord willing - he will be returning on Friday afternoon.

-Jessy

Welcome 2017!

It is becoming increasingly apparent that I am a selfish woman. I know, go figure, my humanity and pridefulness are real and life is tough. Life has been quite the adjustment since bringing home E and continuing to train up AJ.

What?! You mean that you're NOT Supermom and you DON'T have it all together?

That's right. I cannot keep the perfect schedule, have a hot breakfast on the table every morning, my husband's lunch ready the night before, be chipper and patient all day everyday, and geared up for a workout each morning.

Sometimes, I don't have the bottles ready when E wakes up from her nap. Most days, I'm not sure what AJ and I are having for lunch until after she has already signed several times that she is hungry and I'm still standing in front of the fridge looking for something decently nutritious for her which is filling enough for me. A majority of the time, I don't even remember what was on the menu for dinner and I'm looking for something to throw together when PJ calls me on his way home asking me what we're having, because the menu item was supposed to be put in the crockpot several hours before or the oven should have been preheated 20 minutes prior to said call.

All in all, it would seem (in my own, control freak, OCD brain) that a windstorm blew through our house. The elf of disorganization might have taken up residence in our bookshelves. The goblin of "what was the plan again?" is the chef who took over my kitchen. "Was I supposed to scrub that?" has camped out in the bathroom. The rainbow unicorn of magical disasters has visited AJ's room several times this week. I am not sure that I can keep up with all of these mystical creatures, they have powerful enchantments.

Alright, so I know that I am being ridiculous, also, Pinterest and Instagram are not the guidelines for everyday life... They are the ideals for homes with inactive children. I am proud to say that 4 of the last 5 days, my girls and I have walked at the mall, 3 of those included stretching and conditioning workouts. The Lord has provided yummy meals every night this week. Three nights this week have been filled with games and enjoyable company (PJ's parents and brother, my parents and brother, as well as friends from small group). Today was amazing because I was able to enjoy an afternoon with mom and some alone time at Starbucks journaling and doing Bible study while PJ enjoyed a "Daddy Day" with our littles.

Yesterday, when I thought my life was over because PJ forgot his schedule and I was denied my alone time; I enjoyed a relaxing day on the couch with the girls, bonded with them, taught AJ her ABC's (sounds and familiar words), extended tummy time with E, an incredibly encouraging article sent over my another mommy from small group, and a sorely needed discussion with friends about my struggle with discontentment.

We have filled this year with lots of goals and stated our desires for family growth, but I can already see that God is going to be stretching us a ton, encouraging us through many difficulties, and loving us right where we are.

Lord, thank you for revealing another incredible piece of your amazing grace. Thank you that I don't have to have it all put together and Your Spirit is my Help. Thank you for the desire to grow, communicate, and seek Your truth. Amen

We would covet your prayers, dear friends. That 2017 would bring our family:
Self-control, Patience and Kindness (all the Fruits of the Spirit) for Jessy
Good scheduling to OUTLINE (not DICTATE) our days
Speaking words for AJ
Walking and no allergies for E
Growth in leadership and strong management for PJ

Love,
Jessy
Numbers 6:24-26

E is 3 Months

E is becoming so expressive now! She is growing to love tummy time and enjoys watching her big sister and chatting with everyone who smiles at her. It is such a blessing to watch our 2 little girls grow and learn together, I am so grateful for the beautiful family He has given us.

E is beginning to stretch out her feedings every 4-5 hours, but her nap schedule is a little weird, so we are working through that right now. At night she goes approximately 5-6 hours, but this week (1/6) we have moved her into the living room, so hopefully she will begin to adjust for longer stretches.

Sorry for the late post, I had hoped to pop up earlier this afternoon, but life ;)

Happy Friday, everyone!