Baby Season: Welcome Olivia Riley!

Great Tia?

Yep! My niece and great niece were born in the same week! Not only the same week but delivered by the same midwife. How sweet is that?! Just four days after welcoming Mia Isabella into the world we were all back in the same waiting room anxious to welcome Olivia Riley with open arms.

Before I had the honor of being in the room while my niece, Samantha, gave birth (yes, more on that below) I got to catch up with Mia for a bit and bond…

I have to say, we make pretty adorable babies in our family…bias? I think not ;).

Lori meeting Mia...she wasn't quite sure 

Vayda was all smiles meeting her cousin Mia

So back to Sam and Olivia. We spent the whole day in the hospital while Sam was being induced. She had asked me a few days prior if I would document the birth for her. Um yes! Five years ago I would have fainted at the thought…literally. I was the girl who fainted at the sight of ANYTHING medical. I’m not kidding you, every shot I was given (up until I had Vayda) I fainted…every one. But after having Vayda I fell in love with birth. The whole process. I had such a great birth experience with her that I became obsessed with the process and everyone’s birth stories. Even after having Lori I felt in awe at how our bodies work…I would agree in calling me crazy after I had Lori witha smile on my face and asking for pictures. I feel like such a different Libby…I’m pretty sure my family would agree.  

Skipping the gory parts…Samantha did AMAZING. She stayed tough and got little Oli out safe and sound. Sam even pulled her out and pulled her up to her chest. Watching Samantha jump into a mother role in an instance with awesome. And seeing how safe Olivia felt and calm on her mama’s chest was amazing. Life is beautiful. Thank you again Sam for inviting me in the room!

Without further ado, I introduce you to my great niece, Olivia Riley…

Olivia's first swaddle by her daddy

Mia on the left and Oli on the right...Ecstatic Tia in the middle.

Unfortunately I caught a cold the day after that last picture was taken so I haven't been able to visit the babies...you better believe I'm on ever vitamin/med  I can get my hands on so I can hold these two beauties again!

-LL

TGIF!

Seriously, TGIF. This week is finally coming to an end and of course, as my luck has it, it's a bumpy beginning to the end of my week.

The girls and I were doing great on time this morning, I snapped this picture of Vay after buckling Lucky into her car seat...

(thanks TiaTaco for the shirt!)

And my car, the wonderful Storm Trooper, won't start. Yep, on time but without a running car. Thank goodness the hubbs and family all sprung into action. Nana Tula picked us up, took us to Nana Emilia's, where I jumped out and took her car to work and they all went to Tula's where Emilia took Tula's car for an appointment. Thank God for family! It was a morning of musical cars. We're going to have to examine the storm trooper this evening :(. 

Once I get to work, my mouse died as well as my phone. Awesome. Oh well, I guess it could all be worse. The boss man said bad things happen in threes so that better be it. You hear that universe? 

-LL

random is good.

Last night was one of the best random nights ever..in a long time.

When Vic and I were dating you would always be able to find us eating take-out on the water with the SD skyline in front of us. Whether it was after a night out and our 4th meal lol or it was just the beginning of a night out we were there. If we weren't there we were in OB on tower number 3, on a Tuesday, waiting for the Sea World fireworks. That was the life.

It had been so long since I even thought back to that and yesterday we recreated one of those nights. Only this time we had two little chatter boxes in tow. It was amazing to sit there and think about how much has changed in 5 years.

After running an errand at my brothers house we drove through a Santana's (Mexi food..also like the good 'ol days) got dinner, stopped on the water, sat on a picnic bench  and ate...the hubbs and Lori were hungry! haha.

Everything was perfect about that random picnic on the water.

Um, yes. I love the city I live in! 

I was a little too lazy to turn off my flash haha. 

Our fashionista

Lori Darling chowing down on papa's burrito

the girls ...excuse my tired face.

Vay kept saying "another family picture!!"

-LLibbs

King of Clubs 2012

Every year at the end of July we all load the cars up and truck out to the race track behind the Barona Casino to go the the "King of Clubs" Drag races. This was the first year Vayda actually understood what her papa was doing and omg was she excited! Vay and her papa are definitely cut from the same cloth! 

papa love before he races 

she totally has him wrapped around her little finger! 

Tio Michael and Vay....Best view around! 

psoing in front of Tio Pichi's car 

Levi and Vayda :)

our future race car drivers

they got to take a little ride to the track. 

Vayda screaming on the right for her papa <3 nbsp="nbsp" td="td">

Until next yr...

-LLibbs

Ryan's Journey

If you remember this post about my cousin Ryan, here is the latest update. If you don't remember/didn't see it, whatcha waiting for?!


Today Ryan is finally leaving the Las Vegas rehab center and on his way home! After a great start to rehabbing himself and learning what comes next he is headed to Barrow Neurological Rehab in Phoenix, Arizona with his positive spirit and his awesome and oh so supportive fiance, Megan. 

positive day in rehab

thee amazing couple..pushing through it all hand in hand. 

Ryan is determined to show the world that he can and will prevail. This is only a speed bump and life does and will continue. 


With the help of family and friends their house is being transformed into a wheelchair friendly home. There are so many more expenses that will come up do to the amount of changes that need to be done which are not all covered by medical insurance. Check out the medical fund that was set up for Ryan...

RYAN PINNEY

Southwest Spinal Cord Injury Fund Phoenix, AZ

Family and friends of Ryan Pinney are raising money to pay for uninsured medical expenses associated with catastrophic injury.

Ryan has chosen to fundraise with HelpHOPELive in part because HelpHOPELive assures fiscal accountability of funds raised and tax deductibility for donors. Donors can be sure that funds donated will be used only to pay or reimburse medically-related expenses. To make a tax-deductible donation to this fundraising campaign:

Make checks payable to: HelpHOPELive

Note in memo section: In Honor of Ryan Pinney

Mail to: HelpHOPELive at 150 N. Radnor Chester Road, Suite F-120Radnor, PA 19087

For secure credit card donations:Call 800.642.8399 or click the "DONATE NOW" button (This is the quickest way for Ryan to recieve your donation.) on his home page at www.helphopelive.org. (Search Ryan Pinney)

For more information, please contact HelpHOPELive at 800.642.8399.

Thanks for your support!

These two are truly blessed and loved by all of our families and the community! Please continue to keep Ryan and Megan in your thoughts and prayers.

shirts were even made to welcome him home...I can't wait to see pictures of that homecoming :) 

Ryan, you're such a HUGE inspiration! I know your story is only getting better by the day, you have already touched so many lives by being the positive and amazing person you are. I love you Cuz!

-Libbs

Longest car ride...ever. (road trip recap)

A 7 hour car ride turned into a 10/11 hour car ride...both ways. 

On the ride we took about 30-45min breaks every 2 hours. 

Each break everyone had to get out of the car. There was no such thing as a quick stop. Once we stopped it would be a trickle effect and they would wake up when we stopped moving (thank God we never hit traffic!). 

We had potty breaks, nursing breaks, snack breaks, which then turned into coffee breaks and "here, go run around and get energy out" breaks. 

before our take off

the seating positions

rest stop! 

All in all, it wasn't that bad. 

We had the occasional crying and fighting but I think it definitely could have been worse. 

Poppi (Great Gpa) resting with Elena

Lucia getting down on some milkshake deliciousness =]

That trip actually gave me time to get to know my nieces some more and have fun with them. With my sister living in Maryland, we miss out on a lot so I thoroughly enjoyed my time with those two littles. 

Being in Arizona was great. Super humid and hot but when you're with great company it's hard to even care about the weather! 

We spent time sipping coffee, watching all of the second cousins run around and get to know each other, sipped more coffee, spent time catching up with my cousins, aunts and uncles, sipped more coffee, swam a little, did a coffee run with my Uncle Henry, sat with my Oma as she played the piano and sipped some more coffee. 

What can I say, our family runs on coffee. It is what it is :). 

that is not including the soon arrival of another great grand baby and her 1st great great grand baby :)

My Oma looked frail and in pain. She's having a hard time with her broken rib(s) and having to stay put. If she had her way she would have been in the kitchen the whole time making us bean burritos on homemade tortillas in between meals and making sure everyone's mug was full with fresh coffee. So to tell her that she needs to stay put and use a walker if she gets up is no bueno. She's still quick for being 93! And man, the older she gets the dirtier her jokes lol. 

I love her so much! 

My Auntie May is actually finishing a book about her so soon enough the whole world will be able to see just how amazing this woman is!

To get an idea how we all fit, here is a quick video on our way back home...This was one of few quiet moments: 

(please ignore my awkward narrating)

ROAD TRIP!

We're going to do thee unthinkable. 

Long story short, my sister Rita and her family of 4 decided to make a trip from Maryland to LA for a quick visit with the family before her maternity leave is over and so we can all spend some sweet familia time together...especially with the newest babe, Elena Paz. Unfortunately our Oma fell (their great Oma), broke a few ribs and was unable to join us in LA. Not knowing when we will all be able to spend time together again we decided to drive to Arizona to be with my mom who is tending to my Oma and the rest of the fam bam. 

Tomorrow morning we will be packed in one car...carrying 7 people. 

3 adults

My dad, Rita & I 

 4 kids...all under the age of 4

(let's not forget about the pesky/huge car seats)

one breastfeeding infant

one toddler realizing she wants to run everywhere

one potty-training 2 yr old

and one Vayda that will definitely speak her mind...

Any bets on who will lose it first?! Might be my dad being the only male in the car hahaha. 

Anyway, the follow-up blog post I'm sure will be good and juicy...stay tuned :)

follow via instagram too! @momabirdlibby

If anyone can 1up this/did this and has tips and tricks..please do tell! 

Our 4th of July via Instagram

These boots were Vay's too. Def going in the hope chest <3

Vayda and Papa

sister kisses!

cousin lovin'

show me your grill! 

es friiiooo! my cone head ;)

Nino Mikey lovin'

he knows the way to her heart ;)

Look SD made the news too! 

We weren't watching that show but we sure did see it when it happened. Too funny. 

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July!!