A Name & a Blessing

On October 9th, 2011, Mayan Lina Rodriguez Orton received her baby blessing, given by her Dad.  It was very sweet.  Dan Rich, Collin Jager, Glenn Harmon, Vince Ho, Scott Nielsen stood in the circle.  And even though there was no extended family in the congregation, I felt like our family here was.  :)  And I swear, Mayan came home a different baby, it was like after 6 weeks in a cocoon (of sleep) she woke up and came alive.  She started smiling and cooing and BEING awake!  She still sleeps like a champ (on average 8 hours a night) though and well, she is just an angel of a baby!  We love her SOOOOOOO much!  Also it was the last day for the Harmons at church, they have moved to Burbank to a dream job at Dream Works and we will miss our dear friends!  But thankfully, its not far and we will make trips to "Jonut's new howt" frequently.  Thanks Glenn for being our photographer and each and every Harmon for being truly wonderful friends

Belize likes to add the word "unfortunately" into her daily speech.

Why does she want to put on make-up, paint her nails, and wear my clothes?  Why does she want to grow up?  Why?  WHY???

 Loves her sissy!

 Bahahahahaha!

Belize is quite the little lady.  Still as energetic as ever but becoming a little softer around the edges.  She shot another commercial today, the crew cooed and swooned over her cuteness.  She makes friends wherever she is and this was no exception.  There was Joe (production manager?), Frankie (her school tutor/1st little person she's ever met), Jenna from wardrobe, the makeup lady, the main camera guy and the director to name a few.  And after a minor meltdown about not wanting to unwrap a Christmas present (who's child is this?!) she wowed everyone with her stirring performance of "girl on Christmas morning looks down at present, gets excited, opens present, is surprised, and gets excited again by jumping around" but only after being bribed by the director who delivered with a wrapped BIGGEST BAG of skittles I HAVE EVER SEEN!  I think after 4 trips into the city and a couple of meltdowns though, this mama is spent.  I asked her if she wanted to do it again and she said no so she is officially in retirement- unless she wants to do it again sometime in the future.  We packed up to leave, as I was wondering what in the world was I going to do with that many Skittles, and Belize ran off.  I found her handing out one skittle to each of the crew members, what a sweetie pie!  (Fortunately Belize willingly compromised to leaving most of the candy on the craft table and bringing home a cup full).  Be looking for a certain Sports Authority holiday commercial airing on a cable channel near you- that's a wrap!

Beautiful

 My dear friend Whitney came over and after a couple of hours of prodding (the girl does NOT like photo sessions), Whitney DELIVERED!  I'm in-love with these gorgeous pictures!  I think she was a week old in the pics.

 Just a little breath of heaven.

 My sweet sweet darling baby girl. I love her.

 Mayan is a model baby.  She sleeps the majority of the day and then only makes me get up once or twice with her at night (although typically she won't go to bed until 11:30).

 Her signature move is this kissy face.

 She recently discovered her tongue.

 She has smiled for Angie, Buela on the phone and me.  Brief but gush inducing! :)

 She is a good little eater and doesn't mind taking a bottle if needed- she's an equal opportunist.

 She recently had her 5 week visit (cause I was a week late) and she came in at 10lb 3oz and 22 inches.  75% in both categories.

 Cheznie and Rio are the cutest little 2 year olds around.  They jammer on together like they know exactly what each other is talking about and I have my doubts if they can even understand each other- its adorable.

 Rio likes to love on his new sister.

 He still gives me kisses and hugs even when he's "not my friend anymore."  Starting a little before I had Mayan he has really attached himself to Brannon, so I'm missing that a little but he's still my boy.

 He came to me the other day with a tissue in his hand and said, "I need to blow my note (nose)." He had had a runny nose.  Shockingly on the other side of the blow, I found a half-cooked pinto bean that we think had been living up his nose for a week or so!!!  It was starting to sprout and Rio hadn't complained of it once!

"Don't miss it! Don't even delay"

 One of my favorite childhood memories is of our family going to the fair.  I don't really remember anything specific except that we went and the SCONES were good!  Oh, and one time my Dad bought an elephant ear- end of story.  So in the name of family tradition, I got this fanciful idea (Brannon's words) and we called the Nielsens and we drove to the LA County Fair!

 It was hot and sweaty but the kids had a blast- milking goats, cheering on pig races and getting freaked out by life-size (I exaggerate a "little") dinosaurs and small livestock.

 Oh, how sweet- our first picture as a family of 5, couldn't get any better than this- or could it?

 Of course, we had to end the evening with a little drama but anyhow - "Isn't it kinda fun?"