Feliz Navidad!!!

Que alegria tuvimos celebrando la primera Navidad de nuestro chiquito JJ! Nuestra oracion es que pronto el llegue a comprender la verdadera razon de la Navidad- JesuCristo, quien vino a salvar a un mundo pecador. Disfrutamos tanto, especialmente con la graaan bendicion de tenerles a los abuelitos y tios celebrando con nosotros en Kentucky.

What joy we had celebrating our little JJ's first Christmas! It is our prayer that soon he will come to understand fully the true reason of Christmas- Jesus Christ, who came to save a sinful world. We had a wonderful time with the great blessing of having JJ's grandparents and aunt and uncle Valenzuela celebrate with us in Kentucky.

Comenzamos algunas tradiciones nuevas y que deseamos seguir en anios venideros con nuestra familia. Una de esas tradiciones es la del Adviento. Josh comenzo a construir un calendario (la casita de madera arriba), el cual seguiremos mejorando, que usamos cada noche en todo el mes de diciembre. Cada noche, nos reunimos con JJ y leimos la Biblia, enfocandonos en el Rey venidero y la historia de la Navidad, cantamos un himno, oramos como familia y al final le dimos a JJ la oportunidad de ir al calendario y levantar la "puertita" correspondiente. Cada noche encontraba una sorpresa- Cheerios que podia comerse (cuando crezca un poquito mas, pondremos chocolates, pero por ahora, le encantan los Cheerios). Fue tan lindo ver como se iba emocionando y apenas deciamos "Amen," miraba al calendario con una gran sonrisa, sabiendo lo que seguia. Para nosotros fue, y esperamos que siga siendo en los proximos anios, una pequenia manera de enfocarnos mas y mas en Cristo durante una epoca tan ocupada y llena de cosas...y esto esperamos instruir en el corazon de nuestro chiquito.

We began some new traditions, which we hope to continue with our family in the coming years. One of those was the Advent. Josh began building an Advent calendar (the wooden house above), which we will continue working on and which we used every night in the whole month of December. Every night, we would sit together with JJ, read the Bible, focusing on the coming King and the Christmas story, sing a hymn, pray, and then we gave JJ the opportunity to go to the calendar and lift the corresponding little flap. Every night, he would find a surprise there- Cheerios, his favorite snack right now (when he get older we will replace them with chocolates, but for now, he loves his Cheerios). It was great to see how JJ would get excited, and as soon as we said "Amen," he would look straight to the calendar with a huge smile on his face, knowing what was next. For us, it was and we hope it to continue to be in the coming years, a way to focus more and more on Christ during such a busy season filled with so much stuff...and it is that focus on Christ during Christmastime that we hope to instill in our little son.

Abuelito leyendole a JJ acerca del nacimiento del bebe Jesus.

Abuelito reading to JJ the story of baby Jesus being born.

JJ se desperto el dia de Navidad con una gran sorpresa de la tia Natalia bajo el arbol- un caballito de madera--que lindo regalo!!!

JJ woke up on Christmas day with a wonderful surprise from tia Natalia under the tree- a rocking horse-- what a great present!!!

Todavia aprendiendo a sostenerse bien! :) ... Still learning to hold on well! :)

JJ es un bebe tan feliz.... JJ is such a happy baby!

Claro que el papel fue una de las diversiones mas grandes de JJ al abrir regalos!

Of course, the paper was what JJ enjoyed the most in the whole present-opening time!

Abriendo el regalo de los abuelitos ausentes (Grams y Grandpa Greene). Les extraniamos!

Opening a present from Grams and Grandpa, who were unfortunately not with us. We definitely missed them!

Disfrutando del regalo de los papis con el abuelito.

Enjoying his present from daddy and mama with abuelito.

Cepillandose los dientes con la abuelita...y queriendo hacerlo solito. :)

Brushing his teeth with abuelita...and wanting to do it by himself. :)

Gozando con el tio Andres.... Having fun with tio Andres.

Abuelito disfrutando con JJ de lo que el considera uno de los momentos mas importantes del dia- el desayuno.

Abuelito enjoying with JJ, what he considers one of the most important moments of the day- breakfast time.

" Que feliz me hacen mis abuelitos y tios! Les quiero tanto!!"

"Abuelitos and tios make me sooo happy! I love them!!"

Haciendo musica ecuatoriana con el tio... Making ecuadorian music with tio.

JJ siempre tiene una sonrisa especial para su tia...regresa pronto, tia!

JJ always has a special smile every time he sees his tia...come back soon, tia!

La diversion continua con el tio.... More and more fun with tio.

Tuvimos la oportunidad de hacer un pequenio viaje con los abuelitos y tios al Museo de la Creacion cerca de Cincinnati. Fue linda la experiencia, al ver lo grandioso que es nuestro Dios en cada detalle de la creacion. Creo que todos, desde los abuelitos hasta JJ, disfrutamos del museo.

We had the opportunity to take a short trip with abuelitos and tios to the Creation Museum close to Cincinnati. It was a wonderful experience to see how great our God is in every little detail of creation. I think all of us, including JJ, enjoyed the museum.

JJ, siendo presentado a su primer dinosaurio... JJ being introduced to his first dinosaur.

Abuelita compartiendo su smoothie con JJ...le encanto!

Abuelita sharing her smoothie with JJ...he loved it!

Abuelito llevandole a JJ en el camino a Belen. El museo tenia una linda caminata decorada con luces, y gente actuando como soldados romanos recogiendo impuestos, y los pastores hablando del gran acontecimiento del nacimiento del Rey. Al final, tenian un pesebre con gente y animales verdaderos. Fue bien lindo y entretenido.

Abuelito carrying JJ on the Road to Bethlehem. The museum had a pretty walk, decorated with lights and live Roman soldiers taking up taxes, and the shepherds talking about how the King had been born. At the end of the walk there was a live nativity. It was a lot of fun.

Sabiendo que la proxima semana, JJ cumpliria su primer cumpleanios, los abuelitos y tios no podian despedirse sin antes verle apagar su velita y probar su primer pastel.

Knowing that the following week, JJ would celebrate his first birthday, abuelitos and tios could not say goodbye without seeing him blow out his candle and try his first birthday cake.

Necesita mas practica soplando :) ..... He needs a little more practice learning how to blow :)

"Que se hace con esto!?" .... "What do I do with this!?"

La tia y yo disfrutamos creando este pastelito en forma de cangrejito (uno de los juguetes favoritos de JJ). No nos quedo mal por ser nuestro primer cake tan elaborado.

Tia and I enjoyed making this cake in the shape of a crab (one of JJ's favorite toys from the very beginning). Not bad for being our first kid's birthday cake.

Cuanto le queremos a nuestro chiquito de ya un anio!!! Gracias abuelitos y tios por una linda visita y celebracion del nacimiento de Jesus!

Oh, how much we love our little one-year-old!!! Thank you abuelitos and tios for a great visit and celebration of the birth of Jesus!