My Wish

Dear Bella,

Happy 2010 my beautiful 16 month-old! I cannot believe how much you have changed my life. My eyes are already welling up with bitter-sweet tears.

Your father and I have nurtured you since you were a newborn and each day it is a blessing to have you in our life.

We have already shared so much: Mommy talks, dancing in our pajamas, visiting Shi Shi and Popi on the ranch, trips to Sedona, sleepless nights, countless earaches, trips to the pediatrician, prayers, sippy cups, books read aloud, wiping noses and tushes, eating solids, saying no-no, walking in Nana's kitchen in our click-click's, hugs and kisses and lots and lots of laughs.

My wish for you this coming year is to learn more about yourself, the world, and why its so important to love Jesus Christ.

From the first moment I first held you I knew you would change my life. You have such a deep and loving laugh and when daddy tickles you my heart just melts.

2009 has been quite a year for your mommy and daddy. Not only have we both had to make some big decisions in our life, we have always kept you first and we hope those decisions will make you a strong and gentle adult someday.

I love you so much Bella Marie!

Blessings This Christmas

Christmas 2009 was awesome!

We had such a wonderful weekend at Ci Ci and Popi's home on the ranch. Christmas morning we opened presents (more than 1/2 which were Bella's). Then Oma arrived just before Breakfast and we had some yummy homemade cinnamon rolls. Shortly there after we enjoyed one another's company and fixed Christmas lunch. Of course it was all gone by 2pm. We then wrapped up the evening laughing at Miss Priss and enjoying the beautiful weather outdoors.

Another blessing in 2010. May it bring all of you healthly hearts, happiness and few fortunes along the way!

Cheers!

Mrs. Claus Wants Her Hat Back

Early Christmas morning the reindeer police called Shi Shi's house and wanted Bella to give Mrs. Claus her hat back! giggle! giggle!

This hat was actually mine when I was a baby and mom pulled it out of the closet and decided Bella should wear it Christmas Eve! What a cute little thang!

Bella Meets Santa

My mom and I took Bella to see Santa at the North Star Mall in San Antonio. Boy, was it a flop!
As you can tell from viewing the photo above, Bella didn't make nice with Santa. However, there's always next year.

She had a better time once she got off Santa's lap and started to run around a bit.

Merry Christmas Everyone

Gracias Bella

Bella is growing up fast these days, walking, talking and telling me gracias every time I hand her a cheerio. She's dabbles with her spoon and loves to play games inside and outside.

She points at her books and every time she grabs one for me to read, she snuggles right next to me and plops her bottom into my lap.
Our life has quickly changed these past 15 months.

I'm living here in San Antonio with Bella, while Chris continues to live in Tucson. We're crossing our fingers he gets a transfer to San Antonio soon as Bella misses her Daddy and I miss my husband.

Thanksgiving was a blessing though- Thanks to all our family and friends for sharing your time with us this past Holiday.

Warmest Wishes to all of you this Holiday season.

Cutest Little Butterfly, You've Ever Seen

Our little Bella turned 14 months today. "Isn't she the cutest little butterfly you've ever seen!"

Halloween was this past weekend and we spent it in Hondo and Uvalde. Oma, Mom & I took Bella trick-or-treating to the Hondo Catholic Church Carnival.

We had a lot of fun and enjoyed watching our little Be Be walking around in her cute little costume. The night ended early though, Miss Bella needed her lovey and went nite-nite by 8pm.

13 Months

"She's going to be a handful," Chris exclaimed. Tonight she took a bag of cookies to the living room where she stomped all over them and started laughing. Today, Bella turned 13 months.

The little munchkin is so darn cute! She babbles constantly and all Chris and I can say is ,"Really!" and "No way, tell me more Bella!"

We have no idea what she's saying but it must be important if she's talking to us.

What cracks me up the most lately is when she shrugs her shoulders to any male figure. I think she gets a little bashful. Especially around my dad or AKA Popi.

Next week my parents come to Tucson to help us move back to Texas. I feel overwhelmed, anxious, excited, & exhausted about the move---but, realize the payoff will be well worth it.

Both Chris' family and my side of the family get so giddy when they see Bella. I think seeing and playing with her keeps them young at heart. My dad just loves Bella and really enjoys taking her in the golf cart on the ranch--meanwhile, my mom can't get enough kisses and hugs.

We're Coming Home

After six long years in Tucson, we're finally going home, that's right you read the first sentence correctly.

Chris and I moved to Tucson six years ago where I took a job working as a tv news reporter and he accepted a job with the University of Arizona and KUAT Television.

We initially planned to stay for just two years, then we found ourselves enjoying life in the southwest and coping with triple digit temperatures in the summer. Then after being married a little over a year we decided to try and conceive a child. It took a few months and eventually we were pregnant but shortly after 8 weeks I miscarried our first child. Then a few months later another miscarriage and then another. Chris and I were devastated. I quickly wanted to solve the problem and went in for testing and saw a fertility specialist. After several surgeries and lots of tests. Doctors concluded I had endometriosis and conceiving a child would be unsuccessful without the help of fertility drugs. So, in the meantime Chris and I went on with our lives all the while wondering if we should or should not look for jobs back in Texas. Perhaps, heading back home would help heal our pain after the loss of several pregnancies.

Of course God always has a plan.

And, the good Lord allowed us to build a home, and keep us successful in our careers. Throughout this time Chris mastered his editing and shooting video skills. Enough to get him several Emmy nominations. Also, enough for him to run a sustainable side business shooting weddings, and other major events in the Old Pueblo.

If that wasn't enough success already, I chose to leave Live news reporting and mid-night ambulance runs for a career change in television and internet sales advertising with KOLD. Sure, I still do some on-air promotions, spots and LIVE shots. But, I was off on weekends and early mornings. It was a chance for me to have a 8-5 job with benefits of finally having a family.

Then in 2007 Chris and I still hoped to move home and be closer to family. But, we opted to see our RE once more and dig into our hearts and pocketbooks to pursue fertility tests in hopes we would one day have a child.

Undergoing fertility testing wasn't easy. Chris and I both had to administer injections into my hips and abdomen for months each morning and evening. If that wasn't enough we had doctor appointments at all hours of the day and my body had turned into a human pincushion from all the daily shots.

Finally, after months of needles, drugs, and sharp abdominal pains. We received some life changing news, on our way home from a Mt. Lemmon trip with my parents the news said to me, "Are you ready to be a mommy because you're pregnant!"

From that point on Texas was on the backburner and we would put ourselves second and our child first.

Fast-forwarding a bit and a year later it was time for a career change. I had reached a peak at KOLD and Texas was on my mind. The rest is history and the details are big but all you need to know now is that we're finally coming back to the Lonestar state and once again God has answered our prayers and set us up for yet another amazing journey.

Our Ya' Ready for Some Football?

Bella and Chris had some father-daughter time together opening weekend of Football season. Even though Chris isn't a Cowboys fan we figured we better show our "Texas" team spirit.

The Great Outdoors

Bella loves her Shi Shi and Popi. We just returned from Texas this past weekend and spent the week with my parents on the ranch in Uvalde. Bella really loves the outdoors and it was fantastic to see Bella spend some quality time with each of them. In the morning, she would spend time with my mom in the kitchen and in the afternoons once my dad returned from work she would go with him to feed the cattle and take care of the ranch outside. Bella also enjoyed listening Oma tell stories while playing with flowers. In all, I would say our little Bella loves the great outdoors!

Our Cupcake's Party

On Saturday, September 5th Bella celebrated her First Birthday at Rancho Sahuarita Safari Park. All of Bella's friends and family were present for the afternoon and mom and Oma made hotdogs with all the trimmings and homemade cupcakes for all to enjoy.

Bella also had her very own "smash" cake. Yum! Yum!

We also had fun with a very, very, large pinata Shi Shi brought from Texas. We thank everyone who came out to celebrate our little cupcakes birthday party and enjoyed the visit.

Happy Birthday Isabella Marie

Isabella Marie Martinez turned the big ONE today.

This morning she woke up with the biggest smile on her face. Chris and I sang Happy Birthday to her and then she and Chris watched Martha Speaks on PBS (She loves that show)

I've said it before on this blog and I'll say it again. "I can't believe how fast this year has gone." Each day brings us new adventures and new laughs.

Already at one she is walking--I mean running all over the place. She says about 10 words and points at everything. She loves when you sing to her and she loves when Shi Shi reads to her. Tomorrow my mom and Oma come in from Texas to spend the weekend with us and on Saturday all of Chris' family arrives.

On Saturday were holding Bella's big bash at the Rancho Sahuarita Safari Park!

The photos I'm posting are the portraits we took last weekend, along with her daycare buddies sharing some cupcakes today in celebration of her big day.

Party Preps

Our little cupcake is turning one in a few short weeks and we have several family members who will be visiting us here in Tucson to celebrate Bella's big day.

To prepare for everyone's arrival, Chris and I worked in our yard and did some much needed landscaping maintenance this afternoon. We've also been cleaning out drawers, cabinets and closets. What's been great about getting the house organized---- Getting rid of junk we no longer need. It feels so good to get the clutter out!

365 Days Go By Fast

Since Bella was born our little cupcake has been photographed. Whether it be by a Nikon camera or a video camera, our little monkey continues to shine on-air. Chris is putting together a montage of her life in the past year. We'll be giving away at her party to relatives and friends so we may share some of our favorite moments with them.

I haven't seen much of the project yet. However, I'm eager to see how fast one year has gone by.

The Mobile Monkey

Our little mobile monkey keeps Chris and I very busy.

A few weekends ago we went to Rancho for her 10.5 month photo shoot. At 10 months she started walking by herself. Now, she chases Chris and I around the house. I feel sorry for her sitter. (Patsy, bless your soul)

The Bradley-Martinez bunch have been very busy.

I've been slammed with work and Chris is finishing several projects at his work. I'm also in the middle of planning Bella's first birthday right now.

Everyone tells me:

"Don't be one of those mothers who goes all out."

OR

"She's only 1, she'll never remember it."

Well, I say: Too bad if I want to be one of those mothers and too bad if she doesn't remember it. That's why we have a video camera.

So, I might just go all out and be one of those over indulging mothers....

Then again, it might just be a cake, a candle and perhaps some family too.

Lil' Miss Priss

Our Little Sparkler

We spent Bella's first Fourth of July in Leakey, Texas. Mom and Dad BBQ with cousins Jo Marie and Brad while Bella and I enjoyed the parade and some of the tasty pork ribs they fixed that day.

We also had to take a little dip in the Frio River afterwards, to cool down. Bella enjoyed swimming with Shi Shi and Popi.

Shop Til' We Drop

Bella and I took the grandmothers for a shopping extravaganza to La Encantada. We had lunch at Blanco, bought way to many clothes at Gymboree and then ended the day with Gelato. The child has been named by the grandmothers as the "world traveler." I don't know who had more fun: Bella or Shi Shi and Nana???