Author Archives: Amanda

Speech Therapy

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I met with the Speech Therapist and his teacher at Jayden’s school today. The meeting went great! We all agreed that it would be in Jayden’s best interest to start meeting w/the Speech Therapist 2x/week for a total of 50 minutes/week. Our main goals to work with Jayden are:

1. To get him to structure his sentences correctly. He mixes his words up in sentences.

2. For him to finish one subject before jumping to another. Example: He’ll be in the middle of a sentence and jump to a completely different subject. It’s almost like his mind is going too fast.

3. To complete 1 Step Directions. Example: “Jayden walk to the orange trash can.” Um, he kinda gets off task a little bit LOL.

I will update as things progress, but I think this is going to be a really great thing for him.

He Has a Girlfriend!

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Jayden has his first girlfriend. Her name is Alexis and she really is cute. I went to pick up Jayden from school today and him and Alexis walked out holding hands. OMGoodness! It really was cute. But it’s such an eye opener that he’s growing up. So, we get in the car and I asked him, “Is she your girlfriend?” I’ve asked this question before in a teasing manner, and he’s always said, “NO!” This time was different. Jayden replied, “Yes, Mom, and we’re gonna go on a date.” My heart kinda broke a little bit.

I told Gino and you’d think he’d feel all proud of his little boy, but he wasn’t. I’m kinda shocked. He asked him so tell me about your girlfriend and Jayden said, “Yeah, we hold hands and I need a nice shirt for our date.” Gino didn’t really say much to him then told me that it bothers him. So I told Jayden that girlfriends are for teenagers and little boys aren’t supposed to have a girlfriend. He actually told me, “Mom, I do have a girlfriend and we’re going on a date. I’m in love! She’s a Chinese girl and I’m a Chinese boy.” I didn’t know my son was Chinese. She actually looks Filipino maybe half.

She’s a very cute girl, but this isn’t supposed to happen. Little girls are supposed to have cooties. Why doesn’t this little girl have cooties???? Is this normal? I don’t remember having a boyfriend in Kindergarten. It’s one thing to have a little girlfriend, but why’s he talking about buying a nice shirt for a date? Gino used to joke with Jayden about hot chicks. Whenever there’d be a girl on the TV Gino would say, “Jayden, is that a hot chick?” Jayden even asked Gino’s boss at church on Sunday, “Do you like hot chicks? My dad likes hot chicks.” It was funny, we all laughed. Now Gino said he’s never joking with Jayden about hot chicks ever again. I actually do find it funny that Gino is reacting the way he’s reacting. Looks like Ella has no chance at ever having a boyfriend!

Well, everyone, this is history today. My son’s heart belongs to another female. UGH!

It’s All About the Thumb

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Within the past couple of days Ella has decided that she is going to be a thumb sucker. It first started out with sucking on her hands like there was no tomorrow, but then a little thumb slipped in and she fell in love. Today she learned how to curl her fingers and just have her thumb in her mouth and I must say it is the cutest thing ever. The negative point about this is I can take away a pacifier, but how do I take away a thumb? I guess we’ll deal with that when the time comes.

Church Day

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We had the most wonderful time today. It was Fast Sunday where people get up an tell their testimonies of the gospel and the church and I was a little nervous, but Gino seemed to really enjoy it. There were a couple of testimonies that were pretty powerful and I think he needed to hear them. The Relief Society has a bunch of wonderful girls in it and they really made me feel welcomed. We filled out a survey today of extra activities we’d be interested in. There were so many! Things like Yoga, book clubs, scrapbooking, Gospel Study, Parenting Classes, CPR – all kinda of things I’d love to do. They all loved Ella ~ but who doesn’t? Hehe. When it was all over with and we got in the car Gino told me that he really learned a lot and enjoyed it. I was hoping this is the response I’d get 🙂 So, I’m pretty happy!! Jayden told us he learned about Jesus and got to sing songs and had lots of fun. I was nervous for nothing 🙂

Church Tomorrow

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Tomorrow is a huge day for the Garibay household. For the first time ever, as a family we will be going to church. I never thought I’d see the day that my husband would walk through the doors of a Mormon church. It’s been so many years for myself that I’m extremely nervous. This is what I want for my family. My kids deserve this and as parents it is our responsibility to introduce them to our Heavenly Father and his son Jesus. Our entire relationship Gino has never had a positive attitude on my church. It was always negative negative negative. He still is questioning every aspect about it, but the fact that he is willing to give it a try for us means more to me than words can even describe. I’ve wanted this ever since I was pregnant with Jayden, but never thought it would be possible. Please pray for us that tomorrow goes well and that Gino has a wonderful experience. I need him to have a wonderful experience. His kids need him to have a wonderful experience. I especially can’t wait to pick up Jayden from primary tomorrow and hear about how much fun he had. His favorite thing about school is singing and he’ll get to sing in primary. I know he’s going to have so much fun. He knows there’s a God and he knows his sister Mya is with him. Now he’ll be able to make sense of it all. Do you know what my one wish is? Other than of course Ella’s heart healing itself. For my family to walk into a temple and get sealed together and to get Mya sealed to us. That’s my wish. It will take time, we have to take baby steps, but it will be amazing when it happens. So amazing.

A Heartbreaking Shock

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A lady at the age of 30 did not wake up today. She didn’t get to kiss her kids off to school. She didn’t get to rock her baby to sleep tonight. In turn, her kids didn’t get kisses from their mom today and her baby didn’t get rocked to sleep tonight from her mom. I knew her. Her name was Jessica and her son was my step-brother. And I can’t even describe how heart broken I am for everyone in her family that is in shock and devastated.

I’ve literally prayed my heart out today for her babies. I know that Jesse loves his mom so much and I hope that in time his heart will begin to heal. They will see each other again someday, but that’s not comforting as you’re left behind to mourn the loss of your mom.

Wow. So shocking. Life is so scary and unpredictable. You never can tell what’s going to happen one day to the next. Hold on to your loved ones and don’t let petty stuff get in the way. Life is too short. Way too short.

Cousins Meet

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The 2 baby girls finally got together!!! This is Ella and my brother’s baby Alana. The bottom picture is of Ella staring at Alana – she was so fascinated by her!!! They are so cute together.

First Parent/Teacher Conference

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I’m a little late here updating on this, but on Tuesday, November 20, 2007. I must admit, I was a little nervous walking in there. I’ve always felt like Jayden was a little different. Well, he is. He’s Jayden and there’s not many kids out there that call a TV a TV Set ~ so many different things about my little man, but they’re things that make him HIM.

So, I was very happy to learn that he’s doing great! He seems to be really into patterns and numbers (yes, he gets that from his mama) so I like to think he’ll become an accountant. She showed me a sheet of paper that she told the kids to write the numbers 1-10 and his was AWESOME!!!! I’ll have to get it scanned and upload it 🙂

We did have the Speech Therapist in on this meeting and they’re going to do testing on Jayden to see if it’s even something that’s needed. They’re doing this, because I let them know that Jayden used to get Speech Therapy in Sacramento. It doesn’t hurt. So at this point I’m so proud of him!!!!!!

Hurd Thanksgiving

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My grandparents on my dad’s side do Thanksgiving dinner on the Sunday before Thanksgiving every year. I’ve never attended one of these (at least not that I can remember) and this year was our first, since we live 5 minutes away. It was nice to see everyone, especially my cousins. Here are a few pictures, okay, well tons of pictures LOL. First off, we decided to take some family pictures and these are the ones that my cousin got of us





If you look in the background of my pictures that’s my grandparent’s property. It is the most beautiful, peaceful place I’ve ever been. I love to just sit on their front porch admiring the beauty that leaves me breathless with every glimpse. It’s a safe feeling being there, a place where I remember running all over and playing like Jayden gets to do now

This is a picture of my cousin Jill. I wouldn’t even call her my cousin. She’s more like my sister. I love this girl so much and she’s due to have a baby girl in March. Isn’t she gorgeous? I cannot believe that she is going to be a Mommy!!!

This is the three girls. My cousin Jill, my cousin Autumn and I w/our baby girls ~ well, Jill’s is in her belly, but it’s so cool that us girls that are so close have baby girls that will be just as close as us 3!!

My Grandpa wanted a picture of all of his Great-Grandkids, so the only one missing out of this picture is the one in Jill’s belly. Jayden’s so darn big compared to these babies. I love the look on Ella’s face… she’s like I am done with all this picture taking, Mom! The little boy on the left is my cousin Jeremy’s little boy Ethan, and then there’s Gweneviere who is my cousin Autumn’s baby girl and then of course my cuties Jayden and Ella. Jayden will be the one looking after all them later on in life.

And here’s a picture of Ella with her Daddy and Ella with her Mama. We couldn’t get Jayden to sit still for very long to take pics, because there was a whole new world for him outside to discover.