Another year, with a lifetime to go!
By the time I am done writing this blog, it will be Masi & My second wedding anniversary!! I am so lucky & blessed to have such an amazingly supportive, providing, & LOVING Husband!
The first two years, we have been blessed with TWO amazing children! Noah who is 14 months old, & Baby Fio #2 who will be born (if on schedule) on July 22, 2010.
The best advice I’ve ever received is when Masi & I were treading rocky waters a few years ago, so I was spending some quality time with my Mom, @ the nail salon of course!! While there I watched a couple in their late 70’s (I’m completely assuming) walk in hand in hand, smiling completely in awe of each other. This man lovingly helped his wife climb in to a pedicure chair, took off her shoes, & & sat right next to her. I being the nosy helplessly romantic person I am couldn’t help but ask this couple how long they have been married, and without hesitation they both looked in to each others eyes so adoringly, and as they looked back at me they both said, “almost 50 years!” As soon as I could pick my jaw up off the ground I unbelievingly asked, “& you’re still this happy?“ I am not sure of the woman’s reaction because I was completely taken back at what her husband did as I asked that. After a quick chuckle he grabbed her hand, leaned forward & kissed her on her forehead…….turning back to me…….he said, “OH NO, EVEN HAPPIER!” without hesitation I immediately asked, “what’s the secret? Is it TRUST?” He looked at me & said, “NO, if you don’t trust him, he has given you a reason not to. Dear, true LOVE is survivng the storm when everyone else has given up!” I remember just sitting there frozen in that moment as he continued telling me their story. They were married really young out of wedlock & now have 7 (or so) kids (I don’t exactly remember the persise details) no one believed they would make it, & he said at times he doubted himself, & she nodded her head in agreement. from what they told me, they both made a lot of mistakes, but through their trials & tribulations have learned that so many couples face the same storms, & as he reiterated the statement, “True LOVE is surviving the storm when everyone else would has given up” tears flew from my eyes like a never ending, God powered waterfall!!
Masi & I have survived our fare share of storms…….I’ve even sat through a lecture from a bitter old lady looking at me & saying ha, “you think you’ve been through a lot, honey, you’re both so young, you haven’t seen nothin’ yet!” but that’s her, that’s her story, not ours! I refuse to let people dictate our future! I have complete faith that true LOVE exists, & Masi & I have found it, & we’re going to be that couple in the nail salon 50 years from now proclaiming our love as I sit & get a pedicure! =) I’m not saying our marriage is perfect, we’ve had our share of trials & tribulations, arguments, & learning experiences, but the simple fact of the mater is We’re here today @ 12:19am still completely in LOVE. It might only be our second anniversary since We’ve been married, but God’s in control, & We both have immense faith that he has brought us together for a reason!
These past two years have been full of Smiles, Laughter, and YES even tears! I wouldn’t share any of it with any other MAN other than Thomas Mulimuli Fio! Happy anniversary LOVE!!
God Bless,
Crystal Saili-Fio
3 comments July 7, 2010
Thomas, Crystal, & Noah
Do we really have to take his BOTTLE away already?
Noah’s already 13 months old, & in a little over a month our family of three will become a family of four! Latley Noah has been extremley clingy, I wonder if those sibling rivalry instincts are already begining to set in???? I know it’s going to be work raising a toddler, & an infant, but the more & more I see Noah wanting to play with other children, I realize it’s all worth it.
Becoming a parent has opened a door to a completley new world! A world in which my Son’s needs, wants, & desires are top priority! Now if only I could distinguish his wants from his needs……. I read somewhere that this is the age where choosing your battles becomes imperative, I witnessed that first hand when I tried taking his bottle away! My first attempt was interupted when Noah caught a cold the day Masi & I decided we were going to put our foot down. I don’t know exactly what caused us to give in, & let him have his bottle a few more days, whether it was his runny nose, pouty lip, or one tear that slowly dripped down his right cheek as he laid snuggled in his Dada’s arm’s bottle less……. But nonetheless I had to stand firm & as soon as his cold departed I was on a mission, a mission that was going to require that Masi & I were on the same page. Noah woke up at least eight times that night, screaming at the top of his lungs, for his companion that has been with him since birth, but I refused to give in. (Don’t get me wrong each piercing scream tugged at my heart more & more, & I considered giving in multiple times, but as a parent I just had to realize that I was doing this out of LOVE, & one day when he has a perfect smile, he’ll thank me!) Masi on the other hand with his tough exterior, was putty in our Son’s hands (while I had a pillow over my head, trying to escape the torture that was my son’s pain) he decided to sneak off & make a bottle. Good thing I caught him, before any real damage was done! Let’s just say that was a long night for all three of us, but that’s all it took, Noah has been without a bottle for a little over two weeks now! To be honest I think he enjoys drinking out of his BIG BOY CUPS!
There is so much we’ve learned this past year, & there is so much we have yet to learn……. Masi & I are not perfect parents, & we’re not always going to be on the same page, but I think that’s what makes this journey so exciting, finding ways to compromise, & really exploring the parenting techniques that work for us!
Until next time,
God Bless,
<3 The Fio Family
1 comment June 5, 2010
Thomas, Crystal, & Noah
Double the BLESSINGS! =)
After Masi & I were married, we knew right away that we were at a point in our life, when starting a family became a priority, rather than the distant future! We we’re financially, mentally, & physically able, yet we knew that our families future was in God’s hands! After two months of wedding bliss we were one month into our pregnancy! If God thinks we are ready, that means we are completely prepared RIGHT? WRONG, way way WRONG!
It’s funny because no matter how ready we think we are to have kids, (or in our case……. MORE KIDS) there’s always something left unanticipated! I seemed to have overlooked the fact that I will be extremely tired (while pregnant) all the time, & with a 10 month old practically walking all over the place it’s a lot more difficult than I thought it would be! Now I am beginning to realize with an infant, & a one year old, I’m in for long days, & extremely long nights! I think those parental instincts kick in with just about everyone, but there is so much more that comes with being a parent! I’m not even thinking of the physical changes your body endures, but more so the things that no one ever warns you about! The realization that your life has become so much more valuable, the world so much crueler, & your child so vulnerable! Becoming a parent, adds so much more responsibility on your day to day routines. Jumping in your car, going to the store & being home to prepare dinner could have taken you half an hour pre-child. With child: Now after I’m ready, I make sure my son’s bag is ready just need extra diapers, clothes, or bottles. I have to make sure Noah’s car seat is in safely, he’s buckled in tight (but not to tight) & I have his blanket, & little things to keep him busy while running this (what use to be half an hour) arron. Now I have a second child on the way I double that time, & double the diaper changes, double the tantrums; but what I can not dare leave out, you double the hugs, the smiles, & laughter! Masi & I will never be prepared no matter how many kids we have, but I know where READY, for the challenges, & every obstacle that we have yet to face, we will conquer together!
Despite people telling us we’re crazy, Masi & I are ready for it! I think we’ve come to realize that people will always find ways to put us down, or attempt to make us doubt ourselves but if God brings us to it, He’ll bring us through it!” He has blessed us abundantly with our growing family! I understand that at 25 years of age, I don’t know everything about life, about love, & barley anything about raising children, we have to rely on the simple fact, that God has his plans for us, & with God on our side, our GROWING FAMILY will continue to be abundantly blessed!
8 comments February 28, 2010
Thomas, Crystal, & Noah
& the GROWING continues!
Okay so I have so much to blog……. Noah is a 9months WOW! He is a great mix of both Masi & I! He looks more like Masi, but has my big brown eyes! Noah is crawling all over the place, you can’t blink or he will be out of your sight! His hair is so long we have to put it into a pony tail, to keep it out of his eyes! He’s 23lbs 29inches! PERFECT PROPORTIONS! He is so handsome, he has me wrapped around his fingers already! He of course has a loud mouth just like MOMMY! I am so proud hehe! Noah is so super duper strong, before he was crawling he would hold himself in a push up position for almost a minute. He is now pulling himself up, & attempting to walk, but we’re still working on that! Noah is such a blessing to Masi & I, we feel so privileged & blessed to be Noah’s parents! His first word was of course, “MAMA!” YAY (I absolutely adore being a stay at home Mom, if I might say so myself!) His second word was Daddy, not Dada, but DADDY! His third & fourth words were Amma, & Ampa! He will sit down & have a complete converation with you, when you ask him questions! (We might not understand much, but it’s the concept =) He also has 6 teeth, four up top, & two front bottoms!
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Masi & I were watching Teen Mom THE FINALEthe other day, & Dr. Drew said something that completely made more sense than I could ever explain……. He said Mom’s have a PULL towards there children! That pull is different with Father’s! That makes complete sense, it put so much into perspective for Masi & I! We are a great team, but now that I am a stay at home Mom, I think there is a lot for us to learn! I think we were prepared for the physical aspects of becoming parents, but there is so much more emotional elements that no one ever told us about! We could not be more IN LOVE than we are with our SON! We’ve also realized that advice is much needed in our journey to becoming great parents. We are always wanting to better ourselves for Noah, & our future children! I am currently reading Date Night in a Minivan, by Lorilee Craker! The wisdom she offers parents in this book are enlightening! For Ex.“Don’t get hung up on what’s fair or you are in trouble. I have started down this road before, thinking thoughts such as, Why does Doyle get to take off for five hours each Saturday to hunt, when I wouldn’t dream of suggesting I go scrapbooking, shopping, or out with my pals for that amount of time every week? That’s a bad road, girls. It only leads to resentment and arguing, certainly nothing productive. And it really torpedoes the whole ‘keep no record of wrongs’ idea, found all over the Bible but specifically in 1 Corinthians 13.” How TRUE! To be completely honest at first…….becoming a stay at home mom left me a little overwhelmed! I’ve learned that I am on DUTY 24hours a day 7days a week 356 days a YEAR! Not only am I on BreakfastLunch&Dinner duty, I am doing laundry, constantly cleaning, & that leaves little time for much else! I’ve learn to become extremely appreciative that I have Masi! He is such a great Parenting Partner, & embodies, what I lack (Visa Versa!) I look forward to weekends when we can team up & do everything together! I am more grateful to be at home……. To be a STAY @ HOME MOMMY & WIFE! There is so much more for me to learn, & I plan on learning EVERYTHING! By the time Masi & I are done having Children, we will be EXPERTS!
Special THANKS to Amma & Ampa for all of your help, support, LOVE, & advice!
On Dec. 23rd 2009 Masi & I found out that we will be having another child! YAY! We were trying to wait to find out for sure on Christmas Eve, but we were just to excited to wait a moment longer! I am a little over three months now! I always wanted a little girl, but now I find myself crossing my fingers for a boy, so Noah can wrestle with his little brother, BUT I trust GOD & I know he has his plans for the FIO FAMILY……. So we’re just leaving it up to him!
I think that’s about it for now, but I KNOW that I will have MANY more STORIES SOON! Until then, GOD BLESS……. Thomas, Crystal, & Noah!
18 comments February 4, 2010
Thomas, Crystal, & Noah
Our FIRST, HALF Birthday!
Today @ 5:11pm Noah turned 6months old! I am so blessed to have the opportunity to be home & watch my son grow. He’s rolling all over the place. He can say Mama, Dadee, & Amma! He loves his vegetables (well everything except broccoli)!
Today Noah got his swine flu shot, I have been stressing over this supposed epidemic for months now! Masi had to work so Me, Noah, Mom, Dad, & Nee stood in line from 11:00am-about 3p! NeeNee was amazing, he got the swine flu shot with Noah! He wanted to make sure he was healthy so he can play with Noah! He was such a big boy today! I am so lucky he’s such an amazing little brother! Noah did great considering, he was laughing until the poke, then cried for just a few seconds & started laughing again! I went to Borders & bought him a bunch of books for his 1/2 birthday today! I still can’t believe he is half a year old!
My favorite thing he does is when he’s tired: he lays his head on my shoulders & grabs my fingers! So precious! When Masi got home today he ate, played with Noah, and cleaned our messy room! I have such an AMAZING Husband! Noah’s taking a nap now, but later I think I’ll make a cake for him! Probably carrot, & who knows maybe I’ll let him even taste it today!
Masi & I thank GOD: for his continued blessings on our family!
4 comments October 27, 2009
Thomas, Crystal, & Noah
Tags: 1/2 birthday, shots
Just a new chapter, to an old book
I decided to start this blog, because our Son Noah Masiano Marley Fio is growing so quickly & I want us as a family to look back & never forget a second of our journey together! Noah was born April 27, 2009 in Tacoma, WA! He is almost six months now & so much has happened I don’t know where to begin…….
When I went back to work after my Maternity Leave expired, I remember being so anxious, praying that my son would understand why his Mommy & Daddy were gone 8 hours a day. My husband worked from 7a-3:30p & I worked 3:30p-Midnight. So our family time was limited. My first day back to work @ Alaska Airlines was an emotional roller coaster. I was blessed however to double jack with an agent by the name of Loretta, sitting next to her, Solvita. These two amazing females were God sent. I was a stereotypical mom showing off every picture I owned from his naked butt, to his beautiful smile! Both Loretta, & Solvita are Mommies, and they began telling me how impressionable these first couple years are going to be for my family,that’s when Solvita lectured a few words that would in turn change my entire perception of my career, “Looking back, if I could have stayed home and been a Housewife, & Mom, I would have gave up anything!“ It was then I realized that I don’t want to miss a second of my Son’s life. I want to be there for his first real words, I want to see him crawl, & walk, & share every laugh & tear with him.
A few days later I received news that they might be furloughing the lowest 75 agents on the seniority list. Not even a second later I found myself volunteering to be laid off. A few weeks after my bid was excepted I heard music to my ears, “You know why your hear right?”, I smiled as much as could and said, “Yes ma’yam, I’m being furloughed!!!!!!!” , “Yes you will be one of the agents being furloughed!” I am not even exaggerating when I say, I heard bells, and voices singing “Hallelujah,Hallelujah Halle-Lujah!”
So for my last two weeks at Alaska Airlines I worked 12-15 hour days with NO days off, to get a little extra money, for our last Free Trip! (My husband, Noah, My Mom, Little Brother NeeNee, & Noah are going to Vermont!) These past couple weeks Masi really took care of our home & our precious Son. I mean he did laundry, cleaned, even our bathroom was spic & span! God has blessed me with an amazing husband & he’s the perfect Daddy, I couldn’t have dreamt of someone more perfect. I must admit despite my excitement with becoming unemployed, I realized how attached I have become to many of my co-workers. Alaska did such an amazing job hiring so many exceptional people! I was extremely emotional, but come the next day when I didn’t have to get ready for work, I realized I now have the most important job in the entire world, I am a HOUSEWIFE & STAY @ HOME MOMMY!
Saturday Myself, Noah, NeeNee, Charlie, & Auntie made our way down to the “Little People, Big World Farm“ in Hillsboro OR! The Rolof family was super duper nice! Noah got his first pumpkin & it was 30lbs. So exciting! Masi had to work mandatory OT, but it’s okay we have the rest of our lives to experience family outings together!
Sunday, I slept all day to make up for the lost sleep these past couple weeks, & well that leave me to today! Masi gave me & Noah our daily kisses before work, & we fell right back to sleep! Noah woke up about 6:30a I changed & fed him & he went right back to sleep! We woke up @ 9a ate breakfast, played for a little bit & another nap! In between all this excitement I tried cleaning & doing laundry, but I slacked a little bit today! When Masi got home from work we went to Safeway to get Noah some more Baby Food & wipes! But I mean really that’s what my day consisted of! I have an amazing family & am so excited to write down all the amazing life experiences we will share together!
Until next time,
God Bless,
“THE FIO FAMILY!”
26 comments October 20, 2009
Thomas, Crystal, & Noah
Tags: Alaska Airlines, Family, Stay at home mommys
