Paper Crew and COSMOPOLITAN Bride

We're featured in COSMOPOLITAN Bride's 2012 Best Real Weddings! We are so thrilled to share this feature of Jessica and Paul's Australian Wedding in Cosmo Bride. Our Damask Programs, Escort Cards, Table Numbers, Menus and Favor Stickers are all shown. The bride was pretty bummed that she found us after she already ordered invitations. Feeling pretty cool right about now that we not only have a feature in Cosmo, but that it's in Australia!!!






If you are interested in placing an order, email us at holler@papercrew.com

Happy 1st Birthday Hunner!!!!!!

My son turned ONE today. We got an ice cream cake and let him go at it. It was a nice small intimate occasion right in our dining room table. (Pics will be uploaded later)
Even funnier is that we went to another birthday party at Chuck-E-Cheese and I figured he'd think that it's all for him! lol
I still can't believe that a full year has passed us by. My boy is so big now. It makes me sad thinking that the years go by faster when you're older! Ugh. I remember going to the hospital in the middle of the night to be induced. Having him was the easiest labor I've had Out of he three. Because he is the 3rd child almost everything he has was a hand me down from Alexa.
We didn't stress as much and we didn't splurge with the baby room or even the baby shower. We kinda did everything low key, which was a nice change. I think I enjoyed being prego the 3rd time around, and I truly believe that played a big part in his personality. He is really a happy baby. Smiles and laughs all the time. I love his little smile with all his teeth, it's too cute. And now he is already one.

12 Hunner things:

1- He has eight teeth, 4 up top and 4 on the bottom. Perfect little square teeth. He loves to brush his teeth! He bites down on the toothbrush though and I have to brush his teeth with his mouth closed. He hasn't grasped the fact that he needs to show me his teeth yet.

2- He still sleeps in his bassinet and loves to cuddle with his favorite blanket and a nukie (pacifier). He is a good sleeper and sleeps through the night. In the morning he calls out "maaaa maa ma ma ma" or just recently "dadadadada"

3- He wears a size 18-24 months. He is stocky and chubby! He's got rolls on his thighs and his feet always look swollen!

4- He is stands on his own, but is not eager to try to walk. When we left him up to stand, he just lifts his legs up in the air, motioning to sit

5- I feed him what we eat as a family. Chicken, Rice, french fries, spaghetti, whatever... He doesn't like to feel left out! lol

6- If you give him a cell phone and say, "hello?" He puts the phone to his ear!

7- His hair touches his nose in the front and goes past his neck in the back! We haven't cut his hair yet. Thinking about giving him a trim soon though. It's getting to the point that we put his hair up in ponytails! He looks just like his Ate Alexa.

8- Hunner let's me clean his nose with the green bulb that you take home from the hospital. I just say, "More Hunner" and he keeps still and lets me do it. That is amazing to me, because Sam and Alexa would have to be tied down by one person while the other person uses the bulb. So I'm so happy that Hunner is easy. I hope he doesn't change this.

9- He moves constantly. When we put him on our wood floors, he moves around so much that it looks like he's break dancing! Future b-boy!

10- Hunner moves his butt up and down when you say, "Dance, dance, dance!" or if he hears a beat that he likes

11- Hunner is the best cuddler. When he is comfortable with someone, or if he is tired. He will lay his head on your shoulder. I LOVE this about him. He is so sweet.

12- When I pick him up for the first time in the morning, after he calls out for me or Paul, or when I get home from work and pick him up, he greets me with an excited laugh, smiles, moves up and down while smiling and laughing, and will look at me and give me a wet open mouth kiss!

Happy 4th Birthday Alexa!

One!
Two!

Three!

Today my baby girl turned Four!
She woke up to presents and pancakes with lots of syrup (she has a terrible sweet tooth). Paul and I played hookie to take our kids to Universal Studios. Paul bought Alexa a bunch of pirate stuff, like a sword and compass and eye patch, which she loved the most. She loved it so much that she decided to wear it all day today at Universal...

Pictures to come...

How we spent our day at Universal...

Shrek 3D
Studio Tour
Water World
Mummy
The Simpson's

Grass is greener...

...on the other side.When Paul and I were dating, I wanted to be married and start a family of our own. And now, sometimes I catch myself, wanting to be alone or wishing Calgon could take me away. Or wondering if I should've got married so early and traveled. It's stupid to want what I you don't have. So now thinking even more about it, I think I'm good. I love my family, my husband, and I wouldn't trade any trip around the world for them.
When Paul and I were working out of our home office, we were dreaming of having an office/warehouse/retail store to go to everyday. Now that we have the store, although I adore it, has it's not so great qualities. Like the fact that I no longer have the kiddos with me all day. Although great for business, it's not so great with the time that I originally wanted to spend with my kids, and the other reason I left my "day time" job in the first place.
Our kids are growing up right before our eyes, and I feel like I'm missing some of it.
I haven't blogged in awhile and after meeting with my childhood friend, Jamie, last week, I was inspired again to write about our lives.

Sam, Sammie, Samantha is turning 13 next month. I can't believe that I am less than a month away from claiming that I have a "teenager". So scary just thinking about it. My little cousin, Carla, just graduated from H.S. last month. Carla and Sam share the same birthday. Carla is 5 years older than Sam, so that graduation was an eye-opener for me. I'm thinking to myself...in just five years, Sam will be gone. Away to college. At least that's what the parenting chart I drew up says. lol I've been drilling Sam since the first grade that she's going to take a certain track in life. And every year, she surpasses what I expect from her. Honor Roll, Singing performances, and just how she takes on a lot of responsibility by helping me with all the duties I ask of her, Sam is going to be special. I would never let down my tough exterior with her, and I'm pretty sure that she doesn't read this blog...but inside I can't wait to watch her shine.

I was going through all of our pictures and was saddened when I couldn't really find one with her. With a 9 year gap between her and Alexa, and Alexa being only 3 and Hunner a new born, I guess sometimes you forget about the older one. I feel horrible now. Gonna make it a point to stop being lazy with my camera and start taking more pictures of ALL of them.

Alexa will be turning 4 next month. Lucky for me (not really), all three kids birthdays are in August. Alexa is a tough cookie. She talks back, she doesn't listen. She questions everything you tell her and after all of that, she is the sweetest little girl. Almost always, I can break her tough girl act by engaging in tickle fights or sneaking compulsive hugs and kisses. I catch myself raising my voice at her, then I have to remind myself that I don't want her to be afraid to be strong and not to accept what everyone tells her. I'm hoping that she remains strong minded as she gets older. Alexa walks to the beat of her own drum. A true leader. Although as a 4 year old, it comes off as "bossy". lol
Today, before I left for work, I was trying to get Hunner to wave good bye to me. I must've said "Bu-bye Hunner Boy" like 5 times. Then Alexa pouted and said, "How about me mom! Are you gonna say bye to me!?" It was quite funny. That's so my girl. I love it!
And my boy...hunny boy. I adore him. You couldn't ask for a happier baby. Always smiling and laughing and playing. He brightens my day. He is so friendly. He's so smart. He picks up on things quickly. He knows how to high five, blow a flying kiss, finger no-no-no, gives open mouth kisses, says, "Mar!" for more food. He loves and is really attached to me. I can't leave the room or pass by his bassinet without him laugh-crying at me. He has 8 teeth now. Four up top and four on the bottom. He smiles with his teeth. It's so adorable. I DO NOT want him to grow. I love him at this age. I love everything about his smile and I love his hair. I fight myself on whether or not to cut his hair. All my relatives keep telling me to cut his hair, but I don't want to all too much. I love his beautiful long hair and he is just too cute with it. I call him Hunner-Bieber! hahahaha So I'm thinking I'm going to cut it when I'm ready! (Is that selfish of me?)
BTW...doesn't the pic of Hunner's lips look familiar:

...and then...there were five

Our party of five has been a challenge. It's been so long since I've last blogged. The days seem to be shorter and time is just passing by quicker as I get older.
Hunner is growing up too fast. He hasn't started crawling too much yet. Which I'm totally OK with. I just love the little baby stuff and wish all the baby-ing with my Hunner Boy will last, but I know it won't.
Here are some pics that I haven't had a chance to blog (thanks to facebook, I've become a lazy blogger).
Hunner's bath at 3 months...

Sam's birthday dinner...

Hunner at 4 months...

And some at Christmas...





Hunner's first New Years...

Look at Alexa in 2007 and Hunner in 2010...

Hunner in January on his 5 month birthday...

We got the keys to our first store...PAPER CREW!

Hunner is baptised 3/28/10. He is 6 months old...


This is how we spent Paul's Birthday...working on the construction of the store.

The sign is up and it's official...

We are open for business!

My cousin brought the bubbly to pop on our first day of opening our doors...

It's been a great 2010 for us and I'm hoping to take more pics of Hunner Boy. Summer is coming and can't wait to post pics of our summer days...

HUNNER VALDEZ ALICANTE

Born: August 8, 2009, 1:05pm
6 pounds, 15 ounces
19 and 1/2 inches long
Torrance Memorial Hospital, Torrance, California
Baby Arrival Website click here
Delivery was great!
Paul and I were scheduled to come in for induction at 2am 8/8/09.
Patosin (spelling?) was in by 4am.
Epidural was smooth and worked wonders.
5 big pushes and out came Hunner!

TODAY IS HIS 1 MONTH BIRTHDAY.I can't imagine my life without my Hunny! This month went by so quickly.
He gurgles and can left his head up!
He likes to kick.
He's moving up from Newborn to Size 1 diapers.
He moves his head slowly to the sound of voices from Mom, Dad, and sisters.
He sleeps well. Let's me and Paul sleep 3-4 hours.
He has oily hair that poofs up right after a bath.
He actually like the pacifier. Both Alexa and Sam didn't.
Paul says he's gonna be a momma's boy.
I've already nicknamed him "Hunny".
Here's a few pictures that were taken within his first month:

THREE!

My little baby is 3 today. Happy birthday Alexa Elia Alicanté!

The little things I love about you:
1. You are so concerned if anyone has an awwee.
2. You have a adult sense of humor and strangely sarcastic
3. You're smart and such a fast learner
4. You are not a sissy girl...you're tough and are not afraid to show it
5. You love school and your school friends and teachers all love you
6. You can't wait to see your grand parents. Both sets of them make you happy.
7. If someone hurts your feelings, your pouting face can make anyone melt
8. When someone farts, you squint your face and say, "Momma farted? Smell stinky! Disgusting!"
9. You reserve the best seat in the house the minute you hear it's movie time.
10. You sing and hum to yourself.

I love you Alexa! I can't believe that 3 years ago I was pregnant with you!
I hope you have a wonderful birthday with plenty of cupcakes, ice cream and laughs.