Wow. I still can't believe that I have a 5 year old...it's weird to even think about! I still remember taking him home from the hospital. I remember his funny faces during bath time. It seems like just yesterday that he was learning to walk and run...climbing out of his crib, seeing CarsLand for the first time. I can still picture his face when he felt sand for the first time as he screamed. Some details have faded. Things like his first word and his favorite baby foods are long gone. I can't remember when his first tooth broke through, or what life was like before he ran around like crazy and talked my ear off!
He is my first born. I have been amazed to watch him grow into such a sweet and (somewhat!) adventurous boy. He has blossomed from a fairly shy and whiny kid into a fun and inclusive boy. I remember picking him up from preschool one day a few weeks ago. The boy who knew no one and had a hard time making friends outside of his cousins, was shouting goodbye to every kid that walked by! When Jared took him into class late after a doctor appointment, the kids all screamed his name. The little boy I was SO nervous for has really transformed over this past year and I have loved watching every minute.
Now don't get me wrong, he has definitely been testing limits...and my patience. He has taken to screaming "NEVER" when I ask him to do something he doesn't want to, which ends with a quick trip to his bed while he cools off. I can honestly say that while he ticks me off and I am often frustrated, I am also relieved. To see him be passionate and to stand up for himself is something that I hadn't seen in him as a younger child and it made me nervous. I didn't want him to be stepped on or bossed around because he was so nice and easy to get along with. Those fears are mostly alleviated now. He has developed his own voice and personality, while still maintaining his easy going nature. He still gets along with 90% of the kids he plays with and I know that it is because of how kind and inclusive he is, and I am so grateful for that!
This year was his first "real" birthday party. We usually just do a family dinner at my parent's house with immediate family. I wanted to wait until he was five and actually had some friends before I invested any time or money into a party ;) I have learned that I am not a big party planner. I don't enjoy it. It brings me no satisfaction and lots of stress. Jared and I talked it over, and we set aside money, and surprised Christian with a party at Wacky Tacky. For anyone who hasn't been there - it was an absolute blast, and VERY well organized. I didn't have to do anything and the kids ran and played until their hearts were content!
I ran out of time to order a cake, so Jared and I re-fashioned one that had flowers and made it a dinosaur cake!
For school, Christian got to bring treats for his class and they made him a birthday crown
Instead of cupcakes, he choose fruit snacks and gogurts for his classmates to share!
Here are the pictures from Wacky Tacky. This is after the kids were all worn out from playing and ready for pizza!
Getting ready to sing Happy Birthday
He got to sit in the Birthday Chair as he opened his gifts - it was an awesome chair!
Down in Front!
CJ had lots of "helpers" as he opened his gifts
His very first fishing rod
Just call him a Lego-maniac
CJ's love for Legos is transferring onto Leila
That was all from his party! But here's some more of what has been going on lately for my first born. Since his Marfan's diagnosis, and after his Echocardiogram, we met with a Pediatric Cardiologist to discuss his options. After lots of discussion, we all decided his best option was to go on Beta Blockers to slow down the wear and tear on his enlarged aorta. So far it is going well, although we have him on half a dose to start.
Here he is getting a quick EKG before meeting with the Specialist.
Since most sports are not in CJ's future, Grandpa is helping him learn to golf and fish. Here they are practicing his putt. He loved it!
My handsome boy in his Ninja Turtle pj's
Crazy face
Sometimes you just need to play hooky from school! Grandma and Grandpa took Leila, Elaine and Christian up to go sledding a couple of weeks ago and to say they loved it is an absolute understatement. They paid to go to an actual sled park which included a rope tow to the top. The kids had such a good time and the weather was perfect. The best part is that everyone survived!
Best Buddies
Carefree
Getting towed to the top
Happy Birthday to my first born. It has been a total adventure and one crazy ride. Five years down and I can't wait to see what the future brings. I love you clear to heaven and back again.
Jocelyn is growing like a weed, and getting cuter everyday! Her face is softening up and gaining more and more expression. She smiles with a HUGE genuine smile basically every time she sees my face (eat your heart out Jared), and has these two tiny dimples that I just want to kiss! At this point she is sleeping almost through the night - usually at least 6 hours straight, and that makes her mommy very happy. Now if only her siblings would stop tag teaming me the rest of the time!
JoJo is pretty steady when sitting up supported, and if you reach for her hands, she will wrap her fingers around yours and legitimately try to pull herself up - I am so sad about it, but happy too! She just can't wait to grow up. She kicks her legs like crazy, and with such force! She is definitely going to be a mover and a shaker when she gets going.
She has discovered her hands, and has even started "attacking" the hanging rings on her play mat at home and at Grandma's house. One of the cutest and equally most frustrating things she does lately is she will desperately want her pacifier, and so she will snatch for it with her greedy little hands, and then hold on so tightly I can't get it out of her hands to put it in her mouth! Then she wails because she wants the binkie! Come on girl! Haven't you ever heard of counter-productive!? I joke, I joke, you are the best thing ever.
She is loved by her Aunt Morgan (and family) and her adopted Auntie Natalie - and her outfit reflects that!
I see what you are doing there mom, and I hate it.
The rosy cheeks and genuine smile make me melt!
Gotta love her different faces!
Here is a picture from her blessing day.
This girl's hair is CRAZY.
All in all, we are having a blast and definitely adjusting to having me back to work part time. She is sweet and sassy and TOTALLY my little buddy right now. She has taken my stress and business to a whole new level, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Love you Jocelyn Rose!
In an effort to record more memories, I have been jotting down notes of things that CJ and Leila say and do in my phone so that I can write them down when I have more time...my hands free...etc...
This is going to be a kind of random hodge podge of stories, so be prepared! But first! Let's take a quick look back at some of the things Leila has gotten herself into this past month...just for fun!
I was getting ready for Girl's Night Out and she painted herself with fingernail polish
I was feeding Jocelyn and she figured out how to use a stamp pad...just not the stamps!
And who can forget the 24 lip stain spread under her eyes that wouldn't wipe off!? THIS GIRL! lol
Now on to the stories!!!
****We decided to take the
kids up to the temple grounds during Christmas time just to see the
little nativity and take a walk around the temple. When we made it back
to the water fountain, it was right as people were getting out of a
session. There was a couple taking pictures in front of the fountain and
Leila simply walks right over and stands right next to the woman
assuming that she is wanted in that picture. Even as we tried to call her, she just looked at us like, "What do you want? They are trying to take my picture!?"
****Also
on the same trip (the kids were on fire that day, I guess!) we passed by
the Folsom Auto Mall and the following conversation transpired:
CJ: Is that the place that sales cars?
Me: Yes.
Jared: Are you going to buy a car?
CJ: I will...soon
Jared: What kind of car do you want to get?
CJ: A truck. Because I never had a truck before
Jared: I have never had a truck before either!
Me: Me either!
CJ: We can be part of the group that never had a truck before then.
****One
morning, the kids were snuggling in my bed while I was...doing
something productive around them, and CJ leans over to JoJo, kisses her
on the cheek and whispers, "JoJo, I am your big brother. I love you
JoJo." I was soooo glad I was around to hear that because it just about
melted my heart!
****One of my favorite things that
Leila is doing now is her repetition. With her speech issues I have
always been very careful to repeat the things she says. Not to correct
her, but just so she can hear that I am listening and I understand her.
So lately, whenever she says a new word or a word that she is still
trying to figure out, she will 1. Use it 2. Say it as a question 3. Wait
for me to repeat it and then 4. Say the word again and an
"Oooooh...wiiiight" (right).
****It
is no surprise that CJ is an awesome big brother. He is attentive and
kind - or at least as kind as a 4 year old can be! He is also a big
helper. There was a night about a month ago that Christian came in about
3:00 am not because HE needed us, but because Leila was in her crib
(she still doesn't climb out, thank goodness!!!!) and she needed us. Now
that's love.
****Leila has grown leaps and bounds with
her speech and her comprehension, but she is in no way caught up to
where she should be. Working with me, and her speech therapist is, of
course, making a big difference, but so is NURSERY at church. She has
learned a lot of songs especially that I will find her singing
throughout the day. The other day, I asked her to clean up some toys and
she started singing "The Clean Up" song. Her version is absolutely
adorable and needs to be recorded, but I can never catch her in time!
For
those who don't know, the song goes "Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody
Everywhere. Clean Up, Clean Up, Everybody Do Your Share". Leila's
version goes like this:
"Heen Up, Heeeeeeen Up. Buddy
buddy heeeeen up. Heeeeen up heeeen up, buddy buddy heeen up." It is
hilarious! I am so grateful for all of the leaders and teachers who
spend time working with her - she is learning quickly!
And now, some cute pictures from a recent In-N-Out visit and a few videos!
Her Daddy (and Mommy!) loves her and wanted to get her the Aurora dress - here she is chasing it down the aisle!
As I was dropping the kids off before I had to leave for work, I asked Leila where her shoes were, since she was outside without them. She came running back to find them! Looks like she should have been wearing her Cinderella dress!
I am not sure if you can tell what she is singing/saying, but she is doing the actions and basic words to "Popcorn Popping".
And of course, who can forget Jared's epic Dubsmash with Leila getting down to the music?
Christian is less than a week away from turning 5. Leila is well on her way to 3. I can't believe how fast time is going by, but I am so grateful to be a part of it. Love these two!
Jocelyn is almost 3 months, so now is as good a time as any to post her 2 month update ;)
JoJo is an absolute dream. She is squishy and sweet. She sleeps for 4-5 hour stretches at night, and even throws a few nights in with over 8 hours just to make me love her more. She gives great smiles and is losing all her hair from rubbing back and forth trying to see everything the world has to offer.
Nursing has been difficult because we have thrush (insert sad face here - it's been awful!!), but we are persevering. Other than that, she is healthy and happy! At her 2 month doctor's appointment, her stats were:
Weight 13 lbs 14.8 oz (93.5%)
Height 2'0.5" (99.16%)
Head 15.98" (96.55%)
As you can see, she is another big baby. What can I say? I only make one kind!
As close as I could get to a smile
She didn't enjoy the sunshine as much as I did!
Grandma and Grandpa got the girls dresses from Puerto Vallarta
Christian got a fishing cap...that Leila loves!
I was making funny faces to get a smile. JoJo wasn't amused.
Stone-Faced JoJo and Leila as cute as can be.
Her crazy hair!
Every time I pulled her dress down, she pulled it right back up within seconds.
She HATED this bow right then.
But later calmed down and gave me a true half smile.
And of course, some bath time videos. I had her in the newborn net for about the first 4-6 weeks, and she was not a fan of bath time. I took it out, and these videos do a pretty good job at capturing how she felt about the change!
Well, here I am almost to month 2, and I guess that is the best that I can do! So, as a true mom of three kids ages 4 and under...I am just gonna roll with it and let all expectations go! lol
Where do I start? Jocelyn is absolutely amazing. Ask anyone who sees me with her and they will tell you that I am completely enamored. I have never bonded so quickly with one of my babies before. My BFF Emily said that it may be because she is my last one, and you know? she just may be right! I have no idea what is in store for me and the family, but I am grateful for every second that I get to spend with this little girl.
Did you know that babies exist who actually LIKE sleeping? And eating?
No?
I didn't think they did either! Then a midwife placed a ginormous baby on my chest and I met someone who likes these things. I am still in shock, 6 weeks later.
Is she a perfect baby? Of course not. Is she perfect for me? Heck yes she is. She is sweet and cuddly and soooo expressive. She is slowly learning to use the pacifier, and when she is surprised that it gets put into her mouth she makes the most DISGUSTED face - it's hilarious.
She had a latching problem for the first couple of weeks which was difficult. I kind of started going into freak-out PTSD mode because I thought she would be like Leila, and I was going to be in store for months of the most awful and painful nursing/fighting ever. But after lots of work and coaching (shout out to my saving grace, Christi!), girlfriend finally got it figured out and we have had smooth sailing ever since.
Did I mention she likes to sleep? A lot? Like...A LOT. For the first month she was basically only awake to eat every 3-4 hours and then she was out again. I found myself asking, "Is this baby ever going to wake up?" Now she still eats every 3-4 hours, but during the night, she will even do stints of 6 hours...at 6 weeks old.
*Somebody pinch me!*
Okay, okay. I need to dial it back because for all I know she is going to wake up tomorrow all colicky and everything I am writing will just remind me of how good I had it for a few weeks.
Jocelyn is cute and makes funny faces and is starting to smile and make noises. She is the NOISIEST eater I have ever heard. If you hate hearing people chew, do not sit next to us when she is nursing! lol Just picture a snorting pig who hasn't eaten in a month! It is adorable and totally funny. Basically, this girl has me wrapped around her little finger already! Although she isn't photogenic the way that Leila is, she is cute in her own way, and what she lacks in good looks, she makes up for in amiability!
This picture says it all. XOXOX
Leila teaching JoJo the way of the binkie
Everything about this outfit and picture crack me up!
Grumpy pants did NOT like her first bath.
How can you not want to snuggle that little chubby face?
Her hair. Ayiyiyi
I lifted up her cover to find that one of her siblings snuck a sticker onto her forehead!
Sister play time
That hair. That face. lol
Wide-eyed and alert!
And this is how I look most days - like I can't even keep my eyes open/a completely crazy person!
My mind is like the weekly trash pick up. Every day the kids say
things to make me laugh and that completely astound me. And then, like
clockwork, my mind seems to dump them to make room for new things. I
need to be better about writing down my favorites.
Christian still mispronounces a few words, and it makes me soooo happy...for now!
Rootbeer = Rootbayear
Three = Free
Yellow = Lellow
We
have been teaching him how to do the "th" sound and while he works on
it, it often comes out Thf____. For example. Three becomes THffffreeee.
It is hilarious and completely adorable.
Leila
obviously has a different issue than just mispronunciation, but she does
come up with some of the cutest way to say things. My current favorites
are:
Christian = Tistin
Thank you = Gum (like you are welcome! lol)
Surprise = BUS!
Grandpa = Buhpa
Apples = Bapples
Aby = Babby
Grandma = Ma
Kitty = Titty! haha
Horse = House
Dinosaur or TRex = Rexy (pronounced Rocky)
Dog = Goggy
She
also has a habit of extending "O" sounds. Instead of Gone, she will
say, "Gooooone?" always as a question! lol Work also becomes,
"Wooooooooowk?". My newest favorite is her prayers. Let me preface this
by saying that Christian HATES saying the prayers. He always has. I
don't know what it is, but he outright refuses to say it 99% of the
time. Now Leila, on the other hand, can't get enough of it. Since she
can only really say one word at a time, she generally will just repeat
the last word of each part. It is basically the cutest thing ever.
Me: Dear Heavenly Father
L: Pada
Me: We thank thee
L: Deee
Me: For this day
L: Ay
Me: For our home
L: Ome
Me: For Grandma and Grandpa
L: Ma. Buhpa
Me: Please bless Daddy
L: Daddeeee
Me: To come home safe
L: Ape
Me: In the name
L: Nae
Me: Of Jesus
L: Keist
Me: Amen
L: Men!
Any way, you get the idea. I love it. I love her willingness to try. I love all the words and things she is learning.
Spokesperson for Star Wars fruit snacks
"wearing" a headband
These kids are nuts!
This basically sums up Leila's personality! Feisty, funny, and full of sass!
