Family of Four

2010-08-12T20:40:00.000-07:00

One year OLD and Walking

2009-07-16T22:13:00.000-07:00

Well, my baby turned one year old last friday and *sniff* *sniff*, it seems like we are rapidly leaving babyhood behind. He's been eating everything in sight recently and just yesterday, took his first 3 unassisted steps - a great birthday gift for me! Those baby days sure are fleeting. Amazing how they seem to last forever when you are in the middle of sleep deprivation, endless poopy diapers and unexplained crying. And then you wake up one morning and off they walk...

We had a great birthday party for Matthew on Saturday in our new backyard. All of his grandparents were in attendance and everyone enjoyed watching him taste his first cupcake. He loved it so much, he ate up all the cake that the other kids left on the table. We were thrilled to be able to celebrate this momentous day with everyone. It was great fun. Marchus cooked up a fantastic dinner for everyone to enjoy after the party festivities.

Adam is growing up so fast. He talks all the time about everything and LOVES to "talk about it". He's always saying, "Let's talk about it" and whatever "it" is, he wants to know more about it. He asks great questions - thank goodness for Google - I can usually come up with an answer. :) He talks in his sleep (yes, he really is a talker!). Last night, he had climbed into our bed in the middle of the night and out of nowhere, he broke into singing "Happy Birthday" to Mom! He didn't get through the whole song, but it woke both me and Marchus up and we had a good laugh about it. It was SO cute. Adam was really excited about my birthday as well and keeps asking when the children are coming over for my party. :) SO CUTE. We are having some of our neighbors over this weekend with their kids, so maybe that will satisfy his desire for another party. :)

We've had a great couple of weeks!

Almost a year ago...

2009-07-08T22:23:00.000-07:00

In two short days, my baby boy will be turning 1 year old. It is hard to believe that this time last year I was waiting and waiting and waiting for his arrival. And in one short year he has grown into such a sparkling, personable little guy. He is so curious and quick with a smile or giggle. He's getting ready to walk any day now and although I am happy he is reaching such a milestone, it is bittersweet to know that his baby-days are coming to an end. He spent most of our July 4th block party pushing his little car all around the street while walking behind it. It was such a hoot. He rocked out to the music with his arms flailing about and just couldn't get enough of all the people to watch. My parents are all coming to help celebrate this milestone this weekend and I have photos to add as well, so I'll be updating this again soon.

Adam is REALLY excited about his little brother's birthday party and wants to talk about it all the time - especially about the cupcakes and presents. Adam bought his brother some books for his birthday and he is so excited to give them to Matthew. Adam loves a party and this is one that he's really looking forward to, as well.

AND our backyard is almost done!!! They are coming to pour cement for our patio tomorrow morning. The retaining wall is done, sprinklers and sod are in, and we are ready to enjoy it all. Of course, this is only phase one of our 3 phase backyard redo - but at least it is a good start. Our old backyard was not at all useable for enjoying these long summer nights. The new one will be just great for eating out, BBQs and enjoying living outdoors! So, we are really excited about that. Again, I'll post photos soon.

To top it off, Marchus has been hard at work painting our family room... the color... Orange! Oh, yes. it is. We've always been pretty brave when it comes to paint color but this was truly a leap, even for us. So far, it is looking great. It should be done by this weekend, so I'll post some photos of that as well.

We've been so busy lately, I haven't had time to post much, but I will try to post more photos since things are changing before my eyes - the kids, the yard, the house... it is such fun! Counting my blessings - we are so fortunate.

10 months...

2009-05-11T21:31:00.000-07:00

Matthew turned 10 months old yesterday on Mother's Day. We were reminiscing about how last year on Mother's Day, I was out househunting since the house we were trying to buy as a short sale fell through the friday before Mother's Day. I was 7.5 months pregnant and desperate to find a house and move before the baby came. And so, on Mother's Day last year, we walked into our house and said, "we'll take it!!!" Three weeks later, we moved in! It has been a wonderful home for us this last year or so... and we are still working on our home improvement projects!

Adam and Matthew have both been adjusting quite well this last month to my starting my new job and being gone for a number of hours each day. Our new nanny, Alice, is fantastic and we feel so fortunate to have our boys left in such capable, loving hands. Monday mornings are always hardest since we've all spent the weekend together. So, when I come home from the office, I always try to do something special with the kids and shower them with attention and affection. Walking in the door and being greeted by the gleeful smiles, excitement and hugs helps to offset those tough mornings when I feel my heartstrings tugged as I pull out of the driveway. Sometimes I wonder if isn't harder on me than it is on them. :)

Adam is growing up so fast. He makes plans, negotiates deals, and is always coming up with interesting thoughts. He's still an avid puzzle solver and has been loving the warm weather and playing outside in the sprinklers. His swimming lessons are going great and he can now jump into the pool off the side and push off the bottom of the pool. He's swimming on his own more and more and loves it! He's also singing us songs all the time - the words aren't always spot on, but the sound sure is. I love hearing him sing John Denver's "Country Roads" - it is just too cute. He loves his little brother and is a big helper most of the time. He loves his jobs - emptying the lint from the dryer, putting away the silverware from the dishwasher, feeding the cat "Smokey" who has adopted us, and watering the plants. He's growing up each day before our eyes!

Matthew is quite the little person these days. Quick with a smile and easily entertained. He's exploring everywhere and one of his favorite activities is emptying things - cabinets, baskets, diaper bags, purses, boxes - if it has something in it, he'll show you how he can take it all out and spread it around. He's crawling everywhere and pulling himself up whenever he can. I think his favorite room in the house is the bathroom because he can pull himself up on the toilet (which we have to keep closed or he'll paddle in it) and the bathtub. Plus, he also has a love for water and will happily play in the tub or on the floor of the shower and cries every time he gets taken out no matter how long he's had to play in the water. He's expanding his list of foods he likes and is generally a pretty good eater. My favorite time of day is first thing in the morning when he wakes up all sleepy smiling, barely able to balance his head on his shoulders but so excited to start his day. Adam wakes up the same way and it is just such a sweet moment with each of them.

My new job is going well so far. It felt weird at first to leave and go sit in an office, in the quiet and work. I am so used to working amidst the chaos of little ones and constant multi-tasking, that it has been an adjustment to being able to focus on one thing for a period of time. The work has been interesting so far - learning the players and office dynamics, as well as my work responsibilities. I think I will like it and I am so fortunate to have this new opportunity just minutes from home.

Nadia is also moving to Napa - finally! I found a barn about 10 minutes from home and it is just a beautiful facility - very well managed and clean. She will have a cozy stall with a window looking out over the valley at night and her own paddock during the day. I am looking forward to having her nearby, and at the same time wondering where I will find the time to ride. They do have a lighted indoor arena, so at least daylight isn't a limiting factor. Adam is excited to have Nadia closer. He loves the horses and hanging out at the barn. We are going to get her on May 31.

Marchus made sure I had a wonderful Mother's Day. He and the boys let me sleep in and got me coffee and donuts. I felt so rested and spoiled. It was really wonderful. We then went to get Matthew and Adam's photo taken at the mall and then over to Omi and Papa's for dinner with Marchus's family - the dads cooked and cleaned and treated us well! All the mamas got to kick back and enjoy. :) Thanks dads!

That's all for now. I will try to keep posting and juggling in the months ahead. :)

2009-03-20T16:31:00.000-07:00

Well, I guess my sneaky switch from "nap time" to "quiet time" actually worked! This afternoon, Adam went into his room for quiet time with his books and stuffed animals. At first, it was quite noisy as he pulled all his books off the shelf one by one and then sang to his animals... then it got VERY quiet. I went in his room to find him asleep on the floor. So cute! He battles sleep like no one's business, so he must have been REALLY tired to fall asleep in the middle of playing. Of course, baby brother Matthew still hasn't napped this afternoon and is wildly playing and crawling around. Poor little guys were both diagnosed with ear infections this morning so it is Amoxicillan for everyone for the next 10 days. Hopefully, that will kick this lingering snot, cough, wheezing extravaganza we've had going on around here.

In other news, I have been offered a job with the City of Napa in the Long Range Planning division of their Planning Department. The job will involve writing ordinances and land use policies as well as helping to design a specific plan for downtown Napa - which is sorely in need of some vision and direction. Napa is already on the map, and I am excited to help make it an actual "place". :) So, though I have gone around and around about going back to work in an office, it seems that in this economy, I am fortunate to have a strong job offer. They will let me work 6 hours in the office each day and 2 hours from home - so flex time at the outset is really a nice perk. Now I just have to find the ideal childcare situation for the boys that will be the least disruptive for them. Seems like we are embarking on yet another transition for our family. I'll keep you all posted as things shake out.

8 months and cute!

2009-03-16T11:07:00.000-07:00

Matthew is 8 months old and getting really involved in exploring his world. When he was about 7.5 months, he got up on his hands and knees and was ready for launch. By 8 months, he was on the move! Just this morning, as I was sitting down to post these photos, he pulled himself up to standing! Boy, oh Boy! He's growing up fast!

Both Matthew and Adam have been sick this week with a really nasty cough that is keeping all of us up most of the night. Needless to say, it has been a bit of a challenge with behavior unraveling all around. I'm hoping that it will be gone soon and we can get back to our nights of interrupted sleep - but not the hours and hours of rocking a coughing baby or trying to soothe an upset little boy who doesn't understand why he keeps waking up.

So, let's hope for healthy days ahead with lots of sleep!

8 months and crawling... standing too!

2009-03-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

7 months old

2009-02-11T19:25:00.003-08:00

Yesterday, Matthew turned 7 months old. Oh, how the time flies. He is solidly sitting on his own and enjoying his time in the high chair. I remember when I was pregnant with him how much I craved sweets - donuts, ice cream, cookies. Now feeding assorted new flavors, I am reminded that he was my "sugar baby" because he rejects anything that isn't sweet fruit, sweet potato or carrots. The look of disdain when I fed him peas was hilarious. He also didn't go for squash or "summer vegetables". I keep trying to sneak in some veggies, but I have to be really sly because he's pretty quick at recognizing he's been tricked. :)

Tonight, he managed to get himself up onto all fours. It seems that crawling is just around the corner. Although I am thrilled with the prospect of watching him develop this new skill, I am not looking forward to life with baby gates, worrying about baby proofing everything and watching in exasperation as the cabinets get emptied on a regular basis. Ahh, well... as with everything baby, it is so fleeting, you have to just enjoy the moments as they happen.

Adam is enjoying his swimming lessons and just this week experienced independence in the water. He was really proud of his new success. He is still enjoying his scooter and Skuut bike. He got a soccer net for his birthday so it will be lots of fun on rainy days to practice shooting goals together. Adam is quite the negotiator and is always saying "let's make a deal" and asking me to put the timer on so he gets notified when his time is up. He was reading a book about Lulu the Lamb, and he says it is Wuwu the Wamb. I asked him if it was Wuwu the Wamb and he said, "No, mommy, it is Wuwu the Wamb." It was really funny. I guess in his head, he knows the difference. He wants to know everything - who bought this, where it came from, what store, when did we get it etc... He's still a whiz at puzzles and it is great to see the wheels turning as he sorts them out.

That's about it for now. I just wanted to note this milestone today. Enjoy the rain! We're so happy winter is finally here!

Adam's party..

2009-02-03T15:31:00.000-08:00

Adam is THREE!

2009-02-03T15:29:00.000-08:00

Adam is THREE! What a PARTIE!!

2009-02-03T15:13:00.000-08:00

Adam turned 3 on friday. I couldn't help but spend the day with the day of his birth flashing through my head. He proudly took a book to school to give to his class for his birthday (they disapprove of cupcakes for all). He got to open it during circle time and his classmates all sang him happy birthday. After school we went to his favorite place for lunch, Taylor's Refresher, where he enjoyed his mini corn dogs, fries and a chocolate shake. He had a birthday swim lesson, pancakes for dinner, and Daddy brought home a chocolate cupcake and decorated cookie for him. He went to bed exhausted and excited all at the same time.

Saturday was his party. He had a 5 pals come over to celebrate with his snowman cupcake cake (that he requested) and games of fishy, fishy in the brook, dance n' freeze, and pass the present. Even the grown-ups enjoyed themselves with all the great food Marchus put together. All in all, it was a great celebration of our big boy.

Now that Adam is 3, he has told me that he's all grown up and is ready to go to work. Yesterday he told me that something he was looking at was "incredible". He's a whiz at puzzles and got quite a number of them for his birthday that he's been enjoying. He REALLY wants his drivers license so he can drive the car. He says he's ready.

Matthew has been growing and learning all kinds of skills. He has now mastered the art of OPENING his mouth so I can get food into it. He's still not convinced that eating from a spoon is the best way to do it, but sometimes just grabs the spoon and shoves it into his own mouth. He sings and makes all kinds of noises exercising his voice. He can now sit for long stretches and happily plays with his toys - until he's not happy anymore and then he really lets you know it. He's still not a happy traveler and protests whenever he is in his carseat which makes long drives not so much fun. But once he's out of the seat, he's his happy self again.

I can't believe it is February already. Time is sure flying. It is hard to believe it is the middle of winter with these sunny, warm days. Makes me a little worried about our water supply and what this summer will be like if it is this warm now. Hmmm...

First Food and Beach

2009-01-10T21:00:00.000-08:00

6 Months Old!

2009-01-10T20:58:00.000-08:00

6 months old!

2009-01-10T20:26:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!

Well, as of today, Matthew is half a year old already! He's into that stage where the milestones come along quickly. Last week, he mastered sitting. He sometimes fusses now and nothing seems to calm him until I sit him down with some toys. Then he'll happily gurgle and coo while he plays in his sitting position. I have fond memories of Adam sitting and playing happily before he became mobile. :)

On Christmas Day, Matthew sampled his first solid food. He wasn't too sure about it at first and it has taken him a few weeks to realize that in order to get more food into his mouth, he has to open it. Now, he's happy to sit in his high chair and have his little meal each day. He hasn't tasted too many things thus far - only rice cereal, barley cereal and sweet potatoes, but his menu is expanding and we'll be introducing peas and carrots and lots of fruit in the next month or so.

It will be interesting to see how much he's grown at his next doctor's appointment. He seems to be outgrowing his 3-6 month clothes right on schedule and is now into 6-9 month sizes. He continues to be a happy guy - except for that week that he had a terrible cold and had me up most of the night for 4 nights in a row. Thankfully, that has passed. He's loves his brother and Adam greets him with a "good morning" each morning and they share smiles and giggles. It's a great way to begin the day.

Adam is almost 3 (20 days to go!). He's completely mastered the potty. And, knock on wood, has had no accidents in recent memory. His sense of humor is developing fast and he says hilarious things - none of which come to mind at the moment, of course. He loves his music and is happy to have his own CD player now that he can control. He also got some jigsaw puzzles that he has a remarkable ability to do rather quickly, surprising all of us.

We had a wonderful Christmas in Cardiff with all of my family, some of whom were here from England for the holiday. There were 22 of us in all. It was great to be with grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles. Adam was thrilled that Snowman came Christmas Eve and brought gifts. He's an expert at opening presents now. It was really a wonderful time complete with a visit to Legoland and visits to the beach where Adam bounded right into the water despite it being a bit on the cold side. He loved every second of it.

Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday and best wishes for the new year.

Snowman and Big Boy Underwear

2008-12-19T11:39:00.001-08:00

Happy Holidays to all! As the season is upon us, I have to take a moment to appreciate the BIG gift Adam has given us. He has said goodbye to diapers and pull ups and HELLO to big boy underwear. He told us he was done with pull ups last Sunday and has been in big boy underwear ever since. With the exception of a few accidents, he's been doing really well. Of course, the chocolate encouragement helps! He's so proud of his new big boy status that when he got himself dressed for school on Wednesday, he wore 2 pair - a red pair and a blue pair. It was really funny.

This week, we rode the Santa Train with all of Marchus's family - that's 6 kids age 3 and under. It was a great ride and at the end, Gingerbread Man, Bear, Snowman, Rudolph and of course, Santa came through to greet everyone. When Snowman came through, I thought Adam was going to burst he was SO excited. He had been asking all week whether Snowman was going to be on the Santa Train and I didn't know, so I told him I'd leave Snowman a voicemail to see if he could come. He's very busy this time of year, you know. So, when he did show up, Adam was just beside himself. He says that he loves Snowman and Rudolph, but not Santa. Maybe next year. :)

Adam told me he wanted to go to a restaurant for lunch. I suggested that we make a restaurant at home. So, he sat at the table and I took his order for lunch, made his food, brought it to the table etc.. Somewhere along the way, I said something to him about eating and he said, "Call me sir, Mommy." I couldn't contain my laughter and he kept insisting that I call him "sir" through the whole meal. It was hilarious. The things kids pick up - too funny.

Matthew is growing and changing every day. He's already managing to scoot himself around on his tummy. I have to slow down that tummy time or he'll be crawling before you know it! He's mastered shrieking with delight, and babbling all kinds of things that I don't understand but wish I did. He's very determined to get everything he can touch into his mouth. He continues to be a really happy, easygoing little guy - unless he's strapped into a car seat. He loves his big brother more than anything and is constantly entertained by Adam. We are so fortunate that the boys like each other. I'm sure sibling issues are in our future, but right now, they are pals. Adam is even happy to share his toys with Matthew most of the time and loves it when Matthew joins him for a tea party.

We are heading south on Monday for Christmas with my family. Though we are flying this time, I am still not looking forward to the journey. It will be great to be there with all the cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. We are hoping for sunny weather and at least one trip to the beach.

Wishing everyone a wonderful Christmas and a safe and peaceful New Year.

5 MONTHS ALREADY!!!

2008-12-10T22:42:00.000-08:00

Baby Matthew is five months old today. I am wondering where the time went. Seems like just yesterday I was still pregnant! He's growing and changing so fast. He is getting good at grabbing things - like my hair, and hot cups of tea (danger). So, I have to really watch what comes near those little hands. They are strong! He loves sucking on everything he can grab. I guess it is time to think about baby-proofing around here. I thought I had a few more months! :)

Matthew continues to be a happy, easy baby. He's a big eater and not much of a sleeper. But he's happy to hang out with me while I work or go for a walk. As long as he's not strapped into his car seat for hours and hours, he's pretty happy.

Adam's world is rapidly expanding. He's told me that Frosty the Snowman is bringing his presents for Christmas, not Santa cuz he doesn't like Santa, but he will when he is bigger. He loved going and cutting down our Christmas tree and enjoys reading his Christmas books - Frosty, Rudolph etc. He's very much a little boy and insists on riding his "motorcycle" to the mailbox each day. He's really fast and agile on his little skuut bike (a wooden bike with no pedals that he thinks is his motorcycle). He loves music and insists on listening to "his" Christmas music in the car. Matthew actually finds music soothing in the car, so we've listened to the same song over and over and over to keep him calm on long car rides. Makes the rest of us crazy, but it's better than a screaming baby. :)

We have been traveling so much, we haven't had much time for home improvement projects, but we'll get back to it after the new year. I already have some paint ready to throw on the walls!

We are really looking forward to the holidays and sharing wonderful traditions and experiences with family. Hope everyone is celebrating the joy of the season and is thankful for all their blessings - we certainly are!!!

3 months tomorrow

2008-10-09T10:19:00.000-07:00

Matthew will be 3 months old tomorrow. It is amazing how time flies. I know I keep saying that, but it's so true. No more infant, now he's a baby. He's smiling, and laughing and he'll chatter away with all kinds of nonsensical noises. It's pretty cute. He's mastered rolling over back to front and front to back.. and well, we think he's pretty smart. :) He's also really strong - holding his head up and trying to stand on his little chubby legs. I love that he wakes up every morning smiling and cooing. He's still a good sleeper at night and is too interested during the day to sleep much. That's OK, I'll take it!

Adam's preschool class went to the pumpkin patch last friday and we had so much time that we went back on tuesday with cousin Nelson. They loved running and playing with the maze, the pyramid, tractors, cows, pigs, and of course, the pumpkins. I bought a whole load of different colors and sizes of pumpkins - they were too beautiful to pass up.

We are gearing up for Halloween. I think Adam will be a cowboy this year since I just got him some cowboy boots and he has mastered cantering around on his stick horse, "Cactus". :)

I haven't sorted out Matthew's costume yet, but it's sure to be cute. Some of my friends in the neighborhood are planning a Halloween party for all the kids in our neighborhood - which is already a utopia for kids. Should be some fun photos from that coming soon. :)

Almost 12 weeks

2008-09-30T12:14:00.000-07:00

It is hard to believe how fast time is flying by. Matthew will be 12 weeks old on Thursday and is really becoming his own little person. He's found his voice and will babble and coo whole conversations. I just wish we knew what he was trying to say. He'll just carry on chattering away as we talk with him. He's very alert and doesn't like to sleep during the day. Thank goodness he's a good sleeper at night. We are so enjoying these weeks of babyhood and know that they are so fleeting.

Adam is LOVING preschool so much that we are adding friday mornings to his schedule. That should give me a little more time to get things done, which will give me more time to focus on Adam after school. Adam also just started swimming lessons. He has always loved the water and mastered blowing bubbles and kicking in his first 30 minute lesson. Michael Phelps, look out! He's been doing really well at doing things by himself and has been getting himself dressed in the mornings. He has a great sense of style and wants his outfits to be "super cute". Though yesterday, I had to send him back to the drawing board when he wanted to wear red shorts and a red shirt that didn't match. He then decided to trade the red shirt for red socks...

I am loving that there is a hint of crispness in the air. Fall is my favorite time of year and I can't wait for sweater weather. We're still working on our home improvement projects! Our paint cans have been purchased and we are ready to open them up and get that paint on the walls... Such fun!

Happy October tomorrow!

2 Months and Growing!

2008-09-10T20:32:00.000-07:00

Today Matthew is 2 months old! It is also our 3 year anniversary. We were remarking this morning how much our lives have changed in the last 3 years. What a journey it has been!

Now, onto Matthew... He had his 2 month doctors appointment this morning. He weighs 12 pounds, 12 ounces. That's more than a 4.5 pounds gained since birth. No wonder my back is tired from carrying him around all day! He's grown 2.5 inches in height as well. He's in the 90th percentile for height and 75th for weight. Quite different from Adam who hovered around the 25th percentile in his early months. Matthew was diagnosed to be a healthy and happy baby. Though he doesn't sleep much during the day, he's pretty easy at night - just eating and sleeping without much fuss. So, though I am sleep deprived, I'm still functional. :)

Adam started preschool last week. He had a bit of a struggle transitioning to the classroom without mom or dad by his side. But this morning, he cried for less than a minute when I told him I was leaving and then was quickly distracted by making a project with glue. He's doing very well and is proud to be a big boy with his backpack and lunchbox. I am still struggling with the idea that my baby is off to school and getting all of us ready and out the door in the morning is definitely a family effort. I can't imagine having to do it every day since he's only going to school two days a week! He was so inspired by his first day of school that he decided he needed more time at his desk at home... hence the photo. ;)

7 Weeks Old Already!!!

2008-08-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Matthew turned 7 weeks old. I can't believe how the time is flying. On the one hand, he seems so new, and on the other, I don't remember life without him. I know it has been a few weeks since I have posted, but I have a good excuse - I went back to work in the beginning of August and juggling working at home with an infant and a 2.5 yr. old has its challenges! Now if I could only get them to nap at the same time, it would be a great help. However, they seem to have their own schedules that have nothing to do with coordinating with one another. :)

Ah, well, I know I will look back on these days of spit up, time outs, and diapers fondly. Fortunately, Matthew is a pretty easy going little guy. He's happiest when he's being held and is very alert and aware of his surroundings. He started smiling at around 4 weeks and can hold his head up like a champ. He's already starting to show us he wants to be mobile by pushing himself forward when he lies on his tummy. He's a pretty good sleeper at night and last night slept from 10:30 to 4. YAY!!!

Adam is really doing a great job adjusting to not being the only child. He's very sweet with his baby brother and kisses his head all the time. He sings the ABC's to him when Matthew is crying, and is always helping me to change his diaper and get him dressed. Adam is growing up so fast. He can already dress himself with very little assistance. He wants to do everything himself and most of the time, he can do it successfully. It is incredible to me the grasp that he has on how things in the world work with only 2.5 years of being here. He knows how to get to our new house and recognizes our old house when we drive past it. He always notices cars that are like mommy and daddy's. He is starting preschool next week and I am struggling with the concept that my baby is starting school. He is so ready in so many ways and I know he will just love it once he gets used to being in a new environment. I am so fortunate to have been able to keep him home for so long.

I am also working with a couple other moms in our neighborhood to start a moms group. We all have little kids and it would be great to have a network of support right here in our little neighborhood. Our first meeting is in a few weeks. :)

Needless to say, I am VERY behind on writing thank you notes for all the wonderful gifts Matthew John received. I promise to get to it very soon. :)

Wishing everyone a wonderful Labor Day weekend.

2 weeks already!

2008-07-25T17:38:00.000-07:00

Well, Matthew was 2 weeks old yesterday. On the one hand, it seems like he's always been here and on the other, it's amazing to me that it's been 2 weeks already! He's a very content baby and always happiest when he has a full tummy. This, of course, means that I can never be more than a cry away. He is very alert and always looking around. I wonder what goes on in little baby brains... what are they thinking???

His umbilical cord stump finally fell off today. Phew! I have been doing laundry almost daily to keep up with the few T-shirts we have (he spits up a lot and goes through lots of outfits each day). So, it'll be good to be able to get him into the onesies that Adam lived in during his first few months.

I've been looking at photos of Adam as a newborn and I find a big resemblance between Adam and Matthew. It'll be interesting to see whether they stay looking alike as they grow up.

The first photo posted is Matthew, the second is Adam. And then of course there is one of the brothers together taken yesterday on Matthew's 2 week birthday.

Now, all I have to do is master getting everyone dressed and fed in the morning so we can get out the door. I figure I have a little over a month to get this sorted out before Adam starts preschool - gasp, my baby is going to SCHOOL!!! :)

11 Days Old

2008-07-21T15:19:00.000-07:00

Well, we've made it through the first 11 days and I can honestly say that it has been extremely easy compared to what we went through when Adam was born. We've been blessed with a great sleeper and an even better eater. I think it helps that Matthew was fully cooked when he arrived. Adam had a bit of a struggle to catch up because he came so early.

We've been fortunate to have all of my parents here since Matthew was born. They have all been a tremendous help in making the transition to a family of 4. Today is our first day on our own. Marchus and I woke up this morning to this realization, and although there remains dirty dishes in the sink and laundry in piles in the laundry room (which makes me nuts), it feels pretty good.

Adam has been wonderful with his baby brother. His favorite thing is to kiss him gently on the head. He is also very vocal in his desire to hold him by himself. I think that Adam is adjusting well and is quick to remind us that he is a "big boy". He loves the tricycle that Matthew got him when he came home from the hospital and rides it up to the mailbox each day so he can deliver the mail home. It may become a neighborhood pilgrimage as 2 neighborhood kids and their dads joined Marchus and Adam yesterday.

So, so far, so good. I feel so fortunate. What a great way to kick off a new decade. :) I'm posting a few more photos... as you can see. :)

Introducing Matthew John Nelson

2008-07-13T09:24:00.000-07:00

He's here!!!!

Our new son, Matthew John Nelson, arrived on Thursday, July 10, 2008 at 7:08 am. Weighing in at 8 pounds, 3 ounces, and 21 inches long. He's beautiful, healthy and so far, a very easy baby. Big Brother Adam is very proud and can't stop giving his little brother gentle kisses on the forehead.

As you can see from my prior post at 4:00 am on July 10th, it was a very fast labor and we just made it to the hospital in time. Everything went well and we were allowed to come home the next afternoon. All of Matthew's grandparents came to meet him the day he was born, as did his cousins, aunts and uncles.

After waiting so long for his arrival, everyone was thrilled to finally meet him and see his sweet face. I'll post more photos later of family with Matthew, but for now am just posting a photo of him when he was only minutes old, and another at 2 days.

So far, this has been 100% easier than the whole process with Adam. We are so blessed and so happy to share this time with family and friends.

Good day for a Birthday?

2008-07-10T04:09:00.000-07:00

OK, so it's 4:00 am and I've been having contractions for over an hour. They woke me up and have quickly been coming about every 5 -6 minutes. YAY!!! Looks like baby will be coming today... Fingers crossed for an easy delivery. :) TODAY!!!

I probably won't be posting again until I'm able to hold my little bundle in my arms. I know Cactus will be worth the wait. So, watch for the big announcement in the next couple of days!!!

Thanks to all for your unending support and thoughts. :)

No such thing as a "due date"

2008-07-09T09:46:00.001-07:00

So, our "due date" was last week... funny, huh? Still no baby. Maybe the universe wanted me to have some extra pregnancy time since I got short changed the last time. But really, it's OK. I don't need the extra time. Really. No, REALLY!

I go to bed every night thinking maybe tonight is the night. And then wake up in the morning feeling deflated that it didn't happen, but happy because I got another night's sleep.

I know I am on edge about baby's arrival and all the anticipation. I think the expectation was that baby would be here by now. I don't think anyone expected it to go SO far past the due date. But I figure baby will come when it is the right time. I have to keep reminding myself that I won't be pregnant forever and baby will be here soon.

It is a little weird to be looking ahead to my milestone birthday next week and still waiting for baby. Since both have been on the calendar for such a long time, I just figured I'd have a little break between the big events. But it looks like that's not going to happen. At this point, I'm just hoping to be home for my birthday and not in the hospital. I'll celebrate it properly next year since I know that this year, I won't have the energy for it.

So, once again, I'll keep posting as the days move along. Hopefully my next post will have some real news and not just more babble about how long I've been waiting. :) Thanks to all for your thoughts and support.

Still Waiting...

2008-07-06T20:37:00.000-07:00

Well, we're still awaiting the arrival of baby "Cactus". Thought he or she would be here by now, but I guess baby has other ideas. Today, Adam spoke to "Cactus" through my belly button and told him/her that it was time to come out and play. It was a very cute moment indeed.

We had a great time at our neighborhood party on friday night and enjoyed meeting all of our new neighbors. The kids jumped in the bounce house and the band played and there was plenty of food shared by all. :)

So, as of this afternoon, our closet is full and we have no more boxes in our bedroom. Amazingly, I'm feeling like we are pretty well moved in. Marchus hung curtains in both Adam and Baby's rooms today, which really make both rooms look finished.

As we're coming to the end of our list of immediate home improvement projects, we're hoping that baby arrives soon so we can shift our focus. I'm trying to keep my anxiety level in check, but that is getting more and more challenging with each day. The control freak in me is having a harder and harder time with all this waiting. I go to bed every night thinking "maybe tonight's the night". And then it isn't. But who knows... maybe tonight really IS the night. We'll see...

Waiting, Waiting...

2008-07-04T15:24:00.000-07:00

Happy Independence Day!

Well, I was hoping baby and I would be independent of one another by today, but that hasn't happened. It is a little crazy-making to have the due date come and go, and still, nothing. All these stories of babies coming early... and then...nothing. I suppose I should have set my expectation day a week past the due date so it wouldn't be making me so anxious to be waiting, and waiting...

In any event, we're looking forward to our block party this afternoon and meeting all of our new neighbors. Adam is REALLY excited to go to the "dog party". He may have read "Go Dog Go!" one too many times - since that's where the "dog party" idea came from. He's already ventured over to the bounce house next door. Marchus has been cooking up a yummy dish to share and the BBQs and keg o'beer are already out in the street and ready to go.

So, that's it for now... I'll keep posting as things happen, or don't. :)

Nothing yet...

2008-07-02T08:14:00.000-07:00

Well, today is baby's due date and I was certain that he/she would make his/her debut around now. But still nothing... Hmmmm... I am having contractions, but those have been happening for weeks now and I've learned to stop second guessing them. They seemed to be gearing up last night for a short while and then went away. Ah, well, the wait is on!

Our new neighborhood is having a block party for 4th of July. We'll be able to see the fireworks from our cul-de-sac. I'm looking forward to meeting all our new neighbors. It seems that most of the new homeowners here are families with young children so it will be fun to see everyone out and about. Since we are all recent purchasers, everyone is very friendly. So, hopefully, we'll make it to the party on friday night... unless we're at the hospital doing something more important. :)

Tick, Tick, Tick

2008-06-29T16:17:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems the waiting game has truly begun. With baby due on wednesday, it seems that each morning I wake up (a) surprised that I didn't go into labor over night and (b) wondering if today will be the day. It's kind of funny to wonder when your body is going to decide on its own to do something that will be so momentous. While in some ways, I am eagerly awaiting this little person's arrival, I know that it is SO much easier now than it will be after he or she arrives. Still, I keep wondering who this person is that has been growing in my tummy for the last 9 months. I guess we'll know soon enough. :)

With all of this anticipation, I feel like every moment that something can get done around the house now is precious. So, Marchus has been hard at work completing our new closet system and we are looking forward to moving all our stuff into it (and out of boxes all over the bedroom floor). My mom arrived on thursday and has been really helping to unpack boxes and get stuff organized and put away. My dad and Beth are on standby waiting for the phone call, as are Marchus's parents so that all the grandparents can come and welcome the newest grandchild together.

The baby's room is pretty much ready to go, clothes washed etc. I feel much more prepared this time than last. Phew. I suppose I should pack some stuff to take to the hospital for when the time comes. :)

I'll try to keep posting on the blog this week, so check back for the latest news. :)

37.5 weeks - 2.5 weeks to go!

2008-06-15T12:08:00.000-07:00

Happy Father's Day to all the dads! We hope you are celebrating and enjoying your day!

With 2.5 weeks until due date, we're doing our best to keep getting ourselves moved in! I'm getting used to living with boxes piled everywhere, but hopefully, more will disappear before baby arrives. I'm feeling large and a little more tired than a month ago, but all in all, still feeling pretty good. With the due date looming, I feel like I have a lot to do and just need to muster the energy to get it done. :)

Adam is eagerly anticipating the arrival of what he is positive is a "baby sister" named "Cactus". Marchus went to Houston for work early this week and left before Adam woke up. When Adam woke up and saw that Daddy wasn't there, he asked if Daddy went to the hospital to get the baby. Kind of makes sense because I've told him that he may wake up one morning and Mommy and Daddy might not be home because they went to the hospital to get the baby. If only Daddy COULD do it single-handedly. :)

Marchus brought Adam a cowboy hat from Houston and Adam has had a great time putting his cowboy outfit together and riding his rocking horse. He's also found it great fun to pull a pillow over his head and body and walking around. It is hilarious watching him try to navigate his way around when he can't see where he is.

With baby's arrival just around the corner, Marchus is spending Father's Day painting the baby's room. Adam had the chance to help Daddy paint and had a great time! Last week Adam and Daddy put together a "car wash"/"boat" (depending on who you ask) in the loft. It has been a great source of entertainment all week. :)

36 weeks! 26 days to go!

2008-06-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

We moved into our new house this week! It's been a whirlwind and we were very fortunate to have my Dad and Beth here to help. We're now surrounded with boxes and have yet to completely unpack anything, but at least we're here. Marchus did a fantastic job painting Adam's room and our guest room before the movers brought all of our furniture over. It's great to finally have everything under one roof. Adam LOVES his new house and his new room. He says the backyard is his playground. Each time we drive into the driveway, he pipes up gleefully "My NEW HOUSE!!" It's great that he's adjusted so well.

It has been blissful to wake up in the middle of the night and not have to navigate a steep and narrow staircase to get to the bathroom. It's only 15 steps away... Ahhhh... I can't believe I got thru 8 months of pregnancy with the bathroom on another floor. :)

Yesterday, I made my final journey to Santa Cruz for meetings before baby comes. Since Adam was born at 36 weeks, I just don't feel comfortable going that far from home anymore. My Dad and Beth were there with Adam while I went to my meetings, which was great. Adam got to play at the beach with Granpy and he's definitely a big fan of the ocean. And we all went by to see Nadia and give her some treats. She was definitely happy to see us!

Had my 36 week appointment with my midwife today and she did a quick ultrasound. Baby's head is down where it should be and everything is normal. Adam went with me to see the baby on the screen, but it didn't hold his attention for long. He brought his "baby" doll with him to the appointment. He is convinced this baby is a "sister" and her name is "Cactus".

I feel like I am entering uncharted waters in this last month of pregnancy - having not gotten farther than this the last time. So, the anticipation is building. :) The baby has been having hiccups a lot lately. It's entertaining, except when it wakes me up at 4am.

So, that's the latest here. What a week!

Our NEW house!

2008-05-27T08:46:00.000-07:00

Well, everything happens at once. The Friday before Mother's Day, we found out that the house we had been trying to buy through a short sale since February fell through. On Mother's Day Sunday, we found a brand new house to buy that works for us even better than the other one. We signed the contract that following Wednesday and TOMORROW, 14 days later, we're closing escrow!!! We are SO excited to be moving and the house is wonderful. Each time I go see it, I like it even more.

So, with 5 weeks of pregnancy to go, we're moving. My Aunt and Mom have come out and been wonderful helping to get us packed - boy we have a lot of stuff! My Dad and Beth are coming to help with the actual move, and Marchus's family is planning to help move the stuff we don't want the movers moving. We are so thankful for everyone pitching in to help! We've got paint colors picked out for Adam's room and the baby's room and hope to get that painting done before we officially move in next monday.

We've spent the weekend packing and shopping for the things we'll need for the new house and our new bed is being delivered next Saturday! YAY!

We'll have a great guest room and lots of extra space, so we're hoping to have lots of visitors! So, let us know when you're coming!

Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day. We are all so blessed.

32 weeks - 8 weeks to GO!

2008-05-07T12:28:00.000-07:00

We just got home from a great trip visiting family in San Diego. Adam had a great time with Gran and Granpy, Auntie Waa, and cousins Sarah and Simon. All of us enjoyed spending time each day at the beach and the park. Adam is still talking about it all!

Traveling was not too bad, even though Southwest has given up pre-boarding small children. Luckily, we got front row seats on both flights. Adam had mixed feelings about the airplane- being both excited and a little frightened by all the noise. Since we've been home, he's been playing airplane a lot and talking about it. He calls the propeller the "kopellar".

As of today, I am 32 weeks pregnant. That means only 8 weeks to go until our due date. I can't believe how this pregnancy has flown by. We are still crossing our fingers that we will get to move into a new house before baby arrives, but as the time ticks by, I wonder if it will happen.

I am feeling remarkably good, apart from being tired at the end of the day. I know with the weather warming up, I may be less comfortable, so I am enjoying the sunny days now.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the springtime weather!

25 Weeks!

2008-03-20T13:31:00.000-07:00

Baby is 25 weeks now and according to the internet, at this stage, it weighs about a pound and a half and is about 13.5 inches long. I've definitely felt like it's grown a lot in the last couple of weeks. It's definitely expanding my waistline now and likes to move around at night and in the early mornings. I can't believe the due date feels like it is going to be here in no time. I am trying to keep all my worries in check as we get closer and closer.

We had a great trip to Monterey last weekend. Adam loved the aquarium and the park. It was great to get away for a few days and relax. Then Gran and Granpy came to visit and Adam got to spend lots of fun time with them as well. So, he's had a great week!

I've posted some photos of our weekend in Monterey - you can see my tummy expanding out in some of them. :)

Potty POWER!!!

2008-03-05T14:58:00.001-08:00

Last friday, on leap year day, Adam began his first venture into using the potty. He's been successful ever since and as long as we keep him diaper-less, he's happy to go sit on his potty whenever he needs to - which is pretty often! He is very proud to show us what he's done and go through the routine of dumping it in the toilet, flushing, washing his hands, and then most importantly - getting his jelly bean prize! We shout Potty Power and do a little dance together. So cute!

It's pretty exciting for us too since we'd really like to be changing diapers on one child at a time. So, if Adam can be fully potty trained in the next few months, it'll be GREAT!

We're so proud of him and his new venture into being a Big Boy!!! YAY!

19 weeks and counting

2008-02-06T16:18:00.000-08:00

YES! So, we are pregnant and Adam is SUPER excited to become a big brother. We have all the testing completed and I'm now breathing a sigh of relief and feeling that we can truly share the news! We are expecting our new arrival around July 2 - though we know how reliable due dates are. hee hee

Today we had our 19 week doctor visit and got to see the little bean on the sonogram screen. It was amazing to see it so clearly with their 3D ultrasound technology. I am posting one of those pictures. The baby looks SO much like Adam it is amazing - and so early on! The reality is setting in and we are starting to get excited!

I'm feeling more justified in eating for two now that I've seen that there really is truly someone in there. He/she (we don't want to know which) is moving around a lot and making his/her presence known. I just wonder who this little being is!