sophie at 10 months

 sophie, sophie, sophie.  i can't believe she's almost one.  the time has flew by.  she has 2 teeth at the bottom and one coming through on the top.  she loves yogurt and fruit and most baby foods but is definitely ready for regular food.  papa iamaleava always feeds her rice and gravy and she loves it.  she's pretty much over the bottle/formula so i'm hoping the transition to sippy cup/milk in 2 months will be easy.  she's a great sleeper but is very cranky when she's tired.  crawling everywhere is the favorite thing to do.  she is also pulling herself up on everything and likes to let go and stand up for a few seconds without holding on.  she LOVES attention and is not much of a self-entertainer. feisty is an understatement.  she will always let you know when she wants something or doesn't want something and if your attention is elsewhere she will scream and clench fists until it's on her.  you are still a mama's girl and want no one else when i'm home.  sometimes i get frustrated with you because i'm trying to get things done but then i remember how special it is that you want mommy the most.  i can't wait for you to get a bit less demanding older so i can take you everywhere and we can hang tight doing all kinds of girl stuff.  i love you so much mophie (your funny nickname grandma jeanene started).

jake's birthday

what did we do for jake's birthday?  where did we go?  where else but the san diego zoo! and then we finished the day off with dinner and ice cream at farrell's.  

 he was obssesed with the zoo map that had the pictures of where all of the animals were.  he held onto it all day and kept saying "where's my map" and "let's look to see where we're going next".  he was really studying it and reading it like it was a book.

 long day!

happy 3rd birthday jake (february 23rd)

happy birthday to the most wonderful son in this world!

dear jake,

three years ago today, you changed our lives.  we discovered the meaning of true and unconditional love and joy that we had never known.  we've watched you grow into this curious, excited, happy, smart, funny boy that entertains us every day.  you wake up with a smile EVERY morning and start the day with a conversation as soon as you open your eyes.  you are so energetic in the mornings that when daddy is off from work with you in the mornings he stumbles to his coffee maker to try and get some caffeine in him to prepare himself for your energy.  you are definitely a morning person like mommy.  the minute you wake up, you run to the front to watch cartoons.  right now your favorite is tinga tinga tales on disney jr.  it's african tales in cartoon about every animal imaginable.  we have all 45 episodes recorded you could watch that every day all day if we let you because you're still obsessed with animals.  every conversation has an animal in it no matter how it begins.  you know so many random facts about animals that you amaze everyone.  they are definitely all you think and talk about.  you are always carrying miniature animals with you EVERYWHERE.  and not just regular animals.  you're into wildebeests, hippos, rhinos, zebras, meerkats, yaks, buffalos...just to name a few.  

you'll be starting preschool in september for a few days a week.  mommy needs to work on potty training.  you have no interest whatsoever and we're okay with it.
your favorite foods are bacon, yogurt, rice, raisins, watermelon, any kind of juice, milk, vanilla ice cream with sprinkles, and ANY KIND OF smoothie.
you have the best personality and you say the funniest things.  we laugh at with you daily and it makes it hard to discipline you. you love to snuggle (daddy hates that word)and are so affectionate and loving.  you are the EASIEST kid on earth and we can't be more thankful that you're ours.  

going back to 2012...jake's surgery

as many of you the few of you that follow, know, jake i have been struggling with his runny/stuffy nose for a year now and FINALLY a diagnosis was made.  his adenoids are enlarged which caused them to constantly become infected, therefore causing a consistent runny/stuffy nose.  it took serious persistence on my part to get to the bottom of it. everyone, including his wonderful pediatrician, found his nose issues to be on a small scale and something he would outgrow.  mommy could not stand to see him unable to taste, smell and always have a wipe or tissue attached to his nose.  so once they recommended surgery to remove the adenoids and tonsils, too, i began the sell to daddy.  he was against it from the beginning but after long talks, articles, doctor background checks and seeing jake in misery, he gave in.

nov.30.2011...the hardest day of our lives so far.  i can't even express the anxiety we felt this morning.  those 45 minutes (it was supposed to be 20) we waited until they came out to tell us jake was waking up and we could come back to the recovery room, were the longest, most excruciating minutes ever.  jake pulled through like the resilient kid he is.  he recovered well and was eating cookies and drinking juice as soon as he woke up.  all of the nurses loved him and his funny personality.  they couldn't believe he had just had a major surgery because of his energy and happiness.  that's my boy! they had him stay overnight because his adenoids were so infected when they took them out and because he was so young so mommy stayed with him while daddy went home to sophie.  

waiting our turn to be called.  there were so many little kids waiting for the same surgery.  made us feel a little better.

not wanting to have his temperature taken

gladly hopping on the scale

telling us and the nurse goodbye and he was going home

matt the stronger parent suiting up to go into the OR to watch them put him to sleep.  matt had to go outside afterwards to catch his breath after seeing his son being put to sleep.  even the strongest...

recovering on mommy's lap

being wheeled to his room

listening to TV

auntie carma and issac bringing jake toys

going back to 2012...thanksgiving

 we spent thanksgiving morning cooking, watching tv in our pajamas and looking forward to being with family.  we started off at matt's aunt sefulu's house and then headed off to my side to finish off the night.

 jake and papa iamaleava

jake and auntie carma

sophie and cousin (twin) toreka

mommy and daddy

going back to 2012....legoland

my bff laura had free tickets to legoland so we hooked up with other bff, natalie, and our kids the weekend before thanksgiving.  this place is hands down the best for little ones.  we all had so much fun, especially jake who was so excited about EVERYTHING.  his favorites were the lego animals of course.  sophie was a trooper who just chilled in the stroller the whole time.

 looking for gold

 excuse the red lips...he had just finished a sucker.

when he saw this lion, he was so excited to run up and jump on it!

 of course we find the animals!

 pooped!  we stayed at natalie's house since she lives 5 minutes from legoland.  laura left back the next day for san jose after a long night of catching up with the sj bffs of over 25+ years.  still can't believe we kids the same age.  i love it!

going back to 2012...sophie at 6 months

my darling sophie.  she's growing so fast and catching up to her supposed weight/height.  she doesn't have a hearty appetite when it comes to formula so i'm excited to see how she does on baby food.  she's just starting try and sit up but falls over after a few seconds.  she loves attention and to be held which can be difficult for a second child.  she's definitely a mommy's girl and looks for me every time she hears my voice.  you are so beautiful and daddy tells you that every day.  he always tells me, "we have the most beautiful daughter."  i love shopping for her and really need to stop but hey...she's my last one so that's how i justify it.  jake's not too interested in her yet but i know as she starts moving and talking he will be.