Aila Marie

Beautiful Aila Marie made her debut on Thursday, May 9, 2013 promptly at 1:30 pm.  The first things I noticed were her full head of dark hair and her pretty eyes.

Managing a smile in between contractions...

The nurses thought she was a hispanic baby!

So peaceful

Proud Daddy

Love her profile

I was induced that morning at 3 days overdue.  Everything went smoothly and it was really convenient scheduling it and arranging for someone to watch Abram.  I was emotional putting Abram to bed the night before and saying goodbye to him that morning, knowing it wouldn't be just the two of us at home anymore.  I started out at 3+cm/70% effaced (I had been 3-4 cm for weeks).  My nurse started Pitocin at 8:30, my midwife broke my water shortly after, we walked the halls and outside on their little patio for a while (quite the contrast from looking out the window at a blizzard when I had Abram!), I used the birthing ball for a little while, and then I asked to be checked at about 11:30.  I was 6 cm so I decided to get my epidural as planned.  Ben was a great support while I was in labor and I loved having that time with him at the hospital before she was born.  My epidural ended up only working on one side, so the anesthesiologist had to pull the catheter back a little and it ended up helping (the same thing happened with Abram), which I was relieved about...feeling labor on only one side is so weird and I'd say even worse than feeling it on both (plus I had to lay down since I had the epidural, which doesn't help labor pains at all!)...anyway, I finally got comfortable, at which point I was completely dilated and ready to push!  A few minutes and about 3 pushes later, baby Aila came into the world!  I was so happy to hold her in my arms.  She nursed for almost a full hour...my milk came in pretty quick and she was back up to birth weight within 4 days.  Nursing has been a dream this time around, as well as recovery--physically and mentally.

Home from the hospital

Her pregnancy, on the other hand, had many difficult times.  To make it short, threatened miscarriage at the beginning, severe pelvic pain throughout, and a six-week long sinus-infection-of-death that finally cleared up right before I gave birth were not pleasant, but one of the blessings of it all is realizing how well I feel now, even though I'm tired.  I remember talking to my mom when Aila was two weeks old and telling her I felt better than I'd felt in months!

It feels so right to have Aila in our family.  I'm still adjusting to taking care of two little ones, but amidst the frustrations and overwhelm, I am experiencing some of the most joyous times of my life so far.  I feel so blessed to be a mother and to have a knowledge of the importance and eternal nature of families.

Abram is Two!

(This post was written back in January and I just came across it...so I'm posting it 5 months later)

The best way to describe Abram is:

 100% pure sweetness.

I feel like my heart has been breaking lately as I realize how much he's growing up!  Since when did he have permission to turn two and start saying things like "awesome" and "let's say prayer"?

He got to have two birthday parties: one in Napa at my grandparent's and one at our house.  

Abram, you were in heaven!

-Lately, you've been saying, "Uh-huh" and "Mmm-hmm" like it's been in your vocab all along.

-You request to sing Silent Night every naptime and bedtime and you love to sing along!

-You love singing ABCs and counting; you know some of your colors and love pointing out circles, stars, and hearts.

-When asked what your name is, you say, "A-bum!"  

-When asked how old you are, you reply, "Two!"

-Every time I check on you when you're sleeping, I can't help but whisper, "sweet baby..."

-I am in heaven every time you fall asleep on my lap and I just hold you and cherish these special days we have left with just the two of us.

-You notice when I am sad "Eh sad??" and will rub my arm and give me a hug.

-You are still in love with cars/trucks/motorcycles/buses/airplanes, of course.

-You still love taking baths ("take a baff!"), and especially love taking your entire toy box in the tub with you.

-You love to help me in the kitchen--the other day you pulled out all the pots & pans and told me you were "cookin' grapefruit" and it was "hot!"

-You fetch my purse and shoes for me when we're trying to get out the door.

-You still love hide-n-go-seek (you put a blanket on your head and yell, "A-bum, wher arrre you?")

-You like to reminisce about when you got to have orange juice and pretzels on the airplane ("Eh wore juice -airplane!  Eh petzels!  Yummy!"), and when you got to blow the candles out on your birthday along with (great) Uncle Mark-- "Eh candles! Cake eh Marrrk! Alright!!"

Abram, you are my handsome, sweet little boy and I love, love, love you!

Sweet Abram

It's high time I posted a few words (update: many words) about Abram lately:

(**I tried to post some pictures but it says I ran out of storage space...not sure what to do about that, but here's my Abram in words)

He Loves:
-Helping me in the kitchen (aka hangs on my pants until I hold him on my hip and let him help pour spices in the bowl...quite the feat)
-Spotting babies in public ("Babeeeyyy!")
-Bubble baths
-Playing with and spotting cars/trucks/motorcycles--anywhere and everywhere
-Singing songs with all the hand actions--he even pipes in when he knows the words! (eensie-weensie spider, wheels on the bus, the Sunbeam song, snowman song, popcorn popping, ABCs)
-Reading books...especially my I Spy book--"I Pie!!"
-Watching himself on video
-Going to my grandparent's house in Napa--he makes himself right at home!
-Brushing/flossing teeth (...not!  But he's getting better about it)
-Getting a hold of something he knows he shouldn't, then saying "Bye!" and taking off around the corner
-Cracking himself up in his crib after he wakes up ("Eh bike!...yeah!  Eh car!...Yeah!"...then laughs...)
-Playing ball
-Playing chase with daddy after work...usually at bedtime when he should be winding down.  :)
-Cleaning up to the clean-up song
-Sitting on his potty ("pah-ee") when I go and "wiping" himself (with his pants still on--we have a potty for him but haven't started training yet)
-Helping fold the laundry (shaking it out, then scrunching it up and handing it to me)
-Doing animal sounds and naming body parts
-Stalling at bedtime (asking for water, then sipping slowly while peering over his sippy at me)
-Nursery at church
-Bringing me my shoes when we're getting ready to go somewhere (so sweet!)
-Giving hugs and kisses

Most-Used Words:
"marrrrr" (more)
"car" (car and Carter (Abram's favorite friend who's 3 and shares his cars :)
"duh" (truck)
"day-doo" (thank-you and here-you-go)
"mee-mee" (excuse me and amen)
"co-eey!" (cozy)
"boo!"  (comes around the corner and tries to scare me)
"mie" (vitamin--he loves his gummy vitamin)
"ba-key" (blankie)
"warry" (water)
"go-gur" (yogurt)
"burrbry" (blueberry)
"ca-car" (cracker)
"owie" (owie--this means he wants a kiss)
"Daddy, wherr-you?" (when we wait for Ben outside of his office after work)
"Bett" and "Marrk" (Brett and Mark, my uncles that live out here)
"eye-bow" (eyebrow...a body part he's been interested in lately...?)
"two, two, GO!" (1-2-3 go)
"wet"  (we've been getting a lot of rain lately)
"dark"
"yum" or "mmm"
"bess" (bless you, after I sneeze)
"Whoa! Eh big!" (when something is big or a lot--like giving him a big bowl of smoothie)

Favorite Snacks (most of the time he is a very good eater!):
bell pepper or carrot strips with hummus
banana with peanut butter
yogurt
frozen blueberries
crackers, of course
sunflower seeds
oranges

All in all, Abram is the sweetest little boy and I feel so blessed to have him.  He is so easy-going, happy, and content.  I love my baby boy.

Our Latest...

This is a little movie of Abram I made a few months ago.

We sent it to our families then, and now I've decided it's time to share it with the world (aka the few readers we have of our blog, ha).

(I just watched it again and I'm shocked at how much older he already looks now!)

Four Years and The Big Two-Five

July was a fun month for us. 

The 18th is our anniversary and the 22nd is my birthday.

Plus, Abram turned 18 months old on the 16th!

This year Ben and I celebrated 4 years of marriage!

Ben brought home some yummy take-out on the way home from work (every place we've eaten here has been so yummy--even Chinese food is fresh and health(ier) than most),

Cream cheese wontons and cashew chicken with brown rice...so yummy! 

and we made a fire in our fireplace and had s'mores

while we watched our wedding video and exchanged lovey-dovey cards.

I feel so so blessed to have such a wonderful man for my companion.

Here's to a billion kajillion more years!

My birthday was on a Sunday, so on Saturday we drove 35 minutes to Bodega Bay

and went to three different beaches.

We had crab sandwiches and award-winning clam chowder for lunch.

(And Abram had his first hot-dog. :)

This was our favorite beach.  It's a popular spot for whale-watching in the winter.

Examining the sand...

Tasting the sand...

Loving the sand...

Hoarding the sand...

Oh, that face!  How I love it...

On Sunday, my Grandma totally spoiled me.

I think the last time I had my birthday at my Grandparent's house was when I turned 8 and was baptized, so this was a total treat to celebrate with them!

After church, we drove down to Napa

and celebrated with my Grandparents, Uncle Brett, and Aunt Jessica.

We had DELICIOUS chimichangas and spanish rice for dinner

and Skor cake for dessert.
It was a wonderful day spent with wonderful people.
25 seems pretty old to me (I still think I'm 22 or something), but I try to use it to my advantage; like when I feel intimidated or when I'm going through something difficult, "Heck, I'm 25!  I can do this!"

Abram gave us a lovely recital on his Grandma Lorna's (my mom) childhood piano.

Grandpa imitating the monkeys on Abram's jammies.

What fun great-grandparents Abram has!

We didn't get pictures of presents, but my mother-in-law sent me some lovely-smelling perfume and my mother made me a beautiful birthday quilt.  I felt so loved!  What a wonderful family I have.
Thanks, everyone, for a great birthday!

Catching Up: Summer Tidbits

I always dreamed of living close to my grandparents.  Never in my life did I think I would, but those dreams came true when we moved to CA!  We're only an hour (or less) drive away from Napa, CA where my mom's parents live (and it's one of the THE most beautiful drives ever among all the vineyards and wineries).  Abram is their only great-grandchild so far, and he is so lucky to be able to get to know them.
They're such good sports to play with him when we visit!  It didn't take him long to warm up to them, of course, and now he gives them kisses when we say goodbye.  :)

In June, Abram and I got to drive down to Napa to celebrate my Grandma's birthday!

We went to eat at a fun Mexican Restaurant.  Abram was so well behaved.
My aunt Lesley, cousin Weston, uncle Brett, and aunt Jessica were there too (my Grandpa had to be at a scout meeting).

She opened presents and we had yummy ice cream cake afterwards.
Abram gets to follow in his mother and uncle's footsteps and play in the rocks in Grandma & Grandpa's backyard (and we do our best to keep the rocks out of the bird bath so Grandpa doesn't have to fish them out later, haha.  :)

Happy birthday, dear Grandma!
What a wonderful life full of love and service she has led and continues to lead.  I admire her so much and am so grateful I get to live close by right now!  My Grandma & Grandpa's house still feels, looks, and smells magical to me.  I have so many wonderful memories there.

Abram has also loved getting to know his great uncle Brett.  :)

At the beginning of July, we went camping...for 24 hours.

My mom's family has gone camping at Grover Hot Springs in the Sierra Nevada Mountains (just South of Tahoe) for decades.  

My first time there was over my 2nd birthday.

My family went as often as we could while I was growing up, and Ben and I have now gone a few times since we've been married...and Abram even went this year too.

...although afterward, I called it first AND last camping trip, haha.

The first night, he woke up around 10pm and would NOT go back to sleep until 4am, despite everything we tried...  Easily the worst night since the night we brought him home from the hospital!  It was crazy.
Ben had to leave camping early anyway to be back for work, so Abram and I ended up leaving early too.
We'll try the camping thing again next year...maybe. :)

We did have fun during our short time there though.  I wish I would've gotten more pictures, but my mind was a little blurry...

The typical hackey-sacking...

Abram trying to get in on the fun.

Relaxing in Uncle Brett's ginormous camping chair.

Abram was so tired, poor thing, but luckily he had uncles to keep him happy.

My brothers loved playing hackey-sack with Ben.

On the actual day of July 4th, we drove down to Livermore, CA where Ben's Uncle Mike, Aunt Vicki, and cousin Jamie & her husband Jason live.  We had a delicious BBQ in their lovely backyard.  Abram loved playing in the kiddie pool (again, I forgot to take pictures!).  We're loving being close to our extended families!

Abram's Latest

-Sometimes he says his own prayers (he'll all of a sudden fold his arms and start talking quietly).  Or he'll talk along with us when we pray.

-He likes to "fake sleep" where he lays down with his blanket and rhythmically blows air out of his mouth like he's snoring (but keeps his eyes open), and when I notice I say, "Oh, my baby's sleeping!  I'll tuck him in so he's cozy.  Should I give him a kiss and wake him up?"  to which Abram replies, "Yeah!"  So I give him a good wake-up kiss (I wonder how long he'll let me do that) and say, "He's awake!" And before I know it, he's sleeping again....and repeat...and repeat....  :)

-I frequently find him "reading" to himself in his room with lots of cute expression.

-Never, ever, ever gets sick of watching out the window for cars.  It doesn't matter what we're doing; if he hears a noisy car or truck outside, he rushes to the window to see it.  When he can't see it anymore, he waves and says, "Bye-bye, car!"

-Which reminds me of yesterday, when he threw peas on the floor during dinner, and I said, "Abram, it's not nice to throw food on the floor.  It makes a mess."  He sat still for a second and looked at me like he really understood it, but then quickly waved his little hand and said, "Bye-bye, pea!"

-His newest words are plane and sky.  "Mane!!  Guy!!"

My little beach boy

Happy as can be in the sand.

Sometimes he puts my shoes on.

He loved having Uncle Josef here for a week--couldn't wait to show him the cars going our apartment...

This was a no-shower day for me (haha), but this was at a BBQ our apartment complex put on.  Abram loved the potato salad and was the center of attention.