Photoshop Fun

We joined the Giles' on a trip to the zoo.  Carlos and Isabel fell asleep on the way up, and they stayed asleep for a little while longer.  I'm so grateful for my double stroller!

We actually went specifically to see the baby elephant.  If you have a chance to go-totally do it.  So worth it-a once in a lifetime experience for most...

Carlos and Mana were so excited to see each other, as usual.  They rode on the train together... what a great friendship they have.

There are occasional "nice" days in the fall here in Utah.  The day we went to the zoo was one of them and another was when we went to Pumpkinland and the park

For some reason, ducks in Utah are not very hungry most of the time.  This day was an exception... they were starving!  Guess fewer people go out to feed them when it's cold. :(

And here are a few pics of the little ones that I just love... First, Isabel and the beanie I made for her

And in this pic she's laying on a blanket I made her-I really like this print-retro, but not.

And these of the two of them together.  Carlos loves his little sister-he always tries to include her in things, and she is always trying to include herself too.

I LOVE this next pic because of the expressions and gestures... notice that they're holding hands (not staged, promise. haha)

Oh and in case you didn't notice, we pierced her ears... LOVE IT!

Mana's 3rd Birthday

Mana's third birthday was back in August.  A little bit about Carlos and Mana.  They're really good friends.  Dayna (his mom) and I were pregnant at the same time.  They were supposed to just be 2 weeks apart-but with Carlos coming a month early, and Mana coming 2 weeks late, they ended up being 2 months apart.  And ever since Mana was born, he and Carlos have been good friends.

For Mana's birthday, the boys went to Build-A-Bear--they both had a blast!

First they picked their bears-Mana got a Panda (Po, of course) and Carlos got a HSM bear (getcha head in the game!)

Stuff their bear with 'life' and 'love' and all that good stuff...

The boys got to push the foot pedal to get the stuffing going-they were still kind of getting a feel for the place at this point.

Now this part is fun-washing the bears and like blow drying them or something... it was cute.

Mana's bear bought some cool Kung-Fu outfit and Carlos' got a Batman costume.

Carlos sleeps with his bear every night now-he especially likes it when the bear says "Wildcats! Getcha head in the game!" So funny.

Mana's birthday celebration continued on his actual birthday...

Our little Isabel-just watching the boys play...

Carlos wanted to buy Mana a birthday candle-so that's why there are 2 of them. ha ha

Now below is a series of photos taken within seconds of each other... It reflects how fun and awesome their friendship is:

We tried pulling them off of each other-see in the second pic.  Funny thing about these two is that they'll horseplay and one will end up crying a bit and then they hug and make up and are friends again.  Now that is true friendship.  I sure how they remain friends forever!  George and Stephen (Mana's dad) have been friends since they were tots too.

Below: trying to make the "shaka"

Not quite, but it will do. :o)

Newborn

Newborns are so special and sweet. They are tiny miracles and big blessings. I am blessed and grateful for the opportunity to be a mommy. Nothing is more rewarding. There are some things about newborns that I just LOVE! The stage of being a newborn does not last long enough. I just love so much about it.
I love the peach fuzz all over her body.
I love that her skin sheds and how fast it heals.
I love how her hair does a crazy "willey peka" do.
I love that she stares at my face in wonder.
I love that at night she does a crazy head shake as she tries to latch on in the dark.
I love the little noises she makes as she eats.
I love the weird newborn faces that she makes.
I love that nursing her brings her comfort.
I love her super soft skin.
I love her tiny toes and fingers.
I love her not-yet-filled-out arms and legs.
I love that little healing belly button.
I love to cuddle with her.
I love all these things as much as I loved them my first time as a mommy 3 years ago-only I appreciate it so much more this time.

My little milk monster. So worth the dark circles :)

Mi Carlitos-the BIG boy now

I thought I'd share a little bit about my favorite little boy in the whole wide world. :) My Carlitos had quite an adventurous summer. He reached many milestones. First of all, he completely became potty trained. As Isabel's birth approached, I made it clear to him that it was something he needed to do. I regularly said this to him:

Carlitos, when Isabel comes, I am not going to buy more than one diaper size. So you're going to have to use the potty all the time. Okay?



It took him a couple weeks after her birth to be brave enough to go number 2 in the potty. Well, on Saturday, August 1st he did it! He was sooo excited once it was over. He yelled "Mommy! The BIG poop terd is out!" LOL, sorry if that's too much information but that's the language of a 3 year old.



It was the best evening for us. He gained confidence and we no longer buy him diapers. So I have 2 children now, and although I was never able to have a time when I didn't buy ANY diapers, I at least never had to buy more than one box! Yes!



In celebration of this event, I've posted pics of the couple weeks leading up to this momentous event and a few after... as you can see, he was super excited to wear his "undies" and to this day, he enjoys showing them off.

Boston

So the kids are still asleep. Gives me like 2 minutes to write something. Wow, I am just now understanding why those of you with more than one child don't always get around to updating your blogs frequently. I have had NO time to blog. I will make it a goal to catch up though because this is my only way of keeping a journal of sorts.

I'm in Boston visiting my family. It's been a long trip-3 weeks total and I've still got a week and a half left. I love being here with my fam-but I sure do miss my hubby. Each time I come home, I think about how far away I am and that makes me sad. Especially since George's 'home' is just as far away in the OTHER direction. So in deciding where we will 'settle down', one of us will either make a complete sacrifice, or we both sacrifice together.

Isabel is growing so fast! Before coming to Boston, she began smiling and cooing at us. I just LOVE it. I read once that your baby's first social smile is the MOST gratifying milestone they reach. And I totally agree! My heart warms and gets so full each time she smiles at me.
She is getting so strong too! She can roll over, lifts her head when we hold her up or when she's sitting. Oh, and yesterday morning she officially laughed for the first time. The first "more-than-just-a-giggle" laugh came courtesy of Carlitos. They play a "bouncy bouncy" game where I hold her and bounce her while Carlitos jumps in front of her. I think she feels like she's jumping along with him and cracks up!
She ADORES her brother and gratefully, he reciprocates that same love to her. I'm so glad that he still wants to hold and kiss her. It's looking like it will be a great relationship between these two. Carlos still calls her HIS 'chixmunschin' and princess.
Oh, but what a drama queen! Ha ha! She is ALL GIRL-in the way she cries, smiles, seems to flirt... etc. There is so much emotion in all that she does. Everything is exaggerated and I think it's just so hilarious. George and I always say... "Carlos was NOT this emotional." LOL. I hope it's not a sign of how she'll be as a teenager. ha ha.

Carlitos-so grown up now it makes me sad! He's going through a 'fit' stage where he'll throw a fit about something so small. Mothers of boys older than 3 years old-please tell me this is a stage and that it's normal and he will get over it. :)
Here in Boston, he seems to be missing his Daddy a lot more than last time we were here. Shows me that he's more mature and better understands what it means to be away from someone. It makes me miss George even more when Carlitos cries for his Daddy.

This will be my last LONG trip without George. The three of us are all enjoying Boston and wish George was with us. Isabel just woke up so I better get off. :) I'll post pics when I get back home in October.

Speaking of which-I'm hosting another Halloween party again! Yay! Let me know if you want to come so I can send you an invite. (Lohi and Cam-come to UT for it! Tradition!) ;)
It will likely be on Halloween (sat) for a couple of hours. I've almost got Carlitos' costume complete-although it won't be as homemade as last year's.

Tummy Time, Daddy, & Hair Cut

I love tummy time. It's one of my many favorite baby times. I am always amazed at how strong babies are just out of the womb.


But the thing I love most about tummy time is being this close to her while she's awake. So fun when she focuses on me and stays up-and then flops back down.


Spending time with their daddy.

George is funny-he will call me in from another room "Quick, Jenny... take a picture." I love it. It's not often he wants to be in a picture.

Carlos got a new haircut. This was quite a struggle for us. We love his hair long-and he liked it too. But it was always getting in his face, and reality is I didn't want to have to be complimented on my "girls". I hate when people assume boys with long hair are girls. I mean come on! He wears very obvious boy clothes.

Anyway, his hair is cut now. We'll grow it out again, but I doubt we'll keep it as long as it was before we cut it.

Videos of Carlos and Isabel

Here is Carlitos singing Los Pollitos to Isabel:

In Her Brother's Arms...

Carlos LOVES holding his baby sister. He is always asking "Can I hold her please?" We try to accommodate this as much as possible. He absolutely adores his sister-and has shown NO signs of jealousy so far. He just always wants to take part in all aspects of her life: helping to change a diaper, talking to her, burping her, bathing her, etc.



He can sit like this for like 20 minutes before having to call me for help. When she's awake, she will follow his voice and I think she smiled at him a few times too.

BYU Toddler packs

Football season starting up again. These are great for the games-and for church. They can carry their own toys, snacks, diaper, whatever. :)

IF you're interested, I sell them for only $5.00. I can custom make a bigger one if interested. Let me know cuz I'm beginning to make some more. :)



If you prefer a different print/color-I can do that too. Just don't ask me for a Utah print-or Yankees (eww).

Isabel's Announcement

Here are a few of the ones I made-but I am not putting up the final one cuz I've already began mailing them out. :)





I'd like to describe the style as clean and studio-like. Not very creative-or colorful. I should try that next time-maybe Christmas!



I have mostly every one's address-but if I don't have yours, please give it to me so I can add you to my address book.