4 Months!

Our little man is 4 months with wonderfully chunky legs and a smile on his face. Brandon actually measured Jaemus and Bailey's thighs the other day and Jaemus's thigh is 1 inch bigger than Bailey's. The other week I accidently put Bailey's sweat pants on Jaemus and thought, "these are kind of girly- but at least they are still a little big for him to grow into." Yay, well 3T pants should have a lot of growth room!

Jaemus has gained the skill of grabbing his toys, swinging them around and bringing them to his mouth. He loves mobiles (especially Bailey's butterflies) or looking up at trees and squeals with excitement. We have been able to get some good laughs out of him and he usually gives Brandon a warm welcome home filled with flapping arms and laughter.

He has been pretty consistent with 3 naps a day now and I can usually get him to take his longest nap with Bailey's which is glorious! However, his eating has not slowed down and still eats every 2 1/2 hours and maybe 3 if distracted. Jaemus continues to sleep well at night by going to bed at 8:30 pm at the same time as Bailey and wakes up once at about 5:30 or 6 and then goes back to sleep until about 8 or 8:30 am. I am going to ask his doctor about starting him on rice cereal to see if I can stretch out his feedings a bit.

Jaemus has become more sociable these days and is really comfortable with others and smiles at just about anyone. He fell asleep on Aunt Tawnia the other day and he adores my parent's and seems to enjoy being at their house.

Bailey is very protective over Jaemus and is always telling everyone to be gentle. She actually says, "come be gentle with me," and then gentle rubs his face and says, "ahhh...so cute." She does not like strangers getting too close and has at times tried pushing the stroller away from people looking in. Healthy instinct I guess but I explain that it is ok since we are here too. She also seems to know Jaemus's physical limits for when my dad asked Bailey if Jaemus can come swim in the pool she pointed her finger at him and said, "No, papa, he too little." Jaemus is going to be one pampered little boy by his very maternal sister.

Jaemus rolled over once a couple weeks ago by pure accident. Since then he rocks back and forth coming really close but doesn't have it down yet. He also doesn't particularly like tummy time and gets over it in about 60 seconds.

He is very vocal and personable. He loves making gaw-gaw eyes at you while cooing and smiling. He begs for attention now but waving his arms and legs and babbling until I come over and rub his belly. I love how cuddly and sweet he is and he melts my heart all day long.

Catching Up

Life has not slowed down like I had hoped it would this Fall. From what I am told, it never will, and will only go faster! Yikes! The more kids, the more lives to maintain; and with our friends and families growing too, more parties, and it continues to grow. But we are lovin' it and having so much fun! We have been having more free weekends and family time which has been great!

Brandon has been really enjoying his job and being in the office. He gets to work close with the engineers and really enjoys all that he is learning. He will be starting school in the Spring to work towards his degree in Mechanical Engineering.

I have been working from home for my sister's company Rough-Fit. It is an outdoor fitness program in Tustin and I do some of their administrative work. You can check out their Blog too!

I am also teaching again the Bible class at Red Hill Lutheran on Fridays which is fun and challenging, and I enjoy the students a ton.

My Women's Bible study at Rockharbor, Nurture, started up again and it is a blessing to be involved with great weekly fellowship. They have a kids program now that does a bible study, music, and a craft-fun for Bailey!

Bailey is still doing swim lessons once a week and is getting more and more confident in the water. She is speaking a ton! She talks my ear off all day and is always asking "why" or "how" and repeats everything she hears. Bailey is very attentive to radio and T.V. and I am impressed with how much she understands and picks up. She still remains to have us all be a different character each day and lately her pick has been Pinocchio. Bailey is also potty training. She has a train-track sticker chart and it has been a success! She is doing great and is so proud of herself when she gets a sticker. She also applauds and sings for Brandon and I when we go to the restroom now too.

Jaemus has rolled over once by accident. He was on his tummy reaching and rolled over gripping the blanket with wide terrified eyes. He had no clue what he did but Bailey and I were pretty excited. He is happy about his new found ability in grabbing toys and bringing them to his mouth. It's really cute because he focuses real hard, sticks his tongue out, and goes a little cross-eyed. He loves attention now and squirms and flaps his arms and legs when he is in need. Jaemus seems to have a special liking to Brandon and gives him the best smiles when he gets home and often just stairs at him. Bailey continues to be a great source of entertainment for him as she dances and sings in the living room or runs circles around him.

Brandon and I are in the prime of our life with these two little ones. Exhausted but are counting our blessings.

Magic Castle with the Johnson's Part II

Great evening of some awesome magic.

Thanks again friends!

Family time with Shelby, Jennifer, Hollee, and Tank

Daddy and Son

Family beach day on that sweltering Sunday at the end of September.

2 1/2 Years Old

My dad said to me the other day "can you believe that in another 2 1/2 years Bailey will be starting Kindergarden." Ahh- that hurt! These years have gone by so fast and time is only moving quicker. She will be in Kindergarden before I know it and I will be crying in my car as I watch her line up with her friends.

The story behind the dress. Bailey's dress she is wearing in these pictures is a prairie dress that was bought when I was 6 months pregnant with her. We were at the Knott's Berry Farm's christmas boutique and there were a bunch of homemade prairie dresses. My parent's had just gotten their ranch in Oregon and we were all imagining a little girl running barefoot in a prairie dress through a field. The dress looked huge and I remember thinking, "it's going to be forever until she can wear this." Well, I realized she has nearly grown out of it! It's not oregon, but my Mom and I took Bailey to Irvine Park for a picture shoot in her prairie dress.

Bailey is increasingly independent and so smart! I can't believe how much she remembers and notices in conversation or observation. She remembers things we say like, "in the morning we will go to the park" and she will be jumping in her crib bright and early chanting "park! park! park!" She also recalls memories from so long ago that it shocks me because she now puts language to memories she couldn't describe months ago! Bailey is counting to 20, saying her ABC's, recognizing words like her name, and sings throughout the day. She loves anything with a tune and will dance and began repeating the lyrics instantly. She is another dinner conversation for she talks constantly and some times my brain hurts after dinner because of all the little conversations we are all trying to have.

The most entertaining aspect of Bailey is her imagination. The past couple days she has been "Woody" from Toy Story and I have been Buzz Lightyear. A sample of our converstations:

Me- "Bailey eat your eggs please"

Bailey- "Momma, I Woody."

Me- "Oh right, Woody eat your eggs please."

Bailey- "Ok Buzz"

She will ask throughout the day, "Momma, what you be?" I then choose a character to be and then she will approve or not. Jaemus has been Gus Gus mostly and Frani either Bulls Eye or 'the new puppy!' Daddy is either Buzz or Prince that must kiss her to wake her up.

Sleeping Beauty has been her favorite princess lately. She sings the song, "I know you, I walked with you once upon a dream..." and will dance with her toys or one of us. She actually started singing that song loud and clear in the middle of Ryan and Brie's wedding ceremony- it was pretty darn cute.

Bailey is entering the "why" phase of her life. But she prefers to say, "what that momma? or how that do momma?" Every where we go or any book she is looking at at home Bailey is full of questions. I find it a fun and creative challenge for me to try and explain electricity or where the water goes when it goes down the drain.

Bailey continues to be cuddly and endearing which Brandon and I can't get enough of. She loves "baby" everything and wants to eat "baby bites" of her food, carry around her "baby" animal critter toys, loves "baby" animals, and Jaemus is alway "baby" or "baby JJ." She gets in snugly moods in the day and will grab my hand and say "come momma, come cuddle on couch." Bailey also melts my heart when she comes to me randomly looks me in the eye and will rub my face and say, "I love you so much Momma." She kills me! I can see now when kids are graduating High School parent's are in the bleachers picturing their children as two year olds wondering where the years went and how much they wouldn't give for another day with them at the age of 2. Brandon and I will sometimes say, "this will be the moment I recall in 16 years."

Ok- I have done two updates on my little ones and feel emotional now as I sit here surprised in how fast Bailey and Jaemus are growing. Brandon and I love our season of life right now with our little snugly happy baby and our independent playful little girl.

3 Months

Jaemus Lee was 3 months on the 11th but he is the size of a 6 month old baby now. I can't keep up with this kid's growth spurts. This picture on the left gives you some perspective of his size.

He has become a pretty relaxed happy little guy. He has his preferences, which is mostly his love for being home when he is tired or hungry- kind of tricky. He likes to eat in peace and quiet and he goes to sleep with ease in his bassinet for naps, but fusses up a storm if he has to fall asleep in a car seat or stroller. He enjoys outings when he has a full belly and after a good nap- then he is just thrilled to be out and about.

He currently has found a taste for his fist and Brandon worried the other night that Jaemus would manage to fit his fist in his mouth and choke. I assured him he wouldn't and if he did he wouldn't lay silent with a fist stuck in his mouth. What a sweet and concerned father Jaemus has.

No more swaddling. He likes his arms over his head and appreciates holding my hands when he falls asleep, love that. He also gives me a quality 7 hours of straight sleep! I only get up once in the early hours of the morning. If it is slightly light out and I am feeling energetic I enjoy staying awake and having some solo time in the wee mornings while the little ones are cozy in their beds.

He is coming close to rolling over from his tummy to his back. He really gets a rockin', and can hold his head up real high but hasn't quite figured out the skill yet.

He continues to eat frequently in the day, every 2 to 2 1/2 hours. A little demanding but he is giving me sleep at night. He is a bit random with naps and bedtime being that he is out and about at parks or doing errands and takes little cat-naps in the midst of it. However, we stick with Bailey's nap at 1 and he usually will take a long nap too.

This last month Jaemus accompanied us to two more weddings! He now has a few months break from weddings and parties. My little brother Ryan got married to the beautiful Brie Meade on August 14th. My siblings and I are now 4 for 4- all married! Ryan and Brie had a beautiful wedding and Brandon, Bailey, and I had the privilege of all being in the wedding. Jaemus was nurtured by Tim's mom at the wedding and I learned a few things from her skills in soothing infants. When a baby needs to burp and begins to cry to hard, it makes them stiff and hot, she recommends lightly blowing on their neck to cool them down and stop the crying and then they will usually burp. She said stopping the crying is key to a quality burp.

Jaemus had his first flight a few weeks ago; we went to San Jose for my dear friend Jaclyn's wedding. Bailey partied at Nana and Papa's house, and Jaemus did great on the short plane ride while being bustled around.

We also got great news that my brother Michael and his wife Tawnia are pregnant!!! Bring on the cousins!

Melt My Heart Smiles

2 Months!

Jaemus was two months old yesterday. He was extra sweet on his special day and gave me some great smiles and laughs. The past week he has really become social and after a good nap he smiles, and coos, and talks to Bailey and I. It has been really fun.

For now, I think I have this boy down. We had a few tough weeks of figuring him out because he is sensitive and specific with his needs. He is a home-body and appreciates quietness. He is very consistent with eating every two hours in the day, playing for about one hour, and then begins to fuss because he is ready for about an hour nap. When it is nap time, he will have a melt down if I am not quick to swaddle, lie him down, and place a pacie in his mouth. He also loves his head to be rubbed and falls asleep nearly instantly. At night he just started giving me a glorious 6 hours! He wakes up at either 4 or 5 am and then will go back to sleep for either 2 or 3 hours. It has made me feel so restful and I literally praise God for the sleep.

Jaemus favorite time of the day is bath time. He has always loved the warm water and is so happy we hate to take him out. It's funny to remember back when he was born and they were doing their routine checks he was fussing and crying but the second they stuck his head under the warm facet water he stopped crying and fell asleep. He remains to still be that way; if he is fussy he will calm down in the soothing water and enjoy kicking his legs and moving his arms.

Lucky for me he also enjoy walks now. I love getting out on family walks and I have been disappointed in his hatred for the stroller. He has been much better at allowing me to put him down now and so walks have become part of our routine; especially in the evenings. He still enjoys the sling but he has discovered the joy of laying on his blanket and moving his limbs or sitting in his swing while looking outside or watching Bailey play. It has been nice for me to not have to wear him 16 hours a day. =)

We still have two weddings this month one of which requires a flight. So, hopefully our little home body can hang in there!

Nothin' But a Blur

I can't believe July has come and gone and Fall is quickly approaching. There are so many things I have been putting of until "the fall" and now I am realizing that is next month! My brain is mush and I am so tired. There have definitely been some days that I have been more tired than I have ever been in my life. That is saying a lot since I have pulled many all-nighters, studied for finals with little sleep, drove all night, but nothing beats mother-hood.

This month is busier than July for us so I am sure it will be a blur as well.

I feel like Jaemus should be 6 months old but he is only about to be 2 months! I have to remind myself on the difficult and confusing days that he is still such a little guy! He is doing great but has given us a few tough weeks of fussiness that has forced us to slow down and give him more quality attention. He easily gets over stimulated and is a bit of a home-body right now. He will completely melt down with too much noise, especially groups of people talking, and he really just prefers peace and quiet. Difficult to give that with a rambunctious two year old but he does not seem to mind Bailey in his face when he is happy. Jaemus has also gotten real smiley and responsive just this week. This last week has been the easiest with him and it has been rewarding to see him joyful and listen to him coo so sweetly.

The highlights of July included spending the 4th with the Johnson's Part II again at Eric's parent's home. It was a super relaxing day of Latter Ball, swimming, a nice walk, and fireworks. Bailey has not stopped talking about fireworks since! We were able to watch fireworks from their backyard that over looked a lake that had a firework show going on. It was perfect.

How cute are they? Taking a breather and watching some Jana Alayra.

Brandon's friend Jacob got married and requested that all the grooms men had mustaches. Well, if you know Brandon, you know he can't very well grow a mustache and envies all guys with scruff. So, he did the best he could and then filled it in with my eye brow pencil. It was hilarious and nobody noticed except his friends of course.

A wonderful picture of Jacob and Brandon

We also officially became a family and purchased a Minivan! It is quit glorious with all the space and I enjoy being a minivan mom. Here is our beautiful Kia Sedona.

I turned 25 on the 20th of July. I feel pretty solid at 25. A wonderful husband, two adorable children, and a minivan. What more can I want?

Bailey and I made Sleeping Beauty's cake and homemade apple sorbet with my new ice cream maker that I got from my parent's. It was a good day!

Bailey has been taking swim lessons at the Australian Swim school with Brandon. She is doing so great and loves it! She loves all the games and songs and it has been such a special time for Brandon and Bailey. Here is Bailey after she just dove for a ring.

And Jaemus is getting cuter and cuter all the time! He is also never not growing! I feel like I never got an infant as he is already wearing 3 month clothes and was nearly 12 pounds three weeks after he was born. He is always pulling really funny faces that we love capturing on camera.

Here are some cute kid highlights.

Watch it.

The Tourist.

Let me just add- Bailey is so much fun! I just love her age right now and enjoy listening to her thoughts all day long.

We are all about bed time cuddles.

Tummy time guy.

I just love these two!