6 months

You are one busy little girl. Between all your traveling and changing I can’t even keep up with you. You started this month by going on your first trip out of the country. With your passport in hand you traveled with Daddy and I to rocky point Mexico. Over all you were a great little traveler, although you didn’t sleep that great. This was your first time going to the beach although you were not really a fan. You loved lying on the blanket and wiggling around but you didn’t like to get close to the ocean. We didn’t even get a chance to put your toes in the water before you got upset. You didn’t like the ocean but you did love your weekend away with Daddy and Mommy. You were barely home a few days before you went on another trip with mommy. This time you got to fly first class to Los Angeles to visit Aunt Erin. You were not a huge fan of the runway, but the second the plane took off you fell asleep and slept the whole way there. All this extra time with mommy is causing you to be even more of a mommy’s girl. Two trips down and you have one more to go. You got to tag along with Mommy and Daddy on their anniversary weekend. You enjoyed going out to eat and having a lot of daddy time. Now that I am getting ready to start you on solid foods daddy is giving you tastes of his food. You love frosting, bread, and margarita salt. I started you on some pares but you and I agreed we were both not ready for this step. You did seem to like them, but after a few spoonfuls you started shaking. We agreed to wait a couple more weeks. The day you turned five months you decided it was time to grow up on me. You started to roll over both directions and love playing on the floor. You grab at everything, toys, food, mommies water bottle. Everything goes into your mouth and you now know how to put your pacifier in your mouth. You are quickly becoming a little girl, and are no longer a baby. Now that you can more around more you love playing on the floor with your brothers. They notice you growing up and are starting to interact with you more each day. They talk to you and ask you questions. They love to try and tickle you and do anything to make you laugh. I pray that all three of you are close and grow to love and trust one another. I pray that you have a relationship like I have with your Uncle Trav. Brothers have so much to teach us.

Waiting

Our 12 days are almost over. Brad is coming home from Argentina tomorrow. Brad travels for work and takes a missions trip every summer, so it is not a new idea for him to be away from home. Yet there was something about this trip that kept reminding me of dating long distance. Brad and I started dating his Senior (my junior) year of high school. When he graduated and went to California for school we did a year of long distance. Back in the old days (I know I am not that old, but in terms of technology I am), we communicated by aol IM and maybe a phone call once a month. See I told you I was old. These past few days I felt like I was reliving my senior year. I learned really quickly while doing long distance that the first few days and the last couple days were the hardest, somehow it got easier in the middle. That is still true. I am less than a day away from seeing him and some how I am missing him more today than I was before. The one comfort in going through this and reliving long distance is that I still miss him. It has been 12 years since our long distance days and our lives are completely different now, but we are still the same. I don't just miss him because he takes out the trash or takes the kids off my hands. Life is just more fun when he is around. 16 more hours, I think I can make it. But in terms of next years missions trip, we travel together or we don't travel.

Come Home Daddy

This is what happens to little boys when their daddy is gone way to long.

We Love You Daddy!

I thought getting these two to cooperate for the camera was hard. Video is nearly impossible. They want to watch themselves on screen but don't understand that they have to record something first. As soon as they see the camera they run towards me saying "I want to see" Or "I want to hold it". AHHHHHHH so frustrating.

Sorry babe this is the best I was able to do. Thanks again for my Flip, it is a ton of fun, and also frustrating. =)

I'm Stuck-A

Gone

I really have this desire to write a post right now, but I have absolutely no energy or brain capacity to do it. I am good, really good, but tired out and missing my family like crazy. I have had an amazing few days thanks to my deer friend Christin who decided to brave the craziness that is my life and co-parent with me while Brad is in Argentina. Trav, you have an amazing girlfriend, I was so blessed by her this weekend. Mom and Dad you are on travel restriction. You are not allowed to travel that far away for that long for at least a year, maybe two.

One week till Brad and my parents come home. It is going to be a long one. I know the boys really miss their Dad. Life is just not as much fun with mommy. I find myself having to say no to things a lot more simple because I can't do it all. I am so grateful for Babci, Christin, and my family and friends. But lets face it an amazing husband/dad is not replaceable. Even for a few days.

To my family spread out all over the world you are irreplaceable. We miss you and want you to come home soon.
I am going to bed now, and I am taking Kayla's new bunny with me.

Window Painting

This is another one of my crazy ideas. I get these that I know have a high possibility of turning into a disastrous mess but I do them anyways.

This one ended up being a lot of fun. I have yet to get my windows cleaned. Oh well!

Pure Joy

Here Daddy. We know you miss this laughter so we thought we would send some your way. We love you and miss you tone.

Nana, Papa, and Uncle Trav, We hope you enjoy this too.

Lego Bonding

The audio on this video is not great but the video was to cute not to post. Nathan is telling Kayla to build a tower. Then he helps her build one. This is the first time I have seen them PLAYING together. She really loves Nathan and is drawn to him. I am looking forward to watching these 3 grow up and interact more.

Nine Years Ago

At this moment 9 years ago I was standing beside my family and best friends taking picture after picture. I was both excited and calm as I anticipated the moment of walking down the isle to the arms of the man I loved and saying I do. I didn't think he could look any sexier than he did on our wedding day. Now, nine years later he is dressed down quite a bit in his blue bathing suit and is soaked from a water fight with our two boys. He is sexier today than he was 9 years ago.
Back then he was the man I loved, the man I respected, the man I trusted and dreamed about. Today he is still the man I love, the man I respect, the man I trust. Now he is the father of my 3 kids, our hardworking provider, the man I dream with, the man who keeps this family focused on God, our rock, and so much more. I knew when we got married my love for him would grow. What I didn't anticipate was how my trust and respect would grow along with that love. I absolutely love being a mom and I love my kids, but my relationship with Brad is even more important to me.

Brad, I love you. I can't believe it has been nine years already. I never had any doubts about marring you. However, I know now that I was a little naive about the depth of the commitment of marriage and the power of our vows. After nine years and a greater understanding of the significance of marriage, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to do it all over again. I still take you to be my husband, for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part as long as we both shall live. I respect you for who you are as a man, a husband, a father, and am constantly amazed by your integrity, your work ethic, and your constant sacrifice. Thank you for being an amazing man of God and for following Him first as you lead this family.

Filling you in on all the fun

Here are some shots of the kids over the last month.

My favorite 3 little people.

Kisses

Andrew giving Kayla a Piss (as he calls it)

Jumping in the ball pit at Gym Class


Trampolines are tons of fun.


Just the 3 of us in Rocky Point.

Kayla is not a fan of the ocean. We didn't even put her in it.

Uncle Trav and Christin came for a visit.

5 months (just a little late posting it)

You are five months old you have mastered putting everything in your mouth. Your favorite toys are your Exersaucer, Sophi the giraffe, paci with the clip, and pink baby doll. You are becoming more and more alert all the time and therefore you don’t like to sleep when we are out places. If we are out you don’t want people to cradle you, you want to sit up or stand, so you can see everything that is going on. You are still working on getting that giggle out, it always ends up sounding like a scream. You laugh at mommy, daddy, but you just love to laugh at your brothers. Half the time we have no idea what you find so funny. They love that you are becoming more interactive with them and they can’t wait for you to be old enough to play with them. You are still very social, but you are not as vocal as you were last month. You spend more time watching others and learning new things. You have been such a mommies girl that we are trying to get you used to having Daddy, Nana, and Babci to put you to sleep. I love having a mommy’s girl, but I know it is better for you to be comfortable with others. You love everyone, until you are hurt or tired, then you only want me. You sleep from 8 till 3 when you eat and then go back to sleep till 6:30. I should be pushing you to sleep more but I am too lazy. You are starting to wake up and want your pacifier in the middle of the night. You are a little stinker when it comes to rolling over. You want nothing to with tummy time and you are perfectly content to lay on your back and scream and kick. Your favorite new thing to do is to lie on your back and play panda by grabbing your toes. Nana said I did the same thing when I was your age. Some days I stare at you and am still surprised you are my little girl. Our family feels complete now that you are here.

Two Toddlers Talking

The boys never fail to make us laugh, and the laughter grows the more they talk and communicate. So I thought I would share some of our laughable moments from the past few days.

-Andrew and Nathan are throwing the ball back and forth over the pool fence. Every time Andrew threw the ball into the pool Nathan would yell back "Anew Lee" (Anew is Andrew without the /d/ and Lee is not Andrews middle name but Nathan's. Nathan is mimicking what we say when he gets into trouble which is 'Nathan Lee!'.

-Nathan is sitting in time out yelling "Kristina, Kristina" There is something to strange about your own child calling you by your first name rather than mom.

-The Fed Ex guy dropped of a package when I took the box and closed the door Andrew started to cry for pizza. I guess every person who rings our door bell with a box is supposed to be a pizza delivery guy. Then when I told the boys it was not pizza but papa's coffee Nathan responded "Yeah, Papa's Starbucks".

These two boys certainly have minds of their own, but it is obvious that they are watching us all the time and mimic our every move.