Dow's...The Fab FIVE

Daddy's Little Princess

2011-03-31T16:39:00.000-07:00

My blog is pathetic. Let's be honest. People clean out their garages more often than I post entries. I am not even gonna bother promising that I will do better. We all know it's just a bunch of hot air. For what it is worth, I decided to post something today.

Brielle and Dylan visited the doctors today and both had to get shots. Dylan only needed to get one, but poor Brielle had 3. Keith came with me, since trying to comfort two kiddos after getting shots was not a challenge I was particularly up to. It conveniently worked out that Keith got to man the "shot station" while I was on comfort patrol. I think I got the better end of the deal. I felt a little guilty though when it was Brielles turn. See, Brielle is Keith's princess. Having to watch her get 3 shots and see how much she hurt I think tugged at his heart strings just a tad bit more than it does the boys. She is such a good baby and really doesn't cry very much. So when she does get hurt or upset, we pay much more attention. I couldn't help but laugh the other day when we were in the car and the boys were being especially loud. It had definitely reached the "annoying level" and Keith and I were begging for them to calm down. Then Brielle started to cry. A "you guys are hurting my ears and scaring me" kind of cry. Keith lost it. His exact words were, " You just made Brielle cry. Now I am REALLY mad!" It was so funny and sweet and such a double standard all at the same time, that all I could do was laugh. She has got him wrapped around her finger. Not that I blame him, she is adorable. Her personality makes it all that much better. She is smiling and laughing from sun up to sun down. She goes with the flow, and even when things aren't going so smooth or she hasn't gotten too much attention she is still there waiting with a smile. I just hope she is like this as a teenager… (hey a girl can dream right?)

Some pics of Daddy and his princess (kind of bummed that I have been replaced, but I like to think of it as me getting an upgrade to Queen…)

Keeping up with Kaiden

2010-12-20T23:33:00.000-08:00

Since it has been so long since I have actually updated this blog, I thought I would give a little overview of what the kiddos have been up to, starting with Kaiden.

Oh where do I start? Kaiden is a fireball. He is hilarious. He is way too smart for his own good. Right now he is 4 years old, and is in his last year of preschool. While he is learning quite a bit, what he seems to get more out of preschool is girl drama. Last year a little girl proposed to him, and then tried to kiss him. This year, that same girl and 2 others have daily battles over who gets to sit next to him and play with him ( at least according to the way he tells the story!) This was also the year that he had his very first crush. Which is way freakin cute by the way! The way his face lights up in a combination of shy and obvious adoration has me both laughing and melts my heart! It also has me a little worried, but what do you do? They have to grow up.

Aside from the girl drama, Kaiden has learned so much. He does very well on his homework, and is excited to do it. He is able to write his name without using a reference, and while he still gets some letters backwards, is able to write all the letters in the alphabet and numbers. He also has mastered coloring in the lines (hey I know people who still can't do that!)

He still loves cars. One of his favorite past times still and has been since was 18 months is to name all of the car brands in a parking lot or as it drives by. Yes, he can tell makes of cars. He also loves to pretend I am racing when I am driving, and gets annoyed frequently when I don't pass up cars or when I stay too long in a lane. He tells me often to just go in another lane, or "Mommy, can you please just pass them already?" One of my favorite moments was when I over heard him giving our car a pep talk. I look back in the rear view mirror to see him stroking the side of the car where he sits and whispering…" Okay Herby (what he has nicknamed our car) …You can do this. You can pass them."

Kaiden is also a master at puzzles. He loves puzzles. He can finish rather complex puzzles for a four year old in a short amount of time. His newest passion is also GeoTrax. A brand of trains. Him and Dylan build "cities" with their tracks with hills and tunnels, twists and bends…etc. It's a new one every day.

This was also the year that Kaiden learned to snowboard. While he is no Shaun White, he is pretty good. I might have fibbed a bit and got him in snowboarding school for a day in February before he turned 4 (the minimum age) but I knew he could handle it, and he had been asking to try it ever since he came across an x games on tv. He absolutley loved it, and went down the entire training slope without falling on the first time. The smallest and youngest of his group, and was the only one to do that. His only problem was stopping. And it wasn't that he couldn't do it- he didn't WANT to. He would get mad when someone at the bottom would stop him before the training slope merged into another advanced slope. He kept saying how he wanted to go fast. There were more than a couple of times where a kind passer by would chase him down and swoop him up to stop him. He can't wait to get up there this season, and I am hoping that we can get him to learn to turn so that we don't have to worry about him crashing into things!

Speaking of fast, Kaiden has also taught himself to drift. On his big wheel. He gets going as fast as he can (sometimes coming down a steep hill) and just when you think he is going to crash head on into something, he will pull a fast drift and stop within inches. It's pretty amazing and terrifying to watch all at the same time!

He continued to play and enjoy soccer. He does pretty well, and gets very excited when he scores. The funniest game was when it was on his 4 birthday. Everyone came to the game after the birthday party and he was so excited and distracted at the same time of everyone cheering for him that half the time he didn't even know where the ball was! There was even a time when he was dribbling the ball close to where everyone was sitting on the sidelines and lost the ball because he was smiling and waving to everyone has he ran past. He didn't score once that game, which is unusual, but if you ask me that was the best game ever! Hilarious!

I continue to be amazed by him daily. And while I could go on forever about all the crazy/amazing/hilarious/frustrating/ smart/adorable/loving things Kaiden does on a daily basis, I will have to save those for another time. All in all, he is an amazing kid. A wonderful son, and even better brother. While he is usually the source of Dylan's screams, he is also Dylan's biggest cheerleader. He is his protector and comforter. He is also his helper and I just know that they are going to be and are best friends. He also is such a big help for me with both Dylan and Brielle, and I know I will never have to worry about Brielle when she gets older with him around! He absolutley loves her and is so proud of her. Can't wait to see what else this year holds with him, and looking forward to next year and when he turns 5!

Getting down with Dylan

2010-12-20T00:20:00.000-08:00

Dylan is a stud. A stinker. But a stud. He defintley tries to see how far he can go with things. He knows he is cute, and banks on it to get away with it. I can't tell you how many times he will do something and then just look at you with the " You can't get mad at me because I am too cute" smile. And while I still will probably make him stop whatever he is doing, I am anything but mad. I am usually smiling and shaking my head. Partly because he is so cute, and partly because I think I am secretly in disbelief that this kid can me melt so easily.

On the flip side, there has never been a kid that can push me to my limit so easily. Not because of his behavior really, but because of his lungs. That's right, this kid can scream. And scream he does. Not a manly scream. Not a auggh scream. An ear piercing, blood curddling scream. And he does it often. It's his go to move because he can't talk. Everything that is in least bit frustrating or angering gets a loud, shrill overdramatic scream.

This has been a bit of a challenge for me and Keith I am not going to lie. Kaiden talked so early and so well that this is a bit frustrating for us. There are times when I seriously wish I was deaf rather than listen to one more scream. We have tried everything to get him to stop. Literally everything. Nothing has worked. I have resorted to just dealing with it, and hope that once he can talk it will stop. He has learned a few signs, which have helped a little. At least he has stopped screaming when he wants us to get him something to eat or drink. He can sign that. He also has mastered the word "help" which he yells frequently. But I would rather have that than scream when he wants help any day! He does say a few words, most not very audible but Keith, Kaiden and I know what he means, so I guess that's all that matters.

Dylan has inherited Kaiden's love for cars, and also trains. I think he loves trains even more than Kaiden. He also get's very excited for planes which ironically was new for us. He loves to try anything Kaiden is doing, and because of that is also covered in bruises and scrapes often. He likes to sing and dance and LOVES to pile up couch pillows and runs and jumps into them. That was where his first sentence came into play. A few months ago I caught him doing this, and before he would run he would say " Set…Go!"

He and Kaiden both love to play and chase the neighborhood dogs, as well as ride bikes. And he loves to play wrestle with both Keith and Kaiden. He is still not sure what to do with Brielle and while he has gotten much better, there are plenty of times that he will think twice about hanging out with me if I am holding her. Although I did catch him once when he thought I was looking trying to hold her hand and give her a hug.

Dylan is our eater. This kid is a champ. There isn't much he won't eat, and there isn't much he won't do if you offer or distract him with food. On the contrast, there isn't much you will get him to do if you have said no to giving him food. He has had full on protests in front of the pantry before. All that was missing was handcuffing himself to the door.

While he has been getting better, Dylan has also been the reason our health insurance stays in business. From surgery at 4 weeks old, to his milk allergy and acid reflux he also continued to get frequent ear infections and battled bronchilitis a couple of times. We have been to the hospital with Dylan more times in his short almost 2 years of life than I have ever been in my life total. Luckily, his milk allergy and acid reflux have ended since he turned about 14 months, and his ear infections have been less frequent these last couple of months. His last infection his ear drum ruptured so maybe that has helped keeping future infections at bay.

He has been more difficult than our other 2 (haha so funny that I can say that! Still getting used to the idea that we have 3!) but he is still absolutley adorable. He has got such a wonderful sense of humor and when he is being a cuddle bug, sometimes I wish time could stand still. I can't wait for him to start talking more so I can get to know him even more, and know what's going on in that cute little head of his! We are so lucky to have him in our family, and I love watching his personality evolve as he grows and learns more things!

Baby Brielle

2010-12-20T00:15:00.000-08:00

What can I say about Miss Brielle? 3rd times the charm. She is a wonderful baby. That and I think I have learned how to just go with the flow. She is already sleeping through the night…let me tell you, sleep makes a huge difference on how you cope with things! While she still of course fusses on occasion as do all babies, she really is pretty easy. She is only fussing when she needs to eat or diaper change. And most recently has been having more frequent gas problems which make her understandably unhappy. Nothing a little "colic calm" or a good burp won't take care of. She has been the easiest in everything so far. Easiest pregnancy, labor, delivery and so far our easiest first month home! Let's hope she keeps up with this trend!

I got to say, it has been a blast playing dress up! And while she doesn't do much right now, we have already caught her smiling and reacting quite a bit already. I can't wait to see what she will be like as she grows. She is incredibly tolerant of her crazy brothers and life on the go. Unfortunatley she has already learned that with 2 older brothers there just isn't enough time for her all the time. While she loves to be held and cuddled, she has been pretty good about being patient. Sometimes when she just can't take it anymore to wait she will let out a wail or two. I wish she liked being carried in a sling. Then I could carry her and get things done at the same time. Dylan loved being in his, and it really does help.

I am looking forward to "girl time" and finally getting some Barbies around here! Of course that won't be for awhile, but we got to get something in this house to even out the score! I already am just waiting for her fingers to get big enough to paint! And while I am holding back quite a bit on crazy shopping sprees, I am thrilled to finally be able to buy all of the cute outfits and accessories I have been drooling over for the last few years! So grateful to have this wonderful, beautiful and healthy addition to our family.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-26T23:17:00.000-08:00

This year we have so much to be thankful for. Of course we are most thankful for our newest little turkey Brielle. She has been a wonderful blessing, and such a good baby. I am STILL grateful for our boys (although some days I must admit I forget) We also are so grateful to have been able to get a new home this year. We have wonderful neighbors, and are excited to raise our family here. It's times like this when I realize how much I really take for granted. I have the most amazing husband (who has been quite busy with some projects that I will post soon) seriously awesome kids. I mean seriously…I know everyone thinks their kids are the greatest…but have you met my kids?! :) The win that contest! (haha I know) My boys keep me on my toes, and are pretty freakin hilarious. And while Brielle is pretty much only eating, sleeping and pooping, I am having fun dressing her up and grateful that she isn't doing more than eating, sleeping and pooping. She is a perfectly healthy and happy baby. Who could seriously ask for more?

We have amazing family and friends that surround and support us. Sometimes I just sit and wonder what the heck I ever did to deserve the life that I have. Seriously. This is the part where I bow down and repeat "I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy" (betcha haven't heard a Wayne's World reference in awhile) Either way, worthy or not, we are so grateful for all of the incredible blessings that we have received both as a family and individually. So thanks to all you wonderful people in our lives that just add to our life!

She's Here!

2010-11-20T22:47:00.000-08:00

Well, I am going to have change the name of this blog. A lot has changed since my last sorry attempt at a blog entry. (Over a year ago!) Our family is no longer the Fab Four, but rather the Fab Five! On November 15 we welcomed Brielle Faith into our family. She weighed in at 6 pounds and 8 oz. Just a couple of ounces smaller than Dylan, but a whole 2 pounds lighter than Kaiden. She is beautiful (if I do say so myself)

It was a bit of a roller coaster with the move and all. We barely got her room done in time, which is SOO unlike me. Technically it wasn't (and still) isn't done, but it's good enough. We have had projects gallore and things had to get done before we could move the boxes of toys out of what would be Brielles room and get her situated. Keith and I slaved- and I even painted half to get it done ( I wore a mask and kept the window open) but it's pretty cute. So nice to have something girly in the house! We finished just in time too. My doctor was going out of town and decided to induce me 4 days earlier than scheduled. It might not sound like a lot, but when you have nothing ready for a baby, 4 days can make a huge difference! It was also the day that my brother would be having his farewell for his mission. So, Nov 14, we packed our car up with 3 days worth of stuff for the boys, my hospital bag and surreal feeling and headed out to Palmdale to see my brother for what was going to be last time for 2 years. Then we headed to drop the boys off at Keiths parents and checked into the hospital to have baby #3.

Even sitting in the hospital I couldn't quite believe we were about to have 3 children. I just kept praying it was actually a girl and they didn't get the ultrasound wrong! After a night in the hospital with minor contractions they started the induction at 5 am. Both our boys were born right around 10:30 am, and we were joking that to keep tradition she would have to also. Well when I was only 5cm around 10 am we figured that was out of the question. While I was waiting for my failed epidural to get fixed ( I say waiting, but really it was more like annoying the nurse every 5 minutes and silently crying for the anesthesiologist…) Brielle decided she was gonna kick things into high gear. I refused to have her without the epidural, and held out. The Dr. came into fix the ephidural and 10 minutes later Brielle was born, painlessly at…10:42 am! Just like her brothers. They were all born in order 10 minutes apart.

She was a gross beautiful little miracle! She was great in the hospital and continues to be. The boys love her (well Kaiden does, Dylan is not so sure about her) and so do we. Can't wait to see how this little girl turns out! We are so blessed and so grateful to have 3 healthy and down right adorable kids. And of course we are grateful she is a GIRL!!

Monster Waves and Monster Trucks...

2009-10-02T09:39:00.000-07:00

So, maybe vigilant wasn't exactly the word I should have used. But I guess once a week isn't too bad... Anyway- In August we were staying in Newport for the second time of the summer. Only it didn't feel much like summer. It was that week that every one in the Inland Empire loved, and those of us on vacation at the beach could have done with out. Weeks prior it had been in the high 90's and low 100's. Perfect 80's at the beaches. The week we went, was when it cooled down for a perfect mid 80's in the Inland Empire, and you guessed it- high 60's and low 70's at the beaches. It was cloudy and windy and cold almost the entire week. Not to mention that I got sick the first 2 days we were there. Needless to say, I didn't get a tan that week. We all spent most of the time in our condo. One of the last days that we were there, we decided to head down to Huntington Pier. We walked around, got some great deals on sidewalk sales and watched physco huge waves hit the pier underneath us. We then headed over to Color Me Mine. I really wanted something to do indoors- it was freezing! So Keith and Kaiden had some daddy - son time, and painted a monster truck. Green of course. Kaiden's favorite color, and 1st choice anytime color picking is involved. Keith tried to tape things off in the beginning, hoping to make the truck as close to perfection as a toddler can get it. He gave up pretty soon. No point. I think that they got it pretty close without the tape anyway.

The finished product!

I think they did pretty dang good!

Run Forrest Run! Keith Tri-Athalon

2009-09-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

SOO... I started of this blog post as initially going to be "photo dump" of this summers highlights. Then when I started posting pictures, I realized how much we had done over the summer and how overwhelming the current task seemed to be. ( I mean really blogger.com - one photo at a time? Technology has evolved enough where virtually 100 years of knowledge can be contained in a microchip no bigger than a crumb, but blogger can only download one image at a time?...and don't even get me started on the having to post everything backwards so that it all flows the right way when posted) Anyway... So I am instead going to be vigilant in posting (one by one) the summer highlights over this next week. Starting with Keith's Tri-Athalon. Keith, Bryan, a friend from church Tyler and Brad Allred all entered into the Spring Valley Tri -Athalon. It was just a couple of weeks ago, and they all did pretty good. Keith has been taking Kaiden and Dylan out while he was training on bike rides and running. And it payed off. He also rented a speed bike this year for the event ( he feels that riding his mountain bike last year was the reason that he didn't do as well as he had wanted...he still did good, but we all know Keith's competitive nature) Keith started off great, finishing 2nd in the swim. Next was bikes- he lost a few spots in his transition from swim to bike - (he actually took the time to dry off and throw on some shorts!) but was still doing good. He finished #32 overall with a time of 1hr and 15 minutes. Not too shabby. He came in first of their little group, and that was really all Keith really cared about. (no sibling rivalry there! I guess we never really grow out of it!)

Spotlighting...DYLAN!

2009-09-18T21:23:00.000-07:00

Soo...I have gotten reminded on numerous occasions, by numerous people, that blogging isn't one of my fortays. I guess to be a good blogger, you actually have to post blogs. Go figure! While they haven't said I was a bad blogger (I added that myself) most said that they wanted to see pictures of Dylan. He is a baby and he is growing fast, and I am not so good about keeping people updated. I have been so busy designing my photography website (go check it out :), and doing stuff with that, the blogs and many other things have taken back burner. I have however made the resolution to make a weekly blog! Yeah that's right on here and on my photography blog :)(maybe with it not being New Years it won't be jinxed and I will actually stick with it) So by popular demand, today the spotlight is on Dylan! Dylan will be 8 months on Monday...I know time flies! This little guy has got a few new tricks up his sleeve. He quickly went from the rocking crawl to a very effective army crawl. I swear he get's faster every day! Now that he is mobile, he has quite a few battle field moments. Babies just don't get that they shouldn't stick their head under big brother's video bike! Kaiden has also sprung a new leak of jealousy. Now that Dylan is able to get to his own toys and things that interest him, Kaiden is having a hard time being a "team player". It doesn't matter if it was something that he hasn't played with in years, if Dylan's got it, he wants it. We have some shining moments, but most of them start off with an "aww" moment of brother love and end 30 seconds later with Dylan crying and Kaiden with an "I didn't do it" look on his face.
Dylan has also upped his food intake to that of a grown man. Okay not really, but if you saw how much this kid could down in a sitting you would be amazed. He has gotten such a personality and hands down my favorite sound in the world is to hear him laugh! Even more than that is when they are BOTH hysterically laughing together! On the flip side I think also the noise that makes me want to pull my ear drums out is his start up cry/laugh. It is usually followed by throwing himself in a nice mini tantrum. Ahh, can't wait to see what the terrible two's will be like.
I have decided that he is partial to music. He loves to listen to music, music helps put him to sleep, and he even get's his little legs kicking to the beat. I wish I could get a freeze frame of how he looks when I sing to him. He looks up at me, with the biggest eyes and a HUGE smile on his face. It melts my heart! I'm no American Idol but for whatever reason he likes it (maybe he is really tone deaf!) So anyway- to the part that everyone ACTUALLY cares about...here are some various pictures of Dylan...

Here Fishy, Fishy...

2009-08-10T15:13:00.000-07:00

The first day was over 100 degrees. At that moment, sitting on the bleachers, holding a hot screaming baby and listening over the echoing water Kaiden and his cousin Hailee having a crying/screaming contest, I seriously questioned my thinking in putting him in swim lessons. Luckily, I had Heather and Heidi there to keep me company, and we laughed off our screaming children. Thankfully about 10 minutes into it, I think Kaiden realized that a boy is no match for a little girls lungs and let Hailee win the contest. He calmed down and made attempts to do what the teacher was asking, and a couple of minutes later so did Hailee. After that, they both did great. The next two weeks the temperature dropped and aside from a very friendly flying HUGE beetle that conveniently showed up everyday during the time we were there ( I think he had the hots for Heather, who was openly terrified of him) watching from the stands wasn't so bad. They both had their moments of hesitation and only once did we have another sob fest (the last day go figure) but all in all they did great. Much to my and Heather's surprise the both passed! On to level 2 next year! (this should be interesting)

Getting his certificate saying he passed Level 1

All the little fishies... Derek, Hailee, Kaiden and Tyler (check out Tyler showing some leg!)

Ha! This was a "deal" we worked out after the first day of swim lessons. He has been wanting this truck for months and constantly had been trying to figure out a way to convince me he should get it. So we made a paper chain, one for every day of swim lessons. At the top there was a picture of this truck. I told him each day that he did good at swim lessons he could cut a chain off, and the last day we would go get his truck. Every day after swim lessons he would greet me with a huge grin and say " I did good mommy! Now we can get my Piston Cup truck?" (It's really the Dinoco trailer- but try telling him that!) When I would remind him that he had to cut off his chains, he then would say " Oh, then lets cut off two chains, then all the chains and then we can get my Piston Cup truck?" Everyday. Each swim lesson ended with this conversation! When the day finally came, I thought he was going to pop a blood vessel because of how excited he was! We went to Target right after and he and his truck and his matching mack truck that he already had have been inseparable.

First Fourth, Freedom and Fireworks!

2009-08-09T15:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, I do realize that I am posting this over a month after it actually happened. What can I say? I have been busy! But hey, I am making an effort!

Well, this was Dylan's first 4th of July! From what I could tell, he seemed to really enjoy himself! He held on (and chewed) his little american flag, went swimming for the first time at Grandma and Grandpa Dow's and was mesmerized by the fireworks at Aunt Brooke and Uncle Bryan's house.

Kaiden's favorite part was the La Verne parade that we go to every year. He loves to watch all the cars and what can only be loosely referred to as "floats". Although he unfortunately missed the beginning with the entourage of Police motorcycles and the fire trucks. I am pretty sure that he would have been thrilled about that, but we were late...as usual. I thought he would get a bigger kick out fireworks this year. We went and bought him some sparklers and little things that he could do on his own, but he was a little apprehensive. He has been doing that lately- things that he couldn't wait to get his hands on last year, he all of the sudden has become very cautious and fearful. He actually asked around 10 p.m. if we could go home. In his defense though, it was a really long day! We will see how he is next year...maybe we will get to the parade on time next year! I wouldn't place any bets on that last one though!

Kaiden got some patriotic war paint compliments of Mike Kessler...

Yes...We did it. Dylan is in the contest!

2009-07-19T21:33:00.000-07:00

So we had been joking about it for awhile. A cutest baby contest. Sure, you say it every now and then when your child makes a cute face, or you get a great picture. To actually go through with it is another thing. Certainly, we weren't one of THOSE parents. You know the kind that I am talking about...the ones that think their child really is the most beautiful baby in the world, even though they look like a small version of Al Pacino? But I guess we are one of THOSE parents after all. After enough people mentioning that Dylan should be modeling, or that he was the cutest baby they had ever seen etc. We decided that maybe were weren't delusional and that we weren't just seeing our baby as down right adorable just because he was ours. So we did it. We entered him. It started a few days ago. It's through Kost. Here is the link to his page...he is the lat one on the right in the second row. You can vote for him everyday, but only once a day. If you are interested click here...

A Block of Wood and Cheap Wheels...

2009-07-09T21:22:00.000-07:00

We heard about it for a week. Ever since Keith came home with that blue box. That dreaded (*cough*) I mean wonderful box that holds a block of wood and some cheap wheels. Otherwise known as a Pinewood Derby Car. He came running into the living room, thrilled with his new car, but even more thrilled that he and daddy were going to build it together. It was a three day process, and a week over all. So each day, for a week, he would ask constantly, "now can we build it together?" He is so proud of his car. He painted it all by himself. (Keith did the taping) He even chose it's number. We asked what he wanted the car to be and he said " His name is Herby and his number is 25. 2, 5 mommy...2 and 5." He didn't get the chance to race it, (not that it matters, it was hardly made for aerodynamics) but I am sure there will be plenty more to add to his collection throughout the years....

Time...Where does it go?

2009-07-02T06:53:00.000-07:00

Dylan is 5 months. Well, he has been for a little over a week now, but let's face it-blogging isn't a priority! :) This little guy has come leaps and bounds. He is as plump as a Christmas ham! Makes me wonder if he hadn't been sick early on and lost all of that weight if he would been even bigger! In his short five months, this little guy has been through a lot. Because of that, it feels like he has been with us for much longer than 5 months, but I still wonder where all the time went. He is quite possibly the happiest baby I have ever met. He is always smiling and laughing, squealing and talking to himself. Quite the opposite of Kaiden as a baby! Kaiden squealed and talked- and only laughed and smiled when no one was looking or before any camera's came out. 80% of his baby pictures are of him scowling at the camera. Not Dylan! This kid is just happy! And he continues to perform for the camera! Yeah! He has accomplished rolling over-almost sitting up on his own, figuring out and reaching for toys, shoving his entire fist in his mouth, and of course drenching himself and whoever is holding him (usually me) in spit up. (he is fine, but he still has some acid reflux) He loves to bounce up and down in his excersaucer, and can't get enough of baby einstein and his own reflection! He has very strong legs, and his constantly pushing himself to stand. He's been doing that since about a month old- but he keeps getting stronger and stronger. And he has definitely gotten the being adorable thing down. Keith keeps pestering me to enter him into those "cutest baby" contests! We'll see. Right now he is battling a cold-poor thing. I am taking him and Kaiden to the doctors today. Kaiden has a double ear infection, so hopefully Dylan doesn't have it too. Anyway- these past 5 months have definitely been crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing (okay maybe a few things- the no sleep thing the first 2 months definitely could've been done away with) We are so lucky to have this little guy in our family, and I can't wait to watch him grow!

A Glimpse into the Future

2009-06-20T23:45:00.000-07:00

Today, I got a little preview of what Kaiden and Dylan will be like together when they are older. I was in my room getting ready when I started to hear infectious giggling from the other room. I stopped what I was doing to get a better listen. It started with Kaiden making what sounded like a whooshing noise followed by a very pleased laugh, then followed by a delightful squeal from Dylan. I decided to investigate. I came down the hallway and poked my head around the corner to the bonus room. There was Dylan sitting in his excersaucer with Kaiden playing peek a boo with a pair of his basketball shorts! Kaiden was clearly delighted with how much attention he was recieving from Dylan, and each laugh got harder and harder. The harder Kaiden laugh, the louder and longer Dylan would squeal. Dylan would sit wide eyed and attentive waiting for the basketball shorts to come his way, wait for Kaiden to laugh and then get a huge grin on his face and give Kaiden his seal of approval with a laugh of his own. This went on for a few minutes. I watched quietly and then got caught. Kaiden insisted I stay and watch, oblivious to the fact that I had been watching him for some time now. But he was so proud that he was making Dylan laugh. He smiled at me and with so much excitement in his voice he says. " Look mommy! Dylan loves me! He smiled at me!" A few minutes later I was back in my room getting ready when I started to hear a different sound. A irritated, help me sort of grunting. I went back out there and found that apparantley the novelty of Dylans' "love" had worn off of Kaiden because there Dylan was with Kaiden's basketball shorts hanging on his face so he couldn't see. And then there was Kaiden, in a separate room watching his poor baby brother struggle under what he had placed on his face. I am pretty sure that he was even getting some small delight out of it. So there was my glimpse into "brotherhood" love and laughter, followed by torture. In true sibling style.
(Apparantly that evening he was back to loving him, because these are the photos I got of them playing together before bedtime)

A, B, C, D.....L, N, N, N, P ??

2009-06-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

My day started at 7 am. Kaiden bounced into my room and announced (rather loudly) that he was ready for school. He had been waiting for this day for 2 months. We actually used it as leverage in the potty training process. Ever since he picked up his cousins from the bus stop, he wanted to go to school and ride the bus. Never mind that preschoolers don't ride the bus, he wanted to go. He reminded us constantly. Every time he saw a bus of any kind, he would ask if that was his school bus and if he could go now. Well, the Wednesday after memorial day, the day finally came. If he had his way, he would have been at that school, in his pajamas with no breakfast at 7:05 in the morning. He didn't want to waste time getting dressed and eating, or even for the teacher to get there. So for an hour and a half, every five minutes he asked if it was time to go. When it was finally time, he looked as if someone had just given him 100 cars to play with! He was so excited! I of course planned a few extra minutes so that I could get a picture before we left. He was not having it. He was very openly irritated with my attempts at capturing this big day for him. I had to get into the car and head out on our way with no pictures. When we arrived at the school, I was determined to get at least one cute picture of his very first day of school. He was again very openly irritated that I was wasting time taking pictures when he just wanted to be in the classroom. Although he couldn't run away like he had done at our house, he made sure that I did NOT have the Kodak moment I was hoping for. The only picture I was able to get of him looking at the camera and smiling was when he posed with the car he had brought for sharing time! While it may not have been the pictures I was hoping for, I couldn't ask for better. These pictures are Kaiden to a "T". Stubborn, strong willed, and oh so cute!
(P.S. He LOVES preschool! He talks about his friend Jack all the time!)

Boys, Boys and more Boys!

2009-06-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

I have a handful of talents. Nothing spectacular, but I am decent at a variety of things. Make-up, hair, coordinating clothing, creative girly things....do you see where I am going with this? None of my talents include trucks, belching, or peeing on the toilet seat. So it remains a mystery as to why I am surrounded by boys! I love my boys, ALL of them Keith, Kaiden and Dylan. They make my life complete. They are high energy, destroy it so I can fix it, love life and love ME, boys. I might shake my head sometimes (okay a lot) but the truth is they make me smile, laugh and cry all at the same time. No one in this world treats me better than Keith does. He is a diamond in the rough. I am lucky to have him. And Kaiden...where do I even start? The kid has got personality. Even when your red faced angry at him, you still have to hold back a laugh! When he just runs up to me and gives me a huge hug and kiss and says " Mommy, I love you SOOO much!" I just melt! And Dylan...he gave us a run for our money (literally- that kid has been EXPENSIVE!!) right from the start. We are just getting to know this little guy, but I am already loving everything I see. His laugh is infectious! And his smile could melt ice! And I may be a little biased, but I think he is down right adorable!!! So there it is...my life with boys!