Holy. Smokes!!!

We are alive and well! I promise! Chloe is growing up so fast it's absolutely ridiculous! In fact, that's one of her favorite words, "ridiculous"! I can't believe she is only 2! This girls vocabulary and sentence structural skills are astronomical! She is constantly keeping me laughing and always keeping me on my toes! She recently just got done with a year of gymnastics. And in that year she has mastered a summer salt, jumping, climbing ladders of all sizes and balancing on the balance beam. We are taking small break for summer but she will back in the fall. She also just finished up swim lessons. By the end of her 8 classes she was swimming like a big girl but has recently reverted back to floaties and prefers the baby pool (spa). Sigh. Maybe next year she will be more independent. She LOVES her baby brother is is constantly reminding me each day she is a big sister. Her hobbies currently are coloring, movie watching, reading books with mommy and daddy, playing with her cousins, helping mommy in the kitchen, swimming, playing "chase" or hide and seek with daddy and being outside! She is growing and developing into a bright and beautiful little lady! Drake is huge! He has grown so much in the last few months. He started army crawling at 6 months. Soon after he figured out how to crawl on all fours! He recently has become fast. He also thinks he is 2 and wants to keep up with his sister and cousins! He is pulling himself up onto everything! His forehead is full of bruises because he is very daring and his little mind sometimes is more advanced than his bodys abilities. He finally got 2 bottom teeth and ever since has done a much better job at sleeping through the night. I like to think he started this because he is eating more solids throughout the day and i put him on a better day time schedule. You would assume that bc he is getting more food and sleeping he would be much happier. Ha! Wrong. He just cries a lot. Mostly between 4-730. Some days are better than others and the last few days he has been so good and so happy (knock on wood)! He babbles, "gaga" "dada" "baba". He loves his blankie! He stuffs it in his mouth and sucks on it for soothing! We will probably have some serious teeth issues in our future but for now...whatever helps sooth him and help him sleep and relax (he refuses to take a pacifier). He loves the water and being outside. He currently eats handfuls of sand at the beach. I cant get him to stop, it's both funny and gross! He really is so sweet and honestly the cutest little boy! His big blue eyes and huge smile with two adorable dimples! Honestly, he melts me! So grateful for my children. I love them! I'm just busy being a mom. My hands are definitley full and I wouldn't want it any other way. This is by far the hardest thing I have done but I find joy through my kids each day...even the hard, miserable, bad days. I admit, there have been too many of those lately! I'm working on being more grateful with what I have been blessed with and bettering myself so I can be a better mom and putting my children first...at all times! It's help quite a bit! Michael is busy busy busy at work! He works so hard to provide for us and we are so grateful! Ther really are no words to express it! Heirs still looking for a job and that is hard and stressful but I know something will come our way! We just saw my little brother, Aaron, get sealed to Mykenna this past Saturday! What a fun and joyous occasion! They are the sweetest, most adorable couple! They R so happy and so in love! It's refreshing!!! I love them both so much and I'm so excited for the future they will have together! That's all for now! Pics coming soon!

Drake turned 5 months as of April 10th! Can you even believe it? Because I can't! This baby boy is such a sweetheart. His eyes pierce your soul and capture your heart with one little stare. He is a happy boy but can have a serious temper. He has this blood curling, dying bird screeching high pitched girly scream that will catch your attention real quick. He loves to bite/suck his fingers and hands. He rolls from back to stomach and then gets stuck and gets all upset because he doesn't love his stomach but as of late he doesn't mind so much and he has actually started to figure out he can roll back onto his back...hallelujah. He LOVES his sister. Omgoodness...he just lights up when she is in the room and honestly she is the only person that can get him to really really laugh. I can get him to giggle and play but she gets him to tummy laugh...I LOVE IT! He gets bored easily and likes to move around a lot. He doesn't sleep through the night which is annoying but I have just accepted it and figure he will figure it out eventually. He just started rice cereal and seems indifferent to it. He doesn't like it for the 1st few bites but after I keep jamming it in his mouth he gives up and just eats...until he doesn't. He talks a lot and has this manly deep growl. He will watch tv for like 5 minutes, kind of funny. He rubs his eyes while drinking his bottles, is still tightly swaddled during sleep time and WILL NOT take a pacifier (insert tear). I don't care what other mothers say, anything that can calm and sooth or quiet a baby is the bomb.com and I'm so sad he won't take one because it makes the soothing, quieting processes a lot harder. And finally if you cant tell by these pictures his hair has totally fallen out leaving him with an old man patchy bald look, my mom cut it so it doesn't look as bad but I was so sad to see it go...we r talking tears. As a mom you get attached to hair...at least I do. Oh and it's also turned blond in just a matter of days. Good bye dark hair...hello blondie!

Love this baby more than life!

March-April

We have been busy! We've been spending time at Disneyland (especially because Michael's pass expired and he isn't going to renew right away).
Chloe loves to meet the Disney Princesses...
In March Mr. Drake turned 4 months old. I can't believe how big he has gotten!
We had our floors redone so we spent majority of March in the Living room and up in our rooms...so confined...so boring!
He likes the bumbo for about 2.5 seconds and then he screeches and arches his back trying to get out!
I'm pretty much obsessed with this baby boy!
Since our floors were being redone we spent A LOT of our time OUTSIDE! Lucky for us we were blessed with beautiful weather.
Sunday naps are always a must. This little guy just fell right asleep in his daddy's arms.
A trip to Disney with just me and my kids. It's always fun to go with friends but sometimes a little one on one (well including Drake) is a must.
I decided to play "Matchy, Matchy" with my daughter and son...such cute little babies.
A trip to the San Diego Wild Animal Park. So fun, so freezing.
Drake fell asleep covering his eyes...haha...so stinkin adorable.
The Lions were fierce!
Chloe and her daddy waiting for the safari ride!
Chloe loves the zoo! She is obsessed with all the animals.
Finally some more sun!! Swim time! Isn't she just the sweetest little thing! I LOVE HER!
Drake and baby Emmitt. These two cousins are EXACTLY 1 week apart. They are going to have so much fun together!
Easter. Chloe went on 3 Easter egg hunts...Lucky Girl!
Here is Chloe with all her cousins...well almost (Juliet and Drake not pictured). Grant, Addie, Claire, Madison, Davis, Anna and Chloe!
She is getting ready!
Aunt Kim hosted a super fun Easter egg hunt at the park for Davis' bday. She is so fun and so creative. We are so lucky to have her as a part of the fam!
Drake just chillin with his crazy hair. Don't worry. My mom gave him a much needed trim.

Chloe and Davis...I love these 2!

The Easter bunny gave Chloe these awesome sunglasses in her Easter basket. On our way home from church I spotted this cute girl sporting her new shade and had to document. She is such a funny girl. Honestly keeps me laughing all day long.
I absolutely LOVE being a mom and I'm so blessed to have the opportunity to stay at home with my kids! They are growing up so fast, I can hardly stand it. Chloe is such a big girl with so much confidence, spunk, charisma and charm. Drake is so happy, sweet and snuggly. I can't believe what a lucky girl I am! Heavenly Father has given me these two precious gifts. I am eternally grateful!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day! This year we really focused on spending the day filled with love for not just Michael and I but our little family and our big family!

I'm so in LOVE with these 2!
I made a nice family dinner. This is the table all set up!
Michael and Drake sent Chloe and I flowers. How sweet! I decided to use them as our center piece!
I'm so grateful for my sweet little family. For my loving husband and my 2 beautiful babies. I couldn't be more blessed.

Park Days

We have had so many wonderful and warm days this past month! Chloe, Drake, Michael and I have spent many of our Saturday afternoons at the park. Chloe is growing up so much. She is almost completely independent at the park. Although this is the case she prefers to play with mommy and daddy. Even Drake had so much fun being out!!! This are like the only pictures of him actually enjoying his car seat.

Daddy comes in handy when she wants to do the monkey bars! These two make a great team!

Nothing cuter than a smile on a swing!

I love my little family and I love warm days at the park!

3 months

My little Drake is 3 months old. I can't even believe it. I love this little boy more than anyone could ever imagine. He is so sweet, has the cutest biggest smile, most adorable laugh and is so content (finally). He is just growing, growing, growing, developing and it's all happening so fast. Here are some things I want to remember about this little guy at 3 months.

*He kicks his legs all day long..it looks like he is clogging. I call him my little cricket.

*He smiles at me when I go get him out of his crib.

*He is great at eye contact and following objects with his eyes (as long as the object is interesting).

*Loves to be in the bjourn at Disneyland. He is so happy being so close to mommy and being out and about.

*He HATES his car seat. Seriously if he isn't tired enough to fall asleep in the car he is screaming bloody murder and that expression is seriously an understatement. It really is as if someone is sawing off his arm. So sad, frustrating and stressful.

*He Loves his mommy and I fully admit this little guy has completely stolen my heart!!

*He isn't sleeping through the night, ugh, but he is doing better than Chloe ever did. Well, he was until he got this horrible horrible cold. He used to sleep from 8-2 and then from 2-7 but now he keeps waking up at 12:30 and then again at 4:30 and it's brutal.

*Loves to be swaddled

*LOVES to eat/suck on his fists/hands.

*Loves his bath.

*Loves his play mat. Mr. Octopus and him are good friends.

*He spits up soo much, we go through 2-3 outfits a day and 3-4 blankets/burp clothes a day. It's seriously gross. I hate it, my baby always smells like spit up. Drives me crazy, especially when I just give him a bath and get him all clean and then...puke. Gross. And it's not always all nice and neat and on him...by the end of the day I smell and almost always have to shower bc it's most likely in my hair. Eww.

*He is starting to use his hands. Grabbing or more like swatting at things, my hair, his pacifier, mr. octopus, play rings, etc.

*Tummy time, eh, I'm not the best at remembering to put him on his tummy but when I do, he isn't bad. He's not super great yet but he will be soon!

*He laughs, it's seriously adorable.

*He is ticklish under his chin on his chest. I love it.

Having a little boy is so much fun. I absolutely adore him and love watching him grow. I love watching him interact with his sister and look forward to watching the special bond they have grow and strengthen with each new day.

My Favorite

You want to know what my favorite body part on a baby is? Nope, not their little hands, fingers or toes...it's their mouth! Their tongues, the shapes they make, their yawns but most of all their LIPS. Ohh soo cute. (Newborn pics taken by the one and only Emily Gibby @ elovesphotos)

Thanks Emily, you captured him PERFECTLY!

Elovephotos

My friend Emily is such a talented photographer. She took some family pictures just a week after Drake was born. I was browsing through them tonite and thought I would should share some of my favorites. As you will see Chloe was feeling the love!

What a cutie!