It's been HOW long?

Ok- I'm ashamed to say it's actually been an entire month since I've blogged or even posted pictures!  I can't believe that Samuel turned 1 month old yesterday.  I feel like it was last Friday that we brought him home :) Man time flies when you're sleep deprived.

Here's some quick updates-

Michael:  

-Is an AMAZING big brother, I honestly can't believe how much he adores his little brother. He brings his binky when he cries, every time Samuel wakes up Mikey kisses him and tells him "Good Morning", he's already blaming Samuel for tooting (no kidding).  

-One night I had put Mikey to bed, he kissed Samuel (who was asleep in his swing) and went to bed. The next morning he ran into our room and in a half crying/half talking voice asked- "where's Baby Samuel? He's not in his swing". I had to show him that Samuel was soundly asleep in his crib.  

-He's turned into quite the helper- in fact just today he filled his cup with water and half a can of formula.  He brought it to me and said, "here mommy it's milk for baby Samuel"... thanks Mikey- there goes $13 bucks!  Oh well- he had good intentions.

-He's learned how to pedal his tricycle, he's very proud of himself for learning how to "push the pedals". 

- Yesterday he was building blocks and had his tractors on the table, I asked him what he was building and he said, "A Rite Aid mommy".  There's a Rite Aid going in down the street from us.

Samuel:

-I feel like we're just starting to figure each other out.  The first month was a little rough, he's very particular (for those of you who are wondering, he gets this from his father :) 

-He's a good sleeper at night - PRAISE the LORD.  The 1st week he was doing the up every 2 hours thing and I really thought I was gonna loose my mind. Then he started a 4 hour and 3 hour stretch.  Much better!

- He's very alert- he loves to lay on his back and look around, for hours at a time. He'll stay awake for as long as 2 hours during the day.  I think he's trying to figure out what toy Mikey's layed next to his head. One day it's McQueen, one day it's Thomas or Percy.

-He has two of the cutest dimples I've ever seen.

- I think he's going to be a little quieter than Michael, just as active, not as chatty.  Praise the Lord for this too :)

That's it in a nut shell, I'll try and post more pictures soon.  Be waiting for the birth announcements- that's my project for next week!

Samuel Phillip Loya

We are officially a family of four! Samuel Phillip Loya arrived at 7:14am, Thursday morning, July 3rd 2008. He was a nice healthy 8lbs 8ounces- 20 inches long. We went to the hospital Wednesday night to find I was dilated to a 4 and in active labor. I wasn't sure if they'd keep me because my contractions were so irregular and they weren't really that painful. I was elated when the Dr. checked me and told the nurse to admit me!

I love the whole hospital experience, this time around I felt so much more relaxed. I had an awesome nurse and soon found out that my midwife was there that night. The same midwife that delivered Michael! So we alerted the troops (Nana, Papa, Nana, all Aunties, all Uncles, friends etc...) that we were admitted and within an hour of being there I had already dilated to a 5- it looked like things were going to quickly progress...

Samuel had a different idea :) Each contraction got worse- but he insisted on pushing himself back up into my rib cage. He was probably thinking something like- "I still have 2 more weeks in here! I'm not leaving yet!" Just ask Lindsay- I had her pushing on my tummy to make him travel down south. No such luck, after they broke my water and no change in 3 hours they cranked up my pitocin and before I knew it- I was pushing. 3 pushes/contractions later he was here :)

Later that afternoon Phillip brought Michael to meet his new little brother.  Mikey wasn't sure at first of what to think of him.  He ignored me for about 3 minutes and then realized he was just to curious about who was in that little clear bassinet.  Mikey was so sweet with him- he checked him over very carefully.  He looked at his feet, looked at his hands, kissed his head.  It was very sweet to see the two of them. I know they're going to be the best of friends.

And so it begins

So labor is most definitely for the birds.  I went to Kaiser yesterday for a stress test and by the time I left I was dilated to 3, -2, 70% effaced.  For those of you who have no clue  what I'm talking about- my labor has started.  I've been contracting the last 24 hours or so- but nothing consistent and nothing I can't handle.  So the waiting game begins :)  Since my water broke with Michael, I never even had contractions- now I know what all the fuss is about.  They've got to be the most annoying things God ever created.  Pretty sure He did that on purpose :)

Not sure when we're going to go back to the hospital- but we'll keep everyone posted and as up-to-date as possible. 

The Happenings

It's been a while since I've posted last, mostly because it's to stinkin' hot to do much of anything. The weather down here has been getting a bit out of control, by out of control I'm talking in the hundreds.  I thought maybe the Lord would ease me into the summer, you know, a couple of days in the low 80's, then the high 80's, then the low 90's etc.  Not so.  We started off June at a nice cool 75, and then blam- it was 95 and we haven't looked back.

So what's been happening:

We kicked off the month of June by watching Ally graduate from kindergarten. Unfortunately  I missed half the ceremony because of my uncontrollable crying fits.  I don't know what it is about that girl- something about remembering how I'd watch her when she was 2- twice a week so Lauren could attend school.  Something about hearing her cute little voice, or when we'd go bumming around town to kill some time.  Or our lunch dates when she'd say the funniest things.  There's something incredibly sweet about the bond an Auntie shares with her niece. 

By the 2nd week in June, things started getting very quiet around our house, the Championship had started and things weren't looking to good for the Lakers.  I didn't say much about it- I'd try to keep hope alive by making comments like, "They'll figure it out honey, just watch" or "We have Kobe-the MVP"... well that didn't work.  Phillip finally told me he didn't want to talk about it. No Sports Center- no highlights- no nothing.  I knew it was bad when he said he wasn't going to watch anymore- I think he couldn't stand the thought of watching the Celtics celebrate.  There's always next year right?

Phillip's been making very good use of his boogie board- we've been to the beach about 3 times since May- this last weekend may have been our last trip until Samuel arrives.  Speaking of Samuel-

So now we're about 4 weeks away from welcoming Samuel into our home.  Last week I got his bedroom together- part of me was a little sad.  Moving Mikey into a bigger room made me realize how fast the last 2 years have gone.  It's hard to remember him being that sweet little baby. I'm excited too- to hold a new little baby- to see what kind of bond shapes between brothers.  I know I'll fall in love all over again with Phillip- there's something beautiful about watching a daddy with his baby boy. 

It's amazing how the Lord prepares you for a new baby.  I think logistically speaking- it's perfect.  A 6lb kid sitting on your bladder- elbowing your ribs- getting the hiccups at 3am- kicking- squirming- hitting- stretching...all within the confines of your womb.  Can you imagine if pregnancy was completely painless- there would be 50 billion people on the earth.  Our Lord created it just as it should be- easy enough at first and so incredibly uncomfortable towards the end that there's nothing more desired: for the child to vacate the premises. I love it.

So there you have it- about a month's worth of activities in one nice long entry :)  I'll try to post again- after this weekend I'm going to start trying every wives tale I've ever head to put myself into labor.  But I'm not making any promises :)

What a great weekend!

This weekend we decided to take a mini-vacation together :0) since our lives are soon to be turned upside down this coming July.  We took off to Hollywood to watch the play Wicked and to spend some much needed one-on-one time together.  As Mikey gets older and things just seem to be getting crazier- these times of just the two of us together are WAY to few and far between. When we were driving to Hollywood I was thinking to myself- "man things have changed".   I remember when we'd pick up and leave to the Desert or San Diego just because we could. I didn't have to worry about who'd watch Mikey, if I'd be able to stay long enough without missing him, how much this was going to hurt the old pocket book :) etc.  

As much as things have changed we both decided it's a season we'd never turn back the hands of time for.  The Lord has been faithful to us in so many ways- He's strengthened our marriage and added blessings we could have never imagined before. Yes we do miss that season occasionally- but we're happily blessed in our season now.  We love each other more deeply, we trust God more faithfully, we laugh a lot more together and we thank Him everyday for faithfully growing us into the couple we are today.

I have to mention one more thing- Phillip has the greatest parents in the world. It's such a blessing to have in-laws that you know are spoiling your child rotten and loving unconditionally. I say this to remind myself that tomorrow when Daddy goes back to work and Nana & Papa aren't around, as horrible of a day I know we'll have- it's been worth it :) 

Wicked was AWESOME- Mikey didn't want to leave Nana & Papa's- we're looking forward to dinner @ La Fogata tonight. 

Beach Trip

Last Saturday we had an awesome time at the beach. We spent most the day there with the 3 of us, Phil's little sister Lindsay and Ally.  It was a nice break from the 100 degree heat wave we had last week, which I'm NOT missing at all!

It amazes me how much kids enjoy the beach- Mikey could play in the sand and in the water all day long if I let him. I'm glad he enjoys it because Daddy got a new boogie board for Christmas and it looks like we'll be there most weekends during the summer.  Hopefully Samuel likes it just as much- then again he doesn't really have a choice!

Poor Daddy- all that boogie boarding wore him out!

Mikey loves his Auntie Lindsay more than she knows :)

The things kids say

I had a Dr. appointment yesterday, just a quick check-up to measure the baby, take vitals etc. I took Ally with me (my 6 yr. old niece).   We pull into the parking lot of Kaiser and she gets very excited and says,

Ally: "Auntie- this is where Papa makes the money"

Me: "Where he makes the money?" (me thinking in literal terms)

Ally: "Yeah- this is where he makes all his money"

Me: "Oh- you mean where he works?"

Ally: "Yeah- and where he gets his money from"

:)  Yeah Ally- this is where Papa's money comes from alright!

I knew we were in for a fun time at the Drs. office- only it got better, we get in the car to leave and we have this conversation:

Me: "Samuel sounds kinda funny in Auntie's tummy huh?" (referring to the sound of his heartbeat-she had a strange look on her face the whole time we listened to it)

Ally: "Yeah, why does he sound like that?"

Me: "Well, he's swimmin' in a bunch of water in there- so it makes a muffled sound"

Ally: with a VERY concerned look on her face- "Auntie you better not drink any milk- Samuel will be swimming in milk!"

Me- I'm laughing so hard at this point I think I peed my pants a little.

Ally:"or Orange Juice- that would be sick to swim in Auntie"

Gotta love Ally- she always makes Dr. visits more entertaining!  It's off to the beach for us today- since it's supposed to be a nice sweet 99 degrees here today. YUCK!