Fire Station

We had a great opportunity a couple of weeks ago to visit a local firestation. I started talking to Michael about it a couple of days before hand to get him excited about it. For some odd reason I figured if I hyped it up enough he'd be really excited  and wouldn't turn into "Mr. shy-I don't think this is very fun" Pants.

That morning when I was getting him ready I was explaining to him how much fun he'd have climbing on the truck, playing with his friends, learning about the firemen etc.  He's all excited about it- the whole way there-then we get there and he immediately turns into a sourpuss! So of course I was the crazy mom that everyone laughs at telling him," you better put a smile on your face or I'm gonna give y

ou something to cry about!"  while all my friends sat and laughed at him! After about 10 minutes of ignoring him, (I let him sit in the corner and pout by himself) he decided he was way to curious to sit in the corner.  

He ended up having so much fun that he didn't want to leave, in fact he started crying when we left.  So apparently I have -that- kid.  You know, the kid that acts like he hates doing fun things, then realizes he's really missing out on something fun?  Yeah- I have that kid.  He's more and more like his dad every day!

Here he is- acting like he wants nothing to do with everyone else:

There's the happy boy!

Catching up

I'm pitiful- I know, it's been 5 long weeks since I've posted.  We just got back from an awesome time at the beach. One nice long week of waking up to the sound of the ocean and sneaking in some naps here and there.  We spent the week in San Diego at Mission Beach. It's this great little beach with a harbor full of boats, parks, beautiful beach, a great boardwalk etc.  

Mikey wasn't so sure about the ocean at first- until Papa stood in the waves with him for about 20 minutes.  Then- he couldn't get enough of it!  He'd wake up in the morning with a whole agenda already planned:

Me- "What do you want to do today Mikey?"

Mikey- "I want, shaw-sage, french toast, bacon, waffles and orange juice. I wanna go down there (pointing to the water), wanna go to the water mommy?"

Me- "Sure Mikey- but you need to eat breakfast first"

Mikey-"Oh... thats right"

I'm such a sucker for boys in rash guards and board shorts.  Good thing Phillip has me on a tight leash when it comes to spending money- I could go broke buying Hurley and Quicksilver!

We didn't spend each day at the ocean- we went to the Birch Aquarium one day. It was so cute watching the kids run to each aquarium and saying "Wow" to the strange looking and beautiful fish.  We also took a day walking down the beach looking for sea shells and sand dollars.  I should say I walked- Mikey ran and Samuel- well he just slept in the Baby Bjorn. 

Phillip was able to catch some sweet waves on his boogie board, which unfortunately broke on Thursday afternoon.  I was sitting on the balcony of the condo watching him in the waves, then he ate it :)  The next thing I knew- he was throwing the boogie board back towards the shore. At first I wasn't sure if he'd re-injured his knee or if his board broke.  But when he came walking back onto the shore and threw his boogie board again, I figured it broke.  Now I know where Mikey gets his little temper from... :) 

Here's some of the pictures from the week:

Baby Samuel

Here's a couple of cute pictures that were taken by a friend of mine.  She does such an awesome job!  Samuel is doing SO well- he's sleeping around 5-6 hours at night and then goes right back down till around 8am.  That makes his mommy VERY happy :) 

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 :)