Brotherly Love

Have I told everyone yet how adorable Michael is with Samuel?  He really does love him and I think it's just the sweetest thing.  Samuel usually has this look on his face:

but we know that he loves Mikey. Anytime Mikey's around him he smiles at him. Michael then usually exclaims: "Samuel's smiling at me!"  Like he can't hardly believe he loves him so much too :)  

Speaking of love- I fall in love with that little smile more and more each day. Samuel is such a little lover- he constantly wants to see what's going on at home.  If I leave him in a room by himself he gets very sad, but when I bring him in the room with us he lights up!   Michael's new favorite thing to do is to have me put Samuel in his bedroom on the bottom bunk bed while he (Mikey) plays with his trains on his train table.  
My sweet little Samuel...

What we're up to...

These days things have been a little hectic around here.  We started women's bible study on Tuesday mornings, I'm cleaning for a friend of mine on Wednesdays and every Monday and Wednesday I pick up my friends daughter from school while she's @ work... So needless to say- we're running around like crazy!  

Michael-

-is learning his ABC's- right now we're working on the letter A.

-continues to tear up the back yard with his razor scooter :)

-still says sweet things to Samuel like, "Good morning little brother".

The other day one of his little friends was over and he told him- "Don't hurt my little brother" in the toughest voice he could muster up :) 

Samuel-

-still looks exactly like Phillip

- is trying to roll over onto his side

- definitely takes after his mother-he's gonna be a talker :)

-he loves, loves, loves people, he gets the biggest smile on his face when someone actually sits down next to him and talks. It's the cutest thing ever.

-continues to look a little scared when he hears his big brothers voice :)

Phillip-

-is currently sitting on the couch rooting on USC.

-slept in today till 9:30am!!!  I'm the nicest wife ever

-is still the best daddy I know.

-he's trying to teach Mikey to connect with a baseball- he's done it a couple of times, but usually it's a swing and a miss.

Me-

- just got my photography blog/website up:  www.kimberlyloyaphotography.com

it's a work in progress. I think Phillip is getting sick of watching me re-arrange, add, take away, etc. from it!

-am keeping busy running after children, cleaning and doing all those other fun mommy things.  

I'll post cute pictures of the kids soon- I'm still trying to figure out my 50mm lense- LOVE IT :)

Samuel

Our little Samuel is getting so big- I can't believe he's been here for 3 months already! He weighed in last week at 14.5 lbs!  And I'm cleaning out the closet already- he's in 6-9 month clothes.  We don't call him "Chubby" for nothing!

This week has been a big one for him, he's starting to try and roll over and just this morning he started to laugh.  It's the cutest thing I've ever seen.  You have to remember, Mikey didn't start smiling at anyone until...well he still doesn't really smile at anyone!  No- he does sometimes, with people he knows.  But Samuel smiles at anyone and everyone.  He's really a happy baby- I just love it.  Yesterday in the church nursery all the nursery workers were gathered around him giggling because he was cooing and giggling at them.

What a cutie-pa-tootie :)

Fall

I love fall- I love everything about it. The smells, baseball playoffs (Go Dodgers!), changing tree leaves, 90 degree weather ;) Yeah- it's still around 90 down here, but cooling off in the 50's or so.

A couple of weeks ago we went to a family Storm Game. It's a local farm team for the Anaheim Angels (boo Angels). The tickets are super cheap- the food's good- and the company's great. Our church buys a whole section and about 150 people go. The kids get to run around, drink soda, eat candy and watch baseball. It's a blast.
Mikey had a blast because Papa decided to sneak him some Dr. Pepper halfway thru the 3rd inning. Of course he was wired between the Dr. Pep

Samuel- well he just slept through most the game. And got passed around the whole section because he's a hot commodity :) Speaking of Samuel- he's doing great. We're not sure what he thinks of Mikey yet- he kind of gets a funny face when he comes around, more on that later :)

31 Reasons

Today Phillip officially started running "downhill"- the big 31.  I can hardly believe we've actually known each other for a decade.  I guess that means I'm getting old too :)   

So here's for you honey- since I know I don't tell you often enough- here's 31 reasons why I love you so...

here goes...

31. You always let me know when dinner is just not working for you (this is both my blessing and my curse!)

30. You do a good job around the house

29. You're always clean

28. You ALWAYS know which direction we're traveling in

27. You still think farts are funny

26. You know who won the NBA championship in 1993

25. You can always fix my computer

24. You know when I've had "enough" and take care of the kids for me

23. You can add in your head without using your fingers :)

22. You strive to teach Mikey to be a man

21. You put the covers over me when you come to bed at night

20. You're not afraid to wear pink

19. You know how to do percentages :)

18. You feel bad when you make me cry

17. You always kiss me goodnight, even if we've argued

16. You want a girl- you just don't want to admit it!

15. You put up with my craziness :)

14. You can laugh at mistakes you've made

13. You work hard everyday

12. You kiss me hello and goodbye everyday

11. You always know when to say, "that's what she said"

10. You're a loyal friend

9. You're the best basketball player I know

8. You're not afraid to laugh out loud

7. I know you'll make it right when it's wrong

6. No matter how mad I am, you can make me laugh

5. You love the Lord 

4. You're truly a man of integrity

3. You can admit when you're wrong

2. You're an AMAZING daddy

and the #1 reason why-

1. It's easy- in all of His amazing infinite wisdom- God designed me to suit you perfectly. Despite my faults, despite your faults, he created me to be your help mate- your friend- your companion- your lover.  And I love that :)  And I love you!

Happy Birthday....  now can you please make time to mow the lawn ;)

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: