Babe, baby, & the baby

I tried doing a cute birthday shout out with my boys for their aunty's birthday. I got the idea from Pinterest and wanted it to look something like this...

FAIL. 

Safi boy was laughing when i was writing on the bottom of his foot with the marker, Niko was too squirmy so I couldn't even write 'aunty' on his foot, then safi boy was mad because Niko was scratching him (his face says it all), Niko was sliding down, safi boy was moving his feet so you couldn't read the words, the angle was off, and I was getting hot. Talk about trying to DO THE MOST. They make everything on pinterest look so easy! Oh well. At least safi boy was entertained for the rest of the day with looking at the blue writing on the bottom of his feet and saying, "HAPPY BIRFDAY!" (I thought the marker I used was washable. Nope. Another 'parental fail'. I seem to be having a lot of those these days.)

Anyways, I love my boys. They keep my life entertained and busy. On a side note -we still find ourselves calling safi boy "baby"even though he's not the baby anymore. We always said that once the second one came along, we wouldn't be able to call him "baby" ...but that didn't happen. On rare occasion we'll refer to niko as "the baby" (as in "can you go get the baby?") but never do we talk directly to him and call him "baby". So now I have a "babe", "baby", and "the baby". I know that might sound confusing but we all somehow just know who is talking to who. Hey, it works for us. I wonder what original name we'll come up with for child #3?

i am not saying i am wonder woman but...

today i:

-went costco shopping with the rest of the world (or so it seemed) and almost lost my voice from constantly yelling at my son to stay close to me because he kept on getting crushed in between people's shopping carts

-had lunch with my son...er...more like walked around costco so many times that we collected and ate enough samples to equal a lunch

-unloaded the groceries from the car, which meant making a million trips up and down the stairs

-vacuumed the entire car

-went to the 99 cent store, shopped some more, and then miscalculated the space between the side of my shopping cart and the wall when i tried walking around it to pay. yup, i got stuck. i always forget how far out this belly is now. i was too embarrassed to even look at the customer waiting in line behind me because i'm sure i looked pretty ridiculous trying to unwedge my prego self away from the shopping cart and the wall

-took my son to the park and pushed him on the swing until his little heart was content

-stopped at the grocery store to pick up the things that i forgot to get earlier in the day

-unloaded more groceries and made a billion more trips up and down the stairs

-actually cooked a real dinner (no frozen or fast food involved or incorporated)

-cleaned out the fridge...cleaned the kitchen...cleaned...cleaned...then cleaned some more...

-finally prepared my young women lesson that i put off all week because i had no time to do it

...all by myself with just my 3 year old, sick, and 9 months prego!

 

...i am also 'just saying' that all this walking, carrying, and running errands better put me into labor AND make it a quick delivery at that!

is this normal?

yesterday safi boy and i were out running errands. as we ran to various stores i bought him a bag of marshmellows (his current favorite treat), a simple toy, and took a few quick pics as we were walking through the parking lot in the rain. i couldn't help but feel a little sad knowing that he wasn't going to be [ my only one ] for much longer. of course i'm more than excited to have #2 and i have no doubts that i will love this next one just as much as my first...but there's still this speck of me that is sad because i know our relationship will never be the same. we're never going to have the same constant on-on-one time together. and i don't know...things just won't ever be the same. 

 is this normal?

 i told my husband about these feelings and he thinks i'm crazy...and weird. but a mother/son relationship is much different so he just doesn't get it. so we'll just enjoy this next month and make the most of it until his baby brother gets here. then we'll move to the next chapter in our lives and make it into something even better.

a productive day of nothing

only four more weeks until this baby boy (but i still have 20% hope that it's a girl) gets here. i cannot believe how fast time has flown this pregnancy!  it's getting harder to do much these days. like today, my son and i have done a b s o l u t e l y nothing! i'm still in my pajamas and now that i'm thinking about it i don't think i brushed my teeth either. oh, sorry. TMI? the only productive thing we did do was learn the #1...

Safi and I already decided that teaching our children the importance of education will be a major focus in our home and in their lives. what better time to start then now, right? by the way, i just got these preschool workbooks from the 99 cent store yesterday and so far my boy loves them! you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars a month for preschool when you can just do it yourself. (not to mention the endless ideas, worksheets, and craft ideas that you can get off pinterest as well)

part of the reason we've been in stuck mode today is my husband drove to work (and he has the car with the booster seat and stroller in it). he was suppose to get off almost 12 hours ago and he's still working! i texted him, totally irritz because i figured he had gone somewhere else straight after work and left us with no ride, until he texted me back this pic...

that's his i'm-annoyed-at-you face....he even made sure the clock was in there so i could see the time. eh, MODED! (sorry babe!) i'm glad i married this hard working man. i better go start cooking dinner because this guy is going to be hungry by the time he gets off. after that i'll be back to my very productive day of sleeping, youtube, and netflix.....maybe i'll do a workout, maybe.

the fourth quarter

i swear my son (and husband) think that the most opportune moment to ask me to do something for them is right when i sit or lay down to take a five minute break. i've gotten up and down allllll day. usually it would be nothing but since having this big belly, sore feet, and aching back, it's H. E. DOUBLE-L! i'm not trying to be a diva or anything, but sheesh -can someone please just cater to me for the next 7 weeks?! but being pregnant with a toddler and sick, working husband means no break for this mama!

by far THE worst pregnancy symptom this time around would have to be having loose ligaments. (i didn't even know that was a symptom of pregnancy because i never had it before.) i'm pretty sure my bones loosened as well, or at least that's what it feels like. my spine feels bent, my lower back is wacked out, my tale bone feels broken, and i'm pretty sure my left hip popped out of place. this baby is really taking a toll on my body. the first thing i'm doing after i get out of the hospital is going to the chiropractor and seeing a masseuse.

earlier tonight i was laying in bed taking a five and thinking to myself "i have no energy and i'm so sore. is it bedtime yet? how am i going to go through this for 7 more weeks?!" then thought "7 weeks? what am i going to do after the 7 weeks and i have two kids?!" dramatic much? yes.

but there's no looking back now. it's the fourth quarter and there's no room for whimps!

big positive of being a stay-at-home mama=disneyland dates

there's only a month and a half until this baby is here so i thought i'd better put to use my disneyland pass before i'm too big to walk. last night my son and i went over for a couple hours to catch the parade and fireworks. i'm really going to miss these one-on-one times with my 'lil man. it was nice to just [ live in the moment ] with him and completely forget about cleaning, cooking, bills, and errands. there are negative and positives to being a stay-at-home mama but last night was definitely one of the big positives. 

we're definitely renewing our passes next year!

Batman craze!

since i pulled out safi boy's halloween costume for our ward's trunk-or-treat last friday, he has been batman everyday since. he wears his cape, belt, and mask e v e r y w h e r e -to the store, while he rides his scooter, when he watches his movies, to bed, and YES, even in the shower! (it's that serious!) 

he looks like the buffest 'lil man ever with his instant biceps and 300 abs!

...and what's even better than having one batman mask?

having TWO!

i told him to smile when i was taking this picture but he's [ so serious ] when he has his mask on.

i can't wait to take my 'lil guy trick-or-treating on wednesday. hopefully this year he understand the concept a little better and doesn't walk right into people's houses after they open their front doors. we'll have to see what funny stories i come back with this halloween.

insomnia!

it's 4 am....been up since 2...and will probably stay up untilllllll...the rest of the day. i don't know what it is about this pregnancy but i just don't sleep! catching up on people's lives through pinterest, instagram and facebook got boring (there's not really that much activity going on at this hour) so now i'm on here writing nonsense and thinking randomly.

i'm currently late-night morning snacking and this baby is rolling and kicking like crazy! i'm looking down and watching my belly jerk and jiggle every time he moves. he must really be diggin' this peanut butter and banana rollup. it seems like every time i take a bite of anything, he goes cray cray up hurr! i just did the math and realized this guy is going to be here in 2 1/2 months! where did time go?! i'm really loosing it these day, not only with the track of time but i also do weird things -like grab my husband the red rooster hot sauce when he asked for a bottle of water or i'll be picking up around our place and stop to fill up my son's sippy cup but instead of fill it up i through it away in the trash (with out even realizing it) and then spend 10 minutes looking for it while my son cries for "abble choose". (yes, i know that last sentence was the longest run on sentence. it's too early. who cares.) and what's even crazier is i almost got a puppy. could you image the madness of me already trying to potty train my stubborn son while potty training a dog at the same time?! that might send me over the edge and to the loony bin. anyways, i'm just going to blame these brain farts on the combination of my lack of sleep, pregnancy hormones, and fact that i have a crazy, almost-three-year-old. 

since this baby will be here before we know it, i better get started on my [ end of year bucket list ]. 

[  ] -take my son to the pumpkin patch

[  ] -trick-o-treating at Disneyland (maybe i'll get festive and dress up with my son...maybe.)

[  ] -redecorate our bedroom that i never decorated in the first place

[  ] -finish my son's baby book (before the next one gets here)

[  ] -"battle of the cupcakes" with my sisters at thanksgiving

[  ] -(maybe) find a new apartment

...more to be added once i'm fully awake.

here's a sneak people of the new fabric i got to make the new bedding for our bedroom. i can't wait to see how it turns out.

4 years down & an eternity to go

i can't believe it's already been 4 years! it seems like just yesterday we were married, but then at the same time it's hard to remember what life was like before this guy. there are a lot of things i wish we could have done on our special day, but it was humbling to keep things simple and really remember and be grateful for what's most important: 

having a sweet, LOYAL husband who tells me he loves me everyday - makes me laugh until my stomach hurts and always knows how to put a smile on my face - is a chocolaholic and ice-cream lover, just like me - reminds me what matters most - has the biggest HEART - works hard to provide for us - is our son's HERO - a worthy PRIESTHOOD HOLDER who takes me to the temple - strengthens my weaknesses - is spontaneous and crazy - SUPPORTS my passions and crazy ideas - knows MY WORTH -  LOVES ME me for me - and is my ETERNAL COMPANION for time and eternity.

i love my tongan knucklehead now, always, and forevah!

thought this was funny...

after 4 years, here's our version:

"you've been working so hard all day! i want to take you out to dinner tonight and catch that chick-flick you've been dying to see." ==> "hey babe, i know it's friday night but let's just stop by walmart real quick to pick up a few things and get a redbox."

"i want to have like...10 kids together." ==> "how much were those diapers and formula?! didn't we just buy some?!"

"i can't wait to wake up to you every morning and hold you in my arms." ==> "eww! go brush you're teeth! you have dragon breath!"

(me cooking a new recipe for him) "mmm...this is delicious! can i have more?" ==> "i'm not going to force myself to eat that!"

 "you're such a stud!" ==> "did i really just adopt an overgrown man child?"

in all seriousness -even though the honeymoon phase is over, it still does get better and better.

this mommy's new york getaway

my brother called me up a couple months ago and offered to fly me out to New York where him and his little family are living at the moment. i'm always hesitant to leave my son anywhere but i figured this might be the only time i can go to New York, basically for free, child-less, with the perfect tour guide (my sis, Lia), and have some much needed [ me time ] before this new baby arrives. of course i couldn't say no! so here's some pics from this mommy's new york getaway...

 (sorry to those who follow me on instagram because most of these are reposts)

bartering for all the knock offs in china town with my sistah.

 

 you know i had to be able to say i've been to NYC DASH.

 Georgetown cupcakes. so yummy!

 coolest toy store ever!

  

the plaza hotel.

 

shopping at Tiffany's ;)

time square.

9/11 memorial.

 

central park.

the metropolitan museum.

...and a sneak peak of my maternity photo shoot around the city.

 this was the perfect mini vacay! i am so blessed to have been spoiled by my bro and sis-in-law. they really are the best! my son and i are most likely going to have another all-day-movie-day today because my swollen feet are still trying to recover from all that walking.

beach bums

it was a nice relaxing day with my sidekick, safi boy.

i'm going to enjoy these last couple months while i still have just [ one ].



my last hurrah

i love having babies (well, i guess i've only had one so i'm not a pro at it just yet) ok, i should rather say, i love the whole experience of having a brand new baby and being a mother, but i'm really not a big fan of the whole 'pregnancy phase'...that lasts for 40 weeks! some women LOVE it but i'm just like 'eh...' knowing that my body will totally be taken over for the next nine months to create an 8 lbs human in my uterus while also creating an additional 40 lbs in my thighs, butt, and face sounds a leedo craycray to me. my entire first trimester of this pregnancy i was sick...every single day. i thought 'hey, at least if i'm gonna be sick like this i'll come out of this trimester 10 lbs lighter'....nope! everyday i was standing over the toilet or a throw up bowl dry heaving and getting no relief (sorry, TMI?). and then i don't like those symptoms of preganacy that the baby books or doctors have no cure for, such as 'why do i have this disgusting taste in my mouth -like i've been sucking on dirty keys all day?' i'd brush my teeth 10 x day but nothing made it go away! anyways, my days are looking much brighter and the sickness and gross taste in my mouth are done for the most part.

one of the first things i thought when i found out i was preggers was 'dang, i won't be able to go riding again until...(as i counted on my fingers)...at least next spring?!!' (another thing i don't like about being pregnant -my limitation of physical activites) so right after i told my husband we were expecting i begged him to agree with me and let me go riding with my grandpa one last time before my tummy started showing. he wasn't too excited about the idea but he knew how much it meant to me...so we finally agreed on a decision together. a couple weeks ago i went up to utah and got as much riding in as i could for the few days that i was there. here's some pics...

cadence.

saddleing up.

early morning ride up the canyon with my bro through the ferns.

spence on izzy.

toilet paper tied to the saddle for the guy with allergies.

the best kind of therapy.

the view.

riding with my son.

 looks like he loves horsies like his mama, not daddy. proud mama rider here!

safi boy wanted to lead the horse too.

it was a nice. quick little getaway and i'm satisfied that i was able to have my last hurrah before this baby really starts getting big.