We Moved!

Life has been a little crazy. The good news is we are alive and well.  The bad news is I have been a terrible blogger.  If you have never moved right before the holidays with 2 little kids and a husband working long days and some out of town... I do not recommend it. 

Things tend to fall between the cracks during hectic times but I did order our Baby/We Moved/Christmas cards and hopefully you will see yours in the mail shortly!  We took family pictures during Thanksgiving with the Nelsons.  If you just can't wait on the USPS here are some pics of the fam. These boys seriously MELT my heart!

This boy has a permanent smile. Not kidding.

More to come on the new home... We are almost finished remodeling the kitchen. Next up, bathrooms!

Phone Dump

Since we purchased our iPhones, I have used my camera less and my phone more for daily pictures.  It is more convenient and much smaller to carry around than my big camera.  My goal is to do a weekly phone dump of my pictures.  I also love the instagram app for changing things up a bit.  So fun!

Cameron and I have been house hunting for 10 months.  Hunting might even be an understatement since we have submitted like 11 offers.  Apparently the banks don't really want to sell all the vacant foreclosed homes but whatever!  Our home search has given us one thing... these glasses:

Collin found them at one of the homes and our agent gave them to him.  I do realize this is stealing but they are totally cracked on the left lens and they were on the ground in a garage. The people who walked away from a $300k home probably didn't want these $3 glasses anyway.  Collin thinks he is a rock star.

Rock Star status playing Karim's drums

I heart this picture soo much! Ethan looks like a fake posed baby with Uncle Miah.

Makes me laugh every time...

Love him!

This outfit was a gift for Ethan and I would be ok if he wore it every day.  I adore plaid shorts on little boys!

Collin hopped in his ride and told me "I'm driving to Alia's house for working."

Baby Alia

I am so blessed to have tons of cousins and to be extremely close to many of them.  When I found out my cousin Audra was pregnant I was SO EXCITED!  Most of my friends have not had kids yet so when there is another mom added to the group I don't feel like such an outsider :) and someone else knows what it is like to be covered in spit up. My cousin Amie had Caleb 8 weeks ago and then we patiently waited for Alia to join the group...

Collin, Ethan, Caleb & Alia (hiding in that cute belly)

My Mom and I hosted a baby shower for Auds at Daily Grill.  Let's just say this baby will never have to wear the same thing twice and she has a bow for every outfit.  Adorable!

Alia's middle name is Lacasse, which is our Grammy's maiden name.  Grammy was so honored she cried!

Karim is already an amazing dad!  He came to load up all the gifts.

Ethan wasn't so sure about all us LOUD ladies!

 

Alia was born on the 12th weighing 7lbs 2 oz and she is just perfect. Congratulations Audra and Karim. Alia is lucky to have you as her parents. She is beautiful!!!

Worth the wait for sure...

My dad was hoping Alia would make her debut on the 11th which is his birthday but she held out til the 12th.

Love her already!

Happy Family

Don't you want to eat these toes?!?

Dear Cousins,
Please make more babies!
xoxo,
Me

4 Month Check-up

Ethan had his 4 month doctor visit yesterday. He is 50% for head and weight and 75% for length. He is long and lean weighing 14lbs 14oz.  He can roll over from back to stomach and reverse.  He can almost sit up on his own.  He babbles and blows bubbles and loves his toes.  Ethan goes to bed at 8:30 and usually wakes up around 7:30.  Sometimes he will have a 5:30 am feeding which is fine by me because I am trying to fatten him up.  He is teething and you can feel the teeth at the surface so they will be here soon.  Collin's teeth popped through early so I thought this might happen with Ethan.
He loved seeing his whole body in the mirror!

Practicing his Irish Jig... or working on his obliques. I'm not sure.

Collins way of saying quit being so cute and taking all the attention Brother!

The lighting is horrible but the cheeks are fantastic!!!

Is It Seriously Already That Time?!?

It's too soon...

My 4 month old BABY is TEETHING!

He is chewing and drooling and blowing bubbles.  I'm sad he is growing up and getting bigger.

And the worst part of all... this miracle baby drug was recalled!  Hylands Teething Tablets are like baby vicodin.  These little tablets worked like a charm for Collin and I was hoping to use them with Ethan.  They do still sell the stuff so I'm not quite sure what is going on.  I'll have to do some research!

In the mean time, he has been sucking on these little toes.  His thigh roll just melts me!

Speaking of growing up and getting bigger... Guess who started soccer?!? 

Collin insisted on bringing this huge water bottle to his first practice on Tuesday night.   He could not even lift it up.  He would sit on the ground and just tip it back to drink from it.  Hilarious!  Since Cameron is the Best Dad Ever I signed him up to be Assistant Coach and he is obviously so excited about it.  I told him that if he didn't like it he was off the hook for future years :)  That sounds fair, right?

World Breastfeeding Week

It is a big week for boobs! Seriously though, it is World Breastfeeding Week.  Although I didn't know such a week existed, I do think it is fantastic.  Breastfeeding is a big deal and a huge commitment.  I feel every mom should give it a try.  If in the end it doesn't work out, your baby will be just as happy with formula.

With Collin I was dead set on breastfeeding and I did not want to fail!  Fail is the wrong word but the La Leche League is pretty good at making you feel like the worst mom in America if breastfeeding isn't for you.  I took the fenugreek 3x a day, I pumped after his feedings, I drank gallons of water... but it just was not working out!  This little big guy was hungry and I wasn't cutting it for him.  Aside from starvation my only other option was to give in to the formula.  Which was easy since I love fat babies.  Collin nursed for 4 months before weaning himself because he realized the bottle was much easier for him, and I later realized it was easier for me too.  The 5th month I pumped and pumped only to get 1 feeding every 3 pumps.  I called it quits around that time.  He was happy, healthy and a great sleeper so I knew it was the right decision for us.  He got the antibodies he needed the first few months and that was a comforting thought to me.  When I look back at this picture I can see why he may not have been a fan of the boob... he thought they were eating him!

This is my scared baby and my huge bra... For real!

Ethan has taken to nursing much better than Collin and my hope is to keep it up until he needs cows milk or gets teeth and bites me, whichever comes first.  Ethan is much longer and skinnier than Collin and is satisfied after feedings.  He does get a formula bottle before bed and once I put him down I pump a bottle for the freezer.  This works out well because by the end of the day I don't have enough milk to satisfy him through the night.  The formula allows him to sleep 9-10 hours and allows me time to fill up for his 6 am feeding.  Win, win for all!

To all the Mamas out there breastfeeding or formula feeding, do what is best for your family and you can't lose either way!  Breast milk is free and best for baby, which is always nice.  Formula allows you the freedom to travel to Vegas and not have to explain to TSA who is closely examining your frozen milk in the specified 3oz bags that you are not trying to smuggle bomb making materials on to your plane.  So my point is breastfeeding and formula feeding both have their perks!   
Happy Breastfeeding Week!

4th of JULY

Cameron and I are blessed to share the same family tradition for the 4th of July. We both grew up celebrating in Cayucos.  It is so fun to watch our kids make the same memories we have as children.  We spent 5 days with Cameron's family and then when Cameron went back to work the boys and I stayed with my parents.  Unfortunately Collin got sick so we had to leave 2 days early.  The weather was perfect the whole time we were there!  We did all the traditional must do's like the parade and fish tacos at Duckies.  We had a great time and can't wait for next year.  Here are some pictures of the festivities and previous years celebrating in Cayucos.

July 2011

July 2010

July 2009

Collin's First 4th of July

Ethan's First 4th of July

Thankfully Ethan is very long! I didn't think that 9 month onesie was going to fit him like it did.  Collin had the chunk and Ethan has the length.

Loving his first parade

Some of the Nelson's

Grandma JoJo & Ethan

Collin better watch out!  There is a new boyfriend in town for Helen.

Brian, Collin & Rocco watching the parade

We got to meet Baby Garrett!

Little Flirt

Giggles with Grandpa

See... His heart belongs to Mommy!

Love this!

Catching a ride with Daddy

Our walks at the beach used to be stumbles to the tavern...
Now we are pushing 2 kids around. 
Oh how the times have changed!

Hunter, Rachel, Ethan & Collin

Cousins!

Digging for treasures

Beach Day

Bath Time!

I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July!