Oh, You Got Swaddled Son!

We got to see Dalin for about 15 minutes, which we loved! Dalin spent a few weeks with his Grandma and Grandpa down in Carlsbad, then he hitched a ride with Dad and Bryce back home. I yearn for time with my family because they mean everything to me. Nothing is more satisfying to me than being around my loved ones.

Dad and Bryce got to stay for a couple days after Mom had to fly back home. When Mom left, I felt soooooo sad, but my sadness was slightly abated by still having my dad and brother there. It's always fun to visit the tide pools, so off we went! Dad looks good holding a purse, right?

XOXOXO. I wish we could see Curren a little better...or at all.

This is our first family photo! My heart swells with love for my family and my blessings. The Lord has given me everything I could have asked for and more. I am absolutely, completely happy with my life and my family. My biggest fear in life is to lose any member of my family. Thankfully, I know we'll be together for eternity.

Eden and Kavella. I love that they are best friends--we are so lucky to live near the Pilkingtons!

One morning, Kavella woke up cheerful (like usual), climbed out of her crib and came out to the living room to greet us. I was lying on the couch with Curren, which is where I had been for the previous 6 hours or so. Kavella came and gave her baby brother a kiss and then gave me a hug and a kiss. Suddenly, a serious look came across her face and she said, pointing to my face, "Oh, somethin's stinky in you Mom!" Yup, she's now old enough to recognize morning breath.

We only color on paper.

Oh, my sweet, darling, beautiful, succulent baby boy! I love him!

Oh, you got swaddled son! (I took that saying from Colleen) It turns out, Curren HATES being swaddled, so there's 25 bucks down the drain.

Yea! The Straws moved down to Huntington! How lucky are we to all live in the same town!?

Aw, my other sweet, darling, gorgeous, kind baby girl! I love her! (I can gush because a) my kids are perfect b) this blog serves the purpose of memorializing our family history and c) I do what I want!)

The first time Kavella saw me nursing Curren, she asked what I was doing and I told her that I was feeding him breakfast. She thought about that for a moment, then quizzically she asked, "Baby brother eat your boobies?" Ha, ha, ha!

Up-the-nose shot!

Surf City, USA.

Why does my kid have the face of someone viewing a most offensive, disgusting act--say, a child playing with a massive booger, a poop-eating toddler or one person vomiting on another? None of those examples were present that day. No, no, it was merely bc Mom looked "bad" in our first picture attempt of getting palm trees in the shot, even though I thought we all looked just fine. Mom threatened my life if I posted it, so here you go--I offer Kavella up as a sacrifice for your beauty, Mom! As Kavella frequently says, "Oh, sorry. That's my fault." A CHILD taking responsibility. Now, that's love. JK, you know I love you Mom!

Awkward family photos! In our defense, we have a really LARGE bed that can accommodate us all.

Time for a surfing lesson! Dustin is the master of all things water, so he was the perfect instructor for Bryce. First things first: getting into a wetsuit.

"I'm gonna point to an ideal surf spot, but let's be honest...you'll pretty much be bobbing and splashing around at random..."

"Now, when the wave comes, this is how you 'pop' up..."

"In reality, the wave is going to SLAM the crap out of you! Have fun--let's go!"

"Paddle, paddle, paddle, paddle."

"Yea! Bryce did it! Da na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na..."

Best friends forever.

I love my Dad!

Pelicans don't normally sit on the beach like this; poor guy was hurt.

No one can come visit us without having their picture taken in front of these concrete surfboards.

We went on a Sunday evening stroll to Main St. where Kavella got this surely-covered-with a blood-borne disease from our local crack addicted clown. Good times.

Cuddle bug, cutie pea!

For Pretend and For Real.

For a while there, Kavella had an aversion to having her picture taken--I guess that was her way of asserting her independence. That, and proffering up "no, I'm good," any time she didn't want to do something....like, going to bed ("no, I'm good), eating her dinner ("no, I'm good), sharing her toys ("no, I'm good), etc. She's such a funny girl!

So, here we are at "Pretend City." It's this massive place in Irvine where kids can run amok throughout various, interactive rooms/activities. There's a grocery store, a doctor's office, a post office, a beach, a house, a performing stage, an eating area, a dentist's office, etc. I will NEVER go there again. For one, it costs $12.00 a person, regardless of age. For two, the place was a total madhouse. I've never seen so many kids trying to do the same thing all at once. It was like a nightmare. Kavella is lucky that she gets to memorialize her experience with these three photos because I almost turned right around the second we walked in. Thank goodness my Mom was there to tend to Curren while I followed Kavella around to each germ-infested, child-saturated room. It probably would have been more fun for her if she had some of her Nursery friends go--it might prove a perfect birthday spot....if you're rich.

Ahhhh, now this is heaven. Seriously, my Mom's cinnamon rolls are my favorite breakfast, snack and dessert.

Happy 9th Anniversary, Dustin! Thanks to Mom babysitting, we got to go to P.F. Changs (shocking, I know) and go see a movie. I love you Dustin. I'm so thankful to have you for eternity. You truly are the best of the best in every way!

Look at that purple starfish!

Kavella loves her Bryce E. Boy!

Wow, Bryce knows how to take a picture! So artistic!

There's Bryce on the left, surfing, and there's Dad on the right, fully clothed....in the ocean. Classic Dad move.

Curren's very first beach trip! He was two weeks old. That's how we roll.

On Sunday, we walked down to the pier to listen to our local bongo players who meet every Sunday evening. Cut your hair hippies! Bryce had Kavella cracking up!

Not to take the spotlight away from Kavella, but check out fannypack-shirtless-texting-hairychested-socks and shoes at the beach dude behind her. Sexy.

Another thing Kavella likes to say is, "In a minute!" I'll ask her to come get her diaper changed and she'll say, "in a minute!" Her Uncle(s) will prod her to give him a kiss and she'll say, "in a minute!" and walk away. Her daddy will tell her it's time for bed and she'll respond, "in a minute!" Where did she pick that up? Hee, hee! My fault.