new diapers!

So its been awhile since I posted about one of my great loves, cloth diapering!! We started cloth diapering full time just about a year ago and it has been so great. Cost effective, fun, and great for the boys. Do I sometimes hate the extra laundry and the extra work? Yes. But for the most part I am so happy with our choice.

We mostly use bumGenius One-size diapers. We also have a few bumGenius AIOs(all-in-ones). Now both Eli and Jayden can wear the one-size but the AIOs we have in different sizes. So once both the boys are in large we are going to need a few more. Well we got quite a nice tax refund and decided to add a few diapers to our stash.

Now, I LOVE my bumGenius diapers. But my biggest frustration has been the velcro. The boys can take off their diapers now (although they don't much) and the velcro gets stuff stuck in it and will need to be replaced here very soon. I also am not a HUGE fan of stuffing the one-size diapers with the inserts.

So, its as if bumGenius read my mind. Check this baby out!!


It has SNAPS, and even though you can't see it, its also an all-in-one diaper. So no stuffing. Plus it is TRIM as all heck and I am in love. At least as in love as one can be with something that gets peed and pooped on.

Here's Eli modeling one today (oh, and did I mention that bumGenius also has four new great colors?).



If you're wondering (cause I know you are) what else qualifies as a "great love", I'll tell you. Jesus, Dan, Jayden, Eli, the rest of my family, a few close friends, chocolate (this can take many forms), coffee (yep, many forms of this will do as well!), and sleeping. Oh and my Dodgers. Can't forget them.

I love sippy cups!!

Eli is obsessed with Jayden's sippy cups. OBSESSED. If he sees one on the ground (after our repeated, and obviously failed, attempts to get Jayden to put them on the table) he starts squealing with delight and charges after it. He knows there's liquid in there but hasn't quite gotten he needs to tip it. PHEW.

big ball!

Jayden, Eli, Oma (a.k.a Grandma Gayle) and I all went to Albertson's the other day and Jayden wanted to play with the "big ball." We let him, and since it was only 1.49, we also bought it for him. Turns out Eli loved it just as much and had a grand ole time playing with it.



He was laughing and squealing and shrieking with delight. TOO CUTE.

BEACH!!!

This past Saturday Steph and I took the boys to the beach since it was BEAUTIFUL outside. Jayden LOVED it. He was scared of the ocean at first but then wanted to run around in it and ended up falling in and soaking himself. Eli was content to sit and eat the entire time. I took him down and dipped in his feet in the water a bit and he wasn't sure what to think of it.

Chilling with his binky


Steph and Jayden heading down to the water


I love this shot of Jayden. Such a big boy!!


Eli chowing down, his favorite activity

Easter..

Sorry, I'm a little behind. Life is a bit insane these days with school wrapping up for Dan (2 1/2 weeks and counting..), bible study wrapping up for my mom, and Steph in full swing with her spring quarter.

Oh, and I did I mention two kids under two?

One of which loves to get into everything and lives by the motto, "The faster, louder, and crazier...the better!"?

And the other one who lives by the motto, "Leave it on the floor and I'll eat it!"?

Really, though, our lives are busy, but mostly they are full- of life, laughter, and love.

So, without further adieu, here are some pictures of us on Resurrection Sunday (a.k.a. Easter)!

Ok, just realized that I don't have that many pictures of Easter, which could be the reason i hadn't posted about it yet! But my mom took a bunch. So there will have to be an Easter Part 2 post sometime soon.

For now, here are two cute ones of Jayden (wow, I totally lied about the "without further adieu" thing...)

Checking out some eggs

Being his cute toddler, almost two year old self

beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful boy

In case you think the subject of my post is just me overusing the word beautiful, rest assured. I am referring to the John Lennon song, "Beautiful Boy."

Here is our youngest beautiful boy.






Enough said.

climbing!

While in Bend, Eli decided to try his hand at climbing stairs.



Turns out he's pretty skilled at it and made it all the way up. Jayden climbed these very stairs last March in his first attempt at stair climbing.

So then we got home and he attempted our stairs, which are much steeper and not as deep. He didn't do so well. So today while I was sitting on the couch and heard him over near the stairs, I thought, "Oh he'll be fine" and then when I hadn't heard anything for 30 seconds, I decided to go check on him. This is what I found.


Silly boy!!!

Easter Eggs!!!

We dyed Easter eggs on Saturday!


Eli enjoyed trying to eat the eggs


Jayden actually liked mixing the colors than actually dying the eggs. Ah, toddlers!

Stellan...

Please continue, or start, to pray for little baby Stellan.

He is headed to Boston, far from his home, to receive treatment for his heart condition. Surgery is likely, and on a baby his age, it is VERY risky.

Please please please pray for this wonderful family who needs it so badly.

random assortment

Some fun pics I got off one of my mom's cameras tonight.

Stephanie took this ADORABLE picture of the boys.


Speaking of Steph, here we were, being silly, looking cute...


Eli in all HIS cuteness.


Friday is trash truck day here on our small cul-de-sac. Friday mornings find us just like this, on the neighbor's porch (identities kept secret for their protection..hee hee). Dan joined us this particular Friday (note the school book in hand)

outside (a.k.a. ah-side)

Jayden got to play in the water outside today since it was beautiful. He was a HAPPY boy.

3/4 of a year!

Eli is nine months old today! Happy 3/4 of a year, sweet boy!

What's up he up to?
*crawling crawling crawling
*he also is becoming an expert at pulling up. he pulls up on everything these days!
*eating his solids like there is no tomorrow. he LOVES them. he is also starting on some table food and LOVES that as well.
*we got this baby food grinder also and it makes serving Eli our food so much easier.
*breastfeeding like a champ still. I LOVE that i've made it to 9 months with him. at this point with Jayden I was starting the weaning process due to low supply. Eli loves to breastfeed so I have a feeling we're in for the long haul. yahoo!
*he is SUCH a mama's boy. he loves to give me big snuggles and wants to be with me all the time. it is so sweet!!
*he is napping well still. he is officially on two naps and does pretty well with them most days.
*sleeping through the night with the exception of our recent trip to Oregon where he didn't sleep well AT ALL. but, now we are home and getting back on track.
*eli is SO much more mellow than Jayden. Jayden at this age was super social and excited about everything and had NO time to snuggle. Eli is content to watch what's going on, find one toy and play with it for 15 minutes, and give his mommy snuggles. I love and delight in their differences!

Here are some pics I took today of our sweet boy. And, really, that is the word for him. Sweet.

We get this look a lot. Our sweet, somewhat shy little boy...oh, he just melts my heart!


sweet smiles


Looking at this brother, who he LOVES

airplane!

We spent the last few days in Bend, OR with my brother and his family. My brother got ordained so we all made the trek to celebrate with him. So proud of him, and glad for the call God has on his life.

Here are the boys on the plane.



They did really well on both flights (there and back). We are very blessed with happy little boys!!

Here are a couple pics from the time there. My mom has a TON more so I'll be sure to post those once she's home (Friday).

Eli laughing at his sweet cousin Eleni


Grandma with Everett (Jayden says his name "Revret") and Eli

Mr. and Mrs. Sean Bray!

As promised, here are some pics of Sean and Suzy's wedding.

I love the look on Sean's face looking at Suzy here. So awesome. Sorry for the white "fuzz" on the side. We weren't in a great location for picture taking.


First dance!


Hand holding...I love her two hands holding his. You can sense her excitement!


Me and the BEAUTIFUL bride. Love you, Suz!! Couldn't be more proud of you...


The best picture taken of me and Dan in quite some time. For once, we don't look haggard and 45 years old!!


The wedding was just incredible. So great to see these two says their vows, exchange their rings, and join their lives together. And to see all our friends from Orange County who we miss TERRIBLY...there are no words for how wonderful it was to be with everyone.

All you people, and you know who you are...we love you and miss you!

Oregon!

Sean and Suzy's wedding was amazing yesterday! We will post pics soon.

Today started early with a flight to Bend, Oregon because my brother got ordained today! Its been a big weekend. I do believe this has been one of the longest days of my life but its almost over.

Pics to come. The boys are in bed for the night, where hopefully they will stay.

You can pray for the rest of the trip to go well. Precious time with family. Should be awesome.

Sean and Suzy's wedding!!!

So I am digressing from my normal blathering about my cute kids to send a shout out to some dear dear friends.

Sean and Suzy get married TODAY!!! We met Sean when he was in high school, finding his way, learning about Jesus, doing all the awkward things high school boys do. We loved him immediately. :) Suzy entered our lives some time later. Sean brought her to our apartment for a dinner thing (they were "just friends" then). Dan then got her a job at The Picture People, where he was working then. She and Dan worked together for awhile. Then she moved on to nannying. We didn't see much of her for awhile. Then, at Dan's 25th birthday party, Sean showed up with Suzy holding her hand. Too cute!! It was then that we fell in love with Suzy! We even got the privilege of meeting with them monthlyish to chat, talk, pray, attempt to help them along the journey of dating, life, etc.

We love these two so much and cannot wait to celebrate with them tonight!!! There will be some tears shed for sure, at least on my part.

We love you guys! :)

another post...

...of cute pictures of Eli! Seriously, the kid is just KILLING me these days with his cuteness.

Stellan.

Our contribution to Stellan's name gallery.


All Cheerios. Pretty cool eh?

wordless Wednesday