cute boys

3 year check up!!

Jayden and I headed down to Orange County for his three year check-up with our favorite pediatrician, Dr. Ball. My mom was super helpful by keeping Eli here so Jayden and I could enjoy some Mommy and Jayden time. It was wonderful to see Dr. Ball. We just adore him!

After his check-up we headed to see "Baby Charlie" and "Baby Eva." Our friends Kevin and Stacey live in Rancho Santa Margarita, where we used to live and have two little twins, Charlie and Eva (Charlie pictured in birthday party post below). We went on a nice walk around the RSM lake, complete with a trip to Starbucks. This is the lake I used to walk around with Jayden everyday when he was a small baby. I have a lot of sentimental attachment to it and to that Starbucks, to say the least. It was great to be back and enjoy the pretty walk, and the wonderful company of Stacey, Charlie, and Eva!!

So, without further ado, here are Jayden's stats:

Height: 38.5 inches (85th percentile)

Weight: 30 pounds, 8 ounces (60th percentile)

On the BMI chart (height to weight ratio), he's in the 25th percentile. So still long and skinny. But we knew that!! Other than that, he's doing well. Dr. Ball confirmed for me that he has asthma, as his many nebulizer treatments would indicate. So we're hoping its something he outgrows sooner rather than later. He gave us some precautionary measures to take as well to keep him from going into respiratory distress, as he has done in the past. All in all, a good check-up! The highlight for me was when Dr. Ball asked Jayden what his favorite food is and he said, "Ummmm...lollipops!!" and Dr. Ball said, "Well at least I know he wasn't coached on what to say on the drive down!"

We love you, Dr. Ball!! Great to see you.

more birthday!!!

On Jayden's birthday, I asked him, "What do you want to do today?" and he promptly responded, "I want to go to the bulldozer mall...with Tracey and Avery!" After much contemplation I realized he was talking about one of our local malls that has a bulldozer ride-on toy in the kids' area. So after ensuring Tracey and Avery's attendance on this outing, we headed off. The boys had a great time, finishing up with a yummy birthday lunch in the food court.

On the infamous "bulldozer."

The motorcycle

Eli attempting to sit on Avery's lap in the ice cream truck

Another ice cream truck shot

The food court at "the bulldozer mall" has these cool little tables for the wee ones. The boys loved them!

Three Years Old

Jayden,

You are three today. Three years ago I was watching you sleep, unable to sleep myself because I was so afraid you would stop breathing or something would happen and I would miss it. You were PERFECT. Incredible. Beautiful. Breathtaking. We waited a long time for you, and were told early in the pregnancy you would not live. But you did. And we are so thankful.

You have filled our lives with joy and laughter. I described you today as vivacious. It really could not be more true. You literally bounce through life, finding amusement and joy in small things.

You love to laugh and be silly. You love to make people laugh, and you think so many things we do are funny. You always have.

You have such a precious heart, full of tenderness and sensitivity. When I cry, you say, "Mommy, you sad?" and then a few minutes later, "Mommy, you happy now?" I love how in tune you are to people's feelings.

You are also easily scared, and we often hear "Hold me!!" when you feel frightened by something. God has made you with such sensitivity. Some days I feel overwhelmed thinking of how to shield you from unnecessary hurt but also teach you how to be strong and rely on Jesus and us for the courage that you need.

You love to dance and love to sing. Some days I come in to get you from your nap and you say, "Mommy, I was just singing in here, in my bed."

You love your little brother. Your first question in the morning right now is, "Where's Eli?" You miss him when you're apart and always greet him with a hug when you see him again.

You love your family- Grandma, Grandpa, Oma, Opa, Uncle Matthew, your cousins, Stephanie, Auntie Andrea and Uncle Sam. You are happiest when you're with your family.

You entered our lives "in person" three years ago today, my love, and we have never been the same. God gave you to us, and gave us such a gift. We love you, sweet Jayden boy- every ounce of you, from head to toe.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

May 24, 2007

May 24, 2008

May 24, 2009

May 24, 2010

party party party!!

We had a super fun birthday party for Jayden on Saturday. When we asked Jayden what he wanted for his party, he said, "A bounce house and a white guitar cake." We happily obliged.

Here are some shots from the festivities.

Here's a shot without the birthday boy. But this is Tracey with Avery, who is Jayden's BESTEST buddy besides Eli. And Tracey and I are kind of fond of each other too. :)

The white guitar cake. Here's last year's cake.

And this year's cake..

I say practice makes, not perfect, but better. :)

And here's the birthday boy, very excited to open his present from Avery.
And the birthday boy again. Could he BE any more beautiful?

This is Charlie. He'll be one on Eli's birthday, as will his twin sister Eva. We love these babies and their parents very much. These babies were long awaited, with many prayers and tears. So they deserve a shout out!! What kind of birthday party would it be without some sandbox time with your brother?
The whole family!!
I absolutely love this shot. My mom is AWESOME and jumped like a madwoman in the bounce house. And Steph looks SO happy. And Jayden is bouncing away. You can even see a slice of Uncle Matthew. :)
Opening one of his many trucks he got. He LOVES them ALL.

This is Auriel and Molly. I could write a book. But I won't. My awesome friend Jen came to celebrate and brought her BEAUTIFUL daughter Tess.
This is what happens to a little one year old who bounces ALL DAY LONG and also LOVES his Oma. :)
Another shot of Jayden and Avery. Cause they're cute.
And even though this is blurry, I just love it. Precious boy.

All in all, a great day. And Jayden had a blast, which made every ounce of work and planning worth it!

Oh and yes I know a lot of the pictures are of me with people. Its hard to get an excited three (!) year old to stand still for pictures. :)

Happy Birthday Jayden!!!

Jayden is three today!! Stay tuned for an update post, pics of his party, etc.

WE love you little man!!

reflections on Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to everyone!! Today was a great day spent with family, loving my boys, and eating yummy food cooked up by my AMAZING hubby.

A bit of reflection though...on this day 5 years ago, I was enduring a VERY painful Mother's Day, having just miscarried our first baby 6 days before. The year following found us not pregnant, and feeling pretty hopeless about the whole situation. I remember that being a very painful day, even in the midst of celebrating my mom and mother-in-law. The NEXT year, however, found me VERY pregnant with Jayden.

What a difference a year makes huh?

Every year since has found my life full of my little one(s). Funny thought, by the NEXT Mother's Day, I was ginormously pregnant AGAIN and on bedrest due to pre-term labor. Dan made me a wonderful photo montage video of our journey together and we played with Jayden all day.

And these last two have been filled with time with my little ones and celebrating our moms.

I never want to forget, though, the pain of those early Mother's Days where I cried so much. Cause there are so many women still walking that road. I looked around at church today, wondering how many of the childless women don't want to be that way, and what kind of hurt they were carrying to church this Mother's Day. Its good, though, cause it reminds me to pray for them, and to hurt with them, and to be sensitive to where they are at.

But, also, it does make me SO thankful that God met the desire of our hearts to be parents. Not only did we have Jayden but also Eli. Kind of felt like a two-for-one deal. Hee hee. They are SUCH a blessing and I am so grateful to be their mommy. So, on that note, here are some shots of THIS Mother's Day.

Me with MY Mommy and my brother

Sweet Jayden boy

The whole fam

Me and my boys