Caiden and Kiya were invited to Megan's 2nd birthday. Megan is Mackenzie's younger sister. She is adorable, and she was turning two!
Meet Megan. She is a girlie girl. Notice the cute sun dress. Megan loves shoes, clothes, jewelry, pink, purses, makeup and everything girlie. Mackenzie is a tomboy. She is tough, strong, and can keep up with any boy. What am I saying? She can put any boy to shame...she is good...she goes ALL out!!! They couldn't be more different.
This is Megan...
Clearly there was some bouncing going on. Do you like Caiden's orange socks?
How cute is she?
But remember this is Megan's birthday. Her birthday was fairy themed with princess stuff. Her bounce house was tinkerbell, and so were all her decorations. Heather, you would have LOVED it!
I SHOULD have bought her clothes. What WAS I thinking? She LOVES clothes!!! Instead, I got her a pink digital camera, and some really cute bath themed stuff (ducks that change colors, individual bath bubble packets that look like frogs, frog scrubbier thing, etc...). However, when Megan opened up her clothes and purses and such she was so excited she started putting them on right away. It was the cutest thing. Then she strutted her stuff down the runway. We were all laughing so hard!!!
Megan started piling on the clothes. Here she has a few shirts on, and purse...
Love the shoes...
Here best Top Model runway walk
Kiya enthralled at the goings on
She then got this duck bike thing. it was really cool. This is not a very good picture, and it is a bit hard to explain because it converted into so many ways, and it was really cool. When the pedals turned the eyes would bobble, and on the top of the head she could push a button and it sounded like Donald Duck quacking. I especially liked the umbrella. She had a lot of fun riding in it.
duck bike
All in all it was a fun time, and you would be SO proud of me. I didn't even have a piece of cake. And did you notice...it was white cake with white frosting - I LOVE that kind of cake!!!
I wish I had gotten some better pictures, but her PARENTS were in the way. Geez...don't they know I write a blog. How inconsiderate :P
About Me
- Mel
- California, United States
- I'm the wife of a firefighter, a mother of two wonderful kids and a full time employee with a crazy busy life. But hey, at least I'm not bored :)
When Caiden was 4 months old. I had his picture taken to make him look like an angel. Dave and I are holding him (I'm the one with the white arms, Dave has the tan ones). I just loved the picture, and have it hanging up in a 16X20 in our house.
Well, Kiya is now 4 months old, and so I had her picture taken to look like an angel as well. Here are my two little angels at the same age, just different moments in time. Boy will this be good for blackmailing when they are of dating age :P
I couldn't believe it myself. I mean, I have noticed her scooting herself around, but I didn't quite believe it. I mean, this is a bit early, don't you think? I know that girls tend to progress faster than boys, but I just thought that applied to language. Maybe this is developmentally normal, I don't know.
My little monkey is just NOT satisfied to be left where we put her. No siree, she wants to move where her little heart and pudgy little legs will take her. Of course she cannot go very far, but she is working on it. Her childcare provider said that she crawled 4-5 scoots today (I was at work and didn't get to see it) :( **Sigh...double sigh** I'm still in awe that she can hold her head up high. She still has a tendency to do the bobble head thing, but she is pretty strong. Caiden HATED tummy time with a passion. Kiya can't get enough of it! Now I see why.
Who knows if this was a fluke or not. Time will tell. I will try and catch her scooting her way on video next time. I am impressed, but not ready to child proof the house quite yet. She still has a ways to go. :)
My daughter is 4 months old and already she has to experience a love lost. Ok, so I may be exaggerating somewhat, but my mom (aka GIGI) got Kiya this incredibly soft and very cute sage dog.
Kiya loves and hugs her sage doggie
Look how happy she is
Kiya LOVES it. Here she is shortly before the "accident". I turned away for just a minute to get something (I was holding Kiya), and before I knew it when I turned around there was STUFFING EVERYWHERE!!! Now I KNOW that it was Hunter...only Hunter loves to rip the stuffing out of unsuspecting toys, but what is more impressive was the stealth and speed with which he has come to de-stuff the toys. Had it not happened "on my watch" I would not have believed it to be true.
I am heartbroken. Only moments before had I snapped these cute shots of Kiya, and now the doggie is no more. I can't even stuff the stuffing back in, wash it and sew it (if I knew how to sew). The thought did cross my mind. No, Hunter is a thorough dog, and has completely mutilated this once precious toy. sigh...
He normally leaves the kid's things alone, but there was something special about this toy, and Hunter felt it must be destroyed. :( I hope I can find a new one. Sadness...
Well who can stay away from a new baby, especially one as cute as Dean Hester? Well certainly, I can't. Dave and I trekked it out to the OC to visit our new little nephew. Auntie Wendy, Uncle Jeff and Cousin Micah came to town especially to see the new arrival. Papa Jim and Grammie Sue came over too. :) It was great to have the whole family together with all the kids.
The best picture I could get of Grammie Sue, Papa Jim and the grandkids
Papa Jim and Kiya
Auntie Wendy and Dean
Dave and Kiya
Dean and Kiya - Sleeping angels...they are 4 months apart
Caiden and Micah had a ball playing together. First, they took a nap so that they could recharge their batteries for the big day ahead. Then they used the new headlamps that Grammie Sue and Papa Jim gave them to explore the dark crevices of Auntie Pam and Uncle Jake's house.
Micah and Caiden at the charging station - recharging their batteries. :P
Next they worked on stacking and "cooking". Finally, Grammie Sue did what ANY normal grandma would do....she took them BUG HUNTING!!! They got cups and went out on an adventure to look for bugs. Yes, this is quite the bug family. I'm cool with the bugs...as long as they are not spiders :)
Stacking, grasping and cooking
Bug Hunting 101
Searching for the juicy ones and the BEST creepy crawly ones
Cade's stash o'bugs
Grammie morphing into a bug (I think she was a snail)
It was nice to spend time together chatting and catching up. I loved to watch the cousins play with each other. I can't wait until Kiya and Dean are old enough to join in on the fun as well. Each time we see each other the kids have grown so much, it is incredible!
Grammie Sue, Micah and Jeff
Wendy and Micah
I just wanted to say thank you to the faithful readers who read AND comment on my blog. Sometimes I stay up late at night to post, or blog in my "off" time instead of sleep or rest and it makes it worth it when I know that people are reading and enjoying (if not just reading) my blog :P
How do I know if people are reading it you ask? Well, because they POST!!! :) So thank you for those of you who read and post. This lets me know that there are people who are at least somewhat interested in what is going on in my life, and that encourages me to continue to post. :) So if you want to hear more...just let me know with a simple comment! :) Thanks again for reading.
I have started this new exercise program called P90x. It is a 12 week muscle confusion program and it is KICKING MY BUTT!!! It incorporates weight lifting, yoga, kick boxing, cardo and the like to get you in beach body shape in 12 weeks. I guess that is the best way to describe it.
Here Caiden and I are starting the Yoga tape.
What I can tell you is that my muscles are confused. They are in shock and they are crying out "Crazy Girl what ARE you doing to me?" The very next day after the first DVD I thought "Not bad...I could handle this, however Day 2 I was SO SORE!!!
Besides the fact that my toe still hurts and I am completely out of alignment, I am TRYING to stay with the program, and have done so thus far. Normally, I very much like the host. He is funny, entertaining, inspirational, good looking, and definitely fit! However, when it comes to the plyometrics dvd...ugh...I just don't know. How do I describe what Plyometrics is? The Plyometrics DVD is an evil plot by the P90x people to destroy me. It makes me hate the main host while simultaneously zapping whatever semblance of self esteem that I once had. It is hard core and the ONLY dvd that I quit with 19 minutes left. I felt like absolutely crap about quitting as I am not a quitter, but I was DONE!!! All of the other dvds I have been able to finish. You get one day off (or you can stretch - my day off is Monday), but other than that you are working out for a minimum of 1 hour a day; many 1.5 hours. Plyometrics is tomorrow, so I am assuming Wednesday will become synonymous with dread. If I can finish, JUST finish the Plyometrics dvd tomorrow, I will feel like I have accomplished something.
Dave and I are doing this program (along with people at the FD - Dave is in a weight loss competition with one of the guy's there and his whole crew does the workout). Since one of our DVDs was not working, I had to double up on the workout and do 1.5 hours of yoga AND Legs, Back and something called the AB Ripper X all in one day. That was a bit tough, and yea...I was pretty much hating life.
Caiden and I stretching out before we got into the hard core yoga moves
Caiden was such a trooper. He even did about 20 minutes of yoga with me. Despite what you believe, yoga is not always very comfortable or pain free (as you can see by the expression on Caiden's face). Finally, Caiden looked at Dave and asked permission to be excused. I felt so bad, like he was being forced to do this. Even HE felt the pressure (by the host, not by me) to continue. I swear this guy jumps out of the screen and pushes you to finish.
Caiden's not so fun yoga face
Josh also decided to join in on the action, so I think that Dave and Josh have a side bet going on about weight loss too. Here Josh is relaxing before we get down to work and work out. What better way to relax than play with a baby? Kiya loves to give smiles and is especially good at it. :)
Look at the big smiles :)
Anyway, as you can clearly see I desperately need to work out, but at least here the proof that I AM making the effort. I didn't even post the more intensive Yoga pics. Frankly some of the poses are not exactly flattering and are even slightly suggestive. :P Hopefully, in 12 weeks, you will be seeing a thinner, toner, and more fit Melissa. And if not, let's just pretend this little blog entry NEVER happened :P
This morning at approximately 3:30 am in the morning, Baby Dean Jacob Hester made his appearance into this world, and I became and aunt again!!! Dean weighed in at 7lbs 9 oz and 21 inches long! He is of course both adorable and quite perfect, but of course I'm biased as he is my new nephew.
Dean Jacob :) How cute
Pam was quite the trooper as she had a 20 hour labor or so, but it was all worth it as Dean is healthy, happy and more importantly HERE!!!!
The proud new daddy and mama with baby Dean
Mama, baby and daddy are doing great, but are quite tired. From my understanding, it was quite the adventurous labor with Dean not quite sure he wanted to make an appearance, and needed a bit of coaxing to come out of his warm, cozy environment into the world of sights, sounds and smells. :) Do you blame him though? He just wasn't ready to share his Mama quite yet...of course now he has a doting father who is as happy as can be.
I was thankful that I was able to stop by on my lunch to visit and give the new family some flowers, a balloon and some gifts just for Dean. Lance and Susan were already there when I arrived and Sue arrived shortly thereafter with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Some of Pam and Jake's friends came to the rescue bringing some much needed Starbucks coffee (what a treat!!)
Proud Daddy Jake with a much needed cup of Starbucks Coffee
Friends Lisa and Alan to the rescue :)
The flowers and balloons I brought
Beautiful bouquet from Sue and Jim
Of course Dean is as precious as can be and quite tuckered out as he was sleeping peacefully the whole time I was there. He has a full head of dark hair and his daddy's lips.
Me and my new nephew Dean (yeah, he's a keeper) :)
Concerned Mama Pam 
Proud new grandma Sue with Dean
Pam, her son Dean and Grammie Sue
Congratulations Pam, Jake and big brother Alex!! We are so happy that everyone is happy and healthy. :)
Kiya is getting so strong. She has really taken to tummy time and rolling over. She rolls everywhere...you really need to keep a good eye on her.
Kiya posed herself...smiles and all
I love the drool in this picture :P
Look at her chunky cheeks...so cute
Not sure what she was doing here... I like to call this "thoughtful Kiya"
Well, since I was tagged by Wendy (see link to her blog on the left of mine), I felt I must comply. I mean who am I to stop the chain.
Seeing as it is close to midnight I do not promise that this will make any sense, and I am going to say what comes to mind, so here goes:
1. Watching my kids - frankly I love to watch them grow and discover, I love to watch them sleep, and I absolutely, positively LOVE to cuddle with them. I love to hear Caiden call me "Mama" and talk his "big boy talk", and I love to glance down at Kiya and see her smiling up at me the whole time just waiting for me to look at her. I LOVE every moment that I spend with my kids. I am always torn between wanting to freeze time just to keep the moment alive, or let life continue so I can watch them grow, become independent, etc... I never thought I would be able to know the kind of love that I have experienced by being a mother. It is the BEST thing that I have EVER done, and there is NO TOPPING IT!!
2. Paying it forward - so to speak. You know like the movie. I love to think of something creative to do that will really make someon's day and actually DO it. The bigger or more unsuspecting the event or idea the better and more excited I become. I LOVE Christmas and it is not because of gifts that I get, I love to think of creative gifts to give to other people and watch them open them up. Of course I HATE it when people watch me open up gifts...too much pressure :P I like to do something when someone least expects it...just to make them smile. That is the BEST feeling :)
3. Nothing to Do - I would love a little downtime with no schedules, or plans. I would like to be able to be spontaenous and just LIVE LIFE!!! I feel like I am always running somewhere, that I would like some downtime, so that I don't feel that my whole life is planned. I would love to go hiking, read a book, or SLEEP!!!! I do love to sleep...I don't get to see the underside of my eyelids often, but when I do, I thoroughly enjoy it.
Ok, so I tag Heather and Katie....so what'll it be girls?????