Our thumb sucker

Malia never sucked her thumb, but her sister likes to. This is baby girl in all her fetal glory at 18 weeks. We love her already! She seems feistier than malia did, but what do I know at this point! Everything looks good and I'm feeling great! Still scheduled for a February 28th due date, and yes! It's a leap year this next year- crazy!

14 Month old Malia!

 Malia is 14 months old!  I am researching ways to get her to slow down on growing but so far, I've got nothing;)  Although I miss my "baby," very much, she is getting more and more fun every day!  Now that she is a complete walker (and runner) she is so much more independent and happier I think.  She is able to communicate with us on what she wants and where she wants to go.  She can walk to the fridge if she wants something to eat and then point to what she wants.  She will walk to her room and get her shoes when she is ready to go somewhere.  Or she will walk to my room and get some of my accessories when it is time for dress-up.  She runs around the house with Hobbs all day long and their energy feeds off of each other.  She is the HAPPIEST and most ANIMATED little girl I have ever known!  She is so verbal and talks and chatters all day long.  Most of it is only things a mother can understand, but she thinks she is pretty awesome how she is able to communicate.  She loves to laugh, squeal, joke, talk to others and is really becoming quite the fun little girl.  Here are some photos of our 14 month old Malia Joy.

Probably one of the best times of the day, reading with dad is so much fun!  We read all sorts of good books.  Her favorites this month are: "Feely Bugs,"  "I'm Reverent When..,"  "Book of Mormon Stories," "Good night Butterflies," and of course our other go-to books of "Piggies," "I Love you Through and Through," and "5 Green and Speckled Frogs."  After we read we like to sing.  Malia's favorite songs right now are "Itsy Bitsy Spider," "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star," and the "Do-Re-Mi" song.  She will clap when we are done with big smile on her face and then sign "more" if she wants to sing them again. 

 Like most toddlers, Malia must touch EVERYTHING.  Touching things in the house is fine, but she loves to explore and touch all sorts of new things when we go out.  One of her favorite things to do is touch and grab clothes.  She LOVES holding up things and then putting them back after examining them.  This is fine most of the time until she finds something that she MUST have and when mom takes it away this leads to tantrums which have been perfected the last few months.

Our funny girl still doesn't know how to "smile" for the camera and sports this "serious" face quite a bit.  But her funny and animated faces get used all day long (and I usually don't capture them on film).

 Malia likes to color now!  This is nice when we go out to restaurants because she will sit and color for at least 7 minutes! ;)  She has gotten over eating the crayons now too so that's good:)  She loves coloring and having mom or dad color with her. 

 This look of awe and wonder is what leaves me in awe and wonder every day.  I know I am a doting mom, but the things Malia is learning every day and what she is capable of just impresses me!  She tackles things the other big kids are doing and is very bright.

She is listening better to me now.  This is right after I said, "Crayons only get used on paper" after she took one to the door.  She knows what I am saying.  She listens to me almost always.  Here are her other notable things this month:

• She can identify all the things on her face: eyes, ears, nose, mouth, head and can find her feet, toes, hands and belly button.
• She will try to "jump" when you ask her too.  It is quite funny since she is not able to do this yet;)
• She sits and stands down when I ask her too.
• She eats a lot but is still staying rather thin.  She is still tall tall tall!  
• She has 4 teeth on the bottom 2 (soon to be 4 teeth) and 2 molars on top.  She helps us brush her teeth every night but needs some help.
• She can say the normal words and has now added, "bobo" for bird, "doggie" "more" "no" "yes" "peas (please)" and "go" (like on the slide I'll say, ready, set.. and she'll say "go!"  And she will try her hardest to copy what you tell her too.  
• Size 4 diapers and 18mo-2T clothes
• 2 whole milk bottles a day and lots of sippys and snacks and 3 meals
• Favorite place: the park and will go up the BIG slides like the big kids.  She's getting over the baby swing.
• She will throw things away for me when I say, "go throw this in the trash"
• She'll walk to the bathroom when it's time for "bocha"
• She LOVES her babies and will take them over her shoulder and pat them and give them their "babas" when they need some milk.
• She enjoys playing instruments: piano, drums, xylophone and mariachis.
• She is becoming cautious and will not do things that she knows might hurt her.  Thank goodness for this!
• She helps get herself dressed and undressed and has a DEFINITE opinion when she wants to or doesn't want to wear something.  She HATES wearing jeans!  What am I going to do about this?!
• She DOES like wearing necklaces and bracelets and bows in her hair:)
• She is mostly down to 1 nap (10-1pm) and then is down around 8:30 and up around 7:30.  She needs these naps or is just a cranky mess.  We know from the hard way of missing them.
• She copies other kids her age and it's hilarious!

She is fun, fun, fun!  I love taking her with me places and seeing how she reacts to different things and people.  She is hilarious and I find myself laughing most of the day.  It's so fun to have a toddler!

Viva la Mexico 2011!

 I've been going to Mexico since I was little.  It might be that fact, or the fact that we go with a mature and safe group, or the fact that the guys we go with speak the language, or the fact that we don't get crazy with tequila and make a ruckus.  Either way, Mexico is a blast and we always have a great time.  And no, we didn't have any run in with drug lords or the policia.  

So Mexico!  We went over the long Labor Day weekend with 3 of our favorite couples:  the Wares, Claytons and the Petersons!  What fun we had:)  All 8 of us (+sweet baby Curren) stayed at Club Marena and did all those things you are expected to do on vacations:  lay by the pool, surf (the boys did this a lot), eat authentic Mexi food, shopped, site saw and lounged.  We had a great time and look forward to going again next year!

 This was our view from our Penthouse!  Not too shabby huh?!  We could watch the boys surf from above.

 We enjoyed Lobster 2 of the nights and about had it by the 3rd night.  Might be a combo of being preg and not being the best lobster in the world, but it was still great nonetheless.

 This is me and my hubs who I love so very much!  Did I mention we were sans Malia?!  Yes, my awesome and amazing parents watched her so we could have a relaxing and stress free vacation!

Dinner!

 Matching dreamcatcher bracelets that all the girls got out shopping.  I happen to still have mine on right now!

 Taco Surf served us lunch both of the days we were there.  Tacos and Tortas made to order with Fantas and Coca-cola Light (diet coke)

 Mas por favor!

 Bethany about to experience her first authentic taco!

 Can you see Jesus in the background behind Kirk?  Remember when we took a picture up there last year when we went?

 The trip included 2 pregger girls, one new mom and the skinny and fabulous Bethany

 Brette, Marsha, Beth and moi (14+ weeks pregnant)

Although Malia wasn't there, this little munchkin satisfied my kissing urges:)  Love sweet baby Curren!

 Swimming!

 While boys checked the surf

Totally being lame by eating Pizza on our 3rd night.  Our tummies had kinda had enough of the local cuisine.

 The whole group shot!  Yeah!

 Our building:)

 Taking a stroll to the pool

 Thanks Mexico!  We enjoyed your sunshine, your retreat and for treating us so nicely.  We'll see you again next year!

A Baby Shower for Baby Mabel!

This cute little mommy has a sweet baby girl now!  A month or two ago (again, sorry for the massive delay in blogging) we threw a shower for Brittany and her baby girl!  It was grand!  A perfect day with perfect people, food, ambiance and gifts! We are so excited for their little family to welcome this precious girl!

 Some of the party goers.  I am pretty certain that all of these girls are either pregnant or just had a baby!  Must be something in the water...;)

 Rachelle did such a fabulous job coordinating everything and putting it together.  I was basically just the helper taking orders!  Yikes, the sickness had taken over at this point..

 Baby Shower this way!

Ahh... Not a bad place to relax and enjoy good company, huh?  Celebrating babies is one of my favorites!

Malia, I never want to forget these moments...

Because I love you more than there are words to say.  Because you make me complete and are my reason for living.  Because you make me laugh harder, smile bigger and hug tighter than I thought possible.  I never want to forget you at this moment.  These silly moments of growing while you are learning new things everyday.  I marvel watching you gain your own personality and become the sweet little girl that you are going to be.  You are my angel.  I am forever blessed because of you.  Thank you for letting me be your mommy:)

13 Month Old Malia!

 I need to do Malia's 13 month old post!  I am so behind!!!!  13 months is so much fun!  Not that I like Malia anymore or less at different ages, but this age is SO fun!  She is walking everywhere (and in fact, trying to run which is kinda scary) and is starting to communicate better with us grown-up folks:)

 I had to cut her bangs since she has the straight-will-be-in-your-face-Japanese hair, but the rest of her hair is growing so nicely!  She wears pigtails now!  They are my favorite!  Something about a cute toddler rocking pigtails with blunt bangs screams adorable to me.

Malia is still the funny faces master and here are some of the other things worth noting for her 13th month:

• She is eating everything now.  I don't think that changed much from last month, but there is nothing that we have to hold back now.  She has her preferences of course:  still blueberries, string cheese, turkey and chicken, grapes, strawberries, yogurts, sweet stuff (of course) and now likes some breads and Cheerios.  
• She talks alllll day long!  Most of it is still jabber, but she is trying to hard to mimic the words we are saying and communicate to us by pointing and talking.  I feel like I understand her almost completely though.  Must be a mom thing but I totally get this 13 month jibber jabber.
• She is still on her 2 naps a day schedule; one in the morning, one in the afternoon.  Down around 8 or 8:30 and up around 7 or 7:30.
• She can get up the playground by herself and go down the slides or steps all by herself!  She is quite proud of this I think:)  Now she can get around like the big kids.
• She still loves her Hobbs.  They play together and now can chase each other around the house.  It's about the cutest thing to watch and boy does she laugh and squeal about it!
• She is making friends all the time.  She is still trying to figure out how to play, but sure does love being around them.
• She loves Sesame Street and Yo Gabba gabba.  We don't have cable so those are pretty much what she is limited to.  She loves to lounge in the mornings with her pillow pet and her diluted OJ while watching her shows.  She is quite captivated.  
• She is still on the 2 warm whole milk bottles a day.  And yes, I still hold them for her.  What is this new baby going to do???
• Malia is going to be our little fish, it's official.  Obsessed with the water- screams as soon as she sees the beach.  Loves swimming UNDER the water.  Doesn't mind being tossed in the surf.  Water fountains, baths, sprays, whatever- she's hooked.
• Sings along with us now and it's the best:)
• Still a cuddle bug.  Loves to snuggle on your shoulder when she's tired.  And LOVES to "love" her babies and dolls and stuff animals.  
• She can identify a TON of things!  I have this book with different pictures in it and she can point to "ball" "cup" "baby" "doggie" elephant" "lion" "shoes" "head" "mouth"  Those are most of them but there are others I am sure I can't remember..
• She knows her peeps.  Points and says "mama" "dada" "bumpa" "nana" and "Hobbs."
• And we love her more than we ever have:)

4th of July (a tad late!)

 "Wait, what mom?  You're just now getting around to blogging about all our fun activities?  Geez, what's the deal?  Have you been dealing with massive morning sickness or something?"  

The answer is YES!  But I'm baaaaacccckk!!! Yay!

 4th of July is one of my favorite holidays because it's A) in the summer and that is the best time of year B) Kirk isn't working so no matter what day of week it is we get to go to the beach C)  There are always BBQ's involved D) They put on great firework shows down here, and oh yes.. E) We get to celebrate our amazing and wonderful country that I feel so blessed to live in!

4th of July recap:  We had a pancake breakfast with our ward- yummy!  We packed up some gear and snacks and rode our bikes down to the beach to hang out with everyone.  We soft topped surfed (yes, even me) because the water was gorgeous and warm.  Then we went down to my dad's boat to eat, hang out and watch the fireworks.  It was an awesome day and I was not yet feeling the sickness from this navel orange growing inside of me;)