Spring is in the air…

It’s been a great, warm springtime here (again) in sunny socal.  Lately I’ve been making lists of springtime projects to do around the house – and some inside the house.  It’s so easy to add TO that list.  I figure with work coming the way it likes to if I get one project done a week then the Springtime List will be finished in time for the Winter Project List.

Flowers below the Jacaranda tree out front.

So to enjoy some outdoorsy stuff I took Zoe to the playground.  This one has huge sandboxes – she can bury her feet and hands for a looooong time.  She’s very adept at climbing ladders too…  I keep a hand bracing her at all times but I swear she has never needed it.  We collected seeds (olive pits) from the ground to feed the squirrels.  They kept running away so we placed 4 of them at the base of what appeared to be their favorite tree.  Right Zoe?

Looking for seeds!

I’d just like to say that Zoe tried the baby swing and it was, “Too hard!”  Then she tried the little girl swing and it was, “Too hard, too!”  Then she tried the Big Girl Swing for the very first time and it was, “Yaaaaaaaaaaaay!”

Ok this shot isn’t the Big Girl Swing but she loves em all just the same!

After the “Payground” we drove the Stony Point a few miles away to hike through the boulders.  We didn’t get very far up exactly but we did get to climb up some very small boulders!  Zoe conquered a totally tall rock…. see?

I did it Daddy!

So then came the highlight of the Hiking trip…. the Horses.  They were through chain link fence but that was ok..  Although Zoe really wanted to ride them she consigned herself to touching their noses and feeding them bits of grass and flowers from nearby.  Then someone came by with a bag of carrots!  Oh my….

On to baby Kai.  He’s cute and he’s peeeekin’ out!

Peeeek!

He can be a giggly one now and then too!

Wow I am big!

Yes, he’s so chubby he’s outpacing most 6-9 month olds… and he’s only 4 months.   Oh dear.

To close.. here’s a pic of Zoe finger painting… or is it toe painting?  I dunno.  You decide.

Have a nice day!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zoe and Lily’s 2 year Birthday Bash!

We prepared for it… We cleaned the house and the yard.  We ordered up 2 ponies and a bounce house.  A bubble machine was hooked up and two pinatas were hung from the big tree out back.  Then 25 2-year-olds, their siblings and parents came over to have FUN!

Chrissy presents the Cake

It was fun for all!  Even Uncle Matt came and had a good time.  Zoe was excited the entire week leading up to the party.  The horsies (2 ponies) were a highlight.

Doesn’t she look good on a pony?

She was very comfortable in her mini saddle.

Here’s a pic of the birthday cake Chrissy made.  Her friend Mary came over to help finish the massive amounts of cupcakes and cake decorating the day before.

2 Breyer horses holding up the number 2. One horse for Lily and one for Zoe!

Ooooh! Is that what I think it is? And look at all those candles!!

There’s proud Uncle Matt watching over the festivities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kai’s first Christmas Eve

Kai doesn’t really know what Christmas is.. or it’s Eve… or world or existence for that matter.  Zoe is loving her 2nd Christmas though.  Lots of presents under the tree… and ornaments.  The ones at the bottom are all soft that won’t break if dropped or abused.  Where some kids might root around in there presents and rip them open prematurely, Zoe has been wonderfully perfect at leaving them alone!  She’s such a perfect little girl.  We’ll keep her.

Christmas cookies with Zoe!

 

Cookie baking is definitely a favorite pastime to do with Mommy.  Chocolate oatmeal cookies are her favorite… and now she’s added sugar cookies!

Then we found she’s able to put these reindeer antlers on all by herself!  It’s pretty neat finding out all the things Zoe can do by herself lately.  It’s constant amazement.

Look Daddy! Antlers!

Just another cute instagram pic of us.

She loves to sqvish my chin!

 

Gratuitous shots of the Baby Kai…

Look at that cute little bundle!

Here’s a cute family shot.

What a nice shot of my favorite people!

And Lastly:  Dedication to our beloved Mina.  This was recorded by Chrissy’s sister Mandy.

 

 

 

Oh Brother!

How was your Thanksgiving?  Ours was interesting…

We had a baby boy… Yep.

His name is Kai Asa Tomas and he came a week earlier than was planned.  Turns out Chrissy was having contractions all day somewhere between 20 min and 8 min apart by the time we were told by Dr. Navi to get to the hospital.  Of course it was the day before Thanksgiving and traffic going north up the 405 / 5 was INSANE!  It took us nearly 2 hours for a normally 20 trip.  We were planning on pulling over and delivering in the car.  Ok, not really.

Playing Angry Birds while calmly going to deliver a baby?

Below is the table where Joe the Newborn Respiratory guy (sorry I forgot the actual title) put Kai seconds after he was lifted out of the womb.  He was cleaned up (wasn’t that messy due to being cut out of a cesarean) and weighed in at 8 lbs 1 oz.  21 inches long and he had quite the set of testicular testicles.  I know that’s normal but it still was impressive to see on such a tiny baby.  He was very shortly brought back to Mommy’s chest for that initial bonding time and he even managed to latch on and breastfeed so soon!

Kai is 30 seconds old here.

Zoe insists she’ll handle Kai “nicely” so we let him rest in her lap for a little bit.  She’s too cute  They’ll be a great brother/sister team.

Zoe gets to hold her little brother Kai. “Nicely” petting him!

So welcome to the world Kai Asa!  Even with your “garden gnome” elongated head you’re so cute to us!  We’re prouder than proud and happy to give little Zoe Amaya a tiny brother!

Kai sleeping bedside with Chrissy and myself.

 

Observations of the Little One

I’m continually amazed at how aware Zoe is of her surroundings.  I suppose I’m comparing this to what I’ve been familiar with – that is, raising our dogs.  Reason #36 (from the book – Babies Are Better Than Puppies):  Babies have an amazing, developing memory that will surprise their parents when they mention things that were long since forgotten by adults.

Chrissy and I were talking this morning over Brekkie (Zoe’s breakfast) that they’d goto CDI this morning.  It was a brief comment.  I said that it sounded like good entertainment for a bored baby.  Then I ate Zoe’s left-over eggs.

Zoe pointed to (through?) the kitchen and kept telling us about the Pink Cow that was there…  um ok…  Pink cow Zoe?  Are you sure?  Do you want to play some Pai Gow? Do you want us to Pick you Up?  Hmmm…  Pink Cow I guess.  Get down from the table maybe?  Fine let’s get down from the table and change your diaper and get your shoes on so we can go for a ride in the car.  A car ride to the playground.

Ahhh… the PlayGround…  She associated CDI with the playground it is (kind of) – it’s an indoor play room.  Well all this was amazing to Chrissy and I.  Zoe has an amazing memory and profound observational skills but lacks some articulation in speech.  But c’mon.. She’s not even 2 years old yet!

I’m blabbering so her’s a couple new pics taken with Instagram on the iPad.

 

Cutest Baby Ever!

Just had to post this… Zoe’s so bad we have to crate her in the dog’s crate.  Yep. She hates it!  Yep. Mama?  Close?  Peas?  Otay!

Baaaad Baby!

Then… I’m at work a couple days ago.. I get this cutest pic ever.  It really made my day.  Zoe’s been playing with her cardboard bbq grill box now and then in the living room.  It has a door and windows cut out so she can “PEEK” through.

Hi Daddy!

This was shot with Instagram by Sue Chipperton.

 

She couldn’t be nicer!

She’s 19 months old now.  It’s amazing how she’s like this real person in a small package!  Our puppies never could learn things to the extent she does.. or at least they couldn’t communicate in the same advanced ways.  um.. speech.  I think we’re beyond counting how many words she knows now.  Zoe had a play date with her friend Drake.. and taught him how to play the “Peek” game.  Amazing.

She’s certainly a cutie!  We won’t trade her in for anything.  Speaking of cutie.. Here she is wearing this season’s hottest fashion!

Don’t I look lovely?

Then Mommy took her to the pool at a friend’s house.  Sue was there to take pictures.

I love the pool!

Then a little video -