2 Months!

Our girl has started smiling this month! I mean seriously, check out how big this grin is!  I was waiting for this.  I love her huge grin and her massive blue eyes. She resembles her daddy a lot. She has his eyes for sure.  And, I love her left eyebrow that raises up when she's curious or thinking something funny as she stares at me.  Her big brother loves to hold her too.  He gives her kisses constantly and has such a sweet voice that he uses with her. 

Also, I've slowly started adding things to this cutie pie's room. We bought her a great refurbished coastal style dresser and yes, Roxy surfer girl bedding!  I love it, and can you believe all of the pink?  We have more decor to add, however, we are saving up to get a renter in here possibly within the next year or so.  We are ready to move onto something larger, so we don't want to go into full decorator mode with all of the plans that I have for this little peanut's bedroom, and boy do I have plans! 

Also, as many of you know, I have started a new job where I am a teacher (more like online advisor) for an online public school.  It has been a huge learning curve and unexpectedly difficult.  But for the first three weeks, I have had amazing help.  My mom-in-law has come every Monday and Tuesday, my sister-in-law some Wednesdays and my parents most Thursday and Fridays.  I needed the help big time and I can't thank them enough.  It has all slowed down, much to how I originally expected and I think that Mike may now start feeling as though he brought back the right wife from the hospital....back to the calm kick-back gal he married.

Pumpkin Patchin' It

The first weekend in October, we took the kids (it's werid to say that in the plural) to the pumpkin patch with a bunch of friends and their kids.  We all came back afterwards to a potluck, pjs and movie for the kids and games for the adults.  The movie time turned into dozens of wrestling matches.  We're going to need a bigger place if we're going to keep this up. 

Soccer Again, Can You Believe It?

I, yes I, signed up Gabe for soccer again this Fall.  I know...Mike hates soccer, but this is so stinkin' fun!  He has learned so much since last year.  It's hilarious to watch this giant boy out on the field, opponents literally bouncing off of him and trying to take him down in some instances.  Yes, this 3/4 league has some aggressive, smack talking little players!  And, my boy, just plows through them. Actually, he has become so coordinated that he doesn't need to plow anymore.  He does that soccer dance now.  He's smooth like butta!  We've even had some dirty looks from our opponents' parents for cheering him on!  We love his coach too.  She doesn't mess around and she actually gives out a reward for kids who scored goals.  No wimps allowed!  If you score, you get a "trophy." If you don't score, then you don't get one.  She's hardcore!  His team name is Orange Crush, so naturally the trophy is a can of orange crush.  We are not pop drinkers at all, so he takes a sip and dumps it down the drain.  But, at his last game he scored six goals.  We thought he might get a six pack but he was awarded one can. . . . and my boy, gave it away to a little girl who has never scored.  I love that kid!

Baby Shower

Two of my good friends, Julie & Julie, gave us a baby shower.  And, wow, what an amazing shower.  I was floored that I would even have a second baby shower.  The whole party was wonderful and I appreciate every ounce of it.  I cannot believe all of the goodies and clothes that we got to bring home with us.  We were absolutely spoiled!  And, check out that cake.......yep, that's right, it's a surf shack for my little beach babe.

I'm still getting used to all of this pink, purple, flowers and such.  For this first month, I kept looking over at her thinking where's the blue and green and brown?  It's so odd to see all of these little girl things around, but I'm getting used to it and loving it!

 Among the gifts that I was spoiled with, my mom gave me three boxes, stacked up and tied up with a ribbon.  The top box had some of my own baby clothing in it that my mom had saved for me in her cedar chest.  Then the boxes progressively moved through the ages of our family until I opened the last one.  This was a handmade, white baby outfit that my mom's grandpa wore when he was christened. Each was so well taken care of and passsed onto me with a lot of love.

Malia 1 Month

During Malia's first month, we took her out and about.  We ventured up to Mt. Rainier on a beautiful sunny day.  She is so little, that I still couldn't put her into the Ergo Wrap carrier, so we hauled her around in the jogging stroller.  We lifted her up and over rocks, boulders . . . talk about shedding those baby pounds!