all things christmas

Here are some pics of Christmasy things:

 

blast from the past

So this is something I don't really talk about on my blog. My kids dad, Poko (Sione).
I was looking at some old pics on my computer and I came across this one...

6 years ago this boy and girl were the most important people to me

This was taken 6 years ago yesterday ( I remember because it was on my brother's birthday). I CANNOT believe how much my life has changed in the last 6 years because of this man. Six days after this picture was taken we found out I was pregnant with McKenna. It's been a whirlwind since then.

As much as I cannot stand him and as crazy as he makes me. I am so grateful for him. I'm very hard on him. We've put each other through a lot over the last 6 years. Good and bad. Probably I should be clear in saying that we are NOT together. I just  wanted everyone to know what a hard worker he is and  how grateful I am for him.

Because of him, I am a mommy. Something that I always wanted to be. So Thank you Poko (like you even read this lol).

Now, it's this boy and girl that are the most important. 

bliggity-blog

So, I think it's pretty understandable why I have been slacking in my blogging. I always think about things I want to blog about with witty sayings and what not, but every time I sit down to blog my mind goes BLANK!  Since this is the case, I guess I'll just do the boring ole update/ramble that I've been doing of late.

McKenna
Has lost her two bottom teeth. Still loves school and playing with her friends. Is scared shit less of the threat of a call to Santa when she's being naughty (which isn't really all that often). Is the BEST big sister. Has been sick since last Saturday night. Wants Twinkle Toes for Christmas. States that she is NOT ready to tell Santa what she wants, i.e. like at the mall. Loves all things art. Likes Justin "beaver". Is getting to the stage where I do NOT like taking her to the store because she asks if she can have EVERYTHING and ANYTHING. Wants to go back to Disneyland so bad (so do I). Likes jumping in raked up leafs and is looking forward to sledding.

Sullivan
Recently got a Bumbo and can sit like a champ in it. Is such a happy boy. Loves standing up (with assistance obviously). Had his 2 month check up. He weighs 10 lbs 3 oz and is 23 inches long. Is fitting better in his 0-3 month clothes. Is sometimes a pretty spitty baby. Can sleep pretty much anywhere but his crib, every time I put him in it he wakes up within 15 minutes and cries until I put him in bed with me. He then falls right to sleep. Little stinker. Is so handsome and smiley. LOVES his big sister.

Emilee
Is almost done with Christmas shopping. Definitely toning it down this year. Had a dentist appointment and only had one cavity! Got it filled. Went to the eye doctor. Has to get glasses =(. Wants to paint her room. Wishes she had more gumption to get the things done she wants to. Got to go to lunch with her Aunt Julie from Oregon. Is so looking forward to NOT going to school Spring semester! Loves her job watching Bev. Loves that McKenna loves school. Loves the Mommy/Sulli time she gets while Kenna is at school. Won her first ever giveaway/contest for a credit for some super cute jewelry. Got her mom something with said credit for Christmas. Will get her mom something else so she doesn't feel like she's cheating her mom. Thinks it's weird to talk in the third person. Loves her kids!

national adoption month

Legacy of an Adopted Child

 

Once there were two women

Who never knew each other.

One you do not remember,

The other you call mother.

Two different lives

Shaped to make yours one.

One became your guiding star,

The other became your sun.

The first gave you life,

And the second taught you to live in it.

The first gave you a need for love,

And the second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality,

The other gave you a name.

One gave you the seed of talent,

The other gave you an aim.

One gave you emotions,

The other calmed you fears.

One gave you up-

It was all that she could do.

The other prayed for a child

And God led her straight to you.

And now you ask me through your tears

The age-old question though the years:

Heredity or environment-

Which are you the product of?

Neither my darling - neither,

Just two different kinds of love.

-Author Unknown

Words CANNOT express how very grateful I am for the blessing of adoption. I am so grateful for my Birth Mother's endless love, courage, strength and faith! Because of her selflessness I have been blessed with such a beautiful life.

THANK YOU ANGELA!

I LOVE YOU WITH ALL OF MY HEART!

say what?

How is time flying by so flippin fast?!
Kenna just went back to school on Monday and it is SO nice to back in a routine! I didn't think her being home would make such a big difference, she's only there for 3 hours. It made a difference. It was nice to be able to sleep in and blah, blah, blah, but I think it's nice for both of us to have our own time. Even though my "own" time includes a freakishly cute baby boy. Kenna really does love school, especially the socializing aspect. She loves playing with the 2 neighbor kids that are the same age as her, Cadence & Christopher, EVERY day for as long as she possibly can. She has discovered the joys of "eat overs". I honestly had a little anxiety attack when she had her first "official" one.
She just lost her first tooth yesterday and the Tooth Fairy made a visit to our house. I didn't know if she would lose it before she went to bed and it was so loose I was afraid she might swallow it. I tried EVERYTHING to try and get her to let me pull it. I told her if she swallowed it during the night it would bite her butt when it came out. I bribed her with various different things and FINALLY after I told her I would buy her the biggest Slurpee the Sev has, she let me pull it and it popped right out. She got her hair cut, 4 1/2 inches gone baby! She is taking Ballet again and is loving it! I cannot believe how fast she is growing up...it makes me feel so old! lol
Sulli is getting humongous! He has been a little spitty as of late. I was a spitty baby, so I'm guessin that one's on me. He has starting "talking" and it's just the cutest thing EVER! He is super smiley and LOVES to move around. He likes to have his arms and legs moved really fast. Just tonight he started slobbering and blowing spit bubbles. I'm sure in a week or so it won't be as cute as it is now. I cannot get over how sweet my little guy is! He is so in love with his sister. She can always make him smile. =)

I would upload more pics, but it takes soooo long!

1 month already!

WOW! Where has the last month gone?! I cannot believe my little man has been here that long and I can't imagine my life with out him! He is such a sweet, content baby. I am so blessed to have two such wonderful kids! Here's a little update about the last month.

Sulli is getting so big! He's still a lil skinny guy, but getting bigger every day. I have mixed feelings about that. His yucky umbilical cord fell off, it was so stinky so I was really glad to be rid of it! He LOVES to eat and sleep. He LOVES his sissy and mommy! He's not too big on baths. He has the cutest smile ever! He has been out and about quite a bit. He got circumcised at 3 weeks =( . He was NOT a happy boy. He has almost out grown his newborn clothes. He is a well dressed boy. He is a happy boy (when he isn't getting circumcised, which is understandable)! =) I LOVE having a son!

Kenna is still loving school! She went off track on the 19th and doesn't go back til November 14th. She has been doing chorus at school every Tuesday and will be in a program the beginning of December. She starts ballet next Thursday (she's excited for that). She is so looking forward to Halloween. She's going to be Pocahontas, my mom just finished her costume and it is so stupid cute (Sulli will be Meeko and I'm going to be Grandmother Willow)! She LOVES having "play dates", which to me is just plain old playing, with our two neighbors and her friend Emma. She LOVES helping with her "brudder". She has adjusted well to no longer being an only child. She is such a funny girl and I am so grateful for her.

I am LOVING having two kids! I am however, VERY grateful for the 5 year age gap. I am pretty tired, but getting by just fine esp. now that I can sort of sleep in while Kenna's off track and because of the help my mom has been giving. I had my wisdom teeth taken out over UEA and my mom was so good to pretty much watch my kids for 2 days straight cause the meds they gave me knocked me out cold! I'm excited to get into a work out routine and start eating healthy again! ALL I have wanted to eat is crap...no bueno! Sulli is getting blessed on the 6th of November, my goal is lose 10 lbs by then. I had been planning on going back to school Spring semester, taking online classes. But there is NO WAY that's going to happen. I am so flippin scatter-brained! So my goal is for sure by next Fall.
I am so amazed at all of the wonderful blessings I have in my life. Especially my kids. I am so grateful that I get to watch them learn and grow everyday.

sullivan oxford violaketi simons

Sulli is here!!! I was induced in the 26th of September and everything went great! My Dr. came in and broke my water at about 7:30 a.m., my nurse stared me on PIT around 8:30, I got my FABULOUS epidural around 11:30, Sulli's heart rate started dropping every time I contracted so they put some O2 on me and repositioned me and he started to do better. From 12:30 to 2, I progressed really quickly and had to call my mom and Kenna and her daddy back to the hospital (they had gone to lunch) and my dad made it about 5 minutes before I started pushing. Originally I had planned on Kenna and Sulli's dad watching Kenna in the waiting room while I pushed, but last minute he decided he wanted to be in there, so Kenna stayed too. She stood at my shoulder, held my hand and helped count when I pushed. I only had to push about 2 times and he was out! To me he looks JUST like his sister, their noses are just a little different. He was so alert after delivery. He weighed 7 lbs. 14 oz. and was 20 and a half inches long. He scored well on his APGAR tests. He is such a wonderful baby and I am LOVING every second with him!

Kenna is a fantastic big sister! She LOVES to hold her brother, feed him, help me get diapers when he needs to be changed and she especially loves to sing her brother songs when he's crying. It is so sweet and it actually usually settles Sulli down. I love watching them together. I am one proud momma!

I have felt really great since delivery. I was really pleased with how well everything went with delivery and my recovery afterwards. I was also pleased with the staff at Jordan Valley Hospital. They took great care of the both of us! I am so grateful to my parents for watching McKenna while I was in the hospital. I don't know what I would do without them and their endless love and support.