Park pictures

Brothers for life

Luke and Sam are growing up and starting to really interact with each other. It is fun to see each of their personalities working together. They are good friends but don't always show it! Here are a few of our daily conversations and life happenings.

I often refer to Luke as "brother" when talking to Sam. "Sammy, Go play with brother." and whenever I refer to Sam as brother when talking to Luke, Luke gets an upset, confused look and says, "No. I'm brother! He's Sammy!"

Luke always refers to the boys bedroom as HIS bedroom. "Oh, Sammy is sleeping in MY room."

Luke gets to watch TV during Sam's naps. It's one of the only activities that won't wake Sam up! So, whenever Sam wakes up, I tell Luke "Last episode! Now we can play with Sam!" Lately, Luke has been replying angrily "I DON'T WANT TO PLAY WITH SAM ANY MORE!!!"  because he just wants to keep watching TV. Then, Sam gets up and they play happily together.

Luke watches a lot of Curious George on TV (That is pretty much the only thing we has watched since Christmas, so he is exposed to a lot of daily life activities from that show!) Any time we do something or see something that he saw on TV, he says, "I was watching TV like that!"

Sammy is very tolerant of his brother and is typically the one that is causing the ruckus! He LOVES to knock over Luke's blocks, pillow. or whatever Luke is building at the time. Luke has a hard time with that and whines and cries and yells. If he's feeling patient, he tells Sammy in a very grown up way, "No, Sammy, No!" enunciating each letter very clearly, "NnnOo!" Does that make sense? It's the way I always say no when i am very serious and trying to teach them that it is not safe or whatever. It's cute to see Luke do that too! Even though he's very upset!

A few weeks ago, we were at the WIC office and Sam was looking at a baby in a car seat. I asked the mother if he was okay, and she was fine with it, but Luke came up and stood behind Sammy and watched his every move to make sure he wasn't going to hurt/touch that baby! Luke totally didn't trust him! Then, the second Sam reached down and touched the baby, Luke grabbed him and carried him away! hhahaha.

I really hope that I am raising them right to be best friends for life. I love them both and I want them to love each other!

-Emily

Learning Frustration

I am just a little frustrated with Luke right now. He does not know his letters at all and doesn't know his numbers all that well. I try to be a good mom and teach him the basics, but I thought that by know, he would have those down! We bought him a letters puzzle and a numbers puzzle when he was like 18 months, he watches Leap frog letter/number shows fairly often, and I've sung the abc songs and counted EVERYTHING a million times. We have practiced learning these things a lot and I just am not sure what to do in order for him to care about them. He counts everything out of order (1,7,4,9,10!) and sings the ABCs out of order/ mumbles through most of the song.

Today I tried to play a game where you race across the room to find the correct letter. We cut out each letter and put them in order on a mat. Then I was on the couch and would ask him to run and get the . For example, I'd say "Go and find the "a"! "A" makes the Aah sound, like apple, ant. "A!" and he'd run over and bring back some other letter. He really didn't know! I thought for sure he would be able to do it! We did it on a smaller scale a few weeks back where I'd pull out 3 letters and he'd have to find the correct letter from those 3 and he was able to do it then. But I think that I would give him clues, like "this letter is purple!" if he hesitated. Then he knew right away. (He is an expert on colors)

I do think that with the numbers, he might be bored with just counting, but I am not sure because he has never really shown me that he has mastered the skill. He is kind of of 50/50 on answering number questions correctly.

Before I leave you thinking that my son is way behind on everything, I will do a little bragging to bring him back up! I feel this is necessary because I am feeling down and I don't think he is dumb; he is just interested in other things.

Luke is a fabulous artist and works with his hands really well. He colors pretty close to in the lines, he draws people, shapes (can name the shapes too) and other creative pictures. He loves to paint and knows a lot about colors, can name all the basic colors and even knows a little about mixing colors. He has learned how to cut things out and is pretty good at that. He likes to cut and paste and does it without making a huge mess. He is also good with play dough and other crafts. He is good at organizing things and separating things. He is very good at imaginative play. He loves building houses out of anything (blocks, boxes, toys, chairs, pillows, blankets, etc) and pretending there's a fox/wolf/bear/lion/river outside and we have to get inside.

I know his little brain is working and he is learning every day. I am proud of Luke in every way possible and I don't want it to seem that I am not. He is awesome.

But I would like some advice on how to motivate him to learn his letters and numbers. I could also use advice on how to potty train him at night, while your giving advice. We've been struggling with that for a long time as well!

Thanks in advance for any advice you might have for me!!

Happy B-day Gorgeous!

To my dear loving Emily,

Happy birthday my sweetie! What a special day. I'm so blessed to be married to the person of my dreams, literally though.... the person of my dreams! You are everything I ever dreamed of and much more.

You are so patient, no only with the kids but also with me, there is much I need to learn from you.

You are a great example of motherhood. You are indeed an amazing mom that is teaching our children good values and basically everything  People ask me how do I do it through dental school with 2 kids, and I tell them, I don't know, but you should ask my wife how she does it with 2 kids and no husband! You are a great support for me and I love you even more for it. Thank you

Having you in my life dear Emily has truly brought me more stability, purpose and far more happiness to my life that I ever imagined. Very often just by looking at you and our kids and just get this feeling of excitement inside me (that's probably why I'm always kissing you). I love you, and I just want to make sure we celebrate your birthday like we're suppose to. You are the most important person in my life, and even though at times (most of the time) it seems I'm submerge in "dental school stuff" I know my priorities and my biggest blessing... YOU.

What a great cook we have at home, I even have friends at school asking to be on my "meal plan". Thank you Em, I know it is not easy but I for sure appreciate it. You are my better half, my everything.

I love  you

Francisco  (El guapo)

Our little project

I don't know if we have mentioned it before but Luke loves taking baths! He would stay in the water as long as he can, even if the water get cold. He likes to see his feet and hands get all wrinkly. Emily showed me this little project on pinterest of pvc pieces and suction cups that can go on the bathtub wall and the kids can play. I showed Luke what we were doing, and off we went to Walmart to get the suction cups and then we headed off to Homedepot. We got home started drilling and Luke was already naked; he just couldn't wait to play with his new bath toys! It was really hilarious; he played for about and hour or more and then he got dressed.

 

It wasn't too long when once again I found him in the bathtub like this.

What a cutie, I really like spending time with my precious Luke.

It's a new year

With the new year and everyone talking about their new year's resolutions, I started pondering mine. I remembered the goals I made last fall and thought I should go back to review and consider my progress. So here is my update on my goals and a few more that I have added.

1. Find time to read the scriptures! (This is a hard one or me. It's 11pm and I still haven't read them! yikes)
Okay, I have been better at this one, but definitely not where I'd like to be. I have started a tradition to read a verse or two with Luke and Sam at bed time and we have been doing really well at that. So, I do open the Book of Mormon at least once a day. I also will not read a book for pleasure until I read the scriptures, but I don't get a solid study in each day. I have renewed this goal for 2013. I have been trying to wake up earlier (before the boys) and read my scriptures first thing in the morning. I've been doing pretty good, but it is SO hard to get up!

2. Exercise every day. Go to the gym 3x/week.
Okay, I have actually slacked off worse than when I originally write this, I think! This fall/winter has been really bad for colds for me (I've had 4 colds this year) and I really got out of the habit of going to the gym. I am renewing this goal as well. I have tried to make everyday life more active. (Not complaining to have to go up and down the stairs one extra time, crawling and running with the boys and not being lazy about it, etc)

3. Go to the temple on ward temple night each month (Francisco and I are going to try a system where we trade off each month and every 3rd month, we find a babysitter and go together)
I don't think we made it to the temple for ward temple night any of the last few months. While it is a good idea and I still would like to try it, it just didn't work out. I think if I get Francisco in on it, it might work out better. Then we can remind each other, and make sure we are both free that night to make it happen. 

4. Decrease the amount of sugar in our diets. We eat too much sugar. I used to not think this was a very big deal because we eat a lot of healthy things too, but I think it  is too much and we need to figure out some alternative snacks that aren't so sugar-packed.
Despite Christmas, and Halloween treats, I think I have done okay with this goal. I have made an effort to buy "healthier" snacks. Luke now eats frozen go-gurts (called ice cream yogurt) instead of a scoop of ice cream. I rarely have fruit snacks and pop tarts now and when we do have them, the box lasts a lot longer! (They used to be staples in our kitchen). I buy less Nutella and oreos. So far, so good. I do think we can do better though! 

5. Increase the amount of beans/legumes that we eat. I've been working on this for a while and haven't had a lot of success. Just need to do it.
I have done better with this goal as well. I made a lentil gumbo that was so good and we eat quite a few black beans. I am trying to have one bean based meal a week. Beans are yummy!

6. Spend more quality time with my husband. Now that school is back in session for him, we need to make time for each other. I got really excited today about some of the silly dates I read about on thedatingdivas blog.
You know, we have done this, just not in the way I originally intended. We have not gone out on a lot of dates, but I do feel closer to him now than when I made this goal. So, goal completed I guess! Although, we should go on more dates too!

7. Make time for me. Whether it's to read a book, make some crafts, or try something new, I want to have hobbies that are for me, so that I don't lose myself in motherhood.
This goal I have done well at! I got to make a few crafts/decorations for the holidays (just finished a wreath for my door that is for the rest of the year), read a few books (or at least started to read a few books) and have really gotten into cooking. I got a new cookbook for Christmas (Our Best Bites) which has some really good recipes in it! and I have found it to be really satisfying to create a beautiful healthy meal for my family. (I haven't made Hamburger Helper in a really long time!)

8. Open up and let people get to know me better. I want to share my thoughts and opinions, my likes and dislikes. I tend to put up a wall and don't get to close to people, but I think that the more I open up, the deeper and more meaningful my relationships with others will become.
I have made a conscious effort with this goal. I have decided to tell more stories, show more emotion, try not to act so perfect. I do think this has made a difference in my relationships. I didn't do this all the time. Actually a lot of the time I forgot. but sometimes, I would remember and I would start talking. My sister in law actually mentioned that my voice didn't seem as "high-pitched" as it used to. I just realized I think it was because I was trying to be more "real" with my family. I don't know if that was the case or if she really had just gotten used to my voice, but maybe. I will continue practicing being "real".

As for my new goals:

9. I will dedicate at least 1 hour a week (on Tuesday) to reading a Continuing Education Unit eligible article for Dietetics. I am pretty far behind on my CEUs so I've got to start doing them if I want to keep my license. I've already read most of an article.

10. As previously mentioned, wake up everyday before the boys. I have my alarm set for 7:30 am which used to be about 30-45 minutes before the boys got up. Well, I have also made an effort to put the boys to bed earlier. Therefore, Sammy has been getting up earlier (but Luke has thankfully been getting more sleep). So now, Sam is waking me up at about 7 each morning, but I have been trying to read the scriptures while cuddling with him each morning. It isn't perfect, but it works.

Good luck to all of you who have made new and hopefully lasting goals for 2013!

-Emily

Epitome of Motherhood

I wanted to share the last 30 minutes of my life so that people who are not mothers might understand what a mother does and those of you who are mothers will relate, I'm sure.

--3:40pm: Luke helps me put a load of laundry into the washer. He makes sure to add the soap next to the water so that it washes better.

--3:45pm: Sam wakes up from his very short afternoon nap. He wakes up grumpy. He wants to be held. I give him his medicines (both for reflux). I tell him he is not allowed to eat until 4:15.

--I set Sam down and go get my shoes from my closet. I HAVE to get the garbage out of the apartment. He slowly and dramatically cries and crawls toward me. I pick him up again and cuddle him for a minute. Set him down next to ALL the toys in the middle of the hallway.

--I tell Luke I am going to take the trash out. I say "You should go look out the window and I will wave to you! I need to stay in the house because someone needs to watch Sammy." (I know that if I don't say this, he will either want to come with me or lock me out of the house!)

-- I go out. Sam starts bawling. Screaming like he is being tortured. I race as fast as I can to the dumpster and almost forget to wave to Luke! I wave and make a goofy face before racing up the stairs to comfort the poor hysterical baby.

-- I pick him up. I calm him down by dancing and bouncing him to the music playing (Taylor Swift Pandora)

-- Set him down again so that I can get out some chicken from the freezer to defrost.

-- Done with that. Pick him up again.

--Eat some of Luke's "food" he made. which is actually toys in a rubbermaid container. I gobble it up! Share some with Sammy. Then give it back to Luke and tell him it is so yummy, but it's frio! and needs to be warmed up! He's happy.

--Chicken needs to be turned over. Still holding Sam. Flip the chicken breasts with a fork and only one hand. Let Sammy push the start button.

--Dance with Sammy some more.

***

--Wipe up the food left over from lunch on Sam's high chair. (Still holding Sam) Needs  two trips to the sink for rinsing before all the food is gone.

--Put Sam in the highchair. Give him a cracker. It is 4:10pm.

--Sit down for approximately 1 minute to write this blog post before I forget it all when Sam decides he needs something else. Get Sam a cheese stick.

--Write this blog post. You could say I was listening to lovely music while writing. This is true, but not the truth. I was really listening to Sam scream for the majority of it. Finally decide that Sam really needs my help so I take him to the couch with a sippy of milk. We cuddle. I brush some crumbs from his feet and pants. His tear stained face breaks my heart. I wonder why he is so upset and hope he will feel better after drinking milk (since he didn't really eat any of his previous snack).

Currently the boys are playing together in the living room. Sam is squealing. Happily? maybe. At least he's not screaming!

Oh! Here comes my whining baby! and the process continues. Motherhood.

***This was the point at which I was interrupted by Sam's screaming!

-Emily

Sam is walking

I love how cuddlely my little Sam is. He truly enjoys giving hugs and kisses. I say "besito" which means little kiss and he will smack his cheek against my lips. I've read there are all these different kinds of ways to show love (verbal, touch, actions). Sam is definitely the touch type and I love it. Luke on the other side loves being held, but if you rub him or something he will say: "I don't like that".

My kids are the best : )

Sam