Phone posts

So I have taken a ton of photos on my phone, because lets face it I don't always have my camera on me. I don't usually end up doing anything with them, so I thought why not do a post every week or two where I put the pictures up from my phone. It will most likely capture things that I have forgotten to mention. Plus it makes me take more pictures and yes I am still addicted to modifying all of them with an app called Instagram. Without it, they just aren't as cool.

So here is my first one.

They don't need much commenting... just every day kind of stuff, with a few fun things in between

Bath Time, Beach Time, Playing in the back yard & Bed Time

End of Summer Fun & Play Dates

Where had the summer gone?

Well besides the weekend fun, just about every Friday we attempted to do something fun! We hosted a playgroup at home... sadly I have no pictures from it, I guess we were having way too much fun or I was way too busy to take any. We went to Kidding Around, The Zoo, The Wild Animal Park which they are now calling Safari Park, we went to friends houses for play dates, RB Swim & Tennis Club, Moonlight Beach and Sea World. Saturday mornings were spent going to Little Kickers soccer, followed by a trip to the 7-11 for a special treat. An ICE that had to be a specific color, whatever color favorite of the day - a request from Sascha. One weekend, we planned a play date with her good friend Sadie from preschool. We went to a pond to feed the ducks. Another weekend, while daddy stayed home with Cameron and had his football draft, Sascha and I had a date at Sea World. I have not been there for Summer nights where they have special night shows and fireworks. We had such a great time together! It was nice to have great company too since we met up with Marjeri and Kingston there. We tried to frequent the pool as well, and for some reason every single time Sascha wasn't thrilled about going, it would take her forever to finally get in (unless we just forced her in) and then finally after 20 minutes in the water she would actually swim and have fun. Of course by then she is usually shivering cold and we have to get out. This was pretty much the trend every time we went swimming. However when she gets a lesson at Floaties from Mr. Josh, she has no issues with the pool. Go figure!

We had a bunch of birthday parties to attend as well. Sascha is now very much aware of what "party" means. When I told her that we are going to stop by a work party before going to Sea World, she quickly posed the question : "Will there be a jumpie there?" I had to break the news to her and tell her that there was no jumpie at this party. :)

We have really been enjoying our back yard! Sascha is getting really good at swinging, she has masted the leg pumping, and gets up pretty high (almost dangerously high ... especially if Baba is watching). She loves her playground, water table, and all the different ways of transportation out there. She is starting to get much better on her princess bike, she's super fast on the plasma car. We often have races around the "track" - the small paved road that goes around the back yard! It started to get dark earlier, which is too bad, we got pretty used to playing out there after dinner till 8pm.

Sounds like a pretty fun summer doesn't it? Oh what I would do to be a kid again... why is it that I remember how badly I wanted to grow up when I was a child. I dreaded nap time, and now I would give anything for a quiet 20 minutes where I could put my head down and rest.

And that sums up our summer. Sure we both had to work. Sascha enjoyed going to preschool and having splash days every week, while Cameron was at home with the Nanny. But we really tried to make the most out of our time together. I only wish I would make a separate blog entry out of each outing we had, and if I had all the time in the world I certainly would. Instead it's going to be crammed into this one blog post. I also wish that I had more pictures with me in them. I am usually the one taking them, so pics of me with the kids are rare, and I feel like I should have more.

Saturday mornings - playing soccer

Our Beach outing - we only went a few times, but Cameron loved the sand. Sascha refused to go near the water, and played in the sand the whole time as well.

Zoo, Safari Park with Ethan, and a date with my baby girl to Sea World

Hanging out in the back yard. Sascha really enjoys pushing Cameron in the swing

On a train ride at Old Poway Park for Cillian's 3rd Birthday

Playing Dress up at home - this is a dress she wanted to wear ...something that you may see a Flamenco dancer wear, it was brought to you from Spain by Baba & Deda

An evening to remember...

This was definitely an evening we'll remember as the climbing into the crib incident.

We put both of you down for the night, and sat down on the couch to start watching a movie, something we haven't done in a long time. It was about 15 or 20 minutes into it when this incident happened.

Cameron usually falls asleep very fast while Sascha takes forever. At times I go into her room, and its 9:30pm and she is still stirring and talking. Well this night was no different, except for Sascha decided to wonder into Cameron's room while he was sleeping. I heard a few noises on the baby monitor and decided to look at the video, at which time I saw her hair dangling near Cameron's face, and a few seconds later I saw all of Sascha plop into the crib next to him. Yes, she decided it was a good idea to climb into the crib with baby brother and sleep next to him. Sweet... kinda, Crazy... yes! We ran up the stairs faster than we had ever ran before, daddy went first. He got Sascha out of the crib and I ran in right after and turned on the light. Cameron wakes up and of course starts crying. Not sure if it was from Sascha's unexpected arrival, or me blasting him with the bright light right above him. I just wanted to make sure no one got injured and the crib was still in place. To my surprise - all was ok.

I quickly grabbed Sascha and took her back to her room and she looked at me with her bewildered look, the big eyes. I laid her down on the bed, and she got very quiet and did not answer any of my questions like "What were you thinking climbing into baby brother's crib?" "Do you know that doing that is dangerous - the crib can fall down, he can get hurt, you can get hurt... etc, etc, etc. ?" At that point I made a conscious effort to calm myself down and stop freaking out, after all no one did get hurt, and she was pretty aware that what she did was definitely not approved of.

So I asked again in a more calm manner - "Why did you climb into his crib? Were you scared? Did you not want to sleep by yourself?" She basically agreed and said she wants someone to sleep with her. I told her that she is a big girl, and even though sometimes we lay down next to her at bed time, she will be ok to sleep in her own bed by herself, and I gave her a choice of a stuffed animal or her baby doll. She choose the doll and stayed in her bed that night. Meanwhile Jeromey had to rock Cameron back to sleep and put him back into the crib. Whew! That was a close one!

The next night I went in to say good night and she gave me a hug and a kiss and said - "I will not go into baby brother's crib!" Hah, Thanks... I was hoping you wouldn't!

In spirit of that night I decided to capture the intrusion and put Sascha into Cameron's crib... for the sake of this picture. I needed it to remember this story, or remind me, to freeze this moment in time, to look back in 5 or 10 years and laugh about it!

Lets hope we don't find the little trouble maker in there again... I really don't think the crib will survive.

1st picture of daddy putting kiddos to bed, 2nd - Sascha invading Cameron's crib and 3rd-hanging out in Sascha's bed after story time

Cameron - 9 months

Growing like a weed! Besides getting your first tooth before turning 9 months, and starting to clap, you are finally interested in almost getting onto all fours and swaying back and forth. I wouldn't say crawling is around the corner because you don't get off your bottom yet, but definitely going in the right direction. You've even started to roll again. Yes... a bit late, but I can't complain, I have really enjoyed these stationary months. I can put you down on a blanket and know that you're not really going anywhere so I can run upstairs and grab something I need and not worry about you getting into something. The only issue we've been having is Sascha taking it upon herself to push or lay you down. I leave you sitting up, and when I get back you are on your back ...sometimes crying, while Sascha looks up at me with her innocent eyes! A trouble maker she is. For the most time she is a very loving big sister, sometimes she just doesn't know that she is squeezing too hard or hugging too tight.

For some reason 90% of the time I still cannot get you to sleep for 11 hours, usually it's only about 9 to 9 and half hrs, from 8:30pm - 6pm, and so you wake up pretty cranky most of the time. I remember Sascha waking up in the morning and she was happy, and I think it's because you are not sleeping long enough. The few times when you do sleep longer you seem to wake up in a better mood.

The other thing you're adamant about is the bottle. You will drink half of a 6 oz bottle and refuse the rest. I basically have to distract you with a book, or an item or a little kids video on my phone to get you to take the bottle again, and after a few of those attempts you get mad and arch your back and squirm around and cry... so feeding time is really not a whole lot of fun at that point and we give up. Solid feedings are usually easier. You are very eager to see a spoon and a water sippy cup, so at least you're a good eater with solids. You are more or less now keeping to a consistent schedule of 4 bottles a day, 3 solid feedings and 2 naps - morning and afternoon. You are an easy going sweet baby, and each and every day I fall more and more in love with you!

Your doctor visit went smoothly. You are over 18 lbs which I thought was great, not really sure why that's 17 percentile... and you are very tall 85% in height... daddy really hopes that continues! I complained about your constant rash that you get under your chin and neck area and behind one of your knees. Some of the days it really seems to bother you. It gets very red and itchy. Also your cradle cap is not going away. It's a little bit better, and is no longer bothering you, but it's still very much there, just more hidden now that you are getting more hair. Your hair is already curly. It's super cute! Sascha's hair didn't give any signs of curl until after her 1st Bday, but yours is definiltey getting curly. I guess both kids got my curly gene. :) Anyways, not much to worry about, will just continue w/the same creams and shampoos. I am sure you will grow out of it pretty quickly.

When I stand you up, you no longer kick like crazy, you will now actually stand up for a little while while being held with both hands of course. You still do love that jumpie! And you babble a ton. You seem to understand and mimic "Yes" and "No" and in both English and Russian, and "DADA" is still your favorite 2 syllables.

Stats:

18 lbs 8 oz - 17%

29.5 inches - 85%

17.5 inches - 24%

Just a few of your sweet experessions


Getting a Bath in the Sink

A lucky shot I got with my phone of the two kiddos, both smiling, if you have ever tried to take a picture of two small children, you know that it's a near impossible task to get them both to cooperate, so that's especially why I love the way this photo turned out. It makes my heart all warm and fuzzy looking at the these two adorable faces!

Cameron's 1st tooth

Cameron's First tooth arrived. His bottom right. Can't say it was unexpected, it seemed like the little guy was teething, drooling for some time now, and had a few restless nights along with his parents, but at last it's here! We can celebrate. :) He is constantly sticking his tongue out and licking all around, getting used to the new sensation. I will surely miss that toothless smile of yours!!! So darn cute! Sometimes we look over at you and Sascha both and wonder how did we get such cute little babies. Yes, of course we think you're cute, you're ours... but I am pretty sure everyone else thinks you're pretty adorable as well!

I took these with my phone, the above photo just minutes after we discovered your new tooth

and the one below is a few months old, your first time in the pool at your aunt's house. Yes completely unrelated to your first tooth, but I just love this photo of you hanging out on the boogie board (not to worry Daddy was standing right by in case you decided to take a plunge... luckily you didn't)

Both photos are looking like this because they were modified by a cool IPhone app I discovered - Instagram. I love the "old vintage" look some of the filters give to the photos, so I'll be posting a lot more.

Cameron - 8 Months

Your biggest accomplishment at 8 months... you started to clap. Pretty cute stuff. You'll usually start doing it when you're sitting up, and once you clap you will look up to see who is watching and you'll proudly do it again. You're much better at sitting up now, very rarely falling over, and you are finally interested in standing up while we hold you. Before when I put you on your feet you would just jump like you're in a jumpy (still your favorite!!!), but now you will stand up and straighten your legs and hold it for a little while, and at times you are only happy standing up.

Your eating habits are ever-changing. You went to 4 bottle feedings a day and 2-3 solid feedings a day. For some odd reason you like to fuss about one or the other. Lately it's been the bottle. The last two days, you keep refusing to finish it. If it's a 6 oz bottle, you'll only have 3 and then you press your lips closed and there is nothing we can do about it. My old tactics of singing or distracting no longer work. It's like you have made up your mind and there is no going back even if I try in another half an hour, you will rarely take it. Some things like distracting you with a magazine worked a few times. I let you rip it all up, meanwhile you finish your bottle, but even that has failed us in the last couple times. If you do decide to have your bottles, then cerial and other solid feedings could be an issue. Especially the food that is made for you at home. The packaged store bought food you actually like most of the time. Big surprise huh?
Oh well, hopefully this is just a phase, and you'll get over it. I was hoping to have a good eater on our hands, since your big sister is so difficult but at this stage I don't think that is the case.

Plus you still have no teeth, so we are still enjoying your toothless little smiles!

Did I mention your hair is starting to curl? Sascha had a lot more hair by this age, but her's was totally straight until after 1 year. You are also sporting a pretty good little mow-hawk.

Sleeping has been ok. There was one night where you slept in till 8:30am, BUT that only happened once. It was awesome, especially since Sascha has been sleeping till after 8am as well, so we really felt like it was some sort of a vacation. Most of the time you wake up between 5 and 6, and if we get you right away and move you in our bed, you will usually sleep for another hour or two which is great. We had a few rough nights when you were first learning how to sleep un-swaddled (you woke up every few hours) but now you're pretty used to it, so we no longer see a little burrito laying in the crib :)

Cameron had his first sleep over at grandpa & grandma's house. We dropped him and Sascha off on Thursday night. Sascha had a blast playing with her cousins Carolyn & Angelina most of the day. Cameron did very well in the pack'n'play at night, so they even convinced us to let them stay for Friday night. We enjoyed a nice evening out, while the kids were entertained at Sea World w/grandpa David and grandma Laurie. It was his first time away from us since he was born! A nice little break, but I missed both of them a ton.

We started to give you guys baths together mostly because the little guy seems too tall for the infant bath. He kicks and kicks and ends up splashing the whole counter top with water as well as me. So we have combined the baths... which is great! For now we have Sascha hold Cameron up while I wash him. Not to worry we never leave the two unattended. ;) I'm sure in a few more months he will be stable enough where he doesn't have to be held and they can splash and play together in the water. Sascha loves helping with his baths... most of the time. I love this picture of the two of them. She just loves her little brother and you can tell he is already smitten with her.