Bannock

Bannock's "crab" he made

I just love this little boy. He's so stinkin smart I could create a blog just for him and the things he says and does. This video was on a day when he was sick and had a fever of 102. He was so pitiful. Early that day Sean had said to me (while Bannock was in the other room) "Mama somebody wants watermelon, he was asking for it while you were asleep" and then, some four or five hours later I came upon bannock in the kitchen and this is what I found (if you can't understand him he's saying "mama, somebody wants watermelon") so sweet, and yes, he did get some watermelon :)

Other fun things:
- We made milkshakes the other night and Bannock said "Want red milkshake!... actually, no, want GREEN one!"
- Lately I have him take showers with me to keep him out of trouble and he's the biggest water hog! He used to play with toys but now he just stands under the water and if I move the stream or get under it he backs up until its hitting him again (or if I'm in the way he says "no mine!" and pushes my legs)
- he's learned to tell us what he likes = "I yike orange juice" or "I yike green" and the other day in the car listening to music "I yike Journey"
- He can count to ten
- he knows his letters and colors
- he can tell a pteranadon from a triceratops and a t rex (and can say the names too!)
- he felt "baby brother" move for the first time and now points to my belly saying "baby brother moving in there" or "shh baby brother sleeping" or else he just blows raspberries on my tummy
- when he sees something similar to someone or thing he says "that's like you!" (i.e. he saw a baby in a magazine and said "baby Brooke, like you!" - Brooke is our neighbor's baby girl)
- if I drop something he says "mama I'll get it" or "mama I'll clean it up!"
- he likes to keep his hands clean and asks for napkins after he says "mama have dirty hands!"
- he says please, thank you, welcome and "s'cuse me!"



Anyway, I'll stop but I like to have this stuff on some sort of record. I love this little guy, I know he'll be a sweet big brother and I'm so lucky to have such a sweet little boy who loves his mama so.

Preggo updates...

Yikes this is a horrible picture but it's the most recent (as in today). I'm now 34 weeks - 6 weeks or 42 days to go, I don't count by months any more ;) I figured I haven't really given any pregnancy updates other than our first ultrasound. But I'm mostly doing this as an excuse to vent! I think I'm smaller this time around, or at least I haven't gained as much weight as I did with Bannock - albeit I started off about 10-12 lbs overweight with him so I was a bit more "fit" in the beginning with this one. And this one is incredibly active! I thought for sure he'd run out of room but that doesn't stop him. He kicks and wiggles and squirms all day, there are no sleeping times for him, or times when he's more active. I can even feel his squirming and kicking while I'm walking, which I didn't with Bannock. I suppose it's a comfort to know he's strong and healthy.

It's been hard with a two year old, he keeps me active but I get exhausted so easily. I am also anemic which doesn't help with the tiredness. I have a complete lack of energy to do anything... like pick up the house, cook dinner, even blog. I feel lazy but at the same time I just don't really care to do anything about it. I should be preparing for baby, especially because I'm not taking classes right now and will be when he's born, but again, the no energy thing just takes priority.

I feel more worried about labor with this one for some reason. With the first I just decided to see how it went, how I felt, and make no finite decisions on a birth plan. It wasn't ideal. But I don't have a plan with this one except NO epidural. It was pointless last time and I don't want to be in labor as long as I was before (36 hours anyone?). I've also become extremely nervous about c-sections. Now, I don't want anyone reading this to think that I think they are bad - not at all. But I have been hearing birth stories from SO many women lately who get induced (typically too soon) and the baby (nor their body) is ready and they wind up with emergency cesareans. It just makes me nervous because I'd like to avoid that if at all possible. I hope I don't eat my words on this...

I commend you if you read this whole thing, thanks for hearing me out! There are many other gripes I could include but I'll save those for my fantastic husband's listening ear ;)

Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to the most wonderful man!
I know this is belated but I still want to share my gratitude for my wonderful husband and the amazing job he does as a father. While he is definitely the disciplinarian in the house, Bannock still adores him and they have so much fun together - wrestling, reading, watching TV, going for walks, playing at the beach or the playground - they're buddies. Bannock wanted to wear his (only) tie to church on father's day so he could be just like daddy - he actually said "wear tie, daddy like you!" so cute. I'm so very excited for Sean to have two little boys who will want to be just like him and I am so thankful for the example that he is for our children.

25th Birthday

I turned 25! Hard to believe I am now a quarter of a century. My special day was somewhat uneventful... but I was spoiled by Sean in the evening so that made up for it ;) After getting a manicure and pedicure Sean took me out to eat while our awesome Smart friends watched Bannock. We went to my favorite Thai place in Haleiwa called Haleiwa Eats. It's the most delicious place and we have not been disappointed by anything we order! We had the company of a bright green gecko on the window by the table but, alas, no pictures because I was on the phone with relatives and Sean just didn't care enough to snap a pic. Oh well. We spent the rest of the night wandering Haleiwa and then got some shave ice back at Angel's in Laie. On Saturday our wonderful friends Jozie and Tommy treated us to more babysitting and we caught a double feature at the spectacular Laie Palms Cinema. Anyway, it was generic birthday fun but much needed date time! Still can't help feeling old...

Family Pics 2011

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May 2011 Highlights

Our friend Julie Hawke took some awesome family pictures for us, I love them so much I might just have to have her do our family pictures forever. We went to a couple different beaches at sunset and it was perfect. I also might just have to come to Hawaii whenever I want family pictures because it's such a perfect place for them. Thank you Julie!!!

The other part of May was spent in class but now Spring term is over and I finally get a break (Sean is taking a couple Religion classes and one online as well) We're hoping to finally spend more time at the beach and work on our tans.

April 2011 Highlights

In April my mom came to visit and she treated us with a stay in Waikiki - a little mini vacation which was much needed. Most of the pics I took were with my phone so, alas, I don't have them on here yet. But these we took while walking down the street - one of those crazy street entertainers stopped us with his parrots and took an endless amount of pictures with my camera. Probably one of the only times it was actually worth tipping! So now we have fond memories of birds sitting on our heads in Waikiki.
We went out to dinner alot while she was here, which was heavenly because we hadn't been to a real restaurant in months (unless Taco Bell counts). The first picture is Bannock feeding Sean a chip (which turned into chip after chip after chip and it was pretty cute - Sean is such a good sport).
We also moved into TVA in April which was definitely the highlight of the year for us (so far...). Our new apartment is two bedroom, upstairs in one of the newest buildings in TVA (and did I mention way cheaper than our last crappy places?). We get an amazing breeze all the time and it has been an unbelievable blessing to be here. So I can now officially invite anyone who wants to come visit!!! I'll post pictures soon, once I make it a bit more homey.

March 2011 Highlights

Bannock turned 2! We celebrated his b-day by going to the aquarium and dinner and then opening presents and skyping the grandparents. The next day we had a BBQ with a bunch of friends and ate cupcakes... which Bannock enjoyed doing without his hands (my camera is crappy and this was the best picture that came out!) Anyway, it was fun and laid back and I can't believe my little guy is two.
-He is a genius - the most intelligent little person I've ever met. At the time of this photo he had over 200 words (we counted) but as of now he's a total chatterbox - the only two year old I've ever known to be able to say "Transporter truck" , "mini excavator"and a myriad of other phrases.
-He also knows all the basic colors (red, yellow, blue, purple, green, orange, pink, gray, black) as well as ALL his letters (I'm very proud of him for this) - we're working on counting to ten now and he's on his way.
-He loves Cars and Nemo and knows the names of all his favorite characters on all his favorite shows (he can recognize all the engines from Thomas - yes Bertie and Toby too - something I can't even do) I suppose he watches too much TV but some of the more educational shows I approve of because he learns so much - I think Super Why is the reason he knows all his letters.
-He asks me to sing songs when he goes to bed and the top ones are "Child God song" (I am a child of God), "Popcorn tree" (popcorn popping on the apricot tree), "Temple song" ( I love to see the temple), "Lets go fly kite", "Sunbeam song", "Sunshine song" (You are my sunshine,which leads to him asking for "Love you Bannock" song - which I made up to the same tune), "Row Row your boat"and "Twinkle star".
-He knows all his friends' names from nursery, as well as all some of their parents! He also knows our names and his grandparents and uncles and aunts names.
I'm always amazed at how much information this boy's brain retains (He sometimes asks "Go Target, get trucks, buy em!", Or shouts "Let's go right now!" when we're about to go somewhere) I wish I could list it all but I'm sure you'd rather not listen to a mother praise her child so much ;)

FURTHER MARCH NEWS:
We finished the (craziest) semester. It was stressful and anxiety ridden and broke and busy but we finished (and got good grades might I add!).

we also found out our next little peanut is a BOY !!! So we'll have two little troublemakers around the house come August, we're very excited. We would've been happy either way but were leaning more towards a boy so Bannock would have a playmate:)