Alyssa - 365 Project Update

It's hit and miss with a newborn. Some pictures are definitely better than others. Overall, I am happy with the results.
I guess I've done it enough times now that Briana will even remind me that I need to take a picture of Alyssa. Of course she wants to be in all of them as well. When I get my new camera in a few months I'll begin a project for all my kids. :)

Click Below to see what I have so far.

Alyssa - 365

If she could just do diapers . . . .

then I would be all set!!

My Kids Love to Swim!

We have used the pool more this summer than the previous six summers combined. Most of it has to do with Briana and William's constant requests to be taken down to the pool. Briana is working on her swimming skills and spends most of her time without the life jacket. She finally had the courage to put her whole head under water this year. So, finally Alan has had the chance to work on some of her basic swimming skills. William swims very well with his life jacket on. He jumps into the water and swims to where ever daddy and Briana are in the pool. He can actually kick very well. We make sure he always has his life vest on. He thinks he can swim just as well without it! The boy has no fear. Alyssa and I are on the sidelines this year. We actually go for walks during most of the swim time. This way I can get a little exercise in and Alyssa can enjoy the outdoors. At two months old, she is a little small to actually get into the water . . . maybe next year!!



This is about as good as she can swim without the life jacket. She still has a lot of trouble kicking.




Two year olds - one minute they are mad and cranky . . .

The next minute as happy as can be!




My little guy is such a good swimmer!!



Briana with her mask and vest! She got the mask while visiting her cousin in Vagas. William is obsessed with it and begs to have it whenever Briana gets it out to use in the pool.



William finally gets a hold of Briana's mask.



This is how Alyssa enjoys the pool!!

Gym Kinz

On Friday we decided to try out a new place in Yucaipa called, Gym Kinz. I was very impressed! The layout of all the equipment was great. There were a lot of kids there that day and it didn't feel too crowded. The owner was very nice and even let our group stay a bit longer to try out the place. We will definitely be going back very soon!!

Alyssa's Dr. Visit

Today Alyssa had her first real doctor's visit complete with 5 shots. We had to wait over an hour to see the doctor and by the time we went back, Alyssa was sound asleep and remained that way until the very end of the exam. Dr. Lao was trying to get her to wake up so she can look into her eyes and finally managed to get them open. Then we had to wait for the shots. I could tell Alyssa was getting hungry but I didn't want to feed her until after the shots were complete. So, by the time the nurse came in with the shots Alyssa was already screaming for food. So, the screaming pretty much continued until we went back into the waiting room. We had to wait another 20 minutes and so I was able to feed Alyssa. Once she had food in her tummy, Alyssa was finally able to fall sound asleep!

Current Weight: 12lbs 8oz
Height: 22 1/2 inches

Alyssa is 2 months old

Two months aready! She is growing so fast. :)

Alyssa's First Visit to the Zoo!

Last Sunday was Alyssa's very first visit to the San Diego Zoo. We actually went for Briana and William. Which was a good thing considering she slept during most of the trip. We have annual passes and we hadn't been to the zoo in so long. When I was at the end of Alyssa's pregnancy I didn't think I could walk around the zoo for 4-5 hours. So, we really hadn't gone in the last few months. Of course I did forget my camera and ended up using Alan's cell phone for the pics.



This is the only way we can get William through the Zoo in one piece!


My baby girl and her first amusement park visit! (This was one of the few times she was actually awake)

William is "Driving" me crazy!!

I love having a little boy, but he definitely challenges me in ways Briana never did. His new obsession is to crawl into the front seat of the car when we get home from our morning activity. As we pull into the driveway, he asks "Mommy I can get on your side?" Which is his way of asking to climb into the front seat after I unbuckle him from his car seat. I usually let him hang out in the front seat for as long as it takes me to get Alyssa, my purse, and any other bags or items I have to bring in.

While in the front seat he usually turns on the hazard lights, turns on the turn signal, and puts a CD in the player. The first time he climbed into the front seat I didn't really know any better and left my keys in my purse in the front seat while I grabbed Alyssa. By the time I came back he had taken my keys and placed them in the ignition. He was so proud, "Mommy I do the keys for you!" (He'll be one of those six year olds who can drive a car . . . . . it probably doesn't help that he is in the middle of the bench seat and can see everything I do up front.)

Getting him out of the front seat is always a challenge. He never wants to leave!! It can be 110 degrees outside and he wants to stay in the front seat and play. I have to climb into the car and grab the little monkey kicking and screaming the whole time. Thank goodness he only weighs 25 lbs!!

Now if only he would keep this obsession to the times when we are at home and finished with our errands and play dates for the day. Oh no, he will take any opportunity he gets to get into the front seat. The other day I had quite a bit of stuff to bring out to the car. So, I tell Briana and William to get in their seats and do the top buckle. (This can be so helpful to me when we are in a hurry.) I bring out all my stuff, including baby Alyssa and there is monkey boy in the driver's seat. I have to climb in, chase him around the front area and place him into his car seat. Then he starts crying because I did his buckle and he didn't get to. By this time I am so frustrated with him . . I gave him the chance to climb in like a big boy and do his own buckle but he chose to go into the front seat. Where is Briana during all of this? Sitting in her seat with her seat belt buckled. As I sit down and begin to back down the driveway I can hear William screaming in my ears and Briana telling me what a good girl she is.

Thanks to Grandpa for letting William play in the front seat of his car while we were at the hospital having Alyssa! Before William would ask to go in the front seat and I would say no. Then he would respond, "ok." But once he had a taste of the front seat, he no longer took no for an answer. So, now I have the daily battle. Will he sit and buckle his seat like he was told and will do on occasion? Will I have to chase him out of the front seat yet again? Can we come home from a long morning and have him not ask to be in the front seat for once? Only time will tell!!!

A Moment in Time . . .

As of right now, 430pm all three kids are sound asleep! Briana stopped taking regular naps about 8 months ago. However, there are times, about once every two weeks, when she will nap. As for me, I'm on the computer. I would probably be doing the same thing even if Briana were awake but I had to document this time because it is rare!!

March AFB

We didn't have much planned and wanted to get out of the house. So, we decided to go and visit March AFB. They have an indoor museum with many plane related historical displays. On the outside they have many planes on display that are no longer in use. Other than being very hot, it was a great outing for the family!




(Yes, I'm holding an umbrella in order to keep the direct sun off of Alyssa. They handed them out to anyone who wanted an unmbrella while outside touring the plane display.)

Briana's Road Trip

Today, Briana went on her first road trip without mommy and daddy. Her grandparents wanted to take her to Vegas to visit her cousin and other relatives for a few days. She was so excited about going, it was all she could talk about during the past few days. It was hard to watch her go but I know she is having a great time and she is in good hands. I also know that this trip is the first of many more to come. Eventually, William and Alyssa will get their turn with the grandparents as well. I know all the kids will look back at their special one on one time as a fond memory from their childhood. That makes it a little easier for me to let her go. No matter how hard it has been for me, William is practically heart broken without his big sister. He plays for a while, realizes she's gone and begins to cry for her, then continues to play. He actually took it a little better than I thought he would. Up until they left without him, he thought he was going too. (No matter how many times I told him he was staying with mommy and daddy.)

William and Alyssa

I was so concerned about how William would react to a new baby sister. To look at him, you would never know we brought a new baby home. His demenor, attitude, habits and everything else is exactly the same as it was before Alyssa came home. From time to time he does get obsessed about holding the baby. So, when she is awake and we are at home, he gets to hold her. From the look on her face, I know she loves her big brother too . . . .

Alyssa :)

She is getting so BIG so fast!! I can't believe she is already 6 weeks old! She is already smiling so much and I know she will be hitting another milestone before I know it!

4th of July

This 4th of July we decided to stay close to home and celebrate with my family in Yucaipa. The kids ate, went swimming and played with cousins. We did not see any fireworks this year. I really didn't want to hassle with the crowds, keep the kids up past their bedtime and deal with a newborn all at the same time! Maybe next year . . . .