Justin's Birthday

I enjoy Justin's birthday celebrations – every family brings a choice of Justin’s favorite take outs (ours included Hawaiian this year), kids run around trying not to step on other people’s stones, and there’s lots of balloons for everyone to release. Although neither Apollo nor Adonis seem to enjoy the later tradition yet as they held on tightly to their balloons.

Apollo and Adonis seemed to enjoy being the only babies around and having Grandma’s and Abuelito’s attention. They would not let go of them! “They” as in Apollo and Adonis and “them” as in Grandma and Abuelito – not the other way around.

This year one of my sisters-in-law started a thread titled “Justin’s month” and everyone in the family had a chance to share a memory, a laugh, and (in my case and I’m sure in many others’) some tears.

The stories shared portrayed a Justin synonymous of weird food, awesome gaming, only the best, and memorable quotes (my favorite being “a family should be run like a business”).

Happy birthday, bro. We continue to miss you.

Cousins' gathering

I love excuses for getting the cousins together (and getting the boys out of the house and getting spoiled) so Celyn’s birthday party was very timely.

The boys enjoyed playing with the cousins but I think they especially enjoyed playing with the bunnies. Oh! Did I forget to mention that Celyn and his siblings got a couple of female bunnies who turned out to be a male and a female and resulted on an unexpected biology lesson? Yep. Lots of bunnies now :)

Counting down

Last day of classes! Yay!

We survived the intense 8-week, two classes schedule!

Now, onto the final exam!

Sharing skills

I’ve noticed Adonis doing this a lot lately: he’ll grab two toys (usually the same; i.e. two walking dogs, two fake phones, two lids, two lego pieces, etc) and he’ll hand one to Apollo – who will gladly accept it – and both will go off happily playing. It’s super cute.

On a side note, Apollo’s first word was “cocô” which in English means “poop”. Thank you, son. We love you even more.

Oh holidays weekends…

It's always nice to get a break from work but it seems like something else always comes up… The long, holiday weekend was quite a marathon. It probably felt longer because I crammed one of three finals while Jonas (graciously, I’ll add) watched the kids.

New tricks include Apollo climbing onto the couch all by himself and Adonis frustrated with their new toy. It also includes the Tornado Team sneaking upstairs into our master bathroom and unrolling the toilet paper roll.

Missing my babies

No, I’m not out of town or anything. It just feels like I haven’t seen them as much because I’ve been studying so hard…

Apollo can

Apollo was electrocuted today. Not the bad, burning, going to ER, electrocuted but the a little shock might serve you well electrocuted. Lol. I sound like a terrible mom, I know. But this child will not give up putting his little finger in the outlet, no matter how many times or how loudly you tell him ‘no’. Apparently it wasn’t enough to traumatize him as the perpetrator later on went right back to the outlet.

Apollo can now sign ‘drink’ however what he really means is he wants a drink from an open top cup, in other words, big boy cup, mommy’s glass - not sippy cup.

tornADO

Sometimes the boys are up before I’m done getting ready for work. On a day when that’s the case and they complain, I’ll let them hang out with me as I get ready, like I did today. The Demolition team was quicker than me. Before I realized, they had gone in the closet and ripped every single item of clothing off of its hanger.

And speaking of being too quick, guess who was today’s diaper pail victim? Jonas’s cell phone :)

Diaper pail

Vovo was having a hard time finding her cell phone today. She looked everywhere and just couldn’t find it. Until someone called her and she heard it. Somewhere in the living room, she thought. Again, no sign of the cell phone. Phone continues to ring and, suddenly, she realizes. It’s IN the diaper pail. Thank you, boys.

Happy V-day to me

Out with the old, in with the new! Happy V-day to me: new iPhone 4S!

Stringing signs

Apollo seems to be stringing signs. Today he signed “bottle” followed by pointing to it.

My Polynesian dream

Today we went to a Polynesian show. I looooove the drums, and playing with fire, and little boys with long hair.

It’s decided: I’m gonna let our boys’ hairs grow and I’ll let them play with fire. Except the hair part might take a little longer since they’re still pretty bald.

On a side note, they’re such “good helpers”. Both run to the dishwasher at the first utensils clinking sound and immediate start unloading it. Or, in some cases, they’ll climb onto the open door while the other tries to pull the top rack out. So sweet. Lol.

First ear infection

Last night Apollo woke up at 22h screaming and there was nothing we did that soothed him. I thought it was night terrors as he’s had a few. But this time it was different; he cried nonstop for over half an hour.

Jonas, in his infinite wisdom, decided to take him for a drive hoping the car movement and white noise would do the trick. However, another half hour later and poor Apollo was still inconsolable. So, like any other first-time, responsible parent (rofl) Jonas took him to the ER. After being discharged, looking for a 24h pharmacy, waiting for prescription to be filled, it was past 2h when they came home.

Apollo has a mild, outer ear infection and is now on antibiotics (for the first time). He woke up as his happy little old self. I can’t complain. We’ve made it to 14 months without an ear infection.

Night terror?

I’m going over the events before bedtime yesterday trying to figure out why Apollo woke up at 5am, inconsolable. I can’t help but to wonder whether it was another episode of night terror…

Sun Day

Bud’s was blessed in his family ward and we all gathered to witness such event. Apollo and Adonis were so well behaved I couldn’t believe it. It probably had to do with being held by their oldest cousin, Celyn, who is so good with babies. After the blessing we enjoyed (delicious) refreshments at Bud’s (awesome, resort like) backyard.

Later in the day we headed out to Grandma and Abuelito’s to join them for more yummy food, courtesy of Amy & Patrick. Amy is a chef. Literally. She went to school and everything. So whenever I hear, oh Amy’s cooking, I’m like ‘I can’t not go!’.

Thanks, Forbis, for another delightful meal and company!

Nothing like a busy (with fun) Saturday

Enjoying the weather, we started with breakfast at Liberty Market, followed by a Farmer’s Market visit, home for naps, and dinner at Keg. Life's good.

Geme (as in the verd "gemer")

Apollo, as soon as he realizes I’m about to leave him alone in the loft (because mommies also need to use the restroom every now and then), starts calling out “ma ma ma”. When he realizes it isn’t working, he goes, “pa pa pa”.