well, well, well

I have some wonderful news! We are pregnant again! I'm only about 6 weeks... and yes, I'm a little nervous about telling everyone so early, but we figure, we'll need the support from friends and family if something goes wrong anyway. We didn't really expect to get pregnant so quickly... but it's funny how these things happen sometimes :) It was the first time we tried! Little Joshy, and his brother or sister will be about 21 months apart, just the same as me and my brother were. I'm really excited, and nervous too. It's going to be totally different being pregnant with a toddler, but I'm looking forward to the challenge! Speaking of little Joshy... he is just the cutest thing you've ever seen! My heart melts every time I look at him. He's walking and talking, and oh so cute! He's such a big boy now, and I never thought it was possible to love a little person SO much! He's such a smart kid, and is totally aware of everything you say to him. He is mommy's little helper!

Jude is in the academy, and half way done now! Yippee! He graduates on September 11th, and I'll just be out of my first trimester by then. I'm very happy that i won't be large during the summer months, we really couldn't have planned it better :) Jude is doing well, of course! And in the top 5 of his class. It's hard for him to be away so much, but we're making the best of it, and we see and end date in sight.

I haven't felt sick at all, just really tired lately. I feel like I'm cherishing the time I have with Josh even more now, because I know it's not just going to be the two of us for long. And I have to be honest, that kinda makes me sad. We've been partners the last several months, and i know this sounds silly, but I'm sad that he won't have my full attention. Ha! Even as I say that, it sounds funny, but it's true. I know he'll adjust just fine, it's just sad to think about right now for me... and that may be the hormones talking :)

Joshua is sleeping like an angel, and I'm SO glad I trained him how to sleep. I think with number 2, we'll do that much sooner than 9 months... with two kids, I think it'll be something i HAVE to do!

We are enjoying the pool very much, and trying to stay cool in this hot weather! We had a fabulous first birthday party for Joshua, and I can't believe it's over already. Time flies by! We did a "fun in the sun" themed pool party. Josh wanted nothing to do with the gifts, which surprised me!

Joshy got his first haircut a few weeks ago too, and now has 7 teeth!

Here's a picture of 'we three kings', on Josh's actual birthday. We went to Irvine park, just the three of us :)

That's all for now, I'll try to write more frequently :)

Teeth and exciting news!

I can't believe it's March already! Well, our little boy has teeth!! 3 teeth to be exact! I took him to his 9 month check up a week ago Tuesday, and she said four on the top are coming in, and that his gums were swollen. One of the top popped through, and he's got two on the bottom. And so far, there hasn't been any issues with breastfeeding. I heard from some moms that it's like starting all over when they get teeth... but I haven't had any issues at all... thank goodness :)

And the big news is: Jude is officially employed with the City of Orange, as a Police Officer Recruit. He starts the pre-academy on march 16, and the academy on March 30th! We are really excited and so thankful that everything moved so quickly. We feel really lucky. He got his hat and a bunch of other stuff last night, and it was fun taking pictures and putting his hat on Josh :) We are definitely blessed.

Last week, we were fortunate to spend some time with family from out of town. My aunt Rita and my cousin Jenny, and her son Mason were here for about a week. It was fun to see Mason and Joshua play together... they're only a month apart. We were busy, and made a trip to the beach last Saturday... and let me tell you, it was absolutely beautiful! Not crowded, not too hot... it was so fun, and Joshua LOVED it! It was lots of fun to be able to spend time with them, and we're sad that they're gone!

Joshua continues to babble like crazy, and now his favorite thing to do is point. He's getting really good at saying 'all done' in sign language, and 'more' too. we're working on 'please' and 'thank you'. He wants to walk, and i think he'll be there soon. He does crawl on all fours now, but he'd much rather hold one of your hands and walk around the house. Some friends of ours let us borrow a really cute little mini-wagon, and he walks all around pushing that thing. It's adorable. I just weighed him this morning, and he weighs 24 pounds... we recently had to get a different car seat, because he out grew the one we had.

It's so much fun, and I feel like he's really understanding what I say now, and he'll even do things I ask him to. He dances now too, which is amazing... and I really need to get that on film. He's been really interested in putting his toys into this little box... and then dumping them all out again. He pats my back when I give him a hug too... well not all the time, but sometimes. It's so fun to see him get bigger, and develop into a little boy. Sometimes I wish I could just squeeze him SO tight!

Just this week, we've been working on going to sleep on 'our' own. A friend of mine told me it would only take about a week to train him... so I started on Monday, and I haven't rocked him to sleep since. And let me tell you... it is so freeing. The first and second day were the worst... but now he doesn't cry for very long at all, and he's sleeping better through the night too! It's a win-win! It was getting to the point where I was getting up 4 or 5 times a night, and I was so tired of it. I kept making excuses as to why I shouldn't let him cry... but I think I reached the end of my rope and felt like I had no other option, unless I wanted to keep getting 4-5 hours of sleep per night. I really do think it's best for him and me, and he's learning to sooth himself and sleep! I can't help but feel proud of myself, and I kept thinking, when he's two years old, I do not want to have to rock him to sleep... or even if I get pregnant again, I can't be getting up all night long! So that's where we're at, and it feels good. For the first time in MONTHS, I've been able to sleep for 5 and 6 hours in a ROW! It's amazing!! Little mason helped convince my I think, because they started early with him, and he just hangs out in his crib for a couple minutes, and then he's out. So I'm looking forward to when Josh doesn't cry at all, and just knows that it's time for bed. Oh, and the last couple nights, I go in there, and turn off the lights, get his blanket, and pacifier, and Josh actually points to his crib and leans towards it... like he wants to go in there. I think that's a victory! :)

Anyway... He's already nine months old, and going to be 10 months old soon, and I'm still learning! I guess you're never done learning when you're a mom! :) And I absolutely love it. This is my dream job, and I'm so glad I get to stay home and be a mommy. I have my husband to thank for that... Love you honey!

So join me in congratulating my amazing Husband for his new job!! :) He deserves it!! And thanks to all of our family and friends for talking to the background investigators, and saying nice things about Jude :)

Thanks for reading... and here are some cute pictures of my little family :)

Jude bought Josh his first basketball... so cute!

Josh loves bath time :) and is now too big for the kitchen sink.

My little valentine.

Daddy playing video games... but I love the look Josh is giving me in this one!Joshua loves his cousin Cole.Naked baby :) and cute hubby :)Such a big boy now.Walking around like a pro!Pushing Mason in the wagon... adorable!At Orange County Zoo.Joshua loves his Grandpy.We took the boys on the train ride.Josh got Judes very first Orange PD sticker :)And was being a turd at this moment...Joshua in Jude's Police hat :) so cute!

I forgot...

When I wrote the last post, I forgot to mention all the new things Joshua is doing these days! He started feeling better finally, by the way... and now as he sleeps, he's coughing again, which is so frustrating. Anyway...

So, Joshua sits up all by himself, and I don't even have to put pillows behind him 'just in case' anymore. He's clapping, waving, saying 'all done' with sign language, pointing and exploring the use of his index finger, saying 'da da' and 'ma ma'... not really directing it at me or Jude, but we still like it! He babbles quite a bit, and I feel like every day he says new sounds. He feeds himself puffs, and eats them now without gagging! He still LOVES his walker, and has started actually running through the house in it now :) he's SO close to crawling... I really think he's a little bit behind with crawling, just because he'd much rather be in his walker, and get around that way. I've really tried to limit his time in the walker, and have him spend more time on the floor.

I think that's about it :) He still continues to be such a happy baby... and I'm so thankful for his health! I'm really praying this cough goes away without becoming serious again. Our baby boy is so big now... 8 months old! I can't believe it. I'm already starting to think about his first birthday! He's such a cute boy, and I just love him so much.

Ok, that's all for now :)

Wow, it's 2009!

Can you believe it's already a new year...? Christmas is over, and we're in 2009. That is unreal. Jude and I will be celebrating our 10th dating anniversary at the end of this month. Crazy!

Well, our baby boy is almost 8 months old now. And unfortunately, he's sick, once again. I thought that breastfeeding was suppose to help keep your baby healthy...? oh well, he's getting better now, with the help of antibiotics. I had to miss my friends baby shower today because he's still not doing well. What a bummer.

Our Christmas was awesome. I was kind of sad when it was all over, but also happy to get my house back to normal. I get tired of all the Christmas stuff. My most favorite part of Christmas, was on Christmas morning, when Jude, Josh and I were able to celebrate together. It was really fun, and just... great all the way around. We went to see Santa, and started some new traditions that we plan on keeping for future years to come. I was thinking back, and two Christmas' ago, we planned to start a family... then last Christmas, I was pregnant... this Christmas, we have a beautiful baby boy... I wonder what next Christmas will bring?? No, I'm not hinting at anything :) We sure have been blessed, and I can't even begin to express how thankful I am.

We rang in the new year with our friends, the Becketts, Freys and Parris'... and that was a lot of fun. Josh was a trooper and slept for most of it, and let mom and dad enjoy playing games with friends.

Jude took his very first Police Department test today for the City of Newport Beach, and he passed and has an interview on Thursday! He was so nervous, and Newport has a reputation of having the hardest testing around. He's so happy, as am I. This is just the first step, but we feel very encouraged all the same. He's been very diligent at working out and studying all he could. He's very motivated! I'm so proud of him, and knew he'd do an awesome job!

Here's some pictures of our big boy :)

Will took some great photos of us too... I'll have to post those some other time :)