It’s been a while!
I’ve been meaning to get back into the swing of blogging things but kept postponing it because — LIFE. But, here I finally am! A ton has happened in the last 2+ months, so here’s a little update on what’s been going on. (And by little I mean HUGE with like 100 pics and stuff. Ya know, the usual. Har, har — well, lets get started!)
So back in January I became a consultant for Usborne! It’s been a blast and things were busy, busy, busy as I was hosting parties, selling them books and getting a lot of my friends a ton of freebies! As of late, things in the UBAM world have died down for me because it was too hard to balance that with everything else, but hopefully I can get back into it one of these days. We are such huge fans of Usborne and love their books! Here’s a part of our collection (emphasis on “part”, hehe)
In the last couple of months, Asher has become a complete HAM. He is always dancing, and joking around and talking nonstop. It is so, so, SO much fun! But he also drives me a little bananas sometimes. But I love him to pieces. As I’ve said in the last 209 stages - I’m convinced that this is my favorite stage thus far (Honestly, every single stage has been my favorite - each one is better than the last.)
The last few months have been a little tricky trying to figure out how to balance both of our night shift schedules with the demands of taking care of two littles while still trying to prioritize our marriage and keep the apartment decently maintained while also not neglecting our community and church, etc etc. It’s an ongoing thing we have been trying to figure out and work through but definitely learning to treasure any and every opportunity we have to spend together as a family. It’s crazy how purposeful and intentional you have to be to really have quality time with people you live with — always rang true with all roommates but even more so with my little family! Work in progress..
Been doing a ton of pretend play and learning activities here and there. I am planning to start a more structured “school” routine at home with Asher this month — stay tuned for more! Exciting things to come :)
My three favorite people in the world.
We signed Asher up for a multi-sport/T-ball class and it was a bad decision, haha. There are too many stories to tell, but let’s just say I am waiting a full year to sign him up for another sports class (maybe 2 years old is too young? haha I dont know.) but I need some time to recover from the trauma (i'm being a little drama - heh)
here are my beautiful babes on Easter moring. I had wanted to make them matching outfits (like matching tie and dress combo) but I forgot and then Easter came and gone. But I'm so, so happy that I did the resurrection eggs with Asher and can't wait to do it with him again.
When baby girl started eating solids, it was tricky trying to figure out how to feed and bathe both of them -- and get them ready for bed at the same time when Eugene was gone for work. This was a great temporary solution - probably not the most sanitary but hey, it worked for us!
My sister created an AWESOME mural for the new Target that opened in Koreatown. She's so cool, I could cry. I am seriously her biggest fan and I legitly fangirl anytime people ask me about her. Check out her work here: www.audreyjl.com
The more asher grows, the more fun it's been to play with him. We love to read books together, play pretend and his recent obsession has been PUZZLES!
This boy LOVES his puzzles and sometimes we do the same puzzles multiple times a day (if I'm completely honest, I get a little tired of them....hehe but don't tell him). BUT, it is the greatest feeling when I see how happy and proud he is after he finishes. It's so exciting seeing him learn and grow and I can't wait to continue to teach him things!
Asher's naptimes used to serve as my special one-on-one times with Avery. We would read books and play for a bit (her attention span is much worse than Asher's at this age though - she can barely sit through one book. I have to pin her down haha) and so I used to put her in the jumper to read to her and then spend some time doing other things (chores, read/journal) while she jumped around in this thing. Since then, I have synced their naps at the same time (HALLELUJAH!) but I do miss my one-on-one time with her. It goes too fast!
I don't remember how old Avery was one she started crawling (oops -- hehe, sorry 2nd child!) but once she started it's been more crazy but so much more fun! She loves going over to asher to see what he's doing and bothering playing with him. It's been so fun to see and I can't wait to see their relationship grow as she gets older! Hopefully she will grow to love books like her big bro.
We started Avery on solids around the 6 month mark and she started enjoying solids after about a month into it. Initially she had no interest and cried everytime we tried to give her something. Now we can't get her to calm down when she has food in her hands haha. I love being able to eat together as a family. Recently, it's been harder to have sit-down meals at home with the whole family, but hoping that we can make it a daily part of life and use that time together intentionally. I love doing flat lays of our meals together - so much fun. His, hers, little his, little hers.
And she especially loves bread. This was the first time she was big enough to sit and eat in a highchair at a restaurant. So much fun! And that bread had no chance - ma girl TORE. IT. UP. #YAAAS GET IT.
I love hosting dinners - but recently my evenings/I have been more of a hot mess with the kiddos and it's been harder to host dinner parties! but hoping that as the kids get a little older and I get a better hang of things - i'll be able to host more get togethers. Our place is small and a chaotic mess at times -- but I love being able to open it up for others to come and gather for a meal. Plus, I really don't know how to make meals that are less than 6 portions so -- come one, come all!
In March, we started regularly meeting at our church for a mommy-and-me toddler music class and it's been SUCH a blast! We play, sing songs, dance and jump around like crazy and just started incorporating crafts and toddler learning activities. I've always had a passion for teaching and early-learning so it's been so fun and sweet to be able to create an avenue where moms can come together with their kiddos to play and fellowship together. Praying that we can be faithful in using this as a means to love on our community and that God will be able to use this as an instrument for His purposes! (I wouldn't have chosen this picture to showcase our time together - but didn't want to post a pic with too many of the kids' faces for privacy reasons!) And yes, that's Avery in the ergo - haha, it always cuts into her nap time and most of the pics of our toddler time is of me jumping around while shes dangling from the ergo. My friends want to start a hashtag: #pooravery, LOL.
She's the real MVP.
She's the real MVP.
The weather is starting to warm up and I am so excited! I usually don't really care for summer (not really a fan of the crazy heat and sun!) but kids make summer times more fun! BBQs, splash pads, park dates, water table fun! I can't wait for it all. And these two are just the cutest.
I'm currently in the process of creating some summer goals (post, hopefully coming soon!) in hopes that we can fill this summer with fun, enriching and intentional things and I am so excited!
Asher has recently been super into cars. He loves all kinds of trucks, cars and machines. He loves the fire/garbage truck, loves construction vehicles (the crane and excavator are his current fave) and LOVES pretending that he is one of Mickey's Roadster Racers. I love him so much.
Some fun pics from playing at Pretend City!
Lots of fun celebrations recently and so many exciting changes ahead. Here's a fun parks-and-rec baby shower we hosted for one of my sweet mama friends! Is there anything better than a ron swanson party? Nope!
We love, love, love disneyland! Asher is obsessed and Eugene (though initially very hesitant) is becoming a fan too! Most of the time anyway. I grew up loving all things Disney so it's been so special to be able to share it with my kiddos and see it all again through their eyes.
One of our favorite things is the cream-cheese stuffed pretzel!
And I LOVE eating pho after my disney trips (I don't know why...but its just one of my favorite things). One time, Asher fell asleep prematurely in the car while we were driving to a pho place for lunch ('twas a fun and busy day at disney!) but the restaurant was SO accomodating and let us sit outside, literally right next to my car. THE BEST. (hi, GDY)
All to say, these last couple months have been so sweet.
No matter if each day is easy or hard - as always, I'm trying to find joy and gratitude in all things big and small. Life is busy and crazy and I am literally a hot mess almost every day but it is also very full and fun and exciting! Praying that I can just be faithful and redeem all things to bring glory to God!
I have so many things I want to share (our summer goals, our first official morning basket, mid-year resolution eval, and recent faves -- including shows and apps for kids, books, etc!) so I hope I can come back here soon to share it with you all.
Cheers to a new week!
xoxo
