Joy in my Heart

I take great joy in little victories these days. Archer is working very hard in speech therapy. I am so excited for him, he is making a lot of progress. He began therapy at the beginning of March. He barely made any progress. So we sought more therapy and assistance. Two months have since passed and the last two days have given me so much hope.

Last night:
Archer was having a hard time falling asleep so I went to snuggle him in the glider.
He points and says, "Avrum lay down. Want Avrum. Avrum lay down."
I reply, "You want to lay down with Avrum. You want down."
Archer, "Yeah!"
Of course he can have ANYTHING he wants!! He just used real words and sentences!

Tonight:
The boys were laying down to fall asleep. AV was playing with his new die cast cars and Ari laying quietly.
Ari sits up and says, "What are you doing?"
AV, "Playing with my cars."
Ari, "Where Cars?"
AV, "They are here, see" Showing Ari the cars
Ari, "Want car."
AV, "No they are for me. They say Avrum, see A V R U M." (BTW they don't)
Ari, "Want car."
AV, "No mine."
Ari lays back down.

So simple. Ari is beginning to have his own unprompted 2-3 word sentences and questions. For many parents these little milestones are exciting, moved past quickly and/or taken for granted. But moments like these two bring me to joyful tears. These are the moments that get me through each day.

Tonight my two little ones had their first real conversation.

Happy Independence Day

We had a relatively mellow 4th. We wish you all a peaceful and fun day of celebrating.

Today was cloudy and drab. Not our usual 4th of July in So Cal. It was hard to get out of the gloom. Everyone was off and it showed.

I have had it with teenagers. I would love to leap into an alternate universe just to avoid dealing with teenage stupidity. I just don't remember having the same level of disrespect and disregard for other people, family, common courtesy, children, moral and values that Teenages today display. It amazes me how I can continue to be more disappointed in choices and actions.. But then again he did just spend a week "away".

At least everyone is home now and I can finally go to SLEEP!

Hard to explain

I cannot explain the joy I feel as I watch the boys grow. They amaze me every time I remember to take pause, watch, listen and love.
We are on day two of no breastfeeding. It is bittersweet. I was ready in some ways and not in others. It is very emotional to end that connection with a child. I will always have a bond with Avrum and Archer that is wonderful. Avrum nursed until he was 20/21 months. Archer is 24.5 months. I cried today, a few times. I miss the time with Archer already.

AV's Organic Strawberry Farm Field Trip

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Big Changes

Well we have been super busy since my last post.Andrew turned 16, Avrum turned 4 and Archer is just about to turn 2. Our family is experiencing a lot of ups and downs lately.

Aside from Andrew being an amazing young man with a loving heart and a kind personality. He is a 16 year old teen and is all about challenging authority and pushing limits. He is maintaining decent grades and really doing well in swimming this season. Yay!

After about a million evaluations and tests we were able to narrow in on Avrum's developmental delays. In four months he is like a new child. We still have a long road ahead of us and progress is slow but, he is doing great! While we loved his preschool, they were not equipped to give him the support he needed so we had to switch schools :( But he loves his new school and is really thriving. He goes to preschool 5 days a week just like Andrew goes to high school. They are on the same schedule. It is SO hard to get up and get going every morning. I have had a lot of shoulda coulda woulda's and adjusting is not easy but we are all trying.

Archer is nearly two and is still one of the happiest children I have ever met. He is so sweet and fun. We decided not to waste anytime with Archer and got him into speech therapy right away. He had some gaps in his development also but those are filling in quickly and it has only been two months. His speech still needs a ton of work but he is trying so hard to communicate! the sounds just don't come out the way he intends. Next up is an audiologist to evaluate his hearing. Alex had an inner ear development issue when he was a wee one (but grew out of) and Archer may also.

Our doggies are doing well after the frightful Coyote attack on Freddy. Everyone is recovered. Although Freddy seems to be suffering from PTSD, every time you touch his back (where the main bites were), you can feel him tense up or even flinch :( poor doggie.

Alex is taking a renewed interest in his health this year and has already lost nearly 20 lbs. Make sure to cheer him on as he is trying so hard to be healthier and more fit. He is also going on another surf trip this June with his buddies. Should be a blast.

As for me I am currently trying to wean archer from 6+ nursing sessions a day down to two and he is having a super hard time. It is breaking my heart completely. I feel like the worst Mama in the world. But I need this for me. I have to be able to keep a clean & organized home, run my business, help Alex with his and all the while be a perfect wife and mother. It is a tall order. But if I could get back the 4+hours I am nursing a day, I could work on the other tasks. Plus he is nearly two and I am ready. I just wish he was too.

AV Tricycle

I could not have been more excited today when AV got on his tricycle today and started peddling. He saw two little children riding their bikes while we were walking the doggies this afternoon! He is so fast on the scooter that we have to ride a bike or skateboard to keep up! But now he is interested in his tricycle too! Yea!

Holiday Wishes 2011.MOV

Big Boy Haircut

Avrum had his first big boy haircut last week. 

What a handsome little guy!

Christmas Spirit

Ari riding the tricycle

He looks so big in these pictures! His little legs are not even long enough to reach the peddles. Hahaha

AV Coloring

Fun with Dada at the OC Fair

Working hard on our family

While things have been a little rocky in our house the last year, Alex and I are working hard to stay happy, positive and productive. We are working on reinventing and rejuvinating our relationship and ourselves.10 years have past and we have both changed so much. One thing we agree on is that we love each other more than ever.

Andrew is signed up for drivers ed and is running a muck all over Newport and Costa Mesa. AV is 100% potty trained and is talking more and more everyday. Ari is almost walking and learning new words all the time. He is still nursing but is starting to sleep more on his own at night.

We r either going to short sale our house or renivate for more space. We either get out now or never leave and possibly down trying to stay.

Thanks to everyone for all their love and support.

Hard Day

There are days that I look in the mirror and am like... I have everything I wanted thus far, so why am I not happy? I love my kids, all three of them. I love my Husband. I love my family, sis, parents, in laws, grandparents, extend friend family...We have a beautiful home with great neighbors, college educations, flexable family businesses, then of course there is all the stuff... We r all healthy. What the hell? Maybe lack of energry, sleep, time truly for me. I did not brush my hair yet and it is almost 5pm. Just one of those days I guess.

Or maybe it is the stress of potty training a very willfull child is wearing me down. I should be elated AV pooped on the potty for the first time today but right brfore he pee'd all over the living room floor and 20 mins after he pee'd all over his bed during resting time. We haven't worn diapers now for two days at all. I am cleaning all the time after accidents. I am tired.

There is so much preasure on mothers today. Prefection is expected in all facets of our lives and we must look good doing it all.

Listening to my babies giggle and watching them play pulls me out and I just suppress it all to join in the fun.

More super cute birthday pictures

Amazing Day

There have been few days lately that bring me to happy tears. Today was one of them. Avrum seemed to blossom overnight. Today was a great example. At My Gym he participated in circle time for the first time. He answered Mrs. Rea when she asked his name and his favorite dessert. Grant it he said his name was Thomas, he participated! He followed & participated in the whole class. Literal tears of joys!

Then when Mama got home from a Client meeting he told me all of the activities he and Dada did at the park without prompting each item! I simply asked, "What did you do at the park?" He climbed the ladder, he hung on the monkey bars and went down the slides.

Some other amazing developments - he had his first real conversation with Grandpa Gary a few days ago. He is singing songs - Row Row Row Your Boat, Welcome to My Gym, Twinkle Twinkle & making up his own songs! When he is done eating a meal he asks (without prompting), "May I be excused from the table please, Mama?"

I know for a three year old this all seems like yeah so... but for those of your who know AV you are doing a dance right now just reading this post. My stubborn Baby is finally letting out all of the stuff he stored for the last three years.

ARCHER IS ONE

So I know it has been a really long time since I blogged but Archer's First Birthday is a great excuse to begin again! We had a small family party and it was perfect!!

 Cheese Ball!

Andrew & Yaya

Yum!

One Today!

We had the Monkey Candle recreated in fondant by Sensitive Sweets Bakery

There goes Monkey's head!

 Frosting! He didn't want any cake.