Snuggle Time

Taelyn has never been a cuddly baby. She never really let me rock her to sleep, she doesn't really like to hug and snuggle. This makes me so sad. All I want to do is hold her and never let her go and she just pushes me away. I nursed her until she was 13 months until one day she literally took my boob and pushed it away. Talk about rejection. I cried over this for quite a while. I was not ready to give it up yet. I blame the baby growing inside of me. I must have tasted differently to her and she didn't like it. Either way, it still makes me sad, but in a few months I get to do it all over with my baby boy :)

Every night I wake up a few times and go into Taelyn's room. We have a video monitor and I have it right next to my side of the bed so I can watch her at all times,(its silly) but I am always afraid that the video may fail me and someone may take her and set it to a feed where we see her and she really isn't there, so I have to go in and make completely sure she is really there.... I watch too many movies! Anyway, I go in there, I cover her and touch her legs and arms and caress her sweet little cheeks and I go back to bed.

This morning (about 1am) when I went into her room, like I do everyday, this time, she stood up in her crib and said "Mama." I couldn't resist picking up my sweet girl. The moment she was in my arms, she put her head on my shoulder and snuggled really close to my chest and went right back to sleep. This filled my heart and honestly, I cried a little. Me and my little girl had a moment in the wee hours of the morning. I sat in the rocking chair for nearly and hour because I just didn't want to let her go. I just know she is not going to always want me to hold her close like this, so I cherish any moment we get to do this with each other. Just writing this makes me tear up. I feel like she is getting so big so fast and there is nothing I can do to freeze time to make it last longer. In a few months everything is going to change and our lives will be rocked and nothing will ever be the same. I pray for more moments like this.

Here are a few rare moments that I have actually been able to capture on camera:

Taelyn is 15 Months!

My Sweet Sweet Taelyn,

I have to to apologize, I have never done a post like this for you. I really don't even know why. I seriously can't believe you are 15 months. You, little girl bring so much light into my life. You are my miracle. I never knew a love like this until you came along. You are my happiness. My mom says that to me all the time, and I never really took her seriously, but having you has made that term have another meaning, you truly are my happiness.

Your daddy and I wanted you so badly and prayed for you, I have never prayed for anything as much I have for you. These 15 months have just flown by. Everyone tells you to enjoy it because it goes by so fast, and boy, they weren't kidding!

Taelyn, you are so active and just so independent. You are just fine playing by yourself. In fact, you prefer it. I try to get on the ground and be involved with what you are doing, but you just carry on happily. You LOVE music and you LOVE to dance! That just makes my heart smile. You get that strictly from me! You have so much rhythm and you are always on beat. I am totally gonna be a dancers mom, so I apologize in advance if I get crazy.



You are learning so quickly, the things you do and learn amazes me. You say a new word everyday. You can say "Dada, Mama, Daddy, Mommy, Apo, Doggie, Up, Down, Hi, Bye Bye, Ni-Ni (night-night), Tyson, Ball, Eat" There are many more things you can say, I'm sure, I just can't think of them at the moment. Your grandparents were here this past week and Grampy kept trying to get you to say "Grampy" and you smiled at him and as clear as day said "BAMPY" That certainly made his father's day. Then every time you saw him after that, you said "Bampy!" It was so cute!

Taelyn, you sign all day long, you show me when you want something by signing "please" and when you want more, you do the sign for "more" and when you are done you do the sign for "all done" It makes things so much easier. Everyone loves it when you give out "Flying Kisses." You are so generous with those. You know where you eye, nose, mouth, ears, feet, pretty much every body part. When I ask where are your eyes, you show me!


You are always so pleasant and smiling. You have 8 teeth and always so proud to show them off with your gorgeous smile. You are still sucking your thumb and it still drives me crazy, but you only do it when you are sleepy, so it isn't so bad. You are attached to this pink plush blanket, and that too, drives me crazy. It is a quick soother for you and you love it, so I deal with it, but I will soon start to slowly get rid of that blanket all together. The thing with the blanket is that when you have it, you suck your thumb, you don't suck unless you have that blanket, so it is a package deal, so my hopes are that when I get rid of the blanket, the thumb sucking will end too... I hope.

You look just like your daddy. You have his facial expressions and his charming personality. Everyone loves you the moment they meet you, just like your daddy. you have my nose, my hands, legs and feet.


You are a lot like me in many ways too. You DON'T like being dirty and you don't like when things around you are disorderly, just like me! You will pick up your toys and put them in order, I LOVE this about you! When you are eating and food misses your mouth, you can't have another bite until your face is clean. You even have started to help me clean. You take a cleaning cloth and wipe down the stairs or the fridge our when the pantry is open, you go in there and grab the broom and try to sweep. This makes me smile, I have started you young without even knowing it. You just learned that by watching me.



When it comes to being outside, you are not a fan. I think it is funny, yet sad. I don't want you to be like me and not try things because they are in an environment you are not comfortable with. You don't like grass, and at our recent beach trip with Grampy, we discovered you don't like sand either. I'm not a fan either. You are most comfortable indoors in air conditioning, just like me. When we were outside with all of your cousins during a photo shoot, you were uncharacteristically fussy. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with you. Then your daddy took you into the house and you were happy again. All I could do is shake my head, I completely understood what you were feeling because I didn't want to be outside either.


You like to explore everything. While Auntie Dana and Uncle Scot were staying with us, you found her bladder backpack and you figured out all by yourself how to get the water out. Everyone couldn't believe it. It was cute, you were so proud that you were able to get a quick drink out of a backpack.

You play well with others and you are always willing to share. This will come in handy when your baby brother comes onto the picture. I honestly am very scared about this. I feel like I am taking away from you and that makes me sad. I am scared because I just don't understand how I could possibly love another baby as much as I love you. Apo says that my heart will grow and it will be just fine, but I just can't help to feel guilty. I know it will be just fine and I will love you both equally. You are going to be the best big sister!


I just want you to ALWAYS know that I love you with everything in me. You are the best of me and you make me proud everyday.

I Love you so much,
Your Mama

Its a BOY!!!

I am approaching my 23rd week of pregnancy, we had another ultrasound and it has been confirmed, there is a stem on the apple. I am just overjoyed at the fact that we are having a boy. I have always wanted a baby boy and now we are going to have him. Taelyn is going to be a big sister to a baby brother and I think she will be great at it. Todd and I are so excited and now all we have to do is come up with a name. There are many names that have come up. I have extended to discussion to Facebook and have gotten so many great suggestions, but really there is just so much pressure to come up with a great name. This is the name that he will have for the rest of his life. Todd and I both have to like it, my mom has to be able to pronounce it and it has to be something that is strong and noble.

We have the middle name picked. It will be Mason after his older brother. The first name will start with a T, like the rest of us, but what that T name will be, only time will tell....

This picture is him waving at us. Clear shot of his hand.

These 2 pics are of his face looking right at us.


This is his manhood! Great shots of his penis. In both pictures, you can clearly see both legs and his penis in the middle.

Todd's Birthday at Disneyland

Todd turned 34 on June 20 and Taelyn turned 15 months. Since family was here visiting, all went to Disneyland. There were 9 of us total. Todd, me, Taelyn, our nephews Matthew and Brian. Todd's Dad and stepmom, Ernie and Pat, and Todd's sister and her husband, Dana and Scot. It was Taelyn's 1st time at Disneyland. We didn't want to take her too early because we weren't sure how she would receive it. She REALLY had a great time. We started on the Jungle Cruise and she loved looking at all of the animals. She was very engaged in everything around her.



After the Jungle Cruise, we went on Pirates of the Caribbean. I was worried that Taelyn would be scared, but she really loved it, she was so wide eyed the whole time.

Next we went to the Haunted Mansion. I just knew Taelyn would be scared in this one, but she wasn't she didn't cry or snuggle closer to me at all, she just watched in awe.



After the Haunted Mansion, Taelyn was spent, it was nearly and hour past her nap time, she fought it for as long as she could, she fell asleep leaning forward. As soon as she was out, we laid her down.


Taelyn's nap time was a great time for me to take a break as well. We found a nice bench under a shady tree, I got my pineapple whip, and everyone else went on Indiana Jones. While we waited. I needed that time out. By the time they were done, Taelyn was awake and ready to go on, and so was I. We went to Tomorrowland and got on Buzz Lightyear.



After Buzz, Todd and I went to watch Captain EO while everyone else went on Autotopia. I have to say, I was really excited to watch this. I have seriously fond memories of it when I was like 8 years old. Ummm, I was extremely disappointed. It was nothing at all like I remembered. I actually started to fall asleep. I guess I was just really tired. We met up with everyone and we took a train to the front of the park so we could watch a parade.

While everyone else sat on the curb, I decided to pop a squat in Taelyn's stroller. I have no idea how I fit, but I was quite comfortable.

Taelyn LOVED the loud music during the parade. She was dancing and clapping on her daddy's shoulders.

After the Parade, we went over to California Adventure Park. Everyone went on Soarin while Taelyn and I sat and waited. To my surprise, Matthew and Dana joined me. He got nervous and wanted off right after he was strapped in. When everyone got back together, we had dinner and then went on the new Little Mermaid Ride. My cousin Jon who lives close and has annual passes met up with us after he got off of work.




After that ride, I think everyone was about over it all. There were many meltdowns throughout the day and many fits, so as the sun was setting, we decided to call it a night. Taelyn was just so over stimulated, out of the whole day she only took about an hour nap. All the little ones crashed on the way home and once we got home, they all went straight to bed. It was an amazing day all around. Happy Birthday Honey and Happy 15 months to my Taelyn Whalyn!

Father's Day at Laguna Beach

Father's Day we had the pleasure of having half of Todd's family staying with us. Todd's Brother David sent his 2 boys Matthew and Brian to Arizona to visit with Todd's dad and stepmom Pat and they drove from AZ to visit with us. Todd's sister and her husband Scot drove down from Chico, Ca to stay with us too. We had a FULL house, but it was really nice to have Todd's family here. We had a great time together. Sunday we had a great blueberry pancake breakfast thanks to Dana. After breakfast, we drove to Laguna beech to spend the day.

June Gloom was in full effect. It was extremely overcast and kind of cold. We still had fun playing in the water and looking for sea shells. This was Taelyn's 1st time at the beach and I just don't think my baby is the outdoorsy kind of girl. She did not like the way the sand felt under her feet. She cried every time we put her down, but as long as she was in someone's arms, she was as happy as can be.


Taelyn and "Bampy" She actually was calling him this. We kept trying to get her to say "Grampy" and what we got was "Bampy" It was so cute, she said it everytime she saw him. That is his new name :)


Scot, Matthew, Brian, Pat and Dana

Uncle Todd and the boys played in the COLD water while everyone else watched. Taelyn really enjoyed this!


Taelyn with Uncle Scot and Auntie Dana

Brian, Taelyn and Matthew

Taelyn with "Bampy" and Grammy

We found a really neat tree, perfect for climbing and we put the kids there to get a quick photo

We stopped to have a snack on a bench then we walked down a trail.

Before heading home, we had lunch and Johnny Rockets, it was sooo YUMMY!

The boys and Taelyn fell asleep on the way home. They are so cute when they are sleeping!


When we finally got home, we rested for a bit and then a few of Todd's friends came over to have chicken enchiladas and Tacos made by yours truly and some help form my souse chefs Dana and Pat. We also had some birthday cake for Todd and his dad. They both are lucky to have to father's day and their birthdays around the same time. Todd's birthday is on the 20th and his dad's is on the 22nd. We had a wonderful fun and family filled day to celebrate Father's Day and their Birthdays.