Happy New Year!

Like last year, this year was life changing.

For the first half of the year or for 5 months of it I got to eat what ever I wanted, packed on the pounds and for the first time in my life realized the true meaning of cankles. It was fun, exciting and sometimes miserable being pregnant, I can't wait to do it again! Hardy har har.

We celebrated our first anniversary on Catalina Island when I was 9 months pregnant. It was wonderful to get away and waddle around in different scenery for a change.

We then welcomed our precious baby boy aka Kiel's clone into the world on May 16th. And since then his world is our world. The monthly updates posted through out this blog will confirm how fast he is growing and what joy he brings to our lives and many others. He's beautiful, cute and a precious gift from God that we cherish everyday.

As the year comes to an end Bruce and I are fighting a nasty cold and Kiel is working overtime trying not to get sick and to also avoid the mean pregnant lady that resides at his home for another 3 weeks. I think he hates the first trimester as much as I do.

We are excited for what next year has in store for us and ready to face the challenges that will come our way.

In April Kiel and I will celebrate our second anniversary in the beautiful state of Hawaii! It will be my fourth time and Kiel's first time there. It will be the first time we leave Bruce for more than a couple of hours with family. We are both excited and nervous. (Kiel's excited, I'm nervous.)

May will be the month Bruce turns one and in August we welcome our second bundle of joy. From there on out I think it's pretty safe to say my sanity will be absent and I'll be running around like a crazy person for the next couple of years. But we are looking forward to it to say the least.

Happy new year everyone! May it be safe and fun ;)

Baby #2

We had a Dr. appointment today and it looks like we were a little ahead of schedule. Baby # 2 is due August 8th, 2011 but they want to take him/her one week early. Which is okay by me, one week less of swollen ankles and pressure on my bladder is always a plus. The heart beat was nice and strong and it looked like a healthy peanut.

The babies will be 14 months and 2 weeks apart. We sure caught up fast to everyone else, now we just need Brittany to hop on the 2nd baby train! Wish us luck, we are going to need it.

Merry Christmas

Bruce spent his very first Christmas in the bay area where he was spoiled with love and gifts. He received so much we almost didn't have room to bring all of his loot home. What used to be an adult apartment is quickly turning into a small daycare center fit for a pre-toddler who scoots around everywhere.

We spent Christmas eve with my family and Christmas day with Kiel's family. Unfortunately my camera ran out of battery on Christmas eve so there are only a few shots...

Bruce enjoyed his gifts but his favorite part was the wrapping paper.

He also enjoyed a shoulder ride from Grandpa Bruce...Even though, there was alot of excitement we tried to keep our routine as much as possible...Here is our only family shot of the whole trip...like my lazy eye?And here is chewy pouting because he is no longer the "baby" in the house.Ashton smiling after his mom won the pants war...Ashton prefers to be in his underoo's at all times.Grandma Karen...with a baby. She's always with a baby as long as one's around.And at last, Chewy has the house to himself again...almost!Christmas in So Cal isn't so bad either. This year we took a stroll down Christmas street. Where blocks and blocks of houses get all decked out for Christmas. They have golf carts with people wishing everyone a merry christmas and jingle bell joggers that ho ho ho down the street. Santa's house with the real Santa Clause. They sell hot coco and popcorn for 50 cents. Unfortunately it decided to rain for over a week straight here so we cut our stroll down christmas lane short. But next year will be just as amazing and maybe Bruce will enjoy it more.

Merry Christmas!

Coupon Magic

I think I got it down! I've been saving a butt load of money on my grocery bill! About $100 bucks everytime!

I've been following Jill Caltaldo's blog for months. You may have seen her on ABC or she's constantly referred to as the coupon queen. She manages to somehow buy $100 dollars worth of groceries for a penny. Or she can make a life size tower out of her cereal boxes that she spent a nickel on.

Coupon clipping seemed like a daunting task, but it really isn't that bad. I've been able to save on organic lettuce (buy 1 get 1 free), ground turkey, fruits, veggies, crackers, cider, everything you need for baking goodies, baby food, formula, diapers, toothpaste, cereal and lots more.

On my first try I saved $102 dollars plus I got $40 bucks back in catalina coupons. Which are coupons you can use on your next trip to the store that act as cash. I saved more than 50% on my grocery bill. On my second trip I saved $87 dollars and got $5 bucks back in catalina coupons. That time I saved 67%. And yesterday I just bought baby food for less than 0.16 cents a jar. Pretty good since they average around 50 cents a jar (which I have never paid that price, thanks to coupons.)

I get most of my coupons from the Sunday paper, red plum and in the stores.

Totally worth it, if you ask me!

Bruce and his checkup

Bruce went to the Dr. today and got his shots plus the flu shot since we are traveling.
Here are his stats: Weight: 19 lbs 12 oz; Height: 28inches long; Head: 46 cm

All in the 75 percentile!

Dr. Ngyuen said to start giving him meat so for lunch I thought I would feed him turkey. Apparently he doesn't like it. I took some video footage that is hilarious.

SEVEN

Bruce is 7 months old today! He laughs and smiles all the time but it doesn't show in the pictures.

He is too cute!

Communication

Bruce jabbers all the time and hardly stays quiet. He jabbers while he eats, while he's trying to go to sleep, he jabbers in his sleep and every where else. It's very cute. He now says two syllable "words". Agoo has now become gagoo. And our favorite jabber: dadada or dada.

He also has very good comprehension skills. He understands the command "hands down," he reaches up when he wants out of his highchair or if he wants to be picked up. And he knows the word "no." We practice teaching him manners while he is eating and he now knows not to touch his food bowl, and to keep his fingers out of his mouth. I love teaching him things and watching him try to understand. He is such a smart little boy. I am also starting sign language, but I've read they don't do the signs back until 9 months.

Diet

Bruce eats 3 solid meals a day and has one last bottle before he goes to bed. He is no longer on breast milk and drinks formula instead. Ever since we made this switch he has slept a solid 10 - 12 hours at night. I LOVE formula. NO, seriously I love it. His favorite foods are sweet potatoes, carrots and apples. He dislikes peas, green beans and banana's.

Physical Activity

Nothing new to report here except he is a lot better at sitting, he's on all fours all of the time and scoots around nicely. He mouths everything including the dogs ears. Oh wait there is something new to report. He finally rolls over from back to front! About stinkin time.

Bruce goes to the doctors tomorrow so we will post his stats then.

This Weekend was big!

My dad and stepmom came to visit us or I should say Bruce.
and i finally got a picture of Grandma Karen and Bruce...and of Bruce eating his first Subway wrapper.

Kiel and I had date night. We went to the temple and then to Bennihana's. I love that place.And if you read my previous post you already know that Bruce was baby Jesus.But did you know that I gave Bruce a shoulder ride? The second one of his whole life.And since this was a BIG weekend. We might as well finish it with our big x-mas present to each other. Check out our massive California king bed!Even Bruce can't believe how big it is.I like the drawers. And how comfy the mattress is. But I think we don't need the box springs, so does any one need two twin size box springs? And that is the end of our BIG weekend!

And his first acting debut...

Went EXTREMELY well!

We had our ward x-mas party today. The theme was "Back to Bethelehem" and we were asked to dress up like old Bethelehem. The ward put on a little skit and our family was Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus. I was nervous about how Bruce would do in a manger since he is really active right now but he was PERFECT. He laid in that manger perfectly still and just looked at us adoringly with his little arms touching his feet. It was BEYOND cute.

And it was really sweet. So sweet that he brought tears to people's eyes. Especially when everyone sang "Silent Night" They thanked us afterwards for having such a sweet baby who brought the spirit into our ward Christmas party and I couldn't have been a more proud momma!

Here are Mary and Joseph walking around town trying to find a place to give birth.This is the town of BethelehemAnd here is the beloved baby Jesus!

I guess I shouldn't be completely surprised. Bruce does take everything he does VERY seriously so I should have known he would take the responsibility of being baby Jesus very seriously as well ;)

Cooking Blog

Have you been here lately?

We have a new author and she knows how to make homemade crackers

and I posted my dessert from Thanksgiving and I threw in a vegetarian meal for fun.

Just sayin' it's a good place to get recipes for this holiday season.

ps: if you want to be an author come over to my house and cook for me.

Tree hunting, Xmas party and Bruce's "new thing"

We got our x-mas tree on Saturday:

Bruce loved the tree:We also decorated:Then we went to Kiel's work party and left Bruce at home with his surrogate grandmother. We had tons of fun. Kiel did well at the black jack tables and Bruce was a perfect angel for Jill. Which makes it a PERFECT night and day.

And this is Bruce's new thing. Well it's the new thing on the blog, he's been doing this for awhile.

Eskimo Kisses

Bruce gives eskimo kisses...

He rubs his nose against your nose, back and forth so fast he goes...

you can't help but laugh in delight... even in church

Happy Holidays

a christmas card coming to your mailbox soon!