Back to the Valley we go!

Yes, it is true....in about 18 days we are going to be moving back up to the Valley. We are so sad to leave San Diego, and especially our dear friends that we have made here, and I am especially sad about not having the zoo to entertain myself and the kiddos, and the perfect weather....but we feel that God is leading us back to the Valley. No, Jason is not done with law school yet...but...he only has one class left and an internship. He will be doing his internship in Fresno with a mediation professional. He will have to commute back to San Diego for 8 weeks for a Friday/Saturday class. :( The biggest reason why we are moving is to save money. San Diego is absolutely beautiful, but the cost of living is very high, and in order for me to continue to stay home with the kids, we need to save some money :) . And we have a very gracious brother (Jason's brother) who is going to let us live with him in his 4 bedroom house for a while. We are thinking that it will hopefully be until after Jason passes the BAR and gets a job. :) The house is in Dinuba, which is about half an hour south of South Fresno, so we will most likely not be going to The Bridge for Sunday church. I am hoping to do a Bible Study, but we are actually going to check out Neighborhood Church in Visalia and some other closer churches. (The Bridge is a 45 minute drive). So, right now...this is the steps that we feel God is leading us to take. We are praying that God will open up job possibilities for Jason and continue to provide and lead us to where we need to be. If you think of us, please pray for us as we trek back up to the heat, but also to our friends and family (so excited about that part), and as we wait on the Lord to lead us in the next step. Thanks friends!

Happy 5 months baby girl!

My baby girl is 5 months today! It seems like a lot has happened this month. She is just growing so fast, I almost get sad when her milestones happen; it means she is growing up. :) She rolls both from her front to back and back to front. She has been trying to sleep on her belly today, but then kicks her legs over, but I am wondering if she will soon become a tummy sleeper. She also cut her first tooth this month!! Crazy! She is just barely 5 months!! She has been drooling like crazy for a while, and last weekend she had 2 nights of not very good sleeping. Then, on Wednesday I noticed a little tooth poking out. But, it is not on the bottom front, like most first teeth, it's one of her side...not sure if its the canine tooth...but it's in that area. She has been chewing on everything, so I wouldn't be surprised if another one is on its way. She also learned how to blow bubbles this month, which is so cute, but makes the drool go everywhere!  Another fun milestone is that she found her feet this month! That is one of my favorites!! I think its so adorable how they play with their little toes. :) We'll go through my favorite pictures of my little Ally from this month:

I just love how blue her eyes are :) She LOVES the exersaucer! 

I broke out all the teethers this month...she just can't stop chewing! 

Did a little photo shoot...I love how this one turned out! 

The feet!!! 

Ally's first friend: Penelope Fancher (we've had a few play dates already)

Penelope let Ally play dress up with her bow and tutu!

I just love dressing her up :) 

Jason took a pic of us napping: I tend to lay with her during Ryan's nap for 2 reasons: 1. I get a little rest 2. She sleeps a bit longer :) Such a sweet time :)

I was inspired to do a little photo shoot and was happy with how the pearl pictures came out. My Pretty girl! 

And then the 5 month pictures: 

the feet!

And then Ryan and Ally: I love how much more comfortable Ryan is getting with Ally. :) He loves to hug and kiss her. 

5 month stats: 

weight: 16 lbs 14 oz (she's pretty big! Ryan was 17 lbs 4 oz at 5 months...my kids are chunky!)

Height: around 26 inches 

Sleeping: starting to have a bit of a schedule(ish): Goes down around 7 or 8, up between 7 or 8, then usually naps around 9, 11, 1, and 4ish. Every day is a bit different, but I can usually predict her naps now. She does fight sleep a bit and doesn't sleep for a long time, but she is great about going down on her own now. 

Eating: still around every 2-3 hours, just nursing. 

clothes: 6 month, although she is growing out of some :(

My two AND a half year old!

It's been a while since I have dedicated a post solely to my little guy. So, since on the 2nd of this month, he is officially two and half, I have decided that it would be appropriate to have a post just on him. :) He is definitely my sweet little boy. He gives the best hugs and kisses! If he can tell I am stressed or worried about something, he always pats my back or just gives me a hug...it always makes everything better! It is amazing how much he has grown and matured in the last few months. I don't even know where to start. We are constantly amazed at how much he can say and do now. He is definitely into the "Ry Ry do it" stage. One of the things that he loved to do is play with his trucks, cars, fire trucks and tractors. For a few weeks now, every day he gets out his bin with all of his vehicles in it, pushes them into a line, and then he brings me his mega blocks and says, "tunnel." We then build a tunnel for his vehicles and he pushes them through and I line them up. We do this EVERY day! I have to admit, I am getting a tad tired of it, but it cracks me up on how he can't wait to play with his , "vrooms,' again. I took this picture because this scene is a daily occurrence in the Ekk household.

Ryan has his cars all lined up, the tunnel is built, and Ally is enjoying watching him. :)

Ryan is also super into music...particularly the drums and guitar. The little tin you see is my make-shift drum for Ryan. He will bang his little chopsticks on it all day long! He says, "one two three, go!" and just bangs away. He is also mesmerized by live bands. He LOVES the worship band at church and we go to the concert in the Park in Coronado on Sundays. He cannot wait to watch the music and is usually pretty transfixed on the drums. Every book that we have with either a guitar or drum, he can just study and study. I will be surprised if he doesn't play either the drums or guitar. He already gets guitar lessons from Jason. Here is a pic of him playing for us. :) He loves to be where ever we are and playing his music and also making sure that we clap for him. :)

What has been so fun in the last few weeks is how much his vocabulary has taken off. He took a little longer than some to talk, but he signed quite a bit and I always knew he knew what we were saying. One thing with Ryan, is that it seems he won't do something until he is sure that he will be successful at it. Like climbing stairs, going down a slide, he was super cautious and then one day he knew he could do it, and he just did. :) He has been talking in sentences lately, and is saying new words everyday. He has become my little parrot, and it's so fun to hear him learn how to pronounce words. Some of the cute words I love is when he says Ally its "ale-ya," Layla is "yay ya," cars is "vroom," firetruck is 'fire duck." He also now just comes and says, "hi momma," randomly and loves to deliver messages to Jason. I will tell him to go tell Dadda it's time to eat, and he yells on the top of his lungs, "Dadda eat!!" It's been fun as he is becoming quite the little chatter-box.

We are seeing more and more of my mannerisms come out in Ryan. He is super organized (hence-the line of cars). And if one of those cars fall out of place, he will put it back. He notices if there is a book out of place or a toy in the wrong bin. He also LOVES to clean up! ha! I love that one, and if I try to help him, he says, "no momma, Ry Ry do it." Ok buddy...clean all you want! :) He has to make sure that his toys are put away before nap. Another Alicha-ism that we are seeing is that he has a really hard time if he has a plan of how something should be, and you try to change it. If he's in middle of something, and you try to change the activity, that is not ok! That is so me...once my plan is set...it's really hard for me to accept change. :) He also likes his food organized on his plate. So funny to see these things coming out. He is also pretty sensitive (he gets that from his Dad) and helpful (also from his dad) and caring. :) When Ally is crying, he says, "momma get Ally, Ally needs milk!" 

It has been super fun to see how Ryan has been interacting with Ally. He LOVES to get her toys out, and then put them away later. :) She LOVES to watch him, and he always says, "Ally watch Ry Ry." She laughs at him quite a bit, and he thinks that is pretty cool. He is pretty gentle with her, but there are a few times when I have had to remind him to be more gentle with her. I am pretty amazed at Ally though, she's tough. She's gotten hit a few times, but she hasn't cried. She just looks a bit stunned. Ryan over all is great with her. Especially when I am putting her to sleep. He knows that he needs to be quiet, and will just play quietly in the room or wait just outside the door for me. I am just so proud of him. :) 

I took him today to a little grass area near our house to get some pictures of my little guy in action. It's crazy to me how big he is looking, but I am so in love with our sweet little boy and love who God is creating him to be. Here are his pictures for being a big 2 and a half year old: 

putting his cars in order :) 

this smile melts me! 

hard at work!

this was when he wanted me to stand somewhere else :) 

proud of his work

this one is going in a frame!

oh these eyes...

this one reminds me of his baby pics 

such a boy...loves sticks!

Love my sweet little boy! He has blessed my life in more ways that I could of ever imagined. So thankful for him! I will end with this picture...he is still so snuggly, and I love how snuggled up with his Dadda watching Curious George! 

2 and a half years!

Today officially marks 2 and a half years of being a mom. It is crazy to think of all that has gone on in those past 2.5 years. From bringing home my 6 lb 7 oz newborn boy and not really sure if I knew what I was doing to having a sweet, funny, loving 28 lb little boy AND a beautiful, happy, sweet little 16 lb 5  month little girl and still not really sure if I know what I'm doing. :) But one thing I do know: I was made to be a mom and I have never felt more sure that I am doing what I am supposed to than in the last 2.5 years. Right now my little Ally girl is playing under her activity mat, which she loves. She is so happy to lay next to me and play with her toys. Ryan just loved to be held and look at books when he was her age. It's so fun to see how each is different. An hour ago I was laying with Ally while she napped...something we do nearly every day during Ryan's nap time. I was thinking about how I need to get up, get something done, etc. But, then I thought about the gift of being able to just be with my sleeping daughter next to me and how these days will not last forever, and how much I want to savor the moments. I have been reflecting on myself as a parent. I was reminded today of some things that happened when I became a new mom back in February 2010. During that month, I had three of my friends lose their babies. Two of them were newborns and one was 10.5 months. That rocked me! Not near as much as what my friends' went through, I know, but it was a hard time not knowing what to do, how to help, pray, or even what to say. Here I was with a sweet new little, healthy baby boy and my friends were in the depths of grief as they lost a part of them. I lost a lot of sleep those first few months, not because Ryan was up, but just making sure he was still breathing and worried about losing him too. I remember praying every night over his bassinet by our bed that God wouldn't take him. It made me realize that anything can happen, God is good and in control, but each breath we take is merely a gift. I am reminded to treasure the moments that we have with our little gifts. We don't know how much time we have, so we need to take advantage of what time we are given. I know that my friends cherish each minute they had with their sweet angel babies.

Now, with having two, I know how quick the early months go by and how important it is to not rush time, but to enjoy each stage. To enjoy the sweetness of the newborn and how they only need mom, and love to nurse, even when we're tired. :) To enjoy the first months of getting to know your baby, trying to rest when you can and figuring out life together. To enjoy the first sweet smiles, giggles, when they find their hands and feet. To enjoy how they are so content being held, not needing much else in life. Then to enjoy the mover, the crawling, then the walking. To enjoy the newness of life and how everything is exciting. Then the exploring, learning, running and talking. Each stage is magical as their little lives are being developed.

But there are times when I forget. I know that I am not perfect and I was just asked by my husband the other day about how he thought that I wanted to be home with the kids (I was complaining or something). And I do want to be home, I love it...but some days are hard. Some days I lose patience, especially when I am not getting enough sleep. ;) Having little ones is tough at times, but also so so much fun! I love watching them learn, explore, and sleep. ;) I love my life right now, and wouldn't trade playing cars, nursing, going to the zoo,  and playing base ball outside for anything. Even when they aren't sleeping through the night, I know that they will eventually and even to treasure the night time cuddles. I am so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to be mommy to both Ryan and Ally and I pray that I would be the mom that He has created me to be and to not take any day for granted. And with that...my two sweetest gifts:

And today: 

my life and I love it! 

Thanking Jesus for the gift of today! 

Ryan's BIG boy bed

I have been dragging my feet for a long time when it came to changing Ryan's crib to a big bed. He LOVED his crib...he LOVED to sleep in his crib, he has not once tried to climb in or out, so I thought...why?? Why mess with a good thing?? I loved that he slept so well in his crib. But...he is getting so big, and when I would go in and check on him at night, he would be in the weirdest positions and most nights his feet were sticking out of his crib slats. ;) And then there was a huge fundraiser sale at the local high school for mattresses. So, we found a great deal on a full size box spring and mattress. So...he has now transitioned to a BIG boy bed. His crib converted to a full size bed...it's awesome...he now has the bed that he will probably have until he moves out (can't even think about that). And...he LOVES his new BIG bed. We found the cutest tractor bedding, and he thought it is the coolest thing. The best part...he now LOVES to sleep in his BIG bed, and has actually been napping better in it. He just looks so little in the huge bed. Here are pics of my sweet boy in his new BIG boy bed. :)

helping Dad put together his new bed :) 

I love his face here! I just told him to not jump on the bed :) 

can't beat this smile

Love my growing boy!