Million Dollar Smile

This morning, baby Jax surprised us with his first smile! I put him in his swing and as I tried giving him a pacifier, Jax looked up at the mirror on his swing mobile and as if he caught a glimpse of himself he got all excited, opened his mouth, and flashed this million dollar smile! Ah! It was so amazing that I even had time to reach over for my camera and snap these pics (mind you they are blurry because Jax was swinging). I'm so excited we have entered into this stage of infancy, the smiles, the giggles, the gurgles.... ah! this is just the beginning of many sweet moments!

A California January Weekend

Only in California can you have 80 degree sunny weather at the end of January. Well, I'm sure there are other tropical places that have this kind of weather... but not the warm santa ana winds that really cleared the sky this past weekend, making way for beautiful sunsets and clear views of Catalina Island. Nothing beats living by the beach when the weather is this nice. The boys and I got out our short-sleeved & tank top outfits and had a wonderfully nice outdoorsy kind of weekend!

It first started out with a celebratory 1st month date night for Brad and I on Thursday night. Samantha babysat Taj while we took Jax out to dinner with us to celebrate his 1st month birthday and our first date nite since we became a family of 4. I think we should do this every other friday nite now, as long as baby Jax will allow us to!

We checked out the new healthy restaurant Seasons 52 at South Coast Plaza (thanks to Sam's recommendation) and had a super delicious dinner, wine, dessert, all while out sweet angel slept in his carseat right by our table!

The following day, on Friday, Grandma Sue and Poppa Gene came up to visit and we took the boys to the park to play. I love Jax's "little man" outfit on this day, compliments of the Jacobsen Family :) After an afternoon at the park and kicking the ball around with Taj, we took a leisure stroll to Summer House restaurant here in CDM. The restaurant has these big windows they had wide open that night because it was such a "summery" night.

little bro, "mama's little man":
and big bro, mama's big boy!:

On Saturday, Auntie Brina (Sabrina) came to visit. We spent the afternoon at the FunZone on the Newport Peninsula. We took the ferry across the bay from Balboa Island to the Peninsula, where we took the boys to the arcade. Taj LOVES air hockey, and playing all the basketball/ ball games for tickets. At the end, we traded in our tickets for some cool "ball" prizes that Taji was stoked about! We walked over to the pier where we caught an amazing sunset, and took these pics:
Look how red (I mean tan!) Jax looks in his stylish ralph lauren polo romper!
I just love these next 2 pics!:



Playtime at the nearby beach playground and stroll down the pier brought us to Ruby's diner where we dined on cheeseburgers and fries with the kids. (minus Jax who had his milk LOL). When we got back home, Auntie Brina helped me bathe the boys and put them to bed since Brad was spending his first overnighter in LA celebrating a friend's big birthday. It was also my first night alone with the boys, and it actually wasn't as bad as I initially thought it was going to be. Even though I was up every 2 hours feeding Jax, Taj slept through the whole night without a peep! I was very proud of myself when we all woke up 7 ish in the morning, I even made the kids and I a big sunday breakfast (boy was daddy jealous when he got home a couple hours later!)

Jax turns 1 month old!

Happy 1 month to our Baby Jax! What a sweet angel Jax is! At 10 lbs., he is our blond chunky monkey with the yummiest cheeks I just want to kiss all day long. Can you believe he's already wearing size 1 diapers and 0-3 month size clothes.... no more "newborn" (hold on while i wipe a tear...). So crazy how time is whizzing by with our Jaxi, a nickname that Taj gave him and its really caught on. Jax's hair and eyes are lightening up each week, and he shares his stork mark (temporary birthmark between his eyebrows) with his older bro. He loves to look around, even when he is napping it always seems like he keeps one eye open so to not miss a thing! Jax does great with tummy time, most of the time cat napping on his belly. His neck is very strong, he can hold his head up and turn his head with minimal bobbing, so impressive. His favorite "viewing spot" is looking over our shoulder. Jax loves to eat, and he beat the odds this past week by finally latching on and breastfeeding (mind you he only prefers the left breast!) Maybe next month he will figure out how to latch on to the right breast! LOL I'm so happy to have this bonding time together, neither mama or baby gave up on each other! We do half breastfeeding (mostly in the mornings and early evenings at home), and half bottle feeding (with the milk I pump.) He eats every 2-3 hours, and chomps away on his pacifier (same pacifiers Taji took in the beginning). Jax loves riding in and chilling in his snuggly carseat (we take him out to restaurants and such, and he is as content as he can be snoring away.) He also likes his bouncy chair, swing, vibrant tummy time playmat, and looking at mommy's black and white striped shirt (that mommy hangs over the couch so Jax can stare at it). He loves holding on to the baby plastic rings and is practicing his grip. He loves going anywhere where his brother goes, especially outside where the two share a stroller. He's also been in the BabyBjorn carrier when mama made a trip to Trader Joes grocery store. Whether its a stroller ride to the park or a bath in his wash pod, Jax continues to be an easy-going baby and mostly cries and fusses when he is hungry!

This last month, Jax experienced his first bath, first stroller ride to the beach (and park!), first shopping trip to Fashion Island, first restaurant dinner at no other than Great Maple (where we celebrated him in my belly just weeks before he was born.) He also had his first lunch date (Rose's Bakery), first breakfast date (at Anastasia's in Laguna Beach), first playdate/ story time, attended his first birthday party (his cousin Chloe's 7th birthday,) first time at the grocery store, and first time staying with a babysitter (while I took Taj to story time and Frogg's Bounce house for a little mother-son time.) He had many visitors and was showered with many gifts from his grandparents and relatives. Jax is loved by everyone everywhere we go, and very much doted on by his big brother, mama, and dada. Happy 1st month sweet Jaxi, you have no idea how happy you make us and how much joy your bring to our home! I love your "dancing", and "cheering" (with his arms), your little noises when you stretch, your cooing sounds, and just this morning (on the first day of your 5th week) we saw your incredible smile! My heart skipped a beat! Thank you for that amazing surprise!

Taji wishing Jaxi a "happy 1st month birthday!"

JUMP for Chloe!

Last weekend we celebrated Chloe's 7th birthday and originally planned to take the kids to Legoland but because of the rain, at the last minute, my sister organized a little party at Sky High Sports, a huge 360 degree facility of trampoline fun! It was the size of an ice rink except floor to wall trampolines! And it wasn't just another bouncy house kid place, no way, we saw probably more adults than kids and they have a dodgeball team and dodgeball games regularly! We all had so much fun jumping.... especially Taji!





After an afternoon of jumping for joy (in honor of Chloe!), we headed to Dave & Busters at the Irvine Spectrum for a birthday dinner with family and friends. Here is our 2nd photo as a family of 4, and look how big baby Jax is getting, he now has his eyes open for the portrait!

Big Brother/ Little Brother Love

Hey Little Bro (aka Baby Jax, Jaxi, "shmall baby")
How I love thee, let me count the ways...... I love to give you kisses (especially nose kisses), love to hug you (and sometimes squish you), love to point out your features (and try to poke at your eyes and cheeks), love to tickle you and pet you (often times I try to sneak in a tug here and there and then get in trouble), and love the buttons on your clothes and your hats (pulling them off as well!). Oh baby brother, you make life around the house so exciting these days, and sometimes stressful when I have to share you with daddy or when you get more attention than me!. I am getting really really good at impersonating your noises, especially your cries when you are hungry! I also love to say "bless you Jax" when you sneeze!
Mommy says I'm a real good helper because I throw your diapers away in the trash, hand mommy diapers or wipes when she asks me to, and entertain you (but I mostly like playing with your baby toys, stealing your pacifiers, and sneaking in a little time in your playmat and bouncy seat when you are not in there!)


I cannot be more thrilled that you are going to be ONE month old already, because that means you are getting bigger and will soon be more fun to play with! I can't wait for you to smile and giggle soon, because that means I will have another audience to show all my jokes and silly faces to! I love sitting next to you in the car, and I love riding with you in our stroller. I'm also really liking our special story time, when mommy reads to the both of us and we get to cuddle!

I have surprised everyone, including myself, how loving and sweet I am towards you, but I can't help it, I love you my little brother (or "shmall baby" / "baby Jax" as I refer to you). Hopefully you won't remember and will forgive me for tugging on your feet, and poking at your eyes, and especially being loud with all my toys while you are sleeping in the swing and bouncy chair. I think we are going to have so much fun growing up together, and I'm so excited to teach you how to play soccer with me and sing my favorite songs! As you approach your 1 month milestone, I just wanna say how happy I am that you are here! I love you!
Your big bro, Taj

Taj's Lunchtime Variety Show

Did you know? Taj is quite the comedian and now even hosts his own "baby monitor" variety show! Yep, every day right after he wakes from his lunch time nap, he likes to chit chat, crack jokes, laugh at his own jokes, sing songs, and practice all the things he learned to say that day. I, his mommy and his #1 fan, and of course, the audience, listen in on this show with my ear glued to the monitor. Yesterday, I decided to video the show... actually just the monitor (in case one day Taj does have his own radio show or something, then I can remind him how he got started! LOL)

On yesterday's episode, Taj begins with some monkey noises, then the Old Macdonald "eyayeeyayow" song, a discussion about the park, more animal noises (cat meows), more singing, then he cracks some jokes only he really understands but sure thinks are funny, then a discussion about his pacifier and daddy, pretending to sneeze "ah choo", more jokes, then "all done" and "call" puppy, and some smooching of the puppy..... ( i think puppy may actually be his sidekick on the show because he refers to him a lot!). Its a 6 minute segment, and I decided to start filming directly after he practiced counting and ABC's... that's what gave me the idea to run and grab the camera and document this adorable thing :)

So grab your popcorn, turn up the volume on the computer, and enjoy the show!

Jax's Third Week

Jaxi-poo is 3 weeks! How time flies.... and look how much he's changing and growing! He's almost got a smirk or a half-smile in the photo above! As you can see, Jax is much more awake and aware of his surroundings these days, and he especially loves to be held, cuddled, and likes to relax..... (in his brother's rocker) (did you notice his onesie, it says "party in my crib!")
He has surprised us with how strong his neck is and how he moves it from side to side! He doesn't even complain too much during tummy time. Caught a video of him doing it!

Jax likes to practice his tummy time on the new playmat Aunt Sherry got him (finally, a toy and baby gear of his own that's not a hand-me-down!)
The little monkey....
getting loved on and squeezed by his older brother who loves him to pieces....
Enjoying 1:1 attention and mommy-son time during Taj's naps....
at the playground....
spending time with the family this past Saturday morning. We went on a walk, out to breakfast, shopped at the farmer's market here in CDM, and had playtime at the playground on the way home. The boys coordinated their outfits again, they both have sweatshirts (Jax's is a sweatshirt romper) from H&M that say Broxton 58. I have no idea what that means, but we thought the toddler and newborn version were so cute!

We also had Auntie Jane and Uncle G come over Saturday night to meet Baby Jax, play with Taji, and then after Taj went to bed, we popped open the wine and had ourselves a fabulous dinner from Panini Cafe. It was the first time we hosted a little "double date" dinner at our house since having babies and we even brought out our fun swanky dishes and wine glasses for occasion!

So I have saved the best for last this week, as promised.... the snoring and sleep smiles video, enjoy!

ps..... dada got mama the very cool MAC Book Pro Laptop.... that's why you have seen a lot more updates and posts from lately. The new computer makes it easy and fast to post!