The Beginning of an Extraordinary Family Life....

"Life is not measured by the amount of breaths you take, but the amount of experiences that take your breath away."  Let me take you back to last summer, our 3rd summer together in Bemus Point, NY.... and the first summer as a family of 3 with another little pip-squeak on the way.  It was a summer that changed our lives forever.  Staying at our lake cottage like we always do, going boating with friends, relishing the nature... but something was different this time around, we kept hearing it and it grew stronger by the day.  It was Taj's giggle, as he gleefully ran through the grass, threw rocks in the lake, and chased squirrels and chipmunks around.  He was like a bird set free, free to fly and explore, and get down and dirty with his surroundings, and in such safe and secure nature.  The joyful laugh of our son made us think about our lifestyle and what environment we wanted him and his siblings to grow up in.  Every year, Brad toys with the idea of moving back to "that place" he and his friends always talk about with a sparkle in their eyes, "that place" they have such fond memories of, "that place" that still looks the way they remember and enjoy to this day.  Then, one day that same last summer, as we were driving down Lakeside Drive to our cottage, another "thing" pulled us in and we couldn't stop staring.  Our dream house.  It was a sign, all of these "things" were signs.... and they were all pointing in the same direction.  For the first time in a very long time, no grad school or career was holding me back.  I became a SAHM and Brad's work allows him to work from virtually any place.  Bingo.  Could we be so fortunate to find ourselves at a crossroad in life, where we are sole decision-makers on where and how we want to raise our kids, and to make that pivotal decision when our kids are still babies?  This decision could change their and our lives forever!  Nothing made more sense and seemed so right at the time.  Bemus Point was calling our name.  The lake, the nature, the slow-pace, the simple and relaxed atmosphere, the friendly people, good friends, the other family support system (Brad's dad, sister, brother, and aunts), the good school system, all that land for the kids to run around on, our dream house.......... more positives than negatives.....

We were tickled pink with the thought, but we kept this desire a secret and gave California (specifically Newport Beach) a chance to change our minds and set us straight.  One month passed, six months passed, 10 months passed.... and the feeling grew stronger.  While we are forever grateful to Southern California (and I'm grateful for the wonderful Orange County upbringing) for allowing us to live such a fabulous life (when we were single and married) specifically in postcard pretty Corona del Mar, both Brad and I couldn't deny our feelings for a change of pace and lifestyle.  They say, kids change you and change your life.... no kidding! Ever since Taj entered our world, and now with the addition of Jax, we long for a more private, less stressful, slower kind of life where the focus is family and creating experiences and adventures as a family.  We want our kids to run around and play outside whenever they want without supervision, to climb trees and build forts, to go mountain biking, ride their AV's around, to jump into the lake and swim, wakeboard, inner tube, all to their hearts' desire.  We want them to grow up in a four- season climate (even I haven't experienced this yet but am looking forward to it!), where they admire the leaves changing colors in the Fall, feel excitement and awe at the first snowfall, have snowball fights, sledding, snowmobiling, playing hockey on the frozen lake, skiing at a young age, experiencing a "white" Christmas.  We want to take family road trips and visit the sights and sounds of many East Coast cities.  We want them to attend a school with a small student-to-teacher ratio, and participate in school sports (without having to pay the steep price of a private school.) We want them to know their neighbors by name and feel comfortable to grow and be who they want to be in a small town.  We want them to grow up in one big incredible house, a house where they can have their friends over anytime, where they have plenty of space to play and have the comfort of their own rooms.  We want to travel the world with them.  We want them to think fondly of where they grew up (and have that sparkle in their eyes, the kind their daddy has when he talks about Bemus.)  We want them to grow up grounded, secure, happy, open-minded, and physically active.  This is the kind of childhood we yearn for our kids.

There was no turning back at this point, our decision was made.  I always said, if we are meant to move and settle down in Bemus Point, NY and this is the right path for us to take, it will happen with ease.  Our mindset growing stronger by the month and not changing was a good sign.  Finding another place for Kuki (our cat) to live, and her actually adapting well to it, was another good sign.  Selling our house in 3 days for our asking price, another good sign.  Our dream house waiting for us, a year later, and wanting us to buy it...... yet another good sign.  Moving from CA to NY and letting all the cards fall into place in less than 45 days.  The feeling we continuously have in our hearts.... that this is SO right for us.

For those who question this endeavor, this is how I look at it.  Sure, we could live the "California dream" here in Newport Beach, in a cookie cutter track home with a mediocre backyard, live/ work/ play in a concrete jungle, and spend a portion of our lifetime driving in traffic.  The only problem is, this is someone else's dream, not our dream.  Speaking for myself, I'm glad I have lived the last 27 years (the first 6 were spent in CZ, Austria, and Texas) in Orange County..... minus 4 years when I lived in LA during my UCLA college days.  So very blessed I got to study abroad in Spain, Greece, and Prague, CZ.  And last but not least, a very lucky girl for having back-packed throughout Europe and traveled to a few other exotic destinations.  But in my heart, it is time for a change, and I welcome, make that I embrace, a change in the zip code, a change in the pace, and a challenge.  As an international traveler, and on-the-go driven career-minded woman, and now a devoted mother of 2, I am ready to slow things down and really enjoy my precious family.  No one knows how we will feel in 10 years and whether we will have regrets, but to-date, i don't have a single regret in any decisions I have made in my life.  I will undoubtedly miss my family and friends, the loud crashing waves, our favorite restaurants, Whole Foods and Trader Joes, and it will be very, very difficult to find a replacement for Sam and Sonia.  But remember folks, this move isn't about me, its about the kids, its about the quality of our family life.  For some reason, I cannot see myself living in Orange County anymore, its like I've been there, done that, and it's time to move on.  I like to look at life as chapters.  This chapter we are about to embark on is all about raising our kids and having maximum family time.  Bemus Point, NY is our attempt at slowing down the clock.  After the kids go off to college, Brad and I will begin another new chapter and I can see us moving elsewhere again, maybe doing an annual international house exhange, and possibly even make our way back to good ole' Corona del Mar when we retire.  But for now, it's time to build memories elsewhere, time to explore new horizons,  learn something new about ourselves, and Grow!

My Marvelous Mother's Day

I feel like the absolute luckiest woman for having 2 gorgeous little boys I am very proud to call my sons!  Never in a million years did I know I would feel the kind of love I have for them.  It is a love that only a mother knows of, and double it when you have 2 sweet little faces to admire every day!  I thank the love of my life, my hard-working and brilliant husband Brad, for giving me my Taj and Jax!  This Mother's Day 2012, I feel especially grateful for my family and the life I have!

We celebrated my SECOND Mother's Day with a beautiful brunch at Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach, with Brad's mother and sister Sherry!  What a delicious brunch it was!

Then after a nice "mommy break" and noon nap, we met with 2 other incredible mothers (my sister and mom) for a nice little picnic at Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park, in Irvine.

It was a pretty sunday afternoon picnic just playing with the kiddies and spending Deda's last day before he flew out the next morning.   Baby Jax got lots of attention and sweet cuddles as usual....

Dlab Family Portrait (my dad, me, sister Petra, and mom).  Cannot believe there are 3 mommies in this picture..... crazy how time flies!

These last 3 photos are my absolute favorite of the day, such pure joy and love between deda and his grandson!  

Deda Time!

Guess who flew in from the Czech Republic to meet Baby Jax for the first time, and spend time with Taj and Chloe?  DEDA (my dad)!!!  During his 2 week visit, we've had lots of great deda-time!  Everything from a Laguna beach day, Taj's haircut at the salon....

Chuck E' Cheese and a Red Robin dinner:

an early birthday lunch (my dad's 60th birthday is in June) at Zov's in Newport Coast:

such a cute pic of the boys with their babi & deda :)

We even hung out at Balboa Island with the kids, and played at "Dinosaur" Park (Laguna Hills) with my sister & Chloe after they got back from their Costa Rica trip!  Deda spent each and every day with each grandchild!  He even babysat both boys on a saturday morning!!! (He took them out on a walk with the double stroller and to the playground, and when I got home he said it was a piece of cake!  I was impressed!)  Deda spoiled Taj, Jax, and Chloe with so much attention, they already miss him so much.

Jax's First Spoon-Feeding

So Jax is now 4 months old.  He likes to wake up once (and sometimes twice) a night and yell at his mommy to nurse him.  So what do I do?  I introduced Jax to rice cereal a week ago, to fill up his belly more for the night.  The verdict:
 

You would think that in the last week, Jax would sleep through the night on a full tummy.  Wrong.  (On the 5th night, he did sleep 12 hours consecutive..... but that's the only night so far!) You would think the rice cereal would prevent him from waking up and demanding to be nursed.  Wrong again.   Oh well, at least he somewhat likes it and looks super cute eating it!!!  Jax also gets excited to be eating like a big boy at the same time Taj is in his highchair eating his dinner.  Those two surely are inseparable, now they even dine together!

Babi and her Boys

A few weeks ago, when Brad was away in Houston, Texas, on a business trip, babi came to stay with the boys and I. We took her on a little day trip to Santa Monica. We dined at the new Santa Monica Place 3-story outside mall, and Taj loved playing on this indoor wooden whale playground (coolest jungle gym by far). Then we strolled through 3rd Street Promenade and took some pics with the ocean view and santa monica pier. Jax and Taj LOVE their babi so much, and enjoy spending time with her!

Lovies

Lovies.  Everyone needs one, but not everyone has one.  Jax has a monkey lovie.  Taj has a puppy lovie.  Lovies mostly stay in the bed and are there to cuddle with.  But they never leave the house.  (don't tell Taj this but we have the identical twin of his puppy lovie hidden away in the closet and he only comes out when we need to pull off a clever switcheroo during laundry days AND of course he's there as back-up if god forbid anything ever happened to the original!)

Lovies.  Everyone should have one, but not everyone is lucky enough.  I'm very lucky that I have TWO:

(and a THIRD big one of course...... can't leave my hubs out!) :)