The months have just flown by since I last wrote! It is already the end of August. We have had a great summer! Casey is now 21 months old...only 3 more months until he is 2! Wow. That is sooo hard to believe...that my little guy is almost two years old. We have had a busy summer...lots of play-dates and time with friends, which has been great.
In May, we went to San Diego to visit my new niece, Kaylin, and she is just soooo very adorable. Unfortunately, I was pretty sick during our stay with a bad cold and cough, so I wasn't able to hold her. We are planning to go to a joint baby shower over Labor Day, for my sister-in-law and her sister, so I will be able to hold her soon! She is such a happy, content baby and my brother and sister-in-law and Katerina are doing great.
After we visited them, we went to visit Kevin's family in Orange County and went to Disneyland for Casey's first time! He had a blast!! He was hilarious though...his mouth was seriously hanging wide open most of the day...he was so SHOCKED at everything...he really didn't know what to make of everything. We took him on the jungle cruise first and it was great. He also did really well on Pirates of the Caribbean too. He got to try cotton candy for the first time and only napped for 30 minutes in his stroller, all day. Needless to say, we were all very tired after a busy day. Then, the next day, Kevin got a HORRIBLE flu bug and was throwing up non-stop for about 24 hours. We had to delay our drive home and when we did finally decide to go, I had to pack up the car and drive the whole way home, with a very-sick Kevin in the front seat and a very fussy baby in the back seat...for 8 and a half hours. But God helped me have strength to do it, and we made it home (and Kevin got better and we didn't get the flu either, although my tummy was a bit upset). So we are so thankful we were able to make it home after that big adventure!
Another big adventure we had this summer was celebrating our 5th wedding anniversary in Napa Valley! It was our first night away from Casey together (and my first night away from him at all). It was pretty hard for me to go away all night, and I kept checking up on him, but he did GREAT! I guess he was a little angel with my parents and he slept ALL NIGHT LONG for them, without waking up once. What success! I never thought that would happen a few months back, let alone with someone else watching him. He loves loves loves his grandparents though and so we are so thankful for their help and for allowing us time away.
Kevin and I had such a blast. I actually felt so FREE (guiltily I admit that)...I didn't have any responsibilities on my shoulders. We drove up on Saturday morning and went first to downtown Napa where we had lunch. Then we drove to a few wineries for some wine tasting. I am not much of an alcohol fan, especially due to having really bitter tastebuds, but I tried most of the wines anyway. I actually did end up liking a few of the sweeter ones. We also just drove around and explored the area. St. Helena was sooo cute and we drove all the way up past that exploring. We then went back to our adorable hotel (the Lavender Inn in Yountville), to get ready for dinner. But before we went to dinner, we enjoyed cheese and cookies and wine at the hotel and then went on a bike ride around Yountville! They had bikes we could use at the hotel. Yountville is such a cute little town and it was so fun to glide around and take in the sights. Then we came back to our hotel and got ready for our dinner at Ad Hoc. The restaurant is listed as one of the 100 top restaurants in the Bay Area and it was very delicious. We had an endive salad, duck, veal, cheese and plums on a flatbread, and carrot cake cupcakes with coconut icecream for dessert. It was divine! We were busting at the seams after this dinner, but it was worth it.
The next day, we went to a few more wineries in Sonoma and explored that area. Then we were able to spend the whole afternoon at the Fairmont Mission Inn Spa, having spa treatments!!! We were able to enjoy the wonderful whirlpools and mineral baths and swimming pools and then we had a couples' bath, body wrap and massage. It was great. After that we had a relaxing lunch in a cabana and then went swimming before our drive home. It was a great anniversary.
Other things that have kept me busy this summer include planning two upcoming weddings that I will be coordinating at our church and organizing the "Bundles 4 Babies" drive all summer. There has been a great turn-out for the baby drive...my garage is getting so full! I have a group of wonderful women that have sacrificed their time to help me organize everything too. We have about 12 cases of diapers, tons of boxes of used clothing, and enough new items to make 4 HUGE buckets full of items for families that have never had a baby shower. The buckets include pretty much everything a family will need to raise a baby (clothes, towels, food, formula, diapers, wipes, plates, cups, shoes, shampoo, blankets, etc). I am so thankful for the generosity of people! The drive ended on August 15th, but I am still in the process of organizing everything and getting the buckets ready to deliver. We will deliver all the items probably the end of September or the beginning of October. I talked to the lady at the Shelter Network and she said they would like to have some pictures of me and of us organizing all the items to write a story about our group as a thank you. That is so nice! We are hoping all these items will be a blessing to the homeless families in our area, and we are praying they will see God's love through these material items (see below for pictures).
Casey is now taking swim lessons as well! He loves it. He is absolutely fearless and it is terrifying for me, but also awesome to see. The swim lessons are "mommy and me" classes, but they actually teach them real swim concepts, like floating on their backs, submerging them in water to swim to their moms, kicking off the wall, jumping in the water to their moms, and so on. He just loves the water...he has a huge smile on his face the whole time. He isn't good at closing his mouth when he goes under water though, so we are working on that. Also, they do this activity where they get to walk on this floaty-thing and jump off the end to their moms, and Casey is so brave and fearless...he runs right along and jumps without a second thought! Then, when I took him to Gym Class, he is the same way...he thinks he can do anything. He runs and jumps on things and climbs big ladders and loves to hang on the bars. He also fearlessly volunteered to "demonstrate" a beam activity to the other kids and walked along the beam so quickly and effortlessly it surprised everyone and they clapped loudly for him. The lady at the gym said, "Man, he's not shy at all is he??" Haha. Nope. He is a very social little guy and loves to be around people, animals, or be outside.
He is getting a lot better about going to the nursery at church too...he cries when we first drop him off, but then stops crying right away and stays in there the whole time...he likes to play with the fun toys, have snack time, story time, etc. Also, he LOVES music...he still is my avid little dancer. He wants me to put music on, just so he can dance to it. Or he will beg me to play the piano at my parent's house so he can dance to that. We have stopped his music class for the summer, so he could do swim lessons, but might keep him in swim lessons for a little while longer.
He is saying TONS of words and communicating very well with us, but still doesn't say the ENDS of words. He will only say the beginning of most long words. But he is slowly and surely saying more and more. He also knows almost all of his letters and lots of colors and numbers and some shapes. He is definitely in his "terrible two's" now, even though he isn't two yet...he fights me almost every day so that he can get his way and sometimes cries over the smallest things. He is just learning boundaries. He still loves to hug and kiss and cuddle too though. He also is obsessed with the color blue. I tried to dress him in an orange shirt and he kept saying, "No....blue! No, Blue!!!!" Then he started pulling all the blue things out of my closet, later on, saying "blue!" "Blue!" Silly guy! Also, he is pretty funny...I asked him if he liked my outfit and if I looked okay, and he looked me up and down and said "No." Haha. He also is getting good at saying who he loves at bedtime and who he wants to pray for and say he is thankful for...he goes through the whole list...mama, dada, petey, sidney, etc. It is really cute. He is such a joy and I am so thankful I can learn patience and sacrifice through this little guy God has blessed me with!
So that is mostly what has been happening this summer. We have had some great times with friends and I also celebrated my 30th birthday! Wow....I am no longer in my 20's. I had a fantastic birthday, with Kevin getting me 30 presents! Wow! It was great. Then we went to Santa Cruz for the day and walked in the redwoods and had lunch and then the next day, I had my birthday party with friends at Savanna Jazz Club in San Francisco. It was a great time of laughter, fun, eating and talking with my wonderful and great friends that have supported me and loved me! I am so thankful for them. So we are doing very well. Kevin is finally done with his super-busy project he was working on, so he doesn't have to go in early or stay late anymore, and we are thankful. Plus, everyone loves the work he has done, so that is great.
We would love to see any of you that are in the Bay Area...let us know!!! We would love to hear from you too!
 |
| Casey loves doggies...visiting his cousin doggie in San Diego! |
 |
| My mom with her new granddaughter, Kaylin. |
 |
| Casey playing with his cousin, Katerina. |
 |
| My new niece, baby Kaylin! |
 |
| My mom and dad with their grandkids! |
 |
| Katerina loved playing with Casey. |
 |
| Checking out his new cousin. |
 |
| First big sucker...at Disneyland!! |
 |
| After eating a yummy cookie, pictured below. |
 |
| Yummy cookie at Disneyland! |
 |
| Tired boy...needs a nap. |
 |
| He loves animals...who knew there were goats at D-Land! |
 |
| Kevin's mom came with us to help out!!! |
 |
| Family Photo! |
 |
| He hated the mickey hat because of the chin strap. He refused to wear it! |
 |
| Fun with Daddy at Disneyland! |
 |
| Waiting in line for his first ride...Jungle Cruise! |
 |
| He was absolutely shocked...he loved it! |
 |
| Well, he was a little concerned too, but overall, he loved it. :) |
 |
| Finally takes a 30 minute nap. |
 |
| What is this weird stuff??? |
 |
| Casey's souvenir baby-Mickey. |
 |
| Yum yum! |
 |
| Dinner! |
 |
| Riding in the cars at Disneyland...it was a great trip! |
 |
| Making pizza with mommy. |
 |
| Father's Day shirts! |
 |
| It's summer! Water-ball time! |
 |
| Hanging out with Sidney. |
 |
| Right in the face! |
 |
| Wet Boy! |
 |
| He loves water-guns. |
 |
| Swimming at the Lucasfilm Picnic...it was SO HOT! |
 |
| He got to sit on a horse for the first time at the Lucasfilm Picnic! |
 |
| I told him to "smile". |
 |
| My cousins, Erin and Shelby with us at the Marin County Fair on the 4th of July! |
 |
| On the ferris wheel with dad! |
 |
| On the ferris wheel with my cousin, Shelby! |
 |
| At swim lessons with Daddy. |
 |
| Having fun at swim lessons. |
 |
| Going under water! |
 |
| Our 5 year Anniversary in Napa Valley! |
 |
| I'm not much of a wine drinker, but I tried them. |
 |
| Found one that was a little sweeter. |
 |
| Our beautiful hotel room at the Lavender Inn! |
 |
| So cute! |
 |
| Bike-riding in Yountville. |
 |
| Getting ready for dinner! |
 |
| It's been 5 years already! |
 |
| Veal for dinner at Ad Hoc...great! |
 |
| This is what I deal with on a daily basis.... |
 |
| At the park for a park play-date with friends! |
 |
| He loves the water-feature! |
 |
| Washing dishes with Grandpa. |
 |
| At his first art class, he did this painting! |
 |
| Tried a new hair-do.... |
 |
| Getting ready for a Young Families Event...berry picking! |
 |
| He loved the dirt! |
 |
| And picking the strawberries.... |
 |
| And of course EATING strawberries... |
 |
| He ate about 7-8 of them!!! |
 |
| So pretty.... |
 |
| Family shot berry-picking! |
 |
| My presents for my 30th b-day...before they were opened. |
 |
| We went to Mt. Hermon and walked around for my b-day. |
 |
| Casey had a blast. |
 |
| We went walking in the redwoods. |
 |
| And found a hollow tree. |
 |
| Here are all my 30 presents opened! |
 |
| 3 cupcakes for my 30th b-day! |
 |
| Me and my Casey-boy! |
 |
| Me and Kev at my 30th birthday night out dinner! |
 |
| All my friends at my birthday party at Savanna Jazz Club in SF! |
 |
| Our new toy-organizer....you can't even tell there are toys in there... yay! |
 |
| My cute buddy boy. |
 |
| Organizing for the Bundles 4 Babies Drive. |
 |
| Making diapers look cute with ribbon. |
 |
| One of the finished buckets. |
 |
| Another finished bucket. |
 |
| This is what my garage looks like...crazy! |
