A Walk

The other day we had to pick up Nippon from work because his car was in the shop. We have been wanting to check out the lagoon and hill nearby so we decided to do just that. You wouldn't believe that right on the other side of this heavenly nature hike is a humongous freeway (I-5). We spotted several different kinds of birds. There was a cute mama bird (I wanna say it was a Moorhen) with several chicks swimming in one of the pools of water. Along the path there was wild fennel growing. Of course I had to try a sample. Yum! There were also these bushes with sour smelling berries on them. I later learned, at the Botanic Gardens, that it is called a Lemonadeberry. We walked along Torrey Pines lagoon until we reached the path up the hill. At the top there are several pine trees and some cellphone towers. Afton had fun running around, and even found some seashells all the way up there! Rowan loved the wind in her face and was such a good girl the whole time even though she only had one small nap that day. On the walk back Afton had fun finding bugs and sticks and other dirty boy things.

I didn't take enough pictures to do it justice. I guess I was busy looking at and enjoying how beautiful it was. Here are the few pics I did get.....

I Am a Pizza

On Thursday Afton's preschool class when to O's American Kitchen and made pizza! He was so excited to make his very own pizza and take a tour of the kitchen. Each table was given a pan with pizza dough inside that each child got to help create. They put on the sauce, cheese, and pepperoni. Just how Afton likes it. I kept teasing him that they were going to put anchovies and onions on it. He didn't think it was funny.

Here is a song Afton learned in class....

I AM A PIZZA

Waiting patiently to start making pizza!

Cheeeeese!

Brody (one of Afton's best friends) saucing it up.

Afton's turn for sauce!
Afton and Mugilan were wearing the same shirt! Cute lil Indian boys.

And now for chef Seth (the other bestie).

Seth cracks me up!

Love these boy!

So excited the pizza is ready for the oven.

Rowan was such a good girl watching everyone and not making a peep.
Well, except for the time I had someone else hold her. Then there were tears.

Finished product.

Yummmmmmmmmmmmmy!

The pizza masters.

Seth throwing a gang sign. Afton hidden behind Autumn.

Out As Long As In

Rooey Pooey has been in this world as long as she was in utero!

She is very close to crawling.

Can stand on her own while holding onto the couch.

Waves hello and bye bye. 

Loves swimming and has a tan line!

She said her first word with recognition....dada. (bummer)

Has an attitude when told not to put stuff in her mouth.

Finally likes playing on the floor with her toys.

Can devour Triscuits with the power of drool.

 Must turn and watch the TV if Spongebob or The Big Bang Theory theme songs are playing.

Sleeps from 8pm-7am with a 3am feeding.

She had her 9 month check up on Tuesday. She had to get a shot, TB test, and a blood sample to check for iron levels. Dr. Rendler said she looks great and is developing beautifully. I told him about her crackling (which comes and goes and had previously been connected with her GERD) and her rapid breathing (something she's had since birth) but he said she sounded great. He suggested I keep a journal of her breathing, if I'm that concerned, to see if there is any triggers. We'll see if I do that. Haha! I'm terrible at that kind of thing and I guess I'm not that concerned. Her iron came back slightly low so yesterday I took her for a full blood draw to see if it is low enough for intervention. Negative fun. They are suppose to give me a call in the next few days to let me know. Hopefully it's nothing diet can't fix.

Weight 15lbs 12oz (5-10%)

Head is 42cm (5-10%)

Height 26 1/2" (10-25%)

Botanic Garden

The day before Mother's Day we decided to go to a Chocolate tasting festival at the San Diego Botanic Gardens. It ended up being so nice there that we bought annual passes. We've already gone back and found more things that we enjoy...well mostly for Afton. There is a tree house, an edible garden, water play, a butterfly and hummingbird garden, and a spot with lots of sand were the kids can pretend to cook. They have a calendar full of events and fun stuff for kids. Nippon and I love botanical gardens anyway, so it's nice that we can enjoy it as much as the kids. Anyway, here are a few pictures from our first visit. I'm sure I will get more photos of this place as we continue going back throughout the year.

The NAT

Afton was watching the news with me a couple of weeks ago and there was a story on a bug exhibit at The Natural History Museum. He kept asking me to take him for the rest of the week, so I decided to do just that. He use to be afraid of bugs but since becoming friends with a boy in his class named Seth, he has started to love little crawly things. Ok, maybe just rollie pollies and the occasional beetle but this is a huge improvement from the girly screams he use to screech when seeing such thing previously.

.

The exhibit ended up not being as cool as anticipated. There were mostly scorpions (which are always cool when under black light) and tarantulas. Most of the bugs were dead and posed in displays. There was a great display of pinned butterflies and moths though, but overall neither of us were impressed. I guess it's obvious since I didn't take one bug picture. I did though get some cute ones of them playing on the giant metal rhino beetle. 

Rowan's face cracks me up in the above picture. I put all the stuffed bugs around her and she just looked at me dumbfounded. Right when she started to warm up to the bugs she tipped over and bumped her head on the side of the metal bug. Poor littler.

Afton had to take a picture next to the Peregrine Falcon because it's his dad's favorite bird...or so he says. He was so excited to show Nippon.

...and the beautiful blue butterfly emerged from his chrysalis. 

Rowan was such a good girl waiting patiently for her brother to finish his chalkboard masterpiece. She recovered quickly from bumping her head and enjoyed looking around and smiling at everyone at the museum. There was another exhibit on dinosaurs that had animatronic dinos that roared and made very very loud noises. Afton hated it but Rowan thought it was great. 

On the way home from the museum we decided to stop by The Cheesecake Factory where my friend Jaime works. We were hoping to surprise her but unfortunately she had the day off. I told Afton we were just going to go home but he was hungry so we stayed. I'm glad we did because I had a delicious blueberry mojito. It was a nice way to finish our day.

No Children Post

This feels like a first. A post that has nothing to do with children! Last month I was able to get out of the house for a girls night. My BFF Jaime and I headed over to a new BFF Missy's house for a Passion Party. We ate delicious food, had a few drinks, checked out the merchandise, laughed and giggled, and laughed some more. It was insanely fun and I need to get out more often. This was only the second time I've gone out, on my own, without a child since Rowan was born. 

This is Jasmine, Missy, and I trying out some "equipment." Haha! I'm so glad that Afton has become friends with kids who have rockin' moms. It has taken me a really long time to make friends with people who I can relate to and want to actually hang out with, and I'm grateful I met these fabulous gals. Can't wait to go out again!

All Things Star Wars

Afton has been on a Star Wars kick. He had watched A New Hope a year or so ago and liked it but didn't love it. Actually, he was just not old enough to like it as much as he does now. I'm sure all the Star Wars Lego stuff, and going to Legoland, helped out a lot too. Anyway, he has been really loving all things Star Wars. He watches the movies (episodes 4,5,6), and sings/hums the main title and the Darth Vader theme, all the time. Nippon is trying to hold off on having him see the first three episodes as long as possible. If he never sees them I'll be fine with that. Haha! He is really excited that he gets to see new Star Wars movies in the theatre! I can't wait.  

Lightsaber ice pop.

These were the first pops I made and forgot to add the blue and red food coloring.
The next batch looked much cooler but I forgot to take a picture. Oh well.

We went to the Lego Store on 5/04....May the 4th be with you!
Afton got a Yoda hat, free poster, a Star Wars planet series set, and a comic book.
Nippon got a Millennium Falcon and a free Han Solo Hoth mini-fig. 

These are figures I've had, in the box, since '98.

The Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan Kenobi that I let Afton have.
There is also a TIE Interceptor, Y-Wing and X-Wing Starfighters.
Nippon and I both had these before we got together!

Here are most of Afton's Star Wars mini-figurines.

Like Peas & Carrots

My bestie Jaime Hunt purchased these lovelies for us.

They are a much cooler version of the best friend necklaces we had as kids.

Mine

Hers

Messy Stuff

Last week we decided to take advantage of a beautiful day and do some messy play in the backyard. Afton didn't want to run through the sprinkler like I thought he would, and picked finger painting instead. He even got his paints out himself. I made Rowan some of her own paint out of yogurt and food coloring since she puts everything in her mouth. It was a big hit. She loved pouring it out, squishing her toes in it, and licking the bowls. Afton informed me that brown was his favorite color and proceed to mix all the colors together. After they got as messy as possible, I sprayed them down with the hose and let them dry in the sun, which can be done because this is San Diego sun and not Arizona sun. Ha!