It's a Christmas Miracle!

Well, It's almost been 1 whole year since I have updated.  Unacceptable.  It's only fitting that my last post was about how difficult it is to find time to do anything -- especially update the blogs.  Life hasn't changed much in that respect - always searching for more time to get 'stuff' done and spend time with the kids and Jake.  I have started leaving for work at 6am this year so that I do get more time to get stuff done and spend time with the kids.  Leaving early in the morning means I get to leave work earlier - both of those things result in missing the horrible traffic I used to sit in.  I REALLY don't like getting up at 5am but it's worth it to miss sitting in traffic for 2 hours everyday.  I'm also able to get home early enough to pick up Raya and get home in time to meet Easton at the bus stop. 


Raya is still at the same daycare.  She loves it there. It's so different from the big center daycares we were used to with Easton but we love the small in-home feel too and I think Raya enjoys that so much more than she would a big center.  We will have to look at pre-school options for when she's 4 though. I think she'll need a little more exposure to what real school is like before starting Kindergarten.  Jeez, listen to me - She's 2.5 and I'm already planning for kindergarten.  Guess that goes to show how quickly these years are just flying by for me.  She's so smart - she knows her months of the year, days of the week, can count to 20, knows her shapes, sing her ABC's, knows some colors.... she struggles with this for some reason.  She is also a talking machine.  Complete sentences all the time with a HUGE vocabulary.  I think it helps a ton to have an older brother who loves to learn as this helps her always explore new things as well. 


She is still sweet as pie.  She's definitely got a little spice to her too. Especially when it comes to her brother or if we tell her she can't have a treat.  Or really, if we just tell her "no" - watch out world!   She loves to pick on Easton just as much as he loves to pick on her.  She wants to be just like him and do EVERYTHING he does. This includes eating.  When it comes to bedtime snacks Easton will eat as much as he possibly can and she tries to keep up.  The poor thing must be so bloated at night.  She's actually a tiny, tall, little peanut and is only in the 30% for weight. 


Potty training has been interesting with her.  There were signs about a year ago that she'd probably potty train pretty fast.  Not so much.  She could totally do it if she wanted to and has many days where she has stayed dry.  She constantly will pee on the potty - well, anything for a treat!  However, when it comes to pooping.  She will run and hide and tell you she's scared and poop in her diaper.  We always know when she's pooping because she tells us to go away.  Likes her privacy, I guess! :)  Oh well, she'll get there.  It's tough because I don't think they focus on it too much at daycare and so it's confusing going from home to daycare and doing different things.  Plus Mom and Dad are totally lazy some days too.  Boy are things different with the 2nd child. 


Raya had a fun summer of swimming in our neighborhood pool and going to the neighborhood park and just being outside.  We were outside every second we could be this summer.  Towards the end of the summer she was learning how to ride her trike by herself and use her scooter by herself.  We also introduced the big girl bike with training wheels but she wasn't quite ready for that yet.  Maybe next summer. 


Raya is full of one-liners and makes us laugh constantly.  She's always suprising us with her witty comments.  It's like we forget she can hold a conversation and joins on in when we least expect it.  We also finally got her moved into a big girl bed a few months ago and FINALLY figured out how to get her to go to sleep for me.  She would only go to bed for Jake. If I tried she would cling on to me for dear life and cry and say she wants mommy... this would go on for hours.  If I just left her in her room she would throw the biggest fit ever and eventually start choking on her saliva from crying so much.  Needless to say, when Jake was in San Fran for a few days I was up all night with her and it was then decided we needed to take action and get things under control. 


Raya loves:
Treats
Mickey and Minni mouse
Barbies
Jewelry (especially Auntie Mary's locket)
Dancing
Singing - she will sing an entire conversation.  It's like living in a real life musical with this girl :)
Diego
A boy at her school named, Jordan. 
Easton
coloring, cutting, gluing
gymnastics
fruit snacks


Next step: upload pictures.... hopefully before December of 2017  :) 

I need more time



There's so many reason why I need more time.  I need more time so that I can update this blog more frequently.  I have been really terrible at dedicating time to this blog.  I am sorry to the 25 year old Raya (that's when I'm guessing you'll be appreciative of having this blog book to look back on).  :)    I need more time so that I can be with my kids more. I need more time so that I can spend more quality time with my Husband - ya know - more than the every day rushed morning routine of getting ourselves ready and our kids ready and out the door on time and all we say to each other is "Bye, love you, have a good day."  And then we see each other 10.5 hours later only to be rushed to get dinner done, quick playtime, bath and bedtime.  Then when the kids are sleeping - we're just too exhausted to even have a conversation.  Someday I'll get to know who the 33 (I think that's how old we are...we've officially reached the age where you forget how old you are and need to count from your birth year.  ugh.) year old Jake is.  Well, I guess by the time this happens you may be the 40 year old Jake.  I need more time to work out.  I need more time to look for a job closer to home.  I need more time to paint the hideous seafoam green paint in our new house.  I need more time to soak in Raya and Easton while they're young, little, sweet and innocent! :) 

Raya is just growing up so quick.  She's talking so much and is talking more and more in sentences!  It's so fun!  Here most frequent phrases are probably: 

• Easton stop
• Easton no
• MOM!  (she loves to yell for me)
• Charlie come'on
• sit here (while she pats on the couch) Dora. Mote (remote) -- letting us know she wants to watch Dora
• What's that?

She is getting her 2 final teeth (well other than her 2 year molars) - so we're back to crying at bedtime and not wanting to sleep.  Poor girl is in so much pain - shoves her hand in her mouth and cries. :(   Her hair is starting to fill in a bit.  Poor girl has a mullet though ... brings me back to my childhood days.  Full on mullet for years!  She's still a little blondie!  It'll be interesting if she says blond or turns more brunette like Easton is. 

Raya loves:

• Dora - she will sing (shout) the theme song and would watch the show all day every day if we'd let her.  She can also name every character in the show.
• Babies - she loves the baby at daycare
• Coloring - she will color for the longest time
• Stickers
• Jumping - she loves to jump on (and off) the couch, her trampoline and run and jump on the ground
• Loves to be outside - when the weather cooperates
• Sucking her thumb
• Wearing pretty dresses
• Having her toenails painted "pretty"
• Reading books
• Asking "what's that?" 
• Singing
• Counting - she can count to 10 all by herself
• ABC's  - she doesn't' know all the letters yet but she's getting there
• Play dough
• Puzzles
• Waffles
• Fruit snacks
• Horsey rides on our backs and getting thrown in the air
• Papa  (Grandpa)



Raya doesn't love:

• Going to school in the morning.  She will yell "no" and run away.  She likes it when she's there but I think she'd prefer to stay home and color and watch Dora.
• Sharing attention with Easton.  For example, if Easton is sitting on our lap reading a book she will cry and crawl on our lap and push him off until she gets all the attention.  Stinker.

She's slowly learning her shapes and colors - occasionally she'll get them right. 

Raya has the best laugh.  It makes me smile for days!  She is the sweetest person on the planet.  Seriously. 

When we give her kisses she immediately "wipes them off" with a huge smile on her face.  Who taught her this??

Raya can eat with a spoon and fork like she's 20!  She's got some awesome fine motor skills.  She can also hold a crayon like a pro ;) 

She is super spoiled and Jake and I own up to that.  She's too cute and sweet not to spoil.  I do realize this will get us in trouble someday.  But for now - why not? 

I am finally going to order Raya's 1st blog book after this post.  About time!  I really hope I can get better at keeping up with this.  

Does it get any better than being able to carry Dora around on your back?

Fun at the ice castles.  Even Raya wanted to go down the slides.

Dad joined in on the fun!

Raya was cold!

Cuteness alert

Just checking her email first thing in the morning.

Sibling night out!  See kids - we can have fun! 

Just reading with her morning bowl of cereal.

Trying on Easton's hockey gear.

Big brother loves his little sister

 Loves to color

More love for little sister.  I love this photo.

Discovered markers and coloring on her legs and onsie.

Making valentines

She loves ketchup - just like her Daddy

Reading Dora

Having a fun, lazy day at home with Mom

Kisses for the Ducky

Superwoman!

pretending to sleep

cute kids! cheese-face!

Happy birthday Stella and Harry.  I spy Harry.

Love her.

Trying to sleep in her babies crib

cheeeeeese!  what a mess!

Morning coffee with Mom

Movie time.  Why not sit on a beanbag on top of a trampoline?

Trying on brother's (clean) underwear

Going shopping

Run like the wind

Looking suspicious

Loves to work on the computer

All dressed up and no place to go

Gotta check those emails

When Easton's away...I play with all his stuff

Riding bikes on a warm February day

Kisses for Dora! 



Hunker down

It was so cold this weekend - we just hunkered down and stayed home.  There was no hockey, there was nothing.  So, what better time to try to potty train a 20 month old?  She definitely knows when she goes potty and will tell us but will NOT go on the potty chair.  We had 3 accidents on Saturday and went through all the underwear - so that is where we stopped.  ha!  She's not quite there yet so I'm not going to push it.  I don't like when parents push potty training at a super young age - let your baby be a baby!  I know, she's not a baby... but you know what I mean.  I think we'll really try when she's 2.  They won't catch on until they're super-ready anyways.  Oh well, it was fun while it lasted.  Wait, no, no that's not fun.  :)  

Big girl undies 

Pantry raider 

You are my sunshine

Raya loves to sing songs!  Her favorites include: You are my sunshine, the theme song to Dora the Explorer, Twinkle twinkle, itsy bitsy spider, and the ABC's.  She can count to 10 and is slowly learning her ABC's....when we sing the song every so often I hear her throw out another letter... her favorite is the letter, P, she will shout that one! :)  She is hands down the sweetest thing ever.  Seriously.  She melts my heart multiple times a day.  She is also very hesitant.  Not only around people she may not know well but is afraid of new things as well (especially if they move).  She's currently terrified of Easton's remote control monster trucks he got for Christmas and our new Roomba (robot vacuum cleaner).  She is getting so good at putting puzzles together and right now we're working on learning colors.  She's currently obsessed with Mary and Papa and is constantly looking for them.  She also thinks they travel together - Raya was very confused the other day when  Mary came over but Papa Tom wasn't with her.  Pretty cute!  She's also obsessed with 'treats'  Now that she can open the pantry doors this is a never-ending struggle.  She is always wanting granola bars...always.  Even if she just ate a huge meal.  This goes along with her very independent personality.  She knows what she wants and he's not willing to give up until she gets it.  (Don't ask where that came from....Actually, if you know me or my family, I'm sure my Dad already told you how much she as acquired my personality...especially the independent/stubborn part).  Have I mentioned how sweet she is? ;)

Her top two I-teeth have finally poked through.  This girl is one tough teether.  She refuses to sleep if her teeth are giving her any trouble.  This means watching Dora from 1-4am.  Just 2 more to go (besides her 2 year molars) and then we are home free!  

Now that Raya can say, "Easton" she has lots to say to him.  She's constantly wanting to show him things and get his attention.  The other day, Easton was throwing fit and Raya was in another room and we hear her say, "EEEEASTON, shhhhhhh, naughty!"  It was hilarious!  She's a talking machine and it would be impossible to type all of the words she now knows.  She's always surprising us with new words and phrases.

Raya continues to love her daycare - and so do we!  This was such a good move for her - she get's so much more attention and feels right at home.  Such a good alternative to centers and the potential dangers of in-home.

Raya loves:

We had to get Raya her own chair because she was obsessed with Easton's

• Dora
• Easton
• Mama --- I cannot leave her sight 
• dancing 
• treats
• Her babies 
• pretending to drink coffee 
• pretending to go potty on her potty chair 
• yelling at the animals and letting charlie outside 
• going up and down the stairs by herself 
• singing songs
• "movies" (in other words... watching dora)
• Daddy

Our life is so busy - hence why I never, ever update anymore.  Seriously it is non-stop go, go, go.  And when I do have down-time that's what I like it to be.... down time...relax for the couple minutes I have.  We didn't have anything going on this weekend (other than hockey) and it was sooooo nice to just hang out.  My job is crazy-busy all the time and I drive an insane amount between driving to work and getting the kids from school and daycare.  It's a bit ridiculous how much time is spent in my car.  But, right now I think the little flexibility I do get with my current job makes it "worth" it -  that's what I'm telling myself for now anyways.   Thank goodness I have Friday's off or I might lose it.  I love spending my Friday's with Raya and getting a chance to get a couple things done at home.  It's also nice to have most of the same days off of work as Easton does for school so we can spend those days together.  Well, that's all for now.  Who knows when I'll update again... :)  

This sums it up perfectly.  Raya annoyed by Easton. haha 

Hemmah cousins

cutie pie 

Having fun jumping off the step with Auntie Mary

playing piano with Mary 

haha she does like her trampoline, I promise.

feeding her babies 

playing in her new crib for her babies 

They're not quite sure about this

Loves puzzles and is getting good at them too

her famous cheese-face 

She's no longer afraid of lucky

Loves brother's chair 

Obsessed with Dora 

Pretty 

danger 

Raya took over Easton's chair.  Thank goodness he was a good sport about it.  

Our family's choice of footwear 

Our family stockings :) 

When Easton goes to hockey it means Raya gets to play with all his toys

oh boy

loves her spaghetti 

oldie but goodie 

Morning coffee with Mom 

Is there something in my ear?  

Ray providing refreshments to the players in between periods 

is she 13? 

full of expresions