All the City has to offer

Ok...well not ALL the city has to offer but you get the point. I've really had a strong desire to take Jax around to some of the best Kid-Centered places that the Bay area has to offer. We are fortunate to have all of our Bay-Area-ites give their recommendations of the best Toddler Hot Spots. So with Little's spending a day with Aunt B...off Jax, Justin, Gramz and I went!

First we hit up the Habitot in Berkeley, which is a children's discovery museum (similar to the San Jose museum we've been too but a smaller scale). Habitot has a very cool water room and Jax made a bee line right for it the second we got in the door! Daddy had a good time playing in the water too. ;-)

Another favorite was the Ambulance! There was a working siren, driver's seat and the box was set up with a bed and medical stuff.

In the Cafe, Gramz got to put in her order while Jax manned the cash register.

After Habitot, we headed to Oakland for lunch at Play Cafe. This place was really cool, with tables in the center of the room and various play areas on the outer edges (dress up area, puzzle room, train table, ball pit, etc). Jax had a great time in the ball pit! The nicest thing for me was not having to worry about entertaining the boy through the meal (which was pretty delicious for a kid place!) or him getting too loud--loud play was encouraged! And after a nice relaxing(for me) lunch we decided to head home and get this boy a much needed nap!

The timing couldn't have been more perfect as far as napping goes. Just as we got Jax down for a rest, Little's was up and ready to play! So Gramz got some great one-on-one time with both of the kids...and that is not something that happens easily or frequently!

After a good nights sleep we decided to round out the trip with a visit to Super Franks. This is a Chucky Cheese like establishment, however the focus is on play and discovery rather than video games! It's a 2 story building with various themed rooms. Jax' favorites were Taught Town, where the stage was located and The Submarine room, where the foam pit was.

Camren even got in on the action! It cracked Jaxon up to have Cam on the jet skiis with him.

Camren showing off her outfit under the black lights.

And one of the nicest things about spending time in the Bay is that family is close! Cousin Wyatt and Aunt Michelle came for a visit while Jax was running wild at Super Franks! It was so much fun watching the 2 of them size each other up. With only 4 weeks separating them, I can only imagine how much fun they will be this time next year!

The weather wasn't as cooperative as I had hoped it would be, so we missed out on the Oakland zoo...but we all had so much fun you can bet we will be making another kid centered trip soon!

****thank you blogger for the formatting that CAN NOT be undone...and the save feature being disabled. It made this post a ton of fun. (sarcastic drip)

Girls Night

Since Jax was gone with B and Tia...Camren and I got to have a Girls Night with Gma and Mamoo. We took Little's shopping and found these adorable sunglasses that she LOVES, napped, had a bottle or 2 (yes...all of us were drinking from a bottle of some shape or form!) and got to cook with Gma for the first time. All of the things that make us happy!

She really does just leave them right on her face.

Gma and her girlie

Basketball with B and Tia

Jaxon was invited to his very first college basketball game by his B and Tia. After wearing him out at the park, I loaded their car up with all of his Jax-cessities and sent them on their way! I'm not sure who was more anxious about his solo trip--me or them! ;-) But thanks to all of Beth and Maria's photo updates, I feel like I was able to get the best of worlds...watch him have fun and not have to worry about any discipline cause I was off the clock! hehe

A Pre-game Jam session is always a good idea.

Practicing their cheers and dancing for the big game.

From what I understand Jax really Watched the game...he followed the girls up and down the court intently...

as evidenced here.

And here...by the end of the night the boy-o was so tired that he kinda kept nodding off on his ball! After this picture he was whisked home and put to bed where he actually slept in the next morning!! Thanks B and Tia for a great trip!

My Birthday!

This year my 31st (hold...on...must...catch....breath. Sheesh. It still hurts to say that number!) birthday was spent celebrating with family. In Merced the kiddos and I hung out with G-ma, Mammo, Aunt B, Tia, Uncle Ben, Aunt Becca and cousins Elijah and Lillian. The weather was gorgeous! Of course we took advantage of the opportunity to thoroughly wear my Jax out!

Jax and Elijah grubbin on some lunch. We mixed healthy with yummy for this birthday. Subway sandwiches and holy moly delicious homemade cupcakes by Becca. See how mature I am becoming?? Compromise and moderation! (ok...so I literally ate about a dozen of those cupcakes but whatever.)

This little park was so clean, had cool toys and was Empty! The perfect trifecta! Jax catching Camren as she slides with Tia.

Riding on the motorcycles...complete with sound effects of course.

My Little's...

***For the date of my actual birth we were in the Bay area (see next posts) and was able to celebrate with my Bay area family with yummy blue cheese burgers and the most amazing chocolate mocha cake that seriously haunts my dreams! (thanks Kelly!) Unfortunately there isn't any photographic evidence of the stuffing of my face that occurred. HA!

4 Months old!

At 4 months old, Camren is really starting to show her personality. She is quiet the smilie kid as I've mentioned...things have only gotten cheesier in the past month. Her vocabulary has expanded from just mere coos to singing, aaahhs, gaaas and screeches! Little's is an explosive laughter. She tends to hold it in until she can't contain herself any longer. Favorite pastimes include rolling from belly to back, sucking on her fists and working on finding her thumbs consistently. Jaxon is her all time favorite thing to watch and she'll track him as he bounces around the room. Camren is no longer content to just lie back and enjoy the view...she strains to be sitting up right and wants to be in the middle of what ever's going on!

For now, her eyes are sticking in the blue family. Only time will tell if they decided to stay there. I can proudly say that Camren has my crooked smile! (finally---proof that she's IS mine!) Her hair is growing as fast as it can! In reality I should be thankful that we don't have a full head of hair yet, what with the amount of vomit this girl can produce...puke in hair is NOT attractive.

We are still battling the reflux and it's accompanying issues. I feel like we've finally been able to settle into a medication that's working for her. Now it's about fine tuning the dosage and continue dealing with any of the side effects and learned behaviors of the reflux (constipation, tummy cramping, insomnia, arching, snacking rather than meals, severe posturing and positions for feeding...the list could continue) 4 months is the peak for reflux so I am optimistic that we are now working our way down the hill of this crazy ride. I consider myself very lucky that when she's isn't in pain my girl is all smiles and stories and I know that things will only keep getting better from here!

Slumber Party

Jaxon's buddy Gannon was going to be in town for an appointment with his mom (my best friend Tiffany) and we decided that it was perfect timing for the boys' first slumber party! Tiff and Gannon got to the house just in time for naps--which gave Tiffany and I a little bit of chat time. Once everyone was awake we packed the boys and Camren in the car--three car seats across the back of their Tahoe was no mean feat--and headed off to the mall for a quick trip and then to visit Daddy at the station. Jax and Gannon both had a great time climbing on all of the rigs (engine and Rescue for those into the correct terminology). Gannon especially loved the Rescue rig. Randomly and uncharacteristically-both Tiffany and I made it out of the house without our cameras so we missed all of the fun! The boys even got to wave goodbye to the Fire Engine as the crew got a call. The rest of the night was a blur of trains, pizza, baths, books and a little Handy Manny to top off a great visit. I can't wait for these guys to get a little older and continue their slumber parties! I volunteer your house for the first solo slumber party Tiff! ;-)

Lessons Learned

To Preface-Tonight was a tough night...at one point in time the majority of our house was in tears. A parent, who shall remain nameless, was overheard saying "Lord give me patience or wine but you can't leave me with neither!" These nights are rare thankfully.

But it was because of this tough night that I was sitting in Camren's room rocking her to sleep so that I could feed her (yes, that is a little backwards!) that I sat there thinking...thinking about myself, my kids, my husband, who I am as Mom (or Bobpy as Jax says) and what that's taught me.

Jaxon has taught me flexibility (yes Mom and Beth...I have learned this!). He has also taught me to laugh until I cry. Other things I've learned from my Big Boy--car dancing can cure any kind of bad mood. Sometimes a grilled cheese is all it takes to make a person happy. He's taught me to watch-really pay attention-to what I say and how to stand my ground (stubborn little boy!) or when to let go. Anything that I was ever proud of will NEVER compare to how proud I am to hear him call my name, kiss his sister or do the happy dance when Daddy gets home. Jax has taught me that I am stronger than I ever believed I could be and to love harder than I ever thought possible.

Camren--my sweet girl. Cam's taught me that it's possible to cry until you laugh. That all pain is bearable if you smile...a really big cheesy smile. She has taught me that I am a fighter for my children--no rules, gloves off, eye-gouging, get outta this Mama's way Fighter. Little's has taught me to trust my Mommy-instincts. That sometimes a really good giggle followed by an equally good cuddle are enough to get through a day (who needs to eat right Cam?)

Both of my adorable offspring have taught me that while I am strong, everyone needs help and parenting is a team sport! Everyday they teach me that my Love for them will get big...bigger than I can fathom, bigger than sometimes fits in my body...Big. I look at the world differently, at people and children differently. And while I may still not be a model citizen (I spit gum out of my window today) the most attentive friend (there are people I haven't called back for years) or best housekeeper (no explanation needed here huh?) I know that my kids have/are changing me to be a better person and the Mom that they need.

Now for that glass of wine ;-)