the bergmann family

Welcome Coral Love!

2011-12-03T20:10:00.000-08:00

Being that Jason lives, breaths and dreams the ocean, he chose the name Coral for our daughter. When I told him that I wanted a name that had meaning, he reminded me what they told us when we were snorkeling a couple years back in Belize...that the coral reef is what brings life to the ocean, without it, sea life could not live. Her middle name Love, was chosen simply because of the meaning. Especially lately, I have been overwhelmed with the unconditional, undeserved love that my God has for me. Plus, I love more than anything in the world that LOVE is His first commandment. How perfect would the world be if everyone lived by that?!

Here's a couple pictures of our sweet Coral finally saying hello to the world. Happy Birthday little lady. Mommy and daddy sure love you.

Being that Coral had a little bit of fluid for in her lungs, she spent the first 36 hours in the NICU.

At least i got to hold her for a couple minutes. It was super hard going back to my room without her.

I fell asleep.

But after a bit, she was back in the room with us! I wouldn't put her down.

She already has Jason wrapped around that tiny finger...again and again and again.

The view from the hospital room. When Jason wasn't starring at Coral through the camera lens, he was zooming in looking for waves...of course.

Coral's first visitor was her aunt Katy

Grandpa and Grandma

Uncle Tim and Aunt Sandy (my sister who shouldn't be out of the house being that she's in the middle of chemo treatments and is risking herself getting very sick, said she wouldn't miss visiting her little niece. love her.)

my dear friend, Jenn

Our friends and favorite chiropractor, Todd and Elizabeth.

Coral getting her first chiropractic adjustment. She actually wouldn't nurse for me at all until Todd adjusted her and voila...nursing pro immediately after.

One of my very best friend's Kelly and her hubby Johnny

Another dear friend, Kelly Evans

and my old close friend, Teri

Jason and I get pretty antsy having to stay in one spot for too long

This is me and Coral about to walk into our home for the first time together. I love this because my mom has the exact same picture of her and I coming home from the hospital.

David's very first time meeting his little sister. He was only interested for a minute. :)

Even though I was only a couple day's out of surgery, I was excited to go get our family's first Christmas tree together!

I hardly notice the pain i'm in when i'm with these 3 beautiful people.

My little brother was experimenting with our new camera...this pretty much sums up our perfect night together.

Chicago & baby shower

2011-10-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

Having my grandma on my heart lately, I left my boys to fly up to Chicago for a weekend to spend some time with her. She is definitely one of my most favorite people in the world but to give you the reason's why would take days, so i'm just gonna sum it up with...because. Being a daddy's girl, having him there with me was the icing on top. I haven't spent a weekend with just my pops since I was a teenager! As soon as I was picked up from the airport, we left to spend the weekend on Lake Geneva in Wisconsin...just me, dad, Grandma & Grandpa, Aunt & Uncle, Sister, her hubby and my niece. Again, to tell you why this weekend was really special and what a freakin blast I had would take days. All I can say is being there made me appreciate my family on both sides (mom & dad) so much! Both sides are so similar yet so very different at the same time. Many times I feel like I fit into my California side so well, but this weekend I noticed how much I really fit into my Chicago side as well. My heart is so full of love for my BIG and undeniably special family...everyone a little crazy, but everyone bringing so much life and significance to our whole bunch. It wouldn't be the same without even 1 person. This weekend is definitely unforgettable.

my daddy

my little grandma

For the last 12 1/2 years I've lived with boys...my husband, and the last 3 1/2 years, my son. I've loved every minute of it and took pride in saying "my boys!" Finding out I was going to have a little girl, I've been a little confused on how to feel, but the more i've thought about little dresses, dollies and pink stuff, i've been getting kinda anxious about meeting this little one. Then, last weekend, 2 very special girl friends threw me a little intimate baby shower that pushed me into this over excited, heart fully pounding, can't wait to meet my daughter stage! Coral Love, mommy can't wait to meet you!

Kelly & Teri, you made the day so special. Love you with all my heart.

my mama. my heart.

missing a few here but these girlfriends mean more to me than anything. we've been meeting every week for a few years now and have become so close. honestly, don't know what i'd do without them.

my amazing niece emily & super hero sister sandy (whom just had a mastectomy days before. look at that smile. cancer doesn't have her, she has it...being an overcomer runs in the women in my family, especially these women. seriously amazing.)

my other beautiful sister and nieces (holly, abby, ellie). wish i could describe each of their hearts. you'd be nothing but privileged to have them in your lives.

my twin in so many ways and favorite little sister katy and sweetest lindsay bobbitt whom i've known since before she was born. best family vacation and holiday memories with these two.

these girls have stuck by my side thru thick and thin the last several years of my life. lots of history and love with these 3. (brit, carissa, laurel)

one of my very best friends kelly whose really been with me thru it ALL. she'll definitely be my sidekick till we're 100!

happy shower. happy people. life is good.

Camping in Malibu

2011-10-05T16:53:00.000-07:00

What is it about being outdoors, away from the crowds and concrete jungle, that makes everything in the world okay? This weekend we packed our tent, sleeping bags, cooler and kiddo and head up to Malibu to camp it up down and dirty with some good friends. Between the hiking adventures, mouth-watering camp food and s'mores, constant deer families walking by, fires and conversations, we forgot about everything going on at the bottom of the mountains and seriously enjoyed our families. Our little ones, camouflaged in dirt and sweat, played it up till passing out in the tents. Then it came, glorious adult time, sitting under the stars by the camp fire with a drink in hand and stories to laugh at. I'm grateful for this time before my little family of 3 becomes 4. I'm grateful for the quietness in the mountains, for my last special moments of it just being us and David, and for the friends i get to share life with. God's been pretty good to me.

Camping sign made by the amazing Sarah Petar

Our group, Petars, Kennedy's & Rassmussens

boys at the water hole

my crazy husband

feeling baby move

and little scarlette, stealing my heart and boosting my exciting for my little girl!

morning camp coffee in the cold mountains with this man, awesome

Father's Day

2011-06-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

Besides David and I taking Jason to two of his favorite spots for breakfast and dinner...Nick's Deli in Seal Beach for his 911 breakfast burrito and Yard House in Long Beach, sat on the patio over-looking the harbor, I think we scored with giving him a pretty awesome gift...a little girl. That's right! The ultrasound showed GIRL!!! With tears in our eyes and the oohs and ahhs of my parents and niece being present, all I could think about was how this little girl is going to have her daddy wrapped around her finger one day. I can already imagine Jason and David rough housing (boys play rough, Jason says) and then how he'll totally soften as she wants to join in the play, gentle tickles and kisses on the belly. I can't wait!

So for this Father's Day blog, I want to share 5 of my favorite things about my Jason.

1.) The guy doesn't take anything serious in life! He truly lives a joyful life, always laughing and making jokes. When I worry or get too serious about something, it's impossible to stay that way around him. Though irritating at times, I really do appreciate it.

2.) How he makes a point every single day to thank me for being a good mama to his boy, feeding our family healthy home cooked meals everyday, and being an awesome wife. He makes it easy to want to always be a good mom and wife.

3.) How he tells me everyday that I'm beautiful. He calls me his hottie wife. :) Being a girl, there is always something that you don't like about yourself or something that you're self conscious about, but having someone tell me so often how HE see's me, it out weighs the stupid thoughts that I can have in my head about myself. He gives me self confidence.

4.) I love that Jason is always on the go and can never sit still. It definitely makes life with him never boring with all that he does on his days off...bike rides, beach, surfing, bbq's with family and friends, adventures, etc. Not to mention his OCD. You know the deep spring cleaning that you try to get to once or twice a year? Jason does that every day he has off. That one is very close to the top of my list.

5.) And last but not least, besides my dad for his kids, I've never seen so much love in one man's eyes for another like the way I see it in Jason for his son. Nobody makes David laugh and carry on like his daddy!

I took this picture Father's day night as Jason was singing David a bedtime song. He didn't know I was behind him. xoxo

2011-06-01T15:36:00.000-07:00

After countless hours of squeezing what seemed like hundreds of lemons, I was ready to wake up Monday morning to start my yearly 2 week detox. For some reason it occurred to me to first take a pregnancy text JUST IN CASE...I wouldn't want to harm my baby with the small chance that I was in fact preggo. With my lemon drink waiting on the counter in the kitchen for me waiting to drink it, I first go to the bathroom and wait for that little "minus" sign to put me at ease with the detox. Except the minus was not a minus, it was a plus...a big, fat, pink plus! I shook my head in a jerk to make sure my eyes were working and saw that it was still a plus. I wake up David, run to the store and buy 2 more tests. Yup, it's a double line and a plus! I was in shock! Waiting till the next day to tell Jason (who worked late that night), I first dropped David off at school, took Jason to Taco Surf to fill my nervous belly, then took him for a walk on the beach to write it out in the sand. Jason's eyes doubled in size and filled up with tears as he ran over to me to hug me and repeatedly ask me "really? really? for real? really?". Two short weeks later we go see my doctor who only confirmed it with a picture of our little bean. Jason and I confessed afterwards that we secretly thought it was too good to be true being that several months ago the doctors diagnosed me with endometriosis and said I might not be able to conceive. I guess God's plan is different! So thankful!!!

I got a 3 year old preschool kid!

2011-04-03T13:41:00.000-07:00

From starting his little life with the doctors saying to us that there was no hope, that he hasn't been breathing, that he was bleeding in the lungs and brain, and that his dad and I needed to say goodbye because he was completely brain dead anyway and they needed to pull the plug...to now starting PRESCHOOL, this has been a dream! My God is so faithful in His promises!

I was going to home school David for the first couple years until he caught up. But I was persuaded to start him out in a special needs program with the goal of getting him into regular kindergarten. Man oh man, am I glad we did! This week (after david being in preschool just under 3 months) I walked into his class a couple minutes early for them to show me what he was doing. As they brought out a letter, number, shape and color sheet, my boy pointed to each one as they asked him where it was! I couldn't believe it! Tears were streaming down my face. Mrs. Thompson told me that this was all stuff he learned at home (thanks to Baby Einstein and Youtube) and that they are just simply bringing it out of him. She said that what he knows is more advanced than what she's teaching and that she going to recommend him for the highest learning for his next year preschool class! She said that besides his vision and speech, she can't find any part of him that would be delayed or disabled, that he is acting like a real 3 year old. This mama is probably the most proud and happy mama in the world right now!!!

Here's a couple pictures of his first day at school..

This 3 year road we have walked with David and all the beginning complications have not been the easiest at every moment, but it has definitely been exciting, adventurous, and very humbling. There is a group of girlfriends that I get together with every week for coffee since the time David came home from the hospital. Their support to my family, prayers for David, and friendship to me has been overwhelmingly wonderful. Below is a picture (missing Kelly, Jenn and Heather) of us getting together at Jonne's house for a Frank Sinatra / Grace Kelly martini Christmas party. The picture below that is the husbands doing their thing. :) I'm so grateful for my girls in my life.

my hunk of a hottie husband!

Thanksgiving season!

2010-12-03T09:46:00.000-08:00

I LOVE this season! A 2 month season of family, yummy coffees, holiday movies, Christmas parties, good moods, music celebrating our King streaming across the world...I can't get enough!

This Thanksgiving there is so much to be grateful for but I think most of all, my heart is overwhelmed with love for my family. There is so much love and joy hanging out with them. I love that my dad has always worked extra hard for his family, has amazing wisdom and is sharp as a tack, looks at his grown up kids like they are still his little babies that he would do anything for and DOES anything for, hugs and kisses us every time he's around us in the same way I hug and kiss my little boy, laughs at the little things and shrugs off the serious things in life, truly loves our God, and truly loves his family with all of his beating heart. I love that my mom is always silly and always giggling, that she always has a smile on her face when I'm around her, that she loves everyone with truly and un-judgemental heart, that she seeks the heart of God like no woman I know, that she would attack like a roaring lion against anything or anyone that came against her kids, and that she's my funnest friend to hang around. Both of them have set such an amazing example to me and my husband of how a parent should be. What can I say, I'm a lucky girl.

Unfortunately Jason worked Thanksgiving day but had off Friday so I threw him a little Thanksgiving then. This was definitely my favorite weekend in our new home. Here's just a couple pictures of our weekend.

started our weekend with our morning walk on the beach before leaving for Grandma and Grandpa's without Jason.

midnight cooking and laughing with my mom and brother.

David helping Grandpa make his famous mash potatoes.

Thanksgiving pies and the new traditional amazing pistachio ice cream dessert from my brother in law Tim. I've been thinking of this every day.

homemade gourmet pizza party and one giant slumber party!

bonfire, wine, roasted marshmallows, and too many off-the-wall funny conversations I will never repeat. :)

the second night's bonfire started pouring but my parents, brother, jason and I weren't going to let it ruin our fun. Turned up the music, tripled the firewood, and made another unforgettable memory.

uncle Brian and David keeping warm by the inside fire. they're no dummies.

my sister and her sleeping angel.

when everybody left Sunday evening, I decorated the Christmas tree, Jason put the blowup mattress in the living room, put on National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and we had our own camp out under the Christmas tree lights.

we woke up smiling. :) we're a blessed family.

life is a beach..

2010-11-07T18:02:00.000-08:00

We moved! Good bye Costa Mesa, helloooooo Sunset Beach! Recently I was saying to Jason that I feel like every time God moves us, it's into a much more amazing place. Our last place was from Belmont Shore (1/2 block from ocean) to Costa Mesa (2 miles from ocean)...and though the neighborhood didn't get better, our apartment got 10 times better. I told him that I believed Belmont Shore was our "peak" location because it would be impossible to go bigger and get closer to the water but that I was grateful for that season. Spoke too soon I guess. He just dropped a little 2 bedroom house with nice size yard and 2 car garage just feet away from the sand into our laps. My God is so good!

Moving can tire this mama out but this weekend, me and a couple other mama friends had a beautiful cabin (thanks to Kelly) in Arrowhead that put this mama back on her feet. It's amazing what a little fresh air and time away can do! Here's a couple pics for you.

roll out of bed to coffee and jammies in the new back yard :)

our weekend cabin

and view!

Kelly's homemade YUMMY calzones

amazing conversation with some amazing girls. so blessed with my friends.

tired face is my weakness. love this girl.

morning coffee on deck

pretty much the most athletic chica you'll ever meet

trail hike

Acapulco baby!

2010-07-05T13:41:00.000-07:00

What a great month! I spent a killer weekend in San Diego with my 3 sisters talking, laughing, eating, drinking wine in the jacuzzi, walking on the beach, and making awesome memories! Too bad my pictures all turned out blurry. Arrrr! Oh well. Also, Jason and I went to this same spot in Acapulco exactly 4 years ago. We have such amazing memories of it that we wanted to bring my family along! We spent a whole week in the pools, lazy river, under a palapa on the beach, and just hanging out with each other. It was bliss! We had 2 suits with 3 rooms each, 2 gianormous decks with little pools, and 2 indoor jacuzzis! We could have easily fit 10 more people! We definitely ate the amount of an extra 10 people. 5 pounds of extra lovin I say. Below is a video I put together of some of our pictures. Enjoy! I love my family!

David finally learns how to walk on this trip!

Just a little picture of David in therapy with his OT, Jeanie. He's madly in love with her! She's working on balance here as my nieces help with the singing.

Taking a break..

2010-06-01T13:13:00.000-07:00

I love how faithful God is when i ask Him to surface everything in my heart that doesn't belong...even the little seeds that haven't yet started to grow, but i know are planted. I try to pray this once a year at least. Sometimes its a several month battle, sometimes a week, sometimes even a year. By now i've done it so many times that instead of fearing the things i "see" or "feel", i just wait, cause i know TRUTH is around the corner. I'm choosing Joy. So with that said, I've been spending lot's more time with my family and pretty much rid myself of any distraction for a couple months. Aside from family and about 10 special girl friends i trust in my life, i guess i've been a little bit of a hermit with the outside world lately. I gotta say, it's pretty refreshing. Here's a couple pictures of my beautiful family i've been hanging out with. Cheers to them!

sweet nephew Gabe turns 1!

i could eat him!

giving his mama a taste.

giving his aunt suzy a taste!

my little "big" nieces and nephews Abby, Ellie, Zach...

and Jake!

some cool girls i get to hang out and make trouble with

good girlfriends celebrating Teri's birthday! I'm the only one here not preggo or with a couple week old baby!

david reminded me of me here. when i use to get "talks" from my mom, i'd grab a napkin and see how many tiny pieces i could tear it into...just to make some time go by. :) i love you mom.

Before i grabbed the camera, i heard Jason screaming and clapping. David took 4 steps with him! I captured 3.

Quick re-cap of last 3 1/2 months..

2010-04-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

Arrr, i know, i'm totally behind with my updates. "Bad lama" my sister would say. I promise i'll be better about it. Since the thought alone of me trying to recap any details of the last almost 4 months completely puts my brain into overload that i know will cause some brain damage...i'm just going to re-cap a couple of our higher points. Enjoy.

Mine & Jason's weekend of snowboarding.

Our cozy little cabin (compliments of katy & robbie...best sister and brother ever!)

where we got a little of this in...

and some of this...

and of course much of this.

celebrated David's 2nd birthday with his first chocolate cake.

drove up to Lake Tahoe...just the 3 Bergmanns...bliss week in beauty.

David's first snow. he loved it.

i cant stop starring at him.

neither can dad.

and best part of the last couple months...we went to the eye doctor and found out david is pretty much blind as a bat beyond 3 feet. so the picture below, he's seeing the world for the first time at 2 years old. jason and i cried and danced around praising God! since david has been wearing them, he's finally starting to crawl, pull himself up on things, something new everyday.

Christmas season sickies & clouds opening up..

2009-12-17T14:33:00.000-08:00

I had it all planned...the day after Thanksgiving, we're going to decorate with Christmas music, get our tree, and bake everything chocolate! I cant wait! I love this season! Then the next day, David and I wake up superrr sick. After a week of me passed out on the living room floor and my wonderful husband staying home to take care of us, my color starts to come back and I start to come out of it only to really see how lifeless & sick David is. God definitely brought me to my knees that night which started out with desperate crying out to Him for my baby...to that peace that passes understanding. I love when He does that. The night was pretty unforgettable. But through-out the night, David gets worse, so we take him into Jason's hospital. He was positive for H1N1 and also has pneumonia. Of course we were admitted with a lovely week stay to Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach...compliments of our friendly insurance company. I stayed on bedrest as David wouldn't allow me to get up for a moment without crying in fear that someone is going to hurt him and I'm leaving him alone. Poor guy, he pulled out his i.v. one day and the next the i.v. infiltrated causing his arm to blow up 4x the size which is super painful. With a couple other little mishaps, David was not digging our little vaca one bit. But little by little, my favorite guy got better and better and they let us leave. Below are a couple pics of our last couple weeks. I'm just going to include January into my Christmas season and get the most of it!

at home

crossing his fingers he wont get poked again

feeling much better, watching baby einstein with daddy

cuddling his uncle robbie

we just get home and he's so happy, he gives his mama a bonk (what he does when you ask for a kiss)

all better!

*a side note...a small confession.

I have been harboring some guilt in my heart for a very long time. I take David to different therapies thru-out the week and I see many babies who have life-time disabilities and who are much worse, as far as health goes. And here I am, my son is perfectly healthy (with extremely underdeveloped lungs, but they will grow). Yet I see other kids his age walking, talking, eating...the list goes on. The worrying about when he will catch up seems to be knocking at the door a little every day. I continue to be bombarded with questions by "specialists" and many other people about when or if he's going to catch up, and why isn't he doing "this or that" yet, and am I doing enough "this and that" to help him...etc. Whatever, I'm held to my own responsibility for my own actions and heart. But I still don't like where my heart is...worry, and even comparing sometimes...a lot. That part really breaks my heart...my own action.

...a little deliverance. :o)

These last 3 weeks have been super challenging with things surfacing in life and me fighting to overcome. One of them being this morning. I was having lunch with some people who also have either early developed or disability children. I'm half listening due to little sleep, and I vaguely hear the words "LIVE for the NOW". Though I've heard it before, that moment hit me almost as hard as when I was praying for a name and got David. A peace fell over me and sunk in so deep that nothing could interrupt that moment. I felt like if God were sitting across from me at the table, He would be telling me, "YOU received this little boy as a gift from ME exactly the way he is, PERFECT." Yes, he is tiny, and yes he is very under-developed in many ways, but none of it is permanent. And the doctors can't even guess or compare when he'll catch up cause none of his docs even had or ever worked with a case to where a baby has survived with not a drop of fluid from 16 weeks on. So with that....I am no longer going to worry about the future of tomorrow or next year, or the year after that...cause that burden is not mine. My only burden, is to love up this little kiddo and enjoy his life. So all of you as my witness...I've laid this at HIS feet!

welcome fall!

2009-11-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

My season is here! The holiday coffee, amazing food, cuddly jammies, fire place lit, and Laker season has begun. Though every year I miss the snow back home (Chicago), you still cant beat this Southern California weather. It's the middle of November and we're STILL riding bikes to the beach. I'd have it no other way. Here are a couple of pictures of this previous month's festivities.

family having pizza and wine on Corona Del Mar Bluffs.

David's first pumpkin patch. He's loven it.

Sarah had us girls and our youngens over for the most amazing breakfast and coffee. We dressed the babies up in their halloween costumes and had a baby parade down to the park we're we blew bubbles and just hung out. I love my girl friends...it's never boring with them!

my monkey.

sarah and her little pirate. arrrrr!

sweet bumble bee skylar. she's getting so big!

Every once in a while we meet either at the bluffs or park for picnic with the husbands and kiddies. This was our pumpkin carving night where our good friends Nick & Teri surprised us with a little news. :o)

And here are just a couple pics of halloween weekend.

sweet ashlyn....or is she?!

like papa like son!

cousins.

And last but not least, right about after this was taken, we had to move the bouncy from in the doorway to the middle of the living room because he was smacking his head again the door jams. Crazy kid!

cruise to Cabo!

2009-10-05T16:19:00.000-07:00

Being that I have 9 appointments a week that I take David to, along with many other little things that come with being a mama to David, I had a little melt down. Apparently I can tire out. So my hunk of an amazing husband decided to surprise me with a 5 day cruise to Cabo for my 31st birthday! Perfect time. Though I cried like a baby over leaving my little guy behind, we got our much needed, awesome time together and I got my reboot so I could come back to being a good mama.

Cabo was amazing! We stopped at 4 different restaurants for beer, chips and salsa (so full) and we kayaked over to the famous arch and hung out at Lovers Beach exploring the caves and rocks and swimming in the warm, clear blue water. It was just a perfect day. The "out at sea" days were great too...sitting in the sun with cocktails and Jason eating more softserve than I've ever seen someone consume. One early morning, it was super foggy that the fog horn was going off every 1 minute. You couldn't be outside in the center of the ship or you'd either go deaf or die of heart attack everytime the stupid thing went off. So of course, Jason and I run to get our cup of coffee and prop some chairs inside the glass waiting for unknowing bystanders to walk outside from down stairs into the zone. One guy was lighting a cigarette right when the horn blew and the cig went flying out of his hand as he stumbled forward almost falling. Another couple was walking snuggly together when the horn blew and this lady literally did the running man straight up in the air. Jason fell to the floor laughing at that one. Another little boy did a fast spin and jumped up and down clawing his dad till his dad had to run them back inside. We had the best time!

On a quick note / praise report....David is finally eating! For those of you who dont know, because he had a tube down his throat for so long, the roof of his mouth is super high causing him to have a pretty hard gag reflex and making it hard to suck and eat properly. So the only way I've been able to feed him is force feeding him with a syringe every meal. He goes to ocupational therapy twice a week for that and even she cant get him to take food from a spoon. Wellllll, leaving him with his Aunt Katy for almost a week, he's not only eating from a spoon perfectly now, but he also had chicken, peas, carrots, apples, and peaches! He's also taking about 4 bottles of juice now to where before he'd only take about 5 ounces of liquid a day. Thank you GOD and Aunt Katy! That's 2 things I can now lay down and worry about no longer. Ahhhhhh.

Enjoy some pictures below, though most of them are just the one arm stretch getting our cheesy smiles.

**Thank you so much Katy, Mom & Dad! You're the BEST!!! xoxoxo**

Havasu trip

2009-08-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

Usually once a year, Jason and I try to take a trip somewhere outside the country...but of course, life with a baby, planning ahead doesn't happen too much anymore. So, since most everything was booked everywhere in the whole world (no joke)...we take the fam to Havasu. Obviously I've never been there or I wouldn't have planned it for August. But never the less, it was totally relaxing and tons of fun! We can't wait to do it again!

july play!

2009-07-20T14:14:00.000-07:00

So far July has not been too shabby! Except for the severely sore (long bike ride with friends) and sunburned butt i'm sitting on right now, this month pretty much rocks. My sister's 2 girls went to NY to visit their grammy so we spent a whole week with just us girls and both our little guys. What is it about being around your sister that makes everything 100 times funnier? I haven't laughed so hard at absolutely nothing is a long time! It was probably one of my most favorite weeks!

Here is where we went to see Willy Wonka outside at the Orange County Performing Art Center. Everyone brought blankets and food and wine. So fun! Then below that is David with his cousin Gabe.

Fussy Gabe.

David giving Gabe lovings.

Looking guilty! David's saying "me?!"

After David's first day at ICEC (Intervention Center for Early Childhood), he came home and ate his first real solid food, star puffs. I've been trying to feed these to him every day for about 2 months and he just gags and throws up. Because he was intubated at the hospital for so long, he has a high roof in his mouth causing extra sensitivity. But when his dad tries...david takes it like a pro. Below is when he first put it in his mouth. Jason's reaction was classic. Wish you could see his tears.

This is David's first art project. First art and first food all in one day!

We were having a dinner picnic with frisbee next door at the park with our friends and David and Skylar were just chilling being as cute as can be listening to some Bob Marley.

Sky is even sharing her finger with David. Luckily he didn't bite!

This was a 6 1/2 hour beach day. David was super good till the very last 1/2 hour. Such a beach kid.

Ashlyn and David.

This is David's first time in the pool. He loved it!

After a long day, David was having a hard time falling asleep. Finally Jason went upstairs but 1/2 hour later when I still hadn't seen him, I went up. This is how I found them. Perfect ending to a perfect day. I love these two.

continued summer..

2009-07-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

David & I went with some friends for his first trip to the petting zoo! He kept bouncing in my lap but I think that was the excitement of hearing all the little kids scream. Except for the heavy load I put on the back of his stroller making it tip over and giving me a minor stroke, the morning was perfect!

This poor girl was about 2 ft high and 2 ft wide. I'm thinking the father must be either a clydesdale or elephant.

Wallace's "not sure about this" smile for the camera.

Kelly had to keep an eye on Emma, she likes the tiny little bouncy balls.

Aren't the babies suppose to be the one's waving? I think we have more fun on these play-dates than our little ones.

After the petting zoo, since Jason was working a 16 hour day, David and I cruised down to San Diego for the night to spend some time with one of my closest friend's Kelly. She's on a business call here when David starts cracking up over nothing totally busting her professional tone. The night was a blast and almost perfect except for the moment of a screaming David falling off the bed and getting stuck between the mattress and night stand. But the best was the next morning, after our adjustments, as I'm telling our chiropractor about how horrible I feel with the tipping the stroller and the falling off the bed, I'm putting David in his car seat and totally hit his head on his toy causing him to cry. :o( Dr. Spicer reassured me that it's okay, he's had those days too. Even though I know it's a lie, it made me feel better.

Well, to make up for all the injuries, David, Jason & I spent about 6 hours at the beach. He was so happy which brought my guilt level down a smidge.

Later that night we had dinner on CDM bluffs with some friends. We all brought our own food and wine and watched all the little ones run around and play. It was so much fun!

Taylor is trying on Jason's shoes.

Cameron is probably trying to get a hold of David's ears again.

Ryder and Brayden.. best buds.

Sum sum summa time!

2009-06-24T13:33:00.000-07:00

Yeah summer! I know i've been a total lagger with this but it's my goal to update more frequently. It's been a busy couple months but good ones! Besides David's 5+ appts a week, we've been spending a lot of our time outdoors with play dates, beach, pedal boating, birthday parties, parks, and too many taco nights out to count! But one of my most favorite moments was being present at the birth of my newest nephew, Gabe. He's already got Aunt Suzy wrapped around that tiny finger. Here's a couple random pictures this month to catch you up (grandma). :)

Out on our pedal boat in Newport Beach harbor..not much sleep here but still truckin!

against the docks are tons of star fish...and this was one of the small ones!

tons of seals too!

David loves it at the beach!

found the foot..

and in it goes.

this is where Jason is happiest... ocean and family.

David is cracking up at absolutely nothing.

day at the park with friends

the thursday crew..my mamas group. these are the most AMAZING women whom i love so much! (missing Jenn & Taylor)

my newest obsession..Gabe.

my beautiful sister and family

sickies

2009-02-25T12:08:00.000-08:00

Today is day 6 of feeling miserable. Fevers, coughing, sore throats, snot....all the nasty that come with flu. Jason seems to be okay (knocking on wood) but me and big D are a couple of crabby grumps. I know J & I would feel better if David didn't start life out with all his little complications and under developed lungs. It's a little scary sometimes. That and lack of sleep. I'm starting to hallucinate. Anyway, David was falling asleep on Jason in between coughing. No fun having a sick baby, but the snugly cuddles are bliss!

He woke up pouting and whimpering. It was so funny, like he was telling his dad all about how he felt.
So Jason gives him a kiss and tells him "daddy knows".
David can never keep a straight face with his dad.
Especially when he does faces like this.

Gotta love So Cal in January!

2009-02-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

I just got these pictures back from a friend today (taken last month) and had to post these because it is mid JANUARY and super hot here, but mainly to show off to my sisters back east, who were in the middle of a blizzard the same day. :o) This is David's very first step into the ocean. Jason and I have such a deep love for the ocean, this was probably one of my most proudest moments! J is already shopping for a mini wetsuit. Oh yeah, I swear this isn't a french-cut bathing suit he's wearing...it's just a very stretchy onsie.

getting to know the Holy Spirit

2009-01-25T20:27:00.000-08:00

Lately I have been hungering for a deeper relationship with the Holy Spirit. Just seeking Him this last 2 months have been pretty exciting for me. Nothing particularly amazing has happened, but a definate new revelation of who I am in Christ is starting to present itself, amongst other things.

Today at church my friend Chrissy shared her Top 10 list of "why we need Holy Spirit filling". Every single point was so great that I wanted to share it! These aren't in any particular order.

Top 10

Why we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit

10. TO PROTECT & GUIDE US

9. TO CONVICT US WHEN WE SIN

8. TO HEAL

7. TO BE SET APART

6. FOR COMPANIONSHIP / COMFORT

5. HOPE

4. JOY & PEACE

3. TO OVERCOME THE ENEMY

2. TO TEACH US...COUNCIL US (give us words, wisdom, discernment)

1. TO REVEAL GOD TO US...HIS MISTERIES...HIS TRUTH

Do your ears hang low?

2009-01-10T13:13:00.000-08:00

Aunt Katy bought David this elephant for Christmas. And why do we own a giant ear? Just one of the perks being married to Jason I guess.

Celebrating David's first year!

2009-01-07T20:49:00.000-08:00

Today, Jason and I are celebrating and reflecting on our little miracle. The doctors said he wouldn't make it, but David is continuing to grow and show us that God answers prayer! Happy Birthday little man. You are pure JOY!

From 1 pound, 8 ounces to 14 pounds, 3 ounces!

So many babies!
Attempt baby picture...
Attempt again?
The little guy to the right, Gunnar, was born at 1 pound, 9 ounces and in the NICU with David.
Cameron likes to tug on David's ears.
Jason's big "yeah" at the end scared him.

I'm trying to keep him up till daddy get's home to give him his birthday kiss. It's getting late!
He makes it! Barely!
David is over-tired but gets to spend a couple minutes with his daddy before bed.