Irvine Regional Park

The Demke's invited us to go to Irvine Regional Park yesterday, and since I am always dying to get out of the house...we went! We had a great time. They had a small zoo, which was a big hit with Wyatt and Sheldon. They especially liked the petting zoo, which was actually just goats. But its cool. There were a lot of goats, and I don't think the boys noticed the lack of species diversity. There was also story time, which Wyatt and Whitley liked. And then a museum, but I'm not sure what was in there. I sat at the entrance nursing, enjoying the air conditioning. Hmm, just realized that might have been a little weird for people walking into the building. After the museum, we took the kids on a little train that goes around the park. This was Wyatt's favorite part, hands down. He kept making smug little "hmm!" noises the whole time, expecially when the whistle blew. It was a very fun, very hot day!

Kid Updates

This is just some journal-type stuff. I know most of you will probably be bored with this post. Tough. Except my mom. She'll probably be interested.

Wyatt has always been a little behind in language, actually, he stinks at talking. But lately he has been making some progress. It is so cute! He is putting together words now, making short (sometimes nonsensical) sentences. When we read stories or look at pictures, he will point out the dada (largest), mama (medium), and babies (anything small). Like, "mama...duck? dada...duck? deedee...duck?" He also points out when there are two of something "two...McQueen?" And yes, everything is a question. He has started saying please and thank you on his own, which melts my heart. He can identify colors, although he can't name them yet. So I know most everyone is thinking, great, whats the big deal? Well, I've been kind of (okay, a lot) worried about his language, especially when his doctor told me he does have a delay. So this is a big thing for us!

Micah is smiling! Well, I should say, he HAS smiled. His first one I noticed was actually given to Wyatt. Wyatt was pestering him, maybe trying to gouge out his eyes or rip off his toes, I don't remember the specifics, and Micah smiled at him! It was so cute! And then the other day he gave me a smile. More like a really pleasant expression, but pretty close to a smile. I love it! It is so nice when the baby-blob starts to develop a personality. I mean, they're cute when they are tiny and new and helpless, but cute will only get you so far in this world!

Things are getting better around here. Micah had been not sleeping well for the last two weeks or so, but then out of the blue, he slept for 6 1/2 hours last night! I couldn't believe it! I was so excited that I couldn't fall back asleep after he nursed at 3:30 am, so I was still tired today, but I'm glad for the progress. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET THIS BE A REGULAR HABIT.

Okay, pictures. Micah at 5 weeks.

My Favorite Things

Today, I am feeling a little blue.Jake has been in San Francisco for the last two weeks, and probably will be there for a few more. When he's gone, I get kind of sad. Kind of lonely. We have spent 6 of the last 12 months living apart. That takes a toll on me.

So I am taking a cue from Maria Von Trapp (and Oprah). Here are a few of my favorite things:

1. The hour in the afternoon when both boys are asleep. It restores me. Silence. Ahh, sweet silence.

2. Diet Coke. Peanut Butter M&Ms. US Weekly. Curling up with these three things makes me happy as a clam.

3. Dreaming about, planning, going on, reminiscing about VACATION. Next up, Hawaii. Our fifth wedding anniversary is next year, so that's the excuse. I love dreaming about Hawaii while I'm nursing at three in the morning. And when I really want to dream big, I think about our 10th anniversary trip to Europe. Can't wait.

4. Shopping. Cliched, but true. I love it. I love that my husband is patient with me and my love for it. Mostly because he loves shopping too. For different things, but still. Doesn't matter if its shopping at Nordstrom, Costco, Target, Vons, or online for who knows what. I love it.

5. Cooking. I find chopping, sauteing, mixing, and dicing extremely therapeutic. I completely zone out, and at the end I get to eat. What could be better than that?

6. Listening to Wyatt sing. He is perhaps the worst singer on the planet. And it cracks me up. None of the notes or words are anywhere close to right, but he sings with gusto. At the top of his lungs. Grinning. Someday, if I can figure out how to get video onto my computer, I will post a clip of him singing. Even when he wakes up early I can't get mad at him when I hear him belting out Twinkle Twinkle Little Star from his crib.

7. Getting my hair done. I rarely like the results, but I sure enjoy the process.

8. Pedicures. Especially $15 pedicures, southern california special. That is quite possibly my favorite thing about living here. In addition to living by family, and the beach, and the nice weather. But especially the cheap pedicures.

9. Eating popsicles. Wyatt likes to eat them in his hippo pool.

10. Backpacking. Haven't been able to do this for a few years, probably won't be able to for a few more years to come. I have to wait until I'm not pregnant or breastfeeding. I guess I am secretly a little bit of a hermit, but I love the quiet and the isolation. And the physical exhaustion. Very satisfying.

Ahh, I feel better already.

A New Cousin and a New Sister (in-law)

Congratulations to my sister Susie and her family! Her son, Jay Christian, was born Friday night, AT HOME! Susie is a champ! They had been planning a home birth, and everything went great (as well as could be expected anyway)! Jay is so cute! We are so excited that Micah will have a cousin almost exactly the same age, just like their big brothers do.

Hopefully they get more photogenic in the years to come.

Pictures of Micah:

I love Kung Fuuuuuuuuuuu!

Also, the Beamans welcomed a new sister to the family! Jake's brother Tyson got married on July 28th in the Salt Lake Temple. I wasn't able to attend, but it sounds like it was a wonderful event, and I wish I could have been there! Congratulations Tyson and Taylor!

What a beautiful couple!

And one more parting gift...

The diaper wars rage on.