Alexis 11 months

My Dear Alexis,
I cannot believe I am sitting here writing about your 11 month of life with us! My gosh ~ how time has flown.
As you get older, I have more vivid memories of your first days/months with us. I remember giving you your night feedings and watching the Olympics. (I gotta say I did not even know that some of those sports existed. In fact, you inspired Mommy and Bear to go to the Olympics. I picked Rowing or speed walking, but Daddy quickly dismissed that.) Just last night Daddy and I were talking about you when you were first born, and now… 11 months later, here we are.

Well let’s start with your stats. You went to Dr. Chang about 2 weeks ago and were 27lbs. 7 oz. We are a little unclear about your height, but we know you grew : > Dr. Chang was impressed by bubbly personality and your speech. You got only two little pricks ~ to check your iron and a TB test. You cried like it was the end of the world.

You have made some changes in this past month; here is a quick little breakdown

• You are a crawling machine ~ you crawl all over and quick. Like Lightning McQueen ~ you are SPEED
  
• You call everyone you see, and happy to recognize Dada. Me, your Mom, Jeffrey, Fozzy, possibly Ms. Vickie. I think I will be “Not the Dada” to you. But when no one else is around, you do say Mama.
  
• You have grown much attached to Jeffrey when you’re not fighting (see 4th bullet). His voice will make smile and you turn to find him first thing in the morning.


• You and Jeffrey have officially started to get into it. I don’t know why I’m blogging about it, but perhaps it’ll be a reminder of good I used to have it. You adore Jeffrey’s Cars, Thomas the Train stuff, anything he has you want, even his flip flops. You like to destroy his Thomas the Train tracks and he’s started to say, “ Uh-oh, here comes Lexzilla (Wexziwwa).”
  
• You and Fozzy have become good friends as well. He likes to lick you and you like it for a bit, then push him away. He goes to check on you first thing in the morning.
  
  Although your first birthday is one month away, I am planning away like a mad woman. Hope it turns out to your liking.
  
  Well Lexigirl, that’s all I have. We look forward to your kisses, giggles, and smiles.
  
  All my love,
  Mommy

Jeffrey's 1st Basketball Game

So yesterday Jeffrey had his first basketball game. We signed him up, with hopes that he would have fun and burn off some energy. I in turn became a Sports Mom.

Knowing that our families celebrate little milestones like these Aaron & I decided to have a family bbq. We thought that it would be no problem, but then we found out that the practice/game started at 830. Because we live far away, only my parents & sister & Bear were able to come up the day before.

I was not quite sure how this was going to go… I had read about other mom’s experiences with games/sports/ dance, but I had never seen 3-4 year olds play basketball. (By all technicalities, I STILL have yet to see 3-4 year olds play basketball) We got there and got Jeffrey’s uniform #30 ~ twice Aaron, 2<>

We had bought Jeff a little basketball because we did not think that they would play with a regulation size ball ~ mistake #1. They play with regulation size balls. These kids struggled to hold and shoot the ball. I watched these coaches and thanked God that Aaron was not coaching. I’ve taught preschool, and know the difficulties of trying to get kids to walk down the stairs, let alone have them participate in line drills. Jeffrey was hilarious. He did not like dribbling; he simply walked to the basked, bounced the ball and attempted to shoot.

Needless to say, it was crazy, but hilarious! At any given time, kids were on the wrong side of the court (Jeff), talking to other kids (Jeff), crying, and upset because they got the ball taken away. I mean after all, they have been taught you don’t take things away…We made it, and he had fun. Can’t wait for the next game!

The starting 5 (well, there were only 5)

First Jump Ball

Playing

Giving 5

Taking pictures

I use this phrase a lot just because it's true..."It was easier giving birth!" Keep in mind that although I went through some hard pregnancies, my births were very easy. I only went through what I thought was mini-labor with Alexis and walaah! C-sections with both.

Well yesterday my sister and I went to take them to take pictures. It was easier giving birth! Jeffrey was good. He hammed it up when necessary. Alexis... would not smile AT ALL. I love my little girl, I do. She'll smile and be her true self with the people she's comfortable with. But you would've thought I had the moodiest of babies. She is adorable and sweet, I promise. She just needs to warm up to you. Anyway, here are the results

My two little babies...

EHS 2009

I'm not sure if any of you know that the hs I work for has only been open since 2005. This experience has been full of a lot of firsts, and here was a major milestone. Our first graduating class. It was my first graduation as a staff member~ quite fun. Got random pics as you can see. Good-bye Lions, we'll miss you!

Fun at the park

While in HB, we went to the park. Auntie Sonia and the Girls met up with us. We had lots of fun and a lot of laughs.

Enjoying lunch

Jeff and his Aly

Michelle and Aly

Aunt Sonia, Kris and I

Alexis, Jeffrey kicking his Gampy (Mom) and Tia Kristi

Mesa View Reunion

In your lifetime you come in contact with my different people in your life. Some you will impact, others will have an impact on you. The people I will refer to are the latter.

These people may have known you in your most awkward of stages ~ fashionably and physically. You were your goofiest, testing your limits, coming into your own and yet, they still cared/loved you. No, they weren’t family, at least not then; they were your middle school teachers.

We at Mesa View were the lucky ones; we had the cream of the crop. Last Saturday we had our first and possibly only Mesa View Reunion. It was nice to see a few other alums and these wonderful teachers. As I was talking to people, it was then I truly realized the impact these teachers had on us.

I also realized that I never had a chance to thank them… Thank you…. For putting up with us, chasing us around, making school fun, following us through high school, taking time to be part of our lives ~graduations, marriages, children, personal triumphs/tragedies, guiding us … even in our adult lives, inspiring us ~ some to join your profession as colleagues, never laughing at our dreams, and most importantly for never giving up on us.

As a teacher/person I can only hope to aspire to your level of greatness…