Batter Up

Since this is probably the last piece of newborn clothing Soren will be able to squeeze into, I had to snap a photo of him in this adorable sweatsuit (pants not pictured). 

With his baby acne and freshly spiked hair, and with the impressive stats at his check-up yesterday (11lbs & 22.5 inches, +2 points in both categories since birth) that caused the nurse to re-measure him 3 times, I'd say he's ready for some junior high baseball tryouts! (teehee)

Happy Friday!

Summer Time Fun!

I don't think these 3 know just how lucky blessed they are...

Where can you go to take a break from work?

Where can you drive 7 miles and be in paradise?

...To be entertained by the world's biggest canon ball splash 

(me, exaggerating? maybe just a tad, no offense, Dad)

...To receive free swimming lessons from the most loving,

 

most patient,

most fun

 

teachers around?

Where can you go to play in a customized, spacious, warm, baja-wading area covered in mosaic water creatures to entertain this little one as the ocean breeze cools her back?

...To have lots of snuggle time with momma? 

...To soak your aching feet (ignore the fact that I desperately need a pedicure) in refreshing salt water as you watch your babies play and sleep?

 And where can you go where even toy dolls are found relaxing and sun bathing???

The Emde Resort, of course.

(a.k.a. Mimi & Bapa's!!!)

The kids and I are so very blessed to feel like we are vacationing every time we stop over for the day!

Happy Summering!
(and speaking of, can you believe we are already getting sneak previews of fall weather as well as fall catalogs in the mail and holiday hours coming to Target?!?! Don't know about you, but this summer is flying by for us)

2 Weeks!

We had a little photo shoot to commemorate Soren's 2 weeks of life!

 Our thinker...

 

It's quite fitting that his name means "The stern one". Much of his awake time involves a serious, contemplative look or a scowl that expresses a hundred words (I'm just not sure which words those are). 

And if you don't like it, well, he's not interested in pleasing anyone.

Classic (haha)

My Baby is 4!?!

I'm going to make this short because, well, the combination of post-pregnancy hormones with lack of sleep does not make it easy to reflect on the fourth year of your firstborn's life without getting all weepy and frankly, losing it.

Alizea Ann,

You are such a wonderful little girl! Your zeal for life is a very special, very unique gift and makes living this life with you, an absolutely exhilarating ride. Daddy and I are constantly and prayerfully attempting to help refine the passion within you and channel it from wild recklessness to virtuous love.  Whew, what a challenge!

This last year has been filled with changes. You started the CLAA Petty (Pre) School and are now reading in Latin, counting to 100 in both Latin and English, beginning to add and subtract and excelling in your writing skills. You make momma work for the title of "mommy teacher" but I am learning to love the fight  tantrums challenges you bring to the table. You also started the "Catechism of the Good Shepherd" program, did very well for being one of the youngest and have made some special friendships (mommy included which has been an incredible blessing). You welcomed another sibling with incredible maturity, pride and excitement and you are just bursting with love for your baby brother. You continue to thoroughly enjoy dancing and ballet and anything that involves painting and messy crafts. You can go from 0 to 10 in seconds and because of this (despite your contending because you now know the meaning of this nickname) you are still our Spicy one. Another big change has been in your relationship with Daddy. What a turn about from the difficult transition 2 years ago upon his return from deployment. Now, you prefer his arms, his company, his stories, even his My Little Pony voices. As you enjoy your special day with him at Disneyland, your mommy is having a hard time finding the words to describe how proud I am of you and how much I love you! 

You bring me life and love that keeps on giving and knows no end. 

You make me laugh and cry and experience emotions in the depths of my soul that could only come from God's love. 

Through my many mistakes and failings, you ultimately make me a better mommy and a better follower of Christ!

 
You are just beautiful! 
Happy Birthday, my princess!

18 months!

A little late but I figured it was time for an update on Sweet G. 

 ...Being that she is on the downhill march to a 2 year old! And being that she is the big sister now and has a lot more responsibilities these days.

Like handing me the wipes as she sits close by my side and watches in curious enthrallment as I change her baby brother or throwing his diaper away all by herself. 

 She is settling into her new role just beautifully.

This series of pictures says it all...

 ...Wiping the leaves and debris away so her baby has a nice clean seat to sit on

...Giving a gentle push with tremendous focus and a careful attentiveness

...Joyful when giving to others

...Perceptive and protective, with a wisdom well beyond her years.

... Simply. Sweet.

Oh Genevieve, you are an absolute doll! It is quite amazing to see your unique characteristics and God-given strengths developing and blossoming already at such a young age.
You are naturally nurturing. You are, oh so, gentle with little Soren. You are kind and caring. You love to share (unless of course you are standing your ground on an unjust dealing with big sis). You are unselfish. You are obedient (for the most part but we'll take it). You are my peace maker. You are incredibly independent, creatively finding things and ways to entertain yourself. You love to explore on your own. You are comfortable alone and enjoy being in your own presence: What an incredible skill that is that so many (adults) fight with and never learn to embrace and enjoy. You wave goodnight to me as I lay you in your crib for naps or bedtime every day without a fight or a fuss. Despite the multiple teeth popping up, your peaceful disposition has remained the same. You are incredible, baby doll!
I used to think that all babies were like you. Boy was that naive ignorant.  I quickly discovered after becoming a mom that wasn't the case and now I know (& your pediatrician agrees) that you are the exception. 

 I believe you are the primary reason this transition to 3 has gone so smoothly for me. 

Thank you for that. 

We love you, little darling.

Some recent words you have added to your vocabulary:

-Cracker

-Cheese
-Nana (Banana)

-Eye

-Ear

-Baby

-Elmo
-Dirty

-Agua

-Bye Bye

-All done

-More

-Grama

-Bapa

And you are putting words together, like, "Bye bye Bapa"
Speaking of.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!!!!

Third Time's a Charm

Isn't he a charming little fella?

 We sure are enjoying having a newborn around here again. The girls bring a sense of fascination and wonder toward their brother. Spicy A is definitely playing the older, protective, extremely affectionate role and Sweet G, at the tender age of 18 months is showing such mature, motherly, big sister qualities that melt my heart and put a lot of grown mothers nowadays to shame. 

As for mommy, I'm still getting acquainted with the male anatomy in a whole new light as I stand dumbfounded at the changing table, utterly amazed and entertained at the powerful spraying capabilities of such apparatus.

Thanks to my wonderful momma, and her tremendous help up-keeping the household, cooking meals, taking the girls for fun outings, naps at her house and slumber parties, I feel good. I feel rested. I actually feel in control of things and I've been able to enjoy a lot of special one-on-one time with my little man and still find time for myself.   
With so much help with the girls, I've been reminded how easy simple it is to take care of just one child.

I'm sure the chaos & exhaustion is lurking  just around the corner (once mom decides to take a day for herself) but for now, we're enjoying some peace.

Welcome, Soren Charles Soto!!!

I will attempt here to recount the day of our little Soren's birth.

(Little did the St. Joseph's medical staff know that Lady Starbuck's helped kick things off with a vanilla late with a triple shot of espresso. hehe)

 

 yes, I was kidding. (It was only a double shot!)

Ok, so here's the breakdown:

6am - arrive to hospital and check in. I'm feeling excited yet a little nervous

 7:45 - start the vitamin P (Pitocin) to get this baby out!

9:30 - Dr Linzey checks in, breaks my water and prays with Dean and me, committing the labor, the delivery, his decisions and the life of our child to the will of God and His Son.

11am - Lori, the RN convinces me to take advantage of an amazing, available anesthesiologist to be comfortable for the rest of the labor. I was hesitating because I was only 3 cm dilated, however, the staff assured me the epidural would not slow things down, so I relented my  prideful, rather odd desire to push myself to experience more pain.

11:30 - 5:00 entailed a lot of waiting, napping, changing positions, monitoring, texting, resting, asking nurses questions, worrying, praying, did I mention sleeping? 

And Ellen, the nurse that labored with me with Genevieve just 18 months ago popped in to say "hello". Not sure if she really remembered me or my experience but I sure remembered her and it was so neat to see her and all the memories and emotions of Sweet G's birth racing back in my mind and heart, giving me so much strength.

At one point in the last few hours, Soren's heart rate started dropping with the contractions, which is a sign of distress on the baby. I was very worried and anxious, especially when Lori mentioned it was probably due to the cord being near (or around) his face. I thought that meant automatic c-section and expressed to her my fears. She was so comforting, reassuring,  positive and confidant in her response and explained that they would inject my womb with fluid resembling amniotic fluid to help the cord "float" and amazingly, it worked and the baby's heart rate started doing what is expected (increasing with each contraction). Ah, the wonders of modern medicine and experienced medical professionals! Phew! When I hit 8cm, I began to get excited again, hoping and praying I would continue progressing and hear that wonderful proclamation "let's start pushing" very soon. 

5pm - I am told I am "almost there" (between a 9-10)

5:30 - 6:00 An interaction between Doc & nurse where nurse updates him on my 'status' (fully dilated, dropping but not totally crowned), doc makes the call to start pushing

6:00pm - Dr Linzey got "suited up", gave me a refresher course on pushing correctly and we began the most physically exhausting part of the day.

After a couple pushes, I hear Dr. and nurse mumbling to each other and then the horrible, terrifying 2 letters announced...OP (Occiput Posterior) which is the position of the baby, specifically his head. Without hesitation or thinking, I remember whipsering "Oh Shit" as all Iknew of this dreaded acronym was that because of this, Spicy was 1 failed suction/vacuum attempt away from a c-section...Dr. Linzey told me not to worry, that he thought he could help rotate his head as I pushed and sure enough, a couple pushes later, Soren was in an Optimal Position (my kind of OP). HUGE sigh of relief! 

 We took '5' to rest and then resumed our focused work...about 2 or 3 more pushes and with the help of the trusty vacuum suction, he slipped right out!

6:48pm

And there he was...

My beautiful son!

All 9 pounds, 1 oz and 20.5 inches of him!

Finally after 9 1o months of anticipation, excitement, waiting, wondering, dreaming, praying... from the moment I found out I was pregnant again to the moment we discovered we were having a boy, to the horribly uncomfortable, sleepless nights and back aches that stopped me dead in my tracks at any given moment, finally, yes finally, I was holding him in my arms & staring him in the face.

Oh Yes, our God is good.

 We spent a good 45 minutes together, Daddy, Mommy and baby. 

And then the excitement and love bursting out of the waiting room couldn't contain itself any longer. The laboring room door swung open and I saw her little feet in those cute white strappy sandals and my heart jumped. Our very first visitor to meet her baby brother.

Our first born. Our special little girl.

And the proud very proud big sister. 

What a moment! 

And the excitement continues. Its contagious. The love and joy a child brings to this world. 

More visitors to meet the little guy.

Thank you Jenny and Aunt Sherry for your tremendous love and support. 

The visits on your work breaks, the bag 'o' goodies to keep the girls entertained while waiting hours to meet their brother, the bag sack 'o' goodies for mommy which I devoured within the 1st 15 minutes after giving birth after feeling completely famished, for the waiting, the concern, the excitement, the love.

 Hospital stay Day #2: Soren attracted a few more visitors and many joyful memorable moments created...

 Thanks to my wonderful parents who were taking care of the girls, Daddy and I got to spend our 1st night together and shared a lot of fun, special conversations at the hospital. Some deep, others so humorous that I had to hold my bowl of jell-o tummy as it jiggled like that of Santa Claus. We imagined all three siblings interacting and envisioned some possible scenarios. We analyzed his looks and for now, we've decided he's got Spicy's mouth shape, (very evident when he cries) Sweet's head shape and full, round cheeks, mommy's high nose bridge and daddy's ears (the top of both of his ear lobes fold exactly like that of daddy's left ear.) Skin tone and eye color is yet to be determined.

 But he's absolutely gorgeous. Er, I mean handsome.

And we all love him so.