weekend recap

It was a cool weather weekend. We didn't mind so much. We still got the opportunity to get outside. The weekend started with a dinner out at Uncle Julios where Roan got to watch tortillas in the making and was given a ball of dough to play with.

We've had a couple of weeks now, in which Roan has not been 100% well..."well". This weekend was very different. It's as if the stars aligned he just was in a groove. He has been such a happy, chatty, engaged, and good listener. He's been singing a lot. I think it's so cute how he sings so passionately, but very out of tune.

It's funny how as a parent, I am constantly trying to figure out what causes my child's behavior and mood to change so drastically. Is it his diet? ...did he get enough sleep? ...or even if my mood has affected his? I finally realized that maybe it had to do with the fact that Choua is at a new job and our roles have changed. I guess it was just a transition for him. We are getting used to a new norm.


Back to our weekend. Roan and I woke up and while I was getting us packed, Roan watched Transformer cartoons on Youtube. He asks for "Spiderman, Transformer cartoon computer".

Then we headed to see the new exhibit at the Morton Arboretum, "Giant Insects". Roan loved it! He excitedly ran from one exhibit to the next. I love how his little legs move so fast when he's running.

This one was his favorite. It's a daddy long legs. He kept calling most of the insects spiders, even though we technically didn't even see a spider. What we learned is that what really separates spiders is that they have venom. Therefore, a daddy long legs is not really a spider.

We lunched at the arboretum, but for dinner we ate a home cooked meal. We've also been working with Roan on eating what we eat. He fights us, but now that he understands us, we can negotiate with him. I also wanted to document that he is no longer eating in a booster chair. He wanted out of it so we now use phone books to prop him up higher.

Sunday was a cleanup day. I asked Choua to take some pictures of Roan and me for the 52 week project. I told him my vision and asked him to shoot away. These were the best ones. I love how they turned out.



A few weeks ago, I confessed that maybe Spring was my secret favorite season. However, now I remember why Autumn holds that spot. I get severe allergies in Spring. I am drugged up...too bad it's none of the good stuff.

me...unabridged

I'm putting myself out there. Someone once said to me that when she turned 30 (I was 25 when she told me this and I stupidly thought that 30 was so much older than I was--rolling eyes at self), she suddenly started to love herself more. I have to honestly say that I've been in my 30's for three years now and I am almost as unsure of myself as I was when I was 25.

The only things I'm sure of are the things that make me question myself more. Being a wife and mother have really made me look at life through different eyes and asking similar questions about myself--the one I want to be--vs. the one that I honestly know that I can be. Of course, it doesn't help that I grew up in a family where perfection was encouraged.

I have this inner discussion with myself daily about accepting that I can't do everything and then I end up mad at myself for not being able to do it all. All it takes for me to realize what's most important is waking up to the sound of your child sleep-laughing loudly from the baby monitor as you feel your husband nestled against your back.

And so now the age old question: does it really matter that I can't keep it together 100% of the time?

I do have to take a moment to mark this down in my personal journey. Last evening, after slight encouragement from my husband, I ran. In fact, I didn't only run...I ran 34 minutes straight. Some of it, I'm sure, was at fast walking pace, but I don't care! I did it! I think it was almost 3 miles. I felt so good. Tomorrow, I plan to run for 36 minutes, which should be 3 miles at a pretty slow pace. I haven't done this in years!

Below: Me...using wrapping paper as my backdrop. Try it...you know you've got tons of it laying around the house. I used self-timer so it's out of focus.

busy

I hate to sound like I am complaining because Lord knows, I am beyond blessed and feel that I am in a good place right now; but between my day job, home life, buying a new car (bought broken so it's in the shop), pre-school screening, photo sessions, therapy, trying to keep up with Cto5k, and planning a birthday party, I can't seem to keep this blog updated. Not to mention the numerous family members I owe photo CDs to. Hang in there...I'm getting there, now that our computer is almost 90%.

It's all worth it when I see that little face with those big cheeks and hear that little voice seeking..."Mama, Mama..." I'm still amazed everyday that he is mine and parts of me started what he is. I mean how could something so imperfect, like me, create something so perfect? Also, I would do even more if it meant that I get to have a moment like I did with my husband the other night and this is in no way about sex.

I had two sessions in about three days. I'm way rusty; a fumbling idiot, in fact. But check out some photos from the first session on my Photography by Kaosong link to the right. It was for a friend so Roan got to come along as well. In retrospect, I wish I could have left him at home though. Just one of him this time.

progress

Feels like I'm always bribing my kid with "special treats" to get photos of him, but it never works. The minute I put the camera up to my face, he looks away. It's very frustrating. Anyways, we had a lot of sun yesterday (and today too) and so I tried to get some pictures with full sun.

Above: eye contact...good, but dang those pin lights. I need to get him to look up at me. Still trying to achieve catch lights with him. I don't know why I even try.

Above: a second later and he's off to come down to where I am.

Above: My little hurricane mess.

I finally have an update on my 'Couch 2 5k' training. I haven't been reporting because I have shamelessly fallen behind. I have been stuck on week six for three weeks now because I have only had time to run once a week.

I am happy to report that tonight was the second time I've run this week and I am up to running 10 minutes straight (in three intervals of walk 2 minutes, run 10 minutes). I know it doesn't sound like much, but I count it as an achievement. It's hard to run with 25 extra pounds on my 5'3 and 1/8" (yes...every 1/8" counts when you are this short) frame.

I don't think I'll make the actual run, but I was able to do 3.1 miles in about 39 minutes of run/walking. Again, doesn't sound like much, but it's something I haven't been able to do in a long time.

april showers

It rained pretty much the whole day yesterday so we had to be creative about playing. I know most parents don't let their kids jump on the furniture, but since Roro does have some sensory seeking needs, we tell him he can only jump at home. His therapists have suggested that we buy him a mini trampoline.

Below: This is my current favorite picture. I love his stinky little expression!

Below: A rare sighting of his dimples.

Below: I wish his skin tone wasn't so different from mine, but I love that I actually got him smiling in this picture.

Below: Playing airplane and/or Superman.

Below: Roan's growing collection of boats. He likes to line them up.

Below: Just a simple shot of his snack plates. He sets them wherever he's playing.

friendship

Another rainy day today. I'm not going to complain about it because I realize it's all just a part of God's plan. And it helps everything to bloom. I was so happy the other day because I went outside and saw our bulbs starting to bloom. I made a mental note to get pictures, but forgot...as usual.

Rainy days are notorious for leading to reflection. I've been thinking a lot about friendships lately. I have been lucky in my life to have amazing siblings that I love and get along with so well. I really do consider them my very best friends. However, I've also acquired some very wonderful non-related best friends as well. I've had to rely on my friends throughout my single life and time living far from my family.

It's been hard balancing friendships and the slice of my life that I have allotted to them has decreased significantly over the years. I know the true friends understand and luckily I don't have too many drama addicted friendships, but I find myself missing the company of these individuals. Whenever I do get to spend some time with them, it's always wonderful, but bittersweet. After all, they are a part of the history that is me.

I also wonder if we didn't have technology, if it would be even harder to keep in touch. I can't imagine the time involved in maintaining friendships the old school way, though it is rewarding.

With my recent birthday and other events in my life, I plan to do some reflection and re balancing of my life. I've not been a very good friend lately. ...which leads to the question, "How do I make the friendship slice bigger without affecting the other slices?" I am open to suggestions.

And of course, no post is complete without photos so here are a couple from yesterday, when it was sunny and almost 60 degrees.

Above: I had to bribe him with a sucker. The look on his face says it all.

Above: And I couldn't resist this picture because I love his little mouth. BTW, a couple older ladies told me that I had a beautiful little girl the other day. Should we cut his hair again? I just got it trimmed two weeks ago.

P.S. I know the banner kind of sucks, but I'll need to figure out why most of the pictures are so blurry.

last day

Yesterday was Choua's last day working at the same company as me. He starts a new job on Monday. I feel like another chapter in my life has closed. Most people say they couldn't work at the same company as their spouse, but I would have to say, that for the most part, it was wonderful.

We worked on completely different floors and in different departments so we hardly saw each other, but it was nice when he would drop by to say "Hi" or we could have child-free lunches with each other. Also, it was a nice perk for me because I always got special treatment from him in regards to my computer support needs. Now I am a nobody again. :( I've come to depend on him too much here.

I'm sad to see him go, but I know that this is a better opportunity for him and I also know that guys need their space and something of their own.


One day last week, we came in from outside and Roan had been walking through water puddles so his pants were wet. I took them off and it was close to bedtime to so I didn't put his pants back on. He found these booties of mine and put them on. I had to get some shots.

Choua took this picture of us. I had an image in my head and it didn't quite turn out that way, but I like the results.