Oh baby

Well... there have been some interesting things going on lately!  It seems that we are crazy busy on the weekends with capoeira!  This next adventure... Rochester, NY.  This will be the 3rd time we've been to NY this year... crazy!

However, I think due to all the being busy and moving around and stuff being pregnant is a lot harder than I remember it.  Maybe the novelty of the first time kept me in better spirits when I didn't feel well, I dunno... but I definitely don't remember feeling so lousy... Keep us in your prayers also.  I think everything is OK but I had to have some blood work done today just to make sure.  I'll keep you updated on the findings!

I am looking forward to going to NY to see fun people and learn lots of great things in these workshops, but am also dreading a bit all the work that it takes to mobilize a baby for a weekend!  I really don't think its a big deal if we forget something for us, but for him its a little different.  I'm so blessed to have a good traveling baby!

There are many many things that I am grateful/thankful for.  My husband is the most wonderful man ever!  I have a son who adores being with his Momma even when all she can do is lay on the couch and semi read books to him.  Air conditioning.  Long naps with my Lovebug.  Air conditioning.  Having a washer/dryer inside our apartment... makes cloth diapering doable.  And the fact that God deemed us worthy enough to have another baby.  :)  Makes me feel like we're doing something right.

Also... playdates.  We've been spending more and more time with a high school teacher of mine's family... they have two little ones that Tristan adores playing with.  They're 6 and 4... but they are great for him to be around.  I love their influence and how they interact as a family.  It's really nice to be able to go someplace like that and not worry about what toys, music, language or anything like that when we go and play.

Must sleep now.

JVG

New Momma Feeling

Ugh... I don't remember feeling so lousy with my first baby, but I hear that all pregnancies are different!  I have been lucky enough to have Gaetan home for the past two weeks so he could help me out big time when I wasn't feeling so hot.  I am lucky enough to not get sick, but feel pretty icky...

I think I'm having a girl.. hhaha.  I feel extra strength crazy most of the time, but can hide it pretty well... depending on how much sleep I get!  But I have my first appointment at the end of Sept... and I Hope we can get an ultrasound of the baby bean!

I am very much looking forward to having another little one... and can't wait to get into the 2nd trimester to hopefully feel better!

We have been ultra busy with a lot of capoeira stuff also... and it takes a lot more energy out of me having a baby in my belly and having a baby to take care of and pack for!  But I love it, and we're doing just fine.

Another weird thing happened this weekend... it turns out that one can forget how to use disposable diapers!  We put Tristan in them because we were staying overnight someplace and I didn't want to have to use their washer/dryer, and he peed/pooped through all his outfits I packed!  I thought disposables were supposed to be easier... hrm.  hahaaha.  I'm so green! :P

JVG

Momma Status

So the other night in bed I was getting ready to go to sleep and my pillow was extra lumpy... I figured it was Gaetan's arm/hand underneath it (because that's how he likes to snuggle up with me) but it was pretty uncomfortable!  So in the dark I lifted up the pillow to see if it was and I thought I saw his hand... so jokingly I go to give it a high five.  Well... it wasn't his hand... in fact it was furry and squishy... I kinda gave out a gasp and grabbed my phone so I could use the screen as a light.  It turned out to be one of Tristan's toys he had left in our room from an earlier Momma/Bugga nap.  I was laughing to myself because I felt like a true Momma then!  hahaha.  I was glad that it wasn't other things.  :)

We were lucky enough to be able to go on a date night tonight.  My Mom graciously watched Tristan so we could go to the movie theater right by our house that we drive past everyday, but haven't frequented in the 1.5 year that we've lived here.  It was nice to have some us time, but I am definitely still very attached do our little dude!  I think it's gonna be harder for me to let him do things then it will be for him... ;)

JVG

Bday pics!

Traditionally we put things out in front of him and he chooses and it's supposed to determine his future...His first choice! money!  He will be rich!

His second pick:  book... he will be intellectual!

Enjoying his rainbow rice cake

American birthday cake made by Grandma

Blessings

So I had an opportunity this past Monday to do some temp work for a friend... nothing real exciting... stuffing CD's into their cases.  But we get paid piece-wise, and since I'm ninja fast it was worth my time.  It was good that Gaetan had that day off also so he could stay home with Snugga! 

Anyways... I'm not sure if it's the baby in my belly or what but I was EXHAUSTED by the time I got home.  Even though it wasn't a lot of physical labor I was just pooped.  I wanted so badly to just come home and play with my boy but I ended up crashing on the couch...

OH this is also the day our car pooped out.  BUT... this experience really made me thankful and glad that I don't have to be a single parent.  I don't know how they do it, but I give them many many props.  I'm sure that if it came down to it that I would be able too, but I am just thankful that I can stay home with my dude and get to know him so well!

I can definitely say to date that being a stay at home Mom is the best job ever.  :)

JVG

Car trouble

So.... our van had been making some funny noises for the past couple of days and I wanted my Dad to listen to it (well, because my Dad knows everything ;)  Anyway, we were gonna go over there so he could change the oil and the car wouldn't start... like nothing happened when you turned the key... stink.

So I called him and he was luckily able to come over with Mom and a spare car in case we needed to bring it into a shop and all that jazz.  We are so completely blessed to have my parent right there and so willing to help out!  I don't know what we would've done if we were some place that we didn't know anybody... I am very thankful that we can be close to them!  :)

Lucky enough for us it was just the battery... so it was a fix that we could do and afford :)  thank you Jesus!

JVG

Traditional Korean 1st Birthday

Whew!  We threw Tristan a traditional Korean first birthday.  Traditionally children mortality was high, so if they made it to their first birthday it was cause for celebration!  Another high note is their 100 day...

I was lucky enough to have a teacher-friend help me out.  I am very interested in learning more about my heritage and be able to teach my children about it.  We made bulgolgi, which is like a Korean BBQ, kimchee, cucumber salad, seaweed and of course rice.  We also made a traditional rainbow rice cake... which was a lot of work!  But also had some American finger foods also.  We had a ton of friends and family over to celebrate with us.  We got Tristan a traditional boys hanbok also... SUPER cute.

I will post some pics soon.  But we were very excited to do this and be able too!

JVG

Happy birthday to my Baby Bug!

It's Tristan's birthday today!  I can't believe that a year has already gone by!  In some ways time has flown... but in other ways it seems like we've had him for so much longer!  I honestly can't remember what life was like before we had our little dude.  We are so in love with being his parents and have been blessed by him every day.  He is teaching us so much about ourselves along side of us teaching him!  We look forward to what the Lord has in store for him!!  We love you little dude!

JVG

Best husband ever

Sorry ladies... but it's fact, I have the best husband out there.  He has been extra kind and sweet to me through the beginning of my pregnancy!  I thought that this was going to be much more difficult... because of being tired all the time AND having a little one to watch so no napping whenever I wanted.  But my wonderful husband is taking such good care of everything.  :)  I am extremely blessed and I count my blessing everyday!

I unfortunately am sick... :(  Apparently I was sick the last time also in the beginning... sore throat and stuff... but nothing real serious.  The other day he let me take this glorious nap and when I woke up there was laundry started and Tristan had gotten up from his nap long before I had gotten up from mine...  but Gaetan took care of him.  So thank you Lord for such a wonderful man!

JVG

Good manners

We have been working with Tristan on doing some simple sign language.  I've heard that doing sign language helps with the terrible two's because they can articulate what they want without having to speak!  :)  The newest thing he is consistently doing is saying 'Please.'  :)  He usually either rubs my chest if I'm holding him, or rubs the floor.  It's adorable.  He's so smart!  Next thing we're working on 'Thank you.'  He says 'milk', 'food' and 'more'.  Looking forward to having him learn more!

JVG

BIG NEWS!

BIG NEWS!  This morning I received some great news!  We're expecting another little one!  I was relieved to find out there was a reason behind all the moody moody madness the past little while :)  We are very excited for our new addition to the family and I can't wait to see how well Tristan does being The Big Brother!

JVG

Monkey see... Monkey Do...

I've heard that little children are like sponges and they will soak up all the mannerisms and things that they are exposed too daily... here are a few instances where they were shown to us recently!

Usually when Tristan falls down or hurts himself we clap and tell him "Good job! you're a big boy!"  And that distracts him and then he doesn't fuss about it... Well, the other day Tristan was playing in his room and tried to make a break for it and Gaetan was in there playing with him.  So Gaetan made a quick move to try to get him and ended up hitting his head on the door and just kinda fell backwards... well, Tristan saw him fall down and he stood up and started clapping for him!  hahaha.  It was very cute...

Another instance was Tristan climbed into the shower when Gaetan was taking one (because he loves water) and Gaetan put his face in the water and kinda shook his face around and then Tristan promptly followed suit and did the same.

Its very exciting to see him mimick but it does show what a big undertaking it is to make sure that we put good thing into our boy!  Garbage in... garbage out.  We are praying daily that we are feeding his heart good things.  We love him...

JVG

Its gotta be like falling in love...

I was listening to this song by Jason Gray the other day and I looked up the lyrics because they really struck me.  There is a particular part in his song that I really wanted to share...

"'Cause all religion ever made of me was just a sinner with a stone tied to my feet.  It never set me free... it's gotta be more like falling in love..."

It really made me think that being a Christian isn't about religion.. in fact it's the opposite.  Jesus didn't create religion... He is LOVE.  And to have a true relationship with Him it's gotta be like falling in love...

What a happy thought!  :)  To have a true love...

JVG

Proud Parents

This weekend we ventured to Chicago to get some things for Tristan's first birthday.  We had to get some specific Korean things, because we are doing a traditional style party for him.  We were lucky enough to find everything we needed and had the pleasure of staying with a dear friend.

Our Saturday night tradition usually involves us going to my parents house for pizza and spending some QT with the GParents.  This night was especially special!  Bug a Bug took his first confident steps... and then some more... and more still!  We are very excited for him and all the new adventures he will have because of his new found skill!  Way to go Bug!

JVG

First Time Blogger

Many of my friends have blogs and I always enjoy reading them... so my brilliant husband suggested that I start one of my own.  I plan on using my blog as a bit of a journal, things I'm learning, things I find interesting and just little tidbits that might come to me throughout the day.  I am looking forward to this new experience!

JVG