Lost Christmas Photo's with Santa

These are not the greatest photos but I was trying to bribe Harlowe and take pictures at the same time. This is the first time Harlowe sat on Santa's lap without freaking out but it took a lot of candy to be done, ha. And as you can see Harlowe does not look happy.

Harlowe is two and Tryst is five months. Tryst is such a good little baby he will still be held by anyone but when Harlowe was his age, oh no, she just wanted to be held by me.
To this day she is still like that, what's a girl to do?

Trysten's Birthday Pool Party

I am back from my break from blogging. This summer we have been one busy family. Everyday that I am off, we have been taking the kiddos to the neighborhood pool, Sea World (we now have season passes, thanks mom) or some kind of activity each day. 

Trysten turned one yesterday, July 11th, and we just went to Dustin's parents house for some swimming and hot dogs. 

I know you are probably wondering why the heck Harlowe has on a life jacket, well she will not take advice from her mother or father regarding swimming. I was totally opposed to floatees because of course people who have swam for most of their lives and taught swim lessons and summer league, should know you should never put on floatees or this darn life jacket to teach swimming. Although, she loves this life jacket and has really improved on her dog patteling skills, ha. Am I expecting to much? I really want to put her in swim lessons at the end of the summer but it is so expensive, like two hundred dollars, yikes. I wish this darn girl would take some swimming tips from me, ha.

Trytee not so happy

Dustin's dad and I playing frisbee with Dustins brother's dog, Chloe. Dustin's parents have acquired this dog since Drew travels so much for work.

As you can see, Dustin is the picture taker so no pictures of the papa this blog.

Harlowe, hanging out with her Pa Pa.

Trying to get Chloe's attention

My sweet dog, Harley, Dustin cut off his face in the pic. Harley has been having some trouble with his hind leg. The vet said he tore his ACL tendon around his knee and needed surgery, but Dustin did some extensive research and we are opting for the rest method and no surgery for now. He has been doing well but you can tell he is getting old, he is 12 1/2 years old. He has cataracts in both eyes and is going deaf, I love this dog to pieces and I just hope he hangs in there. Dustin knows I will lose it if anything happens to him, he was my first actual baby, ha.

My precious baby is one, Dustin keeps on saying, can you believe we have a one year old and a three year old. Harlowe is about to turn three in October. I kinda had a sad moment, my babies are growing up and Trystee is my last baby.

I got fixed last Thursday, and by fixed, I mean no more babies for me. I had the Essure, I think that is what the procedure is called, it was an office procedure which entailed nickel coils being put in both fallopian tubes. Dustin's friend, Juan, is my gyno and the night before he asked us if we were sure about no more babes because this is a permanent procedure. Of course, my wuss of a husband promised me he would get fixed but when it came down to it, he backed out like a typical chicken. Anyway, Dustin's answer was, hell yes we are done, we have two beautiful, healthy kids and that is enough for him. But me on the other hand, said if I was younger and rich, I think I would want more. If I could stay at home with them, but of course I am an old geezer and yeah, we aren't rich.

After the procedure, I am not going to lie, I kinda felt mad at Dustin because I had to man up and get the procedure done. I am so paranoid about getting cancer again, I didn't want to be back on the pill but having these nickel coils in me for life kinda made me a little angry. I have never shared this with Dustin but I felt like he should have made the sacrifice because of the whole cancer thing. Yet, I thought about it and he has given up a lot for our family too, like putting his career on hold to help me with the kids because I didn't want to put them in daycare. So I guess I got over it pretty quick, not really, it took a couple of days, ha.

I love this little guy so much, Dustin said today that he is jealous of how much I love our kids. Of course Tryst is my last so I love on him every chance I get, Dustin always says we have a love fest going on every time I am holding him. He is the sweetest little boy, he will give you the biggest hugs and when he feels like it, open mouth kisses. He just laughs and laughs when you kiss his little neck or belly.

But he is a testy little guy, if he doesn't get his way he will throw the biggest fits and scream, oh the screaming, yikes. I just hope when he starts walking, which he hasn't yet, Harlowe will be in one piece, ha.

Me and my sweet baby

I don't know what is up with the buck tooth action in a lot of the pics, I guess I need to wear my retainer more.

Harlowe trying to show off her swimming skills.

So sweet, Harlowe loves her little brother, it is the sweetest. When we were at the neighborhood pool, a little boy was splashing Tryst which made him cry, she jumped in to the rescue. She told the little boy to stop splashing her brother. She really says blother, which Dustin says she gets from my mom because my mom does not pronounce R's. I guess it is an Asian thing, ha.

Me and my baby Harlowe

I hope you had a great birthday Tryst, Dustin and I love you so much and are so blessed to have you in our lives. I cannot express enough how much we love these little ones.

Sea World Extravaganza

 If we go anywhere I always carry Tryst in the Baby Bjorn, because now if you carry him without it he tries to buck back to get out of your arms.

I love this hat but now I try to put it on him and he will snatch it off his little head. I remember Harlowe did the same thing, oh well.

Parker feeding the dolphin's. This boy has no fear, Harlowe on the other hand, scared-y cat.

Harlowe would just drop the fish in but Parker pet the dolphins and everything.

I have been noticing lately Dustin is no where to be found in the pics. This boy cannot hold Tryst but for a minute and then he starts whining. I know he is stronger than me so what is the deal, I guess it is the mother's duty, ha.

Oh my gosh, Harlowe is doing it on her own, so proud. That is Harlowe with the matted hair, holding the fish. Put on the hat girl, I am taking your pic, ha.

Dustin's idea

I love this little blue eyed baby. His eyes are not changing thus far so maybe they are here to stay.

Sea World has a little kiddy area with a bunch of rides. We did not hit it until the very end so they only rode one ride because we had to see the night time Shamu show.

We are having a dilemma in our household, Dustin is having a very hard time watching the kiddos on his own. I can post this because he never reads the blog so he won't kill me. I really feel bad for him because I can see it in his face that it is so hard for him. How do people do it? School is so expensive and daycare, I don't even want to think about it.

I have to work so I just don't know what to do? I really have to say we are hands on parents and we don't really have any help. If anyone has some suggestions I am all ears. I am cringing just reading this post because having kids is difficult and this is what parents are supposed to do, suck it up and deal, right?

Most of my adult life I have been hoping and praying for children and a family, and I have a wonderful family and God has blessed me in so many ways. Hopefully God will throw a little blessings onto Dustin, ha.


I am sitting here re-reading my post and thinking to myself, should I delete this? No, I am putting it all out there and maybe some day Dustin and I will look back on this and remember the good and the bad. It was funny tonight before he went to bed, he said, I love these kids to death but this is the hardest thing I have ever done. He said if I can get through this, running a business will be a piece of cake.

Reading this and thinking about our life together gives me a lump in my throat, I know it isn't what we expected but in the end it is so rewarding and fulfilling. I cannot imagine my life without them.

Easter at the Different's

I should have combined the last two posts but there are a ton of photos. I just couldn't resist buying the casterones, which are egg shells filled with confetti, so fun. Dustin's dad was a good sport and let Harlowe crack a dozen eggs on his head. Harlowe loves her Pa Pa.

Harlowe trying to find all the eggs, they even hid some in the trees.

I love her expressions, so cute.

Trysten and Dustin's mom, I think she is trying to hide from me, ha.

Dustin's grandfather, Pa Pa Roy.

Dustin was trying to get a video but our Ipad was malfunctioning, sucks.

We haven't been up to much lately, just the regular everyday stuff. Trysten is nine months now, almost ten months, time has flown by with him. He only has one bottom tooth but his top gums are bulging so any day now, they look painful but he hasn't been that fussy. He is crawling up a storm, he doesn't really want to be held anymore, he is on the go all the time. He is pulling up on everything and cruises around furniture. Dustin and I cannot wait until he starts walking so he can really play with Harlowe. Harlowe loves him to death.

He has really come into his little personality, we thought he would be the easy going one but he has gotten an attitude on him. He has started this thing where if he doesn't see you he will throw a fit. I was trying to take a nap before work one morning but I hear this blood curdling screaming coming from upstairs, so of course I laid there for a couple of minutes hoping Dustin would do something to make him stop. But no such luck, so I run upstairs to find Trysten covered in water while Dustin is trying to shower with the shower curtain open, ha. Dustin gets out of the shower and says what the heck is wrong with your baby, of course he has to be my baby when he is off his rocker.

Harlowe is 2 1/2 years old now, the time has flown by. I am proud to say she is fully potty trained now and wearing panties to school, yeah! It was a struggle and sometimes I don't think we handled it so well, like putting her in time out for pooping in her diaper. Not one of our finest moments but you have to understand we would ask her if she needed to go and of course she would say no, but the next minute she would be making the poopy face right in front of us. Justified time out, no, but we are trying our best, ha.

We, I mean I have decided she is going to school only three days a week now. But now she is loving school and talks about Omar and Alex all the time. Who are these boys, I don't know but she really likes them. Oh well, I just feel guilty when I am off, I should be watching her. I know get over yourself, that is what Dustin would say but what is a smothering mother to do, ha.

Harlowe loves to sing and dance so I am thinking about putting her in a mommy and me dance class. Oh and since summer is coming up, her first swim lessons of course. It is a lot of activities but I will keep you posted if I follow through or not. My brother's son has done so well with swim lessons so I really want to do that but me in a bathing suit, yikes a ramma. No pics of that will ever be posted, ha.