a random bit of pics and posting

Alicia had a major allergic reaction to a new sunscreen, so if you think that her face looks swollen...it probably is. This photo is from today and after two doses of steroids. She was enjoying her first experience with easter eggs.

She took the decorating very seriously.

Sorry for the wait...here are a few pictures from a long time ago.

This is from Grandma Linda's visit...back in early February. Here she is with both my girls!!

Alicia loves Sophia and takes her responsibilities as a big sister very seriously. If I seem unresponsive to Sophia's cry, Alicia responds immediately with "Phia crying!" Throughout the day she tracks Sophia's other actions with comments like...Phia looking round, Phia eating, Phia waking up, Phia awake little bit one eye open. Grandma Linda went to the zoo with Alicia and I, and bought us annual passes which we have already been used several times!! Thanks Grandma

I think that this was Sophia's first big night out on the town.

This is a picture from Alicia's first dentist appointment. First she watched mommy and daddy getting their teeth cleaned, then she sat on my lap for her cleaning. I told her that they were going to tickle her teeth. She seemed very interested in the whole event and didn't show any sign of fear. They gave her a pink balloon, obviously and a bracelet...and a goodie bag with a cinderella toothbrush!! She actually seemed to enjoy the whole event.

Surviving with two little ladies...

Sorry for not posting, we are doing great here, but things have been a little crazy!! The first couple of weeks post baby arrival I consider to be a free pass for not keeping up, but since then we had two weeks of company straight which included: a trip to the San Diego Zoo, Wild Animal Park, Disneyland, Long Beach Aquarium, and let's not forget...Alicia's first dentist appointment. Alex has also been incredibly busy at work, but we can't complain...we are thankful every day for the job that he has and try not to take it for granted. Oh yeah, all of that was also followed by a week of bronchitis by me. Now we are all feeling great...could use a little more sleep, but over all doing well.
Alicia...she had a pretty hard time with me going to the hospital and for about a month after was a little paranoid every time I was away from her(and by that I mean in a different room!). She is now relaxing and we have focused on the fact that every time mommy leaves...she comes back! We are focusing a little more on her discipline these days, and I'm trying to grin and bear it through the "terrible twos". I ride the entire pendulum every day between complete and utter frustration when it seems that she just can't hear my voice, to happiness as she discovers new words and ideas and back again. She loves to be outside and play in her sandbox, she loves to play dress up, she loves to ride her car around the house and chase Manny...and in turn to be chased by Manny, she is little miss independent and is finally rediscovering her interest in using the potty!!
Sophia...has given me a bit of a hard time. She slept in bed with me for the first six weeks of her life, waking up every time I put her in a different bed. She is finally sleeping in her own bed and in her own room. She has had a lot of gas pains that make her uncomfortable, but aside from that she is a little angel in her waking moments. She is very calm natured and loves to just be held and look at us. This is a huge change from her sister at the same age. I never knew that two infants could be so different. Her volume isn't that high, but her noises are constant. Even in her sleep it is constant grunts and sighs for her. She seems very healthy and is gaining a lot of weight and really filling out. She has a lot of wild hair and a beautiful little face. But beware that her gas can rival that of any man I know, both in smell and volume!!
Manny...we still don't know what he is, but we are starting to lean more towards goat or horse. Our sweet little puppy has turned into a large oaf that eats just about anything he can find that isn't supposed to be eaten. Not so much furniture and stuff, but more just random items off the sidewalk, like nuts and bolts, rocks, tennis balls, ear plugs, napkins, baby wipes, I usually don't know it's been eaten until I see it coming out. He is also huge for five months and we think that he probably has some mastiff in him. He really does sound like a horse clomping around the house. Alicia loves to crawl, sit, climb, and lay all over him...and he really handles it all very well.
Katsumoto...our cat has become a bit of an escape artist and stalks the doorways in an attempt to make his escape, but now he shows up just a few hours later. He is the only family member that somehow ends up sleeping between Alex and I, and he sneaks under the covers of an unmade bed if we aren't around. He is quite the lover, and very attached to Alex.
That's it for a quick update on our lives. I'll try to add photos very soon, and more details on our time with my mom, and Charlie, Lindsey, Hannah, Megan, baby Kate, Uncle Wes, JP, Jennifer, my Dad and Peggy!!