SCRAPBOOKING

Before Ellie was born, we bought a scrapbook so we could collect Ellie’s milestones in one place. Pictures of her first birthday, Doctor visit measurements, her first drawings, and ultra-sound pics. You know, that sort of stuff. The only problem is that Ellie is now almost two and a half and the book is empty. So before she turned 18, I wanted to get caught up. And with it being Mother’s Day, I thought making a scrapbook of Ellie’s first two years would make a perfect gift for Aya.

Continue reading

Posted in Family, Holidays, My Adventures | Leave a comment

THE BUNNEE BUMP: WEEK 21

Dear Bunnee,

You are making your presence known more and more each day, and are the length of a carrot now!  Every time mama eats a big meal, I don’t think you like how all the food crowds your space inside mama’s belly and you’ve been pushing it all up into my ribcage.  Occasionally, mama would push myself a little too hard and feel really tired afterwards.  You remind me that growing you is hard work, and we have to work together and pace ourselves.  We’ve been a pretty good team so far.

xoxo Mama

Continue reading

Posted in Bunnee Bump, Pregnancy | 1 Comment

THE BUNNEE BUMP: WEEK 20

Dear Bunnee,

Can you believe it?  We’re already half way through our journey until we get to meet each other!  We’ve worked pretty well together so far and I’m so proud of how you’ve been doing such a good job growing inside mama.  Papa and I got to hear your strong heartbeat at our birth center appointment and also got to hear you kick.  A lot.  Our midwife said that you were “pretty active.”  You’ve already surprised me with some pretty good kicks too.  Mama’s been showing you off more and more these days, and I like to rub my belly a lot to say “hello” to you.  I love growing you inside me.  I hope you like it too.

xoxo Mama

Continue reading

Posted in Bunnee Bump, Pregnancy | Leave a comment

PREGNANCY DREAMS: THE GUARDIAN ANGEL

I’ve read that women have crazy dreams during pregnancy. They are experiencing so many hormonal changes, mixed emotions, fear, all kinds of things, so it makes sense that women would dream crazy things. This didn’t really happen to Aya when she was pregnant with Ellie. Me on the other hand, I had all kinds of weird things in my dreams. I read that it’s normal for expecting fathers to have dreams too. But I also read that they usually tend to be more intense sexual dreams (I guess that really is all guys think about). However, this was not the case for me. My dreams were anything but.

Continue reading

Posted in Pregnancy, Sleep | 1 Comment

BABY IN A BOX

It started out as pretending to sleep. But it soon turned into a real nap. She slept for an hour and a half curled up in her “house.” When she woke up, she busted open her door, walked through the dining room into the kitchen with some major bed head and went straight to the fridge and said “Juice, juice.”

Posted in Kokomi's Korner | 1 Comment

MEGGAN, STEP UP TO THE MIC

Meggan and I both majored in Interior Design in college, both worked our first internship at the same place, stayed in contact as we entered the professional world, and now, we are both stay at home moms. I mean parents. We are both stay at home parents. Well, Meggan is here to share the story of her son’s name and why they chose it. Some people choose names because of how they sound, or from a family name, and some pick them because they have a lot of meaning to them.

RIVERO JAMES: A NAME STORY

When my husband Jim and I were in Paris a couple of years ago we met two people who would change our lives forever.  D. Rivero and Inma.  We had no idea that a few short hours of talking to those two amazing people would result in such a shift in our thinking.

Continue reading

Posted in Open Mic | 2 Comments

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Aya and I recently went public about us expecting our second child. And by public, of course I mean, Facebook public. The Facebook announcement always makes everything really “official,” right? We did announce the good news to some of our friends and family before that though. And let me tell you, when it comes to hearing pregnancy announcements, men and women react totally different.

Continue reading

Posted in The Domestic Specialist | Leave a comment

THE BUNNEE BUMP: WEEK 19

Dear Bunnee,

I had a mommy & me date with your sister one day and had such a great time!  I thought to myself “Today was an awesome day being a mom.”  At that exact moment, I felt you flutter inside me.  It was a special moment that only you and I shared, and I never felt more excited to become your mama.  You’ve been saying hello to me a lot since then.  You’ve also been making mama’s hips hurt a lot this week too!  It’s okay though, I think it’s a sign that you’re making yourself more and more comfortable in mama’s belly.  Stretch out, and dance away little Bunnee!

xoxo , Mama

Continue reading

Posted in Bunnee Bump | 2 Comments

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Continue reading

Posted in Kokomi's Korner | 3 Comments

OPENING DAY

It came a little earlier than last year, but it came. It came just the same. I cut the lawn for the first time of the 2012 cutting season this past Sunday. The weather was a little brisk and breezy, but the sun was shining paving the way for this grand event. The first cut of the season is like my Opening Day. I really do like cutting the grass and was looking forward to this day once my lawn started looking a little shaggy. But this year, it was a bittersweet experience.

Continue reading

Posted in Friends, Inner Monologue | 5 Comments

THE BUNNEE BUMP: WEEK 18

Dear Bunnee,

The dress I wore comfortably two weeks ago is feeling tight now, which is a good sign that you’re thriving and growing.  I find myself touching my belly a lot these days, and I think your sister is starting to notice mama’s growing belly.  She lifted both of our shirts up and started rubbing our bellies together.  I laughed so hard, I’m sure you felt mama jiggle.  When I sit down or lean forward, that’s when I feel your presence the most because I feel like I’m starting to squish you.  When I’m playing with your sister or cuddling with her, I almost feel like you’re there with us too.  My heart feels closest to you and your sister in those moments, and I can’t wait for the three of us girls to have fun together.

xoxo Mama

Continue reading

Posted in Bunnee Bump | 4 Comments