Working Hard and Playing Hard

Saku and I visited the Reid Park Zoo for the first time last Thursday. My friend Jamie was kind to let us be her guests. I hadn't taken Saku there before because I wasn't sure if he would be old enough to be interested in the animals yet. He still favors a pigeon over everything else, but the otters and the polar bear seemed to be a hit. I didn't get any good pictures of him with the animals in the back ground, but we did get some fun ones with this toy.

After the zoo, we quickly went home and took a nap before we headed over to Alia's house for a pool opening swim date. The water was so warm, which made it much better for all the babies. The moms and the kids enjoyed splashing in the sun.

I was scheduled to work that night, so we had to leave the party little early and get some sleep. I only slept for an hour and I am still paying for it now. I don't like to sleep very much during the day because I don't want to miss too much of Saku's day.

A frequent question nowadays is "how is work going?" I have been on my own for two weeks and it has gone well. Last two nights were very hectic and I wondered why I do this. I had a confused patient who had to be restrained to the bed so he wouldn't take his IV or urinary catheter out. Well somehow he was able to get out of the restraints and he pulled out both of them. When I get to the room, there is blood everywhere....so not fun for me or the patient. The following night, I didn't have to care for this patient, but we didn't have enough staff so we were all running around all night to make sure everything got done. I was really earning my pay check.

I like being a nurse, but I do not love being a medical/surgical adult care nurse, but I am getting great experience and I am blessed to have a job when many other people don't have one. I guess I better just be ready work my butt of for a while:)

Simple Happiness

Today my heart is happy

because

I was able to provide service to a dear friend who has helped me out so much,

I got to hang out with a new friend who made me feel that instant friendship spark,

I get to go and celebrate my dear friend's twins and spend some time with her,

and

most importantly, I got to sing songs and watch Baby Einstein, give kisses, share fake laughs, witness few temper tantrums and much more with a sweet boy of mine.

Today is such a testimony to me that life is all about people. It is not about the riches of this world, but the relationships that enrich our lives.

I hope your Wednesday was a good one and I hope tomorrow will be even better!

Few minutes of being a Paparazzi

On Saturday afternoon, we took the subway from downtown to Brooklyn and fell in love with the neighborhood. The buildings were beautiful, the streets were pedestrian friendly, everything was clean and Saku was happy to walk around. I know we only saw little bit of the city and especially this part of the town, but I could see myself living somewhere like this for few years. I'm sure I would start missing the space that living that we have now, but I loved the city feel; it reminded me of living in Finland, but obviously everything is way bigger in New York and way more people.

The Brooklyn Bridge

Manhattan area and the Brooklyn bridge behind Anna and I

Saku found some fascinating dirt. Wouldn't it be nice to be a kid and so easily satisfied with the little things in life?

We didn't have any toys with us, so Troy would throw a spoon and Saku would run and get it. Yes, we played fetch with our Saku and he loved it. I wonder if people around us thought that we were dysfunctional parents:)

As we chilled on the grass, I started to notice the unusual number of fancy strollers that would pass us by. Troy had borrowed few nice lenses for our camera so I tested out the zoom function and took some pictures of the moms with fancy strollers.

Anna thought that it was strange to be so excited about the strollers, but it was a different experience to see so many of them everywhere. It makes sense though, if you don't use a car in the city, a cheap stroller most likely couldn't handle all the snow that the city gets during the winter months.

I really liked the yellow color on this UppaBaby. I don't think it was a color option when we bought our blue stroller.

Is this totally creepy of me to be so fascinated with the strollers?

p.s there will be multiple posts with pictures of our trip. I think Troy took close to 600 pictures and while I won't torture you with that many, the weekend was way too fabulous not to share.

Seven Falls Revisited

Last Saturday we decided to go and enjoy little outdoor adventure. We headed to the Bear Canyon to hike the Seven Falls. Troy and I did this hike last June five days before Saku was born. I really wanted to get the labor started so we hiked the 7 miles. Obviously, now I am THAT much smarter and I would never want to be in the woods and hiking with the terrible back labor that I experienced.

I embraced my pregnant body while pregnant, but I have to confess that I am not looking forward to being this big or most likely, even bigger with the next pregnancy. Also i have no idea how I was able to do this hike while carrying that big belly with me. It was exhausting enough this time when I am 30+ pounds lighter. Did anyone else feel this way after their first pregnancy/before possible second one?

Anna and I excited to start the hike. She is such a beauty! There will be another entry just for the account of what an amazing helper, sister and friend she has been to me while here(and really always).

Saku loved being up so high and seeing so much. I don't think he stopped pointing at things for the first few hours of the hike.

Thanks to Lars and Amy, Saku had the most convenient way of traveling. Fellow hikers kept commenting "that's the way to do this hike". Troy was exhausted after the hike. While Saku is a light weight for his age, he is still close to 20 pounds.

Our hike took a lot longer since we took breaks to play in the water and dirt.

When we finally got to the water falls, we enjoyed some sandwiches and more playing in the water.

In the background, you can see the falls and the water that has gathered underneath the falls. It seemed like an oasis after few hours of hiking.

On the way back, Saku fell asleep. I was paranoid that this fair skinned dude would get a major sunburn, but he didn't.

Multiple pictures since we thought it was so adorable.

After we were done, we were hot, dirty and thirsty so we headed to Eegee's and enjoyed a lazy late afternoon and evening.

Enjoying "Now"

Too often, I live my life with the "when this happens, life will be better/easier/happier/less busy" attitude. This got me through nursing school, the last few weeks of pregnancy and some of the sleepless nights when Saku wasn't sleeping. It is not that I don't enjoy my life or know that I am extremely blessed; I just tend to plan ahead and think of the future.

I think everyone does this to certain degree and this week I am making a more concentrated effort to enjoy my life today and worry less about tomorrow or think less of the possible "improvements" it might bring.

Yesterday was a beautiful and warm day. Mio is visiting us and he has been soaking in the sun.

Saku hung out in his birthday suit for a while and loved it.

I filled up Saku's baby bathtub with water as a poor man's swimming pool. He wasn't too impressed.He preferred just hanging out naked.

Mio was exhausted after few hours of laying outside.

For FHE, we went to the nearby park. Saku was testing out the slides.

Saku loved the big slide.

We also practiced some pole vaulting.

Mio started looking more and more pink as the day went on.

Troy pondering the meaning of life.

Mio wishing he could wear my glasses every day.

We finished the day by watching Avatar. I wasn't sure if I would like to movie, but I did.

We went to bed in a great mood and my only request for the next day was that Saku wouldn't be covered in poo or vomit when he woke up. And he wasn't!

Now I'm getting off the computer and going to enjoy today.

Ten Months-Tons of teeth, love and giggles

Our little boy is 10 and half months old. He has become such a little person. Few of his friends have already turned one and it just blows my mind that a year ago, there were bunch of women with big bellies(and some with small bellies) waiting for their babies to be born and now we get together and the babies are crawling and walking around.

Saku loves being outside. We took to the local park that has an infant swing and he got a kick out of it. Though he did enjoy playing with the dirt more. Saku loves putting things in his mouth and then spitting out onto your hand when you ask him to do it. He likes to help in the backyard when we pull weeds. He has his own little shovel that he pokes the ground with.

He is consistently sleeping through the night and usually takes good naps. Some mornings he wakes up and plays in the crib for a while before he lets us know that he is ready to hang out with us. This morning was a sad sight as I walked into his room and smelled the vomit before I even turned on the lights. Poor kid had thrown up all over the crib and then slept in it. Yes, I felt like a terrible mother as I scrubbed dried vomit off his face.

He has learned to shake his head when we say "no". He likes to sing when we sing. Still no real words, but we aren't expecting much since he is learning two languages and bilingual kids tend to start talking later. However, I am looking forward to the day when he says "mama".

We tend to see temper tantrums when we say "no" and during diaper changes.

Saku has figured out how to bite. He likes to give big open mouth kisses and today, he seemed to "confuse" kisses and biting and I got few bites on my face. He has six teeth: four on the top and two on the bottom.

He has been exposed to Baby Einstein lately as I have needed time to shower without him in the shower with me. Thanks to YouTube, we can watch Baby Einstein without buying the DVDs.

He is mostly getting bottles nowadays. Every once in a while, I nurse him, but it really is more for a cuddle time than for nutrition. I thought I would be sad when nursing would be over, but I think both of us were ready to move on.

Last week, Camille gave me a sweet present(though she probably didn't think of this way). She emailed me pictures of Saku while he was hanging out with Haley and Trevor. I never worried about Saku while he was with Camille, but these happy pictures of my little man made me happy. No matter what, I always feel little guilty when I am not there with Saku 24/7, so it was such a blessing to see how much he seems to enjoy the company of his friends.

Saku, you make life busier than ever before, but we can't get enough of you. You are such a social, silly baby with a curious personality. You love to give strangers big smiles and they adore your big blue eyes.

Today

Today

I was exhausted after a long, busy and stressful night at work.
I was delighted as Saku greeted me as i got home and he gave me a sweet smile with all six teeth showing.
I felt the spirit bear a testimony of my Heavenly Father's love for me.
I was relieved that a small conflict with a friend was resolved.
I laughed and screamed as Troy chased Saku and me around the house.
I received a much needed shoulder and foot massage.
I cried as i discussed the stress of being a new nurse and my doubts about my abilities.
I was comforted by Troy's support and sweet words.
I survived another day without sugar. Seven days done and 14 to go.
I was grateful to hear my hubby's even bresthing as he snoozes and I cant sleep because it means I was home and hopefully sleeping soon.
I smiled as i thought of the upcoming visits from my brother and sister.
I decided to try to uplift others more and stay away from people and situations that bring me down.
I missed my mother and her advice.
I got to learn more about myself and hopefully change for better.


Today had its ups and downs. More ups and downs and that is what counts.



-- Post From My iPad'