Hi all!! - anyone still here?

Sorry I have been MIA but you can find me more regularly on my photography blog.

I am still getting the hang of being home with my kiddos and trying to run a full fledged photography business.

So if you are curious as to what I have been up to, at least photography wise, then come on over here and take a look.

If you are in the SF Bay area and are interested in a photography session or want to chat about photography, then please drop me a line here.

In the meantime here is a little bit of Jax:

We finally went to the annual Messy Art Day at ECPC - El Cerrito Pre-school Cooperative. It took awhile for both kiddos to get into the day. There was a huge amount of kids and parents and activities. I'm sure they experienced some sensory overload and was probably quite overwhelmed at first but then, they really got into it - right about the time we needed to leave so we didn't have a level 10 meltdown.

By the way, Raima picked out those shoes. They are slightly too big and used to be Jax's but he never actually wore them. I tried to take them off and put on her actual sneakers she always wears and she adamantly refused and really threw her back into the demands of those oxfords, if you know what I mean. Kid's not even two yet and she's already making outfit choices!

How was your weekend? I'm sure I will have the Monday blues, and things are really picking up at my desk job (though not much has really changed, if you know what I mean) and picking up in my photography business too (yipee!).

PS. Our kids don't actually go to ECPC, but if we could afford it, had the time (its a co-op) and lived in the area, it would be a great choice for us.

Here are some photos that Jax took on our old point & shoot camera. Jax went and ice skated for the first time the other day with our friend and neighbor PK. Apparently, Jax was a hit with the tween girls there..uh-oh.

So, we gave Jax our old point & shoot - and let me tell ya, that kid is having a blast. I wonder where he gets it from? I'll post some of his photos when I get a chance!

"A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Jax still loves trains, which surprises me. For Christmas, Jax got a new train set from his cousin, who has many perks working at a toy store. You know, like working on "black friday"-fun! She has lots of stories about those times. Anyway, for a few days since we got back from our Christmas vacation, we actually didn't let Jax open this present because he was having a difficult time adjusting back to our normal routines and we didn't want to reward that sort of behavior. Recently, he's made some improvements - vast to him, I'm sure, while to us - well - we foolishly expect more, but hey, he's 3!

Since it's the start of the new year, it's only natural to be reflecting on what one has gone through and achieved in the past year. People come up with new year's resolutions and new projects. I'm not one for  announcing my full resolutions, cause I feel like there is more pressure that way! but there are those who are much braver than I, like the following mamas:

So there you have it, one more project to add to my list ;) but this should be an okay one to handle since I share photos with you all already and they always happen to be of my family! What about you guys? Wanna join & link up? Go here.



Happy Sunday!

Hi everyone!! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday and enjoyed your lovely families as much as I did.

I'm slowly getting back to blogging and the mess that is our house. Sigh. I wanted to do so much today. Clean the house, clean up the blog (still in progress, so excuse the design mess), get to some crafts, get to some people on my wait list for their blog re-design, get to some emails, etc. Of course, this was all relying on the kiddos taking a nap and well...that didn't happen. Jax refused to nap. Sure, he'd lay down and then get up again and ask questions and go through his stall tactics. It was pushing close to two hours now and I figured, the nap is now a figment of my imagination. I resorted to the "quiet time" - letting him stay in his room, lights out, and just be quiet (HA!)...that's him in the photos NOT doing as I say and trying to break free...

Are we at that point now that he no longer needs his (only) nap? Oh please god, no! I'm not ready for it! I don't wanna..noooooo...

What age did your toddler stop taking his only nap? How did you cope? How did your toddler do without this, in my opinion, still a much needed nap?

I had a little moment yesterday with Jax. It was one of the first times I've ever been completely frustrated with (my expectations of) Jax. Where I said a few things I wish I could take back. Nothing serious, just useless junk I never wanted to say to my kid. Like, after a few minutes of chasing him around my car and begging him to get into his car seat and then quickly having to remove him from his car seat because he hit me so hard that my glasses flew off and hit the pavement. Then him proceeding to run down the sidewalk/driveways and me fearing the worst (cars not seeing him, him just ...), I finally catch up to him and just scoop him up tightly and almost forcibly put him in his car seat. He cries (more like whines) of course, but I am able to buckle him in. During this whole episode, I'm trying to remain calm and talk to him gently and suggest things and try to redirect but nothing seemed to be working. I finally get in the car to start driving and I told him, I needed some space and that I didn't feel like talking to him. Which is when he said there was a bug inside the car, on his window. And to which I said, good so that bug can proceed to bite him and eat him. He then said it was gone. Which I then replied, well maybe it will come back tonight when you are sleeping. Sure, it's funny now..but not really. Especially considering after we did have a moment of silence, he then proceeded to apologize and said - Mommy, I love you. I'm not going to run around the car at Annie's (his daycare) anymore and I promise not to hit you. Are you sad? I'm sorry, mommy. I love you. And so, I reached behind my seat to grab his hand and we held it for awhile. Which is why I felt (and still feel) terrible. Just terrible. When we got to Raima's daycare, I gave him a great big hug and he asked to be carried into the house.

I definitely think it's time for a one on one toddler date. Perhaps this Friday.

What about you? Have you ever gotten to that point? I'm sure I've gotten almost there before but I've never been so frustrated that I've said mean things, even if those mean things were silly (to us adults) but to a 3 year old, it's just plain mean.

Thursday nights we usually spend with this lovely family. It's actually been awhile since we've had our usual Thursday nights with them because they've been busy with out of town guests and we were also pretty busy ourselves..

I started to tell Jax a week ahead of our regular Thursday night visits (and the day of the visit), that when we go to other people's houses, especially if they are our best friend, that we are gentle and respectful of them and their toys. That since we are going to Eve's house, and they are Eve's toys. if there is a toy that you are playing with and Eve says she would like it, to go ahead and give it to her and find something else. I try to remind him that we are there to be with friends and we don't treat our friends with pushing or shoving or have them feel sad.  It doesn't always work, but I do think that it has helped some.

Last Thursday, was the first night I had noticed how different they are playing together in comparison to before. There is now much more role playing involved, like playing dentist or doctor and more time spent talking to each other and coming up with "rules" and conversations like this: "it's like this, right?" "you do it like this? Right?" kind of stuff. Previously, maybe even just a month ago or so, there was more playing (and fighting) over toys and items. We would have to constantly interrupt, redirect, then go back to our adult conversations and of course prepping for dinner and then redirection begins all over again and often.

I am hearing (ok, reading on other blogs) that it wasn't the terrible twos but in fact it is the terrible threes to be aware of - so far, I'm hopeful. Sure, sometimes Jax can test my limits and abilities but with them is a new lesson for patience and of a better understanding to toddler behavior, even if it's something I have to do over and over and over again.

This past Saturday we were invited to one of Jax and Eve's friends' birthday party and honestly - it was one of the best parties I've been to in awhile, this is including adult parties! All the kids played well with only one minor meltdown (over a blanket but it was the birthday girl so..she had every right to cry at her party, right?) and there were adults and adult conversation (and adult beverages!). It was really a great time for all:


How about you? Have you noticed any differences in your toddlers with how they go about things from one age to the next? How they have changed, improved and grown? It is a little bittersweet since, they aren't babies anymore and yet I still can't help to scoop my little toddler up and squeeze him (ever so gently of course) and hug him, and kiss him and love him..I'ma call him George ;)

Ok, so technically this isn't a review (yet) since I just received this opportunity to get a free 6 month subscription to Speekee Spanish for Children and haven't tested it out yet (but I will in future posts). Now, if you've been keeping up with us (and thank you so much if you have!) you'll know that we are raising our kids bilingual in Spanish & English. So when this opportunity popped up - I just had to take it. But I didn't want to just tell you about something that I wasn't aware of (this was the first time I had heard of the program) nor did I want to just copy and paste their ad copy (which is below, with a few of my additions).

Overview:

Speekee Spanish for Children is the world's number one Spanish program for young children. Speekee TV Spanish for Kids was designed so that children can learn Spanish in their own time and at their own pace. Easy Spanish learning through video, without effort with the multi award-winning Speekee videos PLUS real-time 'virtual' friendships with the Speekee characters. Available only via the web, Speekee TV Spanish for Kids is loved by children and their parents around the world. I've read that it is also very popular amongst homeschoolers. From this opportunity, Speekee is giving my readers a one free month subscription of Speekee TV - Spanish For Kids Program - through this exclusive link. You can cancel anytime.

Speekee is designed for young children ages 2-10. The cost is $7.50/month, or $60/year.Speekee TV includes 10 episodes which are centered around a central theme like: "El Parque" (The Park), "El Cafe" (The Cafe) and "La Casa" (The House) just to name a few.




Reviews:

I have found a few reviews of the program by other mom bloggers and they are all pretty positive. You can check these reviews here: 1, 2, 3, 4 - these are recent reviews by the way and yes, while these reviewers did receive the product for free, they are still giving their honest opinion.

I can't wait to try it out. Although, to be honest, we try to refrain from TV or internet watching  at our house as much as we can, because we've found that Jax can get a little uppity and tends to need a lot more redirection than if he doesn't watch any TV. But we do give in, on occasion, which is why we know he gets real uppity. Who knows maybe I'll become fluent in Spanish?! HA! I'll let Charlie be the real judge of this program and give you both our take on it.

Disclosure:  I will receive a free subscription  for sharing this information with you. No other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own. For more information on reviews, or paid advertisements visit my disclosure policy .

What can I say? Jax these days is definitely a handful but for good reason. He's really coming into his own and asserting his independence but then sometimes he doesn't and wants to be treated like his little sister - taken care of like a baby. He wants you to help him with everything, as if he's forgotten how to do it all by himself. And it was just 10 minutes ago that he was arguing with you that he can, in fact, do it all by himself. Ahh, three year olds. At least that's how my three year old is.

Before this age, whenever he would tell you something and you couldn't quite understand him, you could always get away with feigning some sort of understanding by saying oh, ok or really? I usually ask him a few more times, and if that doesn't clear up my understanding, I then ask him to say it in Spanish and then if that fails, will just resort to the - oh?! yeah?! but now, not so much. He actually gets really upset and will tell you, NO, don't say OH! and he will continue to ask you the question or repeat what he is trying to convey until you get it, or he's distracted enough to move onto something else (which is usually the case sometimes.)

I also love how he pieces his sentences together, even though I know it's incorrect grammar (probably my fault. Oh no, wait - he's three.) and Charlie will try and correct him, but hello? he's three! I love how he asks and screams - where you are? Whenever he is looking for anyone. Like, Daddy? Where you are? Sometimes though he does say it right, I guess it just depends on the situation. But maybe it's different in a three year old's perspective..

And people, please - GO VOTE!