The day so far.

Today is Day #1 of being home with both kids. Luckily, my first week alone with the kids I'm not really alone. My mom is here helping out. Not that I'm letting her help out... I'm so particular about how to clean the house, do laundry, fix food, so forth. My poor mom is being so patient with me. She keeps trying to force me to sit down and rest but I keep finding things to do. If my mom offers to help out I tell her I can do it myself. According to her I've been telling her that since I could talk.

Just because I have a newborn now doesn't mean we can't be ready by 8 anymore.

This is Beck's nighttime food. Its ridiculous how much milk I pump.

Todays Breakfast: Quiche. Thanks to my mom and the Paris Bakery.

So far the day has gone nicely. Beck spends most of his time sleeping, and Riley spends most of her time playing. I've been able to play with Riley while Beck sleeps in my room, and then spend time with Beck during feedings and Riley's naptime. I'm assuming that the easiest time with two kids under 2 has to be when one of them is a newborn. For some reason I remember never getting anything done with Riley when I first brought her home. Now with a newborn, and a toddler I'm finding myself able to get a lot of things done. Maybe not as fast as when it was just Riley but I'm still accomplishing things. I'm pretty sure that when Riley first came home I sat with her on my chest for hours and neglected housework. Telling Leif that I didn't have time to make him dinner because having a new baby was so hard and tiring.

Riley shared her toys with Beck.

Kisses for her little brother.

Showing me that she can get on and off her elephant.

Playing "Where is Riley?"

The one thing that seems to take up a bit of time are the feedings. I feed Beck for about a half hour to an hour then I have to add pumping on top of that. Because Riley was always given a bottle I'm used to feedings being 15 minutes-30 minutes long. I'm learning to adjust to it and so far its been working out fine. Even with Riley running around. Although its just day one, I think I'm capable of being at home with two children. I doubt it will be easy, in fact it will be very trying but I think I'm up for the challenge!

Upset that I woke him to eat.

The Family Room

Our living room happens to also be the tv room, playroom and library... So really its a family room until people come over, then it turns into the living room. I love having everything in one room. Yes, someday I'd like to have separate rooms for our books, our tv, and the millions of toys. But right now, it works so well.

For the majority of the day Riley is in the family room playing and reading. I join her when chores have been done around the house. I never get tired of playing games on the rug with her or eating our lunch together while I read to her. After dinner I love sitting on the couch next to Leif while he plays wii, and Riley is on the rug playing with her toys. I like that because everything is in one room, we're almost forced to be together constantly. I look forward to our evenings together in the family room. I cherish these times and hope that these nights will be around for at least a few more years. I never get tired of Riley sitting between us so we can read to her, or watching Leif and Riley dance together. Even if we're not really interacting, I enjoy that we're together.

I realized today that this room has been a blessing to me. I've spent many days and nights with my husband, daughter and friends in this room. I've had amazing story times, conversations and spur of the moment dance parties with just Leif and I. I am thankful for this part of my house.

Parts of home.

This past weekend four of my good friends came up for a visit. It was wonderful! It felt like I had parts of home with me in Monterey. Their visit came at the right time. I've been longing for home and for the people there. I can't tell you how refreshing it was to sit on my bed and talk for hours with the girls while the boys played video games;). I hadn't had a deep conversation like I did this past weekend in months... I loved it! I didn't want to say goodbye but it was comforting to know that I'll be seeing them all in a month. I wish that when I did come down for Thanksgiving I could just stay there in Southern California. I will have to make do with a week!

Sometimes I wish my adjustment to Monterey would go much quicker. I wish I wouldn't get as homesick as I do. I always thought I was the type of person that could just get up and move anywhere without any problem. I'm learning that I'm not. I am having such a hard time being apart from my family and my friends. I hate too that Riley is growing up so fast and everyone is missing out on it.

I am grateful though for the people we have met, for the friends I've made. I'm grateful for Leif's job. I'm grateful for Skype so we are able to see our families and friends. I'm trying to remember that God brought us here for a reason. Some days its easier to remember while others, like when I really want to drive over and see my mom, its not. God is good though. Always.

Church.

Leif and I are still trying to find a church. We've visited a few, but so far none of them have felt like home. Its not even that the churches haven't been good churches, they have. They just don't seem to fit us, our family and our needs. Instead of focusing on the bad aspects of the church, Leif and I have been trying to point out the good in each church. I've learned that too many times I am quick to judge a church and its people, always finding the negative. No church is perfect, there are always things to work on. Just because it doesn't work for you, doesn't mean it doesn't work for another person.

I have been enjoying the visits to the churches. I love watching everyone worship Jesus. That's the one thing that's been the same in every church we've gone to. The love and reverence for God. The passion and desire to know Him more. Its beautiful really... Its a reminder of how heaven will be. Glorious.

I've been praying about church and my need to be part of one. God is constantly reminding me that He has a 'home' for us. He will lead us there. I'm just so impatient and I want to be lead there right now! I want Riley to grow up in church with a church family. I think its so important for our family and our relationship with Jesus and each other. I've almost come to the point where I want to give up the search, but my need for more of Him and guidance through the Word, has made me want to keep trying. I know that God has a place for us. We just need to allow Him to take us there.

Our Trip down South.

We took a little trip down to LA this past weekend for a family members wedding. It was a lot of fun. I always enjoy spending time with Leif's family and extended family. Before we made the trip down south, Leif's parents and sisters got to stay with us a few days. I was happy that Riley got to spend sometime with her grandparents and aunts that she doesn't get to see that often. I was also happy to be able to spend time with my in-laws.

We stayed with my family when we were in LA. That's always enjoyable. My mom watched Riley a couple of times when Leif and I hung out with my sister. I didn't get to visit my brother which I'm bummed about:( But hopefully in a few weeks he'll be making the trip up here! Leif and I got to visit our old church and spend sometime with friends from there. When we walked into the church someone came up to us and said "Welcome home". It really felt like we were coming back home. Its hard to know we won't be visiting the church for a few months. I wanted to tell everyone "See you next Sunday". Thankfully we have facebook and I can keep in touch.

The wedding was beautiful and I wish I had taken pictures. I spent a lot of time socializing, so taking pictures didn't really happen... During the whole trip. I do know that other people were taking pictures so maybe we'll get some? I didn't grow up around a lot of family so I love spending time with all of Leifs Aunts, Uncles, Grandmothers and cousins. I'm happy to have married into a big family and I love that Riley gets to experience that.


On another note: Isn't Riley getting big? I keep looking at her, trying to remember when she got taller and lost some of her baby rolls. Her two top teeth have come down and we think we can see another tooth on the side. Feeding Riley has gotten a lot easier since I can (for the most part) give her whatever food I'm eating. She still takes the bottle, but I'm giving her a sippy cup here and there. Her new favorite things to do are wave and clap. She's been cruising the furniture and lately has been standing without holding on to anything. Recently she developed a bit of separation anxiety, from Leif. Its cute and in the beginning I was a little jealous, but I realized she knows that I'm always there, no matter what. Leif on the other hand, isn't.


Oh and a few prayer requests please: Leif and I are in the process of considering buying a house up here, since we plan on staying three or more years. We need God's guidance and wisdom. I have a few photography gigs coming up and I just would like those to go smoothly:) And last but not least prayer that this pregnancy goes well! Thank you!

::I'm sorry I've been lacking in posts and pictures. Ive been trying to keep my computer use to a mininum and the time I am on the computer is catching up with friends via iChat or facebook chat, and/or skyping. I've been really bad about editing photos, returning messages and comments!::

Backyard.

Riley and I have begun to explore our backyard. We have yet to mow the lawn in the back so the grass is pretty high. I like to place Riley amongst the grass and watch her crawl around. She enjoys pulling the grass, eating it and rolling around in it. When it tickles her face she laughs. I love it. It makes for a fun time for both of us. Summer is good.



&Hopefully soon I will have a garden to blog about:)

100th Post

This is our 100th post. Very cool:) Its also the day that marks two weeks in Monterey. It feels like we've been here longer. Maybe a year or two? We've settled in a lot better than I thought we would and we're adjusting to life here really well. I think its because it suits us perfectly. Its a combination of the places that Leif and I both grew up. Him, in Oregon, surrounded by trees and I in Southern California, never far from the ocean.

We went down to the beach tonight. And while we were running in and out of the cold waves, I just felt at peace. I felt like we were exactly where we are suppose to be. I felt like we were home. Then I thought, maybe we could live here for awhile, not just a year or two, but raise Riley here. On our quick drive home, Leif brought up staying here and raising Riley and I told him I felt the same way. I love moments like that:)!

I also love when I have my own life plans and God comes in and changes them completely. It makes for never a dull moment. We're so grateful to have been brought here and excited for what God has in store.