1 Plus 1 Makes 4

Festival of Lights

2011-12-29T23:47:00.002-05:00

My "Junior Missionary"

There were Christmas trees everywhere and there's nativity sets on them too!

I love this picture!

There were over 50 nativity sets from all over the world! It was so interesting to see every ones own interpretation of the birth of Christ. They are all portraying the same scene, but in different ways.

Washington D.C. Temple 34th annual Festival of Lights

National Museum of the Marine Corps

2011-12-27T22:57:00.001-05:00

Lincoln the Marine Corp Pilot!

Everything looked so realistic

So that's where the name comes from

Lincoln loves doing PT (Physical Training)

He was laughing so hard

He didn't want to let go!

This is their rank structure.
On the left are the officer's ranks and insignias and on the right are the enlisted.

Lincoln had a blast looking at everything

This was a replica of the field maps that were used

There was a reenactment of the war in a theater that looked and felt as if you were in the field

There are even casualties right by the screen

There was audio with this exhibit as if he was typing out loud with the realistic panic and urgency in his voice.

It was like a still frame of what was going on in war

Gas mask

Lincoln was listening to the commands through the phone

This is art work that was made by children for the Marines

Lincoln wanted to contribute

This was the actual flag that was raised on Iwo Jima!

This was a visual representation of all the military deaths on Iwo Jima.
5,931 Marines
209 Navy
1 Coast Guard
800 other military casualties

actual pictures

a kiss for daddy!

Somebody is getting tired from all the running around

These are all actual pieces from the attack on 9/11

and there's my kid, just hanging out in the center of the museum floor!

a representation of American resolve and indignation following 9/11

the cutest old school Marine

My cute little Ella asleep after a long day of admiring our Marines

American pride!

this was made out of all Legos!

Chris said that this id the Navy's most successful ad campaign!

"hewo...?"

Hoorah!

Dreaming of a White Christmas

2011-12-26T10:42:00.001-05:00

This was as white as our Christmas got!

...and that's all it was, just dreaming of a white Christmas. You'd think with living in Virginia that we'd have snow out here by now, but unfortunately we didn't get it for Christmas. It is, however feeling super cold! It's kind of like a stinging cold, the kind of cold that reaches your bones. Being the California girl I am, I'm still walking around in flip flops or flats and wearing thin sweaters. At least it's always warm inside everywhere we go, but I still think this calls for a new wardrobe!

Good morning!

     This Christmas was a fun one, it was definitely different, but fun non the less. In a way it didn't feel much like Christmas because we weren't surrounded by our family like we usually are. It did feel a bit lonely at times but at the same time it was a very intimate Christmas spent with the loves of my life; Chris, Lincoln, and Ella. As long as we're together I couldn't be happier. We had a special night together on Christmas Eve. We read about our Savior, told stories, had dinner together and just enjoyed being with one another. Once the kids we're in bed, Chris and I snuggled on the couch watching a movie and drinking hot cocoa. It was such a relaxing, peaceful night.
     Christmas morning we got up and took Lincoln down stairs to open his gifts! It was so fun watching him open them up. When I told him to grab a present under the tree, he went over and picked off an ornament instead! When he finally got the hang of opening gifts it was the cutest thing. He would start unwrapping a present and once he saw what was inside he'd gasp and say "Ohh.." every now and then he would let out one of his crazy, excited laughs. It was so fun to watch. Our cute little Ella Bella got some pretty dolls from her Great-Grandma Hill. She loved them, there's drool all over them to prove it! She was so sweet the whole time, she was just calmly sitting in her Bumbo seat while her brother was running around in his hyper active mode. Lincoln would bring a toy over to Ella and play with her, or try to put it in her mouth! We played around for a while but it was a very stimulating morning for our little ones, so it was time for a nap before we left for church.
     We had a very beautiful Sacrament meeting that day at church. We got to hear some lovely musical numbers from our ward choir and from the children in primary. After church we went over to Kristin and Carlos' house for dinner (Kristin is Chris' cousin). It was so nice of them to have us over, along with their close friends "Mimi and Poppy" who she says adopted them. It felt like a piece of home again just being around such kind, happy people. Both families gave Lincoln and Ella a Christmas gift which I thought was just the sweetest thing! Lincoln had such a fun time playing with there little girls and not to mention the food was amazing! (I'm craving some more right now!) After spending some time with them, we rushed home to Skype with Chris' family before we put the kids to bed. It was great getting to talk to his family and seeing them again but it sure did make me feel home sick. Later that night I received a video message from my family wishing us a Merry Christmas, and that made me even more home sick.

My Poor Little Ella

2011-12-21T22:33:00.001-05:00

Poor little Ella has had a pretty hard week. On Wednesday November 30th, I notice Ella was really hot. I knew she must be running a really high fever but I didn't have a thermometer. I decided to take Chris to work that day so that I could have the car in case I needed to take her to the doctors. So at 6 am we loaded the kids into the car and took Chris to work. Thankfully there is a 24 hour CVS pharmacy right by our house so I stopped by to pick up a thermometer and infant Tylenol. I checked her temperature and it was 102.4, I knew that wasn't good. I called the doctor as soon as they opened and they scheduled to see her at 2 pm. So here I am with 2 little ones at our first visit to the doctors out here in Virginia. Ella is so tired and crying, Lincoln is screaming, then crying, then throwing himself on the ground, and I just can't wait for the doctor to come in and send us back on our way. Doc comes in and checks out Ella and since the only symptoms she is showing is a fever, the doctor wants to do a blood test (which I don't mind. I'd rather be overly cautious than sorry). The nurse comes in and pricks Ella's finger. She had trouble getting much blood so she tries again. By this point Ella is crying so hard and on top of that she is so tired and hungry. They test the blood but think there was an error so they come back for more blood. This time it was a heel prick. Results are the same and it turns out her white blood cells are more than double what it should be. Something about normal is around 15 and hers are around 38. Meaning there is some type of infection her little body is trying to fight off and now we just need to find the source of the problem. The doctor was very concerned and told me to drive straight to the ER and that she already called them to be expecting us. I feel so overwhelmed with two screaming kids, I have no way of contacting Chris, I have no idea where I'm going, and I hope my baby is okay!

I made a few wrong turns but I finally made it to the hospital and they see Ella immediately. There are four nurses and a doctor surrounding her and a stream of questions being asked to me. They check her temperature (still 102). They insert a catheter to collect a urine sample to check for a UTI. They do a nasal swab to check for the flu. Then chest x-rays are done to rule out any infections there might be in there. Then they scare me with wanting to do a spinal tap to check for any other infections. Before they do that they want to take more blood to test that out also. My little 12 pound baby has already had it hard when they start searching for blood. The nurses prick the top of both her little feet and ankles, both her arms in four places and still can't get a vein. They were able to get an IV into the top of her hand but no still no blood (I don't know how that works). Poor Ella is crying so hard, it looks like her eyes are going to bulge out! And Lincoln is still strapped in the stroller screaming and crying. I stand back and let the nurses do there thing while I try to entertain Lincoln. Once the IV is in they let me hold her and she goes right to sleep. She's been so tired from the beginning. Now Chris is out of work and I was finally able to get a hold of him and one of his buddies gave him a ride to the hospital. While Chris and Lincoln go for a walk and get some food, the ER doctor comes in and is talking to me about transferring Ella to a children's hospital about an hour away to spend the night. They still need to do blood work so a nurse comes in and tries to draw blood from the IV again and nothing. Another nurse comes in and pricks her other heel to squeeze blood out, all while I'm holding my little baby looking into her sad eyes. It broke my heart. After about 4 hours, the doctor comes in and says they found bacteria in her urine, I shout "that's a good thing!" Yes, because now they won't to a spinal tap and the can treat the problem. No because this could lead to permanent scaring of her kidneys. He sends us home for the night and tells me to return to Ella's pediatrician in the morning.

Another early morning driving Chris to work. 11 am I take Ella to her doctor and they want to give her an injection of the antibiotic. Her thighs aren't "meaty" enough so they decide to divide it into two injections, one on each leg. Once that's done, we have to wait around for another 20 minutes just to make sure she doesn't have an allergic reaction. (I have Lincoln with me and he's throwing a fit while Ella's crying). We get sent home with a prescription and order to get an ultrasound of her bladder. I get a call later that night from a nurse telling me that they also found bacteria in her blood. That does not sound good! I have to take her back to the Hospital to draw more blood. It's Friday night around 7 pm so I pick Chris up, drop him and Lincoln back off at home then drive Ella straight to the hospital. The whole way I'm praying that they find a vein on the first try so that she doesn't have to suffer too much. My sweet little girl, she's always so calm and happy in my arms. I lay her down on the table and she locks into my eyes. I can tell she knows what's coming. Two nurses come in and and the call for back up just in case they can't find a vein. First try and they found a vein! I pick her up right away and she falls asleep immediately. Time to go home and get some rest. On the way home I pick up the prescription and it's the wrong one. The pharmacists insists it's right so I just take it and leave. The next morning I call the doctor about the prescription, and sure enough they gave me the wrong medication. Good thing I didn't give it to her. I go back to the pharmacy and pick up the right one. Later that night I got a call from the ER doctor and he wants me to use a different prescription, so now I'm off to pick that one up and it's a week of meds for her.

On December 15th Lincoln and Ella both have their well baby visit. They took another urine sample and everything seems much better with her but she still needs to keep her ultrasound and VCUG appointment. Monday the 19th we head off to the Stafford Hospital early in the morning. I'm told it will be a four hour visit so I came fully prepared with lots of snacks and toys for Lincoln. First, an ultrasound of her bladder and kidneys. Then under the x-ray machine for the VCUG. The procedure consists of inserting a catheter up into her bladder and they slowly dispense a fluid into her bladder that can easily be seen by the x-ray machine. Once her bladder is full, the doctor watches to see what happens when she urinates. It was as they suspected, When she pees some of the urine goes back up exposing her to urinary infections and she could possibly need surgery to fix that. Ella's pediatrician wants to see her again the next day to take another urine sample (via catheter) and explain things to me in person. She said it rated in a scale from 1 to 5, 5 being the worst and definitely needing surgery. Ella's case is so mild, they rated it at a 1 (phew!) and said in most cases like this it will resolve on it's own but she might have to be on medication in the mean time. So next month we will be seeing a Urologist who will look farther into into her ultrasound and x-ray pictures and tell us where to go from there.

My little Ella has been such a trooper through this whole thing. She is still full of smiles. I'm so thankful that everything is turning out to be just fine and I constantly pray that she will continue to grow strong and healthy!

A Trip to the Capital

2011-11-26T21:21:00.001-05:00

We drove out to DC on Friday the day after Thanksgiving. It was such a perfect day! Except for the fact that it was the day after thanksgiving and it was overflowing with more people than usual! There was a lot of walking involved, but it was so much fun seeing eveything. We live so close to DC that we'll just have to make another trip out there. I won't write too much since I posted a bunch of pictures, so I'll let the pictures tell the story! Enjoy!

The kiddos are bundled up, snacking, and smiling... we're ready to go!

Of course we needed some munchies of our own.

and it sure was yummy!

There are so many beautiful buildings in DC. This one is made of all brick!

My cuties enjoying the day!

I'm touching the Washington Monument!

It is so huge! Look at the very, very bottom...

...it's Chris and Lincoln!

It was hard keeping up with this little guy!

Always curious to touch (and taste) everything!

On our way to the botanical garden.

This was inside the green house. There were so many beautiful plants and a huge Christmas tree too!

There was even a pond in there.

We can see the Capital Building through the garden!

It was so cool to see it in person.

Aren't the skies gorgeous!? My boys are too!

Where there's water...

...there's Lincoln!

Hoorah!

That's my Marine!

World War II Memorial

With my babies. They're starting to get tired.

This was such a neat monument. There were quotes engraved all over the walls and there was a statue for each state.

Huge eagles

I had to find California's!

My heart will always be in Cali

We bumped into Captain Plascencia on our way to the Lincoln Memorial

He is the one that swore Chris in as a Second Lieutenant

That's the building that holds President Lincoln's statue

But first, Lincoln has to play with the chain rails

We climbed all those steps!

At the top with my pretty little girl.

We had to have a picture of our little Lincoln with Abraham Lincoln!

Super crowded

but we still managed to get a good family picture

President Abraham Lincoln

The Gettysburg Address

There's a giant penny!

Look at all these Lincolns!

But my Lincoln had had enough and he was ready for his nap.

On our way back we found a squierl that was just chillin' on the fence!

The Korean War Memorial

Lots and lots of walking

It was a fun filled day. Our babies are ready for bed and so am I!

Thanksgiving 2700 Miles Away!

2011-11-26T18:56:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving 2011

I always wondered why restaurants were opened on Thanksgiving, then I realized it was for people like us... We had been living on the East Coast, far from family and friends, for less than a month. With no plans for Thanksgiving, we thought it would be an opportunity to go out to a restaurant with our little family of four. Fortunately for us, we have some very kind people at our church that invited us over for dinner! There were a few other families there in the same situation. It turned out being a great, loving evening with our new friends and their families.

Can you find little Ella?!

Lincoln got his own little table!

Round 1 of our yummy dinner!

Our "Thankful For..." tree. Everyone wrote some thing they were thankful for on a leaf and stuck it to the tree.

Here's my leaf!

Lincoln kept playing tug-of-war with their dog!

Lincoln and Daddy!

My night got even better when I received a video from my whole family at my Grandma's house where we celebrate every holiday. It brought tears to my eyes seeing everyone again and how thoughtful it was of them to think of us and send us a "We miss and love you" video. I loved seeing their faces and hearing their voice again.
I am so thankful for my wonderful family, miles away. I'm thankful for my amazing husband and perfect children. I'm thankful for our health, our home, our means. I'm thankful for all the great new people I have met that have made moving to an unknown place much easier. I'm so thankful to have the gospel in my life, without it I would be lost. Life is good, and it keeps getting better!

George Washington's Mount Vernon

2011-11-13T10:29:00.001-05:00

This year on Veteran's Day we went to visit George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate! We were so fortunate to to have gone on such a great day, it was still a cool day but the sky was so clear that the sun was able to keep us warm. There was so much to see! We got to see George Washington's mansion and estate, including his live stock (Lincoln loved that part)! There were also many museums full of interesting artifacts and belongs of his. We even got to see his wooden teeth and how they were made! We took a lot of pictures, they're out of order but I hope you still enjoy!

Halloween in Virginia

2011-10-31T18:32:00.002-04:00

Well actually, we had a fun little Halloween party back home in California the day before we flew out here. It was at Nicole's house again this year for her ward play date just like it was last Halloween. Lincoln (the cutest little turtle) is such a social little guy so he had so much fun being around all those kids. His friend Amalie (pretty pink owl) got to go too!

He climbs onto EVERYTHING!

with his aunt Nicole

Then the day after we arrived to Virginia, we went to our ward Trunk-or-Treat.

Here he is playing a game with Grandma

Little Turtle with his dad

On the actual night of Halloween, Lincoln helped me pass out candy to the trick-or-treaters while daddy was still at work. (Chris comes home between 7 and 10 pm! but that's a whole other blog post.) I know he would have fun doing that! The first knock we heard Lincoln got scared and ran to me to pick him up. Then once he saw all the kids in the costumes, he would get excited every time there was a knock. He even grabbed a piece of candy and put it into one kids bag all by himself. Oh, and Ella was dressed an adorable little baby! (Okay, so she really didn't have a costume which I feel really guilty about. There has been so much going on with packing and moving that I just didn't have any time to think about it. Fortunately my friend gave me Lincoln's costume so I didn't have to worry about that either!)

Happy Halloween

from the Seymore clan!

Four Years In...

2011-09-30T15:17:00.001-04:00

It's been four years since Chris and I were sealed for time and all eternity in the Newport Beach LDS Temple. It was such a beautiful ceremony filled with loving family members and close friends. The Spirit was so strong in that room. We were both kneeling at the alter holding hands and it felt as if it was just the two of us there. I was just so happy being in the temple with the love of my life. As the temple president started marring us, I bowed my head and tears came streaming down my face. I looked up at Chris and noticed even he was tearing. The feeling of being there was just so right. We finally kissed over the alter as the newly married Mr. and Mrs.

Chris and I have accomplished so much together and we continue to strive to do our best. He is my absolute best friend and companion. He brings so much happiness and assurance to my life. He is my protector and provider. I feel like the luckiest person to have such a wonderful man in my life.

So to celebrate our 4th year of marriage, Chris and I spent a few nights in a gorgeous hotel out in Newport beach. (We went in July before Ella arrived and we left Lincoln with his grandmas.) It was the first time, in a very long time, that we got to sleep in and actually sleep through the night! Although I did miss my little Lincoln and was constantly thinking about him, it felt amazing not having to get up at 1, 3 and 6 am to a crying baby.

Chris and I had a great time just the two of us. It felt like our dating years again!

Of course we went back to the temple that we were married in. It was so beautiful and so nice seeing everything again. We even spent some time at Crystal Cove Beach where he proposed to me.

Here I am 9 months pregnant with little Ella

That weekend flew by so fast and we had to go back to reality. Now we've got two babies and our lives somehow keep getting busier, so this is one memory I'll cherish for a while!

Close Enough to Kiss

2011-09-24T00:51:00.001-04:00

Oh no! I think I'm becoming semi "crunchy!"

I'm not a tree hugger, or vegetarian, I don't cloth diaper, and I definitely don't lean to the left (so I guess I'm not even close to being "Crunchy Granola"). But I do BABYWEAR! (Which I learned some what falls into that category of people). For me, babywearing just makes life a little easier. I can have Ella in the sling with me while I'm chasing Lincoln around or if Lincoln is tired of being in the stroller I can carry him around with me. I love it! It's so nice having them near me and always at eye level. I'm even trying to master wearing them both together! There are so many benefits of babywearing. My sister says I look like Sacajawea, which I'll take as a compliment.

Babywearing seems like it's becoming more of a fad lately. Every time I'm out I get so many stares and people saying "Awe, how cute..." It's actually pretty awkward, but maybe there will be more babywearers because of it... So if you want to start wearing your kid around to make things more convenient, or to bond, or because you simply want to look cool, here's what you need to make your very own Ring Sling:

• a shawl (or fabric that has some give to it but not stretchy) I got one at JcPenny on sale for $10!
•two 3" aluminum rings (slingrings.com $4/pair)
• your newborn, infant, or toddler (some even wear their DOGS!)
• and follow this video I found on YouTube

Now you're ready to start babywearing. There are so many instruction videos on YouTube on how to put your child in properly.
HAPPY BABYWEARING!

Here are some of my babywearing moments...

Even dogs like to wear their babies....

hee hee!

Another Gift from God

2011-09-12T16:30:00.001-04:00

Our baby Ella is 4 weeks old in these pictures. She is such a sweet little spirit and she always brings a smile to our face. She has big gorgeous eyes and a big beautiful smile. I think she's going to look like her daddy. We feel so blessed to have her here with us. I love seeing Chris with her. He is so gentle with her and is always saying how beautiful she is. We are so fortunate to have our little "Ella Bella" in our lives.

Her aunt Nicole took these cute pictures of her and she also took Lincoln's...

Lincoln's Newborn Pictures

Ella's Special Day

2011-09-06T16:28:00.001-04:00

Our baby girl was blessed on Sunday, September 4th and it was such a special day. It was great being surrounded by loved ones. It was so nice hearing what Heavenly Father has in store for her. She is such an amazing blessing to have.

Doesn't she look so adorable!? Her grandma Seymore made this beautiful dress for her special day.

Lincoln's Special Day

From Baby to Toddler

2011-09-05T22:42:00.003-04:00

Lincoln's 1 year well baby check up:

height - (97%)

weight - (50%)

My baby is getting so big! I really can't believe that Lincoln is a year old. I guess technically he's considered a toddler now, but I'm having a pretty hard time accepting that so I still refer to him as a baby. Lincoln is such a smart, fun, active little guy. He means the world to us! He is so independent. Lincoln loves books, rocks, baths, playing in the pool, he loves wrestling with Daddy, and of course exploring. He is such a happy baby. He started walking at 10 months and he's got so many scraps and bruises to show for it, but it never holds him back. He'll just stand right back up and keep going. He is always coming up with new sounds to entertain us. This has been going on for a while, but he'll do this thing where he exaggerates his cough and he'll just keep coughing and coughing... It's so random! ha ha. When he watches cartoons he shifts back and forth, kind of like a little monkey. It is so cute to watch him dance! He'll either bounce up and down, or kick one leg up and down, or move an arm with his hand straight out like a karate chop! Lincoln just LOVES music, we dance together all the time, even in the car! He's not much of an eater yet. (He puts everything in his mouth, except for food). As soon as we bring food up to his mouth he closes his eyes and shivers as if he is so discussed by it. We just cut out formula from his diet so he's going to have to start eating more to make up for it. Oh! Lincoln's way of affection is a head bump! ha ha. He goes up to little kids and just bumps his head against theirs. (I used to do this all the time with him, put my forehead against his, I think that's where he gets it from). The first day he met his baby sister, Ella, he went up to her and put his head on hers. It was the sweetest thing. He is so cute with Ella. Every time she cries, he goes running to where she is. He even tries climbing up her bassinet to see her! It was like nothing changed with him, and he even sleeps right through her LOUD cries.
- he's got 4 teeth on the bottom and 4 on top (I can feel molars coming in too)
- started walking at 10 months old
- started using a sippy more and eating more solid foods
- wears shoe size 5 toddlers and 18-24 size clothes
- still puts everything in his mouth
- started sleeping on his own! (and only wakes up once, which is great considering he used to wake up like 5 times a night)

Lincoln brings so much joy into our lives! Every time I think of him I just get so excited. I look forward to every second I get to spend with him. Lincoln is such a great spirit and he makes me a better person everyday.

Day 1

1 month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

9 months

10 months

11 months

Our Newest Addition!

2011-08-25T20:14:00.002-04:00

Ella Raquel Seymore joined our family on

Monday, August 15, 2011

at 4:37 in the morning

weighing in at 7 lbs. & 3 oz.

and 19.5" long

She is the most beautiful baby girl. Ella was born exactly one week early. I couldn't have had a more different birth experience with her than I did with Lincoln. The experience in a nut shell was like a car crash! ...Very intense, chaotic, and quick! I was only in labor for about 4 hours, only 2 hours were spent in the hospital, and I only pushed for about 15 minutes!! (I could do that again...)

Okay, so here's the story. (grab the popcorn, it's kind of long.)...

I had been doing EVERYTHING to try and get "baby girl" out. My pregnancy was really getting hard towards the end and I was really just over it, considering I had been pregnant for practically two years in a row! Sunday the 14th was just like any other Sunday. I went to church, chased Lincoln around, visited with family... but I was determined to go into labor! So that night my brother-in-law prayed for me to have a good labor and delivery and I had my friends send me "laboring vibes" and I was focused and ready to go into labor. (I know I sound crazy right now, but the mind is a powerful thing!) I did my "pregnancy belly dance" one last time before I went to bed that night.

I was just starting to dose off when my water broke at 12:55 am! I just felt a big pop and I jumped. I was so tired at that time that all I was thinking was "Ugh, not now..." I laid their a little longer then finally got up to the bathroom. There was no gush just a little tinkle. (TMI ?) Then I whispered to Chris that my water broke. He just mumbled something and rolled over. So, the procrastinator that I am, I started packing my hospital bag. As I was getting things together, I started having really strong, painful contractions. They were coming so strong and so close together I couldn't even time them. I went to wake Chris up again and he wouldn't even move. Ahhh! I was in so much pain. "Chris! Get up! We have to go now!" Okay, he's up now. (Later he said I just didn't sound urgent. What's more urgent than 'my water broke!' ha ha.) My contraction were literally on top of each other. I couldn't even walk to the car.

We got to the hospital at about 2 am, checked in and was wheeled to my room. I couldn't even get up to the bathroom to change. My nurse, Christine, came in and saved my life! (that's what it felt like) I loved her so much! I don't think I could have done it with out her. She was a hustler! Anyway, she was like "forget the bathroom, just drop your pants and I'll check you right now!" She checked how dilated I was and I was only at 2 cm. I was sure I would be farther than that because of how much pain I was in. There weren't any doctor's available to give me an epidural so she gave my some other drugs to "take the edge off." That was fun, but not powerful enough. She checked me again and I was at a 4. Before she even took her hand out, I progressed to a 6! This was happening faster than we thought and still no epidural! Maybe 30 minutes later I was dilated to an 8 and that's when the anesthesiologist finally came in to give me the epidural. She finished up and now I'm 10 cm dilated and It's time to push! I did about 3 "practice" pushed with the nurse and she was stopping me and trying to get the doctor in asap. About 2 pushes with the doctor and our beautiful baby was born! I couldn't believe it! It happened so fast that I couldn't even register what had just happened, yet I was holding this precious new baby in my arms.

She's here! I had no clue she was out until the plopped her on me.

Hello "baby girl!"

My awesome nurse, Christine with baby Ella.

This perfect little human just came out of me!

Proud papa. Chris is so sweet with her. He always says how beautiful she is.

I just can't stop staring at her

She was not happy about the car ride home

NAME GAME:

"Baby girl" didn't have a set name until 30 minutes before we left the hospital. Chris and I both really liked the names Cali and Ella, so what better way to come to a decision than to flip a coin?! And that's exactly what we did. Heads, it's Ella. Tails, it's Cali. Chris flipped the quarter, and well, Ella it is! (but I still call her "baby girl" most of the time.) Raquel is my mom's name and we wanted our baby to be named after someone great. My mom is such a wonderful person and I'd love for my little Ella to have some of her qualities.

>>Here is the link to Lincoln's birth story only 11 months ago!

"3 Days Late, but He's Finally Here!"

Who Does She Look Like?

2011-07-08T00:06:00.002-04:00

Once again my friend did the 3D ultrasound for me! Which is so nice considering it cost over $100 to get it done else where. Chris was with me and it was so interesting how clearly we could see [baby girl]. It was so fun getting to see this little baby that really is in my belly.

The tech said that she weighs a little over 4 pounds right now and she's already got chunky cheeks. She also noticed that [baby girl] has got a lot of hair already. (yay for bows in her hair!)

She is such a squirmy little thing! She moves around all the time. Her kicks and punches hurt but at least it's a sign of a strong healthy baby. It was hard getting a still picture of her and one with out the cord in her face, but we managed to get a few good ones.

Her foot is right over her eye and nose!

Little pouty face

I think she's going to look like her big brother
...which is just fine with me!

I can't wait to meet her!!

Here is the link to Lincoln's 3D pictures so you can compare :)
http://chrisandemmaseymore.blogspot.com/2010/08/blog-post.html

Independence Day Celebration

2011-07-05T14:42:00.003-04:00

This was Lincoln's first time at the beach! He enjoyed it so much. At first he didn't know what to think of the sand. when ever he would touch it, he would shake his hands in discussed. ha ha It was pretty funny to watch. Like everything else, it didn't take him long to get used to it. And the sand got his approval by LICKING it! ha ha Crazy kid! He kept bending over to lick the sand but he would just leave his tongue out and you could just see it covered in sand.

I know he would love the water. He goes in the pool practically everyday with his dad. And again, there were plenty of things for him to find and try to put in his mouth like shells, rocks, sea weed, and moss! Ugh!

Lincoln is such a funny little guy and we all enjoyed a relaxing day together.

he's testing out the sand

found some rocks to lick! Oh and he kept trying to drink the water too!

He'd always pull away from us. He kept wanting to do everything himself.

Loving the tide pools

he wanted to eat all the bright moss everywhere

we were getting splashed by the waves

climbing all over daddy!

he was roaming around everywhere

we found some sand crabs!

such a happy little guy

more exploring

Then we came home, Chris BBQ-ed some stake and I made this DELICIOUS chocolate cake!

Happy birthday America!

Summer Love

2011-06-22T02:59:00.001-04:00

How it all began...

It was 5 years ago today that I met my prince charming. Chris and I were both so young; I was only 18 and he was 23. I had just graduated from high school a few weeks earlier and my next plan was to go on a mission for my church. I planned on going early because I know 2 other female missionaries that served when they were 19. I loved going to the missionary prep classes. I felt so much joy and enthusiasm knowing that I would be sharing the gospel with so many people. And since Chris was one if the teachers, it made it much more fun too. The first time I saw him was when he was teaching. He looked so "cute". I couldn't hold back my smile every time I looked at him. He was wearing a white shirt and tie with gray pants and glasses. I went up to him after class, shook his hand and thanked him for a great lesson. (I don't even think I was listening to his lesson ha ha). I kept it short and sweet. I even cut him off and said I had to go... A girl's gotta keep a guy on his toes! So I left and saw him again the following week. This time he made it a point to sit right behind me. At the end of church as I was walking to my car, he "ran" after me to get my phone number. (Of course he says he didn't chase after me, but he did).
June 21, 2006 was our first date. At this point I had only seen him at church where he wore a white shirt and tie and glasses, so I was anxious to see what he was really like and if he was dorky. He picked me up for our date looking cuter than ever and I was surprised that he wasn't wearing any glasses! turns out he was a contact wearing guy but when I met him he had just ran out of them. We went on a double date miniature golfing. Then after wards he took me to Jamba Juice where we sat on the bed of his truck talking for hours about random things. It was the best first date I had ever been on and not because it was the most creative or anything, but because I felt something I had never felt before with any other person. Chris and I had a blast dating. We went hiking, camping, tubing down the Kern river, we saw a fancy play in L.A, there were of course many beach and river trips, and we even went bungee jumping.

June 21, 2007 he proposed in the most romantic way! He blindfolded me as we drove to our surprise destination. He walked me out of the car, down a few steps (that's where trust came in to play ha ha) and finally untied my blindfold. I was looking down onto the ocean as the sun was setting and reflecting a combination of beautiful colors onto it's surface. In the sand was written "EMMA, MARRY ME." I quickly turned around to see him and he was down on one knee. Do I need to say what my answer was... We hugged for a while. As we continued watching the sunset, Chris was telling me all the reasons he loves me and why he wants to spend the rest of his life with me. Three months later we were sealed together for time and all eternity in the Newport Beach, California temple. I feel so fortunate to have such a wonderful man in my life.
June 21, 2011, here we are 5 years later, happily married with a beautiful baby and another on the way. It's amazing how our love for each other keeps growing and growing. I look forward to the adventures the future holds for us.

One of our many water adventures

I'm great at holding the flag!

Ducks hockey game

ha ha! Birthday surprise

Down Town Wednesday Night

late night hot chocolate date

his work Christmas party at Disney Land

Hanging out after church

Father's Day

2011-06-20T02:02:00.001-04:00

This was Chris' official Father's Day! Lincoln and I had such a fun time making his gift. I put a poster board on the floor with some paint and had him go at it! He had a blast making it, I just had to keep him from licking it! Ha ha. Once he was all done, I let it dry and cut a piece of it the fit the frame. I cut out a quote to paste onto it, and with his signature hand print, it was complete! On the side I added pictures of him in the process of making it.

Notice all the paint around him mouth... ha ha

I also thought it would be a good idea to take pictures of Lincoln with things that represent his great dad. Here's Lincoln wearing one of Chris' military uniforms. Isn't he a cutie!?

Chris is a great example of a church member and patriarch of our home. (That's what the tie and dress shoes represent). He is also a very well educated man, hence the books in the background.

And Chris loves the outdoors, especially being in the water. He is a great surfer and I can't wait 'til Lincoln is old enough for Chris to teach him how to surf too! Here's Lincoln in his rash guard on daddy's surf board.

After church, father and son enjoyed a relaxing time in the pool (while mommy took pictures of course!). They are so cute when they're together. Lincoln loves spending time with his daddy and always get so excited every time he sees Chris.

I am so grateful to have such a wonderful man be the father to my children. Chris is so great and patient with Lincoln. It's so obvious how much love he has for his son.

My Big Boy

2011-06-18T15:08:00.001-04:00

Lincoln's 9 month Well Baby visit:
weight - 21 lbs. (67%)
height - 29.5 in. (85%)

Lincoln had his 9 month well baby visit yesterday and we were so excited that he didn't need to get any vaccines... but then we found out he needed to get his blood drawn! (just routine to check for led, iron, etc.) I was so nervous taking him to the lab and hoping they would be able to find the vain and only have to stick him once. The tech tied his left arm with the band and looked for a vain on the left arm, then the right arm, then back to the left. I could tell she was nervous and that made me more nervous! We distracted him with a little toy as she prepped Lincoln's arm. He was leaning in to lick her bright blue glove when she stick him with the needle. All he did was pause as it went it and just continued playing with his little toy! He didn't even cry at all, it didn't even phase him! Chris would be proud. Ha ha ha. He did however scream once we took his toy way!

My little baby is getting so big. It makes me sad that he's not going to be a baby forever.

>> he stands up on everything! He'll even stand on his own for a few seconds.
>> he also walks along everything
>> he's getting a little better at eating solids... He usually just eats a few bites of whatever then gets over it pretty quickly.
>> the 2 top teeth just cut through and it seems like there's going to be gap between them so he's going to have a goofy smile petty soon.
>>still licks and puts EVERYTHING in his mouth, it's ridiculous how many times a day I'm taking things out of his mouth!
>> he LOVES going in the pool
>> when he's really excited he makes the funniest face. He'll tense up his arms and fists and shouts!
>> and he has discovered biting with his new teeth...
>> he wears most size 12-18 month clothes already!

It brakes my heart sometimes to know that he's not going to be my only baby for much longer. I feel like I did rob away some of that precious time with him. I'm trying to squeeze in as much one-on-one time with him before [baby girl] comes. We read books together, sing songs, and cuddle. I feel so guilty too because there is so much I can't do with him because I'm just in so much pain from being pregnant right now plus my belly is so big it's hard to even hold him.
I really do believe that Lincoln was sent to us first for a reason. We have such a special bond. I know he'll step up and take care of me and his younger siblings when Chris is deployed. He's got such a strong personality. He is very determined and driven, just like his daddy. He's also a tough little guy finding all sorts of adventures, already getting scraps and bruises and he's only 9 months old! He loves it when we say prayers. He gets quiet and has this big smile on his face, (I peek every time) and then when we say "amen" he lets out a happy "ahhh." I love my little linc-a-dink so much!

He won't be a baby for long, but he will be MY baby forever.

Picture time!

7 month pics:

enjoying his banana... peel and all

he was trying so hard to jump into the fountain

he was digging deep into his toy box

...but toys aren't enough! He has to be exploring

my messy eater

8 month pictures:

At church with his friends. They're so good at sharing their toys. ha ha

two buddies hanging out

he gets scared every time we vacuum so we always have to carry him around

he's helping me with the dishes!

Beginning of 9 months:

straight to the mouth

he's been sleeping in his crib! YAY! hands behind his head and ankles crossed always. ha ha

enjoying his first mango

She's Got at Least 9 More Weeks

2011-06-02T14:43:00.002-04:00

...technically she's got 12 weeks left in the oven, but in 9 more weeks she's considered full term.

Hospital update:
One miserable night spent in the hospital, hooked up to 3 different monitors, laying on a hard bed, must stay in the same position, and the meds to slow down the contractions are giving me a killer headache. Doc comes in at 8:30 am to do another ultrasound of my cervix. Not much has changed which is good news. I just have to "take it easy" now (which isn't easy since we're in the middle of moving.) but i really have to listen or else they'll have to give [baby girl] steroids to help develop her lungs. We can do it... She'll be one healthy full term baby!

[baby girl], Be Patient!

2011-06-01T05:02:00.000-04:00

Well, i was having intense stomach pain all day and it had been getting progressively worse throughout the day. I finally decided to go in to labor and delivery at 10:30 pm. (I'm actually in the hospital writing this through my phone right now.) The pain is constant and its becoming unbearable. The doc takes a swab test to see if it comes back positive for preterm labor. While we wait for the results, they give me an I.V to hydrate me, nausea medication (i still threw up), and pain killers. The results are back and at 1 am, I get the news that it came back positive. Doc isn't too worried but he's keeping me over night to keep an eye on things. So here i am laying in a hard hospital bed blogging rather than getting sleep. [Baby girl] sounds healthy, I'm just praying that she doesn't come too early and that everything will be okay with her.

Happiest Place on Earth

2011-05-24T12:28:00.001-04:00

Yesterday was Lincoln's first trip to Disneyland! He was having so much fun, he just wouldn't stop screaming from excitement. Fortunately for us, a friend that works there was able to get us into both parks for free, rather than pay the $100 each person! (Thanks Connie!) We definitely needed a little vacation away from our busy lives. I really enjoyed spending time with my two favorite boys.

Here are some fun pictures we took:

Mommy and Lincoln getting splashed by the big fountain

Having a blast watching the fountain water burst

on top of the world!

High five random hand!

"The Circle of Life"

My happy little pirate baby

Lincoln didn't seem to like the first ride very much. He made such a serious face and tensed up.

but he did enjoy the caterpillar ride, he was so curious to see everything.

My cutie babbling away!

okay, he wasn't very into the Ants ride either

Your trip to Disneyland isn't complete until you've got a pair of Mickey Mouse ears!

Lincoln's rocking the '2011' party ears

I've got my 'Minnie' ears

Even [baby girl] got to wear 'princess' ears

As for Chris... well he just promised to grow his hair like this!

She's Almost Here!

2011-05-24T01:09:00.001-04:00

OFFICIALLY IN THE 3RD TRIMESTER!

I can not believe I am already in the third trimester! It really has gone by so fast for me. (but I guess that's expected when I already have a baby to keep me busy!) I can't complain much about the first two trimesters. I just had a few bad headaches in the beginning and a couple vomiting experiences, but I definitely noticed once I entered my third trimester. All of a sudden I was extremely tired, and dizzy, and always out of breath. Now that Lincoln is crawling around and getting into EVERYTHING it makes things much harder. It's crazy to think soon I'm going to have two babies around!

Besides some anxiety, I'm mostly really excited to have another. I remember after giving birth to Lincoln I said I never wanted to go through that again and I swore I would never forget how painful it was... Well I guess I did forget. It might sound odd, but I'm actually looking forward to giving birth again. I just remember it being a beautiful experience meeting my baby for the first time, and I know what to expect so I feel more prepared, like I'll get the job done faster! ha ha! I'm also excited to have a newborn again, which I wasn't expecting to look forward to considering I just had a newborn a few months ago! Interesting how things work out that way. I really think that's Heavenly Father's way of preparing me. I'm excited for Lincoln to have a little playmate - I can already imagine them together. And of course, I'm really excited about having a GIRL!

I'm trying to enjoy ever single second I have with my little Lincoln. They're only babies for such a short amount of time. It's amazing how fast they grow up.

Let's compare belly shots...

almost 7 months with [baby girl]

6.5 months pregnant with Lincoln

Well one things the same... I still like my floral tops!

THE NAME GAME...

I am having such a hard time finding a name for her!! I always had names picked out for my kids when I was younger (like I'm sure most girls do), but now that it's for real I can't come up with anything. In middle school we read and watched a book called The Outsiders and I loved it so much.

Especially Soda Pop, one of the characters I had a crush on. So... I was going to name my son Soda Pop and my daughter Lolly Pop! And then I thought it would be awesome to have triplet girls and name them Lolly, Lilly, and Lailly! HA HA HA! I guess it's a good thing I'm not having triplets!

Another name I liked for a while was Victoria... I always wanted my girls to have a very feminine and strong name... but I'm not feeling it so much any more. Now with having Lincoln, we could easily stick with a presidential theme for the rest of our kids. I just don't want to be limited and I don't want any cheesy themes, plus Lincoln was such a great president that I'd hate to name another child after a so-so one. I'm not really a fan of miss spelled names or something completely made up either. I can't believe I'm having such a hard time finding a name!

ANY IDEAS???

We do however, have ONE name in mind and I doubt it's anything you would guess... but I don't think I'm ready to share it yet, I'm just not ready to hear people's opinion on it. Once I'm in love with it then I'll share it with all of you!

My 1st Mother's Day

2011-05-10T14:39:00.001-04:00

This year was my first official Mother's Day! Chris was so sweet and brought me breakfast in bed with a lovely card [tears] and a gift for a day at the spa - my favorite! It was such a great day. After church we went over to my grandma's house to see my aunts and uncles and cousins. I always enjoy getting together with them - I couldn't ask for a better family! After dinner with them we went over to visit with Chris' family where we always have a fun time! We're so blessed to have both families so close to us.

This day made me really want to be the best mom I could possibly be. Some times I get so over whelmed with all the responsibilities of being a mom that I forget to enjoy all the blessings that come with it. I know I have a lot of growing to do spiritually and emotionally and as a wife and mother. I need to make time for myself (just 20 minutes a day) to ponder and work towards being a better person. My next step is to set some goals for myself to work towards.

It really is an amazing gift being a mom. I have such a wonderful mother to look up to, I hope to one day be like her. She is the kindest, sweetest, most caring person I know! She's always thinking of others and how she can help them. I've never heard her gossip or talk badly about anyone. She is always so happy and positive, even when times are hard for her, and she's always so fun and energetic! I don't know how she does it! If I could just be half the person she is, I'd be the a great person too! I swear she has to have a free ticket to heaven! I love my mommy so much!

"Cage"

2011-04-27T20:20:00.001-04:00

Every morning I put Lincoln in his "cage" with some toys while I shower and get ready... or sleep in a little more. He screams every time I put him in, but then he finds something to entertain him for a moment. This is the second time I caught him "reading" his book. It's the cutest thing. He lays on his stomach with his ankles crossed and stares at his book so intensely.

Then once he notices I'm around and watching....

"Mommy! Get me out of here!"

...he whines for me to take him out.

Since I was just laughing...

"Ahhhhh!"

...he started being silly and yelling at me.

So I finally put him in our bed to take his morning nap.

...and now he's a happy little guy ready to get into more trouble!