1/28/2012 - Zoo Party

From Drop Box

We were lucky enough to have been invited to a birthday party for a friend's daughter's first birthday at the Oakland Zoo. The kids got to pet a Blue Tailed Skink, a Tortoise and a Hedgehog. It was an amazing once in a lifetime experience. Following the mini petting zoo, the kids made fun little food packets for the river otters to eat. Finn was so amazed to see the otters tear into the cool decorated art projects they did at the party.

From Drop Box

Each day I feel so blessed to be able to have our family get such cool experiences.

1/27/2012 - Fenton's Feast for his First

From Drop Box

I think that Liam had a great first birthday. He spent the day playing with Finny at Play Cafe, followed by lunch with me at my office. After a nice afternoon nap, we celebrated with dinner and dessert at Fenton's. The whole family got to indulge in their delicious ice cream. Liam loved my fruit bowl followed by a small bowl of strawberry ice cream. What a lovely and fun first year it's been for all of us!

1/26/2012 - From Finn with love ... and sprinkles

From Drop Box

Today, Finn and Baachan made mini cupcakes. Finn was supervising the sprinkle distribution. As Jiichan said "He was rather generous with the sprinkles!" Liam got to enjoy his first ever cupcake and he loved it!! Threw that whole little sucker right in his mouth and devoured it!!!Hilarious.

1/25/2012 - Papa Love

From Drop Box

I have been blessed with almost 12 months worth of Mama Love from our Liam. Liam is now really starting to share the love between Jesse and I. This time around, I am okay with it, with Finny, I was filled with jealousy. Now, I just feel glad to be so loved.

1/24/2012 - Work Perks

Today at work, I received a large heavy box addressed to "Melody Kelsey" containing 12 large and lovely bottles of wine. After I got over the excitement of the gift from a secret and appreciative admirer, I called my boss to tell him the news. He started laughing and told me that it was his wine that he had shipped to my attention, so I could sign for it for him. But because of my enthusiam and my constant hard work, he gave me a bottle to keep. I am looking forward to sharing my 2008 Barbera with Jesse some time soon. Perks of working for a great boss.

1/23/2012 - Listening Skills

When I picked up Finny today, he was in the listening library listening to a story on tape. All the other kids in the room were frantically fighting over the toys that were housed in the library shelves and Finn was the sole one sitting quietly in his seat listening to a story. We are so lucky to have such a gentle sweet kid that just loves books. Oh, and he looks adorable in headphones. I might have to start a collection of Finn in headphones photos.

1/22/2012 - Space & Science Center

For Christmas this year, we received a membership to the Chabot Space and Science Center from the grandparents. On our first rainy weekend day of the year, we took the kids over to explore. Finn had a blast running arouund pressing buttons and pulling nozzles. I love having such a curious, adventurous toddler in our house to keep us busy.

1/21/2012 - Mini love

One of our very hip childless neighhbors bought the most beautiful Mini Cooper ever. It's blue with black stripes and a Union Jack Symbol painted on top. It's a 1961 Austin Tourer (I think) with the European Plates still attached underneath the CA plates. She bought it from an Indian Food Restaurant Owner, so it smells of curry goodness. I was gushing with envy over this car. Mini's are my absolute favorite car and Finn has promised to buy me one one day. For now, I will just beg her to take me out for drives in this one. Oh and the best part about this car, is that the steering wheel is on the right side! Legit!

1/20/2012 - It's the little things ...

One of my sales reps brought in donuts ... and I loved up on that chocolate glazed sprinkly one. It made my rather boring Friday at work, pretty bareable.

1/19/2012 - Secret Weapon

For Christmas this year, we requested a Dust Buster. Nana and Gramps generously provided us with the money to get one and it is our new secret weapon. Even though it probably is no more useful than a broom or a vacuum, it feels much easier to use and therefore we feel much happier. Plus, it's probably small and lightweight enough for Finn to use!! Woo hoo! Welcome to your first chore, Finny!

1/18/2011 - Whole Milk

Liam has graduated to whole milk. So relieved to be done with the formula. No more expensive formula powder everywhere. Such a relief. The transition was seamless. No muss no fuss. We are super lucky that this kid doesn't reject too much food lately. Now, if we could just get him sleeping through the night.

1/17/2012 - Little Feet

I have been on the hunt for the perfect pair of ballerina flats. Simple, black, comfortable, not too expensive. I found them today on a lunchtime trip to Target. They are adorable, basic, lovely and definitely inexpensive ... and they are little girls size (which was the main reason they were so cheap). I love having little feet. Probably just saved myself $20 by buying the kid version. I need to look in the kids section more often.

1/16/2012 - Organizing

Sometimes I feel my life is like that movie Groundhog Day. I am reliving the same days over and over again. Every morning, I wake up and wash all of the dishes that we had made from the previous day. I put away all the toys that the boys had played with right before bed time. I fold all the laundry that it feels like we just washed and put away the day prior. I put back the shoes in the shoe shelf that I just reorganized and put away. Sometimes I think someone is pulling a dirty trick on me ... but then I just remind myself that I have two little impish kiddos that contribute to this messy little life who also make me delightfully happy.

1/15/2012 - Haircut Handsome

You know that your kids are growing up when they start doing things that they had never done before. Finny got a haircut today and had no problem with them using the clippers. He used to freak out and cry every time they tried to use the clippers in the past and today, hardly a peep out of him. In fact, he was laughing because the clippers tickled him. What a brave little man! Oh boy does he look handsome.

1/14/2012 - Blue Skies Smiling

From Drop Box

Finn is finally feeling much better and got some outdoor playtime with Dylan. The boys noticed a sky writer and I managed to capture it at a cool angle!!

1/13/2012 - Playing horse

We ventured out to dinner today to go to our go to restaurant of PF Changs. Finn loves their "spicy noodles" with chicken sans the chicken. We discovered that like his mama, Liam loves potstickers. It's always a little bit intimidating to go out to dinner with both the kids, but sometimes all the stars align and it can be an enjoyable night out for all. Tonight was one of those nights.
After dinner, Finny likes to play around the large stone horses on the outside of the restaurant. Our big boy looks so little next the large horse statues.

1/12/2012 - Solving the Puzzle

From Drop Box

For Christmas, Stacy bought Liam a set of Japanese Letter Blocks. We also bought those same blocks for Kai. Kim had told us the one side of the letter blocks all line up to make a map of Japan. Jesse and I tackled the puzzle today. It took a little bit to ward off the kids, but we finished it!

1/11/2012 - Open Arms

From Drop Box

Clean happy boy post bath and Nutrigrain Bar snack walking joyfully into his loving father's arms.

1/10/2012 - Fierce

From Drop Box

Feeling goofy after a long tiring day. Practicing our fierce looks.

1/9/2012 - Wrestlemania

From Drop Box

Finn, our super duper loving boy, has really been in hugging Liam a lot lately. Liam on the other hand, doesn't not necessarily appreciate the affection because sometimes Finn doesn't take the cues, when Liam is ready to be let go. This picture is the preview into my life with two busy boys. So funny.

1/8/2012 - Substitute Handlers

From Drop Box

We are so lucky to have kidless friends who are still willing to put up with us for outings. We headed into the city for brunch at ZeroZeroSF, a nice new hip brunch spot in SOMA. Beth and Juan were up in the city doing errands, so we headed over the bridge to catch up with them. Sara and Tim also joined for brunch as well. Liam got lots of love from everyone. I managed to get a pic of only Tim and Bethie.

From Drop Box

1/7/2012 - Baby J

From Drop Box

Finn and I went to visit some friends in the city today to meet their beautiful 4 month old son. Little man was born 2 months premature, and so he is still such a sweet little itty bitty one. It made me rather nervous to hold him. It's easier to feel confident in handling a newborn when it's your own child, but for some silly reason it makes me nervous to hold other people's kids. It took me until the end of the visit to actually get the balls to hold him. It was amazing. I forget how good it feels to hold a little baby. Doesn't make me want another one, but it does feel good.

1/6/2012 - Friday Night Solo Time

Jesse took the kids to a jumpy house party early this evening, so when I arrived home from work, I had the house all to myself. All the dry laundry got folded and put away, a load of laundry is tumbling in the washer right now. All the clean dishes were put away and all the dirty dishes were washed. So I am rewarding myself for a job well done with a glass of cab, a couple blog posts and some Happiness Project journaling. Though I love my kids and hubs, I love the solo time when I can get it! It comes so few and far between that I need to savor it when I get it.

1/5/2012 - Office Mascot

In an effort to declutter our house, Finn and I went through him car bin to see which vehicles he would like to get rid of and which ones he would like to keep. We were in agreement on most of the items to get rid of, except for the Power Truck. The Power Truck happens to be one of the coolest little cars ever.
1) It's a red monster trucl
2) It has a lightning bolt shape button on its roof
3) That lightning bolt shape button makes sounds
4) Those sounds include the most badass sounding song ever.
I have loved the power truck song since we first received it as a gift. I don't know how to fully explain how awesome the song is.
So anyways, back to the story. Finn wanted to get rid of it and I am too attached to it. The Power Truck now has a home in my office cubicle. Everytime some one needs a pump me up song, they just press the little lightning bolt and they feel like dancing. It's amazing and the newest hottest addition to my office. So happy the Power Truck can give such joy to both children and adults alike.

1/4/2012 - Can't hold me down

Little Liam doesn't want to be strapped in, held back, belted in or held off. Makes it a little tricky to get him to sit down at mealtime. With his really short attention span, his handlers (namely Jesse and I) need to feed quickly and effeciently otherwise he gets frustrated and loud. I feel like I have mastered his mealtime signals pretty well and can get through a meal feeding Finn, Liam and myself if need be. Mothers have superhuman powers!

1/3/2012 - Danger Kelsey

From Drop Box

I love this pic. Finn's little focused face as he puts together his crazy fort. Liam blurry in motion, crazily wielding the stick, waving it haphazardly around. Jesse, with the concerned look on his face hoping that his infant doesn't whack himself or others with his new found toy/weapon. I've started calling Liam by his new nickname of Danger. That kid is fearless, which is both bad and good. Mostly bad right now, because he doesn't necessarily have the motor skills to navigate through dangerous situations. But good, because I think that he will be a tough kid that never gives up ... even after failure. I think that's why he walked so early. As he was in the first stages of it, he fell down constantly, but was never deterred by that. He would just right back up and try again. Resilient. I admire that determination and hope that some of that rubs off on me. Everyone could use a little bit of that stuff now and then.

1/2/2012 - Zoo with the cousins

From Drop Box

We took a trip to the Oakland Zoo today with K, T & K. Though the animals were enjoyable to see, the main attraction is always the zoo rides. Finn and Kai enjoyed the train ride into the Australian Outback with K & T as chaperones. Can't say it enough that I am loving how close Finn and Kai are. It is too cute to see how happy they are to spend time together.

1/1/12 - Peekaboo

From Drop Box

Liam was the entertainment at the annual Kono family New Years' Party. He was walking from window to window in the playhouse playing peekaboo with his cousin's. Though he was his straightfaced self for most of the day, he spent a good 20 minutes cackling at the silly girls playing peekaboo with him. Charming the ladies already!

12/31/2011 - Christmas Bonus

From Drop Box

Everyone got to celebrate Christmas twice this year since Kim, Tim and Kai got into town after Christmas day. This is usually the case for us every year, but this year, Finn really gets the concept of gift opening and it is absolutely thrilling for him. The entire family spoiled both of the boys this year. Overwhelmed by generosity. Such lucky people we are.