13 years of bliss

Today is Shawn and I's 13th wedding anniversary. We started this whole journey at the Justice of the Peace in Norfolk, Va. I was wearing a pair of white Levi shorts and a blouse. A friend of ours at the time drove us because we didn't have a car and he just so happened to also be our witness (because he was there). I remember the justice was listening to "Andy Rooney" when we walked into his office. We started to repeat our vows and I started to laugh and then I started to cry. I never took my eyes off of Shawn and 13 years later I still can't take my eyes off of him.

It has been a wonderful, exciting, difficult at times, adventure and I can't wait to see what the future holds for us. We got married as kids and we've grown up learning about each other and the world. I've learned that commitment is one of the most gratifying accomplishments that one can own. Happy Anniversay Honey (where ever you are in the sea today). I love sharing my life with you.

First Rollover

Riley had his first rollover this morning, from front to back. I swear he is leaps ahead of what Caleb was doing at this time. He's not even 3 months old yet and he's rolling over!!! I got it on video, but the clip is too big to download, so all you get here is his little butt on the verge of the rollover...and he did it twice!!

The boys were playing this morning under the baby gym. Yes, both boys. Caleb is having as much fun with the new baby toys as Riley is.

My two angels....

Riley's eyes are getting more blue. I think he's going to have Caleb's blue eyes. His eyes are shaped very differently than Caleb's though. They look sad...We've come to call him "sad eyes".

PS. I'd like to give a shout out to Jen. Today is her birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

This is for Missy

Missy sent the boys matching Michigan t-shirts. Caleb refused to let me take his picture, so Riley is the only one that must love you, Aunt Missy....sorry. But Riley sure looks too cute in his tee. Thanks so much for thinking of the boys.

I've been tagged..

I've been tagged!! Thanks Lea....


How To Play This Game of Tag:


Post these rules on your blog. List: 3 joys, 3 fears, 3 goals, 3 current obsessions/collections, 3 facts about yourself. Tag 5 people at the end of your post by leaving their names. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog!


Joys:

1. Knowing that I picked a wonderful man to spend my life with.
2. When Caleb tells people, "thank you" without prompting from me.
3. Riley's new found smile and giggle.


Fears:

1. Knowing that tomorrow is never a guarantee. I worry about my own immortality and not being able to forever be there for my children.
2. Disappointing those I love
3. Not living up to my potential



Goals:

1. To finish a master's degree. I would like to go back to school to be an elementary school counselor.
2. To be healthy, not necessarily skinny, but just healthy
3. To forever be in love and to forever be loved.


Obsessions/Collections:

1. Finding clothes that fit me that also look good. I am still 10 pounds over what I was before I got pregnant with Riley and it's just killing me. I just want to fit back into my pre-pregnancy clothes...
2. Shopping online (I miss shopping so bad) It's even harder to find clothes when you have to guess the size and venture online to buy.
3. Finding time for myself ( I obsess over the possibility)



Facts about myself:

1. I struggle with depression and have for many years.
2. I am actually an introvert not an extrovert like most people think.
3. I'd love to learn to fly. I have always wanted to fly an airplane. It seems like it would be such a rush of freedom.



Okay...now that I've exposed the details of my secrets, it's time for Renee, Jennifer, and Heather, to expose themselves. I know it's only 3 people, (Lea took 4 of my blog buddies) but they are the only ones that are brave enough to have blogs...everyone else I know is too scared to share!!
It wasn't too bad to be tagged. The people who tag you, love you. and only want to know the answers to your private feelings and thoughts so that they can better understand you (and use the info against you when needed, hahaha). Enjoy.

Is it poison ivy?

I only wish that Caleb was saying in this instance, "Don't worry mom, I've got this. Go back to sleep." But that wasn't the case. Actually, he didn't want me to take his picture. I guess maybe he didn't want there to be evidence of him being nice to his brother....

They both looked too cute in their white t-shirts not to take their picture. I thought they looked like a commercial for Hanes.

ANYWAY...

enough about the boys. I went to the doctor today for poison ivy, or atleast I thought it was poison ivy. The doctor I seen today didn't seem to think it was. Every year I get this rash that spreads and itches like crazy. Only in the summer, and every summer I get treated for poison ivy. How could so many doctors get it wrong?? Of course, this doctor doesn't know what it is, just that it isn't poison ivy....isn't it crazy how much trust we put into doctors?? We don't know any better. We let them tell us whatever they feel like telling us at that moment. I wondered today if I went to the same doctor next year when the "rash" appears, if he'll tell me it's poison ivy....

A spoiled child

What is that old saying....something about "Spare the rod and spoil the child"...Yeah, well it's officially known now in Yokosuka that Mr. Caleb is one spoiled child!!!!

Shawn and I decided to buy this bounce house for Caleb. Tonight was the first night that we've had without rain to try it out and Caleb loves it.

So does Riley and so does Shawn and I'm sure that John (Caleb's BFF) will love it too. Hopefully, John will be over later this week to try it out.

People walking by took a double look to see if there was a party going on, nope just our spoiled son out for an evening of play. And what play it was. The bounce house became an instant ring of ultimate fighter between Shawn and Caleb. And Caleb threw in some of his new "Kung Fu". But things ended badly with a double knock out....

Kung Fu Panda

We went and seen this movie last night....it rocks!! If you haven't seen it, do! I love Jack Black. He is sooo funny!!! Caleb sat in the movie theater trying to duplicate the Kung Fu moves and repeating the sounds that went with the moves. It was so much fun. And there's a pretty good lesson in the story too.....(if you're into that kind of stuff...hahaha) Riley actually watched some of it too, but I guess it wasn't his kind of movie because he fell asleep about 20 minutes into it. Going to the movies around here is the cheapest entertainment. It's only $3 a ticket and I'm the only one of age that has to pay (atleast when it's just me and the boys). The big cost is keeping Caleb in popcorn during the whole movie. That boy can eat a large popcorn by himself and come looking for more when he's done.....

I AM A BUM

I AM A BUM!!! I haven't done any of Riley's mementos yet and I'm starting to wonder if I will...I did a scrapbook of my pregnancy with Caleb. I filled out his baby book before he was ever born. I have a scrapbook 6 inches thick of his first year which includes his birth annoucemet in two different newpapers. I have all his shot records filled out and I have a journal written of my pregnancy with him and then his birth day. What does Riley have???? A pregnancy scrapbook with 6 pages, a baby book with only his name written in it, and a journal that I stopped writing in 4 months before his birth.....

I AM A BUM!!!! I have become one of those moms with second child syndrome. I have no pictures of my second child on the walls. Shawn and I have made no attempt to take a new family picture. There is no birth announcement for Riley....and he's almost 3 months old....I don't give him a bath everyday, or every other day, or even every third day, it's whenever the spit up on his neck becomes cheese or when his toes hold enough sock fuzz to make a sweater....

I AM A BUM!!! I have become too relaxed with this second baby. Even calling him the "baby" instead of his name is being lazy. What happens?? Why is the first child so spoiled?? Where does the attention to details go?? Do we just not have the time?? (I'm using "we" here because I'm hoping that I'm not alone in my neglect)

I have got to put a stop to this!!! I am being a terrible mother. How will I answer the question in 10 years..."Mom, where are all my pictures?" I don't think the answer, "We'll son, I'm sorry that you weren't the first born." is going to go over very well with Riley. It just seems that my ability for time management has been lost somewhere between Caleb turning 2 and Riley being born.....or 4 months before Riley was born as my journal reflects......

brothers

Caleb is getting more active with his brother because Riley is starting to react more. I don't remember Caleb socializing this early. In mean, Riley is only 2 months old and he's laughing and cooing. If Riley is crying, I can ask Caleb to go talk to him and as soon as Caleb does, Riley stops crying. It's amazing, like they already have a relationship. If Caleb is playing trains, Riley loves to watch him and follows the trains around the track with his eyes. Maybe I'm crazy, but I swear Riley is doing more, earlier. All of you mothers of multiple children told me that younger kids develop faster, but I didn't think I'd see it so soon. I know I've said this a million times (and you'll probably hear it a million more), but I love having two boys. It just warms my heart so much to see them together.

Missing you

I woke up this morning with a heavy heart. As much as we have made this place our new home it's still difficult being so far away. And with the time difference it's hard to pick up the phone and just call someone you miss. So, I'm sending out this blog post to all those I love. I want you to know that I miss our conversations with a cup of coffee or with the kids running around like crazies or sitting around the pool telling mommy stories or going to the mall for a quiet stroll while window shopping. I miss having dinners together and play dates. I miss having shopping buddies (mom, Renee). I miss the kid swaps and the birthday parties. All of you make me feel excited about being me and I really miss that. I miss all of you so much and I just wanted you to know.

Father's Day

Shawn had duty on Saturday, so our father's day started with making pancakes before he got home. Caleb mixed up the batter while I prepped the griddle. This is one of Caleb's favorite things to do these days, help in the kitchen.

After Shawn got home, we had breakfast and then we headed out to the park. Riley was ready for some fun in the sun with his daddy.

As we walked to Makisia Park, we stopped along the way to smell the roses....and to get a great photo of the Eklund boys, except where is Riley??....oh Riley was in the baby bojourn with his face snug against my breasts fast asleep and didn't want to be disturbed for a photo opportunity. Oh well, these two Eklund boys made this photo shine!!!!

Caleb's new mode of transportation is jumping, so him and Shawn jumped across all the water fountains that spread across the sidewalk. At one point Caleb lost his balance and fell in. His socks and shoes were soaked, but he didn't care. It wasn't until he fell in and got his shorts wet that he got upset.

The park that we went to is full of water fountains. It's really beautiful and quiet. Some of the fountains are just simple, natural fountains and some are enormous that play music.

Of course, Caleb loved playing in them all.

It turned out to be a wonderful day. Caleb had so much fun spending the day with his daddy, and I had fun watching them.

A quiet and relaxed father's day, just what Shawn had wanted (I had wanted to go to Sea Paradise, a kind of Sea World, but I was vetoed...it wasn't mother's day!)

I love that we have these moments together. They seem so far and few in between the busy days of our lives, especially with Shawn gone so often. I know that today meant the world to Caleb and I know that Shawn felt a sense of pride in knowing that.

Happy Father's Day!

2 months old

Riley had his 2 month well-baby check up and he's a growing boy. He weighs 11.7 lbs. and is 24 inches long. His weight falls in the 50Th percentile and his height falls in the 75Th percentile. Caleb was the complete opposite, short and fat. It looks like Riley will tower over his big brother (very similar to Shawn's little brothers). The one commonality the boys have are small heads. Caleb's measurements always put him below the 25Th percentile and Riley's head circumference was only in the 10Th percentile.

Riley smiles now and loves to coo and talk. He likes to interact and Caleb is really starting to enjoy being with his brother. He likes to make him smile and laugh by tickling him (very gently, surprisingly) and by playing peek-a-boo. I love having two boys!!

Kamakura

On Saturday, we ventured out on our first family outing. We took the train to Kamakura and walked to see the "Big Buddha". It was a wonderful day...a long, long wonderful day. Caleb was so excited that we were going to ride the train. He thought that was the big adventure. After he rode the train, he was done.

Caleb and his daddy waved good-bye to all the trains as they came and went. Caleb was in heaven with all the trains.

It was about a 30 minute walk to the "Big Buddha" from the train station. Along the way there were all these little shops and restaurants and fruit markets. This was my favorite part of the day. I love seeing the everyday culture of the Japanese.

Once we reached the "Big Buddha" we took a rest and let Caleb eat a snack and have a drink. Shawn and I took the opportunity to take some pictures of us. We still make a cute couple, don't we?

There was a line of people waiting to wash their hands in this large wooden tub of water. My assumption is that you must present yourself clean before entering the area of the Buddha.

Here he his, The "Big Buddha". There were many offerings of flowers and fruit laid before him. And there was a constant burn of incense before him also.

Behind the Buddha was a rest area. It was so peaceful and quiet. The day was very enjoyable and we loved being together as a family.