Sunday, November 27, 2011

thoughts from last week

Times sure have changed... we were driving downtown and saw a homeless man talking on his cellphone. When I was growing up, youth didn't have cell phones, let alone homeless people.


Jenelle pointed out to me that I can't have milk, but i make it.  kind of crazy.


You know it has been a long time since you have worked out, when your almost 3 month old baby laughs at you trying to work out.  Apparently my jumping jacks were hilarious, and my lunges were giggle worthy.  Looks like even working out in the privacy of my own home can't keep me from being embarrassed. 


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

happy birthday

Tracen wanted to do something nice for Angie for her birthday, because he knows how good she is at singing.  he wasn't so good with the words, so we decided to nix them and reasoned that it's the thought that counts. 



Untitled from Alana Allred on Vimeo.

Happy Birthday Angie! Thanks for always being there for me, you are such a great friend, sister and mentor.  I sure love you!  

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

family picture

I have been meaning to post this family picture that Angie took on the day of Tracen's blessing.
Kind of looks like we took it in a studio, but we didn't. 

Right now I am having a competition with Tracen to see who can 'sing' louder. The only thing he might like better than singing lately is putting his fist in his mouth and/or licking it. 

Luke looked at some pictures from when he was born last night, and it made me cry. He used to be SO little - he is already almost 11 weeks old. Where does the time go?  

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

first doctors appointment

Last week Tracen had his first doctors appointment - a check up really.  Because we used a midwife, we didn't need to go see the doctor until about 2 months.
I can't believe how big he is getting (doesn't every mom feel that way?)


So at 9 weeks he:
weighed 12 lbs and 4 oz (50th percentile)
is 23 and 1/2 inches long (75th percentile)



He is so much fun, and everyday is just so exciting to see what new sounds he makes and things he discovers. 
 He loves to talk and loves to try to sing while you sing (or maybe he's trying to get us to stop singing?)

It is interesting to see what traits he has already inherited from us.  
Take this for example, he got his hand on a little candy bar and wouldn't let it go.  If anyone knows Luke, he LOVES candy and is rarely found without some sort of treat.  Looks like Tracen is already on to that. 


 And he has the Takahashi need to not miss anything, even if he's really tired, or maybe he gets his great apatite and ability to sleep from me (eating makes us sleepy, and sleeping makes us hungry)

Unfortunately our appointment with the US consulate did not go as planned in many ways.  It took a lot longer than it should have, we had to pay $5 to check an empty diaper bag and carry all his baby stuff (and go through security twice), and turns out Luke didn't live in the US long enough for this baby to get citizenship. So now with a US father, and green carded mother, we need to find a way to not run into any trouble when we go down to school again with our baby.  It may even be filing for a green card for baby...  here we go again!!
Luckily the blessings in our lives outweigh the trials, and we are becoming experts in US immigration rules and standards.  AND - we registered for classes yesterday and surprisingly Luke and I both got the classes we need and got it arranged so that we never have class at the same time, and are taking an online class together. I'm counting that as a major blessing.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

This Never Gets Old

Tracen is just one day shy of 9 weeks old.  He is such a good baby and a blast to play with and cuddle with.  


Trying to get good pictures of him smiling is tough though. Smiling for mom behind a camera isn't as good as smiling for mom sans camera. 


Sometimes he still has a real serious look and when he does it reminds me of Luke so much.  





But he really is such a good baby.
Last Thursday I had to venture back down to the USA for ANOTHER immigration appointment to try to finally actually get my green card (as if a trip to montreal and a trip to vancouver weren't enough). I scheduled an appointment for Helena, MT and Mom was gracious enough to drive us down, and Erika came along with us too.  I couldn't believe how good he was in the car and we only had to stop one time each way to feed the little guy.  He slept great at the hotel, and did great while we shopped.

My appointment was at 1pm and we got some good shopping done before it, and then we went there, and I wasn't sure exactly how long we would have to be there... my experience with these things is that you do more waiting than anything else.  Well - I should have known that in Helena I would be one of two people with appointments and things were quick and all I needed was my fingerprints done.  Turns out the people at the border neglected to gather those when I crossed. Hopefully this means I'll get my green card in the mail finally!


Then on saturday I got sick.  Gross, can't-keep-anything-down, and my-body-aches-in-every-joint, kind of sick. We stayed the night at mom and dads and I am so grateful for a wonderful husband, great mom and good sisters that helped to take care of me and Tracen.  I feel bad that I got mom sick, but so far her and I have been the only victims... and it wasn't fun.  Luke still is taking good care of me, especially since I've been weary of food.  He makes sure to keep me hydrated and trying to eat.

This week we are trying to get Tracen's US citizenship all figured out... seems like US immigration will always be on my to-do list in some form.







Tuesday, November 1, 2011

pictures... and halloween

to read about Halloween, you need to look through these pictures first... 

Tracen finally fits into his fortune cookie slippers Candi made him

You can see the fortunes sticking out. 


On Saturday i was able to have the old 3rd ward girls over to hang out (at least the ones that still live here we missed the rest of them)... 
It was really good to get together with friends, i don't do it enough. and our timing was good because Katelyn was due to have her baby soon, but we didn't know how soon (the next day).  I am so grateful that I was able to grow up with such a great group of people.  


this is our cute little guy after his bath... i am obsessed with Tracen.  I just think every moment with him is so special and fun.  


Tracen's first Halloween was a lot of fun!


He was our little monkey. 


We tried to put him in a pumpkin, i don't know who was more scared about it.. Jenelle or Tracen?


They both calmed down after we took him out:


now some more pictures of our little monkey.... he likes to try to stand, even though he still hasn't quite mastered holding up his head completely. 







This picture is funny to me, because Tracen is looking at Erika, who was holding up Candy to bribe him to look.  
He didn't even get to eat any, and it already works as a bribe, it's not his fault his dad has a major weakness for sugar.

Lincoln even got some cuddles with the monkey

Dad and Luke didn't dress up for Halloween.. or did they? I can't tell if Luke was dressing like Papahashi, or Papahashi like Luke.

 but being dressed as twins made them both happy.  And they even got some work done on our car.. the grease on their hands is proof.