Too much excitement!!

Okay moms, ready for a story that will make your heart race???

This starts out with something very positive: We bought a minivan!! We traded in our 2002 Camry (which was a pretty fantastic car, actually, just getting too small with 2 big carseats in a couple of months. Plus, space for gear, luggage, etc? Forget it.) We found a GREAT deal with low payments and reasonable financing on a 2005 Toyota Sienna and we're so excited about it!!

Almost.

This afternoon changed my mind for a few minutes.

Did you know that the newer Toyotas automatically lock all the doors when they are closed? REGARDLESS OF IF YOU'RE KEYS ARE IN THE CAR.

Here's what happened:

I had just finished up taking the kids to the park. I unlocked the car and opened both rear sliding doors. I parked the stroller behind the trunk, put Jakiah in on 'his' side, threw my keys on the front seat (as I've done hundreds of times in the Camry so that I don't leave them in the trunk or drop them) and shut Jakiah's slider. I walked around to Kalaya's side, strapped her in her carset and shut the automatic sliding door on her side. I then turned to walk back to open the trunk to put the stroller and gear away and HEARD ALL OF THE LOCKS LOCK. I had not pushed or done anything.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

BOTH KIDS were strapped in their carseats, my keys were on the front seat and the CAR LOCKED ME OUT!!!

At this point, I almost sh** a brick.

By the grace of God, I had my phone. (though, I could have run into the rec center to use the phone)

VERY LUCKILY, it was not very hot today and Jakiah fell asleep and Kalaya was fine.

I tried to get her to unfasten her carseat so that she could unlock the car, but (I guess it's a good thing in the long run!) she couldn't do the buckle.

I called a locksmith and as soon as they heard that there were kids in the car, they immediately told me to call the police.

So, I called 911, stayed calm and the fire truck arrived and got into the van without damaging it even.

The whole process took less than 1/2 an hour.

And, the kids were FINE. A little sweaty, but fine.

I am thankful for cell phones, a sleeping baby and fast firemen. (who happened to be quite good looking and let Kalaya get up in the truck and gave her stickers) This could have been a horrible, dangerous, life threatening situation to my children, so I'm grateful it wasn't.

But still.

And, Toyota already got a (polite but firm) ear full about this. And, they were pretty understanding and nice about it.

Too much excitement on a Sunday afternoon folks!!

But, Dairy Queen made everyone feel much better.

I would have taken FULL responsibility for it being my fault, but I had no idea the car would do that!!! So, I will now be hanging onto my keys and ALWAYS OPENING A WINDOW AS SOON AS WE UNLOCK THE CAR.

What a day.

Ketchup

Okay, so I don't really blog any more. Since I finally joined the world of now old technology and got a smart phone a few months back, I really don't sit at the computer any more. I've figured out how to do pretty much everything I used to do on a computer with my phone, except blog or anything else that requires typing more than a quick paragraph. (which explains why I don't respond to emails very quickly too...)

Here's a catch up (ketchup, get it?) on happenings in our house lately:

*Summer!! I am so happy for the sun and warm weather! It's so nice to have an Oregon summer. It makes me appreciate this state so much. I try to remember that this weather is coming, when I'm stuck inside with a toddler in the middle of February and it's been raining for 45 straight days. Summers here are SO pleasant and just perfect. 75-85 degree days, 60 degree (or cooler) nights, and no humidity! We've had a few hotter days and our house has central air!!! It's such a blessing and works really well. Finally, something I love about this house. : )

*Speaking of which, I want to do some posts about our house. We are really trying to get some things done and in order, especially in the yard. Pinterest has given me some ideas for all areas of decorating and yard. Some day I may actually implement them and blog about it.

*Kalaya is enrolled in pre school!! I cannot believe it. I 100% cannot believe we're already to this. But, we are very excited! Her school is a-may-zing. I cannot wait for her to go there. I am so happy with the decision we made about this school and hope it will go as well as we think it will. I plan to write a longer blog about this soon, but, you are welcome to look at their website!!

*LOTS of summer activities lately; trips to the park, playing in the sprinkler and wading pool in the yard, trying our our new (hand me down, but awesome and FREE) play structure, going to the beach, pj and pancake day with our mommy group, picking blueberries at Oma and Grandpa's house, pedicures, going to the farm to pick raspberries and feed goats and chickens, visiting friends and watching the Olympics!

*It's not all peaches and cream. We are trying to figure out poor little Jakiah's tummy. He is doing SO GREAT with solids, but he keeps getting backed up. We've avoided white rice cereal, apple sauce and bananas, but it's still happening. He loves everything we feed him, which is totally amazing, but he is having days where he screams and strains to poop and it's so awful to see. Luckily, he will eat prune juice mixed with his (organic brown) rice cereal, and that seems to help the problem. I also made apricots from rehydrated, dried apricots and it is helping too. I'm going to make kale and spinach and hope that moves things along too. Poor guy!

*Jakiah had his 6 month appointment yesterday and Dr. Ruby says he looks great! He is in 9 month clothes these days and weighed in at 16lbs 1/2 oz. He is 26 1/2 inches long. He's busy growing! We're starting to introduce signing at meal times and he's sorta maybe thinking about rolling over. He is happy, healthy, loves his family, especially his sister, and is a joy to be around! Teething is still an issue, though has improved. I have no idea whatsoever how much he wakes up at night, because I am barely conscious when I roll over to nurse and fall back asleep. I know it doesn't work for everyone, but co sleeping is still a blessing at this house!

6 Months

Half a year has gone by!! HALF A YEAR PEOPLE!!! (not to mention that minor detail 9 months that already flew by….and the three years…..sigh. They’ll be off to college before we know it!)

(side note: Jakiah, if some day you find this blog and wonder why the heck I posted so much when it was just your sister and had a hard time posting often about you, it’s not because I love you any less, I PROMISE!!! It’s because I’m choosing to spend time WITH you and your sister, rather than on the computer!!!!)

6 months marks some milestones for Mr. Jakiah! We have started solid foods! My blender has been busy, busy! It’s nice to be making baby food in the SUMMER this time; so many fresh options! And, Jakiah doesn’t seem to have the texture issues that Kalaya had and is doing great with solids! Avacado is his clear favorite right now, but he has also had pears, bananas and sweet potatoes. Peaches, broccoli, squash and blueberries are ready and waiting. I really do love making my own baby food and it saves SO much money! And, it doesn’t take quite as much time as you may think at this point; either steam and mix with breast milk or just mix with breast  milk, blend, pour into ice cube trays and freeze!  LOVE IT! He’s also been experimenting with a sippy cup of water, which is more fun to gum on at this point; when he gets water by accident, his faces are extremely entertaining!

 Rice cereal really hasn't been a big hint, we just did it the one time.

(now I mix it with the food purees)

" Mom, I got this!"

 Seriously.

Yum!

 Not sure. (seriously, I barely count that junk as food)

 Mmmm, avocado, much better!!

 Delish!

  ...Sorta.

 This sippy cup is awesome!

 ...to teethe on.

 Alright, a little help.

No problem.

Poor Mr. Jakiah has been a fussy guy the last couple of weeks; we think a tooth (or 2!) are working really hard to get their way out! I was nursing every 45 minutes at night for the last 2 weeks. Add staying up until midnight every night to watch the Olympics (yes, my own choice, can’t complain about that one…) and I have been ONE. TIRED. MAMA. He has wanted to be held all the time, needs to nurse totally to sleep (been a lot of remembering Miss Kalaya’s first few months….), screaming randomly without able to be comforted, etc, etc.  However, I finally broke down and remembered to buy Hyland’s teething tablets and YEEEEESSSSSSS!!!! A miracle. Totally worth $15 or whatever it was for the little bottle. He is back to sleeping four hour blocks at night and 1-2 hour naps, going to sleep on his own. HALLELUJAH CHORUS PEOPLE!!!! (hopefully I did not just jinx myself!!!)

He is also getting very active which I think has affected his sleep as well. He has always been a tummy sleeper (yeah, yeah, save me the lecture) and now he immediately flips himself over and wakes himself up, wanting to keep playing. Again, TIRED MAMA. We’ll get there though. I do know it’s just a phase and that Mommy watching the Olympics is too, just a phase. ; )  (Come on, the women’s gymnastics all around is tonight!!)

He is honestly the cutest, sweetest boy though! He is so social and smiley and just gets smiles and laughs everywhere he goes. He is getting so interested in the world around him, so observant, holding and looking at everything he can and, of course, testing EVERYTHING in his mouth. I think rolling isn’t too far in the future, he doesn’t stay in one place any more, wiggly, wiggly!! We got out the Jumperoo, which he’s having fun jumping in.

Our summer has calmed down a bit, since our unexpected trip and I’m grateful. We’ve been focusing on playing, relaxing and enjoying the GORGEOUS Oregon summer weather. Keep it coming!!