Winter Wonders 2012: Christmas 2012

 

 

This was a great Christmas season!  As always this is the time to see family that we haven't seen in months, eat great food, and relax. 

Fantastic Fall 2012: Pumpkin Patch Animals

 My little Munchie just loves animals, so when we went to the petting zoo at the pumpkin patch I knew she would enjoy it!

Fantastic Fall 2012: Halloween

This Halloween I decided to take Christiana to the Santa Monica Barker Hangar.  Every year the Santa Monica police department turns the Hangar into a safe place for kids to go for halloween.  Last year she really couldn't enjoy it so I took her again, and I think this is where we will go for the next few years.  PLUS they really go all out and the kids get tons of goodies! 

Fantastic Fall 2012: Pumkin Patch Cousin Love

Christiana loves her big cousin Taylor and Taylor loves her little cousin.  This year I got to experience the Taylor sisters pumpkin patch tradition.  This is when my mother in law and her sisters take their Little's to the pumpkin patch, take tons of pictures, pick out pumpkins, and they pick out matching trinkets for each of their homes.  Last year daddy Teems took Munch, so this year I looked forward to partaking in their family tradition!

Summer Lovin': Playdate in Long Beach

I just looove playdates!  Playdates gives Christiana an opportunity to hang with her extended family and also gives me a break from being her entertainment.  I know, I know we could have another baby so she could have someone to play with but we aren't ready for that just yet (give us another year or so for that), so right now it's mommy/daddy and playdates.

This time we went to the Long Beach Aquarium and boy did they love it! 

Check out my sister friends and their upcoming bundle of joys. Christiana will have 2 more boy cousins to play with! Yaaay!

Cousin Love: Adventures In Babysitting

Chello I would like to introduce myself, I am auntie Shana to Christiana Faith and mommy of Chineye's other child Gio. Chineye suggested I give my perspective on the day in the life of babysitting Ms. Christiana Faith. So usually Shana is the first on the list to have playtime with ladybug and I always jumped at the chance.

This will be the most recent of playtime's being this Sunday evening, so Gio and I usually get to the house around 6:45ish as mommy and daddy get ready for their night out. Chineye stops a few times to give me the run down of what foods are available

(which she usually asks in advance what types of snack we'd like) and updates me on Ladybug's new food she is into, then off to finish beautifying herself (which she always looks gorgeous) while I begin my time with Ladybug and Gio, we typically continue watching whatever children's show she was in to at the moment, she keeps me laughing with her dancing and sing a long happiness.
This time Ladybug was of course in naked baby status being in just a diaper which is the cutest thing when the little ones just wear diapers, and she was just so happy when I walked in the door, well this particular time instead of continuing in her dancing she went to her cousin Gio and from that moment on Christiana became Gio's shadow. Gio being the big cousin that he is had no problem with having her tag along his every movement which literally was his every movement. It started with him sitting on the floor and she goes to sit right next time him as he watched TV, then for a sort moment she was showing me the confetti shakers from mommy's cupcake decorations, being the teacher that I am each one she brought to me I ask her, "What color is this one?" and in the best way she could would reply and I would repeat the color she said then I proceed to ask "Which one is the...?' which Ladybug would correctly point out the color shaker I was asking.

Now her attention is on mommy and daddy who looking beautiful and ready to step out for the night, but not before they have moment captured with a photo op. As we step outside to take the photo we hear Christiana cry as she knows they are leaving and Auntie is now not in sight. I quick click away and return inside to console my baby, she abruptly stops and we go to big cousin Gio who has decided to play on the drums of uncle Rickey's Rock Band game.

We spent a good 15 minutes making up our own songs and taking turns being the lead singer, when cousin was finally done playing Christiana became his shadow once again. It was like Mary had a Little Lamb Christiana being the lamb, I must say I love my son for being so patient and understanding of his cousin and even his baby sister. I would laugh as he would go sit down on the couch and followed by his shadow who had a little bit of a tough time climbing up there to sit right next to him then to get up. I watched them interact this way for about an hour, then it was time to eat so as I was getting their food together we sat and watch Vh1 Soul to bring down the mood to get them in the mind frame of bedtime.
Food is ready they chow down on some corn dogs on the floor and Christiana made it appoint to sit in front of her cousin and face him so they could eat together they pray and dig in. They finish eating begin to play some more follow cousin Gio, diaper change which and time to lay down. I set up their blankets and pillows on the floor and grab Ladybug and lay her on my chest to aid in her sleep soon she is out and I place her on the floor next time cousin though he is still awake and conclude our interaction session for the night. I update mommy via text about the night and when they return as usual give the run down of our time together, to which Ladybug always wakes up as soon as they walk in (missing mommy and daddy). after the run down Christiana is then scooped up my either mom or dad and hauled off to cuddle. Then I lay next to my lil guy and chill feeling great we had another successful auntie, niece and cousin time.

"But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 19:14

Cousin love: Hanging with Tutti at the beach

I just love summer vacation!  I love it even more because it means I get to spend more time with Munchie and get out and about with her.  Well one of our out and about days was spent at Mother's beach in Marina Del Rey with her auntie and cousin Tutti.  I don't think we spent any of our summer vacation days with them (they usually hang out with each other when we have date nights) so hanging out in the daytime was good for everyone.  This is such a great beach for families!  Of course it's a man made beach, but it's perfect for kids.  The water is shallow enough for them and there's even a jungle gym for them to play on if they decide not to get their feet wet or get tired of the water.

When we got to the beach Christiana didn't like the feel of the sand.  She stopped walking after taking 2 steps, it was almost like she was frozen for a few seconds.  So we did a little "step, step" action; every time I took a step I would say "step" and then she would do the same.  Once we finally made it to our spot on the sand, she was ready for the water (just like in her swim class). :O)  She grabbed her auntie's hand and started pulling her towards the water.  My little dare devil baby kept trying to release my hand so she could go off by herself!  Who does she think she is?  So I would bring her towards the shore where she didn't necessarily need to hold my hand.

After they got tired of splashing, we pulled out the beach toys and they played with one another in the sand.  Of course they wanted to play with the toys that the other one had, it was a good thing that both me and Angel had similar toys for them to play with.  Pat on the back of us mommies! :O)

Once that got old, we dried them off and had snacks.  Of course my little water baby wanted to get back in the water!  No way Jose!  We spent about 2 hours at the beach and after that we headed home to get them ready for their naps.  Within 5 minutes of driving home Munchie was knocked out in the back seat & I can only imagine that Tuttie was the knocked out on the way home too.  :O)

Cousin love: Munchie & Sarai on the 4th of July

This 4th of July Christiana got to hang with her big cousin Sarai (Rai as she says it).   I'm glad that Unc-key Ray decided to stay and celebrate the 4th with us because it gave the girls an opportunity to play with one another. They don't get to see each other as often as I would like (I mean they are literally 1 year apart - Christiana 2/22/11 & Sarai 2/19/10) so every chance they can play with one another is great.  

So how did these two little ones play with each other?  They shared stickers; Sarai had a book of Dora the Explorer stickers and they were putting them all over the place.  They watched a little Dora the Explorer; they are both HUGE fans!  The both sat in the big chair and watched it together.  The girls played a little "catch" with one another, of course they don't quite know how to catch but watching them toss the ball and running after it was great!  I really enjoyed watching them interact with one another.  Of course they couldn't really couldn't have a conversation with each other but watching them mimic how adults talk to each other was very cute.  Everything Sarai did Munchie wanted to do and vice versa (remember they both wanted to have Nana's attention). 

   

Cousins are different beautiful flowers in the same garden -Anonymous

Cousin love...hugs

Family fun: 4th of July with my momma & the grill master

This year we Daddy Teems suggested that we spend the fourth of July at my momma's house, of course I agreed this would give her and Christiana more bonding time.  My momma isn't the type that likes to have get togethers (as for me I love them!) so when I asked if it was okay she was a little hesitant.  I told her she didn't have to worry about anything and we would clean up our mess afterwards, when I said that she was like "cool!".  I let daddy Teems know, from there he planned the menu, went grocery shopping, and did the damn thing.  His menu for us was: Roasted Garlic grilled Chicken, Pinot Grigio soaked Lemon Pepper Tilapia, turkey links, grilled squash, asparagus, and peppers, and seasoned sweet corn.  Everyone grubbed out, even my food critic momma (she could open up her own restaurant if she wanted to) and vegetarian expert poppa Mat.  I must say that daddy Teems was the total grill master!

grill master Teems!

While daddy Teems was on the grill, the rest of us kicked back and had some quality time with one another.  My brother (Unc-key as he likes to be called) even changed his plans to hang with us.  Actually having all of there (with the exception of my sister (TiTi Joy):O( ) really meant a lot to my momma.  My momma got to spend some time with 2 of her 3 grand babies.  As a matter of fact Christiana and Sarai were competing with one another for her attention.  When one would play with her, the other would come over and play with her.  Kids are funny.  My momma got a kick out of this because on a regular day they wouldn't sit in her lap on their own one of us would have to tell them to go to Nana  :O)  She totally embraced and loved all of the attention from her girls. 

I am very thankful and appreciative for daddy Teems for suggesting this.  With my momma being back at work I don't get to see her that often and when I do it's very rushed because I have to go home for my second shift (wife & mommy); so to be able to spend some unrushed time with her was great!  Throughout the day she would say thank you for coming over and spending time with her.

You don't choose your family, they are God's gift to you, as you are to them.
Desmond Tutu

Cousin love: Awww don't cry cousin

 This past weekend we had the pleasure of babysitting our niece Tutti while her parents had a date night (remember date nights are important).  We watched movies, ate yummy snacks, danced our little hearts out, and had multiple tea parties.  These girls are tooo cute!  Everything one girl had, the other had to have.  Whatever one did the other did too.  :O)  Kids are funny. 


I totally give kudos to parents with more than one child, especially around bedtime.  Trying to divide time up between two or more kids is tough, even with help. 

 Around bedtime both girls were totally delirious; they were bouncing all over the place, could barely walk straight, and at times a little moody.  So daddy Teems & I decided to try to put the girls to sleep.  Munchie with me & Tutti with him.  Weeell needless to say that's when Tutti realized that her mommy has been "at the store" for a very long time (she's used to falling asleep with her) she started crying.  No matter what we did or said it didn't stop the crying.  At first Tutti's crying caused Munchie to start and we were both like "oh nooo!", but then Christiana started trying to console her.  Awwww! It was the sweetest thing.  She must have saw her daddy patting her on the back because she walked over and started patting her on her leg.  The look on Munchie's face was like "don't cry cousin".  Even though her cousin was trying to console her, Tutti still wanted her mommy.  Then we decided to switch, me with Tutti & daddy with Munchie.  Weeell I tried the mommy cuddle, singing, and even playing (I tried pouring her some "tea" from her tea set). 

Wellll Christiana saw me do this and decided that she wanted to give her some "tea" as well.  That was toooo cute.  Munchie really wanted to help her cousin stop crying so they can play again.  Munchie loves Tutti, and Tutti loves Munchie...but there's no love like a mother & daughter love (boy do I know about that).  Tutti wanted her mommy to rock her to sleep and if you ask daddy Teems Munchie is the same way.  :O)

All in all it was a great night and it gave the Teems family a little taste of what it would be like if we had 2 kids.  ;OP  No rush in the Teems household.

Cousins are those childhood playmates who grow up to be forever friends.
Anonymous

Cinco, cinco! Family, friends, & food!

I just loooove Mexican food so this past Cinco de Mayo my sister friends & I had a fiesta/playdate.  This was the perfect oportunity for us to catch up with everyone in one setting and let our children play together with some yummy food.

With all the craziness in the world I feel our kids should grow up together.  Our parents in so many ways "selected" the friends we hung out with & we should do the same. 

Thanks a bunch Jaimie for hosting our fiesta/playdate. :O)

As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27: 17(NKJV)