Eden's Lens

For whatever reason, right around the time Eden was turning two she decided she was deathly afraid of having her picture taken and for whatever reason that sensation sort of stuck. Not the deathly afraid part but the complete distaste. To this day, getting her to take a pic is well, lets just say it's not really worth the trouble that it causes. However somewhere in between she became captivated with taking pictures. So much so that we decided to buy her a cheap camera for her birthday. Of course we ordered it online, and it turns out to be junk and she wants nothing to do with it. Finally we gave in, and just let her use ours. It happened one day while we were climbing and sort of snow balled from there. Now I will experience moments of utter peace and quiet in the house, go off to search for Eden to see what sort of mischief she is up to, only to find her huddled in a dark corner with the camera in her little paws - trying  desperately to hide that fact that she has been sneaking pics with it. Other times she will sneak the pics, put the camera away then come to tell me what cute pictures she had taken that I should come see. The pics below are some of my favorite pics of hers from our trip and at home. I think her perspective is captivating at least in the sense that I can see what she finds interesting. 

She took a ton of pictures like this. Not sure if she was trying to take pictures of the clouds reflection or she was trying to take pictures of fish...hard to say. Maybe none of the above.

This might be one of my favorite pictures of all time

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She was raving to me about the pics she took of the patio furniture. This was the best one of the group, I had to post it cause she was just so proud of it.

This is in my closet. One of her favorite places to sneak of photosesh

This one seems to be in the spirit of her Grandpa Lew

I also want to write a few words about Eden while I am on the subject. Just an additional update into her personality...

Eden is super into her imaginary friends lately. She has several from the botanical gardens that we often visit in Encinitas. There are some garden/bush sculptures there which take the shape of various animals. Some wear glasses, while some read books; they are very cute and Eden became quite captivated with one whom she named "Aga" and speaks of him often. There is also a bunny there whom I am apparently married to, or he is my friend or something. All these guys are an active part of Eden's everyday play but there is one character who goes everywhere with Eden and that is Nanny. Eden has been fascinated with Nanny from the beginning, often asking to go visit her and referencing times that she has visited her in the hospital. I think we first really noticed it when we were in Kauai last Fall. She mentioned Nanny a lot, which kind of worried us in a weird way - like something was wrong with Nanny while we were away. But it turns out that Eden is just really into Nanny for whatever reason. Lately Nanny is by Eden's side everywhere she goes, imaginary Nanny that is. Oftentimes her room will be "off limits" cause "Nanny is sleeping in there", or I will be told to watch my step because "Nanny is standing right there". It is such a trip, but it is super endearing. I don't have any great recent pics of Eden and Nanny, such a bummer, but I guess it has just been too hectic every time we go to visit. Next time we visit I am going to make a concerted effort to get a picture of Eden and Nanny together...

Zion's ONE!

It is hard for me to believe that at this very time last year I was on my way to the hospital hoping against hope that the pains I was experiencing would finally be the pains of labor that would deliver my baby boy. The days that my two babies were born were by far the happiest days of my life. Each year that I get to celebrate that day with them is a blessing beyond measure. 

That being said, I must admit that I had trouble getting motivated to throw Zion a big 1st birthday party. We decided to do it a week early so that his school teaching aunts could attend. Perhaps because it was a week early, I felt like we just threw Eden's party and I could not bring myself to invite basically the same people to set aside another day to celebrate one of our kids. Kind of sounds awful in writing. But we ended up just having family, and I have to say it was absolutely the perfect 1st birthday. I can't imagine anything better. Even his great aunt and second cousins from San Diego made the trip up to celebrate with us which was such an extra special treat. The only people that were missing were, Jen, Terrik & Easton, which was sad, but they were with us in spirit. 

These three were doing some form of this the entire party.

Zion's 1st boogie!

Zion & Ben

I love the way Zion is looking at my mom here.

Zion is super into feeding me lately. He is always trying to share his food. It's kind of sweet.

Cousin Robin & baby Cruz (15mo(?))

Cousin Wendy & baby Davi (4wks)

Believe it or not, this is Zi trying to stand

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The pics below are from Zion's actual birthday (today) (except for the xylophone pic). Today I kind of went all out. Eden and I filled his crib with balloons (didn't get any good pics) which Zion & Eden LOVED, we made him banana pancakes for breakfast, carrot cake for the afternoon celebration with the Wallas and his favorite Mac&Cheese for dinner. I got so carried away in the kitchen this morning that I actually missed Eden's swim class altogether. But they let us go to a later class and afterward we headed to the beach with Mimmi & the boys. The waves were a little rough today so Zi did not get to boogie, which I think he was a bit disappointed about, but he was super stoked to hang with cousin Ben, mowing crackers and digging holes. Later in the day the Wallas came over to open presents and have some cake & watermelon popsicles. This literally feels like the birthday that never ends, but thats what first birthdays are for right?

Eden & I made Zion his favorite breakfast this morning

Zi & Ben are becoming pretty close these days. In fact, Zi could not be troubled to open presents this evening. All he wanted to do was play with Ben & Max

So stoked on the xylophone - already making music with it!

Zi was amping on his watermelon pop - thank you Auntie Tracy!!

Zi was playing with this fire truck right up until bedtime tonight. He has perfected getting on it, but gets super frustrated that he can't make it go (his feet don't quite touch yet) so he just yells and yells till someone comes to help him off or he gets a push. And Eden is stoked on it too. She got some firefighter boots for her birthday, which she has constantly been rescuing people in, and now she thinks she has the truck to make rescues with too. It's pretty cute.

Zion's 1st Pony Ride

I took the kids to Zoomers a week or two ago and Zion went on his first pony ride! Zion has really seemed to turn a corner when it comes to animals. For a while he was incredibly afraid of all animals. He would shake and cry if a dog or cat came near him. Now he is still quite timid but getting much more brave. He will try to pet them then loose his nerve and start crying. It is actually pretty cute and endearing. Anyway, he was incredibly brave about the horse ironically. And seemed to really love going on the pony ride. This is something that Eden would have never done at his age. Pretty interesting how they can be such different souls. Where Eden is too brave around animals, Zi seems too shy (with the pony being an exception), and in terms of accomplishing feats Eden is often very reserved while Zi is often too daring. 

Happy Birthday Grampy!

Last Sunday was my Dad's birthday. We spent the day with Grammy & Grampy, cousin Easton, Aunt Jenny and Uncle Terrik. I left the kids at my parents house to go to a wedding in San Diego that afternoon. When I left Eden was so busy playing with Easton that she barely said good-bye. I love the way she and Easton play and wish he lived closer so we could play together more. Eden and Zi also had a blast spending the night with Grammy and Grampy. I couldn't believe how well they both slept. Eden loves her little room at Grammy's house, and Zi did great in the pack and play.