HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD!!

Yesterday was my dad's birthday. He is such an awesome dad and Papa. He loves spending time with my kids, and they adore him. He's so fun, and everyone agrees, if you don't like Juan, there's usually something wrong with you. He has a great sense of humor, and he's a wonderful cook. He's compassionate. He's the kind of guy who'll give money to the people you see outside of wal-mart with signs, asking for money. He loves his family fiercely!! I am so grateful to have such a wonderful dad. I love you dad! Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Haley Jo

May 1st was Haley's Baptism and Birthday!!! I can't believe my baby is 8! It seems like just yesterday that she was born. Saturday was a great day. She was so excited that her birthday and her baptism fell on the same day. We had her baptism at the Stake Center, which is the same building that Kyle was baptized in when he was 8! She had a beautiful dress, which reminded me of a princess. The saleswoman said it really suited her. After the baptism, we had treats at our house with our family and friends. It was so nice. That afternoon, I took Haley and 4 of her friends (along with Leilani, of course), to MATC, Mountainland Applied Tech College, in American Fork. Their beauty school does up-do's, makeup and mini-manicures for $5 per girl! It was great. The girls had a blast. Afterwards, we came home, sang happy birthday, had cake, and opened presents. After all the girls went home, I crashed! We ended up having pizza that night for dinner. It was exhausting, but it was wonderful.

So it's been a looooong while, but I thought I'd go through my pictures, and catch everyone up. Haley Jo turned 7 on May 1. I can't believe my baby is 7. She's so much fun. I love the conversations we have. When she was born, we were so excited for this new little addition to our family. We had about 4 or 5 names picked out, but when I saw her, I knew she was a Haley. She weighed 6lb 14oz, and was our "whitest" child. She was so white, she was pink and mottled. After having Leilani, it was kind of a shock. She didn't tan until she was around 5, and even now, I have to make sure I put tons of sunscreen on her. She didn't have as much hair as Leilani did when she was born, but as it grew it, it was very curly. She looked like Shirley Temple. So cute! But, as cute as she was, she wasn't always easy. When she was first born, Kyle use to hold her and rock her to sleep every night. Then, when was about 6 months old, she decided she didn't want him anymore. She only wanted me. One night, I went to the temple with my parents, and Kyle stayed home with the kids. Afterwards, we went out for dinner. When my parents dropped me off at home, Haley was crying in her bassinet, and Kyle looked at me and said, "Where have you been?!" She had cried, and cried, and cried, and he finally had to put her down and walk away. As soon as I picked her up and held her, she stopped, the little twerp. This kind of thing happened a lot when she was little. My brother-in-law started calling her Haley Wailey. But, while she cried for everyone else, she was great for me! She loved to snuggle with me, and just be with mommy. I could take her anywhere. She was great. Finally, she started warming up to people, and now she loves her family. In fact, last month, I asked her, "Haley, who's your favorite person?" She looked at me and said, "Well, you're my favorite person, when Grandma Cookie isn't here, but she is when she's here." My mom was in the other room, and she started laughing! She loved it. Finally, Grandma Cookie is her favorite.

Haley loves her family a lot. She loves spending time with her brother and sister, and playing with her cousins. She enjoys singing and dancing and watching princess movies. She's going into the 2nd grade this fall, and will be starting the Spanish Immersion program, just like Leilani. She's excited and scared all at the same time. She is such a joy in our lives, and we are so grateful for this special girl. We love you Haley Jo.

Sweet Baby James

Today is my son's 12th birthday. James was born at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center, on April 22, 1997. He was 26 weeks premature, and weighed 1lb 13oz., and was 13 inches long. I was in labor all day the day before, and I didn't know it. I just thought that I was having Braxton Hicks contractions, not realizing that they were regular, and the real deal. At 9pm, while getting ready for bed, my water broke. At first, I thought I wet my pants. I had heard that that could happen, and I was so embarrassed. I ran to the bathroom, and that's when I realized that it was my water. We were terrified. My parents were in Georgia when it happened, and they rushed to Utah to be with us. The arrived the day after he was born and stayed for over a week with us. James had to be born by c-section because he was breech, so not only did I have my baby premature, but I had to be cut open to get him out! Not a fun experience. When James was born he was given a 40% chance of survival. That first night one of his lungs collapsed. He was on an oscillator for one month, a ventilator for one month, and oxygen for several months. James stayed in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit for almost 3 months. He actually came home before his due date, which was a wonderful thing. At the age of 5, our pediatrician diagnosed James with Autism. Right now, the school psychologist is in the process of testing James for Asperger's Disorder. Click here for more information on Asperger's.

James is such a light in our lives. His closest friends are his dad, and his papa (my dad). He calls them both his best buds. He loves to watch movies, play with pipe cleaners, and read stories about action hero's. He loves Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Batman, Superman, Indiana Jones, Wolverine, Transformers, basically Comic book hero's. He has a strong love for his Heavenly Father and his Savior. He adores his sisters, and even told an aid in his classroom that he would die for them (that made her cry). Words cannot fully express how grateful I am to have this wonderful boy in my life. He has taught me so many things about love and patience. He's taught me how to forgive and forget, and how to love those around me. He's a person without guile, and cries for others when they are hurt. I am so proud to be his mom.