Koa's Love

I can't really remember when it all started, but it was well past the deadline of signing up for a team that Kekoa first showed interest in soccer.  We were not sure if it was just a passing thing - he's had interests from superheroes to horses to spies that came and went.  But this interest continued throughout the winter season.  He waited patiently until I could put him on a waiting list for Spring and then to find out if he'd been placed on a team and then until his first practice.  Well, today he had his first game.  We were all so excited.  Kyle helped him get ready in his uniform and even gave him a fancy good-luck-hairdo (we had to convince him to be a little unconventional:).  I was worried when I first heard his game was this Saturday because I knew it was Conference weekend, but happily his game was the hour before and we didn't have to make the hard decision of what to do. 
It was a great game - Kekoa even scored a goal - and we are so excited to support and follow him in his new passion.  Who knows how long it will last, but for now it is great exercise and even motivation to be good and get his homework done : )

6 weeks

One of these days I'll get caught up with posting some newborn pics of Akoni.  For now, here is one I took today. It is amazing how slow the end of a pregnancy goes and how fast it is afterward.  Already 6 weeks, wow.
I love this picture because it captures his beautiful colored eyes.  I don't think they will stay colored (Ikaika had green eyes until he was 6 months and then they went brown), so I'll enjoy them this way and then love brown later.  He is a typical newborn for me anyway and having some troubles with his tummy and a bit of reflux, but we hope to get medicine for it soon.  He is also starting to focus more and smile.  The other day Kekoa saw him smile for the first time.  He was so excited and said, "He's coming to life!"

Blessing Way

Today we blessed Akoni.  It was quite the event to prepare for with making his outfit, getting the house and meal ready for friends and family.  I also thought it was madness to try and get all 5 kids ready for church for the first time (we've missed church until today because of a late RSV season, doctors orders) and have a clean house as everyone was headed to our place right after.  Whew, I am tired just remembering all that we got done.  But it all turned out beautifully.  Kyle gave Akoni the sweetest blessing.  How grateful I am for a husband who can give our children blessings to help them in their lives.  I enjoyed being back to church and feeling the peace and strength of feeling the Spirit.  And it was wonderful to be surrounded by friends and family we love so much.  

My mom was visiting for Spring break and as any devoted mother would do, she stayed and made the frybread for all of us and then left to drive 8 hours back AZ because of work the next morning.  I grabbed a few pictures of her with Akoni before she left.  Here are three pictures - we always tease mom that she has her eyes closed in half her pictures.  I wasn't up for swapping heads so here are a few to get the best of mom and Akoni.

 

And here are pictures I took of Akoni in the studio before hand - what a sweetheart :)

His blessing outfit was a traditional Navajo outfit with the velvet shirt and pants.  I also made his faux moccasins.  His bolo tie was one that belonged to my twin brother when he was small.  We were happy Akoni could borrow it for the special occasion.

I hope I didn't miss the mark of the blessing in all the things that surrounded the event.  I just wanted it to be special as we recognize the great, great blessing of adding another child to our family.  And we couldn't be happier to have him : )

Pretty Pretty Princess

The celebration is coming for our sweet Imi girl . . .

Terrific Twos

(Maybe if we approach this year with a positive attitude it will be not so terrible two-ish . . . )

 
So today our princess turned two :) I thought all morning about the day she was born. It seems like it just happened.  I can't believe I now have another little one and she's two. Amazing how time flies.
We are going to celebrate her birthday more this coming weekend with family that's coming into town, but I couldn't miss a chance to give her a cake on her actual birthday.
I tried my hand yet again at baking and finally came out on top with a cream cheese pound cake. It was so yummy with strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

It was a great evening and a great day.  I watched her all day and thought if how grateful I was to have her.  My only regret was not being able to hold her to sleep today.  At nap and bedtime both I was needed by Akoni.  I'll have to make up for it throughout the week.
Since it was Monday, we include her in the FHE lesson tonight. We talked about Daughters of God and how precious they are and how the boys need to treat them well and respect them.  It was a prefect finish to the day.  We love our princess Ka'imi!!!

Headed Home

It is so nice to get ready to leave the hospital and go home.  I cut out the major pain meds and finally feel more like myself.  It felt great to get out of the hospital gown and get ready to check out.  Feeling better gave me a chance to try and capture some pictures of our two-day old darling.  I love these that I got.

 

We are excited to welcome our sweet Akoni to our crazy home full of kids, messes, craziness, quarreling and lots of love.

Introducing Akoniho'opono Baahozho Reyes

There is so much to blog about with many more pictures to come, but for now, I thought you'd like to meet our new little prince, Akoni.

Kekoa's Kick

The other day I commented to Kyle that I needed to get Kekoa's valentine's cards done for school.  He was puzzled and said, "Don't you just buy a pack of those little cards and hand them out." I teasingly responded, "Not Michele Reyes' kids" and smiled.  Not that I am snobby or anything - it is just a fun project for me every year to create some kinda of card with a picture I take.  Since Kekoa loves soccer so much we went with that theme and this is what we came up with.  I bought some little chocolate soccer balls that we will glue to the card as well.  I think it turned out cute :)
I will also be doing another one of all the kids, but I have to wait until this darling boy decides to make an appearance before I can get that finished so it might end up being right before or even after Valentine's Day.  But it'll be cute regardless :)

Imi's Loves

Keeping up with this blogging thing :) Here is Ka'imi with two of her favorite things: mixed nuts and her baby doll.  Yeah kinda funny, but she loves nuts (I am so glad she isn't allergic to any of them so far).  So here she is just chilling, eating her snack.

 

And here is the baby Santa brought her for Christmas.  It has been a perfect size for her.  She gets a kick out of her being swaddled so I took some time one day (decided to get it done before I got busy with a new baby) to make her a swaddle blanket.  It has a little pouch to slide her in and then velcro pieces to keep the blanket together in a nice swaddle.  I also threw together a little headband so that she could be cute like Ka'imi :)  

She loves her baby doll.  It has been so fun for me to see those natural instincts come out.  It was one of the things I looked forward to the most even before she was born.  Sometimes I just sit and watch her play mommy and just enjoy how sweet it all is.