The Matsoso Clan

Baby #3 and Update on kids

2012-01-30T06:21:00.001-08:00

I have not posted in awhile...I have had morning sickness which always make me refuse to do anything. We are excited for our baby #3 due in mid August! I wanted to write up a few things on Calvin and Kyla cause they are at such a cute age right now.

Calvin:

He loves:

-Being chased - He has loved being chased since he could first crawl and his passion for it doesn't seem to end. He begs me and Moema to race him about 300x a day and we can't really beat him anymore, he has the advantage cause he is small and can take the corners easier to block us out. It gets tiring sometimes but I like to give him a least a few races everyday - but it never seems to be enough for him:)

-Tackling his sister- another one that he seems to have been born with, his need to wrestle all those around him, luckily his sister loves it usually, unless it gets to rough.

-Cars, Trucks, Monster trucks, garbage trucks, cranes, anything that moves and makes noise.

He hates:

-When we get emotional at all, if we act like we want something too much he won't do it, or if we get angry at him or shout he just shuts down and will not give in. He is quite the stubborn boy and has an incredible amount of pride for a little 3 year old. If I tell him to say sorry to his sister in a harsh way he will NEVER do it, he would rather stay in his room all day long...but if I just say it like it isn't a big deal "please say sorry" then he will do it. Luckily he is a natured boy so we usually don't have to punish him for things. This aspect of his personality is helping me be more laid back and hold back on my anger, which are lessons I certainly needed to learn.

-Naps - since we took his paci away right before Christmas naps have become quite the struggle, I can sometimes get him to go down but I think he is outgrowing them now.

Kyla:

-She is left handed, I hope I can figure out how to raise a lefty but she certainly is. Moema hopes this may help her have an advantage is some sports.

-She is a much better sleeper of late, thanks to hours of making her cry it out and sticking to my guns.

-She Loves

-Mandarin oranges, she calls them "nanas" and is completely addicted. She has about 10 a day, I hope it wont' damage her but I guess it is better than loving cookies.

-Veggies, fruit...she is a great healthy eater.

-Opening things, destroying things, riding on her dad's back, being naked

She Hates

-When her hands are dirty

-Getting her hair de-tangled.

I love these kids so much and can't wait to meet the next one!

Allyson

A great Christmas in New York

2011-12-28T06:16:00.000-08:00

We had the best Christmas this year at my brother Taylor's house in Amawalk, NY. He has seven kids and we spent last year with them too, it is so fun to join in their traditions and just have a great couple days...Moema got to play a ton of sports and we went to Sherlock holmes...Calvin and Kyla love their cousins who are so nice to them. Fun was had by all.

A wonderful Christmas dinner with Taylor and family.
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We had great treats in our stockings thanks to Taylor and Shelley, Kyla wasn't quite awake in this photo.

The Christmas tree and presents

With cousin Benjamin

Patiently waiting on the stairs to go see their presents

Playing with his new Garbage truck, he loves it!

With cousins, Kyla was the baby Jesus in the nativity scene

Christmas morning at Taylor's house

With cousins in their new pajamas

She loves her new kitchen but loves the candy canes more.

Holidays in Philly

2011-12-22T11:57:00.000-08:00

Calvin just loves Moonbounce, and we got to go with a bunch of his church friends so it was extra fun!

Just enjoying some chocolate pretzels
Moema turned 27 on Dec 16th. I got him a watch and some sweat pants. We ate out at an Amish Smorgasbord for lunch, it was so good!
The two Calvins...best buddies

they love playing in the dryer, especially when I shut the door and let them hang out in the dark.
Kyla with her big winter coat...thanks to my friend Amy for letting us use it this winter!
Five years of marriage, we went to Longwood Gardens and saw the lights, it was cold but really fun! I am so lucky to be married to Moema, he really does make me so happy!

Christmas Activities

2011-12-13T04:40:00.000-08:00

I love Kyla's Ugg boots one of Moema's co-workers gave us! She is such
a sweet girl and lately her sleeping has been quite good.
So my sister Lucinda gave us the idea of doing a chain advent calendar where you write different Christmas activities for each day, it has been really fun, most of them are very simple like...dance to Christmas music, or hang candy canes on the tree but it is so fun...here we are making Ginger bread men.

Not a very impressive tree but when kids are pulling decoration off all day it starts to look a bit odd.

Another advent activity, making hot cocoa with fixings.
Trader Joe's had a great Gingerbread house, so easy and sturdy!

Kyla Before and After I read Curly Girl

2011-12-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving break in Danville, VA

2011-12-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

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Since the above photo I have found an amazing book...Curly Girl...which has helped me so much in understanding how to do Kyla's hair and now I am happy to say it is not such a frizzy mess...the key is conditioner...conditioner...conditioner...and no shampoo.

At UNC...this was a huge campus...much bigger than Duke, awesome buildings but not quite as picturesque as Duke...I absolutely love going to University Campus'....it makes me feel young again, it did help that we left the kids with my sister...i wonder if people thought I was a student...I am probably too old now to blend in. I would love to go back to school someday, when all my kids are in school.

Duke is an amazing campus by the way...it reminded us of a college at Oxford, it was small but beautiful!
He hated and loved the chickens

Kyla with Aunt Lucinda
Calvin Loved going to Lowe's Build and Learn

Kyla with her cousin Ally - my namesake

Uncle Justin Hauling my kids
Reading a book with Calvin, Grant, and Dawson

We just got our computer fixed so here is an old post with photos....

So I am visiting my sister Lucinda...so now I can blog since our computer has some virus so I haven't been able to for a long time. I am having such a great time! My sister lives down in Danville, VA where her husband is an optometrist. Lucinda is only two years older than me and we have always been best friends so it is so amazing to have almost two weeks down here. Moema flew down yesterday so will spend Thanksgiving with us. It was a rough seven hour drive without him...Kyla is known far and wide for being the world's worst car baby....but it has been well worth it. I am so glad Lucinda found such an amazing place...with fifteen acres and you gotta love housing prices in Souther Virginia.

A very intersting video for women...please watch

2011-11-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

My friend Hillary posted this on Facebook and I think it is so interesting, I wish all young women had to watch this, knowledge is power!

calvin feeding kyla

2011-11-11T09:09:00.000-08:00

Kyla is so happy to be walking now!

2011-10-21T09:15:00.000-07:00

Fall FUN

2011-10-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

We went apple picking and it was so fun! We ended up deciding Golden Delicious were the best, boring I know. I got a spiralizer so am making a lot of apple chips since Calvin will only eat fruit that is shaped like a chip.

Kyla at 11months, me at 29:(

I came downstairs to find them laying like this watching TV
With Dad as Springton Manor

My long and slow conversion to the Green Revolution

2011-10-13T12:52:00.000-07:00

Growing up the youngest of seven in a military family with no semblance of a green culture I could never have envisioned that at 29 I would be identifying myself as a Raw foodist, vegan, and health nut. When my husband and I started dating, 23 yrs, he had already termed me a Hippie so I guess this conversion has been going on a long time but now I feel I am fully converted. The tipping point was the Documentary I watched last night called the Vanishing of the Bees, a light bulb went off and I decided you know what I am no longer ashamed – I am a tree hugger and I don’t care who knows it! Today as I was eating my sprouted bread sandwich with organic veggies I thought to myself…how has this happened to me and why has it taken me this long when obviously I was doomed to this lifestyle long ago.

1. My Grandmother the Health Food guru– All she would ever talk about was health food, and she even owned a health food store out of her garage. We would have to sneak Taco Time while staying at her house because basically all she fed us were vegetables and goat milk.

2. Patriarchal blessing – My blessing talks a lot about food and praying over everything I eat and even says that “Satan is influencing food producers to put harmful chemicals in their crops”! Other things should have also been an early sign that food, health and the environment would be an important part of my life such as my health problems.

3. Health problems – PCOS, chronic food poisoning, general illness, infertility, weight. From a young age I have just been sickly, especially with stomach issues. I get food poisoning and nausea more than anyone I have ever met, if I don’t get food poisoning once every three months I am lucky, and if you have never had food poisoning just pray you never do, it is horrible! I have had back problems, shin splits (especially when running a lot), general tiredness, oversensitivity to cold, psoriasis, and other random problems. When I started trying to get pregnant it was discovered I have PCOS (poly-cystic ovarian syndrome), which is like pre-diabetes and causes infertility. I always struggled with my weight and it is so hard for me to lose weight despite constant efforts (this is due to my PCOS which makes you hold onto weight). During all these health problems I would try every diet – Adkins, Carbohyrdate Adikts diet, Big Breakfast diet, etc…which varying degrees of success. I also started excising a lot, mostly running, which helped but still I didn’t lose the weight I should have for how much I was working out and restricting my diet.

4. Distrust of Doctors/Scientists - Since my youth I have always distrusted authority and I hate to admit it I didn’t have much respect for it either (ask any of my high school teachers). Since then I have reformed my disrespectful ways but have retained my belief that doctors and basically anyone who tells me they know better than me is often wrong and I am better off trying to figure things out for myself.

5. Environmental studies major – I love learning about the world and at BYU decided to major in Geography and eventually determined on the Environmental Studies major. My courses focused on biology, geology, ecology and earth science subjects and I gained a great love and respect for nature. I also became aware of all the environmental issues threatening our world.

6. Living in Africa/China – While at BYU I did four study abroad/volunteer trips each summer (China, Tanzania, Uganda, and South Africa) and also served a mission in South Africa and as I saw the beauty of nature in Africa, the animals and general well being of the environment there I often thought back to the complete environmental collapse I had witnessed in China. It smelled bad (the rivers smelled like rotten eggs), I couldn’t breathe, I was vomited probably a hundred times and I think I picked up quite a few parasites.

7. Desire to save the world – When I went to Tanzania, doing environmental research on Mt. Kilimanjaro, I developed a deep love for African children and a great desire to help them. Coming back to BYU I got involved in all sorts of activities with people with a desire to help the oppressed and those same people were invariably interested in saving the environment.

8. Research - I would say the main reason I have turned to the “Green Movement” is the research I have done to try and get myself healthy and help my children’ avoid the health problems I have had. The following have had the greatest impact on me.

Boys adrift, girls on the edge – These books made me realize that the more synthetic our children’s lives are (video games, social media), the lazier, more unhappy, and less successful they become. The more they enjoy nature and eat healthy foods the better off they will become.

FoodMatters- I really love this documentary. It really helped me see that Food is the Key to Health and more importantly I have the choice to make myself healthy or to continue in the struggle.

Raw Food Detox Diet – This started me on the path to clearing my body of the toxins put there by our unhealthy environment and start losing weight with real food, the way God made it. I also saw that meat and dairy really were making me sick and fat, I know because I have seen the tremendous benefits I have gained from going vegan for three months.

Fork over Knives – This confirmed my long held belief that the meat and dairy lobbies are brainwashing us.

In defense of food – Real Food is the best food! Now I really want to get a yard so I can start a garden.

Vanishing of the Bees – Destroying the environment and putting pesticides on our food is not only slowly killing us (carcinogens and weight problems) but also killing bees and therefore threatening our food system with collapse.

The World of Wisdom - When I really read it as written, and took away my preconceived notions I saw that God advices us to : Not eat meat unless in times of famine or winter when other foods can't be had, eat lots of good grains and food IN SEASON (this means local since strawberries I buy now are not in season so they must be from some far away land).

Turned me off from becoming a Hippie:

Exaggeration: I remember reading The Skeptical Environmentalist and while not agreeing with everything he said, I do believe that Environmentalist do themselves a big disservice by exaggerating how bad things are in the environment.

Ridicule: I come from a long line of cowboys and hippie hating meat eaters.

My grandma – Health Advice 24/7 isn’t fun and being judged for eating a brownie or steak is annoying.

Animals over people – Animal Rights Activist make me mad cause come one…lets first solve the problem of children being abused or sold into slavery and then I will worry about the owls. Of course it is important to be kind to all animals and I don't go around kicking puppies, we need to be compassionate but I think it is important to keep our priorities where they should be - people first.

Its hard to be a vegan – Technically I am not a full vegan because I do eat eggs and fish sometime…but it’s not easy in social settings, I don’t want to offend anyone or put people out with special meals (I try and be flexible since I don’t see it as a religion just healthy-eating) and people don’t seem to really like vegans for varying reasons..Some deserved I am sure. Also I don’t really subscribe to a lot of the vegan stuff – a lot of vegans won’t eat anything that even has a milligram of milk in it, they are way over the top animal rights activist, don’t wear deodorant or makeup, and dress only from Goodwill.

Summer's End

2011-10-01T17:22:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has been a long break. We have had a great summer, filled with travel - as usual. We are possibly moving in a few months from the area and I am really going to miss Pennsylvania, if it wasn't so expensive I would want to live here forever! I am so close to my siblings and there is so much to do and see. I have been working hard on getting back to pre-baby weight and am finally having success. The Raw Food Detox Diet and Detox 4 Women by Natalia Rose have really given me a fresh view of life and I am happy to say for two months I have been a almost vegan (I do occasionally eat eggs and fish) eating about 75% raw diet and I love it, I hope this can be a life change for me but I am taking one day at a time. Anyway, my kids are keeping me busy as they are both very energetic and Kyla is still a horrible sleeper. She is getting so cute and big and is starting to walk! 11 months old but not teeth yet but she is my little raw foodist and will only eat fruits and veggies, even if I give her junk food she won't eat it, lets see how long that lasts:)

We went down to see my parents on a a mission in Virgina Beach

Kyla with her cousin Neal, 6 months. My sister JaLayne and her family were here this weekend and we went to Phily with them. It was a tight fit with her seven kids in our little apartment but it was fun. I have the world's best sisters and am so lucky to have them close to me, although now JaLayne is moving to California.

With my little girl

On my birthday we did a bike ride in Valley Forge and I loved it! Best birthday ever, especially since I didn't have to lug the kids up all the hills.

29 years old, I am getting so old and to be honest I hate it.

This cake was so good and 100% raw! Moema loved it too, no wheat or sugar.

I babysat JaLayne's kids in Albany for a week while she went house-hunting. It was so fun and I got paid by State Farm (David's company)!

Moema having fun with the kids

Cal and Kyla with cousins Neal and Evan.

Letter to my Future Self #2: Weight Issues

2011-08-23T14:14:00.000-07:00

My cousin Tiffany encouraged me to do a second letter to myself since I have been so frustrated with not being able to lose this baby weight...I don't want to go through this "heck" again so I guess I will again attempt to persuade my future self to not make the same mistakes I did while pregnant with Kyla. To be honest, it isn't like I pigged out while pregnant with Calvin or Kyla, I even went off sugar for a lot of the time I was pregnant with Kyla...but those last four weeks I gave up on that and that is when I really started to pack it on...and now I am suffering for it. So just like I need to learn from my mistakes with teaching my babies to sleep, I need to learn from my mistakes of gaining too much when pregnant.

ADVICE WHEN PREGNANT

1) Nope you don't deserve it....yes pregnancy is hard and it really stinks...but you know what else stinks...having forty pounds to lose after you have this baby! That candy-bar will not make your feel any more comfortable, it will only add to the girth you are carrying around, you might as well just tape that Butterfinger to your thighs cause that is were it will end up. You know what you do deserve, you deserve to avoid the post-binging guilt and extra baby weight! One thing I have realized is it is extra hard for me to lose weight post-baby. For some women breastfeeding helps them shed the pounds but for me, it seems to make me hold on to weight, and if I try and diet at all I lose my milk supply. All this is very frustrating but all the more reason to not overeat while pregnant.

2) You are not like other women...see I have a condition called PCOS which is basically a form of Pre-Diabetes which makes it REALLY hard to lose weight and so when I eat carbs it takes me about twice the effort to burn it...therefore, I need to remember that my pregnancy is not my time for "freedom from dieting". Yes other women just let go and pig out while they are pregnant but you CAN'T do that, it will hurt you a lot more than it does them. It always amazes me when friends talk about how they eat pizza and Chinese food every week...I would weight 500 pounds if I did that!

3) No you aren't eating for two...you are eating for one and an extra 300 calories, which you are probably already eating in excess anyway so really, you don't need to worry about getting your baby enough calories, I am sure she will be fine.

4) Its not going to all disappear when you have the baby...with both babies I seemed to lose about seven pounds which is the actual baby and then like three or four more...but that is it...and then it seems that I actually gain a little weight in the next month...and then I stabilize for about ten months no matter what I do! Its hard cause as I mentioned I can't really diet or I lose my milk so I just try and avoid carbs and sugar and exercise.

5) Exercising won't hurt the baby or make you misscarry...my doctor said once I can't let me heart rate get above 145...well that is pretty much impossible since I get to about 185 when I run so 145 is a very slow walk for me. I worry too much and I also just use it as an excuse to not exercise. Next time I am going to continue working out just as hard as I did before...just not run the last few months but other than that I need to remain consistent! My body will tell me if I am doing too much.

6) Yes your husband loves you no matter what but...remember that men like their wives to be thin, even if Moema is too kind to let you know that. He may tell me I deserve a brownie, and may even run to the store to get it for me but YOU have to decide you are going to restrain yourself.

POSTPARTUM ADVICE

1) It is all just vanity... Okay I know I am going to sound like I am going against what I said in my last point but I think it is important to remember it is not what you look like as much as the fact that you don't give up. I mean, I am never going to be one of those super-skinny ladies...it is not ever going to happen! And you know what, that is okay, but I am also not going to let myself go, I am going to try and try and that is going to have to be enough. In the end, God doesn't care what I look like, my husband loves me, and I really don't care if anyone else thinks I am hot. However, I do care that I am an example to my children of someone who perseveres even with little chance of success.

2)Its about health, not weight - What I really want is to be healthy, to be free of all the toxins that are in junk food...yes I would love to be thin as well, but that is not the end all be all. I have to admit every time I step on the scale I seem to go into a depression....so at times I avoid it like the plague...I am trying to learn not to go into panic attacks any time I consider weighing myself, it is a sign that I am way to concerned with my weight. I guess the main reason for my frustration is that I really do try so hard, I exercise, I eat healthy and so I expect results...but I rarely get them...of course I frustrated by that...but I need to learn to just accept and keep going...even if I am not losing weight I am still getting healthier.

3) Do what is right...The Word of Wisdom was given to us to help us keep the Spirit with us and I really feel when I am trying to eat healthy and exercise that I have the Spirit more in my life. When I am consumed by food I am using that as a crutch rather than relying on my Heavenly Father. Food is just as addictive, if not more, than drugs or alcohol and if I feel myself eating to fill some emotional void than that is certainly not what the Lord would have me do.

4) You really don't look that bad...I mean yes I could be skinnier, but things could be worse and be happy for what you do have and stop complaining about what you don't. I have been so blessed with health and beautiful children, and a wonderful husband - don't let body image issues keep you from enjoying the here and now...don't say life will be better when I am skinny, today is the day the Lord has made, enjoy it! I look at old photos of myself in high school and I was so skinny but I remember thinking I was fat...I didn't even enjoy those times...we are never satisfied.

In conclusion, I know I sound obsessive but I know a lot of us women struggle with these issues. I really just want the cycle to stop...I want to stop the guilt and frustration I feel after having a baby. I find myself hugging my baby and telling her, "you were worth all this misery!" However, I hope this letter to my future self will help avoid future postpartum weight wretchedness.

July Fun

2011-07-23T07:48:00.000-07:00

My favorite people in the world

Springton Manor Farms

You got a butterfly on your back!

4th of July at Valley Forge

Six Flags in Albany

With his cousin Jordan

Kyla, Calvin, Allyson, Uncle Taylor, Grant

July Happenings

2011-07-23T07:46:00.000-07:00

Calvin got a new bed! No more crib for him. He loves his little fort on top and when Kyla gets older we will put her on the bottom mattress.

We had so much fun at my sister JaLayne's house. Here the kids are with their cousin Jordan.

Calvin loves his backpack.

Kyla is crawling around and standing up everywhere but she especially loves the stairs...I have to watch her like a hawk.

8 months old

Bathtime

We went to a cool car show in our little town

Kyla learning how to climb Stairs

It has been so hot here the last few days, yesterday it was 102! But we have had a great summer so far and really love living out East.

Gettysburg

2011-05-30T17:12:00.000-07:00

Today we decided to go to Gettysburg. It was only about 1 hr 45 minutes and it was really fun. We did a driving tour with a CD we bought at the bookstore, it was very interesting. The kids were good and it was a beautiful but hot day.

North Carolina Monument

View from the Eternal Flame

Best Buddies

2011-05-25T12:49:00.000-07:00

These two just love each other. It is so cute how they just play together all day. Calvin wakes up and first things asks to play with his baby sister. He sometimes wrestles a little to hard but she is so tough she rarely cries. Kyla is 6 months now and we sleep trained her again and this time it was much easier and she is doing a lot better. She is the sweetest little girl ever. She loves food and screams at the top of her lungs if she doesn't get the food we are eating. She is a very contented child and is sitting up and rolling around like a champ. She will be crawing soon so I better start vaccuming more often:)

april 2011

Yucatan

2011-05-25T12:44:00.000-07:00

Kyla loved her hammock

The food was so amazing I gained five pounds!

Mexico Trip

2011-05-25T12:43:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun in the Yucatan. Kyla was a great little girl and it was way cooler than either of us ever imagined. We went to several pyramid sites and spent a day at the beach. It was such a nice vacation and Calvin did so great at his Uncle's house. I recommend the Yucatan to anyone, and their were very few tourists.

Kyla Sophie Matsoso - 5 Months

2011-03-25T06:10:00.000-07:00

My little girl is every parents dream (before seven pm)...
she is so sweet and just the best natured little girl we love her so much
Here are some things I don't want to forget about her babyhood

-She loves her tummy, she would actually rather play on her tummy than her back, unheard of!
-She smiles every time I come in the room, what can I say she loves me!
-She has the thickest softest hair I have ever seen on a baby!
-She always has something in her mouth and always has a soaking wet shirt front from slobber
-She wakes up every thirty minutes or if I am lucky forty-five minutes and I go to her crib, rock her back to sleep and then put her back, only to be awakened thirty minutes later
-She refused to be sleep trained, even after six days of consistent effort
-She loves her big brother so much, even though he is always climbing on her and wrestling her, she just laughs at him
-She is a tough girl, she can get a rattle thrown right at her head and not make a whimper, I wonder if she has all her pain receptors
-She started rolling over at 4 months but rarely does it, she is content just to lay on her tummy all day
-She started reaching for things at 4 1/2 months and now grabs everything in reach
-She loves it when her big brother reads to her

Girls are so fun and I am so lucky to have such a sweet little girl, yes I get frustrated by her at night but she makes up for it during the day!

Future Allyson regarding your next Baby's Sleep

2011-03-17T16:56:00.000-07:00

Ok so this post is mostly for me to read when I am nine months pregnant with my next baby...

I don't know why it is but I seem to have completely forgotten everything I swore I learned from having my first baby...I remember saying, oh I won't make this same mistake, or I will be better at this- but for some reason I forgot all these rules and promises I made myself - especially regarding sleep. Now I have tried to figure out how I could really forget the first five months of my sons life - not his cuteness or even fun things we did, but how I actually went about taking care of him and raising him - I am a complete blank. I certainly can't remember how I used to put him to sleep or what sort of eat/sleep routine we had. Then last night as I was laying in bed at 4am with my baby Kyla screaming in the background it hit me, I can't remember because I was so sleep deprived then that even the most foundational parenting principles were not retained - its like now I am so sleep deprived that sometimes it takes me a good five minutes to remember what month it is, a few days ago I literally could not remember the word for lettuce. As I laid there last night I really tried hard to remember Calvin's infancy and some distinct memories came back to me. I think I forgot some of them because I like to block out negative in my life - but I do remember he was also a horrible sleeper and that I got maybe 3 hours of sleep a night the first three months of his life. I also remember reading parenting books like crazy, such as Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child and loving them and swearing I would put all the principles into practice from the beginning with my next baby...did I do it, NO. In fact I reread the book before I had Kyla but I still didn't do it. So here are some things I am telling myself, in the future, in simple terms so that even in a sleep deprived state I can understand them.

1. It is a totally and complete lie that you can not spoil a newborn - the books tell you up and down but I am convinced they just say that because they don't want mothers to neglect their children. As my sister Lucinda so eloquently put it, "that is a load of Fooie". From the very first day you better start your routines and rules cause babies get used to things quickly and then there is no going back without a lot of pain. Of course you have to hold your baby and love your baby and respond to your baby, but my definition of spoiling in this case is - getting your baby used to something and him/her preferring it over anything else.

2. Never, NEVER feed your baby while in bed. Now we all know we shouldn't let a baby fall asleep while nursing - that is impossible by the way cause they always fall asleep while nursing - but a more important rule is: YOU never fall asleep while your baby is nursing. Why, because then before you know it you wake up -three hours have passed and your baby has come to realize she loves sleeping next to her warm comfy mom and snacking whenever she wants and I got news for you, her bassinet is not going to cut it after that. It is so hard because we are so tired and we just don't want to get up and go to the rocking chair, we want to pull the baby out of the bassinet, lay in bed and we promise we will put her right back - yeah right!

3. Don't even start the baby in a bassinet, just start her out in another room altogether - Again, all these things we do are because we are so tired, we don't want to walk down the hall to get the baby every time they cry. We want a little bassinet right by our side so it is easier. Well yeah but then trying to move them into a big scary crib and a lonely room is virtually impossible. Also, if the baby is in another room you aren't as likely to pick her up at every noise, and she isn't as likely to be awakened every time Moema sneezes.

4. At night, don't pick the baby up if she isn't hungry, calm her but don't pick her up - Now this is something all the parenting books say and I know I have tried to do it but maybe I just gave up to easy...I am not convinced this is even possible but I guess with the next one I will give it a try. This means you pat her belly or give her her paci (also perhaps not a good idea) but don't pick her up. Now with my little Kyla this is her big issue, any little noise or any little bit of gas and she is up like a light and won't calm down unless I hold her, rock her, and put her back to sleep. Now this can happen every ten minutes sometimes...right now I am up at least every hour with her.

5. Put her down to sleep awake - Again I have never been successful doing this but all the parenting books say to do this, I think the baby would just scream and you don't like a newborn to scream. Anyway, they are supposed to learn to soothe themselves form the beginning, Kyla absolutely does not know how to do this...so be sure and try and allow the baby to soothe themselves to sleep without nursing, paci, or any other intervention from you.

6. Really think twice about the Pacifier. Now I love the paci, it makes life so much easier for me. But the problem is that if the baby loves the paci too much and needs it to sleep then that means that if it falls out- you are the one who has to put it back in. Now newborns to 6 months old have no ability to hold it in their mouths so you are going to be replacing the paci dozens of times a night. In some ways I think sucking thumb would be better in the early days...now I know it is harder to break them of that habit but it might help with infant sleeping. Calvin is two and he still has his paci for naps and nighttime and we still have to go in several times a night when it falls out and he can't find it in his crib.

7. Cry it out Method - Now this is what I am doing with Kyla right now and let me tell you it is hell, and I have to do it because I have not followed the rules above, I feel like a horrible mother and it is a very sad few days...but I did it with Calvin and he was cured after one night of crying...Kyla seems to be stubborn but she is also a worse sleeper - she wakes up so frequently at night that I really had no choice, I had to sleep train her or die of exhaustion. I pray she gets it soon because it is so painful not going to your child when they cry! I lay their thinking: is she hating me, is she being traumatized, what damage am I doing to my child. But in the end, with Calvin he still loves me and it was way worth it! He is a great sleeper now (other than the paci addiction). Kyla seemed to be fine today after last night and doesn't seem to hold a grudge.

8. Swaddling - Do not swaddle beyond six weeks. I think six weeks is when the jerking is mostly subsided. Beyond that I think it really helps get the baby to sleep but I am convinced it makes them more gassy cause they can't move around and I know with Kyla it is another hard habit to break. With Kyla now when I don't swaddle her she wakes herself up easily when moving around, I don't think this would be such a problem if I had stopped swaddling earlier.

9. Naps and Schedules are so importnat - This is a lesson I learned with Calvin and have been trying to implement with Kyla. Depending on the age you will have different schedules but I think it is so important to read up on when your baby should be sleeping during the day and make sure it happens. This curtails your ability to do stuff...you need to be home between 9 and 11 for morning nap, and between 12 and 2 for afternoon nap...but it is worth it for your baby and for yourself. It should make her a better sleeper at night (hasn't worked so far for Kyla) and a happier child in general.

10. Never let your baby sleep on the bed - Now this is something I used to do with Calvin that I remember well the horrible outcome. I would take an afternoon nap with him on the bed. Now this was nice but then when he got to around six months I started to worry he would roll over and fall off the bed. When I tried to switch him to his crib for naps but he decided it was not going to happen, he simply would not sleep anywehre but on the bed. I had to build an elaborate fortresses to make sure he couldn't fall off the bed and bought a video baby monitor to watch him when I wasn't sleeping by him.

11. Tummy sleeping is not as evil as some people think - Yes I know about SIDS and I am sure in the long run you baby is less likely to die when on the back...however, I think that babies sleep so much better on their tummies, they can work their gas out, and Calvin would only sleep that way. I think if you make sure their are no pillows or blankets in the crib and their is breathable fabric on the sides you are pretty safe. But again, try the back first.

12. Don't nurse your baby everytime she wakes up - This is a hard rule to keep because you know as soon as you nurse her she will go back to sleep and be happy as a clam and you won't have to work to get her calm down again...but guess what, then she will be up every hour and will only calm down when you nurse and suddenly you are no better than a milk cow - even they have several hours between milkings.

Basically with anything you do with your baby you have to ask yourself...am I willing to have live with this intervention for the next year of this child's life. I am sure there is more I am forgetting but I hope this helps you...future me, and that you listen to these words and avoid the hell I am experiencing right now.

More February doings

2011-03-02T13:05:00.000-08:00

d
Dad and his little girl

With cousins Oliver and RYAN

At moonbounce for his birthday!

IN Southern Maryland

2011-03-02T13:02:00.000-08:00

This past week we were in Southern Maryland, trying to get out of Moema's way while he studys for the GMAT. He had so much fun with Levin and Melissa's family. Leah and Calvin are partners in crime and even ran off without our knowing while we were watching the BYU game and had to be saved by neighbors before they reached the main road!

Such a good Grandma!

Calvin is 2

2011-03-02T12:57:00.000-08:00

he said he wanted cookies and candy on his cake so he loved this. He was so excited for his birthday, he kept waking up the night before asking for Burtday. He got a bunch of fun toys i got on craigslist. He was a happy boy, and his grandpa and grandma flake were here for the night.

He is quite the pro at the ipod and can start it, find the youtube button, click on favorite, scroll down and find dora and even adjust the volume - better than most adults:)

2011-01-29T07:39:00.000-08:00

2011-01-29T07:38:00.000-08:00

Kyla 3 Months

2011-01-29T07:37:00.000-08:00

We had such a hard time getting her to smile, which is frustrating cause she is such a smily girl...made me mad this morning when she was smiling so big. OH well, we still got some cute ones.

Measurements!

2011-01-08T07:33:00.000-08:00

So yesterday I went to the doctor and that is always an interesting experience...especially now with two kids under two. Calvin has a big problem with strangers..in fact it takes a long time for him to warm up to anyone...so he was not very nice to the nurses or doctor. I had to hold him down to get a measurement of him. But luckily I had thought ahead and downloaded an episode of Dora on my Ipod and that helped calm him down while the doctor talked to me. Of course she was another fighter on immunizations but I held my ground and said only two at a time...she wanted to put like six shots in my two month old...how does that seem like a good thing? Anyway...she was a nice lady nonetheless. Here are my kids current measurements:

Calvin (almost 23 months)
Weight -27.12 lbs - 74th percentile - he is getting chunky this winter from staying indoors
Height - 34 1/4 inches - 55th percentile - his dad is worried his chances of being a professional athlete are fading since he isn't very tall
Head circumference - 20 - 98% percentile - huge head!

Kyla (2 1/2 months)
Weight - 13.15 lbs - 95th percentile...she is a little chunk... but doctor said not to worry since she is breastfeeding she will lose it
Height - 23 inches - 70% percentile
Head - 15 3/4 inches - 93rd percentile - what is with my kids and the heads!

Kyla is such a happy baby and just so easy. I love that girl! She smiles all the time and the doctor said she is better than a four month old at holding her head up. Calvin is obsessed with the Cars movie and carries around a Lightning McQueen car (or speed as he calls him) all the time. Only one month till he is two! He has his bad moments where he throws tantrums but luckily the good moments are much more common. I am reading parenting books to help me be a better mom and hopefully raise two loving and good natured kids.

More Christmas

2011-01-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve dinner

Lucy the dog...she loved to bite Calvin for some reason

With Lucy and Joseph

The Blizzard

More Christmas

2011-01-03T07:34:00.000-08:00

She loves her pillow pet

Thanks Uncle Taylor!

The Nativity

more Christmas

2011-01-03T07:33:00.000-08:00

Christmas Morning, they can't wait!

His own stocking!

Even Kyla got some loot

Beautiful tree

Christmas Parties

2011-01-03T07:23:00.000-08:00

Moema at Levin's house for his 26th birthday!

Spiky hair after her bath

New Pajamas from Taylor on Christmas Eve

We can't sleep, it is Christmas Eve!

We had such a great December. For Moema's Birthday we went to my brother' house...Oliver and Levin. We went horseback riding, Moema got to play football, and went out to eat at Famous Dave's! It is so nice living so close to three of my brothers. My oldest brother Taylor invited us over for Christmas and we had such a great time. He lives in Somers, New York and has seven kids. He is so generous and got us all sorts of stuff, including a tennis racket for Moema which he was really excited about. They even got a new puppy which Calvin loved. Shelley, my sister-in-law was a great hostess and we just hope we live here next year so we can take advantage of them again. There was a blizzard the day after Christmas so we were stuck there and extra day, we were happy about that. I really appreciate such a wonderful family who we can always rely on for a party.

Hershey Park, Baby Blessing

2010-12-10T09:02:00.000-08:00

We went to Hershey with Levin and family and it was so freezing but really fun!

Kyla's baby blessing, she looked amazing in the dress my sister-in-law Amber loaned us! Levin and family were there for the blessing, it was wonderful and Moema was called the same day to be Elder's Quorum President.

I love this little dress, given to us by my friend Amanda Knickerbocker.

The Siblings

2010-12-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

She has had enough, give me some space! Don't worry I always make sure he is soft with her.

Calvin Mauling Kyla

2010-12-10T08:58:00.000-08:00

Calvin and Kyla

2010-12-10T08:57:00.000-08:00

Calvin is more than a little obsessed with his sister...he loves her so much, he is usually pretty soft but loves to come and and try and hold her and pat her head, he is so sweet with her! He always says "Bye Bye Baby" when he goes upstairs and always asks "Where Baby" when she is not in the room. He is such a sweet hearted little boy.

Thanksgiving in southern Maryland

2010-11-30T06:55:00.000-08:00

My sister Lucinda with her daughter Allyson, my baby Kyla, and her daughter Alena.

We had such a fun Thanksgiving break at my brothers' houses...we stayed with my brother Levin but Oliver is just five minutes away so we shared time between the two. My sister Lucinda and family were also there so it was so fun...14 cousins and four siblings together and spouses. The food was incredible! We eat helped out but my brother Levin raised a bunch of turkeys and killed a 40 pounder for the occasion. Oliver also smoked one that was a little smaller. Moema got to play a lot of sports with my brothers and even went hunting...he didn't get to shoot anything though (thankfully). It was so nice to be with my sister and show off my new baby to everyone. No one was sick, and all the kids got along great!

Kyla, Allyson, Leah

At the Horse Auction Alena got to hold some dogs an Amish guy was selling.

Levin's chickens

Cousins!

2010-11-30T06:54:00.000-08:00

Lucinda holding a dog at Horse Auction

Oliver and Moema

Calvin and Leah

Allyson and Kyla

Farm animals

2010-11-30T06:53:00.000-08:00

She is getting so fat!

Calvin loved the "Taaow"

Levin's cow Milky Way getting into the barn

Calvin is no longer scared of the horse and loved riding it!

Kyla and Calvin

2010-11-18T08:50:00.000-08:00

Update on the Matsoso Family

2010-11-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

So I thought I would give a little update on the family.

Calvin loves his little sister! He just stares and her and pats her head and points to all her body parts. He is such a good big brother. He has had a hard time adjusting to getting less attention but I wouldn't say he is jealous. He has been acting up a little more of late but I think with time he will be back to normal...or maybe he is just starting the terrible twos.

Kyla is the perfect little baby. She is the best nurser in the history of the world. She eats so well and I haven't had any problems with nursing. The only problem is she gets bad gas, especially at night which makes it really uncomfortable for her. I hold her all night to try and help her and me get some sleep.

Moema is doing great at work but just got news of a big calling...Elders Quorum President. It should be a challenge since we are new in the ward, he is the youngest guy in the quorum, and he has a full plate with studying for the GMAT, two kids, and a demanding job...and a demanding wife. I am going to try and be a support for him and not complain when he has meetings:)

I am trying to learn how to be a mother of two....just posting this blog has taken about four hours since it seems I always have one or both of the kids screaming or somehow demanding my attention. I am determined to enjoy these early years and not let lack of sleep and the stresses of motherhood get me down...but it can be difficult at times. I love my little kids so much and that makes it all a little easier to take. It is nice to have so many siblings nearby so I always have one trip of another to look forward to. We are going down to Oliver and Levin's for Thanksgiving and the next weekend a bunch of my siblings are coming up here to do Hershey's and then Kyla's baby blessing.

Overall things are great for us...We have a great life and love our little family.

Calvin holding Kyla

2010-11-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

Kyla Sophie Matsoso

2010-11-03T15:09:00.000-07:00

I can't figure out how to turn this photo

She is so sweet!

He loves his sister!

Withe Daddy

Our first look at her

8lb 6 ounces and 20 inches

So what a wonderful week this has been...in fact a wonderful month. Yes it was uncomfortable and stressful the last month of pregnancy but so nice to have my mom here with me for so long as we waited for this baby to come. We orginally had a C-section set up for October 7th since she was breech, then at the last second she turned so I wanted to try for a VBAC...three weeks later she still made no signs of wanting to come out! She finally made her arrival on October 28th at around 8am. Unfortunately we had to have a C-section since she was a week past her due date and I still was not dilated or effaced...the doctor said it could be three more weeks he saw no signs of progress and since my risk of rupture is higher than usual due to my bicornuate uterus we decided to just give in and do the C-section before she got too big. I have such a great doctor who was willing to do anything to give me a chance at the VBAC but in the end it seems the safest thing was to just do the C-section. I was quite disappointed the day I realized I wouldn't get a VBAC but the next day I felt really peaceful and like it was the right thing.

Thursday morning at 5am I went in and had the scheduled C-section. Luckily I had my doctor, Dr. Mansfield to do the surgery which made me feel more relaxed that all would go well. My mom and Moema were there but they would only let Moema in for the surgery. It went really well and took a little longer than with Calvin but my doctor said he was cleaning up the last scar and that everything looked great and I shouldn't have any problems having more kids...although they will all have to be C-section.

The only really pain was the extreme nausea the Spinal gave me...but other than that I didn't feel anything. They pulled her out and pulled the divider down and I saw my beautiful girl...they even let me hold her while they stitched me up...a lot better experience than with Calvin when they wouldn't show him to for like ten minutes and then wheeled me off to the recovery room for an hour without him. After the surgery I went into a room in labor and delivery and had my new baby girl with me. We settled on the name Kyla Sophie Matsoso. She is so sweet!

I had to stay in the hospital two nights and luckily didn't have a roommate for very long. Moema stayed with me both nights. Kyla is such a good little nurser and sleeper and a very well behaved baby. She makes me realize that Calvin was quite a hard baby by comparison. Moema asked would I rather have the easy pregnancy I had with Calvin and the hard baby or the harder pregnancy I had with Kyla and the easy baby... still deciding on that one but it is so nice not to have the worries I had with Calvin. He had problems nursing, had acid reflux, and cried A LOT. Kyla seems to be able to just lay contented all day and eats great.

I think it as a little hard on Calvin having me gone for three days but now he is back to normal and luckily my mom and dad were there to babysit for us. He seems to really like the baby and is fascinated by her...no signs of jealousy yet. He just keeps saying baby and calles her "KyDa". He is so sweet, he loves to play with her feet and touch her hair...of which she has a ton!

We are so blessed to have this little angel. I am sure it will be a challenge with two young ones but I pray I will be able to handle it. Motherhood certainly is not easy but it is so rewarding and these children bring such happiness to Moema and I. God has blessed us so greatly!

Calvin our cute little toddler

2010-10-08T12:33:00.001-07:00

Calvin is 19 months!

I thought I would give a little update on Calvin and his ever growing personality. He is such a joy and I love him so much! He is starting to really develop his own will and knows what he likes and doesn't like but he is still such a sweet boy and so innocent. He is learning to defend himself more from other kids, but usually he just lets them take his toys or hit him and just stares at them in disbelief. I think having a little sister will be good for him, but I am sure it will also be a challenge since he is so used to all my attention. But good news is he is getting better at playing by himself.
Things he Loves

1) His mom, I think he senses that change is coming cause he has gotten so clingy lately and even cries if I leave him with his dad. I am so worried that when my friends or father watches him during my delivery he is going to cry the whole time. Nursery is still traumatic for him, we leave him in there every week and he still cries for a long time and needs to be held the rest of the time.

2) Horses, he calls them "neigh" and is absolutely obsessed. He hands me the remote several times a day and looks at me with this sweet sideways face and says "Neigh", he wants me to put on the last 20 minutes of "Man from Snowy River". I think I have watched that scene 100 times now!

3) Trains - he recently discovered Thomas the Train and he loves him so much

4) Cars - he loves his little cars and the speed racing car set we got him at a garage sale, what a good purchase, he spends hours playing with it.

5) M&M and ice cream - his dad is the guilty party here, for some reason Moema thinks that giving him candy is a way of showing him love - I told him that will produce an obese child. His dad is getting better...but Calvin still loves his ice cream and M&Ms.

6) Sleeping - He is such a good sleeper. I think partially because that is the only time he is allowed his pacifier. He will regularly sleep from 8 until 9am and then take a nap from 1:00 to 3:00pm. I love it! He got his parents sleep habits.

Hates

1) Holding hands, he wants to run wild and free unfettered by his parents.

2) The shopping cart, his dad took him out once and now it is a fight every time. He screams "down, down" until I have to take him outside...again I blame Moema for this one.

Our little cowboy

2010-09-06T19:03:00.000-07:00

Rodeo and Slip and Slide

2010-08-23T16:07:00.000-07:00

Layne Flake Family Reunion

2010-08-23T16:06:00.000-07:00

Summer photos

2010-08-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

with Cousins

With Grandpa at Valley Forge

Ikea and Children's Museum

2010-08-23T16:03:00.000-07:00

Venting on Doctors..vaccines

2010-08-04T05:11:00.000-07:00

Okay so I know I am going to get a lot of negative feedback on this blog probably but I really feel I need to vent. I love my son so much and have struggled so much with the vaccine questions. I have a nephew who has autism and I have many friends/family that have had similar issues, many times their symptons developed after getting immunizations. I am not saying I believe vaccines cause Autism but I have done enough research and am intelligent enough to know that pumping your child full of vaccine after vaccine while very young is not exactly easy on their tiny immune system. Therefore, I have decided to give Calvin immunizations but slow it down quite a bit. Now, I know Whooping Cough is going around so I did have him immunized for that, as I would for any disease I feel is a real threat to his health. However, the immunizations that I do not feel are urgent based on the disease prevalence or severity I am delaying, i.e. polio, chicken pox, rotovirus, etc...

Calvin has been the healthiest little boy and we have had no health issues, other than acid reflux when he was a baby. My doctor in Hawaii was very good and was totally fine and even supportive of delaying immunizations but the doctor I went to yesterday in Pennsylvania basically bit my head off. I just hate how doctors get this superior, "you are stupid" tone and tell you what a bad mother you are for not pumping your kid full of vaccines every appointment. He said, I hope you know what you are doing is very dangerous. Okay, I am not retarded, my son does not go to Day Care, he doesn't even go to nursery and we have no family around...hence he almost never comes in contact with other kids, his risk of catching polio really is not high. This doctor told me I should get seven vaccines at once to catch up- that seems really responsible seeing that after the one vaccine he got yesterday he is very ill! now lets times that by seven! His leg is so sore from where he got the shot he can't walk and he cried all night long from the one vaccine he got yesterday, so when doctors act like vaccines really have no side effects you realize they are not in touch with reality.

I just really hate when doctors treat you like a simpleton because you are willing to give credence to an idea that although not supported by the medical community (for obvious reasons of liability) does deserve being looked at based on the experience of millions of parents. Even if autism wasn't a factor, pumping a 1-day old baby with a Heb B vaccine when the mother doesn't have Hep B and it is basically an STD or something caught in prison, doesn't make much sense to me...and this is the case with many of the vaccines today...when I was a kid we got about 80% fewer vaccines and kids were not dying in droves of diseases in the 1980-90s.

Anyway, needless to say I am never going back to that doctor.

Cafe Rio!!!!

2010-07-28T15:06:00.000-07:00

So I hate to brag but I made Cafe Rio Pork Burritos/Salads for dinner the last two nights and there is nothing in this world that tastes better. I got all the recipes online and just feel like I have to share this joy with the world. It is a bit of work but it is so well worth it. For those of you who haven't been to Cafe Rio it is the best food on earth, it is tex-mex and I usually don't get obsessed with food places but I am completely obsessed with Cafe Rio, the only problem is they don't have any in the East so I have to attempt to make it for myself, this is a pretty darn good imitation of the orginal. I will attach the websites for the recipes below:

http://heidikins.com/2008/08/29/whippin-it-up-cafe-rio-pork-barbacoa-salad-with-tomatillo-dressing/ - make the pork, salad dressing and lime rice included in this site

http://hotoutoftheoven.blogspot.com/2007/09/cafe-rio-recipes.html Here is another version of the same thing

Calvin's New Chair

2010-07-22T13:53:00.000-07:00

Calvin Loves his new chair, he vegges out and watches Yo Gabba Gabba

It even turns into a bed!

Talking to Dad

More travels, Hershey Park...Amish Village

2010-07-19T06:07:00.000-07:00

Ride back from picking our nephews up from EFY at Southern Virginia University

Moema at Hershey Park with my brother and nephews

Miniature horse in Amish Village in Lancaster

Travels to Maryland and Virginia

2010-07-19T06:04:00.000-07:00

With Cousin Leah at a Minor Leauge Baseball game in Maryland

At Lucinda's house in Virginia

With his newest cousin, Baby Allyson

June/July Photos

2010-07-19T06:03:00.000-07:00

Calvin Making a mess as he eats

Grandma came for a visit and he loved her

Riding with his Grandpa, he loves horses but is also very scared of them

Calvin 16 Months

2010-07-08T06:49:00.000-07:00

I feel bad cause I am not really doing a baby book for Calvin...cause I was supposed to be making good records in this blog, but I have been slacking. I thought I would write a few cute/unique things about my little boy:

1) He is absolutely obsessed with Balls, give him a ball and he is entertained for hours, if we are at the park and he sees one in the distance he runs over and steals it. He is so good at throwing it, people are amazed at his coordination at just 16 months, but he has been throwing a ball since he was could sit up. The other day his dad threw him a tennis ball and he hit it in mid air with his little tennis racket, and repeated the feat six times...we are going to keep him practicing it and show him off at the family reunion talent show.

2) More about his coordination skills, he is very good and feeding himself. A few weeks ago I decided I would give in and let him try and fee himself, and I was amazed that he did great! He definitely got food on him but he got most of it in his mouth. Now he won't anything, from a piece of bread to chips, without a fork or spoon:) I think the fact that he has massively big hands helps him out.

3) He has a love/hate relationship with horses and dogs. In South Africa he would just stare out the door at the dogs and beg you to take him outside to look at them, then when they get to close he gets really scared. The same thing at my brother Oliver house, he has horses and Calvin will just stare out the window at them and anytime anyone says horse he perks up and pulls you to the door to take him out to them....but don't let them get to close or he freaks out! My dad actually took him on a ride on the horse but he didn't like that very much. When we went to my sister's house she had one of those horse' with just the head on a stick that you can ride and Calvin was so scared of it!

4) He loves to just stare...he is our observant little boy. I take him to the park and for the first thirty minutes he just stares at the kids playing. He is pretty mellow, easy going kid most of the time and gets along with others. He loves to climb on things and really loves it when older kids pay him attention.

5)He loves to dance! He recently got into the show YO Gabba Gabba and loves to dance along with the music...he is so cute when he dances.

6) It took him a long time to learn to walk (15 months old) but now that he can he runs everywhere. My sister thinks it took him so long to walk cause it is hard to keep his balance with his big head:)

I know this sounds prideful but I think he is the cutest boy in the whole world and I am so lucky I get to be his mom!

Our lovely day in New York City

2010-06-20T16:40:00.000-07:00

We spent yesterday in New York City. It was so fun and guess who we ran into...my brother Taylor. We had no idea he was in the city and he called me and asked where I was, I said in Toys r Us in NYC and he said, "I will be there in one minute". IT was crazy!!! So we hung out with him and his wife Shelley for a lot of the day. He took us to a swanky restaurant and back to his hotel at the Four Seasons (Miley Cyrus was staying down the hall, they saw her on the elevator in a skanky outfit:) What fun to see them again, it has been almost a year! We had so much fun in the city, stuff seems so cheap compared to London and Honolulu...except to go up the Empire State Building was like $20 so we didn't do that...but street food and the subway and even taxi's really aren't very expensive so that was really nice. It is nice to be only 2 hours away so we can go anytime we want.

Taylor and Shelley

From the Four Seasons

Our Day in New York

2010-06-20T16:34:00.000-07:00

Empire State Building

Calvin was freaked out by elmo...later we saw this elmo using the bathroom on the wall in the subway, sort of funny sight.

Toys R US ferris Wheel

Calvin at 16 months

2010-06-14T12:33:00.000-07:00

Calvin 16 months...he finally can walk!

2010-06-14T12:22:00.000-07:00

Our townhouse in Exton

2010-06-14T11:14:00.000-07:00

Our humble abode...the one thing I really missed

when we were in Hawaii was carpet and I love this carpet!

Moema got his big screen tv, 42 inches

our townhouse...

Lately I have been missing Hawaii so much! I need to just get over it but it was just the perfect place for us, we had so many great friends we miss, we miss our girls in Hale 5, we miss that there was always something to do...and for free - the BEACH! I miss all of Calvin's little friends his age, the great married wards, and that everyone is so friendly, we miss the weather, the breeze, the food, everything...we may not have had fancy stuff or a lot of money but we were so happy there and had the perfect little life. I am so grateful we had the opportunity and that God blessed us with so many wonderful friends. We were also so blessed to get great jobs so we didn't have to always worry about money.

Now we have to face reality...Moema has to get used to working behind a desk 40hrs a week and I have to get used to not having a job or other things I had there to distract me...me and Calvin are getting some great bonding time that is for sure:) I hope I can be a good Mom and put my whole life energy into trying to improve as a mother and wife and find meaning in those things, because in the end that is what is supposed to be the most meaningful.

I am trying to make the most of it here and find things to love about Pennsylvania. They do have Panera Bread here which is one good thing:) Our ward does seem really nice too...It is just going to take awhile to adjust but so far so good.

Update from the Matsoso's

2010-06-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

We are back from our awesome vacation to Israel and South AFrica. Our camera was dropped at the dome of the rock in Jerusalem so we are missing those photos..but they will be coming soon. We had so much fun in South AFrica with Moema's family. Calvin felt so at home there and did not want to leave, he loved the attention and LOVED his uncle thato, even though he shaved all his hair off. We spent three weeks there and had a fun trip to Mpumalanga and on Safari...we didn't want to leave but we are now living in Exton, Pennslyvania, near Philadelphia. We have a cute little townhouse and Moema is working for State Farm as an accountant. Life is great but we miss Hawaii so much!!!!! Please we want visitors...we are only about an hour from Hershey and twenty minutes from Philadelphia!

The haircut!

2010-06-08T09:01:00.000-07:00

More South AFrica

2010-06-08T09:00:00.000-07:00

Calvin with Grandma, Uncle, Great Grandma and Great Uncle

He loved all the attention!

Great Grandma's house

South Africa Photos

2010-06-07T18:02:00.000-07:00

The Potholes, in South Africa

Cool leopard in Kruger National Park

MacMac Fall

Moema Graduation

2010-04-11T20:44:00.000-07:00

Calvin 13 months

2010-04-05T23:07:00.000-07:00

Temple Beach

2010-03-07T19:24:00.000-08:00

Jane and Calvin at Temple Beach

Dad buried him.

2010-03-01T15:40:00.000-08:00

With Dad, not feeling well...too much excitement

With Laurelle, one of my great RA's

In front of our home, Hale 5

Birthday photos

2010-03-01T15:37:00.000-08:00

Ice Cream Cake

Hitting the Pinata with dad

Jane, Xander, and Cal

After I forced him to eat some, he wasn't feeling like having Cake

Happy Birthday Calvin

2010-03-01T15:34:00.000-08:00

With Cake Margarita helped me make.

Six Cakes for Leonardo, Samantha, Henalai, Calvin, Jane, and Xander

Ashley and the food.

Janey.

Foodfest BYU Hawaii Feb 2010

2010-02-16T09:30:00.000-08:00

We had a great time at Food fest. We are really going to miss it here in Hawaii and all the cultures we get to interact with everyday. We have made friends from all over the world and Foodfest is a great time to taste a little of their food. I must say that since a year and a half ago when I got food poisoning from the Chinese Club I am a little weary of actually eating the food but this year I got African Club food which was great. Calvin was dancing a lot and loved all the excitement.

The Many faces of Calvin Neo - 11 months

2010-01-28T16:04:00.000-08:00

Watching Australian Open

Just woke up from nap

About to reach for Camera

Baby Quilt

2010-01-19T21:29:00.001-08:00

I made this baby quilt for my new neice...

Allyson Rowe. I am so happy my sister found me worthy and decided to name her after me. I hope I live worthy of that respect. I hope she likes red and yellow (my wedding colors).It wasn't easy making a quilt with my little boy whining at my feet all day but I finally finished it today and sent it off to Flagstaff, Arizona. If you look close you will see it is a total disaster...I told my sister to use it for diaper changing.

Calvin is wondering why I never made him a baby quilt. Hey if you were named Al I might consider it...or even Alvin...but I don't go to all that work unless you are named after me.

Showing dad how to hit a proper overhead smash. Already showing promise at the tender age of 11 months.

2010-01-13T16:38:00.000-08:00

Calvin looked pretty in Jane's headband which he took from her:) He was quite the bully when Jane was here but then the next day he played with her again and was much better. Jane is such a good girl and always takes his abuse and still loves him.

Christmas PHotos from the Frandsens

2010-01-07T12:20:00.000-08:00

ON Christmas Eve we went witht he Frandsens to the beach and Calvin played Santa
and Jane was one of his reindeer:)

Calvin First Word

2010-01-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

Calvin said his first real word a few days ago...Ball. He actually knows what it means cause whenever he sees a ball he says it. Such a little genius...and a sports fanatic like his dad.

Christmas

2009-12-25T13:20:00.000-08:00

WE had a alot of fun with The Frandsens on Christmas Eve making gingerbread houses.

mine is the one in the front right, I went a little crazy with the candy

Presents everywhere: Calvin got little cars from dad, a book of African children's stories from mom, a puppet
Elmo from our friend Sister Downs, and books from Grandma Squires.

Christmas in Hawaii

2009-12-25T13:16:00.000-08:00

Ginger bread houses

Christmas Morning

Presents from his Grandma Flake

Calvin with Santa

2009-12-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

We had a ward Christmas party and Santa was there. Calvin was a little unsure of him but he just sat there in awe. I am still trying to decide whether I want Calvin to believe in Santa, I mean lets be honest it is lying to my kid - but it is so fun and a good way to bribe him, I just remember it was sort of tramatic for my sister when she found out there was no Santa. But I also don't want Calvin to ruin Santa for all the other kids. Well I will have to think more about this one, I still have time.

Christmas Photos by Doretha

2009-12-09T12:22:00.000-08:00

Doretha Price took some great photos of us yesterday. She is so nice and talented. She took about 1,000 and there were some great ones, which is saying something cause Moema and I are the least photogenic people on earth. Calvin was in a bad mood too! I think I am going to send out Christmas cards like the one above. Thanks so much Doretha!!!

Mele Kalikimaka!

Photos by Doretha 3

2009-12-09T12:19:00.000-08:00

PHotos by Doretha 2

2009-12-09T12:17:00.000-08:00

Photos by Doretha 1

2009-12-09T12:16:00.000-08:00

Wild and Free

2009-12-07T11:31:00.000-08:00

It is like branding a cow everytime we try and change his diaper. He hates it! He wiggles free and crawls off as fast as he can. He loves being naked I guess.

Great Indian food

2009-12-07T11:28:00.000-08:00

Calvin loves being upside down

He also loves Indian Food

He tried to eat this whole nan by himself

With Daddy

Moema and I love Indian food and found a great place in Honololulu, Maharani Indian. It was amazing, I wish we had found it earlier! They give big portions and it isn't too expensive. We then went to the Indian Store to get ingredients so I can make my own, pretty ambitious.

Thanksgiving at the Prices

2009-12-03T10:23:00.000-08:00

Doretha Price took these beautiful photos of our boy, Thanks!

Calvin laughing at dad

2009-11-21T21:06:00.000-08:00

9 months old!

2009-11-19T11:02:00.000-08:00

I am nine months now!

Things I love:
1. Daddy - okay so now when I am holding him he reaches for daddy and doesn't want to come back, I am a little offended after all I have done for him! But of course the exception to this rule is the middle of the night when he will only be held by mom and no one else - how convenient for dad! He used to only love me and now it seems it is the age of dad, when he walks in the door his face lights up and he holds his arms up to be held. I figure it is because dad doesn't do any of the mean things I do to him - like change his diaper (which he hates), put him to bed, or wipe his face.
2. Eating - Calvin loves food more than any baby I have ever seen - we can' t sit down to a meal without him gazing up at us like a dog begging for food and doing his little "MMMMMM" beg until we give in. It is not that I don't feed him enough, I mean this boy can eat almost as much as me! He will certainly have to go into sports so he doesn't get huge when he older:) He always knows when we have food, he gets really excited when he sees one of us eating yogurt.
3. Crawling - he has started to full on crawl now, as soon as grandma and grandpa walked in the door he started and now he is on the move! I need to do some major baby proofing.
4. His hands, he loves playing with his hands, putting them in his mouth and he is especially using them to shovel in food:) He is really good with his hands which dad takes as a sign of his future sports sucess
5. Shaking his head no. He doesn't know what it means yet but he loves shaking his head, it is one of his very few tricks. We are still waiting for him to figure out clapping and bye-bye.
5. The ocean, he has a cute little floaty and he loves just relaxing in the waves.

Things I hate:
1. Diaper Change
2. Sleeping in my crib - but Mom makes me!
3. Rice

More big island

2009-11-18T17:24:00.000-08:00

Place or Refuge Near Kona

Lava Tubes

King Kamehameha

Rainbow FAlls

with my parents on Oahu

2009-11-18T17:21:00.000-08:00

Pearl Harbor with Grandpa and Grandma

Dole Plantation

Oahu from the air/diamond head

Turtle Beach with Grandpa

The Big Island

2009-11-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Kona Hawaii Temple

Black Sand Beach, the Big Island

Beautiful Hawaii

2009-11-18T17:12:00.000-08:00

Sunrise at the Point, Laie, HI

from the top of Diamond Head, Honolulu

Turtle Beach, Oahu

Dole Plantation

Calvin learning to crawl

2009-11-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

Calvin 8 months

2009-11-08T12:10:00.000-08:00

Learing to Stand

With Xander and Mason

Shopping for pies

2009-11-02T17:55:00.000-08:00

2009-11-02T10:11:00.000-08:00

Nice Eyes

Finally a photo of all three of us!

Dad cooking eggs

Mr. Grumpy

Pumpkin Patch

2009-11-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

With Annette (Samantha), Ashley(Jane), me and Danielle (Henalei)

This tastes of dirt

I love his face here

Haloween

2009-11-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Calvin and Leo the Lion

Hannah Gellor and Charlie with Dad and Mr. T.

He loves his little boat

Playdate with Elizabeth

2009-10-18T00:46:00.000-07:00

Play date with Elizabeth Price, don't they look like siblings!

At Food fest with Xander, Henalei, and Samantha.