Jacob's Birthday Party

Just some pics to share of Jacob's 2nd Birthday Party celebrations. On the evening of his actual birthday (which was a Wednesday night), a few of our friends joined us last minute @ Chuck E. Cheese after work- where the kids enjoyed games, entertainment, pizza, and cupcakes. Oh, and Rocky enjoyed the "ticket booth"- where he is locked in a little capsule, and tickets are blown everywhere for 1 minute- and it is up to him on how many he can catch- he did catch quite a few, enough to earn him a nice Chuck E. Cheese Soccer Ball. Jacob, on the other hand- LOVED Chuck E. Cheese himself (which we were all a bit surprised- lots of kids his age get a bit freaked out by costume characters-understandably so)- Thank you to all of our friends who joined us last minute, after work and traffic, in the middle of their weeks- it really made his day special!

We celebrated Jacob's Birthday on a Saturday with family and a couple close friends. It was a Mickey Mouse theme- with Mickey cake (Mickey and Minnie were already taken off the cake before the picture was taken- I'm very sad about that), streamers and balloons, and a Mickey pinata from his Grandma Olivia and Aunt Lorraine. Jake was spoiled with TONS of presents. He received a "Little Kitchen" from Grandma Joey and Pa, an awesome sled for the winter from all my siblings, and a Step 2 slide/basketball hoop from Uncle Sammy (his Godfather) and Aunt Marcella- just to name a few...He had a great time! Thank you everyone for making Jacob's 2nd Birthday so special. We love you all! Jacob has some fun presents that hopefully will keep him busy during the days I am tending to a newborn!

Labor Day Weekend Morkes Getaway

We traveled to Galena, Eagle Ridge for our 2nd Annual Morkes Labor Day Getaway. The guys golf the entire time, while the girls and kids shop, get massages, and hang out. My parents rented a (6)-bedroom house right on the golf course, and this year we had (3) kids (compared to last year with just 1)- different schedules, naptimes, etc...we still enjoyed our time hanging out. Next year will have (4) kids- 3 of which should be walking/running around! Wow! What a difference a year makes. Some pics to share...

Rojas Family outside the home we all rented...Daddy teaching Jacob "form."
Mason and Jacob just making fun of eachother...
"Mr.Mom"-Uncle Jared taking on the newborn "responsibilities" of his 5-week old Princess
Jacob and Aunt Cara aka. "HFA" (his favorite aunt...atleast in Galena! He loves her)
Aunt Loren trying to have her coffee while entertaining Baby Mason
Daddy and "Pa" before they hit the course.
Uncle Dave entertaining Jacob before hitting the course for the 2nd time that day.

Jacob Brayden is 2 Years Old

September 22, 2008 was the day that changed our lives forever...

Our Little Prince was born. Our Little Prince, whom we prayed for and waited for- for so long!! Jacob was born on the 1st Day of Fall (mommy's favorite season!) @ St.Alexius Hospital. It was such an exciting time! And the excitement has continued since! Everyday we experience new adventures and truly live life all over again...through an innocent child's eyes. And, wow! It is really exciting, (and it sure makes us want to take naps alot because the excitement really tires us out too!!) This past year has been really fun. I couldn't ask for more fun, actually!

Jacob LOVES learning- through books, museums (we made our 1st visits to some Children's museums and The Shedd Aquarium this year- the fishies were his favorite by far!),

zoos (Jacob thinks animals are so cool and loves making their sounds and even imitating them), also, The Rainforest Cafe (loves the dolphins and gorillas), some television that mommy allows him to watch such as Sesame Street, Yo Gabba Gabba (his favorite currently), Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Winnie the Pooh (kind of over "Pooh" now), and a new one- Special Agent OSO ("Oh So Special")- all of which teach lessons in each episode and keep him busy for about 20-minutes at a time so mommy can shower, clean, etc.

Jacob has also been the little traveler. We have visited Michigan and the beach this year for the 1st time and he learned to love the sand and seagulls. Water has been a new favorite as well- swimming lessons this Summer helped Jake get more comfortable with the water and what to do. He now loves to swim anywhere he can (including the bathtub!) Swimming, I believe has given him more confidence to try new things on his own as well! Also, Jacob has been enjoying spending time at home playing with his toys such as puzzles, blocks, balls, leggos, coloring, play-dough, finger paint, playing drums, playing with forts, helping mommy cook and clean

, and taking walks outside to name a few. He is also learning how to act like a Big Brother- he seems to boss his kitty "Nina" around just fine. Sometimes I find him slamming a door in a room he is in after kicking Nina out!

Jacob has lots of "Little Buddies" who he enjoys seeing and spending time with. He has finally mastered all of their names- and talks about them often.

He sees his friends pretty often as well...the Summer has been a great season of outdoor playdates and get togethers. Jacob has been also meeting new friends through some of his park district classes he takes 1x a week-just a way to get out, play, learn how to listen to direction from an instructor, and socialize.

Lastly, Jacob Brayden is becoming a "Big Kid"- and I don't know how I feel about it.

He is the oldest of his cousins these days- he now is sharing the attention with Baby Mason and Baby Alyssa...

and is getting used to it and enjoys seeing them more and more. As this is all fantastic practice as months turn into weeks as we prepare for the arrival of his NEW Baby Sister. Jacob is a big boy now (he even tells us this)- he eats real meals

, goes pee-pee on the potty, talks complete sentences, runs everywhere, sings...

but, at night when he is getting ready for bed and snuggling up with us, he reminds us that he IS still our Baby- just our BIGGER Baby these days. We love you Jacob Brayden. Thank you, for coming down from heaven for us!!! Happy 2nd Birthday our Sweet, Sweet Prince.

Baby Emerson News

Well, I am just about to enter my 29th week, and couldn't be happier about it! Less than 80 days to go and am ready for the celebration. I know, I know it is so much easier when the baby is still inside the tummy, but, I am really done and am ready to start losing some darn weight! This pregnancy has been fairly easy, besides taking care of a toddler while being exhausted...but, after my 1st trimester, my nausea wore off, and I really have been feeling great...besides a few bumps in the road- some major heartburn, braxton hicks, headaches, and carpel tunnel in my left wrist (that is definitely something new for me this time and it stinks). I also think I am "carrying" differently then I did with Jacob. My tummy is much lower this pregnancy. I have gained 19 pounds at this point. I also needed to take the 3-hour glucose test this time (unlike my 1st pregnancy) and that was pretty awful...but thankfully, I DID pass!!!!! I am so ready to meet our Princess! I am so ready to bring her home and start our new lives as a family of 4. I do have a million +1 fears, of course. I think I am most scared of how Jacob is going to be. I get teary eyed as I write this because I know this is really going to turn his world upside down (in a good way, of course- but he won't know that for awhile)...so I have been reading so many books on how to handle this. I am of course, scared to death raising 2 babies at once as well. Huh? How do people do that? And...how has that been happening for centuries? But, how are the Rojas' going to do it?! So nervous. Some updates on Baby Emerson's world... Well, Little Girl is weighing right around 2 pounds, 13 ounces at the moment- 56th percentile thus far (though, you'd think I had an 8-pounder in there already- my tummy is huge)- doctors are guessing she may be at 7-71/2 pounds at birth (which is smaller than Jacob- but she's a girl). She is a mover and a shaker. Constantly grooving and Jacob loves to feel her move and kiss her. We just had our 28-week ultrasound (our final ultrasound)- and it was a fun one with 4-D pics. So, I included some. Emerson will be born via C-Section (just like Jacob)- her due date is Monday, November 22, 2010...unless, she decides to make her appearance earlier. If she arrives per her scheduled due date, we will probably be bringing her home ON Thanksgiving...which will make quite a Turkey Day! We are still deciding on her middle name and are having fun with it! Her Nursery- is almost complete. The room has been painted Blue ("Bippity-Boppity-Blue") and Pink ("Cinderella Pink") and the furniture has arrived just yesterday, so that has been set up in her room...it is coming together. We have found a few sweet pieces to hang on her walls, I am looking for a few more odds and ends, her bedding is on its way, and clothes must be washed...so exciting. Oh, and whataboutit?! Jacob wants Emerson's room....NOT his anymore! So we are making a few changes with his to make it exciting again. I have included a few pictures of this pregnancy. (2) posed belly shots (not liking them, but I want to make sure Little Emme has some pics too), a shot of me earlier in the pregnancy (12-weeks), a pic of Karen and I both pregnant together (because our daughters will only be 4 months apart and will be such close little cousins!!), some ultrasound pics (20-week and 28-week), a pic of Rocky and Jacob at the 20-week ultrasound, and some shots of the room. We are so excited for our Little Girl!