Random Cuteness (part 10)

Now that all the family has left the house... we can finally get back to what's really important: determining, through lots of picture taking, just how cute Allen Jess really is!

"How you doin'?"

Gotta give the Key-Dens some love!

Ming: "Uh... do you mind? I'm playing here!"

"Hey Dad... what channel was that swimsuit competition on again?"

"Mom, if Dad knew you were looking at that you'd be so in the dog-house!"

"Nice to meet you Ming, my name is Allen Jess!"

And here we thought the little bear was for Allen! That thing has been a life-saver... when we're too busy trying to get other crap done for him, around the house, or for us... we just prop his bottle up with it and bam... instant bottle holder! (That doesn't make us bad parents, does it?)

Ming supervising bath time.

"Hey, you missed a spot!"

"Mommy & Daddy are too busy to play with me... so they just gave me some toys and told me to stare at Mr. Snowman for a while! Not to worry though, I'll get them back... I think I feel a good one brewing!"

Allen's 10 minute cartoon-time was up...

for when Mommy says it's 'Mommy-time', she means it!

Prince 'Drools-A-Lot' gets the best seat in the house!

   

Me: "Can I get you some milk Sir?"

Him: "Not right now... I'm watchin' the game for crying out loud!"

It's a rough life those cats live ya know!

Not sure what we (or the cats) would've done without that cat-tree!

That look of...

"What, you just want me to play with myself?

Throw me a bone here!"

"Alright, let's see here...  
does this thing have the Internet?"

It's so hard to just let him be...

and not climb in snuggle up with him! 

Just out of the water...

and ready for a rub-down!

Happy baby on the left... and long skinny baby on the right! (Poor kid is gonna have his Daddy's big ol' eyebrows and his long skinny legs!)

"Okay Mommy... so if Stephanie is cheating on Brad, and Steve is engaged to Tiffany, but Tiffany is seeing Richard who is married to Sharon... who is Karen cheating on?"

"Hey Mom... hook me up with a manicure will ya!?"

When asked how much he loved his Daddy...

Allen Jess spread his arms and replied, "Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much!"

...and then he fell asleep.

It's certainly no surprise that I've taken a back seat to my son... but as long as he continues to act as cute as he looks, then I suppose I can live with that!

Allen's Turn

In the beginning...

it was Anabella who started the trend.

Here they are together in their younger years perfecting their act!

It didn't take long before they had it down pat!

And then of course Oscar got one of his very own...

to train, work and tour North America with!

Oscar & Nykol practiced tirelessly until finally...

She let go of the reins and made Daddy proud!

And then Zahid came along...

and he was like, "Don't worry pops, I got this!"

...at just two and a half months!

 

And now he's a certified pro!

And then there was just one left! It was finally Allen Jess's turn... and although the little guy was a bit skeptical, Uncle Oscar had no doubt Allen could pull it off with ease!

So one night under intense pressure...

he locked out those knees and gave it everything he had!
...and another milestone was achieved! 

Thanks Uncle Oscar!  You're the best!!!

Peace & Quiet

You'd think after about the first week or so we'd be kind of over the whole family thing at the house... but surprisingly, at least for me - since it wasn't my half of the family - I really enjoyed their extended stay with us and am thankful we got to see and spend as much time as we did together! It was the end of the third week and their last weekend here with us... so everyone got in as much hugs & kisses in with Allen Jess as they could!

Which wasn't much... as J.R. was a baby-hog and wouldn't give him up... even when he picked up Joanna! He just smiled and said, "Hey, two is better than one!"

Once Oscar, Rocio and the kids showed up... we piled into the cars and headed to Outback, where we ate like kings, loved on one another, and hoped we didn't get kicked out! (We were kind of loud!)

Ya gotta love that smile... So cute!

Once we got home from stuffing our faces with Bloomin Onions and steak... we decided to take some more family photos. After all, this was our last night together and you just never know when the next time we'll get to all be together again! By the way... that sure is one lucky Grandmother there!

After seeing this photo of all of us together... it made me realize just how much has changed and how many new little people have joined the family in the short three years and three months since Jei and I got married. Makes you wonder what we'll look like in another three more years?!   

The circus closed up shop, packed their bags, and finally made their way back home. And although we have our house back (no one happier than the cats!) and a little peace & quiet (never imagined having a 3-month-old being described as "peace & quiet"!), we're certainly going to miss everyone... for having a house full of family sure did make the Holidays merrier, the house happier, and the memories that much more special! Thank you family for one Hell of a good time!

What A Year!

As 2011 slowly but inevitably came to an end... all of the liquor in the house crawled out of the woodwork to make a rare appearance! As you can see, it was time to celebrate the beginning of a New Year... but that of course meant we had to close out the old year, which for Jei & I.... just might have been the greatest year of our lives!

We started the year one week pregnant and in Roswell, New Mexico... and ended it in a new house in Murrieta, California with this little guy!!!

We kicked off the year completely alone with just each other and the cats while the nearest family member was over a thousand miles away... but ended it with a house full of love, happiness, and lots of wonderful family!

No loud music, fireworks, or fun drinking games with friends... instead, we settled for a nice mellow and quiet evening hanging out with some really silly characters we like to call family!

 

Looking back on it... I think we both have a hard time realizing just how different our lives were a year ago and probably couldn't even imagine back then having our own little 3-month-old baby boy while about to ring in 2012!

I don't think there was anywhere 'Buela'-Soch would have rather celebrated the New Year than at her home away from home with her grandchildren!

With such a wide variety to choose from and a complete lack of knowledge... Jeilene was forced to experiment with the drinks, and unfortunately, Sochi was forced to be the taste tester!

Anabella was a little trooper and made it all the way to midnight... and once the countdown had ended, I got a big kiss on the cheek and a very loud, "Happy New Year!"

We said goodbye to 2011 as the ball dropped and welcomed in 2012 exactly the way we wanted to... with lots of hugs, kisses, family and tasty adult beverages! I can't imagine 2012 being as special and eventful as 2011 was... with getting to see and spend time with 90% of our families, buying & moving into a beautiful new home, and becoming parents for the first time to a an amazing baby boy... but I guess if Obama loses the election and the world ends in December this year, than obviously that would totally outdo last year! :-)

2012 got off to one heck of a start when J.R. & Idely decided to cook dinner for us that evening on New Year's Day! The menu? ...An unbelievably amazing tortilla soup!!! Absolutely delicious!

New Year's Day was filled with lots of football, delicious food, laziness, and more family photos!

Wait a sec, let me check... Yeah, nope... it doesn't get any cuter than that! Okay, so maybe if Allen Jess would have been looking at the camera and smiling... but three out of four ain't bad! Those sure are some good looking cousins!

Well, if the first day of the New Year is any indication of how the rest of the year will be... then I'm definitely a happy man! Happy to have spent the New Year with family... happy to be blessed with such wonderful caring people in our lives... and happy to spend 2012 watching our beautiful son grow up faster than he ever will in one year's time. It should be a fun one!