May Fun

May was a fun-filled month for us, we got to see a lot of people we really love and enjoy...it was so fun-filled that I kept putting off the task of decding which pics to post, there were so many to choose from!

The first of our visitors was the Nakamoto family from Hawaii, they were visiting Disneyland and were able to squeeze us in for a visit though they were exhausted from their travels. We really appreciated them making the time for us as we love them and their two girls!

Cute Lexie...poor thing was so tired, didn't get a smile out of her until later (after the food!)

Kayli, sweet as ever!

The girls...

Kayli, Camden and Auntie Candi

Meeting of the little people...

Sweet Lexie was so interested in touching Camden

Our next visit was with our friends the Handshoes...they also came down for a Disney trip and stopped by on their way back home. This was the first time Camden actually got to play with another baby, it was fun to watch!

Ivy, Auntie Margaret & Camden

Me with the babies!

This pic just makes my heart smile!

Camden really seemed to enjoy Ivy's company! We didn't want them to leave :)

Ivy really took to Camden's monkey-ball from Grandma

Later that day we were honored to meet my friend Cricket's newborn baby boy. He was just under a week old and so so tiny! Hard to remember that Camden was ever that small.

Chase Reid Ramirez...look at that beautiful red hair!

This month Camden finally got to meet Noah, my friend Rosa's baby boy. Camden and Noah are just one day apart in age...Noah was born the day before Camden

Sweet Baby Noah

Camden loved watching Roman, Noah's older brother, he was making him laugh!

Finally got a smile out of Camden, he was well on his way to cranky town! Poor Noah was forced to sit next to him! haha!

Cranky, silly & scared...this pic cracks me up!

Mommy's 1st Mommy's Day

This Mother's Day was extra special in our household as this year we were not just celebrating our own mother's but the fact that I am now a mommy too. I cannot begin to explain what an incredibly special and wondeful day this was for me!

Camden brought me my cards and gifts from him and Daddy, he also decided it might make a good teething toy for the moment!

Camden and Ryan bought me a beautiful necklace from my favorite designer and a pastry brush just like the one I burnt last year :/ Ryan also had some cute little cards printed up with different choices for what we could do that day...

Brunch at Taps with Grandma (Grammy lives in Arizona now, so sadly, she couldn't be with us)

The sweetest gift from my mom...the bracelet I gave her for my 1st Christmas (with a little help from my dad, of course!) It has four jade hearts dangling and the white one was always "Jill's heart"

A beautiful anthirium plant from my mom and Camden

And more beautiful flowers from Ryan...this particular flower was my favorite, it looks like something a fairy would be sitting in

So after brunch the activity I chose was the Huntington Library, fittingly this was the first piece of art we happened upon, a mother dancing with her baby

Camden wandering the galleries

Us, Camden looks so unimpressed! heehee!

The rose garden was amazing and in full bloom...

The Japanese Garden

Daddy & Camden being silly

Our final family pic in the pagoda to wash away all your worries...

Thank you to my mom, Ryan and little Camden for making my first Mother's Day so absolutely special!

Happy Boy's Day!

For our friends and family who don't know, May 5th is traditionally celebrated as Boy's Day in Japan, or tango no sekku. Families celebrate the day by displaying koinoburi, beautifully colored carp windsocks, outside of homes to wish the sons a good future.

The carp has come to be a symbol of Boy's Day because the Japanese consider it to be the most spirited of fish, so full of energy and powerful that it can fight its way up swift-running streams and cascades. Because of its strength and determination to overcome all obstacles, it stands for courage and the ability to attain high goals. Since these are traits desired in boys, families traditionally flew their koinoburi to honor their sons.

Our happy little guy on his day!

Boy's day gifts from Grandma

Sushi boy with his little canister (Mommy ate the yummy wafers inside!)

Camden's carp flags hanging in his room