We LOVE Santa!

I don't know what this picture says about my parenting skills but I think my kids will appreciate it when they are older. Zoë loved to look at Santa from afar but the minute he spoke to her the love was gone. I thought Jude was a happy little camper when Jamin passed him off to the mall Santa. Strange tradition now that I'm thinking about it. I think he got scared for a minute because of Zoë's protests. I was the lucky parent who ended up in the picture smiling big enough for all three of us. Jamin and I enjoy the holidays. We love the repetition in them. The cookies, music, decorations, trees, Christmas morning. There they are every year like a grandma you love to visit once a year and she waits for you with open arms. We run right into them. The Santa photo has been tacked on to these traditions for the good, the bad, and the ugly.

I don't know how time has gotten away from me, but it has. The holidays have come and gone(along with my sleep) and I no longer have a newborn. My children are growing up so fast. Zoe is taking a dance class and is starting pre-school. Jude, I am pretty sure weighs 16 lbs. and wears 6-9 months clothes although; he is only 16 weeks. I have completely slacked off on my blogging. Why?, one might ask. Have I been in Europe, Hawaii, away from my home unable to post? The answer is a very truthful, NO. Perhaps mentally though. Sleep deprivation in new mothers I believe is kind of like Madri Gras; one cannot be held accountable for ones action during such times. So I guess the best answer is I have not been myself lately. Women with many children probably laugh at that because they haven't slept in a long time but you have to admit, it is hard at first. What is funny, I just love my little boy who wakes me up at night. He is so sweet. I guess that is what being a mother is. I was thinking about the other day. You know how Shakespeare wrote, "All the worlds a stage". My whole life I have been the lead roll in my own play, but as a mother I am now in the supporting roll in my children's plays. My job is to help their stories be good ones. What a great roll, I think.

So, we finally joined the many families around here and purchased Disneyland passes. I actually really like Disneyland when it isn't obnoxiously crowded. Our little Zoe loves many Disney movies that she got to memorize while I was sick or on bed rest this year. She gets so excited when she sees a Buzz Lightyear or a Woody doll. There's a lot more where that came from, there is a place so dedicated to these characters she has grown to love I couldn't wait to see how her 2 year old mind would react. We also figured it was something we could do as a family. We seem limited on activities we can all enjoy but Disneyland seemed ideal. I guess that is why it is so busy. To inaugurate our Disneyland pass holder status we decided to spend Thanksgiving day there.

In the morning we had a character breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. It was pure entertainment. The food was so-so but great for kids. Zoe actually ate food there, it's a miracle. Disney characters walk around the tables giving people the opportunity to take pictures with them. Zoe was in awe. When they got close however; her awe turned to fear.

To "take cover"

Jude wasn't scared

When there wasn't a character to cower from Zoe was wondering where they were and wanted one to come back and visit.


Once inside the park it was a toddlers wonderland. If only her parents would let her run freely would it have been better for her. I think I had more fun watching Zoe than anything. Jude of course was a trooper just hanging out in the car seat or sling. I hate to say it but I buy into the whole Disney magic.

5 Years

It has seemed impossible to sit down and put this post together. Even now, I have Zoe sitting on my lap. Most days I wake up and before I know it, I'm giving Zoe a bath and getting ready for bed. Jamin and I celebrated 5 years of marriage on the 1st of November. In creating the slide show I realized I didn't own a digital camera until I was married. That was only 5 years ago, how times have changed. Looking back at our past 5 years I have to laugh at what an amazing time we have had. I also can't believe how young we looked and how different our styles have changed. I am reminded of the good, bad, scary, incredible, wonderful times we have had with gratitude. Thanks, Jamin for a wonderful 5 years.

Halloween Festivities

So we have been celebrating Halloween for a few weeks now. We started off with the Lombardi's first annual Ginger Bread Haunted House Decorating Contest. It was a lot of fun but decorating anything with a 2 year old and black frosting was a little scary. The Jensens won and they actually got a cool prize. The Duncans will be better prepared to bring some competition to the contest next year. Then there was our churches Trunk or Treat. I thought it was a great way to prepare Zoe for real trick or treating. At the beginning she was hesitant but by the end she would walk up all by herself and say "trunk or treat" . We also carved pumpkins for a FHE,aka: family night. We are extremely novice at this, but I think they turned out pretty good. Next year we'll have a better plan for the design. After that was Jamin's work Halloween Party. It's for kids only, they get to trick or treat for candy all around the different desks(it's a huge place), and then there are crafts for the kids. Zoe was totally shy, we'll call it. By the time actual Halloween came around no amount of bribery would get her to put on her costume. We went down town HB. The city closes Main street and the store owners hand out candy. They also provided entertainment including but not limited to a petting zoo (ok, I know that I originally posted "petting Zoe" but come on, I get like 4 hours of sleep each night you can't expect me to be entirely coherent or in complete sentences) and several bounce houses which were all free. It's funny how much fun all of these activities are now that I have a little person who gets excited for them. Even though she didn't wear her costume Zoe was actually brave enough to go in a bounce house and had a great time. I was so proud. She is a bit of a scaredy cat.

2 weeks old!

Well, I have been a mother of 2 for 2 weeks now and so far so good. Jamin has had paternity leave this whole time so today is my first day on my own. I haven't cried yet so I consider it a success but it is only noon. Adjusting to a second child is nothing like the first. I feel for Zoe though. I think her world has been shaken a bit. She acted out a lot the first couple of days Jude was home but seems to be doing better now. She still likes to poke him in the face and tug on his ears so leaving them alone for a second in the same room is not wise at this point(until he can defend himself anyway).

Jude Carter Duncan; 9 lbs. 13 oz.

If anyone has ever delivered at Hoag hospital you know how fabulous it is. One of the pictures is our view from the Labor/delivery room. The whole experience would make anyone who lived even 50 years ago in disbelief. In a small way I feel like I cheated nature. I was induced after all on Monday. I had mixed emotions about it having never gone into labor on my own I sort of wanted to experience it. My lack of patience, discomfort, and depression won over and I decided to go ahead and give my body the extra help it needed. Luckily I did because he weighed 9 lbs. 13 oz.(Zoe was late and weighed 8.2) The doctor had to shimmy his shoulders out of me. Seriously my mouth dropped when I was told how big he was. Anyway, I had been having contractions for 5 days prior to being induced so when they hooked me up to the pictocin nothing felt different. In fact the anesthesiologist came in to give me my epidural and said,"you don't look like you're in pain". I wasn't. My nurse recommended I get it because she thought I would go fast as soon as my water broke. I listened to her and she was right. The whole thing went so fast with out all of the sweating and moaning I so often see on A BABY STORY on TLC. The recovery is phenomenally easier than with my first. I wonder why many of us have to go through the total "but kicking" with the first child? Anyway, I am just really grateful and I am able to enjoy this beautiful little/big addition to our family. We decided on naming him Jude Carter Duncan. This name wasn't really in the running my whole pregnancy and at the hospital I really thought he looked like a Wynston( Wyn for short) but Jude won out. So far, I think it fits him and Zoe says his name sooo cute. He was really smashed in me attributing to his bruised face(what do you expect?). So these pictures are maybe more than some people want to see but they are what we have for now.