What's New?

Celebrating Easter at Coronado Island

 

Celebrating Mika's Birthday at Il Fornaio Restaurant

 

Maksim started Soccer practice with cousin Milana

Its been a little busy in our household as of late.  Going to try to catch up on a lot of stuff in this post.

So What's New?  In no particular order:

• Huge!  Maksim is 99.5% potty trained.  3 weeks going now.  I am thankful I will never have to buy him diapers ever again.
• Back to working out.  I tried my first Pilates Reformer Class and I swear it was made for me.
• I busted Stan's car.  Not good but we got it back from the shop and it looks better than new.
• Stan is the best.  We have 4th row tickets to Depeche Mode in September.  
• Lazar is 5 months old now and so close to sitting up on his own.  Going to try him on solids in a couple weeks.
• Mika, my aunt, is in San Diego for a visit!  Yeah!  She is providing us with so much kid help I feel like I am on vacation.
• Maksim finished his first session of swim lessons at the YMCA.  Being the youngest and fearless he was put in time out a ton.  He is our time out swimming champion.
• His vocabulary has increased 10-fold in the last month.  New words, songs, and sentences.
• Just booked a kid-free all inclusive vacation with Stan to Jamaica!
• Maksim got a big boy bed.  I mean its big!  Queen size and high!
• Easter Egg Hunts are the best.  We had to do about 30-40 egg hunts at home for a super excited toddler.
• Green beans and broccoli are becoming Maksim's fav foods.  I call them "green fries" and "trees."
• Argan oil for the face is my new friend.
• Stan got us tickets to see Adam Ant too! 
• We had an episode of hand, foot, mouth in our home a few weeks ago.  Both Maksim and Lazar got it.  Gross and so glad its done with it.  
• Still house hunting.  So frustrating.  There has to be a perfect house out there for us?!
• Working on call for the first time since I had Lazar.  The middle of the night calls are not appreciated by Lazar.  
• Maksim started Soccer Shots with cousin Milana.
• We officially have a teething 5 month old.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Lazar Tummy Time

Had to share these tummy time pictures of Lazar.  I think he is the so adorbs.

Love,

First Gen Fam

Merry Birthday to my Father

Work and kids have kept me from blogging for a while now.  I don't foresee things slowing down anytime soon.  But I wanted to take a moment to post a Merry Bday to my father, Perko who is enjoying some Florida sunshine today.  Stan, I, Maksim and Lazar want to wish him the best birthday yet!  Best Grandpa and Father of all time.  We miss you!

Love,
First Gen Fam

Lazar Month 4

Our little munchkin turned 4 months old today.  Already trying to get up on his feet and getting his muscles ready to try to sit up on his own.  Everyday we hear him try to talk through squeaks and goos.  His little smile lights up our hearts.  We are so lucky to have him in our lives.

What a happy 4 months it has been indeed. 

Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim in his version of Supermarket Sweep

We went to the new Trader Joe's in Mission Valley the other night.  The mini cart was available thus Maksim's shopping adventure begins.  We were lucky enough to record it because this little trip to the store made us do a laugh-cry.  He is serious about getting all his groceries quickly (very Supermarket Sweep) though he does have time to stop and test out a sample.  He zig-zagged throughout the store, paid for his groceries, and was rewarded with a lollipop at the end.  He is our super shopper.  Enjoy the video!

Love,
First Gen Fam

Bros Conversing : First Time Ever Caught on Video

Maksim really pays no attention to baby Lazar other than to ask me to set him down so he can get some cuddling in with Mama.  It made me a little worried.  Is he jealous?  Is he going to love his brother?  It was like this until recently.  He now goes and chats up a whole conversation with Lazar.  I can only make out some of it otherwise it's some secret baby language.  In this video see Maksim tells his brother about Donald Duck, Chip and Dale, lays down some kisses and shows off his belly button.  Please don't mind the toe biting. I consider it a love bite.  I was so lucky to be able to record this first ever conversation.  Brotherly love is too darn cute.

Love,
First Gen Fam

All Things Black and White

From the top:  1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8

Black and white has always been classic but recent fashion shows have made this a top trend for 2013.  I choose a few wardrobe and home pieces that caught my eye above.  Not going to lie I might have ordered the shoes already.  If you are going to shell out some bucks towards some new trendy pieces this year it has to be b/w.  Its crisp, timeless, and can be worn with any other color (love it with coral).  You simply cannot go wrong.

Happy Shopping.
Love,
First Gen Fam

Maksim Update: 2.3 Years Old

Since we started Maksim in preschool in January we are already seeing the effects.  He is learning so quickly.  New words come out of his mouth everyday.  Some I still struggle to understand, but it's really cute.

Update:

• Officially in a big boy bed.  The cribs rail is down.  He frequents our bed a lot more now, hehe.
• Learned how to do a somersault
• Started putting sentences together
• Sharks are awesome......period
• Loves, loves, loves swimming 
• Counting up to 12.  After 12 it's a jumble of numbers
• He's got ABCD and WXYZ down, the middle of the alphabet also a jumble
• I tell him I love him before bed and he says it back to me....its the best feeling ever

Love,
First Gen Fam

Everyday Updos

I wear my hair up a lot.  Updos keep my hair out of the kid's reach and at the same time make me look a little more polished.  Below are some updos that seem pretty easy that I need to add to my routine especially  when I have a bad hair day.

The top knot.  I think I wear my hair like this most of the time.  It's easy and can be worn messy. Add a barrette or headband and it instantly dressy you up. Tutorial here.

Head scarf.  Better than wearing a hat.  Go here for the tutorial.

Twisted side ponytail.  Looks great with wavy textured hair.  Click here for the tutorial.

The french twist.  I have never perfected this hairdo and sometimes it seems a little stiff.  The model in the pics above looks really cute so I'll give it another try.  This tutorial using chopsticks makes it look easy too.

Simple tucked twists work well for short and medium length hair and looks very elegant. Click here for the tutorial.

 How about the classic ponytail.  Mine doesn't look as good as this model's usually but I will try to wrap my hair around the elastic to make it look polished.

Happy Hair Days,
First Gen Fam

Happy Valentine's Day

Wishing everyone a Happy Valentine's day filled with lots of love and kisses.

Love,

First Gen Fam

Lazar Month 3

Posted this picture on Facebook but failed to post on the blog when it was his official 3 month birthday.  I have been busy with family in town and I have officially returned back to work.  He is smiling more than ever now and chunking up in all the right places.  This baby is like my first....big!  Wearing 6 month size clothing already.  I make them big, I know.  I heard a first laugh from him a couple weeks ago too.  Completely adorbs, heart melting and for that moment I forget that he is waking us up nightly.  They make babies cute so you cannot stay mad at them.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Rub a Dub Dub, Maksim in the Tub

I recently posted some bath time pics of Lazar so its Maksim's turn.  This kid loves water whether in a pool, bath, sink, etc.  He even loves washing his hands.  We give him nightly baths.  The tub is filled with the essentials, bubbles, boats, sharks, and an occasional octopus.  He now even holds his breathe under water.  Full face submersion!  He is Mama's little show off.  Getting ready to sign him up for some more swim lessons.  He loves "swimmy" (as he says) it so I am going with it.  Plus if it tires him out some....its not entirely a bad thing.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Baby Bath Time

Like his brother little Lazar loves bath time.  Don't mind the serious face, he really is enjoying himself in his baby jacuzzi.  He is become more and more active too adding little splashy kicks now. He still is a really sweet and good baby.  I sometimes have to pinch myself.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Merry Bday to Me

My boys and I

Someone insisted on blowing out my candle

I celebrated my 31st birthday last weekend.  Stan took me on a date....dinner and movie.  We don't get out much so it was fantastic.  We celebrated at home with family the day after but as you can tell from the pictures I got pretty sick along with Maksim.  I didn't ask for a runny nose, headache, or violent sneezes, for my birthday but that is what I got along with some sparkling new gifts.  Another great bday beside the whole getting sick thing

Love,

First Gen Fam  

Maksim Started Preschool

Maksim officially started preschool January 7th.  I think it's great for him in terms of structure, education and the whole social aspect of it.  He really has never had separation anxiety but when Papa drops him off in the morning he is not a happy camper.  The teacher tells us he is sad for a couple minutes after Stan leaves and then gets over it.  Still my heart breaks to hear that he is sad even for one minute.  I know it will take some time getting used to for the both of us.  The preschool gives us daily report cards on how he behaved, what and how much he ate, the lesson plan, and his potty progress.  It is the one thing I really appreciate and look forward to.  I picked him up from preschool last week and when he saw me his face lit up with so much happiness that my heart dropped.  Maybe Mama has some separation anxiety?

Love,
First Gen Fam

Lazar Month 2

Lazar turned 2 months old January 6th. The fat folds have started forming that I love so much thanks to a really healthy appetite. Just like his brother he is "big" for his age.  Lazar is already wearing 3-6 month clothing and there is no sign of slowing down so bring on the fat rolls!  Smiling and little squeaks and coos are becoming more frequent. I don't know if there is such a thing as an "easy" baby (sounds like a oxymoron, right?) but I would say he is that. I can enjoy long walks, trips to the mall or errands with the little stress from my little man.  Now if he can only sleep 8 hours straight....we are getting there though only 1-2 feedings nightly now. Thank you Lazar for being an "easy" baby because Mama's sanity really appreciates it.

Love,
First Gen Fam

Catching up....first up Xmas

I have been really behind on my blog posts.  December was a rough month filled with doctors appointments, ER visits and hospital stays.  We are lucky that everyone is now healthy, happy, and things have gone back to normal.  December 2012, I am so, so, so, glad you are behind us.  We celebrated 2013 together as a family and had a wonderful Orthodox Christmas.  Maksim is still asking for "presents" on a daily basis (it's adorbs to be honest).

Some of our Xmas celebration photos:

Maksim opening presents.  He kept asking for "more."

Celebrating Orthodox Xmas at Baba Lepa's.

Maksim got an easel from Baba Lepa and Deda Milos for Xmas.  I foresee a mess in my future.

Twins.  Matching outfits from Baba Mika (AKA Baba-boo)