Family Pictures

My Cousin's wife, Katelyn Wray took our family pictures last month. She also took Mealea's newborn pictures, she did a great job. If you want to check her out her website is....

katelynwrayphotography.com

We hadn't taken family pictures in a while.... This was our last one

Sawyer was 9 months old in this picture, and he is now 2 1/2.

I thought it was hard taking these family pictures in 2010, but oh...how naive I was as to how bad it could get.

The family picture above was taken at Sears. Indoors. With one kid. And my mom there to help him smile standing behind the camera. One little corner of the studio, that was it. It was easy.

But last month we had an interesting experience trying to take pictures. The kids refused to smile, really we only got one family picture with all of us smiling. They didn't want to sit in one stop, they wanted to explore. Every time they moved their clothes got dirty, then they would wipe their feet on our clothes. Mealea cried and whined a LOT.

It was fun! But I'm sure every parent understands.

The best part about these pictures is that we are done and don't have to take new ones for a while!

Home Sweet Home

Saturday September 1st marked one year in our house. Time goes by so fast, I can't believe its been one year. We were so lucky to get this house. It was a HUD home, a foreclosure, so we got a great deal. There were a lot of people interested, and many many bids. The house was open for people to place bids for only 10 days. After which they would open and review them all and select one. We came in only $1,000 over listing price, and I think several others came in at about the same price. But we were chosen!

Before our inspection we found water pouring from the ceiling in one of the bathrooms. Because of strict rules, we weren't allowed to touch anything until after we officially closed so we weren't able to go in and see the extent of the damage. We had to go with the deal hoping that it wasn't too bad because HUD homes are sold as is, they do not offer any money for repairs. We felt that it would be worth it for us to proceed, we had faith that it wouldn't be too expensive. After we closed on the house we had plumbers come in and the repairs were only about $500.

This house has been such a blessing for our family. We have plenty of room, a great neighborhood with amazing, kind and helpful neighbors. We are in a cul de sac so there isn't much traffic (which is a must with my adventurous kids).

 When we moved in, I was 35 weeks pregnant with Mealea, and it was still really hot outside. It was hard, I was miserable. My feet were so swollen I couldn't wear any shoes. Little Sawyer was confused at first, he cried and whined a lot, always asking to go home. He had to stay by my side for the first week, he was scared of being in a room alone. But after that first week, he's been just fine and grown to love all the space and the yard.

It was a long hard road that led us to this house. But I have found that the long hard roads always bring us to the most beautiful places. That includes having children. Its no secret that it can be hard, stressful, and sometimes may drive you to the brink of insanity. But nothing compares to the love, joy and beauty children bring into life. (funny...as I type this, my little monkeys are fighting, and so it begins......)

New Job

Three months ago, Samong left his Clinician job CSS to accept a new job at another agency because they were hopeful they would have many opportunities of growth for him, being a new agency that is growing fast. The job seemed like it would be a great opportunity for him and our family. When he started they put him in PSR with the promise of moving him to the position of Clinician with salary pay in about 6 weeks time. The weeks seemed to drag on forever. He worked in Blackfoot so it was a lot of driving, and didn't get home until almost 8:30-9:30 most nights. He didn't like how the company was run, it was frustrating for both of us. The 6 weeks passed and doubled and they still didn't move him anywhere. We were both beginning to wonder why we felt he should take that job if it was going to be like this and leave us worse off financially.
One day Samong came home from work, at 9:15 p.m. smiling from ear to ear. I struggled that night putting the kids to bed, they were still crying in their rooms. I was getting so discouraged lately with his long hours, and just having two small kids that were draining all my energy. He told me he got a call from the owner of CSS two hours earlier asking him if he was interested in the position of Program Manager at CSS. Of course he was and set up an interview for the next week. That interview was yesterday, and he got the job! He was nervous for the interview and the job itself. The interview was at 1 and he got home at about 2. He looked so discouraged and beat down when he walked in the door. He told me the interview was hard, and he didn't know some of the answers to the questions he was asked. He said he was nervous and stuttered. He said they told him he would be notified either way by the end of the business day. So we waited... 2 1/2 hours. The kids were both napping so we just sat there trying to find anything to distract us. We had "nervous" stomachs, and hadn't really eaten much all day. Samong tends to be over critical of himself so I knew the interview was probably better than he thought it was. I also thought that they asked him the hardest questions possible to see how much he knows, not expecting him to know all the answers. So I was still hopeful, but I hate the waiting game. Good things come to those who wait, and it's all about timing. We are so excited :)
Samong told me today that when he told the other agency he was leaving and gave his 2 weeks notice, they asked him what it would take for him to stay. Samong turned them down, too bad... they snoozed and they lost him. Now we know he took that job to teach him what NOT to do when running an agency. He could have been a valuable asset to them, and helped them to be more organized and to function smoother.
I am so proud of him and all his hard work. He is so exceptional at what he does. This new job will look beautiful on his resume, and help build up his professional career. Brighter days for the Som's ahead!

Sibling Love

Now that Mealea is crawling she loves to follow Sawyer everywhere. She watches everything he does, and plays with all his favorite toys. Sawyer gets jealous and pulls the toys away, but I remind him to share and he usually gives it back (even though its really hard for him). As hard as it can be having two kids, I love it more than anything. I love to watch them interact together. I can tell they love each other, and that makes me so happy! Sawyer will ask me "where's baby?" when he can't find her. Sometimes he answers his own question with "baby night night".

Before she was born, I was worried that Sawyer would be jealous of her, or act out because he's not getting as much attention. I worried for months, researching ways to help a toddler adjust to a new baby. Sawyer was only 18 months when Mealea was born, still a baby himself. I felt bad that he didn't have more time with just Mom and Dad before a new sibling came. But then I realized every baby after the first doesn't get that time anyway. After Mealea was born, I was pleasantly surprised when Sawyer showed no jealousy at all. He even showed a little interest in her and wanted to pat her head and give her a binky, bottle and blankets. We taught him to be soft and nice to her so she didn't get hurt. We were also surprised to find he was just naturally careful around her as to not hurt her. Since then he has grown to love her more. Once when Mealea was about a month old she was in her car seat in the living room screaming. Sawyer ran over and paced the floor looking a little worried and anxious. He scanned the area and found her binky and put it in her mouth (upside down so it fell out). Then he found her blanket and gently put it over her body careful to keep her face free. That was one of the most beautiful moments I've ever seen. I have caught him numerous times since then watching how I comfort her and trying it out. He is such a sweet boy. I was worried for nothing ( I KNOW SAMONG...)

Mealea also loves her brother. When I get her out of her crib from a nap or in the morning Sawyer is usually with me. Her eyes burst with joy, love and excitement when she sees him. Her arms fly, her legs kick and she squeals in delight. As soon as I put her down, she grabs his head and licks it (gives kisses). I LOVE IT!

I wanted another boy because since they were close in age I thought it would be fun to have little best friends playing and laughing together. I have that now with a little boy and a little girl, its perfect.



Having two kids is an adventure, but it comes with some work. The past week 1/2, two weeks has been rough. Mealea cut her first tooth and it took a week just to pop up completely. It's still tiny, but it's done coming through the gums. A week of her crying all the time, not eating very good and just not being herself. That may not be that long, but it's long to me because all of Sawyer's teeth popped up in two days time. He was a little fussy, but back to normal in no time. Then she had a huge reaction when we fed her bananas and banana/apple/strawberry baby food on Monday. Her rash was so bad she stayed up all night (until 3:30 am) crying and scratching. The next two days she cried most of the day unless I held her. Her rash is getting better but it takes a while. Samong gets home from work Mon-thurs between 8-9pm right now so I am slowing going mad. He interview's for a new job on Tuesday, we really need this job. It's a big pay raise plus he will be home at a normal time.

Little Helper

Sawyer likes to "help" out around the house. Like any kid (maybe any kid X 10) he loves to be hands on. I love the joy in his face as he learns something new, or thinks he's the biggest boy in the world. He has always been so determined. He crawled at 6 months, walked at 10, and could walk up the down the stairs like a big boy standing up at 18 months. He's all boy...

Here is is at Home Depot with daddy using a tape measure

He also likes to help with the dishes

He even wants to help put Mealea "night night" (except that's his bed)

Here he is vacuuming the house, he is so cute:)

Father/Daughter Love

Samong has had a special bond with his daughter from the moment she was born. I've never seen him more in love..it's the truth. I love that our second child is a girl, so now we can enjoy having one of each for a while. She loves her daddy very much. She recently started doing some hyperventilation thing when she see's him. Her face is priceless! She knows how to get what she wants from him already. She'll be playing happily on the floor with her toys, completely content... Until Samong walks in the room and she whines and begs for him to pick her up. I can't wait to see what happens when she's old enough to date!

Most people say Mealea looks like Samong......everyone else hasn't met her!

Daddy's little girl

Baby Blessing & A Wedding

We blessed Mealea on December 5th when she was two months old. Samong blessed her in Cambodian like he did with Sawyer. I am always so scared they will scream during the blessing into the microphone, but they haven't so far. I'm also worried that for the short time they wear an all white expensive outfit they will blow out (perhaps while all the men hold them during the blessing). My kids have always been good at pooping and blowing out. But so far so good:) This was the best picture I could get of them together, I like that they are doing the same hand gesture here.

I'm sure if I kept trying I could have gotten a better picture, but I was anxious to get these clothes off and feed them

I love this picture of Mealea, she loves to stick her tongue out

I have the cutest kids in the world :)

My brother Nicholas got married on December 17th in Idaho Falls. This is him with his wife Lindsey at the luncheon. 

This is Mealea in the dress she wore for Nick's wedding, she looked so cute in it. My sister Amanda took this picture, I think Mealea was a little nervous because I wasn't in the room.

Mealea playing with Daddy at Nick and Lindsey's reception