Big Brother Thomas

Thomas was helping out soothing the baby while daddy got his bottle ready. Yes, we are still breastfeeding! We are also pumping(to increase milk supply) and sometimes supplimenting with formula (for weight gain). Lil man is a lot of work :)

Lil Thomas and baby Alex

Thomas was thrilled to be able to feed the baby today. He was also incredibly helpful and well behaved, helping with chores and at the groceries store. He was also my little helper when putting the groceries away. It gives me hope for tomorrow. My first day on my own with both kids in the house. Wish me luck!

3rd tooth down

Thomas is now sporting a gap in his smile.

Baby Alexander

Titi feeding Alexander

Expressing milk by doctors orders to keep track of how much he's eating. While a bummer,  a plus it's giving others a chance to enjoy feeding him.

1 week today!

4 days

Welcoming baby home.

We're super tired but happy to say we're home just 24 hours after Alex came into the world.

Hello Papa'Buelo

Made it safe from his trip. Too bad he's leaving tomorrow already :(

Good Morning world!

Titi Meky

Thomas and Alexander

My boys finally together.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Joey troche" <flukeairwalker@gmail.com>
Date: Sep 6, 2012 7:09 PM
Subject: Thomas and Alex
To: "Dy Luskca Pimentel" <dy.luskca@gmail.com>

Hello world!

All prepped and about to be wheeled out.

Waiting on my ride to the 0R.

On the way.

On the way we go. Keep you all updated!

Joey and Thomas: second day of school

Have no fear! I have first day of school pics too. Just need to upload them to my computer. Joey and titi Meky took Thomas to school today so we have a pic of Daddy and little Thomas.

Hiya!! Pumped up for class today.

Being silly with titi!

Thomas is loving having his Titi visit. Its been perfect for him. She dotes a year's worth of love 24/7 on him and he's in 7th heaven someone is captivated by all his antics. I'm so glad, I can't keep up with him right now, so mommy is really boring. Playing with daddy gives me a heart attack, so I try to be in another room. Here is a gallery of silly Thomas for you viewing pleasure taken by Titi Meky:

Here is were I break it to you...

** cross post from www.stellargravity.wordpress.com

So while we haven't been hiding it, we haven't been advertising it either: This time around we're cloth diapering. Alright lay it on me (the weird looks, the puckered mouth, the "WHY!?!").

First of all: OMG HOW CUTE!!!!

I'm not a tree hugging 'keep chemicals away from my baby' mom. I'm all for convenience, but more than convenience I'm all for cheaper. Yeap, I'll be the first to admit we're doing this for the money. That  the environment benefits, its just a nice bonus. I had wanted to do it with Thomas but having no extra info we decided the upfront cost AND the work we had to put into it would be too much. Now thanks to having better google-fu and the help of a friend that already has experience in this field, I  found much better sources of information. Turns out, not really that much work. Two extra loads of laundry a week. I can live with that. While I was impressed with the saving, I did the calculations myself based on how much disposable diapers cost at the stores we frequent, wipes, and wipe cases (3 total) for the next 2 years (aprox age of potty training). I then calculated cost of disposables, part of the light bill, (we don't pay for water), extra use of detergent, washable wipes, wipe warmer, and wetbag.
Disposable diapers (and extras) over 2 year:
$2,105
Cost of cloth diapers (and extras) over 2 years:
$328- $400

Suddenly I don't feel so silly having people look at me like I'm  a tree hugger :)
Since I'll be stumbling along trying to figure out how to do this, I'll be cataloging all of this here. (www.stellargravity.wordpress.com)  So when I get questions I can just point people in the this direction.

Thomas, my little helper.

I know realize how happy I am of the big time difference between my two boys. In the last week I've had to rely on my (almost) 6 year old more and more. From pulling the clothes out dryer because I can't bend. To helping pull me out of the sofa, pushing the grocery cart (my belly gets in the way), getting me water all the time. Even helps me do the dishes (he washes, I rinse and stack). I'm so proud of him for stepping up these last two weeks, and repeatedly thank him for his help because I do not take it for granted. It seems to have instilled a self confidence in him though that I didn't expect. However I can't wait til we can go back to being silly and him being a kid, not worry so much about helping/taking care of mommy so much.

Company Picnic

Turned into Daddy day. Joey and Thomas were being silly and playing. Hadn't heard Thomas laugh so hard and so much in a while. Made me glad we went even if I wasn't feeling well. Personal life goal, make Thomas laugh like that atleast once a day for the rest of my life.

Anytime now....

I just realized that at any moment I'm gonna have to change the name for this blog!
Csection is planned for Sept 6th. Thomas starts school on the 5th. My sister is coming on the 1st. Still have to finish unpacking the last of boxes in my apartment. Its going to be a crazy mad dash to the finish line.


Getting the last of the baby stuff, if you're interested in helping out with the last few items. Here is the link to our baby registry:
http://www.amazon.com/registry/baby/3SQG906I3UFT3

Wish us luck!

Never to young to help

Thomas and I put together the baby's crib. I don't use the word lightly, Thomas was a big help! He screw the pieces in while I held them together. Good job Thomas!

I forsee this being a problem...

Cat's favorite sunning spot vs the baby's crib. I haven't had an issue with the cat getting into the crib but I'm sure that'll change when he notices a little person sleeping inside and get curious.

I'm not the only one that likes shiny things.

Sadly my wedding band, nor my back up ring (when I want all my jewelry to match because my wedding band is gold) fit my sausage lil fingers right now during the last stretch of the pregnancy. Its driving me crazy I haven't been able to wear something on my ring finger for the last 3 weeks. Finally cracked and looked around for something. I put on this really shiny ring. 

Thomas takes one look at it and says "ohhhhhh that so pretty! Its so...so...Rainbow-y!"  Just for that I'm gonna keep it on and call it my rainbow ring :)

Thomas the bandit

We're enjoy the nice weather outside. Thomas asks our sweet and elderly neighbor if he can use her bathroom (its closer than ours). I wait outside for 10 min he comes out with jars of animal cracker, lolipops, and a hershey bar. I think Thomas is happy with his loot.

Enjoy the nice day.

Can't really play but I can enjoy watching him ride his scooter.

Thomas as a piggy burrito

Awesomest Thomas evah!

The Hobbit

Joey is taking sometime to read today's pages of the hobbit before he heads to class during thomas' bedtime.

Chalk!

Creating his masterpieces in the driveway.

There is still time!

There is 30 days left before the big event. Still have a few things to get, I've basically made my registry my personal shopping list (amazon gives a 15% completion discount towards the end date). If you'd like to help along, every little bit counts to us. Thank you so much!

Troche's Baby Registry, Amazon.com

Thomas waiting for class to start.

Brazilian Jiu Jitzu

Sooooo the boys started brazilian jiu jitzu yesterday. It was a trial class but both loved it so much we signed them up right away. Thomas is in the little grapplers class, concentrates on right form with an enphasis on how defend yourself from bullies. I like that, I've always told Thomas "Never ever start it but be sure to be the one to finish it". Sadly this where the best pics I could take before they were hustled into class. I'll try again this sat.

On the bus!

Thomas finally sitting somewhere I could get a good picture. Sitting here with his new friend Bella.

Korean food in NJ

Our friend Hyun Sook was sweet enough to come visit us in her US tour and cook us some real korean food. It was sooooooo good we all stuffed our faces. Case and pointN thomas with his white rice and seaweed paper.

Bus to Camp

Here he is mingling with the other kids before getting on the bus.