Nyla's Graduation

Well many of you know that I homeschooled Nyla this past year. I am grateful though for her former preschool, New Testament, allowing her to participate in their field trips and holiday programs so that she could see her old friends once in a while. She also attend a few of their in class sessions .

She was also about to participate in their graduation ceremony for preschool and kindergarten. Nyla is such a bright little girl... really. I feel blessed to be her mother and to have been responsible for her education this past year. I know she will be a bright star.

Here are some pics. My baby... is on her way to kindergarten and public school!

Baker 5

Finally an updated picture of our family. We were at Azul's piano recital in this picture too. Emil is 10 months, Azul age 7 and Nyla age 4.

Azul's Piano Recital

Here is a picture of Azul at his piano recital with his friend and fellow piano student Grant and teacher Pastor Luke.

He loves the piano and the Lord is blessing him to play beautifully at this point. Really hoping he will keep it up.

Too Long Since Last Post - Kid Updates

Okay it has been FOREVER since I posted. Life is chaotic... really chaotic. I will try to think of all the updates that I can but am sure I will still miss something.

Azul will be turning 8 in a few short weeks and is having a LEGO party. We got the idea after attending the Maker Faire in San Mateo last month. They had LEGOS spread all over the floor for kids to build with and kids just went wild! Azul is a tremendous fan of LEGOS so we decided to use it for his theme this year. He just finished 2nd grade with all A's and B's. He is still in piano class and had his first recital two weeks ago. He is about to start up his football season again this year (ughh) but I know that exposure to and experience with sports is healthy for him.

Nyla is still 4 and is preparing to enter kindergarten about which she is very excited! She is reading full on books now and adding and subtracting with 1's, 0's and 2's (i.e. 9+2, 6-1, etc). Last night I noticed that her two bottom middle teeth are wiggling so they will be out soon. She is so happy that she will start kindergarten minus 2 teeth!

Emil is now 10 months old and is a master of climbing onto of things and crawling full speed around the house. He screams, oh does he scream to get his point across and the attention of others. So far his vocabulary still only of mama and dada but he recognizes "no", "Azul" and "Nyla" and responds to those words. Occassionally he will stand unassisted but as soon as he realizes it "plop" down he goes and full speed ahead with crawling.

Just call Me Spitter!

Emil is definitely coming into his own. He is now 7 months old and crawling, waving, pulling up on things and his favorite activity of late... spitting! He spits to show happiness, frustration, you name it. Usually I end of with food all over me. Even as I type this post, he is sitting behind me in his high chair and spitting at the back of my head, leaving behind not only saliva but food particles from his dinner of banana, apple and pear.

Swim Lessons

Now when I was growing up swimming lessons consisted of my dad throwing me (terrified) into a pool of waiting water and telling me to swim! Well I never really learned how to swim the correct way so after a near drowning scare with Azul a couple of years ago, I decided he and Nyla would both take private lessons one day and that day has arrived. They have been attending for a month now and are doing well.

Nyla at the beginning of each lesson acts as if she is terrified of the water and has never had a lesson so it takes a bit of coaxing to get her in there but once she is in, she is in! She was one of those kids who wants the swim suit, the goggles, the beack towel... but no getting wet!

Azul tends to get admonished by the instructor for clowning around too much but he is getting better at focusing and really learning.

They only have 4 lessons left... we will see how it goes.

Sunshine on a Rainy Day

Today the kids and I took advantage of a brief break in the rain and a beautiful burst of sunshine... a BIKE RIDE!!!!! Well, a walk and stroller push for me, but Nyla and Azul really enjoyed the bike ride after being couped up in the house for several days due to the constant rain showers we have been having. We are all ready for Spring around here, Nyla constantly ask me how many more weeks till Spring arrives.. March 20th I tell her over and over and over again.... 4 year olds.

The weather was so beautiful for a short while this afternoon... the sun warmth felt incredible and the breeze was just perfect, not too strong. It actually lulled Emil off to sleep for more than an hour. I thank the Lord for that little break... makes being home for a week alone with the kids indoors a little easier to handle.

Emil Sits Up!

Our baby boy is just growing so fast and changing so very much. He is now eating food (I make it from scratch... no jar stuff!) and he has 1 1/2 teeth on the bottom.. still waiting for one to come in fully. Emil is not trying to stay a baby for long.. he is definitely ready to move and shake with his big brother and sister. Two days ago, Emil started sitting up unassisted! I was blown back because he just DID IT! When he teeters and totters he will put his hand down flat to stop his fall and push himself back up. Other times (especially when he is holding a toy) he just gives in and hits the ground! Very funny.

Check out this video of Emil in action.

Honey Dos

My hubby is becoming very handy at household repairs. We were in dire need of a new water heater... our old one came original with the house (1964!!!!) and started leaking badly. Mill was wary about removing and replacing it himself due to the gas lines involved but when the handy man we hired was a no-show, Mill went to work and it was a success. He is so smart and strong... hoisted that 50 gallon water heater alone! Gotta love my man.

Amazing Taylor

My niece,Taylor, was recently in her school talent show. Her girl group the "Amazing Angels" did a great dance number and took second place. Here is the video... check it out! She was born a diva and continues to be one! She is going to be famous someday. Yep.. her auntie said it... FAMOUS!

Can I Get Barbeque Sauce with These Toes?

Emil is now 6 months old and has discovered his feet and a taste for his toes!!! We find it very funny here in the Baker house (haha) and often ask him if he would like some barbeque sauce to go with them!

Here is a pic of him going at it! Enjoy.

Praise Report for Nyla

Well the Baker family (except Mill of course) was hit by a flu virus! First Azul and Emil came down with fevers and vomiting. Then as soon as the boys recovered, Nyla started running high fevers that would not respond to medicine. This went on for several days, she stopped eating and drinking, was having headaches and constant dizziness. This past Thursday I rushed her to the ER and turned out she had an elevated white blood count of 27,000 and was dehydrated. She had an IV and lots of blood work done. I was upset inside to see my baby being prodded with so many needles but she was a trooper. The nurses commented that she acted better than some adults that had the same things done to them.

As of today she is doing much better. She even had 1 partial meal, the first since last Monday. She is able to hold down liquids as well and is becoming more energetic despite having lost weight. To celebrate I treated her to her first pedicure. I am so grateful that the LORD heard our prayers and those of friends and family. She goes back next week for repeat blood work to retest her white blood count, but I am claiming that it will be normal. GOD IS GOOD.

The Preschooler

I homeschool Nyla but her former preschool allows her to attend their fieldtrips and do occassional drops in days each month. She really looks forward to these times - she adores Ms. Linda (the teacher) and playing with other children her age. Most recently she went on a fieldtrip to Mountain Mike's Pizza and enjoyed making her own culinary creation! Ms. Linda says Nyla is very academically sound and independent. I praise the Lord for her successes, because my heart goes into educating her and I am grateful that HE is directing my steps with her homeschooling.

Here's a little glimpse into her non-homeschool days.....

Emil is Growing!

Well, next week Emil will be 6 months old! I can hardly believe that time has passed so quickly.

He is now a pro at rolling over, away and across any room - cannot leave him unattended for a moment unless he is strapped down in a safety chair. He coos alot - it sounds like he is saying "hi' most of the time.

I am still nursing him, but started food almost a month ago. I make all of his food myself versus using the jar products. For the most part, I just steam or boil fruits and veggies and then puree them, place in Ziploc single containers and freeze until needed. So far he eats, applesauce, pears, carrots, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, zucchini, mashed potatoes, organic rice cereal and squash. This weekend I am introducing corn.

He absolutely loves to eat and grunts in between bites if I am not moving fast enough.

Late Winter Bug!

Well, around the Baker house we are not feeling well. Azul is actually on his way home from school right now. The school nurse called and said he has a temp of 100. He woke up this morning saying he had a headache. He didn't have a fever so I gave him some Tylenol and sent him to school. I feel badly right now about doing so. i did email his teacher though and said to call me if he continued feeling poorly. Of course that means I will have to spoil him when he gets here!!!

Nyla's asthma is flaring so she is on two different types of meds for that. Emil has a runny nose as do I, along with a stuffy head and clogged ears. Mill has managed to go unaffected so far, but he was feeling poorly about a week and a half ago himself.

I am looking forward to Spring.. warm weather and no sniffles.. well except for my seasonal allergies :(

Watch This Movie!

Flashback! The Easy Bake Oven

Okay Ladies.... I am sure that many of you can recall fond memories of producing culinary delights in your very own Easy Bake Oven, I know I can (although nothing I made was edible)! Well our baby girl is now making memories of her own. Tonight Nyla made her very first yellow cake with chocolate frosting (and tons of sprinkles)! Of course the cake looks more like a pancake with glaze - but to our 4 year old - it is truly a masterpiece hahahahaha! Her daddy is the brave one, who asked to taste it, but she told him he would have to wait (he had not eaten dinner yet) then proceeded to eat it herself. Her verdict on how it was .... "ummm, tasty, mommy can we make one of these cakes again?" Azul told her "it may look good but it is bad for your teeth, too much sugar." What a pin-popper!

SOON TO CELEBRATE A DECADE OF LOVE

MySpace Countdowns







Mill has promised to whisk me to somewhere private , beautiful and close to the water for our anniversary. Just the two of us. Finally taking the time to just enjoy each other and bask in all the beauty of this love!
I CANNOT WAIT!

Emil Dedicated To God

Today was truly a wonderful day for our family. Surrounded by our families and true friends [Deb, Reba, Tracy, Kelvin & the girls, Ty & the kids], we dedicated our newest son, Emil Jaye to the Lord in a service at my father's [Stephanie] church, Bethel Ministries.

After the service we all went to the social hall for cake and punch, but the real treat was the "soul food" of laughter and conversation that we all shared. If you have ever met my baby brother, Billy, then you know exactly what I mean!

My girl, Tracy recorded the entire dedication and as soon as she sends me the link, I plan to post it on the blog, but in the meantime enjoy the pics!

Peaceful Relationships Through God

A few months ago we left our church home of 7 1/2 years. We have been visiting another church since that time but have not yet committed our membership. Keep us in prayer, we truly want to be led of the Lord for a move as important as this one.

The church that we are visiting has started a 12 week series on "The Peacemaking Church". Sunday School classes, Sermons and Small Group Sessions all study from the same series. The focus is on restoring and preventing the loss of relationships in the church, personal relationships, and the workforce, GOD'S WAY - WITH PEACEFUL HEARTS AND ACTIONS. I posted the book on our "bookshelf" here on the site if you want more information.

I have been reading the book ferociously and in the WORD! For the first time in a long time, I truly understand what it means to "be thirsty" for the WORD! I take every chance (small as they may be) to read and study. More importantly, I have been applying God's principles for peace to my life, mainly in terms of my family. It is working!!! Mill told me the other day that my tendency to yell when upset has decreased 90%!!!!!! I thank the Lord for blessing my attempts to usher PEACE vs stress into our home. Read this book! It will change you from the inside - out!

MLK DAY 2009

Today the kids and I went downtown to MLK DAY at the Sacramento Convention Center and met up with my sister, brother and their families. I have been reading a book to them about Dr. King for the past few weeks at bedtime to give them some for-knowledge about the significance of this day.

When asked who MLK is, Nyla responds "Martin Luther King is someone who had to sit in the back of the bus, he wanted people to love each other, then he got in jail." I figure that is a start for her Black History.

Azul's response is "Martin Luther King was a boy who was told he could not come over to play because he was black and his friend was white." He wanted to help people because Rosa couldn't be able to sit where she wanted." He was a person who helped people by boycotting the buses until they said that black people could sit wherever they want."

We had a great time. It was so nice to see and hear aspects of our African American culture and to share it wih my children, family and friends. This will definitely be an annual tradition for us.

Power Combo - Sports and Music

Azul is playing basketball for a local park and rec boys league. Now he is in 2nd grade and the league is for 3rd and 4th graders BUT since Mill is coaching - Azul secured a place on the team (wink!) and he is holding his own. They practice two nights a week and play games on Saturdays.

He just began taking piano lessons as well one day a week. He has been asking for them for nearly two years but we wanted to wait to see if he was serious and he was! He is so excited and attentive during his lessons. He has to be admonished to "wait just a minute" because he wants to run with whatever he has learned! I bought him a $24 keyboard to practice his music homework on at home but plan to look for a real piano if he sticks with the lessons. I am glad he is learning to "read" not just play music. He says he wants to play the saxophone next! Ambitious he is!

Ballet & Gymnastics Diva

Nyla is taking ballet/tap dance and gymnastics classes and looks forward to her weekly sessions being that I am homeschooling her and so she does not get the day to day interaction with children her own age. Dancing is just perfect for her...she is most definitely our "free-spirited" and "creative" child. Dance, flowers and arts and crafts are her greatest interests right now.

She is doing very well and is very sassy! I often have to look at her through the glass window and mouth "good job but pay attention to your teacher." She constantly checks to make sure I am watching her.. oh how she loves undivided attention. She had her first ballet recital in December. She was an angel in "The Littlest Nutcracker." Her next recital Disney's "When You Upon a Star is in July.

Mr. Rolly Polly

Well our baby - Emil Jaye, who is 5 months old, is quickly moving towards "not being a baby" anymore. He definitely wants to move and keep up with his big brother and sister! He rolls over from back to front and front to back and will reach and grab anything within his reach! It is common to find him in a corner grabbing for a toy he saw from across the room.

Azul and Nyla absolutely love to see him rolling over and trying to scoot about. Here is a little video of Emil in action... check it out!

Azul's Stage Debut

Azul started a new school for 2nd grade (public school) this past November after being in Christian school since kindergarten. I was worried about the change but he has adjusted perfectly - making new friends and excelling academically. He wanted to try out for the Rumplestilskin play this month. 112 students tried out and only 60 were selected so he felt pretty fantastic about getting a role - Leader of the Busy Bees! He said he lines with such enthusiasum and "loudness"!!!! My baby is definitely an extrovert!