Oceanside 70.3

In April, Ben competed in his second Half Iron Man.  He registered at the end of last summer and has been training for months, which is a sacrifice by the whole family ;) .  I am so proud of him!  He injured his leg a couple of weeks before the race, but was able to rest it and have it worked on, and while it wasn't 100%, he did finish the race!  

Doing a triathlon, especially one so big, is definitely a different experience with a baby!  We drove down to Oceanside the day before so Ben could check in, and Jacob screamed the whole way.  Then we stayed in a pretty dumpy motel because that's all we can afford, and Jacob slept in the bathroom.  A 70.3 mile race is a pretty long day for a mom & a baby, so we took our time, but we made it!

Ben had a great race.  His swim went really well, and his bike was awesome!  He shaved 30 minutes off his bike time from his last 70.3 mile race.  The run was tough, naturally, because of his leg - - but he finished and did so well.

Jake was Daddy's helper, getting his bag ready for race day!

Family Pictures by Joanna

One of my very, very, very best friends lives here in Los Angeles!  We haven't spent nearly as much time with her & her family as we should have in the past 2 years, but I have thoroughly enjoyed the time we have spent together.  Joanna & I grew up in towns about 45 minutes apart, but didn't meet until we lived on the same floor in the freshman dorms.  After our freshman year we were roommates.  We have seen each other at our very, very worst, and at some of our best times.  I'm not sure there are many people I feel more comfortable around than her.  Anyway . . . she has taken up photography in the last few years and is so amazing!  We had her family over for Easter dinner and then she snapped some family pictures for us.  We love them!

We attempted to take a few shots of our own after church earlier in the day . . 

Joanna's were much better!

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Spring Break week 2 started off with a day at Hogwarts!  It was pretty cool, though I think my expectations were too high because I was a little underwhelmed.  The castle was very pretty and the castle ride was amazing - - and extremely lifelike.  So much so that the first time I went on it I was scared out of my mind!  We also went on the "family-friendly" roller-coaster, watched a wand select its wizard, and at lunch at the Three Broomsticks!

Wizarding school is exhausting for the babies!

Harry Potter was pretty cool, but the high-light of our day was definitely watching our barely-walking, lots of tumbling little Jake in the splash pad!  He was so dang cute, and everyone around us thought so, too.

 

Jake: 1 Year

The babe is ONE!  Easily the quickest year of my life.  And the happiest!

At one year, Jacob

~ is still just the cutest thing ever!  I can't say that much has changed in the last month besides walking faster!  All of the changes we saw around 11 months have become more amplified and Jake is becoming his own little person!

I sure love my little boy.  He is the light and the joy of my life.  I pray every day that I can be a good mother to him and raise him in love and in righteous, and I try my hardest all day long to give him all that he deserves.  I'm so grateful for this blessing of motherhood in my life.

Los Angeles Zoo

Jacob was noootttt quite sure what he thought of the zoo.  See Exhibit A:

For a while, he was pretty scared of all the animals, but then he warmed up.

These were the days where he was *just* starting to take steps and walk a little - - it was SO fun - - and he tuckered himself out!  Sweet boy.

Beach Day - March 19

Spring Break Beach Day, Take 2