Pics From Susie

So today we've got a wonderful surprise sent by our great friend and favorite photographer, Susie Linquist. We got our pictures from the photo shoot Susie shot for us a couple of weeks ago. They are all great! We're supposed to choose 20 out of the 220 photos, all of which are awesome! It's going to be really tough to choose. Those who are reading this and are interested to see what I am talking about, post a comment with your email and I will send you the link and password to the pics. Take a look at a few of the shots.

Derek and his buddy Charger Bear
Close up of Derek

The Family

The Charger Family

You're the best Susie! We can't thank you enough!

Back to Work

So today was a mommy and Derek day while I had to go back to work. Boo for Mondays. We have noticed that DJ has been sleeping a little longer than usual, a great thing! Also, our baby boy now drools and he sheds tears (actually for about 3 weeks now, just finally mentioning it). DJ is developing a better sense of visual coordination. His eyes actually follows us around while we make make sudden movements. Not to mention he now recognizes black and white colors.

So around 2PM, Erica noticed something really funny. After Derek and Erica's afternoon nap, she found the swaddle blanket higher than it was originally wrapped. It was covering half of his mouth and above his chin. Apparently he moves like crazy and the wrap creeped up. Here's the pic:

Well Needed Rest on Sunday

Today was another laid back day to a laid back weekend. The S-B family continued the lounging weekend and hung out at the apartment. It was great to sleep in again. Although this morning from 3AM to 6AM, DJ decided that he wasn't sleepy and stayed up. I can't believe I stayed up with our boy. The night before, he took a really long nap and hence he had all of this energy to stay up all morning. Afterwards, he went to sleep for a long stretch and Erica and I had our well needed morning rest. I got up a littler earlier than Erica today and fed DJ at around 930. We watched the Tampa Bay and Green Bay football game. During half time, I took the girls and DJ for a nice walking outing. I'm really getting used to the Baby Bjorn carrier that we bought for our little boy. Without it, I don't think I'd be able to take the dogs and Derek out.



At around 1PM, it was time for the Charger game versus the Raiders. It was DJ's first experience of the heated rivarly between the hated Raiders and our Chargers. Here's how excited Derek was

Yup he fell asleep. It ok though. I'm sure was he gets older, he'll appreciate the rivalry. Hehe. I can't wait for him to be active so that he can be on his way to being the next Ladainian Tomlinson or Antonio Cromartie. Until then, we enjoy every moment he sleeps. It gives us time for us to sleep (well except during Charger games). The Chargers ended up winning 28-18, a perfect win for a perfect weekend.

Another Lazy Saturday With the Family

Saturdays are great. DJ, Erica and I get to spend all day together relaxing without work or plans. It felt great to sleep in past 6AM, well besides the scheduled feeding for our little man. After the nice morning of extended sleep, Erica went to Michael's to pick up a few arts and crafts items. While she was out, my brother Ron stopped by for a really quick visit to pick up some Nintendo Wii controllers so that my cousins could play his latest game, Star Wars The Force Unleashed. Here's a quick pic with DJ and his Uncle Ron.


Once Erica got home, she made both of us her version of egg mcmuffins consisting of a broken yolk egg, cheese and toasted english muffins. I added salami to mine. While we ate our brunch, we watched Sex & the City the movie, where I feel asleep with baby DJ. Before that we took some mock pictures of me falling asleep, but sneaky Erica got me while I was actually asleep. Can you tell which one is the actual act of me sleeping?

After our quick 45 minute nap, Erica and I decided to get imprints of DJ's right hand and left foot on clay. He wasn't fully awake yet so it was the perfect time to get them done. Not only did we get his imprints done on clay, we also got black ink footprints on colored paper for a scrap book.


Derek got another treat. JR, Lei and Lola Lani came by to visit our boy. They were very excited to see him. It was great to have our best man from our wedding, Lei and JR's mom over. This was the first time that JR and company came by to see our place and the first time they've met DJ in person. We got to catch up on old time and stories, including a story where Auntie told JR for the very first time that his birth name was Nelson and not simply JR. This event happend backed when JR and I were in kindergarten at Perry Elementary back in 1985. It was a great story. I couldn't imagine having being called a certain name for five years and then realizing that I am called another name.

DJ is Officially 1 Month Old

Happy 1-Month Birthday DJ! Wow that month went by so fast. This morning DJ said bye bye to his Grandparents from Delano. They spent a few days here for a quick stop. It was great to have them over and bring plenty of smiles to DJ's face. The help was great. We got some extra sleep and they got to spend some quality time with their youngest grandson. I dropped them off at the Amtrak this morning before I headed to work.After a quick day at the office, Erica and I took took DJ and our girls (Kiwi & Nala) on a quick walk. We ordered a Baby Bjorn infant carrier and Erica tested it out for the very first time. It was a success. DJ enjoyed being really close to mommy's chest and it was the first time that our entire family, including both of our dogs, went on a walk.

As soon as we got back from our walk, we gave DJ some back and tummy time under his baby gym. He really enjoys the various colors and seems so mentally stimulated.

Dinner With Susie & Jeremy

Before we get into our dinner with Susie & Jeremy, here's how DJ's day began with his Grandpa Joe.

So earlier today, Erica, DJ & I enjoyed some special quality time with friends/favorite photographer Susie and her husband Jeremy. They treated us to a special portrait shoot and some homemade cooking. Their place is freakin' awesome! Very spacious with granite counter tops and marble flooring with a great view. It was the first time Jeremy met our baby boy and he looked like a natural holding him. DJ enjoyed both Susie and Jeremy's comfort. Once we arrived, DJ seemed at home and barely cried. The only time he cried was when Susie would talk to other people under than her. Also, DJ had another special visitor, Amy. She was our 2nd photographer in our wedding.

During the shoot, DJ was a rock star. He loves the camera. Every time Susie took a photo, DJ had his eyes on the lens. I think its both the camera and Susie. Even during our photo shoot last week, we paid attention to the camera and did not have a fit. DJ loves his Auntie Susie!


Susie & Jeremy fed us really good. They first brought out this amazing guacamole with chips as an appetizer. As the main course, Susie created this homemade chili. Not only did we have the chili, but we were introduced to a new dish called Cincinnati Chili. This dish consists of chili with avocados and spaghetti. Yeah I said it, spaghetti. Its very popular in Ohio and it was the first time and hopefully not the last time we have this dish. It was very delicious and highly recommend it. Thanks guys for the great food and times!

Wednesday Dinner

After we got married on August 19, 2006, Erica and I made it a tradition to have dinner with my parents at least once a week. Most of the time it was on Wednesdays. Today was a special day. This was the 2nd time we had dinner with mom and dad after Derek was born, but this time Erica's parents. Both of Derek's grandparents were present, my as well as my mom's sister Auntie Baby, and Auntie Baby's kids Don and Sam, and my Grandma. We also had additional visitors, my Uncle Caloy, Auntie Rosie and Caloy's relatives from New York.



It was a great outing for Derek. He got to spend some quality time with family, especially his Grandpa Ross.

Added a Slideshow

Scroll to the very bottom of the blog. Also added some links to things that Erica and I are interested in. Finally, if you want to add us on myspace or facebook, there are links on the right. Hope you guys are enjoying the blog. I promise I'll make it more exciting.

4 Weeks Old & Grandparents Visit

Today is DJ is officially 4 weeks old. As of right now, he is 23 inches from head to toes and is nearly 9-10 pounds. Also, he has graduated diaper sizes from a newborn to size 1. Our little man is growing so fast. According to parent weekly, at 1 month, the average baby is 7.5 pounds and is normally 18 inches in length. Our baby DJ is very healthy and is above the norm. He is growing so fast!

This week, we are blessed to have DJ's grandparents from Delano visit us. Grandma Estrella and Grandpa Joe will be here from Tuesday September 23rd and will be leaving this Friday the 26th. Having them over will help us get some well-needed rest and will also allow them to spend time with their youngest grand child, #7 total. Its always a treat to have them over. Anytime someone visits, especially family, is a major plus.

Half Day & Monday Night Football

So today was a milestone for me. It was my first appearance at a Charger Monday Night Game. This gave me an opportunity to take a half day from work and spend a rare weekday with DJ. After a productive day at work, I swung by Croutons to grab some lunch and then came home to Erica and a happy baby boy. It was nice to be home early on a workday. We watched Baby Mama while DJ took a nap. Mom, Dad and my twin cousins came to visit and dropped off some groceries for us. DJ woke up for about 15 minutes and then fell asleep in my arms. An hour later, it was off for a quick hike to Qualcomm Stadium for the Chargers v. Jets Monday Night Game. Met up with some friends/coworkers and watched the 48-29 thrashing that the Chargers gave the Jets. Overall, it was a great day.

Feeding Time

Its about 3:30 AM and I'm up right now trying to put DJ back to sleep after the usual morning first morning feeding. We sort of developed a system where Erica breast feeds before we go to bed, then I bottle feed him from pumped milk at around 3-4 AM and then Erica feeds him again at around 6AM. So far so good,but obviously things don't always go according to plan.

Lets recap on the weekend. On Saturday, we took DJ on his first outing out of the house to Onami's and Babies R Us. On Sunday, we lounged around and watched football. We also attended Paw Party III, a gathering at our apartment complex where the neighbors in the community bring their dogs to a BBQ area for a get-together. We had burgers and hot dogs. We brought DJ and our 2nd dog, Nala. Our first dog and first baby, Kiwi, was left at home because she isn't exactly the social-type. Kiwi tends to pick fights with others dogs.



After the party, we chilled at home and DJ took a serious, uncharacteristic 4-hour nap. We we're waiting for him to get up so that we could feed him at his daily feeding before we hit the sack, but he didn't wake up until 1130 PM. To pass the time,we played Nintendo DS Battleship and Connect Four.

Time to sleep. Good night or should I say Good Morning!

1st Post of the Blog

Hey Everyone! Welcome to the S-B blog! Thanks to the inspiration our favorite photographer and great friend, Susie Linquist of Susie Linquist Photography (check her site out, we're on it Susie's Blog! if you need wedding, baby or family pics, she's the best in the business), we've decided to share highlights of our life. Since August 26, Erica and I became proud parents of a baby boy. DJ is the greatest blessing that we could have ever asked for. Now 3 weeks, heading to 4, he's growing by the week.

Everyday is a different experience raising this boy. When Erica was pregnant, all we could hear from people was the common "better get your rest now or say goodbye to your sleep and social life." First off, we're home bodies so we didn't really have much of a social life to begin with. Also, believe it or not, I myself have been actually getting more sleep (can't speak for Erica, although she's getting more naps in) and have been way more productive both at work and at home. For instance, I used to get in the office at around 9 and felt like I didn't get enough done to a point where I didn't really take lunch breaks. Now, I get into work between 630-730 and have achieved a ranking of being within the top 30% of my company. At home, not only do I get at least 6 hours of sleep, but the apartment is clean. Being a parent has shown a sense of responsibility and drive to succeed and inspire.

Enough about me, let me catch you guys up on what we have accomplished since DJ has blessed our lives. As the 4th week of Chewy's existence approaches, so far we have been taking it easy. Last week, we had a photo shoot with Susie and based on what she's shown us so far (Susie's Blog), she has captured some amazing shots. There were a few milestones like his first bath, our first outing with DJ at our favorite Restaurant Onami's & Babies R Us and our baby's first "belly time." Enjoy the photos!




One last tid bit...Our boy sticks his tongue out a few moments after his mommy sticks her tongue out.