Introducing......Magnus!

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never thought you'd see the day, huh

Here is our newest member of the family. Welcome, Magnus! Yes, mom finally gave in to dad's dream. Mom's just happy that he doesn't shed. His name means "great" in Latin. He's an American Bulldog. He's really cute and laid back for a puppy. We found out his birthday is Dec 6th, the same day as my daddy!!!!!! So he's about 3 months old now. He is my new best bud. All we do is wrestle. Since I've always had to be gentle with my sissy, it's like I have all this pent up boy aggression and I finally get to take it out on the dog. We spent lots of time outside running around and chasing each other through the orchard.

Click on this link to watch a video of us playing in the orchard:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIC0-tibPjc

He's pretty much potty trained but he likes to chew on all our toys. He's already popped all my bouncy balls. The first thing I say every morning when mom opens the door to get me out of my crib is, "Doggie!!!". It's been a bit of a transition for our family, especially for mom having to deal with three babies in the house, but well worth it. That's not to say there aren't days where mom looks like she's about to explode if she has to clean up another mess, break up another wrestling match, yell at Magnus to stop chewing on something, or scoop up another living room poopy surprise. The dog and I can quickly whip through a room like a tornado causing much chaos and wreaking much havoc! But, Magnus couldn't be more perfect for our family. American Bulldogs were bread to work and live on farms so it's a good thing we live on one. I love to feed the dog. (both his food and mine) Magnus is pretty gentle with Faylen. He tries to give her lots of kisses and sometimes it knocks her over. Then I yell, "NO, Doggie!" Click on this link to watch a video of Magnus, Faylen, and I chillin together: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWiwf0HB_4Y

First day at the beach with Mags

Speaking of our farm. Check out the picture of our big oak tree that fell down down in the middle of the night, just missing our house by centimeters! I cried when I saw my sad little tree swing lying on the ground. :( We thought it was an earthquake when it fell.

FAYLEN IS CRAWLING!!!!! She looks sooo adorable when she's crawling. Click on this link to watch her crawl for the first time! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnQiKYigQ6s

She's now 9 months old and is very happy and content crawling around the house to get to her toys. It's really fun to play with her. She just started pointing at things with her little pointer finger. Every time she does it mom and dad say she's soooo cute and then pretend to bite her little finger off. They are sooo weird, every time they get overwhelmed by our cuteness their first reaction is to try and EAT us! Parents.....they're so unpredictable. Faylen's hair is getting long and curly. She speaks a lot in her own little goo-goo gah-gah language. She likes playing with her toys and playing outside. She pulls herself up and stands while holding onto furniture and stuff. She's got two big bottom teeth that makes her look like a cabbage patch doll. We call her "Crazy Tongue" cuz she's always got this wild little lizard tongue that she's spinning around or sticking out of her mouth like a frog catching a fly. Click on this link to watch a video of Faylen in the swing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYaUZXrlbHE

pony tail

my new Valentine's sweater from G-ma

wearing mommy's old overalls

nudist

my latest trick

Faylen also was dedicated in church. It was a really special day to have our pastor lead the church in a commitment to help raise Faylen to be a woman of God. Grandma, Shosh and Josh got to be there too. I pray that I can be a good example to her as a big brother and teach her about Jesus. I do my best to read her my children's Bible at night before bed. (I refuse to go to bed with out reading my Bible).

We had a really fun Valentine's Day. Dad planned a whole day of surprises. First he got up and made us all a fancy breakfast of omelets. While dad cooked up a storm, mom and I baked and decorated heart shaped cookies and Faylen and I got to open our new Valentine's mailbox that had some fun little treats and surprises in them. Then we went bowling in monterey, (I loved bowling.....the bumpers were helpful), then we went to Denis the Menace park (a huge, really fun park) and ate the picnic lunch dad prepared (including wine glasses and wine), then we came home and got all dressed up and went out to dinner at a fancy French restaurant in downtown Santa Cruz. Everyone there was giving mom and dad funny looks bringing in two babies to this little quiet romantic restaurant, but we behaved ourselves. It was a fun day full of love and surprises. I know mom was really happy.

We had lots of visitors in the last month. First Grandma, Shosh and Josh came. I became very attached to uncle Josh. In fact, after they left I was asking and looking for Josh for weeks. Whenever I see another man that looks remotely like him I call out, "JOSH!!!" I sure hope he comes to visit again so we can play some ball together. Then Uncle Jason, Auntie Rachel, and Cousin Sophia came to visit. We went for walk and picnic by the beach. It was fun to see how much Sophia has grown. Click on this link to watch a video of Sophia and I:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AL5ad2MN52o

Then Grandma Jill and Grandpa Paul came to visit. We had fun taking our new puppy to the dog park and having a picnic. They took my sis and I on a Valentine's shopping spree at Target. We got to pick out whatever toy we wanted. Faylen being the girly girl that she is picked out cute clothes. I picked out my very own little drum set. (complete with a tambourine and harmonica) I never miss out on my daily jam sessions. I sure miss all my family. I wish they all lived closer. But we are blessed that they want to come and visit pretty often.

I am now almost 22 months old. I still love music. I love it when we crank up the music in the car. If you peeked in the window you'd see me bobbin my head to the beat like Stevie Wonder. I have a confession...I love Barney. (but please don't tell my dad) I learn new words every single day. Mom's trying to start teaching me French. Click on this link to watch a video of me eating breakfast: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdLFmcbcH34

I love to take care of my sister. She is my security blanket. (other than my real blankie that I call "Mimi") I can't believe I'm turning two soon. I hope you can make it to my bday party. I think this year I get to share a party with my sis. That'll be fun! Watch this video of me brushing my teeth like a big boy:

eating cookie dough on Valentine's

Story time at the park. Can you find me holding my sister?

Sharing Toys

Sorry for the delay in this Post. Mom's new camera broke. Remember to feel free to leave a comment. I love reading them!

Love,

Li'l John

Happy New Year!

Well, this time of year is always sad since Christmas is now soooo far away. We had such a fun Christmas this year. I hope yours was full of fun and rememberance of Jesus' birthday. Mom says next year we're gonna make a cake for Jesus on his birthday! We spent our Christmas in Ventura at Gma and Gpa Spencer's. There was tons of people there including my new cousin Sophia! She was sooo cute and tiny and a really good baby. I certainly made out like a bandit in the toy department. I got so many fun new things! I loved all the excitement with such a full house and tons of yummy food. We were sad to leave. We hate living so far from all our family. We did get to see Uncle Justus, Aunt Sam and cousin Isaiah via skype on Christmas day. Check out the slideshow to the right of all our Christmas pics. Or you can click on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/PufferPics/PufferChristmas08?feat=directlink
After Christmas down south we came home and celebrated Christmas with mom's side of the family. 2 Christmases was soooo fun! We also celebrated Uncle Josh's Bday.

I was a little disappointed in New Years. My parents just put me to bed at 8:00 while they stayed up like old farts and watched the ball drop on TV. New Year's day was fun though because we went to a party at the Greco's house.

Mom and Dad celebrated their 3rd wedding anniversary. They flip flop every year who plans the anniversary and who plans Valentine's Day. This year it was mom's turn to do the anniversary. So she planned a college national championship football party at our house. Good thing the Gators (dad's alma mater) beat the Sooners or else it woulda been a depressing anniversary. In fact, 2 out of the 3 anniversaries they have had have fallen on the college football national championship day and the Florida Gators won both times. I think dad is fine with that becoming a tradition. Mom bought him a white Tim Tebow Championship jersey. She also planned a fun day out. Pilar and Isabella (our 13 and 15 year old neighbors.....who I'm in love with) babysat and mom and dad and Faylen went to the movies. Then mom planned a fun day at De Laveaga playing frisbee golf. We got wheeled around in our new red Radio Flyer. Then our good friends Mickie and Chris babysat while mom and dad had a romantic dinner alone at the Shadowbrook. (the most beautiful restaurant in Santa Cruz). Dad got mom a new bike trailer/double jogger. Mom is sooooo excited about it. Now she can jog with us and go offroading! Mom and dad are starting to train for a half marathon at the end of spring and dad's going to push us in the jogger. They haven't decided which one to do yet. Mom says she wants to get into shape before she gets preggo again. See the slide show to the right of all their wedding anniversary pics or click on this link: http://picasaweb.google.com/PufferPics/3rdWeddingAnniversary?feat=directlink


Faylen is sooooo close to crawling. She mostly gets around by scootching and rolling right now. There's a new youtube video to the right under "family videos" where she's taking a bath (or click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYUe-TVyFzQ) and another one with her in the oak tree swing (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQRiXzbXgzg). She sits in the high chair and eats baby food. She's a great eater. Mom hopes that she won't be as picky as I am. She does great entertaining herself on the floor with all her toys. I like to do funny things to make her smile and laugh. Mom says that there's nothing that makes her happier than to see me interact with my sister like that. She gets all emotional about stuff like that.



Our landlord put his three horses (1 stallion, 1 miniature horse, and 1 pony) on our property. So I get to walk 5 feet outside our backdoor and feed the horses apples and carrots everyday. It's my new hobby. I just LOVE horses. They greet me every morning when I wake up by waiting outside my bedroom window. I always want to share a part of my lunch with them. Speaking of lunch, I sit a big boy table now. I gave my high chair to my sis.



Some of my numerous new words are: sissy, horsey, moon, mouth, football, EAT!, please, thank you, shoes, socks, good boy, I love you, OH BOY!, and NICE! (as in the expression, like when people say "cool!") Mom lets me wonder around the orchard by myself. I like to hunt for apples. There aren't many left these days. I like to call dad at work and talk to him on the phone everyday.

Work for both mom and dad are going really well. Mom finished out the semester without too much stress and dad has been getting good hours at work. Thank you for your prayers!

She LOVES bathtime


Don't I look like my dad here????

Merry Christmas

Peek-a-boo!

We had such a fun Thanksgiving. We went up to the cabin in Markleeville where G-ma and G-pa Heyman are living. We saw some snow, went on some hikes, ate LOTS of food, (thanks for cooking, Grandma!) and watched TONS of football! This was the first Thanksgiving in a few years where mom wasn't pregnant and nauseous, so she actually got to enjoy the meal. :) We got to hang out with Uncles Nate and Josh and Auntie Shosh too. (see the slide show to the right. If you click on it you can see the larger version of the picture and you can order your own)

This has been a big month for Faylen. She's coming up on 7 months. She got 2 cute little teeth and she now can sit up by herself and play with toys. She falls over and bonks her head sometimes and I try to help her back up. She started eating baby food. She also is speaking in her own little language. She is very ticklish and I love to tickle her. She also starting sleeping through the night! FINALLY! No more screaming and crying. She sleeps 9 hours straight almost every night now. Mom keeps saying this is the first time she's has a full night's rest in 2.5 years straight without getting up for a crying baby, feeding a baby, changing a diaper (or 2) or having to go pee 10 times from being pregnant! I think she could get use to this sleep thing. :) To see a really cute video of Faylen laughing click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ9caYpEPNg

My new cousin, Sophia Grace Puffer, was born in Friday Dec. 5th. (Just the day before Dad and Uncle Jason's Bday) We can't wait to meet her at Christmas! Now I'm going to have TWO little girls to take care of. My girlfriend, Jenna, (daughter of my mom's friend Jill) also got a new sister on the same day, being born just hours apart from Sophie! She is really cute and her name is Carly. We had a B-day party for dad the next day. We celebrated by watching the Florida Gators stomp the Alabama Crimson Tide to make it to the college football championship. Dad said that was the best present he could ever get.......except for his brand new awesome, giant tool box, of course. :)

Jenna, Jill and Carly

Jason, Rachel and Sophia

Dad's Bday Party

I'm a very fast runner. I love to play Peek-a-boo. (watch the video above) I said my first sentence after playing peek-a-boo with mom. I said, "I can see you!" I reeeeheeeeheeeealy love to eat the chocolate in the advent calendar. Mom has to hide it everyday so that I don't dive into it or whine for it. We went up to the top of the mountains to cut down our Christmas tree. It's huge! "It's a little full with a lotta sap". It looks so beautiful in our living room all lit up. I loved helping trim the tree by chucking all the ornaments at it. (I think I get that from Uncle Nate) We also went to Snow Night in downtown Santa Cruz and played in the real snow they put in the street. I loved throwing snowballs at random people. I just kept doing it until I made myself cry because my fingers were sooooo cold!
Cutting Down The Tree

Mom and Dad are doing well. We are keeping Dad's work in our prayers all the time and ask that you do the same. The economy is really effecting his company and the amount of hours he gets at work.

Snow Night~Downtown

I hope you guys have a very Merry Christmas. Remember how much God has truly blessed us all with the birth of His Son to bring us true PEACE, GRACE and SALVATION for all who believe and have a relationship with him. It's the best gift of Christmas. Why would you want anything else??? I love you and Jesus loves you!

Merry Christmas,

Li'l John

I'm One and a Half!

I'm already 18 months old! Gosh time flies! My sister is already half a year old (6 mo.). Here's what we've been up to:


We took a trip down to LA to see Uncle Jason and Aunt Rachel. (check out the slideshow to the right-you can click on any of the slide shows to see the pictures larger or order your own copy of the prints through Picasa) It was sooo good to see them, grandma and grandpa and San Diego friends. My uncle just got back from his second tour in Iraq. We are so proud of him and thank the Lord that he got home safe. He had a very successful mission over there and says that he saw great improvement over there in Iraq. We are definitely winning the war! Let's continue to pray for all the other brave soldiers out there that they can continue to make a difference and come home safe. When we were in LA mom and Faylen got to go to Aunt Rachel's baby shower while dad and I and the boys went skeet shooting!

Picking apples

We had a fun Halloween. I dressed up as my uncle Jason (a marine) and my sister was a ladybug. She was soooooo adorable. We went to our church's harvest festival where we played games, jumped in the jump house, and ate LOTS of candy. Check out the pics in the slide show and the video of me eating a pumpkin. I got to help dad carve it and I thought it was a great snack. We didn't have to go to a pumpkin patch this year because we had our own organic pumpkins growing on our farm!

Carving/Eating the Pumpkin

Grandpa and I at the Park

I love to go to the park and play with other kids. I'm very social. I love to shoot hoops and I have even taught myself how to dribble. I am super ticklish. My sister finally sleeps in my room now. She still wakes up a million times a night and sometimes even wakes me up with all her crying, but I just roll over and go back to sleep. Sometimes I stand up in my crib and deliriously ask to give my sister a kiss on her head. These days, I love to, not only give kisses, but also hugs. I like to help mom clean by putting everything in the trash. I think the answer to every question is "no". (watch video...sorry it's dark) My new favorite expression is, "Oh, My!" I also say lots more words. Whenever you tell me to say something I try really hard to mimic what you say. My parents are always praying for me to grow up to be a strong man of God. So I think it makes them happy that one of my favorite words to say is "Jesus!" and my very favorite book to read is my little Bible. In Fact, while sitting in the pew at church I kept pointing to the Hymn books and saying "Bible, Bible!" over and over again. I don't remember if I already told you, but I also got a mohawk a few weeks ago. Yah, it was pretty wild. Mom was pretty excited about it at first, but then we went and got our family Christmas photo taken and then she changed her mind, saying that we looked like a white trash family with me and my mohawk. Oh well, it was fun till dad shaved my whole head. Just in time for my marine costume.

"The answer is NO!"



Faylen likes to play in her exersaucer all the time. I like to come over and entertain her by dancing or trying to play catch with her by throwing a ball at her. I love to climb all over all the furniture. I'm quite the daredevil. Faylen weighs 18 lbs. She's in the 85th percentile. She's a big baby like me. I'm very good at trying to keep her happy by putting her binkie in her mouth. I'm very gentle with her. Mom puts Faylen on the floor of the living room and I play all around her with my toys. Mom even trusts me to be alone in a room with my sis all the time. I think she's already training me to babysit. I better start getting paid for this. Faylen has become a very happy loving baby. She loves to be held and is getting better at other people than mom and dad holding her. Her smile is so precious and she always giggles when you give her kisses on her tummy. Her new nicknames are: sugar melon, sugar pot pie, sugar plum, sugar baby, sugar McBooger, and pretty much anything with sugar attached to it. My most common nickname these days is just chubs. Pretty self explanatory;)

Well, I hope you have a very wonderful Thanksgiving. I'm so thankful for all of you! Here's some random pics for you to enjoy:

Morning Snuggles

Sharing our Toys

The Girls

Cute in Caps