Issue 9

JESS & AARON Issue 9 / July 2022

Purpose Hello! The purpose of this magazine is to let you know what we have been up to and to share about how God has been working in our lives.

Enjoy the photos and stories, and we hope to see you soon!

Contents 1

At a Glance

3

House Update

5

Aaron

7

Jess

9

Linus

11

Ark

13

Numbers Mabel Lee

15

Numbers’ Birth Story

17

Our Family

19

Family and Friends

At a Glance Aaron

Jess

Linus

Ark

Numbers

36

32

38 months

27 months

11 months

Tan shorts, white tee, blue button shirt, pink cap, fanny pack

Large tee, jean shorts, Birkenstock, fanny pack

Tee, short shorts

Tee, colorful pants

Rompers

Music on repeat

Earth to Jupiter - Felt

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings (Soundtrack)

Blippi

Raffi - Mr. Sun

If You’re Happy and You Know It

Show of the year

WandaVision

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings

Rides on YouTube

Bible Adventures

-

Favorite restaurant tried

Bomb Chicken

Yintang Spicy Hot Pot

Chick-fil-A

Yogurtland

-

Avengers Campus

Baby Center

The Little Mermaid

It’s a Small World

Tale of the Lion King

Writing newsletters

Disneyland

Trampoline

Toy Stroller

Walking

Orobae’s Rising Phoenix Milk Tea

Brown Sugar Boba Matcha Latte

Milk

Milk

Water

Age

Daily outfit

Disneyland Favorite Addicted to

Favorite drink

1

House Timeline 2021 MAY

SEPT

OCT

NOV

DEC

First submission of house plans to City of Walnut

City approves plans

New addition begins

Pool filled in

Electricty work begins

3

Demo begins

Framing begins

A/C installed

JAN

FEB

Plumbing begins

Windows installed

2022 MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

FALL

Roof installed

Insulation Drywall

Kitchen and bathroom flooring installation begins

Move in?

Stucco installed

Interior doors installed

Skylight installed

Interior painting

4

Aaron This year has kept me busy, but I am always happy to spend as much time as I can with my family. I am most excited to see Linus, Ark, and Numbers have their own growing personalities.

My work at Kindred Hospital as a Clinical Analyst has been challenging during COVID, but I still very much enjoy my career. My involvement with SOLA Network, Cruciform Press, and now doing freelance photography for InterVarsity Press has been a joy.

At church, I’ve started preaching regularly to our youth and I’m eager to grow in my skills and in my love for the students. Our Marriage Small Group has been a blessing.

My hobby of reading and reviewing books continues to expand. Our family outings to Disneyland is always fun and something I look forward to.

I am grateful to my parents who let us move back home and help us take care of our kids.

Watching Jess build our house has been incredible!

6

Jess This year has been filled with many celebrations and progress! A couple days after our 8th wedding anniversary, Numbers was born! God has blessed us with a chill and joyful baby. The kids are very energetic and have kept us busy while we renovate our house.

We’re still living at Aaron’s parents house and we’re grateful for the housing and the childcare help!

We’ve been doing weekly visits to Disneyland and it’s been so fun watching performances and riding rides that the kids can now enjoy too. It’s our weekly family time and it’s great since we only have to pay for 2 Disney Magic Keys. I spend most of my free time visiting the house, returning items, and catching a quick meal with friends.

This past year I practiced making more balloon garlands, kept up with my Etsy store, and learned a bunch about renovating a home. Some other highlights include Justin and Hannah’s wedding celebration and their first child due November!

7

10

Linus This year Linus has grown up to be a great big brother!

He helps Ark when he falls down, makes Numbers laugh, and loves to do things on his own.

He wants to be independent but still loves to be held by his parents and would wake up in the middle of the night to sleep in their bed. He still loves to jump on his trampoline and is an adventurous boy. When he falls, he gets back up and tries again. He’s hesistant about live performances but loves to rewatch the shows on YouTube.

He’ll frequently ask for Chick-fil-A, Yogurtland, Blippi, the park, and ask to visit his friends. He started his Individualized Education Plan in May and acclimated well in school. He has made huge progress on his speech and will talk with Ark in their room before they sleep and volunteer to pray for our family.

This year Linus has been potty trained! He loves to read and has memorized some of the books as well. He can name the Marvel heroes and will ask to watch the Disneyland band perform. He visited Knott’s Berry Farm for the first time this year and is looking forward to going back!

10

Ark Ark is growing up to be very expressive and quite the silly boy. He has many facial expressions and gestures.

This has been a milestone year for him. He quit his pacifier and is potty trained!

He still loves to follow Linus around and will repeat and do whatever his brother does even if it’s stepping out of his comfort zone. Now and then you’ll catch him hugging one of his siblings.

He’s not the adventurous type but loves Disney performances and The Little Mermaid ride and will sing along in It’s a Small World. He’s not afraid to get messy, loves to pour things, and play with water.

Ark still loves cars and loves to push his toy stroller.

He’s the dancer of the family and will sing along to any song he knows. He’s very vocal and will tell you when he doesn’t want to leave Disneyland. He loves to chat, sometimes sounding like a duck, and will regularly snuggle and give hugs.

11

13

Numbers Mabel Lee Birthday

July 10, 2021 at 3:06 am

Birthplace

Kaiser Permanente Baldwin Park Medical Center

Weight

6 lbs. 5 oz.

Height

19 in.

14

Numbers’ Birth Story Numbers’ due date was July 12. At my 38 weeks appointment, I was dilated at 2.5 cm. Throughout that week I was feeling nervous thinking it would happen soon and at my last appointment on July 9, I was dilated at 3 cm.

Black Widow premiered that night and we figured we should watch it before baby comes. Halfway thru the movie, I started to have contractions.

The contractions were sporadic and still manageable. I told Aaron we can wait until the movie ended. However, I couldn’t wait for the post-credits scene.

We already had our car packed and got to Kaiser Baldwin at 12:30 am.

They kept me at triage since my contractions weren’t consistent and they were about to send me home. But I felt like I was dying (a familiar feeling with Ark’s birth) and was relieved when they said I reached 5 cm at 2:35 am, which meant I could go in the labor room. I kept feeling the urge to poop while my contractions were getting more intense. Before I could get the epidural (the one thing I told them I wanted for this labor and delivery), they had to give me a COVID test and put in an IV. But at the same time I threw up and still felt the need to poop and was still waiting for my epidural.

It was now 3 am and I told the nurse “I pooped! I’m sorry!”. She looked and said there’s nothing. Then I said “Something’s happening!” so she looked again and put her hand to the baby’s head then called for a midwife. The midwife quickly arrived, I pushed, and Numbers was here within a minute!

Aaron said “She’s here.” It was not poop, it was Numbers.

15

19

20

CREDITS Lifestyle photos by Alison and Edwin jessandaaron.tumblr.com since July 5, 2013