I know, you're probably thinking this is another lame attempt at using a double entendre in the title of this post, but I'm not crying wolf this time. (Well, maybe she's "toddling" more than walking, but I say it counts!)
I rarely have to leave the house for work, but I happened to today. Sure enough, I returned home in the afternoon for my mom to report that Ava had taken her first three steps all on her own. And she took five more for me then to prove Grandma wasn't lying.
She's nearly a year old and she's been cruising and standing without support for months so we were expecting it any day now, which is why I'm a little surprised by my excitement about this milestone. I feel like the other milestones (scooting, crawling, cruising, etc.) have all been leading up to this and there are no longer any other skills separating her from being a "little girl" vs. a "baby," just the continued development and perfection of the skills she already possesses, and she's going to be my little girl in this phase for quite some time now. (Of course, she'll also still always be my baby too.)
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Time to Shake Things Up
Just before I was impregnated with the most delicious little cupcake who has made me the happiest I've ever been, I was feeling pretty good about my bod. I was in the absolute best shape of my life. And I owe it all to my bun, Katie, who prompted me to join her in a Fitness Challenge. We had been motivating each other by adding a little friendly competition to our workouts on-and-off for the past couple years and having someone to cheer you on and hold you accountable makes all the difference.
But then we both somehow magically became pregnant within a couple months of each other, and I've found myself almost a year after giving birth (much, much later than I intended) without really having started my crazy workout routine back up.
I had been walking all along and that with breastfeeding melted most of my pregnancy weight right off. And I even joined Baby Boot Camp a few weeks ago and love the Saturday morning mommy-and-me stroller-based workouts. Plus I bought a great Groupon deal for 20 classes at a local gym. One would think I was in it to win it. But since the weather's been cold and wet I've been letting myself slide far too much. I mean, we have our very own private gym with an elliptical, treadmill, and Bowflex all dusted off out of the garage and ready for us to get back into the groove. But I still needed that extra kick to hold myself accountable... enter Katie and Fitness Challenge 2012.
We'll be using this new site, stickK, that Katie discovered to help track the realization of our personal fitness goals (much easier than the insane spreadsheets we crafted for previous fitness challenges but we'll see if it holds up as well). So February is my month. Ava will turn one in a couple weeks and I'm ready to be one hot mama.
P.S. My lovely Jennifer just sent me this hilarious video that cinched the deal...
But then we both somehow magically became pregnant within a couple months of each other, and I've found myself almost a year after giving birth (much, much later than I intended) without really having started my crazy workout routine back up.
I had been walking all along and that with breastfeeding melted most of my pregnancy weight right off. And I even joined Baby Boot Camp a few weeks ago and love the Saturday morning mommy-and-me stroller-based workouts. Plus I bought a great Groupon deal for 20 classes at a local gym. One would think I was in it to win it. But since the weather's been cold and wet I've been letting myself slide far too much. I mean, we have our very own private gym with an elliptical, treadmill, and Bowflex all dusted off out of the garage and ready for us to get back into the groove. But I still needed that extra kick to hold myself accountable... enter Katie and Fitness Challenge 2012.
We'll be using this new site, stickK, that Katie discovered to help track the realization of our personal fitness goals (much easier than the insane spreadsheets we crafted for previous fitness challenges but we'll see if it holds up as well). So February is my month. Ava will turn one in a couple weeks and I'm ready to be one hot mama.
P.S. My lovely Jennifer just sent me this hilarious video that cinched the deal...
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| Please tell me this video doesn't make you want to shake your money-maker. |
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
To love and be loved.
Ava has become incredibly affectionate this past month, giving hugs and sometimes even kisses to everyone and everything she comes into contact with.
She started out by hugging (and wrestling with) her big white teddy inherited from Uncle Troy. This was really funny to watch because the thing's almost as big as she is.
Then she moved onto the little stuffed lion her Uncle Alec brought to welcome her into the world on the day she was born. She squeezes and squeezes and smiles from ear to ear and makes my heart melt.
Even better, though, is when she finally started giving me hugs and kisses. We would be playing on the play mat in her room and she stopped what she was doing to crawl the two feet over to me and nestle her little mug right into my breasts and stretch her arms out around me. This is truly what life is all about.
She started out by hugging (and wrestling with) her big white teddy inherited from Uncle Troy. This was really funny to watch because the thing's almost as big as she is.
Then she moved onto the little stuffed lion her Uncle Alec brought to welcome her into the world on the day she was born. She squeezes and squeezes and smiles from ear to ear and makes my heart melt.
Even better, though, is when she finally started giving me hugs and kisses. We would be playing on the play mat in her room and she stopped what she was doing to crawl the two feet over to me and nestle her little mug right into my breasts and stretch her arms out around me. This is truly what life is all about.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Party Pinning
The amount of time I've been spending on Pinterest lately scoping out cute party ideas, you'd think I was a professional party planner. (And it turns out I'm not alone. Read this article to learn more about the crazy pinning phenomenon and pick up some helpful tips to become a better pinner.) But no, I just have some big events on the horizon and I want to be prepared. Okay, no one needs to be this prepared. I actually just have a real pinning problem and I can't stop!
(Here is the board I've been working on for Ava's first birthday coming up in less than a month.)
(Here is the board I've been working on for Ava's first birthday coming up in less than a month.)
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Monday, December 12, 2011
Ava's Fist Christmas Card
We wanted to do something a little extra special for Ava's very first Christmas card, so I played around with her Dear Santa photo PowerPoint, shimmery gold card stock, spray adhesive, and red ribbon to come up with these... Joyeux Noel!
It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Well, after over a week of sitting in the middle of the room naked, we finally just finished decorating our tree and putting up a few decorations around the house. All while blasting Pandora's Christmas station nonstop. And I have to say, these simple traditions really do help put you in the spirit of things.
Wait, the tree was sitting in the middle of the room naked for more than a week, not us. Although that would probably do more to help put us in the spirit of something else.
And Ava's really taking to the taste of pine needles and tinsel.
Wait, the tree was sitting in the middle of the room naked for more than a week, not us. Although that would probably do more to help put us in the spirit of something else.
And Ava's really taking to the taste of pine needles and tinsel.
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