Time for Art

I don't know why it took me so long to start drawing and painting with Natalie... probably it was the potential mess that deterred me.  But this week I decided it was time.  I got her some crayons for her birthday, and the special, round crayon holders.  I would not recommend these at all... Natalie seemed to have much better luck with the cheapo normal crayons... she got the hang of it after just a few minutes of messing around with them, and I think practicing the normal grip will probably encourage her to hold other tools, (i.e. eating utensils) correctly.  

She spent a bit of time drawing with her dad, and now I can pretty much put her down with the crayons and paper and she's occupied for 20-30 minutes!  

I take them away when she stops drawing with them, and starts putting them in her mouth.  I think she might be getting another tooth, (she's got one about halfway up - I'll post a picture when I can get one of the elusive little bugger!)  

We also did a bit of finger painting!  I'm going to need to get special paper for this one I think because even photo paper seemed to absorb the paints too quickly, and not allow them to spread around too much.  

I even made my own finger paints which was a fun project in itself... didn't take much time at all, and saved me a trip to the store!  

I left the sugar out of the recipe because I didn't want the paints to be tasty enough for Natalie to want to eat them all... and she did manage to keep her hands out of her mouth for the process which was a nice change.  But I may have to try the recipe with sugar next time, because the colors were a bit dim, and maybe that's why.  Who knows.  But Natalie didn't seem to mind the pastels, and I guess they'll be appropriate for Easter artwork, so we'll use up what we've got first!  

St. Pattie's Day

Okay - so I know I'm over a week late on this promised post, but I figure, better late than never, (and what else should I be doing on a snowy day - other than laundry!?)  We were supposed to head up to A-Basin today for DH's work ski day, but I don't think that's going to happen... the roads are still pretty yucky and there's about 20 inches of snow built up on our deck!  

Now we're not Irish, but something about having a baby makes me want to dig into every holiday that comes our way... it was her first St. Patrick's Day after all, so I wanted her to really enjoy the holiday.  Natalie got to wear a Mommy-made dress that day, since I didn't see anything suitably green in her closet when I was picking out her clothes... The bow didn't last in her hair beyond the car ride to Boulder.  But isn't she a bonny wee lass though?! 

We started off the morning with some breakfast at Conor O'Neills, which opened early for the occasion.  

And then after breakfast, Dad headed off to work, while Natalie and I took a stroll down the creek path to check out the ducks on the way to the library.  

We got there before the library opened, so enjoyed ten minutes or so just people watching by the doors, (mostly bums and hippies wanting to use the bathroom I think - one of them was kind enough to let me know he didn't like kids - thanks for the warning.) 

Natalie is just getting to the age and mobility where she can appreciate all the little playgrounds at the mall... she liked the feel of the gravel in this little rock park, and enjoyed sliding down the big rock as well.  She always slides down backwards  on her tummy, which is how she goes down the stairs as well.  

We had a great day, enjoying all the perks of Pearl Street Mall... We had lunch and coffee.  I knitted while she napped in her stroller, and she played with other babies and bigger kids on the animal statues at the East end of the mall.  

We also spent a bit of time exploring all the neat toys at Into the Wind.  As long as I don't mind picking up toys and putting them back in bins, this is a perfect store for her to play in!!  

After wearing her out all day, and finally putting her in bed, DH and I enjoyed a pair of Irish Car Bombs for dinner.  

A healthy supper.  I haven't had one of those for quite a while, and it tasted just as good as I remember, (good thing there wasn't a third person drinking because I don't know if I could have hunted up a third shot glass)!  We still have a pair of Guinness left in the fridge from making these, so maybe I'll have one again soon!  

I think it was a fitting end to Saint Patrick's Day!   

Snow update

Well, we made it out there for about 2 minutes... it's pretty cold!! 

It probably took longer to get our gear on than the time we spent out there... 

And the mittens didn't quite stay on... but Natalie seemed to find the experience interesting.  

Too much fun!  Don't ya just love the little pink snow bib?! 

Hello Spring

Well, it's a good thing we got that hike in on Tuesday, because today wouldn't have been a good day for it.  We finally got that snow that's been forecast.  There was no snow at 6AM, but it was raining a bit... this is what it looks like now, (at 8:20AM).  

So far we've got about 5 inches built up on the deck... they say we'll see around a foot or more.  

Tomorrow we're supposed to head up to A-Basin for DH's work ski day... should be an interesting drive... hopefully the plows will have done some good work before then!  At least if we make it up there the snow should be good!! 

I'm hoping to get Natalie all bundled in her snow suit - I'll post pictures if we get around to getting out there!!  :)

Mt. Sanitas - or why you shouldn't trust the weatherman

My friend Julie lent us a terrific baby backpack carrier, so now, just in time for Spring, we can finally go hiking again!!  

My friend Nupur and I had planned to hit the trails since last week, but were getting discouraged by the cold and snow in the forecast for Tuesday.  

In the morning, I went and taught yoga at 6am, and thought it wasn't too cold out even then, so figured that if we got out early enough, we would miss the cold and wind and snow that was predicted for the day.  

So we set out.  

Here's the motley crew with babies in tow.  

Aanya is an old hand at this hiking gig... she was strapped last summer for hikes, and this winter for show shoeing.  Makes me feel like a real slug!!  Note Ozzie the dog in the background.  He was very patient with our many stops, (we always used picture taking as our excuse).  

Natalie seems to really like her carrier... 

She cried the first time we took her out of it but I think she felt a bit differently about coming out of it after over an hour of hiking.   But she didn't protest getting back in after some play time so I think we're pretty well set to use it all Summer.  Woo hoo!  

We stopped about 3/4 of the way up for lunch.  We were glad we didn't wait for the summit because it was mostly jagged rocks and we weren't really able to set the girls down once we got there for fear they'd crawl , (or walk in Aanya's case) off the edge!  

The girls enjoyed playing in some very dirty dirt when we stopped... Nat's pants were brown instead of blue.  

At the top!  Natalie woke up just in time for this picture.  We weren't sure we could make it... Those extra 20 lbs are quite a load when you haven't been hiking in a while!!  We've vowed to hike at least once a week so we can get back in shape not to mention get some fresh air and remind ourselves there's more to life than laundry!  

And Aanya conked out on the way down... 

We stopped for a bit of play time at Grand Rabbits in Boulder.  I'm sure stores like this love to see people like us coming in to play with all their toys and then leave without buying anything!  We figure this makes way more sense financially than a membership to Gymboree!!  

Maybe we'll buy something there the next time we stop in after a hiking trip!  

Birthday Festivities Continue

These pictures are posted a day late, but they are from yesterday's first birthday bash.  Here's a picture of the birthday girl herself!  One year old... I can't believe it!!  

The three of us spent a great day at home together.  I iced some cupcakes for when Sweetpea's little friends and their mom's came over.  

And she seemed to enjoy her cupcake much more today... she'd had a taste of the icing while I was doing it, so maybe that convinced her it was worth another try... 

This is the best shot I could find of all five girls together... We attempted to get them all to wear headbands with ears or petals on them, but it was like herding cats to even get them all in one place at one time, let alone in costume - maybe when they're older.  

After we wrapped up all the baby craziness, we had a nice family nap, (one of our favorite activities when we all are home during nap time!) 

Then we went out for a celebratory dinner at Benihana's.  Here's Sweetpea contemplating the menu... she doesn't seem too happy with her options.  

She ended up eating a bit of everything we got with our order... from mushroom soup and shrimp appetizer through steak and veggies, all the way to the green tea ice cream!  She also had a starter of some pickled ginger... she really seems to like the stuff!  We're so lucky to have such a good eater on our hands - hopefully she stays that way!!

All in all it was a very nice birthday.  I think she's starting out her second year in style!! 

Birthday Eve

A year ago this evening, I went into labor.  At 1:04am, Sunday the 23rd, Easter, our sweet little baby girl was born.  We were surprised she was a girl, because we'd been so sure it would be a boy... but we sure are happy with the outcome. 

As many of you know, she also came rather quickly.  I realised I was in labor after we got back from dinner.  Around 7:30pm.  We figured it would take a while, and I wasn't feeling too bad, so we packed our hospital bag, and tried to rest for a while.  It wasn't until around 12:30 that it seemed like the birth was imminent!  I was already starting to feel the urge to push.  My DH scraped the snow off the car, got my boots on me and packed me up.  Then started the trip in to the hospital.  Luckily it was pretty late on Saturday night, and there was little traffic.  The 911 operator thought that we could get there much faster than the ambulance could get to us.  I could feel the baby's head, and she told us to pull over if we thought the baby was coming.  It never occurred to me we wouldn't make it to the hospital. 

And we could see the hospital when the baby's head was suddenly in my hand.   A moment later the body was in my other hand, and I brought the tiny little thing up into my arms.  It was a girl after all.  The clock said 1:04am.  DH pulled over and wrapped the little girl up in his hoodie, and then got back in the car and drove the last two minutes to the hospital.  

So today we got to celebrate that amazing day almost a year ago, when Sweetpea came into our lives.  We had a wonderful day full of family and food, and one great family nap.  

I started the day off icing Sweetpea's cake while she and DH went to the grocery store for some last minute party supplies.   I also made some big sandwiches and touched up the decorations a bit before everyone came over for lunch.  

My parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncle were able to join us for the party.  We started out letting Sweetpea open some of her presents to keep her occupied.  

She got some really beautiful outfits and some great toys... here she is exploring her new doll... 

And a little later, sitting in her new doll stroller... it was a tight fit, but she thought it was funny... When she's walking, (probably not too long now) she's really going to enjoy this stroller I think. She liked seeing the doll in there.  

We had a hard time getting these blocks away from her so she could open her other presents... the truck in the background there was also a favorite of the day, and will be great in the sandbox at the park.  

And this inch worm from Daddy was a crowd favorite... one little push and it goes all the way across the house!  

This caterpillar from Uncle Steve and Aunt Gina was my personal favorite!!  Each little foot is a different letter of the alphabet and plays its own song... it's like Sweetpea's personal ipod!  She loves things that play music for her.  

For dessert I made this cake filled with blackberries and topped with very sweet icing.  Sweetpea was a bit stunned when everyone sang "Happy Birthday" but she seemed to enjoy the attention overall.  

She was less impressed by the cake though.  She had enjoyed pieces of it during the process of making it, and she really liked the icing when I was making that, but she didn't know what to do with this cupcake.  Eventually she ate most of the berries off of it, and fed the rest to Grandpa Gary... She likes feeding people when she's through eating herself... when no one's around to feed the leftovers to she usually puts them off her tray onto the floor or a convenient nearby surface or container.   She likes a tidy plate.  

After a break for some milk, she was ready for some more play time with the family... hanging out on Grandma's lap. 

And sliding down Grandpa Gary's.  

By the time everyone left, we were all pretty pooped, so we took a nice long nap together.  Are all babies as cuddly as this one?  How did I not know this until now!?  

Then after some more playtime exploring her new toys, we went out for dinner at Efrain's to relive that fateful night.  I even had the very spicy chili verde plate again, (but this time I had a margarita too!) 

Of course the biggest difference between tonight and that night a year ago, is this little one here!!  (Eating chips for goodness sake - how does she do it with barely even one whole tooth!?)  

She also enjoyed half of a bean and cheese burrito, nearly a whole plain tortilla!!   After such a busy day she needed to refuel!  

And here's the last shot of the night - hanging out with Daddy.  

She went to bed just as soon as we could get her home and into jammies.  It was a very full day.  

I thought he was my cat!!

Supposedly, when we got Chewy, my DH wasn't a cat person.  I really wanted one, so he relented.  

Turns out, the cat seems to prefer my husband... isn't that how it always is?  Well, he sits down, and not ten seconds later has a cat on his lap!  

I had to snap this pic... I wish I could get as comfy as this cat does!