Life gets busy!

Yes, it's been 8 months since I've last blogged about my little Snuggle Butt Cupcake. Days, weeks, and months go by so fast now. I'm not doing as much volunteering as I did last year (the S.M.A.R.T program through local elementary schools or Assistant Coaching with Girls on the Run, though I'm hoping to be a Running Buddy this year for the practice 5k and final 5k), still working full-time and doing my small cupcake business on the side. I've also heavily gotten into running, did a half marathon (13.1 miles) in May at the Rock 'n Roll Half Marathon in Portland and again in Seattle on November 25th at the Seattle Half Marathon and am now currently in week 4 of a 5-month training plan for a full marathon (26.2 miles) on my beloved Whidbey Island (April 14th, 2013). Aaaaand I've gotten into trapeze/aerial (high-flying trapeze in Seattle every few months, low flying trapeze and aerial silks, aerial conditioning, circuit training here in Portland about 1-3 times a week). I'm definitely staying busy chasing after Ayla 3 1/2 days a week. She is a CLIMBER and into everything! She is non-stop, inquisitive, funny, loud, sweet, and sassy. I've never been so in love with anyone (including Johnny Depp).

It's hard to remember what all we've done in the last 8 months.... there was her 1 year birthday party (at Greenway Park, it was a beautiful day and we had a lot of friends and family members show up to celebrate), going up to Whidbey Island in June for my first year doing Relay for Life with my "island family", another trip to Whidbey in September (just me and Ayla), her first black eye, more teeth, some hair (FINALLY), working on the words 'mama', 'dada', and 'baby' (she understands when you talk to her, but besides those words, she does a lot of pointing and sounds), learning to sign the word 'more', sleeping through the night, saying goodbye to our sweet puppy dog, Macchiato (diagnosed with aggressive bone cancer in June, giving him final kisses in August)... and probably about a bajillion other things.
Just for reference, she's just past a year and a half now (20 months) and still wearing some 12, but mostly 18, month clothes (she's still tiny!).
So here are a bunch of pictures and the hopes that I'll keep up on blogging about once a month (or anything major at least)... maybe. ;)

Baby CC and Pogo, hanging out

Ayla and Dawson at the Oregon Zoo

The "in-laws"--Aaron, Omi, and Icen at CC's 1st birthday

Icen and Cupcake, bundled up on a stroller walk

Gotta stay warm on those cold days!

Ayla, Kirsten, and Chris, Whidbey Island Relay for Life 2012

Ayla reading to Pogo

Chris reading to the babies

Mama and Cupcake, Mother's Day Event 2012

Celebrating Ayla's birthday at the Tulip Festival 2012
with Pogo and Macchiato. Exactly 1 year earlier, I was in labor with her at this same farm!

Superheroes Blood Donor event, April 2012. Celebrating Macchiato being a canine blood donor
through DoveLewis Emergency Hospital. We had been at this event one year prior, when CC was
 2 days old!

Running with mama along City Beach waterfront in Oak Harbor, Washington
(Whidbey Island) September 2012

She's getting ready to bake!

Ooh, that baby! So cute. One of my favorite people in one of my favorite places,
Oak Harbor (Whidbey Island), WA

Pointing out Batman, who she loves (naturally)

Playing at one of the libraries I grew up in
(Oak Harbor, WA)

"Mama's training for a marathon!"

Deception Pass Bridge, 2012



Checking out the bikes

11 months!

Ayla Cupcake turned 11 months old on the 28th. Where has the time gone??

She now has 4 teeth (bottom two came in about a month or so ago. Top two just started poking out in the last two weeks, so they aren't on full show just yet) and Chris thinks he sees a back molar popping through! She has also started walking (at around 10 1/2 months)! Our friend Kelsey was watching Ayla while I was coaching for Girls on the Run and that's when the little Cupcake decided she'd take some steps. Sneaky girl! Not a big deal, she's been "cruising" (walking while "bordering" or holding onto the furniture), so we knew she'd be taking wobbly steps soon (she could have even possibly taken her first steps, but we hadn't seen it. I know she'd try and make it from the ottoman to the couch by leaning over and kind of falling head first into the couch). She's gone from taking 2-3 steps at a time to 7-8-9 steps (or more if she's really got her balance on that day!) in a row. She even walked a few steps, stopped to regain her balance for a few seconds and then continued walking. That takes skill! ;)

Mama, Daddy and Baby all attended the Shamrock Run 5k (3.1 miles) a few weeks ago in Portland. The Cupcake and I ran the ENTIRE 5k, which we've/I've never done before! I was pretty excited about it (she just slept through it). We were passing people left and right (yeah, we're pretty awesome like that) and finished with a time of 34 minutes and 30 seconds (which is a new record for me). It's not super fast, but I have little legs, so I'll take it! Chris finished just a few minutes behind us, which isn't bad considering he hasn't been training/running, he just does sporadic 5ks with us throughout the year. He and I will be doing an 8k (4.97 miles) with some friends on April 15th (Bridge to Brews through Terrapin Events), so Ayla is going to hang out with Grandma Peggy while we run (I could probably push the stroller an extra two miles, but this way Ayla can keep Grandma company while we crazy people run around Portland). I've got plans for a few more 5ks this year and even a race series (with obstacles to climb over, under, a mud pit, etc... Check out the website: ) ***Since starting this post a week or so ago, I ran the Race for the Roses 5k with my good friend Laura and we ran the whole thing together without stopping and finished in 34:03. A new personal record, woot!

Our friends, Liam and Kaiya, stopped for lunch on their way through Portland and they finally got to meet the Cupcake! The last time we saw them (I'm pretty sure) was our wedding a year and a half ago (and the Cupcake was baking at 3 months). We met up at the Lucky Lab right behind my work since they had their pup with them (and Lucky Lab has outside seating). I was able to run over real quick on my lunch break to get some aawesome hugs (seriously, Liam and Kaiya give some of the best hugs ever... it must be all the practice they get on trees), lunch, and baby kisses.

Ayla loves taking weekly trips to the library! We try and pick out some books that she would enjoy reading, but it's always a hit or miss. She has a few that she really likes (Monster Opposites, Hello Lulu, At The Beach, Dr. Seuss' The Foot Book, and her two cupcake books) and the ones she doesn't like... well, she doesn't sit still for very long. She likes a certain few and loves to read them a few times in a row. Funny girl.

We got to visit with my brother for just a little bit before he left for Texas (for National Air Guard). He'll be there for about 6 months, but at least it's still "here" (Texas).

We're trying to plan for Cupcake's 1st birthday! We'd really love to have it outside at a local park so we can barbecue and enjoy the nice weather. Our fingers are crossed that will work out. It's not going to be anything big, just a few family and friends, but we're excited about it!

10 months!

     Ayla Cupcake is 10 months old! I can't believe she's just two months away from joining the "One-der" club ;)   Her future husband (Icen) turned 1 on February 8th and her boyfriend (Dawson) turned 1 on the 19th. We were able to make it to both of their birthday parties. Both boys are so big and on the move! Ayla isn't too far behind, she's up and crawling (no more "scootching"/army crawling) and she's been hanging onto the furniture and "cruising" around for about 2 months now. She is into EVERYTHING. We have to block off the stairs since she is an avid climber (she LOVES climbing up the 14 stairs in our townhome) and block off the kitchen (or leave it unblocked, but pick up the dog water bowl). She will seek out any and all electrical cords (for the tv, plug-in heaters, fish tank, lights....) and thinks they're the most awesome toys in the world. She also loves to play with the straps and buckles on her carseat (I watched her play with her carseat for 20 minutes the other day, no joke. She would play with the strap, then crawl into it, let it tip slightly, crawl out of it, slowly face plant it on the carpet without crying, continue playing with the strap).


Icen enjoying his first cupcake (made by yours truely, Cupcake Lady!)




Dawson enjoying his first birthday cake!



Chris, Ayla, Aaron and Icen after Icen's birthday party


    Chris and Ayla and I went in for our first family photo session last month. We got a deal through Yuen Lui Studios (through Groupon), so we have five 20-minute sessions. Our photographer was great, very funny and there were some good photos. We're looking forward to taking Ayla back in a few month for her 1-year photos and then we'll probably do another family shoot when she's about 18 months.

     She's got her two bottom teeth now! They came up around the 9-month mark and I think her top teeth are going to poke through any day now. She has a little baby toothbrush and paste, but we haven't used them yet since we thought she was teething and we didn't want to irriate her sore mouth.

     We've had a few playdates with Icen and Dawson and some friends from Baby Boot Camp. She still enjoys Playdate PDX and this last time, she discovered the stairs in the Toddler Area that lead to the Toddler Slide. We're lucky to have such an awesome place to check out and I feel like we'll be going there for a long time. She also likes going to the library and picking out books (and playing with their toys).


Zoo date with Dawson (they loved playing with the disposable camera!)




Stroller walk date with Icen



Enjoying the toys at the library


     I feel like our breastfeeding days are numbered. Since she's been eating foods and purees, she hasn't needed as much milk as before. I don't mind pumping less, but I'm a little sad about  her slowing down on nursing (not too sad, but I know that it's going to come to an end eventually). But then I remind myself that there will be other babies (hopefully!) and if I don't have to worry about pumping/nursing/what I'm eating, work-outs will be easier (you try going for a run!). My thought was always to breastfeed until she's about 1 year (if not longer) as long as it was working out for both of us. We haven't had any issues or problems so far (I know, some of you hate me right now), so we'll see. It seems like she will nurse early in the morning in bed with us (around 6 am or so) and then before naps or bedtime, but otherwise she likes her foods. We'll give her pieces of apples or bananas, bread/toast crust, baby "puffs", green beans... she loves picking things up and feeding herself, but will still eat purees, yogurt, and cereal if we sit down to feed her. I'm not brave enough to let her try and feed herself anything "squishy" that will make a huge mess. It's the Type A in me. I get anxiety if she smears the mushy stuff. I have nightmares of her flinging food and it being all over the place. I don't a little on her hands or face or clothes, but all over the chair and floor and... ugh. I just can't do it. I know I will have to eventually, but I just can't right now. She will help grab/hold the spoon sometimes when we feed her, which she seems to enjoy. Maybe when it warms up, we'll let her feed herself in a high chair outside in the backyard. That way I can just hose her down before bringing her in ;)


Mmmmm, apples for Valentine's Day


    Chris and I have been talking about Ayla's 1-year birthday. We'd like to have it outside at a park somewhere, maybe do a BBQ or something. I know she won't care much, but it'll be nice for friends and family to celebrate. No one is obligated to come, but if you'd like to be there, you're welcome to! And no gifts are necessary, but we know people are going to buy things if they want to buy things. Books are always great (specifically "board" books... you know, they're hardcover and all the pages are hardcover so that they can't be destroyed by all the "reading" and "noming" done by baby). Stay tuned for more information/invites for the birthday bash!


Crawling into and out of her exer-saucer

     At her 9-month checkup, she was not even 16 lbs! She's on the little side (under 15% for both height and weight), but she grows between each pediatrician appointment, so we aren't worried at all. She was definitely low on her iron, so she (and I, actually) was put on a liquid iron supplement. I have no doubt that when we re-test her iron, she'll be in the normal range. She's finally in 9 and 12 month clothing! We're rounding up the last of her 6 month clothes (slowly, but surely), though there are a few things she can still wear (6-month jackets are still fitting well as well as some of her 6-month pants. Onesies and shirts she's wearing 9- and 12-month though).

     I start Assistant Coaching with Girls on the Run this next week through the first week of June (http://girlsontherunpdx.org/) and I'm super excited! On Mondays, Uncle Carl will be watching her and on Wednesdays, my friend Kelsey will watch her. On the off chance that either can't watch her, a friend from Baby Boot Camp (who lives about a minute away from us, which is awesome!) has offered to watch her. Her daughter, Camille, is super sweet and smart and just turned 2. And she's going to be a big sister in about 6 months! Jill really wants to watch her, so maybe I'll have to find a reason someday soon for her to get some Cupcake snuggle time in :)

8 months!

Daddy took me to see Santa!

  
    Limited pictures in this blog, sorry! We got rid of our cable and internet in December (we have internet on our smart phones and have laptops we can take somewhere to get wi-fi). If I get a chance, I'll add more photos in a few days.

   Ayla is 8 months old! When I weighed her a few weeks ago, she was about 16 lbs, so I'm sure she's around 17 or so now. We have a pediatrician next month around her 9-month birthday, so check back later for her height, weight and percentiles.

   Chris lowered CC's crib a couple weeks ago since she had been trying to pull herself up to standing on several different objects around the house. Good thing, because she can pull herself up now! I was doing dishes one day and had the door of the dishwasher down. Ayla was "scooching" around the kitchen, entertaining herself. All of a sudden, I look over and she's STANDING with her hands on the dishwasher!! I totally wasn't expecting it, so I reacted pretty quickly. I think my sudden movement scared her and she lost her balance a little. I caught her, but it made her cry a little. I couldn't believe it--standing! She's still scooching around (using her arms to basically drag herself while she uses her legs to kick/push). She gets up on her knees from time to time, rocks a little, then plops back on the floor to drag herself around. I'm not sure if she'll skip crawling all together or if she'll discover it in a few weeks. She also comes towards you and reaches for your hands (especially if you hold them out to her), grabs them and gets herself up to standing. It makes me laugh, because sometimes she just goes from laying down to standing up, in a plank-like fashion. Good ab muscles!

  

   We're still doing mostly breastfeeding/breastmilk in bottles and pureed foods a couple times a day. She really loves trying out different flavors and eats 1-3 times a day (1-4 "ice cubes" at each feeding). We're slowly making our way into introducing "real" foods, but I'm worried about her choking on things. Ugh.

   We got a lot of visits in with family for the holidays. We saw Chris' dad and Joan the week before Christmas. They invited us for dinner at their place and it let me just say... it was really good! Lots of healthy stuff, but even me (the picky eater) enjoyed it. Ayla enjoyed opening her gifts (I have pics and a video, just need to upload it), but mostly enjoyed the wrapping paper (she loves "crinkly" things right now).

   We also had dinner at Chris' Aunt Nancy and Uncle Gary's house. Their daughter and son-in-law (Betsy and Mark) were in town from Idaho with their daughter, Molly (2 weeks younger than Ayla). It was great to see them and meet her. She and Ayla got a little face time before Molly went to bed. Chris' other cousin, Carrie, was there with her kids, Riley and Cobey. Ayla's uncle Carl and Grandma Peggy were there, too. It was a nice relaxing night which was nice (we went over after I worked a 10-hour shift... yay).

    Christmas Eve was spent at my brother and sister-in-law's house. My dad was home for a few days, so he was able to join us for dinner. It was another nice relaxed evening (I had worked a 10-hour shift that day, too). We enjoyed some food and opening gifts. Of course, Ayla like the boxes and wrapping paper more than the toys (she likes clanking the tea cups together now, dad!)




Tea set and bouncing piggy from Grandpa Harry!



Pretty in bows!

  

"Normal" family picture (with the exception of my brother, ha ha)



Dorks!



   I'm not a "Christmas person", but Chris and I like to do holiday stockings on Winter Solstice (the 22nd this year). Ayla liked the couple of toys she received and even the dogs got some chew bones.

   Christmas Day, we drove over to Grandma Peggy's for brunch with her and Carl before Chris went into work at 3pm (and I got called in, so I worked 6-11p). Ayla had a sleep over with Grandma since Chris and I both worked late (and I had to be back at 8am the next morning).



Macchiato is ALWAYS trying to make out with Ayla. And Pogo looks like a werewolf. Nice.


   I've finally (I think) pulled all her 3-month clothes. She can still pretty much fit into most of them, but the length is just a little short. Kind of funny to have a 7-8 month old fitting ito 3-month clothes. So we're in 6 and some 9-month clothes now. Pants are still a little long sometimes (she has short little legs like her mama), as well as some sleeves. I have noticed on her "footie" pjs that her feet fit pretty snuggly. I think we'll have to go up to 9-month pjs just so her piggies don't get scrunched.

   Still no teeth, but that's fine with me! It seems like everyone else we know (even if they're 1-2 months younger) has at least one tooth. The way I see it, she doesn't need teeth right now. She's getting milk and pureed foods, not gnawing on a rib bone (though, if I'm not watching her every second, she makes a beeline for the dog toys/bones... Go, go super immune system! Ha!). I think it's pretty normal to get their first tooth between 4 and 16 months of age, so we still have plenty of time.

   Ayla still hasn't been sick yet, which is great. There was one time a few months ago where she was a little snotty/stuffy/drainy, but it seemed to be mostly at night (I wonder if it might have been allergies more than anything, or just some congestion because of the weater, which happens to me at night sometimes). Either way, happy and healthy baby. Yay!



Not sure if she's helping with laundry or requesting a bath