roughing it will have to wait

Grant and I love camping, are good at it, and have always been pretty low-maintenance when it comes to sleeping arrangements and necessities. I love the old saying, "You don't prepare to fail, you fail to prepare", and have always thought that with efficient planning and packing, any camping trip can be a ton of fun. Amelia strongly proved us wrong last weekend. We went camping with my parents and Sam and Faye (5 y/o niece & nephew) up at Whiskey Creek. It was beautiful weather, my parents trailer is big, nice, new, clean and comfortable and my mom is literally a loving servant for us. I did a fantastic job packing everything we would need. Yet, Amelia had an incredibly difficult time sleeping at night. Even with the gorgeous view and peaceful surroundings, our lack of sleep left us (mostly me) crabby and tense. Bringing a one year old camping is a difficult task, and the worry of bothering the people you may be camping with only magnifies the stress. This little lesson can only be learned through experience, especially if you have a "we can handle it, we're tougher than most people" type of attitude like myself.

I know it's my fault; I've trained Amelia to be a high maintenance kid. But in looking back over the last year, I don't regret making life as comfortable as possible for Amelia's first year. Maybe with the second kid I won't be so crazy; unconciously tending to her every need to assure smooth naps, mealtimes, playing, and evenings. I can honestly say I've done the best I can without knowing what the heck I'm doing, and learning as I go.

Even with the rough nights, there were definitely some fun times during our trip. And yes, we will definitely be doing this again, just not with a one-year old :) Someday Amelia will learn to rough it.

taste of success

I have mentioned swim lessons a few times now. Well, yesterday we had a real break-through. Amelia has moved up to the next age level since turning one. She is the youngest one in her class of eight toddlers. All of them are walking, while she can barely stand on her own. So, although she fits in pretty well, she doesn't follow all of the activities perfectly. By the end of class she gets frustrated with me moving her arms and feet for her, trying to get her to paddle and kick while I hold her, and usually ends up just hugging me so I'll quit treating her like a puppet.

Yesterday, that all changed. I don't know if it was the long nap and full tummy before class, but Amelia was finally kicking and paddling on her own, letting me hold her an arms length away from me, and holding onto the water dumbbells while I led her around.


These are water dumbbells. She floats on her tummy while stretching her little arms out and hold onto the bar of this floating dumbbell. I thought it would take years for her to get the hang of this, judging from previous awkward and somewhat frustrating attempts. She looked so adorable and content floating on the water with her chubby little legs fanned out behind her. I have to admit I kind of guided her toward our instructer a few more times than necessary, making sure she saw Amelia's success.

I know this is probably so boring to everyone else, but I'm getting a taste of that crazy joy my parents probably got from watching me and Meg succeed in sports. I even had this weird urge to stop somewhere for a milkshake after swim lessons to reward her for a great job!! But I'll wait a couple more years for that :)

Long days made worth it

While Grant's new job is a fantastic oppurtunity and will hopefully pay off, his 12-14 hour work days make for an endless day for this ol' mom. In addition, me trying to squeeze every moment she's asleep into typing reports for Lee means I am literally working a 24 hour day. It is not easy, and leaves me feeling exhausted, cranky, and a bit frustrated at times.

However, I've found a few things that make it all worth it. Even when I feel like I want to give up, when it's time to rock Amelia to sleep, everything is okay. She literally melts into my arms, her chubby cheek lays on my shoulder facing me, and her light little arms hold my neck and I get to watch her drift to sleep as we rock together. Her perfectly shaped little mouth usually hangs open with those sweet little lips, and I feel each warm breath on my neck. Any frustration I had washes away, and I feel truly happy.

Also, when Grant's gone for so much of the day, it makes the times that we get to have together so much more special. I am so thankful for my little family.

On the mend

After a few days following the worst of the flu, Amelia's starting to feel a little better. Slowly getting back to her playful self.

Yep, definitely getting back to normal around here. I just don't know how she could've gotten sick.

Aaaaaaannnnd another little giggling video for you...

Here's another video, it's kind of long if you have a minute, of Amelia doing something that would only interest those who melt at her every move. We're trying to restrengthen and bulk up Amelia's quads back to what they were pre-flu. I think it's working...

first time home with the pukes

Amelia woke up this morning with her first flu. Few things are more heart wrenching than watching your child throw up for the first time. Amelia puked 3 times this morning. Not knowing what was happening to her, she just wanted to hold on to me and cry while her body was doing a very unfamiliar, uncontrollable thing. I tried to lean her over the sink, but the last thing she wanted was for me to hold her little body away from me. So I just let her puke over my shoulder, down the back of my shirt and partially into my hair. I cannot believe how little I cared about how gross that is and was more upset listening to her struggle. This will hopefully pass by the end of the day, but in the mean time I've been washing soiled clothes and blankies and have made my magical home made chicken noodle soup.

As many-a-sisters have told me before, she is generally happy when she's not puking and doesn't really understand what it means when she's sick. So, what she doesn't know can't harm her, and I put her right back to work. Hey, those floors aren't going to clean themselves! And she's the one who ruined those clothes, she should wash them and put them away! ...it's good for her.

I'M KIDDING!! These photos were taken on days she wasn't sick.
(well, the last two were, anyways)

We made it, Amelia!

Amelia celebrates her first birthday today. Of course, I can't believe she's one already, but at the same time, it has been a very long year! I'm thinking back to what I was doing this day last year, and man, that was an incredible day. Now I watch Amelia shove peanut butter toast in her mouth, take a giant swig of water from her sippy cup while she watches Jake Gyllenhaal on Sesame Street. She looks over at me and covers her mouth during a fake cough, and then keeps eye contact with me while she slowly drops a chunk of toast on the floor for her drooling buddy. I'm in awe of this little soul that's changed so much already. What will she be like next year? What will I be like next year?

Grant has taken a new job in Lynnwood, which is about an hour commute. We're sacrificing a lot for his new position, but are hoping it will be well worth it. Eventually we're going to need to sell our house and move up north. Big plans for this little family, and evidently, a lot can happen in a year.

Look at that mop on Amelia!

We celebrated Amelia's first birthday in Belfair last week. Very sweet little party, lots of balloons (Amelia's favorite), mom barbequed burgers and I made cupcakes. A great time was had by all! The next day we went for a hike on Mud Mountain with our good friends Rick and Raederle. I think Amelia seemed to enjoy it, she loves them.

I finally caved and let her have her birthday cupcake.

PRESENTS!!

Amelia loves to snuggle-snuggle. Especially super soft bunnies from Gramma Stella!

Raederle the comedian.

Nothin' like a little peek-a-boo to wrap up a great day.

Amelia's personality is in full-bloom

I am loving watching Amelia's little personality and expressions become more and more apparent. She lavishes herself in anything that resembles a beautiful necklace; her current favorite is Cash's purple leash. There are times she won't go anywhere without wrapping it around herself like a scarf. It's so funny when she stops whatever she's doing, as if she's just remembered she needed something in her bedroom, and then turns to crawl quickly down the hall, breathing heavy "sssh--sshhh-sshhh's" and slapping her hands and knees down the hardwood, with a quick turn toward me to make sure I know she's doing something very important, then back to the slapping. When we tell her, "No Amelia", she looks at us and shakes her head no back at us, as if to say, "right, what I'm doing is wrong." (and then continues going for the power outlet or near the edge of the deck). Yesterday she had mac and cheese for the first time, and could not get the noodles in her mouth fast enough. She ended up eating much more than a one year old should be able to eat. Today she fell from a large mat the height of about 1 1/2 feet flat onto the side of her face in gymnastics today, her feet dangling above her head for a second. Everyone saw and was ready for a horrible cry, but Amelia just slumped her legs over and got up to quickly crawl to the next mat. These are just a few items that are expressing her little character. And I am lovin' this girl.