{Embrace} the Camera

this week we embraced my canon's self timer & a baby einstein mat.

little miss C has become increasingly aware of the world around her.

this is us working on tummy time. post-run crustiness and all...

and she smiles.

with her whole face. 

this smile made a 17 hour sleep strike and 

a 30 minute whole foods melt-down totally worth it...

and who needs a fancy - schmancy tripod when you can just use ...

your child's Bible. 

Rocky Mountain High

I don't know if it's the fresh air, the Rocky Mountains, the lack of bugs, the cool temps or what, but I am head over heels in love with Colorado. I jump at any chance to go out there. As soon as our plane lands at DIA I am instantly in a state of utter relaxation. I am on a mission to get all my friends and family to move out there.

Anyways - back to the blog. We took our first family vacation last week to watch some of our best friends get married. DJ & Amy. I've known DJ as long as I've known Mat and we are beyond thrilled that he found Amy. They are perfect for each. AND she's an OSU fan. Perfect I tell you. There's nothing I love more than watching two people join their lives together and start off on the adventure of marriage - especially when the backdrop to the event is the Rocky Mountains.

We left KC in a mess of a rainstorm and endured some horrendous turbulence. I was certain we were all going to die. Between the anxiety of fearing a plane crash and the fear of my newborn screaming the entire flight I was a mess. My back up plan if she cried the whole time? Buy everyone around us a cocktail. No need - she did great. Slept the whole time. Her mom on the other, hand was the one who needed the cocktail!

After spending a few days in Denver, we headed to Vail for a long weekend with Mat's parents. We spent 3 beautiful days surrounded old friends and new friends, enjoyed delicious meals and walks through Vail village. It was the perfect getaway for our new little family of three. Mat's wonderful parents even did some babysitting which allowed us some (very) much needed grown-up time with our friends.

Lunch at Streamside

Miss C rocked Vail Village in her BOB

Mat's parents

The best man soothing his fussy lady...

      

C's first wedding                                                                               

               

No, I'm not pregnant, but thanks for asking.

Perhaps it was eating fancy meals and enjoying some fantastic wine 4 nights in a row.  (Surf & turf anyone?) Maybe it was seeing a picture of Campbell and I enjoying her first pool experience - she looked precious; her mother on the other hand not so much. Downright scary. Or maybe it was the lady who thought I was pregnant at the wedding reception this weekend. Yep. That really happened. Or maybe it was hanging out with a bunch of incredibly fit, athletic people all weekend who all run, mountain bike, snowshoe, ski, hike every single day.  Anyways - whatever it was, I became incredibly aware of the post prego pounds that need to be shed. pronto.
So this week - 6 weeks post birth when I am finally released to live life as it once was - we are kicking off the weight loss agenda. It's back to the grindstone. No more blue bell. No more Sonic. No more salt and vinegar chips. No more chocolate chip cookies. Bring on the salads, the grilled chicken, the fish, the green smoothies. Bring on the running, the weight lifting, the crunches, the spin classes. It's time to get healthy again.
I'm actually looking forward to running again. Since I've become a runner I've never had this long of a break. I haven't run since Jan. 15, the day we found out we were having twins and the doctor put the kabash on my running. Over 6 months. Geez. It will be worth the heat and humidity; the out-of-breathness (nope. not a word); the walk breaks; the water breaks; the blood sweat & tears Right? Because nothing tastes as good as being fit feels. Right? Right. At least I think so...
It's not just "running". It's about a lifestyle. It's about discipline. It's about being healthy and feeling good. And yes I'll be honest - it's about fitting into my pre-preggo jeans.
So here's my menu this week. I've found if I plan it out for the week 1) we eat much healthier 2) we don't save money. Cori, one of my best friends is my weekly menu inspiration. I love reading her blogs because 1) she's one of my bffs 2) she's hilarious 3) she comes up with yummy menu ideas. (Check her blog out for some tasty ideas or some good laughs)

PS: She's worth every last ounce...

{embrace} the Camera

The Uncle Marshall edition...

I'm taking some creative liberties with this edition...

This week we are on a little vacation in Colorado. 

I adore Colorado. 

For many reasons - one of which is our family here

including my brother Marshall.

Uncle Marshall

Younger brother.

Ridiculously smart.

Hilarious.

A surgeon... 

(yes  it's kind of scary when your little brother becomes a surgeon...)

Uncle Marshall finally got to meet Campbell Hope this week. 

Here are just a few pics...

Melt my heart...

I'll be honest. I was shocked at what a natural he was. Picked her right up and calmed her right down.... she clearly loves her uncle Marshall.

PS I'm ignoring the fact that he is in scrubs and was in surgery all day and Lord only knows what could be on his scrubs... at least he washed his hands...

{embrace} the camera

Cute, huh? 

(and no - she is not nursing - we are sleeping)

I promise that I did not wake up from a glorious nap with my baby girl, realize it was Thursday, tell Mat to grab the camera, make sure he got my best angle, in the best light, rub mascara off my face 

.... and then pretend to be back asleep. 

These cute pics just happen. Yep.

This {embrace} the camera goes out to the nurse at my pediatrician's office yesterday who "scolded" me for not sleep training my 4 week old baby. Yep. I'll take sleep anyway I can get it right now. Even if she falls asleep beside me on the couch. Oh and don't worry about the safety issue. My fur baby, Harley aka "Good Dog Carl" was protecting her. (seriously - one of my all time favorite books if you haven't read it, go buy it now. You will thank me for it.)

Oh - and I will be sleep training. But not yet. Until she is old enough for it, I plan on enjoying each and every moment that she falls asleep in my arms or on my chest. It's cute now. Not so cute when she is 16.

My baby is all grown up!

(warning: lots of pictures

thats what happens when you mom is 

cheap and a wanna-be photographer)

Okay she's not really "grown-up"... but she is 1 month old today. She weighed in at 7lb 5 oz (10%) and is 20 inches long (25%). It is so hard to believe that this tiny little lady has ONLY been in our lives for 1 month. The past month has been by far the most wonderful - yet challenging- month of our entire lives. We have definitely been moved out of our comfort zone in this new adventure of parenting. We are getting really good at trial and error to figure out what works ... and more importantly what doesn't work with a newborn. We've learned how to bathe, feed, change and soothe a baby. Everyday we get to see a new part of our little girl's personality emerge. She is sweet and cuddly, yet fierce, determined and stubborn - all fantastic characteristics in a person. Perhaps more challenging to parent - but definitely characteristics that will make her a go-getter in life!  She will let you know in an instant if she didn't like something - complete with a scream and a big pouty bottom lip. We can't help but laugh at out little drama queen. She's not quite "social smiling"  yet - but she is smiling more and more everyday.
        
                            newborn...

                            1 month...

Here are a few things  that we have learned about her over the past month. Oh - and it won't hurt my feelings if you don't read this, but instead just want to look at the pictures=) I get it ...It's my moment to be a proud mama and document all of these things to look back on some day.

Likes:
laying on people's chest. She'd much prefer that to sleeping in a crib, bouncy chair or bassinet.
eating. She'd do it all day if I let her.
walks in the BOB. She loves getting out and going for walks. We love it because it puts her to sleep.
tummy time -most of the time. She has crazy strong neck muscles and loves to lift her head & look around.
bouncing. We spend a good part of the day bouncing on an exercise ball - helps her calm right down.
outside. just like her parents. loves to be out and see new things.
white noise: vacuum, blow drier, sleep sheep, whatever. Instantly calms her. (Not sure who likes it more: C or us)

Dislikes:
her car seat. Hates getting put in it, but loves getting in the car or stroller.
bedtime. She'd much rather be up with mom and dad hanging out.
zantac. Unfortunately for her, mom and dad LOVE it.


Social life:
We've had fun getting out and about. It's been my goal to go somewhere every day - even if its "just" Target. She's a fantastic shopper and enjoys going to lunch with friends.

Speaking of friends...here's a few she's played with:

Luke "the meatball" 

Maisy

This has been such an amazing time in our life and we are treasuring each new moment on our parenthood adventure!

Who knew?

So I'll be totally honest. I had NO idea what I was in for with this whole newborn stage. People told me I'd be tired. They said I would be busy and feel overwhelmed. I didn't listen. Not me. I'm a multi-tasker. I just knew I'd be back to my 5 am runs within a week or two and that I'd have this little lady on a schedule - MY schedule in no time. Ha. I've learned this week that motherhood is truly something you don't get until you live it.

Here's a few things that the "books" never tell you:

-Newborns really don't sleep as much as the books say they do. Not sure who wrote those books...but not a mom.
-In order to go to the bathroom you will need to put a bouncy seat in the bathroom with you. As mentioned in a previous post I am having some "issues" and spend quite a bit of time in there each day. So does Campbell - on the bouncy seat. (gross I know...) Same goes for taking a shower. Oh and if they start screaming like a teradactyl part way through - you won't actually finish getting ready.
-Dinner with your husband involves taking turns. One eats, one bounces on the exercise ball with the baby. Forget watching a movie or listening to nice music - there's no need since you can't hear it over the hum of the vacuum used to soothe the baby.
-Newborns cry. A lot. Even when they take zantac for the tummies. And they need to be held. A lot. And they poop. A lot.
-Your house becomes a mess. It looks like Fisher Price exploded everywhere. No matter how many times I SWORE I wouldn't be that mom - I am. There are burp clothes, bouncy chairs, swings, boppies, socks, blankets, pacifiers, etc...everywhere.   It's a good day if I get the bed made and the dishwasher unloaded. Anything else is a bonus.

And you know what? I wouldn't trade it for the world. For all the "stressful" things they don't teach you in the books - there are a thousand wonderful things they don't teach you either: the feeling of your baby reaching up and putting there tiny arm around your neck; the quiet moments early in the morning when it's just the two of you awake; having their itty bitty body fall asleep on your chest; the smile they give you right as they are falling asleep; the precious little noises they make. It is truly wonderful. In short, I LOVE my new full time job. My boss is a little demanding and kind of loud, but I am head over heels in love with her and wouldn't change it for the world.

When I feel really overwhelmed I can't help but think - I was supposed to be doing this for two babies. I should be nursing two babies. I should be waking up with two babies. I should be changing two baby's diapers. I should be pushing a double BOB stroller on my walks.  I should be hauling two car seats in and out of the car. And I'm not. I would gladly be overwhelmed with the newborn stage  - times two - if it meant Parker was here with us.

Don't get me wrong, I am incredibly thankful for my baby girl ... but I'd be lying if I didn't say that there is still a part of me longing for her sister to be here with us.

La La Land...

We're getting very little sleep around the Good house these days.

One of us has colic

or reflux

or gas

or is a newborn

or something.... who knows.

We've tried everything and are headed to the doc tomorrow...

I woke up from a blissful nap this evening and found this...

Love these two with my whole heart.

"God's mercies are new every morning" (whenever your "morning" might be...)

PS: They didn't mean to color coordinate. We don't roll that way around here...

{embrace} the Camera

Excuse the quality -blame it on the iphone.

I like to call this pic - "Hands Free".

This position works for both of us:

C-soothes her unhappy tummy & calms her tears

Me-allows me to blogstalk research baby info

Did you get your {embrace} on today?