Father's Day

We are gearing up to head East soon and I could not be more excited! Life lately has been feeling really crazy, especially since Bendelle is more active than ever! I will be relieved to have other people around to hold and entertain her while we're on vacation ;)

It was a busy weekend but yesterday we were able to celebrate Aaron's first Father's Day before he had to go to work. It was so fun and special, especially since Saturday evening we made an impromptu trip to Temecula and had an early celebration over wine and music. Bendelle was surprisingly so good while we were wine tasting, especially since we had been running around all day. Sunday began with pancakes and bacon and a few small gifts--fun and relaxing, just like it should be. If you haven't checked out Chatbooks, you totally should! I made Aaron a small photobook for Father's Day based on all my instagram photos of Bendelle. It was my first time ordering from them, but I'm so glad I did--the book was simple yet beautiful and I didn't have to worry about the pictures coming out blurry or pixelated. 

Bendelle has been doing this new thing lately where she rolls her tongue (kind of like how my first Spanish teacher had our class practice rolling our R's a million years ago in middle school). It is the funniest thing but so impressive because she does it so well! Currently trying to capture it on video because who knows how long this stage will last?

Also we have been letting her sip water, and it is seriously the cutest thing when she tries to drink from our glass. She is growing up sooooo fast!

 

8 months

Yesterday Bendelle turned 8 months old and I couldn't help but be amazed at how much she has changed and developed since she was brought into this world. I know it's a no-brainer (babies grow up!), and everybody reminds you of how quickly the first year flies by, but maybe you other mamas will remember this feeling. It's like everyday there is something new and if you look closely you see another layer of her personality unfold and you get a glimpse of who this new and interesting little being is becoming. I can barely remember how fragile and helpless she was the first couple months of her life. The once tiny and delicate little creature has transformed into an active and sturdy fireball right before my eyes, and time can't seem to slow down.

Since I am basically with her every moment of my day, I can't help but notice each new quirk and phase that she goes through. She is all about the "mamamamama" and "dadadada" and every once in a while it's "nana" so I can't help but call her "Nana" now and then. She is crawling like crazy and getting into anything and everything. This last month she was kind of flirting around with the whole crawling thing because her preferred method of transportation was rolling, as she could literally roll to wherever she wanted to go, but finally she came around to the idea of crawling. Her little red knees are a constant reminder that she is growing up so, sooo fast (and that I need to put up the baby gates soon!). 

Every once in a while I catch her doing a fake cry (or at least I choose not to believe that the tearless cry is real). She gets a cheeseball look on her face and it sounds more like a whine and then I call her out on it and blow a raspberry somewhere on her skin and she forgets what she was fake crying about.

And speaking of, she is all about blowing raspberries. She thinks it's hilarious, especially when Aaron does it, and just recently started to blow raspberries herself! At first she would put her mouth on my arm or leg and make a humming noise with her mouth but then she figured out the whole blowing thing and now is a legit raspberry blower. It's the best.

And I think she will be taking after dad in the driving department. When she first started to walk around in her car walker she was looking a lot like I do when I push her around in a stroller--running into everything and constantly get stuck on random crap. But I am seriously amazed at how well she navigates around the living room and through the dinning room and kitchen. When she gets stuck on the rug or something she will scoot herself back and either go around or try to charge again in the same direction but with more force. And she only crashes into things on purpose--like when she chases the dogs while they are trying to eat or charges into my legs while I'm trying to cook.

When we hold her up from her arms or underarms, she is definitely putting one foot in front of the other and trying to walk. But for now we are still enjoying our baby-gate-free home.

We are so excited that in less than a month we will be visiting Aaron's family on the east coast and that Bendelle will be meeting people she has never met before! It has been years since Aaron has been back home so we are super crazy excited to do some of our favorite things in NJ, but with a baby this time around! Shortly after we get back, Bendelle and I will be visiting my family for a little reunion, celebrating my grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary in Colorado. Even though Aaron won't be joining us on the trip, I am excited to spend quality time with family members I don't get to see often (and who will finally be able to meet Bendelle). Plus I will be flying with my sister, so I will have an extra set of hands to help with traveling with Bendelle if needed!

Right now we are just so excited for everything summer has to offer and embracing everyday and every stage of development with Bendelle! :)

 PS- She sings :) In the morning I listen to her talk through the monitor as she wakes up in her room. She talks a lot. She'll go on and on and on. And every once in a while I hear her sing. She carries a little tune and her voice gets a little higher and my heart simply melts. My sweet, sweet girl.

Summer Baby

Memorial Day always feels like the unofficial first day of summer--and honestly, I don't think I've ever been so excited for warm weather! There is something about baby skin and sunshine that just makes me happy. I am loving dressing Bendelle in short sleeves and bloomers, loving being able to spend more time outdoors together, and also loving not having to turn on the heat and burn through our propane tank! Wohoo!

I cannot believe that Bendelle will be 8 months in less than two weeks. Time just seems to be flying by, but I am enjoying getting to experience all the holidays and seasons with a baby for the first time. And now that summer is (almost) here, it's all about the dresses, tank tops and shorts for Belles. I am constantly reminding myself to keep a bottle of baby sunblock in the diaper bag at all times! And I must say, I just love the way she smells when she's lathered in sunblock!

We went on a hike the other day which was kind of a shitshow because we brought the dogs and it was at least 85 degrees so they had to stop every 3 minutes and drink water. On top of that, the sunblock that I used was attracting bugs so Bendelle and I were being hunted by flies the whole time. All in all we only hiked for about 45 minutes but somehow we still had a good time. I think as long as we spend some time outside as a family everyone is happy.  :)

In about a month we will be heading to the East Coast to visit Aaron's family, and it will be the first time most of them will meet Bendelle! I am not looking forward to the plane ride, but for once I am thankful we have a layover so we'll be able to move around with her and hopefully she won't be as bored as she would have been on a nonstop flight. I am already thinking about what to bring and what we'll be able to leave behind--we've never flown with a baby but I know our luggage will now double with Bendelle!
  
I am definitely excited for summer BBQs and maybe a trip or two to Temecula for wine tasting this season. Bring on the sunshine :)

7 Months

Bendelle turned 7 months old on Mother's Day and all of a sudden I feel like she's a big girl. Is she really 7 months already?? Same kind of feeling I had this year after turning 26--am I really not in my early 20s anymore??

She is sitting up on her own (with occasional falls every now and then), has discovered a new body part--her tongue--and has found it amusing to stick it out and blow bubbles at all the right moments. 

One of my new favorite things that she does is her "feisty face," as I like to call it.

It's her funny/crazy/mad scientist/insane look that is accompanied by heavy breathing and it gets me every time.

She is a big eater (as she has always been) and is really loving her veggies, fruits and baby oatmeal. And I am really loving the fact that I have about 15 bibs that I once thought was more than I'd need. Oh boy was I wrong!

She still loves her baths and has started vigorously splashing around with her hands and feet. I have just started to let her sit up in the bath, and I swear she would sit there all day splashing in the water if she could.

She enjoys playing with toys more than ever and is always testing out what tastes good. She has a blast ripping off her shoes and chewing on them--especially if they are leather--and will snatch any kind of paper product she can and try to eat it before I notice.

I am loving being able to see more of her personality as she gets older. She is a very animated, opinionated, determined, and adorable little heartthrob that I can't get enough of. And I love her more and more each and every day.

Mother's Day Weekend

This year was my very first Mother's Day as a mom! I can't tell you how incredibly special I felt waking up that morning knowing I was part of the "mom's club," and baby girl must have known what was up because she even slept in!

Mother's Day weekend was spent in Seal Beach at my mom's house. It was snowing at our house when we left, and I was honestly anxious to escape to the beach because even the marine layer and 67 degree weather upon arrival felt like summer compared to our cool mountain weather as of late. And who doesn't want to see exposed baby skin? Rolls for days.

Our weekend consisted of shopping, frozen yogurt, eating at all our favorite spots on Main St., tons of beach walks, going out for drinks, and spending an evening at my favorite restaurant with our best friends while my mom babysat Bendelle-- Happy Mother's Day to me!

Mother's Day I was so happy because Aaron took the dogs on an early walk and let me sleep in while he made breakfast with Noelle for everyone. I also got so many sweet calls and texts from people wishing me happy mother's day, which made me feel so loved and special. After breakfast my mom, sister, Aaron and I (and Bendelle of course) decided to take all four of our dogs to dog beach! We left earlier than we usually go and got great parking and had a blast. It honestly fills my heart with joy when I see our pups gallivanting along the water, chasing each other and playing with other dogs, simply having the time of their lives.

And Belles was thoroughly entertained the whole time! 
Aaron was so sweet and got me a thoughtful card and beautiful gold necklace with Bendelle's birthstones for MD. It's such unique and beautiful piece, just like my precious girl ;)

We strolled down Main St. and relaxed most of the afternoon before going out for drinks in the evening. I am noticing as she gets older, her patience is dwindling away at the dinner table. We struggled a little bit with her which only made me even more thankful that my mom watched her the previous night when we went out!

The past week and a half I have been feeling under the weather--some days are worse than others (headaches and sore throats), but I am honestly so glad we spent the weekend at the beach. With my mamma, as a mom on Mother's Day, what better way could it have been spent?

A little bit of advice

Two things I am loving right now: spring weather & this age and stage with Bendelle. She is so animated and silly, I can barely handle it. I remember thinking how big of a milestone 6 months would be, and it has truly surpassed our expectations. She is so talkative and lively, always wanting to put her hands in something. But she is also being so good about taking her two daily naps, it just makes me so happy! We are still working on getting her to not wake up so many times during the night, and I think the answer is to just give her a big meal (cereal or veggies) on top of her milk righhhht before she goes to sleep.

She does this new thing where she sticks out her tongue and blows bubbles, which is hilarious, except for when she does it after I feed her food she doesn't like #carrotseverywhere. And she has always loved her baths, but now that she has started splashing the water with her little hands and feet, she never wants to get out! (So much like her mama ;) )

On Monday Aaron and I watched our step-niece for a few hours and it was fun to get a glimpse at what it would be like to have two kids. I know they will be closer in age (my niece is almost 6) so that most likely means fighting all the time, but I'm still excited to have another kid  . . . one day!

Speaking of, a handful of people we know right now are pregnant! I get so excited when other people are expecting, especially now since I have Bendelle, I feel like more little ladies get to be part of the same exciting, crazy world I've been living in for the past (almost) 7 months. And if I can give you ladies any advice before baby comes, here it is: 

Enjoy being pregnant. Especially with your first, because there is something very peaceful when you are sitting in your quiet house one night after a long day and you feel her kick, and it is just you and her, your first baby. I have a feeling that by the time you have your second, pregnancy will be twice as exhausting because you'll be chasing around and being a parent to baby #1. So enjoy this pregnancy, the calm before the storm. Treat yourself to little things that may just seem like little things now, but may take a bit more work to enjoy once baby makes her debut--date nights, a pregnancy massage, a mani/pedi, SLEEPING IN, a long walk on the beach, or a marathon of your favorite TV show--whatever you can think of! I'm not saying you will never be able to enjoy these things again, but trust me, it becomes a lot harder to have some good quality "me" time once baby comes. And I don't think any mama has ever regretted the time and money they spent on making the nursery the one of their dreams. Have fun with it! This is your little creative space, and trust me, you will spend a lot of time changing her diapers, playing with her, putting her down for naps, feeding her, and getting her dressed in this space, so make it one YOU will enjoy! And mamas! Learn to love your growing body and appreciate the miracle of being able to have this tiny seed grow to be as big as a watermelon right inside your tummy! I think most will agree--there is definitely something beautiful about a pregnant woman. There are a bagillion other things I would love to say, but nap times are only so long . . .   

;)

Half a year, my dear

I know I have been kind of (majorly) slacking in the blogging department, but keeping up with this little stinker has been a workout!

I can't believe our little Belle is 6 months old already! I remember this time last year being pregnant and not even being able to imagine what it would be like to have a baby. Now, I can barely remember what life was like before her!

We have been having beautiful spring weather over here (until today, since it is suppose to rain all week), so we've been spending a ton of time outdoors. I love being outside together with the whole family, because the pups especially love little adventures ;)

Bennet got "stuck" in the water at the lake.

Six months is definitely my favorite age so far. Her personality has definitely blossomed and she is more fun (and more work!) now than ever. She is a little roly poly-no joke, she can make it across the room faster than you can wash your hands. And she is so very talkative-if only I knew what she was saying! She makes the funniest little noises, my favorite is when she sticks out her tongue and blows, making a little tooting sound (the best way I can describe it right now).

She has begun her journey into the food world, delving into different veggies and fruits. Her favorites so far have been green beans (my little health nut!) and pumpkin, which is also great for her. She hates zucchini and anything too sweet. Now that she has begun to taste all these different flavors, she also hates her rice cereal.

As soon as she turned 6 months she was magically tall enough to walk in the car walker. Up until then (literally a couple days before her half birthday), we were putting a pillow underneath her feet because she wasn't tall enough to stand in it by herself. Now she is moving all over the place (until she crashes into a wall or something).

She also got her first teeth when she turned six months! Her two front bottom teeth started to poke out and we were so excited to see them. It was right before Easter when it happened and all I could think about was how much she looked like a little bunny ;)

She loves being in new places and being around people. She enjoys playing with her stuffed animals and toys which is so entertaining for us, and only makes me want to buy her every cute little toy on the planet. When I read to her she tries to grab the drawings on the pages, she is just so interactive with everything. But this babe gets bored reaaaally quickly, so I am constantly running around to different little stations around the house trying to keep her stimulated. Thank God for nap time, even when they are only 25 minutes.  :)