the belén update

I feel like Bel is just blossoming in the last couple weeks - She is so fun! Here are a few videos I just can't resist and a little update of what she's up to these days...

-last week she worked hard to push through 3 more teeth - that's 7 total now! (4 on top, 3 on bottom)

-still takes 2 naps a day but really fights the afternoon nap

-jabbers a lot and says dada and mama really well (this still makes me smile every time)

-still loves her binkie and blankie

-loves being outside and will throw tantrums when I bring her in or won't take her out (which brings me to the next one...)

-throws occasional tantrums

-the army crawl is gone (so sad), conventional crawl is here and walking is great as long as both hands are securely held (sometimes we can distract her into a one hand walk)

-she likes graham crackers, sesame street and knocking down block towers

-has started drinking cow's milk (yay! I knew she'd come around eventually)

she's learning to feed herself (and yes, that dad of the year just ate Gerber style turkey vegetable dinner off his hand)

bel loves (i can't emphasize this enough) loves watching birds and other neighborhood wildlife.

This video is just a little sample of how she beckons the local creatures to come to her (very ineffective I might add - she's a loud predator clapping and hollering as she crawls toward her prey). Ryan and I often let her lead us where she wants to go and in the last 10 days we have spent hours following/chasing birds and cats around the neighborhood - it makes her so happy.

to sum up... our child rocks

(oh so funny - did you catch the pun there?)

my most recent fit of laughter

So Bel is pretty mobile these days crawling around, climbing up on things, tipping over garbage cans, splashing in the toilet, etc, etc.

Well today I had a good belly laugh at her explorations. I was doing my own thing and she crawled into the kitchen where we have an armoir to store our food. Apparently I had left the door open and she found the mini Reese's Peanut Butter Cups on the bottom shelf. I always have my ear out for her and silence is often a sign of mischief - there was silence for a while broken by the crinkling of a foil wrapper (I know this sound all too well from my own snacking) - so I come around the corner and as soon as Bel sees me she knows her time is limited and she just starts shaking in her hurry to open this scrumptious piece of captured candy. Oh man - it was hilarious.

(I realize that this is one of those "had to be there" experiences, but I laughed so hard I just had to share it with all the other chocolate lovers out there)

Being the paranoid first time mom that I am - I couldn't let her eat a chunk of peanut butter, but I did reward her efforts with a piece of plain chocolate.

Nap Time

Hey all, this is Ryan checking in.  I thought I would share what I found the other day when I got home from class.  I couldn't find my girls anywhere until I looked in the crib.  Cutest girls ever.  

Also, don't forget to check out my wife's spring break post below-

Spring Break Activities

2 weeks ago Melanie and David got married (yay!) which gave us a great reason to spend our Spring Break in Utah. The wedding was a huge highlight - I always love a good true love story and Melanie and David have a great one.

I got to have pancakes with my dear friends - look at this fun bunch of girls. And I got to meet 3 new babies! (only 2 shown here)

Ryan got to take his annual surf trip with his friends but being the guy that he is - he only took one photo - and guess what, it didn't have anything to do with his trip. Eat your hearts out Twilight fans...
Of course I couldn't resist taking advantage of the spring skiing. One day with my sweet little brother and the other with my girls. This was really exciting for me to ski a run with my mom - her first run in 2 years, and with Bel - her first run ever (and hopefully the first of many).

Bel's First Run!

For all my siblings and everyone else in the Karen Wood fan club - It looks like she never left the mountain!

Bel loves Grandma Cindy's little dogs - she couldn't get enough of them!


One of my favorite things about our little gal is that she loves her family. Thanks to all her grandmas, grandpas, aunties, uncles and cousins for being so fun and easy to love. Bel got to have a little cuddle and walking time with her Great, Great Aunt Imogene - this lady is so cool she's hard not to love.

Picnicing at the "shire"

and after digging our way to the top.
Last of all - Bel loving her banana on the flight home - mmmm.

Ryan is officially a dad!

Why has this taken 1 year and 20 days after the birth of our beloved child? Let me explain...

Ryan and I had a pivotal conversation today that proves he is devoloping true fatherly characteristics. It went a little something like this -

Ryan : (tease - stale joke - tease)

Me : honey you've used that joke 3 times today - it's not funny any more

Ryan : (scoff) honey, don't you know? my jokes never die, they go on forever

-and that is the moment Ryan became a dad-

This is a special shout out to my own dad, who's quiver of once clever retorts, favorite stories and signature jokes I can often predict and are expected when the formulaic situations arise. Don't worry dad I can still appreciate most of them and it's just one of the charms that make me love you. (Ned is off the hook this time since I don't know his old classics yet - Miller girls feel free to comment on this.)

On the subject of the charms that make me love my dad - he chronicles his life and adventures with self portraits. Here's one such gem for everyone's viewing pleasure.

(note: this is one of his most photogenic ones - I wish I had the Kinektock black eye photo.) Sure love you pops!

And don't worry honey, I'll love you even if you use your jokes after they are long dead.

Blogging Binge

I just happen to have a little time on my hands at the moment and I thought I'd make good on the last few tag/prompts and other things I've wanted to share recently.

First off - I made this pillow for my sweet sister for Christmas (this is so embarassing - she actually had to teach me how to make it first - ha, big surprise! and then i didn't finish the set and give them to her till last week). Nevertheless it's probably the thing I'm most proud of making (besides my daughter - bel is prettier and more complex, so I'm more proud of that creation) but these pillows look fantastic on Abby's leather couch, mmm.

Next, I got a random photo tag - 4th photo in your 4th folder and explain...

Bel decide she was a fan of the binkie at 6 months - we had to do a special photo shoot to commemorate the ocassion. (also, every time we go outside she picks up one of the leaves from our lawn - she loves to play with them). When she wears this hoodie - I call her my Jedi Princess.

Next... 25 things about me - I love reading and writing these, but it takes me a while to come up with 25 interesting things...

1-I am completely myself around my husband and vice versa - it's the most incredible thing in the world to me, and it feels so good to be together. You know you have a true friend when you can be together without saying a thing and it's good to just be together - my mom aptly calls it companionable silence - to me this is a sign of a quality relationship.

2- I ate yogurt off Bel's face yesterday (it may or may not have already been in her mouth) - that's right folks, it has happened... I'm a shameless mother.

3- I feel better about life when my bed is crisply made and my kitchen sink is empty.

4- There is a stop sign by my house that I am more likely to stop at while on foot (as opposed to in the car)

5- I have random spurts of dancing ability when (I flatter myself) the rhythm and moves just rise up inside me and I can dance like a natural born groover. (I don't know where this comes from or where it goes and I'm pretty sure only Ryan has seen it, and not many times - it's actually so unnatural to me that I'm kind of embarrassed about it - but there it is, now it's out)

6- My personal cures for being sick, sad, distressed or upset in anyway - eating breakfast (regardless of time of day), brushing my teeth, taking a long shower and going outside and breathing fresh air

7- One of my favorite memories of my mom... She came skipping into my room one morning (i was still in bed) and before i knew it she was laying on the bed, her hands and feet in the air (doing the action cheerleaders call stars - i hope this paints the picture) showing off what I am fairly certain is the only professional manicure and pedicure she has had in her life. "Don't my feet look so pretty Christiney?"

8- If I could take up one hobby tomorrow it would be rowing (or sculling if you want to get technical on me) Doesn't this look like the perfect way to start your day???

9- I love to watch movies made for tween girls (even though I haven't been one for a while now)

10- I feel the need to live in Australia for a while, but I haven't figured out how to make it work...yet.

11- I really enjoy asymmetry.

12- I am so excited to plant these bushes in a couple weeks!

13- I prefer the raw version of baked goods - cookie dough, brownie, cake, muffin batter, etc

14- I am currently addicted to podcasts. Based on your needs my favorites are : quest to be a lifelong learner - Grammar Girl, Nutrition Diva, Stuff You Should Know, Stuff You Missed in History Class or if any of you need a good story - This American Life or some charming radio personalities to keep you company - Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me

15- One of my favorite words is bibliography

16- I wish I were a fantastic singer

17- I am incredibly vain about my daughter - I'm convinced she is the prettiest baby I've ever seen.

18- I love dandelions.

19- I miss my '89 Acura Legend.

20- The other day, I cried while reading Hailstones & Hallibut Bones (it's a book of poems about the colors - I highly recommend it, not sure why I cried though- nope I'm not pregnant)

21- I honestly enjoy grocery shopping.

22- My legs once got sandwiched between 2 car bumpers, when a truck slid into my friends car and nothing happened - it was crazy.

23- I had a crush on Bobby Flay (food network chef) when I was 14

24- I wish I had a tantalizing vocabulary

25- I cried after I took my last final - I wish I could take one college class a semester for the rest of my life.

The Birthday Festivities

Bel was lucky enough to have 2 parties for her first birthday. The first with the Miller's via webcam (thanks for being so tech savvy!) and the second with the Wood grandparents at the Olson's (thanks for letting us get frosting all over your house too!). White cake served the first time and Chocolate cake the second. I am convinced that the introduction of birthday cake into her diet has made Bel a pickier eater - because let's be honest would you rather eat green beans or cake??

I love this video, she is totally sketched out by the cake until she tastes it and then she starts eating faster than I have ever seen her eat.

I can't get enough of these beautiful cake face photos.

Cake - take 2 - chocolate catepillar with creepy huge eyes - but o so delicious

This is the first time in my life I've been prepared for a birthday or any holiday for that matter (case in point - Abby got her Christmas present this week too, yep it's almost March) and I've decided it's really fun to actually have presents and cake and a party - new life resolution for meI like playing with this toy as much or possibly more than Bel does - I've been looking forward to her birthday for a while now, so we could bust this baby out of the box. All in all I'd say the one year mark was a smashing success.