Cupcake Sunday and Silly Saturday

Kaia wanted her very own blog so we started Kaia's cupcakes at http://kaiascupcakes.blogspot.com/ if you want to check it out.  As you can probably guess, it is a cupcake blog and we have now completed our first cupcake recipe.  This site will only be updated once - twice a week as we choose and review our cupcakes for you.

Now, on to our silly Saturday.  Yesterday, I decided that it was time, finally, to get to the post office and mail some deployed friends care packages.  This meant three different packages, a Mommy, and a sweet little baby.  Kaia did excellent at first.  Then, she decided that she wanted to be held, so fussed at Mommy.  Imagine a disgruntled woman, a 4 month old baby in hand, three bags of goodies for packages (not yet packaged), three boxes, three customs forms, and a roll of tape.  I know, hillarious, right?!  So I'm carrying her, trying to keep her from fussing, writing, and trying to scootch along the line with my copious amounts of stuff.  Everyone was looking at me funny and trying to find out if they could go around me.  Which, of course!, this is going to take me awhile people!  Then they start looking at me funny for a different reason and someone finally asks if I need help.  All cheery like I say, "No, thanks!  I think we're good, but thank you so much!"  At which point she looks at me funny again and I look at Kaia to coo at her and keep her happy.  To my utter horror, Kaia has a pen mustache!  Literally, a pen mustache people!  A crooked line above her lip and below her nose!  I did that to my baby!  I'm feeling like the worst mother at this point but am so happy that I at least didn't poke her in the eye!  Then the lady asked me if I wanted her to help by holding my baby!  Um, that is super sweet lady, but Hell No!  I don't know you!  Maybe you can help me scoot my packages along or tape up my box, but hold my baby?!  Oh no!

We finally made it out of the post office and off to the mall to pick up some more wintery stuff for baby.  We ended up getting Daddy a count down calendar (The Office)!  Then we went to the Baby Gap where I again ended up holding Kaia and pushing her stroller.  So many cute things!  My baby totally dresses better than me!  My favorite purchases?  A cute pair of white faux fur boots and a cute pair of mittens and hat.  The hat is a little bunny hat and the mittens match.  Yay for warm babies!  Now the trick is going to be getting her to keep her little boots on!  But yeah, yesterday's excursion definitely reminded me why we don't get out much! 

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Thank You

I know a lot of you lovely ladies do thank yous on Thursdays.  Makes sense.  But, today I am just feeling very thankful in general.  Here are some things I'm thankful for today.

1.  I talked to my handsome hubby this morning and the connection was only crappy for a little while at the end.
2.  Last night I had dinner with two fabulous ladies.  (Thanks Karen and my darling little girl!)
3.  The blogger community!  Ladies, thank you for your wonderful, amazing, inspiration.  Thank you for your comments.  Your honesty.  And your beautiful, creative, and humourous posts.
4.  That the dogs have not escaped, peed/pooped in the house this week.
5.  That my Mom is coming in to town this week.
6.  That my husband's great.  Even when he's not here he still makes me feel beautiful and special.
7.  That Kaia went to bed at 1130 last night!!!  I know, A-MAZ-ing!  This never happens.
8.  For my fantastic friends who call me or read my blog and comment!  (Love you guys!)
9.  That my foot is slowly healing and I have been pretty good at working out this week even if it's just been walks and my cardio/strength exercise DVD.
10.That it's Saturday!

ACE

Slowly, I'm starting to study to get my personal trainer's certificate.  I think it's something I'd really enjoy.  Even more now that I'm a new Mom.  I feel, and have read from others of you who are struggling, that fitness is even harder as a new mother (or mother at all!).  I would really love to focus on women's health and fitness.  So many of us lack confidence in our body image.  We always put everyone else first.  Sometimes we just get intimidated and don't know where to start.  But fitness is so important!  Not to make us skinny.  Just healthier and happier.  Did you know exercise has been proven to lower symptoms of depression?

I would LOVE to get programs together that work for Moms (working moms, SAHMs, WAHMs. all moms).  I want to develop a community eventually.  Because that's what it's all about!  You are more likely to stick to a program when you have support!  And, besides, I'm all about paying it forward!

Some ideas I have are:

1.  Community, community, community (a place where women can feel comfortable asking whatever they need/want and where they can link up with a friend - or friends! - like them, to do joint workouts together)

2.  Develop more programs that mothers and daughters (or sons!) can do together.  Maybe even get Dads involved!

3.  Offer them at times that are reasonable for everyone, not just early mornings!

4.  Put together races and tris that can be done with baby!  (Baby in stroller, bike trailer, - swim probably going to have to be Mommy solo)

5.  More prenatal options that fit the individual woman's current fitness level and health

6.  Make it more affordable.  Design programs that fit/work for every budget.

What ideas do you have?  What has kept you, as a woman, as a mother, from working out now or in the past?  I'd love your honest feedback!

4 Months!

Hi Everyone! 

Kaia, back again!  It's my big 4 month birthday today so I thought I'd update you on my progress.  Mommy weighed me in right about 13 pounds this morning and I'm hanging out around 26 inches.  I'm starting to do a bit better sitting up by myself now and Mommy thinks I'll be sitting tall and strong by next month for sure.  Every day Mommy helps me stand for a little while and feel the carpet between my toes . . . I totally LOVE it!  I love and hate pretty much all the same things I did at 3 months but with a few changes to the list.

Here are a few more things I love:

1.  I love being held, this part isn't new, but, sometimes I even like being held when we're sitting down too!
2.  I love the sound that plastic makes.
3.  I love to laugh when I find things that are silly - like puppies.
4.  I love, love, love my Teddy.
5.  I love to kick my rolly polly snail and make him sing.
6.  I love walks - a lot.
7.  I love talking to Daddy on the phone.
8.  I really love my co-sleeper!
9.  I also love my Your Baby Can Read video.
10.I love listening to the book Daddy recorded for me.
11.I love sucking in my lower lip.
12.I love waking up in the mornings.
13.I love my fingers.

I don't love baths but I don't hate them either so they go here in the middle.

I still detest sleeping and tummy time but now the thing I detest the very most in the whole wide world is my Daddy being gone :(  Also, I hate having my fingernails clipped.

I bet you didn't even realize time was flying so fast did you?  I'm such a big girl.  I help Mommy a lot and take good care of her.  We're doing a cupcake project together now and Mommy promised if she gets good enough at it she'll make me some really special ones for my birthday.  She also said if she doesn't do too well at it she'll just buy me some really special ones, so, either way I'm pretty happy!  I go in for another round of shots next week.  I know it's good for me but oh how I hate shots!  Don't you?!

Talk soon!
Amour Kaia

Dear Daddy

Dear Daddy,

Today is Wednesday.  I turn four months old tomorrow.  And, Sunday is Halloween.  It's hard to have all these days without you, from the little everyday ones to the big important ones.  I miss you a lot.  I am sorry that I've been missing your phone calls most mornings since I'm still sound asleep like a bug in a rug.  It isn't always that way.  Here are some of the things I miss about not having you here - of course, the list is nowhere near complete, but it is the top 10 reasons anyway (in no particular order).

1.  I miss going to bed at night and having a warm snuggly Daddy next to me to drape his arm protectively nearby just to make sure I'm OK.  And,  I miss waking up and seeing you snuggled next to me on the weekends.

2.  I miss having prickly beard kisses.

3.  I miss not having to watch Mommy shower or take baths because we have each other to play with.

4.  I miss the silly noises you used to make for me - Mommy tries to recreate them sometimes but it's just not the same.

5.  I miss you coming through the door after work and giving me great big smooches!

6.  I miss you taking me shopping and buying me things, even though I don't ask for anything.

7.  I miss hearing your voice and seeing you at the same time.  Especially when you're telling me how much you love me and how pretty I am!

8.  I miss watching/helping you play computer games.

9.  I miss our occasional naps together.

10.  I miss your smells.

Really, Daddy, I just miss everything about you.  I cannot wait until you come home.  I promise to have lots of extra big slobbery kisses and hugs saved up for the moment you step off that plane!  I know Mommy's going to want to give you hugs and kisses first but I'll be fighting her for the first one the whole time, you just wait and see!

Amour,
Your Little Princess,
Kaia

Amour

What do you do when you love someone and you think they are making a mistake?  A big one.  One that can forever influence his/her life.  The biggest thing you can do.  The first thing, is to tell them.  To be honest, to provide advice.  To let it come from the heart, even though it may be hard.

But what do you do when they don't listen?  Or when even if they listen, they don't fully hear, they don't take your advice? 

I guess the only things you can do are to wait.  To pray.  To hope that it all turns out for the best in the end.  I guess you have to hope that you're wrong.

On a more positive and less vague topic.  I am back to exercising again.  Right now I'm trying to take it slow-ish.  Yesterday and today we walked.  Tomorrow we will walk but I think I might try my intense cardio/strength DVD again too.

Sweet dreams my friends.  I hope you had a great Tuesday!

Seeking Job

I'm seeking a new job.  Let me rephrase that, Kaia and I are seeking a new job.  I am loving being a SAHM for the time being but Kaia and I love being out and about and we love . . .things, lots of things.  So, we decided we should look for a job.

Know of any permanent, full-time or part-time, mother-daughter work out there?  We're open to suggestions.  We are good at walks - preferably without overly eager dogs, laughter, eating, playing baby games, watching movies, sometimes other forms of exercise, and, debatedly, blogging.  We also are fans of learning.  In fact, we'd love to learn something creative/crafty like blog design or cupcake making.  Oh how I'd love to have my own cupcake shop with cute, delicious cupcakes.  Anyone need some apprentices?

Our ultimate dream job would be to write for "Runner's World" or any other fab running magazine that would pay us a little cash to travel around the country (or world) to participate in and write reviews on different races.  How does one get such a job?

No, seriously, how do you?