Katie and Paul's Family

Big News!

2012-02-14T14:57:00.000-07:00

We have big news to share. So, we recently bought a new house. A bigger place for us to grow our family. And guess what? Our family is growing! I'm 14 weeks pregnant! Due August 10th. Here are the first pictures (of many) of the baby. We are very excited about the new addition. And Lia is thrilled (for now anyway) to have a baby on the way. I think she'll make a great big sister. It will be another month before we find out if we're having a boy or girl. Any guesses? We'll share the news once we find out.

Here's a few pics.

2012-01-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

Here are a few pics of Lia and Paul around the new house. Lia's quite a ham! She loves her new house and loves 'helping' Dad out in the garage. We've been good. Ready for spring and some warmer weather. I hope you are all good too!

Merry Christmas!

2012-01-09T08:57:00.000-07:00

Decorating the tree.

Christmas morning.

We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Wishing you the best for 2012!

And in with the new!

2012-01-06T20:45:00.000-07:00

Our new home! In a quiet neighborhood.

Kitchen, breakfast nook, family room.

Formal dining room/play area!

Front door, living room.

Family room.

Back yard.

Check out the mountain views across the street!

Monkey loves his yard!

This month has been a whirlwind with buying, selling, moving, holidays, family coming to visit, that I haven't had time to post. We're in our new house and quickly making it our home. Lia loves all the room to run around and Monkey loves his yard. We still have boxes everywhere but we are settling in nicely. Paul's parents were here over the holidays and it was great to welcome them in our new home right away. We really enjoyed our visit. Thanks for all the help around the house. Enjoy the pics.

Out with the old, in with the new.

2011-12-15T15:54:00.000-07:00

It's official. We are out of the old house and into the new one. It has been a busy, crazy and exciting week. We have a lot of work to do and our new house is a mess! But we are excited and ready for this new adventure. Lia has been running around having lots of fun in her new house. And Monkey loves his backyard and all the sticks that came with it! We are so happy to celebrate Christmas in our new house. I can't wait to get our tree. And Paul's parents are coming tomorrow to help make our new house feel like a home. Here are some pictures of us moving out. I will post 'new house' pictures soon.

A Big Move

2011-12-04T20:44:00.000-07:00

We are doing it! We sold our condo and we're buying a house! After 10 months being on the market, our condo sold! We close in 1 week. It's a big, exciting and scary venture. We didn't plan on moving in the winter but that is just how things are working out. The extra time off of work around the holidays will really help. And we got some great black friday deals on things for the new house!
This upcoming change is bittersweet. This was our first home. This was the house we brought our baby girl home to from the hospital. This is the only home our dog has ever known. We love the community and how close we are to work and to the mountains. But things are too small around here. We want room to house our family and friends when they come and visit. We want a yard. Paul wants a 2 car garage and a workshop. We are excited to get settled in to our new place. We'll be there just in time for Christmas. I guess we'll have to get used to shoveling the snow ourselves!! Lia has been great during these changing times. She's been helping to pack her things and she's having fun playing with all the boxes. We'll send pics of the new place as soon as we move in!

Best Buds!

2011-12-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

Monkey has been feeling a bit anxious since we've been packing up the house. Lia has been very helpful with making him feel safe and loved. And he's actually been putting up with alot of attention from her which is pretty unusual. Either way, it makes for some cute pictures!

Something to Ponder

2011-11-25T07:15:00.000-07:00

I want to share this story with you. It just makes you think of what is important in life, and it's funny! I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family.

Mayonnaise Jar & Two Beers...
When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 Beers.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him.
When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full.
They agreed that it was.
The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly.
The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.
He then asked the students again if the jar was full.
They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.
Of course, the sand filled up everything else..
He asked once more if the jar was full.
The students responded with a unanimous 'yes.'
The professor then produced two Beers from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand.
The students laughed..

'Now,' said the professor as the laughter subsided, 'I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.

The golf balls are the important things---your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full.
The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car..
The sand is everything else---the small stuff.

'If you put the sand into the jar first,' he continued, 'there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls.
The same goes for life.
If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.

Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.
Spend time with your children.
Spend time with your parents.
Visit with grandparents.
Take your spouse out to dinner.
Play another 18.
There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.
Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter.
Set your priorities.
The rest is just sand.

One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the Beer represented.
The professor smiled and said, 'I'm glad you asked.'
The Beer just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of Beers with a friend.

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-05T14:34:00.000-06:00

A Visit

2011-10-31T20:28:00.000-06:00

Shopping with the girls in Estes Park. It was a beautiful Fall day in the mountains.

Checking out pictures with Uncle Bill. That girl loves cameras.

Grabbing a bite to eat in Boulder. Vegan burgers and hotdogs to satisfy everyone's cravings!

A visit from family is always good for the soul. We really enjoyed our time with you, Uncle Bill, Aunt Laural and Sara. I'm so glad you guys were able to come to Colorado and visit us. I hope you enjoyed your time in the mountains and in Boulder. We all loved hanging out with you! Hopefully it won't be long before we can do it again!

Welcome to the world!

2011-10-27T13:38:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to our good friends Chris and Monica. The new addition to your family is perfect and beautiful. Welcome to the world Clara Evelyn Black (or Baby Cwara as Lia says it). We are excited to be a part of you life and watch you grow and discover all the blessings in this world.

Fall

2011-10-27T13:32:00.000-06:00

We just had a huge snow storm which was magical and beautiful. But I figured I should post our fall activity pics before I start sharing our winter wonderland ones. There are so many fun and wonderful things to do in the Fall. Pumpkin patches (we even have some with goats!), apples, hay mazes, etc... Lia and her friend Sage had lots of fun together enjoying some fun fall activities.

Goats are pretty curious, and friendly, and funny, and hungry all the time! Mmm just like toddlers!

Mmm. The apples were sweet and the colorful mums were so beautiful. The maze was lots of fun.

A big step!

2011-10-12T20:21:00.000-06:00

We took a big step this weekend. Yup, our little girl got her very own big girl bed. She loves it! She was very interested in 'helping' Dad put it together. She decided which blanket and stuffed animals went on it. She doesn't really get that your head is supposed to go one way and your feet the other... but she's been sleeping very well in it. I can't believe it! I can't believe there isn't a crib in my baby's room anymore. I can't believe my child can just get out of bed on her own (scary)!! I can't believe my girl is growing up so fast. Lia, you are such a big girl now!

This piece goes here, Dad.

Pure Joy!

2011-10-08T13:31:00.000-06:00

Oh, the pure joy of friendship, fun, summer days, the outdoors, family... being in the driver's seat of the biggest, coolest, shiniest red fire truck ever! Does it get better than this? Watch out world, we are large and in charge and ready for action! We are big kids!

A Chef in the Making!

2011-09-20T20:58:00.000-06:00

Here we are making bread. It's an all day process, mostly spent waiting for the dough to rise. But we enjoyed an entire (mini) loaf with dinner. There is something very gratifying sharing this experience with Lia and then enjoying the fruits of our labor together. I think we'll both agree that bread is one of our favorite foods!

Row, row, row your boat, speed version!

2011-09-17T13:11:00.000-06:00

Vacation

2011-09-10T14:14:00.000-06:00

Fun with Family!

Here are a few pics from our recent vacation. Lia and I went to Erie, PA to spend a week with our family on the beach. We had such a wonderful time. The weather was beautiful and we had the perfect balance of relaxation and fun. It was really great spending time with family we don't see often enough and it was great for everyone to see Lia in action. I didn't have any pictures of my mom to include here but we love you mom! Thanks for letting us take over your house! Lia loves having her toenails painted pink! And it was fun to see my Aunt and Grandparents. Thanks to everyone for a wonderful trip. We love you and miss you already! Who is going to come and visit us next?

Ahh, The Beach

2011-09-08T13:53:00.000-06:00

I grew up by Lake Erie and now that I live away from it, I seem to enjoy it more and more when I visit. Lia and I had a beautiful week long vacation on the beach. We enjoyed the sun, sand, and the simple pleasure of throwing rocks in the water. It was a great way to end the summer.

The water was perfect. Clear and calm. The sun was warm. A beautiful day for a swim.

The race car was fast!

Sand was a new and fun discovery!

Ah, the water is so peaceful and relaxing!

Some Days

2011-08-22T12:40:00.001-06:00

Some days you got it together. You have enough time for chores and fun. Things are easy, the house stays clean. Other days you're tired, busy and kinda stressed out when your child spills her cereal all over the floor. And when you ask her to help clean up, she proceeds to pick up the cereal pieces with her mouth. Yup, here she is eating her food off the floor! But this makes you laugh! Ah, children teach us important lessons all the time. Don't take life too seriously. Take time to be silly and laugh.

Actually, there was a time when I would have been mortified to have my child eating anything that touched the floor. Now, I've mellowed a bit. I know it won't kill her. As for the social ramifications of her actions, well I can just blame it on the dog.

My first quilt!

2011-08-18T12:30:00.004-06:00

My friend Monica is having a baby in October. I'm planning a baby shower for her and I made her baby girl a quilt. It's my first quilt! It was fun but took a long time. I made many mistakes. If you know my family, you know there are many quilters in it. My mother and aunt are major quilting Divas! It's a big deal that my mom was proud of my little quilt. I wonder what I should make next. Moni, I hope you and your baby love your new doggie quilt!

A Visit

2011-07-26T14:04:00.005-06:00

Lia's Grammie and Grandpa came for a quick visit last week. My Dad spent his 60th birthday with us. We had so much fun in 2 jam-packed days. A baseball game, swimming, cooking out and going out to eat and of course playing! Lia really bonded with her Grandparents and I know I had a wonderful time too. Happy Birthday, Dad! Thanks for coming to visit us. We love you.

First Haircut!

2011-07-14T20:45:00.004-06:00

Lia finally got her first haircut (after 2 years)!! So naturally, I had to document this big event. Here are before and after pics of our little cutie.

Happy Birthday, Lia

2011-07-07T19:58:00.004-06:00

Lia, we can't believe you're 2 already. It seems like the time has flown by and it was just yesterday you came into this world. It has been an amazing journey so far and we're enjoying watching you blossom into a smart, funny, caring, daring, sweet, irresistible and wonderful little girl.
You have learned many things this past year. You run and climb with lightening speed. You are doing very well with numbers and letters. You can now count to 8 on your own and just yesterday I heard you repeating letters to yourself. I love that you love books! We read everyday. You have several favorite books that you talk about during the day. I hope you will always have a love of reading and learning. We know you'll grow up to be one smart cookie!
You are truly a happy little girl. You laugh all the time, make little jokes, tickle and love to make others smile and laugh. You say 'Weeeeee' when we're driving in the car. You laugh when Monkey licks your toes, you run away and always come back for more. Your giggles are a sweet sound. You are a little busy body. You are always on the move, playing and 'working'. You seem to be master of your own universe, you always seem to have a plan! You love to organize things and are actually very good at cleaning up your toys. Right now you love putting things in and taking things out of your purses and pockets (and Daddy's pockets)! You put your sunglasses on and say 'cool lady'!! That is so cute. We sing a song about ladies and cowgirls riding horses and you love to be the cowgirl!
You listen to Mommy and Daddy well. You hold our hand when crossing the street. You wash your hands and help get dressed. You clean up your toys and books. You love to help Mommy and Daddy clean things around the house and cook in the kitchen. You also love to help/ play in the garden. You are very good at watering the plants and picking veggies to eat.
Your appetite is still great and you enjoy a variety of foods. Right now you love all kinds of fruits, fish, breads, ice cream, anything you can dip, cheese, pork, cereal, peas (frozen and cold, not cooked!), peanut butter. The list goes on and on.
You have all your teeth except three molars and I can feel one close to the surface. You HATE brushing your teeth and dislike it even more when I brush them for you. But, You have a great smile and we're going to keep it that way! We're planning on taking you for your 1st haircut soon!! I'm going to save your hair in your baby book.
We've reached a big step lately. I've gone back to work at Hanna's Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Lia is going to daycare. She has adjusted really well. She eats well there, naps well and seems to really enjoy all the activities and playing with the other kids. She is using her potty more and more (at daycare and at home). We are so proud of you, Lia.
Lia, happy birthday little one! This next year is going to be so much fun!

More party pics

2011-07-05T19:03:00.005-06:00

Mmmm, brownies!

Party pics

2011-07-04T20:44:00.002-06:00

I'm 2!

The cake. A tower of butterscotch and chocolate cream cheese brownies.

Opening presents.

House for sale- comes with toddlers! Just kidding.

Getting a hug from her friend, Oliver.

Lia loves to party. She had so much fun playing with her friends. She dug right into her birthday cake (brownie). She dug right into her presents. She was so pretty in her purple birthday dress. She shouted 'happy birthday' all day long!

We had a small party with friends. Good weather, great food, it was perfect. Thanks everyone for coming and making Lia's 2nd birthday a wonderful and memorable event.

Happy Anniversary

2011-06-28T16:41:00.003-06:00

Paul and I recently celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary! We have a couple of dates lined up but on the actual day we stayed at home and had a very nice dinner as a family.
Sometimes it seems like we've known each other forever and other times it seems like we just got married yesterday. Paul, you are my best friend and I love you so much. I love what you bring to our family as a person, husband and Daddy. You are very supportive and loving and you make me laugh all the time. Here's to many more happy anniversaries.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T19:30:00.003-06:00

We went camping in the mountains over the weekend. It was so relaxing and peaceful being out in nature. Because of the wet spring and great snowfall in the mountains, the trees were really green and there were wildflowers everywhere. It was very beautiful. The weather was pretty cool (frigid at night) but that just meant no bugs (and our Babe sleeping in my sleeping bag with me)! Lia had so much fun playing in the dirt. Her and Monkey were very helpful on our walks to get sticks for the fire. Lia had her first marshmallow this weekend and Monkey learned pretty quickly that he should be under the table when Lia was eating. A fair amount of food fell off the picnic table!! We cooked some great food and just relaxed and enjoyed each other's company. It was so nice to get away for a couple of days. Happy Father's Day, Paul! We love you!

What we've been up to lately

2011-06-07T12:32:00.005-06:00

It took a while to get hair but now, look at those curls!

This picture just makes me laugh.

Opening some early birthday presents from Aunt Michelle.

All smiles!

There are all the girls (couldn't get anyone to look at the camera)!

We met my cousin Sara, hubby Carlos and girls Olivia, Isabel and Alessandra at the pool. The kids had so much fun in the water. It was great to see you guys.

Alessandra, you are growing up so fast. I can't believe you're almost one! What a great smile, Isabel! And you were having too much fun swimming to stay in the picture, Olivia!

Reading a book with my favorite Aunt!

Girl Time Rocks!

Aunt Michelle

2011-06-07T12:25:00.005-06:00

Dear Chelle,

We had so much fun with you. Thanks for coming out last minute to have a girl's weekend. Thank you for reading me books and playing alot with me and Monkey. Thanks for taking my Mommy to the movies. Thanks for the early birthday presents, I love them so much! Thanks for cooking me yummy food and for all the cuddles and hugs and kisses. I had so much fun with you, I didn't want you to leave. Can't wait to see you at the beach in a couple of months. It will be here before we know it. We love you!

Take me out to the ball game!

2011-05-31T07:54:00.004-06:00

Don't worry Dad, I'll drive. You got insurance, right?
Dancing to the music.

I've never seen Lia more serious about eating. I thought I would be sharing my hotdog with her but once she got a hold of it you couldn't pry that thing out of her hands!

Well, at least she ate an apple with the hotdog. Her dinner wasn't entirely unhealthy!!

She still had room for french fries!

We went to a baseball game over the holiday weekend. It was Lia's first game but it won't be the last. She had so much fun and was a hoot to watch. She ate the entire time!! She even bummed nachos and cracker jacks from the people sitting around us. And when it was time to clap and cheer she would look around frantically to find somewhere to put her food so she had both hands to clap. She danced to the music and just had a great time. Paul and I did too! We met my cousin Sara and her family there which was an awesome surprise. It was nice to catch up with you guys!

Then we had Paul's cousin Ethan and his girlfriend over for dinner on sunday. It was a nice, relaxing, FUN Memorial Day weekend. We hope you all had a good weekend and are enjoying the beginning of summer.

Happy Birthday Paul!

2011-05-24T22:11:00.002-06:00

Happy Birthday, Honey! We love you, Daddy!

Paul, You are an amazing man and an incredible father. You fill our home with love, laughter, security, good food, and fun times. We hope you had a good birthday. Here's to the best year yet.

Planting the Garden

2011-05-09T20:43:00.004-06:00

Part of my wonderful Mother's Day, Lia helped Paul and I plant our garden. She had such joy in playing in the dirt and 'helping'. She actually took her job of watering the plants very seriously and loved trying to drink from the hose. Of course, I was cringing the entire time because she was getting so dirty and trying to drink from a dirty hose! But I let her enjoy herself and in turn Paul and I received so much joy watching her experience such things. A little dirt won't kill anyone, right?! We hope all you Mama's out there had a wonderful Mother's Day too.

Happy Spring

2011-04-29T13:57:00.004-06:00

Happy Easter! Having an Easter Egg hunt at our house.

She fell asleep on the floor next to Monkey! They are good friends.

Having fun in the tumbling room at Gymboree.

Here are some recent pics of Lia. We are all doing great. Enjoying the warm weather and beginnings of spring. The grass is growing and the trees are blooming. The sun shines bright and the air is crisp and fresh. I love watching everything grow and come alive. There are some new beginnings (hopefully) for us in the near future. We have our house on the market and are looking for a new home. We are looking for a nice house with a yard. And there will be plenty of space for friends and family to stay with us when they (you) visit! Wish us luck!! Lia is growing and learning new things day by day. Her 2nd birthday is coming up in a few months. She is talking more, showing her fierce independence and amazing sense of humor. She loves to play at the playground and go to music class. She is a little organizer and planner! She likes to orchestrate play with Monkey and chooses which toy he plays with and how long he plays with each one. She helps other kids 'clean up' in music class by putting their instruments in the bins. She likes to choose which shoes we are going to wear outside, which items she'll put in her purse, etc... It's very cute and funny. She loves her trike and riding around the neighborhood with Daddy and Monkey. She loves to play in the dirt and 'help' me plant the garden. She loves to help in the kitchen with the stirring and the cleaning up (and the eating). She loves to eat avocados, fish, pork chops, red peppers, frozen peas (!), strawberries and kiwi, and all things bread. She loves juice and tea. She loves snuggling under the blankets on our bed. She hides books and other various toys there. We have to check for things under the sheets before we go to bed. Lia says hi to everyone when we are out and about. She is very polite and friendly! She makes us laugh all the time.

We hope you all had a nice Easter and are enjoying some warmer, spring weather.

Happy Earth Day

2011-04-22T21:29:00.002-06:00

We don't inherit the Earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. -David Brower

Be good to the Earth. Keep her Green and Beautiful! Happy Earth Day.

Look at that hair!

2011-04-16T14:18:00.004-06:00

Lia took a long time to get hair. Now that she has about 1 1/2 inches, it sticks up in every direction in a frizzy mess! Don't get me wrong, I love the curls...I just don't know what to do with the frizz. Do I really get de-tangler or leave-in condition for my daughter's 1 1/2 inches of hair? Which one of my readers is good with hair? Give me some advice!

Her hair definitely adds to her personality. Lia is super goofy, silly and smiley. She is such a happy little girl and makes us laugh all the time.

Here she is posing with her 2 brand new purses from Grandma. She loves them so much. My mom made me a new purse and farmer's market bag and she made Lia matching ones!! How adorable is that? Lia and I are very excited!

Here I come!

2011-04-11T15:12:00.004-06:00

Lia got an early Easter/Birthday present over the weekend! She needs a little help getting around but once her feet touch the pedals- World, watch out!

Growing up!

2011-04-06T06:51:00.005-06:00

Lia is 21 months old already. Only a couple months to go until she's 2! She is growing into such a cute and charming little girl. She is talking more and more these days and will repeat new words everyday. She'll now point to herself and say 'me' and has started saying small sentences! And she now says 'mo' for Monkey. Mommy and up and please and park, and NO are still the favorites. She is big on identifying body parts right now and will point (poke) at my eyes, ears, mouth, etc... She has a freckle on her arm that she just recently noticed and she'll show it to me daily! We are working on numbers and letters now. Lia will say two and three and point to the things we are counting. She doesn't seem to like the ABC song anymore and says no every time I try to sing it...Maybe I sang it too much.!! Lia has a true zest for life. She loves to try new things, go to new places. She is not shy, actually she's a little too fearless sometimes. She loves the playground and the pool. Coloring on the sidewalk with chalk is a new favorite activity. Since the weather is getting nicer and Spring is here, we've been spending more and more time outside. I feel like its a special gift being able to introduce the wonders of life to a small child. Lia and I look at the emerging buds on the trees, smell the flowers, feel the grass. It's very cool to see the joy that discovery brings. I have seen some signs of Terrible two's. Lia is just very willful and determined and sometimes stubborn. I think I'll be really happy when she's old enough to be reasoned with (what age is that anyway)! But mostly, Lia is really sweet and loving. She generously gives out kisses and hugs and likes to make us smile and laugh. We're really having a lot of fun.

Ahhh, The Beach

2011-03-16T15:31:00.007-06:00

We recently had a mini-Lentz family vacation in sunny Florida. We stayed down in the Keys at Islamorada. Paul, Myself, Lia, Aunt Michelle, Uncle Pete, Grammy Linda and Grandpa Bob went. The weather was beautiful and sunny. There were palm trees everywhere. The food was fantastic and the drinks were cold and fruity. The days were filled with the perfect mix of fun, adventure and relaxation. It was an amazing vacation. Thanks for the wonderful memories guys!

Here is the house we stayed at. Plenty of room to spread out and the wrap around porch was the best place to relax.

Family dinner out at the Green Turtle. This was Lia's first white table cloth dining experience. It was kind of messy. She did try some of the local flavors including turtle soup, snapper and key lime pie. That last one was a definite favorite!

Enjoying a break from shopping at Blue Heaven in Key West.

Lia loved the pool. Swimming was her favorite activity (besides playing with Aunt Michelle's camera and talking to Uncle Pete on the phone). Yeah, she's become a gadget junkie.

Enjoying the sights and sun with Grandpa.

The boys at the beach. This might be the first time I've ever seen my Dad in shorts!!

Mmmm, coconut juice.

At the southern-most point in the country. 80 miles to Cuba.

Nothing better than having breakfast in your pj's on the porch.

Little Hula Girl!

Got my glasses and hat (thanks to Grammy) and I'm ready for some relaxing at the pool!

The ocean was even more fascinating to Lia than the pool. The water was beautiful and Lia LOVED playing with the sand. She kept on picking up handfuls of it.

This place was just beautiful. I loved the sand and the sun and the great food and the wonderful time with family. Lia really warmed up to everyone and was very generous with hugs and kisses. We went swimming and shopping. We fed fish and pelicans, saw a dolphin and sea lion show, and ate lunch while roosters and cats ran around. The guys went to the Everglades and saw Alligators. These memories will stay with us forever! Where are we going next!

20 Months

2011-03-04T13:22:00.003-07:00

Lia is 20 months old already! So close to 2 it's hard to believe. She is growing and learning so much every week. She has a bunch of cute curly hair and most of her teeth. Lia is independent but still loves to cuddle and be close. She gives the best kisses. Mommy, up, bye bye and no are her favorite words right now but she has a fairly long list of words. Some new ones are bushes, pizza, and Monkey. She can correctly identify colors and alot of animals. She knows alot of animal sounds. We're learning the alphabet. Lia has no interest in her potty...I guess we need to wait a little longer. She loves the outdoors, sunshine or snow. Monkey gets a lot of walks! There is a big park with an area for dogs and a playground for kids right by our house. It's a favorite spot for all! Lia's favorite thing to play with are books. We read all day long! The big thing for Lia these days is climbing. She is up on everything! She likes to climb onto the dining room chairs and wave to me, like she's so proud of herself. She is also showing alot of interest in what I'm doing in the kitchen. She wants to help. She is very social and loves to play with her friends. In the picture are her and Oliver. They are great and have so much together! Lia is still silly as ever and makes us laugh all the time!

Happy Birthday!

2011-02-26T09:20:00.004-07:00

To my wonderful sister, I love you!

Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday to us, Happy Birthday Katie & Michelle, Happy Birthday to us.

We've always been close. Best Friends Forever!

I love sharing hugs and kisses.

Going on fun vacations.

Partying together.

You are so much fun, Michelle. I always enjoy the time we spend together.

You are my best friend and an awesome sister. Can't wait to see you (in a week)!! Happy Birthday.

Recipes

2011-02-18T13:51:00.007-07:00

A couple of friends put recipes on their blog and I always thought that was such a great idea. Recently I was asked to post some of my favorite recipes. I tried to think of what I could put on the blog but I've realized that I don't follow recipes that often. Maybe I should. I probably would be a better cook if I did! Sure, I'll use recipes as guidelines but it seems that I always change something. Then, I don't record the changes I made so things are different every time I cook them. Paul is a much better cook than I am. He's the cook, I'm the baker.

So instead of recipes, here's a list of helpful and useful hints to make meals healthier and more nutritious:
1. When baking, the amount of sugar can almost always be decreased by 1/4 (my sister Michelle gave me this hint).
2. Molasses and Apple Sauce are great natural 'sugars'. Substitute some of the sugar in a recipe with these. Molasses contains calcium, iron and potassium. It's a superfood.
3. Instead of butter, try coconut oil or grapeseed oil (this one is mild and neutral in flavor). Don't ever use margarine or Crisco- they are not real foods.
4. Almond butter and applesauce are awesome on waffles. No need for the maple syrup.
5. Ground up flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds gives extra protein and fiber to muffins, breads and oatmeal.
6. Spinach and zucchini are really mild flavored vegetables. They can be (steamed, pureed and) added to many things: smoothies, oatmeal, yogurt, quesadillas, etc...
7. Smoothies rock! Yogurt, fruit juice, fresh or frozen fruit, pureed veggies, nut butters, you name it. Yum.
8. Make sure your yogurt contains LIVE & ACTIVE cultures. If it only contains one or the other (or none), you are not getting the beneficial probiotics. Skip on the ones that contain fake sugar.
9. You can substitute 1/3 to 1/2 of the flour in a recipe with ground up oatmeal, cornmeal, brown rice flour, etc...
10. Puree steamed veggies and freeze in ice cube trays. Then it is so convenient to add some 'nutrient cubes' in practically any meal you are preparing: soups, stews, sauces, meatloaf. Works well for pureed roasted squashes as well (butternut, acorn).
11. You can make 'flavor cubes' by mixing olive oil and herbs (basil and parsley are our favorites) in a food processor and then freezing in ice cube trays. Awesome on pasta.

Share your hints and tips with me!

Butterfly Pavillion

2011-02-07T13:32:00.003-07:00

My friend took a great video of Lia and her son Julian at the Butterfly Pavillion. There is so much wonder in the act of discovery. It's amazing to watch the kids. We all had a great time. Paul and I got a membership there so we're hoping to go alot this year. Enjoy.

http://vimeo.com/19615577

Keeping My Family Healthy

2011-02-02T11:58:00.006-07:00

I just had to share this picture that I think is so cute and love so much. I try hard to feed my family good, wholesome food. I think I do a great job with Lia. She loves beets, carrots, yogurt, oatmeal, fresh fruit, salmon (and cheese and bread of course). I put pureed spinach, zucchini and green beans in smoothies. I don't feed her alot of sugar. I think she eats very well overall. Paul and I have always tried to eat healthy and practice a healthy lifestyle. Paul has been hiking several times a week (even in COLD weather). I take yoga classes, with and without Lia. We take our dog to the park. And do I have any pictures of us doing all these wonderful, healthy things? No. Here's a picture of Lia and Daddy watching TV and eating french fries together. Well, I guess life is all about balance. Gotta love it!

Enjoying the snow

2011-01-25T13:18:00.003-07:00

Look! Rare sighting. It's the stay puff marshmallow snow bunny!

In Her Father's Shoes

2011-01-18T15:08:00.002-07:00

Lia just had to try on Daddy's boots the other day! I was so happy I got a picture of that. She looks so sweet and happy. Some day she's going to grow up and be a big girl. But for now, we've got a tiny girl with a big personality. Lia loves her Daddy and always gives him smiles, giggles, wet kisses and amazing hugs (I get a few of those too)! Paul is just great with her. They have a lot of fun together. They play music and dance. They go for walks and explore the outdoors. They have storytime every night before bed. Lia will 'cook' in her kitchen while Paul is whipping up something fabulous in ours. If he is fixing something around the house, Lia has to check it out and help. I know when Paul has a hard day at work, Lia's hugs and kisses make it all better. Paul and I will just look at each other sometimes and marvel at this little being we created. She has completely changed our world!

New Year

2011-01-08T14:28:00.003-07:00

2011 is going to be the best year ever! We hope you all have a very happy new year. Here are some more recent pics.

We finally got some snow. Lia actually loved her sled although you couldn't tell by looking at the picture!

Dressed up for New Year's Eve dinner. Lia's hair is already like mine, wild and hard to control!

A fun visit to the Denver Aquarium. Lia was saying 'hi' to the biggest turtle I've ever seen.

Yup, the girl likes to drive!

Even little peanuts need to stop once in a while and have a snack.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-29T13:54:00.003-07:00

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. We've been enjoying having Paul's parents in town. Paul fried a turkey for Christmas dinner. It was just one part of an amazing feast. Lia enjoyed Christmas very much and got a ton of presents (she was one good little girl)!! We are so thankful to have good health and a loving, caring family. Merry Christmas to all near and far. We love you.

Paul and Rene lowering the turkey in the pot.

Our table, ready for family and feast.

Opening presents Christmas morning.

A new farm house!

Enjoying some cuddle and playtime with Dad.

Come on Mom, I'm ready to play. Monkey is standing

by, very interested in the toys too!

Wintertime fun

2010-12-29T13:35:00.007-07:00

We've been enjoying some really nice weather so far this winter. The days have been mild and mostly sunny. We take Monkey for walks, play in the neighborhood playground and have fun everywhere we go! Lia has a new sled that's just collecting dust in the garage. Maybe it will snow sometime and we'll get to use it! Here are a few random pics.

Leaning on a bush!

This is about all the snow we've had so far.
Lia liked it!

Playing in the local playground.

Playing piano at the WOW Children's Museum.

Riding the motorcycle side saddle!

Cute and cuddly in her new sweater.

I think we're ready for some snow!

Making Music

2010-12-18T14:42:00.002-07:00

Here's Lia and her friend Oliver making music by the Christmas Tree. So cute!

Update

2010-12-13T12:49:00.003-07:00

I realize that I haven't posted much lately. Is my life boring? Am I not doing anything that's worthy of sharing with my family and friends? Yes and No. Things are pretty 'normal' around here. Lia is growing and learning week by week. She loves to run, climb and tries to jump. Her best friend is still Monkey! She's been eating and sleeping like a dream! She is really good at cleaning up her books and toys and will actually put pieces of trash in the garbage can. Lia has shunned her potty though. She has no time for it!! She does like to help cook. She will push the button on the salad spinner and stir the pot. Very cute. Lia loves other babies and children. She is very social and fun.

An interesting thing I've been doing is a child-care swap for a few hours a week with another Mom in my neighborhood. She has a son who is 2 weeks older than Lia. His name is Oliver and he adores Lia and Monkey! It has been alot of fun having a playmate for Lia on a regular basis. And I'm using my free time to work at Hanna's Herb Shop some more. I'm happy to get out of the house, talk to adults and make a little extra money.

Also, my friend Julie and I entered another race. This one was called the Colder Bolder (although it took place on a fairly nice and sunny day)! It was a 3K race around CU campus at the beginning of December. We left our babies at home this time. We mostly walked it and came in close to last! Out of about 1300 people, we finished ahead of 2 dozen or so!!! I've learned a valuable lesson: You don't enter a race in wintertime and walk it! People who race in wintertime actually enjoy running. Even though we finished last, we are talking about doing the Bolder Boulder again in the spring. Maybe we should run that!

Another fun thing that is going on is that we are planning a family vacation with my Dad, Step-mom Linda, sis Michelle and her hubby Pete. We are all going to spend a week in the sunny Keys in March! I can't wait. Lia is becoming quite the seasoned traveler.

Besides that, everyone here is healthy and happy. Paul is still working a bunch but he's been able to go hiking a little more and that makes him happy. We got our Christmas tree over the weekend and Lia is fascinated with the lights and bulbs. It is amazing to see the wonder of the holiday season through the eyes of a child. I have a feeling Santa is going to be VERY good to Lia this year. Paul's parents are coming out for a visit. They'll be here in a couple of days to help celebrate the holidays. Maybe we'll have some snow for Christmas. It's been a mild, mostly snow-free winter so far.

Fun things coming up with Lia are visits to the Butterfly Pavilion, maybe another music class, trips to the library for story time, swimming at the rec center and playdates with her friends. And of course walking and playing with Monkey. I hope you are all well and have a great holiday season.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-29T13:04:00.002-07:00

We hope you all had a wonderful thanksgiving and cooked up a feast! We have so much to be thankful for this year. Paul and I are going on 9 1/2 years of marriage. Our beautiful daughter is growing up. She brings so much joy and laughter to us. We live in a beautiful place. We have a great dog. We are so thankful for the health and happiness of our family and friends throughout the country. We are truly blessed. We love you all!

Big Step

2010-11-22T12:29:00.002-07:00

This past weekend was a big step for Me and Lia. Paul went back to Maine for his Grandfather's funeral and took Lia with him. Of course, I was freaking out! But Lia did great. She slept well at night and ate well the entire trip. And she had fun with Mimi and Poppy! Monkey and I stayed home and had some fun ourselves. We went on extra long walks and I stayed up late watching movies and reading trashy romance novels. It was fun for a couple of days but I really missed Lia and Paul. I'm so glad to have them both home!

Climbing

2010-11-13T19:13:00.002-07:00

Uh, oh! We have a situation here. Lia has discovered climbing. She likes to hang on our bathroom sink and swing like a little monkey. Yes, I let my daughter hang perilously while I ran to get the camera and take a picture of her coming down! Am I a bad mother?! Now she thinks it's an acceptable thing to do. Lia has also climbed up on chairs, our little side table and most recently the couch. One day I was in the kitchen while Lia was playing innocently in the living room. Next thing I know, she's sitting by Monkey in his spot on the couch! Monkey is no longer safe! Although I applaud her learning new skills, I don't think I'm ready for this. Child proofing has taken on a new meaning. At least she hasn't learned how to climb out of her crib yet!

Fall

2010-11-02T09:54:00.004-06:00

We have been having a beautiful Fall so far. The weather has been crisp but sunny. The leaves are changing. Here are a few pics of Lia enjoying some fall festivities. Having fun at a pumpkin patch with her friend, Julian. Carving a pumpkin with Dad (which she took very seriously)! And trick or treating on Halloween. Our little baby bear had a great day. She seemed to know she was so cute! We went to the Munchkin Masquerade on pearl st where the stores pass out candy to the kids. It was a bit overwhelming and crazy but we had fun. Lia was very protective of her candy bucket and didn't want any help carrying it when it got heavy. She actually got pretty upset when I took a piece of candy out of it! Paul and I had to be sneaky about it. We did give her a small bite of kit kat but kept the rest for ourselves. Later we walked around our neighborhood and visited some neighbors. Hope you all had a fun Halloween and are having a good Fall.

Giggles

2010-10-25T11:36:00.003-06:00

More things that make Lia laugh:

1. Being chased around the couch.

2. Anything that Monkey does; lick his paw, scratch, roll around in something stinky outside.

3. When I blow in her face.

4. Whenever she burps or farts!
5. If I trip or hurt myself (thanks Lia).

6. Being tickled, she's ticklish everywhere!

7. Putting things on her head like bowls.

8. Undressing! She can now take off her shoes, socks, shirt and pants!

9. Going for 'horsey' rides or whenever I imitate animal sounds.

I feel so lucky to have such a silly and happy girl. I hope I can keep making these lists for a long time!

Maine vacation pictures

2010-10-15T12:32:00.003-06:00

The beautiful ocean

Relaxing!

Playing in the yard.

Climbing the stairs with Poppy. One of her favorite activities.

Meeting her cousin, the bride and groom's daughter Sophia.

Maine

2010-10-15T12:24:00.002-06:00

Lia and I recently got back from another trip. We headed east and visited Paul's parents in beautiful Maine. This was the farthest that Lia has ever been. The trees were starting to turn and the colors were amazing. The weather was cool, crisp and sunny- perfect fall weather. We took a drive to the ocean and Lia was very captivated by the seagulls! And we saw Paul's cousin get married and visited with many family members. Congratulations, Nick and Angela. You make a great couple. And thank you for everything, Mimi and Poppy. We had a wonderful visit.

15 Months

2010-10-06T18:59:00.003-06:00

Lia is 15 months old already! She has developed such a personality in the last few months. Much of the time, she struts around the house like she's on a mission! She is very 'large and in charge' and has her own agenda. Lia is independent, adventurous, silly, funny, happy and sweet. She gives the best hugs ever where she just holds on with all her might for a few moments. She even tries to cuddle with Monkey sometimes. Monkey's not so sure about that! Lia likes to talk and has a few words. She'll say Daddy, book and dog pretty regularly and she'll sometimes say 'all done', go, car and a few other words that I'm not sure what she's saying. She loves to dance whether it's to music on the radio or if I'm singing. Books are the favorite toy right now. She loves to open them and look at them by herself. And now she will actually sit on our laps and let us read to her. She likes to take all the books off her shelf and make various piles all over the house. Lia also loves to play dress-up. She likes hats and scarves and mittens and purses. She parades around the house wearing various things. It's really cute. Climbing is a favorite activity these days. She loves to climb up the neighbor's stairs, and on any small chairs, tables, shelves she can access. Baby proofing has hit a whole new level! Monkey is still safe on the couch; but for how long, I don't know. Lia has learned the names of many body parts and can point to them. Her belly button is by far the favorite! She seems so fascinated with it. Lia is also walking more when we take Monkey for walks, staying with me and holding my hand. She likes to stop and 'say hi' to all the flowers we pass along the way. She is very gentle and touches them with one finger. So cute (but it takes forever)! It is just amazing watching her grow from baby to toddler. Lia is such a joy to us!

Steamboat Springs

2010-09-24T11:34:00.004-06:00

The gang (minus Dan).

Playing, big kid style.

Eating breakfast with Claire. Just the girls!

Hamming it up for the camera!

Playing wit fun new toys. Great view.

Last week, Lia and I drove through our beautiful state and spent a few days in the mountains. We visited our friends Angela and Dan and their kids Claire, Hudson, Cooper and Tucker. We had such a wonderful time. Lia did great on the long car ride and slept great every night. She really is an awesome travel buddy! It was so great to relax and catch up with my girlfriend and all the kids enjoyed playing with each other. Lia loved seeing what big kids do and she even sat at a little table and chair and ate all her meals off a plate that she didn't drop on the floor. Very big girl stuff! She got lots of hugs and kisses from the kids too! We missed Paul and wished he could have come with us. Thanks for a wonderful trip guys! I hope we can meet up again soon.

The End of Summer.

2010-09-20T11:39:00.003-06:00

Before going on vacation to Erie we did some fun things around town. I wanted to share a few pictures. Playing in a kid's water fountain on Pearl St, running in the grass and visiting the Denver Botanical Gardens with Monica. The gardens are so beautiful and we all had a lot of fun! This has been a fun summer full of lots of different activities. But I think we'll all be welcoming the cooler weather and the change of seasons. Bring on fall with big piles of leaves to play in, yummy apple picking, pumpkin carving and decorating and of course- Halloween!

Vacation photos on the beach

2010-09-08T15:30:00.003-06:00

At the airport with Michelle and Pete. Let the vacation begin!

Playing in the water and loving the rocks!

Good times with family.

Climbing up the slide is much more fun than going down.

Catching up on the latest gossip with Aunt Joann.

Trip to Erie

2010-09-08T14:32:00.003-06:00

Lia and I took a trip to Erie to visit my family. Unfortunately, Paul had to stay home and work. I was a little nervous about flying solo with Lia but she was amazing. She did great on both plane rides and slept 11 hours straight EVERY night we were there!! We had a wonderful time visiting with family. Lia met her Great Grandparents (my mom's parents), her other Great Grandma (Linda's mom) for the first time and spent alot of quality time with her grandparents, aunts and uncles. Some of the highlights were playing on the beach (she loved all the rocks more than the water), playing with Grandpa's and Aunt Michelle's cats and just spending time with family. Lia got 2 new teeth while on vacation and that didn't slow her down a bit. She did start picking her nose which isn't too exciting. But she also learned how to do eskimo kisses with me and that is very exciting! Thanks to everyone for making it such a great trip for us. I'm ready for the next trip!!

Vacation

2010-08-31T10:50:00.003-06:00

On the beach and LOVIN it! Rocks are so interesting! The water is pretty cool too!

Enjoying Summer!

2010-08-10T19:54:00.004-06:00

Enjoying a beautiful summer day in sunny Boulder and loving a tree!

Playing in the tumble room with Dad.

At the zoo with Mama.

She loves to bang on the BIG drum in music class!

Not coloring!

I haven't blogged much lately. We are all doing really well, just busy enjoying the summer and having fun playing. Lia and I recently went to the zoo with my friend Julie and her daughter Vieve and we had tons of fun. We rode the train and saw a bunch of animals. It was the first time I could really tell that Lia noticed the animals. Paul and I took Lia to the Boulder Fair and we saw even more animals (tons of goats and chickens and some pigs and cows). Also, Lia and I just finished our music class which is always a blast. Lia usually leaves me right away to play with the instruments and other kids but today she hung with mom! Swimming in the Boulder Reservoir is still on my list for this summer.

Paul is gearing up for the start of another school year at CU so he will be putting in some long hours at work. We'll try to have fun without you, Daddy! A solo trip for Lia and myself back home to Erie will round out our summer fun. Hope you are all well and having a great summer too.

Lia and Monkey

2010-07-31T20:07:00.003-06:00

This is what it has come down to for Monkey: Lia steals his toys, takes over his bed and always trys to 'get him'!! Actually, they are becoming good friends. Lia is really interested in Monkey (and his things) and Monkey is great with Lia. They have 1 toy that they share. They take turns playing with it! Its really cute watching them play. Monkey can still get away when he wants to but he's always making Lia giggle which I love.

One Year

2010-07-21T08:47:00.002-06:00

Paul and I have been on an amazing journey in the last year. We've seen our baby thrive and grow into a little toddler. Lia is so curious about life and the world around her and she's very energetic and playful. She is confident, willful, determined and independent. She smiles so easily and when you can get her to stop moving for a moment she gives great hugs and kisses. She crinkles her nose and kind of squints her eyes when she smiles (we've dubbed it the 'stink face'). She likes to climb on my back and go for a ride! She is walking ALL over the place. And she's just learned how to climb down from the couch. When I try to get her to come to me, she giggles and goes in the opposite direction (great)! She claps and points. A few words in her vocabulary are daddy, dog, go and book. She just recently said mommy and bubbles! It's really cool to see the beginnings of back and forth communication. Lia likes the color green. She likes to 'eat' (play with) little pieces of lettuce and broccoli. She loves to eat peas. She likes to touch and smell the herbs growing in our garden and always wants to grab the leaves on the trees when we go for walks. She loves to play in the grass. I'll be happy when she stops putting everything in her mouth (except the broccoli and lettuce)!! She still only has four teeth. She is eating cheese and wheat now (she had some food sensitivities earlier). I had to cut things out of my diet too but now I am eating whatever I want. Woo Hoo!

Lia loves other babies and children. It seems like she knows they are more like her. She likes to touch and hold hands. She doesn't seem intimidated. She is learning how to pet Monkey gently and he is letting her. So cute. She goes for walks and bike rides with daddy. Mommy and Me Yoga is a thing of the past I think (she just gets into EVERYTHING and I can't do any yoga because I'm just chasing her around). We play in the park, walk Monkey and go to storytime. We are currently going to another music class which is a ton of fun.

Lia, you've learned and developed so much in this past year. It's so amazing having you in our lives and sharing the wonders of new experiences with you. Can't wait to see what this next year brings.

Visits

2010-07-13T15:28:00.002-06:00

We have had a very exciting couple of weeks. On top of taking our first trip with Lia and celebrating the big first birthday we've had a bunch of family out to visit. First was Paul's mom and cousin Brianna. This was Brianna's first time out to Colorado. Next up was my mom and stepdad Gary. This was Gary's first trip out to Colorado too. The visits were a perfect mix of sightseeing and just relaxing and catching up. Brianna liked seeing the university and cooking with Paul. Gary loved the ride up to Estes Park. My mom and Alice enjoyed some shopping and spending time with their grandchild. Lia loved spending time and playing with all her family. We enjoyed the company and cooking food for you guys. Thanks for everything guys. We miss you already!

Out with the girls.

Weeee!

Exploring Estes Park.

Shopping on Pearl St.

Thanks for a great visit, everyone!

Birthday Pictures

2010-07-04T21:03:00.003-06:00

Happy Birthday Lia!

2010-07-04T13:38:00.002-06:00

Lia is one year old! We celebrated her birthday at the house yesterday with our friends and neighbors Chris and Monica and Paul's mom and cousin Brianna who came from Maine to visit. It was a beautiful day for a little BBQ and spending time outdoors in the sunshine. Paul made some awesome food including minted quinoa salad with fresh peas and a rhubarb and fig chutney. The cake however (which I made) was the main event. Lia had her hands on it even before I could put it on her tray. Then she promptly dug in. I'm not sure how much she ate but she had a great time playing with it! Monkey was right there to catch what fell on the floor. After it was all said and done, Lia had cake everywhere- on her face, in her hair, in her ears! I think she had a great birthday. Happy Birthday Lia. We are so proud of the little girl you are becoming.

Wedding Bells

2010-06-29T13:59:00.002-06:00

Congratulations, Chris and Monica! You make a great couple. We are so happy to have been able to share in your special day and wish you a lifetime of happiness!

Our trip

2010-06-29T13:50:00.004-06:00

We just got back from our friends Chris and Monica's wedding in Oklahoma. This was Lia's first big trip and plane ride. She did pretty well on the plane and at the hotel (there were a few rough moments). But she seemed to have a lot of fun when we went out sightseeing and at the wedding. Lia loved Monica's niece Gwyneth who is 3 years old. The wedding was so much fun. Paul (the best man) looked so handsome in his tux and Lia was a little darling in her frilly dress. It was great to get out of town for a few days and have a mini-vacation with my hubby and little girl. By the way, Paul and I celebrated our 9th anniversary just before we left. It's hard to believe it's been 9 years already. Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Happy Father's Day!

2010-06-22T15:07:00.002-06:00

We love you, Daddy!

Fun Time!

2010-06-19T10:28:00.003-06:00

Climbing! Bubbles!

Socializing!

Love that tunnel!

Time to go yet?

We signed up for a month of Gymboree which has been so much fun so far. Lia has alot of fun playing on the gym equipment and enjoys the singing, storytime and bubbles of course. I like playing also and talking with other Moms.

11 Months

2010-06-06T11:35:00.002-06:00

Lia is 11 months old already! It's amazing how much she's changed and how much she's grown up since she first came into our lives. She took her first step by herself yesterday! She has done it several times today. Takes one step and then she promptly falls on her face. We're working on the finesse. I can tell that Lia is also noticing more of the world around her. She looks at the birds, squirrels and bunnies when we take Monkey for walks and thinks it's funny when Monkey tries to 'get' the animals. She's also quick to smile at other people and seems to love other babies and children. We just signed up for Gymboree and she has had a ball so far. We have so much fun on all the play equipment and Lia likes to check out what the other babies are doing. They are teaching concepts now like up and down. Lia has started putting items into containers (instead of just dumping everything out of them). She likes to open books and look at the pictures and turn the pages. She loves her Mommy and Daddy but doesn't seem afraid to venture out and explore on her own. She actually doesn't seem to be afraid of much! I think we have a real 'go getter'. She loves bath time and has even more fun now that she's in the big tub and we can play with more toys. She is sleeping better at night which makes us all happier. New foods she has tried recently are tomatoes and lentils and yogurt. I have a feeling this summer is going to be so exciting with her walking and talking more. We are taking our first plane ride at the end of the month for our friend's wedding. Lots of relatives are coming to visit this summer AND we have the first birthday to celebrate. We'll keep you posted.

Bolder Boulder

2010-06-02T09:34:00.004-06:00

Waiting to start.

Genevieve going strong.

We made it!

The Bolder Boulder is a big deal in Boulder. It's a 10K (6 mile) race that happens every Memorial Day. The race goes right past the first apartment Paul and I lived in. We've always watched the runners and walkers go by. This year, Lia and I and my friend Julie and her daughter Genevieve walked it as part of a baby wearing group. It was rough at times (Lia started getting cranky and I started getting tired around mile 2). But we rallied, Lia slept for a couple of miles in the middle, I got a second wind and we both finished strong. We had a great time and I'm really glad we did it. If this becomes a tradition, maybe Paul can carry Lia next year! Enjoy the pics.

Memorial Day Weekend

2010-06-02T09:21:00.003-06:00

The water feels nice!

Let's go, Daddy!

Hanging out with the puppies.

Entertaining the crowd!

We had a very exciting Memorial Day Weekend. Lis went swimming for the first time (and loved it). We also went to the Boulder Creek festival and had a BBQ at Uncle Christian's and Aunt Monica's house where Paul got to spend time with his cousin Ethan. And to top it off Lia and I walked the Bolder Boulder, a 10K race in downtown Boulder. We had such a great time. And it was so nice having Daddy around all weekend!

Things that make Lia laugh

2010-05-28T10:11:00.003-06:00

I figured I should make a list of the things that Lia finds hilarious as there seems to be more and more as time goes by. These things not only elicit squeals of delight but belly roll laughs and the cutest chuckles and giggles you've ever heard. Maybe this is par for the course with babies but Paul and I think we have a goofy girl:

1. Ripping plastic garbage bags apart.
2. Tearing junk mail. Really any perforation of any kind.
3. Burping or hiccuping (when I burp, Lia laughs; when Paul burps (belches) Lia is scared which makes Paul and I laugh.
4. Cutting finger nails (mine, not hers). Don't ask.
5. Swatting flies or mosquitoes (extra giggles if I exclaim loudly that I missed).
6. Monkey. Lia ADORES Monkey and is always excited to see him.

Oh, funny! I love that there is a list and that we seem to have a very happy girl! Because really, when Lia is happy Mommy and Daddy are happy.

Happy Birthday Paul!

2010-05-22T16:26:00.004-06:00

Happy Birthday to one special man. Paul, you are amazing. You're a great husband and a wonderful father. You make us laugh, you take care of us, you cook us awesome food, you love us. We are so lucky to have you in our family. And we love you! Happy Birthday!

Lia's Baptism

2010-05-21T09:47:00.003-06:00

Last Sunday, Lia was baptised. It was a very nice, small ceremony and celebration. It was a beautiful spring day and Lia looked so angelic in her little white dress. She was great throughout the ceremony and even enjoyed getting water poured over her head. Afterward, we took Christian and Monica (Lia's Godparents) out for happy hour drinks and snacks. Lia had a great time. She seemed to know the day was 'all about her' and she loved it. Enjoy the pics.

Picnic

2010-05-15T17:02:00.003-06:00

Exploring.

Me and my girl.

Hanging with Dad.

Enjoying a drink.

Paul bought me a picnic backpack for Mother's Day. It contains plates, silverware, a tablecloth, everything you need for a picnic. It even has a pouch on the side for a bottle of wine. We weren't able to have a picnic last weekend but we had one today. It was a beautiful spring day, cool and a little cloudy. We packed up a bunch of yummy food and took Lia and Monkey to this great park in Boulder. It was so wonderful spending time together as a family and just lounging in the middle of the day. The plastic wine glasses were a hit with Lia and Monkey!! I'm hoping to do this a lot more this summer.

Happy Mother's Day

2010-05-10T16:09:00.003-06:00

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful mom and all you wonderful Mama's out there. You all deserve to be celebrated, honored, cherished and loved for all the wonderful yet hard work you do. Mamas take care of their families and being celebrated helps take care of us in return. I loved spending time with Lia and being so loved on my first Mother's Day!

Hockey Time

2010-05-05T14:26:00.003-06:00

It's hockey season. It's the playoffs. Paul is a huge fan. He played hockey for years. He had his first pair of skates shortly after he started walking. He hopes Lia will play hockey. For my big (and little) hockey fans: Go Montreal Canadiens!!

More Lia and Monkey

2010-04-27T18:28:00.002-06:00

Lia chases after Monkey, Monkey chases after Lia!

Miss Personality

2010-04-23T14:16:00.003-06:00

Nine and a half months here, and Lia is Miss Personality. She seems to have a real joy for life and is not afraid to interact with other people/babies, seems comfortable in new situations and environments and just seems to like to have fun! She 'talks' more and more and squeals (okay, screeches) with delight every time she sees Monkey. Now that she is mobile, when we're at the library or yoga classes, Lia just ditches me first thing to check out the other people and things around her. She does check in time to time which is cute. I'm happy that she seems so outgoing. Lia has started giving me kisses (her version of kisses anyway). She just opens her mouth and presses it to my face. So sweet! And she waves hi/bye sometimes. Standing up is the new thing these days. She pulls herself up on anything and everything she can. She has even started letting go where she will be standing by herself for a few seconds. She just seems so fearless and ready to take on the world. My little girl is growing up. In a few months she won't be considered a baby anymore but a toddler. Wow!

Visit

2010-04-16T10:37:00.003-06:00

Deciding what to order with Aunt Michelle

Relaxing with Grandpa

Shopping at Celestial Seasonings

Hanging with the Girls

Well, the Lentz Family Invasion (as my sister put it) has come and gone. My Father, Linda, Michelle and my Aunt Sallie and Cousin Sara all came to visit for a couple of days. They came from both sides of the country, Pennsylvania and Washington state. It was so great to see everyone. I'm happy Lia got to spend time with her family. She really warmed up to everyone quickly and showed everyone her new skill of crawling. Thanks everyone for making the trip here. Miss you already.

Happy Days

2010-04-05T15:08:00.003-06:00

Happy Easter and happy spring!

Full force ahead!

2010-03-31T13:45:00.002-06:00

9 Months

2010-03-28T14:11:00.003-06:00

Lia is almost 9 months old. In a week, she'll have been out in the world as long as she was growing inside of me. It's amazing. So much has happened in these past 9 months but it also feels like just yesterday we were welcoming her to our family. With her growing age comes new and exciting milestones. Lia is now crawling. All over the place. So much that her little knees are red from the workout. We've made knee pads for her out of Paul's socks but I can barely stop her long enough to put them on. She LOVES crawling after Monkey! He now showers her with kisses every chance he gets. There is now an 'eww' factor that goes with crawling. Lia just gets to some things before I can stop her. She's put my dirty shoes and some of Monkey's stinky toys in her mouth a couple of times now. Eww! I have managed to prevent her from drinking out of Monkey's water dish so that makes me happy. Lia also has 2 teeth now. Both bottom, front ones. It's really cute. She is miss personality, talking and babbling to everyone she can. She loves people and even likes to cuddle a little (she has always been very independent). We love watching her grow and thrive. I'll put some action videos on soon.

Lia and Monkey

2010-03-14T20:39:00.005-06:00

Lia and Monkey were so cute playing together I had to capture the moment. Monkey always makes Lia smile and laugh. And he licks her all over every chance he gets. Lia is really close to crawling. Things are going to change big time around here when she gets mobile. Monkey will have to watch out!

Music Class

2010-03-11T20:11:00.005-07:00

Everyone loves the guitar!

Yummy instruments!

Lia's new friend, Julian.

Zoning out watching bubbles.

Lia and I just ended an 8 week Music Class. I'm so glad we did this together. I think Lia was a little unsure at first but then she really enjoyed it. The babies played with all kinds of instruments- guitar, drums, shakers and other noise makers and there was lots of singing and dancing. It was a very high energy class. It was great to hang out with other moms and have Lia play with other babies. What class are we going to do next...

Mommy's Birthday

2010-03-02T09:02:00.003-07:00

Michelle and I always spend our birthday together. This year she came out early and although we had a fabulous time, we were not together on the actual day. It was a little sad but Lia helped me have a good day. The weather was beautiful and we took Monkey for a great walk. Lia giggled every time Monkey ran after the ball! Then we went to Mommy and Me yoga. Lia loves seeing all the other babies and rolling around on the floor. And I love the yoga and talking to other Moms. I hope this is an activity that Lia and I will share for years to come. And for future birthdays, Michelle and I have agreed to be together on the actual day.

Photo Shoot

2010-02-19T08:29:00.004-07:00

Michelle took a bunch of pictures (naturally) while she was here. My sister has a true gift. She captures the best shots of Lia. I've estimated that between all the family members there has to be about a thousand pictures taken of Lia so fair. Is that crazy or normal!! Anyway, love the pictures my sis took. I will cherish all of them.

Michelle

2010-02-15T08:11:00.002-07:00

Dear Michelle,

We all had such a great time with you (Paul too, I just didn't have a picture of the two of you). Thanks for traveling (again) to see us. I promise, we'll come to PGH soon. I'm so grateful for the time we spent together and can't wait for the next time. Happy Birthday, Sista! You rock!

Love

2010-02-10T14:04:00.002-07:00

Mommy and Daddy love you so much Lia! It's such a joy watching you grow and thrive. We can't wait to see what the future brings.

The many faces of Lia

2010-02-04T14:32:00.004-07:00

Lia is 7 months old already. She is sitting up better and getting closer to crawling (she's still stationary which I'm told to enjoy as long as it lasts). She does roll around ALOT which has resulted in her first bump on the head. She rolled right into the rocking chair! She said her first 'word' the other day. It was Dada. Paul is very proud. Lia is also showing a little more interest in solid food. She never eats much more than a few bites but I think she now 'likes' oatmeal, bananas and avocado. Next up on the try list will be asparagus, plums and maybe spinach...We are enjoying going to the library, music class, a tumble room where we play and taking Monkey for walks. I'm looking forward to nicer weather when we can spend more time outdoors and not be so bundled up (I know, I know, our weather is not as cold as our East Coast relatives)! All in all we are doing well. Enjoy the pics.

The wiggle

2010-01-25T17:20:00.002-07:00

Lia's a dancing machine! And a bit of a flasher!

6 months old

2010-01-15T12:51:00.005-07:00

Our favorite girl is 6 months old already! It's hard to believe how fast she's growing up. Lia's showing off her newest skill here- sitting unsupported. Most of the time she just falls over like a drunken sailor but she's getting better. She's also saying 'mamama' but I'm pretty sure she's not associating it with me...
Turning 6 months old allows us to take several classes that she was previously too young for. We now go to the library for storytime (reading books and singing songs). We are going to start a music class soon (singing songs, dancing, playing with musical instruments and bubbles) and swimming class will come in the spring. Our lives have become more exciting! Lia seems to really enjoy this different stimulation. And mom enjoys getting out of the house and meeting other moms. We'll keep you updated on future happenings.

Visit

2010-01-13T09:03:00.003-07:00

Thank you for a great visit, Mimi and Poppy! We enjoyed spending time with you. Even though we didn't do as much sight seeing as in past trips, you got to spend a lot of time with Lia which was important. Thank you for all the help you gave with her and around the house. Paul and I enjoyed the dates we went on! We miss you already and look forward to the next trip.

Crib Fun part 2

2010-01-04T17:39:00.002-07:00

Yup, it's that good!

Merry Christmas

2010-01-03T13:24:00.002-07:00

A little late holiday wish: from our family to yours, we wish you a very merry christmas and a happy new year. We hope the upcoming year is full of good health, laughter, magic, love, success, joy, good fortune, fun and everything else we've all ever dreamed of. We love and miss all our family and friends.