What happens when you get unexpected vacation?!

June 30, 2014 (don't say it... she's almost one year old!!!)

Somehow we must have forgot that our gym was going to be closed during the USA Track and Field Championships, but all of the sudden the week was upon us and the gym had to be closed. So I took time off to spend with Sierra! 

Earlier in the week our human and dog family went on a few walks at the preserve, and enjoyed our mornings together. We also were able to get out on the bike (and the bike trailer) to downtown. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I brought Sierra to the pool which she absolutely loves... but now I am wondering what doesn't she love (oh, yeah, being confined... a.k.a. CAR SEAT). On Thursday one of her best girlfriends turned 1! What a lovely party it was too! Ariana truly enjoyed all of the delicious baking that her mom, Sophia had done (not to mention all of the adult guests). It was such a classy brunch, something straight out of an upscale magazine (add 6 kids +/- 1 year old). I kept wanting to sit and enjoy some mom convo but instead I kept chasing after Sierra, who wanted to explore everything. She loved listening and dancing to the guitar (thank you Dah Dah for introducing it because she is hooked)!

 My darling, Sierra. A mother's love has no words.

 Ariana and Sierra seem to remember each other at each encounter... or at least that's what it seems like. Sierra quietly observe her from a foot away while she dug into her birthday cake.

I stopped in at the SPCA thrift store and bought Sierra a purse and "purse-like" items for her. I thought it was necessary seeing as she always tears through every woman's purse that she encounters. She seems to enjoy it, but then again...

I was able to get my lifts in while she napped on 2 of the 3 days, and although I don't feel like I lift "as hard" at home. I do manage to get it done.

The whole human/dog family drove down to Grammie and Grandpa's house on Friday night. I have been entering sleep deprivation once again (a return to the early months of parenthood) because I have been waiting up for Gus to return from work... for some reason I can't help it. Then again after this weekend I am starting to realize how much I need to just go to sleep more often.

Gus, Sierra, Oso and I went up to China Peak on Saturday morning. Gus and I switched off hiking with Sierra and Oso and mountain biking. It was the opening day there and the lift tickets were free, so we couldn't miss the opportunity to come back up to the place we were married 2 years ago. My best friend and her fiancee Onkar, came up to Anne & Jerry's that evening (she is doing one of her rotations in Fresno). We all enjoyed spending time with one another.

On Sunday morning Auntie Lyn told Gus and I to go back to sleep and she watched Sierra while we slept in!!! Later in the day we all visited GREAT Grandma Maribeth in Fresno. Sierra had a blast! She was squealing with delight when she saw all of the teddy bears she had on display.

Both Great Grandma and Sierra seemed to enjoy the visit.

We met up with Crystal and Onkar right after our visit for a delicious lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant called Lucy's Lair. Sierra even enjoyed eating most of the food (thank goodness because she was getting cranky). We filled up Gus's growler before we headed back to Anne and Jerry's. Gus, the dogs and I headed out for a mountain bike ride that afternoon while Auntie Lyn and Grammie hung out with Sierra.

Once we got home we all hung out in the "pool" (the hot tub that was cooled to 90 degrees). We were all getting splashed!

Although it was a little rough driving home today and both of us having to prep the baby food and bag for day care (not to mention our own). It was worth spending the extra night to spend time with family.

A week in pictures

June 23, 2014 (11.5 months)

Sierra, Gus the dogs and I went for a few walks at a local preserve a few mornings this week, and on the days we didn't we got out on the bikes. Sierra is still loving her chariot, I mean bike trailer. On Thursday we met up with Sophia, Eric and Ariana at a park in town, Jill and Wes stopped by too.  Sierra and Ariana were sporting their shades together.

We are still reading a lot of books to her every day. We were just gifted a bag of books from a colleague of mine with older kids who was downsizing. 

Sierra is completely confident in exploring new surroundings without me by her side. 

We biked over to the UC Davis Rec pool on Saturday, and it is becoming quite evident that she is a natural water baby. 

 Her duckie towel inspires her to take flight!

On Sunday we headed out for a "bike ride" where Gus and I had plans to switch back and forth between riding and hiking with Sierra and the dogs. We forgot our helmets so it turned into a group hike with the 5 of us... me in my bike shorts and mountain biking shoes.

We wrapped up the weekend on Sunday by having Auntie Lyn over for dinner. She brought with her Sierra's 1 year birthday gift. A kid's basketball hoop! Gus and her seemed to enjoy it more than Sierra can right now, but I know when she's ready she will love to play with it. Sierra is now climbing on and off all of our couches (usually without incidence). Unfortunately this morning she did take a tumble when she reached over for a book.

 Auntie Lyn brought her iPhone for our musical entertainment. Sierra likes to bring it around with her as if it were a boom box. Dance parties are a common occurrence with Sierra.

Father's Day "numero uno"!

June 16, 2014 (11 months and a week)

The week went by very quickly. Between me having some friends over to lift at night on Monday, going on family bike rides around town with Sierra in her trailer, and a play date with Marleene and baby Andrew (who Sierra also gave a hug too). More of her baby friends are becoming more interesting to her; instead of just parallel playing she seems to interact more often with them. We made it to Friday in a flash.

Sierra's gibber jabber has turned into more like flowing sentences of gibberish. There are peaks and valleys in her tones and there are new consonants mixed with vowels more often. She has pretend play with her stuffed animals and loves all (I do mean ALL) of her books. She will go retrieve a book after we ask her to get one for us, and then she scoots her bottom back onto our laps so that we can read them to her. She is cutting two more teeth on the bottom of her mouth and is very happily using them to chew all of her favorite foods: tofu, raspberries, watermelon, (America's favorite food) cheese, raisins, tomatoes, steamed and sauteed veggies, lentils, eggs, pancakes... the girl can eat (sounds familiar)!

Friday I took off from work and Sierra and I headed up to Truckee for the weekend. Gus was coming up after work and Joe and Elsa were going to get up there at night, so Sierra and I checked into our VRBO rental early and hung out all day at the North Star Resort. I have succeeded in making it through 2 lone 2 hour drives with just her and me now; I feel like I deserve a gold star sticker for overcoming my fear. She fusses for half and sleeps for about half, not bad.

Friday we unloaded all of Sierra's toys and books, played in the new space, went for a few walks and went to the homeowners' rec pool and playground. Sierra loves spending time in the pool! Did I also mention we took selfies... I'm guilty as charged: see below. I also took her down to the outdoor roller skating rink where all of the big kids were rollerskating. Sierra was very interested so I decided we should hold her hand out to give all the kids who skated by high fives (I saw a few of the little girls later in the weekend that remembered us for it).

 "Mom, I'm not impressed by your antics at all."

She now knows how to fence with a spoon too.

It was well worth coming up the day early. The mountain air was fantastically refreshing. Joe and Elsa came in later and I had already set up a dinner for them (since they really had a killer drive up from LA). Sierra seemed to remember Joe, and took to Elsa after about 10 minutes too. Gus got up around 2am. Sierra did not sleep well that night....

We were quite groggy the next day, and got off to a late start. So we went into Truckee (Jax by the Tracks diner) for breakfast. It was wonderful and filling (Sierra ate 1 egg and nearly 2 pancakes), and very generous of Joe and Elsa to treat us. After returning the guys hit the lift to mountain bike and Elsa, Sierra and I went to the rec center again. Even with the overcast, Sierra was all up for swimming. I gave her a red kickboard to hold on to and she never let go of that thing until we left. She loved seeing the older kids too.

Elsa made some quality guacamole and after the guys got back we all snacked on that before going for a nice hike/walk around the resort. I was able to get some great photos while we were out.

 Our Burley Honeybee trailer doubles as a stroller (AWESOME investment - great self birthday gift)!

 We all pushed Sierra. On the hike we saw tons of 2+ million dollar homes (we know because Joe pulled them up on Zillow.com)... quite the sight to see.

 HAPPY FATHER'S DAY GUS!!!

 There were mountain bike races all weekend and we happened to see the podium (Gus and I of course had the same idea)! I feel like the winner because I love my family so damn much!

Sunday morning Elsa made omelets (Sierra ate a whole 2 egg omelet after already eating a whole yogurt), we checked out, and headed over to King's Beach to look for asphalt biking trails that we could all ride and pull Sierra on. Unfortunately (or fortunately) I directed us to the beach access which we hung out at for about a half an hour before realizing (thanks to Gus going to the local bike shop) that it was actually in Tahoe City. Unfortunately, Joe and Elsa had to get on the road by that point, so the three of us headed off to Tahoe City to bike along the lake and Truckee River. It was a great day, and truly the perfect Father's Day for Gus. I loved hearing other dads say Happy Father's Day to him as they biked past. We had a quick stop back at North Star for dinner and then headed home. 

Sierra's photo shoot at Lake Tahoe... could you be any cuter?!

Grammy Annie came to town on Sunday night and was staying with Aunt Lyn, and was able to watch Sierra today while we were at work. As soon as she walked in the door Sierra just lit up. It was incredible to watch that smile come across her face, especially knowing the way she is with "new" people now. It made us all realize that Sierra remembered her grammy. They had a wonderful time today and Sierra was happy as ever when I got home (actually she really didn't even make a big deal out of me coming in, which is another way I knew she was having fun).

I do feel very lucky for such a wonderful weekend, such wonderful people in my life and such a great family.