question to ponder

If, as I glibly informed my husband last night, I have taken a college course in nutrition and know what I'm doing when it comes to providing my daughter and my family with nourishment, why does nearly everything Michaela eats begin with "C"?

Carrots... cantaloupe... cream cheese... this was lunch today (plus blueberry bagel, but that ruins my hypothesis)

Other food favorites: cheddar cheese, cottage cheese, cheese ravioli (see a theme?), cereal, cheerios, corn, crackers (graham), chicken...

Fortunately for all, nutrition is based more on the food groups than on the alphabet.

Moving on Up

Well, it's happened. Yesterday, for the first time. Michaela decided she wanted to climb our stairs. She had good motivation, I suppose. She was at the bottom and I was at the top. Typically I can count on running upstairs for something and know that she will be waiting for me right at the bottom of the stairs when I come right back. Not so typical anymore. She took those stairs like they were nobody's business, as if she has been climbing stairs for months. She also wants to immediately turn around and climb right back down, but she hasn't quite caught on yet to the backing down the stairs method. So we might need to get another baby gate. The first one we bought was for Kenji.

So, now, in addition to walking with assistance and cruising along furniture and walls, we also have a climber, folks. Everyone, beware!

Birthday!!!

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Cousins with Papi and Grammy

Last Sunday we celebrated Michaela's first year of life with our family. It's hard to believe she's that big already. Everyone says that, but it's true. And when I say "big" I really mean "old" because we had Michaela's 12-month checkup on Tuesday and she only weighs 17 pounds, 10 ounces, which puts her in the 5th percentile of kiddos her age. On the height end of things, though, she is overachieving. She measured 29 1/4 inches which is in the 50th percentile. The doc commented that Michaela is "long and lean."

We were blessed to have family and friends join us at our worship service on Sunday morning to witness Michaela's dedication. It was so special to see how our church family and our family family gathered around to voice their support for Adam and I as we raise our daughter to follow the Lord.

Afterwards, we had the family over to celebrate with FOOD. Always a delight! Michaela's first cake experience was of a carrot cake cupcake with cream cheese frosting. She liked the frosting so much that after she finished her own cupcake, she tried taking a swipe off of mine as we posed for pictures.

Michaela also got to experience present-opening. The tissue paper was arguably the most interesting feature.

Practicing sitting on the musical push car.
The person doing the pushing, though, was not Michaela, but Uncle Dave!

And because everyone likes seeing pictures of themselves, here are a few of the family. We loved having you here for the day! Do you see yourself?

Among the first few assisted steps...

Playdates!

I have been trying to get together with friends Sarah and Kalina and their little ones on a weekly (or so) basis. The kids don't really play together yet, but then, are playdates really for the kids?

Lily is tired and sleeping after a long morning's playdate.

Sarah and Lily at the last playdate in the old house. Lily thinks checking out Michaela is a serious job.

Crazy eyes = swinging fun! And Isaiah is right next to her having a ball. 

Playing with Isaiah's toys is SOOOO much more fun than playing with your own toys.

When you're just crawling, it's really hard to keep up with your friend who is walking.
And walking away from you at that.

However, you do have the upper hand when your other friend is barely rolling!

We are looking forward to watching our kiddos grow up together!

photos galore

Since the move, it's taken me 6 weeks to find the time and the device to download pictures from my camera. There was a more labor-intensive method to get the other pictures off that you have seen in that time (or else Adam posted) but here are many pictures to make up for lost time. Maybe it'll help you get a taste for life in our shoes.

Fun at the Timbers game - shirt says "50% mom, 50% dad, 100% Timbers Fan"

Super-tired after the Timbers game

At Aunt Abbey's baby shower... playing with Hayden and using the box as a drum.

Strangely, I got no pictures of Abbey at her baby shower.

Some days are just like that.

I'd moved Michaela's baby bathtub out of her bathroom into ours because she had outgrown it. Apparently she's smart enough to know what it's for, and to get herself in it while Mama does her makeup.

Learning to play the piano - she doesn't look happy, but she likes to listen to the piano, at least!

Fashion forward

At the Twin Rocks 'Party on the Parkway' petting zoo. There was no petting involved.

Supervising Daddy while he replaces the leaky faucet on our new kitchen sink.
Michaela may have learned upon close observation that plumbing is not her Daddy's favorite hobby.

Someone told me when Michaela was born that I should make sure to get pictures of her crying. Check.

Pulling herself upon the windowsill while also trying to "sneak up on" the cat.
The cat is trying to "sneak up on" some birds in the tree outside.

Working the ottoman and the couch. Two excellent support systems.

Practicing pulling herself up.. on Daddy's electronics and attempting to
stick her hand in the VCR (yes, we still have one of those).

I LOVE holding Mama's yellow mug and wish I could drink the tea that's in it (or used to be in it).
I also love showing off my big teeth.

Visiting Grandpa -

- and Ita!