Seriously Mom, what did you expect?

As you give birth to your child - you know that they are going to receive some of your genetic makeup. You quietly pray that they will get the best qualities of each parent.

Unfortunately for Alta - she got Mommy's appetite. I doubt that she will ever know the meaning of the word "full."

I have heard so many stories about how "difficult" it can be to get some children to try to eat. This does not seem to be a problem for little miss A.J. The biggest struggle was trying to keep her face out of the bowl. First feeding - finished the entire bowl.

Hello, my name is Alta.... and I like food. A lot.

First Trip to the Beach

Our trip to Grayton Beach started out so well. The weather was perfect. Alta's loved the sand on her toes! She looked great in her yellow polka dot bikini!
And then BAM!!! A very cold wave went a little higher than Mommy anticipated. Suddenly the cruel reality of this world came crashing down!

Sad!!!! Look at that tear! Well... the was the first of many that day. After we got her calmed down, we laid her on her blanket - only for her fist to be faster than her Mommy. She grabbed a big handful of sand, and threw it in her face... (everything goes to the mouth).

Luckily, Daddy knew exactly how to cheer everyone up. Shopping at Destin!

Thank Heaven for Daddy's!

Daddy's making cookies

Jaren loves to make cookies. It's HIS thing. Which I don't mind - because of all the baked treats - they are my least favorite to make.

So I'm in the other room, when I hear the usual cookie making noises. Then I remember that Jaren also has Alta. Then I hear him teaching Alta how to make cookies. So I listen in for a bit... all the while with a smile on my face.

"This is an egg, chickens make them... but I'm not telling you how."
"This is granulated sugar... see how white it is."
"This is brown sugar - we have to pack it... I'm not sure why - but the recipe says to... so we are gonna."

So I slowly sneak around the corner to see this:


I quickly grabbed my camera and began taking pictures... because.. this was just too cute!

"I don't know Dad. Why do we pack brown sugar?"

"I'll hold the bowl... you mix."

"Mmmm... Cookies!"

"Mom, I love you, but I'm in cahoots with Daddy.... and he sure is great!"

Four Months and Counting

Alta is now four months old. Can you believe it??? She is living up to her name, and is incredibly tall for her age (27 inches = > 97%). Alta still loves to eat (like her mommy) - and so she is growing like a weed. She is mostly wearing 6 to 9 month clothing.
Alta recently learned to roll over... from back to front. Still hasn't mastered the other... but she doesn't like being on her tummy all that much (who can blame her?). She also learned to giggle. It is a mysterious thing this giggle.... only coming out every once in a while... but when it does - AMAZING!
This girl LIVES for her bath time. She adores the water. She would stay in for hours if I let her. Just playing around. I love taking baths with her - she likes to float and hang out on her back. I have to work hard to keep her from lapping up the water like an animal...

Alta is very curious, and very adaptable. Honestly, she is such a good baby. Her cry is a little talky "heeeeeeeyyyyyyyaaa" thing. When she actually does cry - I get all freaked out. As a mother, I'm spoiled... and now I realize that either God had to break me into this baby thing slowly - or He thinks I won't have another if they aren't perfect. Hmmmmm......

Most of you probably know that we went to Utah for most of February. It was wonderful to see our family and friends, and introduce peanut to everyone. Unfortunately our camera was lost for most of it... but we did have it on our mini-trip to Moab.

Moab supposedly had more snow than it had in the past 20 years... so we went climbing on South and West facing things - and just tried to soak up what sun was available. My heart and soul needed the desert. It was a sacrifice to skip out on seeing everyone in Salt Lake for a few days - but I just NEEDED the desert. I can't describe the longing I feel for this place. How I just don't feel like me without it. I only got to climb 3 pitches... and yet - that was ok. I just needed to be in this place, and to bring Alta there as quickly as possible.

She loved it. She just did whatever we did. This is her napping while I'm climbing on Ice Cream Parlor. Such a good girl.

The trip home helped in so many ways. #1 - I was missing "my people". I have good friends here in Alabama, but in so many ways - it has been lonely. It was just so nice to be with people that know me and love me. Sadly, most of that time was taken up with being sick - and so I had to rush a lot of my friend visits. I guess friends will just naturally wean themselves down as we stay away longer - and the lifelong friends that remain will be those that get to see us in that precious time in the future. There has to be some sort of learning curve to this living away from home/ traveling back thing. It was A LOT OF WORK and really not very vacation-y.
#2 - I got to eat decent food. FINALLY! Shanghai, Thai Spice, Cafe Rio, Taste of Punjab - I heart you.
#3 - It helped me to realize that Alabama is where my life is right now. I think I have spent too much time thinking about being back in Utah this past year. I am going to focus on living where I am. Jaren is doing amazing things with his schooling. He was #4 in his class for the TH-67. Which means that he got to select the Blackhawk for his next airframe. He really wanted to fly this helicopter, and because he did so well the first round - he gets to! Go Jaren!
Anyhow, I'm lucky to be meeting so many new and great quality people. It's sad that you know that all of these friends you will be leaving shortly - but the military world is a small one - and hopefully some of these amazing women that I have met will continue to journey with me after my time in Alabama is done.
As a part of realizing that I'm actually living here, and that I want to have fun and do new things... we took Alta on an adventure today. We went to the "Zoo". Only in Alabama would you find a place like this. It was originally started as a petting zoo for the handicapped, and then it turned full scale (well full-scale for Alabama) zoo. Alta loved it.

Cornsnake

Ball Python

Red Tailed Boa

Baby Alligator

1 Month old Grizzly Bear Little girls - they grow up so fast these days.

And yes... we used a lot of hand sanitizer after this. :)

Christmas in Love

Christmas has come and gone - and I find that it is time to reflect. Christmas was interesting this year. It was my first Christmas away from home... and in many ways - my first real Christmas as a Family. Jaren and I celebrated by sharing Christmas Eve with our friends the Echeverria's.

It was so much fun. I absolutely adore their children, and to listen to them talk about the birth of Jesus Christ... well it finally helped me to feel the Christmas Spirit. I never knew how much that feeling (for me) was connected to the love I have for my family back home. To say that I was homesick is an understatement.

Then there was that sweet contentment that I found in making our own Christmas. I laughed as my sister Siobhan called to make sure that we would go buy hot chocolate (which we did) so that I could have a cup of hot cocoa before we opened presents. I giggled when I realized that Jaren finally understood that, for me, the stocking is the most fun part of opening presents! And I cried when some of my family from back home called to make sure I knew that I was missed.

To share it with Alta... well, as you can see, that was the best part!

The year of 2009 truly has been the "best of times and ... the worst of times." I am so grateful for my family this year. More so than ever. I have never understood them more than by being so far away. That, and becoming a mother, may have something to do with it. Do you guys find yourselves thinking, "Dang, my mother was / is amazing?" all the time? I do.

So does Alta! See, that's what she's thinking right here!

Anyhow, I also figured out around 6 weeks postpartum that I was dealing with some postpartum depression. This discovery was made after I found myself balling for nothing... again... or maybe for like the 12th time one day. I will say it didn't really feel like "for nothing" at the time. When I finally vocalized that I thought I had "it" to some friends - and to Jaren it was like I was finally able to tackle the issue. Luckily it coincided with the time that I could start running again. I have always fought off depression (and all other general bad moods) with working out. I figured I could try that again, and if it didn't work, go talk to the doctor. I am happy to report that my body really does balance itself when I give it the proper endorphins. Another thing I should be truly grateful for.

See, Alta's grateful for it!

Now, may I take this time to reiterate the fact that I LOVE RUNNING. I love it. I love how sore I get. I love how I can't breathe when I start out. I love how when I stick to it, suddenly it becomes this magical place where I'm not far from home, where I don't feel alone, or tired, or overwhelmed. I am perfectly in the moment, and rejoicing in my body, and it's great gift of being able to work again. Alta seems to enjoy it as well. This is her running with mommy hat. It keeps her nice and warm while I push her and Mommy into happiness.

I am also grateful, once again, for my husband. Jaren is truly the most patient man ever born. I am so happy that he is finished with his first portion of flight school, and that he FINALLY got to take his paternity leave. It is amazing how much easier life has been with him around. Alta really loves and is bonded with her daddy, and I find that to be one of the greatest gifts of having a family. Daddy loves his Alta, and does an amazing Earny (from Sesame Street) impersonation. I love watching them cuddle, and smile at each other.

I will also say that I find it interesting which skills each parent has naturally. I love that I can tell how to soothe Alta. She doesn't cry. Really. She does this little yell thing for food. A whiny thing for a diaper change or gas. She has only really cried 3 times... and each of those times freaked me out. Once at the doctor -shots... well no duh. Once while on Jaren's chest sleeping, out of nowhere - not sure why still... calmed right down though after we woke her up. And once in her crib out of nowhere. Again, calmed right down after we woke her up.

Most of the time she is just very calm. I'm really lucky, and I know this.

She started cooing and smiling (real smiles - not gassy ones) right at the same time. Same day to be exact, December 18th. It makes my heart sing. How bout you, does this cutie make your heart sing? I thought so!

I can't wait for her 2 month Doctor's appointment (not for the shots of course) - but for the weighing and measuring. We have done a little of that on our own, and so far she has grown 2 inches, and over 4 pounds. Don't you just love a chubby baby neck?

I do!