I can't keep up

Cecilia is changing so fast I can't keep the blog updated! Everyday or every other day she makes strides towards walking. Shaun keeps working with her to get her to crawl because we know it is important. He takes her downstairs to the cushy carpet and works with her. But poor thing still doesn't have enough strength to pull her knees together to be able to get up on them and crawl. She can move forward though. She pulls with her arms and drags her body. It makes me so sad to see it, but she can get around. Here is a video of it.



I also got a video of her scooting on her bum. Shaun says she looks like a spider, which is a good description for it. But again, she can get around.



This leads me to a story about a "first". I was in bed this morning and Shaun was playing with her, well he was supposed to be playing with her. All of a sudden the door to the bedroom flew open and this little girl came scooting in all by herself. Daddy didn't even know she was there. It was the first time she has come in our bedroom and woke me up all by herself. I'm sure it will happen so many more times :) The second first that happened today was after my shower. Cecilia started out in the bathroom with me and when I got out I had to go find her somewhere in the house. That was pretty fun. I'll probably hate it someday, but the first is exciting.

Two more "firsts" and I'll quit for the day. The third "first" of the day was Cecilia pushed, all by herself, a toy walking. I got another video of it.



Look at her, you'd think she has been doing this for weeks, not the first time! Shaun couldn't believe his eyes when I showed him the video. I was shocked too. I set her on her feet, she grabbed on, and off she went! She pushed that thing all around the house, several times. Oh and I got her to walk with holding only one of my fingers last weekend too. She doesn't like it, but she will do it. She can also stand by herself for about 10 seconds (also fusses the whole time). Like I said she is just developing faster than I can track! The last week and a half she has just... well I'm at a loss for words... just learned!

Last thing, she finally, after months of work, signed "more". To be honest I'm not very good at remembering to sign it to her all the time. When she wants more of something she points and grunts and I get the point and give it to her. She would have learned it much earlier if I could remember to sign "more" and then give it to her. But we got there eventually. I am much better at signing "all done" and she just puts her arms out for me to pick her up. She knows what I'm saying, just won't say it back. Oh well, she has learned enough for two weeks I'd say.

Family Pictures

We finally got more professional pictures taken of Cecilia. It has been too long. We have been shopping photographers for a while, but there are too many to choose from and I was overwhelmed. Recently I took Cecilia to work and my coworkers were bragging about their new niece. They showed me some newborn pictures taken of her which were so creative and amazing that I knew I found my photographer. I went home and booked a session. She took some of us as a family, but mostly of Cecilia. She does a 1 year old trash the cake session, which I was so excited about. I wasn't happy with any of the pictures I took at Cecilia's birthday party because the lighting was terrible. I know I'm obsessed about getting the perfect cake shot, but we really needed new pictures of her anyway.

I did get a few great cake shots to choose from and so many others. She really is a great photographer! Here is a link to her blog with C as the star. Below are a few others which we really love that didn't make it on her blog, too many amazing pictures! If you live in Utah you should think about using her for your next pro pix session.

Staycation

Sometimes you just need to get away. Now that we have a baby with her own schedule, which seems to be messed up if I breathe wrong, getting away seems to be more work than relaxing. So my new favorite thing is a staycation. You've heard of them, they got really popular when the economy crapped out. You vacation in your own town and do something you wouldn't normally do that is enjoyable for everyone.

Park City here we come. It is perfect, half an hour and you are there. No missed naps or late bedtime. This time of year they have some great deals. Last November (also in the off season for PC) We went to Stein Eriksen lodge with Shaun's parents. I felt more relaxed by the end of the weekend than I ever have after entertaining, or any vacation for that matter. Stein has everything that makes for a perfect vacation, a fully stocked kitchen where we can make some amazing meals (and if you know Shaun and I, cooking is very relaxing and enjoyable). It also has a large, dark, quiet bathroom that we can put Cecilia to sleep in and not worry about making too much noise. And it has another full bathroom off the main room so it isn't missed. The place has several fireplaces that they will come light a real wood burning fire in. Who doesn't relax watching fire? There is just something about it. The setting couldn't be prettier, up in the mountains with the yummy smelling Spruce Pine tree and daffodils that are just blooming. Of course the people are nice, this time when we stayed they brought over some yummy scones and jam just to say thanks for staying with us again.

So when I needed a vacation this weekend Stein Eriksen was the first place I thought of. They even had the same deal as last time, free dinner or Sunday brunch. This Sunday brunch is amazing so I couldn't wait to book it. Yesterday we drove up in time to go swimming before Cecilia went to bed. Which she loves to do and generally makes her sleep better. Then Shaun made this amazing chicken dinner. We tried to invite some friends to enjoy it, but that didn't work out so we selfishly scarfed it down.

Today we stuffed ourselves at the brunch and ran home for church fully rested and ready for the week. Well almost fully rested, Cecilia woke up twice last night crying. We are working on breaking her from the brace that she is growing out of and doesn't need anymore. Surprisingly she has a hard time sleeping without it. It is all the freedom, just moves all over the crib and can't just settle down. Hopefully tonight will be better... If not I may need to go on another staycation :)

Cecilia Update

I was talking to a friend at church on Sunday and she was trying to get her daughter to say "bear." But she wasn't in the mood. Well her daughter is about the same age as Cecilia, so it made me stop and think. Wait a minute, Cecilia can say a few words and I didn't even notice! She definitely says my name. The other day Shaun got her up in the morning and was changing her diaper. She was doing her normal baby chatter, until I walked by the door. Then she goes "MA!" Sometimes it is "EHH-MA!" and yesterday she even said "MOM." Sure melts your heart when you hear your one year old call for you by name. This week I realized she also says "Ball" (Bah), "Balloon" (Boo), and "Apple" (Ahpahpah). Apple is my favorite because she pulls this really funny face to say it that you can only do when you don't have any teeth. I want to get a video of it, but she won't do it on demand. Today we went to the store. You don't realize how many balloons there are at the grocery store until you go with a baby who can only say a few words and balloon happens to be one of them. I had to ask the checkout lady if they had any free balloons so I could give her one. I took a video of her when we got home but she only said balloon once (which is really more like a drawn out boo with the intonations of balloon) and if you aren't paying attention you may miss it. I can't wait to see what word she picks up next.



Oh and in the video you can also see how she walks with her behind. This is how she "crawls", although it can't really be called that when she is sitting down. She pulls with her arms, wiggles her legs and feet, and scoots with her butt. It is funny to watch. The first time Shaun saw it he quoted Bill Cosby "As I was sitting in the dentist chair I realized that if I ever went paralyzed from the knee down I could walk with my behind." I keep trying to put her back on her tummy so she will learn how to crawl for real, but since she learned this she won't let me do it. She is quickly learning how to get around and I have to watch her more closely. Funny how I've been looking forward to this day for so long and yet I still don't feel prepared for it.

She also finally learned to roll over onto her tummy. It is a byproduct of learning how to pull herself up to a sitting position. Shaun taught her how to do this and it makes changing her diaper much more difficult. She has some abs of steel this one. Here is a video of it.



So she learned to roll over onto her tummy by trying to sit up, not being able to quite make it and tipping over instead. I didn't really count that, but this week she did finally did it on purpose, she is only 13 months old! But she has a great excuse and we'll leave it at that. All in all she has made great progress, especially in the last week.