Long time, no blog...

Wow! Two months have flown by in the blink of an eye since I last wrote. I suppose living life has taken precedence over writing about it, which when you pause to consider it, is a good thing. I think for now it is best for me to put my blogging life on an official hiatus. I am happy to report that life is well in the Mama Mia! household. It is my intention to return to blogging sometime in the future, as I want this to be something of a "historical document" for Emma one day. So for now I will say have a Happy New Year, and we will see you in at some point in 2010!

The Great Pumpkin '09

We recently visited our favorite local pumpkin patch to officially welcome the fall season and kick Halloween into high gear. Emma loved exploring all the pumpkins, checking out the corn husk tee-pee with Dada, riding through the patch in a wagon, and best of all her first hay ride! We hauled home three pumpkins: A big one for Dada, a medium sized one for Mama, and a little baby pumpkin for our own Baby Pumpkin - who's not such a baby anymore!

Movin' and shakin': A budding musician

At summer's end we thought it was time to seek out a fun, family learning activity we could enjoy together. We didn't have to think long to decide a music class would be just the thing!

After an exhaustive search of the typical options, I soon discovered that the Portland area's toddler music scene is mainly geared toward kids who get to have stay-at-home moms, as 99% of courses within a reasonable driving distance were during weekday mornings. Disappointed and frustrated, I made a last search of our local parks and recreation offerings and discovered a private preschool offering just what we were looking for: A Friday evening music class, virtually right in our own backyard! Happy to say "screw you!" to the big name, working mom hating, national chain of kiddie music classes, I smiled at the thought of spending half the price on a locally owned and operated option and signed Emma right up!

For the past month we have been religiously attending our "Tuneful Tots" class every Friday evening. I find myself looking forward to Fridays with a giddiness I haven't felt in a while. It is so much fun watching Emma have such a great time singing, dancing, exploring an assortment of musical instruments, and making new little friends! I greatly admire the teacher, who is wildly talented in working with the early-childhood set, and who also clearly has the patience of a saint. I'm mean really, teaching music in an engaging way to kids under three without losing hair? Surely there are trophies handed out for this.

Here are some shots of Em at a recent class session. What can I say? The girl's got rhythm!!

22 Months

In just two short months, my little baby girl will be turning TWO years old! I can't believe it, so I choose not to spend too much time torturing myself with this fact, even though her party is already halfway planned.

These days, although we're prone to some hefty tantrums, we are extra busy as Emma's capacity to experience and enjoy the world around her grows by the day. Here are just a few things we're up to at 22 months of age:

• Attending "Baby Bachs and Tuneful Tots" class on Friday evenings - a fun event for the whole family!
• Forming social ties with kids her own age, and actively playing with them some of the time rather than just along side them.
• Speaking in one and two word phrases - we're learning a new word every day!
• Blurting out a random word the moment she wakes up in the morning. Its so odd, but hilarious. My favorite example is walking into her room as she rolls over, opens her eyes, and says "FOOT!" Yeah, I don't know either. But its pretty funny.
• Commanding Mama and Dada to do things for/with her. "Mama! Sit!" "Dada! Color!"
• Speaking of color, the girl looooooves her crayons!
• Climbing in and out of the car and her carseat all by herself.
• Supporting a near-addiction to strawberries.
• Loving her "siblings," Max and Cali.
• Bonding with her daytime babysitter and her family.
• Refusing to keep her socks on, regardless of the temperature.
• Reverting to hating having her hair washed. What happened?? She used to love this!
• Informing us very matter of factly when she has made a "number 2" in her diaper and would like it changed. Now please. "POOP!"
• Developing her own taste in Tv shows: Sesame Street ("Elmo! Elmo!"), Clifford ("Fifford"), and Calliou are probably her top three, although she loves to groove to the theme songs of Dragon Tales and Martha Speaks. Not that she spends barrels of time watching Tv. These are simply the good 'ol trusty "Mom now has a chance to sneak a shower or make breakfast" shows. Everything in moderation!
• Dancing to her favorite song, "Do The Goofy Dance," or as Emma calls it, "Boop!" (listen to a snipet here and you'll understand why)
• Acknowledging when something is gross or just sub-par: "Eeeeeewwwwwwww!!!"

Yup, we are definitely developing into our own little person. Emma, you bring love and joy to my heart that I have never before known. :)

Hood to Coast

Hood to Coast 2009 happened a month ago, yet it was such a significant event for me that even a month later it is still worth blogging about.

Just about a year ago I was a complete, certified non-runner. In an effort to get back into shape and shed the leftover pregnancy pounds I adopted the Couch to 5K training program, following the example set by my good friend Lori. It took me almost six months, but last March I achieved my first goal by running my first 5K race. Only a month later I was questioning my sanity as I signed on to run the 2009 Hood to Coast Relay.

I am pleased to say that I pulled off this most recent running goal as well. There were certainly moments in the months during my preparation for the race where I doubted whether or not I could do it. And there were absolutely moments (or hours, if we're being honest) during the relay where I wondered to myself what on Earth I was doing there. But you'll have to forgive me for tooting my own horn when I proudly proclaim: I DID IT!!!

An old high school friend of mine summed up the Hood to Coast experience perfectly in just two words: "Miserably wonderful." It was one of the two most physically grueling experiences of my life and I loved it! (I'll let you guess what that other experience was. Hint: It involved Emma's arrival into the world...) The pushing of oneself through pain, utter fatigue, sleep deprivation, hunger, and frustration was unreal. Yet being in the company of the most positive, supportive people and team mates one could imagine, bonding with old friends and new, made the entire event almost euphoric. Few things in life would make me happier than to do it all over again sometime in the future!

My contribution to the team was leg 8, three different segments, one of which was dubbed "Bitch Ass Hill Lane" by my van-mates, and a total of about 15 miles. In all, team Tightie Whities finished 699th out of 1,004 teams. 197 total team miles in 29:40:11. Not too shabby if I do say so myself!


Tightie Whities at the starting line at Timberline!

Running my 2nd leg, up the most atrocious, brutal hill I've ever seen. Photo taken at about mile 3 of 6. This is not a smile. It is a grimace of pain.

My 2nd leg finished. The hand-off to Matt.

Finishing up my 3rd and final leg! Pure happiness and relief!!

Party on the beach in Seaside! My Van #2 buddies - I'm not just being cheesy when I say there is NO WAY I could have made it through without them!!