Living the Good Life

Oh hey. I used to update this blog once upon a time. And then life started moving way too fast so I just gave it up to focus on the little things. But I don't want to forget those little things now that we are on to new things! So, after being bullied repeatedly by my youngest sister, here's what we've been doing since February. Lot's of growing, playing, and loving. My 5 month old will be my 11 month old a week from Friday. Sob.

March

April 

 Snuck off to Utah for a little spring break.

Happy Easter!

Loved wearing those sunglasses until about a month ago.

First sports injury-- blister from bouncing so aggressively in her play and doorway bouncers. Proud moment.

Lafayette Reservoir

Went swimming for the first time and LOVED it.

We are parents.

Decided to just go for it and wore matching outfits to Church.

Loves reading books. Any book any time, she wants in. This makes me so happy.

We practiced having 5 kids. Love my Jensen-Swapps.

Had the BEST WEEK EVER with my best friends. Pebble Beach 2012. Glorious.

The ABC 3. Afton Bailey Callie. 

Headlocks of love of all week.

Cal and Aunt Stace playing all day long.

Off to Greer AZ for some Cook Family time before Nate got married and Bryson and Janice left for Zimbabwe.

I have the best Sisters-in-law and Mother-in-law but Tyler better marry a 6'0 girl or I will stand out like a sore thumb in all of our  Cook family pictures forever.

Twins.

I am a lucky lucky girl.

Back in CA at the Alameda County Fair.

My little baby is almost One. These last two pics crack me up because they were taken within 3 seconds of each other. She is the happiest baby but can sure pull a sad face!

 Up next...(hopefully soon) JULY! Family time in Pebble, a trip home to WA, learning how to stand and crawl up the stairs. Then I'll be caught up and slightly more motivated to get regular again. 

I am soaking up every minute of my sweet Cal. Life is good.

At 5 Months

Cal is a whole new baby. It's ridiculous, exciting, fun, and 10x more exhausting than last month but that's what we signed up for.

You know what I didn't know I was signing up for? A baby who only takes a couple 30 minute naps during the day. Sometimes only one 30 minute nap. I was so naive about working from home, I thought it would be a piece of cake! It is definitely harder than expected and I'm learning as I go. However, she has been AWESOME at sleeping through the night for months now so no complaints there. Let's be honest, no complaints period. She's perfect.

This month we introduced the doorway bouncer-- huge success! I remember when my cousin's twins first used this bouncer. It was so fun to watch then and now seeing Callie in it just cracks me up.

Cal also met her BFF and fellow SAMB-- Afton Nicole Swapp. We had a couple playdates while Ashley was in California and it was really hard to see them go. I think every week should be full of lunch playdates with your best friends.

My Mom and Stacie flew out to visit me while Matt was in New York and we had an amazing weekend that went by too fast. They always go too fast. We walked the Lafayette Reservoir, had a couple lazy days,went shopping in Walnut Creek, ate at my favorite restaurant-- Angelines in Berkeley. Delicious New Orleans cuisine. Hush puppies, voodoo shrimp, and bananas foster bread pudding with bourbon whipped cream. Ohhhhh buddy. I'm hungry again. Just had a fabulous time.

Aunt Stacie was great about putting Callie in all sorts of entertaining get ups!

Oh and one morning when they let me sleep in a little I woke up to Cal with NEON pink toenails. Something about polish on baby toes just kills me! Now I feel like they always need to be painted---maybe when she stops sucking on her toes so much...

After they left we celebrated the big 27 for this guy! Matt and Cal are two peas in a pod I tell you. Their baby pics are identical and some of her scowl faces are dead on her dad. So funny.

One day I was feeling a little stressed so a drive to see the ocean was in order. It always calms me down. Even when it's windy and freeeeeezing. Then we drove across the Golden Gate and got some sweets in Sausalito.

Early in February we made our yearly drive down to Pebble Beach for the AT&T ProAm. We met up with the Jensen crew and had to hit up some of my favorite spots in Carmel. 

Couldn't resist a couple random photos along the way.

I had no idea Matt took these next two photos--I found them on his phone later and I absolutely love them.

Another big event was Cal meeting her Uncle Shane. This man is THE baby-whisperer. I don't know what  magic spell he whispers into their ears but babies just take to him like no other. Callie was perfectly happy to just hangout with Shane and forget all about her milkmaid:) I miss him too much, life was great when we lived a block away from Shane and his sweet girls. Can't wait 'til Cal gets to meet her little cousins.

Finally, we have just introduced rice cereal and Cal is all about it. I think the stuff is just so bland and I can't wait to see what she thinks about some actual tasty food. She is growing up too fast. Most overused statement ever, I know. Seriously though--on a personal note-- I don't talk about it a lot but the struggle we had even getting pregnant in the first place has given me a different perspective than I probably would've had if it would've happened easily. It's funny how you start to see the big picture once you've made it through a trial. I am cherishing every step and begging time to go slow. I am so grateful for my Cal.