Five after Four

Upon the encouragement of my good friend Natalie, I decided to run a 5 mile race a couple weekends ago.  5 miles just 4 months (and 5 days) after giving birth was a bit ambitious, but I did it!

At the starting line I was a little chilly, but not too nervous.  I was glad there were a couple hundred people running the race (fancy Natalie was in a different - half marathon - race), so I wouldn't come in last.

I didn't run after the first trimester, so getting back into the swing of things after having Orelia has taken some effort.  Lately I run twice a week, Saturday and Sunday.  We are planning to get a jogging stroller soon, when Orelia is 6 months old.  I was pretty darn proud of myself for even entering the race, and even prouder that I was able to run the entire thing.  I had forgotten how much fun it can be to pin a number.

We celebrated our race finishes with big bowls of ramen at Ramen Parlor.  That's definitely worth running for.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Santa's favorite little helper.

She had a blast this morning sitting on Daddy's lap and chewing on the handle of a paper bag.

She was disappointed when we told her Christmas only comes once a year.  Sorry, sweetie!

But she perked up when we told her about Easter this spring!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday!

O Tannenbaum

We took Orelia to our favorite Christmas tree farm in Half Moon Bay so she could help us choose which tree to cut down and decorate.

Harper didn't agree with Orelia's choice, but we told her life is full of disappointments.

Our girl loves to be outside observing things, so she naturally enjoyed the outing.

I loved dressing her in one of her many Santa suits.  A baby can never have too many Santa suits.

John enjoyed his first of two cups of hot chocolate that day, though Orelia was disappointed she didn't get a sip.

She sure did love touching a Douglas Fir for the first time, though.

John posed with his conquest...

Before taking part in its early demise.

It's fun starting these family holiday traditions, and I can't wait to share the experience with our family for many years to come!

Orelia Meets St. Nick

While at the Christmas tree farm this year, we of course had to stop by Santa's workshop and have Orelia sit on his lap.

I'm not sure whether she told him she had been naughty or nice.

But I'm pretty sure she asked or a pony.

Orelia at Four Months

Somehow when we weren't looking, a third of a year has passed since our little girl arrived in our lives.

Orelia is getting more and more fun every day and we love exploring her new personality.

She did well at her 4 month appointment.  She now weighs 14 pounds 2 ounces (~50th percentile) and is 25.5 inches long (90th percentile).  Her head circumference is 43.5 centimeters (90th percentile), so her big brain makes getting shirts on and off a bit of a challenge.

She is constantly grabbing and putting things into her mouth.  As long as it is within reach, she can grab it.  Her own hands are still fascinating too, though.

She has also discovered the fun world of her feet.  She puts them in her mouth when she gets a chance, but her cloth diapers are a little too bulky to allow this to happen other than during diaper changes.

She sits up well when assisted by a pillow or her bumbo-esque chair.

She still loves playing on her back though, especially since it allows her more freedom to roll around.  She is constantly rolling from back to front, but has only rolled from front to back once (as far as we know).

John likes to call her Droolie Andrews since there is a constant flow of spittle coming down her chin.  Sometimes we think she's going to dehydrate.

She has lots of fun hanging out with babies in our mom and baby groups and classes.  Nothing is more fascinating than a fellow baby.

She smiles at me and John all the time, especially when she sees us for the first time after a nap or a day at work.  It's great to know she's thinking "they are here for me!"

We go on a few half mile walks everyday with her in the baby carrier watching the world go by.  These days I sing Christmas carols to her during these walks.  The neighbors must enjoy my rendition of Jingle Bells.

We also go on a hike or two every week in the stroller with some of our buddies.  Both of us enjoy the fresh air.

She loves to babble in her own little vowel-only language, and we love listening to her.

We are on the brink of starting solid foods, but in the meantime the only solids she's getting are of the wooden toy variety.

Happy four months to our little girl!

Tundra

In the frozen tundra of California, it is sometimes as cold as 50 degrees when we go on our hikes.

All polar bears are instructed to suit up and protect themselves from such frigid temperatures.

Jack in the Box

My dad set up a mini photography studio in our house over Thanksgiving and took these adorable images of our girl.

We were all stunned that Orelia actually liked it in the box!  My dad took 80-some photos of her in there with nary a whine.

It went so well that we decided to even attempt an outfit change.

Only a very special jack in the box comes with its own drool, though.

It's Beginning...

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Someone has been wearing her "My First Christmas" Santa PJs.

I have a feeling she'll be wearing them on Christmas day too...until she poops or pees in them.

"I would never do that." she says.

I love her long delicate eye lashes and the way she looks all around to make sure she doesn't miss a thing.

She's enjoyed looking at the Christmas lights on the nearby houses, and I know she will love staring at our Christmas tree when we put it up.

It's wonderful to share this special season with our bottom-lip-sucking girl.

Peek-a-boo

Like any normal child, Orelia loves to play peek-a-boo.   It's almost guaranteed to put a big smile on her face.

Apparently she loves it so much that she's started initiating the game herself.

Or perhaps she just loves flashing us.