Baby Cakes

Since I've been having so much with mixing fruits and veggies to make different flavors for Wesson, I decided to take it one step forward and figure out solids for him. Wes is now a little over 9 months so I suppose its time to get his little fingers working when it comes to lunch time. He's obsessed with Puffs but I can't really get away with that being a meal.

I searched online and wasn't really liking any of the ideas I was seeing so I decided to mess around with a few things and see what I could come up with. Last week we shared pancakes with Wes and he loved it, of course he liked the syrup the most and that wouldn't be fly on a day to day basis!

Here's the baby (pan)cakes I came up with!

ingredients:

• 2 tbsp pured apples
• 1/2 cup pureed sweet potatoes
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup whole wheat flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup milk

-mix all together and cook like a pancake. you could probably cook the whole batter up and freeze the cooked ones or do what I do and just cook as we go :) if you try it out lemme know how your baby likes it!

 

squinty eyes just like his mama ;)

Quick Trip to CdA!

Well I suppose 10 days isn't exactly a quick trip but considering we decided to come home less than 12 hours before, it works. We're still hanging out on the books, yippee! Not. Mike was in Helena for 3 nights while Wes, Rem and I braved the never going above 5 degree temps, not fun. I woke up every few hours making sure Wesson didn't kick his blankets off. Attempted co sleeping one night, failing miserably because someone thinks mommy's bed is play time. He most likely thought that because the floors in the trailer weren't holding enough heat to play on so we lived on the heated mattress with toys. After crying to Mike about feeling like I was freezing my baby, we loaded the truck up and made the 6 hour drive home. We needed a break.

It was a needed trip home. Especially since we will be getting a call any time and won't be home until around May. We also needed updated dentist appointments, doctor appointments, rings cleaned, tax appointments, CPR classes and some good old fashion bath tub time.  I am so sorry we didn't get to see all our wonderful friends, it was a crazy week trying to fit things in... but don't worry you'll get sick of us once we officially live in the same town again!

Despite the boring teeth cleanings and errands we had a pretty relaxing, happy trip...

 

 

 

 

We got to spend a night with our favorite people sharing drinks, making memories and finding out the truth about Lady Gaga. I also got to spend some good quality T&P time just us girls another day (with the exception of our main man...)

Shared frozen yogurt our favorite birthing, mommy friends; Whitney & Faith and their sweet baby girls! It still shocks me when I look at this picture! I love that we've stayed connected even though we go months without seeing each other. You girls are so special to us!

Watched the Ravens win their way into the Superbowl with Michelle & Travis and Matt & Kelsey. I'm glad the Ravens won (even though I don't care about teams...) I'm not sure how Matt would have reacted to them loosing ;) I also got to attend my first Garden Street yoga class with Kelsey and my mom taught by the woman who got in me into yoga 4 years ago! love!

can't wait to open our own Hayden studio one day ;)

I got to visit with my newest mommy friend Vandelle and their two week old baby John. If I was having doubts about baby fever it has officially set in now... awh so adorable, tiny and non monstrous! Just reminds me ever more how quickly time goes by, oh great I'm one of "those" moms now!

zonked out right in my arms...

We also got to grab lunch with Kellon and Leslie at the yummy Nosworthys. I slacked and didn't snag a picture BUT I can assure you the food was great and the conversations were better!

I got to sneak in a few runs with my mama and we also attended a health seminar at my dad's office. A lot of the information wasn't new and he talked mostly about what I'm already working on. Hooray for being on the right track! He did spark my attention on sugars and things their feeding our animals to plump them up... Did you know that margarine was created to fatten the turkeys up but it was clogging the turkey's arteries so bad they had to stop. Well since they had produced so much they added some yellow dye and decided to pass it as a "healthier" option for butter?! ew. sick. Needless to say I threw our fake butter our when I got home!

We got to squeeze in a few nights of cards with my parents, plenty of coffee chats with mom, Mike got to sneak off and go duck hunting one day and got to fling a few arrows another day. It was so nice to be able to put stress aside for a week and come back to the trailer refreshed and ready to take on the last leg of this journey. We also found out our babies are becoming damn good travelers! Wesson is a dream baby in the truck now, nothing like our nightmare move!!

Wesson having a blast crawling around and pulling himself up on EVERYTHING!

 

world class travelers :)

Sandy Hook Virtual 5k

In case you haven't heard there have been some awesome people working on setting up a 5k race for the families of those angels & heroes of the Sandy Hook tragedy. While the people around CT will be the actual 3.1 miles in town, others around the country have to option to run a "virtual 5k" in their own states and cities on March 23rd. How cool is that?!



Here's is the link for the registration. So whether your running with the pack in CT, running another race on that Saturday, running with friends/family, or running solo around your neighborhood think of those families/friends hurting and take time on those miles to thank God for the people you have around you.

twenty-thirteen

Well here we are again... making plans to watch the ball drop, eating the rest of the junk food in the house, setting resolutions, and reflecting back on the year.

2012 was a year full of lessons, some pretty tough ones and some pretty wonderful ones. It bizarre to think a year ago I was big & pregnant, living with my parents, playing DD and going home to an empty bed. We may still be living in the trailer but at least I get to kiss my husband tonight. Although it was so tough not having Mike working last year, he was at least able to come to all my last doctors appointments and was there for my first contraction. I know everything happens for a reason ;)

This last year Mike and I have really grown up. Moving to Colorado with a 3 week old was kind of a reality shock. Going from living with your mom and than having to fully be a mom with zero help was kind of like being thrown to the wolves in the baby raising business. Luckily Wesson is basically a dream baby so it made it pretty easy on us and we've become damn good parents if I say so myself. We've also really grown into our roles as husband and wife. We've been living this crazy, sporadic life that forced us to say good bye to whats easy and forced us to relay on each other for support.

Its weird we've been talking about how we were suppose to be moving home soon and honestly part of me doesn't know if I'm ready (insert huge gasp!) I know I sound like a crazy person right now but I'm not sure I'm ready to share my family yet. I think this family needs just one more adventure. Which as soon as we get that call we're on it ;) Yes we miss home, friends, and family and we're more than ready to have a real life home but I've really found myself while going through this apprenticeship. I really like the wife, mom, & woman I'm becoming. I've made peace with my mistakes and learned to forgive myself and not let those hold me back. I'm learning the type of friend I want to be and the types of people I want around my family. I've learned to not expect anything of people, not in the aggressive I don't need you crap but in the I can't change people and situations so let it go type.

With that being said I guess that's another 2012 resolution I finally finished. I think all my life I've always put "let people go, don't let people get to me" one version or another and I think I'm finally okay with it.

As for our other 2012 resolutions we hit probably half of them. I did have a natural birth (woop!) and I plan on having all my babies natural, I lost my pregnancy weight and some more! I feel awesome! I'm on my way to the best shape of my life and loving the process. We did pay off more things but surprise added more on, such is life yah? Mike may not have fully finished the apprenticeship but between passing his tests and only have a couple hundred hours left I'd say we're pretty damn close! As far as Remmi listening better weeell he does.... just cost us a grand! hah. still so worth it though!

So in true "Cayla Fashion" here's our 2013 resolutions!

Fitness: continue running and see how many miles I can put behind me
              there are about 4 yoga poses I'm hoping to "master" this year

Mental: finding the light in our darkest times, stop focusing on the negative side of set backs
              accepting things/situations I can't change
              forgive & move on, with or without apologizes

Family: purchase our first home!
             Mike's journeyman's ticket
             financial goals

Its safe to say we're ready for 2013. We will 100% for sure be moving home this year. Not sure the time limit now but it should be no later than June, perfect time to buy our first home and have summer welcome us back! Until than we'll continue to hold onto these days of just us four, exploring new towns, learning more about ourselves, and fully enjoying the "little moments."

Happy News Years friends & family.

Sandy Hook Elementary School

After hearing about the Newtown shooting, like everyone else I've been left with a pit in my stomach and have been clinging a little tighter to my son.  How anyone could even have that horrible thought of hurting children is beyond me. I can't even really write about how horrible I feel for those families who already had presents under their trees, thinking about how excited their child would be to open their gifts, the future plans they had, and all the pain they're all going through. I can't imagine. Those families, especially the parents will be dealing with some assholes mental issues the rest of their life and that's not fair.

Although we don't know those families and friends affected by this tragedy, we can show our support in other ways. The Snowflake project came to my attention from another blog I follow and I think its a great idea! According to this blog the children and staff are not going to be going back to sandy hook, they'll be attending a new school. Which I just think is fabulous. A new school is always scary, so to make it inviting and welcoming they are asking people to make snow flakes of any kind to display in the new school! What a fun idea to do while your babies are still home on break! Here's the
link for more information and the address! I hope you all get inspired to just send one snowflake to help bring a smile to a childs face :)

Mike and I dug out my random craft supplies and brought out our creative side today! Here's what we came up with! :)

Mike working very hard on his one snowflake ;)

yeah, I'm aware my snowflakes look like a 4 year olds project

hope these bring a little smile in CT!

buh bye snowflakes!

Another organization I came across, that is helping out is this facebook group. I found this through a running blog I follow (I know I have too much time on my hands!) They are in the process of making a 5k run to help the families affected by the shooting. Of course the run will be in CT but they are hoping to add a virtual option for us around the US. I have seen other states creating a 5K in different cities so I can only hope where ever we end up, its close by a running city! If not you can bet I'll be out running solo on March 23rd!

Our little blessing working on his bitterbeer face :)

 

I hope these links help you heal, offer support, and if nothing else hug your baby a little closer and say a quick prayer for those affected.

Christmas 2012

I don't know about you all but December flew by for us and even though its still snowing outside, our Christmas decorations are officially packed away.

Christmas was so bittersweet for us. It was the first year I didn't jump out of bed and run to wake my brother up. I think despite not getting to see our parents it was the perfect day.

Christmas Eve was pretty quiet we watched Ice Age, went to church (and made asses out of ourselves, lets just say my husband was the ONLY one wearing his typical hat and we spun brodies out of the parking lot ha), put cookies & milk out for Santa, read a few stories out of our Christmas book, and fell asleep to a Christmas Story.

christmas eve <3

I felt like I was 12 again during the night. I was up a few times, so excited that Santa came! It didn't help I think Remmi knew too because he was up wandering most the night. Finally around 5 I decided it was time to wake the boys up, yes I had to wake Wesson up haha.

Surprisingly Wesson was pretty great at opening presents. He of course loved waving the tissue paper around. Mike and I had planned on only doing stocking stuffers for each other but neither of us actually stuck to that plan. Mike has wanted a bow forever and talks about it nonstop, so to finally shut him up I decided it was time to get him one. A huge thanks for my dad, brother and Scott Siebert Mike got the ultimate Santa gift :)  I also got a big surprise though... Mike surprised me with a Garmin running watch. I am so excited and love it!!

aftermath!

quick christmas jog to tire the pup out & try out my sweet new watch

proud new bow owner

Since I woke Wes up he was happy to go back to bed shortly after opening all his gifts. After cleaning up all the paper and filling our plates with huckleberry/peach coffee cake we sat down to watch the hilarious movie, Pitch Perfect. Seriously so funny!

second favorite gift after his CAT wheel from uncle christopher!

all those great new toys and he still only wants to play in the dog dishes.

We were feeling weird and kinda homesick but that quickly went away once we were all loaded up and on the road to Butte. I am SO lucky I have a big, welcoming family! Connie and Pat invited us over for dinner and to spent the night. It was so relaxing and fun visiting with all my family... plus dinner was delicious! Remmi had fun socializing aka terrorizing their little dogs. It was a blast and made us even more thankful to be where we are. Thank you again guys!!

most hilarious gift... matches my wine glass

New Years will be a typical night in except we're making a pact now to make it to midnight instead of our usual 9, uhm okay 8 pm bed time. Our plan: alcohol and hooking the wii up. we're way too cool, I know :)

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and Santa was extra good to them! Loves! :)

set backs.

i've really been dreading writing this post.

last week mike got laid off... it sucks. so bad. as most of you know we only have 12ish weeks left so its been a really hard mental hit on us. we are so damn close so for something like this to happen is a kick in the gut.

don't get me wrong its been nice to have mike home a little more but the fact that we most likely won't get back to work until the 3rd week in january is tough. the hours and savings that is being sacrificed in during this time is a blow.

we are staying here until the next job. we're paid up in rent and we really do want to spend christmas morning just us 4. although i am very, very excited about going to butte for christmas dinner! :)

as usual we won't know where the job is or what type of job will come up. the thing we're most stressed about it is hours. mike has around 500 hours left so if he gets puts on a 40 hour a week job we're pushed back an extra couple of months.

its stressful and hard right now. no one likes to be laid off but when your future gets put on hold its a big mental hurt... so please keep positive thoughts for us during this.