Yesterday I saw a demo of the new "Movie Preview" templates that came with the latest version of iMovie (on our new Mac - I am SO converted) So I just had to try it out. In about an hour - this is what I had. I wasn't even planning on getting something good enough to share - but this just makes me laugh each time I watch it.
Over the years I often have heard parents go on on about how fast time flys and how quickly kids grow. In this first year I am certainly begining to realize how true this is - first hand. Grandparents, sorry this took a while to get posted, looking back at of the pictures it was so hard to choose favorites. When I began pulling together this video, I started by watching the first one I made a year ago. Wow. She actually took her first steps last night. She has been get increasingly brave standing up on her own, so with considerable prodding from Mol and I we got her to take a couple steps before falling into our arms. That moment was everything and more that I thought it would be.
Additionally, with thanksgiving just around the corner, Mol and I have talking about how overwhelmed we are with how much we have to be thankful for.
This first year as a Dad has been the most amazing year of my life. Thank you Mia for bringing so much joy in my life and in the lives of literally everyone you smile at.
Lastly, thanks Mol, I knew you were going to be an amazing mother, but wow. You set a new standard for amazing. I am so lucky to be on this journey with you - each and every day.
Sunday was my first fathers day, and I couldn't have asked for anything more. I got to sleep in a bit, and then was finally woken up by my daughters infectious giggling and screaming.
Then I went fishing with my Brother and Dad.
While they were fishing, I kept busy chasing this cool dragonfly.
I was in the middle of changing lens when my Dad caught this one, even though he got the fish, I call this "the picture that got away".
Back at the cabin we took a relaxing pontoon ride around the lake. My Dad finally got to show off his granddaughter to the neighbors down the way. She got to hangout in her favorite floaty.
The neighbors had a new dog toy that uses .22 shell to launch a dog toy out into the lake. I jumped at the chance to take a few pictures of Buddy leaping off the dock.
Finally, while we were docking the boat, my Dad started bragging to our other neighbors about my photography. (Thanks Dad!) So then I ended up going out in their speedboat to snap a few of them having a blast on tubes.
Here is the full Tubing Album, I caught a couple wipe out sequences that looked pretty amazing.
A huge thanks to my wife, and family for making this day one to remember.
We had a very busy memorial day weekend, making it to both Osceola, and Danbury, and then home buy Sunday evening. My goal was to spread the remaining mulch around our existing beds... but combined with how much mulch we still had left over, and how nice the day was, I got quite ambitious.
I realized that with the garage roof was done, and the Elm tree was down, we were ready to finally plant around our garage and along the neighbors garage. With a healthy mix of planning and impulsiveness I set off to digging. And then off to Gertens for a completely full pickup truck of plants and shrubs.
Black tube sox with shorts... killer combo. Ignore me - Mia wiggling nonstop is again the highlight.
All of this rain we have been getting recently has actually been great for everything we planted. Once its nicer out - I will post some better before and after pictures.
There is no way we could have done all of this in a day without Sandy's help. And thanks to Grandma Peg for sweeping off out porch, and Kathy for making us Dinner. My imagination works at this speed, always forgetting that everything takes longer to do than I think it will.
In other news, Mia is officially crawling. This morning as mol went down the stairs, Mia went crawling after, and I did a test to see, what Mia would do when she got to the stairs. : ) I was of course right there, and she didn't even slow down, in a way she kind of threw her arms out, like she was going to penguin slide down the stairs. (Mia would have made an excellent penguin, in the last month before finally crawling she perfected the belly swimming in place move.)
While installing the gate at the top of the stairs last night was good timing, it marks the transition into the next stage of parenthood. My good friend Andrew explained it really well... "there is absolutely no instinct for self preservation, that is all on us now."
No matter, just as with the added responsibilities and stress that came with each milestone we already passed - each day also brings the small moments that fill my heart and blow my mind. A new giggle, clapping her hands, or maybe even waving at me as I left for work.
Last weekend Mia got to play in her first kiddie pool. She absolutely loves the water! It seems like She will be crawling any minute now, but I am not in any hurry if she isn't.
One of my favorite times of the day is plopping her in the middle of our bed in the morning while we get ready for work. Neither molly or I are morning people - but it seems like Mia's happiest. She is laughs, and screams, and shows off the latest noise she learned how to make.
Its like natural coffee.
Pretty soon she is going to be chasing us around the floor.
Her bottom two teeth are really coming through - she of course still loves chewing on anything she gets her hand on - teething biscuits are her favorite.
Just when I was finally starting to come to grasp with becoming a parent, I can sense that a lot is going to change soon. I have found myself sharing with a lot of new or soon to be parents, about how the feeling of "it hasn't hit me yet" just keeps evolving. It started with "it just hasn't hit me yet that my wife is pregnant." And keeps changing with each milestone, that I am a Dad, or that I have a 1 month old, and so on.
One of the many things that take getting used too is all of the attention babies get when we go out. People just can't help but smile and stare. Like having a puppy but even more so.
Mia has up to this point been amazing going out wherever we are going. We had a chance to catch up with some old friends who hadn't yet met her - which made it funny having to use the classic parent line... "sorry... she is never like this, this is so new for her..." This time it was actually true. For the first time she was not content just sitting there smiling, and her own toys had no chance at keeping her attention - having to compete with all the fun stuff on the dinner table. When Mol took a spoon away from her - she actually cried and pouted about it. Right then I thought to myself uh-oh the honeymoon is over. I have to actually be a parent now. I am going to savor these last few moments before she learns to move around on her own. I do however, love how the stress of each new milestone is tempered with pride for what she can now do. Her first two bottom teeth are popped through, and she is now sitting up by her self just fine.
On the side I have been launching my photography business, which has been interesting and a lot of fun so far. My main goal is to ensure that I don't let the business part take the fun out of it. One side effect I am noticing is a hesitancy to take more candid causal pictures of us just living. As if now that I am "going pro" - all my pictures have to look it.
We had a blast on our date night - All you can eat sushi at Seven in Mpls. is only $30 on Sundays. Then the Jonsi concert went above and beyond my already high expectations. Because it was his solo album I wasn't expecting a full band for some reason. But there was, and the drummer was nothing short of world class. I could barely contain myself in my chair. The visual effects were like nothing I had seen, there were many times I just sat in complete shock of the complexity of the audio and visual stimulation.
I love being inspired when I get a chance to see people so in their element doing exactly what they were meant to do. So yesterday on a whim I took Mia for a walk to the park to take some pictures of her sitting up on her own. It was a good reminder for me that its when I let go of what I know how to do, and experiment with a new technique - without expectation - is when I have the most fun.
Its hard to believe Mia is 6 months already! (tomorrow) I think this first year of her life will seem like the fastest year of mine. She is doing really well, almost sitting up by herself, hasn't quite figured out how to roll from her stomach to back. But I think what I am most grateful for is her unique personality. She can entertain a whole room with her random outbursts, laughter, and screams - much like her mother. Then at other times she is perfectly content, just observing from the corner, quietly taking it all in - like her Dad. She has allowed us to maintain somewhat of a social life, by being so laid back - Thanks Mia.
She has also been very interested in big people food lately - so we decided to start her on rice cereal when Mol got back from Mexico. In classic new parent form - we had to video tape it. Its really not that interesting - so I sped it up - and put it to a song by Phoenix, that we are rocking out to on a daily basis. (on the rockin new kitchen speakers, which I love more everyday.) And the good news is Mol loves them too.
With spring in the air - we went to explore getting a new stroller. Even though mol and I do not run we wanted something with big wheels that can be used at the cabins. There was only the floor model left of the one we liked with 20% off plus being on clearance... Plus we squeezed them for another $10 off because the pedometer was broken... We couldn't pass up a deal that sweet. Mia seems to like it - she loves being able to look around.
So with Mol in Mexico - Mia is stuck wearing far more practical outfits than cute. And I am catching a small glimpse of how hard it would be to be a single parent. I qualify it as a very small glimpse because I am getting plenty of help - tonight will be the only dinner I will have cooked for myself. (Leftovers from last nights meal cooked by Erik and Mady)
Mol has the camera with her - so the low res iPhone pics will have to suffice.
I had to try and tackle a project that I could get done in one day. Luckily Mady helped to watch Mia while my brother and I went down to the shop to make this sweet speaker shelf above the kitchen sink. It was't complicated but I knew it had to be exact in order to be worth the effort at all (and not get the veto from Mol when she returns.)
I love it when stuff just works. I think most of you have seen me demo the iPhone app - Remote - in my basement. Its great - but I have found I don't listen to much music in the basement. I have wanted to put another "zone" in the kitchen for a while - I kept getting stuck on wanting to put the speakers on the cabinet opposite the sink - but there is no power in that wall. Saturday I even started down the path of installing an outlet up through that wall, but quickly realized that would have been more than a day project. So I can give the rest of the placement specific later if anyone cares - the important part is how simple the technology is. And cheap when compared to other marketed solutions like the Bose Sound Link ($550) or SONOS ($1000).
Because I already have the iPhone and a wireless router (which most normal people already have :) - adding a wireless music "zone" is only $200.
What makes the Airport Express so clutch is its built in headphone style audio output jack. And while every other Bose product is way over priced - the Companion series isn't - and still sounds amazing. Even better than the super popular iPod dock speakers.
Now - with my iPhone - I can choose which rooms I want music in - (computer, basement, and kitchen.)
On a cute note - Mol had me record a video of her reading a book - for me to play to Mia while she is gone. She absolutely loves it - she giggles in this cute half laugh half cry - like oh I am happy to see you, but I miss you too...
This next one required a little more patience. With so many small pieces we just had to go a little bit slower. This time instead of stopping to take pictures throughout, I just took video, and then sped it up a bit. In the end, I think everything else going on around me kind of upstaged the actual wall print. This really puts into perspective how constant a babies wiggling is.
Many of you know I am huge threadless fan. I found Blik a while back when they started printing some threadless designs as vinyl wall art. Mol and I decided to get one for Mia's room. Most are reasonably priced - and simple to "install". Such Great Height
What a weekend! Mol and I cashed in on our anniversary present from Mols parents - one free night at the Westin (including baby sitting. Mol was 9 months prego on our anniversary this year - so it was nice to celebrate it over valentines day.) The suite was awesome. The hot tub was just what we needed - including the interesting people we met drinking Bush Light cans.
Dinner at the Ocean Air was amazing. It was obviously super busy - but they didn't make you feel that way. Our table was too squished to everyone around us - and our server was awesome. Mol and I agreed that all too often servers mess up that moment where they ask if you want wine with dinner - and whether or not they should remove the glasses from the table. So many servers get make that awkward - Ours was SO smooth about it - and I could tell it was going to be a perfect experience. The smallest details are always what matter - how he cracked and shelled Mols King Crab Legs table side - to how the busser noticed I had dripped butter into my water glass - and got me a new one instead of just adding more water. A bit pricey - but we were combining two special occasions - and it was so delicious.
Then on Sunday after one whole night away from Mia - she demanded some of our attention - so we decided to do a photo shoot. (She was actually a doll for the Grandparents, sleeping her usual 9-10 hours)
Finally getting around to finishing this post two Saturdays ago we made a quick field trip over to Hudson for their annual Hot Air Affair festival. Mol gets the credit for getting us out and about. We were there and back in a couple hours, and it was fun going to a "carnival" style event in the middle of winter. It was pretty cool how quickly everyone showed up - ballooners - and spectators all showed up right at 6:30 for the "Moon Glow". I was also surprised how close we got to get to all of the action.
Also our neighbors had their new baby! Holy crap. Getting to hold a 4 day old baby next to Mia at 4 months was pretty cool. It was this great tangible reminder of how much Mia - and my life - has changed so quickly. I had an interesting deja vu moment - when Mia was looking at Annie - just how our other friends baby (who was 4 months old) looked at Mia just after she was born.
First holiday season with Mia - Check. Still sane - Check. Having a kid now, definitely takes it up a notch. We were able to take time and just relax, which is saying something. I am always trying to tackle just one more project - and constantly dreaming of more. (I want to knock out the wall between our living room and dinning room - for example. Not even a possibility in the short term - but something to dream about :)
Mia continues to grow and change everyday. On a long list of our favorite things she does, we both can't get over how cute she is - even at 4am. She doesn't really even cry... she just starts talking, and wiggling around, and then when one of us goes in to change/feed her she always gives us this huge ear to ear smile. Just one example of little rewards there are along the way that make the extra work completely worth it.
I am bracing myself for when she starts being mobile. From what I can tell we still have it relatively easy. ie; she stays where we put her :) Looking back already I am beginning to realize that with each milestone there are worries and concerns - but so far mol and I have risen to each challenge together, and what used to seem ridiculous, quickly becomes normal. Instead of worrying about what we are going to do when... I am working on enjoying the present. Falling in love/becoming obsessed with photography has helped remind me how fleeting each day and its memories can be.
My parents gave Mia her first sled for Christmas. The nice weather on Saturday finally gave us the opportunity to try it out. I had realistic expectations, and was planning on only getting a couple pictures and then walking home. But to our surprise - she LOVED it. She continuously giggled as each rail would tip down into our foot prints. I even convinced Mol to let her slide down a 15% slope for 10ft to me while I took video. Leave it to Dad to push the limit :) She eventually just fell asleep all wrapped up snug.
All in all - we have been reminded about the importance of the small things. And enjoyed simply spending time with friends and family. The pace slowed a bit this year - which was good. But it did mean we didn't fit as many people in as we would have liked. So for those of you we haven't had a chance to see in while, lets get something scheduled now that the holiday crazy has settled. Here's to the new year and savoring each moment big and small.
PS: Grandparents - you can click on the images to go to the full albums. :)
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