My 10 Month old Ski Racer!

MISS ANIKA,  I CANT Believe my bub is 10 Months old!
You have been one busy little girl.

You were walking a little on your 9 month birthday, but now you are running! 

AND...as of this Sunday- SKIING! haha. Kind of.

ON Sunday, we went over to our local Mt for a fun race sponsored by Mt. D*w.  I have participated in this race MANY MANY times  in the last 20 years. The race has been going on for 21 years.  The race crew said you are officially the youngest competitor they have ever had in 21 years :)   You were just going to watch me race...but, then after my run, we decided to borrow some boots and skis and let you try. Nona hiked up the trail with you in the Ergo. I carried the skis and boots up the chairlift with me.

The boots were a little big, so you had your regular shoes on as well inside the boots! haha

We are in the start gate to the right...You were smiling for the crew taking pics.

"Racer Ready. 3, 2, 1...GO!"
Mummy's legs were BURNING when I had to bend down and help you go the whole way.  IT was a perma squat.  I work my legs a lot too, and this HURT! When we were near daddy (3 or 4 gates from the bottom) I just had to stand up to give my legs a break. When I stood up, I also picked you up and the weight of the skis on your legs must have hurt because you started to whimper, but then before I put you back down, ONE ski fell off! LOL. It went down the course and through the finish and You finished on ONE SKI! :)

As you can see, this was a very easy course. I went very slow ;)

After your run, we went in the lodge to warm up. YOu were happy. This snow suit was Mummy's when I was your age ;) 

We went back out to watch Nona and your cousins race too.

Later in the day, we waited for the award ceremony.

YOU GOT A GOLD MEDAL! ANd, when they called you up, I let you walk up there and get your medal. YOu were ALL smiles- NOT SHY at all! The race crew guys were giving you high five and just loved you and you loved them.  SO, sure you were the only girl in your age group and that is why you got gold!  They also gave you an awesome chair and a sweatshirt.  AND you qualified for the finals that will take place at Mt. Snow in March! Free ticket for us. You really do just go TO ANYONE!  SO friendly ...but a little touchy and other kids don't really like that. haha

Eating your Gold with Nona.  Gold Anika- We like gold :)

AND, MUMMY GOT GOLD for her AGE group as well. I ALSO got best female time of the day :)  I get to go to the finals too.  Too bad I cant get 1st in my other leagues!

Mummy and you- The Gold Girls :)

Cousin K got bronze for her age :) 

So proud of you girls.

I tried to take some photos this morning, but you wanted to take your sticker off and when I wouldn't let you, you just cried. haha

Tonight, we tried again with daddy. I was blowing your belly and daddy got this pic. Daddy doesn't like ANY nakey or remotely nakey pics of you on line...so I just added these circles! lol. BUT, they make it look even worse...but too funny not to post :)

But then I just made this one ...

And, these pictures were hard to get too...Just picked up lenny the lion

Taking that sticker off!

hhaha. It looks like I'm scolding you, but I really wasn't. I'm not sure what was going on but its funny looking.  We generally don't even scold you but try to use positive discipline with you AND redirection works AMAZING!

Well, Miss Anika...you are a JOY to be around.  In the past week, you have started to actually LOOK where you are walking so you walk OVER things instead of just tripping over them. I have seen you step over things and look where you are going :)  You are saying dog, dada, doll, (dada says you say duck)...nona said you said better.  I have heard you say hi and down.  But, one word NO ONE has heard you say is ANYTHING sounding like MAMA!   You wont use a sippy cup and I have tried A LOT of them. I don't know if you cant figure it out or you just don't like them?   You get into EVERYTHING you can.  You love to explore around our house.  You really are such a sweetie and you light up any room. 

You have ZERO interest in TV. I didn't want you watching TV before you were 2, but I have tried a few PBS shows and even the Baby Sign language DVD- and NOPE! You have better things to do than sit in front of the TV!  WILL not do it.  I guess that's ok ;) 
You are still going on the potty when we are home. You eat all of your food by yourself when you are with me.  You love brown rice and chicken that I make. You ate 2 cups of it on Sunday. Chow hound!

You love the spice drawer. It used to be alphabetised.  ITS NOT anymore!! I find spices ALL over the house now.  I taped you getting into the drawer this month....

SKI races and stuff

 I am back to skiing. I had to take last winter off since I was pregnant with Anika. TOO Pregnant to ski. If I was in early pregnancy, I definitely would have skied.... but probably not raced.   LAST Saturday was my first race of the season. It was also my first time on skis since the winter before last :)  My friend Nicki decided to race again this year.   Andrew, Anika, Nicki and myself all drove up to Bretton Woods.  After I fed and changed Anika, Nicki and I went out to check out the course. We took  2 free runs to get a feel for the snow and skis.  Anika stayed in the lodge with daddy. It was her nap time by then so he put her in the hiking back pack and walked around outside so she could sleep.  

Nicki's friend met us there so he was able to take the picture AND be our coat carriers. In the past, Andrew has carried our coats down while we race.   I was still placed in the highest division for the league....I figured I would have been bumped down after missing a season. There are different classes for different levels of racers.   I was VERY nervous at the top of the course. Like stomach turning nervous. I was wimpy.  I was thinking, Oh great- motherhood made me wimpy!

BUT, once I started the course (and it was an easy course by the way), I felt ok. MY form was a mess, but I ended up coming in 2nd for my division and 2nd out of ALL female racers. I beat a male on my team I ski with...the last season I raced, he beat me twice and I beat him twice. We have a friendly competition, but  HE was not happy about me beating him my first day back. ANika was sleeping during my run but woke up soon after. Anyway, I like to come in 1st, but for being my first time on snow in 2 years...I guess Ill take it. The 1st place girl beat me by 7/10ths of a second, which is a lot in racing, but not So much I cant beat her another day. Basically, I have competition, but beatable competition :)

 After my run...they took my bib right away. I borrowed this race suit for the day, but It was too big in my back. My old suit had its last day 2 years ago.

Nicki.

I put the back pack on after this and skied on the flat area...which was about 40 feet to the lodge. YOu should have seen the looks I got. Like People thought I was skiing the whole mt with her on my back. Ha. Although, I heard in "the old days" people used to do that.  We went in the lodge to eat and then Andrew went out snowboarding for a while with Nicki and her friend while I sat in the lodge with Anika. Actually, we didn't do a lot of sitting because she was walking all over. I was just happy that we were stuck in a ski lodge with a walker and not a crawler. A crawler would have been HORRIBLE. Her hands all over the dirty ground- yuck. Maybe next race she can go to my mom so Andrew and I can ski together, but then again- Its hard for me to leave her for the whole days on weekends since its our only days with her.  I kind of want to find a sitter to come skiing with us. That way, I can still nurse her and hang out when I come in the lodge.

Anika ended up only having a 15 minute nap in the back pack and then only slept 15 minutes on our hour car ride home...with a detour at a bar. I sat in the car with her while the others went in to have a drink. Then, we went in to tell them we were ready to go :)  So...Ya...it was a 30 minute nap day!  I don't know how she does it. She went to bed a tiny bit early that night.

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Sunday, Anika and I met Anna and we drove 2 hours south for a baby shower.

Anika getting her finger prints all over the glass table. She was Non stop at this event as well. She was the only kid there (she was invited) so she got LOTS of attention and I had LOTS of helpers to watch her, which was nice.  It was the first time I met the owner of the home.  She is My friend's business partner. She has 2 kids of her own and when I put Anika down to walk, she said "Wow, she walks? I have heard about kids walking at 9 months but I assumed people were lying and I thought it was just a myth. What a freak of nature"  (paraphrased) This bring me to another topic. A lot of moms have made this comment lately about how other moms must lie about what their kids do. Like, that moms lie about their kids sleeping through the night, etc.  I don't get it. Why?  I just assume my friends tell me the truth, and vice versa!  There was a time Anika slept through the night...But, now...she doesn't. I didn't lie about it then and I don't now. She wakes up a few times a night these days. Another mom at the shower had a baby a month younger than Anika and was shocked that Anika ate all her food by herself with her own two hands. (SHe had a plate of fruit at the shower).  Maybe I can credit that to baby led weaning.  She has ate her own solids for a long time because I have always given her that opportunity.  Speaking of that- Anika has great hand eye coordination and does a lot of amazing things with her hands...BUT- one of them is NOT clapping! I have been showing her how to clap since she was born...and she just.will. not do it. She just laughs at me. IT is almost like she is saying EFF you to me because its something I am trying to teach her. She would rather do stuff I don't teach her.  Just like she says Dada, dog, doll, better, down...but NOT MAMA or mum.  I have been saying the word mama longer than any other word. I have said it to her since birth but no. She has no interest in saying THAT word. 

Anyway, I was talking about opportunities.  I also give her the opportunity to sit on her potty whenever I go to the bathroom at home. She has to come with me most times anyway (So she doesn't get into stuff while I'm gone) so...she sits on hers while I sit on mine. She almost always goes when I put her on it. There is NO pressure as I have said. I AM JUST giving her the opportunity when I go. She acts pretty happy to be  on it, so its definitely something she seems ok with. She loves to watch her waste get flushed! ha. Ew. speaking of which, I JUST barely caught her before she was playing in an over flowing toilet in Andrew's bathroom today! I walked down the hall JUST in the nick of time-she was about to get in it, I know! I yelled for Andrew to come clean up his mess and took her away. Maybe if he didn't LINE THe ENTIRE TOILET bowl with toilet paper, it wouldn't overflow.  He said he doesn't want water to splash him when he goes. WHAT.A.BABY.  Anyway, giving Anika the opportunity to go on the potty actually has a name- Elimination communication. I put Anika on the potty to poop WAY before I knew EC even existed though. One of my readers pointed out that it had an actual term!  I used to just put her on because it was obvious when she was pooping and I didn't want to clean a poopy diaper.  EC is not potty training though

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Anna and Anika.

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ON the same day as my race last Saturday, we ran into someone who needed females for a corporate ski team that races on Thursday nights at a Mt. about half hour away from where I live.  I declined because I have Anika. I mentioned it to my mom a few days later,  and she said she would pick A up from Miss B and bring her to the Mt on Thursday nights. That way, I could feed her, hang out AND do the racing.  My mom said she really wants to see me race since she hasn't in years. Plus, Anika can watch me too! The Thursday night league is a little different. We do two runs on the course and we don't have to go in bib order. Just go do our 2 runs anytime we want between 5:30pm and 8 Pm.   At first I thought it was only 4 or 5 weeks, but it is actually 8, but IM doing it!

This past Thursday night Andrew ended up being home. I left work early due to BAD Roads and bad weather.  (Andrew took my car to get snow tires the next day and now its a super star in the snow).  My friend Nicki picked me up at home and we went to the Mountain.   We don't really know anyone on the other league (yet). It was cold out, so we took one free run, then our 2 race runs and left. When we were getting our bibs, I saw two girls that looked like real racers and I was intimidated.  I came in 4th that night. 1st place beat me by almost 2 whole seconds. That is A LOT.  It will take a LOT on my part to beat her this season, but I NEED to place at least top 3! So, I will be trying hard. I am still getting VERY nervous before each run. Just being at the top of the course gets my heart racing. I dont like that feeling in this old age, but once Im in the course, I feel better.

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 Anika getting pulled on her sled.

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THIS Saturday, I got 6 inches of my hair cut off! I told Andrew it was a foot, but he said he didn't think that was accurate.  IT is way shorter which I am sad about, BUT its so much healthier looking, which I am HAPPY about.  I found a local farmer's market and stopped by on Saturday. I cant wait to go next week- earlier and with Andrew and Anika.  It is new and every Saturday.   I stopped by Kohls to get some leggings and didn't look at the price of the ones I got...then when I got to the register and they said $36 I was like- WHHAAAT? NO. I went and returned right away. Went to walmart instead. I was rushing around the whole time because I was trying to get home to feed Anika! She was home with dada. 

 I like leggings that are high waisted not low rise. Anyone have a favorite brand of leggings that are not almost $40?

Sunday (Today) I picked up a special cake for the neighbors who called about our chimney fire.  Then I went to brunch with just the girls.

 Andrew was pretty bummed because he loves this brunch place....but we can go next Sunday...or any other time :)  This was a no boys/ no kids brunch. When I got home, we went to the neighbors to drop of  the thank you note and cake, but they weren't there. We left it on their porch! IT was 5 degrees here today. I hope they got the cake because it was not a cheap one!   THEN, Andrew, ANika and I drove an hour for me to look at a GS/Race suit someone was selling second hand.  They are $500 brand new. My old one pretty much disintegrated.  I got this one barely used for $80...but its TIGHT. REAL tight.  They are supposed to be tight...but whoa.   I am not feeling secure in it... I told ANdrew it will fit better next year when I am skinnier and he said I better wear it this year after all that. ha

This is what I wore to brunch :)  When Nicki saw me she said REAL Hippies do not wear fur.  :)

I have tomorrow off :)  I need to take 2 classes at the gym, then home to spend the day with my Little Gal. This weekend was the most I went out without her...ever, I think! It was weird. I missed her lots while out, especially grocery shopping without her. I hated that.  I missed my little buddy, but I was in that town after my hair cut, so it would be silly not to go while I was over that way.  Luckily, she LOVES spending time with her daddy.

Hope you had a great weekend my friends.

A little Fire

The last fire truck pulling away.

I went to a friends house for dinner tonight and I was planning to write a fun post when I got home...but something else happened. I left my house at 6:15.  I got to my friends at 6:40. At 7ish, I kind of got distracted from the conversation I was in, and started thinking about whether or not I turned off the food I had been steaming on my stove top at home before I left.   Then, I replayed it in my head. I turned the stove off AND  put the pot on a different burner to cool. I was getting anxious, but I told myself not to be that way.  I KNOW I turned it off. I barely use a flat iron and when I do, I go back to the bathroom to check it SEVERAL times.  My parents were always so paranoid about fires. 

Anyway, I FINALLY Got the thought of the fire at my house out of my head. It took some heavy convincing in my mind to make the fire thoughts go away.

And At 7:22 PM, my phone rang it was my dad's cell phone. It was ood becuase my dad usually only uses a cell phone during the days. I had talked to my dad on his land line on the way to my friends about some pictures on line of me racing.   HE asked where I was and I told him, but he knew that. He said THERE WAS A FIRE AT MY HOUSE.

I started to panic..about Piri in the house and yes, about all our stuff! A fire is  a fear I have. I couldnt believe it. I even said the F word in front of Anika and a few of these girls I really dont know.  I dropped my fork I was eating with and picked up Anika to go. My friend J offered to keep Anika, but I had brought NO food (just my boobs) and only 2 nappies!  I ran out to the car and my dad called and it was a chimney fire. I was a little relieved that it wasn't something that was my fault! But, I was still scared.   My heart was racing and I was in that same mode that I was in when I went to the ER with Anika. Half shock, but half logical.  I didn't drive too crazy most of the way home.  I called a neighbor up the street. I luckily had his number in my phone. I asked him to go to my house and call me so I Could give him the combo code to get in Andrew's truck from the keypad. And in his truck was the garage door opener. The spare keys would be no good because the doors are dead bolted.  I go though the garage in and out. 
I could hear my neighbor talking to a fireman about how I was close. When I got close to my driveway I saw all the fire trucks. Four. One was in my driveway. There was a cop arriving about the same time as me and he was pretty much stopped in the road. I figured he was parking there to block all the other traffic. His lights were on, but I wasn't thinking and I just went around him...like half in the ditch, off the other side of the road- NO traffic was coming the other way because the cop car and fire truck had the road blocked up ahead.  I was also pulling up next to a fire truck..but one that wasn't moving but started to move as I was pulling up next to it, so when I saw this Tuck moving, I stopped and just got out of my car.I realized I may be getting in that truck's way.  ANika was sleeping so I contemplated leaving her there...I turned for her, but the cop got out of his car and was telling me to come back. I had no idea what he was saying but I just yelled the baby is in the car sleeping.  I mean- Its a cop? He's safe to watch a baby sleep, right?  I got to my house, got in and got Piri. THERE was NO Fire on the inside of my house.  they checked the basement and stuff- and all set. SO, it was All in the chimney which was easier to put out...and then could mostly work from the outside, but there were a bunch of people inside at the fire too.  I got Piri and couldnt get to where her leashes where (Fire men in way) so I hooked her up out back  outside. They asked to get her out.  
When I got back outside I didnt have Piri...so the cops probably didnt know why I rushed into get her. I went to get Anika, and the one cop started yelling at me telling me I didn't follow orders and acted dangerously.  I was like ok.  THEN, Another cop came up and said he was the other cops supervisor and he really let into me. Telling me I put my daughters life in danger while trying to save my house and I said I was trying to save my dog!  ANd, he said something about citing me with reckless driving, etc.  And I mean, he was giving it to me and I just started crying. I was dealing with  a crisis. My mind wasn't thinking right. Don't emergency people get that? I understand what I did wasn't ideal, but couldn't he have waited a little while to give me a lecture?  WE LIVE very rural, so it wasnt the part about leaving Anika in the car...it was me pulling up next to them. He said he has 2 daughters and he wouldn't have put them in harm like I did, and now I'm just crying my eyes out writing that sentence because I hate to be accused of being a bad mom or not thinking about her safety. Of course he probably would have handled it better- HE IS TRAINED to handle emergencies  and highly emotional situations, right? I'M NOT! I was crying at him and kind of yelling at him. I said "I understand what you are saying, but do you really think yelling and reprimanding me this second is the opportune time?" Also I was holding Anika and she was already probably like wtf, and now this asshole is making me more wound up which she sensed, I'm sure. He also said he received several complaints about my driving (FROM THE firemen blocking my driveway and the cop-not from when i was ACTUALLY driving- just the people that were right at my driveway) I barely call driving 1 mph reckless...maybe trying to pass their parked cars?   It was like 1 mph and I just passed a stopped car and a stopped truck...I was pulling up on the side and out of the road! At least that is how i saw it, but maybe I wasn't seeing right. WHo knows.
Anika was mesmerized by the lights. My dad showed up and I guess the police told him they had to speak to me and he just said "She is excited"  bla. 

OK...happy ending. My house if fine. Need to get chimney fixed, but no big deal considering.  Piri is fine. ANika is fine. Andrew is on his way home. He was 4 hours away.

I'm just so thankful and Thank God it was nothing bad.

New Years 2012

This photo is actually the day before New Years. My friend Jen was down in my area from upstate NY for a wedding. Molly was home for the holidays from CA.  JL was around from VT and the other 2 of us live around.  We met for lunch Friday. I was at work but we met very close to my work :)

It was a fun meet up!

And with E's boys in the pic.

Saturday evening, Andrew and I dropped our daughters off at my parents house (Anika and Piri).
We headed to the seacoast.

In the past we have just slept at Ry's house, but we are older now, so we got a hotel room. Actually, Andrew booked us one...for him, me, my friend Molly and her sister A.

My outfit. I tried on a MILLION things before we left home. I am just having a hard time covering that baby pooch.  I wanted to wear a dress, but I just felt it may still be too tight...so I switched it up.

We checked into the hotel and then went over to Ry's apt. for apps and drinks. Oh, and we were supposed to order dinner at some point and never did...bad move!

Ry's baby went to the grandparents house too :)

We made Andrew and Ry's husband take like 500 photos of us girls posing.

I must have been doing something to make them laugh...oh ya..I wanted to switch sides to capture my good side. haha

I look so skinny here. Its a trick...but Ill take it. thanks.

A pizza did come and it was HUGE so we posed with one of the big slices...but I never ate any.  We were going to order from another place...and never did.

Um, crazy eyes!

Molly doesn't even eat meat so this was a total fake photo.

Me and my hubby. He wasn't in the mood to drink...so he stayed nice and sober unlike us girls.

This was at a bar...I think the 2nd one.

And to read more, go HERE -My old/private Blog :)

 IM a week behind on this blog. BIG things happened this past weekend and I hope to blog about it in the next few days :)