Playing Catch Up

I sat down to blog about a lovely "baby's first" Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years, but realized that I have skipped so much.
Backtrack to a year and a half ago... Letting a month and a half go by without posting would not really mean you missed anything. Perhaps a post following a hiatus like that might read "we are still doing well, Aaron is still in Colorado, and I'm still working, we play as often as we can."
But now a month and a half means baby milestones, hundreds of pictures, and memories that we are holding on to as tightly as we can.
So before I get back to the routine blogs, I want to play catch up. And I know it's probably the most overused phrase in blogging... but I'm going to say it anyway... I will try and post more frequently. However, I make no promises. :)

First of all, AARON IS HOME! For the first time in 2 years he lives home again. Yes, for the first time he actually LIVES in the home we bought! Not just the occasional weekend visitor. Now while I love his new presence around the home, and most notably a good night's sleep without fearing for my life and a lower power bill without every light on 24-7, this also comes with a few caveats. You see, apparently living alone for 2 years tends to make people slip into a somewhat selfish lifestyle. Aaron was able to eat whatever he wants for dinner (ice cream and coke), watch whatever he wants on TV (mafia shows or Turner Classic Movies), go to bed whenever and however, come and go as he pleases, not clean the condo, basically live the bachelor life. Now I don't consider myself the type of wife that has the proverbial "chain" on my husband. I would like to think of myself as a very lenient and compassionate type. But take a lifestyle that has been building for 2 years, put them back in the same household (oh, both home full-time, btw) and expect them to mesh seamlessly back to the idealistic married life AND throw a baby in on top of all that transition. Needless to say it is a learning process.
I hate his shows, he hates mine.
I want to make salad and fish for dinner, he wants to grill red meat.
I want him to change ALL the poopy diapers to make up for his missing first 3 months, he doesn't.
I want him to clean, OH WAIT... he wants me to clean more, I just want to play with him and the baby when I am done with work.
I say potato, he says poe-taaa-toe.
You get the picture.
But slowly we are re-adjusting to a co-habitating life again. And we are figuring out how to still be a husband and wife and NOT just Isla's mom and dad. This has by far been the biggest challenge.
Did anyone else deal with that transition?
Anyway, all of that aside, I am constantly overjoyed having my best friend back around. I still lay down every night and think how unbelieveably HAPPY I am to be going to bed next to my husband. It's surreal. And Isla LOVES having her daddy around all the time too. No one can make Isla smile nearly as big as her daddy. It's the sweetest thing to watch.

Moving on.

Recently an opportunity fell into my lap to interview with a new company. Maybe not so much "fell into my lap" as much as someone up above graciously placed this blessing in my lap. I knew this was going to be a good thing when I was unable to find a babysitter the day of the interview and the owner simply told me to bring her in with me. While I absolutley loved my old company and even more my old co-workers, this deal was too good to pass up. To channel my inner Mylie Cyrus, "it's the best of both worlds". I am a full-time stay at home mom, AND a full-time career woman. I work from home designing and occasionaly drop into the office which is 3 blocks from my house. Did I mention on those occasions which require me to be in the office they let me bring Isla with me? In fact, they are sad when she stays home with dad. There have been times where I am changing a diaper while on a conference call with a client, but it really does make me feel like Superwoman. I am so grateful for this opportunity. When my maternity leave was coming to an end I NEVER EVER IMAGINED it would be THAT hard to think about leaving my baby with a babysitter. And I must give props to my angel baby who makes it possible for me to work full time and is content sitting in the Bumbo on my desk helping me calculate hydraulic grade lines and pressure heads. She has become my partner in crime.

Finally, since our last post Isla has discoverd the irrisistable art of giggling. It's the best sound in the whole world.
Better than Brad Paisley.
Better than Snoop Dogg.
Better than waves crashing on the beach in Hawaii.
We pretty much spend all our time trying to make her giggle. And it's never the same stimulant that generates a laugh. Today a duck noise makes her giggle, tomorrow she will look at you like you are sooooo laaaaame if you try to use the same duck tactic. She is so close to sitting up on her own. She loves doing anything outdoors and adventurous. (Another post on that later.) At her last checkup she weighed 15 lbs and was 24 inches long. She is in the 75% percentile for weight and length, and 95% for head size. Big head.

One more thing I forgot to mention. I hope you are all sitting down for this. Are you ready? I have picked up the hobby of... GASP... running. (When I type this I mentally hear the theme song for the original old school nintendo Mario Brothers game when you have to battle Bowser.)
Anyone that knows me knows that I absolutely DESPISE anything that makes me sweat. But I have decided that I hate being flabby even more than I hate sweating. Plus I am not going to lie, my mom motivates me. She is a runner, and somehow makes it seem so appealing. I am training to run the Ragnar race this spring.

Okay, enough of that long overdue, and generally LONG post. Here are some pics to go along with the update because you have all been so patient and made it to this point.

Bathtime is Isla's favorite!

We found my dad's old cowboy hat in the garbage.
So naturally we dug it out and put it on Isla.
Sanitation is overrated anyway.

100% pink.

Isla got a horsey jumper at one of the baby showers. She LOVES it.


Uncle Dan plays baby balance with Isla.

This is what happens when Daddy dresses Isla.
Purple Baby Legs and a Haloween costume.
Months after Haloween.

Favorite past time: eating her hands.