Exciting Announcement!

I am very excited to announce that my book, UnInked! The Complete Guide to Tattoo Removal, is finally finished and will be published in November! I have been researching, writing, and otherwise laboring over this book for years, and it is so gratifying to finally see the finished product.

You can pre-order the book on Amazon.com: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0979962900

A Little Flower!

I just KNEW I could find something even cuter than that Bumblebee Halloween costume- and I did!

Paprika is excited to put on her new Halloween costume:

Daddy puts on the finishing touches:

Time to Show It Off!:

Even Mommy Likes It!:

Little Deuce Coupe!

Paprika now has her very first set of wheels! We bought her the same car that she plays with at the indoor playground- and she LOVES it! The box arrived in the mail on Tuesday, and as soon as she saw the box, she knew exactly what it was. She was gleeful and giddy, and wanted to sit next to the box all day long.

We waited until Mr. Mustard got home from work for her to open up the box, and it was definitely worth the wait. She was so excited when we pulled the car out of the box. It took some assembly to put it together, and Paprika was very patient through the whole process. As soon as it was set up, though, it became very obvious that she wanted to go for a ride!

We have never seen her so happy about receiving a gift. She even kissed us both to say thank you. Now when she rides in the car, she doesn't want to get out--ever! Riding around the block in her very own car is definitely her favorite thing to do! She honks the horn, listens to music, turns the key, shifts the gears, and puts both hands on the steering wheel. It's pretty awesome!

The Search Is On!

The search is on for this year's Halloween costume for Paprika. Here she is in her bee suit- one of the possible contenders. I also just won an adorable flower costume on Ebay. When that gets here, we will try it out and see which one suits her best!

If you remember, last year's costume was not Paprika's favorite thing to wear. She basically cried the whole time she wore it. For a trip down memory lane, check out this post: http://theurthmama.com/2006/09/paprikas-halloween-costume.html

The weekend has come and gone so quickly. Paprika is back to 100% health-wise and has been since last Thursday. Putting the humidifier in her room really seemed to help her. She is completely well now, which is a blessing- since she's eating and sleeping so much better now.

Her new favorite solid food is bananas with ground flax. She could eat that all day, I think! Everything else, she still turns her nose up at- but we're working on that!

Paprika is quickly becoming a fast walker. She now takes several steps at a time- 7 or 8- before grabbing onto a wall for support, or crawling.

Mr. Mustard is working on a new show made by the same team from Dancing With the Stars. It was filming this weekend at the Santa Monica Pier. We had backstage passes for it and were all set to go, but then Paprika decided to take a nap and slept for almost four hours! She really needed the sleep, but we were sad we didn't get to go watch the shooting. Next time, perhaps!

So Adventurous!

Paprika is into everything in sight- even the fridge! :-)

Paprika has a stuffed up nose right now and doesn't want to eat anything at all. She's also really reluctant to nap. This has made the past few days of my life very challenging. Now I'm thinking that she may not have a pet allergy, and is just fighting a little bit of a cold. Being that she has (thankfully) been such a healthy baby and has basically never been sick (and still she's never had a fever), this is all new to me.

I never think that she's getting sick because her usual state is perfect health! I've been making her bananas with flax, which she will sometimes eat. I have the humidifier in her room cranked up and am letting the steam in her bathroom clear out her nasal passages. Hopefully this passes quickly and she's back to her old self asap!

Bubbles!

Mr. Mustard had fun showing Paprika all about bubbles! I think some of these bubbles are STILL hanging around our house. :-)

Fun Weekend At The Zoo!

We had an awesome time this weekend with Paprika at the Zoo! She loved being carried around on our backs and looking at all the animals. We went in the late afternoon on Saturday, so we missed most of the crowds and the heat. Then, Saturday night, we all went to Chipotle and chowed down on some yummy burritos!

Today was Paprika's very first Kindermusik class. It's a music class for infants and toddlers where we sing songs, dance, and listen to music. She loved it! Today there were three other babies Paprika's age in the class, so she had fun playing with them. One baby was even chasing her around the room. So much fun!

Paprika is now taking a few steps at a time. She still prefers to crawl to get places quickly, but she also loves being on her feet and cruising. When she gets a little bravery worked up, she takes a few steps here and there!

In other news, we are exploring the very real possibility that Paprika may be allergic to something (or someone) in our house. She is exhibiting all the signs of having a pet allergy- watery eyes, stuffed up nose, sneezing, trouble breathing, etc. We have already bought an air purifier and are doing our best to make our home as dust and dander-free as possible. I am also going to eliminate dairy from her diet (right now she eats yogurt and cheese), to see if that will help. It's pretty miserable in that she cannot breathe through her nose, which makes it hard for her to sleep and nurse. We're hoping that she's not allergic to Meg or Hauser and that the problem will go away soon. I will keep you updated!

One Small Step for Miss Paprika - One Giant Leap for the Our Family!

Yesterday, September 13, 2007, Paprika took her very first steps! We are SO proud of her! Here is how it happened:

I put her down to go to sleep at 8 p.m., her bedtime. At about 9 p.m., she woke up crying, so I went upstairs and got her, brought her downstairs, and let her play quietly while Mr. Mustard and I finished our dinner. A few moments later, she crawled over to the table and was holding onto the edge of a chair. Mr. Mustard was seated a few feet from her and said, "Paprika- walk to me. Can you walk to daddy?" She let go of the chair and walked over to him! It was amazing!

We got out the video camera and took a little video of her taking a few more steps throughout the evening. Then, she rubbed her eyes, signaling us that she was tired and wanted to go to bed. I took her upstairs at about 10 p.m., and she was out like a light!

I think she wanted to wake up to show us she can walk. This means big changes in our lives and hers. It's very exciting!!! :-)

Almost 13 Months!

Paprika is back to her sleep schedule, after an exhausting few days up in Santa Barbara. Thank goodness! She still wakes up a few times a night- but that's okay. I actually enjoy waking up to cuddle with her in the middle of the night.

Paprika is so close to walking- she now stands on her own for good stretches of time (10 seconds, maybe) and loves holding both our hands and walking. She can also cruise really quickly between pieces of furniture and can walk holding on one-handed.

Paprika is starting to eat a little more solid food on a daily basis. She is still nursing about 10 times/day, though! She is nowhere near ready to give that up. Her favorite solid foods are bagels with cream cheese and banana yogurt. That's basically all she wants to eat. She's not a fan of fruits or veggies- so I am getting creative about how I offer them to her. Thank goodness we're still breastfeeding so much- at least I know she's getting great nutrition from that!

I took these pictures yesterday- when she decided it would be fun to crawl into her toy bin by herself. Then she got stuck and couldn't get out! Luckily, mommy was there to rescue her!

Hey, this is fun!:

Uh-oh, I'm stuck!:

Get Me Out of Here!:

All Better!:

My Birthday Weekend!

I had a wonderful birthday, and a great birthday weekend! Mr. Mustard surprised me on Friday (my birthday) with a delivery of flowers- three dozen roses- a dozen for each decade! He came home from work early, and we took Paprika to the indoor playground in our neighborhood. Mr. Mustard had never been there before, so I wanted him to get the chance to see it. Mr. Mustard had a great time playing with Paprika at the playground- he took her in the bouncy and pushed her around in her favorite toy car.

Then we headed up to Santa Barbara for the weekend. Mr. Mustard's mom made us dinner, and we spent the evening relaxing before putting Paprika to bed. Paprika did not want to go to bed (she only likes to fall asleep in her bed at home), so we were up until after 2 a.m. trying to get her to go to sleep. After two rides in the car, we finally got her to sleep. Even so, she didn't sleep long and was awake for the day by 7:30 a.m.

Around 11 a.m., I put Paprika down for a nap, and Mr. Mustard and I snuck off to go for a hike by the ocean while Mr. Mustard's mom babysat. We had such a wonderful time hiking up to the cliffs overlooking the ocean. By the time we got back, Paprika was awake and ready to play!

Saturday night, Mr. Mustard and I went to a wonderful dinner at the Sage & Onion restaurant in downtown Santa Barbara while Mr. Mustard's mom babysat her granddaughter. It was so relaxing to have a nice dinner out as a couple. Afterwards we went to see the movie 3:10 to Yuma.

The next day we just relaxed and enjoyed being outdoors. Paprika loved crawling on the back patio and on the grass in the backyard. She had a lot of fun throwing the ball to Hauser. While Paprika was asleep in the morning, Mr. Mustard and I snuck off to the beach and went for a walk. Then, later when Paprika was awake, we took her to the beach with us. She loved seeing the surfers, smelling the sea air, and feeling the cool breeze on her face. That night we went to our favorite hamburger stand, The Habit, for old time's sake!

It was a lot of fun. Oh, and for my birthday, Mr. Mustard surprised me with a new camera! I am so excited to learn all about it and take even MORE pictures! :-)

Last Day I'll Ever...

Today is the last day I'll ever be in my 20s! I am excited to say goodbye to this decade- I feel like I've accomplished so much and am so ready to move onto the excitement that my 30s is going to hold. It may sound strange to say, but each new step in life comes with its own rewards. I feel more confident than I ever have, and am so excited to see what the future will bring to my already amazing life!

I spent the last day of my 20s playing with Paprika at our favorite, amazing indoor playground. We had so much fun together. I cannot imagine my life without her- she is my greatest joy and the most profound blessing.

I leave my 20s with no regrets- and am happier now than I was 10 years ago. I can only hope that in 10 years, when I'm leaving my 30s, I will be able to say the same. With each new year, there is the possibility of new adventures, new friendships, and the chance to grow wiser. I like the person I am now better than I ever have. Wisdom is the gift that age gives- I feel so much more at peace with my life, who I am, and where I'm headed than I have at any point. I don't wish to be younger- I've lived those years, and am happy to say that life is really good right where I stand now!

So, here's to my last day in my 20s and to the beginning of a whole new decade, full of promise and possibility, waiting for me!

One Year Doc Visit

Today Paprika had her 1 year well-baby doctor's appointment. She weighs 24.2 pounds, and is in the 90th percentile for weight. She is 30 inches and is in the 75th percentile for height. She has grown 10 inches in the past year and has gained about 15 1/2 pounds! She is about triple her birth weight now. Amazing!

Everyone at the doctor's office commented on how healthy and smart she is. She was cracking everyone up with her non-stop jibber jabber.

Yesterday I took Paprika back to the indoor, air-conditioned playground in our neighborhood. She got so excited when we walked in the door- she really wanted to play! She has a favorite toy there- a cool, red convertible- that she LOVES to drive.

She loved honking the horn, playing with the stick-shift, and moving the car Fred-Flinstone-style by moving her feet really fast! There were lots of other babies about Paprika's age at the playground, and she loved interacting with them. The only time she got upset was when it was time to leave!

I Like To Put Things On My Head!

Paprika has a new trick- putting anything and everything over her head. Here she is with one of her shirts over her head. She puts things on her head, and then doesn't want to take them off- ever. She loves sifting through the laundry, fresh out of the dryer, and sticking the warm clothes over her head. Then she insists on wearing her new headresses and necklaces out in public for the whole world to see! Even if she gets a few crazy looks, she doesn't seem to mind!