First Hair Cut

I couldn't ignore the fact that Cole's hair was an inch below his collar, hanging over his ears and starting to curl out. It was time, okay maybe a month or two late, for his first official haircut! I found a local kids hair cutting salon and Brian and I took Cole in. Unfortunately, on the way to the salon Cole fell asleep so being woken up to be put in the a car chair with a perfect stranger was a little more than he wanted to handle.


Daddy did a great job at getting him to laugh, at times, and I found a sucker to let him indulge in. After 15-20 minutes our baby boy had turned into a handsome toddler. He did cry most of the time but HE DID SURVIVE :)











His first haircut looks great and I couldn't be more proud of my little boy!









After Cole's hair was cut we decided to take him to the local petting zoo. It took Cole a little while to get used to all the animals running around him but with a little coaxing from daddy he was was to become "best" friends with anything that would sit still.








The petting zoo also had a train that daddy took Cole on. I think Cole liked being able to sit in his own car. He was all smiles as the train went round and round. After the petting zoo we had lunch at a great little Italian restaurant where Cole I shared many Eskimo kisses. Once we were home everyone took at nap. All and all it was a perfect day :)

My first lemon...

and yes, he went back for 2nd's and 3rd's

Mountain Lion

Cole, Zabdack and I were just finishing our evening walk on Thursday when I noticed Animal Control and Fish and Game in front of my next door neighbors house. He happened to be outside and I jokingly asked if he spotted a mountain lion. He started laughing and said well kind of. WHAT?!?!? So he went on to tell me what happened. Every day he takes his dogs out for a walk on the trail behind our homes. For two days his Golden Retriever kept running up a hill acting curious. So on the third day he decided to go check it out. He saw a dead deer. He didn't think much of it but decided to call Animal Control. They went and checked it out and Animal Control had confirmed a mountain lion kill and the said he needed to notify Fish and Game. When Animal Control and Fish and Game went back out to check the deer it had been buried. Meaning the mountain lion had intended on finishing his meal! Fish and Game commented that the lion would probably within in 100ft of them at that moment watching what they were doing. They decided it was best to remove the deer in hope the mountain lion will continue on his way and since it is a heavily used trail they didn't want anyone to come up on the lion while he was feasting.

I am a trail runner. I am not naive. I know there are mountain lions out there. My backyard is in the woods, I know that there is a possibility of a mountain lion roaming my yard. Even though I know this I don't really expect it to happen! So when a fresh kill was located less than a quarter mile from my backyard and on a trail Zabdack and I use every weekend and in a spot Zabdack and I walk past every weekend it hit close to home. I am not going to stop using the trails around me but I will stop using them alone.

Here are a few pictures of our backyard

Busy Week

For almost two weeks Cole and I had been confined to the house because one or both of us were sick. This past week we were feeling better and the weather was gorgeous (high 70's) so I wanted to send as much time outside as possible.

Mommy hurry and take me to see some animals!

On 3/17, Cole and I drove to the LA Zoo to meet a friend and her son (Cole's age). We walked all over the zoo and the boys enjoyed playing with each other, running up and down the stroller ramps and watching the animals sleep. Since it was a hot day we didn't see much movement out of most the animals. However, Cole did have a favorite animal, the squirrel. The squirrel exhibit allowed me to push the stroller right up to the glass. There was one squirrel, how do I say this nicely, acted like he was on crack! He would run up to the glass (right where Cole was sitting), run away up the branch, jump on his fellow sleeping squirrel friends, then back down to the glass, chase his tail and up the branch again. Cole was watching him like a hawk clapping the entire time saying, "mo, mo, mo, mo". We sat there for at least 30 minutes and this squirrel never slowed down. I enjoyed my day with V her son J and Cole. We have been talking on a baby website for almost two years so it was really nice to meet her in person and talk. We had a great time and I look forward to spending another day with V and her son.

Cole and his friend J

On 03/18, Cole and I meet our friends E, E and T at the local water fountain. The kids spent nearly two hours playing the fountain while E and I sat back and enjoyed the sun. It was a wonderful afternoon. I can always gage the success of a day based on how fast Cole falls asleep. Let's just say I wasn't even out of the parking lot and he was snoring!

On 03/19, Cole and I went and visited my grandma and aunt. This has become a weekly tradition for us that I look forward to and treasure. I have always been close to my grandma and want Cole to grow up knowing his great grandma her smell, laugh, voice and endless amounts of love!

Lastly, this week Cole worked on cutting two new molars. I say worked on cutting because I believe cutting molars is HARD WORK! Poor kid was in so much pain this week. However, I see the end near. Two of the four points have broken through on each side and the other two points are so close. I think the hard part is behind us (for now). Cole is 14 months old and he has 12 teeth!

I'm Going to be a Big Brother!

Brian and I couldn't be happier to announce that we are expecting our second child in September. Knock on wood but this pregnancy has been going really well with no morning sickness. I have been exhausted but I'm not sure if that is from being pregnant or chasing a 1 year old around EVERY WHERE! Cole is running and keeping me on my toes at all times. I couldn't be happier with expanding our family and I look forward to the new challenge of having a newborn and a toddler.

Twin Peaks Ultra

I have run two marathons in my life and as long as my health and knees hold up, I hope to run many more. However, my ultimate goal is to run at least one ultra race, a 50K. Since I was not in the shape necessary to run a 50K this year, I volunteered for the Twin Peaks Ultra 50K & 50M.
This was the first race I have ever volunteered for. It was so much fun. When I got to the race I was tasked to hand out the medals and pull the runners tags when they crossed the finish line. Watching each person cross the finish line made me yearn to run this race. I have never ran close to the mileage they completed and I was in awe at each person who crossed the finish line. To run a 50K or 50M you have to be so strong mentally and physically. I will defiantly volunteer for more ultras. I think the next time I volunteer I want to be stationed at an aid station to cheer on the runners while they are coming through.

GREAT JOB RUNNERS!!

Next Stop Mt. Everest

After a week of crawling Cole was bored with this new talent and set his sights on climbing our stairs. Our house has 2 steps that lead down into the living room from the entry way and kitchen area. I think because he watched everyone coming and going so much he wanted to do the same. At first I tired to contain him with a baby gate but after a day I decided he has to learn the stairs sooner than later so why not start now?!?!? We worked on going up the stairs together and after a week he mastered going up the stairs (6.5 months old). This new found freedom was so exciting for Cole. Going up the stairs was A LOT easier to teach than going down the stairs. I worked and worked with Cole going down the stairs but he just didn't seem to get it so I had to be diligent whenever he ventured near the stairs. About 2 months ago, Cole crawled to the edge of the steps, turned himself around and went down the stairs. I was so proud of him! My baby boy could go down the stairs :)

Since he was able to go up and down stairs he needed to extend this talent. So he chose climbing. And when I say climbing I mean this kid climbs everything! If it is armpit height or lower, it is fair game! The good news is with each item he climbs up he can climb down. I am so glad I took the time to teach him how to climb up and back down things. It was a lot of hard work, a few tears but all worth it in the long run. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures I've been able to catch of things he has conquered.

The Stairs
The BIG Stairs

The Kitchen Cabinet

The Dishwasher

Under the Bathroom Sink & in the Drawers

The Chair in his Room

Climbing out of his Highchair.

Tonka Truck

This Kids Chair
I don't have any picture of him climbing the fireplace (see height of fireplace in picture); however, he has climbs it everyday!

Bookshelves

He can also climb onto the bed, coffee table and couches but I don't have pictures of those things (yet). I love my little climber and I'm positive he will conquer Mt. Everest one day!