First Field Trip

Hello folks. It's Annika Ruth again with the latest news and happenings. There has been a lot of excitement around here these days. My parents just competed in the first 1/2 Ironman of my life and I am super excited to be the official family reporter.  I'll go into more detail in my next blog entry so tune in again soon.

 

After the last weeks rain cancelled my field trip to the farm I finally got to go on my first field trip. I am certain it trumped the farm.

For weeks the teacher was talking about "see world" and I thought she was talking about seeing the world. I was thinking "don't I do that every day?" Duh! She was talking about Sea World. The home of Shamu, and dolphins, and penguins you name it. Sorry about the cut off photo but I was too engrossed in the penguins to be bothered with looking at the camera.

You know those dolphins swim really well. I think if my Mom really wants to improve her swim we should come back frequently and observe how the dolphins swim. That would be a wise move and totally for her benefit of course. 

I hope my Mom recovers from her 1/2 Ironman quickly as my playdate at during baby boot camp depends upon it.

Spring is Here

This week we celebrated the first day of Spring. In honor of the season I dressed as a flower. I have to admit I was a little worried about attracting bees and humming birds but I guess they knew it was me, Annika Ruth, and not some silly flower even if my Mom dressed me that way.

These pictures were taken at "Baby Boot Camp" this week. My Mom and I are now in our second session. Notice something different than the pictures from my first session?

In case you didn't pick up on it I'll tell you what you missed. I don't need my Bumbo chair to sit up anymore. I can sit up, unassisted. On my own. Solo. Independently. Without restraints or assistive devices. Some would say I am rad. Some would call me a bad ass. My Mom says I am not 100% trustworthy but since I am on a mat she gives me freedom. I bet when I am a teenager it will likely be the same except I'll get less freedom.

This week my "baby sign" class was supposed to go to a farm and see animals. Unfortunately or fortunately we got rained out. Instead of learning animal signs we learned about fashion.

 I was certain this was the sign for "I'd like a Hermes scarf ".

Either there was a misunderstanding or I underestimated the importance of the sign please. Instead of heading to Bloomingdale's, Neiman Marcus, or Nordstrum's we headed to Mission Bay Park for a run. I do believe my Mom enjoyed twirling the scarf every bit as much as me. I heard her telling the other Moms they were very educational and intellectually stimulating. I should have some for at home. Do you buy that they'd really be for me? 

TGIF! It was baby yoga at the La Jolla Library this Friday. It's not every Friday that there is yoga so I wore my Sunday best. It's ok to wear a dress to yoga. Just do not forget your tights!

St. Patrick's Day

Today I celebrated my first St. Patrick's Day. I'm not really Irish. I'm an about 1/8 cup Czech, a tablespoon of French Canadian, a dash of Swiss, and pinch of German, but Irish? Judging by the number of my Mom's freckles, we are enough Irish to justify a "right fine" celebration.

My Mom dressed me in this get up. Then started snapping pictures. She told everyone she finally caught a leprechaun. Once again, she is not even Irish. Silly Mom ,it's just me. Annika Ruth. I played along because I knew it meant a lot to her. Between you and me, I find being mistaken for a leprechaun potentially insulting. People think leprechauns are nice because they are so little and have those cute shoes that curl up at the end. Find one in a trap, and you see their true colors. They are snarly, surly, and have bad breath. Or am I thinking of raccoons?

My Dad went biking for the day near Palm Springs. Unlike San Diego and it's weekend storm. There was no rain. It was dry as a desert. Oh, it was the desert. This weekend my Mom rode her bike in place and I jumped in place and took a nap. It was great fun. My Mom can't complain because last weekend she spent an abundance of hours riding this.

She saw 4 snakes, 1 coyote, and a lot of Jack Rabbits but no Leprechauns

Inspired by me and my new "Joy of Eating. My Mom prepared a St. Patrick's Day Feast. I believe there is no holiday not worth celebrating. No...not, that's a double negative and I believe incorrect grammar. Anyway you've heard the saying "it's never too late to make a first impression" well that reallydoesn't make much sense.   I say "you are never to young to establish a holiday tradition".  I helped prepare feast. All week I researched recipes and shopped at various markets in preparation for our St. Patrick's Day feast.

We decided on a roast of corn beef and cabbage with red skin potatoes and onion. We used the crock pot so we could do other important things while it cooked, like ride the trainer and bounce in the jumparoo.  Next we made Irish Soda bread. I have never in my life had Irish soda bread nor had my parents. In all fairness I haven't had any bread really. Like any serious triathlete, I am on a gluten free, lactose free, vegetarian diet. Anyway, my parents said it was awesome and easier than making French bread as it doesn't have to rise. In baby speak it is less fussy. 

A feast is not complete without dessert.

I'm rather conservative and partake in banana for my sweet treat. However, according to my Mom, when you prepare a dessert yourself the calories don't count. Guinness, in Irish tradition, not just to drink but in the brownies.

  I may be young but I am very aware and interested in my surroundings .

I am also fairly well read. I'm not sure I believe that the calories in Guinness brownies are negated in preparation but that is between my Mom and her skinny jeans.

Happy 1/2 Birthday

Today is March 10, 2012. Everyday is special but today especially so, it's my 1/2 year birthday. I turned 6 months old today. I know all about birthday parties because yesterday I went to one. It was at swim practice. One of the swimmers turned 75. There were cookies, balloons, a card, and the main set consisted of lots of 75's. Personally I thought they should celebrate with 75 flip turns but nobody asked for my input. Anyway that was yesterday, today was my day. Although I was denied cake and cookies. We had a real celebration. 

For my half birthday I received my very own plate and training cup. The colors are pink and blue just like my Mom's road and time trial bikes. Coincidence? I think not. I had a hunch I was that's what I was getting for my birthday because I saw my Mom slip them in the cart when we were at Whole Foods earlier this week. Please don't ask my Mom if she thinks the BPA free yet made in China  plastic plate and training cup are "safe" for me to eat off of. She has already been asked that question.  After watching me clock myself in the head with my Sophie the Giraffe toy she is convinced it was safer that the alternative of stainless steel. In lieu of cake I did get to taste banana for the first time. I liked it. I liked it a lot.

My 1/2 birthday wasn't all fun and games. I spent a great deal of time tutoring my Dad in orthopedics. I have to say I like my schoolwork better as use songs to help us learn. That book is heavy and the information is dry. Puts me to sleep after a while.

I did a little modeling as well and tried on some of the special clothing my Grandma Judi carefully saved in a cedar chest for the past 34 years in hopes that I would come along. Such style!

I am Daddy's girl. it's like we are partners in crime. We study together, work on bikes in the garage together, and share coffee in the morning. In truth my Dad is quite stingy about sharing things like coffee and beer. No fair!

My Mom has decided that I remind her of her baby dolls from when she was a little girl. She thinks I am a real live baby doll. She dresses me up like one and carts me all around with her. I don't mind a bit.

School Is Cool!

Yup. I have started school already. This must mean I am very academic. I am not even 6 months old yet so clearly I am advanced.  My eyes look a little tired in the photo below probably because I had swim practice before school started.

Or so I thought I was advanced until I found the room full of "babies" 0-12 months. At nearly 6 months old I guess that makes me average. Oh brother, I was hoping to earn the name "Amazing Annika" considering there was a couple in class that's baby was not yet born I'm worried I may just get the title of "Average Annika"  The baby was due that day. Before I was born I did not attend baby sign language class.I was too busy skiing in Switzerland and stuff. It is really not my fault. In cases like this one must blame the parents.  Oh dear. I am not ahead. I am so behind. I am sure another pupil can help me get up to speed.

The class is sort of for the "babies." Mostly it is for the parents, to help them learn how to help us develop as best we can, with an emphasis on baby sign. We sing songs, read stories, and play with toys. We even get to play with the parachute. I wish school was everyday. I even offered to pay for it with my allowance I actually don't get allowance and the class is actually free through the city of San Diego, but it is only once a week.

I live for the parachute.

By that evening I was pretty tired but not too tired to enjoy my avocado.

What I really want to eat is whatever my parents are having.I do mean whatever my parents are having.... beer, coffee, wasabi, grapefruit. If they have it I want it too. My goal is to always be ready to make a move for the food. I help my Mom do the marketing. Just yesterday I tried to eat the cilantro my Mom was buying at the market. From the Baby Bjorn I was in good position to block my Mom from putting it in the little plastic produce bag. I grabbed the bunch in a vise like grip and quickly attempted to stuff it in my mouth.  My Mom intercepted kill joy . I asked exactly why eating fresh raw organic cilantro was a problem. Clearly she didn't know because answered we do not eat in the grocery store without first paying and veggies always should be washed before eating. I'm going to watch and see if she breaks those rules. I bet she does.

Apparently my Mom has traded in her cookie baking habit for cooking variations of quinoa and kale. My Dad probably prefers a meal that does not contain quinoa, kale, or squash. Since he is insisting on eating less dessert in other words he is racing California 70.3 in a month and doesn't want to have the slowest time in the office my Mom is punishing treating him to girly suppers.

As for my Mom and I and racing. We are racing too. I am actually coaching my Mom instead of racing as strollers are discriminated against in triathlon. Rather than file a grievance with the BBU (Better Baby Union)  I will channel my energy into developing improved core strength and gross motor skills. See how good I am getting at sitting up. Talk about core strength.  My Mom trains off my schedule and under my watchful eye.  I wake her up for swim every morning. I helped her knock another 2 seconds of her 100 yard time trial in the pool this week. Her running seems sufficient in terms of time needed for a good nap and stride is smooth enough for me to sleep. Often we spend time running near where my Dad is working so we can conveniently meet for lunch.

This week my Mom was tricked into a tempo run.  She had to run 5K at race pace at the end of an 8 mile run to meet my Dad for lunch. See she didn't think he'd be available to meet that day so she ran far away then she got the text that he was available for lunch. Problem was she was 5K away and Dad only  gets 30 minutes to eat. He texted "Run Faster" So we sprinted. We ran like women possessed. She was huffing and puffing. My breathing remained steady as youth is on my side. Anyway, we got back in record time only to find out my Dad had extra time for lunch. Hee Hee . We got her good!!!!!