Busy as Bees...Bzzzzz

This past week my sister Claudia and her main squeeze Rob came to visit us in Prescott and to help us babysit Nayeli while we continued our transition back to our normal work schedule. They were passed the baton from my mom whom left as they arrived, and even though they had big shoes to fill they were awesome! Thanks Claudia and Rob for your great company and help--we owe you one.

After having an awesome breakfast at our favorite breakfast place, the Dinner Bell, we took Nayeli on her 1st hike ever last Sunday. Joe made like a mamma kangaroo and carried Nayeli in his man pouch down the Woodchute Trail on Mingus Mountain. We didn't get very far because, as you can see in the picture, the trail was covered with snow and ice and it was super slippery. So instead we drove down to Jerome and hung out there window shopping. Her first hike was short, but fun.

We got this super duper fabulous backpack from my old job, The Women's Wilderness Institute. It's one of those where you can stick your kid in it, as well as all your hiking and baby supplies, and carry everything on your back with amazing comfort. We got a little too excited to take her in it on her first hike, but we were quickly brought back to reality when we realized that she still couldn't ride in it because of her loosey goosey neck. Joe wanted to put her in some type of neck brace so that she could ride in it (silly papa!), but I didn't feel that whiplash would be a good thing....we opted for the baby sling instead. We can't wait until she can ride in this pack though--she's going to see some amazing Arizona spots from that vantage point!

I went to a reunion of my 1st birthing class, Birthing From Within. It was a chance to get together and process the birth experience and introduce the babies to one another. On the left are Eric, Amy, and baby Eden (who was born the day after Nayeli.) On the right are Matt, Jill, and baby George (who was born 5 weeks before both of the girls.) It was so much fun to hang out as parents and share stories. The babies are so cute and I'm looking forward to watching them grow up as Nayeli's friends. (Joe wasn't there that day because he ditched us to go kayaking with Rob on the Verde River!)

Here's a picture of the babies all together--they didn't drink their V8s that day and that's why they are all leaning to one side or the other!

Time Flies Like No Other!

(Grandma and me chillin' like villains.)

(I am such a cuddle bug--especially with my papa.)

(What can I say....I love my hats and posing in them!)

(Such an angel!)

(Mom carried me for 9 months--it's dad's turn now!)

In 10 days Nayeli will be 2 months old and I'm in shock with how fast time passes by...it's especially more noticeable now that we have her as a measuring tool and not just our wrinkles and sagging body parts!

Things have been SO hectic around here that it's hard to take a breath and take it all in. I keep thinking that tomorrow I'll be able to slow down and process it all, but I'm coming to realize that life as a mom may never really allow me to do that. I might have to get used to taking it all in while juggling 10 other things as well, just like eating while driving while talking on the cell phone (not the safest thing to do but sometimes it's gotta be done!)

I went back to work for the first time since Nayeli was born last week on Monday. It felt like I had swallowed a jar of butterflies with how nervous I was. Things went well and I'm back on track with teaching--although I am now the spaciest teacher at the school with sleep deprivation as my new friend. I'm also on track with an exercise program to get my bootay back in shape--I'll let you know how it goes especially since my friend sleep deprivation likes to mingle with my other friend donut cravings!

On another note, my mom came to Prescott to help me transition back to work. She stayed with us for two weeks & was the most incredible help EVER! Needless to say we are going to miss her and her bomb diggity dinners.