And now she's almost 6 months!!!

Time continues to fly and Muira continues to grow and change. She rolls like a champ, has tasted and enjoyed her first solid foods (bananas, cereal, peas - her favorite and avocados), and she giggles and kicks constantly. What a joy she is in our lives. Here are some photos to see just how much she is changing and what she's up to these days.

The joys of exploring your world through your mouth

All time favorite morning stretch!

Very flexible!

Woodland Visit

We are officially celebrating summer as a family!! Mark finished up his school year and then we quickly packed up (after a round of golf, a wedding and father's day) to head up to Woodland to visit my family. We had a good time relaxing, visiting family and friends, and even got to go tubing with the Monley siblings.

Muira was a fabulous companion. She slept most of the way and hardly fussed at all:)!

Muira and cousin Serín had many meaningful conversations

Mark celebrated his first Father's Day

Muira got a lot of quality time with Granny Peg. She watched her several times so that Mark and I could enjoy some time alone.

We decided to drive back home on Highway 1. It was gorgeous! We now have a list of camping places we want to go to in the future.

And now for a Muira update.... She is almost 4 months old which is hard to believe. We love how she interacts with us more and more. Some of our favorite Muira moments are when she stretches both arms above her head after waking up, how she giggles and coos at us, and how she is so attentive. She loves looking around and soaking in her environment.

She used to fit completely on Mark's chest. Now she is getting much longer. It's fun that she still enjoys this cuddling time.

Our happy 4th of July outfits:)!

An attempt at a first family photo

Muira loves trying to sit and looking out towards the world

Perhaps the start of a mischievous look

Enjoying tummy time more and more these days

Mark and I signed up for a 5k in Huntington Beach on 4th of July. Muira and I didn't make it so far as she decided she didn't like being in the stroller. It was a fun event regardless and we hope to make a tradition out of it.

Two Months Old

It is hard to believe that our little Muira is already 2 months old. Time really has flown. She continues to grow and develop her own little personality. She is cooing and talking much more which makes me giggle every time with excitement. She has had a couple nights of longer sleep (almost 5 hours) so hopefully this pattern continues. Here's a video of her sounds right before our first hike. Notice the great camping onesie my friend Jennie designed....so cute!

(sorry it's sideways)
Muira and I went up to Woodland last weekend so that the rest of the family could meet her and so that we could celebrate with Erika and Jason at their baby shower (they're expecting triplets!!!). Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so I don't have the many pictures we took, especially all the twinsies photos we tried to pose Muira and her 6 days younger cousin, Serin in. Hopefully I can post those later. But for now, here are pictures around the house and during Muira's first hike.

cutie petoutie

Here are some more pictures of our precious Muira now a whopping 10 lbs!! She is growing strong!

Looking more and more like daddy! Especially with our matching shirts.

Mother's Day

It was a joy celebrating my first Mother's Day this past Sunday. I am thankful for my mom and mother in law and the wonderful women they are. It is so fun seeing them as grandmas with Muira. I am so grateful to have mothers that enjoy each other. Put these two together and some extraordinary adventure is bound to happen.

Muira spoiled me for my special day (she's quite advanced). I woke up to blueberry pancakes and coffee and this fun surprise for me on the table.

I have loved being a mom so far with all its challenges and sleepless nights. It is still hard to believe that we have a beautiful daughter and that I am entrusted to raise her (thankfully with God's and Mark's help). I love seeing her sleep peacefully after a feeding. I love her little smile that has emerged. I look forward to the many years ahead of mommihood and all that I know I will learn.

Muira- One Month

It is hard to believe that Muira is over a month now. All those cliche things parents tell you like, "they grow up so fast", "enjoy this time while you have it" have fully been experienced as I watch our precious daughter grow right before our eyes. There are clothes she has already outgrown. We're moving past the newborn outfits and into the 0-3 months. Way to eat Muira! It has been a joy to see little changes in her personality as well. She loves (as most babies do) to be held, whether sleeping, eating, changing, you name it, she would prefer to be in the arms of a loved one. She is a grunter and thoroughly enjoys making noises while she sleeps. This at first startled me as a first time mom and I checked on her every time she stirred. Thankfully I've adapted and don't pick her up with every mumble. Muira has started to recognize and track things and even has given us a few smiles. We are so excited for the next phase of interaction as our little girl develops!

Do not be fooled by this serene look... It's only there if she is sleeping in your arms, which is my favorite by the way:)! She is so cuddly.

Her favorite non carrier sleep position

We're still undecided as to who she looks like. Any thoughts??

We adore our little Muira Alicen!

Why the name Muira?

The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Psalm 19:1-6

Have you ever gotten up into some beautiful mountain wilderness? The kind of wilderness where you find a spot way up high and sit on a rock for a couple of hours and take it all in. The kind of place where you can see the jagged mountain peaks jetting up from the valley floor hundreds or even thousands of feet. A pine forest below that looks like a soft green carpet from the height where you are. The wind carries with it their scent as it makes you snuggle a little more into your down jacket. The sunshine glistens off of the glacier shaved rock faces of the cliffs below and you get a profound feeling that you are so very small. As you sit longer and gaze at the beauty you begin to have the awakening that not only are you very small, but that God is very big. His creation speaks of him. It’s grandeur is nothing more than a token of who he is, it’s majesty had it’s birth in his splendor.

For 19 days Lina and I walked through this wilderness. In many ways it was a cathedral of natural beauty, a spiritual experience of communion with the Father through the beauty he had made. In Muira’s name we try to hearken back to that interaction of the soul with it’s creator in the cathedral of his natural creation. Those moments were so rich for us and our prayer for our little one is that she too would find that quiet place of nurture with the Father.

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