Party Tricks

Every day Skyla comes up with something to new to blow my socks off...almost literally for her new party trick.

Last night I was putting away her laundry and she pulled out a pair of bundled socks from the basket (hers) and sat on the floor with them motioning to her own foot, as though she was trying to put it on. I thought it was just a weird coincidence, a fluke or what have you. However this morning she did it again to her bundled socks as I was getting her dressed. I mentioned it my sister and she said she saw Skyla do it a couple days ago with one of her babylegs (leg warmers).

I can't quite grasp my head around it that my (almost) 11 month old knew that her BUNDLED socks go on her foot...especially since she is a notorious sock puller offer. I mean I think she is very smart (naturally) and she is very good with her hand coordination, but she wants nothing to do with socks normally, and she won't imitate a wave or clapping but she will imitate getting dressed. Hmmmm!

We have 3 other birthdays to attend to this coming month, her 3 buddies, and I was going through our pictures from playdates throughout the year, and was getting quite blubbery. I'm going to be a mess on March 3rd. Thank god we have 3 birthdays to practice my calm cool collected demeanor.

A toddler a real life toddler, granted she really is already there with her eating, walking, one nap a day, and tantrums when something is not HER way...but ONE. According to James she is zero not 11 months, so when she is 15 months she will just ONE to him ha. Having a one year old feels like a whole new world of responsibilities, no longer a baby and "easy". Oh boy!

Oh and she is really getting close to saying Mom, I am pretty sure what she is saying sounds more like muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuum is directed at me, but I think it might be for Mmmmmilk lol, not just for ME ha. All day today she has been saying different variations of muuuuuuuuum and other M sounds, I was quite giddy. Even if it is just a "mom I need milk" sound, it's communication, since she has no interest in using her hands for sign language (or clapping or waving) vocal communication would be good :D

Just remembered another "party trick" she is doing lately...another imitation. Stomping her feet to music when we are sitting down and singing, hasn't grasped doing it while standing, but she will do it while sitting, so we stomp to music instead of clapping hehee. Sharon Lois and Bram is our favorite right.

Nighty Night!

**Pure Awesomeness**

Pure Awesomeness

For dinner tonight (on a whim, and craving) we had a family favorite...something we haven't had in awhile. Tacos, with my homemade shells (well mom's recipe, I can't take full credit)

As most know we have been following "Baby Led Weaning" as our philospophy with feeding Skyla. So she eats what we eat, if we eat out somewhere that I don't feel she should have (yet) like MacDonalds ;) I bring a healthier meal for her. That being said, she did get a MacDonald's pancake for breakfast today (along with 2 kiwi's)

The last time she had taco's, I just plopped the fillings on her tray and a soft shell beside it, she could pick and choose what she wanted to taste and play with. Tonight Skyla was getting a bit impatient with the making of dinner, so I got her into her highchair, gave her half a homemade taco shell with some refried beans in it, folded it in half to make a "bean quesadilla", I turned around to check on the shell I was cooking, looked back at her and she had managed to roll it into an actual taco/burrito shape (guess it was from how she grabbed it) that was probably the cutest thing I had ever seen. My 10 month old was eating a taco, rolled up like a stogey and chowing down (with her one half tooth) AWESOME. So for her second serving. I took the other half of the soft shell, slapped in some beans, guacomole, seasoned chicken and cheese, and rolled it up into a taco shape. Put the taco on her tray, and again, no problems no falling apart, she picked it up and went to town, eating it just the way you or I would.

I was so impressed I couldn't take my eyes off her...which meant I ate most of my tacos on the colder side hehee.

Skyla you just amaze me, with your walking and following me from room to room, your sarcastic laugh...that always seems so perfectly time to a bad joke (she laughs before anyone else, and with us ha) your eating skills. I feel like you are so grown up a tiny little body (with hardly any hair on your head) like a teenager stuck inside a small body hahaa.

Taco #1 Open Wide


Taco #1 Nom Nom Nom
Taco #2 Going in for bite
Taco #2 DelishAnd I got to say, it was not messy, there was no need for immediate plunking into a tub (and she ate NAKED, we are without a washing machine right now, and she is very low on her cloth diapers and I refuse to pay for disposables they aren't cheap! So she sat naked in her highchair on a "burp cloth" pretty sure they are actually flatfold style diapers) there were no bits of food where they should be ;) ha

Stick to it!

I don't always make such grand resolutions, because I am so bad at sticking to a plan. But this year I have a major dire need to stick to it, and LOT'S of amibition/reason.

Care to hear my new years resolutions? Yes plural!

1 - stop swearing so much
Skyla has really taken to imitating familar phrases...such as peek-a-boo, good girl, and thank you. No one would understand her when she repeats me or Gramma, but it's always the same "word" for each phrase so she is definitely trying....uhm hello kid, don't you know MOMMY, is suppose to be one of your first words ;) hehee. She only says "muuuum" when whining ha. This rule applies to James and my sister as well, since they are around her every freaking day :P

2 - Eat healthy lunches
Or a lunch in general. I tend to skip it, and snack through out the day, grabbing a handful of this or that, and not usually "healthy options" not super bad either, just not well rounded. And then come dinner I eat enough for 3 people.

3 - Loose 10-15 lbs.
I'm sure I will get flagged for this from friends and family. But I stepped on the scale the other day and I am 5 lbs heavier than I was a few months ago...and I still had 10 pregnancy lbs to loose. So that makes 15 lbs heavier then pre-preg. I'm very giggly, and rolly on the tummy, and my thighs...yikes. I want to feel good about my body and be proud of it. Plus I will soon have a toddler to chase after...I need my cardio in check ;) and I DO NOT want to get pregnant again before I feel better about my shape, but I want to expand our family. So that is a huge motivation there :D

4 - Be nicer to James
I tend to loose my patience with him at the end of the day. In my defense (a bit) he does purposely push on my buttons sometimes, or do things to purposely bug me (and he knows that and is working on it as his resolution) I'm exhausted by the time he drags his butt home from work, and have very few patience left. I know it's not an excuse, which is why I want to be nicer, less sarcastic and enjoy those evening kisses a little longer :) I love him so much and do NOT want to become a couple with "an elephant in the room"

5 - Walk Emi EVERY DAY, my poor dog has been deprived since Skyla came, and mat leave started. She used to get three 30-60 minute walks a day. And she used to get much more socializing, by coming on some of my dog walks for work, and neighborhood dogs, shiba meetups and dog playdates. We have moved away from our neighborhood and dog park she once knew, her friends have moved, a baby entered our pack and a tired mom has struggled with those morning walks. Emi, I promise you more walks, and at least one playdate a month!

Well duty calls in the form of cleaning!

Happy New Year!!! I hope you are excited for 2010 as I am.

xo Merry Kiss-Much xo

My mother in law, always says this, and I think it's pretty cute...so I have started.

When I was pregnant I would try to write at least once a month, to baby Ziggy, to I guess remember what had happened that month. I thought Baby Ziggy (Skyla) would like to read it one day down the road. Now that she is here, I use this "Baby Time, a fast, fun keepsake album" journal
http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Time-Fast-Keepsake-Album/dp/0811842819
My girlfriend gave it to me as a Christmas present last year (ironic that I am talking about it now) and I LOVE it, I am always wanting to find another copy (or 4) to keep tucked away for future children, and for baby shower gifts. It's fantastic, the pages are just super organized and easy to write in. The first 20+ pages are for writing facts about the month or whatever. And then the back half is more for pictures, foods (reactions, dates tried etc) dates of walking/crawling etc, first words, teeth (with pictures where you fill in which tooth and the date - super cute! Anyhoo, highly recommend it, and if you click the link click on "look inside book" to see sample pages.

However I do try to remember to occassionally do a full on journal entry addressed to Skyla, like my last post. And I like the idea of doing them here as well...in case something happens to the file on the computer. So my early new years resolution is to try and write her more entries, and get rid of this gut I have going on.

Back to Christmas!

What a wonderful day, Skyla was to interested in ripping the paper off her presents, even when helping her or letting things/noises peek out. Except for when he had 2, yep 2, babies being unwrapped, she was banging on the boxes wanting to get the babies out. She loves her dolls (a sign she wants us to have a baby? Hahaa A girl can dream) She loves her present from Santa, the fisher price laugh and learn farm...in fact I really want to pick up the living room second hand so one can hang out in the kitchen while I cook, totally has her entertained. And I feel like it's a toy that has news, lights and made of plastic that she may actually learn from...not just noise, and junk KWIM?

She only had ONE nap today, I am really hoping she is ready to be on a one nap schedule, just hoping it will be a LONG one. It was for 1.5 hours, so not to bad, but could have been longer ;) howevre she was not grumpy come bed time so maybe that nap was perfect! Skyla at all her meals (3 today) like a champ, loved dinner until she got ahold of her sippy. She is obsessed with water and could drink her water all day, which I don't like since she is just filling up on NOTHING, and probably the reason she has not been sleeping as well the past couple nights and needing to nurse (I'm E.X.H.A.U.S.T.E.D...again) so once I took the water away she had a bit of tantrum....lord help me when she is a tantrum-ing toddler hehee. She was happy as always, and for the first time in a loooooong time, she fell asleep while nursing, and stayed asleep. I love those moments and I don't want to unlatch her, it's like newborn days all over again and just fills me with this love or maybe emotion of....hmmm satisfaction, peace, comfort, ahhhhh/sigh :D and she STAYED asleep to be transferred to Gramma's arms, and seeing her asleep in her gramma's arms, boy let me tell you....that was beautiful! She is just SO.BUSY.SO.SO.SO.BUSY! I guess turkey, presents, jolly jumper exercise time, good company, and love tuckered her right out. Now here's hoping she stays dead asleep till 8 am (as I said, she has not been sleeping well, and I have been up late because of company here hehee)

My parents were here, my inlaws were here yesterday, so it all made Christmas that much more perfect being around our family. I'm so grateful that the my parents were able to make the trip out here, from Ontario. I love you so much Mom and Dad, and it means the world to me that you are here....even though I have been a bit cranktastic the past couple days (I blame the wonky sleep) I love having you guys here, and having our "family dinner" again :D


Last little thoughts on Christmas.

Christmas eve, Skyla took her first steps, 3 steps two times, between Nikita and I...YAY, but none today ha. That dang tooth didn't pop, I was really hoping her tooth would pop for Christmas, just to be corny (the song) and it hit me and almost made me cry, while we were doing finishing "touches" last night before bed....I'm a mom and now doing the things for Skyla that MY mom does/did for me, that I now have the "boots to fill" certain jobs to do, and traditions to make. DANG it, that reminds me we forgot to read twas the night before Christmas grrrr.

Okay I must take my turkey filled self, and get to bed, mama bear needs her sleep incase the bear cub wakes up early.

Lot's of love to all our friends and family. I hope everyone's day was as wonderful as ours.

The monkeys UnBirthday

I think I was overdue here he

Around 6 weeks old, my beautiful family
1 or 2 months - lounging at the beach on a sunny day

5 Months - cutest thing ever!8 Months old, trying homemade avocado rolls

I missed my shout out to the monster on December 16th. She was 41 weeks and 1 day, out of me for as long as she was in.

She is amazing.

Life before her seems so meaningless, and unfulfilled. I love my husband, without him I wouldn't be who I am today, and have what I have. He balances me, supports me, loves me unconditionally, he completed me until I had a child ;) our life before her was perfect, but we both agree that now it's magical.

The light of my life, apple of my eye, piece to my puzzle, all those cliche sayings!

Skyla it has been a ride, a dream, a bit of blur.
Thank you for,
not making me have crazy morning sickness
for allowing me to have a healthy safe pregnancy and waddle at 8 months pregnant walking dogs over ice and snow ;)
kicking my ribs, and punching my crotch
crowning for 3 hours, without me really feeling it
being a healthy perfect baby safely born at home
being relaxed, calm and content as a newborn, and sleepy relatively well
nursing like a champ and not causing pain or bumps in the road
good morning smiles, that make my tired eyes wake up, and grumpy mood lift
sleeping so well and not having a problem with cutting the soother out cold turkey
travelling easily and enjoying daily errands and lack of routine
dancing when I sing, even though I know it's not in tune and awful sounding ha
making me miss you only moments after laying you to sleep.

Thank you for being here, for picking us as your family ;) and for being the perfect cheeky little monkey that you are!

I love you so much, I'm so excited to see you grow into a toddler, run around the school yard, ask me for help with your homework, and boy advice when you are a teen, hold your hand and fight back tears when you leave for college, and can't wait to hear you gush about your own bundle of joy...because I get it, I understand that undeniable unconditional love for a little human.

Me likes December!

To celebrate the beautiful weather that December has brought us (out with the rain in with the clear skies and crisp air!) Skyla, Emi, Daddy and Mommy bundled up and headed to North Vancouver to hike the canyon. Hoping for snow up there, so we could rent some snowshoes, but no luck! The last time we went to Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, Emi was about 12 weeks old, there was about 6 feet of snow, and Emers was so light and wee that she walked ONTOP of the snow while we had to hike through the snow. The clear trail ended about 1/4 of the way, and then we were lifting our legs up high and trying to step into other peoples shoe prints/leg holes. And about 1/2 way the trail pretty much ended and we could go no further. Needless to say we couldn't make it to Norvan Falls :(. Since there was no snow, we figured it would be a breeze to finally get to the falls.

However the daylight had other plans, so we had to turn around about half way (or more) so that we would have enough light left to make it out of the trails. We hiked for about 2 hours, probably 8 kms. Next time we will head there earlier, so that we have time to get to the falls, and actually to my surprise, I wasn't tired and ready to turn around! Shocking, I know! And yay for me, I'm not sore today ***HAPPY DANCE*** Emi is exhausted though, which makes me a very proud mama, I feel so guilty that she does not get a daily walk in these days, but I have faith that we will be back to 2-3 daily walks again VERY SOON! I promise Emi. My other daughter, Skyla was a trooper, she didn't complain about being bundled up, or mama spreading vaseline over her face to attempt to protect it from wind, and she was pretty happy on daddy's back till the last 15 minutes. She even fell asleep for about 40 minutes, fresh air does the body good.

2 weeks ago I decided, that we HAD to go for a hike every week on one of James' days off, for the sake of Emi and my arse. Also because I don't want to be that family that coops themself up all winter, I want Skyla to be outside and appreciate the beauty and nature, and I want to be active together, and play together. My family always did the sledding and skating thing, actually my dad used to take care of our local outdoor rink, so there were plenty days that I would spend the entire day frozen skating around that rink with my dad perfecting it. But I myself want to be more active with hikes, snowshoeing (maybe cross country skiing and regular skiing when she gets a bit older) and keep at it all year round, teach my kids to be active and enjoy everything mother nature has to offer. Okay okay I'm coming down out of my hippy tree house! Anyhoo lastweek we were in Victoria, with no Emi, so hiking was a bust, but this week we got back from Victoria early, so the hike got squeezed in, and was enjoyed so much that we plan to hike on 2 of his days off (he is off wed-fri) Buns of steel here I come! I'm very pumped about this plan. If anyone can suggest some great hikes in the lower mainland, please feel free to leave a comment. It does not have to be stroller accessible, since we prefer to carry Skyla, it has to be dog friendly, but ON LEASH, is fine, as she cannot go offleash anyways, I just prefer it to not be 8 hours and intense terrain...eventually when I can handle that, I will attempt it ;) anyhoo I don't know of many places besides the Endowment Lands, Lighthouse Park, and Lynn Canyon, so suggestions are very welcome! And I would love places that are snowshoe friendly, but FREE...cause free is always better :D

I can't wait for a bit for a bit of snow (yeah I know I'm a weirdo) but I love being outdoors in the snow, when you are prepared...not when you are hiking across the mall parking lot in non waterproof shoes. Plus Emi adores the snow, she would play outside in it all day if she could, so she gets pretty deprived of that since it rarely snows in Vancouver city (last year being a fluke)

without further ado Drrrrrrrrrrrumroll.....pictures from James' camera of our hike
Me and my Emi, the river was so clear, just amazing!

James and Skyla, ignore his goofy double hat combo...he wouldn't listen to me when I suggested he not look like an idiot, until he saw it on the camera preview screen, pretty sure his words "why didn't you tell me I looked like an idiot?" Men! Skyla was super smiley and cute though!And she's starting to dose off.

Out cold...please don't flame this picture, it was about 10 seconds after the last and purely for photo op, I "tied" her head down so she wouldn't break her neck. We were using a loaner carrier and this one is not as high and does not have a "nap hood" so we had to improvise.
Ice Queen

Family Photo, well you can only see a wee bit of SAnd here you can see our improvising, with a blanket I packed, with this exact purpose in mind actually hahaa. It looks a bit demented, but it kept her neck a safe and her face warm, and yes she could breathe! Skyla woke up...time for another family shot...good on James for finding sturdy tree's to set the camera on and racing back to me before the timer went off.
Grumpy baby during the last 15 minutes...trying to keep her entertained and playing peek-a-boo!

8 months down!

Wow, where has the last 8 months gone. It is very hard to believe that I will have a toddler soon! I mean some days it feels like she is already a toddler or a teenager ;) but wow, a walking sort of talking, climbing the crib, tantrum throwing, toilet training, toddler. Yikes!!! There are good things that come with toddler days too right? Right???

In all seriousness, I am excited for those days, every day she changes and grows and I can't wait to see who she will be, what type of personality she will, how she will deal with situations and play, and what her favorite color will be. I suppose all of that will change each year, month, second, but I think all parents feel this desire and excitement of getting to know their child.

James can't wait for her to talk and say silly things on the phone like "hi daddy, I pooped in the toilet, okay have to get in tub, bye daddy love you"...or the like. A few weeks ago he was out of town for work with his boss, who has a daughter that is just over 2, he was giddy with how the daughter would talk on the phone to daddy.

Speaking of the phone, I don't know if it's just the flashy light and the novelty of "moms cellphone" but she lights up when she hears Gramma Diane say "Hi Skyla Raine" on speaker phone, her smile is huge and it just makes me all warm inside. Of course when I try to show Mom on webcam the little stinker does smile or do her silly face.

Speaking of the phone I have started to use it as my weapon during diaper changes, lay baby down on clean diaper, hand her phone while Gramma or Daddy chats away, snap up as quickly as possible. Sometimes it's not enough of a distraction though and a foot is needed to hold her in place ;) I get wanting to be naked, Heck I would probably go pantless all day if my butt was as cute as hers and it was not such an eye sore and the mail man would not turn red a beet when I answered the door hanging all out....but why oh why is diaper change such a fight. Or clothes in general, as soon as you get the shirt over her head she starts to whine. What a bugger, my a cute lovable bugger she is!

Little Miss Skyla is 8 months today. Her accomplishments:
-mastered crawling and standing (way long ago in August, what a smart gal)
-mastered furniture cruising about a month ago
-babbles a bit, mostly baaa baaaaaa bleeeeee blaaa sounds but not into imitation yet
-knows how to french kiss the dog
-definitely knows her name, and what each tone means :P
-understands "milk" and the sign for it....which looks like a open closed fist wave hello, so at music class when we sing goodbye and everyone is waving...she burrows into my chest. So bye bye is waving side to side for us hahaa. But she won't sign it back.
-I think she understands "eat" and the sign now
-this week James and I have both witnessed her standing unassisted for about 3 seconds, very random and crazy...I don't think she realizes she is doing it.
-she is eating really well right now, loves blueberries, grabs handfuls of them ha. And she devoured her cinnamon waffle for breakfast, baby led weaning has been my best friend with introducing solids to Skyla.
-and I have only changed one poopy diaper in about 2 weeks, she has been pooping on the toilet...it's easy to know when she has to poop, and it only happens once every other day, and we are home a lot....so it has been easy for us.

She is in love with her baby Ziggy, crawls around while holding onto her
Skyla and her friend Lila, jamming
Halloween playdate, jungle kingdom!

I'll post a picture of her 8 month shot later!
Ciao