Monday, July 25, 2011

Today Grocery Shopping

Aryn, I wanted you to remember this story for when you're older.

Yesterday, I took you grocery shopping. I have found in the past that any kind of shopping takes about 8x as long as normal - not because you're a handful or anything, because you really aren't, but because we get stopped every 5 minutes by people wanting to compliment me on you.

"Your baby is so happy!"
"Your baby is so cute!"

(and the most common)
"LOOK AT THAT RED HAIR!!"

So on Sunday, July 24, I took you to No Frills here in Strathmore and as I was packing the groceries in the car, an older couple came over to me. The woman told me that her husband (who was standing there) used to have red hair just like yours. He just grinned and kept looking at you. They just gushed over you and kept saying how beautiful you were. The woman said to me, "it's a shame to know that in the next 20 years, it's said that red heads will be extinct" (meaning no new babies will be born with red hair), and that she is saddened by this because they truly are so beautiful.

And you smiled that big beautiful 2 tooth grin and made their day.

The man never said one word until they were leaving and he looked back and said "God bless you."

And I thought that was super sweet.

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Thursday, July 14, 2011

NKOTBSB and Aryn's 10 Months

Notice the order of importance on the title of this post. That was NOT done by accident.
Last night was the first time I've gone out of town (to Calgary!) in the evening without Aryn. And I got to go enjoy a concert - the New Kids on the Block meets the Backstreet Boys. It was Estrogen Central. The sound of screaming women is still ringing in my ears. As is "Hangin' Tough" and "Quit Playin' Games"


Ok, enough of NKOTBSB. Now onto Aryn!

This month has been a crazy month of firsts.

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Your first Father's Day with daddy!

It was your first camping trip - as noted in my last post. Your first taste of sand, your first dip in a lake, your first major allergic reaction, your first time meeting Uncle Joe, your first Father's Day, your first birthday party. And on July 3, your first crack at crawling!!

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With Uncle Joe and Grampy Bob!

Since then, you've become a regular MacGyver. Whatever is NOT a toy is your favourite thing to play with: garbage cans (taking out gross snotty tissues), computer cables, Bauer, recycle bins, Bauer's food and water dish, books... you name it. If it says "Adult Use Only," you want to play with it.

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See? Sooo happy to have the cell phone.

Starting today, the first day headed into your 11th month of life, you have even started throwing temper tantrums. Mommy invited some friends and their babies over for a playdate this morning. You wanted Sierra's cup SO BAD - you followed her around, kept trying to steal it. And when I pulled you away, you cried. I'd give you YOUR cup, you threw it and tried to crawl back to Sierra's. You wanted her bowl of crackers - not YOUR bowl of crackers. You wanted HER toys - NOT your toys. And every time I tried to stop you, you cried. And when I was holding Baby Reid, you tried to push him away and climb all over me.

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The progression of climbing on mom. Last photo: grab at the camera.

I have to admit... it was hilarious.

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Watching Elmo!

Many moms would be embarrassed at their littles' temper but not me. This was the FIRST TIME you've ever showed any kind of jealousy or possessiveness. It was adorable and gave me a peek into the kind of little kid you're going to be when you grow older. I have to admit: I'm a little nervous now. But you're so funny!

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So big!

This past week you've had your 2nd cold (your first being croup quite a few months ago). You're a big, whiny, clingy baby when you're sick. And mommy loves your sick cuddles. Mommy does NOT, however, like your sick diapers. Ew.

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Happy Canada Day!

Weight: 23 pounds, 7.5 ounces
Length: 30.5"

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Zoo day with Sophia, Aryn, Addyson and Keegan!

So you've gained almost a pound and no height. But it was a different scale so really, who knows. Your paediatrician said you have intolerances to foods - not allergies yet. Mommy has to be very careful with you around and the food we introduce to you! The last couple of weeks you've reverted from wanting to eat any food in front of you to wanting to be nursed more, which mommy doesn't mind!

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You now sleep through the entire night. In bed at 7pm (supper at 6pm, bath at 6:30pm, and bed at 7pm) and up anywhere from 6:30-7:30am the next morning. Mommy LOVES IT. You move a lot and talk a lot in your sleep. You're a little harder to put down for naps now - you move a lot and try crawling. Your toys are always thrown around and sometimes I find your soother halfway across the room. I want to put a camera in there haha!!

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Playing Peek-A-Boo!

You've been pooping in the bathtub lately, which is gross. You're also LOVING bath time even more. Including crawling in the bathtub. We've gone swimming a few times with Keegan and his mommy Michelle and you're getting a bit more adventurous. Not as adventurous as Keegan, but you're getting there! You chase Bauer and he runs as fast as he can away from you. You LOVE your walks, especially when Grampy comes with us - and then you talk talk talk talk talk the whole way. You get SO EXCITED when you see Grammy - your hands and feet turn and you squeal with delight. You love your daddy sooooo much but you're a big suck with me when he tries to hold you. I'm looking forward to that changing!! You love my blackberry and Bauer's dog food (which you've eaten a few times.... whoops). You love blueberries the most, and you'll tolerate bananas. You eat 1/2 an avocado everyday for lunch but your favourite thing at lunch is a yogurt cup. You look up to Veronica so much and smile whenever she's near. You love cable cords. You love sitting on my lap while I'm at the computer and eat anything that's within reach - including paper, pens, and my stapler. You love going for bike rides and fall asleep within minutes. You are a real ham wherever we go - you love the attention you get from your "bright red hair!" that everyone loves. You HATE getting your nose wiped and your diaper being changed. You love to try to escape diaper changes. You love playing peek-a-boo with the curtain in your room (your little feet stick out from under it and you pull the curtain over your face and sit there until someone says "Where's Aryn" and then you peek out from under the curtain. Hilarious.

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Mommy and daddy love you SO MUCH! I can't believe in 2 months you've been with us for an entire year. Stop getting older!!! You're such a sweet, beautiful little girl. Your smile is infectious and I hope you always continue smiling!!

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Look like her daddy much??

Monday, July 4, 2011

ARYN CRAWLING!!

Aryn's 1st Camping Trip

Aryn is a lot of things - cute, beautiful, sweet, hilarious... and now we can add another to the list: awesome camper.

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I won't lie... I was a tad nervous about camping this past weekend at Kinbrook Island Park (BTW, I would go back there in a second!). Aryn has never been camping before, and she likes her scheduled naps, her food, and toys. But I discovered a LOT about my little girl this past weekend.

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Aryn and Joey both fell asleep on our bike ride!

Namely, she loves people. She loves loves LOVES people. And kids? This kid ADORES kids. So why have I not been getting her out more and getting her to spend more time with kids?? I realized this weekend that I've been depriving her - and myself, actually - and that this needs to stop. That my little social butterfly needs to be around people much more often. So that has become my new plan: at least once a week we hang out with other babies.

I hope I succeed!

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That being said, Aryn was beyond awesome this weekend. Sleep at night was tricky - but it got freezing cold at night and super hot during the day. She was in fleece one night, and woke up sweating. Guess that's what happens with a 20 degree temperature difference!

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Aryn got her first taste of sand (apparently it was delicious!), her first dip in a cold lake (loved it!), her first big boat ride, and ... drum roll, please...

She started crawling!!!!!!!!!!!!!

... makes me wonder if she'd have started crawling earlier if I had had her hanging out with other babies more often...

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So my little love nugget is crawling up a storm today. Power cords are the most interesting toy ever invented apparently; even with a basket full of toys!

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I have a video of her crawling, but she's butt naked so I'll have to get one of her with clothes on. Stay tuned - it'll come TODAY!!!!

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All in all, it was a seriously awesome weekend. We went with G&G Geremia, Auntie Karrie & Uncle Greg, Auntie Jamie & Uncle Roger, Veronica and Joey, and David & Karey Wiest and their brood of 3 (Tanner, Colton and Shelby). I wish I had more photos of everyone but I never seemed to have my camera with me. Aryn and Tanner seemed to have quite the little flirtatious relationship - he was always reading her books and giving her hugs, and Colton was always running over to her to give her hugs. BTW, Aryn hugs are the BEST. She pats your back and smiles. Cutest.Thing.EVER!

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She got quite a few mosquito bites but they don't seem to bother her, and she LOVED meeting all the dogs at the campsite! And while on the boat, Aryn was so happy until the end when she started to fall asleep while eating a cookie - hilarious, by the way haha!!

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Aryn, you were just awesome this weekend! You were so well behaved, I don't think you cried even once... oohhhh wait, you did. Once. When you were playing on the bed and you fell off the bed onto your back. Mommy felt SO BAD and you cried for about 15 seconds then stopped. I wish I had a video of you crying because it's the saddest and cutest cry ever. I don't even know how to explain it; especially since I have only heard it a few times (you rarely cry). Mommy's sorry that you fell, Nugget!

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Videos:
Aryn playing in the sand

Aryn playing in the lake