It's getting chilly in the country!
We had a good Thanksgiving; pretty relaxed, but we did accidentally crash a turkey dinner! Thanks Jeff & Isy for accommodating us! On Monday, we ended up having dinner for 7 people, but honestly, has anyone ever heard of Thanksgiving stew and veggies? I didn't think so! I will try my hand at turkey eventually, though.
Jillian has now mastered sitting up without falling over for a long period of time-as in at least a half hour, to which I am thankful. She is also starting to creep backwards across the floor. 'Creeping' is a term that refers to her moving very slowly, and not being 'creepy', which is a whole other story!
She has now been eating carrots, wax beans (ugh), and green beans (ugh ugh). She has started to accept this food as being normal in her diet and is eating them without complaint now (thank goodness!). She doesn't make as many faces as she used to, and I still haven't introduced fruit yet, but I will as soon as she tries all the veggies. She has a cupboard dedicated to her food, and it looks like the shelf at the grocery store!
I have even been making her homemade carrots. Easy recipe, really:
-peel
-boil
-blend ( don't forget to add lots of water!)
The dilemma is, although it's super cheap for a bag of carrots, the time it takes to prepare it is a pain in the butt, not to mention the cleanup. But at least I know that I'm picky about the carrots that I'm preparing, and really, where exactly is this factory that makes baby food? Although the label makes us think that the workers there are happy grandmothers that prepare the food and think of our little ones, and are super careful, I doubt that this is the case.
So, she's reached the 7 month mark, and she's got the most adorable photo of her with angel wings on! Yes, I'm a big tease, but I dread to think of how long it would take to upload that picture here.
Anyway, time to take care of the princess! Her hair's long enough now to put into 2 clips as her hair is getting into her eyes now.
Ta ta for now!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Sunday, September 30, 2007
I think I'm starting to catch up with my posts here...
The doctor's visit went well. 77cm (30 inches) long, although I think she's more like 28, 'cause it's insane to think that she grew 4 inches in 3 weeks! Her weight's at 16 pounds, 15 ounces, which makes her exactly 10 pounds heavier than when she was born almost 7 months ago, and grew over 10 inches too! How time flies! In any case, she's in the 60th-80th percentile for growth (like anyone except for me cares!), and developing normally.
I told Michael that she only had 5 more pounds to go until she needs a new car seat, and he looked a little freaked out. Oops!
Then she had her next set of shots. The first one was okay, and she cried a little then stopped, but as soon as we turned over to put the next one in her other leg, she FREAKED out! For the rest of the day, whenever I changed her and had her lie down, she shrieked because she thought that she was getting another needle. Not only that, I forgot the baby medicine, so it made for a long day. In any case, she doesn't get any more shots until her 1st birthday (amen!).
I visited my friend Shelley on the 26th, and she rolled over from her back to front (but I missed it!). I had suspected that she could do it before, but I never caught her in the act. Baby Sofia was standing up at the coffee table and shuffling around, as well as walking with assistance! I know you're not supposed to compare babies, *but* when they're so close in age(2 weeks), you can't help it! At least I know what to do next with her!
On the 27th, she tried peas for the first time. I had Michael taste them first, and he reacted like he had just bit into a lemon! But when you think about it, when's the last time you had peas without putting butter, salt and pepper on it?
In any case, she tried them and had the same reaction. Mom got to change her diaper on the 29th, and that was when she had her 'pea' poo. Bleaugh! She tried butternut squash today, and is now looking at me as if to say, "Mommy, where's the good stuff?". I did relent and give her rice cereal again, which I know she likes. Now she's a bit suspicious, and won't necessarily eat it because she's not sure what she's going to get!
If I only had a dollar for everytime someone said, "She must be teething!". Still no sign of any offending teeth yet, but I like her gummy smile just as it is!
I went crazy with baby reading this weekend.
"Shopaholic and Baby"-hilarious, as I've read the whole series so far. Brit comedy.
"Life Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy-very rude but also funny. She did 2 other books on pregnancy and her first year with a baby.
"Life with a Dictator"-also funny, but the author is high maintenance! I think I liked it because I felt that I could cope with a baby better than she did, especially with poopy diapers!
October brings my brother's birthday as well as the "Hunt for her first Halloween Costume", which she won't care about or remember. I suppose that's a good thing as she'll be demanding sugary items before long!
Have a good week everyone!
The doctor's visit went well. 77cm (30 inches) long, although I think she's more like 28, 'cause it's insane to think that she grew 4 inches in 3 weeks! Her weight's at 16 pounds, 15 ounces, which makes her exactly 10 pounds heavier than when she was born almost 7 months ago, and grew over 10 inches too! How time flies! In any case, she's in the 60th-80th percentile for growth (like anyone except for me cares!), and developing normally.
I told Michael that she only had 5 more pounds to go until she needs a new car seat, and he looked a little freaked out. Oops!
Then she had her next set of shots. The first one was okay, and she cried a little then stopped, but as soon as we turned over to put the next one in her other leg, she FREAKED out! For the rest of the day, whenever I changed her and had her lie down, she shrieked because she thought that she was getting another needle. Not only that, I forgot the baby medicine, so it made for a long day. In any case, she doesn't get any more shots until her 1st birthday (amen!).
I visited my friend Shelley on the 26th, and she rolled over from her back to front (but I missed it!). I had suspected that she could do it before, but I never caught her in the act. Baby Sofia was standing up at the coffee table and shuffling around, as well as walking with assistance! I know you're not supposed to compare babies, *but* when they're so close in age(2 weeks), you can't help it! At least I know what to do next with her!
On the 27th, she tried peas for the first time. I had Michael taste them first, and he reacted like he had just bit into a lemon! But when you think about it, when's the last time you had peas without putting butter, salt and pepper on it?
In any case, she tried them and had the same reaction. Mom got to change her diaper on the 29th, and that was when she had her 'pea' poo. Bleaugh! She tried butternut squash today, and is now looking at me as if to say, "Mommy, where's the good stuff?". I did relent and give her rice cereal again, which I know she likes. Now she's a bit suspicious, and won't necessarily eat it because she's not sure what she's going to get!
If I only had a dollar for everytime someone said, "She must be teething!". Still no sign of any offending teeth yet, but I like her gummy smile just as it is!
I went crazy with baby reading this weekend.
"Shopaholic and Baby"-hilarious, as I've read the whole series so far. Brit comedy.
"Life Laughs" by Jenny McCarthy-very rude but also funny. She did 2 other books on pregnancy and her first year with a baby.
"Life with a Dictator"-also funny, but the author is high maintenance! I think I liked it because I felt that I could cope with a baby better than she did, especially with poopy diapers!
October brings my brother's birthday as well as the "Hunt for her first Halloween Costume", which she won't care about or remember. I suppose that's a good thing as she'll be demanding sugary items before long!
Have a good week everyone!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Ah, the baby's fast asleep for the night and I have a high-speed connection right now!
So, the rest of our trip to Trinidad went very well. We:
-went to Toco beach, where Jillian went in the Atlantic Ocean and was having fun until she got hit by a wave and didn't like it anymore!
-went to Enterprise (not the spaceship!), and visited my Dad's side of the family. The neat thing is, I have pictures from when I was a baby and it looks like we were the same size at the same location!
-spent some more time with my maternal grandmother
-ate at a Japanese food restaurant. Similar to the Teppanyaki (sp?) restaurants that we went to in Taiwan, but more elegant
-got tans, but nothing too extreme!
I managed to do some driving as well. Uncle Yves loaned me his car for several days, so I was able to see more family members. There, they drive on the left hand side, and the roads are narrower, so that always takes some getting used to!
I wasn't very comfortable with travelling by public transit for long distances, especially if it included carrying her car seat, clothes, etc. I guess I'm really Canadianised now!
Our flight back was pretty good, although we had to leave Port of Spain(dep:9PM) to go to Caracas, Venezuela(dep: midnight), before we could go back to Toronto(arr:5AM). The upside though was that the plane was emptier on the way back, so my Mom and Aunt got the coveted Emergency Exit row that has a wee bit more leg room, and I got 3 seats together on the other side. Jillian s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out on 2 seats(yes, I did put a seatbelt on her), and I tried to doze off upright. That's when I realized: My happiness depends on her happiness, 'cause there's no way that I could have slept comfortably while she was still awake(and cranky!).
We arrived in Toronto, and my Aunt was on a later connecting flight. So, no problem, Mom, Jillian and myself get on the plane at gate 126, land in Ottawa around 8am, and wait for her to show up an hour later. As the last people are collecting their luggage around 9:30ish, we realize that we forgot to tell her that the next flight was leaving at gate ***132***, not 126! A very long story later, she arrived around noon, and her luggage arrived at our doorstep later on that evening!
Oh, did I mention that my (very handsome!) cousin is an air traffic controller in Trinidad? We had a very nice takeoff, thank you very much!
Jillian's baptism was also today. We had Father Paul (aka. Father What-a-Waste). My friend Shell came up with the nickname when he was at her parish over 12 years ago. My Aunt came from Trinidad, my Uncle from Toronto (who also cooked for us afterwards), and my Dad made the drive up from NYC. Vanessa came from Montreal as the role of Godmother, and Shawn as the Godfather(no Marlon Brando jokes, please!).
Everything went pretty smoothly (I think), and she looked *adorable* in her Christening gown that Shawn's mom made. She didn't even cry when the holy water hit her! I think that maybe she was wondering why she was getting a bath in the middle of the day with her clothes on and so many people watching! She's used to leaning over her tub like that when we are getting ready to wash her hair! hee hee....
She did get cranky at my Mom's house with everyone around, wanting to hold her, and the fancy-schmancy dress that I wanted her to wear, but wasn't comfy for her. She did manage to pass out for a few hours, and was rearing to go until 11pm tonight!
Tomorrow is her 6 month checkup at the doctor's, including her next round of shots. I wonder if she'll remember the doctor's office from the last time?
So, the rest of our trip to Trinidad went very well. We:
-went to Toco beach, where Jillian went in the Atlantic Ocean and was having fun until she got hit by a wave and didn't like it anymore!
-went to Enterprise (not the spaceship!), and visited my Dad's side of the family. The neat thing is, I have pictures from when I was a baby and it looks like we were the same size at the same location!
-spent some more time with my maternal grandmother
-ate at a Japanese food restaurant. Similar to the Teppanyaki (sp?) restaurants that we went to in Taiwan, but more elegant
-got tans, but nothing too extreme!
I managed to do some driving as well. Uncle Yves loaned me his car for several days, so I was able to see more family members. There, they drive on the left hand side, and the roads are narrower, so that always takes some getting used to!
I wasn't very comfortable with travelling by public transit for long distances, especially if it included carrying her car seat, clothes, etc. I guess I'm really Canadianised now!
Our flight back was pretty good, although we had to leave Port of Spain(dep:9PM) to go to Caracas, Venezuela(dep: midnight), before we could go back to Toronto(arr:5AM). The upside though was that the plane was emptier on the way back, so my Mom and Aunt got the coveted Emergency Exit row that has a wee bit more leg room, and I got 3 seats together on the other side. Jillian s-t-r-e-t-c-h-e-d out on 2 seats(yes, I did put a seatbelt on her), and I tried to doze off upright. That's when I realized: My happiness depends on her happiness, 'cause there's no way that I could have slept comfortably while she was still awake(and cranky!).
We arrived in Toronto, and my Aunt was on a later connecting flight. So, no problem, Mom, Jillian and myself get on the plane at gate 126, land in Ottawa around 8am, and wait for her to show up an hour later. As the last people are collecting their luggage around 9:30ish, we realize that we forgot to tell her that the next flight was leaving at gate ***132***, not 126! A very long story later, she arrived around noon, and her luggage arrived at our doorstep later on that evening!
Oh, did I mention that my (very handsome!) cousin is an air traffic controller in Trinidad? We had a very nice takeoff, thank you very much!
Jillian's baptism was also today. We had Father Paul (aka. Father What-a-Waste). My friend Shell came up with the nickname when he was at her parish over 12 years ago. My Aunt came from Trinidad, my Uncle from Toronto (who also cooked for us afterwards), and my Dad made the drive up from NYC. Vanessa came from Montreal as the role of Godmother, and Shawn as the Godfather(no Marlon Brando jokes, please!).
Everything went pretty smoothly (I think), and she looked *adorable* in her Christening gown that Shawn's mom made. She didn't even cry when the holy water hit her! I think that maybe she was wondering why she was getting a bath in the middle of the day with her clothes on and so many people watching! She's used to leaning over her tub like that when we are getting ready to wash her hair! hee hee....
She did get cranky at my Mom's house with everyone around, wanting to hold her, and the fancy-schmancy dress that I wanted her to wear, but wasn't comfy for her. She did manage to pass out for a few hours, and was rearing to go until 11pm tonight!
Tomorrow is her 6 month checkup at the doctor's, including her next round of shots. I wonder if she'll remember the doctor's office from the last time?
Thursday, September 13, 2007
hey all,
i'm sorry about the lower case, but I'm in an internet cafe in trinidad trying to give jillian water and type at the same time! we're having fun meeting family again, but we're missing michael lots as he has started teaching with his new school and obviously can't take time off work!
jillian's mastered rolling over from her tummy to back, and can sit unassisted on the couch for long periods of time, but will tip over on her back if I sit her on the floor. she also likes to hold onto people's arms and *squeeze* her hand together, creating a nasty pinching sensation! I have dropped the f-bomb a few times because it hurts so bad and I can't disengage her in time!
she's slowly getting used to the heat...but she can't stay anywhere without air con!
sorry, gotta run, but I'll try t o finish this before I leave!
i'm sorry about the lower case, but I'm in an internet cafe in trinidad trying to give jillian water and type at the same time! we're having fun meeting family again, but we're missing michael lots as he has started teaching with his new school and obviously can't take time off work!
jillian's mastered rolling over from her tummy to back, and can sit unassisted on the couch for long periods of time, but will tip over on her back if I sit her on the floor. she also likes to hold onto people's arms and *squeeze* her hand together, creating a nasty pinching sensation! I have dropped the f-bomb a few times because it hurts so bad and I can't disengage her in time!
she's slowly getting used to the heat...but she can't stay anywhere without air con!
sorry, gotta run, but I'll try t o finish this before I leave!
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
We went to Montreal this past weekend, and it was great catching up with our friends who biked from Toronto to Montreal. I must admit that the majority of the bikers had nice bums! hee hee... Everyone was going to a bar afterwards, except 2 people. Can you guess who they were? I'll give you a clue...it wasn't Michael!
Jillian had a good time, but is starting to 'make strange' with new people. According to my baby book, she's right on schedule for that. At least she's comfy with Mom and Michael, otherwise I'd have very tired arms!
Also, on August 5th, we decided to introduce her to rice cereal. For a baby, this is a solid, although it looks like gruel.
The VERY FIRST spoonful!!!
All done!
For the record, she did like it, and there was no more cereal in the bowl, but as you can see from the last picture, probably half of it ended up on her than in her.
We are getting ready for our big move next week. There are tons of boxes; how the heck do we manage to accumulate this much stuff? I even found papers from when I was a teenager. At least it'll be useful when it comes time to light a fire!
Unfortunately, where we'll be moving to only has dial-up internet, so I'm not sure what it'll mean when it comes to these posts. I will probably only be able to add pictures when I visit my mom's house. Hopefully, I can still write on a regular basis.
Anyway, time for more packing!
Jillian had a good time, but is starting to 'make strange' with new people. According to my baby book, she's right on schedule for that. At least she's comfy with Mom and Michael, otherwise I'd have very tired arms!
Also, on August 5th, we decided to introduce her to rice cereal. For a baby, this is a solid, although it looks like gruel.
The VERY FIRST spoonful!!!
All done!
For the record, she did like it, and there was no more cereal in the bowl, but as you can see from the last picture, probably half of it ended up on her than in her.
We are getting ready for our big move next week. There are tons of boxes; how the heck do we manage to accumulate this much stuff? I even found papers from when I was a teenager. At least it'll be useful when it comes time to light a fire!
Unfortunately, where we'll be moving to only has dial-up internet, so I'm not sure what it'll mean when it comes to these posts. I will probably only be able to add pictures when I visit my mom's house. Hopefully, I can still write on a regular basis.
Anyway, time for more packing!
Friday, August 03, 2007
Ah, we've hit the 5 month mark! Jillian's celebrated this milestone by *not* sleeping in in the mornings! Arg! Judging by her increased hunger, it's going to be time for solid food...not the kind that we eat, but stuff like rice cereal. Think of it as a watery gruel. I'll try to get some pics in of her first bites.
Now she spends less time looking at faces, and is really getting to know the rest of the world around her. Although this afternoon was super hot, we sat on a shaded porch and watched the wind blow the leaves on the tree in the front yard. She was so amazed at this and it was so peaceful. It beat the heck out of staying inside and watching TV. We did manage to return indoors before we got overly sweaty.
Her babbling now includes 'bye', 'I'. The rest of it is still kinda drooly. I'm still practicing ma-ma, but it doesn't seem to interest her right now.
This weekend, we're heading to Montreal with her to meet up with a couple of friends that were involved in a bike rally from Toronto to Montreal to raise money to help people living with AIDS. You can check it out at:
http://www.bikerally.org/
I had a few complaints about the flickr website for pictures. I tried it today and it worked. If there's still issues, please let me know at idania@gmail.com .
Have a good weekend everyone!
Now she spends less time looking at faces, and is really getting to know the rest of the world around her. Although this afternoon was super hot, we sat on a shaded porch and watched the wind blow the leaves on the tree in the front yard. She was so amazed at this and it was so peaceful. It beat the heck out of staying inside and watching TV. We did manage to return indoors before we got overly sweaty.
Her babbling now includes 'bye', 'I'. The rest of it is still kinda drooly. I'm still practicing ma-ma, but it doesn't seem to interest her right now.
This weekend, we're heading to Montreal with her to meet up with a couple of friends that were involved in a bike rally from Toronto to Montreal to raise money to help people living with AIDS. You can check it out at:
http://www.bikerally.org/
I had a few complaints about the flickr website for pictures. I tried it today and it worked. If there's still issues, please let me know at idania@gmail.com .
Have a good weekend everyone!
Monday, July 30, 2007
If you didn't get my email, I have transferred my photos to:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/idaniar/
Yahoo! has decided to go with Flickr instead of their regular Yahoo! photos. At least I was able to keep all 537 photos instead of losing all the albums that I have set up-I started it in April 2004, so I would have been pretty ticked off!
Jillian's going to be 5 months old next week! Yikes! 7 more months of maternity leave left....NOOOO! She was a bit fussy today as she really, REALLY likes her morning naps. On Saturday, we went shopping in the morning, and on Sunday, we visited some relatives in the AM, so by Sunday afternoon, she was alternating between smiling, crying, eating(sipping!), then napping for short intervals. I put her in a swing, and bliss(!), she was out for 45 minutes. She passed out around 10pm, and we're going to take it easy in the AM, so she'll be her normal, contented self.
I know that some people say that it's not a good idea to plan your whole life around the children, and I agree. I just know that I'm awfully grumpy when I don't sleep enough, and I like to sleep in too!
My sister-in-law will be showing up next week-yipee! She's currently in Iqualuit (AKA Up North), and hasn't met Jillian yet. She's also due with her first baby in December! We're very excited for her, but are trying to cook up schemes to get her to have her baby here in Ottawa. This is purely for selfish reasons as we want to see her baby ASAP when he/she shows up. Any ideas anyone? ;)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/idaniar/
Yahoo! has decided to go with Flickr instead of their regular Yahoo! photos. At least I was able to keep all 537 photos instead of losing all the albums that I have set up-I started it in April 2004, so I would have been pretty ticked off!
Jillian's going to be 5 months old next week! Yikes! 7 more months of maternity leave left....NOOOO! She was a bit fussy today as she really, REALLY likes her morning naps. On Saturday, we went shopping in the morning, and on Sunday, we visited some relatives in the AM, so by Sunday afternoon, she was alternating between smiling, crying, eating(sipping!), then napping for short intervals. I put her in a swing, and bliss(!), she was out for 45 minutes. She passed out around 10pm, and we're going to take it easy in the AM, so she'll be her normal, contented self.
I know that some people say that it's not a good idea to plan your whole life around the children, and I agree. I just know that I'm awfully grumpy when I don't sleep enough, and I like to sleep in too!
My sister-in-law will be showing up next week-yipee! She's currently in Iqualuit (AKA Up North), and hasn't met Jillian yet. She's also due with her first baby in December! We're very excited for her, but are trying to cook up schemes to get her to have her baby here in Ottawa. This is purely for selfish reasons as we want to see her baby ASAP when he/she shows up. Any ideas anyone? ;)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Yesterday was a fun day!
I have been pestering my friend Shelley to get pictures of her daughter done close by my house, seeing as it's a good deal and I finally bullied her into it! (hee hee!)
Anyway, she showed up with Sofia (who's 2 weeks younger than Jillian) and it was the first time that they were really aware of each other and interacting. Well, at first, they were examining each other and chatted a bit (although it sounded like, "Sqwack!", "Screech!", *drool*, etc) Then Sofia looked at Jillian's right hand (which was in Jillian's mouth at the time), slowly reached towards Jillian with both hands, then grabbed Jillian's arm and put her fist in her mouth!!!
Jillian was a little taken aback that her fist was in Sofia's mouth, then she realised that she had a left hand and put that into her mouth instead. We started cracking up. What's a little drool between friends?
I have been pestering my friend Shelley to get pictures of her daughter done close by my house, seeing as it's a good deal and I finally bullied her into it! (hee hee!)
Anyway, she showed up with Sofia (who's 2 weeks younger than Jillian) and it was the first time that they were really aware of each other and interacting. Well, at first, they were examining each other and chatted a bit (although it sounded like, "Sqwack!", "Screech!", *drool*, etc) Then Sofia looked at Jillian's right hand (which was in Jillian's mouth at the time), slowly reached towards Jillian with both hands, then grabbed Jillian's arm and put her fist in her mouth!!!
Jillian was a little taken aback that her fist was in Sofia's mouth, then she realised that she had a left hand and put that into her mouth instead. We started cracking up. What's a little drool between friends?
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Mingle2 - Online Dating
According to the website, my blog is rated R because of:
pain (11x) sex (7x) pooped (3x) poop (2x) crack (1x)
WHAT???
Monday, July 16, 2007
How can you not love this face!!!As you can see, she's enjoying more and more time on her tummy; it should only be a matter of time till she's rolling over!
By the way, I did add a few more photos to:
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/utic2003iriley/my_photos
Not much new lately. We're suspecting that she's teething as she's drooling, chomping on her hands, and pulling on her ears. Secretly, I hope it doesn't happen yet. I love her gummy smile! Plus, I don't want her to bite me either!
She recently received a set of socks with rattles that look like puppies on them. When Michael changed her diaper, she was amazed that her feet looked like dogs and immediately grabbed at them!
She's getting a lot out of her stroller rides. She likes to lean forward with her head and swivel her head back and forth while she inspects the wide, wide world. Watching the wind move the leaves on the trees enthrall her. Looking at my red shirt will keep her attention as well! She got a bit cranky 1/2 way through the walk, but once her stroller was reclined, she fell asleep right away.
I like my stroller. Do they make them in adult sizes and can someone push me around while I take a nap? Wait, on second thought, it would be way too weird to take a nap, and have random people see you sleep.
Goodnight!
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
My name is Idania and I buy my clothes at a grocery store.
There, I said it! How can you argue with a $5 shirt? It is a super-mega-googleplex grocery store...the kind you could live in for a few months in case of emergency. Mind you, it takes the same amount of time to go shopping there too!
We're all enjoying the summer weather...well, Michael's at work during that prime time of sunshine, but now that his summer class is over, we see him every night. Yipee!
We went to Orillia this past weekend to visit our 'Taiwan gang'. Funny thing is, we met 3 out of 6 siblings while we were in Taiwan, and are now good friends with 4 of them! Michael went to school with one of them while we were in Windsor. It was wonderful catching up with everyone. One couple just bought a house, so we were their first house-guests. Loved the size and backyard, though I have never mowed a lawn before! Another couple are visiting from Taiwan and are prego with their first child (girl!) and they look so content and thrilled...I am sooo happy for the both of them!!!
We ended up going to a wedding on Saturday; unexpected, and didn't have anything to wear, but got to borrow a skirt, with the intention being to change in the washroom of the church. Where is the w/c? I had no idea and changed behind one of the doors...no witnesses! Thank goodness! At the reception, they played "In my Daughter's Eyes" which made me bawl like a baby; I was also holding Jillian at the time.
Also managed a boat tour that enabled us to catch up on local gossip and look at the ritzy cottages that made me feel poor at the end of the trip. :( Oh well...
Jillian was AWESOME the entire trip. Only started crying on the last day because she was hot and hungry, and it was maybe for 10 minutes. It was an emotional goodbye for many reasons, but I can't wait to see everyone again(hopefully soon!)
------------
Got Jillian's second round of shots on July 3rd. She's now 2 feet tall and 14 pounds; the doc says that she's right on track. I think that she might have known about the vaccination, because she started crying during the checkup and before she got her 2 shots. Another 2 months to go before the next round, thank goodness.
She's started giggling (when she feels like it), and has mastered holding her head up. I am practicing having her on her tummy, so she can learn to roll over, but she hates lying down that way. She loves it when her feet touch the ground so she can push herself to a standing position as well as when her Daddy lifts her up in the air; she stretches out so she looks like she's flying like Superman. She's really grasping objects well, but she tends to lick whatever she's holding on to, so I'm doing my best to keep her hands clean. She also found out how to suck her thumb on July 7th (She doesn't like soothers), but I'm hoping that this is a phase.
Hope everyone is well and happy!
There, I said it! How can you argue with a $5 shirt? It is a super-mega-googleplex grocery store...the kind you could live in for a few months in case of emergency. Mind you, it takes the same amount of time to go shopping there too!
We're all enjoying the summer weather...well, Michael's at work during that prime time of sunshine, but now that his summer class is over, we see him every night. Yipee!
We went to Orillia this past weekend to visit our 'Taiwan gang'. Funny thing is, we met 3 out of 6 siblings while we were in Taiwan, and are now good friends with 4 of them! Michael went to school with one of them while we were in Windsor. It was wonderful catching up with everyone. One couple just bought a house, so we were their first house-guests. Loved the size and backyard, though I have never mowed a lawn before! Another couple are visiting from Taiwan and are prego with their first child (girl!) and they look so content and thrilled...I am sooo happy for the both of them!!!
We ended up going to a wedding on Saturday; unexpected, and didn't have anything to wear, but got to borrow a skirt, with the intention being to change in the washroom of the church. Where is the w/c? I had no idea and changed behind one of the doors...no witnesses! Thank goodness! At the reception, they played "In my Daughter's Eyes" which made me bawl like a baby; I was also holding Jillian at the time.
Also managed a boat tour that enabled us to catch up on local gossip and look at the ritzy cottages that made me feel poor at the end of the trip. :( Oh well...
Jillian was AWESOME the entire trip. Only started crying on the last day because she was hot and hungry, and it was maybe for 10 minutes. It was an emotional goodbye for many reasons, but I can't wait to see everyone again(hopefully soon!)
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Got Jillian's second round of shots on July 3rd. She's now 2 feet tall and 14 pounds; the doc says that she's right on track. I think that she might have known about the vaccination, because she started crying during the checkup and before she got her 2 shots. Another 2 months to go before the next round, thank goodness.
She's started giggling (when she feels like it), and has mastered holding her head up. I am practicing having her on her tummy, so she can learn to roll over, but she hates lying down that way. She loves it when her feet touch the ground so she can push herself to a standing position as well as when her Daddy lifts her up in the air; she stretches out so she looks like she's flying like Superman. She's really grasping objects well, but she tends to lick whatever she's holding on to, so I'm doing my best to keep her hands clean. She also found out how to suck her thumb on July 7th (She doesn't like soothers), but I'm hoping that this is a phase.
Hope everyone is well and happy!
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
June 20th- applied for Jillian's passport...
June 25th- got it in the mail!!!
Wow! That hour and a half that I spent in line really paid off! She looks like she's wearing a wig from the Donald Trump collection, but very cute nonetheless!
We also went to visit a friend yesterday that has a 5 week old daughter...I couldn't get over the size difference between the both of them....both girls are about 10 weeks apart. The 'new' baby is so cute and tiny! You can tell that she's really looking at the whole world, but especially her mom...wow!
Also, seeing Jillian moving her head around independently and 'talking' makes me see how far she has come. She's started to really kick at one of her toys, to the extent that she can kick it away from her...yikes! She must get those strong legs from her mom!
Friday, June 22, 2007
There was no posing this shot!Oh, I love Friday nights! Michael's finished work and we get to hang out as a family without him needing to work the next day. Right now, the both of them are watching the NHL entry draft. To me, it's like watching paint dry...for Michael, it's like watching the Victoria's Secret models strut their stuff... po-ta-to, po-tat-o.
Michael's started playing this game with Jillian: He lifts her into the air and says, "Up, up and away!" Sometimes she gets into it and throws her arms into the air like she's Superman. Very cute.
It's good to run errands with Jillian. Sure, it's a lot slower, but:
-I get to work out my arms from carrying her car seat around,
-She gets tons of compliments from strangers ("Look at all that hair!")
-She has to listen to everything I say!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
In her baby pod
Wearing an outfit that Grandma Riley made.Ah, summer! The weather's gotten a lot better and we get outside more often. Jillian's not too crazy about the hot weather, but doesn't complain when the A/C is on full blast!
We're having fun living with my mom until we get our own place. It's nice to have another grownup to talk to during the day and Jillian's able to get to know her 'Abuela' better.
Jillian now weighs in at over 14 pounds, so she's doubled her birthweight. She's also over 2 feet tall (long?), and loves making bubbles with her spit. She's a pro with the bottle (phew!) and is really taking an interest with the world around her. She's starting to get used to lying on her tummy, but it'll take some time before she's totally comfy with it. Also, when she goes to bed and we play some lullabyes for her, she'll 'sing' along with the music till she falls asleep. She can sit up with assistance, and although she's got a bit of bobble-head, she's getting better every day. She can also stand briefly with assistance, but I don't do that often as her little bones aren't ready for that yet.
Michael's working back at his old job again this summer. He has a couple of pictures of Jillian on his desk so she can keep him company during the day. He's also taking night classes 3 times a week as well (6-9pm), so he's feeling really worn out by the end of the week. Luckily that class is over at the end of next week, so he'll be able to spend more time with us during the summer.
As for me? I'm getting addicted to Home and Garden TV (a station that talks about renovating, decorating, selling and buying homes).
Friday, June 08, 2007
Soothers and Swings
We've all gotten over our colds now (thank goodness!), and this week, Michael started back at his old company, and still taking classes at night, 3 times a week! I still don't know how he does it.
This week, we've reintroduced Jillian to her swing, and she loves it! In fact, when we tried to take her out of it on Sunday, she started crying! And it's the type that you turn the handle, so we don't have to worry about buying batteries or tripping over a plug!
I've also managed to take her on a few walks this week to the grocery store (it's only 10 minutes away), and its been cold again, but she's been bundled up pretty well. Lately, she's been either really alert or fast asleep. She had her growth spurt right around the 3 month mark (last week), and I'm really seeing a difference. She's still enjoying her little gym that plays music and flashes lights and her bouncy chair. However, she is amandant about not being on her tummy! She'll have her face right in her blanket and start crying. Ah well. I guess she'll catch on when she starts to roll over?
We've also been trying each night to have her take one bottle, so she's not completely dependent on me. Don't get me wrong, I love the time that I spend breastfeeding her, but sometimes I just want to stand up and run around in circles when she's taking her time! It was HORRID to say the least! She didn't want anything to do with the bottle and would scream at us. Then I was putting her soother/comforter/binky/dummy in her mouth and watch her pop it out. Then I would do it again, just to see. Then on Wednesday, she caught on that she could suck on it! Woo hoo! I tried to experiment and added the bottle when she spit out her soother, and voila! She started to drink from the bottle! Now Michael can feed her too!
Now if we can get her to change her own diaper....
We've all gotten over our colds now (thank goodness!), and this week, Michael started back at his old company, and still taking classes at night, 3 times a week! I still don't know how he does it.
This week, we've reintroduced Jillian to her swing, and she loves it! In fact, when we tried to take her out of it on Sunday, she started crying! And it's the type that you turn the handle, so we don't have to worry about buying batteries or tripping over a plug!
I've also managed to take her on a few walks this week to the grocery store (it's only 10 minutes away), and its been cold again, but she's been bundled up pretty well. Lately, she's been either really alert or fast asleep. She had her growth spurt right around the 3 month mark (last week), and I'm really seeing a difference. She's still enjoying her little gym that plays music and flashes lights and her bouncy chair. However, she is amandant about not being on her tummy! She'll have her face right in her blanket and start crying. Ah well. I guess she'll catch on when she starts to roll over?
We've also been trying each night to have her take one bottle, so she's not completely dependent on me. Don't get me wrong, I love the time that I spend breastfeeding her, but sometimes I just want to stand up and run around in circles when she's taking her time! It was HORRID to say the least! She didn't want anything to do with the bottle and would scream at us. Then I was putting her soother/comforter/binky/dummy in her mouth and watch her pop it out. Then I would do it again, just to see. Then on Wednesday, she caught on that she could suck on it! Woo hoo! I tried to experiment and added the bottle when she spit out her soother, and voila! She started to drink from the bottle! Now Michael can feed her too!
Now if we can get her to change her own diaper....
Monday, May 28, 2007
Wow, I've been letting this slide for too long!
Here's a quick recap:
May 11th-Jillian starts her baby talk, including cooing...I LOVE IT! We have conversations for 5 minutes at a time, and what's adorable is the look she has on her face at the same time, like she's serious about what she's talking about.
May 19th -While in New York, my dad was getting sick, and it was rainy, so we stayed around Queens. The next day, we went to Coney Island and walked around, got (what else?) a hotdog! Apparently, that's where it originated. It was pretty good, but at $2.49, not the best deal! On the 20th, we went shopping and hung out, then we headed back to Ottawa.
This week, all 3 of us are sick...ugh. I think that Jillian got it first, then I got it, and now Michael. Luckily, it's a summer cold, but we're doing okay. Anyway, I'd better check up on the princess and take a nap; Michael's still well enough to go to the grocery store
Here's a quick recap:
May 11th-Jillian starts her baby talk, including cooing...I LOVE IT! We have conversations for 5 minutes at a time, and what's adorable is the look she has on her face at the same time, like she's serious about what she's talking about.
May 19th -While in New York, my dad was getting sick, and it was rainy, so we stayed around Queens. The next day, we went to Coney Island and walked around, got (what else?) a hotdog! Apparently, that's where it originated. It was pretty good, but at $2.49, not the best deal! On the 20th, we went shopping and hung out, then we headed back to Ottawa.
This week, all 3 of us are sick...ugh. I think that Jillian got it first, then I got it, and now Michael. Luckily, it's a summer cold, but we're doing okay. Anyway, I'd better check up on the princess and take a nap; Michael's still well enough to go to the grocery store
Friday, May 18, 2007
jillIan loves NY
Well we arrived safe and sound in the windy city.... I mean the big Apple (-: Michael, Jillian and myself are in NYC... East side as they say... visiting my Dad who works in Manhatten. We're here for the long weekend.
Today we decided to go to Manhatten. (It got it's name from the local aboriginal tribe located here at the time of the Europeans arrival) We had an eventful subway ride into the city from Queens. While on the train, I got offered to buy illegal pirated DVDs. Thanks but no thanks. Then a 70 yr old former drug addict turned preacher got on and gave up a fire and brimstone makeshift sermon. I only thought these things happened in the movies on subway trains but apparently not.
We started off by going to the Seinfeld restaurant that you always see in the show. I really wanted to see it. We got some great pics of the family there. It's located at 112th and Broadway if you have no life and want to look it up on mapquest or some other mapping site!
We then took the subway to Time Square. It was surprisingly busy there. We bought Jillian a toy at the largest toy store in the world, Toys R Us. Then we walked to Madison Square Garden to see a hockey shrine but Messier wasn't there. Between MSG and the Empire State building, Jillian pooped herself really bad and Starbucks doesn't have any change tables. Only adults without kids are supposed to frequent this establishment. I guess parents don't have any money for $4 coffees and expressos!!!
We headed to Micky Ds and they could accomidate our needs. By that time it was too late and Jillian had it all over her back sides and front. The green poop went thru her onezi and her PJs. It was a HUGE mess. As we cleaned her up we could hear people complaining about us taking too long in there.
By this time, we were all "POOPED" and we headed back to Queens. The subway ride was not nearly as entertaining on the way back. The ending to this entry is not as exciting as it should be.
Tomorrow we are heading back to Manhatten. I want to see Carrie Bradshaw in her natural environment. (he he)
Well we arrived safe and sound in the windy city.... I mean the big Apple (-: Michael, Jillian and myself are in NYC... East side as they say... visiting my Dad who works in Manhatten. We're here for the long weekend.
Today we decided to go to Manhatten. (It got it's name from the local aboriginal tribe located here at the time of the Europeans arrival) We had an eventful subway ride into the city from Queens. While on the train, I got offered to buy illegal pirated DVDs. Thanks but no thanks. Then a 70 yr old former drug addict turned preacher got on and gave up a fire and brimstone makeshift sermon. I only thought these things happened in the movies on subway trains but apparently not.
We started off by going to the Seinfeld restaurant that you always see in the show. I really wanted to see it. We got some great pics of the family there. It's located at 112th and Broadway if you have no life and want to look it up on mapquest or some other mapping site!
We then took the subway to Time Square. It was surprisingly busy there. We bought Jillian a toy at the largest toy store in the world, Toys R Us. Then we walked to Madison Square Garden to see a hockey shrine but Messier wasn't there. Between MSG and the Empire State building, Jillian pooped herself really bad and Starbucks doesn't have any change tables. Only adults without kids are supposed to frequent this establishment. I guess parents don't have any money for $4 coffees and expressos!!!
We headed to Micky Ds and they could accomidate our needs. By that time it was too late and Jillian had it all over her back sides and front. The green poop went thru her onezi and her PJs. It was a HUGE mess. As we cleaned her up we could hear people complaining about us taking too long in there.
By this time, we were all "POOPED" and we headed back to Queens. The subway ride was not nearly as entertaining on the way back. The ending to this entry is not as exciting as it should be.
Tomorrow we are heading back to Manhatten. I want to see Carrie Bradshaw in her natural environment. (he he)
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Haven't been on top of this lately...let's see...
Had a mini-elementary school reunion on May 9th...it went pretty well, and we were looking at each other's babies, eating and remembering the 'good old days'. Can't believe how long it's been since I finished Elementary school, but I'm not going to throw out any numbers!
Jillian's dressed up for my mom's Glow Party; she holds it every year and you have to wear white because of the black lights on the dance floor. It looks really neat to see everyone dancing and aglow. We had to wait till the end of the Senator's game...which went into double overtime! Thank goodness they won! My Uncle Bunnie was the Chef Extraordinare again...wish I could have eaten the jerk chicken this year, but it was hilarious to see everyone panting and asking for water!
The next day was Mother's Day. Jillian (with Michael's help) got me some flowers and a nice card. Jillian almost threw up on the card itself (she was holding it for me), but changed her mind at the last minute! Michael was very relieved about that! In the afternoon, we went to visit some family at a Mother's Day BBQ, and got a few pictures:
Had a mini-elementary school reunion on May 9th...it went pretty well, and we were looking at each other's babies, eating and remembering the 'good old days'. Can't believe how long it's been since I finished Elementary school, but I'm not going to throw out any numbers!
Jillian's dressed up for my mom's Glow Party; she holds it every year and you have to wear white because of the black lights on the dance floor. It looks really neat to see everyone dancing and aglow. We had to wait till the end of the Senator's game...which went into double overtime! Thank goodness they won! My Uncle Bunnie was the Chef Extraordinare again...wish I could have eaten the jerk chicken this year, but it was hilarious to see everyone panting and asking for water!
The next day was Mother's Day. Jillian (with Michael's help) got me some flowers and a nice card. Jillian almost threw up on the card itself (she was holding it for me), but changed her mind at the last minute! Michael was very relieved about that! In the afternoon, we went to visit some family at a Mother's Day BBQ, and got a few pictures:
If you go to: http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/utic2003iriley/my_photos , I've added some more pictures to the albums.
Jillian's finally fallen asleep, so I'll try to do the same. Thank goodness for Baby Bijorn's!!!
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Arg!
So I thought that watching TV while breastfeeding Jillian was a good way to pass the time, right?
I get these weekly updates from www.Babycenter.com to tell me how Jillian's progressing, what to look for, etc. I really enjoy this site as I find it full of information. Anyway, it's saying about how it's better for me to look at her while she's eating, and talk to her, etc., just like you would at the dinner table. Now I'm feeling guilty for watching CSI and Oprah. *sigh*
So, no:
-chocolate ($&%!), or anything else with caffeine
-TV when feeding (which is one of the few times during the day that I watch TV)
Woe is me!!!
On another note, I have gotten complaints about not putting enough pictures on. You can go to:
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/utic2003iriley/my_photos and look at her photo album at the bottom. I will try to remember to include this link from time to time; otherwise, you can save this under "Favourites" on your (personal, not public!) computer.
So I thought that watching TV while breastfeeding Jillian was a good way to pass the time, right?
I get these weekly updates from www.Babycenter.com to tell me how Jillian's progressing, what to look for, etc. I really enjoy this site as I find it full of information. Anyway, it's saying about how it's better for me to look at her while she's eating, and talk to her, etc., just like you would at the dinner table. Now I'm feeling guilty for watching CSI and Oprah. *sigh*
So, no:
-chocolate ($&%!), or anything else with caffeine
-TV when feeding (which is one of the few times during the day that I watch TV)
Woe is me!!!
On another note, I have gotten complaints about not putting enough pictures on. You can go to:
http://ca.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/utic2003iriley/my_photos and look at her photo album at the bottom. I will try to remember to include this link from time to time; otherwise, you can save this under "Favourites" on your (personal, not public!) computer.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
First Immunization-May 2nd
Oh, I was feeling a bit anxious! Jillian got not 1, but 2 shots today, one in each leg. I took my friend's recommendation and gave her some Tempra before I left. When the nurse came in, she was cranky because her diaper was dirty. She showed me how to hold her right leg down, then got the needle. As the nurse was about to inject her, Jillian kicked with her left leg and the nurse ended up getting the needle in her own hand! Luckily, she was nice about it, and Jillian got her shots!
Her crying wasn't as bad as I thought, and by the time she ate, she had calmed down and fell asleep. Actually, she spent most of the day sleeping. Poor girl, when she woke up, she would whimper and cry while I changed her, then cried while she was eating. I know it's for her own good, but I don't like to see her in pain, even if it's only for the day. In any case, it was like when she was a newborn, just sleeping and eating the whole day. I was worried that she wouldn't be able to sleep at night, but she was fine.
Phew! Now we don't have to go back for another 2 months. She's now 11 pounds, 7 ounces, and 23 inches long, so her growth has slowed down a bit from the first month. I'm just astounded that women give birth to babies this size! I couldn't even begin to imagine.
Oh, I was feeling a bit anxious! Jillian got not 1, but 2 shots today, one in each leg. I took my friend's recommendation and gave her some Tempra before I left. When the nurse came in, she was cranky because her diaper was dirty. She showed me how to hold her right leg down, then got the needle. As the nurse was about to inject her, Jillian kicked with her left leg and the nurse ended up getting the needle in her own hand! Luckily, she was nice about it, and Jillian got her shots!
Her crying wasn't as bad as I thought, and by the time she ate, she had calmed down and fell asleep. Actually, she spent most of the day sleeping. Poor girl, when she woke up, she would whimper and cry while I changed her, then cried while she was eating. I know it's for her own good, but I don't like to see her in pain, even if it's only for the day. In any case, it was like when she was a newborn, just sleeping and eating the whole day. I was worried that she wouldn't be able to sleep at night, but she was fine.
Phew! Now we don't have to go back for another 2 months. She's now 11 pounds, 7 ounces, and 23 inches long, so her growth has slowed down a bit from the first month. I'm just astounded that women give birth to babies this size! I couldn't even begin to imagine.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Sunday, April 29th
Jillian got to meet the Riley clan for the first time. I took a ton of photos, and I promise that I will get around to posting them eventually. Anyway, there was a lot of children around, and 6 girls under 3 years old! Jillian was the youngest by about 2 weeks and (mostly!) the quietest. When she heard the other girls crying, she started to cry too. Michael scooped her up and took her to the other room, because he didn't want her to pick up any 'bad habits'. Very cute reaction.
Jillian got to meet the Riley clan for the first time. I took a ton of photos, and I promise that I will get around to posting them eventually. Anyway, there was a lot of children around, and 6 girls under 3 years old! Jillian was the youngest by about 2 weeks and (mostly!) the quietest. When she heard the other girls crying, she started to cry too. Michael scooped her up and took her to the other room, because he didn't want her to pick up any 'bad habits'. Very cute reaction.
April 25th Train Ride
The only person that got a good night's sleep before the train ride was Jillian, as Michael and I were busy packing the night before...I'm pretty sure we both ended up with less than 3 hours sleep! In any case, we managed to get to the train station for 5:20, and got our tickets as well as checking in our luggage. When it came time to board, I heard those magical words:
"At this time, we would like to ask families with young children to board first."
Ah bliss! I tried to supress a grin as I got ahead of everyone else crowded at the gate...hee hee!
The ride went very well; because it was so early, people slept for the few hours on the way to Toronto. I managed to catch a few zzz's, and Jillian woke me up once to eat. Once we got to Toronto, I learned that I didn't have to switch trains, so we had a quiet hour to ourselves inside. It was just another few hours and then we got to Great Grandma's house! She was excited to meet Jillian for the first time and we got some much-needed rest. Mom picked us up the next day, and we finished our trip to Ottawa.
It was nice to take the train as I didn't have to worry about driving and having to stop whenever she was hungry or poopy. Thank goodness Michael was nice enough to talk me out of driving all the way back!
The only person that got a good night's sleep before the train ride was Jillian, as Michael and I were busy packing the night before...I'm pretty sure we both ended up with less than 3 hours sleep! In any case, we managed to get to the train station for 5:20, and got our tickets as well as checking in our luggage. When it came time to board, I heard those magical words:
"At this time, we would like to ask families with young children to board first."
Ah bliss! I tried to supress a grin as I got ahead of everyone else crowded at the gate...hee hee!
The ride went very well; because it was so early, people slept for the few hours on the way to Toronto. I managed to catch a few zzz's, and Jillian woke me up once to eat. Once we got to Toronto, I learned that I didn't have to switch trains, so we had a quiet hour to ourselves inside. It was just another few hours and then we got to Great Grandma's house! She was excited to meet Jillian for the first time and we got some much-needed rest. Mom picked us up the next day, and we finished our trip to Ottawa.
It was nice to take the train as I didn't have to worry about driving and having to stop whenever she was hungry or poopy. Thank goodness Michael was nice enough to talk me out of driving all the way back!
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Happy birthday Mom!
Cute milestone (early!) this morning; Jillian was lying on me, and was able to raise her head and look at me in the eye for a while! It was an insane hour in the morning, but worth it! She's also starting to bat at the toys in her bouncy chair and her coordination is getting better. She especially likes looking at the orange kitty on her chair; she could look at it for ages on end! She also unofficially weighs 11.5 pounds: I weighed myself, then her, then calculated the difference.
Today also marks the last week in Windsor for the family. Michael's wrapping up his last classes and a few exams and then he'll be done! We're looking forward to going, but we've met some really great, down to earth people here. Windsor has a small town feeling, but you can still get to the 'city' (and some great shopping) across the river. If Windsor and Ottawa were a lot closer, I think that we would have stayed here. A 9 hour minimum drive is just too much for us though.
*sniff* Saying goodbye sucks.
On a lighter note, I am really getting to know late night TV. The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson is really funny- better than Letterman, but I think some of it has to do with his Scottish accent! Also managed to watch "Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights". Patrick Swayze also makes an appearance as a dance instructor, but he has a smaller role than the last one. It was decent enough to watch at 3am!
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