End of Summer

Well, it looks like summer's over. Dad's first day at work was yesterday and mom and Katie are going to have some adjustment now, being by ourselves again.










Ladybug Musical Toy says "Don't worry Katie I can pretend to eat your toes; laugh into your tummy; help you rollover and laugh when you jump, just like dad does."









And the days will fly by (thank you 2 hour naps, don't ever leave me!) and he'll be home before you know it. Now we have fun getting up earlier, eating breakfast (very messy...today we started oatmeal, yum yum!)

Mom and Katie went to strollercize twice already this week on the quest towards being fit and fun again. It's also on Friday so we're hoping that three times a week is a reasonable goal.

Dad is flying to Penticton this weekend to support a friend doing Ultraman Canada. Should be interesting. I'm predicting a fair amount of grandma and grandpa time this weekend. Yay!
Hope you have a great day!

PS...the sleep thing is going well. 5 out of the past 7 days Katie has slept from about 8pm until about 7am. One night she woke and was back to sleep in 10 minutes. Another night she woke and it took a LONG hour for her to go to sleep again, but I'm hoping we (she) learned a lot in that hour (Sleep at Night = GOOD).

Little Jumper

Hello Hello! Happy Monday...well, late Monday...probably Tuesday by the time anyone reads this. We are good. Just hanging out on our last few days with Ben home.
Katie has been having fun in her new Jolly Jumper and we have evidence. The movies are both about a minute long. While not quite as acrobatic as Those _____ Girls...(still have to ask if I can post their video) she's learning fast!






Seriously, for that second clip, I wish I had some Irish dancing costume for her...the way she kicks her legs with arms at her sides...that's the first thing I think of!

Good night!

4 Months Old!

Today, Katie is 4 months old. Wow. It's amazing how time flies! It really feels like yesterday that she was born and at the same time like she's been a part of our life forever. This week her head/neck control has improved significantly...perhaps due to more Bumbo and Jolly Jumper time? We're still working on rolling over...she has forgotten how to try and we're reminding her.

There's a chill in the air and fall seems very near with Ben heading back to work on Wednesday. To make the most of our time left we arranged for babysitters on Thursday and went for lunch and ice cream. Yum yum.

Today we are using babysitters again (always Grandmas and Grandpas...Though Andrea and Sheldon will babysit soon I think!) and going to a movie. We've decided to see just how bad "Superbad" is. A light, fun movie...not Oscar worthy I'm sure!

We've also discovered that while cute, this particular outfit makes her look a bit like a boy, even with it's pink stripes.

And in other September news...in the spirit of Back to School...mom has cut her hair. Nice to have different hair...I was definitely bored with the long.



Here's a pic of Grandparents Ken and Cheryl waking Katie up from a nap. Sleepy girl!


Hope you are having a great Sunday!

KD Go for a Run (Katie and Dad)

This is Dad's account of his first run with his daughter.

Katie: Dad you said we were going to go for a run before I go to bed...better get off that couch.
Dad: Yeah, Yeah, right away.
Katie: Mom..
Dad: OK, OK lets go...I will go get your ride.

Dad and Katie head off in the chariot destined to reach Snow Valley ski hill.. about a 5km run.

Dad: So monkey how's Dad's pace so far?
Katie: ahguguhhhhbahh.
Dad: Good.
Dad: Huff, huff, so, huff, sweetie Dad has to go back to work next week. What will you guys do while I'm at work?
Katie:I don't know about Mom but I plan to sleep, eat, play, poop, and repeat. Ah...Dad watch out for that lamp post.
Dad: Thanks..Dad is still getting adjusted to pushing/running with a smart car.
Katie: It's not that big.
Dad: It's good I have a two car garage.
Katie: Less talky more runny.
Dad: Yes dear.
Katie: Ahgggaaahhh, ahghhbbbbbbahhhhhblah.
Dad: Oh, Dad gets some music to run to.

The two runners head through Lendrum, Malmo, and reach the hill at 119th Street.

Katie: Just remember Big Guy it is a lot easier on the way down than on the way up.
Dad: Huff, Huff, Huff,
Katie: Here we go Dad we will be at the top before you know it.
Dad: Huff, Huff, ..
Katie: You still there.
Dad: Huff, yeah.

Dad and Katie make it to the top.

Dad: Great job sweetie, sweetie
Katie: zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Katie falls asleep from such a tough workout and Dad runs home in silence. We make it home in time for a bath and an 8:00 pm bedtime. Dad now has two women that he can run with..what a lucky guy. Dad will also has realized that he will miss Katie and Heather terribly when he goes back to work, but will work really hard to bring minimal work home so that he has more time to hang out and run with his girls.

4 Month Checkup

We survived our 4 month check up at the Paediatrician's on Tuesday...Katie's a healthy happy baby (duh!). Very well proportioned at 16.5 pounds and 27 inches long (two more inches in this car seat!). Dr. says we can start feeding her cereal (iron fortified for babies...not Fruit Loops silly!) starting with Rice, then either Barley or Oats, and then either Oats of Barley (the other one), and finally Wheat. For a week each so we can check for any weird reactions.
Here's a picture of her learning that spoons are a good thing!
And a snapshot of her very first breakfast (a teaspoon of cereal mixed with milk, followed by a normal milk feed).
And her very first lunch...We're entering messy-ville!
I think she likes eating, but still has a lot to learn!

The Dr. also said it's time to Ferberize... that is, train her to sleep through the night. She is really not a bad sleeper now, so I'm thinking that it shouldn't be too hard. I think it could be a late night though for the next three nights while we train her! (Dr. says it'll be three tough nights now, or three tough weeks next year...take your pick)

He also said that running with her in the Chariot is now a go, so we've gone on a couple of runs already...lots of fun! Definitely a different kind of run...it's hard pushing weight in front of you!

And the other fun thing he said we could do is get a Jolly Jumper for her. Yay! So we got one and put her in it pretty quick...She's not quite bouncing yet, but did have a positive reaction. Sorry the pic isn't great...sun in behind. And, in case anyone was wondering, I did rip and re-knit the green hat to make it bigger. Now we get to wear this cute hat all winter long! Yay! But it's not winter yet! And to remind you, I'll show some pictures of the Garden Harvest...We've done well I think:Ben with his Zucchini...and a couple of lovely tomatoes (Ben's gloved hand for scale).After goofing around in the garden (and showering, thank goodness!) we headed off to my mom and dad's for a garden party...well a BBQ. With cousins and relatives from my mom's side of the family. The best picture I have from the party is this one:
And Beth did a wonderful job with her first time holding Katie. Katie definitely approved. And see William, back there in the gazebo? I think he looks so pleased because he'd been locking people out of the gazebo so he could have the appetizers all to himself. What a Monkey!
I have (I think) more pictures from the BBQ...or other things, but there's time for that later.

Have a good night, we're hoping we do!

Puppy Talk

A note about videos:
The film you are about to see, and others like it, may cause concern from viewers, regarding potential cruelty towards the film subjects. Rest assured that no harm comes to the actress. The screaming that occurs near the end of such films is merely the result of the following events:

1. See baby perform cute activity.
2. Get baby to do it again because it is so cute.
3. Try once more to ensure that act is suitable for filming.
4. Grab camera.
5. Film cute activity while subject becomes increasingly tired of performing.
6. Insist that cuteness continue.
7. Actress throws temper tantrum which prompts quick end of shoot.
8. Evidence of temper tantrum always leaked to media and fans due to producer not having proper editing skills.

So there you have it. No babies are ever harmed and rest assured lots of hugs, kisses and diaper changes take place immediately after filming. We appreciate your viewership and hope you continue to support independent actress Miss Katie and baby filmmaker extrordinaire, yours truly. Thank you and enjoy the following film.

Tiny Bouncer