tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56570737953359031212024-03-04T21:16:25.800-07:00Corner OrchidLaurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.comBlogger191125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-1014935753178911602017-05-09T13:53:00.000-06:002017-05-09T13:53:07.039-06:00Twelve Months: One Year Old!<div style="text-align: center;">
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We survived the first year!<br />
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This milestone is always an accomplishment for me. Pregnancy is hard and the first year is hard. Running off little to no sleep for almost 22 straight months (pregnancy insomnia plus the first year with a baby) is rough - full stop. I was prepared for this having been through it a couple times before but I'm pleased to say out of all my babies, this was also the 'easiest' first year we've come through. Okay, maybe not easy, but not the worst.<br />
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Sam has been busy! He is crawling all over the place and getting into all sorts of trouble; mainly pulling rocks out of our plants or ripping up his brother's paper books. He is pulling to stand and likes to walk around the ottoman, stools or have us hold his hands while he toddles across the floor. He also likes to play outside and rub the grass with his toes or rearrange the rock beds. He cut another bottom tooth shortly after his first and has been experimenting with what they do. He still barely has any hair to speak of but I have noticed it coming in a little thicker and darker. My guess is it will be straight like Ben's. Time will tell!<br />
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Sam still wakes up once a night for a quick feed but as this chapter of our life closes I try not to get too annoyed and just enjoy it for what it is. We've had a special little connection his entire life and soon he won't need me in the same way. I'm trying not to get too sappy about that. We've had a couple full nights of sleep this month but I expect more will come soon. He's been dropping his nap from time to time, wavering between 1 or 2 a day. This makes it harder to predict his but also allows for a bit more freedom away from the home.<br />
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This past month we made a trip down to sunny Arizona to visit with my parents. It was Sam's first trip out of the country and he did pretty well on the plane rides. We enjoyed the Aquarium, Zoo, nature walks, Children's Museum and Old Western Towns. We went on his first boat ride where he swiftly kicked one of his new shoes overboard (eye roll) and later he went for his first ever swim with his Baba at the community pool. We had a nice time in the sun after a very long winter. We certainly prefer being outdoors.<br />
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Sam's first birthday party was a real success. I'm always amazed (and very appreciative) of our family and friends who come out to celebrate all these birthday parties for our boys - I think this is birthday party number nine in five years? We did a little blue sky and cloud theme for our happy, smiley, fun-loving little boy. I doubt he realized all the fuss was for him but we loved on him all the same.<br />
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And now we venture into our second year as a family of five. I'm so very grateful that this is our reality and I certainly don't take it for granted. Its not glamorous or simple and sometimes I wonder when I'll get a solid hour without interruptions from the little people who 'neeeeeeed me' but that's part of what makes it so special, right?<br />
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Goodbye to my sweet little baby Sam, you've been a dream. Now to enjoy the next adventures with a little toddler in the house!<br />
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-60026736579958636802017-03-21T14:25:00.000-06:002017-03-21T14:25:26.223-06:00Eleven Months: Springing into a New Season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Spring is here and with that (I hope!) a new season of life that includes much more time outdoors and much less time wiping noses. We had another bad month with mono being the latest destroyer going through our house along with more fevers and colds. I'm sure you are so over reading about it just as we are so over with having to endure it. This has been our sickest winter to date. Thank goodness for Spring.<br />
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Sam is also eleven months old now! My goodness, we are rounding in on the one year mark. I can't express how much of a dream baby this guy has been. Honestly, when he's not sick he is just the sweetest, easiest most content little baby. Such a great addition to our family.<br />
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He cut a tooth this month (his first!) which has been long awaited. It wasn't too bad, at least compared to the other things we were dealing with. It is barely peeking out but is as sharp as a razor, no surprise. He's a lot more squirmy and mobile as well. He loves to stand up on his own and tries to push our hands away when we're holding him but he isn't as balanced as he thinks he is so usually grabs back for us as soon as he realizes what he's done. He loves to play with toy cars and Picasso tiles and is quite vocal about his displeasure when someone takes something away. Sam also loves to point his chubby little finger to identify anything and everything as we're walking around. Bed, elephant, plant, light, desk. I think he and his Grandpa will have lots of interesting walks in the weeks ahead as I remember the older boys spending lots of time identifying each and every little thing that crossed their paths when they were around the same age.<br />
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Sam has a few words that are probably mostly recognizable only to us. Mama, Dada, all-done, Na-Na (food), Hi Dad, Baba, hey. He's certainly quite chatty and it is fun to listen to all his squeals and sing-song babbles. He also likes to wave hi and bye and will lift his arms way up over his head when we ask, How Big is Sam? He likes to be tickled or thrown up into the air and giggles with such delight when we oblige. Baby laughs are seriously the best.<br />
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This month was mostly spent in quarantine mode but we did make it out to a birthday party and a cemetery celebration honouring our ancestors recently. I think we went to the zoo earlier this month but honestly it feels like such a long time ago I can barely remember. We did make it out to Canmore one blizzardy day and enjoyed a new restaurant before playing outside amongst the big flakes. But the snow is melting and the playgrounds are a bit less slippery so perhaps the next month will be a bit more adventurous.<br />
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Here's to new season and new beginnings! Time to go plan a birthday party.<br />
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-71847838448489393402017-03-05T14:29:00.000-07:002017-03-05T14:29:12.374-07:00Ten Months: Double Digits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Ten Months! How is this possible?<br />
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I think Sam still feels like my little baby because he still looks pretty baby(ish). No teeth, peach fuzz hair and not crawling (or running!) around like some other kids his age makes me think he is still just a little bumpkin. I cannot believe that in a few short weeks we'll be celebrating his first birthday. Where does the time go?<br />
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Sam has been so good to us. He's sleeping so much better, only getting up a couple times at night - except for when he is really sick. He's so content when he's awake; happy to watch his brothers run around or play with a few little toys on the floor. He has this thing for pulling over baskets which is sort of funny (probably because they're usually empty - if they were full I'm sure I would find it highly annoying). He loves to look outside and watch it snow, slapping his chubby little hand against the cold window pane. He can say 'Hi Dad' and 'Ma-Ma-Ma' and makes a hollow whistling sound through his lips. He also likes to suck on his top lip and make ppppssst sounds. His favourite songs are the ABC's and If You're Happy and You Know it Clap Your Hands, actions included. Gosh I love this kid.<br />
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This past month we checked out a fish hatchery, the zoo, the Science Centre and even made a trip to the Children's Hospital. Poor big brother's index finger was slammed in the car door and looked like a mangled wreck. Fortunately it was just soft tissue damage. Three boys, five years, and our first ever visit to the ER. I'd say that isn't too bad. We celebrated Valentines Day (how lucky am I to have FOUR boys to love every year now), went on snowy walks through the woods, battled more cold and flu bugs.. which reminds me... Poor Sam got Roseola a couple weeks ago and it was just the saddest thing! He's totally fine now but come on spring, we're all ready for less indoor germ pits.<br />
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Love you ten month old!</div>
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-47548374356971093362017-03-02T14:47:00.000-07:002017-03-02T14:47:28.688-07:00Nine Months: New Year - Still Feels like a New Baby<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year Friends!<br />
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We were fortunate to have a very lovely holiday season filled with family, friends and lots and lots of Kleenex. I wasn't kidding when I wrote that our family suffers from a constant plague during the winter months. Maybe it is just because we have a (brand new!) five year old, three year old and a nine month old? There's got to be a time when we're not always drowning in our own snot, right?<br />
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Sam has been such a trooper this past month despite not feeling well at all. He likes to babble, Da-Da-Da and Ma-Ma-Ma, and other random words that only make sense to us. He calls all food 'na-na' because I probably over annunciated 'banana' one time when feeding him and it apparently stuck. He still loves pretty much all and any food that we give him - such a difference from his first month where he would purse his lips so tight at the sight of a spoon. Nowadays I wonder if he has a hollow leg. Oh, and can you believe Sam still doesn't have any teeth? This is a good thing too as he certainly likes to chomp and tug when he is nursing. Serious ouch. I don't think I could handle that with a razor sharp tooth poking through. He's up on all fours, swaying back and forth, but not crawling yet. Also a relief as I don't have to run after three boys (yet). I'm sure its going to get much busier here in a few weeks, ha. Can you please stay little (and relatively immobile) forever, Sam?<br />
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This past month we obviously celebrated the holidays and had a great time with our family and friends. We got to spend more time than we expected with Sam's Great Grandma as she had a fall on Christmas Eve and had to spend a couple weeks in the hospital here. She's on the road to recovery and is in great spirits. We've enjoyed getting in the extra visiting time with her. She loves to sing to the boys or listen to them read her stories. We rang in big brother Ben's 5th birthday and a New Year, got back to our usual schedule of playdates and science centre outings. We attended a 1 Month Celebration for a friend's new daughter and Sam managed to stay entertained and well behaved throughout a ten course meal which spanned 3.5hrs and well past his usual bedtime (we were shocked)! We also spent a weekend out of town in beautiful Lake Louise enjoying the stunning scenery and playing in the snow. I even got a chance to hit the slopes for the first time in nearly six years! Oh it was so much fun. Now if only we could get rid of these awful bugs who constantly want to spoil our party.<br />
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You're such a trooper, Sam! Way to earn the badges for your immunity belt. xoxo</div>
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-89668875641559857702017-03-01T15:05:00.002-07:002017-03-01T15:05:42.420-07:00Eight Months: Happy Holidays, Baby!<div style="text-align: center;">
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I love this time of year. The snow falling softly outside, fireplaces and steaming mugs of tea keeping us cozy indoors, people who would normally hurry past you on the street tend to slow down and exchange a smile. Holiday parties and twinkling lights and Christmas carols playing on repeat; the days and weeks leading up to the holidays just seem to have such a magical feel. The anticipation of Baby's first Christmas is just icing on the gingerbread cake.<br />
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Unfortunately, this time of year is usually the start of our family plague and that did not skip over us this season either. Poor baby (and his big brothers) have been sick for pretty much the entire month of December. Its been quite the gross mess of fevers and coughs and sneezes and Kleenex. But we do our best to manage keeping our runny noses at bay especially when decorating Christmas cookies. Ack!<br />
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Sam has been sitting up comfortably and wriggling around a bit. He likes to play with his toes and hold little objects (usually his brothers' toys) in his hands. He is much more interested in food and he has taken a real liking for bananas and yogurt. This has also helped with the diaper explosions a bit. Solid foods man, makes a difference. Sam is also getting pretty good at putting his pacifier in his own mouth. This is helpful when I don't always attend to him as quickly as he would like. Sleep has been exactly what you might guess with sick kids who can't breath well. Sam had his first bath in the big boy tub this month. He and his brother Max took turns exchanging plastic cups back and forth until someone, not mentioning any names, decided to dump a cup right on his little brother's head! Luckily it didn't scar the baby for life and he has since enjoyed many more bubble sessions.<br />
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Not surprisingly, this month has been full of holiday related outings. We got to visit a neighbour's house where the Big Man in Red himself showed up. Sam happily sat upon his lap and was quite memorized by his beard. We also attended a couple kid parties around the neighbourhood and watched big brother Ben's preschool Christmas concert. Us parents even had a chance to get dressed up and go on a couple holiday date nights while Grandma bravely took care of all three (sometimes sick) boys at our house. We we had a real cold snap where we hunkered down indoors for a couple weeks followed by a little reprieve in the temperature where we bundled up and did some sledding in the woods behind our house. I love when little boys' cheeks and noses get all rosy and red. I have a feeling they won't be as eager to go tobogganing with their mom when they're teenagers, haha!<br />
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Very much looking forward to ringing in the holidays with our sweet boy. There will be lots of family and friends around to share in the love. Regardless of what you may celebrate or believe - we wish you warmth, love and happiness from our home to yours.Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-27364144130691751622016-12-02T14:56:00.000-07:002016-12-02T14:59:23.601-07:00Seven Months: Babbles and BubblesMr Sam is Seven Months Old!<br />
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I wrote this post two weeks ago - TWO WEEKS AGO! I had my ducks in a row and I was going to get this post out on the proper day and all I had to do was add the pictures. Woot woot!<br />
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Apparently my ducks waddled off.... sigh.<br />
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Anyway,<br />
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Danny and I were commenting about how quickly seven months has gone by. It seems more like three months ago this little dude entered our family. It also feels like ages ago that we were a family unit of four and I was heavily pregnant, so I guess it is a bit of both.<br />
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A couple of our good friends are both expecting their third child any day now. Man, I do not miss those final weeks waiting for the baby to arrive. So physically exhausting, mentally exhausting and emotionally exhausting. What a difference it is to 'be on the other side'. Much love to them and their growing families (or anyone else who enduring that final stretch). Hang in there mamas. Big hugs!<br />
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Now onto our boy.<br />
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Sam, you are rolling over, getting stuck and getting mad about getting stuck, ha! You are also sitting up unassisted for long periods of time and putting a lot of things into your mouth. You hilariously reject all solid food from a spoon, pursing your lips so tight, but have accepted a few morsels off our finger. You are a drool machine and regurgitate a lot more than you ever had before so I suspect we might have some choppers by next month's post. You often make loud pppppppssssttt! sounds as if you were playing a trumpet, especially when you are tired. Sleep has still been horrible with you waking nearly every hour (gah!) but we will trudge on and get through it as we always do. At your wellness appointment you weighted 18lbs11oz and were 69cm long (50-75th percentile for both). You still have a big head (90th percentile) and are measuring healthy on every scale. We are incredibly grateful for this and we know not to take it for granted.<br />
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You are developing a little feisty personality and we love it. You have not met a stranger and give big gummy smiles to anyone who looks you in the eye. You giggle loudly when your brothers run around you in circles, sometimes quite literally, and you like to keep an eye on whatever we are doing. You are a much happier boy in the car and generally hold onto your big brother's hand while giving him smiles and coos wherever we go. I love that you love them so much. Your favourite words are 'heeeeyyy' and 'dee dee dee' usually in that sequence. I suspect you'll start saying 'da da da' soon.<br />
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Winter has arrived and with that some extra layers of clothing. You hilariously play peek-a-boo with your toque or hat until you are fed up with it and just tear it off. You also spend a lot of time 'talking' to us or blowing raspberries. Our home is getting just that bit louder with another voice in the mix. It is eye (and ear) opening.<br />
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This past month was fairly uneventful which is fine. Once again, grateful for 'normal' days as they're what we crave whenever things are off balance. We fill our time with preschool drop offs, play dates, changing diaper explosions and running lots of errands. You were an Ewok this Halloween which was pretty adorable if I do say so myself, but chose to have a nap instead of going trick-or-treating with your Storm Trooper brothers. Next year will be different, I'm sure.<br />
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As we prepare for the season ahead, I am filled with so much gratitude for our little family that I suppose isn't exactly 'little' anymore. We've got three boys who will one day grow into three teenagers and then into three men! I look forward to creating many memories, navigating the inevitable struggles, and imagining what sort of exciting adventures are in store.<br />
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Love you Mr. Sam!<br />
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***Update: our friends welcomed a boy and a girl in the last two weeks and we are more than thrilled that both moms and babies are healthy. And, wow, newborns are tiny!<br />
<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-85256833546745171662016-10-28T16:07:00.000-06:002016-10-28T16:07:07.212-06:00Six Months: Half a Year!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our Sweet Sam is half a year old.<br />
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There were a few moments during these past six months that felt like we were in pure survival mode but the vast majority has been nothing short of great. I worried quite a bit about how hard it would be to manage three kids, especially in the early months, but thankfully it was nowhere near as difficult as I had feared. Challenging? Yes. Busy? Of course. Perfect? Absolutely not. But all things considered, pretty damn great.<br />
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Sam giggles like crazy, is obsessed with his tongue and learned to roll over this month. We let him try solid foods on his 6month birthday and got a hilarious reaction (not a fan) but if he's anything like the rest of us he'll learn to love food soon enough. His sleep has been dreadful and exhausting (up every hour or more) but I know it is just a phase. Coffee helps. Maybe I'm just imagining things, but I think he's getting more hair too. Will it be straight like his oldest brother's or curly like our middle boy? Time will tell. Its always fun watching new little bits of him emerging every month. What will be revealed to us next?<br />
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Sam had his first plane ride this month and handled it like a champ. I wasn't concerned about him one bit (unlike the stress I put myself through the first time I ever flew with a baby) and it proved to be a pretty uneventful flight. We visited Toronto, the birthplace of our biggest boy, and it was fun to go re-visit the old stomping grounds. Funny, now that we are well-entrenched in the lifestyles of suburbia, I found it hard to believe that we lived in the heart of downtown with so much hustle and bustle... and a newborn. A big contrast for sure but both equally great.<br />
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While in Toronto we took in a Blue Jays game (where we apparently made it onto the big screen just as I was trying to latch Sam, lol) made a trip up the CN Tower (where I glamorously nursed him on the dirty floor next to a vending machine) and explored the Royal Ontario Museum (where I fed him next to some prehistoric dinosaur bones, ha). As you can see, Sam's pretty happy to go anywhere as long as he is fed. We also spent time at the Ontario Science Centre, perused some malls and dined with some extended family who we haven't seen in ages. We spent a couple nights at Niagara on the Lake and took obligatory touristy photos at Niagara Falls before loading our soaking wet selves back onto the plane.<br />
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Back at home it has been pretty routine day-to-day stuff, which is fine. We've battled a lot of colds and are pretty much into the season of boots, mitts, coats, toques and blankets. Halloween is just around the corner and then into my most favourite time of year. No complaints, especially with this smiley little boy as a side-kick.<br />
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We love you Sam!<br />
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-25453910054933871822016-09-21T09:38:00.002-06:002016-09-21T09:38:20.727-06:00Five Months: Seasons Changing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I feel like there are two main baby phases; 0-6Months and 6-12Months. Usually when I am pregnant and imagining the new addition to the family I am mostly envisioning the 0-6Month phase when the little one is still a 'true baby'. But then around the six month mark and the second half of that year, the baby seems to become 'less baby' and 'more toddler'. Of course this is completely my own thought process and means nothing to anyone else but all to say... I'm starting to freak out just a little bit. Sam! You're only going to be a 'true baby' for like one more month and then this whole phase of life will be over! As much as I love to see them grow and develop, I want to keep my babies in the 'baby' stage as long as I can. Ugh - time - stop playing with me.</div>
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Sentimental rant over.</div>
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Mr Sam is generally a happy and content little man. He has discovered his toes and loves to play with his hands. He likes to stroke me whenever he's nursing and he fingers his blanket or pacifier when he goes down for a nap. Lots of drool escaping from this mouth but luckily no teeth yet because the kid likes to clamp down hard on anything that he can. We put him in the high-chair for fun this month but will wait until six months to start him on solids. I'm a bit of a traditionalist in that sense plus I'm also not ready to clean up after another messy kid every meal time, ha. Honesty.</div>
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Sam arches his back sooooo hard whenever he wants to be picked up. Fun fact: We considered the middle name 'Archer' for him and this would seem more than appropriate right now. He giggles when his brothers play nicely with him and mostly tolerates it when they're less than gentle. Overall he just wants to be one of the crowd. He can roll over onto his side to see what is going on but can't move too far yet - another perk for me.</div>
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For those of you who enjoy stats like I do, Sam weighed in at 16lbs14oz this month and has officially surpassed his two older cousins who are 12months and 18months old, ha! We grow them big in this household. His head is 44cm which is a random fact I remember. He's in size three diapers but it doesn't seem to matter what we do he still has a blow out at least 2x/day. I remember Max being the same way and he grew out of that phase so we'll get through this messy phase too.</div>
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Every year we try to make a trip back to my hometown and this year was no exception. Sam came along for the trip, of course, and did really well. We got to visit family and friends, go to a farm, spend time at the cabin, pick apples at Baba and Grandpa's house and visit Great Grandma at her house too. We're very fortunate to have so many people in our lives who we can share time and make memories with.</div>
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This month was our very first "Back to School" month Ben entering Preschool. This means that a lot of Sam's naps are now interrupted to shuttle everyone back and forth to pick up our biggest boy. Looking at the clock, I realize that I'm going to have to pause this post and start loading up the car right now!</div>
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Okay, back home. </div>
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We've got a few fun things planned for the month ahead. Hoping the weather holds out for a bit longer so we can enjoy more fall mountain walks or days playing outside without bundling everyone up in many, many layers. I guess that means I have to eventually dig out a snowsuit for this kiddo but for now we will just enjoy the beautiful colours and the changing seasons.</div>
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Lots of love to our little Sam! </div>
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Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-30056040668629433972016-08-23T23:50:00.002-06:002016-08-23T23:50:22.465-06:00Four Months: Where Did the Time (errr... Hair) Go?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I read about a parent describing their four month old lifting his feet up in the air and thumping them both down loudly as a 'whale tail' and I thought, that's exactly it! Our little Sam is in full whale tail thumping stage and it is hilarious. He isn't rolling over yet but he can get half way there before he gets stuck and frustrated. Fine by me - running after two bigger boys is enough for now. At least I always know where he is, thump thump.<br />
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Sam is also drooling a lot and putting everything he can in his mouth especially his fists, blankets and the odd furry toy. Diaper explosions are a daily occurrence which even prompted us to move up to size 3's but alas it hasn't made much of a difference. More laundry, I guess!<br />
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Sam and I seem to be in full hair loss mode as well. Me: a lovely postpartum gift that is pretty expected but still kind of annoying. Him: nearly bald save two little patches of old man scruff behind the ears. Day to day the loss isn't that noticeable but when scrolling back to see earlier photos I'm shocked to see such a fuzzy dark-haired baby. Who was that dude?<br />
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Our summer has been low key compared to others but we still managed to get out into the woods for a few days, staying at a cottage and enjoying nature hikes, campfires, and some beach time. Car trips seem to be getting slightly more tolerable but I say this on the cusp of a very long solo parenting road trip which will surely have me regretting I typed this. As long as he's with his mama you're generally pretty happy and giggly (even in your sleep). It's fun to have a side-kick for all of our every-day adventures.<br />
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<span style="text-align: start;">Such a joy, my boy!</span></div>
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-85556304900161111892016-07-21T13:29:00.000-06:002016-07-21T13:29:01.605-06:00Three Months: So Many Smiles<div style="text-align: center;">
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Mr. Sam is three months old and this past month has been fantastic.<br />
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Let me tell you, this kid might be our happiest baby yet. How fortunate are we? I cannot get enough of these broad toothless grins and sparkly crescent shaped eyes. Sam has even started giggling which just puts me over the top. It doesn't get old even with the third child. Sam had his two month wellness appointment a few days ago and he weighed in at 13lb1oz (75th percentile) and is 90th percentile for height (I forget the measurement and am not motivated enough to dig up the paperwork, ha). He's a good eater, fills many diapers a day, and is generally content when he's awake in-between naps. We are no where near sleeping through the night but I can usually get a 4hr stretch on his first nighttime put down which keeps us sane. He is in mostly 3mo clothing and I'm already packing away some of his earlier outfits which seem amazingly tiny. He's starting to drool and blow bubbles when he's not sucking on his fists. He's sporting a wicked bald spot on the back and sides of his head where he's rubbed off his hair. We are very grateful for our happy healthy boy.<br />
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Of course, a huge part of this past month has been celebrating my younger sister's wedding. We had a lot of wedding-related events to attend and I brought my little side kick along to all of them. He did remarkably well, even sharing a hotel room with Baba, Grandpa and myself for a couple nights. This month we also took in some Stampede events (parade and midway), visited Dinosaur Provincial Park, the Science Centre and had lots of family gatherings with both sides of the family. I'm also pleased to report that Sam's big brothers are still totally in love with their Saaaaaam. They argue over who gets to sit next to the baby in the car, who gets to hold the diaper while I'm changing him, and who gets to give him the biggest kisses while he's in his little chair. No complaints from this Mama - soaking up all the good for as long as it lasts! Fingers crossed it does.<br />
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Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-37032669876780852242016-06-21T14:42:00.001-06:002016-06-21T14:42:08.968-06:00Two Months: Too Much Fun<div style="text-align: center;">
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The way your eyes turn into crescent moons when you smile really big. The way you hold your thumb between your first and second finger so tight. The way your legs kick so hard when you get fussy. The way your eyes light up when you see your big brothers. The way you snuggle in so close in the middle of the night. These are a just a few of the things we're loving at two months.<br />
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Eight weeks in and dare I say we've hit our stride? Perhaps we're pretty chill as third-time parents or perhaps he's generally a pretty laid back kid, but I feel like I can finally exhale. Sam has tucked himself right into our family and right into each of our hearts. My best eater, my best sleeper, and an all around pretty cool dude in between. He's growing and changing, just as he should, in size 1 diapers and size 3month clothes. His hair is thickening up in the front and rubbing off in the back, ha! His ears are still fuzzy (swoon) and his lashes extend for days. Sam has been rolling over to his side, can track us all with his eyes and head, and recognizes some voices. What a joy this boy is!<br />
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This past month included the usual park dates and play dates. We took our first overnight trip to Edmonton to celebrate my sister's impending nuptials and my little side-kick tagged along like a champ. The zoo and soccer field are regular stops for us as are grocery runs and (apparently) dental appointments. Sam hates the car but will occasionally fall asleep in it which makes the journey a little less noisy. Fortunately his older brothers can also pop in a soother or hold his hand to help calm him if necessary. We've battled a couple colds already but aren't letting them slow us down too much. I feel like we're always on the go, running like mad and being pulled in many directions, but I'm doing my best to cherish these very long and very fleeting days.</div>
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Our hearts are bursting with love for this boy. Happy two months, Sam!<br />
<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-86275156301541432162016-05-26T14:33:00.001-06:002016-05-26T14:33:18.992-06:00One Month: Here We Go Again<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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And then there were three!</div>
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I can't believe I get to do these write ups again (and I can't believe I <i>have</i> to do these write ups again, ha)! But we are more than grateful for our newest little addition to the family and in favour of all things fair, baby number three gets his monthly updates too - even if they're a bit late in coming.</div>
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Sam has features that remind us of both of his brothers but he still has a look all his own. He's got lots of dark fuzzy hair, brown eyes (we think), and his dad's colouring. He's got lovely long fingers (great for piano!) and the adorable newborn fuzzy ears which I just love. Sam was 7lbs 3oz at his discharge and less than a week later at his first doctor's check-up weighed a whopping 8lbs 3oz. Way to go buddy! No idea what he weighs today but his newborn clothes certainly don't fit anymore and we're up to size one diapers. He's a great eater, a decent sleeper (wakes every 2hrs to feed), and has started to give us a glimpse of his infectious grin. So sweet!</div>
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When you've got three kids, schedules and plans just keep going so we've jumped right into life and Sam has adapted well. We've had visits from both sets of extended families, been on multiple outings to visit friends and even hit up the soccer field a couple times already too. I'm loving that I have a springtime baby which means we can actually spend time outside in the beautiful green world during daylight hours without having to put on layers and layers of clothing. That hasn't stopped Mother Nature from pulling a few tricks out of her sleeve, however. We've had two spring snowstorms, lots of rain and even a hailstorm in the past month! Nevertheless, I don't feel like we're having to stay sequestered inside weathering the long winter months... alone. Bring on the sun and fresh air!</div>
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Our sweet little Sam is such a joy to have in our family and I have to say the transition to three has been much easier than I expected. I didn't think it would be absolutely horrible but we were all bracing ourselves for a pretty big hiccough at the very least. To our surprise and delight the big brothers have both done an amazing job welcoming Sam into our tribe! They're very protective of his well being and are asking to hold him/(it - Max), offering to sing him songs, and are smothering him with hugs and kisses. Max actually takes it personally if he isn't included in the diaper changing process, ha! I'll take it! I didn't anticipate such a strong bond between the three boys so early but it's just lovely and warms this tired and happy mother's heart.</div>
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Sam, we were so excited to finally meet you and these first few weeks did not disappoint. Welcome to our family - it's going to be a great ride.</div>
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Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-728396544110249682016-05-21T10:05:00.000-06:002016-05-21T10:15:02.163-06:00Introducing...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Samuel Andrew</b></div>
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04.21.16 | 2310h | 7lbs 8oz | 21in</div>
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Pretty smitten with our little tribe.</div>
Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-31786555054533857432015-02-16T15:48:00.002-07:002015-02-16T15:48:35.000-07:00Into the Woods: Hunting for Dinosaurs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-73343623645071518862015-01-21T12:32:00.000-07:002015-01-21T12:32:20.743-07:00Interview with a Three Year Old<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Q: What is your name?</b><br />
A: Benjamin Alexander ******<br />
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<b>Q: What is your Chinese Name?</b><br />
A: ****** Jie Wah<br />
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<b>Q: How old are you?</b><br />
A: 3!<br />
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<b>Q: What is your favourite food?</b><br />
A: Chicken breast<br />
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<b>Q: What is your favourite colour?</b><br />
A: Black<br />
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<b>Q: What is your favourite song?</b><br />
A: ABCs<br />
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<b>Q: What is your favourite animal?</b><br />
A: Uhhhh...a giraffe<br />
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<b>Q: If Daddy was an animal, what would he be?</b><br />
A: A walrus! (hehe)<br />
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<b>Q: If Mommy was an animal, what would she be?</b><br />
A: A giraffe! (Yes, bud, I know I'm tall)<br />
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<b>Q: What about Max?</b><br />
A: A tiger!<br />
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<b>Q: Oooh, a tiger, and what about you? </b><br />
A: A whiraffe (Umm... half walrus half giraffe, haha?)<br />
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<b>Q: What is your favourite toy?</b><br />
A: Dinosaur puzzle<br />
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<b>Q: What is your favourite television show?</b><br />
A: Walking with Dinosaurs<br />
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<b>Q: Nice! And what is your favourite dinosaur?</b><br />
A: A-A-Apatosaurus<br />
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<b>Q: How old is Daddy?</b><br />
A: 27<br />
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<b>Q: I think he'd like that. And how old is Mom?</b><br />
A: 5 (yikes!)<br />
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<b>Q: What do you want to be when you grow up?</b><br />
A: A big boy!<br />
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-18950294532495356842015-01-07T12:35:00.001-07:002015-01-07T12:35:32.605-07:00Life: Rewind & Fast Forward<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I've got a about six months of life to try and catch up on and rather than tackle each event in multiple posts (which I'm so great at doing, haha) I figured it is best to do a quick recap and get back up to speed. In short, we've been doing very well and adding many fun chapters to our book of life.</div>
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August: Girls' Trip to Vegas for fun, food and a full night of uninterrupted sleep!<br />
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September: Nature hikes in the mountains<br />
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October: Trip to a Petting Zoo and Pumpkin Patch</div>
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October: A woodland themed first birthday party for our one-year-old</div>
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October: A Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony</div>
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November: A trip to the Caribbean</div>
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November: Celebrating love at a family wedding </div>
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December: Annual Christmas Tree Hunt</div>
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December: A trip back to my hometown for a surprise birthday party and some winter sledding</div>
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December: Warm and cozy Christmas with our extended family</div>
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December: A prehistoric party for our three year old palaeontologist</div>
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Phew! So that's the gist of it. Of course we had plenty of other not so exciting daily life activities, our share of illness to battle and events where a camera was not in attendance but these were some of our highlights. The New Year brings a slightly slower pace of life (at least for now) so we will be doing our best enjoy it as much as we did 2014!</div>
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Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-14485135863301472082014-10-31T11:55:00.000-06:002014-10-31T11:57:00.138-06:00Boo!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We had some very scary dinosaurs visit our house this morning. Ben's been obsessed with the prehistoric giants for months and Max is basically thrilled to participate alongside his big brother in any capacity.</div>
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Benji-saurus</div>
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Max-a-ceratops</div>
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We'll just pretend the whole experience wasn't like this most of the time, haha.</div>
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Happy Halloween!</div>
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-5085272414598085262014-10-20T20:29:00.000-06:002014-10-20T20:29:59.114-06:00Twelve Months: Our Birthday Boy!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our littlest baby boy is one year old!<br />
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What a delight it was to capture this little series for Max's first year; just as we did for big brother Ben's first year. I'll admit that it wasn't always 'easy' (read: photo shoots became more 'dynamic' each progressing month) but I enjoyed it all the same.<br />
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Mr. Max is officially one year old. These past twelve months have gone by lightning fast (although I can't say the same about the night shifts). Just as Ben shaped and transformed our hearts so has Max made a wonderful impression on our lives. We are so fortunate to have two healthy, beautiful, and happy boys.<br />
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When I reflect on the past year I feel like we have been really blessed. Max was generally a pretty chill baby who didn't feel the need to throw us too many curveballs or yank our chains too hard. Max, being our second child, meant more confident and laid back parents, an older brother to provide extra loving, and a general understanding that 'everything is a phase so either enjoy or endure as need be'. We certainly were busier and more exhausted but I feel like I was able to savour this go around a bit more than the first time.<br />
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Max's personality is really starting to shine. He is a really sweet, energetic Mama's boy who loves to be included in anything and everything we are doing. He's constantly taking note of what Ben is doing and often mimics him too. It's wonderful to see the boys play together, usually 'nicely', and their fits of giggles are very infectious. He loves story time at breakfast with Ben & Mom and bath time in the evening with Ben & Dad. Max is good at exploring on his own too. He will crawl up the staircase to the train table and make a royal mess of the place. Then he'll make his way to the couch where he'll grab every cushion and throw it onto the floor. But I will give him credit when it comes to cleaning up; the kid is almost as good at putting things back as he is destroying them, haha.<br />
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Right from birth Max was a big boy and he has remained that way ever since. He's definitely leaner but certainly still mighty solid, giving my arms a good workout every day. He's been wearing size 5 diapers for months and dons mostly 12-18Month clothes. That being said, I popped a few of Ben's size 2Yr sweaters in his closet and Max can fill those out pretty well too. He's a fast crawler but prefers to climb and walk along furniture whenever possible. He's starting to walk while holding on to just one hand but isn't stable enough to stand on his own for more than a few seconds yet. He's got nearly 7 teeth (top four incisors and bottom 2, almost 3).<br />
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One thing that surprised us about Max this month is that his hair, which has been very minimal up to this point, is actually curly! Who would have thought? He's got a couple little wings behind each ear and the rest is rather suggestible when tousled. I don't know if it will stick around or not but it sure was a delight we didn't expect!<br />
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Max is still a great eater and a horrible sleeper. I guess we can't have it all, right? Positives first - it is a real relief to know that our boy will eat basically everything we do and that (knock-on-wood) we haven't encountered any allergies yet. His favourite food is definitely yogurt; he kicks and squeals every time I bring out a cup for him. Rice, protein of any sort, fruit, and cheerios are also a hit. Bananas took a back seat this month but perhaps will return to our regular rotation again soon. We still have the occasional nursing session, but mostly just for comfort at this point. I'm so thankful I don't have to stress too much about the food department and hope it remains this way for some time! Now for our big challenge, sleep. We still have multiple wake ups at night and these can last from 2 minutes to 2 hours in length. Danny and I take turns getting up but I'm starting to notice slightly longer stretches developing and pray these are the steps to progress. It's been a year and we have yet to sleep through the night (yes, we) but we'll get there, eventually.<br />
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Poor nights aside, we've had a great month as a family. We attended birthday parties, visited a petting zoo and pumpkin patch, went to Heritage Park, visited with both sets of Grandparents, celebrated Thanksgiving, and had a few playdates. We watched the leaves fall off the trees and enjoyed some new recipes (maybe I'll finally take to cooking?) Max's first birthday party was a real highlight with a little woodland picnic theme surrounded by family and friends. The month has been cozy and settled and comfortable, just like our little family of four has become.<br />
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What a privilege it has been to have you join our family and watch you grow these past twelve months, little Max. We love you fiercely and are so looking forward to many more years to come!<br />
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Love you so much Max! Happy Birthday!<br />
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-74202033916117911152014-10-16T11:08:00.000-06:002014-10-16T11:08:01.065-06:00A Birth DayIn a few hours, our baby boy turns one. Right now though, he's curled up (almost) sleeping in my arms while I type. His legs are bent at the knees, half resting on my lap half draped over the arm of the rocking chair. I used to be able to cradle him in the crook of one arm but that didn't last for long. He has grown into such a wonderful little boy, our beloved Max.<div>
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I remember the days leading up to his birth quite vividly. The leaves were falling, the air was crisp, the seasons were changing, and we were awaiting the change in our own family. What would this new baby be like? Would he look like his big brother, Ben? Would he be loud and demanding or quiet and relaxed? Would he be a good eater, a good sleeper? Would I be able to juggle the demands of raising two little boys? Like many mothers in the final states of pregnancy I was both excited and nervous.</div>
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Max's actual birth was a bit more dramatic than anticipated. I haven't written about his birth story yet (probably because I haven't actually fully processed it all, and probably because I haven't made the time!) but all to say he arrived in this world healthy and screaming and squishy and pink. The nurses kept commenting on how big and long he was (8lbs5oz and 21in long). We were positively delighted!</div>
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I'm so glad to have experienced this past year getting to know the newest member of our family. He is such a sweet little guy who slid right into our family and made a cozy spot for himself. I've enjoyed watching him grow and learn and develop, leaving a mark on each of our hearts. I've watched Ben turn into the caring and compassionate big brother we hoped he'd become. I've watched my husband's love and pride for his two boys flourish and multiply. I've been pushed and challenged and rewarded in so many ways. It's remarkable to think that all of this was accomplished in just 365 short (and sometimes very long) days.</div>
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Mr. Max, the day you were born I grew another heart, one that has filled up and overflowed with love for you. We are so grateful to have you in our lives.</div>
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Happy Birthday to our beautiful son, Max.</div>
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xoxo</div>
Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-26352869704281214972014-09-16T15:16:00.002-06:002014-09-16T15:18:00.984-06:00Eleven Months: Everything is Fair Game<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here we are at the eleven-months-old mark. In a matter of weeks I'll be counting Max's age in years! Although I generally feel like he is still my baby I can see the toddler phase emerging too. Here's a little recap of the past month.<br />
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Height, weight, head circumference? No clue. All I can say is that this boy is big! He's still rocking his size five diapers, wearing 12-18m clothes (sometimes 18-24m) and finding shoes that fit his very thick feet properly is nearly impossible. I no longer go down to the storage room to unpack Ben's old boxed up clothes to hang in Max's closet but rather just transfer them straight from one closet to the other. I imagine I'll be asked if the boys are twins soon! Dude. Way to grow!<br />
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Max is also very much emerged in the environment around him - everything is fair game. He still army crawls but usually he prefers to pull up to stand. His favourite ledge to walk around is the train table (much to Big Brother's dismay) but the highchair is a close second. Max climbs stairs multiple times a day, swings doors back and forth, plays with door stoppers, pulls the covers off the vents and likes to stand against the window sills and look at the world around him. He hasn't started opening cupboard doors yet but I'll probably write something about that in next month's post. Oy. No rest for this mama, as anyone with kids this age knows.<br />
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Max is also pretty fun and interactive. He likes to mimic sounds and motions, waves 'hi', blows spit bubbles, claps his hands along with nursery rhymes and will howl like a wolf whenever we read a favourite breakfast storybook. He thinks Ben is hilarious, especially when Ben pretends to feed him. The car isn't as horrible as it once was, especially now that the boys can almost reach each other's hands and pass various travel activities back and forth.<br />
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Not too many complaints apart from the never-ending horrible sleeps. Seriously, I think newborns wake less often than this kid. He's a very light sleeper, fights naps for hours and is generally quite restless most of the night. He's also got at least six teeth that are 'almost' poking through so I can't exclude the discomfort that must be contributing to his poor sleep as well. Experience tells me we'll get through this phase, it just feels very, very far away at this point.<br />
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We had a fun, busy month, filling up our schedule with playdates, birthday parties, baby showers and backyard picnics, (yes, that's right, our backyard is done!). We also had a freak snow storm that gave us a taste of the winter months ahead (Max hated it, by the way, haha). Trying our best to enjoy the warm weather as much as possible while we still have it!<br />
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This month was the first time I spent a night away from Mr. Max. A good friend and I took a little girls' trip to Vegas one weekend to change up our daily routine and, more importantly, get a full night of uninterrupted sleep. Seems kind of ironic that I went to Vegas to sleep through the night for the first time in years but hey, I'll take whatever I can get. I'd like to think Max missed me horribly but I think he did just fine.<br />
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I can barely believe the time has come to start planning the one year birthday party but I'm also so grateful that we've been blessed with eleven solid great months with our little man! Love you buddy!<br />
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-35433577125990192662014-08-16T21:56:00.000-06:002014-08-16T21:56:38.655-06:00Ten Months: Moving & Shaking<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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When Ben turned ten months old it was a hard milestone for me to accept - double digits seemed so old and I couldn't see much 'baby' left in him. Interestingly, I'm really embracing the ten months old milestone with Max. In fact, I've been saying that he's ten months old for a while now and so it rolls off the tongue pretty easily without pulling on the heartstrings too much.</div>
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I had a quick peek back at Ben's ten month post and started chuckling to myself. I normally don't look back at Ben's monthly posts before typing Max's monthly posts so as not to play the comparison game but I did read back this time and I couldn't help but laugh. The boys look nothing a like but act almost exactly the same. </div>
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Max, like his brother, is constantly moving. The army crawl is his preferred motor method but he is always happy to accept two willing hands to take him for a toddle. Diaper changes are probably easier with cats at this point but I'm aware it is just a phase. We won't mention a mysterious 'nugget' Danny found one evening in the master bedroom a couple hours after I had changed Max into his pjs on our bed. Keeps us humble, haha.</div>
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All that action has our little man working up quite the appetite. He's pretty good at feeding himself little bits of food and still loves fruit pouches, bananas and cheese. I have also bestowed him with the nickname 'squirrel' (just as I did for his brother, apparently) as I'll often find some moist morsel of cheerios stashed in his clenched fists half an hour after snack time.</div>
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Our, cuddly, tall, mama's boy still has two teeth and I thought more were on the way but it turned out to be a nasty little fever. High temperatures kept returning every few hours followed by a post-fever rash. Sleep regressed to some of the worst levels I remember (and it's far from ideal on a 'good night') but fortunately he is pretty healthy most of the time and these episodes aren't the norm. </div>
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This month was one filled with many fun summer activities. We went on a road trip to celebrate my sister's engagement and visited with Aunts, Uncles and Great Grandmothers. We've spent a lot of time outside on mountain picnic trips, eating ice-cream cones by the lake, enjoying park dates, running through spray parks and getting thrills at an amusement park. We celebrated my parents' 30th anniversary surrounded by close family and friends, hosted family dinners (both sides) and enjoyed a few days off together just to relax.</div>
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Max certainly has found his niche in our family. He's generally a pretty happy little guy who loves to be included in the action, mimics coughing and sneezing, and babbles 'ma-ma-ma and da-da-da' quite liberally. He's equal parts action and snuggle, loves going places but hates the car, is curious and mischievous and so much fun.</div>
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Love you to pieces, Max!</div>
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-71678587361073220042014-08-01T09:38:00.000-06:002014-08-01T09:38:00.202-06:00Carnival Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Doing our best to soak up as much fun and family time as we possibly can this summer. A last minute decision to hit up a local amusement park proved to be a thrilling time for all. </div>
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I used to crave those butterflies I'd get at the top of a roller coaster right before a dramatic descent. I loved the feeling gravity pressing my back into the hard plastic seat when spinning round and round. Nothing quite compared to the sensation of flying through the air, feet dangling high above the hot and sticky pavement. But since having kids, those enticing rides have rendered me into a timid bystander who gets nauseas just watching. Go figure! </div>
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Fortunately, I get almost the same kicks watching my boys light up as they take in the sights and sounds of the amusement park for themselves. I can still feel the butterflies as their wide eyes survey the next ride to conquer. I can feel the gravity pulling down on my own legs as they toddle along, slightly off-kilter, back to the ride's line up (again! again!). My still hair gets caught in the crosswind as the ride above me swoops overhead. </div>
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Maybe I'm no longer a daredevil but it appears the gene has been passed down!</div>
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<br />Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-56901635189227413152014-07-25T11:50:00.000-06:002014-07-25T11:51:09.963-06:00Love, Lace and Laughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My little sister is getting married!</div>
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This past weekend I enjoyed a lovely afternoon with the girls doing all sorts of engagement and wedding related activities. I was so nice to catch up with my sister and peruse all the latest bridal fashions. Strapless or cap sleeves? Empire or sheath? Batiste or chiffon? Silk or shantung? The options were endless. We joked with our Grandma (92 years young) that she would get to try on the next round of dresses. I'm pretty sure she was up for it too!</div>
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Can you pick grapes in that one, Kelly?</div>
Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-31272598491289563212014-07-16T11:11:00.002-06:002014-07-16T11:11:50.022-06:00Nine Months: Teeth, Trips and Summer Fun<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Mr. Man you are nine months old! </div>
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It has been a fun month of changes and it has been really neat seeing Max continually grow and develop. The most noticeable (and probably most painful) change was on July 8th when Max's first two teeth decided to emerge within 90minutes of each other! It was not a fun day but I'm so glad they finally cut through. I don't know who was more relieved, Max or myself. Seems like more are on the horizon, as they should be. All the better to chomp down on that variety food Max has been loving lately. Kid eats pretty much anything and everything now apart from that evil rice cereal, oatmeal or avocado which inevitably induces dramatic gags.</div>
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Our little mover seems to be slimming down a bit. Definitely have to watch him like a hawk now that he is so mobile. He likes to make his way across the room either with a reverse army crawl or a series of rolls to fetch whatever object has caught his interest. This object is more often than not whatever Ben is playing with. Fortunately the boys seem to be buddies more than enemies, but I suppose that depends on the hour of the day. He also still loves his bouncer and when we 'walk' with him around the house he usually bounces as often as he puts one foot in front of the other. He can pull himself up quite well and is pretty steady standing on his feet providing he has something to hold onto. Another adorable motor milestone is clapping his hands. Something about the sound of his little pudgy hands slapping together. So cute.</div>
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With all of these changes, it is nice to see some things remain the same. Max still has the little white hair at the back of his head that he's worn proudly pretty much ever since birth. He still has a little scrunchy nose whenever he smiles (yay!) and he still has a good death grip on your triceps whenever you hold him (ouch!). He's still a very happy-go-lucky, giggly little guy who hates sleeping more than two hours at a time, cries during car trips and loves to be included in everything. We love him so much!</div>
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This month has been a fun one chalk full of requisite summer activities. We've gone on a few day trips to visit our friend's cottage in the Rocky Mountains and enjoyed playing at Grandma B's house with family. My parents came to town and took the boys to a family BBQ while Danny and I attended a wedding. We waved at the marching horses and policemen as we watched a Stampede Parade. Daily progress reports have been logged as we watch our yard transform from mud pit to backyard retreat (just a few more weeks!) We've gone on many walks and park adventures in our neighbourhood, hit up the zoo with Great Grandma Clara and enjoyed a pool date at our Recreation Centre with our cousins. Birthday parties have been attended, new babies welcomed and lots of cake has been eaten. Just recently, we took a little road trip and headed to the Royal Tyrell Museum to check out the dinosaurs and the badlands. Boys had a blast. </div>
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So many wonderful memories and many more to be had in the weeks to come! What a great time to be nine months old.</div>
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* For some reason my images appear way different on the blog than they do on any other interface (too much contrast and the white balance is way off) but I don't have the time/energy to fix it right now so these will have to do for now.Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5657073795335903121.post-33511520076421424262014-07-09T10:53:00.000-06:002014-07-09T10:53:43.845-06:00MexicoPlaying a bit of catch up here today but that's mostly because we're doing our best to enjoy the beautiful summer weather while we've got it! Last month, however, we escaped to Mexico (our first ever trip) for some relaxing family time. It was fantastic! Sun, surf, and sand - what more could we ask for?<br />
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Such a great kick off to a fun-filled summer.</div>
Laurelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14613864800669599732noreply@blogger.com0