Sick Sicky

No blog for a while cuz I've been really sick with a nasty cough and stomach issues (more recently).  Kidlet is behaving rather strangely too.

Need to focus on getting better.  More to come soon - hopefully.  Thanks keeping tabs.  :)

Today and What Could Have Been

Yesterday was our girl lil'A's birthday. Her big #1. We had a nice family party for her. Waiting for all the photos to come in to show you. Not today unfortunately.

But, today..... What is today....

It could have been one of two things. Either our great days here at home having fun with our furry friends named Goldie, Hipster, Bipster, Ty, and Pooh-bear and be off EI..... OR back to the usual grind at the office after a 15 month hiatus.

Well the choice was clear pretty much from the beginning - once I was sleeping through the night.

EI has ended and I am now unemployed. But I also have other titles:

- Unemployed (as mentioned above)
- Stay at Home Mom
- Housewife
- Mummy (the most important of them all)

I never would have guessed about 5.5 years ago this would be my life. If Richard hadn't started a single email thread and then asked me about Paris at a Christmas send-off dinner this never would have happened. The thing that sealed the deal was after our corporate Christmas party that I sang at (with a fake nose pierce - which he thought looked "goooood"), he walked me all the way home to Yaletown in the rain and then walked himself all the Coal Harbour at 2.30 in the morning.

I thought I would be a lady of independent means for a long time. Yaletown chick as we used to joke. But no more. Now I've got the best job I could ever imagine. Being married to my true soul-mate and having the best opportunity to play and learn with our little miracle.

This is definitely a day of thanksgiving,

Busy Weekend for a Little Girl

We have been dealing with colds and flu and the little this weekend but Angela seemed just fine (has cold though).

Auntie Michelle and Uncle David asked if Angela could stay the night on Saturday night. So, we got to test our Peapod theory about her sleeping anywhere. Seemed to have worked.

The time change did affect her schedule. We are definitely now dealing with shorter naps and a very tired kid all the time.

Anyway... that didn't stop her.

Next, it was off to the races. Giddy-Up.


Friends of ours from work asked if wanted to take this rocking horse. Their little girl has grown out of it so we said "Yes, Please". She ROCKS!

Then, the Snowy Monday. In her snowsuit, we call her the "Stay-Pinked Marshmallow Girl".

And finally, we put her to work. Friends lent this kitchen to us. Since she is working on standing, this is perfect.

Look closely, she's licking lips...

We're Starting Music Lessons Early

Over the holidays, my Mom (aka Gramma) brought over our old Fisher-Price drum set. It's amazing how well that toy (and a few other FP's) have survived over 30 years.

Angela has taken to them really well. Just before this was shot, she had both cymbals and was using them correctly. By the time I got the camera, it was on to the tamborine.

And then came the drum sticks. Now need to play them on the drum. The toy box is bigger and so much louder.

And she likes to sing while playing. Phil Collins wannabe perhaps.

It's ironic. We have Guitar Hero World Tour here at the house. That means, 1 guitar (Richard), 1 bass (Kat), vocals, and drums. Drums are toughest of the bunch.

It looks like both other positions for our band (BinHex) have been filled. No one else need apply.

Rock On Sista!

Hello Kitty ! ! ! ! ! !

Lil'A has been vocalizing since day 1 of course but syllables have been going since about 4 months.

"Mum mum muh" and "dah dee dah dee" have been said for ages but never in relation to Mummy or Daddy.

However, this week, there has been a definite milestone. ACTUAL WORDS!!! WAHOO!!!

She says "Hi" and even waves to greet someone. OK, so maybe not wave but she puts her hand out and opens it and shuts it. She hasn't figured out to put her hand vertical. Right now it looks like "Give me money!" but the intent is there.

And then, there's word #2. "Diddy" screamed at the top of her lungs at a real high pitch means Packers is in the vacinity.

The "oops" words are both "Uh Uh Oh" and "Oh Oh Uh". She says it when she drops something. It's hilarious. But then again, she also says it when she is pulling herself up to standing.

Yes, she's standing with one hand to steady herself and is running before walking with walking wings to be. The crawling started AFTER the standing and initial walking attempts.

New firsts are happening almost hourly it feels like. I don't think I'll be able to "blog" up.

Napping Around our World

Lil'A has been having a hard time lately napping when we're out visiting. Sometimes she is so tired she just can't stop rubbing one eye before taking her other hand to her other eye or her nose.

The other week, we were at Great Auntie Carol's house to celebrate Great Uncle Lorne's birthday and she just wouldn't sleep when everyone (in the whole house) knew (very loudly) that she was tired.

We tried going into a quiet bedroom, we tried swaddling her, we tried everything. Nothing seemed to work. Of course many a parent around us then and for the following week talked about bringing a play-yard (or play-pen as I've known it) with us in the car.

Play-yards are great but she doesn't sleep well in them unless at Gran and Grampa's or at Gramma's. She plays in them otherwise. Too much to look at. She's one of those kids that hates to miss anything.

A while back, when we got the tent trailer, we went looking for some sort of play-yard/bed that could fit in our tent. A regular one just wouldn't.

So we found the Peapod Plus. It looks just like a mini tent. It's one of those "pop-up" tents. Mattress and all.

We're now using it as the nap-time bed in our house. I'm moving it around the house that she knows that when she's in there and the curtains are down, it's nap time no matter where she is set down. We even started out with it in her crib. It fit perfectly.

Put away it's no bigger than a large plate (ok maybe a platter) and about 1.5 inches high.

It seems to be working. Transporting this is a SNAP. Oh yeah, if anyone wants to use it, just let me know. It hold kids up to 6 years!!!

Now.... how do we get Packers to get allow with lil'A??? I know! Put them both in the Peapod and zip it up! YEAH! That's a GREAT idea! No... Wait.... back claws and air matresses..... shouldn't be a poblem but... guess i could take it out.

Oh the possibilities.

Photos soon I hope. Haven't downloaded recently. Maybe even a vid or two...