8 Months Old Today!

Today Blake turned 8 months old! Wow! Where has the time gone?? It has been an absolutely fantastic 8 months with our son. He brings such joy to our lives and we could not imagine life without him! It is amazing to witness how fast a child changes and grows in such a short period of time. He is such a little character now! I love seeing his little personality shine! Although sometimes it's screaming at me! LOL! Just yesterday he started this weird jaw thing. He kind of tenses it up and then moves it up and down! Hard to explain but it's funny!!! I think maybe it's one of those things where he's discovered it and will do it for a few days because it feels neat! Today we visited with Grandma Bev and Aunty Carmen at Blake's cousin Colby's baby shower! Colby is sure growing fast and is a real cutey!! On Tuesday Blake and I start a new Baby Laptime session. I've been continuing to sing the songs to him over the holidays! His favorite are Zoom, Zoom, Zoom and Criss-cross Applesauce!! Then on Thursday we are starting a Strollerobics class at the YMCA. We took Strollerobics during the summer and it was outdoors, but this one will be inside. We're not registered for swimming or Salsa Babies this time round but we will go to the occasional Water Babies class at Fountain Park in St. Albert because it is drop in. I know I am going to miss Salsa Babies, but I'm thinking of taking a Salsa Burn class (for Mom's sans baby)! Take care :)

Tracy

Rolling Machine!!!

Wow! Just yesterday afternoon Blake was still playing the "put me on my stomach and I'll roll to my back" card and now he's rolling around the family room!!! Amazing how fast they change/learn! Yesterday evening he rolled from his back to his stomach and seemed to not mind being on his stomach and now he's rolling back and forth to move around and get to his toys! Just a few days ago I noticed on his baby monitor when he was sleeping that he was sleeping on his side which he's never done (unless I've put him that way) and now I think that was a precursor to rolling around! I'm thinking that he may begin sleeping on his stomach or side regularly now! It's very exciting to witness these changes! Also, those 2 top teeth that have been giving us a run for our money are coming out finally! One of them has broken through his gums and the other is extremely close. Then they'll just have to come fully out, but I think that is less painful! Anyways, just had to "diary" this exciting day!!! Crawling news next ... LOL!

Luv Tracy

1st Sleigh Ride & Last Day of 2007 :)

Today Cal and I took Blake for his first sleigh ride!! He got a sleigh for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa Smith!!! It was sooo... much fun! He was so cute during the ride, thanks in part to his adorable snowsuit from Grandma Smith! At times he had this look on his face like he was thinking, "You guys are so weird. Why are you so excited about this?" We got a few smug grins though! It was colder then we expected. The Weather Network said it was -9 outside, but it sure felt colder. So we walked to the lake near our house, took some pictures and walked home!

On another note, today is the last day of 2007! WOW! What a year it has been! It has definitely been one of the best years of my life! I've often said that, but this year has certainly been fantastic. We have so much to be thankful for and are so blessed! We are looking forward to 2008! Who knows what the year will bring!? Best wishes to everyone for a healthy, fun and love filled 2008!

Love The Cameron's
XOXOX

Wonderful Holiday Season!

Happy holidays everyone!! We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! We had a great Christmas! The whole holiday "season" has been wonderful! Cal is on vacation from the 21st - Jan. 2 so it is great to have him home! On December 21st Lindsay and Jeremy came down from Fort McMurray and my Mom and Lindsay came over for a visit. Then, Cal's sister Kathy came to our house from Grande Prairie and stayed the night and on the 22nd we went to Gerry and Lesley's house with Grandma Bev and Kathy and had a nice visit and dinner! We left for Saskatchewan the morning of the 23rd. Blake traveled very good (we only had to stop once)! We arrived in Tisdale that evening and got unpacked, etc. Blake was up more than usual that night, probably due to sleeping so much in the car. On the 24th we did some preparation for Christmas Day and went to church in the evening. We woke up on the 25th and opened presents and visited with family - Oh and ate (and ate, and ate ...)! It was a great time and we were very glad the whole family was together! Blake behaved magnificently!! He was spoiled rotten of course! He ripped the paper quite well on his first gift and then lost interest! My cousins kids, Ryder and Ryann, were really good with Blake and it was cute to see them together! The camera's were sure busy Christmas Day :) We headed home to Edmonton on Boxing Day. We had to stop a few more times on the way home then on the way there. We stopped in at my Grandma Kelley's work for a quick hello! We got home Boxing Day evening and then Eric and Christa came over for a visit. Blake was pretty tired from travelling and all the Christmas festivities so he went to bed without a bath. Today we went to Beaumont to visit the Hrdlicka's! I was glad we were home in time to see them! Nicholas and Blake opened their gifts together and played a bit. I have a few other friends who are home for the holidays so hopefully we'll be able to get together!! Blake doing really good, continuing to grow and learn and change! This afternoon he just started breathing heavily through his nose?! Sounds weird, but try it and you'll see what I mean! LOL! I think he's just doing it for the sound effect?! We bought him a Leap Frog toy that he can stand up to and he is loving it! And for the first time on Christmas Day my cousin was holding his hands and he took a step forward! We were very surprised!! I wonder if he'll walk before he crawls!? Blake also started reaching out a couple of weeks ago! It's pretty darn cute when he reaches for you!!! He's talking more and more each day too! You can carry on a conversation with him sometimes, where he pauses and you talk then you pause and he replies! It's cool! I've also noticed how his grasp is improving. He can use his pincer grasp quite well now to pick up small things. Actually just today he was picking up small pieces of toast (like cheerio size) from the table and eating them! He was also taking Nicholas' soother out of his mouth and putting it in his own!? It's really fun to watch him change and discover and learn new things! He peeks around you if you're blocking his view of something or if you drop something on the ground he looks down for it. He has fun with peek-a-boo too!! We hope you had a great Christmas too and all the best in 2008!

Love Cal, Tracy & Blake

Weigh In & Razzing!

Today Cal and I went to the Health Unit and had Blake weighed and measured. He now weighs 17 lbs 2 oz and is 26 1/2" long! Smaller than I thought he was! Geez I'd hate to have to lug an 18 lb baby around (soon enought I guess!)!! LOL! I swear we thought he'd gained like a pound since we last weighed him! The health nurse said he's doing great though and that after 6 months of age they expect babies to gain approx. 1/2 lb per month and he gained a bit more than that in 1 month. For weight he is in the 48th percentile and for height he is in the 43rd. When he was born he was in the 35th percentile for weight and by 3 months he was in the 95th for weight and now he seems to be maintaining at around the 50th! And the razzing ... OMG! Soooo... funny! Yesterday Blake spent the whole day razzing. And today - same thing! It's funny because I was just reading in our "What to Expect the First Year" book that most babies by 7 months old are razzing. And sure enough Blake's started! It has also led to him making some different consonant sounds, such as f and d! We're working on dada and moma!!! So all is good and the weather is absolutely beautiful today! Yay!! And Cal is off work today so I'm having a great day with my boys :) Take care!

Tracy

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas! We've had so much snow today! This morning was a beautiful, warm morning but it has progressively gotten colder and snowier!! My Mom was supposed to come over tonight, but not with these roads!! Not too much is new with us. We've been getting ready for Christmas and all that fun stuff! We decorated the house on December 1st and we've had Christmas parties with our New Mom's group last Wednesday and today. Last week the kids did a gift exchange and this week the Mom's did a cookie exchange. It's been a lot of fun! I can't believe Christmas is only 13 days away! It's crept up fast this year! Blake is doing really good. He's still struggling with his two top teeth. I can see them some days under his gums and then they disappear. I hope they break through soon. We are going to have Blake weighed and measured on Friday (Cal's off work) and I'm guessing that he is around 18 1/2 pounds and 27 1/2". We'll see! He's not crawling yet, but sometimes when we put him on his stomach he pushes himself backwards or turns to face another direction! And he's kicking his arms and legs a lot! But most of the time when we put him on his stomach he rolls over to his back! Crazy kid! LOL! Who knows, maybe he'll just do like I did and fore go crawling and just walk! He does love to stand up at the coffee table and couch or when you're holding his hands. He continues to be very strong! He's quite brave too - he likes to let go with one hand and look at you as if to say, "Look Mom! One hand!" It's pretty cute! And his fear of the bath tub is officially over. I suppose we'll never know why he was scared, but we are very happy he is back to loving his baths! Something new he started last week at swimming is splashing with his hands. He LOVES slapping the water now! And getting everyone within a few feet wet!! We have some other exciting news!! There is a new addition to the Cameron family! Cal's brother Gerry and his wife Lesley had their little boy on Friday, December 7th at 03:22. Colby Curtis Cameron weighed 7 lbs 11 oz and measured 19.5". He is absolutely beautiful and looks quite a lot like his Dad! And everyone is doing well! It will be so much fun to have a nephew so close to us! And I'm sure Blake and Colby will enjoy being near each other! Take care everyone! And drive safe and stay warm :)

Love Tracy

Better Bath!

So tonight Blake had a better bath!! Since last Wednesday he has had an extreme fear of the tub. We couldn't, and still can't, figure out why. He wasn't scared at swimming on Wednesday and I don't think he's scared of the water. His fear seems to be of the tub itself??? It was so strange because he loves his baths usually! But tonight was better so we're happy! He has also been teething big time. I think his top two teeth are going to break through soon. At least I hope it's soon because he seems to be in a lot of discomfort right now. Ladies at our new mom's group yesterday were saying that the top teeth gave some of their little ones a lot more grief than the bottom two! Last night was Blake's worst night in almost ever!! Bad in that he kept falling asleep and awakening off and on all night. He wasn't hungry, just in pain (I think!). So I finally broke down and gave him Tylenol. Tonight he's doing good, but the night is young! Last night I was picking him up and rocking him and singing to him and thinking to myself that I'm so glad he is so cuddly right now and I'm going to cuddle him all night long if that's what he wants because in a few years he's not going to want to be cuddled and held, or he'll be too big!! It's just the best feeling ever when he cuddles right into me! On another note, we are expecting a call from Cal's brother Gerry and his wife Lesley at any time within the next 24 hrs to let us know our new nephew has been born!!! We are keeping our fingers crossed for Lesley that it is sooner rather than later! We're very excited to have a new nephew so close to Blake's age and have a feeling that the two boys are going to also get into trouble with their twin cousins Kerri and Kailey!! The twins are only 5 1/2 months older than Blake. Should be fun! Hopefully they'll all be good buddies! Talk to you all soon :)

Luv Tracy