1st Camping Trip of the year!

We had a great time on May long weekend at Cross lake! The weather was gorgeous, the campground was really nice, we had lots of fun and it was awesome to have our own camper!! I'm sure my Mom, Dad, Lindsay and Jeremy would agree! No early morning Blake wake up calls! LOL! Blake had a blast and was so good. He woke up a few times the first night and then seemed to be used to the trailer and actually slept longer than usual the second night!! He played and played and played during the day and ate and ate and ate!!! He was so hungry - I think it must have been all the fresh air! We did a little bit of fishing with my sister and Jeremy in their boat, but I didn't catch anything :( Cal did on the second day though :) It was fun and nice to get out on the lake! We already have another 5 camping trips planned for the summer, a trip to the Calgary zoo, and 1 week at the family cabin in Saskatchewan planned!! Looks like it will be a fun summer :) I discovered this week that Blake has 2 new teeth! 2 bottom eye teeth. The teeth count is up to 10! It's getting harder and harder to feel for his teeth though, because he bites down as soon as I put my finger in his mouth! It's equally as hard to brush his teeth! Blake is now completely on homo milk. We weaned him slowly from formula, one scoop at a time! Next up, weaning him from the bottle! That should be interesting ... On the walking front, Blake is so close, but just won't let go!! We even give him a finger to hold and he can walk along, but as soon as we let go he stands there and then quickly sits down. It's kinda funny! I say he's just really smart :) Blake is saying "Mom" and "Dad" very clearly and sometimes at appropriate times, but it's hard to know if he is actually associating the word with Cal or I or if he's just saying it!? I don't know, but I do know I love hearing it!! And he's still mimicking us. His favorite these days is a monkey - eee, ooo, aaa! Cal likes to "monkey around" with him! LOL! Tomorrow we have our last Baby Laptime of the spring. We may register for it again in the fall, but we'll see. We hope everyone had a great May long weekend and enjoys the upcoming weekend. Hopefully we'll get some sun! Take care!

Luv Tracy

Happy Mother's Day!!!

We hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day! I came home from Karen's on Thursday with a home made card and potted plant that Blake "made" for me for Mother's Day!!! It was very sweet :) I worked on Friday, so my Mom watched Blake and took him to Fun For Ones at the library! On Saturday we had Blake's 1 yr. photo's with Rose. They went okay, but she earned every penny!! Blake was not a cooperative model! But she did get some really great shots and I can't wait to see them. After pictures, we dropped Blake off at my Mom and Dad's house. Cal and I went to Pigeon Lake to look at a travel trailer - which we ended up buying!! We then went back to Stony and had supper at my Mom and Dad's. My Aunty Karen was in town so we got to visit with her and my cousin Jeanine and Ryann!! I was glad we got to see them! It was Lesley's birthday the next day, so we stopped by Gerry and Lesley's house for a visit. The boys both needed a bath so we put them in the tub together! It was pretty funny!! On Mother's Day we had a relaxing day. Cal got up with Blake in the morning and I slept in! Then my Mom and Dad came over, we went for a walk and when Blake went for a nap, Mom and I went shopping and brought Chinese food back for supper! The rest of the week has been spent getting the trailer ready for the upcoming long weekend. Cal and my Dad picked the trailer up on Monday evening and we've been spending the evenings filling it! LOL! We're very excited to try it out! I am a bit concerned about Blake camping and crawling. I thought he could wear his Carhartt overalls and jean overalls but the temperatures are supposed to be in the +20's so I think it may be too hot for overalls!! Maybe I should put some knee pads on him?! Blake has been working hard at cutting another tooth for awhile now and I felt it tonight. It is so close to coming through. It's sure been a long time coming. But I've heard the eye teeth are tough and that's just one of them! We're heading to the lake tomorrow afternoon and will be back on Monday! Have a great long weekend everyone :)

Cal, Tracy & Blake

Thank you!!!

Thank you so much everyone for all of the birthday wishes, gifts and greetings! We have such wonderful family and friends. Blake had fun at his birthday party and on his actual birthday!! Although I think he was a bit overwhelmed at the party at times! There were a few "dinosaurs" loose in the house!!! The party was a dinosaur theme and a few of the little boys transformed into dinosaurs to fit in with the theme! LOL! We had 9 kids in the house and 16 adults! It was a very full house! I thought that Blake would be up late, but he started to appear very tired around 6 pm, so I gave him a bath and thought I'd lay him down but he'd be up again because it was pretty noisy in the house and he'd just consumed a lot of cake, icing and ice cream!! But surprisingly he was out like a light! And I didn't hear from him until the next morning. He was tuckered right out!! Cal and I were both off on Monday and we had a fantastic day with Blake. We went swimming in the morning and had an absolute blast! Blake loves the water so much!! And it was nice that Cal and I were both there, because we took turns going on the water slides!!! It was a lot of fun! Afterwards we went to Booster Juice. Cal and I had a booster juice while Blake had a little snack! Then we went home for lunch and Blake had a nap. After his nap he opened his presents from us and then my Mom and Dad came over for supper. I didn't know what Blake's favorite dinner would be for his birthday so I made a roast with mashed potatoes and carrots (he loves carrots!)! And then of course, we had MORE cake! And boy does Blake ever love cake!! Today at Karen's they had a little party for him too and Karen said when she gave him the cupcake he tried to stuff the whole thing in his mouth!! I was so happy to hear they had a little celebration for him. I thought that was really sweet! They also gave him a little gift! She's so great! So that wraps up his birthday festivities! Yesterday I kept saying to Cal, at this time last year I was .... counting contractions, wondering if I should go to the hospital, going to the hospital, walking laps around the unit, puking, in major pain, in the shower, slipping in the shower, getting an epidural, delivering, Cal cutting the umbilical cord, holding and feeding Blake for the first time, watching Blake under the warmer, etc, etc, etc! I was remembering every wonderful moment! It's so very hard to believe it was a year ago. Children really do speed up time and change your life. We loved him before he was born, and I knew life would change, but what I didn't understand was how strongly you feel that love for your child and how your heart breaks into a million little pieces when your baby is sick or hurt or how proud you are when they do something for the first time. It is wonderful and scary all at the same time! Life will never be the same and I wouldn't want it any other way :)

I Am 1 Year Old Today!

Hi everyone!

Today I am 1 year old! My Mom and Dad say the time has gone by way too fast!! I don't really know what they mean by that - I love each new day!!! I had a very fun birthday party on Saturday. I had 8 little friends here and a lot more adults!! It was a great party!

I am pulling myself up and walking on everything these days - the coffee table, couches, the t.v., my toys, anything I can get a grip on! I also love to walk around the house with my walker or ride on toy. I'm not quite brave enough to let go yet. And anyways, I hear I'm going to be walking for many years so I'm just taking my time!! I love clapping my hands, waving, and dancing to my favourite music. Adults seem to find it quite funny. They are so easy to amuse :)

Mom and Dad call me a fish!! I love when they take me swimming! Today we went for my birthday and I had so much fun. I can't wait to go to the cabin this summer. They might take me on the tube behind the boat!!

Mom went back to work mid-April. She started back 2 days a week and tomorrow she starts working 4 days a week. Before she went back to work she took me to a lady named Karen's house and we played and had fun. Then one day she left me for a couple of hours, but I had so much fun with my friends and all the new toys I didn't even notice! Now I'm there all day and it's pretty good. Karen makes yummy lunches and snacks and I love playing with the other kids! Mom and Dad are very glad I like Karen's house! Now that Mom is going back to work 4 days a week I will be there 4 days some weeks and 3 days other weeks because Dad has every second Monday off so we'll hang out those days.

I had my 1 year pediatrician appointment last week. I weighed 20 lbs, 1 oz and I'm 29.5" long. I am in the 50th percentile for length and 10th percentile for weight - what's that mean anyways?! Mom says I'm kinda skinny! I don't know why though - I eat everything!!! Well, almost everything. I'm not crazy about beef! Mom says I gained weight a bit quicker after she weaned me. I gave Mom and Dad a hard time for awhile with the bottle, but then gave in because I was really thirsty!! Mom and Dad were quite relieved because they were going on vacation!! I stayed at Grandma and Grandpa D's and had a fun time! I have eight teeth now and a couple on the way. Mom and Dad put their fingers in my mouth to feel for them and I chomp down!! Hee, hee, hee :)

We are all very excited for camping this year. Mom and Dad think I'll be in to everything and get really dirty!! Sounds like fun to me!

But I should go I'm getting pretty tired. I think I'll have my bath now and then go to bed. I need a lot of sleep!!

Love you everyone!
XOXOX Blake

PS: Mom is going to proof read this for me. I hope she doesn't change too much!!

Yucky!

It appears Blake is not over whatever it is he has. I wish I would have brought it up more with the Pediatrician on Tuesday, because I think we need to make another trip to the doctor :( Yesterday at Karen's Blake had "explosive" diarrhea. Yuck! Poor Karen! Last night Cal went out and bought Pedialite and lactose free formula. I think he seems to be a bit sensitive to milk products so thought we'd try the lactose free formula. So we fed Blake a very light supper and he was fine all night, then I fed him his normal breakfast (cereal) and he was fine and then I fed him lunch (pb toast and some banana) and he vomited. So I guess his stomach is still sensitive! Geez! I don't really understand why he has been okay some days and then not others. It's been going on since Friday. So after his nap this afternoon I might take him to my Dr. Hopefully he's feeling better for his party on Saturday!!

1 Year Pediatrician Appointment!

Today Blake had his 1 yr. appointment!! Everything went well. He weighs 20 lbs. 1 oz. (10th percentile), is 29 1/2" long (50th percentile), and his head circumference is in the 50th percentile too!! Dr. Radisic was happy with everything and said again how strong Blake is! He figures that he's very cautious, which is why he's not letting go and walking by himself yet! LOL! I suppose that could be!? We go back at 18 months. Blake also has an E.N.T. appointment on Friday to check the "holes" near his ears. We'll find out if he needs surgery on them or not. Dr. Radisic said he's had a few patients have the surgery and it's very minor, but still nobody wants their baby to have surgery :( But we'll do what is best of course! Cal took Friday off to come to the appointment and then has Monday off as well! This is my last 2 work day week - next week I start working 4 days a week. Yikes! Hopefully it will go well. We went to Cold Lake this weekend for my cousin's wedding and had a great time! It was nice to visit with everyone and see family we don't often see! Blake was sick to his stomach Friday and Saturday though. He must have caught the virus I had earlier in the week. So he was a bit out of sorts, but still pretty good! Karen said he seemed a bit off on Monday too, but today he's been eating more so I hope he's over it. Speaking of Karen, Blake seems to be less shy around other kids and I think it may have a bit to do with being at the day home. Today in the Dr.'s office he was so funny! He was walking around the room, hanging onto the chairs, and if someone was sitting on a chair he'd just use their knees and pass around them! Then he stopped at this one little girls chair and "talked" to her for a bit! It was so cute! She was probably 4 or so and pulled her knees up to her chin so he couldn't touch her! It was as if she was saying, "Oooooo... boys!" LOL! Kids are too funny! Saturday we have Blake's 1st Birthday Bash! There's a bit of preparing to be done ... and we haven't started! But we'll get it done! As I said before, Cal took Monday off so we will do something fun for Blake's birthday! We're thinking of going swimming or to Rundle Park. Last night we went for our first bike ride on our new bikes with Blake's new bike trailer. It was fun and Blake enjoyed himself! The weather has been gorgeous these past few days. I really hope it is here to stay :) We will let everyone know how the party and Blake's birthday goes!! Enjoy the weather!

Cal, Tracy & Blake

Is it April???

I really wonder when I look out the window ... But yes, I have confirmed it is in fact April 23, 2008! What is with all this SNOW?? Thank goodness it has stopped! The weather was absolutely brutal the past few days. Blake and I had our first Fun For Ones class at the public library on Friday. It was a ton of fun and quite similar to Baby Laptime, but a bit more "advanced"! All the children got to strum the leaders guitar and there was more hands on activities! Of course one of Blake's favorite activities was bubble time! He loves trying to catch the bubbles and watching them float around. He has changed quite a bit in the past few weeks. Actually I think it kind of began the week before we went to San Francisco. He's pulling himself up now like nobodies business, where as before he'd take a few tugs to get up! And he's figured out how to sit down gently from standing instead of getting mad or just falling!! And he seems to be a lot more sturdy on his feet and loves pushing his walker around the house. It's absolutely hilarious! He giggles away as he runs into the couch and the wall, etc. until Cal turns him in the right direction! I'm going to try and take a video of it to post on Facebook! I don't think it will be long before he lets go and is on his own! He doesn't seem too interested in playing with toys for long anymore, instead he crawls over to the coffee table or couches and walks around them or bolts to climb the stairs! He also likes to stand up at the baby gate when I'm upstairs and rattle it! He's just so much fun and such a happy little guy :) He continues to do great at Karen's. We definitely lucked out! She is so wonderful and has a lot of time to spend with him. Every time I pick him up she goes on and on about how good he was and how she just loves him!! I joked last time that, that's great but sorry you can't keep him! I've noticed lately, but wonder if I'm just reading too far into it, that Blake has copied clearly a few words and sounds that I've said and made. I could swear that's he's said dog and woof, and cat and meow, and baaa!! And I wanted to right his first word down as "Dad" but I'm not sure!!! I think I'll wait and see if he has put the word and Cal together or not; although I could swear he's looked at Cal and said, "Dad!" clear as day! I'll wait and see tomorrow, because Cal is home all day! Another thing he is doing constantly is clapping. It is so friggin' cute!! This weekend we are headed to Cold Lake for my cousins wedding. It will be a great time and we're excited to see my Grandma Marg and Aunty Kathy who are coming from Tisdale and my sister and Jeremy! As well as a number of other relatives from various locations!!!! Should be a great time! We hope everyone has a wonderful weekend and enjoys moderately warmer temperatures! Take care!

Cal, Tracy & Blake