New Mom's Network

Yesterday we had our first New Mom's Network meeting. It was really fun! There are 13 Mom's in our group and only 3 babies are girls! We were all laughing saying that the boys will be in fierce competition for the girls attention! The oldest baby was born in February and Blake is the youngest in the group. We will be discussing various topics each week, such as infant massage, nutrition, dental health, post-partum strengthening exercises, sleeping and crying, etc. So we should learn some new stuff! I'm excited for the infant massage. I'm hoping I might learn some new tips to help Blake go to the bathroom! LOL! His poor stomach gets hard as a rock sometimes. I also registered for Strollerobics at the YMCA. It starts in July. And I've been looking into Mom and Baby yoga and Salsa Babies. I'll probably start one of those once the New Mom's Network is over. Two groups a week is enough, because between that, housework and all the visiting the week is full!! Plus I'm beginning to think that it's a good idea to have a few days at home to help Blake establish somewhat of a routine. He's done a lot of napping in his car seat so far!! But he is doing really good! You wouldn't believe what he weighed in at this week!!! Take a guess - nope not 10 lbs ... 11 lbs 2 oz! So his little gain last week was more than made up for this week! Sure is a healthy boy! He's starting to grow out of the newborn clothes and into the 0-3 months, but I'm still finding the 0-3 months a little bit too big. He is changing every day! Just a few days ago I got a huge full face grin! He's been smiling and grinning for awhile now, but this was a huge grin! It was so cute! And last night I was reading him a book and when I said a certain sentence about the boy's Mom wanting to send him to a zoo he gave me that huge grin again!!! So I said the sentence again and again and again!!! He's also found his thumb! From a few days old he's been trying to stick his whole hand in his mouth and now he is a little bit better at it! He is "talking" a lot more now too! It is soooo... cute! Cal is doing good too! He is extremely busy at work and is busy with ball hockey and his running clinic as well. Blake and I will be cheering him on in August when he runs his first 10K race! I had my 6 week check up today and all is good. Doc said I could get pregnant again if I wanted!!! It is tempting ... but I think I'll wait a few months and let my body recoup a little more! LOL! Anyways, I should get going and make supper!! Take care!



Love Tracy, Cal and Blake

9 lbs. 5 oz.!

I took Blake to the Health Unit on Tuesday to be weighed and he weighed in at 9 lbs. 5 oz. So not as big of a gain as last week!! He has also grown 3/4" in length. And his head circumference was a little bit bigger. Soon he'll fit his ball cap! Which is good, because when we were going out in the hot weather I was wishing one of his hats fit him!! Blake went to his first parade last Saturday. It was Farmer's Days in Stony Plain, so we walked to the parade with Auntie Lindsay and Uncle Jeremy and met Auntie Lesley and Uncle Gerry and some of Lesley's family there. It was a gorgeous day and a pretty good parade! Needless to say, Mr. Blake slept through it all!! Which means he enjoyed himself!! LOL! Blake and I continue to keep busy during the week days. Between visiting, shopping and daily household chores the days go by fast! On Friday Blake watched his Dad play ball hockey for the 1st time! Or at least he was in the stands, not sure if he actually saw much of the game! Last week we also visited Grandma and Grandpa Smith's offices and met all the people they work with. And I had an appointment to set up an RESP for Blake so Grandma babysat for a couple of hours. It's unbelievable how much they predict post-secondary schooling will cost in the year 2025!! Scary! So anyways, that's all that is new with us. Hope everyone is enjoying the summer weather! Take care!

Luv Tracy

Growing Fast :(

We got Blake weighed today and he is up to 9 lbs!! He also grew in length - he's 21" long now! The nurse said my milk must be good and he must be a good drinker! I knew he would have grown quite a bit because he sure feels heavier!! But I'm glad he's gaining weight because it means he's healthy! I think his hair is lightening too! It certainly looks lighter to me. Last night he went 5 hours between feedings! I was so surprised when I looked at the clock! So all is well and we hope everyone is great and enjoying the warm weather! Take care!

Love, Cal, Tracy & Blake

3 weeks old tomorrow!

Hello! I posted some more pictures tonight - we just received the CD with all of the professional pictures!! I love them all and can't wait to get some copies made! I also have to start on Blake's birth announcements! Blake is doing awesome! He is such a sweetheart! He had a couple of sleepless nights this past week, but right now he is sleeping!! He doesn't really have much of a pattern so far, other than he eats every 2-3 hours! Sometimes at night he does go for 4 hours without eating. We have been really busy, mostly visiting! We've had lots of visitors and today we went to Allen Gray to visit. We're glad Blake is meeting everyone! It's funny because people always say how small he is and to us he is so much bigger than just 3 weeks ago! We didn't get into the health centre to weigh him this week, but I am sure he's over the 7 lbs 8 oz he was last week! His face and arms and legs are really filling out. He is still a very content baby and doesn't fuss much. Today at work he was crying a little bit and everyone was like, "That's it? That's his cry? Wow! You're lucky!" It's not too loud (yet)! L.O.L.! But we're having fun and learning everyday. His umbilical cord fell off on the 12th. We were glad for that! And now Blake likes to look around, especially at lights and his mobile. It is so cool to see the changes in him! He really makes eye contact now too! And sometimes if someone else is holding him and he hears our voices he turns towards us! It is such an amazing feeling! Cal went back to work on Tuesday. We really missed him being home. He is so good with Blake - I knew he would be! He's a natural! I love them both so much!! Heidi and I are outnumbered in the house now - 3 males to 2 females!! But, I should get to sleep, since Blake is sleeping. That's one thing I'm not very good at - sleeping when he's sleeping! And all the books and everyone says just leave the housework, and I can't do that either! Could be why I'm tired!! Take care everyone :0)

Love Tracy

New Pictures!

Hey! On Thursday we had our professional photos taken and I've posted a couple here on the blog! The photographer emailed a sampling of a few of them, but there are lots more to come!! If you are on Facebook, I've posted more there! I'm very happy with the ones I've saw so far! I think we might use the blue bow pictures for Blake's announcements. Anyways, we're just heading out to Cal's Uncle Evan's in a few minutes here and then we are going to Brazeau to camp! We hope the rain will hold off (keep your fingers crossed)! Hope you have a fantastic weekend - rain or shine!

Love Cal, Tracy and Blake

Growing Boy!

Yesterday we had our Pediatrician appointment and Blake is now weighing in at 7 lbs 8oz!! He's almost gained 1 lb! The Pediatrician was really happy with this and says he is a perfectly healthy little boy! I am sad though ... they really do grow up too fast! I can't get over the fact that everyday he is growing and changing and he'll never be this little again. We have had a lot of visitors this week! We've been very busy, so today is family day! Blake slept for 3 hours last night and then for a 5 hour stretch!!! It was awesome! And I had to wake him up after 5 hours! They don't want newborns to go more than 5 hours without a feeding. I felt bad waking him up! I wonder if maybe he wasn't so tired from all of his visitors! We'll see how he sleeps tonight - hopefully last night was his new routine!? Wishful thinking! Tomorrow we are going for pictures in Spruce Grove. Now I'm just wondering if I'll be able to do my hair and what the heck I'll wear!? We are supposed to go camping this weekend for a few nights, but the weather channel is forecasting rain :( Hopefully we'll still get out there. So, I hope everyone has a great long weekend! Take care!!

Luv Cal, Tracy and Blake

1 Week Old Already?!

We can not believe that Blake is 1 week old already! Wow, time just flies and it is only going to go faster! Pretty soon we'll be saying, "I can't believe Blake is turning 1 already!" Everything is really good. Blake is being very good! We rarely hear him cry these days! He still does not sleep too long in one stretch ... But I think I've figured out that ensuring he gets a good full feeding in, allows him to sleep longer and keeps him content! On Friday Blake had his first walk outside and today he went on his first shopping trip! Blake enjoyed both - sleeping right through them! Grandma, Auntie Lindsay and I found Blake's stroller to be quite handy for holding all of our shopping bags!!! This weekend Blake's Great Auntie Kathy and cousins (2nd I think!) Skylar and Michelle were in town to meet him. We enjoyed their visit and thank them for driving all that way to meet him! This week we have visitors scheduled for almost every day, so we will be busy again! On Tuesday Blake has a pediatrician appointment. Blake sent his Dad Mother's Day shopping last week. He bought me a beautiful figurine with a plate that says, "There are angels walking on the earth disguised as Moms." It is so cute! I love it! He also bought me a little book called Spit Happens!! I had a very nice Mother's Day and can't wait to see what Blake sends me to buy for his Dad for Father's Day! We also can't wait until we start getting finger paintings and macaroni covered toilet paper rolls for Mother's and Father's Day! L.O.L.!! We hope that all of the Mom's, soon-to-be Mom's and Grandma's had a wonderful Mother's Day!! Also, Blake's Auntie Lesley celebrated a birthday on Friday and we hope she had a great day! Oh, and I have to tell everyone that I wore my old jeans today!!!! Yay! It felt good! But anyways, we hope everyone has a great week and we will talk to you soon!

Love,
Cal, Tracy and Blake