Pictures since the New Year

Standing on everything!

New Years Day walk to the dam

Pretty flowers at Questhaven

She's too big to fit in her corner so he has to put her on his lap

Baby butt

Itty-Bitty-baby-butt

Climbing up on everything

Now when she wakes up she climbs on her crib

Playing with all her toys

Matching socks!!

Starting Solids

Since Kaellyn turned 4 months old a lot of people started asking, "has she started solids yet?"  I don't have a problem with people asking that question especially because I love talking about  my baby.  But when I answered, "no we're waiting until she's older" I get annoyed with their responses of "wow, she is so big, she's not eating yet?" or the opposite "well she's little you should start soon" And the other one of  "not even any rice cereal yet?"  No not even rice cereal yet.  Why would I give her the equivalent of wonder bread when she's on a great diet of breast milk?  And giving her solids won't help her sleep better.  Thickness is not an indicator of digestibitlity.  What keeps you full longer?  Carbs (cereal) or protein (milk)?  Why would she be any different? 

Now I don't really have a problem with most of the people who are asking since they are typically just genuinely curious. I love talking about my baby so when people are thoughtful and ask questions about her, I enjoyed the opportunity to answer even if I have to say "No, we are waiting until she is older."  I chose to wait because The World Health Organization, UNICEF, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Dietetic Association all say that a baby should be on breastmilk exclusively for the first 6 months and complementarity thereafter. Even if your baby is on formula, solids should still wait until 6 months.  So not only did I want to wait until 6 months I wanted to wait until she was 6 months AND:

• Sitting up unsupported (she still can't do this but I think it's because of the big diaper butt)
• Has a pincer grasp (can use her finger and thumb to pick up little pieces of food which she can)
• Has lost the tongue thrust reflex (no longer automatically spits out anything we put in her mouth)

And so she is able to do those things.  So we started giving her some solids.  She started on bananas and with that she accepted them pretty well.  She enjoys her bananas and eats about 1 inch of the entire banana.  This week we'll be doing apples and then next week will be something new.  I can't wait to see what she decides is her favourite.

Enjoying the banana

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011

Well this morning is the 3rd but it's when I had time to celebrate the New Year.  So I awoke early to make a cup of Prince of Wales tea (my new favourite) and to watch a classic movie.  This one starred Ginger Rogers and is called Bachelor Mother.  Ginger plays a young, independent women who loses her job at the toy department of a major department store. She stumbles upon an old lady leaving a baby on the steps of a foundling home, only to be confused later as the mother of the baby. She cannot convince anyone that the baby is not hers, especially David Niven, who plays one of the head of the department store, who gives her, her job back and consequently falls for her and the baby.

Its a wonderful movie. There is one particular scene when Niven asks Rogers out for New Years (as a last minute option) and she hasn't a thing to wear. So he gets a brand new dress, scarf, shoes, stockings and of course a mink coat from the store for her. They go out to a fancy dinner and she pretends to be Swedish so she won't have to talk to his society friends. He can't get a moment with her because all of his friends whisk her away to the dance floor. He finally wrangles her out of the restaurant they go out to Times Square to ring in the New Year. They get lost in the chaotic arms only to find each other at the moment the clock strucks midnight and they kiss. It's just a wonderful wonderful part of a spectacular movie. It epitomizes New Years. Going out, living it up and having a ball so that you can start a new year afresh!

 

Happy New Year from Ginger Rogers

  So I rather enjoyed that excitement of my celebration for the New Year.  Although, I must admit I'm a little sad to say goodbye to 2010 for it was such a wonderful year.  Heres a look back at how amazing it was:

 

Briss came home in February and surprised me!!

We were able to enjoy the last few months of my pregnancy without a deployment

Had an amazing little Kaellyn!

Played and enjoyed our summer days away with her

Got married

Took countless family pictures

Enjoyed Kaellyn's 1st Christmas

 

So 2010 was amazing but I'm thinking 2011 will be even better.  Just think, I met Briss in 2007, he was deployed in 2008, 2009, and 2010.  So I can look forward to 2011 being deployment free!!!!!   And to Kaellyns 1st Birthday and moving to a strange new place.  So Happy New Year!!!

Mike and Jills house

The dining room table

Kitchen (where the baby gate is goes downstairs to where we stayed)

Florida Room

Hallway leading to the 3 bedrooms

Downstairs with bar top

Bar top

It's a beer opener!!

The bathroom downstairs

The room we stayed in

The bedroom we stayed in

The rest of the holidays in New York

The day after Christmas we had a christening for Kaellyn at Briss' church.  It was lovely and thank heavens I was feeling much better.  That morning I was able to eat some bread and keep it down.  So I really did only have a 24 hour bug.  Of course it was the worst 24 hours to have it.  But at least it wasn't an entire week of being sick.  So I was able to participate in the baptism and enjoy it.  We chose Mike and Jill as Kaellyn's Godparents.  It was a great day. 

Pastor, Godparents, Parents, baby

My snow outfit and Juicy purse

An icicle and fairy

After Kaellyns christening we went over to Grandma Donnas and took a nap.  Well Briss and I napped while Donna watched Kaellyn.  Then when we were refreshed we went over to Jacksons house to celebrate his 2nd birthday.  Kaellyn ended up falling asleep on Bill making all the women very jealous.  Haha.  We finally ended our day around 11 pm that night.  So the day after Christmas was a very long day but it was fun. 

Passed our on the couch

Jackson playing with his new toys

He's a real life cowboy with boots, hat, and horse!!!

Sleeping baby

The rest of the week was spent mostly recovering and hanging out at Mike and Jills house.  We went over to see Grandpa Bob one last time and spent a lot more time with Grandma Donna and Uncle Eric.  

3 men and a baby

 

Kaellyn just loves this blanket!!

Look at all that snow!!

Last night with Grandma

Uncle Mike giving last cuddles

Final kisses from Jill

Pulling on his hair!  What a silly baby!

We had such a great time and it was so nice to see everyone.  I loved having a white Christmas!!  But, it was very nice to board that plane and fly home.

Flying home!

Yay!!!!