December plods on...

We have entered a new stage with our lil girl. One where she no longer stays in the same place you leave her in. In her crib/cot, she is put to bed with her feet touching the end of the cot nicely tucked under her covers; in the morning, she is usually squished up on her side or tummy against the crib bars on the other side of the bed. What she must get up to in the middle of the night would be interesting to watch!
Here is a picture we took of a cute outfit we bought to give to a friend's newborn. Unfortunately, it is even too big for Emily so a newborn would be swimming in it. Good halloween costume, I guess.


This is our 8 1/2 month old daughter playing with matches. We don't see any problem with this.

(just kidding)

Bryce had his big bad birthday (they seem to feel bigger and badder for him as the years keep accumulating) last weekend. Kim and John brought over yummy sangrias to enjoy and make him feel like a young man! Great company and a great night!

8 months old

Emily is 8 months old and has two little buds for teeth on the bottom. They have been buds for about 2 weeks now and we are awaiting the tooth breakthrough where she begins to look like a old bag woman. She is mastering the backwards commando crawl, and can spin 360 degrees on her tummy to get at the toys in her vicinity. Anything outside of that and she just looks at the toy and then looks at you and then looks at the toy, until you can't bear to keep it away from that cute face any longer. She is definitely getting stronger on her legs and just loves standing whenever we hold her.

This is Emily with her friend Mia. Emily really enjoys spending time in the water, whether it is the bath, the pool or the ocean. Anything she can splash in is fine for Em. She is getting more adventurous as well and is keen to move forward onto her tummy to get at things in the water, not realising the implications of going face first into the water. This is still a lesson she has yet to learn. We have had many face first episodes in the water so far, but it's all gonna help her get used to it, I guess. Lots of swallowing water then gasping and choking for a few seconds afterwards.

This pic is of a diaper box we got that has pieces you can punch out to make a car. She likes sitting in it and getting pushed around the lounge. Emily just puts her hands in her lap, like a civilised living room commuter, and just sits back and checks out the scene. No squeals of excitement, no flapping of arms or reaching out for things. It's like she imposes her own "seatbelt rule" and does what every roller coaster operator at Canada's Wonderland implanted into my young teenaged brain - "Keep your head, arms and legs inside the vehicle at all times....and enjoooooy the riiiiiide!"

Daddy-Daughter time

Em and Bryce chilling out

Emily and her friend Mia (right after Mia stopped trying to eat Emily's hair and Emily stopped trying to hit Mia in the head with a tambourine)

Holly and Emily

Holly's Daddy Mark and Holly enjoying the rocking 'elephant'

Clare and Emily after a fun afternoon sampling the food and wine at the local Food Fair

Emily especially enjoyed the white bread pieces that are used for taste testing dips. At least we thought she enjoyed them. About 10 minutes later, she sneezed and several small pieces she ate flew out of her mouth that I thought had been swallowed. Kind of gross, but I seem to be getting over my grossness of fluids that come from my child!

Emily and Bryce cooling off in the river near our house. It has been so hot here lately and just overall beautiful summer weather! A big change from the December's I am used to in Toronto!


And finally, a sequence of photos from Daddy/Emily cuddle time.



I love this shot!

When finger painting goes bad