Season's Greetings & Photos

Here's Amélia's Wal*Mart photo. These were taken late October so we'd have them in time for Christmas cards, etc. I love them, she's such a ham! Getting to be such a big girl now. LoL

Season's Greetings & Merry Christmas to you all! Wishing
you all the best over this wonderful holiday season and the best to come
in 2007!

Big Girl with More Teeth

Such a big girl! Our little Bugs is growing fast! She loves books, and is really starting to enjoy her baths (thank goodness, taken long enough). She's got a huge vocabulary (for her age) but only uses some words on occasion (Lula, puppy, sipps), her favorite words are still 'boo' and 'see'. Last Sunday we noticed 2 new teeth in that little mouth, so that brings it to a total of 8 teeth! She's been somewhat cranky lately so I think she's still working on more.
She seems to really enjoy hanging out with Papa all day while Momma's at work. Hope it continues!
She started sleeping in her own bed/room a couple weeks ago and is doing great! Lastnight she couldn't stay sleeping but I believe her teething was the cause of her moving to our bed at midnight.
So excited for Christmas, she loves the decorations and lights, so I'm hoping to put up our tree this week. Christmas this year should be fun, Amélia loves tearing through wrapping paper... can't wait!

My Big Girl

Here we are at the farm - First attempt at snowboots in the snow (have a hard enough time wandering on hard surfaces with them). She did well though. The mittens were not exactly a favorite, but who likes mittens anyways?
She seemed to enjoy all the attention from Grandma's camera though, I have a ton of pix on the computer of her in the snow that day.
An update about Amélia, she still only has 6 teeth (4 top, 2 bottom), she walks (practically runs) and likes to talk on the phone (saying "hi" or "hello") and likes to say "boo". She has a cute little book that talks about "baby's feet" (ie:baby's feet are for kicking) and when we get to that page she kicks her feet and squeaks "kick kick kick". Momma has now returned to work at Staples so Papa is a "stay at home dad" now. There are only 2 days so far but all went very well! Amélia has moved from cosleeping in our bed to sleeping in her own crib in her own room. Tonight is night 5 of this and so far she's doing great. She does cry just a bit now, but not as much as night 1. She wakes up to nurse at least once a night, but she takes right back to sleep without much of a problem. Very exciting, she loves being a "big girl".

Amélia is growing up way too fast! Above is a picture of her enjoying some tv time (this may have been Barney), she gets very excited if there are any furry creatures on the tv, or when Barney's on, she almost starts shaking! She's started to say "boo" when playing peekaboo, which sometimes comes out as "ooo" and is so adorable. She still hasn't gotten any more teeth - still only 6 - and it's driving me nuts. How long do we have to wait?!? She's really getting into peas and corn (always liked them anyway) and if there's nothing else to eat all day I think she'd be fine. Soon Dan will be done work so Amélia can spend her days with him and I'll be heading back to Staples. She has become quite the Daddy's girl in the last month so I'm sure they'll be fine. Hopefully I'll have good news next time I update!

Happy Halloween

This picture was taken on Oct 26th (last Thurs) just before we went to the "Monster Mash". The Monster Mash is a dance for preschool aged children who are just too young for trick or treating. Amélia was really shy at the dance, but maybe that's because of the different costumes.

Amélia went as a Fairy Princess... we even put some stickers on her cheeks later at the dance.

New Blog

I'm going to continue to update this blog, with Mealie's firsts etc. but we have started a 2nd blog that's based more around our family.
Join us at Our Petite Family

Bday Pix Continued...

More Birthday Presents.... Thank you Steph, Mimi, Gaboo, Mylene & Jo!
Amelia's New Friends.. Baby Stella, Elmo & Secret Bear
Goofing Around with Papa!

Sept 21, 2006

I decided to post these pictures that I took on Amélia's birthday. Here she is on her big day. We just spent the day together as a family (Dan had the day off due to rain). Mealie got dressed in as much pink as I could find in the closet. LoL

Party Time!

The party was a success even with all the guests squishing into our little apartment, but it sure made us happy. It's great to have family together on special times (like 1st birthdays). unfortunately my brother, dad and Dan's grandma couldn't make it, but they were in our thoughts. Amélia was some what shy but still showed everyone how well she can walk. Although a lot of the time she was clinging to her Grandma's skirt (she's SUCH a Grammies girl).
Too bad Devin & Derik hadn't arrived sooner, maybe we wouldn't have as many left overs!
Thank you everyone for your love & attendance, it was greatly appreciated by us all!
Here's the Group
Thank you to all that came to Mealie's party, we had fun! Sorry that you were all so cramped, hopefully we'll be able to accomodate everyone better before we try a Christmas! LoL
(missing from this photo - Leo - the photographer)

Love those presents...
Amélia got a cute little numbers book from Don & Karen... thanks! Our little lady loves books!

Auntie Liane and Brett bought Amélia some really nice shoes, even the shoe/sock hater loves her birthday present! Thank you!

Here is the birthday girl with her cup cake. She was rather timid when the candle was lit but when it was blown out she just wanted at that purple icing!

Throughout September...(random pix)

I've been bad & haven't been posting as many pictures and as often as I was when I started. Things have gotten crazy busy around here with Amélia starting to walk, and becomming a very demanding toddler. Looking through our picture file I found some pictures that really should have been posted so here they are...
Outfit from Grandma & Grandpa Sweeney's friends the Collenges (sp?)
We were given this outfit last Christmas season as a baby gift, it fits Amélia really well right now! Very very cute!

Goofy Girl
This is what a baby who feeds herself mac 'n' cheese looks like!

Tired Baby, Sick Baby
Amélia came down with an ear infection & her medication knocked her right out! She is fast asleep with her head on her knee while Momma was folding laundry.

Bonne Fête Amélia

Happy Birthday Amélia!

This was the scene a year ago today, our little Princess was a new born babe and welcomed into this world with open arms. She was born at 5pm, Wednesday afternoon, Sept 21st 2005. What a wonderful addition to our family she's made!
Since her birth date she's made a us laugh, shown us the wonderment and curiosity of a little one, and has taught us how much we can love. In a year Amélia has learned to smile, crawl, jabber, talk, wave and she's even walking. It's been an amazing and wonderful journey and I thank you all for being here with us through it!
We're having a birthday party for Mealie on Sunday afternoon, family & friends are invited to share in Amélia's big day. Her greatgrandparents from Kelowna have even made the trip out to attend the party! This is an exciting time for all of us, once again thank you for your love & support throughout this past year, it means a lot to us all!
*birthday party pictures will be posted & blog updated on Monday*

She's Walking!

We enjoyed our trip to Kelowna and Amélia really enjoyed the "Sparkle Buggy". Although now at home she's taken to using it as a stepping stool so it's been taken to the closet. The good thing about the Buggy being in a closet means that she needs to walk on her own. On Sept 4th she made her way across the livingroom for myself to Daniel. With 7 steps under her belt Papa and Mealie celebrated with a tickle fest! On the 6th Amélia walked with Grandpa Auger's slipper from Papa to Grandpa... about 8 steps (on her own!). And yesterday Sept 8th she refused to crawl. She would only walk most of the day, even if it meant she'd have to get back up after small topples.... She would walk 3 steps, crouch/kneel/fall and get up and walk 4 more steps.... repeat (all day long). Looks like she's walking now - guess we better get in shape, soon we'll be chasing after her! And only 12 days until she turns 1!

Kelowna Trip '06

Golden - Ramada Inn - with Grandma Sweeney

Picking Peaches... Mmmmm...

Okanagan Lake with Mommy

Mealie with Her Lily Pad...

Family Reunion - Aug Long W/End

Slave Lake - Auger Family Reunion
August Long Weekend (4-6) 2006Amélia & Memére's Kitty

Amélia with Grandpa Auger
(Gotta love the hat!)

Packing up the Car...ready to go home...
We had a great weekend, saw a lot of family & listened to a lot of great music! Papa tried water skiing, Mommy & Papa both played beach volleyball. Amélia enjoyed watching the squirrels come into the campsite for peanuts.
(Sorry so late on updating... been busy)

Turnin' into a Big Girl

Amélia Sleeping on "Her Bed"

Hangin' Out With Uncle Devin

Wow! How this little critter grows! Yesterday she cut her finger in a popcan (still not sure where she found it) and the day before she showed us how she can climb off of our bed. We're going to start working on moving Amélia into her own bed now. Nap times will be in her crib & bedtimes will be on the matress beside our bed, slowly moving the matress away (next step hallway, step after into her crib). Tonight we started our bedtime routine at 6:30 and right now it's 7:40 and Mealie is asleep on the matress by our bed. I'm so amazed that she is actually ok with sleeping there - I hope she keeps it up! *crosses fingers* Uncle Devin (Mommy's brother) is staying with us for the summer. They're a couple of goofs together - Mealie really loves him (or is it the long blond hair she can pull?). Mealie has 5 teeth & working hard on the 6th. Crazy really, she enjoys her teeth, she bites fingers, toes... She'll grow out of it (we hope). All for now... ciao!

Growing Fast, Not Walking YET

Figured an update is in order as the last 2 posts were only pictures. Amélia only has 3 teeth, the 2 bottom & 1 top (not center). She's getting very brave and has tried to stand on her own a couple times in the last few days. She has no trouble standing, hardly rocks, then Mommy says something to get Papa's attention & Mealie notices she's standing and panics, sits down really fast, and sometimes cries. Amélia has taken to standing against the screen door, and even with all of our coaxing her away she stands there, licking the screen. (We've stopped her many times, she does it as soon as we turn)
I have recently brought to the livingroom a toy that Amélia hasn't seen before. It's a little toy bench, plays music & wheels on it spin. Amélia has figured out how to turn the music on & off, she loves the toy! Jasper came over yesterday and the two kidlets took turns shoving the bench back & forth between the two of them.
Amélia has turned into a little begger too. LoL At any meal if Mommy or Papa sit down at the table, Mealie sits in her highchair at the end of the table, she gives a shrill squeal if we have food but hers is already gone (usually on the floor). She's eatting well now. Cereal in the morning, something for lunch (fruit, meat, veggies), a snack late afternoon (usually grapes) and supper. She's also been having baby food at around 7pm for supper (we have a ton of jarred baby food in the cupboard) and then when Papa gets home from work (8:30-9) and we're eatting supper, Mealie joins us & eats some more! She's still nursing, after breakfast (before her morning nap), at her afternoon nap, before supper (depending how late it's getting) and before bed. She loves food, but she loves nursing, and as long as she's gaining well & still interested in eatting we see no need to wean her. She likes water and apple juice occasionally, but breastfeeding is her main source of beverage (LoL for lack of a better word).
We have started brushing Mealie's teeth & gums. In the morning when Mommy gets ready for the day, Mealie sits on the bathroom cupboard & we brush her teeth. It's made fun by playing "Get the Plaque Bugs" (basically making a big deal about brushing the teeth makes it so Mealie is more open with me shoving a plastic stick in her mouth). At night we try brushing teeth before bed, but it doesn't always pan out. We also have a bath ring so Amélia can sit up in the tub, she doesn't like her baths at all right now (screams bloody murder) so I'm not sure if the ring is better than the sling or not. LoL On the up side, Amélia is getting some more hair, to the point where it needs combing out in the back after her baths or it looks like a fuzzy rats nest.

Ray & Jindi

Strawberry Shortcake Outfit Rindi & Jason Gave Amélia

Auntie Rindi, Mommy & Amélia
Auntie Rindi, Daniel & Amélia
Uncle Jason, Auntie Rindi & Miss Mealie

Today was the first time that Little Miss Amélia met Rindi & Jason. They live in Richmond & don't get to Camrose often; the little family rarely gets near the coast, let alone to visit friends in Richmond. Went for supper at Boston Pizza - thanks Uncle Jay!

Hope to see you again soon!

More Pictures...

Playing Like a Big Girl... Love the Spinning Wheels!
Thank Heaven for Little Girls
Napping After the Afternoon Snack
Playing With Canada Day Balloon - Happy Birthday Canada

Posting a Few Pictures

Sitting Like a Big Girl in her Elmo Chair

Sitting Like Mommy at the Computer Desk

Helping Mommy With Laundry (at 6:30am)

New People - New Adventures

Amélia made a friend (and so did Mommy)! A new family moved in down the street a month ago and they have a 17 mos old son. His name is Jasper. Jasper's mommy joined Kidswap and her and Mommy decided to meet up for "coffee". Mealie & Mommy went to visit and Amélia was shy but very intregued with Jasper. Because he's a little older and can walk, he seems rather intimidating but wanted to be friends. Since that day Mommy & Amélia have also gone to the park with Jasper and his Mommy.
There are 3 teeth in Amélia's mouth. Her little smile is really cute with the 2 bottom teeth growing quickly and her little eye tooth popping through.
She's also getting into all sorts of trouble now. She's starting to crawl onto the coffee table, she attempts to see out the bedroom window by climbing onto the headboard. No matter how many times Mommy or Papa pull her down, say No or attempt to distract her with a toy, she still climbs up as quickly as she can; especially if there's people talking outside.
With this hot weather Mealie is really starting to enjoy grapes and watermelon. She also likes to sneak "bites" of Mommy or Papa's popsicle. She's eatting 2 full meals a day with 2-3 snacks. Occasionally she gets a little cup of juice. Amélia also loves to sneak some of Mommy's breakfast smoothie (no milk, just yogurt, fruit & juice).
She's getting so big! Papa & Mommy are so proud of their little darling.

And then there were two...

Just a quick post before supper to say that Amélia has sprouted tooth #2. Yesterday it cut & this morning there is a wee white spot poking through the gum, tooth #1 still isn't that big so the bottom teeth should come in relatively close in size. Still crawling on hands and feet, but really wants to walk. She's been rather cranky lately but it's likely due to teething. Poor critter. All for now...

The First Tooth!

So, it cut through, there was a faint red line on Mealie's gums on May 29th and then by June 3rd it was visable, little white crown of her first tooth. It's official, Mommy is going to miss that goofy toothless grin of the little BugCreatures. Due to the crankiness, temper, inability to sleep, chewing and drooling it's safe to say she's working on that next one. In no time Amélia will have a mouth full of pearly whites!
Finally got a highchair last weekend. Although Aunt Leanne & Uncle Russ donated theirs it is at Grandma Sweeney's farm for when the family is out there. Bought a used highchair from the consignment store here in Camrose, and after a good wash it looks new! The chair is in great shape & at $40 was a bargain! Without the tray it is low enough to be pushed up to the table and used with the kitchen table. Amélia likes sitting at the table during mealtime, she feels like a big girl. She's so proud with the smug look on her face as she sits next to Mommy.
Lula (the puppy) and Amélia are doing better together now. Lula comes to see Mealie and sniffs her, Amélia pushes her away when she's had enough & Lula's off to sniff at something else. Lu's getting big, they grow fast, I guess all babies do.
Amélia is moving along with food really well. She has cereal in the morning, veggies/protein at night and during the day snacks on Mummums (cookies), Cheerios, or fruit. She is still nursing well but she loves trying foods. Her latest "new" food was cottage cheese & yogurt. She gobbled up almost 1/2 cup of the goo... she really enjoys the textures. The babyfood that is in the house (pureed) is too runny for her, when she gets some in her mouth she just swallows it, doesn't even run it around. She has also really taken a liking to fingerfoods like (peeled & quartered) grapes, cut up banana and cooked green peas. She looks so pleased when she feeds herself. At Burger Baron last weekend she got to have a frenchfry and was very intregued with it. There was more on her face, shirt & the table than in her mouth/tummy... but it was cute to watch!
Mommy's already planning Amélia's birthday party... only 3 1/2 more months until Mealie is 1... soooo scary!

May Long & Papa's Birthday

For May Long Weekend the family went camping at Big Knife Provincal Park by Forestburg. Amélia enjoyed the tenting, she spent a lot of time in her playpen with a floral sunhat on. A trip to the "Diplomate Interpretive Mine Site" was a nice break from the boring campsite. Mommy got too much sun, but Papa and Amélia were fine. After camping the wee family headed over to grandma Sweeney's farm for a couple days of visiting with greatgrandma & greatgrandpa Carder.
Last Friday was Papa's birthday. Mommy made a supper & dessert, then Papa opened his presents from Amélia and Mommy. On Saturday Mealie's auntie Liane came for supper with Grandpa Auger. Everyone went to dinner at the Norseman and then had butterscotch triffle for dessert back at the apartement. Because the greatgrandparents were heading home on Monday the family went to the farm for Sunday afternoon. It was nice visiting with everyone before they left.
Amélia is really motoring around the house now! Follows Mommy and Papa EVERYWHERE. She's even started to crawl on her hands and FEET instead of knees... now she looks like a little monkey. Looks like that first tooth is trying once again to pop out. She's been very cranky lately, has started drooling again and even seems to have a divit where her tooth will be comming through. Poor creature is really having a hard time with this teething thing. Amélia has become accustomed to 2 meals a day, in the morning she enjoys cereal then banana for dessert (cut small for finger food) and in the evening she will down whole bowls of veggie puree (with or without meat). She really enjoys trying to feed herself little green peas & loves her Cheerios. She's nursing quite often but likely is due to the pain of teethig and not hunger.
Hopefully that tooth will pop through soon & the blog can be updated with something more interesting than the weekly routine!

New Family Member :)

Amélia has a new family member... she's cute, she's sweet, she's cuddly and has a great personality... and she's not housebroke yet. As a generous donation to Mealie's parents' insanity, Papa's uncle and aunt gave the family a Jack Russell Terrier pup. She's 5 weeks old and absolutely adorable. They are extremely intelligent creatures and she's already learnt that puppy pee pads are to be used in place of anywhere else in the house. Amélia enjoys the puppy unless the puppy approaches her first. If Mealie's the one who makes the first move tho, then the puppy is fun.
The family is going camping for the long weekend. It should be fun. Big Knife Provincial Park is a beautiful spot, Papa decided that's the place to spend the weekend. The family will be heading out on Wednesday hoping to catch the ideal spot.
Amélia's Greatgrandparents are comming down this week, the trip from Kelowna will take all day on Thursday, but everyone is excited about the visit. Boy will they be surprised when they see how big Miss Amélia has gotten.
Lunch time for the herd...

Movin' On Her Own

Well, it's official... Amélia can crawl! It's been about 3 weeks since she really started inch worming and as of Wednesday the 26th she can crawl. She motored down the hall to see Mommy and Papa while they were doing laundry. She has discovered that moving is fun and that she doesn't need Mommy and Papa to carry her everywhere.
Amélia can even pull herself up (she was starting that BEFORE she had started crawling). She used Papa's hip to pull herself up while he was sitting on the floor. And is currently trying to use Mommy's computer chair. LoL
Today the family is going to Edmonton to visit with Papa's family. Mealie will impress everyone with her crawling...