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It's still hard for me to believe that exactly one year ago today, I was gazing down at Lola's face, wondering and imagining what would happen NEXT. Our baby had arrived. Wil and I were taking turns holding a tightly swaddled baby that we would be taking home with us!! She was here, and we had to name her. We called her Lola Rose but, really, she wasn't even "Lola" yet. We had given her a name, but we had now idea what kind of personality she would attach to it. A year has passed and we are delighted with all the new and wonderful things that Lola has given us. Like her namesake, she has a wonderful personality; full of surprises, smiles, laughs and general good humour.



Crawling is boring. Walking is fun. She had 3 teeth, with a fourth to arrive any day. She knows that Wil is Da Da, I am Ma Ma. If she cries and looks up with puppy dog eyes, we WILL pick her up and play some more(even if it IS bedtime). She loves flowers. She wants to put them in her mouth. She wants to put EVERYTHING in her mouth. All in all we have settled into a comfortable routine that seems to leave us all happy(and thankful) at the end of the day.



People say that children change your life. I'm going to have to agree. I can't imagine it any other way.

At the zoo

We got alot, Lola likes it. Now she can see the animals and she is always curious to see what they are doing.

A little off the top

When we were in Windsor on Labour day weekend, Lola got her first hair cut. I love her curls but she was looking like a little ragamuffin, so Grandma Sue took care of everything. Lola seemed to enjoy the whole thing. Since it has been cut, her hair looks even blonder. When I look back to when she was born with all that dark hair I wonder where it went. What happened? Will she stay blond? I guess only time will tell but it's fun to guess!

Yummy? Yummy!

When Lola sees the ziplock that I keep the Cheerios in appear, her whole face lights up. She loves the challenge of trying to get them in her mouth. I just wish she would take in interest in putting other kinds of food and drink in her mouth. No matter how many times I try to get her to hold her own bottle, she would rather just sit there little a litter gerbil while I feed her. She's still her own little personality.

Similar expressions occur when we put on the Baby Einstein movie. She has been watching the same movie since she was 3 months old, once a day, while Wil and I eat dinner or clean up the kitchen. Each time she sees the catapiller logo, you would swear it was the first time. She starts gasping, clapping and double hand waving. She is beside herself with excitement until the credits roll by. Something tells me I should could my blessings as I am sure as she gets older, it will be more difficult to entertain her.....

August

Our summer was very very busy. We went to the beach at Frenchmans Bay to play in the waterpark and enjoy the beach sand.



We checked out the waves but we didn't really like the look of them.....


We went to the fish camp to see Grandmaman and Grandpa




We posed in the boat,


We posed in our high chair



We posed on the beach






But left fishing to the boys

Lola's party trick

For those of your who are "regulars" you may have notice that Lola always appears to be smiling. As Jane, Jay, and Raquel can attest, Lola loves to smile for the camera. On demand. Even if she is throwing some kind of fit. Once a camera is whipped out, she's all smiles.

I swear, I didnt' teach her. Ok, maybe just a little bit......



She loves cheerios these days. That's about it though, I keep making all kinds of baby food and she only seems to like the stuff I buy from a jar. Sigh, what's a mother to do?



But she loves her present from Daphne and Owen!

And she loves to watch Daddy but the lawn. Lawnmowers are facinating machines....

The mother of all updates

We have had a busy few weeks! We celebrated Opa Bill's birthday with a BBQ and the Melis family. Even though it did rain we still had lots of good conversation, food and fun.






With our regular babysitter recovering from surgery, our parents have stepped in to take care of Lola while we continue to go to work. Sue was down 2 weeks ago and they had a great time together.


My parents were down for last week. Lola really enjoyed have her grandparents undivided attention.



It was a perfect time to visit as well as she has learned to crawl and is cruising around funiture like a pro.



And we put up containment devices( AKA gates...)

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Wil and I are wondering where our "little baby" went. We find ourselves watching her sleep and being amazed at how big she looks to us now. We are delighted at how much FUN she is and feel very lucky to have such a happy and good natured child. She is constantly smiling, laughing, clapping and waving "bye bye". While I believe everyone has good days and bad, Lola's seem to start and end with a smile.

Movin' and shakin'

It should be duelly noted that Lola is now moving with her own steam now. It is 10:00 pm, Wil just finished putting up baby gates. She is crawling, reaching, grabbing, pulling herself up and starting to "cruise" around the furniture.

Things are about to get VERY interesting......

The Next Generation......

Lola and I went home to the farm two weeks ago to visit my parents. Wil was at a bachelor party in Barrys Bay at a cottage, so it was just the ladies. This is Lola in the Cotie high chair. It was used by my Dad and his 2 brothers when they were babies. When my parents inherited it, it was in pieces. They had it put back together and it is enjoying a second wind. It has been used frequently by visiting family and now it is Lolas' turn. She seems to like it.

Water baby

Need we say more?

We are on the verge of watching Lola crawl. She sits, bounces and leans forward to get her favorite toys( all due to Wil's training schedule before I get home from work. But her MOST favorite thing to do is stand and walk around holding our hands. Killer on our backs, but it makes her SO happy it is really hard to say no.


Wednesday, when I left Lola in her crib while I started her bath, she figured out how to pull herself up to standing. Although she looked pretty upset when I got back as she didn't know how to get back down.

We are looking forward to the weekend when we can relax in the backyard and spend some time at the park. 3 days of fun in the sun. I am hoping it will be warm enough to hit a splash park as we just bought a bathing suit.

Today

I looked at this headband and said "No way".

Then, we tried it on and I said "Maybe just for today........"

The chiclets

Here's a good look at Lola's chiclets. No other appearences other than these first two.... yet.

Busy..

Ok, so we have been busy. I know, I know, it is no excuse but it is the truth. The fact is that, now that I have been back to work for almost 2 1/2 months, all the pre-cooking and baking that I had done is now gone. Wil or myself has to cook dinner every night and by the time everything is cleaned up and Lola is in bed, it's late and I am ready to head to bed myself.

But, Lola's doing great! She's finally found a comfortable position to sit in while I feed her....



She's really enjoying eating and treats like cookies



We have been taking the train downtown to meet friends( thanks for meeting up Mike and Nat!)


And having a blast at the park



Fashion wise, some days are better than others



But we can still strike a pose



And we are pretty darn happy!

Inside my brain on a hot day

Today was hot. I love hot. There is nothing I love more than feeling like a nicely browning piece of toast.
Wil and Bill(Opa) went to the Jays game.

Lola decided that napping was unnecessary.
I promised I wouldn't spend any money so we went to the Dollar store.
I bought Lola a funky yellow ball with red flowers thinking this could be a new game for us.

She's terrified of it. Seriously, she screams when she sees and I have to hide it because she keeps trying to look around me if I just put it behind my back

GREAT, now what?

Well there is always time for a photoshoot. Especially when it is hot enough to break out some new summer dubs....




Of course, Autumn needed to be in on the action




It's only 4:00..... maybe we'll go for a walk. I mean, summer is definately here so I should by some sunscreen right? I'm a responsible parent, after all. Off to the mall. Maybe I should just Look at "The Childrens Place" Oh, everything is on sale... no, we are on a spending freeze, remember? Oh, but I just ran into a friend from University that I haven't seen in 10 years! We chat up each others kids, they say that they just came from H&M. Maybe we should look there..... just look. I find the most darling hat. I want it for myself. It fits Lola perfectly. It is even cuter on than it was on the shelf.

WE NEED IT. I am, after all, a responsible parent. I'll pay cash. That makes it ok, right?

oh yeah, sunscreen. hmmmm, there is a great magazine about BBQ recipes, that also responsible as we do need easy quick meal ideas for after work.

oh yeah, sunscreen.

We head home. We have photoshoot number 2 with our new hat. Dad and Opa arrive home.

"Nice hat" says Wil

"I know" I say "I paid cash"

Another one!

Another tooth, that is! We noticed it on Saturday morning. Each day when I check they have grown in a bit more. Guess we'll have to wait and see when the next one arrives.

This is Lola and Wil 2 weekends ago when we found a new path down by the lake. I was the perfect day for a walk and we all enjoyed ourselves.

Going to the Zoo, how 'bout you?

So, we did it. We got a zoo membership. As I have already been 3 times, it has now paid for itself. Dave and Heather were visiting on the weekend and convinced Wil he should get a membership too. I swear, I never would have guessed that I would like going to the zoo in a million years but I quite enjoy it. It'll be really fun when we can take Lola to the splash park when the weather is hot.....

And I think Lola seems to like it as well.

We had a busy weekend with Dave, Heather, Miles and the Bump visiting. Plus we got to have the downtown folk visit for Sat afternoon in the backyard. Heather and I even got to go for dinner with Penny and Noelle when the boys offered to babysit. All in all, a very successful weekend!!

One down!

Lola got her first tooth today! We noticed it this morning, rather, Wil did when she was chomping on his finger and it was a little sharp. It is her bottom left tooth and I can see the right one ready to break through any day now.

She's saucy...

and she knows it. This was Lola celebrating Mothers day.

Checking things out

Lola loves to inspect things, especially grass when we go to the park.....