Daddy's girl
Loving her new swimming pool!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
This month we took Julia camping for the first time. She didn't mind it, but unfortunately I realized I no longer love camping like I used to. (what a lot of work!?!) We didn't get any pictures... too busy making sure Julia stayed out of the fire, out of the water, didn't put everything in her mouth... sand, bugs, rocks...
Last week we celebrated our 11th anniversary. We got a babysitter and left Julia for the first time! We had a lovely dinner at Matahari (Asian cuisine), walked Whyte Ave, browsed Chapters, and went for coffee. It was lovely to spend an evening as a couple. And Julia had a great time at home playing with Maggie and Barry.
Julia's latest: Four teeth. Eating everything we eat. Babbling a mile a minute. Cruising (walking holding onto furniture). Walking pushing a chair or stool. Busy, busy, busy!
Trying to see what is in the birdbath...
Yes, she did manage to rock it enough that she got to find out! She didn't mind the splash of water on her head though.
She sure likes water. Here she is in her "pool" (a garbage can lid!). Poor thing! Maybe we should just buy a baby pool, eh?!
Lounging against Dad in a most unladylike fashion, with her dress up around her waist!
Enjoying spaghetti. I think she looks like me in this picture - or at least how I looked when I was little.
No matter who she looks like, she sure is a cutie!
Waiting and watching for Daddy coming home from work.
Last week we celebrated our 11th anniversary. We got a babysitter and left Julia for the first time! We had a lovely dinner at Matahari (Asian cuisine), walked Whyte Ave, browsed Chapters, and went for coffee. It was lovely to spend an evening as a couple. And Julia had a great time at home playing with Maggie and Barry.
Julia's latest: Four teeth. Eating everything we eat. Babbling a mile a minute. Cruising (walking holding onto furniture). Walking pushing a chair or stool. Busy, busy, busy!
Trying to see what is in the birdbath...
Yes, she did manage to rock it enough that she got to find out! She didn't mind the splash of water on her head though.
She sure likes water. Here she is in her "pool" (a garbage can lid!). Poor thing! Maybe we should just buy a baby pool, eh?!
Lounging against Dad in a most unladylike fashion, with her dress up around her waist!
Enjoying spaghetti. I think she looks like me in this picture - or at least how I looked when I was little.
No matter who she looks like, she sure is a cutie!
Waiting and watching for Daddy coming home from work.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
More Julia...
Usually when I go in to get Julia out of bed in the mornings, she is sitting and playing with her stuffed animals. This morning for the first time, this is how she was waiting for me!
When I'm working in the kitchen, Julia likes to "help". She has her own drawer in the kitchen filled with bowls and utensils that she plays with.
Finally I captured her teeth on camera! It wasn't easy getting just the right smile so that her teeth were showing, but there they are - two little bottom teeth.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Time Flies
Over a month already since I last blogged. How time flies! Julia is changing so quickly. She is now the proud owner of TWO teeth. And she is a crawling maniac! She has also learned how to pull herself up to a standing position holding on to furniture.
Standing up!
I bought her a happy face balloon... Her smile rivals the balloon's.
Getting right into her toys... literally - one day she climbed right into her toy basket!
Our mobile little girl has made it necessary to put a gate at the top of the stairs already.
Since she doesn't like to be "confined" to one place anymore, Julia has found a new use for the exersaucer.
Our vegetable garden is mostly planted now. We're trying a few new things this year: corn, spaghetti squash, and a blueberry bush! Not sure what kind of crops we'll get, but it's fun to try new things.
Now I am concentrating on trying to beautify the yard with flowers in the beds and in pots.
Deciding what to plant...
Helping Mom water the flower we just planted. (Gerbera daisies are one of my favourites!)
Standing up!
I bought her a happy face balloon... Her smile rivals the balloon's.
Getting right into her toys... literally - one day she climbed right into her toy basket!
Our mobile little girl has made it necessary to put a gate at the top of the stairs already.
Since she doesn't like to be "confined" to one place anymore, Julia has found a new use for the exersaucer.
Our vegetable garden is mostly planted now. We're trying a few new things this year: corn, spaghetti squash, and a blueberry bush! Not sure what kind of crops we'll get, but it's fun to try new things.
Now I am concentrating on trying to beautify the yard with flowers in the beds and in pots.
Deciding what to plant...
Helping Mom water the flower we just planted. (Gerbera daisies are one of my favourites!)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
April 23
My sister let me know that it's time for another blog update because it's been almost a month. (Here you go, Neat!)
Julia is trying desperately to crawl. She gets on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth. She is very mobile, scooting around all over, but I wouldn't exactly call it crawling yet.
I'm not sure why she makes that funny face. It sure is cute though! Notice all the drool! That's because she's teething; her first tooth popped out on April 11.
She's starting to enjoy quite a variety of food now. And since supper time is right before bath time, we sometimes let her feed herself. Messy but fun.
She loves chewing on a rubber spatula - must be just the right feel for sore gums!
Julia is trying desperately to crawl. She gets on her hands and knees and rocks back and forth. She is very mobile, scooting around all over, but I wouldn't exactly call it crawling yet.
I'm not sure why she makes that funny face. It sure is cute though! Notice all the drool! That's because she's teething; her first tooth popped out on April 11.
She's starting to enjoy quite a variety of food now. And since supper time is right before bath time, we sometimes let her feed herself. Messy but fun.
She loves chewing on a rubber spatula - must be just the right feel for sore gums!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
PPD
I have Postpartum Depression.
Whew, there. I said it. I've known for a couple of months now, but I haven't told many people. I have been pretty withdrawn, so I haven't even been talking to many people. And it's not really an easy thing to talk about. A lot of people don't understand. Heck, I don't understand. All I know is that there are a lot of tears, a lot of anxiety, a lot of anger, and a lot of withdrawing being done. It hasn't been easy for me to accept. I mean, why should I be depressed? Trying to get pregnant for about eight years, finally giving up, then ending up with our little surprise miracle who is perfectly healthy, not to mention such a good baby; it should make me the happiest woman in the world. And I am happy. But I also have PPD. Which doesn't sound like it makes sense - but believe me, it doesn't feel like it either. Part of making sense of it is understanding what "depression" actually means. I thought that people who are depressed are just sad all the time. Well, not necessarily so. Other symptoms of depression include anxiety and irritability, which happen to be my worst symptoms. It also helps to recognize why I have PPD. It's not because I feel like I have nothing to be happy about; like I said, I actually am happy. Here's something I read in my research: "Current research still has not determined the exact cause of postpartum depression. What is known is that pregnancy and the postpartum period following the delivery are times of great biochemical upheaval, complicated by increasing social and psychological changes." Biochemical upheaval, for sure. I've never felt anything like it. I don't even feel like myself anymore. Which is part of the reason I did not want to start the medication that was prescribed to me; I was afraid of feeling even less like myself. I was also leery about the way it was prescribed: by a doctor who doesn't know me at all, and didn't take any time to get to know me. But that is another story altogether! "The Trials of Trying to Find a New Doctor in Edmonton". Scary, scary stuff. Not something you want to read when you're alone or right before bed. But I eventually managed to get a second opinion from a professional who knows me and who I trust implicitly, and he agreed that the medication should help me get better quicker. Which is important because we are under a deadline! Ryan's parental leave benefits run out in about three more months, so it's imperative that I'm doing well by then. He never planned to take the full amount of leave time he was entitled to (he would have been back at work full-time a month or two ago) but then I started having troubles, so he's staying home with me. Thank God he can! I've been seeing a therapist, which has been helpful. She's teaching me coping strategies for when I feel anxious and overwhelmed. And I'm trying to force myself to be social when I just feel like withdrawing. I am already doing better. Two months ago I was a total wreck. Now I'm only a partial wreck. :-)
Whew, there. I said it. I've known for a couple of months now, but I haven't told many people. I have been pretty withdrawn, so I haven't even been talking to many people. And it's not really an easy thing to talk about. A lot of people don't understand. Heck, I don't understand. All I know is that there are a lot of tears, a lot of anxiety, a lot of anger, and a lot of withdrawing being done. It hasn't been easy for me to accept. I mean, why should I be depressed? Trying to get pregnant for about eight years, finally giving up, then ending up with our little surprise miracle who is perfectly healthy, not to mention such a good baby; it should make me the happiest woman in the world. And I am happy. But I also have PPD. Which doesn't sound like it makes sense - but believe me, it doesn't feel like it either. Part of making sense of it is understanding what "depression" actually means. I thought that people who are depressed are just sad all the time. Well, not necessarily so. Other symptoms of depression include anxiety and irritability, which happen to be my worst symptoms. It also helps to recognize why I have PPD. It's not because I feel like I have nothing to be happy about; like I said, I actually am happy. Here's something I read in my research: "Current research still has not determined the exact cause of postpartum depression. What is known is that pregnancy and the postpartum period following the delivery are times of great biochemical upheaval, complicated by increasing social and psychological changes." Biochemical upheaval, for sure. I've never felt anything like it. I don't even feel like myself anymore. Which is part of the reason I did not want to start the medication that was prescribed to me; I was afraid of feeling even less like myself. I was also leery about the way it was prescribed: by a doctor who doesn't know me at all, and didn't take any time to get to know me. But that is another story altogether! "The Trials of Trying to Find a New Doctor in Edmonton". Scary, scary stuff. Not something you want to read when you're alone or right before bed. But I eventually managed to get a second opinion from a professional who knows me and who I trust implicitly, and he agreed that the medication should help me get better quicker. Which is important because we are under a deadline! Ryan's parental leave benefits run out in about three more months, so it's imperative that I'm doing well by then. He never planned to take the full amount of leave time he was entitled to (he would have been back at work full-time a month or two ago) but then I started having troubles, so he's staying home with me. Thank God he can! I've been seeing a therapist, which has been helpful. She's teaching me coping strategies for when I feel anxious and overwhelmed. And I'm trying to force myself to be social when I just feel like withdrawing. I am already doing better. Two months ago I was a total wreck. Now I'm only a partial wreck. :-)
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