First Swim

We were glad to learn we could drive and park our stroller right beside the pool.  That made for fewer steps on the slippery deck.

Mom forgot the camera so she handed Grandma Judy her new cell phone and hoped for the best with the pictures.  We're both pretty happy with the quality.

This is us with our instructor.  Mom says he has a great job because he gets to play with all the babies.

I really enjoyed the water.  It was nice and warm.

When we arrive for class mom recognised Tracy and Holly from church.  I was pretty happy to find a church pal in my swim class.  Holly is two months older then I am.

Mom was very cuddly all class.  I think she was nervous for me or something.

Our instructor wanted us to get used to floating in a life jacket.  I let mom put it on me but...

I asked her take it off me pretty quick. 

Holly seemed to do a better job with the life jacket.

We all walked over to the whale pool but when we got there we found it was really cold.  So we quickly got back in the other one.

This is Holly and her mom Tracy.

After class mom wrapped me up pretty quick.  She didn't want me to catch a cold.

This is my Grandma Judy who was nice enough to come to my first class to help mom get acquainted with the pool routine and take some pictures of my first time swimming.  Thanks Grandma.

After finally getting these photos off the camera my mom is planning to get a new bathing suit.  She made some funny sounds when she realised how poorly her bathing suit covered her... well her... chest.  She and daddy were laughing while she tried to pick pictures she could post here without the post being x-rated.

Babyclub Wed 22sep10

Toria seemed like she needed a nap... but when she got to Hayden's crib she seemed to find her second wind... so we decided it was time for the group shot.

Nicole adds Christopher

 Diane adds Ivy

Paula adds Max

 Et Voila!

 Six little kittens...  I mean babies.



 Here's Cameron and Hayden

Heyden and Toria

Toria and Christopher

 Christopher and Ivy

Ivy and Max

Earlier on I snapped a few photos...  Toria when she was looking like it was nap time.

Max might just be our first walker

Our oldest two

Ivy and Diane

and our newest member.



Pink pink pink

Happy

four

months

Hoarding

Who knew?  I didn't.  Had no idea until I watched, in horror, a TV show about the disease.  It's good to know these things, I thought to myself as I took a mental note of all the clutter in my house.  Perhaps I do have a tendency towards "keeping for future use", rather then parting with what I likely won't use for a year or two.  It's a tricky line really.  Although my husband seems to know exactly where the line is and what should be turfed from behind it.  I need to de-clutter.  Now that I've decided this... let's see how and when this will play out.  I'll likely never be a minimalist... but for Jay's mental health (and mine of course) perhaps I could work harder at being organised and clutter free.

I cried today

I don't cry often.  Almost never really.  But today... I cried.  I started following blogs long before I started writing this one.  I follow about ten regularly.  They're each very different from each other.  I learn from each of them.  But the first one I started following is the one I look forward to most.  It's written by a lady in Brooklyn.  She's a teacher and has a young baby girl.  She's able to string her words together so beautifully.  She doesn't write as often as she used to.  I imagine the challenges of working and raising a baby have shifted her time.  Today she made me cry... or rather, today I cried for her.  She wrote her blog entry titled  "And with the water, my heart" followed by "To loose."  I am thankful everyday that Toria made it to us safely and continues to grow and fill our hearts beyond what we thought they were capable.  Today I cried for her after reading her words and I prayed for her and for the healing to come. 

http://nicolehefner.blogspot.com/

Babyclub

Every Wednesday we meet with 5 or 6 other moms and their babies.  This past Wednesday we hosted the party.  Toria was very patient while I made soup for our guests.  She sat in her chair and gummed away on an iced teether shaped like a butterfly.

We like to keep each other in view.

We made sweet potato and pear curry soup.

I had to take a picture of this and share.  This is how tired I am.  I went to splash the pot with EVOO and splashed it with balsamic vinegar.  Sooo tired!  Glad that was the first step in the soup and easily fixed rather then a last ingredient.

The soup needed 30 minutes and Toria decided to wait in her swing and take a cat nap.  If only I could sleep when she does this.  I think I'm actually too tired to sleep if that's possible!?

Time seems to pass so slowly when you're looking forward to something.



While I pureed the soup Toria waited.  As usual she had her guardian at her feet.  But then...

They arrived!  You can't see Diane beside me...

but here is her sweet daughter Ivy.

Can you spot the babies from the toys?... I see Hayden and Christopher too.

I like my guests to feel relaxed.  I seem to have achieved this with Christopher.  Later that night after everyone had gone home...

Toria told her dad all about our day.

Scheduling

Wouldn't it be nice to have an open schedule.  Everyday and all day is your own to do with whatever you like.  Just imagine...  I don't seem to be able to.  I've always gravitated towards a busy schedule and without giving it any thought have booked Toria and I into a full schedule until spring.  Swimming, music and fitness classes abound, not to mention weekly babyclub social gatherings.  That leaves the rest of my time for laundry, groceries, cooking, dog walking, garage saling, church and blogging.  Thank goodness for the biweekly cleaning help!  No wonder I feel busy.  Then there's all those one offs like the baby show today or the overhaul the garage is asking for. 
All in all I think it's important to stay busy and socialize while you're at it while keeping a little room in the schedule to sit still and ponder.  If you can manage this and still get to bed on time... you've found success.  Well done.

Miss Toria in Pain

Could it be?  Could your teeth be coming in so early?  This photo makes your current state look like a walk in the park.  To make things worse you're scheduled for your second round of vaccinations this Thursday.  I know it's temporary... I KNOW it's temporary... but it's hard.  I'm likely just hyper-empathetic but I actually think I feel your pain.  We glide, and glide and glide... with you in my arms I hold my head turned down to meet your sweet eyes as they look up at me with bewilderment.  Kiwee... I say... you're ok love.  Like all your pain in life, it's temporary.  Using your prenatal name seems more soothing to me.  I hope you feel better soon.  Try to take yourself back to your recent vacation spot...