A final post for 2015....
Well, this post is long overdue.....life has definitely been busier over the last two months with my return to work. I've had a bit of time off over Christmas, so I figured I should try to get something posted on here. Evie has changed a ton in the last little while, and is at a really fun age right now.
A very messy Evie....now that blueberries are out of season, we've been using frozen ones (which she loves!) - but after this episode all her clothes come off before they are served.
I've been back at work for two months now - and I have to admit, it's been much better than I anticipated. I was pretty anxious the month leaving up to my return, and I think it was largely because I didn't know how the transition would go. In a way, it was just relieving to get it over with but on top of that relief I have also been very happy with how Evie handled the change.
There were only a handful of times that Craig and I left Evie with people other than ourselves in her first year, so I was a bit concerned she might be overly attached and have a hard time with day home in the beginning. When I picked her up from day home the first day, our provider (named Sadaf) said she thought we had the most relaxed baby she's watched over the last 4 years of running a day home. She didn't cry for long, ate her meals and had all her naps. That made going to work much easier. Now when I drop her off, Evie rarely cries and usually smiles when we get there and sometimes even reaches to go to Sadaf - I thought I would have a harder time "letting go", but it hasn't been too bad and overall I am more happy to see Evie growing and developing in different environments.
The day home itself has been great. Sadaf has a 3 year old daughter who is always there, and there is a little boy who is 2 months younger than Evie who is also there every day. So I think it is enough social stimulation for her. I can tell she really likes the 3 year old (who also likes 'helping' Evie to do things). She has become a very cultured eater (Sadaf cooks Indian food most of the time, so Evie often smells like curry when she comes home). Her first monthly 'report' listed her interests as eating food, playing with food, climbing on the chair and heights :) - can't say I'm surprised. Decisions around childcare are tough and it is a pretty stressful decision to make - I realize now though, that the most important thing to me is that Evie is safe and happy - and I feel confident that is the case with our day home.
I was also surprised at how quickly I was able to get my brain back into 'work-mode'. I have been enjoying the mental challenge and using a set of skills that I haven't used much over the past couple years. Work is definitely easier than being home, and selfishly I have been enjoying getting to drink my coffee hot in the morning, eating lunch without having to worry about a baby's plate being thrown off the highchair, and getting in runs over my lunch hour. It is busy enough that I don't find myself missing Evie too much, but knowing that I have to pick her up gets me out of the office on time every day. That is definitely the best part of my day - having her run into my arms and give me a hug when I arrive at day home. The hardest part of the day?....the hour between getting home when Craig walks the dogs and I get dinner ready and also try to entertain Evie. She gets very impatient when she knows food is on the way, but we manage.
So that has been our transition. During this time, Evie has changed a ton. She is walking way more than crawling, and is very happy about it. I read somewhere that babies tend to go through very happy phases after they overcome big milestones (like walking), and I think she is going through that now. She is always smiling and laughing and is really fun to watch. She surprises us every day with how much language she understands and can follow lots of simple commands (e.g. get your boots, find your "name of toy" etc). She doesn't say any words yet (aside from mama and dada), but does lots of babbling and is very good at communicating her needs (usually with her pointer finger...). She has started giving hugs now (which is the best :).
She didn't quite understand Christmas yet, but she definitely enjoyed all the new toys and got the hang of ripping the wrapping paper open after a few gifts. I'm sure next year will be even more fun with her. Here are a some pictures and videos from the last little while:
This was a tough couple weeks when Evie broke her arm. She was right beside me when it happened, and somehow fell on it when pulling up to stand at the cupboard. It must have just been a strange angle to fall or something. I felt bad and guilty but at the same time, there is nothing I would have done differently. She was a trooper though, and after a week in a cast then another couple weeks in a splint the follow up X-ray showed it was all healed up. That tiny cast is pretty darn cute though.
Crawl-limp
Keeping daddy on his toes
She loves the computer - we have to put them all away now when she is around (or this is the situation)
All bundled up at ZooLights (Calgary Zoo Christmas light exhibit)
Ready to find our 2015 Christmas tree out near Maclean Creek Recreation Area (South-west of Bragg Creek)
We found it - they end up being pretty sparse trees, but we do it for the experience :)
She definitely isn't light to carry around anymore!
Campfire and hot chocolate post-tree hunt with friends Nicole and Lewis
Playing at the park is still fun in the winter - Evie loves the swings
Checking out the final product
Hanging out by the tree on Christmas Eve
Christmas morning - playing with her new dollhouse (the flash on the camera was a little too bright this early in the morning :)
One of Evie's favourite presents was this toy cat...it's called Nursing Nina and has three kittens that attach to the nipples with magnets. Craig made fun of it (and me for buying it), but she loves it (for some reason, Evie really loves cats and I feel like we are going to have a little girls who is constantly asking for a pet cat).....Ruby would love to get a cat too, but for very different reasons.
Pushing around her new doll stroller from her cousins Drew, Boden and Laikyn :)
Cooking up a storm in her new kitchen from Grandma Sue
Hanging out with Dodger and her three kittens
Having fun playing with her new toys and talking to herself
Getting ready for Christmas dinner at our place - Ben (2 1/2) is really into cutting food, so he cut up all the cheese on the cheese plate - Evie is really into eating food and ate all the cheese he cut....match made in heaven :)
Did I mention we had 6 dogs at our place on Christmas....it was crazy. Five of them slept over too!
On December 27th, we went out to Maclean Creek again to fulfill Craig's Christmas wish of clearing off the pond and playing hockey. We got lucky with the weather and it was a lot of fun. Evie still isn't great at walking in the snow though, so she was a little tired of being stationary by the end.
Friends Nicole and Talecha with baby Jet
Enjoying her apple
One of Evie's favourite things to do right now it to put on her sunglasses and be "cool baby" as we like to call her
One example of Evie's mimicking right now, blowing her nose
Craig has all these rubber bracelets that Evie likes to find and wear. She puts them all on (I think she must have learned about bracelets at day home since I rarely wear jewellery)
We are going to have to start working on her table manners soon I think :)
Well - that's all I've got to share today. I'm back to work next week, so fingers crossed I manage to post again before another two months flies by!
Happy New Year everyone!
A very messy Evie....now that blueberries are out of season, we've been using frozen ones (which she loves!) - but after this episode all her clothes come off before they are served.
I've been back at work for two months now - and I have to admit, it's been much better than I anticipated. I was pretty anxious the month leaving up to my return, and I think it was largely because I didn't know how the transition would go. In a way, it was just relieving to get it over with but on top of that relief I have also been very happy with how Evie handled the change.
There were only a handful of times that Craig and I left Evie with people other than ourselves in her first year, so I was a bit concerned she might be overly attached and have a hard time with day home in the beginning. When I picked her up from day home the first day, our provider (named Sadaf) said she thought we had the most relaxed baby she's watched over the last 4 years of running a day home. She didn't cry for long, ate her meals and had all her naps. That made going to work much easier. Now when I drop her off, Evie rarely cries and usually smiles when we get there and sometimes even reaches to go to Sadaf - I thought I would have a harder time "letting go", but it hasn't been too bad and overall I am more happy to see Evie growing and developing in different environments.
The day home itself has been great. Sadaf has a 3 year old daughter who is always there, and there is a little boy who is 2 months younger than Evie who is also there every day. So I think it is enough social stimulation for her. I can tell she really likes the 3 year old (who also likes 'helping' Evie to do things). She has become a very cultured eater (Sadaf cooks Indian food most of the time, so Evie often smells like curry when she comes home). Her first monthly 'report' listed her interests as eating food, playing with food, climbing on the chair and heights :) - can't say I'm surprised. Decisions around childcare are tough and it is a pretty stressful decision to make - I realize now though, that the most important thing to me is that Evie is safe and happy - and I feel confident that is the case with our day home.
I was also surprised at how quickly I was able to get my brain back into 'work-mode'. I have been enjoying the mental challenge and using a set of skills that I haven't used much over the past couple years. Work is definitely easier than being home, and selfishly I have been enjoying getting to drink my coffee hot in the morning, eating lunch without having to worry about a baby's plate being thrown off the highchair, and getting in runs over my lunch hour. It is busy enough that I don't find myself missing Evie too much, but knowing that I have to pick her up gets me out of the office on time every day. That is definitely the best part of my day - having her run into my arms and give me a hug when I arrive at day home. The hardest part of the day?....the hour between getting home when Craig walks the dogs and I get dinner ready and also try to entertain Evie. She gets very impatient when she knows food is on the way, but we manage.
So that has been our transition. During this time, Evie has changed a ton. She is walking way more than crawling, and is very happy about it. I read somewhere that babies tend to go through very happy phases after they overcome big milestones (like walking), and I think she is going through that now. She is always smiling and laughing and is really fun to watch. She surprises us every day with how much language she understands and can follow lots of simple commands (e.g. get your boots, find your "name of toy" etc). She doesn't say any words yet (aside from mama and dada), but does lots of babbling and is very good at communicating her needs (usually with her pointer finger...). She has started giving hugs now (which is the best :).
She didn't quite understand Christmas yet, but she definitely enjoyed all the new toys and got the hang of ripping the wrapping paper open after a few gifts. I'm sure next year will be even more fun with her. Here are a some pictures and videos from the last little while:
This was a tough couple weeks when Evie broke her arm. She was right beside me when it happened, and somehow fell on it when pulling up to stand at the cupboard. It must have just been a strange angle to fall or something. I felt bad and guilty but at the same time, there is nothing I would have done differently. She was a trooper though, and after a week in a cast then another couple weeks in a splint the follow up X-ray showed it was all healed up. That tiny cast is pretty darn cute though.
Crawl-limp
Keeping daddy on his toes
She loves the computer - we have to put them all away now when she is around (or this is the situation)
Ready to find our 2015 Christmas tree out near Maclean Creek Recreation Area (South-west of Bragg Creek)
Campfire and hot chocolate post-tree hunt with friends Nicole and Lewis
Playing at the park is still fun in the winter - Evie loves the swings
Checking out the final product
Hanging out by the tree on Christmas Eve
Cooking up a storm in her new kitchen from Grandma Sue
Hanging out with Dodger and her three kittens
Having fun playing with her new toys and talking to herself
Getting ready for Christmas dinner at our place - Ben (2 1/2) is really into cutting food, so he cut up all the cheese on the cheese plate - Evie is really into eating food and ate all the cheese he cut....match made in heaven :)
On December 27th, we went out to Maclean Creek again to fulfill Craig's Christmas wish of clearing off the pond and playing hockey. We got lucky with the weather and it was a lot of fun. Evie still isn't great at walking in the snow though, so she was a little tired of being stationary by the end.
Enjoying her apple
Group selfie
One example of Evie's mimicking right now, blowing her nose
Craig has all these rubber bracelets that Evie likes to find and wear. She puts them all on (I think she must have learned about bracelets at day home since I rarely wear jewellery)
We are going to have to start working on her table manners soon I think :)
Well - that's all I've got to share today. I'm back to work next week, so fingers crossed I manage to post again before another two months flies by!
Happy New Year everyone!
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