Something New

After a lot of thought, asking many questions of other bloggers, messing up… or so I thought, I finally made the big jump to my own domain. I still have lots to learn, so please be patient as I go through a learning curve again. This is why I have been slow to post anything new recently as I’m getting this going again.

So please come to my new blog at:
www.discoveringparenthood.com

You can even like my facebook page at so that you see when new posts go up. 
https://www.facebook.com/discoveringparenthood

Teething and a Cold

Poor little E has been teething for months, finally almost two weeks ago one little tooth cut through. Many of our friends recommended using a Baltic amber teething necklace. We had been given a beautiful one as a baby gift by my Aunt. Sadly at swimming lessons the other day a bunch of stuff feel from my diaper bag, I didn't think twice to check for the necklace. We checked the house to be sure we didn't misplace it here, but I knew it disappeared at the pool. Call me hopeful. We phoned the pool, no luck, it hasn't been turned in. So now E has lovely bright red cheeks.

On top of this tooth, E has got a bit of a cold. At family camp she heard someone cough, and she imitated it all week. Now she has a bit of a runny nose, and a true little cough. Though, I thankfully have not heard the cough except for this morning when she first got up.

She is not her usual feisty self when it comes to fighting about going down for a nap. This morning's, she just crashed and slept for an hour and a half. She woke up happy, and just played with her fish tank you that hangs on the crib, and her stuffed dog that plays music. She is not wanting to eat solid food, but will still gladly have a bottle.

Still happy, and playing, not a major grump. We are praying it goes away fast. Probably won't be going to church again this Sunday, don't want to pass the cold on to anyone else's little love. For now it's even more cuddles to make her feel better.

Summer Vacation

Sure we have been away as a family once already this summer, but it wasn't really as family vacation as we were volunteering at a summer camp. Finally the week came for our family vacation. We stuffed the car full, installed the new car seat, and hit the road early one morning to get to family camp.

Its become a bit of a tradition for my side of the family to rent a Girl Guide camp in Kelowna, sure we've missed the odd summer because there have been no dates available. But still, this is always a memory-making vacation when it does happen. This time we had our little one to join in the fun, what a different experience.

Sure its not camping in the true sense, it works though. Especially when you have a little one who is on bottles. Everyone got their own rooms in the dorm building, our little family got the big room that had whales painted on the walls. Little goober did not nap the whole drive there, so after a four hour drive, and a visit to her Grandparents in Kelowna, she was an exhausted grumpy butt.

First order of things was to unpack as fast as possible and get her down for a nap. Everly had other plans. She refused to nap, as soon as we put her in the packnplay she was moving and upset. We dont blame her, it was a new place, and hot! Thankfully she finally settled into her Daddy's arms and just crashed for a good hour or more. The bonus was Daddy got a nap in too. Thus began the routine of not wanting a nap all week, she'd only sleep in our arms. Thankfully Jason figured out she would sleep in the stroller so all naps were spent in the stroller the rest of the week which was fine with us. She was happy and cozy in there.

We got to enjoy summer this past week. S'mores were had (even with a camp fire ban, thats what the oven is for, right?), boat rides, sun burns, baseball games, many card games played, lots of swimming.

 Best of all was how much love was heaped on Everly. I fear she may go through some with drawl of all the attention. She is so loved by so many. This was the best part, family.

All of it just reminds me of memories I have growing up, soon Everly will be making her own memories, for now this will be one we keep for her always and get to tell her all about and show her photos of.

Oh, and Everly loved being on the boat. She was so happy there, several times it would rock her to sleep and she'd nap for a few minutes. The on going comment all week was that she should go for a tube ride. The last evening after dinner, we took her out. It was the slowest ride ever, but she loved it. My Aunt has photos and video of the ride I'll have to get my hands on. Everly also tried two other new things. She figured out how to pull herself up on things, and she also attempted to try to stand on her own, thankfully she chickened out of that after realizing she would topple over when she lifted her second hand off the ground. We may have an early walker, we'll see how determined she is.

Hope everyone else has been enjoying their summer. We were actually very happy to have some cool weather, and rain at the start of today. We're ready for fall now.

Vancouver Sun Run

I have been thinking about setting a goal for myself, and also crossing something off my bucket list.

Jason and I recently started going for jogs to get out of the house with Everly. For some reason the crazy idea of doing the Sun Run came to my mind. Jason has done the run before. I've never been a big fan of running, but I think this will be an interesting goal for me and it goes with my goal of getting into shape.

Jason asked if I really wanted to do the Sun Run, I said yes. He asked if there was something else I'd like to try, thinking maybe a shorter run. I said no, the only other run I'd be interested in doing is the Tinkerbell Run in Disneyland... yeah, that one is not an option. I am not winning the battle to go to Disneyland any time soon.

By writing it on here I'm officially challenging myself to do the Sun Run this coming April. Jason said he will do it with me, and Everly is coming too. We'll be taking her in a jogging stroller, which means we wont be starting til the the last wave of people. I am extremely nervous, the thought of this goal actually really intimidates me, but I want to at least try!

The jogging stroller we do have, we bought used for cheap, and it is just that. Those of you who do run/jog with little ones what is your go to jogging stroller?

Wish me luck! Now that we are back home from a little family vacation, its time to get back to jogging as a family for this crazy goal.

Little Moments

Everly had two little moments today that I want to remember. 

She got to try out the swing set her Grandad built for her in the back yard of their home today. We had bought her a swing several months ago, but it needed something to hang from. A frame was built, and we finally had the chance to go over and give it a try. 

She was very calm and did not freak out. Which honestly, I expected some crying as she was never a big fan of the infant swing at home. Her favourite part had to be the bright yellow straps that she could chew on. Silly girl. 

We are looking forward to many more visits and her getting to use the swing there.

Everly did her best crawling today. She was enjoying pushing a box around that we had in the front entry way when she noticed Daddy sitting on the stairs, she quickly got over to the stairs and decided to try and get up them. She had no luck in getting up them, since Mommy had put her in a dress today. But she sure did give it her best try. Note to self - put up the baby gate. 

It seems we have a very determined little girl on our hands, and we have a feeling she is going to be an early walker. 

Hungry Hungry Everly

Everly already seems to be a fan of food. We started her on "solids" early after it was suggested by her doctors as a way to see if it would help the reflux issue. She has watched anyone eating around her like a hawk since about 4 months.

We started her off with avocado and then proceeded with veggies. She got her first taste of fruit when we visited boys camp at Anvil. She tried some applesauce and loved it. We have tried a few other fruits and meats and she is not a big fan of them. I don't really mind if she is like her Daddy, and a big fan of veggies. Nothing compares to the reaction we got to rice cereal.

Jason was at work when I decided to let her give it a try. I really wish I had filmed some of it on video. She hated the stuff. I eventually surrendered and just let her play in it and let her practice using her spoon. She likes to hold the spoon backwards, whatever makes her happy. She had a great time just making a mess.

My favourite was when she held out her spoon as if victorious over the battle against rice cereal, and then chucked her spoon to the floor. This thankfully happened after I had cleaned her up. So much personality in one little girl. Next time we try rice cereal I am going to mix it in with something to see if that improves things for her. Otherwise its onto millet and oat cereal.

Barium Swallow Test

Everly got an appointment for the barium swallow test much faster than we expected. After talking about it we decided to keep the appointment. This morning Everly and I headed to the hospital bright and early for her test. She had not eaten since her feed before bed last night. She was a bit of a grump this morning, but was alright because she loves to just play on her own for a bit before eating in the morning any ways.

The staff were great with her. When I was called with her appointment they had not said to bring her own bottle, or to withhold her first meal. For some reason I went with my gut and did not feed her this morning, and I brought an empty bottle (and her breakfast in another bottle) with me. The tech was thankful because its easier to do the test when little ones are hungry and have an empty tummy. The tech was also happy to see I'd brought an empty bottle so that we could use that one for the test. If kids are used to a certain type of bottle its better to stick with what they know.

All ready to go, strapped down so she cant flail her arms and legs.

She did great during the test. She was had her arms and legs strapped down so that she could not flail during the test. She was attached to a device that can rotate for the images needed. She was turned all sorts of directions during the test. While everything was happening I had to feed her the bottle of barium. That was the heaviest bottle I have ever held. Since she was hungry she had no problem drinking enough of it for them to get the images they needed.

The tech and Doctor were shocked to hear she is my first child, apparently most first time parents tend to not be so calm during this test if their little one needs it, and then they have upset little ones during the test. Like I told my Mom, there was no point in my being upset or Everly would sense that and then be upset. She did get a little grumpy at one point but I said we'd go visit Grammie-poo after and she settled right down.

Now we wait to hear the official results. The doctor did say there was obvious signs of reflux - - I really felt like saying "No, really? That's not why we are here." but I bit my tongue. -- the doctor is going to look closely at the images to see if he can find a reason why there is the reflux.

Everly had a good little visit with her Grammie-poo after, and happily had her regular bottle after to help wash out all of the other stuff. I am so thankful for such an easy going little one, it made things so much easier this morning.

She got the stuff all over her face, she likes to move her head and look around when having a bottle.