Rolling both ways!

Well the day has finally come for Miss Tula that she can now roll from her back to her tummy. This is a huge accomplishment for her, and a major relief for me. Anytime she ended up on her back would usually result in a screaming fit where I would have to flip her over immediatly. So it's really only been the last two days I have noticed she would lay there and play for extended periods of time on the fllor. Sometimes she would end up on her back and when I looked back a few minutes later she would be back on her belly. She was so proud of herself, when John and I were sitting with her she was doing her "roll thing" and making sure to look over her shoulder to see if we were watching. Also, now that she can roll both ways she is a little more mobile. I don't think we are even close to crawling, but she will roll places and has also started this "scooting" thing. She will get on her back and push off with her heels. It's certainly not the quickest way to get from point A to point B, but it works for her. Yesterday I heard her whining in her bedroom and went to check on her, I had left her on her back on her play mat in there and she had scooted up to the wall and was upset that she couldn't go any further. The wall was stopping her and I think it was hurting her head, she kept trying to press against it and was bonking herself. Did I just ues the word "bonk" like it was an actual verb? Is is even? You know you are a Mom when....lol.

Anyways, things are about to get busy for us here. My Mom and Dad flew in tonight and went straight to their place, we will see them tomorrow morning. And John's family all flies in Friday night. My sisters both get here this weekend as well. We are so excited to share Tula's First Christmas with everyone! And of course being that it is our first year in our new home will make it twice as fun. I am excited to play hostess for the first time! More than anything, I am so looking forward to Tula being surrounded by lots of family, the one thing we miss the most being out here in AZ. It will be a wonderful Christmas this year, and I cannot wait. Although I will say, when we were out for our after dinner walk tonight (inflip flops and sweatshirts) John and I were talking about how it doesn't even feel like December, much less Christmas. Seeing all the homes with their Christmas lights and no snow is so strange. The house has been decorated for weeks now but it is just so hard to imagine it is less than a week away. Hopefull having everyone here will make it feel more like the season.

Tula will be 6 months old shortly after Christmas so I will post more about her then. I just wanted to give a quick update on the rolling and scooting situation, more for my journaling purposes than anything.

I probably won't take the time to post again before Christmas. But I want to wish everyone (even if I don't know you!) reading this a very, very Merry Christmas. May this holiday season be a time of laughter, love and peace for all of you!

Happy Holidays, from our Family to Yours!

Praise You In This Storm

For Jen and Tiff, Mom and Dad. I love you guys and can't wait to see you all. Christmas has a whole new meaning this year.




"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now
God You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen",
and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear Your whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
And every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry
You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Santa and his favorite girl.....

...well at least she better be considering it took 3 (!!!!!) visits to see him before we finally got "the" pic. It all started last Thursday when I went to the mall with Mom's Group and I waited in line to get a picture with Tula and Santa. We waited about 20 min in line and the deal was if you bought a package you could take a few pics with your own camera so I did. I snapped a few quick and after we were done I looked at them and the ones I took with my camera Tula wasn't looking up at all. So, I got BACK in the line and waited another 15 minutes. I get to the front and explain to Santa that I already bought a package but my pictures from my camera didn't turn out so could I take another with just my camera. He says "fine" and I go to snap the pic and voila!....my camera's battery is dead. Perfect. So Santa said I could come back another day and do it, he said I could even cut to the front of the line.

Well John got off work early today so we took Tula to the mall for round 2 of Santa pictures. Although Santa himself had told me I need not wait in the line, how could I budge in front of all of those patiently waiting kids (and mammies!) So, for the third time, Tula and I (and now John) waited in line to see Santa. It was worth it though, I think we got a couple great pics!

Checkin' emails......

So John's Aunt Gayle sent us these really cute email videos of little elves dancing around with Tula's face on them. So it looked like her, dressed up as an elf on the computer screen. She thought this was the funniest thing ever tonight.

Is this normal????

That my child, who will not take a bottle or paci or sippy cup or ANYTHING completely figured out how to use a straw from the moment we put it in her mouth? It's so cute, she will sit there and take her little sip, then swallow, then take another sip......I love it!

Her first outing with Daddy!

Well Sunday was a big day for Miss Tula Belle and her Daddy! They went out, just the two of them together. I left the house to get my nails done and left him with the carseat and a baby in her PJ's. He dressed her up in his favorite onesie (see below) I guess they went and ran a couple errands and hit up Home Depot. I guess she was a complete angel for him and didn't make one peep, she even fell asleep on the way home! This is such a fun age she is at, so much easier to take out of the house without feeling like you need a million "just in case" things. She is growing up so fast though!

Eating is getting better and better every day. Today was just cereal for breakfast and she wasn't too fond of that. But tonight was sweet potato and she went nuts! It was the first time she ate the whole bowl (well, everything I had made her). I even gave her some applesauce for desert and she polished that all off as well! And she was laughing and smiling the whole time. The three of us laughed so much tonight, she was really being a clown.

Here's some pics of Tula on Sunday and the wardrobe (onesie) Daddy dressed her in. So cute.

Finally figured out the Jumparoo!

Tula decided today that she finally "gets" her jumparoo. When we got back from our walk tonight we had an hour before bathtime and she was a little wound up so we thought we would put he in there. She went nuts and loved making us laugh and getting our attention by jumping like mad. She went at it for a good half an hour and wore herself right out. She actually went down last night without a peep.

Hmmmmm.....do I see a new "addition" to the evening routine?

Buh bye swing!

Well yesterday was a big day for our little girl. The first big thing was she actually ate her solid food! We had been practicing for about two weeks. It was kind of off and on, when i felt like she was in a good mood and hungry but not too hungry. But everything kept coming right back down. She couldn't figure out how to swallow anything. Any reading I had done or other moms i had talked to said that this was completely normal. I had read somewhere that it took approx. 20 tries with solid food before your baby would be able to swallow and that was almost exactly our case. But finally, yesterday morning, she figured it out and decided her mama's applesauce was going down the hatch. She actually seemed to enjoy it. She doesn't seem to get the concept yet that she has to open her mouth for the food so I basically have to wait for her to open up but once it's in there, she's good. She will move it around her mouth a little and gags a lot because of the texture but wanted more. She Had applesauce for breakfast and some mashed up sweet potato for dinner and she loved it! It was a happy day for me, I was so nervous that it would be a long process to get her to accept solids and am so glad it's not going to be.
So I will post pics of funny food faces when I have them and as she tried new things. Yesterday she was actually a very clean eater and I have no pictures, but I will post one of her in her highchair looking like SUCH a big girl.

Oh yeah, the other big thing about yesterday was we finally put the swing away. I probably could have done that over a month ago but kept thinking that it may come in handy and reminiscing about how much she *loved* her swing. But....I put her in it the other day and she was flat out too big for it. She was reaching for the mobile things and cranking on them and pulling at the screen behind her and trying to squirm out of it. Similar to the bouncy chair video below. She was not enjoying herself. At all. So we packed that up and put it away and I felt like she was so big outgrowing toys already. Clothes I can handle. The swing? That's a whole other story...

Other than that, yesterday was uneventful, but a great day for us. The three of us did a little furniture shopping and hung out at home which was nice considering it sounds like we won't get to do that again for awhile. John found out this week that his work is taking him out of town for the next 3 or 4 weeks. He is going to some mine in northern AZ to build some big machine and while he is ecstatic about this new opportunity, I am really bummed out and going to miss him. There is actually a chance that he won't even get to come home for Christmas. I am praying that that won't be the case. As sad as I am for me and Tula cause we are going to miss him so much, I am excited for John. I have never seen him so happy and excited about his job since I met him. I am really happy for him.

A few pics from yesterday and Tula with her very own Christmas tree. Our house is now fully decorated and it's beginning to feel a lot more like Christmas is on it's way. Can't wait for everyone to get here!

Time to put the bouncy chair away!

Under the tree

We put Tula under the tree tonight and turned on the lights and she played for a good twenty minutes. She just stared up and looked at all of them. She loves Christmas lights. Even when we go for our walks at night she will crank her neck trying to look at the decorated houses.

Five Months Old!

The months are starting to feel like weeks. It seriously does not feel like a month sine I was writing about Tula being 4 months old, but on the other hand, 4 months old seems so little and it feels like a million years ago since she was that small.....weird.

Some big milestones this month:

We tried solids last week: her first thing I made was rice cereal. Since then, she has tried avocado and sweet potato and didn't really seem to enjoy either. I mean, she doesn't seem to mind but she certainly doesn't get excited about the whole thing. I was sure I would be one of those people who waited the full 6 months to even try solids but I think with the whole "not taking a bottle situation" I would king of like to make sure that she can get food somehow if I am not around. At this point, I feel like we are just playing with it more than anything. Some days I will give her solids twice and some days none at all. Breastfeeding is so simple and mess free so sometimes when i know she wants to eat I just find it easier to feed her that way, but sometimes we go all out and I slap a bib on her and we make a mess. It's been fun watching her try these things and experience all these firsts. She gagged and gagged on the avocado (poor girl) and didn't love sweet potato either. This week I will try and give her some different fruits and see if the sweet stuff goes down a little easier or gets more of a reaction out of her.

The sippy cup thing is getting better. Its hit and miss. Sometimes I think she gets it, other times I realize that EVERYTHING goes in er mouth right now and this is just another one of those things. I ended up taking one of the plastic valves off the inside of the cup so when we tipped it into her mouth water just poured out and she didn't need to suck at all. That seemed to help a little, though it was coming out too fast for her I think she now realizes that there is something in there and seems to be sucking on the spout a little more than just chewing on it now. We still just use cold water in there. She loves when she gets a taste of it and seems royally ticked if she tastes breastmilk from anywhere but my boob so we are done trying to do that for now as well. Also, I made the mistake one day of letting her drink from my water bottle. She loved it, but now whines for my water bottles whenever she sees it and opens her mouth in an attempt to score a drink (even if she is 3 feet away from me).

She seems to be reaching really well for anything that she is interested in, water bottle and sippy cup included. She can stick both arms out and grasp her intended object with both hands, and immediately bring it to her mouth after that.

Tula loves to laugh. I feel like she is really developing her own little personality and becoming a character that I know and understand. But more than she loves to laugh, she loves to make other people laugh. She thinks she is SOOO funny sometimes and if I so much as giggle at her she will crack up. I have gotten lost in so many giggly moments with her in the last month. She makes my day. We really have fun together.

She loves to copy me. If I talk, she talks. I laugh, she laughs. I sing....she tries. The other night she was having a hard time falling asleep so as I was feeding her in her chair I began to hum a song to her. I don't normally do this and she usually prefers I keep very quiet while she is eating. She listened for a minuted and then tried to chime right in. It was so cute. She was trying to do this gentle hum and she was being so quiet. It was so sweet.

Breastfeeding has changed a lot this month, as she has become so active. She loves to pat at my chest or place with my necklace while she is eating. She is also staring to like to eat a little, have a look around, eat some more, tell me a story, then eat a little more. She lets me know she is really done with a dramatic sigh and thrashing her head back.

Tula is also quite the social butterfly. She has enjoyed our Mommy group meeting all the other babies. She tries to chat with everybody and loves "baby watching". The other day I had a few (5) of the moms from our group and their babies over to the house for lunch. Tula LOVED having them all over. I put her in her Jolly Jumper and the babies were all on their bellies on front of her and she loved looking down at them all and watching them play. Today, we met up with Jaclyn and her daughter Tatum for lunch and then they came over to the house for awhile. Tatum was born 4 weeks before Tula and they are so cute together. They stare at eachother and reach for eachother and make eachother giggle. I even caught a picture of them holding hands. It's on the babysite. Anyways, Tula is making new friends and so am I and we are both really excited about it.

Sleep was going really well and has been a little tougher since Tula is now rolling from front to back. That started two or three weeks ago and I used to be able to put her down in her crib and she may fuss for awhile but eventually would fall asleep. Now, she rolls herself onto her back, kicks and plays for awhile. Then she realizes that she can't roll back to her bally and really freaks. I have a video monitor so I watch everynight and its the same thing. I think she is learning that if she rolls over I will come in the room and put her back on her belly. Shes a smart cookie. Then, when I come in and put her on her belly and leave she is soooo mad. She never used to be like that so I dont know if its a stage or my good sleeper is a gonner. I will keep you all posted.

She is at an age where it could be teething but that doesn't seem to be it. She has not teeth yet, and her gums don't seem to bother her enough to make me think that they are close to being on their way. Yes, she drools and chews on her hands (and everything else) all the time, but she has been doing that for 6 weeks now. She doesn't seem fussy or uncomfortable at all throughout the day so unless they are just bugging her at night I think she is just looking for a little extra TLC before bed.

Sometimes I wish she was sleeping through the night and dread my two or three nighttime wakeups. But this week during one of them I realized that the whole sleeping through the night thing is inevitable, and to just enjoy these precious moments where all she wants to to be held a little longer. She cuddled right into my neck and was breathing so sweetly. For the first time I sat there holding her and rocking her because I wanted to, not because she needed me too. I understand all those moms who told me when I was pregnant or when she was first born to "Enjoy it, they grow so fast." There have never been truer words spoken, and it takes having your own to understand that.

That's all I can think of in Tula's life this month. Our family has been quite busy, my Mom and Dad have been in town for the last two weeks so we have seen them quite a bit. We like to go down and stay there on the weekends. Tula LOVES the neighbors swimming pool there and goes for a morning dip with Grandpa. She loves the water, but it has to be warm. She is an Arizona girl already! Our Christmas lights are up on the outside of the house and we have set up the tree so we can decorate it this weekend. My Mom and Dad leave on Monday and they are coming to help with that on Sunday. I am starting to get really excited for Tula's first Christmas. More than anything, for all our family to get here and share the holiday's with them. We are looking forward to our first Christmas as a family and in our new home. It will be such a special one this year!

The month of December will fly by I am sure. We have block parties an work parties and still more to do to prepare for everyone's arrival. I had to go to the mall last weekend to pick something up and promised myself at that point that the rest of my Christmas shopping will be done online. I refuse to battle those crowds, and especially not with Tula in tow. But that's another job that is not finished yet so I need to get with it. And yes, I do plan on taking Tula to see Santa. I will try and do that in the next week or so before it gets too busy and post the pic for you all to see. That should be interesting!

Well one thing I learned this month.....it's a lot easier to write tiny posts throughout the month than one long one at the end! Phew.....my shoulder hurts! December will be a busy month for all of us but I will try and check back a few times with you all, or at least update pictures! Hope you all are enjoying and anticipating "The Most Wonderful Time Of the Year" as much as we are!

We tried solids!

Well I really planned on waiting till the six month marks to try solids foods but Tula had been acting "hungry" the last couple days. Maybe she was just adjusting to being back at home from a few days at Grandpa and Grandma's but it just seemed like she wasn't satisfied after she ate in the evenings so we thought we would give it a try. I am planning on making all of her baby food myself and her first meal was rice cereal. I went to the store last night and bought her some organic brown rice and grinded some up in the blender today and made her a little batch. It looked a little thick for her so we mixed in a little breastmilk and VOILA! Tula had her first dinner! She didn't seem to mind it at all, made a couple faces near the end I think because it was getting cold but other than that she seemed kind of uninterested. Most of it came back out anyways, I am not sure that she swallowed any of it. I know that's all normal for the first time but her general uninterest in the whole thing tells me she is probably not in as much of a hurry as I thought to eat solids so I am not going to push it. We will try from time to time over the next few weeks and keep you all posted on the progress.

I had a little cry to John this morning. I just get weepy thinking about the fact that she will soon be eating all these foods and no longer fully dependant on my milk. Breastfeeding has been such a beautiful bonding time for us and as excited as I am for her to grow and try all these new things, I will miss this relationship we have where I am everything and all she needs. I am so glad I made the choice to breastfeed. It was hard work sometimes but it was worth every ounce of it. Some of my favorite memories so far are from times when she was or had just finished eating, and I am thankful to have those that I can cherish forever.

Who's kidding who, though. With a kid who still won't take the bottle (we've given up and are now just trying sippy cups) and is spitting out solids, I have a while before she doesn't need me for food. I am going to make a point of enjoying these last few weeks of "full time" feeding and be thankful for every moment I have doing so.

Here is our little angel with her Momma's rice cereal. Her first time tasting "my cooking" and she didn't complain!

Our Christmas Lights!!!!

Gobble Gobble!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We have SO MUCH to be thankful for this year. We had a wonderful meal with my Mom and Dad and their neighbors at their place in Scottsdale, and we missed everyone else who wasn't there with us this Thanksgiving.

The weather has gotten a little cooler here finally. I think it was about 65 degrees today and I actually had to turn on our heater this morning. My dad came over this afternoon and he and John put up our Christmas lights. Our house looks amazing and it makes it official...Christmas is coming. John and I can't wait to celebrate Tula's first Christmas with all of our families! Anyways, the outside of the house looks festive so I guess I need to get started on the inside now.....

I will post a Tula update later this week for her 5 months Bday (!?!?) wow. She is healthy and happy and growing like a weed and we are more in love everyday. Who knew?

For now, here is a picture of Miss Tula in her Thanksgiving Day outfit. Oh yeah, and a family shot too. Enjoy!

Our Little Swimmer

We are home!

Safe and sound! We left Calgary this afternoon at 3:35 and got back into Phoenix around 6:30 this evening. Once again, Tula was an angel the ENTIRE flight and slept in her new sling almost the whole time. It feels so good to be home! It is late and I just finished unpacking all of our stuff, doing a few loads of laundry, and uploading some pictures of our trip to the babysite. I came home to a virtually spotless house (John) and a hungry husband. I am so glad to be here though. It is strange how fast a new house can feel like your home. Especially with Tula, having all her things here is so convenient.

One small problem. Remember how I said Tula slept through the night the last 4 nights we were here? Well that definitely was NOT the case in Calgary. I am not sure why but I think the combination of an unfamiliar bed and the cold she had led to some really bad nights where she woke up quite a bit. The thing is, she learned how to roll over this week from her belly to her back. I used to be able to just put her down in her crib on her belly and she would fuss for a minute but then just fall asleep because she really had no other options. Now that she has figured out how to roll it is making life really interesting because she just flops over onto her back and the gets REALLY mad because she can't sleep like that. I tried going in and rolling her over tonight but she just kept on rolling back to her back. This is not good. I mean, I ma glad she is learning to roll but geez....now what am I supposed to do? I thought this was only going to be a problem in Canada with Tula sleeping in the pack and play but I guess she figured out how to do it here as well. So bedtime tonight was not enjoyable, and after a few failed attempts at sleeping in the crib she is now sound asleep in her swing. This should be a tiring week. I am really hoping that things get back to normal asap. That sleeping through the night thing was something that I had been looking forward to for a long time.

As happy as I am to be home, we had a lot of fun in Calgary. It is always nice for me to be home and of course be able to show off the little one. I find such joy in seeing how loved she is by family and friends. Of course, Grandpa and Grandma spoil Tula rotten and love her up. My sisters are the most amazing aunties to her, and she really just loved hanging out with the girls this trip. Tula thinks everything Jen and Tiff do is very funny. I love that they are still able to have such a connection even though Tula and I am not there all the time. I really do miss having them in my everyday life.

Update: I just put Tula down in her crib. She woke up, I fed her a bit, and she went in there. Woo hoo. I am going to go to bed and see if I can get some sleep before she gets up. I will update more later. Goodnight and wish me luck!


Oh yeah, here is one more video of Tula laughing at the puppies. She loved them and thought they were absolutely hilarious!

A Giggle With Auntie Tiff

Four Months Old!

I really can't believe it. Keeping this website up to date is getting more and more difficult for me because I actually have to write these things down and that makes them real. It almost feels like if I don't say it it's not true. But it is. Tula turned four months old on the 29th of October. Where did the time go?

This has been a great month, getting settled more into the house, John into his job, and Tula and I into a routine. And the consistency has paid off, her nighttime sleeps were getting longer and longer. And then, last night, it happened. She slept 12 whole hours. Twelve! Now you would think I had some amazing sleep because I haven't had the opportunity to sleep like that for so long, but that was not the case. I was up checking the monitor on more than one occasion. But I am still not complaining, it was a wonderful night. And the best part? She woke up happy! I thought after that long she would wake up starving and furious, but I was woken up to the sound of her cooing and talking to herself this morning, happy as ever. I couldn't wait to pick her up. I missed her.

She is still the happiest little thing in the mornings. Smiles and giggles and all that fun stuff. Tula is beginning to actually play. There are things that she finds VERY funny, and I know what they are. Little sounds I make or ways I tickle her. I love making her laugh, it makes my day.

She as started this new thing where she wakes up from her naps cranky int he daytime. She is very particular in that she needs to be picked up immediately and snuggled for a few minutes. It is so sweet to me though, because she is actually starting to cuddle. She just wants a couple minutes of quiet time and it reminds me that we all need that, and that the two of us need them together. And we have a little quiet snuggle and then its time to get up again. I never want to forget those little cuddles. It is the best feeling in the whole world.

I took Tula to the Doc's today just to get weighed and she was 13 pounds and 9 ounces. I measured her length at home by laying her on a roll of toilet paper, marking where the top of her head and the bottom of her foot were, and measuring with a tape measure. I got 25 inches, so it may not be exact but it's close enough. That would put her in the 50th percentile for her weight and about the 75th for her height. Those tall and slender genes are all me, right?

What else is new? Yesterday was Halloween. Tula dressed up as a pea in the pod, but hated her costume. I guess because it's one of those baby buntings, I really don't think she liked the feeling of her legs being forced together like that. I'm not gonna lie, that thing looked really uncomfortable, so I can't blame the girl. Good thing I was thinking earlier in the day to put it on her and get a few pictures because we tried that evening and she wasn't havin' it. I got a few great pics of her and posted them on her babysite. As fun as it was to dress her up, I look forward to taking her trick or treating for the first time. Some of the little ones that came to our door last night were so cute, I can't believe one day she will be that big. We had 66 trick or treaters, and though I had been told that my number was going to be alot higher from some of the people that have lived here for awhile, it still felt pretty busy to us and we basically had a steady stream of kids between 6 and 8 pm. We had fun last night, got to meet a few neighbors we hadn't met before and saw again what a great neighborhood we live in. The street was full of kids and moms and dads and it was just a really nice time. Plus, it was short and T shirt weather, and who can complain about that?

In other exciting news....I am going home on Monday! I am so excited! My sister Jenelle is here so I am going to travel back with her and stay with my Mom and Dad for a week. I am curious to see how Tula will do in colder weather. I don't think she has ever been in anything under the 70's in her life, so she is in for a shock. And I am PRAYING that the travels don't screw up the fabulous sleep system we have worked out. I think now is a good time to travel with her, as she gets older and more mobile those plane trips would get tougher and tougher so I am going to try and squeeze in as many as I can now. We are going to be in Canada for a week and I am really looking forward to seeing friends and family. It has been years since I have been able to go home twice in two months! I feel like I was just there but Tula has grown so much and looking back at pictures of our trip reminds me how much time has passed. Already she is a different baby. Next stop is Connecticut (I promise, Grandma Marianne and Grandpa Lee), if I can ever convince my husband to take a day (or two) off work!

It's getting late and I am sure there are a million more Tula "changes" to post about but that's all I can think of for tonight. I have three days left till my trip and I need to start packing. No more of this "throwing everything in the suitcase last minute" business. Travelling with an infant is no small task and there are lots of extras to pack and things that make life REALLY difficult if you forget them! Wish me luck!

I know, I know......

I got you all hooked to this site and now I never update it......SORRY! Tula and I have been so busy this week I really haven't had the time. For those of you who don't know, I started a Mommies Group online called First Time Moms with Babes Under One. I figured it would be a good way to get to know some other mommies in the Gilbert area, and within two weeks the group had over 20 members. I haven't met all of them yet, but there is a group of us who are stay at home moms and able to meet a little more often so we have been. I am meeting some great ladies and Tula is finding meeting all the other babies quite interesting I think. It is great for both of us and I am so glad I did it. But with that said, it has kept me very busy, and tomorrow morning is the first morning of this week I don't have anything going on. Phew..... Me and Tula need a sleep in day I think.

John has been getting lots of hours at his job and he really loves it there. It is so fun (and such a nice change) to see him smiling about his work. More importantly than the fact that he likes his job, he really likes the guys he works with and for, and it makes the days go by faster. John finding a job he was happy with was really the last piece of the puzzle for us out here, and now that he has that, we are feeling so much more relaxed at at home here. We really got lucky with this job and are so thankful.

Tula is growing like a weed. I haven't had her weighed in awhile but I will take her and have it done next week for her 4 month birthday weigh in. She has developed into this little giggly smiley ball of fun. She is busy but the great thing is she is now interested in things other than me and all the toys, excersaucers, and tummy mats are getting lots of use. She loves playing by herself, but it was cool to see her observing all the other little ones playing today. She was so cute. It was like every once in a while she would try and talk to one of the other babies and she even smiled at a few of the moms. She doesn't seem shy at all.

Not too much else is new here. Tula lets me get lots of sleep lately so I have been taking advantage and staying up playing on the computer or watching TV. She usually goes down around 8 and gets up to eat a little around midnight so I have been putting her down and staying up till that midnight feeding doing my own thing. It has been nice for me to have those few hours in the evening to unwind. I forgot what it was like to have this much privacy!

I have been really bad at taking pictures lately. I will try and get some new ones and update soon! In the meantime.....here's a funny one I sent out to our parents this week! It's a long story, but the picture will make ya laugh I bet........

Sleeping with Daddy...

Grabbing the Toes......

She Found Her Toes!

I guess it was two or three days ago now. I was changing her diaper and I had showed them to her a few days earlier. Anyways, she was on her back and she spotted them and grabbed right for them. Wouldn't let go. It was the cutest thing and her little toes are now one of her favorite toys.

She has been sucking on her fists for a few weeks now. Most of the time there are two fingers she prefers to gnaw on but every now and then she literally stick her who fist in there. It is quite a scene. And the drool......oh, the drool. It doesn't end. I think there is some action happening in the gums, let the countdown to teeth begin! Thankfully she doesn't seem upset or bothered at all, she just loves to chew right now. I have been giving her this one chew toy but John or I have to hold it in her mouth for her. Today I actually saw her trying to stick it in there herself, she was close and I think we are days away from that milestone. It is so amazing watching her little coordination skills develop. I see her grab things and open her mouth and move the object and it doesn't all line up and I just want to go do it for her. But she is so cute how if I just sit back and watch she will try again and again and I know one day soon she is going to be putting anything and everything in her mouth and I am going to be missing the days when she couldn't quite find it!

Not much else is new here. John's Aunt Gayle was here for a few days to visit. She stopped by on her way back to NY from LA and got a million pictures of her favorite great niece. She uploaded a few to an online album...here is the link if you are interested. There's some real cute ones. And no, I am not biased.

Click here and then under the album click "view as a guest".

http://pictures.aol.com/ap/viewShare.do?shareInfo=qehO4z9cYllLHm4MGTv9bs0xPBjGevi26Xo8yPBR/9lWGd%2bBXiXp6w%3d%3d

Tula's New Tummy Toy

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!

The "fall" weather has finally made its way to us here in AZ. No, this odes not mean a chance of snow or leaves falling. It does not mean that we need to bust out the fall jackets. It simply means that it is no longer consistently above 100 degrees outside. This week has brought such beautiful weather, and we are all enjoying it. I can finally walk with Tula outside in the stroller without feeling like she is suffering in the sweltering heat. In fact, we made friends with another Mommy and little 1 month old and we all go for walks together 3 mornings a week. Tula seems to enjoy the outdoors and the stroller. It is still warm enough that we have to go a little early to do our walking, we usually meet at 8:30 am which means I have to wake Tula up on those mornings. Yes....bless her heart....my child usually sleeps till around 9ish if I let her! Anyways, I feel so great finally able to be a little active since she was born. I really have been so busy since she was born that that was on the backburner, but is now a top priority again and I feel great just getting out, getting active, and interacting with other Moms.

Tula was three months old last week. This new stage of her life is so different. She truly is no longer a newborn. She holds her head up so well, she loves to be lifted high over our heads. She loves when I hold her up like that and sing to her. She laughs and laughs. She is still unsure if she likes being tickled. It's hit or miss. Most times she laughs, but its this really confused laugh where she is looking around wondering what the heck is going on. Honestly though, she seems so happy. This kid really loves to smile and laugh, and as new and unsure parents sometimes, it melts our hearts to hear and lets us know that we are doing a good job.

Tula also loves to chit chat. She loves the sound of her own voice and when everything else is quiet she loves to make some noise. CHURCH is a perfect example of this. She basically blabbed her face of the entire time today. Of course the talking thing is fairly new to us so we just think its adorable. I am sure there were some others who didn't see it the same. but considering she sits there for the whole hour and didn't cry or fuss, I did get a few more of the ...."My, what a wonderful baby you have..." comments that makes every mother swoon with pride, as though I have somehow already conditioned this child to behave in a manner that I desire. I am just enjoying it while it lasts. She is a joy right now.

The other thing that lets me know she loves the sound of her own voice is that she LOVES it when I cover her ears with my hands. You know how if you cup your hands and place it over your own ears it kind of makes that echo when you talk? And makes your voice seem louder to yourself and all you can hear? She loves that, and if I hold her head like that she could sit forever telling herself a story, and looking out of the corner of her eyes from side to side, wondering what she has done to make her voice do this. So cute.

Tula loves sleeping on her belly, and lets me know this by sleeping up to 6 or 7 hours straight the last few nights!!!!! Wahoo! As much as she still enjoys being swaddled and on her back from time to time, the tummy sleeping seems to be working for us and for her. She also still loves to be shushed to sleep by the bathroom fan. We have almost worn out the one in our bedroom I think....lol. Fan on, lights out, door shut. It's our recipe for a sleeping baby and it works every time. I love discovering those little tricks that wok and knowing her so well. Tula is developing this little personality more and more every day and I just feel so lucky and blessed to be her Mommy.

Today is Canadian Thanksgiving at home and the for me, the first year I really understand what it means to be thankful. In church last week they spoke about having an "attitude of gratitude" and I really do now, more than ever, have that. Tula brings a joy to my life that I never knew could be possible. She has ignited a flame in me that I never knew was there. This year, I have so much to be thankful for. But most of all, I am thankful that I realize this. That I have the ability to see how blessed I am. That I have instilled in me the knowledge that these are all great gifts that were given to me by God, that ALL good things come from Him. I am reminded to not take these things for granted. And I just feel blessed and humbled beyond measure that I have the honor of looking after God's precious child, Tula.

This Thanksgiving I have everything to be thankful for. My husband, who is my best friend. There is no one I would rather be on this journey with. And for Tula, of course, for everything about her. For our wonderful families, who we miss so much but are so lucky to have. For our health and circumstances that allow us to live free from so many of the misfortunes that people all over the world live with every day. I am thankful that I have the freedom to worship the God I choose, to wear the clothes I want, to marry who I love, and to work (or not work!). And as I list all these things I am thankful for, I am glad I am living my life realizing how blessed I am, knowing how wonderful life is and not taking one single thing for granted.

No new pictures....sorry. The "Mama-razzi" has been slackin'. I will try and get a few new ones up this week. Hope you are all enjoying your Thanksgiving at home everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!

She is starting to laugh.....

....and it is one of the most beautiful noises I have ever heard!

An Arizona Breakfast

Today is Tula's three month birthday! To celebrate, we made our first big breakfast this morning. Only there was a little twist....we did it on the grill! John and I love the weather here right now and have been spending lots of time outside. We all went for a big swim today and Tula slept by the pool and let me tan for a little while. We came home and Tula had a bath and conked right out, and I am going down for a sleep as well. Just wanted to post a few pics of our breakfast this morning. Sausages and pumpkin pancakes from the griddle.....yum.

Splish Splash

Don't Blink

There is a new song out by Kenny Chesney called Don't Blink. If you haven't heard it yet you are missing out. The first time I did, a few weeks ago, I cried. The lyrics really just resonated with me and kind of described how I am feeling in so many ways. I am sure we all feel this way from time to time......

I turned on the evening news
Saw an old man being interviewed
Turning a hundred and two today
Asked him what's the secret to life
He looked up from his old pipe
Laughed and said "All I can say is."

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
don't blink

I was glued to my tv when it looked like he looked at me and said
"Best start putting first things first."
Cause when your hourglass runs out of sand
You can't flip it over and start again
Take every breathe God gives you for what it's worth

Don't Blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster than you think
don't blink

So I've been tryin' ta slow it down
I've been tryin' ta take it in
In this here today, gone tomorrow world we're livin' in

Don't blink
Just like that you're six years old and you take a nap and you
Wake up and you're twenty-five and your high school sweetheart becomes your wife
Don't blink
You just might miss your babies growing like mine did
Turning into moms and dads next thing you know your "better half"
Of fifty years is there in bed
And you're praying God takes you instead
Trust me friend a hundred years goes faster then you think
Don't blink

Naw, don't blink
dont blink
life goes faster than you think!
so dont blink
life goes faster than you think!
dont blink
dont blink
Life Goes Faster Than You Think !

Adjusting....

Once again the last two weeks have been really busy for our family and I just have not had the time to post. Wednesday, Sept 12th, John's Mom and Aunt Gayle flew out here for a long weekend and visit. It was so wonderful to have our first visitors at our house, especially after the long first three weeks here all by ourselves. We were both feeling a little lonesome at that point I think, and a dose of family was all we needed! It was wonderful to see them both for us, but having Tula and watching her with family is even more of a joy. She is such a loved little girl! Marianne made a bunch of food for us to freeze. Stuff that tastes and smells like home for John, such a good idea! She made a big pot of their "gravy", which for us at home is tomato sauce with meat in it, sausage, spareribs and meatballs. And of course John's favorite, fried eggplant. We haven't used any yet but will probably start pulling it out as it gets a little cooler here. I am pretty sure it's still too warm to turn on the oven....all the cooking we do right now is on the grill outside!

John's family left on that Sunday but as it worked out the trip got cut a little shorter for John who ended up flying home on Saturday night to DRIVE, yes drive, his truck here to Arizona from Connecticut. He had made arrangements with someone else to get the truck down here for us so we had packed it all up before we left CT and it was ready to go. Well long story short, that deal fell through and John was stuck out here in AZ without his beloved truck. He decided he would go home and drive, but had to do the drive nonstop because the back of the truck was full of stuff. After a few phone calls he had a travel companion for the trip arranged and hew was on a plane to NY. They left Greenwich CT last Sunday morning around 6 am and arrived here in Gilbert AZ at about 4 in the afternoon. They drove about 37 hours straight, only stopping for fuel. It was dangerous and probably not highly recommended, lets just say John had no desire to drive for a few days after that. After a lot of prayer and worry, he was home safe. I have never in my life felt so relieved to see my husband pull into the driveway. What a wonderful feeling!

That Sunday, the day John's family left, my Mom arrived. She stayed a full week and once again Tula got lotsa love from another Grandma. Mom helped me clean the house from top to bottom. Anyone who knows her knows that's her specialty, and I was the grateful daughter. Between Marianne coming out and cooking and freezing food and my mom doing the cleaning, I pretty much had it made in the shade. No seriously, it really was a treat to have both of their help not only with the house but with the baby. Watching Tula with her Grandmother's and seeing them pour out their love to her has been such a beautiful thing for both John and I. Thank you to both of our Mothers for being not only great Moms, but fabulous Grandma's as well!

My Mom left this Sunday morning and it is quiet around here as well. john now has his truck and no company so he is on the search for a job. I have started a Mommy group online and plan to meet with a few of the girls from that this week. I can't wait to meet some fellow Moms from around here and make some friends for myself and Tula! We are all starting to adjust here and it feels more and more like our home everyday. Plus, the weather has broken and it is no longer over 100 degrees, so it has been gorgeous here which is making life all the more enjoyable.

Tula is a busy baby and keeps me on my toes trying to remember and capture all the changes she goes through every day. She is now smiling alot and loves to laugh and giggle. Of course she is very generous with all the smiles first thing in the morning and they slowly phase out by the end of the day. Her happiest times are definitely at the beginninng of the day, which is so fun for me. Let's just say it has made me the morning person I never dreamed I would be.

So what else does Tula love? Well, she is fascinated with mirrors. She LOVES it when I takes her into the bathroom and let her stand on the counter but the sink with me holding her so she can push her her legs up to stand. She loves to look at herself and makes the funniest, most excited faces. Tula loves being sung to. Any song, fast or slow, she seems to really love music of all sorts. She loves her little massages at the end of a long day, when I bicycle her legs around and pull on them gently. She just lays there so relaxed and looks at me with this "Thank You" look almost. It is so sweet. Tula loves her stroller and going for walks, she never seems to mind being in there and even is getting used to the warm weather I think.

Tula does not like the bottle. She still absolutely refuses to take one and at almost 3 months old and after trying every bottle out there, I have pretty much given up all hope. I think I will have to save that for the next baby, Tula's not havin it. Period. I continue to try sporadically and will keep you guys posted with any success we have.

Tula will be three months old this Saturday which is so hard for me to believe! What a great summer we had with her, having John home and bonding with her so much has been a blessing for all three of us. But we are excited for him to get working and strat meeting more people and really living a regular life here. Life really has been one big holiday since she was born.

I posted a few pics last night on the babysite and will try and get an updated video on here soon. Take Care everryone!

Patty Cakes and Giggles

A busy day.....

So we are settling in a little more and more everyday. I went to my first Mommy group yesterday through our community. It was fun, but Tula was by far the youngest baby there and once again I heard multiple times from other moms things like "They grow so fast"....and, "I can hardly remember when mine were that small." It's so hard to believe that in a few months I will see a little two month old and be saying the exact same things.

So this morning we got up a little earlier than usual and Tula and I went to our first Stroller Strides class. I loved it! What a great way to get a workout! It's basically just a bunch of moms that meet in a park and there is an instructor that leads the group through the park, walking then stopping and doing exercises or some sort. Lunges, squats, jumping jacks, whatever. The cool thing was when we stopped in a group to do the exercises they would play kids music and all the moms could sing to the babies and interact with them. They even had a lady hired to just go around from stroller to stroller while the mommies were working out and kind of entertain the kids. Tula was a little young for the whole thing and wasn't interested in the music or movements, but she does love riding in her stroller so she was fine for the class and I think she will enjoy it more and more as she gets older. definitely something we will do again, and a great way to meet other Mommies in the area!

This afternoon, John and I walked over to the pool with Tula and we all went for a swim. She has so much fun in the pool, we probably spent a half an hour in there with her and she splashed around and kicked and swam the whole time. She loves it when we just hold we on her back and let her kinda float, she relaxes her whole body and just lays there. Then she likes to sit up and look around a little, then lay back and relax. She is so chilled out in the water, and after her swim like that we took her home and rinsed her off and she was out like a light! So sweet.

This evening we went over to the next door neighbors for dinner. We were lucky and got a great young couple as next door neighbors who also have twin 14 month old daughters. It is so neat to watch them with their girls. I to don't know how parents of twins do it but they make it work! we enoy spending time with them and are SO THANKFUL have such great neighbors. We ended up staying a little late, it was almost 9 before we left there. Tula was getting so sleepy and although I felt bad for her being up a little late and getting tired, I loved that I am starting to see we are getting into our own routine as a family and she knows what it is. And by 9 o'clock, she was feeling the effects of not being in bed. We got her home and fed and she went immediately to sleep. The best part was when John took her from me to bring her to her crib she didn't even make a noise. Usually it's an episode to get her from our arms to the crib when she is asleep but tonight she was so pooped she didn't even notice. It was a great big busy day for her and I love seeing her sleep so soundly at the end of it as though she put in a hard day or something. I think all that sunshine really does us in though, we are all ready for bed here so much earlier than in CT or even Canada. I can't stop yawning tonight so I am off to bed but wanted to post quickly about whats been going on. There is a few new pics on the babysite as well.

Oh yeah, exciting news. John's Mom and Aunt Gayle will get here tomorrow for a visit. We can't wait! Tula hasn't seen them in a little over a month but it has been a big month for her and she has changed so much. Can't wait to show off all her smiles and giggles in real life instead of over the internet!

Two Months Old

It has been almost a week since Tula Belle was 2 months old, so it's really been weighing on me to do an update about what's new with her and all of us. Frankly, it is almost impossible to find the time right now. And when I do have the time to sit and do nothing, at this point the last thing I feel like doing is typing or even thinking about what to type. It is good for me though, to reflect a little and take the time to journal. This blog is the only journal I have and I am learning as every new mother does that the moments just fly by and sometimes the end of the day you can look back and it feels like a blur. There have been days that I feel like I got nothing accomplished, because I spent too much time just staring and cooing at Tula. And then there are days I realize I didn't spend enough quality time with her because I focused too much of my energy on finishing a project or task at hand. Everyday is a new attempt at trying to find the perfect balance.

Our move to AZ has been many great things for John and I but to say it has not been difficult would be a complete lie. Last Monday, when we dropped my Mom and Dad off at the airport was when it really hit us both. Driving away from the airport and realizing that it was just us in Arizona. All by ourselves. Yes, everyone was just a phone call or email away, but they were also miles away and we could really feel it. This was also the first time the two of us had really been alone with Tula and as first time parents this was actually a lot more intimidating than I thought it would be. For me especially, I think. I was always used to having John's mom or my mom there to give me a little break when I needed it, most importantly to spend some time with John. Well now, if I need a break from Tula it is John who relieves me, so our alone time is basically when she allows it. We are learning that everyone's life is easier if we just work around her schedule instead of trying to create one for her. And we are learning that having her happy is the key to our happiness. We are learning to be better parents everyday.

Poor Tula has been so good for us since we have been here. It's been 110 degrees outside and we have had so much running around to do and she has been really patient getting dragged around to all these places. She definitely lets us know when she is too hot or too tired to continue, but for the most part is pretty content just hangin out with us. And I love that this house is becoming home to her. The place she likes to come back to at the end of the day. I feel like she is getting used to things and starting to show us what she likes and doesn't like. Heat, she doesn't like. Air conditioning...she likes! LOL...kidding

The only other really difficult change for me has been having the "job" of the house. I always had a little anxiety about it. I like to keep things clean and it's a lot of space to clean. It hasn't been as much work as I thought it would be, but definitely some time needs to be devoted to the house every day and that takes some getting used to for me. The hardest part is whenever I sit down on the computer or in front of the TV and knowing that there is something else I really should be doing. It's that feeling that takes some getting used to.......bleh.

Now onto the good things about it here. We absolutely love our house, and it becomes more and more a home everyday. Things are really coming together and besides the final decorating details, the main rooms we use are furnished and functioning. We enjoy our privacy and and family time. I love the feeling that the master bathroom is actually my bathroom, that we are the bosses of the house, all that fun stuff that comes with living in your own house for the first time. We still enjoy hanging out and cooking in the kitchen together, when Tula allows. I know John is really itching to get back to work, but I am loving having him home. I know we are so blessed to have been able to take this much time off and I am so grateful, I just wish it could be like this forever though. Knowing it will be years until I get to wake up with John there everyday like this make me dread him going back to work. And he is such a help with Tula, I don't know how I am going to do it without him. Plus, I will have to learn how to operate all her things. Would you believe just today John finally taught me how to open and close her stroller? I figured that skill would come in handy if I ever wanted to actually leave the house alone with her.

I will say all this time just the three of us, and for me all the one on one with Tula has been such a bonding time for her and I. I feel so much more connected to her now more than ever. She is really starting to show affection in her own little ways, even if it's just a little snuggle here and there, but being one of two people to receive these gifts from her right now, I am getting lots of love and she pretty much makes me feel like supermom everytime she smiles at me. I had no idea what I was getting myself into with this whole parenting thing in so many different aspects, but the love I have for her is what has come as the most surprising to me. I mean, I knew I would love her, but I had know idea I COULD love her as much as I do. She shows me everyday what true love is, whether its a smile for me or watching her and John together. I never want to forget the way I love her now.

Well enough mushy stuff I guess. This is a long one and as I mentioned before I have a new houseful of things I "should" be doing so I will wrap it up. I believe I am starting to ramble anyways, probably due to the fact that it is 88 degrees inside my house right now!!!!! Yes, we live in AZ in August where it is 110 degrees outside and our air conditioner is broken. They are coming to fix it tomorrow but tomorrow can't come fast enough for all of us right now. It's gonna be a long night.....

No new pics today....sorry everybody. I will try and take a few tomorrow.

Remember When....

Here are some pics of Tula when she was a week old. I just got them back from a friend who took them and they are so adorable. Can you believe it's been two months? I just love these pictures!

Miss Chatty

Tula was telling us a big story last night and we caught some of it on video. Daddy turned the camera halfway through so be prepared to tilt your head to the left and enjoy!

She loves trying to stand.......

Enjoying the heat...

So I have found the secret to getting an infant to sleep more and longer stretches........ move to the desert!!!! Yes, August in Arizona is a hot one so we have all been drinking and sleeping lots, especially Tula. She seems to be really content now that we are more settled here, she loves her bedroom and crib. I can actually put her down in it without having to rock her to sleep, which is a huge accomplishment for all of us. She seems so happy here, loves the water and all the pool time. I can't wait till it's a little cooler here and we can go swimming at the pool. Can you imagine? It's too hot to go swimming....lol.

Tula is 2 months old tomorrow and John and I can hardly believe it. Last night we were grocery shopping and I started chatting with another Mom pushing a cart with a carseat in it. She had a one month old and it looked so tiny, I couldn't believe that was Tula a few weeks ago. She is getting so strong now, she loves to stand and push up on her legs. She holds her head up so well. But my favorite thing is she is starting to coo and almost laugh, I really cannot wait! She loves music and seems to smile everytime she is sung to. Oh yeah, and after a day in the AZ heat she LOVES to get naked and lay under a fan. My mom had a great idea to pick up some puppy pee pads and we take her diaper off and just let her lay on them and she has a ball! She likes to look at light fixtures and the ceiling fan spinning is a double bonus!

I posted a few more pictures on her babysite but wanted to share this one we took today while in the car. I am pretty sure it was only about 115, but after leaving the car parked for a few minutes this is what it was reading. Surprisingly....it's not as bad as it looks. We are actually really liking it and John picked today of all days to go outside and do a little yardwork!

P.S. We got a landline today. Email me if you want our new number.

Fun in the Sun!

I put a few new pics on the babysite and wanted to post a video of Tula swimming with her Grandpa. She LOVES being in the water. She seems to be doing really well even with the heat, she doesn't mind it as much as we thought she might! Thank goodness cause it's been really hot here! I have been so busy this week packing and moving into the house that I haven't been taking many pics, Tula hasn't had any of her daily modeling shoots....lol. Well we are almost settled, my mom and dad leave today, and then hopefully I will have more time to write. Here's Tula Belle havin a swim....

Finally arrived in AZ!!!!

We flew in to Phoenix on Tues, Aug 21st. Our plane left Calgary at 3 pm and the flight was about 2.5 hours. Once again, Tula was really good on the flight and I am starting to think she may like this whole travelling business. Lucky me! We got into AZ at almost 6 pm here and it was 107 degrees! Tula had no idea what hit her when we got off the airplane! She actually doesn't seem to mind the weather much now, but initially she was pretty confused and not overly thrilled about it. Wed morning bright and early we all got up and made our way down to our house (we are staying with my Mom and Dad in Scottsdale until our place is ready). There was actually a lot to do at the house. With all the construction in the area it is pretty dusty so there was alot of vacuuming and dusting. Someone came to install a water softener while the guys cleaned out the garage and Mom and I and Tula all did a little shopping. Costco, groceries, Target for cleaning supplies. That kind of stuff. We got to the house and got to work about noon, only to be informed by the guys that the upstairs air conditioning wasn't working. GRRRRRR! It was about 82 degrees downstairs and actually felt cool when we walked in, upstairs it was about 95 degrees. It was bearable downstairs but upstairs wasn't. We got lots done in the kitchen but the bedrooms stayed untouched.

We got to unpack some of Tula's toys that we could get to and opened and set up her swing she got at the shower. She LOVED it! I think she had her first afternoon nap longer than 2 hours. It was great for her and for me, I got lots accomplished. We put a long day in and came back up to my Mom and Dads around 7ish. showered up and got dressed and figured we would go for a nice dinner after such a long day. dad wanted steak so we went to his favorite place, Fleming's. I bathed Tula before hoping she would sleep through the meal. I was so nervous to take her into a place like that, pretty fancy and not exactly kid friendly. Well once again she amazed me. She slept a little then woke up and checked everything out but didn't make a peep. She was excellent and let her Mommy have a wonderful dinner with no crying. I felt so lucky.

Today was another early morning, the guys painted the garage floor and unpacked all of my kitchen boxes so Mom and I could wash them and put them away. It was so fun opening all the boxes, we have never used any of our wedding gifts and they were all still packed so over a year later it was like opening them for the first time all over again. It was fun to wash them all up and put them in their place in our kitchen, I feel like I have been waiting for this day for so long! Mom loved organizing everything and making it all look good, I was just spinning in circles sometimes, so excited to finally be moving in and seeing all my "things" being opened for the first time. I can't wait to use it all!

The air conditioner guy came and fixed the unit today but not till the end of the day so we suffered through another hot one. Needless to say, the upstairs bedrooms did not get touched at all, but the AC is pumping over there tonight and I can't wait to set up her nursery tomorrow. John and my Dad went and got the mattress for our Master bedroom today so we may even be able to sleep there Friday or Saturday night if we get things set up there. It is so fun to see the progress and everything coming together. I am still in disbelief that it is ours. It's hard to believe that when my Mom and Dad leave next week it will be just John, Tula and I for the VERY FIRST time. As sad as it is to say goodbye, I really am looking forward to this new chapter for the three of us and this journey as a new little family.

Tonight after another long hot day of working we took Tula to the swimming pool at my parent's place for a bedtime dip. It was her first time in a pool and she LOVED it. I was the photographer while Daddy swam with her. Here a few pics of them in the pool together and Tula's first swim.









Sorry it has taken me so long to post this!!!! I know many of you check back regularly for updates and things have been so busy with travelling in Canada and visiting everyone and then being busy in AZ with the move. Hopefully things will settle down a little next week for us but we are lovin' every minute of the busy-ness right now!!! Enjoy the pics!

Tula and Auntie Tiff

Tula's Big Adventure

Our plane left at 7:20 am last Monday morning for Canada. We had a 6 hour flight to Vancouver and then caught a connection to Kamloops. Our flight was delayed an hour on the runway at JFK, which caused us to miss our Kamloops connection and have a 2 hour layover in Vancouver. Not ideal when travelling with a newborn, but can I just say that I could not have asked for a better baby to travel with? She was excellent! Literally slept the WHOLE flight to Vancouver, 6 hours, just woke up and squawked a couple times to eat. I think she liked all the noise and motion on the airplane, because she was an absolute angel the whole time. She didn't fuss going up or coming down either, it didn't seem to bother her ears at all. That was one of my biggest worries, but a reminder to me once again to not be fearful and trust in God. I had prayed for her to much before this trip and they were all answered. She landed and took off in perfect health and comfort.

It is so stressful getting on an airplane with a newborn. Especially her first time and having NO IDEA how she is going to be. Walking down the center of the airplane boarding the plane, you can see everyone shooting the nasty glares at us. They are about as annoyed as I used to be when I saw a baby get on the plane, and doubly annoyed when you sit down in the row beside them or seat behind them. I know I used to be dreading listening to someones baby cry, so I can't even blame them from not wanting to hear mine, but I was one proud Mama when 5 hours into the flight one lady actually turned around and said ,"My, that is SUCH a good baby you have." As thankful as I was to hear the kind words I was wondering where one earth this child learned to sleep this long (it has never happened at bedtime). Nevertheless, she was an excellent traveller, which is a good thing because with grandparents scattered all across the continent this kids will have more frequent flier miles than most adults I know.

Our trip to the lake house was quick, but we were able to get out the second day we were there on the lake and enjoy the boat a little. John and I were shocked to see my Dad's beautiful new boat with the name Tula Belle written across the back. So cute! She has a boat named after her! She loved the boat as much as the airplane, the motion put her right to sleep! John got in the water a bit and tried surfing behind the boat. I guess this is the new thing, I had never heard of it. But he did really well and probably would have been a pro after a few more tries. My dad laughed when I told him I was married to an unemployed surfer. It's true!

Our second day at the lake my mom got a call that her sister Lori was ill and she needed to go be with her. We stayed at the cabin with Jen and Tiff for 2 more days and when it was sure that Mom and Dad wouldn't be back we all left for Calgary. It was almost a 6 hour drive and once again Tula did surprisingly well, she seems to be okay with travelling. We made it home in good time and have been in Calgary ever since. Got to see all my grandparents and Tula's Great-Grandparents on both sides and looking forward to visiting friends this week. Unfortunately my Mom's sister Lori passed away so we will be here for a funeral, but Thank God I am able to be here with my family during this difficult time.

I have been having some trouble getting my laptop hooked up to my parents wireless network so I don't have access to any of my pictures to post on my sites. I will try and get that figured out ASAP. In the meantime, I am using my Mom's computer to write a quick post about our week so far.

Tula seems like she is growing like a weed. She was 6 weeks on Friday and is adjusting really well to all the changes and travels of the last week, I can't believe how good she has been. She loves her Aunties so much and it has been so amazing so watch my sisters with her, they are so great. They are both going to be amazing mothers someday, but Tula is LOVING having all of their attention right now. She is smiling lots and actually starting to do little coos and giggles. These are music to a mothers ear, and they light up my life. It has been so fun having John around 24/7 and Tula absolutely adores her Daddy. He seems to get some of the biggest smiles in the morning (besides me, of course!) She is starting to find our voices and then our faces in a room of people, and will follow us with her eyes. I am trying to figure out a way to get her weighed without taking her to a doctor...any suggestions? So far, the post office is looking to be the way to go. I am thinking she has got to be close to 10 pounds now. She seems to change everyday.

Well I will post pics when I have the computer ting figured out. Hope you all are having a great summer, where did it go though? I cannot believe it's the middle of August and summer is almost finished. Crazy.....