Something big happened last night. Very big.

So Jenny and I were running errands yesterday and we left Catherine with Grammy Fran for an hour. While we were out, Bean got hungry, and so Fran gave the baby the pre-approved bottle of formula. It was her first full bottle of formula, and she drank it all up.

And last night, she slept from 6pm to 5:30am. Then she went back to sleep until 8am.

Crazy.

Now, it could be that she is sick (she has a little cold), or that she's just getting older and developing better sleep habits.

Whatever it was, we're excited if this continues (although realistic that it might not).

In the jolly jumper:


In the exersaucer:


Walkin' with dad:


Melting us with her eyes:

Vacation in Tampa

Well Catie, Grammy, and I are back from the sunny south with mixed emotions. The week was filled non stop relaxation in the sun - just what we needed. It was sad to say goodbye to Uncle Matt and Aunt Tanya and to leave the sunny weather, but it was great to see Daddy again. Boy did we miss him.

Here we are ready to begin our adventure. I don't mind telling you I was a little nervous about the flight.


Catie on the other hand was not. She got bored waiting in line for customs and decided to take a nap.


This is how I spent about two hours of the flight each way. Luckily we were right at the front so I had room to stand. This little lady loves to move.


Catie finally getting to meet her wonderful Aunt Tanya.


Sleeping just in onsies - without sleep sacks and sleepers!


Catie and Matt checking each other out.


By the end of the trip they were good friends.


Catie not quite ready to sit up regularly in a stroller wearing a ridiculously large hat.


Ahh... but that's much more comfortable - napping in the breezy shade.


Catie couldn't get enough of Aunt Tanya.


Playing on her activity mat is way more fun outside.


Chloe was our side kick the whole trip. Catie couldn't figure it out - Ellie's so small, so is Chloe a dog or a horsey?


We spent lots of time playing with our toys - and Catie actually seems to *sort of* like tummy time now.


In fact, we had a big moment! During one of our play sessions, Catie rolled over from tummy to back for the first time. A long while ago, in her sleep, she rolled over from back to tummy. She proceeded to do this a handful of times. However, every time she woke up, she would wail... not such a fan of being stuck face down. Consequently, she gave that up for a while. So I was so excited to see her rolling the opposite way! This is actually her second time as I didn't have the camera ready the first go.

Big update

OK, here we go.

First off, it's another snow day here (actually, ice day - and this one is legitimate). Another thing: Catherine is 4 months old. 4 months and 2 weeks, really.

She's also sick. At least we think she is. She's waking up more often, is generally more fussy, and is sneezing and coughing a lot. No nose discharge (yet) but it feels like a cold.

Jenny and Bean are going to Tampa Bay tomorrow (how exciting!). In preparation for that, baby C had to try on her new sun hat:


Then she tried to engage Ellie in some play:


She was eventually successful in getting Ellie's attention. We're really happy with the way Ellie has adapted to Catherine - we think they're going to be good buds.


General smiles, and trying on a new outfit (some courtesy of Anthony and Penny):


On Saturday night, Jenny was all, like, "Dude, let's have something yum for supper, like nachos." So nachos it was. Only, we went overboard. We made two huge plates, one for each of us. They were wicked. (Jenny wanted it noted that we did not come close to finishing them - well Jenny didn't anyway.)


I jazzed mine up with olives and jalapenos. Jenny wussed out and declined these options.



On Sunday, Aunt Mary came over. Mary's not an actual flesh and blood aunt, but considering how much she loves to hang out with Catherine AND Ellie (Mary and Doug took Ellie for the rest of the day) she definitely qualifies as an honourary aunt.



Finally, Jenny with her daughter:

The Tiny Adventures of Catie Clover

It's quite amazing how the days seem to fly by with new (albeit small) adventures happening every day. I find it hilarious how excited I get over the smallest Catie accomplishment: napping for more than 35 minutes, rolling over on her own, giggles, screams of delight (she's discovered her voice), getting better with her hands. Each new skill is small, but oh so profound to us. When I go over my day with Andrew I sometimes laugh at myself with what is now significant. But to be perfectly honest, I wouldn't want it any other way.

Here are a few pix of some of her favourite things these days.

We just introduced her to her exersaucer. So far, it is slightly underwhelming, but she's been hanging out in it every day in hopes that some day it will become a roaring hit.





Tummy time is still not a Catie favourite but she is improving and getting stronger. We've made it into a rolling game which she loves. Note the drool coming out of her mouth (she's working hard, how can you expect her to concentrate on tummy time and to close her mouth?).



We've had a burst of nice weather, and therefore have been spending every moment we can outside strolling or in her carrier. Spring hurry up and get here will ya?


Her activity mat is by far her favourite activity right now. She plays with each toy individually flipping and flopping all around.




I'm now getting together with a group of lovely ladies and babies each week. I don't have many pix yet, but as the play dates progress, I'll be sure to post more!


Sweet Cali arriving fashionably late.



Callum's a charmer already!



Keaton loves his sleep - he's one of the most easy-going babies I know!



Do you think Catie is sweet on Callum?

Does she look like dad?

People are starting to suggest that Catherine looks like her dad. I really don't see it. And I really don't want to see it - she shouldn't trade that cute button nose for my Eagle Beak.

Seriously:




And a big shout out to Catherine's cousin Hudson, who turns 1 year old today. Nice work!

A visit from Keaton

We had a visit from my cousin Anna and her little boy Keaton today. (What the heck does that make Keaton to Catie? 2nd cousin? Cousin once removed? We decided to just go with straight up cousin!). You wouldn't know it from their faces, but they had a dandy time together!



"Hey where are you going Keaton? You're supposed to be hanging out with me!"



"My head is wobbly." "So is mine!" "If we just lean against each other we won't fall over!"



And...

Andrew is away this week with the high school hockey team so Catie Clover and I are winging it on our own. We sure miss Daddy though! And I know how much Andrew is missing Catie, so I thought I should send a picture of Daddy and Catie together.

Passport

Jenny, Catherine, and Grammy Fran are going to Tampa to visit Uncle Matt and Aunt Tanya. Catherine needs a passport to go, and today it arrived:


Oh yeah, they're also seeing two hockey games and Elton John/Billy Joel. Lucky Bean won't appreciate this till she's much older.