I think she likes her new toy

We bought her this play table for her birthday. She loves it! This was her first time playing with it.

ONE YEAR!

Jeez louise, you're twelve months old already! Where did this past year go? Unfortunately the card reader is being stupid again so I STILL don't have pictures to add to this post. Anyway, A's one year appointment was November 2 and it went well, screaming aside.

Weight: 18.5 lbs
Length: 29.5 inches
Recent milestones/new things: Climbing down stairs, new babbling sounds, pointing to her mouth when we ask "Where's your mouth?"
Words: Mama, Dada, Nana
Favourite toy: LeapFrog Leapstart Learning Table, and all kinds of toys she got for her birthday. They're all brand new and AMAZING to her at this point
Sleep: 9 pm - 7/8 am, quick bite to eat, and getting up for the day at 9 am
Diapers: Just starting Pampers Baby Dry (4) but they're huge
Food: Everything! She picks at her food but she'll eat just about anything, just in small portions.

Happy Birthday, Stinky Poo

I can't believe tomorrow's the big day. At 11:59 tomorrow morning, you, my baby girl, will be one year old. I wish Daddy could be here to see you when you wake up in the morning, but he's stuck at work until Thursday. I know he'll be in Toronto thinking about you, and all of the amazing things you've accomplished this year.

At this time last year, we had just come home from the hospital. I was making no progress, so the doctor's had scheduled an induction for October 26. I went in for a different procedure to get that started on the night of the 25. In typical 'unlucky T.J.' fashion, my water broke as soon as we got home, so we basically turned right around and headed back to the hospital. 16.5 hours later, you were here.

Where has this past year gone? Sometimes I look back at newborn pictures and find it hard to believe that you were ever that small. Other times I feel like just yesterday, you were learning to crawl, and the day before that you were learning to sit up on your own. Now you're a walking, talking, soon-to-be toddler.

You love being outside more than anything. It doesn't even matter what we're doing. You can be having an absolute meltdown, and your face lights up the minute you take a breath of fresh air. You say "Mama" and "Dada" somewhat regularly, even if you don't know exactly what those words mean just yet. When Nana tries to get you to say her name, you laugh every single time. You dance like a rock star, shaking your butt and wiggling your shoulders. Adele is your favourite, but Beyonce has also got you moving on more than one occasion. You decided a few days ago that you're too cool to crawl, so you're walking more often than not these days. You like to tickle Mommy's feet, saying "Daydayday," and then laugh about it. You were pretty proud of yourself when you recently learned how to flush the toilet. You love playing with the volleyball, and keyboard, and it's hard to keep you away from any sort of electronics.

You're such a happy, easy-going baby. With four teeth currently coming in at once (making eight total), it can be an absolute nightmare for everyone at times, but your smiles and laughs get us all through the day. It's all worth it, just to see your face light up. The most amazing feeling is when I see the look in your eye every Friday night when Daddy comes home from work. It usually takes you a minute to figure out what's going on as he comes into the house and calls your name, but then it clicks. You smile and laugh, and stomp your way over to him.

You've taught me patience and how to enjoy the little things in life. Sometimes it's hard to be alone all week with a cranky baby, while trying to do school, and keep a clean house. Then I look over at you crawling into the cabinet beside the crockpot eating your own sock. Sometimes all it takes to make you happy is letting you roll an empty container across the floor, or pretending to sneeze (which always makes you laugh).

This year has been amazing. Thank you for being such a wonderful little girl. I'm so happy to have you in my life and I cannot wait to see what this year brings. Happy Birthday, to my favourite little girl in the world. I hope you enjoy it.

Mommy and Daddy love you more than words can describe.

- Mommy xo

So What

Local justice has been served

Belleville, Ont., man Dean Brown found guilty in 2 murders

Dear Ellen

Dear Ellen,

I am writing this letter to you on behalf of an amazing mother from Louisiana, named Courtney Roth. She is living every mother's worst nightmare of having to raise a sick child on her own.

Courtney's son, Tripp, has a rare, genetic skin condition called Epidermolysis Bullosa, or "EB". His skin is missing the anchors that hold it together, meaning any type of friction causes his skin to blister- inside and out. He was not supposed to live to be a year old, and is now 2.5. Courtney states in her blog that "Tripp doesn't know a day without pain. He wakes up in pain, he goes to bed in pain." He has a breathing tube, he cannot speak, and has lost his eyesight.

October 25th - 31st is EB Awareness week, and I request that you help spread awareness about EB and Tripp's story. Courtney has also entered a contest through Reader's Digest to have Tripp's story published. If she wins, she will be awarded the grand prize of $25,000, which she could put toward her ever-growing hospital bills.

It would mean so much if you would take to your blog and Twitter account as well. Reading her story is heart-breaking, and life changing. In less than three years, Tripp has already touched the lives of so many. Courtney is an amazing woman, and a role model for every Mother out there. A blog entry sums it up nicely:

"I have wanted to be a mom since I was about 12 years old. I have loved children my entire life and dreamed about having children of my own. Am I a good mom? Of course... but for me, there was no other option than to step up to the plate and fight with everything in me to give my child everything he needs- healthy, sick, disabled, or whatever comes our way."

Anything you could to to help share this woman's story would be amazing.


Sincerely,


Vote for Tripp: https://apps.facebook.com/yourlifecontest/content/ebing-mommy

Read more: http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/

To-do List

Between now and Nov 7:

• Clean the house!

• School: PSYC readings: Chapter 2, 3, 4, 5
• Wash Addison's birthday outfit (The one gift she'll open on her actual birthday)
• Ottawa: Pick up playpen from Mom's, Book hotel (Oct 28-29), Pack 1/2 bags (1/2 done), set aside outfits/shoes with a blanket and coat, stock up diaper bag, pack play pen sheets
• Addison's party: Banner, wreath, quilt, table for presents/cake, buy tablecloth/card/drinks, make cupcakes/mac salad, blow up/hang balloons
• Halloween: Buy box of Candy to bring to Ryan's, set aside outfit/shoes to wear under costume, with a blanket and coat

• Oct 26: Addison's birthday
• Oct 28: Ottawa/LAWS midterm
• Oct 29: PSYC midterm/home from Ottawa
• Oct 30: Addison's birthday party
• Oct 31: Halloween
• Nov 7: Isaac's birthday

To the young man who hit my stroller today

When I got to the intersection of V Street and J Street, I waited for the appropriate walk signal before I crossed. At the same time, despite not having the right of way, you decided to quickly make a left hand turn in front of me, hitting the stroller I was pushing. Unfortunately I did not get a chance to record your licence plate, as you sped into the distance. Thankfully two other strangers were kind enough to stop and make sure both my one year old and myself were okay. They did see your plate number and you have been reported. Shame on you for not having the decency or the courage to stop. Driving is a privilege. One that you do not deserve.

Sneak Peek

Meg recently came over to do some one-year/Fall/Halloween pictures. Here's a sneak peek:

Halloween kitty (with no whiskers)

Three weeks?

That's it? Just three weeks until she's one? 21 days until she's a "toddler," not a "baby?" It can't be true.

Someone hold me.