Sep 23, 2006

seasons changing

21 weeks have passed and fall has snuck up on us. we had our first official hibernation day due to rain last week, so we are really taking advantage of every sunny day now to get outside. fortunately there are still many to enjoy :)

i was feeling like very little had happened as I sat down to write this update...however there are a couple of firsts:

as you can see Sasha is now sitting in her high chair to join us for dinner at the table! here she is casually hangin' out while eating her carrots, and below anticipating another spoonful.

we had a visit to Brit pool, where Sasha met Zuzanna for the first time (pic below with her and Elaine) and we also got a pic of Sasha with Wally, who "have the same haircut" as he says - teehee :) Sending some positive energy Zuzanna's way as she competes this month in the international lifeguarding championships! go girl!!

she's still rolling over, and starting to get less fustrated by not being able to go anywhere from there...you can see the wheels turning as she thinks about how to move forward...

she has definetly begun the teething process, though no idea after a few weeks how soon the first tooth will come through!

and we also lived through Sasha having another fever a couple of weeks ago without too much stress...yah right! given the last time she had a fever we ended up in the hospital for 10 days it was hard not to be a worry wart...but I trusted in my experience in what is 'normal' for her behaviour, and in her body's ability to fight anything not too severe...and (sigh of relief) she is perfectly fine and smiley as ever!

now that we're far into September meetings are starting up again. my education advocate hat is back on, though I feel I have some catching up to do on the issues as everything took a backseat the past year to my preoccupation with becoming a mom! I spent my longest time apart from Sasha over two days at a think tank for the development of a new Social Justice 12 curriculum to be introduced to BC schools in the next couple of years. While Sasha spent her days having fun with Granma, I was experiencing some very emotionally charged dialogue, learning new things, challenging my perceptions and meeting some really great folks...all of which left me stunned for a few days afterwards! still reflecting on this positive experience...

we squeezed in a visit to one more bbq event at the community level being held by our friend (and MLA) David. (see Sasha below with David, as well as a pic with one of my favorite community activists Kelly) the event was at Kengsington community centre (KCC) where I have just handed in my nomination papers for an executive position on the board. I have really valued the learning experience my past year on the association board has given me, so am taking it to another level for the year to come...we'll see if I get elected at the AGM in October. Sasha has come with me to a few community meetings and so far has exhibited a lot of patience...of course made easier when there are many eager arms to rock her about :)

Mark never actually took a break from his meetings during the summer for the union and Carnegie...so the only really new thing with him is that it is his birthday on Tuesday!! He's going to a Vancouver Giants came with our friend Tom (Che & Keyan will be going too of course!), and it will be a great father & son bonding night at the good old hockey game...WHL style!

And Che is just thrilled to be back at school - lol! As this is his last year in elementary though I think it could be worse...he's got the end of one level of school almost over! He just can't wait for the graduation party at the end of the year ;)

so the rain may be coming but as always we are just busy and happy enough to not mind at all. staying inside sometimes gives me a wee bit of time to work on my photoshop (and other) skills while she naps...can you guess which pic below is my latest creation?








Sep 10, 2006

a week with Oma :)

from pickin' her up just after midnight on the 1st through to this morning it was busy times during Oma's stay!

after a day of relaxin' and bonding time for her and Sasha we had a joint family gathering (you guessed it-a backyard BBQ!) where most of the Whittam clan were able to come out...but the best part was having my cousins and aunt here to unite a large portion of my family for the first time in a long while! (pic below)

then throughout the week we went to Granville Island, walked the seawall at Stanley park, walked to the Drive and back(where I finally got to go for my massage given to me at the baby shower...and yes...it was fabulous! thank you ladies!!) , exploring neighbourhoods, lunch with Mark near Carnegie and a tour of Chinatown and Strathcona gardens. all of these were firsts for Sasha so really nice for my mom to be a part of them. another first she shared was the first attempt with the rice cereal, which she ate a few small spoonfuls of with little mess. (below is a picture from her meal of yummy organic squash the next night)

as always, visits with loved ones pass too quickly! we hung out a lot, made jam and mostly just reveled in having Sasha united with her Oma...not to mention how great it was to have her company for the long walks which I love! :)

i'm lookin' forward to uniting them again next year when we visit my mom, and all my other loved ones, back in Ontario. for now we'll reflect a while on a really special visit...thanks for comin' out mom - we love you!

below are some of my favorite pics of Sasha in the past couple of weeks:
- Sasha and Oma: at the airport; feeding time; snuggling on the deck; in the park; changing and bath time; with me, Mark, Che and Karma cat
- in mid-rollover...and finished on tummy unsticking her arm; with her feet in the air; smelling flowers in Strathcona garden; hangin' out; in one of her new hats; dancing with daddy; at Carnegie library; and with me showing off her amazing smile!

a week with Oma pics