7 months old and simply adorable!

Montréal - Olympic Pool

While we were in Montreal over x-mas, we took Kaya swimming for the 2nd time in her life, and she loved it! Noooooooo, we didn't take her to the Olympic pool because we're overeager parents and are already trying to turn her into some kind of superstar...

Happy Birthday Grandma!

Even though we are so far away, we're thinking about you...
on this your last birthday before the big 60!
Lots of love from the other side of the Atlantic
xxoxoxox

Weeks 29 and 30 - TGIM

The highlight of the week was that Kaya officially became Canadian. The government only took 6 months to get her application for citizenship processed and as soon as we received it, Kaya was overjoyed and did what she does with all things dear...ATE IT!

Thanks God it's Monday!

I've never been a stickler for anything really, especially not any kind of rules, I think if you broke me down into ingredients and looked up a recipe to clone me, I'd be a few cups of disorganisation, a tbls of chaos, and a whole lot of the I'll-do-it-later mentality. But when it comes to Kaya's schedule, I am crazy-glued to it! It's the only way to keep the little one out of cranky mode and running without a hitch. The kid is not like clockwork, she is clockwork, her inner time clock is faultless. So when the weekend comes around it can be all too disruptive. The weekend means a few things:

Disrupttion #1: Daddy is around.
Disruption #2: Friends whose primary jobs don't involve taking care of a baby have time to hang out.

And so her nap times and feeding times get a little preponed (Indian friend of mine told me that this is a common word in India) or postponed. And then she gets a little...should I say antsy (damn-out-right-loud-and-cranky). So come Monday, I have to reassert the routine and settle her back into it again, which is sometimes a bit of a battle.

Me: Ok cutie monster, nap time (ah yeah, a little Sopranos time for mommy), lets take you to bed.

Kaya (All smiley in mommy's arms): mamagaaadadadadagaa (her talk for "I really like it up here, this is fun").

Me: Alright sweet (nearing the bed) here you....

Kaya (interrupting my last sentence): MMAAAAAAAAGGAAAAA!!!! (her talk for NNNOOOOOOOOOOO way I'm I going in there and out of your arms, try and make me) PPPPHHHHHHHH (you let me just hang out with everyone yesterday)

Eventually I always win, but she is definitely getting to be a stronger opponent - help!

That said, when the routine isn't breached by external culprits, Kaya is a real delight now. She's so alert and happy, and can actually interact with others, albeit by chewing on their fingers, ears, jewelery and what not, leaving a trail of slobber behind. Although she still has to be carried around everywhere, she is a grand roller: from front to back, and back to front, sideways, upside down, you name it and she's up to the challenge, as long as there is something to chew on, in the new position. This has lead to the most obscure sleeping positions. She wakes up with numb limbs and funny blanket line patterns across her skin on a regular basis. The other morning, you could almost see a game of tic-tac-toe on her face!

Food Critic
As Stefan's daughter, she is naturally a good eater. Anything you want to feed her is warmly welcomed, everything except for jarred food. We've got a bit of a food snob and harsh critic on our hands, when it comes to store-bought baby food. Although flattering (I must have steaming and pureeing down to a delicious science), we always have to remember to bring homecooked goodies along, or our little Zagat's prodigy goes hungry, and my boobs get the brunt of it.

Although Kaya has been waking us up a few times a night for the past week, sometimes crying in pain, chewing everything in sight and tugging on her ears (teething symptoms right? RIGHT?), she still has nothing to show for it. I swear, if a full set of top and botton teeth, including molars and even wisdom teeth (she's a clever baby) aren't visible by next week, someone is going to get it! The poor thing, she just wakes up with this look of confusion, directed at these blurry sleepwalkers (us) that come in and try to comfort her. We are no longer seasoned, interrupted sleepers, and have had to adjust all over again to the nightly comforting sessions...tough stuff let me tell you. We've been moslty doing it in tandem, as we need each other's support, both physically and mentally- alone, Kaya could break one of us.

Picture of the week
A little family photo while hanging out having Sunday brunch.
We had eggs and Kaya ate my hair!

Question of the week: Are teeth like a jack-in-the-box, and Kaya's music isn't ever getting to the point for them to go pop? Is she going to be toothless forever? Although her tootless smile is heart-melting, she is going to need to chew at some point, she can't be bringing purées to school for lunch, imaging the bullying she'd have to deal with then. Do they even make dentures for kids (just in case)?

Weekly note to self: Nest time Kaya gets an important document, put it in a safe place before she chews and swallows a large chunk of it.

Hopfully sleep deprivation sparks my creativity, oh... just a sec, Kaya has just toppled over and needs a little hand getting back into her upright position. It would be a lot easier if this 6 month old came equipped with a lever, similar to one on an airplane seat, that could be pulled to recline her for bedtime and seat her upright during the day. She already sits l ike a champion, but can't pull herself back up when she wobbles and topples over. So she attempts to flex her tiny abs to no avail and then starts this croaking noise that instantly gets my attention...more to come later, she has been bitten by the teething monster (I think) and needs some TLC.

infectious smiling photo...

Garbage Day

Garbage Day - ARGH! Why is it that Kaya only sleeps in on Garbage Days? I swear, I woke up this morning and glanced at my bedside clock, which read 6.30am, and thinking that it was Monday, I started doing my happy dance (don't ask)-the little monster was sleeping in. A very rare occasion. It happens as often as say...world peace.

Let me repeat, I thought it was Monday because were away this weekend, and normal people, ones with steady jobs, drive home on Sunday evening to get to work for Monday. But as those who know us are aware, we are not very conventional (freelancers?!) in the area of employment and today was in fact Tuesday -God forsaken Garbage Day and not quiet Monday. So just as I finished my quick happy dance and was ready to hit the dream play button...prrrgaakkkkk%%&%&HOIAFHQOAFHABVAK...The garbage truck,followed by the Kaya babbling, and out of bed for this mommy.

WHY IS IT THAT GARBAGE NEEDS TO BE PICKED UP SO EARLY? What happened to working 9-5?