my baby's a momma

Grandma Sherri and Grandpa George sent Kate her first baby doll today and I'm proud to report everything she knows about parenting she learned from me:

Preemptive mouth to mouth resuscitation

Hold the baby's hand if they're sad but keep chatting to your buddies

Looks like Pappa has his hands full.

Thanks so much Grandma and Grandpa. We miss you very much.

xoxoxo aj & kj

suffering from turkey hangover

Well I blame the turkey but it's probably the red wine. With that said, I am happy to report our first Thanksgiving dinner was a success. Dinner was on time, there was nothing forgotten, Cody and I did not come to blows in the kitchen and if I may say so myself it was very tasty.

The kids played hard.

Around 9 Kate couldn't keep her baby-blues open any longer.

It was a great weekend with all the babies and in-laws - we miss them already.

This afternoon, our trio headed to Parlee Beach. It was cold. Very cold out on the water - so we didn't last long.

A quick swing before we depart.

Then some suggles in the truck to warm up. Hope everyone had a great long weekend.

workin' girl

Kate and I went to see Cody at work today for a little office picnic. We're trying to make our trips a weekly tradition. It's a lovely drive - especially this time of year - out to Petitcodiac where the Terra Nova office is. It's a busy little office too, so I get the opportunity to meet all their employees.

Our Kate has great work ethic already and looks like she's ready to take over the helm.

This is actually the work that Kate does best.

This week mark's my first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Cody's Mom and Sister's family are joining us for dinner and then we're having a little sleep over. I'm a little nervous - I even practiced making pastry and a pie yesterday. It didn't go so great as you can see. Here's hoping Sunday is more successful!

As we give thanks this weekend know that you are all in our thoughts as we are thankful to have such wonderful friends and family. xoxo the Jorgensens

kate - pretty in pink

A fluorescent pink swim cap that is.

Kate and I had our first swim class today and it was great. However, I put on my swim cap just before heading out and you know you look a fool when your 8 month old baby laughs out loud at you. Her turn was next - but she actually looked too cute.

In class she was a maniac. She didn't stop kicking the whole time we were in that lovely warm (perhaps pee pee) pool. And she splashed and splashed and splashed - I couldn't see a thing with all that pee water in my eyes.

Good news - met another Mom and her son. It's always nice talking to another adult at least once a day. Aside from Cody ... OF COURSE.

On another note Kate is 8 months old today. In ways it seems she just arrived yesterday. With that said, when I start thinking about how much sleep I have not been getting these last months I feel every night.

Developmentally she's bright and busy. She doesn't seem the least bit interested in crawling or standing though. Instead she sits contently and kind of throws herself forward when something is out of her reach. She is amazingly flexible and can often be seen laying her face down on the floor while in pretty much the full splits. She's gotten very good at feeding herself and can easily pick up cheerios now. And sleep is improving: 7 hours straight - twice.

Happy 8 months baby girl - you've made us very happy. xoxo

our big girl

Well it's official, Mom and Mama are Kate's first baby words - much to Cody's dismay. Every Bupbup sound she makes Cody is insisting is Papa. How sad. She is saying them all the time especially when she's tired she draws out a Mooom. I love it.

We biked around the Petitcodiac River yesterday - this is a view of downtown Moncton. Do I hear an Ooooh Aaaah?

This is the view facing the other way of the town of Riverview where we live. It's very sweet and quaint.

Cody and Kate on the boardwalk over a muddy, beautiful marsh. Wonder why we have a raging mosquito problem?

Our big girl has graduated to the back pack. She seems to love it as she drenched it with raspberry spit during our walk last night.

Bath time with Papa. Look at how big our girl looks.

Well it's Sunday afternoon here in rainy Riverview. When Kate wakes from her nap we're going to head to the Y for a swim where we all have to wear swimming caps, even Kate. I promise to share photos. XOXO

the 1st of october

October is upon us which means we have been here for two weeks. Let's review progress to date: friends = 0; weight = down a bit (my body's not used to all these stairs); drinking = way down (no one to drink with); spending = way up (coping mechanism? maybe - or result of decreased drinking). Well that covers it.

Kate and I did have our first KinderMusic class yesterday - super weird. It was actually in some ladies sort of damp basement. I have told the story to a few people already but I think it needs to be recorded for posterity and proof that I really am trying.

So the intent was to meet a few new people. Alas the class is made up of me and Kate, Troy (a not too social dad), his daughter and then the teacher and her 2 year old daughter (whom she seems to be forcing to participate due to low numbers). It's music class and with such a tiny group you can, to my great humiliation, totally hear me sing. Kate - I think this proves how much I love you.

Now for everyone's names: there's me Aimee Joy, Kate; Amy (instructor), Katie-Joy; Troy and Ava-Joy. Say that list out loud a couple of times. Again, super weird. With that said, Troy better show up next week.

Last night Cody and I went to check out the Y. It's lovely. So I signed up for swimming after having been promised that there are 6 other mom/kiddie combos in the class. Stay tuned.

The Jorgensens finally have someone in the family willing to eat the bread heel

Sunday morning cartoons with Papa

Momma playing dress up with her little lamb

Kate enjoying swinging

Kate is steadily improving her steering ability in the walker and she is heading straight for the garbage - awesome

A view of our autumn colours

Check out the number of colours in our next door neighbor's tree

A collection of leaves I gathered the other night

I hope October is kind to all. I'm looking forward to hosting my first Thanksgiving dinner with Cody's family and Kate's first Halloween. I am sorry that I will miss my sister's birthday. Lots of love.

home alone

Well the day I have been dreading has finally arrived - my Mom left this morning for Calgary and Cody headed off to Maine for a conference. I am officially alone. No more safety nets. I miss my Mom already. I miss my family. I miss all my girls and their little babes too. It hurts too much so I am, for the time being, trying not to think about you lovely people.

We had such a wonderful time with my Mom and saw a pile of the Maritimes in the 10 days she was here. I also put her to work and she helped me unpack this house and get settled in just a couple of days. Highlights you ask...

Peggy's Cove, NS

Mahone Bay, NS

Keith's Brewery, Halifax, NS

Parlee Beach, Shediac, NB

Bay of Fundy, NB

Confederation Bridge, NB side

Cousin's Shore, PEI

We have had a very successful move across this enormous country - I think there was minor damage to our bed and that was it - Cody is a heck of a packer and an unpacker too. Our new neighborhood - Riverview - is just charming and we are getting to know all the streets well. New Brunswick is breathtaking this time of year as all the colours of the leaves come to life.

To say the people here are polite would be an understatement. The other night I nearly rear-ended someone as they came to a dead stop so they could allow a merging car in. Last week my next door neighbor, as if on some sweet TV show stopped by with a gorgeous and delicious cake to welcome us. We even went out to the country to pick up some pumpkins from a farm I had spotted and there was a simple tobacco can with a slot and $2.00 written on it. It has become apparent that we need to slow down here - there are no rushes - and maybe we need to be a little nicer.

Wish me luck this week as Kate and I attempt to get out on our own and meet some new peeps. Wednesday we start a music class in Moncton. Our first class - ever. I know most of my girls in Calgary are probably aghast that this is our first organized activity.

With that said - we have available guest rooms for anyone wanting to watch the NB autumn in all its glory. Love you all.