kate's second gym membership

A sign of the times? Kate has a membership to the local YMCA and now to a kid's fitness centre - my-gym. Cody and I on the other hand have none. My-gym is completely awesome and I would actually encourage my girlfriends in Calgary to look into the franchise. I'm sure Calgary doesn't have one but am confident that it would do extremely well.

The gym has so many activities for ages 0-13 years. It's bright the people are friendly and it's the best place that I have found to actually meet people. We go once a week to her class with other 7 - 18 month olds and then up to 4 times a week for all ages free play. We're actually supposed to be there right now but they called to let me know that class was cancelled due to the heavy snowfall that has landed on our doorstep. Here are some highlights from earlier in the week:

Like her mother, seems Kate is a big fan of the ball pit.

You can get a sense of the different activity areas from this shot.

There are actually three more kids facing Kate swinging on big kid swings. Everything that hangs is interchangeable.

Kate enjoying the little kid ball pit.

There are actually other kids around, I was just trying to be respectful and not take their photos.

So that's a little bit of Kate's gym day. Hope your day is half as colourful. AJ

we love you birthday boy

You have to love a Birthday that starts at 4am - first with a call to Cody from a driver and then with our little Kate. Luckily Kate was able to get back to sleep until 5:30. So by 6:30 this morning we had had a little Papa party and then saw him off to work. Though Cody turns 31 today, he said it best, all birthdays are now for Kate: the balloon, flowers, cards and blowers.

We love you so much Pappa/Cody and look forward to the festivities continuing tonight and then on the weekend on PEI. Kate & Aimee

a room of one's own

While Kate is fast becoming the benevolent dictator of this house, for the time being I still have control over her room. With that said, I can only imagine the paint colours, posters, pin holes, piles of clothes and general untidiness that lay in our future. If she is anything like me, what we now fondly refer to as her nursery, will be a never ending adventure in self expression.

For posterity sake and because I have had many requests I thought I would share some pics of her not-so-little room.

Photo shoot complete - Kate is back to work.

She has found an old friend.

Kate, while Mommy loves your room now I can't wait to see who you become and how you'll choose to express yourself on these walls. All my love.

a couple firsts

Suffering from a little cabin fever I went searching for a new activity for Kate and I to tackle. I decided it was time time to see if she wanted to make her own mark in this world. Here goes...

Some baby friendly supplies.

Huge surprise - straight into the mouth.

It didn't take her long to catch on though.

Voila, she added a little texture to finish off her first "piece".

More recent firsts: Kate is finally pulling herself all the way to standing, she jumped to me in swimming class from the Humpty Dumpty sitting wall and today she was obsessed with putting her face in the water during swimming.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying the balmy Calgary weather (if that's where you are).

xoxo aj

2010 the year of the childproof lock

Kate is officially on the move. She's gaining speed, precision and skills - namely the ability to climb out of our sunken living room aka her playroom. Though proud, this means my ability to escape the little lady has been much compromised. This also means we finally have to get on child proofing our house:

First step, no problem.

Taking a little break before tackling step number two.

She did it and is on the move.

Destination one, the desk drawer.

After having emptied a sufficient amount of its contents she abandons the drawer and heads for the cupboard.

How divine. And all this before 6:30 am.

Kate rang in the first day of the New Year in PEI with her little cousins. Cody took Kate there solo - my first night away from the little darling ever (11 months plus approximately 10 months gestation). Here she is as copilot in Cody's truck - thrilled as it was her first time ever sitting forwards. Please note - all air bags have been disengaged.

Happy New Year everyone! Love the Jorgensen Sandwich

a first christmas

The Grandparents have departed, the recycling is stacking up in the front room and there is a unfamiliar yet high pitched hum of talking toys through the house. Oh Christmas, we'll miss you.

We had a lovely first Christmas with Kate and the Biggars and Jorgensens. Kate loves visitors and visiting and I think did really well in the face of a lot of busyness. A few highlights:

Off to bed Christmas Eve but not before taste testing Santa's milk.

Christmas morning - looks like we made the Nice list.

Kate checking out her stocking; let the festivities begin.

A dress from Grandma Sherri and Grandpa George.

An accessory that's part of a lovely outfit from the Dupuis. Can you spot those upper two teeth?

Ooooh - Side Saddle Sally.

Christmas afternoon in Margate, PEI with the beautiful little Lydia.

Cousin Carter smiling out the window of his new bungalow.

Kate going in for a visit.

A view of the living room/kitchenette.

A swing - thanks so much Aunty & Uncle.

Carter and Lydia's new battery powered two-speed John Deere Gator - from Grandpa Paul & Janice. Needless to say this was a hit.

Carter and his girls.

At Josh & Susan's for the Biggar Boxing Day get-together. Kate saying hello to Lydia.

Back home Boxing Day night. Kate sitting patiently while Grandpa and Papa assemble her new bus.

It took too long so Kate thought she better help.

Success - thank you Grandma Donna.

Kate checking out all her new wonderful things.

Again this morning Kate woke and got straight to work in the Petting Zoo.

Thank you to all our friends and family for the lovely things you sent to us. We had such a fun time and know the fun will continue. On a news front - Kate officially has 4 teeth and she is crawling pretty good. I couldn't be happier and I think she's enjoying the new found freedom.

We hope everyone had a great Christmas and look forward to catching up before the New Year. xoxo Aimee