Homemade baby food!

I've been wanting to make my own babyfood and finally stopped by Whole Foods & got some organic apples, sweet potatoes, pears, avacado, & carrots. Sat night, I baked the sweet potatoes & apples, pureed them, mixed in a little rice cereal and voila! homemade organic babyfood! A little goes a long way too! I was proud of my ice-cube trays of food.

Today our church had a MASSIVE tailgate party... all the different small groups cooked out - Aislynn & I enjoyed the nice weather & all the yummy food. I gave Aislynn some of my homemade apples and it passed the test :) I love our church...

Now, for a couple of busy weeks back to back... I have training offsite, Mon & Tues, and then Wed morning (7:30 am) I have to take the test "QUANTITATIVE METHODS" NOT fun! Then, immediately after my test, I have to go straight to work for our Heatlh Fair.. ugh. THEN, the following week, we're driving down to Tampa (work, training & 2 health fairs) then we're staying for my step-sis' wedding. It'll be nice to see 'grandma' Hein and fam. So, it's gonna be a couple of busy weeks!

Aislynn will be 6 months next week!!! I'm in denial. My precious baby girl - I still miss her being all curled up inside of me, kicking & moving... life really is a vapor.

tummy time & sweet potatoes

Aislynn playing last weekend & then her first bit of sweet potatoes (she's getting the hang of the spoon thing)

Hello Fall! so nice to see you

Atlanta had some CRAZY rain last week - it flooded all over town, luckily we were okay except for a leak in our roof (one more thing to fix!) But, we count our blessings! Today, it finally felt like Fall - cooler - breezier - less humid! I've seen a few trees even starting to turn red. I love fall here!

Since Aislynn is 5 1/2 months, we wanted to "test" her on rice cereal once a week. She did great, her natural reaction was to "suck" the cereal off the spoon, but she enjoyed it. This week, we'll try 2 times a day - most of the food is actually staying in her mouth - so we're getting there. Tonight I mixed a little sweet potatoes in w/ her cereal... it was cute to see her figure out a new 'flavor' - but I will say most of the sweet potatoes ran down her face or ended up on her tray. Soon we'll try peas & carrots, apples, pears, bananas... yum

My little baby bean is getting BIG! She's weighing in at 14 lbs... some other tid-bits: wearing size 2 diapers - wears size 3-6 month with a couple size 3mo items still lingering - she flip flops & rolls all over the place - she constantly has both feet in her mouth - she "sings" and "talks" in a broader range (with a little voice cracking in between), she's pushing up on her hands all the way & popping up on her knees - she stands for longer periods and tries to sit up from a reclined position all the time. She can't quite sit up on her own - she still tilts to the side or front. She recently dropped her 6th feeding & eats about 4 -5 oz, 5 times a day. She still does her "raspberries" and blows bubbles a lot. Still sucking fingers & normally always rolls onto her tummy to sleep. She laughs & smiles at Zeus all the time - she smiles at people from church & is just a sweet happy baby. 6 months is approaching way too fast! 6 months! I remember thinking @ 3 months she was getting old.

Stealing the remote from daddy

bouncin' in her johnny-jump-up

Trip to Canada

9/5 - 9/14, we visited Michael's family in Canada (Halifax, NS). This was the first time Aislynn got to meet all of them. Actually, it was a week of "firsts" for lots of us. We flew in late on Saturday, Aislynn smiled @ nanny & grandad when she saw them. (Aislynn did great on the plane ride over, just a little fussy on the last one, and then passed out)

We had a nice relaxing trip. Sunday eve, Peter, Krysta & the in-laws threw us a party for Aislynn so the "Adamski's" could come meet her. We got to see a lot of Michael's many cousins & aunts & uncles. AND, everyone was so generous & gave Aislynn some gifts/money. Then we stayed with Michael's brother Peter & sis-in-law (Krysta) and hung out w/ Jay & Mackenzie. We enjoyed their fire pit a few nights, roasted marshmellows & just hung out. Aislynn LOVED the fire :)

I got to go shopping at one of my favorite clothing stores, Reitmans (always great sales). I mean, I got a pair of pants for $3.50! you can't beat that, eh? :)

We also got to see Michael's grandparents (on his mum's side, never met them before). We also finally met Kerri (sis-in-law) and her dad for the first time. Michael went fishing with the guys one morning (didn't catch anything). We ate lots of poutines (fries w/ gravy & melted cheese) which is one of my FAVORITES! And, we had more donairs on this trip than I ever have had before (donair, another local specialty... spiced/shaved meat over flatbread w/a special sauce) YUM (my father in laws were the best in my opinion). Me enjoying a poutine. ('pooh-teen') :)

Right when we started to get settled, it feels like the week was just over! We didn't have any expectations or big plans, just hang out w/ family (mission accomplished). The last Sunday we were there, we went to Michael's old church and witnessed a knighting! (well, not really - but the original pastor was retiring & passing the church on to a new pastor) They turned the service into a 3 hour long ceremony - with a sword and "dubbing" the new pastor (all kneeled down & everything). It was interesting :) Definitely different than Bridgepoint.

Overall, it was a great trip -Aislynn turned 5 MONTHS OLD ON THE 8TH! I can't believe it!!! She was as perfect as she could be - loved & smiled at everyone. AND, on Thursday, she started pushing up onto her hands more - it's funny to see her figure something out, like "hey, look at me, I'm all the way up here now!"

Sadly, it's now Saturday and I still haven't unpacked! Lots of cleaning & unpacking to do. BUT I'm excited b/c today, me & the family girls are going to Sips & Strokes for Heather's birthday. http://www.sipsnstrokes.com/ - it's an instructor led painting party where we all get to paint a masterpiece while sipping our favorite drinks! FUN! More pictures to come.

Aislynn has a play-date

On Saturday, Aislynn had her 3rd play-date! Our little "3-musketeers" Emma Grace, Aislynn, and Parker (now almost 5 months) were introduced at just 1 month old (see below for before & after). They have grown sooo much! They had fun, they're all more chunky & interactive. I found it pretty hilarious to watch them all lay & wiggle next to each other - then they had some tummy time, and then they zonked for a nap (well, Emma & Aislynn did - Parker had to leave early). What little cute nuggets they are!

The babes at one month old

The babes at 4 1/2 months old!

After our play-date, we went back home to help daddy & friends tear down our deck (sooo glad it's gone). Just 2 more weeks till we get a new one! This week will be dedicated to cleaning house & packing for Canada! Can't wait!

6 years...

It's been 6 years since our wedding. So weird to think about what life was like then, vs. now! I enjoyed the time we had when it was just "Michael and Kim", but I LOVE the new little family we are growing (or should I say "that God is blessing us with").

(Then & Now... yikes!)

Our bean is 4 1/2 months & talking more & more - she loves to make noise. I'll have to post some of her recent "speeches". This weekend, she's going to be reunited with Parker & Emma for some play time. We can't wait! Ready for a laugh? Aislynn's passport came back (lol) Canada, here we come!

Mommy let Aislynn sleep in bed a little after breakfast one morning (so sweet) (sorry camera phone quality)

Funny thing happened... On my way home from work on Friday, I called Michael - this was our conversation:

K: "Hey, I'm on my way home"

M: "okay, uh, I think I ruined Aislynn's bottles"

K: "whyyyyy?"

M: "well, I wanted to sterilize them, so I boiled them... I also threw in her teethers... (K: "gasp") and they totally melted all over everything"

K: "You're not supposed to boil those or put them in the freezer!"

M: "Uh, yeah, I realize that now - but they melted on her bottles, so I'm not sure if they are ruined"

K: "I'll check when I get home (sigh)"

Here is what I found when I got home (oh, and the bottles were fine!)

God bless him for trying :) I can't wait to see where we'll be in 6 more years.

Aislynn is 4 months and dedicated :)

August is off to a great start. Our bean turned 4 months on 8/8. At her 4mo check up, she weighed 12 lbs, 5 oz, she was 24.25 inches long, and her head was 16.25 inches. Our lil' bean is getting so big! On Sunday, 8/9, we dedicated Aislynn at church. We loved what Pastor Chuck had to say about her. He quoted Eph 2:10 and talked about having "eyes to see, and a heart to obey". We hope that everyone who meets her will be reminded that God has a plan for their life... they just have to have eyes to see and a heart to obey :) Aislynn wore the dress I wore when I was dedicated. I also made her a big pink bow for her little bald head. I thought she looked adorable & she did really well (and took a nice big nap after the service).

so tired!

We had a yummy brunch afterwards and got to spend time w/ friends & family. Aislynn also got some very special jewlery for her dedication (a gold ring, gold cross necklace & pretty gold bracelet), and some other great things. (below w/ auntie tonto & auntie cheryl)

We are visiting family in Canada soon. We just realized that Aislynn needs a passport. On Monday, we scrambled to get her birth certificate (finally). Then, on the way to the passport appointment, Michael stopped to get Aislynn's passport pic. The poor thing - Michael held her while she sat on a stool - then she had to look straight at the camera (I know that is a feat in itself!) Finally they snapped the pic. When Michael met me at the post office, I was anxious to see her pic. Oh my gosh!!! Poor baby looks like she has a mug-shot... she had no idea her picture was being taken for a passport she will have to use till she is 5 years old! Poor little baldy. Below was the end result :) Mommy got a good laugh.

Bean 4 months ago - & Bean today! (over twice her size) My sweet baby girl...

This month she: Props herself up really high on elbows when on her tummy, more sturdy, reaches real far and grabs things really well, constantly pulls feet into her mouth, rolls right over when you put her on her back, experimenting more with her sounds (more yell/high pitch sounds), trying to blow bubbles, starting to chuckle & laugh more, still sucking first 2 fingers.