Early Easter Dinner...

I seriously think that B's godmother and Auntie Amanda r.o.c.k.! Virginia and Amanda are my two very close girlfriends here in Ottawa. They came over for an early Easter supper (I need to use the word "supper" not "dinner" as we were eating at 4pm!) last Saturday and it was a fun gathering.

When they arrived, B had just finished with her afternoon feeding and I put her down in her crib for an nap. She woke up around 5pm and Virginia and Amanda both took turn to feed B dinner (vegetable with chicken chunks). They are very gentle with B and B obviously like them! :-)

... and they really spoiled B with lots of gifts! :-)

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First Swimming Lesson...

I am a very typical mom! I get uber excited for all Bethany's firsts! First time smiling, first time rolling, first time sitting up... and this list goes on and on!

Last Saturday was Bethany's first swimming class. We signed her for up a 9-week Parent-to-Tot 1 course at the Walter Baker Recreation Center. B did amazingly well in the water! She is not afraid of the water and she knows how to kick in the water!

Friday @ Starbucks....

Today is a sunny yet chilly day. When I woke up this morning, it was -15! I was a bit surprised with the sudden drop of temperature as it was +10 and sunny for the last two weeks. By noon, it warmed up a bit to -5 so B and I went for a walk, and meet up with Marie-Eve and Liam at Starbucks.

We did not really go for a walk in the neighborhood as it was a bit chilly for the little ones though they were all bundled up nicely in the strollers. So we had a coffee and a chat at Starbucks instead!

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First Time Sitting Up Unassisted...

I always believe that a sunny day brings miracles.

Today at 2pm, Bethany sat up the very first time un-assisted for more than 5 mins!

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A Typical Day...

Weather has been super nice (sunny and +10) lately so B and I have been out and about almost everyday. We like to take a long stroll to the Starbucks in the neighborhood, meet up with a few mommy friends and do our strollercize.

Here is a typical day for B:

Wakes up between 6am - 6:45am
Feeds (7oz of milk) at 7am
Play & Sing-along till 8am
Breakie (mixed grain cereal with fresh fruit) at 8:15am
Bath at 8:45am
First nap from 9am to 10:30am
Feeds (6oz of milk) at 11am
Get ready and head out at 11:45am
Meet up with other mommies and their LOs at 12noon... we usually go for a two-hour walk.
Home by 2:30pm
Feeds (7oz of milk) at 3pm
Second nap from 3:15pm to 4:30pm
Supper (vegetables with meat or congee with meat) at 5pm
Play & Sing-along (with Daddy) till 6:45pm
Feeds (7oz of milk) at 7pm
In bed by 7:30pm

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Jumperoo

Bethany l.o.v.e.s. her jumperoo!

Sippy Cup Training

We started introducing the sippy cup to B when she was about 5 months old. The timing of the sippy cup training coincides with the introduction of the solids. After giving B home-made puree, I would put water in the sippy cup and let her play with it. At first, B was confused as she did not really know what to do with the sippy cup. Then she went through a phrase of throwing the sippy cup at the dog (yup... my poor dog has been taking a lot of abuses from B) every time I gave her the sippy cup. This phrase lasted for like a week, so my poor dog did not really sustain any major injuries.

Her motor skills have improved significantly in the last 6 weeks. She can literally reach and grab and hold on to a lot of objects (and that includes my poor dog's tail!). Yesterday I had an uber serious discussion with B. I told her now that she is 7 months old and she needs to start learning to drink from a sippy cup properly. I put about 1oz of formula in her sippy and gave it to her. She quickly put the sippy in her mouth and as soon as she realized that it was milk not water in the sippy, she drank it really fast and made the sound of "awwwww" as if she had been stranded in the desert for a long time and she had finally found her first drop of water! Too cute!

Sippy Cup Training Day 1 @ 5 months (water in the sippy cup)

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Sippy Cup Training @ 7 months (1oz formula in the sippy cup)

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Bethany's First Playgroup

This afternoon, Bethany and I went to a playgroup @ Early Year Center here in Barrhaven. It was our first time to a playgroup so I had so idea what to expect.

The playgroup ran from 1:30pm to 3:30pm, and this playgroup is specifically designed for babies from 0-12 months. There were about 10 of us (moms and babies). We spent the first 1 1/2 hrs letting the babies explore the toys or other playmats. The last 1/2 hr was sing-along. Each mom took turn to suggest a song and we all sang along. Bethany and I suggested "Round & Round The Garden...". Bethany especially enjoyed the sing-along session as she was jumping, waving and chuckling.

We are definitely going to make this playgroup a weekly thing!

My daughter is an angel!

Before Bethany was born, I always thought and believed that I am a career-driven person who wants nothing but to climb up the corporate ladder... and everything changed the day the nurse put Baby Bethany in my arms!

My heart melts every time I look at her. My knees turns jelly every time she smiles at me. My heart breaks when she cries and have big tears running down her chubby cheeks. I l.o.v.e. my daughter. Simply put! She is the best thing ever happened to Joe and me!

I have been a stay-at-home-mom for 7 months and I truly enjoy every moment of it. Seeing that Bethany is one happy and healthy baby is rewarding, and it is the greatest satisfaction a mother can get!

Bethany is 7 Months Old

I can't believe I have not posted for almost two months. Wow... two months have gone by so fast that Bethany turned 7 months last Wednesday! 7 months!!! Our precious little one has been with us for 7 whole months! Last Wednesday at around 7am, she made a tiny noise that only a mom could hear. I tip-toed to her room, took a peek at her,and there she was, looking back at me, with a huge, bright smile on her face! Her little arms were moving as if to say, "Good Morning Mom-Mom! Today is a beautiful day!"

My daughter is 7 months old! She has grown so much that she no longer looks like a baby to me! I still remember the day the nurse put her in my arm in the OR. She was so tiny, so precious and so new to this world! On that day, baby Bethany, Joe and I became a family!

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