44 weeks - She said "Kitty"!

*Please note that Cara does not say "kitty" in this video - it has yet to be documented!

Cara was completely back to normal this week after her illness last week. She is eating her solid food again, laughing alot (see video) and the nights are slowly getting better although she has taken to getting up for the day sometime between 5am and 7am (both times are way too early for me after getting up with her every 1-2 hours all night!).

She keeps practicing standing all by herself and has mastered falling onto her bum instead of onto her face! She's been crawling all over the place and continues to torment the cats too :) In fact, she has started to say "kitty" at the cats (mostly Goti)! She did it on Sunday and will repeat it for us when we point to the cats - she loves her kitties!

Last weekend we took Cara to South Glenmore Park and had a nice walk and played at the playground there - and in the splash park there too Cara really loved that! And this week we've gone for walks and went to the zoo with a friend from the baby group (Rebecca and baby Leah). We had a lot of fun! We have also entered Cara in a contest to be the cover girl for the Today's Parent Magazine if she makes it to the finals we will find out in December but it is fun just to try - the pic we used for the contest is below - next step is to get her into baby beauty pagents! Just kidding - we will leave it at this contest :)

Tomorrow we are flying to Ottawa for Brent and Nathalie's wedding on Saturday and having a quick visit with the DeBruyns - check back next week for pics from the trip!

This is the Today's Parent Magazine contest entry...wish Cara luck!

Cara and Leah after a great day at the zoo - Cara is modeling her zoo safari hat!

Cara LOVES swings she laughed and laughed :)

Splashing with Daddy - again had Cara in hysterics!

Squinting in the sun with Mummy.

43 Weeks - Roseola Virus

Cara and her rash :(

Well, Cara was sick most of the week. She contracted Roseola virus somewhere along the way and last weekend had a high fever from Saturday until Monday evening. We took her to the Dr on Monday mid-day and the Dr thought it might be strep throat so she prescribed her some penicillin and we were on our way. After a dose that night and one the next morning I noticed a rash spreading all over Cara's neck and torso. I called the Dr and back we went to see if it was a penicillin reaction, luckily it was not. The Dr immediately knew that it was Roseola virus and said to stop the medicine and that the rash would last a few days and then it would be over. And she was right - Cara's rash is all gone now and she is fine :)

She has also been teething all week so we haven't done too much - a walk with Nana, a trip to the swings, playing on the grass has filled the week. Cara has also started napping really well usually giving me 2 naps each 1.5 hours! I hardly know what to do with myself!!!

Eating Cheerios with a really big spoon.

Soothing her gums with a frozen peach.

Feeling better.

Feeling good and showing off her teeth!

Week 42 - Weigh in

Cara had a great week this week hanging out with Daddy who was off all week :) The weather didn't cooperate (it was cold and rainy all week and right now is only 12 degrees!!!) so we didn't get to do as much outdoors as we were planning but we got lots done nonetheless.

We Cara a new carseat this week since she is on the brink of outgrowing her infant seat. We figured she was close to the 22 lb limit and when we took her to the Doctor for her check-up she was 21 lbs! She measured 72 cm long but I think she is a bit longer than that actually. The Dr did a hearing test and she passed (no surprise!) and the Dr was impressed by all of her skills and teeth!

Skills wise, Cara is now waving to anyone and everyone she sees and started clapping this week! She is still crawling all over and cruising around on the furniture and she is trying to stand all on her own now, she'll let go or lean on something with her hip instead of holding on. We went and bought a play table for her to stand at this week too and she is really enjoying that and it takes he focus off the stairs or the coffee table too since it makes noises.

On Wednesday we took advantage of a dry day and went to the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary that is pretty close to us. It is a nice park with lots of different birds and animals too. Cara had a good time being pushed around in her stroller and we saw ducks, geese, a deer with 2 babies, a heron and a gray jay and some other birds too. A very nice walk that we will do again for sure.

On Friday we went to a Mom, Dad and Baby BBQ with the folks from our baby group. It was a fun time for Cara seeing the other babies and the Dads since they hadn't seen the babies since they were 3 months old. Everyone was impressed by Cara's skills and size! She is the 2nd heaviest baby and likely the tallest one and of course the most adorable :)

Her 2nd top tooth also has cut through the gum so she's been in some distress with that, now that it is through we're hoping for a couple of good nights' sleep!

Laughing with Daddy - Cara was laughing sooo hard!

At the Bird Sanctuary inspecting a flower.

A Heron in the resevoir.

Having a laugh on a bench.

Laughing at the ducks and geese!

Canadian geese.

A Deer and her babies.

Cara enjoying her newest toy!

Week 41 - Cara in the Maritimes!

We had a jam-packed and fantastic trip to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick this week! Cara had a great first plane ride then we had a great day in Halifax seeing the ocean and showing Cara around - she got a stuffed lobster as a keepsake and has named him "Homard" Homie for short - she loves to chew on him :)

The next day we were off to NB (Cara's first really long road trip) and had a great time at the Anderson house for a BBQ with family and friends. After that we stayed with Nanny & Papa for a few days and Cara got to meet and play with her Aunt Kelly, Uncle Mark and cousins Caleb and Lucas (Cara loved them all!). She got to spend time with Uncle Jamie and Leah and got to meet Great-Aunt Barb as well. After taste-testing some dulse at the Market (Cara seemed to like it!) and getting a keepsake stuffed puffin (named Puffin) we were off to Fredericton to visit Grampy, Aunt Sarah & Uncle James, and Great Grammy Price.

Cara had a great nap on the way to Fredericton and a great lunch at Bruno's with Grampy. Then we went for a visit at Great Grammy Price's with Aunt Sarah followed by a BBQ supper at Grampy's! Then a drive to Harvey for a nice evening with the McIntyre's and a nice sleep in the country :)

The next morning we had a awesome breakfast at Cora's with Grampy then drove back to Halifax. We took Cara for a swim in the hotel pool and she had a great time splashing around with us. Then we repacked all of our bags for our flight back to Calgary on Saturday morning! We had to get up at 445am to leave for the airport and Cara did not like that at all...it was a much longer flight home but not too terrible - we were all tired by the time we got home (thankfully Westjet changed our flight to the direct to Calgary one so that was a good thing!).

Now we are getting back on Mountain Time and looking forward to doing some fun stuff around town this week with Daddy since he has the week off of work!

We miss everyone back East and thanks to all of you for making our trip so much fun! XOXOXO

Cara meets the Atlantic Ocean!

Cara trying to eat "Homie" for lunch...practice for a future lobster supper perhaps.

Cara and Daddy at the Public Gardens.

Sitting on the grass at York Redoubt overlooking the Halifax Harbour.

A family portrait.

Crawling cousins at the Anderson BBQ.

Cara with Rosa, Luca and Rowan (my college friends' kids).

Cara (upset) at lunch with Uncle Jamie and Leah in Saint John.

Crawling at Nanny & Papa's.

Family portrait :)

Nanny's magical touch made Cara pass out!!!

Cousin bonding time.

With Great Aunt Barb and JJ the dog!

Cara in her nice highchair at Nanny and Papa's (thanks again!).

Lunch with Grampy on the river in Fredericton.

A visit with Great Grammy Price (Cara got to taste her first molasses cookie - yum!).

BBQ in Grampy's garden with Aunt Sarah & Uncle James.

Walking in Grampy's garden with Daddy.

Cara joining the Changing of the Guard in downtown Frederiction.

With Grampy and some soldiers.

Pre-first swim in a pool (at our hotel in Halifax)...

...in the pool (she loved it! laughing and splashing!)...

...more swimming...

...post-first swim in a pool (she didn't want to get out!).

Week 40 - On vacation!

We are on vacation! Cara had her first flight yesterday and the approximately 5 hour trip went well! She had a nap during takeoff and another nap over Ontario and snacked, watched tv and played the rest of the way. It was not too bad for Mummy and Daddy either :)

Cara is looking forward to seeing the ocean this week and seeing her relatives in NB!