Have a great day!

I just had to post these pictures...I think the outfit is just adorable...well, and Rachel too, of course! ha ha

Fun day today!

Rachel & I met up with Sally & Luke today to have some lunch & then go to Springbank park for a nice long walk. I thought we were meeting at Westmount Mall...but apparently it was Masonville. OOPS! Anyway, so while I was waiting for them at Westmount, I put Rachel in one of those cars that move around. SHE LOVED IT! She wasn't sure about it at first but about 5 seconds into it, she was enjoying herself. I'm so glad I had my camera with me...

I scooted over to Masonville Mall after I realized that's where Sally was (and after calling a few people! hehe) and we had some lunch there. The kids just looked at each other and yammered away. It was cute. Then we headed to Springbank...it was a beautiful day and the park was very busy! We had a great walk...really long but it was great. We were out there for a good couple of hours. Here's a picture of the kids during our washroom break...at least Luke is smiling. Rachel has her 'stunned' look on her face.

I just had to post these pictures of Pho & Silvia. I think they are just gorgeous wedding pictures (they have many). These were taken awhile ago when they were in Taiwan.

Such a cute couple...and in real life, they are even more adorable! I just love seeing people in love - it's such a great feeling!

Pics from yesterday...

We had a busy weekend again. Silvia & Pho got married on Saturday so we spent the day in Toronto. Rachel got to hang out with Auntie Linda - and she was a good girl *phew* Everyone at the wedding was asking where Rachel was. Rybeca just couldn't believe we didn't bring her to the wedding. It really would have been too much for Rachel - she loves her little schedule and she needs to follow it so it's much easier to leave her with a babysitter. Of course we would have loved to have her there but at the same time, it was nice to enjoy a day/night out. At dinner time, Aidan was a little upset and poor Rybeca didn't get to enjoy her meal. I leaned over to her and said 'Now you know why Rachel is at home' - we both just giggled and Rybeca totally understood at that point.

It's hard to drink a glass of water when Rachel is around - she always wants some! Of course, I don't mind but I'm waiting for the day when we have company over and she wants some of theirs! ha ha I'm sure they won't want Rachel's slobber all over their glass :)

Just playing around...toys everywhere....AHHHHH

She's getting better with this walking toy but she still doesn't want to walk with it. She prefers to just stand and play.

One of the best investments ever...this little musical chair keeps Rachel entertained for HOURS! Honestly!!!!

Have a great week, everyone!

Using the spoon by herself

I don't think I need to explain these pictures...as you can see, we had a bit of a mess with the green beans. Rachel had fun though & needless to say, she went straight into the tub after dinner & the tray went right in the dishwasher :)

One note about her hair - she had it in a pony tail all day and I took it out just before dinner - I had fears of green beans drying on the elastic and having a hard time getting it out later on.

Rachel clapping her hands

I finally caught this on video tonight before she went to bed...

82 days....16 hours....35 minutes...

....and I'll be back to work. 82 days! EIGHTY TWO DAYS!!!

I'm actually ok with this. I mean, I'm a little sad because it's a lot of fun being at home with Rachel but I honestly do miss work. I was in the office today doing some visiting at the new building - it is soooo nice. It's great to have everyone in the same building and even on the same floor! I think the new office has me a bit excited about going back...it will be fun.

Until then though, I'm going to enjoy the 82 days I have left at home with my little pumpkin!

Rachel's bathroom

Linda & I painted Rachel's bathroom this weekend...FINALLY! I've only been talking about painting it for a few months now! :) It's a little brighter than I expected but it's really fun and that's what it's all about, right?

Rachel checking out her new bathroom - with Auntie Linda

We hand painted bubbles on the wall - just for something fun! They turned out a lot better than I thought they would.

After we finished painting, Ron, Rachel & I went to the green house and bought some flowers. Ron planted most of them when we got home - we still have to do the pots & planters but that's ok. If the weather is nice next Sunday we're going to do it then.

Another busy weekend is over. We spent Saturday in Windsor helping David & Andrea move. On our way back into London we decided to go see Shrek the Third since my parents had Rachel over night. It was an ok movie but not as good as I was expecting.

Time to go crash on the couch...

Visit with Owen & Ashley

Rachel & I went to St. Catharine's (well, Thorold to be exact) to visit Owen, Ashley & Lora. We had a good visit, even though it was short but we will hopefully see them again soon.

Gotta love the 'open mouth' look, eh?
Owen was helping Ashley open up her birthday gift

I LOVE Ashley's face in this picture - as if she's saying 'TA DA'

Lora had this walker for Ashley & Owen when they weren't walking yet so we tried Rachel in it yesterday. She really liked it so Lora said we could borrow it. When I put Rachel in it last night, she just moved herself to the dishwasher and then talked away to her reflection. It was too funny. Unfortunately we have a lot of carpet in our house so Rachel will only be able to use this in the kitchen area or the basement...or even outside I guess. She's doing really well walking if you hold on to her hands but she doesn't quite get the fact that when she walks with a toy she needs to move her legs! :) I think the walker will help her with that. The good news is that we don't have any stairs for her to fall down (we have a door to our basement).

9 month pictures

Rachel was in a great mood for her pictures this morning and I'm quite pleased with the results....

I think this next series of pictures are my favourites...

I'm so glad I decided to take the chef stuff in with me. They had the pot already there but the rest of the props are stuff I had here at home. I can't remember which picture from the chef series is up at the store right now - she printed one of them and put it up right away. Too cute!

This is what happens when Daddy is in charge...

Yup - she got into the Kleenex box. I guess we really do need to 'Rachel proof' our house now.

Rachel playing with the Phonics toy from Owen & Ashley - she just loves it!

This outfit is from my good friend, Jodie who lives in B.C. I'm so glad Rachel can wear it now! If only she would leave her shoes alone *sigh*

Happy as can be playing her piano!

Rachel has a crush...

I can't believe how HOT it is outside! We were outside for a bit this morning while the recycle guy was picking up everyone's blue boxes. Rachel just loves the big trucks and the blue box boy (that's what I call him) is soooo nice. We've been out there a couple of times when he's been by and today Rachel got sooooo excited when she saw him - she let out this big shriek and started kicking her legs. He says 'Wow, even my wife doesn't get that excited to see me'. He just became a Daddy 9 weeks ago and he said he can't wait until his little one reacts like Rachel does. Then he comes right up to her and says 'My goodness you're going to be a heartbreaker one day. You are gorgeous'. Rachel giggled - it was too funny! It's times like this that I wish I could video tape stuff like that because it's cute....instead, I'll blog about it!

Here's some pics of Rachel playing in her room this morning...

Her hair is getting so long now - we need to keep it up or cut it.

I love the picture of her playing with the tv. It's a hand me down from my friend Dana and Rachel LOVES it. She's always pointing at the characters as they go by on the screen. It's cute to watch.

The Pediatrican called this morning and we are going to see her this Saturday. Who knew she was open on Saturdays? It just so happens that she had a cancellation so it works out well. I actually spoke with the doctor on the phone (it was cute - she asked for 'Rachel's Mommy' when she called because she didn't know our names! ha ha)...she was asking about the brown spots and if I could describe them and if I thought it was an urgent matter. I told her that honestly I didn't know if it was an urgent matter but she has had them since she was born. Hopefully we'll have some answers after Saturday.

Well, Rachel is down for her afternoon nap so that means it's lunch time for me and then I'm going to go sit outside and enjoy this awesome weather!

Bell walk for Kids Help Phone

Yesterday Rachel & I participated in the Bell walk for Kids Help Phone. There were 37 people on our team plus their spouses & kids so we had quite a large group of people from Compass (where I work). Rachel & I raised $185 in two weeks so I was pleased with that and overall, The London office raised over $8,000.

It was a bit chilly in the morning - very windy - but it turned out to be a really nice day. The path where we walked (through the grounds of U.W.O.) were awesome - there was so much to look at and you would never know you were in the city.

I had my camera with me but I didn't take a lot of pictures - I was too busy walking 7km! ha ha Anyway, here are a couple from just before the walk...

Rachel & Erica

Ann Marie & Rachel

After the walk, Rachel & I drove out to Strathroy for the deJeu get-together. Every year in May they have a family Mass to remember the family members who have passed away (grandparents, Ron's Dad & an uncle) and then they get together for some food/snacks afterwards. I wasn't sure if we would get a chance to see everyone since the Walk-a-thon didn't start until 10. As it turned out, I was the first one in Strathroy - waiting for everyone else! ha ha It was great to see everyone again and Rachel was quite content to sit in the highchair and eat Cheerios. My goodness she loves those! As soon as she sees the container, she starts kicking her legs and waving her arms around! It's too cute!

We had to take pictures of Rachel with these shoes because they are size 15 and they belong to Ron's 2nd cousin (who happens to be 15 years old).

Rachel with the shoes on - making one of her funny faces.


The shoe is actually the size of Rachel's leg in length!!!!!

I called my Aunt on Friday night to see if she would babysit Rachel in June when we go to my cousin's wedding (in Whitby). Here's hoping Rachel won't make strange and will be a good girl. I'm sure she'll be fine and if not, we won't be very far away.

And the most exciting news from this past weekend - David & Andrea got engaged! That means I'm getting another sister-in-law. We're very happy for them and can't wait to hear about the wedding plans. They are planning on getting married next summer (Andrea is a teacher so it will have to be a summer wedding). I can't wait to see her ring!

So, another weekend is over and a new week begins...glad it's going to be a quiet one :)

9 month check up

Rachel & I went to see Dr. D today for her 9 month check up. I can't believe it's time for that already! How sad for me - it means I have to go back to work in 3 months *sniff, sniff* Anyway, Rachel is only 19lbs 4oz now and 26.5inches in length. I swear she's longer than that though - I mean, none of her 6 month pants fit her anymore because of the length - guess they can be capri pants now! lol So she's in the 25-50 percentile for weight and 10-25 percentile for height. Dr. D is also going to refer us to a pediatrician because of the brown marks on her legs and other parts of her body. We're not sure what it is but she's had these marks since she was a newborn. I'm still hoping that the sun this summer will fade the marks...but it will be great to find out what they are and if they will go away in time, etc. Other than that, everything is perfect with the little munchkin so we'll go back & see him when she's a year old.

I spoke to him about the amount of food she eats since she loves it so much and he said she's right on target and I shouldn't worry about it. He said she's not too chubby or anything and then he added he would rather see a baby on the chubbier side at this stage because once they get moving around, they tend to lose the weight so it's good to have something to lose in the first place. He makes a good point I guess! :)

A quick post

Hard to believe it's May already. That means another file of pictures for Rachel :) She's quite the little smartie pants...or problem solver I guess would be a good term to use. She has no desire to crawl to reach her toys....nope, that would be too easy. Instead, she will pull her play blankets with the toys on them towards her. It's cute to watch especially when the toys end up where she wants them - she gets very excited!

Last night she was having a blast playing with her toys in the family room. She was rolling around everywhere and giggling...and screaching of course, too. Anyway, all of a sudden she started playing her piano...

Lora bought her this really cool phonics learning toy. Rachel LOVES it and was having fun playing with it this morning...

Grandad took her for a walk this morning. Apparently it wore her right out.

Grandad, Rachel & Grandma sitting on the deck, enjoying the weather. Or maybe they were just happy it wasn't raining :)

Another shot...

Grandma was trying to get Rachel to do 'patty cake' but she didn't feel like doing it today! Gotta love kids!