Attention Tooth Fairy!

That's right, Julia has a tooth! We noticed it yesterday and really didn't even know she was teething. She has been gnawing for so many months that I'd given up thinking I could tell when she was teething. One little tooth has pushed through in the front left bottom of her mouth. Go Julia!

Here we have Julia and Grandma playing on the carpet together:

Our little one has been having a great time in Toronto. She's been sleeping very soundly, likely from the high amount of stimulation. Between Christmas and just a regular visit home, it has been non-stop.

The only missing piece around here has been DADDY. However, tomorrow morning we go to the airport to pick him up! Julia is going to explode from excitement when she sees him. Only three more days until we leave for Cuba!

Julia + Santa = Love at first sight

I have to be honest and say that I guessed that Julia would be a crying mess during her first ever visit with Santa. Was I ever wrong! Not only did she not cry, but we got smiles out of her! She was fascinated with Santa's beard. What a little superstar.
Grandma Margaret took the next shot of us outside of Santa's 'house.' Julia was totally diggin' a little guy that was walking around and she was probably smiling at him in this picture. He was kind of scared of her and kept walking backward the closer she got to him.

I think Julia is going to be disappointed when Christmas is over and all of the decorations are put away. She is absolutely crazy about all of the glitz and glam of Christmas.

We arrived safely in Toronto last night. Julia rocked on the airplane! It was her third flight and she played happily for about half an hour and then fell asleep for the rest of the time. There was another little girl on the plane who cried the entire time. I felt bad for her family because it was a full flight and it must have been so draining. We were greeted at the airport by Grandma and Grandpa and Ariel and Aidan. We all went out for dinner before coming back to Grandma and Nanu's house. As I held Julia in my arms on the plane I had to enjoy the moment because with so many loving arms in Toronto I'm not going to have much of a chance to hold the little one!

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A Wee Little Trooper

Julia got her seasonal flu shot today. I'm not kidding, the girl didn't even whimper or budge. She just stared at the nurse with her usual huge-eyed scrutiny and before we knew it, it was over! What a kid. I hope she's always this brave.
This afternoon we head off for our first classroom visit for the The Roots of Empathy program. We are excited to get the show on the road.

'Tis the Season to Be Jolly

Short of a Christmas tree, our house has been pretty jolly-fied. We bought some new lights that we have yet to put up outside. One of the casualties of being so busy. Currently our house is sporting a light ensemble that looks like a palm tree in the night. I love this next picture because Julia is holding onto a stuffed snowman that she enjoys shaking, beating up and squealing at. She kind of looks like a doll in Mark's arm.
Sunday night Julia had a great time playing drums on her dad's feet. It's a riot to watch her play with him as he is the only person who seems to be able to get her into giggling fits.
I don't trust this kid alone because she is so darn active. She's pretty stable sitting up though, so I took a chance and snapped a shot of her sitting on her change table.
We are almost all packed for Julia's trip to Cuba. We were given so many outfits when she was born, that we actually have summer clothes that fit her at this age. It sounds like the sun will be our main concern and that we should continue to treat the little one like a vampire.
I fished out a picture of Mark and I in Havana in March 2008. When we left Cuba there was so much that we still wanted to do. It will be different having Julia along this time, but she's pretty good at going with the flow. Bring on the adventures!

Our Little Christmas Elf

We put up some Christmas decorations this weekend and Julia loves it all. She's especially fond of the lights and the talking/singing Rudolph stocking that my dad gave Mark a few years ago.
I'm a bit sad that we don't have a tree, but I think I can get over it. Julia doesn't have the slightest idea about Christmas this year, so it's a great time to be going away.
We got the first significant snowfall of the year this weekend. It's gorgeous and I should take some pictures before it melts.

Mark has been keeping the wood stove filled and our house has been very cozy. I love this time of year and hope that Julia grows up with fond memories of Christmas too.

Julia, 6 months old

Well, it has flown by waaay faster than the first six months of my pregnancy. I sure wish I could pause time these days. Julia is the best little partner-in-crime ever. The photos above and below show her on Friday, her six-month birthday. These days she is all about grabbing everything in sight. She is one curious little monkey!!
Julia got her H1N1 shot on the evening of her six month birthday. She didn't even shed a tear and was smiling for the nurse before and after. What a sweetie. I felt kind of bad taking her for her 6 month check-up because it meant she had to get three more shots. Again, she was a superstar. She weighed in at 15 lbs 1 oz and 69 cm (27.2 inches).

The next photo shows Julia ready for a road trip to Saint John for the weekend.
We met Janelle and Andre and Grandma and Grandpa at Taco Pica for lunch. Julia had a great time with the sombrero strings. She's in love with laces and labels these days.

Now I've posted the next picture, not because of Julia's wacky expression but because of the high chair Julia is standing in. Part of the way through lunch all six of us adults looked over to see only Julia's head poking up from the high chair. She had fallen through the leg hole part of it and was holding herself up with her hands. Thank goodness she made some noise so we could rescue her because it would have been awful to hear her hit the hard tiles on the ground.
With Daddy and the cactus:
Janelle, Julia and Andre. A lovely trio:

If you look closely you will see the world's tiniest broadcaster. Click on the picture for a larger version of it. It is Julia at the New Brunswick Museum. After a lovely dinner at Suwanna, we went to Matt and Sarah's house for a great evening of good times and games. Sarah taught us how to play Settlers of Cattan. It was SO MUCH FUN. We are going teach Julia how to play when she turns one. hahaha. Here is a picture of Julia and Sarah:And finally, a picture of Julia today. Here she is on our bed playing with the stringy things on my slippers. She's fascinated by them. We just got back from a trip to the mall where Julia spilled Booster Juice all over the aisle of Toys R Us and all over my coat and all over her white pants. She kept pulling my straw out and thus created a massacre. It's always good fun when Julia is around!!

Then and Now

Here is a picture of Julia a year ago. She was smaller than 3 inches and was looking full-on alien!Here she is today! It's truly amazing how quickly humans grow.

It has been a week of firsts. We have started feeding her rice cereal. It has taken a few days, but she's starting to get the hang of it. Here's a photo of Julia and Mark before her first chowfest. She doesn't look so sure that it's a good idea.

Last night Julia had her first solo bath in a real bathtub. She loved it! She chased the little rubber duckie all over and sucked on the face cloth.
We are looking forward to her 6-month birthday on Friday because she can finally get the H1N1 shot and I can stop being worried about her in public. Everything goes in her mouth. Last night we went out for dinner and at one point she had her mouth wrapped around the top of the chair beside her.
Daddy is about to walk in the door any second and Julia has slept three times today, 20 minutes each. She's in a jolly mood, but I'm ready to hand her over to her father's loving arms.

Paws for Peace & Playtime Sillyness

Not only was November 11 Auntie Meghan's birthday and Remembrance Day, it was also the first annual Paws for Peace walk. Our friends Jaime and Ian organized it. They lost their dog, Keemoh, a year ago in an awful incident.
The next picture shows Jaime with their shy doggie, Trout. Trout was hiding because he doesn't like cameras.

Here we have Mark and Julia with Jaime and Jen:
Mark and Julia and Jen, making their way around Kilarney Lake.
I don't think November 11 has ever been as warm as it was this year!

Today we went and visited Heather and Blake. Heather and I teach together and were born one day apart in life. Our little ones were born two months to the day apart. We team-taught a French class together last year. It was great to have another mom-to-be on staff with me all year. Now we both have the year off with our little ones!
Heeeeere's Blake:
Only recently has Julia taken an interest in other babies and cats and such. Here she is undressing Blake! She pulled his sock right off.
She reached out and accidentally clawed his little face and made him cry. She's a little wild one!
Blake was very forgiving and agreed to pose with her for this picture. Julia got tired and cranky and it was time to go home. Here we have Heather and her little man, and my little screaming lunatic. She was asleep within a minute of driving in the car. It's hard work being a baby!

Everybody Deserves A Grandma Margaret In Their Life!

What a whirlwind of delight it was to have Grandma Margaret in Fredericton for a few days. Julia was in Seventh Heaven with the unlimited supply of attention and love.
This baby cracks us up with her foot-in-the-hand sleeping pose:
While she'd rather be carried around, Julia tends to be temporarily happy sitting on the kitchen table watching the action around her.
Julia amputating Winnie The Pooh's left leg.
This is the face of a happy girl! She was a bit shy with Grandma Margaret in the beginning but warmed up with each passing day.
Julia in Grandma's suitcase. Grandma was more than tempted to pack her up and bring her home with her.
Out exploring - Julia's favourite pastime.
Rockin' out. Julia makes such beautiful, umm, noise?! I don't think I'd call it music.
We were sad to see Grandma Margaret leave. Julia has a built-in partner in crime when it comes to her Grandma. Mark and I are both excited to let these two spend as much time together as they want in the years to come.