Two months old is cause for smiles!

Hi everybody!  I wasn't counting myself (can't count yet), but according to my Mom and Dad, I turned two months' old today.  While Mom was out grocery shopping for my Auntie Lisa's visit tomorrow, Dad turned off the NFL Network for a minute, grabbed that silver camera that always shines red and white lights in my eyes, and took a bunch of pictures of me.  Taking photos isn't my favorite thing to do, but I know that Dad and Mom are only taking all of these pictures of me because they love me so much.  They also keep telling me that people want to see more of me, and not all of my family and friends live right here in Vancouver...shout outs to my peeps in the USA!  So here are some pics of me smiling my biggest.  I'm not sure Dad did a great job with the camera, nor his iPhoto editing suite, but atleast you get the idea...which is that I'm 2 months old today and that's reason enough to smile!  

Love to all, Milliebeans

Babies and Beagles and Bears...Oh My!!

(he's off to the left of the screen, just before the trees)

So for the last 4 years of us going to Whistler on a pretty regular basis during both the summer and winter, we have yet to see a bear!  There are always several sightings mentioned on the news, by our friends or amongst the locals. As Jaimeson can attest,  I am always on the lookout on our drives up and thus far have always been disappointed that we haven't seen one.  (Although, I have to say, not seeing one is a good thing, because it means they are away from the roads, high up in the mountains feasting on berries!) But...i am always hopeful that I will catch a glimpse of one off in the distance.  Jaimeson and I even went on 12 day road trip through BC over to Jasper National Park and Banff National Park in Alberta 2 summers ago. I always had the camera out and ready for the spotting of a bear.  Again....no sightings!!!  

But....on our way to Whistler this past Sunday, we saw TWO bears on our drive up and ONE bear on our drive home...for a total of THREE!!  We couldn't believe it.  It proves our theory that Millie is a good luck charm.  Both Jaimeson and I have rolled a Yahtzee when we were holding her (for those of you that play, not an easy thing to do), we've both won hands at Euchre when we were holding her....and now we've had 3 bear sightings in less than 24 hours!  

Woohoo!!!  Next stop....Vegas!!   Here's the only photo we got....a little bear cub...who shortly after scooted off into the woods!   

Whistler

On Sunday, Jaimeson flew back from a 3 day work trip in Toronto for an art gallery opening that he is spear-heading with Red Bull, called Red Bull 381 Projects, only to turn around and drive 2 and a half hours up to Whistler for a movie premier for one of his athletes that evening.  We all decided that with Dad gone the last few days, we wanted to go to Whistler with him...and of course, dad agreed!!!  So we packed the car and hit the road (after football of course).  It's usually about a 2 to 2.5 hour trip.  However, there is a bunch of road construction occuring to get ready for the 2010 Olympics...so it took us a bit longer.  But we didn't care, because it really is one of the most beautiful, epic drives out there.  We got to Whistler at about 7 pm. 

(hanging out in the hotel) 

Jaimeson picked up take-out and brought it back to our room at the Westin.  Walter, Millie and I settled in for a night of bottles, t.v., and hanging out, while Jaimeson hit up the Movie Premier.    

(notice Walter in the window behind Jaimeson to the left, "patiently" waiting outside while we ate our breakfast :-)

The next morning, we got up and went to a nice brunch with some friends in the Whistler Village and then hit the road to get back to the city.

(Millie wasn't impressed with the yummy brunch at Element)

  It was a short trip, about 16 hours in all, but sooooooo fun!  Millie did great!  She slept both car trips to and fro (even though we kept trying to wake her up to see the views) and she didn't miss a wink of sleep in the hotel.  In fact...she slept quite well...almost 6 hours straight, before wanting a bottle and a diaper change.  It's always nice to get away from the city when we get a chance...and when you have Whistler right in your backyard, you have no excuse!!!! 

The photo doesn't do the scenery justice...it is the most beautiful drive!!!

Nothing Cuter than a baby's feet!

I couldn't resist capturing Millie's little feet while she was sleeping the afternoon away on her tummy.  They're just so little and perfect and sweet!! 

Cruisin With Dad

On Tuesday nights, Julie volunteers at the BCSPCA as a dog walker, giving shelter dogs some well-deserved outdoor exercise with walks around the neighborhood and some much needed love.  This standing engagement means that I get the chance to hang with the kids by myself for a few hours, and get to see what it's like to be "Mom" all day.  And to quote Sally O'Mally, Molly Shannon's character on SNL, " I love it, I love it, I love it!" This week we've had perfect weather.  So I dusted off a gift that Pampa and Mimi purchased for us during their stay last month...a nifty Dunlop jogging stroller, and went on a 3K neighborhood cruise with Walter and Millie.  Both were extremely well-behaved, and seemed to have a blast.  For Millie, it was the first time seated upright in a mobile until like that, and having the fresh air right in her face.  As for Walter, it's seriously amazing how much better behaved he is as a walker with Millie in-tow vs. on our own.  I like to think it's because he understands that it's more challenging for us to walk them both than just him, but it might also be that he's scared to get run over by the big wheels on the jogger!   

In any case, he's able to spend most of his time off-leash these days anyways (with treats every 3 minutes, of course, to keep him close by) which allows Millie and I to keep our eyes out for cars, cracks in the pavement and potential vermin that Walter might run after. 

 

As we continue to see how our family evolves with kids in it, one thing is for sure...we all love walks...and when Millie is old enough to endure a couple more bumps in the jogger, we will resume our family runs too!!  

- Jaimeson

Happy Boy!!!

So much to smile about....

I'm 7 weeks old today!!

So mom and dad have been working on a new routine with me over the last couple of days. You see, I've been having trouble going to bed in the evenings. My days are wonderful...a couple of naps, play time, tummy time, bottles galore, diaper changes...Awesome!  however...come 9pm (just about the time mom and dad want me to go "night-night") I start to get a little fussy and a bit restless...ok, who am i kidding...A LOT restless!  Sometimes it takes them 2 to 3 hours to finally get me down.  Mom has been reading books and websites to see if anything can be done. She started carrying me around in the Ergo carrier (sling) during the day for longer periods (good times!) as this was recommend for better sleep at night.  A great way to calm us wee-ones down.

(that's me tucked in next to mom"s coffee)

They're also trying harder and longer to get me to burp....I've never been a good burper (something I'm working on)...but I need to, because between you and me, I have gas :-)  Dad refers to me as "motorboat," walter thinks I'm a frog (not something I'm proud of, but we're being honest here.)

So last night, mom made me a bottle at 9pm and her and I settled into the rocking chair as we usually do, for songs, books, cuddles and drinks.  To her surprise, I started to drift off about 15 minutes into our routine.  I wasn't nearly as fussy or restless as I usually am.  Mom was elated and figured our "new routine" must be working.  She gently laid me in my crib and tip-toed out of the room.  I was OUT...or so she thought.  Just as she sat on the couch to do a little pleasure reading, I let her know on the monitor that I'm not quite ready for this "new routine!!"  It took US (we're a team) about 2 hours and I finally went down.  Actually...I think the "new routine" is working for mom....she fell asleep in the rocker waaaaaaaaaaaaaay before I did!!  So....I guess we'll try again tonight.  I'll keep you posted.  

Hey...what do they expect????  I'm ONLY 7 weeks old!!

-Amelia Sky