Friends Frolic and Play at a Picnic in the Park

Like I have previously mentioned, we love Fall! And lucky for us, the weather has been just beautiful this past week, so we, like any other Edmontonian, have been soaking it up like a sponge knowing that soon, Winter will rear it's ugly head. Isla and I went for a lovely picnic at Hawerlak Park yesterday with Aunty Amy and friend Wren. It is really adorable to watch your children play with other babies. Isla and Wren have spent plenty of time together and being only 5 weeks apart, they are quite similar in abilities... although Wren is a little faster and a little stronger than Isla. We are hoping that the friendship they have now will grow and these two ladies will be the best of friends. It looks like this will be so. We played on the swings and then had a lovely little picnic in the park. Feeding yourselves and your babies on a blanket in a park with a noticeably missing high chair is much harder than it sounds... and with 2 babies, it makes for quite the busy and fun event. Isla was eating Wren's mum mums, Wren was really wanting the avacado smeared across Isla's face and more than anything, they both desperately wanted the leaves that seemed to pour like rain from the limbs of the trees. Watching the 2 interact was nothing short of a comedic act. Both of us Moms were busting a gut as we were snapping up the photo ops (Amy is posting the same event on her blog as well!). It is fun to think that these girls could develop a life long friendship, just like their dads. Kenton (Amy's husband) and Cam have known each other since birth and are still friends now, 27 years later. Kinda crazy really. I am officially old. Check out the girls, who coincidentally, match in the cutest sweaters ever. Great friends (and great Moms) think alike.

Enjoying the beloved swing.

Wren: I want that lid Isla.

Isla: But it's mine.

Wren: But I had it first. 

Wren: HAHA. I win. I got it. Take that.

Isla: Alrighty then. Fine by me.

Isla: Ok Wren, I lied. I want it RIGHT NOW!

Wren: Well then, come and get it.

Amy and Jill: Girls. There is plenty of lid to go around. Let's play nice for the rest of our picnic please.

Girls: Yes Mom.

Isla: Truce?

Wren: (thinking really hard)...

Wren: (hesitantly) Sure Isla. Truce.

Isla: (tickled pink) Thanks Wren. 

Bunnies at the Public Library

Today, I decided to get a library card for the St. Albert Public Library. It's super cheap and ultra amazing. We walked down there, which is only 15 minutes away and signed ourselves up. I felt so sophisticated and smart, perusing the aisles and picking out various books and DVD's. My stroller was overflowing (literally... I had to pick up fallen items SEVERAL times on the walk home) with goodies for both Isla and I.  I also signed up Isla for the "Bunnies" program. It's just for babies and happens every Monday night in November from 6 - 6:30 pm... perfect timing. They do read-a-louds, sing-a-longs and puppetry. Isla is SO pumped (ok, I am so pumped, but still).

THE card. 

Isla visibly excited for our lovely fall walk to the library.

Look of enthusiasm after telling her about her upcoming 'Bunnies' program. 

Isla discovers a...

CAT!!

 Cam snapped these photos of Isla as she was playing in the leaves at Momo's house. Watch her delicious expressions as she discovers Chad (that's the cat).

Pretty Pictures

Isla helping with laundry. 

Lovin' life in the tub.

Big Smiles. 

I can stand all by myself. 

9 Months

9 months ago today, I gave birth. Crazy thought really. Isla has been outside my tummy the same amount of time she was inside. Although I absolutely loved being pregnant, I love having her with me SO MUCH more. She certainly has changed in this last month. The biggest new development?? SHE CRAWLS (as previously mentioned). She is just the little motorboat these days. She moves all across rooms and has figured out already how to make a giant mess. She cleans out her book basket, her block basket, her toy bins and pulls herself up to stand on anything she can. She has become quite the giggler, especially when we find her ticklish spots. She loves games like Peek-A-Boo and Patty Cake... she lights up like a light when we start playing. She also loves the song "If You're Happy and You Know It". She claps her hands along to the beat. However, the cutest thing I think she does is give kisses. If you say 'Kiss', she will open her gooey, wet mouth and lean in and plant those lips on yours. Cutest ever. Her technique certainly needs work and we must address the excess saliva issue, but not quite yet. Her little kisses are just perfect. She is still eating lots of solids... her favorites? Any mashed up fruit and avacados. It's amazing to watch her grow and change daily. Her 9 month check up was yesterday and the doc says she is perfectly healthy and growing just so. She is in the 50th percentile for weight, coming in at a whopping 18.5 pounds and in the 75th for height, measuring in at just over 28 inches. And her head... well, let's just say it's huge (her toques are 12-24 months).
For some reason, I cannot upload pictures. Stay tuned.

Mobility = Madness

ISLA CRAWLS. ISLA CRAWLS. ISLA CRAWLS.

Isla was SO SO SO close for so long. She would get on all fours, take a step or 2 and then just give up and drag herself with her arms. Now, she motors all over the place. As I type, my child crawled across the room to me and then pulled herself up on the couch. I looked down and saw these big blueberry eyes staring up at me. Too adorable to describe.
This means a whole new ball game for us. Plan for today? Baby proof!

A Walk in the Park

Last night, Cam and I took Isla to the park. Now, this was definitely not our first time at a park but it was the first time I brought the camera. Isla just loves the swings. She could probably sit in them forever if she could, but alas, we have to eat and sleep too. Darnit. I did take... oh I dunno, 100 pictures to capture the glee Isla was experiencing, but taking 'good' pictures of a baby is next to impossible. Here are some of my faves.

Just look at how she sits in the swing. Leaning forward, not holding on, swinging like a limp noodle. She is too much.