Shaylah Black

New Blog

2010-01-11T20:57:00.000-08:00

We have a new blog site! In an attempt to stop separating the kids blogs, we have made one blog for the whole family. The first post is very long-winded, but I had a lot to catch up on.

Check it out at http://www.black-in-action.blogspot.com/

I will be making this a restricted blog so that I know who is looking at it, but do not let this deter you. Send me a quick note and let me know if you enjoy reading our blog - I will add your e-mail address to our list.

The Wiggles!

2009-10-13T14:12:00.000-07:00

Shaylah and I had the pleasure of going to see the Wiggles last Friday night. Shaylah has been a big fan of theirs (almost as much as Dora) and she was SO EXCITED to go and see them in person. They put on a great show and she was not disappointed. We were on the floor in an aisle, so she was able to get out of her seat and dance for the entire show. She even got to give Sam a "high five"! They performed many of their favorite hits and a few from the new album. What a fun evening for both of us.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-10-12T22:29:00.000-07:00

Half Marathon

2009-10-12T22:11:00.004-07:00

Helping Daddy warm-up before the race.I am definitely late with this post. Johnny ran a half marathon a couple of weeks ago and we went to cheer him on! Shaylah was given his medal.....for being the best cheerer. She yelled at and encouraged everyone that ran by, but not as much as with her own Daddy. We were all very proud of him. Luckily, Johnny was just fast enough to finish the race before the runners were re-routed an extra kilometre around a bear on the course. Way to go Johnny!

Vacation

2009-09-20T22:59:00.011-07:00

Shortly after we picked Shaylah up from her first day of school, Johnny and I jet-setted away to the most wonderful vacation spot. It was the most relaxed I can remember being in a long time. Here are a few shots of the beautiful scenery in this most amazing place!

Our "limo" ride onto the island.

Sonora Resort

Can you see why this place was so wonderful? We had four days of the most amazing food and time to spend with each other. We went fishing, had massages, played (simulated) "golf", played tennis, hot-tubbed, had a cooking lesson and enjoyed marine life. Oh and did I mention how much we ate? I never went to a meal hungry, but managed to always finish my plate. The food was that good! Bu with all the peace and quiet, it was still great to come home to three little faces screaming "Mom! Dad!" when we came in the door.

First Day of Pre-school

2009-09-20T22:52:00.003-07:00

Shaylah had her first day of pre-school last Tuesday and it was a big success. I think I was the only mother that did not stay with her child, but Shaylah was so excited to be going "by herself". She was happy to wear her new dress from Grammy and to be able to bring her backpack with a snack in it. It looks like I am going to need to get a new display board for all of the artwork that is coming home with her!

Daddy took us to the zoo!

2009-09-11T14:45:00.005-07:00

We decided to take advantage of a couple of days off and do something fun with the kids. The Greater Vancouver Zoo is a place we only visit once a year, but the kids sure love it!

Helping the babies celebrate their big day!

2009-09-01T20:00:00.002-07:00

Shaylah is an amazing big sister. She loves to help her babies, give them kisses, tickle them and make them laugh. She was so happy to celebrate them on Saturday and was not jealous of their gifts at all. She picked out special new water bottles for each of them and sang Happy Birthday to them when they woke up. Thanks for making the day wonderful for your brother and sister!

A new game? I hope not!

2009-09-01T10:10:00.003-07:00

Swimming lesson from July (video)

2009-08-25T12:42:00.003-07:00

Update

2009-08-12T13:10:00.002-07:00

Once again I have no pictures as our computer is not working. Here is an update on Shaylah anyway! I have discovered that Shaylah LOVES to swim. She would live at the pool if I let her. She has been taking swimming lessons twice per week all summer and can't get enough. She is able to put her face under the water for more than 3 seconds, she can float with a noodle on her back and on her front and she swims for several feet by herself (with the noodle). She is definitely starting to notice things more in her environement. I continue to wonder where she learns things. She gets along really well with her brother and sister, but I think it is Caelan that she has the most fun with. Ashlyn just isn't fast enough or strong enough (yet!). She can now hold a conversation on the phone, she is a bit addicted to mint candies, and would love to be old enough to chew gum like her Daddy. She is starting to get a bit too old for Dora and has started to expand her interests to new things. She will be starting pre-school in September and I am so excited for her to meet new friends in the neighborhood.

Birch Bay - Shaylah's favorite place

2009-07-06T22:49:00.004-07:00

Shaylah is definitely becoming her own person these days. She is a very confident little girl during the day and can sometimes be a little too bossy for her mother's liking. Her most common phrases these days include...."I don't like those choices", "That's not fair" and "Remember?". Night time is a different story though, as she has developed a fear of monsters in her closet. She now has an army at her bedside to keep her safe during the night, which includes a red flashlight, 2 plastic dinosaurs (Rex and Goalie) and a bear (Mosita). She also prays for protection every night from the Ultimate Protector (Jesus). Even with this army, it is not uncomon to have Shaylah climb into bed with us during the middle of the night because her fear of the night is too much for her to handle. Shaylah does not like mealtimes and she would prefer to graze all day long without stopping for a real meal. She loves to play make-believe, ride her bike, run anywhere, cuddle, read books and make new friends (which she does so easily). She is loving her swimming lessons and is starting to swim on her own and put her face completely in the water! She knows all her letters, can spell her own name, loves rhyming words, and has a memory that never fails. She is super excited about starting pre-school in September and I can't wait for her to have that experience. She is more than ready!

Picking Berries

2009-07-06T22:39:00.002-07:00

We took Shaylah to a real berry farm to pick some raspberries and strawberries on the weekend. She was very good about not eating the berries she had picked and had a really good eye for picking the best berries. So much fun! I think this is going to have to be a new annual tradition.

Meow!

2009-06-15T08:34:00.002-07:00

We went to a School Fair at Shaylah's soon-to-be pre-school on Friday, where she requested to become a purple cat! She thought Jackpot might want to chase her, but instead he just gave her lots of extra kisses.

Biking

2009-06-02T16:00:00.002-07:00

Shaylah got a new bike for her birthday, but this is the first chance we have had to get her onto it. Her prized Dora helmet from last year no longer fit her, so it has been graciously passed on to Ashlyn. This year, Shaylah picked out a new Princess helmet for big girls, complete with knee pads. At least the smaller Dora pads still fit her elbows, so she has the best of both worlds! She is still a little nervous on her new bike, so Daddy has been helping her steer it. Her confidence builds each time she uses it though and I am sure it won't be long until we are running behind her yelling at her to "slow down"!

What a Great big sister!

2009-05-25T15:17:00.007-07:00

Consoling her crying sister.

Making sure Caelan keeps his hat on in the sun.

Just hanging out!

Lemonade Stand

2009-05-25T14:22:00.004-07:00

Yesterday, Shaylah decided she would like to have a lemonade stand in front of the house. She was calling to everyone who walked near to "come and get it". I have learned that she is quite the salesperson! We also have some very generous neighbours...one guy even gave her $5.00 for a glass!

The Green Playground

2009-05-02T20:37:00.005-07:00

This is Shaylah's favorite place to play.

Good thing she was there to catch Caelan going down head-first. I guess I should pay more attention to my kids instead of taking pictures!

Spring!

2009-04-28T23:15:00.001-07:00

I have been doing a lot of weeding and planting in the last few days and Shaylah has become my little helper.

Max & Ruby

2009-04-28T23:09:00.006-07:00

Last week Shaylah and I had the priveledge of having our first ever "Mom and Daughter Night Out". No babies allowed! I took her to see Max and Ruby on-stage at the theatre in North Vancouver and she is still talking about it. Max & Ruby rank right up there with Dora and Diego as Shaylah's favorite TV characters. Here she is 1. waiting for the show to begin and 2. doing the actions for one of the songs. It was all very exciting.

The Many Faces of Shaylah

2009-04-28T22:51:00.005-07:00

Smiling Nicely for the Camera

True Happiness

Roaring Like a Dinosaur

"I Don't Want To!"...which is a face I see often.

Matching PJs

2009-03-25T21:16:00.002-07:00

Shaylah and I had matching Christmas PJs this year. Last night, she decided that we should have our picture taken together in them. Aren't we cute?

Party #2

2009-03-23T14:11:00.006-07:00

We were lucky to have Auntie Rayanne and cousin Taylor here for this birthday. It was great to see you guys!

Happy Birthday Shaylah! Party #1

2009-03-23T14:04:00.006-07:00

List of presents:

Bike with training wheels

Drawing Easle

2 princess dresses

clothes

swimming goggles

scuba goggles and flippers

Wiggles memory game

Bobs and Lolo DVD and CD

2 princess dolls

princess camera

gardening tools, gloves, apron

Shaylah did very well on her 3rd birthday!

Don't Cry, It's Just a Joke! (Video)

2009-03-21T10:17:00.002-07:00

Growing Up

2009-03-14T11:29:00.002-07:00

Our conversation this morning is a sign that Shaylah is growing up....

M: (From Upstairs when I heard Shaylah playing in a cupboard she is not allowed to play in) Shaylah what are you doing?
S: Nothing! But don't come down!

Daddy's Birthday (Video)

2009-02-25T10:16:00.003-08:00

Shaylah was so excited to give Daddy his special Diego cake and help him blow out the candles. Here she is singing him Happy Birthday.

Daddy's birthday presents

2009-02-19T22:09:00.001-08:00

Since Johnny's birthday is next week, I thought I would ask Shaylah what she would like to get him for his present....she thought Dora presents would be a good idea. I guess I know what she wants for her birthday!

Bobs & Lolo

2009-02-14T12:17:00.003-08:00

Every opportunity we get, we like to go see Bobs & Lolo sing. Not only do we get to listen to great music and dance with our new friends, but Bobs & Lolo always come and say "hi" to the kids before every concert. They are so great...if you haven't heard of them, you should definitely check them out!

Enjoying the snow

2009-02-01T15:15:00.001-08:00

Mr. Snowman is long gone now, but Shaylah sure enjoyed making him with her dad.

Blues Clues

2009-02-01T15:13:00.000-08:00

Shaylah loves to dress up. This is one her favorites!

Star Light, star bright

2009-01-20T22:51:00.001-08:00

I was reading a Dora story to Shaylah tonight which talks about wishing on the first star you see each night....her wish was for more Princess dresses in her closet.

Before and After

2009-01-13T13:16:00.003-08:00

Shaylah's First Haircut

2009-01-13T13:11:00.004-08:00

OK, so I know that Shaylah is almost 3 years old, but she has never even had her hair trimmed before. I took her today to get her first ever haircut and all went well. It was a place that was geared toward kids...she watched Dora on TV, rode in a Spiderman car (which she chose over the pink Barbie car!) and got a prize at the end (a Dinosaur). It was a great experience for both of us!

Christmas

2009-01-05T11:22:00.009-08:00

Shaylah has been waiting for Christmas for months....every since she learned that we would be going on a big plane to spend Christmas with her cousins. Despite a along plane ride and several illnesses, the trip was well worth the wait! Here are a few photos from Christmas day.

Baking

2009-01-04T12:02:00.004-08:00

Shaylah can often be heard saying "Can we make something?". She got plenty of opportunity to bake and decorate with her cousins.

Outdoor fun

2009-01-04T11:42:00.006-08:00

Shaylah has discovered a new love of snow. It is no longer just needed for Santa, but is also a great place to play and go sliding. We had to buy her a new sled as soon as we got home!

Our little princess

2009-01-04T07:21:00.004-08:00

Shaylah was so happy to have an older girl cousin to play with. Sarah taught her about make-up, dressing up and dancing. Shaylah loved getting into Sarah's closet and trying on all her princess clothes.

Questions for Shaylah

2008-12-04T13:41:00.002-08:00

I have enjoyed asking Shaylah questions lately to see what her answers may be....

What is your favorite number? Two

What is your favorite color? pink

What is your favorite animal? giraffe

What is your favorite sport? swimming

What are you afraid of? giants....but not Mommy giants

Who is in your family? Daddy.

Is Mommy in your family? No silly, you are just my Mom.

What is your favorite show? Dora

What is your favorite food? Candy

Thanks Melanie!

2008-11-28T14:27:00.004-08:00

My dearest friend from my TWU days came to visit in September and took a few pictures of the kids at Stanley Park for us. Melanie was my bridesmaid at our wedding and has remained my closest friend, even though she lives so far away. She is an amazing photographer....here are a couple of my favorites of Shaylah! Thanks Mel!

Halloween night

2008-11-01T12:25:00.004-07:00

I decided to take the kids to the mall for trick or treating this year, since it was supposed to rain in the evening. Shaylah filled her Dora basket and was satisfied. Her Daddy then took her out around the neighborhood when the rain stopped and she had a blast. Now that Halloween is over, her first question to us this morning was..."Now can we go to Christmas?". She cannot wait to go and visit her cousins!

Pumpkin Patch party at the church

2008-11-01T12:21:00.001-07:00

On Thursday night, we went to our church for their annual Pumpkin Patch party. Shaylah got to play games and "win" candy and prizes. She thought the games were great, but was a bit overwhelmed by all the noise and people.

Singing and Dancing at Mother Goose

2008-11-01T12:16:00.003-07:00

Just as a side note, the little boy she is dancing with is only 12 days younger than Shaylah...but only comes up to her shoulders. She is quite tall for her age.

Carving the Pumpkins

2008-11-01T12:07:00.005-07:00

Shaylah had to be convinced this year that she would like a pumpkin to carve (not sure why!). We got a book out the library called "Dora's Perfect Pumpkin" and told her that we could carve Dora's face. Then, everything was fine. She wasn't really into cleaning the seeds out...too messy for the little princess. She was extremely happy with the end result though! Dora and Swiper now sit proudly on our front steps.

Nature Walks

2008-10-27T11:52:00.004-07:00

So we finally decided to get a digital SLR camera and try to learn how to use it. Since I know nothing about photography, I am starting at the beginning. We took a few walks through the woods this weekend and this is me playing with aperture....

Laity Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-21T23:17:00.004-07:00

Shaylah enjoyed all the amenities at the Pumpkin Patch, but she did NOT want to bring a pumpkin home with us. There's always next year!

Joke from a 2 year old

2008-10-20T08:59:00.001-07:00

Shaylah has started telling me this joke at least once a day. I have no idea where it came from, but she thinks it is pretty funny.

S: I have an idea Mommy!
M: What is your idea?
S: Quesadilla!

Pictures of the day

2008-10-14T23:07:00.008-07:00

Today was such a beautiful sunny day, that we decided to go out and enjoy it....before we voted, of course.

Somersaults

2008-10-14T22:46:00.002-07:00

Shaylah learned this skill a couple of months ago, but she still insists on showing everyone who will watch....so here it is for everyone who hasn't seen her do a somersault!

New playhouse

2008-10-02T13:22:00.003-07:00

I have been looking for awhile to buy a second-hand playhouse for the kids....and we finally found one! It is now sitting proudly under our deck and Shaylah loves it.

Big sister

2008-09-29T10:54:00.002-07:00

People always ask us how Shaylah is with the babies and if she ever got jealous with their arrival. We can honestly say that Shaylah has jumped into "big sisterhood" with such a joy and love for her babies that it is quite fun to watch. There are the occasional meltdowns when they have toy that she wants, but for the most part she has been very caring and generous with them. She loves to get them laughing and is quite proud of her brother and sister.

So big!

2008-09-02T23:00:00.002-07:00

Shaylah seems to have hit a big growth spurt in the last few weeks.....or it may be that we have just been in shorts and t-shirts for so long. Now that the weather has changed, however, it recently took me several attempts to find a pair of pants and a shirt long enough to cover the ankles and wrists! Plus, she seems to have skipped a shoe size entirely! We need to do a major shopping spree for a whole new wardrobe very soon. Who told this little girl that she was allowed to grow up so fast? It certainly wasn't me. I find myself willing her to stay little, while simultaneously wishing the babies would hurry up and grow! It is wonderful and sad at the same time to watch your baby grow up into an independent person. I love that she understands more, can think things through on her own, has a wild imagination and can remember conversations from several weeks ago, but I am also sad that she is needing me less and less to help her understand the world. I have been thinking a lot about how my mother used to always tell me not to grow up. I remember these conversations vividly and I now understand how she felt....and would love to be able to share this insight with her.

Random Summer Pictures

2008-08-30T15:20:00.007-07:00

Making smores with Daddy

Playing in the backyard

Eating a muffin

Watching the sun set with the babies

Painted butterfly

The PNE

2008-08-30T15:09:00.009-07:00

After the superdog show

Airplane ride with Mommy

Carosel ride with Daddy

Petting a goat

Checking out the animals with Grandpa and Taylor

Teaching Ashlyn about The Wiggles

2008-08-07T22:54:00.000-07:00

Playground with cousin Catherine

2008-07-24T09:34:00.005-07:00

Posted for Grammy Barb to see.

Tea Party at Great Gran's House

2008-07-22T14:07:00.001-07:00

Thanks Jenn for sending the pictures! Shaylah is still talking about Samantha.

Salad

2008-07-20T23:51:00.001-07:00

Checking out the "salad", otherwise known as seaweed, with Grandpa.

Grandma's hat

2008-07-20T23:45:00.006-07:00

Shaylah discovered a hat that belonged to my mother and fell in love with it. It became her "cowboy hat" and was the hat she wore for the rest of the weekend. I can just imagine how pleased my mom would have been to see Shaylah in that hat.

Weekend with my other cousins

2008-07-20T23:30:00.014-07:00

We were lucky this weekend because we got to spend some time with the Fitzpatrick family down at Birch Bay. Shaylah loves to play with her cousins!

Watching Faith dig in the sand...as the tide was coming in.

Sharing a snack.

Watching the Birch Bay Parade.

Fashion Sense?

2008-07-12T14:58:00.002-07:00

Shaylah enjoys picking out her own clothes these days. This is the outfit she picked one morning, including the accessories. Please notice that she is no longer wearing diapers. We have gone 2 whole days without any accidents!

Bee-you, bee-you!

2008-07-11T17:11:00.003-07:00

This toy watergun, which was left behind by Shaylah's older boy cousins, has become her favorite....probably because it was Christopher's, who seems to be her idol these days. We are not quite sure why, but everytime she picks it up, she also yells "bee-you, bee-you!".

Long weekend at Birch Bay

2008-07-03T15:32:00.002-07:00

Enjoying the hot weather on the back porch

2008-07-03T15:29:00.001-07:00

...and keeping the babies entertained with a good story.

Daddy's girls

2008-07-03T15:27:00.000-07:00

The Whole Family (on the Black side)

2008-07-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

Pigging Out

2008-07-03T15:20:00.003-07:00

A treat from the cousins...a caramel chocolate apple in the shape of a pig. Mmmmm!

Swimming

2008-07-03T15:15:00.002-07:00

Shaylah has fallen in love with swimming. She would stay in the pool for hours if she could. It was great to have her cousins staying in a hotel with a pool recently so she could get more confidence in the water. She now has no problems putting her head under. Swimming lessons will probably be a must in September.

I love my sister!

2008-07-03T15:12:00.002-07:00

Please note the new Princess sheets, which have now replaced the Dora sheets. We are starting to move into a new phase...although Dora is still very much a favorite for now.

Trip to the zoo

2008-07-03T15:00:00.004-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posts. There have been a few incidents...but the camera is now fixed, we have a new computer, the new software has finally been loaded and the company has all gone. Blogging can now get back to normal! :) Here are a couple of pictures from a May visit to the Vancouver Zoo. Notice the jackets...it was very cold that day!

Shaylah's Update

2008-06-02T15:13:00.002-07:00

Shaylah has definitely hit the 2 year old phase and keeps us on our toes. Her favorite phrase is "No, I do it!" and she loves to ask questions. She would live at the playground if she could and she looks forward to playing with her friends, often asking for them by name. She has also discovered a love for painting, doing puzzles and blowing bubbbles and she has absolutely no interest in playing with dolls. Why play with dolls when you have 2 real babies to play with? She is very close to being potty-trained during the day....it is our lack of consistency with this issue that is holding her back. She currently weighs 28 pounds and is very tall when compared to her same-age friends.

Another Conversation

2008-05-25T13:41:00.001-07:00

This is a recent conversation with Shaylah...

S - Oh no Mommy! I lost my cookie!
M - Where did you lose it sweetie?
S - In my mouth!

Language

2008-05-25T13:35:00.002-07:00

Shaylah has a pretty good handle of the English (and some spanish too!) language now. She speaks in 6 or 7 word sentences and has started telling us how she "feels". There is one sound, however, that still eludes her....."th". There are many words that start with "th" and each one is replaced with a different sound. Here are a few examples:

This = Dis
Three = Free
Thumb = Some

The Alphabet Song (video)

2008-04-29T09:18:00.003-07:00

This was last night's serenade at dinner time.

Backyardigans

2008-04-24T14:37:00.004-07:00

Today Shaylah and I had some rare time alone together while both babies were sleeping. We decided to take advantage of the sunshine and play in the backyard.

Missing Grandma

2008-04-24T14:21:00.003-07:00

Ready or not, here I come! (video)

2008-04-13T22:18:00.002-07:00

A family shot

2008-04-13T22:06:00.001-07:00

Shaylah is getting a little bit better at posing for the camera. She still won't smile when asked...we have to sing one of her favorite songs in order to get a decent face (this time it was "if you are happy and you know it").

Shaylah and "her" babies

2008-03-27T22:48:00.002-07:00

Shaylah's best friend - Junie

2008-03-21T08:39:00.000-07:00

feliz cumpleanos!

2008-03-21T08:30:00.003-07:00

Shaylah attends a home based daycare where Spanish is the main language that is spoken. This video is part of her birthday song.

Dora sheets

2008-03-18T12:04:00.002-07:00

Caelan has finally come to a point where he has outgrown his bassinet and needs his own crib. That means that Shaylah had to be moved to a twin bed so that the second crib could be moved into the babies' room. I was afraid she would resist the change, but she welcomed her new big girl bed without any issues. As long as it involves Dora, Shaylah will make any change necessary!

Two fingers!

2008-03-18T11:56:00.004-07:00

Shaylah was so excited to be celebrating her birthday. We had the party a day early so that Grammy and Grampy could join the party. She told everyone we met that it was her birthday and that she was "two fingers". She could be heard saying "oh boy! oh boy! oh boy!" throughout all the excitement and she had a very hard time going to bed at the end of the evening. What a difference a year makes!

The Dora Cake - lovingly made by Great Gran.

2008-03-18T11:53:00.004-07:00

Opening gifts.

2008-03-18T11:48:00.006-07:00

Shaylah and Ashlyn

2008-03-10T18:59:00.002-07:00

Counting

2008-03-09T14:45:00.002-07:00

OK, so we still need to work on the numbers a little bit! :)

Sleeping?

2008-03-07T14:33:00.003-08:00

This is how I found Shaylah sleeping when I went to check on her last night.

I thought I would also update Shaylah's stats:

Weight - 28 Pounds

Size - 2t or 3t, depending on the brand.

Shoe size - 7.

Likes - Her babies; Dora and Diego; walks; bubble baths; Princesses.

Favorite Songs - Itsy, Bitsy Spider; the Alphabet Song (always followed by "good singing Mama" when we are done).

Favorite Vegetable - Brocolli

Favorite Fruit - She loves them all!

Favorite Dessert - Ice cream cake (that may be her mother's fault!)

Favorite sayings - "No, I do it", "Tada!", "This is Ashlyn/Caelan"

Favorite game - Find Shaylah

Favorite color - Purple

Favorite accessory - headbands

Best Friend - Junie

New Skill - talking on the telephone.

Favorite chore - putting Jackie's food in his bowl.

A daily conversation with an almost 2 year old

2008-02-22T08:34:00.002-08:00

Me = M
Shaylah = S

M: I like your headband sweetie.
S: No, MY headband!
M: Is that YOUR headband?
S: No, MY headband.
M: Oh, it's MY headband.
S: No, MY headband.
M: Is it Mommy's headband?
S: No, Shaylah's.
M: Oh, it's YOUR headband.
S: No, MY headband!

And so on, and so forth. I think you get the idea.

Big girl bed

2008-02-19T19:44:00.003-08:00

We have finally transitioned Shaylah into a big girl's bed by taking the front off her crib (with her help of course!). She is so excited that she can get in and out of bed by herself that she looks forward to going "night. night". She is quite proud of her new set-up.

Little Miss Sunshine!

2008-02-16T09:56:00.003-08:00

Learning to color...thanks to Auntie Carole for the new crayons and coloring book!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

2008-02-14T22:44:00.001-08:00

Robeez model

2008-02-04T10:15:00.000-08:00

Last summer I had heard that Robeez was looking for baby models. On a whim, I submitted Shaylah's photo and she was chosen. Here are 2 pictures from their website http://www.robeez.com/ of her modeling their new line of shoes.

Accessories

2008-01-30T21:52:00.000-08:00

Shaylah has discovered accessories. Headbands and sunglasses are a favorite these days, but so are necklaces and bracelets. She is becoming such a big girl so quickly!

Winter Wonderland

2008-01-30T21:42:00.000-08:00

Shaylah has become a big fan of the snow. We decided to take advantage of a beautiful Sunday afternoon at the dog park before the big storm hit.

New phrases

2008-01-26T19:01:00.000-08:00

New phrases heard frequently from Shaylah:

"I love it!" - usually in reference to food.

"Momma's turn" - when trying to engage in a game of follow the leader.

"Watch Dora?" - which would happen all day, everyday if I let her.

"Oh, baby Ashlyn/Caelan" - said in an attempt to comfort either baby when they are crying. This is also accompanied by a kiss and a hug or a stroke on the head.

"Jump!" - a new skill she is learning and loves to practice.

"C" is for Caelan

2008-01-26T18:48:00.000-08:00

Shaylah is becoming very interested in learning her letters. She knows the lletters that symbolize people she loves and will often give them to their respective people.

C - Caelan

A - Ashlyn

S - Shaylah

M - Mommy

D - Daddy

J - Jacky

G - Grandpa

H - Heather (although Heather lives in Nova Scotia, she made quite an impression on Shaylah during her visit here last fall. Shaylah still talks about her!)

T - Taylor (who will be visiting in a couple of weeks)

R - Rayanne (we are still working on this one)

Colors are also becoming a favorite naming game. She is consistent with blue, green, red, purple and pink. We are still working on yellow and orange.

Sick

2008-01-04T19:38:00.001-08:00

Poor Shaylah woke up vomiting this morning. She went through 4 pairs of PJ's and several blankets and towels before it was even lunchtime. She spent most of the day snuggling with Daddy on the couch...but I think he needed to naps too. I think the hardest part about the day for her though was the fact that I wouldn't let her kiss her babies!

Christmas Eve

2007-12-25T22:45:00.000-08:00

It is pretty hard to get a good picture of 3 little ones. This is the best we could do before the Christmas Eve service on Monday night.

Santa's little helper

2007-12-25T22:43:00.000-08:00