Christmas is over

The parties are over and we are all exhuasted. Leiah slept through the entire night last night. I still got up and prepared her bottle for her (twice actually) but by the time I got back up she was asleep. Then I got up at about 745am because she was fussing. By the time I got up with the bottle she was asleep again.

Here are some pics that we had taken of Leiah:

Christmas Eve

Being Swedish we have always celebrated on Christmas Eve. As I grew up and realised that there is a stocking tradition here in Canada, we encorperated it into our tradition. It would be pretty anti-climatic to open a stocking after all the big presents under the tree have been opened. Our solution came when we decided to open our stocking on the morning of the 24th.
Having said all that - here is a picture of Leiah and her stocking on December the 24th. (by the way - mom and dad got their Christmas present when she decided to sleep 6 hours last night in one stretch!!!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

I think we have finished shopping...yah!

The other day as we were shopping I had a great idea. Let's drive by IKEA and drop Leiah off at the ball room. I remember loving it when I was a kid. Did you know that kids have to be a certain height before they run around in there?!? They said she was too short. So I had to measure myself - she was.

so we took her home and gave her a bath

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Santa Lucia - Getting ready for celebrations

The celebration of Santa Lucia is a tradition that Swedes (and many others of course) have celebrated for years. I really don t know the significance except that it is an occasion for many of us Swedes to get together to eat and celebrate.


The day starts as daddy and Leiah get to sleep in a little. Cami put Leiah beside me and snapped a picture.













Leiah is all dressed up and ready to travel across town for the party










For this celebration, the oldest female child will have a crown of candles and lead the procession, followed by the girls, star boys and santa.












Notice how in the left side I stuck Leiah in there for the photo opportunity












Well the day is over and Leiah is all tuckered out.

Leiah and her toys

Leiah has received a bunch of new toys but it seems that her favourite is a small yellow fuzzy cube with a hidden mirror. take a look as she smile away.

I think she smiles because as she looks in the mirror she sees how beautiful she is!!!

Leiah gives us her thoughts

Being 7 weeks and a day, Leiah prepares to get ready for the "swedish" baby shower happening tonight

New Toys and A Bath Help

Tonight we went to another baby shower for Leiah - she is getting really good at it. She got her first big toy. It squeeks. After I had over stimulated her she realised that the big blue elephant was her friend and she gave it a receiving smile





Now, being the new dad there is lots that I have to learn. Giving a bath is more than a task, it is a bath AND interaction with little baby. Diane felt I needed some help so that baths would continue to be a good expereince so she picked up the 5 bunny finger bath scrubber. I'm not sure what Leiah thought about it but she sure watched where all the bunnies went!

Decorating for Christmas

"oh...Dad- did you buy me my very first Christmas ornament??"

She was truly surprised












Leiah had to hang the ornament herself. The first 3 places I hung it wasn't good enough











She fell asleep while helping mommy string up the lights on the tree

Getting Bigger

Well Leiah has officially outgrown two of her outfits now. I thought at first I had mis-washed her clothes but am relieved it was not my fault.

I tried to give her a zurbert - I think I scared her - I'll have to break her in gently




Leiah enjoys being sung to. My problem is that I know every tune to every song but the words seem to fail me. So, I make up my own songs and she doesnt seem to mind. She is beginning to smile, coo, gurgle and tonight I heard her do a short laugh/squeal. Cami tells me about it but I finally got to hear it. She even likes her baths

sometimes we get a little tired

new pics coming soon

over the last couple of days I have been getting our suites ready for tenants. I feel I need to tell you that so you realise that I do have a legitimate excuse for not posting in a couple of days. Cami has been to another baby shower. Every time we go somewhere we are overwhelmed with everyone's deep love for us and Leiah.

We had hired a photographer to come and take some family pics for us. We should have them by the end of the week but here is a sampling of a picture she sent us. We are so excited to see the rest.

We also took Leiah to see Santa - yes this year he is real. Leiah slept through the picture taking but did have the opportuinty to wake up long enough to puke on Santa's wihte glove. I guess she isnt getting anything from santa this year.

Playing in the Snow!!!!

Getting All Bundled up!!



















Out making a snow angel inthe snow

















getting nice and cool



















feeling a little snow on the face











Warming up at STARBUCKS

It's Snowing!!!

SInce I have lived almost all my life here on the West Coast, I realise that if I want to enjoy snow, you have to do it on the first day. So I planned to bundle up Leiah and give her her first snow experience.

The plan didnt work as well as expected. First it was pretty late - pushing 11pm. Sencond, Leiah was sleeping soundly in her rocker (She didnt sleep a whole lot today so this was a well deserved rest.

So I took her stoller out to make it look like she was having her first snow experince.







There is the empty stroller outside our house...a neighbour just peeked out the window because of all the camera flashes..the probably think I'm wierd















This is Leiah sleeping inside while I am Outside

Johnson came to Visit

Ben and Heather and all their girls brought dinner and came over for a couple of hours. Of course they wanted to hold little Leiah






Chelsea














Dania
















Aislyn

















Bretta

I'm a Month Old

Yesterday Leiah turned 1 month. She has put on some good weight so now she can begin to fit into the 0-3 months clothing.
She wore her first dress.

Power's Back on

With the recent storm we were without power for 3 and a half days but finally we are in the light. Leiah is now about 7 pounds and beginning to smile but everytime I pull out the camera she stops performing.

We are all doing well. We sleep or unpack whenever Leiah falls asleep. Diaper changes continue to be an adventure. One of us usually gets squirted with pee everyday so the washing machine is our best friend.

Well here are pics that all of you are waiting for...

We're Moving

Monday Morning at 10:00 we begin loading the truck!

It has been a whirlwind of a couple of weeks. Figuring out life with a new baby, 2 big weddings shows that I participated in (one is ending tonight), packing and getting ready to move.

Anyone who wants a sneak peak at Leiah tomorrow can show up at 9:55am and then since you are already here can help us move. I figure we will be done by 2pm. We are only moving about 6 blocks away.

If you need directions, email me at pbjurling@gmail.com

Off to the Mall

Leiah is so curious. The moment she is in a new environment or if she hears new voices she will wake up or she will refuse to go to sleep. Her eyes wide open, will roam the room and take it all in. As we walked down the corridors of Guildford shopping centre she watched all the lights and took in the sounds. To my dismay her eyes open up more and she will turn her head to the woman's fashion displays in the window. I got her out of the Mall as quick as I could.

Leiah SINKS into a bath

Ok so we have advanced from washing one body part at a time to a full tubby. We have a little tub but she doesnt like touching the bottom so we tried filling the sink and while I suspend her in water, Cami wipes her down...plus, every baby has to be washed in the kitchen sink at least once. As we bathe her it becomes a delicate dance where Cami and I have to manouvre around each other's arms in order to accomplish the task all the while Leiah kicks and arches when she pleases.

The first time we tried bathing I think almost all three of us were in tears...now no one cries.

gone, gone gone gone, umbilical cord is gone!!

It seems to have just disappeared! one day it was there and then the next it was gone. We couldn't find it anywhere. We looked through her clothing and her diaper and it was nowhere to be seen. And then we found it...in the washing machine. It must have fallen into the blanket or way down in her outfit. Cami threw it away before I could save it. It would have been such a great show case. When she is 17 and all her friends are over I could have pulled the sucker out and said..."Hey everyone, want to see Leiah's umbilical cord?!"

I couldnt even take a picture of it and post it on the web...oh well...*sigh*.

some pics of Leiah