Monday, 23 January 2012

Should Have Done a Bowl Cut

Anne's hair was growing too long.  It was in her eyes and she had a Gollum-like rat tail that was dark at the tips and light at the roots.

Anne's hair pre-hair cut.
Gollum-like rat tail.
Rat tail is light at the roots and dark at the tips.

After weeks of Jeff's cajoling I finally agreed to a hair cut.... or at least a trim.  (One day you're giving your baby her first hair cut and the next she is going off to university.  You have to be careful with those hair cuts.)  However, rather than forking out the $12 for a Baby's First Hair Cut special at the local salon, Grandma B and I thought we could do it ourselves.  We tried to distract Anne with YouTube videos while Grandma held up her hair and I cut it with some slightly curved baby nail scissors.  I bet you can guess how well this worked.  Unfortunately it wasn't until after the hair cut that Grandma and I remembered we should wet her hair to make it easier.

Afterward, Grandma tried to comfort me by telling me that hair grows in at different rates, so the short parts won't be so obvious in a couple of weeks.  I know it's only hair and that it will all grow out, but I'm also sad that I cut off the hair that my baby was born with and that she will never look the same way again.  Without the tips of her hair, her hair looks a lot lighter.  We only trimmed the bangs and rat tail, so there are still some longer, darker bits in the middle.

A deceptive side-shot of Anne's new hair cut.
Those layers are a feature.
Anne's rat tail.
In other news, Anne is progressing in leaps and bounds.  She is an expert at walking with a toy.  She can stand for much longer periods of time, and will even try to take a step from a table toward a person.  She still requires support a lot, but she is getting quite good.  She is able to climb up the stairs, and we are trying to teach her to go back down them but progress is slow.

Anne doesn't talk yet per se, but she does say "mumumum" a lot, mostly when she is upset.  Recently, her favourite noise to make is a spitting/farting noise.  She particularly likes to do this to entertain guests, or just to entertain herself if she is bored or should be napping.


Anne understands several words now, including "book", "baby", "kisses", "cuddles", "come here", "mommy", and "daddy."  She will give kisses when requested, especially to her doll or to pictures of babies.  She understands the word "no", however whether she chooses to listen to it or not is another matter.  I am certain that she understands more than this but it is hard to quantify.  For instance, the other day I quoted a line from one of her favourite books and she went over and found the book on the book shelf.  It is just amazing how quickly she is developing.

And on a completely unrelated note, her is a photo of the new diaper/wipes pouch and change pad I made to match my diaper bag.










Monday, 16 January 2012

Interview with the Vampire

I wanted a photo of Anne's two top teeth, just to document that she actually got the teeth next to her front teeth before her front teeth.  Unfortunately, Anne doesn't show her top teeth.  Ever.  Grandma and Grandpa G were visiting this weekend, so I asked Grandma G to hold Anne's lip up while I took the photo.  Here are the results:

Grandma's first attempt at getting Anne to show her teeth.
Anne's vampire fangs.
I felt like I should add a normal photo to balance out the scary monster photos above.


Anne seems to have forgotten how to wave, but her new favourite action is throwing both of her arms up above her head when you shout, "Touchdown!"  Here is a cute video of Grandpa G and Anne doing the touchdown action:



Also, here are some photos of Anne in her new rocking chair that she got from Aunt Mel and Uncle Don for Christmas.  She really likes to sit in it as you rock her back and forth.

Anne and her doll.
Touchdown!

Today Anne had a loooong morning nap.  I finally decided to go wake her so that we wouldn't be late going over to a friend's house to see some other mommies and babies.  However, when I got into her room she was snoring with her big bum in the air and she was so cute I just couldn't wake her.  Instead I took a video:



Wednesday, 11 January 2012

9-Month Weigh-In

Anne had her 9-month check-up at the doctor's on Monday.  Apparently she is still a large marge with a big head, but not quite a basketball player.  She weighed in at 22 lbs 4 oz which is between the 90th and 95th percentile.  Her head circumference is 46.8 cm, which apparently is more than the 100th percentile.  I assume this means her head is larger than future babies' heads as well.  Her height is 72 cm, which is down to the lowly 75th percentile as Jeff's and my genes duke it out.

And here are some fun photos and a video of Anne:




Wednesday, 4 January 2012

All I Want For Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth

And now for our Christmas recap.  Rather than going over our whole busy two-weeks of Christmas, here are the highlights:
  • Anne and I got to spend a whole week relaxing with Aunt Laura who was visiting from Alberta.  We miss you already Lo!  Come home soon!
  • Anne got to meet and even pet Grandma and Grandpa G's cat, Gertie.  Sorry Max!
  • Anne spent a lot of time with extended family and enjoyed three turkey dinners, one tourtière, and one roast beef dinner.  She was showered with lovely gifts that filled our car to the brim.
  • Anne got her fourth tooth, however she still does not have her two front teeth.  Instead, she has the teeth on either side of her front teeth.  This would make her look rather like a vampire if you could ever get her lip up high enough so you could see them.  
  • Anne got to play with her cousin Max.  She is now big enough to be interested in Max's toys and Max doesn't really seem to like it.
  • One day in the car Anne started playing peekaboo.  She holds a blanket in front of her face and then pulls it down with great delight while you say, "Peekaboo!"  She can do this for a long time without getting bored.  A long time.    
  • Anne got a sled for Christmas from Grandma and Grandpa B and went on a sled ride around the block.
  • Anne learned to walk with a toy cart lent to us from Uncle Gus and Aunt Greta.  (See previous post for video.)  Anne instantly loved it and her face just beams whenever she pushes the cart across the floor. 
  • Anne learned that she can get the whole B family to raise their arms above their head just by raising her own arms above her head. 

And here are some fun photos:


Pretty baby.
Funny face.

Anne in her new sled.
Dad pulling Anne on the sled.
Sledding in a winter wonderland
Boppa reading to Max and Anne.
The view from Grandma and Grandpa G's deck on our Christmas (December 27).
Max showing Anne his new vacuum cleaner - his favourite gift.
Max unhappy about having to share with Anne.
Max and Anne playing happily together.
Gramma playing with Anne.
Tower sequence photo 1
Tower sequence photo 2
Tower sequence photo 3
A funny face.
Anne on Christmas morning with her new crocodile.
Uncle Conor reading to Anne on Christmas morning.
Now that is a thunder-thigh.
And here are some fun videos:

Boppa reading to Anne and Max.

Mom's useful Christmas present.

Squealing Anne.