Swimming Lessons

Chrissy wanted to start Sophia early with swimming lessons. One of the early lessons I have learned is that if "Mom" wants to do something it is in everybody's best interest to do that....so, Sophia is in swimming lessons.

I thought she was a little young but according to the course offering through the Edmonton rec-facilities she was capable, "Starfish is the entry level with a focus on orientation to water, buoyancy, movement, entries. (child must be able to hold their head up)".

For the last couple of Tuesday's we have been heading off to our Clareview Recreation Centre for Starfish swimming lessons.

Sophia takes to the water really well. She doesn't get upset or scared and is now even starting to splash around a little bit. It helps that she has her mothers buoyancy as opposed to the lead-lined bones of her father.

She doesn't even mind getting her head dunked. Pro-tip from Chrissy blow air in the baby's face right before dunking. They will instinctively take a big gulp of air.

Chrissy's parents have come to watch a couple of the lessons and we often sit and visit in the lobby with them afterwards. Sophia has started picking up new tricks like trying to eat peoples faces. In the picture below Baba is getting sized up.

Being in the pool really seems to take it out of her and often she falls asleep before we even leave the parking lot. That works for us, as we can take long luxurious car-trips through the Dairy Queen drive through.

Sophia's Baptism

As good Roman Catholics, or at least raised by good Roman Catholics, it was inevitable that our daughter Sophia would be baptised.  Earlier this month, our heathen child was made part of the flock.

When deciding on Godparents it really wasn't too difficult - Chrissy's only sibling Alex, and my closest in age and proximity sibling, Monica. However, in choosing Monica to be the Godmother we forfeited the opportunity for Monica Kehrig Photography to be the official photographer - a near flaw in our otherwise perfect planning.

I say a near flaw as Monica took some pictures for us prior to the big day with Sophia in her gown.

The lovely baptism gown was a surprise gift from her soon to be Godfather, Alex. After knowing him for 5+ years I would have never guessed he had such good taste. 

Due to Monica's involvement in the ceremony most of the pictures that day were taken by my sister-in-law Alison who was fighting off a flu and also taking care of her daughter with a cold at the ceremony. She is pretty impressive - another signal that Alex has good taste....I should have realised sooner I guess.

Thanks to the Godparents who will be helping watch over her, thanks to Mom who made the trip for the baptism and to everyone who came out for the ceremony.

37th Birthday and Easter Weekend

This year my birthday happened to occur on the same weekend as Easter, which is pretty sweet. Extra long gluttonous weekend!

I think Chrissy sensed that I was having issues living with a set schedule (needed for Sophia) so for my birthday she chose to wake up early (on little sleep) and take me out to the Farmers Market for the first time with Sophia. We arrived early before it got too nuts, or at least not too crazy unless you wanted to buy tulips.

It was a small venture out and greatly appreciated as the rest of the weekend was spent mostly hanging with Sophia around the house or consuming copious amounts of food and drink.

In the absence or any of my nuclear family being in Edmonton over the weekend Chrissy's parents helped me celebrate  by baking an angel food cake and picking up a bucket of Chicken (my sole request).

Overall a pretty great birthday and weekend.

Bonus: Chrissy's gift to me was tickets to Return To Grace the following week - basically an Elvis tribute show. The perfect "first" date for us in months.

Sophia's first trip to Edmonton Valley Zoo

As the winter was unseasonably warm Chrissy and I have been itching to get outside with Sophia. However, as first time parents were are still timid on excursions due to length of time between feedings, catching a cool breeze, and the need for Sophia to be in near constant motion to be content.

Finally, we decided that it was time for a quick sojourn to one of our favorite spots: The Edmonton Valley Zoo.

Sophia slept through most of it but her Mom and Dad had a nice time.

Even meeting an elephant for the first time wasn't as exciting as sleeping.

Even though it's a bit of a drive from our house I think Chrissy is going to get herself an annual pass and do many a walk-through with Sophia this summer.

Bonus - We ran into the Bells.

Getting Through The First Couple of Months

I have been back to work now for almost a month and we are starting to develop a routine with Sophia....until it falls back in on itself due to gassiness.

A good night for Chrissy and Sophia usually means that I don't see them when I wake up in the morning so Christina will often times leave me a note of how the night went.

Should be read with affection :)

Some of the favorite pictures of weeks 4-7.

Out for a Walk with Sophia

Winter in Edmonton means a proper amount of bundling up and picking your shots to get out of the house when the weather permits.

For the first few weeks of her life all Sophia knew of the outside world was blurriness through a window or cold air experienced briefly in transit between the car and someones house.

With both mother and father getting stir crazy in the house it was time to take Sophia out for a walk.

She will grow into it for next year

We may have overdone it with the bundling.

As first time parents I think we were typically overcautious. I only did one superfluous wheelie.

Sophia's First Christmas

Everything was new to Chrissy and I this Holiday season. Everything that we usually do like gift shopping, wrapping presents, Christmas cooking or heading to a family members home needed to be planned to a nap time and took double the usual time.

And as the keeper of a newborn we were popular! That's new - People actually wanted to visit us :) Us, being Sophia, but Chrissy and I will take it.

Highlights of the Holiday season included birthday parties, many meals with family, getting spoiled by multiple Grandparents, and friends coming by to visit:

Christina, her Gido (Grandpa) on his 92nd birthday and Sophia:

Christmas was in Edmonton this year and we were treated to multiple massive meals at Chrissy's parents, grandparents and aunts houses. With all of those meals came family all to eager to give Chrissy and myself a break by holding Sophia.

Cross-eyed to read the writing on her jumper :)

Shortly after Christmas my Mom accompanied my sister Monica's family back from Saskatoon to meet Sophia for the 1st time. Sophia, although gassy, was pretty well behaved for Grandma.

Mom of course is a pro with a baby. I am guessing her calm that comes from experience was picked up by Sophia. We haven't gotten her to burp so well or sleep so well in this position since Mom showed it to Claire and Ren.

Mom and her baby's baby

We haven't been the most mobile, so we have felt fortunate to get sp many visitors. I never even thought to grab pictures from the first few visitors (Monica, Mark, Alex, Markiana, Chris and Tara Foster) but did smarten up to get some from the later visits.

Below is a picture of Rob and Carryn's daughter Justine holding Sophia. It was a bit surreal to see as I still remember the day that Justine was born. We collectively celebrated quite late into the night and my Sociology 101 test the next morning was a bit of an adventure. Justine was a natural with Sophia.

Shortly after Ukranian Christmas we were visited by Andrea, Ryan and Tekyla (9 months).

Teklya was very interested in "the baby", I am thinking that over the years they will find some trouble together, not unlike their mothers.

With all the food eaten, visitors gone and tree put away for the year we look forward to more firsts and more memories.