Jade is One!

Our baby is one! Sometimes I get sad when I think about her being one, but when her birthday actually arrived I was happy to celebrate it and remembered that a lot of fun happens after one. 

Jade is 19lbs 2ounces (actually 12 ounces smaller then Hazel), full of energy and smiles. She is very fast at crawling and starting to learn to climb. She has been spending a lot more time in her playpen and just recently the jolly jumper, both which she enjoys most of the time especially when she is tried and teething. 

Jade has taken to knee walking, especially when carrying toys. It looks quite hilarious but I have yet to be able to catch it on video as she will only do it for three or four "steps" and then give up and revert to the faster method of crawling. She has all the skills she needs to walk on her own, but not the confidence. 

Still just two teeth on the bottom, but she is working on her top two teeth.

Hazel's card that she made for Jade's birthday and put in a present bag. Yes, it's an amazon envelope, actually the envelop that Nana's present came in. I went to wrap the present right away before I forgot, and didn't quite understand what Hazel was asking. I told her it was a present for Jade, a surprise that they could see on Jade's birthday, quickly wrapped the present, put the envelope in the garbage, and came back to a very distraught Hazel crying on the floor. After a long hug she managed to sob out "but I wanted to make it a card" So out of the garbage it came to be a birthday card and valentine card for Jade, as valentines day is soon after Jade's birthday. 

Presents from Nana

Hazel teaching Jade how to push the buttons on the song book. (Video above)

Sent Jared and Hazel to do groceries one evening as we were out of a few little things, and it is nice to have muffin tin liners for the cupcakes. Well they came back with very fancy muffin papers, assorted sprinkles and fancy candles!

Hazel enjoyed decorating the cupcakes, I did a few too, but my cupcakes decorating skill apparently aren't that spectacular as I don't think I can even tell which ones I did.😅

Jade just woke up from a nice long nap, and was full of smiles. 

She didn't eat much of the cupcake, just mostly enjoyed poking it.

A gift from the firehall that we got when Jade was born, that I saved for her first birthday. 

After this it was off to the pool for the afternoon and then home for a grilled cheese and tomatoe soup dinner. Which Jade learned how to open her mouth for food when being feed off a spoon by me, rather then doing it herself! So far dinner seems to be Jade's favorite meals, other meals will just get snacked on, she more just wants to be doing what everyone else is doing, but will actually eat a decent dinner.  (Video below)

Flower Girl

Hazel's second time being a flower girl. She was quite enamored by her pretty, poofy dress...

with a bow!

Hazel was also quite fond of her basket, and happily found all the petals back that kept falling out of it. 

Hazel loved spending time with Elise and Stacy and would go with them almost anywhere, expect down the aisle... I ending up walking her down and she almost made it to the end before crying. 

Once the ceremony was over and the pressure was off Hazel had lots of fun in her dress. 

Some Daddy time. 

This little girly likes to stick out her tongue when she is nervous I think... I don't know how many pictures I deleted because she was sticking out her tongue! 

My attempt at getting a casual picture with Hazel and Aunty Val, but she still caught on....

Mini Stacy? Jade was happy to go to almost anyone, which was very handy and enjoyed by all. She had just woken up from a nap on Grandpa so her hair was still all sweaty. 

Playing with petals. 

Hazel also got a special bracelet from Aunty Val, it even had a little pink flower on it too!

Some more quiet petal time. 

These shades pictures have happened in some form at every wedding this far, and the group just keeps growing!

Family picture time. 

This one worked out so well! Except for Hazel and her silly tongue!

Some much needed sister play time between the wedding and reception. Hazel was almost always playing with Elise or Stacy when at the "big house" and Jade was almost always being held, so this was a nice break back to normal for a little bit. 

Hazel was a little nervous and tired at the reception and kept saying she couldn't see, as there was dim lighting, closer to the end I came upon a spare candle that worked and soon she was running all over the place with her own little light. 

 

Traveling to Winnipeg

We made it to the air port nice and on time. Chantelle dropped us off, and check in and security all went smoothly. Girls happily played in the play area for a while. Hazel even found a H. After a while we went to watch the planes loading and  unloading by the big windows.

Guess who we found! We are compared notes earlier and thought we were on different flights, but surprise! We were on the same one, so fun! 

We sat at the very back of the plan which worked out so well, we could recline the seats without bothering anyone, Jared had lots of leg room even in the middle, Hazel play and snacked contently in her little corner, and I got to stand up in the aisle if needed when putting Jade to sleep. Jade was not a fan of takeoff or landing, but I was able to put her to sleep both flights. After flying on the little plane to Vancouver this big plane felt like luxury. Jade cozy and sleeping on me in her carrier, seat reclined, Hazel happily playing in her corner and Jared beside her to help if needed. 

Looking out the window before taking off.

After quickly settling in at the big house, we started the festivities right away with a party at Matthew's Sisters place. Hazel happily played with Elise and Matthew's niece even in another new setting. The suits were there for the guys to try on as well, and as the hats weren't permitted for the ceremony we snapped a picture now with them all dressed up!

Oldest and youngest brother

Matching hats, matching chains, matching suits 

Two handsome gentlemen men if you ask me. 

Jade, 11 Months

I will have very precious memories of this little photo shoot, Jade and I were up on time and Hazel slept in a little bit, so we had some time just to ourselves after a good night sleep.

 Jade likes to keep up with the big kids and always wants to be part of the action. She is very familiar with the word "No" and often gets mad before I even make it to her to take away the forbidden object or close doors that got left open. She has done lots of growing and learning in lots of different areas which has been very fun to watch. Jade is still very much a milk baby, she is interested in food and does eat some things, but needs to feed herself which hasn't been super effective yet.

Jade has finally been pulling some longer stretches at night, not sure yet if she has figured it out or if teething and colds over the last month has made for a very tired Jade...

Discovering Momma's ring. Jade has also discovered that she can reach new heights, and often pulls items off of the desk or dinning table that were left a bit to close to the edge. 

That little pointer finger of hers got put to good use this month. Most everything gets the pointer finger touch before getting explored further. 

Status Quo on the walking front, which is just fine with me. Hazel helps Jade out from time to time which has been really adorable. (Video below)

Jade is very fond of Daddy, she get very excited when he comes home and often looks around the house for him when he isn't home. Many things including Daddy get called "DaDa". Over the last month she has learned lots of new sounds which has been a very nice change from screeching! "TaDa" while clapping her hands has also been a recent skill, it has fun seeing her recognize what sounds she is making. She often makes little "tuckle" noises while playing now too. (video below)

Thought they are still too small to see in pictures Jade has her two bottom teeth now! Anything and everything is being put in her mouth more and more, very happy I put the vacuum in a more accessible spot so the floors can get vacuumed daily.

Our pool visit proved to be very helpful in the bath department. These girls have enjoyed quite a few baths since then!

Jade is a very happy and very active child, and keeps up with her big sister no problem.

New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

Hazel enjoying our test batch of Oliebollen on new years eve.

Jared enjoying making them and eating them 😊

New years day was crisp and clear! Jared went out into our "back 90" to get some wood for the outside fire and set up to make oilebollen out there as well for our oliebollen open house. Please notice Jared's festive "tree top tree" addition by the fire pit. 

The tractor sleigh rides were a hit with the kids. 

Those who came a bit earlier in the day got a bit more sunshine, but the event was enjoyed by many regardless of the cold. High of -12 or -15, which was "warming up" from the -25ish that night. 

This hill has been the perfect sledding hill for the younger kids.  

Jared and Nova ended up being outside all day, from 9:30ish to 5ish. By the end even fluffy Nova was cold and curled up in Jared's chair.