Brienne Victoria McLaughlin Klein born January 24, 2015. What a joy!
We spent a week at Oak Island at Christmas before you were born. Your Mama was big and we watched your footprints go across her tummy when you were being active. I gave her tummy massages just for fun. Your Dad's family was here as well so we had many fun visits while watching your Mama and waiting. Christmas was fun.
We got a call from your Grandma Klein on January 24 saying you were on your way. It hadn't been a cake walk for your Mama but I will leave her to give you the details at a later time. On February 1, we arrived on Oak Island and stayed in a cottage on 13th St. You were such a lovely baby - reminded me of your Mama when she was your size. You cried a bit but mostly ate and slept and we could hold you a much as we wanted to. Your Mama was studying Engineering and we were here for two months to help take care of you. We all had to hold you carefully because you could only just lay there. We needed to support your back.
We four grandparents are in charge of food and taking care of your parents. Your Klein grandparents will be here for a few more days. You are doing well--it is so lovely to hold you. We went along to you first doctor's appointment. You are perfect. Your Mama comes over to visit and has a nap while we take care of you. Your Mama also works on her studies. You sometimes wear a baby sweater that belonged to your Mama. It was knitted by your great aunt Beth. The bonnet fits--there is also booties and leg warmers neither of which stay on very well. Ours days are filled with you.
At your one month pediatrician visit, you weighed 12 pounds. You are growing perfectly. Grandad and I went with your Mama to a baby massage lesson--very interesting. You seemed to like the process.
In March, we moved to Myrtle Beach. Your parents joined us for the weekends, then back home so your Dad can go to work. You and your Mama came to visit nearly everyday. Your Auntie Sheryl and Uncle Neil arrived to meet you--both enjoyed holding you. They went to OKI to take care of you while your Mama attended Science Olympiad. Arleigh, Krista and Violet arrived for the week. Everyone, including Violet got to hold you. You like to lay underneath a baby toy thing and kick and look at the toys. Your Mama is a very relaxed mother. Your Aunt Rebekah came to see you as well. We had a houseful of people to enjoy my birthday celebration. You had lots of other visitors. What a darling you are!
Your Uncle Grant arrived on March 24. He was happy to hold you and in fact, you were the very first baby he had ever held. On March 26, you had your first vaccinations. You were not impressed.
What a wonderful time we had watching you grow from birth to three months.
You had your first airplane ride to Manitoba in June. Your Mama brought a yoga mat so you could lay and stretch in the airports. Your Dad brought a stuffed whale for you to look at. You are such a darling--smiling and enjoying stroller rides. You don't sit yet but your are moving a bit--launching yourself forward off the blanket. Everyone loved you and held you. You fell asleep in the arms of my best childhood friend's Mother and also with a friend of great Aunt Arleigh. (We were in Neepawa for the memorial service of your great Grandma Gladie. A lovely time to introduce you to the McLaughlin relatives.)
A highlight (for me) was you and your Mama having a photo with Al Simmons who is an entertainer who performed at Clear Lake on Canada Day. (He was a family favourite when our three were young.) You were wearing a Canada Birthday red onesy and I had my Canada Day t-shirt on and we had a photo together as well.
We are back again for another three months with you and your parents. Grandad and I were here to take care of you and we had a pact with each other to go to the beach every day possible. You had already learned to dance with your Dad as the teacher. (08/09) You were smiling and sweet. You had learned to crawl since we saw you in June and were gliding around furniture. We had a routine in September of a morning walk and nap, play and then another nap in the afternoon. We didn't worry about feeding you and your Mama was mostly here to give you your milk and her motto was "food before one is just for fun" so any extra food was to practice being part of the family at the table. By 16/09, you had learned to wave and would sometimes wave when someone was leaving. We played PattiCakes with your hands and feet and by 17/09, you were clapping. You were crawling and cruising around furniture. Your other Grandma arrived and then you went to stay with her in Wilmington on Tuesdays and Thursdays. She took you to the library to a lap session which you loved. What a joy for us, grandparents.
You are a smiley, lovely baby. When we arrive or you arrive at our place, you are very excited to see us. Grandad gives you whatever food is on the menu. Some things you like are avocado, mashed bananas, sometimes baby cereal and scrambled egg. You also like to suck on a piece of celery. Your Mama puts the food on your highchair tray and you eat some and mess with the rest. You will no doubt see photos from Halloween, where you have green eyebrows, face and hands from eating avocado. You have become a toddler--stumbling along like a drunk with your hands up. On November 9th you were walking around carrying an empty milk jug. You are as happy with empty yogurt containers and formula bottles as you are with actual toys. You still love to dance--you wiggle you bottom and sometimes shake you head and move your arms in time to the music. Your Dad taught you well. You also like to try to open our kitchen cupboards so elastic bands are holding the sink one closed. You played with plastic stuff in our kitchen. Grandad put some toys in another cupboard but you haven't discovered it yet. You like to play with a large magnet on our fridge and now you can remove it as well as put it back.
You are a treasure and we are delighted and feel fortunate that we are here to be part of your first year. You love books--you will study them closely, turning pages and now (November 11th), you love to sit and listen to the same book again and again. Current favourite is "The Paper Bag Princess" You also love to go on stroller rides--sometimes it puts you to sleep and on others you just ride happily along. You also jabber and I think if we understood baby jabber, we would be impressed with what you are saying to us. Sometimes you talk to yourself while looking at books. You often bring a book, wait to be picked up and read to. You like to touch the "furry" or "slippery' parts of the book. Maybe you be will left-handed. You like to drum and imitate anyone who beats time on the table or milk carton.
Today you were the star of the Art Show--walking around and smiling at all the people when they talked to you. You and Mama came over for cookies after and you stayed to play with us. You were busy pushing a walker kind of toy and when you ran into something, you would just steer it around the obstacle. Clever girl. We bought you a stuffed puppy with places to push for music. You know where to push but don't push hard enough. You love to hear the songs. You move with the music.
Today we went to Leland for lunch and an errand. You were delighted to sit at the table in the high chair and watch and see all that was around. The cook came over to remark on how you were watching him with such interest. You had a bit of flat bread to eat. We went to "Fuzzy Peach" to celebrate your Mama being accepted into Engineering. You were happy to be there.
You love the "I am gonna get you game". You giggle and walk/run away and then wait to be grabbed and hugged. You and I love the Hands, Finger Thumbs book--if I drum, you keep time. Also you like to imitate the drumming. You love to play when we also sit on the floor with you. One time you were giggling and walking around me and leaning on my back. Then you spun around and to my side and fell. I just caught you before you hit the ground. You like to have piggyback rides.
Your hearing is excellent--always hear small bells and sounds. Yesterday, your Mama was giving your Grandad a reflexology treatment in the bedroom. They were chatting softly and you perked up your ear to the sound. You and I were in the living-room.
Today is our last full day here until February. Your Dad is away in DC for your Great Grandma Klein's funeral. So we spent the day with you and your Mama. We went to the playground--you walked around, had a swing and went down the slide into Grandad's arms. Then we went to the beach. Your Mama took your socks off and you walked in the sand--you were delighted.
I forgot to write about "Baby Signing Time". You love to listen to the music and watch the small children sign. The purpose is to help you communicate with your caregivers until you have the real words. We love it too and look forward to continuing with it in February.
Tomorrow is November 30. You will stay with us while Mama goes to an Extreme STEM tour. Then we will go to Wilmington to the airport. This has been a fantastic time for us. We will always treasure our time with you and your parents. They love you and take such great care of you. See you on January 31 at the airport. In the mean time, we will face time with you whenever we can.
No comments:
Post a Comment