Day 221

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!!

This year we took time to give thanks for me! :-) Well Mom, Dad and Grandma did anyway. We had a really nice long weekend. Dad played in the Nationals for football. His team did really well making it to Monday but lost in a close semi-final game. I went with Mom to watch. It was a real nail biter.
I spent Sunday at Grandma Hawleys house. I hung out with her while she made a big Thanksgiving feast for Mom and Dad. I got to sit on the table during dinner. Doubt they will let me do that for long!

Day 217

I had my first follow up clinic at CHEO today. I met with a nurse, a physiotherapist and a doctor who all checked my progress. They were happy to report that so far I am meeting all the expected milestones and they don't want to see me again until March. I am 16 lbs. which is a good size for my corrected age and my head is still huge, 98th percentile in fact!
After the follow up clinic I had a hearing test. I also passed this test with flying colours. They will test again in March but so far my hearing appears to be just fine.
I had my first trip to the USA this week. Mom, Thea and I went shopping for the day. I had intended to get Mom to take a picture of me at the border but I forgot. You'll have to settle for a picture of me in my exersaucer (which for the record the physiotherapist is not that keen on)!

Day 209 (or something like that)

I know, it's been a while since I updated you all. I've been a busy boy. I have spent nearly all my waking hours growing. I am about 15.5 pounds and will be 7 months old tomorrow. That means I have finally made it on to the growth charts for my actual age. I am in the 5th to 10th percentile, but hey as you know I started a little behind. I have an appointment at CHEO next week for what they are calling my 4 month check up. They will be checking to see that I am hitting all my developmental milestones okay. Mom sure things I am. She loves to brag about how well I am rolling over! That and how well I am sleeping. Every now and then I give a shout in the night to keep them on their toes but for the most part the Hawley house is getting a great nights sleep.

Dad was on TV last week doing a demo for Wall Juice (www.walljuice.com). Mom and I PVR'd it and watched it a few times, he did great! Everyone says I am looking more and more like him every day. Mom likes to think I look like her, but I don't think so. We went to a car seat clinic today and got my big boy seat put in the car. It's much more comfy than the old one. I flirted with the girls running the clinic and they all seemed pretty taken by me. Just wait until I get older! Tomorrow Mom and I are off to the passport office to get me a passport. We are hoping for a family vacation in February.

Day 197

Well we just got back from a very relax weeks vacation. Officially my first full weeks vacation with Mom and Dad. We borrowed their friends Thea and Andre's cottage for the week. My Aunt Steph, Uncle Bruce and cousin Lindsey joined us. The weather wasn't fantastic but we had a great week.
We went to Storyland where I slept for an hour and a half but Lindsey had fun. Mom and Dad managed to get a few hours of time together while Aunt Steph watched me. They went kayaking a few times and went to Wilderness Tours to do some biking.
When we got home Mom tried me in the Jolly Jumper again. I think I am finally starting to get the hang of it. Check me out!

Click the > button to play the movie below!

Day 187

I'm back from another weekend in Barrie. It was a great long weekend. Not only did Dad win his football tournament, Mom and I got to spend lots of time with Grandma and Grandpa Gainsbrook. I also got to see all my cousins and my Aunts and Uncles again.
We took a family trip to the zoo on Sunday and I saw lots of animals that I had never seen before. There was a tiny baby monkey that was about the size I was when I was born! We had a nice picnic lunch and then went back to Grandma and Grandpa's for a big family dinner.

Day 181

I had my 6 month vaccinations today. That's right, I'm over 6 months. My 1/2 year Birthday was on Monday. I didn't get to celebrate much because it coincided with Mom and Dad's 2 year wedding anniversary and they went out for dinner. Oh well, I got to spend the night with Grandma Hawley which is always nice.
This weekend coming I am going to see Grandma and Grandpa Gainsbrook again. We are going to do a family trip to the zoo. I am so excited!
The past week has been busy. Mom and I went to see Kari and Dave at their cottage in Arden. We also went to a play group at our neighbours house and got to meet lots of other Mom's and kids from our street. Dad took me to watch Mom play softball. They lost in the finals but won the game I went to watch. Grandma Hawley took me to see Mom and Dad's championship football game which they won 13-0. Then we had the team back to our place for a bbq.
Mom let me play in some new toys this week too. I had my first go at the exercauser and the jolly jumper. I am still short so she had to put pillows under them so that my feet could reach. The good news is that while I am short, I am still packing on the pounds. In fact I am in the 75th to 90th percentile of weight for my height. My head is huge too. My doctor told Mom we should monitor it and make sure it's not growing too fast. Mom told the doctor not too worry the Gainsbrook's have big heads. :-)

14 lbs. and growing!

Day 171

Well true to form I gave Mom and Dad an earful in the car. It was a long trip but well worth it. I had a great weekend. Mom and Dad were so happy with how good I was at the restaurant for Grandma's birthday dinner. I didn't so much as make a peep. Must have been because I tuckered myself out on the car ride down.
Saturday's party was great. It was so nice to see everyone. I finally got to meet GG (great Grandma). I had heard so much about her. Unfortunately I didn't cooperate much when she was holding me. I got so many nice gifts, lots of toys and clothes. Mom wont have to buy me anything for quite a while. It was cool not being the smallest person at the party too. Cousin Brendan was there. He's a cutie and smaller than I am.

I'm over 13lbs. now!






All the excitement tuckered me out!!!



Then:

Now:

Day 167

Our second family photo! Mom and Dad should really get someone else to take the photo instead of trying to do it themselves. In half of them they chopped my head off.
We're heading back to Barrie on Friday. Hopefully it goes alright because lately I have been HATING the car seat. On Friday night the whole family including all us grandkids are going out for dinner for Grandma's birthday. It'll be my first timing going to a restaurant for dinner. On Saturday there is going to be a party for me. How exciting! Mom and Dad are finally going to get to show me off. I'll have them take lots of photos.
We have a follow up with the dietitian at CHEO tomorrow. I think they are going to decide if Mom can try dairy again. Sure hope it doesn't make me sick!

Day 162

I have a new cousin! Congratulations to Aunt Jen and Uncle Dustin on the birth of their baby boy Brendon Robert Carroll. He's a whopping 8.5 lbs. Wow, it took me months to get to that size. I can't wait to meet him next weekend.

Day 160

So you be the judge, do I look like Mom or Dad? Everyone says that I look like Dad, but Mom thinks there is some of her in me. Sure hope they don't let my hair get as long as Dad's was!


Mom's baby pictures:


Dad's baby pictures:

Day 156

Man is it hot out! Mom and I have been trying to get outside a lot this week, but it's stinkin hot. After our last walk mom nearly fainted. At least that's what she tells me. A little melodramatic if you ask me.
So we've been hanging out inside for the most part. Mom has me on this new routine and she sure has me sleeping a lot. I get an hour or so of playtime every three hours and Mom's gotta come up with some new stuff for me to do. She has me play on my play mat most of the time. Sometimes I get to hang out in my bouncy chair, or play under my mobile. Hopefully it'll cool down a bit and Mom and I can hang out outside a bit more. All that being said, I sure am happy these days. Lots of smiling, cooing, and even giggling.
I rolled over for the first time too. Big mistake, now Mom puts me on my tummy every chance she gets. She hasn't gotten the idea that I am not interested in rolling over again.

Day 151

Dad's putting up a sun shade for me and Mom. Of course today it's raining but when the sunshine is back Mom and I can spend some more time outside. I hung out outside while Dad was putting it up.

Day 150

5 months old, I can't believe it! I had my check up yesterday and Mom wasn't imagining things, I am growing into my cheeks. I am 6 cm longer than the last visit. I am now around the 50th percentile for both height and weight.
I am smiling and laughing all the time now, and spend more of my day awake playing with Mom. I probably spend the most time in my day trying to suck my thumb. I am not sure how I managed to do it a long time ago because I find it really hard now. Despite all my concentration I can't figure it out. Most of the time I end up bopping myself in the eye with my fist. Thankfully Mom and Dad haven't taken away my soother yet!
And yes I know it looks like I have a really big head but it's not that big! Actually it's just the right size for my body, around the 50th percentile as well.

Day 145

I'll be two months corrected in three days and so far seem to be right on track. I am just shy of 12 pounds and smiling more and more every day. No one told me I'd be losing so much hair though. I'm nearly bald! I think I am getting a bit taller because I seem to be growing into my chubby cheeks.
I slept for eight straight hours one night last week which made Mom happy. Too bad it was a one shot deal. I followed it up with a fussy night where none of us got much sleep.
Mom and I have been getting out quite a bit. We went to Thea and Andre's cottage, went to a BBQ at Mom's work and spent much of the weekend at the football field watching Dad play in a tournament.

Day 139

The rest of our vacation was good. Dad arrived Friday night to join us. I spent the day with Dad on Saturday while Mom went to Aunt Jen's baby shower. I am so excited to find out if my new cousin will be a boy or a girl. I spent some more time with my cousins Connor and Mackenzie on Sunday. We went to a BBQ at Uncle Ron and Aunt Marg's place. It was nice to meet more of the family. We had a long drive home Sunday night but lucky for me I got to ride shotgun. :-) Just kidding! The pictures are just from a break we took a long the way.
I'm 4 months, 2 weeks and five days old and weigh just over 11 pounds.
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for a great visit. I can't wait to see you again.