Taya Turns One (Aug-Oct 2009)

August was awesome. Ah, to be bare bummed. (Seems like a distant memory now that snow is on the ground!)

From 2009 Aug-Oct

We had some great visits with friends. Here's Mark and Taya clearly loving his company.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Taya became increasingly adept at feeding herself, green chard beards notwithstanding! ;) (Click on the image to view the video.)

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Taya loves the water, and is far more tolerant of the cold than we are. Here she is mesmerised by the awesome whale toy (it spouts) that she got from Tim and Karen.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

We try to get out into the woods once a week. Here we all are after a walk at Mt. Seymour. (Yes, I need practice with the self-portraits!)

From 2009 Aug-Oct

We got a kick out of Taya's experimentation with lemons. (Click on the image to see this cute video.)

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Uncle Tony and Auntie Elisa visited for a few days, which was a blast. Here's Taya with Elisa at Stanley Park.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Here's the three of us in one of those rare non-self-portraits, thanks to Tony & Elisa.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

At first, Uncle Tony was a little too cool for Taya (here she shies away). She warmed up later with his airplane feeding.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Clearly one of our favourite sites, here's Taya at that same spot on Mt. Seymour, again post-hike and nap.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

We celebrated Taya's first birthday a day early walking and playing in the woods with Auntie Simona, Uncle Sean, and (here) Larissa, Sean, and Tatyanna.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Here's Taya with Mommy and Auntie Simona, there at Lynn Valley.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

And here's Uncle Sean, with the beautiful backdrop.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Taya is still a lover of life.

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Taya gets such a thrill from playing at our computers, emulating us. It's unbelievable how much she can do, opening and closing programs, changing settings, etc.!

From 2009 Aug-Oct

We got a MEC bike trailer, and after a small fiasco (ask for the story!) we finally got Taya out on the trails. She wasn't exactly enthused, but she was a good sport. (The helmet in particular took a lot of coaxing.)

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Daddy reveals his boyish goofiness and Taya enjoys these antics but doesn't deign to do the same. (Click on the image to see the video.)

From 2009 Aug-Oct

Jewels of June and July

The summer has flown by. June and July were glorious months filled with tremendous Taya energy, as usual!

From 2009 Jul

By June Taya had grown into the politically popular "Baby got Barack" onesie Megan so proudly gave her.

From 2009 Jul

We--well mostly me--still love doing goofy things with Taya, like sticking her in this shopping cart. I also love spinning her around to make her dizzy, then watch as she smiles and wobbles, me laughing and saying "Woo, woo--are you dizzy?". (Video to come next post.)

Today, weeks after I've done this, Ljuba asked her (for unrelated reasons) whether she was dizzy, and she said "woo, woo" (!). Ljuba and I were in hysterics. It's crazy what she absorbs and gives back now.

From 2009 Jul

She is still so expressive.

From 2009 Jul

Back when she used enjoy the jumper, she liked to have company. Or just someone to dominate! ;) (Click on the pic to view this video.)

From 2009 Jul

Apart from beginning to hate lying back to have her hair washed, she loves bath time.

From 2009 Jul

Taya's funny expressions make us all do silly things! (Click on the pic to view this video.)

From 2009 Jul

I love the way Taya makes this "ba-ba-ba" noise (with assistance). (Click on the pic to view this video.)

From 2009 Jul

Check out this drunken-sailor walk, with rhythm! (Click on the pic to view this video.)

From 2009 Jul

Auntie Sandra came out in the end of June/early July, and Taya loved lots about that (including Sandra's sunglasses).

From 2009 Jul

She entertained us all with this funny panting. (Click on the pic to view this video.)

From 2009 Jul

Taya's hair grew and grew, and soon she was needing (according to Ljuba at least) a haircut. I elected for the easier solution (when no hair clip, this hair band), although admittedly it did look kinda silly.

From 2009 Jul

Taya's first stair-climb! We were amazed that she climbed a whole flight only days after she learned to crawl on hands and knees. It helps to have something to climb for--here she goes after Sandra's iPod (click on the pic for the video).

From 2009 Jul

Taya also enjoys her own sunglasses. Here she looks pensive, but really she's just chewing. ;)

From 2009 Jul

We traveled back to Toronto, which gave us another opportunity to see various family members. Here's Taya with Nanna.

From 2009 Jul

And here loving the company of Auntie Elisa and Uncle Tony.

From 2009 Jul

She loves conquering things, like flights of stairs, this one at Babica and Dedek's.

From 2009 Jul

And she loves exercising. Here she does squats (mimicking Ljuba and I) with Babica.

From 2009 Jul

I continue to be fascinated by her little hands and feet.

From 2009 Jul

We went to the beach (Lake Ontario) with all of Taya's cousins, plus Auntie Soo and Uncle Chee. The kids didn't mind the cold water. It wasn't quite 20C, so we weren't quite so brave!

From 2009 Jul

Taya really digs her family, and the feeling is mutual.

From 2009 Jul

Parallel play with cousin Teague.

From 2009 Jul

Auntie Soo was pregnant again, and now Senna has joined the world!!!

From 2009 Jul

Playing with her cousins (here Brayden and Keegan) was wonderful.

From 2009 Jul

It involved a lot of climbing-on-top (here Brayden). Remember what I said about Taya enjoying conquering things?

From 2009 Jul

We discovered that Taya's forearms were actually bigger in diameter than cousin Amaera's (see, doesn't Amaera look intimidated? ;) ).

From 2009 Jul

Everything is fascinating, including this stick.

From 2009 Jul

More Taya and Nanna, entertaining each other.

From 2009 Jul

Hamming it up for the camera (this face now featuring teeth!).

From 2009 Jul

The fascination with sunglasses extended to Auntie Elisa's. "Aren't big lenses in fashion? Why are you laughing, Daddy?"

From 2009 Jul

It was nice to see Auntie Sandra again.

From 2009 Jul

And also Uncle Sean and Auntie Simona.

From 2009 Jul

Babica loved the sight of diapers drying on her clothesline.

From 2009 Jul

Here's Taya ravishing an apricot. She loves her fruit! (Click on the pic for the video.)

From 2009 Jul

Taya also loves her greens--really loves them. Here she eats those and also practices with her spoon, fully intent on her food. Now where does she get that from? ;)