Sunday, February 8, 2009

Jan in Van--Taya's 4th month!

From 2009 Jan

Taya grew tremendously--by height, she's 97+%ile. Here you can see her onesie--once too big--stretched to fit over her shoulder.

From 2009 Jan
When she was born, this hat was way too big. Here (3.5 mo) it's stretched to fit on!

From 2009 Jan
We're not the only ones who thinks that Taya's cutieful--she loves to look at herself in the mirror.

From 2009 Jan
We both love kissing games! (Click on the pic to view the movie.)

From 2009 Jan
Looking at the mirror again, this time in the buff.

From 2009 Jan
Taya loves to fly.

From 2009 Jan
The double hair-whorl makes Taya's hair stand on end. We don't know what makes her wag her head back and forth, but we do know that the wagging creates her bald spot/strip.

From 2009 Jan
Since Ljuba resigned herself to the fact that nursing wasn't going to work for her & T (she now pumps for hours a day ...) she and Taya have been closer than ever--finally Lj feels like she has some time with Taya without agony and anxiety.

From 2009 Jan
All kinds of different methods for pee-poo-puff parties on the potty--Taya has incredible patience for all! But this one helps us deal with our RSIs (repetitive strain injuries)--yes, sad.

From 2009 Jan
Taya meets Paul & Anne Ehrlich's (checkerspot?) butterfly, and she likes it! (Click on the pic to view the movie.)

From 2009 Jan
Yes, I drool.

From 2009 Jan
Taya has rolled over a few times, but she's still not quite sure how it works.

From 2009 Jan
Realizing that Taya's growing so fast that if she doesn't wear her nice outfits, she never will, Lj has relaxed her rules about when the nice clothes should be worn. :)

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Taya Samara's first Christmas!

(All pictures are clickable to images in a Picasa web album.)

Taya Samara took her first airplane ride (what an adventure!) so we could celebrate Christmas in T.O. with both sides of the family.
From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Here she is playing airplane with Mommy at Babica and Dedek's (Lj's parents).

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
We had the good fortune of coinciding with Sandra's wedding--here she is with her groom, Celio (pronounced SEH-lee-o not SEE-lee-o). They say that rain on your wedding day is good luck. What do they say about a blizzard???

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Apart from the beautiful couple, Taya was the star of the show. Celio requested that their first picture as husband and wife be with her!
You can somewhat make out Taya's swollen red left eye, which necessitated a (surprisingly quick) visit to the ER. Lucky for us all, it turned out to be caused only be a bunch of fibers from Lj's sweater, into which Taya had burrowed to avoid the blowing snow.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Back at Babica and Dedek's, her eye all better, our little adventurer has been cooing up a storm, especially on the changing table, as here.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Cousins Keegan and Amaera (with their parents Chee and Noreen) were super keen to meet their only girl (Chan-side) cousin. Here they are waiting for Taya's nap to end ...

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
... and waiting ...

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Finally! There she is, the little princess surrounded by her admirers. :)

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
And the admiration was certainly mutual. Here's Taya gripping Hilda Amaera's finger intently.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Uncle Chee was anxious for a cuddle, and you can see, that feeling also was mutual.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Later on, here's Auntie Simona playing with Taya, after traveling in from Michigan.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
And here's Taya Samara cooing and smiling, playing with Mommy.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
On the 23rd (cousin Brayden's 3rd b-day) we made our way out to Soo & Tony's in Burlington (thanks to Nanna and Grandpa) to celebrate the Chan-clan Christmas with newfound bustle. A bit overwhelming for little Taya, but she loved it.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Here's cousin Brayden. You can see a little family resemblance (which makes sense, especially since Brayden's father Tony is Italian-Canadian, and Italy is a neighbour to Slovenia).

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Nanna got some precious time with Taya, here some tummy time, which Taya is now really enjoying.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Taya was spitting up quite a bit in all her excitement (and once my too-vigorous soothing to sleep afterwards--just 'cuz she likes it apparently doesn't mean it's good for her!)

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Here's cousin Teague with one of his Christmas gifts.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Auntie Soo found some time for a cuddle with Taya despite the demands of hosting.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Auntie Noreen got some great cuddle time.

From Xmas in T.O. 2008
Cousin Amaera has already begun dressing Taya (see the summer post for A teaching T lots, in the womb-without-a-view)--here they are with Nanna. As you can see, by this time, Taya was pretty fried.

Sunday, December 21, 2008

(All pics lead to bigger versions in a web album.)
From 2008 Nov-Dec
Under Nanna's instruction, Taya has been doing all her poos and many pees in buckets, bowls, potties, sinks, and toilets!

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Auntie Sandra came out and showered Taya with love and affection ...

From 2008 Nov-Dec
And some early gymnastics training! ;)

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Taya began smiling--early and often, thank goodness! These heart-melters make her colicky times sooo much easier to handle.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Sporting Auntie Chinook's mukluks and a gorgeous outfit from beloved neighbours.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Humouring Daddy above and beyond the call of duty. :)

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Nanna suggested that Taya might be a nudist in the making, given how she enjoys being mostly naked. And she seems even cuter that way!

From 2008 Nov-Dec
She also loves standing. The combination was irresistible.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
We may have gone over a month without cleaning (I know--gross!!!), but we impressed ourselves by getting out for hikes almost every weekend. Here at Deep Cove with Auntie Sandra.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Sporting a beautiful hand-made hat and loving being a pea in a pod.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Bath time, once a challenge, has become very enjoyable for all involved (except for the occasional poos in the bath). Check out this video (no poo involved).

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Ljuba loves Taya's hair wet and is looking around for eco-friendly baby hair product. :)

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Taya loves scalp massages!

From 2008 Nov-Dec
And looking at herself in the mirror.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
In another gorgeous hand-made hat, Taya smoked Lj's finger, gangster style.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Taya loves sleeping with us.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
Especially if it means getting naked beside us.

From 2008 Nov-Dec
She's learning to roll and crawl, especially if boobies are in sight!

From 2008 Nov-Dec
But like Mommy, waking up is hard to do (check out this video).