On Trying New Things

I'm sure you've probably noticed by now that my site looks a bit different from your last visit. It has been over a year since I started my blog, and I felt like trying out a new look. Feel free to give me some feedback in the comments section below!

I haven't been posting as often as I would like to be the past month or so, as we've been getting ready for the arrival of K and C. Well, they are now here and we couldn't be happier to have them staying with us. Not only is this an opportunity for all of us to save financially, but I am more than happy to have Edgar grow up around more family and in an environment that is positive and warm. Dividing up daily chores also makes life with a little one a lot more tidy, I must say.

Edgar's had his own firsts the past few weeks as well. Now that we're onto solids, he's been having fun trying out a few new foods. I've been making big batches of baby food for Edgar and freezing them in ice cube trays. I'm so happy to know exactly what is in his food! Last week, he tried out sweet potatoes for the first time. He wasn't too sure about those.

Then, today, we tried apple. He was really a fan!

We also took Edgar to the pool for the first time yesterday. Sadly, I don't have any photos, but I can assure you that he was pretty okay with the whole thing. He just seemed to be taking it all in; all the noise, the swimsuit, and the feeling of being in the water. Edgar didn't cry or fuss, but he didn't really smile either. We'll see how he does next week when we go again. I promise you all that I'll take pictures next time!

I love seeing Edgar experience his own firsts and developing his own tastes. It's so neat to think that someday he'll have his own favorite meals that he'll like to cook (yes, I will make sure my son knows how to cook!), and his own favorite activities, but for now everything is so new to him. Every taste that we take for granted as knowing is completely and utterly unknown to him. "The wonder of a child" has never been so apt a phrase.

I can only hope to take this as a lesson for myself. At one point, we all were a blank slate; whether it be foods or experiences. I knew nothing of the world nor of what it held for me when I was a baby, and why should I let myself be held back simply because something is unknown? Why should anybody? How much more rich would our lives be if we just let go and experienced life the same way as a child?

Edgar has also started trying to sit up on his own. I think he's pretty close to getting it, don't you?

I am so excited for what the future holds; all of the new experiences, tastes, and feelings for both Edgar and myself. Sharing all of this with my family is also truly a joy for me.

Changes on the Horizon

The next few weeks are going to be filled with lots of change, and I am excited for all of it!

First of all, one of my two younger sisters, Kaitlyn (K) of Keeping it Kait, and her boyfriend, Chris (C), are moving up to Calgary on March 20th. Just like us, they are in search of work for C. Calgary seems to have a much more stable job market than Vancouver, and we are more than glad to have them move up here.

The one catch, though, is that they are going to be living with us. We're totally fine with having K and C staying with us, except for the fact that it is going to be a tight fit until our lease runs out at the end of April.

Yes, they are staying with us in our little two-bedroom apartment until the lease runs out.

Yes, it is going to be a very tight squeeze until the end of April.

No, I am not insane. They had me checked.

It is all going to pay off for all of us once we move into a larger rental house. Once we are all situated and K and C are both working, life is going to be much more comfortable for all of us, and we each will have a better opportunity to save up to buy either a house for all of us to live together in, or separate houses. I better start packing pretty soon, actually!

K and Me, on my wedding day 2 years ago

Another big change is that Edgar is growing up too fast. At his doctor's appointment this afternoon, the doctor said that we should start him on solids. She also said that we could start supplementing with formula if we wanted so that I could start weaning off of pumping at 6 months with a very nice freezer stash. The plan is to switch his morning bottle from 6oz down to 4oz and give him his solids experience after that. Then, once we're sure that rice cereal is okay, we're going to switch that 4oz bottle from breastmilk to formula. The rest of his bottles for the foreseeable will be breastmilk. I'm hoping that this will give me the ability to store enough milk to give Edgar at least a bottle a day of my breastmilk until he's one year old.

While I'm excited to give Edgar solids, I am also nervous about the process and a little sad that he is growing up so fast. There are a lot of food sensitivities on my side of the family, so the doctor recommended starting with rice cereal and waiting a week between different foods. She said that she's never heard of any babies under her care ever having a reaction or sensitivity to it, so according to her, rice cereal is a good place for Edgar to start. I had originally wanted to start with veggies instead, but I think that her reasoning is sound and we'll follow her instructions.

My chunky boy!

DH is also hoping to switch job positions (in the same company) fairly soon. I can't go too much into it, but it's another change that is in the works. He's pretty excited about that one.

All in all, the next few weeks are going to be interesting. I can hardly wait!