Baby Gathering

We try to get out at least two or three times a week and last week took us to another successful baby gathering. Since going to the New Mom's Network, we have continued to gather and discuss our babies, lives as moms, and generally have a good time together.


We were early to arrive and take a comfy seat on the play mats. It was so comfortable there and you had a great time rolling around and practicing your army crawl. You are getting good at doing an army crawl around the room, however more often than not, you move backwards. You are not the only one. Once your playmates arrived, you happily grabbed arms, shirts, ears, and played with toys



Here is Ella riding the LRT (light rail transit). This newest acquisition is a red stroller from your Aunt. It is great to take this on public transit around Edmonton because it is small, light, and folds into a small bundle. There isn't much storage, but we are happy to stroll with a small diaper bag. There are many more options than there ever has been for baby products and it could cost a small fortune. I'm lucky to have a generous sister-in-law who passes down her used items. A stroller makes it incredibly easy to get about and have adventures.

Well, it is always a joy to see babies interact. Sure, sometimes they do things that are not so gentle and sometimes they hurt each other. On the other hand, they do things like kiss each other, hug, smile at their easy games, and show us all how much fun the simple things can be.

It is a great comfort to know other moms are there for each other. In the times we spend together, alone, with each other at home, we can find things to do and Ella, always talks to me. There's value in those times. It lets me see you grow and we bond and generally have a lot of fun. It is also a comfort to know I can call another mom and tell her I'd like to go for a coffee or see a movie and have some adult conversation. The group we meet up with happens to like one another and we always have a good time. I think we all hope all our babies can grow up together and know each other well into their lives.

Look-Alike

The first comments about a baby are always about who's features can be discerned in their wrinkled, old man faces. Immediately, Ella was deemed her daddy's little girl because she looked like him. His eyes, his face; these features were so prominent that not one person could leave without commenting on their similarities. People searched for these look-alike characteristics and seemed happy to find them.

As a young girl, I would trace the veins on my mother's hard-working hands and think about how knobby her knuckles seemed on her long fingers. One day, in my late twenties, I looked down to notice my own hands were shaped just like my mother's yet age had not caused the bulging veins and my knuckles were large though not knobby. It was at this moment I realized I was happy to have her hands. She had died many years ago and as memories fade, her image faded, too. These hands were her hands, a physical trait that would be a reminder of her.



When Ella was born, first remarks were made about her long fingers and long feet. Ella will have my hands, I'm sure, and it made me glad. This is a way she can remember me and know something about her grandmother. There are other noteworthy features, too.

Ella has a brilliant smile. She smiles and all activity could stop because I am focused on her in those moments. Her smile looks like her grandfather, my dad. She has a beautiful heart-shaped mouth and it is widened and accentuated when she smiles. It is a pleasure to know she has a bit of my father's looks in her. It is a kind of legacy, a passing down to your children of their history.


As always, Remco and I are fascinated with our daughter. Most people will say Ella looks like Remco because the shape of her eyes is very obviously the same shape as her dad's eyes. Both of us are waiting to discover other features we can identify as ours in her.

It is becoming more and more clear that Ella has her own unique traits and her personality is starting to show. She is doing things with more purpose and demonstrating her own needs. No matter how much she may be a look-alike to her parents, she is going to be her own individual.

We had a house party last night. There were many people in our living room and Ella was passed from lap to lap. She handled the night really well and we were impressed with her charm. She did not cry for either one of us and mostly seemed at ease.

Ella was like a hot commodity. She couldn't stay off the laps of our friends and her smiles had many cooing and talking to her. She was remarkably chatty for the evening. She usually tires easily and does not talk as much, but she was in a good mood. Maybe she likes a good party as much as her mother.

It did occur to me she might not sleep as well since it was loud and she seemed to fight going to sleep. Our night ended up being very tolerable and both of us slept well. She really was a little trooper and didn't mind staying up a little later than her early 8pm bed time.

Sadly, we didn't take any photos of the night. We learned having a baby is fun and it is joyful. It brings smiles to the room and makes for easy conversation. Never once did we have to rescue her from someone because she was crying and it was delightful to have so many willing people ready to take her on their lap.

All in all it was a success and little Ella soaked up the attention.

Vaccinations

We decided to have Ella vaccinated against H1N1 virus. Ella is just six months old and she will be given the vaccine in two doses. Her first shot was easy and she barely cried. It was a tough decision to come to because there are small risks in vaccinating. Ultimately, the risks to not vaccinating outweighed the risks to getting the shot. Ella's safety is our priority.

The line-ups were not bad. We waited for 20 minutes and we were in the clinic quickly. The man administering the shot must have been a student because he was being instructed on how to put the needle in Ella's leg. I nearly said, "Don't hurt my baby." Ella took it like a champ and cried for a few seconds then recovered and was a cool as usual.

There was a moment when I was in the clinic wondering about the safety of being in an environment in which sick people pass through daily. It could have been more dangerous to be out in public where the virus can be transmitted easily. In any case, we are healthy and happy and we thank all those nurses for their extra work.

Both of us are relieved to know Ella will not be sick with this virus and she will be safe.

People I Know

Ella's Doctor and delivering nurse.

Cousin Cameron and his friend Alyssa. Could this be the future?

Ella at one day old was the smallest human Marco has ever held.

Matteo is always ready to feed Ella or make her smile.

Cousin Ty is charming with Ella.

Oma and Opa Dalmaijer are always happy to hold Ella.

Grandpa Reiber was a natural and a very comfortable man.

Mrs. Corrie Verhagen at Ella's baby shower.

Miss Martin looking beautiful with the babe.

Ella will feel LOVED with Aunty Yvonne and Aunty Petra around.

Oma and Ella did not plan the colour coordinated outfits. Very beautiful.

Again, Samantha, Great Aunt Rose and Ella.

Oma Elly Dalmaijer and Ella on Oma's birthday, 2009.

Cousins Katie and Trevor Dalmaijer.

My beautiful niece, Lauren, Ella and mom.

Pictured here is my cousin. Ella will know her as my second cousin by definition.

They already have something in common.

Ella has many boys in her life.

Ella's cousin and hopefully future pal.

Ella's friends, the twins.

Growing Pains

Your first of many teeth came last week. Not without pain; not without tears; not without clinging neediness accompanying your growing pains. It's a joy to see your buds poke through the gumline.

During those tearful teething hours, there were many painful moments spent chewing, biting, and finding any object to give relief to Ella's gums. Tylenol proved effective, especially to help her sleep and give me some reprieve from already broken sleep. Frozen bananas in a mesh bag with a ring handle helped to soothe her during the evening hours. She seemed to go through her growing pains without some of the uncomfortable symptoms and was free from rashes, fever, and seemingly, headaches. Her rosy cheeks and demeanor were enough for both of us. It always surprises me to know some mothers must go through nastier and more pitiful extremes with their babies.

It's one more event to remark on and record in your baby calendar along with those other "firsts" such as smiling, cooing, rolling over, sitting up, and solid food meal. One day, we can both look back to appreciate those moments again and see how much you've grown.

Catch Up

Sitting pretty. You are almost sitting on your own at six months.

On our first vacation, you made a friend.

Your first home. We hope to give you many happy memories here.

On further investigation, Dongsoon found you were satisfactory.

Grandpa came for your special day.

Our little bug.

You spend a lot of time in our bed.

Your tiny body felt so fragile. We were all amazed at your long fingers and toes.

Quiet and composed.

After FOUR days at the hospital, we were ready to go home.

You came out smiling. You still smile a lot.

It was not my ideal way to birth you. Afterwards, I realized there was no ideal way and it was all worth it. Baby Ella Raine, we love you.

It was always a favourite photo of mine. Sitting in a highchair, hands spread wide on the tray and waiting for something to come my way. Now, I observe you eating for the first time and guiding the spoon to your mouth, I watch as you explore the taste and move your tongue.

I duck a spoon full of rice cereal you launch from your chair and watch it drip down your chin. I'm beginning to think you need a rubber shirt and should be naked from the waist down. I'm tempted to put your cereal on the tray and watch you smear it around. I resist since I'm not quite committed to wiping up the fallout.

Eating has come easy to you and you like food. Most of it ends up in your mouth and you take pleasure in feeding yourself. Frozen bananas bound in a mesh bag with a wide handle were a relief to you during last week while you were teething. It is a pleasure to watch your face contort, contemplate, and enjoy food.

We made a few short videos to document the first time you ate and about a week later. Both of us are relieved you like food since we get so much pleasure from cooking and experimenting with foods. Bon appetit!

Day One

Dear Ella,

Sunday, May 3rd at around noon, my water broke in front of the grocery store in St. Albert, Alberta. Your dad and I were with Alex Bush, your cousin, on our way to Rundle Park to play frisbee golf. Alex, excited because we were taking him to buy his birthday present, looked not to pleased in the back seat when we told him we wouldn't be able to play. Both your dad and I were surprised and could not stop smiling. We wanted you before you were conceived and wanted to meet you.

It is as if all the events proceeding this momentous couldn't possibly be forgotten and everything became a visceral, memorable detail. It began with a girl in a cart that went rolling off the sidewalk to the parking lot and I leaped out of the car to stop her. It was then I felt a gushing. It didn't stop. The incredulous look on your father's face, the long walk to a bathroom, wet and laughing, the heat of summer and a proud thrill; each flash of memory I knew this was the beginning of your arrival.

We were surprised and took some time to pack our bags. There were still no contractions and we made our way to the Grey Nun's Hospital. You were not ready to be born. We were sent home with instructions to wait and return in the morning if there were still no contractions.

We waited four days and with the help of doctors and nurses you came to us. Your first moments were spent crying on my stomach and then you lay quietly on a table being examined. Your father held you and you were alert and quiet. The emotion is too awesome to explain. You filled us up and made us full of love. May 7th will always be remembered fondly and with much passion.