Jo-Ann's Super Samurai Cyber Blog

Break for the holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 01:30:00 +0000

I took an unintended break from blogging over the holidays - I was mostly unplugged from my usual internet and e-mail, which was great. I have just put a wackload of Anushka pictures on the album. I will update happenings soon. I hope everyone had a fantastic holiday!

Lappy is alive

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:16:00 +0000

She made it - the laptop is working, thankfully. I put more pictures on Anna's album. Enjoy!

New pictures soon

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:50:00 +0000

I was just about to put more pictures up today when I spilled water on my laptop. It is drying out right now, so we will see what the damage is tomorrow. We caught it soon, so hopefully I will get away with it this time...

Hiding from the cold

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:47:00 +0000

I know I live in Alberta, but minus 30 is never easy to take. And somehow every year I forget just how cold that feels. Today was a hide from the cold and don't leave the house day. But I can't hide forever. To look on the bright side, now minus 20 doesn't seem that cold...although I am still reluctant to go out at that temperature, too.

Caleb

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:42:00 +0000

Anna the Christmas helper

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 04:07:00 +0000

Baking at Kristi's this weekend:

I'm an auntie again!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 15:55:00 +0000

I just got the call from my brother in Singapore and Caleb (not sure if that is the right spelling) Gordon Meyer was born today weighing in at 8lbs 12oz. I am so excited! Everyone is doing well. I will post pictures when I get them.

Saturday night

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:19:00 +0000

What exciting things do I get up to on a Saturday night? Rocking my teething, fussy daughter, while listening to lullabies and handing her a new toy every 30 seconds to keep her entertained:

And the wait continues for the elusive first tooth...

Rain and snow test run

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:52:00 +0000

The family got out with the Cougar today to test it out in the snow (finally), and it was also raining. Anna happily slept for over an hour and the chariot was good for helping me keep my balance on the ice. She was warm and dry when we got home, so the chariot passes with flying colours. (Conveniently it also had lots of cargo room for the stop at the grocery store). I am happy to have the chariot for when it is really cold and slippery (having her in the sling on icy sidewalks makes me nervous). Anna definitely likes the chariot sling better than the bivy - I think she is more secure and she can see more.

Cooking

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 02:34:00 +0000

I have taken a keen interest in cooking lately. Partly to ensure we eat healthy and yummy foods and partly just for something to do (I started meal planning, which I can do while breastfeeding and it simplifies grocery shopping). Some successful recipes include beef kabobs with peanut sauce, tempeh Dagwood sandwiches, orange stir fried shrimp, lasagna, chicken apple and curry soup, lemon fettuccine with chicken and pine nuts, falafel and spaghetti squash primavera:

Some of the recipes are from online, but many are being tested out from my Best of Bridge cookbooks. None of them have failed me. Too bad they have stopped making new books, but I still have lots more of their recipes to try...

Bundled

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 23:53:00 +0000

Out for a walk this week - we're ready for the cold!

Visit to Calgary

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 17:30:00 +0000

We took Jeff's first weekend on parental leave to go to Calgary. Anna and I got some great visits in, here are some pictures:

Vik, Karen, David and Anna (in the background) after Sunday brunch at Anna's. Thanks for having us and hosting a wonderful brunch.

Anna playing with Mace. He was playing coy, but was having fun being chased by Anna (wait until she starts moving on her own...)

Anna hanging with Hello Kitty at the Allan's - thanks Karen and David for hosting dinner and thanks Vik for providing the meat-tastic feast on Friday night.

New Album - Anna 2

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:28:00 +0000

I have lots of room on Picasa still, so I have started a new album for Anushka, which can be found under her Many Faces of Anushka album. Enjoy!

The new teething toy

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:16:00 +0000

19 lbs 13 oz

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:36:00 +0000

Anushka had her 6 month check up today. She checked out fine and we like our new pediatrician, Dr. Chapados. Hard to believe that our little peanut has gained 13 pounds in 6 months.
My power cord isn't working, so I will have to sort that out before I put more pictures up.

The Anuskha album is full

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:24:00 +0000

We hit the maximum for Picasa web albums - 500 pictures. Phewph, I have taken a lot of pictures of my munchkin in the last 6 months. I will have to start another one to document the second half of her first year. Hope everyone is enjoying watching her change and grow. I will have an update on her stats after her 6 month checkup on Wednesday.

Waffles - the best breakfast

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 23:05:00 +0000

This weekend I made waffles for the first time. I didn't think they would turn out the first time, since I haven't had much experience beating and then folding in egg whites, but they turned out nice and fluffy.

James Bond!

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:54:00 +0000

Jeff and I got out for our first movie since Anna's birth. It was great to get some adult time. I wasn't disappointed, James Bond entertained yet again.

Baby massage

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:46:00 +0000

Jeff and I went to a course on baby massage (finally, we have been talking about it since Anna was born), given by my yoga instructor, who is also trained in massage. Anna has been receptive to massage (who isn't?) and it has been fun getting to know what she likes. It is calming and great for after her bath and incorporating into our nighttime routine. I have some handouts if anyone is interested...

Anna's friends

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:34:00 +0000

We went to our first new mom's group last week, unfortunately I was late, so Anna only got to play with Serena and Rachel. It's always fun to talk with people going through the same things. And it's great to see all of the babies unique personalities.

She likes other babies' jumpers, too

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 22:28:00 +0000

Bangin'

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:05:00 +0000

Got a new haircut...

The Tummy-aholic

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:02:00 +0000

How things have changed. Anna now loves to be on her stomach, and she rolls onto it every time she is on her back. She is getting really good at holding her head up, so that might be why. And now that she is on her tummy she is on the move. I put her down this morning and she flipped herself over and moved 90 degrees. And the child on the move begins...

The Hucker

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:55:00 +0000

Anna's newest game - hucking toys and having mommy pick them up. She leaves a trail of destruction behind her:

Down for the count - Update

noreply@blogger.com (Jo-Ann) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:23:00 +0000

Well this is the second weekend that one of the Marvin's have been sick. Last weekend on Saturday night I came down with some sort of bug that had me feeling ill for a few days. This last Sunday Jeff woke up with a fever. Hopefully that will be it for the winter. Being a parent and being sick sucks. Needless to say, we haven't been up to too much. I have been getting to yoga three times a week, which has been good for my sanity. I also started back working on my thesis this last week, which was great. I jumped right back in and I am excited to keep working on it. The countdown is on for Jeff's parental leave, only three more weeks. I have been trying to get outside as much as possible with the weather being so mild. I went for my first run in a year (since I have been pregnant) this past weekend. Slow, but rewarding.
Anna is going through a shrieking faze, which I hope will end soon. She's now eating pear, banana, mummum biscuits and she tried avocado, without much success. She now likes to be on her tummy, rolls over every day and she is giggling occasionally. That's it for now. I will add a few more pictures to Anna's album today.