Gymnastics Competition--3rd Place!

Krista with the Ribbon

On Saturday Krista and her gymnastics club had their first competition. It was really exciting for Krista. They received their competition leotards last week along with matching hair-ties. For a 7 year old girl...this is the REASON they love gymnastics--the OUTFITS! These were specially made costumes for each girl--not something that can be bought in the store (as Krista pointed out to me). She was so excited to be able to wear it on Saturday and compete!

The "tests" were VERY long. The girls arrived at 3:30 and the competition didn't end until nearly 6:45! It was a long afternoon. Bascially the competition consisted of each gymnist standing in front of a table of two judges and performing the requested movements. They used the hoop, the ball, ribbons and the batons. There were about 4 judging tables and they proceeded from table to table when their name was called to perform. After they performed each skill, there were fitness evaluations as well. There was a long jump, a 25 meter sprint, and flexibility tests. The girls were graded on a scale of points. There are 3 competitions throughout the year: inter-club competition, departmental and regional. The points obtained from this competition will go towards the overall point total for the season.

Krista received 106 points for the day..which put her in 3rd place. She was only one point behind second place (one of her best friend Oceanne who received 107 points). The first place gymnist had a total of 111 points. Krista did a super job and I was very proud to see her perform! She has learned SO much in the 4 short months that she has been part of this team. I must add that this team is very well known in France. The coaches have amazing dedication and are very talented. They really give their hearts to the team and it shows. Last year the older girls won the National title for France!

This is really the first time Krista has performed on a team. She has been involved in both ballet and tap dance for several years, but has never had a formal competition! I was very proud of her!

The Face Flop

Little Kaitlyn still has a lot of learning to do! Right now she isn't very mobile, but with each passing day she is getting closer and closer. As far as her mobility goes, she is able to play on her stomach and turn 360 degrees and has quite a long reach to get objects she really wants. When on a smoother surface and sitting, she can sort of scoot forward also. My favorite is the face flop. To her credit, she does only do this when on the bed as she knows it is soft and will get her within inches of something she wants. It is funny!

Snowy Days!

We got our first snow this week! You can see Krista and Erik standing in our backyard--although you can't see much of it under all that snow! It sure is pretty to look out from the family room and see the snow, the forest and fields behind. We (like many) have had a wonderfully mild winter so far. Now we are in the thick of winter though--with a good 6-8 inches underfoot. The kids are loving it! Erik had a blast making snow angels and was in and out all day on Wednesday (their day off from school). He went to his baby-gym class on Wednesday morning, but it was cancelled due to weather. He was SO excited to come home and play in the snow--he just couldn't get enough of it! I caught him about a dozen times eating the snow. Krista loved it too and was helping all the neighbors get the snow off their cars. We are lucky to have a wonderfully warm 2 car garage. NO scraping the cars this year. Last year in the rental house we had room in the garage for only one car and it was no fun in the mornings! I am fully appreciating these 2 garages right now. Who knows how long the snow will last. It has been cold for a good part of the week, but I've heard it won't last for long. Anyway it's snowy for now and brrrh is it ever cold out there!

Kids Project Time

All I have to say is that life with three active kids doesn't leave much time for the computer! THAT, and I've been dedicated to "kids-projects" this last week. I have been MEANING to get my DV collection onto DVD (since August!). Poor Grandma hasn't even seen the video of her trip to visit. If you know me then you know that my video camera receives very little downtime. So a backlog since August spells TROULBE! I don't think my video camera (or still camera for that matter) have EVER been "put away" since they were purchased.

So, I have been busy getting my DVD's burned--I think I've only done 6 though. It takes about 5 hours per tape! A LONG process, but very worth it. At the moment the kids favorite videos to watch are homevideos of themselves! The downside of all of this DVD making is that I can't use my computer when I'm creating a DVD. So all of this "computer freedom" has given me a lot of time to do OTHER kids projects: including updating both Krista and Erik's baby books and school year books! I was sort of sad to realize that Krista is now officially FINISHED with her baby book. It covered birth to 7 years and so this is it! Erik and Kaitlyn's only go to 5 years so Erik will wrap his up next year! And today I FINALLY completed a project that I have been meaning to do for MONTHS! I took Kaitlyn's hand-mold when she was a wee newborn (2 weeks old) and just this weekend FINALLY poured the plaster into the cast! Krista and I painted it today and it is precious. Krista said it is our neatest craft yet! We've also done "footprints in the sand" molds of Kaitlyn when she was itsy-bitsy and full hand and foot castings (done at a week and a half). We are experts now at this baby memento business! It was really fun to complete and see...and just a few hours ago we hung it in her room. I put a little ribbon through it and it is just so sweet to see how TEENY TINY her hand was back then! This was a neat set--you can keep the "mother mold" and make as many as you wish. I love it! When I hold her baby hand cast it is amazing to think she was THAT small! We are nearing her 9 month birthday now...WHERE does the time go?!

Never to early to learn CPR

Kaitlyn has mastered mouth-to mouth resuscitation. She is practicing this essential CPR component on her doll latey. It is the funniest thing to watch! In reality though she is actually trying to EAT the doll's face. I could say that in the picture she is just giving her dolly a kiss, but if you ever *saw* her do it you'd know that she was really trying to devour the poor baby doll. Why, you might ask? Well tooth #5, her upper lateral incisor has just cut through. I'm sure #6 is not far behind. Lets hope these are easier on her than her previous pearlies!!

8 Month Exam

Today we went to the pediatrician's for our "9 month" exam (a few weeks early). Kaitlyn didn't get any shots today thankfully! We're all finished with those until her first birthday. Today was a quick growth and development check-up as well as a control for her right ear (which has now had 2 infections). Doc said the ear is healing and looks fine now. He didn't know if this will be a recurring problem for her or is just an isolated event. We'll see on that one. We're praying that ear infections aren't her weakness!

So, all in all she looks great! The doc said she was growing very well and seemed like a very happy and friendly baby (which she is!). She weighed in at 8900 grams which is 19 1/2 pounds and was 69 cm long (a bit over 27 inches). Hard to believe she has grown 1/2 a FOOT since birth and gained 12 pounds! Not bad in only 8 months.

As far as development goes she is sitting very well....and scooting even! She can get around by either sitting and scooting forwards or lying on her back and arching her back and inching forward. In otherwords...She ISN'T very mobile yet! Which isn't a bad thing for me, because my house is not ready for a toddler (or even crawler) yet. She's getting there though and is starting to develop the "desire" to get a toy that is a foot away. She's been on her knees a few times but doesn't know what to do when she is up.

We are thankful for our healthy baby who continues to thrive and develop! She is the light of our lives (one of the 3 lights, that is!).

The "Pen"

This is from ME, Kaitlyn. I just wanted to show you all my pad. It is a pretty spacious little abode, for a girl my size. It is very colorful and cheery in here. There is a lot to do, a good ventilation system (fully screened in porch) and plenty of visitors. I can see what is going on all around me and am safe to just CRASH (*backwards or forwards) when I'm tired. Mommy says that sometimes I get a little over-excited and just flop around without paying attention. She says that I'm not safe on that hard ceramic tile everywhere (I think she's right!). I'm SO happy to have my little 4 square foot haven of freedom! For all of you out there thinking that I looked confined...don't think I'm feeling trapped, I LOVE it! Mom says Erik loved it too. I'm learning all sorts of new tricks in here and not even a bump or bruise to show for it! THANKS Mommy!

Robeez from Gabriel!

How thoughtful are Alexandra and Gabriel? Very! We received our SECOND gift from Gabriel yesterday-- our second pair of Robeez, but this time in the beautiful shade of pink! Kaitlyn just LOVES them as do I! Alex and Gabriel sent us a Christmas package back in mid-December , but unfortunately the Fed-Ex guy was a bit of an air-head and did a switch-a-roo with Banjo's and Kaitlyn's gifts from Gabriel! There is a funny post with little Banjo wearing the shoes intended for Kaitlyn! Anyway, thoughtful Alex went WAY out of her way to send us a new pair of Robeez. Thoroughly not necessary, but we must admit we LOVE them! THANK YOU GABRIEL, you know the way to a girl's heart----SHOES!!! And these are not only just shoes--they are developmentally designed and VERY comfy looking! Check out the Robeez website, it is amazing!

Kaitlyn checking out her new shoes

A happy girl!

And finally a big CHEER to Gabriel and Alex!

Daddy's Little Girl

Kaitlyn is a Daddy's little girl for sure!! (She's a Mommy's girl too, but of course she sees me ALL day long and I'm pretty boring come the end of the day.). When Daddy walks in the door after work, she just shines. He always takes her up to Erik's room and they play on Erik's bed. He gets out all the "regular" toys and lets her play with those! Mommy only lets Kaitlyn play with the Certified 0-3 years lot! The toys that they usually play with are musical instruments and both Erik and Kaitlyn just LOVE them!!! Kaitlyn loves playing the drum and also shaking the bells and shakers. Krista is usually downstairs with me in the kitchen while all this racket is going on upstairs. Here's a photo of Kaitlyn when Toomas walked through the door a few nights ago and put his hat on her! Erik found a Christmas ribbon for around her neck! LOL! She is one happy little munchkin with such a wonderful Dad! :)

Sippy Cup and a cookie!

Eight months has been full of fun for Kaitlyn! She's learning to scoot across the room now. She bounces up and down while sitting, and then inches her way forward. It is a riot! Sometimes she gets over-excited and bounces up and down and then lunges forward and falls FLAT on her face. She was doing this last night on our bed. It will be a painful experience if she decides to do it on our floors! I'll have to get a video of her scooting..It is really cute!

She has been very vocal these last two weeks and says ba ba, ma ma and ema and other combinations. Since she's been acting like quite the big girl lately, I decided to give the sippy cup a try! It wasn't an instand success, but at least she did get the idea down and tried it. I put some Evian in the cup, but you would never have guessed that it was just water from the expression she made. Toomas even asked me.."Did you put something bitter in there"? She made the worst face!

And finally, yesterday while grocery shopping Kaitlyn was being so good for me that I decided to buy her a treat. When I was in the baby section of the store I noticed some tasty looking organic teethng buiscuits (okay, lets just call them cookies! Which is actually what they are!). Well, that was the biggest hit yet!!! The child got the idea down in about 20 seconds... and the cookie was gone in about 2 minutes flat! She just loved it! She gave me the biggest "THANK YOU MOM" look that I've ever seen an 8 month old give! :) Let's face it ...I just love spoiling kids :)

Baby Hair, Baby Teeth and Baby Nose...

FOUR baby teeth.... (See photo) Looking cuter and cuter with those pearly whites :)One teeny tiny, precious button nose...EXCEPT when your big sister puts a funny costume on you. (See photo)And still....NOT much hair! We have a little baby baldy on our hands. She has a more reddish cast though with the fuzz she has (I'd say a dark strawberry blonde). She also has what Erik calls "vampire" hair....and Krista call's "Mikey Mouse" hair (ie. a widow's peak). It's as soft as can be-- just like velvet!

Ice Skating and Christmas Market

Last week we headed to the downtown Christmas market. This year we decided to go AFTER Christmas because it is a lot more enjoyable without the tremendous crowds. This market is a very big attraction in our area, and there are tourists galore. It is truly a winter wonderland! There are small stands selling handcrafts, waffles, crepes, hot wine and more. There is also an ice rink set up right next to the Cathedral. It is magnificent! Erik tried ice skating for the first time and it was a sucess. There are little penguins available that have handles and they can push them along. It is a wonderful way to learn how to ice skate! Both the kids had a blast and Kaitlyn slept the whole time :)

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