Jaya Loves Her Grandpa Hickey

I think this picture speaks for itself :-)

Jaya's Soccer Skills

She just learned how to walk. For some reason she thinks this is what people do when they walk. Where would she get that idea?

18 Week Ultrasound of Baby Hickey #2

At 11am today Travis, Jaya, and I headed to our 18 week ultrasound here in Okotoks. What an experience!!! They now have the technology to look at the baby in 4D. I didn't even know there was such a thing! The ultrasound tech recorded a video of it (for an extra $20!) Travis, understanding how important videos and pictures are to me picked up the tab! :-) I was so worried we would not take as many pictures and videos as we have of Jaya, but I would like to state that I never received a video of Jaya's ultrasound. The baby was face first into the placenta so the face shots were a bit skewed. Here were the five videos she took! I am pretty sure I saw the baby waving at us at one point. The ultrasound tech said the baby now weighs 8 ounces. (Once again not the 12 pounds I have already gained :-)

Legs Crossed

I had to post this picture. While driving Jaya will cross her feet just like this. She also crosses them while sitting in her high chair. It just seems so grown up to me...

Jaya is 11 Months Old!

We are parents of an 11 month old! Here are her current stats...

Walking - 27 Steps

Talking - Dad
Mom
Jaya
I do
I did it
Blue
Fffffff
Hi
Bye
Dog
Yummmmmmmmmm
dare (share)

Gestures and actions-
More
Waving hi and bye
Up
Kisses
Share
shaking her head no!
Clapping
Leaning off the edge of the pool
Pushing buttons on the elevator

Dislikes-Still hates her car seat rear facing.
The first five minutes of every nap.
Being held for more than three minutes (she wants down!)
Being told she can't play with toilet paper or in the refrigerator
Being read to for longer than 3 minutes (she wants to hold the book)

Likes-Food in general. It's my theory that she eats more than Travis does during a day.
Swimming with mom
Dad coming home from work and playing with her
Walking on her own
Doing laps around our living room table
Throwing her soccer ball
Music while driving
Any type of animal...especially horses, cows, and dogs (who does this sound like?)
Any contraption with buttons (ie remotes, cell phones, calculators)
Swinging on the toddler swing at the park - while pretending to kick dad????
Talking and waving to strangers
Going to Sunday school without mom and dad on Sunday mornings.

Jaya has become such the little ham. She brings a lot of laughter and joy into our home. Travis took these pictures of us yesterday. I am in my coaching gear and Jaya is in her cute summer outfit from Oma and Grandpa Joe!

Honey is Here!

We were able to have Honey brought up from my Uncle's house in the states. This is the first time I have road in two years. I am clearly pregnant and therefore will wait to ride anymore until after December. I miss the big guy...

Jaya Joy Walking with Dad

Jaya's new record is 27 since this video was taken. It's hard to keep up with her because she changes every day.

Our Home in Okotoks

This is our one bedroom condo in Okotoks, Alberta. We have made it a home. I can't help but think that the times we have had in this condo will be some of the happiest of our lives. When someone is upset or angry there is no where to run and hide. We all have become close living here. It will always be special to me. It's where our family's story began. I want to look back in 50 years at these pictures and smile. Jaya loves our home. She can manuver the entire condo within seconds. She has spent countless times on the kitchen floor (assisting) me with cooking :-). The hallway is a magical domain where she plays chase with Dad. We will be moving soon in order to accomodate our growing family, but this will always be our roots. God has truly blessed our home....

Just the Four of Us :-)

We are officially 17 and a half weeks pregnant in these pics! These were taken out at a farm east of Okotoks. Where our friends Mike and Allison were married this past weekend.

Jaya is becoming a toddler way to fast. This past Sunday she set her walking record to 27 steps. She finds Grandpa Hickey's house much more conducive to walking than any where else in Alberta. I think it is because she gets the most cheers there! ha ha

Travis is working hard and loving every minute of his job at Western. When he returns home he is greeted with cheers, smiles, and plenty of kisses. I am not sure what more a guy could ask for! :-)

I am gaining weight like a champ! I have gained 12 pounds so far which is the exact same as Jaya at this point in my first pregnancy. I feel the new baby kick every few days. Despite the fact, our ultrasound tech said the baby was moving and kicking the entire 16 week ultrasound.

We have another ultrasound this Thursday. Time is flying by so much faster than with Jaya. This baby will be here by Christmas!

8 Unassisted Steps

Today is the 16th day of July 2009. Jaya Joy just took 8 unassisted steps from the bed to the living room! She is officially walking! Of course I did not get it on video because 10 and half month olds do not warn you before they start walking... :-)

Our Little Fish

Jaya's last Mom and Tot swim class was today. She learned how to float on her back, side, and front. Her favorite part of the class was jumping off the side into my arms. That's my girl! While several kids in the class cried the entire time, Jaya didn't want to leave. Travis and I are committed to making sure all of our kids our water safe. Jaya is getting a great head start.

Last night I asked Travis, "Don't you just love Jaya to pieces," he got a huge grin on his face and answered, "I do! It's almost indescribable how much I love her. The best part of my day is coming home and seeing her smile at me when I walk in the door." Earlier in the evening he informed me that Jaya thinks he is fun! He said, "She thinks I am just here for her to play with!" Jaya loves her Daddy!

10 Month Old Pictures of Jaya

I think these pics speak for themselves...

Baby Hickey #2 at Week 15

We are officially 15 weeks pregnant and mostly over all morning, noon, and night sickness! Travis and I are so excited for the arrival of our second child this winter. We are working hard to agree on both girl and boy names. Although we have not come to any conclusions yet. This baby is due around December 30th. What a wonderful Christmas gift to our family. We can't wait to meet you little person! We love you already....

Family Day at the Stampede!

Travis, Jaya, and I spent all of Sunday at the Stampede Fair Grounds. We were well equipped with plenty of beverages, snacks, and sun blocking devices. Jaya was fantastic the whole day. She loved looking at the horses and cows with her Dad and eating Cheerios at the rodeo. We went to a Stock Dog show, the famous rodeo, western art exhibit, cattle exhibit, blacksmith exhibit, horse exhibit, and Travis was sure to buy his pregnant wife the largest corn dog she could find :-) Stampede day $250, Rim's Corn dog $5, spending time as a family at our first Stampede...priceless!

Jaya's First Stampede Parade

Last Friday, my friend Charlotte (and her daughter Kennedy who is 7 days younger then Jaya) and I took the girls to the Stampede Parade. We had a wonderful time! Navigating the strollers through a large crowd was a sport in its self but well worth it....

Happy Canada Day!

Travis and I loaded up Jaya and headed out to the Millarville Race Track for the Horse Races. To give you any idea what kind of gamblers we are, Travis won the first race he bet $2 on and then bet one last time on the fourth race. He won again! Jaya was having an overall hard day (still recovering from 3 days of fever and a full body rash) and so we left early. Only to remember we never cashed in our winning tickets. Yes, that's right, we won and never turned the tickets in for money! That might very well make us the worst gamblers in North America. We both got a chuckle out of it though!

This is Jaya's and my first Canada Day! It was great spending it outside together as a family. These are the moments we will remember. These are the moments we will someday wish we could get back....