Merry Christmas from the Whiddens!

We hope you all have a wonderful fun-filled Christmas! 

Daddy's Girl

There is nothing sweeter than a daddy and his baby girl, am I right? I managed to get a few pictures of Renne and Tim the other day. He was giving her a bottle just before bed. So simple and ordinary, it happens everyday, but these little moments mean the world to me. Renni girl loves her daddy.

She likes his wiskers. Mommy doesn't always love them though ;)

Hehe. Just thought I'd throw these pics in here! I put these hilarious fleece PJs on Renne the other night and was dying laughing. She looked like a cone head. They were very soft and very warm, and made mommy laugh! 

what the heck am i wearing Mom??

Blessed

The last few months have been some of the happiest of my life. I feel so blessed and so loved. I am so grateful for the calm that comes after the storm. For the first time in many years, I haven't been insanely busy, stressed out about work or school, and am just enjoying family. It truly is such a privilege to be able to stay at home with your baby. It's such a contrast from the past few years for me. Sometimes I miss the hustle and bustle of work, and especially the wonderful business that comes from teaching, but I am loving the calm of home life. I love reading Renne stories and dancing with her in the living room. I love singing to her and playing peek-a-boo. I love watching her discover new things, and am so lucky to be the one to show her the way. I realize this phase won't last very long as Renne grows bigger and busier, and we bring more babies into our home, so i am trying to really take it in and enjoy it. It really is a time I will treasure. 

Renne makes me laugh all the time. She is such a funny little girl. She definitely knows when she's doing something she knows she might not supposed to be doing, and she has the most hilarious mischievous little grin on her face. She looks just like Tim when she does it! It cracks me up! I love her expression when I go to get her from her crib. She has the cutest eyes that light up when she sees me. There is no better feeling. She is going through a clingy mommy stage, and despite my growing to-do list as a result, I really don't mind it! She loves being held and she is so cuddly right now! She just nuzzles into my shoulder and gives me a little pat on my back, just like I do when I squeeze her tight. She's started mimicking my actions a lot more. She can clap now, and is working on waving. She sticks out her tongue and wiggles it when you do. She bounces and rocks when she's excited, and she loves to KICK everything! She's got one heck of a swing behind her kicks. Watch out! She especially likes to kick when mommy brings her into her and Daddy's bed! She army crawls still. She pushes up on her knees all the time, but hasn't quite mastered moving on them just yet. She's taking her time I guess. We adore her and she is so loved. She sure is lucky to be spending so much time with Grandma and Grandpa Low. She gets lots of cuddles and kisses, and she knows when she's the centre of attention! Uh Oh! She's my little monkey and I love her for it. 

I am so lucky to be her mom. 

The Whiddens visit the Whiddens

A few weekends ago we visited Jared and Julie out at their new acreage in Coleman! We had an awesome time visiting them! They have a breath taking view and a gorgeous yard! I hope they live there forever so we can take our kids out there lots! We went on a hike that was literally right outside their front door! Thanks for the fun times guys! 

On our hike

The great and noble Dutch!

Sweetest Hayley

Reuniting with Ruby! They have been looking after Ruby for us these past few months and we are so grateful to them for taking her on! She is in heaven and is loving her new home. She has all the space in the world to run around and use up all her energy!

Oh, just the view from their backyard!

Happy Halloween!!

Happy Halloween from the Whiddens!

Renne the sock monkey!

 Our sock monkey family

Halloween is so much more fun when you have a little dolly to dress up!

Fall Family Pics

This year I really wanted some fall family pictures done. Our photographer was amazing and totally captured what I wanted! I absolutely love that I have these pictures of Renne that I can look back on. She is so full of personality in these pictures! Tim was nice enough to be a good sport about it. He doesn't love getting his picture taken, but he loves me so he caves every now and then ;) Now I just need a house to put them up in...oh, how I am craving a good decorating project!

Nothing sweeter than a baby girl and her daddy, am I right?

Haha lil twerp!

Yes, I do comb her hair flat ;) Does absolutely nothing!

Hehe...her hair is like a halo!

Sorry for the pic overload! Too many to choose from!

Renne Monthly

Alright, I haven't posted Renne's montly pictures since she was (gasp) 2 months old!! Bad mama!

So here are a few from each month...

I can't believe she's going to be 9 months old in a few weeks already :0

3 MONTHS

Renne weighs 12 lbs 8 oz and 23.5'' long

This little peanut is sleeping through the night consistently, and doing so well! She rolled over at 16 weeks, and loves to roll to move around. She is our entire world, we are just obsessed with every smile, noise, and snuggle. She is getting so social, and loves to squeal! Her favourite things are her fists, which are in her mouth constantly. Time is just flying by! We love being her parents (as proven by the many videos and pictures we have on our phones)

4 MONTHS

I can't get enough of this age! Renne weighs 13 lbs 2 oz and is 24.7'' long.

She is holding her head up like a champ and has a super strong kick! Seriously, watch out!! She loves to swing her legs up and kick the ground super hard. When you are downstairs and she is above you, you can hear a "thud, thud, thud" with each kick. Our little girl knows what she wants, and knows how to ask for it. She doesn't like to be left alone, and is currently going through a bit of a clingy phase. She is so happy and smiley and loves saying "hello" with a nice high pitched squeal to even complete strangers. Being her mom has made me the happiest person on the planet. We just have so much fun together. I love Renni girl. Slow down...

 5 MONTHS

Renne weighs 13 lbs 15 oz and is 25.5'' long. 

What a whirlwind her fifth month has been! Right as she was turning 5 months old, we moved down to Lethbridge, and are now living with my parents and sister in Coaldale. She is loving all of the attention she is getting, and they equally love seeing her all the time. She is just the sweetest peanut, we have so much fun. Lately we have been doing more outside, being summer and all, and we even went to Echo lake and she loved laying out in the sun with her mommy. Renne still sleeps awesome, we are very grateful for that! She loves swimming and bath time, I think we have a water lover on our hands. We noticed right around the time we moved that she was starting to reach out and grab for our food and water whenever we were eating. She showed HUGE interest in food, so we introduced solids a little early, and she loved rice cereal!! She couldn't get enough. Renne is very grabby lately, and loves to reach for objects. She is also suuuuper squirmy, and never sits still! She wants to do her own thing. These pictures were nearly impossible to take. She is a very determined little squirt, I tell ya! My favourite thing is her adorable chubby legs and her little whispy hair that is starting to grow in! I can't wait until there's enough to put it in a little pony!

 6 MONTHS

I could just eat her right up! Renni girl, you are growing into the funniest little human! You make me laugh all the time. This girl has 2 front teeth!!! 

She weighs 14 lbs 13 oz and is 26'' long. She love eating fruits, veggies and cereal now 3 times a day! She is making lots of new sounds like "baba" and "Dada" and is the squeeeeeeliest babe! She still has such a hoot, just laying on the floor kicking her legs. She also does this hilarious fake cough, it's priceless. She does it to get our attention, hey mom, i need you, I have a bad cough. Cracks me up. She is very close to sitting up on her own, but is still a bit tipsy. Her hair keeps coming in, and that smile. Is. To. Die. For. I guess i should also mention, that she is looking TONNES like her daddy, but also a bit like her auntie Bry. 

 7 MONTHS

this expression is so darn cute!

hehe my cutest bug

this is a typical, "i'm done mom" face

Renne is 15 lbs 5 oz and 26.5'' long.

Her hair is getting so long, and it sticks straight up!! My mom says she looks like a chia pet! This month she looks lots like her uncle dal did, especially in certain pictures. Renne is using her hands like crazy, and can now grab small objects. Her favourite are her puffs, which she goes crazy for. This month, mommy and Renne went to the library for the first time. She mostly just stared at all of the other kids, trying to take it all in. She loves people watching, and she loves other babies and kids! She still doesn't like being left alone, and protests when someone isn't next to her, or playing with her. I put her in her exersaucer quite often, and she loves it, as long as I am nearby. I suppose I don't mind all that much ;) I actually love that she needs me still. Stop growing so fast Renne! I can hardly keep up with you. Love you so much!

  8 MONTHS

"Mom, I'd say that's enough pics..."

Here is a quick update about Renne:

- She is so social. Loves to be around people, loves to chat and smiles at everyone!

- She loves to be held. She wants to be where mommy and daddy are, and hates being left alone by herself. She wants to be part of the action! 

- She has the cutest giggle in the world, and she laughs all the time. She makes the funniest raspy noise when she's excited or hyper. It sounds like, "Haaaaaayyyyeeeee"

- She weighs 16 lbs 8 oz (last time we checked) and is still measuring small, but tall for her age.

- She is eating solids 3 times a day now and likes most food we give her. Although, she is a bit picky with textures. We are really hoping that she will grow out of it, and that it's not a Whidden family curse! ;) Her favourite foods so far are green beans and sweet potato! Go figure!

- She rolls all over the floor and has started doing an "army crawl" on her tummy. Hasn't quite figured out how to move her knees yet. We are workin on it :)

- She loves music. Even when she was brand new she was soothed by music. She loves it when mommy or daddy sings to her and tries to sing along. She likes to sit on my lap and we play the piano together. She squeals along to the music and can really hit some high notes, I tell ya!

- She is busy busy busy lately. Grabbing at everything, and chewing on everything in sight! We have started saying, "No no, Renne" and she smiles and giggles at us when we do!!

-She has her two front bottom teeth, and now two in the top just coming in! 

-We love her-