Merry Ho! Ho!

Happy Holidays from our family to yours. Cheers from the LaBonté girls!.. and Owen too!

Merry Christmas!

Just a few days until Madeleine and I head for the Island... don't know if I will have a chance to post anything until the new year. Just in case, I wanted to make sure to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, Peace, Love and Joy, and most of all, have a safe one.

Cheers!

Dawna
(BTW- I have added another giggles video to my photo album, as well as a video of Owen dancing- too funny!)

No Comment Required

Chris' face says it all.


BTW- check out my photo album for more recent pics and a really cute giggles video!

Five Month Update

Wow! Have we ever been busy! It's been a while since our last posting and so much has happened! Check out this most recent picture of Madeleine, posing in front of her very first Christmas tree... simply magical.

We spent last week in Toronto with Chris. We did lots of shopping and sightseeing during the day while Daddy worked, and then we took advantage of the swimming pool at night. Madeleine seemed quite content in the pool.

Look at me!!! I am sitting up all by myself!

Madeleine has changed so much in this past month. She can now roll over from back to front, but doesn't do it very often. She saves this trick for special occasions. She has started sitting up unassisted for short spells. Long enough to take a picture... although sometimes the photographer is a bit slow.... (I admit that this shot took about 5 takes!)

... take two!

This is my favorite picture. I have caught the girl on three or four occasions just like this... trying to absorb a book by osmosis. Her eyese are priceless. " What are you looking at? Is there something funny here? I don't get it."

This is Madeleine with her buddy Tara (and mom Karla)- the girls are exactly the same age, give or take a few days!

...and I understand that there is one more little girlfriend on the way! It will soon be your turn Julie!

Four Month Update

Well, what a benchmark. Four months. Fourteen pounds two ounces. Twenty-four inches. All of this puts us somewhere just above average on the growth charts. She's such a wonderful little person. She works really hard, peddling away on her exersaucer- shoe's go flying away! Things are great, life is good- everyone is happy and healthy.

We'll check in again in a few more days.

Okay Buddy... I guess I'll see you at Christmas!

See how good we look together Owen?

Owen... Oooowen... Where are you?

Owen... we miss you!

Happy Halloween Ghouls and Goblins!

Getting to know you, Getting to know all about you...

Okay Owen... my Mom said I'm in charge until they get back from the pub...

Owen: Hmm... verrrry interesting. This is a girl, he?!

Owen: This vacation stuff rules!

Madeleine: Oh man... I hope these pictures don't end up on the web.

Madeleine: He, he, he.... I don't care how big you are buddy, I'll just sit on you!

Nice Toe Jam Madeleine!

Three Month Update....

Madeleine recently reached the three month mark (October 7 to be precise!) and we thought we would give you a quick update and answer some of the most frequently asked questions!

Does Madeleine sleep through the night?

Yes, absolutely! She has been sleeping through the night (about 6 hours straight) since she was about 7 or 8 weeks old. In the last few weeks, she has even had some 11 hour nights! I know, very cool! On average, Madeleine will go to sleep around 9 or 9:30, wake up for a feeding around 5 or 6 a.m., then go back down until 8:30 or 9. Yes, we do know how lucky we are!

How big is she?

Not sure. It's hard to say. She weighed in at 12 lbs 1 oz just about a month ago. She feels a bit heavier, so maybe somewhere around 13 lbs... maybe a bit more. Her next medical appointment is on November 4 - we will be sure to keep you posted!

Does she eat well?

Like a pro... she's definitely on the Parkhill protein diet!

Is she strong?

Very, obviously... I'm a mom, right? Madeleine holds her head up with no problems at all. She is unbelievably curious and is always checking things out... which means she would much rather go in the baby carrier or sling than in the stroller and she prefers standing to sitting. In fact, it is often almost impossible to get her to sit on your lap.

Can she sit up yet?

Nope, not even close!

Can she roll over?

Madeleine can roll over from her tummy to her back, but hasn't quite figured out how to return to starting position yet. Chris and I figure that rolling over, at this point, has more to do with discovering the virtues of gravity than anything else...

Is she fussy?

No. Madeleine is a very happy and content little person.

Is she losing her hair?

Yes... just like her dad.

Does she have any nicknames yet?

Chris calls her Maddy or Maddy Jean. Sometimes I like to call her my little Nutbrown. It's from 'Guess how much I love you' by Sam McBratney.

What are Madeleine's favorite things?

She loves listening to Chris on the guitar. It doesn't matter what he plays, from Led Zepplin to Fred Penner, she is captivated. She also loves to hear voices- any time we read or sing to her, she joins in with her own little voice! She also loves the mobile on her swing. She can talk to the twirling sea creatures for minutes (thats like hours in adult time!)

Any other milestones you would like to share?

(Okay, no one actually asked that question. I just decided to throw it in for personal satisfaction!) Madeleine has begun smiling to herself in the mirror... very cute to see! She also grabs at toys now and brings them to her face for closer inspection. In the last few days, my little Nutbrown has thrown out a few giggles- which makes us laugh and in turn makes her stop and wonder what the heck we find so funny. Oh well, our timing will improve eventually!

Have you re-mortgaged your house in order to buy clothes and toys for her yet?

No, but we are walking everywhere to save money on gas... ;0)

When are you going home for a visit?

Not until Christmas, unfortunately. But my sister Carla is coming to visit with baby Owen in a few weeks... yey!

When will you post new pics?

Soon, I promise!

Losing my Religion!

Okay, I guess in this case, William was FINDING his religion... either way, what a party! Great people, great times, great food. Simply, a nice celebration for a sweet little boy!
































Okay... not part of the christening but too cute to leave out!