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Our Maui, Hawaii Trip

Our next trip brought us to Maui, Hawaii. We were there the beginning of November for 7 days. It was Conrad's first flight (5 hrs) and he did very well!!
We played it safe and stayed at a resort, rented a car and drove around. He didn't mind getting dipped in the pool or the Pacific ocean and he loved the aquarium!!

We'd like to go back again someday when he's older and can learn to surf.

I'll let the pics speak for themselves, here's the link: Maui

Paternity leave

Seems like I haven't updated in awhile, but why does this always surprise me? anyhoo...
Kyle is currently on paternity leave, started the last week of October and he'll be back to work a couple of days before Christmas. So you'd think I would have more free time, but taking care of two babies is hard work! just kidding ;)

This was the perfect time for us to do a little travelling. We drove up to Vancouver, Canada to activate our renewed visas (Kyle's H1B work visa and my spousal H4 visa). Stayed overnight downtown but didn't get to see too much of the city, will have to make another trip back soon. The drive around Stanley Park was beautiful, unfortunately it was a very rainy day. We did managed to squeeze in a trip to the aquarium which Conrad really enjoyed.


Baby Beluga in the deep blue sea...or in an aquarium in this case.

Happy Belated Halloween!!

We dressed up Conrad as a very scary spider for his first Halloween, as you can see from the expression on his face, he wasn't very amused.
Took his picture at the "pumpkin patch." Okay, no, we didn't make it to the pumpkin patch (he wouldn't have known the difference anyhow), it was in fact the produce section outside of QFC (the grocery store).



Conrad was also invited to his first birthday party. His buddy, Jake, turned one and they partied hard till it was naptime.

Cougar Sighting on Microsoft Campus!

Haven't had anything really exciting to report recently...until now. YES! a real cougar of the feline variety spotted in the wooded trail between the buildings where Kyle works. A second sighting 2 days later confirmed it was in fact a cougar and not a coyote as previously suspected. Don't worry, Kyle is safe, I hear they only hunt for men younger than 20 years old, lol!!

Conrad is 2 Months Old!!

 

Hard to believe this little guy came into our lives only 2 months ago. Some things about Conrad (subject to change without notice):

* He is a night owl, goes to bed when we do (around 11 or 12 midnight). Has not slept thru the night yet, longest he has slept is 4 hours straight.

* Cat naps during the daytime, usually half hour to 2 hour long.

* Loves to eat ;) Breastfeeds about every 2 to 2.5 hours.

* He loves it when we read to him and likes to look at our expressions and mouth.

* Loves to "talk", his favourite word is "GU!"

* Has past his "colicky stage" (fingerscrossed).

* Spits up a fair amount and produces loud burps.

* Only poops once a week, usually on a Saturday evening, around 7 p.m.

* Loves his baths but cries when we take him out and dress him.

* Loves being held to sleep, for comfort or to walk around.

* Blase about his pacifier, sling, swing or bouncy chair.

* Dislikes tummy time, sleeping in his crib or bassinet.

* Greets you each morning with a great big SMILE :)

What's In A Name?

Before we knew what the sex of our baby was going to be, Kyle and I decided that if it was a girl that I would name her and if it was a boy, Kyle would name him. Fast forward to a few weeks before he was born, we decided on a name. Decided not to tell anyone...yeah, because we're smug that way ;)

Some of Kyle's possibilities were: Conan, Leroy??, Leo and a couple of famous mathematicians...Pascal, Descartes...yep, good thing I put the kabosh on that one!

Looking on the internet, we came across the name Conrad (meaning: bold counsel or wise advisor), Kyle liked it and so did I. His chinese name, admittedly, I looked up on the internet as well. I like the name Kai and it sounded like "Kyle." Kai in chinese means victory or triumphant and Li means powerful or strength.

Conrad Has Arrived!!

You've all probably already heard that Conrad Kai Li Leckie arrived on July 12, 2009 at 12:40 a.m. He weighed 8 lbs 3 ozs and measured 21.3 inches long.

My water broke on Friday July 10 at 9 p.m. Was admitted into the hospital that night, but contractions weren't consistent until they gave me Pitocin on Saturday at noon. I asked for the epidural which was great :) I could still move my legs and feel the need to push. After 3 hours of pushing, Conrad's heart rate was getting tachycardic. OB suggested use of the vacuum and he was out with one push!!! The umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice really tight, NICU staff was there to check him and luckily he didn't need to be admitted. He is healthy and doing well, what more can a new mommy ask for?

Pregnant Women Are Smug

So, "What are you going to name him?", "Oh we know, but we're not telling...mmmm...".
LOL!! lmao!

I Gots Da Baby Fever!!

Check out the thighs on these cuties...

My Pretties...

So the one question I keep getting alot is "Have your feet swelled up?". It didn't before this weekend. After some cleaning around the apartment and partly due to the hot weather we're having here lately, I think they finally did!

I now have "hobbit" feet and "cankles". Kyle has fun poking at and putting dents in them. Check it out!

Independence Day Parade

Happy 4th of July!! We walked to the parade in downtown Kirkland today to witness the all American Independence Day parade. Here are some pics of the parade:

Starting with all the kids and parents walking/riding the route with their bikes, strollers and powerwheels :)





We didn't make it to the fireworks held at the Marina Park in Kirkland this year due to my swollen ankles but managed to watch bits of it from our balcony, darn tree was in the way.

Catwalk

I got a cat leash for Frosty a couple weeks back since he's been having outdoor fever. Always trying to escape when the front door opens especially since it started getting nice out. I guess being cooped up in our apartment doesn't help coming from the Betzner mansion and all.

On the first try, indoors with some treats for distraction, he managed to keep it on for 3 minutes before biting at it. Every few days I'd put it on him for longer periods of time, with treats as a distraction and he'd drag the leash around before attacking it.

The last few times Kyle has taken him out for 5 to 10 minute stretches in the backyard and he did fine. All he'd do is sniff the plantings and walk on pavement, never on the grass. The goal is to get him used to it so he could accompany us on walks with the stroller...imagine him just prancing along the side, LOL!!. Yeah...I don't think that's going to happen anytime soon.

HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!...eh!

Yes, it's a real holiday!! unfortunately not here in the US, it's business as usual. Kyle and I planned a lunch together at the Microsoft campus cafeteria in hopes that they would serve poutine, like last year. Alas! they did not :(, not in the two cafeterias we checked. My poutine craving goes unsatisfied. What I wouldn't give for a New York Fries Poutine or even better, a roadside stand Quebec poutine...sigh! oh! Canada...

Baby's Corner

Yah, I know what you're thinking..."nobody puts Baby in a corner." I think we've finally got the lil critter's corner set up for his arrival soon. The crib arrived the last weekend in April, ETA earlier than expected..who knew? Kyle put it together, with the help of the cats, of course. Some before and after pics:

My side of the bed BEFORE.



My side of the bed, AFTER:





My favourite part of the nursery is this birds of a feather mobile :) I got this custom made from a talented woodworker on Etsy! Probably more for ME to look at than baby.

The owls and tree are vinyl decals, also from Etsy. Didn't bother painting the room since we're renting. Hope he likes it lol!!

Third Trimester

Let's take a look back at my "skinnier" pics shall we? waaaay back in February when I was 7 weeks along:


And now...

"One of these pictures is not like the other..."
Okay, who's brave enough to post a comment??

Baby's New Ride

I finally got my act together to post pics of the wonderful stroller that everyone chipped in to purchase for our baby shower. Here it is, the 2009 Quinny Buzz 3 Complete in Gold (that's yellow and brown).


Above is a pic of a stroller that I often see parents do, so I made my own "cover" to match :)

Quinny's Description:
The Quinny Buzz's signature feature is its revolutionary hands-free unfolding technology. Thanks to hydraulic gas springs, the Buzz unfolds itself with just a touch of the hand or foot. Be sure to check out the demo - you won't believe how easy it is to unfold this stroller! The Quinny Buzz's lightweight aluminum frame can quickly fold for compact storage or transport. The Buzz also features a distinctive three-wheel design that's both eye-catching and functional. The stroller's front- and-rear-wheel suspension and air-filled tires can navigate even rough terrain with ease.

The Quinny Buzz's soft foam Scotchgard-protected seat features a two-position recline and can face backward or forward to help your child feel relaxed and secure in any setting. The Quinny Buzz can safely support up to 50 lbs. and, with the use of the Quinny Dreami Bassinet accessory, is suitable for even the tiniest of newborns. If you prefer the convenience of a travel system, the Quinny Buzz is compatible with the Maxi-Cosi Mico Infant Car Seat. And unlike other pricier models, there's no need to purchase car seat adaptors - they come with the stroller!

Features:
•Now includes a second stain-resistant XL seat for use with toddlers
•Automatic "hands-free" unfolding mechanism
•Highly maneuverable lockable front swivel wheels
•5-position adjustable handle to accommodate parents of various heights
•Easy to operate parking brakes
•Height-adjustable sun canopy with mesh and plastic windows so baby stays cool and parents can keep an eye on him
•5-point padded harness and removable safety bar
•2-position foot and leg rest to keep baby well supported
•Includes shopping basket, raincover and windscreen netting

If you're so inclined to watch, this demo video is from the Baby Gizmo website (same stroller, except ours have 3 wheels) careful, it's 8 minutes long!:

We also got the Maxi-cosi infant carseat and accessory cup holder.

So, thank you so much everyone! I'm really going to enjoy this stroller...I mean, the baby definately will enjoy riding in style ;)

One Year Anniversary!!

Last year on June 12, 2008, two Canadians (that's us!) officially arrived in Seattle, WA to begin their new and exciting life here in the states; along with their two furry cats. I can't believe we've been here over a year already! How time flies and so much have changed...sigh! Above is a pic taken of Mount Rainier on a clear day while crossing the west Seattle bridge.

Professional Maternity Photos

What a beautiful weekend, weather wise, we just had!!! Blue skies, sunshine, warm weather, who could ask for anything more?

Well, I had a professional maternity photographer lined up to take some pics of mah belly, but it fell through. I found this person on Craigslist (I know, I know, should've learned my lesson, right?), she had a great looking blog, but her communication skills sucked! never returned my calls, uninformative emails, forgetting the date and time we set up since last month, so on Friday I dumped her.

Then, here comes Alecia Hoyt to save daaaay!! Right then, I looked up Craigslist again and found Alecia. I figured I'd give it a shot, called her right then, she answered right away, I told her I needed a photographer stat!! she called her assistant, we setup a time the next day...and voila!! let the pictures speak for themselves. Enjoy!


These were taken at Alki Beach in Seattle, WA close to sunset. If you squint in the first pic, you can see the space needle on the left ;)


I love this "vintage" dress I got for $5.99 at Goodwill..woo-hoo!!








Moral of the story, with Craigslist, you win some, you lose some. I've had some great winners and deals, but that's another post ;)

Kyle's Dad and Lucette's Visit To Seattle!!

We were so happy to see Kyle's Dad, John and Lucette, on their visit to the West coast. Lucette had a convention in Vancouver, B.C. the last week of April, after which they rented a car and drove down to stay with us for a couple of days. Over the weekend we had a fun time catching up, visiting Pike's Marketplace, North Bend Outlet stores, Snoqualmie falls and of course, a must-see and do: lunch at Microsoft Redmond campus and tour of the visitor centre. Here are a few highlights of their trip:

They came at the right/wrong time, the end of cherry blossom season was near, notice all the petals littering the sidewalks. Right time because it was so beautiful, wrong time? their allergies were acting up :(



Pike's Marketplace, downtown Seattle. Lucette bought me a huge bouquet of tulips, I couldn't help but gush over them, they were gorgeous!!


Snoqualmie Falls, WA.

My "big" ending.. ;)