Ok, well the challenge is on now to summarize the first 5 months of Jasper's life into one blog post, but here goes.....
Jasper Michael Holck Nielsen was born at 2:31am by C-section at Women's hospital in Vancouver, BC. He was 8 pounds even, and had a smattering of white blond hair - so cute! We stayed at the hospital for 3 days until I just about lost my mind from lack of sleep and the cacophony of noise that a maternity wing at a hospital creates 24/7 (why oh why do they put ice machines right
outside the door of a patient's room?). The first few weeks at home are a total blur already (note to future mommies - start one of these right away!) with the exception of the sleep deprivation and the endless crying (both Jasper and I!). Turns out I was not producing enough milk for Jasper so essentially he was starving for the first 2 weeks of life, but all that changed once we were introduced to baby formula. Hoorah for baby formula! Luckily Jasper has two amazing Grandma's who came and helped us out for the first few weeks, I am not sure what I would have done without them..thank you, thank you, thank you Mimi and Grandma Day!
June was Father's day - we went to Queens Park in New West to celebrate with the extended family (Campbells and Grahams). Jasper also met Papa C for the first time and got to wish Grandpa Day a happy birthday!
We spent most of the summer going outside for walks and getting Jasper used to being out and about. We took our first trip to the Nielsen family cabin when Jasper was 6 weeks old to visit the entire clan and Jasper met Great-Grandma Inge and MELK for the first time (aka Auntie Michelle, Uncle Kent, Cousins Everett and Logan)
In August Jasper got to meet Aunties Feathers and Shark for the first time. Jasper was annointed the nickname "J-bird" by Auntie Feathers which has stuck to this day. We were sad that Auntie Feathers had to fly away home to the land of shortbread and haggis, but hopefully we will go visit her in 2007. Jasper also took his first (of many) trips to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Victoria, its nice for both of us to spend time where I grew up and for me to get a bit of a break, especially while Aaron is away travelling.
September was a big travel month! We spent the long weekend in Whistler at the Hilton and we took a trip to Ucluelet in September for Auntie Louise's wedding. The whole weekend was absolutely amazing - perfect weather, perfect friends and family, perfect wedding...the bride was stunning beyond words and we had the best time. I also had the privelege of being the maid of honor - I can't tell you how much I treasure my friendship with Louise and how happy and proud I am to have stood beside her on her special day.
October already! We headed to Summerland for Thanksgiving and unfortunately Jasper got his first (of many) colds. Nonetheless we saw Mimi and Papa's amazingly renovated house, had yummy turkey at Auntie Michelle's and had some QT with Ole at her house. Jasper and I took another trip to the Island, this time with Sullivan in tow...its still hard to believe that I was willing to give away my first baby, but I think its for the best for everyone. Sullivan will get all the love and attention he wants and deserves from Grandma, and Aaron will finally put away to bottle of antifreeze that he kept threatening to use!
So now we're pretty much caught up...Jasper is thriving in every way and is generally a very happy playful little guy. He loves to hang with his cousins Marley, Paigey, Logan and Everett - eventhough he doesn't get to see them as much as he'd like. He still looks so much like his daddy and is becoming very independant and willful already (with a nasty little temper developing!). He rolls over with ease, is almost sitting up on his own and loves to chew on his feet. I am loving every day I spend with him, both the good days and the bad days, as he is changing so quickly into a little boy, where has the time gone?
Update! Nov 26, 2006 - Here's a lovely picture of our new lawn buried under an inch of snow....
Ok, well the challenge is on now to summarize the first 5 months of Jasper's life into one blog post, but here goes.....
