End of Summer Highlights!!

The summer has gone by quickly but we have enjoyed the

sun and the things we've experienced with Amelia. The end of the summer always marks a few big things in our family; Graham and my anniversary and my birthday!! Actually they happen on the same day....when we got married it was the only day that really worked. So I was born August 29, 1981 and then we were married in the Edmonton Temple on August 29, 2002, Graham only has to remember one really, really important date. This year Graham did something fabulous, a total surprise to me, he took us to Banff for the weekend!!! It was super fun, we cruised the main street in Banff, I had a massage (Graham again shocked me with this special activity), we ate out, hung at the park and went swimming in our hotel's mineral pool. It was a great weekend, I loved being just the three of us!

It was also cousin Jacey's Bird-day, she turned one!!! Alyson made her cake from scratch and we celebrated in thier new house picnic style as they got the keys that day. Although I am so excited for the Bird Family I am a wee bit sad, I've so enjoyed having them live with us. My sister's are my best friends and my little Jacey Bird....I can't begin to express how dear that little girl is to my heart. Her and I spent lots of time cuddling while I lay on the couch with a big pregnant belly. My heart just fills when she puts her arms up for hugs or she wants to come to me. They will be missed but it was time for them to get to take that next step in life, HOMEOWNERS! The pic of the two girls is the night of Jacey's bird-day, they were just hanging out after the big party.

Our litte girl is a doll!! We are so inlove with her - do I write that every post? If so it is because it is true. The smiling picture is my favourite of her right now!! She brings such joy, I love playing with her and getting her to smile her toothless grin. She will look straight in your eyes with her little blue peepers, so adorable. We just love her so much!! We've been blessed this summer, I've been so blessed. Life is good!

~Jenny

Professional Photo Shoot

It is amazing how quickly babies change! It was nearly 3 months ago that Amelia joined our family. The photos capturing her at 5 days old are the best investment we've ever made. They still bring tears to my eyes. She is such a percious little gift from God and we are so grateful that she is part of her family. I hope that we will be able to measure up, be the parents she needs to become who she is meant to be...oh our precious AMELIA ANN. Words can't really capture our love for her!!

This shot is our first official family picture!

In her Daddy's arms ~ how small!

I am in love with her little shoulders, so precious!

I still can't believe that she is mine! I can kiss her, smell her, cuddle her anytime I want....and I do!

How adorable, I love the chin dimple!

My wrapped up angel!

I love her hands here, so comfortable and peaceful.

Oh our flexible little lady! Grandma Hinko loves this picture and got a copy for herself.

What a little woman. It is amazing how they love being so small and compact, reminding them of their previous residence I guess.

I am in love!

We adore her! ~Jenny

Two months old already!!!

So our little girl is growing and changing! It is still amazing to think that she is with us FOREVER, we get to enjoy her FOREVER!! We love it! Some of the new things include; reaching with a jittery arm for toys (she usually does this with her dad), she has also been finding her feet wanting to stand or push and she is not a fan of being on her tummy. Every new thing is so exciting! She also gives the best smiles in the morning, we are trying to capture it in a picture but have yet to do so.

Playing with dad - moving her arms!

Sporting a cute onesie hand-me-down from cousin Jacey.

2 Month old bear comparison...working the headband, side flower
Totally looks like her dad here!

Taken at 7 weeks, what a differnce a few weeks make!

Loving her and loving being parents...two months in! ~Jenny

Visiting Seattle!

Amelia's birth certificate came so we were able to take her to the USA! We are in the process of getting her passport now as we hope this trip will be her first of many traveling experiences.

We headed to Seattle because my cousin Patrick was getting married to a fabulous girl Heather. Any reason to get to see Uncle Troy's family is exciting for us, they are so far away. The wedding was beautiful and it was so nice to get to visit with my cousins....and of course show Amelia off! The live in Silverdale so we snuck in a few days at Seattle, just our new little family. We took in Pike Place Market, a Mariners Game and outlet shopping. It was a fun little getaway. Check out the photo highlights....

Mariners vs. Blue Jays (Graham's new jersey!!!)
Amelia was a lively fan NOT!

Pike Place Market

Amelia's first Ferry ride

A little cuddle pic of the Polischuk ladies!

First airplane ride and she got to check out the cockpit with the Captain, he was super nice to hold her and let her crazy parents take a photo.

Seattle was wonderful, the laundry pile huge and the Mom tired. It was fun though, so neat to experience travel differently, have to think about sleeping and eating for someone other then ourselves. Can't wait to share more of the world with her!

~Jenny

6 weeks old already!

Hinko Family pic from cousin Jordan's Wedding

Little lady in her Sunday dress - one of my favourites! So pretty

1 Month old bear comparison!


Doing tummy time

I can't believe that Amelia is 6 weeks old already! The time is flying and our wee lady is changing. When Graham came home from work yesterday he commented that her hair looked different, like it had grown....alot has grown on her actually. I had to put away a few of her sleepers that were newborn and no longer fit her when she stretches out, oh my. It makes me happy though to know that she is gaining weight and developing, I am the woman that feeds her, her only source. It is kind of freaky actually, I had a light bulb moment the other day in that I still need to make sure I am eating right because seriously the woman only has me! Aunite Alyson and I plan to take the girls to get them weighed today so I am pumped to see what the gain is, at a month she was 9lb 10oz.

A few new things about Amelia;

* she makes cooing noises, almost like she is trying to talk to us

* she smiles now and again, usually milk induced but sometimes when we are playing and

often at Auntie Alyson

* she looks at books, the tree behind her crib and looks at your finger following it when we

play

So the lady has been traveling and we are home for a few days then traveling again. It is the year of weddings, last weekend cousin Jordan & Kristina in Fort Mac and then this weekend cousin Pat & Heather in Seattle. Wohoo! Amelia did fabulous on the drive up to Fort Mac and we are hoping that she is as wonderful on the airplane. Oh her first airplane ride!!!

Life is good, we feel blessed! ~Jenny

Amelia's Blessing!!!

So this past weekend was very special for us, Amelia was blessed!

It was wonderful, so very special to have Graham hold Amelia and along with other worthy priesthood holders give OUR baby a name and a blessing. Just thinking about the many blessings that Graham has been apart of - but this time giving the blessing to OUR little girl! So wonderful (did I already say that)!!! The dress was worn by cousin Jacey and made by my mom of course. The dress actually has fabric from my mom's wedding dress and also extra fabric from my wedding dress, mom has some serious skill. I wanted to feed the lady right before sacrament and have her tummy full in hopes that she would sleep, no such luck but she didn't make a peep during the blessing. Graham said that her little eyes were wide open just listening, oh we love her so much. We had tons of family join us for her blessing and then for a BBQ at our house after, the pictures were taken in our backyard. The sun was shinning and the sky was blue, a lovely day. It was bliss!

Proud Pops, Auntie Jenn and Grandpa Ed

Grandpa & Grandma Hinko with the Polischuk's

Little Amelia in the family blessing dress

Our new family

Because the dress will be worn by all the girl cousins I wanted Amelia to have something special just for her, something that she could keep that was just from her blessing. I found a white head band and little crochet white booties with a pink flower - the booties her dad and I actually bought the day we found out we were having a girl. The funny thing was that I forgot to put on the little booties before Graham brought her to the front of the chapel, so much for good intentions. She still looked super cute and I still put the headband and booties in her memory box, I'll just have to tell her how I held on to them while she was blessed. I also forgot to put them back on for the pictures, ahhhh oh well.

Grandma Hinko recorded the words Graham spoke and both Graham and I plan to write in the little journal we have for Amelia, it was such a wonderful day. The kind of day that is a glimpse of heaven for sure because one can't imagine any better kind of day!!

~ Jenny

Getting bigger!!

So our little lady is getting bigger! At her two week mark we went to the Health Unit and got her weight checked; babes are suppose to be back to their birth weight at this point....well our lady was above and beyond weighing in at 7lb 1oz - we were very happy! Grandma Hinko and Auntie Alyson were there and got cousin Jacey weighed too. It is amazing because suddenly Jacey seems like such a big girl.

This super cute hat was made by a talented friend from church. I love it and it is sadly getting small already, evidence that Amelia is growing. Her face here is so mello, she was just chillaxin in her little chair.

(Her new fancy upstairs chair I should add - her dad is spoiling her already!)

Above is a pic from Amelia's two week photo shoot, can you see from her face how impressed she is by the event. I know that it might be a bit unrealistic but I really want to capture her growth in comparison to this bear Graham got. Each week for the first month and then every month until she turns one, time will tell if I can stick to this goal. The little woman has many cute outfits to choose from so it is just remembering to photograph her, that is the key.

I sat patiently to capture this smile. It was right after she ate, so her tummy was full and life must have seemed good. I love her smiles,I love wondering what she is dreaming about. It must be about heaven because she's only been with Graham and I for three weeks and although we are pretty cool we haven't done anything to fun with yet so she must be thinking about other things. My dad (Grandpa Hinko) calls mom's milk 'joy juice' or 'sleeping potion' and man do those terms ever seem to fit.

This is now one of those 'old' pics, funny how we already categorize week one as old but I love it!! It is the photo that we decided to use in her birth announcements and thank you cards. Her little eyes are open and looking straight at the camera. We love her so much! Hard to believe that she is three weeks old already. This weekend we celebrate Grandma Hinko's 50th Bday and then Amelia's Blessing both are big and should be fun!

~Jenny