Weight: [birth - ?g / 9 lbs 12 oz.]
Eyes: blue).

Pronunciation:

Labor:

Name story: We finally decided on "Taysia", but it almost was "Taija" (changed it a day before filling the papers). Some have mentioned that it could be considered a short form of Anastasia. About two weeks after the birth, I woke up at 3am, and couldn't get "Amber" out of my head - so that's the middle one.

We figured almost a 100% that it would be a boy before the birth and liked: Garet

A few alternate name choices mulled after before the birth: Lillith, Amanda, Lillian, Abigail

amber - taiga (add in Oxford dic. and thesaurus of fire stuff)
Fedirko: This is Ukrainian in origin...

Johnson: This is of Swedish origin...

December, 2000
23rd Contractions -- about one an hour on the "half-hour". 24th More Braxton-Hicks contractions in the night (early morning) -- about six major ones.

January, 2001
6th Contractions again this morning -- from about 3:30 -> 6am. 11:28am, lost "the plug". 7th The birth happened around 2:23 or 2:25pm. Relatively slow and quick compared to last time. / Great Gramma, Regular Gramma, Erin came for a first viewing in the late afternoon? / At night, she was sleeping, so Sherann got up to go to the bathroom, and her eyes opened, content to watch the fire in the fireplace! 9pm - Grace checked another pee sample -- checked out perfect. 9:30pm, still having post-contractions? 8th Did a couple delicate little sneezes during the day, getting better at nursing. / Great Gramma, Regular Gramma, Eileen, Scott, Tracey, Carter, MacKenzie, Grampa Jim came by to visit. 9th Momma thought her poo was changing (noticed a rauchy smell) -- but the diaper was dry (D'OH!). / Travis and Jean came to see her for the first time after lunch. Let us borrow their change table. Great and Regular Gramma came again today. / Used her lungs a lot last night to request feeding/attention. 10th Hung out in Sera's arms this morning. Had her first "regular" non-merc" poop -- cleaned up at 10:15am. 12th while passing out, gave a silent multi-laugh with her eyes closed. Having "blast-off" poops lately -- really loud and violent sounding. 13th going outside for the first time (perhaps momma is finally getting stir-crazy?). / Tori, Leanne, Lee came for an evening visit. 14th Christine, Sue, John, Warren, Regular Gramma came this morning for a visit / Erin came by around diner time too. Momma thinks her head is starting to get too big for her hat -- and is proud that her cheeks and fingers are getting fatter (baby's). 15th Went for a walk (finally!) down to the park, and took a trip up to the bank. First real day outside (dada thanks you both!). 16th The neighbour Benita came by after work to visit for a bit. 18th Went in to visit Grace. Gained a full 1-lb, 1oz. today - up from 6-lbs, 2oz at the bottomed-out-weight. 19th Ruben came to visit. 22nd still has quite a rash happening (for most of the past two weeks), so Sher has cut out on meat and various other things to see if that helps. 23rd Regular Gramma & G.G. came over for diner - and to fight over holding her! 28th Took a long trip into Vancouver. Went to visit Peter & Linda Fox, then did a samosa run, and off to a pre-wedding meeting (got it!), a short stint at Granville Island and finally home. 29th Sher is trying to cut out everything her books tell her may/might contribute to colic. Looks like only beans and potatoes (between the rash and the colic details) are left to subsist on for awhile. 30th 9:40pm - decided on the name finally after having a heavy discussion, and doing some fire reference searches -- that solidified things. 31st Filled the name papers (see above).

February, 2001
10th Baba and Dido came in from Calgary for their first "live" visit. 11th Met with Gail, Bob and Marcus (six months) today for an afternoon visit.

April, 2001
4th Started to really use her hands to reach up and touch her hanging mobile thingy (lays on a mat with these swinging rattle'n'spin-like thingys above her) today. 8th Went to Donna's birthday (at Gail and baby Marcus's place) and everyone loved her to bits. 13th Went to her first Easter-egg hunt today (just watched). Laughed for the first time (apparently) at Scott & Tracey's place tonight. 16th Momma gave me a bit of chewed up Stone Wheat Crackers tonight, exciting having something with texture! 10:30pm, discovering my feet (rubbing them together).

May, 2001
1st Tried to take her first step (or so I think) -- loves to be picked up onto her feet (holds straight as a board) 11th might have taken a step again. This one is definately trying to walk before crawling! 29th great at grabbing her hanging toys, and tonight she seemed perturbed that she couldn't "get" them, so I un-hooked them so she could have them close to her. Of course they go straight into the mouth for examination!

June, 2001
3rd Baba & Dido came down for another visit. 4th I think she's started to crawl backwards finally. 8th Rolled over on her side (from the back), while hanging at G.G.'s. 16th I showed her herself in the mirror, and she seemed to finally get "it", and then became very excited. I put her down so that she might crawl towards herself, and she tried frantically, but didn't get anywhere (8:34pm).

July, 2001
early been flipping over and spinning around - no crawling yet, but should be soon. Loves blueberries too.. 28th Went to the lantern festival (13th. annual) at Trout Lake (East Vancouver) and watched the fire performers, and all the local freaks milling about - freaked out a few times, but seemed to enjoy things in our arms better than the stroller. 30th started to crawl backwards tonight -- really getting mobile. Look out world, here comes trouble! Using her arms to push back I guess.

August, 2001
8th went to bed "awake and happy" tonight after feeding -- playing in her crib with her toys. 10th getting the hang of crawling (well the pre-idea) -- getting up on her knees and trying to shift her weight around (yesterday too). 12th doing push-ups and beginning to motor around (slightly) - can stay sitting up briefly today. 25th really getting good at crawling. Got into the box of peaches (literaly!) Time to get some gates and baby proof this joint! 28th Crawling between rooms now. 31st Is crawling at an incredible rate now, and likes to climb up on things, like the foot-stool (till she is standing upright!) and the stairs.

September, 2001
15th Starting to climb the stairs (2.5 of them) -- good thing I was watching, 'cause she fell over backwards a few times trying to do it. Looked like a little expeditioner trying to climb everest... 30th Stood-up free-standing this morning next to me for 2 to 3 seconds.

October, 2001
11th 9:14pm - climbed the ENTIRE! set of stairs (14 of them) tonight. Must have only taken about a minute to do it too! Man are we in trouble now! Yesterday it was 4. 12th climbed the whole set of stairs twice in the morning. So I setup a barricade at the bottom now. 14th Went to Grampa Carl's wedding (to Ida) on the farm -- got to dress up in a fancy dress (Autie Erin's). 17th Ended up having a bath with the puppy (she jumped in), and didn't seem to mind it all. v.good natured with it surprisingly -- v.different reaction than Sera! 18th Apparently can lift the toilet lid now

November, 2001
8th walking around the kitchen holding on to Sera's red chair (plastic IKEA kid chair). 9th I saw this finally tonight -- really getting around! Also v.confident walking if you hold her hands, she'll walk towards you! mid climbing onto the couch. 26th climbed "down" the whole staircase tonight (8:40pm), and ended up doing it three times (full-length), and a few short climbs up, and back down in the middle for practice!

December, 2001
early started taking her first steps, and getting up and down off the couches. 6th walking multiple steps tonight (at the top of the staircase no less!) -- looking proud and v.confident. 7th spins around and slides off our bed by herself now, whistles a bit, nods her head for yes, and shakes it for no. 8th climbed past the stair barricade this morning is search of Momma (the crib and chair). 9th Lee came over for a quick visit in the early afternoon. She walked the length of the coffee table (5:15pm) 22nd Snuck up the stairs (un-attended) and was found playing in Sera's room this morning!

January, 2002
11th went up and down the stairs completely un-watched no problem - the barrier is also not much of a deterent anymore 12th has been clapping her hands to the music I've been spinning. 14th has started to learn to "walk" down the stairs - she'll hold my hands and "step" down (near the bottom). 15th getting pretty confident today trying to walk down the stairs! She came upstairs to greet me tonight while I was working on my demo reel (unsupervised while the other ladies were watching Shrek. . . 17th has learned to pull out the music-CD drawers and their contents tonight. I could also swear that we have gremlins now - as I found a whole wack to them partially pulled out after I'm sure I put them all away and she wasn't around. While on the middle of the staircase she was either coming towards me or lost her footing (can't recall), and fell end-over-end into my arms -- like an acrobat. Unfortunately it didn't seem to faze her [if any] too much. 20th walked down like a kid all the steps (holding my hands) this evening! -- and fast too! 27th Taysia got to go in the sled too -- didn't seem to know what to think of all that fluffy-white-stuff! Hard to walk on in a snow-suit without real footwear!

February, 2002
2nd Decided that the three chairs and crib blocking the stairs were still "no-match-for-her", she climbed straight up and over the back of one of the orange chairs - flipping over and landing on her head -- looked like a gymnastic move. Completely un-phased by the endeavour. early can "blow-air-out" of her mouth now at us. 6th First tooth! 11, 12, 13 heavy fever - the first two days she just layed about - we didn't even have to put up the barricade! 18th (approx) was the first "I" saw the fabled tooth - she would never let us see in there! 19th around this time we've stopped putting up the triple-barricade - as she's so darn good on the stairs it seemed almost pointless, and she really appreciates the freedom!

March, 2002
3rd Got her first (small) fat-lip in the bathroom (not too impressed!) 7th Got her second tooth 8th Dad still hasn't seen the tooth yet. mid okay - it's there now for all to see! 29th in the evening, she went and brought over the wooden step stool (from the fish bowl) to the cutting board, and climbed up to get a better look! This allows her to see what's on the counter. This apparently wasn't good enough, so she went to get the red kid chair, and put that in front of the stove, and climbed up (now we are all in super trouble!) - much better view . 30th Two top front teeth starting to poke through (faces of the gums getting thin too). 31st Did a big barf in her crib a few moments after I settled into bed, so I picked her up, and she painted me too. Big pieces of lagsagna - she seems good after that tho.

April, 2002
2nd Seemed happy tonight, but wouldn't eat barely any dinner, just a bit of apple. 19th Using a spoon by herself now (was pretty good yesterday).

May, 2002
19th Was playing in the garage, and something fell on her - cutting her face (eyelid and cheek) - she wasn't impressed (neither were we!) 25th at 6:05pm decided to climb the neighbours kid-slide (three ladder rungs and then the slide) and slide down all by herself! I was impressed. late another group of front teeth are starting to come in - she's been hot, and full of clear-ish boogers. 31st Been much better that past few days, but giving us grief at nights.

June, 2002
3rd I showed her how to lift the light-switch "up", and she's got that now. 4th opened the dead-bolt in the front tonight (!) 7th wanted to go on the toilet tonight! - so Sher took off her diaper, and put the potty-seat on - nothing happened, but she wanted to stay on it. 28th really getting good at making "real" sounds. 29th She pointed at pictures of us on the fridge and said each of us! (Dadda, momma, Sera) 30th It's almost like she's really talking (in a primitive caveman kinda way) - quite fantastic.

July, 2002
1st Likes "blowing raspberries" on momma's leg and belly (v.funny!) 6th Was excited to see herself on video this morning - kept pointing to her face on the TV, and said "baby!" - smiling and doing a little jig. 31st Had fun with me at our favorite blueberry patch tonight (gave momma some space to animate our :24 spot) roaming and foraging in the back section - freaked at the end by a huge forest slug.

August, 2002
3rd After breakfast (blue-berry-pancakes) we took off her diaper, and asked her if she wanted to go on the potty - so she went up stairs, and sat on her toilet seat and went for the first real time! (yeah!) she's sat on it many times in the past to try - but never did anything. 7th Quite excited about reading (and having books read to her) books - the small hard-page ones - just loves it now! 25th Said "Taysia" and "A, B, C, D" this morning in our bedroom! And "Sera" today. 28th Walked all the way up the stairs carrying two books (i.e., not holding the railing or touching the stairs with her hands!).

September, 2002
5th When asked if she wanted to share a bath with momma - it illicited the response "No !" (each time she was asked) - funny! 19th 11:11am - ran all the way back from our walk down to the end of the lane - she's getting really good on her feet!

October, 2002
Loves the cat - calls and mauls "mow" all the time. Meow seems to be pretty fine with it all curiously enough.

November, 2002
15th She's been saying "milt" for milk, and "meat" (v.clearly) lately. Also was watching a nature show this morning and after I pointed out an owl, she repeated "awl" each time it came on screen.

December, 2002
10th learned to open our bedroom door - now our lives are over! 14th Stood on a chair and then opened the bedroom door (from inside) this morning to escape. Went skating (no skates) with the other kids near softball city - loved it - pushing these new devices around (to give them confidence), and in the umbrella stroller, and a purple car. Floats on her own in the tub - 8:03pm - didn't let me put her jammies on after a bath - ran back to the bathroom and asked to get on the toilet - then did a big clean poop! 18th Plugged her ears - at the pre-concert stage - 6:43pm

January, 2003
5th Started doing summer-saults on the bed tonight - and lovin it! 7th I'm T W O ! - woke up for cuddles in the big bed - got a birthday email from Gramma-Lee, and Gramma phoned just to talk with me. 26th 9:30pm - also wanted to play my guitar - way too heavy, but she liked trying to jam the pick in there - got some video footage of it too.

April, 2003
11th Has pretty much given up "nap-time" - much to our shagrine - in the past few weeks now. 21st Has been stripping down naked (everything!) at nights - very frustrating the past few days!

May, 2003
10th She can now open the locked sliding doors, open the fridge and climb up the playhouse ladder (look out!)

June, 2003
2nd Loves the kid-swing - "higher!" at the boat park. 3rd Climbing up the tough rounded inverted ladder at the school park now no problem, and good at the straight slide.

September, 2003
9th Has been a puzzle-feind lately. Sher found her in Seras' room this morning doing a 100-piece (!!!) puzzle - had filled in the head. She has been spending hours each morning doing various puzzles around the house - even while the morning cartoons are on. She's getting incredibly fast at picking the correct pieces and moving them to the right area, even though she can't always seem to make them fit right away. Maybe we should rent Rain Man...

October, 2003
early Has been saying "I'm sorry 100" - not sure where she came up with that one, but it's cute/sad. (as in: I'm very, very ... sorry). Been pretty good with going on the potty lately.

January, 2004
7th Got numerous phone-calls today for my 3rd. birthday - thank you all! 8th Opened some presents in the evening, and was pretty excited about it all - wacky date was because of the parents work-schedules... Dad tried to video the unveiling, but both videocam batteries won't hold an overnight charge anymore [argh!] - so we soaked it up with our eyes.

March, 2004
11th Barfed 4 times - seemed to be some fever/flu thing. 4, 6, 8pm then 3am. Poor thing! Ended up Barfing all over Warren on the trip up to the OK. mid her speach was way better (clearer, and more words) when she came back from the holiday - and bigger of course.

June, 2004
3rd and 4th - went swimming at the local outdoor pool - lovin' it - swimming around with the purple innertube outfit swimming ring (no fears - all the way to the deep end) - very liberating!

July, 2004
7th Taysia can open pea pods now by herself. / When she got back from Grammas place (Erin took her up) she didn't want/need to sit on the kid potty seats anymore. Nice!

July, 2004
20th Went to the James Street cafe for pancakes w/Taysia while we were doing errands - she enjoyed it!

April, 2005
2nd Ate about half of a chocolate bunny. She was eating the head, so I asked her what the bunnies brain tasted like - and she said "chocolate!" - and then we all had a great big belly-laugh about it. 3rd of course [to my theory] she's got boogers, and 'feels sick'.

November, 2005
27th Friends were over the other night, and racing around - fell into the bed, and cried for a bit. In the morning she couldn't move her arm - took her to the hospital, and saw the x-ray - snapped the clavical! (collarbone) - what a trooper - didn't put up a fuss or nothing. Sheesh!

September, 2006
6th 1st day of Kindergarten!

December, 2006
28th Ventured out with Sera, and Sherann to visit Dad in Calgary at Baba + Dido's place!

January, 2006
7th Turned six!

Taysia Fedirko - little kid
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