Home Sweet Home

We moved into our first home on May 31st. It has been such an exciting exerience. We bought a 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bathroom 1850 sqft home. It needed a serious bath when we first moved in. But after some serious scrubbing it finally feels like home. We love it. I don't know if you will really get the layout from the few pictures that I posted but if you don't I guess you will just have to come, visit, and see it for yourselves! You are more than welcome, anytime!



Let's start in the Master Ensuite equipt with a separate shower and soaker tub.


Next, the Master bedroom. There is a walk in closet and a regular size closet in here. You can probably guess who gets what! There are also two other smaller bedrooms. One is Baron's room and the other is being used for the computer room.



Here is the bonus room. To get here there is a break half way up the stairs. You can either go straight up another set of stairs or you can go right up a different set. If you go straight you end up here. This is the bonus room. Baron's toys reside here.




Here is the kitchen. I love having some space now to cook/bake and of course clean. It is a huge difference from our apartment where the entire apartment could fit in the kitchen/dining area.

Across from the kitchen is the living room. We also have a 1/2 bathroom on the main level, a walk through pantry, and a foyer. On the upper level there is another full bathroom and laundry room. We are so grateful our home and are really enjoying it. It is so different to have so much space to live. Baron loves roaming everyhwere and getting into every room and everything. It's nice having actual places to hide for hide and go seek.

The Thompson Reunion

In the middle of July we got about 25 close relatives together and we all gathered in Darby, Montana at a cabin and hung out for a week. I don't know if it was really considered a reunion but it sure was fun! The cabin was right by the river. We fished, floated down the river, played horse shoes, relaxed, played games, talked, and just had a great time. Nate and I even went horseback riding for my very first time! I've been missing out. We can't wait for the next Thompson "Reunion".


We celebrated Baron's 1st birthday while at the cabin with all of my family. Baron got his very own little birthday cake to dig into and destroy. Unfortunately he didn't have as much fun getting dirty at 10:00 at night as we thought he would. He was pooped from the opening his presents earlier. It's a tough life when your 1.



Aunt Andi (my sister) and Uncle Seth (her husband) got Baron his first 4-wheeler. He had a blast. He drove his cousin Madeline all around the cabin. It was the cutest thing ever. He loves that thing. He thinks he is such a cool dude when he rides it. He is pretty good at it too except he doesn't quite get the steering part of it. So he will drive straight and give you this suave look until he hits the wall or runs into something. Then we get to turn him around and start again.




Baron and Dad just relaxing on the hammock by the river. Baron even had a long nap here. He loved this hammock.

A Long Awaited Update

We went and visited my (Rory's) Grandparents in Montana in April and had a blast. We always love going to see them. This was the first time Baron got to meet them. He fell in love with them like everyone does. He had such a good time. As you can tell the good byes were filled with kisses and hugs!


While we were there Baron got to play with a little bird that my grandparents had on their window. It would chirp and turn its head and shake its tail and everything. Baron thought it was so neat to be able to hold a bird all by himself!



We moved! Yep. At the end of May we moved to Okotoks (a small city about 10 minutes south of Calgary). We bought our very first home and we love it. Here is Baron eating for the first time in our new home. If you look closely you can see that he through a piece of cheese up and it landed on his head. It was pretty cool.
And yes, there will be pictures of the new home posted soon. (In another 6 months)




We went down to Utah to visit my parents and sister's family. We had an amazing time catching up and watching Baron play with his nephews.
(Left to right: Kelly, Baron, Ryder, Rayce)

Baron's Newest Milestones

Baron is growing up so fast, and having a blast!!! He will be 4 months old this Friday (Nov. 28th) We are flying down to Utah to visit his Grandparents (Rory's parents). This will be Baron's first plane trip. We are so excited and super excited for many more family trips to come!!



Baron has been having to wear layers lately. It's been getting so cold outside in Calgary. Actually wearing clothes in general is a new concept for Baron. He still prefers to wear only his skin!



He can do it!! Baron can roll over. He can roll from his back to his tummy and back onto his back. He's so strong


Baron is getting so strong and smart. He loves rolling over, sitting up on his own, standing (with a little help for balance), grabbing and batting at toys, can pull out his soother and put it back in his mouth, has a pretty regulated schedule, recognizes his Mom and Dad (as you can tell by the picture), and loves to have stories read to him. He is such a happy baby, and loves to have everyone hold him and snuggle him.


We are so proud of him everyday. He is always doing something more adorable than he did the day before. He is soooo stinking cute, and brings so much joy and love to our family.



Here is Baron on Halloween! He was a "man bug". Nathan refused to call him a ladybug. He sure was a good sport, and the best looking bug we have ever seen.

Cuteness Update

Just a few pictures that we couldn't resist but to share with everyone! There are so many times that we catch Baron doing something so adorable we have to take pictures and these are only a select few of those times! Enjoy...



One night I caught Baron and Dad asleep on the couch. Baron's head is actually balancing on Nathan's face! Isn't that cute! Soon after taking this photo Baron woke up from Dad's LOUD snores!



This is the best part of being a parent. At least once a day Baron naps like this. He loves to give great big hugs and snuggle with us. It is the best feeling in the world.



Rory's sister and husband (Emily and Ryan) came to visit their new nephew this month. We had a wonderful visit with them! Baron especially had fun napping on his Auntie Em... very cute!



We tried Huggies for the first time. A couple of hours and 1 onesie later, we picked Baron up and, somehow, there was poo all over (and I mean ALL OVER) the entire front of his onesie. We still haven't figured out how it skipped the back and saturated the front only?!? All we can say is Pampers all the way!!!



That's right. We have had a break through. Nate and I can make Baron smile now. He does all the time now, and it is the sweetest thing! He also smiles during diaper changes, boot/bar break time, and story time too!

BEING A PARENT ROCKS!!!

No more casts for Baby Baron

Baron got his last and final set of casts on Septemeber 3rd. Before casting them, Dr. Joughin made a small incision on the heels and cut half of the achilles tendons (to loosen them so they would allow the feet to stretch a little better). They then continued with the casting. The final set stayed on for 2 weeks. That was the conclusion to the casting stage. In all, Baron's feet responded so well to the casts that he only had to endure 5 sets instead of the usual 8-12 sets. He is now wearing the boots with the bar. We are supposed to work Baron into the shoes by leaving them on for a few hours and then taking them off for an hour. Baron is a week into them, Dr. Joughin has said that he is doing very very well and he is already wearing them for 20-23 hours a day. We found out fast that Baron didn't like getting the shoes taken off then put back on all day long. He seems to do much better when we just keep them on for a while. He is getting more and more used to them each and everyday. We are so proud of all of the progress he is making. He will only have to wear the shoes all day for 3 months and then only during naps and bedtime for 3 years. We are now just trying to enjoy the time we have with him before we find ourselves running around chasing him all over!!




Just before we removed the last set of casts.



Dad is just soothing baby Baron to help prepare him for the boot and bar fitting.



Here they are! Doesn't he look cute.



This is Baron's little break time. He starts to smile as soon as we start to take them off. He loves playing without his little shoes on. You can see just how much his feet have improved from when they were not yet casted (see earlier blogs).




Here you can see that Baron's little feet are just like Dad's now. Well, almost, they still have a little ways to grow until they are JUST like Dad's.

Barons Casts

Because Barons tendons were so tight at birth his feet didn't fully relax and caused them to be turned inwards and up. This condition is known as Club Feet. In order to treat this condition Rory and I did some extensive research on methods, looking for the best option. Originally the most common method of treatment was to break the babies feet and reset all the bones in the proper position, and cut the tendons to allow the feet to heal in the proper position. Rory and I were pretty sure this was not for us, or our baby. We came across a method, the Ponseti method, developed in the early 50's by Ignacio Ponseti. It consists of a series of casts on both legs that help re-position Barons feet, by lengthening and stretching the Tendons to where they should be. This method has a 95% success rate and so far Baron is responding very well. He is on his third set of casts and is has adjusted well to them! We sure do love him!!


Here are Barons feet and as you can see a little turned in

Baron and Dad, I think his foot is as big as Dads Big Toe!
Cast set Number 1
Baron adjusting very easily, rolling around with his casts!
Tired out after such a good day!