Busy Times!

I cannot believe it has been so long since my last blog post - irresponsible blogging on my part.

We have had such a busy week, especially with the beautiful spring weather we have been waiting so long for. After visiting the ladies at my dad's office (by request), I decided to stop by a nearby park to see how Evan would like his first outdoor swing ride. Of course...he loved it. He wouldn't stop giggling.


We finally got to put the quilt my Aunt Susan made to good use. After playing with his toys for a while, Evan discovered twigs and leaves. He even somehow managed to get leaves down my shirt.



On Saturday, we went to P.'s birthday party. She is now a big girl at two years old. Evan was very good too. When he wasn't sitting and playing by himself, he was quite content to be held and bounced by whomever was willing.

On Sunday, we had our 10 am swimming lessons at Grant MacEwan. It is so easy for Evan and I to get there and home. I just put him the sling and head on my way. Just like last week, he fell alseep on the way home and slept for almost 3 hours. All that swimming must wear him out.

Today, I took Evan to the Woodcroft Public Health Centre to have him weighed and measured. He is still not quite 17 pounds - he's 16 lbs & 9 oz. I briefly spoke with the nurse about his growth and how he is eating. I know I have nothing to worry about - but it's hard not to get a little anxious when things aren't going how you expect them to. I try to remind myself everyday that I should expect the unexpected.

Tomorrow, I'm meeting up with D. and Sweet P. They're keeping me company while some windows are being installed in my parents' condo. Depending on the weather, and the time, we will either go to the Zoo or to Borden Park for a picnic. If we go to the Zoo, I PRAY Lucy the Elephant does not remember me.

Murphy's Law

So - if one's toilet is going to back-up when is it most likely to happen?

For me, it happened at around 10:30 last night. I had just arrived home from a night out with some people from Linking Parents - and of course, Evan was fast asleep.

I also didn't have a plunger. After knocking on my neighbour's door and my building manager's door (to borrow a plunger), I wound up calling my friend Jenn begging for her and Derek to either come over with a plunger or to come stay with Evan while I went and got a plunger.

Without hesitation, Jenn made her way to my home.

Fortunately, I got to Safeway 10 minutes before closing - and luckily, they sell plungers. So, I bought one for me and one for Jenn to keep in her home.

So a big shout out and thank you to my dear friend Jenn who, on a Saturday night leading up to her final exams, dropped her plans to stay with my boy while I sought plumbing tools.

Who Knew?

I discovered tonight that I may have a slightly picky eater on my hands. Since introducing Evan to solids, I have been mixing pretty much everything with cereal. Lately he just hasn't seemed too interested in eating. Tonight, I prepared his cereal and his apricots seperately. Not only did he inhale both, he also gobbled up some applesauce. I guess he likes his cereal and he likes his fruits and veggies....just not mixed together. Why do I see a future of "MOM!!! My peas are touching my chicken!!"

On an entirely different topic, my brother seems to have settled into his new home (which is gorgeous) and send me all the pictures from Evan's first Christmas. Although Evan has grown and changed quite a bit since then, here are a few of my favourites:

Hangin' with Dad

Our family - and Evan's first Build-A-Bear.

Evan and his crazy Uncle Craig

And the Winner Is....

I took a nice hot bath last night!

I kind of figure it would. Going to bed at 9 pm is too early still - and I can do housework while Evan plays. How often do I get a chance to have a bath?

Today, I watched Lily while Carrie went to a memorial service - for some reason I HATE calling them funerals. Everything went really well. The babies just sat around and played for a while. I even took the chance to take a few pictures of them together.

And they were sitting so nicely...until...

Evan eventually had his afternoon nap, so Lily and I spent that time playing together. Once Carrie got back, Lily ate and promptly fell asleep. Once she woke up, we headed out for a very late lunch at the Urban Diner. After a very tasty lunch, we went to check out a new store on 124 Street called Yo Momma. They had some cute baby wear and maternity/nursing clothes.

Tonight, after a busy day of playing with good friends, we had a quiet evening of ANTM and a warm bath for Evan.

On another note, can everyone please send good vibes my way so that the bank deposit book (belonging to my 'rents) and my baby sling are found and returned to me? They were lost between the plane and where my dad parked at the airport.

Homemade Baby Carrot Food - Take 2

So you know the old saying "A Watched Pot Never Boils"?

Well, a pot that is ignored because you are playing with your son eventually burns all the way to the bottom and not only leaves a yucky mess on the bottom of the pot, but leaves the carrots you were steaming with a funny taste.

I know...a run on sentence, but that is exactly what happened last night. I was steaming carrots in a basket and the water boiled all the way down. Oops!!

So I tried again today with greater success.

We've been taking it pretty easy since getting home last week. Easter was quiet with my parents away in BC (and now in Africa) and my brother and SIL...well I don't know what they did.

Yesterday, I bought a new carseat for Evan from this fabulous couple in SE Edmonton. They are a same-sex couple (two men) who have adopted two children. Their newest baby is 3 1/2 months old. He, like Evan, is also bi-racial. We spent about 20 minutes chatting and trading stories. Their little guy was sooooo cute. Unlike Evan, he only had a few wisps of hair. They were such great and easy going guys and they seemed like great parents. I'm really glad that they were fortunate enough to experience parenthood.

Anyway, Evan is asleep and I should be doing one of the following:

1. Go to bed too.
2. Do housework.
3. Take a bath.

I'll update tomorrow and let you know what I did.

Holy Angels - Link is Working!!!

Holy Angels

You are held by holy angels
Holy angels all around you
“Hush, now, sleep child”
Sing the holy angels
“We are holding you.
You can rest.”
“Morning will come, child.
The dawn will break through the darkness.

We are holding you
through the light of the newborn day.”

Words and Music by Sara Thomsen
© 2005 Sara Thomsen
Here is the video of my mom's choir singing a beautiful lullaby to Evan.

Trip Summary & R.I.P.

Evan and I are finally back from our trip to Victoria. We had a wonderful trip - but on a sad note...my cordless phone has kicked the bucket. I handled it a little too roughly the morning we left and it has been 'Searching for Base' ever since.

Oh well. That phone has served me well for 5 years.

Back to our trip. We had a great time. The first two days were full of torrential rains but after that it was reasonably sunny and warm. On the Sunday, we went to the Butchart Gardens to check out all the different displays. While their Rose Garden was not in bloom yet, the rest of the Garden was gorgeous.



On Tuesday, we went and saw my mom's choir perform. Evan was very good. He just sat there and listened to the beautiful music. I was very impressed by the quality of singing. They even sang a song especially for Evan. Once YouTube is up and running, I will post the video here.

We also went and saw a family friend sing with the University of Victoria Mixed Choir for their season end concert. The first part of the concert was a very beautiful, but sad, Monterverdi piece. After the intermission, the UVic orchestra came out and, in partner with the choir, performed Beethoven's 9th Symphony - Ode to Joy (for those who don't know). Evan was so well behaved. He made a few vocalisations during the first part - but during the Beethoven piece, he mostly slept. His falling asleep was not an indicator of the quality of the performance. It was outstanding...and an unbelieveably long symphony...68 minutes long.

That is a brief summary of our trip out to Victoria. We're hoping to go back in the summer time. Here is a picture my mom took of Evan and me. I don't have nearly enough pictures of him and I. I'm usually the one behind the camera.