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Mar 2, 2008

Birthday Party!

I turned 2 today, and some of my friends came over to celebrate. William and Charlotte came with their parents, Lara came with her parents and grandma, and Grandma & Grandpa Biffard even came from Kelowna. To fit with my nap schedule, we had a "birthday brunch" - Dad made pancakes and bacon, we had fruit salad, smoothie and fruit juice, and a no-sugar banana cake.

Grandma & Grandpa actually came two night before, so I got to spend all day Saturday with them. The weather has been really nice here lately, so I've been outside lots. Spring is getting close...

Feb 15, 2008

Potluck!

We had a potluck dinner last night for all the families in the co-op. Rob and Lara came over too. None of the kids ate very much - we were too busy running around and having a good time. Lots of falling and lots of crying - I crashed the trike a few times down the ramp, and Gabriel crashed the trike into Lara and knocked her over hard - that really made her upset.

After we got back from Kelowna Jan 18, our entire family suffered through a Norwalk virus. It's like the flu, but without the fever, and it only lasts 2 or 3 days. Dad got it first, and then after he got better, Mom and I got it the same night. What a rough week.

The weather in Vancouver was nice at the end of January - cold, but not much rain. Mom took me swimming a couple times with Rob and Lara at the new pool in Killarney. And we went to the beach one day when the weather was a little warmer - not to swim, but just to pick at the shells and look for crabs.

Uncle Glen was in town - he came for dinner Jan 26. Then a couple days later he got the Norwalk virus. It's a nasty thing. About 6 or 7 seven people here in the co-op got it too. But it's been a few weeks now that no one has reported anything, so maybe it has run it's course.

Jan 4, 2008

Kelowna

Last Sunday Mom took me to Granville Island for the day. For lunch we bought schnitzel and sauerkraut - I gobbled up the sauerkraut so fast and wouldn't let Mom eat any of it.

Today I'm flying up to Kelowna with Dad. We're going for a visit and a ski holiday. I haven't been to Big White since last April, so I'm looking forward to playing in the snow and skiing down the runs with Dad. Mom has to work for a few more days, but then she's coming too. Yeah!

Dec 25, 2007

Christmas!

I woke up bright and early at 6:15am (which isn't much earlier than I usually wake up anyway). Santa had snuck into my room and filled my stocking with stickers, a little book, a miniature tea set, and a whole bunch of different toy foods. At the bottom of the stocking was an orange, which I asked Mom to peel right away and I gulped it down while getting to work on the stickers. When Mom reminded me about the tree, I ran to the living room to turn the Christmas lights on. Under the tree was a bunch of presents! This year I knew exactly what to do. Almost all of them were for me anyway, so I got to work opening them all. I got lots of really good books from Auntie Natalie; after unwrapping each book, I ran to my room to put the book with my other books. There were lots of books - that took me a while. The rest of the morning was spent trying on the new clothes I got. Every time I opened something that had clothes inside, I had to remove my current clothing and try on the new clothing. Even though almost everything was too big - for when I get a little older. And of course I wouldn't let anybody help me. My favourite expression these days is, "Mikka do it, Mikka do it." Don't try and and help me with anything, or I get really upset. So trying on the clothes kept me busy for a long time. And the little tea set kept me distracted at breakfast so Dad could shovel real food into my mouth.

After nap and lunch, it was time to visit Lara. Her dad was cooking the turkey, and his friend Jeorg brought the tiramisu. Lara and I got to open a few more gifts at her house - we got to hit the Christmas log with a stick, and then pull out the gifts from under a blanket, a strange Catalan tradition.

It started snowing just before we left home, and kept snowing until we got home after dinner. But now after my bath and just before bed, the snow has turned to rain and there is almost nothing left on the ground. What a tiring day - time to read a new book, sing a few songs, and go to bed.

Dec 15, 2007

Bowling!

It was my neighbour Peter's birthday today, so we all went out to the bowling alley. Charlotte and William's mom brought a nice lunch (although William dumped part of it on the floor - oops!), and we snacked and bowled. I was too small to bowl, but really wanted to be involved, so midway through the game Dad starting holding me in his left arm while bowling the ball. On my second turn he asked me to give the ball a kiss before he launced it down the lane. It must have been good luck because the very first ball I kissed went for a strike. It was Dad's only strike of the game. My friend Gabriel from upstairs was a very determined bowler. Most of his balls went in the gutter, but he did manage to fire one off into the gallery of the lane next to us.

When we got home, it was time to set up the Christmas tree. Auntie Cheryl provided us with the tree - a nice little tree just the right size for our little apartment. We got lights and decorations from Grandma and Great-Grandma. It's our first family tree - Christmas is around the corner.

My favourite song these days is the alphabet song. I sing it quite often. I can't pronounce most of the letters past 'J', but there is no mistaking the melody or key letters such as 'P' and 'Z'.

Dec 7, 2007

Lots of Visitors

Auntie Cheryl and uncle Bud came for a visit in the middle of November. They were passing through on their way from Kelowna back to Texada. They brought us all kinds of things - it was like an early Christmas. I was especially lucky to receive a portrait of my Great-great grandma, and her special pearl necklace. I visited with her quite a few times before she passed away earlier this year, and now I have something very special to remind me of her. Mom and Dad will save them for me until I'm a little older.

At the end of the month, Mom and Dad went on a holiday to San Francisco. I got a holiday of my own - with Grandma Biffard! She came and stayed with me while my parents were gone. We had lots of fun, but tired each other out. On one of the days she was here, my great-uncle Derek and great-aunt Margie came for a visit. It was the first time I had met them. We went out for lunch and played at the park.

Christmas is coming up fast. We'll be staying in Vancouver over the holiday season, and instead taking a trip to Kelowna in January. There was snow in Vancouver on December 1st - of course it was all gone by December 3rd - but there's always a chance we could have snow for Christmas!

Nov 5, 2007

November is here!

October went by fast! On the 17th, my uncle Christian came over for dinner to celebrate his birthday. On the 29th Mom and I flew to Kelowna to spend 6 days with grandma & grandpa & great-grandma & great-grandpa and all the other Biffards. Even Uncle Glen passed through - I met him at the airport and got to check out the big jet he was flying.

Hallowe'en was lots of fun. I dressed up as a chicken and Mom was the farmer. Grandpa helped me carve a pumpkin, and he ate my sugary treats for me. Thanks Grandpa. Grandma took me for lots of walks, and to a corn maze and real pumpkin patch.

I got back to Vancouver on Nov 3rd, just in time for turkey dinner with all our neighbours here in the coop. It's an annual event, a real nice get-together with all kinds of games for the kids. But the night ended early for me - I fell off my chair near the end of dinner, and got a nasty bump on my head. I was so tired from my trip to Kelowna, all I could say was, "Mikka tired." Mommy brought me up to bed and it felt nice to snuggle into my own bed.

Oct 4, 2007

Fall is here!

The rest of September just flew by. Suddenly it's fall - the weather got colder in Vancouver last week, the leaves are starting to fall from the trees. I had a good visit with Grandma & Grandpa Biffard on the Sep 15/16 weekend. Mom caught a cold and wasn't feeling well, but I managed to avoid it. But then at the end of the month Dad got the cold, and it hit him much worse than Mom.

I visited the doctor for my 18 month checkup. I weight 9.8 kg and measure 79 cm. I had to get a couple shots, but I was brave. Dad held me real tight while I got a needle in each arm. I only cried for about a minute.

I've been playing quite a bit with my neighbours across the hall - Charlotte and William. I haven't seen as much of Lara now that we live a little further away, but we still get to play together 2 or 3 times a week.

Somewhere in the last month I've started to use my own name when making reference to myself, or something that I want. Sometimes I even get a bit bossy - "Mikka's jacket!", or "Mikka's spoon!", or "Mikka finished!" I can say the names of all the people I see regularly, and sometimes call out the names of people I remember but that I haven't seen in a while (Maya, Albert, Natalie, Grandma, Grandpa).

I can count up to five, but mix up the French and English ("un" and "deux" I usually say in French, but the rest in English). If you ask me what colour something is, I always say "red" first, but will try "blue" if that doesn't work. You can't read me a book without me pointing to many of the illustrations and telling you what it is.

I learned how to drag my chair into the kitchen, so I can stand at the counter and help Dad do the dishes. I'm not much help with the dishes, but have fun with the soap bubbles. And I'm pretty good at cleaning the counter with the dishcloth.

One of my favourite words is "money." I insist on carrying the change when we do the laundry, and putting the coins into the machine. I always find pennies on the street, and insist on picking them up, chanting "money, money."

I slept in until 8:30am a few days ago. That was my new personal record. But just before 7am is still my regular wakeup. I still wake up crying quite often in the night. Dad sleeps right through it, but Mom says it wakes her up. She doesn't often have to come in to my room and sing me back to sleep, but my crying does wake her up and spoils her deep sleep.

Mom's favourite word of mine is "Mama, je t'aime." Dad taught me that, and I say it all the time.

Sep 9, 2007

Trip to Kelowna

Mom and I just got home yesterday after spending a few days in Kelowna. We had a good time visiting with all my family up there, and I got to play lots in grandma's backyard. I was so excited that I didn't sleep very well in Kelowna, so this afternoon I had a 3.5 hour nap!

Mom goes back to work this week, so Dad and I will settle into our little routine. But not for long - Grandma & Grandpa are coming to Vancouver next weekend, that will be fun.

Aug 27, 2007

Trip to Powell River

I just got back yesterday from Powell River. Great-grandma & great-grandpa Biffard were passing through on their way to a high school reunion (55 years ago for great-grandma!), and Mom had an couple extra days off, so we tagged along. We were only there for 2 nights, but I had lots of fun playing down at Willingdon Beach. I played in the sand and terrorized the little crabs hiding in the tide pools and under small rocks.

I finally got to meet my great-uncle Bruce. He's been travelling for a long time, and then working out on the high seas, but he was in Powell River for Ken and Deb's 25th anniversary party. He came back with us to Vancouver. We're all having dinner at our place tonight. Mom is making lasagne - mmm.

Two weeks ago we moved into a different apartment. We're still in Vancouver, but now a little bit further away from Rob/Elia/Lara and the hospital where mom works. We moved because we were very lucky to get a spot in a housing co-operative. It functions much like a strata, but with a stronger sense of community. No one actually owns their own suite but we're all collectively responsible for how the building operates. There are some other families who live here, and at least 2 other children my age, so I'm looking forward to meeting some new friends.

Next week, Mom and I are heading to Kelowna again for a 4 day visit. The end of summer is nearing, but the weather will still be hot in Kelowna. Hopefully the lake will still be nice for swimming.

Aug 5, 2007

Trip to Kelowna

Dad and I got back on Friday after a week in Kelowna. We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Biffard, and they took care of me quite a bit while Dad was away playing music. It sure was hot in the Okanagan! I couldn't go outside in the middle of the day, but I got to stay up a bit later than usual so that I could play outside in the cool of the evening. I had lots of good food, went swimming in the lake, and had lots of fun playing in the yard with the sprinkler.

We flew to Kelowna, but Grandma and Grandpa were kind enough to drive us back home. Mom and Dad went to Seattle on Saturday while Grandma and Grandpa watched me.

Tomorrow things will get back to normal when Lara returns home from Ontario with her parents Rob and Elia. The long summer trips are nearing an end, but I heard mom planning a weekend trip for us to Powell River before the end of August.

July 16, 2007

Busy start to the summer!

This past weekend I was in Ontario for Auntie Natalie's wedding. It was a short but busy trip - I hung out lots with Maya (Natalie's other niece on Albert's side of the family), and we were the flower girls for the ceremony. Apparently the party on Saturday night was really hopping, but of course I went to bed early and missed the late night revelries. At the wedding I got to meet my Gruenig relatives from Chicago - Bob and Ellie. Hopefully we'll travel to see the rest of their families soon. After the wedding we visited with Great-Grandma Brown, and stayed overnight with Grosaeti in Bradford. We flew back to Vancouver tonight - I fell asleep in Mom's arms on the plane - she had to hold me for 2 hours in the same position!

June went by so fast. Somewhere in the middle of the month Mom and I spent 4 days in Kelowna. We stayed with Grandma and Grandpa Biffard, and spent time with Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Biffard. I also got to see Great-Grandma & Great-Grandma when they passed through Vancouver on their way to Reno at the end of June.

Uncle Glen stopped in for a short visit at the beginning of July. We went for a bike ride searching for an O-ring to fix something on his van.

My top two cuspid teeth emerged near the end of June. There was one night that I was really not sleeping well, probably due to the teething. Just this past week one of the bottom cuspids broke through too.

My vocabulary is growing by about 3 words every 2 days. I've recently added 'hat', 'bum', 'eye', 'mouth', 'bunny', and 'down' to my list of most-used words.

I've been swimming a couple times at the Houghton's backyard pool. (The Houghtons are my cousins who live just up the street.) I'll definitely go again when the weather is hot. I've also been hanging out at the waterpark on Granville Island. I absolutely love the waterslide. Mom takes me down, and every time I get out I say "More, more." Sometimes we go down 15 or 20 times in a row before Mom finds a way to draw my attention elsewhere.

June 2, 2007

Bike Ride

Mom's friends Cecily and Louisa are visiting from Ontario. Louisa was at a conference during the day, but Cecily came with me and Mom and Dad on a long bike ride through Stanley Park. We stopped off at the waterpark and I got to run around for a little bit, but the sun was pretty fierce so I couldn't be out for too long. There were some big hills on the ride back to our apartment, but mom has strong legs and towed me in the trailer all the way. The weather has been very nice for the past three days, maybe even a bit too hot. I can't go anywhere without my hat and sunscreen.

May 16, 2007

Visitors

On Monday my Dad's friend Doug from Kelowna came to stay with us. He'll be here for the rest of the week, so I'll make sure to wake him up early every morning. My great-grandma and great-grandpa Biffard also drove in from Kelowna today. They'll be going to Victoria for a few days, and then coming back to see us again at the end of the week. The weather has been quite nice, dad takes me for rides in the bike trailer. Grandma Biffard sent a mock-up sample of the dress she's making for me to wear to Auntie Natalie's wedding. It seems to fit okay - I'm going to look so cute!

April 30, 2007

Apartment Renovations

The past 2 weeks have been a bit strange for me because there has been a crew of contractors doing work on our apartment. We needed all the windows replaced, and some of the walls redone, because water has been leaking in. Aside from the mess, there is lots of noise, so I haven't been able to play here or take my naps. Dad has brought me to Lara's place to sleep, but that doesn't always work out. But today is the last day they will be working, so we'll hopefully get a good sleeping routine going this coming week. Next week there will be some more guys replacing the floor in the kitchen and bathroom, but that should only take one day.

I've posted pictures for April, which include my first ever Easter egg hunt. Have a look!!

April 16, 2007

Vancouver

I got to Vancouver yesterday afternoon. Dad and I drove from Kelowna with great-grandma and great-grandpa Biffard. I'm catching a bit of a cold, so I was actually pretty happy just to sit in the car and rest for most of the day. Mom flew to Vancouver a few days ago, because she had to meet with the movers who are bringing our things from Toronto. My room is all set up, but the rest of the apartment is a mess of boxes and furniture. It will take us at least a week to get all settled in. Mom started her new job today. She works at the hospital up the street, so hopefully Dad and I will get to see her most days during her lunch break.

April 9, 2007

Closing Weekend at Big White

Today was the last day of the season at Big White. It was also the Easter weekend, and there were some activities happening on the hill. Saturday night there was a party with all our friends who live in the building - it was a potluck, and I got to eat the olives in the greek salad (did I mention that I really really like olives?). On Sunday I participated in my first Easter egg hunt (they were actually chocolates). The ski school sectioned off an area and hid a bunch of things for the kids to look for. All the little ones like me got a few minutes to search on our own before the big kids moved in like a stampede. Grandpa was encouraging me to pick up the chocolates, and I caught on pretty fast. I put at least 5 or 6 into his bag, so I guess he'll eat them later. We had a couple sunny days, so Dad took me out skiing for some final runs. We also went on the sled and did some of the usual things I like doing - running around the village, looking for stairs to climb or dogs to play with. Mom was the only one who didn't have a great weekend. She caught the flu on Friday and spent the next two days in bed. It was too bad for her, but we're glad that she didn't pass it on to anyone else.

March 23, 2007

Spring Break

We returned to Kelowna this afternoon after spending almost all of the past two weeks at Big White. It was spring break for the school kids in British Columbia, so there were lots of families on the hill. I got to play in the snow every day with all the other young kids. Mom and Dad took me down the hill on the sled, I went skiing quite a few times (here is a video), and of course I said hello to every single dog that walked past us in the village. Uncle Glen came from Calgary and stayed for 4 or 5 days. I also had fun with Bruce and Cameron (our neighbours across the hall), who were there for the entire two weeks. They put together a key ring with lots and lots of keys, which of course kept me occupied for many hours.

This coming week we have to plan for our move to Vancouver. It's possible we might not be back at Big White this season, but if our things from Toronto won't arrive until mid-April, then maybe I'll get to ski one more time this year.

March 10, 2007

I'm a skier!

Today I got to go skiing for the first time. Dad put me in the baby trekker (the same carrier we used for hiking last summer), and we went out to do a few runs. The weather wasn't especially nice, but it wasn't too cold. We skiied down to the bottom of the gondola (Big White doesn't allow babies on any of the other lifts), but the gondola was broken. So Grandma Biffard had to come pick us up in the car.

I had so much fun on the first run, Dad thought we should do another run. At the bottom, the gondola had been repaired, so we rode up. It was after 4pm and the wind was picking up, but I was so happy to be gliding down the hill on skiis, when Dad took me out of the trekker and put me down on the snow, I right away turned back to him, put up my hands and said "Up!" Dad could tell that I wanted to do another run, so he put his skiis back on and we went down the hill again. I was laughing and smiling the whole way down. We even took a little jump, and I starting chanting "Zoom, zoom."

There are still a few weeks of skiing left this season, so I'm sure we'll get to go out again.

March 9, 2007

Two new words!

This morning I was having breakfast with Dad. After I finished my broccoli, cereal and yogurt, he started peeling some fruit. I recognized it and said "Apple!" Boy, was Dad excited that I can say "apple." Later we were playing hide-and-seek under the covers, and I wanted up on the bed. Dad said, "Mikka, say up." I thought about it for a few seconds, and said "Up!"

Here's my vocabulary so far: Dada, Mama, hi, hot (I always whisper the word "hot"), num-num (when I'm hungry), duck, apple, and up. I also know the answer to these three questions:

What does a dog say? "Woof"    (I say woof whenever I see a dog)
What does a sheep say? "Baa"
What does a cow say? "Moo"

And when you say "Mikka blow," I open my lips a crack and blow out a tiny little bit of air.

March 7, 2007

My first birthday party!!

I turned 1 year old a few days ago, but Dad was in Vancouver for the weekend so we waited until this evening to have the party. Not only did I get to stay up later than usual, but I got to eat supper with everyone (usually I eat early and I'm asleep by 6pm).

It was a small gathering: grandma and grandpa Biffard, great-grandpa Biffard, and both my great-grandmas on Dad's side of the family. Throughout the week I got lots of cards and phone calls from my relatives. My cousins in St. Gallen even emailed a video of their family singing happy birthday in English and Swiss-German! That was very clever.

I did a good job of opening a few gifts. I was more interested in the wrapping paper at first, but when I opened Auntie Natalie's gift I got really excited. She sent so many nice clothes - my favourite was the matching hat, dress and handbag that she sewed herself. I kept putting the hat on and then taking it off. (I tried to put all the clothes over my head, but I'm still not very good at getting dressed by myself.)

After some tasty homemade pizza, I got my first taste of cake! It was a carrot and raisin cake that Mom made, and it had no added sugar (she used apple juice to sweeten it a little). And the icing had no sugar either - it was made from a cream cheese base. Dad didn't think my cake tasted that great, but I sure loved it. Mom tried to offer me a little bowl, but I went straight for the plate with the entire cake. I sat on mom's lap for about ten minutes, grabbing fistfulls of cake and eating it up as fast as I could. Everyone thought I was pretty funny. Oma (my great-grandma) brought a lemon cake for the others, and they enjoyed that.

While mom and dad cleaned up the mess I made at the table, I went back to playing with the clothes auntie Natalie made. By the time I got into the bath it was almost 7pm, and I went to bed much later than usual. But I suppose that's how things go when you grow up to be a big girl, and stay out late at parties!

March 2, 2007

First Birthday!

It was exactly one year ago that I came into the world! Hard to believe how fast time goes by. Since then I've grown and learned so much. You can check my early blogs to know what sorts of things I was doing a year ago. Here's a bit of a description of what I'm up to at the end of my first year.

I weigh 9.4 kg (that's 20 lbs 10 oz), I'm 75 cm tall (29.75 inches), and I've got 11 teeth. I'm pretty sturdy on my feet, but still crawl from time to time. I get into cupboards and grab things on shelves. I can sometimes even reach onto the kitchen table and grab things I can't actually see. I like pretty much everything mom and dad feed me - from olives and artichoke hearts to swiss chard, spinach and beets. I think I have a pretty healthy appetite, but sometimes I do have fussy days.

My day usually starts just after 6am, but I do still wake up earlier than that on occasion. I play inside with mom or dad, and then eat my breakfast just before 8am. By 8:30 or 9am I'm already taking my first nap. I might sleep only 30 minutes, or sometimes I sleep for 1.5 hours. Depending when I wake up, I get snack an hour later, and then lunch 3 hours later. Mom or dad usually take me for a late morning walk, or we go somewhere with great-grandma and great-grandpa Biffard. In the afternoon I usually take another nap, falling asleep somewhere between 1:30pm and 2:30pm. In the afternoon, I usually sleep 30 minutes, but sometimes sleep for an hour or more. If the weather is nice I'll go out for another walk, or play in the snow if we're at Big White.

Dinner starts at 5pm. Bathtime at 5:45pm. By 6:15pm I'm usually sound asleep. I normally wake up once during the night, but I still have some tough nights where I wake up many many times. Overall the sleeping is getting better, and I have been known to sleep right until 6am.

So that's what I'm up to these days. We're still on vacation in Kelowna, but Dad is in Vancouver this weekend to arrange for our move there in April. In my first year I've lived in Toronto, Montreal, and Kelowna, not to mention a 3 month RV tour. I suppose it's been a pretty busy year.

February 22, 2007

Visit with cousins

My cousins Laren and Jade came to Kelowna for a visit this week. (Actually, they are my dad's cousins, but they are closer in age to me.) My dad's uncle Earl and aunt Linda are their parents, and they brought the girls here for some skiing at Big White. On Tuesday we all got together to celebrate Oma's birthday (Oma is my great-grandma), and she was happy to have us all over for dinner. I'm excited because the next birthday in the family is mine!

February 15, 2007

Visit with Uncle Glen

Uncle Glen was in Kelowna for a visit this week. He was only here for 4 days, and most of the time he was skiing at Big White. He seemed impressed with how well I walk, and how much I've grown since he was here at Christmas. I was wearing his favorite shirt, the one that says "Uncle Glen is the coolest".

February 11, 2007

Sleeping through the night

Four nights ago I went all through the night waking up only once to feed. That surprised mom and dad - when morning came, they were worried that something was wrong. So when I slept last night without waking up at all, mom and dad were really wondering what I was up to. At first they doubted that it really happened, but it's true - I slept from 6pm to 5am without waking up. Now if only dad could get me to go to bed later, he wouldn't have to wake up with me before the sun every morning!

February 7, 2007

First trip to the dentist

Mom had an appointment at the dentist today, so I tagged along to get a check-up too.  The dentist took a good look in my mouth, and I was very well behaved the whole time. He said that my teeth are coming in very nicely, with good spacing and size. He gave me some tips on dental hygiene, and I got a brand new toothbrush! Hopefully I'll have good strong teeth like my mom, and not the nasty teeth from my dad's side of the family.

January 29, 2007

Visit with Grosaeti

My grosaeti Gruenig arrived in Kelowna on January 24th. We spent a couple days in town before heading up to Big White. It was the first time he'd been skiing in a long time, so he was careful to pace himself. But the weather was nice and he had a great time. Since he last saw me in November, I've sure grown a lot. When he first arrived I was a bit scared of his big booming voice, but I soon remembered who he was. We played together lots, and I smiled when he'd bounce me on his knee. I took him to visit with great-grandma and great-grandpa Biffard, and of course they talked about RVs. He had to fly back to Toronto this morning, but I'll see him again this spring or summer at the latest.

January 28, 2007

I'm walking!!

Yesterday I took my first solo steps. I've been standing and "cruising" on my own for over a month, and I've taken a few steps to keep my balance, but I've always been very cautious about letting go of whatever is supporting me. But yesterday I found myself standing in the kitchen at Big White without any support, and without thinking about it I took a few steps forward. I didn't get very far, but already today I'm doing much better. Here is a good video. (This is a large file and will take a couple minutes to download.)

January 22, 2007

Mom's home!

Mom got back to Kelowna last night after a 3 day course in Vancouver. It was the first time that I was away from her for more than 12 hours, but I hardly noticed that she was gone. There was some concern that I might not be happy with a bottle and formula, but Dad had me eating and sleeping better than I ever have before. On Friday we went to story and sing-a-long at the library. On Saturday we went to Calyana's 1st birthday party. On Sunday we played in the snow and I made my first snow angel (with lots of help from Grandma). It was a busy weekend for me, and Mom's course kept her busy too, but she still had a nice break from 24/7 baby care.

January 20, 2007

Calyana's Birthday Party

Today I went to a birthday party for the first time.  My friend Caly was born a few weeks before me, and she was having us over to celebrate her 1st birthday.  You should have seen the look on her face when her mom Amy put that big cake in front of her!  Caly was so surprised with the cake and the singing that she didn't know what to do!  Eventually she got the icing all over her face and into her eyes.  The gang of friends at her party (not counting the adults) were all between 7 and 12 months old, so it was fun to play with others our own size.  Caly got lots of really good presents, and at the end of the afternoon I was completely tired out.  Dad took me home and fed me some carrots and beans for dinner before putting me to bed.  I can't wait until my birthday, then I get to taste cake too!

January 2, 2007

My First Christmas

I spent my first Christmas in the snow at Big White.  The whole Biffard gang was there, and Lara joined us with her parents Rob & Elia.  We did some snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and lots of walks with the nifty sleigh Grandpa Neil built.  Santa was good to me - some blocks and toys and books in my stocking.  I got lots more books from my uncles and aunts and cousins and some people that i haven't even met yet.  A few more clothes too, some that I can grow into.  We had planned to be at Big While until after New Year's but Dad and I both got a cold, so we spent the last few days of 2006 in bed back in Kelowna.  But we're both getting over it now, so hopefully we'll start off 2007 feeling much better.

Today I'm 10 months old, closing in fast on that big 1 year birthday.

December 11, 2006

Weekend at Big White

We returned to Kelowna today after spending the weekend at Big White. Mom did lots of skiing, and Dad and I played lots in the snow. Grandpa cut up some old skis to build me a sled; he was so excited that he pulled me around in the hallway even before we went outside. All weekend I crawled around the ski condo and checked out all the ski equipment, and played lots of "peek-a-boo" - my new favorite pastime. I even tried to play with the people that I could see skiing outside the window, but of course they couldn't see me.

December 4, 2006

Trip to Vancouver

We arrived in Kelowna today after a few days in Vancouver. Mom was attending a course, so I got to spend entire days with Dad for the first time. There was lots of snow in Vancouver, which is a rare sight.  On Friday, I did my very first "SO BIG" - something Mom has been teaching me for months, so of course I figure it out on the first day that Mom isn't around.  Dad took me to the library for storytime, and we walked around a lot.  We were staying with Lara, Rob, & Elia, who returned from Spain the day after we arrived.  The sight of two dads walking around each with a little baby drew lots of attention on the street.  On Saturday, Dad took me to visit my great-great grandma Statham, and then to see my cousins Evan and David.  David is only 5 months older than me, so he shared some of his toys with me.  Our flight back to Kelowna was delayed, but I didn't put up much of a fuss and slept almost the entire way. 

Lately I've been spending a lot of time standing up and sitting down.  If there's anything I can hang on to, I'll try and get up on my feet.  I can stay standing for quite a while, but falling back down isn't too graceful.  I haven't figured out that I can move my feet either, but that could come soon.

November 8, 2006

I'm crawling!

After a few false starts and partial steps during the past week, today I finally made my official first crawl. It happened in the morning, when I'm always happiest and freshest. It was before 7am, which of course is when Dad is normally still half asleep. But he got excited today when I became curious by the sight of two shiny silver balls and crawled about 4 feet to reach them. Grandma Biffard "baby-proofed" her house before I arrived - good timing because I'm going to be zooming around everywhere now.

November 7, 2006

Bradford to Kelowna

We flew out of the Toronto airport this morning on a direct flight to Kelowna. Everything was on time, the flight was smooth, and I was very well behaved throughout. The friendly folks at WestJet let me bring my carseat on the plane, so Dad set it up in my own chair, and I took a few naps in there during the trip. Grandma Biffard picked us up at the airport; again we had lots of luggage, but it all fit in her van. I had a hard time going to bed tonight, and I'm sure that will continue for the next few days while I adjust my clock to the time zone change.

November 5, 2006

Weekend in Niagara

We've been busy visiting the past few days. On Wednesday we spent the afternoon with Great-Grandma Brown. We gave her a ride to the bank, then helped her with her grocery shopping. I got to ride around in a grocery cart for the first time - I was quite excited, kicking my feet and squealing with joy.

Thursday we drove into Toronto to visit St. Michael's Hospital where my mom works.  We hadn't been there since the end of May, so all mom's co-workers were eager to see how much I've grown. 

On Friday we rented a car and drove to Welland, in the Niagara region of Ontario. We stayed at Mrs. Garofalo's house, which is where Auntie Natalie and Uncle Albert are for a few more weeks before they move into their own house. I got to visit with Albert's other niece, Maya, who is only a couple months younger than me. She's not sitting up on her own yet, but she will soon. She shared some of her toys with me, and we got some cute pictures.  Saturday we went for a nice afternoon walk around the town of Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's a picturesque little place, and of course Mom found the chocolate shop and Albert found an historical facade on a building.

This morning (Sunday) we said our goodbyes to Welland and headed over to Hamilton. We visited with Andrea and Duane, who actually live in the hamlet of Dundas. We walked around until we found a park where I went for a swing ride. We got a late lunch at a favourite pub in the neighbourhood. Lately I've become very attached to my parents, but I must be starting to lose my fear of being held by other people because I let Duane and Andrea hold me and play with me for at least 10 minutes. Mom said Andrea should tag along with us to be our official babysitter.

This evening we drove back to Bradford. We got in late and I was tired and went straight to bed. Tomorrow, Mom will drive into Toronto to visit with her friend Heather, before returning the car to the rental agency.

October 30, 2006

Montreal to Toronto

We left Montreal this morning. It was a real whirlwind getting everything packed and racing to the train station, but we made it right on time. The train ride was really nice, I liked looking out the window. In fact, I was so interested with the scenery that I didn't nap much at all. So by the time we arrived in Toronto this afternoon, I was pretty fussy and tired. Grosaeti Gruenig picked us up at Union Station with his truck, which was good because we had a LOT of luggage. We'll be in Ontario for the a week, before continuing west to British Columbia.

October 27, 2006

Escape from Bumbo!! and visit with Poppa and Heidi

The moment Dad predicted many months ago finally arrived today. (Auntie Camila, you win the bet.)  While dad was doing the dishes this morning, I was sitting on the floor in my Bumbo chair, playing with the handle of a kitchen drawer. Actually, the handle was a bit out of my reach, so I was stretching to try and grab it. All of a sudden, dad hears a thump , and turns to find me lying on my stomach on the floor, sort of in a daze. I didn't actually cry, but dad sensed that I was trying to make up my mind if I should. He quickly picked me up and diverted my attention. It took both of us a moment to realize exactly what had happened - after many months of sitting happily restrained in my Bumbo bucket, I was now able to escape! Dad thought that perhaps it was a fluke incident and that I hadn't actually realized what had happened, and he still had lots of dishes to wash, so he decided to put me back into the Bumbo. A couple minutes later, thump again. Better watch out Dad, that Bumbo won't keep me grounded any longer.

I took a late morning nap, and at about noon I got a special visit from Poppa and Heidi, my great-grandparents who live in Ottawa. They took the train up for the afternoon. We had a nice lunch here at our apartment, then went for a walk. Like I am with every new person I meet these days, I was a bit scared and upset by the intrusion of unfamiliar faces into my life. But after a while I was warming up to Poppa and Heidi, and by the end of the afternoon I gave them a smile. We walked them back to the train station and said our goodbyes. It was a nice sunny fall day, and along the way we took some pictures. I'll post them soon on my Yahoo!Photos site, so check them there.

October 23, 2006

Sitting up on my own

I sure gave dad a surprise today. I was playing on the floor like I usually do, and he went to the washroom to wash his hands. He was only gone for 10 seconds, but when he came back I was sitting up looking at him, munching on a celery that had been lying a couple feet away. Dad couldn't quite figure out what had happened - had he left me sitting like this? It took him a few moments to come to the realization that I had managed to sit up all by myself. Because he hadn't actually seen how I did it, and I hadn't even tried this move before, it was quite a shock to him. But there I was, sitting tall like a big girl, staring up with a smile. So this ushers in a new era of attentiveness - for the past few weeks I could play by myself while mom and dad were in the kitchen or doing laundry or reading or whatever. But now, because I'm a bit unsteady when I sit and because we have solid hardwood floors in the apartment, I could really bang my head hard. So I guess I'll be seeing a lot more of mom and dad staying right behind me while I play, at least until we get a play mat where I can tumble and fall and not get hurt.

October 21, 2006

More teeth

We're still enjoying our stay in Montreal. The weather has been great, we live right downtown, and go for lots of nice walks to check out different parts of the city. I've been doing lots of growing, and so have my teeth! Today tooth ..5 poked it's way through, so I've got 3 on top and 2 on the bottom. Mom and Dad were a bit worried because there was a bit of blood in my mouth yesterday, but that all made sense today when the tooth arrived. In the past few weeks I've gotten really good at rolling around. I've checked out all the corners of our apartment, but my favourite place to hang out is under the couch. I'm also eating some solid foods twice a day. We started with just cereal (rice, then oat, then barley), but now I'm getting squash, yam, zucchini, carrot, apple, pear, and prune. I saw mom with some peas and beans, so I guess that's what I'll be tasting this week! All this food is thick but still a soft puree. So to give my teeth a workout, I get lots of celery to munch on. Tasty tasty.

September 2, 2006

Happy half-birthday to me!!

We're back from the cottage in time to celebrate my 6 month birthday!  The weather up in central Ontario wasn't very pleasant.  I managed to avoid getting any mosquito bites while at the cottage, but my mom wasn't so lucky.  I went swimming just once - only up to my waist - because the water was unseasonably cold.  So now we're back in Bradford for a few days before heading to visit auntie Natalie and uncle Albert in Welland, Ontario.

On Sept 1st we made a trip into Toronto with my great-grandma Brown.  We walked around the distillery district and had lunch, then took her to visit her friend Avis Daynes.  Avis lives at the north side of Kensington Market, so while Mom and great-grandma Brown were visiting, Dad and went down to Queen St. West to visit with his friend Kiran.  We all made it back to Bradford in time for my bath and bedtime.

My other bottom tooth came through over the past few days, so now I've got two bottom teeth and it looks like a top one isn't far behind.  I'm chewing on everything I can get my hands on.  Today I tried to eat the map Dad was looking at; I also eat windows and screen doors among other things.  My sitting skills are getting better, but I'm still a few weeks away from having the balance to sit on my own.

August 21, 2006

Kelowna to Toronto

August 15, 2006

My first tooth!

July 30, 2006

Vic and Betty, and Great-great Grandma too!

There was really heavy rain last night, with thunder and lightning, but the motorhome stayed dry and safe. We were parked at uncle Vic and auntie Betty Houghton's house in Surrey; after breakfast, we got the full tour of their house and garages. They collect antiques (we got to listen to a pristine gramaphone that was over 80 years old) and vintage cars (check my photos next week for a picture of me with the cars). They even have a real fire truck from 1942! After picking some blackberries and cucumbers from their garden, we said goodbye and headed over to Richmond. My Great-great grandma just moved into a new apartment so we went to visit her. She was finishing up her dinner in the dining hall when we arrived – and man, was I ever popular with all the other people who live in the building. All those seniors where cooing and playing with me, I was the centre of attention. My great-great grandma seemed quite proud – not many others have a great-great grand-daughter, let alone one as cute as me! So we visited for a couple hours, but then it was my bedtime and we had to go. We drove to uncle Alan and aunt Pauline's house, also in Richmond, to sleep for the night.

July 16, 2006

Camping at Yoho National Park

We just got back from our 4-day, 3-night camping trip to Lake O'Hara, in Yoho National Park. The first day and a half was miserable – it rained and rained, and taking care of me in a little tent was not putting a smile on Mom's face. But things improved during the hike on our second day. The sun came out and Uncle Glen even went for a swim in a glacial lake. We were a big gang – my uncles, aunts, and Grandma and Grandpa made a total of 9 people including me. It was fun to have everyone together - we had lots of food, hiked each day, and I was very well behaved, except at bedtime and for stretches during the night. But Dad says we're not going on any more alpine camping trips this summer – once is enough!

July 10, 2006

Kelowna to Calgary

We took a break from driving and stayed in Kelowna the past few days.  Rob & Elia were visiting from Vancouver, and then Dad had to patch a small leak on the roof of the motorhome.  But we were off again on July 8th.  We drove from Kelowna to Glacier National Park (just east of Revelstoke, BC).  Along the way we stopped for ice cream at D Dutchman Dairy in Sicamous - I stared at Dad's ice cream cone the entire time he was eating it.  I suppose I'm still too little to eat all that sugar :-(

The next morning we drove through Banff and into Cochrane, Alberta.  My dad's uncle Earl lives there with aunt Linda and our cousins Lauren and Jade.  After dinner, Dad played soccer in the backyard with all the neighbourhood kids.  There was thunder and lightning during the night, and the next morning wasn't very nice either.  So today we went swimming at the indoor aquatic complex.  Dad swam with me in the wading pool while Mom and Linda did laps.  I went under water a bunch of times and didn't cry once.  Everyone at the pool was talking about me, I was so cute in my little bathing suit.

After a nice barbcue dinner, we all went for ice cream at the famous ice cream shop in downtown Cochrane.  Again, I could only watch as Mom licked her chocolate cone. 

I was getting pretty tired, and we still had to drive in to Calgary, so we said goodbye to Earl/Linda/Lauren/Jade and packed up the motorhome for the ride to Uncle Ryan and Auntie Camila's house.  We've got two days to get ready for our hike in the mountains, and there are lots of preparations to do...

June 8 to June 30, 2006

Tour of West Coast and Southern BC

June 8 - Kelowna to Princeton

We've been in Kelowna for almost a week now. I've met my two great-grandmas on my Dad's side, and one of my great-grandpas. I gave them each a nice smile – we get along just great. Mom and Dad cleaned out the little motorhome that will be our house on wheels for the next few months. We drove out of Kelowna in the late afternoon, heading south through Penticton. We camped overnight in Stemwinder provincial park, about 40km east of Princeton. It was my first night of camping and I enjoyed it. But I got really really upset when mom tried to give me a bath in a big bin on the floor of the motorhome. I always have a bath before bed, but for some reason this bath didn't agree with me – I screamed loud and long. Good thing the campground was almost empty.

June 9 - Princeton to Richmond

We hit the road at about 11am this morning. We drove the Hope-Princeton highway, and stopped for a late lunch at the site of the Hope slide (a huge rock slide in the 60s covered the entire valley). On our way into Vancouver, we had engine troubles while seeking out a gas station in Abbotsford. A part related to the radiator fan broke, and the cooling system stopped working! When the engine started steaming and anti-freeze was spewing out, Dad called CAA. We had to be towed almost 60km into Richmond. But there was only room for two people in the tow-truck – so Dad had to wait three hours at the Abbotsford bus station and then take the Greyhound. Mom and I got to Richmond at 7:30pm, but Dad didn't arrive until 11pm. I really enjoyed my ride in the tow-truck, it was one of those really big tow-trucks. Uncle Alan was the saviour of the day – he arranged the mechanic to fix the motorhome, drove all over town to pick us all up, and finally tucked us into the spare bed at his house. Thanks Alan and Pauline.

June 10 - Vancouver Day 1

We had no idea how bad the damage was to the engine. Uncle Alan took Dad down to the repair shop in the morning, and they talked to the mechanic. The mechanic said it might not get fixed for a few days, but later that day he called with good news – they had the right part in stock, and were able to fix it that very day! Dad picked it up later that afternoon. Let's hope it lasts for a long time. Also today I met my cousin Mallory from Powell River. She was back in Vancouver after spending time studying French in Chicoutimi. Her boyfriend Matt picked her up and they went to Victoria for a few weeks. In the late afternoon we went to meet my great-great-grandma. I'm the first great-great grandchild in the family, so she was very excited to see me. She held me for almost a half-hour and I was on my absolute best behaviour. Then I took a nap beside her as she ate her dinner. We got along well, and took some good photos. We'll go back to see her soon.

June 11 - Vancouver Day 2

This morning we went to the farmer's market in Ladner, just across the river. Our friends Rob and Elia came with us. It was still a bit early in the season for fresh vegetables, but there were lots of people on the street. It was more like a street fair than a farmer's market. Elia has a friend who lives in Ladner, so we went for a visit. What a cool little house! And Mom loved the garden, kind of a rugged and wild type of garden. Then we went for lunch at a Buddhist temple in Richmond. Rob ordered lots of food, but we almost managed to eat it all. On the way back to Pauline and Alan's house, we picked up some vegetables to grill for supper. And man, what a supper it was! We had a family dinner with Craig and Charlene and Evan and David and Cathy and her friend from Switzerland and Mom and Dad and Alan and Pauline and even Auntie Kay was there! Pauline made chicken and Dad grilled a huge plate of vegetables. Craig brought salad and there was pie for dessert. I of course went to bed early because I was tired from all the activity!

June 12 - Vancouver Day 3

After packing up the motorhome, we left Pauline and Alan's house in Richmond and drove into Vancouver. We stopped for a visit with Dad's cousin Larry and his family. Larry's wife Marie took good care of me for a few hours, so mom got a bit of a break. She changed me and gave me a little dip in the pool. I met my cousins Gabriel, Nathan, Kimberley, Michelle, and even Alyssa came over. Dad passed the football with Kimberley, then jammed in the basement with Larry (Larry plays bass, and Dad brought out his pandeiro). Then Rob and Elia came to pick us up and take us back to their place for dinner. We had a tasty venison roast, but of course I just ate milk. And uncle Chris came over for dinner too. Him and mom chatted for a while, but we was hot and sweaty for a long day at work, so he didn't play with me too much.

June 13 - Vancouver Day 4

This morning we had planned to go to the Swiss consulate, but then we found out that they close at 11am! We were already running late, and there was no way we would get there on time, so we postponed that until tomorrow. Instead we met Elia at the YWCA and Mom went for a swim while Dad and I watched Croatia/Brazil play in the world cup. Rob came downtown after a morning meeting, and we all went for lunch at a burrito place. Elia had to go back to work in the afternoon, but Rob didn't work again until the evening, so he took us out to Commercial Drive. We found a baby store and Rob bought me a fancy baby-carrier – I've gotten a bit big for the other one, so this new one is just perfect. Thanks Rob and Elia! We also got some fresh produce so Mom could make vegetarian lasagne for dinner. She made so much not even Dad could eat it all. While waiting for Rob and Elia to get home, I did a new trick – I rolled from my back over to my front. Now if I could only learn to do it the other way, then I'd really be on my way!

June 14 - Vancouver Day 5

We got to the Swiss consulate on time this morning. Mom filled out all the paperwork for me to get registered and receive my passport. We had to go to a photographer to get my passport photo taken. I got to sit in a special chair; when the man told me not to smile, I gave him the happiest grin you can imagine. He had to take a few pictures before he could get one where I wasn't smiling. From the consulate we went back to the YWCA so Mom could swim again. This time Dad and I watched Germany vs. Poland. In the afternoon we headed back to Larry & Marie's house. Larry left for Whistler, but I had another nice visit with Marie. For dinner we went to Brad & Kristina's apartment – they've got a place on the 18 th floor with a great view from downtown out towards Kitsilano and Jericho beach. I had a bath while everyone else ate Thai food. I was fussy and didn't go to sleep for a while. Mom and Dad visited until pretty late, then we drove back to Richmond to park at Alan & Pauline's overnight.

June 15 - Vancouver to Victoria

This morning we visited again with great-great-grandma Zubah. She told me lots more stories and we ate lunch together. Then we headed to the ferry and caught the 2pm to Victoria. My first ferry ride was fairly uneventful. We rode the Queen of Saanich, which is the small boat on the route. While we were on the top deck, the captain sounded the horn. It was pretty loud and surprised me – I didn't know what to do. After a few seconds I gave a short cry, but I was so puzzled that I went quiet again. Dad took me back inside where is was warm and quiet. We made it to Doug & Bev's for supper. We'll stay with them in Victoria for a few days.

June 16 - Victoria Day 1

We left for a hike up Mount Douglas this morning, but it started raining so we turned around and came home. The weather wasn't going to get better, so we went to the pool instead and Mom had a nice swim. Dad and I took a nap in the motorhome, then we all had lunch together. We went for a walk in the late afternoon, and Doug cooked up some tasty steaks for dinner. Mom and I stayed home in the evening and her friend Robyn came over to meet me and visit with Mom. Dad went to a dance production that his cousin Rebecca was performing in. He didn't get back until really late; Mom and I were already asleep.

June 17 - Victoria Day 2

We had planned to go for a ride in the zodiac around the harbour, but it was pretty windy this morning. So we watched some World Cup, then hiked up Mount Douglas in the afternoon. Rebecca and Marty came over for dinner, and we had some tasty fish with all kinds of different vegetables. Oh, and fresh local strawberries for dessert.

June 18 - Victoria to Rathtrevor

Today was Father's Day, so we took Dad out for breakfast. And so did everyone else in Victoria. We went with Mom's friend Robyn, and luckily she had a car because the first few places we checked out had lineups down the street. We ended up at a place called Molé. I had a perfect spot at the ideal height to see the action – in my carseat, on top of a fireplace (without the fire, of course) right beside the table. I slept through the entire meal. Up the street was a craft fair, so we checked that out before getting a nice tour of Victoria and Oak Bay with Robyn. I had a really nasty diaper, so I got cleaned up at Robyn's before we headed out on the highway – destination somewhere north of Nanaimo. We drove all afternoon and ended up at Rathtrevor provincial campsite. Dad took me for a walk while mom made burritos.

June 19 - Rathtrevor to Denman

We started the day with a nice walk along the beach at Rathtrevor. The tide was out and there was lots to see - crabs and eagles and deer and rabbits and a really nice woodpecker. We drove a little further north and caught the ferry over to Denman Island. There we found a really nice place called Fillongley provincial park. We got a super campsite, only a few meters from the beach and with a nice ocean view. We drove to the south end of the island to do a short hike. At the end was a great view of a small island with a lighthouse and a bunch of sealions making their funny sounds. After dinner, Dad drew some water from the manual pump well, and mom gave me a sponge bath in a little green dish pail. As the sun went down and I drifted off to sleep, I could hear Mom and Dad chatting by the campfire.

June 20 - Denman to Courtney

We didn't drive very far today. After a nice sleep-in morning, we walked a bit on the beach, and then did a short hike at Fillongley park. The trail led to a really amazing clearing in the woods, with interesting trees and a large, perfect lawn. It seemed like the meadow didn't belong on such a remote island. In the afternoon we took the ferry back to Vancouver Island, and then headed north to Courtney. We took a stroll through the old downtown, and drove around trying to find a pool for Mom to get her swim in. It turned out the aquatic centre was closed for renovations – too bad. Dad's cousin Cathy has a house in Courtney, so we stayed over. Except that Cathy wasn't there – she is cruising around on her own little holiday right now. But she should be back in a few days. We're going to hang here until she gets back.

Jun 22 - Courtney Day 2

Yesterday was a lazy day. We slept in, then took a drive up the coast to see Miracle Beach. Today Mom went swimming at the outdoor pool in Courtney, and Dad took me for a walk in the park that follows along the river. My cousin Cathy and her friend Nicole arrived in the evening – they were heading to Whistler the next morning. We didn't have anything prepared for dinner, so we got a giant plate of take-out sushi – I stayed away from that wasabi.

Jun 23 - Courtney to Texada Island

Switzerland played their final World Cup group match today. We went to a pub to watch the game, but the bartender immediately said I had to leave because I was underage. There was some disappointment because it's hard to find a place in Courtney showing a Swiss soccer game. But we found a restaurant and caught the second half – and better yet, Switzerland looked good in a 2-0 victory! We then took the 3:15 ferry from Comox to Powell River. Uncle Jim was waiting for us at the other side, and even Aunt Tida came down to see us at the ferry terminal. We waited about an hour for the next ferry over to Texada Island, and then drove to Aunt Cheryl and Bud's house in Van Anda. Cheryl had a nice supper ready for us, and of course her famous blackberry pie for dessert! Dad had two big slices.

Jun 24 - Texada Island

Bud and Cheryl gave us the full tour of Texada. We saw the quarry where Bud works and had some great views of the mainland. We had lunch at Shelter Point campground. The tide was really low, so mom and dad went for a nice walk on the beach. Mom got sprayed by the clams. Cheryl went over to Powell River in the late afternoon. She was participating in a 12-hour, all-night walk-a-thon to raise money for cancer research. Bud went over with her, so we just had a quiet evening on the island.

Jun 25 - Texada Island to Powell River

Cheryl and Bud returned in the morning. Cheryl took a nap, then we visited a bit more before we left the island. We went to Willingdon beach for the afternoon, then met up with Vic and Kari at 4pm. They took us up to their cabin on Powell Lake. It was my first ride in a boat (not counting the ferries) – on some of the big waves I had a worried look in my eyes, but for most of the way I just slept. Vic and Kari have a really nice place. The sun was just perfect, we went for a swim, had a nice bar-b-cue, and went home as the sun went down.

Jun 26 - Powell River Day 2

We parked last night at Ken and Deb's house. After some tasty pancakes for breakfast, Ken took us on a hike up the Suicide Creek trail. It was a hot day, but there was lots of nice shade on the trail. On the way home we bought fresh, live prawns from the seafood packing factory. Mom had a good time removing their heads and preparing them for cooking. Deb cooked up some scallops too, and we had a nice seafood appetizer. Then Uncle Jim came over and we had chicken fajitas for dinner - good stuff. I had a nice bath before bed, and Dad played a bit on Mallory's drums.

Jun 27 - Powell River Day 3

Today we went fishing on the ocean! We were in Uncle Jim's old boat, but with that new engine it's a sweet ride. I sat up front with cousin Ken, who was driving. Mom was the first to haul in a fish. She caught a couple more, but they both got away. Jim landed a decent sized lingcod, Ken got a yellow-eye, and Mom and Dad each got a rock cod. On the way in, we passed three porpoises jumping and swimming in the water. Back at Jim's house we cleaned the fish and I visited with Aunt Tida. Then we went to Ken and Deb's to cook them up – what a tasty meal of fresh fish.

Jun 28 - Powell River to Sechelt

We slept in a bit, then caught the ferry from Saltery Bay to Earl's Cove. We looked around Egmont, then did a nice hike into Skookumchuk Narrows. We stopped at Sechelt for groceries, and then found a nice campsite at Porpoise Bay.

Jun 29 - Sechelt to Hope

We walked around Sechelt this morning, then checked out Gibsons before riding the ferry back to Vancouver. Since we need to be back in Kelowna tomorrow, we decided to go straight through Vancouver. We made it all the way to Hope by late afternoon, and decided to camp just outside of town in a place called Nicolum River.

Jun 30 - Hope to Kelowna

June 5, 2006

Summer tour

May came and went very fast.  Suddenly I'm 3 months old and already on the move.  We left Toronto on June 2nd - mom and dad packed up everything and we're going on a summer road trip.  We flew to Kelowna, BC, and man was that a nasty affair.  The airline delayed the flight three times, then finally canceled the flight.  We were running all over the airport, checking and re-checking all our heavy bags, no one was able to tell us what was going on, getting upset and stressed out, and arriving at our destination more than 6 hours late.  But of course I behaved so well during the entire ordeal that my poor parents were able to survive.  Yes, I'm an excellent air traveller. 

In a couple days we'll be heading south in a little motorhome.  We'll do some camping on our way to Vancouver, where I'll meet lots of my relatives - and of course my great-great grandma Zubah!  That's going to be special. 

So stay tuned for more - the summer promises to be one big adventure after another for me.

March 7, 2006

Thanks Auntie Natalie!

My aunt Natalie stayed with us for the past two days and two nights.  I don't know how our little family would have managed without Natalie's help.  Dad had an exam and mom is still feeling some pain from the surgery.  Natalie brought lots and lots of groceries, and made enough food to feed us for the next few days.  She stayed up with me on Sunday night, and that made her really tired.  Thanks for being there, Natalie!

March 4, 2006

Hospital day 2

Dad was here with all day today.  Our room has beds for two moms and two babies, but there is no one else here so we have the entire place to ourselves.

Our only visitor today was my mom's friend Lindsay.  Dad showed her how to burp me, and she took a few pictures to share with some of Mom's other friends.

I passed my hearing test.  The hearing-test-lady stuck a little probe in my ears and the machine said I could hear fine.  That's good. 

My mom is really pumping a lot of milk - the nurse was very surprised and impressed.  But I still get tired when trying to suck from the nipple.  My weight went down to 4lb 11oz, which is within the 10bsp;normal weight drop range for a new baby.

March 3, 2006

Day one in the hospital

I spent the day in the hospital.  Dad was tired early this morning, so he went home to sleep (our apartment is only 1 block away).  Mom will have to stay here until Sunday, so I get to stay with her.

It's not bad in the hospital.  The nurses are friendly and there is an endless supply of outfits and blankets for me to soil.  I've learned to latch at my mom's breast, but I'm not so good at the sucking part.  So my mom started pumping her milk with a fancy electronic pump; she feeds it to me from a cup.

Dad forgot to burp me after a feeding; when I puked an hour later, the nurse really gave him heck.  He won't do that again.

Natalie and Albert came by again this evening.  And grandpa Gruenig stopped in for a quick hello on his way home.  Lots of my mom's co-workers came to check up on her too.  My mom works with a lady from Romania; she said that in her language, my name means "little one."  I guess I'm the little one for now, but once I figure out how to suck up that milk, I'll start growing fast.

March 2, 2006

Here I am!

Well, I was born a bit early and quite by surprise.  My mom went in for a checkup with the midwife, and when she mentioned that she had been leaking some fluid for a few days, everybody jumped into action.  They tested the fluid and discovered that it was indeed amniotic fluid.  That meant I had to come out that very day.  But because I was sitting with my head in my mom's ribcage, there was no way I could be born the natural way. 

So Mom had to go into the operating room and have a c-section.  With one yelp I came out at 8:37pm.  I was pretty quiet after that while the nurses and midwife cleaned me up and checked me out.  Dad came over the cut the umbilical cord nice and close to my tummy.  Then I got to spend some time with my mom while the doctor stitched her back up.

I only weighed 5lbs 4oz, so the midwife was monitoring me very closely over the next hour in the recovery room.  Mom was super thirsty, but she wasn't allowed to drink anything until a certain amount of time after the anaesthetic.  But she pleaded until they gave her a cup of ice cubes to suck on.