We couldn't get him to go it again but on Wednesday after work I got home and he was going after the flowers that were on the kitchen table. I put the flowers on the floor and grabbed the video camera (it's Auntie Lori behind the camera!) and sure enough, he walked right for them. After so many months of "practice" we knew there'd be no stopping him once he was ready to let go...
Jul 12, 2009
Caleb's First Steps
Caleb has been cruising for months and spent our entire trip to Ontario recently (for Auntie Tina's wedding) insisting on holding onto someone's finger while walking around. Mostly Grandma's finger, all through the halls of her condo building I hear, but I didn't stick around long enough to see it for myself :( On Saturday, after picking up Robin and Caleb from the airport, I was making dinner and Caleb must have been really excited about the food (wonder where he gets that?!) and forgot himself to take a couple steps towards me (and the food) on his own.
We couldn't get him to go it again but on Wednesday after work I got home and he was going after the flowers that were on the kitchen table. I put the flowers on the floor and grabbed the video camera (it's Auntie Lori behind the camera!) and sure enough, he walked right for them. After so many months of "practice" we knew there'd be no stopping him once he was ready to let go...
We couldn't get him to go it again but on Wednesday after work I got home and he was going after the flowers that were on the kitchen table. I put the flowers on the floor and grabbed the video camera (it's Auntie Lori behind the camera!) and sure enough, he walked right for them. After so many months of "practice" we knew there'd be no stopping him once he was ready to let go...
Jul 7, 2009
I Love GroBaby!
I have lots of different types of cloth diapers - flats, fitteds, pockets, AIOs; commercially made, WHAM-made...you name it. From newborn through toddlerhood my favourite has been the BumGenius 3.0 OS pocket, mostly because it has fit Caleb really well at all stages, has never once leaked and is easy to use/wash. I'm always on the lookout for new and interesting cloth diapering options though and I follow Autumn Beck's blog All About Cloth Diapers and clicked through to the Cloth Diaper Superstore to look at the new BumGenius Organic OS AIOs and found these.
My new GroBaby diaper system arrived about a week later and has since surpassed the BumGenius 3.0 as my all-time favourite cloth diaper. They fit great, look adorable, don't leak AND (possibly best of all) I can switch out the snap in insert and keep using the shell as long as it isn't soiled. I really couldn't ask for much more...there must be some enterprising cloth diaper enthusiast working on a self-cleaning model, no?
I will say that I've had a hard time teaching anyone else (babysitter, husband, auntie...regardless of how often they change diapers) how to use this system. The shell inevitably ends up in the diaper pail after only one (non-soiled) use and I end up with clean inserts and no shells. Perhaps GroBaby could produce a nice instruction card that could be posted on the side of my clean diaper basket for the less cloth diaper savvy users in my house :)
Pic of Caleb in his Kiwi GroBaby to follow...
My new GroBaby diaper system arrived about a week later and has since surpassed the BumGenius 3.0 as my all-time favourite cloth diaper. They fit great, look adorable, don't leak AND (possibly best of all) I can switch out the snap in insert and keep using the shell as long as it isn't soiled. I really couldn't ask for much more...there must be some enterprising cloth diaper enthusiast working on a self-cleaning model, no?
I will say that I've had a hard time teaching anyone else (babysitter, husband, auntie...regardless of how often they change diapers) how to use this system. The shell inevitably ends up in the diaper pail after only one (non-soiled) use and I end up with clean inserts and no shells. Perhaps GroBaby could produce a nice instruction card that could be posted on the side of my clean diaper basket for the less cloth diaper savvy users in my house :)
Pic of Caleb in his Kiwi GroBaby to follow...
Dec 19, 2008
Adventures in the Laundry Basket and Other Fun Times
Some more random pictures:
Caleb sporting his new wool diaper cover. I'm not nuts about this one, but it's super cute. For a while there was no place that he was happier than sitting in the laundry basket filled with his toys. Hours of quiet enjoyment. It made me laugh when he would suddenly disappear below the edge of the basket because he was leaning over in search of the next toy he wanted to chew on. Then he'd sit up with gusto, holding the selected toy up like a prize. So. Cute. Did I mention how much this kid loves to eat? That's blueberries all over his face, and he's loving every second. The last pic is of him in one of his sleeping sacks. I made this one...it's fleece camo.
Ladies' Man:
Kisses for Hannah...kisses for Autumn...hmmm he seems to really like Alexis :P The other day he offered me a kiss for the first time. I usually have to ask and even then he'll only do it if he feels like it. But the other day he was sitting on my lap and turned to grab my face with both hands and then just planted one (a very slobbery one!) on my cheek. What a sweetheart!
These were taken during our recent trip to Ontario to celebrate Christmas with my family. Tina's fiance, Scott, was home from Afghanistan for 3 weeks, so we decided to celebrate early while he could be with us. We stayed in Ottawa with Robin's mom most of the time and made a couple of short side-trips to Eaganville (where Tina and Scott live) and Peterborough/Stouffville. The picture on the left is Caleb with Robin's mom, the middle is him playing with some of his new loot, and on the right hanging out with Magg.
One day while shopping in a store in Bedford called Bump, Baby & Beyond, I got talking to the girl that was working and one thing lead to another...and well she invited me to her playgroup :) I've really enjoyed getting to know some other moms and especially the small group of moms and babies that live in our little area of the HRM. In the pics above we're at a "mini-playdate" at Lily and Landen's house.
Caleb sporting his new wool diaper cover. I'm not nuts about this one, but it's super cute. For a while there was no place that he was happier than sitting in the laundry basket filled with his toys. Hours of quiet enjoyment. It made me laugh when he would suddenly disappear below the edge of the basket because he was leaning over in search of the next toy he wanted to chew on. Then he'd sit up with gusto, holding the selected toy up like a prize. So. Cute. Did I mention how much this kid loves to eat? That's blueberries all over his face, and he's loving every second. The last pic is of him in one of his sleeping sacks. I made this one...it's fleece camo.
Ladies' Man:
Kisses for Hannah...kisses for Autumn...hmmm he seems to really like Alexis :P The other day he offered me a kiss for the first time. I usually have to ask and even then he'll only do it if he feels like it. But the other day he was sitting on my lap and turned to grab my face with both hands and then just planted one (a very slobbery one!) on my cheek. What a sweetheart!
These were taken during our recent trip to Ontario to celebrate Christmas with my family. Tina's fiance, Scott, was home from Afghanistan for 3 weeks, so we decided to celebrate early while he could be with us. We stayed in Ottawa with Robin's mom most of the time and made a couple of short side-trips to Eaganville (where Tina and Scott live) and Peterborough/Stouffville. The picture on the left is Caleb with Robin's mom, the middle is him playing with some of his new loot, and on the right hanging out with Magg.
One day while shopping in a store in Bedford called Bump, Baby & Beyond, I got talking to the girl that was working and one thing lead to another...and well she invited me to her playgroup :) I've really enjoyed getting to know some other moms and especially the small group of moms and babies that live in our little area of the HRM. In the pics above we're at a "mini-playdate" at Lily and Landen's house.
Dec 11, 2008
Corn Maze, Halloween & Kindermusik
In the early fall, we spent one Saturday afternoon visiting a farm in Truro called Riverbreeze. The main attraction is a 12 acre corn maze; I should have guessed that navigating the maze would be some kind of exercise in logic theory :P We also enjoyed a wagon ride out to the pumpkin and sunflower patches and even came home with some farm-fresh meat.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Mommy & Caleb navigating the corn maze under Daddy's careful instruction, Daddy & Caleb on the wagon ride, and Caleb selecting his sunflower to take home.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
Robin and I had fun carving our pumpkins. We decided that from left to right the represent me, Robin & Caleb...I'm not sure how I ended up being the crazy spider but the middle one definitely resembles Robin!
We took Caleb out Trick or Treating to a couple of our neighbour's houses; he was less than thrilled. He didn't mind his little jack-o-lantern bib and really enjoys that little flashing soccer ball that Uncle Riley gave him.
Caleb dressed up as the Frog Prince. My mom always made our Halloween costumes when I was a kid so I decided that I should do the same for Caleb. It was A LOT of work and certainly didn't save me any time (I stayed up until 2am one night working on it!) or money, but in the end I think it was worth it to say I made his first Halloween costume for him (there are feet that go with the rest of the outfit, but they weren't finished yet when this picture was taken).
On Thursday mornings we go to Kindermusik. It's a lot of fun and Caleb really seems to enjoy the singing and dancing and interacting with other babies. He LOVES Miss Louise! The picture above is a class photo (obviously taken the week of Halloween) and one with Miss Louise. In the new year we're taking a Sign & Sing class with her that I'm really looking forward to.
Dec 10, 2008
Catching Up
Almost everyday I think to myself at some point "I should update our blog". It's like the thing with the dishes: in University I lived with my wonderful friend Sarah in a basement apartment near campus. Neither of us particularly liked to do the dishes and, on a couple of occasions that I'm mildly embarrassed to recall, it became something of test of our determination to wait the other out. The dishes began piling up in the sink...onto the counter...and eventually, when there was no more space on the counter, the floor. I vividly remember, as if it were yesterday, sitting at our tiny kitchen table across from each other, eating out of empty margarine containers because there were no more clean plates or bowls. I think Chris (her now-husband) settled the issue by washing the dishes himself! The point is that my inclination to do something is directly and inversely related to the amount of time I spend putting off doing it. And that, my dear friends, is why it has been more than 4 months since I updated our blog.
It'll probably take a few posts to get caught up but here's the start of a quick recap:
Melissa and Jeff came to visit at the end of August for a few days. Caleb and I took them to see Peggy's Cove on one of the days and the pics above are of Melis, Caleb and I standing in front of the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove and Caleb and I on the rocks.
Daryl came to visit at the end of September. He brought Caleb and Marlie's jersey that he'll probably be able to wear in 3 or 4 years :) Before the weather got colder, I tried to get Caleb outside for some playtime each day so one day, Daryl and I decided that we'd take him out to play soccer. It was a lot fun! The ball is going away from Caleb's head in the picture of me holding him, but because he headbutted it! (it's a baby-sized ball). The last pic is of Caleb sitting in front of his tree. We planted this tree in honour of Caleb's birth...Caleb is growing at a much faster rate than the tree.
We decided when we got home from our vacation to the cottage in Ontario that Caleb was ready to get his first taste of solid food. He was able to sit up on his own, was grabbing at our food and had recently started "air-chewing" while we were eating! This is his very first taste of anything other than breastmilk (it's rice cereal). He is, hands-down, the most enthusiastic eater I've ever seen in a child his age; he does come by this tendency honestly of course.
Riley got into med school at Dal very last minute in Aug so he moved in with us. It was great having him around for company but also because he didn't mind watching Caleb so Robin and I could go out for walks in the evening and even out for dinner a couple times! One day while I was working Riley was watching Caleb in the late afternoon. I came down to make dinner and found them on the couch taking a nap together- very cute. Caleb has enjoyed being Riley's baby-model for some of the pediatric aspects of his course-work, and doesn't mind being the butt of a joke once in a while - that's a surgical mask on his head.
More later....
It'll probably take a few posts to get caught up but here's the start of a quick recap:
Melissa and Jeff came to visit at the end of August for a few days. Caleb and I took them to see Peggy's Cove on one of the days and the pics above are of Melis, Caleb and I standing in front of the lighthouse at Peggy's Cove and Caleb and I on the rocks.
Daryl came to visit at the end of September. He brought Caleb and Marlie's jersey that he'll probably be able to wear in 3 or 4 years :) Before the weather got colder, I tried to get Caleb outside for some playtime each day so one day, Daryl and I decided that we'd take him out to play soccer. It was a lot fun! The ball is going away from Caleb's head in the picture of me holding him, but because he headbutted it! (it's a baby-sized ball). The last pic is of Caleb sitting in front of his tree. We planted this tree in honour of Caleb's birth...Caleb is growing at a much faster rate than the tree.
We decided when we got home from our vacation to the cottage in Ontario that Caleb was ready to get his first taste of solid food. He was able to sit up on his own, was grabbing at our food and had recently started "air-chewing" while we were eating! This is his very first taste of anything other than breastmilk (it's rice cereal). He is, hands-down, the most enthusiastic eater I've ever seen in a child his age; he does come by this tendency honestly of course.
In early October, we went to the Windsor Pumpkin Festival where they have a tradition of growing giant pumpkins. The giant pumpkins are entered into some kind of pumpkin contest and, once the winner has been determined, the pumpkins are hollowed out to create boats. The boats are then decorated and paddled across the lake in a race. It was one of the most ridiculous events I've ever witnessed but it was so much fun. One racer's pumpkin sank halfway through the race and he continued paddling from underwater to finish the race...that's determination!
Riley got into med school at Dal very last minute in Aug so he moved in with us. It was great having him around for company but also because he didn't mind watching Caleb so Robin and I could go out for walks in the evening and even out for dinner a couple times! One day while I was working Riley was watching Caleb in the late afternoon. I came down to make dinner and found them on the couch taking a nap together- very cute. Caleb has enjoyed being Riley's baby-model for some of the pediatric aspects of his course-work, and doesn't mind being the butt of a joke once in a while - that's a surgical mask on his head.
More later....
Aug 1, 2008
Nana & Papa Wuz Here (July 2008)
My mom and Ian were here visiting for a couple weeks and we got up to all kinds of trouble. Especially my mom, who I ended up taking to the emergency room so that she could get 6 stitches to put her hand back together after a run-in with the scissors while she was making some curtains for Caleb's "big boy" room. While my mom sewed curtains and pillows, hemmed pants, and stitched holes in clothing that should have been fixed long ago Ian busied himself painting the nursery and the room Caleb will have when he's a little older. One afternoon he came out of the "green" room snickering to himself and showed my mom a picture on the camera of a little message he had left for Caleb:
So cute (and yes, I know it's very green). My mom was disappointed that he'd already painted over it so she didn't get to see it...but when he's older, Caleb will always know it's under there.
We didn't do much in the way of tourist-y things while they were here (we kept them too busy painting and sewing!) but did manage a day downtown Halifax so that Ian could go on the Alexander Keith's brewery tour...what can I say, it's a popular activity among our out-of-town guests! For the most part we really just hung out and enjoyed regular, every day things together. I did not manage to get my mom hooked on my weekday morning ritual of watching Crossing Jordan, but did take full advantage of my being distracted to teach Caleb all kinds of things. In particular, she helped him find his voice. He hasn't stopped since she left and some days I can barely get a word in edgewise! In this little clip he's not chatting as enthusiastically as he does sometimes, but it's still pretty cute:
So cute (and yes, I know it's very green). My mom was disappointed that he'd already painted over it so she didn't get to see it...but when he's older, Caleb will always know it's under there.We didn't do much in the way of tourist-y things while they were here (we kept them too busy painting and sewing!) but did manage a day downtown Halifax so that Ian could go on the Alexander Keith's brewery tour...what can I say, it's a popular activity among our out-of-town guests! For the most part we really just hung out and enjoyed regular, every day things together. I did not manage to get my mom hooked on my weekday morning ritual of watching Crossing Jordan, but did take full advantage of my being distracted to teach Caleb all kinds of things. In particular, she helped him find his voice. He hasn't stopped since she left and some days I can barely get a word in edgewise! In this little clip he's not chatting as enthusiastically as he does sometimes, but it's still pretty cute:
Nana took lots of pics of Caleb smiling and making goofy faces. It's amazing how many hours one can be entertained by a little baby.
Nana and Papa of course spent lots of time holding and cuddling Caleb. He looks pretty content with the whole situation.
While he was here, Ian had a special meal request...he warned us that he wasn't really sure that he was a big fan, but would like to try some fresh Nova Scotia lobster. Robin happily obliged and, on their last day here, went out to pick up "Simon" and "Rosie". For those who don't know, Robin isn't exactly a goofy kind of guy. His sense of humour is very dry (more like toast than a nice chardonnay) so it really made me giggle when he came home and very ceremoniously introduced our dinner. Here's mom, getting acquainted with "Simon" and Robin, showing his appreciation for Simon and Rosie.
I think I've said it before, but it's worth saying again...as sad as I am sometimes to live far away, I find the visits that we have with family and friends now to be more substantial and meaningful than the few hours we might spend together if we still lived a short drive away. I definitely wouldn't change spending days or weeks with the people we love, sharing the ins and outs of our every day life and making really special memories of these early months of Caleb's life for anything.
Nana and Papa of course spent lots of time holding and cuddling Caleb. He looks pretty content with the whole situation.
While he was here, Ian had a special meal request...he warned us that he wasn't really sure that he was a big fan, but would like to try some fresh Nova Scotia lobster. Robin happily obliged and, on their last day here, went out to pick up "Simon" and "Rosie". For those who don't know, Robin isn't exactly a goofy kind of guy. His sense of humour is very dry (more like toast than a nice chardonnay) so it really made me giggle when he came home and very ceremoniously introduced our dinner. Here's mom, getting acquainted with "Simon" and Robin, showing his appreciation for Simon and Rosie.
I think I've said it before, but it's worth saying again...as sad as I am sometimes to live far away, I find the visits that we have with family and friends now to be more substantial and meaningful than the few hours we might spend together if we still lived a short drive away. I definitely wouldn't change spending days or weeks with the people we love, sharing the ins and outs of our every day life and making really special memories of these early months of Caleb's life for anything.
Jun 23, 2008
Meet & Greet by Nana Phaure
My mom journals everything (I wish I had the discipline...and the time!...to do the same) and after we got back home, she sent me her entry from the day of the "Meet & Greet" at her house and said it would be all right if I shared it on my blog. So here you go:
May 25, 2008
Preparations were well underway days before this blessed event. Papa Ian searched long and hard for balloons with Caleb's name on them, to no avail. He put on his thinking cap and decided if he couldn't buy them he would create his own. We broke out the permanent markers and let our creative juices flow. Initially he decided he would line either side of our road with personalized balloons so there would be no doubt as to there the welcoming committee resided. This apparently was only the beginning; he then proceeded to construct a balloon covered arch for Mommy and Caleb to walk under at the entrance to our home. Then he placed a seven foot banner over our garage door which read "It's a boy" as if the entire neighbourhood didn't already know the baby was a boy and his name was CALEB.
He did an amazing job, he really wanted Mommy and Caleb to feel very special and know just how much we had looked forward to their arrival. I could tell Caleb was very impressed.
Meanwhile Nana was busy in the kitchen preparing munchies for the many guests who arrive to admire our beautiful grand-son. Papa had done all her shopping in advance so all Nana had to do was prepare the food, easy-peasy. Lucky Nana!!
We both had trouble sleeping the night before we were so excited. Tina and Scott arrived early so they could help with the last time preparations. Of course the men had to be fed before any real progress could be made so Tina volunteered for the job. She made scrabbled eggs, bacon and toast, so with satisfied tummies the men went full steam ahead. In no time at all we were ready. Where were Mommy and Caleb?
The guests of honour arrived right on time. Nana and Papa were in heaven. If there was a down side to this whole event it had to be our increasing concern with the mosquito situation. Ian had purchased and experimented with numerous contraptions which promised to eliminate our mosquito infestation. They were all tried and returned except one and to be honest I was really having my doubts about this one as well.
We quickly ushered poor Mommy and Caleb into the safety of our home and the hugs and kisses began. We had almost two months to catch up on! Caleb had gotten so big and was even more beautiful than we remembered, Mommy looked amazing too.
Not long after their arrival our first guest arrived. She was Wendy's grade six teacher and Tina's grade five teacher. Her name is Mrs. McCarthy and she and her hubby came from Pickering to reconnect with Wendy and meet Caleb as well. It was wonderful to see her again and she would be pleased to know she hasn't changed a bit. She was an amazing teacher and was such a positive influence for both Wendy and Tina. She will always hold a very special place in all of our hearts. The next guest to arrive was Janet and her two adorable children. Janet was Wendy's grade ten teacher and would later be her rugby coach. Wendy has been so blessed with strong, positive role models throughout her life. Janet's daughter drew a beautiful picture for me and it now decorates our refrigerator. Once my girl friend Nanny arrived with her grand-son Cameron then Janet's son had a playmate. They put on their life-jackets and bravely went outside to check out the fishing situation. The big guys went with them because by this time the noise level inside was escalating.
Nancy and I have been friends for a very long time and I was excited to see her and Gary (it had been awhile since our last visit). Nancy's son Brian and his wife Michelle joined us as well (they are Cameron's parents).
I think Dan and Cathy Reynolds were next to arrive driving a convertible with the top down, oh no! Unfortunately every time a vehicle drove into the drive the mosquito's swarmed our poor unsuspecting guests. They were all so brave and I am sure that if it hadn't been for Wendy and Caleb's presence they wouldn't have been so determined. Thanks to everyone for making this a very special day for Papa and Nana, one we will not soon forget.
The next guest I remember arriving was Shelley. She looked amazing and she has been part of this family since she was eight years old. She was eight when Wendy was born and practically lived at our house. She was Wendy's big sister, she played with Wendy, dressed her and allowed Wendy to pee and spit-up on her as well. She made an outfit in home-ed for Wendy when she was two and Wendy wore it in her first fashion show. Shelly is married now and has two beautiful girls of her own. Their names are Elizabeth and Katherine. They were not able to attend but sent lots of hugs and kisses.
Our friends who live next door (Stan and Norma) arrived to be introduced to our grand-son. They were suitably impressed and only stayed a short time as they were on their way out. They had witnessed all of Papa's preparations and were anxious to see what the fuss was all about. It's about this time that things get a little fuzzy for me. There were so many people arriving I simply couldn't keep track of all of them. Papa and Scott had been busy cooking hamburgers for our guests and I was busy organizing the rest of the food. I'm not sure if it was the food that made me think of Robin, but I remember thinking, "I sure wish Robin was here." He would have been so proud. I could over hear people saying time and time again, "Oh boy, Caleb looks just like Robin."
When Daryl arrived Wendy was nursing the baby so he joined us on the front deck and we caught up on his news. He had gotten his mom to go with him to Baby Gap so she could help him pick out the prefect outfit for Caleb. Good job, Daryl!
Next I remember Denise and Rob (Ian's sister & hubby) and Dave and Malissa (Denise's daughter & hubby) arriving. Malissa is pregnant and due in October. I think Denise is more excited about the baby because it has been a difficult pregnancy for Malissa.
Our friends Peter and Joyce arrived to meet our grand-son. They were suitably impressed. We were then joined by Mary-Lou, she lives next door and was anxious to meet Caleb as well.
I was pleasantly surprised when my sister Bonnie and my niece Jennifer arrived. They had not responded to the invite so I wasn't expecting them. Bonnie and I hadn't seen each other for sometime so we took time to catch-up on our news. We introduced them to Caleb and then went out on the deck for a visit. Jennifer had brought her dog Bailey so we were outside so she could play. She is only nine months old and is a beautiful golden retriever.
I'm not sure where the time had gone but when Tina and Scott said they had to leave soon to travel back home, I realized I hadn't even made dinner for them. I was so upset, they had a three hour drive ahead of them and they hadn't had any dinner. I had been so busy all day I hadn't even had time to visit with Tina. She had moved away two weeks ago and Ian and I have been suffering from "Empty Nest Syndrome." There have just been too many changes to quickly this year, it has been difficult coping. We said our goodbyes and then they were gone. I wanted to cry but I still had a house full of people so I just focused on the task at hand. We had promised Tina and Scott we would come to Eganville next week-end to help Scott build a deck, so I just kept thinking of all the fun we were going to have messing up Tina's home, ha! We don't get mad Tina, we get even!
There were many more guests but I had a hard time staying focused, time was just moving way too quickly and I was starting to dread the thought of Wendy and Caleb leaving as well. Why couldn't time just stop for a while?
When the last of the guests finally left Caleb decided he had had quite enough. It was approx. 7:00P.M. and this shindig had started at 11:30A.M. Caleb had been willing to be passed from one person to another all day long but now all he wanted was his Mommy and a nice long sleep.
Wendy drew a nice warm bath while Nana snuck in some cuddle time. Caleb certainly enjoys his bath time and Mommy didn't seem to mind either. The bath did the trick and after a quick massage preformed by Nana (while Mommy got dressed) Caleb had a snack and immediately fell asleep.
Now it was Mommy's turn to relax. We made a drink and retired to the screened-in gazebo on the deck so Mommy could get some fresh air (she had been tucked away safely inside all day) and now she wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet of the great out doors, minus the mosquitoes.
It was heaven. Finally we could just sit quietly and have a conversation with Wendy. Both Ian and I miss her and Robin so much. This was definitely another time when Robin's absence was apparent and I remember feeling sad that he could not be here. He will have to tolerate serious hug-time when they come back in July. We will be counting the days until their next visit.
Ian BBQ'd a pork tenderloin (the emphasis on tender), grilled potatoes and broccoli/cauliflower with cheese sauce (not the best choice). What was Nana thinking? The next day Caleb was probably going to pay for that mistake, I felt so dumb! Wendy complimented the chief, a job well done Papa! Great company and great food, what more could we ask for! Tina had bought a tub of Mint-Chocolate ice cream for her and Wendy to share but that hadn't happened so we just left it in the freezer. Another time maybe!
After dinner (approx 9:30P.M. by now) we jut relaxed and had a wonderful visit. Wendy called Daddy and he was feeling very lonely. He was really missing his wife and baby. We know the feeling well, Robin.
The next day Nana and Papa would have the opportunity for some serious cuddle time with Caleb, thank-you so much Mommy. Nana bonded with Caleb while Mommy was in the shower and Papa was busy making breakfast for us. Wendy was going to ask which one of us was going to make her breakfast but she thought that would have been rude.
Wendy needed another piece of luggage in order to pack some of the gifts Caleb had received the day before. Caleb now has enough new clothes to last for quite awhile, he received many beautiful outfits. Papa helped Wendy repack the car and we all knew that dreaded moment was fast approaching. God I hate good-byes.
Papa spent some time hugging Caleb but now the time had come to put him in his car seat. Wendy gave Papa a lesson on how the new car seats work and after making sure that Caleb was fastened in properly we all headed to the car. The car quickly filled up with those cruised mosquitoes so Nana didn't have the opportunity to give Caleb one last kiss, but she noticed Papa managed to sneak one in, good job Papa.
Fortunately Wendy couldn't see that as she drove away we were both crying. It is so wonderful when they arrive and so painful watching them leave. We both prayed that God would keep Wendy and Caleb safe, knowing in our hearts that he would.
NINE WEEKS AND COUNTING
May 25, 2008
Preparations were well underway days before this blessed event. Papa Ian searched long and hard for balloons with Caleb's name on them, to no avail. He put on his thinking cap and decided if he couldn't buy them he would create his own. We broke out the permanent markers and let our creative juices flow. Initially he decided he would line either side of our road with personalized balloons so there would be no doubt as to there the welcoming committee resided. This apparently was only the beginning; he then proceeded to construct a balloon covered arch for Mommy and Caleb to walk under at the entrance to our home. Then he placed a seven foot banner over our garage door which read "It's a boy" as if the entire neighbourhood didn't already know the baby was a boy and his name was CALEB.
He did an amazing job, he really wanted Mommy and Caleb to feel very special and know just how much we had looked forward to their arrival. I could tell Caleb was very impressed.
Meanwhile Nana was busy in the kitchen preparing munchies for the many guests who arrive to admire our beautiful grand-son. Papa had done all her shopping in advance so all Nana had to do was prepare the food, easy-peasy. Lucky Nana!!
We both had trouble sleeping the night before we were so excited. Tina and Scott arrived early so they could help with the last time preparations. Of course the men had to be fed before any real progress could be made so Tina volunteered for the job. She made scrabbled eggs, bacon and toast, so with satisfied tummies the men went full steam ahead. In no time at all we were ready. Where were Mommy and Caleb?
The guests of honour arrived right on time. Nana and Papa were in heaven. If there was a down side to this whole event it had to be our increasing concern with the mosquito situation. Ian had purchased and experimented with numerous contraptions which promised to eliminate our mosquito infestation. They were all tried and returned except one and to be honest I was really having my doubts about this one as well.
We quickly ushered poor Mommy and Caleb into the safety of our home and the hugs and kisses began. We had almost two months to catch up on! Caleb had gotten so big and was even more beautiful than we remembered, Mommy looked amazing too.
Not long after their arrival our first guest arrived. She was Wendy's grade six teacher and Tina's grade five teacher. Her name is Mrs. McCarthy and she and her hubby came from Pickering to reconnect with Wendy and meet Caleb as well. It was wonderful to see her again and she would be pleased to know she hasn't changed a bit. She was an amazing teacher and was such a positive influence for both Wendy and Tina. She will always hold a very special place in all of our hearts. The next guest to arrive was Janet and her two adorable children. Janet was Wendy's grade ten teacher and would later be her rugby coach. Wendy has been so blessed with strong, positive role models throughout her life. Janet's daughter drew a beautiful picture for me and it now decorates our refrigerator. Once my girl friend Nanny arrived with her grand-son Cameron then Janet's son had a playmate. They put on their life-jackets and bravely went outside to check out the fishing situation. The big guys went with them because by this time the noise level inside was escalating.
Nancy and I have been friends for a very long time and I was excited to see her and Gary (it had been awhile since our last visit). Nancy's son Brian and his wife Michelle joined us as well (they are Cameron's parents).
I think Dan and Cathy Reynolds were next to arrive driving a convertible with the top down, oh no! Unfortunately every time a vehicle drove into the drive the mosquito's swarmed our poor unsuspecting guests. They were all so brave and I am sure that if it hadn't been for Wendy and Caleb's presence they wouldn't have been so determined. Thanks to everyone for making this a very special day for Papa and Nana, one we will not soon forget.
The next guest I remember arriving was Shelley. She looked amazing and she has been part of this family since she was eight years old. She was eight when Wendy was born and practically lived at our house. She was Wendy's big sister, she played with Wendy, dressed her and allowed Wendy to pee and spit-up on her as well. She made an outfit in home-ed for Wendy when she was two and Wendy wore it in her first fashion show. Shelly is married now and has two beautiful girls of her own. Their names are Elizabeth and Katherine. They were not able to attend but sent lots of hugs and kisses.
Our friends who live next door (Stan and Norma) arrived to be introduced to our grand-son. They were suitably impressed and only stayed a short time as they were on their way out. They had witnessed all of Papa's preparations and were anxious to see what the fuss was all about. It's about this time that things get a little fuzzy for me. There were so many people arriving I simply couldn't keep track of all of them. Papa and Scott had been busy cooking hamburgers for our guests and I was busy organizing the rest of the food. I'm not sure if it was the food that made me think of Robin, but I remember thinking, "I sure wish Robin was here." He would have been so proud. I could over hear people saying time and time again, "Oh boy, Caleb looks just like Robin."
When Daryl arrived Wendy was nursing the baby so he joined us on the front deck and we caught up on his news. He had gotten his mom to go with him to Baby Gap so she could help him pick out the prefect outfit for Caleb. Good job, Daryl!
Next I remember Denise and Rob (Ian's sister & hubby) and Dave and Malissa (Denise's daughter & hubby) arriving. Malissa is pregnant and due in October. I think Denise is more excited about the baby because it has been a difficult pregnancy for Malissa.
Our friends Peter and Joyce arrived to meet our grand-son. They were suitably impressed. We were then joined by Mary-Lou, she lives next door and was anxious to meet Caleb as well.
I was pleasantly surprised when my sister Bonnie and my niece Jennifer arrived. They had not responded to the invite so I wasn't expecting them. Bonnie and I hadn't seen each other for sometime so we took time to catch-up on our news. We introduced them to Caleb and then went out on the deck for a visit. Jennifer had brought her dog Bailey so we were outside so she could play. She is only nine months old and is a beautiful golden retriever.
I'm not sure where the time had gone but when Tina and Scott said they had to leave soon to travel back home, I realized I hadn't even made dinner for them. I was so upset, they had a three hour drive ahead of them and they hadn't had any dinner. I had been so busy all day I hadn't even had time to visit with Tina. She had moved away two weeks ago and Ian and I have been suffering from "Empty Nest Syndrome." There have just been too many changes to quickly this year, it has been difficult coping. We said our goodbyes and then they were gone. I wanted to cry but I still had a house full of people so I just focused on the task at hand. We had promised Tina and Scott we would come to Eganville next week-end to help Scott build a deck, so I just kept thinking of all the fun we were going to have messing up Tina's home, ha! We don't get mad Tina, we get even!
There were many more guests but I had a hard time staying focused, time was just moving way too quickly and I was starting to dread the thought of Wendy and Caleb leaving as well. Why couldn't time just stop for a while?
When the last of the guests finally left Caleb decided he had had quite enough. It was approx. 7:00P.M. and this shindig had started at 11:30A.M. Caleb had been willing to be passed from one person to another all day long but now all he wanted was his Mommy and a nice long sleep.
Wendy drew a nice warm bath while Nana snuck in some cuddle time. Caleb certainly enjoys his bath time and Mommy didn't seem to mind either. The bath did the trick and after a quick massage preformed by Nana (while Mommy got dressed) Caleb had a snack and immediately fell asleep.
Now it was Mommy's turn to relax. We made a drink and retired to the screened-in gazebo on the deck so Mommy could get some fresh air (she had been tucked away safely inside all day) and now she wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet of the great out doors, minus the mosquitoes.
It was heaven. Finally we could just sit quietly and have a conversation with Wendy. Both Ian and I miss her and Robin so much. This was definitely another time when Robin's absence was apparent and I remember feeling sad that he could not be here. He will have to tolerate serious hug-time when they come back in July. We will be counting the days until their next visit.
Ian BBQ'd a pork tenderloin (the emphasis on tender), grilled potatoes and broccoli/cauliflower with cheese sauce (not the best choice). What was Nana thinking? The next day Caleb was probably going to pay for that mistake, I felt so dumb! Wendy complimented the chief, a job well done Papa! Great company and great food, what more could we ask for! Tina had bought a tub of Mint-Chocolate ice cream for her and Wendy to share but that hadn't happened so we just left it in the freezer. Another time maybe!
After dinner (approx 9:30P.M. by now) we jut relaxed and had a wonderful visit. Wendy called Daddy and he was feeling very lonely. He was really missing his wife and baby. We know the feeling well, Robin.
The next day Nana and Papa would have the opportunity for some serious cuddle time with Caleb, thank-you so much Mommy. Nana bonded with Caleb while Mommy was in the shower and Papa was busy making breakfast for us. Wendy was going to ask which one of us was going to make her breakfast but she thought that would have been rude.
Wendy needed another piece of luggage in order to pack some of the gifts Caleb had received the day before. Caleb now has enough new clothes to last for quite awhile, he received many beautiful outfits. Papa helped Wendy repack the car and we all knew that dreaded moment was fast approaching. God I hate good-byes.
Papa spent some time hugging Caleb but now the time had come to put him in his car seat. Wendy gave Papa a lesson on how the new car seats work and after making sure that Caleb was fastened in properly we all headed to the car. The car quickly filled up with those cruised mosquitoes so Nana didn't have the opportunity to give Caleb one last kiss, but she noticed Papa managed to sneak one in, good job Papa.
Fortunately Wendy couldn't see that as she drove away we were both crying. It is so wonderful when they arrive and so painful watching them leave. We both prayed that God would keep Wendy and Caleb safe, knowing in our hearts that he would.
NINE WEEKS AND COUNTING
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