Easter 2013

I've recently discovered that the blog site has gone back to its original format for loading pics so enjoy...
So, we are about to celebrate our second Easter together. We started off the weekend with the annuual GM Easter Egg Hunt on Friday. There were tons of kids and chocolate eggs and the weather was glorious. It's always held at a park and the little guys go inside the fenced-in area to find eggs. That area is also where the playground equipment is located so, needless to say, we did a lot less looking and a lot more playing. This was fine by me - the less chocolate/junk the better! But we had a great time and Keely was there so it was double the fun.

 

EASTER MORNING started here at 7:00 with lots of excitement - baskets and presents and eggs to hunt for. We had a delicious breakfast of omelettes, bacon and french toast, got cleaned up (he had to have a bath to try out his new foam letters that stick to the wall in the tub, his new bubblebath and his new red, strawberry, roll-on soap) and headed off to church where our boy went up on the stage with the other little ones to sing Jesus Loves Me. Then it was home for a lunch on the front deck while blowing and popping bubbles, and then a nap before it's time to head out to my grandmother's for a big family meal. So far, a great day with so much to be thankful for.

 

 

March Break

Well, March break has come and gone. Brady turned 17 on March 5th. I can't believe I am the mother of a 17 year-old. We are very proud of him. He is an amazing son and an equally amazing big brother.
We went on a little trip during the break to Saint John for a couple of nights. We went with two other couples, one of which are the parents of Keely (Keekee). The two little ones had a great time together. While the dads and the big boys went snowboarding/skiing at Poley, Kim and I stayed behind with the littles and took them to the play place at Parkway Mall. They spent two and a half hours working very hard there. Then we "drove" them around the mall for a bit in the little cars you can rent. They LOVED it. We figured the $2 it cost to do that was really cheap entertainment. We had lunch and then spent the afternoon swimming in the pool. When the big guys got back we all had pizza together. Then the big boys headed off to a movie while the littles went to bed.
We had an early breakfast since someone was up at 5:30 the next day. When things opened we spent some time shopping and then you-know-who was down for a really long nap. We all had an early supper at Montanas and then took in a Sea Dogs game. It was great. Sherman carried him into Harbour Station and he just took in everything and everybody. His head was on a swivel, looking all around, ponting to the rafters in the ceiling even. He likes "kockey" and he sat quite still for a little boy who normally doesn't sit quite still. He had treats and cheered when the crowd cheered. He was pretty tired that night, though, and managed to sleep in til 7:00 the next day.
We came home Saturday after a bit more shopping. The boat was choppy and I had to lay down but it didn't seem to bother him any. He and Keely spent a good amount of time putting princess stickers (they were using them as band-aids) on make-believe booboos they found on each other, the stuffed puppy, Kim, Sherman and me.
All in all it was a nice little trip with good friends and lots of laughs and memories. We hadn't tried him in a hotel since October when he was so traumatized by it. We had just decided we wouldn't until we thought he could better handle it. He had a really fun time this time but he always had to be carried inside our room by one of us, and then once we were in we could put him down again.  He absolutely LOVED the eh-ur (elevator) and pushing either the 2 or G each time. We rode it just for the heck of it he loved it so much. He knew our room was 225 and would run straight for it every time we got back on our floor. He got some new clothes and an Elmo book that has buttons to push and some new crayons for the bathtub (he also really loves these).
He's saying a lot more words now, some more clearly than others. He's putting two words together more and more. His gross-motor is improving a lot, his fine motor seems bang-on now for his age. He's learned many letters and some numbers but is still not at all getting colors. His cognitive skills seem very age-appropriate.
He's a bright, funny, very affectionate and loving little boy.

Happy Valentine's Day

Well, Valentine's Day was a big success. Our boy went armed with Valentines for all his little friends at daycare and a batch of heart-shaped sugar cookies to share at the party. When I picked him up he was covered in finger paint and frosting and had a bag full of his own Valentines. It was a fun-filled day for him. I think that night he was asleep by 6:30.
Yesterday we had a birthday party to go to after school. The twins Braeden and Tripp (who also go to daycare) celebrated their third bday with a cat-in-the-hat party. It was lots of fun for all the little boys, and instead of giving gifts to the birthday boys, their mum had a Yankee swap with the gifts. So we came home with a 10-pack of dinky cars. Fun!
We've all been sick over the past couple of weeks, but everyone is on the mend now. We both had a few days at home. I ended up taking him to the hospital one day last week to have his chest checked out. He had quite a cough and his puffers just didn't seem to be cutting it. They gave him a mask there and he's cleared up quickly since - back to his very busy, energetic self.

Brady is away with the little kid's hockey team he helps out with. They are playing in a tournament. It's giving a lot of wind for tomorrow so hopefully the ferry runs and they will be able to get back.

Anyway, all is well here. Hopefully all is well with all of you.

Daycare

Well, we're two weeks into our new routine of daycare/work. Things are going well - he likes playing with the kids and he likes the workers. He often gives certain kids "kugs" when we get there. He has cried a few times when I've had to leave. But quite often it's been, "kids, fun, gym, fun". I love being met each afternoon by a little boy running toward me, ready to go "pome" though. He's been pretty clingy after we do get home, wanting to be held alot. It's all to be expected though, and as time goes on we'll both get better at our new routines.
I still can't get pictures on here. They've changed the format and frankly, I haven't had the time or energy to figure out the new one. Some day I will get around to it. I just wanted you to know daycare is going well for him.

SNOW - FINALLY!

Yay, we got some snow. Good thing someone asked Santa for a new shovel! I have pictures of him shovelling and with his buggy helmet on, "helping" Brady plow the driveway but I can't seem to access them through the blog right now. Something has changed and I don't know what...
We've been sliding and have built a snowman that collasped but he LOVES playing in the snow. It's a good thing we got lots of hats and mitts for Christmas. We're putting them to good use.
I also have pics of the day our family rented the rink and Brady took him around the ice on his new sled but again, I can't seem to get to my pictures.
December 29th marked six months we've been together as a family. Where has the time gone? On Monday I have to go back to work - our "alone" time is ending but we're starting a new chapter with lots of new friends and experiences. He's going to go to daycare at the B&G Club. We've been there to visit twice together and then yesterday he did one morning alone and today he's doing a 3/4 day. I didn't want him plunked into a whole new routine Monday without sort of breaking trail first. So, we've been taking it slow but he seems to love it there. He didn't really want to leave the rice he was playing with in the kitchen when I picked him up yesterday. Today he was happy to go see the kids. He's so social that I'm pretty sure he'll be fine.
We went to Moncton for a few days over New Year's to visit with my brother, sister-in-law and nieces. We had a great time although it was really cold and we couldn't play outside much.
Anyway, just thought I'd let you know what's up. Happy New Year everyone.

CHRISTMAS 2012

I will continue to add to this post as things progress today and tomorrow so stay tuned...

I will start off with the "Breakfast With Santa" that we went to Saturday morning. His best little friend Keely was there, along with the twins Ryan and Austin and lots of other little ones. This breakfast was put on by the Outdoor Pursuits class as a fundraiser.
We (by "we" I mean "he") ate pancakes and sausage and cereal.

Then, Santa (Sasa) came. Some little guys were scared. Some just admired him from a distance. Not our boy. When his time came, he ran right up to him and crawled up on his lap and snuggled right in. He didn't talk to him, but his actions sure let Santa know he thought he was a pretty ok guy. BTW, he is asking for a shovel "fufle".

Then, as we were leaving, he ran up to Santa again to give him a "kug" good-bye.

We've really been enjoying the season. We have been reading Christmas stories. As I am typing this, he is watching The Polar Express - again. He's laughing his sweet little giggly laugh right now. There is no sweeter sound. We've been to two Christmas dinners already - one at Sherman's mum's yesterday afternoon and then one at our church last evening. We've done lots of baking, but the favorite was the gingerbread boys and we've saved out special ones just for tonight.  Also tonight we have my family coming for some Christmas Eve festivities and then tomorrow's the BIG DAY with gifts and visiting and a turkey dinner at my grandmother's. 
Our family has just been taking in all that Christmas means and brings, and we are finding such joy in the precious "gift" we've already received.
So from our family to all of you, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY.

Last night we had our traditional lasagne, caesar salad, homemade rolls Christmas Eve supper, a tradition started by Brady many years ago. We had made gingerbread boy cookies for regular dessert, but we had also made big ones that we were saving for Christmas Eve dessert and then to leave out for Santa.

He got to open a gift last evening, new soft, cozy Elmo jammies.

 

We put out Santa's lunch (he wasn't too sure about leaving out one of those cookies for Santa but I convinced him) and left him a note, reminding him about a new shovel.

We read Twas The Night Before Christmas as well as our other Christmas books we've been reading, and then it was off to bed.
The fun this morning started about 7:00. It was wonderful! He came out and there was a recliner and a chainsaw waiting for him. I told him Santa had brought them and he said, "Dadu Sasa" right away. He sat in the chair holding the saw for a long time. We just soaked in every minute of his joy.

 

 

You'll notice in the following pictures he has on less and less clothing. The longer he opened, the more he stripped. It was hard work!

He got his shovel and a broom and much, much more.

 



 

He really liked Brady's new hockey pants too.

 



We had an amazing morning. The three of us just sat back and watched the magic that was his to experience. It was so much fun and also a bit emotional for us. He took in everything and wanted to just enjoy and experience everything and it was a really special time for our family. We are so blessed.
Right now he's down for a well-deserved nap. When he gets up we will head up to see Sherman's mum and then it's down to my grandmother's for turkey supper.
Thank-you to everyone for their cards and gifts. Everything is greatly appreciated. I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas.
GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE.

Counting Down

 

Things have been pretty busy around here, as they have been everywhere, I'm sure. We've all had colds but besides that, we've been shopping and wrapping and baking. We went to our  Santa Claus parade here last Saturday night, which was lovely. We are just enjoying the season and all that comes with it. There doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day as of late, so I'm just going to post some pics and I'll write something more in-depth later.




Although this boy doesn't care too much for TV, he loves the movie The Polar Express. He'll ask for it, "train, train" and then sit on the floor or in Sherman's chair or his little rocking chair and watch parts of it.

 

 

 

The boys each have their own chocolate advent calendar, but somehow one boy usually ends up with two chocolates each day...

 

 

 

 

 

Such a big help! He really loves lobster when they're alive, but not so much when it comes to eating them - yet.

 

A big "thank-you" to Kevin, Jan and family for the new winter boots and hat he's sporting.

 

One more thing... I still haven't received our Christmas pictures. They were supposed to be here almost two weeks ago so I'm afraid they may be lost in the mail. I will send them out when/if I get them. They were pretty cute.