A Stars Wars Halloween

It certainly didn't feel like October 31st after an overnight snowstorm but kids and Halloween is really non-negotiable so we added a few extra layers and enjoyed the festivities. We started off at the local mall as a warm-up. Miles wasn't at all interested in fighting with the crowds so he stuck with me while Simon and Granddad collected candy from the stores. It wasn't long before Simon was done with collecting and wanting to get started on consuming it all. I managed to appease him with a box of Smarties.

After dinner, we had the boys ready to go and were waiting for some signs that trick or treating was starting up. Miles joined us for a few houses and then stayed home to hand out candy. Simon was a trooper. He endured the cold and snow for not just one trip out, but two. A child after my own heart.

The Halloween aftermath wasn't so hot. Matt was up most of the night with a sick child and we were changing the sheets and playing musical beds. We don't think it was a result of the candy spike but I guess we'll know for sure next Halloween :)

First Steps

Miles took 2 steps yesterday. He can do it, now he just has to want to.

Soccer Camp

In the midst of our July heat wave, Simon was signed up for a half-day soccer camp. The heat didn't dampen his enthusiasm, particularly when it came to putting on his equipment. He managed to incorporate "shin pads" into every sentence from the time he put them on until the time I dropped him off. He started off the week shy but in the end he had new friends in all the other camp participants. I just wish he didn't have to start out fresh next week at a new camp.

I was a little disappointed with the people who ran the camp - two days Simon came home without having eaten his snack (I guess because they figured that all the kids could open their own containers). It is sad thinking of Simon sitting there during snack time while all the other kids around him ate. They did keep the kids going despite the heat though and Simon declared that he wanted to go back again next week so it must have been fun.

Here's a before and after.....

Miles' First Haircut

We've been putting it off for months but Miles' hair was getting out of hand. The top was starting to look like a hair piece and was forever flapping in the wind. We took him to the local kids salon and it went much better than expected. The staff were quick, the was lots of entertaining things to look at and it was much cheaper than the barber. Miles rocked the Barbie mobile since the boy car was taken. Here's some before and after shots.

Happy Birthday Miles!!

I can't believe Miles is already a year old. Between seeing him next to Quincy and the whole year-old label, he just seems bigger. We spent the morning ferrying Simon to camp and then met up with Matt at the mall to do Build-a-Bear (or monkey in our case). We did the same thing with Simon on his first birthday so we decided to make it our tradition. Miles' was pretty uninterested with the whole process, so Simon basically took over monkey making duties. He was thrilled to the push the stuffing pedal, refill the stuffing machine, fluff the monkeys and play on the computer. They even refilled his monkey and stitched him up so he won't be hemorraging fluff all over my car anymore. He wanted to name Miles' monkey Frank (like his), then cardboard?? but he settled on Edward.

We finished the day off with a combo birthday party for Miles and his cousin Braedon. Mostly the party was for Braedon but since it was on their actual birthday, Miles got to practice being the centre of attention, candle "blowing" and eating cake.

Miles @ 1 year

-has started to stand independently - about 10 seconds at a time
-loves to eat - avocado, cheese, goldfish crackers and watermelon top the list of favourites
-has just started clapping. He is so proud of his efforts and gets his whole body in on the action.
-is not interested in walking...crawling is much faster.
-likes to climb. We're always rescuing him from the top of his table, the stairs, the bus.....we can't wait until he has mastered the dismount!
-loves Brutus (someone has to!). First thing in the morning he looks down from the upstairs at Brutus and laughs hysterically. It's also very funny when he's downstairs and Brutus is upstairs.
-is into everything. We have had to up our childproofing efforts because he is much more determined than Simon ever was.
-loves to climb in and out of our television cabinet. He also likes to shut his brother and cousin in there if they happen to climb in.
-transitioned like a pro to daycare. He starts full-time at the beginning of August.
-is still wearing size 4 diapers and we anticipate that he will be in this size for awhile.
-wears mostly 12-18 month clothing
-is happy all day long.
-is sleeping from 7:30pm to 7:30am most days
-has eight teeth, four on top and four on the bottom
-is a big wiggle worm when it comes to diaper changes - I usually have to do diaper changes with him standing so he can play with the shutters.
-loves water and will fight tooth and nail to play the water in the toilet.
-captures the attention of everyone, everywhere. He will stare and stare until he engages you.
-is frantic for water from a sippy cup. He is so unhappy if he doesn't have a drink like all his other dinner companions.
-still naps twice a day.

Fishing With Poppa

I think I know what Simon is going to be doing a lot of this summer. He went on his first fishing trip with Poppa and it was a success. He fished for 2 straight hours before Poppa insisted on a lunch break and then requested to start up again in lieu of playing at the park. Looks like Poppa has a little fishing buddy - as long as he stays on shore.

Simon's First Fish





Simon's Big Fish

Miles @ 11 Months

Only one month left until he's a year old and not long until he graduates from a baby to a toddler. At 11 months:

-Miles alternates between a traditional all-fours crawl and a three-legged crawl with the fourth being used as a turbo boost
-loves to eat and is 95% self-fed with his daily yogurt being the only exception. Avocado, blueberries, steak, cheese and goldfish crackers are his favourites.
-loves to crawl into small spaces and then freaks out because he can't get out
-is into everything....I found him with one leg down the vent hole after he had removed the cover.
-loves to do laundry. He pulls everything I just put into the washer out while I quickly shove it in, watches the spin cycle, and throws all the clean laundry from the dryer onto the floor.
-is super stubborn and is throwing little temper tantrums already.
-loves his big brother - I need to get their antics on film. Miles is either trying to mimic Simon or laughing hysterically.
-is half-bottle, half-breast fed
-still wakes at least once in the night to spend some special cuddle time with Daddy
-is starting to be able to follow directions, generally when we're saying "no"
-loves being around other babies and kids. He's at his best in a crowd.
-has started his daycare integration and he's handling it like a champion. No tears, keeping up with his nap schedule and eating with all of the other kids.
-is cruising the furniture and has once crouched independently.
-has seven teeth - thankfully the top middle ones came in quickly so he wasn't a fanged child for long

Quincy Rose

I have another niece! After a three boy streak (Simon, Seamus, Miles), Lynsey had a baby girl, Quincy Rose. Labour was quick and the whole family was back to greet Seamus and a never-ending stream of visitors within 12 hours thanks to a midwife assisted birth. Quincy is much different from brother Seamus already who came out screaming and didn't stop until he could walk :) I see much pink in their future.

UFO

Swimming was a wash tonight - 10 minutes in we heard the dreaded 3 whistles for an unidentifiable floating object and when we went to get the kids dressed, we realized that we had no shirt for Simon. So much for being efficient and getting dressed at home - we should have been late. On the upside, I wasn't in the pool :) on the downside, Matt thinks it might have been Miles who spewed in the pool.