I have a question...

This morning when Matthew woke up, I asked him, "Do you know where we're going today?"

"We're going to the museum!"

We haven't been for ages and I'm sure he didn't remember so I explained to him what we would see at the museum: animals and dinosaurs (pretend ones, but they would be big). He was very excited.

Fast forward about half an hour to the breakfast table conversation.

"Mommy, I have a question..."

"Yes sweetie, what's your question?"

"Can I and Caleb ride on the dinosaur's back?"

I really just think he is the cutest kid. How sweet of him to think of his baby brother too. We did have a great time at the museum, but unfortunately we were unable to ride on the dinosaur's back!

Have you ever done this?

I was supposed to go work out this evening.

But I kinda had a headache.

Rick took Matthew out for ice cream so I could have some peace and quiet.

This is what they brought back for me.









My headache is gone :)

No workout + strawberry sundae = tight blue jeans

Giddy

Do you ever get giddy when you find a big sale?

I did.

Today I found 2 big sales.

Boy stuff. Clothes for my boys.

70% off and I am giddy.

They are set for next fall/winter.

And everytime they wear their little Tommy Hilfiger matching shirts, I will smile and say to myself "Some sucker paid $50 for these and I got them for 15!"

Music in our basement

Who needs Kindermusik or Music for Young children?

When you have a whole box full of instruments...

Sorry for the mess in the background (I didn't know that you'd be dropping by)

Yes, I realize that there are more photos of Matthew, but Caleb just kept putting everything in his mouth and I had to be careful he didn't shove it down too far. So I had to put the camera down to prevent him from choking. It was a safety issue.

I'm not usually this competitive...

Are you a fan of baby shower games?
I'm usually not too crazy about them.

But I went to a baby shower on Saturday for my friend who is expecting a baby(why does that sound so silly?).
And her sister announced the first game:
a baby food taste test!
Most of the guests were groaning in disgust as the hosts brought out paper plates. On each plate was a small sample of 6 different flavors of baby food. Each one was labelled 1-6. "This is gross", the lady next to me complained. "I can't believe babies actually eat this", said another. "Do we really have to taste it?", asked the mother-to-be.

But not me :)

Bring it on! I've been training for this game for the last two years. I know this. I can do this. I taste this food everyday. I test it on my lips to see if it's too hot. I finish off the fruity desserts if Caleb's tummy is full. I can beat all these wimps at the baby food taste test!

And I did. It was easy.
1) green beans
2) peaches
3) sweet potatoes
4) peas
5) squash
6) apricot dessert

Well, not that easy. They tried to trick us with foods that were similar in colour. But like I said earlier, I am somewhat of a baby food connoisseur :)

I came home with a baby shower prize (airplane size bottle of Bailey's, mm's and small hand lotion-not too shabby), bragging to my husband of my special skills. Later while feeding Caleb, I mentioned to Rick that this was the same food I had identified earlier at the shower.

"Was that the highlight of your weekend," he asked "winning the baby food contest?"

It was. Do you think that's sad?

What's my job?

The other night I was reading a book to Matthew called "What's my job?" It is a lift-the-flap book with various occupations: firefighter, astronaut, vet, etc.







When we got to the page about the baker, I explained that a baker bakes cakes, cookies, bread and muffins. That's a baker's job.


No Mommy, he said very seriously, The Muffin Man makes muffins.







(hee hee-how do you argue with that?)

4 things about me (I bet you didn't know...)

I was tagged by Suzanne! This was fun!

four jobs i've had in my life
1. Dishwasher in a restaurant
2. Staple remover (one summer I removed staples from documents for eight hours a day for a whole month!)
3. Elementary school teacher
4. Mommy

four movies i could watch over and over
1. You’ve got mail
2. 50 first dates
3. Meet the Parents
4. Castaway

four places i have lived
1. Weyburn, Saskatchewan
2. Regina, Saskatchewan
3. Quebec City, Quebec
4. Lloydminster, Alberta

four tv shows i love to watch
1. Amazing Race
2. King of Queens
3. What not to Wear
4. (I guess it's probably a good thing that I can only think of 3!)

four places i have been on vacation
1. Florida
2. France
3. Maui
4. Mexico

four websites i visit daily
1. Two peas
2. google
3. various blogs
4. yahoo

four of my favorite foods
1. vietnamese food (noodle bowl)
2. lonestar bbq salad from Moxie’s
3. billy miner pie from the keg
4. popcorn (with lots of butter)

four places i would rather be right now
1. Maui
2. napping
3. I actually really like it at home so this is tricky...
4.

four people i'll tag next
anyone who hasn't been tagged yet (I think everyone I know has already been tagged)

Wiggle worm (please help!)

Okay all you experienced and creative moms, I have a challenge for you... No, not a scrapbooking challenge. Please give me some ideas to make diaper changing and dressing my active 10 month old less stressful.

Caleb is really enjoying his newfound freedom and mobility. REALLY enjoying it. So much, that he won't sit still long enough for his diaper to get changed. He wiggles and squirms, he flips over, he crawls away. We call him the "wiggle worm" if we're in a good mood. If we're not in a good mood, we just get very frustrated.

I've tried singing, bringing out special toys from behind my back every minute or so. What else? What else have you tried? What else works? Help!

Dental hygiene

Matthew likes to brush his teeth with "bear paste".











Mommy brushes her teeth with "Crust".







Then he "checks his numbers".






He's so funny! (except when he asks me what my numbers are!)

Babies

You take your new baby home.
And you talk and you talk and you talk to him.
You sing lullabyes and rock him.

And he just looks at you.
He's awfully sweet, but he just looks at you.
You may even feel silly sometimes,
almost like you're talking to yourself.









But you keep talking.
You talk and you talk and you talk.
You dance around the room and put on puppet shows.

And he just looks at you.
He may smile. He may coo. But he just looks at you.
You may wonder if you're wasting your breath.









But you keep talking.
You talk and you talk and you talk.
You read books and recite rhymes.

And then....
One day...

He understands. You say "Where's the teddy bear?"
And he looks at the teddy bear. And he looks at you.
And he smiles. Because that's what babies do.

Isn't it just amazing?

Happy Birthday!

It's my hubby's birthday today. And this is the cake I've made...








Of course, it doesn't look exactly like that because when you put crushed oreos in cool whip, the cool whip doesn't stay that white!

But I'm sure it will still taste yummy!

blue, blue eyes

I bought a new album.
8.5 X 8.5
Don't ask me why. An impulse buy, I guess.

So I've decided to put all my favourite photos in there.

This is one of my favourite photos of Caleb from the summer.
We had so much fun that day in the park.
And he just looks so sweet and content :)
Don't you think?

Thanks for looking!

Favourite lullabye

I love the words to this lullabye by Connie Kaldor:

I Have You Connie Kaldor © SOCAN

Some have furs and fancy cars
But I have you, I have you
Some have silk and caviar
But I have you, I have you
Some have emeralds set in gold
But none can sit and rock and hold you
Like I do, like I do, like I do

Some have lace and diamonds rings
But I have you, I have you
They always have the latest things
But I have you, I have you
Some are always dressed in style
But they will never catch your smile
Like I do, like I do, like I do

Some have homes on the finest streets
But I have you, I have you
The finest leather on their feet
But I have you, I have you
Some have wine and a castle keep
But they can't watch you drift asleep
Like I do, like I do, like I do

WARNING: This lullabye is NOT guaranteed to put your baby to sleep. It may, in fact, cause your baby to wake often during the night and early morning, as illustrated by Caleb last night.

*I didn't say it worked. I just said I liked the words*

Christmas 2005 highlights

(a little late, I know!)

- going on a "twinkle tour" in car to look at Christmas lights. This was a couple days before Christmas, but something I love to do.

- Caleb's excitement (more than we expected) about opening gifts. He was so cute and smiley everytime someone gave him a present to unwrap! And of course, he loved the paper and the ribbons and for some reason Grandma's coasters!?!

- Singing Kareoke with Grandpa & Auntie. That microphone has never been so soggy!

- Adding new trains to our collection (Golden Thomas, Skarloey, Jack Frost Percy, Harold and the fire crew) --and then playing with them! Well technically Harold and the fire crew aren't trains, but they are a welcome addition to the Island of Sodor.

- When Matthew wished everyone a Merry Christmas during Christmas dinner... individually! and there were 9 of us!

- Playing with cousins at Rick's side of the family. It was the first year Matthew was old enough to play with the other kids a bit. Nice to see him doing that.

- Having each other and enjoying the special moments...counting our blessings...so many to count!

Skating on Christmas Eve

We went skating on Christmas Eve. We found an outdoor rink not too far from our place. And it was a gorgeous day.

It was Matthew's first time on his skates. He did well. We stayed positive and made it fun for him. And we all had fun. Matthew liked holding our hands and "skating" with his helmet. Caleb liked to be pulled around on the ice in his little purple toboggan. And then of course Matthew had to have a turn in the little toboggan too!

And check this out. I know they are wearing the same snowsuit, but don't they just look alot the same? Not exactly. I can totally tell who is who, but still. The first one is of Matthew in February 2004 and the second one is Caleb on Christmas Eve 2005!

Christmas cookies with Grandma

Matthew (and Caleb) baked Christmas cookies with Grandma this week.















Check out his cute (and very boyish) apron.
Yes, those are boats and airplanes and cars!




















Caleb even helped (sort of) stir the cookie dough.
And he watched the whole process (and took notes for next year, of course!)
















Matthew was so excited and had a great time pouring in the ingredients, cracking the eggs, cutting the shapes and decorating with sprinkles.
















It's beginning to look (and taste) alot like Christmas :D

Update

Just as his brother before him, Caleb has chosen to crawl and get his first tooth at the same time. I use the term "crawl" very loosely as it is more of a caterpillar-type wiggle across the floor. I also use the term "tooth" loosely because it is barely visible but it is definitely there if you are lucky enough to rub your finger along his gums. Congratulations baby Caleb on reaching these milestones this past weekend!

Christmas in "Killartey"

"Mommy I want Christmas in Killartey"

This was Matthew on Saturday morning. I had no idea what he was talking about. So now I was on a mission. A mission to figure out what he was talking about.

"Christmas in Killartey?", I asked.

Yes Mommy. I want it.

Where did you see it?

At the Christmas Party. (we had been to Rick's staff kids' party on Wed)

What is it?

A song, Mommy. Like the puppets. I want it. I want Christmas in Killartey.

***Mystery Solved***

If you haven't guessed already, it was CHRISTMAS IN KILLARNEY by the Irish Rovers, that my little guy wanted to listen to. There had been a puppet show on Wednesday at the Christmas party and I had totally forgotten that the finale song had been Christmas in Killarney. I tell you, Matthew has an amazing memory! I didn't even think he was still listening by the end of the show and it certainly wasn't a highlight of the party. Not like meeting Santa or eating pizza. But here we were 3 days later and he wanted to listen to Christmas in Killarney.

So Rick downloaded it off the internet and we have listened and listened and listened to it.

The holly green, the ivy green
The prettiest picture you've ever seen
Is Christmas in Killarney
With all of the folks at home

I almost feel Irish :D

Oh no!

Here we go again!

Both boys have colds.

Up all night.

Runny noses.

Sneezes.

A case of the coughs.
(that's what Matthew says, it's so cute)
(cute that he says it, not that he coughs all the time)

STOP.

Count your blessings :)

I have two sweet boys.

Matthew is learning how to blow his nose.

More time to bond with Caleb (as he snuggles me in the middle of the night)

Everyone should be healthy by Christmas .

Caleb at 9 months

Not quite crawling.

Not sleeping very well.










Cute as can be.

Adores his big brother.











Pictures taken Saturday, Dec. 3, 2005 (9 months old).