up-date

More and more to write about, oui oui. Still no baby; I'm due on Thursday and feeling pretty good, with only a few instances of what I think are Braxton Hicks contractions, but even when the nurse asks me at the now weekly checkups whether or not I've had any contractions, I can't say for sure. So yeah, I'm not really sure. Uhmmm however, holding/carrying Hendrik around, especially for more than a few minutes and especially throughout a flail-fest, makes me feel extremely uncomfortable and extremely pregnant (that I am) SO, those situations are avoided at all costs. I explain to him that he's a bit heavy for mommy, and he'll cock his head to the side and say in his sweetest of little boy voices, "mommy heavy. mommy too heavy." Uhhm, yup. That too.

So, cloth diapering! So far so good. We've had a few leakage issues but I think we'll work through them; learning how to care for the diapers properly is an at-the-beginning work in process, and we'll get there. I hope. I can kind of see how people get addicted - they are way cuter than disposables and so far really not that much more work. We'll see how things go with the little babe, who will be doing much more um how do I say messy? business within the confines of the nappy.  

I thought it was about time I should do another Hendrik update, at the (almost) 21 month mark. Voila:

SUMO: 21 months

Favourite foods: raspberries, corn on the cob, pizza, hummus, watermelon, tomato soup, and he'll always always always ask for more ice cream.
Fave books: The Poky Little Puppy, Mr Seahorse, Heads, The Runaway Bunny, Goodnight Moon
Favourite things to do? He loves running around, and he looooves doing jobs. He'll still ask for "more jobs" after dinner, and he'll happily say that we're "doing jobs" when we're out grocery shopping together. Talking to Grandma and Grandpa (both sets) on skype makes him very happy, and looking at pictures and videos on the computer or phone is still much-requested. He loves books and water (swimming, bath, splash pad) and word play - he'll make up words and think it's hilarious when one of us says, "what does that mean?!" He says "mameek" (mommy) and "dadeet" (daddy) and we say whaaaaat? and then we all giggle and laugh... I love it. Doing cheers with everything is up there on this list - cheers shirt, cheers bag, cheers milk, cheers strawberry, cheers nose.... nothing escapes the cheeeeers....
Bed-time routine (this might be more for me than for your entertainment): bath (most nights) between 7 and 7:30, then close to 7:30 is a snack - either fruit or daddy yogurt (plain yogs + a touch of maple syrup) then jammies, teeth (we do it first then it's his turn) then books on the futon (tonight Steve read him Mr Seahorse, Look Who's There, Where's Spot and a trains book) and then it's night-night. He's been pulling us both together for family hugs (tres cute) and we leave him awake in the crib to babble or cry out for one of us to come and put his blanky (back) on. He's in big boy two-piece jammers for the first time tonight...
Potty Training: Still (obviously) a major work in progress. Meals interrupted for false-alarm pees are a three-time-a-day thing, so Steve and I take turns with the drop the fork and scoop (up the kid) and run thing.

just before bed, tonight... love!

Soooo we've been staying semi-busy even though we both kind of feel like we're waiting for the baby to show up, so neither of us wants to venture too far or do anything too demanding. We've hit a few playgroups, done the park thing, visited with Zella and Elspeth and Duncan, done "jobs" (grocery shopping), been to the library, and then this morning, went to the RCMP stables just off the Rockcliffe Parkway. Ooh and we went to the Parc Omega - a drive-around Canadian-style safari zoo park thing - on Thursday! I'll start with that, with pho-tos:

the park route plus where to spot deer, boar, buffalo, caribou, beavers, raccoons and more...

at the entrance to the park

and driving into the animal zone - deer waiting to be fed... ak!

I should caption these photos.... the deer were seriously into the carrots. It was too much, really. But Hendrik loved it...

me: is this for real? Steve: the window is UP! Hendrik: feeding deer carrots!

The trip came highly recommended by Steve's teammate Adam (S.), and we knew the little man would love it BUT ... really, the deer were too aggressive and slobbery (Steve washed the car Thursday night). It's great for kids and a great full-day activity (lots to do), but both Steve and I were happy to veer off the animal run after an hour and a half for picnic time. Oh, PLUS, despite all of the Don't Get Out of Your Car signs (!!!!!!!), people got out of their cars. The most shocking moment of the day (besides seeing a man hanging out of his window with a raccoon stuck to his arm - yes, really) may have come at the bear enclosure when we found ourselves sandwiched between two buses - a smaller one with a gi-normous L'Oreal ad on the back (big huge made up model face staring at us) and a tour bus - and everyone on both buses got out to amble on up to the fence and take pictures of mother bear and her bear cubs. The bus driver behind us was out smoking, and there we sat watching people lean over here and trip over themselves there, all within ohhhh ten to twenty feet of the bears. Really. Our picnic was great (Hendrik: "we having a picnic day!") and Hendrik is still calling the buffalo gruffaloes (love it). After lunch we drove down to Parc Nationale de Plaisance; Steve went for a bike ride, I read while Hendrik napped, and then we had a short family walk before grabbing ice cream and sweet corn (and tomatoes) on our way home. It was a solid, solid day.

39 weeks

We had an awesome morning at the RCMP stables, where we had tour-guide Kate all to ourselves and a full explanation of all things stable and RCMP Musical Ride related. Apparently you can watch the riders practice (daily at 8:15ish and then again around 12:30), and for a week at the end of June there are shows galore. Hendrik loved the tractor, the carriage and the many horses (in the stalls and out in the paddock), Steve pondered a career as a farrier, and I liked seeing the horses. They are big beauties, and obviously so well cared for; I'd love to go back to catch a show, though there might not be time for that (or might there?) before baby sister comes.

That's it for now folks... until next time!