Cadence the Big Boy

It's been a while since I've talked about Cadence's habits--thought I'd provide an update. He's now completely weaned off breastmilk; it was about a three-week process that involved talking, encouraging, and no tears whatsoever. He's such a great guy who responds so well to reason! Of course, as most people told me would happen, he began sleeping completely through the night in direct correlation with the weaning. Which is perfect when mom is in the first trimester of pregnancy!

What else--well, if you dare to call him a baby, he'll quickly correct you: "I'm a big boy now." We often sit & talk about all the great things he can do now that he's a big boy, from my end it's to reinforce the weaning and to prepare him for being a big brother down the line. Things like: eat food with a knife and fork, which he loves (especially the knife). Walking adventures in the ditch. Picking out his own clothes. And so on.

Drew and I also had our first night away to celebrate our anniversary; we went to a canoe lodge about 20 minutes away and even though I was exhausted & feeling sick, we had a very nice time. Gramma & Grampa came over to babysit, and all went well. Apparently Cadence woke once in the night, saying "go get mommy." Which of course couldn't be done. So my mom offered to lie down with him, etc, and finally just said, "well, I'm going back to bed then; call me if you need me." And he just laid down and went back to sleep. In the morning she woke up to find him reading books at his table.

Oh--and the other night, out of the blue, he said, "Mommy, go to your bed." He didn't want me to even lie down with him at bedtime (we hadn't been prompting for this but I was happy to oblige). I said, "ok, well call me if you need me." And he didn't. Saw him next at 7am! Hasn't repeated since then, but I'm pretty proud of his comfort in trying things like this.

Today's Saturday, so we'll head to the farmer's market and then to the annual plowing match (can't pass up a chance to see tractors in action!) Will be sure to take some pictures as I've been negligent on that front in general lately. On the pregnancy front, I'm feeling ok--sleepy during the day , generally nauseous all the time unless I'm eating constantly, and having vivid dreams--all the same as with Cadence, but all a bit less than last week so maybe it's starting to ease up. In week 8 now...

Some pictures from our weekend-long visit with gramma & grampa while Drew was away on a trip:

Having a picnic together after a hike at Pete's Dam, and reading some new books they picked up that day on an outing to the library.

Harvest Time

Somehow we managed not to take any pictures at the fall fair this year, but believe me we did attend--every day (that's 3 times!) Cadence LOVED the ferris wheel. Drew's been shooting so much video, that the regular camera's been a bit neglected...

Anyway--I'm home for a few minutes before doing a daycare pick-up so finally am getting to a few odds and ends, including a blog post!

A couple of weekends ago we went to Round Lake to visit my friend Jasmine's family's place, had a fabulous dinner, etc. Got a great visit with Jasmine & Kaarina too. Here we are just before leaving...Cadence has his jammies on & is ready to go. Not before spending half an hour sitting inside their VW van, though...he just couldn't get enough of it.


Little man helping me with our carrot harvest. This is pretty much the entire carrot harvest from the garden, which I consider quite a success as my first attempt. Cadence planted most of the seeds; I keep telling him that but I'm not sure he gets it or cares. Sure does like eating the pickins though!


Last Saturday we went to our friend Clayton's 2nd birthday party. Cadence was the only other little kid there, and very much liked the Cars themed party. While Clayton opened his MANY gifts in the other room, Cadence was all too happy to drive (literally) circles around the kitchen on Clayton's real motor powered ATV. I think Tofu is a bit jealous.

Shrubbery-Cheminis

Last week Cadence & I drove to Sudbury (affectionately called "Shrubbery" by Drew) for a visit, timed to meet up with Cadence's cousins Hallie & Emillie, & his Aunt Tracey. We had a great time, and he really loved playing with his cousins, who were both FANTASTIC with him. Looking forward to seeing them again before too long!




Last Sunday, my band practice was cancelled, so Drew & I drove Cadence to Kirkland where he stayed with Gramma & Grampa, and then Drew & I took off to climb mount cheminis, which is in my opinion the greatest landmark in the region.

Cadence calls Nana from the playground

I think the video link isfixed....fingers crossed!

This is from about a week ago...Cadence decided to make a little phone call while at the playground...click on the title to link to the video.

--note: just click on the title of the post & it should take you to the video...

Broken computer backlog...

Our cherished laptop has been on the fritz lately, and I've been awful at actually calling the help line to get things straightened out. As a result we've got a bit of a backlog of pictures that Drew finally downloaded onto another computer, and so I'm now finally getting to a new post.

I can't think of what's new so will look through the pictures & see what they tell. I found a fabulous stretch of video that Drew shot, but am having trouble uploading it. Will keep trying, and if not tonight then perhaps in a later post.

Cadence & I are on our way to Sudbury tomorrow morning for four days and we're both quite excited.

So--we've had rain pretty much every day, and not all that much hot weather really--but somehow Drew nor I have really minded it that much. There's always a bit of time to make it outside, so we're not feeling trapped indoors at all. And of course time to make it to the playground a couple of time a week. Here we are at the "big" playground.


Whipping cream, and peaches.


We puppy sat this weekend--here's Tofu with his little friend Deacon.


In mid-July we finally got out strawberry picking, with the goal of gathering enough to last the winter (my gamble is that we'll have eaten them all by mid-November, but hey they're soo good!) Cadence did great & even filled almost a whole basket on his own before the novelty wore off. Gramma & Grampa were there with us to play with Cadence while I was busy squirreling away the berries, and Drew was videotaping the work & getting some great footage of strawberry fields & clouds whirring by (before the rain started...)




In the driveway, with the construction trucks. Which have actually taken a backseat in popularity after the acquisition of a toy stroller that Cadence got for free at a yard sale yesterday. In the absence of any good outdoor doll candidates, I helped him nestle his baby basketball in the stroller.


Mangoes are finally good! Another thing I miss about Toronto but hey they seem to have made it up here for at least a little while...I taught Cadence how to eat a mango & he did quite a good job.


Drew, Cadence & I finally checked out the new-ish asian food restaurant in town, and it was great ! I got vegetarian pad thai, and it even had tofu!! We'll hopefully go there again before too long. Cadence did a great job with his chopsticks (he & I practice at home whenever we're eating thai soup or stirfry). The server even gave him two fortune cookies.


Here's Cadence, after much (much) practice, riding the trike Grampa gave him. The trip lately consists of riding to the end of our road (mostly downhill), where we visit "the bump". The bump is a rut in the road carved out by the rain, and is great for running through, jumping over, riding through, etc. The trip generally consists of Cadence riding or walking down there, then about 30 minutes of us trying to entice him back home (it's about a 30 second walk.)

Two! Can you believe it!?

Well we made it to two! Poor Cadence, woke up morning of his party throwing up. Our guests were oh-so gracious when he threw up again in the middle of breakfast; they hardly flinched. That's family for ya! (I found it interesting that he was sick on that day, as I reminisced to the day before giving birth & how I had the same symptoms after taking a double dose of castor oil).

Anyways--although he didn't get to eat his cupcake until a couple of days after his real b-day, Cadence had a great party & continues to talk about Peter & Emma being here, about his cupcake, about candles, and about singing Happy Birthday. By next year I think he'll really have the whole thing down to a perfection.

Otherwise all is well. Drew's out tonight watching some music at the theatre, and we've been keeping busy. I got to go in the dragon boat races last weekend, played my first baseball game last week (since elementary school I believe!) and Tofu got to have a sleepover with a puppy friend this weekend. Cadence seems to be over his ailment & is now eating like gangbusters leading me to believe that he's about to grow about two inches overnight. Summer's sort of here & we're doing all we can to enjoy it...gardening, swim in the lake last Friday, picnics at the playground whenever the sun's shining (which isn't all that often!) Cadence & I still wear our winter jammies every night as it just won't seem to get hot! Oh well... :)

We seem to have really slowed down our picture-taking...but I've rounded up a few from the last while.

On birthday party morning, with cousin Emma, enjoying the fridge farm animals he got from Grampa & Gammie.


After breakfast, when Cadence came outside to play, he was greeted by a yard full of little chairs, each one with a balloon tied to it. Grampa & Gramma had put together a scavenger hunt for him for his birthday..took a little coaxing but he completed it, with an armful of new books, crayons, & paints to play with! (Nice work Grampa!)


With cousins Peter & Emma, after the treasure hunt concluded. Those three were great together the whole time. I think Cadence really misses them!


Cadence got a great package from Nana & Auntie Mer...he was quick to put on his new beach/swim shoes ('pidding shoes') & quite enjoyed the card. Books/card with flip-up things are a bit hit at two.

All the balloons leftover from the b-day have been great & Cadence has learned the joy of catching a ball(oon). We practice daily now, although the balloons are barely the size of tennis balls by now. Maybe soon we'll notch things up a bit to a beach ball!


Checking out the latest Vegetarian Times over breakfast.


This Saturday I got up & ran out to the farmer's market & a couple of yard sales while Drew & Cadence hung out at home; I picked up a great little table & chairs for C's bedroom (to ease the transition of the rocking chair out into the basement). Before bringing it upstairs we broke it in with some whole wheat mac & cheese (I've had better...).


Tofu & Deacon, his little sleepover friend from this past weekend. Deac's 14 weeks old.


Flash back--more or less 2 years ago...I remember it like it was yesterday!

It's bedtime!

It's bedtime now and a little late...we just got back from a walk downtown & Drew got the honour of doing the diaper/jammie change tonight, so I'm trying to pull this together quickly--which is easy as it turns out, since we don't seem to have many pictures accumulated!

I think this was the morning of Father's day, when we had pancakes with fruit & whipping cream on the fine china. Gramma & Grampa had just visited & brought Cadence back his booster seat that we had used in Texas, and this nifty cowboy hat. He gets to clean off the wisk after I make whipping cream...looks like he's still waking up here.


Cadence & I gave Drew a red maple tree for father's day; while I cooked supper they managed to dig the hole, plant the tree, & spread mulch around the base. Here they are watering it together. Nice.


This is Cadence talking to Nana on the phone one night after supper. He's becoming more & more of a phone chatter, & generally prefers when it's not put on speaker phone. I guess even little people like their privacy!


Phew...made it, and there are a few over-tired type sounds coming from upstairs but nowhere near what I had expected...Drew is amazingly good at getting Cadence on board with anything. Goodnight!

More singing

By request, here's another "song" from Cadence when we were on vacation in Texas. Watch as he tries to hit the low notes!

Cadence sings Ol'McDonald while playing keyboard

Cadence and I hung out yesterday while Amanda was at band practice. Maybe he can join the band after seeing this video audition!

Yes we're still here...

It's been a crazy time lately--work, sleep, coughs & colds, daycare, trying to dig in the garden...but we're hanging in. I took the afternoon off today to have some quiet time to catch up on things, including a much overdue blog post. Hope everyone's well!

A bit leftover from our trip to Quebec. Our last morning there, Drew was in the restaurant while Cadence & I played outside (restaurants in Quebec are for the most part not entirely welcoming of energetic toddlers). A nun stopped by to complement Cadence.


After our big trip to Texas, and then the to Quebec, Cadence quickly became an airport & travel pro.


At home, we're settling in for a nice summer. We went to our first yard sale last weekend and we (I) scored big with a Thomas the Tank Engine train set. It's quite involved in its assembly and this actually only shows half of it--there's a big roadway system that interconnects with the railroad but I wasn't that ambitious. I spent about an hour that afternoon trying to set up the train set despite Mr. Godzilla's constant dismantling, then gave up right at the end, having decided it was just too old an activity for Cadence at this point. But then, in comes the battery-toting daddy, and the train set was an instant hit (and guess who got all the glory for that one!?) I'm exaggerating. It's put away now, maybe to resurface during the long winter.


We had a number of friends come by for a visit a couple of weekends ago--was fabulous to see Jasmine & Kaarina on their way through to KL, and our old neighbour Tony came by for a couple of days to help Drew out on a project. I teased him about it, but am very glad that Drew had us all sit & pose for a pic on the couch.


Helpful as usual, Cadence is great when it comes to doing dishes. His job is to rinse, and put them in the rack--which he actually does quite well, plus it's more fun with two!



With a fruit smoothie beard. Another moment when he really looked like his papa.


On our drive back from the Rouyn airport, we saw the most amazing double rainbow, and could even see it to the ground at both ends. The picture doesn't begin to do it justice. Anyways--this rainbow's for nana, who's embarking on a hard journey today. We're thinking of you!!

Bonjour, Quebec!

We're just back from a week in Quebec city--combined conference/vacation--and had a great time. We learned upon our return that Tofu just wasn't himself while we were away--two weeks so close together were a bit much I guess--and I think we're as happy as he likely is that we don't have any more vacation plans for the next while. We've had some great travels lately, but it's so good to be home!

While I was conferencing for four days, Cadence and Drew explored old Quebec from our home base at the Chateau. I joined them for most meals and for the last two days of our visit. Here are some of the pictures Drew took during our trip...I don't think I took a single one!

It's not all captured, either. We explored not only old quebec and lower quebec but also the downtown and some residential neighbourhoods (reminiscent of a really dense low-rise version of parkdale). Gotta go where the people live if you want to find playgrounds! A really nice city with lots of personality; we all enjoyed ourselves tremendously.

After the horsey carriage tour around Vieux Quebec on one of my afternoons off. I guess Cadence was getting tired by then...


The view of lower Quebec.


The funiculaire was pretty cheap and allowed Drew and stroller-bound Cadence to avoid the 200 steps from old Quebec into Lower Quebec. I think it was a sort of trolley that went down the hill. Looks scary/fun!


Self-portrait, in lower Quebec I believe.


What a livery streetscape! The level of culture and art in this city was unbelievable. I think we all really enjoyed this city.


I have no idea who this is. Unfortunately I think we came back with very limited understanding of the history. Small tidbits came back to me from Grade 10 history class, but we didn't do any great guided tours that tied it all together for us. Nothing I can't get from 1/2 hour with Wikipedia!


Each morning, Drew and Cadence would go exploring in the stroller (again, thanks, Sharilynn!) and then find somewhere to run around & play. I think one day they found a vending machine area near/in the citadel. Just goes to show that it doesn't matter the setting; space and safety are all a little man needs to have some fun!


Our "fort" as Drew and Cadence liked to refer to it. Our room was up there somewhere...


It's bedtime...and time to read every single of the books that we brought along with us! Dora is a big fave at the moment.

We went to Texas!

In case any of our faithful readers haven't seen the film "How's your News," I highly recommend. Known for its hit song "We're going to Texas." Which we did just last week!

We had a great time, Gramma & Grampa were happy to hang out with Cadence so Drew and I could have some nice couple time. A day to Mexico, a day hiking & wildlife watching, a nice dinner out, and of course lots of family time at the beach & playground. Cadence was a great little traveller; we're so proud.

Cadence & I on the drive to North Bay, first leg of the trip. So far so good! (Except for the fruit smoothie that was spilled EVERYWHERE on little C. travel mug & moving vehicle not a great combo)


On the beach, I think this was our first day.


At the national wildlife refuge Drew and I went to. Lots of cactus (cactai?)


Posing with the alligator I saw! We visited during a massive drought so this little creature wasn't going anywhere; that pond was likely the only water for miles.


Standing above this landscape, I was just waiting for a T-Rex to walk into view. Can't you just see the dinos roaming around here?


In the nearest town on the mainland, I quickly climbed the historic lighthouse. Then Cadence (small dot in blue jacket) saw me way up there, and arms outstretched started trying to find his way to his mommy.


Ok, so corn dogs are big in Texas (known to us Ontarians as Pogos). There we were in the grocery store, when lo & behold I found vegetarian corn dogs! So everyone had one for lunch, with mac & cheese, and boy did Cadence like his! Wish I could have brought a few boxes home.


Drew and I went for a bike ride to the park on the island in search of a surfing contest that ended up being postponed. It was a VERY windy day, and I actually rode for about 5 minutes (even a bit uphill) without pedalling...interestingly the wind blew me right to this big statue of Jesus. Hmmm. We paused long enough to take a picture.


Mom & I took Cadence to a turtle rescue place on the island. He got a blue t-shirt & liked the water & the blue pools of water more than the turtles themselves.


We bought a kite (none of the pictures actually showed the kite as much more than a speck). Cadence wasn't actually all that interested in the kite, preferring to splash about in the water, but we adults had quite a good time wtih it.


On our way to the short boardwalk/wetland/bird sanctuary on the island.


No home base is complete without access to a playground for after-dinner playtime!