Baby Photos

 People are always saying that our kids either look like me or Dave and it varies depending on how old they are, but really, I haven't really seen any similarities.  So I thought I would do some comparisons and see what you thought.  I did pictures of us all as babies, toddlers, and school age.  

Me

Dave

E

Q

Me

Dave

E

Q

Me

Dave

E

Q

I don't know - maybe they look like their grandparents...?

Sick Bay

I spoke too soon! Just the other day I mentioned to someone that we had a pretty healthy winter, and even though I knocked on wood (!) both Q and E were sick on Tuesday night and all day Wednesday.  They seem to have perked up a little bit as of Wednesday evening, so we'll see how today goes.

Since we were up late with some sick boys and up early too, I will keep this post short.  I thought I would share my tactics for dealing with throw up.

When it is on the hardwood or tile floor (or in this case the wall and door), clean up is pretty simple.  Give me all of the paper towels, a bucket, and some Lysol spray.  I just use as many paper towels as I need and throw them into the bucket.  When it is mostly all cleaned up, I then spray the surface with Lysol, wipe it down with more paper towels.  And I may use some water if necessary.   I used to be so hesitant to touch bodily fluids, but now I just don't care; I did shower at midnight after everything was cleaned up though :)

If the mess is on the carpet, the clean up starts with a washcloth or other rag.  I scrub it down as best I can with water and then spray it with Febreeze.

When I know E is sick, I will put big beach towels over his pillows, and then on the floor and set a bucket beside him.  Then it easy to take them away if they get messy and replace them with others.   This unfortunately does not work with Q yet since he moves around so much the towels would just be moved, plus he doesn't understand the concept of getting sick in a bucket or bowl.   He did lay on the blanket on the couch though.

I also clean all of the laundry as soon as I can rather than leaving it until the morning, mostly because you may need that clean laundry as soon as possible, and you don't want to be without extra sheets and blankets.  One of our little stuffed animals was hit by the crossfire, and I didn't want to throw him into the washing machine.  A little surface cleaning and he seems okay.

I know these are not groundbreaking strategies, but in case you're a new parent and haven't had the pleasure of doing this yet, here are some tips!

Weekend Recap

This is a short and sweet weekend recap.  We took it easy given the frigid temperatures but still had some fun things going on. 

On Friday night we made a "little" snack to eat while watching Raptors and the World Juniors.  

E's ski lessons were supposed to start on Saturday morning but the first day was postponed because of the extreme cold warning.

Q had his first swimming lessons of this session. We did lessons last spring so it wasn't his first time in teh pool, but he was definitely more clingy this time, now that he really knows what is going on. But he got comfortable and really liked "jumping" in off the side.  

He actually just sat on the bench in the change room when I got him changed and then got changed myself.  I don't think E ever sat still (at the pool or anywhere) so this was a new experience for me.

Dave and E then took off to Costco and signed us up as new members.  We are sort of anti-Costco for various reasons but we finally decided to join because the gas prices are so good.  He also picked up a package of Clif bars and windshield washer fluid (we're easing our way in).

I did some grocery shopping and then we just played around the house after Q's nap.

I used our leftover turkey (that had been in the freezer) to make this risotto from Jamie Oliver's Christmas Cookbook.   It was so yummy! 

After dinner and the boys' bedtime Dave and I watched The Kingsman: The Golden Circle.  I love movies like this, British actors and some quick humour and over the top stunts.  We also watched a few of the Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Jerry Seinfeld's series that is now on Netflix.  I can't get enough of them!

On Sunday morning Dave and E took off to the ski hill.  No lessons but just to get some runs in.  It was supposed to be "warm" that day but it was still pretty cold.  But they had a good time and it was good to do some practice before lessons actually start next week. 

Q and I skipped church and instead walked up the street to get his haircut.  

This is before. His hair was getting a little out of control and it was always in his face.

Once he had his soother in his mouth he was happy to just sit there and let the hairdresser do her job.

We got some of his hair, a photo, and certificate.  Thanks Melonheads!

We made some homemade pizzas for our supper.  

You can't really tell but E is wearing just his long johns and he looks like he's heading to a rehearsal for a modern dance routine (think Danny Kaye from that routine in White Christmas), so I got him to do a dance move while I snapped a photo.

A few snuggles before bed.

Then I hunkered down for the Golden Globes.  I haven't seen any of the movies (yet) but have seen a lot of the TV shows.  Oprah stole the show though, as she does.

Friday Favourites

Linking up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favourites.

My What's up Wednesday post took up a lot of my favourites from this week, so you can click over there to see some of our current happenings.  Like this guy.

I also wrote about some healthy eating tips for the holidays on Thursday.

It's all happening!  The Christmas decorations have been unearthed and are ready to go.  E has his tree in his room with the lights on it, decorations will follow.

I took this picture of E's Remembrance Day art at school.  The middle is a monument and the on either side are "horsies, because they fought in the war too".  

Dave picked up a new ottoman for our family room this week.  It's nice to have another place to put your feet up and for Q to walk around. 

I got these slippers for Christmas last year but I thought I would mention them today.  I don't wear them during the summer, so I just got them back out to wear now.  They are nice and cozy and have a hard bottom so you can run outside if you need to.  They would make a good gift for someone.  Here is a link to this year's version. 

I did a barre class on Thursday night and it was great.  Don't mind my dirty yoga mat (I used to work out at High Park and haven't scrubbed it down yet) but here was my set up.  Not only do we get a great workout, our instructor spends time at the end for meditation.  

I heard this song on the radio this week and reminded my parents about it.  They got a laugh out of it, so I thought I would share it here for you!  Happy Friday Y'all!!

Recipe - Toddler Food

Q has finished eating purées and mostly eats what we are having ourselves.  Sometimes though, what we are eating doesn't really work for him, so I wanted to make some things that would be ready in the freezer in case he needed something just for him.  These recipes also worked in cleaning up some of the frozen purées I had in the freezer.  I used the Baby Bullet to make all of Q's food (and E's when he was a baby).  It was great, but it's now time to move on.

Toddler Pancakes

2 bananas
1/2 cup applesauce (although this time I used puréed peaches)
2 eggs
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup oatmeal (quick oats)
1/2 whole wheat flour

Mash the bananas and add the applesauce, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon.  Mix until smooth.  Stir in the oatmeal and flour.  Mix until combined.

Spoon out onto a preheated pan or griddle in small amounts. You may need to use cooking spray or butter depending on how non-stick your pan is.

Make them fairly small for little hands. I got about 18 out of this batch.

Chicken Bites

3/4 cups puréed cooked chicken (I used my leftover baby food but you could also just cook up some ground chicken or turkey)
1/2 cup puréed pear
1/2 cup puréed apple
1/2 cup grated carrot
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp paprika
2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
1/2 cup breadcrumbs
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1 egg

Mix all ingredients in a bowl until fully combined.  Scoop into greased mini-muffin tins (or just roll into a meatball shape and place on a cookie sheet).

Bake in a 350 degree F oven for 15 to 18 minutes until firm.  Makes approximately 18.

Q is a pro at eating these meatballs now.  The other day I made them with chopped spinach instead of the zucchini and they were just as good.

Friday Favourites

I can't believe it's time to link up with Andrea, Erika, and Narci for Friday Favourites again.

On Wednesday, Q and I met E and his friend at the park after camp.  His friend's nanny has been picking them up at 4:00 and taking them to play until I could get there after work.  Since I wasn't working on Wednesday, I could meet them.  Even though they are getting older, they still loved chasing the bubbles around (and so did 2 year old sister).

I'm back at work now so I wrote about my maternity leave yesterday.  I took ten months off and it was glorious.  Thank you Canadian government and my employer. 

I got bored with the last season of The Bachelorette, but I have tuned in again for Bachelor in Paradise.  I like a few of the cast members and I think I will be sufficiently entertained.  

Summer is not over yet.  There is still time to enjoy lots of favourites - peaches, corn, ice cream cones, and iced drinks from Starbucks.  I haven't had a Frappuchino since my birthday, may be time to pick one up again...

That's it for me today.  Enjoy your weekend!

Mat Leave

Although I won't be working full time for another month, the majority of my maternity leave has concluded.  I feel very fortunate that I was able to take such a long time off.  I did a day in the life post of a fairly typical day with Q here.  Of course this was after we had ourselves a bit of a routine of eating and sleeping.   That kind of summed it up - napping, tidying up, going to the gym, running errands, watching some TV, and making food.   I probably read a bit more than I usually do, and I rewatched a few seasons of Mad Men (before it went off Netflix) and I'm still working my way through Downton Abbey.  Here are some highlights of my maternity leave.

Family of Four

Home from the hospital

We did a lot of snuggling at the beginning.  I really cherished the time when I could hold a sleeping baby.

We went for walks up the street.  October was unseasonably warm.

We hosted a birthday party for E.  Q slept in his bouncy chair throughout the whole party.

We tried to recreate some photos that we had done with E

E in 2011

Bundled up to help me rake leaves

Napping in the afternoon

Bundled up to go outside

We spent a week in Jamaica.

Spending extra time with E was also a nice side effect of taking a maternity leave with a second child.  I would pick him up early from school on Mondays and Wednesdays.  He kept going to the YMCA after school care for the other days (since giving up our spot would mean we wouldn't get in of September).

For March Break, E spent the week at home with us.  We went to the AGO and other fun things.

Q and I did swimming lessons in the morning.

We met various people for lunch

We walked E home from school when the weather was fine (and even when it wasn't. We walked in the cold, and the rain).

We went to the baby and mama movies at Humber Cinema.

We spent the first week of summer home with E.

We cheered a successful road trip down east.

We spent a lot of time at the library.