Life Lately

Dave has been away this week and I can't drive yet (post c-section), nor can I walk the distance it takes to get E to school, so I have been relying on neighbours to take him.  

Waiting to be picked up

Since we don't need to be ready as early, there is lots of time for Magformers

Eating breakfast at the counter.

Coffee on the couch

Yesterday they started cutting down a huge tree in our neighbour's yard.  I took some photos of the guy way up in the tree (I circled them below), but they really don't convey how big this tree is or how high he really is. But it is old and very close to the neighbour's house so they decided it was time to get rid of it, and they got the permit from the City so I guess they agreed. 

A new experience for Q this week was wind.  It was so warm on Tuesday so I didn't think he needed a blanket on our walk so he got the full effect of the wind.  He still fell asleep though. 

(By the way, I didn't do the carseat up as tightly as I would if we were going in the car, so I know the chest strap is not properly positioned, it is safe enough for a walk in the stroller though!)

What else is new this week?

- I watch Live with Kelly every morning. And I watch a lot of HGTV and Food Network (this is very similar to the last time I was on mat leave).

- I went to the first of what I hope is many Mommy and Me movies at our local theatre.  We saw Girl on the Train.  I had not read the book so I was sufficiently hooked by the plot. Also, I love Emily Blunt. 

- I used to change E's outfit with any splash of pee or spot of poop, but with Q I am more likely to let it go with an "ah, it's not much, it will dry".  #secondchildproblems

- That being said, Q has outgrown his current size of cloth diapers, and although we get the next size up today, it means he has leaked through practically every outfit since the weekend.  

Show and Tell Tuesday

Linking up with Andrea for Show and Tell Tuesday.

Today's topic is quirks and funny things that make me me!

I am sarcastic and have a dry sense of humour.  I usually crack jokes under my breath and there are many times when people do not get my sense of humour and it can be awkward. 

I love correct grammar.  I am constantly correcting grammar of people on TV and in person.  The two most common things I feel the need to point out are when an adverb should be used, rather than adjective (usually just by adding "ly" to the word), and when "whom" should be used rather than "who".  I know this is sort of obnoxious but it's my thing, I am an English major after all.

(or maybe not so silently)

I hate feeling disorganized and caught off guard so I am constantly planning things in my head.  I have multiple lists on my computer and phone or on paper.  When I need to make an important phone call, I will write out the conversation beforehand, with a version for when the person picks up, or if I have to leave a voicemail.  

I love places that run like clockwork like hospitals and funeral homes.  I mean, usually you're not there for a good reason, but I like that I feel looked after and I know that the people dealing with me are professionals at their job and get stuff done.   

I love a good sports montage, particularly if it features slow motion video.   The Masters, Wimbledon, playoff Raptors basketball, and the Olympics all have featured great montages.  Bonus points if it has a Canadian spin and is set to a Canadian song, see below.

When I heard this line on Game of Thrones, I knew it applied to me:

I'm not sure why, but people are always asking me random things as if I should know them.  I must answer with a certain authority so that they think I am an expert on such things.  I should get this saying on a t-shirt. 

I'm not sure if this gives you a better picture of me or not, but there you go!!

Weekend Recap

This first photo is actually from Thursday night.  I didn't get out for a walk that day, so we ate an early supper and walked around the block after that.  We stopped at the park to play baseball.  

On Friday evening, we went to our Queen Margarita Pizza for supper.  This was Q's first trip to a restaurant, and my first time ordering wine with my dinner for a long time!

Working hard on his word search.

Saturday morning consisted of Dave cleaning the house and E going to Sportball.  They played volleyball.  (The square in this photo are from the window, not a net)

Then we enjoyed our lunch outside in the warm sun. 

We put up some more fall and Halloween decorations, sat outside in the sun, played with sidewalk chalk, talked to our neighbours, and then headed inside for the Blue Jays game. 

What ghost!?

We had leftover stew from the freezer, but I thought we needed something else, so I made cheese bacon tea biscuits.

On Sunday morning, Dave went for a run and then we all went to get groceries.  When Dave went out for his haircut, we played with some cars and magformers. 

This was Q's Sunday afternoon, cozy in his blanket.

We finished off our weekend with some lasagna, Green Bay football and other Sunday night shows. 

Friday Favourites

Happy Friday to everyone!  Even though I am not at work, Fridays still have a special feel since the other members of my household will be home tomorrow.  Let's get into this week's favourites.

When E was a baby muslin blankets didn't seem to be a big thing like they are now.  I received several as gifts for Q and I love them!! I don't know what I did without them.  I know that swaddling your baby to sleep is out now, but we still do it and the muslin blankets are perfect for it.  I've also used them as a breastfeeding cover, and of course as a stroller blanket.  The colours and designs that we have are so cute too.

Another thing I did not have when E was a baby was a stroller caddy.  A friend of ours gave us one this time and it is great.  I think I will be walking a lot more with this baby to do errands and the caddy is so convenient to pop my phone and small wallet into, along with the hats and mitts that Q may or may not need.  So glad to have this now. 

(Yes, our stroller has the same name as our child, minus the "y")

I heard some good reviews of the new show, This is Us, so I decided to try it out.  I should have been warned that it is a tearjerker because it definitely is, especially for a new mom sitting at home with their healthy baby (no spoilers, just saying).  I didn't watch Parenthood but I've heard it is similar to that.  I will be watching the rest of the season for sure (with Kleenex handy).  Also I love the actor that plays Randall, he is Christopher Darden from the OJ miniseries!

Let's Go Blue Jays!!  Our Jays are in the American League Pennant Race again this year and we are so excited!! I love the feeling that this city has when things are going well for one of our sports teams (or for Drake).  We won't be attending any games (I'm one of those people who thinks taking a baby to a playoff baseball game is a faux pas), but we will be watching at home.  E thinks he is Josh Donaldson so he is into the hype too.

If you have Netflix, you should watch The 13th.  It is about the 13th Amendment in the US Constitution, the one that abolished slavery (with the "small" caveat that slavery is still allowed for punishment of crime).  It is a very powerful documentary about the prison system, how laws are made, how black people have continued to be oppressed since slavery, etc.  I think I had a frown and furrowed brow for the entire thing because it was just so unbelievable that that is the system.  I've said it before, Canada has its own problems (the Native incarceration rates are very similar to the black incarceration rates in the US), so I don't think we can get high and mighty, but the US prison and justice system are something else.  Change needs to happen!!

Linking up with Andrea, Erika and Narci

Life Lately

Here are some photos that show what we've been up to lately with the new little boy, Quinn (from here on in referred to as "Q").  

First photo as a family of four. 

Proud big brother

On the way home from the hospital

Watching the Blue Jays in the post season

Wide eyed

One week old

First walk around the block (and first exercise for me)

E's Thanksgiving card he made at school, Dave has the glasses on the left, Q and E in the middle (Q on top), and me on the right

My mom was here to celebrate Thanksgiving with us (and cook it)

Hanging out with big brother on the couch

On Thanksgiving Monday, E did every puzzle we own

Enjoying some apple pie before bed

I posted this on Instagram the other day.  You can't spoil a baby because babies don't keep.  This was the first day "back to normal" after my mom went home and Dave went back to work.  I spent the morning holding Q and watching TV.  It is hard to just sit around and do nothing, but it is what I need  to do for the next couple of weeks while I am recovering from my c-section.  

That's it for us for now!

Stranded With...

I thought I'd return to the blogging world with this simple link up, tomorrow I'll share some photos of what's happening in our life lately. 

Today we are stranded with Halloween candy.

M and Ms

I prefer these to Smarties, and I like to dump them out and sort them and eat them by colour.  

Wunderbar

This is a chocolate bar that I would never buy on a regular basis, but I enjoy them in its mini size.

Red Nibs

This is my go-to candy and I could never eat too many. I usually buy this kind to give out to our trick or treaters so I can take the leftovers.  

I think we are still in the phase where we can take candy from E's bag and he won't notice or care.  I would never eat it all but I do help myself to my favourites.  We usually send a few treats with him to school but we do limit what he eats, and so far he doesn't seem to care. 

I should have included Tootsie Rolls in this because that is what I used to trade my candy for when I was in elementary school.  But I can't say I would include them in my top three favourite now, they are too chewy and get stuck in my teeth (I'm old now).