Bye bye love.
Eli is a couple of months over 2 years and for about 3 weeks, we've been breast-free. I thought I would be writing a big epic, reflective post about how sad I was letting go of the incredible bond we have nursing for over 2 years blah blah blah, or how freeing it has been. It is neither. It just is. I'm over it, just like that. Like really over it. I find it very amusing how I could once have been so passionate about blogging and talking about breastfeeding, and now not really caring one way or another.
I went away for 3 nights to a conference in Toronto at the start of May, and when I came back decided that if Eli asked for milk (which he was really only doing at bedtime), I'd just offer him water or milk in a cup instead. He just patted me and said "all done". Just like that. They've started their decent. The end.
March 17: Two years later.
St Patrick's Day 2011 and 2012 and 2013.
Our yearly tradition (click!) of enjoying a Guinness, music and lunch at the Hawg's was thwarted by Winter hours. Since the pub was closed today, we had our yearly beer at the Bruce.
And because I thought our photo shoot was superRAD, I thought I'd post a couple more. Happy St. Patty's day!
A
Eli: Guest Blogger: Travel Edition
Oh hey guys! I'm staying at a new house this week. I went in the car, on a bus and on an airplane to get here. And I don't have to wear my boots. It must be far away. Daddy and Gramps and uncle Doug have been getting into their tight clothes and taking their big bicycles somewhere all morning. I've been spending some quality time with Mommo, Cata and the fresh air.
Here are my favourite things on my trip...
I get to spend countless hours outside running, jumping and rolling around in the yard in the gardens and grass. I've made trails under a hedge for Thomas and the Batmobile and held many conversations with sticks. I've also been taking some great naps, blowing lots of bubbles, climbing trees, stairs and giant rocks. I've been riding moose and bikes.
The best part of trip. I saw Woody* in real life! I cried his name a few times, but he didn't answer.
[*Editors note: Eli did not see Woody. He saw a tall, skinny man wearing a large cowboy hat and boots. He did yell "Hi Woody!" a number of times over and over again. That part is true.]
our family vacay.
Over Christmas, our wee fam + my parents and sister boarded RCCL's Oasis of the Seas (aka. The play boat). There were a tonne of super-rad memories. Here are a few.
The pictures above of Eli in his Christmas attire in the Dining Room
Flash mobbing with Flavio (see photo below of one of the practices)
Having to decide between a Sudoku challenge or MJ dance class
Drink of the day
Banana creme brulée every night for dessert
Listening to golden oldies on the boardwalk
Hairspray on Broadway
I can't believe we didn't play any bingo
Rock climbing
Losing my bathing suit bottoms on the Flo Rider
Surprise beers in Jamaica
Balloon animals
Matching Christmas pjs,
Crazy amount of stuff for Eli: Fisher Price toy room, [Shrek, Fiona, Puss, Alex, Gloria, Po, Penguins, King Julian], Riding the carousel at least 5 times a day, face painting, Elmo balloons, running through central park, Power Wheels on the basketball court, splashpads and swimming pools (he liked the shower best), fist bumping the room stewards, "beep!"-ing the elevator buttons himself, bears in the car and Santa Claus on Christmas day.
Thanks mom and dad! xoxo
Almost two.
I realized that today that Eli is 23 months - one month away from being two. TWO. TWO? Wasn't he just one? Didn't I just go back to work? Wasn't I just preggo? I simply cannot believe it. I know it is cliché but - time flies!
I decided to pull out Benny, a white onesie and the sheepskin rug for a comparison photo shoot of the difference one year makes. The photo on the left is Eli in January 2012. The one on the right was taken today.
He was a little confused at first as to what I was trying to accomplish - but he soon caught on and laid down and said "cheese!"
He is still cute and cuddly but definitely a year older with his wild locks. He runs and jumps and kicks and climbs. Throws balls and fits and food off the table. He squeals with delight and giggles like mad. He sings and dances and holds endless conversations with his dolls. He loves being chased and going on walks. And kissing and hugging and talking and taking splashy bubble baths. He's a silly little guy.
Tonight, I nursed him to sleep. He rubbed his eyes, said "night-night" and curled up in my lap - all warm and nestled. Sweet dreams 23-month old. xoxo
Eli is back!
Hey guys! It's been quite a while - but I'll be posting more often, now that I can say a lot more words.
This year I had a lot of fun trimming the tree (and taking down the tree). There were a lot of super fun ornaments, but they were put up really high on the tree for some reason. I could only reach them if I stood on the Christmas boxes. (don't tell mom). I added my own special touches too. Dinosaurs and Ernie make much more delightful ornaments, dontcha think?
I also went on this moving sidewalk thing in a giant building, waiting to get on an airplane (airplanes are loud!). I couldn't figure out why I couldn't go both ways on it. Everyone kept laughing at me and taking photos. I don't really know why. Whatever. I was having fun in a confusing sort of way. Buzz would have loved it.
Have I ever mentioned that love going for sushi? Well, I don't eat sushi, I just have avocado or cucumber rolls, but yum yum yum! It is most fun to eat it by stuffing my face full. That is really all I need to share.
Anyone want to come play?
Guest Blogger: Eli
Hello everyone!
Mom says I'm not her little baby anymore - officially a toddler. It's probably because she and daddio keep finding me in funny places. I love climbing everything and anything. A little while ago, mom was putting some things up high on the shelves in the bedroom, and the ladder was left out. Perfect opportunity! Who wouldn't want to climb that? It's like stairs, but much steeper and cooler - and it makes fun rickety sounds when you climb! I knew I wasn't in too much danger when she started giggling at me, called dad and grabbed the camera. Too bad though, the next day the ladder was down...
The other day I got to get my diaper changed in the trunk of the car. How cool is that? It was so funny. I couldn't stop laughing. It would have been so awesome if mom let me shut the trunk - then it would be dark and I love the dark!
Mom and dad kiss and squeeze me all the time. Sometimes I pretend to hide my face, but I really love it so much. I also love to put on dad's hats and wear his winter boots. It is so hard to walk in them!
I think that I've mentioned before that I absolutely love water. I love playing in the sprinkler after playing at the beach. I love drinking from the hose too. On the side of our house, I found the tap and it leaks when it is turned on all the way. I like to crawl up and stand on the plastic box and drink right from the wall. My feet get all muddy in the garden and my clothes get sopping wet.
Being a toddler is so fun!
oh hello toddler.
It's been ages and ages since my last update on Eli. My little lad is just over 17 months. He is a hilarious, happy, healthy, energetic and nutty. He is on the go non-stop and talks and talks and talks (mostly gibberish!)... and have I mentioned that having a little boy is so fun?
- He tries to run everywhere. He climbs on everything. He needs to be outside for many hours each day.
- He opens cupboards and drawers, takes everything out of them, climbs inside, closes the door and giggles until it gets open.
- He used to know the sounds of most farm animals, but now everyone just GRRRAAARRRRs
- When he is finished his nap, he climbs out of bed and comes downstairs to find us. He naps once a day for a good 3 hours!
- At any moment he can, he plays with water. He loves drinking from the hose, swimming, taking a bath and shower, washing his hands, splashing in the toilet, running through the sprinkler, dunking his hands in people's water glasses...
- He is saying some words (doggie, up, done, kitty, daddy, mommy), repeats lots of words, understands many and uses a couple of signs (but they are ones he made up himself). He'll go "get things" for me (red car, cow, dinosaur, diaper) and point to body parts and pictures of people. I can't believe that he'll be able to one day speak in full sentences. Incredible.
- He loves to snuggle up to read. He reads a lot. A lot.
- He gets so dirty, and loves it. He likes to catch bugs and pick flowers. He loves to play in the sand.
- His favorite things: books, doggies, kitties, dinky cars, playing outside, climbing, water, bubbles and dancing.
- He is starting to get a bit whiny when he doesn't get something or something is taken away - uh oh!
Great-Grandpa is cool.
Cars
and wooden blocks
and carts
favourite toys
digging and constructing.
playing on the ground at 87. Awesome.
bits.
today I...
- took some photos
- painted some furniture
- sold some books
- baked some zucchini loaf (sort of)
- cheered for an amazing friend completing a triathlon
- ate two tomato & basil sammies
- drew some pictures for a traveling art project
- did some laundry and organizing
- watched a wedding through my binoculars
- sang some songs
- finished up some etsy orders
- chatted with some friends
- tweeted
- snuggled with my wee boy
xo.
Second Father’s Day.
Eli here. I am feeling pretty crummy today so I won't be recreating last year's Father's Day picture, but I did want to share some more ways that I love my daddio.
I love the way you...
- sing and dance with me (hands up!)
- snuggle
- toss me up in the air
- chase me around the house
- let me play in the nudie
- dangle me upside down
- read books in funny voices
- stare at me when you think I am sleeping
- call me "the Man" and "Bubb-o"
- take me on walks around town
- follow me extra closely so that I stay safe
- share little secrets that mom has no idea about
For more Father's Day love - click here and here and here
Masterpiece Theatre
Artscapes.
Eli's first paint?
When he saw the primary colours on the cardboard, he got really giggly and wanted to touch it. He crouched down, dipped one finger in, stood up, swirled the paint between two fingers, stared at it and then ran away.
A wee bit later, he came back he did the same thing, but with another colour.
I think we'll try again when the gardens aren't so tempting.
Wedding Ties.
Two rad people got married last weekend. They also happen to be related to me. Long ago, before Pinterest, I bookmarked a photo of a boy with the cutest bicycle tie. I needed to find that fabric for Eli.
I found an awesome [and easy] little boy tie tutorial here and the fabric at the spincycle on Etsy. We found the white button-up and khaki pants at Old Navy and of course, he wore his black Chuck Taylor's.
Daddy matched.
So did Gramps.
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