Well our first long weekend of the year… started off with the yearly visitation to Forest Lawn and Ocean View.  It was certainly a nice day, and great to see everyone come and pay their respects.  For me, it was an opportunity to show Erica the names of her and Great-Grandparents and Great-Great Grandparents!  In the future, I’m looking forward to a time where I can tell her more about family that have passed on.  I can tell her with a lot of fondness about what they did, what they were like, and how a part of them lives on in us.

I find it interesting observing how visits to the cemetary change over time.  The first few years it’s very sad and solemn, but over the years I think it gradually changes to a happier occasion, remembering the good times with other family members and talking about… well life. 

As I look at the dates, it’s hard to comprehend how quickly time has passed.  I like to think that it’s a reminder to focus on the relationships and things that are happening now, and not spend too much time dwelling on the past or future.

That night, e’s nose starts running like a drippy faucet, and yep, she’s got a cold.  Poor thing can’t breathe so she wakes up all cranky. 

Apparently there’s a difference between an Infant and a Toddler, and the line is drawn at 18 months old.  Honestly, I had no idea what the difference is… they’re all babies aren’t they? 

 Well e turned 18 months a few days ago, and I think I understand the difference.  With an Infant, you pretty much carry them around, watch them crawl, waddle, take some steps, etc.  They observe things and interact with a lot of curiosity.

 Lately we’ve been adding new phrases to our vocabulary:

 ”Put that down!”  ”Don’t poke yourself with the fork”  “Stop chasing the cats!”  “Why are you squishing your food”  “Hey, where are you going?  Come back here!” ”Who turned off the computer?!” “Don’t open the cupboard and put the Tabasco sauce back!”

Yeah I think we know the difference now.  It’s like with her new found mobility, she’s continuously scanning the counter and table tops for interesting things to grab and experiment with.  She loves to grab a pen, spoon, anything that extends her reach… and uses it to poke, tap, drum, or fetch things.  Now she’s able to act on her curiousity, whereas when she was an Infant, she was pretty curious, but more passively so.  It’s interesting to watch her develop at this stage, but it also means parenting has taken on a very active aspect!

taking a walk with neighbours

Mealtime

So we haven’t gone camping since 2005.  Once in awhile I’ll come across some of our camping gear and reminisce, or make a trip out to MEC to check out some “clothes for baby”

Over Christmas as I was pondering what to get for Erica, I came across a kids tent in a flyer.  I remember that I loved to play in enclosed spaces- a big box for example, and I figured this is something she would like that doesn’t need batteries.  And of course, when we go camping for real, she’d be acclimatized to staying in a tent.  So I bought her 2 tents with a connecting tunnel. 

I also forgot another fact- cats like enclosed spaces too…