There goes another year....

Well, there you have, the end of 2008. What happened? Well, you are now a little girl. Somehow, being a toddler just zoomed right along. A few months ago, you started Junior Kindergarten. You love going to school. You have even had your first school trip on a bus. I'm sorry we don't always remember show and tell days, but at least we remember Hot Dog and Pizza days! Your first school pictures came back. We hope to get organized enough so that in 20, 30, 40 years they are still around for you to see as are mine. I just have trouble remembering all the names.

So, what else did we do this year? We went to Great Wolf Lodge. You were still a little young for water slides and swimming, but you enjoyed it more than the year before. It was so cute watching you at story time, take your seat amongst the others. You were good to James and Owen. Christmas came and went, you had your share of ear infections. We went to the specialist and so far, you are good. Translation, no tubes required.

For a while, you were killing us with your sleeping patterns. It was out of control, having to be read numerous stories before bed. We gave in a laid with you many nights until you fell asleep. That was our fault. Then magically, July 1st, you wanted to sleep in your own room. Voila, you sleep in your own room. You still get up more night than you sleep through. Somehow making it to my side of the bed or intercepting me on my way to the washroom in the middle of the night. No big deal. The night can be scary.

In May you played soccer. You loved it. You scored many goals, not always against the other team, but you had fun. You got your fair share of whacks, a couple heads to the eye, a goose egg here and there. For the most part, you are a tough little girl. At some point we went from baby bikes to big girl bikes. With training wheels of course. One of the best times I had with you was when we took Bosco for a walk through the woods, and you rode that bike all the way down the path, and all the way back. You never asked for help once. I was so proud.

We started swimming lessons after soccer. You love the pool. Almost too much. One day, you are bobbing around in your water wings, fearful if we are not within grasp. A week later, you are jumping off the side of the pool, into our arms, and sometimes when we are not ready. Quickly, you learned to plug your nose and close your eyes. Unfortunately, there is more to swimming then these 2 simple rules. After swimming lessons started, you thought you were a pro. More than once, we watched you walk in, after telling us you could swim all by yourself. As you sunk to the bottom each time, you soon remembered you weren't quite ready. At aunt Lisa's, you had no fear jumping off the diving board, especially with water wings. We're quite happy with water wings for now. With your determination, you will be swimming without them next year. Under our watchful eye of course.

Another proud moment, was when you put on your roller skates and 'skated' to the park. As I held onto your hand, watched you slip and stumble, and moreso your determination to get from point A to B all by yourself. I could not be more proud. What I was most proud of, was when you told me that you were going to keep trying and practising until you could do. You would not give up. If there is anything at this moment in my life as far as advice is concerned, that I could give you for life, is to have that attitude all your life. It will take you far. You will succeed in whatever you do. I never thought a 3 yr old could teach a 39 yr old anything. I was wrong.

We went to the Lion Safari one day. You had a blast. Sitting in the van like a big girl, watching the giraffe lick the window. We also had fun at the beach. It was a little cold and overcast. Next year, we'll go in the sun. I promise. We went to Deerhurst for a weekend. You loved every minute of it. You swam, swam some more, went to your first concert, had a blast. In fact, you were still talking about it by the time thanksgiving rolled around.

This year, Hannah Montana was your Halloween costume. You had a record haul in candy. Mom and I thank you for that. You love your multiple layers of clothes. I finally got you your own computer. I am amazed at how quickly you learned how to move a mouse around, click the right buttons, and play some games. Watching you learn and grow is a truly amzaing experience. I wish I could do it more often.

Your vocabulary has grown leaps and bounds. We are careful not to use the bad words around you. Maybe not careful enough. I didn't quite know what to say when you were looking for some clothing the other month, and something along the line of 'Where the hell is my summer shirt?' came out of your mouth. Since school started, I enjoy listening to you sing in your room.

You still have your moments. For some reason, you challenge our rules, especially when you know the results. Therfore, you get upset, angry and cry. Here's a secret, it is still 2 against 1. Mom and I will always win. Save your energy. Just agree so we don't have to go through the punishment part and we can get back to having fun.

It has been busy this year starting the new business with Grandpa. Here is a shameless plug. www.thebenefitguys.ca. We expect this to provide for you and mom for years to come, and one day, you may take over the company. If you want of course. I will never force you into things that do not make you happy.

Right now, you go to gymnastics every Saturday. You look like you are having fun. We hope so. Once winter rolls around, you will start dance class. I missed your first day in hockey equipment. I knew it was a little early in life for you. I heard you were determined. Soon enough, you and I will get on skates together. Hopefully, in no time, you will flying round the rink all by yourself. Next year, maybe hockey or ringette. We have to learn to skate first.

I hope to update this more often. Everytime I make this promise. so much happens, so fast, and time just disappears if you let it. I will update the year in pictures. I promise. Soon enough you will learn to read. You are already getting good at identifying some letters and numbers. I am going to see just how long I can keep this site a surprise from you. So one day, when I am long gone, you will always have this as a guide.

Love you lots.
Dad

The year in pictures...2007, so far

For some reason, the camera got a little heavy this year, regardless, we snapped a few.

Your 2nd Christmas at Ma's house


Then shopping with Mom and Papa


to see...DIEGO and DORA!


Well, you were excited at the time...and then came Bosco...which is a post in itself


you two became real close...a little too close


he eventually outgrew you...and kept growing


eventually, he tired you out


Your first date with James at the petting zoo...chapperoned, of course...


But I am glad to see that you are starting to take after your dad...


More soon. :)

Cinderbellaurorarielladdin

Sometime over the cold dark winter months, we decided that Disney movies would be a great learning tool for you. After a 10 month experiment, I have found out that Walt Disney is a marketing genius and I am a sucker. It's funny, when we left the hospital with you, I don't recall being in a hurry, but somehow I missed the guy handing out the manual on how to raise you. Which reminds me, I used to get so paranoid when we first brought you home, I feared if I set you down or lost sight of you somehow, that I would not even recognize you since you were so new to us in order to claim you back. That would not be a problem today. Anyhow, back to the title. During the day, we had Dora and Barney, and Backyardigans, at night your bedtime ritual was to watch molly on her big comfy couch. We used to get a kick out of you laughing at fuzzy and wuzzy. Then you graduated to Beauty & the Beast. After the 23rd viewing, it also became a favorite of mine too. After the 42nd viewing, we thought that expanding your video library might be in your best interest. So along came Cinderella, then Ariel, then Snow White, then Aurora, and finally Princess Jasmine. It was fun to watch the old classics, then the new ones, may I also add Finding Nemo, Shrek, Over the Hedge, Lion King, Jungle Book, and Cars to the list, and I believe soon will come Ratitouie, then again, I think mommy really wants to watch that more than you. You were captivated by them. All you wanted to do was watch a movie. I admit, for awhile there, they were a good babysitter. Regardless, you fell in love with the Princesses. Everything about you was princess this and princess that. You got Princess stickers, princess, colouring books, princess sheets, princess underwear, princess puzzle...whoops...you were bad the other day, we are holding off until Christmas to give that to you now. My point is you are obsessed with the princesses. You are going out as Cinderella this halloween. Everything you want is prefaced by Cinderella .....blank. If they made Cinderella cars, you would drive in one, Cinderella phones, you would want to talk on one, Cinderella planes, you would fly in one, and Cinderella homes, you would live in one. At one time you used to like going to Home Depot with me to drive the Tony Stewart race car shopping cart. Every time we go there now, we have to go by the electrical department so you can see the Cinderella lamp you saw two months ago. When we get groceries, we have to go by the card section so you can open the musical Cinderella and Aurora cards. At least we have negotiated on looking at them, vs buying them.

For a while, you had removable princess stickers on the wall. (You think they are gone because of a bad episode the other week, reality is they are in the garage waiting to go back on your wall for good behaviour) I used to love it at bedtime. I would lay down in bed with you to help you fall asleep, you would start at one end of your bed standing up, whisper, Good night Aurora, Good night Belle, Goodnight Ariel...and give each one a kiss. Also, point out all their feature, Snow white and her red lipstick, Cinderella and her slippers...it was precious. Hopefully we can do it again. That is something I have to record.

I guess as a parent, the main thing is perserverance. Right now, your movie's have been taken away for a week for bad behaviour, it is day 3, and you didn't ask for them today. You learn to do without. Like back in June, we lost your soother, or as you say, soo-soo, for real. We looked high and low. Nothing. Oh well, we thought. We knew you had to get rid of that thing, it was almost as bad as your obsession with the princesses. So, this was god telling us, start tonight. You cried a bit. The next day, couldn't find it. A couple of days later, 3 of them turn up after cleaning the house. We thought, give them back or continue on? Well, we got this far. Some nights, ok...30 of them, I had wished we gave it back. Thanks to your mother, we held out and survived. Bedtime was not a fun event for awhile. We had such a good bedtime routine, we really did. Up to bed, say our prayers, goodnight. You laid around and fell asleep.

Sometimes when you have something good, you take it for granted. Then when you make a change, it can be tough. We questioned our decisions sometime, but usually upheld them. Like this movie thing. It was easier to throw one in to keep you quiet somedays, than it was arguing with you. I think we finally got it though now. Long term, I am glad I fought with you and perservered versus giving in. I knew I had patience, I just didn't know how often and long you would test it for...according to your grandfather, another 40 or so years.

Earaches, earaches, and more earaches

For the most part, your mom will say she kept you in a pretty good bubble for the first year of your life. And as I think back, she was right. The odd fever due to teething, falling down when learning to walk, but otherwise, not too much going wrong. Somehow, springtime after you turned 2 went down the tubes, so to say. You had and earache, another, another, another...it went on. I think last count was 5 in 3 months. We had the doctor on speed dial. I didn't know what Suprax or Zrithromax was, but now I can tell you everything about them. I can almost give advice on the correct dosage for the right length of time.
Summer time went by without much of a hitch, you got a flu sometime late spring and watching you throw up was not the most fun. For the most part, you are a little trooper. It must be nice to just be sick, as opposed to have to complain about it too. Maybe that's just something I do. I hope you don't learn that from me. The fall has arrived, and already you have had 2 earaches. So, it is off to the specialist next week. Will it be tubes in your ears? Will it be wait and see? Who knows, but in a weeks time, hopefully the picture will get a little clearer for us. Last week, you just about wiped us out, you came down with an earache and croup. I think I slept more during the day, then I did at night. It's funny how once upon a time, our wish was to just get you to sleep through the night. Now my wish is that I get to sleep through the night, in the same bed. I'll let you in on a little secret. The is no mommy's bed, or daddy's bed. There is mommy and daddy's bed, and the spare bedroom. Daddy uses the spare bedroom often enough to try and get back to sleep, or to split comforting duties with mom to help you get back to sleep. One day you'll figure it out, or, we will, that's a toss up.

Ok, I'm a procastinator...

So, a year has gone by in your little life. If I could do it all over again, I would have taken the first year off, and started posting more frequently after that. Somehow, things get me sidetracked. The stuff you do, say, and the little person have become. I must preface, that we do love you. You drive us crazy some days, but for the most part, one special little moment with you, makes up for a day of bad behaviour, or week of illness. Regardless, the point is, I am remembering now.

So, shortly after my last post came your second haloween. You dressed up as a little pink dragon, with this protruding tail that wagged back and forth. You carried a little plastic pumpkin. I remember clear as day. We went up the street, you were just starting to speak, 'twick o tweat' sometimes came out of your mouth. Sometimes you were invited in, and in you went without a fear in the world. It didn't take long for your pumpkin to fill and I had to start loading my pockets. You would have knocked on doors all night if I had let you. It was precious. Haloween is a few days away, this year you are Cinderella.

Christmas came and went without too much fanfare. You were spoiled again. For your 2nd birthday, we went to Great Wolf lodge with uncle Dave, Aunt Maura and Ethan & Emily and Nana and Papa. I will show you the video some day. You loved the wave pool, the 2 water slides you were allowed to go down. We all had fun. This year, we are going again, with Peter and Beth, and James and Owen. Hopefully, the 4" you have grown, may allow you a little more freedom this year, I doubt it.

As the winter rolled on, mommy decided she needed a companion, after talking long and hard, we agreed on a dog. So on a cold winter day, we hopped in the van for the last day as a little unit, and headed for Peterborough. A good chunk of change later, we came home with a pup, a Great Dane pup. He start off as Ceasar, but came home as Bosco. He was a cute cuddly little pup. Unfortunately, I only had a vision for a dog as an adult, not as a puppy, and did not know what I was in for. I thought puppies would be like kittens, the play, sleep, make the odd little mess, sleep again. Was I wrong. I shouldn't complain, you and Bosco have become great friends. He looks out for you and will be a companion for a long long time. Even if it cost me a couch, end table, screen door, a pair of shoes, an umbrella, countless toys, a hundred dollars for emergency medicine, (that was the first 4 months) and who knows what is yet to come as he is only 10 months old.

As spring went on, you met aunt Sue who looks after you a few days a week. It was a rough start, but after awhile, I realized you were just playing me when it was time to drop you off. It worked for a while. Then I caught on. I am amazed at how young you learn where to test us.

Spring came and went. For the first year, you were all about being outside, now I need a pry bar to get you away from your movies. You have become quite the counter, not the best speller. You do try and learn words all the time, sometimes ones we would rather not hear from you just yet, blame that on your mother and I. You were real good about identifying ambulance's and fire truck's as we drove around town. When I took you to the fire station to ride in one with uncle Mike, you got scared and wouldn't go near it.

Summer was all about the park and the kids. For a 2 1/2 year old, you have the most friends on the street. Any given night there were 5-15 kids on our front yard keeping you amused and having Bosco amuse them. Now it is fall, finally. More to come with the year in pictures.

The pictures I promised...

I promised pictures...here they are...better late than never. Honestly Mackenzie, your dad (me) is getting better at keeping this up to date.



Last year...around your first birthday, ever since you started walking at 11 months old...you sure do love the outdoors. And I am glad you like your hats too.



Too bad you like the food that is "bad" for you, more than the food that is "good" for you





Your first trip to Mexico. You were 13 months old. Everyone thought you were a hit. Theey all wanted your floatie for the pool so they could drink and float around all day. Thankfully, they only come in baby size.



You have helped out around the house a lot too...helping me install a new sink



Helping mommy with the floors and laundry....



Helping daddy make calls for work...it is hard to understand you with your soo soo in your mouth though....



Once the weather got nice, we couldn't keep you indoors...everyday...you would bring us our shoes when it was time to go out. Some mornings we were outside by 7:15, just because you wanted to be there. You love the outside. Now you get mad at us if the tv is on. Here are some more shots.
Your ponytails from Miss Darlene's.



You love to walk Tilley, uncle Dave's Jack Russell. You are so proud parading her around.



And lastly, but not leastly, our favorite picture yet. Playing in Papa's car...



One day I hope to buy you your own convertible...as long as you start listening to mommy and daddy. If I can drive enough traffic here...maybe I too can sell this site for a billion dollars.

Has it been that long?

Gosh, where does he time go. When I initially thought of doing this, I figured it would be an optomistical daily post, if not for sure weekly. My oh my, it has been 10 months. I guess that's what happens sometimes, life can pass you by if you let it. So, a brief update, pictures to follow, and a ppromise, that this will be a more frequent occurrence.
December, happy 1st christmas, Happy Birthday! It was a busy month, if I remember, getting ready for the holidays, getting ready our holiday. Mackenzie became quite the good walker. Danielle went back to work, and somehow, Mackenzie knew this and magically started sleeping through the night. Amazing.
January, we experienced our first vacation. Mackenzie flew in a jet, moreso on our laps for the ride to Mexico. We had a lot of fun. Not too much sleep since we messed up her schedule a little and her sleeping in thebig bed with us. Regardless, what do you really expect from a one year old. I remember coming home, and wondering what to expect as far as a routine was concerned. Funny enough, sleeping through the night, and one day until 8:45 am. I feel wierd for saying this, but you almost want to go in and check her pulse. regardless, it was nice.
February, Happy birthday Danielle. A little late, but hey, I remembered. Mackenzie was still as adventerous as ever, growing and exploring. A year ago, we didn't fathom this day, she was so small and fragile, now she is her own little person. Her top teeth have come in now, that makes 4, 16 more to go.
March, a sad day, I don't know which day specifically, but we made a decision for Mackenzie to go to day care. There is nothing wrong with day care, she gets to interact with other kids, meet new friends, spend a day in a more structured environment then what we may be giving her. All I know is it is becoming too hard on her Nana & Papa to chase her around and ensure her safety. I remember crying and feeling like a failure. Here, I have this wonderful home based business, that someday will allow us to be stay at home parents. I have worked at it for 5 years, and because I did not build it as large as I wanted too, I had failed. Why, because I did not get my wish of being able to do what I want when I wanted with her. Not only that, to give Danielle the choice to quit her job. This was not yet an option for us. I know it will be someday, soon.
April, daycare is going as planned, an upset Mackenzie, overtiredness, some more sleepless nights. We ponder stopping daycare, but realize this is growing pains. Unfortunately, she has to go through this if dayy care is her option. Thank goodness our sitter, Darlene is brutally honest with us. She tells us if Mackenzie fell, eventhough we have no way of knowing. But apparently, thi behaviour is normal. Show up, make the hand off, leave. No lingering, no visting, do it. It gets easier.
May, seems so long ago. I got a life back and no longer had to work until midnight for the next 4 months. It was a nice change. I still put off doing my taxes. I don't know why I do that. Nobody likes owing money. Oh well, time to grow up. Ever year, I will owe money. Period.
Started doing some outside stuff, started gettinf some words. If I remember, the vocabulary included, Nana, Papa, Mommy, daddy, shoe, up, abby (her cousin), and a few others. I wish I wrote them down. Better late than never I guess. Somewhere this month was the "big fall" at the babysitters. We were using a gate, she wasn't. So Mackenzie came home with a big goose egg. And debate number 2 went on about sitting. Kids will fall, get banged up, have some scrapes, god designed them for this.
June, the summer of fun. That was until we replaced our transmission in our new used car. Not even 5 years old, not even 100K. Crap happens. You win some, you lose some. Regardless, move on, don't hang on. Out side quickly became a new word. Every morning, Mackenzie would bring us her shoes, our shoes too for that matter. Amazing, they always matched. If we wanted different ones, she would exchange them. She doesn't even talk but she knows. Hard to believe what they absorb, and in such little time. Tiime to start watching what you say nd how you say it. She is watching, she is learning. As summer brings heat, Mackenzie's new word...."freezy". Somehow between now and then, then meaning spring. We decided that she was ready for a 'big girl chair' at the dinner table. Well, that was a novelty for a few months. Then we got tired of grabbing her off the table. We know she could climb. But every night, on the dinner table, we had enough. So, back came the high chair. We decided to do what Darlene does. It is hard to be consistent. Some days, we don't feel like it. I don't know why, exhaustion, frustration, lack of patience, it happens. Our jub is to make it happen less often, than more often. So, when we got "attitude" at the dinner table, spin her around, let her yell it out. If it became too much, upstairs, in your room for a few minutes. Over time, we have had to do this less and less. Thank goodness. Neither of us enjoy an upset child. We just want to be happy and fun all the time. We're still working on that. Ironically, we stopped going out for dinner this month too. There seemed nothing logical about going out for a 'break' when you are spending half the time wrestling with your daughter in the restaraunt booth. We didn't go out much, maybe a dinner lunch and breakfast over the course of a month. To some, that is a lot, to others, that is nothing. To us, we just did it if we felt like it.
July, happy birthday to me. Paid for most of the transmission. Decided my 16 year old car had enough km's on it, 420,000 if I remember correctly. It was no longer safe and wouldn't survive another winter. So, I got my dream vehicle. A van. Most guys spend their teenage years yearning for the day they can own a van. No shagcarpets, no tear drop windows, no fuzzy dice, a van. A van for the family to grow in. A van for work around the house. A van for vacations, a van for day trips, a van for visiting, a van I hope, will create some family memories.
So now, I became pick up man at the babysitters. I looked forward to driving around the corner each day at 4:30, and watching Mackenzie stop dead in her tracks, start jumping up and down, excited that you were there for her again. Or if the weather was raining, she would stand at the window, and run to the door when she saw you. Priceless. You don't know how you can love a little thing so much. Not only that, why does she love us so much. Does she even know what that means? A bunch of new words this month I am sure. Truck, uh oh, keem (ice cream), apple, open, all done, horsey, this list goes on. Every day seems like something new.
August came, a day trip to lion safari, a day at the beach (or was that July), a trip to the zoo. The screaming and hitting and pinching still continues...or did I mention that yet. Frustrating. Many a time out has happenned. We will not tolerate it. It is like when she learned to walk. In Mexico, we would spend a half hour going up one stair, turning around, going down the same stair. It drove us crazy. I knew it was a phase, now it is over. Now she goes up 13 stairs, and down 13 stairs, without help and seldom falling. It is getting better this screaming and hitting stuff. But we still want it to be gone. Having a bad temper is not a good thing. Danielle can sense her frustration, 'Mackenzie, use your words..." brilliant. Try and settle her down. Get her to communicate. Soon enough, that is all she will do...more on September.

One of those days...

Well, today Mackenzie got her first battle scars. As we were finshing lunch, Mackenzie decided to venture out around the kitchen. Groceries were not quite yet put away. Mackenzie thought it would be fun to climb on a bundle of paper towels. Unfortunately, at the tender age of 10 months old, she hasn't quite figured out the law of gravity. So after the bundle tipped, she landed face first on the floor. After a patented wail, Danielle picked her up to console her. Next thing you know, a trail of red is all over Danielle's shirt. Her first bloody nose. We try to clean it up, she is crying. I fill a dish cloth with ice cubes, unfortunately, her little nose was only one ice cube big, so that method didn't really work. Regardless, the bleeding stopped. So, we wonder, is it broken? Does it hurt? Our poor hearts melted for her. So, a bit of cuddling, a little walk and a little nap, Mook returned to her old self once my mom arrived. I am glad my father was there when it happened, otherwise all the commotion may have had us waiting in the hospital emergency room. So, I go to work and try and put the events behind me. Around 9pm, Danielle calls, next thing you know, she plays good news bad news with me. I said lets hear it. During their game of peek a boo with Danielles hair, my little Mook got a little too close and and Danielle bopped her in the head again. Her little nose bled once again. However, the good news is that she did not cry. Thankfully, she is as tough as her dad. :) Thanks to my father in law who called his surgeon brother in law in Boston, just to confirm the symptoms were not that of a broken nose. Hopefully, god willing she will sleep through the night tonight, and get a much deserved rest. Perhaps tomorrow, we will have an injury free day. I know there will be more incidents like this, and it hurts to see it happen, however, such is life.

Can anybody figure out this sleep thing?

Here we are, almost 10 months old. To think, at one month of age, we were pulling our hair out trying to figure out when we would get a good nights sleep. Looking ahead, we figured by this time, a piece of cake. Well, we were wrong. It all began Tuesday night, Nana spent the night and Mackenzie put on a show. Crying at 10, 11, midnight. Dad gets home from work, mom is up with her, mom puts her into the cribtonyte, and voila, more crying. Dad goes up to do his thing. A couple of attempts, to no avail. Into dads bed, I lay there, she is asleep, I can get out of bed she stays asleep. Try the crib, cribtonyte. She wails. Back to dads bed, try again. Asleep. this time I try the forklift approach of getting her up, and voila, success! She is asleep in her crib. 6:30 am, more crying. Based on the activities of last night, this is too early to get up. In to bed with dad, we buy another hour of quiet sleep. Mom is up, comes to the rescue, dad gets another hour of sleep.
So, Wednesday, my little Mookie should have some good naps based on last nights performance. Morning nap, 1/2 an hour. Hmmmm....Afternoon nap, another 1/2 hour. What is with this kid?

Wednesday night, Mackenzie goes to bed as usual. She was a happy girl all day, don't get me wrong. However, tonight would be different. Out like a light. Thursday morning, mom and dad awake. What happenned? Is she still alive, breathing? Voila, sleeps through the night. A solid 11.5 hrs. Yay! We feel human again.

So, based on that, we're off to a good start for the day. Sure enough, Mackenzie decides on skipping her morning nap. No problem we figure. We're told at this age they may start to get out of two naps and convert to one daytime nap. Noon, the nap begins. To our surprise, only an hour. Regardless, she is still happy. Bedtime, out like a light. This is where it gets a little foggy. I am sure we were up, played musical beds, and she didn't get full nights sleep. Danielle must have dealt with most of it. Thanks hun.

Friday, mom and daughter are tired. They nap in mom and dad's bed. 2 hrs, 15 minutes later, they get up. It's just after noon. That is what I call a nap. Mom is better, baby is better. Friday night, just like clockwork, up at 11pm.
dad gets home from work, Mackenzie is with mom. Asleep in bed. That's ok, she is teething, and everytime we get close to her crib, she wakes up. Go figure. I leave them be. 3:30 am, crying, I get up, meet them at the change table. Another messy diaper. They have been messy this week, and happening often. Fresh bum, dad takes over, mom goes to the room where dad was. Dad tries to settle her down. She decides to have a conversation with me. Try the bottle, not interested. She is happy, which is good. One problem, it 4:15 am! Time for sleep, not party. I lay there with her, time to sit up she says. I say, time for another bottle. Not an oz into her, out again. We go upstairs, cribtonyte, Back into dad's room. She is asleep again. Yay. It is 5am, I make a succesful transfer into her crib. I go get a drink downstairs, make my way back to bed. I finally get back to the verge of sleep, 5:45 am, wailing. This is too much. I will try and preserve some sort of a nights sleep for mom. I go get her, into bed with dad. She wedges her little body in between me and the pillows, asleep. I am too pooped to move her. Therefore, I only get a light sleep for fear of smothering her. Somehow, 8am shows up, mom awakes, plucks her from bed and they go downstairs. Dad gets back to sleep for 2 more hours. I awake, analayze the night, shrug my shoulders. She is a baby, she is teething, it must hurt. Or, do we comfort her too much, too soon? She does not come to bed with us everynight, nowhere near that. But as a first time parent you begin to question yourself and your choices. My sister has 3 children between 4 and 7. I feel out her thoughts on the issue, as she puts it, 'You gotta survive!' Her kids didn't turn out bad. I dunno.

All day, Mook is not herself. More upset than usual. I guess so with that little sleep. We give her fresh air, food, bottle, whatever to keep her happy. Nap time, 1pm, we figure a good 2 hrs coming our way. 30 minutes later, nap over. Way too short. Besides drugging them or adding alcohol to their bottle, how can we get her to sleep more?
She gets more fussy. I go outside and present my conundrum to my neighbour over coffee. He has two boys under 4. As I make my way back inside, Mook is asleep in mom's arm. Mom changes her spongy diaper, she awakes. A soother keeps her calm. Upstairs we go, she is up. That is it, off we go for a ride. As I carry her downstairs, dad decides to get his stunt double and fall down two steps with Mook in my arm. A scraped knee on my behalf and a spooked baby. We're ok. As mom and daughter go to Nana's, she is good. Surprisingly, no car nap on the way over. They shop, Mackenzie is a ham as usual. 6pm, on the way home from Nana's, cell phone rings, Mackenzie is not happy again. This time, she passes out on the car before home. To wake her up, or let her sleep, that is the question? I have not heard back yet, so I have no clue what is going on.

Just when you think you have a system, it's gone. Just when you get used to a new routine, you lose it. too bad there are no books on this stuff. Wait a minute, there are. They lie. Life is not a text book. So, in the meantime, we'll hang in there. It can only get better. It has too. What's a little yawning every day? I have gotten used to forgetting everything, not being able to remember is pretty much the same thing. Besides, after awhile, you sort of get used to feeling like dirt so it becomes the norm. As my father once told me, once you decide there is no such thing as a bad cup of coffee, it all tastes good whether or not it is Tim's finest, or a cup of mud, it all tastes good to me. I guess its all about attitude.

So much for daily posts....

Well, to my loyal readers, I think that list includes only me. Regardless, the responsibilities of a new parent never end. I try to balance my life to have a little bit of time for everything I want to do, if that were the case, I would not sleep. So as a result, daily turns into sometimes yearly. Someday soon, I will post some more photographs.
Since my last post, Mackenzie has five words, mama, dada, nana, papa, and bubba (bottle). The problem is, she has had these same words for 3 months now. Maybe she will need to go to a special school after all. Regardless, last week was a momentus week at Westminster Ave. Mackenzie cut her first tooth. Mackenzie has now decided to pull her self up to a standing position on anything she can. Also, she now has realized, she can crawl. Only far enough to get whatever is in front of her. After that, she gives up. I guess once she understands the concept of being in the other room, vs disappearing act, then she may stop getting frustrated and continue to crawl. In the meantime, I have another week before I need to install the baby gate. Last, but most importantly not least, until I screwed it up last night, we were blessed with 3 consecutive sleeps through the night. Good sleep makes a world of difference. I have been more fortunate then Danielle in this aspect. Thanks again honey. However, once your spouse starts getting good sleep, voila, life is good again. So, now that I am back at work and Danielle is in charge again, 2 good things will come out of this. Mackenzie's routine will be more regimented and hopefully more sleeps through the night, and secondly, at least it won't be my fault if she doesn't.
P.S. It looks like our weight loss program is about to start. A walking and crawling child will enhance our mobility, and activity level, for the next few years. Might be time to adjust her bedtime 1 hour earlier.

Growing up so fast.

Already, we have done many things. One thing we decided, was to not limit what we do because we have a baby. Some people want a break, some want a family. For the time being, we do it all as a family. We are going to Mexico in January, so, we thought we'd get some practice swimming.

Likewise, get ready to have those comebacks for the little guys on the beach eyeing her up.


Mackenzie actually has a couple of potential boyfriends, James Kowalewski, who is 10 months older.

And Colby Bennett, who has only got 4 months on her.


Not to mention Riley next door, who has 6 months on her, picture to come, and Owen, or is it Nolan, up the street, who Mackenzie has 2 months on. Regardless, I'll really start to worry in about 15 years. For some reason, she thinks she's that age already.

Happy Birthday!...well, sort of...

Every day in the first year, I find you are always looking for a reason to celebrate. So, on the eve of her 7 month birthday, I thought it would be fitting to make another post. Alot has happened, and it seems to happen faster. Mackenize is now a master of her hands and can use her soother at will. As you can see, we have started on solid food now...
most of it gets in her mouth.

We had some company recently, Aunt Clara from down home.

For those of you not familiar with the term 'down home', that translates to Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. Danielle's parents are from there. Above and below is her dad with Aunt Clara

and her mother, with Mackenzie, otherwise known as Nana, and Papa.

Speak of the devil, guess who just showed up :) Gotta run.

Ups and Downs of Parenting...

Today Mackenzie got another shot. She is pretty good getting a needle. At first it made us cringe...but now, it's just another thing. I found out that the doctor doesn't like the way her feet are looking. So, we will be referred to a specialist. Amazing what goes through ones mind. Worst case scenario's of surgery and more pain. Hopefully everything will be fine. I like to keep more positive memories...like having my first nap with Mackenzie in the hospital.


Or watching the amazing bond between mother and daughter.



Watching her laugh and smile for one of the first times.



Watching her reaction to discovering herself



Or seeing her grow up and be a teenager



Oh...wait...she is not a teen yet...hopefully she'll be a little bigger.

Our house, is a very very fine house...

With two cats that will soon be in the yard...if you ever heard the song by CSNY that might mean something. Not only are we new parents, we are also new homeowners. On September 23, 2004 we bought our first house. In polite terms, it will be a fixer upper for us. The previous owners neglected it, along with the owners before that, and the ones before that. It was a wonderful couple of weeks, repainting the house to get ready to repaint. Removing a bit of history from the basement, shag rugs, panelling...the basement itself. Now that summer is here, we are trying to clean up the yard. Hopefully next year, the fruits of our labour will start to show. Here is a picture of our house.


We love our neighbourhood, and our neighbours are great. Hopefully we will be here for a long long time. Enough time for Danielle to get that pool I promised her.

Day 1...Actually Day 150

This blog is dedicated to our daughter Mackenzie. She is 5 months old as of yesterday. She was born December 28, 2004 at 9am. She was 8lbs, 7.5 ozs. Hopefully this will still be here one day and become a family history diary. Now if I can only teach my wife, Danielle to use this. :)

Here is a picture of her at 3 weeks old.

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