Weeks 25, 26, 27 - continuation of trip post

After we went to Dunham (Emile's parent's home), Dave and I headed to visit Moog (my cousin), Janine, and Jenna Claire. It was so much fun to just hang out with the babies! We spent two nights and had a lovely time. We snuck in a visit with Dave's friends Dan and Maggie and their adorable little baby girl Chloe. (ottawa pics, including bum bum shots!)

with Moog and Claire bear

with Eva

We then took a train from Ottawa (where Ambrose charmed an entire Japanese tour group, smiling and posing for multiple pictures) and headed to Toronto. Dave and I could not believe that we were only half way through our trip! We rented a car and headed to Sheryl, Derek and Eva's home.

After our nice visit in TO we took a road trip to Muskoka for some R and R at Alicia and Emad's absolutely amazing cottage! Great food, great company. (pics: TO and Muskoka)

on a walk with daddy

We then headed back and took the train home - in high style (we had the best room). Ambrose demonstrated that he loves to travel!

25 weeks - First teeth! First Airplane ride!

-Ambrose cut his first tooth (bottom central incisor) last Wednesday (or so) and the second bottom central incisor promptly emerged through the gum as well. His drooling has tapered off significantly but a bib is still required.

-We left for Ottawa to visit Auntie Des and Uncle Emile on Friday morning. They live in Hull/Gatineau area.
Ambrose was a perfectly behaved baby on the plane. We were the last to board and you could see the passengers around us looking at us nervously but Ambrose demonstrated that he is indeed a laid back babe. I suppose we could fault him for being too loud in his expressions of happiness (some high pitched squeals). One women, seated ahead and to the left of us, looked back often to steal a look at Ambrose.

first night at Desiree and Emile's

with Auntie Des

-Desiree picked us up from the airport and spirited us away to her and Emile's home. And the fun began.

Jack - John and Krista's son

The next day we drove to Wakefield, where we visited John, Krista and their little boy Jack. They fed us a wonderful meal of bread, cheese, white radishes, cucumbers and other items picked up from the local market, which we later visited. We were also introduced to a wonderful wine made from honey called Mead. Dave made a "bee line" to the honey booth at the market and said I know John Parker and exchanged cash for a 'blackmarket" bottle of mead.
-At the market we listened - and Des and Ambrose danced - to the sounds of drumming (the weekend market also included the Harvest Festival which celebrated the area's Aboriginal roots).

Dad and Ambrose

at the Black Sheep

 

 

 

-we enjoyed afternoon beers (St. Ambroise pale and stout) on the patio of the legendary Black Sheep. Ambrose caught the eyes of all of the passer-bys and other patio dwellers.
-We later had a dinner at a microbrewery in Hull which had fabulous beer (or so I was told - nursing moms are not able to indulge as freely).
-The next morning we rose early to start our road trip. We enjoyed an amazing breakfast at the Sparrow on St Laurent in Montreal, a trendy new place that serves amazing breaksfast. Emile's university friend was our server and made the gastronomical adventure more special. While waiting for our seat, Dave, babe and Emile picked up montreal bagels at one of the oldest bagel shops, Fairmount Bagel.

At Bernice's Art Studio

Ambrose was allowed to touch the painting! yay for textures!

-we resumed our journey to Emile's parent's, Yvon and Bernice's,  home in the eastern townships, a small town called Dunham. After saying a quick hello to the slowly gathering guests for Emile's father's 70th birthday celebration, we went to his mother's studio space at an old church (which she bought and lovingly restored and retrofitted with help from family and friends). We spent the afternoon admiring her art (she's a very talended artist). Dave and I were quite taken by a few pieces of her work and we managed to select one to bring home (at the family discount - so lucky!)
-back at the house, Emile's brother Julien and Yann were cooking up a storm, preparing the feast. 
-their home is the boy's childhood home which has been under renovation...forever, which gave me great comfort, realizing our own home will never be "finished" and that's okay...

Bernice with sons Yonn and Julie

 

 

beginning of the feast!

-Emile gave a tour of his childhood yard.
-Dinner began with an incredible tapas spread. Wine bottles were opened. Food flooded the table.
birthday cake and laughter. Yvon beamed. He exlcaimed many times that this was his best birthday ever.

Yvon - 70 yrs young!

-Dave was cajoled into giving an impromptu speech by Bernice, after she gave her own off the cuff poem. Dave obliged.
-The next day we enjoyed a lovely brunch and were on our way home. The road trip ended with take out poutine and burgers.

strumming with Uncle Emile and Auntie Des

Picture gallery to be added at a later date.

Eating rice cereal

Well loyal blog readers, you are in for a treat: A triple header with three blog posts in one day.

I fed Ambrose a very small amount of organic brown rice cereal mixed with mom milk and viola! A happy afternoon treat.

Check out the photo gallery. I somehow managed to feed him while taking a series of shots.

tree cutting, grape harvesting/ wine making and tree banding: Dave's busy life in between train trips

Dave can fill in the details later, but here are the picture galleries for the above mentioned activities:

Christoff cutting down a very tall and old tree - click here










Grape harvesting and wine making - click here

Tree banding, hops and Dave's excitement over big trucks and road construction - click here

23 and 24 weeks

It's hard work uploading a post every week! Sorry we're late with these ones.

The past two weeks are a blur to me now, but here are some recalled highlights.

-St. Norberts Farmers Market with Christoff (I'll add another post with photo gallery and Dave can fill in the details later: Christoff taking down a large tree in front of my sister's yard, Dave's afternoon harvesting and pressing grapes with Dan and his friend Pat, and tree banding the neighbourhood)

-visiting and helping nana who has not been feeling well
-lots of visiting with my friends and other babies/kids: Tamara, Christy and Samuel, Kiri and kids, Michelle, Ang - coffee, hanging out, shopping, walks and a movie.
-hanging out with Collin and baby Luna
-breakfast with Nana and Papa

Milestones and observations
-is able to drink water  out of a cup (more or less!)
-roll from tummy to back and back to tummy
-move from sitting to lying on tummy
-if can crawl/climb onto something will move onto his hands and knees
-if can grab onto a ledge, couch or me, can pull himself up from sitting to standing, holding onto something for balance
-can stand and shuffle along furniture (ugh, I think he will indeed be an early walker!!)
-just for fun and taste, has tried mashed banana and a mum mum rice cracker
-likes when you clap or snap for him
-loves to sit on laps and have books read to him, particularly ones that have texture
-still no teeth but drooling continues
-very social - loves to interact with others when we're out and has no problems being held by other people
-however when we're home alone, just the two of us, he cannot get enough attention from me. I leave the room and he has a melt down. When we're sitting on the floor together, he reaches out and touches me while playing (so cute) or has to be climbing all over me (cute but no so great if trying to do things, like putting together this blog post)
-is in love with the cats. Fortunately mineu and hibou tolerate his enthusiastic petting (read: hard pulling of hair)
-loves to bang things on surfaces
-has a range of sounds he likes to make. I particularly like his morning speech (he raises his arm and "speaks" in a low voice and will drop it down to a whisper, and has a very serious look on his face - hilarious!)

Click here for photo gallery

22 weeks - 5 months

Ambrose was 5 months on Monday, August 30 which technically fell at the tail end of his 21st week (weeks run Tuesday to Monday) but whatever.
I weighed him at the Wednesday mom and baby group and he is 20 pounds 14 ounces!

Highlights
-making borscht and chocolate chip oatmeal cookies on a cold late summer night
-hanging out with Jenna Claire, Janine and Moog
-dinner with the girls (Ang, Tamara and Janice)
-visiting with nana and papa
-quick visit with Christoff (who rescued injured merlin - a small falcon- from our yard (see pics)
-big walk in Assiniboine Park with Christy and Samuel, and Tamara and her nephew

Observations and milestones
-moves from sitting position to lying on tummy
-crawls/climbs out of laps onto tummy and crawls/climbs into laps (or onto bolster or pillow) from tummy

-has experienced a few head bumps from active playing :(
-Ambrose loves mom! If someone else is holding him and he is crying for me, as soon as I take him he screams or laughs in delight and smiles back at the person who was just holding him as if to say, ha ha I am with my mom now. What a stinker!
-if babes is upset or cranky, speaking in a sing song voice or singing seems to soothe him
-loves to have his tongue out and to blow bubbles
-gets visibly excited when daddy takes out the guitar (or any other musical instrument)
-loves touching the cats
-doing this new thing of grabbing me on both sides of my face or holding onto my neck and giving me an open mouth if drool-y kiss or hug. so sweet
-not so sweet is when he grabs at my face and pinches. ouch!
-seems to recognize his name (we think) he will look at person who has called his name
-will "sing" himself to sleep when tired (typically when he is in his car seat or stroller).

click here for photo gallery

21 Weeks

highlights of the week
-visiting nana and papa (and Auntie Brooke too)
-Baby shower for Christy, Karel and baby Samuel
-beach time at Birds Hill Park with Michelle, Christy and Samuel (way to go Christy!), Viv, Reegan and Jaelyn, and Kiri, Finn and Ember. It was an awesome day!
-dinner party with Collin, Natasha and baby Luna (note to self: risotto bad idea to make when have guests)
-spending time with Sheryl and Eva, who were visiting from Toronto
-lazy Sunday with Gody and cousin Emma. Renee and Dan popped over too.

check out the photo gallery

milestones and observations
-has taken standing to a new level
-very very very active
-sounds like a puppy with all of his heavy breathing while playing or testing his strength
-lunges forward when sitting (occasionally while standing too, which is frightening)
-scoots around using arms and legs but with his tummy on the ground (not crawling yet thank goodness!)
-very strong