What I've been up to lately

Since I've been down south this summer I've really been a bad blogger. My posts are few and far between and I've posted little other than pics of Oliver cause frankly, this is the summer of O. My whole life is revolving around taking him places, getting him to try new things and trying to keep him on a schedule as best I can. It's funny how nap time in the north is so sought after that I don't even think of doing something other than being home in the afternoon. Since we've been here, naps have become almost an inconvenience as we try and plan our day around them. If I go up to my parents place (about 20 minutes away) I have to drag the play pen and all the gear that goes with that so he has a place to nap. Otherwise, it's back to our apartment to his room. I will admit that I'm sometimes guilty of planning our drives to and from someplace around nap time so at least he can doze in his car seat. Not exactly a proper nap but better than nothing.

The other kink in my plans for being home has been Oliver's unexpected case of sever separation anxiety. I guess it's normal at this age and since he's always with me up north it shouldn't be a shock but wow, it caught me by surprise. For the first few weeks I couldn't go to the bathroom by myself without a major meltdown occurring. He is getting better but it has put a damper on some of the 'me time' I'd planned to have. Don't get me wrong, I'm getting out on my own as much as I can, but I'd hoped it could be more. You may remember I had plans to put O in day care one day a week and that idea went out the window when he was still having meltdowns with both grandmothers after 2 weeks of being here. I figured if he couldn't deal with being with them, introducing another stranger to his life wasn't such a good idea. 

I have been able to get out and get a leisurely hair cut and color. I've been out to a party. And I had one night alone with Nick when he arrived... although he arrived at midnight and we picked up O the next day at noon but hey, it was 12 hours and I got to sleep later than 730 so I guess it counts. Thursday I've made an appointment to have a prenatal massage and a manicure as well so there's another O free afternoon for me to look forward to.

Over all, we're having a great summer and I'm really glad to have this time with Oliver. We have been super busy though and I feel like we're always on the go. Not that it's bad, it's just such a change from my life in Nunavut. O is really thriving as well. I can't believe how much he's changed in such a short time. He's learning so much. I discovered he is mad about slides. He's turned into quite the climber and will attempt things that the playground that he has no business doing at a year and a half. He doesn't always make it but he sure is going to try! He's also learning to play with other kids and to share. I have to say he's pretty good about the sharing which is a surprise being he's never had to do it before.

We are on the countdown now to Nick coming home for his long vacation (in 22 days) and the final countdown to our new arrival (5 weeks today is my due date). At this point I think I'm more looking forward to having this pregnancy be over and I'm not sure if I care if Nick makes it in time if it means being done. On the other hand, I'm not looking forward to the stress of sleepless nights and learning to breastfeed again so I guess maybe I can wait.

Until I blog again.....

A day with the Animals

For once I don't mean the kids. Yesterday we hung out with some very cool animals at the Magnetic Hill Zoo in Moncton. It was a beautiful day, the kids where well behaved and the animals where all out for us to see so it was a great day.

This was the first animal we encountered.

 

All the roads where marked by what I assume where sponsors and friends of the zoo.

My favorites of the day where the jaguars. I think it was getting close to feeding time cause they kept stalking this door.

 

Another favorite was this Mandrill. His face was so colorful.

This one's for you Clare. They are partridges of some kind and the color was fantastic.

As my sister put it... A good Canadian zoo animal.

Mama lion just chillin in the sun....

If you are ever in New Brunswick I highly recommend the zoo. We had a really great day.

Update

Nick made it home this morning after the plane took off from Iqaluit subject to weather in Pang. Things worked out and he's home. The saga is at an end. I hope this doesn't happen again when he comes home in September.

The date weekend than never was

I thought I had the worst luck when it comes to travelling in the north but it seems I've been dethroned. Unthroned?? Whatever, you get it....

Nick and I had been apart for 23 days when we had a date weekend planned for Halifax. A good friend of Nick's was getting married so he'd planned a few days vacation, Oliver would stay with my mom and I would meet him on Thursday night. Well of course the travel gods and mother nature had other plans. The flight was cancelled leaving Pang Thursday morning so he wasn't going to catch the Air Canada flight to Ottawa and make it into the maritimes. Turns out the flight Friday morning was already full so again, he wouldn't be able to catch Friday's flight either. He was able to get a seat on the later flight on Thursday but since the morning flight was cancelled we suspected the later one wouldn't go either. That prediction turned out to be right when that flight was cancelled too. Luckily it had already landed in Pang (the weather this time was Iqaluit not Pang) so it was there for the night guaranteeing that it would leave in the morning.

Things where looking up. Nick left Friday morning at 7am so he was going to be there with lots and lots of time to make the Ottawa flight..... but then the Air Canada flight cancelled. Now what to do? At that point we where going to miss the wedding anyway so was there any point in continuing? But since it was already too late for him to get the flight back to Pang, he was in Iqaluit for the night anyway. Finally on Saturday at midnight he was able to get himself to the maritimes. Since it was too late to make the wedding he came right to Saint John and we where able to get 2 full days and 3 nights together. It's not the 3 kid free nights in Halifax we'd hoped for but we'd take it.

For the short time it was, we really had a great time. It was nice to see Oliver and Nick together again and I'm really glad we had that time. It made me happy that Nick got a chance to see the changes in Oliver that I get to see everyday. He's talking so much more and I'd say that his vocabulary has doubled. He says something new every day. Being around lots of other people as well as my nephew who never shuts up, he's learning so much and seems so much more grown up.

After the whirlwind trip Nick had to leave yesterday morning and headed for the airport at 430 in the morning. The flight was delayed an hour. He got to Montreal just in time to run on to the next plane which was then also delayed 45 minutes. He landed in Iqaluit late but with lots of time for his connection. But alas, the flight to Pang was cancelled. So once again he was sitting in Iqaluit for the night.  

I'm now waiting on flight tracker to tell me if he's going to get back to Pang today . The weather forecast is showing fog so I'm guessing the chances are slim, at least for this morning. By now I'm sure he's just dying to get back home, I know I would be....

The saga continues.

Tormenting My Brother

This photo was taken by my mom specifically to torment my brother. Ryan is what you would call a die hard Leafs fan and this shot of his nephews promoting his arch rivals would really upset him. It's been a long time rivalry in our house with the men always cheering for the Leafs since my dad grew up in southern Ontario. My mom, having grown up in Montreal has always been a Habs fan so my sister and I jumped on her bandwagon growing up. My mom picked these shirts out for the kids last time they where in Montreal and we couldn't help but take the opportunity to tease Ryan just a little.

His response when he was emailed the picture? He threatened to call social services and report child abuse. 

Taking Advantage

I did something yesterday I swore I would never do. Something I always made fun of and honestly still think is really silly but still... I did it. I'm slightly ashamed. But I can't say now that I've tried it I won't do it again. I.... parked in the 'Mommy Zone'.

Photo credit: Jen Eichenburg

I didn't plan it, it just happened. I pulled into the mall and it was a sea of cars. I drove around looking for a spot and finally found one but as I hurried to get there, someone else took it. Don't you hate it when that happens?

Then I saw it. Like a beacon of light from above.... the space right up front. I saw the sign and I though no, I just couldn't. Then I looked back and saw Oliver snoozing in his car seat. Then I looked down at my ever expanding midsection and said to myself, "well, if I don't qualify, who does?"

So I pulled in. It fit like a glove. I liked it.

Beach Day

Just short of a year ago I did a post called Beach Day Dorset Style. It was a beautiful day in Nunavut so Jen and I hit the beach with the kids and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon. Today I post about todays trip to the beach with my sister and nephew. Other than the company, the big difference this time around is that Oliver is in a bathing suit and is actually in the water instead of long pants and sleeves and is no where near the water cause he'd come out a popsicle.

Some things don't change however, he still tries to eat rocks.

Happy New Brunswick Day everyone, I hope you had a great long weekend.\