Through the eyes of a wee babe

Look at all those ducks!

2009-01-21T07:41:00.000-08:00

It has been a while since I have had the chance to update Brandon's website. Everyone is all good - Brandon is growing like a weed and talks up a storm (wonder where he got that from). Keep an eye out here in the coming weeks and yes, I will update the last few months...

A charming boy...

2009-01-05T07:44:00.000-08:00

Truth of the matter is, you do slowly stop taking as many pictures as you did in the first few months, but there are still no shortage of pics to see!

Brandon and his buddies

2009-01-05T07:42:00.000-08:00

The snow and the ducks

2009-01-02T07:51:00.000-08:00

The first set of hockey gear....

2009-01-02T07:47:00.000-08:00

A true Canadian Kid.

Family Skate

2008-12-27T07:50:00.000-08:00

Christmas 2008

2008-12-25T07:40:00.000-08:00

Playing in the snow...

2008-12-21T12:27:00.000-08:00

watching dad play hockey...

2008-12-19T07:47:00.000-08:00

A cool hat

2008-12-14T07:44:00.000-08:00

A "big" brother

2008-12-13T07:35:00.000-08:00

I wanna be a cowboy

2008-11-29T07:33:00.000-08:00

NewCastle Island

2008-10-11T09:36:00.000-07:00

For Thanksgiving, we headed over to Vancouver Island to visit out relies out near Nanny-Mo. We took the 6:30AM ferry in the hopes of beating some of the traffic and getting to the island with plenty of hours with which to make the most of our day trip.

After breaking the fast of the night, we visited the "neat and tiny" Petroglyph Park, we took a small harbour ferry across to Newcastle Island. What a great call it was. There were a few people scattered about, but what a beautiful place. There are no cars (except the park folks), you can camp here, and there are trails all over the island. We packed Brandon in the backpack, and went for a walk in the woods.

Fall

2008-10-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Getting clean

2008-10-02T10:02:00.000-07:00

Going up the Indian Arm

2008-09-27T00:25:00.000-07:00

This is something that I have always wanted to do - take a boat trip up the Indian Arm! Finally! I have seen the end... and I couldn't help but think.. we live in such a beautiful place! The weather was great, we saw several seals, and it was just stunning.

Sand Castles at Harrison Lake

2008-09-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Can you believe these art works are sand???

In a word - Stunning.

Hicks Lake

2008-09-14T00:31:00.000-07:00

Our feet. Why, because this is me.

The finals kicks of summer. I am pretty sure that this will be our last swim outside (in Canada) for the year... what a great day - the sun, how warm it was, and being out at Hicks Lake - a surprising jewel that I barely remember from camping at 20 years ago. I would go back in a heartbeat.. what a great swimming lake!

late summer

2008-09-13T08:20:00.000-07:00

September has turned out to be a lot BETTER than June!!!!

Not so little boy anymore...

2008-09-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

Brandon blitzed by two years old... and pictures like this capture that he is still my baby but he is leaving his nappy days quickly behind him. Things are happening pretty quickly - Brandon's vocabulary is impressive, he has finally taken off with his walking, and he has 2 out of 4 of his two year old molars. He is showing some interest in using the toilet (not pushing that yet) and he loves the "big boy" bunk bed that we iherited from his coz.

Thataway to Chataway

2008-08-31T10:34:00.000-07:00

A cabin the woods for a family getaway.
(damn those pine beetles)

Around the campfire...

Going for a walk around the camp...

And just being *cute*.

Deception Pass

2008-08-02T21:45:00.000-07:00

At camp - having a snack...

A cool shot, taken at sunset...

My dad, my baby, and my hubby! The three men in my life!

At the aquarium...

2008-07-25T13:53:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday!

2008-07-24T22:05:00.000-07:00

Can my baby really be 2? I guess he is tall enough... Brandon, meet your cake.

Here we are!

2008-07-04T23:14:00.000-07:00

It has been a while, so hopefully I can get Brandon's blog updated and a lot more current than May 29th. Which I am sheepishly admitting too.

Where does the time go? It flies. Indeed. Balancing a career, home, and maybe even life and a smidgen of selfish time is a tricky balance - as is getting a few dates in with my husband! Which we are slowly getting better at doing! We have been out to a few movies! And we are going to see Spamalot on Saturday... to say that I am excited, well, that is an understatement.

Brandon is getting closer and closer to two! I haven't weighed him in a while, and I am sure that he is over three feet tall. He is working on his two year old molars (there are a lot of four letter words to describe the joys of teething, but I won't bother you with them right now) and he talks up a storm. He is really, really close to taking off as a runner, and is getting closer to that milestone every day. Yup, a little late on that mark, but he is getting there.

Brandon is a charmer (yes, I am biased, I am his mother after all) and is a lot of fun to hang out with. Man, does he talk though. I didn't really conceptualize how many words he would have before he was two, but talk, and sing, and well, just come up with the "darndest" things already. He travels well, loves being outside, we chase Canadian geese on a regular basis, and he rocks my world. What else is a parent to say about their kids? We have fun, and we enjoy spending time together, and Brandon loves to read together, and play in the sandbox, and he is growing like a weed and changing all the time. It is a grand adventure this thing called parenthood. Welcome to the club eh? It's like something you feel like you are playing at in the beginning - a total rookie, and then you wake up one day and it is natural, and you are the one whom is giving other people advice. Crazy stuff this circle of life.

So, it is catch up time - looking forward, looking back, take a peek at some of the older pages, they are probably only moments, or maybe days old as I catch up over the next few days. Especially now that more friends are having babies, and don't always live close, those pictures mean the world to be able to look at, and share at least a little bit of what is going on in their worlds.

It has been a crazy year - I can't believe I am at job #3. I miss my old friends from work, and even though I have been too busy to drop a line, it doesn't mean I don't remember. It has also been cool for me to move forward, and experience new challenges, and carve a new niche out for myself, so as much as you leave behind, you also bring forward with yourself.

Great for sandcastles...

2008-07-02T23:07:00.000-07:00

Egads. It almost looks like Brandon has a mustache! To me it looks like a good time at the beach. As does this great big hole we dug. Mission accomplished. Fun at the beach.

Just discovered the joys of popsicles

2008-06-29T23:26:00.000-07:00

Up until Friday night, well in to the throws of teething, Brandon finally discovered the joys of eating Popsicles. As you can tell, it didn't take him long to master this new talent.

Life at the park

2008-06-24T23:31:00.000-07:00

Now when we go to our local park and small lake, it takes about an hour to cover 1 km.

We have to stop and feed the duckies. When the Canada Geese had babies, it was an amazing experience. Now there are baby duckies and they are even cuter, and a little more cautious which is nice to see.

We've noticed this beautiful goose - snow goose, or albino Canadian Goose, that is the question.

This year, Brandon will not go on the swing. He screams if you put him in it. Now the slide, that is a totally different thing all together. He lurves the slide. Up and down, up and down. For the longest time he was going down on his belly backwards.. he is just starting to turn himself around and go down on his belly!

23 months old today. Wow. I am that close to having a two year old. What happened?

Still not sure about being in a boat

2008-06-19T23:55:00.000-07:00

We went out for a lovely boat ride around Bowron Lake. Brandon seemed to enjoy it more this year, but on his terms. He didn't want to sit next to Ken or I, and wanted to be on his own chair, holding on to the side of the boat, doing his own thing. It took him a while to relax, but he started to get the swing of this boating thing!

The boys and a fish...

2008-06-18T00:13:00.000-07:00

Three cool cats and the poor rainbow that didn't make it.

Chillaxing and throwing rocks. Does it get any better?

Getting used to life at the cabin...

2008-06-15T00:07:00.000-07:00

Just a random shot that I thought was cool of the two of us..

Ken and Brandon, hanging on the porch.

Getting ready to throw some rocks. Or sticks. Or both.

Guess who really lurves the slide?

2008-05-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

Mom looks a wee bit goofy

2008-05-29T22:52:00.000-07:00

Ah, the sweet songs of spring

2008-05-29T22:29:00.000-07:00

So cute when they are young, eh? Brandon loves feeding the duckies!

I was really surprised, mom and the goslings all came up to eat some of the seed that we brought, mom wasn't even all that defensive with us... seemed to trust our good intentions.

Chilling in da pool

2008-05-25T23:05:00.000-07:00

Hangin with Uncle Kel

2008-04-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

One of those quick snaps..

2008-04-24T21:47:00.000-07:00

Must we?

2008-04-23T22:48:00.000-07:00

Mom, do you really need to do this to me on a semi-regular basis??

I really have no clue why I find the tub shots amusing...or just messing with his hair...

"gardening"

2008-04-21T22:46:00.000-07:00

Here I am! Helping mum out... LOL

It's all about the dirt. Moving it around. Getting it down my shirt!

Hanging with the rellies

2008-04-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

Yup, Auntie Sue is pretty 'spesh!

Another little toy to get underfoot! Brandon loves little figurines to play with - he has a whole troop that includes ducks, giraffes, cats, dogs, pigs, elephants, lions.. the whole zoo!

With Gramma and G'G'

Parksville...

2008-04-19T21:50:00.000-07:00

I guess that Mother Nature did not get the memo that Spring has Sprung.
This is what we woke up to for our day at the beach in Parksville. Needless to say, when life hands you lemons...

Yup. So cute. Totally biased.

Ok, so maybe the memo got out a few hours later.. in a little place called French Creek we wandered in to this really cool fresh fish store and got the fixings for a seafood pasta.. NUMMY! Talk about one extreme to the other, eh?

The Inner Harbour

2008-04-17T22:33:00.000-07:00

Spring?

2008-04-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

Aside from the fact that it isn't raining, there isn't much going on to let you know that it is truly spring. We went out for a walk and to find a suitable dinner location, and nearly froze our collective arses off! Bundled up didn't help with the cutting wind. The plum blossoms (the pretty pink ones) have not even revealed themselves yet!!!

Our lovely provincial legislature buildings.

In Totem Park (after a nice fresh coat of paint).

The Empress. Ah, such a lovely place to stay (although not this time).

A cool cat feasting on his first quesadilla at Santiago's. It never ceases to amaze me how well Brandon seems to do in restaurants, he is calm, plays with the crayons, may get in to a wee bit of trouble, he flirts with the waitresses (they all think he is just so cute).

In Victoria

2008-04-15T22:22:00.000-07:00

Here we are, all ready to hit the pool! He isn't a wee bairn anymore!

Laughing up a storm

2008-03-29T22:51:00.000-07:00

We all have a riot together. Brandon is truly a cool little guy to have around.

A breakfast for one...

2008-03-23T21:49:00.000-07:00

At Virg and Kathy's, Kathy laid out an amazing spread for Brandon. He looked like a little boy before he dove in to his oatmeal, and I was utterly enchanted. A totally unorthodox and very cool Easter morning with dear friends.

Okay, so maybe his hair is a little wild and I should consider giving him a haircut...

rum and coke anyone?

2008-03-22T21:58:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure why this one is a little fuzzy.. but for Easter we did a quick trip out to visit Pete and Gilly out in Lake Country. We arrived Saturday and left after breakie on Sunday. It was a great trip... although we didn't get to cash in on finding Ogopogo.

breaks in the rain

2008-03-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

See, the funny thing is that dad is going to have to put that cool new boat back in to the backpack it came in!!! Camping season can't come soon enough!

Mum's helper

2008-03-02T21:53:00.000-08:00

19 months old!

2008-02-24T22:36:00.000-08:00

at the park....

2008-02-19T22:37:00.000-08:00

Gotta love those sunny days!!

Get us outside! Brandon certainly loves the park, and then being able to feed the ducks....

We have a lot of fun feeding the ducks!

hmmmm

2008-02-16T22:41:00.000-08:00

My first t-bone!

a day at the zoo

2008-02-15T22:48:00.000-08:00

The craziest looking camel....

Hey! Look at us!

Just chewing away.....

Ok. I'll say it. Nice RACK!

ice cream!!

2008-02-15T22:43:00.000-08:00

Brandon's first trip to a real, working dairy farm and enjoying farm fresh ice cream!

a gentle moment...

2008-02-02T20:57:00.000-08:00

another snow day...

2008-02-01T20:58:00.000-08:00

a day with the ducks...

2008-01-26T21:00:00.000-08:00

Look at those smiles! Doesn't your heart just melt a little???

yup, very cute.

2008-01-21T23:06:00.000-08:00

On frozen pond

2008-01-21T22:59:00.000-08:00

Now that we have a break from the rain, and our various ailments seem to be lifting, we finally got out for another walk. It is amazing how good it feels to get out of the house... I am glad that the days are getting longer and that we can look forward to spring in a few months.

Can you tell that Brandon is teething again??? You can see him working his gums...

For some reason, it is always amusing watching the ducks land on the ice and skitter all about. I wish that I had thought to bring along some seed! We went for a lap around the lake, and then stood around and watched the birds, it was a magic afternoon even if it was a bit chilly!!

utterly charming goofy kid

2008-01-19T23:05:00.000-08:00

What can I say? We have a lot of fun together. 18 months is right around the corner, Brandon has most of his teeth, has lots of words, I know Baby Beluga off by heart (I can even sing it off key), he can stack and play with figurines, and he cruises and gets around. It is amazing how fast he learns new words, and how to do new things.

really fast

2008-01-18T23:09:00.000-08:00

Did I mention how fast Brandon is?

bath tub shots...

2008-01-09T23:07:00.000-08:00

I don't know why I find the shots of Brandon in the tub with crazy hair so amusing.

Back at the park...

2007-12-30T22:00:00.000-08:00

Brandon and I finally got out for a walk again! One of our favourite parks is open again! It is hard to believe that 2007 is drawing to a close. This year has really flown by. A year ago Brandon was still a baby, and now he is well on his way to being a toddler!!! This is one kid that will need a dog one day... he loved all the puppies that we saw on our walk!

Christmas

2007-12-25T22:15:00.000-08:00

snowsuits do not look comfy

2007-12-08T22:07:00.000-08:00

Being all bundled up in a snowsuit may mean that you are warm... but you definitely are not stylin and profilin in it!

It's been a while....

2007-12-04T22:02:00.000-08:00

I have neglected Brandon's blog for the past month. Oops.

All in all, November really wasn't that exciting of a month. October was jam packed with lots of fun outings and day trips, and November seemed to blitz by with me learning the ropes of a new job, the rains starting, and well, just adjusting to a new schedule. We did get in a trip down to the states to take advantage of our stronger dollar, and did get some great experiences in. As you can see, I have worked some magic with the dates to help fill in a few of the gaps.

Brandon is just over 16 months, and is talking up a storm. He is picking up a handful of words every day, and always is charming us. He has cut three more teeth in the last week, and the rest are all pretty close. So that will be it until the 2 year old molars come in. It is weird, he had 5 for so long, and now they are all coming in fast and furious! He is almost walking. It feels like we have been waiting forever for him to take his first independent steps, but Brandon has been cruising around the furniture, pushing his pushie toys, walking with us holding his hands, standing for a brief moment solo, but still not on his own. He is a little late, but still in the normal range. I always figured he would walk early and talk a little later on, but he seems to have his own mind on that. He has so many words, and is picking up things so quickly, that the walking just doesn't always seem to be the number one priority. However, it seems to have really changed in the last few days - he gets up and in to his chairs all the time, and really wants to get up and walk with either the pushie or around the coffee table and do laps pulling himself up on just about anything. We are also walking more with him, and you can almost see a daily difference with his confidence. I think one day he is just going to take off and leave us all in the dust.

Time and time again Brandon teaches us that how things happen and when, really is up to our kids (with some nurturing to help nature along) and that you really do need patience because you can build it, but it is up to the magic moment they are ready to take their next step.

PS We really did go from a lot of snow to torrential rains and +13 degrees all in the space of about 48 hours.

Goofy in the snow

2007-12-01T22:18:00.000-08:00

Hanging out with Dad and cousin Mike.. and then with Mom.

Often the best laid plans can go awry - Mike came over to babysit while we attended a holiday function only to discover that our hill was not navigable. So, when life hands you lemons - we played in the snow, and had a relaxed night chilling. Nothing like getting some extra time with your loved ones!

A family skate...

2007-11-24T22:21:00.000-08:00

Our first family shot - on the ice. I took Brandon for a family skate, and Ken played hockey right after. It was a great night (fundraiser for the Christmas Bureau through Ken's work)

You can't hear us, but we are both going "wheeeeeeeeee" Brandon loved the wind in his face and whipping around the corners. Once he is moving, he is going to be running!

What do you see, Brandon?

2007-11-11T22:32:00.000-08:00

Driving up island, we noticed signs up as we passed through Goldstream that the salmon were spawning. This was something I had always been curious about, and we lucked out and happened to pass through at the right time. Every one and their dog were out, and parking was at a premium! There was a festive atmosphere celebrating the salmon run (a little bizarre in a sense) and the seagulls were having a good time as well.

You can make out the salmon fins in the water, and the gulls are there like a monty python episode, poking at the bodies as they fight their way upstream.. I can hear the fishes - "We're not dead yet!! Bugger off!!!!"

Another ferry ride...

2007-11-10T22:28:00.000-08:00

On route to Vancouver Island... the long way from Anacortes (a great trip)

Just so CUTE!!!

2007-11-03T22:27:00.000-07:00

I am so biased, but those curls! Those eyes!! That grin!

Our wee elephant

2007-10-31T22:47:00.000-07:00

Getting ready for the big day....

2007-10-30T22:59:00.000-07:00

Sometimes he is just so *cute*!!

Artsy shots in Stanley Park

2007-10-29T23:04:00.000-07:00

How do you not smile when you see this picture?? What a moment to capture...

And us, hanging out in the park.

Ice Cream!

2007-10-29T23:03:00.000-07:00

After a successful morning at the aquarium, what better thing to do than go for ice cream together?? We stopped at the crown glory of gelato places on the way home from the city.. and the funny thing about kids.. you do not have to teach them how to eat an ice cream cone!!!

Pumpkin patch!!!

2007-10-27T23:14:00.000-07:00

These are like big drums...

You can tell, Brandon is communing with the Great Pumpkin, wondering what great art is going to emerge from within...

I love pasta (this is not a tan)

2007-10-25T23:28:00.000-07:00

A train ride..

2007-10-14T23:25:00.000-07:00

In front of a big train... and the wonder of a smaller train...

Lighthouse Park

2007-10-13T23:23:00.000-07:00

a really cool family pic!

Our bear

2007-10-10T23:23:00.000-07:00

back at the beach...

2007-10-08T23:30:00.000-07:00

at the end of a day....

2007-10-08T00:47:00.000-07:00

So much harder to get that "money shot" now that he is getting older, he moves a lot more, and I am trying to get candid shots, but it can be tricky. This is truly an advantage of digital cameras - you can take a zillion shots, and then edit, edit, edit!!

food shots never get old..

2007-09-28T00:20:00.000-07:00

Well... 14 months just flew by, and Brandon is talking up a storm. He has many words already, and his favorite phrase is "Where is the ball?" That is the first thing he says in the morning, and the first thing he says when we get home.. you can have many toys, and it all comes down to the simple stuff. He says momma and dadda, poppa, hi, ball, car, shoe, he has said moo but it has been a while, go (a few times), almost said buzzzzz, apple, nana, and bye bye. He is getting there - he is a talker, what a surprise! He is close to walking, but not quite. He is cruising along, and moving between pieces of furniture, but he just doesn't want to stand solo yet and take steps by himself.

He will walk with someone holding his hands up, and he is getting stronger all the time. It is easy to get impatient at times, and try to will him to walk, but he will when he is ready and it is obvious that his skills are improving all the time, and that is what you want to see.It seems that kids mature and do things when they are ready and we have to learn patience.

He likes to play, and he likes to wrestle. He likes stacking toys, and is learning how to push cars around. He loves his stuffed, soft animals and he is a really good eater. He does well with bottles and sippy cups, and is learning how to use a spoon. With me, he is a messy eater, and with his dad, well, Ken helps him more and I let him make more of a mess, so together we have some kind of balance thing going on. He doesn't really make strange much, and he sleeps for about 9-10 hours at night, and takes a 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon. This has been pretty stable for a while - sometimes on the weekends we sneak an extra nap in there - we are all tired when saturday rolls around!

He has fit in really well with daycare, and we consider ourselves really lucky. I am starting a new job in a week, and without feeling good about our daycare, I could never have contemplated this move. It is really exciting. I am trying to think of what else I can update you with - ah yes, I have spent time going through Brandon's clothes this weekend - he is 24 month old clothes, or 2Ts... He is about 34 inches long, and I figure about 30 pounds. Funny how in the beginning all that information is so precise, and then as your child gets older, these answers become much more approximate as you relax in to parenthood. He is growing like a weed and that is fun to watch. He is tall - we are paying forward a few hand me downs to a boy at daycare, he is 25 months old!! In all fairness, he is smaller from his age because his parents aren't that big... He likes interacting with other kids, and is changing all the time. The baby stage seems like a lifetime ago already (which is part of the reason I am trying to capture a few milestones here today). He still has 7 teeth through, and I think that the lower left 1st year old molar is poking through.. that final bottom front tooth (of the first 4 that come in first) is really, really close but not confirmed to be through yet. Those first teeth came in so fast, and the last few have been stragglers. It's kind of funny.

a background of blue

2007-09-27T00:10:00.000-07:00

What a picture, makes me smile when I look at this one.

the water park in fall

2007-09-22T00:37:00.000-07:00

At the museum....

2007-09-15T00:36:00.000-07:00

Is this a sign???

On the ferry....

2007-09-15T00:34:00.000-07:00

The dog days of summer

2007-09-11T22:27:00.000-07:00

Probably the last time this summer we can get this messy at the beach! Especially since the rains are predicted in the near future...these days are priceless.

We made a sand castle and played in the sand, and then we went for a swim. It was a great way to celebrate being alive!

Messing with Brandon's hair

2007-09-10T21:28:00.000-07:00

First it was with food.

This time, soap. What fun one can have with hair!

Those shrinking pads.

2007-09-08T21:18:00.000-07:00

Well, Ken's goalie pads are 36 inches tall, and Brandon is quickly closing in on that number. He is about 87cm, or 33.75 inches tall!! WOW! I am lucky if I have a decade left of being taller than him!!! It amazes me when we are playing on the ground and he is pretty much as long as my legs are - the baby stage is so short, it is hard to believe until you look back at the months gone by!!!

Our 2nd boat trip

2007-09-02T21:31:00.000-07:00

We finally made it out on to Pimainus Lake!

Not so happy faces....

2007-09-02T21:09:00.000-07:00

But really, funny as hell!! Why is it so hard to take your baby seriously when they start to cry?

playpen in the woods

2007-08-31T21:34:00.000-07:00

At another beach...

2007-08-25T21:46:00.000-07:00

We had a great visit with Sarah and Wyatt, Inga and Bennett.
What a great afternoon!

Amazing how quickly kids learn how to use the toys in the sand box...

He loves the water

2007-08-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

Back at White Rock... it was a strange day at the beach, it was really sunny but the beach was cloaked in mist. It gave it a whole different look! I must admit, and it is no surprise to anyone, I love heading to this beach. Although now isn't so much about the fish and chips, as about a good coffee, date square, and wander in the opposite direction. A time for everything eh?

On the trail at Buntzen lake

2007-08-21T21:38:00.000-07:00

the creature from the blue lagoon....

2007-08-14T16:17:00.000-07:00

So, I am totally biased, but what a cool kid.

He loves the beach, and we played in the water, and we had a grand old time at White Rock. Again. Definitely one of our favorite places to go, and Brandon really seems to enjoy every aspect - being at the beach, taking it all in, and being in the water.

Nice patch....

2007-08-13T21:47:00.000-07:00

Being a boy.

2007-08-06T17:17:00.000-07:00

Did I mention how much I love camping??? It was great to get away, be somewhere different, having a campfire, watching how quickly our son learned how to play in the dirt and shove rocks in his mouth. LOL

Something about a sunset...

2007-08-05T17:07:00.000-07:00

This was taken on our last night camping at Birch Bay, WA. We couldn't have asked for better weather. We got to hang out, roast some marshmellows, go for a swim, all that great stuff!