Going, Going, Gone.

Last Thursday we took Frankie to her first of many tax sales. She laughed, she cried, she ate, she passed out and she was our little good luck charm. We were cautiously eying three properties: one we were certain would go for more than our little bank book would allow (which it did) and two that we thought would likely do the same.

When the first property we liked came up Frankie and I were at the back of the room doing the baby pace but listening carefully to the auctioneer. He called out the taxes owing and R bid. He called for advances on this bid and nothing. Second call - nothing. Third call - still nothing. Sold! We had just bought a little home outside the city for $3100.

Maybe it was all the anticipation or feeling like we just won the property lottery but I wanted to run up and give R the hugest victory kiss. Or at least the hugest victory high five (in which we both jump in the air and high five at the same time). Looking around the room though Frankie and I decided that this might be best reserved for the parking lot afterwards.

It's not a mansion and its not ready to move in. At the same time its not lop-sided or falling off a cliff. Some where right in the middle (but more on the side of move in and mansion than lop-sided and cliff if I had to pick one). There will be work to do. Maybe lots of work. But with a starting price of $3100 and no mortgage we've got a little wiggle room.

Because it was a tax sale the original owners still have another six months in which they can pay the taxes owed and redeem the property. Given that it's been three years since they've paid any taxes and that we've dug up a bit of the back story we're pretty sure that this is unlikely to happen. Nonetheless we don't get to start poking around until then (the end of January or so). In the meantime we'll probably drive by it three times a week, debate if we should rent it or sell it and watch the home depot fliers almost as regularly as our dads to see if the laminate flooring or gyprock go on sale :)

Fraught with Anticipation for the Tax Sale

Sleepless in Sydney

Frances has never slept very much during the day. She sleeps like an old man at night - anywhere from eight to fourteen hours - but the days it seems are for watching and learning and watching some more. I read that babies at her age should be sleeping six hours during the day. We're lucky if she sleeps one fifth of that.

Lately, this lack of daytime sleep has been catching up to her and causing bouts of the baby crankies. When this happens nothing seems to make her happy - not eating or being held or toys or smiles. When this happens it means we just have to stop and rock. And we rock and she falls asleep and I sit and rock some more.

And there's no television or radio or internet. And for some reason I don't plan dinner or make lists or solve all the world's problems. I just sit and be. Somehow even though I have less time than ever I finally have the time to appreciate the stillness.

Sure I could put her down and get to getting things done. At this stage, with her feelings on daytime sleep, putting her down pretty much guarantees a wide awake baby in five minutes or less. Maybe this will change as she gets a bit bigger. Maybe it won't. For now I think I'll embrace her sleep particularities as the perfect excuse to take ten minutes and just do nothing at all.

Swing Low

Falling For Fall

Today for the first time in a long time there was a crispness in the air. Frances and I went out for a late evening walk and it was beautiful and rejuvenating with each rustle of the leaves ushering in thoughts of fall: knit sweaters, scarves, hot apple cider, pumpkin pie and county fairs. If there was a season pageant I know fall would give the best speech. Until then we've embraced this short heat reprieve as an opportunity to don our long sleeve sweaters and our long sleeve jams:

Lessons Learned

After our first eight weeks together I now know:

1. I don't mind touching another human's poop

2. Feeling rested is relative

3. I am pro-pacifier

4. Baby fingernails grow fast

5. Baby smiles melt my heart

Walk This Way

Before Frances was born I used to marvel and mums and dads with babes - particularly how much the former walked the latter. I could only presume that babes needed to be aired out often. Since Frances though I've learned its much simpler than that. Walks are (a) pretty much the only thing we both really like (since I'm not big on starring at her jingly purple bee and she's not really for any of the books I'm reading) and (b) the only time each day I get out of the house. And so we walk. A lot. Some days I'm lured by the thought of two or three or four walks. If this keeps up Frances will be able to map our Northend borough with eyes closed by the time she's three.

Fat Bottom Girl

Last night we began our adventure in cloth diapering. Twenty-four hours later and all is well. It feels so good to be putting what has to be the cadillac of diapers on her bottom: the inserts we're using feel softer and fluffier than a bunny's belly.

We decided on Flip diapers for a few reasons. First, the snaps. I think these will stand up to the washer and dryer better than velcro (which was the only downfall of a few of the other brands).

Second, they are one size. Initially I was skeptical that a single diaper really could fit a babe from eight to thirty-five pounds but after seeing them firsthand I'm sold. The snap system, in addition to being durable, is quite complex, and easily allows the up and downsizing of the diapers. Frances is about ten pounds now and these diapers fit both around her legs and around her waist. The excellent fit has (so far) meant a HUGE reduction in poop leaks. Yep, poop leaks. We've tried four brands and two sizes of disposable diapers and none of them have managed to keep the poop contained. Some days I wondered what the point was (might as well just let her go naked) as I rinsed yet another set of pjs and sheets before putting them in the washer.

Third, (as pointed out by the mummer) the outer shell of the Flip diapers is just a shell. Some other shells we looked at were fabric lined in addition to the use of a fabric insert. Having just the plasticized (but not lined) shell means that we can wipe and reuse the shell when her dipe is relatively clean. If we find she needs a bit more protection we can use two inserts.

Fourth, these diapers are frigging cute.

I'm not sure yet what we'll do on extended outings. Bring along extra inserts and containers for soiled inserts or pack along some throw-aways. Also, I'm really hoping that these new diapers will help with diaper rash. I've read that they do. Poor little red bum.

A Handless Clock with Numbers

Right before we left for the wedding I proudly declared "oh, I don't cry in public." So sure was I that I didn't think twice about not packing any kleenex along. Two notes into this song and there I was sniffling and snuffing back tears with everyone else. Such a beautiful song for such beautiful people.

More Wedding Photos

That I also didn't take. Once we settled into Mum and Dad's I didn't take my little camera out at all. Rob was bringing our bigger camera so I thought I would wait for that. Our last few days were such a whirlwind it didn't even make it out of the car. Much love to those who did remember to capture everyone's time together.

(Photo: Suzanne Myette)

(Photo: Suzanne Myette)

Sweet Dreams

Before Frances was born we planned to have her sleep in her cradle in our room for three months since most SIDS prevention websites recommended rooming in during the early days. After this she would make the transition to the crib in her room. I had read about co-sleeping on these sites as well: cultures that practice, cultures that don't, advantages, disadvantages, etc. While some suggested that it was a key prevention strategy overall the research was inconclusive. And so we decided that co-sleeping wasn't for us.

Then Frances was born with her own thoughts and feelings on how and where she should sleep. Here is how our first few nights together went down: nurse, fall asleep, move to cradle, wake up, nurse, fall asleep, move to cradle, wake up, repeat until morning. Ugh. Until we tried having her sleep in our bed.

Of course, this won't last forever. We want her to be able to sleep on her own and eventually (after three months) in her own room. We want to have a good night time routine that comforts her and helps her to fall asleep peacefully. But for now (while she's still so little and unsure of the world around her) this allows all of us to get a good nights sleep. It's kind of neat actually discovering her little preferences and what works and what doesn't despite what we may have thought would work in theory. It feels like we're slowly learning all the idiosyncrasies and nuances that make up wee Frances.

Love Is All Around

Dear Frances,

I know as you grow that there will be no doubt about how much you are loved. Nonetheless it swells our hearts to see it first hand every time we visit with family and friends. We will be forever grateful for the instant and endless love shown to you by those most important to us. And we are certain that all of this will help you to become someone who is also capable of great love.

Love,

Your Mom

Pretty Grama (Photo: Olivia Myette)

With Nana and Your Great Aunt Edie and Cousin Jack

With Uncle Donnie (Photo: Jana Tubrett)

Great Aunt Linda (Photo: Olivia Myette)

Great Cousin Olivia

Great Uncle Mike (Photo: Olivia Myette)

Great Aunt Chris (Photo: Olivia Myette)

Homeward Bound

We are back. Home. Unpacked and settled in. These last three weeks have been amazing. Fast and busy, but so lovely and so needed. The wedding was beautiful. I don't think it could have gone any better. The venue and the ceremony and the meal and the reception all seemed to encapsulate Josh and Jill so well. What more could you ask of a wedding (after all the work that goes into planning it) than that it perfectly reflect who you are.

First Dance (Photo: Vanessa Marshall)

Mrs and Mr. (Photo: Vanessa Marshall)

Handsome Fellas (Photo: Olivia Myette)

The trip home took a little longer than usual. Frances did her absolute best but who likes to sit in one place for the better part of two days? Not me and not her. She slept on and off during the day and then got into a pattern of wanting to eat for five minutes every forty-five minutes. It was starting to look like we might not get home until September. Then darkness. A signal to Frances to close her eyes and drift to dreamland. She slept from midnight until eight in the morning and with only one stop for gas we made up much lost time and pulled into our drive just after the sun came up.

I had been trying not to think about how much there was to do here at home once we returned. Now though I'm kind of happy to have mopping and sorting and gardening (and baby) as temporary distractions from missing everyone who filled these last three weeks with much love and laughter.

The fur brothers did well on their semi-own. We had someone looking after their food and litter needs but I always feel a little awkward asking our stand-in to make sure that they get lots of love too. I was half expecting to come home to an open freezer with partially eaten meats all over the floor (since they have figured out how to help themselves to freezer meats) - certain retaliation for their abandonment. Other than a little fur here and there though the house is intact. They don't seem to be letting us very far out of sight today though - a sure sign that we were indeed missed!

Uncle Matt

Afternoon Nap

Sleeping Cutie

Uncle Josh and Aunt Jill

Old McDonald

Driving around and looking at farms is never on my Southern Ontario to-do list but it should be. They are bristling with an array of colourful fruits and veggies in the summer months as evidenced by the handmade signs running up and down the field-lined roads: Sweet Corn and Raspberries for Sale, Fresh Brown Eggs, Maple Syrup, Snap Peas and Strawberries ... En route today it made me better appreciate the uniqueness of a landscape I barely noticed while living here. It also made me very hungry for lunch.

Good Morning Starshine

Internet Explorer is awful. Just awful. We don't use it at home and so I've never used it to look at this blog. Ick. Things are all over the place and the alignment is dreadful. How can a browser not be compatible with the mammoth that is blogger? I will never roll my eyes again at a web designer who points out all of its flaws and incompatibilities. And I promise if you peek at this little blog in Mozilla or Safari or Google Chrome it is much prettier.

On a much happier note - a smile! Frances is grinning just about everyday now. At first if you tapped her lips she would crack one but lately its all sorts of things like words ending in "y" or if you tickle her ear. She's most smiley in the morning. At first I thought she got this from her dad (early morning aficionado) but then I remembered that our mornings don't typically get underway until 10:30 or 11am so perhaps she gets it from me after all.

If You Go Out In The Woods Today

Frances was gifted this little picnic set at a Frances Meet and Greet earlier this afternoon. It is the perfect size for tiny fingers and I can't wait to pack it along on a sunny Saturday afternoon outing. Or set it up on a rainy Sunday and make the smallest chocolate chip cookies to fit on these smallest plates.

White Lake Weekend Part Two

Little Lizzard Lounging

Aunt Nika

Ontario Baby Summetime Attire

Heat + Babies

White Lake Weekends

Today we leave Ottawa after five lovely days and head for Waterloo. Our two flights (Sydney to Halifax and Halifax to Ottawa) were just perfect (as in one solidly sleeping baby for both flights) and we're crossing baby fingers for a repeat performance. FYI: flight staff are extra friendly when you travel with an arm full of cuteness.

I am hoping also (in contradiction of logic since we're actually head South) that it's going to be just ever so slightly cooler in Waterloo. Yes, that's right I'm hot. Too hot. I think this means the final chapter of operation island acclimatization is complete. I miss the cool days and cooler nights. I never imagined how much warmer nine pounds of baby in your arms could make you.

When the heat first hit I was worried that it might be dangerous for her but then remembered that babies are also born here (and have been born here for years) and they all seem to manage. She actually seems to be taking to the the warmer temperatures just fine. It makes her a little sleepier than usual but otherwise still a little bag of happiness and smiles.

Our trip out to White Lake was wonderful and a great big screened in porch meant that Frances and I were able to spend three days out doors (and still out of the sun). Frances saw her first woodpecker, robin and chipmunk though none of them seemed to make as much of an impact as a bright orange beach towel tossed over the back of a lawn chair. Maybe next year.

She's been sleeping like a champ at night and we've learned that three day time naps means much lessing fussing in the evening. In addition to heading off a wee bit of baby wailing this discovery definitely made us feel like ace parents - we're getting to know our baby!

Ottawa Afternoons