Calder continues to grow and change

Sorry it's taken so long to get a new post to you all, this has been a work in progress as I fight a pretty bad cold. Most of Calder's nap times are mine as well, but I thought I would try to finish it this nap time around.

Calder is changing more and more every day, growing more and more. He is on the move so much, and loves to explore all of the house. Just today I was telling my mom that I don't think this house is big enough for Calder, he has explored almost every room! :) Here's a picture of the little monkey on the move...


I snapped this picture after he pulled the high chair into the kitchen (did I mention he's pretty strong?) and he started pulling it back and forth, discovering what wheels can do.


Also, here's a picture that I love that explains what I meant last post - Calder will be on the move - motoring to some place - I will call his name and he will turn around and look at me as if to say 'Yes, Mommy?'


After a visit from his Grandma and Aunt Colleen last Saturday, I discovered that Calder was getting another tooth coming in, his top left one. I just found today that his right one is coming in, too - I think it happened overnight (no wonder we had such a horrible and sleepless night, Calder and I) along with a blood blister! Ouch. The things babies go through to grow up!! Soon, we'll have a real toothy boy! For now, here's the only picture (that I have seen) where you can see his bottom teeth!


Sunday was of course, Easter, and to start the day Calder decided he would master the stairs in our house. He's gone up one stair before, but this time, he went up the whole flight! Yay, Calder! Since then, Calder's climbed the stairs a couple of times a day. Now he motors up them!!!!! So fast that sometimes he loses his footing, making for a very anxious Mommy sometimes! A gate will be purchased soon, trust me!!!!



For Easter dinner, Calder was dressed in his little button-down shirt that he wore for his Easter photo. The shoes I bought to match this top already don't fit - he wore them once! Silly me, I guess I should have bought 12-24 months. What was I thinking, a 7 month old wearing 6-12 month shoes?!?



Calder enjoyed his time very much at his Avo and Grandpa's, where we all had a feast. He was again entertained by his cousins Peter and Olivia and enjoyed exploring a new house full of undiscovered breakables and treasures. :)


This week, although I could feel a cold coming on, I didn't want to miss our fitness classes together, so on Tuesday we had our 2nd Salsa babies class which was a lot of fun. Calder seems to enjoy it, he is quiet for the whole 45 minutes, save for a few exclamations of what I suppose is glee. Yesterday we had our 2nd StrollerFit class and it was outside this time by the very cold and blustery waterfront. Calder didn't seem to notice that I had no idea where the group went (he was passed out) but I found them soon enough (I was a couple of minutes late) and managed to finish the class with them. I think I have to start getting ready for the class an hour before it starts! I am hoping nicer Spring weather is on the way so we can both enjoy this time a little bit more.

Calder also tried apples for the first time - Daddy made the homemade applesauce just the other day - and Calder was not too sure about them. Gary says it's because I chose Macintosh apples as the apple of choice (my favourite, but yes, I guess they are a bit tart!) but I seem to have found that Calder likes them mixed with his cereal. But here's a picture of one of Calder's first tastes of it...yummy!


That's about it from here! I hope that you are all enjoying your week, and that Friday comes soon for you all!

7 months old and growing like a weed

Calder is now 7 months old and I wonder where the time has gone. I mean, it's gone so quickly! People are starting to remind me how little time I have left before I go back to work, and really, I rather they didn't, because it just reminds me of how little time I have left with him before I have to leave him in someone else's care.

That's what sucks the most, and that's an understatement. I do so wish I could spend another year with him, but looking on the bright side of things, at least my line of work has plenty of vacation (all together about 4 1/2 months!) so I am not going to whinge on about it too much. This is the way it has to be! For now I am going to enjoy my baby boy and take every day as it comes. But, I am looking forward to nicer weather (as we have seen some lovely glimpses of it!) and doing a lot of things outside together.

Here's Calder's 7 month/Easter picture...he's starting to look more and more like a little boy lately. I was saying to Gary last night, he seems to almost have turned a corner in his maturity, if that sounds weird - yesterday he'd be crawling around - I would call his name and he would turn around and sit, give me this beautiful little look followed by a smile and wait for me to say something. It made my heart just melt!

Have a wonderful day!

BOINNNNGG like a Boy

Calder's dad is your blog author for the day. It's been a while since my last blog post (over a month!). My wife has stepped in like a pro, keeping you all up to date on Calder's milestones and changes in appearance. I have no idea what our photo collection would be like with a digital camera. They are so convenient and allow things like this blog and her scrapbooks to really take form. Speaking of taking form, our Calder is certainly getting bigger, stronger and brighter. I am in awe of him most days. I don't get to spend the amount of time that I want to with my son or my wife, work gets in the way. Lately, it has really gotten in the way. I recently got a promotion at work; and our dept is short-staffed, and with so many projects and so little time to do them, time at home has suffered a bit. I try to do what I can at the office and on the train rides to and from work, but I am still taking work home or taking the tension home. Not stuff that I want to continue doing for long stretches of time, and thankfully things have turned a good corner and will be getting back to normal soon.

During these tense times, Calder has been able to put a nice big grin on my face with some of his antics. Some of his other antics have caused stress (like his predictably unpredictable sleeping patterns) and his absolute “I want my momma!” shrills of protest when I try to console him. Things are changing though, and changing in a hurry, like my learning curve. I have learned that my kid is a quick student and that I should not teach him things that I do not want him to do all the time. Like playing with the springed door stoppers in our house. In a moment of weakness, during his shrills of protest of not having his mom around (she went to the drugstore), I panicked and tried to distract him with the BOING sound of the door stoppers. That was about a week ago. Since then, he has discovered almost all the doorstoppers in the house and has playing a long tune on each of them. His favourite spot is on the main floor by the laundry room. Two stoppers within to legs crawls of each other. On Friday night, after spending hours on the phone and computer doing work, Calder serenaded me with his musical talents. Two strokes on the laundry room stopper, crawl to the bathroom door, two strokes on that stopper, crawl to the laundry room door, two strokes there, a giggle and back to the bathroom. Four minutes was all I can take. Apparently, he has been doing this all week. I only notice the times at night when he patrols the floors on his hands and knees searching out for more stoppers.

I discovered other talents too. On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of having Calder all to myself for many hours. It was a boys' night in. Calder, Finn and myself. I had pizza, Finn had crust, Calder had plenty of food. We took a nice walk (slow, my knee still won't let me do much), and watched some cartoons on TV. Calder then surprised his Dad twice. First off, I was holding Calder and wiping his hands and mouth after his dinner and jokingly lifted up my hand and said, “Good job Calder, gimme five!”. And he did. I was shocked and asked again, he laughed and slapped my hand. This went on for 30 minutes. Silly as it seems, I am so proud that he could do that. (Even as I type, I can hear Calder crawling around the house, playing with the door stoppers. I think he is in his favourite spot as I hear the occasional pause and clunking sound of him crawling on tile).

The second surprise of the night happened while I was trying to distract him away from the coffee table. I stuck out my arm to block him from going a particular direction, and he grabbed onto it with one hand and used it like a handrail. He started walking with it (and thus, me) around the room. He will be walking unassisted soon. He is trying so hard right now. His mom was certainly impressed with his skills when she got back in. Of course, Calder refused to go to bed without his mom kissing him good night. Maybe one day.

Calder was watching the hockey game with me a bit last night. He stood at the coffee table, hands flat on the table, his eyebrows furrowed, eyes fixated on the TV. As the Leafs opened up on Crosby and the Penguins, Calder stared in concentration at the noises from the TV and especially when there was a roar from the crowd from a play or from a goal. It was adorable to see. I hope he grows in his liking for hockey. It'll be fun watching games with him, and playing hockey with him too. I can't wait!

We went to a car seat clinic today. Elizabeth was worried about a few things, she's always wanting the best for him, and we thankfully did well on the inspection. We adjusted some straps and learned a few new things and hints from the volunteers there. It was a three-hour wait in line with the car, but Calder was still in a great mood at the end, smiling at the volunteers. My little trooper.

Well, I should get back to spending time with him. Thanks for reading and take care.

Goodnight Calder, Daddy loves you!