Merry Christmas

This Christmas was definitely my favourite by far. Christmas Eve we made a snowman, went for a long walk, had a yummy dinner - just the three of us.

Snowman - Gallant style (notice the mullet?)

Christmas morning was fun! Carson wasn't overly interested in his presents, but we coaxed him into opening a few.

Then we headed over to Mom and Ricky's with the whole family (minus Carrie, Rob and the kids) for Christmas dinner. We put Carson for a nap there, and he just stayed in the playpen for a couple hours - no sleeping, but just for some quiet time (again, he's scaring me). Then everyone came over and it was pure Christmas bliss (or chaos, depending on who you ask).

Carson and Mommy both slept till 8:30 this morning - what a day!

Bizzy Bizzy day

Today is Christmas Eve. I took Carson to work for the morning. He was a hit. He was running up and down the hallways, pointing out the orange triangles, green squares, purple rectangles, and red ovals (someone said circle and he corrected them and told them it was an oval). He ran into people's cubicles to say Merry Christmas and even into the CFO's office and yelled Daddy (he's an older man with grey hair, not sure where the association came from?).

We went to the Christmas food table and he wanted only 6 carrots and one timbit. He was told what a good healthy child he was (heh, little do they know). The comissionaire offered him a cookie, he said thanks, he was told he was a good looking boy and again, he once again he corrected them and said "i daddy's special boy". I'll have to take a recording of him saying special boy, it's music to Jeff's ears and it's simply adorable.

He chased balloons, was taken for a ride on a dolly thing (that was then decorated with bells, reindeers and a santa) and paraded through the hallways. There were a ton of other children there, but he would rather visit with the adults then play in the kid's christmas room.

Then we went to visit his Daddy at work, where he ran around into everyone's office and again made a ton of friends. Jeff had to show off his letter skills, he just looks at the walls, at posters, at signs, anything with letters and starts saying what each letter is. If he knows words tht the letter starts with, he says those too. Some of his favourite are G for Grandma, M for Mommy, D for Daddy, N for Nono, E for elephant and of course, Z for Zamboni (which today was actually an N sideways, but I thought he was too young to try and explain that).

We got home an hour past his naptime, he stayed awake the whole time in the car and as soon as I got him out of his carseat, he laid his head down on my shoulder and went to sleep. Until 5 seconds later and we were inside, he opened his eyes, whipped his head to the christmas tree and said "put lights on christmas tree". I read him two books and then he was out like a light. That was two hours ago. Little boog is getting a good sleep. He'll need it for the chaos that will ensue tomorrow!

Tell me it ain't so

Carson's always been a fabulous sleeper.

The last month or so, about once a week he just doesn't nap. He has quiet time for an hour or two but doesn't nap.

I seriously hope this doesn't mean that he's coming off his nap!

But, between you and I, he's freaking awesome when he doesn't nap. He's hilarious, crazy, insane and a little rascal. Love it.

Maybe it's just me

But Jeff and I are keeping Christmas to a minimum this year.

I just find kids these days get sooo much stuff. Too much stuff if you ask me. And Carson is only two! He doesn't even know what the heck presents are. I've seen kids just rip through presents under the tree without appreciating or realizing what they have got. Maybe it's cause we grew up with not alot of money and I can remember savouring each and everything that I opened up. Each gift was special and I was thrilled with whatever it was. I want Carson to grow up that way, to grow up appreciating what he has. And doesn't just expect to get whatever it is he wants. Maybe I'm just expecting too much....

I think I spent $16 on him. And that's it. Two books, a school bus and a puzzle.

I go to people's houses who have little kids and there are scads and scads of toys, plastic (oh the plastic!) scattered around the whole house, and the kids probably play with like 10% of it. This year for Carson's birthday we actually did a recycled theme and asked everyone to bring Carson a toy that their child doesn't play with anymore.

I'm not in any way shape or form a treehugger or hippie, but I'm having serious issues with walking into toystores (read: Toys R Us) and seeing the towers of plastic toys being sold out faster then they can stock them. And then you see these plastic toys in a couple of years sitting on teh curbside waiting to be picked up by the garbage truck. And where does it all end up? In landfills! Ack! I figure if we can do our part, then I'll be able to sleep just a little bit better at night.

Freaking hilarious.

You couldn't tell from the pictures below that Carson loves daycare, could you? I don't know what's up with the serious face but when my caregiver sent me the pictures I was literally in tears I was laughing so hard.

And, I don't know if you can tell from the pictures our caregiver's decor on the main floor, but she doesn't have any kids and there is kids stuff everywhere. Numbers and letters on the walls, bright colourful pictures, it's everywhere. And again - she has no kids! And this is the main floor of the house! Alot of people I had interviewed for care had their basement converted into their daycare.... but walking into the house you wouldn't have been able to tell it was a daycare. As soon as we walked into S's house, and saw the bright colours and toys and pictures I knew Carson would love it, and so would I.

2 year doctor's appointment

Weight: 30 lbs
Height: 35 inches

He's definitely up to speed (and then some!) when it comes to communication, listening skills, vocabulary and cuteness (the doctor even said so). Of course he didn't love it when the doctor was looking into his eyes, his ears (and definitely not his mouth!) but didn't cry, just held onto his mommy's hand so tightly. Each time the doctor moved away Carson would say "all done" and then say "mommy open door now". The doctor laughed and that's when he commented on his speech, about how good it was.

I love that kid.

I don't mean to offend anyone

But I really do have the cutest kid ever. Sorry, but it just must be said.

Maybe.... maybe not

Carson is going to help Daddy decorate the tree...

Carson puts up his new Elmo decoration...

Caron decides he doesn't want to leave Elmo on the tree...

From the mouth of babes

Thanks to Jeff, Carson now says "Hey you, put your pants on"

Sunday morning he woke up at 7am asking for a peanut butter sandwich

This morning when he woke up, I walked in and he yelled Z for ZAMBONI! And opened his "Z for Zamboni book" to the last page and said it again. Z for Zamboni.

Birthday party!

Was a complete, albeit chaotic, success. The house was packed, the kids were running/screaming/chasing each other, a glass was broken, and the food was all eaten. Carson had a really great time. He kept up with all the other kids for most of the night until he just needed some snuggling with his mom and dad.

Here are some pictures in no particular order. We took a movie when the cake came out, but I haven't uploaded it yet. Needless to say, Carson was exhausted at that point and didn't even yell out Thomas like I had envisioned (I made his cake myself), but he enjoyed his piece of it.

Here are some pictures of us choosing our Christmas tree!

Videos I've been meaning to post

I've really wanted him to do his alphabet for his grammy and grampy - I tried a few times!

Few pictures of the birthday boy

Pointing out his letters on his new "eyter wall"

Goofing around with Daddy at dinner

Being a two year old - running around with bags on his head

Playing hockey with Dad

Getting the hockey puck under the table - he even knows to use his hockey stick to get it (normally after he gets it he puts it right back under the table)

Playing with his new train table on the morning of his birthday

How did Carson show mom and dad that he's two?

He decided not to nap yesterday. Just didn't nap. There's a first time for everything! I guess at some point I knew it was going to start happening... just not on his first full day of being two.

And of course it was the day we were going to get family pictures....Jeff said by the time he put him to bed he was wobbly on his feet!

We are now the proud owners of a 2 year old!

I can't even begin to describe how quickly the past two years have flown by. It seems like just yesterday Carson was a little baby sleeping in my arms all day long. Now he's a full fledged toddler, constantly running around with a mind completely his own.

He's such a sweet boy, he pats his animals and "dolls" on the back and holds them so very gently (if he's not throwing them on the ground) and then puts his toys (stuffed animals, cars, pillows, diggers... anything really) to sleep under his "cozy cozy blanket" and says sssshhhh, the car is sleeping mommy. He gives unsolicited hugs and kisses and is constantly climbing all over me. When anyone comes over that he's excited about, he runs over to me, in full force to me and jumps on me and starts yelling whomever's name. He's so very excited each night when Jeff comes home from work. We try to hide, but Carson can't contain his excitement and lets his Dad know exactly where he is.

He is constantly going on about the cars and trucks. The trucks are very big, the cars are going very very fast (nodding his head so quickly as he says it). About ten times a day he'll tell you to watch out cause there's a car coming. He knows his diggers from his tractors, his cranes from his forklifts, his vans from his cars, his scrapers from his graders.

He has an amazing vocabulary and most times is able to tell us exactly how he feels. Whether he's hungry, tired, cold, happy, sad, excited and most recently... when he does NOT want to do something. He lets you know what he wants to do, what he wants to eat, where he wants to go, (and see above... where he does NOT want to go).

He continues to amaze me, on a daily basis. The things he says, the things he does, the way he tells his big long stories. He loves saying his numbers and his letters (not to be confused with the abalet (alphabet) which means Jeff or I has to sing the alphabet song). He can get through the majority of the alphabet (sometimes skipping from C to F or from F to K) but if you get him back on track he'll keep going.

He loves his family too, we always talk about his whole family, show him all the pictures on our frdige, especially of those far away so that he knows exactly who is who. This past week every morning when we asked him where he was going (expecting him to say his caregiver's house) he wanted so desperately to go see Ethan and Isabelle. He picks up the phone and asks to call Grandma, Grammy or Grampy. He teases Jeff, by calling him Jeff.

If someone told me, two years ago, that I could love a child this much, I wouldn't have believed them. I miss him when I'm not with him (although as many normal parents, appreciate the time away) and yet I'm excited to see him at the end of a day of work. He is always the first and foremost thing that I'm thinking about and sometimes I get excited in the morning when he wakes up so I can get some snuggles.

He's absolutely gorgeus too. He has an amazing smile and his eyes twinkle. He looks at you out of the corner of his eye, he purposely avoids your eyes when he knows you're trying to get him to pay attention to you, with his lips showing the slightest bit of a smile. The three of us are the best little family ever, we just work so well together.

My life has changed, for the better, he's made both Jeff and I better people. I couldn't imagine my life without him and am looking forward to the next two years and all that he has to learn, and all that he has to teach us.

Happy Birthday Carson, we love you.

Despite his cold

Carson and I got bundled up yesterday and went to the park. We had a great time (until I forced him to put his mittens back on, and then he lost it. Jeff went outside to see if he could see us and heard Carson screaming so got in the car to come find us in case I needed help).

Carson's sick with a cold now, he slept in till 7:30 this morning (and this kid does NOT sleep in) and I think today there's going to be a lot of cuddling and giving into his every need.

I took the day off tomorrow, we are spending the day together on his birthday. Can you BELIEVE he's going to be TWO tomorrow? I think I'm still in shock/denial.

Last night he wolfed down asparagus, he's really coming around with his veggies. He wasn't so in love with the fish (he normally loves fish) but he ate lots of his asparagus (again, thanks to Jeff) and he's eating clementines like there is no tomorrow. So as much as I love to complain about my son, the one who doesn't like to eat, I figure things could be worse then him eating fish, asparagus and oranges for dinner.

Go Carson Go!

Last night.... Carson ate.... (drumroll please).... broccoli!

And I didn't have to disguise it, puree it, blend it in pasta... he knew it was brocolli, called it broccoli and was convinced by his Daddy to eat it!

We had beef and broccoli stirfry and as always, Carson only wanted the beef part of it (meat Mommy meat). But Jeff convinced him to try the broccoli and he did. A couple of times!

Very very proud parents (sure, it may not seem like much to be proud of, but if you saw the way Carson ate, you would be ecstatic too!)

Happy Birthday Nono

I must say, I LOVE having my family here in Ottawa. Let me correct that, I love having a lot of my family here in Ottawa. I wish my Dad, Arlene and Sam lived here. I wish Jeff's parents lived here (really, who can actually say they wished their inlaws lived in the same city, don't most people wish their inlaws lived elsewhere?), I wish my goddaughter (err and of course, her parents!) and my nieces and nephews lived here. With me, it's the more the merrier. I would even house a family dinner every weekend.


But I digress.


I love that Carson is growing up with cousins, aunts and uncles and grandparents. He's a little shy at first (except with Grandma, she sometimes comes before me!) but then he gets right into it, chasing everyone around, playing with the cars (my sweet nephew Grant knows how much Carson loves cars and always takes out all his cars for him to play with), yelling, running, dancing and laughing with them all.


We all went over to Dino and Alexis' last night for a surprise birthday party for Nono. We had a great time. Carson was up past his bedtime and it was so worth it to not have to rush out of a party and he got so insanely funny it freaking hilarious. I was laughing at him, and then some, last night.


Anyways, here are a few pictures.