Early mornings

Since I've gone back to work, Faith has decided that George's version of the morning routine is not as good as mine. So, we've been having a few adjustment issues. So far, these have manifested as her getting up in the middle of the night to tell me she can't sleep and needs me to "snuggle with her", and then waking up at 6:00 in the morning to have breakfast with me. Although I enjoy talking with her before I leave for work, I don't enjoy the cranky creature that emerges at the end of the day from lack of sleep.

Thinking back, it took about two weeks for her to like the way I did the morning routine when I took over from George when I started mat leave, so I'm taking the "this too shall pass philosophy". And, putting her to bed earlier.

Oh...and Blake so far could care less. He seems pretty happy to get a different place to play every day. Plus, he's getting a better menu at the sitters than at our place. I mean, he's had homemade cheese bread for goodness sake!

When did she get so tall?

Faith has her first skating field trip of the year tomorrow, to be followed in quick succession by two more. So, we tried on her hand-me-down skates to make sure she was actually going to be able to squeeze into them at the arena. They fit OK, but when she stood up in the laundry room on her shiny white skates, I was blown away by how tall she actually is. Yes, I am short, but I don't think Faith will be hit with the same genetic twist. According to a parenting site I visit, they predicted that she would be 5'6". So, I'm fairly sure that I will be the shrimp in the family. What else is new?

A big step for Blake

All boxed up
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3

Yesterday, January 8th, Blake took his first step! Faith and I have been practicing with him so he takes turns walking to one of us while the other "spots" him. Until yesterday, we had just gotten him to stand by himself, but he always knelt down when he actually wanted to move towards one of us.

Not yesterday though. It was my first day back to work yesterday, which went well, and the kids and I were just hanging out after supper waiting for George to come home when Faith and I tried our walking "coaching" with Blake. To our huge surprise, when Faith let go of him, he took a step towards me! Yippee! Of course, he hasn't done it since, but it's only the beginning.

I have no idea why we want him to walk as it only means he can get into more things. Today he tried to climb up our bookcase upstairs...twice! In all the years we owned it, Faith never tried to climb the thing once. Blake got near it for the first time today and immediately found a foothold. I shudder to think what he would do if we left him alone with Uncle Duncan for a weekend trip. Duncan would have him climbing boulders in a couple of days!

A quiet moment over the holidays

Working on Alandra's new craft (1)
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3

Alandra and Faith were enthralled with Alandra's new "sticky mosaics" fairies, a craft that we gave her for Christmas. It involves placing brightly colored square stickers on numbers representing different colors to create pictures of fairies. The result is pretty cool, and even better was how long it kept their attention! :)

Future driver

This is great
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3

Blake loved pushing his new dump truck around but loved getting rides from Faith even more.

Mom and daughter

Mom and daughter
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3

Allyson and Logan posed for this very cute picture on Boxing Day at the parents place.

Eating potatoes

Eating potatoes (1)
Originally uploaded by Robin's Nest3

For some reason, George decided that he should teach Blake how to eat raw potatoes on Christmas day. Like father, like son or something like that. Blake took to the whole project as it involved him eating and he is always up for that. Personally I found the whole thing gross, but it did make for some interesting pictures.