The Can-Am Youngs...Down Under

The Spirit of Exploration

2012-02-10T23:52:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago, during the boys' afternoon nap, I sat down exhausted. Why was the apartment such a mess? It didn't used to be so messy. Was I getting sloppy? What was going on? In the bathroom there were diapers strewn across the floor. Bath toys were all over the shower floor and trailed out onto the bath mat. The hamper of dirty clothes had been emptied, each item flung in a different direction.

Things were just as bad out in the living room. Books that hadn't been touched since we got settled in here were pulled out onto the floor. The bead maze was lying on its side. Plastic lids and cooking utensils were mixed in with the books. Shoes that had been neatly arranged beside the door were now scattered in disarray. A piece of toast was peeking out from under the couch. Then it struck me. Of course! We have a crawler! How had I forgotten about this stage? Peter, who has been eyeing everything around him for months, now has the ability to go check it out, and he's not wasting any time.

The shower is one of his all-time favorite spots.

No corner is above his notice.

Checking out the air conditioner, and enjoying a nice blast of cool air.

Testing the strength of our screen door.

Off to something new!

Advance Australia Fair!

2012-01-26T23:28:00.000-08:00

January 26th was Australia Day. We celebrated with a trip to the swimming pool. Eliot practiced some of the skills he's been picking up in his swimming lessons. Peter enjoyed cooling off in the pool and spent some quality time with Daddy in the shade while Eliot and I went to the big pool and did some jumping off the side and catching respectively.

Later in the evening we drove up to the church building to meet up with some friends and watch the fireworks. Our church is at the top of a hill and has a great view of the city. Unpredicted storm clouds came rolling in, however, and as the rain began to fall we took the boys and high-tailed it home before the fireworks began. It made me sad because I'd talked up the fireworks to Eliot and he kept asking where they were going to "go boom in the sky." After I put Peter to bed I noticed that we could just see the fireworks (which did not get rained out) from our windows. So Eliot stood on a chair and caught a glimpse of his first fireworks. I think next year he and Peter will both be better prepared to enjoy them more fully. And hopefully it won't rain.

Eliot found a really cool stick while we were waiting for our friends and watching the storm. So the trip was not a total loss :)

The Boys

2012-01-20T03:19:00.000-08:00

The other day my mother sent me an email asking for an update on what the boys are doing right now. I'd been intending to do an EFG (Especially for Grandparents) post anyway so I thought this would be a good time to share some of the new little tricks our little Eliot and Peter are up to. (Note: some of the pictures match up with what I've written about and some of them just show other things the boys are doing these days.)

Motor Skills:

Eliot thinks jumping is the greatest thing ever. He still loves trampolines, but now he loves to jump off of things. The side of a pool, a stool, a chair, the couch, you name it, he's probably jumped off of it (or at least thought about jumping off of it).

Peter has officially moved into the crawling phase and enjoys exploring the apartment. He especially loves getting into the shower. He has started to pull himself up on the couch and enjoys climbing up and over Eliot's step stool. Sometimes when Eliot is still on it.

Reading:

Peter is still at the age when the quality of a book is based primarily on its mouthfeel. There is one board book in particular that he enjoys. He, of course, loves to chew on it, but if you can pry it's pages apart he also enjoys looking through it because there's a little mirror at the end that he can smile into.

Eliot loves to be read to. His favorites are too numerous to be listed, but some of the titles he is currently into are Winnie the Pooh, Bats at the Beach, and anything by Dr Seuss. He will also sit for a few pages of more advanced tomes like Little House on the Prairie or Wind in the Willows.

Language:

It amazes me how much Eliot's use of language has developed even since we arrived here. His sentences are more complex, "Mama get the phone please" and he's experimenting more with subtlety, "Mama watch little bit Curious George?" His phone skills have come a long way as well.

Peter loves to squeal and make a variety of noises. And of course he loves to giggle.

Interests:

Peter has a strange and compelling fascination with our cordless phone. Whenever he sees it his eyes widen, his little feet kick in excitement, he trembles all over and he clutches at it beseechingly. Once you give it to him he enjoys pushing the buttons and hearing it beep until you eventually have to persuade him to give it up. And when I say 'persuade' I of course mean pry it from his firm grip. He also enjoys rummaging through this and that, and trying to play with whatever Eliot is playing with at any given moment.

Eliot still loves Yellow Bear above all others. He is also fascinated by the way things work and fit together. He 'helped' us assemble the fans that we purchased. He also 'helped' with his crib when it arrived. He likes to pull apart and reassemble his little toys, and I'm sometimes amazed at what he's able to figure out. When we were visiting with some friends they brought out a contraption that held soap for blowing bubbles. Eliot was far more interested in puzzling out the contraption than with blowing any bubbles.

(I love that they're making the same face.)

Outings:

Eliot loves his swimming lessons. He also enjoys trips to the beach, to the library, to the grocery store and to the park. He must walk but does a good job of holding hands or holding on to the stroller. When he gets tired he'll ride in the stroller and snuggle Yellow Bear.

Peter is pretty much just along for the ride. He seems to enjoy any outing that involves air conditioning. The beach is nice as long as it's not too windy and he can relax on a blanket in the shade of an umbrella. On hot afternoons I take the boys to a wading pool that's shaded with a canopy. Peter loves splashing in the cool water. He's a good sport.

All in all our little boys are doing well and getting bigger every day. Even with the challenges and frustrations, they are delightful little guys and we love them.

A web like a spider's web

2012-01-15T03:31:00.000-08:00

When I was a kid, attending Girls' Camp with my church friends, we would sing a song called Spider's Web that had a rather lovely chorus (for a camp song) that went like this:

There's a web like a spider's web

Made of silk and light and shadow,

Spun by the moon in my room at night.

It's a web made to catch a dream,

Hold it tight 'till I awaken.

As if to tell me that dreamin's alright.

Most of you know that the idea of encountering big spiders occupied my thoughts leading up to our move to Australia. And filled me with dread. Everyone I talked to who'd been to Australia, or knew someone who'd been to Australia, had at least one hair-raising story to share. It turns out that none of those people had been to, or known someone who'd been to, Perth. Apparently Perth is the one city in Australia where they don't have big spiders all over the place. So, much to my relief, we haven't yet come across any scary spiders. However...

The spider webs that you find around here are just about the creepiest things I've seen. It's like the spiders that are out there are launching some kind of psychological warfare. These are not the lovely creations that photographers like to hunt up on dewy mornings. These are sinister, fibrous messes. The kinds of webs I'd expect to see in a haunted house. And they're all over the place. I wouldn't want to see the kind of dream these things would catch.

All in all though, I'm very happy that the spider situation is not what I'd feared. The cockroaches on the other hand...

The Borrowed House

2012-01-10T03:39:00.000-08:00

This afternoon the boys and I went to visit our friends, the Sheleys. We were dropping off a pack n play and a couple air mattresses that we'd borrowed from them back when our apartment was bare. Eliot was excited about the visit, but that's because I told him we were going to visit our friends at the Borrowed House. The Sheleys were the family who lent us their home and car way back when we were still so new (or at least more new than we are now) to Australia, and their home holds a lot of memories for our little family. Diane (Sheley) invited us to stay for a swim in the pool, so we packed the suits and the sunscreen and had a great time. Peter was happy to hang out with me in the shallow water on the steps. But Eliot donned a life vest and enjoyed leaping into the water unassisted over and over again. Needless to say he devoured his supper, snuggled quietly for the reading of one book, and fell asleep the moment his head hit his pillow.

Visiting the home, however, reminded me of the good times we had there and the fun photos we snapped of the boys that never made it onto the blog. So here's a little look back at some of our adventures at the Borrowed House.

Encounters with wildlife.
Story and snuggles in a big bed with heaps of blankets.
Eliot spoon feeding Peter.
Eliot honing his stacking skills.
Peter starting to scoot.
Eliot helping Daddy clean the pool.

Peter enjoying the shade. He's helping with the pool cleaning in a supervisory position.

Visiting the Kangaroos

2012-01-03T04:04:00.000-08:00

It's sort of funny to me that we tasted kangaroo before glimpsing any since we arrived here. The other day we decided it was finally time to go pay our respects to one of Australia's most recognized animals. We had heard that there was a cemetery a short drive out of town where wild kangaroos like to hang out and where people like to go and see them. We were told (only half jokingly) that on any given day there are probably more people there to see the kangaroos than to visit the graves. It seemed a little ghoulish, but we decided to take a little family drive and see for ourselves. I half expected to have to sort of sneak a peek on the sly. You know, walking slowly among the tombstones with hooded eyes. Pretending to read the epitaphs while keeping watch out of the corner of an eye for kangaroos. It turns out the cemetery was very welcoming with regards to kangaroo watching and even had signage providing all kinds of information, like you'd see at a zoo. The grave markers were all flat on the ground, so looking out across the ground at the kangaroos you didn't even know they were there. There were kangaroos aplenty and several mother kangaroos with their little Joeys in tow (a baby kangaroo on the move is pretty darn cute, I'm not sure why I was surprised that they made little miniature leaps). Our boys weren't as impressed with the animals as we'd hoped (especially when Eliot realized he couldn't approach and pet them) and the visit was short-lived. But I think we'll be going back at some point during our tenure here.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T04:45:00.000-08:00

Our first Christmas in Australia has been lovely. Everyone here keeps asking us if we miss the snow, and we can honestly answer that we do not. There are things about winter that I love, but as we finished off our evening in the breezy backyard of a friend I couldn't help but think that a summer-time Christmas wouldn't be difficult to get used to.

Christmas morning was delightful this year as Eliot is becoming more involved in the festivities. We didn't have a chance to get up a tree this year but he and I have been singing carols out of a little book that he loves and rearranging the Nativity to the tune of Away in a Manger. He enjoyed handing gifts to others as much as he enjoyed opening his own and was happy to assist Peter. He helped bake cookies and assemble a plate for Santa, which of course involved a lot of sampling (no second best for Santa).

Peter breezed through his first Christmas with as much grace and charm as can be expected of someone who's cutting teeth. He liked the puzzle he received, and the books, but thought that the wrapping paper was especially delicious.

A couple of weeks ago someone asked me if I was upset to have to celebrate Christmas in summer-time. It made me a little sad to think of what this indicated about encounters this person has probably had with others from my homeland, but that's for another blog post. I told her (partly because I've also had to deal with people griping about a home that I love, but mostly because it's the truth) that Christmas is still Christmas, no matter the season, and that we are delighted to be in this beautiful city and celebrate the birth of the Savior with new friends. We miss family and friends back in North America and are thankful for the technologies that help us to feel close to them. But Christmas is still Christmas, with or without the snow, and always will be.

More kangaroo please.

2011-12-17T21:41:00.000-08:00

The other day I bought a brownie mix and on the back of the box there was a 'Creative Tip' that suggested I serve the brownies with ice cream to mix things up. It even included step by step instructions for accomplishing this. I mean, where I come from that's what we call Eating A Brownie Properly. If they offered a recipe that used the brownie mix as the principle ingredient in a savory chicken dish, that would be a creative tip.

We have dabbled a little in culinary adventure since we've come here. Lamb is a popular protein source, particularly in the spring, and I think I ate more lamb in the first month here then in my entire life up to that point. Even Peter got in on the action.

But the best was our first meal in our new apartment. Kangaroo steaks. We found the steaks in the meat cooler of our local grocer and since they were already marinated I thought, why not. I seared them in a pan and then popped them in the oven to slow cook them a bit. Eliot supervised and was pretty impressed with the finished product. In the weeks to come, even if we were eating some other meat, he enjoyed asking for 'more kangaroo please.' Let's face it, it's just a lot more fun to say 'kangaroo' than it is to say 'beef' or 'chicken.' For those of you who are wondering, kangaroo is pretty good. It is very lean and has just a slightly wild taste, but not too much. We've since had it for supper a second time.

Cleaning Check

2011-11-17T04:52:00.000-08:00

So evidently it is very common, here in Perth, for rental companies to conduct regular cleaning checks on the apartments they manage. Let's be honest, the only good thing about being subjected to cleaning checks is knowing that the previous tenant was subjected to cleaning checks. But so it is. Our first check was last Friday, so Spencer and I spent Thursday evening giving our hollow little apartment a good scrub down.

I know that most of you have come to the blog looking for photos of our Little Guys, and it would take too long to explain why loading photos will have to wait until our desktop computer arrives. (The previous post with the videos of Peter was something I created while we were house-sitting) So I apologize for the photo hiatus, but know that it will end sometime next week (!) when our things are delivered. Hope everyone is doing well!

Peter talking and laughing...enjoy.

2011-10-28T05:04:00.000-07:00

The kindness of strangers

2011-10-28T04:06:00.000-07:00

Yesterday Peter, Eliot and I went to take a gift to Avery McWilliams, the brand new baby of our friends Paul and Christina. The McWilliams rent a small apartment from Fritz and Margrite Grader, a sweet couple from the Netherlands. Paul and Christina are both from Edmonton, Alberta, but that's not how we know them.

Back in July we were out of town a lot. But on the one Sunday that we were in church in Toronto, Paul and his father were visiting. Paul introduced himself to the Sunday School class and mentioned that he has been living in Perth. After class, Spencer chatted with him and from that time the McWilliams have been very helpful, giving us information about moving to Australia and arranging for their neighbors/landlords, the Graders, to take us in that first night we arrived in Perth.

The Graders were so welcoming and kind. We didn't do much chatting the night we arrived, but the next morning Fritz showed us around their backyard. You could smell the orange blossoms and the jasmine, and Fritz explained that he has an almond tree, but that the cockatoos keep eating the nuts. Cockatoos? Where are we?

After we had paid our respects to the new baby we went next door to say a quick 'hello' to the Graders and to deliver some oatmeal raisin cookies (Eliot had cleaned them out when we'd stayed with them) and it was great to see them. They and the McWilliams had been our first exposure to the kindness and willingness to help that has been a hallmark of our encounters with people here.

To say that I've never met so many generous people wouldn't be true. I know many many kind and generous people. I suppose our little family has just never found itself in such a vulnerable position, so it stands out a bit more. Here we are, clear on the other side of the globe. Far from the support of family and friends. So when total strangers, at church and in the community, step up and willingly offer help (everything from giving us directions to lending us a house and car) it's really humbling. The MO around here seems to be Pay It Forward. Whenever I thank people for their help, they always talk about how someone else has helped them. I'm looking forward to being settled soon so that we'll be able to start paying it forward ourselves.

Kings Park

2011-10-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

Just North of the University of Western Australia campus, running along the Swan River, you'll find an expanse of wilderness called Kings Park. The first week or so that we were here, we called up two of our new friends, Paul and Christina McWilliams, and took in a small portion of the reserve.

One of the first things I notice about a new place is the vegetation. This is probably true for a lot of people. When you're accustomed to maple and elm lining the streets and now you find olive and eucalyptus it's a constant reminder that you're far from home, but in a good way.

So it was really neat to wander around Kings Park and take in all of the blooming flowers (remember, it's spring here) and the native bush plants, and the not-so-native boab tree. The view of the Swan River and the surrounding city was beautiful. It's definitely on our list of Where to Take People Who Visit Us Here.

Eliot is not making a funny face here but, rather, stating the name of the thing he's holding. "Gum nut."

Leaving Toronto

2011-10-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

So now that we're here in Australia, and I've had a chance to breathe, I can't help but look back a bit at what we've come from. Our departure from Toronto seemed like such a whirlwind. The University of Western Australia had arranged for a moving company to handle the packing and shipping of our things which meant that all we had to do was decide what we were taking with us, get it all sorted out for the movers, keep Eliot and Peter out of their way when they came to pack up, sell off the remaining items, and camp out in our empty apartment for a couple days until it was time to leave for the airport. Friends helped us haul things to Goodwill (we'd sold our car during an earlier visit to Milwaukee), lent us an air mattress, helped clean the apartment, and drove us to the airport (a task that required two vehicles). Thank goodness for good friends!

Take that Atkins! We couldn't leave Toronto without enjoying a hot dog from one of the street vendors.

To say that I miss Toronto and the people I met there isn't to say that I'm not coming to love Australia and the people I'm meeting here, just as I've come to love other places and friends. We only lived in Toronto for 12 months. We experienced each season just once. But I really think it was one of my favorite places to live. Perhaps it was because we lived in a sleepy neighbourhood that was nestled in the heart of the city so we were a few minutes away from bustling urban activity but could hear the crickets at night. I'm certain it was the fantastic people we met and the good friendships we formed. And of course, the city itself had such a fun energy. Something was always going on--very unlike Perth where everything closes at 6pm. Don't get me wrong, Perth is lovely and has a lot to offer, but those late-night gelato runs are at an end. Possibly for best ;)

Eliot was eager to be of use.

Peter secured his nomination for Easy-Going Baby of the Year by drifting to sleep, quietly and unassisted, right in the midst of all the commotion.

Peter is ready for the flight to Edmonton. Eliot seemed to think he was going straight to Australia.

I'm glad that we had that year in Toronto. Looking back at it makes me smile, and you can't ask much more than that from a city.

Perff, Austrai-ya

2011-10-09T04:03:00.000-07:00

Eliot and Peter seem to have adjusted well to the move. Eliot enjoys telling us that we are in "Perff, Austrai-ya" and pointing it out on a map (though he seems to think that Milwaukee and Edmonton are both in the vicinity). Peter has been sitting independently, trying really hard to crawl, and getting more accustomed to solid foods, though each bite still seems like an unpleasant surprise. Unfortunately, he is also dealing with teething issues which have turned him into something of a Baby Jekyll and Baby Hyde. In his Baby Jekyll state he's the same charming, dumpling of a boy, winning hearts left and right. As Baby Hyde, he screams (without warning and generally in the middle of the night), claws at your face and neck and bites your finger with such force that you're tempted to make sure the digit is still intact.

I have noticed that Eliot is a little more fearful of certain things. He doesn't like to stay in the bathtub as the water drains and he sticks close to me more than usual. I don't know if it's the move or if that's just the age he's at now. Either way, we try to make him feel safe and involved, which seems to help. We sure do love our cool dudes.

We Made It! Can You Believe It?

2011-10-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

It feels great to be sitting down to a computer again. I can't believe that we've been here in Perth for three weeks! So much has happened! Before leaving Edmonton I remember preparing mentally for the flights by telling myself that it would be like camping but without the bugs. This helped, but I have to admit that it really wasn't as bad as I feared it would be. As many of you know, our trip here included five flights with layovers that varied in length. Our journey began in Edmonton...

Edmonton to Seattle:

This was by far the best flight. We were all fresh and relatively well-rested. Peter slept for a good portion of it and Eliot was happy to show Yellow Bear the view out the window, and munch on his snacks. We were in the Seattle airport for three hours. Long enough for Eliot to get a nap and for Peter to go exploring with Daddy.

Seattle to San Francisco:

This flight doesn't really stand out in my mind. Pretty uneventful. Peter took another nap and Eliot played well in his seat. It was the layover in San Francisco that was our undoing. We were in the airport for about 6 hours. The trick was that the Singapore Airlines desks didn't open until 9:30 pm so we didn't get to our gate until past 10:00. By the time we got there Eliot was happy to get into his pj's and he and Peter both crashed and had a good sleep.

San Francisco to Singapore via Hong Kong:

I thought the boys would go right back to sleep once we boarded the plane, around 1:00 am. Peter didn't have any trouble with that, partly because he was exhausted and partly because he was zipped into a snug little bassinet. Eliot, on the other hand, got his second wind and stayed awake for several hours, playing with the remote control for this TV and tucking in to the meal they brought him. I should mention here that we weren't able to use his carseat as we had planned. Something about the carseat only working on a window seat and the bassinet not being able to attach to the wall in front of the window seat...anyway, whatever. Eliot finally dropped off into a fitful sleep in his seat. Peter clearly had the best rest of any of us. Whenever the seatbelt sign lit up I had to take him out of the bassinet and strap him into an infant seatbelt that was attached to my own. Unfortunately this was not infrequent due to a squall that we hit out over the Pacific Ocean. But he was pretty good about going back to sleep. The real squall hit just before we were about to land in Hong Kong. Eliot, who felt he had put up with quite enough at this point, came totally unglued. It was that sort of sleep deprivation-induced insanity that all parents know and dread. I felt badly for the flight attendants who sort of fluttered in the background, wondering if there was anything they could do to help. Of course there wasn't. But mostly I felt badly for little Eliot as his maniacal screams roused the rest of the passengers to prepare for landing. (Interesting side note: The water that came with Eliot's meal was Nanton water which is bottled in southern Alberta, which Spencer enjoyed)

In Hong Kong we were quickly ushered off the plane, through a security check point and right back onto the plane, which by that time had been freshened up and refueled. It felt good to be back in our little row of seats again which, after the trans-Pacific flight, was starting to feel like home. Now we were off to Singapore.

The layover in Singapore was unquestionably the highlight of the trip. We'd heard that the Singapore Airport was some sort of travellers' Shangri-La, and during some of the more difficult legs of the trip it seemed to flutter mirage-like in the distance. Even though our bodies thought it was the middle of the night, we all rose to the occasion and took advantage of as many amenities as we could. We explored orchid gardens, enjoyed the goldfish pond, got a free foot massage, then another free foot massage, and took a few naps. But best of all was the free tour into the city. We were whisked through customs, loaded onto a bus, and away we went. The tours were started as an attempt to drum up tourism--which is a major part of the Singapore economy. So as the tour guide pointed out the historical buildings and lovely parks, she also pointed out the lavish hotels and the best restaurants. The tour included a walk along the river so we could stretch our legs and take some pictures. It was really lovely, and the kind of Disneyland clean that you only really get under a benevolently dictatorial government. If the tour was intended to spark interest in returning for a longer stay, it certainly worked on us. It was also the closest any of us had ever been to the Equator. Pretty cool.

Singapore to Perth:

We boarded the plane in Singapore, laden with all kinds of free toys that had practically been forced upon us by very friendly airport attendents in bright pink blazers. One more flight to go. I have to say, with the kids it wasn't so much the long flights as it was getting on and off so many times. We were glad that the disruptions were coming to an end, and as much as we had enjoyed our time in the Singapore Airport we were ready to get to our destination.

Both Eliot and Peter slept nearly this entire flight. I know Spencer managed to get a little shut eye, I don't remember whether I did or not. It was all becoming a blur at this point.

We arrived in Perth around midnight local time and Eliot and Peter didn't even stir when we picked them up and carried them off the plane. Eliot continued to sleep in the stroller all the way through baggage claim, customs, and quarantine. All of these stops were mercifully brief because of a kind airport attendant who helped us through and took us to the front of the line whenever she could (one the few advantages of travelling with small children). I don't remember much about the Perth Airport other than a large mural above the baggage carousel explaining to us that Perth's deadliest marine creature is not, in fact, any of the various sharks that hang out in the water but the small blue bottle jellyfish. Good to know. And then we stumbled out into the arms of the driver that had come to pick us up and take us to the home of some very kind church members who were waiting up for us (more about them in a future post). Little did I know at the time that our adventure had only just begun. New challenges and adjustments and wonderful discoveries awaited us. But at that moment all we could think of was how grateful we were that the children were both asleep, and that we had a place to stretch out flat and lay down our weary heads.

Safe Arrival

2011-09-16T20:30:00.000-07:00

After our two-day odyssey, we arrived safely in Perth around midnight last night. Pictures and stories to follow in the coming weeks!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

2011-09-14T09:12:00.000-07:00

Today is the day. We're leaving for the airport in just about an hour and our bags are nearly packed. Peter is upstairs enjoying a nap and Eliot is playing cars with Spencer. Our time in Edmonton has gone by as quickly as our time in Milwaukee and Toronto and we're not long for the Northern Hemisphere. We've enjoyed spending a little extra time with family and friends over the past couple of months. Stay tuned for updates and photos. Thanks for all of the support and love.

Love to you all!

Spencer, Nora, Eliot and Peter

And The Little One Said..."Roll Over!"

2011-08-12T13:30:00.000-07:00

What began as an occasional accident a few weeks ago has grown into a full-blown hey-look-at-what-I-can-do stunt. Little Peter is rolling over. Won't Eliot be surprised!

Our two little guys enjoying some Tummy Time together.

Up North at the Cottage

2011-08-02T08:27:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of July we took a trip to Quebec, to a little cottage on a lake. The cottage has been in the family of Spencer's step-father, Robert Bennett, for several generations. We spent a week there with Spencer's mother and step-father and it was heavenly. We took a day to drive in to Montreal and bum around the city a bit (which included a sampling of their famous smoked meat sandwiches).

A trip to Montreal wouldn't have been complete without a visit to a certain famous bagel shop. Bagel sandwiches on the porch that evening was the perfect way to end the day.

Eliot loved the lake and insisted on going for a dip. It's especially fun when you can splash as much as you please.

We took a trip to Saint Sauveur where we tried some delicious Quebecois cheese.

Peter taking a nap in his make-shift bed.

Happy Canada Day!

2011-07-08T18:09:00.000-07:00

Canada Day was, of course, on July 1. Why, then, am I blogging about it on July 8? One simple reason: we have been on the road for the past week. We were heading up to a cottage that has been in Spencer's stepfather's family for a number of generations (more on that in a future post) and stopped in Ottawa on our way to visit our friends, the Backstroms (who actually live just across the Ontario/Quebec border), and witness the Canada Day festivities in the nation's capital. The city's excitement was heightened by the arrival of a certain Duke and Duchess.

Eliot fell head over heels in love with the big trampoline in the Backstrom's backyard. If you ever needed to find Eliot your best bet was to look out the back window and there he'd be.

I love his look of total concentration.

We also took a trip to the Ottawa River where Eliot played in the water with the Backstom children and Peter enjoyed the shade with Daddy.

Off to the next adventure!

Rissie's Visit

2011-06-24T17:24:00.000-07:00

Last week my sister, Rissie, came to visit us for a week. Eliot, Peter and I devoted ourselves to showing her Toronto, especially now that Toronto is leafed out in all its summertime glory.

We took a trip to the St. Lawrence Market,

hunted for dinosaur bones at the ROM,

and, of course, put some time in at our favorite park. It was an exhausting, fun, and wonderful week.

Our New Horizon

2011-06-23T10:08:00.000-07:00

Today it became official. Come September, our little family will move to Perth, Australia where we will be installed for the next three years. Even though it's been on my mind for a while, the reality of it all is still sinking in. Fortunately we don't have a lot of stuff, but any amount seems like a lot when you're trying to move it to the other side of the globe. Whenever I feel the walls of red tape and logistics closing in on me I look up Perth in Google images and soak in pictures like the one above. A beautiful cityscape reflected in still water, the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean lapping at unspoiled beaches. Adventure is exciting and fun, but it's also a lot of hard work and can involve a lot of stress, even loss. This will certainly be an adventure, a once in a life-time opportunity, and one that our little family is ready to face together.

Happy Father's Day!

2011-06-20T09:40:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a lovely Father's Day on Sunday. Eliot made a card for Spencer at church, in nursery, and in the evening we celebrated with lemon cakes with ice cream and strawberries. Spencer is such a great dad to his little boys and a huge support to me. I don't know what we'd do without him!

Buh buh buh buh Bad

2011-06-09T10:30:00.001-07:00

So here in Canada they use special facial recognition technology for passport photos. It sounds pretty slick until you're a parent of a two month old who needs a passport and you find yourself perched on a stool, propping your baby awkwardly on your lap while flexing your arms into positions unintended by nature to make it appear that your baby is sitting up unassisted without allowing so much as a tip of your finger to appear in the shot. This is all further complicated by the fact that the baby needs to have eyes opened and looking into the camera, no smile, no crying, mouth closed (though it seems there are some passport officials who'll let an open mouth slide if the baby has no teeth.) It took a lot of shots but our patience finally paid off and we got the perfect one. If a baby ever had a mug shot, this is probably what it would look like.

Moose on the Loose

2011-06-08T08:50:00.000-07:00

One afternoon, while we were staying in Edmonton, a moose and her two calves wandered into the backyard and started munching the foliage.

The fact that moose in the backyard is a pretty typical Canadian stereotype wasn't lost on me. My in-laws informed me, however, that this was a rare treat and well worth the many pictures I snapped.

Blessing Day

2011-06-05T11:00:00.001-07:00

Last week today we were getting ready to check out of the hotel in Regina and drive back to Edmonton. We took some time in the morning, however, to have a small gathering of family members in our hotel room for Peter's blessing. It was neat to be able to do it the morning after the wedding before family started to disperse, and we were so pleased that Spencer's grandfather, Peter Young, was able to participate in the blessing. We were also able to get a four generation photo with Spencer's dad and grandfather.

We're so grateful for our two little boys, and so pleased that they were sent to our family. Our lives just wouldn't be complete without them.

Aaron & Patti's Wedding

2011-06-03T17:35:00.000-07:00

We just returned from a two week trip to Edmonton, Alberta. The purpose of our visit took us on an eight hour drive east to Regina in the neighboring province of Saskatchewan for the wedding of Spencer's brother, Aaron, and Patti. It was a lovely wedding and we thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family. There are some photos that I missed because I was busy changing Peter's diaper or chasing Eliot. At one point I came back from cleaning Eliot up and noticed that the beautiful cake was gone. Oops! Just part of the fun of having little children :) And the cake was delicious!

Eliot was sure to make it up front to the head table to get a little Daddy-time during the dinner.

Peter got social too. Here he is visiting with Uncle Jim and Edward.

Aaron and Patti surprised everyone with a dance troupe to perform traditional Ukrainian dances (they both have significant Ukrainian heritage). It was fantastic!

Eliot enjoyed clapping along with the Ukrainian dancers but had to be physically restrained from flinging himself in among them.

Waiting anxiously for his turn to dance. Also, fascinated with the sparkles on Patti's dress.

Eliot hit the dance floor with vigor. He had some pretty fancy footwork and loved spinning around until he couldn't stand up. I'd have more pictures of him but I was too busy dancing with him!

Happy Mother's Day!

2011-05-08T12:36:00.000-07:00

I just want to wish a very Happy Mother's Day to my mother and to all of the mothers in my life. Mother isn't just a noun, but also a verb defined as "to watch over, nourish, and protect". I'm grateful to all those in my life who have mothered both myself and my little family.

Getting in a little brother snuggle time before leaving for church this morning.

Hi Peter!

2011-05-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

Eliot and Peter are continuing to charm and delight. Last week Peter started giving us genuine and very intentional smiles. His eyes light up, he kicks his little legs, and coos. Just adorable. Eliot is pretty impressed with his little brother and enjoys helping out. He rocks the car seat when Peter is fussing, bounces him in the bouncy seat, tosses diapers in the trash and greats him with a friendly "Hi Peter", which he picked up from me. Having a two year old certainly makes you a lot more self-aware. It's like living with a talking mirror.

Happy Easter!

2011-04-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter. Our's was lovely. The Easter Bunny visited our home and we had our friends, the Van Ormans, over for dinner on Sunday. It was a beautiful day so we took a walk around the neighborhood to get some fresh air into the little guys (Eliot, Peter, and the Van Ormans' son Gus). Spring is starting to really bloom here in Toronto and it's been fun getting out with Eliot and Peter to look at all the flowers and the new little leaves coming out on the bushes.

Eliot didn't know why he received a basket full of fun and treats, but he sure wasn't complaining.

Playing with Cydney and Gus.

Helping Mommy make quiche.

Peter is focused on being a little snuggle bug, and he's doing a very good job of it I must say. At his one month check-up he weighed in at 11 lbs.

Eliot playing in his "tent" in the living room.

Bathing Little Peter

2011-04-16T10:20:00.000-07:00

Peter has graduated to the kitchen sink for his baths and tolerates them fairly well. His favorite part is having his hair washed. I always wash it last after he's been dried, diapered, clothed and swaddled, and he seems to find it very relaxing. I love how fluffy and soft his hair gets after it dries. I'd forgotten what a production baths can be for these little guys. But it's also such a tender time.

Happy Birthday Mr. Eliot!

2011-04-13T12:33:00.001-07:00

When Eliot returned home at the beginning of the month we had a little belated birthday celebration for him. It's not every day that your little boy turns two, and though the actual day came while he was in Milwaukee we still wanted to express our love for him and all that he is becoming. It's amazing to me how much he has changed in the past two years. We love you Eliot!

Brothers

2011-04-11T12:26:00.000-07:00

The Eliot/Peter Fan Club has officially lodged a complaint with Can-Am Youngs. Eliot has been back in Toronto for over a week now. Where are all the pictures? All I can offer in my defense is the crazy time we've been having finding our new groove. Not getting back into our old one, but forging a brand new path. When Eliot pulled into town with my parents on April 2 he was not really in the mood to humor us. He was coming home with a cold that included a low-grade fever, had just ridden for about 12 hours in his car seat, and was up about 2 hours past his bed time. He was satisfied to simply look at his new brother and then go to bed.

As the days have passed, however, he has become more and more interested in this new little person in the home.

He can say Peter's name better than his own (he pronounces "Eliot" as "Ette") and is fascinated with everything Peter does.

He likes to help with diaper changes and is very skilled at tossing the old diaper into the trash.

All in all, things are going really well. And as they both continue to grow and develop it will be fun to see them become even better acquainted.

Smiles

2011-03-29T16:59:00.000-07:00

Just thought I'd post a few more pictures of little Peter. He smiles a lot for such a new little guy. I know that the professionals chalk these smiles up to gas or some such non-emotion, but what do they know :)

Reading with Mommy.

His Loveliness

2011-03-22T11:22:00.000-07:00

Back when I had Eliot, I remember hearing some advice that had been given to another new mother. She'd been told to really savor the time with her new little one since with any subsequent newborns there just wouldn't be time to "sit and gaze upon their loveliness."

I am thoroughly enjoying this special time I have to spend with my little Peter. I stroke his soft hair and study his face while he sleeps. We cuddle and snuggle and just sit quietly.

It will be fun to watch as he and Eliot grow into brotherhood together, but in the mean time I'm satisfied to sit and gaze upon the loveliness of my new little boy.

Coming Home

2011-03-18T09:12:00.000-07:00

Peter and I came home from the hospital this morning and are getting ourselves settled in. It is just amazing how quickly everything changes when a new little one arrives. He slept all the way home in his car seat and is content to just snuggle and be loved.

A special first moment with Daddy.

News!

2011-03-17T16:22:00.000-07:00

Peter Royer Young was born at 11:46pm on March 16, 2011. His birth weight was 8 pounds 1 ounce. Mom and Baby are both doing well. Here are some early photos.

Keeping Busy

2011-03-15T18:52:00.000-07:00

Still no sign of Baby No. 2 and the due date is just a day away. I kind of wish my doctor had never said anything about the baby possibly arriving early. It was only a slight suggestion, and even though I knew that there was no way for him to be sure, my subconscious ran away with the idea. I have, however, been getting a lot done to prepare for the baby. Mostly cleaning and catching up with organizing.

Before Eliot left town he also pitched in with the cleaning. There's a clean-up song with which some of you may be familiar (Clean up, clean up, everybody everywhere...). I sing it with Eliot as we put toys away and he has come to think that cleaning up is quite a lot of fun. There is a drawer in the kitchen that he is allowed to rummage through and I will often find toys, sippy cups, cars, etc. in amongst the plastic containers.

Eliot also finds the vacuum very interesting. A while ago I got it all set up and went into the other room to plug it in. I returned to find Eliot already hard at work.

Bon Anniversaire!!

2011-03-12T19:33:00.000-08:00

March is a pretty busy month for our family. With our wedding anniversary on the 11th, Eliot's birthday on the 12th, my birthday on the 25th, and Little Brother's birthday any day now, there is a lot going on.

Since Eliot is out of town right now, Spencer and I decided to celebrate our anniversary with a visit to the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) followed by dinner at a little French restaurant a friend had recommended. We have been to the ROM a number of times but always with Eliot in tow which means that we've spent most of our time in the kids' area. These have been delightful outings, don't get me wrong, but it was nice yesterday to loiter through an exhibit and soak it in a bit.

I wished Eliot a Happy Birthday over the phone and got the same silent treatment that many of you have experienced when Eliot is on the other end of the line. We're planning on having a little celebration when he returns at the end of the month. He's too young to know the difference right now and with a new little baby in the home it may help to have a special little party for him.

Changes Ahead

2011-03-10T14:35:00.001-08:00

Our little family is quickly headed for a big change in the form of a little bundle. With the count-down in the single digits, preparations have begun. The hospital bag has been packed. The infant car seat has been installed. The bassinet has been assembled and stocked. The 0-3 month clothes have been brought out and hung in the closet. And Eliot has left town. Noni and Grand Dad came up early this week to pick him up and this morning Eliot left with them to spend some quality time with friends and family in Milwaukee so that Mommy and Daddy could spend some quality time preparing for and getting Little Brother settled. It hasn't even been 24 hours and I miss my little guy so much. The apartment is ringing with silence, and even though I have been able to get a bunch of things done today (including some much-needed rest) I miss the little interruptions to read a book, offer a snack, play with cars, etc.

Enjoying a good book.

Watching a hockey game with Daddy.

Helping himself to a raisin oatmeal cookie.

Before heading south of the border, however, Eliot had the opportunity to entertain Grandma and Auntie Ange who came out for a visit at the end of February. He had a great time playing with them, reading to them, and showing them around Toronto. We also had the chance to head out to Burlington (about an hour west of Toronto) to have Sunday dinner with Spencer's Uncle Thom and his family. I think Spencer and Angela really enjoyed being able to catch up with cousins.

So You Think You Can Dance

2011-03-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

As many of you have probably seen on an earlier post, Eliot loves to dance. It is one of his favorite things to do with Daddy and when Spencer gets home he (Eliot) often requests a dance. As you can see from his moves he may also have a future as a trainer on "Biggest Loser."

Ah-la-you

2011-02-08T17:48:00.000-08:00

Today Eliot learned to say "I love you." When I put him down for his afternoon nap I told him I loved him and he parroted back "ah-la-you" with a big smile on his face. As I left the room I could hear him in there calling "ah-la-you, ah-la-you...!" We repeated this little exchange when I put him to bed tonight. What a great way to end the day :)

Out for a walk in the snow. A favorite book just had to come along.

Pausing to watch a snow plow.

Back inside and "reading" a book to Mommy.

Eliot's Lexicon

2011-01-30T17:52:00.001-08:00

Eliot's vocabulary continues to grow and he enjoys pointing out all of the things he knows the names for (especially lights). He received a set of alphabet magnets from GrandDad and Noni for Christmas and has been learning their names. Some of his favorites are S, T, P, M, N, and R. One of my favorite new words of his is 'pineapple'. He combines two foods he loves and says 'pie (pause) apple'. He has a couple of phones that he enjoys chatting into. Unfortunately once it comes to a real phone, with a real voice on the other end, his mouth forms a silent smile and he'd rather just listen. But for all of those who have spoken with him over the phone, here's what he would say if he weren't struck with wonder:

Books!!

2011-01-18T16:12:00.000-08:00

Eliot loves his books and enjoys perusing them whenever he can. There is also a bookcase full of Mommy and Daddy's books that has captured his fascination. I think I've finally broken him of the habit of pulling them off the shelves and hurling them down the hall. I'm just glad I was somehow able to do it without discouraging his interest in them.

He particularly likes looking through Merriam Webster's Vocabulary Builder. It's probably the fact that the pages are gilded in yellow, but it's fun to think that he's just trying to work on his growing vocabulary.

Eliot has also started "reading" books aloud to himself and others. His version of the story is always so much more interesting :)

Got Rhythm?

2011-01-10T10:31:00.000-08:00

Eliot loves music and his dance moves make me smile every time.

A Quiet Christmas and a Happy New Year

2010-12-30T09:27:00.000-08:00

December flew past us this year with alarming speed. Eliot and I started the month with a trip down to Milwaukee to visit family and friends. It was so great to see my family and I even got a chance to swing by Froedtert and see many of my former co-workers. Eliot loved getting into all the kitchen drawers where his old toys are stashed and giving the rocking horse plenty of exercise.

Helping Noni in the kitchen.

He was very busy sorting through all of the drawers.

Lake Michigan was well worth a visit, even in the cold.

We returned home to Toronto and celebrated Christmas just the three of us. On Christmas Eve we went with some friends to a live performance of the Nativity at a local church. And when I say live, I mean live. I had been told that there would be animals and assumed that there would be some sheep on the lawn for the kids to pet. There were sheep and Eliot did pet them, but they were just inside the doors of the church along with a camel and a donkey. We took our seats and the show began. Imagine our surprise when the sheep were paraded down the center aisle followed in turn by the donkey and the camel! I think the camel even made two trips--I suppose if you're going to rent a camel you may as well get your money's worth. It was a very nice production and a great way to spend our Christmas Eve. If we were planning on being here next Christmas we'd probably plan on seeing it again.

Eliot had a great time on Christmas morning. Unwrapping the gifts was still a bit strange to him but playing with all of the new toys was right up his alley.

New Year's was celebrated in Canada's capital city, Ottawa, where our friends Dave and Lianne Backstrom live with their four children. It was great to see the Backstroms again and Lianne took me into the city center to see the Parliament buildings and to sample a "beaver tail." I was greatly impressed with both. Eliot had a riotous time with the four little Backstroms and came away, I believe, favorably impressed with idea of siblings :)

The Parliament buildings were beautiful. We'll have to go back on a non-holiday weekend and have a look inside.

Eliot and Daddy shared a plate of real Quebecois poutine. Notice it didn't last long.

We hope everyone had a fantastic holiday season and that 2011 is starting out on a good foot.

An Edmonton Wedding

2010-12-05T16:34:00.000-08:00

Last week we had the opportunity to head north to Edmonton for the wedding of Spencer's cousin Lindsay. She was a beautiful and happy bride and I'm kicking myself now as I realize that I don't have any pictures from the wedding. You'll just have to take my word for it I suppose.

We stayed for a week after the wedding and Eliot had a great time playing in the snow, catching up with family, and learning all kinds of new words. Spencer also gave two lectures at his alma mater, University of Alberta. One was for a class taught by one of his former professors and the other was for faculty, students, and the public (meaning, of course, that several family members including myself were in attendance). It was so great to hear him lecture, he's a natural. His lecture was titled "Laundering Money and Souls: Usury, Poor Relief, and Theology at the Early University of Paris". It was pretty interesting stuff. You'll have to ask him about it next time you see him. All in all it was a great trip and a wonderful chance to see family and friends.

News From the Stork

2010-11-24T11:49:00.000-08:00

We found out yesterday that we will be welcoming another little boy into our family next March. We're so excited about this little guy and are looking forward to meeting him.

Numbers

2010-11-14T16:02:00.000-08:00

Eliot loves books (when he's in the mood) and he and I have been going to the library once a week for a little song and story group. On our last trip we picked up a book on numbers and Eliot has been having fun learning to say the names of the numbers. Some of them you can't hear as well on the video, but he's particularly good with his pronunciation of two, four, five (as in, 'gimme five!'), eight, and nine. Six has a tricky combination of sounds and comes out sounding more like 'gik', but he's well on his way.

Happy Halloween!

2010-11-02T16:36:00.001-07:00

Hope everyone had a fun-filled Halloween this year. Eliot dressed up as a puppy-dog and you can probably tell from the picture that he wasn't super enthusiastic about the floppy ears.

Eliot was quite pleased with our Jack-o-Lantern and enjoyed identifying it's eyes, nose and mouth.

At the ward Halloween party Eliot split his time between running around with the big kids and visiting the snack table.

Some Favorites

2010-10-26T11:20:00.000-07:00

Eliot has discovered a love of crayons. He enjoys coloring with them, of course, but sometimes it's enough to simply sort through all of the interesting colors. He takes them out of the box and puts them back in--working on his hand-eye coordination. By the way, since when was there a color called 'Macaroni and Cheese'? I guess it's been a long time since I last saw the inside of a crayon box.

This picture captures two of Eliot's favorite activities: cleaning out the cookie dough bowl, and playing with Daddy. He and Spencer have great fun rough-housing in the evening and it's so fun to hear Eliot's squeals of laughter coming down the hall.

Eliot loves pie and asks for it by name. So far pumpkin, apple, and cherry have all met with his approval.

Apples to Apples

2010-10-09T16:29:00.000-07:00

These past few days have been sunny and beautiful so we decided to take advantage of the weather and head out of town today to do some apple picking.

We boarded a tractor-pulled wagon that took us on a scenic little drive down into the orchard. If you zoom in on the photo above you'll see Spencer and Eliot right in the middle of the wagon.

Good times were had by all and that evening we enjoyed a caramel apple pie with our supper. Now I'm dusting off all my apple recipes and looking forward to apple butter, apple cake, apple pancakes, etc. I welcome recipe recommendations :)

Busy Mr. Eliot

2010-10-03T18:02:00.001-07:00

When I told Spencer that I was going to put up a blog post this evening he asked me what I was planning to write about. In all honesty, I wasn't planning on writing much. I just wanted to offer up a few samples of the divers activities of a certain little boy (and 'little boy' is really becoming a more appropriate term for him every day) since arriving here in Toronto.

Eliot loves to rough-house, climb and wrestle. And never tires of it.

Eliot enjoyed his first Happy Meal the other day.

He has been getting more use out of our exercise ball than we ever have.

He's been preparing to wow them on the basketball court.

He's been helping Mummy bake.

He maintains an abiding love for balls, cups ("bup") and bowls, and doesn't leave home without them. You just never know when you're going to need a bouncy ball.

He has been getting out to the park almost every day and loves to swing ("sing!").

Looking Back: Eliot's "First" Summer

2010-09-24T07:14:00.001-07:00

Now that the dust has settled from our move and I have a little more time on my hands I've decided to blog about some of the things I've appreciated in the past little while but didn't have time to write about. First on the list is this past summer with Eliot.

Though Eliot has already technically lived through a summer (having been born last March), I consider this year to be his first. It was so much fun. Perhaps it was because he was old enough to run around and delight in the great outdoors but too young to heed the siren song of the ice cream truck. Eliot got a real taste of what summer has to offer with Andrew and Sarah Schmidt next door and his 3-year-old cousin, Maddie, in Milwaukee for a visit. Some of his favorite activities included:

Playing in the sandbox
Swimming
Snacking on watermelon
Pushing a stroller, shopping cart, anything with wheels, around the block and using said vehicle as a receptacle for sticks, leaves, rocks, etc.
Going for rides in the wagon
Swinging
Going down slides
Learning to say "bubble"
Visiting Lake Michigan
Tasting new foods like raspberries and cherry tomatoes

Watching Eliot discover the joys of summer has been a delight and I'm looking forward to every new season with their special adventures in store.

All Moved In

2010-09-17T07:01:00.001-07:00

So, some of you might be saying to yourself, "Nora and Spencer have been up in Toronto since Sept 1, why is she just now saying they're 'all moved in'?" Well, that's because I just now feel "all moved in." Like with most other population centers, space is at a premium here in Toronto which means that our new apartment is somewhat smaller than our last one. This has made unpacking something of a challenge. Or, as my mother would say, like trying to stuff 50 lbs of potatoes into a 20 lbs bag. But the upside is that it has served as a keen test for my organizational skills as well as an effective sieve for all the needless junk we'd been hauling about with us simply because we had the space.

So now after feeling like an over-stuffed storage locker for about a week, our little apartment is starting to feel like home. Just in the nick of time too, because Eliot is, as I type this, on the road with my parents making his way across the border. We can't wait for our little guy to arrive. Then it will really be home.

Spencer and I have taken a few excursions in the city and I've been impressed with what I've seen. We took a trip down to Toronto's lakefront and had a lovely walk that included stumbling across a vegetarian food fair. There always seems to be something going on here. The Toronto International Film Festival is in full swing and while we haven't come across any celebs, word is the place is crawling with them. All in all, I'm really pleased with my new Canadian digs and looking forward to getting to know this city over the coming year.

A Haircut for Mister Eliot

2010-08-25T16:14:00.000-07:00

Today was a big day in our little household. For some time now Eliot has been sporting, as Spencer so aptly put it, "a flowing mane of golden locks."

It had become one of his most prominent features, overshadowing other noteworthies like his eyes and his cheeks.

So this afternoon we went to see a friend of my father's, Robert Hoeft, who also happens to be a barber. Eliot handled the loss of his locks like the little man that he is with only a few tears and a few more howls.

He received a certificate with a bit of golden tress taped to it (which will promptly go in the scrap book) and was good to go.

To celebrate we took him to our favorite gelato shop here in town. Now, as he grows into his new role as big brother he'll be prepared to look the part.

A Summer Trip to Edmonton

2010-07-05T17:34:00.000-07:00

Last month we had the opportunity to go up to Edmonton to enjoy the company of family and friends all in the setting of a beautiful northern summer. We all had a wonderful time and Eliot very much enjoyed rekindling friendships and making new ones. He also enjoyed his first taste of a Dilly Bar.

Eliot met a host of little "cousins" and revelled in his chance to hang out with the big kids. We put the old adage "third time's the charm" to the test trying to get a group photo of the little guys in attendance.

Eliot's Great Adventures

2010-06-07T17:26:00.000-07:00

Eliot has discovered a love of the great outdoors. There is just so much to see, and to do, and to get into.

Drifting to sleep with dreams filled with his great adventures, his intrepid sidekick White Bear ever at his side.

Looking back

2010-06-01T19:13:00.000-07:00

Our camera has been out of commission for several months. We lost the charger for our battery and had a more difficult time finding a new one than you might think (or at least a reasonably priced one). At long last we found one this evening and I quickly charged the battery and took a look at the photos on our camera. For those of you who may have been wondering what happended to posting pictures of Eliot, here you go:

Eliot really enjoyed helping us pack up our aparment back in January.

Shopping in a used book store in South Bend.

Rough-housing with Daddy in the house in South Bend.

Confessions of a Cookie-holic

2010-05-08T07:20:00.000-07:00

It all started out innocently enough. Next to a window in my mother's kitchen there stands a squat little table upon which she had placed a large, glass cookie jar. This jar held a large number of Teddy Grahams which, with their innocuous grins and mild sweetness, quickly became a favorite with Eliot. It didn't take long for Eliot to understanding that by pulling himself up at the table, giving it a few smacks with the palm of his hand, and beaming at the nearest adult he would receive a few of the cookies. The limit was set at 4-5 cookies per day and life went merrily along.

As time passed however, he was not satisfied with 4-5 cookies and growing at a rate that made it necessary to remove the cookie jar to a safer place. A much higher table that also housed the cage (and last refuge) of the much beleaguered yorkie, Ernie. Needless to say, Eliot was soon wise to the move and it wasn't long before he was reaching up to the table many times a day, pounding his little fists, letting out squeals, and otherwise terrifying the dog who cowered in his cage, sure the end had come at last. So, the cookie jar found a new home, this time high up on one of the counters atop an old tin bread box. Yet again, Eliot was not to be fooled. Finally the cookie jar was placed inside a cupboard. A few mornings later when Eliot was frantically searching for his beloved Teddy Grahams, my mother and I felt it was time to stage an intervention. Eliot knew where the cookies had been and stretched out his dimpled hands in their direction, screaming his protest all the while. We stood our ground, though, and we have now been cookie-free for three days. Perhaps we'll celebrate by treating him to some Graham Crackers.

Heading North

2010-04-03T15:49:00.000-07:00

Many of you are already aware that Spencer obtained a post-doctoral fellowship at the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto, Ontario. We are so excited about it for several reasons. First off, it's a huge deal in the world of medievalists; secondly, it means that we will be spending a year in Toronto; and thirdly Hockey Night in Canada won't require a special cable package. While we are thrilled for the opportunity, it has also meant confronting layer upon layer of red tape. From health insurance to car warranty, almost no aspect of our life has escaped investigation as far as moving across the border is concerned. As Spencer put it, it's a nice problem to have. Our many phone calls and emails have paid off and things are really starting to come together. We won't be moving up there until the end of summer so there's still time to get everything squared away.

I have to be honest, it is going to be sad to say goodbye to Milwaukee. We've really enjoyed our time here and there are so many things about this area that I love. I've always told Spencer that of all things about my home town that I'd miss (with the exception of my family), Lake Michigan would be the hardest to leave. But with Toronto's spot on Lake Ontario I should feel right at home :)

Doing laps

2010-03-17T19:21:00.000-07:00

This clip speaks for itself.

Mister Eliot's First Birthday!

2010-03-15T19:45:00.000-07:00

Was it just 12 short months ago that Spencer and I brought home a little warm bundle named Eliot Arthur? There's a Christmas song that refers to the Christ Child as a "wondrous little stranger", and that is exactly what Eliot was to us. A precious little stranger. His personality has been blossoming ever since, and we've come to know him as Mister Mister, This Boy, Mister Machine, The Colossus, Sweet Little Pumpkin Boy, Little Big Guy, and of course, Lovee. He has effortlessly wrapped us around his dimpled little finger and as he embarks on his second year on this planet we wish him the very best and hope that one day he realizes how much joy he has brought into our lives in just the short space of this first year.

Happy Birthday Mister Eliot!

Eliot was joined by family and friends from far and near to celebrate. He was very thankful for his gifts but he was more thankful still for all the little children who'd come to play with him! Can you find him in the photos below?

The birthday cake was a wonderful treat once he got started, but the best discovery was the strawberries! He smelled like frosting the next day, even after a bath!

Here's to one fantastic year!

Visiting the Visiting Scholar

2010-02-13T07:50:00.001-08:00

It's hard to believe that a month has passed since we got Spencer settled into the little house in South Bend, Indiana. Eliot and I have been installed at my parents' place here in Milwaukee (I'm still working at Froedtert) and we have been driving down to South Bend on the weekends. Most people who hear of the arrangement are all sympathy and say "how awful for you!" All I can say is, South Bend is a lot closer than Paris--though not quite as fun to visit. However, I have heard they have a chocolate factory that gives tours! We'll have to visit it one of these weekends and risk being carried off by oompa-loompas.

I actually kind of enjoy the drives down. Especially on Friday evening after work. Eliot falls right to sleep in the back seat and sleeps almost the entire way. I love driving through Chicago at that time. You get a beautiful view of the sky line, all lit up and glittering. I've also been listening to an audio book (Adam Bede, by George Eliot) and it really makes the time go quickly. We've been blessed with good weather for the drive so far and with spring just around the corner we're hoping it will hold.

Spencer has been enjoying his time at Notre Dame. He is essentially working his way through reams of Latin text that have been transcribed from an original document. This weekend he also had the opportunity to go to Pheonix (poor dear, and in middle of winter too) to attend a conference where he presented a paper, did some networking, and caught up with our friends, the Lundgrens. Eliot and I are glad he could go but we'll be glad to have him back again.

Twas a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

2010-01-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday! Our's was one to remember. Eliot's first Christmas was white (!) and he had his first experience unwrapping presents, next year he'll have a much better idea what to do.

Just after Christmas we were a treated to a visit from the Youngs, including Aaron and Patti. It was a visit that, alas, ended almost before it had begun due to a case of the stomach flu that I came down with--which was as violent as it was poorly timed. It's amazing how the tiniest little bug can lay waste to even the most careful planning. In spite of my illness, the family was able to spend some quality time catching up with Eliot and seeing all of his new tricks.

My sister, Janet, arrived in town shortly thereafter with Madeline and James in tow. So Eliot also had the chance to share toys, and germs, with his little cousins. James and Eliot were like two little bear cubs (as my dad put it) crawling about and wrestling. Madeline is almost three now and it's so fun to see her personality starting to come into its own. She has a fascination with Spencer that was lessened not a bit by the fact that he juggled three oranges right before her very eyes! It was so good to see Janet again. We worked on sewing projects and stayed up later than we should have watching an old VHS recording of Pride and Prejudice. It was just like the old days, but with the occasional peep from the baby monitor to remind us just how much things have changed.In spite of the set-backs and abbreviated visits it was certainly good to see family again. I'm looking forward to 2010 with all the new adventures in store!

Congratulations Dr. Spencer Young!

2009-12-22T18:20:00.000-08:00

This past Sunday we celebrated the end of an era. I can personally vouch for the amount of work and dedication that has gone into Spencer's doctorate. It would have been a tremendous accomplishment even if it hadn't been one of several major projects he's had on his plate lately. I'm so proud of him!

The last time I was in Madison for graduation it was for Spencer's MA degree and we were still dating. It is amazing to think of everything that has changed since that time. Spencer and I married, moved to Milwaukee (requiring Spencer to commute to Madison--which he did without complaint) and welcomed Eliot into our family. So much has happened, and yet in those three short years Spencer produced a doctoral dissertation that drew gushing praise from his defense committee. Spencer has always been a good example to me of someone who seeks knowledge and looks for it everywhere. Whether he's deciphering a 13th century Latin text or reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Eliot, Spencer is always interested in learning something new.

Belly Laugh

2009-12-07T17:56:00.000-08:00

Eliot has a great time with his dad. Spencer has taken to calling him "Yankee Bean" and is getting pretty good at eliciting a laugh (a task that is more difficult than you'd think, what with Eliot being so smiley and all).

A Happy Thanksgiving Weekend

2009-11-29T17:13:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is such a wonderfully relaxing holiday. Eliot supervised all of the preparations and kept busy sorting through his box of "tools" at Grandpa and Noni's.

That weekend Spencer and I took Eliot down to Indiana to attend a wedding reception for our friend Bryn Grisham (neé Goates) and her new husband Zac. Spencer and I were great friends with Bryn in Madison. Attending French conversation group with Bryn in the back room of a little coffee shop on State Street is one of my favorite Madison memories. We are so happy for her and Zac and seeing them was well worth the trip.

It was also good practice for next spring when Eliot and I plan on driving down to South Bend, IN on the weekends to visit Daddy who will be installed at Notre Dame as a visiting scholar.

Happy Halloween!

2009-11-01T19:13:00.001-08:00

Eliot's first Halloween was a blast. Our farm pumpkin made a nice Jack o' Lantern with one lower right tooth (just like Mr. Eliot--though today we found tooth #2). Eliot and I dressed up (though not exactly on Halloween). They say there's always some truth to a joke. Perhaps the same applies for costumes, 'cause you know I'd take a bullet for this boy.

We've been enjoying the Wisconsin fall. There have been some really beautiful days. The leaves are pretty much all on the ground now, but last week the whole city was a blaze of color. We've taken some nice walks and Eliot has loved watching the maple leaves outside his window at Grandpa and Noni's.

Breakthrough!

2009-10-24T12:08:00.000-07:00

Eliot's first tooth has seen the light of day! It was discovered this morning as a small white line along his gum line. It's just visible in the photo above (one of about 20 attempts to capture it on film). If you run your finger along his gums you can feel its sharp, serrated surface. So all this grumpy, clingy, feverish, drooling, gnawing, chomping business has been for a legitimate reason after all. Congratulations to our little guy!

Bath time!

2009-10-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

The girls at work threw me a baby shower--in some shadowy, previous life--and the question was posed, "What is Nora looking forward to most about caring for her baby?" Any or all of the offered suggestions could have made the cut, but the one I picked was bathing.

I have loved giving Eliot his baths ever since that first sponge bath back when his belly button consisted of a plastic clamp.

Graduating first to the kitchen sink, then to the bathtub, Eliot has grown to love them too. Now when I turn on the water to draw his bath his legs start pumping in anticipation and he reaches down toward the water.

Bubbles are a fascination, plastic cups and whiffle balls a delight, and that gurgling sound as the water drains, an unfathomable mystery...

Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-19T17:05:00.000-07:00

This past weekend Eliot and I drove out to the farm to find the perfect pumpkin for Eliot's first Halloween. Barthel's Fruit Farm features prominantly in my own childhood. When I was young (well, younger than I am now) my family and I would head out to Barthel's in the summer to pick fresh strawberries and snap peas. In the fall we picked apples and pumpkins. Trips to the farm were always followed with a flurry of culinary activities. Strawberry freezer jam, strawberry pie, applesauce and apple crisp were just some of the things we looked forward to.

When Eliot and I arrived at the pumpkin patch things looked a little less promising than we'd hoped. After trudging around in the mud, and picking my way around peices of smashed pumpkin, I had decided that we were going to have to return to the main barn to select a nice, clean specimen.

But just at the edge of the patch, we spotted it. Sitting upright with a nice, shiny round face and a gently curving stem (perfect for taking hold of), our pumpkin was waiting patiently for us. Eliot seemed pleased and we headed back to the barn where I sipped some warm spiced cider and Eliot supervised the apple sorting machine with rapt attention. We got some good pie apples (which we transformed into apple crisp later that evening) and counted the outing a great success.

Go Oilers!!

2009-10-03T18:38:00.001-07:00

The Oilers' first game is on tonight, and in this household that means chips, salsa, and donut holes with a side of Spencer's running commentary.

Eliot is learning at an early age that if you want to be a part of this family you have to show a little team spirit. Eliot's got spirit in spades and the PJs and jersey help with the rest.

GO TEAM!!

A Weekend Visit

2009-09-30T15:54:00.001-07:00

This past weekend we were all treated to a visit from Spencer's dad, and brother Hugo. We were sad that Diane couldn't join them but work wouldn't let her get away (I can certainly sympathize). It was a whirlwind visit that included a Brewers game, a trip to Madison and the purchase of a car. Though Eliot didn't make it to the baseball game, or to Madison, he did help pick out our new vehicle and revelled in all the attention from Grandpa and Uncle Hugo.

Eliot got in some wrestling with Uncle Hugo but he still has a lot to learn (i.e. it's unsportsmanlike to take hold of your opponent's face).

Grandpa and Uncle Hugo also helped out with the bedtime routine, which included a healthy helping of green bean puree and rice cereal followed by a reading of 'Goodnight Moon'.

Like any visit with family, it was over too soon and left us looking forward to December.

The wonderful thing about tiggers...

2009-09-28T16:10:00.000-07:00

...is tiggers are wonderful things. Their tops are made out of rubber, their bottoms are made out of springs. They're bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, bouncy, fun, fun, fun, fun, fun! The most wonderful thing about tiggers is that I'm the only one. Iiiiii'm the only one!

I can't help but think of this song from Winnie the Poo whenever I see Eliot in his Jolly Jumper. He just loves to jump, no matter where, no matter when.

Jiminy Cricket!

2009-09-25T19:21:00.000-07:00

Now that the semester has started Spencer spends Monday night at a friend's place in Madison so that we can save a bus ticket on Tuesday. Last Monday I drifted off to sleep listening to the sound of the crickets chirping outside. One little guy was particularly loud. The next day I got home from work and upon walking in the door was greeted with an enthusiastic CHIRP! It was then that I realized that the sound I'd heard last night had been coming from someplace inside the apartment. Feeling somewhat creeped out, I finally narrowed his location down to the bathroom, but search as I might I couldn't find the little guy. When Spencer came home he joined in the hunt, and discovered the intruder crouched behind the toilet. He snatched a piece of toilet paper and was poised to take action when I stopped him. I don't know what it was. Perhaps it was all those years listening to the "goodnight noises" when visiting my grandmother in rural Kansas, maybe it was that song about wishing on a star, or maybe the fact that the chirp had started to sound so plaintive and the little cricket looked so small, and helpless. But strangely (and I say 'strangely' because I detest any and all spiders 'Charlotte's Web' notwithstanding) I'd come to feel a sort of camaradarie with the little bug. So, I grabbed the strainer and a piece of card stock (I didn't feel enough camaraderie to actually touch him, mind you) and escorted our guest back out into his little world. Perhaps he promptly got gobbled up by someone a link or two up on the food chain. I'd like to think he made it safely home to Mrs. Cricket and all their little crickets, or at the very least rejoined his buddies in the football field behind our home and is singing blithely with them each evening.

Defended

2009-09-20T16:43:00.000-07:00

This past Friday Spencer defended his doctoral dissertation. It was a brilliant triumph! I drove over to Madison after work to meet up with Spencer and he seemed blown away with the gushing response he had received from the defense committee. I was very pleased, but not surprised. I've come to expect great things from Spencer. I'm so proud of him! We celebrated that evening at a French restaurant in Madison which we thought was a good fit considering the topic of Spencer's studies. Jed (he of "Rough Stone Rolling" fame) and Shawna Woodworth joined us and we had a nice evening with great food and conversation.

We had an early morning the next day because we were volunteering at a diabetes conference here in Milwaukee where we worked the registration table. We have been looking for ways to serve in the community and this opportunity presented itself through my work at the hospital. It was great to get out and lend a hand. Plus, they had bagels.

Eliot had a busy weekend as well. On Friday he went to the zoo with Noni and Grandpa where he looked at all kinds of animals (he especially loved the fish) and got to ride on the train. He has also started to sit on his own. He has been practicing for the past few weeks and the other day was able to keep his balance without over-correcting. It eventually ended with a face plant into a blanket, but he's moving in the right direction. Sure do love that boy!

What a happy boy!

A Wedding in the San Juans

2009-08-15T17:38:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago we headed up to the San Juan Islands to attend the wedding of my cousin David and his fiancee Marjorie. It is a long trip up there involving a plane, a bus, a boat, another bus, and another boat, and we were fortunate to be able to spend some time at the home of Spencer's Aunt and Uncle Schneider in Seattle on the way up and back. It was a wonderful trip and Eliot made all kinds of new friends and caught up on older friendships, as did we.

While in Seattle Aunt Coleen showed us Pike Place Market where we took in the sights and burned our mouths on fresh mini doughnuts that were just too good to wait. We also got to hang out with cousins Rachel and David who coached us on Guitar Hero (I have a long way to go). We had the chance to visit the Science Fiction Museum and the EMP and eat burgers at Dick's. We even had a chance to see Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Brett on Spencer's mom side. Like all visits that are too brief we left several things for next time.

David and Marjorie's wedding was lovely. It took place in a little chapel in Roche Harbor on San Juan Island. My Aunt Janet and Uncle Peter have a house on nearby Pearl Island where we stayed and ate crab right out of their crab traps nearly every day. Eliot turned on the charm and fully established his reputation as an easy-going, happy baby. In fact, on the way back to Seattle while we sat waiting for the shuttle I got into conversation with a couple traveling our way. When we realized that we had just attended the same wedding the woman pointed at the faceless, sleeping baby in my arms and asked, "Oh, is that Eliot?" Why yes, yes it is. My name's Nora, I'm his mom. I always knew that Eliot would eventually have a social life independent of Spencer and myself, I just wasn't prepared for it at 5 months of age. What a fun little guy!

Milestones

2009-07-26T18:44:00.000-07:00

The past few weeks have been busy for our whole family. After much researching, writing, editing, translating, transcribing, trans-Atlantic travel, etc., etc., Spencer's dissertation has been turned over to the powers that be in anticipation of his September 18th defense. In the meantime I, along with my co-workers, have been preparing for our 400+ bed hospital to go live with computer charting. And if all that weren't enough, Eliot has started rolling over and had his first taste of rice cereal!

Eliot has also discovered his toes and lets out a squeal that's starting to sound like a giggle when you give him raspberries on his tummy. I made a hat for Eliot, intended for this winter when he's a bit bigger. I swear I followed the pattern exactly, but unless Eliot's head swells to 6x its present size in the next five months I don't think it's going to work. It's even big on Spencer and myself!

It's amazing just how much he's been growing. Spencer and I looked over some of the older photos and the difference blows my mind! But inside he's still that same snuggly little sweetheart!

(Left: Eliot at 2 weeks Right: Eliot at 4 months)

2009-07-10T18:16:00.001-07:00

Last week Eliot took his first trip across the border to his father's native land--Canada. We headed north to Edmonton, Alberta to attend a family reunion on the Youngs' side and experience what Spencer calls "the best summer anywhere". And I have to tell you, it was quite pleasent and didn't get dark until past 11 pm. Eliot had a chance to meet his only living great-grandparents (Gigi and Bapa). He met his Uncle Aaron, with girlfriend Patti, and Uncle Doug, for the first time along with a whole host of half-cousins, great-aunts and uncles, etc, etc.

Eliot got a lot of practice napping in unusual spots. Whether it was on the seat in the airport, in the stroller at the Ukrainan village, or in the arms of Grandma Bennett, he slept like a pro.

While we were there Eliot's Nana Young was appointed a judge and we all had the chance to attend her swearing-in. Eliot put his napping skills into action and slept like an angel through the whole thing, saving his screams for the nice reception that followed.

Spencer and I had a wonderful time. Most of the days were spent relaxing and visiting with family and friends. We had the chance to go to the Ukranian village with Gigi and Bapa where we toured a number of beautifully restored buildings and munched delicious Ukranion food. And I must say, there is something awfully nice about lingering in the extended twilight as bowls of fruit and old stories get passed around.

Puppy dog tails...

2009-07-08T16:01:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago Eliot had his first up close and personal encounter with man's best friend. Our friends, Jordan and Cydney Van Orman have a couple of pugs, Jack and Oscar, who were anxious to get to know Eliot. We got a big kick out of Eliot's reaction. You can practically see the words written on his face as skepticism leads to curiosity and finally gives way to friendship.

Out of the Best Books

2009-06-30T08:41:00.000-07:00

I'm a member of goodreads.com where I go to keep a list of books that I would like to read and get reviews and good reading recommendations from friends. Today on their home page they had a list of books that had been voted into the "Best Books Ever" category. There were five books listed, they were, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Book of Mormon, Pride and Predjudice, Twilight, and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The fact that Twilight made the list might lessen the distinction for the other four, but it was based on readers' votes and the people have spoken. I'm happy to say that I've read them all and, with the possible exception of Twilight (no offense to all those fans out there--evidently there are many of you) I can highly recommend each one.

Here's a bit of trivia from the site's homepage as well:

In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, the character of Chanticleer is a...

a) con artist
b) rooster

c) knight

d) fox

"Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened."

--Dr. Seuss

PS The answer is B

Happy Father's Day!

2009-06-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Today was Spencer's first Father's Day. We celebrated with a pint from our favorite gelato shop. He is such a great dad and it is so much fun watching him with Eliot. He calls him "Mister Machine," "Little Man," "This Boy," and a number of other little names. Today he showed me that Eliot loves it when you make a buzzing sound like a bee (fyi) and bravely takes on the poopiest of diapers. Spencer is better at this daddy business than he ever thought and just as fantastic as I always knew he'd be.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2009-06-07T11:28:00.000-07:00

I was reading the other day about gardening and they quoted a woman who said that gardening is "incredibly messy, ruins your hands, wears holes in the knees of your jeans, ends up costing 40 times more than you think it will, sucks up whole weekends in a single gulp, takes over your dreams, and frequently breaks your heart." With such a bleak outlook, who would even hazard an attempt at gardening? Probably those who love to eat cherry tomatoes right off the vine, still warm from the sun. Or those who love the smell of fresh mint in the evening. Perhaps those who find it hugely therapeutic to let their minds wander as they pull weeds, or who pore over gardening magazines and newspaper articles about heirloom tomatoes even when they haven't a square inch of land to cultivate (that would be me). I can sympathize with the woman who was quoted above because gardening can certainly do and be all of those things. But I love it anyway. And I guess if you want to experience those earthy, soul-stirring joys like those that come from seeing the contrasting color of a row of sprouting bean plants against moist, black earth, hearing a baby laugh, or a child say "I love you," you have to roll up your sleeves and really get in there, regardless of what may happen to your jeans.

Mommy, RD, CD

2009-05-29T14:24:00.000-07:00

Today was my first day back to work--for those of you who don't know, I'm a clinical dietitian at a hospital here in town. It was a little odd at first since I'd been gone so long. My friend Raina (who is expecting her first in a couple of weeks) asked me if it was kind of like coming back to school after summer break. I had to laugh because that's pretty much exactly what it was like. For the first half of the day it was like I was moving in slow motion.

Spencer and Eliot had their first full day together, and it sounds like it went really well. Eliot got in some good naps and ate and pooped and did all those things that babies do. He's doing just fine, it's me I'm worried about :). However, as I met with patients and their families--helping a man understand his honey-thickened liquid diet here, calculating someone's intravenous feeding there--I realized that as long as I have to be away from Eliot for a time I'm glad that I get to do something that will hopefully make a positive difference in someone else's life. After all, these people were once someone's little Eliot, so to speak. But when all is said and done, I sure am glad to be home.

Tummy Time!

2009-05-23T15:18:00.000-07:00

Eliot is getting stronger each day. We have a little spot with a mirror set up in the living room for him to admire himself, and of course Daddy has been enjoying helping Eliot develop those neck muscles.

Daddy tells the funniest stories!

Visiting the Schows

2009-05-20T06:33:00.000-07:00

This past week Eliot and I took a trip to Maine to visit my sister Janet and her family. It was Eliot's first flight and he handled it like a pro!

Saying goodbye to Daddy in the airport, and sleeping all the way to Maine.

The three cousins, Madeline, Eliot, and James, were instant pals.

James and Eliot working out their neck muscles together.

Madeline was a great big sister/cousin. She played gently with the babies, helped hold their carseats in place and got to "hold" Eliot. She had practiced her cousin's trisyllabic name before his arrival and it ended up sounding more like "Ah-lit". Turns out Eliot is a tough name for tiny tongues to master. We got a video of her saying it and will try to get it onto a future post (I didn't have much success posting this time).

With the arrival of Eliot and myself, and the departure of Cameron on a work trip, the Schow home was transformed into Babyland. Janet and I agreed that we have a new and profound appreciation for the parents of multiples. It's amazing how two infant carseats in a small home can seem like 20. We did manage to get out and see some of the sights. Before Cameron left we all went to see the lighthouse on the Point and Janet and I braved a trip to Longfellow's home with two infants and a very hands-on two year-old. We mostly just had a great time hanging out and catching up.

It's a little difficult to read the writing on the sign above but it mentions that Longfellow often walked up to the lighthouse. The bit of poetry quoted is from his poem "The Lighthouse" and says, "Sail on, Sail on ye stately ships, And with your floating bridge the ocean span. Be mine to guard this light from all eclipse. Be yours to bring man near unto man."

Blessing day

2009-05-20T06:17:00.000-07:00

On the first Sunday in May Eliot received his baby blessing, from Daddy, in church. He was sleeping sweetly through most of it and it was a special moment for us all. He got a little weary of the clothes after a while (he much preferred going barefoot) but sure looked cute in the mean time.

Later that day Eliot had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of Noni's cousins Barb (far left) and Charlie (far right) and their respective spouses, Mike and Karen.

We sure do love our little Eliot Arthur!

Visit with the Bennetts

2009-05-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

This past week the Bennetts (save Doug) came to town for a visit. Eliot enjoyed the time very much.

Enjoying a nice brunch with Grandma, Grandpa, and Auntie Ange.

Eliot is getting so big, Grandma is starting to run out of lap!

Sharing some sleepy-snuggle time

with Auntie Ange.

Saying, not "Au revoir", but rather, "A bientôt"!

Smiles!

2009-04-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

Eliot reached the six week mark this past week and celebrated by flashing us some pretty unmistakably intentional smiles. He has also been working on his baby vocabulary of coos and gurgles.

Enjoying some delightful dinner conversation with Noni.

Working on his vice-like grip on Noni's finger.

I'm so glad that you can't spoil an infant, because Eliot loves to be held and I love holding him. Someday soon he will be a big boy, more interested in Legos and Spiderman than cuddling with Mama, and I savor this time with him. Also, I love it when babies are small enough to curl their little legs up under them. So sweet!

A Quilt From Gigi

2009-04-11T15:00:00.000-07:00

A very special quilt from Gigi.

Handmade with love.

Eliot is making good use of it already.

A visit with the Youngs

2009-04-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Last week Spencer's dad's family came to town to visit us (Eliot). We had a great time with them and Eliot certainly enjoyed the extra attention.

Hu Eliot, Spencer Eliot and Eliot Arthur. Three generations of Young fellas.

Getting in some quality cuddle time with Nana and Uncle Hugo.

Uncle Hugo did an excellent job holding, soothing and making it clear where hockey loyalties lie.

Baby Theatre. Who knew that someone who does so little could command so much attention?

Eliot looks forward to seeing more family soon!

Sleep, Poop, Eat, Repeat

2009-03-23T15:12:00.000-07:00

While those last few posts were under my name, Spencer was the author, and he has been doing a great job of making sure we document the progress of our little boy. Today Eliot hit a couple of milestones. His belly button fell off and he surpassed his birth weight, weighing in today at 9# 12oz. The doctor was pleased, and so were we. While, to the naked eye, it would appear that he really doesn't do much of anything, it is clear that he has been very busy growing. In fact, that really has been his top priority and he has taken it very seriously. We took him out for a maiden voyage in his stroller the other day--more for mom's benefit than his, truth be told--and he spent it asleep, per usual. Ah well, there will be plenty of opportunities for seeing the world later on.

Close-up Shots

2009-03-16T11:11:00.000-07:00

As per some requests, here are a few close-up shots of Eliot (pardon Dad's amateur photography!).

First photos!!!

2009-03-14T16:50:00.000-07:00

An abridged photo journal of Eliot's first 40 hours.

Unfortunately, one of the first things the nurse told him was the final score of the Oilers' game.

Mom and Baby mug for the camera.

Dad wasted no time teaching him first declension Latin nouns!

Eliot's first nap. Researchers are still trying to verify that he will ever take a second.

On Friday, Eliot discussed the stimulus package with Aunt Rissie and learned the history of CP rail from Grandpa Lundberg.

He put both pant legs on at the same time.

Next month's cover of Life magazine.

Home at last.

Update!

2009-03-13T09:20:00.000-07:00

Eliot Arthur Young was born at 11:55pm CST on Thursday, March 12, 2009. He weighs 8 pounds, 14 ounces and is 21 inches long. Both Mom and Eliot are doing very well. More news (and pictures) to follow!

Be Prepared

2009-03-08T17:34:00.000-07:00

Well, it's offically crunch time for Baby Young preparations. With less then ten days to go until the due date we have been busy getting things ready. My hospital bag is packed, the car seat is installed, the crib is up and operational, and Spencer is beefing up on newborn basics (specifically, how to test all those nifty reflexes that babies are born with). Some friends of ours recommended a book called "Be Prepared: A Practical Handbook for New Dads" so we checked it out from the library and Spencer is quickly becoming a wealth of baby care knowledge. It is a pretty entertaining book, written and illustrated in a style simillar to a Scouting manual from the 50's. We would definitely recommend it to any parents-to-be, even if just for a good laugh.

At the end of February we were suprised with a visit from Spencer's mom, Colleen Bennett. It was great to see her and she brought with her several items from Spencer's tender years, including a Noah's Ark pillow and blanket that her mother had made for him. It was nice to have the chance to chat and catch up--in fact, that was really all we could do as the city was hit hard with "lake effect snow" (which is weather-man lingo for "totally unforeseen winter storm of massive proportions") the weekend she was here. We're looking forward to more visits with family in the coming months when there is a new little baby and fair weather. :)

Counting Down

2009-01-11T13:56:00.000-08:00

With less than ten weeks before D-day the pressure is on to find a name for our little guy. Part of the problem is that Spencer and I have very different naming styles. While I prefer family names of the interesting-but-still-normal variety, he would like something a little more obscure, preferably a name that hasn't been in circulation since around the year 1200. I'm sure that we'll come to an understanding eventually but it is looking more and more like it won't be until after our son has arrived on the scene. In the mean time we're having fun with all of the zany names Spencer thinks up. I don't think he has ever repeated the same name twice!

We're still enjoying a healthy and relatively uneventful pregnancy. Last week we started birthing class at the hospital and though Spencer had some misgivings about watching the live birth video, he stuck it out. I personally think that he will rise to the occasion much more than he currently believes.

Christmas here was laid back and relaxing. Spencer surprised me with tickets to a production of "A Christmas Carol" performed downtown at the Pabst Theatre. The theatre is a beautiful and historic building and the production was just fantastic. I also learned how to make a favorite Canadian holiday treat--butter tarts. I think that they will feature prominently in our family's holiday celebrations in years to come!

A Midsummer's Outing

2008-12-13T15:01:00.000-08:00

I was downloading the pictures from my camera and found some fun ones from this past summer. Here in Wisconsin there exists one of the largest Renaissance Faires in the US (you'd probably have to move in the right circles to know this) and Spencer and I thought it would be a shame to miss it. Jordan and Cydney Van Orman, good friends and all-around good sports, accompanied us on what turned out to be quite the experience. The people-watching was great! Though we opted for our boring, 21st century garb, we were definitely in the minority. The costumes ranged from grotesque, risqué, and bizarre to creative, beautiful, and down-right professional.

One of our favorite events was the jousting competition where actors portrayed the queen and her court and stunt men knocked each other off of galloping horses. Certainly worth the trip, even if you're just there to look around and eat a roast turkey leg :)

Happy Belated Thanksgiving!!

2008-12-01T19:15:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I know all of the Canadians celebrated back in October, I hope you had a fantastic feast :) We had a laid back holiday with a lot of food and a little snow (that's usually how it is in Milwaukee, white Thanksgiving, brown and muddy Christmas, white Easter--oh well). Spencer and I finished off the week with a Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (MSO) concert. It has become something of a family tradition for us. We go about four times a year and the MSO never disappoints. The baby seemed to enjoy the concert as well. He really got his groove on during Berlioz's "Symphonie fantastique"!