We have a crawler!

Thomas is a busy little man now that he's mobile.  I now understand what parents have been telling me for the last year.  Crawling babies makes for a very busy household!  Gone are the days of watching a show while he plays on his mat.  I might as well get rid of the mat we bought for him to play on as he's rarely on it now.  He's been exploring the first floor from the front door straight to the back door.  Stopping to visit all the floor vents and along the way.  Luckily he hasn't noticed the stairs... Yet!  We still need to purchase gates.  Any recommendations???

Oh lord, my baby is growing up!  Thomas will be eight months on Saturday.   EIGHT MONTHS!!!!  I've loved every minute of our time together - even those late night feedings and sleepless nights.  He is the most amazing person I know.  We are incredibly blessed.

Once I figure out how to get the video uploaded you'll get to see the little man in action.  Until then check out my love bug waiting for his momma after a nap.  Doesn't his little angelic face just melt your heart. Seriously!  He's amazing.  (his eyes look brown here but they are quite blue)

I'll be back again tomorrow.  xo

Dishes

Even though we have a dishwasher (a very good one!) I always find myself washing dishes by hand and then air drying them on the counter with our dish towels underneath.  For the last year, I've been irritated with this process because we always run out of dish towels to dry our hands and they get wet and yucky from sitting on the counter.  Not anymore!  The insanity is over.  I purchased the Simplehuman dish rack from Crate and Barrel and will never look back.

I also decided to treat myself to a new set of dish towels.  Isn't this pattern beautiful!  I love them and since I'm constantly in the kitchen now that we have Thomas I will enjoy them all day long.  :)  Who needs a bouquet of flowers... Kidding!  I will always love flowers.  :)

Springridge Farm

A few days ago Thomas and I enjoyed a lovely afternoon with Aunt Karen and cousins Emma and Sophia at Springridge Farm in Milton.  The farm is full of activities for all ages - strawberry picking, wagon rides, farm tours, animal barn, giant sandbox, shopping for the house, fresh produce and condiments and a lookout point high on the escarpment with a beautiful view all the way to Toronto.  We didn't get up to the lookout point due to the hike up the hill.  One look at it and I said no way!  The stroller wasn't an option and I'm not in good enough shape to hike with Thomas in the baby carrier.  Maybe next time...

Here are a few snap shots of our day.

Karen & Thomas

Miss Sophia

Miss Emma

Karen & her girls

The gang! :)

Thanks girls for such a great afternoon!  I love spending time with you.  xo

High Park Picnic

Yesterday Ryan and I took Thomas down to High Park (our old hood) for a stroll along Bloor West Village and picnic in the park.  It was a great day!  We've tried to do this a few times but have put it off because of the rain or heat.  Yesterday was perfect - a bit of cloud, sun and no rain!

Thomas took his first swing ride and loved it!  He kept looking at the ground smiling, while occasionally looking up at us with a smirk that said 'wow'.  It would be amazing to know what he's thinking.  The video I took isn't the best as I took it vertically.  Apparently it will only play horizontally.  Boo!!!  So you  get photos instead.

After Thomas' swing we sat down at a picnic bench to enjoy the lunch I packed - quinoa salad, hard boiled eggs and our favourite G2 (so healthy and yummy!).  It was the perfect lunch.  Both my guys with me, sitting in our favourite park in our old hood (which I miss VERY much) enjoying the delicious salad and then we are attacked!  Yes, attacked by wasps!  First it was one, two and then their friends were invited.  Let me tell you, we packed up faster than I can type this sentence.  I have never been stung and don't plan on it in this life-time.  Those little buggers are a small pesty fear of mine.  Pathetic... I know.

Here are a few photos of our day at the park.

Penne with Treviso & Goat's Cheese

I've made Giada's road trip penne recipe a few times with great success.  I keep forgetting to take photos but want to share the recipe with you anyways.  It's yuuummmmyyyy!!!!

Ingredients

• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 clove garlic, halved
• 1 pound treviso or radicchio, chopped (about 4 cups)
• 3 packed cups (3 ounces) baby spinach
• 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken stock
• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan
• 1 1/2 cups (11 ounces) goat cheese, crumbled
• 1/2 cup basil leaves, torn

Directions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 to 10 minutes. Drain and reserve about 1 cup of the pasta water.

In a 12-inch skillet, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlicand cook until fragrant and golden, about 1 minute. Remove the garlic and discard.

Add the treviso, spinach, chicken stock, balsamic vinegar, lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of salt, and red pepper flakes. Cook until the treviso and spinach until wilted, about 6 to 8 minutes.

Add the pasta and Parmesan. Toss well and thin out the sauce with a little pasta water, if needed. Season with salt, to taste.

Transfer the penne to serving bowls. Top each portion with the crumbled goat cheese and garnish with basil before serving.

P90X

Ryan and I have started a program called P90X.  It's a hardcore workout routine that we do at home through a series of DVDs.  It's only day three and my muscles are exhausted!  We both admitted during the first (very intense) workout that we would have quit earlier if we were working out alone.  I'm so excited to be doing this with my hubby.  We'll be able to motivate one another to stay on track and it's active time spent together instead of on the couch eating frozen chocolate chips (they are incredibly yummy!) watching bad TV.

I've found it difficult getting back into pre-baby shape again.  Don't get me wrong.  I was never incredibly toned but I did have more muscle than I do now.  This workout is going to kick my butt.  It's exactly what I need to get fit.  We both want to be able to run around with Thomas as he gets older and not have to give the 'mommy and daddy are tired' excuse.  I also want to be in top shape before we have another child.  Family, don't get your hopes up too soon.  That won't be for a couple of years but we do hope for a second at some point.  Or it might just be me hoping.  Ryan isn't quite ready yet.  Ha!

So that's what Ryan and I are up to this week.  Wish us well and give me any tips you have to keep going through this three month process!

Mommy Tip - Diaper Rash

Thomas had a horrible diaper rash last week.  It started last Sunday and was bleeding by Monday morning.  Every time I wiped his bum he cried out in pain.  I felt horrible for our little man and booked a doctor's appointment pronto for Tuesday morning.  Until then, I browsed online (thank goodness for the web!) and found a few tips.

Air time is very important!  Let the babies bum dry naturally while they play.  I know what all of you moms of boys are thinking!  Yes it is a bit of a game against the pee-pee clock but it's worth it for their sake.  Thomas didn't have any pee accidents.  Unfortunately it was a bit dirtier!  He pooed three times in his crib while we were at home and two times on his blanket in Kingston.  I almost lost my s**t but it all worked out in the end thanks to help from Ryan and my mum.

Another tip was to soak the babies bum in a baking soda bath.  It doesn't say how much to use but you can judge for yourself.  Essentially you want to put enough for there to be a bit of a silky coating on your hands when you test the water. I did this twice a day.

The most amazing tip came from my mums colleagues.  Use cornstarch instead of diaper cream or the useless prescription cream (will get back to that in a minute).  After wiping the babies bottom with a warm wet cloth (avoid harsh wipes) put a thin layer of cornstarch powder on the rash zone.  The diaper should be placed under the bottom to catch any of the excess powder.  Close the diaper up as normal.

This last tip is magical and economical!

The doctor visit on Tuesday morning did nothing to help.  They wrote out a prescription and said goodluck.  The prescription was useless (in my opinion).  It did nothing to soothe or protect the skin from further damage.  I wouldn't recommend it but that is my mommy opinion NOT a medical opinion.

Good luck to the moms battling the diaper rash!

Road Trip!

Thomas and I made our way to Kingston this past weekend to spend time with the family.  I love our trips home and I know Thomas does as well.  His favourite part of being in Kingston must be lunch at the pub with Grampa Mike and hanging out in the backyard with Gran.  Not to mention having a few cuddles with his aunts.  Mum and dads is very relaxing.  The time goes by far too quickly.  Mum and I had a chance to get a bite to eat at my favourite restaurant while Dad watched Thomas.  If you're ever in Kingston then I recommend WoodenHeads.  Order the chicken spring rolls and the Nona Mella pizza. You can't go wrong. Then head on over to White Mountain for the best ice-cream in the world!!  They make the waffle cones from scratch.  It smells heavenly.  I'm craving one now!

You can tell from this photo how much my dad (Grampa Mike) loves his grandson!! They are going to be very close.  Thomas already has joined the men in the garage for beers.  He brings his bottle of milk instead. :)

Ah, one of his favourite ways to pass the time is look up at the trees in the backyard.  Thomas is amazed at the light shining through, the rustling sound of the leaves and all the nature he doesn't get in Toronto.  Ha!

Thomas has began to play a little game we like to call drop and pick-up.  I was washing dishes and cleaning the kitchen while he played in his highchair.  I swear I must have picked up those two toys at least 20 times. He would look at me just as he is in this photo, put his hand to the side of the chair and drop the toy.  It was unbelievable.  Not sure if he's doing this on purpose or if he's just learning...

A little glamour shot of mom and Thomas.

Love this photo!  It captures Thomas completely.  I love you little man!

Aunt Kate and Thomas enjoyed a bit of hang time while I repaired Katie's shoes.  Will need to show you my magical skills at shoe design in another post.

Mum and Dad hosted a family dinner on Sunday for the Pentleton side of the family (mums side).  It was fantastic to see everyone and for them to visit with Thomas.  I wish we all lived closer because I really miss them.  

Unfortunately I didn't get any photos of dinner or any with Aunt Meg.  I'm learning to use the camera more but it's a slow process.    

Love you all and miss you all! xo