It all happens at once!

Sorry for the lack of posts folks.  I've been busy with our 8 month old little man.  Thomas is pulling himself up to a standing position on any object he can get his hands on - walls, sofa, chairs, the oven drawer (luckily our oven never heats up on the outside and I never let him near it when it's on anyways!), etc! While I was making my coffee this morning he snuck off to the hallway where I caught him standing at the bottom of the stairs trying to get his knee up on the first step.  Seriously!!  He's not quite tall enough to hike it up there yet but I know it's only a matter of time.  It's absolutely insane how quickly he's growing and learning.  I love every minute of it but also find myself looking at his baby pictures (I realize he's still technically a baby but he's just so big!) admiring how tiny and immobile he was.  ;-)

He started eating Cheerios last week.  The pictures below are his first attempts at picking up the cheerio and eating it.  He chews with his mouth open and lets the drool poor out.  It's funny to watch.  Afterwards he's quite proud of himself and constantly wants more.  I don't think he would ever fill up on them.  Right now he favours the cheerios over everything!  I still manage to get the minimum amount of formula (17oz) in his every day but the amount oat/rice cereal is decreasing each day.  No idea how to get him to eat more of it like the doc says to.  Any suggestions?

We have a basket of toys in the living room to keep us organized.  Thomas loves to use it as a standing prop.  One day last week he realized he might be strong enough to pull it over.  It was a great surprise to him when all the toys fell out of it.  Here he is having a lot of fun!  He would pick up each of the toys giving it a bit of a chew and then moving onto the next.  An hour of fun. :)  

A friend of mine introduced me to a walking path just north of us in Kleinburg.  There is a sweet little town centre with shops, ice cream and a new Starbucks.  SIL and I took the kiddies on Tuesday afternoon for a little stroll (it's mostly easy going except for the massive hill that takes only about 4 minutes to walk up but makes your but and legs burn with fire).  Starbucks is a great treat to help us push through and Thomas loves to people watch so it was the perfect spot to relax.  Here he is standing along the bench shuffling his way to the end quite quickly.  I think he'll be walking quickly because he loves to practice standing on his own.  He'll take one hand off the object he's balancing on and then the other.  So far the longest count is three seconds standing on his own.  :) 

I seriously need a little botox help with my forehead.  Every time I see it in photos I cringe.  

I'm off to get a hair cut (my second in 8 months).  I finally bit the bullet.  I've been delaying it for the sake of saving a bit of money. My stylist in Toronto is amazing but also very expensive.  His rates have gone up every year since I started going to the salon 9 years ago.  So, instead of hiking it downtown I'm trying a new salon here in Woodbridge.  Will let you know how it goes.  I'm a little nervous but really shouldn't be because my hair isn't that complicated.  

xo

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Update:

My hair cut turned out really well!!  I love the new salon and will definitely be going back.  :) 

Fall Outfit

Now that the cool weather is here, I'm ready to shop for fall.  To bad my 'mat leave' status and bank accounts say the opposite.  For now, I'll just browse or have fun putting together outfits on Polyvore.

Thank you Baby Einstein

I wouldn't be writing this post if it weren't for the Baby Einstein DVD's.  I try to avoid Thomas watching TV but after an hour and a half of me entertaining him he was bored of me and needed something else.  What else can you do with an eight month old??  We have played with his toys, crawled around the house, explored the garden, changed diapers, ate baby crackers, drank a bottle and opened and closed cupboards.  Any other ideas are welcome.  :)

Not only do I have a crawler on my hands but also an explorer.  Thomas can now open cupboard doors and balance himself along the ottoman.  He hasn't quite mastered pulling himself up to the ottoman but I know this is only days away.  Does it really happen so fast???  It's incredible to watch him learn all of these new abilities.

Here he is standing with the help of the ottoman.  Our little man is growing up to fast.  (Excuse the bad photos.  Our camera isn't very good indoors.)

At his favourite spot in the living room.  He loves to open the doors of our cabinet where we house all the TV components.

 Watching his movie.

Off to make dinner - whatever that will be.  xo

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!