Library Time

I decided to join another class with Caitlin - it's been a while since I did one, but we enjoyed the weather outside this summer. Now that the cooler temperatures are here, I think it's time again.

Just for a change of scenery, we're doing one at the library this time. It's fun: we sing songs and do actions, as well as read books. I think she really enjoys it although she likes to hang out with me rather than crowd around with the other toddlers.

She's also taking a liking to stickers now too :)

Cry It Out Update: Not much has changed, but she is now sleeping through the night which is an AMAZING feat. I'm feeling a bit better about doing this method with her. I know people have said it would be hard, but I guess I didn't realize how much. It's funny how much you question your ability to parent. Like my mom has said numerous times 'they don't come instruction manuals'. That is definitely true.

Leaf Collecting

Caitlin and her friend Dani went for a walk around the neighbourhood this afternoon... the highlight were all the fallen leaves. Who needs a rake when you have a 1 and a half year old?!

Look what I got mom! (Other than a silly hat...)

Cry It Out Update: So for the first time last night, Caitlin didn't get up during the night. She succumbed to sleep and was able to settle herself. Going down still wasn't easy, but at least she didn't get up. Naps are still nowhere to be seen... But I guess this is progress?

Apple Orchard

We were all planning on going to apple picking yesterday afternoon, except daddy had a wicked headache, so I took our little munchkin instead. The two of us met up with her godparents and their doggie, Heidi.

As the apples started piling in, Caitlin was more interesting in taking them back out to inspect them...

Once she figured out that the apples were fairly easy to pick, she became a pro.

Which one?

Such a happy little girl :)

Uncle Steve even showed her how get the best ones from up top...

Then I told her it was time to go home, so she started to run away...

But she didn't get very far because the grass was too tall :)

Her godmother, Janina, is very pregnant with a baby due within the next two weeks. This time next year, Caitlin will have another chum to pick apples with!

And finally, the fruits of our labour!

Cry It Out Update: So I decided to try and rock Caitlin back to sleep last night just so she'd have at least one nights' rest, but she wouldn't have anything of it. She hates her crib, hates her room and now doesn't like the bath because she knows it's part of the bedtime routine. What a mistake. I wish I could take this back, but I guess the only option is to continue because she's rejecting being held now too. Arg.

Earth Rangers

We took Caitlin to the local Honda dealership today - her cousin Cristian invited her because the Earth Rangers were there with lots of interesting animals :)

It just so happened that the family event took place during typical nap times, so the two of them were a smidge tired...

Here she is trying to make a donation to help snowy owls :)

She had a fun morning or checking out lemurs, owls, lizards and other strange monkey creatures. But what made her really happy? Eating a free timbit in a demo car!

Beep beep!

One thing Caitlin has never able to do, is sleep anywhere. Her naps have always been in the car or in her crib... but her cousin knocks out anywhere!

The morning sure tuckered the two of them out :)

Cry It Out Update: I think we made a terrible decision. Caitlin is taking hours to fall asleep after crying relentlessly, and aside from falling asleep standing up/sitting down most nights, she's now trying to climb out of her crib. I'm terrified she's going to take a header out of it and have some sort of injury, so I sent Mike out last night to get something called a crib tent to prevent her from climbing out. I'm a bit more at ease with her safety, but she's not my happy little girl anymore (she's exhausted and pissed at me now!). I just don't know if we've done the right thing and I'm flip flopping on whether to continue this. She's totally dropped her daytime nap too because she just can't settle herself... this is definitely the most difficult thing we've ever had to do. Labour was a piece of cake compared to this!!

Birthday Dinner

Mike took me out for a fantastic birthday dinner to a restaurant called Scorpion - it was absolutely one of my favourite meals! We had been meaning to try it, but had been hesitant because we hadn't heard any reviews from friends... but now I can rave about it instead!

It's a spanish/mexican restaurant, and the chef/owner of it actually cooked with Chef Michael Smith which is pretty cool. I think I found my new favourite place :)

Thanks for such a wonderful dinner sweetie! You can take me back there ANYTIME!!!

On another note, Mike and I have decided not to rock Caitlin to sleep anymore. I reached my breaking point this week, and we started the new method of 'crying it out' last night. It did not go well. I went in every so often to settle her because she really got worked up, except it took her 4 hours to fall asleep... standing up. This is going to be rough on all of us...

Vaccination

Finally… Caitlin got her chicken pox vaccine! She didn't take it very well, but her ill mood didn't last long. But the good news from her latest doctor's visit, is that she's gained a pound, which bumps her back into the 35 percentile for weight - which is within her curve. Yaa!

I also had a chat about her having normal movements again; although she's had 2 straight weeks, I was told to keep her on lactose-free milk (and no yogurt/cheeses) for 3 months. Apparently it can take that long for the enzymes in her tummy and bowels to build up to regular levels. I'll take it… although I'm counting down the days until I can stop reading food allergy labels.

The light at the end of the tunnel is here!

Birthday Visit

We went to Mike’s parents' place last night for dinner to celebrate his sister's birthday. Caitlin also had a nice visit with her cousin, Cristian; we finally got them to sit still beside one another.

It's unbelievable to think that Caitlin is 16 months old, and Cristian is only 5 months… I think our munchkin only has about 1.5 lbs on this little butterball!

He must have interesting palms to read though…

He wiggled around a lot, and I think she was trying to figure out what he was all about.

Caitlin still isn't the greatest eater, and although we don't allow toys at the table to distract her, her grandma's are pro's at keeping her mind on other things!

Time for cake!

Caitlin had to pass on dessert though because it had cream in it. Too bad, because Auntie Kristina said it was pretty good.

We didn't stay long, because it was fast approaching someone's bedtime. And of course, she had fun massaging daddy's head as I packed our things.

Happy birthday Auntie Stephie!

Farmer's Market

Mike and I go to local farmer's markets every Saturday with Caitlin. There is so many great home-grown vegetables, not to mention interesting cheeses and meats. We're currently addicted to this goat cheddar cheese that we discovered… delicious!!

Caitlin enjoyed the entertainment today... sort of. It was an organ grinder; but she wasn't quite sure what to make of him:

We had to part ways with him fairly quickly… he admittedly was charming and creepy at the same time.

Onto pick out some squash instead!

Found one!

Sharing Cookies

Caitlin and I went to the mall today with Tanya and Dani. Caitlin shared her milk-free gluten-free sugar cookies with her friend, and they were a bit hit:

More cookies!

Our small achievement today? Buying new socks. I realized this past weekend that we don't have enough socks for our munchkin – all the ones from last year are way too small to fit her ginormous feet. Old Navy delivered, and while we were there, we eyed some pretty cute Halloween costumes. I guess we better start thinking about what she should be this year… I'll take daddy back to the mall and we can all pick one out together.

Red Ryder

We got to test out grandpa's new Red Ryder BB gun yesterday afternoon… and Caitlin dawned her chic hunting gear :)

We shot at a giant piece of fungus that we laid on the split rail fence. It didn't exactly blow up as we thought, but it was hilarious to listen to my awkward misses as they hit the neighbours garage… oops!!

In addition to all the BB gun excitement, Caitlin had her first normal bowel movement! Woo hoo! Fingers crossed this will keep up; she goes for her chicken pox vaccine soon (which we pushed by a month in hopes that she'll be better). What a great weekend!

Cottage Walk

I took Caitlin out for some fresh air this morning after a hearty breakfast of pancakes:

It was brisk, so I bundled her up, and we followed the road out of the cottage.

I think she enjoyed going out with mommy and looking for the birdies in the trees.

She started to gnaw away at the vest because I think she was getting hot. Although it's cool now, the sun was quite warming.

Back to the cottage!

Cookies!

Caitlin seems to be feeling much better now. Well enough to bake lactose and gluten-free sugar cookies with grandma!

Stirring...

Then taking a quick break for a nap in the car... which never happened...

Then back to baking in a pretty apron! Next step was to punch out the shapes; Caitlin picked her favs...

And rolled out more dough to continue making cookies.

Then we stuck them in the oven...

And presto, her delicious snack was ready to eat!

YUM! 'You people should try some!'