Masthead header
8.28.08

Before we forget – August 28th

Dan and I are very lucky.  Though we haven’t worried much about it, we always wondered if Jaia would be a good eater.  The Fullertons love their food, and we don’t take breakfast, lunch or dinner lightly around our house.  And it turns out, that jaia is just like us.  Surprise, surprise.

Growing up I was afraid of food.  Not in any sort of ‘disorder’ way, just afraid to try new things, or slimy things, or spicy things, or wiggly things or jiggly things.  Veggies, I was all over them, but fish or seafood or any strange meat and I pretended to not like it, even if I had never even tasted it.  It looked gross and that was enough.

Then I met Dan.  And me saying, ‘ummm, not interested’ was never enough.  He’s big on trying anything once, and he somehow convinved to do the same.  Since meeting him I’ve tried sushi (still not a fan, but at least I tried), fish including salmon, trout, halibut, etc., all of which I actually like, Indian food (ADORE), Thai food (YUM!)…and I could go on.  I eat so many more things than I used to and am so thankful for it.

And then we had a baby.  She moved from milk, to purees to simple, bland solids.  And now, at 20-months old, she eats almost everything we do.  Her plates, once organized with small bite-sized pieces of a meat, a veggie, a grain and a dairy now look exactly like ours, only smaller.

I can’t remember it happening, but I’m pleased.  I love that she eats what we do and that she isn’t going to wait until she’s 28 to try new and different things like I did.  And I’ve made a promise to myself that my own apprehension about some (gross) foods will stay in the vault.  I don’t want to be responsible for influencing her one way or another. 

The other night we made a curry/rice/veg dish.  I didn’t think about having an exit strategy if Jaia turned her nose up at the semi-spicy meal,  I just put it in front of her and hoped for the best.  Success.  She immediately went to town.  And asked for more once her plate was clean.

I have to admit, fish has not been as successful, nor has sushi.  Her dad is pretty down about not having a partner in the whole sushi game, he’s hoping she’ll grow to like it.  If not, I don’t blame her one bit.  Ew. 

Filed in: Food | Jaia | Photo of the Day
comment
August 28, 2008 - 12:19 pm

Dan - It should be mentioned that the brown in photo #2 was the chocolate pudding we had for dessert, which Jaia helped make. She whisks a mean puddin!

August 28, 2008 - 2:36 pm

Auntie Jen - ok WHAT! she has grown. I’m due for a visit.

Did you cut her bangs.. her hair is adorable !

August 28, 2008 - 3:44 pm

KAtie - Jaia definitely is a super eater… the fish is always hard, all though last week we actually got Amelia to eat shrimp! Thank you YGG!

So –
1- bangs are just too cute!! I will have to tell Amelia Jaia got bangs!
2 – She is so much bigger. again! She is growing sooo fast, especially now that we don’t see her like everyday!
3 – Jaia can make me chocolate pudding anyday!

August 28, 2008 - 6:39 pm

Julie - She looks like your Mom Shan!

August 29, 2008 - 5:34 am

rachel Edwards - I need some in between-y tips – Leo’s now on ‘stage 2’ foods, and loves his finger foods, but aside from some mushed up fish pie and shepherd’s pie, I can’t think of things to make him that resemble proper meals! This solids bit is tricky :o(

8.26.08

Happy Campstove

Camping with kids is MUCH different than camping with people over the age of 20.  And as this weekend approached, I have to admit that I was not looking forward to trying to cram all of our stuff, plus Jaia’s stuff, plus the dog and his stuff in to the car for two nights in the great outdoors.  I may have even complained once or twice about it.

But then, once the packing was done and we were on our way, I started to get excited.  I love camping.  I really do.  But it’s a lot of work to get ready, while you are there and then to pack up to go home.  I would no longer call it a relaxing weekend away.  But the upside this time was the weather.  It was beyond phenomenal and not even one cloud passed by, nor did one drop of rain fall.  It makes things a lot easier compared with the other years that we’ve been stuck under a tarp city.  With a toddler?  Impossible. 

The sleeping in a tent with Jaia was no picnic either.  Imagine camping from her point of view.  PLAY!  PLAY!  PLAY!  GET DIRTY!  CHASE DOG!  PLAY SOME MORE!  EAT!  PLAY!  SWIM!  And then go to bed in a strange blue dome while everyone else stays up laughing and having fun.  She would have none of it.  Finally in bed by midnightish, asleep closer to 2 and waking up every half hour or so.  Sleep eluded both Jaia and I that first night. 

We went to the same site, on the same we weekend, with the same friends as last year.  Sharbot Lake is a great campground that is less than 2 hours away and is very well maintained, as most of the Ontario Provincial Parks are.  This once has a people beach and a dog beach, which our fisher-dog adored.  And Jaia, my little aquabat, was in heaven.  She and her dad took swimmimg lessons when she was just a teeny bean and has since spent a good deal of time in swimming pools, lakes and oceans.  And she’s always loved it.  This was the first time though that she took flying leaps forward, dunking herself with each one.  And though I lost my breath each time she did it, after Dan scooped her back up, she’d laugh out loud and try to immediately do it again.  This kid does not have any fear of water.

The rest of the time camping is spent preparing food, cooking, eating, snacking, cleaning up after meals and preparing for the next meal.  And making a fire.  And, as far as Michelle is concerned, poking the fire.  But we all eat so well and pull away from the campground happily hauling around a few extra pounds with us.  My weakness this time: Cheesy Poufs (a.k.a. Corn Puffs).  Delish.  And SO salty.

We have not made plans for next year yet (we are all procrastinators) but there was mention of a week away at John’s dad’s cottage instead. (It is in Ontario, Dan.  You can’t call it a cabin).  As much as I love the idea of a cottage stay so much more than a week in a hot, sweaty tent, I will miss the ‘rugged’ outdoorsyness of tent camping.  But not that much.  After a few washes I swear I can still smell the campfire in my hair.  So, bring on the comforts of home that come with cottage life.  I’m in.  Is Humph invited?  😉

 

Filed in: Campsite reviews | Friends | Jaia | Photos
comment
8.22.08

Before we forget – August 22

Forever and a day aog, I worked at a large, independent toy store.  For much longer than I would like to admit.  But, at the time, I loved it.  It was SO me. 

But while there, I used to think about boys and girls and whether or not our toy choices for them influenced the way they played or what they wanted to play with.  Why was the girls section glaringly pink?  Why was the boy’s across the store from the girl’s where there could there be no mixing of toys, with only board games, Crayloa or bikes in between them?  Should little kids toys not be fun for boys AND girls?

And then I had a daughter.  And we dressed her in pink – all the time.  And we bought her cute girly toys.  And pink blankets.  And pink soothers.  I didn’t realize I was doing it, but this is how it was.  And often still is. 

But as she got older, the toys became more and more gender neutral.  They were learning toys and books and they weren’t really geared towards boys or girls.  And then someone bought Jaia a doll around her first birthday, and it was all over.  She was in love.  It became her favourite toy, one she wants around AT ALL TIMES.

So…now I wonder if our early pink invasion caused it, or if girls really are maternal by nature.  I’m thinking the latter. 

 

Filed in: Uncategorized
comment
8.21.08

Before we forget…August 21

We’ve been trying to get out, as a family, every night after dinner.  We all need our dose of vitamin D – especially the mama who is the one stuck in an office ALL DAY LONG.  Anyway, these walks have allowed us to really explore our new neighbourhood, which we’ve been meaning to do since we moved in, and as it turns out, have become the absolute best part of my day.

Filed in: Life | Photo of the Day | Photos | Uncategorized
comment
8.20.08

My new baby

We bought ourselves a housewarming gift mere hours after taking possesion of the new house.

I love my D-50, don’t get me wrong, but I was really missing having a little camera to carry around.  With the big one, I always felt like I was ‘missing the moment’ as I would heave it out of my bag, search for the speedlight flash, fix the settings AND…the action had passed.  The photos of the post-action were always amazing, but not quite what I had set out to capture.

So now our little Canon allows us to not miss a thing.  Including catching some adorable Jaia moments on video!  Before she was born we had purchased a fabulous video camera, but like the D-50, was never in reach when you needed it.  Or charged.  Or with a new tape in it. 

So, even though I’ve spent much of the summer either not blogging or not posting photos, all that is about to change.  The weather is finally improving and so we’ll be getting out more.  We’ve taken oodles of photos in the house, but my faves are always the ones taken outside.

I think the challenge to myself is to start posting the photo of the day again.  Those who cared when I was posting them have mentioned that they miss them and still tune in in hopes of a new one.  Our situation hasn’t changed much in that we still live TOO FAR from family and they still rarely get to see the bean, so I owe them at least a few photo posts a week.  She just changing too much and being too cute to keep it to myself.

SO.  My challenge is to post more photos (not all will be of Jaia – though I bet most will be) and your challenge is to stop by more often.  And don’t forget to say hi now and then.  Recently a few comments have really taken me off-guard from friends I had NO IDEA visited the site (yes you, Jenee and Lisa D).  It literally made my day when I read what you wrote.  And in a summer filled with mostly gloomy days, we can all use something to brighten them up.  Thanks, girls.

Filed in: Jaia | Photo of the Day
comment
August 20, 2008 - 2:45 pm

Sonja - Don’t let contributor Mark drop this one… it’s too cute.