Sunday May 18th

My mom has been here visiting from Saskatchewan since Thursday. Charlotte can now remember her grandma from our last couple visits, which made driving to the airport a lot of fun. She kept talking about Grandma and the airplane and was looking up into the sky for a plane. From the moment my mom's plane touched down, I've been demoted. I don't mind, it is really nice seeing Charlotte build a bond with her grandma, and they are having a lot of fun together.

Mom and Robbie on the deck.
Mom and Charlotte spinning. Charlotte loves to get dizzy.
Charlotte blowing bubbles.

We've not done anything out of the ordinary, just made a couple trips into the city to do some shopping, and run errands. This morning was beautiful so we went down to Point Pleasant Park to feed squirrels and we got to watch part of the Bluenose Marathon. We stopped for about 30 minutes and cheered all the runners as they passed by. I find it very strange that I can guard my emotions so closely and yet I ALWAYS get teary when I watch a marathon. It is such a huge accomplishment, I can't help but tear up!

Charlotte running in Point Pleasant Park before the runners get there.

After the race we went out for brunch. I didn't pack Robbie anything to eat, thinking milk should suffice since he'd had a bowl of cereal just a little earlier. Well was I wrong! This boy loves his food, and there was no way we were eating without him. To avoid a full crying fit, everyone had to give up their banana's so Robbie could feel included. Like I said Robbie loves his food, so far he's had cereal, pear, banana, watermelon, green beans, carrots, avacado, sweet potato and prunes. All were a huge success except for the prunes. Meal time has become very eventful with these two. First Charlotte has decided she is too mature for a boster and insists on "Knees Knees". Well I think we need to work on the human anatomy with her , since she seems to be kneeling on her feet lately! I also know everyone warns that you need to watch what you say around 2 year olds, but it doesn't matter how careful you are, they'll find something you don't want them repeating. In this house it is "Robbie drives mommy NUTS". Charlotte announces this at every meal. I think Robbie is so excited to be eating and is also excited that he has hands that he is constantly grabbing at the spoon. Once he gets it, he either jabs it down his throat causing himself to gag, or thows it on the floor with a big CRASH and SPLAT. After the 20th time one day, I said "Oh Robbie you are driving me nuts", which at that moment was true. Of course our parrot named Charlotte has picked up on it, and the rest is history.

Robbie after a meal, and now trying to grab the camera.

Saturday May 10, 2008

We are back from White Point and despite some dreary weather we had a really nice time. Not surprisingly Charlotte had a blast with all the rabbits that run free. The first two days all she did was chase and scream at them, she wanted to hold a bunny so badly. By the end of the trip I finally got her to slow down and she was able to actually feed the rabbits... WOW!!! what a highlight for her. Robbie seemed impressed with the bunnies, well as impressed as a 5 month old can be with a rabbit. I think the real entertainment for him and everyone else was watching Charlotte. I especially liked her negotiation skills. She started with "Bunny Come BACK", and when that wasn't working she started yelling "Food for YOU"... neither trick worked, but it was worth the try. The other member of our family that wanted to get a hold of the bunnies was Colonel. He broke thru 2 collars while we were there, but thankfully did not catch any rabbits. Could you imagine how we'd have to explain that one to Charlotte?!?



On our final day, the weather picked up a bit and we were able to enjoy some time on the beach.

We are home now, and back into the swing of things. My mom arrives on Thursday and then next week more family arrives, then we head up to Cape Breton for the Cabot Trail Relay.

Monday May 5, 2008

Saturday was my birthday, and Charlotte was thrilled. She loves birthdays and was even very good at reminding Mike that my birthday was approaching. For days leading up to the 3rd, she would say "Happy Birthday Mommy" with the biggest grin. We marked the day by having a couple of my girl friends and their kids over for a BBQ and cake. Mike must have been in shock when he came home to all these women and their kids. But he made it just in time for cake, so he was happy.

It is amazing to me how much Robbie has changed in a week. I can barely keep him still. The instant he lies down, he flips onto his belly, when I try to feed him he grabs the spoon... he is very fast. The other day he was in his exersaucer, (which a much more defensive position than lying on the floor) and Charlotte was playing with him. By the way, her play is a border line beating, as she pokes and prods Robbie. Well now he is "fighting" back. In one swift movement, he got a hold of her hair with one hand, and her pj sleeve with the other. Like most babies, Robbie is an expert at grabbing, but not so good at letting go! Charlotte started to panic and as I atempted to release his tiny fingers from her hair, she pulled her arm away as hard as she could. Robbie was not about to let go of his sister and out of the neck of her pj's popped her arm. Hair all in a tussle, her arm sticking out of the neck of her pj's and not to mention a look of shock and disgust written all over Charlotte's face, I couldn't help but laugh at the turning of the tables.

Sweet picture, before the attack
The attack begins!


Also here are some pics of bathtime. Now that Robbie is strong enough I can bathe them together, which is much easier!

This is a busy week, as Mike left for Ottawa yesterday. Today we visited my friend Sue and her kids, then tomorrow we go to our play group and then Wednesday when Mike gets back we are heading up to White Point Beach for a couple days. I hope we get nice weather, Charlotte loves throwing rocks into the water and she will loose her mind with all the rabbits that they let run free in the resort. That is if Colonel doesn't scare them away.

Tuesday April 29, 2008

We are getting back into the swing of things after having company for the weekend. Carol, Charlotte's God Mom, came up from Boston. We had a wonderful time, we celebrated Carol's birthday, had the Currie and the Phillips over for supper, went to Peggy's Cove, and to Chester. During this time, it was clear to see that Charlotte and Carol will certainly have a specail bond between them. Charlotte loved having Carol around, so did Mike and I. It is always nice to catch up with friends, face to face.

Carol and Charlotte at Peggy's Cove.

All of us in Chester.


Tomorrow Robbie will be 5 months old - I can't believe it! He is without a doubt the happiest baby I've ever seen. All he does is smile! and what a wonderful smile he has. There are only a few things that make him cry, and one is when I take watermelon away from him. I am not joking, Robbie loves watermelon! I am obviously not giving him pieces of watermelon, as he is still just on cereal. But I do let him lick, or suck on a piece and he LOVES it, and I mean LOVES it. I've never seen anything like it, when I have a piece he swings his arms and legs, and just can't wait for the sweet red fruit to hit his lips . Eventually I have to take the watermelon away, and he cries his heart out! Robbie has also started rolling much better now, I think I'm busy now, just wait, soon he'll be fully mobile.

Charlotte has been doing really well, she is your typical 2 year old. Things need to be done her way, and well nobody, not even her can quite figure out what her way is. I have to say though, that I am glad she is now letting me flip the pages in her books again. It was really making story time difficult, to have her flipping back and forth. She has moved onto bigger and better things to show her independance, and it has to do with her diaper. For the last 2 days, I've been letting her run around naked to see if she'll go to the potty. She certainly knows when she needs to go, and asks for a diaper. Apparently the potty is still just for fun. Anyway, she HAS to put her diaper on by herself. I've attached the a photo of the result, she is watching the birds.
Luckily she gives in quite quickly (the full bladder probably helps) and lets me put it on properly. I plan to be a bit more focused on potty training when we return from the Cabot Trail, which will probably be around the time Robbie learns to cruise around the house.

As for the Cabot trail, only 3 weeks left. It really is coming up fast, and both Mike and I have been having a hard time getting out for our runs. But we plan to scrape and claw our way to the finish... we won't be the fastest, but we'll be running for James and that is what will get us to the finish.

My Biker Babe

Just a quick post to say that Charlotte got a brand new bike today, a two wheeler with training wheels. It wasn't really necessary but Gram wanted to buy her a bike and Charlotte is so happy with it! She seems like a natural... learning how to peddle fairly quickly. A couple more practices and she'll proabably be able to fly solo.

Today was a big day in the Hudson house. Robbie has started cereal. I don't know who was more excited... Me, on the off chance it will help him sleep longer. Or Charlotte, because she got to help feed Robbie. Or Robbie because he finally got to eat food. As for Mike, well this all happened before the coffee was done, so although he was there, I think he might have "slept" thru it all. Originally we were going to wait until the recommended 6 months to give Robbie solids, but he really wants to eat, and is forever grabbing at our food. Plus at his 4 month check up my doctor suggested putting him on cereal. Robbie is a big, strong boy and growing fast. Soon he should be learning to sit, then crawl, then watchout Charlotte! He adores Charlotte and watches everything she does. There is no toy in the world that could be more entertaining than a 2 year old. And wow, is the world of a 2 year old ever fascinating. Lately we have been having a wonderful time hearing Charlotte's stories, and oh my goodness is she ever full of them. For an entire week Charlotte told us about the BooBoo on her knee, and how Colonel pushed her.

Her story goes something like this...
"Ooooh BOO BOO" - then she'd point to her knee
"Colonel push YOOOO" - at this point I would have to repeat "Oh did Colonel push you?"
"Lottie Boo Hoo Baby" - I would then say "Did Lottie cry?"
"Daddy pick up Lottie" - my part is then "Oh daddy picked you up, did you stop crying?"
"All better!"

The thing I like the best about her story is that it is fictional. The boo boo on her knee came from just a simple fall while out with daddy. There was no Colonel and no tears. But I am sure she is convinced it happened. What else is fascinating about a 2 year old, well obviously their energy. How Charlotte can maintain her activity level all day is beyond me, although by about 5pm she can be quite fragile. At any moment we know a "No Lottie Do OWN!!!!" can be coming our way, and then watch out. I have to admit though, I've been spoiled this week as Mike has been working normal hours and has made it home for bedtime every evening... oh how nice it was to pretend we were a normal 9 to 5 family!

Here are our photos...
Charlotte feeding Robbie

Robbie looking for more

Of course we had to take a photo of Lottie having her breakfast
Just a cute picture of Robbie and Daddy. At the library during craft time.