"Look Daddy" and Dreaming

We went to Orangeville yesterday for a dear friend's daughter's one year birthday party. The party was an afternoon tea theme with little sandwiches (crusts cut off), bow ties and pearls encouraged, and very fun! The birthday girl had on an adorable dress made out of material from one of her Great Grandmother's dresses. It was gorgeous!!

Stephen and I were a little exhausted from the previous evening's activities - the wedding of one of his cousins - and ended up thinking the other person had put the diaper bag in the car and the birthday gift (duh). Of course, diapers became essential mid-party and Stephen had to run to the store to buy an emergency supply.

On the drive home, Felix really started noticing things. He yelled "LOOK DADDY!" when he saw a snowblower...and various other wonderful things as we drove along. It was very cute as his tone was exactly the same as when Stephen says "LOOK FELIX, A BACKHOE".

The other cute moment of the weekend was when he woke up this morning and sleepily told Stephen that he saw the emu. I guess he was dreaming about visiting High Park Zoo. So cute.

Toilet Training

I know that this is the next thing that we should be working on with Felix and I know that the time is now. I was hoping the time would be this summer as summer seems like a better time for accidents.

His daycare started working on it in detail after Christmas break and Felix has used the potty 3 times already! I just have no idea what they are doing and how they are encouraging it.

It's time to do some online research, but I'd love to hear what worked for my friends...please comment below with your toilet training wisdom.

Baby Signs

Even though Felix is chatting up a storm these days, he still brings out his baby sign language every once in awhile. The other morning, I went into his room to wake him up (he actually slept in!) and he made the sign for "where is" and said "BILBERT?" I guess he thought I should be bringing Wilbert to wake him up.

I notice he tends to revert back to signs when he is really sleepy or upset. When he's upset the "MORE MORE MORE" sign comes out or sometimes even "SLEEP" but more likely "ALL DONE".

I'm already regularly using the sign to nurse with Wilbert and it has actually stopped him mid-cry. Incredible!

Random Thoughts on the First Few Months having 2

I feel as though I've been rather negligent of tracking Wilbert's milestones vs Felix's, but I also know that is fairly normal for #2.

We have been having some challenges lately with Felix staying in his toddler bed and sleeping late. It was the first time we have had to use some (in my mind) fairly hardline parenting methods and let him cry in order to finally keep him in his room. This was done only after trying EVERY other method I could find online and the end result is a happier and less sleep-deprived boy (and parents).

Wilbert has been a very laid back infant. He's had a couple major crying streaks lately (both in public) and after long over-stimulating afternoons. He falls asleep in his basinette on his own easily (no rocking or feeding to sleep necessary) and sleeps from about 6:30pm until 7:30am with only 2 feeds (the first stretch is often 7 hours...at 2:30am...we are lucky). I hope I don't jinx this by blogging it.

I feel very fortunate that we've been able to afford to keep Felix in daycare. Not that I wouldn't love to be spending every minute with that amazing little boy. He is thriving there and learning so much. It has been awesome to be able to spend as much time getting to know Wilbert as I had with Felix. We are able to do a mom/baby yoga class and go to a mom/baby movie every once in awhile.

I remember feeling like I was emerging from a bubble around the 12 week mark with Felix and we are just hitting that with Wilbert now. I'm really looking forward to this next stage of an even more alert and active baby.

Wilbert's Giggles

On Tuesday mornings, Wil and I get together with some nearby neighbourhood mommies. Yesterday, he was sitting on my lap and while I was chatting away he just started giggling and laughing. I have no idea what I was doing that was so funny, but he sure thought it was great.

Felix Shows Some Carlini Traits

Yesterday morning I thought I may have been dining with one of Stephen's Zias.

Felix and I were eating our Cheerios:

F: More Cheerios mommy?

N: No thanks, I'm all done.

F: You sick?

N: No, my tummy is full, I'm all done.

F: Need medicine?

N: No, I just don't want any more Cheerios right now.

F: Go hospital?

Felix is Ready for Vacation

We are getting revv'd up to head south for a warm holiday with our boys in tow. Scuba Steve is going to come and even though I might not be able to drink to my absolute finest ability due to nursing, I'm hoping to read a few books on the balcony of our room while the babies sleep.

The other evening we decided to tell Felix about our plans. Stephen explained, "First we'll drive to the airport, then we'll get on an airplane, then we'll go somewhere warm with a beach and sand and go swimming."

Felix immediately doubled back towards our front doors saying "OK, hat on, coat on, AIRPORT go airplane. Go airplane, OK! OK!!"

I know it may not exactly seem like a big vacation to be bringing your 2 year old and 0 year old, but for so many reasons I'm excited to be doing this. I have so many great memories of vacations with my mom (who took me and my bro on a few airplane trips on her own) and some cross-country driving to BC memories with my Dad & step-mom & family. Some of my strongest childhood memories are of these trips and they were times when you really got to hang out with your family and do things together. My love of traveling grew until my solo back packing European adventure which I still say taught me more than University. I want to instill an appreciation for other cultures in our little guys young, and I want Stephen to still get to do some scuba diving even though we have little babies.