happy birthday dad!

One of the reasons Quincy and I travelled to Cincinnati at this time was to celebrate my dad's birthday. My mom is throwing a big party and after missing so many big family functions lately, this is a real treat. The Norway clan will sure be missed though.

His twenty-five grandchildren are giving him an album.

They each have a page with their photo and answers. Here is Quincy's...

It was so cool putting this together and reading all the thoughtful answers each of them (ranging in age from 2 to twenty-five) came up with. I loved seeing the many different ways he has impacted each one. I think he will too!

This time the paper comes from Jessica Sprague and everything else is from Designer Digitals.

missing you already

As happy as we are to be here, we already miss these three...

bring it on.

Three different flights. Two layovers averaging four-and-a-half hours. Eight time zones. Six thousand miles. Twenty eight hours, (after last time, make that, twenty eight hours if I'm lucky), on my own with a two-year-old.

Bring it on.

In five sleeps...

we're off to the States! I've started packing and the line items on the to do list are slowly but surely getting ticked off, thanks in part to a cooperative little boy and a helpful husband. The washing machine has been running almost non-stop since yesterday. In fact, it's still going. We've had terrible weather for much of the last week, but thanks to some serious wind mixed with sun, I managed to dry every single load outside. The clothes we are bringing are now officially out of rotation.

Tomorrow I begin to tackle the five months of journaling that I am behind on on my Project365. Yes, five months, but that's another story.

Back to the trip anticipation... I've learned by now, not to share such information with a young child too early. But I have been dropping hints for a while. Throwing "Cincinnati" into conversation. Bringing up "airplanes" regularly. Showing him photos from our last trip just over a year ago. Talking about family members.

Not surprisingly, he has been studying these photos a lot lately.

Yesterday, I divulged all the details and today he got to begin his countdown.

Tonight as I was leaving his room, he said "And tomorrow we go on the airplane." I gently corrected him and told him tomorrow he got to tear off the yellow number 4. He seemed satisfied. As I was closing the door though, I heard him say quietly, "And then go on the airplane."

So, yes, he's excited. He is expecting Stef to still be at the Wellington airport. But he is also expecting her to be at the Cincinnati airport with Oma and Opa. He is getting mentally prepared for having his nappy changed inside the miniature plane bathroom. He has been warned that even though we are sitting in seats, we have to sleep on the plane. He has also been warned that it's a long way and that we will be in two airports before we reach the one in Cincinnati. We've been talking about using quiet voices on the plane and even though it might be uncomfortable we're going to try not to whine.

He is looking forward to feeding Norwin's piglet, Peter, a bottle. I think he will find a kindred spirit in his animal-lover cousin.

He talks about buying sandals in Cincinnati. (At the start of spring I told him we'd have to wait to buy sandals that fit him in Cincinnati so we'd have to make do. I guess that made an impression! In fact a few weeks later I mentioned needing something and he told me to get it in Cincinnati. Maybe he is expecting one giant mall!)

Oh, and he is talking non-stop about the airplane.

"Papaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Daylight savings means we are able to meet Papa at the ferry every now and then.

Looking for Papa...

Still searching...

There he is!

"Papaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"

Running to Papa...

You don't have to ask Quincy twice if he is keen. Clearly.

Happy in Papa's arms...

At dinner I asked Jeremy what his favorite part of the day was and he quickly replied, "seeing Quincy at the ferry." The feeling was mutual. Quincy responded to the question in the same way.

Sweet. But do you see what I see? A two-year-old who is dressed nicer than a man who just returned from a day at the office. In the city. There is no dress code at the white box. Clearly.

eta: Jeremy was acting all offended when he read this, until I pointed out the jeans, hiking boots, and HOODIE.

is that a whale spout on your head?

The weather is wintery and WET. It has been cycling between pouring rain, hail, and dry wind. Quincy is sick with a cold. We are trying to stay warm. We have no plans to get out of our PJs. And this is how he insists we both wear our hair...

the tulips

A few weeks ago we headed to town for a monthly beagle walk and to enjoy the Spring Tulip Festival at the Botanic Gardens. My agenda pretty much revolved around the camera.

Quincy was more than happy to stop and smell the tulips,

but he was less than excited about the camera.

Jeremy too, for that matter. And the dogs were only interested in the smells and the other dogs.

I had to act quickly before we moved on.

The hilly playground in the Gardens is better than awesome. A flying fox, several cool slides, a great see saw, a fire engine, a swinging bridge, ladders... You name it. We spent ages there.

As for the weather, there were just a few scattered showers.

yum, fresh bread

Thanks to hotpoints, which we earn from our credit card, we are now enjoying this everyday...

And we have a very willing baking assistant...

I must say every once in a while, I do miss my Vogels in the morning. Just a tiny bit.

ummm, that was weird.

Quincy has always fallen asleep happily on his own. Up until eleven months that didn't mean he'd stay asleep though. However, that's beside the point.

Tonight was a different story. I was washing the dishes and could hear him calling out to me and then start crying. I don't ever recall having to go in to comfort him 30 minutes after putting him in bed, but tonight I did. This is what transpired...

Quincy: Mama, read a book. Need a cuddle.
me: Quincy, it's bedtime, but I could give you a cuddle.
Quincy: Lift you up.
me: (wondering where this was headed) Oh alright.
Quincy: Go upstairs.
me: No, Quincy, it's bedtime.
Quincy: Sit in the rocking chair.
me: (thinking this wasn't going to end well, but feeling the strain of carrying him) For a little bit and then Quincy goes back to bed.
Quincy: (after the Love You Forever song and about 5 minutes of rocking in silence) Tinty go back to bed now.
me: (feeling quite comfortable and rather surprised) Oh, okay.
Quincy: (now lying in bed) Mama, rub your back.
me: Sure, Buddy, for a little while.
Quincy: (in a nice voice after about 20 seconds of a back rub) Mama, go away.

I feel a bit like a puppet, but at least my tea was still hot when I got back upstairs.

more spying: the sandpit

Taken on Sunday, 20 September, from the landing below our bedrooms, just after showering:

Taken on Friday, 25 September, from a kitchen window, while I made lunch, started the breadmaker, and baked chocolate chip cookies:

Taken today from the dog's area as I peered through the hole beneath the patio, while I cleaned up after the dogs and gathered the week's rubbish.

The sandpit. His happy place.

out with the irritability and in with the laughter

Quincy was not himself the last four days. At all. Really irritable and clingy. He has had his rough patches, but for this even-tempered boy, it was truly unprecedented. And relentless.

I guess like most people, I need explanations. Of course, I know it's not always possible to get them, but that doesn't stop me from pulling my hair out trying.

But no matter what kind of mood they were in while awake, when they're fast asleep, they are 110% precious.

Today he seemed better. More himself. Still a little whiny and clingy, but much more recognizable. And let me tell you, this was a welcome site in the bath tonight...

I wonder what tomorrow brings.

note: Yes, he still uses a schnuller while he sleeps. Yes, I know that is totally unacceptable to most people. Yes, I wish he didn't use it anymore. But don't worry, I won't send you the orthodontist bill.

sunshine

Even though spring came early this year, it couldn't have come soon enough, and now we can't seem to get enough of the sun. It has even found its way onto a layout!

Today Q's fever finally broke and we packed a picnic lunch and walked down to the beach. First time since the weather has warmed up. I was not expecting it to be warm enough for him to wind up barefoot and pantless. It almost felt like summer.

Whining seemed to be much of the day's soundtrack, Q seemed to be moving in reverse, and he wanted to bring everything and carry nothing. But he more than made up for it this evening with this heart-melting moment...He was riding his little bike in the kitchen while I sorted dinner. Suddenly he hopped off and ran to me, while calling out "Mama, mama, I love you." It was the first time he used my name and the I and it couldn't have come at a better time.

I hope I remember how I felt in that moment forever.

baking pikelets

Today I baked pikelets with a very feverish Quincy. You wouldn't know it by looking at the photos that he has a 102F/38.3C fever, would you?! He is the best sickie I can imagine.

He takes his responsibilities very seriously...

Notice how disgusted he is by the batter!

It's not easy choosing the perfect one. And spreading honey isn't that easy when you're two. Nor is working out how that sifter works! Oh, and what a surprise, the dogs want to join in on the fun!

I think he only took a total of two bites, saying "YUMmy" after each one,

but boy did he enjoy the process! And so did I.

I think it's amazing how the simple act of baking with your child can leave you feeling like the best mama in the world.

But if you aren't feeling especially patient, it can just as easily backfire and you wind up feeling like Cruella De Vil.

Fortunately I experienced the former today.

superpowers

I think every parent wishes on a regular basis that she could stop time. I guess that would be my superpower of choice.

(all supplies from Designer Digitals)

This is a photo from January and a layout from May. Sadly, I haven't done much in the scrapbooking department for about a month.

dinner time and still fast asleep

Buddy, you are approaching the three-and-a-half hour mark. It's 6:19. Dinner's ready. Do ya think it might be about time to wake up?

This is not unusual. He is such an awesome napper and sleeper in general. I consider myself very lucky.

By the way, I should've just let him sleep. I made shepherd's pie for dinner and after many protests and being ignored through most of dinner ("If you're not going to eat, it's hard for us to include you in our conversation."), he tried one bite which he promptly spit out. In the food department, not so great.

You can't win 'em all.

it's not everyday

that a cat talks to you at the local 4 Square.

milk + a book

A cuppa milk and an Eric Carle book...

a toddler's version of a cuppa coffee and the morning paper.

reliving memories

Quincy loves looking at photos. I think he enjoys it as much as I do! He sits cuddled up to me as we flip through pictures and relive memories and talk about family and friends. Ordinary everyday photos. Ones from trips, near and far. Ones of his cousins on Facebook.

And especially ones with animals. His most-requested photo the other night...

At Staglands, this very large rooster caught him offguard and he was less than impressed. But once again, he has become fascinated with that which he fears.

taking over the driver's seat

No matter where we've been, Quincy loves returning home. As soon as we pull into the garage, he is chompin' at the bit, desperate to get out of his seat and jump into the driver's seat.

He likes it best when the dogs and I are his passengers.

I'm not sure if the feeling is mutual.

At the moment, the most popular destinations are the zoo, the museum, or Staglands.

It brings back sweet memories of my dad's 1950s black Oldsmobile. I loved stealing away to the garage and pretending I had my driver's license. Or hopping in the back seat pretending I was someplace exotic and it was a taxi. Or imagining I was at the drive-in watching Footloose.

Anyway, no matter how long I let him stay in his driving fantasy land, it ends in protests, and more often than not, a few short-lived tears.

And now everytime I get in the car I have to figure out how to turn off that bloody rear windshield wiper.

mittens

Q: Kai, want to see my mittens?

Kai: sniff. sniff.

Q: Beekey, want to see my mittens?

Berkley: Lick. Lick.