Some Complaints

So ... I've been getting some complaints lately that I haven't been updating my blog. When I checked, I was actually surprised that it was true!

I guess time has been passing very quickly now that I'm back in Vancouver and fully engrossed in a fairly normal life again. One that includes a lot of time spent with Lucas and the dogs, might I add! Lucas has decided that he does not nap for long anymore and is definitely "no sleepy mommy" every night. Thus I get less and less time to do things like write and post pictures (much less do housework, keep up with friends or gasp... take some time for myself!) As much as I miss having some personal time, I am really loving just being there with Lucas as he grows into a crazy kid. His budding linguistic skills often have me on the floor laughing and shaking my head with wonder. I worry that he is becoming all too much like me. Today my SIL commented that she liked his sound effects that accompany pretty much everything he does. Yup - that's me. I have always had an internal (ok, sometimes external) soundtrack that spins in my head as I go about life. I guess that playing with a toddler all day has weakened my inhibitions and now I do them for him. You're right Anne - I do love that he's just a little nutty like me. I'm flattered, really!

So let's see. Now that I see most of you fairly often, I feel it somewhat unnecessary to update you on my life, but here it goes anyways.

First of all; I'M HOME!!!!!!!!!!! Can you read the joy in that?! It became so very apparent to me once I came home for vacations this summer, that I needed to be here permanently. I just missed my community too much. The year away was fantastic and I wouldn't change the experience for anything, but one thing it really taught me was that at this stage in my life, I need my friends and family around me. I value those relationships so much more after missing them so terribly this last year. It has been wonderful to reconnect with everyone and to re-establish bonds and ties. I have new resolve to keep those strong even as a new year of "crazy motherhood days" approaches. If I get lazy - call me on it!

Moving back into our house was an upward battle as the tenants we had carefully chosen took personal offense to their notice to end tenancy. I do not enjoy being a landlord, let me tell you, especially when it involves my home which I have learned I am far too emotionally attached to. (A large mortgage will do that they say ;) ) Anyways, now that Lucas and I are moved back in, I feel so very content and the nesting begins again. The only problem is that Lucas keeps opening up empty drawers and asking where daddy's clothes are. Thus this week our mission is to get some of Rob's things moved in from my Mom's in anticipation of his return home.

What did they do - take a chainsaw to the trees when they got notice?

That's right - Rob's coming home! Tonight is two weeks until the big guy rolls in and tries to re-arrange the furniture, steal the remote, and drink juice straight from the jug. I can't wait. Lucas does weird things like look out the windows for him, call out to him as though he may be listening, and point to airplanes and declare that daddy is on one. Heart-wrenching and absolutely endearing all at once.

When Rob does get home, I have promised that we may have another mini birthday party for Lucas. He insists that it will have pizza, cake with candles, presents, ice cream and most importantly, Daddy. I hope you're up for hours of playing Rob, because Lucas has planned your days already!

I can't believe that our little baby is two years old. It has flown by and now the little screaming squirt has been replaced by a rather mischievous screaming toddler. Screaming with joy of course, but he is pretty loud at times! We had a super birthday party soon after we moved in. Such fun to see all Lucas' friends hanging out in the house again. Chola hid in the bedroom.

Lucas eating cake for breakfast. I know, I know...

And as for me, I'm getting rather rotund and guessing constantly about the gender of number two. Today marks six weeks until my due date. Wow. Lucas and I sorted baby clothes yesterday and today Teddy had to be fully dressed in some of them before we could get out the door.

Well, that's it for now. Lucas, Logan, Jus and I spent the day at Bear Creek Train Park, and I'm just bushed from all the driving and excitement. I would have probably jumped into bed with him at eight if he hadn't told me, "Go away Mommy, kiss kiss I love you, night night." Sigh.....

All geared up for some serious puddle-jumping.

Finally New Pics!!!

I can't believe how long it has been since I have last posted photos! I guess life (read Lucas) has been keeping me busy! So here is the latest smattering of photos from the last two months or so - starting with Rob's visit in August.

Daddy and Lucas after a great swim at the Intrawest Whistler. Lucas LOVED the waterslide!

Lucas and I riding the miniature train at the train museum in Squamish.

Logan and Lucas share a bowl of raisins and goldfish while hamming it up for the camera.

"I love to cuddle my dog. Does he love to cuddle me?"

"Look Daddy! I'm growing SOOO tall and Mommy had to buy me new shoes AGAIN!"

Uncle Scott takes us to the PNE and realizes he doesn't really fit in the kiddy rides.

"Up, up up....dooooowwwwnnnn...!"

Teddy and Lucas hitch a ride to the park.

Aba and Lucas at the dog beach with Vancouver skyline in the background.

"I'm going to get you Mommy!" (Followed by evil laughter.)

Photo followed by much digital camera wiping. Good aim Lucas.

And More...

It is very hard to take pics of a growing pregnant belly without the photos making one look as if they are simply overweight. Anyhow, here it is. It really is much more obvious in person!

Lucas' favorite day this week was our visit to the firehall. After all of about four minutes of hesitation, he was up and in all the trucks. I think he fell asleep on Sunday night still saying, "wooh-ooh, wooh- ooh!"

Mama and Lucas pose in front of the firetruck.

Still an weensy bit small for the seats, but he kept trying to get it to "GO!" anyways.

Another attempted belly shot.

Lucas scores a potato beater at Sunday night family dinner.

"Look Dada, I can use chopsticks!!!"

Playtime Pics

This is, from left to right, Gracie, Jasper and Lucas heading out to visit Maplewood Farm. This was honestly the only moment during the day when we could actually get a photo of the three together! By the way, you've got to love a vehicle that fits three cars seats side by side, eh?

Jasper and Gracie feeding bunnies.

Lucas - the bunny tamer.

Here's a quite funny picture of Owen and Lucas at the park. Owen was perhaps a little distressed at the speed at which Lucas was bouncing the car, and Lucas was slightly displeased that Owen spent most of their time at the park sleeping, but in another half year or I'm sure they'll be thick as thieves! Oh yeah, and no, Owen does not have bald spots, he's just really fair in places!

Home Again!

Well, Lucas and I have now been home in Vancouver for several glorious weeks. It has been such a tremendous joy to see friends and family, as well as to see the pleasure Lucas shows in experienceing all these "new" things in Vancouver. After we got over the initial cold weather (tee hee - it has since warmed up) we have been spending our days out and about town. We've had lots of visits to the local pools and parks as well as a couple of special outtrips. It's been so great to catch up with people and hear all about their own adventures during the past year. It has also been really neat to see the kids again, who have all changed from babies to toddlers in what seems like lightening speed!

Lucas and Logan sharing a plate of dinner together; with a lot of concentration.

A visit to Stanley Park and the Aquarium with Uncle Scott. Lucas sat through the whole Beluga whale show if you can believe it!

Lucas has learned to say "cheese" for the camera. Here he is practicing.

I had the pleasure to be able to spend the day with Val and Ian in Whistler to celebrate their wedding. It was a perfect day, and a pretty perfect couple too. Our happiest congratulations go out to them both.

This is my garage sale find of the century! A radio flyer ride-on for $30! What a steal! Lucas has learned to bomb down the little hill in Mom's yard and crash gleefully into the hedge. What a riot.

Here's the little guy at Adam and Ashley's 2nd birthday party. He had a blast running around and (as you can see from the picture) seems to have taken to Ashley quite well!

Lucas, Ashley and Adam.

Almost Home

Hi Everyone! We are counting down the days until we hit Vancouver soil again, but until then we have been enjoying our spring here. The end of May saw us forced out of our home for a weekend while the electricity was "fixed" for the upcoming summer rains, so we ate everything perishable in the fridge and packed the family up like sardines into the truck for the weekend.
We ended up in Barra de Potosi, a small village 45 minutes south of us. We found a lovely little beach house to rent that was pet friendly and right on the beach. Both Lucas and the dogs were in heaven as they had free-run of the shady, breezy property. I can't tell you how many times we showered sand off of Lucas over the two days! He would ask to be rinsed, then run gleefully back down to the shady palapa and plop his clean, wet butt right back down in the sand!

Pillo was is heaven with the wide open beach, plethora of geckos to sniff out, and a stray herd of cows to "defend" us from early Sunday morning. Chola dozed contentedly in the shade and followed me faithfully back and forth. On Saturday night we sat at the beach and watched a truly magnificent sunset, tucked Lucas into bed, and read ourselves silly. It was a very relaxing little holiday and despite the fact that we locked ourselves out of the house when we returned to Zihua, one that dissipated a lot of stress for all of us.

So as we are getting ourselves organized for our visit home, we await the rains here with excitement (it would be SO nice!) and are getting in some good games of Settlers before we lose Mom! (Seen above played with the Seafarers of Catan extension.)

Can't wait to see you all! Love Ting

A Special Picture

Rob, Lucas and I just wanted to post a little picture for all to see. This is Lucas' little brother or sister, due around the end of November beginning of December. We can't wait!

The Circus

Another circus has arrived in town. This time with heaps of panthers, camels, lions and tigers. Lucas, Mom and I went to peek at them last Friday and Lucas was determined to come for the show with his Dada. So go we went. Lucas made the most of running through the ring before the show started, staring open-mouthed at the scantily-clad women doing strange bodily contortions and hula-hooping, watching the incredible cats roar and jump, eating popcorn, and my favorite; devouring a whole hotdog. This was after dinner too. Worth the price of admission alone!

First Haircut

As you may have noticed from the last few posts here, Lucas' hair has been growing like wildfire and has gotten out of control. Although we love the long-haired surfer look on him, this morning I was horrified to count fifteen dreadlocks. The misery of getting them out had weakened me and we finally decided to get Lucas his first haircut. Now, there is a kiddie-salon in town replete with car-chairs and entertainment. But why pay when I have sharp scissors, the will, a tv and lollipops?! Ah...skill you say...that's purely a figment of your preconceived notion of hairstylists, come-on - he's a kid with curly hair! How hard could it be? Lucas just had to join the list of family members who have fallen prey to my scissors.

No wiggles now...

Bribes work well.

Well, Lucas lived through the experience (as did Mom and Rob who were worried about butchering) and now has a lovely head of fresh bouncy curls minus the dreads. I'm quite proud of myself and wonder whether there might be need of an English-teaching kiddie hairstylist upon our return to Vancouver. Hmmm.......

Birthdays

A little late in coming, but a Happy Birthday to Rob who celebrated two weekends ago. We had a very quiet evening together opening his gifts, eating Singapore Style noodles ala Ting, and watching him blow out candles on his ice cream sandwich birthday cake. Then it was off to bed early as my gift was a fishing trip in the morning.

We didn't get that many photos from the fishing (I think we were both a little dopey from taking anti-nauseants in fear of sea-sickness) but this was definitely our favorite. The cats looked positively possessed as they lay waiting to see if they could snag some early morning fishies!

We had a great day out on the lancha with one of my students Cesar and his friend who made us some of the best tiritas we have ever eaten. For those of you who haven't had the chance to come down and try this regional specialty, it is raw fish marinated in lime with lots of chilies and onions. Sooooooo good. We ended up catching four black tuna and two Spanish herring. Very fun. We also got to see the coast from the water and have a swim off of the boat.