Saturday swim

Mark's been taking Gabrielle to the pool for swim "lessons" every Saturday morning. I tagged along this week, seeing how I had nothing else to do (like taking care of a newborn).

G looks pretty cute in her swimsuit, and gets excited every week about heading down to the pool.

Still happy, sitting by the pool before the lesson begins.

Manages to do an assisted float on her stomach.

And then "buh-bye" as she heads for the showers, after only 15 minutes of lessons! A water baby, she ain't...

6 days late

So here's a recent picture of my belly, along with my friend Natalie's belly. We almost tipped the couch taking this photo...

First three-syllable word: Gabrielle

Spoken while covered in stickers and sucking on a pacifier...

Weekend OFF a.k.a. Mark and G go to Lennoxville

Mark and I celebrated our four-year wedding anniversary by he and Gabrielle leaving town for the weekend to visit his family in Lennoxville. I, ever prudent, decided I didn't want to risk going into labour and having to give birth with some random doctor and nurses in the Hopital de Sherbrooke. The other possible option would have been to strap myself into the car's passenger seat at the onset of labour and drive four hours back to Ottawa. The image of my delivering a baby somewhere along the 417 with Mark and Gabrielle there to attend didn't much appeal to me either. And let's face it, I just wanted some alone time, which I got and which I greatly appreciated. Happy Anniversary Husband! Next year, Vegas...

By all accounts (or at least what Mark tells me), Gabrielle had a great visit with the Drapers. There were cats at every turn....

Her cousin Blaise and his bowl of Cheesies to steal from....

Rolling in the leaves with Mark's cousin, Sarah, Mathieu and Blaise....

Apple picking in their very own back yard....

And apple eating too! The perfect Thanksgiving weekend for all...

Down memory lane

Gabrielle and I monkeying around with the Mac over the last 21 months.

Le playdate avec Manon et Maddie

We don't see Manon and Maddie as often as we'd like, and this appears to be getting more difficult as each one of them becomes more and more proficient in their chosen official language. Maddie, being the franco, can understand quite a bit of english, even though she is living and schooling in a french environment. It seems that english will seep in under the doors and through the windows if you're not careful.

Here they are playing "ensemble."

Way!!

Gabrielle's growing vocabulary combined with her forceful personality means she can't help but try (and succeed) to boss us around about everything, including which entrance to the building we will use. She will point to the entrance she wants to use that day and say "Way!!" and will have a complete melt-down if you don't follow her instructions precisely. Whew...