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...

The Peres part of Gigi

Gabrielle takes after Mark in so many ways, not the least of which are the colour of her eyes and her inability to get a tan. However, I finally identified an undeniable Peres trait - she loves to chew on the bones of a chicken. Mark definitely chooses to leave more meat on the bone than I would, and I like to make sure there's no waste on my pieces but Gabrielle goes well beyond what I would ever do - she will chew on the end of a bone until there is no semblance of meat, cartilege or marrow left on it. 

A little creepy? Sure. But look at the cuteness. Oh, the cuteness...

Cyclist in training

It's a $7 used tricycle with a long pink pole attached to it for parental pushing but it's a start.

Which belly is which?

Because Carolyn asked, I am posting a belly photo. For interest's sake, I thought I would also post a photo from the first pregnancy at around the same number of weeks. One belly has a boy inside, one has a girl. Can YOU tell the difference?... (answer below)

(top photo is from the current pregnancy. Reward yourself with a big spoonful of Oreo ice cream if you got it right - and send me the rest of the tub.)

Back to the beginning

On a recent "family day," we all went down to the Market to check out old haunts. Many will recognize the front door to Mark's old apartment on Guigues, the entryplace to much carousing, but also the very spot where we first met. 

And Mark showing G the parking spot that used to be occupied by his giant Cadillac: C'mere sweetie, you gotta see this...

Anne of Green Gables, in the buff

I'm sure she'll hate me for this one day.

London visit

Mark's sister Katharine having a baby gave us an excellent excuse to visit, as we hadn't seen the family since Christmas. There's nothing like a baby to bring people together. Gabrielle ADORED her older and more sophisticated cousin, Maggie, and wanted to do everything Maggie did. I think Maggie was flattered at first, but was clearly annoyed by the end of our visit. Having admirers isn't all it's cracked up to be, I guess.

One fun thing we did was go to their neighbourhood pool, where there were a billion kids jumping off the diving board. G decided she wanted to get in on the action, so we strapped on a life vest, did a few prayers, and Katharine dropped her off the diving board.

Mark was close at hand for the landing. In truth, I don't think G's head even touched the water, but it all seemed quite dramatic at the time. The best news was when she said "more".

We also took a daytrip to Uncle Ray's cottage on beautiful Lake Huron. The water was like bathwater and I could have birthed the baby right there on the shore, I was so happy to just beach myself in the shallow water. 

Little Trevor was not forgotten.

Gabrielle got the chance to spend some quality time with the grandparents, here playing with a large container of glass beads. Empty them out, fill it back up, empty them out, fill it back up, repeat.

And more Maggie-time, here Gabrielle trying out Maggie's old big wheel tricycle, Mark giving her an extra push to enable her to keep up with her two-wheeler (no fair).

Did I mention they were cute together?

Draper sibs with progeny.

At a kids-size table at the fish 'n chips joint - Gabrielle listening and learning from her cousin's many stories. Of course G could eat Maggie under the table any day, but that's another story...

Kids' table

Angie and Derek had a gathering at their house to celebrate both their new house and the visit of Steph and Shannon with their son Alexandre. Not much makes me happier than seeing the kids all sitting down and eating happily together... 

Well, truth be told, 30 seconds after this photo was taken, all the kids had taken off, other than G who continued to plough through her own meal and then walked around to the other unfinished plates to pick the choice stuff off. I'm pretty sure Mark and I have done that with unfinished wine glasses at a wedding, but I could be making it up.

Ang with the new guy, Declan.

Daycare and dogs

Sorry for the delay since my last posting - our lives have been completely wrapped up in transitioning Gabrielle to daycare. It's not an exaggeration to say it's going fairly terribly. She cries and grasps onto us when we drop her off and spends some of the day crying, based on her caregivers' accounts. No surprise, she enjoys mealtimes and circle time the best. We're going into week 4 now of this experiment - we're going to keep trying at this for a few more weeks and see if things improve. Above, here she is at the entrance to her daycare, in a rare non-miserable moment...

Luckily, we had Erin for the first week of G's transition to daycare. She would take G in for a few hours and then go pick her up and spend the afternoon with her. 

Here's one of G's more patient pals from the dog park behind our house: Orderly. Yes, that's the name of the dog. 

Did I mention she was patient?

Here are some random pictures over the last 7 months of our favorite little girl!

Gabrielle and I


Our first ever lunch date together date together!!


Our last lunch date together :(


Woof! Gabrielle and Orderly


Tulip festival


perfect picture


Couple of months ago at The Pantry! (amazing vegetarian restaurant in the Glebe)


Gabrielles first encounter with my brother Matt, it was the 2nd time I've ever seen her in a strangers arms after a minute without her getting upset, the first time was with me ;-)

Just an all around cutie


they shakkkkkkkkkke me! surely she doesn't mean me!


Lucas helped carry the load during our day out ;-)

Gabrielle is quite popular for a 19 month old!

Humid rainy day, July 3, 09, we spent the afternoon lounging at my apartment. From left to right Erin, Me, baby G, Lucas, Calder and Katie. I think G knows she made a stinky due to her pose ;-)...haha teasinggggggg not too sure what its about. But we love her none the less.

I [heart] PEI

My mother, my brother's family and our family rented a house together in PEI last week. I have several hundred photos of the trip on my camera, and only one of Amos and Carolyn. Ridiculous how the kids get all the glory. Anyways... here are some highlights of the kids in PEI....

Ben and Gabrielle having a snuggly moment at a local community centre concert.

Ben and Amelia enjoying their surroundings. (Mark and I weren't much better - we took proper advantage of the satellite TV to watch the Tour de France for several hours each morning.)

Still smiling after six consecutive rides on the carousel: Wheee!...

Gabrielle loved the beach and especially the waves: Whoosh!...

Cool shot of cousins "Milly" and G.

Gabrielle digging into the Ruffles after polishing off an Oreo ice cream bar. Daddy was supposed to be supervising...

At the Charlottetown Airport at the end of the week, [semi] relaxed and tanned.