i am four

Months old that is. And a four months Jake can go to the pool to go swimming with Mom and Dad. So off we went, with Jake donning his new swimming costume to keep him warm. For the most part Jake seemed to enjoy it, particularly the part where Dad helped him fly through the air and float in the water. No dunking his head underwater, that's for later. Rob, Vanessa and Zoe met us all at the pool for some fun frolicking. Big hug from Zoe.

Jake at four months is now able to hold his head up well and has some pretty good trunk control. So he now can play in his excersaucer and his jolly jumper. Special jolly jumping music includes Guns 'N Roses' 'Welcome to the Jungle'. Ooooooo aahhh go the monkeys.

Jake now weighs 15 lbs 10 ounces and is 26 inches long. Some milestones that he has hit:

• Lifts his legs to play with his feet
• Can roll over onto one side
• Bounces up and down when held standing
• Had his first "Hee hee" laugh
• Can put himself to sleep, albeit with some crying
• Actively seeks out sources for sounds
• Purposely reaches out to grasp toys
• Likes Guns 'N Roses

There's no accounting for taste.

happy anniversary

The big 6! Mom and Dad have been married for six whole years. And what a big year this is. The weekend started off with the mini break to Lake Cowichan, and ended with a BBQ at the Beamishes with the McFarlanes. Mom and Dad got married in the Beamishes garden, which at this time of year is all abloom with rhododendrons. The garden is outstanding, with all sorts of interesting and unique plants, and about 400 rhododendrons. Award winning rhododendrons that is, in fact this year they won all five trophies at the Nanaimo Rhododendron Society Annual Show.

Its so rewarding to have a built a wonderful life together surrounded by friends, owning a great house that we have made into a home, and best of all started a family.

Jake has been a blessing, obviously well loved by his parents, and the people's choice for best baby ever. And he doesn't smell too bad either.

mini break

Since we have a whole year together we have decided to try to make the most of not having to book time off or work around schedules. So each month we are going to take a mini-break. Last month it was off to Seattle. This month we decided to head south again, albeit only 1 hour south on the island to Lake Cowichan. We stayed at the Warm Rapids Inn, which is a delightful B&B run by Rose and Don who provide kayak adventures. Neil headed out for a day of paddling on the Cowichan River with Rose, Don and two other clients.

Mom and Jake hit the Duncan farmers' market and the baby consignment store to get an excersaucer and jolly jumper. Mom enjoyed the B&B's hot tub and pool. So it was a win win win situation. Everyone had a good time.

happy mothers' day

It's a special one...it's Jake's Mom's first Mothers' Day. And it was wonderful to be part of the club. What a different feeling being on the 'receiving' end, that is finally being a mother. It was a day to feel very sentimental, proud, privileged, and a little bit overwhelmed. As a present, we bought an azalea at the Nanaimo Rhododendron Society's annual show and sale. The azalea is a lovely deep red blossom and is actually called 'Mothers' Day'. It is planted in the backyard, visible from the living room window, and will be a wonderful reminder over the years of the special feelings of beauty that this day held. We can watch it grow along with Jake.

Jake chose to celebrate this day by not having a nap for 10 hours straight, making for one cranky Jake at the end of the day. He just wanted to stay up every single minute to share his love for his Mom. Thanks Jake, I love you too.

who's that stylish baby?

Jake has grown so much (and he wears big bulky cloth diapers) so he is now into some of the 6-month-old-size sleepers he received as presents. The newborn size sleepers were very sweet, and delicate. Perfect for such a tender and mild baby. These larger sleepers are in vibrant colours and are kooky boyish themes that they need to be shared.

There are retro owl, dog and chicken (from Aunt Dot):
There are martians and spaceships (from Nan)

There is Peter Rabbit (from Aunt Rhodell)

There are funky dogs (from Marie)
with matching bib:

And there are honk-honk and beep-beep cars and trucks (from Colleen and Spencer).

The car and truck sleeper has inspired a special song to be sung while Jake is wearing it:
Beep beep goes the little green car
Vroom vroom goes the big brown bus
Beep beep goes the little green car
And the orange trunk goes honk honk

Hours of listening pleasure....while leisurely lounging in his jammy-jams.

lordy lordy, look who's forty

Yup Mom is forty. And happy to be forty, not at all anxious or sad. Turning thirty seemed to be emotionally much more difficult....leaving the years of youth behind. But now forty and a first time mom. Perfect time of life really.

And perfect excuse to make and decorate a cake. Ta da! Lemon pound cake, soaked in lemon simple syrup, filled with lemon curd and topped with lemon buttercream. Lemony delicious.

Vanessa and Rob had us over on Saturday for BBQ steaks and salad....Mom's favorite dinner. Cathryn, Scott, Sable and Zeke were also there.

Dad made Mom's birthday special with a early morning trip out to Starbucks for gooooood coffee and Top Pot donuts. Apparently Dad looked a little on the rough side and received a free extra shot of espresso because it looked like he needed it. Dad made Mom some music CDs, including the 40+ Mixed Tape. The three of us headed to Monday Baby Group for some baby massage lessons (feels good) and then to Gina's for Mexican food for lunch. It was the first return visit since the Januardy 24th dinner...the pre-labour dinner when Mom's water had broken.

Jake sat happily on Mom's lap while waiting for lunch to arrive, then he fell asleep in his carrier while his parents ate lunch. Perfect present for Mom.

He remained asleep during the trip to the liquor store to pick up some birthday beer.

After naptime, we took a walk down to the ocean to make a special birthday wish.

Its a made up tradition that Mom came up with after moving to the west coast. One special occassions you can pick up a rock off the beach, make a wish and fling the rock as far out into the ocean as you can. Works for birthdays, New Years Eve, Christmas Eve, Thanksgiving...what have you. Jake probably wished that his parents didn't dress him up like a dork.

That evening, after Jake was asleep, Mom and Dad shared a Corona in the solarium. Getting to spend your fortieth birthday with Neil and Jake is the best birthday ever.