Need some comic relief?

Then you should come and watch me try to walk the dog. Sydney is staying with us for a few days and is must be hysterical for anyone who gets the pleasure of watching me attempt to walk her. For all those who don't know, Sydney is getting on in years and is completely deaf. My parents keep trying to say that she's not totally deaf, but if that's the case I don't know what it is she hears... nothing that I scream at her that's for sure :) She's also a suburban dog... used to have wide open spaces to run in, leash free.

So we attempt to leave the house, this in itself is a struggle. To get Olan in his snowsuit, me in my coat with hats and boots, etc. all the while pretending that we're not going anywhere so that Sydney doesn't start freaking out and running around complicating things. Eventually we make it to the bottom of the stairs, with or without someone in tears by this point. Then comes getting the stroller and dog and me out of the house. I have to open both doors and prop the storm door open (which has a tendency to suddenly snap back and slam you in the face), at this point I give up on Sydney and let her fly out of the house... to keep her on a leash at this point would never work. I get Olan and I out of the house and look for Sydney. Usually she hasn't gone too far but since she's deaf it's hard to get her to come to you. So we take off after her, screaming her name all the while... mostly for other people benefit so that they don't think that I'm just letting the dog run around, I realize that she can't hear me. Before we get to the end of the block I'll usually have caught her, but this isn't necessarily a good thing.

Off we go again, this time with Sydney on a leash in one hand and the stroller being steered by the other. Have I mentioned that it is as icy as a skating rink around here right now? And that Sydney isn't used to a leash? I'm sure that you can picture the rest people... total freaking chaos, the dog running one way, the stroller the other and my feet barely touching the ground. By the time we make it back and I unwind us all it's all I can do to stand up.

Though on a more a positive note, I've discovered that my fancy new cupholder is perfect for holding bags of dog shit :)

Happy Valentine's Day!

We'd like to send out a big hug and kiss to all our loved ones today. Although with the slobberiness of Olan's kisses lately, maybe you wouldn't want one :) We're thinking that maybe he's in the early stages of teething because the man is chewing on EVERYTHING and he's a total slobbermonster. Though a very cute slobbermonster.

I'll be finishing the trip pictures up soon. We've been busy since we got back with house hunting and Adam's still adjusting to his new job and schedule.

I also think that I need to extend birthday wishes to Olan's godmother... was it yesterday? the day before or today? We're terrible I know, I just remember that it's around Valentine's.... but HAPPY BIRTHDAY KATIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We hope that it was a good one and that you got spoiled rotten.

I'm hearing the little "I'm feeling abandoned in my swing" squeek so that's it for now!

Leg Two: Vancouver

Ahhh how I miss the weather in Vancouver. Sixish degrees and it didn't rain a drop while we were there. Considering the crappo weather they had right before we arrived, we were quite lucky.

We were greeted at the airport with bouquets of tulips and Emilia pushing the baggage cart. She's so grown up! My parents thought that it was hysterical to see the look on the faces of Alyson and I as we watched Emilia zoom around, this kid is across a room before you can blink your eyes. We may have seemed a little alarmed since she's almost exactly a year older than Olan and Isabelle. It was a little window to the future and made us appreciate things like setting our babies down and them being in relatively the same spot 5 minutes later, nevermind 5 seconds :)

Alyson and I stayed with Madeline, which was heavenly. She's gotten out all Emilia's "dinosaur" toys for our kids and I even had a change table in my room! Baby towels were set out with grown-up towels, it was like being at a resort for moms and babies, complete with someone to make you a latte in the morning and watch your baby while you showered. So spoiled!

We filled the days with shopping, (we even took them over the border for the the first time and went outlet mall shopping in Washington), yummy dinners, Granville market, wandering around downtown, walking in the a crazy forest, getting spoiled by Aunty Tepp, etc., etc., etc. Good times.

Then we headed up to Whistler for the weekend.

Leg One: Ottawa

Olan's very first flight was to Ottawa. He was great, especially considering the size of the plane, which was tiny. His only issue was with getting going, he prefers not to sit around on the tarmac. Once we realized this, we always made sure to board last so that he had minimal time sitting around.

Because we were travelling with my dad, we had access to the Maple Leaf lounge in every airport, this was a BIG plus. A nice place to relax, free food and drinks, comfy chairs, fancy washrooms. Olan and Isabelle felt quite at home :)

Both babies were incredible through all our travels. The look of horror on fellow passengers faces when they saw us boarding with two small babies changed to one of disbelief as we disembarked and Alyson and I were told numerous times what great little babies we have... as if we didn't know!

Ottawa was fun, and Olan enjoyed playing with all Isabelle's toys. While we were there, he came down with a cold, which I suspect he contracted at our playdate before the trip. The cold made him a little cranky but he still enjoyed shopping, visiting and he and I both loved the fancy breastfeeding room at the Rideau Centre. Now that's shopping!

He got to meet Renée's little boy Logan, who is a total dreamboat. It was neat having the three of them together since the last time I saw Renée was when she, Alyson and I were all preggers. Now we've all got these amazing babies all born within a one month span. Craziness.

He also got the meet, and get covered in smooches, by the entire Andrews clan. It was fun to see Trystan carrying him around... weren't we all just babies a couple of weeks ago?

Once we collected Alyson and Isabelle, and left Uncle G to his new job, we headed off to Vancouver.