here we grow

Blast from the babbling past

2011-10-05T11:28:00.000-07:00

Little vid from when Augie was about a year old, back when he said just a few words and a steady stream of babble. Much to our relief, he's been starting to talk more these days, coming out with random bon mots like "KNEE!" as we eat dinner. Our late talker seems to be making up for lost time. I'll try to make a new video of him saying a few words.

The first haircut results

2011-10-05T08:46:00.000-07:00

It was pretty long before the trim, tangling easily and starting to get into his eyes. Still curly and free, though. I tucked a few of the shorn locks into an envelope for safe keeping. *sniff*

First haircut!

2011-10-04T15:25:00.000-07:00

We were too busy distracting him from the task at hand to take a picture but it really did happen. Just a trim. Pictorial proof to follow...

Peek-a-boo at Grandview

2011-09-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

I covered the opening ceremonies for Commercial Drive's newly reno'd Grandview Park for Vancouvermom.ca and Augie had fun checking out the cool new playground.

2011-09-15T12:20:00.000-07:00

Chris took this one of Augie and me at Iona Beach a few weeks ago. He's a big cuddler, our boy.

First carousel ride!

2011-09-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

We went to Burnaby Heritage Park's 40th anniversary free day event and checked out lots of cool stuff. Priority numero uno was the vintage, 100-year-old carousel. Oh boy, was Augie psyched. In fact, he loved it so much that we literally had to pry his tiny (and surprisingly strong) fingers off that pole. We'll definitely go back and fit in a Deer Lake walk at the same time.

2011-09-04T12:32:00.000-07:00

Happy, sticky-haired little munchkin

Chris as a wee lad

2011-08-31T19:49:00.001-07:00

Untitled, a photo by beebs on Flickr.

I love this shot of Chris at 4 or 5 years old, taken by Grandpa in the New Hampshire woods

Ride, Augie, Ride

2011-08-15T06:49:00.000-07:00

August pretty much taught himself how to ride his strider bike this weekend! He'd live on the thing if given the choice. Thanks to Gramma and Grandpa for the awesome wheels. Love is an understatement.

Augie's aspirational bike hero is this little dude named Jo Jo:

Sunshine Coasting

2011-08-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

We had a quick visit at Gram and Gramps and got to see the Aunties (Megan, Kari and Steph) as well as cousins Jake and Brandon. August was totally taken with the boys. He points to the photo of Brandon and Jake above and asks me to say their names over and over. He played with Brandon;s skateboard and Jake showed him a few tricks on his boogie board.

Blueberry face

2011-08-07T20:26:00.000-07:00

2011-08-02T07:18:00.000-07:00

Littlest Chef

2011-07-30T09:08:00.000-07:00

Favourite new thing is getting up on his step stool to "help" while I get dinner ready. Usually involves a whole lot of banging spoons and sampling of whatever food is being prepared. The John Deere tractor-themed apron is from Nana and Papa and it came with the teeniest rolling pin and baby oven mitts, too.

Bed head

2011-07-27T08:59:00.000-07:00

Maybe time for a first haircut? Post-nap wild curls in the Maxwell tradition.

Meow meow

2011-07-23T09:50:00.000-07:00

La Casa Gelato

2011-07-12T07:31:00.000-07:00

Weekend with Nana and Papa

2011-07-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

We had a nice little getaway to Salmon Arm to see Nana and Papa over the long weekend. Lots of sun, play, and mosquitos (they didn't care for Augie, thankfully).

Birthday Boy!

2011-06-29T19:00:00.001-07:00

Our little baby is TWO! He's a whirlwind of sweetness, cheekiness and neverending curiosity and we love him SO much. The cliche holds true: it really, truly feels like just yesterday we were waking up at 1am with my first pangs of labour, saying today's the day we get to meet our little love.

Gramma and Grandpa came to visit from New Hampshire (via Portland, where they celebrated our twin nephews' first birthdays a few days earlier!) and made the occasion that much more special.

Our Secret Garden

2011-06-13T19:30:00.000-07:00

There's a beautiful park three blocks from us called the Italian Garden (funded by the Aquilini family, infamous owners of the Vancouver Canucks) and it's pretty awesome. There are fountains, mosaic tiles, statues of operatic heroes like Turandot and Pagliacci, plus lots of green space to run and play.

Augie loves any chance to splash around in water so he was in there with his water socks like nobody's business. It will definitely be a regular haunt for us this summer.

Weekend ritual

2011-06-13T19:08:00.001-07:00

We always try to fit in a little hike every weekend even if it's just within the city. Here are a few shots from last weekend in Lynn Canyon, one of our favourite places. Now that Augie's getting a little older, he likes leading our pack down the trails and seeking out sticks, babbling brooks, ferns and giant slugs.

(this one melts my heart)

(ok, this one does too)

Better late than never

2011-06-13T18:53:00.000-07:00

I've been totally lax in my updates here and it's partly because I don't know if anyone actually visits the blog. The comments don't work (why, blogspot, why?) so it's gradually taken a backseat to the occasional Facebook updates. Oh well. I'm going to try and post here more often again, even if no one except Chris and Gram read it.

Augie will be TWO in two weeks!! So many changes so quickly these days. He's the laughing, running, playing light of our lives and it all just keeps getting more fun. Seeing the world through Augie's ceaseless wonder and desire for new things is one of the best parts of parenthood so far. Little adventures every day.

Mother's Day

2011-05-11T08:25:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day was busy and fun. We went to the neighbourhood fire station with plans to merely peek in the windows and check out the beloved fire trucks but lo and behold, there were five fire fighters literally jostling to let Augie see inside the truck, climb up inside, look inside the compartments with cool tools, and wear a mini firefighter's hat. I've always thought firefighters were great but I've been impressed by how eager they are to please kids, wave, open up their doors. Augie was awestruck.

After that we went to our fave Maplewood Farms and roamed around with the horses, sheep, goats and ducks. We weren't done yet, though. Next was our favourite neighbourhood parks for some digger, slide and swing time. August can now climb up and slide down all by himself! What a big boy.

Step stool

2011-05-07T10:33:00.000-07:00

We bought August a step stool to help him reach the sinks and counters and he is loving it. One of his favourite things to do is play for a bit with the water in the sink, so I give him a few toys to "rinse" and "wash" and he does his thing.

Our Day at Iona

2011-04-13T09:01:00.000-07:00

We drove out to the airport and the jetty, where you can walk a mile out to sea. It was windy and chilly so we stuck to the beach and trails. Augie loves being outdoors anywhere, anytime so he was thrilled to muck about in the sand, check out the bramble- and bird-filled trails and lay down on the grass every chance he got. Another highlight was the airplanes coming in very close to land. OooOOoh.

Visit to the farm

2011-04-08T09:01:00.001-07:00

A medley of Augie-ness

2011-04-08T08:48:00.000-07:00

I don't know how to use iMovie very well so I inadvertently melded four videos into one instead of what I intended, which was just to post the last one of Augie looking at the lambs at the farm. Some of the vids go sideways for a bit so hang in there...

2011-04-04T17:33:00.001-07:00

Untitled a video by beebs on Flickr.

2011-04-04T12:44:00.001-07:00

Our friend Amy sent us a link to a new childrens' bedding site called Little Auggie

We love the name, of course.

these boots were made for puddle splashing...

2011-04-04T12:37:00.001-07:00

Untitled, a photo by beebs on Flickr.

Nana hand-painted these yellow rain boots with frogs and Augie's name. They keep his feet nice and dry and he loves them.

2011-03-31T20:00:00.000-07:00

Spring!

2011-03-30T08:55:00.000-07:00

"Here We Grow isn't growing", is what Gram said to me today. So true. It's been hard to find time for blogging these days, what with our walks and library trips and stick collecting, worm hunting and trips to the park. Augie is loving spring and wants to be outdoors every chance he gets. When he's not outside, he's drumming every surface, asking (by pointing enthusiastically to his paper and crayons) to sit in his highchair and draw pictures, and indulging his ongoing obsession with trucks.

We went on a hike last weekend to Lynn Canyon and Augie saw ducks and threw rocks in the water with Dada. LOVED it.

2011-03-18T13:45:00.000-07:00

We were all pretty psyched when Uncle Adam & Auntie Beth visited last week. It rained every day but we got some outdoor play time and they helped chase Augie around Fort Langley. We ate out a few times and August was seriously amazing. He aced the whole 'toddler sitting and playing quietly for an hour while the adults talk' thing. Most 20-month-olds would be far more interested in running around/crawling under tables/tossing food across the room. Let's hope he keeps this up!

Augie's finally over the nasty cold he's had for a few weeks so he's finally breathing easy and sleeping through the night again. Poor kiddo.

Fun times with Gramma

2011-03-06T19:02:00.000-08:00

2011-02-13T08:09:00.000-08:00

Augie really loves his Uncle Adrian (aka Lindsey Buckingham), as you can see.

with a quack quack here and a quack quack there...

2011-02-08T14:16:00.000-08:00

Sledding!

2011-02-01T07:17:00.000-08:00

We went up to Cypress on Sunday to go sledding and weren't sure how well it would go over with August. Well, he LOVED it. I wish I'd gotten a better shot that captures just how much. We'll definitely go again this winter.

Sweeping is so last year

2011-01-27T07:37:00.000-08:00

He still loves to give the floor a good sweep now and then but his favourite new thing these days is pretending to cook while I'm making meals. He'll reach for the spoons and pots until I set him up with his own chef's table. Funniest part is that he does it all with a very serious expression.

Toddlerama

2011-01-19T12:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I catalogued some of Gus' obsessions so I'll do that now for posterity. It's mostly for my own gratification--rapid passage of toddler time and all.

Here are a few current fave things:

-Bellybuttons! This involves sticking his finger in your belly button if he catches sight of it.

-Bronx cheer, blowing raspberries, zerberts: whatever you want to call them, August LOVES giving them.

-Wrestling

-Drumming

-Toothbrushes

-Dancing

-Puddle jumping

-Stick gathering

-Vacuums (Watching me vac, playing with unplugged vac, pretending to vacuum)

-Cats and saying "meow meow meow"

-Dada's guitar, listening to him play.

2011-01-18T12:56:00.000-08:00

We've been lucky to get some breaks from the standard January deluge here in Vancouver so August and I have made the most of it with puddle stomping, swing testing, stick collecting, and general tearing around in parks. Can't wait for February, when the buds start to peek and the days lengthen just a little.

2011-01-17T12:28:00.000-08:00

Diane Arbus self-portrait, 1945.

2011-01-05T20:56:00.001-08:00

2011-01-04T13:16:00.000-08:00

I can't recall if I posted this one before but it's from a year ago and it kills me! I found it as I was sifting through photo archives for something non-Augie related. Took me a lot longer to find what I was originally looking for...

Happy Holidays

2010-12-30T07:57:00.000-08:00

August had so much fun during our Christmas visit to Nana and Papa's, despite all of us muddling through colds and other maladies. The whole family, near and far, gave Aug some awesome goodies that he was amazed to discover were his to take home. He's going through an extra-shy phase these days so he played coy with Nana and Papa (and Uncle Adrian) for a few minutes each day before letting loose again. We enjoyed the sunny, snowy days with plenty of cribbage, good music, rest and yummy food.

Ho ho ho

2010-12-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

Bright Nights train ride! Augie loved every minute. Lots of "oooooh's".

Stanley Park's miniature train comes in. We found out that this is its last year in the park. Vancouver Parks Board cuts :(

Helping dada decorate the tree. Ooooooh.

Decided hats aren't so bad after all and wanted me to put this toque that Nana knitted on his head. He very earnestly "sweeps" the floor like this at least once a day.

In other news, the inevitable indoctrination has begun: when you ask him what Santa says, Augie laughs, "Ohh ho ho!"

2010-12-04T19:15:00.001-08:00

wintery fun already

2010-11-23T07:02:00.000-08:00

Mom and Dad's electric toothbrushes are far more interesting...

2010-11-17T16:50:00.000-08:00

2010-11-14T21:07:00.000-08:00

A visit with Uncle Adrian

Busy boy on the go

We got him his own mini broom. This is the face of pure, unadulterated joy, folks.

2010-11-10T09:18:00.000-08:00

Wait, is this a black and white picture of Augie?

Great shot of Chris (peering into a crystal ball, perhaps?) from Grandpa.

Correction: Grandpa just told me this is actually a picture of HIM, not Chris. Hilarious!

2010-11-09T13:12:00.000-08:00

Just came across this one taken a year ago. Makes me realize how much he's looking like a big boy these days.

halloween 2010

2010-11-01T20:38:00.001-07:00

Augie dressed as a fuzzy little bear for his first Halloween and his little buddy Charlie dressed as a monkey. We walked around the hood a bit to check out the lights, pumpkins, fireworks and costumes and the boys danced (2nd pic) in the streets and seemed to love every minute of it.

2010-10-21T07:59:00.000-07:00

2010-10-14T18:44:00.000-07:00

Big boy car seat! Thanks so much to Grandma and Grandpa. Augie loves it.

Sunshine Coasting with Gram and Gramps

2010-10-05T11:47:00.000-07:00

perfect fall day

2010-09-27T07:17:00.000-07:00

Warm and sunny fall days can be few and far between in Vancouver, but Saturday was all that and more. We took a ride out to Westham Island and went to the herb farm and the bird sanctuary. Augie loved "growling" at the ducks.

twin baby nephews!

2010-09-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

We went to Portland this weekend to meet our twin baby nephews for the first time and they are beyond cute. Grandma and Grandpa were there too so Augie got some G&G time in as well.

we ♥ buffy

2010-09-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

august is a big music fan. i guess that's kind of like saying august breathes but it's really quite extraordinary with him. he's completely transfixed, transported, happy and content when listening to songs or doing his favourite daily ritual: climbing onto our laps and watching a few sesame street songs, tapping his feet, clapping, smiling.

buffy sainte-marie is a new augie favourite, which makes me happy because i always thought she was pretty cool.

baby steps

2010-08-31T12:14:00.000-07:00

He's been walking in little stops and starts for about a month but fully joined the bipedal world last week! We always knew it would be fun to see him start walking but we had no idea how awesome it really is to see him go, go, go. YAY, little man!

mini train momentz

2010-08-26T12:23:00.000-07:00

Augusto took his first ride on the miniature train in Stanley Park and hearted it, of course. Major "pbbbbbbbttt" sound effects ensued.

The top picture is for all you Augie hair doubters out there. See? It may be fine, wispy and light, but it's there, dammit.

2010-08-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

I've been kinda slacking on the Aug Blog updates. Month 13's been hectic. Some changes this month are that Augie's walking (yay), he's officially thriving at his awesome daycare, and I'm back to freelance writing and some photography a few days a week. I'll find time soon to post a few pictures of our recent Augie adventures.

2010-08-13T10:24:00.000-07:00

Nana took this picture and we love it so very much. Sweet after-bath snuggle with Papa.

hangin' at the farm

2010-08-13T09:33:00.000-07:00

by leaps and bounds

2010-08-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

So many changes are happening so quickly these days. He's not quite walking on his own yet but he's most definitely in toddlerland. The expressions, the growth, the movement, the comprehension. It's such an amazing ride for us to see him evolve. Augie now says "cat", "dog", "bird", and his fave expression is "rahhh!". Funniest thing is he growls when he's excited.

summer fun with nana & papa

2010-08-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

ecstatic pretty much sums it up

2010-07-29T21:28:00.000-07:00

such great heights

2010-07-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a film company, we stayed at a fancy schmancy hotel while Jack Black and others (Steve Martin and Owen "friscalataing dusklight" Wilson, to name a few) filmed on our block. Augie had fun looking at the teeny weeny cars from up on the 18th floor, swimming in the pool and checking out every single nook and cranny of our room.

a little tête-à-tête after dinner

2010-07-20T20:31:00.000-07:00

he really is saying "bath!" in there a few times. trying his hardest, at least.

we found an imp in the garden

2010-07-20T11:52:00.000-07:00

Grandma & Grandpa time redux

2010-07-12T15:38:00.000-07:00

Grandma & Grandpa time!

2010-07-12T15:08:00.001-07:00

Cabins, ferry rides, drives, hikes, walks, picnics, fish hatchery discovery, giant fir gazing, birthday cake eating, park visits, swings, BBQs, train rides, Steveston visit, Augie monster attacks and much more.

"Water baby" might be an understatement

2010-07-12T14:58:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa from New Hampshire (via Portland, where Aug's new twin cousins were just born!) came to visit for a few days and while they were here, we went to Bowen Island for an overnighter. Pure, unbridled glee is probably the best description for August's take on swimming.

Birthday dinner with Nana and Papa

2010-06-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Blueberry cobbler with one candle for our little bloob lover

Beautiful old rocking horse from Grauntie Dort and Gruncle Kevin

Augie opening some sweet prezzies from the fam

Hands up who turned ONE today!

2010-06-28T16:20:00.000-07:00

Happy birthday to the sweet, funny and smart little guy we love so much. You've made us the happiest mama and dada around xoxoxox

Best dada ever

2010-06-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

If Augie could talk, he'd thank his dada for being such a fun, sweet, thoughtful and caring man. He'd tell him that he knows he works so hard and always takes good care of him and his mama. We love you. Happy first Father's Day xoxox

Where does the time go?

2010-06-18T19:54:00.000-07:00

Oh boy. I guess it's been a while since I've updated here but we've been very busy lately. There have been the beginnings of day care, job hunting, separation anxiety, partial weaning, hiking, visits to the Sunshine Coast, house guests, library visits, and a very mobile little Augie to chase after.

Ten days until his first birthday. I can barely believe it.

buddies

2010-06-09T19:47:00.000-07:00

August's bff Charlie came over with his folks the other day and it was super cute to see the boys hang out and be all, "Whoa dude, you're just like me. Now gimme that toy back, stat."

2010-06-07T13:56:00.000-07:00

We were recently sent these photos taken by photographer Nadine Agosti when I was 9 months pregnant. Hard to believe I was so huge. Even harder to believe that August is almost ONE!!

saturday in the park

2010-06-06T15:37:00.000-07:00

11 months old today

2010-05-28T08:27:00.000-07:00

2010-05-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

apple sauce, yogurt, and lullatone! they're a japanese couple who make music at home for their baby. augie loves them. great for kids and adults: lullatone

xo

2010-05-18T11:19:00.000-07:00

month 10 photobooth

2010-05-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

It's getting more difficult for all three of us to fit in the booth so we thought we'd try a switcheroo midway through. Hah.

Witness Augie's unique thumb sucking style. It's always either devil horns style or one finger pointing. The kid's got flair.

baby steps

2010-05-12T15:37:00.000-07:00

Me at Augie's age

August is already cruising around while holding on to furniture and our hands but we're wondering if he's on the verge of his first solo steps. He prefers being upright and sometimes stands on his own for a few shaky seconds. We'll see. We're still working on babyproofing cupboards and whatever else he can get his clever little hands on.

our tumultuous week in salmon arm

2010-05-11T18:20:00.000-07:00

I missed getting a picture of August with his Auntie Megan, who he loves to bits along his Uncle Adrian, Nana and Papa. My recreations of Auntie Megan's assorted sound effects are still making him giggle a week later.

2010-05-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

Family shots taken by Nana last week in Salmon Arm. Thanks Nana!

good to see that smile again

2010-05-07T20:21:00.000-07:00

After 6 days of illness with Roseola, August is officially on the mend. Tonight at the park we got laughs, smiles and his usual twinkly eyes. Yay. We missed our happy little guy. Poor babe was so sick with days of high fever, a rash, discomfort, screaming, extreme clinginess (he hasn't quite let go of that symptom), and other woes. This all went down as we visited Nana and Papa, the latter who was in the hospital for heart troubles and pacemaker surgery. Everyone's doing much better now and we're incredibly grateful for love, family and a healthy Papa and Augie.

10 months old today!

2010-04-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

Most of the pictures I tried to take for this post were too blurry, which is a fitting testament to August's new non-stop movement.

We've reached double digits! Eeeep. It's been said a zillion times how fast time goes with babies but it's only because it's so bittersweetly true. They learn and grow and change so quickly that it's hard for our hearts and minds (and uh, bodies!) to keep up. Who's this little guy crawling, walking while holding on to things, opening up the kitchen cupboards, flirting with pretty ladies and calling us mama and dada?

Augie is so much fun. Lots of big smiles, giggles, torrential drool and excitement for pretty much everything (ok, except for diaper changes and hats). When I have more time, I'll post a list of stuff Augie's really into, for both the grandparents and posterity.

2010-04-26T21:02:00.001-07:00

raining blossoms

2010-04-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

get well soon, papa

2010-04-19T21:10:00.000-07:00

My dad, Augie's Papa Max, has been in the hospital and not feeling well recently. We're sending him lots of love and feel better wishes. We all can't wait to see you soon xo

natural nap inducer

2010-04-19T20:40:00.000-07:00

Here we are in the fresh air and wild woods of Lynn Valley, just a quick drive from our house. We go for a hike there every week and Augie conks out almost every time. On th top of August's current faves list: trees, birds, and being outside.

2010-04-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

it ain't easy being green

2010-04-13T16:53:00.000-07:00

Rough day for Augie with all this growing, crawling, learning, changing and teething. Poor babe is just out of sorts. He had lunch with Mama's friend Magda, went for a walk, spied some birdies and trees, played with lots of toys and had great, long naps but he's still feeling kinda grumpy.

Last night he discovered he could stand up in his crib at night and say 'mamamamama' over and over til his folks come in and gather him up in their arms for late night snuggles. He thinks that's pretty cool.

Sunshine Coasting

2010-04-11T17:18:00.000-07:00

Beach time with Dad

Play time with Gram

time to babyproof!

2010-04-07T07:38:00.001-07:00

2010-04-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

Beautiful, teeny cowboy boots from Mexico from Nana and Papa! Picture by Nana.

Swinging with Dada in the park.

Standing in his crib. Fave thing du jour.

9 month photobooth

2010-04-04T14:57:00.001-07:00

We heard about this old b&w booth in North Van and were super psyched to go track it down but they'd just replaced it with a new colour one. Still fun, though. The last frame is my fave.

2010-03-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

Our friend Stacie in Brooklyn took this picture of her sweet new babe, Annabel, and I had to share it. Not only because Annabel is such a cutie-pie but because this is kind of the essence of newborn babydom, no? Congrats Stacie and Jerry! We can't wait to meet her.

9 months old tomorrow

2010-03-27T20:36:00.001-07:00

2010-03-25T20:42:00.000-07:00

Less than a week later and he's practically an old pro...