Sunny April weekend

It's been ages since I've posted. 40+ hour work weeks make it feel like there's never enough hours to fit things like blogging in. I got a new camera last week, though, and trying to fit in more time for photography, so I hope to post here a little more regularly.

Blast from the babbling past

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

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!

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

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.

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!

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.

Happy, sticky-haired little munchkin

Chris as a wee lad

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

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

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

Littlest Chef

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

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

Meow meow

La Casa Gelato

Weekend with Nana and Papa

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!

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

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.