Happy Birthday 9 Months Old!

Our Victorian beauty. Here's a picture of Julia in Grandma's lap from our Old Time photo shoot. Meghan organized for us to go and get a picture done. Julia didn't feel like smiling but she was excellent sitting on Grandma's lap and staring at the photographer. I'm always telling people that Julia will win any staring contest she enters. We call her the baby that never blinks. I think she kind of looks like a porcelain doll in this picture:This next picture is kind of eerie because just moments after it was taken Meghan took an awful spill down a set of stair. We heard it but didn't see it, but the sound alone was awful. Meghan was dazed and banged up but otherwise alright. She figures that she was looking at some pictures hanging on the wall and lost her footing. Thank GOODNESS she's fine.
Bath time! Julia looks so tiny in Meghan and Russ' bathtub:
Here we have Meghan and Julia in the dining room. Julia loves been carried around by Meghan and will happily go to her. It's great to see Julia getting attached to people other than Mommy and Daddy.
Our final photo shows living it up in Victoria. This kid loves going out to explore:
****Daddy arrives today at 5:30pm!!!!****

Julia Discovers Baby Wipes

For several weeks now we've noticed that Julia loves to tear apart paper. Napkins, wrapping paper, newspaper - you name it. When she gets her hands on it she loves to rip it up. In this video she found the baby wipes, pulled a few out and then set about ripping them up. They're a little more difficult than ripping up a napkin. She mostly ends up waving the wipes in the air. Check it out:

Julia Learns a Thing or Two about Chopsticks

Our time in Victoria has been great so far. We have been keeping busy with outdoor adventures. Meghan has been cooking up some delicious feasts and we've also been taking advantage of the food available here that we can't find in Fredericton. Julia has a bit of a way to go before she's going to be able to feed herself with chopsticks. She's having fun learning though!
Hanging around with Meghan and Russ:
Julia has had a great time looking through Meghan's cookbooks.
Shopping with Grandma Margaret. We were looking for buttons for a sweater I knit for Julia. It has been so hard to find buttons in this town! We still haven't gotten any.
Goofing around in Chinatown. Julia is a Canadian cowgirl.
Tow of my favourite gals in the universe:

Julia at the Bookstore

Julia Charms Victoria

Here's the home base for our adventures these days, Auntie Meghan and Uncle Russell's house. It is a heritage home built in 1892 by a couple from New Brunswick!

In an attempt to be close to her fire-loving dad, Julia is playing around the (completely cold) wood stove. It's so mild here that there's not much of a need to burn wood. That will change when Mark gets here though.
Hanging out at Julia's level:Despite the Team Canada jersey, Julia could not bring on enough luck for the men's hockey team to beat the US.
We took Jasmine to the dog park and snapped a few shots of the mountains:
There are plenty of blooms or buds on the verge of blooming. It makes for some fun strolls around town:
Grandma Margaret keeping Julia happy in a coffee shop while we order some drinks:
Chinese New Year festivities have been ongoing including a series of firecrackers going off in the doorway of the restaurant where we ate brunch. Apparently it is tradition to do so after the restaurant gave an 'offering' which was 'eaten up' by a dragon at the front door.
Auntie Meghan is back at work today so we are going to explore solo. Time for a shower and to get this kid changed out of her sleeper!

Pterodactyl Child

We have arrived in Victoria and as usual Vancouver Island is an enchanted land of delights for the senses. Flowers and trees are in bloom and you don't have to bundle up in layers when you go outside. I had a moment yesterday when I realized that Julia was way overdressed with hat and coat and to think that I had even contemplated mittens. It is so automatic.
Julia met her uncle Russ and they were buddies from the start.
Here we have Julia just after Great Grampa George's funeral.
She was a wonderful little attendee and helped to lift the spirits of everyone she came across.
Playing is hard work! Look at that concentration face:
Julia has taken to squealing when she sees someone/thing she likes. It started with Daddy when he comes home from work. Regardless of how grumpy she may be, she always squeals when she hears the door open or sees her dad through the window. This behaviour has continued during out travels and now Julia greets Meghan every morning with a squeal so shrill that you'd wish you were wearing earplugs. We have taken to calling her the pterodactyl.

A Video For Daddy

This video shows Julia doing nothing particularly special, just sitting at a table in a restaurant. However, it's those normal moments that you really start to miss when you're separated from your loved ones. I'm posting this video for Mark/Daddy who is going without his little buddy so that we can have cross-country adventures. Nobody can get Julia laughing and happy like her Dad can and you really notice it when Julia is separated from him. Only seven days until we pick Mark/Daddy up at the airport here on Vancouver Island. Can't wait!!

Keeping Busy

Playing at Great Grandma Julia's:

Out for lunch:

Sleepy after a long day:Finally surrendering. Asleep at Grampa's:

A GREAT Great Grampa

There's a picture for you of Meghan, Julia and Great Grampa George. We were at his 85th birthday party when it was taken. I love it how Julia and Grampa are looking at each other. There's a smile on his face. Then, a cruel turn of events. Grampa died just over 48 hours later. It was a big surprise to all of us. The world has lost a wonderful soul. We are so grateful that we were home to celebrate him and hug him and tell him how much we love him.

Julia has become quite the little dancer. She loves the singing doggie that Nanu gave her.
We've gotten to see Vanessa and Oscar!

A happy girl:

Julia loves to stand at the back door and watch the dogs outside. She can avoid the lick-fest while still being on their level.

We had lunch with Jim and met an Irish rooster-man in Kensington:

Julia at the Moonbeam cafe:

Here's Julia looking at herself in the mirror at Jason and Angela's. We had a great visit at their place. Julia loved the tea-steeped pears and carob sauce that Angela made (and so did we!).

Jason, Julia, Angela and Sim posing for the camera:

Julia is getting in touch with her Irish roots:

The little one is asleep now and I am going to sign off and spend time with my family. Goodnight everyone.

Greetings from Hogtown!

Julia is enjoying every moment here in Toronto. Our days have been jam packed and Julia is often nap-deprived, but you wouldn't know it! She is enthralled by the sights and sounds. Yesterday we had lunch at an awesome vegetarian restaurant in Kensington and Julia loved walking through the markets on Spadina. (3 pineapples for $5!) Thank goodness this kid does well in the hustle and bustle, because it makes her an amazing travel companion.
Here is Julia practicing for her first solo road-trip:

I found some old pictures of me on my Mom's computer. Here's a flashback to when I was a baby. Do you see any resemblance??

In the sink at my grandparents' house: (Julia loves to suck on the face cloth too.)

Julia is awake now and is standing at the sliding glass doors looking at the doggies outside. It is great for Julia to be at their level without a lick fest. Ha ha!

The Girls are on the road again

Happy Valentine's Day!!!!
I'm all alone at home and it's very quiet. Erin and Julia are in Toronto visiting family. I was talking to Erin earlier this evening and all is well and they are having a spectacular visit. Tomorrow, they will be spending the day cruising around the city visiting with friends before returning back to see Mom. I miss them.
What I've noticed:
1. When I put something down, it stays in the same place.
2. I don't worry about Julia hurting herself, especially around the fireplace and the fireplace tools.
3. It's quiet (very quiet) at night.
4. When return home, there's no welcoming committee.
5. When I return home, everything is in the same condition as when I left it.
6. I miss the girls.
7. I have time to do some blogin' !!!
8. I went downhill skiing Saturday and x-country skiing today.
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!
The girls (Erin, Julia, Meghan, and Margaret are off to Victoria, B.C. on Tuesday. I'm gonna meet them on my March Break. Vacation is coming......

Birthday Greetings and Random Shots of Life on the Move