my cutie has an appetite!

Last week we spent a lovely day at the beach. It was fabulously sunny and warm, with a touch of a cool breeze every so often. It was heavenly. Owen napped in his stroller while we soaked in the sun's rays and ran along the sand and chatted the afternoon away.




Joel, Kate, Owen, Ry and I drove up together, we stopped in St George for some beach snacks, and we arrived and lazed around. Holli and Zoe showed up a bit later. It was a really nice time. Owen, once he woke up, enjoyed sitting in the sand, feeling it between his fingers, and, as he does with everything he can, put it in his mouth. He was a dirty little guy by the end of it! Since he loves "walking" while holding our hands for balance and securty, we walked him into the water. He didn't like this very much, but we just HAD to touch his skin to the ocean's salty goodness.

Since that warm day it has since cooled down, which is completely fine by me! I'm not one for heat anyway. We've just been doing day to day things, getting out for walks and garden time when we can. Ry is working and enjoying it, though he took an unplanned break for a couple days when he came home from his overnight shift with foodpoisoning. He's feeling nearly all better now, but it certainly was hard on his body.

Owen - dear little Owen. He seems to notice when Ry isn't home for the night. The 2 times Ry has been gone all night at work Owen has slept terribly; he woke up 3-4 times throughout the night and I end up just bringing him to bed with me because he won't settle down in his bed. He now moves around a lot and he'll twist and turn and roll around and he'll end up in a position that makes sleep impossible. Such a funny little guy. This past time he was sleeping with me, I woke up to a little boy looking at me, poking my eyes so I'd open them, and his little fingers trying to open my mouth. He loves tugging my bangs, too. He is very inquisitive, and growing more able all the time. And I'm rejoicing that he finally has taken to solid food! He now opens his mouth, moves it around in there, feet kicking, singing "mmm, mmm". Such a cutie. I think what got him into the solid food was the baby buscuits I gave him (ali calls them doggie biscuits). He loves using his hands, everything to Owen is a chew toy, so these buscuuts were perfect. After a couple of days of chewing and sucking these things, and inevitably ingesting some of it, he starting wanting solid food. Now I'm a happier mama :)

an entry about compost.

Owen and I brought the compost out today. This task often gets pushed off again and again, which only worsens how I feel about doing it. But, Owen and went on a rainy adventure in the wagon to take out the compost. He wore his great rain jacket from Joel and we both stayed quite dry on this warm-rain spring day. The air was wet with the smell of dirt and earthworms, it was invigorating. I think Owen enjoyed the rain. It was the perfect rainfall to be out in; soft, warm droplets, slowly dropping and perfectly interspersed. We had a good time and making the stinky job of taking out the compost into a rainy day adventure improved this chore, not to mention vetoing the part of rinsing the pail! I put it under our roof drip and tomorrow we'll be all set with a freshened compost pail.

Here is Owen loving the rain!



This is the garden to date - that's horse manure, soon to be spread out. I was going to work on that this afternoon but the rain came instead. Soon . . . then we'll seed. All before this weekend, I hope. It really needs to be done!



This is a video from the roadtrip in Maine.

eastern shore of maine

Well we're back from our trip to Portland, Maine. It was, given the circumstances, a lovely time. We had to leave early Saturday to get our car into the shop . . in Bangor, because that was the only place we could find, closest to us, that was open and able to service our car. So instead of driving back home we headed down the coast for a relaxing couple of days on the ocean.



It truly was relaxing and beautiful. Neither of us had been along the Maine coast, so it was a treat. The reason for our trip, to get my fingerprints re-scanned for immigration, went well as far as we know. We'll get a notice in the mail if, yet again, my prints aren't 'good enough'. Whatever that means. Hopefully everything is fine because it's too big of a trip to do again!




Ry has started his training for his job in Calais at the Children's Project. Unfortunately, his first day was the day Owen had his consultation with his Urologist regarding his upcoming surgery. So Ry went off to his first day of training, and Owen and I went to Saint John. The appointment went well, nearly all our questions were answered. We can have Owen in for surgery as early as the end of June, which will allow us to have this taken care of before we head out on our vacation. The surgery itself is a one step deal, then there is a follow up check up at one week, and again at six weeks. We'd want Owen to be healed up before going away. So this was great news.

Ry's training has been going well. He's on his third day of it now, and he comes home tired, as it's a lot of information to take in. Next he'll be shadowing someone, which means he'll get to see what shift will be best suited for him and our family (he has to try each shift).

Owen has three teeth on top now! He did so well on our roadtrip. He would play quietly in his carseat for definitely an hour, possibly two but then he'd either want out or he'd go to sleep. He did great sleeping in motels, too. We just put a blanket over the crib and then we could have the lights on and talk, or watch tv. We were impressed and grateful!

I think that's about it for now.

refreshed

I have been meaning to post for a while . . . here it is.

It has been fun having Ry around all day, without course work to do, or a lot of books to read and write on. Ry and Mat Rouleau have worked on the garden quite a bit. They've turn the sod and tilled the ground up. Now we need to work in compost and plant! We're excited. Ry and I haven't decided what we will plant yet, but we'll figure that out soonish.

Owen's top teeth have broken through. He is still quite upset by then, though. He isn't eating so well right now; he's fussy about when he has the bottle and he tends not to eat for long periods of time. This happened last time his teeth came through. He hasn't been very content playing solo unless he is sitting up, on his own, playing. This works quite well for us, we just put a semi-circle of pillows behind him and then he's fine when he topples over.

I thought it would be fun to put up some videos of Owen playing.




I got my hair cut! I'm pleased with it. I haven't had anything this different in a while, so the change is welcomed. I also think it will be more manageable. I might actually comb it everyday now, and my hair won't be shedding everywhere. I hope.

reflection

This morning I had a wee cup of coffee. I don't drink it anymore as it makes me quite jittery and I'd hate to become dependent upon it again. But it just seemed like such a nice treat to give myself this morning, so I gave in. I drank the delicious Caribou Blend flavour and it was so sweet in my mouth! I was sitting in our nice big front windows, reading poetry while Owen napped. It was really relaxing and a fulfillment of my 'ideal' morning. Here's the poem that most resounded with me today:

Leisure
by W.H. Davies

What is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?

No time to stand beneath the boughs
And stare as long as sheep or cows. (or Owen :)

No time to see, when woods we pass,
Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,
Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,
And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can
Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare.






We finally bought our long-awaited stroller. It isn't what we thought we would end up purchasing, but it still suits our needs and preferences perfectly. I took Owen out in it this afternoon. We walked through Dover Hill's park, down the big, nearly green hill and through the woods. I think he enjoyed our adventure, and he certainly seemed content in his new ride. I know I really am satisfied with it, it pushes very easy and the wheels are great for whatever terrain we want to take it. I think it will be easier to go for regular walk now. Hooray!

he sits!

Well this post has been 3 weeks in the making! We've had a whirl-wind couple of weeks and things are now just beginning to die down. Sadly, part of this dying down is the parting of SSU students. This summer will be wonderful and I'm excited about it, but there are some faces that will be sorely missed.


My amaryllis bloomed! It appropriately bloomed on the day my parents arrived, which was . . . three saturdays ago, I guess? We had a lovely visit together. Most of our time was spent inside as the weather decided to be quite wet and cold the entire time they were here, but we made the most of it which meant that they had much play time with Owen.

Ry's highschool buddy, Markus, came to visit as well. It was fun having him around, and for him to meet Owen. Daryl and Sandy also visited, which also was a really enjoyable time of fellowship. By this point, everything had warmed up significantly and we were able to take a couple beach days and lots of walks outside, etc. It was so refreshing. In the midst of this, SSU had graduation. It is so hard to believe the school year is already over. I loved being in the same place as Jess, Mel, and Bonnie, and for Heather to be just a city away. It is really sad that they are gone for the summer, or that they are done school! Now to be cliche: Oh goodness, how time flies.




Owen has finally settled down from all our excitement. He's been such a trooper! He still hasn't adjusted to the lack of playmates :) We've gone on many walks in his new grandpa-built wagon, we've sat outside on a blanket in the front yard playing and practicing sitting up, and we've gone for evening walks as a way to settle Owen down before bedtime - it seems to tire him out nicely.



Finally, I decided to try on an outfit my mom found for Owen. It fits! It isn't exactly warm enough for it yet, but just for photo purposes, here he is (notice his excellent sitting position!):

easter monday!

I had meant to update on the day all the snow fell, but that obviously did not happen. The snow began to fall and hasn't ceased to cover the earth yet. It all began about 5 days ago now, with the sky basically dropping large white chunks of itself all over the St. Stephen landscape. Melanie came over, we made pretzels (mmm), then she stayed here with Owen while Ry and I went out for a quick ski to be sure we got one last (and only) ski in for the season. Little did we know the snow would linger, well, nearly completely melt, be very wet and slushy, but then refreeze (what a mess) and now I'm watching another snow-falling event.



Now that I've covered the weather, lets move on to other things, shall we?

Easter weekend. It has been fabulous thus far. At various celebration services we've attended, Ry has shared some of what he has been reading in his studies pertaining to Christ's resurrection, which has been interesting. Though I will certainly not do them justice, the readings have touched on victim theory - Christ as victim and our need to love the victim; he also read of the Eucharist and how it is a sign of life as it carries the presence of the risen Christ.

The events we attended were a sunrise gathering at Todd's Point and our Peace and Justice Communion Group. The sunrise service was really nice.


The sunrise gathering began very early on Sunday; we drove out to Todd's point then we hiked through the woods up to the flat rock that overlooks the St Croix River. The sun didn't show us its grand splendor, but the view was, none the less, spectacular. I had made Tsoureki, a Greek Easter bread, and it was yummy and warm out in the cold. Owen did well for a while out in the cold, but he became quite upset after a bit, so we trekked back and sat in the car to warm up. He settled down and played with is toy and thus allowed us to grab breakfast with everyone. He did so well! Ry was asked to play a song at church, so he went but Owen and went to bed, as he hadn't had a nap since 6am! He was tuckered out and I certainly didn't mind the snooze either since I had baked the bread that morning.

Our PJCG had an Indian Potluck last night. It was so so so delicious, with everyone bringing something very tasty, and the fellowship we had together was sweet. I do think that food makes fellowship among friends all the more richer! Especially when it's food as warm and rich as Indian food!

In other events, there was a half marathon in St. Stephen on Saturday. We went to the finish to see some friends come through. It certainly is an admirable thing to run that far! Something I applaud other for and know that I'll never do it!

We don't have any plans for today, but I think we'll just take it easy. There is a lot of clean-up to do from the busy baking / cooking weekend.

Last but not least, a blog wouldn't be complete without a picture of the star himself.