All Creatures Great and Small

Jude is a pretty observant little fellow. There isn't a sound he doesn't hear (and insist you respond to - he expects you to hop to it when a timer goes off in the kitchen without any dillydallying, he will oo, oo, oo until you do something like get the toast out of the toaster, or oatmeal out of the microwave). He sees birds that are waaaay up in the sky "caw caw", or even a super distant airplane "vrooom vrooom". He even hears River waking up from his nap before I do and informs me with lots of pointing and earnest noises that I better attend to his brother toute suite!

Today he discovered a sure sign of spring - ants! They have returned, much to my chagrin. However instead of vanquishing them immediately I have discovered they offer hours of fun for Jude. So far no squishing of the little creatures or attempts to consume them. All is good.

Caw Caw

If I ask Jude what a dog says, he makes a little "woof woof" noise, in fact he makes this noise anytime we see a dog or any other furry animal (squirrels, rabbits, etc.). If I ask Jude what an elephant says he will raise his arm like a trunk and make a elephant squeal. If I ask Jude what a bird says he will loudly call out "caw caw" like a crow. In fact, he makes this noise any time he sees any bird - seagull, mourning dove, cardinal, chickadee, grackle, well you get the idea. I have tried getting him to coo coo, or tweet tweet, but no...its caw caw all the way.

Waiting for Spring

Around here we have been waiting for Spring, apparantly it arrived last Sunday. We'll see. I did however spot my first robin, so I guess it must be true (but it is snowing as I type this...) In the meantime we have been up to a few things to pass the time while we wait for the season to truely arrive:

• going to the sugar bush to visit Pops and taste some syrup


• bombing around the neighborhood in our new double stroller


• looking out the window at all the birds and squirrels that come to visit


• hanging out with Nana, Poppy and Aunt Naomi over March break


• visiting Springwater Park to look at the wolves, foxes, deer, raccoons, bobcat, and hawks


• learning how to eat with a spoon


• building with blocks


• playing crokinole


• taking first steps!!!


• practicing standing on our own


• going for a swim at the hotel with Poppy and Aunt Naomi

just to name a few

Give peas a chance

Things have been rather hairy around here lately. River hasn't been sleeping or settling well day or night. The moments captured in these pictures have been few and far between. But, I know that 'this to shall pass'. Despite his grumpiness, he has been squeezing in some pretty awesome smiles - the little things that keep me going!

Jude has been loving his brother, giving him pats and hugs. He is my baby moniter, letting me know when River is up and crying when I haven't heard him yet. He always wants to be where River is. Unfortunately this includes his bouncy seat. If River is not in it, Jude is! His cousin Garret stopped by the other day, I am not sure what the weight restriction is on this seat but I am pretty sure they maxed it out.