Dear Sumo:

11 months my boy! You have laughed, crawled, clapped, and explored your way through life for 11 months already. My how it's gone quickly!

You finally have your first tooth! Much to my delight - I was beginning to get a little concerned you would teeth all your teeth at once and go from a toothless baby to a full set of chompers over-night. Of course this new tooth feels rather funny to you and it didn't take but 36 hours for you to promptly bite your lip to bleeding. Its mate is making waves about breaking through any day now, which would be fine but us as you are completely uninterested in food. That is, unless i am trying to wolf down some dinner while you guys get ready for bed and then you can't get enough of me as you climb my legs looking to "join" me for supper.

This month has been a fantastic one for you and I. Mama has left us to our own devices multiple times for 3-4 hour stretches and two things have happened: a) we've both survived! and b) our bond has become more and more intense. You now look to me just as much as you do Mama , and will cry when I leave the room too. This is a strange and wonderful thing for me as Tym never did this at your age. I do wish I had the magic touch for being able to put you down for your naps or settle you at night. As much as I love bouncing you to sleep Sumo, you do weigh 24 pounds and have caused me a muscle spasm or two in my shoulders. You certainly don't like it when I try to transfer you from my arms to the bed - something we'll have to have a rough lesson with when Mama goes back to work.

About two weeks ago you learned to climb the stairs - of course you decided to do this as we were carving the pumpkins for your first Halloween. I guess that's a good thing since it momentarily distracted you from eating the pumpkin guts and/or throwing them around the kitchen. I don't think Belle is ever going to come near you again after the pumpkin gut toss that landed on her back. You looked ever the brave knight in your costume and had eyes as big as saucers trick or treating.

It's hard for me to think that your first birthday is just around the corner. You bring a smile to face with the mere thought of you and a giggle when I think of all the amazing things you've learned and will learn. Thank you for each and every slobbery kiss, small neck hair pulling hug, and raspberry you've given me.

Love,
Mummy

Tinkerbell and her Knight

Halloween was quite fantastic this year. We were supposed to head to Kitchener to celebrate Julia's 4th birthday, however my sister began to feel flu-like symptoms which prompted us to stay in Ottawa. How wants to play Russian roulette with the flu right? Tym was quite sad at not seeing her cousins, but I think we gave her plenty of plan B options. She was able to participate in her school's Halloween festivities (costume parade and pumpkin decorating), followed by a family swim and pizza night night. Unfortunately even with all the activities, she is still battling sleep insomnia. For the past 3 weeks she has only slept through the night 4 times. On average she is up for 2 to 4 hours at a time. She won't really tell us what is waking her or keeping her up. She's mentioned pirates and dinosaurs but the rest if a "secret". Can you say parental alarm bells ringing! We've discussed having a social worker friend of ours "play" with her and see if there is something she can dig out of Tym. But I digress, back to Halloween. On the 31st we met up with Annie at a smaller mall to partake in their family activities (IE: kill time during the day). The girls looked fantastic as Tinkerbell (Tym) and a dragon (Annie) while Lake was their Knight in shining armour. After supper we headed out to meet up with Tym's friends Zac, Sophie and Noah for some serious Trick or Treating'. It sure does get allot of fun as the kids get older! The excitement and anticipation are contagious! All in all, even though it was the weekend of Plan B, it was awesome!

How the time flies....

It's been forever since I've updated the blog - I'm such a bad blogger! I go back to work in less than 6 weeks - is it weird that I will probably have more time to blog at work then at home?? At home if I start a post and can't finish it - I find the 4 year old typing junk when I turn my back - at work I can just leave it till later.

So a lot has changed in the past couple months...

Tym loves school - some days it is a struggle to get her to go to the bus - it's always fun to stay at home and play right? But she hasn't stayed home a day yet and has enjoyed learning and making new friends - and the bus is a highlight as well :) She knows most of her letters and is rhyming all sorts of words together. They are learning about community helpers right now - her favorite stop on her feild trip this week was to the mechanic!

She is in love with princesses - which is lovely. Meag is having a hard time with the fact that all she wants is pink and princesses - the disney princesses at that! But she's her own person and I will make her a princess cake if she wants it at her birthday :)

Dance and swim class are going well - she loves them both. She has turned into a little fish in the water - with goggles will dive and SWIM! last week when we all went, she swam over 5 feet by herself. it was amazing to watch. One of Lake's favorite places to be is in the water with her.

Lake has a tooth!!! It sprouted today. Which makes sense why he's been a bear and nursing all night long the past couple nights. It is his official first tooth - almost 11 months old! He is over 24lbs and quite tall. He is wearing clothes Tym was wearing when she was walking and talking - only 18-24mths for him. He loves to clap and wave. He has started to climb the stairs this week , now he just needs to learn how to crawl down as well! he is standing on his own more and more... He may not be walking by his birthday, but it won't be far off! He eats like he is 2, sleeps like he's a newborn and loves to give huge hugs. Lake loves his sister more than anything - when we wait for the bus the second he sees it, he starts to to point and scream, waiting for her to get off.

I took him to NS for Grampie's funeral last month - and everyone loved him. He was a great traveller and gramma gave him lots of hugs and kisses. Gramma and great Grammie are going to be joining us for Christmas this year. I am very excited, and think it's going to be an amazing year. Not just because my mom and grammie will be here = but I think the kids are going to be amazing! Tym can't decide what she wants from Santa - this will be one of only a couple years that they both beleive - hopefully next year when he starts to understand it she will still beleive :)

It's crazy to me that almost a year has past already... we are planning his birthday party. wow. It's been an amazing year, busy - but amazing. There is nothing like having your kids love you back. I can't wait until Meag is home with them and gets to reveal in the speed of the week passing and the multitude of hugs that she will get as well.