Daddy's Little Helper

Katie loves helping her Daddy out! He was recently working on a new compost bin for me and she was all over it with her little 'hammer' (her 'tools' are from a Fisher Price medical kit that I had as a kid). Caresse will appreciate how stylish Katie is when she is working. There is never any reason to not look your best!

Life in General

Well, I'm enjoying my status of 'kept woman' the past couple weeks (Dean reminds Katie when he goes off to work that he's the money earner, ha ha ha). While I haven't quite had the energy to keep up with Katie, we are having fun together. We attended Marley's 2nd birthday (OK, that was over a month ago but I finally got the pictures up) where the girls REALLY enjoyed Marley's new water table. Kids+Water=Fun Times. We had a couple friends over on my birthday and Baby Alexis was a hit with Katie and Marley. It seems Alexis looks a little bit worried in the second photo, ha ha ha. Katie's imagination has really kicked into gear in the last few weeks. She now has an imaginary friend (Dean found out it's a girl) that she truly enjoys bossing around. Hey, if it keeps her from bossing us around, it's great! She also likes to set up her 'house' and determine who is allowed to play in it. She gets all her chairs and arranges them just so, places stuffed animals around and has a party. Then the bossing begins - "Mommy, come my house NOW....please"; "Daddy, no come my house" (finish in a shrieking voice). The 'please' and 'thank you' get tacked on and make us laugh because she uses SUCH a demanding voice. She frequently invites friends over as well - Marley being a popular companion, along with Baby Liam from daycare. My big accomplishment the past couple weeks has been catching up on the gardening. ALL the weeding has been done (I know Mom appreciates the effort this involved!). I realize I have to keep up with it now, but it will be manageable, at least until Baby arrives and then maybe it will be hot enough to slow things down for a bit. The garden actually looks pretty good this year - things are finally starting to fill in and it doesn't look quite so random anymore. The strawberries are going crazy and have loads of blooms right now. I'm nurturing them along and Katie hunts for ripe berries every couple days. She loves her 'garden strawberries'. Dean is doing well and is enjoying the longer days to get in workouts. Now that things are finally nearing the end, we are both getting more excited about meeting Baby. The debate continues if he/she will arrive at a 'convenient' time. Many people are invested in this 'timing'.

• Mom and Dad have agreed to be here to stay with Katie while we are at the hospital. The are moving into their new house on June 26. So, scratch that day for delivery.
• Mandi and Rick (friends a few houses down) have agreed to be 'back-up' for helping with Katie. Mandi works until the end of June when school lets out. July will work much better for her.
• Dr. Saunders mentioned at our last appointment that he had a number of us due around the same time. He had recently had a week where he was called in for deliveries at 3 am, five days in a row. We said we would try to come in at a more convenient time.
• And last, but certainly not least, Dean would like to share his birthday (June 29) with Baby. I'm in negotiations with Baby.

Of course, Baby will arrive when he/she is good and ready regardless of our intentions, and everything will work out just fine. We are thankful to have so many friends and family willing to help out and make sure that Katie is well taken care of so Dean and I don't have to worry. It could turn out that the whole event will happen in July and there won't be any 'conflicts' for anyone, ha ha ha. By the way, Katie says she's getting a baby sister. I guess we will have to wait and see. (This is 34 or 36 weeks, depending who you ask).

What are YOU doing?

So, one of Katie's favourite questions to pester us with is 'What you doing?' Dean and I must hear this a hundred times a day. Her favourite place to ask this is in the car. She will ask me 10 times on the way home from daycare (a 5 minute drive) "What you doing, mommy?" I tell her I'm driving, or looking out the window, or watching for deer. Whatever comes to mind. Pretty standard responses. When I ask her what SHE is doing, she usually says stuff like "sitting", "driving", "playing with bear". Yesterday, we are on our way home from Victoria and she asks me 'the question' and I give a usual response, then ask "What are YOU doing, Katie?" Her answer: "I'm picking my nose with a cracker." I was laughing so hard I could barely drive! She comes up with some real zingers now and then!

Potty Time!!

Katie ran to the potty this morning and said "I poop on potty!". Most had already ended up in her diaper but SHE DID IT!!! Mom and Dad are super proud of her. As yesterday was my last day of work (yeah, maternity leave!), I was planning on starting with her next week. I guess she's ready! Just in time for diapers to start with the new one, ha ha ha.

Comox Snow to Surf Race

Dean joined my office team - the Sidney Survivors - in the annual Snow to Surf Race held in Comox (April 25).

Each team is composed of 9 members. The race starts on Mt. Washington and ends in the Comox marina. There are eight legs:

Alpine skiing

Cross-country skiing

Running (2 different legs)

Mountain biking

Kayaking

Road biking

Canoeing (2 people)

Dean did the road biking portion. We headed up there on the Saturday and (finally) got in a visit with our friend Shaun, checked out Dean's route, and headed up the mountain to meet up with our fellow teammates. Most of the team rented a guesthouse on Mt. Washington. Nice place and it was fun to hang out with everyone.

It was quite a long day for Katie but she patiently waited in the on-and-off rain with me by the side of the road, watching cyclists go by. Occasionally she would point to one and say 'Daddy?'. Nope, not Daddy. But I tell you, when we spotted him, she became the best cheering section ever, shrieking and calling out to him! Awesome.

As it was the second year of racing for the Sidney Survivors, there was a goal of improving the time. Participation and having fun is what matters, right? Good thing! as the overall time was worse than last year. C'est la vie. Everyone enjoyed themselves and we didn't finish last. Next year, they might (gasp) even try training!

Bathtime Hilarity

Sometimes, I just don't know what goes through this girl's head! Apparently, the piggy's were fighting.

Song and Dance

Some kids sing 'Old MacDonald'...some kids sing Johnny Cash. This was my first time seeing it but this is what Dean and Katie listen to in the car. Of course, when the camera is on, she sings less and dances more, but this is her rendition of Ring of Fire.