Stop Leo, you're moving too fast!

My little energy- boy is out of control these days. Today he managed to pull himself up to a standing position on the side of Clara's bed! So, that means he's learned how to crawl and stand over the span of four days. All these new abilities mean Leo's brain is on overdrive. He can barely settle down to go to sleep despite being obviously exhausted. As soon as he finds himself on his back, he flips over and starts crawling anywhere. Its as if he can't turn the switch off. I've resorted to an old favorite method for getting him to sleep; strapping him into the stroller and rocking him back and forth in the middle of the living room. This was Clara's preferred method for dozing off when she was an infant, I'm still amazed we haven't created any grooves in the floor.

Yesterday we spent the day at the beach at Parc Jean Drapeau with our group from the Carrefour. Karen already blogged the experience so go check it out. I did steal this picture though...


Unfortunately, after we got back from the beach and after our much needed family nap Clara woke up with a fever. She's been feverish all day and feeling really lethargic so we're hanging out at home. Poor girl, it is hot outside and her body is acting like a furnace on full blast.

Leo went to the doctor today for a check up and a vaccination. As expected our chunky monkey is just that - chunky with a capital C. He weighs 24 pounds and he is not even 9 months old yet! That is over 2 pounds heavier than Clara at 9 months and I thought she was a good sized kid. The Doctor just said "he's a poster child for breastfeeding" which was nice to hear. Leo didn't particularly notice or care about the needle jabbing into his thigh (may have something to do with the large amount of flesh there is to work with), he was busy smiling at Clara. She can make him smile at just about any time of day - I love their fascination with each other.

I think I mentioned it already but Leo has thoroughly gotten into this crawling thing. It is so weird to see him leave a room or make his way down the hallway all on his own steam. Clara is less impressed with his new found skill, especially when he sets his sights on a toy she is playing with. Yes, we had our first brother-sister spat today over the duplo train pieces. Clara just couldn't get it thought her head that she had to move far away from Leo, not just a foot away if she wanted him to stop destroying her train. I'm sure she'll learn quickly though.

Leo hanging out with the boys at Anissa's 2nd birthday party luau today. We had lots of fun playing and eating and playing some more.

Leo's first time in the wading pool... he loved splashing the water and even got himself onto all fours and CRAWLED!! It was the first time he's crawled for more than just one step, I guess the buoyancy of the water helped him along. Since then he's been crawling more and more on dry land too. He only seems to get moving if he's really motivated by something, usually a toy Clara has discarded.

It is a little known fact that Clara can touch her nose with her tongue. I'm sure she will develop this talent into great party trick as an adolescent, in fact she's already starting to realise she's special. How many times a day does she insist "you try mama, you try"? I try, I stick my toungue out and up and it goes no farther than my bottom lip. She laughs at me, says "no, you can't do it" and promptly shows me how easy it is for her! What a girl. By the way, I think this talent is genetic and it just skipped a generation since my Mom could also deftly touch her tongue to her nose.

Yesterday was spent hanging out with the little kids and today we hung out with the big kids (and few little ones too).

Here is Leo and his buddies Cohen and Max.


...and a pic with big sis keeping an eye on things.


Today we went to Parc Lafontaine and played in the wading pool for the first time this Summer. It was great - reminded me of being pregnant there last year. Meredith came along too with Eamon AND Liam who is just 3 weeks old! She is a super mom for sure :)



Despite several skinned knees and various scrapes, Clara and Chloe can still love each other - or perhaps they are consoling one another?


Towel Ghosts

Ann Marie is coming home! I just told Clara that Auntie Ann Marie was coming to visit on Friday from far away. She was relatively excited but then went on to insist that A.M. would be flying in on a helicopter! Why does she think this? Who knows.

Busy, busy day here. Two park outings and some craft time at home in between. Clara is in the process of building a rocket ship out of a big diaper box. So far we have covered it with ripped up wrapping paper, I'm not sure what she think comes next. This is her project so we'll see where she leads us tomorrow.

Leo refused to nap at home today. I ended up putting him in the stroller and walking around at 4pm out of sheer frustration, a full hour and half after he started showing signs of fatigue. Clara was fine with it though, it meant she got to play in the sprinklers at Parc Drolet.