Spring

Yes, I know, it's been far too long.  Here's the camera dump, and a few videos uploaded along the way.

Things have settled a bit.  There was a period where everything felt crazy.  Now we continue to putter away (Sis working hard on our gutted bathroom), but its not as chaotic.

Rags is now m-o-v-i-n-g.  Here's a video from a few weeks ago, when he was still stick-em-up walking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A30lKwnP-F0&feature=related

Riles is quite the handful sometimes, he's learning how to Rile me up (yes, his name is a verb too... should have known).
Here he kept standing up in his high chair, every time I'd get cross, he'd pull every cute trick he knows out of the bag.  Sign language, smiley faces, miau miau.  Can't help but smile.

Riley sharing his biltong with Tenge.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRDHEUwktcQ


We were thrilled to have Si's aunts and uncle in town.  They will be much missed as they carry with them much laughter.  Below is Riles' Leicester tigers sweater from his british aunties.  I think he looks like Christmas!

 Riles kept getting confused about which was his nana.  Can you blame him?  Below, an enthusiastic rendering of "the wheels on the bus"

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6etu4LROsE

Picture:

 This is the current state of our bathroom.  It is going to get stinky around here soon.  We already have an agreement with our neighbours to shower at their place :)

 My boys, mirror image.

 Riles all ready for a rainy day bike ride.  Banging pots.

He loves his buddy Jenn!

 I don't know what it is about this kid and pants on his head.

 Still cute.

 Everything goes "vroom".  What did little boys do before the wheel was invented?

 This just brought me back a year to when this was an everyday occurance.  Riles has always loved to sleep with his dad.  They have the best cuddles.

 Wogs build Rags a sandpit, which he adores.  Finally, some sunny days to enjoy it in!

 We've had a few playdates recently.  Here's Riles eating all Grace's grapes.  Last night we babysat Peyton (one of R's best buds), and after realizing we were SOL with two very excited boys and one highchair, went to IKEA for dinner and watched the chaos. Gotta love IKEA for a kids section right beside the restaurant. 

Remember when Maddie was still a lump?  She's grown up so quickly.  Can't notice the difference in age anymore.

Two more molars in, one cold and a few grumpy days.  But still our love and joy.  He's a running fool now, and oh so loved.

Splash

Video of Riles here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ5mpoRqXRc
(with mom and the Graces in Vancouver now, I'm not even sure who would be interested... )

We've had him on the potty since he was a few weeks old, and generally with quite good success.  However, recently he's too excited to sit/stand/sit/stand and therefore doesn't do what he's supposed to. Twice this week he's walked from the potty to the hall nudie-bum and immediately peed, then sat down in it and played splash-splash.  Endearing in a gross kind of way (can I credit him for creating his own entertainment?), but so frustrating.

Performer

Riles had turned into a performer.  He loves company, cameras ... anyone who tells him he's the cutest.  The other morning he was pulling out his sulky face and crocodile tears and I just had to whip out the camera to get huge cute smiles.  Oh man.
 

Mothers day bfast at nannys with my mom and si's mom/aunts and nanny as well.  Riley was in heaven!

 Loves his nana

 Nanny gave him his first ice cream cone. 

 Loved it

 We planted some sticks last fall when he was just a lump... both are blooming!

 Downtown day with the family.

 Performing with nanny!

 I'm just SO happy nanny!

Other progressions: He's now able to look for things that aren't immediately obvious.  e.g. give him a book and say find the zebra, he'll look through it until he sees it.  Si's dad has taught him to find the clock in every room, so there's a lot of "tick tock"ing every time we enter a new home as he hunts for the clock.

He's walking a ton although also falling over.  He loves the climb things and we regularly find him on top of the coffee table or kitchen table.  On the (seriously) two sunny days we have had so far we just stripped him naked and he sat in the front yard with me gardening and eating dirt.  Efficient and cute, although he'll hate me for it one day when our neighbours tease him!

The weather sucks.  Rainy mays are the worst.  One of our few sunny days below

Preening, Pruning, Plumbing

Short post, I'm working on a big design and don't have much time.

Everyone is in town!  Mom arrived on Thurs, and Si's aunts + uncle are in from England.  Had a lovely visit this weekend; hope for more time with both sets soon. Riles is thriving and showing off his cuteness and all his party tricks (lobster, fish, tick tock... in no particular order).  Unloading the camera right now feels too daunting, will come to it soon.  Must get a video of his walking, its just too cute.

I had to post for dad - remember how I "felt crowded" when in the Turks and had a good time hacking the garden?  I think our yard here is less forgiving.  I was in a minimalist state when I pruned and our bushes are still protesting.  I kind of giggle nervously every time I look outside.  So with my tail between my legs, I'll acknowledge that dad you are occasionally right about my relationship with shears.

Now excuse me as I go plead with the plants....

PS starting a bathroom reno.  Bye bye pink bathtub!