This rubby old thing?

I am finding ANY excuse not to study today. which means I will be up till all hours of the night cramming for a really really hard exam today on all things neurological. Bet that would confuse some just thinking about it. Yup, its kinda like that for me too, so phone calls, opening the fridge, day dreaming, and browsing people pictures is taking up precious time for me right now. Ok.. so a quick blog and back at it!

I just thought I'd do a post about the blue rubby blanket that River has become so attached to. Its fascinating that he throws out a soother at 6 months never to touch one again but this blue blanket has become an extension of him. Comfort apart from our arms. I can't keep this thing clean. It picks up lint and dirt, he has it in his mouth every morning, carries it around with him, hauls it up and down the stairs, picks it out of piles of laundry, holds it up to show us it proudly, and loses his mind when I've attempted to give him a different one before bed if his isn't around. I've tried to change to one that looks a little more attractive for times we go in public because this one is becoming matted and gross, but he certainly doesn't care, so why should I? So how long will this last? Will this blankie get named and be around for years and years? I don't know. But seeing things through a child's eyes is so fun and I'm just going with it. My theory, if it doesn't hurt anything, then let it be. River..... enjoy your blue blanket.

A Year and A Party

We celebrated River's first birthday at home with our immediate family. We were so happy that they all could be a part of it. After a crazy amount of time and effort, the ELMO cake was a success. Besides the fact that things were stained red, our tongues were pink, and the babysitter thought there was blood in his poop, it was a hit! I can proudly say I could not have accomplished this cake without the help of my husband. I would have to say he has the talent for icing in the family. I did the red. He did the rest and fixed the gun over and over again. Team work!

It's so cool to see how River loves the toys he got. Every single gift he got I would have to say is his favourite. He doesn't leave any of them out. He spends equal amounts of time cuddling and hugging a duck and an elephant, making grunting noises as he races a car, or chases it when daddy makes it go speeding across the room. He pushes a helicopter, repeatedly brings me a newspaper to read and puts balls in a basket, shakes money in a piggy bank, and bashes a dump truck. He looks cute in some new clothes and feels some new books, pulls tools from a kit and attempts to piece a puzzle. O and I forgot that the helium balloon card never gets old either. With the attention span that he has, he does this all within 5 minutes and then starts over. Thank you for all these things that keep River so entertained. He's a lucky guy.

It's amazing how all of a sudden we have a little boy and not a baby. But I'm still calling him my baby. I was a little bothered and secretly kind of happy to learn that River hates his bath if I'm not in it with him. I guess having a mom that baths every day got a little too convenient. But its a bit of a problem when he screams when I'm bathing him from outside of the tub. He looks at me quite upset, he's like, "what are you trying to pull here mom? Get in already and play." I guess I have to enjoy things like this while they last. It makes me feel like he's a baby still and not the independent little man that he seems lately. Although I mourn the loss of the stages past I must say I am completely relishing these days. He is mimicking absolutely everything, especially his dad and always looking for his approval. River tries to cough when dad coughs, sneeze how dad sneezes, make the car go how dad does. He stares intently while we say or bow our heads in grace, and with much encouragement we finally have him clapping! There is such a little personality, a sense of humour, and its interesting to see what he finds funny. He displays tons of affection with hugs and snuggles, he shows his pleasure, frustration, likes and dislikes so obviously, and he is just taking in this big world.

To our baby boy who's ONE.

You are the absolute joy of our lives.

With love, mom and dad.

Baby Crawl 2011

So maybe every photo i take these days is of my baby. So everything we do basically involves him. So what if our lifestyle has changed so much that our idea of a super fun saturday is spent at Market Mall watching River crawl across a stage after cheese, a plastic ring, and a pink ball. That's our reality now. And I love it. I can't get enough of it. It may be boring and really annoying for people to see River over and over..... but o well. That's my life. And i love it. Can't believe all the family and friends that came out to watch our little guy in action too. It made it all so much better. This was such a fun and memorable day. And the icing on the cake? River won his heat.. (Sorry to his buddy Everett next to him that we cut off when i moved the ball he was chasing), he won his semi final (even though he rolled over crying in frustration that i wasn't giving him his cheese and the lady with the stop watch had to pick him up.) And he got 3rd place in the final. And he didn't even crawl an inch. Just sat there distracted and then cried. A long day..... What a trooper.

A gift opening

Derrick and Adrienne got some awesome stuff. And I love watching gifts being opened by someone else as much as I like opening them for me! A delicious breakfast and time spend with a great family. Good morning!

Park Day

Regrettably we've been cooped up indoors more than I would have liked to be this winter. I thought I'd be going for walks and tobogganing, spending tons of time outside with my boy. But part of it was that every time I did go out it seemed like he got sick, and another was it always seemed so COLD, and part of it is that there is no excuse. But this spring and summer will be different. We are going to explore this summer. But for now, days like this were a treat, and I loved that we had them.

THE TUNNEL

Grandma Lou is always thinking up ways to make River so excited he's going to jump out of his skin. Chasing, excited dramatic phone calls where River looks like he wants to jump through the phone he's so happy, sugary treats, rides, and the newest was a visit to her house where she brought out the "Tunnel". He was a little scared at first, but after watching mom go through it and come out alive and having Grandma to look at down at the other end, River enthusiastically crawled through this thing as FAST as he could Over and OVer again until he was absolutely exhausted. What are grandmas for? They're the best.

Huskie Women

The Huskie Women's basketball team made history as they won the Canada West Tournament that we hosted this year. River had a blast banging noise makers, watching everything, and hanging out with his family and his buddy Boston too. I sure loved it and I was glad River did too because I'll probably be dragging him to games until he's old enough to drive himself somewhere else! (Thanks for the pictures Oma and Opa)