Cous Cous Salad

Cous Cous Salad:

~1.5 cups of leftover cooked couscous*
1 cob of corn, cooked in microwave or roasted on grill, kernels cut off
1/2 red pepper, diced finely
~1/2 cup roasted tomatoes, chopped**
8-10 large stuffed green olives
salt and pepper
~2 tablespoons light italian dressing

* we serve our cous cous with some sauteed zucchini and onion, usually.

** we used up a ton of tomatoes that were nearing their expiry date by roasting them in a glass pan (lined with parchment paper) for 1 hour at 350°F. I tossed them with olive oil and coarse salt and pepper before putting them in the pan. They are very delicious, good in salads like this (or in a green salad), pastas, etc.

10 Months Old

Only a few more days until Chance is 10 months old. I took him in to the Public Health Office to get weighed on their scales. It was so strange to see the new moms with their 2 month old babies bundled up in toques and jammies and blankies. I had a hard time remembering what it felt like at that point, to be getting ready for Chance's first needle. We will have to go back in a few more months for another vaccination shot.

Chance has gained 9 oz since July 31, and has grown almost 3/4 of an inch.







































Chance's Toddler Skills at 10 Months of Age:
* Walking.
* Temper tantrums when unhappy (see previous post).
* Sleeping through the night. Sleeping better than Mom.
* Dirtying at least 3 diapers per day. Usually more, especially on the days that we use cloth diapers.
* Conversation: Rarh-rarh-rarh; nuygn-nuygn-nuygn; aah-da (all done?); itty (kitty?); bu-bu-bu-bu (with finger motion over mouth); eeee! eeee! eeee! (while Mom is on the phone).
* Chasing the cat (and catching her every now and then). Learning to pet "gently".
* Drinking formula.
* Drinking bathwater.

Tantrums

Whooooo! OK. We get it. Chance knows he is a discrete, independant, person. With wants and needs. Stress the wants. He wants:

in the refrigerator
in the dishwasher
in the garbage
into the cleaning supplies
to chew on wires (cell phone, iPod, camera chargers)
to chew on the cat
to wrestle with the hairdryer (again, cords)
to put his lips on the toilet seat
to man-handle the toilet brush
in the recycling bin
to destroy the newspaper, Time magazine, library book
to chew the remote controls
to bang on the fireplace
to pull on the speaker wires
to yank the central vac ports open and watch them snap back
to eat random non-food items off the floor
...etc...

Today I denied entry to the refrigerator. For like the billionth time. Except this time there was retaliation. Big time tantrum. No amount of distraction could douse the flames! Mom ran for cover into the office and dialled her mommy. Yikes.

Solution: a cold cloth to the face and neck and then a trip to the mailbox. When Grandma called back Chance was in his highchair happily eating lunch. Angel-kid.

3rd Wedding Anniversary

We went to the park as usual after Chance ate supper to push him on the swings and ride the slide a few times. He always loves piggy-back rides on Daddy's shoulders.




















The squeals of delight are really cute to listen to. If it's a quiet evening they echo through the neighbourhood!















After visiting the park, we took a few minutes to roll around on the grass. Here is Cameron chasing Chance..."Daddy's gonna get you!" Chance is running away as fast as his little legs can carry him!

Don't Panic

Cartoons and cheerios work really well to keep an active baby sitting still on your lap while you apply pressure to a scratched finger.

And shampoo takes out bloodstains.

Don't ask me how I know. I just know.

Early bird gets the....French toast?

Ugh. 5:30 AM wake up call this morning. Chance was wiiiiiiide awake. I tried to nurse him in the big bed to settle him down, but after he was finished, he sat up and tried to crawl away. So, on came the lights (it was still #%%##@ dark outside for cryin' out loud!), and started stripping the bed. Laundry day. In went a load of towels and sheets and Chance and I had a bath together. Then we put new sheets on the bed and as I reached down to grab the last pillow case, I sniffed. Sniffed again. Groaned. Went off to change a diaper. All before 6:30 AM.

Breakfast was French toast, and I did up a 1/2 batch of pancakes and froze the works for Chance's breakfasts for the next few weeks. 3 pancakes should last him for about 5 or 6 meals. That boy LOVES pancakes.

We pick up Cam at the airport at 3:00 ish, so hopefully Chance will catch a few winks in the car on the way there or on the way home. I'm surprised he's not having a meltdown right now, actually, given that he was up so early.

Look Mom, No Tears!

Today was Chance's fourth time at the YMCA babysitting service while I went to the gym to get a bit of exercise. I was told that he complained (loudly) for 5 minutes after I left, but then settled in to playing with the toys and books. What a good boy!

My punchcard for the babysitting fees was nearing its end, so I went to purchase a new one before going home. There I was informed that a baby membership for Chance only costs an extra $3 per month. And that I would save $3 per HOUR by having a membership for him. So, Chance is now a member of the YMCA. We might even go swimming tomorrow.