Dance Revolution

Tavish's dance moves have been refined since "Hey Buster" tunes came into his life. Makes sense, the music has a great beat and the songs cover toddler relevant topics including: jumping, doing a pee dance, a bellybutton doing nothing, having lice twice, going on a playdate, boogers in your nose and, of course, poo.

MOMENT: Jumping Song

First request every morning is "Jumping Song?". It's requested again after breakfast, before lunch, after lunch, before we leave the house, whenever we return, if there's a lull in action and always, always, always before bed. It's become our evening ritual: dinner is finished, toys are put away, and the "Jumping Song" is played. Not exactly the best 'wind down' music, but he works on his almost two-foot jumping and is a good heart raiser for Tavish's good sport parents. Please, feel free to jump in!



MOMENT: Spin With Your Partner

Tavish is learning all kinds of new moves. Observe him learning the partner spin to a song about poo. (sigh) At least it's accurate, "birds and bears and crocodiles too - everyone, every day, has to make a poo-oo-oo-oo-oo".

Spring? Is that You?!

Seems as though spring has finally sprung! We eagerly dusted off our bikes and set out on our first family bike ride of the season on the weekend. Mommy and Daddy were excited to be outside getting some activity. We stopped to play at Brittania Park for a bit where Tavish appeared to be excited to get some activity too. Looks like spring has put some extra kick into Tavish's step ...

MOMENT: Kicks and Giggles

Tavish discovered that chasing around the ball was fun, just for the sake of being fun. Kick (giggle, giggle).

Rockin' Socks

We house a horse. He lives in our living room and his name is Socks. He's a hand-me-down family heirloom made by Grandpa Mike. Tavish is the third grandson to discover the joys of rocking with socks. Yeehaw-ha-ha!

MOMENT: Easing In - Slow and Steady

When Socks arrived, Tavish enjoyed slow rocks on Socks with assisted dismounts. The beginning marked a slow and simple time ...

 

MOMENT: Giddy Up - Giver!

It didn't take long before Tavish tested the rocking limits and was getting on and off of Socks unassisted. Here Tavish is rockin' on Socks with Grandpa Mel watching on skype.



MOMENT: Beheaded

Mommy and Daddy missed the great beheading of Socks. (Not-so-great if you're Socks or the repair Grandpa ... or Tavish, frankly) That's right, Tavish took a tumble off one of his early (but eager) rocks. He was cushioned by a nearby nanny though, so the only thing hurt was Sock's aesthetics (mildly) and Tavish's excitement - can't ride Socks without a head?!? Grandpa came to the repair rescue and kept us informed on Socks' road to recovery:

"I'm afraid the decapitation is more serious than it first appeared. He's going to be alright, but I'll have to keep him under observation for the next 24 hours. And there will be some scarring. The long hair will cover some of the scars, but I'm only a woodworker, not a magician."
- Grandpa Mike

Worry not, Socks is back and Tavish appears to have forgotten all about the once headless-horse in our home.

A Cook with a Contusion

The "Little Kitchen" often plays host to several cooking creations by Chef Tavish. This day, the Chef was sporting his battle wound from a heroic encounter with a chair leg and his forehead at a restaurant a few days earlier. BAM! Down went Tavish and up came the contusion. This was the first fall, likely of many, to result with a wound. Luckily, it didn't appear to limit his cooking skills - phew!


MOMENT: Oven Mitts - Practical, in Theory ...

Tavish keenly observes his parents (let's be honest, mostly his Daddy) prepare meals and the safety details have not gone unnoticed.



Note: background music accidentally (and perhaps too loudly) provided by Tavish's favourite album "Hey Buster" - 'Going to the Toronto Zoo'.

Harmony and Clarity

Grandpa Mike gave Tavish a harmonica. He loves it. Sure, it's loud - but it's been fun for Tavish and for his folks. We unite over the harmonica - playing in harmony and communicating with clarity --- well, most of the time.

MOMENT: High and Low, Fast and Slow

Tavish shows off some of his mad harmonica skills just one day after receiving this gift of racket ... er, um ... I mean 'music'.



MOMENT: Thank you Grandpa - it's loud, quiet and funny

Tavish tells us what he said to Grandpa when he was given the harmonica, how it plays and demonstrates how funny he thinks playing this instrument is.

Year 2, Party 2 - Family Edition

Most Sundays are spent with the Bedford side of the family and this Sunday happened to coincide with The Tavern Kids Campaign – an initiative of local children's band, Hey Buster, to "introduce the children of Ottawa to taverns.” Ah, the perfect excuse to celebrate Tavish's 2nd birthday with family, no?

Celebrate we did as a family among other toddlers, surrounded by live children's music and with the accompaniment of an adult beverage. The occasion was finished off with pizza and cake at our place.

MOMENT: Guitars, Drums and Violins - Oh My!

Tavish has developed an affinity for instruments and music. He can identify individual instruments in music - most of the time correctly too. Needless to say, he was mesmerized with the band and their instruments while sitting on Daddy's lap among the masses: "ge-taar! duhms! vie-lin!" etc, etc.



MOMENT: A Fine Drinking Establishment

Wouldn't you know it, Tavish bumped into a friend he knew at the tavern! They were able to 'cheers' the occasion with their sippy cups. Hmm, I wonder if this is foreshadowing for 17 years from now ... them socializing at a bar with a beverage?



MOMENT: Huff and Puff

Ah yes, the excitement of blowing the candles out had not waned since the day before. Tavish was just as elated to blow out his 'two can-ules' at the second party as he was at this first. Two candles, two cakes and two parties for a two year old.



MOMENTS: Cousins Celebrating

Who doesn't love cake and a new toy or two to play with? Thanks to Auntie Michele, Uncle Mark, Harrison, Finn and Grandpa for the new toys for the boys to break in!

Year 2, Party 1

Two years ago our lives were filled with such joy,
For into our life came a new baby boy.

The process of making something so great,
Took time and patience for our son arrived late.

We think the timing could not have been better,
For this time of year marks a change in the weather.

From trees drips sap if you’ve the patience to wait,
With care that sap becomes something great!

Come celebrate this occasion among maple trees.
With friends we will enjoy - the syrup we’ll seize!

We invited Tavish's friends and their family to the largest urban maple sugar bush's "Maple Sugar Festival" to celebrate and enjoy Tavish's second birthday. There was so much to explore: the sugar bush, the sugar shack, the pancake breakfast, the inflatable playground, the horse-drawn sleigh rides, the live music and of course, the cake!

MOMENT: A Sleigh Ride Show-off



The last person whose birthday we celebrated was named Barbara. Anytime Tavish heard "Happy Birthday", he was saying "Happy Birthday, Barbara". It took him awhile to get that it was happy birthday, Tavish - but he certainly knew how old he was and told us during the sleigh ride:



MOMENT: Syrup?

Tavish and Daddy checked out the buckets of sap. This was especially enjoyable after getting a sample of syrup from the evaporator in the Sugar Shack - yum.


MOMENT: Green Goodness

Tavish was drawn to the inflatable play structures. He's got some more growing 'up' to do for some of the contraptions, but he was eager to get into the green one. I went in with him the first time (brr on the feet - but fun) and Ahmed braved the green bubble with Tavish the second time. Certainly, Tavish enjoyed it ... and so too did the adults.


MOMENT: Candles on the Cake

Not too sure I've met anyone who loves candles as much as Tavish. He loves watching other people blow out candles. He likes blowing out hand drawn candles. He likes singing songs about candles. What a perk to get to do it himself!



Our little two year old is on a restricted diet right now, but showed no signs of disappointment for his yummy birthday muffin. Yum!