Helper from the Inside-Out

What a helpful little guy! After helping Grandma out with some cleaning in Arizona, Tavish is now quick to identify when our carpet is "dirty". (sheesh) There's also little that will get between this toddler and his shovel these days. I find it all quite handy, but am hesitant about it being this easy to elicit assistance when he's a teenager.

MOMENT: Many Hands Make Light Work

Tavish isn't afraid to get his hands dirty or cold to help out. Even the morning rush is less rushed with the aid of his wee-shovel...

Progress on Blades

This weekend marks the opening of "Winterlude". Today provided wonderful weather, so off we went to join the masses for a skate on the canal. His second time on skates saw marked progress...

MOMENT: Stability to Stand and Skate

While visiting with friends, Tavish's bravery and stability grew. Next thing we knew, he was 'skating' from Daddy to Mommy and back again. We caught a little clip of his final skate for the day to the bench. With this improvement, he'll be skating circles around me in no time!

Big Brother for Baby Sister

We shared the exciting news with Tavish about the arrival of a new member of our family. We thought it was a great idea to set the camera up on the dresser at the end of our bed. We now realize that it looks like we're being interviewed for t.v (albeit with bedhead and bad posture). It's worth an explanation: there is a mirror above the dresser, that's why we're all looking ahead (as though into a camera), we're actually all looking at each other ... we're really not trying to avoid eye contact with one another!

Finding out 'it' is a 'she': January 27, 2012.

MOMENT: Belly Pat and Kiss

The photo above is the 22 week view of Baby Girl Bedford and is the photo Tavish found inside the envelope that's in the video. She's a real mover and shaker so far and has certainly grown (read: Mommy has grown) since the 14 week ultrasound photos below! We're very excited to be growing our family and that Tavish gets to be a big brother - she'll be a lucky girl for sure. Now we just have to help Tavish understand that there is no need for him to poke a hole in my tummy (or his) to feed or get the baby out!

Our first peak: November 21, 2011

Good news confirmation: October 2, 2011

The Good 'Ol Hockey Game

"Oh! The good old hockey game,

Is the best game you can name;

And the best game you can name,

Is the good old hockey game!"

- Stompin' Tom Conners

A focused inner-hockey fan is found.

February 22: The "hockey? what's hockey?" innocence is removed from Tavish. Until we took him to this Ottawa 67s game, he hadn't had exposure to hockey beyond identifying that there are 'hockey players' on a set of his pjs. Add that to learning how to skate the day before, and a hockey fan was born.

MOMENT: It Must Be Genetic

Daddy watching the score.
Tavish watching the action.
Mommy watching Tavish?

 Grandpa Mike and I were discussing how instinctive it was for Tavish to throw his arms up in victory when a goal was scored. He clearly enjoyed the game and all that it entailed. He literally wanted to stand the entire time for the best vantage point. We concluded that it must be in the genes ... not my genes, not Mike's genes, but Tom's gene's via Grandma Jean. I envision hockey statistics and player trade talk around the table in my future...

Blades on Ice

"Skate with your heart and let the ice fill your soul!"

February 21st, 2012 - Tavish hit the canal for the first time on his own two skates! He had new-to-him skates (yay for hand-me-downs), a noggin protector (safety first), a devoted filmographer to capture the experience, and a body holder/coach (all wrapped up in one great Daddy) - he was ready for some skating.

MOMENT: The Hardest Part of Skating is the Ice.

Tavish enjoys 'falling' and laying on the ice as much as he does 'skating' on it. What a blast! The weather was great, his spirits were high and the ice hard - yet welcoming.

'Tis the Ski-son

Our return from the warm desert was met with cool snow - perfect conditions to try out Tavish's new skis. So, on January 7th (the morning after our return), we hit the front yard ... and the snow a few times too!

Front yard frolicking!

MOMENT: Fearless and Funny

Our theory: laugh at everything, especially falling. Seems to have worked - Tavish had a great time. Grandpa made it out to watch in the company of some of his friends. Seems Tavish's skills were being highly praised - ready for the bunny hill already?!? (gulp) Don't rush his Mommy ... I mean, him ... just yet! What a great winter-welcome-home it was!

Hello 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Tom and I went out for NYE to the Cirque du Soleil's "Immortal" show in Phoenix where we were upgraded to 4th row centre in front of the stage. Wow! Then we welcomed 2012 at a neat resto-bar we stumbled on after losing our way to the place we'd planned to be at. (Who knew Phoenix has a 7th Ave and a 7th Street within close proximity to one another? Grr.)

Last family photo of 2011.

On January 1st, we enjoyed quite a spread for brunch at the fancy Talking Stick Casino after which, I was serenaded by most of the family. On our way home, we enjoyed a family hike in Usery Park before a swim in the pool and finished the day off by enjoying dinner out with my hubby to celebrate being 36?! (gulp)



From our family to yours, happy new year. We look forward to even more family-filled adventures in 2012 with an additional reason to celebrate motherhood  that is 'due' to arrive in early June!

Our little hiker.