Long Overdue

Woah! There is a lot to cover in this post! I know it's my own fault. I haven't updated Avery's blog in soooo long. All I can say is that we've been quite busy.

First of all, we bought a house. You see, we need the extra space because in March, Avery will be the proud owner of a new baby brother. It's all very exciting. Between my sister and I, there will be 4 little boys in our lives. Like I keep saying, we are going to have some stinky Christmas'!

After we bought a house, there was just the small matter of selling our condo. Not an easy feat when you have a toddler. Avery can have this place looking like a disaster in all of 30 seconds. Thankfully, the O'Brien's were heading off on a vacation, and were able to leave this place pristine for showings.



Now, you may be asking, "Where were the O'Brien's headed?" Well, that's another big piece of news. Avery's Aunt Leighlow was tying the knot! So, we packed up and headed down on Avery's first plane ride to South Carolina. I've got to say, he was an absolute dream on the flight down. Not one peep. I can't say the same for the return flight. Oh, well... it's a good thing it is only 1 1/2hr ride!




South Carolina was amazing! Not only did Avery get to see Granny KK, Poppy Ray and Aunt Leighlo... he also had the pleasure of meeting Aunt B for the first time! She flew all the way from BC for Leigh's wedding, but we told Av it was just for him ;)
The wedding was perfect; the weather was nice and warm and Leigh looked absolutely gorgeous (Luke didn't look so bad himself!). It's a shame we were only able to stay for a week. But, at least we know we'll be seeing them again soon - as they will be heading up north to see us when our newest addition finally makes his appearance.



Since we were away over Thanksgiving, we had to postpone our annual dinner until the weekend after. This was of course preceded by apple picking at Chudleighs. Now, Michele swears it was colder the weekend prior, but I can't imagine how. We were all popsicles at the end of it. Maybe it was because we had gotten used to the heat of the south! Avery loved Chudleighs; he especially liked playing with the farm animals. I can't believe he wasn't even scared. He also enjoyed eating the apples. Since our visit, he has had an apple every day. I can't believe he can eat a whole one!




Thanksgiving dinner was delicious. Michele and I were shocked as to how stress free it was this year. Well, it as stress free until Avery took a little spill and got a black eye. Our little guy looks like he got into a brawl on the playground. At least that's what we've been telling everyone.

So, in a nut shell, that's what we've been up to lately. Next weekend is Hallowe'en and normally I'd be all over it. However, this year I'm afraid it will be overshadowed by the fact that we are moving two days afterwards. Don't worry, Avery will still go trick or treating... he can't wait to put on his skunk costume. Stay tuned for the pics!

Sleepy Hallow

Pat came home on Friday evening from work to find this:



What can I say? It was a long, long week, and really, I am pregnant; I get tired! Avery too had a rough day at daycare it seems. Or a really good day... he was so tuckered out. We had been watching Y&R on the couch (it's his favourite story - he never misses it). Next thing you know, the show is over and Pat is home. I am so happy Pat was able to snap a pic before Avery woke up. He looks too cute for words!



So, it's been quite busy for us over the last couple of weeks... and things don't down seem to be slowing down at all. We had a busy weekend packing and cleaning, visiting the Katz's new GORGEOUS abode and a trip to Ajax to visit Nanny & Oopa. Nanny gave Avery a piece of chocolate wafer, which sent him into sugar overload. This kid was pretty much jumping off the wall. This is why we don't give him anything sweeter than Arrowroot cookies. We also went out for brunch with Jon & Ann to Cool Hand of a Girl, where Avery enjoyed licking the jam off of his toast. Always the gentlemen, he kept borrowing my napkin to wipe his face. Adorable!




We had wanted to go to Chudleighs for some apple picking, but the rain made us reconsider our plans. We hope to go this weekend, but the forecast doesn't leave me very optimistic. Next week, the O'Brien's are heading to South Carolina to visit the "Outlaws" for Aunt Leighlow's wedding. We can't wait. Avery will finally get to meet Aunt B! I don't think Avery's ready for all the cheek grabbing he's going to get from the Carter women! Watch out Avery!

Our First Mug Shot

Avery was arrested last night for disorderly conduct. Apparently he had too much (milk) to drink and things got a bit crazy. Really, he looks incredibly silly in this picture; Pat and I laughed for about five minutes just looking at it.

This past week I noticed that Av's clothes were looking a little small. I know belly tops are popular among some crowds, however, I think the look is lost on our man. Also, his pants were looking like floods. No wonder, Avery was still sporting his 6-12 month clothes. So, I was able to go through his wardrobe and switch out all of his clothing. It was amazing to me how much less he has as he gets older. It's easy to understand why... at this age, kids clothes get stained, ripped, worn. Oh well, it's just another excuse for Mom to go shopping!



When I was changing out his clothes, I found the most delicious pair of red fleece pj's I forgot I had bought for Avery. Now that the weather has cooled down a bit, it was the perfect excuse to have him try them out. I can't get over how adorable he looks in them; he's like an old man. All he's missing is his pipe.

Heat Wave

Well, it finally seems as though summer is upon us. Frankly, I preferred the cooler weather. So, the O'Brien's spent the weekend trying to stay cool. This included a lovely afternoon swimming in the Topolski pool (and even more fun getting to see the ever growing Oliver!). Truman is a natural in the water and has no fear. I imagine he slept well last night after all the energy he used up swimming. Avery couldn't really get used to the life jacket we put on him... but he enjoyed the water nonetheless.



Today we went for a walk nice and early (although it was already hot at 9am!). We spent most of our afternoon indoors, but Avery was still feeling the heat... so we sprayed him with water. Actually, I was on my way to spray the plants on the balcony, and I thought it would be funny to spray Avery with a bit of water. He loved it. He was pretty much soaked and we tried to take the bottle away and he started crying. What a nutter.



We managed to take a nice walk through the park in the afternoon. There was a nice amount of shade and breeze, so it was really refreshing. Avery fell asleep within five minutes of the walk...so Pat and I got to enjoy so quiet time.

Avery and I are so happy that Pat is back from his trip to the Big Apple. Pat was gone from Wednesday to Friday, and I think Avery really missed him. Avery was pretty much attached to daddy's hip all weekend. It was so cute. And, to be honest, it was nice to have a bit of a break myself!

When Mommy's Away, Baby Will Play

I know, I know... it's been quite a while since my last post. I really don't intend to be so tardy but with work and, I guess, life getting in my way, I haven't had the time (or energy) to blog.

Tonight, I had the wonderful pleasure of going out to dinner with some fabulous friends, which has been long overdue. This left my darling husband and mischievous Avery home alone. When I arrived home, Pat showed me some wonderful shots he took of Avery during dinner.



Avery, who's always had a flare for dramatics, made dinner very interesting, to say the least. Apparently, he would give a sly smile to his father before pouring his milk onto the table. I can't imagine how long it took poor Pat to clean up the mess but the place looked spotless when I got home! Good job hubby!

Daycare continues to be a huge success. When Avery sees us coming to pick him up, he begins to wave his arms in delight and rushes the door (followed by about half of Av's class). I've said it before, I really think that this is what has made my transition back to work so easy. We've even managed to settle into a wonderful morning routine, which includes Avery crawling into our bed to wake Pat up - not always in the most desirable way!



On another note, I would just like to say a HUGE CONGRATULATIONS to my dearest friend Camille, Addy and Jay who welcomed home the newest addition to the Ramnath family - Myles. I can not wait to meet him!

Off to School We Go

I know, I know... it's been furevah since I last posted on this blog (sorry Aunt B!). All I can say is that it's been a hectic couple of weeks for our family.
I had very good intentions of writing this weekend, but a little something got in the way. That little something is called Oliver Henri Topolski. The gorgeous darling was born this past Saturday, weighing in at a whopping 9lbs 5oz! CONGRATULATIONS Michele, Jerry, Truman and Morrie. Michele, unfortunately you are now massively outnumbered by the boys club. Avery wasn't quite sure what to make of Oliver when we visited them in the hospital. He sure was persistent in trying to climb into the hospital bed with Michele though!



Now, since my last post, Avery has started attending daycare. All I have to say is that it didn't take long for the little tyke to adjust. His teachers told us that on his third day, he was their new little helper (as he liked to help push one of the younger babes in the swing). By Friday, he didn't even cry when Pat dropped him off. Sheesh... I thought he would miss us a bit more. Thanks a lot kid! Actually, it makes it so much easier for me to be at work knowing that Avery isn't spending his days crying and fussing. Today, Pat and I peaked in the window of the daycare before going in to get him. He was having so much fun, laughing and playing... that is, until he saw us. Then it was instant tears. It's almost as if Avery was upset that we were taking him home.





Returning to work is the other big adjustment happening in the O'Brien household. There isn't all that much to say, except that even the first day of work felt completley normal. As soon as I was entered the kitchen, it didn't even feel as though a day had passed since I had last been there. And, I think that is the strangest part of it all! The adjusting comes into play when trying to figure out how to navigate through our morning routines. We have decided to take turns waking up with Avery (since he still insists on waking up at 5:30am). We tag team through watching Avery and taking our showers and getting ready for work. I never knew I could actually scale down my entire morning routine to just over 15 minutes. However, that might also be why I keep getting scared of my reflection in the mirror at work. Maybe I should dedicate an extra 5 minutes for makeup!



We have been thoroughly enjoying our summer... spending time at the Topolski pool (no dunking for Avery though), picking strawberries, taking long walks and just relaxing. Let's just hope that the weather gets a little warmer sometime soon because in all honestly, it has felt more like fall than anything else.

Father's Day - Take Two

Today we celebrated Pat's second Father's Day. We started the morning as we do every Sunday, with a trip to La Crema for a delicious cup of fresh brew.
We headed over to Michele & Jerry's shortly after for a wonderful family brunch. We had bacon, baked french toast, a fruit platter and my Mom's famous potato salad. Everyone fights over it, including Avery!

The hot weather tempted all of us into the Topolski pool. It was opened just two days ago and was pretty much free of debris, all thanks to Jerry, who spent his Father's Day skimming the pool! We had a ton of fun and could've stayed in all day. PS - Can we talk about how fabulous Michele looks! She's all belly. All pregnant women should be so lucky. Oh, and PPS - That's Pat about to dunk my head in the pool (just joking).





In the afternoon we took a walk to our favourite little park, that we seem to always have to ourselves. Avery enjoyed eating sand, much to our dismay. We finished our day with a BBQ because, really, who wants to cook in this heat. I hope Pat had fun this Father's Day, and I hope all the other dad's out there got to enjoy theirs too. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Baby's All Grown's Up - Avery's First Birthday

Wow - one year has passed us by. One year ago today, Pat and I (along with our friends and family) were welcoming our son into our lives. We knew that having Avery would change our lives, but I don't think either of us knew exactly how much.
Over the last year we have struggled through breastfeeding, sleeping, napping, eating, teething... you name it. But with each stage, we come out with more confidence as parents and with a happier Avery.





I can remember the day he was born as if it were yesterday. His tiny cries letting us know he didn't understand what the heck just happened to him! We had a few bumps in the road at the beginning - being back in the hospital just days after coming home. It seemed so traumatic to me at the time, but looking back on it, it was somewhat comforting having all of those experts around us while we were just getting used to things.

I have to say we were pretty lucky from the start to have a son who didn't mind sleeping in his crib. We initially tried swaddling him, but Avery, never wanting to stay still, always managed to wriggle out of our wrapping jobs. Although Avery is a great sleeping, getting him to fall sleep is another story. It's a problem we are still dealing with at this very moment. But, I guess there is always something!



We started hitting our stride at roughly four months. Avery had begun sleeping through the night (5 hours straight for babies - who are they kidding?!), we had joined the best mommy group in Toronto and started with mommy-baby activities. Being rested (somewhat) and active helped us avoid the dreaded "cabin fever" during the winter months.



Shortly before Avery's six month birthday, we started him on solids. Not really sure of what to make of it at first, we were privy to some really interesting faces from our little joker. But, it didn't take long for him to acquire a taste for solids. Now our Avery will eat anything and everything (including a short list of non-edibles). Now our only challenge is keeping the floor clean while Avery attempts to feed himself. Hey, Michele, do you think we can borrow Morrie for a few months?



As mentioned above, Avery has always been a baby on the move. So, it didn't really surprise us when shortly after his ten month mark, he started walking. Allison (our resident baby expert) said it could be partially due to having a lot of low level furniture. I think it's just superior genes ;) And Pat was over the moon when he came home ealier this week to see that Avery had learned how to kick the soccer ball. AC Milan, here we come!



Avery is definitely a vocal baby; a trait I can attribute to his father. He is never one to shy away from screaming to let us know he is unhappy. Recently, he had started pointing and saying "doggie," which left Pat and I really impressed, until we realized that he uses this term not only for dogs, but any sort of living animal he sees. I am so anxious to hear all of his first words and hope I won't have to wait that much longer.

There is so much I could write about Avery. There is so much to his personality already, at just one year. I could be having the most frustrating day (usually due to Avery being difficult), and it takes only one look, one kiss or one giggle from my son, and all is forgotten. A master manipulator already ;) He is one exceptional baby and I look forward to all of the exciting developments that will be emerging in the years to come. And on that note, I will pass the computer over to Pat to weigh in on our little birthday boy. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVERY!



I figured after a year of blogging, it was time for dad to step up to plate and contribute (sports analogy #1 of many I'm sure to use---it's really all I've got).
It still blows my mind that Tina and I are parents to a 1 year old little man. It's been the fastest and most exciting year we've had, and I'm so pleased with the extraordinary developments that Avery has made, as well as our development as parents. We've come a long way from the nervous couple pulling into the driveway of 259 Keele Street a little under a year ago.
Any time I'm having a rough day or feeling a little shitty (pardon the language, that's just me) all I have to do is take one look at our little guy and he makes me smile! Sometimes is absolutely scary how much Avery reminds me of me. Hopefully my contributions will be more frequent in order to take the pressure off my lovely wife who will be heading back to work very shortly. HAPPY BIRTHDAY A-MAN!

Sigh of Relief...

This week brought relief to all of the O'Brien clan. Avery's tooth that had been plaguing him with pain finally broke through the skin. I think this helped calm his fussy temperament that had stuck with him this week. I still have a feeling there is another tooth lurking just beneath his gums...but only time will tell.

Pat and I had a huge surprise this week when a local daycare called to let us know that they had a spot available for Avery. I can't even tell you how ecstatic I was. Having just talked to every location we were on waiting lists for, and basically being told "not a chance in hell," it was quite a shock to learn we had a spot. It was as if we had won the lottery. Of course, nothing comes that easy, and we were informed that his spot is not available until July 9th. I am slated to start back at work on July 2nd. I am hoping my manager has pity on me, and allows me to take a few extra days of vacation until the daycare is ready to accept Avery. Regardless of how we manage through that week, we are just over the moon that Avery will be attending a registered daycare. I think Avery will blossom in a place like that.



Next week is going to be busy for us. Avery will be celebrating his first birthday. So, not only do we have our regular slew of activities, we will also be spending his actual birthday at the zoo (accompanied by Aunt Misty) and using the rest of our free time preparing for his party on the weekend.

I have spent a lot of time lately reminiscing over the last year. While the time seems to have flown by, I can not remember what life was like before my Avery came into our lives. I will miss what used to seem like endless hours spent together. However, I really feel like Avery is ready to be a bit more independent... I guess the question is, am I ready?

Five O'Clock Shadow

The shadow I am referring to here is not of the hair variety - but rather our son Avery, who feels the need to wake up between 4:30am to 5:30am everyday, bright eyed and bushy tailed. He then sticks close by our sides, hell bent on not returning to dreamland.

What are we to do?!

Waking up so early has not only taken it's toll on me, but (obviously) the poor little dude as well. He's got some major Gucci's he's carrying around under his eyes! I really hope this stage is being contributed to by teething, growing, development... anything really. I just would like to know it's a stage. But there in lies one of the frustrations of caring for an infant - you never know what is going on.




Any incident of unusual behaviour is more than likely attributed to a common battery of reasons; the most often used is teething. It's almost humourous at this point, as I hear myself saying at the mention of Avery being fussy, "We think he's teething." At this rate, he'd have a mouth full of 60 teeth before he's 13 months old!

I do, however, believe that we are now entering that dreaded stage my sister warned me about. The period from 12 to 18 months where most children can not talk, but desperately want to communicate; confirmed by pointing and whines from Avery when he can't reach something he wants. I can't imagine how frustrating it is for him. And the only thing we can do is be patient and anxiously wait to hear his first words.

My First Mother's Day!

Today, we celebrated my first Mother's Day, and I must say I enjoyed myself. I woke up to the smell of bacon, which indicated this day was off to a great start. Not only did I get to sleep in to a lazy 7:30am, but my darling husband made me a delicious breakfast. I must also note that today Pat was celebrating his birthday, so it was even more special that he woke up early with Avery and pampered me with breakfast.



We spent the afternoon at Michele's house, as she hosted a wonderful Mother's Day early dinner. I think everyone enjoyed watching Truman and Avery play together. There were many precious moments shared between the two; putting a puzzle together, holding hands and a couple of unforced hugs. We can all tell that in a couple of years, these two cousins will be trouble! But, for right now, they are only adorable.



I'd just like to say a very Happy Mother's Day to all of the wonderful women in our lives. Thanks for everything you do, and for being you!

Walk'n the Walk

I know it has been forever since I have last posted about our Avery, but things have been out of control over here!
So much has been going on; unpacking, trying to negotiate day care spots, a wedding and a whole lot of walking.

Our little man is really on the move these days. He is walking whenever he can, resorting to crawling only when lazy ;) I think it has made him a happier baby. It's as if a whole new world has opened up to him.



I also can't believe his intellectual development. The other day he helped me by trying to put on his own shoe (so cute). His understanding of feeding is what gets me. He constantly tries to give his stuffed bunny water from his sippy cup. He loves putting things into his little plastic bowl to carry around the room. And today, as we were both eating a bagel, he would rest his piece on my plate between bites. It's too much. He is really like a little boy!



I think what's thrown me is seeing Kim's new niece. Molly was just six days old at Kim's wedding. It brought my mind back to bringing Avery home from the hospital and how tiny and vulnerable he was. Now that Avery is walking, he is more independent than ever. While it makes me incredibly happy to see my baby growing, I can't help but feel a little sad.

Eggs-elent Easter!

What a wonderful Easter weekend! Our only complaint is that it went by too fast.
We started our weekend out with a trip to Ma Maison with Truman and Michele. Those pastries are just too delicious. The wonderful ladies at the cafe gave Truman a Madeline cookie for being so well behaved!
The weather was so nice that we had to take advantage by going for a long walk through High Park. Since Truman adores animals, we thought nothing could be better than strolling through the zoo. I must say it was an adventure. With all of the kids running around, it was hard to tell which side of the fence the animals were on!
It was so nice seeing how well Truman and Avery played together. Well, it's more like Avery sits and watches Truman in awe... close enough.





Saturday was another day spent in the sun. A new bakery opened up in Bloor West Village (yes, another one!), so we had to check it out. It's a good thing we didn't buy too many items because when Aunt Kimbo came over to see our new place, she brought us the most delicious pastries from the Flaky Tart.

Sunday was almost a blur. We started out the day with a walk to La Crema, our normal Sunday morning tradition, but were sad to find out that it was closed for the holiday. We headed to Ajax early in the afternoon to help prepare the feast, with the help of Misty. As usual, the dinner was fabulous - and Avery was able to partake in the feast as well! He too enjoyed the turkey and mashed potatoes.





Avery was especially surprised to see that the Easter Bunny had travelled all the way to Ajax to bring him his first Easter surprise. No chocolate this year, but he was treated to a new outfit, a stuffed animal, a pinwheel, and a cellphone (that has been ringing off the hook; ladies, give it a rest!).



Avery treated us to a wonderful surprise as well. He took his first steps all on his own. We were blown away to see him walk about three paces, as he distracted himself with a toy. It seems as though whenever he isn't paying attention, he's able to take a few steps without scaring himself into falling. I think it's only a small matter of time until we have a little power walker on our hands!