A well-stocked larder / closet

Ever since we moved to Nairobi and had a huge larder, it's given me great joy to be well-stocked when it comes to food. In France, our kitchen cupboard isn't that big but it is deep. Plus, I love the fact that we leave it semi-full, so that there is a meal ready for anyone who shows up. Here in Saint John, we have a walk-in pantry with shelves up to the ceiling, and while we haven't re-organised it from Michelle & Bojan's set-up, we have continued to stock pile all sorts of yummies.

Well, the desire to have lots of food for the drop-in visitors or whims (and we are ever so fortunate here in Canada) or snowy days (like today) has influenced our approach to clothing our kids ... What with hand-me-downs (including some vintage Wedge & Crawley items); 2nd hand bargain hunting in the blood; birthday and Christmas and plain any old time gift-givers for grandparents; and our adoration of a French vide grenier/communal garage sale (I mean where else can you shop for brand-name clothes that have been barely worn and carry a glass of wine?!), we have oodles of clothes for the kids. I do, however, draw the line at on-line purchases; besides, it's not as much fun, though I guess you could do it with a glass of wine in your hand.

There are always holes in the shopping; it's difficult to get decent pyjamas 2nd hand and trousers are getting harder to find. We never go for 2nd hand shoes either, so that knocks a big hole in the clothing budget every 6 months.

My guilty housewife secret is that I take perverse satisfaction in carefully sorting and labelling the boxes for different ages and stages. I get them out from time to time to make sure I haven't mis-labelled something that a child is going to outgrow before wearing. I even photographed the clothes that we left in France for next summer, so that I wouldn't get carried away here and double/triple buy (see photos). Adage: a bargain's not a bargain if you don't need it.

Why can't there be more colour in our lives? This comes from someone who fell for a guy whose pants are officially described as "drab" in the store catalogue. I kid you not. We nicknamed them "Blah". I am happy to say that he wears a bit more colour now.

Ring our bell!

I don't have photo or video evidence of this, but Sebastian got to ring the city market bell on Saturday. For those who don't know our fair town, the city market is the oldest continuing food market in the country (1876 and survived the massive fire that burnt down much of the city the following year) and the heart of "uptown". http://www.sjcitymarket.ca/index.html A covered market, it has been physically preserved and has a great vibe, even if it is not a farmers/organic/boho market. Plus you can get fresh Montreal bagels there every Thursday from noon on. On Saturdays, there are deli stalls (Iranian, Ecuadorian, Jamaican, organic pizza, etc) staffed by some the chattiest people in town, who happen to make very tasty foods). It is the site of the annual CBC radio remote in mid-December - a highly fun and sucessful event on the social calendar (when Seb can stare at his favourite CBC personality - Rachel Cave-Bauer - while she works).

Once the weather turns cold (say October 1!), we walk through the market to get to just about anywhere (library, pool, post office, etc). So we are fairly well-known; I think we are well-liked too- at least we were until I started bringing in the SUV of a stroller this winter...). The famous Java Moose http://www.javamoose.com/is a frequent stop and I often oggle the yarns at Cricket Cove. We like to chat with the greengrocers (while checking out their discount table to come up with a supper idea or getting nostalgic about their British goods shelf - Branston Pickle anyone?) and check in on the live lobster tank (though no touching 'cus of allergies...). You can't not bump into someone you know as you pass through.

So it was somewhat of a surprise to find a new angle to the market this weekend. We were searching for "market money" (gift certificates to give to Seb's daycare worker) and were directed to the "crow's nest". It's the market manager's office, a glass box perched high above the market and with great views on the architecture, decorations and people! It also has a beautiful, new staircase. Maureen - the market production manager - was thrilled to have a 4 year old visitor and invited Seb to come in and ring the historic bell (which she tolls "whenever I feel like it"). First, she made an anouncement on the PA, then he rang the bell, and finally he flung a "Merry Christmas" out of the open window to the cheering masses (well, one guy applauded). What a thrill!

Then on the way down said staircase, we played that we were on a pirate ship. Swash-buckling costumes and dramatic sword fights, plus some enemy ship spied through the telescope while the sharks lurk in the dangerous waters below. It was a wonderful moment to be in Saint John.

So anytime you want, we'll meet you in the Market!

You have got it good on Christmas Eve when:

1- your landlady arrives with baked goods for you and gifts the children!
2- your parents-in-law take your kids out "visiting" leaving you free to madly finish off all the last minutes tasks (like knit a scarf from cast-on...)
3- you find an extra $20 in your sock drawer
4 - you figure you have enough cash to buy the gourmet tapenade instead of labouring 4 hours to pit olives yourself

For those who are celebrating tonight, tomorrow and/or Boxing Day, we hope that your festivities bring great cheer and that the generosity of spirit that counts you amongst our friends, is repaid in its own way to you this season.

No longer a crawley

We are all agreed that Sophie is no longer a "crawley" as she prefers to go about on 2 feet now. If she stumbles over - which is still a common occurence - she will right herself. She no longer needs to crawl over to an object and pull herself up either; her strong and ever stronger thigh muscles do the work. It's true that she wibbles and wobbles a lot but oh boy, is she ever determined and gleeful.

So if she is no longer a crawley, the question remains as to whether she is a wedge. None of my relatives wrote to assuage my fear that one needs to eat cheese to be part of the family!

Sophie's update

I had promised to do a 12 month update for Sophie - and lo and behold, she's already 13 months (evidence #1 of 2nd child syndrome...). Well, girlfriend is no longer our easy-going houseplant and hasn't been for a couple of months. She can be determined when she wants something or someone (refer to previous blog on climbing 16 stairs unsupervised). She has a temper, which is usually demonstrated against her brother (or is that "bother" ? b/c it tends to be when he is sitting on her or got his face in her face that she lets out a high pitch bellow) or the item she is not allowed to have. One of my terms of endearment for both kids is poppet and when they have a bit of temper, that's a strop (or being "stroppy"). Occasionally, I have had to refer to Soph as a stroppet (not to be confused with "strumpet").

Sophie has always known who has the working breasts in the family. But since she turned one, she now can get herself to them and by tugging on the top of my shirt, make it plain what she wants and when. Now! Turtlenecks frustrate her to no end.

On the physical side, she is petite, weighing in at 19 lbs and change at her birthday. She had a pretty healthy first year, all things considered. She weathered the chickenpox bravely but has been left with a few scars on the forehead. Her food allergies are the main concern as there are so many; we don't know the severity; and she is so fast at getting to something and putting it in her mouth - plus, let's be honest, our housekeeping is far from pristine. She has one chronic spot of eczema. Her eyes have remained a gorgous blue (looks great in denim) and strangers often comment on how big they are. Her hair is still gingery but I believe that its days are numbered. And she has the cheekiest, most gleeful smile going.

She doesn't have a favourite toy or thing to hold. She enjoys looking at books and just started to become interested in pens and crayons. Like all babies, she loves to make a beeline for whatever enters her sphere of reaching that is usually off limits - like my agenda or the phone. Oh, I forgot, she loves bedside tables - just her height and loads of "don't touch"es.

She walks but it's been a completely different progress to Seb, who stumbled along one day (for cheese) and then within 2 weeks was pivoting and almost running. Sophie took stutter steps a couple of days after her birthday and then has spent the next 4 weeks getting to "walking" - 16 steps at once. But it's officially a go, now. (Ok, evidence #2 of 2nd child syndrome, as we didn't call any grandparents to announce the news...)

She has too many clothes to cram into a set of drawers and every pair of white tights has already turned to grey. But she looks delightful in each and every outfit.

She has 8 teeth and might have a word (evidence #3 of 2nd child syndrome - we were so proud with Seb that we would have been telling everyone by now that he was "speaking"). She sometimes waves goodbye and makes a "baaah" noise, which she only makes at those times. Good enough for us.

In fact, she is extra good enough for lucky us.

The ups and downs of having a big brother (or sister)

Yesterday, Sebastian was showing Sophie a rolicking good time by bouncing away on their parents' bed and hiding under the duvet (under it this time). We then all trekked downstairs to see how the gingerbread cookies were cooling.

A few minutes (I estimate 3), I realise Sophie is not in the kitchen and that I don't hear her, so I ask big bro to go and check on what she is up to. 10 seconds later, I hear "She gone upstairs, Mum". Mad dash to and up the 16 - SIXTEEN!! - stairs, while scanning downstairs rooms, I find her back in our bedroom looking for the party that her brother started.

So, girlfriend at 12 months knows how to climb stairs, Seb, though usually excellent at closing the stairs gate, is still 4, and me, I have to close the kitchen door.

Eccentric? Our Seb?

Last night played out as they do these days/evenings. I kissed Seb goodnight and told him I was turning off the light. He then proceeded to wish me goodnight again as he meandered to the toilet to fetch his stool and then turn the light back on. Afterward, it was over to the clock radio to turn on CBC (boring enough to fall asleep to?). But then, he decided to grab his stuffed animal (a musical mouse - don't ask) and bury himself in the duvet cover. That's right, between the cover and the duvet itself. There, he promptly fell asleep (and got all sweaty).

Santa smokes?

It was just a quick trip to the jeweller's to drop off my malfunctioning watch. But it became oh so much more when in one of the display cases, Sebby spotted a Santa figure smoking a pipe. "He's blowing cigarettes" he told me solemnly. "Mmm" I replied vaguely. "What happens when Santa dies?" he queried.

Quick thinking mum, I replied: "One of his kids would take over the route" (Santa and the Mrs do have kids, right? I have never heard mention of them; I guess it spoils the image of Santa when you have to acknowledge the fact that by pulling a global all-nighter, he probably isn't in great shape to be jolly with his own kids on Christmas morning).

I am fairly certain that young master's concern comes not from sadness for the Claus family or worry for all the children who have no other source of Christmas gifts, but for the weight and size of his own stocking on Christmas morning. But have no fear Seb, Nana always starts every New Year by hitting the sales for items to stuff into the ever-growing stocking (but that's another blog) some 11 months and 25 days later!

Can one be a Wedge without cheese?

Just when you were getting the hang of what our family could eat, there are a new set of challenges. And even more severe.


Based on Seb's allergist's advice, I nursed Sophie exclusively for 6 months, we introduced new food one at a time, we delayed high allergens such as egg and milk. But with limited - if any - success.

The way you "challenge" someone who you suspect is allergic to a food is a) put a small amount of it on a patch of skin, if no reaction then b) place it on the lower lip, then c) on the tip of the tongue, d) eat a small amount e) eat a normal portion, and finally f) eat it in moderate doses for a week.


Well, poor wee Sophie fell at the first hurdle. Milk was up for grabs when she turned 1 and her skin patch turned bright red and bumpy within 5 minutes. So yesterday, we had her into the allergist for her own set of tests - imperfect as they are. The good news is that the fish they tested were fine and she seems ok on meat. They told us to be very careful with legumes/pulses - i.e. chickpeas, kidney beans, etc. However, she tested positive for dairy, egg whites and yolks, and soy. They didn't even bother to test for peanuts and shellfish at this moment.

I think we are going to become the vegans who eat meat. I'll be posting the Wedgley food guide in the New Year - in case, anyone is still willing to invite us for a meal or a visit.

The moderately good news - it's relative at this stage - is that 90% of infants outgrow a dairy allergy, even a severe one. But 10% don't. Also the severity of her skin reaction doesn't necessarily corrolate to severity of a reaction if any amount of dairy product were ingested. But we don't want to test that research finding. Also, Seb was allergic to eggs at this age and he outgrew that.

The allergist suggested that we "challenge" Sophie every 6 months. But it's going to be a hard time for feeding Soph and keeping her safe from crumbs (while this make us clean and tidy????) and other toddlers' finger foods. But there is hope that it will improve. (See, my outlook is improving, I could't have said that yesterday).

Radiohead

Couple of days ago, Seb mosied (?) over to the stereo and said "lets see what's on the radio" and then flicked it on. He's only 4 and initiates listening to Sheila or Anna Maria. Scary.

Yesterday he was given/allocated his very own alarm clock. It's a digital and it was presented in the hope that he will wait until the 7 appears (as the FIRST digit) before waking up Mum & Dad. Today he bounced in with a "your clock says 7!!!!!" He claims that he had been lying in bed for "ages" waiting for his 7 to appear.

The alarm clock is a clock radio and he immediately wanted to learn how to turn on the radio and keep CBC on while he plays. Super bonus was that Dad was talking about GARBAGE - a favourite topic - on the news today.

First family meal

I did it! We had our first family meal tonight. Baked sole with a tiny bit of olive oil, side of broccoli for Sophie and mixed veg for us. I even managed to make a honey mustard sauce for myself. Topped off with eggless, dairy-less chocolate cake to celebrate Norwan's birthday from afar (which Sophie could have had but didn't).

And I pulled it off "single parenting" tonight. Pat right there on the back.

ribs and all

I just updated the lead photo (that might be "lede" in journo lingo. Good thing we do radio now where spelling doesn't count so much). Lovely shot of Sophie learning how to tickle her big brother. I just wanted to reassure everyone that we do indeed feed our son, at least we try to. As his ribs denote, he's not a big eater at the moment. The pjs he got for his birthday (the ones he is sporting in the snapshot) constantly slip off his waist. He runs round the house holding them up with one hand.

What's even more amazing is that Sophie weighs even less than Seb did at her age.

The triple whammy

You know the feeling of the day after the night when you just really wanted to finish that book - so you stayed up late (oh, say 11 pm), and then the wee poppet decided that that night's the night that she is going to grow, grow, grow so she nurses on and off for what seems like hours and wiggles in bed in between (until finally she is turfed out to go and eat some cereal with her dad), and then the big lovebug's body clock is on the early setting, so just an hour later he appears at the side of the bed asking for breakfast and playtime...

That's the triple whammy. I am sure that one day we will miss the physicality of raising young children, but right now, I would love an extra hour of sleep!

Catch up on some pics.

Seb & the curtain is him sitting on the rad in the dining room, watching "our" construction crew - best seat in the house b/c it was warm!

One of Seb checking out his "blue&red", who survived his first water change yesterday.

And the one of Sophie is for my mum, as girlfriend is wearing a very recognisable circa 1968 dress that my sister and I wore too. Those eyes sure are big and blue, aren't they!

Who does this guy think he is?

Sophie met Santa today at a party with her great-grandmother, and the photo says it all.

Meanwhile, Seb made his stage debut and surprise, surprise, loved it. We will try to get the footage of the daycare Christmas show up today. He told his neighbour that he was doing the wrong gestures, belted out the tune, and then got stood up for the dance. Guess no one wants to dance with a bossy, out of tune classmate!

They didn't in "my day" either...