A little magic trick

We had no idea Abner could put her own coat on until the morning I shot this video. Clearly Daycare Lady has been teaching her a few tricks!

Putting on her coat isn't the only thing she's learned lately at daycare...can you imagine our surprise when she started yelling out the days of the week in French from the back seat of the car the other day!

Best new park

While out on a walk recently we discovered an absolutely amazing gem in the middle of our little (biggish?) city: the brand new Central Park playground.

Our visit started like most others...slow and interrupted by many a squirrel. We saw so many, in fact, that after seeing about 20 squirrels, Abner even started pointing to small dogs saying, "Squirrel!"

Certainly this is a playground worthy of review on Swings and Roundabouts! I wish I'd taken a good overview shot that portrayed the amazing awesomeness of this brand new playground.

They had fantastic new equipment, the likes of which I'd never seen before. Who designs a roller-bar slide?!?! Seriously, how awesome is that. I tood a slide down it myself and have to admit, that the sensation is 'unique'.


There were lots of small sculptures for the kids to approach and have little conversations with.


Abner particularly enjoyed the frog and snail she found.


Even the seating was well thought out! I couldn't help but think of Goldilocks and the Three Bears when I saw these chairs. Big or little, there was one that was a perfect fit!

Gardening a la Abner

We are not much for the gardening around here. We enjoy visiting gardens and we have friends who garden (and write books about gardens), but to date, not much has happened on the gardening front around here.

It looks like Abner may be changing all that!

A beautiful sunny day, a bucket and a shovel...what could be better?

Made lately.

I've been busy lately. It seems that moving my sewing machine into my bedroom has done great things for my productivity.

Just last weekend, I whipped up my first-ever pillowcase dress. It's a wee bit large for Abner just yet, so it'll have to patiently wait to be worn or I will have to give it away as a gift to an appropriately sized little girl. It was shockingly easy to do. Less than an hour and wham, bam, thank you ma'am, it was done. That's my kind of sewing pattern! Thanks Amanda!

The pillowcase was a vintage item picked up at a thrift shop in White Rock. That one shop yielded five pillowcases that day! Not a bad haul for only $2.50!

I also created this cute little apron (or smock depending on who you ask) the same day.

It's from Carefree Clothes for Little Girls and I could not be more in love with it if I tried. The pattern was so insanely simple. In less than an hour, I had this adorable little smock all ready to go. The button is vintage from a collection my mother let me raid a few months back. The fabric is a heavy weigh cotton I've had kicking around my stash since last year's Buy the Yard event.

The pattern called for hemmed edges all around, but knowing how soft this fabric frays, I opted to just zig zag most of the seams. I'm so glad I did, because now that it's washed, it's a really nice touch.

The pattern is supposed to be a size 4, but as you can see, it fits Abner just fine at only a 2T. I expect it will fit her for about the next two years!

My own little crafty library

So I have a confession to make: I have been buying crafty books for several years now and until just last week, I'd only completed TWO projects from any of them! I know, I know...I DO feel ashamed. TDSH jokes that my hobby is not crafting, it's just looking at craft books.

Recently, my little library expanded when I picked up a few new titles for the shelf.

I spotted Carefree Clothes for Girls, by Junko Okawa, in a little pamphlet that fell out of one of my copy of Amanda Blake Soule's, Handmade Home. For the past few weeks, I've really noticed how much of a little girl Abner is becoming - little girl as opposed to a baby, that is. I have heaps of baby clothes patterns that she's already grown too big for.

Until I found this book, I hadn't seen any designs for little girls clothes that I liked. They all looked too generic. The outfits in this book are anything but generic! The book was originally written in Japanese so the fashions are very much inspired by Japanese style (read as lots of linen and many layers).

Here are a couple of the projects I can't wait to get working on.

Given my recent quilting success, I couldn't resist picking up i ♥ patchwork by Rashida Coleman Hale. The patterns are a cute and look relatively easy (score!).

Top on my list out of this book is the quilted calendar with fabric covered buttons. Not only would it be a fun project to make, but it would also be a good learning tool for Abner to learn about her months, weeks and days!

Sew Liberated, by Meg McElwee made it onto the shelf primarily because of a recommendation from Amanda of Soule Mama. I can't see making most of the projects for myself, but many of them would make perfect gifts. The best part of the book is definitely the instructions on doing applique - a technique I haven't attempted myself yet, but would love to try.

This little framed applique/needle work clock looks like a perfect project to go in Abner's room.

Year's ago I picked up Melanie Falick's Weekend Knitting and loved it. I loved it so much, I actually managed to make one of the projects in the book (and started at least two more). I was thrilled when I spotted a new addition to the series (is it a series if there are only two books?). Weekend Sewing, by Heather Ross is a fabulous find! Much like the knitting version, this one blends fantastic projects with a few other elements essential to a weekend of sewing: food, music and more food. Judging by the playlist on 53, she has pretty good taste in music!

The smocked sundress will be the first project I tackle from this book. I can already imaging how cute Abner's going to look in it!

I also picked up Anna Maria Horner's Seams to Me and Amy Butler's In Stitches, but for some reason didn't photograph them for this post.

Putting the VanDusen membership to use

So the Olympics were over, the weather turned crappy and we had no real plans, so a couple of weekends ago, we decided to make use of the rather expensive membership we'd bought to VanDusen Gardens.

From a botanical perspective, it's not the most exciting time of year to be there - most stuff is still pretty dormant - but the blossoms, blooms and buds are just beginning to poke their heads out so it's still worth a look.

With little ones, I highly recommend going right at opening - you'll get less evil glares from the serious gardeners who are there for serious garden-related enjoyment.

I think this is my new favorit picture of Abner.

Abner spent quite a while picking up gravel, placing it on this bench and watching it fall between the slats.

I don't even think she was tired of walking yet, she just likes to plonk herself down wherever.

Abner and TDSH "hiding" from mommy. So stealthy!

A little off-roading was in order. I swear, they are going to take away our membership if they ever catch on to us!

Abner appears to be very angry at the blossoms in this pic...I know a few allergy sufferers who would agree with her!

Hanging out on one of the beautiful sculptures on the grounds. I'm not sure if this is one of the permanent ones, but it is lovely.

Abner and I made friends with a giant (anatomically correct, I might add!) wire bull.

My apoligies to anyone living in the vacinity of VanDusen Park that weekend. When a little girl sees a gong, there's really nothing else to do but, gong away (for at least 5 minutes straight!)

It's DONE!

Before reading this post, hit Ctrl-click (so the link opens in another window) on this link to hear a piece of music which I think suits the announcement below perfectly! (My first scored blog post!)

Okay...is the music playing? Yes? Then read on....

Remember the quilt that I started way back in, oh...November 2008! And was still working on in February 2009? And then had to rip apart in August 2009? Well, it's with great excitement that I tell you it's finally DONE. (See! The musical selection is perfect!)

I can't even fathom how many hours were spent putting this thing together, but I absolutely love it!

When I presented it to Abner this morning, she said, "Pretty! I like it!" and has been happily playing with it all morning and is now having her first nap under it.

Thanks to Miranda for letting me raid her stash so many months ago. I'd still be staring at a pile of scraps if you hadn't been so generous to share your stash with me! I hope I can return the favor one day.

Thanks to TDSH who knew what he was in for the night I asked for his help sandwiching the layers and got off the couch to help me anyway.

And thanks to the ladies at Fabricana who patiently tended to me while I hemmed and hawed over my binding and backing options. And thanks for understanding when I didn't choose the tiny floral and paisley prints you kept suggesting.

As long and drawn out as this process was, I really did enjoy it. I've already decided which quilt I will make next and who it's for, but that'll have to stay a secret for a bit longer.

Lost in translation

English is a tough language. Some words are trickier than others to pronounce. Here are a few that we hear quite regularly around here:

messy poo poo = merci beaucoup
crinkle crinkle = twinkle twinkle (as in little star)
poo poo pie = porcupine (this one took us forever to figure out!)
lady bug = baby bug
baby ben = belly button

I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

NOTE: Abner is the one using these words. Not me and TDSH!

A penny saved

A colleague recently asked me how much it costs to have a baby. I quickly rattled off a list of the major expenses like daycare, diapers, clothes and a few other essential items and left it at that. When I think back to my answer though, I realize I grossly understated the costs for her.

The child-rearing expenses certainly don't end once your kid is out of diapers and daycare! There are the health care costs (even in Canada), school expenses to pay for, grocery bills longer than your arm, and heaven forbid your child wants to play organized sports or takes up a musical instrument! Don't even get me started on what a post-secondary education is going to cost when/if the time comes. What it all amounts to is one heck of a bill when all is said and done!

So, short of resorting to illegal activity, how the heck are we supposed to pay for these little angels?

Here are a few approaches we're taking to save for Abner's future...

• We recently opened an RESP. Twice a year, I have a three-paycheque month. My plan is to take one of these bonus paycheques and dump it into the RESP account. Hopefully, I won't even notice the money is gone because it will be just like every other two-paycheque month.
• Each week I take out $40 spending money for things like lunches (when I'm too lazy to make something in the morning), the occasional coffee, laundry, and other miscellaneous items. If there is any money left over at the end of the week, it goes into Abner's piggy bank. Some weeks she gets $20 and others she gets nothing, so it probably averages $5/week. Not bad for an almost-two-year-old.
• Whenever we take back our empties, the deposit money goes straight into her piggy bank. The best part of this approach is that it's great motivation to drink more, because really - it's for Abner!
• We've also been putting some of her birthday/Christmas money into a savings account for her.

Do you have any saving tips you'd like to share?

I don't just write for blogs anymore!

Dear faithful readers, I'm just a wee bit excited today! My first article in Urban Baby & Toddler hit the streets! Aside from my Facebook friends, you're the first group I've told (that's how much I love you all!).

As you may remember, I had the idea to write a book about stroller-friendly walks while I was on mat leave. I even spoke to a book publisher before coming to my senses and realizing I had no time to write a book. Seeing a colleague of mine stress through writing her own first book was definitely the clincher on abandoning the idea - I'm just not that dedicated I'm afraid.

The idea was still rattling around in my head in the months after I returned to work when one day I told a colleague about it. She loved the idea, said it would be perfect for her magazine (she just so happens to be the editor of Urban Baby & Toddler)* and asked me to submit something for the Spring issue.

So that was way back in June of last year. And did I get right on it and write my article? Heck no. It wasn't until she emailed me in January to tell me that the 1400-word article was due in a little over two weeks that I finally had my motivation.

One walk-filled weekend and a couple of nights of writing and I was done. If you're in the area, be sure to pick up your own copy and check out pages 24, 25 and 32. If you're not in the area, the magazine is online too!

I'll actually be writing a regular column the magazine now so if anyone would like to join me for a walk, just let me know! I'm also hoping to parlay the idea into a blog so stay tuned for more on that front soon.

*Why yes, I do indeed work with freakishly over-achieving women who do things like write books and edit magazines on top of working at regular jobs and raising kids!

Our Olympic experience

So a little thing called the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics have been in town the past two weeks. To say that this town has gone a little crazy is a wee bit of an understatement. The crowds are truly something to behold! So that's what we did...we beheld the crowds. Not once, but twice!

On our first trip down we were joined by friends who actually stayed with us for a whole week and galavanted off to events almost every day. We piled on to transit bright and early in the morning and joined the masses heading into downtown.

That's Maison du Quebec and Saskatchewan House in the background. Abner kept calling it a beach ball and she wanted to take it home with her.

One of the volunteers told us LiveCity in Yaletown would be a good place to go with kids. They were wrong. The only pavilions there were corporate ones (and the City of Vancouver, which was displaying a gorgeous laneway house), there was no beer and the concerts didn't start for, oh, about 8 hours! Because we'd waited 30 minutes in line, we did check out the Panasonic 3D movie which was kind of cool. Not surprisingly, we passed on the Coke tent.

They did have giant TV screens up so we did get to watch some of the events while we waited in line so that we could go wait in another line so that we could wait in another line...you see where this is going, don't you?

Like I said, it wasn't a great place for kids so we wound up leaving LiveCity and wandering through the crowds looking for a place we could eat at, watch TV and drink beer with kids. Sadly, I didn't take any photos of all that fun!

Our second trip into the mayhem was on the second-to-last day of the Games. Sadly, the weather was a bit more seasonal for this trip.

We made it to the cauldron this time. I must admit, the thing looks a heck of a lot better in-person than it does on TV.

And took in a few moments of the ice show at Robson Square.

Abner was mesmerized!

Robson Square was THE place to be if you have kids. We stood in the rain and watched The Kerplunks perform for quite a while. TDSH is a sucker for any kind of live music.

Abner showed her appreciation for the show by clapping at the end of the songs. It drives me nuts when I see kids not learning how to be a good audience member, so I am very pleased to see that Abner is already off to a good start!

The zip line over Robson looked pretty cool, but not worth the line up (seriously, I think lining up should become its own Olympic event!).

The art gallery has been decked out in some amazing outdoor artwork. I loved this particular stop for the unique photo opportunities. Abner loved this stop for the opportunity to climb the stairs.

Don't let that smile fool you...she wasn't thrilled to have to come off those stairs.

Her disappointment was short-lived once she noticed the water fountains. For a kid who was terrified of water parks last summer, she sure has changed her tune! Could not tear her away from here.

We also made a stop into the new CBC building where they had an entire wall of Olympic-themed sock puppets on display. What this has to do with the CBC, or with the Olympics for that matter, I don't know.

About three hours into our adventure we discovered that, yes indeed, Abner can still fall asleep in the Ergo! She missed out on seeing the athlete's village, the Right to Play tent (sponsored by Cadbury so they were giving away candy by donation - t'was my favorite tent!) and Maison du Quebec (which I thought should have been called Maison du Poutine since that's all they seemed to have there).

She did wake up just in time to check out Saskatchewan House and watch the first end of the men's gold medal curling match where Canada took on Norway and their truly awesome pants.

And this concludes our Vancouver 2010 Winter Games coverage. See you in 2012 in London!