About Us

Victoria, BC, Canada
This blog began as a modern "baby book" for our first child, Finlay, who was born in December of 2010. The recent addition of Seamus, born in January of 2013, has meant continued efforts to put into words and pictures his early years. We also use this forum to catalog our family life: two loving partners, two beautiful kids, car-free, child-centred, attachment-focused, with a love of food and health thrown into the mix!

Jumping into Action!

March 25, 2011

After a wonderful morning with mummy and daddy, an afternoon shopping trip which he napped through, and a change and a snack, Finlay went for a Jolly Jump.  Up until now he mostly just stood, "walked," and bobbed.  Today there was knee-bending jumping!  Little jumps, but keep in mind that he is pretty little for the jumper!  It was adorable and I caught some of it on video.

Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODyb3QEidzU

Finlay's First Visit from Aunt Megan & Uncle Kori

March 18, 2011

We have been busy with company over the past few days!  Megan and Kori came for a visit and Finlay met his Aunt and Uncle for the first time.  We can tell that Fin quickly became very comfortable with Megan and Kori as he promptly spat-up on them.

Over the week that family visited, we went for walks around the city, ate yummy food and drank great wines.   Megan and Kori got to know Finlay better when Lyndze and I went out to The Superior for drinks with friends.  Fin was a little fussy for his Aunt and Uncle but we now believe that he has begun teething.  He is a little more cranky, bitting his toys and our fingers a little more, drooling like it's going out of style, and a little restless getting to sleep.  But a fussy Fin is still a cute Fin (as we always say, anyway).

We really enjoyed the visit and having Megan and Kori around.  There is nothing more exciting and sharing our special little babe with other people who love and adore him.


Here is Uncle Kori and a happy Finlay.

Aunt Megan feeding Fin a bottle.  Connection caught on camera.

This looks fun!



During our adventures around Victoria, Finlay went on his first boat ride!  We took a harbour ferry (a little tug-boat) and Fin just loved the loud engine and the vibrations of the motor.  He was smiling and looking around and snuggling with mummy a lot!










Thanks for coming out!  Hope to see you again soon!

Lyndze, Tyler and Finlay

A Milestone: Three Months Old

March 14, 2011

We just can't believe that Finlay is already three months old!  The forth trimester, as it is known, is over.  And life is just getting more and more fun!  Finlay is getting older - more interested in books, games, and songs.  He is now out of the bassinet attachment for his stroller and graduated to what has been dubbed "the big boy stroller." He loves it!  He can look around and look up at us as we push him.  We see lots of smiles and he is cooing to tell us what he sees.  His language and needs are becoming more comprehensible to us and this makes life a lot more pleasant for all involved.  Also, and this goes without saying, he is getting cuter and cuter by the hour!

Tyler and I are feeling really good about this whole parenthood thing. We were reminiscing about the early days and weeks when every night feeding and changing may have kept us up for an hour or more and how excited we would be if things only took 45 minutes.  Now, Fin needs less changings and feedings and we are barely more than a few minutes for a change and I hardly wake up for a feeding.

There is nothing like Finlay's smiles and laugh!  He is so much more engaged with the world and his world is us.  He just lights up when he sees Tyler or I and he loves when we are silly with him.

We bought him a Jolly Jumper to celebrate this milestone and he is really taking to it.  He isn't jumping right off the bat but he certainly is jolly.  He is moving about and turning to look at us.  I'm excited about the exercise he will get playing in this new toy.

Now, for the most recent pictures:

We think that Finlay might be teething.  He seems to chew more than suck on our fingers as of late.  Here he is going to town on Tyler's hand.  He holds on tight and looks at Tyler with appreciation.

Tyler and I read to Finlay everyday.  Fin is really starting to look at the books and pay attention.  He seems to enjoy the books with little smiles and coos.

Look at that moment - so special!

Fin is grabbing his caterpillar toy more and more.  I think that it is more intentional than accidental these days. 

Finlay is really taking to his Bumbo.  This is great because I had him in it while I was making pie the other day and he watched intently and I taught him how to roll a perfect crust.  In this photo, Tyler is showing Fin how he makes bread.  Fin is going to be a wonderful cook and baker!

There was a time when Asha was way bigger than Finlay.  But now, the big sister is looking smaller than her little brother.  Aren't they cute?

Fin in his new Jolly Jumper with his mum encouraging him.

We got some smiles and bursts of excitement!

He looks to little in it but I can't believe he's old enough to do this!  He's been standing on our laps and holding up his head for a while now.  He was perfectly comfortable in the Jumper.

That's all for now!
Love Lyndze, Tyler and Finlay

A Visit from Nans & Gramps

March 6, 2011

Finlay's wonderful Nans & Gramps (Lyndze's mom and dad) just came to Victoria for a visit.  There were lots of wonderful meals shared and plenty of grandparenting going on.  Fin finally got a soother that he'll take thanks to Nans.  He also got checked out for possible aches and pains from his chiropractor-grandfather (all is well). Finlay was hugged and cuddled and rocked and loved all weekend long, as usual, but by four of us!  He just loved it!

On Saturday night, Tyler and I went out on our first date since Fin was born.  Nans and Gramps came over to hang out with Fin and we went to our favourite restaurant.  We got a little dressed up, my dad drove us to The Superior (which was funny because it has been about ten years since dad drove the two of us out on a date), and we ate an amazing meal with a delicious wine and wonderful live jazz & blues piano.  We ended the night with a cocktail - it was a really nice night.  It felt a little strange for me to be apart from the baby for more than 2 hours but I really enjoyed myself and wasn't worried or distracted at all.

It was so nice for the family to get together.  I just love enjoying Victoria with others.  All of the walks and talks were really great.  I especially love seeing others enjoy the magic of Finlay - his smiles, coos and even his cries.  A good time was had by all.

Here is Gramps and Fin before a walk.

Here is Nans and Finlay in the evening.  She has a way with him that really calms him when he is fussy.

Yay for grandparents!

Where Are You?

March 2, 2011

It has been a couple of weeks and there has been no post.  Where are we?  Well, the first week was a busy one with Finlay and I finally finding a baby group we enjoy, going to yoga, lots of exercise and walks and spending any time we had with Tyler at enjoying family life.  Tyler worked a very busy week with close to 75 hours clocked, so I was alone with Fin more than usual, but I kept us busy.  Then, on Saturday, we rested, went for a hike, and cooked for some friends.  As I was doing dishes that night, I could sense something wasn't right, but I couldn't put my finger on it...

I woke up in the wee hours on Sunday with Fin still asleep (he's been pretty good at sleeping these days) and feeling kind of feverish.  My joints were sore and my skin was sensitive and I felt more tired than when I went to bed.  I rested on Sunday and Tyler took care of Finlay all day.  Monday is one of our big days in that Tyler works from 7:30AM until 12:00AM.  Well, the day started out okay but I just felt more and more fevered throughout the day.  I tried to call Tyler home around 6PM, when I figured out just how sick I was but his employer wouldn't let him leave.  Tyler called a very helpful friend in and this was quite the relief.  But by the time he got home at 10:30PM on Monday, I had a fever of 102.  Tuesday morning it spiked to nearly 104 and that is where it stayed all day!  The fever was due to a blocked milk duct.  I was doing all of the natural remedies and the midwife said that it is really normal for new mums to get sick in their second or third month.  The fever dropped to 101 on Wednesday and, once again, we had some wonderful help in the evening so that Tyler could work and I could sleep.

Then, on Wednesday night, I had a fabulous dream that these women, dressed all in black like ninjas, had come to cure my fever and give me a new body.  I woke up feeling like I had taken a bunch of Tylenol, like I was better but unnaturally better.  Weird....

Throughout the entire illness, I missed Finlay so much!  For about 48 hours, I only saw him for feedings!  Tyler took such good care of me and Fin.  He was Superman!

So, this is why there have been no posts!  But there were a few pictures taken over the last couple weeks that I will add this evening.


 Here is Finlay in his 'Bumbo' - he is getting stronger and stronger and so more interested in sitting on his own so that he can look around.

 We started playing airplane in the morning and he is so cute and laughs and giggles and looks around.  It's pretty fun!
 The family went on a hike and Tyler wore Fin.  There were lots of other dads along the trail wearing their babies.  The weather was beautiful and the hike was fun.
 Fin quickly fell asleep.
 We managed to get him buckled in without waking up.
New development: Fin has begun to engage with toys!  This is Fin in his bouncer with a wooden caterpillar and he loves to look at it and talk to it and even grab it (fluke, I'm sure).  Really cute!