CHARLOTTE'S IMPRESSION OF A....FISH

Here is a cute video of Charlotte being a "fish" in the hotel pool during our recent visit to Niagara Falls...

MINI VACATION TO....NIAGARA FALLS

Earlier this week we packed our bags and loaded everyone into our car for a mini vacation to ...Niagara Falls. We took advantage of the fact that Doyle had the week off (he's starting a new job on Jan 28) so we left on Sunday mid-day and returned on Tuesday afternoon. 

After a few failed bids on priceline.com we finally secured a room at the Double Tree the day before we left (the beauty of being flexible). 

We checked into the hotel shortly before 3pm on Sunday and ventured out in the cold to tour around by foot. Our first stop was Clifton Hill a tacky but very fun street. After our cruise down the hill we stopped for some pics in front of the Falls. Jacob's first reaction when he saw them from the car when we arrived in Niagara Falls was "woah...big water"! The kids loved seeing them in person and kept peeking through the railing to see them. They waved at them, screamed hello and kept saying Niagara Falls...Niagara Falls! After a few pics we decided to continue our adventure back up the other side of the street at Clifton Hill. We then walked over to the Fallsview Casino and spent some time walking around the lobby / shopping area. I took a quick peek in the casino while D stayed with the kids (no one under 19 is allowed in). I contemplated playing a few slots but held back being the "responsible" gambler that I am ;) We walked back to the hotel and enjoyed some time in our room before heading out for dinner at an Italian restaurant. After dinner we ventured back to the room, got into our PJs and got ready for our "family slumber party". Charlotte and Jacob took a bit to settle but loved sleeping in the "big bed" (they shared one of the queen beds). Oliver enjoyed his first sleep in his pack and play we brought from home. We rose bright and early and were at the hotel pool by 8:20 (it opened at 8am)....the kids love the water and after an hour of swimming we had to drag them out and back up to the room so we could "start" our day. Thanks to the frigid weather we decided the Butterfly Conservatory would be a great place to visit so...away we went. Never would we have imagined that our visit there would traumatize Charlotte and Jacob. At first they seemed interested in the butterflies but as more and more flew by they did not like it in the conservatory and began to cry...they couldn't get out of their fast enough! After the conservatory we picked up subway subs and headed back to the room for a picnic on the floor and nap time. The first thing C and J did when they woke from their nap was grab their swim suits and asked to go to the "pool" so...back to the water we went. After another hour in the pool we headed back up to the room to get ready for dinner at the Outback (yummy bloomin' onion). We were finished dinner and back in the room by 6:20 p.m. (yup we Browns are party animals) for our second night of "family slumber party". After a full night of sleep we were back at the pool bright and early the next day for another hour of swim time. We checked out of the hotel at 10:30 a.m. grabbed our passports and headed for the border! No trip to Niagara would be complete without a visit to Buffalo for a little shopping. We crossed before 11 a.m. were at TJ Maxx by 11:15, Target by 11:30, the Olive Garden (mmm endless salad and warm garlic bread sticks) at noon and back at the border by 1 p.m. It was a whirlwind adventure that ended with some new clothes and diapers for the kids (sadly nothing for us) and gas for the car! 

We really enjoyed our mini vacation and have already started planning our next visit to Niagara likely at the end of May / early June. 

Clifton Hill...super tacky but super fun too ; 

Top of Clifton Hill look down the street....

Charlotte mesmerized by the Falls...Oliver all bundled up!  

Horseshoe Falls

American side of the Falls 

Mommy and Charlotte 

Daddy and Jacob.... 

Butterfly in the Conservatory

Peeking at the fish...

Family (minus Oliver who was asleep in the stroller) pic at the conservatory

Best...picture...ever!

Hot tub (bubble pool) fun....

View from our room....thanks for the fun Niagara we'll be back!

DOCTOR VISIT...

Yesterday Charlotte, Jacob and Oliver visited their doctor. Charlotte and Jacob were there for their two year check up and Oliver was there for his three month check up. All three kids were well behaved (it helped that needles weren't involved) and got a clean bill of health! 

Their stats as of January 17:

Charlotte
Weight: 24 lbs
Height: 36.5"

Jacob
Weight: 23 lbs
Height: 36.5"

Oliver
Weight: 14 lbs 9 oz
Height: 26.5"

Oliver is back in a month for his four month check up and second round of immunizations, while Charlotte and Jacob aren't officially back until they turn three - unless of course they require a "sick visit" before then! 

HAPPY THREE MONTH "BIRTHDAY" OLIVER....

Today marks three months since Oliver's arrival. It is incredibly hard to believe how quickly 12 weeks has flown by and how many things have happened since he joined our family. 

Charlotte and Jacob continue to adjust to having Oliver here. They do notice when he's not around and will ask where "Opiter" (that's what they call him since they can't say Oliver) is if he isn't with me, which is quite cute. They still scratch and poke at him from time to time which I'm hoping will subside soon. Sometimes the poor kid looks like he's gotten into a fight with a cat, despite my best efforts at keeping Charlotte and Jacob away. 

Oliver has had another busy month. From December 9 to January 9 he has:

• Gained weight: We won't have his official three month weight until January 17 but I notice that he is getting heavier especially when I lug him around in the car seat
• Had more periods of "awake time": Oliver is sleeping less during the day and going longer stretches at night! He still likes to sleep while we're out and about for walks but enjoys being awake while we're at home. He typically naps in the morning for an hour or so and about two hours in the afternoon and goes to bed between 6:30 and 7 p.m.. At night he usually wakes once or will sleep through there is no rhyme or reason for it that I've noticed yet!
• Continued to eat 4oz at each feed every three to four hours although we're getting very close to moving up to 5 or 6 oz
• Had his follow up visit at the Sick Kids Club Foot Clinic and continues to remain cast / brace bar free! We're back for our next follow up appointment in three months time
• Become more vocal and smiley - he loves to interact with people when they talk to him and his entire face lights up when he smiles!
• Celebrated his first Christmas
• Celebrated Charlotte and Jacob's 2nd Birthday
• Rang in his first New Year's Eve
• Applied for his first passport!
• Activities outside the house: Lots of walks around the neighbourhood in the stroller and baby bjorn and lunch with Mommy's friend Michelle Mason

TWO FEET FORWARD....

Yesterday we took Oliver to his follow up appointment at the Sick Kids Club Foot Clinic. It is amazing to think how quickly the past six weeks have flown by since our last visit. We waited an hour and a half before we were seen but the wait was well worth it. The physiotherapist and Orthopedic resident that met with us yesterday both felt that Oliver's feet were doing well and that although they have a natural tendency to turn in he is able to turn them out to the correct position. Their advice to us was continue to wait to see how things progress over the next three months and then come back for another follow up. The physiotherapist was pleased with the amount of movement he has in his feet and didn't feel that putting him in the brace bar and special shoes was necessary at this time! She did say we're not 100 per cent out of the woods just yet but felt confident that continuing to wait was the right course of action for us at this time.

We couldn't have been happier to hear this news and we look forward to what awaits at our next follow up!

HAPPY NEW YEAR....

So long 2012 it is extremely hard to believe how quickly you passed us by but thanks for all the great memories you have left us with.  

Welcome 2013...you are only a few hours old but so far I have no complaints! We had a very low key New Year's Eve in our house. The kids were exhausted after a day of playing and no afternoon nap so they were in bed by 6:45 p.m. Doyle and I ordered pizza and had some wine and champagne before packing it in well before midnight EST! We've never really been huge new year's revellers so this was actually the perfect way to spend the night. 

Our low key evening has turned into a low key day with one exception...a visit from Doyle's brother Doug and his kids Norah and Luke. Charlotte and Jacob loved playing with their cousins. Unfortunately Lisa wasn't able to join them because she was flying back from Halifax - we hope to catch up with her at the next visit. The kids didn't nap again this afternoon due to a late morning snooze they had during their "run" with Doyle so they fell asleep at 6:45 p.m. again tonight. I just hope they stay that way but I won't hold my breath - ever since we removed the front bar from their cribs they no longer sleep through the night and tend to wander into our room at various times thanks to their new found freedom. It means a very disrupted sleep for all of us. Here's hoping 2013 will see them revert back to being better overnight sleepers.

I've never been one to make resolutions, I find them too easy to break, but this year I've decided that it's time to focus on me more. I should probably clarify the "focus on me more" statement so anyone reading this doesn't think I'm conceited! What I mean is it's time for me to embark on a very important journey...one that will take dedication on my part and be a struggle at times but in the end, if all goes well, will see me 20 lbs lighter than I currently am. 

I never made losing the weight I gained from being pregnant with Charlotte and Jacob a priority and that certainly didn't help when I learned 13.5 short months after having them that I was pregnant again! Although I have lost the weight I gained during my pregnancy with Oliver (I'm not sure how because I haven't done anything to target it) I haven't lost the weight I should have following my first pregnancy. I stepped on the scale this morning, because every good journey needs a starting point, and it said 180. As we all know "scales don't lie" so that's my starting point whether I like it or not. 

My first focus is cutting out alcohol for the month of January. Luckily Doyle has the same focus so there won't be any temptation there. My next focus will be on portion control and finally I will engage in some form of exercise (at least a 30 minute walk) everyday. As I said this journey will take dedication on my part (especially around portion control) but I'm ready. I encourage all of you reading this to hold me to it as well. Don't hesitate to check in from time to time to make sure I'm still on track! I of course will update my progress on here too so stay tuned.

I don't have a specific timeline for this journey to "end". In a way it shouldn't ever end because there will be some form of maintenance involved, but I would like to see significant progress made by the time I return to work on Aug 6. 

I welcome this challenge and look forward to what lies ahead no matter how many bumps I may face along the way!