sweet new potatoes

Didi has made quite a progress with his sleep. No longer the soother and less of the intense crying although he still takes sometimes 45 min to fall asleep. Sometimes he gives Mammy a break and lets her sleep for 4 or 5 hours but other times still waking up at the 3 hour mark. He is almost sitting (must get some pics). He is able to hold himself up for about 5 min stretches. He tries hard to crawl but he is certainly not as advanced as I was at 5 months (pulling to stand and already crawling. I was practically cruising by 6 months-Check the archives if you don't believe me!). He is growing a lot and difficult to bathe in the sink already.

Here is Didi's tumbling routine. "OK!" he says, "Enough of the paparazzi!" Yes, indeed he shows his disappointment that he didn't win a medal for Canada. It's okay Didi, there is always London in 2012.

Mammy! Daddy! Look! See it? I'm finished-done! My belly is full and I cannot eat anymore. I want more jup (sauce)! "Oh my goodness! You have the hand in the plum sauce jar!" Mammy says. Everyone has been trying to teach me some more manners. Using "I want" rather than "May I or Can I" is a favorite. I also like to say "I need this or that" which is also a No-No. I always say finished-done to communicate the fact that I want off my chair immediately. But Mammy and Daddy have been trying to teach me to have patience and that I cannot get instant gratification. That would be selfish.

Daddy and I have been practicing for the Olympics. Do you think they will have a spot for us to compete?

Didi has been under training this weekend to be weaned from his soother and to self-soothe to sleep. So far he has received 4 stars from Mammy and Daddy for his quick learning. No soother at all this weekend, he only cried for 20 min on Friday and then went to sleep without crying on Saturday and Sunday. He did not require being put in-between the pillows nor calmed to sleep in the baby carrier. He has his first stroller sleep at the zoo before being woken up by the rain. He cried only a little before falling asleep on his own. Many a time, Mammy calmed him with the mobile and his stuffed lamb and before they knew it he was asleep.

We had a great weekend with my cousins Sarah and Olivia and my Auntie May and Uncle Mike. We met up with them at the zoo where we saw all sorts of cool animals including pythons, boas, kangaroos, kookaburras, turtles and jellyfish. Didi was so good and fell asleep for the first time in his stroller but unfortunately we were there only about an hour and half and then the rain came. We came home, had a nap and when I woke up my cousins had arrived! They stayed overnight and we had a great pancake breakfast with eggs and a smörgåsbord of fruit. It was delish! We forgot to take pictures though! On sunday we went to a Greek street festival and Mammy and Daddy had some souvlaki. Didi got restless for his nap. It was a good thing anyways because shortly after it rained again!

This is the dazed look that Didi gets when he is tired and ready for bed. You just can't squeeze a smile out of him though normally he loves to smile. But here he still looks pretty cute.

This is how Mammy and Daddy had Didi sleeping in his own cocoon on the floor of Auntie May and Uncle Mikes house when he got fussy this weekend.

Mammy and Baba were really chancing it when they took me out for gelato this weekend after coming home from our visit with my cousins. It was a beautiful day and we sat outside where I had my first cone. Boy it was Yummy Yummy! Mango flavored. Mammy asked the guy at the counter who told her there was a little bit of dairy in it though the sign said there wasnt. If you recall, I am allergic to dairy. Mammy chose to believe the sign. Mammy has been more and more daring with allowing me to explore diary products..last week, homemade pancakes with evaporated milk and on the weekend Auntie May made fresh homemade waffles with 2 cups of yogurt and a cup of milk in the batter. I have had absolutely no reaction!!!! Except smiles ofcourse!
We also went to the local park after the gelato. We had a splendid holiday monday!

Like it? Uncle Mike helped to shave Didi's hair. Now he looks like a little monk!

This weekend we spent some good times with Cousin Olivia and Sarah and our Aunt May and Uncle Mike. We went to a chalk festival, the local playground and the childrens museum. At times Didi needed to go back to his old ways of napping all surrounded by pillows instead of being in the playpen. He looks really cozy. Cousin Olivia and Sarah really took good care of me all weekend. Boy it was hard work for them. It was nice to have all the family including Yehyeh and Mamma. Generally I was good but sometimes Mammy and Baba had to teach me to share and not be selfish. These last few weeks I have been very possessive of all my things. A lot of which is not mine anyways. I have a bad habit of snatching from others which I am learning not to do. Its tough being a kid you know. There is so much to learn.

Ribbit! Ribbit! Ribbit! Jump! Jump! Jump! Boy this is good exercise and good fun. Really works out the quads. This is what frogs do all day long. I guess they have good legs. And so do I!!!

This is sometimes how Didi likes to sleep. Sometimes he even covers his face with the towel and the lamb. It is pretty close quarters but cozy. Is that even safe?