Thursday, April 30, 2009

First weekend away

Hey monkey,

Man, you are already 10 months old going on 11 months in just 12 days, how time really flies. Man are you ever growing so quickly, but to be honest I am loving every single minute of it. But with that said, this weekend is the first weekend that we will not be together. I enjoy spending every single second of every day together and it is going to break my heart to not wake up with you on the weekends, to not play with you and enjoy the precious little time we have together. Daddy unfortunately has to work all night Friday, all day Saturday and then for most of Sunday.

Anyway monkey I know you'll never remember thisbut just remember that this entire weekend you will be in my thoughts.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Summer is here

Hey Monkey,

I just had myself a wonderful weekend. The temperature approached 30 degrees and we were able to go out as a family and just spend some time together. Although the day started slowly when we went to Auntie Amanda's place, we were eventually able to leave. Did our shopping and then went down to the Riverside for a nice walk along the water. Daddy was supposed to stay home and do some house work but with next weekend being a wash because daddy has to work, I wanted to spend some time with you, and it was definitely worth it.

The problem of course is that now daddy has to do double the work in 2 weekends from now and of course because of the temperature change, you are now a sick little monkey. Your nose is running badly, you have developed a little cough, and sleeping has become a chore unto itself. This summer is going to be great little one. Although you were around last year, you were so small that we really could not do too much. This year we are planning some big things. Lake James, Toronto, maybe even going away to the Caribbean for a bit. Heres hoping to a great summer monkey.

I love you.

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

There is no greater joy.....

.......Then to sit down with your daughter and mutually enjoy the same thing. It appears as though you are truly becoming a fan of hockey. Last night was game 3 of the Montreal Vs Boston series and although the game did not turn out as expected it really doesn't matter because we spent some time watching it together. I am not sure what it is but you really seem to get up and start to scream when a hockey game comes across our TV.

Yesterday I decided that it was time to teach you the charge chant. Da na na na na naaaaaaa..........Charge. Da na na na na naaaaaaa........charge. Da na na na, da na na na, da na na na, da na na na na naaaaaaa....charge. Well monkey by the third time of doing this, you seemed to catch on because with your Montreal Canadians towel in your left hand waiving it in the air.....daddy would start it off......Da na na na na naaaaaaa..........and yes you would follow up with a cute little chaaaaaaa. At least that is what I think you said. You must have done this for a good 10 minutes, lunging your left hand forward and throwing out a Chaaaaaa......every time it came to the crucial part of the chant. Such a simple little thing, but certainly something that brought me lots of joy.......

I absolutely love the fact that Daddy can bring his little girl to the games and that we can both enjoy it. Now we gotta work on mommy.

Monday, April 20, 2009

Summer is around the corner

Hey Monkey,

t looks like summer is right around the corner. You were born in June of last year so never really got to enjoy a Montreal summer. This will be your first. There is truly nothing like spending a summer is Montreal. The weather, the festivals, the people, the food, the atmosphere....it truly is a wonderful place to be. I cannot wait to go to the park with you, to go to old Montreal, to la Ronde (OK maybe not this year). Auntie Amanda and the boys are even trying to plan a trip to the 6 Flags theme park in Lake James, NY so you can visit the Looney Tunes characters. This will truly be a great summer for us all.

Until then it feels great to have you our of your snow suit, out of those big bulky sweaters and allowing you to feel the warm Montreal sun on your cheeks. If the weather is nice maybe this weekend we can take a bicycle ride to the island where we can stop for a piknik? I can;t wait to see you crawling around in the grass for the first time.

Anyway monkey I am so excited to think we can spend a first summer together. You, me and mommy, together.

Friday, April 17, 2009

First playoff game

There is was, Thursday April 16th 2009.....Boston Vs Montreal.
You have already been to quite a few hockey games including Ottawa, Montreal and the NYR and you generally look like you enjoy hockey. Perhaps it is the noises, the sounds of the crowd, the colors of the jerseys, I am not sure but you generally enjoy the game. When the Go Habs Go begins to fill the arena something happens inside of you and you begin to scream and yell. Looking so adorable in your little pink Habs jersey, daddy enjoying the moment.

I have been on the fence for years as to whether I should put my name down for season tickets but seeing how much you enjoy the game, it is time. It is time that I look into buying season tickets.

Perhaps for now you are too young to truly enjoy the play but by the time the waiting list comes to me you will be old enough to make it a father-daughter bonding. My biggest passion......while at the same time watching the game.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

What a bad night

Hey Monkey,

I am not sure if you have started teething or if you were just in a cranky mood but your emotions and actions were all over the place. When I first came home from work you were calm and playing with your toys with a big smile on your face but by the time dinner came around you became cranky and screamed quite a bit. You would sit and eat, and then out of nowhere scream and cry and then calm down eat some more and scream and cry again. You wanted nothing to do with me but rather just wanted mommy yet despite this you ate you dinner with ease. Alot of drool followed, alot of whining for the rest of the evening but ultimately you ate everything we gave you.

By the time Bedtime came around, things got even worse. It took mommy almost 2 hours to settle you down for bedtime before you were finally out. Or so we thought. Daddy could not sleep at all last night so I just sat in bed and listened to you sleep away. Waking every 10 minutes or so and then dozing back off to your dreams. Then around 4:00 am you seemed to want to wake for good. Woke up screaming and crying and yelling for us to come and get you. It took mommy another hour and a half to put you back down to sleep before you finally awoke for good at 7:00 am.

As I left for work and came into your room and kissed you goodbye as you sat there crying with your hands up. It absolutely breaks my heart to see you like that and sets me off on the wrong foot for work knowing that you are either in pain or in some sort of discomfort. Oh Monkey....you've been so good of late, why this sudden turnaround. Mommy is just a few weeks away from starting work again and it is as if we have to restart all the training all over again.

We love you monkey.....don't you ever forget that.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Your 1st Easter

Hey Monkey,

It's been a while since I wrote you anything so I am long overdue. This weekend you celebrated your 1st Easter. We figured it was something that you would not remember so it was pretty much status quo in terms of our days. We did not make a special meal, we did not go to church, we simply sat down as a family and spent as much time with you as possible. Of course Grandma did give you your first Easter gift as you received a toy and some Easter Eggs from her........so far it looks like you love them...we'll see.

Easter however means 1 thing monkey. Mommy is getting one step closer to going back to work. When she goes back to work.......we are going to have to let you go and spend most of your days with some strangers. I wish daddy made enough money to have mommy stay home with you because it is breaking her heart every day and tearing me apart to see her like that. To spend everyday of her life for a year with you and then to send you to Daycare is just not right. Daddy is having trouble sleeping trying to figure out a way to have mommy stay home with you. I am actually getting teary eyed right now to think that mommy and daddy will only be able to see you part time. I don't want that smile of yours to go away. I don't want you to be more attached to a stranger then to us. Promise that you will always love us Monkey because we work to give you a better life........please do not forget that.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Sleeping

Wednesday April 8, 2009

We went through a spell of a month or so where you just wanted absolutely nothing to do with sleeping. You would wake at all hours of the night, spend a long time sleeping and crying, ultimately fall asleep bent over from pure exhaustion but for the last month or so you have been a little Angel. When it is bedtime, it is bedtime. You hit the mattress and zonk out until morning. Sleep about 11-12 hours consecutively before waking in the morning. To make matters even better, you have on occasion been know to sleep in even later to wake after 10:00 allowing mommy and daddy to sleep in. It just feels so great.

The only downfall is that you sleep so early. Daddy is lucky that I get home from work at 4:30 so I have time to spend with you every day but when mommy starts work in a couple of months then she has been known to get home between 6:45 and 7:00. With you sleeping at 7:30 it just does not give mommy enough time to spend with you.

On another note, I am so lucky to ahve you in my life. Last night watching the late news there was a feature of a young couple in Toronto who have been faced with the dillema of having to turn off a breathing monitor of their little daughter. There little girl Kaylee has a condition which prevents her from sleeping at night. WIthout the monitor she can pass away at any time. Daddy started to cry thinking of what I would do if I was faced witht he same situation. I am getting teary eyed now as I speak of this because the thought of you not in my life is unimaginable. The thought of being faced with such a decision, life altering. I am so fortunate to have you healthy and happy. I love you monkey.

Monday, April 6, 2009

Playtime

Monday, April 6, 2009

Hey baby......turns out the weekend was no as bad as I had thought. Sure the weather was absolute crap but it meant I could not do much work outside and instead remained indoors. A bummer on most days but it meant more play time with you. I was still able to complete alot of the work I need to do......a playroom for you in the basement, cleaned up and organized the TV room, etc....but in the end I was able to just sit with you and play. You seem to love to use me as a jungle GYM monkey, and I absolutely love it. The smile on your face as you climb all over me. Sometimes looking for a hug, sometimes a kiss, sometimes just using me as an anchor so that you can stand up. Whatever you do, as long as I am sitting next to you I feel special.

On a side note, Auntie, Uncle Eric, Tony and Nicky came back from Disney and they had sooooooo much fun. The stories they told us sounded like they truly had a blast. Meeting the characters, getting autographs, taking cool pics and Nicky even completed Jedi schooling to become a full fledged Jedi. I am so glad that they had a great time, they deserve it but now I want to take you so badly. You are too young to enjoy it monkey but I desperately want to bring you.

Friday, April 3, 2009

The weekend approaches

April 3, 2009 8:04 pm

The weekend approaches monkey and it looks like I am going to be way too busy to spend the amount of time that I want to spend with you. The weather has turned fairly nice and daddy has sooooo much work to do on the house, soooo much planned that I fear I will only be able to spend a few moments a day with you and then a few minutes before bedtime. I am already dreading not being able to give you my constant attention this weekend so I hope I don;t start to feel worse.

On another side note......Auntie Amanda, Uncle Eric and Tony and Nick are coming home from Disney today. We are all headed to grandma's for dinner but I am sure we are going to see alot of pictures and hear alot of stories of this wonderful trip....hope you are excited monkey.

Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Mommy needed a night off

Well Monkey,

Last night you were as good as gold. I called Auntie Karen and untie Jo Jo and asked them to organize a night alone with mommy. I wanted her to get some time alone, relax without having to worry about you, so you and I had the night alone. It was fantastic. We watched a little but of TV and then sat down to eat some dinner. I guess you didn't like my suggestion because the peas and potatoes never really left the plate. I think you enjoyed my dessert selection however as you seemed to gobble that up without breathing. Then the piece de resistance.......puffs. My GOD do you love that stuff.

Anyway you were fantastic last night monkey. After dinner we watched a bit of hockey, then went upstairs for a bath. We splashed and played for about 20 minutes before finally preparing for bed. Mommy usually puts you to bed right away but since she wasn't home I snuck you downstairs to watch the remainder of the Montreal Canadiens Vs Chicago Blackhawks game. You seem to genuinely love hockey and it appeared to put you at ease as you watched the game and fell asleep in daddy's arms.

You went to bed without a peep and slept right straight through until mommy came home and took a shower at around 11:30.......it was a great night and a joy to be alone with y0u monkey.