Christmas Lights

So, I've been a bad, bad blogger. But that's only because it's been a bad, bad last few months, health-wise. Nothing serious, just ever since Orion started daycare in March, it seems like it's been something every week or two. Pink eye, croup, flu, fever this, gastro that, etc. Whatever he gets, I get. I can barely remember the time, before I had a baby, when I'd get sick once or twice a year. I'm hoping and praying that 2013 is better for everyone in terms of health.

Aside from health, it's been an amazing year. A great first year in our new house, enjoying being back to work and working with those that I do, and of course an unforgettable year watching Orion grow. He's definitely a boy's boy, that's for sure. He loves soccer balls, cars/trucks and any electronic gadget. He's in the 90th percentile for growth and development. He's going to be a big boy, throwing his dad down the stairs for his wallet to buy the latest iphone or something.

More of a man than me at Thanksgiving:

Anyway, although I haven't been able to post as much as I'd like to, I have been keeping up with everyone else's blogs and I have been commenting when I can. I can't believe that our kids are growing up, when, for some of us who were on the surrogacy journey, were experiencing negative result after negative result... and our dreams seemed so far from reach. I hope 2013 is a great year for everyone, good health and here's hoping all our dreams come true!

The Birthday Boy

Check out my new pimped ride I got for my birthday!!!

A few weeks ago we celebrated Orion's first birthday. It was a special day for him and one that he probably didn't understand completely (as you'll see from his facial expression in the pictures below lol) but everyone wanted it to be special for him nonetheless.

My mom did an amazing job of organizing the party and putting everything together to make it Orion's special day. For one of his gifts, she made a hardcover photo collage book, detailing when the journey began when he was born back in Mumbai up until his first birthday.

It's a wonderful keepsake for him (one that I wish I had for me!) that I'll add to his baby book for him when he gets older.

For his first cake, I had to go all out. But before I go into that, I had no idea cakes were such serious business. I guess that's why there's a show on TLC called, "Cake Boss." I wanted Orion's first cake to be memorable and then every year after, it can be all downhill after that haha.

Orion's cake was inspired by The Little Prince / Le Petit Prince which he loves and I grew up on too. I was amazed to discover that every single thing on that cake was edible!

Between Orion's baby book and hardcover "My 1st Year" photo book that my mom made, I can't believe my son is already over a year old.

The year just flew by. Originally I had set a target date in my mind for around February/March to return to Mumbai and begin the process to transfer my 3 remaining embryos to try for a sibling for Orion. But we're already coming to the end of Summer, Fall will be here before I know it and I'm not sure I want to embark on that next journey so soon. I don't think I have the emotional/mental/physical strength just yet. I've just been enjoying life with my son and being with my family. I do want to try for a sibling for Orion though at some point but I don't think I'm ready just yet.

The past 2 weeks I've been on vacation. Last week was a staycation and we took Orion to a petting zoo (will post pics in the next entry) and this week we're at my parents' cottage, just enjoying the serene, quiet sounds of nature.

I hope everyone is having a great Summer!

My Number 1

Today is Orion's first birthday! I can't believe I now officially have a one year old. We'll be celebrating on Saturday with family and friends. I'll put up a more detailed post with pictures following that but for now, I just wanted to wish a very happy birthday to my number one on his special day :) Thank you for undoubtedly the best year of my life, you make my job as your dad so very easy!

Happy Canada Day!

Orion's first Canada Day.

Happy Canada Day and an early happy 4th of July to all my American friends. Have a great one from Orion and I!

Summer is Here

Little pumpkin head.

Summer is here! We've been enjoying the warm temperatures, our first Summer at our new house. I've been back at work for a month now and while enjoying it, I'm already looking forward to taking two weeks off at the end of July, beginning of August to spend with Orion at my parents' cottage.

Turning into a little boy.

Orion is turning into a little boy before my very eyes. He has some teeth that have come through, he sits up on his own, he crawls backwards and it won't be too much longer until everything clicks and he's able to navigate foreward on all fours. He continues to love his in-home daycare 3 days a week, where he gets spoiled and likes to be with his friends. Next month he turns the big "1" so I'm hoping to get a big cake and take those obligatory pictures of baby destroying the cake with his hands and creating a big mess. I think his birthday will just be for family but I'd like to go all out with decorations such as a sign out front, balloons, etc... lots of colour.

Monkeys!

Speaking of colour, I'm looking forward to finally painting Orion's room this weekend. Since we moved into our new house in January, his room has since been a light sunshiny yellow colour, which has been fine for a newborn baby. However now that he's getting older, I'm going to paint it 2 shades of blue. Three walls will be a light, sky blue and then one wall will be a darker ocean blue. I'll try to put up some before and after pics at some point.

Anyway, that's it for now... keep cool and enjoy the warmth and sun!

The C Word

Bed head from this morning.

Phew! The last few weeks have been pretty crazy around here. Colds, sicknesses and who knows what else bouncing back and forth between the two of us. I've been under the weather for a few weeks now and just when I thought I was getting over it, everything came back with a vengeance. Then about 2 weeks ago, Orion got an eye infection. Then both eyes became infected. That was a messy week. Oh the joys of daycare and what they pick up there! Then last weekend we took Orion to the emergency room at the children's hospital at 4:30am because of his laboured breathing and fever. He was diagnosed with... croup. After steroid treatment and 2 rounds of epinephrine (4 hours later), Orion's breathing returned to almost normal and the doctor said we could leave. It was a long holiday weekend and I couldn't believe the amount of people and kids that were in the emergency room at 4:30 Sunday morning. I thought we would have to wait hours on end to be seen but because of the laboured breathing, he was seen right away. Now we're battling the last remnants of the croup with some congestion and I'm still battling my neverending cold. This is my last weekend before I go back to work on Monday so I'm hoping someone else will be able to catch this cold from me (teehee!) Next week will be a new beginning, a new chapter for Orion and I, as I go back to work but I really feel great about things. He'll be at his grandparents' for 2 days during the week and at daycare, with his friends for 3 days during the week. He'll also be picked up early in the afternoon by his grandfather so I don't have to worry about rushing home (even though I will, still, to spend some precious time with him before he goes to bed). Here's hoping to a smooth and seamless week!

9 Months

Nine months... as Orion turned 9 months at the end of last month, it seems as though he's been celebrating it by making every night, "sleep in daddy's bed" night.  I have no idea what happened, it's like a switch went off and now he wants to sleep in my bed every night.

For instance, last night he started in his own bed (as he does every night) and then around 9pm, he woke up. When I went to get him, he was so happy, he was dry humping/jumping up and down on my shoulder like a little monkey on the way to my room.

This was followed by many successful attempts throughout the night to: 1) snuggle with dad, 2) keep dad hanging on the side of the bed with a tiny piece of bed sheet as Orion claimed the whole bed to himself and 3) treat dad to Orion's head digging into his back.

Of course, neither of us would have it any other way.

Sweet dreams!

The Toof Chart

Here is a great chart I came across that colour codes when the little ones get their first toofs. Orion's central incisors on the bottom have poked through and so has one on the top so it seems as though he's right on track!

Landslide

This week we've been having great weather, almost every day has been sunny with great big, crystal clear blue skies. So, I take Orion on daily walks to the river which is about 5 min from our house. It's also been windy this week and particularly more when you get to the water. Sometimes the wind takes Orion's breath away but he loves seeing the waves crash up against the shore. You should see the look on his face, he gets so excited and lights up with that big smile on his face.

At the end of next month, I go back to work. I feel comforted and reassured that everything is in place for Orion when I go back. He's been going to in home daycare 2 days a week and now has friends there LOL. He really enjoys it, he gets spoiled with all the toys, the other children (he's the youngest there) and the treats he gets in terms of food. On Tuesday when I went to pick him up, I had a moment. The children were in the backyard playing on the play structures and I saw Orion in his stroller being pushed around by the caregiver. He was happy moving and also watching all of the other kids play. For me, standing there behind the fence watching, I just got emotional. Of course, I kept it together but I realized my little guy is growing up and I could have stayed there longer just watching him. Time escapes us and I've been so lucky and thankful to have had the past year to be with him and cherish the milestones as well as the little things. It's been the best year of my life. Ideally I'd like to go back to India next February or March for the 3 embryos I still have and try for a brother or sister for Orion. If successful, I'll have completed my family, (it's already complete with Orion) but he'd have a sibling and I'll be able to take another year off to spend with Orion and his new brother or sister.

He recently got his first 'toof' at 8 months... it's on the bottom and you can see it poking out. He likes to chew on your finger and smile if you pop it in and feel around lol. With my feelings towards time, I'm in absolutely no rush... just want to take life nice and slow.




♪  Well, I've been afraid of changing
'Cause I've built my life around you  ♫
♫  But time makes you bolder
Even children get older   ♪

♫  And I'm getting older too

The Many Faces of the Easter Bunny

Upon picking Orion up at daycare yesterday, I noticed the kids had all been transformed into Easter bunnies!



Sticking tongue out bunny.



Crazed rabid bunny.



Bug eyed zombie bunny.



Drooling bunny.



Pirate bunny.

Happy Easter all!

We Have Liftoff!

Smiling in the car, on our way home after first day of daycare.

Today was Orion's first morning at the in-home daycare. I was truly dreading this day for the last few days and feeling anxiety and stress, despite this morning's daycare session only being for 4 hours. I didn't want him to go and have other young ones potentially be rough and hurt him. This morning I got up early (before the crack of dawn) to pack his things, make his bottle and get him ready. He woke up in a great mood so it made things a bit easier. Then we were off and when we got there, I begrudgingly handed him over and said I'd call in an hour to check-up on him. He was smiling but did give me that puzzled look of, "Dad, where are you going? What is happening?" When I called an hour later, he was just fine. He napped, drank his bottle and was interacting with the other kids. Then she dropped his binky/soother and he started to cry on the phone lol. When I went to pick him up, he was happy to see me but I did get a few smacks and scratches to the face out of revenge, I'm sure. I feel a bit better now about going back for our second time on Thursday morning. I'm so proud of him.



Thumbs up, dad!

Forever Young

Blinded by the light... not posing, I swear!

The days are getting longer, Spring and Summer are just around the corner and that means... that I'll soon be going back to work. Nooooo! If it was up to me, it would be just me and Orion spending every day together as life passes us by. Me going back to work is also a milestone for Orion... it means he'll be going to an in-home daycare 1-2 days a week while his Grannie and Opa look after him 1-2 days and his Grandfather 1-2 days. I found an in-home daycare for Orion to go to and coincidentally, the caregiver is someone I went to school with when we were younger. We never connected back then but I did know who she was. While I've been feeling anxiety and stress the last couple of weeks in coming to terms of having Orion go to daycare, I'm a bit more comforted that I know this individual and my parent intuition tells me to be at ease. It will also be healthy for Orion in terms of his social skills and development to be with other young children (which he loves) in an in-home bilingual setting on a consistent basis. He is definitely a social baby as I've seen already at playgroups, play dates with friends, etc. Tomorrow we'll be going to visit the in-home daycare and see if it's a right fit for us.

I still have about 3 months before I go back to work and I'll be milking every day to the last second... just the two of us.

Maybe I'm A Lion

Orion the lion likes to roar in his jolly jumper for fun... or maybe it's because the jumper jock strap wrap thing is too tight o_O

Orion & Dad

Orion,

This evening, as I do so often, I was thinking back to those first moments when I saw you for the first time ever. You were squirming on that little table while your Grannie was sobbing like a baby and I was just looking at you with a feeling of complete awe. That feeling, I still get every morning when I see you for the first time, at night when I'm holding you in my arms, rocking you to sleep and all the minutes in between.



Just hangin... having fun watching ourselves via the front-facing camera on the iPhone 4S.



SUP. Just chillin.

Recently, Orion went for his six month check-up. He weighs 20 pounds and is in the 80th percentile for growth and development. No wonder my arms hurt every morning when I wake up. They're getting quite the work out from Orion every day!

We've also been taking advantage of the milder than normal winter here *knocks on wood* by going outdoors and getting as much fresh air as we can.



Orion in his sled that he got from Santa for Christmas.

That's it for now... see you in a bit!

JUMP!

*cue Van Halen track from the 80s*

Look at how happy the little guy is in his jolly jumper. I can't imagine life without him!

All For Orion

My little man all dressed up.

Yesterday was Orion's 6 month birthday! It was also a special day as he was dedicated at our church. It was very emotional for me as my faith and my family were what kept me going at some of the low points in my journey.

He's getting so big now, the last 6 months have been so special and on one hand I'm dreading having to go back to work in May/June. On the other hand I'll enjoy getting back into the swing of things with my career but when you're with such a little person for 24/7 for almost a year, it's going to be tough being apart from him. I know I've been fortunate to have that time off from work to be with him and thankfully we're all settled in our new house now so we have a great place for him to grow up!

Takes Our Breath Away

...that is, winter and the month of January! Aside from being really cold the last few days, January has been and will be so busy. Tonight is Orion's last night in this house. This townhouse is where the journey started but this week we will start a new chapter in our lives together as we move to a new, bigger detached house. It's in the neighbourhood where I grew up and now where Orion will grow up too. It's a nice house, you can see the river right from our driveway and easily a 5 minute walk. It will be fun to take Orion there and watch the sailboats in the summer, I honestly can't wait! The city just built a new park and splash pad nearby so we'll definitely be frequenting that as well. Orion's school is also a 5 minute walk so no school bus commutes... everything is nearby.

We'll see you from the new house!