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!