We took you to the grape and wine parade this weekend and you loved it! your favourite was a samba band called 'samba squad' at the end... as soon as you heard that beat you started bopping in your stroller!

i don't know how you knew the word, but when we were in shopper's drug mart buying mommy a birthday present, you looked over at the hallowe'en display and said 'pumpkins!'. you really seem to have a gift for language and love to express yourself, especially when you are happy. 'do you want juice?' 'yeah!!!!!!!!! yes i do i do i do i do i do i do!" You had ice cream cake for the first time on mommy's birthday and you loved it - "more!!!pleeeeeeeeeeease!"

dad was sick at home taking care of you today. i closed my eyes for a minute while you were watching yo gabba gabba and i heard you say 'water...water' i thought there was something on tv that you were seeing... turns out that you had grabbed my glass of water off the desk and were walking around with it. you came right over to me and promptly poured it all over me! you rascal!!!

daddy! daddy! daddy!

Dear Avril,

It's been a long time since i've written, and that's because you've been keeping us so busy!

Today we took you for your first eye appointment at McMaster Children's hospital. The orthoptist didn't seem to worried about your eyes, telling us that it's not affecting your vision, and to keep an eye on it while we wait for the appointment with the doctor. Wait and see.

It was the first weekend for us that we left you in the care of others - we went to Penny and Glen's wedding in Barrie. We had a really great time, but missed you so much! You had an "awesome" time with auntie and jerome (they taught you to say awesome), who took you to the wine festival. you were totally wired and wouldn't nap, so that when i sang to you (your favourite, which you always ask for is puff the magic dragon), you barely made it through one song before your eyes started to close and were out cold for a solid 13 hours!

You are really enjoying 'shows' - you especially get excited about Diego "DIEGO-GO!!" and Max and Ruby. You also love walking up to the laptop and requesting "Elmo" although i must admit the elmo song is getting a bit tired.

I've gone from being 'Dada' to 'Daddy', a by-product of returning to daycare, where older ashley greets everyone who comes to the door shouting "daddy!daddy!daddy!". You picked up on this immediately and sweetly did the same for me with a huge smile on your face the first time i picked you up. it was 'awesome' :)

You really miss swimming "shwimmin'" at auntie sharon's, so i'm going to try to take you every week swimming on mondays. it's great because right after family swim is gym time with the other kids. it's a bit chaotic with everyone running top speed in all directions shouting, but you totally love it. a few collisions here and there, but no harm done.

Your mom took you for your first haircut this month! a lot of kids cry, but you took it totally in stride as your bangs were trimmed and got a sucker for being so good!