happy fall!

we've been so enjoying this season. it has been glorious here in Montreal, just glorious. we're keeping busy making and eating turkey, colouring lots of pictures, collecting all of the leaves, and chasing all of the pigeons. we can usually be found hanging out at McGill bugging daddy/eli basking in the glory of all the cooing students/me wincing at the awkwardness of all the staring students. we also like Westmount Park, that's a good spot. recently eli has been despising his stroller (that self-sufficient two year old attitude is really starting to show itself) so there isn't as much traipsing around the city as we'd like, simply because it's now necessary for eli to walk on his own. but, we're still trying to enjoy as much freedom as we can before winter comes and slows us down. so, we're off! happy friday!

follow some of our adventures here: http://instagram.com/em_sob

BITS + PIECES

this tiny man has been "helping" with everything lately! 

also he has been super cute.

he's been working on his top and bottom eye teeth. it's been a rough go, but they're starting to poke through so i think the worst is over.

post-nap reading on the bed. eli is such a scholar, reading Steinbeck.

mostly we have just been waiting for spring to arrive. the apartment seems to get smaller and smaller with every new snowfall. we've been a bit stir crazy, but dada has his school break so we're all thrilled to have an extra play mate all day long!

baby, it's cold outside.

hello chilly weather! we feel you! 

we've been bundling up and choosing our outings wisely, but eli still got sick. poor little man had a fever the last couple of days, but it broke yesterday, and we are hoping that is the end of it. it's so sad to see your little baby (erm, toddler) feeling so bad. it must be so hard as a little guy, because you just don't know what's going on! you don't know why you're so upset! we made it through though--all of us. it was just a rough weekend all around as husband has two big joe midterms this week. he works so hard trying to balance school and home, but it's pretty difficult when he has to stay up till 4am every day. and i try to remember that school is so important, and that i shouldn't rip his head off when it seems like i am a single parent again! but no, he works so hard--and we love him for that. (rambling, sorry!) anyways, all of this is to say that we are back on our feet again, and fully intend to take control of this freezing cold (FREEZING COLD) city we now live in. 

"aren't i just the cutest little bean burrito all bundled up?"

(all babies are burritos)

life these days.

this tiny sweetheart of a soul is trying so hard to talk! he's in this weird squealing phase where he just squeaks so expressively. when he's really serious he does a low grumbly grunt, but when he's curious about something he points and squeals at a pitch i can't even imitate. he's hilarious. loud, but hilarious. papa has midterm's this week so eli and i have been trying to be low key for his sake. we found a new park, but we are still searching for swings! any montreal mama's know of a good toddler park? back in vancouver eli was still pretty little for parks--but now that he is a toddling bundle of energy, i'd love to introduce him to some fun activities. eli is a social butterfly (what the?) and loves other babies more than anything, so we'd also love for him to make some new friends. poor kid is used to people everywhere all the time, but since the move to montreal it's been just mama and dada. anyways, hello monday! we are not ready for you, but we will (try to) embrace you with open arms. 

it's been one of those weeks where you just want to curl up into a ball and drink your miseries away in fancy teas. but of course, one cannot. there is a toddling ball of pure energy buzzing around your toes at all hours chanting "mama, mama!" and so you pick yourself up and try to trick yourself into a better mood. 

it's fun being in a new city, but it's also not so nice being in a new city. the mister is at school during the week days, so it's up to eli and i to find our way around. we have lots of fun finding new places to go, but i find myself more and more lonely once eli passes out in the stroller and i'm stuck pushing him around for two more hours, hoping to find a bookstore my stroller and snoring babe can fit into. walking through the ever busy streets of montreal, i find myself missing the chance of bumping into someone i know. 

in the hopes of cheering myself up so i can enjoy the day ahead of us, here are some lovely things that make me happy. what's your go-to pick-me-up? (p.s that was a lot of hyphens. sorry.)

eli turns one.

that's right, my little bean turned one year old last week. i cannot even comprehend that a year ago i was calling my man in montreal to inform him that yes, indeed, my water had broken and that meant a baby would come in the next 24 hours. what a crazy time in my life, well--life has been pretty crazy ever since. but now i have this little toddler shuffling around the apartment instead of a little squirming baby, and I CAN HARDLY BELIEVE MY EYES! anyways, we had a little family celebration, husband, baby and i. eli got some new bath toys (thank you winners) and a couple little french baby books. (because i couldn't help myself.) bean had cake for the first time, and was really thrilled with how squishy and tasty it is. here's some pictures from that day.

my tiny guy isn't so tiny any more.

my heart is full, but it's also breaking. sigh.

happy birthday to any other little (or, not-so-little) kids out there! yay september beanies!

Oh man. I am stressin' to the brim. I am getting married in four very short days. AND THEN WE'RE MOVING CROSS COUNTRY IN JUST A WEEK (AND A BIT)! Holy mother. What is my life? It is now 4:15am. I have now been awake twitching my right eye listing all of the things I need to be packing and/or putting away. And of course instead of getting up and getting things done I will continue to sit here and twitch. I am literally watching my 20/20 vision blur away. So, before I decide that I might as well just get up and work while the baby is sleeping, (thank the lord) here are some cute pictures.

     "oooooooooh"

foodies.

//steamed carrots and peas, roasted sweet potato//

Eli loves to eat. He ate a whole serving of mashed avocado for his first meal at five-and-a-half months, and hasn't looked back since. He's big into finger foods now. He never was a fan of purred fruit, but he loves all of these summer berries. Blueberries are a staple nowadays. We have also been naked around here a lot more often. I've given up on trying to save this little guy's clothes from the multicoloured stain  that appears after every meal. Instead this babe eats in the nude. (And a nice fluffy cloth diaper of course.) He's in this at the moment. Anyways, I just thought I'd start doing some fun food posts--because we really like food in this family.

//

we are officially into winter now. sweaters and scarves and pots of tea have been added to our daily routine. as far as a canadian winter goes though, us vancouverites don't have much to complain about. it can be pretty stressful attempting to keep a wee little guy warm and cuddly, but not too hot. (they really shove SIDS in your face at the hospital..) hopefully by our next winter season—in montreal, god willing—i'll be fear free and embrace the cold that comes. i love all things cozy, so i think it'll be a good fit for us. 

eli's suit// absorba

a wish list for my bug. 

1. baby carrot rattle.

2. pilot hat.

3. fancy nulle.

4. babar and father christmas.

5. organic toy truck.

6. hooded sweater vest.

7. dwell studio onesie.

8. trumpette johnny classic socks.

9. suspenders & pants.

BITS + PIECES

bits + pieces. 

+an adorable baby boy who is all over the place lately!
+favourite addition to the room--from gilt group. 
+crinkle cut chips. it's probably a bad thing that i seem to need (er..want..) to eat whenever my boy eats.
+a nice little bun. 
+darling little moccasins for baby eli. a gift from a dear friend.

on another note, WE HAVE HAD A COUPLE OF SIX HOUR SLEEPS. and we are absolutely jazzed. no one appreciates uninterrupted stretches of shut-eye more than a single mama. except maybe married mamas. 

emma.

the tiny.