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Hard to believe, but as we surveyed the top of our little guy's head this past week, we came to the conclusion that a haircut was in order. While some moms have the cutting confidence to take shears into their own hands, we decided to go a more conventional route and visit a specialist.
Calvin was enchanted with the elevated experience of taking the pilot's seat. And after a few snips here and there, a little pint-sized product application (witness the temporary mohawk), and a final blow dry and we were done.
You can see the final result below -- and we can't get over at how the new hairdo makes our baby look like a little boy!
Technorati tags: first haircut toddler
One of the best parts of birthday week is having Grammy come to stay. That means a week of treats from getting to celebrate a birthday together to shopping for new duds for spring. 
The celebration at home was appropriately themed. His birthday falls on the Lantern Festival, the last day of the Chinese New Year, so Chinese lanterns graced the table and topped his home made cake. (Banana cake with cream cheese icing and raspberry filling.)
What a difference standing upright can make. Experiencing Calvin's personal evolution from all fours to a homo erectus stance makes me feel like I've witnessed thousands of years of evolution in a matter of months!
Calvin continues to be blissfully happy in his new class. Today he stayed there from 10 am onwards. He loves the mobility, the daily activities that range from drawing with crayons to a 'kinderdance' class; playing with mobile pals; sleeping in a barless cot under a cuddle soft teddy bear fleece blanket a friend of the family made for him. 
A small post about big changes for our little person. Today is day one of Calvin's transition to the next class up in his child care centre. Yup, at barely 11 months old, he's hit his milestones in advance and is heading up to the room for one's. 
Last night was a scene of much consternation in our household when we discovered... only a single nappy. We installed it on a cute bottom and then made haste to deal with the lack. 
On Friday, Calvin's creche held their holiday party. It was his second -- he'd already paid a party stop to the one thrown by my office, leaving behind a trail of smiles and shredded naan bread.
He also got to open a present. A lovely board book about farm animals with fuzzy parts to feel. Together with an assortment of crackers and cookies, he had a holiday party to remember.
Calvin asked me to express the following on what some people have termed "his" blog. 
We're happy to report that Calvin is much happier and healthier. After four days of crying, sweating, not eating much and sometimes ejecting that small amount, he is much more himself.
The best laid plans of blog postings and Christmas mail... have been set aside. That's because our poor Calvin has been waylaid by some sort of infection. Suffice to say we've spent the entire day tending to his heart-wrenching cries and hot forehead. 
For the past years, Jay and I have held a Christmas Tree trimming party. In the most recent years, we've battled a blizzard, a frozen tree, and a flooded tree, but this year was the most difficult battle of all -- the alternate tree.
About a year ago, I consulted a number of baby preparatory tomes on essentials to have in the household. Of course I put a list together and that's how we're stocked with everything from gripe water and rubbing alcohol in our bathroom cabinet, to a pack of ready-to-use Pedialyte in our fridge.
Last Thursday was Thanksgiving, and on the occasion of this adopted holiday, I had a few moments to think about how this would become a family tradition. By tradition I mean something beyond the pilgrim story, and the ritual of the meal and dishes. (Although you can see we enjoyed that part too!) 
Apart from the feast, it was both rewarding and humbling to take a day annually to consider the many reasons one has to be happy in one's life. Family. Friendship. Generosity. Health. Safety. Opportunity. Food ;0) 
Although the little guy is too small to appreciate Halloween, he still got to enjoy a dose of pumpkins, orange, costumes and some treats on his first Halloween. The teachers in his creche class organized a party complete with streamers and all manner of orange and black decorations; pumpkin plates handpainted by the infants; and with us parents, infants and adult-sized treats. 
As the days of this week pass one by one, we can't believe that three months with grandma have passed. It barely seems possible that Calvin's Bobo could have been here for a month, let alone three, and as her departure stares us in the face, we're making the most of every moment.
And why's it been so silent for the past fortnight? Have we been away? Check. Have we been techonogically challenged? Check. Have we been swamped with priorities other than updating our blog? Check.Too busy for even a photo? Nah.
No. You're not wrong. it's many months yet before the little guy celebrate's his first birthday. But we can hardly keep up with his social calendar of birthday parties. 
That's what makes moments like this one, all the more precious :0) 
There's a reason why they call middle America the heartland. And it has more than a little to do with the outpouring of warmth, support and welcome that is extended by those who call this area of the country 'Home.'
This one on the right was not a keeper, though. I mean the tiny blue gill fish that Calvin's Pop caught. This was one of quite a few, which were all returned to sender in perfect working order into the pond in the background. 
Speaking of curious, Calvin was more than mildly so about the dozens of spectacular trotting racehourses we got to see at a friend's family farm. These large creatures didn't daunt the little guy at all, although we made sure his little hands didn't get into harm's way. He took in the farrier, stables and grooming with great interest. (And if you're wondering how to tame your mane similarly, try giving the horse in your life a regular vaccuming. No joke.)
And what better way to end each day than a home away from home? That would be Grammy's home, complete with a crib and accoutrements, fun toys and a throne-like high chair. It was a haven for the little guy, his folks and Bobo too, and spacious enough that we all got t have our own bedrooms without displacing a soul. Wow. Calvin was thrilled with a new discovery -- wall-to-wall carpeting. It makes learning to crawl and sit up a much more pleasant experience. 
With the weather hot and humid, it's perfect for the pool. Throughout the summer I've taken Calvin to my gym to literally test the waters. It was actually after one of these pool runs that he decided he liked his bath. Except for one occasion, he has always been in the little kiddie pool, until now.