The Christening

So, lots to talk about, but for now, let me just start with the nanny dance. This is something akin to the tribal dances in Africa (I imagine!), and involves shaking all parts of your body whilst moving around like a crazy person in a circle. All the while chanting "We got a nanny, we got a nanny.....Woohoo, woohoo.....We got a nanny, we got a nanny". Repeat as many times as you feel necessary. Isabelle thought I had gone out of my mind, or so her face told me, but she thought it was hilarious all the same and was happy to participate. The story is long and involves more interviews, phone calls and e-mails. At the end of the day, let's just say that Nanny Kristy, our first love, came back and we are extremely happy to have her on board! Especially, and I mean especially, after we had more interviews and were a bit concerned about who was out there. In addition, Gilles and I had to make an executive decision about whether to sign a contract with our daycare and put down the fairly substantial, non refundable, deposit they required for November (by September 1st), just in case the nanny search was fruitless. We decided not to, and forging ahead paid off in spades. We got a nanny, we got a nanny. We're all a little excited since we love this girl. More on her in the blogs to come.

What a great weekend we had. The weather was fantastic and the visiting even more so. Jessica and Chris arrived, followed by Ida, Jordan and Dillon, and then Lena and Andrew. We all had a nice dinner on Saturday night and Isabelle was quite charmed by her older male cousins. More visitors, YEAH! She got to eat Naan bread with Auntie Ida, which she now needs on a regular basis, and was passed from person to person for love, love and more love. Such was the next morning when her Mom awoke and came downstairs, only to be left in the cold so Isabelle could go visit with Lena. Ouch!

We got a surprise phone call from my Mom on Friday to let us know that she felt she couldn't miss the Christening and was flying in to Ottawa on Sunday morning and staying until Tuesday. We were, for lack of a better expression, all stoked about that! I adore that woman. Not a great flight since she had to fly in through Toronto, and out through Montreal, but she came just the same and we are always happy to have her in the house. Isabelle went for walks and was amused in the mornings so Mom and Dad could sleep, and Gilles and I were treated to WONDERFUL food which we have been enjoying every night since she left.....and we only let her leave since she's coming back in a couple of weeks. We can't promise anything next time.

The baptism...


Give me that candle, Dad!



Most of the Christening crowd....(if anyone has a photo without Jessica's head cut off, please send....)


Anyway, back to the Christening. Great service and so nice of everyone, Andrews clan, Asselin/Dear clan to come too. It meant a lot to Gilles and I. Isabelle was a doll, and looked just like one too - sat through almost two hours of Church service and spent only a minute crying when she was in the middle of the baptismal celebration. The priest, Katherine, went to annoint Isabelle with water and ended up soaking her face and ear as Isabelle squirmed at the last possible second. Once she was returned to us though, she was just fine.

The Andrews were nice enough to host the apres Christening bash and we all were fed yummy vittles and enjoyed cake and presents afterwards - with enough room for everyone as opposed to our own humble domain! Isabelle received lots of great gifts which she will definitely treasure later on......funds for her school trust, and jewellry that her Mom promises to keep her mitts off in the interim :)

The Christening Cakes!


Since then, we have returned to the quiet life and are getting ready to have Isabelle's Grandmama and Grandpapa arrive for her birthday week. Ahh, more company to keep our little one amused! We are also trying to get the downstairs ready for the daycare area for Isabelle and Logan. Have bought a mini slide, and a small picnic table for crafts, and are working on the rest. My head is full of ideas, but we'll see if the pocket book can keep up as we have the upcoming trip to Paris and I am now officially on Leave WITHOUT pay, which stretches us a little more than usual! Can't imagine that I would have had to go back to work last Monday as the kids hit the schools. It filled me with dread, and I was spending the day at home. Slowly but surely, we'll settle in to the idea - I've started weaning her with one bottle feed of whole milk every day, but it doesn't go over so well sometimes. She learned to sign for milk, as in BREAST milk Mom, so the bottle seems a paltry offer in comparison, I guess. I actually have been feeling more like the snack shack lately, as everytime she feels the least bit peckish, she signs and I'm supposed to comply. We're trying the sign for NO, but it's not taking as quickly as the latter. Can you imagine!