July 2008 Busier than Ever...

Let me inhale a deep breath before I start this blog... We have been so busy it feels like I forget to breathe. My asthma is acting up a lot lately, probably partly because of that! I have a lot to tell you, so let's get started...

Maya just turned 21 months today... and Daddy 33 yesterday.


Maya is a very busy toddler (they all are I know). She is climbing, running, screaming, dancing, singing, talking, eating and pooing all at once!



We celebrated Canada Day in the Old Port. It was packed with kids and immigrants, it was great. Maya really enjoyed using the little cars for a ride and she liked jumping on the inflatable toys.

It was a very hot day and somewhat overwhelming for all of us! Can you find Waldo ( I mean Maya)?


Maya gladly inherited an old car left on the curb on garbage day... One wheel is oddly bent, but our little miss sunshine does not care one bit. Look at her driving skills, holding the wheel with her feet while holding on to a bubble maker (a fantastic toy by the way)!


Why are we so busy... Well Daddy is a camera man and an editor for a news station while Mommy is teaching grade 9 math summer course to a whole new crowd than what she was used to! Thank goodness the summer course is only offered from July 14 to August 1... It was insane of me to volunteer to do this job. Merci Grand-maman, without her the whole thing would not be even possible.



Grand-maman is the best babysitter in the world. She plays with Maya all day and teaches her tricks (good ones unlike Daddy!) Play-Doh is such a fun game, but one daddy pretends it's coming out of his nose when he sneezes... well Maya loves putting stuff into her nostrils now!

On the weekend or just before Mommy started teaching, we got to have playdates. Maya enjoys playing with Maribel's toys while Maribel is fascinated just to observe Maya playing! It used to be Maya doing just that a year ago!


Maya and Elizabeth got acquainted chasing Tiger (Stephanie's cat) around. Poor little Miaow Miaow... There is a nice videoclip about that later on.

We had a grand time going to a campground where my aunt and uncle were staying in Orford. It was beautiful by the lake. We also witness one of the craziest rainfall of our life. It was the longuest full on downpour I ever saw!

Another place we love hanging out at is at Mrs Nicol's! Here we were swimming with baby Aurelia and Mommy Marianna. It's the only pool Maya will swim in nowadays. It is heated to a perfect 86 degrees. Otherwise, she will only go into a hot tub! Maya is spoiled or cherished depending who you are talking to.


Maya is a talking machine now. We don't understand everything she is saying, but we are getting there.

We miss you all Vancouver friends and think of you everyday. Let us know how you are doing and what is going on in your lives. It's pretty hectic for now, but when we settle in I hope I get to phone all of you and catch up. We love you.

Here is two clips (by the way I got Jason a router so we now have access to the Internet even when Maya is sleeping).

On the first one Maya climbs a slide for the first time ans Shirley and Carson are cheering on. I know I'll have to teach her to go around the slide and use the stairs...I'll do that later!

On the second clip, Maya is feeding and chasing Tiger with Aunt Stephanie. Enjoy!

Moving Into Montreal (June 2008)

Sorry for the delay everybody! As you will soon discover, we have been pretty busy!

I have been blowing bubbles all by myself, that's very hard to do, at not even 20 months, you know!

We first moved in with Grand-maman and Grand-papa while we were waiting for Papa to cross the country to join us.

Jason drove all day during 4 days in order to successfully move here.

We have finally moved in into my tante Caro's house. We are so fortunate to have so many people to take us in. We have been really busy, we are sorry if you have not heard from us in a while. It feels like we are on vacation, visiting relatives and friends, just like in the past 8 years... but the truth of our big come back here in Motherland is sinking in.

We have been enjoying the heat and the sun!

Here are a few of Maya's adventures over the last two weeks.

Maya had her first professional haircut. Before that, Maman did a bad job at trimming the bang and the hair over the ears. She did not like it at first, but finally settled on mommy's lap and allowed the hairdresser to do her job. She kept herself busy with eating rice crackers as you can see. Mommy also got a mcuh needed haircut. Unfortunately, she still wears a ponytail 99% of the time!

Before the haircut... Maya still love wearing her tatoos!

The crying before the haircut even started...

The final reveal, tan tan! No noticeable changes!

Mammie and Stéphanie got to spend more time with Aurelia!

This little girl loves having her picture taken and the camera loves her back, that's for sure.


Chris, the proud father of Aurelia, seems really really happy to have his best friend back in town.

We have visited Christine twice since we have been back.

Maya adores the bunny (sneezy who is 12 years old, he should have died of old age a long time ago, but he is still alive a doing fabulously). Maya is a little rough with Sneezy, we will have to work on that with her, if we want him to continue breaking longevity records.

Maya has been playing a lot with Shadow and Tante Caro. We have been able to enjoy the hot weather by going to spray parks and visitinf friends and relatives that have pools!

Maya also had a playdate with Carson (mommy Shirley and daddy Jeff). They had a lot of fun at the playground, especially when Maya was able to climb up the slide by herself and Carson could not (it was all the in the soles of the shoes).

Maya is fascinated by the size of the TV screens everywhere she goes. Pappie has a very nice HD giant screen, where she can watch Nemo.

Meet Ryan, Maya's cousin who just turned 3 and can already swim by himself. We were all impressed!

Here are Eric and Sandy with cousin Holly doing an amazing family pyramid. We had so much fun at their house to celebrate father's day.

We have a little video of Maya's accomplishment! She was so proud of herself!

Goodbye British Columbia (June 3rd 2008)

Thank you so much for all the friends that came to wish us farewell at Second Beach on Saturday. If you were not able to come, we understand that you have a busy life and that you will have to come to Montreal to see us next time! It was a fabulous day and a great location to say aurevoir to you all.


All of my friends' babies are cuddly and love everybody... Maya is on the other side of that spectrum... She does not like to be held by anybody (except by a few selected people when she gets injured). What a nice way to say goodbye to Uncle Nilesh and hurt his feelings (or make him laugh)!


To defend Maya, I have to say that she was exhausted and she was letting us know it was time to leave...


She stopped crying and was able to kiss goodbye everybody.


Goodbye Carmen, Leigh and Cheron (Where is big boy Anthony?)!


Goodbye Art, who thought Mommy was cruel to take pictures of her crying daughter, but was still laughing about it!


Goodbye Chris and Yvonne and goodluck with moving back to Calgary.


Goodbye Doug, Julie and Akiko , we will miss you so much. Thanks for the countless meals!


Tata Mina, cutie pie, never stop smiling please.


Goodbye Mark, Luke and Shelley, and no more tears please!


Goodbye Nilesh and sleepy happy baby gigantor Kiran.


Bye bye Michèle et Lori et au plaisir de vous revoir bientôt.


Goodbye Lucas, Maya will miss your delicious kisses.


Goodbye Arlene and your kindness. Goodluck with the arrival of the new baby


Goodbye Fred and your contagious joie de vivre.

Thank you Dr Patel as well for coming to say a last goodbye.


Goodbye Dan and we'll see you soon.

How to you say goodbye to all the friends you have made over the last 8 years... I guess you don't, you just say see you soon. Let's make sure to keep in touch and true friendship will outlast the separation.