Fall Fun

It's our favourite time of year - crisp mornings (with maybe a touch of frost!), spectacular colours in every direction, and just all-around gorgeous days to be outside.

Our Valco stroller has been outstanding - we've been abusing it like crazy, and it still goes like it's brand new!  Here, Deavan enjoys the scenery on Wilbert's Trail in the back yard.	We were fortunate to source a babysitter for a WHOLE DAY (thanks, Casey!) so Gab & I could enjoy our anniversary (FIVE years already!) with our own rural ramble in the Ottawa Valley, finishing with a Polish dinner in Wilno.
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We also took advantage of the season - and beat the traffic - to enjoy a hike at King Mountain in Gatineau Park.	Deavan enjoys his new backpack carrier - traveling in style, safe and secure, and without sending Da-Da to the clinic with back problems!

 

Let's all go to the Fair!!

We're in the thick of the fall Fair season, and of course Deavan couldn't miss his first Carp Fair - in fact, it was so much fun, he went twice!

This was the 145th year of the Carp Fair - an impressive anniversary for our humble hamlet. Agricultural endeavours still feature prominently in the Fair and are a big part of what makes it so special and so much fun. As in previous years, Gab entered a number of contests, and took home prizes in 3 categories: Single Portrait (for a picture of Deavan, of course!), Mixed Herbs, and Ceramic Decoration.

Mark your calendar for next year's Fair!

Mom chauffeurs the carrousel horse	Taking a ride on the Eh! train
Hey kid!! (Get it?!)	Aunt Casey chauffeurs the carrousel horse
And Aunt Casey chauffeurs the giant pumpkin (she can drive anything!)

Workin' like a Baby

With Daddy Day Care in full swing, Deavan's easy life in the hands of his mother are over - it's time this boy learned the value of an honest days work!!

First up - laundry. Get in there and make sure everything is clean and dry! Next, time for some vacuuming - make sure you get into the crevices and under the cushions! Finally, we need to do an inspection - be sure to check under the couch!

Good work, son! Your reward shall be a visit with grandma!

Step by step

  

 

 

 

Living in a bungalow, Deavan doesn't get to try out stairs too often, but the first chance he got he climbed all 7 steps by himself (of course he had his grandma there as a spotter)!

 

 

Scott, Gab and Deavan, along with a (VW) friend and his kids, went to Saunders Farm and meandered through the labyrinths made of trees, grape vines and corn.  Known for their Halloween setup, Saunders' mazes must get pretty spooky at nightfall on the 31st - we were safe though!

So... a needle pulling thread!

Master E. Deavan FitzGerald was christened on April 26, 2008     A sash, blessed by the priest, was placed around Deavan's neck during the mass.  As a very kind gesture, Susan used her talents and did some beautiful needlepoint for our little E.D.F. - Thanks sew much, Susan!

Day at the Beach

Deavan's enjoyed some holiday time the last few weeks.  Along with visits with grandparents and friends, he had a road trip to North Bay and spent some time at the beach.

A quick dip in Black Lake for Deavan and Gab, where the little man got to splash around and kick his feet!

He wasn't alone at the cottage, as his friends Kate and Sophia were there to play with him.  Thanks to the Gauthiers for letting us join in.

He's got Personality, Personality!

Deavan's little personality is really starting to burst through - and so is his first tooth.   He enjoys sticking that left leg up in defiance, both in the stroller and while sitting in his high chair!

"I'm the king of the castle...".  He's getting great use of the tub chairs as he uses them to pull himself up or as his little fort or even as a lookout.

    Daddy time!  It won't be long now until Scott leaves work and goes on paternity leave.  He'll be a natural, as seen here.

Stuffing his face...

Deavan is a great eater!  

Gab's making all homemade foods including yummy and fresh garden veggies whenever possible. He's eating lots of fruits, veggies, chicken and beef.

 

Complaints from him are rare, but perhaps he's had enough or maybe it's the fact that he's got his bib on backwards. Poor guy... but he's still so darn cute!

He works up an appetite by playing hard all day! 

I'm Still Standing...

The excitement continues as Deavan pulls himself up to a standing position, which is easily done in his crib. 

If Deavan could talk then I'm sure he was trying to yell out a defiant "Ta-Dah!" in the first picture and then either "I'm hungry" or "I'm teething" in the next one - it's hard to tell as he's not supposed to talk with his mouth full.

Riding, Visiting and Crawling

Lots of excitement since our last post as Deavan gets around... riding, crawling and visiting!

Ride 'em, Calli!                                                             Deavan likes checking out his dogs.  He has a particular interest in Calli - she's a little less "busy" than Ruby.  Calli puts up with our antics while Deavan gets a new 'leash' on life.

Great Grandma, Dad and Deavan - three generations enjoy a visit!

  

 

Freeeeeedom!!!  Deavan now has a new found freedom as he crawls all around the house - looking for trouble.  He has a strong desire to stand and walk off too. But try and get him to sit and stay still and you're out of luck...

And on his Farm he had a....

COW!

Gab, Deavan, Jen and Kate enjoy a day at the Experimental Farm's Agriculture Museum.  We got the see the cows, horses, sheep, pigs and...

The tractors!  Deavan and Gab got to ride on a simulation tractor, where Deavan got to enjoy the bumpy ride. And so did Kate! What a fun day in the sun.

 

In the Shade of the Old Apple Tree...

 

The Family FitzGerald enjoys a stroll out back to the apple orchard - Deavan especially likes being chauffeured around in the baby carrier and gets to watch Calli and Ruby run through the tall grass. 

 

What a nice day for a swim!  Deavan got to go swimming in Daintry's pool and got to visit with Audrey (and baby bump), Amy and Zoe who were in town from Halifax.

Jolly Jumping

I'm sure every kid LOVES their Jolly Jumper - and why shouldn't they?  Tiggers do it all the time, and they seem rather well adjusted. 

wuh-hoo-hoo-hoooo!

Still... makes you wonder about the early prototypes.  How many infants went flying across the room during the testing stages?  How many bruised heads resulted from hitting the top of the door frame until the spring tension was juuuuust right?

And, for everyone wondering - yes, the Jolly Jumper is a Canadian contraption.  It's been around for a loooong time - thank you, Olivia Poole.

http://www.jollyjumper.com/History.aspx

Spin me again!

Despite being so close to crawling for quite some time now, Deavan has shown very little interest in sitting upright, which - apparently - usually precedes the crawling stage.  We figured he was going to skip the sitting thing... but nope... here he is, sitting unsupported for the first time, enjoying his musical lion... "Spin me again!"  "Spin me again!"  "Spin me again!"  "Spin me aga.... AARGH!! <snap> <pop> <fzzzzzzt>...

Here's "The Look", the same one that (apparently) adds "you idiot" to the end of just about everything Scott says...  The slightly furrowed brow, dimples over the eyebrows, pulled back cheek...  In this case, I believe he is conveying "how dare you present yourself before me so unkempt and unshaven"

Another face of Deavan, trying to show some modesty, despite being so damn cute!

He loves his sippy cup, reaching out for it at first sight, using both hands to grab onto it and take a drink... er, sip.  It's so neat to watch him figure out these little "skills"!  Six months old!

 

 

And finally... one guaranteed to make you laugh.

Yo!