Sleep strike

I have officially decided, much to my parents disapproval, that I hate to fall asleep. I've mentioned before how much there is to see in this world I figure why waste my time sleeping. Besides when I am awake my Mom spends all her time talking to me, singing to me and making funny faces at me. I don't want her to have to waste her time doing anything else, so I figure this sleep strike is really the best thing for both of us.

Funny thing is, Mom and Dad are looking pretty tired these days and to tell you the truth, I'm a bit tired too. Anyway, here are a few pictures to prove that I do in fact sleep. Even if it's only for a few minutes at a time!

Owl

Strolling

  

Watching Fall

It's fall outside. My Mom showed me the trees today and I think I get it. Fall. Beacause the leaves fall off the trees.

I have the most amazing view from my stroller. The colours of the leaves are pretty cool, especially against the blue sky. So many people seem to walk around this Vancouver place staring at their feet or at their iphones. It's too bad I can't invite them for a stroller ride so they could see what they are missing. Not that I'm against iphones or anything like that. I love that stuff too. But if you get the chance, take a minute to stop on the sidewalk under a big tree and look up. It's quite great.  



My view



Apheresis

Today I learned a big word. Apheresis. My Daddy taught it to me. We went to the big hospital in Vancouver and my Daddy got connected to a machine and they did Apheresis to his blood. It took a long time, but I was a very good baby even though I am not that happy because I have a little cold. I held his hand, well actually only a finger since my hands are so tiny.

Lots of people were nice and smiled at me in the hospital. They said they liked seeing babies where my Daddy was. My parents and my Dad's nurse talked about how babies can come into the world after something like cancer. I know what cancer is and I know my Daddy is very special because he used to have it. I felt pretty special too because when one of the nurses asked my Dad if I was a miracle baby he said "Yes, a miracle of modern science." 

 
Ok, I should sleep now. We just got home from the big boat. My parents are trying really hard to get me to sleep but all I want to do is scream for awhile. It just feels so good to let it all out sometimes. I'll smile real big at my Mom in the morning and she'll forgive me for the screaming.

I saw a lot of things in the hospital today and I think I understand something important. My Mom says if you let leukemia put your life on hold, it will. She says it will hold you in one place as the world rushes past you, leaving you lonely, confused and feeling left out. But my parents are trying hard not to let this happen.

I am here because they decided to live life for now - for this moment and this day, planning for the future even though they have no idea what will happen. Moving forward without knowing how everything will turn out. Making the most of things small and dumb that make them laugh, like when I burp real loud or smile real big, or when my dog Leuk rolls in the sand or lays down in a mud puddle just before jumping in the truck. Trying to love life even though it really sucks sometimes.

My Dad explains that this is it. This is life. It's not what happens after you get better, or before you got sick - it's everything in between. 



Hot tubbing

I went for my first real outside hot tub this weekend. This is something I've been wanting to do for some time, but my Mom wasn't sure about it. Anyway, it was great. So warm. Note to my parents - I want one for Christmas - I think I may have to work on this one for awhile.

The hot tub was in Tofino and it was really cold there and windy too. Someone said that we shouldn't go to the beach because I might get blown away because I am so small. My parents took me anyway and it was great. I slept, but I wasn't cold and it wasn't too windy where we were. My Mom and Dad both went surfing. My Daddy took me for coffee and wore me in the Baby Bjorn and my Mom tried out the stoller without that silly baby seat attached. I felt like a real boy. I got scared at first and cried a little but then we walked down the beach and I could watch Leuk chasing his ball instead of staring at the sky. Mom and Dad got real mad at my dog Leuk. They said he was bad and that they had had enough. I don't think Leuk understood. He still just looked happy to run around on the beach. 

Bimbo

Tonight my parents went shopping for a ridiculously expensive piece of colour coated foam called a Bumbo. I was awake in the baby store looking around and in a pretty good mood so I humoured them and let them place me in this Bumbo thing right in the middle of the aisle. Oh boy was I ever a hit. Lots of people went by and said how cute I was and people thought it was funny that the Bumbo had a live display. My parents thought I would be too small to sit in it, but low and behold. They were wrong. There was great debate over colour and home we went with a blue one.

I was real nice and sat in it for them when we got home too. Let Mom even take some pictures with the clicking black thing again.

Now they drag this thing everywhere so I've decided to scream and fuss when they put me in it. Haha funny.

My Grandma, Oohla (yes, Oohla, it's a long story) called it a Bimbo instead of a Bumbo. I tried to correct her but she wasn't listening. She's getting pretty old and so sometimes can't hear important stuff. You should hear how loud her TV is! Anyway, now my Dad calls the Bumbo Bimbo too. I understand I'm stuck with this family. Could someone please confirm?

Coming soon to your house. Leo and the Bimbo. Great, just great.

Halloween

So today is Halloween. Seems pretty much like any other day except I have been forced into a costume resembling some sort of bird animal for the purposes of picture taking. My Mom explained that this is the day of the year that you can be anything you want. I thought I was clear with my decision to be Superman, but apparently something was lost in the translation. So, yeah, that's right. I'm a bird. Mom tells me it's a character in this cool internet game that I am too small to play. The game is called Angry Birds, and I am the tiny blue one that explodes into three. I don't really get it. Anyway, I think I look way too cute - I was going for more of a superhero theme, but what can I do. Squawk squawk. I'm an Angry Bird. I'll humour you this year Mom.

Mins

I've been trying to figure out what this big ball of fluff is and what it's purpose is. I'm still not sure. It usually keeps it's distance, but lately has decided to sit beside me, near me. Yesterday it even tried to sit on me and today I saw it sleeping in my bed. I'm not sure what to think of all this so for now I'm going to keep quiet on the issue.

Too cool cats.

Another photoshoot

  

Mom dressed me up, and put my hat on even though we were inside. I should have suspected something but I didn't. Out came that dreaded black thing she always seems to be pointing at my face. I tried really hard to not smile. I gave her a good blank stare for at least a minute. But then I just couldn't help it anymore. I couldn't resist. She's just so funny looking sometimes.

White lights

Tonight was crazy. We went for a walk at night! And there were all these glowing balls floating in the air. My Dad gave me lots of kisses. I feel like this is a special night, but I got kind of overwhelmed and couldn't figure out why exactly it was special so I decided to sleep through most of the walk. I even slept extra long so my parents could enjoy a nice dinner out. 

The white floating balls are my favorite and my Dad got to carry one of those. He's lucky. And I think I am too. I can't wait for next year.

Baby Buddha

My Mom has been carrying me around in this thing called the baby buddha since I got home from the hospital. I remember the first time I was in it and she wore it like a cradle. It was like I was still in her belly. I loved it. The fabric is so soft and it's warm and I can hear mom talking and feel her move.

She takes me for walks around the lake in it and I sleep as we bounce along. I am getting bigger though and now I get to face out so that I can see the world. I love looking around there is so much to see. Even when I lay in my bed I look around, Mom tells me I wore a bald spot in my hair from all the back and forth. It's worth it though. Anyway, when I am facing out I look a little like a buddha myself. I try to stay awake  so I can see all of the world but sometimes it's just so hard. Today I fell asleep before we were even out the door.

She caught me

Ok, I have to admit, things are getting a little funnier. My Mom caught be smiling. It's fun.

Real boy

Everyone says I look like a real boy.

I think it's because I am very serious. I mean this life stuff requires focus and attention. There's no time for laughing or sillyness.

First Tofino Sunset

My Mom and Dad are always talking about this place called Tofino. I've tried hard to imagine what it might look like. They tell me that it sounds like my sound machine when it's set to 'Ocean'. I try hard to figure out what Ocean looks like based on the sound, but that is hard to do. 
 

So my parents finally decided I was old enough to go visit Ocean. We got there really late and I was really hungry and so I screamed and screamed for Mom to get me some food. My dog Leuk was scared. So I screamed louder, part for me and part for him. They didn't understand. It seemed to me that we had reached this place called Tofino, but that we had to keep moving and moving the vehicle for some reason. Finally the our big truck stopped and I finally got to get out of my car seat and stretch but it was cold outside and dark too. I thought we were going to go to bed but instead I had to go back into my car seat and we had to drive some more. Dad was mad at something. So I screamed louder now part for me, part for Leuk and part for my Dad too.



Mini-me!

Finally everything stopped moving and like magic lights and water came on in this little house that we'd been dragging behind us. Then my Dad was happy and we started to have a fun time. I liked the little house, it is mini like me. That night my parents told me a bedtime story about how important it is to make 'reservations' for things called 'campsites'. 

Waiting for the sunset.

When we woke up in the morning we walked to this place called 'Ocean' and I finally understood what they were talking about.  It was awesome, and my parents were right, it sounds like my sound machine except one billion times better. I fell asleep and had the most spectacular dreams. When I opened my eyes it was hard to tell if I was still in my dream or if it was real life. Leuk was so very happy too. He got sand all over me when he was looking for his ball that he must have thought got buried in the sand. I tried to tell him that his ball was right beside him, but he couldn't hear me because his head was too far under the sand in the hole he dug. I can't wait to help him dig holes.

And finally, my parents had birthdays. They are old but I decided I liked them a lot and so I started smiling for them this weekend.

A nice lady took this picture for us, memorized our email address and sent it to us. This was on my Dad's birthday.

My first sunset. I waited and waited and waited for it, but fell asleep just before it set.

Powell River

We headed to the Sunshine Coast this weekend. And sunshine it did. My parents still hide me from the sun for some reason, but I snuck a few moments of pure bliss. My dog Leuk had the greatest time ever. He totally forgot about me though and that made me a bit sad but I could see that he was having a really fun time swimming and jumping and swimming so I was okay with him ignoring me for a bit.

 

We went to a place called Powell River. I am not sure why people would go there. Then we went in the truck for a long time to somewhere called Lund. My parents didn't even let me get out when I got there and before I knew it we were driving back the way we had just come. Sometimes I don't understand what's happening. But then we stopped and the sun set just for us right in front of us over the water.

We took lots of ferries. I like ferries because lots of people talk to me.

The fair

We went to the fair today. I think this was our first official family event. Turns out there's not a lot for babies to do. My Dad took some cool pictures of the rides. one day I hope he'll take me on the rides.

My Mom carried me around in the sling and only a few people asked if I was a puppy, so I must be getting bigger.

It was kind of cool but I can't wait for next year. I plan to escape into the donkey display while my Mom's not looking.

Mom time

My mom loves me too.

Dad time

There's just nothing better than this.

My Dad loves me.

Home time

I have a dog! His name is Leuk and he sleeps beside me and loves to get my face all wet with his big tounge. I think we're going to be great buddies. I haven't been able to find a way to tell him this becasue my communication skills are very limited, but maybe he knows anyway.

I also get to be carried around all the time by my Mom or Dad. In the hospital there were nurses that sometimes picked me up, but it was nothing like this. I have a feeling I'm going to like this place.