by the fire

, originally uploaded by Augusten Elray.

Our future pyromaniac.

Travel with baby.

Every trip I make, I spend months researching and planning. I am often in search of a few simple answers that will fulfill the formula for an excellent trip. I've always had a few simple criteria for choosing a destination:
1) I like to go to places that I know very little about. Bolivia and Laos, for example. I knew very little about these places before going there. It's like not wanting to see the previews before going to a movie - you have fewer expectations, more surprises and more to research - for me the research is almost as fun as the experience: full of anticipation, and satisfying my deep insatiable curiosity about the world. It is why we are considering visiting Slovenia in the fall.
2) Is the food any good?
Thailand and Vietnam certainly top the list in this category. Certainly our plans for Northern Italy is motivated by food, wine, coffee and more food.
3) And now: Is it kid friendly?
Yep, we have to consider it. I'd say Cambodia definitely is NOT kid friendly unless you'd consider poor medical facilities and motorbike travel safe for babies. Especially right now, while there is little to no benefit for Augusten, travelling responsibly involves considering his safety. Once he is able to get some value out travelling (once he's 5 or so) then it is our job to balance the safety issue with potential benefit. We met a woman in Cambodia travelling with her 8 year old daughter. She said at times she felt guilt for putting her daughter in questionable circumstances - no car booster seats in Cambodia, unless you consider the gas tank of a 100cc motorbike to be a boost. I assured her that the potential benefit to her daughter was so great that she shouldn't feel guilty. Imagine the wonder at eight years old wandering around place as magical and awe inspiring as Angkor Wat:

It will stay with her for a lifetime. She will also get a sense of the great poverty that people elsewhere live in. The most well rounded of my friends all had international experiences as a child.
Safety aside, it doesn't mean that we can no longer be adventurous about our choice or style of travel. Friends of mine who write a guidebook on Walking the Camino de Santiago took their toddler son along when they were updating for the 2nd edition. Click on the link to find out just how adventurous they were.
Europe is an amazing place to go with kids. For the most part kids are welcome everywhere, unlike North America where we have a serious dislike of children. In Europe, I believe that Augusten will be our icebreaker - he will help us meet the locals, a helper not a hindrance. He'll also help us to slow down.

So our plans are in motion: Northern Italy and possibly Slovenia this fall. My mother is considering renting a casita in Puerto Escondido, Mexico next winter. If so, Darren, Augusten and I will not miss that opportunity!
Check out Rick Steves' website. He knows more about getting the most out of travel in Europe and some of the best travel tips on packing light, finding "Back Doors": quiet (untouristy) towns, accommodations (be creative, there is more to life than a sterile hotel!), eating (never eat in your hotel restaurant - get out and explore! Eat street meat!), and indispensable travel skills.

Cinque Terre here we come!

Kiss the baby!

He loves kissing babies.

He even kisses his own reflection. and he'd like to kiss the cat if he could.

Bootylicious

Bootylicious, originally uploaded by Augusten Elray.

Sunshine!

So the sun has finally returned. After weeks of warm but rainy weather it's a nice change - time to get outside. We all got bundled up and went to the park to visit the ducks yesterday. Sadly the pond had frozen and there were very few ducks to see. Augusten was happy though - we tested out our new travelling companion, a Kelty convertible backpack stroller! It's pretty cool and will be great for travelling in Europe. As you'll see in the new photos it can be either a backpack carrier or a stroller. He enjoyed being in it for the most part - especially when he was up high - I bet he'll love it on his Dad's back, he'll get to see everything!
I am happy we made it out at least one day before Augusten got his first cold! He is currently a big bag of snot. He is still pretty happy although he hasn't been sleeping well, between sprouting teeth, endless pooping (which is over with now, thankfully) and now a head cold and chest congestion who could get any sleep anyways?? It's taken it's toll on Darren, Mr. "I never get sick". I think babies change all that, more germs all over the place. Unlike adults who keep their germs in check by blowing their noses, covering their mouths when they sneeze and washing their hands, Augusten is one messy, snotty, goober machine - and it gets all over everything. Especially my shoulder.
So were keeping him inside, trying to keep the little guy well hydrated, and making sure he gets lots of sleep (at least during the day. Ok well, that's the idea anyways.).
I love that he is starting to understand more and more words everyday: I ask "where's the baby?" and he looks in his little mirror, I ask "where's the cat?" and he's scanning Phoebe's usual hangouts (like the back of the sofa) or the floor. He probably understands way more than he lets on. He can feed himself veggie booty (aka baby crack) and baby mum-mums and he's starting to enjoy a wider array of "adult" food. Like whole grain bread. and yam fries. and dahl - he loved the dahl from the Silk Road café. We are trying keep his diet varied and adventurous so that he has a much more complex palate with which he can truly enjoy food. And neither of us have much patience with fussy eaters. We'll do our best to have him eating (and enjoying) sushi and pakoras and gorgonzola right along with us. Easier said than done. Like everything about parenting.

Happy St. Valentine's Day!

My first Valentine: Y

Tooth!

After a weekend of endless tears (with two separate babysitters, sorry Devorah and Teresa. and houseguests, sorry Kelly and Clayton), puddles of wet poops (yes, teething can cause diarrhea), bitten nipples and frozen bananas, little Augusten got his first tooth! I'll post a photo as soon as it's visible on camera. You can see it if you look closely - and BOY can you ever feel it. Sharp little thing. ouch!

ante up, kids!

Augusten visiting his friend Sadie - Playing a round of high stakes poker?
Sadie is nine days older than Augusten. Back in November they seemed to be pretty much at the same stage but now she's leaps and bounds ahead on the physical front. Crawling, pulling up on furniture and all kinds of rock and roll. She'd have a better chance in the sumo ring, that's for sure. It's pretty cute to see them playing together although its mostly us moms trying to keep their fingers out of each others' eyes, ears etc...

enough with the food face already

click on my Cheerio!

stolen moments

Standing baby!, originally uploaded by Augusten Elray.

In between teething and squealing with delight, I finally find some time to write. He's almost eight months old - can you believe it?!
No major milestones to report although he is sitting up with confidence these days and trying to crawl. And trying desperately to get things that are out of reach. Childproofing is on the horizon. He's amazingly quick with those little hands.
The best thing is that he is starting to understand us - when he is upset I'll distract him with "Where's the CAT?" and he looks around to find old Phoebe. And when he finds her he stares and smiles with joy. Too bad she hates him.
He also knows the word "kisses!". Say "kisses" to him and he'll open his mouth and plant his wet tongue on your face. If you're really lucky he suck your chin or cheek. He even kisses the baby faces in his books.
He still loves books much to my great pleasure. Another thing to do when he is in a fuss: open a book.
Sadly he is fussing a lot lately - which really isn't a lot if you consider he's a baby. It is likely due to teething - for about two weeks now there have been two little bumps on his lower gums. They seem to be getting closer to the surface all time. Must be excruciating. I hope the pain stops once they come through.
He can also pull up to a kneeling position from sitting - I caught him teetering on the edge of his crib today - can't trust him alone in there anymore until we get that missing screw replaced...
He is nowhere near crawling - he seems to get frustrated too quickly when he is on his tummy. It's likely due to immense head (I hope that means he's big brained!). On the doctor's charts his length and weight are right in the middle (50th percentile) but his head is completely off the chart. So he struggles to keep his heavy noggin up, it looks exhausting. He's so confident on his feet - I wouldn't be surprised if he skipped crawling and went straight to walking. Crawling is for babies anyways.

We are also planning a big trip for the fall - yes, we are finally going to make it to Europe! We are looking at Northern Italy and maybe Slovenia. I have to try to not be so ambitious with the ground we cover - travelling with a baby means slowing down. Actually life with baby is about slowing down. We are looking into the possibility of doing a housing swap in Tuscany and using that as a home base. With the money we save we could rent a car which would give us so much freedom. We'll see. It's hard to imagine someone wanting to stay in Vancouver if they already live in paradise. It would be a definate possibility in 2010. It's exciting to be planning a trip again. I am eager to experience travel in a whole new way - Italians love babies. There is no such thing as a baby friendly restaurant - because they ALL are baby friendly. Unlike here where you get a snicker from the next table if your little one even makes a peep. I am betting we'll get invited into people's homes for dinner because of our charming boy. I think travel with Gus will be such a different experience, we'll meet more locals, have unique opportunities and learn to SLOW DOWN and enjoy the moment. Providing we can keep our sense of humour. Remember, it's the process not the product. Enjoy where you are right now instead of always waiting for what's next - that is the lesson of having a kid. I spent too many years thinking "life will start when...(I finish school, I pay off my debt, I get through this traffic jam...etc)" Nope life is now. Enjoy it. Like my bro-in-law said once: "You gotta be the happiest guy in traffic" or something like that. Yes, having a child not only makes you wax philosophical - you kind of live philosophical. Or maybe that's just because of my lack of regular adult contact.

We have been blessed with a happy, easygoing baby. We brought him to our friend's birthday party on Saturday and he was the hit of the night. Passed from arm to arm he was so thrilled to get so much attention. He stayed up way past his bedtime and didn't have a meltdown. He's real crack up - people love him. even Braineater loved him. and Braineater hates babies.