Who Cooked the Baby?

When Henry was a newborn I used to put olive oil on his skin after his baths. We did this for the first couple of months of his life, keeping his skin soft and supple without any of the potentially harmful additives in commercial baby products.

As he got a little older and we headed south his skin wasn't dry and we didn't put any moisturizers on him. With winter weather upon us I decided he needed some oil after his bath on Wednesday. Out came the olive oil and I slathered it on from the waist up while he was still in the water. Once he was out of the tub I forgot to finish his oil rub from the waist down, and got him into his pajamas and ready for bed.

Henry had a rough night, tossing and turning, and even needing a middle of the night feeding to settle down again. I figured his teeth were bothering him, as he is starting to cut his first molar.

When we got up in the morning light and I got a better look at Henry I was alarmed to find him covered in a rash and sporting a huge swollen face!! Yikes! I got on the phone with the doctor's office and scheduled him in for 1:30pm. Then I woke Andy to have him take a look. We racked our brains for what Henry had eaten the day before that was different, but discovered the true culprit, olive oil, when we noticed that the rash was only from the waist up. Good thing I forgot to do his lower half!

All's well that ends well. The doctor gave me a prescription for hydrocortisone cream and recommended Benedryl. By next day he was looking much more like himself, and now, five days later you wouldn't even know that he had looked like we'd cooked him with the dinner.

Our New Neighbourhood

Living aboard in a Canadian winter was not part of the plan. I have to say, however, that I have really warmed to the idea (pardon the pun!).

I didn't realize that I was harboring a lot of stress about where we were going to end up this winter, but now that the issue is settled I have felt a weight lifted. We were on a waiting list for Marina Quay West, the only marina that has live aboard winter slips in downtown Toronto, but were not hopeful of getting in. We were offered a spot in Pickering, but the location was so remote that Henry and I would have been stranded on the boat most days. That would definitely not be ideal!

Everything always has a way of working out for us, and this time was no exception. It turns out that Marina Quay West also runs a smaller location at Pier 4, and we were accepted for their last available slip! We found out just over a week ago, and had to be in last weekend before they brought the tall ships in for the winter.

We have settled in nicely and I'm just thrilled with the location! There are three grocery stores within easy walking distance, the closest being right across the street. The fast food, restaurant and coffee shop selection on our block alone is outstanding. We can walk downtown in any weather, with easy accessibility to the indoor path system just a block away. And the very best part...the view through the v-berth hatch is the CN Tower!!

Pier 4 has only eleven boats wintering, as the electrical demands are substantial. We are on a dock with three other boats and our neighbours are very friendly, especially the couple two boats over. who rushed out onto the dock as we were walking by because she was so excited to meet Henry. Deirdre is suffering from empty nest syndrome since her 19 and 22 year old sons have recently left home. She even offered to babysit!

We have been cozy in our little home so far, with two heaters keeping us toasty warm. The next step is to build a frame over the deck to cover in shrinkable plastic. This keeps the deck dry and insulates the boat, preventing the escape of heat as well as preventing the inevitable leaks from snow and ice. Then we will install a bubbler to keep the ice from freezing around the hull. It's not Florida, but out adventure continues.

Life is good.

Happy Hallowe'en!!!

Henry's first Hallowe'en was quite memorable! We got him a Tigger costume and planned to Trick-or-Treat on the island.

We had been sick with the flu for a couple of weeks, so our nap routine is still a little off. Henry missed his afternoon nap altogether. At 6:00pm we figured it was time for the wee ones to start the rounds, so we put our little Tigger in his stroller and got set to head out. Five steps down the side walk he fell asleep! We didn't even get to the first house.

Not to be deterred, Andy and I took Henry around to our friends' house. Whit and Ally live on Ward's island, and are always very happy to see Henry, especially Whit. So we arrived at their door to a warm welcome and a chuckle about our sleeping Tigger. Whit had made a big pot of Chili, so he offered to feed us while we waited for Henry to awaken. About an hour later after a great visit and a few beers our Trick-or-Treater was ready to go.

Whit came out with us, being a lifelong islander, and gave us the tour. We went to about 10 houses. Henry was quite taken with the decorations and the Jack-O-Lanterns. The island folk go all out for Hallowe'en, some of the grown-ups even dress up to hand out the candy. Ally was a lovely beauty queen, 'Miss Behavin'!

We finished our rounds visiting Bob, the Tender Captain, at his son's house. All in all we had a wonderful first Hallowe'en. When we got back to the boat Henry surveyed his loot, and we let him eat his first peice of licorice. The chocolate and bubblegum I'm afraid we'll have to eat ourselves.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun Hallowe'en!

Autumn in Toronto

We've been back in Toronto for over a month now. Lucky for us the weather was beautiful for the month of September. It's almost like we brought the sunshine with us!

Our adventures continue, but will not be taking us down south this winter. We are looking at taking the business in a new direction, which means we have to stick around and make it happen. Which means we are wintering...in Toronto...on the boat...

Although this was not what we hoped for this winter, Andy and I look for the best in every situation and are looking at this as an opportunity. An opportunity to take our business to the next level, as well as an opportunity to spend time with friends and family here. Living aboard during a Canadian winter will be an experience in itself, but just think how much we will appreciate the weather when it warms up in the spring!

Cruising down south was something few of our friends have experienced...even fewer have braved winter aboard! But hey, we never claimed to be normal!

Henry is thriving with life aboard. He is a very, very active 8 1/2 month old. He is always on the go, and gets into everything!! We are having a lot of fun with him. He has so much personality, and is just such a sweet, fun kid! Henry and I go out every afternoon between his naps to keep either of us from getting cabin fever. We go to the city for walks. I get lots of exercise, and he squeals with delight in his stroller. Life is good.

We attended my Uncle Ben's funeral today. He was 44 years old and lost a year long battle with cancer. I am so thankful to have had such a wonderful uncle and friend. I have also been reflecting on the fact that life is precious and often far too short. No matter where life takes us, I am so blessed every day to have Andy, Henry, and all of the friends and family I hold dear. Life happens in the little moments. Treasure them.

Family

I come from a very large family. This has been quite wonderful. Especially since we have been blessed, all of us, with good health. Until now.

My family has had a very difficult year. My Mom is the oldest of seven children. The youngest has been ill since last November. He is dying of cancer.

My grandparents are in their late seventies. My Grandma has recently had a triple bipass surgery. My Poppa has been trying to cope with an ill wife and a dying son. The stress is very overwhelming for him.

I have been thinking a lot lately about some pretty deep stuff; the value of family, the fragility of life, and what happens to us when we die. I feel so very lucky to have spent the past five months enjoying my little family in such an enjoyable and intimate environment. We have shared in adventures that none of us will soon forget (except Henry, of course!).

I think that too many people go through life seeing the negatives and letting the joys pass them by. Seize each day. Don't let the little things get you down.

Life is too short.

Me and my Henry

Henry and I are really getting into a rhythm. This age is such a pleasure. I know when he's tired, hungry, bored, clingy or adventurous. I feel that we've come to know each other well enough for me to meet his needs effectively, even though he can't yet tell me what they are in words. It's wonderful.

I've learned that when he starts to pull his hair and rub his eyes it's time for bed. If he wakes up crying, I should soothe him back to sleep, because until he wakes up happy, he's still tired! I've learned that he has a certain whininess when he's hungry. I've also learned that once he has laid eyes on his bottle the wait for it to warm up is excruciating for him!! He has needy times of the day when I'm really best to tote him around. He also has a lot of independence, especially in the morning before his first nap, when he's quite content to play alone on the floor. Henry's best days have just the right combination of time spend out and about, and time spent peacefully and quietly at home. He's a great kid.

Lately Henry's separation anxiety has reached a fever pitch! I can't be out of sight for more than a minute. I think this is a particularly difficult stage for Henry because having lived on the boat he has been with us constantly. He has met a lot of people along the way and seems to have good social skills as long as I'm within reach. As with all stages of babyhood, I know that this too shall pass.

It's amazing how much babies change as they grow. Every day is full of new discoveries for them, including their discovery of themselves.

Life is an Adventure

If there is one thing I've learned over the past five years since I met Andy it's this. Go with the flow, and adventure will find you. We are not planners. We are simply doers. If an opportunity presents itself we hop aboard, literally, and off we go!

Andy has begun talking about the possibility of selling our boat for profit, buying a hurricane boat down south and starting again. I say, "Sure, why not?"

I think that life presents us with all sorts of opportunities, it's all about whether or not we seize them.

Where will we be in a month or two? I have no idea, and that's okay with me. Not making plans has served us well so far!