The Celebration Continues

Here are a few more shots from Sunday courtesy of Grandpa "Paparazzi" Smith (who really does take the best photos)!

Baptizing

At Dawn & Paul's

Soles Family

Proud Godmother

Smith Family

How we all felt after a busy weekend!

A Wonderful Welcome

Through today's meaningful and moving baptism ceremony, Eliot officially became a member of Oak Bay United.  Huge thank-yous to our loving families, to our supportive friends and to Eliot's Godparents, Dawn and Paul.  Your vows and commitment mean more to us than we could ever possibly express.

In my Mom's Family gown (over 100 years old!)

Patiently waiting our turn

Sharing a gaze

New Friends

Not only did Eliot meet Auntie Karan and Cousin Bianca this week, he also rode the ferry for the first time and spent two days with Carla, Theo and Johann.  Grandma and Grandpa Smith arrived yesterday and we're now making final preparations for the baptism on Sunday.  Quite the social schedule for a 5-month old (he takes after Mama J)!

Cousins

Eliot, Bianca & Johann

Fun on the playmat

More Bookish Thoughts...

Left Neglected shares a lot of commonalities with Genova's first novel, Still Alice: both depict successful, powerful women forced to cope with a life-altering brain injury.  Both benefit from the author's expertise in neuroscience.  Both instill thoughtfulness and gratitude in the reader.

The first third of Left Neglected provides an engaging, humourous and poignant read, detailing the protagonist's harried lifestyle and the accident that leaves her unable to process the left side of anything (landscapes, books, her own body).  Unfortunately, the book then becomes rather repetitive and formulaic before picking up to a satisfying ending.  At least Genova's message bears keeping in mind: "Maybe success can be something else and maybe there's another way to get there.

Bonding With The Beastie

Thus far, Eliot and Holly have mostly treated each other with indifference but their relationship is beginning to change.  Eliot will now stare up at Holly when he's in tummy time and Holly will even leave the comfort of her crate to come lick the babe's face!  

First Pets

Family Love

Gazing up at Holly

More Bookish Thoughts...

Cool Water bears all the telltale signs of a Governor General's Award winner: a remote Canadian setting, eloquent prose, contemplative characters and a slow-moving plot.

Warren recounts a 24-hour period in the lives of various townsfolk.  A couple prepares for their teenaged daughter's upcoming (and doomed) wedding, parents of six young children struggle to make ends meet and a young man, abandoned as a baby, searches for answers about his purpose in the world.

Although certainly not a page-turner, this book becomes engrossing as it progresses and highlights the extraordinary in the quotidian.

Devastation in Japan

Jean, Eliot and I wish our Japanese friends safety and hope in a time of such tragedy.  Our thoughts are with the Sekikawa, Tanikawa, Nakayama and Oka families. 

Fukushima Prefecture (Sendai)

Myagi Prefecture (Natori)

Ibaraki Prefecture (Ushiku)

Story Time Again

A couple more favourite picks for a morning of reading in the sunshine...

Part "I Spy," part nursery rhyme, this intricately illustrated book unites classic characters such as Tom Thumb, Mother Hubbard and Bo-Peep.  Ahlberg writes in clever but simple rhymes, making the text easy to memorize.  All the better to concentrate on the figures hiding in the pictures!

Hooray for Fish! channels exotic and imaginary sea creatures into a counting lesson.  A few of our favourites include ele-fish, sky fish and twin-fin-fin fish but every one is creative, colourful and fun.  Definitely provides some fish food for thought ;)

The Last Hurrah

Sadly, the time has come to retire one of our favourite sleepers.  It's now too small for the growing babe and, besides, who wants to wear snowmen in March?

A strong grip on Sophie

Toys on Mama Kate's quilt

Happy happy!