Photos: This week... a roadtrip and more of our usual jam

We came home from Parry Sound.  We hit like, the worst rain/thunderstorm on the way home... total opposite of the beautiful sunny weather we had driving up.  

Miss Baby was impeccably well behaved once again.  The one thing that breaks my heart is whenever she wakes up from napping in the car, she holds her arms out to me (her way of asking to be picked up) and she doesn't understand why I don't pick her up for after-nap hugs.

They have a drive-thru Starbuck's in Parry Sound!  

We don't usually go to Stabuck's back home... but we went twice on this trip.  

For the record, a Starbuck's is pretty inefficient as a drive-thru...but totally a great novelty for us!

We stopped at a drum shop to get Lowell's drum fixed on the way home.  I fed Rowen and let her sit in my seat while we waited.  She immediately got busy alternating between rifling through my purse and chewing on her foot. A multi-tasking Baby!

Rowen and Chip continue to be BFFs

Rowen recently got signed to a modeling agency.  I don't really want to talk about it yet though because I still have mixed feelings of gulit about being one of those mothers.  Creepy exploiting stage/pagaent (shudder!!) mothers suck!

I can't stop saying "frrrrrench toast" ala Leslie Mann in The 40 Year Old Virgin!

Dim sum

 Craaaaaazy Happy Jumping Baby

Normal Happy Jumping Baby

They opened a cupcake cart at the Dirty Duff(erin Mall).  

Sigh... not surprisingly (but happily for the fatness of my butt) they were kinda dissapointing cupcake specimens...

Photos: This week...cookies, cupcakes and a rainbow oh my

I know I already shared this.  But I baked a lot of cookies this week.  

Rowen fits into the next size up of the onesies from the Baby Shower.

C is for Cupcake designed by Auntie Ange!

I made wontons.  Well, I made the filling and cheated with store-bought wraps.

Rowen discovers and is fascinated by the pockets on her pink "hot day" romper.

Just standing around, chewing on my fingers, waiting for Daddy to wake up....wearing a drum set onesie designed by Daddy.

Visited Katelyn on the Friday before her Monday due date!  Still no Baby Boy yet as far as I'm aware...but no text responses tonight could also mean Baby Time!

Katelyn also made Rowen an amazing cupcake blanket.  I still have to get some better photos of it as Rowen is trying to eat it in all the blurry photos that I managed.  Go to Katelyn's Blog to see photos of the most amazing cupcake blanket! It's so pretty and I can't get over the fact that she made it!

Found Bean sleeping under Rowen in her crib

Got caught in a crrraaaaazy sunshower/thunderstorm driving with the Baby after Meghan's Bridal Shower on Sunday.  Saw a pretty rainbow afterwards though!

"Sweet Cakes Onesie" at ShopRuche.com

Oh, um... how amazingly cute is this???

"Sweet Cakes Onesie" at ShopRuche.com

I wish that I could hit "pause" for just a little while and have Rowen stay small and cuddly...and wear adorable things like this and not outgrow them like, immediately.  

I know, I know, watching her grow is amazing and I can't get enough of her new giggles and this week's newfound interest in her feet... Growing Rowen is FUN... but it's happening too fast.  TOO FAST!!  Can't she stay little for a wee bit longer?  :)

Canada Day Cupcakes

Another day, another Ergo adventure.

Lately, we've been getting a lot of compliments about her pacifier strap.

Happy Canada Day! 

It wouldn't be like me to celebrate a Holiday without cake of some sort, right?  Rowen and I trekked to Dlish as planned.  I originally planned on picking up ONE of the special limited edition Canada Day red velvets (with cream cheese frosting and coconut mmm!)...  yet somehow when I got there, I found myself picking out a box of 6.  

Let it be known that I put half of them in the freezer "for Lowell when he gets back"!  And naturally, I'll be here to help him out with that.

Rowen is starting to show a real interest in food lately.  Whenever I eat, she watches intently.  I will sometimes pretend to offer her a bite of what I am eating (with an empty, clean spoon) and she readily accepts.  

Very, very, very soon, I know that I will have to learn to set a better eating example for her and not do things like eat three cupcakes for lunch. And not let her grab at cupcakes like they're toys. (But it's sooo cute and fun to see!)

Guess what else happened today??

After I left Dlish Cupcakes, I loitered around outside to check streetcar times on my phone.  I was feeling hot and lazy and to my dismay, the next streetcar wasn't coming for another 12 minutes.  So while I was contemplating where to go to kill time, my favourite cupcake man popped out and asked me to come back inside.  

So I followed him back into the store.  I was intrigued and excited!  He then offered me a first taste of their upcoming limited edition flavour... key lime!  I LOVE KEY LIME!  It was the perfect pick me up on a day when I was feeling a little bit down and worn out from Lowell being away.  I felt all silly and special with this secret new cupcake to try when I got home.

Yet another reason I file Dlish under "favourite places".  If you haven't been already, you should go as soon as possible please!

Keylime Cupcake. Key lime cake with key lime zest frosting and graham cracker crumbly top.  Yum yum yum!  

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This week, Rowen has also started to show an interest in her feet. She's always enjoyed exploring and groping around with her fingertoes...but now she's actually aware of what she's doing.  She likes to throw her legs up in the air and wave them around like she just don't care.  

 Also, I'm pretty sure she is also about to cut a tooth anyday now! She's constantly shoving everything in her mouth and DROOOOLING.   Drooling like never before, especially seeing that she's never been a drooling baby.  It's very exciting and amazingly bittersweet watching her change.  She is growing SO FAST. Too fast!  I can't wait to see what she does next, as each new step has been amazing and adorable...but part of me wishes I could just hit pause for a little while.

Why hello there, foot.

Deep in thought at the park.

Kellie and I tried these delicious natural soda things on Saturday.  We got them along with an order of tacos from the brand new Barton Snacks on Queen West.  REALLY good! 

More on hanging out with Family in another entry later...

Floral Safari Rowen

Rowen's first time wearing a floppy hat.  It was pretty funny times for her.

When wearing a safari-esque hat, it's only appropriate to hunt lions.  And...cupcakes?

Gearing up for the cupcake hunt.

This is a Bacon cupcake from Yummy Stuff in Parkdale.  

They do some seriously YUMMY stuff there!  The Bacon cake made me curious... I was prepared for weirdness, but it was amazing and rocked hard.  The cake was a chocolate oatmeal thing and the frosting had that awesome salty-sweet taste going.  I want another one now and will need to go back soon.  I LOVE CUPCAKES!

The White Squirrel and Angela Brings Comfort Food

Today was Day 6 of "Momma's Temporary Single Parenthood While Daddy's on Tour".  It was a bit of a tough day as I received some sad news from my Family the night before just as I was headed to bed.  By the time I finally fell asleep, it was exactly the time that Rowen decided to wake up.

But, alas, being Momma to this beautiful little human certainly gives me seemingly super human strength some days.  No matter how tired or mad or sad, this face just makes it okay.

Momma put this funny pink romper on me.  It's so FUNNY!

This gal is my cure-all.

We decided to go for a walk before the crazy heat and humidity (oh the HUMIDITY) set in.  Momma needed a caffeine fix, so we set off for The Squirrel. 

The White Squirrel Coffee Shop is probably one of my favourites in the city.  It has a great vibe to it... I can't quite put my finger on how to describe it.  It's somehow both sparse and airy yet cozy and homey...if those things could be combined.  I remember going there on a wet winter day for the opening day... and for a good while, I was literally going every single day before work to grab an Americano and a muffin.  Conveniently, it was exactly in the middle of my former 90-second commute to work.  Anyway, my favourite is when the owner is there to make my drink.  And he was today! 

Also, the Squirrel has a feature that I never full appreciated until now.  They have this awesome walk-up window so you can order from the sidewalk and get your coffee (or ice cream!!) without going inside.  Every other coffee shop I can think of in my neighbourhood has a step out front and/or a door that opens outwards.  This makes maneuvering through the doors with a stroller difficult.  Factor in the possibility of having a full hot beverage on the way out and most times, I opt to just skip going in completely if I'm alone.  The window is great for stroller and dog peeps.  As well as smokers, as David the owner pointed out to me today.  I suppose smokers can use the lovely window as well.

The walk to The Squirrel marked my first real walk with Rowen in the Bugaboo.  And man oh MAN, I am in love.  Words... cannot describe what a WORLD of difference this is.  Actually, I lie and up next will be my entry entitled "Stroller Envy Begone - We Are Now Proud Bugaboo Owners, what!!" in which I will use words to describe how marvelous the Cameleon is.

Be still, my heart.

The day continued to get happier when Angela and Cory came by with provisions and open arms for Miss Baby!  Pot pie, Mac n Cheese and cupcakes.  Perfect foods!  Ange, how did you know that all I had eaten all day was a handful of cherry tomatoes at 5am and then a banana muffin with my soy latte?

So now, I suppose we've survived Day 6.  Lowell sent Rowen a video from the van, on the highway somewhere around Medicine Hat apparently.  She liked it and is now fast asleep and I might have to follow her lead very shortly.

Belated Early Father's Day Post

  Rowen was just over a day old here and we were getting ready to leave the hospital. Just about 24 hours into Lowell being a Dad.  

Rowen loves goofing around with her Dad.... and I love watching them together.  I can already foresee her being a teenager and totally hating her Momma for not being fun and cool like Daddy.

Happy Father's Day Lowell!  What a crazy amazing adventure we're on together with Ms. Baby!

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I forgot to post photos from Lowell's Early Father's Day.  Early because he would be away for actual Father's Day.  He wanted to have a picnic, so we had a picnic with friends in Trinity-Bellwoods.  

Thank-you friends for coming and hanging out with us!!

Uncle Leland (one of Rowen's "real" Uncles!) is very tolerant as she tries to remove hair from his head.

I baked carrot cake cupcakes, as per Lowell's request.  I cheated and used cream cheese frosting from a tub though...

Oh Lowell.

Last week.... (Highlight = Jolly Jumper!)

Lowell's Parents bought Rowen a Jolly Jumper last week.  It's definitely been a game changer for her.  She's ready to walk off on her own now...

"This thing is funny, Momma"

A few minutes into her first Jolly Jump here.  She hesitated for about...4 seconds and then she was off!

Bax gets a nice Jolly Jumping pat/lovesmack on the head.

The day before Lowell left, he got some cupcakes from For the Love of Cake.  Two of our favourites (his: salted caramel, mine: grasshopper) and two that were new to us.  

We cut each one in half like usual.  They were gone within a few hours.

Guard Bean

Toe time

Natalya came over with  bahn mi for dinner from Bahn Mi Boys.  SO SO SO GOOD!!  Thank-you Nat, it was much needed!

Another day, another Jolly Jump!

I love these little legs!!!!

There is a thunderstorm and lightening happening right now.  I've embarassingly been afraid of thunder and lightening my entire life.  I secretly want to bring the baby into bed with me so she can protect me with her cuddles.

our first Momma's Day

I woke up to this and a sack of Lush stuff waiting for me on the coffee table this morning:

Lowell wanted to take me out to Breakfast/Brunch... Perhaps Dim Sum or Easy? Anywhere! It was my choice. I chose McDonald's, bahaha. I abused my powers. I figured we can go for dim sum or regular breakfasts anytime and since Lowell dislikes McDonald's and we never go there. The last time I convinced him to eat Dirty McDonald's breakfast with me was when I was pregnant and we were braving the mall on Boxing Day. Bahahaha... I pretty much constantly crave Sausage Egg McMuffins but rarely do I succumb. Only on special occasions apparently.

We were there during breakfast-to-lunch switchover and I contemplated getting some McNuggets too.
Next, since Rowen was snoozing happily in her stroller, we headed to Clafouti. The next stop on my food trek. We got there and plain croissants and pain au chocolat AND cinnamon brown sugar croissants were sold out. All my favourites! Actually, they were just sold out of everything.
So we headed to Dlish for Cupcakes. I chose to get a Red Velvet and a Dark Chocolate. They didn't survive the trip home though.... wah.

They were smushed but still very delicious!
We also hung out in the park for a bit.

Rowen seemed the most interested in checking out the grass and cement on the ground than anything else. She makes the best faces when the breeze gets her and her little Ro-hawk wafts in the wind. I can't wait to take her to the park this summer!
When we got home, I took a long shower will Lowell hung out with Rowen Baby. Lowell and Rowen had gotten me a bunch of my favourite stuff from Lush and I decided to break out a chunk of my most favourite Lush soap that got discontinued. Bathing in I Should CoCo and using Big and American Dream in my hair made the bathroom smell like my early 20's. Serious smell-flashbacks!
It was a lovely Sunday afternoon and first Mother's Day.

I love Rowen Baby so much and want to cuddle her and squidge her face every day for the rest of her life!
Oh! And just before this, I was scrolling around my posts page and realized that I never published our Easter entry! So HERE it is! Cute photos of Rowen as the Esster bun-bun, right this way!