Baby Beluga

Over the Christmas holidays, we spent some quality time at the Vancouver Aquarium. Bradyn had a blast! It was actually her second time there, but I'm quite certain she didn't even know she was there the first time, because she was so little.

Checking out the first fish 'tank' she saw when we walked in. (I don't remember exactly, but I'm pretty confident there were a lot of 'Fishes', 'Wow', 'Look at the fish')

Trying to touch the jelly fish.

More jelly fish.

Underwater Wonderland. (There's a great kids area where they can be vets to the toy seals, dress up, and climb around on lots of stuff.)

Main attraction - the beluga whales.

(We missed you Kiera and Aunt Sherri. However, we did sing the song and started planning our next trip here together.)

Christmas!

2007 was our Christmas in BC year.

Bradyn started the holiday season off by going to work with me for the morning of Christmas Eve day because her daycare was closed, and Kevin also had to work. Just as I'm sure you've already guessed, I got nothing accomplished that day (but then again, who works on Christmas Eve?). After her nap, we all packed up the truck and went down to Grandma & Grandpa's.

We had our Christmas Eve dinner with Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Dallas & Aunt Ita. Here's a picture of Bradyn having her favourite 'dessert' - mandarin oranges. You should see how well she peels them, all by herself, and then devours them, slice by slice. (I think she may be orange'd out now though, as she's only been eating half lately. Just another example of someone over-indulging at Christmas time.)

Here's Uncle Dallas & Brady playing with the letter magnets from her LeapFrog Fridge Phonics. (Yeah, Kevin just loves all the crap cluttering up his fridge these days.)

This is Bradyn on Christmas morning, with a highchair that was made by Great Grandpa. Grandma has now passed this on to Bradyn, along with a bear that was Grandpa Keith's. (Hey Aunt Sherri - any pictures of Kiera wearing her matching Christmas PJ's?)

Checking out the very special present from Daddy - a set of Marvel action figures, featuring a zombie (her favourite), a werewolf (very close second), Dracula and Frankenstein's monster (no attention whatsoever has been given to these 2). Bradyn can often be heard asking you to give Zombie hugs or saying that Werewolf should be in the shower. Think we should get a therapist lined up for later?

(OK. I have to be honest. I thought it was very sweet that Kevin wanted to buy Bradyn a gift just from him, and that he wanted it to mean something. Specifically, he went to the mall to be 'inspired' about what to buy her. They often talk about zombies - until my paranoid side squashes it - and Brady will 'point out' zombies in the woods as we drive by. It's their thing, and she knows they're pretend. It's all good.)

Wearing her custom-made Popeye shirt that matches Grandpa's (they like to watch Popeye cartoons together), getting the plane ready to fly off to Punta Cana. (Oh, how I wish.)

Taking a breather with Daddy, after a big Christmas dinner.

Ready to go again.

This is Bradyn on December 27, checking out her new kitchen from Aunt Sherri & Uncle Jason. Yes, you heard me right. It took us 4 days to get all of Bradyn's presents opened. Not that there were so many (well, maybe), but Bradyn would start playing with things as she opened them and get distracted. When I asked if she wanted to open more, she'd say no. Eventually I just put the rest under the tree and every once in a while she'd hand me something new, so I knew she'd been opening them.

See Sherri, I told you she loved it.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.

Christmas At Canada Place

On the Saturday before Christmas, we headed down to Canada Place to see the old Woodward's window displays and all of the brightly decorated Christmas trees. Most importantly, we wanted a second chance at geting a picture of Bradyn with Santa.

First we started off with some basic trees.

Then we worked our way along the animated displays.

Daddy and Brady took a ride on the Christmas train (sorry - pictures turned out way too dark) and then, we stumbled across the big guy. As soon as Bradyn saw Santa, she turned around and started to high-tail it out of there. After catching up with her and doing a little (OK, a lot of) coaxing, I convinced her to walk right by, then find a place where we could stand and take a look. After a few minutes of big hugs, hushed whispers and lots of reassurance, very slowly, we made our way towards Santa. There were very few people around so, with the luxury of time and an extremely patient Santa, we managed to get Bradyn on his lap without a tear shed. I'm still impressed at how Santa talked me through the whole process, prompting me when to sit down, move her closer to him, put her on the chair and then onto his lap.

"I don't know about this..."

"Daddy... don't go too far"

"OK, maybe this guy's not so bad."

"There's my Daddy - Cheese!"

"Hey - I like these bells. Can I have them?"

After our visit with Santa, Bradyn decided she better write him a letter because, in all the excitement, she forgot to tell him what she wanted. (Notice Bradyn's cheesy smile - just the first of many more you'll see. It's her new 'thing'.)

When we were all done writing and colouring, we decided it was almost time to call it a day. On our way back by Santa, Bradyn walked right up to him (while he was talking to another little girl) and gave him a 'High 5'. It was so cute!

Our last official task for the day was to mail her first letter to Santa...

... in a Guiness Record Book-sized mail box!

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty successful day. Note to self - next year forget the mall Santa and go right to Canada Place. No lineups, and you get to take your own pictures!