A week without Dad

Jay at the University of Tennessee medical center.

For his spring break, Jay headed to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville where he spent a week with the oral surgery residents. He had some 20 hour days and also was able to squeeze in some time to look around the city. In Knoxville, spring is well in bloom and apparently it isn't so unusual for patients to come in and talk about eating "coon" (racoon)!

Jacob and Grandpa K. with the "ba-ball."
Jacob and I decided to pack our bags and spend a long weekend in Ithaca. The weather was surprisingly pleasant and Jacob enjoyed running around outside. His new favorite words are"ba ball" (basketball) and "bu" (bus). My Dad has at least half a dozen basketballs lying around the garage so Jacob was in seventh heaven! Jacob also enjoyed a wheelbarrow ride from Grandma A., wearing Poppa A.'s fishing hat and swatting the dogs (he's learning how to be gentle). He also couldn't understand why Tang the cat wouldn't stay in one place so he could pull his tail!



Aunt L., Uncle D. and Jacob

Reading "Go dog go" with Poppa A.

On St. Patrick's Day Jacob walked around with my great-grandfathers's Irish shillelagh (walking stick) and loved corned beef and Irish soda bread (go figure!). We also visited Michelle and Cornell University's archives (where Grandma K. works). Jacob was showered with attention and is beginning to learn how to be quiet in a library (well almost). Happy St. Patrick's Day

Later in the week Jacob played with his friends in daycare while I went back to work and to a one day conference. The week went surprisingly fast (although it did drag near the end). Jay brought us back some Tennessee gear! Too bad the University of Tennessee's basketball team didn't make it past the first round of the NCAA tournament. Go Volunteers!

Jacob resting after a busy busy week (so very precious).

Visits from family

We have been really blessed lately with visits from many family members. Grandma and Grandpa K. visited the end of February. When the arrived on Friday, they watched Jacob while I (Mom) went to work for a couple of hours and then we all sat down to some homemade pizza.

Grandma, Grandpa and Jacob outside the craft mart.

We are a family of readers (I love it)!

The next day we enjoyed going to Niagara Hobby and Craft mart to look at the trains. Grandpa K. is thinking of possibly fixing up his old train set sometime in the future. Jacob loves trains and recently started making the "choo choo" noise every time he sees one in a book. We also walked around the Galleria mall and enjoyed some Tim Hortons (who doesn't love that place)! Later in the evening we met Aunt M. and E. for dinner at Brennans. It was great food and company!

Jacob playing with Thomas the tank engine.

This past week Grandma A. and Uncle D. came to get their teeth cleaned and spend some time with us. We had a pizza lunch at Zetti's on Wednesday and Jacob got to roam around the first floor of the dental school. He was enamored by the display cases, the never ending stream of people (he's a people watcher) and the giant buffalo in the lobby! Jacob spent an entire day with Grandma and Uncle D., on Thursday, while Mom and Dad were at school and work. Thursday evening Grandma A., Uncle D. and Jay went out together and brought back some treats from Dessert Deli. On Friday, Uncle D. was a trooper since he got two cavities filled without anesthesia (per his request)! He sure is tough!

This isn't a great picture, but it is the only one I have with Uncle D. in it!

Next week Jacob and I are making the trip to Ithaca while Jay spents a week in Knoxville, TN doing an oral surgery externship. I hope the week isn't too stressful for him and that he does not come back competely exhausted. I guess it will be good practice for what the life of a resident will entail!

Grandma A. played and read with Jacob non-stop!

Jacob loves brushing his teeth! We bought him his own tooth brush and we have to prey it from his hands! Couldn't he be the poster child for children's dental health month).

p.s. Yesterday I placed some size 1 diapers in Jacob's room (I am beginning to prepare for baby #2). Jay changed Jacob's diaper and put a size 1 diaper on him instead of his usual size 3. I couldn't believe they "fit" and that Jay didn't notice something was a little strange...it was comical!

Jacob, in a size 1 diaper!