Gabriola Island Part II

Like I previously mentioned, Fearthainn and I decided to take a mini-holiday while she was out visiting this past week and booked ourselves a couple of nights on Gabriola Island – the Isle of the Arts!
We stayed at the Silva Bay Inn, which was both affordable and offered a stunning view of the bay. We were also the ONLY guests, which was a good thing because Claire cried. A lot.
When we first got to the island, we took a driving tour around the two main roads (aptly named North Rd and South Rd. They meet at the south end. The first of many trips around the island via the North Road and South Road. We stopped at the end of Berry Pt to soak in the scenary and of course, nurse Claire, and play in the puddles.

Then we went back to the inn to unload and regroup for dinner. Dinner was a complete fiasco because Claire cried through the entire meal so I was forced to eat standing up. The meal was completely fabulous, at least and thankfully, we were the only people in “family” area.
The next day was spent frolicking through every park we passed by. The morning was spent exploring Sandwell Provincial Park which turned out to be a rather long walk in with beach gear and children but we got wise and found a quick route out. There was a gorgeous golden eagle (we suspect) on the beach when we got there that wowed us with his enormity. Callum and Auntie Fearthainn explored the beach while I, you guessed it, nursed.

From Sandwell Provincial Park we headed to Descanso Bay Regional Park which is incredibly beautiful with sandstone shoreline carved out by the waves. Of course, I didn’t take any pictures. Why? Because I was nurisng. We did have a nice little walk, and Fearthainn made us all sandwiches!
From Descanso Bay we checked out Drumbeg Provincial Park. We were hoping to find the park with the Petroglyphs but missed it somehow but Drumbeg was really very pleasant. That might have largely been in part to Claire neither crying nor nursing for the entire walk. Amazing.

From there we decided to figure out something for dinner, so we headed back to the room, I nursed Claire, then out for dinner. Unfortunately, it was clear that Miss. Claire was NOT going to co-operate through dinner so we got it to go and headed to Gabriola Sands Provincial Park where we madly ate dinner while Claire cried (the park was gorgeous at least). Back to the room and after a few hours of attempting to get the kids to sleep we loaded them up in the car and drove around the ring road. This worked on Callum, Claire was not fooled.
The next morning we packed up, then sat out on the deck for an hour knitting, watching the boats go by, and just hanging out. Once we got the kids into the car and the room paid for we headed out to have lunch at a park. This was a disaster. Once we managed to eat lunch (nurse Claire, and placate Callum) we headed for the ferry. Which was late. Poor Fearthainn had her fill of crying children.
That said, honestly, it was really very lovely. I’d do it again.
More pictures to come of both babies (I know, not a single picture of Claire in this post, sorry) but I gotta go, you guessed it, nurse Claire.

Gabriola Island

Fearthainn and I just got back from a quick jaunt over to Gabrioloa Island with the kidlets. It was nice to get away from the same-old at home and spend two nights just being a tourist.
A tourist with two beastlies which isn’t quite the same as just being a happy tourist.
And because I know you’re interested – my boobs? HURT. Its like starting over. I don’t know what happened and am annoyed. I thought we’d come so far. I may resort to talking to someone in the boob-know.
More to come… maybe even with photos!

Shopping!

The other day I picnic’d with some Moms for Mother’s Day and by the time I left I had a serious case of the “I wants”. The Moms had some of coolest Mommy gadgets that I don’t have, yet clearly need.
I’m not really a high maintenance kinda Mama. ok, that isn’t exactly true, I am high maintenance in terms of toys I can tolerate, and I buy stupidly expensive soap for the kids even though Ivory is perfectly fine for both Steve and I. And I’ll pay $5 for 2 L of organic milk. BUT in terms of other gear I’m fine with what I’ve been given. Callum and I managed just fine without any fancy sling, stroller or other gadgets and he’s a perfectly normal and well adjusted kid.
Now I don’t want to manage, I just want. Want! Want! Want!
So I bought.
I picked up a Hooter Hider which is FABULOUS, if ridiculously overpriced for a piece of material. Because I am so utterly spoiled Auntie Fearthainn bought me this . I also picked up a Peanut Shell sling which I am still trying to get the hang of, but I was dying to have a sling. I have a baby bjorn but I find that because the babe is right in front you tend to whack them over the head if you’re trying to do anything.
We also picked up Callum some Kid Bandz and a larger swimmer since the weather has finally decided to co-operate and provide us with weather that matches the season.
We went to Kradles Baby Boutique in Courtenay, a dangerous little jewel of a store. We also went to Uptown Yarns, another dangerous little jewel of a store and I picked up a stash of Debbie Bliss Cashmirro for a steal.
Overall, I’m pleased.

Freedom. And guilt.

I just put the little guy to bed and sent Steve off with Claire-bear in tow to mingle with his visiting family with an ounce of breastmilk and 4 ounces of formula. We have yet to give Claire formula but clearly I’m never going to produce enough breastmilk or have the time required to pump and feed solely breastmilk so formula is being introduced. I feel guilt. But as I have previously mentioned, I’m not cut out to be the sole giver of life. I need to be able to leave Claire with Steve. That might take me out of the running for Mother-of-the-Year but who cares. Trophies are tacky and don’t match my decore.
And Callum gave me a gift certificate for a massage for Mother’s Day so clearly, I’ll need to leave Claire for several hours very soon in order to not hurt my son’s feelings. He would demand that I get that massage, I’m sure.
I have a post brewing in my head, just need to find the time to get it to the computer. We’re crazy busy with back-to-back company until mid-June and then we’re into serious summer plans. ‘Tis the season.

Happy Mother’s Day

I had intended to go to bed over two hours ago, but those that are wee decided otherwise and here I sit listening to the laundry being laundered and the dishes being cleaned (I love that this is the generation I live in – dishes are being cleaned while I type. Fabulous.) Everyone else has managed to get to bed and I’m left to put the house to sleep. The same everyone else who managed to get nap for 2 hours this afternoon while I cleaned bathrooms, did the filing and sorted said laundry.
It’s a strange thing, this motherhood. I find that the dull, the daily, the never-ending chores are really only a small portion of my day. The rest of my day? Pretty fabulous.
Yesterday a few girlfriends and I celebrated mother’s day with a picnic by the lake complete with wine, cheese and our babes. Tomorrow my mother-in-law will meet Claire-bear for the first time. All-in-all, mother’s day weekend has turned out to be quite lovely.

I wouldn’t say no to a maid, or a dog-walker, or a hired hitman to kill a certain cat (ok, I might say no to that. Maybe) but at the end of the day I think this is a pretty terrific job.