Code 11

Emmett's mom fires up her uncanny knack for anticipating Kodak moments and captures a textbook example of bilateral nasal ejecta. And early evidence of Emmett's commitment to recycling.

Hi ho, hi ho...

...it's back to work she goes. With her suits a little tight and a babe up at night, hi ho, it's back to work she goes.

Today marks the last day of maternity leave for Emmett's mom.

In order to help her cope with the transition, Emmett planned an action packed day for his mom. He sent her off to get a latte first thing in the morning, followed by some retail therapy at MEC while he was at the daycare for an hour. Lunch was at Rocky's with Auntie Clare,

followed by one of their long walks around the neighbourhood, stopping at the grocery store, the playground, and of course, the swings.

Emmett has made some new friends at daycare, and appears to be unfazed by the latest transition.

Until he realized that someone else would be changing his diaper and wiping his bum.

The next generation of phones

Emmett's parents have not quite caught up to the newest in telephone technology. His dad just got a cellphone in the past year, and his mom carries one from the late 1990's. Blackberry, iPhone, and iPads are all a little too daunting. Emmett doesn't seem to mind...yet. At the very least, his parents have figured out how to send text messages. Emmett was pretty darn excited to see the text from his dad this weekend, sent all the way from Ontario. One day, Emmett will figure out he has Luddites for parents. Until then, he's just happy to see his mom's cell phone light up.

The power of a Rocky's burger

On Monday, Emmett sampled his first Rocky's burger.

His Auntie Clare had to stop him from eating all of hers. Rocky's is a confirmed hit with the youngest StranMcCann. His parents are thrilled.

However, his post burger nap was not to be. Either Emmett had indigestion, was super fueled by the enormous hit of protein, or was just chomping at the bit to get back to Rocky's.

Whatever the reason...Emmett has just figured up how to pull himself up to standing while in his crib. Time to lower the crib. Or teach Emmett to get back down on his own. Or put chicken wire over his bed. That might thwart his escape efforts.

Day at the Farm

With his pincer grasp well practiced, Emmett proved to be an ideal companion for strawberry picking at Bucklers U-Pick farm.

However, keeping the strawberries in the bucket instead of his mouth proved to be a challenge. Emmett returned home at least 5 lbs heavier. Fortunately, the farmer was in another part of the field, and didn't catch Emmett (or his mom) snitching the berries.

Eleven months old

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats may be looking for a new home. Alanis Morissette and her husband, rapper Mario "Souleye" Treadway, are expecting a baby. A wheat shortage in eastern Europe is starting to push up the price of bread in Canada. But even more tragic, there's an ice cream shortage in New Brunswick, thanks to the Farmers Dairy strike in Nova Scotia. And Emmett, increasingly difficult to pin down for a photo op, celebrates his eleven month birthday.

Like mother, like son?

Emmett's mom, circa September 1974.

Emmett, circa August 2010. (Minus the gingham.)

A successful experiment...

...that yielded negative results. Camping.

Emmett convinced his parents to take him camping last week, so they loaded up the car, rented a large tent, packed their camping and hiking gear, and drove due south to Waterton Lakes National Park. Not only is it one of their favourite places, it's also where Emmett's parents were engaged.

Emmett pitched in and helped his dad set up the tent.

They finished just before a wicked storm hit, complete with monsoon wind and torrential rain. They all took cover in the tent.

Emmett didn't seem that fazed as the sides of the tent heaved with the wind. He merely glanced up at the nylon roof, pointed, and went back to his book.

The storm passed, the rain stopped, the wind died down, and all was looking good. Emmett got ready for bed, bunking down in a snowsuit, since he didn't have his own sleeping bag. The fact that he was immobilized in the suit was a bonus for his parents.

Unfortunately, when it's 17 degrees outside at night, a snowsuit is not really necessary to keep a baby warm. Emmett woke up screaming at midnight, and every two hours after that. Turns out, it wasn't just the snowsuit giving him the sweats, but the onset of his three day fever. Emmett's parents are sure Emmett is a camper at heart, and will try again...maybe when he's 16.

Holy Roseola, Batman

Emmettilius stranmccannii met Exanthema subitum this week, putting an unfortunate crimp in some vacation plans. The up side is that Emmett gets to scratch disease #6 from the list of six rash-causing childhood diseases. Unfortunately, diseases #1 through #5 (Scurvy, Consumption, Rabies, Cooties, and Gout) remain in the on-deck circle.

As a public service, in the spirit of the pox party Emmett's parents have offered to host a 'Roseola Rave' for the neighbourhood kids in which all are invited to lick Emmett's rash. Strangely, the RSVP's have yet to materialize.