Happy Holidays from StranMcCann

(Yes, Oscar is tucked in there too...look closely, you can see a head & hand)

Merry Christmas from all of us (including T-Rex).

Two months old

"No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite."
Nelson Mandela, July 18,1918-December 5, 2013 

Another winter blizzard descends on the city, resulting in the first 'red alert' ambulance shortage. 
Canada says it will try to extend its territorial claims in the Arctic all the way to the North Pole. Mourners black and white, flock to Mandela's mansion and transform it into a shrine. North Korea produces an unprecedented political moment on state television as the uncle of dictator Kim Jong-un was grabbed from his seat at a party meeting and escorted out of the hall. And Oscar celebrates his two month birthday.

How to make a new mama weep...

...with happiness?
Deliver her some MamaLuv.

Happy Mama = Happy family.
(Huge thanks, Uncy Blair and Auntie Lindsay!)

Snowpants

The best way to get a stubborn four year old to get his snowpants on?
Create a "Lightning McQueen" reflective lightning bolt patch out of duct tape for his pants.

 

Now the challenge might be getting the pants off of said four year old.

Pajama Day

Blizzard warning in effect.
An intense winter storm which began in Northwestern Alberta on Saturday continues to affect most of Central and Southern Alberta. General amounts of 15 to 25 centimetres of snow is expected to fall in most areas by Tuesday morning. Higher accumulations, however, can be expected in parts of the foothills.Wind northwest 50 km/h gusting to 70km/h. Low minus 17. Wind chill minus 29.

 

It's the first major storm of the season, wrecking havoc on streets and highways, and cancelling over 80 flights at the airport.

A forecast like this can only mean one thing for Oscar and his mom.
Pajama Day.
(Although, truthfully, every day is Pajama Day for Oscar.)

Pet Names

Conversation overheard at StranMcCann recently:

Mommy: "Emmett, my pet name for you has always been 'Monkey'. But I can't call Oscar 'Monkey' too. What should my pet name be for him?"

Emmett (two second pause): "Alligator".

Alligator it is.
(Unfortunately, 'Alligator' doesn't roll off the tongue as easily as 'Monkey' does...)

Selfie

In a week when Oxford Dictionaries crowns 'selfie' the 2013 Word Of The Year, Emmett's mom sees fit to provide a how2 tutorial on self-photography.

Androgenic alopecia for O. Stranmccannii

Poor Oscar.
He came into the world with a full head of hair.

Now at the ripe old age of 6 weeks, it appears he is suffering from Androgenic alopecia, otherwise known as "early onset male pattern baldness."

Fortunately, he has lots of hair on his face, which distracts most onlookers from his receding hairline.

Baby parts

One Month Old

Typhoon Haiyan leaves up to 10,000 dead in the Philippines. Miss Venezuela is crowed Miss Universe in Moscow. Kansas boy is suspended from school for carrying a purse to class. The Canadian Senate scandal continues. Rob Ford - crackhead. Ticats beat the Alouettes in OT thriller to reach East final. 1-tonne GOCE satellite falls to Earth. It's Movember, and mustaches are sprouting on faces everywhere to raise awareness for prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health. And Oscar celebrates his one month birthday.

 

Brothers

4 weeks and 2 lbs later

He's been on the planet exactly four weeks, and has put on two full pounds, bringing his weight up to 9 lbs 7 oz. Must be all the food he is getting from his Mommy, Auntie Clare, Daddy and Emmett.

Farewell to AJ

Like his big brother before him, one of the most significant women in Oscar's short life (besides his mom) was A.J. the doula.  A.J. was on the scene minutes after Oscar was born to help his mom with breastfeeding, comforting him, recognizing his cues, and making sure mom and dad were getting enough sleep. Her time with Oscar, Emmett and his parents has come to an end after three weeks of postpartum support. It had to happen, but Oscar has mixed feelings about losing his cuddle time with A.J.

Visitors from the Stran side of StranMcCann

Oscar meets his first blood relatives from the Stran side of StranMcCann. Representing the G1's, Aunt Betty and Uncle Bill arrive for some cuddles and to inspect the latest G3 of the clan. Oscar puts on his best behaviour, cooing, cuddling and resists the temptation to cry while they are on his turf.  The smokescreen works. They dub him "perfect". Little do they know that upon their departure, his behaviour reverts to that of a typical baby.

Halloween

Halloween 2013 chez StranMcCann

A red hot chili Pepper. Completely unimpressed with his costume.

A Kangaroo and his Joey.

 

A red hot chili pepper and a kangaroo getting ready to hit the streets

Trick or Treaters

A Whoopee Cushion who stayed behind to shell out. Unfortunately, the humour of her costume was lost on the audience at the front door. "What are you, a Popsicle?"