365 days later

Emmett celebrates the end of his first full circuit around the sun with a splashy introduction to refined sugar. He also uses the accompanying media attention to showcase his revolutionary new guilt-free technique for eating birthday cupcakes: Grip cake firmly, extract chocolate juice, discard husk. Zero sugar, zero calories, all taste.

Emmett's first 'report' card

Emmett has survived his first week of daycare. In fact, Emmett appears to be unfazed by the change, and barely says goodbye to his dad in the morning before crawling off to play with his new friends Kingston, Hugo, Cate, Katherine and Nolan. Emmett's mom has survived her first week back to work (barely). Unlike Emmett, she is a bit stunned and incoherent back in the land of adults. Fortunately, her boss does not give out daily reports like the caregivers at daycare do.

(and yes, she was insanely jealous to discover that Emmett got a grilled cheese sandwich for lunch on his first day).

It seems Emmett has learned a few new tricks from his new daycare pals, including how to style his own hair...

use the toilet...

and how to transfer blocks from one place to another.

If only they could teach him how to wipe his own nose.

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.