tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30750822011-04-21T23:42:35.105ZGemma & Liv's BlogBits of news since July 2001gregnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1021100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-42776103610953644882007-11-10T18:55:00.000Z2007-11-10T18:58:31.951ZFoxy and Kitty are over, and we've bribed out way to a silence of sort with El Dorado.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-40705679272448215682007-07-05T21:15:00.001Z2007-07-05T21:15:56.559ZGemma and Liv are counting the days until Gabrielle and Sofia come to town.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-85306849011250589442007-06-04T22:18:00.000Z2007-06-04T22:24:23.202ZWent to Hayward on Sunday to see the Antony Gormley show.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1140735185640391222006-02-23T22:46:00.000Z2006-02-23T23:13:28.890ZHalf-term was bookended a few days later with a long weekend in Paris. First night in and the girls were in bed, all comfy and quiet, by midnight, so that was a result. On Thursday we bundled onto the 69 bus which crawled/sped its way through town to the Eiffel Tower, so of course, we obliged. Mad Hatter Tea rides? Flying Dumbos in the air? Cutting edge, in that 50s kind of way, amusement park gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1139762620221412602006-02-12T16:43:00.000Z2006-02-23T22:45:46.270ZKicked off Gemma's first half-term with a weekend with Fred and Harry in Stroud. Went of a stroll on the countryside, recorded a few demos on Garageband and had a Gemma/Harry sleepover in the bunkbed.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1132921539084730392005-11-25T12:22:00.000Z2005-11-25T12:48:49.686ZThe howlin' winds are upon us, and so new coats are on the girls.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1132873130062468082005-11-24T22:50:00.000Z2005-11-25T12:48:09.700ZNo one lurves a satsuma like Liv; they are the new black. Plop one in front of her, turn your back for a sec, and it's peeled and steamrollered into her mouth. Earlier this week she wolfed down five one day and now they're kept out of sight.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1131664022015502582005-11-10T23:04:00.000Z2005-11-10T23:07:02.026ZGemma, Liv and I had an extensive slo-mo dance to Music for Airports tonight. The power of imitation and coordinated movements calmed the joint down and was a nice transition to bedtime.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1130887398672702992005-10-31T20:55:00.000Z2005-11-01T23:32:44.470ZGemma and Liv capitalised on Mark's knee operation by hitting Kensington-by-the-Sea, home of one of the UK's best fish and chips shops (sampled, can't disagree) Europe's largest poetry festival (who knew? And who counts?) a pretty, pebbly beach Mark's borrowed house for a week or soPity was in short supply as we shuffled Mark and down the high street and onto wobbly surfaces, but we all found gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1125524306441896522005-08-31T21:34:00.000Z2005-08-31T21:38:26.446ZGemma held a discussion about seasons today, declaring that winter, followed by autumn, are her favourites. Summer falls down the list because the sun is too bright. We agreed the best things about winter are: Christmas Going to Montreal to see friends and family Playing in the snow Skating Skiing Having winter food The bluest blue skies of the year Bundling up inside Snowballsgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1125524795334898052005-08-29T22:39:00.000Z2005-09-04T13:33:23.510ZA Bank holiday weekend, and a social one at that for the girls. Kingsley, Freddy and Harry barrelled into town for a couple of nights, with a little sport action on TV during the day. The lads are all in good form, and particularly good humoured with the clamouring for attention from Gemma and Liv.Todler Isaac turned two so it was off to see him and family on Sunday for some celebration and gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1122929287306664892005-08-01T20:38:00.000Z2005-08-01T20:48:07.316ZThe gals went if for some "lifestyle" sports today, with a couple of firsts: Gemma took her first tennis lesson. Lots of hopping around, not a lot of sweet spot connecting, presumably fun. And later in the day she got her first bike (slightly overdue birthday present), and hence, her first bike ride. Liv used the tennis time to go for a splash.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1118354044970891702005-06-09T21:41:00.000Z2005-06-09T21:54:26.080ZLiv's expanding vocabulary:The quiddity of birds gets translated into "duck"Cat: ditto, any smallish animal with furClock: a couple of hands, it ticks, markers for every 5 minutes...it's peggedgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1116182916567696422005-05-15T18:31:00.000Z2005-05-15T18:54:53.996Z"Let's talk about my days on the 'puter" said Gemma. "OK. you talk, and I'll type.""I have a finger out; what can we do with my finger? I want to do something with my finger". It hovered over the keyboard."I'll type, it'll be faster. What did you do today?""Had breakfast and had my milk, and then go to the gym.""What did you do at the gym?""I went swimming, on the slide, did some paddling, playedgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1116151378148530992005-05-14T10:01:00.000Z2005-05-15T18:50:34.840ZGemma's Word of the Day/Week/Month: Why?gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1115317999594759432005-05-05T18:20:00.000Z2005-05-05T18:41:09.733Z"What I did today" by Gemma, as dictated to your tireless correspondent:"I woke up and I had breakfast, I had my milk, I got dressed and then I go (sic) to school. I played a game, made a story when someone read to us. After school I came home, had lunch and then I went to a gym with Liv and Mummy. I played at the gym: cars, houses, putting clothes on dolls. Then I went to Foxy's and played theregregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1114556580826396952005-04-26T22:30:00.000Z2005-04-26T23:24:17.043ZSurfing seniors are a good thing, one guesses. In our family's case we can rest easy knowing publishers of anything that combines Scotland, the monarchy and/or 20th C military history can meet any site traffic targets they have. Book, travel, flight arrival schedules and weather sites also get a look in, and fat photo files wing their way from one broadband person to another. Sometimes the odd gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1113344179380187012005-04-12T22:09:00.000Z2005-04-12T22:16:19.380Zgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1093885351161805912004-08-30T17:02:00.000Z2004-08-30T23:28:03.390ZNo, no, no. For someone so smiley and happy, Liv's adoption of a firm head shake to suggest she doesn't want to do something has been unexpected. When it's applied to cut off more food, it's even more surprising. gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1091371575393488272004-08-01T14:46:00.000Z2004-08-02T00:05:55.236ZSummer has finally kicked in, and with it, Gemma's increasingly nuanced expectations on what she should be doing. It's no longer enough to decide to go to the park; now which park is the equally important question. With rapidly expanded vocabulary in tow, her latent bossiness potential is being exploited.
Meanwhile Liv is bursting to bust a move. An embryonic bum shuffle, combined with rolling, gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1088375357476271602004-06-27T21:57:00.000Z2004-06-27T22:29:17.476ZOur first four person family vacation is behind us (not including trips to see grandparents) with a successful jaunt to Crete. Pools, beaches, spacious enough accommodations, remote controlled air conditioning, incomprehensible commentary during Euro 2004 matches and hot weather far outweighed the local market cartel prohibiting non-Greek wines and, arguably, a certain been-there-done-that to thegregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1086019640531035712004-05-31T15:54:00.000Z2004-06-27T21:57:12.146ZGemma and I scooted over the Thames today to visit one of the planets new inhabitants, Erik and Steph's son Jack. A bruising 10 pound 4 ouncer at birth, lil' Rusty's settling into a good eat and sleep routine, it would seem, and all's pretty calm for first time parents.
While some ferocious tennis was played yesterday afternoon, the Gemma, Liv and Lucy girls and mothers hung out at the flat, gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1085472414456975922004-05-25T07:48:00.000Z2004-05-25T19:44:02.840ZRolling has become a semi-regular Liv activity; she doesn't always know what to do with that pesky arm which prevents a fluid flip, but a 75% turn puts the world in a new perspective.
Gemma's future web surfing gets a boost this week with the first class photos. The painting, dancing, reading and behaving routine from school continues, with a tight knit group of friends forming the basis for gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1082320678887010742004-04-18T20:27:00.000Z2004-04-18T20:41:54.700ZLiv turned six months old today, and Gemma and Kathy's combined kitchen prowess resulted in a couple of lemon cakes. Isaac, Paul and Jenn came over for a late, lazy lunch. A Moroccan leg of lamb barbecue required rain-induced emergency tranfer to the oven, but with more sympathetic weather (and Cuban style steaks) Friday night, this weekend marks the first outdoor grilling of the season.
gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1082066589483946612004-04-15T20:07:00.000Z2004-04-15T22:31:56.403ZWhat a load of firsts: food, family, flights... tardy updates mean a bit more news.
Liv's had her first bits of solid food, and laps it up enough, although not a) as much as Gemma did, or b) enough to quell those midnight feeds. So the pounds are packing and she's reached the 15 pound mark in about, oooh, 10 months less than in took her sister. At around the same time she's been having her gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1079043751807482432004-03-11T21:44:00.000Z2004-03-11T22:30:00.483ZLiv had a quick health clinic checkup today, and is bobbing below the 50th percentile in weight at 13.9 lb / 6.4 kilos. It's fair to say it took Gemma a little longer to get to this level. Chubby cheeks make for massive smiles, which are erupting all over the place. Sometimes the rare-enough whines are merely a call for attention - once Liv locks eyes it's all cooing and sweetness. Biggest grins gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1077233029225539872004-02-19T22:18:00.000Z2004-02-19T23:58:22.936ZTesting, testing 1,2; 1,2. Ehem. We're back. Lessee, since the last update: Liv's picked almost doubled her weight, Gemma's talking up a storm, Christmas, visitors, a few weekend trips...
Studious readers of the Gemma Weblog (as it was) will know that Gemma's early days and nights were not tarnished with a whole lotta sleep, despite the relief from unexpected quarters. Liv's not been so gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1068024869277942912003-11-05T09:34:00.000Z2003-11-05T09:34:45.890ZLiv's been piling on the grams and shot past her birth weight after a week or so, now hovering at over three kilos. Due,of course, to steady feeding and a complete lack of exercise; other than craning her neck around to take in some sights, sleep pretty much dictates the day's activities.
We've been testing doublekid transport options, starting with what will be a short-lived experiment with a gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1067351386125669822003-10-28T14:29:00.000Z2003-10-28T14:29:52.640ZUber-guests The Boys have moved in for the week, and living up to their reputation - more cooking meals, escorting Gemma to the park, stints of babysitting and other daily life-easing activities. Lucy also popped by on the weekend, giving the gals a chance to hang out, if not exactly together, at least in the same room. Liv got a quick look in from both, but then it was off to the toys.
Gemma gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1067100047098555532003-10-25T16:26:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:25:56.623ZNot much news bigger than this: late in the evening of Saturday, October 18, Gemma got a new baby sister, Liv. Everyone's in great health, Gemma has been modestly, and increasingly, interested in her new sibling, and sleep hasn't been too scarce, so far. Liv is a big dozer and a good eater.
And while Liv was making her evenly paced way into the world, was Gemma fraught with tension? Um, no. She gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1065899020847911952003-10-11T18:58:00.000Z2003-10-11T19:24:35.586ZGemma got her Canadian citizenship card in the mail today (no need to take the test). Her card has a snapshot with her hair in ruffian-chic mode. Next stop: passport. We celebrated at lunch with Lucy and KP, and later this afternoon with a swift one down at the pub; a little OJ for the newly minted Canuck, and a Pride for the ol' man.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1064764142310587682003-09-28T15:36:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:27:42.733ZA busy weekend for Gemma so far. Friday saw the extension of pal Bella's day visit into an evening jostling around the living room and a partial sleepover, as parents Anna and Dom came for dinner.
Saturday? A bit of Humpty Dumpty dives into the big pool swimming lessons, a romp around Waterstone's children's book section with Rio and co., and dinner with Paul, Jenn and Isaac and assorted guestsgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1062794283609940192003-09-05T20:38:00.000Z2003-09-05T20:38:51.006ZA few new skills and games:
Correctly identifies most main colours, says a few of them too
Enthusiastic blowing of bubbles in pools, bath, cups
An emerging interest in having things counted
gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1062591480945472872003-09-03T12:18:00.000Z2003-09-03T12:18:00.933ZDespite a spotty history with large bodies of water, Gemma's taken to her recent swimming lessons with reckless enthusiasm and abandonment (the latter when falling over the poolside into the barely ready arms of her mother. She's using the gear to good effect. Getting the hair wet it a different proposition: Gemma doesn't seem to mind getting completely dunked underwater, surfacing to the gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1061992977535904412003-08-27T14:02:00.000Z2003-08-29T13:26:42.076ZIt's another jab day for Gemma, just to add to the two year old woes resting on her shoulders. Turns out being two has its traumas, the source of which is usually hard to detect to the trained eye, but easy to see and hear the effects. Overcoming the stress can be quite easy... a plane flying overhead is often enough to quell the cries. Getting some food in is also good, but not always the gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1061106398479164152003-08-17T07:46:00.000Z2003-08-17T14:30:21.786ZThe heat has finally broken, much to everyone's relief. Lucy and family bombed over yesterday for a little fun and frolick in the backyard and around the house. This morning we were out at Felix's second birthday with a sizable portion of the Canadian ex-pat community - lots of kiddie action in pretty nice surroundings.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1059058961108840862003-07-24T15:02:00.000Z2003-07-24T15:16:31.273ZAhhh, summer and Gemma's at le Shack. The weather's a little so-so with drizzle giving rise to some stir craziness, but hanging out with Gabrielle and Sofia has been fun. A little kayaking here, some group reading there...
Last weekend the cousins all congregated in Montreal for some running around, with each of the boys picking their little British relative up around the waist to stumble gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-1058118190131814222003-07-13T17:43:00.000Z2003-07-13T17:43:10.110ZWhew - it's been a while. Nana/Ann/Mum arrived just in time for Gemma's big 0-2 birthday celebrations. A dessert-heavy menu was sampled by Bonar, Nicholas, Alexandra, Charlie, Felix, assorted parents and adults. A little running around, some road testing of the terrible two moniker and nice gifts. No loot bags though. Are we the pariahs of children party etiquette? The subject of malicious gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-958259202003-06-19T13:23:00.000Z2003-06-19T13:23:30.946ZMaybe the local eating habits are filtering through early, but Gemma did not inherit her current love of baked beans from her father, who was not keen on this "vegetable" when he was little. I guess this means Gemma's grandparents will not have to resort to the cheap, long-running series of gags they played: hide one small-but-symbolically enormous bean under a fried egg to be discovered half waygregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-956941872003-06-15T21:31:00.000Z2003-06-15T21:49:50.000ZFather's Day no. 2 and this time the theme was books. Interesting and useful ones at that. The first generates food for the mind, in the form of the Dictionary of Euphemisms - How Not To Say What You Mean. It's hard to cite this gift and sound sincere in saying I'm finding it interesting. The other involves food for the stomach, and the River Cafe's "Easy" cookbook. I have to point out that gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-955214692003-06-10T20:59:00.000Z2003-06-10T21:02:56.000ZNo doubt about it, Gemma's practicing for her teenage employment years, with most meals now incorporating a tea party with the pig, cat and bunny (who are called "Pig", "Cat" and "Bunny"). Cups, saucers, teapots and sugar bowls are used, and if we're lucky, this provides enough distraction for Gemma to pop a bite or two into her mouth. Just don't try putting a green cup on a red saucer without gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-951943902003-06-02T15:25:00.000Z2003-06-10T21:11:46.000ZIt's been a few months of SW UK centric activity. During the recent long weekend Gemma, Lucy and the respective families heading up to Blenheim Palace for a stroll around the grounds, and a quick run through the home (as patience was running low by the end of the afternoon). Later that weekend, the same gang descended on the more local Chiswick House, where ducks were quacked at, every second gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-904755282003-03-10T20:30:00.000Z2003-05-10T16:51:09.000ZHow cool are Lemon Jelly? In a move that would have maybe elicited a mild raised eyebrow of curiosity two years ago, the band played a children's matinee on Saturday: you could only get in if you had an under-12 with you. With shared ambition, and possibly different expectations, Gemma and I lined up at 11:00 to open up a new chapter of father-daughter activity. Clowns, ballons galore, face gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-899673002003-03-01T21:04:00.000Z2003-03-01T21:32:50.000ZGrandad John, extra-refreshed from his bumped up flight from Montreal, arrived Wednesday morning for a few weeks in London and around the island. This afternoon we all packed up to the British Museum and checked out the Albrecht Durer exhibit. Perhaps more exciting for Gemma, we followed this was a leisurely lunch at Manderin Kitchen, where noodles, monkfish, chicken and asparagus were eagerly gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-898638562003-02-27T22:32:00.000Z2003-02-27T22:37:13.000ZFred, Harry, Kingley and Clare slummed it in London last weekend, their first family visit to our place since vamoosing to the countryside last year. Ferg was also in from Ottawa, and made sure that nation's capital held its own in any discussion regarding the slow and steady march of drink. A few pints, a G&T or two, a little wine, a whiskey, maybe an Averna amongst friends... all fuel for the gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-893995642003-02-20T00:51:00.000Z2003-02-20T00:51:54.176ZHej! Just back from a great weekend with Pooh, Emma and Eero in Stockholm. Gemma napped the whole way up, an unexpected and not unwelcome bit of quiet on the plane (perhaps eased into it by a lack of nervous hubbub at Heathrow, reports to the contrary). Hanging out with Pooh is pretty good for Gemma and other family members: thousands of toys and PS2.
gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-871873682003-01-09T22:59:00.000Z2003-02-11T00:02:36.000ZHelllloooo 2003. It's been a blur of pre-Christmas socialising, tripping across the Atlantic for fun and snow and settling into a January routine.
The year rocketed off to a start with a meal (leg o') and a video (Anniversary Party) whilst staying at The Boys (tm) place in Toronto.
gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-853503392002-12-02T00:24:00.000Z2002-12-02T14:09:36.000ZDeciding naps were optional, Gemma went to the Tate on Sunday to see the Barnett Newman exhibition (which brought on memories of a Canadian uproar when the national gallery bought "a painting with stripes", complete with "I could have done that" level of criticism). Well, the politicos didn't, Barnett did, and the Tate slapped them up. Impressive, but not as impressive as the Anish Kapoor gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-852933642002-11-30T14:16:00.000Z2002-11-30T15:34:00.000ZWhoops. November has pretty much vamoosed its way out of 2002 without updated Gemma related news and views. She's had a busy month, with what is becoming an annual fall mini-vacance en Paris. This time we stayed in the 3rd arrondissement, convenient as we usually end up there anyway. On the sunny day I was in a conference, paying to watch a bunch of industry executives talk about their companies gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-837280442002-10-29T18:35:00.000Z2002-10-29T18:35:04.240ZGemma's moving on to a very cute sounding "mummy" while sticking with an old skool "dada". I increasingly have to comfort myself with a two week old incident when she moved into give (formerly-known-as) Mama a kiss, only to fake her out at the last second and plant one on me instead.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-835902442002-10-27T12:34:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:33:43.623ZThat ridge? It's still a ridge. And that lack of wailing? Things haven't been quite so quiet and the drool has intensified, so all signs point to an explosion of teeth, except for the teeth themselves. While at a friend's place yesterday Gemma did find and play with another girl's toothbrush, so at least she has aspirations. On the upside, no cavities.
The first family visitor since we moved wasgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-825649772002-10-05T19:09:00.000Z2002-10-05T19:09:37.210ZIt only took 15 months, but the telltale sharp ridge along those gums indicates that a tooth is about to break out. After using teething as an excuse for all inexplicable crying for the last six months, we think we're there (without, as it turns out, that much wailing). Now looking forward to an explosion of molars. And speaking of mouths: Gemma walks, she talks. "Cat" is now joined by reasonablegregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-818411952002-09-19T21:58:00.000Z2002-09-24T11:02:21.000ZEver since those first few steps in Vancouver, Gemma's been walking, and it's now becoming her normal mode of transport (although when she absolutely has to be there, it's still the crawl). The style's a little erratic, but fun to watch.
Last night there was a sumo-esque, diapers-only rumble with mate Lucy, whose high-verbal mother is making sure the vocab is making strides - and it is. The gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-813775842002-09-09T23:26:00.000Z2003-03-14T00:03:09.000ZWe're baaack; two weeks on the West Coast - LA & BC - and 24 hours of consolidated airplane time later. We're sure Gemma was a hit, as measured by those earnest smiles from passengers repressing a look of doom: the coin toss of our seating determining their likelihood of arriving in California as fresh as possible 11 hours later. Her concerns about deep vein thrombosis meant Gemma needed to gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-804476512002-08-19T22:22:00.000Z2002-08-19T22:22:01.256ZWhile Gemma's been sleeping, it's been a 24-fest around here. Although we faithfully watched the first 7-8 hours when broadcast on the beeb, we missed a bunch of episodes when travelling with a broken VCR and pretty much lost the plot. Thanks to the mindful programmers at BBC Choice, all 23 episodes leading into la grande finale were re-broadcast last week, four or five a night, giving us a gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-799868692002-08-08T16:28:00.000Z2002-08-08T16:28:03.993ZNew party trick: say "what do fish say" to Gemma and she purses her lips together and makes a suction noise. Quite funny, although she doesn't always do it on command when stangers are around. gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-796128332002-07-30T21:59:00.000Z2002-08-08T16:22:28.000ZIt's the waning days of July, and in the nick if time, summer weather has arrived in London. Fans are twirling, meals are eaten outside and Gemma is sleeping in her diaper. The fact that June and the first half of July were write-offs is starting to slip away. Our planned UK holiday (well, nothing was really planned but the idea was there) was scotched at the last minute and we opted for a week gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-788811982002-07-12T22:18:00.000Z2002-07-12T23:13:27.000ZOnwards and upwards. Literally. From rolling to commando crawling, furniture cruising to high speed scambling across the floor. And this week Gemma adds stair climbing to the mix. It started with the beginner's trek from kitchen to living room ... four or five well spaced wooded stairs, the peak within easy site, generating a quick win for that sense of accomplishment, repeat a few times to make gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-781715842002-06-25T10:12:00.000Z2002-06-25T10:13:13.000ZUsing the principles of sound scientific enquiry (observable phenomenon, repeatable in controlled circumstances, measurable results not accountable by random variables, statistical significance etc.) I think we can safely say Gemma is demonstrating some solid and complex verbal-physio skills. Plop a ball somewhere on the floor, say "get the ball, get the ball" and she'll motor over, grab and/or gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-781076842002-06-23T22:23:00.000Z2002-06-23T23:13:48.000ZJune 23rd, and Gemma turned one today. To extend this special day she got up before seven, had an economical morning nap and decided to skip the afternoon one altogether. The morning was marked with lots of crawling around, at increasing speed these days; Gemma especially likes a little chase around the dining room table. At noon Lucy, her parents, her grandmother Lynn, Sophie and Felix and theirgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-780699082002-06-22T18:32:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:38:04.996ZA year ago today to this minute I was on the way home from a few post-work pints on a hot Friday evening. A bit of gossip, discussion about the upcoming tennis, and the acknowledgment that we should squeeze in as many social/cultural things as possible as the baby was due in one month's time were all yakked about. That night we had a artichoke n' tomato pasta, watched a little TV, went to bed gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-774668472002-06-07T16:34:00.000Z2002-06-07T17:07:28.000ZIt's a riotous afternoon in London as England whipped Argentina 1-0, with some nailbiting lack-of-possession for the last 20 minutes of the game. Gemma's been digging the World Cup scene, her first, and has extended her athletic abilities by racing around the room on a push-walking contraption. Mighty pleased with herself she it, too. On the betting front, a further three, count 'em, three poundsgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-772984402002-06-03T19:35:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:40:03.716ZJust past the halfway mark of Jubilee weekend, when we get another day added to the bank holiday to celebrate 50 years on the job. Gemma celebrated by watching Eng-ger-land tie Sweden 1-1in the first round of the World Cup. Luckily she and her dad made an opportune trip to the local bookie the day before, placed a few bets and made 22 pounds off a two pound investment. Not sure whether to gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-771558952002-05-30T21:24:00.000Z2002-05-30T23:06:24.000ZFirst, after another inexplicable lapse in updating, a few physical accomplishments:1) Gemma climbed her first set of stairs today, casually scaling the four or five steps from the kitchen to the living room, followed by a romp across the floor. Normally when she does something new she beams with pride and makes sure you notice. This Qui Cares attitude may a tactic to make us believe that baby gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-763815242002-05-10T03:18:00.000Z2002-05-10T03:18:37.723ZHeuuw boy, the diaries have fallen behind again. Diving right in, Gemma finds herself in Montreal, where she arrived this evening, met by grinning grandparents and flashbulbs. With memories of ripped up in-flight magazines still fresh it took a few minutes to switch on the charm, but by the time we were home it started spilling out. Alison and Big Cuz Hudson, smashing in his tai kwon do gear, gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-755609262002-04-18T21:42:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:45:33.546ZOh la la it's been a long time since we last updated. Resting on laurels? No new developments? Er, no.
Gemma's got a brand new pad. And a new pad means a new bedroom. In fact, in the Gemma Nation, new bedroom = first bedroom. It's spacious, it has pink, it has textures and it has a door. Slap up a lightsucking blind, keep her active during the day and the nights are a sleeping quasi-paradise. gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-105310192002-03-08T18:50:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:47:19.966ZIt's Grandpa John's birthday today - no doubt he'd appreciate a few hellloooos.
Last night we experienced the full brunt of the NHS health care woes. Gemma woke up with a high fever, followed by throwing up, followed by parental anxiety, swiftly followed by a trip to the emergency room at the nearby hospital, in turn followed by molasses-paced nonchalence at the hospital. In fairness this was gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-102998242002-03-02T15:08:00.000Z2002-03-02T18:14:04.000ZIt's mobility madness. After a few weeks of sitting with decreasing amounts of support, Gemma is now sitting herself up, playing, flapping those arms and generally quite pleased with herself (well, she's nonchalant about it until a camera comes out, and then it's all boastful smiles). She's also getting good at standing, when supported by fingers or ledges.
New on the food front? Some rice cakesgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-100817282002-02-25T00:26:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:49:18.356ZLet's see: Gemma's born, and less than 12 months later Canada wins it's first Olympic hockey gold medal in 50 years. Coincidence? Perhaps, but one can't argue that she hurt the cause. The game was actually broadcast during the prime evening hours on the BBC, and while they managed to avoid their 1998 term "ice hockey boots" representing, I would guess, skates, they did ceaselessly refer to gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-98207762002-02-17T19:34:00.000Z2002-02-17T19:38:29.000ZIt's an all Gemma health 'n appearance post:
Food. Gemma's been expanding the palate, building on the cereal base with a new range of fruits, veg and creative mixtures: peaches, apricots, broccoli - courgette blends etc. Soon she'll be onto chicken. Cruelly, this doesn't involve skin. A new Peg highchair has hit the kitchen making for easier access.
From food to haircare. Gemma's hair's been gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-97273262002-02-14T19:14:00.000Z2002-02-14T19:14:13.723ZGemma received her first Valentine's card in the mail today, from Felix and Sophie. Displaying dexterity with the scissors, she also made her first card for her dad, with a helpful photographic reminder of herself glued on the front. Sweet.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-96506522002-02-12T19:03:00.000Z2002-02-25T12:14:26.000ZGemma had both parents at her swimming session this afternoon, the new attendee toting along a video camera. Surely this invites a possible onslaught of visitors eager to see the film? Book your seats now.
gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-95498462002-02-09T16:44:00.000Z2002-02-09T18:07:04.000ZGemma news? Tons of it - the scales were creaking at the health clinic week when Gemma weighed in at 5.5 k / 12 lb 2 oz. Related to all this is all the food Gemma's eating: the usual cereals, plus a pureefest of sweet potatoes, parsnip, carrot, apple/pear, bananas and avocado. And a little facilitating juice. She's now up to three solid meals a day, and amazingly, as the volume and eating speed gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-85504002002-01-09T23:59:00.000Z2002-01-23T22:11:12.000ZThe Canadian Chronicles
It's early January and we're back in London, after a couple of weeks galavanting in Canada for the holidays. As I had to stick around for some for some euromeetings, Kathy and Gemma flew back to Montreal a few days before me. An exited Harris family met Gemma at the airport, flailing away to see who could hold her first, and remembering to bring the mother home as well. gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-77237072001-12-07T11:13:00.000Z2004-01-15T16:59:25.606ZOn the home front, Gemma's been busy playing, or more appropriately, trying to eat her toys. The days are filled moving her from one activity to another to stave off any chance of boredom, so we go from lying on the floor and rolling over, to bouncing in the Chicco, sitting on laps, maybe some Telly Tubby action and sneaking in a short nap here and there. And this sleeping in the evening businessgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-73172402001-11-22T10:43:00.000Z2001-11-22T11:03:00.000Z10:40: Gemma just had her two jabs and barely protested - not even one scream! That's it until she turns one. She's now out for a walk with Mum, hopefully grabbing a nap as well.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-73157832001-11-22T08:28:00.000Z2001-11-22T11:05:07.000ZIn further parent mobility news, last night saw the debut of our use of the Childminders service, where an uberqualified person gets matched up with uberfidgety parents. After half an hour of overly labourious instructions we dashed out and went for dinner at Monkeys, a throwback to some 1950's period movie with Albert Finney and ex Conservative cabinet ministers getting their chins wet with gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-70730102001-11-13T00:46:00.000Z2002-10-06T17:23:48.000ZGemma's has had another reasonable social calender recently. Last Tuesday we had Arndt and our neighbors Bill and Olun over for dinner, along with John Brown who was here on his final leg before returning to Montreal and on home. Later in the week, Kathy, Brett and Lucy came over for a little Moroccan cuisine, where Kathy got to drill questions to her heart's content, and have them patiently gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-68602912001-11-04T19:47:00.000Z2002-10-06T17:25:40.000ZGoodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon.
Pretty much have that one memorised at this point, although the point of "goodnight noises everywhere" is sometimes lost on the audience.
Gemma capped off her extended weekend in Paris with a final dinner at le Square Trouseau. One waiter was particularly pleased to find his youngest patron was a girl, and we able to munch downgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-66392222001-10-26T17:58:00.000Z2001-10-26T17:58:54.016ZGemma sends a hearty bonjour from Paris. We figure the last time she was here she a) was about a millimetre tall, and b) was status: unknown to her parents. This time (while I've been conferencing), she's been bouncing around the 6th arrondissement, moving north to the big department stores, baby bjorned around le Marais and successfully sleeping through two bistro dinners. The considerably more gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-65345602001-10-22T21:40:00.000Z2001-10-22T23:00:35.000ZGemma started off the day with a gradual wake up at around 8:30 - a little stir here, a stretch there. Rub the eyes. Then a big yawn followed by a bigger smile to make sure the 'rents were ready to sacrifice all in the name cuteness and the appearance of mutual adoration. Soon afterwards it was feeding time and all bets were off.
Later in the morning Kathy and Gemma went to a local mother's gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-63789202001-10-16T14:20:00.000Z2001-10-16T14:21:10.000ZRolling, rolling, rolling, keep that body rolling. The latest party trick from Gemma is an increasing ability to roll. Last night she did a semi-turn and slept on her side for 3-4 hours. It didn't look that comfortable, with her head arched back like she was at a Cirque du Soleil tryout, but she slept soundly enough. This afternoon she was plopped onto her tummy and she made the solo journey ontogregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-63284682001-10-14T15:08:00.000Z2001-10-14T15:08:49.303ZGemma's latest sleeping development - getting drowsy at eight or so and sleeping (interrupted with the odd rapidly gulped meal) until eight the next morning - is not necessarily a foolproof routine at this point. Thursday night had Gemma marking the 11 PM hour, making for less sleep Friday. Regrettably, Arndt and I had to resort to walking her to the local pub to provide the requisite motion ("gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-62461582001-10-10T22:07:00.000Z2001-10-10T22:49:42.000ZSo much elapsed time, so many updates. On the weighty matters, Gemma punished the scales at 9 lb, 13 oz on the October 8 visit to the health clinic. Appreciative coos from the health workers abounded, and Mother and daughter bounced out to grab a late lunch.
Sunday morning, besides seeing in a birthday from the family's increasingly elder scribe, marked the trip home from our first family gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-57680592001-09-18T22:10:00.000Z2001-10-10T22:47:41.000ZYesterday was Gemma's biweekly visit to the health clinic, and the hefty nine pound milestone has been reached (4.1 kilos) - that's exactly double her coming home post-birth, losing-up-to-10% low of 4.5 pounds. Gemma celebrated by being in a good mood much of the day, with lots of cooing on demand (especially after being fed on demand) and good naps throughout. In the early hours of the morning gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-55356362001-09-07T07:27:00.000Z2004-01-18T17:00:03.763Z8 pounds, 8 ounces (3.88 kilos; more than half a stone...): that's the verdict from the last weigh in on Monday, which means Gemma is coming along nicely in the scales. She's moving on to her next set of clothes and saying goodbye to some old favourites. All other signs are good as well.
In the Department of Transport area, Gemma's now fitting into, and starting to take to, the Baby Bjorn, whichgregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-54359282001-09-02T09:27:00.000Z2001-09-02T11:55:40.000ZBig developments in the vocal department: besides being able to cry at increasingly impressive and painful levels, Gemma's also been emitting a lovely series of Oooohs and Aahhhs, usually when prompted by others. This is followed by cries of "good girl" and smiles all around.
Gemma had 7-8 friends and family over to watch her first international football match last night, witnessing England gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-53650752001-08-29T16:12:00.000Z2004-01-18T16:58:25.293ZDue to the now biweekly schedules for weigh-ins and check-ups, and with this week's visit cancelled because of the charmingly named "Bank Holiday", we've not hoisted Gemma onto a scale recently... but we're convinced she's added on ounces. Next big check-up is on September 3rd.
These days Gemma splits her time between sleeping, being unbelievably charming and adorable with gummy smiles, feeding gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-51596602001-08-18T10:24:00.000Z2001-08-18T10:24:07.650ZGemma's birth hits the Globe & Mail.gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-51409212001-08-17T07:25:00.000Z2004-01-18T16:53:47.543ZAnother week, another avalanche of ounces packed on. Early this week the scales were screaming in pain with 7 lb, 6 oz / 3.45 k of 100% pure Gemma on top. Appetite is strong, and the mysterious slight stomach ailment which blew into town last weekend seems to have gone.
Speaking of gone, Nana made a tearful farewell and left for Montreal yesterday, so we've lost the charms of the visit and help gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-49918362001-08-09T06:56:00.000Z2001-08-09T06:56:39.913ZWhoa - burning up the scales is Gemma. Her weighing on Monday came at in at 6 lb, 15 oz / 3.1 kilos, which is up 1 lb 3 oz in two weeks. She's certainly looking a little more rounded in the face and eats like a demon. Feeding moves from a three hourly cycle to hourly sometimes, and she goes from 0 (sleeping) to 60 (gagging for food) in a few nanoseconds.
We also seem to know her new favourite gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-48715112001-08-02T17:38:00.000Z2001-08-02T17:38:12.640ZNext stop: shiatsu. Gemma had her first baby massage this week, Kathy being taught by one of our favourite midwives, Laura. Focus was on feet and legs. Next week: tummies. Dutiful grandmother "Ann Ann Frying Pan" also came along, and sheepishly was made to practice the fine bodily art on a plastic baby doll. Apparently she mumbled when asked to start the process by telling the baby you're about gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-48014802001-07-29T22:43:00.000Z2001-07-29T22:43:19.420ZGemma's fifth weekend is almost over. Big news today as Grandmother Ann - Nana - arrived from Montreal, with squeals of delight and plenty o' presents from the Homeland. Gemma complied by being up for the arrival then falling asleep in her grandmother's arms. Aaahhhs all around. Nana is still "working up" to the diaper/nappie change stage of involvement. Tonight Kathy, Gemma and I went for a gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-47442842001-07-26T16:48:00.000Z2001-07-26T16:48:19.390ZLots of new and developing things on the Gemma front: she's tracking things with her cute little eyes (or cute big eyes when interested in something). She has what sure looks like a smile, although we're not sure necessarily sure what activity - emotional or if some bodily function - inspires it. She sure lurves her Chicco Bouncer,where she plays with her hands, sleeps, squawks or calls out for gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-46911152001-07-23T21:47:00.000Z2004-01-18T16:51:47.340ZAnother week, another 200 grams or so. Gemma went to the health clinic today for her official weigh-in, and she's bursting the scales at 2.61 kilos / 5lb 12oz. Healthy progress and smiles all over the place. Apparently there was a lot of oohing and aahhing at the clinic and during the subsequent trip to a shopping centre, where mother and daugher are developing an afternoon mall rat habit.
Last gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-46665472001-07-22T10:43:00.000Z2004-01-15T17:09:30.356ZGemma's had a social week. Yesterday she went to her first birthday party, a 30th for Peter Culley. This also meant Gemma's longest car ride, first time in the Highgate area, another chance to see her mate Bonar and experience the wafting smells of celebratory champagne in the room. She pretty much slept through the entire experience, except for the effects of a few pangs of hunger on the drive gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-45522772001-07-15T20:57:00.000Z2001-07-15T20:57:33.230ZWe had a few firsts this weekend. Early Saturday afternoon we packed up an unsuspecting Gemma into the car for the first time (car seat pix) and scurried off to Portobello Market. Bought some household stuff and cheap fruit. Was able to fold stroller in less then two minutes.
Next was a visit with Gemma's new mate Bonar, son of Daveanderson and Penny Chooi. Bonar was also scheduled to arrive in gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-44920272001-07-11T23:31:00.000Z2001-07-11T23:31:23.270ZA fab news day. Gemma had a weigh-in on Wednesday and she rocketed up to 2.46 kilos (for non metric types, that's 5.4 pounds as you can check here). That's over her birthweight and well above the last official reading of 2.11k on Friday. And if that wasn't enough for a day in a young girl's life, she went with her first solo walk with Mum today - and had her first celeb spotting, local resident gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-44513022001-07-09T15:53:00.000Z2001-07-09T15:53:12.990ZGemma visited by Doris, from Canada. An excited Gemma wakes up and is alert and vocal during Wimbledon's Men's finals, where she gets to soak up the atmosphere as Goran Ivanisevic finally wins his title .gregnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3075082.post-44350152001-07-08T13:00:00.000Z2001-07-08T13:00:03.610ZWomen's finals about to start. Gemma still sleeping in anticipation.gregnoreply@blogger.com