Dawn's Diary Entries Diary Navigation: Choose A Diary Entry -------------------- Latest Entry: 7/31/04 -------------------- 6/20/04 5/5/04 4/25/04 3/28/04 3/13/04 2/20/04 2/3/04 1/15/04 12/7/03 10/31/03 10/26/03 10/17/03 10/11/03 9/22/03 9/15/03 9/1/03 8/19/03 7/30/03 7/14/03 7/11/03 7/3/03 6/27/03 6/23/03 6/12/03 6/3/03 6/2/03 5/26/03 5/1/03 4/26/03 4/14/03 3/31/03 3/21/03 3/12/03 2/28/03 2/19/03 2/15/03 2/9/03 1/28/03 -------------------- Dawn's Introduction

September 1, 2003

Well it looks like another summer has pretty well come and gone. I can hardly believe that it is September already. I must say that our family had a great summer and I am sad to see it coming to an end, but as everyday with a toddler brings a new adventure, I am looking forward to the fall and winter and the new things that William is sure to experience.

Was he really a picky eater?

I am almost afraid to continue with what I have to say, as if saying it out loud will mean that William will revert back to his old days of being a picky eater. I am proud to say that my little boy has been eating like a horse lately (well not really but you know what I mean...) He is much more eager to try new foods, and he has discovered some new favourites. Gone are the days where he;d eat nothing buy ham or chicken nuggets for 3 weeks straight, and I welcome now putting new foods in front of him and having him actually try them. Some of his new favourites include spaghetti (or other noodle) with homemade sauce, peas from the garden, blueberries, homemade hamburgers, steak, cooked carrots (he always loved raw - though I was always afraid to let him eat them, he still enjoys them this way) eanut butter on toast with banana, and soy milk. Not only is he trying new things, but he also will often come pretty close to eating what's on his plate and sometimes requesting more. Just this evening we had grilled chicken breasts on the barbeque, on a bun. William ate about 3/4 of his. He still is just a little guy though, weighing in at around 23 lbs. I do have to say though that he still will not eat everything he offer him. For instance brocolli is usually passed over, but not without first giving it a fair chance. And that is what makes me the happiest. The fact that he will taste a food before he decides he doesn't like it is much less frustrating to me than when he faced just about everything with a tight mouth.

How does your garden grow?

William has taken quite an interest in gardening this past summer. Is it any wonder when he has a mother who would be content to stay in the garden all day long. It is our morning ritual to take a walk around, checking out any new blooms, weeds etc. William has become pretty effecient of pulling out weeds and with identifying flowers. I have taught him lilies, daisies, and poppies. When my MIL was here this weekend I overheard William correcty point out poppies to her. An avid gardener herself she was quite proud to hear this. A part of me attributes William's newfound willingness to try new foods partly on his interest for gardening. In our little vegetable garden we had planted peas, carrots, spinach, and corn. The corn for some reason has no cobs, and we missed the peak period for harvesting spinach (though the first few leaves were greeted with approval from William), and he gobbles down the peas like he has never been fed before. He also like to pluck a carrot from the garden for a little munching whenever we are outside. He has even had a few meals of cooked carrots that he was told came form mommy's or poppy's garden. (If I had know this before the summer I would have planted a wider variety of veggies). We also had a few raspberry bushes and a currant bush that William used to nibble from. And although we have to travel away from our home to get blueberries, picking them (and eating them) has been his favourite passtime for the last few weeks. The saddest part of the summer ending is the end of all these homegrown goodies. I guess I will have to find grocery store substitutes for the upcoming months, I hope they are greeted with as much enthusiasm... We still have some grapes to look forward to later in the fall (and the rest of our carrots) though I am not sure how the grapes will hold up in our climate. I do hope that I have sparked a growing interest in gardening in William. Next summer I intend to let him help me with some of the planting and perhaps have a little garden (flower and vegetable) of his own.

I am really starting to have strong feelings about having another baby lately. With each monthly visit from you know who I find myself getting more and more disappointed, even though we haven't been trying as such I guess part of me hopes it will happen anyway. I don't want to officially try to conceive, I feel that I would be too disappointed if we were unsuccessful, but I think we are going to see what happens for a while. I really hope that William will be a big brother before he turns three.

With less than a month before his second brithday, William is getting taller but not much heavier. He is now one inch under three feet, he wears mostly size 2 tops and mostly 18 month pants, his shoe size is 5. some of his new phrases include: please daddy soy milk; pop the trunk; Dora tuck in; me too, me do it; shoes on outside; and that way please. And just yesterday he asked me to "abre" (open) the door. He is just too cute.

I would love to hear from anyone who may possible be reading, and if anyone is interested in gardening I's love to hear if you get your family involved, and what things you like most about gardening.

Dawn