The heat is on

C turned the furnace on yesterday afternoon for the first time this season.

I usually protest, especially if it happens before October, as I seem to have a higher tolerance for the chill than he does, but yesterday I couldn't disagreed. Even with a sweater and slippers on and after a few cups of hot tea my toes and hands were cold.

The chill caught us off guard considering the balmy weather we've had up until recently, but the cool nights and mornings are a reminder that winter is on the way.

The tooth is out there!

A tooth! A tooth!

What I was feeling the other night was in fact the tip of a tooth. I felt around Claire's mouth yesterday morning and the sharp nub was poking out a bit more. I got her mouth open just enough to see a bit of white showing.

This is a big milestone for Claire, and a little bitter sweet for me. As she grows and develops new skills she's becoming less of a baby and more into herself. That sounds obvious and weird, but what I mean is that all those precious and particular baby moments only last so long.

I saw a commercial a few weeks ago about some baby product, and one of the lines that resonated with me was "Your child is yours forever, but they're only a baby for a year."

It's so true. Once the teeth come in, there are no more gummy drooly smiles, once they can stand and walk, they become a toddler, and once they start talking, well, they don't stop!

I love every minute of watching Claire grow, but I will savour every minute of these last few months of babyness.

Out damn teeth!

Claire has been teething for months now and has nothing to show for it except a mouth full of drool.

It's like Niagara Falls gushing from between her gums. Ok, not quite Niagara Falls, but definitely a remarkable amount of dribble that soaks through her shirts in minutes even when she's wearing a bib.

Her mood hasn't been so bad, but I've noticed that she has been restless for the last two days. She had her thumb shoved down the side of her mouth and today I offered her my finger to chomp on which she gladly obliged.

I've been saying "any day now" since May but I really do think we're getting close to a breakthrough. In fact I think I felt a bit of something sharp earlier this evening. I couldn't pry her mouth open long enough to get a peak, but I'll get a better look tomorrow.

Keener mom

I have become a keener mom.

In addition to being a member of the daycare board of directors (going on 1 year now), I volunteered to be a Parent Link representative for Lauren's class, and volunteered to help the teacher in the JK class itself.

Parent Link involves being a liason to pass along information from the school to the parents. I'll also have to attend school council meetings every other month. I don't anticipate this taking too much time over the course of a school year and I like the idea of being in the loop with school stuff.

Claire and I start in the classroom next Wednesday during the last half hour of class. I'll help the teacher check backpacks and fill them with whatever notes need to go home to parents while Claire charms the kids with her cute babyness.

I figure that I'm home anyways so why not take advantage of the time to help out. I'll be picking Lauren up on Wednesdays for her dance class for the next two months rather than her going back to daycare for the remainder of the afternoon, so coming in a bit earlier to check school bags is no big deal. Once I'm working out of the house again there will be less opportunity to be so involved, and even less opportunity for  Claire to tag along too. Claire has already been attending daycare board meetings for a while now, but being in the class with her big sister is a unique opportunity. I know Claire won't remember it, but Lauren might and hopefully the memory will be a good one for her.

I remember when my mom used to help out at the school library when I was in grade 1. Or was it grade 2? Ok, I can't remember what grade I was in, but I remember she was there, and I thought it was pretty cool.

Key lime pie

For some reason that I cannot explain, I have been wanting to make key lime pie for a very long time. Long as in years.

I mentioned this desire to C ealier in the summer to which he replied, "Have you even had key lime pie?" "No",  I said. "You should probably try some before you try making it". "Hmm, good point" I said.

And as if the baking fairies were listening, just a few days after that while at lunch at my sister's house, she pulled out a frozen President's Choice key lime pie for dessert! And it was good!

That was months ago, and it has taken until today for me to get around to baking it. I stumbled on a recipe recently and took it as a final nudge to get cracking.

I just pulled it out of the oven and am waiting for it to cool before putting it into the fridge for the required 3 hour cool down. So far it looks and smells ok, just have to wait another 3 hours to know if it tastes ok.

3 hours later....

Mmmm....good!! It's not the most pretty thing I've baked, but it's tasty! A touch on the tart side, but served with whip cream (as recommended in the recipe) and it would be prefect. I'll definitely try this again.

Simple pleasure # 16 - Potato masher

Eating lunch with my own two hands while Claire finds pleasure in waving around a potato masher for ten whole minutes.

Toronto FUN

Tomorrow morning at 7am is the start of registration for fall recreation for the Etobicoke York district.

I've been nervous about it for weeks as I hear that getting into classes is very competitive. It is the community centre after all, so the price is right and it's a good place to test out different activities before investing more serious time and money.

A few years ago I tried to get Lauren into a swim class, but got the date wrong and called too early. When the right day came along I called an hour after the start time and EVERYTHING was full. I got onto a few wait lists, but never heard back of course.

Lauren has been anxious to try out a dance class for close to a year now, so the pressure is on.

I've marked off a few possible classes and will set the alarm at the crack of early to get ready. I'll have phone in one hand and will be working the mouse with the other. I've heard a rumor that some people line up as early as 4am to register in person. It's this sort of thing that makes parents crazy, I tell ya.

The classes I chose are mid week immediately after kindergarten lets out so hopefully that will improve chances of getting a spot. I won't even try for the Saturday classes as those are likely the busiest. Classes available for the 3-5 years old age group are early in the morning, and quite frankly I'd rather sleep in!

So, best of luck to me that it will work out. If not, well, we'll be making up our own dance class at home until next registration time comes around.