My Crunchy Life

Corbin's First Walk

Corbin went for his first walk outdoors with me today. I ordered the harness from MyPreciousKid.com last week, and it arrived in the mail yesterday. I wanted something that didn't look very utilitarian; I don't really care if people think I'm cruel because I know I'm just keeping my son safe, but this will be fun for him to put on and hopefully he won't always see it as restraining or confining.

After talking with a field rep from Guide Dogs for the Blind, I decided to do the first few walks with just my cane. After all, Corbin has only been walking on his own since february, and he isn't able to walk for a long period of time yet. I have to adjust my pace to his, and then I'll have to teach Deedee acordingly, but I feel it will be easier for Corbin and I to learn to walk together first and then add deedee into the mix.

Corbin and I went with my friend, and soon-to-be roommate, B and her 6-month-old chocolate lab Reese. Deedee was great, it was Reese who was eating pinecones, using my cane as a skipping rope, and just being generally puppyish. The advantage a pet has to living with a guide dog is that the guide will often teach them things. Endora encouraged my old roommates' dog to cross the kitchen floor even though he was scared of the slippery laminate. She also calmed him down during thunder storms. Of course, the pet dog can also teach the guide its bad manners, but we just won't go there.

Corbin thought my cane was fascinating, too. Once he realized the trick of the game was to tap it from side to side, he wanted to help. I held firmly onto his hand and kept the harness looped around my wrist (I want to use it only as a backup, not a primary method of controlling him when we're out), but that didn't really stop him from reaching out, grabbing my cane, and violently thumping it on the sidewalk. I had to stop every few minutes to wrestle it out of his grip. Things might have went smoother if B and I weren't killing ourselves laughing, but it was hard not to with Corbin's and Reese's antics.

When Corbin and I entered the convenience store, B stayed outside with the two dogs. Corbin decided that he was going to swipe some chocolate bars that were underneath the counter. I had to pick him up and hold him while I paid for my purchases, and then a customer who was behind me brought them outside because Corbin was fascinated with those chocolate bars. As soon as I went to pick up my bag, he went straight for them. At 15 months, it's not embarrassing, but it would be at 2 or 3.

Corbin almost made it the whole way home. He was so pooped, he went to bed as soon as we got in the house, and he changed into his pajamas. I'd say our first walk was a success, even if it was a three-ring circus. I really think B and I `should have our own reality TV show. Actually, it'd have to double as a sitcom, because even when we do really mundane things like walk to the variety store, it's an adventure.

More Milestones

Corbin got his hair cut for the first time last night.



He wasn't sure at first, but he didn't fuss or fidget. He sat still the entire time--about five or six minutes--and let the hair dresser do her thing. His new surroundings kept him interested and distracted as she snipped off his baby hair. Corbin was born with straight black hair, but at just a few months of age, the curls started coming in. Now, his whole head is curly, but he had some long, straight pieces on top.

We are staying at my parents for a few weeks. it's nice to have a break. Admittedly, it's the first time in a very long time I haven't wanted to leave and go back home. There is more drama with my superintendent, and as is typical of me, I'd rather avoid conflict than face it.

Corbin barely crawls now. In fact, he's learning to run. He will run away from me if he has something he knows, or even thinks, he's not supposed to have. It's cute now, but it'll probably get old fast. Thankfully, he doesn't seem to mind having socks and shoes on, which makes it a lot easier for me to tell where he's at. And, when I take something away from him he's not supposed to have, he throws a temper tantrum. Oh, he doesn't kick and scream and completely lose his mind, so I guess I'm pretty lucky, but he does have the most heart-wrenching cry. I'm proud of myself though, I don't give in to that cry. I'll hug him and talk to him and try t explain why i have to take something away, or why he can't play in the garbage can or the toilet, and he calms down after a few minutes and goes on his merry way. i used to nurse him when he first started throwing tiny tantrums, and it did seem to comfort him, but I figured it was a bad habit to get intol. I will nurse him if he falls and hurts himself, or if he's frightened by something.

Corbin has discovered the stairs at my parents' house, so I have to watch him very closely, or else he'll climb up them and end up on the landing with no way down. Sometimes, he scares the crap out of me, and sometimes I wish I could be that fearless again. Age and experience have taught me to be very cautious or downright frightened of some things.

Ever since he's started walking, Corbin has been eating a lot more. He actually eats breakfast, lunch, and supper with small snacks in between. He's not as picky as he once was (I don't think it was really fussiness, rather he just wasn't ready to eat solids and was geting all his nutrition from me). It usually takes two or three tries when presenting him with something new before he'd eat it, but the list of foods he likes is growing longer. Veggies are still an obstacle, but Corbin loves fruit--berries, mellons, pineapple, mandarins--he loves it all! Chicken is his favourite meat, though I haven't given him too much beef as I'm not a big beef eater myself--no pork either--and the one time I tried him with fish, he just ignored it. He loves bread, cereal, and cheese, and thankfully does not seem to have the issue with dairy that I thought he might have a few months ago. Of course, he hasn't drank cow's milk yet. Oh yes, I must not forget pasta. I should have named him Macaroni and called him Mac for short.

Corbin is still not a big eater, and he is usually very slow, but both of these traits are positive ones, I think. I won't have to worry about him choking, especially since he won't eat while playing yet, and I think sometimes we encourage our kids to eat too much when they're young. Corbin still nurses several times per day. He won't drink from a cup yet, but he has stopped nursing before nap time, and he doesn't nurse for very long except at night time. The world is just too interesting to be cuddled up next to Mom!

Corbin's top eye teeth are through. The bottom ones were close, too, but I think they receeded back into his gums because I can't feel them anymore.

And lastly, Corbin is starting to talk a lot more. most of what he says is baby talk, but he can say Mama, Deedee, gog or goggy (dog), good, and num num. Soon he'll be like the rest of my family and won't stop talking from the time he wakes up until he goes to sleep.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

When you invite a boy of any age to a wedding shower, this is what happens.

Happy Canada Day!

I'm very tired but am unable to sleep, except for a few snoozy moments snatched throughout the evening. This may be due to the fact that I was up till 3am this morning, which is very unlike me since I started working. Or it could be that Canadian patriots in high spirits have been setting off fireworks continuously for the past few hours. Luckily, Deedee reacted as I expected her to (i.e, she is not bothered in the slightest). I gave her the busy bone her auntie Brooke gave her just to be sure, and she munched on it for a bit and then settled down quietly.

I have uploaded three more photos to Deedee's album. They were taken on our trip to Muir Woods.

For the puppy raisers--not Deedee's--who commented on my last entry: Yes, I am going to continue with this blog. I have lots to say, and by the gods I am not done yet!!!

Finally! Pics Of Deedee

This is a very quick entry to say that I have finally uploaded pictures of Deedee to the site. Click on the link that says Deedee under the photo albums heading.

All of these photos were taken before her and I were matched. They range from February to May, 2008. Enjoy!!

New Pics

i've uploaded pictures of Endora's first days in Halifax. If my aunt gets her camera working, I may have more. Pics of Deedee coming soon.

New Photos

Thanks to my Aunt Donna--Endora's new Mummy-to-be--I have two new photos uploaded to the photo album. One is of Endora checking out her new pad, and the other is her guarding me in my bubble bath. Sorry, annonymous perverts who are traversing the internet looking for amature porn, these are not X-rated!

My landline and DSL connection are down at home, so I have not been able to update. There is not much to tell, except that my flight to Halifax on the 29th is booked.

Endora is asleep under the desk. She is content to sleep more and more now, but she is willing to pley often enough, and eat, of course.

I received a call from Shauna, one of the GDB instructors, yesterday to discuss my application. We discussed colour, sex, breed, size, personality, work and living environment, and how I travel on a daily basis (e.g., public transporation, taxis, etc). If was a brief conference, but she sounded very upbeat and positive. One of the other trainers was an apprentice trainer when I was in class with Endora, and she was my roommate for ten days while she was blindfolded and worked with a guide dog as if she were a student.

There are a lot of Canadians in class this time around. The last class I was in, I was the only Canadian, and boy did I get razzed out! There will be 11 people in the newbie class, and 8 in the retrain class, so it'll be packed.

I'm getting excited to go, and I've pretty much gotten over the "retirement blahs", as i call them. I'm sure the transition from retiree to successor dog will be much easier than it was in 2002.

New Photo

Normally, I don't keep pictures or any personal documents on my work computer, but I found a photo that was taken at the Royal York hotel during a staff conference that was held in February of this year. Her image will be featured on next year's brochure.

Photos

I have finally gotten around to uploading photos to Endora's photo album. YOu can click on the link at the top of this page to view pictures from 2002 to 2008. I don't have that many, but I am approaching friends and family, trying to gather as many as possible.

For those of you reading this who are on my facebook, for now, the photos are exactly the same. Hopefully, I will get some new ones soon.