NB News
I guess the phone company feels they can inch up their rates on the sly. After looking at my latest bill, I see that voicemail has gone up by a dollar every month. Which means it’s costing me nearly $100 every year for the privilige of getting messages. This can’t be allowed to continue. Bell Aliant, you’re on notice. Vonage, you’re looking more attractive every day.
It was so great to get home! I arrived to a smiley baby (although he’d just been scratched by Bounce…for the 2nd time so far), and a smiley husband 
And a note on the door that said WELCOME HOME MOMMY! Boy, that felt good. There were also lots of flowers!
I sat on the couch to watch him play and he climbed right up beside me and sat down! *L* That was a first. He has since started climbing or trying to climb other things. He’s getting really good at walking. He loves being chased and chasing you. He screams when he sees Bounce and tries to catch her. The other day he did catch her, but I think it was the tail end of her because she just hissed and ran away and he was delighted and screamed and went after her. She now lives most of her time on the top branch of the cat tree or in the office.
He can also understand a lot of what we’re saying. For example “Marshall, where’s your truck?” and he goes and gets it and brings it to you. Then “go get a block for your truck!” and he wobbles over to the blocks and brings them, one at a time back and forth. Usually he gets about 3 and then gets bored with that game.
He seems to have gotten tired of all his books at once and only wants to read the Oh David book. Tonight he was carrying his yellow rattly cat (the one he takes to bed) around in his mouth.
The next day, we had a visit from Shane and Colleen and their adorable girls Bronwyn (8) and Zoe (4)! We’re so glad they could stop in on their way home from vacation in Newfoundland. We were disappointed they didn’t bring us any bakeapples. haha just kidding 
Thursday, Marshall went to daycare for the first time, and apparently loved it. I was a little nervous leaving him with someone new, but there was so much going on there that he had a blast. He was happy to see me when I picked him up at lunch though! I spent the morning doing some planning with my study partner. Thursday afternoon we all hit the beach. Marshall loved it! It was his first trip to the beach. He especially loved digging in the sand and smashing the sandcastles the girls made. Us girls went swimming and Bronwyn made up all kinds of games where we chased her but on a red light green light system that she controlled. *L* Marshall liked walking around on the sand and pulling mommy or daddy or sometimes both at the same time! He’d walk to the edge of the water and his toes would get wet and he’d turn around and walk back up to the seaweed line and turn around and go back to the water again.
Friday morning everyone got packed up. Marshall had a nice long nap, and then I dropped him off at daycare for the afternoon. Once again, a great day for him. I got some studying done!
Saturday Rick and Jamie hung out with Marshall while I made up a little study time (for thurs and fri 1/2 days) and Sunday we went for a walk with Grampy Arnold while Rick and Jamie got some golf in. Sunday Marshall only napped for 30 minutes – in the stroller! Mommy and Daddy were pretty tired that night.
Monday was his first full day in daycare, and it went really well. We’re getting into a routine now. Tuesdays and Thursdays I’m meeting my study partner at the Ud’M library.
I’m adding some new pics, so make sure you check those out! Also, Rick added a videos page where he’s uploaded a couple of adorable videos that he sent me to watch while I was in Halifax.
I am here in Halifax at the Saint Mary’s University residence until Tuesday taking the UFE Prep course. I got here on Sunday evening by train and class started Monday morning. Wedensday we wrote a 5-hour practice exam and tomorrow we’re writing another one. Fun! All week we do some review of topics and things, then write short 60-90 minute practice exams.
I miss my boys!
The girls in my residence “suite” are super nice, so I lucked out. All of the students I’ve had a chance to chat with are really nice. There was a pub crawl last night. I didn’t get a t-shirt though. I met up with some good friends down at our old fave the Fireside, and had a few martinis and some seafood crepes, then my friend Mark and I went down and met up with the crawl at the Pogue Fado. It was a lot of fun. John & Rhia joined us there as well. Clam Chowder was playing and they did a slew of great Tragically Hip songs. There was another pub crawl going on as well – a bunch of lawyers! *LOL*
From there we went to the Pacifico for some more drinks and dancing, and then sausages and cabs home. It was a fun night, although I wouldn’t like to do it more than once a year. I figured I’d better take advantage since I was able to sleep in. Anyway, I had to do something to take my mind off of missing my little darling!
Rick sent me a little video of Marshall pulling all the newspapers out of a laundry basket…”organizing” I guess you might say. *L* I watched it twice already and will probably be watching it again soon.
My meals are included in the room fee and at first I was pretty disgusted, but it seems I have either gotten used to it, or it’s gotten a bit better. Tomorrow might be a good night to go out to dinner since Sunday suppers aren’t usually spectacular. The pizza is always a good bet though.
The buskers are in town so I might go down and see them tomorrow after our exam. Today I slept in, had a massage and a physio appointment and this evening I’m just going to relax, and do a little study review. Only 3 days left! I’m getting a drive back to Moncton with my future coworker, Jordan. He’s been telling me all about the firm I’m going to work for. Sounds like a good bunch.
Well, off to study!
People keep telling me they’re glad it’s a ‘short’ week, but it sure hasn’t felt like that for me. I think it might be the sleep deprivation…
Tuesday night is garbage night around here, and we have the loudest garbage trucks you’ve ever heard. And they come in the middle of the night. If the windows are open, there’s no chance of missing them. In any case, I forgot to close the windows and Marshall woke up several times as a result. Although not a big deal, I had to be at the office early on Wednesday to start a 2-day business trip.
That day went well, and I was really looking forward to spending the night at the Lord Beaverbrook Hotel in Fredericton (where we got married, only now it’s called the Crowne Plaza) . For some reason, they were having some sort of problems with the fire alarm, and it kept ringing about every 2 hours – all night long. So that didn’t turn out to be the perfect sleep after all. Today I was in seminar all day, and it was kind of dry. But it went okay. I sure was glad to finally get home and see my little boy.
He was in good hands with Tamara’s sister while I was away (and when I’ve been at work), since Tamara is on an accounting prep course in Halifax (she has all kinds of stories about how that’s going, so I’ll let her post about that).
Marshall is still sprouting teeth, and he’s really walking around now. He is perfecting his balance, so he’s falling down less and less often. It’s so cool seeing him charging around like that, carrying things. He’s going to need his first haircut before too long though, because his bangs are starting to get in his eyes.
Tomorrow, Friday, Stacey heads back to Alberta and I am taking Monday and Tuesday off to take care of the boy. He will start daycare next Thursday for half a day, and then we’re going to the beach with our friends from Montreal if it’s nice. It sure is crazy how fast the summer goes by.
Sandra Johnston is discussing.
Sandra Johnston 12:27 pm on August 11, 2007 Permalink
Can’t wait to see a video of him walking.