Pictures!

Kate heading for cousin Diego


We're going to be seeing a lot of this view from now on...


Kate in the mini rocking chair

Canadian Acadians

Today we drove out to the coast of Cape Breton Island and a bit into the Cape Breton National Park on the Cabot Trail. The sun was shining and, wow, the Cabot Trail is spectacular. It was hard to drive around the national park and see all the cool hiking trails and beaches, but not have the time to do any exploring. We'll have to come back when we have time to do more than just a drive-by.

We've discovered that French speaking Capers (people from Cape Breton Island, that is) might be the baby friendliest people on the planet. Everywhere we went today, Kate and Maya got kissed, cuddled, exclaimed over and kootchy-kooed - even more than the normal amount of attention they usually attract. I swear that not a person over 50 walked by them today without engaging us in conversation and getting all googly eyed over the babies. I actually am not very comfortable with strangers cuddling or kissing my babies, but wasn't sure how to tell the sweet old grandmothers and great grandmothers (!) who wanted to cuddle Kate or Maya that they shouldn't kiss them. So, I just let them have at the babies and I don't think they are any worse for wear.

Well, tomorrow we're heading back to Liverpool in one big day of driving. Not sure how that's going to work, but we need to head back so we can meet up with Kate and Maya's Great Grandma, aunt and cousin...

Cape Breton

Greetings from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia! I've wanted to visit Cape Breton since the first time we visited Nova Scotia in 2001, but on our past two trips, we never seemed to have the time to drive all the way up here (it's about a seven hour drive from Liverpool). We weren't planning on coming up here this trip either because we were worried about how Kate and Maya would feel about spending so much time in a car, but we decided we'd just give it a shot and see how it goes. I'm glad we did because Kate and Maya have been great sports and seem to be really enjoying the trip. We took two days to get here - driving for a few hours in the morning while they nap and then having lunch and walking around in the afternoon. The girls seem to be born travellers as they really enjoy seeing and experiencing new things - they seem to get bored sitting around in one place all day.

We haven't seen much of Cape Breton yet because it's been pouring for the past two days and we just arrived today, but it's supposed to clear up tomorrow. I'm really looking forward to seeing some of the island - it's supposed to be beautiful.

I have to say that travelling with two babies is definitely different than travelling by ourselves. If we were here on our own, we would most likely be hiking, kayaking and doing all the fun outdoor stuff there is to do here. But, with two babies, most of that stuff isn't an option, so our big adventures are going out to dinner or walking around town and looking in shops and such (and eating out at a nice restaurant with two babies is more of an adventure than anything I would have been doing if we didn't have the girls).

I haven't been posting much because I'm currently staying with my primary reason for blogging - Kate and Maya's Nova Scotia grandmother. Since she's experiencing their every waking moment, blogging about it seems somewhat redundant. However, I got a call from their California grandmother today complaining that I haven't posted recently, so Grandma this one's for you.

I think Kate and Maya have been teething recently, so have been very fussy and screechy. It took them an hour of screaming to fall asleep today and, oh, was I ready for them to finally go to bed. Sometimes taking care of twins feels like some sort of long distance endurance sport -it's all about just getting to the next mile marker (or, in this case - naptime/bedtime).

Apart from the screaming babies, Nova Scotia has been lovely and inspiring -and relaxing when babies aren't screaming at me. Pam and Paul's house is right next to the ocean and it's endlessly interesting to watch the fog come in and out over the water. Somedays, like today, it can be foggy all day and the next day will be spectacular and sunny with puffy clouds. The fog here isn't cold like it is in San Francisco and I'm always surprised when I walk outside into the fog bank and I don't need a sweater.

Because of all the fog and moisture, the vegetation and gardens here are beautiful and lush. I planted a Hosta flower in my garden in Truckee several years ago and it's still alive, but only about 6 inches tall. The Hostas here grow to be enormous - several feet tall and wide - and without irrigation!

And, in very exciting news, Josh has just landed in Halifax and is on his way after a quick stop at Tim Horton's (mmm, doughnuts). I'm so happy that he's finally going to be here - 2.5 weeks is too long to be sans da da.

Maya is becoming a true Nova Scotian...


And, here's how I feed twins at the same time by myself...

Nova Scotia Travelogue

I've been really enjoying my time here in Nova Scotia. It's a very different experience to spend a whole month in one place on a vacation rather than travelling all around and moving from place to place. It's another good reason to have children - babies force you to slow down and just sit and enjoy a place.

Today I saw a bald eagle flying slowly over the road we were driving on. Then, later, I walked down to the water in front of the house and was walking along the shoreline when I saw what was either a very large, strange looking dolphin or a whale. It was quite close to shore and I watched it for a while - it was just slowly ambling up the coast. An old, crusty Nova Scotian who was picking up detrius washed up on shore walked by and asked if I saw the whale - so, I guess it wasn't just a very large dolphin.

Here are a few pictures from the area.

A view of the shoreline near the house


Mahone Bay, a pretty little town about 45 minutes from here


We visited a Nova Scotia Duck Toller breeder today



And, of course, I can't post without pictures of Kate and Maya.

Here's Kate - isn't she pretty?


And, here's Maya getting into the DVDs.

We had a lovely day in Nova Scotia yesterday. Kate, Katie, Maya and I drove to a pretty little town called Mahone Bay and walked around and had lunch. I carried Kate in the Baby Bjorn and she had a good time greeting "her public". I think she thinks that everyone she saw was there to see her (she has very good self esteem) and made sure she squawked a greeting to everyone she saw.

Katie and Kate


Maya and Me

Many Firsts

There tend to be a lot of first experiences when you're only 8.5 months old, but today was particularly chock full of them for Kate and Maya.

The biggest one was that Maya crawled on all fours for the first time - to reach a puff - what else? She's been practicing and trying to figure out how to crawl for a few weeks already but actually got it all together today. This was both very exciting for me - and a very scary thought. I guess my days of plopping her on a blanket and pretty much knowing that she'll be there until I move her are over.

Other, also very exciting, firsts the girls experienced today included
-Meeting my dear friend Katie (we've been friends since 7th grade), who Kate is actually named after.
-Seeing the ocean for the first time and dipping their toes in it.
-Eating a fistful of sand.
-Moving from a lying down to a seated position (Maya did this)

First flight, and second, and third...

We made it to Nova Scotia without any major problems. The flying was surprisingly not that bad - even though we had three flights and had to start our day at 3 AM. We were really lucky that two of our three flights were almost empty and we were able to take the carseats on board with us. This is not to say that there wasn't a lot of crying and screaming and that there weren't moments when I was feeling guilty about taking two babies on a cross-continental flight when they were perfectly happy at home. But, over all, we all did great and arrived no worse for wear. And, seeing Josh's parents with Kate and Maya makes it all worth it!

Here's a picture of Maya hanging out and playing with her toys in the airplane seat - both Kate and Maya thought it was great fun to sit in a seat on their own.


And, we've been having a lovely time with Grammy and Grandpa Paul (Josh's parents). Kate and Maya were feeling a bit insecure for the first day or two, but have now settled in and are very happy and enjoying themselves. I think they may have adjusted to the four hour time difference already and went to bed at 7 PM without much fussing tonight. Last night Kate slept for 14 hours straight (!) - I think she was exhausted from the flight and from not sleeping well the first few days.

Here's a great photo of Grammy feeding Maya


And here's one of everyone hanging out on the lawn next to the house and looking at the ocean. (The views from the house are spectacular - I can lie in bed and see the ocean without even lifting my head.)

Leaving on a jet plane...

Kate, Maya, Grandma, Grandpa and I are all heading to other side of the continent to visit Josh's mom and dad tomorrow. We're flying from Halifax, Nova Scotia - a 12 hour journey (if we're lucky) with three flights. I've spent the day packing and still have a bunch of stuff lying around that is supposed to fit into my already full carry-on baggage. Not sure what to do - everything I want to carry on seems critical.

Wish us luck tomorrow - I'm hoping that everything will be easier than I expect but am trying to prepare for it not to be!

Here's the soon to be world traveller, Kate, all set to go with passport in hand.


And, here's how Kate and Maya may have to travel if we exceed our carry-on baggage limit...