hanging out in claremont

Update: It's unlikely that I'll be able to update my Blatherings until after I get back, but I'll catch up then. Unless I can find easy/cheap Internet access before then, of course...

When I first e-mailed Scott and Amanda about visiting, I told them that I wasn't so much interested in seeing the sights as just hanging out with the two of them, and especially Zoë. So far, the visit has been exactly what I had hoped for: very laid-back, and I've had a chance to get to know Zoë a lot better.

She was a bit wary of me for the first half hour or so when she woke up on yesterday morning, staring at me intensely as only a one-year-old can do, sizing me up, checking me out. I must have passed the test, because she start grinning at me and chewing on my leg. Zoë's pretty adorable, I gotta say. Dimples the size of Lake Ontario, gorgeous gray-blue eyes. And when she started reaching up for me to be picked up, I melted inside. Good thing she can't talk yet, or I'd be utterly helpless if she asked me for anything.

She's even let me change her diaper! Twice! The first time was a disaster because I was so out of practice. Zoë was squirming pretty energetically so I took Amanda's cue and gently held her down with one hand while I went searching for the wipes and diapers with the other hand. Found the wipes, but I'd forgotten where Amanda had told me to find the diapers. I finally found one in the cupboard, started putting it on her before I clued into the fact that it was backwards. Still holding a cheerfully Zoë down with one hand, I grappled with the other one until it was turned around and on her. But for some reason, it kept coming off! Finally giving up, I took Zoë downstairs and pleaded for help from Amanda.

Turns out that I had grabbed a size 6 diaper instead of size 3. The parents among you are probably nodding your heads sagely. For the non-parents, a size 6 diaper was WAY too big. Zoe looked like she was diapered with an inflatable white zeppelin. Amanda took her back upstairs and put on a new diaper: a process that had taken me about 15 minutes had taken her 20 seconds. Zoë was incredibly patient with my ineptitude, however, happily doing the Gerber-baby gurgling and babbling throughout.

BUT! my second attempt at changing her was a success, yay!





But enough about Zoë for now. We had a wonderful, relaxing day yesterday. Went for brunch at BC's (I think that's what it was called. Scott? Amanda?) where I had a very yummy citrus chicken salad. Everyone at the restaurant knew Zoë by name. :-)

I got to see Scott's and Amanda's old neighbourhoods, the Folk Music Center Museum (where I bought a calimba! Christo, will you help me learn how to play it??? I could have spent way too much in this place), a VERY cool little shop with crafts from local artists (where I bought a present for Ruth, whose birthday is next month), an amazing candy store with a zillion flavours of M&Ms sorted by colour (well, maybe not a zillion, but I'll post a photo soon), and MY FIRST KRISPY KREME OUTLET!

re: Krispy Kreme. I have to say, I was pretty impressed. VERY cool to see the doughnuts being made right in front of me (so was Zoë! it was her first Krispy Kreme outlet, too). Unfortunately, the "hot doughnuts" sign wasn't lit when we visited, but we decided to drop in anyway. Watched the doughnut-making process for a while, then Amanda bought a dozen doughnuts and some milk for us and we chowed down (thanks, Amanda!). I chose a Sour Cream Glazed, my favourite at Tim Hortons, and confess that I did like it better than the Tim Horton's version (sorry, Andy and Allison). Yummmmmmmmmm. I'm still eventually hoping to try a Krispy Kreme fresh out of the oven someday.

Went back home. Zoë and I took naps. :-) I had woken up at 4:30 a.m. yesterday morning despite my best attempts to sleep in, but felt much refreshed after I woke up. Played with Zoë a bit, then we went out for some sushi at Tokyo Sushi. Great sushi, and cool decor...part of the floor was transparent plastic, and there was a fish aquarium beneath!

After sushi, we went to the airport to pick up Jodi. Her flight went smoothly, and she didn't encounter as much hassle at the Toronto Airport as I did, thankfully. Her luggage made it here fine, too so YAAAAAAAAYYY, Urban Tapestry has officially made it to the West coast okay!

After chatting a while, Amanda and Zoë went up to bed. I went up shortly after, leaving Scott and Jodi to catch up.

It was the perfect sort of day. :-)

We're going to do some more wandering about today, then will head up to the hotel in Van Nuys in the evening to hook up with Allison.

I took a ton of photos today and will post more of them when I get back.