'Canes Game

Amani and I went to the Carolina Hurricanes hockey game last night against the Washington Capitals. Kelly got three free tickets from work, though we could not find a third person to join us with such short notice, and Kelly does not particularly like sports, let alone a very violent sport like NHL ice hockey. So it was just Amani and I, going to see the defending Stanley Cup champs in play.

I have to say, for most of the second period, I thought the 'Canes were pretty good, but had stretches where they looked downright lethargic on the ice. Every time we'd score, Washington would stroll right into our zone and put the puck in our goal. Of course, it helps that they (Washington) have last year's Rookie Of The Year, Alexandre Ovechkin. The guys is dynamite -- the speed and stick handling. It was a beauty to witness such skill.

But of course our trip to the RBC Center was no without its own share of drama. We got a flat tire and had to pull to the side of the interstate (highway) to change into the spare tire. Thankfully SUVs come with full-sized spare tires, and not those small ones aimed to just get you as quickly as possible to the nearest auto shop or to your home. Though, this is precisely what we had to do, since the spare had never been used since the vehicle was originally purchased by the first owner (2002) and so the spare was also, well, flat :-( Errr... it was just inflated enough to get us to the gas station near the stadium.

Needless to say, we missed the entire first period (Ovechkin scored the first goal), and I was covered in soot (black hands, trousers, and all). I looked and felt filthy and was sitting in the stands. But what a game! The 'Canes won 4-3.

DDR Mania

The girls are having fun playing DDR (Dance Dance Revolution) on PS2. It is quite tiring, and everyone needs a shower now. But good exercise fun! "Let's go again!" says Ade. Well, since it is wet and overcast outside, no need to get out of the house :-D Brings back memories of DDR nights at Krishelle's place. Ah, good times.

3 Month: More Fun!

Ethan is now 3 months old, and he is so much more active, alert and observant, and more easy to handle (he doesn't cry as often anymore). You can hold him, carry him and not have to do all the various "tricks" (jogging, singing, soothing) to ensure he doesn't get cranky. Ah Ma, I wish you could have enjoyed him now. You did so much work for/with Ethan when he was not so easy to comfort. Now, you can even play with him and he responds with his baby noises and varying facial expressions.

Yesterday, Ethan slept pretty much all day, which meant he was up all night unfortunately for Kelly and I. And not that he was fussy much, he was just very alert and awake and in need of interaction. But mom and dad were just too pooped, and wished he had been more wakeful during the day.

And why is it that ALL babies appear to be 'morning babies'? Without fail, come 6am, Ethan is wide-eyed and ready to start his day. He is most alert and responsive and playful during the hours of 6-9am. Thank goodness we have grandma with us now. After his first feed and diaper change in the morning, Ethan normally spends time with grandma while Kelly and I try to catch an extra hour or two of sleep. Actually, I catch up on sleep, and Kelly goes to work. Poor mama. Mothers truly work so hard.

Grandma goes through morning prayers with Ethan. She reads to him stories from his books, and even engages Ethan in a bit of physical activity to strengthen his trunk and neck muscles. When lying on his back, Ethan can push himself up (the bed) with his legs, which makes changing his diaper a challenge also! You start with him close to you, and by the time you have everything in place Ethan has pushed himself away from you nearly two feet! Bath time is also entertaining because of this. All too soon from now, once Ethan is able to do this on his belly, he'll be crawling all over the place :-D But pediatrician mama Kelly says not to expect this developmental milestone any time now, but likely around 6 months or so.

Bugs et al.

Yesterday, we all went to the Butterfly Conservatory and Insectarium at the Museum of Life and Science right here in our very own Durham! Of course, leave it to the out-of-town(er), my sister, to find activities for kids right around our corner, when I live here and I had no clue they existed. :-D

Well, the butterfly conservatory was by far the coolest. Not literally, because this place is enclosed in a huge green-house looking building that is kept at 80 F (28C) and 80% humidity year-round (kinda like the tropics). Just the day we decide to go out, though, it was absolutely freezing! We couldn't wait to thaw out in the warm environment of the BC and even watched new butterflies released (occurs every day around 3pm I think).


Carmel even got to hold a butterfly as it was being let go. Precious :-D

I enjoyed the butterflies too, especially since there were so many of them, and they flew in pairs or groups all around you and even land on you briefly! But what really interested me were the many different types of plants and butterfly-attracting flowers, vines and foliage. And there were these really colourful and unique birds (pheasants?) that would trot in and out of the low lying plants and into the foot path where we were walking and back into the dense foliage.

Then there was the Insectarium, where we saw mantids, thorny woody insects, brilliantly coloured (poisonous?) frogs, water striders, water beetles, rhino beetle, assasin beetles, tarantulas, hissing cockroaches, scorpions and many others. Fun!

I am thinking I will purchase a membership for Ethan and I for the year, and make regular trips to the Museum of Life and Science. They also had an Aerosspace section, and also an outdoor animal farm among the activities they offer.