Hey everyone!
Well as the title states, birthdays seem to be the theme this time out! Hadrian just celebrated his 1st birthday on July 20th. We actually had two parties for him; the first was a shared party for all the babies in our “birthing” group and the second was his own party.
Our “birthing” group is a group of about 10 parents who all had their babies around the same time. We all went to the same prenatal classes together and the mommies have been keeping touch with each other since. It was fun to see all the babies growing up now and everyone had a good time at the gathering. Then, for Hadrian’s own birthday party we went to a park and had pizza and lots of fun in the sun! There was a little water fountain park there and we took him into the water and he had a blast! That was during our “extreme” heat wave here in Vancouver, so the cool water was definitely welcome. Speaking of heat waves, we had record highs during those 2-3 weeks. Every day was in the 30C’s and it went as high as 35C or 36C. Even at night it wasn’t much cooler and here in Vancouver most people don’t have air conditioning so it really got uncomfortable! Anyway, the temperature is back to normal now: cool, cloudy, rainy and grey!!!
So Hadrian had a great time for his birthday, and this leads us to another b-day. Our little niece and god-daughter Eva just had her 2nd birthday a few days ago on August 11th. We would like to wish her a very Happy Birthday! And this also leads us to one more birthday mention. Our good friends Timir and Sue Yee just had their first child, a baby boy, on that very same day! Congratulation to the happy new parents!! I will come back to the importance of this day a little later, with some interesting historical tidbits (I knew you were all just yearning for my ancient historical anecdotes!)
Hadrian has started taking steps on his own now, which is a new development. He was already quite comfortable walking while holding your hand or holding onto chairs or other objects, but now he’s becoming braver and started letting go to walk from one place to another by himself. He still can’t get up if he’s sitting or falls down, but let’s start with the walking and eventually he’ll learn (in reverse!) how to crawl and stand up!! His appetite is still great and he’s always adventurous enough to try and eat something new!
On the home front the renovations are coming along well. We’re still hoping to be finished by some time in September, hopefully before our trip back Montreal for my sister Laura’s wedding. Speaking of which, we are really looking forward to coming back to Mtl and having everyone there see Hadrian again and how much he’s grown and developed! We’re also very excited for Laura & Charles’ wedding, I’m sure it’ll be a great party!!
Well that’s all for now. Here are some more recent photos of the little emperor in action! Most of them are of Hadrian eating (as usual!) and the last one was just the other day getting yet another hair cut (#5 or #6 ? I don’t know I lost count!) Hope you enjoy!
Well as the title states, birthdays seem to be the theme this time out! Hadrian just celebrated his 1st birthday on July 20th. We actually had two parties for him; the first was a shared party for all the babies in our “birthing” group and the second was his own party.
Our “birthing” group is a group of about 10 parents who all had their babies around the same time. We all went to the same prenatal classes together and the mommies have been keeping touch with each other since. It was fun to see all the babies growing up now and everyone had a good time at the gathering. Then, for Hadrian’s own birthday party we went to a park and had pizza and lots of fun in the sun! There was a little water fountain park there and we took him into the water and he had a blast! That was during our “extreme” heat wave here in Vancouver, so the cool water was definitely welcome. Speaking of heat waves, we had record highs during those 2-3 weeks. Every day was in the 30C’s and it went as high as 35C or 36C. Even at night it wasn’t much cooler and here in Vancouver most people don’t have air conditioning so it really got uncomfortable! Anyway, the temperature is back to normal now: cool, cloudy, rainy and grey!!!
So Hadrian had a great time for his birthday, and this leads us to another b-day. Our little niece and god-daughter Eva just had her 2nd birthday a few days ago on August 11th. We would like to wish her a very Happy Birthday! And this also leads us to one more birthday mention. Our good friends Timir and Sue Yee just had their first child, a baby boy, on that very same day! Congratulation to the happy new parents!! I will come back to the importance of this day a little later, with some interesting historical tidbits (I knew you were all just yearning for my ancient historical anecdotes!)
Hadrian has started taking steps on his own now, which is a new development. He was already quite comfortable walking while holding your hand or holding onto chairs or other objects, but now he’s becoming braver and started letting go to walk from one place to another by himself. He still can’t get up if he’s sitting or falls down, but let’s start with the walking and eventually he’ll learn (in reverse!) how to crawl and stand up!! His appetite is still great and he’s always adventurous enough to try and eat something new!
On the home front the renovations are coming along well. We’re still hoping to be finished by some time in September, hopefully before our trip back Montreal for my sister Laura’s wedding. Speaking of which, we are really looking forward to coming back to Mtl and having everyone there see Hadrian again and how much he’s grown and developed! We’re also very excited for Laura & Charles’ wedding, I’m sure it’ll be a great party!!
Well that’s all for now. Here are some more recent photos of the little emperor in action! Most of them are of Hadrian eating (as usual!) and the last one was just the other day getting yet another hair cut (#5 or #6 ? I don’t know I lost count!) Hope you enjoy!
Danny, Debby and Hadrian.
P.S. As you may know from some of my previous blogs, I have somewhat of a fascination with ancient history. Here are a few more interesting facts relating to our little Hadrian!
On the day of his 1st birthday, July 20th 2009, it was reported that a unique religious shrine to a Roman god was uncovered at a fort along Hadrian's Wall in England. According to the report, an altar dedicated to Roman god Jupiter of Doliche had been discovered next to the north gate of Vindolanda in Northumberland. The exceptionally well preserved altar was dedicated by a prefect of the Fourth Cohort of Gauls to the important eastern god. It was estimated that the highly decorated stone altar, showing the god standing on a bull holding an axe and a thunderbolt, stands some 110cm high and weighs around 1.5 tonnes!
The second note of interest relates on a few different levels! August 11th, the birthday of our niece (and Hadrian’s cousin) Eva, was also the same day Hadrian officially became Emperor of the Roman Empire! This also just happens to be the day our friends Timir and Sue Yee gave birth to their little baby boy. I guess this was a good day!!!
Here follows the brief history. After the passing of his father, Hadrian's only male relative was his father's cousin, his first cousin once removed. This man was M. Ulpius Traianus, better known as the future emperor Trajan. Trajan and his wife Pompeia Plotina, who had no children of their own, became surrogate parents to the child Hadrian. Trajan succeeded Nerva and became emperor in 98 A.D. A few years later, in 100 A.D., Hadrian was married to Trajan’s grand-niece, Vibia Sabina. The union linked him even more closely to the emperor's family and led to his adoption by Trajan as successor. Thus, on August 11th 117 A.D., his dies imperii, the army of Syria hailed its legate, Hadrian, as emperor for the first time and the roman senate gave their formal acceptance. The rest, as we say, is history!
P.S. As you may know from some of my previous blogs, I have somewhat of a fascination with ancient history. Here are a few more interesting facts relating to our little Hadrian!
On the day of his 1st birthday, July 20th 2009, it was reported that a unique religious shrine to a Roman god was uncovered at a fort along Hadrian's Wall in England. According to the report, an altar dedicated to Roman god Jupiter of Doliche had been discovered next to the north gate of Vindolanda in Northumberland. The exceptionally well preserved altar was dedicated by a prefect of the Fourth Cohort of Gauls to the important eastern god. It was estimated that the highly decorated stone altar, showing the god standing on a bull holding an axe and a thunderbolt, stands some 110cm high and weighs around 1.5 tonnes!
The second note of interest relates on a few different levels! August 11th, the birthday of our niece (and Hadrian’s cousin) Eva, was also the same day Hadrian officially became Emperor of the Roman Empire! This also just happens to be the day our friends Timir and Sue Yee gave birth to their little baby boy. I guess this was a good day!!!
Here follows the brief history. After the passing of his father, Hadrian's only male relative was his father's cousin, his first cousin once removed. This man was M. Ulpius Traianus, better known as the future emperor Trajan. Trajan and his wife Pompeia Plotina, who had no children of their own, became surrogate parents to the child Hadrian. Trajan succeeded Nerva and became emperor in 98 A.D. A few years later, in 100 A.D., Hadrian was married to Trajan’s grand-niece, Vibia Sabina. The union linked him even more closely to the emperor's family and led to his adoption by Trajan as successor. Thus, on August 11th 117 A.D., his dies imperii, the army of Syria hailed its legate, Hadrian, as emperor for the first time and the roman senate gave their formal acceptance. The rest, as we say, is history!
