Happy Canada Day!

CC waves her first flag!

Growing up in Montreal, I have very fond memories of Canada Day. It was often a family affair. Whether we went to the Old-Port to witness countless dance and musical performances and partake of the giant cake, or stayed in the West-Island for the smaller festivities, great fun was had by one and all! And as my sisters and I grew older, we were also allowed to participate in the nocturnal festivities including the ever-brilliant fireworks.

This all came to an end once medical school begun. July 1st was no longer a holiday, but rather marked the beginning of the school year, and later on of a new rotation. I don't remember the last time I held a miniature Canadian flag that was handed out, or enjoyed the sights and sounds of a parade.

We had the opportunity to attend last year, but the fatigue associated with parenting a 4-month old baby and erratic sleeper took their toll, and we opted to stay in and catch up on our sleep. But this year, I decided that we would celebrate the event, Canada's 144th birthday, and introduce our baby to an all-important national festivity. I bought washable tattoos for the occasion, and even picked up a 3-piece red and white baby suit. My husband's father was visiting from Cambridge, Ontario, so it truly was a family affair.

We headed towards the Old-Port a little after 11AM on what proved to be a bright Friday morning. We picked up a few miniature Canadian flags, which the baby enjoyed waving around (and chewing on!).

We next headed over to the inflatable play areas. We patiently waited in line for a few minutes, and then realizing that she was much too young to enter on her own, we bypassed the line, and let her play with the giant inflatable toys from the outside. As it was her first experience with this type of toy, she didn't know any better, and seemed to enjoy herself as much as the children that had entered the play area.

We headed home a little after 13h, and within a few minutes the baby was sound asleep. Now if only I could learn to fall asleep that easily!