Mara's World

Growing Up

2012-02-11T00:10:00.000-08:00

My kids are growing up way too fast. OK, I know my daughter is only 2 1/2, and my son is (haha) only 2 months old, but they really are growing up way too fast!!! I can't believe my boy is already 11 weeks. How can that be?
In some ways I don't mind....

Elysia is now officially potty-trained. Yeah!!! We are officially out of diapers and into pull-ups and big girl panties. Woohoo!

Elysia has an absolutely delicious sense of humour. I love it! How wonderful it is to be teased by my lovely daughter, or to watch her eyes sparkle when she laughs with her Daddy.

I also love that I can talk to and reason with her...well sometimes, that is! It is so nice having conversations with my girl. Not a day goes by that she doesn't blow me away with her understanding and knowledge about something. She's one smart cookie!

But then there is the sad stuff. My baby isn's exactly my baby anymore. Her cute little baby phrases are maturing into proper sentences. Her daily sentence of 'num num' has been replaced with 'macaroni' or 'cheeseburger' (don't judge...yes, my kid eats kd and McDonalds, but sometimes it's the only thing I know she'll eat. Picky kid).

She likes to feed and dress herself, and she is growing ever more independent on a daily basis. She isn't even three! Can't she stay my baby for just a little while longer? It's nice and sad at the same time. I want her to blossom, but I want her to stay my baby. I love to watch her learn and grow, but I want her to always want cuddles from Mummy and want to be tucked into bed after reading 'Goodnight Moon.'

Sigh.

I guess every parent goes through this.

Fall and Winter 2011

2012-01-26T23:21:00.000-08:00

It's now tradition. Every year we go to this wonderful Farm/Pumpkin Patch in Maple Ridge.

Elysia and I enjoying looking at the farm animals.

Elysia loves seeing all of the animals at the farm.

Time to choose a pumpkin!

Perhaps this one?

The final result...

A work of ART!

Elysia loves Halloween.

Absolutely the cutest lil' Cow ever!!

Trick or Treating at Grandma and Grampa's house.

Elysia LOVED trick or treating. She didn't want to stop! 'More houses!' she'd say every time I asked her if she was ready to go home.

We had to dress up the dogs, too.

Maggie wasn't so impressed with her costume.

Cody didn't seem to mind his!

We also had a lovely Christmas season.

Elysia went to see some Christmas tree displays and decorations in Downtown Vancouver.

We also went to see some amazing houses all decorated in lights.

I just love this pic...

But a definite favourite thing at Christmas is...

Playing with the boxes that the Christmas gifts came in.

My Joy and my Delight

2012-01-25T23:36:00.000-08:00

Welcome to our world, my beautiful Son.

Two months ago today, we were given a wonderful gift. Our son was born weighing a healthy 7lbs 9 oz and is absolutely beautiful.

Timothy Kenneth...

Named after two extraordinary people.

Big Sister Elysia is proud, too!

I'm so blessed to have a great family. My kids are blessed to have an awesome daddy! Even if they do tire him out...

I have the best kids.

Me and my kids!

Paint, paint, paint!

2011-06-10T22:01:00.000-07:00

I have never had much luck in picking paint colours. I don't know why exactly. I know what I want, go to the paint shop and pick it out, but when I open the can of paint and put it on the wall it never turns out exactly the way I want it to. Take my living room, for example. I wanted a blue/grey colour and I got blue. And I don't mean a nice soft blue. I got BLUE. Definitely not what I wanted.

With a second baby coming, I needed to change up my living room again as my growing family would be spending a lot of time there. Bye bye blue! It wasn't that it was a bad colour, it was just too dark (and BLUE) for me. In a basement living room, it just felt too closed in and I really didn't like it. I needed something light and inviting! So off to the paint store I went, and thankfully my Mom very graciously offered to paint the living room for me. I am thrilled with the result!!

The lovely paintings above my little fireplace are original pieces of art painted by my multi-talented Mom!

Our little dining area.

This old cabinet is also going to see paint...one day!

Now I just need to find the perfect piece of art for above my sofa.

Next...Elysia's room!!

My Growing Family

2011-05-28T22:37:00.000-07:00

So much has happened since I last wrote! Where to begin...

Well, it turns out that I am going to be a Mama again. I’m both excited and nervous at the same time, as I imagine all expectant mothers are. I’m officially out of the first trimester though, so I know all is good. Steve and I have a bet on whether the baby is a boy or girl. I think it’s a boy, and if I win Steve has to take me to dinner to this lovely restaurant on Burnaby Mountain. If he wins, I have to make him his favourite dinner...roast with Yorkshire pudding! Boy or girl, it really doesn’t matter as we’re just thrilled to be given the gift of another child. Baby is due late November, early December!!

So cool seeing pictures of my baby!

Second child on the way...we needed a bigger car! I love the Mazda, but it was just too small for our growing family. Steve decided to trade in his old work car, a 2002 Civic with 300,000km, and bought a Hyundai Santa Fe. The Mazda is now his work car and I get to drive the Hyundai. I love it! It is much bigger than the Mazda, there is plenty of room for two car seats, and it has a rear cargo area that is perfect for bringing the dog on outings. Cody the menace dog no longer sits beside Elysia when we go on a trip! It is also easier for me to store the stroller, as I don’t have to lift it over the ledge of the trunk when Elysia and I go out. With my bad shoulder, this is definitely a bonus!

It even has a rearview camera!! So cool.

Steve has also begun working in the backyard of my parent’s home. He loves doing yard work and my parents have a great big yard. Perfect! Currently he is fixing up a small area in the back for Elysia to have as a play area. My Mom and Dad bought Elysia a sandbox and this area will be perfect for it. It is right outside her room and I think it will be awesome. I’ll add a few chairs and some plants to make it cosy, and I really think she'll like it. He has big plans for the yard, so I’ll definitely post pics as it all comes together.

With another baby on the way, we also have a lot of plans for inside the house. I’ve decided I really don’t like the blue colour in my living room, so that is going to be changing really soon. I’d like it to be a bright and cheery place that my little family would like to hang out in, and right now it just isn’t working for me. We still haven’t fixed up Elysia’s room either. That is a definite must! It needs paint, lighting, blinds...I haven’t decided on a colour yet, but I’m thinking I’ll just choose a nice light colour for her room and accessorise with colour. Problem is I can’t paint! Poor Steve...

We also recently returned home from a wonderful vacation with my family. I’ll save that for a future blog, as I have tons of pics to post. However I will say that we had a wonderful time (minus the total meltdowns that were had by my daughter on the many long flights...)!

I think that about catches me up!

A few random pics...

She found Grumpa's glasses.

Never say your child will never drink pop!

Play time with Grandma.

At the Fair in New Westminster.

This pic was taken yesterday after her haircut. The milkshake was perfect in making the whole experience far more pleasant!

Mara

Yep, I Can SEW!

2011-01-31T21:15:00.000-08:00

OK, let's just say I can sew on a button. Hey, it's a start!

When I was 14 years old, I took Home Economics in school. Unfortunately, I was more interested in socializing than Home Economics, so I never really mastered the skill of sewing (or cooking for that matter, but that's for another blog ;-))

Anyway, my friend Linda offered to teach a group of us non-sewers to sew! Who woulda' thought I would learn to sew? Not me! It turns out that I actually like it. The ticking and whirring of the sewing machine, and the joy of creating something from a few pieces of fabric. Fun! I'm already looking at books of children's clothing patterns...perhaps I'm getting a little ahead of myself? Nah.

Looking forward to next months lessons...perhaps zippers? ;-)

Full House

2011-01-15T01:43:00.000-08:00

So many changes in my little family!

Steve, Elysia and I have moved from our little home in Langley to an even cozier home in Burnaby. Steve and I want to buy a house, so we figured the best way to do that was to downsize for a while and save up a down-payment. So we moved! Hellooooo Mom and Dad's!!

We did a lot of work getting ready to move in. First we had to get our house ready to be rented out...paint, paint, paint!!! Then we had to get the basement at my parent's home ready for us...paint, paint, paint!!!

It was worth it!

This is my new little sitting room. My Mom painted those lovely pictures behind the sofa. They are now hanging on the opposite wall, and look awesome!

Here is the little fireplace we got to warm up our room. It makes the sitting room so much cozier! Cody likes it too (although he really loves the awesome shag rug!).

This is going to be my spring-time project. I'm going to paint it white. Hope it turns out!

The room is big enough to include our little kitchen table. It's nice that my family can sit together. Steve and I enjoy coffee here, and Elysia likes to play in this room.

There is still a lot more I want to do. First of all, Elysia's room needs a facelift. New paint, curtains and lighting are definitely in order! Then I'm thinking about re-painting my sitting room. I like the room, but it's a bit darker than I really wanted. I would like it lighter and am thinking of a grey-blue. I'm just really getting tired of painting!

Amidst all this redecorating we also had Christmas!

This is Elysia and I on the Stanley Park Christmas Train. It was fabulous! We went with our neighbours from Langley and had a really wonderful evening.

Another train ride! This time it was Lougheed Mall. Dad seemed to enjoy this train ride more than Elysia though.

December is baking time! Here is my first attempt at making a gingerbread man...pretty sad!

Second attempt turned out much better.

Here is my Mom and Dad's lovely tree. I thought it was really pretty.

This is Steve's and my tree. Steve insists on a real tree. I would love a fake one, but I have to admit that the real one is beautiful and smells so nice.

OK, I threw this picture in because I thought it was just so darn cute. Elysia loves making a mess of my laundry. Not fun to clean up, but so adorable to watch her having fun and smiling like this!

This is Elysia wearing her Christmas dress and shopping with Grandma Shaw. We spent the afternoon at this little shop where Elysia got to see Santa and look at the lovely Christmas displays. She looked so cute, but unfortunately her visit with Santa didn't go very well. Hopefully next year the big guy in the red suit won't be so scary!

This is another pic I just had to throw in. Cody decided to take a nap and use Elysia as a pillow. They are such buddies!

The big, goofy dog.

Sigh...what can I say?

It doesn't snow a lot here in Vancouver, so we love it when it does. Driving in it isn't fun though!

Elysia and her Daddy Christmas shopping at Lougheed Mall.

My Mom's Christmas Village. Pretty awesome!

Elysia hanging out in her toy basket.

Elysia at her music class. She loves music! I really hope that is something she always loves.

As you can see, December was a really busy month!

2010-11-11T22:47:00.000-08:00

October was a busy month. It was a month of firsts! Elysia, Steve, and I decided to go to the pumpkin patch. None of us had ever been, and it was a beautiful day, so away we went!

Elysia loved checking out all the pumpkins.

Peek!

Elysia and her daddy.

Elysia and I both had to wear red shirts!

I just love this pic. It looks like heaven is shining down on my little girl.

So many pumpkins to choose from!

Wait for me, Daddy!

It's so hard to get a picture of the two of us. Elysia just loves to be Miss Independent.

That's it, I'm outta' here.

The turkeys were bigger than Elysia.

Hmmm...that pumpkin looks good...

She just can't wait to get her driver's license.

Such fun was had at the pumpkin patch. Can't wait to go again next year!!

We also took Elysia Trick-or-Treating for the first time.

My little Strawberry, all ready to go!

We went with our neighbours and their daughter, Leah. They both looked so cute in their costumes.

Ummm...Mom, I can't see!!

Daddy's turn.

Our fabulous pumpkin!

Elysia LOVED trick-or-treating.

Daddy LOVED all the candy.

Halloween was so much fun!

Elysia also got to go to her very first friend's Birthday Party!

Such a great time to have a Birthday. Beautiful fall colours, and Pumpkins to decorate!

Elysia and Steve's work of art.

The most beautifully decorated birthday gazebo. Sophia had a great birthday, and Elysia had a fabulous time.

Yes, October was a wonderfully busy month. Now for November...

Chef Extraordinaire!

2010-09-27T23:24:00.000-07:00

OK, that title may be overstepping a bit, but hey...it's my blog!

When I was little, my mom worked full time and my father did most of the cooking. His veggie choice always consisted of boiled peas (his favourite) that he would prepare and boil early in the day and the meat choice was always heavily peppered. To this day, my brother and I hardly ever eat peas! He did try to be creative though. Just ask him about his 'amazing' creation of adding tuna to the meaty spaghetti sauce, or adding the cheese powder to the boiling water for our macaroni and cheese.

Anyway, as I got older and mom retired, the chef's hat shifted from Dad's head to Moms. My study time didn't present many opportunities to help my Mom in the kitchen, so as I grew older, my cooking skills were rather lacking in skill and creativity. When I lived on my own for the first time, microwave popcorn was a common dinner and my fridge contents consisted of milk and cheese. When I lived in Asia, eating out in restaurants was so cheap that I never had food in my house.

Now that I'm married with a daughter of my own, I find I am bored with making the same dishes night after night. After having delicious home-made tacos at my friend's house the other night, and reading about another of my friends cooking Thai food, I got inspired!

So for the first time, I decided to make Asian Lettuce Wraps. OK, probably not exciting to all you culinary experts out there, but for me it sounded delicious.

Once I decided on a recipe, I had to go shopping!

I had to buy almost everything on the list!! Those of you who know me...yes, that is an ONION in the bottom left corner. I chopped that onion so fine, and only used half. Baby steps. Onions are still yucky.

There's my lettuce, all clean and shiny! =)

Yep, the final product! Eaten up, of course! Pretty messy meal to eat especially when you have a one year old who insists on eating independently.

Perhaps I'm Canada's next top chef.

Now I just need a Chef's hat.

And a new recipe.

How about a few more pictures...

2010-08-21T23:37:00.000-07:00

OK, My Mom took these pictures a few days ago with her fancy schmanzy new camera...

Don't you think Elysia's hair looks rather auburn in these pics??

Thanks, Mom!! The pictures turned out great!

Summer Fun at Buntzen Lake and White Rock

2010-08-02T00:40:00.000-07:00

Elysia gets her very own water lounge chair to enjoy at Buntzen Lake. Lucky kid!

Steve enjoyed a day off in the sun.Elysia absolutely loved the water. She splashed away, and had a really great time.

In fact, she had so much fun she decided to crawl out into deeper waters...

No worries! Grandma and Aunty Sara caught her before she got too far.

Time to splash!Time to visit the White Rock Boardwalk!Elysia loves hanging out with Grandma.She got to walk with Grandma on the Boardwalk. She LOVED it.

After a busy day in White Rock, we took time to enjoy some yummy fish and chips.

I just love her 'scrunchy nose' expression.We've had a great summer so far!

Fun in the Sun

2010-07-27T22:50:00.000-07:00

Ahhh...the hot days of Summer. Time to bring out the hat!

Hmmm...How to beat the heat?

Water Park!!

Elysia loved the park. She was a little unsure at first, but once she saw all the other kids playing in the cool water she just had to join in!

Aunty Sara seemed to enjoy it too.

Thankfully there is another Water Park really close to our house. Without A/C, our house sure gets hot! Nice to cool off...

If we can't get to the water park, hanging out in our own backyard can be fun, too.

Time for a Change

2010-07-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

Steve and I bought our home a little over two years ago and have really only begun to make some cosmetic changes. We love our home, but the beige in our house had to go! Beige walls, carpet, furniture...We needed colour. Well, colour we got!

I wasn't too sure about this colour at first, but my hubby loved it, and I decided I'd just have to wait and see...

Work, work, work!

Today, it was finally all done. Steve worked really hard to get all the painting done and then moved all the furniture around and hung up a few pictures. Here is the result...

All done! So, what do you think?

Now Steve is painting the dining room...pictures to follow!

Breakfast, Crackerjacks, Baseball, and Fireworks

2010-06-23T19:13:00.000-07:00

What a day!

A few days ago it was my husband's 31st Birthday, so to begin our day we went out for breakfast. Elysia loved the French toast, and she was quite the little hit in the restaurant! It was really nice, she was all smiles and chatty, and Steve and I were able to enjoy a really pleasant breakfast.

After breakfast the three of us headed out to Steveston for a walk through the little seaside shops and along the water. We brought Cody (our great big puppy), put Elysia in the stroller, and away we went. I really like the little shops in Steveston, and unlike my hubby, I love to go in and look at all the funky things. I walked by this cute little children's clothing shop and I, of course, couldn't just walk by and not go in! So while I was perusing the little shoes and adorable outfits, my husband called me from outside. I hurried out to find that Steve had been stung by a wasp! Well, we think it was a wasp. Whatever it was, it sure was nasty. Something was in his hair, and when he flicked it out it stung him. His finger and hand began to swell, so we headed over to the Pharmacy where I bought him some Benadryl.

My hubby on Benadryl is quite funny. It makes him extremely drousy, so we decided it was best to leave Steveston. So now it was my turn to drive, as hubby fought the desire to fall asleep. Next stop, my parent's house.

We spent a little while at my parent's house while the Benadryl wore off, and then Elysia spent the evening with Grandma and Grumpa while Steve and I went out to see a Baseball game. The Vancouver Canadians were playing their home opener, so we thought it would be a fun way to spend the evening. We bought overpriced hot dogs, beers, and settled in to watch the game. Half way through the game we saw the people behind us eating Crackerjacks and we just had to have some! When was the last time you ate Crackerjacks??? I used to love them when I was a kid. So the two of us enjoyed this yummy treat while watching the home team win their home opener. Perfect!

Not long after the game ended, there was an amazing fireworks show for all the fans. It was awesome! Steve and I loved it, and it was the perfect way to end the day. What a Birthday!!

The Trials of Parenting

2010-06-14T19:39:00.000-07:00

Steve is really easygoing, and I was a very pliable child. Neither of us has a bad temper, and we never imagined that we would have a child with one.

My daughter turned one a week ago, and she seems to have already hit the terrible two’s. Everything seems to be a battle lately, and she is testing me daily. For example, when I change her throughout the day, she gets really angry, twisting her little body, arching her back, and trying to crawl away. Add to this screaming, clenched fists, and a very red little face, and you have one mad child.

I’m also having issues with feeding her. At breakfast she will sit in her chair and angrily scream if her food isn’t there fast enough for her. At other meals, if she doesn’t like what she is eating, she will raise her hand and shove you away. This causes the food to spill onto the floor, her clothes, and the chair. I decided when Elysia was able to eat regular food that I would give her pretty much everything I ate. This worked for a while, but now she is really determined to eat what she wants.

Bedtime is another trying time. As I write this, my daughter is screaming in her crib. She doesn’t want to go to bed, and she is letting me know it! If you’ve read my earlier blogs, you probably know that I have a terrible time getting Elysia to nap. This now often extends to bedtime.

I’m not really sure what to do. I mostly go on instinct, but I also always question my decisions. All this, and she’s only 16 lbs! Sigh...I guess she is 16 lbs of pure attitude.

One frustrated and confused Mama here.

A Few Pictures of Elysia's First Birthday

2010-06-09T22:56:00.000-07:00

A Few Birthday Pictures!!

My Dad, Steve, and I singing the 'Happy Birthday' song to Elysia.

I tried so hard to keep the Princess Crown on Elysia. Lucky for me, my friend was able to take a picture with her wearing it! She had approximately a 0.3 second window to get this shot. :-)

Apparently the 'Princess' Crown suits me too...

Elysia sure loves her Grandma!

Time for Cake!Yummy Princess Cupcake, that is!

Yes, it was a fun 'Princess' First Birthday!!

A Birthday to Remember

2010-06-06T23:43:00.000-07:00

My dearest Elysia is now a one year old.

We celebrated her party yesterday (even though the official big day is today) because her Daddy had to work today. We had approximately 28 family and friends join us for our little celebration, and thankfully the sun shined and the day was beautiful.

It was a Princess themed Birthday Party, with princess invitations, tablecloth, napkins, plates, balloons, streamers...it was a pink explosion! Elysia even had a lovely tiara shaped cake made of cupcakes. Yum! I'm so grateful to everyone who helped, too. My friend Carla came early to help me decorate (she also helped me stay calm when it was almost time for people to arrive and I still had so much to do!!), and my family brought a lot of the delicious food for all to enjoy. Where would we be without the love of family and friends?

My daughter is still a terrible napper, and she usually sleeps only once in the late morning. Thus, by late afternoon she can sometimes go from being my cute kid to a little grumpy pants. So for her birthday, Steve and I kept her up and didn't give her a nap until around noon. By 2:00, she was awake and in a great mood for her party! OK, she was in a great mood until her cake was brought out. For some reason Elysia burst into tears at some point during the 'Happy Birthday' song! Eating the yummy cake seemed to help a bit though.

Elysia has been blessed with so many wonderful family and friends in her life. They love her and spoil her, and they definitely spoiled her on her Birthday! I think I received the best gift of all though. I have had the joy and pleasure of watching my beautiful daughter grow into a wonderful one year old girl.

How can my girl be one? Didn't I just bring her home from the hospital a week or so ago?

Pics to follow...

So Much Love

2010-06-02T01:52:00.000-07:00

In just a few short days, my little girl is going to be One.

There are so many things I love about my daughter...

I love how she gives me this proud smile when she does something new, like when she says a new word. I love how every time I go into the garage with her she starts making these funny little noises just because she likes to hear the echo. I love how she sleeps on her tummy with her knees pulled up under her tummy and her bum up in the air. I love how she says 'num num' when she wants something to eat. I love how she starts bouncing when she sees you eating a treat that she just has to try. I love how she growls, even when she's in church. I love how she likes music. She is drawn to the sounds, and starts to do this adorable little baby jig. I love how she smiles at me when she sees me in the morning. I love her giggle. It's so contagious that anyone who hears it begins to laugh with her. I love how excited she gets when she sees her Daddy. I love how she climbs up on my lap when she wants cuddles...

My list could go on and on, so I'll end with this one.

I love how my daughter has blessed my life. Was there life before her?

Pancake Breakfast and May Day Parade

2010-05-24T14:56:00.000-07:00

Today we got up early and headed to Fort Langley for our first parade. Before the parade started there was a pancake breakfast that we just had to attend. After filling our tummies with a yummy breakfast, we headed over to find a good spot to watch the parade. I love community things like this! There were people outside selling cotton candy, ice-cream, and other goodies. There were also hot dogs, snacks, and people selling silly little children's toys. There was even a big church garage sale going on! The street in Fort Langley was lined with children and parents, and walking by were clowns making balloon animals, and children selling kettle corn. When the parade started, Elysia loved it. She watched as the Police motor bikes drive by, the fire trucks, and she really loved the horses. It was a fun afternoon!

We just arrived at the parade, and found the perfect place to sit and watch the festivities.

Elysia and Cody hanging out and waiting for the parade to start.

The best family pic I managed to take.

Ummm...I think Elysia is ready for her nap...

It was a fun day!!

She's Growing Up So Fast!

2010-05-21T22:44:00.000-07:00

I can't believe how quickly my baby girl is growing up!

OK, she's still tiny, but she has her own mind and a whole lotta' spunk. We took her shopping yesterday and put her in the shopping cart. For the most part she likes it, but she has also taken to putting her mouth on the handle of the cart! So gross!!! Of course we bring a supply of wipes so that we can clean the cart before our little kiddo can munch on the handle, but it still doesn't stop me from trying to stop her from eating it. She gets so mad when I stop her, too. I thought we had found a way around that little problem by giving her her soother while shopping. No such luck. Apparently the soother isn't nearly as tasty as the yucky shopping cart! But here's our latest problem. When I put her in the cart at Shoppers, there was no seatbelt and she decided she didn't want to sit down. She stood up, hung onto the back of the cart and turned herself around! She did this twice! So there I was standing in the store saying, 'Elysia Grace! Stop that right now! You have to turn around and sit down properly.' Yeah, like that works.

We also went swimming for the first time last Monday. Steve, Elysia and I went to our local Community Pool and played in the water for about an hour. Elysia loved it! She looked so cute in her little swimsuit, too. I'll definitely have to get a picture of her in it. She giggled, splashed around, and really enjoyed her time in the water. In fact, we liked it so much that we went again yesterday! This summer, I am enrolling her in swim lessons, and I think it will be a lot of fun for both her and I.

Elysia isn't quite walking yet, but she sure does crawl. That girl can move! We are trying to help her get the idea of walking, though. Today her Uncle Tory held her hands and she walked around the living room. She had a huge smile on her face and baby-babbled the entire time. It was so cute. Then he let go of her hands and she stood, unaided, for about five seconds. All by herself!! Huge cheer for my baby girl! She's awesome. Thankfully my Mom had her camera handy for the big moment. You go, girl!

Mother's Day

2010-05-14T00:29:00.000-07:00

I had my first Mother's Day last Sunday. It's hard to believe that last year at this time I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my baby girl. In so many ways the past year has gone by so quickly, and yet at the same time it feels like my daughter has always been a part of my life. Does that make any sense?

Mother's Day was really nice. After church, my little family went out for brunch at a place in Fort Langley. The food was delicious, Elysia was well-behaved (YAY!!!), and Steve and I were able to enjoy a nice meal. I'm hoping that next Mother's Day we will be able to enjoy brunch with both my family and Steve's. How wonderful it would be to share this special day with lots of Mothers!! After Brunch, the three of us headed over to my Mom and Dad's house for a few hours. It turns out that my Mom had breakfast made for her by two girls at 6am!! Omelette with not quite cooked veggies....Yumm.... :-) Very thoughtful though, don't you think? I'm hoping that in a few years Steve and Elysia will make me breakfast on Mother's Day. That would be so cute! I can just imagine my little Elysia helping her daddy.

After our visit, we headed out to Abbotsford to visit with Steve's Mom and Sister and her family. We had a really nice dinner, and because it was Mother's Day we didn't have to eat 'Me n Ed's Pizza' (Steve's favourite). He'll have to wait for Father's day for that meal!!!

My sister in law also sent me a lovely Mother's Day gift. She gave me a box of chocolate covered fruit. Delicious!!! What a nice treat that was.

Have you ever noticed that all special days seem to centre around food? Or perhaps that's just me...

11 Months old and full of personality!

2010-05-09T00:06:00.000-07:00

My daughter turned 11 months old a few days ago. With each and every passing day, my daughter both impresses and surprises me with her big personality. This doesn't mean we don't have our challenges! For about two months now, my daughter has begun to show a true independent streak. She lets you know when she wants to get up in the morning (think drama queen), pushes your hand away when she has had enough to eat, argues bitterly (in her baby babble sort of way) when it's her naptime, and is quite insistent that she'd rather explore than be held down. There is one thing I know for certain, and that's that I have a very feisty, curious, determined baby girl, and I love her more and more with each passing day...even if I get frustrated once in a while!

I had a rough day with her yesterday. For some reason, Elysia woke up grouchy and pretty much stayed grouchy all day long. OK, I admit it. This made Mama kind of grouchy too. Well, 'kind of grouchy' isn't exactly accurate either. Like Elysia, I was just plain grouchy too. Just ask Steve!!! I'm not sure if she was teething, or not feeling well, but it made for a rather trying day. She woke up screaming, got mad that I wasn't giving her her breakfast fast enough, and complained bitterly about having a morning nap. Then she woke up screaming, hated getting dressed, and was just little miss grumpy pants. So we went out!! Best to share my little ray of sunshine with the world instead of greedily keeping her all to myself at home, don't you think?

We actually had plans to meet a woman who I went to high school with. We met at our ten year reunion, became facebook friends, and both of us became first time moms last year. After chatting back and forth, we decided it would be fun to have a play date. Her son was adorable! At five months old, he was wonderfully pudgy, had lots of dark hair, and was a cute and pleasant little boy. It was really nice spending the afternoon with her and her son. Elysia enjoyed getting out of the house, I enjoyed her improved mood, and we both enjoyed the wonderful company. A few hours later, we packed up and headed to Grandma and Grumpa's house for the rest of the afternoon.

This morning was completely different. Instead of waking up and hearing her crying, I heard Elysia playing in her crib. When I went into her room to get her, she greeted me with a beautiful smile. She giggled when I played with her, ate her breakfast without getting mad, and absolutely loved going for a walk with Steve and I. What a difference a day makes!!
Such personality in a little package...Watch out world, Elysia is most definitely here!

I knew my Kid was ADORABLE!

2010-04-27T23:20:00.000-07:00

Sigh...proud Mama moment.

My daughter was selected to be in our local newspaper! My Mom took this great picture of her, and at my brothers insistence, we agreed to submit her photo and a little bit of info about her to The Province Newspaper. The picture above is the awesome result!

I knew my kid was adorable!

Age is just a number, and mine is....34

2010-04-26T22:27:00.000-07:00

Yep, I'm 34. A lot has happened this past year...

Let's see. I spent my last birthday at Abbotsford hospital visiting my hubby. He had an infection that put him in the hospital for 4 days. I was also 7 months pregnant, going to school, and organising the new baby room.

So this Birthday my hubby planned a great day for me. We started our day by going out for breakfast at IHOP. I love their pancakes!! After that, I went and had a manicure/pedicure. Have you ever noticed how good you feel after pampering yourself? I felt awesome. But I wasn't done there...I also had my eybrows shaped and coloured, and my eyelashes dyed. Ouch on the eyebrows, but man do they look good! I had no idea my eyebrows had become so, well...overgrown. ;-)

After that, we dropped off my little Elysia at my parent's house and headed out for dinner. We went to The Olive Garden where we enjoyed a delicious pasta dinner. After filling up on the endless salad and breadsticks, we had plenty of dinner to take home with us! We then headed over to our local casino for a few hours. It was one of those nights where I just couldn't lose. Every time I wasn't winning, I would talk to my machine and tell it that it was my birthday, and BAM! I'd win. Yep, I kept winning while hubby kept losing. Down, down, down, went his credits while mine kept climbing. It was so funny, and so much fun!

The following day we went to my parent's house for dinner. There we were spoiled with a wonderful steak dinner (my favourite), and I got a new game for my Wii (Mario Bros, if you're interested...). Then it was Cake, tea, and home. Guess it's a good thing I have the Wii FIT!

Yesterday after church Steve and I decided to go for a day trip to Whistler. The drive is only a couple hours long, and it is such a beautiful drive! We watched all the skiiers enjoying their time in the village, and had dinner at the Spaghetti Factory there. As I said, it's a good thing I have the Wii Fit!

So that was my weekend. It was a wonderful, fabulous, indulgent weekend, and I loved it. Thank you Steve and family!

Life threw me a curve ball

2010-04-20T20:16:00.000-07:00

I had it all figured out.

When Steve and I got married, I was a nursing student working towards my Bachelors in Nursing. Not long after the wedding, we decided we were going to try and have a baby. We thought it would take at least a year or so, but it took all of two months before I got pregnant. So there I was, pregnant and in school. OK, not quite what I expected. It wasn’t easy, especially because my pregnancy didn’t go as smoothly as I had hoped, but I managed.

I thought I had it all figured out.

People have babies all the time and stay in school. Yes, I’d have to take a few semesters off, but then I’d be back and ready to jump back into my studies. My mom had agreed to take care of Elysia while I was in school, and Steve would watch her when he was home. Great, right? Then something changed in me.

Perhaps I don’t have it all figured out.

Steve works a four day schedule. He works four days on, and then has four days off, and his shifts are twelve hours long. Because of this, we had decided before I got married that when I graduated I would work casually as a nurse. A few days a week would be perfect for two reasons. First of all, I love spending time with my family and want to be there for my children. Secondly, I would be home when Steve was at work. If I worked full-time as a nurse, I would likely work the nurse’s schedule of four days on, five days off, and with that schedule we would go through periods of never seeing each other. So the p/t schedule suited us perfectly.

Problem.

It’s impossible to take nursing classes part-time. I looked at every school, considered all the different nursing school options, and found that it is full-time or nothing. This has caused a huge internal dilemma for me. The program I am in is very intense (as I’m sure all Nursing programs are), with a hectic schedule and a lot of study and school work. My classmates are in school three days per week, and also do twelve hour shifts in the hospital 2-3 days every week. This is on top of all the papers and study time/homework given. Home time is study time, not family time. I know this because I’ve done it, and it was tough even without kids. I was willing to do it though, because the end was definitely worth it. However, I spoke to a woman who is in the program and she told me that she has to be like a drill-sergeant with her kids every night. When she gets home it is dinner, bath, bed, and then she can study. That’s when she is home and not doing a 12 hour evening shift in the hospital! Is it still worth it?

I have known one thing for a long time. I have always wanted to be there for my kids.

When I was growing up, my mom worked full-time and I really didn’t like it. I wanted my Mom there, and I remember making a promise to myself that I would not work full-time when I had my own kids. I completely understand why she worked full-time, but our situations are different.

Thankfully, Steve supports my decision either way. His income is sufficient for our family, and we had already agreed that my income would be extra money. I am incredibly grateful for his support, but I know he would prefer it if I didn't return to school. He wants me to be happy, and has told me to return to school if it will make me happy, but he also lived with me when I was a student and I think he prefers it when I am not stressing out over school.

I know a lot of nurses. All of them have children, and some of them even went to nursing school with children. I know it can be done; I’m just not sure that path is the right one for me or my family right now. Honestly, this is the most difficult decision I have ever had to make.

Dilemma.

I feel like a failure if I don’t go back. I feel like a failure if I do go back. I haven't really told anyone about this because I'm worried about what people will think. Yet I know that's ridiculous because I have to do what is right for me and my family, regardless of whether or not people agree with my decision. Truthfully, whichever route I take I feel incredibly sad, and I never imagined I would be facing a decision such as this. I’m not ready to say goodbye to my dream of becoming a nurse. I’m not willing to sacrifice the next three years with my daughter. I want to see her take her first step. I want to put her to bed every night and be there in the morning when she wakes. I also want her to be proud of me. I want her to know that I chose to be with her, but I don`t want her to think she held me back from following my dream. Truthfully, she is my dream. I made this child, and her happiness is more important than mine. I just need to be comfortable with my decision and I am having a very difficult time letting go. Both routes make me cry.

So now what?

The Haircut

2010-04-13T23:26:00.000-07:00

I never imagined I'd have a baby girl with tons of hair. Elysia has this (blondish?) hair that is longer in the front than in the back, and kind of wispy on the sides. Without a hair clip, her hair completely covers her eyes and nose. Even with a clip in her hair, wisps would sneak out of the clip and go right in her eyes. Actually, she kind of looked like a miniature Beatles singer.

While the Beatles were fashion forward for their time, it's definitely not a look for my 10 month old!

I had originally planned on taking her for a haircut when she was around two years old, and I think we would have made it if two things hadn't happened. First of all, we got a puppy. What does the puppy have to do with Elysia's first haircut? Well...for some strange reason, Cody (the menace puppy) seems to have taken a liking to Elysia's hair clips. Not the ones that are left on tables, although I'm sure he'd grab those too, but the ones that are on her head. He follows her around, and yanks them out of her hair and chews on them! For some reason this doesn't bother the baby at all, but it sure bugs me! Secondly, my daughter hates having things on her head. This started with hats. Any time I put a hat on her head, she stubbornly grabs it with both hands and yanks it off. Then it went to sunglasses. I bought her these adorable purple glasses and she screams every time I put them on her. Most recently, you guessed it...she reaches her hand up and yanks out her own hair clips.

So this left me no choice. Haircut time!

My first issue was where to take a 10 month old for a haircut. The only place I could find that was relatively close to me was this place called 'Sparkys'. They have the WORST commercials, but I figured they would give her a pretty good cut. So I put a clip on my hairy kid, picked up my mom for moral support, and away we went to Sparkys.

This was Elysia just before the dreaded haircut. Bangs are slightly long.

Time to start cutting!

So far so good. Haircut seems to be going well, Grandma is taking lots of pictures. First locket of hair is safely packed away for her baby book. Then...

Oh the trauma!

Then something strange happened. Elysia all of a sudden spit out her hair clip! When did that get in her mouth, and how did I not know that it was there??? It was in her hair when we left for the mall. When I took her out of the car seat I found a clip there, so I assumed she had once again yanked it out. Little did I know it was a decoy clip so that Miss Muffit could have an afternoon snack without Mom knowing. Anyway, the munched on clip flew out of her mouth. Yep, my kid is cute. And well-mannered, too!
Look! She has eyes!

After the trauma of the haircut (not to mention the unappetizing hair clip snack), we decided we needed a well-deserved treat. So it was off to IHOP for some yummy pancakes.

Wow! look at that good looking kid. :-)

OK, good looking kid with a silly expression...

I sure do have a cute kid! Now Cody will have to find something else to chew on...Steve's shoes perhaps?

Spring Cleaning

2010-04-11T22:54:00.000-07:00

Ahhh....Spring.

The lovely smell of flowers in bloom, the sound of birds chirping their beautiful melodies, and seeing a house that is in dire need of Spring cleaning!

I've learned that I am somewhat of a minimalist when it comes to my home. When I lived in Asia, I moved apartments a few times and discovered that I hate having tons of stuff. It's funny the amount of things you can accumulate in a short period of time, extra dishes, small appliances, knickknacks...the list could go on and on. I remember moving into my first place and having so little that it literally took one pick-up truck to take all my things to my little home. By the time I left there a few years later, I needed a few vehicles to transport everything and had to travel back and forth a few times. Do we really need all this stuff? Don't get me wrong, I can't figure out how people could have lived in the days of no coffee makers or microwaves (where would we be without that first morning cup of java??), but has anyone actually used their breadmaker? More than once, I mean?

When Steve and I first moved into our home, we had only a few things. We didn't even have furniture for our dining room, kitchen, or spare bedroom! Two years and a baby later, my little home is bursting at the seams with stuff. My living room is now home to our puppy's bed, baby toys, tons of pictures of my adorable kid, as well as the usual living room stuff. The kitchen still has the all important coffee maker, but now also holds my hubby's desk, a high-chair, and Cody's extra large dog kennel (not to mention all of his toys or anything else Cody finds to entertain him...such as Steve's shoes). Every room is full of stuff!

We are planning on staying here for a few more years, so we decided that it was definitely time to do some spring cleaning so that our home feels more spacious. It's easier for me than it is for Steve to purge our home of things we don't use, but he was starting to hate the clutter as well. We cleaned and re-organised closets, Steve cleaned the garage, and we both tidied up the rest of the house. One trip to Value Village with a very full car later, and my house is starting to feel a lot less cluttered. Aside from the trauma of discarding clothes that no longer fit me (how depressing is that!!), I feel much better about my little home. Yes, Cody's kennel is still in the kitchen, and yes you can still trip on a baby toy, but my home is starting to return to the place I loved when we first moved in. Spring cleaning may be a lot of work, but it sure makes for a more loveable home!

A Few Weeks, A Ton of Pictures!!!

2010-03-27T23:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, things are getting back to normal around here. After the chaos of our new puppy Cody, I am now once again finding the time to blog! So I figured I'd show a few new pics of my Elysia.

My mom purchased herself a fancy new camera, and she takes awesome pictures with it. Thank you, Grandma!!

Perhaps you'll remember a few bog entries ago when I mentioned I loved the store 'Bunnies by the Bay'? Well, I found her a Bunnies by the Bay jacket! I could just tell you how awesomely cute she looks in it, but I figured I'd show you a few pics so that you'd come to that obvious conclusion yourself! :-)

Ready for Easter anyone?

She looks so happy in this pic, but I should mention that she tried and tried to pull the hood off. My kid hates wearing anything on her head! We managed to sneak a few fabulous pics though! I Love how they turned out.

Meet the Newest Addition to our Family!

2010-03-10T21:20:00.000-08:00

OK, he's a little bit bigger than I anticipated but he sure is cute! At only 14 weeks old, he's already a whopping 25 lbs and still growing...

Steve and I had been tossing around the idea of getting a dog for a few months now. It was never the right time, and it was difficult to agree on the type of dog we wanted. I wanted a cute little dog. He wanted a Lab. I wanted one that wouldn't shed. He wanted a Lab. I wanted one that could sit on my lap. He wanted a LAB. The only thing that we completely agreed on was that he/she had to be a family friendly dog. Hmmmmm.....

So, we finally decided on a Goldendoodle. Best of both worlds, sort of. First of all, he doesn't shed. WOOHOO! Secondly, he's family friendly and looks like a great big teddy-bear. Third, he LOVES Elysia. He was supposed to be a medium sized dog, but judging by the size of his paws, I'd say Steve got his wish of having a great big dog. We found one that we just loved, and finally agreed to get him. I'm so glad!

We picked him up yesterday, and we just think he is awesome. The baby loves him too. I think that it will be so nice having our baby girl grow up with a dog.

One Cool Kid

2010-03-03T23:28:00.000-08:00

What is it about a kid in sunglasses that just makes them look absolutely adorable??

My daughter doesn't like the sun. She never really has. When we go for walks, she scrunches up her little face and squints if the sun is anywhere near her eyes. So I was at 'Please Mum' the other day and found her these super cute purple sunglasses. They have a band that goes all the way around so that they actually stay (even if only temporarily) on my girl's head. So I put them on her the other day and headed downtown with my Mum. The three of us strolled the sunny streets of Vancouver, weaving in and out of the huge Olympic crowds, and Elysia had a blast. She was also very popular with the other people walking by. Who can resist an adorably cute and very cool kid?

An Awesome Day

2010-02-19T21:46:00.000-08:00

I love having the Olympics here in our city...

Yesterday Steve and I decided to take Elysia downtown to see the city during the Olympics. It was an awesomely glorious day, and I was excited to head into the city.

Steve and I parked our car at my parent’s house, put the baby in the stroller, and walked up to the sky train. Did I mention that it was a gorgeous day? The sun was shining, the weather was warm (as warm as it can be for Vancouver in February), and it was early in the afternoon. Steve doesn’t really like riding the train, but I don’t mind it. On a clear day you can enjoy a view of the mountains, or look at the downtown city lights. The people on the train can be rather interesting too!

The amazing view when we got off the train and took a short walk.

We got off the train near where many of the Olympic ‘houses’ were. As we walked over to Russia house, we noticed the line-up looked about an hour long. Sigh...I admit standing in a line with the baby for an hour didn’t really appeal to either of us. Thankfully, for some reason, since we had a stroller they let us just walk in! We were able to bypass the line-up and the metal detectors, and enter in what looked like a VIP entrance. It’s about time someone realised how important we know we are!! ;-)

Russia house wasn’t nearly as exciting as I thought it would be. If I had waited in line for an hour I would have been really disappointed! It was mostly pictures of the many regions of Russia, and a lot of information about the city where the next Olympics are going to be held. I wanted Russian food and dancing! They were playing Russian music over the speakers, however, and Elysia loved it. I took her out of the stroller and she began to smile and do her little baby dance.

We left Russia house and proceeded to the Plaza of Nations. There was a band playing live music, vendors trying to hawk useless wares (unless, of course, you really like glow in the dark sunglasses with great big maple leafs on the lenses), and a food tent where restaurateurs had set up little booths selling wonderful smelling international foods that would satisfy any persons taste buds. Of course we had to eat there! I had fabulous butter-chicken with rice and naan bread. Steve? Well, he was really adventurous and had a White Spot Hamburger.

A little market at the Plaza of Nations. I loved it! It reminded me of some of the markets I have been to in Asia, except the vendors here weren't grabbing you to try and get you to buy!

Anybody want to buy a moose toque? I know where you can get one for a slightly inflated price...

After a few hours of walking and taking in the sights, Elysia had had enough. So we headed back to my parent’s house on the sky train. At this point, the train was packed, and my wonderful little daughter was a wee bit cranky. Yep, my kid screamed almost the entire trip back to Burnaby.

Elysia when we just arrived downtown...Elysia on the train ride home!!

Steve and I weren’t done taking in the sights though. Elysia stayed with Grandma and Grumpa, and Steve and I headed back downtown. We went and saw the Olympic torch, felt the wonderful energy of the city at night, and heard endless cheers when Canada beat the Swiss in the hockey game. I have never seen anything like it. There were people all over the streets dancing, cheering, and wearing face-paint and maple leafs. There was even an impromptu ball hockey game being played in the street!

There were flags from all over the world, and friendly bantering from all the different people. It didn’t matter what country you were from, the crowds were awesome. I don’t think I have ever been more proud of my city.

Who could resist a family photo op in such a beautiful place?

The two of us walked the entire city that evening. We even took a little ferry across the water and went to Granville Island. I had never taken that ferry before, and I loved it! I can’t wait until Elysia is a little older so that she can really enjoy it with us.

It really was a wonderful day!

Olympic Excitement

2010-02-11T21:08:00.000-08:00

It's the day before the Olympics begin here in Vancouver, so Steve and I decided to pack up the baby and head downtown to see the festivities. What a great day it was for people watching. I heard people speaking Italian, German, Russian...just to name a few!

Such great fun it was to be a tourist in our own backyard. When you see people viewing your city for the first time, you look around at things with new eyes. Such a gorgeous city we are blessed to live in...the mountains, water, architecture, truly lovely! Yes, true to the nature of Vancouver, it did rain a little but nothing could dampen the excitement in the air. There is such an energy in the city right now.

I wanted to see the different 'houses' from around the world. The first one we went to was Germany House where we enjoyed a German Bratwurst. OK, I didn't add any sauerkraut, but it was still delicious. Perhaps next time I'll sample the German beer...

Sadly, we found that most of the other houses were closed until tomorrow when the Olympics officially begin. On the bright side it gives me an excuse to go again! Steve and I are planning on heading downtown one more time before the Olympics are over. He is working a long schedule during the games so it won't be for a week or so, but I am really looking forward to it.

Elysia and I also had a great afternoon with my Mom the other day. Mom came to my house for a visit and the three of us went to IHOP for Brunch. Elysia sat in her high-chair like a big girl and behaved like a little angel. OK, slight exaggeration, but she was pretty darn good. In fact, only a couple of spoons landed on the floor! She's still so little that the server put a package of napkins behind her so that she could sit forward in her high-chair. So funny...

She couldn't decide what she wanted to eat, but she finally decided on a little of Momma's pancakes. (notice the napkins??)

After breakfast the three of us headed to the little park next to my house. Grandma pushed Elysia in the swing and she loved it.

Elysia sure loves hanging out with her Grandma!

All in a Week

2010-02-05T22:40:00.000-08:00

It's been a week, so time for an update!

Let's see...

Well, Elysia had a doctors appointment a few days ago and it turns out that our little pumpkin is now 14 lbs, 5 oz. Way to go, Leesee!!! Tomorrow she turns 8 months old. I can't believe it!

A few days ago we took Elysia to Walmart to have her portrait taken. My Mom and Sara take so many fabulous pictures of our little muffin that I never felt the need to take her to a portrait studio. However I've been toying with the idea of trying to put Elysia into baby ads and they need a portrait picture of her. I don't know if she'll get in, but I thought it would be fun to try. Anyway, we decided to go, so I dressed her in this really cute ladybug dress and away we went. As soon as we arrived, my little peanut threw up all over her dress! Thanks, kid. Good thing there was a sale on at 'Children's Place'! What a perfect day...shopping and pictures.

You know what's really hard when you have kids? Going out to a restaurant. I never understood why couples with kids eat at home all the time, and now I know why. Taking Elysia to a restaurant is an adventure! Last week Steve and I decided to go out for breakfast, so we went to IHOP. I was really proud of my munchkin because she behaved (surprisingly...) well. She sat in a high-chair, which was a first for her, and munched on Mum-Mum's while looking around at the other patrons. She loves to get their attention!

Here are a few pictures of Elysia in the outfit made for her by her Grandma. Thanks Grammy for the lovely clothes!! If I'd known I'd get a new wardrobe, I'd of made sure you got a serger a long time ago!!

Yesterday, the three of us decided to go on a little road-trip to La Conner. I love it there, and so does Elysia.

It was so much fun going on an elephant ride!

La Conner is a lovely little town, and if you get the chance to go there make sure you check out this shop!

'Bunnies by the Bay' is the cutest store and totally worth the visit.

That's the update. Now we're getting ready for new adventures next week....

Time for a few Pictures!

2010-01-24T21:07:00.000-08:00

We spent the day at Grandma's house and such fun was had!

What could be more fun than playing with Baby?

Yes, Elysia loves her new Baby!

It's also fun riding around on Daddy's shoulders.

Hmmm....is that a bald-spot I see??

Yes, we had a great day!

She's a Mover!

2010-01-22T20:03:00.000-08:00

I'm a proud Mama! My little Elysia has figured out how to move. OK, it isn't the traditional crawling, but that's ok because my kid likes to be unique. Who needs to crawl when you can roll? That's way more fun, and very effective in getting where you want to go.

I was visiting my parents yesterday and that's where to big move happened. I put her on the floor for some play-time and away she went! She looked so cute and incredibly pleased with herself. With every roll, she would lay on her tummy and lift her head to see who was watching. Then she would give a big gummy smile and roll again. There's no stopping her now!

Yes, I definitely think she is enjoying the independence of being able to move. She used to get so frustrated trying to reach for things and now she can get them herself. It is awesome to see her confidence grow every day. I tried to put shoes on her earlier today and she kept rolling! It took me a lot longer than usual. My new normal, I guess! When Steve got home from work, he tried to put her pajamas on and she kept rolling away from him. It was hilarious trying to see him button up her pj's while she was trying to roll.

Such changes in my little one! She moves, sits up on her own, chats...I love seeing her learn new things, and now they seem to be happening almost daily.

Today she and I also had a great time together. It was such a beautiful day that we just had to get outside and go for a walk. Elysia hates her car seat (which sits in her stroller and faces backwards), but loves to sit in her stroller facing forward. So this time I put her in her stroller facing forward and away we went. She had a blast! Elysia looked at everything and happily baby-chatted away. We walked all the way to Tim Hortons where I enjoyed a Coffee and she enjoyed a well deserved Mum-Mum. Then we walked home where she had a nap (for about a whopping 30 minutes) and then played until her Daddy came home. After that she had some chicken and rice for dinner (another first for her) followed by a very necessary bubble bath. Chicken, rice and Mum-Mum now washed out of her hair, she got in her PJ's and went to bed.

So now it is my time to rest. Dinner is done, dishes are done, laundry is done, and tea is in hand. Tomorrow is a new day, filled with many more firsts...and rolls!

The Movie Adventure

2010-01-21T09:35:00.000-08:00

"It's Complicated"...

Not really. I went to the movies earlier today with my little Elysia and saw the new Meryl Streep movie called, "It's Complicated." The first thirty minutes or so, Elysia was awesome. She layed in her car seat, watched the movie screen, and just looked adorable. It was like she and I were really watching a movie together.  Too cute! I wonder what she was thinking when she was watching that giant theatre screen. Hmmm...Perhaps she is the next Scarlett Johannson or Julia Roberts?

I know my kid is cute, but I also know that this peaceful movie watching can't last.  So after the first thirty minutes, I was prepared. I had already made a bottle for her and had it sitting in the little drink holder beside me. I had also brought a secret weapon...Mum Mum's. Never heard of em'? Neither had I until only a few days ago. When my daughter started teething, we had to cancel a get-together with my neighbours because Elysia was rather grouchy. They have a baby only a few weeks younger than Elysia and suggested we try these cookies, so the next day Steve and I went out and bought a box. She loved them!

So when my little girl started to get fussy during the movie, I handed her a Mum Mum. She happily squished the rice cookie in her fingers, her dress, her bib, and her hair. I'm not sure how, but I think she also managed to eat a little of the cookie. Well, at least it gave me another fifteen minutes of movie watching.

With the Mum Mum gone, so was Elysia's patience.  She was ready to move! I took her out of her car seat and she sat on my lap drinking her bottle rather happily for a few minutes. I watched the movie, casually pulled out the Mum Mum remains from her hair, and enjoyed the peace. Bottle now finished...

Time to jump, shout, growl, and squeal!

OK, it wasn't that bad. But we did have to leave our seat and go for a little walk. The good news? The two of us were able to see most of the movie, including the end. Was it worth it? Yes, I think so. It was really nice getting out for the afternoon with other moms and enjoy a movie. Even if I am still finding Mum Mum's in my daughter's hair!

Can't Sleep, ummm...Won't Sleep

2010-01-15T23:00:00.000-08:00

My baby sleeps through the night now...mostly. Once in a while she wakes up, but usually she'll sleep until 7:30 or 8:00. Bed time isn't the problem, nap time is. Every day I put her down for a nap around ten, she goes to bed happily, but by 10:25 she is screaming. Same with her afternoon nap. What do I do? She is tired and cranky, but she screams until I go and get her up. At seven months, she still needs to nap! She did it again today. After 45 minutes of crying, I went and picked her up. She instantly stopped crying and was quite the happy little girl. I feel so awful if I let my baby cry, yet I also think she needs her sleep. Sigh...Any suggestions/advice?

We Got a TOOTH!

2010-01-12T21:41:00.000-08:00

So there I was the other day being my daughter's personal teething ring. This isn't a new thing, as she has been teething since she was about 3 1/2 months old. When she got a little older and was able to hold things, she would grab my hand and put my finger in her mouth and chomp. It was ok at first as it was all gum, but last time there was a definite sharp pain. There, on her bottom front gum, was a little tooth! Congrats, little Elysia. Ummm...can you stop using me as your teething ring now?

She and I have also discovered a 'Mommy and Me' group in our neighbourhood. Last Monday we met at our local Starbucks/Chapters and hung out with four other moms with babes. It was so nice meeting them, as I love where I live but it's been a bit lonely for me. At this meet-up, my girl was the senior baby there (the other kids were 6 months and under) and she knew it! At 7 months, Elysia knows how to be the cool kid in the bookshop. She was standing, smiling at people as they walked by, and chatting with anyone who would listen (and even if they wouldn't!). Quite the little charmer. So cute!

Next week my Mommy and Me group are going to the movies....now that should be interesting!

The Growl

2010-01-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, my daughter is sweet. She looks at you with these great big eyes and gives a grin that would melt even the grouchiest of people (just ask her 'Grumpa'!). But make my little muffin mad, and watch out!

I know she's only 7 months old, but don't let her young age and teeny-weeny size fool ya. She is one feisty cookie (why is it that when I describe my baby, it's always with food references???). Hmmm...perhaps I should call Dr. Phil. Or Jenny Craig...

Anyway, enough side-tracking. My daughter seems to have a bit of a temper. Ever heard a baby growl? No? Neither had I until I tried to make Elysia sit down instead of stand. "Grrrowl..." Hmmm, I suppose she would rather stand. I took her to Church last Sunday, and I guess she didn't really enjoy the sermon (sorry, Pastor Bob!). "Grrrowl..." Apparently they heard her five rows ahead! Someone told my mom that they thought she was snoring until they figured out it was a growl. It is so funny to hear this bad tempered sound come out of this tiny little girl! Perhaps I can record it and make her listen to it when she is older. I'm sure she'd just love that when her friends are over!

But that's not all. My multi-talented little peanut (there I go with those food references again) also does this baby sort of yell. If you don't believe me, just try putting her down for a nap.

Hmmm...I wonder what Frosty did to make her mad? =)

Yep, my Elysia has a temper! Grrrowl.....

The Joy of Baking

2010-01-04T22:14:00.000-08:00

I love to bake. Cooking really isn't my thing, but baking is so much fun! Cookies, cakes, pastries, breads...If it sounds good, I'll search for a recipe and bake it.

The other day I decided to make peanut butter cookies. I don't even like peanut butter! It wasn't until I had used up the entire jar of peanut butter and had filled the oven with about two-dozen cookies that I realised that my hubby doesn't really like them either. Good thing my family and the people Steve works with likes em'!

I seldom eat what I bake, I just enjoy making things. One moment I'll be having a cup of tea or doing laundry or something, and the next moment I'll have the urge to make something yummy. Bananas getting too ripe? Banana bread! Chocolate chips in an un-opened package (hard to imagine, I know)? Cookies! Hmmm...is that brown sugar sticking out of the cupboard while I'm trying to reach the salt? More cookies!

If you're going to bake, you gotta have the hat!

In December I was able to share my love of baking with my friend, Linda. I spent the afternoon in her lovely home and we made delicious oatmeal raisin cookies and other yummy treats. Coffee, laughs, conversation and baking. It was so much fun baking with a friend!

My friend, Linda.

Perhaps we'll have another bake-athon soon!!

Ready or not, 2010 here I come!

2010-01-02T16:15:00.000-08:00

What a year 2009 was!

So many things happened in the past year, both good and some not so good, and here we are entering the next decade.

Last year:

My husband started work at a new department. This was a great move, as he is much happier and works a much better schedule for our little family.
Our beautiful baby girl joined our little family. June 6th brought us Elysia Grace, and our world hasn't been the same since!
My father started his second bout against Cancer and is still fighting strong.
Allister, (my brother) came home from a few months of living in China.

Now what will 2010 bring? So far...

I started 2010 with optimism, as we rang in the New Year with dear friends. We played cards, watched movies and ate tons of food all evening long. Then, on New Years day, we went to my husbands family for a big dinner. It was there that I fell down the stairs and promptly landed on my butt. Of course I was carrying my daughter at the time, so the two of us went flying through the air and I did everything I could to cushion her fall (thank you Christmas junk food for adding to my cushioning!). She burst into tears, which were promptly followed by tears from her mama, but thankfully the two of us were fine.

So there you have it. If I've learned anything from my 2010 experiences so far, it is that there will be good and bad, but helping me through it all will be my wonderful family and my dear friends. More good news? The extra cushioning is obviously necessary. Cookies and cakes, here I come!

OK 2010, I'm ready for ya!

It's Christmas time, Pretty Baby...but no snow is falling on the ground...

2009-12-27T00:18:00.000-08:00

Ahhh...Christmas. The tree, the food, friends, family, a warm fire, snow...ok, no snow here but you get the idea. Don't you just love Christmas?

We had the best Christmas ever this year because we had our dear darling Elysia join our little clan. Such a joy she was! Of course we had to wear a pretty dress and visit Santa.

Hmmm....are you sure you're the real Santa?

Yep, I've been a good girl!

I just Love Christmas! Ooohhh...is that a real candycane for me to teethe on?

Ahh...after a tough day of visiting Santa, a good bevvie is just what we needed.

Six Months Old and Definitely a Genius

2009-12-11T21:06:00.000-08:00

Well, my Elysia turned six months old a few days ago. 6! It's funny, I used to hear people say that time flies when you have kids, but I never really thought so until my Elysia. How can she be 6 months? How precious (and often crazy!!) those months have been! It seems like only a few weeks ago that I was excitedly waiting for her arrival. Happy Birthday, my dear, darling Elysia.

OK, Winter...Here I Come!!!

Gotta love the hair!

Pucker Up!! It's picture time.

Elysia amazes me all the time. OK, I admit it...my kid is a genius. Her latest accomplishment? She can now...(drum-roll, please)...sit up on her own!! Not long now and she'll be running around the house and playing Mozart on the piano that I am going to have to buy her. Yep, it's true. My kid is a genius. She must get it from her mama.

Tis the Season to be Jolly

2009-12-03T23:00:00.000-08:00

Christmas spirit has invaded my house. It started early in the morning on November 30th when sounds of the song, 'It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas,' invaded my dreams. Steve got up early, dug out the Christmas CDs we purchased last year, dusted them off, and put them on to repeat over and over and over again...

Let the decorating begin!

Steve started by putting up Christmas lights outside our home. With the garage and front door now adorned with lights, the two of us set our sights on our living room.

Candles, snowmen, twinkle lights, and a Christmas Moose have turned my living room into an explosion of lights, colour and sound. Of course I had to bake some yummy cookies!!

My Christmas Tree. Hmmm....looking at this pic, my tree looks a wee bit crooked....

Just need to hang the stockings!

Christmas Moose. Annie the cat used to sit on Moose's head when she was a baby. I think that may be why his ears are a little bit squished now.

Yep, Christmas Spirit has invaded my house. I love it!!

More pics to come.....

The Swap Meet

2009-11-16T12:22:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I joined a 'Mommy and Me' online group that sends me e-mails about events going on in the community. Most recently they sent me information about a kids Swap Meet being held in Cloverdale. Now, I have never been to a Swap Meet, but it seems to me to be in the same category as garage sales. You know they are always going on in your neighbourhood, but do you really want to go and root through or buy other people's junk?

Well, the cost of raising a baby sure changed my mind!

Thus, I figured I'd give it a try. Early last Saturday morning I dragged hubby and baby with me and away we went to our very first Swap Meet. Steve was thrilled, I tell ya!

Unlike a garage sale, you have to pay to get in. If you arrive early it's $5 per person, but if you arrive an hour later it's only $2. So we waited at our local Starbucks and bought a few $6 lattes while we counted down the minutes until we could save a few bucks.

If you read my previous blog, you know that I've attended things like shoe sales with hundreds of people and waited in lines to enter stores. Well let me tell you, comparatively speaking, those were like a quiet stroll through the park compared to this. It is a mad, mad, mad, world inside the Swap Meet.

Shoes, toys, books, clothes, games, strollers, furniture....all things we could use, but add to this hundreds of parents (all looking for a bargain) storming a room the size of my garage containing tables piled high with these goods, and it becomes pure chaos. The excitement never ends!

With twenty bucks in hand, I entered the room looking for bargains. 'Two bucks for those shoes? Will you take a dollar??' Ahhh, the joys of bargaining. Takes me back to my time in China (minus, of course, the millions of chinese people).

After an hour of searching, I purchased four sweaters (I'm not sure why, but I seem to be in a sweater phase right now), a pair of shoes, pants, and a toy for Elysia's crib. Not bad, if I do say so myself!

Yep, I can definitely say I am now hooked on Swap Meets. In fact, I think Steve is too. I believe his exact words were, 'it's right up there with the shoe sale you dragged me to last week.' hehehe.

The Best Day Trip EVER!

2009-11-12T22:04:00.000-08:00

The weather was nice a few days ago, so my hubby suggested that we drive over to Steveston to go for a walk and purchase some of his beloved potato bread. It sounded like a nice outing, so we packed up the baby and away we went.

On the way, I suggested we stop at a little tea shop that I was told about. When we walked in, there were doilies, lace curtains, china cups, and older ladies wearing large hats in the shop. I saw grandmas with granddaughters, and lovely older couples enjoying a pot of tea and chatting with each other. All this, and fresh baked scones and pie too. I loved it! Hubby wasn't as impressed...

After that little detour, we continued on our way to Steveston. While driving, I saw something else that seemed interesting. 'Look, honey...a shoe sale! Let's check it out...'

So there we were. Steve, Me, and baby Elysia standing in a line waiting to enter a shoe sale that I just happened to spot. Wouldn't you stop if you saw a sign that said 'Shoe Sale: All shoes $39.95'??? After 20 minutes of standing outside just waiting to get in the store, we had to find our way through thousands of shoes to find the perfect pair. Heaven!! I loved it! Hubby wasn't as impressed...

An hour or so later we left the store (sadly, it should have been much later since apparently this shoe sale only happens twice a year), and after that little detour we once again continued on our way to Steveston.

By this time, Elysia was getting grouchy. Hard to believe, I know, but when my kid gets tired she likes to let everyone know about it. So with our screaming kid in the back, the sun going down, and the rain heading in, we finally arrived in Steveston. We ended up purchasing his potato bread, but we missed the walk and went home.

After this wonderful day, Steve went back to work and had a discussion about relationships with a guy he worked with. His partner wanted to know how he knew that I was 'the one'. Steve responded by asking his partner...'would you ever go to a shoe sale with your girlfriend? If the answer is yes, it is really true love.' =) Awwww......I'm such a lucky girl.

Steve and I

2009-11-11T22:25:00.000-08:00

My friend sent me a picture of Steve and I at my dad's 65th Birthday party, and it got me to looking at some of the pictures we have together. Here are a few of my favourites!

Dad's 65th birthday party.

We love Birthdays!

I love this pic! It was taken by me (see the reflection in Steve's glasses?) while on our first trip together to Vancouver Island.

This was taken at Steve's graduation from the Police Academy. Loved his uniform. :)

This was taken at his Graduation party.

The night we got engaged.

And finally...our wedding.

Love you, honey!!

Just call me the Elysia bragger...

2009-11-11T21:59:00.000-08:00

My daughter is getting so big! She's now five months old and weighs a little over 12lbs. How I love my baby!! I sometimes worry about her size as she is quite small for her age, but she is doing really well.

Her favourite thing to do right now is to make lots of noise. But not just any noise. Nope. My kiddo likes to make these strange, loud sounds when she is breathing in. I mean, that's way more fun than making sounds when you breathe out. Where's the fun in that? Of course, she just ends up sounding like she is having trouble breathing, but just one look at her grinning and pleased face will tell you otherwise. Last Sunday she was making these noises while in church. Disruptive yes, but also absolutely adorable! :)

But that's not all that is new with my little one. My Elysia now takes your hands when you reach for her. I LOVE that. Her tiny little fingers (which are absolutely gorgeous) wrap around my hand and my heart just melts. She takes my hands, I say 'ready?' and she smiles while I pick her up. Could my daughter be any cuter? She also loves to touch my face when she is drinking her bottle. She looks at me and her hands just come up and caress my chin. Of course I have to eat her fingers!!

She has also finally figured out that her jolly jumper isn't just for standing around in. She loves it, and it is so much fun to watch her jump, jump, jump! She's quite the entertainer, really. She loves an audience!

Yep. The Elysia bragger. That's me! And I wouldn't want it any other way.

The first Halloween

2009-11-01T20:21:00.000-08:00

'No' said Steve, when I wanted to dress up Elysia in her costume several days before Halloween. 'We have to wait until the 31st and then show everyone.' Jeez. How boring is that? When you've got an adorable kid with an awesome costume, who wants to wait??

Daddy and Elysia (On Halloween, of course).

So wait we did. And waited, and waited, and waited....Until a few days ago when I visit my Grandma while Steve was at work, and ummm...well, Grammie saw the little Ladybug first. Sorry, hunny!

We've started a tradition in our home. Every Halloween Steve and I pick out a pumpkin and carve it together. First year it was a pirate ship, then a big pumpkin eating a little pumpkin, and this year it was spooky trees with an Owl on a branch. It turned out pretty good, I think.

Sigh...Steve was right. The picture just doesn't do our pumpkin justice. It was amazing, I tell you! AMAZING!!

Getting the pumpkin was tough this year. Who would have thought that trying to find a pumpkin at 5pm on the 31st would be so difficult? OK, perhaps we shouldn't have waited until the last minute. Lucky for us we were able to find one at a store near our home that was throwing them out. We got it for free! My hubby liked that. Unlucky for me...now I'll probably have to wait until 5pm on the 31st next Halloween.

We got about 20 little ghosts and goblins visiting us this Halloween, and we bought 125 chocolates. Thank you, Costco! What are we ever going to do with the left-overs? Hmmmm.....

Our neighbour came for a visit, too. Baby Leah is 5 weeks younger than Elysia, so I think they will be good friends.

Now if only she could say, 'Trick or Treat!!'

Daddy said that Ladybugs fly!!

Gotta see the spots!!

The cutest Ladybug ever!

Yep, we had a fun Halloween!

What to Do?

2009-10-28T17:57:00.000-07:00

A few days ago my hubby came home from work early because he was sick. He has some of the symptoms of H1N1, and honestly I'm not sure whether he has that or another strain of the influenza virus. Thankfully, no matter what type of flu it is, his symptoms have been somewhat mild.

I've debated getting the H1N1 flu shot for a while now. It seems to me that it is too new, and I'm not sure I would like to have something put in my body that might not be good for me. However....I have Elysia to think about. She isn't even 5 months old, and only a little over eleven pounds. What if she gets the flu? So the question is, should I get the shot?

I'm thinking yes....

Capilano Suspension Bridge

2009-10-15T22:41:00.000-07:00

We had a fun day at the Suspension Bridge!

Elysia loves just hanging out with Daddy...

I tried to take a few pictures of the three of us. As you can see, they turned out quite well. :-p

OK, maybe not so good...

Thank goodness we had Annemarie to take this picture for us!!

A/M

2009-10-14T22:48:00.000-07:00

Steve and I picked up my friend Annemarie today at the airport. She flew in from China to visit us for ten days, and I am really looking forward to being a tourist in my city with my friend. Tomorrow we are going to Whistler, and we have plans for most of the days that she is here.

I lived in China for three years and we became friends during this time. She and I enjoyed many fun times together; shopping, watching movies, eating out, mani/pedis, and just hanging out. We also shared our China frustrations; bad driving (yes, it is true. The driving there is, well...just like driving in Richmond), language barriers, and many other things that would be simple at home but endlessly complicated there (such as banking). I used to live in a small city (4 million people), so I would get on a two hour bus ride every weekend and stay with A/M. The city I lived in was so quiet, and I loved the personality of Beijing with all its people and things going on. I remember walking through the city early one morning and just watching the people quietly doing Tai-Chi, and then going out in the evening and watching couples of all ages dance in the square at Houhai. The city was such a strange mix of new and old, and you could always find something to do.

I will always remember my time in China with fondness. It was there that I overcame my shyness, and it was there that I learned that I really love adventure and seeing new places and meeting new people. I now know that I can do things on my own, in a place where I don't speak the language or know the culture, and that I will be just fine. I also met some of my dearest friends there, and one of them is visiting us now.

Some days are better than others

2009-10-11T22:03:00.000-07:00

Although my daughter was a very colicky baby, lately we seem to have turned a corner in that regard and she is a far more pleasant and happy baby now. Her smiles, expressions, and excitement in discovering new things are a gift to see and I love sharing those moments with her. But even though I love my daughter more than I could ever have imagined, I also enjoy my free time in the evenings when my little one is asleep. This is my time to get things done, my relaxation time, my re-grouping time, my ME time. I spend these evenings preparing the baby's bag and making her bottles for the next day, cleaning up my home, and doing laundry. Once that is all done, I have a chance to do things like have a bath, drink tea, read books, watch television, or write in my blog. As a result, I stay up quite late and go to bed around midnight.

Lately this routine has worked quite well, as the baby sleeps mostly through the night and the two of us wake up refreshed and ready to start our day the following morning. Last night, however, was a little different. Elysia woke up at 4 am and cried (screamed would be more accurate) for hours. Soother, bottle, diaper change, gripe water...nothing worked. By 8 am both of us were exhausted, I called my husband in tears, and then I called my mom.

I ended up spending the day at my parent's house and they helped me with my daughter. How awesome my family is! I guess being a parent doesn't end when your baby gets married and has a baby of her own. Although some days are better than others, the good news is that mornings like this one are few and far between. Thankfully, with the help of my family, this day ended up being much better than when it started.

Right now my Elysia sleeps, tucked in bed and looking like a little angel. Now is my rest time and I am enjoying a cup of tea and relaxing on the sofa. Tomorrow is a new day...

Ouch!

2009-10-08T21:46:00.000-07:00

My baby girl turned four months old a few days ago. The time has gone by so quickly, but I'll dwell on that another time. As for turning four months old, well those of you with little ones knows what that means...SHOTS! Yes, the four month immunization time had arrived.

Now we've been through this before, her and I. When she turned two months, I dutifully entered my doctor's office with a happy baby and waited for the nurse to produce the dreaded needle. Of course I had to bring back-up, so thankfully Grandma came with us. There we were, baby, mama, and grandma, patiently waiting in the little office when the nurse entered with three needles. THREE. Being the chicken that I am, Grandma held on to my little Leesee while poke, poke, poke! Have you ever noticed that kids cry differently than adults? There is always this shocked little noise at first, which is then followed by a few seconds of silence where they take in an astronomical amount of air, and then SCREEEEEM... I'm sad to say my daughter is no different, and my deafness from that day is a testament to this fact. The nurse seemed completely unfazed by this outburst, quickly applied three little bandaids to my now completely red little baby, and promptly left the room. Ahhh, memories.

Now she is four months old and I have her last shots as a reference point, so I wasn't really expecting much to be different this time around. Steve wasn't working, so this time Grandma was off the hook and he was the lucky one who came with me and Leesee to the appointment. While sitting in the waiting room, all the other patients commented on how alert, happy and cute my baby was, and being the modest parents that we are, we completely agreed with them. After a few minutes, we were called in to see the doctor and we carried our little one into the now familiar office. Weight...11 lbs, 5 oz.; Length...24 inches; Happy, Smiley baby...Check. Then the questions. She can start eating solid foods now, has she tried any? Hmmm, does the popsicle I shared with her the other day count? Apparently not. How about the tiny bit of mashed potatoes and gravy she loved from the other night? Not a good idea. Okay, rice cereal it is. Yummm. Perhaps I'll win some in the cereal contest I'm still entering daily.

Exit doctor, enter the same nurse as last time with the same dreaded needle. Or should I say needles as of course they can't put all the medicine in just one. There is my baby, sitting on her daddy happily cooing away. Did I mention that I'm a chicken? It's true, I can't watch my baby get poked with a needle. Thank goodness for daddy! Aside from getting whacked by her one year old cousin a few weeks ago (he doesn't like her very much for some reason), the needle is the worst thing that has ever happened to her and I don't want to be the one holding her when it's done...although I'll happily give the cuddles after. This time around, while the nurse was preparing the needles we noticed that my baby was hungry. We quickly popped the bottle in her mouth hoping this would distract her from the needle. So there she was enjoying her breakfast when, poke, poke...shocked noise...deep breath...and, well, you get the idea.

Needless to say, the other patients in the waiting room didn't give us the same compliments as earlier when we walked through the waiting room with our now red-faced and screeming bundle of joy.

Next shots, six months...Can't wait.

Lucky Me

2009-09-29T22:31:00.000-07:00

I like to enter contests. I don't know why exactly, I just do. Recently I entered a contest to win cereal for a year. Why? Well, why not? Of course I also enter Steve and my mom in these contests...won't they be shocked (and pleased, I'm sure) if they win a years supply of Cheerio's?!?

I've won various prizes a few times, such as movie passes, CD's, gift baskets, concert tickets, etc. Silly little things that I don't really need or necessarily want, but when I hear 'call now' it's like an order that I just can't ignore, and I find myself picking up the phone and automatically dialing the contest line. It hasn't always worked out though. A few times I have turned on the radio, heard the words 'be the (whatever caller #) now' and away I go...grab the phone and dial, dial, dial...When this happens, I always get a little panicky as I don't really know what I'm calling for. Are they going to ask me a question? What am I even calling for? I once listened to the phone ring a few times and then when I won I got nervous and hung up. I was sorry about a minute later when I found out I had just hung up on a trip to Belize! When I really don't know what I'm going to win and it starts to ring on the other end, I'll often give the phone to Steve...'here honey, find out what I've won...'

My most recent win was last Friday when I won a $100 gift card to a local clothing shop. Steve wants to know why I can't win anything 'good', but I don't mind winning these little prizes. I mean, what's the fun in winning the lottery when you can win a Christina Aguilera Christmas CD??

Well, time to go. Have to enter Steve, Mom and Me in the cereal contest...

The Giggle

2009-09-22T21:38:00.000-07:00

There are many wonderful sounds that I love.

The sound of the ocean, so peaceful in its rhythm.
Hearing people cheer when their team wins an important game.
The sound of my husbands voice, always so sweet and loving.
Hearing the garage door open when I know my husband is finally arriving home from working a 12 hr shift.
The sound of children playing.
Hearing the wind as it rustles through the trees.

But the sound I love the most is the one my daughter made when she giggled for the first time.

The Last Wish

2009-09-19T22:43:00.000-07:00

When I awoke this morning, the skies were grey and the rain had begun to fall. Steve and I got ready to go, got Elysia up and bathed, and we hurried out the door. Today is the day that Steve's family chose to place his father's ashes in the river.

I didn't know Steve's dad very well, but what I do know is that he was loved. To be dearly loved by family and friends, isn't that a life that we all want? I heard once that we can't measure our life by how much we love others, but by how much we are loved. If that's the case, then Ken was a very blessed man.

Steve's father passed away last September. He wanted his ashes spread under the bridge where he once saved a woman's life many years ago, and the family came together to make sure that his wishes were honoured. Not long after arriving at the pier where the boat waited to take the family under the bridge, the sky cleared and the sun greeted us with its warmth.

It was a difficult day for my husband. He wrote something earlier, and he said he didn't mind if I placed it in my blog. Here it is...

I sent my dad to sea today and I am not sure how I feel about it. It has been one year since I lost him although it still feels like yesterday to me.

I know that loss of a loved one is a natural course of life but I have to ask the question why. It was not like he was an old man he was only 57 years old. So now our little girl will never know her grandpa Shaw. And out of this loss I have to say that that is the hardest thing to deal with. He will never get to look into her eyes and see them smile. He will never hear her laugh. He will never see me as a father and the man that I have become. I believe that he can see me but it is not the same. I wish that he could enjoy life with a granddaughter.

Dad you were my best friend, my mentor and my hero. I LOVE YOU DAD.

Naptime

2009-09-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

How my life has changed! Between midnight feedings, bottles, diapers, and playtime, my days are no longer my own. Who was I before this now 10 pound baby entered my world? Did I always have to pack a spare shirt with me for those frequent spit-ups that always manage to miss the bib and hit me? Was laundry ever not a part of my daily routine? And when did I start carrying a backpack with me instead of a purse? I wonder now how I was ever able to get up in the morning and be out the door and on the road within half an hour. Did that really happen, or was it all a dream...

And yet, I wouldn't change a thing.

Elysia gives me a smile that just melts my heart. When I play with her, she gets this mischievous twinkle in her eyes and I just know that she is going to have a wonderful sense of humour. She truly does amaze me more and more every day. How could I ever want to go back to life before her? Every day I look forward to seeing what incredible thing she is going to do or what new thing she is going to learn. Can you tell that I am really enjoying raising this child? My child. So much of me is in her, yet she is completely her own person. The one who looks at me with eyes so much like her fathers. Who is she going to become? What is she going to choose for her life? Is she going to want to see the world and live a life of adventure? Or is she going to love being home, and always remain close to those that love her. Alas, I'm getting ahead of myself...

Naptime.

Right now my baby sleeps. She is swaddled in blankets with soother in mouth and looks like a little angel. This is my time to do a few things around the house, but if I am lucky I have a few moments to myself. She is sleeping longer than the 30 minute naps that she has given me in the past, and now seems to sleep for around 2 hours. She is growing so fast that she needs this time to energize. How my life has changed!

And yet, I wouldn't change a thing.

Welcome to the World of Blogging

2009-09-16T00:10:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first entry into the blogging world. I've had this blog for a few weeks now, and have looked at it's blank pages with more than a little trepidation. However, after reading a few blogs from friends and my mom, I have decided to finally 'get my feet wet,' and write something! So here's a little bit about me...

I have been married to my husband for a little over a year now. We are still in our 'honeymoon' period, and I love him dearly. Steve is such a strong and stable man. If I had to describe his personality in a word picture, I'd say he is like a tree. He is well rooted and strong, and provides for me comfort, love and peace. This isn't to say that he is boring. Quite the contrary! I find him funny, sweet and interesting as well. As for me, I am more like a bird in that tree, always wanting to try new things and explore the world around me. While I am definitely more flighty than my husband, I need that tree. In that way, I believe we are perfectly suited to each other. He keeps me grounded, and I help him become more adventurous.

We also have a three month old daughter named Elysia. She is truly my pride and my joy, and I adore her. When she wakes up in the morning she greets me with a smile, and I love spending my days with her. The surprise and delight visible in her eyes when she learns something new is the most awesome thing I have ever seen. A few weeks ago she rolled over from her tummy to her back for the first time. She looked so shocked and pleased with herself! Elysia has these great big blue eyes, a perfect litte rose-bud mouth, and an adorable dimpled chin just like her daddy. The only thing we have yet to determine is the colour of her hair! Blonde, red, brown...her colour really depends on who she is sitting with or the lighting in the room. One of my girlfriends said she is like a chamelion, changing colours to suit her environment. I have to admit, my baby is clever!

2009-09-09T13:02:00.001-07:00

This is me....