Happy birthday to you my love

Well I'm a day late but we did spend the day together excusing me of my late blog post. 

We had a pretty good fun filled birthday for you. Started off at the dog park with the little one and big black beast as we walked the woods. We went to the New Years tree and made a wish, like we had the year before (a post on that tomorrow). Then we went ice skating at Victoria park. In between and after birthday cake was enjoyed, famosa pizza was gobbled down and presents unwrapped. 

Happy birthday partner, husband and love of mine. A lot has changed in the past year. One big change in particular that has changed the course of our relationship, our family, and our ways of doing day to day routines. 

Yes. You are a dad. And a pretty good one at that. You are master at putting her to sleep...something that seems to be a work in progress for me. You have fun with the baby exercises...especially when it comes to getting burps and other unmentionables relieved from her tummy. And just general hanging out, you both seem to have a pretty good time. You hate to see her crying or upset which tugs a little at my heart strings. All in all its been pretty wonderful to watch. You are pretty intent to try to figure out and help her with her little problems already. She is going to be lucky to have you as she slowly grows. 

And in terms of us partner of mine. We have been through a lot. Tremendous amount of good, fun, and happy times this year. Road trips, dog walks, summer festival fun, winter treks with the dog, bike rides, market time, dinners out, nights in. I love you very much. By choice as people are keen on telling me. ;) Sure there has been small times of hard, sleep deprived, or hungry states that may lead to mini battles where no one remains victorious. In the end it becomes resolved and we are are victorious. 

Wishing you a wonderful birthday and year ahead. 

Love

Merry Christmas to all

And to all a good night!

A wonderful Christmas with all my families little and small!

Love

What to do

When your baby has her days and nights correct 

But you have yours mixed up....

Netflix, lots of Netflix 

Baby's first Santa visit.

Nice little visit in the hour long line

You would think someone on mat leave would be smarter

But grammie was sure happy to join in your excitement. 

Or slumber. 

You be the judge. 

It's pretty tiring being cute. 

Love

Cute moment

While you take a bath you hear rap music in the adjoining room. 

You take a look and see your partner shirt off in the warm bathroom and your baby naked in the bath. 

Just grooving to the music

While getting clean

Heart full 

Love 

My happy place

Every year I have a must...

Whether I do it alone

With my partner

Or my wonderful friends

I go to the leg grounds at Christmas time

This time I went with Jeaninne

And her wonderful girls

And mine

We listened to the music 

We admired the lights

I stood in awe of the big tree

Again

The girls jumped and played in the snow

Looked at the lit up reindeer

Searched downtown for an open coffee shop

And when found 

Savoured the candy cane hot chocolate

And doughnuts. 

Love

Two months and then some....

Every week we seem to notice something new about you. Not only are you growing in both height and weight but you are growing in your interactive-ness with those around you. 

You love your swings, mobiles, and little play centres. You like to look at those around you and give a big toothless smile. You are full of little babbles, chatter and squeals. Baby massages are good and so is 'Moo, Baa, La La'. 

But you are also full of screams, cries and wails! Particularly from 7pm-12am and maybe sometimes till 1am (or my least favourite 2). 

You are starting to reach for things. Mainly my hair, shirt or cling to my shoulders when you are sad. And speaking of your little hands I think you have really discovered them as I find them in your mouth more, even after you eat! Too bad you won't take a soother for very long...I'm working on it. 

Speaking of eating. You have started to take a bottle. It does require some coaxing but you have done it. Dad did a parenting hour (and a bit) while I worked on a Christmas urn display (which I'm in love with so thank you both for the opportunity). And it was pretty successful. However I could have used my pump a little. ;)

We've been on quite a few outings. Christmas shopping being the primary. Working on you're shopping skills already, sorry dad! Dog walks have been fun too! And we are going to start going to Baby Laptime at the library. I mean you own a library card so we must take advantage! ;) 

We have also been to a movie. Quite an experience as it was for babies and parents. Dim lights, reduced sound, change tables with complimentary diapers and lots of babies. Quite comical as there were cries and tooting throughout. You were pretty chill, sleeping. I was happy as I didn't really want you watching it. It was the final instalment of the Hunger Games after all. 

I'm having quite a bit of fun with you right now. You are entertaining and pretty good baby (although I have nothing to compare, but we are keeping you, wink wink). I think we all work well together. Dad and me are really starting to bring about the team work taking shifts during those fuss times. And he loves your cuddle times. 

Now we are just gearing up for your first Christmas.

Xoxox 

I love...

A warmish winter day

A dog walk in the park

Little one in tow bundled warm and tight

And seeing a friend from pre-child

Talking and catching up

Then home

Feeling warm 

With a hot cup of apple cider

That's what I love

Oh Christmas tree

You have already provided me with so many memories and stories . And Christmas has just begun. 

We came across you in a family lot with our tiny family of three. We circled around until I came across you standing there oh so proud. Mark took a look at you and cut you down with ease.

It was a wonderful afternoon. Quiet air, cool but with sun. We trekked, I carried little c and Mark carried you in the little red sleigh. Hot chocolate waiting for us with candy canes. The afternoon was quite perfect. 

Then controversy arose that evening when we brought you home. You couldn't fit in our home. So we lobbed your top. We sat you up in our living room and I was unsure about you. You were kind of sparse from what I'm used to. 

You see Christmas tree I come from a family that imported our tree directly from where Christmas trees are a business. My grandfathers business to be specific. Every year a tree would be in our mail. Crazy I know. And those trees tend to have a bit more bulk to them. I started klinging to the old memories. I know. Wrong. And it's not your fault. 

So the decorating began. Mark actually participated this year! And you looked okay. But old memories kept creeping back into my head. Then you did something in defiance. You decided to fall.

 

 

Wrong move Christmas tree. I was not happy. You took down our ornaments. You splashed water everywhere. Pine cones fell from your branches to the floor. And you even decided to drop some sap. Naughty naughty!!!

 

1130 at night we hoisted you up. But you left this family of three anything but happy. Mark downstairs constructing wood to stabilize you. Me holding the tree up as the little one screamed at us all from her car seat. It was no ones finest hour. 

 

But the next day came around. I took a look at you as the sun lit up our room. You looked a bit rattled up with ornaments on your back and falling off your branches. It was time to give you another try. I took out our homemade ornaments. Hung them up. Restrung the ribbon. Lit up the lights and put on the topper. 

 

And guess what Christmas tree? You are quite pretty. You have a uniqueness about you. You are different. But I think the family you chose (and vice versa) is too. 

 

You stand proud and tall. You are not dry. You kind of have an incorporation of both me and Mark. I kind of love you. I light you up and stare at you with glee and warmth. Cause you really do represented Christmas.

So thank you Christmas tree. You have given me more memories in this little week than I could imagine. Some of them are not mine or Mark's finest but then others have been more than incredible. And I think we will be looking at your brothers and sisters in the coming years.

 

Love 

Happy birthday to me

Well. I think it's safe to say that birthday week has gotten a little harder to have when there is a little one. So I think it's time to say goodbye to the week and be grateful for the little celebrations that happen in the day and may even happen during the week. But to not make a big to do. It's been fun!!! And my day was packed with celebrations that really what more does a girl need?

In the morning us girls stayed in and watched a little movie called how to train a dragon. Kind of a favourite of mine. We chilled as I wrote thank you notes and xmas cards.

Not before Mark woke me up to unwrap some birthday presents. Very spoiled with some lovely gifts. 

Well wishes via text and FaceTime came throughout the day. An edible arrangement from my sil and family arrived just before lunch. Yummy. Plus wonderful presents from my parents. 

And drumroll please....Dinner! At the Wildflower grill. A most fantastic restaurant. The babe was nothing but chill the entire time sleeping in her car seat (happy birthday to me!!!). 

And the restaurant was so fantastic in service. The hostess said that she was so surprised how good little c was and that she usually takes the babies and circles the restaurant to let the parents eat! Hello, I will be going there again for that statement alone. Ha ha. 

And the food was amazing. So rich but so good. I'm still salivating from it. Lobster crepe, bison tenderloin and red velvet cheesecake. Plus little something they would bring to our table in between dishes. It's a new fav for sure. 

A girl couldn't have asked for a better day. Special, fantastic and a little low key too. Love.

Heart full.