Let's here it for the girls

Really lets here it for them! I have had a wonderful week from last Saturday to this talking with my girlfriends, my mothers (mom and mother in law), my great aunt and even my boss and with that being said I just have to say...I'm one of the luckiest few to have so many amazing women in my life. 

This last week has had many highs for myself. It is the first time I have gone out for dinner on my own since babe arrived. Thanks to my partner in life I had a blissful three hours in a restaurant with a fantastic friend. And a friend that is not on any social media so it was especially important that I saw her!! We caught up since I hadn't seen her since Christmas. Talked of work, dogs, movies and life. Mark said I talked about it for two days straight so he knew I had a great time. 

Not only that but I got to see another beautiful friend as she picked her wedding dress. One word for her: stunning. So glad I got to partake in that moment with her. 

And to be with two extraordinary women and talk and watch them do things that don't revolve around sleep patterns and diaper changes left me feeling a little more balanced. 

Then the week continued. I went to stroller aerobics and with our babies in the background we squatted, crunched and pushed muscles that may have never been used before. And I laughed and joked with moms how I wished my girl would burst out crying and need consoling so I can stop working out. Women around you in the same walk of life is so important. I can't stress enough. We laugh and stress about the same things. We are full of advice that seems to be shattered in an instant as our little ones constantly change and show that they are little humans with vivacious personalities. Then we laugh again. 

I love hanging out with new moms, new parents. I'm so grateful to my aerobics class, my moms group, library programs, coworkers with little ones and future classes that I will join. This is a new stage in my life and to walk with others in this journey gives me a feeling of community that I'm forever grateful. 

Then I have my tried in true girlfriend moms. The ones that have done this before. The ones that are in the midst of their own children drama but allow me to express my sorrow of lack of sleep or question if I'm doing it right. The ones that may have hid some of the little frustrations that occur when you have a little one and before I had one. But that's only cause this too shall pass and they will be there to support me until it does indeed pass. 

I love those girls with every fibre of my being. I should, they were my best ladies at my wedding. And I was lucky enough to spend time with one and talk to the other this very week. 

Then to see my great aunt on FaceTime there to listen and tell me of the going ons. Have my boss recommend some parent books that worked for her. Truly blessed.  

But the most important women are those that have lived to see their children have children. The mothers. The two ladies I talk to when I have had both extreme highs (she slept so well the other night and napped in her crib...I'm still ecstatic), to the lows (she cried the night away on the night before my interview). They dole out sympathies, empathesize, offer to granny sit. They laugh when I scoff. They understand. And they survived (and their husbands did too and are alive to tell of their adventures). 

I don't even want to comprehend what I would do without these two wonderful ladies. They tell me to savour the moments. They enjoy and love her just as much as I, but they truly understand the twisted emotions I sometimes feel from fatigue, monotony, and just plain old tiredness. And they love me all the same too. 

And finally I have to shout out to my little girl. You are incredible. When you are not around I truly miss you and wonder what you are up to but always know you are in safe hands. Your smile beams up a room, your tears make my heart ache. I love watching you discover and move about. You really are a firecracker and I don't think anything will hold you back. Nor should it! I love you. You are one of the most rewarding things in my life. My heart feels full when I think of you. 

And even if he is not a girl I should shout out to my partner. There are times where we drive each other crazy. We fight. We get frustrated. We get angry. 

Then we don't. We laugh, we joke, we hug. We go on family walks, go to the library, watch movies together and just run around and do errands. We eat together and talk of our days. You sweep in and spend time with the little lady so I can go out, have a bath or prep for an interview. You tell me you love me and I the same to you. 

This is a crazy new adventure that we have embarked. It's fun thinking of the future but trying not to get to caught up in it so that we can focus and truly enjoy the present. 

Today I feel grateful to you all. Thank you and to all my other lovely friends that I haven't seen in awhile but will be making plans soon (one in particular is you little miss night nurse). 

Love

And on this fine good day

Have a fabulous Easter weekend. 

Love

Best mom day to date

Why?

Cause my little one slept in her crib and got up at midnight and four vs the hourly trend she has been working on lately.

She napped in her crib for an hour and half this am

I got things done like prepping squash, laundry, picture prep on the computer, plus had a wonderful shower

She was in joyous mood for our Easter dinner

And I felt like I finally did something right. Until tomorrow....

Love

And this happened

No sooner than I write about my new favourite pastime this happens...

http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/adult-colouring-book-craze-prompts-global-pencil-shortage-a6944401.html

Adult colouring book

Whenever I think about that title I laugh because my mother in law said it sounds a bit x rated. Muhaha

This has become my obsession and my love of something to do with a semblance of creativity as I just can't seem to find the time to scrapbook or work on any of my other diy projects. 

I was staring at them at Costco with my mom when we were visiting them. And low and behold what was in my suitcase as a surprise for me?! Mom's are the best!!!

Yes it's colouring. It is lovely. It is a stress relief. Helps me with mindfulness.  And lets me decompress. It's awesome. 

So sharpen your pencil crayons everyone! 

Love

5 months + 2 weeks more

A little late with this post but guess what?  You are 5 months old...plus a bit more and you have been a busy little bee. 

We have been to the doctor and last weigh in was 14.12. I feel like your heavier but scales don't lie. Ha ha. And you poor little thing had your immunizations and they were horrible. Three needles and syrup. You did not like it. Truthfully neither did I. Although when the nurse rang the bell to stop you from crying it worked...for her. I tried the same strategy in the waiting room and you pushed it away. Mommy is already feeling the blame of all bad that happens to you. I'll just blame my mother. ;)

You have gotten quite strong and learned a whole array of new skills. Spitting is number one of those discoveries. You seem to start spitting the most when you are angry. Although it also seems to be a favoured past time of yours. It really came to head when we were in New Brunswick. You were spitting this way and that. Grampie seemed to take pride in the fact and encouraged you to do it to  everyone. Funny enough that is how you two seem to greet each other on FaceTime. That and pud. 

That's not the only thing that has been discovered. Your hand has taken a whole new meaning for you. You will just sit and stare at it with wonder. And the grabbing and holding things is intentional now! 

You also have perfected the roll into your stomach. You so want to crawl but you seem to have a 'flying' movement going as you put both your legs and arms in the air. 

I have said it before but you continue to babble quite a bit. Grammie couldn't get over all the taking at the airport as you were squealing with delight. Apparently you are more enraptured with her face on FaceTime to delight her with your voice. And you continue to talk before you go to sleep. Or you just talk instead of going to sleep. The jury is up on that one!

Sleeping is still a trial and error. One day really good. The next you decide it's important to be up every few hours or so. Generally you go back to sleep unless it's 5am and it's time to party. 

We've had quite a bit of fun with you as you show us your enjoyment more. I sit on the rug and we play imagination in the sky as you talk to me and I sign animals. We tickle you. You will hot tub with daddy during bath tub. We play music and you seem to enjoy all the baby programs I and we take you on. I say you flirt with all the babies inviting them in with your smile. Daddy says you are just so friendly. Of course we think you are pretty perfect. 

And one of the bigger events is food. And you seem to be enjoying that quite a bit. In particular bananas, cereal, sweet potatoes and avacado. Others are a little bit in the air like kiwi and peas. We will try them again later. 

That's about it. You've already taken a plane ride but that has already been talked about. And you delighted many in the maritimes. I wouldn't think any less of you. 

Love 

No place like home...

Well I guess it's not my real home but it is where my parents live so it is my second home ;). 

We did it. We made it to NB and back in one peice. And I have to say. My first trip alone with an infant was a success. Sure there were minor meltdowns (one at the last stretch from Montreal to Fredericton that may have brought me closer to tears than her but my mom swooped in to take the babe once landed...and not give me a hug...running joke). But overall she was a very good traveller. From what I'm told this is the easy part as they get a bit more fidgety before they get better! So I will relish :)

We both a fab time visiting all the Robertson/Sansom realitives. The little one in particular was in true form. Especially with my 90 year old grandmother, smiling and laughing whenever Nan talked. I think Nan got caught under her spell. 

She saw many...just an FYI for her in later years...my Great Aunt Barb and Uncle Ron, Great Aunt Mary. My cousin Heidi, her little man and my Aunt Beth. My Uncle Ian and Aunt Karen and cousins, Uncle Keith, Aunt Cheryl, Marg, her partner, and Kat, Josh and their little one who is a few months older. Yes there were even a few baby babbles between them (and another little man as we saw Amy, Kim and Beth too).  Not to mention plenty of mom and dad's friends. It was a trip full of visits. 

But let's move on as it wasn't just about her! ;). There was quite a bit of snow in Stanley. Not as much as they normally get but more than what I'm used to and more than what I've seen this year in my neck of the woods. So I got to snowshoe with dad in the woods a couple times. 

Saw the twins (oaks that is) again. And his much loved maple trees. It had rained one of the days and froze. Treacherous roads I'm sure but the ice froze on the trees and sparkled in the sun. It was quite pretty. 

And if that isn't enough nature we would see the deer route around their house gathering food and trekking off. One day I think we saw five!! 

Plus the incredible ice jams that occur when you drive on the roads and look onto the river. 

We marketed. Visited the candle in the window. We watched movies every night and watched the little one hype herself up before bed. 

I warmed myself by their wood burning stove and attempted to put a log in and as mom puts it 'almost burned down the house'. That thing is a little intimidating!!

We had clam chowder. Date squares. Every morning I had doughnuts with raspberry jam. And chips and cherry frozen yogurt every evening (Yes I need to lose a few pounds now. Hee hee). 

I would soak in the claw foot tub. Catch up on television or a book. Colour in an adult colouring book. Sigh. It was every so relaxing. 

It was an absolute joy and a much needed break that I didn't know I needed. My parents seemed to have a ball watching their granddaughter. Even caught a few firsts while there. And I don't think that girl ever suffered from any lack of attention as there was a constant open arm always nearby. Something this week I am surely missing as my back has a few extra aches when I'm home alone during the day. 

It was a great visit and I'm looking forward to seeing them again in the summer and it's no doubt the little one is too! :)

Love