the Plague

I'm sick. Stupid flu has knocked me completely out since Friday. No real energy to blog either and I've got to get back to work tomorrow as I have a show opening in a week. Oh well, at least I have a kick ass husband and a very funny baby! Thanks to everyone for the baby bday gifts and wishes it made for a very special day. Pollock family, please pass my thanks onto Aunt Lois. Pics coming soon of Adara in all of her lovely new clothes playing with her toys.

Happy One Year Adara

Dear Adara: Happy First Birthday, baby girl.
I've had a hard time sitting down to write this letter to you this month. I've been overcome with emotion about this day for nearly two months leading up to it. I've been reliving the past year and I hardly know how to tell you what I feel. I think that your birthday has replaced my own as a marker in my life now; a place to reflect, consider and redirect.
When I was pregnant with you, at yoga class they asked us to visualize what kind of mamma we wanted to be. Only one word came to my mind; joyous.
Looking back over the past year, there has been much joy. Don't get me wrong, there's been much sleeplessness, frustration, anxiety and general "figuring you out" sort of days too. But I think that your father and I have achieved the goal of joy. Much of that has to do with you.
Adara, you've proven to have a very sweet, open nature, generous with your smiles, laughs and hugs. You love to play games with us and giggle over the silliest things.
You've also got a will of sheer steel. You fall off of and over things all the time, but barely ever cry. You insist on eating what you want, being changed when you want, and reading and playing with what you want. You are a force to be reckoned with. I think that it will serve you well in the world.
In the past year you have gone from an infant lying against my breast clinging tight to me, to a toddler, running off with your bottle down the street yelling "Ba, Ba (bye, bye)" at us and grinning. You have no fear.
I have had the privilege to cuddle and feed you, comfort and rock you, dress you and walk endlessly with you, play and read to you, and now watch and marvel as you take on the world. We couldn't be prouder.
Happy Birthday my Bella.

A Year in Pictures, October through February

I can't think what to say today, so the one year old letter will have to wait. I spent all day today reliving the day of a year ago. After a full day of thinking, remembering, journaling and loving the one year old in front of me, all I can do is post a year of pictures. Enjoy.

A Year in Pictures Part Two

Birthday Girl

Tomorrow is the day. Last year at this time Len and I were out for dinner and my tummy vaguely hurt.


A year goes fast.

Thanksgiving weekend in pictures

I can't think of a better thanksgiving weekend.
I was alone for last thanksgivng as I was due any day so we couldn't go home and Len was at work.
This year, surrounded by family, out in the backyard for lunch on a gorgeous day with an awesome meal prepared by my sweet husband and brother in the law while the rest of us had a wander through the park.
Thanks family, I felt blessed.

Marching On

Things have been pretty crazy around here; lots of guests, lots of events, not much time. I love having guests come and it's really the only way that I can realistically see people anymore without committing to babysitters, etc. However, I must admit that the round of thursday and friday with grocery shop, clean house, make food, do laundry in prep for people coming does get a little tiring. Now, those of you who are visiting are going to read this and think that I don't want you to come. This is not the case, I just wish that we all arrived on the earth with catering and cleaning services fully installed!
Len and I recently started ballroom dancing classes on Monday nights. Cynthia comes and does the entire bedtime routine and Len and I head out to dance class at 6pm. Cynthia even lends us her car! We dance for an hour, then have a drink and a snack on the Danforth. We love it! So far we've learned the foxtrot, rhumba and swing. It's great to have the opportunity just to focus on eachother with no option to do house stuff.
In a further bonus,this past week Adara finally settled down and enjoyed being with Cynthia instead of screaming her guts out at her. She sat on Cynthia's lap and read books and was generally agreeable. Whew! finally! I thought that we might lose the loyal and brave Cynthia if the silly behaviour kept up.
In other news, Adara has developed an obsession with books in general, and "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" in particular. It's a good thing that it's a non-annoying book because we're reading it about 10 times a day right now.
All of the reading seems to be paying off though. Her vocab now includes "Ma-Ma, Da-Da, Piggy, Birdie, Ba-Ba (bottle), No and Water (this ones fuzzy, perhaps more a moms hope then an actuality). Her sign language vocab includes "food, more and dog".
That's about it here, next week is the one year bday!

Spoiled Baby!

Check out all of my lovely new fall clothes!
I'm pretty sure that these coveralls are from my Auntie Ruth and the shirt is from Auntie Kristen.

Here's my sweet fall/spring coat which matches my stroller perfectly! My cousin Liam choose this for me before I was born. It's supposed to be for a two year old, but I have a round little belly and it needs space and comfy clothes!

And finally, my new winter hat. This one was knit by daddy's friend Vivienne.
Thanks everyone, I look stylin' as per usual.