Vacation with Grammy and Poppa

Why I adore my husband and parents...

'Cause I'm sitting in my bed right now eating chocolate cookies dunked in tea. 'Nuff said!

My parents have Adara in Goderich, I'm back in Toronto for a day or two with Len. I'm still recovering from the tooth surgery and the renovations are continuing on my house. Len thinks that this is the perfect reason for me to lie in bed playing on the computer, reading and drinking tea. I couldn't agree more! I must admit to sneaking into Adara's bedroom last night though and touching the crib where she usually sleeps; this was my first night away from her, ever! Last night Len and I went for a walk and smiled at all of the other little kids. One little two year old was out with her great grandfather, in her pj's and rubber boots, determinedely going up and down the slides. So sweet!

Home in Goderich

So Adara and I have been home in Goderich for two days now. Thank heavens for grandparents, I don't know what I'd do without them! I'm recovering from having all of my wisdom removed on Friday (teeth that is) and am much more worn out then I expected. Fortunately, Adara has decided that she loves her grandparents and actually isn't all that in to me. Fanfreakin'tastic, good timin' baby girl! I have to head back to TO for two days, but with our house ripped to shreds, the baby will be staying here. I'm pretty confident that all will be well, but must admit to a couple of tears when I put Adara down to bed tonight. I haven't left her anywhere overnight yet, this will be a first. HOwever, given that I have to leave her for six days in two short weeks, I better suck it up and get it used to it! And, other then a lingering tendency to stub my toes in painful ways, I turned out ok and my parents raised me; they can't be all bad!
Grammy and Poppa promised to take some pics while I'm gone (heaven forbid I should miss two days!), so there should be new pics on Wednesday, tune in then!

Baby Jail

This picture is very indicative of the current state of our house. We're currently packing up the entirety of the main floor in preparation for a major renovation which is starting on Monday. It's all a bit crazy...
On Friday, I'm getting the rest of my wisdom teeth out. My mom and dad are coming to help take care of me and the babe and will take us home on Saturday. We'll stay there for two weeks or until the reno is done. Meanwhile, Len and a contracting company will be simultaneously ripping apart our house and putting in new beams, and building a workshop in the back. All kinda high stress, high energy, but needs to be done!
So, thus the baby and are in " baby jail". We bought this fencing for just such situations. We can put her in the midst of the action without fear of stepping on her or her commando crawling away. I ended up in the baby jail when I realized that what we thought was just random whining was actually hunger cries, and contritely jumped in to feed her.
She is commando crawling now (slithering on her belly using her arms and legs; mostly backwards) albeit very slowly. We're trying to teach Adara to be more patient and not require constant attention and playing from us. So, the last two days, we've been playing with her every five minutes or so, and putting up with the crying and whining in between. I think that she's catching on though, she was a lot better today.
So, given the chaos of the next few weeks you may not be hearing much from me. Or, alternately, you may be hearing more, complete with tales of our adventures with Grammy and Pappa in Goderich. For all you kincardinites, as soon as I'm feeling a bit better, we'll be headed that way for a visit.

Daddy Series

Tickle Monsters!
Oh Daddy! I'm so tired, but this train is so darn interesting!
Intrepid Explorers
Cookie Monster!

Happy Seven Months Baby Girl

Hey Darling. Happy Seven Months. I think that this months activities are best celebrated in pictures. It's been big highs and big lows this month. You're so close to mastering some new skills like talking and crawling. You've also developed an unholy temper, which really should be no surprise considering your parents! We love you so much, baby girl and are blessed every single day. Here's your month in pics...

Kickin' it in Kingston

Hey Guys! We're over here, come and have a pint!


Oh thanks! I've been wanting a Guinness all day!

Kingston

If 'ya come to visit for the pics of the cute kid, you can just close the page now. No cute pics today, Len's got the computer at work.
Otherwise, read on...
So, we went off to Kingston on the train this weekend. It all went pretty well, although we discovered that getting Adara to sleep on the train takes a lot of work and patience. It's all so exciting to look at, plus helpful strangers keeping cooing and waving at me!
WE stayed in Julia and Rafa's lovely new house in Kingston. The city is beautiful with so many stunning old buildings and homes. On the Saturday we arrived and went to a church tea at Julia's church. The seniors loved having Adara there and she loved being admired. Meanwhile, Len and Rafa amused themselves by making inappropriate comments in a church. In all honesty, we were all into it by the end of tea. So many comments can be taken the wrong way when you're trying...

We also did a day trip to Picton and sat on the beach for awhile and had a picnic. This was all on Mother's Day after my crazy early morning with the babe. It kind of feels like two days in one really. The predawn farting farmers, and the post 9 am family daytripping.

On Monday, Len got stuck with the early rising walk. His version began at 4:55 am and he found himself in the exact same coffee shop as me with the baby in the stroller. No farmers this time as he arrived there at 5:30 am. Too early for old farmers even; poor love! Later in the day a family friend,Judy, came to visit. I was trying to get the baby and I looking all nice for her 10 am visit since she hadn't seen the babe yet. At 9:55 am Adara blew her diaper out all over herself and my white sweater. That was my last shirt. So, Judy arrived to me in a nursing tank top and Adara rolling in her own refuse. Fun! Thank heavens she's a mom and grandma herself!

Later in the days Jules and I went out Value Village shopping and bought the babe some new toys and some furniture for Julia. Then we hooked up with the boys and baby for our lovely late afternoon beer at snacks at a kickin' pub with beer made on site.

On the way home, Adara very clearly said her first word, "Da Da" while reaching for Len. He was in ecstasy and all of the people around were smiling and laughing for him and at how cute she was. She's been saying it like mad ever since. That baby knows how to win hearts!

Mother's Day

My Mother's Day was odd and somehow appropriate. We were in Kingston visiting with Julia and Rafa, and Adara was confused by the new location. So, she was waking every two hours and was up at 5:45 am on Sunday. I didn't want the rest of the house to have to be up due to my loud babe, so I put on some pants (no tooth brushing or hair doing) and went out for a walk. We ended up in a coffee shop full of old farmers at 6:30 am and hung out there for about an hour. The farmers made farting noises at the baby and I drank my tea, and when I realized that it was my very first Mother's Day, somehow it all made sense to me. I didn't feel annoyed or upset. I saw sunrise with my babe and had a morning tea together. Walking back to Julia's house many mothers were out gardening and wished me Happy Mother's Day with sympathetic looks. It felt good.

More on the Kingston weekend to come, with pics too. The MAC is broken right now, so it will have to wait for another day.

Mothers
This is for the mothers who have sat up all night with sick toddlers in their arms, wiping up barf laced with Oscar Mayer wieners and cherry Kool-Aid saying, 'It's okay honey, Mommy's here.' Who have sat in rocking chairs for hours on end soothing crying babies who can't be comforted.
This is for all the mothers who show up at work with spit-up in their hair and milk stains on their blouses and diapers in their purse. For all the mothers who run carpools and make cookies and sew Halloween costumes. And all the mothers who DON'T.
This is for the mothers who gave birth to babies they'll never see. And the mothers who took those babies and gave them homes.
This is for the mothers whose priceless art collections are hanging on their refrigerator doors. And for all the mothers who froze their buns on metal bleachers at football or soccer games instead of watching from the warmth of their cars, so that when their kids asked, 'Did you see me, Mom?' they could say, 'Of course, I wouldn't have missed it for the world,' and mean it.
This is for all the mothers who yell at their kids in the grocery store and swat them in despair when they stomp their feet and scream for ice cream before dinner. And for all the mothers who count to ten instead, but realize how child abuse happens.
This is for all the mothers who sat down with their children and explained all about making babies. And for all the (grand) mothers who wanted to, but just couldn't find the words.
This is for all the mothers who go hungry, so their children can eat. For all the mothers who read 'Goodnight, Moon' twice a night for a year. And then read it again. 'Just one more time.'
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to tie their shoelaces before they started school. And for all the mothers who opted for Velcro instead.
This is for all the mothers who teach their sons to cook and their daughters to sink a jump shot.
This is for every mother whose head turns automatically when a little voice calls 'Mom?' in a crowd, even though they know their own offspring are at home -- or even away at college.
This is for all the mothers who sent their kids to school with stomach aches assuring them they'd be just FINE once they got there, only to get calls from the school nurse an hour later asking them to please pick them up. Right away.
This is for mothers whose children have gone astray, who can't find the words to reach them.
This is for all the step-mothers who raised another woman's child or children, and gave their time, attention, and love... sometimes totally unappreciated!
For all the mothers who bite their lips until they bleed when their 14-year-olds dye their hair green.
For all the mothers of the victims of recent school shootings, and the mothers of those who did the shooting.
For the mothers of the survivors, and the mothers who sat in front of their TVs in horror, hugging their child who just came home from school, safely.
This is for all the mothers who taught their children to be peaceful, and now pray they come home safely from a war.
What makes a good Mother anyway? Is it patience? Compassion? Broad hips?  The ability to nurse a baby, cook dinner, and sew a button on a shirt, all at the same time? Or is it in her heart? Is it the ache you feel when you watch your son or daughter disappear down the street, walking to school  alone for the very first time?
The jolt that takes you from sleep to dread, from bed to crib at 2 A.M. to put your hand on the back of a sleeping baby? The panic, years later, that comes again at 2 A.M. when you just want to hear their key in the door and know they are safe again in your home?
Or the need to flee from wherever you are and hug your child when you hear news of a fire, a car accident, a child dying?
The emotions of motherhood are universal and so our thoughts are for young mothers stumbling through diaper changes and sleep deprivation... And mature mothers learning to let go.
For working mothers and stay-at-home mothers.
Single mothers and married mothers.
Mothers with money, mothers without.
This is for you all.
For all of us.
Hang in there.
In the end we can only do the best we can.
Tell them every day that we love them.
And pray.

New Clothes Again

Thanks Auntie Kristen!

Daddy says that I look like an angel in this. Little does he know...

Busy Week

So, we've been having a pretty busy couple of weeks. I'm starting to do a little work on the side for people, meaning that I've been out of the house for six hours days twice this week already. The Babe and Len are doing great and really seem to be enjoying some time with eachother sans mamma.
Meanwhile, I've been enjoying using my professional brain a bit. I have to say, though, I am stupid tired by the end of the day!
In new tricks this week, here's what Adara's up to
1) up on hands and knees, but can't figure out what to do next, so just "keens" until someone helps her to lay down or she falls down
2) Throwing her spoon over the back of her chair at feeding time in order to avoid my hands that are waiting to catch it when it's dropped off the side
3) Turning her own music box on in her crib whenever she feels like it
4) "Eating" teething cookies with much gusto and mess.

Len and I went out with a bunch of friends last night. It was a fantastic night! We were only out for three hours, but it was extremely satisfying; lots of giggles, food and drinks. We were telling a new friend, Jody, about how Len and I met. For those of you who don't know, I called him out of nowhere announcing that I was single and had a bottle of wine and would he like to get together. Jody responding by referring to Len as a "bootie call gone long". One of the funniest descriptions that I've ever heard and kind of apt.
Adoring Adara is sending a shout out to Christine today, who has a boring stupid job right now. Hang in there Christine,not long now!

Ecstasy and Irony

I must begin by saying that this post is not intended to brag, but it might just come off that way. So... if ya think that you might be upset about the "potential bragging" then you should STOP READING RIGHT NOW!.... ok, I gave you a minute, here goes...

I went shopping for new jeans today. I ended up buying gap jeans two sizes smaller then my pre pregnancy gap jeans. That baby has been sucking me dry and I am shrinking. The ecstasy part is, I'm two sizes smaller. The irony part is that prior to getting pregnant I was all self absorbed and blah, blah, blah to Len about how I was worried that I'd get horribly fat and have terrible skin during and post pregnancy and be in rotten shape from it.
I was and am in the best physical shape of my life due to all of the baby exercise, my skin is pretty good and I'm two sizes smaller.
Now. Why wasn't I worrying to Len that I'd have a colicky baby, never sleep again, and miss my work and friends? 'Cause I'm shallow, that's why! :)