sunday afternoon at the pond

Last Sunday we met the fam at beautiful, historic Main St. Unionville and took Sara for a walk at Toogood pond. While we waited for Grandma and Grandpa to arrive Sara did one of her new favourite things - cruising around her umbrella stroller, playing with the straps and telling little stories ("sha sha sha...")
She really enjoyed the sunshine, water, ducks, geese, and of course the people. She attracts admirers wherever we go, and it fills me with pride and happiness that others think she's as adorable as we do! This is also quite possibly the cutest toddler outfit ever... I picked up the sundress at H&M, and her squeaky shoes are just too much.

We also took her for her first patio lunch of the season, and she hammed it up playing peekaboo at the table. I can't wait for more summer days outdoors!

And... the other day she learned a new skill. Are you ready for it? She gives kisses. When we hold her and say "kiss?", she leans in and gives the softest, sweetest, yummiest 'mw-ah' on our lips. Love, love.

mother's day

This weekend was full, full... not of errands and chores, but happy moments, smiles, and cuddles. First I got my hair cut (a lot)... and look, it's straight!

Then I picked up this vintage sewing box at a garage sale for $4 , which is now a lovely new home for......organizing all of my paints!
We've been working hard on setting up our deck for the summer, and we got this Muskoka chair in my perfect shade of green last week. On Saturday I potted some geraniums and some fresh herbs (basil = gobs of fresh pesto. Yum.) I love how this little reading spot came together and while Sara was out with Ian I got in a few pages of this book. It's such a good, inspirational read for anyone who appreciates and loves good food.
And for Mother's Day we had brunch out at one of my favourite local spots, followed by lots of cuddles and playtime while Sara pushed her dump truck around! Sara was tired and/or teething again by the end of the day, so after everyone went home we had quiet time and I've just tucked her into bed.
The perfect Mother's Day weekend with our little family. Tonight I will go to sleep feeling happy, fulfilled and truly blessed.

a swingin' time

This past weekend was full of smiles as Sara and I had mommy-daughter weekend. It was the first weekend since going back to work that we didn't have a lot going on, and for the first stretch of time I felt like we were really "us" again.

We lazed about on Saturday morning in our bed for cuddles and some playtime. I love this time. It reminds me of when mornings were not rushed, and I get to see her smiling face when she first wakes up and babbles away until I come into her room. We went to the park, did some shopping for some summer jammies and shorts, and enjoyed not one but two BBQs across the street. Sara had her first outdoor dinner of the season, and had fun walking around the grass after her big red ball while I held her hands. Teaching a toddler to walk makes for a very sore back, but it's amazing!

I was only late with the post, not the party...

Honestly, these days I can hardly believe how organized you have to be as a working mom. Those who know me well can attest to the fact that I am an organized person - and I pride myself on it - but in the past few weeks I have joined the ranks of women who, despite all the best intentions, find themselves scatterbrained, terrible with answering friends' emails or calls, trying to figure out when exactly we're supposed to DO everything, and desperately seeking her memory. I can only hope that if push comes to shove I am genetically programmed to remember something I need to for Sara, not where I put that folder on my office desk.

Finally, some pictures from her birthday party on April 12. She was a little shy at first with so many people in the house, but then she relaxed and had a great time. She didn't even fuss at the paparazzi cupcake on the highchair tray moment, she even laughed and clapped her hands while we all sang happy birthday!
Not sure about the cupcake at first, but she ate some! Vanilla (after we successfully introduced whole eggs earlier that week), with homemade buttercream frosting that I dyed pink with pureed raspberries.

The few seconds before she pulled her party hat off!Quite a haul...
The next day, trying out her new phone to make some calls!This past weekend we bought her first pair of real shoes. We took her to a well known neighbourhood childrens' shoe store, and she looks like such a big girl in them! So adorable. If she wasn't going to grow out of them in 3 months, and they didn't recommend just one pair of shoes for consistency while she learns to walk, I would have bought lots!

We've also hit some more milestones - she finally started holding her own bottle a couple of weeks ago!! And just last week, she held and drank from her sippy cup! Hoorah! Selfishly, I was thrilled that she did the sippy cup with me, after months of hard work. I was so proud of her. And it was with MILK, no less! We've almost totally transitioned to whole milk from her formula. (as an aside, I'm not going to get into how I feel about last week's federal government ban of plastic baby bottle news just yet - that's for another post if I get around to it.)

She has also started dancing when she plays music on her LeapFrog table. It's awesome. She holds the table with one hand, and wiggles her bum from side to side with the music. Tonight she did it during the Backyardigans while standing against our ottoman... she loves the song they always sing at the end. I have videotaped it, and maybe one day if I actually have time to upload video I will!

merry

This Christmas was quite possibly my favourite holiday so far. We spent two days filled with family, love, laughter, food, a special present and many happy memories. After weeks of stocking practice (learning to pull things out of containers), Sara had lots of fun opening her stocking with Daddy after breakfast, wearing her Christmas jammies from Grandma and Grandpa. This little pink fish bath toy is one of her new favourite things.
... and then more fun ripping wrapping paper!
She loves her new car from Santa.
And Christmas dinner for 10 was a great success (phew!), with many thanks to everyone pitching in and helping. Honestly, I don't know how our mothers did it mostly alone! Sara was in great spirits all day and sat happily in her highchair at the head of the table. She even had her own bowl of turkey and mashed potatoes for dinner. She even popped a Christmas tooth!

What it's all about...
I'm now ready for a long winter's nap until the new year.... so until then, I hope that your holiday has been as merry as ours!

o christmas tree

We got our Christmas tree this past Saturday, Sara's 8 month birthday, and she's quite fascinated by this new green addition to the house with all its shiny lights and ornaments. I like the effect of turning off the flash on my camera...
It took her a while to actually reach out and touch anything, but today she did. She zoned in on one of the fabric ornaments that I sewed and hung at the bottom. She plucked it off and popped it into her mouth in one fell swoop, and gave it her sign of approval.

This week Sara has figured out how to push her bum right up in the air and rock back and forth (picture downward dog yoga pose, looking much easier than it actually is), so I think crawling is on the horizon! She is also babbling 'ma ma ma maa' constantly over the past few days. I'm not sure if she realizes what she's saying.... but it makes me almost burst with smiles. Does it count as "mama" yet?

We've been listening to a 'Sara's 1st Christmas' mix that I made, and she likes dancing to it with me. A true family CD, it has everything from U2 to the Muppets to Josh Groban (whose version of Silent Night, by the way, can bring on tears if you're at all sappy like me.) Have I mentioned how excited I am for Christmas this year...

1st Halloween

Sara's first Halloween costume was adorable, our little pumpkin looked so cute!
After getting dressed we had some tears because she's in the process of dropping her third nap, which used to be at 5pm, but she wouldn't take a catnap... so we just had quiet time before venturing out. When she was all smiles again, she played with Daddy.Then we headed out...
I took her across the street to visit her aunt and uncle, who gave her a cool toy phone, and then the neighbours, where she picked out some candy for mom and dad.... after dinner she enjoyed greeting some trick or treaters at our door. We got the ultimate compliment on Bert and Ernie - a little boy went to get his dad from the sidewalk and brought him back to look at our pumpkins.
Of course Sara spit up on her costume a few times, but her costume was fleece with big folds so it stayed relatively contained! Fortunately she saved this for the privacy of our house.

We didn't get as many trick or treaters as usual, so it looks like now I'll be spending a lot of time eating candy while Sara's napping... eating candy while Sara's playing....

friday photos

I haven't posted any pics of Sara this week, so here are some new ones to end the week. She looks so cute in this little cupcake shirt I just want to eat her up! The jeans, as you can see, are way too big though. They fell down when I was bouncing her on my knee.
And here she's wearing a dress I knit her, it has a ribbon tie at the back.
Have a great weekend! Tomorrow we're getting our new car seat checked by St. John Ambulance and visiting Sara's Grandpa for his birthday, and then Sunday is pumpkin carving day! I can't wait to see her get her hands (and likely mouth) into all the goo....

Zoo and Markham Fair

I'm a little behind in posting, but here are a few photos from the Zoo and Markham Fair last week while Ian was on vacation... Sara was interested in some animals at the zoo, but apparently this friendly gorilla couldn't even catch her eye by banging on the glass!
Sara and Sophie meet the real giraffes!

I was so excited to bring her to Markham Fair, it's amazing to bring her to something I've attended every year since I was 8... first for the animals and rides, then for the beer tent, now with our daughter. Amazing! My diet for the day was coffee, apple cider, Tiny Tom donuts, fudge, and fries with gravy. Mmm.
like mother, like daughter...


These outings were the perfect kick-off to fall. I'm counting down the minutes to turkey, stuffing, gravy, and pumpkin pie... happy Thanksgiving everyone! I think it's obvious what I am most grateful for this year!

at day's end

I took this photo of Sara sleeping A) because she looks so cute, and B) because it was right before one of my favourite parts of each day... when I scoop her up and feed her a small bottle at 10pm, after she has been sleeping for a while. No matter how exhausted I am at the end of the day, this time fills my heart and sends me to bed happy. I love the sound of her quietly drinking her bottle cradled in my arms, and I really, really love the cuddles we have afterwards. I hold her on my shoulder and she nuzzles her head into my neck while she sleeps with her little hands wrapped around me.

This is our time -- time to bond, and for me to reflect on the day's funny moments and new developments. For example...

**Sara rolled over today, from tummy to back. And I missed it! She had spit up during tummy time and I went to grab a cloth. When I returned, she was on her back! Go figure.

**She has started flapping both arms up and down at her sides when she is excited. Too cute.

**She has discovered that one object can have two different sides. She started by staring at her hand and turning it repeatedly from palm to back, and yesterday she sat on my lap opening and shutting a book for about 10 minutes. I love how she looks up at me in wonder, as if to say "look Mommy, did you know this?!"

Since we're starting her on solids this weekend, it won't be long before we phase this last bottle out. I will really miss this time together, but I don't want to end up like the mom in 'Love You Forever' -- that classic book is a tear-jerker but let's face it, it does get creepy at the end -- so for now I will remember to cherish these moments and cuddles!

last days of summer

I took a little computer break for the last long weekend of summer (and then some)... it was a great few days of family, friends and lots of fun. On Saturday I had a much anticipated girls day of indulgence -- shopping all day with my sis, followed by dinner with our mom-in-law at North 44! An incredible dinner of lobster bisque, bison tenderloin and risotto (yes, bison - delicious) and a raspberry chocolate dessert.

On Sunday our little fam hit the beach at Balsam Lake, visiting good friends who were camping all weekend. It was Sara's first trip to the beach! She enjoyed watching the waves and all the people, but dipping her toes in teh water was short-lived because the water was pretty chilly! She played with her toys on our beach blanket quite happily, and after all the fresh air she zonked out immediately in the car.

On Monday we relaxed at home, and then yesterday I made a special delivery... some of my small paintings are officially for sale in a lovely baby boutique called Belly Bumps and Babies. I'm pretty excited about this venture, and am so happy that the store owners like my work so much to buy it wholesale.
I also completed a large commission for a client who requested two birds on a branch. Sara's napping is back to short and sweet lately, so I hope to have more painting time soon!

baby talk

Sara and I have started having conversations, and it is quite possibly the cutest, funniest thing I have ever seen. I discovered this by accident when I was making some sounds to get her giggles going -- I did the "THLPPPPPPPPP" thing where you blow air through your tongue and lips, and after a few times she repeated it after me! Her version is awesome. She purses her lips and blows softly, making little drooly bubbles, and then smiles with pride. The first day she did it twice, but this morning we had a full conversation this way! It's a pretty phenomenal thing to communicate with your baby, no matter what form it takes. Next I'll work on "Mommy"...

happy birthday to me

Today has been a great day, celebrating my birthday with my girl (who has been the best companion I could wish for), Ian, sis and bro-in-law... with not one, but TWO cakes! And wine - shocking! I like this pic because you can also see my first b-day card from Sara. Her penmanship is very impressive. Ian gave me flowers, chocolate, and a day of shopping... I can't wait. And even though I was getting presents, I also bought Sara some new plastic rings to play with because she loves them. Tonight I will go to bed feeling very full of love, happiness, gratitude... and cake!

baby bonding

Last night I experienced one of my favourite moments with Sara so far. I put her PJ's on at around 10pm after a good family photo shoot with our friend Mike, and with only 15-20 minutes to go before her bedtime bottle, I didn't want to move her off the mat in our living room so instead I lay down next to her. As Sara's vision develops, she has been really good at tracking things for a couple of weeks, and she's often able to reach out and touch things. I softly called her name and talked to her. She quickly turned her head to look at me, smiled, and touched my face with her little hand. It was such an amazing feeling of love and bonding, and even brought a tear or two to my eyes! We just lay there and looked at each other for a while, and when she slowly dozed off I just listened to her breathing. What a wonderful way to end the day. Much love to my sweet baby girl!