Now where were we?

It has been far too long since I last wrote in this. I kind of took a step back from blogs and some social media sites for a few months. It's nice to take a break. But it's also nice to keep a journal of sorts and keep track of the fun goings on in our lives, so here I am.

For the first time in months I can confidently say that I feel really good about myself and really happy in general. While I would love to be working and in school right now, I am truly enjoying being a SAHM more than I ever could have imagined. We are the luckiest parents of the most beautiful, hilarious little girl. Her personality is showing more and more each day, and her vocabulary is expanding rapidly. She was an easy baby and - knock on wood - she is a pretty laid back toddler. While I have been known to lose my cool a time or two, I have also learned to be patient with her. Anyone who knows me, knows how much of an accomplishment this is. She is still easy re-directed and I can often get her to talk out her problems before a mega meltdown even occurs. Not every time, of course, but it's a pretty solid start.

Our main concern lately has been her attachment. It's partly her age, but I'm sure it's exacerbated by Isaac being gone so often for work. She's with me so often that we're having some trouble getting her comfortable with others. She does warm up eventually but sometimes it takes a long time, and it really is exhausting to have her hanging off of my neck when we have company over. We're working on it.

In other news, Winter seems to have finally left. It felt like it never would. We kind of skipped Spring and we're into 25+ weather now. Pull out the shorts and dresses, Summer has arrived! Addison and I have been doing a lot of outdoor spring cleaning and gardening. She loves it. I've had so much fun watching her smell the flowers, point out the different colours, dig the holes, and pour the watering can. She has it all down pat. We planted some more goodies up front, and started both an herb and vegetable garden. Fingers crossed that we get something out of it.




I'm having a blast coaching U5 soccer this season. I had only intended to be a convenor but we had so many kids sign up that we were short coaches. My 12 11 (B. just quit) kids are amazing. It is such a fun challenge. I try to do a warm up, teach them a skill, and then do a scrimmage, but sometimes it goes better than others. I have a wide range of personalities from super duper shy introvert, to professional outgoing player. I can't wait to see how they all end up by the end of June. We're making huge strides already. Just last Thursday I had every single one of my kids on the field at some point during the game, and they all kicked the ball. This might not seem like much, but I was so impressed. I cannot wait for Addison and Morgan to play next year.

More updates to come soon (and more often)...

 

2012: A year in review

Friends and Family
April 24: Hannah turned 1
May 11: Morgan turned 2
August 31: Aubrie Catarina was born
October 26: Addison turned 2

Politics/Around the World
Jan 13: More than 30 were killed when the Costa Concordia cruise liner struck land off of the Italian coast.
Jan 29: Shafia family were convicted of first-degree murder in the deaths of their four family members
May 11: Michael Rafferty was found guilty of kidnapping, assault causing bodily harm, and first degree murder in the death of Tori Stafford
May 26: Rudy Eugene was fatally shot by Miami Police after having assaulted Ronald Poppo. He became known as the "Causeway Cannibal" and "Miami Killer."
May 29-June 4: Luca Rocco Magnotta was arrested in Berlin after a world-wide man hunt, for crimes committed in Montreal
June 2: Two died and several were injured when a man opened fire at the Toronto Eaton Centre food court
June 23: Two women died when the roof of the Elliott Lake Mall collapsed
July: Two died and 19 were wounded when a gun man opened fire at a Scarborough BBQ
July 20: Twelve died and 60 were wounded in Aurora, Colorado, when 24 year old James Holmes opened fire in a packed movie theatre at the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. Found guilty.
Aug 28: Hurricane Isaac

Sept 3: An E.Coli break out in Brooks, Alberta led to the largest beef-product recall in Canadian history. No deaths were reported.
Sept 29: Omar Khadr was transferred to a maximum security prison in Canada
October 9: Jerry Sandusky was sentenced to 30-60 years for multiple sexual abuse charges
October 10: Bullied teen Amanda Todd committed suicide two weeks after telling her story through a video uploaded to YouTube
October 14: Felix Baumgartner set new records for highest manned balloon flight, highest skydive, and the first person to exceed the speed of sound

October: 200 Americans were killed in Hurricane Sandy

New York

West Virginia

November: Barack Obama defeated Mitt Romney in the US Presidential election 332-206

 

Most re-tweeted photo on Twitter
Most Liked photo on Facebook

December 14: 28 people died in the second-deadliest school shooting in US history. 20 year old Adam Lanza shot and killed his mother before going to Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown Conneticut, where he opened fire and killed 26 children and adults, and then himself.

Entertainment, Sports, and Pop Culture
Jan 20: Etta James died of leukemia at age 72
Feb 5: New York Giants win Super Bowl
Feb 11: Whitney Houston died at 48 of accidental drowning in a hotel bath tub
Feb 12: Grammy's Album of the Year: The Suburbs (Arcade Fire) Record of the Year: Need You Now (Lady Antebellum) Song of the Year: Need You Now (Lady Antebellum)
Feb 20: Matt Kenseth won NASCAR Daytona 500
Feb 28: Oscar's Best Picture: The King's Speech Best Actor: Colin Firth (The King's Speech) Best Actress: Natalie Portman (Black Swan)
Mar 26-May 17: Transgendered Jenna Tacklova was kicked out of the finals for Miss Vancouver. The decision was overturned, allowing her to become the first transgendered contestant in the Miss Universe Canada competition.
May 4: Adam "MCA" Yauch died of cancer at age 47
May 10: Carroll Shelby died of complications with his heart
May 10: Time Magazine sparks controversy with their cover of a woman breast feeding a young child.
May 17: Donna Summer died of cancer at age 63May 20: Robin Gibb died of cancer at age 62
June 11: L.A. Kings won their first Stanley Cup in franchise history. They beat the New Jersey Devils 6-1.
June 17: Rodney King died of drowning
June 30: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes divorced
July 3: Andy Griffith died of a heart attack
July 23: Sally Ride died of cancer
July 24: Sherman Hemsley died of cancer
July 25: Nik Wallenda tight roped across the Horseshoe Falls section of Niagara Falls, on a rope only five cm thick.
July 27-September 12: Summer Olympics in London, England
August 19: Tony Scott committed suicide at the age of 68
August 25: Neil Armstrong died of complications from blocked coronary arteries at the age of 82
September 15: NHL Lockout
October: Lance Armstrong stripped of titles after doping allegations
November 20: Kevin Clash of Elmo fame resigned after sexual harassment allegations
 

Check it out!

We're still in the very early stages, but Happy Mailbox is in business! Megan and I started brainstorming, and soon discovered people really were interested in our cards!
 

Oops

It's already been a month since my last post? Oops.

October - January is pretty crazy in my household with birthdays and holidays. Even more so this year with all that's been going on lately.

I haven't seen Ryan since Addison's birthday. He's been working in New Brunswick for a month straight, comes home for one weekend, and goes right back out again. I don't know how Nicole has kept her sanity.

That would be why he was unable to make the trip to see Grandad. My parents and I went for a long, highway-free drive to see him last month. At 91 years old, he is still in great shape. He lives in a second floor walk up, loves walking around town, and is still as quick as a whip. Sadly, after nearly ten years of being in remission, his cancer has returned. He was hoping he could avoid treatment but had to go through surgery this week to have his larynx completely removed. Surgery went well and he'll be moved to a treatment centre soon. All three girls will be with him daily, rotating between them, going two at a time. Hopefully I'll soon be able to introduce him to Isaac and Addison, and Ryan to his family.

My parents moved this weekend. It's the best decision for everyone, but I'm still a little sad to see my childhood house sit empty.

Megan and I have started making and selling our greeting cards! She was in the right place at the right time, and set up a deal with a woman in her town who runs a boutique. She liked what she saw and put in a few orders right away. We're hoping to find a second location here and offer cards for all occasions, invitations, and various other paper party supplies. Happy Mailbox is taking off!

Isaac is still working away in the hospital. Addison and I went to see him recently and it was a total bust. She got into everything at the apartment and wouldn't sleep at night. There isn't much within walking distance and our attempted shopping trips to the Eaton Centre and Vaughan Mills mall were complete failures. I don't plan on bringing her back any time soon.

Addison is picking up new words every day. Just this week she started saying "See day-der" (See you later) when someone leaves. She's obsessed with jumping on the couch and pushing her baby in her doll stroller. I don't remember the last time she slept through the night. The doctor thinks she might be experiencing night terrors :(
 

Two

Two years ago, I was patiently anxiously awaiting your arrival, nine days after your due date.
Two years ago at 11:59 am, tears filled my eyes as we heard "It's a girl," followed by your little lamb cry.
Two years ago, I first counted your ten tiny fingers - complete with one hang nail - and ten little toes on your great big feet.

In the past two years you have gone from sleepy, squishy little newborn, to a happy, friendly toddler.
I look back at times when we struggled to understand your different cries. Were you hungry? Wet? Tired? Now you ask questions, tell me what you want, and say please and thank you.


You make me laugh every single day, even if one (or both) of us is having a hard time. You have taught me patience. I'm still working on it, but I see a big change in myself from two short years ago. You have taught me to enjoy the small things. It is amazing to watch you experience such pure joy over the tiniest things. I love seeing you experience everything for the very first time. You remind me to stop and smell the roses; to take a big deep breath and enjoy these special moments with my little girl in this great big world.

I love watching you perch yourself in the west window every morning and afternoon, watching the school buses drive by, and kids walking to class. I love listening to your baby babbles as you wake up in the morning and after nap, then seeing your face light up when you realize Mama or Dada has come to get you from your crib. I love hearing your silly laugh, and learning what you find humourous. I love when we ask you to do something you don't want to do, and you close your eyes, curl up, and pretend to go to sleep. I love that you say "Wow" when you sneeze, and "Achoo" when anyone else does. I love when you run into your room, grab more books than you can carry, and throw yourself into my lap, asking to hear the stories over and over. I love your enthusiastic counting "One TWO! TWO! Five! Two! TWOOOO!" I love how much you love the great outdoors. Most of all, I love watching you when Daddy comes home after four days away at work. Nothing warms my heart more than the man I love with his little girl.

Being a mom is the hardest, most amazing experience I ever could have imagined. It's so rewarding and fun, but it's also exhausting, and a challenge at times. It's a learning process for all of us, and I can't wait to see what life brings us in this next year.

I love you more than you will ever know. Daddy too. You will always be Daddy's girl.

Happy 2nd birthday, baby girl.

 

Sleepover

Morgan was here all day Saturday and spent the night. It was a huge success! Both girls had so much fun, and Isaac and I came out unscathed. Unfortunately the weather was not so great. It was overcast and cold, with scattered showers all day. While we didn't get to play outside for as long as I had hoped, we managed to stay busy.

We read some books (and learned Gorillas are scary):

 

We played in the rain:

 The girls played tag:

The girls Addison jumped on the couch:

We went for a bike ride:

They actually enjoyed it, despite these expressions. It was too crowded in there with Morgan's winter coat on.

We played ping pong:

We put on a movie Finding Nemo) and had a long bath, then the girls hit the hay.

 Morgan slept from 7:30-5:30 and Addison slept from 7-6. They each had breakfast and played nicely together until Ryan picked Morgan up around 7:30.

Toddler sleepover SUCCESS!

 

Due date

Addison was due two years ago today. Little did I know, we'd still be waiting a week and a half later!

October Photo Challenge: Day 15

Dinner