2012 So Far...

I realize 2012 is far from over, but I've been going through my photos from this year, and collecting the best to put in a grandkids calendar for my in-laws (an annual tradition).  And you know what?  It's already been a good year.  A very good year.  My favourite memories from 2012 so far are:

1. Cruising through the Carribean with the Hubs in January.  With his company footing the bill.

2. Sharing the news of our expanding family.  In a Listicle, no less!

3.  The unforgettable expression on the Hubs' face when the ultrasound revealed we had a twig and berry situation happening all up in my womb.

I'm a dude. Thumbs up!

4.  Introducing my little love to one of my other great loves.

5. Getting settled in our new home: more space, same neighbourhood, same sense of community.

6.  Belly love.

 

7.  Her threeness.  A double-edged sword.

8.  Experiencing the labour and delivery of my dreams.
 
9.  And what came next, obviously:

10.  Sibling love.

Snapshots of Motherhood

I love my camera.  I love taking pictures; capturing snapshots of the day-to-day and the sweet moments of parenthood.  I think my photography skills have improved leaps and bounds over the past two years.  But no matter how proficient I get, there are some moments in time; some moods and feelings I just cannot capture through my lens and convey in a two dimensional image.  I don't think even the best photographer could.  These are the moments of motherhood I try to imprint on my brain, that they may stay burnt into memory to sustain me in my old age.

Reading stories in the rocking chair at bedtime, locks of her fair hair falling into mine; dark and light weaving together.

Glancing back from the driver's seat to glimpse a small body nestled into the car seat, blond head bobbing rhythmically to the music playing on the radio.

The sheer joy of nakedness streaking past me after a bath, face full of mirth, squeaky clean scent wafting off baby soft skin.

Sleepered feet padding down the hallway, eyes squinty against the morning light, hair fuzzy, lovey clutched tightly in small arms, greeting me with a sleepy smile.

A sweet, high-pitched voice, sing-songing nursery rhymes, snippets of songs she has learned, and startlingly accurate imitations of things she has heard and seen.  A whole internal monologue made external.

The same high-pitched voice calling me "Mama," always needing, sometimes maddeningly so.

Arms reaching up to be carried.  The fit of small legs on either side of my waist, even as her weight becomes almost too much.

Tickles and squeals of delight and out-of-control flailing limbs.

The fit of a her frame against mine in quiet moments, chin tucked over my shoulder, arms around my neck, pouring comfort between us to share.

These are the images that no flood, no fire, no crashed hard drive can take from me.  These are the pictures I hope to keep locked in the safe deposit box of my memory forever.

Linking up with the Listmaster, since this is a list of sorts,

though not exactly what Miss Marina Star had in mind.

Also linking up with

In the Eyes of a Child

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million. 

~Walt Streightiff

 

When I Look at You

 

When I look at you, I see:

Pure love; mine and yours.

Sweetness, laughter, and innocence.

Sharp intelligence.

The adoration in your eyes - often undeserved, I fear.

Wisdom and insight far beyond your two and a half years.

Fierce determination.

A keen observer.

So much of myself, it is almost frightening. 

My tendency to let things get under my skin.

Your daddy's sense of humour and reason.

Simultaneous tenacity, shyness, and strength.

A performer.

My baby; my pride and joy.

So much beauty I am nearly blinded its brilliance.

2010 Reflections and Slideshow

2010 was a pretty awesome year for us Lilahbility folk.  We went to Maui for a friend's wedding in January, welcomed the world into our beautiful city for the Winter Olympics in February, watched Lilah take her first steps in February, celebrated our first Mother's Day and Father's Day as parents in May and June, threw Lilah a big first birthday bash in July, met up with family and friends in Ontario in August, got Lilah settled into daycare and settled myself back into the work routine in the late summer and early fall, took a long weekend family trip to Whistler in November, and worked on creating our own holiday traditions in December.  There were plenty of ups and downs, new teeth, runny noses, first tastes of cake and ice cream, and more than a few family dance parties.  We've watched her go from a worm/beached whale/commando crawl to a proper crawl to cruising furniture to wobbly steps to outright running, and from a couple of gestures and signs to her first spoken word to two-word combinations and carrying a vaguely recognizable tune.  Evolution in the microcosm.  And when you stop and think about it, all you can do is feel blessed to have been a spectator to it all.  And pleased that you managed to capture most of the moments on camera.

So, without further ado, here is a slide show of some of my favourite Lilahbility moments of 2010, set to "Dog Days Are Over" - the Glee Cast version, because I like it more than the original.*  I hope you'll enjoy it even a fraction as much as I do!



*And because I am obsessed with Glee.  I am also obsessed with watching this slide show over and over again, to see if I can do it just once without getting a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes. So far, no luck.