First slide,
First swing,
And a little father-son bonding.
All in a day's trip to the park!
Thursday, February 28, 2013
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Monday, February 18, 2013
10 Tiny Things That Bring Me Joy
I am absolutely in love with this idea for a Listicle topic.
But. It's almost too easy!
But that would be cheating, wouldn't it?
Okay, okay, here's my real list of tiny things that bring me joy:
1. Using things up.
2. Donating or passing along things our household no longer needs or has outgrown, like clothing and baby items. I get an extra special thrill out of seeing friends' kids wearing clothes that used to belong to us. Especially super cute and quality items that my kids only got the chance to wear once or twice.
3. Paying for small purchases with exact change. Call me old-fashioned.
4. A place for everything and everything in its place.
5. Voting with my dollar and buying local when possible.
6. Remembering to bring change for the parking meter, shopping cart, or locker at the pool.
7. Discovering an inexpensive white wine that I like the taste of.
8. Having my tweets retweeted. I know, it's vain in a ridiculously superficial sort of way. But it still brings me a tiny thrill every time.
9. Glancing over at the alarm clock and realizing it's the weekend and the kid(s) have managed to sleep in. These days, even an extra 20 minutes makes me extremely happy.
10. Dessert.
What tiny things bring you joy?
.
But. It's almost too easy!
 |
| These 10 tiny things bring me great joy. |
Okay, okay, here's my real list of tiny things that bring me joy:
1. Using things up.
2. Donating or passing along things our household no longer needs or has outgrown, like clothing and baby items. I get an extra special thrill out of seeing friends' kids wearing clothes that used to belong to us. Especially super cute and quality items that my kids only got the chance to wear once or twice.
3. Paying for small purchases with exact change. Call me old-fashioned.
4. A place for everything and everything in its place.
5. Voting with my dollar and buying local when possible.
6. Remembering to bring change for the parking meter, shopping cart, or locker at the pool.
7. Discovering an inexpensive white wine that I like the taste of.
8. Having my tweets retweeted. I know, it's vain in a ridiculously superficial sort of way. But it still brings me a tiny thrill every time.
9. Glancing over at the alarm clock and realizing it's the weekend and the kid(s) have managed to sleep in. These days, even an extra 20 minutes makes me extremely happy.
10. Dessert.
What tiny things bring you joy?
Sunday, February 10, 2013
The Upside of Threeness
Well. I haven't exactly kept it a secret that three has been hard on all of us. I know I am not the only parent to find this age challenging, as I have often heard three described as "two with intent." And I would add persistence, and frustration, and sass to that mix as well. But I would be remiss if I didn't also acknowledge the wonder of three; its thrilling moments and delightful reprieves from the challenging parts.
What is awesome about three?
1. She still produces adorable mispronunciations like "breppast" for breakfast and "cuptainer" for container.
2. She has an excellent grasp of language but sometimes can't quite recall a word, so she ballparks it. She recently asked me, "Are you cereal?" when I told her something she found to be rather outrageous.
3. Naps are hit or miss, but when we take one together in the big bed and she finally stops wiggling... bliss!
4. Her attempts at sneakiness are completely transparent.
5. She tells me she loves me to the moon and back "a frillion frillion times."
6. She still wants to help and takes great pride in being given a job to do.
7. When she is comfortable, she has no filter, resulting in some hilarious and outrageous statements. She recently told a visiting guest that he could use "her" bathroom as long as he was only going pee. Bathroom habits currently top her list of interesting topics of conversation.
8. She hasn't quite grasped the art of secret-keeping, surprises, or unexpected hiding spots while playing hide and seek.
9. Her giggles still contain the high notes of babyhood.
10. Her independence is blossoming but she still needs her mama more often than not.
What is awesome about three?
1. She still produces adorable mispronunciations like "breppast" for breakfast and "cuptainer" for container.
2. She has an excellent grasp of language but sometimes can't quite recall a word, so she ballparks it. She recently asked me, "Are you cereal?" when I told her something she found to be rather outrageous.
3. Naps are hit or miss, but when we take one together in the big bed and she finally stops wiggling... bliss!
4. Her attempts at sneakiness are completely transparent.
5. She tells me she loves me to the moon and back "a frillion frillion times."
7. When she is comfortable, she has no filter, resulting in some hilarious and outrageous statements. She recently told a visiting guest that he could use "her" bathroom as long as he was only going pee. Bathroom habits currently top her list of interesting topics of conversation.
8. She hasn't quite grasped the art of secret-keeping, surprises, or unexpected hiding spots while playing hide and seek.
9. Her giggles still contain the high notes of babyhood.
10. Her independence is blossoming but she still needs her mama more often than not.
I didn't follow the prompt this week,
but go visit the Listmaster for some more listicle fun.
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Embracing...
Embracing:
the dark circles under my tired eyes,
the grey hairs that are becoming more and more commonplace atop my head,
the ever-present messy bun,
the increasingly prominent crows' feet,
and the weird pigment spots that linger long after the pregnancy hormones have gone.
But also:
the softness of his chubby little cheek against mine,
his gummy smile,
the way his eyes light up when I am near,
the fluffy tufts of hair that multiply with each passing day,
fat little wrists and thighs that also seem to get thicker day by day,
his sweet, intoxicating baby smell.
Embracing:
the big picture - all that comes with this thing called motherhood.
the dark circles under my tired eyes,
the grey hairs that are becoming more and more commonplace atop my head,
the ever-present messy bun,
the increasingly prominent crows' feet,
and the weird pigment spots that linger long after the pregnancy hormones have gone.
But also:
the softness of his chubby little cheek against mine,
his gummy smile,
the way his eyes light up when I am near,
the fluffy tufts of hair that multiply with each passing day,
fat little wrists and thighs that also seem to get thicker day by day,
his sweet, intoxicating baby smell.
Embracing:
the big picture - all that comes with this thing called motherhood.
 |
| Photo by Adam Schwartz of The Two Hosers Photo Show |
Sunday, January 27, 2013
When I Grow Up...
As a child, I thought I would be all sorts of things when I grew up. What exactly I thought I would be depended on my age when asked, and mood and mindset at the time. The thing is, I still don't feel that I have reached that magical, mystical age called "grown up" and there are still a great many things I might want to do or be.
My list of potential occupations, past and present, includes the following:
1. An artist.
2. A ballerina.
3. A camp counsellor.
4. A writer.
5. A babysitter.
6. A photographer.
7. A mixed martial arts fighter.
8. A marine biologist.
9. A speech-language pathologist.
10. A mother.
I'll leave it to you to work out which of these were the passing fancies of childhood, which have already been achieved, and which I am still toying with.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
My list of potential occupations, past and present, includes the following:
1. An artist.
2. A ballerina.
3. A camp counsellor.
4. A writer.
5. A babysitter.
6. A photographer.
7. A mixed martial arts fighter.
8. A marine biologist.
9. A speech-language pathologist.
10. A mother.
I'll leave it to you to work out which of these were the passing fancies of childhood, which have already been achieved, and which I am still toying with.
What do you want to be when you grow up?
Friday, January 25, 2013
Ray of Light.
This guy. Five months old and an absolute ray of light. A breath of fresh air on grey Vancouver winter days.
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
You Smile, I Smile
So, I may or may not have hinted once or twice that we've had a rough couple months around here. (Hence the noticeable lack of updates.) But no matter how tired, stressed, or unlike my usual self I feel, I can't help but smile when I see these faces.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Languishing In My Closet
I'm really not sure how almost two months has slipped by since I last posted an update. I have a million excuses, but that's another post for another day, and I won't waste your time with that right now. The Listmaster has asked for a list of 10 things in our closet for this week's listicle, so I'd rather waste it telling you about all the things that are in my wardrobe that, at five months post partum, I am currently unable to wear but hope to be able to put to good use again someday:
1. Shoes and boots with high heels and/or pointy toes. Shoes that look cute/sexy/stylish but leave my feet and legs aching for sneakers or my "mom boots" (which happen to be really ugly, but really comfortable, warm, and waterproof).
2. My skinny jeans. At least 10 lbs of baby weight still need to come off before I can even contemplate getting those on again.
3. Anything that needs hand washing or dry cleaning. I consider those washing instructions to be incompatible with baby spit up.
4. Work clothes: blazers, dress pants, skirts, and blouses.
5. Any item that limits quick access to Henry's sole source of nourishment.
6. Cute handbags that are either too small or too precious to schlep diapers, wipes, and the million other pieces of gear and paraphernalia that seem necessary when toting around a tiny human.
7. Jewellery; chunky or delicate, that could be ripped from my ears or neck by tiny yet surprisingly strong and persistent hands.
8. Anything that falls into the category of "lingerie." (Sorry, Hubs.)
9. My martial arts gear. One of these days, I will be well-rested enough and we will have bedtimes under control enough that I will feel confident stepping out in the evenings a couple times a week to rekindle my passion for martial arts... one of these days.
10. A string bikini. I am still holding out hope that one day I will regain the confidence (and the muscle tone) to wear it again, but... we'll see. I'll let you know if and when that joyous occasion ever happens!
1. Shoes and boots with high heels and/or pointy toes. Shoes that look cute/sexy/stylish but leave my feet and legs aching for sneakers or my "mom boots" (which happen to be really ugly, but really comfortable, warm, and waterproof).
2. My skinny jeans. At least 10 lbs of baby weight still need to come off before I can even contemplate getting those on again.
3. Anything that needs hand washing or dry cleaning. I consider those washing instructions to be incompatible with baby spit up.
4. Work clothes: blazers, dress pants, skirts, and blouses.
5. Any item that limits quick access to Henry's sole source of nourishment.
6. Cute handbags that are either too small or too precious to schlep diapers, wipes, and the million other pieces of gear and paraphernalia that seem necessary when toting around a tiny human.
7. Jewellery; chunky or delicate, that could be ripped from my ears or neck by tiny yet surprisingly strong and persistent hands.
8. Anything that falls into the category of "lingerie." (Sorry, Hubs.)
9. My martial arts gear. One of these days, I will be well-rested enough and we will have bedtimes under control enough that I will feel confident stepping out in the evenings a couple times a week to rekindle my passion for martial arts... one of these days.
10. A string bikini. I am still holding out hope that one day I will regain the confidence (and the muscle tone) to wear it again, but... we'll see. I'll let you know if and when that joyous occasion ever happens!
Now head over to Stasha's for some more Monday Listicle fun.
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