Emelia Jean is ONE!

Well it seems like ages ago that my little sweet pea was in here still... she is one and I can't believe it! Where does the time go and how does one manage to slow it down because it has only been a year and I am already feeling like it is flying by too fast.

So just for my sake I have made a few collages of some of her moments over the last year, and I have to say it was ridiculous trying to choose from the near thousand images we have of her digitally. I have so many darling ones of her on film too, but those will have to be seen in person.

My wee little 9lb 15oz. babe. Despite her size she was still tiny and precious and fragile, and although I loved her from the moment I met her I love her more now, and still more tomorrow.
She is a doll, so clever and bright and funny, so thoughtful and polite, and even though she, like all of us, get's cranky now and then she is a very content child.

It is amazing to me how much she has changed in her appearance. Bouncing back and forth between looking like Mom or Dad, then just like herself. We still aren't sure what colour her eyes are, but whatever colour they are, they are amazing. Blue, green, grey and hazel.

I love her still mostly toothless grin and her boundless charisma, her zest for new things, and willingness to try whatever strange and healthy food I put in front of her, but still be normal and love everything just a little more with ketchup. I sometimes can't believe that when I say, that's all she actually gets it and doesn't complain (I'm sure that won't last but I love it now..), how she uses please and thank you, and will usually comply with simple requests, yet is still just defiant enough to test the boundaries.

All of these things and a zillion more make being the Mama of this one year old darling a pretty good gig. Love and kisses to you Miss Eme Jean on your first birthday, Mama is going to go and cry now....

rasta baby!

Eme is as funny as ever. Recently her new trick is to put my funky hand knit tea cozy on her head like a hat. Rasta Mon! She is growing as much as ever and keeping us on our toes with daily changes. Still only 2 teeth though.


She is also full of kisses, and not just when you ask her. She will pucker up at a moments notice and thrust her little pursed lips in your general direction looking for a smooch. It has got to be the cutest thing ever. I don't know anyone who would get tired of that game.

She is fast approaching the one year land mark and is turning into the discerning toddler. One day she only wants yogurt or toast and fruit, and then just when you think she won't eat another truly nutritious meal, she will surprise you (like last night) by eating (get ready for it....) macaroni and cheese, brocolli, chard, carrots, zuchinni, roasted potatoes, lamb, and watermelon. Wow!


Like any responsible parent I left her alone in the kitchen this morning while I put something away in the bedroom, and when I cam out I panicked initially because I couldn't see her..... this is where she was. Sitting in the cupboard beside the computer, that was left open when the reycling was taken out. She just thought this was great, so many new things to explore.
Another lesson learned.

On another subject, but very closely related to Emelia Jean - Phil and I celebrated our 6th year anniversary yesterday. We managed to get a date in today, courtesy of Aunty Anna and Grampa who babysat for us. What did we do? you ask. We hiked the GROUSE GRIND. Yes who read that right we voluntarily hiked up 1 vertical kilometer, and let me tell you it was a very long KM. I managed it in 1 hour and 16 minutes and Phil in 1 hour and 8 minutes (but only because he walked with me until the last 1/4 km - his usual is around 50 mins.) After this calorie burner we quickly showered at a friends and went to a brew pub to eat it all back again. I tell you nothing tastes as good as bad food after a good work out. We finished the afternoon by sharing a double chocolate cookie and a triple americano from Whole Foods. HEAVEN. It doesn't sound too fancy, but this was what I call a good time. We both felt very happy and grateful at the end of our time out and were welcomed home with snuggles and kisses from a certain someone we love dearly.

That is about it for now, although I am sure if I really think about it I could probably write a whole lot more, but alas it is getting close to shut down for me. So I will leave something for next time.....


XOXOXO - from all of us (just imagine them a little wetter from Em's)OXOXOX

First time at the Aquarium

Well , this past Monday Eme and I, and 2 other friends and their daughters, went to the Aquarium for the first time. We all had a great time. Amazing how three 11 month old girls could be entertained without so much as a fuss for the better part of 3 hours. We saw the Dolphin show from down below and the Belugas from above. Their eyes were so wide! I think Eme's favorite tank was the tropical fish tank. It is a little smaller and the fish are abundant and so colourful, and they swim right up close to the glass. The giant amazon fish did this also, but they are twice the size of Eme and very dark and scary looking and she did not like this at all.

This is Eme and Sydney being mesmerized by the Belugas, this was after the show and the belugas were doing laps, so they swam by over and over again. The girls loved it.

Tove is in the mix here too, plus Jana's head on the side.

And here is Eme at the dolphins. These guys were so fun to watch under water because they come shooting down after they leap and scoot around so fast gaining momentum for their next trick. Awesome.

Can't wait until next time.

This weekend we are having Phil's side of the family over for a gathering. There will be 14 people sleeping in our house on Saturday night as far as I am counting. Phew! If should be fun though. I will keep you posted after the event!

a pretty big nut, but....

We are back from the wedding on Powell River, up the Sunshine Coast. It is definately a mill town, but is actually quite beautiful in its surroindings. Lots of clear water looking over Texada, and Savary Islands to name a few. It was absolutely scorching hot all of the days we were there, and as we had reserved at the "Old Courthouse Inn" there was no air conditioning - only a fan to blow the warm air around. Never the less we had a great time.


We arrived Friday around 2, in time to check in and unpack a bit, wipe down and re dress for the rehearsal dinner at 4. The ceremony and rehersal and rehersal dinner were held at Sarah's (the bride) Mom's house. Marnia and Ed's place is in Malaspina and is perched over the water with a magnificent view and lush gorgeous gardens where the ceremnony was held. Here is the crew waiting for Sarah to come down - more photos to come later.....


After much precision and practice about 20 of us headed down the steep stairs to the water and swam and drank and had an amazing dinner put on for us. We were very lucky to be a part of that. Eme really enjoyed the water with her Dad, it was suprisingly warm and delightful. And of course Eme was a dream, no fussing, lots of laughs and good eating. Such a good girl.

Saturday was the wedding and because Phil was in the wedding party he was gone most of the day. We managed to sneak in a nice breakfast as a family (Eme was up nice and early both days - 6 ish with the sun) What a great treat to start the day. We had a breakfast wrap and coffee at a cute little cafe called River City and managed to run into the bride and her mom who had already been at the hall and were getting muffins for the masses back at the house, and it was only 8 o'clock. Yikes - oh happy wedding days.

Phil headed off with the boys at 10 ish and I managed to get a quick last minute shop in while Eme was napping and before Phil left (amazing what you can do when you are up at the crack of dawn). And for those of you who care I did get a new bathing suit to relpace my old black sturdy racer and this one is colourful and pretty! Who knew PR would be the place to get a new suit.

Now for the pictures.... below is Eme playing on the slide at the park while we were passing a little time before getting ready for the ceremony. She had a blast on the playground, sliding, swinging and of course eating dirt. What a face!


Here she is getting aquainted with the finer things in my toiletry bag, plus the TV remote to boot.

I have shots of the wedding on a disc that I will show soon.

We headed home first thing on Sunday as we didn't make a reservation initially and when we tried on Friday there were none to be had so... we were on the 9:30 from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay and then headed down the coast to Langdale for the 12:50. Unfortunatley the River City was closed on Sundays (go figure... I guess everyone stays home on a Sunday in PR) so we hit up the A&W with the local seniors and a few mill workers and had a bacon and egger and some of the worst coffee ever. We counter acted this with a pit stop at Wheatberries in Sechelt for a real cuppa and a muffin, hmmm hmmm good.

We hit the ferry terminal by 11:50 so headed up for a quick hello to Gram who is but a short 5 minutes from the terminal - nice to say hello, see John and Jenn and Mitchell and Cassidy, plus more and sneak a little cottage cheese and fruit for Eme.

We high tailed it back to the terminal and just made it on, PHEW! Home by 3 ish and in the pool by 3:30 - a perfect end to a hot day. Mom and Anna were here to greet us and then we had a great prawn salad for sups. AHHH

So in a nut shell that was the weekend.... a pretty big nut, but....more to come...later