Remembrance Day

My heartfelt thank you to the businesses downtown... they wouldn't take dad's money at the coffee shop when he went looking for one to warm his hands after the service. The parking lady wouldn't take my money when she saw him sitting beside me. The World Exchange Plaza had a lovely table out with coffee and treats and a big sign saying "Welcome Veterans".  And the crowds were bigger then ever this year with tearful people cheering them as they marched out after the service. My love and prayers go out to the families who have lost so much.

We will remember them... we will remember them.



Two of my favorite people!  My loving and supportive parents.



I was thrilled when I learned my parents would be here for Remembrance Day and that dad would be marching.  I've headed downtown for the ceremony, by myself, for over ten years now.  Having family with me made it much nicer.

Gosh it was bright out!  It was almost painful to keep my eyes open while mom figured out the camera.



I love you dad!



I'm a jumping flower!



This is Diane and Ivy from babyclub. 
Ivy was a flower for Halloween and was kind enough to let Toria try on her petals.



Snow - Makes me think of cottaging?

With our first snow fall of the year arriving in October, I found myself thinking of our summer getaway.  Jason works hard through the summer months and finds it difficult to find time away from the office.   So once those grant applications are in... I pack him up and head out for some R & R.  In the past we've packed ourselves into a canoe and headed into the back country.  With Toria's arrival in May we needed to change things up a little.  I put out some feelers on facebook and found a cottage.  We've always wanted a cottage property to retreat to and hope to have one someday.  Our former neighbours were kind and trusting enough to allow us to rent theirs.  And so... with snow on the ground I'd like to take myself back to a stiflingly hot week on a beach cottage property on Lac Ste-Marie.

No one loves you more

 Grandma MacLaurin

 Grandpa MacLaurin

 Grandma Phillips

 Mom

Grandpa Phillips

 Dad

Grandpa Phillips

Hat and mits

Daddy shoveled snow last night!  We knew it was coming sometime soon.  The temperature told us so.

 Mom took me for a walk the other day and I got to wear mittens for the first time.  They're very soft inside but I can't crab things with them on.

So I just settled in and enjoyed the trees and the fresh air.

I'm a strawberry!

My sweet love, it's your first Halloween.  Mommy looked high and low for Kiwi costume but we had to settle another fruit.  I think it suits you well.  We have three parties for you to dress up for.  One was at the library, one will be with babyclub on Wednesday and one will be tomorrow on Halloween proper in the church nursery.

 We made an early trick or treat visit to Grandma and Grandpa MacLaurin's.  They were tickled with your costume.  Just like your father they thought a ladybug had walked through their front door until you told them you were a strawberry.

 Here you are at the library with some friends.

My sweet love, you couldn't have made for a better strawberry if you'd tried.

Dream of Sing Song

It seems so unfair that her sleeping would wake me.  How is this possible?  She was swaddled in a soft baby blue blanket that had been my brothers when he was her age.  She was brought to me for a feeding at 10.  She did not stir at midnight, at three or at five.  At six I went to her after listening for her for at least an hour and having sent her father to ensure she was breathing.  She fed without waking and slept on between us while I watched.  I've known this could happen.  My babyclub babies have been doing this for their mothers.  I've wondered if she would ever find her way to a good nights sleep. 

Sleep on my sweet love... dream of sing song.

Hiking in the Gatineau

 It's FALL!  In Ottawa that makes for one heck of a beautiful scene in Gatineau park.  With our babies finally able to hold their heads up comfortably we were excited to bundle them up and get them out.  They loved it!  and so did their moms.

The overcast day was fine by us.  We were giddy in the parking lot as we packed them into their matching carriers.  Nicole had hers from when her daughter was young.  Mine was returned to me from a good friend whom I'd given it to at a baby shower over ten years ago.  Glad to have the favor returned.  Normally Toria will sleep on our walks.  Lately she has started to keep her eyes open and seems to be taking it all in.  She gazes way up to the tree tops and down to the sounds of my feet on the path. 

What fun that my good friend Nicole and I coincidentally found ourselves pregnant two weeks apart from each other.  The outdoors are very important to both of us.  We had done some camping and travel together in our teens but lost touch.  Last year we ran into each other in the heart of Algonquin park, about two days into the back woods.  We were both canoe camping with our husbands and our dogs.  It's a small world until you get way back into the woods.  Usually that will make the world seem vast again.  But of course... there is something greater then little old "us" at play isn't there?

Orangina and my computer

The other night I was rocking Toria in the glider and getting ready to place her in her crib when I heard my husband curse... again and after a few moments... again.  He doesn't often do this.  Something must have gone wrong downstairs... but what?  I stayed put for a little while longer and then heard an odd sound.  It sounded like a fire extinguisher and so I pictured my kitchen on fire... perhaps contained in the oven?  But of course he'd have called to have us out of the house so it couldn't be.  What could it be?  When I finally made it downstairs I found him holding the laptop and spraying it with a bottle of air cleaner.  He lifted a hand that warned me he couldn't talk and likely couldn't bear to be spoken to either.  Poor guy.  So... the laptop now sits on the dining room table.  It doesn't start.  I know he backs it up occasionally... so I'm not to worried about content.  Even if he didn't I'm not to worried.  All our photos since Toria's arrival are still on the camera.

I have this old clunker of a laptop... the only thing I'm missing is the ability to put photos up easily.  Skype is a little slow and fuzzy but really... I'm fine.  Sniff sniff.

TV Debut and thoughts about Babyclub.

What fun!  Nicole, Jodie and I had tickets to the baby show this morning on A channel.  Nicole picked Toria and I up at 6am and we met Jodie there.  We were all pretty excited at the prospect of winning a fabulous prize or just having our precious dolls... I mean babies on television.  Jodie, our ever planner, thought to bring a camera.  I wish I'd managed to keep my eyes open for it... but it's a good picture none the less.

My babyclub women are becoming more and more important to me.  We see each other weekly and are sharing a rather intimate experience together as we discuss our lives as new mothers.  I've heard it said that people tend to finally show you who they really are about two months into a relationship...  let their guard down so to speak.  Babyclub has been going for a little over four months now and I'd have to say... it's a beautiful thing.  Five women, now six, all sleep deprived, bonding over a shared experience.  What's even more beautiful, is that we're not six, we're 12.  And while my babyclub women are becoming more and more important to me, so are their babies.  A little motherese, a gentle rub of the back, sometimes a little cuddle time... and to see Toria affecting them the same way... as I said earlier, it's a beautiful thing.

We had a fun morning together on the set followed by breakfast at Dunns.  I won a diaper/rubber ducky gift basket and Nicole won a gift certificate to a toy store.  Jodie's little man Hayden got a prime spot in the show as the host used him to demo a Hooter Hider (as we call them in babyclub).  I'm thankful Jodie heard about the show and we managed to get seats.  But more then that... I'm just thankful.

First Swim

We were glad to learn we could drive and park our stroller right beside the pool.  That made for fewer steps on the slippery deck.

Mom forgot the camera so she handed Grandma Judy her new cell phone and hoped for the best with the pictures.  We're both pretty happy with the quality.

This is us with our instructor.  Mom says he has a great job because he gets to play with all the babies.

I really enjoyed the water.  It was nice and warm.

When we arrive for class mom recognised Tracy and Holly from church.  I was pretty happy to find a church pal in my swim class.  Holly is two months older then I am.

Mom was very cuddly all class.  I think she was nervous for me or something.

Our instructor wanted us to get used to floating in a life jacket.  I let mom put it on me but...

I asked her take it off me pretty quick. 

Holly seemed to do a better job with the life jacket.

We all walked over to the whale pool but when we got there we found it was really cold.  So we quickly got back in the other one.

This is Holly and her mom Tracy.

After class mom wrapped me up pretty quick.  She didn't want me to catch a cold.

This is my Grandma Judy who was nice enough to come to my first class to help mom get acquainted with the pool routine and take some pictures of my first time swimming.  Thanks Grandma.

After finally getting these photos off the camera my mom is planning to get a new bathing suit.  She made some funny sounds when she realised how poorly her bathing suit covered her... well her... chest.  She and daddy were laughing while she tried to pick pictures she could post here without the post being x-rated.