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.