Dear Baby Girl

Dear Baby Girl,

It has practically been a decade (at least in baby years) since I wrote an update on you. You have turned into a bigger than life little kid, full of all the spark, wonder, joy (and defiance) that comes along with this whole two year old territory.

Right now, you are obsessed with all things Disney Princess, Minnie Mouse and baby dolls. And I love it. You are my girly girl… you are only this little once and I think its so great that you have fully embraced the magical world of princesses and fairies.

But you are also the kid that loves getting dirty in the barn. Miss T, you name your favourite calves (current buddies include "Mighty Mouse", "Minnie", and "Cutie Pie") and count down the minutes until it is calf feeding time. You are followed throughout the barn by your entourage of kitties and your faithful companion, Angus.

You really dislike the cold (which is unfortunate, since we are in the depths of the Canadian winter). I have to bundle you up for the barn in about a billion layers. Which is ironic, since you are a bit of a nudist lately. Getting you dressed is like wrestling an orang-utan.

Miss T, you amaze me every day with your comprehension of the world around you. You are teaching me patience, and to embrace every moment.

Love ya little one.
xoxo Mama

The 52 Project: A recap

2013 has come to an end and we are right into the hustle and bustle of a brand new year. I'm savouring the feeling of endless possibilities and fresh starts that a new year offers.

Our little family has a lot of things to look forward to in 2014.

But before I dive head long into ambitious projects (that I realistically won't finish) or tackle anything new and exciting I thought I would take a look back at some of my favourite portraits (and moments) from 2013.

 

Springtime. Finally warm enough to play outside. 

This face. Will forever and ever melt my heart. 

Easter. So many reasons to love this picture but the hat has a lot to do with it. (My Dad will forever live on in the music of Van Morrison. 

My little monkey at the zoo in the summer. 

Fall. This kid was made to play in dirt and care for animals. 

And while this project was an amazing way to document my baby's second year (and a great opportunity to check out some really cool blogs), I don't think I realistically could commit to another year of it (I didn't even fully commit this year!). So instead, I think I may join one of my favourite blogs and do 12 portraits throughout 2014.

52/52. (And some holiday magic)

I fell pretty hard off the blogging bandwagon the last month or so. I blame the holidays. And life in general. And a general lack of motivation/energy these days.

But here it is. 2014. New year. Fresh start. All that jazz.

While I didn't quite keep up with all 52 weeks of the 52 project, I really loved the idea of it and wanted to finish it up with one last portrait.

This kid was full of Christmas spirit.

Here are a few more images from over the holiday season. T is just starting to pick up on the magic of the holiday season... it was pretty awesome. 

Never to old to play with Disney princesses. (Daddy and Auntie Roo are patient playmates.)

This dog. In a winter wonderland. He has become the most faithful, loving companion. 

Family fun in the snow with her beloved Uncle B (my little brother). 

Cookies with GeeGee. One sprinkle at a time. 

Carefully sharing her treasures. 

An impromptu dance party was probably one of my favourite memories from Christmas. She spun and twirled with each of us, but reserved her best moves for her Uncle B.

I have lots to catch up on. Updates to give. Pictures to share. 

Until then.... Cheers 2013. Can't wait to see what 2014 has in store for us. 

Two

Happy 2nd Birthday to my sweet T! 

It's been two years of love, laughter and learning. 

Time flies when your having fun!

Love you baby girl

Xoxo Mama 

42/52

I know this is not technically a 'portrait' but, to me, those tiny hands portray a thousand things. 

Fearless, animal loving, caring, sweet (and sometimes stubborn) hands. 

That have so much left of the world to explore. 

41/52

Scenes from an amazing Thanksgiving weekend. Dinner with family. A trip to a local county fair to watch her uncle judge the dairy show (she was mesmerized). Gorgeous weather. And this little face.

I really do have a lot to be thankful for. 

Linking up with Jodi. 

39/52

This girl is a total daddy's girl.

So it pretty much made her day when we made a quick pit stop to say hi to him in the tractor (where the vast majority of his days have been spent lately.) 

I'm pretty sure it made his day too. 

38/52

While I was stuck in the vortex that is work, I missed a few weeks of this project.

But here is the little miss, in all the late afternoon indian summer glory, going for one last slide after chores. 

And as work dies down, I can't wait to fully embrace this project again. 

33/52

This. This is my kid. 

Messy hair. Dirty coveralls. And squeezing that (very tolerant) kitty with every ounce of love she possesses. 

Ps. And just because this picture cracks me up...

32/52

So much wonder and awe on a trip to the zoo on the weekend. 

This kid and her animals... 

Linking up with Jodi. 

31/52

Super (duper) late to this party. 

This week was her GeeGee's birthday. A milestone birthday. 

GeeGee is 60. 

We had a wonderful time celebrating the vibrant, loving woman that is my mom.

T celebrated by wearing her best party dress and spending every minute she could with her. 

Happy Birthday GeeGee! 

those mama wars.

Today, I have officially been a working mama for 3 months. I'm half way through a 6 month contract and I have to say... I'm kinda loving it.

I thought I would feel guilty, dropping T at daycare everyday, skipping off to work and leaving someone else to "raise" my daughter. I though I would feel sad, missing out on all the everyday little milestones that we had experienced when I was home all the time.

But I don't.

(Well, maybe a teeny bit, sometimes.)

Sometimes, as mothers, I feel like we get all caught up in the "mommy wars." You know, the war that has spawned such battles as formula feeding vs. breast feeding, cloth vs. disposable diapers, working vs. stay at home mom. These battles leave us feeling inadequate in one respect or another depending on our choice. They make you question every move you make since the moment your newborn is placed in your arms, and, in my opinion, take a little bit of the joy out of motherhood. All of this guilt and judgement comes from those women that are meant to be our allies in this whole wild journey of parenting.

Honestly, I don't have an opinion one way or another on how someone else should raise their baby. As parents, we have an obligation and a responsibility to do our absolute best every second of every day for our kids (and if that means feeding them a bottle of formula, go for it.) Some days my laundry is done, my house is tidy, there is something delicious simmering in the crock pot while I am at work and my kid and I laugh, giggle and enjoy every second we get together.

And other days.. well, the house is an absolute disaster, my kid freaks out at every. little. thing. and we have cereal for dinner.

This post is a little disjointed, a little rambly (and a whole lot soap box-y).

I am so thankful I got 17 months at home with my beautiful girl, to soak up every second of baby goodness I could. I realize how lucky I am to live in a country where an entire year of maternity leave is available.

But I am really enjoying being back at work. Making my own money. And using a different part of my brain.

And it makes every second I get with T that much sweeter.

30/52

Cutest little monkey. 

Linking up with Jodi. 

29/52

Pure delight.

This weekend was just perfect. Good friends, great food, gorgeous weather, and a happy toddler. 

Linking up with Jodi. 

A Letter to Baby Girl

Dear T,

Somehow time seems to be slipping away from me these days and these updates don't get done nearly as often as they should. You are changing daily, soaking up the world around you and putting your mark on it. And what a mark it is! You, my baby girl, are a bit of a diva.

By the numbers, you are right around 24 lbs and 32ish" tall at 19 months old. Your eye teeth are making an appearance and they. are. miserable. (Well, they are making you pretty miserable.) You are on the move constantly and run around, stomping your feet and swinging your little arms with such authority and determination. No matter where you are going, or where you are going, you are getting there in a hurry. Lately, you have to do everything yourself, like getting yourself dressed or putting your own shoes on. Usually this ends (20 minutes after we start) in you getting mad at me for trying to help you and then giving in when you realize you don't quite have the dexterity yet to do it. But I love that you try. That you keep going with that strong will of yours, determined to master those velcro strapped sandals.

Ahhh Princess Thunderhooves, you certainly keep me on my toes!

I think we have gone through that whole verbal explosion thing I hear happens. You chat away (sometimes you make sense, sometimes you don't.) And you repeat everything we say (including "Oh, shit!"... Whoops.) You have started putting a few words together and your favourite sentence is "Shut the door!"

Lately, you are OBSESSED with Mickey Mouse Clubhouse. I bought the DVD on a whim and we have since watched each and every episode on it 4 TIMES. (I find myself singing "hot dog hot dog hot diggity dog" to myself at work...) You call it your "toodles" (Anyone who has had the privilege of watching an episode will understand those references.) and I have been putting an episode on for you before bed. Its your wind down/snuggly time and I love it. After hectic days running from one place to the next, living by the clock, rushing to get as much done in as little time as possible, I really cherish this time we take to just be.

Other favourites lately include: cheese, helping me garden, feeding the dogs and the calves, tractor rides with Daddy, and bath time.

You aren't really into: taking any form of medicine (a recent throat infection and those miserable teeth have resulted in lots of medicine lately), the heat (its about a billion degrees here with the humidex) and bed time. (You have serious FOMO, my girl.)

I feel like I could go on and on. Every minute of every day you surprise me with your antics and your comprehension of the world around you. This age is amazing. (Despite the toddler 'tude.)

Love you baby girl. Thank you for making every day so much brighter,

xoxo
Mama

28/52

Quietly taking it all in at the splash pad over the weekend.

She may be a sassy pants at home, but she is a pretty reserved kid in a new setting. 

Last week, my favourites were over at alight. Beautiful lighting of a sweet girl, snuggles and curls. 

Linking up with Jodi. 

27/52

This may be an iPhone photo, but I can't get over how much love and adoration my baby girl has for her four-legged friends. 

Babies snuggling babies are the best. 

Linking up with Jodi.

Ps. This space has been pretty dead. I apologize. I have a few posts I wanna write, more pictures to take, memories to capture. But I also have cows to milk, work to do, a toddler to play with, and memories to make. 

(Oh, and sleeping fits somewhere in there too. I cherish every. Single. Hour.) 

26/52

Canada Day Weekend was spent poolside. It was perfect. 

Love this little fishy. 

Linking up with Jodi. 

Those days...

Those days when your kid has had a fever for 5 days and you feel like the worlds worst mom when you finally take her to the doctor and they tell you its tonsillitis.

Those days when you come in from afternoon milking and your kid wont. stop. crying. For an entire hour. And won't eat. And just wants to be held. But doesn't want to be held. And then continues to cry until she finally crashes in her crib.

Those days when you feel like crying right along with her.

One day, those days will be just a blur of memories that make up T's toddlerhood and my first few years as a mom.



Until then, I'll take up drinking.



(Kidding. Kind of.)

25/52

"A portrait of my child, once a week, every week, in 2013."

Because sometimes an iPhone photo is all you need to capture the moment. Poor sleepy, sick baby. The flu sucks.

Linking up with Jodi.