A Toddler Christmas.....

This year felt like Mia's first Christmas....last year she was only a month old so she just layed there.  What a difference a year makes.  She was a little woman on a war path.  I had to re-wrap several presents before Christmas that she got in to just for fun.  She pulled decorations off the tree causing much stress for me who likes a nice evenly decorated tree.

Because she is only 1 she doesn't get the excitement yet, really she would open any present regardless of what was in it.  So I wrapped up new socks, a new sippy cup, spoons etc. a few things she needed anyway but I made them Christmas presents.  I told our families to please not spoil her, she didn't need any more toys right now, bigger size clothes would be great.

We got her 2 gifts that we toys - both I may regret.  First Mega Blocks.  I thought this would be great fun for her....and for me :) It WAS a great idea until I stepped on them numerous times and until Mia just takes the bag and dumps them everywhere and I get to pick them up.  Sidenote: I need tips on how to start teaching her to pick up her own toys!



Second we got her the Beginner Band Set - complete with a tamborine, shakers, triangle and symbols - cute idea until she walks around for an hour banging the symbols.  We will have to hide those for special occasions only.

Forgiveness part 2

This is the rest of the story I told a couple weeks ago.....Nov. 26 Eric was released from prison.  Someday I will write Matthew West a letter and tell him what this song has done for me......

What was Barbara thinking?

Barbara Walters had name Honey Boo Boo one of the most fascinating people for 2012 as part of her annual end of the year tv special.  I think Barbara needs to look up the definition of fascinating again and re-think this decision.  I think there is a difference between watching a train wreck and something that is fascinating.  It's clearly about ratings.  Watching someone as serious as Barbara Walters trying to interview Honey Boo Boo and her mom......now that could be fascinating.

First trip to the ER

Saturday night we had our first trip to the ER with Mia.  The poor little thing just can't fight her cold and her temp went to 104.5.  Her bronchitis has returned, or never really went away, and to put a cherry on top she has a double ear infection.  Seeing your little one sick is one of the worst feelings in the world but it makes them really cuddly and as she gets bigger that doesn't happen as often so i'll take it while I can.

Can you forgive?

Matthew West's new song "Forgiveness" doesn't just speak to me, it's yelling at me.  It's not easy to forgive someone especially if you have been hurt deeply.  It's a choice we make and sometimes it feels easier to sit and stew in your anger then actually bring yourself to let go and forgive the person.

What I have learned is that it takes a lot of work and energy to be mad at someone.  It can literally age a person before your eyes as they are being eaten up inside with the pain.  Everyone has to come to a time of forgiveness on their own or it's not genuine.

So if this is you, and you need to forgive someone, write down all your hurt, all the emotions you feel from the hurt and then pray it out.  Pray out every emotion, say the words and ask God to release you.  It may be short and sweet or you may be praying for an hour as you get it all out, but do it, get it ALL out.  One of the lines in West's song is "So, let it go and be amazed by what you see through eyes of grace, the prisoner that it really frees is you".  Once we choose to set ourselves free from this pain, the weight, the hurt is taken off our shoulders and you can live again.  God forgives us with just one prayer, shouldn't we extend that same grace to those who have done wrong to us.

Matthew 6:12

Good News Translation (GNT)

¹² Forgive us the wrongs we have done,
    as we forgive the wrongs that others have done to us.

The song from Matthew West helped me open my heart to forgive and it's amazing what God can do when we open our heart and allow him to do a work in our life.  Forgiveness is the first step, it's what we do next that can change everything.  Here is the story behind the song "Forgiveness"

It's been awhile......

Well I'm back.  I kind of ignored my blog while I was home on maternity leave.  I was immersed in babyland and I didn't want every post to be about diapers and spit-up.  The year went crazy fast as everyone told me it would.  When you start you think a year is so far away, then 6 months go by and you think, ok I still have another 6 months, then before you know it you are counting down weeks then days and then you're back to work.

The transition back was very easy, it felt like I never really left, or at most was just on vacation.  Mia started daycare and has done well with her new schedule too, she loves playing with other kids and she is pretty exhausted by the time I get her home so I know she must be having fun!

Christening

Mia is crawling and into everything which means less time to write but I can load a fed pictures.  We had Mia's Christening Father's Day weekend.  Her dress was hand made by my autn and I made her cake and decorated it.  The cake is a little retro but I had to start easy, hopefully by her first birthday i'll be a bit better.  Mia and I made her gift for Phil, I don't recommend trying to do hand painting with a 7 month old but Phil loved it.

Mia's first car show

I grew up around cars with a dad who was a car dealer and car fan in general.  Then of course I marry a guy who loves cars whose dad was also sold cars and car fan in general.  So going to car shows over the past couple years have become the norm.  This weekend was the biggest car show in Canada held at some rich guys house and property in London.  Hundreds of cars, cars that go in the water, the guy who designed the bat mobile and the rich guy's private museum that he built for his car collection.  The good part is he doest this car show for charity and last year raised $600,000 for multiple charities. 


Mia enjoyed some  cartoons at the hotel.

Cars for land and water, we need one in Wasaga

My in-laws took their motor home and camped for the weekend and my father-in-law had one of his cars in the show.  This was Mia's first car show of many in the future.


Mia and Nana in their matching hoodies

Mia getting ready to test drive Grandpappy's car



Happy to be home!

It's Mia's world....we just live in it

Mia is 6 months old now and new things are happening everyday.  She has learned the army crawl to get to her toys which means it's only a matter of time before things start to get crazy around here.  She has been eating rice cereal for about a month and we have started through different vegetables.  So far we have conquered sweet potato, peas  and squash.  She always has an interesting face after the first couple of bites as she evaluates this new flavor.  But then you can give it to her fast enough and thankfully she has loved them all.  I've been making everything myself with the baby bullet which is amazing! 

I had my first Mother's Day.  Mia was so tired from shopping for my gift she had to take a nap.  I got another charm for my charm bracelet that Phil bought me when Mia was born.  I have a baby carriage and a heart that says Mom now. 

My friend Rebecca and I went to our first "Stars & Strollers" at Barrie Cineplex.  I had no idea this existed until recently and if I had I would have been going for months!  It's a special matinee on Thursday's for moms who can bring their little ones to the movie.  It's all moms so you don't get judged if your kid starts crying etc.  There are 2 movies to choose from 1 of them usually being a chic flic your husband would never see with you.  It's a great idea!  Mia enjoyed her first time out with baby Landon and Rebecca and I enjoyed seeing a movie, something neither of us have done for awhile.  We saw "Lucky One" with Zac Efron.  Average movie, pretty predictable but we didn't care we were out of the house!





Mia has a few new talents.  One being her yoga pose.  And while doing her yoga she takes a few minutes to eat her toes.  It's gross and cute all at the same time. 

And after all the business of the day she is tuckered out.  And thankfully Mia likes a good night's sleep these days.  

Oh how things have changed

The other day I was driving the 400 north bound and passed the Cookstown Outlet Mall which now has a Coach outlet - for any men reading Coach is a purse brand and one that I LOVE...or used to.  There is no doubt the marriage and parenthood changes you but I wasn't ever really aware of it until now.  As a single girl I loved my purse and shoe collection.  I changed purses all the time to match my outfit and shoes which is not an easy task when you have alot of junk in your purse.  I was the most proud of my "finds" in New York City's Chinatown.  It involved some underground warehouses that now looking back was a pretty dangerous shopping activity.  My "maybe or maybe not real" Louis Vuitton and Coach bags were close enough to the real thing for me, I couldn't justify spending the big bucks at the actual stores. 

When I got married I did a small downsize.  I got rid of anything I hadn't worn or used in the past year.  I weeded out a 1/4 of stuff but still brought alot with me.  It turns out that all these years of wearing heels (in turn probably doing much damage to my feel) and trying to look cute and matchy matchy was for nothing.  I find my husband and turns out he likes the casual, less is more look.  What a relief!!!!!  I weeded out some more high heels and added in some comfy but still cute shoes and rotated between 2 purses brown or black - seemed a bit more sensible.  I think realistically we as women dress for other women.  Men aren't going to notice the brand of our purse or that we have strategically matched our purse, shoes and jewelry perfectly.  We do it so that other women will notice and compliment us in turn building up our self esteem a bit.

Well now I'm a mom.  High heels are definately out of the question.  At the end of my pregnancy i'm lucky that I could get flip flops on my feet.  I can't carry the baby and car seat trying to wear high heels, that has sprained ankle written all over it.  My lovely coach purse has been replaced with a diaper bag.  Who wants to carry a baby, diaper bag AND purse so I tried to minimize the purse "junk" and just throw my wallet and chapstick in the diaper bag. 

As I drove past the Coach outlet I remembered what used to be.  Yes things have changed quite a bit but I wouldn't change ir for anything. 

Where doe the time go?

I don't find myself blogging as much a. because i don't always have time to sit down and write and b. all I
would talk about is Mia so that may be boring for some.  But here is our little update.  Mia is 5 months old now and the time is flying by.  Every parent tells you that when your baby is born but you don't really understand it until it's happening.  When I was pregnant 5 months was the point when you start showing and the baby starts moving and it felt like it took forever to get there.  Now my little munchkin is rolling and waving and is a little person.  She is definately showing us her personality and by the looks of things she's going to be a wild one which is no surprise considering who her parents are.  Her Nana and Grandpappy Melanson brought back her "jumpy" from Floriday in February.  She could barely touch the ground when we got it but she loved to bounce.  Now she can touch the ground and reach all the toys and she bounces so much i'm convinced she's going to launch herself right out of it. 

She's a roller now and has decided that sleeping on her tummy is much more comfortable.  I wasn't sure about that at first because all the doctors say now that back is best so I tried to keep her on her side, but sleeping on her belly got her back to sleeping through the night and she's strong and smart enough now to move her head if she can't breathe.

When we had the stretch of really warm days in March it was so nice to get outside for walks and dress Mia in some summer clothes.  She definately likes not having socks on and she enjoys a good hat. 

Mia and I spent a few days at my parents where she got to play with her cousins Cole and Isaac. 

Mia and I were both sick for her first Easter.  I had her nice dress all ready but we had to stay home.  She will be wearing it to church for the next month to get some use out of it but we had a little fashion show at home. 

Mia is the joy of our lives, I can't imagine life without her.  We are having so much fun watching her grow and change, learning new things everyday.  Life has definately changed.  My conversations with my other mom friends are no longer about the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy but now revolve around what are the best diapers and teething.  I still do manage to catch episodes of Grey's though :).  She is such a happy baby all the time we are truly blessed.