Yogurt Bath

Easter Eggs and Family Too

Happy Easter Weekend Everyone!

Playing at the Farm with lots of room to Run



Auntie ME has a special basket for Lily.

 Although I was a little upset about not getting to Calgary this weekend, we did try to make the best of a weekend that promised rain.  I love when Mother Nature does not keep her promises because both Saturday (later) and Sunday were lovely days with a shining sun.  Gosh it felt good to have the warmth on our faces.

After spending time with Erik's family at his parents farm we packed up the car one more time and headed to the country north/east of Barrie to Auntie ME's house.  We got there just in time to join in with the family for a breakfast of crepes, hot cross buns and lots of chocolate!

All the Fixings for our Crepes



I see you.



Lily quickly got into the spirit of finding eggs.

A Basket full of Eggs with Surprises Inside

With my cousin Alex

Farm Visit Today

 Today we had a fun filled and a sunfilled afternoon on the farm.  So very happy the sun came up today.  I cursed the morning when I woke up to hear rain coming down.  Not fun to walk the dog and baby when it is raining out.  A little bit later though when it stopped raining my girlfriend came over with her toddler and we took the girls and the dog down the rail path.  Lots of fun and cute video of the girls holding hands together and walking.

Lily slept all the way to the farm which gave me a much needed hour of relaxation with coffee and paper (yup I finally opened up a paper and actually read some of it).  Once at the farm the sun was shining and the temperature was perfect.  Lily ran and ran all over the farm and was so happy to explore.  Here a a few shots of the day.

This is not Charlotte but Lady.  Lady loved Lily's purse and decided it was hers.  Lily got a good giggle out of it and chased Lady around until I had to pull open the jaw and extract the purse.

Lily loves to run.  I will say "One, two, three...GO" and off she is running with or without me.  Now I say, "On your marks, get set, GO" and Lily starts with her hands on the ground to get ready and then off she runs.  When I think about being a kid, running was the best thing ever.

We had such a lovely time and celebrated with an Easter lunch and an egg hunt.  We are looking forward to heading to my sister's place tomorrow for breakfast and a hike in the back woods.

Toddlers = Adapting to Change

And that is our life right now.  We were to get on a plane to travel to see my godson but the day before I got a call from daycare saying that Lily has a rash all over her belly and it looks like pimples.  "Don't rush" they say to pick her up as she is doing fine.  So I get my work done and leave a bit early to pick her up and take her to the Walk In clinic in close to home.  It was a first time visit to this doctor.  We finally get in and he is really nice and engages with Lily.  He takes a look at her rash and says, "it is chicken pox".  I question his diagnosis asking if he is certain as the spots have disappeared and there is not as many as the morning.  He as adamant that she had chicken pox.  OH NO, I am thinking that I will have to cancel my flight to Calgary.  I thought I would wait and talk to the family first and see how they are with a baby in their home with the pox.  But it is not just that.  Do I really want to travel with a baby with the pox and uncertain how she will be?  She could be very unwell and not in the comforts of her own home.  I  just can't do that to her.  So, I get on-line and move my trip to the May long weekend.  Of course my godson is devastated as he was so happy and was really looking forward to our visit, especially to see Lily that he shared it with his class at school and with friends in the neighbourhood.  I feel terrible about this.  The only good news is that in May I will be there for his birthday and that will be very special.

We will get in to see Lily's doctor just to confirm the diagnosis.  I have a weird feeling she does not have the chicken pox.  We shall see. 

Happy Easter Everyone!!

Visions of Vietnam Dancing in My Head

A family I have met through adoption is currently in Vietnam adopting a baby sister for their already two boys (the youngest adopted from Vietnam). The Daddy stayed behind with the two boys and the Mama (brave mama), went over to Vietnam on her own to meet and bring baby T home with her. Her daughter is just so beautiful and from the same orphanage as Lily.

Reading her blog and hearing her journey brings back so many wonderful memories. Even the shopping in the Tax Centre, coffee at the Highland Cafe and just taking in all the sights in HCMC gives me a warmth and a wanting to go back. Maybe for a sibling for Lily or maybe just to take Lily back to see the country where she was born. Not sure what it is, but I am feeling very maternal, even beyond being Lily's mother. Gosh, must be the recent fever speaking !!

A wish of a wonderful trip with special memories of meeting and bring home baby T to S and family. Safe travels!

Green Gook = No Daycare

Ok, there is really hardly any green gook coming out of Lily's eyes but her doctor seems to think even the very small amount in the one eye means another 48 hours out of daycare. It is just a circus act at our place right now. I am sick, Lily is sick but very playful (which means no rest for me) and even the dog has runny eyes. I see my doctor tomorrow as my throat is still raw, and my glands are protruding out the side of my neck. Not pretty. So, Lily is back on the puffer for her raspy cough and I have to administer eye drops twice a day. If anyone has some good advice as to how to do this without having to pin her down and have her screaming at the top of her lungs....please pass it forward. It is early to bed for all of us. Even the dog put herself to bed by 8:00pm.

Guess What?

We are sick again! Well, it all started with me. Saturday morning Lily and I drove up to Auntie's ski hill to spend the day with family. It was just a glorious day with sun shining. The famous puddle jump took place and we had great seats to watch the event. Lily was so incredibly happy running around in the snow, meeting lots of new faces and I think just being out in a big space with the sun shining would be enough to make anyone happy. We went back to their chalet for dinner as of course like it always happens for me, after dinner I felt a little off so I decided to pack it in and get us home before I got worse and couldn't drive. The drive was uneventful but I was so thankful to be back home. With all of our stuff in the car I took Lily in to bed and I followed. Morning came and I took Lily to her gymnastics (what was I thinking?)...and by the time we got home I new I didn't have much left in me. Thank goodness "E" showed up and was able to lend a hand. It all went downhill for me and to bed I went for about 24 hours. The worst for me is the high fever as I am just useless with that plus all the other ailments going on. I noticed last night Lily was coughing a lot, well more than usual as she has been coughing for the last few weeks but last night seemed worse. By morning I my fever broke and I was able to get out of bed and get her ready for daycare. By end of day I was told not to bring her back for at least 24 hours and you need to have a doctor's note. Man!!! That puts a wrench into it. So as I am getting better my butter cup is having green goo coming out of her eyes and a cough that won't stop. On top of it she has a new tooth coming in. Peaks and valleys, peaks and valleys. Both offer something beautiful!

Happy 18 Months Lily

Wow - you certainly are a toddler and here is how I know this:

• you feed yourself with a spoon and sometimes a fork (on occasion your hands)


• you never let me help you eat


• you talk on your play phone and look like mommy


• you sign "more", say "more" and then scream for "more"


• you want to walk rather than sit in your stroller


• you really kiss me when I ask for one


• your eyes light up when we look at your shoes


• you prefer to drink from a grown-up cup


• you have 14 teeth and I see two more coming in


• you hug all your teddy bears


• you can sit at the table with the adults


• you want to read all your books in 10 min.


• you pet Charlotte "gently"


• you are moving from infants to the toddler room today

Oh Lily - I am so happy and you are the reason for that. I love our family that we have created. Happy Birthday to you on your 18 months - which is such a milestone.

Love Mommy xoxo

P.S. please don't grow up too fast