My Sweetness is a Toddler

Such big changes since last summer when we were up at the cottage for 4 months.  Walking makes a big difference especially the days when I don't have to carry Lily up the dunes.  Now, I know what many of you are thinking....Lily weighs next to nothing.  Well, it is all what you are used to I guess.  When my back is bad she feels like 50 lbs.  But we were on the scale and she is still small and mighty at 22lbs at 22 months.

Here is a picture of Lily at the beach on the July long weekend. 

Busy filling buckets up with sand, splashing in the water, lounging under the umbrella and of course eating her favorite of watermelon, apples and soon, peaches!

Lily just loves her dog Char Char and often hugging and trying to sit on her.  Char will not let her do that for long but sure doesn't mind when she just cuddles.

Well, we are off to a summer sports camp as a guest of my sister.  She has been coaching vollyball there for over 20 years.  Her boys are working this summer so Lily and I get to go instead.  Really looking forward to that.  Then we will head to the cottage to host the families who travelled with us to Vietnam.  Our second time at the cottage and again, this year will be so different now that everyone is walking, running and talking.

Mauwapeas and Gank-Quoo

Wa-Bish
Muse-Peas
Peeeeees
Mauwapeas   

Yup all of these words mean just one thing ...MORE PLEASE  !

Mine Mine Mine Mine Mine MINE MINE MINE!!!!!!

OK Lily we get it ....it's yours.  She says this word long before anyone tries to take it away from her.  A small child approaches our house.  At ten feet away Lily is screaming at this happy go lucky child "mine".  There is very little reasoning at this age.  I mean it is hers but the idea of sharing is not comeing anytime soon. 

Today we had a bit of a break through at a friends house enjoying her glorious swimming pool.  Lily actually had to wait to go down the slide and into the water.  "Lily's Turn", "Patrick's Turn"  and so on.  I think a light bulb went off and I was ever so grateful to Patrick for wanting to go down the slide too.

We are off to a busy summer with cottage time and friends time.  Boy, I sure am missing my parental leave from last summer.  What a difference a year makes.  Vacation days are not so many as I did have to use up a few when I ran out of sick days by end of Feb.  I am thinking of my teacher friends right now.  They sure have it right.

Lily is growing like a weed.  Eating like a horse and I swear talking her own language with a real Vietnamese tone.  It is just too funny.  Lily is NOT talking up a storm but she sure does understand pretty much everything I say to her.  I ask her to put things here and there and bring to me and she has solid comprehension.  Here are some just some of words she is saying over and above the few above:

• doggie
• kieee kat & a solid "meow"
• up peas, down, up
• uppies UPPIES MAMMA!
• Pooh poohs
• Char Char (her dog)
• horseee
• apple, nanna, owang, popicle
• cwacker, cheese, pashta
• car, quack, duck, and all the other farm animals
• funny her first word was backpack backpack (from Dora)
• ouchie
• purple
• fouwer (and she smells the flowers too)
• tree, ball
• whader (for Georgian Bay)
• wa wa (for her cup)
• No (that is a given)
• Bea (her lovey)
• Big Bea (her night time blanket)
• quirrel, quool, (squirrel and school)
• shoes
• My favorite word she started say a couple weeks ago - "Happy"

Hope you are having a great summer and stopping to smell the purple "fouwers" on along the way.

Tra La La La La

Wherefore Art Thou - Cookies

Life is moving faster than I imagined.  Lily is moving faster than I can catch her.

Back on Track

Our trip to Calgary was full of love and fun and family.  Although we did not visit family per say...my Calgary family just feels that way to me and they embraced Lily as family.  My two godsons were amazing with Lily and just doted on her, protected her and spent much time making her laugh.  She loved them but in competition for her attention was the two "kiey cahts", Tigheer and Peebpars (tiger and peepers).

Lily on her new phone ...wonder what she is talking about?

More photos to follow but for now it is "night nights"

From Rain to Sunshine

Yes, I am happy to be travelling with Lily today.  We are off to Calgary to visit good friends and also a day of work for me in our Calgary office.  I hear there is lots of sunshine there and it will last throughout our trip.  I am long overdue for some sunshine and I am hoping that is what will finally kick this nasty virus in the ass and leave my system. 

My good friend will be staying in the house to take care of the other baby.  You know the one.  The big hairy, demanding and needy one.  So it will also be a nice break from the demands of the Char Char.

Some sweet photos of last summer (I am dreaming of this summer to come). 

Lily and her "brothers" Cedric and Harper. 

 Lily at the Beach at C.I. 

Mother's Day Love

I had such a memorable Mother's Day with Lily.  It was the best I could ever hope for with lots of cuddles, kisses and big smiles all day. 

Lily woke up Saturday late from sleep with a big fever so I popped her into my bed so I could be close and worked to get the fever down so we both could go back to sleep.  We both woke up at 9:25am.  I couldn't believe it and we missed our gymnastics class .  Lily was feeling much better so we went to a brunch at Auntie A' house where Lily was able to play with Jack and Sam.  We spent most of the day with them minus a nap back home.

Lily was very clingy to me all day and into the evening.  Holding her in my arms I had this great sense of calm and thought I couldn't have asked for anything better this day than the affection Lily was showing me at that moment.  It truly was heaven! 

Here are a couple pics from the weekend  at my sister's house where we celebrated her parents-in-laws 60th wedding anniversary and as well some lovely moments on Mother's Day.

A Glorious Afternoon Nap for Lily

Mama's Cuddle time with Lily