Lazy, hazy days of Summer.

My few moments in front of a computer allows for a quick blog entry.

Still living the simple life at the cottage. We have had Auntie and Oma up for the past couple weeks to dote on Lily (and give Lily's Mama a much needed break).

We have more teeth coming in so Lily gets very grizzly feeling the pain the poor thing. She has n fear and will crawl across the sand to get to the water quickly. She will put sticks, bugs, sand, rocks and anything else that is in her path, in her mouth. I am glued to her to monitor all the stuff and get it away as fast as I can. It is a large beach so we are all on the watch.

Back home next week for a few days. Shots for Lily and shots for Charlotte. As my kitchen is once again torn apart right to the studs, I will be living at Auntie's house for the few days.

No bats lately but the mozzies love Lily and she sports a handful of bites no matter what I do to protect her. Please send any home remedies you might have.

Well must run. More next week.

New Photos from the Cottage

To the beach we go.

Sleeping through the hot summer heatwave.

The Princess on the cottage deck daybed. A great place to nap unless you are Lily.

Heat is on and hair is up or at least pushed back.

Figuring out how to climb the stairs.

On the move and crawling everywhere.

The Simple Life

Summer at the cottage is such a magical time and I am so grateful that I can spend most of it up here with Lily. Happy that our first summer together is up here enjoying a very simple life.

Yes, we have a few toys and a jolly jumper, an excer-saucer... but most of all Miss Lily loves the beach. She will sit in the sand sticking toes and fingers into the fine jewels and then look closely to see all aspects of it. Sure, she has had a few samplings and seems to like it but I have told her once she gets more teeth it won't be nearly as appealing.

The past week has been so hot. I love it like that up here as you can get away under an umbrella or cool off in the water. The trees around our cottage offer the needed shade during the hot noon hour.

Lily is now crawling everywhere. She has so much more room at the cottage and she gets a good workout crawling all the way to the kitchen when she misses her Mamma. Lily has 5 teeth now with her 6th trying hard to poke through. Boy I cant wait till it pokes through as night time can get a little challenging.

I am able to have some time up here with no visitors. It is usually only for a couple days but it is time that I use to hang out with other cottagers and their kids. We also spend more time on our daybed wrapped in a mosquito net reading some of her favorite books. Dora seems to be the front runner right now.

I am in the city for a day next week so I will upload a few photos of the past month. You will really see how Lily has grown but she has not grown out of that big smile of hers that melts my heart all through the day.

On the Island.....anyone out there?

We have been at the cottage now for almost a week but why does it seem so much longer?

Both Lily and I have fallen sick these past few days. It has been so trying to take care of her while I am with fever and my body aches. The good news is that Charlotte has been so patient with me and not demanding. We have skipped a few walks on the beach in favour of time spent in bed (all three of us).

The wet weather has changed to a beautiful sunny day today and the arrival of a good friend has increased my spirits tremendously. She is motivated by baby Lily cuddles.

I like to think I am a really good mom but when I am sick I second guess that thought. I am happy that there is always a light somewhere out there and it is only a matter of time that things start to turn for the better.

Now that we are both on the upside of illness we are looking forward to a great weekend and some time in the blow-up pool (well I will be on the outside of it).

On The Move

Lily is fascinated with dogs, big and small. She spent a few hours with a friends dog, Bella and it was love at first site. I have to be careful because now when Lily is with any dog she sticks her tongue out to greet them.

Lily loves the water and my kind neighbours next door to me bought her a blow-up pool that we use on the front lawn (Charlotte owns the backyard). So on those really hot days that is how she cools off.

Growing way too fast for my liking. The last 10 days brought two new top teeth, a solid crawl which has me watching her closely and just today she started to clap her hands palm to palm. And of course she has her first cold, caught from others at a play date.

Lily and I visited neighbours that I knew well when I lived on the east side of Yonge. There, Lily found the guitar and started to play. In the picture she looks like a sweaty musician.

Her first swing at the park was so much fun. She loved it!

Lily has managed to locate quickly and crawl to the dog trough. Her first visit she figured out how to take the dog bowl out. The next day she seemed pretty proud of herself that she was able to get to the bowl while it was full of food and while Charlotte was eating it.

So we are off to the cottage and while away the kitchen reno will continue. I am looking forward to the days ahead with the Mouse. Life has been too hectic in Toronto and I really want to slow things down a bit. I can't think of a better place to be.

Back Home to a Nice Rhythm

Time at the Cottage for Lily:

I can't believe I am saying this but....I am happy to be back from the cottage. I had an amazing week up there with soaring temperatures and the opportunity to get Lily in the water to kick and splash (yes it was warm enough). My friend joined us for the last few days with her 10 mths old and 2.5 yrs old. It was chaos! But a fun chaos with lots of laughs, walks to the beach and cocktails at five. The biggest comedy was all of us coming home in one car. The two babies and the toddler in the back (all in their car seats) and me in the passenger seat with Charlotte on my lap. Thankfully she was soooooo tired that she took to the floor at my feat. Thanks Andrea for all the fun and for the Impy...the big Impala that got us home safely.

I have photos of proof that we were in the water but alas, my memory card reader is not working so waiting is the game for pictures.

Lily's milestones while we were away:

• Crawled seven paces to reach for the House & Home magazine (takes after her mamma)




• Ate avocado for the first time
• Clapped her hands (well she was trying for palm to palm but it was more fist to fist)
• Swam with my help in the C.I. waters kicking her feet and splashing hands
  


• Played in the sand for the first time and even tasted the fine grains

Little Miss Mouse having fun in my sarong from Indonesia (circa 1996)

I think there is a lot more to look forward to this summer at the cottage.

Cottage Bound

I so look forward to the weekend that we open the cottage. We always try to open before the May long weekend so we can have some relaxation when we are up there for May 24. This opening will prove to be different with Baby Lily on board. Not sure how much work I will be getting done.

I am also looking forward to Lily putting her wee toes into the sand for the very first time and I think it will be warm enough on Sat and Sun.

The big hit this weekend will be for Charlotte to sprint up and down the beach, fetching her ball, swimming for a stick or if she is lucky finding something yucky to roll in. I really look forward to seeing her happy smile when she realizes we are getting close to the cottage (yes I am still talking about my dog).

Oh to be a dog in the summer....