NARRATING THE CAMERA ROLL....

Just the other day, Nory and I started having hot drinks together each morning.  I have a coffee and she has a hot chocolate while Jet continues to snooze away :)

Jet might not have a lot of hair but I'm sure she's ingested a lot of it.  Nory LOVES snuggling up close to her which almost always includes a mop of hair in Jet's face. 

Right now, everything is "MY TURN, MYSELF!"  So here Nory is, painting her nails by herself.

I'm so happy we won this quilt at the Art for Action Auction in Egypt!  It is extremely special to me and both girls have enjoyed staring at these painted faces as babies!

This is what it looks like when she wears my shoes.

And this is what her shoes look like.....(that's sparkly, blue "Frozen" playdoh, for the record).

Always in the holiday spirit around here!  Nory did all the painting.  I did the cutting and stringing :)

Wonder which house this little dolly came from......

We're looking at you REFLUX.  Please go away.  Yesterday was a toughie.

Some "spring" ornaments we made out of salt dough.  Nothing says spring like butterflies.......and dinosaurs and camels.  NOTHING ;)

Life's a beach. And so's our house. (Worst parenting decision EVER).

Nory has a water/sand table that we used for water play a while back, but it has since been sitting in the corner of her bathroom, collecting dust and taking up space.  I mean, I suppose it served as a shelf for her plethora of bath toys, but it wasn't being used as intended and so we decided to re-implement the beauty back into our play rotation.  It all started with a trip to the Avenues (sigh, The Avenues - where dreams come true!).

Here is a picture of Phil hauling three bags of sand through the mall, to the parking garage:

Two things are funny about this:

1)  We didn't get a porter.  Which threw every onlooker for a loop.  But it's not like it was heavy and it's not like we had small children in tow ;)

2)  Yes, we live in the desert.  And yes, we VISA-ed our sand.  If you lived here, you'd understand.  (I think).

Anyways, embarrassments aside, the sand arrived home and our worst parenting decision ever was born.  Ah-hem, the embarrassment continues....

Rather than keep the sand table in the bathroom (where we can easily clean up messes compliments of the bathroom hose and the drainage holes in the floor)........rather than put the sand in the hallway outside (which could also be easily swept up and maintained)........we decided to (GET THIS!) put the sand table by her arts and crafts station - INSIDE OUR HOUSE.  Because, you know, we will just tell our two year old to keep the sand IN the sand table.  Because if she can count to eleven and name off shapes and colours, then SURELY she will understand that sand stays with sand.  IN THE TABLE. 

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!

And I can't blame exhaustion.  Or a lack of concentration.  Or anything that would make me sound like less of a parenting amateur than I already am.  This KEEP-THE-SANDBOX-INSIDE decision?  It was ALL ME.  All "fully awake, well thought out, made with zero pressure/bribery/game of truth or dare" ME.  And even my husband was in agreement.  There was no hesitation or concern from his end, which is completely bizarre because that man likes a clean house like nobody else I know. 

Back to the title of this post. 

There is sand EVERYWHERE IN OUR FLAT!  Not only because every pour, every dig, and every big archeological find resulted in sand flying around the general vicinity of the table.  But because Nory is Little Miss Sweaty McGee and, despite the sand-wiping-off technique we repeatedly modeled, sand sticks to her like glue and her hands served as sand delivery vehicles that whipped through our place in seconds.  Which is why I found myself brushing sand out from under my covers at one in the morning last night.  (Thank goodness our child - who LOVES TO SWEEP - is 100% anti-pile). 

The moral of this story is:  don't put a sand table in your house.  

#parentingfail

Thoughts on being THOUGHTFUL.

I have no idea why this came to mind this morning, but I started thinking about what all of my friends have in common and I decided that all of my friends are thoughtful.  But I didn't stop there.  Because I was really impressed at the realization that my brain was ACTUALLY THINKING at six this morning and so I decided to pour another cup of coffee and embrace the spontaneity.  HA!  So then I started thinking:  are they thoughtful and I really liked that about them and so we became friends OR they are my friends and we learned to love each other and so they are thoughtful towards me?  It's a chicken or the egg sort of thing and I'm not quite sure what the answer is.  I mean....are all friends thoughtful?  Is that a criteria that everyone has for their friends?  I'm just wondering if all of your friends are thoughtful too.  Because then I might have an answer to my question...

I really think thoughtful is a unique trait on its own.  I still think you can be FRIENDLY and WONDERFUL and be considered a NICE PERSON without necessarily being "thoughtful".  Thoughtful is its own cool thing, isn't it?  To me, it's a really nice person with a cherry on top.  The kind of person you would be a lifelong friend with.  Hmmmm.....maybe I just answered my own question? 

Thoughtful is..........

Driving to visit you and your family for MORE THAN AN HOUR to see you and your family for less than an hour.  Finding an "Eleanor" ornament while vacationing in June and saving it for a gift in December.  Calling you a reliable taxi driver so you don't have to be uncomfortable going somewhere that's already uncomfortable.  Wedding anniversary cards addressed to you and your hubby (even THIS CARD GAL doesn't do that!).  Knowing that you love black and white photos and tagging you in black and white Instagram accounts.  Opening personalized "house warming" gifts from Etsy.  Bringing a post-baby lasagna to your house so you don't have to cook for days (it was MASSIVE).  Dropping off a key to the back door (near the elevators!) so that unloading the car is easier.  Receiving "new mom" gifts IN ADDITION to "new baby" gifts (WHAT?!!!!!).  Seeing a "HOLLYWOOD" sign in the city and bringing it home for you.  Making special side dishes for dinner to please everyone's likes and dislikes.  Making a "you're the best and here's a new purse" day because you're in need of a pick-me-up.  Arranging "Santa" to leave a gift for your child at the hotel reception....and have it delivered to them during breakfast on Christmas Day.  Being offered specially imported Kraft Peanut Butter even though it's running low and it will be months before your friend can acquire any more.        

I could go on.  But my point has been made:  CHERRY ON TOP, PEOPLE! 

I think I need to buy THESE CARDS!

Not only do I feel lucky to be on the receiving end of such thoughtfulness, but I feel lucky to be inspired to be thoughtful too!  Sometimes I want to do something thoughtful for others, but I'm not always sure how to go about it.  So I look to all of you for ideas and - BINGO!!!! - there's always a little gem waiting to be recycled :)  Like the time we brought Nory home from the hospital and entered the apartment through an exquisitely decorated front door.  Thank you to YOU for teaching me this thoughtful idea.  Please know that today your idea will make another new mama happy too!!!!

Sending SO MUCH LOVE to all of my friends today!  I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!

#supercheesy #youwouldthinkitwasworldfriendshipday #ishouldlookthatup

Conversations with Nory.

A post I'll try to do more often.  So I can remember these funny moments forever and ever.

Upon arriving home from the salon (hair freshly cut with some curls)....

Me:  Hi Honey!!!!!

Nory:  (excitedly) MOMMY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (pause, look of confusion) Mommy.  Your hair. (longer pause, look of disgust)  Your hair.  Me no like it.  Me no like it, Mama.

And when asked if she liked my hair on day two (washed and straight)?  SAME RESPONSE.  OY!

_________________________________________________

While talking to Phil on the phone....

Phil:  What are you and Mommy doing right now? 

Nory:  Pizza and Minnie Mouse.

Phil:  That's fun!  You're eating pizza and watching Minnie Mouse?

Nory:  Ya!

Lindsay:  (laughing) That's a lie.  She just had cereal and we're building a tower!

_________________________________________________

While choosing a dinosaur video on YouTube (she's becoming obsessed)....

Me:  Oh!  This one looks good!  (continues to put on Land Before Time clip)

Nory:  No....not this one.  This one not good, Mama.

Me:  Okay.....let's try this one... (puts on Barney)

Nory:  Not good, Mama.  Not this one.

Me:  Well then, what about this one?  (puts on a nice dinosaur clip from Jurassic Park...you know, where they first arrive at park and see a giant Little Foot)

Nory:  Not this one, Mama.

Me:  We're running out of options here, Kiddo.  Hmmm..... (puts on 'Best of Discovery Channel Dinosaurs')

Nory:  YA!  (squeals) THIS ONE!  THIS ONE GOOD MAMA!!!!!!!!

Keep in mind the video opened with two 'real-life' raptors attacking each other.  Sigh.  Sometimes I don't know how this child belongs to me.  Isn't Little Foot too adorable to resist?!  

_________________________________________________

While painting the other day.....

Me:  What do you want to paint with today, Nory?

Nory:  (thinking) Ummm....................hair.

Me:  (laughs) I don't think painting with our hair is a very good idea, darling!

Nory:  (frustrated) No....hair ones, Mommy!  (continues to go to craft shelf and retrieve her mini paint brushes)

Me:  Ohhh!!!!!!!!  THE PAINT BRUSHES!!!!  They do have hair!  Great idea, Hun!

The ones with hair = paint brushes.  CHECK, CHECK. CHECK!  Not a bad description in retrospect ;)  

Can we discuss AGAIN how much we ADORE Baby Jet?

The baby that thinks it's time to wake up FOR REAL at 4:30 this morning, all smiles and coos and "MAMA LET'S CHAT!".  The baby who falls back to sleep smiling at 5:30 this morning, cuddling in my arms and having the dream of all dreams.  The baby who vomits ALL OVER HER CRIB and ALL OVER HER SLEEP SACK and ALL OVER THE FLOOR at 6:15 this morning, without so much as a whimper.  The baby who continues to sleep post-vomiting at 6:16 this morning, undisturbed by the chaos of the major clean-up happening around her........

Wherever did this angel she come from?!

Sometimes.

When your toddler spots a fresh bag of cotton balls.  And starts pouring them out of the bag.  And throwing them all over the living room floor. 

You just have to embrace the mess, declare the snowstorm, blare the Christmas tunes and DANCE!!!!!!

P.S.  NINE months until CHRISTMAS EVE! ;)

If You Give a Desert Girl a Puddle. And Dinosaurs.

Nory woke up on the wrong side of the bed Saturday morning. THE COMPLETELY WRONG SIDE OF THE BED.  It was one of those mornings where dropping a piece of playdoh on the floor was the BE ALL END ALL.  Of LIFE.  #fullfledgedtoddler

This is why the thunderstorm that happened during the night was a bigger blessing than usual.  Rain on any day has a certain pizazz to it around here, but pond-size puddles on a day where my patience is already running low after 27 "she's awake" minutes?  Either I have great karma or God was looking out for all of us ;)  THANK YOU HIGHER POWERS!

So, while Phil was off to the pediatrician with Juliet, I took Nory down to the courtyard to play in the water.  It was MY BEST IDEA TO DATE.  The only yelling consisted of "AGAIN! AGAIN!!!!!" and the only time spent flailing around on the ground was a result of her passionate attempts at the sport of swimming.  YES, her shoes are still soaked.  And YES, she might have had a meltdown when I told her it was time to go home.  But I still see it as a WIN.  During those glorious 30 or so minutes, Nory's tear ducts took a break and my patience revived itself.  Totally necessary repairs given the continuation of the day she woke up on the wrong side of the bed.  

We found ourselves at the dinosaur park later that afternoon.  HAAAA!!!!  This moved us one more distraction closer to bedtime!  Nory's been on a big dinosaur kick lately and it just so happened Kuwait opened a dino park to meet her dinosaur-viewing needs.  I repeat, either I have great karma or God was looking out for all of us ;)

Although scared at times, she had a great time.  She kept commenting on how "cute" the dinosaurs were.  And how she wanted to hold them.  And how she wanted to feed them.  And how she wanted to ride them.  Except for when given the chance to ride one, she backed out and decided that watching other kids ride them was a better idea. 

As she did with the kite festival, she keeps asking to see the pictures of our outing and to return for more dino park fun.  If the park allows Nory and I in for free again, we just might do it ;) 

The moral of this story is.....distractions rule.  We survived a tough day with a toddler.  You can too.  Chocolate works wonders.  And.......pray for us.   

Today is a BIG day!

#HouseofNoRules is having their second baby girl this morning.  Which means Nory's best friend, Seton, will soon become the big sister to Jet's best friend, ______________.  Which means each girl in the Parkinson house is going to receive some level of influence from each girl in the House of No Rules.  Which means we might come home the most care-free, worry-not family you know ;)  (Unlikely.  Don't get your hopes up!)

But really.

Phil and I know many people that have had babies.  Siblings, cousins, friends.  However, we've been overseas for the majority of the whole "fall in love and have babies" phase of people's lives.  We've missed bridal showers and jack 'n jills and weddings and baby showers and births and........it's pretty hard to think about it actually.  Because although we've been moved to tears by every "we're engaged!" update, every wedding album, every pregnancy announcement, every baby-is-here phone call, every welcome-to-the-world picture online........we haven't actually BEEN THERE.  You know, to BE THERE.  To bring over a bottle of bubbly.  To watch you walk down the aisle.  To bring you gingerale when you have morning sickness.  To take your older babies when you're exhausted in that third trimester.  To visit your new (bigger!) family in the hospital.  To bring your husband coffee and a cigar.  To brighten your tired new mama eyes with pretty flowers and chocolates.  To hold that darling baby - only hours old - and be fascinated by how new and awesome and perfect they are.  We simply have not been able to be there.

And so.

THIS BABY TODAY.  THIS BABY THAT IS DUE TO ARRIVE IN NO MORE THAN ONE HOUR.  She's special to us.  Really, really special.  In meeting the House of No Rules, we have been able to participate in some of the things that we've missed out on while being away.  We get to have sleepovers with Seton the next few days.  We get to wake up really early on delivery day because we're too darn nervous/excited to sleep in any longer.  We get to anxiously await the invitation to visit them at the hospital.  We get to hold that little darling in her earliest days.   We get to hug her beautiful mama and tell her SHE DID IT!  We get to joke with her hilarious father about keeping TWO children alive instead of JUST ONE (sorry Trey, but I'm tearing up and so I had to say something a SMIDGEN off-side).......

Sigh.  Today is going to be AWESOME.  WE CANNOT WAIT!!!!!

We love you, House of No Rules.  And we ARE SO EXCITED to meet your our newest family member!

The Parkinson Family
XOXO

Have you guys heard about Odin?

His story has been all over my Facebook newsfeed this week and then, while scrolling People.com yesterday morning, I saw HIS STORY on the homepage!!!!!!!!!!  That's quite the leap from thee ole Peterborough Examiner ;)  

Thank you to canoe.ca for the photo :)

I've been thinking about Odin over the weekend and my brain decided to welcome you in for a looks-y.  LUCKY.  YOU.  Haaaaa!!!!!!!!   MY TWO CENTS:

1)  Always RSVP.  Even if you can't make it.  Because if someone takes the time to invite you, they deserve the two seconds it takes to give them a response.  (Besides, "forgetting" the invite situation altogether makes the next encounter super, super awkward.  You know it does.) 

2)  Social media is AWESOME.  Of course we've seen social media do it's thang with similar feel-good stories.  But when the feel-good story comes from where you grew up, the realization is BIGGER than BIG!  Three cheers for the tech savvy! :)

3)  There are MANY, MANY kind people out there.  Ordinary people that do things JUST BECAUSE. 

4)  You should cheer for the Raptors.  And the Toronto Maple Leafs.  And watch Property Brothers.  And appreciate the theatrical talents of Elijah Wood.  (So maybe they participated in the celebration...)

5)  Odin is a SWEET NAME.  Give it 9 months, and the name is sure to be trending too :) 

Thank you for touching OUR HEARTS on YOUR BIRTHDAY, Odin!  Wishing you a very happy 13th birthday and an AWESOME year ahead!!!

P.S. Alternative titles to this post?  MOMS RULE // CALL YOUR MOM // THANK YOUR MOM // LOVE YOUR MOM // BUT REALLY, MOMS RULE

This evening.......

Nory went "swimming" outside.  

In her clothes.

Then made a lego tower.  

In her bathing suit.

Who says toddlers don't make sense?!

Picasso, Parkinson. Same, same.

Remember how I told you K POP moved everything heavy to rearrange the living room?  So that we could make a carpet-less area for arts and crafts?  Well, here it is!  (The cleaned-up-for-a-picture-but-never-really-looks-this-way version!)

We spend a lot of our time here these days - doing playdoh, drawing, painting, stickering, and snacking :)  Jet's pack 'n play is nearby so she gets to hang out for the festivities too :)

Here's one of the pieces Nory made today, created using a variety of techniques including Q-tips, plastic eggs, and legitimate stampers:

It's one of my favourites to date!!!  And let me tell you, we've done PLENTY.  Not only has Nory's artwork taken over the back wall of this room, it has taken over three other magnetic surfaces and our fridge!  And other people's fridges.  I love it, and if I do recall so myself, it was one of the things I looked forward to most in my pre-mom days.  Mmmmm hmmmm, an outrageous explosion of AMAZING TODDLER ART all over my house.  The Old Me knew that this would be right up the alley of the Future Me.  LIFE. MADE.

But living the dream cannot be without its own unique challenges.  Our challenge?  The same girl that makes my dream a reality...

 
Ever since babyhood, this gal of mine has HATED dirty hands.  HATED!!!!!!!  I like to think she's gotten a bit better, but after this afternoon's meltdown, I'm questioning my perspective on this matter.  Oh well.  We've been doing arts and crafts beside a wet towel for weeks and if we have to continue the trend forever, so be it.  Weaning of the wet towel, we will NOT! 

If you're someone who will be visiting us this summer, I suggest you purge your fridge surface in the coming months.  And purchase more magnets.  Explosions spread, yo! 

My Morning Person :)

Scratch that.  I actually think she's an all-day person because these smiles don't expire after noon.  They keep on going and going and going to the sweet sounds of Nory, Phil and myself.  Well, mostly to Nory.  Because nobody makes Juliet smile more than that big sister of hers.  (And cute doesn't even BEGIN to describe it!)

I think a trip to the photo shop is in order.  Caffeine is no substitute for the energy boost I get every morning from this little darling.  So once I DO return to work (ya, ya, I will), I've gotta JET-UP my desk area!  (Not to worry - Nory will get her fair share of publicity too.  Even though her images give me the counter effect of exhaustion! HA!)

OH HOW I LOVE MY GIRLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA.

*  My beautiful friend, Aimee, wrote us and said she would fly to Kuwait in June to help us fly home with both babies.  Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever heard?  I told her she's crazy and we'd see her in Ontario ;)   We LOVE YOU, Mrs. Langlais! xoxo

*  In other friend news, my friend Sara wrote me and said - even though it's difficult - she gives the Kardashian family second chances because of me.  I think I deserve a cut of their revenue.  FOR REAL!  Side note:  When I look at the spelling suggestions for "Kardashian", the computer tells me "guardianship".  I mean, this is proof you should give them a second chance too ;)  HAAAAA!!!!! (And yes, I've already scanned People.com this morning and I AM WELL AWARE that Scott has checked into rehab.)

*  In other celebrity news, I realize I'm a bit (understatement?!) of an addict.  Me to Emily:  Do you read Sean Lowe's sister's blog?  Emily to Me:  No.....I think that's only you.  And there's the proof. 

*  Less than a month left of maternity leave and my heart continues to break every day.  Sigh.  Again with the whole confidence from ALREADY DOING IT idea.  Sometimes experience means peanuts.

*  Shania Twain tickets were impossible to secure.  Let's hope she's of the likes of Michael Jordan and returns a few more times in our future.

*  We rearranged the living/family room area to have a carpet-less art area for Nory (YIPPEE!!!!!) and we also rearranged things in the kitchen to give ourselves more kitchen space (WOOT!!!!).  And by WE, I mean Kumari and myself.  And maybe Kumari lifted everything heavy on her own.  Because maybe she told me I was of no help and to move out of her way.  Maybe.  (Thank you Kumari!!!)

*  As it happened after last pregnancy, my hair has been falling out and I once again have a fear of balding.  I know it's normal, but it just doesn't LOOK that way.

*  The last two days have been really tough, reflux-wise.  I don't understand where these bad days come from, but they are the ones that include lots of laundry and cuddles with Juliet.  Yesterday she couldn't keep her medicine inside of her and she was definitely in pain.  I have never, ever seen her cry LIKE THAT.  And the girl doesn't cry much to begin with, so it was pretty heart-breaking all around.

*  Have you ever experienced phantom bopping?  It might be called something else, but I refer to it as this.  Ya, PHANTOM BOPPING, people!  It's when you keep on bouncing up and down even though there's no longer a baby in your arms.  It happens to me ALL THE TIME, in public especially.  And it's not at all awkward when other people ask me why I'm doing it.....

*  Nory freaks me out sometimes by saying things that make me think her two-year-old memory is impeccable.  The other day, I told her that we will have a big tubby when we're in Canada.  You know what she said?  "Ya, at Nana and Grandpa's house!"  AND THEN, when she was talking on the phone to my Mom about her cousins, she referred to them as "BABIES" - as she did when she saw them last summer!!!!  Is it all a coincidence or does she actually remember these things?!!!!  SO. FREAKY.

*  HAPPY St. Patrick's Day!!!!  And a shout-out to my good pal, Jen!  This day always reminds me of YOU :) xo

EAT. SLEEP. BASKETBALL.

Or simply "BASKETBALL" if you're Phil.  The man who can't eat or sleep for most of the basketball season because his body can only focus on the game itself.  (Both you and I know that the "eat" and "sleep" part are important when it comes to focusing, however my husband is THE BEST at NOT caring what we have to say about that.  So we drop it.  And will every season, forever and ever!)

This past weekend Phil and his boys played against teams from Kuwait, Dubai, Riyadh, Amman and Doha in their final tournament of the year.  They worked hard against all the bad luck thrown their way (injuries, suspensions, BAD REFFING - ha!) to finish in third place overall.  WAY TO WORK, BOYS!!!!!!!  You played your best games of the season in this tournament and we can't wait to see what you bring to the court next year ;)  

Now, because y'all couldn't be there to live and die with the team as we did, allow me to play TSN spokesperson here and give you a run-down of the key moments.  A TOP TEN, if you will....

10)  Juliet sleeping through every game of the tournament.  Because, you know, it's not like it was noisy in there or anything. 

9)  Nory SQUEALING like you wouldn't believe when she saw her best friend, Seton, arrive on the other side of the gymnasium.  Sometimes play-dates trump sports ;)

8)  Phil coaching so hard that his suit jacket came off and his dress shirt came un-tucked.  I also believe he got a technical that game.......   

7)  Phil writing up a play that required him to act OVERLY dramatic from the sidelines, totally distracting the other team from the open man under the net.  He'd like to thank the academy....

6)  The high school math teacher who brought a big, yellow sign that required players to solve a polynomial.  He held it up to "distract" the other team during free throws.  PRICELESS.  Worked like a charm ;) 

5)  Clapping injuries.  Because they're legit.   

4)  The crowd.  So many fans came out to support Phil and his team!!!!!!!!!!! 

3)  Phil's captain (who was injured during game one and out all tournament), being subbed in for 20 seconds to shoot his final three point shot ever.  And he made it!!!!!!!!!  Because he's AWESOME. 

2)  Phil's only grade 9 player being selected for the tournament ALL-STAR team.  After being selected as MVP at two other tournaments this year!  WHOOP, WHOOP! 

1)  Learning that we love these kids as much as the Bulldogs, a feat we never, ever thought was possible.  When does next season start?       

Thank goodness basketball is never REALLY over.  Until the Saturday practices start up again, our family will be immersed in the hype of March Madness and filling in the Mascot bracket we found online (just like last year!).  Although I suppose some people in the Parkinson clan (ah-hem, PHIL?) might want to participate in the tournament using criteria other than the awesomeness of team representatives.  To each their own ;)

EAT. SLEEP. BASKETBALL.  During NCAA, we should be able to bump Phil up to AT LEAST 2/3!

Hide and Seek Scenarios. At Our House.

You know that traditional game of hide and seek that most people play in their younger years?  HOME-GIRL don't play that game.  Here's how Nory plays instead:

SCENARIO #1:  She hides and as you look for her in different (incorrect!) places she yells "NOPE"!!!  Takes the challenge away completely ;)

SCENARIO #2:  She wants to be the one hiding.  But instead of hiding, she sits in the center of the room and demands you go looking for her.  Because, you know, she's....."hiding". 

SCENARIO #3:  Nory chooses to be the seeker, but half-way through seeking she gets distracted by playdoh....or a spoon....and it's not until you wake up from your power nap that you realize the game has ended.          

SCENARIO #4:  She wants to be the hider AND the seeker.  It's really tricky in practice.  The adult must hide but make comments as though they are seeking.  Nory fake hides and then comes to find you.  She shouts "I GOT YOU!!!!" once you've been spotted.

NOTE:  In all scenarios outlined in this post, Nory is CONVINCED she is only visible if SHE can see YOU.  

ALSO NOTE:  She wants to play this game every FREAKING minute.  Or at least it feels that way.  Trying to fake find people is so exhausting ;)

Because he's a Daddy.

And all Daddys should be able to run around with their kids in the backyard.  Or dance with them in the kitchen.  Or throw them into the air over and over until exhaustion kicks in and there's nothing but a big ole giggle fest on the living room floor.  

Scott holding Nory for the first time, a couple of weeks before his accident.

Please read more about this Daddy and his fundraising mission HERE.  If there's any way you could make a contribution to his cause, he would be incredibly grateful.

WE LOVE YOU JAMIESON FAMILY!  XOXO

Miracles REALLY DO exist, you guys!

Emily came over to do a "3 month photo shoot" with Juliet on Friday afternoon.

STOP. 

Two things are weird about that first sentence:

ONE - I never, ever call her Emily. It's always Gem. I don't know.  I'm too shocked to edit that out.

And

TWO - Jet is already 3 months old.

Anyways, let's continue.

The plan was to take pictures of Jet while Nory napped.  Well, it just so happened that Nory decided to skip nap on Friday and was awake and happy and so we decided to get some photos of the girls together.  And in the spirit of matching (oh how I love thee), we put them in identical outfits first.  And then I decided to throw on a white shirt to join in the fun.  And then Phil walked in the door wearing blue.  So.....all four of us (colour-coordinated - whoop, whoop!) laid on the living room floor and Gem managed to capture a non-blurry picture of our family.  With all of our eyes open.  And nobody crying!  Or puking!  Or trying to escape!  

INTRODUCING OUR NEW FAVOURITE PHOTO-OF-ALL-TIME:

A big thank you to our photographer, GEM, for capturing it.  A big thank you to The Might as Wellers for the matching outfits.  A big thank you to the reflux gods for keeping Jet's stomach contents inside.  A big thank you to the nap gods for shielding Nory from grouchiness.  A big thank you to the MAKE-YOUR-HUSBAND-WANT-TO-BE-IN-PICTURES gods for making my husband want to be in pictures.  And, lastly, a big thank you to The Real Guy Upstairs for blessing me with this beautiful family.

XOXO 

Narrating the CAMERA ROLL!

"Nory, did you draw on your sister's toy with marker?"  You'll be happy to know that she has no problems with honesty!  Haha.

It's very rare that she hops up into MY lap and asks for a cuddle.  If she does this with anybody, it's Phil!  Obviously the moment required a picture :)

Phil before a big basketball game last week.  After I told him it was only a game.  HAAAA!!!!!

She is fascinated by the mobile in her crib!!!  And I've learned to zone out the ONLY SONG that it plays!

Here we are, reunited after a night out.  It's the best coming home to this snuggly girlie!

Beach Day gone wrong.  We packed up the whole car with sunscreen and hats and snacks and towels and beach balls and sand toys and.........couldn't find the beach.  Some of us cried the whole way home.

It's JET TV!!!!!!  My favourite channel ;)

Has anybody seen Nory?  (Hide and seek is one of her go-to games the last few weeks!)

A WHOPPING ONE QUARTER TODAY!!!!!!

I hope the reflux chatter hasn't given you the wrong impression about Juliet.  Because besides that tiny tidbit, this girl is the ABSOLUTE SWEETEST THING on Earth.  She's quiet and smiley and loves to just chill.  You can place her in her crib or on her play mat and she will listen to the sweet sounds of sleep sheep or the baby renditions of Mozart until her heart is content.  She's cuddly with her Mama (not as much with others), but since her Mama is the one writing this post, I'm going to include it as a legitimate part of her persona ;)   

In the beginning, Jet seemed to be a much harder baby than Nory ever was.  Her size made us nervous and I vividly remember the breakdown I had leaving the hospital on Day Three.  What if I broke her?  What if a bone snapped mid-cuddle?  How the heck was I going to get a onesie over her head?  Will her legs withstand a diaper change?!  Gah.  I was TERRIFIED to leave the comfort of the hospital where the click of a button would send in a slew of highly trained medical professionals.  And this was me ROUND TWO of motherhood.  Baby #1 was well into toddlerhood, yet my confidence from being a Mama to Nory was nonexistent as I stared at our sweet 4.4-pounder.  Who would have thought?

In addition to the fear of fragility, Phil and I saw our futures coming to an abrupt halt with death by exhaustion being a plausible cause.  Juliet woke to eat so often that neither of us seemed rested and the whole "light at the end of the tunnel" idea felt like a lie.  Tunnel?  PFFFT.  More like a bottomless dark hole.  Scandal-type stuff. 

But then Jet packed on some pounds and slept for longer.  Right now, she grants us a 7 hour stretch (sometimes 8!), followed by 3 to 4 more.  It's AMAZING and it just so happens that living life with your eyes open is good for the soul!  And for relationships.  Ha!  Thank you, Jet!  Now that we're all a little more rested, it's clear that you're much more calm than that big sister of yours.  

But speaking of that big sister, she's head over heels for you.  She rushes to your side if you cry, helps to burp you after feedings, and holds you every chance she can.  Right now, she wants to be doing whatever it is you're doing.  Although in the future, I think this will reverse itself.  Because Nory's wild and hilarious and into everything and people are drawn to such entertainment.  You'll see.     

Mama and Daddy love you so very much too!  We love all the smiles you're sharing and can't wait to watch you grow even more over the next few months!  Then it is home to Canada to meet all of the people who've fallen in love with you despite even a snuggle! 

Cheers to our darling girl turning THREE MONTHS OLD today!!!  WE LOVE YOU, JET TYKO!!!

XOXO

IF YOU WERE HERE FOR TEA!

*  Shows like Scandal shouldn't be allowed to take breaks.  Even a one week hiatus is too much to deal with.  Hurry up, Thursday!!!  The fan base can only go so long without the Olivia Pope runway show.  Whatever will she wear this week?  (I promise I follow the storyline too.)

*  In other TV news, I'm a LITTLE interested in the Amazing Race this season because of the blind date aspect of it.  Imagine if one of the couples actually falls in love?!  Imagine if ALL FIVE OF THEM do?!  Ha.  I'm a dreamer.

*  Phil only has two weeks left in basketball this year.  Playoffs are next week, as is the international tournament which (thankfully!) takes place in Kuwait this year!  GO FALCONS GO!

*  Nory has started to say "watch this mama!" and "watch this daddy!" and it is so, so adorable.  Sometimes she's bouncing a ball.  Sometimes she's building a lego tower.  Sometimes we have no idea WHAT she's doing.  In every instance, it's really cute.

*  I bought six second-hand summer dresses for Nory at a bargain price!!! These will make getting her dressed ten times easier as the weather warms up.  Or at least I hope it does.  In the back of my mind, I see her protesting the lack of cats on the dresses.  Right now, everything is "cat shirt, cat pants, cat dress, cat undies...."  If this is the case, I will have to resort to our book of cat stickers.  But NORY, it's a MAKE-YOUR-OWN-CAT-DRESS!!!!!!!!!  I wonder if she'll buy it.  As for #thedress, it was white and gold.  Unless you ask Phil. 

*  I really can't wait to get home this summer.  Our school is starting to book flights this week and I am going to make the biggest CANADA-MEETS-JET countdown ever.  I also might need to re-vamp our air travel routine to account for the extra little bundle.  Flying home with two wee ones is terrifying me in this moment and maybe....always?  I see the food tray rolling towards me and break out in a sweat.  Phil and I have some strategizing to do ;)

*  I think we've revolutionized the ice cream sundae in our house.  The addition of Reese's peanut butter chips will blow your mind.  SERIOUSLY. 

*  "Special Tubbys" are all the rage right now.  Nory's been having at least two baths a day that have been made special with the addition of colourful bath bombs.  You experienced mamas never told me how much time I'd spend on the bathroom floor post-morning-sickness.  Or is it only my child that's happy as a clam living life as a prune?! 

*  Are you a card person?  Valentines Day cards, Christmas cards, thank you cards, etc.?  I happen to be and I've been called old-fashioned for being this way.  Is the tradition of card-writing really becoming less and less of a thing?  If so, I'm bummed about it.  CARD-WRITERS UNITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Let's work together to keep the idea alive and well! 

*  Does anyone know how I can post videos to the blog without losing the quality of them?  I have no idea and even with some Googling on my own, I'm lost :$  HELP PLEASE!!!!!!!

*  I did my first ever YouTube workout yesterday.  Twenty five minutes on the stepper and nine minutes of arm exercises and I'm feeling it this morning.  Who knew the tiny lady on my computer screen could get my blood pumping as well as the real deal?!  I might try a new video while Jet and Nory nap today.  On good days, they nap at the same time!!!  FINGERS CROSSED!  As a side note, I saw a student the other day who looked at my stomach and remarked, "Miss, you're having ANOTHER BABY?!!!!!!!"  Turns out my workouts haven't been as intense as they need to be.  Sigh.

*  The stack of clothes that no longer fit Juliet is getting overwhelmingly large.  I'm not a fan.  Where did that itty bitty 4-pounder go?  I wonder if she'll be built like Nory or take on a physique of her own....  

I'm pretty sure they're BFF's already.

The Kite Festival!

Every year during the February long weekend there is a kite festival that happens in the middle of nowhere.  We've gone (I think!) every year since we've been here, but this year we learned it's a whole new level of fun bringing a two year old along.  Our very chatty, extra bouncy, piggy-tailed little toddler made the drive to the middle-of-nowhere completely worth it.  Even the drive home.  YES.  EVEN THE DRIVE HOME.  Which entailed both children crying in unison; one because she was hungry and the other because she didn't want to leave.  And then the latter child continued to cry because she really, really wanted a piece of cheese.  Not because she was hungry.  But because this child always wants a piece of cheese.  But, honestly, the drive was worth it!  Haha.

Nory was immediately drawn to the bear kites which she began to affectionately call "my bears".  The purple one was her favourite and she begged and begged to be able to feed him.  Since we couldn't do that, we decided to just hang out with these guys for a while..... 

It wasn't until her friend arrived that we were able to migrate away from the bears to the bouncy castles and big slides.  I took advantage of Jet's snoozing and Phil and Nory's time in the play area to see that there were, in fact, other kites at this festival besides the bears!  HAAA!  I took a few quick snaps and then we decided it was time to go before the trip (which was going all too smoothly) blew up in our face.  Which it did, as I already told you, on the way home. 

PERHAPS we missed the window of opportunity to sneak into the car with two still-happy kiddos.  We're still learning here, you guys!  Regardless, the outing was fun and Nory got her piece of cheese the moment we walked in the door AND she's been talking about the kites every day since.  I better Google us a kite festival for the summer.  Anybody?????