#MAMARAZZI #THOSEFACIALEXPRESSIONS

That day I dressed her in a throwback jersey because I just couldn't help myself....

I remember seeing this Gretzky jersey (circa 1980's!) last summer - a jersey that I believe my older brother wore when he was little.  I wanted it to fit Nory SO BADLY at that time, but I knew we'd have to wait until this summer before we even tried to make it work.  Well, this summer came and I somehow forgot about it altogether.  Until the other day.....when I opened the wooden chest at the end of our bed to find it right on top and READY to be TRIED!!!!!

Albeit a bit small (or EXTRA TIGHT in the midsection!), Nory managed to hold off all tears for a few pictures - WOO HOO!!!!!!!!!!!  I think the look was adorable :)

 

Thanks for the two minutes of GREAT TIMES, Gretzky Jersey From the 80's.  I will have to remember about you sooner for Baby #2!!!!!!

NARRATING the CAMERA ROLL...... (Alternative Title: The Worst Blogger of the Summer Returns!)

I know, I know. I'll make it up to you right now :)

Phil and I enjoying some music at the Jazz Festival in Lakefield.  We could hear it from the house but sometimes it's worth the extra $5 for the REAL EXPERIENCE ;)

Grandma and Grumps were also with us to enjoy some tunes!  You should have seen Nory and Grandma dance up a storm!  They just might have stole the show.....

Our first trip to the Peterborough Zoo!  The train was closed but the animals were OPEN FOR VISITING!

Wooo!!!!!  We borrowed a car and made our way to HOT BELLY MAMAS for lunch!!!!!  It is one of our favourite places to eat - a place where we don't even have to look at the menu.  It's blackened chicken and Caribbean roti.  Every.  Single.  Time.

A gift for Nory from Auntie Aimee!  The gloves say "Mommy and Me", but these days I think it might be Daddy wearing those gloves......(Phil has recently become an avid gardener.  AVID, AVID!)

If we aren't emptying the laundry basket, her toys bins, or the bookshelf, we are climbing into the rocking chair and requesting to be handed books for some good ole "silent reading".  (FYI:  The silent part doesn't really happen!)

CONGRATULATIONS AIMEE AND PATRICK!!!!  This past weekend we celebrated the marriage of these two wonderful people.  It was such an honour to be a member of the bridal party :)  We love you guys! xo

I think she's inherited my love for Beanie Babies.  (Although she is also big on the Beanie Boo trend - you know, the cute stuffed toys with massive eyes).

DADDY'S GIRL.  Or should we say Nory's GUY?!!!!!  These two.  I tell ya......absolutely EVERYTHING together.

Playing a game of after dinner tag at the park behind our house.  Teaching her the rules was a bit tricky.  The first few times she was "it" - she ran in the completely opposite direction!!!

An Announcement!

Have you noticed anything different about the header in the last week?  A tiny wee change by the title of my blog?  If not, let me fill you in:  we went from having three little pearls in the header (one for each of us) to FOUR little pearls in the header (also one for each of us!).

Yes, WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's funny because, ever since Nory was about 3 months old, people started asking us when we were going to have another one.  It's also funny because, we were wondering when we'd have another one too!  We knew we had some difficulty getting pregnant the first time, so we expected to encounter some challenges during round two as well.  Knowing this, and knowing that we wanted our kids to be close in age, we started trying for baby number two as soon as the doctor gave us the A-OKAY!

Well, DETAILS SCHMEEEE-TAILS.  I won't get into all of them, but I will tell you that we were thankful to have the (accelerated!) healthcare we received in Kuwait.  Besides the obvious waiting periods, there were no other wait periods at all.  Test results, phone calls, doctor appointments, new prescriptions, new plans of action......all happened as quickly as possible.  There were some tears and pain and disappointment and discomfort but the end goal was achieved and we couldn't have been happier to (finally!) see a positive pregnancy test before our eyes!  And that was despite the heart-breaking circumstance that presented itself that week.....

We found out we were pregnant the night before Shani passed away.  Shani was one of the people that I had opened up to about our fertility struggles and she knew how hopeful we were to have a sibling for Nory someday soon.  She would always reassure me that another baby was coming, because in her culture (and this sounds so strange I'm sure), when your first born child begins to do the downward dog position (YOGA, PEOPLE!), it's a clear sign of more children in your near future.  I would laugh, but she was always very serious.  But her sincerity told me to trust in it.  And if nothing else, her love and kindness was always comforting for me.  

I'm not sure if you remember, but when I posted about Shani before, I mentioned that she had surely earned a miracle.  Through her generosity and hardwork, I really believed she had earned the miracle she needed to survive any tragedy.  Well.  Of course I believe in science.  And I don't think I would be pregnant today without it.  But I also believe in miracles.  And, to be absolutely honest, I think Shani gave her miracle to us.  The very next day.....she went to Heaven. 

 

We love you, Sweet Shani.  May this little baby growing inside of me always be a symbol of your bright, shining heart.  Thank you for everything, Our Angel. 

And to this little baby I speak of - Mommy, Daddy and your big sister Nory can't wait to meet you!!!!!  XOXO

JANUARY 2015!!!!!!!!!!!

A Clingy Little One...

(Note:  I wrote this two days ago and I'm happy to report that the situation has greatly improved!!!!)

Requires LOTS of muscle and EVEN MORE patience!  Ugh!!!!  Not only do I feel inferior in terms of muscle tone and the general public, I have seriously reconsidered my ability to educate the youth of our future with the amount of patience (ah-hem - VERY LITTLE!) I have these days.  Nory is getting her molars (it's CONFIRMED that both bottom ones have popped up, but she won't let me assess the top) and I am SO happy that they are FINALLY coming in.........but BOY OH BOY, does teething do a number on both the baby and the parents! 

Let's choose to ignore the vomiting, diarrhea, heat rash, mosquito bites and sleepless nights from the past few days and discuss THIS DAY ONLY. 

Nory wakes up at 6 a.m.  Phil and I take turns holding her until 7 when Phil has to leave.  During this hour, the SECOND you put her down or are out of her eyesight, she's scream-crying.  Okay, fine.  Pick her back up.  Phil leaves at 7.  My arms are too sore to hold her any longer so we go for a walk.  We come home.  I put her down inside the house.  The scream-crying continues!  I pick her up.  We try to do laundry.  I have to put her down to fold what's in the dryer.  She decides to shove all of the folded clothes on the ground under the bed.  I give up.  We go downstairs.  I get some apple juice.  She runs over to enjoy some herself, trips over the rocking chair, bangs her head against the wall.  The scream-crying continues!  I pick her up.  We read some books in her room, until she starts to throw them and I tell her "no".  Do you know what happened next?  YOU GUESSED IT!  The scream-cry!!!  I decide it's time to eat.  She has some yogurt and then wants some of my cereal.  I make the mistake of sitting beside her on the couch.  She grabs the bowl, milk and cereal goes everywhere.  I jump off the couch, take off my shirt and throw on a nearby hoodie.  My reaction scares her and....she scream-cries!  Pool time at last.  I manage to get the baby pool onto the deck without putting her down.  But now I have to fill it up.  I put her down.  She SCREAM-FREAKING-CRIES so loudly that I barely fill the thing.  I almost start to scream-cry myself.  But I don't.  Instead, I put her inside her pool.  She smiles.  Phewf.  But wait.  She needs sunscreen.  I start to apply it.  She SCREAM-CRIES!!!!!  UGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank goodness her Daddy came to the rescue shortly after.  I was in serious need of a break!  (It's time to once again SALUTE all of you single mamas out there who ROCK THIS PARENTING THING like no one's business!!!) 

I should probably add that everyone thinks I'm a straight-up liar after visiting with Nory this past week.  They listen to me rumble about how "she's just not herself" and it's as though Nory hears me and TURNS IT ON.  Suddenly, she's as happy as a clam and I look like a giant fool.  WHAT GIVES?!

Parenting, right? 

NARRATING THE CAMERA ROLL (Alternative Title: Remember me?!)

I can't believe I haven't said hello to you all since June 25th!  WHOOPS!!!!!  We're alive.  And VERY, VERY WELL :)  We've just been busy enjoying all that Canada has to offer - friends and family, fresh air, green space - it's hard to trade these in for wifi when we don't get these luxuries all the time!  Anyways, the camera roll always keeps a tale of what we've been up to.  Here are some pictures!

Visiting with our friends Erin and Dean!  We've enjoyed walks together, the market, BBQing, patio furniture assembly, and lots of laughs.  Dean - I think - has the best laugh ever.

Cheering on Brazil in the World Cup!  Did you see the game against Chile?!  GAHHHH!!!!  What a nail biter!

Playing with Nory's cousins.  She LOVES kids these days.  LOVES, LOVES!  She wanted to be doing absolutely everything that her older cousins were up to!!!

Her first swim in the lake at Nana and Grandpa's house!  A little hesitant at first, but she turned into a real fish rather quickly!  Or should I say.....a MERMAID.  Check her out - sitting happily on that rock!  (P.S.  Thank goodness Nana goes in the water with her.  It's WAYYYY too cold for me!)

Her first swing ride!!!!  I videotaped the whole ordeal and got ZERO EXPRESSION.  Someone else - ah-hem MOI! - was way more excited than she was!!!

Canada Day celebrations at the lake!  These crazy Canucks made "POUTIZZA" (poutine pizza) - an idea that came solely from a miscommunication.  They tell me it has become a tradition.  Not sure how I feel about that.....(nor did I taste this heart-attack meal!)

Lots AND lots of walking!  Suddenly, like MAGIC, Nory LOVES her stroller!  She could stroll all day long if we let her!!!  This morning's walk was FREEZING!  We bundled up and made the trek anyways :)

OUR SHIPMENT IS HERE!!!!!!!  It took MUCH LONGER than expected and required MUCH MORE HOOPS than we were ever informed about.....but the good news is that it is all SAFE and SOUND and HERE!!!!!!!!

Splashing around in her little pool on the deck.  She spends a lot of time in this thing.  And she'd probably spend even more if we let her!

Taking selfies.  But I'm sure these are on everyone's camera roll as of late :)

Wearing her fancy new Lions jersey from Uncle Dain!!!  Fits her perfectly :)

Colouring away the rainy hours.  We've been lucky not to have rain ALL DAY LONG, but we have had to keep busy during random downpours that (thankfully!) only last about an hour!

Baking: way more fun with a toddler!!!!!!!  Never a dull moment.  Or a clean one.  Ha!

Last night's visit with Auntie Sara.  Her knowledge of gardening has SERIOUSLY INCREASED in the past few years.  She's passing the green thumb along to Nory :)

NARRATING THE CAMERA ROLL......

But before we begin, I LOVE ALL THE GREEN IN THIS SET OF PICTURES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Phewf!  Here is Nory at the Sheraton hotel, after 20+ hours in transit!  Think she was tired?!

Eight degrees and WE DON'T CARE!!!!!!!!!  Our first walk in Lakefield and none of us could be happier :)

You're looking at a sun hat success story!  I really had my doubts that she would EVER keep a hat on all summer.  But then she started to really enjoy the whole idea - so much so that she INSISTED her yellow hat be worn inside the house too!  Let's hope this trend keeps up......

Exploring the backyard with Grandpa / Working on their calf muscles together......

Making new friends at the park.  This afternoon she finally met Coco who is more of a horse than a dog, really.  I will try to take some pictures!!!!

Hmmmm.....what are all of these noises?  Nory has been a little afraid of all the new sounds in Canada!  Birds, lawnmowers, motorcycles, etc....

This shot screams JOY!!!!!!  It breaks my heart to think we'll be heading back to Kuwait all too soon :(

It's SUPER NORY!!!!!!  This superhero cape was a gift that Aunt Dana brought back from the Philippines!  Thanks Auntie! xo

Learning about the greatest symbol of all time - and finding them in the yard!

YIPPEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, we survived (or ROCKED!) the trip home to Canada for the second time with Nory.  I really don't know how it's happened on every.single.flight we've ever taken her on.  I mean, is it luck?  Is it good karma?  Is it Nory's AWESOMENESS?  Is it strategy?  Is it a mix of everything? Who knows!  But if it does have ANYTHING to do with strategy, here are our main lines of defense when it comes to keeping Nory (and all other passengers!) happy during these long flights:

1)  Our number one strategy is "acting relaxed and calm".  It sounds silly, but it's amazing how quickly Nory can sense anxiety and take a turn for the absolute worst.  When we're stressed out, it just so happens that she is too.  (We've learned this lesson TOO MANY TIMES and are DETERMINED to never, ever learn it again).

2)  Hop on board with a CHARGED iPad - loaded with the best FREE Fisher Price apps you can find!  For some reason they allowed us to use the iPad during take-off AND landing (woot!) and keeping her buckled up during these times was less of a problem than ever before.

3)  Don't forget your imagination (to accompany the random plastic items in your vicinity on board)!  That vomit bag makes a really good puppet.  And I wonder how many little pieces we could rip it into if we tried.  How about those water bottle instruments?!  Or the blanket bag monster?  (For the record, we know kids can suffocate if left unsupervised with plastic bags.  We supervise her 24/7 while flying.  DUH!)

4)  Make friends.  You'd be surprised how a baby can turn a shy, broody teenage boy into a kind, outgoing soul.  Or how joyful a little game of peekaboo can be for an 85 year old lady two rows back.

5)  Chocolate continues to solve all.  British Airways is a fan of giving out KitKat bars when they bring around snack boxes.  Nory had never tried one before, but she was quite excited that we let her on the flight home!  It gave us the little happiness boost that we needed :)

I'm still waiting for the day that Nory joins the elite "screamed an entire flight home" crew.  I feel like as much as we've learned about flying with a baby, there are always THOSE DAYS and we fear the day that one of THOSE DAYS coincides with a travel date.  Eek!  

Meet Wael.

Nory's newly found, Palestinian Beau :)  It all happened - this head over heels, don't take me away from him kinda love - in a time span of about two minutes.  Which is weird.  Because she usually takes more than two minutes to warm up to strangers.  And it usually takes HOURS (at least!) before she's this over-the-top about it.  Anyways, I have a few theories about it - all surrounding the fact that Wael was here to install the internet. 

1)  Perhaps Nory just LOVES the internet.  Interweb love could certainly be genetic.    

2)  Perhaps there's a correlation between mommy's mood and having a wifi connection.

3)  Perhaps she's as smart as a whip and knows that in 2014, it's not kind for ANYONE to be without internet for five whole days.   

Whatever it was, it sure was CUTE.  I've know her for 16 months now and I admit to a smidgen of jealousy regarding this afternoon's visitor ;)

Oh Nory.  You're the GREATEST. xo