Amelia had a cough yesterday and since she has a birthday party to attend this weekend, I thought it would be best to keep her home from school on this rainy (?) Friday in January. However, she woke up feeling fine this morning so she joined CJ and I at Petit Gym for a very bouncy, swingy time.
Bouncing on the air track.
Walking on the low beam.
Swinging from the single bar.
Swinging on the rings.
Practicing on the uneven bars.
Walking together on the high beam.
Bubbles!
Clara is just getting to the stage where she’ll ham it up for the camera rather than always wanting to press the buttons or look at the display to see the photos. Today when I asked her if I could take some pictures of her and the baby she happily agreed.
We started out in the kitchen.
I generally find that our kitchen doesn’t have enough natural light so I asked CJ if we could go into the living room and sit near the window to take more pictures. She promptly picked up the baby and headed to the living room. She climbed up onto the window bench and then waited patiently for me to come and take more pictures of her.
Trying to do a fishy face.
*She had a little blueberry on her face from breakfast. She didn’t seem to mind.
Ok, so I do a bit of talking on this video but mostly it is wordless. And more importantly, cute. I think it applies.
For a long time I have wanted to write a post about the so-called Mommy wars — the stay-at-home moms vs. the work-outside-the-home moms. And all the guilt that everyone seems to feel on both sides of the debate. Most of the time when I read blog posts or parenting articles or other social media discussing, dissecting, investigating, commenting, opining on this issue I just want to say “STOP IT.”
Why is it always us vs. them? We are all women. We are all mothers. Isn’t that enough to bond us together? To unite us, rather than push us apart?
Then I read this post (thanks Julie).
Ian’s speech from the celebration of Norman’s life:
“It’s hard to believe now that just five years ago our Papa was playing soccer with his boys in a competitive soccer league at the age of 65. At that time he was happy transitioning into semi-retirement where he got to do what he loved, traveling the world meeting people and teaching his expertise in telecom and data networks. Most recently he was working in Africa; Cameroon, Sudan, Namibia and many other places. Over his career he worked as far and wide as Brazil, Italy, Netherlands, Russia, and Indonesia. He was always on the move whether traveling or in his own home. He couldn’t sit still! All in all, he seemed perpetually fit so of course we expected he would be with us a long time.
It was a very difficult last year for the family but in many ways it was also very special. It brought our family together in many ways. There were many touching moments particularly between “Grand-Grand” and his granddaughters Amelia and Clara Jane, which are in evidence in many photos. He was a great Papa who let us learn our own lessons but was always there for us to help or bail us out of any situation. For me it took becoming a dad to truly appreciate the special way he had with children. Its funny how you spend much of your life wanted to be anything but like your parents and now I realize I aspire to be much more like he was. His positivity will be carried on by all who knew him.”
Mimi and CJ bring an abundance of happiness and joy to us and to each other, every single day. Their little giggles and silly antics and loving ways carry us through tough times. They guide our way through the darkness. They anchor us. They are our world.
*practicing nose kisses.
Ian took some of the first week of January off so we made the most of it by visiting several fun local destinations including the Ecomuseum. We were lucky enough to see an up-close talk about birds of prey including a falcon, a barn owl and a great horned owl.
We visited Montreal’s new indoor amusement park, which the girls loved. Amelia’s favourite ride was the train, while Clara Jane loved the bumper cars best. We were there when it wasn’t too crowded so the girls could enjoy the rides without having to wait in line. Our passes were valid for four hours but we only stayed for about two hours, including a break for lunch. The girls had had enough.
We’ve been skating several times, and Ian and I even managed to go to a movie in the theatre for the first time in about four years. We have also been out to eat several times this holiday season — a treat for the girls since we rarely go to restaurants.
*Waffles with figs, strawberries and mascarpone.
*After skating at Mount Royal, a trip to Lester’s for smoked meat.
The other day Clara started saying what sounded like “ma” every time she wanted to indicate that something was hers — her bowl of soup, a toy, a book. At first I thought she was trying to say “mine” but then I asked her to say “mine” and she was able to do it. So, after thinking about it for a few minutes I realised she was actually saying “moi” just like her big sister does. Now she says it all the time when she wants to tell us something is hers, or for her.
Today when I was putting Clara down for her nap she kept saying “Bobo” and shrugging her shoulders as if to say “where is it?” I thought she was asking for Babu, since we had just spent the morning with him at the Ecomuseum. But then she pointed to her bookshelf and repeated “Bobo” and I knew she was asking for the book called Hug, in which the monkey is named Bobo. She knows how to say “book” but she doesn’t use it often because it is one of the only words she doesn’t pronounce clearly.
Not too long ago, Clara said her first first three-word sentence; “Mama, banana please” although it actually sounded like “mama, nana, peese.”
She loves her Uncle Dan.
