Getting Ready

December 29, 2011

It's the end of the calendar year and it's the end of my year of maternity leave.  It was an amazing year and a fast one too.  I'm going back to work next week and Finlay is going to daycare!  I'm excited to make his little lunches and pack them in his new lunch bag with his re-usable containers.  I have lots of ideas of food to get him through the day (he's a big eater!).  I'm also excited about his Newt-suit and his entire rain-proof get-up.  He (and I, rain pants, boots, jacket and mitts) got all suited up today and went to the park to test it out.  It was great because he got to play without the worry of getting wet, cold, muddy or uncomfortable.

Every time I get Finlay ready to go outside, even if it is just shoes and a vest, he usually looks like this.  He makes faces and moans about it, and generally turns into a bit of a grump, and he gets floppy (which makes it more challenging to get anything on him).

As soon as we got to the park he was excited.  I took him out of the stroller and he crawled right to the stairs that lead up to a slide.  He doesn't go down the slide without me, but he loves to crawl up there and see the view of the playground.  He was standing up there today and just talking about what he could see and pointing at everything.

Here he is just standing and talking about the kids and the swings and the crows.

A trip to the park isn't complete without a snack!  

YUM!

I think he digs his new suit, hat, and booties.  He refused to where the mittens because then he couldn't touch stuff.  He's going to have to much fun with Kyla and the other kids at daycare!

A Very Merry Christmas!

December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas everyone!  Finlay had a tough time falling asleep last night, even after his bedtime story of "The Night Before Christmas," and I think it was because of a man and a red suit.  I know Tyler and I were eager to see what Santa would bring for us!

We had a lovely morning and afternoon.  A lot of new traditions for our new family.  Last night, we had a dinner of appetizers and watched a movie.  This morning there were cinnamon buns and what is left of my Christmas baking (peanut-butter balls, ginger cookies, macaroons) and lots of coffee.  We opened our stockings first and then opened the rest of the gifts under the tree.

This afternoon, we met up with about 30 other people, local families, and went for a walk at Thetis Lake.  The weather was windy and rainy, but the people were warm and welcoming.  We planned on going last year but Finlay was born a little later than we anticipated and so we weren't really up for it.  It is a tradition we would really like to continue!

Now we are home, eating more yummy food and playing with all of our new toys.  Dinner tonight is West Coast Turkey (Dungeness Crab), some mashed Russets, and baked brussel sprouts.  We also have some Saturna Island champagne to enjoy.

Our first family Christmas on our own has been successful (so far).  Reflecting on our day, we feel really rich.  We have families who love us (and are probably enjoying Christmas dinners as I write this) and we miss everyone so much and so enjoyed our g-chats with everyone today.  We still feel very much connected despite the distance.  We feel rich because we got lots of great presents and have enjoyed so many wonderful dishes over the holiday.  We feeling like we hit the jack-pot because we have a beautiful and kind little monster in our midst and Finlay, Tyler, and I are all so in love with each other.  It's all pretty special.

So, we tried to capture some things on camera today but mostly we just enjoyed everything and decidedly stored our mental pictures.  Here's what we've got:

The tree with the stockings and a pig from Santa.

Kind of blurry but this is Finlay's pig and his beautiful stocking (made by Aunt Lindsay and Grand Moo-ma.

Finlay went right for the pig.  He was very excited about the piggy's face and when it rolled when he touched it he looked at my with excitement. 

Fin and his piggy!

He went to his room to check out his newest toy from Grand-Mooma.  He closed his bedroom door, turned on the toy somehow, and immediatly started pressing buttons and dancing!  We have a video but it is incredibly blurred, and Tyler sounds very tired, so I'll have to get a different one soon!

Here is Finlay, digging into his stocking, and chewing on his new toothbrush that Santa brought him.  He really likes brushing his teeth - just like daddy!

Also, we caught Fin on camera playing his new favourite game:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTl3RYcBlw8&feature=youtu.be

Hope everyone out there had a very Merry Christmas!  We miss and love you all and have thought about you a lot today!  Good luck with shopping tomorrow :)

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With Strings

December 24, 2011

Because it's the holidays, Tyler and I are enjoying some tasty food, wine, and "A Christmas Story" together and need to get back to this very serious Christmas business.  But, again, because it's Christmas, we feel the need to enlighten you as to what we are up to and how our little Fin is doing.  Pictures say a thousand words...  

Christmas Eve - lots of gifts for three people and a cat.

Our new tree-topper.

Our theme is pink and gold.

Because we don't have a chimney, Santa appears to be using Canada Post to send all of Finlay's gifts.

Finlay playing with one of his birthday/Christmas gifts from Grand-Mooma.  He loves to close the doors and is working on opening them.  He has found some non-traditional ways of opening the doors - he's pretty clever. 

"Presents, presents, presents..."

"What do you mean it's not time yet?"

"So tell me again, about this Santa guy."

 "Look, I think I see Santa out there!"

"Look, there he is!"

"He left his hat here!"

We each opened one gift tonight.  Here is Tyler opening his gift.

Fist pump.  A socket wrench set.

Finlay's turn!

He was so excited he twisted into an excited fit.

"More musical instruments!  Finally, I can start my own band!"

And he plays.

Bow on the head. Christmas baby!

Finlay has a stocking thanks to Aunt Lindsay and Grand-Mooma.  It's beautiful and ready for Santa!

Merry Christmas from the Harvey-Roach-Grant Clan!

"Amazing!" read: challenging

December 18, 2011


So our Big Baby has become a super-speedy-crawler!  He has also become more independent and he has him own autonomous ideas of which he is very intent.  He's definatly had a developmental growth-spurt over the last week and it is a whole new baby (again) with lots of personality, opinions, new games and a better knowledge of what is around him.

This means, once again, that we need to grow too.  Tyler and I are always playing catch-up.  Just when we think we are comfortable, that this is easy, he figures out that the noisy toy we didn't want him to play with is hidden under the blanket or that the closet doors open or that there is stuff in the drawers that he can pull out onto the floor.  Every new discovery is amazing but brings with it new challenges.

Amazing:  Tyler and I were sitting in the living room, enjoying our coffee and a Holiday-baking-treat, and Finlay, who is standing with the help of the coffee table, ducks down and pops back up again.  He initiated his own game of peek-a-boo.  He would physically hide himself and we would say "where's Finlay?" and he would pop up laughing.  It was so cute and he just kept playing until he had his fill.  We weren't done with the game but Finlay let out a last giggle and he was off to play with a toy.

Challenging:  Every time we change a diaper or attempt to get clothes on this kid.  Yikes!  He will not cooperate.

Here he is, with PJs on, crawling to his room.

The faces he makes when he realizes that it is time to get dressed.

Part way there and he escapes!

"I'm outta here - there is no way I'm letting her get pants on me!"

He sees the diaper and pants - "Good luck with that, lady."

But, for those of you who know me, you know I love a challenge...  especially a cute one!

Happy 1st Birthday Finlay!

December 14, 2011

An open letter to my baby on his first birthday:

To my little Finner,

On your first birthday I am feeling many emotions.  The memories of the days leading up to your big debut, the events surrounding your birth, and the first few days spent with you on the outside are moments I hold so close to my heart that I think about them daily.  The last year feels both like an eternity and a millisecond all at once and I am overwhelmed by the aw I feel when I think about it all.

One year ago today I held you in my arms for the first time.  But so much more happened on that wonderful day.  I remember standing by the window at three in the morning, looking at the stars, and rubbing your feet where they were steadily applying a painful amount of pressure to my right ribs.  I said to you, "Chick, today is your birthday and I can't wait to meet you."  I remember waiting an hour to wake your dad just to make sure that I was really in labour.  I remember feeling excited and exhilarated with every contraction because I knew that there was a finite amount of them and with every one I was one step closer to seeing you.  I remember sitting in a tub of water and saying, with a smile, "I'm going to meet my baby today!"  I remember the confidence I felt in your dad as he calmly handled each hour, minute and second of that day and how he was so supportive and loving.

I remember the lights on our little Christmas tree, the sound of the vacuum, the taste of coconut water, the smell of Uta's soap, and every feeling felt.

I remember the way you looked at me with just your left eye open, and then both, like you knew me.  At first, you were kind of floppy, like a rag doll, but soon you were nuzzling into me as if you knew I was where you belonged.

Some mothers pronounce their love at that moment.  I loved you long before I met you and fell deeply in love with you some time after.  I loved you before I knew you and I fell deeply for you once I got to know you.

I loved you when I looked at your father as a life partner.  I loved you when he and I decided that the time was now; let's have a baby.  I loved you when I lost "Bun."  I loved you when I saw two pink lines become faint and then obvious as I stood patiently while sunlight streamed through cedars in our cabin in the woods.  I loved you when I saw you wiggling at our first early ultrasound and again when I heard your calm and steady heartbeat at 12 weeks.  I loved you when I saw your personality come alive during the ultrasound when you showed us your yoga moves.  I loved your first kicks, stretches and hiccups that jolted me awake in the night and made me giggle during staff meetings at work.  I loved you when I had no room left to give and ached to hold you in my arms rather than with my ribs.

I loved you the day I delivered you into this world and I fell in love with you more and more with every moment that followed.  Every adorable yawn, curious gaze, smelly poop, communicative cry, and warm cuddle to follow caused me to fall deeper and deeper.  Your smile, grin, giggle, precocious glance, and every growl, grunt, and laugh made me more sure of my devotion.  Your calm, caring, curious and cautious personality, although fluid, has taught me many things about patience, compassion, perseverance, and trust and, of course, made me love you even more.

Because to know you is to love you and to love you is to know you.

So, on the anniversary of your arrival, I wish to acknowledge your birth but also the birth of a mother, a father, and a family.

Your father's adoration, commitment and care of both you and I has been the backbone of this new family.  Without his patience, his efforts to take care of me so that I could take care of you, and his undying desire to be a presence in our lives we would not be where we are today.  He lights up at the sound of your name and the best part of his day is when you reach out for him with bright eyes and an "it's you!" grin.

I may be your mother but you are my teacher.  In those early days I said to you, as you wailed on the change table, "Be patient, I'm new at this."  Thank you for taking it slow with your student.  I learn more everyday and, although I make mistakes, you seem to have boundless understanding and tolerance.  Thanks to being your mother, I have more patience with myself and more compassion for others.

It's been one wonderful year.  A year full of vibrating, gleeful, all-encompassing smiles.  There were tears and there were messes but there were so many firsts, snuggles and cuddles, books read, kisses (at least a million), games played, walks taken, food eaten and thrown, and even some sleep.  You have grown so much and I have grown with you.

Happy 1st Birthday Finlay!  I love you and I look forward to loving you moment to moment, forever and ever.

Love Mama

This is a little out of focus but it was the first family photo.  It was taken just moments after Finlay was born - his eyes are not even open yet!

Oh, Christmas Tree!

December 11, 2011

Yesterday, we had a very nice start to our Christmas season.  After a lovely breakfast and a nap, we took a walk to the local Christmas Market (the Moss Street Market we attend in the warm months but it is inside and there is free apple cider).  We were on a quest for a tree-topper.  Last year, I meant to go out and get one but I had a baby instead.  So in 2010, our tree was topped with a sort-of-bow.  But I really wanted a pretty gold star that is sparkly with lots of glitter.  Well, we walked along the crowded bazaar, with Finlay in the Ergo carrier, and didn't see a single tree-topper.  But we did see Kyla, Finlay's childcare in the new year, and that was nice.  We also had a lovely lunch cooked by the Immigrant Women's Collective (Finlay's first taste of saffron) and just enjoyed the market atmosphere.  I let Finlay try my cider and I may have created a monster - he was pretty disappointed when I signed "all gone."

Finlay is back on the signing wagon.  He concurred the sign for "more" over the past few days which was handy during our tree-decorating appetizer-dinner.  Finlay's portion of the tray was avocado pieces, latkes (traditionally Hannukah, but we have made them tree-decorating tradition of ours) and apple sauce.  I put the tray down on the coffee table and Finlay immediately scampered up and started chowing down.  We have never eaten there with him before but he just went for it!  He was signing more for the latkes as he seemed to inhale them pretty quickly.  Tyler and I had homemade pizza and cider (with rum) after Fin went down.

Finlay and the latkes. 

Got a little somethin' on your face.

Touching the tree.  He reaches out very carefully to touch it lightly, then he looks up at me with an "I did it!" expression.  So cute.

So excited about the tree.

Almost done!  A few more decorations after Fin goes to bed and still needs a topper.

Fin and his drink.

Only one decoration bit the dust.

We're back!

December 8, 2011

We're back!  We took a vacation from rainy Victoria and the blog to go to rainy London and spend time with some family and friends.  But now we are back home and I am back at the blog - but I'm starting slow, so bare with me!

We had a lovely time in Ontario.  Tyler joined Finlay and I for the last eight days of the trip.  For the first few days, Finlay had a raging case of Mommy-itis (separation anxiety).  But after about five days he warmed up a little and got more interested in exploring cupboard and drawers, playing with all of the new toys he encountered, and talking up the family and other visitors.

Finlay and I spent some time with his great-grandparents, his Nans & Gramps, and his Uncle Chris.  He chased after the cat, Amichi, saying his words for cat "da-da-dat," and stopping shocked when the cat actually let him pet her (very different story from Asha at home).

We also stayed with Grandma who had saved some toys from a flood just for him!  He was also very interested in the cats there and he warmed up to Grandma pretty quickly.

Seeing his Grandpa Charlie's dogs was really exciting for Finlay.  He pet them all and laughed when they barked and just couldn't get enough of their kisses.  Grandpa made funny noises and Finlay had some snacks while they were visiting and even shared with each other.

Bonding with Finlay seemed almost impossible at first.  I was pretty worried for the first few days as he was not quite himself and seemed challenged by the smallest distance between us.  He constantly has to check in with me - poor little guy!

At the end of our visit, Finlay celebrated his birthday a little early with a big first birthday bash!  The theme was "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and there was a lot of food, a lot of cupcakes, and a lot of special people there to celebrate.

Aunt Megan and Aunt Kalandra came by for a visit.  Megan gave Finlay his first Birthday present - a snazzy blue vest.

Tyler helped Fin unwrap the gift.

He didn't need too much help.

The party got started and Finlay met his 3rd cousin, Nathan, who brought him some toys.  Great Grandma and Grandpa Harvey were there to wish him a very happy birthday.

Finlay had some sushi for appetizers (this is his sushi face - he loves it but makes this face every time).

So many fun toys!

Hanging with the family.

Denise, Nathan's mom, took Fin away to play and did a great job of entertaining/distracting him!

Time for presents - we did not expect there to be presents, as we were heading back to BC in the morning with only two suitcases.  But there were plenty of thoughtful cards and a few gifts and we managed to fit everything in our luggage.

Finlay loves cards.  We set them up at home and he likes to knock them down, touch the pictures and open and close them.

Auntie Car's artistic shot.

Finlay and Elissa - kids just love her!

Yummy flashlight.

From left to right - Great Aunt Marie, Uncle Chris, Joanna, Tyler, Lyndze, Finlay, Liv, Nathan.

Liv and Nathan helped to unwrap presents.

Great Aunt Glenna and some balloons.

Unfortunately, our card was full and we didn't catch the cake on camera.  If anyone out there has shots of the party, please email them to me!

Thanks to all of you who could attend Finlay First Birthday Party.  The support and love was overwhelming.  A special thanks to the party team who cleaned, cooked, baked, cut-out caterpillars, displayed photocopy-machine-genius, picked-up balloons and sushi, and so much more.  Much love to everyone.  This has been one crazy ride.  Can't wait for the next leg of the journey.