Reposted from: http://fork-you.tumblr.com/

:: First Christmas ::

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:: Stanley Park Train 2010 ::

An awesome night with one of our favorite families.

Fishers, you rock three children so well, you might as well make it four.  Or five.

We are so blessed with your friendship!

We love you!

{J: Love the sight of our boys rocking the baby carriers together!}

A late night in line for the ferry, but definitely worth it.

What a great night!  Its starting to feel a lot like Christmas...

We are sick.  Not just sniffles sick.  But hacking chest coughs and congested sinuses and lost voices.  I haven't felt this horrible since last year at Christmas, the last time I was sick.  But, I'm trying to stay possitive and am convinced I will feel better before the 24th!

I was just curled up on the couch with a hot cup of strong orange pekoe and read this:

"Trust yourself.  Create the kind of self that you will be happy to live with all your life.  Make the most of yourself by fanning the tiny, inner sparks of possibiiltiy into flames of achievement."

- Golda Meir

I had to share it immediately.  Now, back to my tea.

Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday :: A Perfect Week

A few weeks ago, my favorite little man and I ventured into the city for a few play dates, some cross-border Christmas shopping, and much needed coffee date with one of my girlfriends.  Wednesday :: A long, crisp walk full of deep conversation about our hearts and desires and dreams, shared sugar cookies between generous babies, hot Starbucks treats.  A woman's night full of old friends, dressed for the season, sharing our lives over miniature cheesecake, teas, and candle light.  An inspiring cause and an inspiring friend, working so hard, though pregnant, over the last few weeks to change women's lives in another country.  Thursday :: Showing my Judah our city of White Rock, wandered Chapters, admiring the notebooks and mugs and all things pretty Daddy has ban us from buying, finding a delicious floral romper for our newest family member and sharing a hot bowl of goulash and fresh bread at our old bakery. Cherishing the moments and deciding that a weekly cafe date should be a new momma & babe ritual, to bond, to observe, to socialize, to love.  Then off to photography lessons on the other side of the bridge, exploring new areas of the Lower Mainland.  Watching Judah play with the older children, discussing homeschooling and child-rearing and our faiths and where we have come from.  Excitement over new friendships, appreciating and in awe of the wisdom she shared so willingly about life, herself, her photography.  The night was full of laughter and a babbling, sometimes screeching baby at the pizzeria with my father-in-law.  Spending time alone, him learning about having a daughter and the change in dynamics it brings, me learning a new kind of father, so different than my own.  Friday :: A cross border morning, finding bargain treasures for our loved ones, finding the perfect 1st Christmas ornament for our tree.  A cold afternoon at an ocean side park, playing and dodging and swinging, full of baby laughter.  A daddy & a bulldog, unexpected energy.  Our family complete again.  Reliving our week, animated, Christmas music the soundtrack.  A Christmas party with good friends, alive and sparkly and passionate, inspiring conversations, birth stories, momma stories, loud basement games.  Saturday ::  Breakfast cafe in Crescent Beach, a friend and his beautiful new wife.  A beachside walk, our fur babies meeting other spoiled pets.  A miniature horse & attempting again to convince Jody they make good pets.  Me, alone, exploring antique stores and boutiques in Fort Langley, one of my favorite places.  Private time, so rare.  Finding small trinkets - a new bib for my wee one and luxurious Butter nail polish for myself, a splurge.  Finding inspiration on the darkest sidewalk, breathing crisp air, and dreaming of the future.  A night of new friends mixed with old, card games and delicious food.  Sunday :: Lazy mornings & eggnog lattes, running errands and finding the perfect Christmas treasures for our loved ones.  Out of town friends and the Stanley Park Christmas train, a new tradition.  Laughing over babies squirming and small children escaping.  Braving the bitter cold together, a lifelong friendship, a new generation.  
I love my life.

Christmas trees bring a whole new meaning to baby proofing.

Ellen's 60th

{Posted late}

Very early one morning, Judah & I headed for the ferry to visit two very special ladies in our lives - my mom & MIL, whose birthdays are November 3rd & 4th.  Judah joined me in the front seat as we waited for our ferry to carry us to the mainland.  I sipped a steamy americano and fed him bits of banana bread.  He wore his very best, a little tie and vest, in honor of his Nana's 60th birthday and an afternoon of birthday surprises.  A serene, picturesque ferry ride delivered us to Judah's GG (great grandma) and Nana and we whisked them off to Tracy Cake's in Fort Langley for high tea.  It was the perfect afternoon and Judah was the perfect gentleman... until he dropped a silver platter off the table, where it then tumbled down an entire flight of stairs.  Inconspicuous we aren't.

Judah & his GG.  

Our family is so incredibly blessed to have four generations of Pages together.  GG is Jody's Nana.  And, well, my Nana too.  Ever since the first time I met her, she embraced me, teased me mercilessly, tried to feed me,  and loved me.  She has a wicked sense of humor and an infectious laugh.  I'll never forget the time, as newlyweds, that she sent Jody & I home from Thanksgiving dinner with a tupperware container of whipping cream... but no pie...  I told you she's a naughty one.

She means the world to Jody & I.  

We are SO blessed by my mother-in-law and that, although we don't live within a close distance, we see her and my father-in-law often.  Probably more often than they'd like, actually.  She is an amazing Nana, falling into the role as a first time grandparent effortlessly.  She spoils him at every opportunity, especially with love.  And sleepers.  Well, and toys.  Judah adores her and my father-in-law.

I wasn't raised having a close relationship with my grandparents, so knowing Judah has generations of love surrounding and supporting him mean so very much to me. 

Judah's in love.

.... More late birthday posts to follow....

one brisk afternoon, after a whiny morning from a congested little man, we needed to get out of the house.  the park just up the road.  i don't know why i never thought of it before. off to the baby swing we went.

excited.

not so sure what's going on.

happy.

the ever present guard dog.  
she managed to move away from the fireplace long enough to go for a walk.

judah, i love our daily adventures and watching you discover something new.  living my life through your eyes is making me appreciate the little moments, the new discoveries and the small triumphs in a fresh way.  although you are so small, you inspire and encourage me more than you will ever know.

:: 7 months ::

{posted 1 month late.  I just realized I forgot to post this!}

Where has the time gone?

My little man is already 7 months old.  Oh my.

16.5 pounds

27.5 inches

There isn't anything that I haven't told you - how much you've changed my life in every way, from the first moment that I saw you.  How overwhelming my love is for you.  The many desires I have of myself as your mother and for your life.

You are becoming more and more yourself everyday.  You spend all your time on your tummy, trying so hard to crawl.  You scoot across the room, right into Minnow's bed, doing a combination army crawl and belly flop.  You love your hands, laying on your back twisting them above your face, watching your newly discovered trick.  You say "Mommomom" and "Daddadadad" constantly, but I can happily report "momommamoma" was first.  You make noises constantly while we drive, chattering away happily in the backseat.  You flirt with all the ladies at Starbucks, smiling and making friends wherever we go.  You jump higher and higher in your Jolly Jumper, loving every minute, and then stop, letting me sneak food into your mouth, jumping again as you chew.  

What a life you have, my wee bebe.

You are my sunshine.

Love Mommy

A few weeks ago, I had the honor of taking pictures for some close friends of ours.  They are an incredible little family whose friendship has meant the world to us as they teach us to make sushi, laugh at all our jokes, or play late night Yahtzee.  Judy & I have spent many, many days together in the parks and coffee shops with our little men during our year maternity leave.  We tromped off into the forest for family photos to honor this family's love of everything outdoorsy.  Judy even showed me what salmon spawning looks like.  Who says you can't take a city girl into the woods every now & again?!  :)

This is just a snapshot of two of my favorites so far.  The editing continues... stay tuned.