sleep little baby... PLEASE!

Makaela LOVES bookshelves... and EVERY book that is on them. She knows that Daddy's bookshelf is not to be touched but every once in awhile I will let her choose a book and sit on the ground and read it off of DADDY'S SHELF!!! These things are exciting for a 15 month old!!

Yesterday she chose a scrapbook that I had made for Greg our first Valentines day we were dating. I don't have time or patience for that anymore, but I am glad I made that one! Makaela anxiously sat on the floor and kept flipping through the pages saying "dadda", "dadda"," dadda"! Who would have thought that when I made that book 4 years ago now that I would be sitting on the floor with my baby girl remembering where her "dadda" and "mommmmee" started from. I must say that it was a pretty special moment.

We have not been the healthiest household lately. Makaela has all the signs of croup but the doctor wants to let her fight it on her own if she can! (I agree.. but that means no sleep for mom! ha!) So to say the least at 5 this morning when she still had not gotten into a deep sleep because of her coughing, daddy and mommy felt like death! It's funny how I hate when she is sick but I LOVE how cuddly she is.

Have no fear though, her sense of humour is still around! Greg and I took her to the doctor last night and when we were in the waiting room a lady started to cough so she covered her mouth and coughed a long with her. When everyone started to laugh she continued on with the show!
She now knows how to pump her arm when I say GO CANADA (too cute) and she likes to spin with Greg like the ice skaters...and fall down like them too!

So for a Tuesday, it has been eventful yet quiet all at the same time. Greg is painting the ceiling downstairs as we have found one thing that I just cant get right with a paint brush! As for me... laundry and our cleaning our home... and a little R&R!

Missing my family...

manda

what snow???

WOWWWWWWEEEEEE! It's almost been a month! Time flies when you're having fun.... or just being LAZY!

It was almost a snow day for me today! Turns out the weather man was actually right this time!

Every other ' storm' has been a dusting of snow, so when I woke up this morning and looked out the window, I saw a little on the car and the road seemed clear.BUT THEN, we got a phone call from Bev to see how it was in Sackville. When Greg asked me I said it seemed like nothing had happened. When she said she was snowed in, I thought, "Wow, that's odd.". So I decided to take another look! Turns out this time I had my GLASSES on!!! OH MY DEAR! The snow at the end of my driveway was up to my waste.... and we could hardly open our front door. I have decided I am pretty much clueless in the morning. I would have left for work at 8:45, opened the door and not have been able to step out the door due to the amount of snow that had fallen! Oh the visual of that keeps running through my head! Let's just say my family has had a good laugh at my expense... what can I say, I am BLIND without my glasses!
It took us 2 hours to DIG out... but it was fun. I had the morning off til noon. It was so dead at work that it was almost like a play day anyway! So enjoy the pictures of the snow that I really could not see when I first looked out this morning! Last night when I went to bed I could see our grass.... wow, things can change in hours, eh!
PS. GO CANADA GO!

manda

monday

What is it about Monday's that seem to be so BLAH? Maybe it's because Sunday's are so great that Monday's have to be a downer..... But to say the least, Monday is NOT my favorite day of the week. When I got my new contract at RBC, I was switched from Wed, Thurs, Sat to Monday, Wednesday, Thursday... It was a FANTASTIC switch... but that Monday is my battle! I still whistle while I work to get me through. And truthfully once I get there, I love it.

Today I was 'super mom/wife". On my lunch hour I rushed home and put on a roast, and emptied the dishwasher, cleaned up the kitchen, cleaned the bathroom (fully:) ) and still had a few minutes to eat lunch! Why would I bother?? Because I did not want it on my list of things to do tomorrow on my DAY OFF! Keyword being day OFF!

As for FOOTBALL ....I am still grumpy about my Vikings losing ... GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR. I tell ya, what I wouldn't do to take that last play back for Favre. Oh well, here's to next year!
So... it's time to go and put up my feet and call it a day. My day OFF has begun!

manda

Looking out our front window, I am in AWE of the beauty of creation. Fresh snow everywhere.... absolutely STUNNING. So often we miss out on the little things of creation that I call 'jaw droppers'! How is God so PATIENT towards us? I once said I would name my child Patience... but now I fear that the name would require my patience to be tested tooooooo much.. so that's a no go!

So in my devotions tonight, I stopped and asked myself why we only seem to see the hand of God when we look back on our lives? How do we miss it on a daily basis? I can see how God led me from one place to another, from one relationship to another, from one job to another... and it all seems so clear. But now I look- anticipating the same clarity looking forward, and yet in the darkness I can't see. I know that we are only supposed to take it one day at a time... trusting God, but I must admit that I can't wait to see the BIG picture (when I look back!). I hope my life has evidenced me taking steps of FAITH... and even in the darkness, looking to the LIGHT.

Another dramatic night in M's and my play date. Makaela has developed a LOVE for books. So tonight I laid down on the floor in her room and she came over with a book and said "ki-ka". (Kitty cat for those who do not speak "mom"!) And sure enough... there was a black and white cat on the page. Turns out, that on every page of the story there is a cat in a different place. So... I tested her intelligence (ha) and we searched for the cat on EVERY page... and sure enough... she found about 7 out of the 10! SO CUTE!!!!! She was right proud of herself too. I did not really know what to feel... my baby girl is growing up... but at least she is smart:)

manda

tu-tu's and twirling

I find it fascinating how a day off can be busier than a normal work day! How is it 10:30 at night and I am just sitting down to blog?! Something seems wrong with this picture!

Today I am thanking the Lord for good christian friends! Last night Greg, Makaela and I went out to Jeremy and Cheryl's with Tim and Jen and baby Michael! Besides the AMAZING prime rib roast .... (mmmmmm)... our time together was filled with dancing around in tutus and learning how to twirl like a ballerina!

Jeremy and Cheryl's girls, Alexandrea and Raeanna, LOVE ballet! Ever since Makaela was born, Alex has been DREAMING of the day that she could start teaching Makaela how to do ballet. A few weeks ago at church, Alex came up to me and whispered in my ear, "I believe that Makaela is now ready to learn ballet". (exact words!) So when we showed up at the door, there was Alex dressed from head to toe in her ballet 'gear'. And on went the tu-tus! I should have brought my camera! Even Greg pranced around and taught Alex how NOT to do ballet!

Turns out Alex had BIG plans for my 14 month old! She thought Mak would be on her tip toes and twirling like a star with the 5 min lesson she gave her! Well to say the least... I do not have a ballet star as of yet! Although she does know how to Plié... (yes, I had to look up the spelling!!!).
I paid little Alexandrea $2.00 for her efforts and assured her that M would be practicing at home!!!! (she's strict what can I say!!) I simply LOVE that girl! and Greg... don't quit your day job! :)

manda

being a mommy

Some days being a mommy just brings the BIGGEST smile to my face. Makaela is picking up things SO quickly now its kind of scaring me. She knows a ton of words but still cant say them... but I tell ya she is smarter than she lets on.

Tonight before bed I was "peeking" at her through my legs... and she decided to copy me but ended up banging her head on the floor. Poor thing. Somethings she is just not ready for yet:)

When I went into her room tonight with her at bedtime, she made it very clear she wanted me to rock her to sleep... so I did. How could I say no when these moments are going by SO quickly! I love those quiet times when I get to rub her back and sing to her. My favorite is when she starts humming along with me... ! I tell ya, God gives us those moments to give us the strength when we are ready to pull our hair out... and those moments are just as real as the quiet ones! I will always cherish days like these. Being a mommy is simply the best.

manda

mmmmm cookies

Not much on the brain tonight besides telling myself that I really don't need the cookie that I am CRAVING! Gooo... why do we always have to start off the year denying ourselves of all the good things food has to offer. I guess that's why I like the end of the year better.... cause at that point you just don't care.

Oh well, I can make it a month or so, then I will be back to "eating in moderation".... in other words, "allowing myself to be bad".

...Funny part about all this is that my "New Year's Goal" was to bake and cook more... So when I got home from Ontario, I thought I would be a good little wife (hahahahaaaaa) and bake up a batch of cookies...!!! After all, Greg knew about my new goal... and he was quite excited! So when Greg came home from New Brunswick and saw the cookies and said, "Why did you bake them when we can't eat them?" ... I put every single eewy, gooey chocolate chip cookie into the freezer and proclaimed loudly ,
"I can't win. :P"

And this my friends is why you do NOT make new year's resolutions...

manda