Our Family & Our Life

Heather writes: "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh". Gen. 2: 24 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY COLIN! xoxo

Colin writes: Last year we weren't able to celebrate our wedding anniversary together as Heather and I were apart. This year thankfully we are together. Therefore I would just like to say to you Heather dear, "it's good to be together, and I look forward to spending many more years with you" Love always, Colin......

I'm REALLY tired tonight but thought I would post a few photos from our trip to the children's museum today before I go to bed. Isla and I went with a friend and her son and I think it is safe to say we all had a good time. I'll be short on commentary but this museum is great because she can touch EVERYTHING! There are areas for kids to just run about, get dressed up and kid-sized exhibits. I think I may try to make another trip before we leave for Canada. In the locker.... ... out of the locker. ... the bunny costume she looked incredibly cute wearing... ... just like her father in the kitchen, making a mess and lovin' it! She wasn't sure what to think of the fireman get up...

... and the verdict is... DENY ... for both applications. The "big" application consisting of the work and residency permit was a big disappointment. I say disappointment with surprise because even though we sort of knew it was coming and I want to move back to Canada, I was really disappointed. I don't want to move again. I want to stay here to have stability in our lives - for the first time in Isla's life. I want to sit on my sofa's again (they're in my parents basement 1500 miles away) in our living room. I haven't seen the letter but Colin said that some of the points they raised were petty. Could be but at the end of the day the company was too new, not established enough to qualify for this visa. Thankfully the denial has nothing to do with Colin and I and we have no ban from entering the US again in the future. The biggest surprise that made me madder than a hornet was in regards to Colin's temporary business visa - the visa...

Half-Birthday? Yes, Isla is 18 months so half way to her 2nd birthday. I've heard the 2nd year goes quicker than the 1st year and they are right! She is still very much a happy social girl however just the last few weeks she has started to grow weary of adults but plays well with other children. Sharing isn't easy either but in her defense she's alone alot and is pretty good the few times she gets to "practice" sharing. At least there are no tantrums! She loves a good cuddle on her time and is a good smoocher. All we have to say is "mmmmm" and she'll come running to give us a kiss. Colin gets loads of hugs but I really have to work to get one! Nice. On the speaking front she is a chatter box but 90% of the time, we're not sure what she is saying otherwise she is right up there with her peers. She says all sorts of words like keys (a favourite toy), apple (the new favourite word), ball (which she can throw overhand) and others which ...

I'm starting this post about our afternoon rather than the morning because that's the way the photos uploaded.... Colin and I decided to visit the Wings Over the Rockies museum this afternoon. It's located at the old Lowry AFB here in Denver and since it's so close to home, we should check it out. What else are we going to do this afternoon? There were lots of Air Force planes and helicopters since the start of flight so it made for an interesting afternoon. Isla, however, enjoyed the children's play room the most as she was held "captive" in the stroller and couldn't run around freely. We also learned our girl is NOT into airplanes at all but I can't say I blame her. Colin enjoyed it and it was small break from the ordinary. Now backtracking to this morning..... I belong to chat room of other February 2008 moms. We have daily discussions about the goings on in our daily lives and how the little ones are sleeping or not sleeping and tha...

I read this in the July '09 Parents magazine and couldn't stop laughing! Enjoy! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Dear Mom and Dad, Thank you for your interest in remaining my parents. Below is a list of my demands. The Toddler Contract I. Food 1.)For breakfast, there will be only milk in my sippy cup while I am watching television (see section II.) 2.)From breakfast until what you probably call lunch, I will be provided with an unending supply of cookies. No arguments. 3.)For lunch I will eat yogurt. Anything containing fruit on the bottom will make me pick it out and throw it on the ground or else throw it up on your carpet. a. So no fruit on the bottom. 4.)From lunch until dinner I will enjoy having something to lick. Why not a lollipop? Why not seven? a. Between licks, I may place my lollipop on your grandmother's Turkish rug. This will be ok with you. 5.)For dinner I will have macaroni and cheese. Any attempts to give me vegetables in addition to the macaroni and che...

I just wrote a big long post and when I hit the publish button, I got an error message. I hate it when that happens!!! Perhaps I shouldn't re-write it, I'll think about it. In the meantime, here is a little bit of sweetness:

The weekends include alot of Daddy and Isla time. I'm handy to have around when Colin isn't, apparently. Colin left the apartment this weekend and she started bawling her eyes out and came running to me. I guess it's my role to be a comforter. During the week when he is home from work he has started the habit of knocking on the kitchen window to announce that he is home. If you could see her face when she sees him, it's priceless! To say that she is a daddy's girl is an understatement. But I'm not jealous, even when she won't give me an eskimo kiss (nee, nee as she calls it) after rubbing Colin's nose without fail everyday. Oh no, not me! I get to have her all to myself all day. Of course there are times that I would love to just go out on my own but 99% of the time, I love our time together. Just this morning we enjoyed our coffee break on the balcony together. I had coffee and she enjoyed her cup of juice while wearing her favourite hat. Goi...

My baby is almost 18 months old and everyday is showing signs that she is getting more and more independent. Just yesterday she went down the slide all by herself... Oh sigh, and then she went on the horse by herself and wiggled away.. I understand to some readers you're saying to yourself, who cares, but this is my BABY and she's doesn't need me for EVERYTHING anymore... Pretty soon she'll be asking for the car keys.... sighhh... Until then, I think I'll take her shopping this afternoon and push her around in her stroller, just like a baby!!!

YAY! Isla has finally gained the weight back that she lost a couple of weeks ago while she was sick. I was beginning to think she would be stuck at 21.4 lbs. forever but we weighed her yesterday on our bathroom scales (I HATE that thing) and she was 22.7 lbs. FINALLY! I'm hoping she'll crack the 23lb. mark by her 18 month birthday in a couple of weeks. Out of curiousity, I checked her height and weight against the "average" 17 month old. Her weight puts her at the 36th percentile and she grew a bit taller and is now at the 63rd percentile for height. I haven't measured her head because it's usually in the upper 90th percentile - she has that big Black head that's full of brains!!! Honestly, she started life small (5lbs 4ozs.) and has always grown out her own rate so I've never followed or even really cared about percentiles. She is who she is, petite, and I don't compare her to other kids because we know she's healthy and developing ri...

OK, so when I take the piggies out of Isla's hair at night, this is what I'm left to contend with: W-I-N-G-S I remember having the same problem as a kid. These days my hair is falling out in clumps but that is to be discussed in another post when I feel up to it. What do I do? Her hair is getting so long it's starting to fall into her eyes and the only way I can keep it out of her eyes is to tie back in piggies. Thankfully she doesn't seem to mind too much. Hair clips are not an option. I don't know why, ask Isla. BUT since her hair has been growing quickly I was thinking of getting her hair cut in the near future and cut in the bangs (or fringe for those who call bangs, fringe) and to even the rest of it out. Yes, her first "real" haircut! But should I? Should I get her bangs or should I just tie them back with piggies? ummm, I might have to sleep on it a bit more but I'm leaning toward a "real" haircut with bangs. What do y'all t...