Our Family & Our Life

We're together as a family again, the weather is sunny and warm and we just celebrated Easter - He's Risen! It's been great being together and the only time Isla has left Colin's side is to sleep.   I picked him up bright and early on Thursday morning.  He really wanted me to take her along but I just didn't have the heart to wake her up at 5 a.m..... Good thing I didn't either because his flight was late! Anyways, we're hanging out at home and making the most of the sun.  We did leave home to go to Mountsberg for the Maple Syrup Festival and it was good fun. Some photos from the last few days: Mom bought her a "new" house and she L-O-V-E-S it - $$ well spent, thanks Oma! We went for a walk down the road and guess who took off running? Pearl also came with us, bad kitty! Mountsberg Easter Egg Hunt - she picked up all the purple eggs Getting her prize By this time it was naptime ... good thing daddy was there! Did you notice Colin&

I'm patting myself on the back at the moment for posting on the blog finally...... Nothing exciting to report.  Isla is still coughing especially at night but thankfully the doctor didn't find anything wrong with her and said it could take awhile to recover completely from a viral infection.  I have noticed a significant improvement the last couple of nights and tonight is the first night that I haven't used the Vicks Vapo in her humidifier.  She's been sleeping soooo much better too which means I also have been able to get a few more hours of rest each night.  Single parenting for long stretches of time is hard work so trust me when I say I need all the rest I can get. Colin is in Brazil and will return until next weekend.   For some reason I had it in my head that Easter was this weekend and he would be home on Friday morning but I got it wrong, it's next weekend.  It will be nice to have him back, we miss him so much!  He's been able to fly to different cit

As I write this, the house is quiet.  The cats are asleep, Colin is asleep (and feeling ill) and Isla is still in bed.  I should be napping too but Isla awoke for a bit and that was the end of my "nap". I've been MIA from the blogging world.  We've been spending time together before Colin leaves again this weekend for Brazil.  The time he is home goes by far too quickly and I miss him already!  I think he will be back the Easter weekend. We've been keeping well for the most part.  Some good laughs and good cries, some happy moments and some moments of anxiety.  We've been through the whole realm of emotions and sickness but we'll get through and focus on the good for now.  We've come to expect plans that go amiss and to be honest, I don't understand why but I pray that His plan will be done.  Maybe I've been taking advantage of the good and haven't noticed them as much but there always seems to be something "bad" going on.  I ca

Today was a wonderfully bright, sunny winter day here in the Great White North.... Despite waking up at 6 a.m. Isla didn't want to nap so we went for a walk on the Wetlands Trail instead.   I forgot my gloves and decided not to walk as far as I had planned because it was c-o-l-d.  Besides, the lady had enough of sitting and wanted to walk back to the van. I know she is wearing a winter coat with a car blanket but seriously, she's outgrowing this stroller.  February 2010 May 2008 She looks so tiny and look at all the room in there!  She's getting to be a big girl and I get sentimental thinking of her 2nd birthday next week..... .....  What happened to my tiny 2.5 month old baby?  She's grown into a beautiful little girl, full of personality and love!

... and then he's home again... for a few weeks anyways... Until then, we'll continue travelling between mom's house and our apartment which I might add is starting to look and feel like home.  I have a "honey do list" waiting for Colin but it's OK, he knows about it and knows I'm useless at hanging things on the wall...  Once I'm happy we've done everything we can, I'll take some photos and post them on the blog.  Mental note, power up the drill!  I'm getting ideas and things together for Isla's birthday next week.  It's not going to be a big event.  We've decided to celebrate with some family over at our house on her day and just then just chill out together eating Elmo cake. I'm also looking for new activities for the lady.  She's bored as you can see.  I tried making play-dough with her yesterday and while she liked pouring ingredients into the bowl, she wouldn't mix it together with her hands. The silly gi

I'll never get used to it ... Colin is away for four weeks again.... Sigh... He left last evening for Brazil after his flight got delayed twice. He didn't say good-bye to Isla because she's been wigging out when he leaves the room and so far she hasn't asked for him. Good. And she spoke to him on the phone this morning and didn't get upset. Even better. But we miss him already. February 5 cannot come soon enough. He's not sure when he'll leave again when he comes home. Isla's birthday is February 17 and he's booked the day off so chances are he'll be home that week but we shall see. She's been pretty clingy to me today. She did see his suitcase yesterday and she knows it means he's leaving so maybe she's holding onto me for security. Not sure. She isn't saying. But she has a drippy nose and I have feeling molars are giving her grief as well. She napped only 45 minutes this afternoon but my consolation prize has been some se

I was reading through the blog and realized I've cut down the commentary ALOT! Not sure why, I guess it's just easier to share photos rather than words. Maybe my laziness? As I write this, Isla is finally asleep, snug-as-a-bug in her crib and Tasha has been kicked outside because she feels the need to bark at something or nothing as is usually the case. We've been in Canada almost four months now or should I say Isla and I have been in Canada for four months now. Colin is coming home for a week "vacation" now and again before heading off to the next exotic destination. No, really, it's not that exciting for him either. In fact, he's got the rotten end of the deal if you ask me and I hate that. I keep telling myself that we'll have to live like this for the next six months or as long as it takes. Our situation could be worse and we're thankful he has a job! Isla is doing well. Her new favourite word is "no" (said in a very, very sweet l

I've taken the notion to post on the blog! I'm sure you've noticed I'm way off pace that I was up too during the summer but we're still in the transition period with regards to living arrangements and settling back in Canada. Quite frankly, blogging isn't top of my list or even possible. Sooner but probably a bit later, I will be back on track. We're temporarily living with my parents and we hope to be in our own apartment by Christmas. The arrangement is as soon as possible since some work has to be done so if it's before Christmas, that's great and if it's afterwards, that's OK too. Once details are confirmed, I'll talk more about it. Isla is doing well. She doesn't walk anymore, she only runs. YAY ! Her speech is getting better all the time too and just today we learned that she knows some letters as well. She was "reading" the newspaper at breakfast and pointed out "O", "A" and "E"

I honestly don't know what I'm going to be typing about. Nothing exciting has happened, going to happen, that I know about anyways, but here I go.... The big and best news is that Colin is home tomorrow morning at 5:45 A.M. - that's right A.M.!!! Why anyone would book a flight that lands before the sun comes up is beyond me!? Guess who's picking him up? I love him, what can I say, I can't wait to see him... The leaves are falling, little one is rolling in them. Yup, she loves them, I rake them but it's not a bad job, or at least not yet. Maybe next week after a few more trips to the yard will I be fed up with them.. I tell ya, mom and dad have ALOT of trees, the kind of trees that drop ALOT of leaves.... Maple, Oak, Elm and more... But they look pretty at this time of year. I wonder how many leaves I'll rake up this year? 1000's!!!! Isla loves the yard and she loves to come out with me while I rake. If it wasn't for the unkid-friendly dog tha

Look who discovered leaves! Yes, we will be back out there this afternoon to play in them... Having to go for a nap at 20 months old is such a drag, isn't it? So, what is she up to lately? Well the "experts" say this: Most toddlers should be able to . . . Take off clothes without help Pretend to help toys; imitates, such as feeding a doll Know when something is wrong Run well Some toddlers will probably be able to . . . Say 20 to 50 words Start to learn words, possible 5 or more per day Enjoy helping with things around the house Start setting small goals Some toddlers could possibly be able to . . . Show better signs of bladder control Walk up and possible down stairs with some assistance Start to learn up to 10 new words per day Umm, it looks like alot of emphasis on speech which is something we need to work on. She repeats alot of what we say but isn't saying new words on a regular basis or stringing many words together. I'll give her time, I'm no

I write this the evening of our return home. Colin and I left Isla overnight with Mom and Dad and we escaped to "cottage country" for a very short break but as short as it was, I was happy to see my baby again. This was the first time I have left her and the first time she spent the night away from us. She did very well with Mom and Dad and they were able to keep up with 19 month old. Thank you! We didn't go to far, just to Gravenhurst and we stayed in the brand-new Residence Inn Marriott . It was lovely and we had a small kitchenette in our room but trust me, we didn't cook, we needed a break! Our afternoon drive took us to Gull Lake just outside Gravenhurst. The weather was great both days, sunny and dry but today (Friday) was a bit cool especially on the boat. This weekend there is an antique boat show and boaters from all over N. America have taken over the hotel and the marina. Our "cruise ship" - The Segwun - is 120 years old so appropr