Our Family & Our Life

Dear Diary, top row - l - clapping! -r - pointing to her nose bottom row - l - showing off her toes -r- pointing to her mouth Over the last few days I've noticed that I think she may be bored with her toys so this morning while I made her breakfast I resorted to the "old fashioned" type. She loved them, it was a hit! Who thought you could have so much fun with a wooden spoon and plastic bowls!

Dear Diary, Our sweet, beautiful girl is 14 months today! The most common question we get is whether or not she is walking. In a word, NO. She did ONE step ONE time about a month ago. I’m sure it’s a matter of confidence and this past week I’ve already noticed an improvement. She has started what I call the Spiderman walk – walking along the walls . Despite her Spiderman impersonation she’s a master crawler and cruiser. I’m convinced I’m going to be carrying this child around FOREVER or at least that’s how it seems. She is a lightweight and that helps but still she gets heavy after a while. Here is a little update on the Monkey: ~ 21 lbs and 28.5 inches tall. ~ She is wearing size 9-12 month pants and 12 months shirts. A petite lady indeed! ~ Teeth count – 10 including two lower jaw molars that poked through last week. I caught a glimpse of swollen gums yesterday so I think there are more on the way - I would look but don’t want my fingers bitten off. ~Standing unaided (and d

Dear Diary, A while back I mentioned the lady was standing. She's getting better at it everyday but if I try to take photo of her standing, I have to be quick. Yes, she is quicker than me. The photo above is the best illustration of standing but it's a funny face. I measured her but couldn't mark it because I was by myself but I can confidently say that she has grown since her birthday when we last measured her. This is a good example of how most of her pants fit - they all fall of her non-existent bum!!! I also trimmed the ends of her hair just to even it out and help it grow thicker. Sorry, the photos are a bit fuzzy today but I'll do better on Friday for her 14 month birthday.

Dear Diary, I haven't been sleeping well lately because I have about 1000's running through my head and the worst bit is, I can't do anything about it. I just have to get it off my chest. First, the sale of our house. Our solicitor advised us it will probably complete on Friday. That's great but after two months it's about time. If we have to make another mortgage payment on an empty house I'll go over the edge. Second, the visas. We have confirmation of receipt. At least we know they got them and it's proceeding and when they do get issues, Isla can go to work too because she's also getting a work authorization. What bothers me most about the visas is the fact that all this could've been done last year and we would not have had to go through the periods of separation. Colin missed four months of the first six months of Isla's life and then some afterwards as well. Now we have to wait another couple of months and if they are not

Dear Diary, We pray that you may be granted another blessed and healthy year to come! Lots of love from Colin and your youngest girls

Dear Diary, I've been struggling to get food into our girl. Specifically meat and chunky food. She could live off of toast, bananas and applesauce. At least it's not junkfood but it's still not good enough for an active growing toddler. She loves jarred baby food but at almost 14 months this has to stop. I'm so fed up buying that stuff!! Even if I put our dinner through the food processor, the lady won't eat it but a jar of that other food, no problem... agghhhh! Last night we did our groceries and Colin and I bought a whole lot of food that we thought she could and would eat. This morning I spent most of her nap time cutting fruit and vege and preparing it for her. We didn't buy anything that we wouldn't eat ourselves because I don't want to start with "Isla" food and our food. I should say the last few weeks the lady has made a bit of progress. She started eating halfed grapes and even bits of chicken. That's progress but the las

Dear Diary, While in New York Isla and I visited the American Girl Place . There are only a handful of stores in the country so I was sure to visit while in New York. I enjoyed it, Isla wasn't overally impressed but maybe that will change in a couple of years. I bought her a doll with some of her birthday money and in a few years when she can appreciate it, the doll will come out of the box. She's really cute and it's part of the Just Like You series where they mix up skin tones, eye and hair colour. The store also has a shop where they sell the dolls and clothes, a cafe where you can have lunch with your doll and even a hair salon. I was watching them do the dolls hair in the salon and I think the girls who worked there have a great job - they get paid for playing with hair! She was also spoiled on Canal Street where we bought her a onesie and a hoody. Canal Street is unique because you are expected to barter with the merchants - Mom, I really needed your garage s

Dear Diary, I promised the photos of NY and now that Colin is safely home with the camera, here they are. Enjoy! 5th Avenue The plaque above is located on this cross which is made of the remains of the towers This station house is located across from the Towers and was first to respond This is part of the memorial to the five men lost Sept 11 We weren't able to get to the Statue of Liberty as it was sold out for the day but we still had some great views from Battery Park. Family photo in Battery Park Stock Exchange Colin and I in front of the Brooklyn Bridge View of Manhattan from the observation deck of the Empire State Building