Our Family & Our Life

Dear Diary, My baby is happy... .... because she is officially a toddler now..... ... she's a walker!! She's been taking 3 steps and then falling down for the last week or so but tonight she REALLY wanted her teddy and went for it and took 8 steps in the process..... We kept on practicing and she took up to 20 steps to get to her favourite toys. If I knew a Fisher Price telephone was going to get her walking, I would've used it months ago!!!! To say the least, Colin and I are proud of her and she just beams from ear to ear as she toddles along. She's even standing up and walking from the crawling position but crawling is still the quicker way to chase the cats! This is her new favourite thing to do - wash her hands in the sink - Daddy is so much more fun than Mommy! .... but it wore her out. A cuddle with Daddy before bedtime.... Tomorrow, more walking!

Dear Diary, As you may or may not have noticed, I have fallen off the weight loss wagon.... ... but I have crawled my way back up. I was at the gym at 7 this morning since apparently my body has to move in order to shed the pounds. What a novel idea, eh? For one reason or another, none of which are good, I have stopped going to the gym and pretty much since then, I stopped losing weight. Enough is enough, I have to lose at least 10 lbs. by the end of June. Anything less is unacceptable to me and anything more is woohoo!!! My original goal was to reach my ideal weight by May 22. That is not going to happen but I'm OK with it as long as I continue to lose. I am proud of the 17 lbs. I have lost and my clothes that were tight last summer are fitting much better now but I don't want to become complacent. Colin has orders to push me out of bed at least 3 mornings a week at 6:45, just enough time for me to get to the gym for at least a 30 minute walk/run or do 2 mil

Dear Diary, This past week has been tough on Colin and I. I think the anxiety and uncertainty of the last year is wearing us down but this face never fails to make us smile... ... even when she is a naughty girl! She loves to eat and play with the cat food and splash in their water and yes, we only laugh when she is not around. How could we not?

Dear Diary, Today we had our biometrics taken by Homeland Security as part of the visa and green card process. By the way, we didn't get a microchip in our necks!!! All they did was electronically fingerprint us and take yet another photograph. When we submitted our application we had to include 10 passport photos of Colin and 6 each of Isla and I so I was surprised they still took more. I was a bit disappointed they didn't scan our iris', that would've been cool albeit a Star Trekki! We don't know when or even if we'll get the visa and green card but I'm fairly certain we will be approved. I'm confident our attorney would've told us if she thought we didn't take a stand a chance. From conversations with various people I should say we are NOT applying for American citizenship. It's simply for residency and work authorization. Perhaps if we are still living here in 10 years we'll apply but at this time it's not even an option

Dear Diary, We're So Blessed!

Dear Diary, ... that my dad and Colin are blood related. Do you see her yellow socks hanging out of her pants? That is exactly what my dad would've done with them too! It's not the first time I told Colin my theory... Just had to share... Have a blessed Sunday wherever you may be.

Dear Diary, I've been tagged by Katy Lin at the great adventure ... Here's how to do this 8 THINGS thing: Mention the person that tagged you (done). Complete the lists of 8's. (done) Tag 8 of your wonderful bloggy friends (done, sort of, I'm lazy, it's Saturday). Go tell them you tagged them! 8 Things I Look Forward To : 1. Weekends with Colin and Isla. 2. Church on Sunday. 3. SLEEP! 4. Colin's cooking . 5. Any day I get the van. 6. Our trip to Canada this summer. 7. The green card. 8. Pay day! 8 Things I did yesterday : 1. Watched Sesame Street. 2. Showered. 3. Napped. 4. Went on Facebook. 5. Made and drank lots of coffee. 6. Played with Isla. 7. Watched the movie, "The Boy in the striped Pyjamas". 8. Prayed. 8 Things I wish I could do : 1. Travel to Tahiti. 2. Not turn 40! 3. Live in one location for longer than 3 years. 4. Never disappoint the ones I love. 5. Never disappoint God. 6. Learn to take decent photographs.

Dear Diary, Colin is away in NYC and Philadelphia for a few days this week so Isla and I have been getting out and taking advantage of trips to the park. She loves going to the park especially the swings. If she had her way, I'd push her for hours! Lately every time I try to snap her photo, she won't look at me. Apparently mommy is not that exciting and other people or things are much more interesting. Here is a classic example although I still love it. She is such a happy girl! Back at home she has been spending time in her deck chair on the balcony with her furry sisters but she's been scraping her knees while crawling on the balcony concrete. Ouch! While we've enjoyed getting out the last couple of days, we'll be happy to have Colin home with us again tonight!