Photo Memories: First Year Favs!

A handful of my favourite photos from Jack's first year ( I should mention that most of these were taken  by my sister Dani Green).

I still find it hard to believe that I produced this huge child!

First pic I ever took of my baby!

9 Days Old

First car trip to Fredericton with Mommy!













To Stay or Not to Stay at Home?

...Not to stay.  My 'stay at home mom' life is soon about to end.  I will be heading back to work in exactly one week.  I feel ready.  It will be very bitter sweet.  Of course it will be difficult to leave Jack everyday but I am ready to re-join the corporate world.  I miss my job, my coworkers, my independence, my pay cheque...remind me of this in a weeks time when I am whining...Please! 

I plan to go out with a bang.  Have one FUN last full week at home with Jack.  Today was supposed to be 'play outside day' however the wind and cold weather had a different plan for us.  We stayed in.  It was fun all the same.  Maybe tomorrow we can get out for a hike and a little time in the swing.  Fingers crossed.  We also have one last playgroup date tomorrow morning.  I am really excited.  I love getting together with my mommy friends and their adorable little ones.  We have really had a lot of fun this past year.  It is so nice to have so much support and advice from friends.  I am sitting here wishing I had of thought sooner but really want to bring all of the kiddies an Easter treat....must think of something creative at the last minute that does not involve baking.

Thursday I must get Jack to one last mom and tot swim at the Civic Centre in Woodstock and we also have to get to at least one or two Mom's club sessions at the gym.  To update you on my weight loss progress well, lets just say I fit into most of my pre-baby work clothes. I have given myself a pat on the back a few times already : )  Anyway it is going to be a busy week but I really do hope to fit everything in.  It is going to be a while before I go on Mat leave again so must make the most of it!  Next priority you wonder???  Marriage!  As much as I would love to have my babes close in age I must be married before the next one.  Our very faithful mothers understood the first time around however, I am not so sure they will the second. Hahaha

To finsih off this evening I have a bit of news!  Today was a landmark day in Jack's life.  He took his first steps all on his own.  Luckily Pat and I were both in the room to witness it.  What a moment!  I didn't realise how such simple things can evoke such amazing emotions until I had him.  He is so proud of himself, so proud!

Surprise!

Kisses

Long afternoon shopping

Our buddies flew home from Alberta and surprised us all this week!  Jack and Kyran are both on the move and finally able to play with each other.  They are just the sweetest.  Jack has been sick but is on the mend so hopefully we will have a fun filled week with Kyran and Sarah (one of my last weeks before I head back to work...eeek!).

Here are a few pics from their first visit. I will post more as the week goes on.

"Ky I missed you!"

Holding hands

How do you get them both to sit still and look at once?

Looks like Ky likes truck as much as Jack - they are meant to be buds!

Playing nicely together

First Haircut.

Jack just had his first big boy haircut.  It turned out adorable.  He was such a good boy.  Sat still most of the time :)  Here are a few pics.

Before Pic

Being such a big boy

After! Very happy with his new do

What a handsome little boy

GGs.

Jack is blessed to have some of his great grandparents in his life.  He is actually named after 2 that are no longer with us Jack (Jim's Father) and Ken (Mary Lee's Father).  Today we woke up bright and early, bundled up and headed to Tim's to meet my family for coffee.  It was Great Grampie Gordon's 71st birthday.  Jack stole grampie's thunder once we arrived but I am pretty sure he enjoyed having us there.  As you can see from the photos Jack happily bounced from one person to the next until he made his way all around the table.

A special congrats to my grandparents who have just recently celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary.  Now there is a great set of role models!

Jack and the Birthday Man - Great Grampie Gordon

Great Grammie, Grampie Tony & Jack

Did I really let him eat off this tray?? -I did clean it first!



Brandie. Mommy. Me.

Amongst all of this mothering I have been busy trying to find the balance between being 'me' and mommy hood.  I have found that I really had to revisit all of the things I love to find myself again.  I spent so many months focusing every second, every breath on my new baby boy that I had lost myself a little.  Once I realised the rut I was in I asked "Where to start?????"  I made a list titled "what makes me happy".  I just started writing down everything that came to mind no matter how insignificant it may have seemed.  Things I love.  Things that make me feel good.  I am now working on taking time to get back to the activities I enjoy.  Seems so simple...I know but I really think this has helped me get back to me.  Such a worthwhile process.  If you are stuck in a rut or just have spring fever I suggest trying this out.

I am publishing the list for me...so I can revisit it when need be.  I add to it every time I think of something new.  Feel free to read.  Don't Judge...this is very honest and a tad embarrassing. :)
In no particular order:

What Makes me Happy

People:
My hardworking & loving man
Jack's chatter, kisses, laughs, smiles (this list goes on)
My dog running to my feet every time I walk through the door
My MOM



Jack and I heading out for a spring hike

Activities:

Running

House design

Camping

Bubble baths

Napping in the sun

Canoeing
Gardening

Shopping

Being with my family

Cross country skiing

Driving, windows down, tunes up

Relaxing with friends (the ones you can just be yourself with)



Peonies from my garden

Things:

Fresh bed sheets

Spring & Fall

Coffee

Yellow Tail Shiraz

Home

Pink

Work out clothing

Diet Pepsi

Mascara

Carbs!

Fruit

Great restaurants

Hugs

Reality TV

Fresh air

Romantic comedies

Action/Thriller movies

Regis & Kelly

People.com

Peonies

Photos

Yorkies

Fashion & Home Decor Mags
The smell of mud
A clean car (in and out)
Silk pj pants

8 teeth..Day Care..Back to Work...

Just Jet skiing :)

OK, finally I have found time for a real update.  Forgive me as it has been so long since I have actually sat down and wrote a proper one.  Back to work in 6 weeks!  One word...Insane!!!  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  We have slowly been preparing for the transition.  Jack has been attending day care one day a week for a few weeks now.  He is doing fantastic.  So far there have been NO tears.  I must admit it almost hurts my feelings but I am well aware that it is much easier to walk out the door when there are no tears than if he is crying a puddle of them.  Our sitter is wonderful.  Such a caring soul.  Jack already loves her but I think his favourite part is learning from the 3 other "older" boys (who are 3). 

Jack has been teething for the past few weeks.  2 more on top for a total of 8 with a big gap between his top front teeth...too cute.  Good thing for those teeth as he is turning into a little boy who is quickly outgrowing his formula.  He wants real food now but only the kind he can feed himself.  His independence is growing stronger by the day.  Loves strawberries but only if he can feed them to himself, same with peas, carrots, pears, bananas, corn...you get the picture.  Yogurt and cereal are about the only things he will let me feed him.  No one ever told me how trying it is to teach a baby to eat....patience is a virtue! 

We have added a few more activities to our "favourite things to do" list.  Watching cars, trucks and tractors has moved to the top of the list (Jack's list...not mine) surpassing swimming believe it or not.  Sliding (me pulling him around), reading, catching rain and snow on his tongue and watching TV are also popular these days.  Bath time is still a favourite.  Speaking of swimming and bathing...Jack had his first underwater experience at the pool last week.  The lifeguard convinced me to dunk him under water.  It took me 20 minutes to finally build up the courage and gain confidence in her technique and then I went for it.  Much to my surprise he did not mind it at all...in fact he has been trying to dunk himself ever since.  Definitely a water baby!

Sliding at Mama and Papa P's

Jack is pulling up, standing and trying to move around furniture now.  It won't be long before he is running through this tiny little house.  He is so proud of himself, as are we!

Starting to walk - No big deal :P

Next update:  Jack's first haircut....it is time as you can see below.

Mommy's little prince

Why pay $ for toys?

I really think these photos and the title says it all. So why do we spend so much money on toys when little ones are just as satisfied with boxes, wooden spoons, Tupperware and socks?