I'm One!





Mommy's BIG baby boy turns 1

...And as you can see Jack is very proud to be ONE!  He had a great birthday party with family and a few friends this past weekend.  He really felt the love with all of the visitors and gifts.  Grammie Simonson outdid herself once again in the snack department.  What a beautiful spread she put on (as always)!  Jack even received his very first truck, yes a REAL one!  Grampie Simonson gave him a 1961 GMC.  It is very special to our family as it belonged to Harry Simonson who would be Jack's Great Great Grandfather.   What a lucky little boy!  Daddy feels pretty lucky too as he thinks he should get to drive Jack around in it until he is old enough to drive it himself.    Thanks everyone for making Jack's big day so special.

Here are a few of my favourite moments of the day:

Opening gifts

He loved everyone singing to him!



Jack's first sugar!

Clean-up time!

Looking back...

A year ago this Friday I was heading into the hospital not to return home for 7 days!  The whole 'Jack process' began Friday morning and ended Sunday morning....and that is all I will say about that other than I feel so blessed to have delivered a beautiful baby boy on mothers day 2010.  How cool it that? 

Now almost 1 year later he has turned from a baby into a little boy with smiles, laughs, chatters, kisses and truck sounds galore.  As I prepare for his first birthday party, which will be occurring on Sunday, I reflect on the year that has passed before my eyes so quickly and think about how lucky I am.  What a precious boy he is turning out to be already.  I look forward to a lifetime of fun, laughter, smiles, tears and joy with this little guy and in no way can I ever imagine my life without him now that I have him!   He is truly my pride and joy.  The love of my life!

I have included one of Jack's 1 year portraits below to show you just how adorable this little tot is! 

Jack's 1 Year Portrait - Such a big boy now!

Full Throttle.

Back to work only 2 days and already feel like I am going full throttle. For those of you who have not had to return from maternity leave yet and are planning on it in the near future…stop reading right about now!

First day back Jack woke me for the day at 5:30 a.m.. I laid in bed until 6:30 and then started getting ready...first me, then our stuff, then him and then it was time to head out the door. Pat was a huge help in the process – thank god I have him. I think we have figured out a good routine that will work for us. Everything seemed to run quite smooth the first time around.

8:00 I dropped him off at the babysitter’s house and was at work by 8:15. Just in time! Felt good to get up, have a shower and leave the house with a purpose for the day (a purpose that did not involve diapers or bottles). As soon as I walked through the doors it felt like I had never left. It was a very bizarre feeling…almost like the last year did not even happen. Took me a bit to get my desk set up to my liking, caught up on a few changes and then time for my noon run. So happy to have that time set aside each day for myself cause that is really all I get right now. Makes it a lot easier to get a good workout in when I am not trying to schedule it around Jack or Pat. A few meetings later and the day was almost over. As it got closer and closer to 5:00 I got more and more anxious. As soon as the clock on my computer read 5:00 I was out the door, out the driveway and driving like a bat out of hell to get my baby back. Of course he was safe and happy right where I left him.

Had to post these around the house so I would remember I had to spend quality time when we got home and not get caught up in chores.

By the time we made it to our house it was 5:30...then came more work…prepare supper, cook supper, feed supper, eat supper, bath, cream , dress, play, play, play. I kept him up until 8:00 so I could spend some extra time with him. I really feel the pressure of quality time now that I only really get to hang out with him from 5:30 until 8. I put him to bed and then came dishes, laundry, tidy kitchen and before I knew it the clock read 9:00 p.m. I was so tired so I called it quits and went to bed. Soooooo…essentially I was a workhorse from 6:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. Man do I ever appreciate all of the work my parents put in raising me now! Being a working parent has to be the hardest job in the world but many do it so I am sure I will survive! Wish me luck building my routine in the weeks to come. I am sure once I get my routine well defined it won’t feel so difficult (fingers crossed anyway).

Gave him an early bday gift tonight...he loved it!

Easter Sunday.

It is my first Easter without my mom and Jack's first Easter ever.  Mom, Papa and Kenz are in Florida for this Easter holiday.  Hope they are having fun and nice weather.  They deserve it!  Grammie Kathy and Grampie Jim are in Cuba.  It is strange for Pat and I to be on our own for a holiday where we are usually running back and forth to at least 2 or 3 dinners.  GG had dinner for us Friday night.  So we are the chefs today.  I decided to make a beef stew as we have already had a ham dinner and stew is Jack's favourite right now.   Plus it totally helps that I can make it in the slow cooker and not have to think about it again until we are ready to eat.  I love slow cookers!  Definitely invented for busy moms on the go.

Jack was up bright and early this morning.  He found all of the Easter eggs the Easter bunny hid for him and had a blast with his Easter basket.  Kids are so fun.  Brings back memories of my own holidays at home.  Luckily the Easter bunny knows I am starting to get annoyed with the 'new' fancy toys that ALL have batteries and make loud sounds, so he brought old fashioned toys like shovels, rakes, blocks, etc...Jack was pleased too.  Happy Easter! Love; PB&J.

 



Mom's Play Dough

Friends of mine and I were chatting the other day about how great homemade play dough is.  Brought back memories of my mom whipping up a batch and sitting us 3 kids up at the table for hours of fun.  Thought I would share it with the rest of you moms out there who are looking for a fun afternoon with your little ones.

Ingredients

• 1 cup flour
• 1/4 cup salt
• 2 Tbsp cream of tartar
• 2 tsp food colouring
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 cup water

1. Mix flour, salt and cream of tartar in pot.
2. Add water, food colouring and oil.
3. Stir over med. heat for 3-5 minutes.
4. When mixture forms a ball in the centre of the pot, turn off the stove and let cool.
5. Remove from pot to flour surface, knead.
6. Have Fun!
7. When complete put in air tight container and store in the refrigerator.

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