One boy, & 3 Girls

TREE LOVER

2011-05-19T15:50:00.000-07:00

This morning I look out my front door smiled at the sun and sighed at the sight of the mess in my yard. You see the neighbors decided it would be a good idea to cut a few BEAUTIFUL trees down. Trees that I am sure are at least a hundred years old. So my view has forever changed.

I'll be honest I cried on and off all day. I was angry, disappointed, sick, and I can sit here and talk about the what ifs and I can't believe it... but it's done. We have to live with what we have and that we will. So... we will plant, new life. New trees. Ones that grow fast, and in spring they flower. And it just so happens we have lots of these little trees. For the past few years I have been bugging Corey why are you keeping these tiny trees?? "We will plant them one day" "Where?" I asked. Once again I am completely thankful for my hoarder husband.

Here is a before and a after. The job still has a full day left.

Well enough of the disappointed post...

I will leave you with a couple of cute pictures my of everyday!

xoxo

So many things to do, so little time.

2011-04-30T22:34:00.000-07:00

I have neglected my blog.... Again!! I know I know! But I have to admit this is what it will be like from now on I am afraid. I just have so many things on the go that I can seem to find enough time in a week to sit down and do a "real" blog post. You know the ones that pull on the heart strings and really make you think....

Today was a fantastic day!! We have been planning this day for awhile now. After Angela and I were on BC Global Morning News we received an email from a lady named Negar... she was a student form the BCIT broadcast and journalism class. They wanted to help us, and that they did! They planned a fun day for the kids (big and little)!

Here are a few photos from the day!

Today was the first time Billie and Angela have met, and I have to say it was LOVE at first sight!

Maëlle getting started

Nevaeh starting to warm up!

Pictures start! We were the first to go. The BCIT students accepted us as a Tiny Light family and even though we fit the bill it still felt funny.

Nevaeh playing with the long distance echo thing

Our morning was awesome! But we had to work in the mist of all the fun...

Who calls this work?! (FUN right!?)

As the day came to an end, kids became tired and hungry!

We enjoyed lunch at Triple O's at Science world!! THANK YOU!

Angela and Billie also became tired and sore for reasons not to be explained.

The Tiny LIght Team headed outside for our "Photo Shoot"

Thanks to a tripod, timer, and Matt from BCIT.

Dudes?? What the?!

That's better!

Lordy leave you alone for two seconds.... to check the lighting...

I (& my family) had so much fun today!

Both girls were so tired!

xoxo

A Party for a Princess

2011-02-25T14:28:00.000-08:00

This weekend was a very special one!

Maëlle had her very first birthday party. Met with good friends, yummy hotdogs, lots of popcorn and pink cupcakes. We had so much fun!

Thanks to everyone who came out to celebrate this very special day! Especially Grandma! xoxo

Happy First Birthday Baby Girl!

We love you so much!

xoxo

~Mama

Inside out and backwards

2011-02-25T14:14:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was met with a very proud moment. We celebrated with high fives, high pitched screams, and lots of "good Jobs". Nevaeh dressed her self, and she did a fantastic job. She entered the room with her pants on backwards, and her shirt inside out, but this moment made my little one glow like nothing I had seen before, as she entered the room she said 'ere' (there).

I knew exactly what she was so proud of. She loves dressing her self with pants on top of p.j.s and shirts put on like pants. hat, mitts, socks anything goes, but this time she did it all on her own!

Needless to say this mama was proud!

This last weekend we celebrated Maëlle's first birthday! What a fun day!

But this deserves its own post...

A year ago today

2011-02-17T07:39:00.000-08:00

One year ago today I can honestly say was one of the best days of my life. I remember the sun came out and warmed my hospital room. I remember feeling so good, but a little sad at the same time. I remember the quietness in the room after all the doctors had left and we held her, I remember her skin looking so dark, her tiny head full of hair, I remember the cute little white hat they had put on her head, and the way she slept in her daddy's arms all tightly wrapped up.
I remember feeling so tired, but not wanting to fall asleep because it was such a beautiful day. The day Maëlle was born.

When I look at her today I see a little girl and my baby. She has these eyes and this giggle that will draw you in. She has a laid back personality. She loves to be carried, held or rocked. She loves her big sister, and I know they will grow up to be the bestest friends. She likes to climb, and dance. She loves to look through her legs, and laugh. She loves to barry her face in the corner of the couch and roll around. She is not shy. She knows what she wants, she knows when enough is enough, and she will tell you.
I love my baby girls more then life itself.
I want them to grow up happy, filled with love, and knowledge. I want nothing more then for them to grow up... Happy. Healthy.

~ M
xo

The joy of Love day 13

2011-02-13T15:16:00.000-08:00

Routines

One thing we live by is routines. And when we are thrown off our daily every days things go crazy.
This morning Maëlle was being such a little cutie.... She was stuffing her mouth full of her breakfast and smiling. Her cheeks are so kissable. Even full of bannanas.

xoxo

The joy of Love day 12

2011-02-13T15:15:00.000-08:00

The Eyes

I have this love for eyes. They seem to hold a secret to life. They can tell you a whole story. Sad or Happy you can read a person with just their eyes. They are used for so much more then seeing. Nevaeh has the most amazing eyes I have ever seen, they have lines and breaks in them. They sparkle and shine with joy, love and pride. So I had them tattooed on my wrists.

Photo help from my hubby
~M
xoxo

the joy of Love day 10

2011-02-13T14:59:00.000-08:00

Spaces

The girls love to climb in the cupboards. This particular day both girls decided to find a comfy spot.

Oh how I love my creative girls!

~M
xoxo

The Joy of Love day 09

2011-02-13T14:54:00.000-08:00

Passions and Hobbies

This one was tough for me, because I had already done Corey's passion and hobby in my first photo.
Nevaeh loves to color, but this day we stayed in our pjs all day! And we were in no way shape or form to be in a photo. Yikes!
Nevaeh loves to color. And not just on paper. Walls, couches, tables, under tables, window, her sister.
She also loves to eat her crayons... Yuck!

~M
xoxo

The Joy of Love day 08

2011-02-13T14:50:00.000-08:00

Gift from the heart

This photo was of my Christmas present. Why this means so much to me is because Corey bought it for me from the girls. This year at christmas he had all my present bought way before Christmas. Him coming home from a day of work telling me he played hooky so he could go shopping made me smile.

This pendant sparkles! It says mom and is surrounded by beautiful little diamonds.

~M
xoxo

The Joy of Love day 06

2011-02-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

Who They Love

This was another no brainer...

My girls both love their Daddy, so much! The subject of this one was Nevaeh, because she just so happened to be cuddling with her daddy at the time. Perfect catch.

~M
xoxo

The Joy of Love day 05

2011-02-13T14:44:00.000-08:00

Love to Hate

Anyone who really knows me, I don't "hate" many things. There may be a lot I dislike. But hate to me is such a strong word I would love to keep out of my children's vocabulary.
We had to find one thing that drives us nuts about our loved one/s do or in my case not do.
I have often caught Corey open the dish washer and close it quickly pretending he didn't notice it was clean. (It makes me laugh to my self of course).

As much as I love him...
~M
xoxo

The Joy of Love day 04

2011-02-13T14:39:00.000-08:00

What they wear

This one was a no brainer with it falling on February 4, 2011. National wear Red day to help bring awareness to CHD. With Nevaeh having CHD we all wore red. With a beautiful scar and a red tutu Nevaeh sat to show me her lifetime reminder of why bringing awareness to this cause is so important.

~ M

xoxo

The Joy of Love day 03

2011-02-13T14:35:00.000-08:00

Then & Now...

The first photo is of both Corey and I, but the focus is on Corey. Over the last 11 years I have seen my husband go from young man into a man who has the most amazing laugh lines. If there in anyone in my life who likes to laugh, joke or make someone else laugh it would be Corey. Everyday he ages I love him more and more.

~M
xoxo

The Joy of Love day 02

2011-02-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

Todays lesson was on how they look, it could mean so many things. How they look sleeping, playing, crying, how they look to you in your eyes. This could be simple. Right? Not!
You know those picture that you love because you look at them, and that is your baby. The photo seems to capture the moment, the smell, the feeling. That is what they want. They want you to look at a moment at and record it so that the moment will FOREVER be remembered through that photo. This is not an easy task. I have one photo I adore. It is of me and my brother in law Darrell. I remember we were at his mom's 50th. I was sitting on the stairs. I had a major headache and wanted to leave, I was grumpy. Darrell ( who is now passed) came up and sat beside me. He was his cheery self. He put his arm around me and made me smile even laugh a little. I has forgotten about this photo until it showed up while we were making his slide show for his funeral. But I tell you at that moment, that night came flooding back. The feelings, the memories. How one photo can mean so much to one person. To me.

Anyways I had a hard time choosing, so here are my faves. The first is the one that I submitted.

~I love when she looks through her legs like this. It makes me smile and laugh every time!

ISO: 500

f/ 2.2

1/160

50mm f/1.4 Nikor

~This is her sad face. Breaks your heart right?

ISO: 500
f/ 1.8
1/320
50mm f/1.4 Nikor

~This is how she always looks. She is so angelic.

ISO: 500
f/1.8
1/320
50mm f1.4 Nikor

~M

The Joy of Love Day 01

2011-02-02T13:52:00.000-08:00

I started the Joy of Love classes. Not only to learn something, but to really take a step back and look at life, at what god has given me. And though this task is still so new, it is not hard to see the beauty in life. To take a look at the little things.

The things they do, the way they look.

These were my first two photos I had to share.

Day 01 - What they do. Now I knew I wanted to photograph Corey, he is never really the center of my photos, they always seem to focus on the girls, and although I love my girls with all my heart and soul, I also love my husband, I think sometimes I take him for granted. So he was my subject for this first task. I thought about what he does, what does he love to do. Well what I though was going to be easy ended up being a little more difficult. He works, lots. But I can't follow him to work. He loves to snowboard and we we not about to pack up and drive an hour to take a photograph. Then a friend had said she was going to photograph her son playing his guitar. DING! Music... he loves music, and he is pretty darn good at playing his one of 3 guitars, and although he doesn't play them as often as I would like him to, he loves doing that. So I copied.

The result was awesome! I loved the light coming form behind him. I love the concentration on his face. I love this picture, this is what Corey loves. And I love him for that.

~M

Love...

2011-01-29T14:30:00.000-08:00

When I hear the word love so many things come to mind, mostly my family. My girls, my husband, my mom & dad, my brothers and sister. My Mother in law, my brother and sister in law, my nieces and nephews, my friends... So many people I love. Then there are the things I love.... photography, food, books, and list goes on and on.
And now I can this to that ever growing list!

I have taken on this new project.

I will get an email every morning, where I am given a task. Every day I will pot my photo and share it with the others who are doing this project as well. I will also start a blog post where I will record my thoughts and photos daily and share them at the end of the month. I am looking forward to this! If you are interested in joining it is not too late you have 2 more days before the class begins!

I am going now to update my winter list... I think I need to refresh my memory.

Until later...

Polka Dots and Umbrellas

2011-01-19T13:53:00.000-08:00

Two Posts in less the 24 hrs?! What the...?

Today has been beautiful, the rain ha taken a break and the sun has come out to play. We decided to head outdoor for a improve photo shoot/walk. I was so excited I wanted to share the photos.

~M
xoxo

Life is good, busy but good

2011-01-18T16:58:00.000-08:00

A long time ago in a far away land there lived this girl, like all little girls she had a dream. Her dream was to marry the love of her life and have many beautiful children. She dreamed of living her life as a happy life not worrying about money, and the daily normal life stress. This girl eventually grew into a beautiful woman, she married her sweetheart, and had two beautiful little girls, who made her life very happy, but very busy. Little did she know that was almost impossible to not have stress and worry, but what was possible was how she dealt with those stresses. She lives one day at a time taking as much time as she can with her children. This woman has a love for photography, children and helping. Doing these three things is a hard job, a very time consuming job. She realized one day that she had been neglecting the one thing thats helps her deal with stress and worry, the one thing that makes her view life in a different way, her blog.

Here are a few pictures that makes this woman smile everyday!

Just so you know...
We are living, laughing and loving, baby!

~M

Christmas Magic

2010-12-26T22:16:00.000-08:00

The weeks leading up to this one day has been pretty darn good. I had my moments where I cursed the holidays with all this work, and craziness for ONE day?! but I was quickly drawn back in to the magic of the holiday by the warmth and love you feel around this time of year. Explaining to the girls about christmas and Santa.

We visited him at the mall, we see him everywhere and be sure every time we see him, I say Santa! Ho, ho, ho. By the end of maybe the 4th day she had it. She knows Santa and will say ho, ho, ho. Us parents set up gifts Christmas eve, making everything just perfect. Being sure to drink the milk and eat the cookies, and leave a little thank you note behind. We had the computer set up in the living room and the video tucked away in the corner when we settled in for a restless night. Feeling the excitement for the unsuspecting babies that slept in their cribs.

We awoke to babies calling from their beds. rolling out of bed and rubbing our eyes we knew today was going to be great, we we're ready. Coffee on, tape rolling we let the kids out. Nevaeh's yells of "OH, ool" "WOW" was enough for me. The smiles on the faces made all the work and all the cursing worth it. Now that the beatufully wrapped gifts have been open, slowly daily life will return. We will enjoy the new toys and eat the delicious cookies and left over food. But we will remember our First Christmas at home as a family.

Just Like her Mommy!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

We Love you!

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-17T22:00:00.000-08:00

I am surrounded by teachers, or people who work in the schools, so I know that today is a celebratory day! I remember this day. A long day at school with screaming kids who have eaten too many cupcakes, or candy canes. When the last of the kids pile out of the school into the arms of waiting parents who are not as happy, a muffled sigh could be heard from the staff who slump behind their desks thinking about their first rum and egg nog, or the extra large glass of wine they will have knowing no school until the new year.
Today i will help you all celebrate! Happy Holidays! You deserve a break!

I have been wanting to share this new venture I have taken. Myself and a friend have been working long and hard on something that is very close to my heart. I want to give back I want to help. So we launched The Tiny Light foundation! We donate our time and talent to children and families who are faced with a diagnosis or disability. We have been working hard on the site and facebook fan page so that word came back on the business end we were ready to launch, so when that email arrived in my mail box, I suddenly became nervous. But so excited. We could tell the world, we can now start helping! I have been hovering over the computer emailing anyone and everyone, looking for people who will listen and want to help also. In less then 24 hrs we have a cover and a article, and have been added to the support section of a Edmonton based magazine. So needless to say we are so happy, and grateful for the opportunity! So please if you are not a fan please join our page, and spread the word. Suggest us to all your friends!

Tonight we ventured out to see the "Canadian Pacific Holiday Train"! What a sight, with lights, music, people dancing in the glow of red, and green. The smiles of kids when Santa waved as it drove off. Amazing!

We are so ready Christmas!
~M
xo

8 mailing Days

2010-12-15T14:52:00.000-08:00

Last night coming home from a wonderful birthday dinner with a close friend and a very wonderful husband. We stopped in at the post office to mail our Christmas cards when we were informed only 8 mailing days left. And a lady who clearly worked at the store kept shouting only 11 days until Christmas, I am sure only wanting to scare her customers into buying the remains of their missing christmas presents in a panic. I am happy to say " I am DONE " DONE! It feels so good to be able to cross this from my shrinking list. Me being one of those scared customers. Some one is getting shampoo this year. In my defense it smells really good.
These last days have left me no time to write a decent post let alone even think of one.
Today I found myself slipping into the same frame of mind from previous years, how one day can have so much craziness attached to it? How in only 10 short days it will all be over, we will all be sitting on the floor surrounded by piles and piles of loose torn paper, boxes strewn about. But what makes this day so special is in amongst the mess, you will hear laughter. You will see smiles, and family. You will catch a whiff of fresh brewed coffee, and feel the warmth of the cup in your hand. And for a brief moment time will slow, taking in every small, what seems meaning less thing. I mean everything. So that when you sit back and think, you will remember. It will play back in slow motion.

I have so many thing that need to be done, wrapping, baking, cleaning, cooking, shopping (groceries). So to keep my mind focused on the season and not the day I am drawn to the christmas music that plays over and over. And the holiday log that stays crackling and burning all day and all night. I long for the sun to set so I can plug in the christmas light, and watch the girls play in the soft warm glow of a twinkling tree. I take on one thing at a time. let my heart tell me what is important and what is not. What needs to be done first and what can wait. Taking time to breathe, and laugh. Setting the Christmas bar high.

(t.v. fire)

So in the mist of folding laundry, cleaning, making 7 doz. batches of peanut brittle, elfing my family, and quietly begging my children to rest well and long. I am trying my best to make Christmas meaningful.

Entering a Bag Giveaway!

2010-12-12T22:43:00.001-08:00

I am entering in this great giveaway! These bags are super cute and super functional! They are made by Kelly Moore. The one I am looking at is called the Posey bag! Please vote for me here. All you have to do is leave a comment with my name in it to win... ie: " I liked Kelly Moore's facebook page. Entry for my friend Melissa DePape"

Thanks a bunch everyone!

Adventures, adventures and more adventures.

2010-12-06T10:14:00.000-08:00

This last week has brought on so many new beginnings and adventures. With all the excitement of Christmas, brings the feeling of new, I cant help but to feel super excited, nervous, the feeling of what ifs. And when people are out spending money and enjoying this magical time of year I am trying to stay grounded. I am trying my best to be me, and to do something for the greater good. And with all that being said... I have a big launch, and with that in the works, I try so hard not to crack the egg and let the big new adventure out of the bag.

The girls are amazing! Maëlle is teething a top tooth and so far has been a pretty good teether. Nevaeh I think may be coming down with something, not 100% sure but last night she stayed up with most of the night cuddling and hugging. Trying my best to calm a restless babe.

With a basement full of dirty laundry to wash, fold and put away, decorations still to put up, cleaning to do, baking, cards to sign and mail, and christmas presents to make, wrap and send out. I can't help but to feel a little overwhelmed and when I hear the countdown only "19 days till Christmas" I begin to panic. So to calm that panic feeling I find myself making lists... what to do, when to do, how important is it, really. And the list will grow short and manageable, cause I know I can do it I can do anything... right?

So here I type enjoying the crackling t.v. fireplace, (the one that wont burn little fingers) and Christmas music. Trying my best to get in a good post, so I can head over to the list and start crossing off the to do's, one chore at a time, with a smile knowing Christmas morning in our house with the girls is growing near one day at a time. So really what is important??

That answer is so easy!

~M
xo

What to do, what to do??

2010-11-22T09:40:00.000-08:00

The air is filled with this snowy chill and I am drawn to the exciting feeling that Christmas is near, and all that makes Christmas the most magical holiday of the year. With christmas carols quietly playing in the malls, the soft scents of cinnamon, warm ginger bread or the smell of pine drifting through the air. The feeling of giving and helping others. The sounds of crunchy snow beneath you feet. The hats, sweater, gloves, and scarfs. The way people blow on their hands only trying to warm them for a few seconds. The sound of the ever famous people who donate their free time to stand outside in the cold, jingling their christmas bells wishing everyone who walks pass a "Merry Christmas". The way children light up when they see Santa. So with Fall coming to an end I am thrilled to welcome winter. Below is my to do list:

~~Read 3 books~~
~~Break out the tree and decorate by December 1st~~.
Start working out again and eating better.
~~Have all Christmas presents bought and wrapped before the 15th of Dec.~~
~~Make a snow Angel and teach Nevaeh to make one.~~
Go snow boarding at least twice Only once :(
~~Buy and wear a fantastic christmas sweater~~
~~Take the girls sledding everyday we have enough snow.~~
come up with the best, yummiest hot chocolate recipe, name it and serve it at your cookie exchange.
~~Bake cookies with the girls for Santa~~ (we did a test run)
~~Write my own letter to Santa~~
~~Enjoy a quiet hot chocolate in front of a wood burning fire.~~
~~Sell 100 heart bracelets. 15 down only 85 to go!~~
~~Sign up for at least 2 photography courses. Done one! Loved it!~~
~~Get out and photograph the snow~~
Finish Maëlle's book and have it printed by her 1st birthday
Plan both girls birthday bash
Potty train Nevaeh by her birthday. We are looking at more like September.
Take the girls ice skating
~~Just sit and watch the snow fall~~
~~Plan an amazing kid friendly New Years Party up on the mountain~~
Attend the Santa Clause Parade. Missed it. :( Had other plans the same evening.
~~Help the less fortunate~~
Host a game night with friends
~~Live, love and Laugh! We are ALWAYS doing this!~~

This last week we returned back to play group, where Nevaeh plays and Maëlle crawls and voices her independence!

We all sit in a circle and sing songs, we dance, clap and row our little carpet boats.

We eat messy food and take pictures of our cute messy faces!

And we take a test run of our baking skills. We did good minus a kid drool, and the fact they were a little hard. It only give us something to practice!

Thoughts and worries, learning and teaching...

2010-11-17T16:49:00.000-08:00

As Nevaeh grows and gets older I see more and more of a little girl in her, and it makes my heart smile. Although she picks on her sister. I know she has this amazing loving heart that is big enough to hold everyone she meets. She makes friends with a smile and a loving hug. She can make me turn to jello with a single head shrug and toothy grin. But as she grows I worry. How do I tell her she is different (better) but different. Will she ask me? Do I wait until then? I know she is not ready yet and probably wont be for a year or two. But most parents worry about talking to their kids about the birds and the bees, I have to worry about telling my oldest daughter she has downs syndrome. That she has so many things working against her, so many things that will require her to work a little harder, but in amongst all the extra work she can and will do everything her heart and mind wants to do. That even though she may have designer genes she is still a person. One day a woman who will teach all of us a thing or two. Okay I am sure she will teach us more like a million things.

But for now she is 2 and MY little peanut butter baby, with a heart melting, soul crunching smile. She is my daughter, a grand-daughter, a sister, a cousin, a niece, and a friend. And she is exceeds greatness at all these titles. She runs around the house pushing her little chair running into her dogs, myself and her sister with a fit of laughter. She goes digging through the cupboard where the chocolate bars are hidden and brings me the box with her famous head tilt, and a soft "please". She signs "signing time" then will sign a word form the specific video she wants to watch. She is amazing!

Now for Maëlle my worries for her are somewhat the same in many ways. I know both my girls will grow up to be beautiful, we will worry about boys, and homework. We will worry about them every time they step one foot out the front door. Every time they drive a car, or take a ride from someone else. We will worry about other kids and people bullying or being mean to our babies. But we will teach them to be strong, smart. To have good hearts and to treat everyone like they would like to be treated. We will teach them to be honest, to be generous, to be diligent, patient, to show kindness, to be respectful, to be brave, modest. And most importantly to love without boundaries. How do I teach these sponge like minds all this? How do I even begin? Where are these lessons I strive to teach my children. Google? Funny thing my girls have already started teaching me to be brave, patient, to show kindness, and to love with no rules or boundaries. These are lessons we will learn and teach each other. We will learn through life. We will learn from the past. We will learn form our elders.

I look forward to every lesson good or bad life throws at us. Because us as a family will be strong and smart. We are ready. So life it is up to you! We are letting you guide our ways. We want you to help us teach and learn!

~m
xoxo

A Long, Long Time Ago...

2010-11-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

Was the last time I wrote, and not just put down some words, I mean really wrote. This last week I can easly say I have been lost, my camera was left behind in our recent trip to Edmonton. And like Woody, Buzz, Jessie, Bullseye and the rest of Andy's toys, my camera is feeling just as sad and lonely, as I.
There have been moments that I am afraid I will forget, like Maëlle crawling around the house like a mad lady on a mission, Catching Nevaeh and Maëlle under the table laughing and playing, Corey giving Nevaeh a piece of chalk to write on the new chalk wall in her baby sister's room. Not to mention the many photo shoots I have on waiting because doing a photo shoot is much easier if you actually have a camera to shoot with.

Dear Camera,
You are so missed. Oh how I can not wait to press my eye into you and press your magical button. I can not wait to feel your curves and and hard cool plastic in my hands. And view all you beautiful menus. My love for you only grows over time and distance.
Love Melissa

This post should also be focused on the hard lesson I had to learn. My hard drive crashed and like a naive dumb dumb, I seriously though it wouldn't happen to me. Well I was wrong and it did happen to me. Corey and I plugged, unplugged, ran fix it program after program. We tapped it, and banged it, we talked to it (well I did) and yelled at it, then apologized for the harsh words that were spoken. I prayed all night long with little sleep I pulled myself out of bed and came to the computer. not sure what I was going to do. My life is on that hard drive, all and I mean ALL of Maëlle's new born photos, all the pages I have completed for the girls books. And not to mention 6 paid shoots I had to edit. When I walked into the room Corey had this grin on his face, he DID it! He saved my entire LIFE! Oh how I love this man!

We have pretty much completed Maëlle's room, with the exception of the carpet, which will be done soon. The selves should go up tonight or tomorrow. I should have photos soon! I hope.

Halloween was awesome! The girls were adorable. Nevaeh ran from house to house knocking on doors while her cousin yelled "trick or treat give me something good to eat!" It was too stinkin cute. Nevaeh was Mickey Mouse, Maëlle was a butterfly! The weather was perfect, and we were able to spend it with family! It was lovely!

Well more photos to come! Once my camera arrives safe back in my hands.

~M
xo

The new addition

2010-10-30T23:25:00.000-07:00

This is just a sneak peek at our new most adorable little niece! Welcome to the family little C!! We love you and are saying lots and lots of prayers!!
xoxo

~Auntie M
xo

A Poem

2010-10-22T12:25:00.000-07:00

I found this poem written by a mom whom' parents love is very similar to what our love was like.

What is a Parent's Love?

~ mshanson3121

People think a parent's love is words,
flowers and poems.
People think love is rubbing your child's hair,
Playing games with them,
and reading them stories.
People think love is snuggling them
on the couch, and rocking them to sleep.
People think love is breastfeeding a baby, cuddling them to their breast.
People think love is playing peek a boo and tickling toes.
People think love is buying a toy when you visit the store.
People think love is teaching them to ride a bike.
People think love is going to watch their child sing in the latest play.
People think love is paying for piano lessons, and 7 am hockey practices. People think love is easy.
That it's happiness, beautiful and patient.

Those things are love. The easy side of love. And that is all that most people will ever get to experience.

But I know something more, that they don't:

I know love is standing beside a crib at 4 am, feeding my baby through a tube.
I know that love is holding a stopwatch to count my baby's breaths.
I know that love is a foot, burned by a pulse oximeter.
I know that love is restraining my screaming child so I can insert her feeding tube.
I know that love is giving her medications three times a day.
I know that love is listening to her heart with a stethoscope.
I know that love is watching strangers poke needles into my daughter's arms while she cries.
I know that love is driving her to endless doctor's appointments and hospitals.
I know that love is trying to keep an active baby quiet, during an echocardiogram.
I know that love is climbing onto a narrow gurney to lay beside your child, trying not to disturb her EKG leads.
I know that love is learning to walk out of a hospital room while your daughter watches you from her crib.
I know that love is signing consent forms that risk your daughter's life.
I know that love is anger, fear and frustration.

I have learned that love can seem painful, both to the one giving and to the one receiving it. But I've learned that this love is perhaps the most beautiful of all.

This love is selfish, stubborn, born of a determination to fight for your child. It is born of miserable circumstances that most will never have to face. It is the love that will face trials and conquer them.

It is the love I have learned, taught by my daughter.

Patched Hearts

2010-10-21T22:25:00.000-07:00

I was writing a little note on Facebook a few mins ago, when my fingers began typing, while my brain slowly read the words. We have been so busy with life that I haven't had the time nor energy to write, But when I began this short note I could tell my brain was missing it.

This most adorable little bracelet Maëlle is wearing is made of sterling silver, it is strung together by 27 tiny hearts. Why hearts? Good question. You see this little bracelet means more to us then you think it does, by the end of this post you will understand. It is made by a well known jewelry designer here in BC, for the Heart Network. Why The Heart Network?? Another really good question. As many of you know at birth Nevaeh was diagnosed with congenital heart failure. From day one she fought and fought hard never batting an eye. She managed to go against all odds and fight till she was 6 months old, until her tiny little heart could not fight any longer with out the help of a very important, very real, very scary operation. If you can imagine a baby, a small baby weighing no more then 10lbs. hand. Now imagine that little hand is clenched, tight. Little huh? Maybe the size of a walnut. Well, that was the size of her heart. These amazing doctors drained her heart of her blood ran it through a machine, to keep it warm and safe. They stopped her heart. The doctors cut into her heart and patched the tiny holes that was causing all these difficulties. They fixed her. They made her better.

These bracelets represent this. These braclets are proudly worn by Nevaeh, Maëlle and myself to remind us how strong and amazing Nevaeh is. How strong we are as a family.

They are also for sale. We would want nothing more then all of you, our friends, family to also wear these beautiful reminders.
For only $10.00 you can join us in remembering. Remembering that a small girl you know, proudly wears a scar, and lives each day with a strong patched heart.

The bracelet is 7 inches long, and because it actually clasps onto the little hearts the size is adjustable. We just cut a few of the hearts off for the girls.

Just email me to order yours!
melissadepape@shaw.ca

Thank you

2010-10-12T11:14:00.000-07:00

Thank you are two small words that is often over used. We teach our girls to use their manners just like every parent does, but today we are using these 3 small words for bigger and better things. Not just "thank you for the milk" or "thanks for the cookie" it is more of a time to think about what we are thankful for. You know the big things, the things we feel, for the people who have walked into our lives only to teach us something, or to make us better, stronger. For the love we been given and shown, for the situations we cursed to have happen to us only to later look back and to some how hate what has happened, but in another to be thankful. This world is so crazy in the way it works, and why it works, but one thing I know for sure is everything happens for a reason, we may not understand it at the time or ever really, but I know things will always end up okay. The world hands us scary and unimaginable situations in our life, but god gives us the strength and courage to pick them up and deal with them.

Am I thankful We had a child with Downs? Absolutely. Not only has this little blonde hair, blue eyed two foot high person gives us a reason to smile everyday, but she makes us laugh, she has taught us strength we never thought we had. She has brought people in our lives I know we would have never met otherwise. People we are so thankful to have as friends. Her and her sister has given us unlimited reasons to be thankful!

Thanksgiving for us was spent with special friends who have over the years become an extension of our family. People we are so thankful for. We had a delicious dinner with turkey, gravy, veggies galore, stuffing, and then homemade apple and pumpkin pie. Yummy.

Don't get me wrong I am also thankful for everything in my life, like the food we are able to put on our table, the long naps the girls have. The full night of sleep I got last night. The days Corey's gets off work early. The visit from my brother today. I sit back and look at our life can't remember what my life was like 3 years ago. Man I must have been bored. I am so thankful for my family. I look forward to seeing what my thanks will look like next year.

Sister love! (wearing daddy's baby clothes and Hats) Thanks Nana!

Coloring.... or maybe hungry?

I am also thankful for being recognized. A letter arrived in my mailbox from my local MP. Thank you!

Until later
~M
xo

Apples, pumpkins, and cute babes!

2010-10-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

Looking by my last post I am sure all 10 of my readers are wondering if I fell off the face of the earth. Well I didn't we have had a crazy few weeks, with fundraising, company, and then we started our fall off with a cold. The girls and I have been sick all last week and partly this week. We are slowly getting over it, but man, what a drag.

My writing has been slow, every now and then a post will pop into my head and I will start to write it in my brain, but when I get the energy to get up and write it out duty call like a baby cries, or the phone rings, I just seem to get busy and forget. So this post will be short and sweet. Cause a mama has to shower!

We visited the Apple barn on Sunday with the Children's Heart Network. It was our first visit to the apple barn and our first outing with the CHN. The sun came out, it was a beautiful day for playing in the dirt, feeding baby goats, and picking out our pumpkins. We went on a hay ride, fed the baby goats, met new friends, and drank some yummy, yummy apple cider. By the time we were done, the girls and us adults were pooped! Totally and utterly exhausted.

Nevaeh had no fear of the animals. Even the ones that were bigger then her, it was if she was best friends with all the animals. But this little goat, loved Nevaeh.

The slides were fun, fast for us, but slower for her. One slide Corey took her on was so fast, but so little Corey though he was going to get stuck half way down.

Behind the scenes... this is what was really happening. If it wasn't in her own hair it was in her sisters.

Thanks goodness for wagons...

... and thanks goodness for these two little pumpkins!

~M
xo

Acceptance

2010-09-21T18:13:00.000-07:00

I was in the mist of blow drying my hair when it hit me. Today is the last day of Summer. What already, the days have slowly been creeping by and now here I sit middle of September. I knew it was coming and now it is here. And to be really honest I am not sure I am ready. I look back at our summer and it was wonderful, but am I really ready to let go of the sun, the popsicles, the garden, all the fun outside stuff we did and yet still to do?
So I am determined to accept "Fall" So here is my list of things to look forward to:

1. Sweaters and jeans
2. Fall colors
3. The smell of fresh crisp air
4. Jackets
5. Boots
6. The first snow fall
7. Our first sled ride
8. Hockey season
9. Thanks giving
10. Christmas Eve
11. Christmas Day (at home)
12. New Years
13. Maëlle growing and hitting all her milestones plus all her "firsts"
14. Maëlle's first birthday
15. Warm nights by the fire
16. Hot coca
17. Earlier nights & darker mornings. (means kids might sleep in)
18. Warm Pumpkin Pie
19. Christmas shopping
20. Never ending warm blanket cuddles.

And since we are on lists, I have one I need to update. I didn't get to finish everything, but I tried darn hard to. I will also be listing my fall/winter to do list soon.

Maëlle is already growing so fast and learning so many new things. She is sitting so independently now, she gets around by rolling. And fast. She is gearing up to cheer for her hockey team by practicing her clapping, and screeching.

Nevaeh has started her gymnastics class and LOVES it! She walks along the beam with such great concentration, adding a little giggle here and there. She not sure how to jump just yet, but she sure knows how to sit and let others bounce her around. Sitting cross legged. Remember crack the egg?

This Saturday is the Buddy Walk 2010. We missed last years so we are so excited to attend this years. It is really our one fund raiser we are super serious about. We set out harassing all our family and friends for donations and to come walk with us. And like always people have really pulled together and are helping us meet and exceed our goals! As of right now we have 33 registered walkers and donated over $1400.00. We feel the love and support! Thanks everyone, we love all you so much! We could not ask for a better support system!

I will have a house full this weekend. We are all so excited to have Auntie Amy, Nana, Grandma, Brie-Anna and Christian over for a visit. It will be a very busy household, but it will be beautiful! Our family are the only people who love my girls almost as much as I do. So the house I am sure will be exploding with love. We will be missing Auntie Sarah though.

And I leave this post thinking about all the fun memories we made this summer. And I look forward to all the fun memories to make this fall and winter. Keep a look out for my to do list this fall/winter. Check out my Summer list.

~M
xoxo

One Frame at a time....

2010-09-15T08:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was a very special day for two reasons, one this is the day my amazing husband was born. We celebrate a man, husband, and father. Corey I wish you a happy, happy birthday! You deserve the world! Your daughters and I love you so much!

As for the other special item on yesterdays menu, is the newspaper. Today the article we have been waiting for was published! Yea!

Have a look.

"Nevaeh DePape will not be defined by her disability.

The boisterous two-year-old, who can brighten up a rain-filled day with her angelic smile and infectious giggle, has Down’s syndrome – a chromosomal deficiency that has affected her mental and physical development.

Beneath her mane of wispy, white blonde hair, her facial features are flattened and her eyes are slanted because of the disorder. She’s undergone emergency heart surgery and facial reconstruction surgery also because of the disorder.

But having Down’s syndrome is not who she is, says mom Melissa DePape.

“She’s our little hero.”

From day one, Melissa has documented Nevaeh’s journey through the lens of her camera; she hopes to do the same for other children.

Nevaeh, which is Heaven spelled backwards, was Melissa’s inspiration for joining Inspiration Through Art, a non-profit organization that provides complimentary photo shoots and images to families dealing with the challenges of a child suffering from a serious illness or disability.

Inspiration Through Art, formerly known as the Littlest Heroes Project, was started in the United States in 2008 by then 19-year-old Felicia Reinhard.

Reinhard, who was born premature and addicted to drugs, knew first hand what it was like to grow up under a cloud of medical issues. She was determined to make sure other children suffering from any kind of illness or disability knew that they too were special.

“This organization gives parents memories that will last forever,” says Melissa, a professional photographer, and former educational assistant with the Chilliwack school district.

“It’s nice for parents, because when they’re dealing with hospital appointments and doctor’s appointments, this [taking photos] is one less thing for them to have to worry about.”

Melissa would know.

The first months of Nevaeh’s life were a struggle.

In addition to Down’s syndrome, Nevaeh was born with a hole in her heart that doctors had hoped would heal on its own.

Every week the DePapes were driving in and out of Vancouver to meet with doctors, pediatricians, cardiologists and other specialists.

But at six months, it was clear Nevaeh’s heart wasn’t healing. At less than 10 pounds, she was struggling to gain weight and struggling to breathe.

“She was tiny, so tiny,” remembers Melissa.

Nevaeh went in for emergency open-heart surgery on Oct. 16, 2008, where doctors discovered “very tired lungs.”

It was one of the hardest days Melissa has ever had to endure.

Her camera helped her through it.

Every day Nevaeh was in the hospital, Melissa took pictures. She took pictures of grandma reading to her, of dad playing with her hair, of them bathing her, cuddling her, prepping her for surgery.

And following the five-and-a-half hour procedure, Melissa took pictures of her daughter hooked up to life support machines, and feeding tubes, and of bandages covering her abdomen. She took pictures of the before and after x-rays of her lungs, of the day the bandages came off, and of Day 6, the day they could take her home.

“Looking at these photos now makes me feel sad a little bit, but it also makes me remember how lucky we really are,” says Melissa.

“Some people might think it’s weird to do this, but it’s part of our life. It’s important that Nevaeh knows what she went through and to see how strong she has become. It’s important for her to know that we can get through anything.”

For more information on Inspiration Through Art, visit the website www.littlestheroesproject.org/ or contact Melissa DePape at 604-316-0335 or by email at melissadepape@shaw.ca."

kbartel@theprogress.com

Thank you Katie for writing such a wonderful article. Your words ring so true and brought tears to my eyes. Nevaeh and I will save this story and read it together when she is old enough to fully understand just how beautiful she is.

~M
xoxo

We celebrated

2010-09-12T00:14:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share some photos of the girl's dedication last Saturday. These were taken by a friend of mine. Thanks Jag for capturing this day for us (you can see her work here). Looking at these make me feel good. I will look at these and remember it very well.

Goodnight
~M

Just us again...

2010-09-09T22:54:00.000-07:00

Normally I love my me time, I love time where I can spend writing, relaxing, reading. Doing something that requires no voice, no multitasking. I love when the girls nap at the same time and I am able to have some good "me" time whether it be for only 30 mins or on the lucky days 2 hrs. But right now I am missing the calm chaos of my mom and dad. When they visit we are always busy, whether we are indoors cause it is raining or we are out to the beach for the day. The daylight never seems to be long enough. And we always find ourselves staying up late watching movies, or BB. Snacking on food items I can promise you is not on the food guide. Right now the girls are asleep and I am finding time time to write, and think and miss. It will take a few days to really get used to the fact they are gone back home and we are back to talking through skype or the phone.
This visit was a very special visit. It was the first time my dad has met Maëlle. And really the first time where Nevaeh has really gotten to know her grandparents. Like really know. It is comforting to see my baby girl run to them and hug their legs, or smile and laugh at a silly face. When Grandma isn't around to follow like a little shadow, grandpa will do. When they leave to go outside she sits at the door and cries until someone picks her up or they come back. It makes me feel good to see the love come from Nevaeh to her grandparents and that the feeling is shared more the anyone will ever know. We eat good, we talk, we laugh and now we get to share that with my girls. I look forward to the next one. Corey and I are very thankful for these visits.

These last few weeks have consisted of...
a road trip to Lincoln City, Oregon. Beautiful! The weather was not the best, but some how that didn't seem to matter. We swam, played in the sand, we read books, we watched the sunset, we took a boat ride, we shopped. We packed in a whole lotta fun in a few short days.

We had a special day on the beach. We gathered with family and friends and thanked god for life, and love. For smiles and giggles. For the sun, and moon. For everything good in the world.

We put together the coolest puzzle/mural EVER! While the girls slept we measured, cut, glued and re glued. Making sure every piece fit just so. And the end result was amazing. This will be a beautiful addition to Maëlle's room.

You can't forget about the stuff in between. Like laundry and blue crayons. The wagon rides and walks with Grandma. The food and snacks. Gathering 3 times each week to watch "Big Brother". Cleaning and re cleaning. The visits to Micheals to buy pretty much everything. Finding out "it would be better to learn to knit from Grandma not your Mom". Well she was wrong. The cupcakes that WERE amazing, and that looks do not make a cupcake taste any better. That 10 potatoes were too many. That you never mess with a blonde chick on the phone. That you have to keep the bathroom door closed or you may find a little love drinking from the toilet. That potato salad tastes way better then chicken that fell on the ground. That you should think about cutting into a peach before you bite into it. That we loved having you (Grandma and Grandpa) visit. xoxo

That being said...
We laughed, we lived and best of all we loved every minute of it!
~xo
M

A rare quiet moment

2010-09-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

Today was I day I have imagined in my head over and over. We did something today that I have wanted to do since Nevaeh was born. And I wasn't sure how I wanted to do it. But I did know it was going to be lovely. Today we celebrated the girls we held them near our hearts and thanked god for every cute toe, and curl on their little heads, we promised to love and protect them. We blessed them and make no mistake they felt the love and so did I. We were lucky enough to have a lot of wonderful people stand up with us and make the same vow and promises we did. But even more special was grandma and grandpa were there as well. Nana was VERY missed. The sun came out and warmed the cool breeze, the wind carried our prayer and love filled balloons away into the blue sky. The salty water crept in as we hugged the girls and prayed over them. It was Beautiful!

I have been so busy with many great things, one being the visit form Grandma and Grandpa. I also have been putting energy into work. I recieved my first "littlest Hero" shoot and was featured in the newspaper and the local event/community channel. We also took a small holiday to the Oregon coast. So I have so much to share and write about. you will be seeing more posts soon, very soon. Until then...

And then the quiet ends...

~Good night
M

Another day another post...

2010-08-18T18:05:00.000-07:00

These last few day have slowly crept by like a snail going up hill. It seems that when you have something really exciting to look forward to time creeps, but when you wanting time to stand still it seems to go so fast. I promise I have not been bored. I have been keeping myself and the girls busy, busy, busy. We are cleaning, rearranging, planning, & re-planning. GRANDMA AND GRANDPA are on their WAY!! Yipee we are so excited. This will Maëlle's first time meeting her Grandpa. And Grandma hasn't really seen her (Skype does not count) in six months.

On a "time has gone by so fast" note, Maëlle turned 6 months yesterday. It is hard to believe a whole six months ago this little person entered our family and made it that much better. She has made Nevaeh a sister, and her daddy and I a second reason to be thankful. As the days flow by like a fast moving stream, she grows and changes, she learns and teaches. She musters up the most amazing little giggles and screeches. And most importantly she has her mommy wrapped completely around her little finger.

I have some really exciting news, like really. No I am not pregnant (thank goodness) I am enjoying spending all my time with two little girls not sure what I would do with 3. Well not yet anyways.
I don't want to jinx it so I will be back in a few days to post all about it. I guess it gives you another reason to poke back in every once in a while to see if I have posted. Mwaa ha ha ha ha.... ( i'll give you a hint at the bottom of the post)

If there is one thing that bugs the heck out of me (and I have always want to keep this blog on a positive note but...) We attended our cities "party in the Park" on friday. And I was so amazed, no shocked how many people, lets call them "smokers". Lit their cancer sticks in the open around kids, elderly & babies. They really had no care or concern about anyone but them selves and getting their nicotine fix. I was absolutely dumbfounded by the response of a "smoker" my husband approached asking him politely (I might add) to extinguish his "smoke" he asked "why?". What?? "WHY" "I'll show you why!" That what I wanted to say, but Corey politely explained to him this was a "non smoking" public event, and that his cancer causing fumes (okay he might have said smoke) were blowing directly in his children's faces. Now I am not a smoker but if I was I would put it out right? Not him he hid it between his knees, out sight out of mind? (sigh) Man the nerve. Just saying.

Just got off the phone with City Talent. They are adding Nevaeh and Maëlle to their roster! Yep they have talent baby! Don't get me wrong I will not push any of my kids to anything they don't want to, but if it works it works! Very exciting! I think it may be a cause for celebration, heck all the great news I have been receiving this last week, is cause for celebration!

I get my best dinner ideas nursing Maëlle in the middle of the night. Last night was stuffed chicken breast. Yummy. At the time I had no idea what I was actually going to stuff them with or how I was going to do it, but one thing I did know that it was going to be so delish! And like always, I was right.

Now we can not forget about some photos of Nevaeh. Here she is with a little friend of hers. His twin brother came to visit one morning. They had so much fun. They all played so well, you would think having 2 extra 2 year olds would make things harder, but it didn't. I would have to say it was easier, they kept each other so occupied.

Hint hint: I have to get my hair done and buy a new outfit... (too bad huh?) ;)

~M
xo

Stealing?! and A Shrinking list!

2010-08-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

I have to admit, I have really enjoyed having a to do list this Summer and plan to do one for the fall as well. I am not done my list completely, but I am well on my way. The only thing I think I am going to have a hard time completing is the learning to knit thing, and maybe do a bathroom makeover. I really want to, but funds always stand in the way. I have started to plan, and pick out colors and getting my prices together. So that kinda counts right??

Maëlle needs her own room, like yesturday! She need space to put all her stuff in hang clothes, hang pictures, this little love needs a space to call her own. So we have begun, I have colors I love and things to use, we just need time. It is our only spare room and with us expecting company we need the extra bed for them to stay in. So all we can do is plan then come Sepember after all is said and done we will transform the once dark, cold spare room into a comfy, warm, welcoming space for a beautiful little girl. We also have many plans for miss Nevaeh's room, we will transfer her bed into a toddler bed and clean her room into a kid friendly play zone, so out will come her keepsakes from her bottom two drawers and put away anything she can break, or hurt herself on. Not that her room is not child safe, but she can get into trouble in there ie reach into her top drawer and pull out all the diapers, wipes and Vaseline. We can also remove some of the toys from the living room and put in her room to play with.

So Maëlle's room color

Lanterns to go above her crib as a decor piece as well as something super cool to gaze at! Thaks Jete!

Bathroom colors are still in the works! I am thinking All white with a accent lime green or a turquose color. I am open for suggestions!

I have found this amazing website and facebook page that has me sitting in front of this darn computer every morning at 8am sharp! It is called Baby Steals! Love it! I even have Corey Stealing! They also have one called Kid Steals which is just as great in opinion. But you have to be checking it out right at 9am MST which in my case is 8am. They have some great steals. But don't take my word for it you have to check it out yourself! And if you don't then more steals for me. :) Visit my new page LINKS to see all my favorite pages/blogs (which include these two) and to grab a button to link to my blog!

*** Stealing Break***

~BRB~

Now that I am back from stealing ;) In case your wondering I picked up a child's ergo carrier for miss Nevaeh and footless tights! YIPPIE!!

So here is my shrinking list as of today!

1. ~~Read 2 books (from the library) Not including kids books. (done one)~~ on my third!

2. Invent "one" of the most delicious, yummiest, drinks ever. Still have to do this, hum??

3. Plan, and go thorough with the wedding dress shoot. With all the book club ladies and anyone else who wants to join us. Booked for September 3, 2010

4. ~~Wear my wedding ring all the time~~.

5. Have 2 date nights, no kids allowed. If I have any volunteers to babysit for 3 hrs that would be wonderful!

6. Learn to knit, and make something cute for the girls to wear in the fall.

7. Have a picnic by the ocean and watch the sun set.

8. ~~Make pies Strawberry, rhubarb, blueberry, and raspberry.~~

9. plan and start to redecorate the main bathroom. (in planning stage)

10. ~~Plan a games night with a few friends~~.

11. Go to the drive in movies.

12. Visit Party in the Park at least 3 times. Done once, going again this friday!

13. Print and hang some of the photos I have taken.

14. ~~Design Maëlle's room. (started)~~

15. ~~Go unplugged for one day, no computer, no iphone, no tv.~~

16. ~~Make a new dinner from the Kraft emails I get every week. (well on my way)~~

17. ~~Make raspberry jam, lots of it!~~

18. Can tomatoes.

19. ~~Pick and use all the delicious fruit and veggies form our love garden.~~

20. Complete all tasks before the end of summer!

Anyways I have dinner to attend to!

People are like crayons?!

2010-08-07T14:25:00.000-07:00

I love people watching, I have no idea why, but I find sitting far back from a huge crowd and skimming the ocean of people fun, interesting, a relaxing way to somewhat enjoy what the people your watching are doing. I like to find people in large crowds who stand out. Like the lady in the red dress and brown cowboy boots dancing up a storm. I love it, oh how I wish I could be one of those people who are able to get up and dance. REALLY dance. Not a care in the world and do it with a smile. At first glance you would think this lady is seriously crazy, but then as you really watch her she is smiling, laughing, swaying to the music. She is not crazy she is having fun. She is dancing with a partner, as a friend, or maybe a mother, or sister. she is dancing with a man. A man who has downs syndrome. And as I watch I smile, and my eyes fill with tears. Good tears ones that make me feel warm and wonderful. Seeing this makes my life happier. It makes me want to be that lady even more. I keep skimming the crowd and find a man who is standing in between two other men who also have downs, I have no idea why these people stand out to me. But they do. They are visibly having the time of their lives. I love it! It made my night!

We attended our towns summer party in the park. It is filled with music, food, children of all ages dancing, last night was pirates night. There are tables of things to buy, and always people to watch.
Nevaeh ate her first corn dog, and we enjoyed a bag of freshly popped kettle corn popcorn. Maëlle enjoyed her stroller ride, fresh air and loud comforting music. Nevaeh made her way to the dance floor to only be met by a older child clapping with her. She became very shy and hugged my leg, until the little girl left. I loved that. I loved that when she felt unsure she turned to me, she hugged me. Clearly from someone else's view they would know I was her mommy. I loved that!

So we broke out the bath crayon (and so the story begins)...

I mean the girl has talent...
I see 2 hearts, a butterfly, and her name! Clearly she was born to color!

So my life lesson for this post is:

Every one is like a crayon, bright, colorful, fun, different, some new, some well worn. So remember. Treat yourself good (so you don't break or melt), live on and off the paper and always, always color with all the colors!

End this post with a cute sitter!

~Melissa
xo

Inspiration

2010-08-03T23:06:00.000-07:00

* quick note: There is no music, but on the bottom of this post click play on the video, This is the song I wanted for this post, but it is so new it was not available yet.

Inspiration, what is it? who gives it and who takes it, who decides what is inspirational?
n.

1. Stimulation of the mind or emotions to a high level of feeling or activity.
2. The condition of being so stimulated.

Today I came across this video. And everything this definition gives is true, so I was inspired today. And it had me thinking. It gave me tears, a title, and a post. And it will give many of you the same, I hope.

There is one tiny little person in my life that inspires me every single day. I never thought someone so small and so new could pass on so much wisdom. How can that be so, how can someone who is newer to this crazy world have more strength and more wisdom then me? And as I still ask that question in awe, I still have no answer and I don't think I ever will. This little person is Nevaeh. Now if you don't know us or her then you might not know (or maybe you do know) that yes she had Downs Syndrome. Trisomy 21. There are some things that you need to know about Nevaeh... she is Nevaeh a little girl who once you meet, will capture your heart in a single smile. She will show you and everyone else she has a personality and a sense of humor, she can walk, talk, laugh, cry. She has feelings, and thoughts & will give you more love then you would have ever imagined. Most people who meet her want to keep her. And I really don't blame them, we hit the jackpot (with both our girls).
Nevaeh has under gone two major surgeries in the last 2 years. One was open heart surgery at 6 months old. They went in and repaired a hole between the right and left chamber. Then the last (and it was her last) was to repair her forehead She had a in-dent that was formed due to her right skull plates fusing together prematurely in utero. Causing her bone to cave when her head grows. She is a very strong little girl who seems to amaze me and her daddy every day.
Now on to Trisomy 21 (DS). People with DS have 3 21st chromosome where as I or you have only 2. There are many medical disorders that are associated with DS ie: hearing loss, or problems with eye sight, or like in Nevaeh's case heart defects. In most cases people with DS are very likely to live a normal life living on their own, jobs, & families.
As Nevaeh's mom when I look at her I see a beautiful little girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. I never see the physical features of DS, never. So when someone brings it up who don't really know us I probably look confused or shocked, because I forget. I forget she has DS. Because there is so much more then that title, that judgment people have.
We have so many friends and family members who have welcomed Nevaeh with no judgments. We are very lucky that way. I really dislike putting Nevaeh in a different category or doing something different for her then I would for Maëlle, but lets be honest it is going to happen. I also dislike it when people forget and are not aware of saying or doing things I find very offensive. I could give you some examples, but I wont. Do I say anything "no" should I? I don't know? Now I am giving them the benefit of the doubt by saying "not aware". I feel everyone should treat people the way would like to be treated. I feel anyone deserves respect. You wouldn't like it if a action or something you have no control over was poked fun of, or exaggerated? Or what about that person who said they would be devastated if they ever had a child with special needs. Devastated is such a strong word. One to describe the earth quake in Haiti or the oil spill in the Gulf. Do I have fears? Sure of course I do, I was worried? Still am. Have I ever wondered what our life would be like. Have I ever not wanted her, or not loved her, or wished for Italy? Nope not once. We have so much more then Italy, we have Holland, and Italy! We visit a new place every day! We are learning and we have our downs, but we have so many more ups.

So here is to many more ups, & many more things to learn. Here is to love, life & laughter. Here is to Nevaeh my little walking inspiration. My little love!

"When I see your face

There's not a thing that I would change

Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

And when you smile,

The whole world stops and stares for awhile

Cause girl you're amazing

Just the way you are"

~Bruno Mars

xoxo

a look back

2010-07-28T23:05:00.000-07:00

Looking back at my last post I realize I have been slacking in the writing department, but I assure you I have been very much enjoying my girls that much more. We have had a busy few weeks so to stay home and relax was a nice change. Seeing Nevaeh in her own world with all her toys. She is into her babies and is a great little mommy. We have added a new toy to her collection, something I have been wanting for her for a long time. A little pink stroller. It is so cute and it is just her size. Nevaeh is growing and changing so much, she knows more signs then I can count and keep track of. She is also talking more and more and every once in awhile I'll hear a "no" or "kitty" you never know what she will say and when. Pretty sure she says "oh, shit" we laugh.... we have no idea where she would pick that up?!

Maëlle is doing her own amazing things, like sitting on her own. I love it! She is growing so fast. Put her next to a newborn and she is a monster, I was afraid she would eat the poor thing. Kidding she is well fed and would never resort to cannibalism.

I have been enjoying the sun and the deck. The girls love being outside in the shade Nevaeh loves coming in and out of the house having the freedom to play with her books inside one minute and then playing with her water table outside. What I have to watch is that her books don't end up in the water table. This goes along with phones, remote controls, and other objects that could be ruined by water.

I am slowly crossing items off my summer to do list. It is going well and I am actually doing it! I just finished my second book. Oh did I mention I finished the second book in less then 24 hrs!? And yes it has more then 10 pages with many words on each page, and it has not one single picture! It was a real adult book. I am looking into the knitting.... so if anyone knows how to knit and would like to teach, I am open to learning.
So....
Looking back,

we ate lots and lots of blueberries

we fell asleep in strange places

we watched Maëlle conquer sitting, we cheered and praised her. When she fell we picked her up, kissed her and tried it again.

we played and played , and then played some more

we had mini photo shoots

We crossed things of the summer list

But most importantly we loved!

~M
xo

An amazing glance

2010-07-20T23:02:00.000-07:00

This beautiful country we live in... No words can describe the feeling I get when we hop on the ferry and head out to the Island. I am always reminded of the few family holidays we took when I was little out to the island. I always remember this place being magical. A place I only dreamed of once in awhile. I remember wanting to always run away and move to this wonderful place a place where you had to hop on a boat and sail to, other then plane there is no other way to get on or off. I love the feeling of the wind blowing through my hair the cool breeze from the salty water. The two hour ferry ride is never long enough, I always find myself full of disappointment when I have to get back into our car and wait to be directed off.

This weekend we visited this magical place. And we shared it with our girls. The ferry ride there was in the evening we witnessed the most beautiful west coast sunset. That night the air was a little cooler then I would have liked, so the girls enjoyed the views from inside, but I snuck out to take it all in! I truly felt like Rose from the Titanic....

After a good nights rest we visited a market in Coombs which is famous for it goats that live on the roof. I remember this place as a child known only for that, Goats. Now I remember this place as a great place to shop and pick up unique gifts, nick knacks, trinkets, food items really anything your little heart desires. This place has something for everyone young and old. Something for the artsy type, or the home body, the cook, and even the hard to buy for aunt.

While the girls shopped the boys talked...

After a long morning of shopping and looking we drove to the most beautiful place to play. The sun was warm, the tide was out, the sand was calling our names. Each little puddle of salty water we splashed our feet through was warmed by the suns rays. My little loves belonged here. They drank every ounce of this lovely little cove with huge gulps. They breathed in the salty air and and splashed in the warm water. We didn't want to leave but a poopy diaper and a hungry babe was calling the shots.

The end of our trip was bitter sweet because it always ends with that wonderful ferry ride. Like I said in the beginning of this post. A very cherished childhood memory, that I am looking forward to sharing with my girls. Again, and again. I would have like to visit with family while we were there, but things didn't work out. It gives us a great excuse to do this all over again, soon! Promise!

~M
xoxo

A weekend away...

2010-07-14T18:03:00.000-07:00

We rarely are able to just get away, you know the weekends with no plans, do what you want, when you want, how you want. Like I said we rarely have those kinda mini holidays. We slipped away for a weekend in beautiful Whistler. It was wonderful to join the many tourists of Whistler after the big 2010 winter olympics. The vibe you get from this place is very relaxed, but on the go you don't see many cars driving around mostly bikes, buses, and skate boards. You see a lot of skis and snowboards, and many down hill bikes. When you walk the village you see dogs, strollers, Star-bucks. It is the kinda place where you hear music around the bend and then happen to run into a full percussion band, that your 100% sure all they eat is granola and sit in trees to protest the forests being cut down. You see many children young and old wearing their helmets riding down hill bikes covered in dirt. You feel alive, free, happy to be in the sun. You want to get up and dance along with the granola people. You feel so full of energy and love. You pass people you have never met before and smile say hello, maybe even strike up a conversation. It was a great little holiday.

We enjoyed our sunshine filled weekend with sunscreen, hats, sippy cups filled with cold water. We enjoyed our swimming sessions, our hikes, our nightly games with great friends, our dinners, lunches and breakfasts. We put away all the routines and schedules to make way for spontaneous fun and laughter. The girls enjoyed their friend little Tay, the walks in their new stroller, the colorful balloon hat, the early mornings, the skipped nap, falling asleep pool side in the jolly jumper. They had so much fun and were able to experience a different way of life.

We had so much fun, but I was happy to be home, happy to sleep in my own bed, with my pillows and air conditioning. I missed the dogs, and phone calls to my mom. We were so tired and exhausted. All the waking up early, hiking, sun and swimming can really tire a person out. We all slept great our first and second night at home. Happy to be in all our own beds.

This weekend has made me thankful for good friends, family, the sunshine, and mini holidays!

Enjoying the sun
~M

A decade in love

2010-07-08T08:04:00.000-07:00

Ten years ago today I can honestly say was one of the best days of my life. I married my best friend. I remember so much about that special day but yet so many of the small memories have slowly slipped away only to be remembered in conversation or looking at pictures. Kinda like a dream, when you awake you remember almost all of it, playing it over and over again in your head, then as the days, weeks, years pass those small moments slowly fade, only to be remembered by a song, a smell, a picture... Those memories that fade are not gone forever. I think they are the best kind. The ones that when you do remember them they come flooding in and hit you like a heavy wave. Bring many emotions with it. Like the small of the vanilla votive that sat burning on our head table, like the song we all shook what our mama's gave us to, the sunset we snuck out to see & capture on film, the last min phone call to the hotel, because we forgot to book a room. Here are some of my memories....

I remember being young, naive, beautiful and so in love. I remember being so nervous I couldn't eat, I remember getting ready at my parents house in my old room, looking out the back window, I watched the chairs fill up, people hurrying along, people laughing. I remember it being so beautifully warm. I remember thinking "is this really happening?" I remember standing and waiting for my music to start and I remember walking down the aisle with my parents in tow. I remember meeting eyes with Corey, feeling like we were the only ones there, it was just us. We were the only ones that mattered. I remember reading my vows and listening carefully to his. I remember my sister crying so loudly, I laughed. I remember our kiss, our first kiss as a husband and wife. Wow what a day. A day I will never forget.

So much has conspired since that lovely day, not only did we begin a life together we promised to live that life to the fullest through thick and thin, and we have had our fair share of bad life altering but in amungst those we have had more good, great.
We welcomed two beautiful baby girls, each one with their own set of personalities a mixture of the best of Corey and I. Both so beautiful in their own special ways. Nevaeh is a bubbly little girl with energy that could make anyone tired just watching her. She is smart and loving, she is a daddy's girl witha strong love for her mama. Now she has a baby sister to love and man does she have a lot of love to share.

Maëlle is beautiful with a smile that could light the wettest log of wood on fire, she has a very serious side to her. You know she is watching you and thinking. She is growing so fast and so strong and not only physically but mentally and emotionally. For such a little person she fills our hearts and home with so much love. And that love like with both of my girls will continue to grow as they do.
I am so thankful for them. And I have only Corey to thank for that. We have an amazing little family. (we did good, hunny)

We don't have the most perfect relationship, we have disagreements and little fights, we argue, and roll our eyes at each other, there are things that bug the heck out of him, And there are things he does that bugs me also. But we get over it, we apologize, we make it right. We listen to each other and we always say "I love you" We never leave the house without a kiss, and I don't think we have ever left mad. And with that our relationship grows stronger, better.

Today life is much different then it was back then. We no longer sleep in or go out to movies, we trip over toys that have been played with, we listen to kids music all the time and we have children's channels stored as favorites. We never leave with out a sippy cup, or crackers. It no longer take us 30 mins to get out the door anymore, we now pack the night before and it still takes us over an hour. We have a busy life, filled with lots of hugs, kisses and love. We will teach our girls what love is all about, and we will continue to love each other the way we deserve to be loved for another 10 years.

Corey,

You have shown me nothing but love and attention, you have given me the most amazing memories, you have always been there for me no matter what. You are one of the most important people in my life. Looking back at our 10 years of marriage I don't think there is one thing I would do different. My love for you has grown so strong over the last decade. And will continue.

You are an amazing dad who's love for his girls is undeniable. You would give your life for them. When I see you with our girls love radiates from your eyes, your smile is the brightest I have ever seen. In turn makes my love for you grow stronger.

I truly look forward to many, many more years with you by my side. I dream about us sitting in our rocking chairs holding hands watching our grandchildren and hopefully great grandchildren run and play. I look forward to living out my life with you by my side.

Thank you for the most wonderful 10 years any woman could ask for!

Always and forever
Melissa
xoxo

A Berry Good life

2010-07-04T18:37:00.000-07:00

In between mixing berries, tending to crying, hungry babies, I write this post. A busy little life I live. And I love it. The summer has been a slow start, but not when it comes to berry season. One main reason I love where we live so much is all the beautiful fruit that grows here. We have strawberries in June, raspberries in July, blueberries in August, apples in September, corn all summer and fall, we can grow cherries, peaches, blackberries, the list is endless.

Again this summer I am making Jam, freezer jam, and cooked jam. It is a very long process right from picking up the berries, cleaning them, boiling jars and lids, measuring all the ingredients (which isn't many) then realizing you don't have enough of one so you have to run out to get more. Then mixing, bowls everywhere, and a mess is strewn all over the kitchen, ya baby that's how I cook. I am ecstatic to say I made 20 jars of raspberry jam. 11 -250ml and 8 - 500ml.

Yesterday was a pie day! I made pie. Yes, from scratch. I watched my mother in law when she was down last time, she happens to be one of the best pie makers, not because of taste but this woman can pound out 15 pies in an afternoon, all different kinds. And she makes it look so easy. So I decided to give it a go, plus it was on my list of things I must do this summer. Now right from the get go I knew it was not going to be an easy task. Easy is far from what it was. I made three pies, strawberry - rhubarb x2, and one blueberry - raspberry. We dived into the strawberry one and I have to say it was delish!! Esthetically not the best, but when it tastes as good as it did who the heck cares, right?

Nevaeh is trying so hard to be welcomed into the big girl club, not for being potty trained, but for eating with a fork. She is doing wonderfully well, and her daddy and I are super proud, while eating dinner we cheer her on and help her out when she lets us. You can see the pride in her eyes when she aims her fork right and the food stays on and she lands a mouth full! "Yea Nevaeh" we all cheer.

Two of the best helpers...

~Melissa
xo

The small things...

2010-07-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

This week has gone by so fast it is crazy. We have had nothing but rainy cloudy weather. So it has put a real damper (literally) on our plans. We did go through with camping...

Who's idea was that?? Oh right mine :( It started off great we had a wonderful stall in a beautiful place. The air was filled with the scent of the tall cedars that surrounded us in every direction. The wildlife that Nevaeh had a chance to actually see for the very first time. The dinner that was cooked over an open flame, the real flushing toilets with soap and a sink. Like I said it was wonderful.

Until it grew cold and it was time for us to go to bed. Then the tears began to flow, I think mine was mixed in the whole break down. Once we finally had the babies settled Corey and I squeezed our selves in between each babe desperately trying not wake them. We covered partial parts of our bodies, being sure the kids were warm and had enough coverage. And settled in for a long, cold, & sleepless night of being kicked and smacked by a sleeping two year old that has no idea she is suppose to sleep with her head on the pillow & not her feet.

Then to be woken up by a strange bird that squawked like something I have never heard before, along with a wet baby, who's diaper sifted during the night. And was now sleeping in wet p.j's and was cold. Yep the night was not as relaxing and as fun as I thought it was going to be.

The morning came with me crawling into Nevaeh's playpen, we made a tent out of it and read stories. She talked to me, and talked back like I knew exactly what she was saying. When the rest of the tent started stirring we decided to head outside to play. Breakfast was delicious, again made over a open flame! He learnt from the best camp fire cooker (him mom).

Oh camping... maybe we will try it again when it warms up.

(Cheese)

("really mom?!")

On a sad note, my thoughts are with the mother who lost her little girl at the hands of someone she loved and trusted. As a mother I truly feel for any mom who has lost a child. You never really actually think something so traumatic could happen to you. Hug your babies, tell them you love them, read to them, let them pick the story, take lots of pictures of them, make them laugh, pick them up and dance, play peek a boo, sing to them, then do it all again. These are the times you will remember, and so will they. They don't need things, they need love, discipline, they need us to teach them, guide them, they need us to have expectations, rules. They need us to do our best, if you can honestly say you, as a parent is or have done everything you can to be the best parent you can be, then that is all they can ask for. No one said it was going to be easy, no one said it would be all fun and games. We all know we will face some of our worst fears, we will cross a path we had no idea we were strong enough to cross. We will have to make decisions you never thought you would ever have to make. But you will get through it one step at a time, one decision after another. And in between the hard times their will be smiles, and laughter. You will have great times filled with memories you will talk about forever. All in all make the best of each day you are lucky enough to have. I know I am. I am very thankful for this blog, being able to write it has provided me to think long and hard about life, family, love.

~M
xo

p.s. Here is a photo I assure you will make it into a sideshow one day that will make my girls cringe!

Our Everyday

2010-06-26T21:55:00.000-07:00

Waking up everyday the same time, to the same sweet hungry cry is a good feeling. I love to listen to my baby girls sleep the soft sound of each breath they take is such a reassuring sound. It gives me a sense of wonderment and hope, it comforts me in so many ways. No matter how they lay when they are asleep they have this look of peace and comfort. You know they feel safe, and loved.

It was a busy week and weekend. Looking thorough what we have done this week tells me I am behind on posts. Nevaeh graduated from her signing class, she is so smart. She can see a sign maybe once or twice and learn it that quick. For example I told her one day Daddy was on his way home from work. She looked at me a signed work (which is knocking one fist on top of the other) They don't actually teach this sign. They show it twice in the end as a "a few more signs" another she learnt by watching her signing videos is "time" and they don't actually teach that either, they use it in the opening song, so when she wants to watch her video she will sign time. It took me a long time to figure that one out.

So to celebrate we went out for milkshakes, yummy, thick, delicious milk shakes!

Nevaeh is just like her mama, she has this obsessive love for popcorn, and would probably eat it until she made her self sick. Grandma sent us her favorite kind of popcorn, and let me tell you this stuff is 10 times better the movie popcorn. Yum!

Maëlle is loving her jolly jumper, she will bounce, and bounce then fall asleep. Don't feel so sorry for her, because as soon as you try to move her game over! She will cry and cry and cry some more. So we have learnt to let have a little cat nap while taking a break from bouncing.

Today we had our fund raiser for the Fraser Valley Child Development Centre. It was a huge success in my eyes, the sun came out, kids danced laughed and played. And the centre raised money!

Nevaeh walked the whole 1 km around the track and earned herself a very pretty ribbon. She bounced the the bouncy castle (with her mama because she was too scared to do it alone) the poor thing was pushed through this half moon shape door (the size of, well lets just say I JUST fit.) She clung on to that bouncy entrance floor for dear life. Saying " oo, oo, oo, oo" that is her way of saying "no, no, no".

My favorite part of the day was sitting with my girls signing and dancing to one of my favorite childhood artists Charlotte Diamond. She is awesome!

We raised enough money to win 3rd place so that was nice. Nevaeh also won a door prize.

All in all it was a great week with an amazing musical finish!

xo
M

Up Coming Summer Fun

2010-06-23T23:08:00.000-07:00

I really would like to expand my summer to do list, right now it sit at a list length of one, that's have fun.
I have decided to make it a list, and I will cross things off as I complete them.

1. ~~Read 2 books (from the library) Not including kids books. (done one)~~ on my third!

2. Invent "one" of the most delicious, yummiest, drinks ever. Still have to do this, hum??

3. Plan, and go thorough with the wedding dress shoot. With all the book club ladies and anyone else who wants to join us. Booked for September 3, 2010/re scheduled until next summer :(

4. ~~Wear my wedding ring all the time~~.

5. Have 2 date nights, no kids allowed. If I have any volunteers to babysit for 3 hrs that would be wonderful! We had one

6. ~~Learn to knit, and make something cute for the girls to wear in the fall.~~

7. ~~Have a picnic by the ocean and watch the sun set/mid day~~.

8. ~~Make pies Strawberry, rhubarb, blueberry, and raspberry.~~

9. ~~plan to redecorate the main bathroom~~. (in planning stage)

10. ~~Plan a games night with a few friends~~.

11. Go to the drive in movies.

12. ~~Visit Party in the Park at least 2 times. Done once, going again this friday!~~

13. Print and hang some of the photos I have taken.

14. ~~Design Maëlle's room. (started)~~

15. ~~Go unplugged for one day, no computer, no iphone, no tv.~~

16. ~~Make a new dinner from the Kraft emails I get every week. (well on my way)~~

17. ~~Make raspberry jam, lots of it!~~

18. ~~Can tomatoes.~~ They all died.

19. ~~Pick and use all the delicious fruit and veggies form our love garden.~~

20. Complete all tasks before the end of summer! Almost

Summer started on Monday so I can officially begin crossing things off the list!

We had a really nice afternoon today playing with friends! Nevaeh loves all her friends, and it is so nice to see her play with other little loves.

A out of the blue improve photo shoot with Maëlle, I would of loved to have Nevaeh in the picture, but in her words "da, DA, gee, na, NA, NA" I think that means no?!

Living and really loving life!
~M
xo

The winner....

2010-06-18T14:10:00.000-07:00

I haven't looked yet to see who won, but I do have a number.... Drums please....

Lucky number 4! Whom ever left the fourth comment wins!! Yea!!

Thanks for playing you 7 cool people!

10 things

2010-06-17T21:41:00.000-07:00

Earlier today I was reading another blog "SouleMama" I happen to fall upon, and at first I never really thought anything about it. I read her last post and said I would come back to it, because we were just about to head out the door to Nevaeh's signing class.
The day started out ok, I didn't over sleep, so I was able to get a good breakfast in mine and Nevaeh's belly, Maëlle slept in so I had time to get my self ready for the day. So the day seemed like it was going to be a good one.
On our way to class the rain was pouring down and it seems like it will never stop, it is becoming to be a little depressing. We should have blue skies, chirping birds, buzzing bumble bees, a blooming garden. All the things we love about summer. We get to class and Nevaeh went from the cutiest little thing ever to... hmmm. Well lets just say her strong personality kicked in, and she would not sit still, she was into everything she shouldn't be in. I guess she is at the age where she wants to just go and explore. Plus I think she might be a little old and experienced for this class, so I am going to look into "tumble time" at the local YMCA. That she will love.
Anyways... so with the drabby grey skies, a little monster, a hungry baby, to top off my morning I fall walking out of class with one baby on my hip and the other hanging over my arm in her car seat. And if anyone knows what it is like falling while carrying something as precious as your babies, you tend to do anything to catch yourself so they are safe and don't get hurt, but it always means you will. I walked away with bruised and cut up knees (and I was wearing jeans).

So all in all today was looking out to be a horrible, no good, very bad day. Then I remembered the SouleMama's blog 10 things. So here I go these are my ten things.

1. a smiling pigtailed baby.

2. A smilie bouncing baby.

3. Homemade Apple pie with vanilla ice cream.

4. Vanilla Oreos and good cup of coffee.

5. A scratch ticket (no winner) but Nevaeh sure loved scratching it.

6. Good friends who leave nice messages.

7. A clean bill of health for both my girls.

8. An after bath cuddle.

9. A quick afternoon nap.

and last....

10. Sunshine in the forecast for the weekend :) (well kinda)

This list puts everything in perspective. I have so much to be thankful for, and nothing to feel sorry about.

Tomorrow will be a great day!

Weekend in Wonderland!

2010-06-14T15:58:00.000-07:00

Our weekend began with some sun and a few great ideas!

Prepping for the BIG Tea Party was so much fun, I love getting down and dirty (okay more like red and tasty) mmmm kool-aid! I made something out of nothing, and that feels good. Sewing not my thing but I made a go of making the girls skirts for the party, it was fun and the end result was beautiful!

Wet feathers.

All dry and looking not so white!

We played in the sun, took some beautiful pictures of my one poor lonely flower in the front flower bed. And the we topped our Saturday off with a nice warm bath, with a baby doll!

THEN...

The day finally arrived! Our Mad tea party was rescheduled last weekend to this weekend due t the rain. Driving out to "Wonderland" the rain once again started to fall and I was so worried the party would be once again moved to another day. But all weather stations were promising sun by mid afternoon, so we trusted them. By 12:30pm the sun was making it debut and we could not be more ecstatic! I have never seen so many girls with their iphones checking the weather in my life and probably never will again.

The day started with great friends, we had our make-up and hair done, it was marvelous! We sipped on mimosas, and snacked on little sandwiches. Fruit, there seemed to be a never ending supply of fruit, and I think Nevaeh ate most of it. I mean this was just the begging.

After we were in our characters, we traveled over to the make shift "wonderland" this wonderland was awesome! No detail was left behind. Their were tables with trinkets of old clocks, tea cups, & keys. Frames and heats hanging from the trees. We had flamingos everywhere some staked in the ground the others we let roam free (the little loves). The tables we covered in food, and treats, "eat me" cakes, "drink me" punch, tea cups and saucers, hanging lanterns.... it was an absolute picture of beauty!

My most favorite part of the day was seeing my girls happy, and loved, every person there held and spoke to them with care, love and respect. They really love them with everything that they have, and it shows, when Maëlle was being held she was always smiling, she never cried for longer then a min without being swept up into loving arms and cradled or rocked. Nevaeh played and laughed, she had a amazing time.

photo credit Jag Nagra

photo credit Jag Nagra

There are so many things I love about summer, but one thing you will always have no matter the weather, is great friends!

a freebie....

2010-06-11T16:39:00.000-07:00

Friday has arrived and normally I would be so excited, but all this sad rain is keeping the excitement from showing. Being trapped in the house has me going a little bonkers. This morning we played, watched a bit of t.v. And I think I may have Doofy-look-itis. Yep Doofy-look-itis. Oh my what is this world coming to?

No more tv for today. We did turn up the music though. I caught Nevaeh dancing to the songs sung by her most favorite Carebear, so we put on the good tunes and she danced away. Which she is doing again as I write. She has finally picked up dancing with her whole body and not just the upper part, but it has me in stiches, because she turns in circles which in return has her falling all over the place. She becomes very dizzy.

Maëlle seems to have really found her voice while Neaveh was dancing her little heart out Maëlle was singing her! You can hear it on the video if you listen very carefully. I love these two girls. I would have a very boring life without them!

This weekend should be a busy one, I have the tea party on the sunday keeping my fingers crossed we wont be rained out again. Saturday will be a day of prep. Getting everything I need in order.

so, about the title. I have decided to give away a couple things one on each blog. On this blog I am giving away a 10x10 canvas print of one the flower photos seem in my previous post. So I know your thinking " What do I have to do to enter?" not much really. All you have to do is comment on my blog. "Can I enter if I don't live near by?" Ah YES! "What if I would like to enter more then once?" No problem. You can post me to facebook, twitter, your blog etc. You can enter up to 5 times. And I make this easy by the "share the love" button at the end of this post! But if you do share me to lets say, twitter then you have to come back to this post and comment again (this is an important step. If your the first to post you will be number one etc.) just let me know where you shared me and post the link, so I can have a look. The winner will be chosen at random. You have till Thursday night to enter! Winner will be annouced next Friday. Now I also said I was giving away 2 things one on each blog.... you will have to have a peek at my work blog to see what the prize is there! Good Luck!

See doofy-look-itis.

Reading facebook the other day a friend posted about hugging her baby a little more and enjoying them while they are little because this was her last baby. Well my thought of the day is to hug all your babies more, say I love you more, because this may be the last baby planned or not. In fact you should tell everyone who means anything to you in life that they are loved and needed. You never know what can happen, or maybe that feeling you share makes their day brighter or better. And that alone is worth it.

~M
xo

Goals

2010-06-08T14:15:00.000-07:00

Everyone has goals. I think it is a great thing to have, and to look back to see if you achieved them, you can look at how long it took you, & how you did it etc. I find myself setting goals all the time whether it may be a big goal or something really little like actually finishing the laundry this week. Okay that may not be considered a little goal more like a mediocre (did you know that is an actual word?) goal. One I never seem to complete, but I find myself still setting it for myself every week. What would it be like if I didn't set these goal? would I be turning my clothing inside out? yikes.

I am so proud of my girls, especially Nevaeh she has really come a long way from where she was almost two years ago. With her heart condition. she was failing to thrive, but with that smile, that little ray of sun shine, you would have never known. You would have never thought she should have been too sick to eat, move around let alone learn how to roll over, or hold her head up, all the things little healthy babies learn to do. Nevaeh was not healthy. Looking back at pictures and videos I can see it now, I can see how sick she was, but how she never let that get in her way. My little love is strong, strong, stronger then I, you or anyone else will EVER know. And I am so Proud of her for that.

She has goals, I set goals for her to work towards, she may not know it, but we help her work towards reaching them. It's hard to set goals for someone else let alone someone you have only known a short time. I know and understand she has some special needs and when setting her goals I have to take that into consideration. I don't want to set them too high, or too low. I have to be sure I set ones she can reach. I looked over her goals we set a year ago. To see what she has done. This little love has not only reached every single one, she has surpassed them with flying colors! One of her goals was for her to be crawling and holding her self up to stand. She is not only standing on her own, she is walking, running, kicking, and we are just starting to work on jumping. Another was actively using 5-10 signs. She knows over 80 signs and have no doubt she knows and will use them.

So the summer has decided to grace us with it's presents, now that we are almost 1/4 of the way through June. Sad that it has been so cold and rainy here. But the Almanac says it will be a dry hot summer so we will see. For the month of June it says rain, rain and well more rain. It seems it was right for the month of May. So it seems Summer will just be here for a short visit, then make it here to stay debut around the end of June. So we will enjoy every bit of sunshine mother earth shares with us.

My flower beds we planted a few weeks back look like they are doing well, I mean they are still alive! I took out the macro lens today and set up a little mini flower shoot, tripod, and release cord and all! I was about 1/2 way into setting up when little Maëlle (as cute as she is) decided to ruin all my fun. I got in a few shots before I took her in to settle her before the neighbors started to peek through the cedar trees.

Back to goals I just achieved a goal, by finishing this post before the babies woke up from their naps! Yea mommy!

On an exciting note Nevaeh said "ah-po" all while signing apple on my cheek. This is big! She is starting to say words real words!

~M
xo

Calling all angels

2010-06-02T17:05:00.000-07:00

We are calling all our life angels! Thats what we like to call all our family and friends! We have a fund raiser coming up June 26, 2010. It is for The Fraser Valley Child Development Centre. This is an amazing organization that just recently seen funds cut by our lovely government. This amazing family of specialists have come together to welcome each special child in communities around British Columbia. They have resources, classes, specialists like speech, occupational, physio the list goes on! And all of it is free. Not only have they provided us with knowledge and skills. They have also supplied us with special toys, feeding utensils, books, and videos. These people come into our home with nothing but care and the drive to help any way they can. You can meet Nevaeh's IDP worker here. I know it is short notice but our goal is to raise $500.00. Please come out support us and the centre, or if you can not attend you can send us a donation, by mail, or call me I would be happy to meet you! Thanks to all our angels!

Maëlle helped me with the laundry today she was a very talkative, happy little helper. She did an amazing job keeping the towels warm, and me company while I folded them. I love these quiet moments we share together.

Thanks in advance!

p.s. stay tuned I will be working with Fashion Touch to do a free give away!!
~Melissa
xo

Life is a song

2010-06-01T13:22:00.000-07:00

I have noticed this last few days how you can turn every and any daily activity into a song. And the tunes seem to belong to your favorite songs like "Gloria, Gloria" can be "cereal, cereal, time eat your cereal." see it works. Most of the songs we or I sing are my own creations. I have been known to come up with a few good ones. So Nevaeh tells me. Okay she didn't actually tell me but I know she is thinking it. It is written all over her face, she kinda just looks at me funny then gives me a little smile. Some times she give a little shoulder shake. Then I know I hit a good note. Speaking of songs and life you have got to see this video!! Makes me kinda wanna buy a mini van (bite your tongue woman!)

Cutest little pout! This was a fast catch, so it may be a little out of focus.

Nevaeh & Maëlle had their first bath together, it was heaven. Seeing Nevaeh so excited to have her baby sister with her in the tub, and Maëlle who seems to be a water baby. Being in the water calms her. I loved being able to bath them both at once.

I have been prepping for this Mad tea party. I am so excited to attend. You have no idea. The party is getting a lot of buzz, and many people would like to attend but it is invite only!! And Nevaeh and I are invited! I bought black nail polish!! I love it! I am normally an OPI girl, but this time I opted for the China Glaze "Liquid Leather" first coat was transparent and I was sure I picked the wrong kind, but after the first dried and I put on the second coat I loved it!! I highly recommend it! Feathers, feathers and more feathers... I attached pink feathers to Nevaeh's pink tutu, she is going to be one of many little flamingos! She will wear black leggings, a pink shirt and a pink boa. I really want to make her a beak out of paper mache, but I am sure she wont wear it on her face so we will go with a little black makeup on the tip of her cute little nose. 5 Days!!

~ Melissa
xo

Countdown to Wonderland

2010-05-27T13:38:00.000-07:00

okay so I have this crazy (in a good way) group of friends! They have been planning this Mad Tea Party for sometime now! The day is approaching fast and I am struggling to put a costume together, I have the dress, I need accessories.... tall striped knee socks, a hair piece, a tiny top hat or cool feathers on a clip, gloves really anything. I will be super honest I was so not into the whole dressing up thing, but I do think we all need a group of crazy fun friends that plan the coolest parties with the best invites!

It was a busy week with good company! The weather wasn't the best. We were still able to get out enjoy the green grass, chirping birds and fresh air. I really enjoy when family and friends come out to visit, it is nice for people to see how we live, see what we like to do. It is so often we travel, this summer is our summer to stay home enjoy our deck "my office" and have company come our way!

Maëlle is growing so fast it is scary! She is sitting with a nursing pillow around her and seems to love her bumbo chair. What a great little invention! She loves being a part of the family and siting with us while we eat. She is sleeping less and smiling more. She coos, and talks up a storm and my favorite thing she is doing is when she sees me coming for her she gets so excited her little body becomes all stiff and she has this crazy little high pitch squeal. I love it. It almost feels like she is reaching up for me!

Life is quiet now, but a good quiet!

~M
xo

Family, Good Friends, yummy food, and a fun shoot

2010-05-23T23:25:00.000-07:00

This long weekend we had two special visitors. My sister and her husband came all the way from chilly Edmonton to spend May long weekend with us. Nevaeh, Maëlle, and I love Auntie Sarah, and is very well in the running to be the best Auntie ever. The girls have really taken to her and have fallen deeply in love with their Auntie and Uncle. It will be a very sad departure. But we wont think about that yet, we still have a whole day to spend together. It has been so nice to have a extra pair of hands helping me out. I have been able to have a shower blow dry my hair and get dressed all in a row, and not have to break it up throughout out the day.
We took advantage of the one day of sunshine and get out for some pictures in the back yard. Nevaeh loves to get outside and and play in the grass. She is becoming more and more steady on her feet. Her physiotherapist came out for a visit and suggested a few things to work on. Kicking a ball, stepping over things. All to help with her balance, she is doing so good we are so proud of her, and she is so proud of her self.

Great Friends... are hard to come by. This is my best friend of forever Sarina. Her and her boy toy came out to visit us and hit up one of the best pizza houses around. We walked and talked, and like always we laugh. I laugh at her she laughs at me then we laugh at ourselves. We are funny girls, well at least we think so.

The best pizza around! Beethoven's Special! Yum Yum!!

Kids, hats and a vintage candy store. What could make a better photo shoot. ah...
NOTHING. I had to post this picture, because it brings me back to when I was eight. The feeling I get when I look at this photo is pure joy and fun. What is she telling her? We will never know. True friendship is when you have a short amount of time to finish your veggies and you friend risks it all to help you out when mom wasn't looking. Then both girls feeling so guilty they spill the beans with out even been asked. What great kids!

Click photo to the rest of the shoot!

Pure Cuteness!

~M
xo

My Garden is lovely

2010-05-16T22:56:00.000-07:00

Everyday I look into the eyes of my girls I often wonder what are they thinking at that moment, do they think like we (grown ups) do they wonder the same things as us, do they try to make sense of things like we do? They can't their views are so young and fresh. They are too busy worrying about the bubbles in the bath or running out of juice in their sippy cup. We are so full of opinions, and what if's, we judge and discriminate. Even if we don't think we do, we do. We get jealous and swear, fight, get angry over the littlest thing. Why? why do we do this? If we could only think like children think, they have so much love they don't judge or gossip. Everyday is a new day they don't dwell on the past they forgive and forget so quickly. But yet in their young ways they are so wise. Smarter then any of us (grownups) give them credit for. They teach us... how to love like they do, how to dance, and sing how to smile and laugh at really anything, like today planting a tree was a wonderful thing for Nevaeh she hugged that little tree, it was hers.

We laughed at the dirt in her hair, the sand in her teeth and the water drenched jeans she wore for a whole 10 mins. This was our day.

We shopped for flowers, and special fruit trees, that we will watch grow for many years. We will enjoy picking the fruit, eating it, making pies. Many more memories will come from these trees. And I am looking forward to sharing these with my girls. And hopefully with their children.

After a long day of shopping, and planting and watering we enjoyed looking at what we had accomplished. We enjoyed our view. We will enjoy watching these flowers grow and bloom, just like I will enjoy watching my family grow and bloom. Everyday my little flowers grow bigger and brighter.

I am so glad my garden is a perennial.

~Melissa
xo

We heart Summer

2010-05-14T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yes we do. Sun kissed baby noses, and cheeks, the smell of sunscreen, dirty fingers, butterflies, pretty much everything about it. Getting out to enjoy the weather is hard packing up two kids alone is a all day adventure, I check and re check the diaper bag, sippy cup check, diapers check, hats, check, snacks check, wipes check, sunscreen check, extra clothes check, blanket check, camera check, jacket check, more diapers check, kids in the car check, keys check, phone check, stroller check, wrap check... then as I am about to lock the door I think do I have everything? I feel like I forgot something.... hmmmm. Nope thats it. Then as we are driving down the road I remember. The soother. I either go back or say forget it, if I really need it i'll buy a new one. It never fails I always forget something!

We spent the day with my best friend & I hope my girls best friend! We walked, sipped coffee, chased shadows, blew dandelion seeds, shopped and talked. I love getting out somewhere different. Right now I am looking for a place I can take the girls where we can spend the day playing in the sun. A place that when we talk about it it gives us that warm and fuzzy feeling. You know that feeling like your on holidays in a warm place with the perfect weather or on a cold evening the kidlets are tucked safe in bed, and sit down in front of the warm crackling fire with a cup of hot cocoa or a tall glass of wine talking to the love of your life about anything and everything or reading a good book. That feeling. Thats what I want. So were looking...

Nevaeh loves her baby sister so much, I love to see them together, I am able to give Nevaeh more freedom with Maëlle now that she is older and not so breakable. I love to see Maëlle look at her big sister she smiles at her like she smiles at her mommy and daddy so you know she loves her! It melts my heart.

I brought out the bubble machine! I had no idea Nevaeh would love chasing bubbles and popping them as much as she did. It was very cute. When the breeze was just perfect the bubbles would rise and the whole sky was full of bubbles. It was beautiful kinda magical. If only the flowers would spontaneously spew bubbles every so often. Do you think our world would be a happier place. I know it would put a smile on my face. And the face of my little loves.

~ M

xoxo

Seriously??

2010-05-11T21:36:00.000-07:00

Have you ever, I mean EVER seen a dark haired, blued eyed baby as cute as this????

a runny nose and dirty toes

2010-05-10T15:17:00.000-07:00

Ahhh... Mother's day. A day I looked forward to celebrating for so many years. The pain of each mother's day passing with no babies, and me not being a mother. Not any more. I have 2 beautiful babies and I am a mother. I know I was put on this earth to be a momma. That is a sure thing.

My day was pure joy and quiet. We spent the whole day outside in what I like to call my "office". The weather was beauty. I have two sun kissed babies with runny noses and dirty toes. Everything I love about summer.

Ahhhhh..... The view from my office?

We skyped the family who live so far. It was nice, we left it on all day so we could peek into their world and they could do the same! Nevaeh is growing to love her Grandma and Grandpa through a computer screen.

Saturday evening Corey and I went out leaving Nevaeh with her favorite babysitter and Maëlle for the very first time. I really don't think any one knows the feeling of leaving something behind you love so much until you become a mother. I must have called that poor girl more times that were actually necessary! Maëlle had trouble taking the bottle and had shed some tears and I am sure some very sad faces with a quivering lip. I assure you it is a very sad sight. None the less it was a night out with high heels, great friends, and some amazing talent!

Today I have been exploring Photoshop and trying to learn some new editing techniques!! It is amazing what a little bit of tweaking can do to a picture this is just a small sample and please I am just learning! But I am loving it!!

She is beautiful!

~Melissa

An afternoon in the sun

2010-05-07T23:52:00.000-07:00

I am so excited for the blistering hot summer sun. Everyday. The smell of tanning lotion, bbq's and fresh cut grass. The sounds of laughing children, lawnmowers, and birds chirping. I love waking up to the warm sun peeking through my blinds, the smell of fresh brewed coffee, and the giggles of my oldest baby.
Today was a sneak peek of what is to come and I am not gonna lie... I LOVE IT!!! I love everything about summer. Everything. This summer will be different then last one I wont be barefoot and pregnant, and I have 2 children to slather with sunscreen. I bought these wicked hats from etsy, and I can not wait to get them! They are adorable! Today we skipped the afternoon nap to soak up some sun, and fresh air. Nevaeh is in love with the swing, the whole time she was in it she laughed, and laughed. My cheeks were so sore from smiling and laughing along with her addicting giggle.

I have been working so hard on Nevaeh's first and second year albums and.....
I am DONE! I may have a few fix ups here and there so if you see any error please let me know. I am so proud of these books and can not wait to order them. I wont order right now. I will more then likely change a few things and fix up any errors. I will post when they arrive!

Well it is so late I should really get my butt to bed!
Night
~Melissa
xoxo

A Very special Lady

2010-05-04T15:42:00.000-07:00

Hearing the words "your a good mom" are words that hit deep down and give me a sense of pride, accomplishment, and hope. I try to give my girls everything I can, my time, my love, my hugs, my kisses, my wisdom, my discipline. I want them to grow up and feel they can do whatever it is they put their minds to. That in life what makes you happy is you. Not things, or money. But love, family, the little things.
Today we were blessed with a visit from a lady who has been here for us as a family. She is a Infant Development Specialist. And she is amazing. She has never come to my house and given us anything more then encouragement. She has, from day one provided us with information, advice, & suggestions. She has never overwhelmed me or told me to do this or not to do that. Raising a child with special needs can be different, but I want to make life for Nevaeh as normal as possible. She like any other child she will face difficulties hers may be a little different. I want her to know she, like any other child will get over those humps and move on. Faye has shown me that is possible. And for that I thank her.

We are very lucky in life to know many people like Faye. Our families, & many friends. These special people will never know how much they are appreciated and loved!

I have been working on Nevaeh's first album and today I have been working on her birth pictures. My whole pregnancy and the day Nevaeh was born was such a roller coaster ride, that looking at these pictures makes me really want to live that day over again. It was one of the best days of my life, it was also a day where all my worries, and fears were put to rest. This day made me a better person. And I have only one person to thank for that. Nevaeh. xoxo

Today I am enjoying life.

~M

LOVE IT!!!

2010-05-02T14:55:00.000-07:00

Okay first off. I love my cutie baby girl with all this lovely brown silky hair.... No word of a lie during one of my last ultra sounds with Maëlle the tech said to me "ahh, I think your little girl has lots of hair." I thought the lady was CRAZY! You can NOT see hair on a ultra sound, is what I was told by a different ultra sound tech. So when she said this it kinda went in one ear and out the other....

When I first laid eyes on her seconds after she was born, I could not believe the amount of hair this little one had. It was thick and so dark. I was sure they had made a mistake and she could not be mine. We do have very good hair genes on both sides of our family, that she is totally mine! All mine!

Anyways
Here are a few pics of Maëlle wearing THE cutest little head band! I absolutely love it! They can be bought here. Fashion Touch.

~M
xoxo

Walk

2010-05-01T21:42:00.000-07:00

Nevaeh is getting to be such a big girl, makes me a little sad. A larger part of me is happy though. I love that she can walk, I love that she can communicate with me. She is a great big sister always wanting to help burp her or hold and rock her she will even try to pick her up and carry her around, but Maëlle is much too heavy for her. It is pretty cute, but at the same time I would never turn my back with Maëlle not strapped into something like her swing, or bouncy chair. Nevaeh thinks if she pulls Maëlle by her feet and drags her closer to her she will be easier to pick up. So not the case. Poor Maëlle.

Today was a gloomy cool day, I attended a kids swap meet here in town. I picked up 2 pairs of rubber boots. I was so excited! So we put a pair to use. We went for a walk down the street. Nevaeh made it about half way then she decided she was tired and sat in the middle of the road. Good thing we live a a quiet street.

Well short post mainly wanted to post a few pictures! I love these two little girls....
And the hubby for coming out with us!

~Melissa
xoxo

A new day a new post

2010-04-30T00:03:00.000-07:00

I have been thinking a lot about the blog... oh how I have missed sitting in front of this large computer screen and typing all about my daily life and how amazingly lovely it is.

I have so many things to post about...

first lets start with a smile.

Now how can you not smile at this adorable little hat lover?

So awhile back I purchased a new kitchen gadget, I rarely buy things for the kitchen because my cupboards have things literally falling out of them when the doors open. But as a lover of avocados and pampered chef I went all out and bought the "Avocado Peeler" for a whole $9.00 bucks!

Well at first I thought it was going to be a waste, because a good old kitchen spoon works great.
To my surprise the thing is unbelievable! I was in shock. I had to call Corey over to have a look, and to watch me peel the other side. then I called my mom.

Every night as part of our routine... we brush our teeth in the mirror and a naked little girl and I sing our ABC's then it is her turn. This is one of my favorite times of the evening, we play in the mirror, kiss it dance in front of it, she lets me comb her long silky hair and cover her cute little body in sweet smelling lotion. Then out of nowhere she will stand up and give me the biggest hug! My little peanut is so full of love! And in my opinion gives the best hugs!

Working on Nevaeh's first year album I had to go through many old pictures and story's I have written on her personal webpage, and today I shed a few tears. What a strong little girl I have. She has over come so many things in her young life. In October 2008 she under went open heart surgery and today I worked on those pages. I am not quite done but here is what have completed so far.

I will leave you with a few more smiles!

And last but not least my newest little love, and what a love she is!

I am so enjoying our little conversations we have been having these last few days!

Goodnight
~Melissa xoxo

signing time

2010-04-23T21:59:00.000-07:00

I have one smart little 2 year old. We have been teaching her sign language since she was about 8 months old. We started simple, "milk" and "more" we showed her over and over, and over again, with her looking at us with this blank look in her eyes. "what the heck are you guys doing?"
"milk?" "more?" "more milk?"we would repeat this all day everyday.... until one day she did it, she signed "more" YEA!! We were so excited! It was like the gods were singing down from above, she finally signed! Milk followed shortly after. Then book, then bath.... now at two she knows about 73 or 74 signs. She can use three in a row, like "more milk please." Today we had a small comnversation with her using her signing vocabluary. She signed drink. Which looks like your holding a glass and you tip it up to take a drink...
I asked her milk or water? she wanted milk. Right as I was about to give it to her she signed please. I handed it to her with pride in my eyes I am sure. She took a little sip and decided she was satisfied. Then she signed "thank you". I can see a sense of accomplishment in her face when I understand what is telling me or needing. She knows she can sign help then bring me my phone so I can turn it on for her. If I have no idea what she is talking about, I can see her frustration. She cries and will try to sign so I can understand. The thing is I don't know all her made up signs, not yet anyways. She will learn a new sign in a matter of minutes. I show it to her a few times and she has it mastered! It is so amazing!

Today we read, we read every book we have out. First I read, then Nevaeh read. Then we read them again. One of Nevaeh's most favorite thing to do is read. She has since the day she was born. I would read to her and she would listen and watch. It's a time I love, she will crawl on my lap and help me turn the pages. She sometimes takes the book and will read it on her own. I love to hear her little voice babble on and on making no sense at all, but she would have such a pitch up and down, sometimes she will stop to giggle and point to the picture, and then sometime she would read with such excitement almost yelling at her book. Her reading is much more interesting then me reading.

Nevaeh is a great big sister! She loves to just watch Maëlle. She sits like this and will kiss her every so often. She will share her toys with her, bonking her on the head, But Maëlle really doesn't seem to mind all that much. I can see it now thay will be the bestest friends!

~Melissa

The time in between...

2010-04-22T17:18:00.000-07:00

I strive on these daily things we like to call schedules or routines. Our day runs like clock work and everyday seems to kinda be the same. From the time we wake up till we go to bed.
Nevaeh naps at the same time every day and she normally naps for the same length of time. Bless my baby she naps for 3 hrs!
Maëlle eats at the same time and her sleeping is becoming more and more routine. We give baths everyday at the same time and we all have bedtimes.

I feel these daily routines are so important in my girls life. They know what is happening and when it will happen. What is expected and what is not. What is right and what is wrong.

But...

It is the time in between that I love.

It is the time in between where life happens. Where we can be fun and spontaneous. Where we make memories that will last, way past these daily routines. We wont remember about what time they went to bed, but how we put them to bed. The bed time stories, or dance, sometimes we snuggle and I hum twinkle, twinkle little start or hush little baby. Or the time daddy gave Nevaeh a bath and he made such big slashes in the water it was so wet everywhere, but we didn't care we did it to hear you laugh. Oh how you laughed!

This is the time you dance, laugh, get down on the floor and become a child again, live like your kids live, see what your kids see. It is the time in between that makes my day full.

Then we get back to our routines and schedules. Eating our veggies, but don't worry.....

Chocolate pudding is always just around the corner!

Melissa

~xo

All the small things...

2010-04-19T21:51:00.000-07:00

Laying in bed this morning it took every ounce of my being to pull my lazy body out of bed. I knew it was going to be one of those days. One of those days where all I wanted to do was stay in bed, with the covers pulled up to my chin just thinking and running through my head, half sleeping half awake. It didn't help I had a headache. Hearing Nevaeh playing in her crib yelling every so often to let me know she was awake and ready for the day put a smile on my face. Thank goodness for my babies, or I would have stayed in bed.

Today was a day of enjoying the small things, I took note of many. The multiple kisses from Nevaeh, it was almost like "no that one wasn't good enough, here is another, nope still need one more..." It was a day of many do over kisses. I love it! Corey came home at lunch with a package for the girls. I also love these. I noticed how the parcel was signed "Love Grandma Jacquie Dzioba" This also made me smile. I smelt the girls many times through out the day, oh how I missed their smell (having a cold the last week I had lost that one of the five senses I didn't really think meant anything until you can't use it). Nevaeh yawned as she came in for yet another kiss and her breath was as sweet as "breadfruit pudding" I have no idea what breadfruit pudding smells like but I am sure it's pretty sweet. (from one of my favorite stories).

This afternoon while nursing Maëlle, I had one of those eye locking moments. It ended in us both smiling at each other. Maëlle is growing and changing so quickly, I have keep enjoying these small things. It those small things that keep me going, a lot of those moments get looked over and forgotten, thats why I am so thankful for a day of the small things.

Today was a off day for me, but my girls keep me on!

Backwards day

2010-04-17T21:57:00.000-07:00

Well today was a lovely lazy day! I started the dreaded laundry that has been pilling up the last 2 weeks. Feeling under the weather this last week has put the laundry on hold, so the pile was a biggie! When I sort it kinda sounds like this as I talk to myself...
white, dark, gross, ahh cute, dark, dark, white, cute, gross, cute, cute, pink and cute, white, looks like it suppose to be a white sock, but looks brown gross, so on and so forth... The first pile to go in to the washer is the cute little pink clothes. This is the one pile I don't mind washing, folding and putting away. Today was a sad day folding the little pink sleepers. Maëlle is growing and I am packing up her NB size and putting them back into storage. Folding them all in two cute little piles, awing and holding them up in the air remembering. She is growing so fast, I am not used to that, at all. Nevaeh stayed so little for so long. Dressing Maëlle the other day I remembered buying Nevaeh the sleeper for her to have in the hospital when she went in for her open heart surgery. Nevaeh was 6 months old at that time. Holy cow Maëlle is wearing it a 2 months old. I guess that is normal. Maelle is wearing 3 month sleepers now, and it wont be long before we will have to pack those up as well. One thing is for sure Maëlle has long thin feet, so they tend to grow out of the actual sleeper before her body does.

Before dinner we packed up the girls and headed to the new ice cream shop in town. YUMMY. yep we had ice cream before dinner and it was delish!! I love ice cream. I had the Chocolate peanut butter, and Corey had the strawberry, banana. Neaveh shared ours.

Before bed today Nevaeh played with her birthday present. A My Little Pony that you feed with a bottle, and we just noticed that it talks when you press the button on her hoof. This was exciting, and I am sure we will be hearing this little pony ask to be fed over and over again.

Neaveh is a great little pony owner. She feeds her, burps her, kisses her (she makes the smack sound by clicking her tongue). She loves her pony!

Here is a picture of the tulips we picked yesterday. When I woke up this morning I was so pleased with the way they were standing. They are so pretty.

Beauty in the world...

2010-04-16T22:24:00.000-07:00

There is something about a quiet house, that is normally filled with a babbling two year old, or a barking dog, a cat meowing, a baby cooing or crying. Sometimes it's heaven. Other times I just sit and I wait for Nevaeh to wake up, so we can play. Our most favorite thing to do is dance, I hold her in my arms and we dance like no one is watching, and I sing. She loves it and laughs and giggles you know the flat out belly laugh. I was reading a very interesting blog this afternoon and came across a new song... I added it to my blog, because it is exactly how I feel. The words are perfect. When Nevaeh wakes up from her nap we will dance!

Little Maëlle is stretching in her swing, I love new baby stretches, they crunch up and their little bum sticks out. One of my favorite thing about babies.

On a different note...

We spent a better of the afternoon playing in a rainbow field of tulips! What a beautiful place and thing to do. We walked and picked flowers, we played in the dirt, and Nevaeh even had a taste of dirt. She wore jeans to crawl in, and I really didn't care how dirty she got, as long as she had fun! And that she did. She is growing so fast and seems to amaze me in every shape and form. One thing she did today was stop to smell the flowers...

She enjoyed playing in the dirt, crawling around. She had a hard time and at one point would crawl up the tiny hill on her belly, turn around and go down the other side of the "little" hill, just like she would if she was coming down the stairs.

It was too cute. This little girl melts my heart. I love her to bits. One big part of me is so proud of her and another selfish part of me wants her to stay little forever. I know she will contine to grow and change. But no matter what she will always be my little girl!

We had picked our flowers for the day, and I made my way back to the stroller, looked in and seen this wide eyed smilie dark haired baby looking back at me. The I felt awful, I was so wrapped up in take all these pictures I forgot about Maëlle... Yikes. She was so good and quiet chilling in the shade. I picked her up and kissed her. I love how no matter what, my kids will look at me like I am a hero or the best thing in the world. She didn't feel left out or forgotten, she was just happy...

I plopped Maëlle down in the isle of tulips. She loved it it. She looked around at all the beautiful flowers with wide eyes. She was comfy and cool laying in the shade.

An amazing friend who inspite of a sore foot, and a long drive she came out to see us!

Here are a few of her and her little button!

And my favorite picture of the day!

A Pink Tulip...

2010-04-15T16:08:00.000-07:00

When the girls were napping, I went outside to take a few pictures of some pinkish tulips that starting blooming about a week or so ago, They are so pretty, and I have been waiting and waiting to make use of my christmas present. A Nikkor Micro 60mm lens LOVE IT!!

Here are a few I love...

and I also made a new friend...