I often confided in my Gramma that I wished I didn’t have such big feet (they are a size 10) I knew she’d understand, as Gramma’s always do! Her reply to my dilemma was always the same, telling me that it was good to have big feet, as they were a solid foundation on which to stand. She could always take a negative and easily see the positive in it…that is one of the things I loved the most about her.
Last night, Gramma passed away quietly, surrounded by family and love.
I love you Gramma, and will miss you so very much.
Time sure flies, and in less than one week, we will be officially moved into our new home…yahoo! I am full of anticipation and excitement. I look forward to a beautiful new neighbourhood, a yard where our children will play, and our friends and family will gather, and a house we will in time, make ours. Yet, my excitement is mixed with sadness. At the same time that we are eager with boxes packed to the ceiling, real estate finalizations and planning and organizing for our big day, my Grandmother lies in a hospital bed. She is so sick, very weak and dying of cancer…
Speaking to her on the phone earlier today, her voice seemed distant. She has had so much pain to endure. The cancer is spreading throughout her body at a rapid pace. It just didn’t feel like I was talking to Gramma today. The conversation made me so sad.
Life sure is full of its ups and downs. It’s so hard to know how to feel when they happen all at once.
It is snowing like the blazes out there! I don’t really know where that expression comes from but it seems appropriate somehow. What a strange winter this has been. One day of beautiful sun, and seemingly warm temperatures followed by a day of blizzard-like conditions. I guess this shouldn’t surprise most Canadians. I told Liam today “it looks like the North Pole out there” One could honestly make that mistake looking out my window right now! For starters, I’m not entirely certain that the deck is still there, given the tremendous gusts of wind we keep hearing, but assuming that it is, there will be some serious shovelling to do in the morning.
Speaking of which, as we were in the midst of Real Estate negotiations this evening (about which I will write at a later time, but in a nutshell, let me just say *YAY..it looks like it’s been sold!*) Anyhow, our doorbell rang, and when we opened the door, there stood two of the neighbourhood kids, asking if they could shovel our driveway. Of course, we took them up on their offer, and for the mere $7 I had in my wallet and a couple of cups of cocoa to “go-go” they did a bang-up job!
I guess you could say that March has come in like a lion…which as legend has it, means it will go out like a lamb. I hope this proves true. It has been a long winter, and so many of us are ready for the spring. But until the grass makes it’s happy spring debut once more, at least I know that there are some eager entrepreneurial shovellers just down the street looking for business!
This picture was taken a few days ago before the cold tempertures and snow came and shocked us all into a state of denial and disbelief that winter had arrived. Indeed, in the upcoming forecast, they are calling for colder temperatures and slightly more winter-like conditions. Last night, Stuart said to me that we got “cheated” out of fall. I tend to agree. This season is so short to begin with, and due to the high winds we’ve experienced in the past 48 hours, most of the beautiful colour has left the trees surrounding us.
This winter will be a very different one. I will be the mother of two children. Double the responsibility, twice as many diapers, feedings, and twice the toys that now clutter my home. Yet at the same time, double the joy in my life.
There is an expression “go where the wind takes you.” I am excited to see exactly what that place looks like.
I remember my Mom once telling me that her Grandmother used to say “if there’s enough blue sky to make a man’s shirt, it will be a nice day.” I love hearing the favorite expressions used by our elders, and indeed, I think this one does have some truth to it.
Liam and I went for a walk yesterday afternoon, under cloudy skies that had “just enough” blue. It was a wonderful walk despite a minor meltdown caused by Liam’s indecisiveness as to whether to keep walking, or go back to the park. Never-the-less, we enjoyed our stroll, camera in hand and I took several pictures along the way.
Walking with a toddler forces you to slow down (something many of us need to do more of) It makes you more aware of your environment, and the things in it which normally, you may take for granted or simply not even notice.
In these final days of calm before our second child arrives, I want to remember to notice the small things. I want to remember what it was like to be the mother of just one child. I want to focus on Liam as much as possible, play with him more, read more stories and cuddle him endlessly.
I want to slow down, and simply remember…
Yesterday, we took Liam to visit the Guelph Donkey Sanctuary. It truly is an amazing place.
The thing that amazed me the most about the farm, was that we were actually able to interact with the donkeys as they were walking around in the same area as us, and while there was a fenced off area, the open area awarded us the opportunity to pet the animals, and interact with them. What gentle and beautiful creatures they are…
The animals living at the sanctuary are very well cared for now, and it is obvious that the owners of the farm regard the love and respect of animals as extremely important. Many of the donkeys were previously abused, abandoned, or otherwise unwanted. What a wonderful home they now share together, and with the animal lovers who come to visit them!
As I mentioned before, we’re pretty sure that our new baby is going to be a girl. Stuart and I have a few names that we *mostly* agree on, but for the most part, we are lacking in any real inspiration when it comes to choosing the name of our future daughter.
I really do find the task of naming a child quite daunting indeed. I’m sure that all the Bertha’s, Betty-Joe’s and Mary-Lou’s of the world are none-to-pleased with the choice that their parents made for them (if this is your name by the way, I do apologise, and offer my deepest condolences!) So I do not want to end up naming our child something that she will not like. I am so happy that my parents chose the name Catherine for me. It is classic, elegant and beautiful (if I do say so myself!)
When Liam was born, we left the hospital the next day, with our little bundle in tow, yet, he remained nameless for days. A new baby doesn’t always look like anyone really. They have yet to show you their personality, and you know virtually nothing about them. In retro-spect, I am glad we chose the name Liam for our son, and despite it’s seemingly enormous popularity, I really do think it suits him.
This being said, if anyone has a great suggestion for a girl name (not you Dad, “Lewanda-Fay” does not count! And Keep them coming Kristi!) please pass them on…we can use alll the help we can get 
A *huge* apology to all those who regularly ready my blog…I realise that it has been over three weeks since my last post… big ooops! All I can say is that life has kept me extremely busy and pre-occupied, preventing me from the regular updates you are all used to. First, we had new carpet installed upstairs, and amid the chaos that entailed, my former computer was un-hooked for a week. Then the business of preparing baby’s room ensued. After that fiasco, I had a few scary days worrying baby was going to come early, and was in and out of the hospital many times. Regular Braxton Hicks contractions accompanied by cervical dilation (too much information?) had my doctor and midwife quite concerned. I am taking things easy now, relaxing as much as being the mother of a toddler permits, and hoping our little one stays in there for a while longer…
Did I mention that due to a late ultrasound during one of my hospital visits, we are about 85% sure that we’re having a girl? Let the name game begin! We couldn’t be happier!
So, that about sums up my life over the past few weeks. I’ve been reading tons, e-mailing some, watching far too much t.v. for my own good, and trying to find comfortable positions to sleep in in these last few months of pregnancy.
One of the books I am currently reading has been quite enjoyable. Written from the perspective of a pregnant woman, “Bear With Me” by Diane Flacks has been an enjoyable and humorous read this week. Her writing style reminds me somewhat of my favorite author of pregnancy/child-rearing literature, Kaz Cooke. An honest account of pregnancy few authors seem to be able to accurately capture.
In the days and weeks to come, I hope to be “back in the saddle” and writing again. I’ve missed writing as much as my friends tell me they’ve missed reading!
