This is 3

Sully, three years ago you were born on a very cold, cold winter day and my life was forever changed. Most days, it's hard to believe you aren't my little baby anymore (although you will always be my "baby"), and I can't believe we are celebrating your third birthday already. Getting to spend these last three years with you has been both a pleasure and an honour. Watching you grow from a tiny baby into the little boy you are never ceases to amaze me. I remember the days when your daddy and I half-jokingly thought you were never going to walk or talk and now we can't get you to slow down or stop talking!

Everyday with you is an adventure and every night I fall into bed completely exhausted. You make me laugh, sometimes you make me cry, you know how to push my buttons and you challenge me constantly. You are stubborn, sensitive, inquisitive, charming, hilarious and loving. You are the boy who has taught me patience and impatience, that it's possible to love someone so much it hurts, and that there is no greater gift in the world than getting to be your mother. I want to freeze time to keep you my little boy forever, while also looking forward to witnessing the young man you will become.

This is three: specific coloured bowls for specific foods, crying at the drop of a hat, but hugs so fierce I never want to let go. Stubbornness that mimics mine, choosing your own clothes, repeating every single thing I say, no false promises because you remember everything, making jokes, hide and seek in the dark, 100 piece puzzles, reading an endless number of books, lots of snacks (oh so many snacks!), taking showers on your own, being potty trained. Negotiations for treats, wanting to be independent with everything, mommy's little helper and a fantastic big brother. Cuddles on the couch, kisses to make boo-boo's better, telling me I'm your "best friend". Being bossy, not wanting to share your toys with friends, jumping on beds, jumping in puddles, walking with your hands in your pockets, asking endless questions. Lover of chocolate, Paw Patrol, crickets on your sound machine, ice in your water bottle, dogs, daddy's truck, motorbikes, ambulances and trains. Hater of socks, blankets, being told "no", car washes, and blueberries. Endless tears some days, but also endless laughter. It's life lived completely in the moment.

This is three.

Happy Birthday, Sully.

I love you to the moon and back,

xoxo Mommy

Sullivan's 2nd Birthday Party

This past weekend, we celebrated our little man's second birthday! It feels like yesterday that we had just moved to Calgary and were planning his first birthday party! I can't believe how fast this past year has gone, and yes, I am very well aware that I will be saying that every single year from now on.

Anyway, I knew that this year his party would be much more low key for a few reasons. For one thing, most of our family and friends live in Edmonton and I knew it would be silly to ask or expect people to drive 3 hours to come to a birthday party. Secondly, until Sully understands what his birthday actually means, I personally don't see the point in going over board with the party planning. But that's also because I'm not a huge party person. I'm all for celebrating and acknowledging someone's special day, but I didn't want an overwhelming and large party this early in the game (of course, I might have felt differently about it all had we still be living in Edmonton. But that's neither here nor there).  This mentality worked out especially well for me this year since I was so sick the week before his birthday that I had no desire to plan much.

So simple it was! My sister came to visit this weekend so she could be here for it since she missed his birthday last year and we didn't get to see her at Christmas time either. My sister-in-law Patty and my two youngest nephews drove down for the party, and Sully had the time of his life chasing them around. My aunt Max and her husband Barry, my cousin Lauren, and Barry's daughter Kate, Kate's husband Dan, and their daughter Gwen also joined the party!

I relied on lots of balloons for decorations (because what two year old doesn't love balloons?!), provided some appetizers, fruit and veggie cups, and made homemade cupcakes. And booze. We had lots of booze, because I'm pretty sure every adult needs alcohol to get through a toddler's birthday party! The weather was so beautiful that day that the kids were actually able to run around and kick the ball in the field behind our house, and it's so sweet to watch Sully run after them.

I think the most memorable moment from the party was when Sully put his finger into the birthday candle flame on his cupcake. I've posted the video on social media, but I've also included it at the end of this post because it's just too funny not to share! Yes, I am that mom that laughs at her own son's expense! (And in my defence for not reacting quicker, I actually didn't see what had happened as I had pulled my camera to my face and thought he was just crying because that's what toddlers do!)  Don't worry, his finger is fine and I think his reaction was more of a reaction to how we all reacted. Oh toddlers. Never a dull moment!

Anyway, there's not much else to say, I tried to take lots of pictures, but that's almost impossible at a birthday party and getting your two year old to stop moving for one second is pretty much the hardest thing ever!

Thank you to all of our family who spent the afternoon with us to celebrate Sully's second birthday, and thank you to everyone who called, texted, etc to send their love on such a special day!

Happy Birthday, Sullivan! We all love you so, so much and you bring more delight, love and fun into our lives on a daily basis than you could ever know! xoxo

31

Yesterday two days ago, I turned 31. It's a pretty insignificant birthday when compared to say, turning 30, but for me, it was my first birthday as a mum, which is anything less than significant in my books. I guess everything that happens this year on will be my first "as a mum", and it's still a thought that makes me smile.  If you had told me on my birthday last year, that I would be a mum on my 31st birthday, I would have laughed in your face, and then promptly downed my glass of champagne.  Not because I didn't want to be a mum, but because I never imagined I would become pregnant quite so soon after I turned 30. 

My 20s were all about me and now my 30s will be spent raising my son and making memories with my little family. It truly is the beginning of a new era. A journey I am both excited and nervous for.  You never really feel "ready" to become a parent and I was no more ready this year to become a mom then I was last year. I remember when I was a child, I believed my parents knew everything and had the answer for all life's questions. I thought this was just something that happened to all adults and so I assumed that one day, I too would all of a sudden know all the answers. Well, I'm still waiting for that day and I still think my mum has most of the answers. 

I've spent a lot of waking hours in the middle of the night (hello night feeds!), reflecting on my past 31 years, thinking about what the future holds, and all the things I've still to learn and what I want in this life for this little family of mine. Happiness. Peace. Adventure. Laughter. Love. Finding pleasure and joy in the everyday simple things of life. I recently watched the movie, About Time and there was a line near the very end of the film that really resonated with me:

I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life. -Tim, About Time

'My extraordinary, ordinary life'. I love that so much. I don't have a list of things I want to accomplish this year, no "32 before 32" bucket list. Instead, I promise myself to enjoy this simple life of mine, to find the extraordinary in what would otherwise appear ordinary. To spend my time with people I love, who's company I enjoy. To try hard to not compare myself to others, to not be too hard on myself when I'm having a tough day and struggling with this mum thing. To be kind to my husband, even when he's the easiest person to take my frustrations out on. To smile more, laugh lots and love strongly. And most of all, be present in the moment. Happy birthday, Me. 

Winner Winner Chicken Dinner

Congratulations to Lori who won my Happy Birthday to Me Giveaway! And thank you to everyone who entered and for all the birthday wishes! I appreciated each and every one of them. 

Turning 30 ain't so bad after all!

Happy Birthday to Me Giveaway!

In case you didn't hear the news, it was my birthday yesterday. The BIG 3-0, ack! Turns out, 30 feels the same as 29. For now anyway. And since we only turn 30 once, I thought I would share the love and have a little birthday giveaway on the blog.  I meant to get this post up yesterday, but with the temperatures in the high 20s and all the birthday festivities that went on, the day got away from me.

So what am I giving away? A copy of Mister Pip by Lloyd Jones, one of my favourite pens ever - the 7 year pen - which I carry in my purse with me at all times, and a little notepad to write down - if you're anything like me - quotes, or to mark pages in your book (say no to dog-ears!).  Really, you can use the notepad for whatever you desire!

I was recently looking through my books and I realized that I have two copies of Mister Pip (both brand new, never read). Oops. I haven't actually read this book yet, but I've heard amazing things about it. In 2007 it won the Commonwealth Writers' Prize for Best Book Overall and it was a finalist for the Man Booker Prize (if those kinds of things matter to you).

Thirteen-year-old Matilda lives on a copper-rich tropical island that has been shattered by war, from which the teachers have fled along with everyone else. Only one white man chooses to stay behind, the eccentric Mr. Watts, object of much curiosity and scorn. He sweeps out the ruined schoolhouse and steps in to teach the children when there is no one else, and his only lessons consist of reading from his battered copy of Great Expectations, a book by his friend Mr. Dickens. First the children, and the entire village, are riveted by the adventures of a young orphan named Pip, their imaginations aflame with dreams of Dickens's London and the larger world. But in a ravaged place where even children are forced to live by their wits and daily survival is the only objective, imagination-- it turns out-- is a dangerous thing.

The rules are simple. All you have to do is wish me a happy birthday in the comments section. Just kidding. Any comment will do. I will randomly select a winner in two weeks.

If you want to tweet or share this giveaway on Facebook, then leave me another comment telling me you did so and that will count as an extra entry. 

This giveaway is International and will close on May 21, 2013 at  9pm Mountain Time. If you've already read this book or don't want to read this book, then win it for someone else! Books make great gifts after all. 

Good luck and thank you to all my followers, commenters and admirers! I appreciate each and every one of you.

Saigon Sundays: Happy Birthday!

Yesterday was a very special day in our household: our big, blue baby, Saigon, turned 5! It's hard to believe that it's already been a few years since Saigon came into our life. He was around 2 and a half when he arrived at our home for a "visit" in BC. At the time, little did we know he would weasel his way into our hearts and find his furever home with us.

 Happy Birthday, Saigon! We love you more than we ever knew was possible.