Good Night Maxy

Today our family pet Maxy was put to rest. He lived a long life of 16 years and was treated like a prince his entire life. He will be missed dearly. I am happy to know he is not suffering anymore and is in pet heaven with Kitchy our old cat. Pets truly become a family member, it's a shame they don't live longer. I gave my 3 pets extra cuddles today.

Rest in peace my old buddy xo

Dear Willow (2 Months)

Dear Willow,
2 Months? Are you kidding me? I can't believe it's already been two whole months but than it feels like I have know you forever... weird. We have grown so unbelievably close these past two months you are Daddy and Mama's EVERYTHING! You haven't been feeling to good this past week and have been extra sucky and snuggly. I don't really mind the cuddly part but I feel so helpless when you are not feeling well. I hope your cold disappears quickly!! Today we went for a nice long walk along the beach and it was absolutely gorgeous out. Than we spent the rest of the day snuggling.

At two months...
-You love the sound of the ocean. You fall asleep as soon as you hear it. I guess you are like your mama and are soothed by the waves and the salty air.
- You now like your swing, you fall asleep when we put the ocean sound on.
-  You love kicking and moving your arms. You are an active little thing and love using your legs to stand on me. When you are fully standing you stand with such pride. Such a strong and proud little thing you are
- You now smile at me and I know it's not just gas! Wow, do you ever melt my heart. I will be super tired from a late night nurse and you give me a little smirk and I die. ugggh you are perfection
- You have the most inquisitive eyes. I feel like you know more than I give you credit for
- After 8 weeks of using the nipple shield, just two days ago you finally started breastfeeding without it! Yay! You and I are nursing pros!! The first month was so trying and frustrating for us both, but now we both love it :)
- You stay awake for most of the day unless we go for a walk you are out.
- You have discovered my hair and love to pull it. You have a very strong grip and when I try to get my hair out of your hand you get frustrated
- You love morning dance parties with the whole fam
- You snuggle with daddy on the couch every night before bed. You both usually fall asleep together.
- You go to bed at midnight and wake between 3&4 and are starving. When you wake again at 6 you just have a tiny little snack and than sleep until 9 or 10.
- You love hearing me sing. Willow, you aren't going to love my voice forever. I have warned you :)
- You love playing pat-a-cake and the itsybitsy spider.

We love you to the moon & back Willow Rae xoxoxoxoox

Family Visit Week 2

The house feels extra quiet these days. We had a week visiting with Jon's side of the family, had a weekend to ourselves and then my parents came out for a week. My feeling/emotions have become all funny living away from our family. I know I miss them but it doesn't consume my mind, but then when they are around you realize just how much you miss them in everyday life. The only thing I am looking forward to about moving back to Manitoba is watching Willow fall in love with our families and friends. She will be very loved by an amazing group of people. I write this and then I feel sad about leaving our close friends here :( Ohhh life. Ok ok I will get to the point of this post before I turn into a blabbering emotional wreck. We had a GREAT time with my parents. We visited The Fortress of Louisbourg, had some beach days, listened to some local music, and just kind of "hung out"... totally relaxing.

My silly camera is still out of commission so my mom took lots and lots of photos with her Iphone. Here are only a few, which are a lot :p.

Mom & Dad with Noah (7months) Willow (7 Weeks)

Proud Gramps

Cool guy

It wasn't the warmest beach day...

A warmer beach day. Glama and Willow

J showing off

My dads a gem lol

The Rock Princess Lily

Mom and Willow bonding over a couple bottles

J, Willow & I at the Fortress of Louisbourg

Watching an amazing thunderstorm with all of our fur babies

My pretty little babe

Check out those cheeks!

Check out those eyes!

Typical

The fam damily

Adorable

Lily loves coffee and the cups they come in

Yep, my boobs looks like a bum

Maple watching over Willow

Impromptu dance party in her Cape Breton wear lol

Our First Wedding Anniversary!

This past week has been one of the most fun and relaxing weeks we have had in awhile! J & I celebrated our first anniversary on Monday at the spot we got married at a whole year ago. Where the heck has time gone?! We had the best day reminiscing about the year and that special day on Sept.3rd 2011. The Keltic Lodge offers you a free night and dinner on your one year anniversary so we definitely took advantage of that. We had an amazing dinner, we started off with scallops, which were to die for. J got the prime rib which was exceptional and I got the feature salmon, I don't even know what it was marinated in but it was darn tooting goooood! We were totally full but obviously had to get dessert. We ordered coconut cream pie and a baked Alaska... yummmaaayy! I was pretty pumped to drink a couple dirty vodka martinis and devour more then a couple of glasses of vino. Needless to say I was feeling pretty good watching Robby Maclean sing some of our favourite tunes in The Sitting Room. After we had our fill of tunes and booze we got to have a  (drumroll please) full nights sleep. Well not so full for me because even though we didn't have the baby the babies food woke me up a couple of times. Damn leaky boobies. But still, close to a full nights sleep was absolutely heavenly. I woke up J bright and early to go and stuff our faces eat at the breakfast buffet. As much as I enjoyed our romantic night away I could not stop thinking of our sweet Willow. Even though I knew she was in good hands (my parents) and only called home 3 times, I couldn't wait to get back to her and kiss those sweet cheeks! A huge thank you to my fabulous parents for letting us "get away" for a full night. Willow told me she had so much fun :p

Who knew J & I would be parents to the most amazing little girl before our first anniversary?! I believe our precious Willow has only brought J & I closer. I am so lucky to have the perfect husband and father for my babe. Ahhhh life is good.  Anywho, J treated me to a day at the spa today and Willow treated us with 4.5 hours straight of uninterrupted sleep last night. Needless to say I am feeling pretty spoiled & relaxed!

The wife

The husband

The happy couple :)

Breaky

The top of our wedding cake! It actually tasted soooo good even after a year

Beautiful view

Is this real life?

Willow & I are sooo excited for her to meet my dad and her grandpa tonight and to snuggle my mom and her glama again. Today we are hibernating indoors as it's a wet one out there and just letting the anticipation build. I am hoping we get to enjoy some beach days with my parents but the forecast is calling for rain all week long. I am sure my parents won't mind so much as they will be happy to just snuggle Willz. I say this as I am watching the hurricane warning on the news down south and am totally grateful for a trinkle of rain. Be safe people!

J & I have been totally taking advantage of his extra long paternity leave and this warm summer on Cape Breton Island. We realize that this is the only full summer we both will be off and are soaking every bit of it up. Willow falls asleep to the sounds of the ocean pretty much everyday and she doesn't even realize how lucky she is! I am shocked that J & aren't ready to punch each other out as we spend seriously 24/7 together.But when we spend our days relaxing what is there to be upset about? What a change from this past winter where I was counting down the days he would be back home and in my arms. If we can spend as much time together as we do and still enjoy eachothers company I think we are a pretty great match :) 

Here are some beach pictures of my little family and our sweet friends from this past week :)

J & his buddy Noah

Noah and Giraffe

Mommy, Noah & Anouk

Swimming in the lake

J showing off his kayak to the ladies :p

We don't pack light anymore

Happy beach bums

Willows first dip in the ocean

She liked it!

The good old doggie paddle

Family Visits

Willow had so much fun being cuddled, adored and loved by her Grandparents and Auntie this past week. We have had such a fabulous summer and of course the weather wasn't the greatest when they came out. We got a few good days in there so spent them at our fave place... the beach! Willow was pretty spoiled and didn't spend much time not being held. They had to get all of there Willow snuggles in, in one week and Willz loved it! We loved having them here. We had a great visit, they not only spoiled Willow the spoiled us too. We had dinners cooked for us, walls painted, and laundry done, we have it pretty good!

I am totally bummed that my camera is being repaired over the next month. I have and will be borrowing everyone elses. I feel so lost!

Adoring their granddaughter <3

Willow wearing her first bathing suit given to her by Aunt Rosie

Proud Grandparents

Uncle John & Aunt Rosie came up for the weekend for some snuggle time

Auntie Christana

Love

Willow & daddy . Her first "hike"