Dear Willow, (11 Months)

Dear Willow,

This post is already a week late. We went to Saskatoon this past weekend to celebrate Father's Day and your Great Grandfathers Birthday. You were tossed around all weekend and loved every single minute of it.

We have been loving the warmer weather and the moment you wake from your naps we go outside to explore. We don't have grass here at the new house yet so we go into town and play at the beach or visit the horses.

At eleven months...

- You are still wearing size 3 diapers

- You wear mostly 12 month clothing but still some 6-12months and 12-18months

- Your shoe size is 3-4

- You are down to nursing twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening.

- You eat EVERYTHING. And by everything I mean EVERYTHING. You just love food. You get so mad when I don't feed you fast enough. Cheerios are hands down your favorite food

- You are very emotional. You get very upset when things don't go your way. Breakdowns are quite common when you are tired or hungry.

- Your little red uni-brow hasn't faded at all. It still goes bright red when you are tired or angry.

- You are a very funny baby. You smile all of the time and squeal with excitement. Your funny faces are out of this world!

- You wave and point at everything/everybody. Your waves and points are a little backwards which makes it that much more cuter.

- You love to clap your hands

- You are into everything. I can't imagine what it will be like when you are walking

- You are getting better at this whole sleeping thing. Except if we stay at someone elses home. You are up all night long, you just don't want to miss out on any action!

- You nap twice a day. A short one in the morning and a long one in the afternoon

- You have two teeth on the top and two on the bottom. They are so cute! You like the feel of them and grind them often which makes us a little nutty.

- You pull yourself up on everything. Last month you were a little wobbly but this month you are an old pro.

- You pooped in the tub twice in one week!! Thanks for not doing it when mama was bathing you. You did it for Grandma Sue and Dada. 

- Your toys don't excite you as much anymore. You would rather play with the dog dishes, tupperware, dirt, bugs, or the pets.

- You just started dancing.

Everytime we think our love for you couldn't be stronger it grows & grows & grows. You make everybody you meets heart so full. You are very loved.

Typical crazy Willow face

We love you to the moon & back Willow Rae xoxoxo

Once When I Was Little

I think pets and little's are the best teachers out there. My "kids" have taught me so much about being a better person and each day I try to live my life a little more like them.

 No, I am not going to start eating dirt or pee on trees/myself or chase deer.

 I mean, be happy. Be so excited when you see something/someone you like. Enjoy life's little pleasures. Who cares if you get dirty? Or wet? Take naps when you're tired or atleast have some quiet time. Explore. Be curious. Be crazy, get real weird with it and who cares who is watching. Use your imagination. Love unconditionally. Why do we allow ourselves to hold grudges for years and years? Live each day at a time. Dream, dream BIG. Be empathetic.

It's so fun to watch our families & friends turn so childlike when they are around Willow. Their voices get higher, they laugh more, they play more and they just have a glow around them. So beautiful.

Yes, I get that if we all acted just like our kiddos the world just wouldn't work. I am just saying that people are waaaaaay too serious these days. We lose this playful nature somewhere, that nature that we all were born with. Society molds us into these all consuming blobs. We need to rekindle our relationships with that inner child that lives within all of us.

ps I must thank my parents for always promoting silliness to this day :)

As I was typing this post James Morrison - Once when I was little started playing on my I-Pod, I kid you not!!!! I instantly got the chills. Uhhhmmm couldn't be more fitting

I love watching these to run around the beach together. They love to explore and smell everything. Such little goofballs

Here is Timbit stalking a deer, keep dreaming big buddy

Willows eyes are always so full of wonder. I love exploring with her and teaching her new things. We have spent many hours digging in the dirt and burying tiny toes in the sand.

A Bear & Her Cub

The bears are EVERYWHERE....

and I am lovin' it!!!

Kate

This whole not living a couple of doors down from your bestfriend thing kinda sucks. My amiga Katelyn and I have been best buddies since the ripe old age of 12. I miss calling on her whenever I please :(. We have lived in different provinces for four years and in that time we have only seen each other a handful of times. But when we do get to be in one anothers presence it feels just like old times. We got to spend the entire weekend together, so good!

Friday she came out to my place. We sipped on lattes, did some shopping, drank some wine, ate a disguting amount of nachos and Kate got some much needed Willow time.

Saturday we spent the day driving to our hometown.
We arranged a night with the bests and drank gin, lots and lots of gin... (Willow was picked up by mom so we could do so)

Please excuse my crappy phone pictures.

Sunday we lounged around all day. We soaked up the sun and dad brought out the tequila, ew.

What an amazing time with amazing people. I am the luckiest :) Thank you so much for coming out to the lake, Kate! Willow and I had the greatest time visiting with you LOVE YOU!! Can't wait to do it again.

It wouldn't be a proper weekend at home without ending it with a family dinner cooked by Grams <3

Exploring

I think Willow is pretty lucky that she will always be living in nature as long as she is living with us. We have been grooming her since week one of her life to love and find peace in her beautiful surroundings. We spent almost everyday last summer at the beach and on hikes when I was pregnant and when she was born this continued. Now that it's getting nicer we have escaped hibernation and are so excited to watch Willow explore.

J had fun introducing her to different kinds of plants and trees that are slowly starting to blossom

The pups are extra smiley that they get to frolic about in the "warmth" and splash about in the lake.

Love Fest 2013

The best part of the families day is when big daddy J comes home. Usually Willow and I are playing in her room at that time while the dogs wait patiently at the front door. Timbit bolts home as soon as he hears J pull up. Jon comes straight into Willows room with Lily, Maple & Timbit in tow. Then the love fest ensues.

I snapped a few pictures to capture this and they totally melt my heart. Cutest thing ever.

Lily & Willow are BEST friends

 I was worried that once Willow came along we would push our fur babies to the side. But we love up on them all of the time. Sure, we may give Willow a little bit more attention and sure I get really really mad at them when they bark and wake up Willow. Like really mad, but I do love them and they are extra sweet to Willow. Well Lily & Timbit are, Maple just runs away from her. Ugh I love them ^^^^^

  

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