PLAYING

THE CAKE EATING CONTEST

Sogi Visits

Me blowing out the candles because I was asked to by Charlotte.

Decilicious! (Not a typo - that is how Charlotte says it)

Sogi opening the gift that Charlotte snuck a peek at!

Charlotte and her godmother, Sogi!

Me and my bb of almost 15 years!

The vegan treats designed especially for Char-latte!

Charlotte's lovely god mother, Sogi, visited us in MTL today. She brought delicious eats, a birthday gift for the birthday girl (a harmonica and bath crayons!), and a friend named DJ, whom Charlotte just adored. It was a wonderful afternoon of chats, playing, and eating. Thank you guys so much for visiting us! It was a great day!

Tat Day

All took the day off work so that I could get my Christmas gift: a tattoo of my grandfather so he could walk me down the aisle on my wedding day. These are the pics of the time daddy and the girls spent together and the revealing of the tat to Charlotte. I LOVE YOU GRANDPA!

Our Evening Walks

Most evenings, after dinner at around eight, we round up the troops and head out for a walk. Harriet is always slung. Charlotte in the pics above is wearing her jammies and carrying her bag of bath toys. On this particular night, she raced towards the school behind her house, walked up the stairs and asked "what are you doing Mommy?". I got a bit sad because the whole situation put this image of me saying good bye to her for the first day of school.

Potty Training

We are moving ahead with the potty training, and while Charlotte continues to use the world as her wasteland we have put this potty chart above the potty. Each time she potties successfully as sticker is obtained. 10 stickers = a treat.

Harriet and Mom Sharing a Moment...Or Three

Kids say the Darndest Things

A few of the cute things Charlotte has said and done this week:

While at the park, I handed her her snack and she really enjoyed it so she said "Good Job Mommy"

While holding Harriet and bouncing her, she began to laugh crazily. Charlotte said "Look at you Harriet".

"Mommy has gina, Daddy has penis. Zari has boots on." My fave quote of the week as she bases her friends on individuality. Sex or gender plays no part.

Consistently asks "What are you doing?" You tell her and then she says "Oh!"

She recognizes all of her family units separately and together.

Zari

Tonya

Dusan

Trekker

Hayley

Hannah

El

John

Eabha

Big Kyna

Little Kyna (sometimes Maire)

Mommy

Daddy

Harriet

Charlotte

Alley

Ashley

Rodel

Anthony

Elina

Grandma

Grandpa

Asha

Bailey

Each day she also sings many songs. Her fave this week is "Happy Birthday" with Charlotte usually being the birthday girl.

My fave has to be: "I LOVE YOU TOO MOMMY"

If I wrote a children's book...it would have been this

Waiting for their children to let them into their lives. In due time!

This photo is actually on its side but it acknowledges breastfeeding and the relationship it builds between mother and child. I also admire the illustrator's decision on how to draw the breasts. They have to be lifted to feed the babe.

...when the prince is excluded he feels that the princess is totally absorbed in the baby. The passage and illustration acknowledge what is often overlooked, the father's desire to have a deep connection with his partner and baby as well.

On a dit...

let's put great things on our babies bums.

Stinky poos but...

This photo highlights co-sleeping. Notice the shape of their bodies (a heart and the veins on the comforter). The parents are also extremely happy although exhausted and tending to a crying child.

This particular page highlights how often a mother does not feel the same in her own skin when pregnant. She is still beautiful and loving but the book acknowledges that difficult reality that changes may bring.

The father creating a nest for his wife and little one to be.

The book acknowledges the making of the child and how beautiful it is for the parents.

Baby cake decoration.

The happy couple first meets. The cake is halved to represent equality and possibly the tiers make reference to the tiers of their lives together.

Each week Charlotte and Harriet venture to the library. Charlotte is extremely excited each time we go, and I am as well. It is an opportunity to explore that which I love and change up the books in our collection. While browsing through the shelves, I came upon this gem. I wish that I came up with the concept myself. It is a french book of illustrations depicting of the relationship between a prince and a princess and the subsequent development and relationship with their children. Although the entire book is exceptional and struck a major chord, I picked out the illustrations that were most relevant to our beliefs. Les Heureux Parents is a book that will blow your mind if you are into natural parenting.

SOME WEDDING OUT TAKES for YOUR VIEWING PLEASURE

Harriet sandwiched on the eating train

"Mom! You're scaring me!"

Beer Goggles (or should I say mommy's wine glass goggles)