An actual smile!

Lola LOVES the camera!

But now when she sees it all she will do it this




it's been a challenge to capture an actual smile... but here it is!

Zoe's snow day

Lola recieved this book when she got her first library card. For awhile, it was her favorite. Everyone that read it to her found themselves walking around and chanting "Where is zoe going?" Over and over again. It's catching. Here's our version

Lola's Snowy Day





Where is Lola going?



Riding in her sled



Big hill



Skating rink




Snowy dreams in bed

The changes....

Are still happening at an alarming rate for me. Last year at this time, I was home with Lola, taking daily walks and religiously checking the weather channel to make sure it wasn't too cold. She was only 6 months old. Look at her now!


Although, I'm not sure WHEN she'll get her bottom teeth as she has a pretty big space between her 2 middle teeth and her molars.....

She is also started to talk. We have been babbling, very seriously, with hand gestures and head nods for about 2 months. Now we have a couple of actual WORDS. Not surprising, her first word was "Down" as in "Mommy, I need to keep running and I can't when you are holding on to me." Tonight she said "Bed" and ran to the stairs when I asked if she was ready for bed. We're hoping it stays this easy.....

Here is a little selection of some of her favorite things to do....




But we really like to try on Daddy's shoes....

Weekend adventures

We decided to take Lola to the ROM. Raquel, Wil and I wanted to see the Dinosaurs exhibit and we hadn't been inside the crystal addition since it had been open. We headed out early on a very chilling Saturday morning to be there when it opened at 10. We found that were weren't the only ones with this idea on a day when going to the park was not an option. There was a line up of strollers to get in. We stopped at McDonalds for a coffee. But it was fun once we got inside and looked around. From what I saw of the dinosaurs as Lola and I and ran by, it was great exhibit, very impressive. Lola seemed to like the empty hallway leading to the bathrooms best. I was very glad I had spent $20.00 to run up a white empty hallway. Luckily, we took turns chasing Lola so I did get to have a quick look about and do a small amount of reading. Unfortunately, I forgot the camera, but I think lots of other people have photos of Lola as everytime she saw a camera, she beelined over, inserted herself in the middle of the photos and started to strike poses. I'm not kidding. According to Wil, most families found it entertaining but one decided to up and leave. Apparently, our posing bandit was the last straw in a busy morning.

This weekend we got PILES of snow! So we headed to the park to play. We made our first snow angel. Lola wasn't too sure about it it....



we played on the swing, played on the slide and ran around


and then it was time to go home

Winter fun

Lola got a new sled. We thought it would be a great idea to take her out for a snowshoe over the holidays.



After all, it was mild and there was PILES of snow at the farm. So, off we went. We quickly realized there was a problem as we were sinking more than we were snowshoeing. Then, the worst possible thing happened. The sled got suspiciously light. We looked back. Lola was spread eagle, facedown in the snow. Once we got to her and rolled her over it was funny to see that she was pretty unsure of what was going on and TOTALLY fine. We decided to soldier on. I looked back just in time to see Lola's feet in the air as she summersaulted, backwards out of the sled.

We picked up our passenger and decided to head for home.

We had only gone about 200 feet.

Hopefully we'll have better luck when we head to the fish camp in Feb.



Until then, maybe we'll stick to the park.

Sometimes...

After a long day at work, I REALLY wonder if it's all going to be ok. Am I crazy for wanting to work in a place where I sometimes get SOO busy I forget to even go to the bathroom until I get home at night?

Some days, DEFINATELY.

Some days I spend my time commuting desperately trying to dream up other jobs I could get that would make things easier.

I am in AWE of people that do it all. I can BARELY get out of the house with 2 matching socks. I frequently worry that I'm going to run outthe door in my slippers and realize while I am waiting for the train that I forgot to change. I have a WHOLE new set of standards when it comes to organization and cleanliness. Really, how often do people that work all week actually clean their bathrooms and wash their floors. It's not like I'm there to dirty it anyway. Right?

I don't know. I miss Lola when I am at work. I miss that I'm not here to make her baby food and watch her learn new thinks. I'm sad that I miss the little changes that happen EVERY single day. I miss going on long walks, rolling around on the floor and singing the same damn nursery rhyme that she loves sooo much.

But,

I DO appreciate not talking about "pee pees and poo poos" all day. I like having a little bit of my time when no one needs me to do anything and I can just.. sit.. or listen to music... or READ. I like that work is a place I am not "Mama", just Marie-Paule at ext 2449, who is probably not at her desk because she is running around a studio trying to get stuff done.

Is that selfish?

I'm TRULY happy
but I wish...
I wish

it was just a little bit easier.

That I could cook dinner and not feel rushed and starved at the end of day. That I had time to take photos again and paint my living room a colour I actually like. That I had time to do yoga and go for a run....

A bit of Holiday Fashion Fun

It's important that someone this small looks good ALL THE TIME....

Merry Christmas!!!

Yet another fantastic Sanata!! This was at the family party for Wil's work. Lola is a perfect model...

Fall Fun

We have a great U-Pick place near our house. In the fall, the have a fun park for kids complete with a pumpkin canon AND canapult. Best of all, the have PILES of pumpkins!

Our first "trick or treat"

Wil carved us a great pumpkin!


We headed out to show off our costume and visit with the neighbours. We didn't bring a bag for candy as Lola can't eat it. I still seemed to come home with my pockets stuffed!


The costume was a hit! Lola loved running around, as you can see, that's pretty much all we did. Other people loved watching her run around too. The weather was perfect so we didn't even need a jacket. I already have our "family" costume planned out for next year.....

Happy Halloween from the Melis "chick"

She liked wearing her new costume...




She wasn't too sure 'bout it when she looked in the mirror though!


Tonight, we'll tour the neighbourhood.... stay tuned!

Reasons to give thanks

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving this year. Our house was filled with family, our bellies were filled with yummy food and our hearts were filled with all the good feelings that come from spending time with the people you love.

Grandma Melis, Grandmaman and Grandpa Cotie came to visit for the weekend. Good thing we bought new living room chairs in the spring as it was a full house! We went to the Mc Micheal gallery in Vaughn to see the Robert Bateman exhibit, which everyone really enjoyed. It is a beautiful location with lots of paths for walking. We will be returing when it isn't raining to enjoy them. They had a special play area for kids. Lola seemed to like the canoe alot.



I know that Wil and I couldn't have asked for a better Thanksgiving.

Birthday celebrations

Lola turned 1. We had a party. We were really happy that most of the downtown folk made the trip. Wil and I had a great social with everyone( but time went by too fast and we didn't have enough time for extended chats with everyone). We hope everyone enjoyed the great weather, social and snacks!

Lola was generally confused but all the fuss. Luckily, I had a helper to open presents as Lola was much more interested in the wrapping paper. Special thank you to everyone who came and brought a present. We really just wanted a gathering but, as usual, everyone was incredibly thoughtful and brought gifts too. Here is our thanks,

Penny, I put on Lolas boots today for the first time to go to day care. Too cute for words

Noelle, Mike and Jen, the books are something that I love reading as much as Lola loves listening too.

Harold, practical and stylish our little girl is!

Jackie and Doug. Love the sweater, perfect for the season and she is "digging" the snack bowls.

Rob and Raquel, the books are ALL Lola wants to look at. Over and Over and Over and yep, OVER again

Jane and Jay- she is the best dressed kid in the 'hood. The tights are a perfect match for her denim skirts and dresses,

Grandmaman and Grandpa, Lola got some killer jeans and some new onsies

Grandma Sue, Lola looks stylish as ever

Opa Bill and Faye, the music box is a keepsake she will have forever.

Aunt Sarah and Uncle Seb, A classic story to add to Lola's collection

Juan and Julie, the hippest sweat suit we have

Hernan and Patti, clothes to grow into-PERFECT!

1

It's still hard for me to believe that exactly one year ago today, I was gazing down at Lola's face, wondering and imagining what would happen NEXT. Our baby had arrived. Wil and I were taking turns holding a tightly swaddled baby that we would be taking home with us!! She was here, and we had to name her. We called her Lola Rose but, really, she wasn't even "Lola" yet. We had given her a name, but we had now idea what kind of personality she would attach to it. A year has passed and we are delighted with all the new and wonderful things that Lola has given us. Like her namesake, she has a wonderful personality; full of surprises, smiles, laughs and general good humour.



Crawling is boring. Walking is fun. She had 3 teeth, with a fourth to arrive any day. She knows that Wil is Da Da, I am Ma Ma. If she cries and looks up with puppy dog eyes, we WILL pick her up and play some more(even if it IS bedtime). She loves flowers. She wants to put them in her mouth. She wants to put EVERYTHING in her mouth. All in all we have settled into a comfortable routine that seems to leave us all happy(and thankful) at the end of the day.



People say that children change your life. I'm going to have to agree. I can't imagine it any other way.

At the zoo

We got alot, Lola likes it. Now she can see the animals and she is always curious to see what they are doing.

A little off the top

When we were in Windsor on Labour day weekend, Lola got her first hair cut. I love her curls but she was looking like a little ragamuffin, so Grandma Sue took care of everything. Lola seemed to enjoy the whole thing. Since it has been cut, her hair looks even blonder. When I look back to when she was born with all that dark hair I wonder where it went. What happened? Will she stay blond? I guess only time will tell but it's fun to guess!

Yummy? Yummy!

When Lola sees the ziplock that I keep the Cheerios in appear, her whole face lights up. She loves the challenge of trying to get them in her mouth. I just wish she would take in interest in putting other kinds of food and drink in her mouth. No matter how many times I try to get her to hold her own bottle, she would rather just sit there little a litter gerbil while I feed her. She's still her own little personality.

Similar expressions occur when we put on the Baby Einstein movie. She has been watching the same movie since she was 3 months old, once a day, while Wil and I eat dinner or clean up the kitchen. Each time she sees the catapiller logo, you would swear it was the first time. She starts gasping, clapping and double hand waving. She is beside herself with excitement until the credits roll by. Something tells me I should could my blessings as I am sure as she gets older, it will be more difficult to entertain her.....

August

Our summer was very very busy. We went to the beach at Frenchmans Bay to play in the waterpark and enjoy the beach sand.



We checked out the waves but we didn't really like the look of them.....


We went to the fish camp to see Grandmaman and Grandpa




We posed in the boat,


We posed in our high chair



We posed on the beach






But left fishing to the boys