Wordless Wednesday - Baby it's cold outside!

We had our first real snow this weekend, and I had been anxiously anticipating it so that I could take Lucas out and play for the first time in snow.  At last he had a nasty runny nose, and cough all weekend, and I really did not want to risk it getting worse. 

Today he is finally on the mend, and I was starting to get a little cabin fever so I braved the ordeal of getting him all snug up in his boots and snow suit and away we went to the cold.  And it was so much fun.  Being a mom I have come out of my comfort zone on more than one occasion, and with a rowdy and boisterous boy well that zone just keeps getting invaded all the time.  So I not only braved the snow, but got right in there with the little guy, and loved every single minute of it. 

 

It was a little comical seeing my little man tottering all around the backyard in this big suit, and boots, and having a hard time getting around.  He fell quite a few times, and disliked the fact that getting up in his gear was no easy task.  Just as he was getting more comfortable, he face planted right into the snow, and all hell broke loose.  He recovered fairly quickly but he was done playing with the cold stuff. 

 

Hope everyone is keeping warm, I'm off to enjoy a Peppermint Hot Chocolate!

Wordless Wednesday - Mommy's Little Helper

I get Lucas involved as much as I can, or think I should, in my daily chores around the house; even if its just a running narrative of what I'm doing.  Lately he has had a mild obsession with putting his hands in the toilet (dear Lord help me), but I think its cause he's watched me clean the toilets!  Oh well eventually it will all come to use. 

 

Monday's are my laundry day, and the moment I open the washer or the dryer Lucas will meander his way into the laundry room and "help" me.  Usually clothes end up all over the floor, or he tries his might to get into the washing machine, but this past Monday he actually took clothes from the dryer and placed them (well most of them) into the basket.  It sounds all trivial, and like I'm promoting my 14 month old to do chores; which I'm not at all doing.  However, its moments like these that show Lucas that things around the house need to get done, and toys, and clothes are not meant to be strewn everywhere.  I think it lays the seed for good manners, and for making him a good little helper; especially since I detest typical gender roles, and believe that Lucas should grow up knowing how to cook and clean, and take care of himself. 

All in all the cuteness of him helping me is too much to handle, and we make a pretty good team!

Wordless Wednesday - Thankful

This past weekend was Thanksgiving in Canada, and we spent it largely with our families; mine on Saturday and the hubby's on Monday.  Sunday we took care of a few things around the house, and just relaxed the three of us, it turned out to be a great day, and all around amazing weekend.

There is so much this year that I am thankful for.  Having amazing parents and in laws, who are equally amazing grandparents to my son.  A younger sister who continues to surprise me everyday.  An older sister who now shares with me a different more mature relationship with me as moms.  My home, my health, my country, my freedom.

I am thankful for my husband who still finds ways to make me feel special and loved, and who never questions my insane moments (he knows what is good for him after all).  I feel lucky and grateful everyday for the funny way he came into my life, and for both of us taking a change on one another.  My life has only gotten fuller and more rewarding with him in it.

I am thankful for my son.  For the little man who made me a mother, and fulfilled my most inner dreams and desires.  I am thankful for the times he runs to me for hugs, for the fact that he still needs me, and for the independence that allows him to discover the world.  Life is just that much brighter and wonderful with him in it.  Thank you Lucas for making our house a home.

I hope that everyone enjoyed their Thanksgiving feasts this weekend, but that you took the chance to look and be grateful for the things and people that really matter in your lives.  Oh and that you didn't forget to play in the leaves.

Wordless Wednesday - Fall Decor

I'm late to the party on this one, but between Lucas' birthday party, and a dinner that we are having at the house next week I just didn't go all crazy about fall decorating this year.  I kept it simple, and used things I had at home.  I'm holding out on going nuts for the Christmas season, which is by far my favourite time of the year.

I usually don't do much with my mantle for the fall, but I have been in love with free printables lately, and I stumbled on some great websites when I was planning Lucas' birthday.  This banner is from Claire Bella and can be printed here if anyone else wants to spruce up their mantles.  I used cardstock for a sturdier fix, and placed just high enough that the little man couldn't reach it and tear it down.

 

I painted this tray back in the beginning of the summer, and I actually love the contrast of the green with the fall colours for my dining room table centerpiece.  I'm not going to lie though I can't wait to get all craft and some Christmas flair to this tray, I have a gift certificate from Homesense just burning a hole in my pocket!



I had this table for a while in the dining room, but we are currently rearranging a few things around the house.  It is from Ikea but we bought for dirt cheap at a consignment store when we first moved in, and I love how it fills the front entrance just perfectly.  I decorated the table with knick knacks I had around the house, and added pinecones, and fall springs just to make it a little more fall.  We are currently printing and debating frame choices to make a gallery wall above this table, can't wait to see how it turns out and show you all.

 

 

Finally I added this cute print from On Sutton Place, that can be printed here just cause I loved the fall aspect of it, but the sentiment of the quote really speaks to me.  I sometimes have a hard time just taking the time to take everything in, and I always feel like I'm on the go, if not with Lucas, then with other domestic things while the little man is resting.  Its nice to remind myself every once in a while that I need to just sit and drink a nice warm beverage (preferably something with pumpkin) and  relax.  There will always be toys laying around, and things to do, sometimes a moment of silence is all one needs to recharge the batteries.

 



 

Hope everyone is having a great week, we are off to a play date this evening!

Wordless Wednesday - An Apple a Day...

This past weekend we went on a family double date apple picking with my sister and her family.  It was so much fun, the weather was amazing, and the kids were in absolute heaven with all the paly options.

 

 

The kids were more interested in eating the apples of course, and it was so much fun watching Lucas try to pick his own apples, he would actually get frustrated when he couldn't yank them off the tree.

 

 

 

I'm so glad they had Lucas' ultimate favourite playground item...a sand pit, and I just let the little guy go to town, and he was in heaven.  He would have gladly spent the rest of the day playing in that sand if we let him.

 

 

 The kids did a fall themed craft later that day, but lets be real I did most of Lucas; especially since all he was interested in was rubbing his fingers in the glue!

 

We capped the day off with a delicious dinner courtesy of my sister and brother and in law, and these two cuties had a bath together and had a blast.  The last time they tried bathing together Emily wanted nothing to do with Lucas and my little guy just freaked out the whole time.

 

I love making family memories together and that these two munchkins are growing up together!

Wordless Wednesday - Adventures at the Park

Lucas has really been enjoying the park more lately, and seeing him just explore and have fun has made me enjoy more as a consequence.  We have so much fun lately that I lost track of time the other day and we were there for an hour!

My kid is fearless though.  Like most children he has no sense of danger, and sometimes he gives me mild heart attacks with his climbing antics.  Growing up in a family of all girls who were not afraid to get dirty and rough it up with our boy cousins, I thought maybe I was maybe prepared for the adventures of being a boy mom.  Yeah, not really.  Boys have boundless energy and seem magnets for all things dirty and dangerous, and I know this is just the beginning.  If the stories my mother in law tells me about my husband when he was a kid is any indication of what is to come, I may be spending many evenings unwinding over advil and countless glasses of wine.

 

All in all I do love it, he helps me see the world differently, and for someone who is by nature a little more cautious, maybe I will just learn to teeter the wild side a little more.

 

Wordless Wednesday - Home is Where the Heart is

This past weekend we celebrated my mom and grandfather's birthday at my parents house.  They have a pool and Lucas had such a great time with his aunt and little cousins!

 

The summer is always so busy for everyone and its hard to get together, most of everyone's birthdays are the end of the year, so the fall and winter are always jam packed with family gatherings with lots of laughter, food and love.  The "season" starts off always on the long weekend with this birthday party, and it was so nice to be with everyone, and having Lucas this year was extra fun for me.

 



 

 

 

 

 

Can't wait for all the fun to start, next up Lucas' Birthday yikes!!

Wordless Wednesday - Sweet tooth

The hubs and I like our sweets, if you don't believe me just ask my thighs!  Lucas just got introduced to milk, I have a whole post dedicated to how and why the whole process went, but I'm seriously behind on my blogging since we are soaking in every last summer day!  So we thought it was definitely time for the little guy to get a taste of his first ice cream, and what do you know, kid was not a fan.  I'm not sure if it was the cold, which is kind of odd cause he loves freezes, but he just looked at the darn cone with such suspicion, and really did not dig it!

 

Lucas has to touch everything before he eats anything new, he is a very textured oriented kid, I believe its cause we always encouraged him to touch his food when we started solids, and a way to make him feel more comfortable.

 



 

Oh the face of discontent! 

 



 

Much happier just playing with the cone!

 



 

For now I guess he won't be the kid racing the ice cream truck down the road, just mommy and daddy lol.



Wordless Wednesday - My Big Boy

So today Lucas is 11 months old, and I'm feeling very teary-eyed and emotional over the fact that his birthday is a month away. 

This year has been by far the best in my life, and spending this time with my little man has brought me more fulfillment than I ever imagined possible.  I craved motherhood from the moment Gianni and I decided to have a baby, but nothing prepared me for the immense love and emotions that would come from raising my son. 

I was editing pictures this weekend and these stood out to me, as I realized that my baby is such a little man already.  One who loves attention, is so playful and smiley, and literally makes everyone who meets him laugh and smile.  He has his days, as he learns to push limits, and is always trying to get into some kind of mischief, but even then I find myself looking back at the end of the day and shaking my head in amusement over his amazing personality.

 

We've reached quite a few milestones and developments this month, so I will be sure to update everyone on his formal monthly post tomorrow!

Wordless Wednesday - Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh My

We had an absolute blast at the zoo this past weekend with my sister and her family.  The weather was great, not too hot, and not too cold.  I have another post planned for things that we did right and wrong with a little one on a day trip like this, so for now just a picture heavy Wednesday of an amazing family day!

My little guy looked pretty happy to be going!