elisa elliot

NEW BLOG

2012-02-07T07:15:00.003-05:00

Hello Friends,

This blog has moved!! You can visit it here:

Thanks for visiting!

That Smile

2012-01-17T09:56:00.000-05:00

Her first tooth came out on Christmas Day, 2007.

Over time, her smile has grown into what it is today…gap-toothed, imperfect, obviously belonging to a pacifier-lover, and so her.

And it is soon about to change.

Two days ago, that little smile got into a head-on collision with a wall. When it happened, she told me about it, pointing to her top tooth. I checked it and it still seemed solid. It was only that night when brushing her teeth I realized her two front bottom teeth were loose.

Ben & I were so upset, to say the least.

Aurelia at the dentist yesterday.

We went to the dentist the next morning, who confirmed that, in fact, three teeth are loose. Although one seems solid enough, the two bottom ones will likely fall out. After an X-ray to check for any fracture, the dentist reassured us that Aurelia's adult teeth were already on their way anyhow, so it’s very possible these two teeth weren’t very solid before the accident anyway.

But still.

It is yet another sign she is growing up, something I openly admit, I have a hard time accepting. I will so miss that baby-toothed smile. For now, I will enjoy it as long as it’s here.

B3

2012-01-09T14:23:00.000-05:00

When she first contacted me, she was hesitant, but she really wanted to capture this all-too-fleeting time, and so, she decided to trust me.

It had been many years since I had seen her in person. Social media, in its own way, had managed to keep us in remote contact. The moment I saw her, she was just as I remembered her, calm, sure, relaxed…and those eyes…those incredible eyes…all qualities I admired in her in our younger days. Now, however, there was the belly, the true reason of our meeting again.

As with all reunions, we caught up, reminisced. Both of our lives had changed so much in the last few years. She told me the details of how she met her husband, how fate had brought them together. We spoke of each of our day-to-day lives, too, but the most important part of our conversation was of what was to be. We spoke of strollers, and ultrasounds, nurseries, and life after baby’s arrival.

In our initial conversation about this photo shoot, I had confided in her that I had never had maternity shots taken, and that medical issues had gotten in the way of my plans. It is something I have always regretted. Even now, when I come across an occasional photo of my own round belly from years ago, I am awestruck that it is me. Part of my own story. I often imagine what kind of photos I envision of myself for that time, and I think that with this shoot, I tried to live vicariously through these images.As I have mentioned before, with every shoot, I learn something. The lesson here, however, was perhaps a more personal one. In all my work, I strive to capture what I would wish for images of my own story, my own family.

L, thank you from the bottom of my heart for having shared this precious time with me, for including me in part of your story and for allowing me the opportunity to capture you in all your beauty. I look forward to hearing of B³'s safe arrival. xoxo

BY THE DIM EARLY MORNING LIGHT

2011-10-16T16:01:00.000-04:00

IT ALL STARTED WITH A FRENCH FRY.

2011-09-23T08:15:00.002-04:00

Almost exactly thirteen years ago to the day, a seemingly insignificant event occurred, one I am certain no one else who was with us even noticed. I stole a French fry from a boy’s plate. At the time, we simply smiled at each other, and went about our evening, but months later, when we had started dating, both of us would remember that moment when we both just knew something very significant had occurred.

Today, over twelve years after officially becoming a couple, I am lucky to say the boy, Ben, is my husband. As I write this, I know that, quite honestly, there are no words to adequately express who we have become together, and what he means to me.

He somehow sees my faults as endearing qualities, remains my greatest support system, and without a doubt, is the person I have the most fun with. He always remembers to say thank you, even after a long day, even after a sixteen-hour shift, if only because I remembered to buy peanut butter for his lunch. He is the most amazing father to his little girls, and I am certain that if you asked them, they would tell you their Daddy hosts the very best kitchen dance parties.

While I can take little credit for who he is, I can truly say I am proud of him in everything he does.

So today, on the occasion of your birthday, I want to say thank you, Ben, for everything you do for our family and loved ones. You live your life with much love, generosity, and integrity, and that’s something to be really proud of. Happy Birthday, My Love. We love you more than words. xoxoxo

Frogs, Cheese, & A Peacock: Our Cottage Weekend

2011-08-30T13:06:00.002-04:00

The first time all four of us headed up to Ben’s family’s cottage was last year around this time, and based on how little sleep we got, we swore we would never go up with both girls again until Eloïse was considerably older. Despite that less-than-ideal initiation, we recently decided to give it another shot.

We kept the menu simple, and bought a few things at a local market on the way up, namely fruits, vegetables, and an assortment of cheese. The market has a little farm attached to it, complete with rabbits, chickens & roosters, alpacas, and peacocks. For Aurelia, it was most definitely the male peacock that stole the show.

She had a million questions, and was fascinated by the way he fanned his plumage, and even the way he squawked. She was sad to leave, and for the remainder of our time away, the peacock became one of her main topics of conversation, including when we would see him again. Luckily, the excitement of getting to the cottage gave her something to look forward to.

The cottage is located deep in the woods, and can only be accessed by 4x4, and in the winter, by snowmobile. It is an old hunting & fishing club, without electricity, built over a hundred years ago, and sits by a lake where no other cottages can be found. Trying to describe it in a way that gives it justice is next to impossible. The first time I visited, over twelve years ago now, I was blown away that such a place existed. A great number of friends have spent many, many weekends here, and it’s pretty safe to say the place has become legendary. For many years, Ben & I headed up to it every chance we had, sometimes even leaving late at night on a whim. Now, with two little ones, the opportunities to head up together are rare, but it remains one of our favourite places. For Aurelia, it has quickly become one of her favourite places, too.

When we finally pulled up to the cottage, and settled in, we headed right to the lake, where we got down straight to the business of hunting for frogs.

We got lucky with one, thanks to Papa’s skilled hands, but after the girls examined him a bit, we let the frog “go back to his family”.“Bye, bye Fog!”

We spent our time relaxing, eating a mainly-cheese menu, and exploring our surroundings with the kids. We took a canoe ride around the lake, headed to the beach, captured &examined minnows, bloodsuckers, lilypads and dragon flies, caterpillars, and just savouring every little moment. Bliss.

We strolled down the path through the woods with the hope that we would have more luck finding frogs in puddles. The frogs weren't plentiful, but it didn't matter: splashing in puddles was just as fun.

The girls both loved taking turns swinging on the porch. Wait, let me rephrase that: they loved to swing, but had a harder time with the "taking turns" part. Nevertheless, their glee was hard to contain.

Despite being a little concerned before we left how our little family adventure would go, everything went smoothly. The children even fell asleep easily, and slept through the night, giving Mama & Daddy a little break. It was sad to leave after only having stayed a single night, but since it was all we had planned for, we had little choice. We headed back home, with a quick stop to visit the peacock one last time (a visit that would be followed by watching several YouTube videos of peacocks. Do you realize just how many peacock videos are out there?).

This trip provided a little glimpse into the future and to hopefully many, many more cottage adventures. Seeing my little girls at the cottage together, witnessing them having so much fun living out the simplest of childhood adventures, like hunting frogs, was so awesome, I can’t even begin to describe how it made me feel. I love that they have such an amazing place to discover. Although it already held a special place in our hearts, this little piece of paradise has suddenly come to mean so much more to us, because of two very special little people.

Big S & Little S

2011-08-17T15:15:00.001-04:00

Here's a secret: Up until now, whenever I have walked into someone's home for a session, I have a certain level of anxiety. What if my mind goes blank, and I lose control of the session? What if the kids don't warm up to me, or are uncooperative?

Having said that, I am happy to report that, so far, I haven't run into any of these situations. In fact, I'm pretty sure that the kids I have had the pleasure of working with have enjoyed themselves, and that getting their picture taken was relatively painless for them. Nevertheless, there is always the fear that the conditions during a session may be less than ideal.

On this day, I was feeling no different. I had met these little people previously in the fall, and it was more than likely that they would not remember who I was. What I quickly realized was I had nothing to worry about. This little almost-four year-old young man was the most ideal model. He not only greeted me enthusiastically, he posed for me without any prompting, in such a natural, relaxed way, I could not have asked for more. His little sister was a dream, easy-going, content just hanging out. And Mama? Well, she and I had the most amazing chat, and we had so much fun, in fact, we lost track of time.

Here's another secret: by the end of the session, a little piece of my heart had been stolen by this boy. He is just an awesome little person - full of energy, enthusiasm, sweetness, an amazing conversationalist, and positively gorgeous to boot. I feel honoured he was willing to show me his dance interpretation of one of his favourite Elvis songs, complete with splits, flips, and pirouettes. After his performance, when I asked him how he knew how to dance like that, true to form, he shrugged and replied, "I just know."

I believe you do, S.

Lopez

2011-08-04T15:34:00.007-04:00

This is Lopez. Lopez is what happens when a Mama is stuck inside with two little girls on a rainy day in May. It was Aurelia’s idea to make a caterpillar. Truth be told , Lopez, named after Daddy’s muse, Jennifer,was not our first attempt at a pompom caterpillar. The first caterpillar we attempted to make with pompoms a while back was too fragile to survive any kind of touching, as the glue proved to be an inefficient mean of assembly. This time, however, I had the idea to run a needle and thread through them all, and it worked really well. Apparently in the process, we also created Lopez’s best asset, according to Aurelia, anyway. You see, the thread I used was red, and Lopez’s tail-end pompom was bright yellow, so the knotted thread was fairly obvious. I predicted when I was making him, that this little knot would be the topic of many conversations, and I was not wrong.

Late last night, at around 1030pm, once Eloïse was in bed, Aurelia, who had gotten out of bed, asked to hold Lopez. Having been up since 4am, I was exhausted. So when Aurelia asked me what that tiny knot of thread was, I absent-mindedly responded, “It’s Lopez’s bum hole.” She paused, examined it more closely, and declared, “Oh! You’re right!”. Well, this little knot of thread kept her busy for an hour.Ben and I were talking in another room, and we would hear the little pitter-pat of her feet coming toward us, and she would exclaim, while pointing at Lopez’s derrière, “Look,Mama! It’s Lopez’s bum hole.” (If we were more responsible parents, we might have thought this to be disturbing, but luckily, we are not, so instead, we thought it was hilarious.)

Morning arrives. When Lopez’s is finally pulled off the shelf from his resting place by Aurelia, the first thing she examined was his bum hole. And then she proceeded to explain Lopez’s anatomy to Eloïse, a moment I was lucky enough to capture on camera.
Sadly, Lopez did not survive the day without first losing his eyes, and losing his “figure”. But not before he received a lot of love and praise for his bum hole from two little girls.
The lesson here? If your name is Lopez, it’s always about the booty.

"UMBLALA!"

2011-07-29T00:06:00.006-04:00

What's that, you say? To you, it may appear to be part of an apple speared by a chopstick, but our little Eloïse declared it to be her version of an "umblala". That's right, an umbrella.

Oh, how I love her.

A Girl and her Cats

2011-05-16T12:10:00.002-04:00

Humphrey & Percival. My poor cats. Before the girls were born, those cats had loads of attention. But let’s face it: once I had been holding a little person in my arms all day long, the urge to hold another living creature when I had a free minute pretty much flew out the window for me. And so, they take what they can get.

When it comes to the girls, Aurelia co-exists with the cats, and appears to have little attachment to them. In fact, most of the time, her only acknowledgement of them is when she’s shooing them away. Then there’s Eloïse. She loves them.Loves them. Whether they like it or not.

Percival loves the attention, Humphrey does not. Many mornings, I have caught Eloïse & Percival cuddling as she tries to share her bottle and pacifier with him. She is constantly kissing him on his back, despite the fact she ends up with a mouthful of fur, and declares it to be “Yuck!”. Indeed, she loves her “tats”.

Baby B. January 10th, 2011.

2011-05-09T12:13:00.016-04:00

This is Baby B, the last in a family of three gorgeous boys. These photos were taken on his Mama's birthday when he was just ten days old. My first newborn shoot, and I have to say he was a dream to photograph. The little guy hardly made a peep, even when we attempted to wrap him in cheesecloth, and idea we quickly nixed when he started looking like a mummy. He was already perfect just as he was.

His mama is one of my oldest friends. We first met in high school, and although most of our interaction these days is via social networking, there is something to be said about the friends who knew you when you were rolling your jeans, and drove around the neighborhood looking for certain young men on skateboards.

Thanks, Drea, for the privilege of photographing your beautiful new baby boy. He is lucky to have been born into such an amazing family.

Oh, and thanks for sharing your birthday macarons.

A & M: November 18th, 2010

2011-05-01T07:47:00.011-04:00

When I first contacted my good friend Drea and asked her if she would be willing to let me photograph her two sons, I was nervous. It was a combination of asking for help, putting myself "out there", and all the fear of my technical shortcomings. But I also knew I just needed to begin.

So when she greeted my proposal with enthusiasm, I was really happy and excited, but a little, ok, a lot anxious, too. I mean, I might get there and totally lose it. Maybe there will be poor natural light, or the kids won't like me, or I won't know what to do with them, and end up with a whole bunch of same looking, badly exposed, boring photographs. All of this was running through my head.

The night before I slept very little, but once morning came, I felt as ready as I would ever be. I would give it my very best, and that is all I could ask for, really.

When I arrived, and Drea introduced me to her two sons,A & M, they were a little apprehensive. Little did they know, they were making me shake in my boots. We decided to have them show me their room. Mom followed us because although the kids knew why I was there, you have to admit, it is a little weird. However, after a few minutes I realized her presence was freaking me out, so I told Drea we wouldn't need her, and she left us alone. Anyway, we just hung out for a bit. They mostly talked with each other, and I slowly started clicking away.

Prior to the day of the shoot, I had asked Drea to answer a few short questions about her boys. Since I had never met them except for her oldest on the day he was born, I thought it was a good way to get a little insight into each of their personalities since our time together would be limited. One of the questions I asked her was what made them laugh. Her response was "anything related to butts, farts, puke, etc." When she initially gave me that response,little did I realize how that would be the key to getting them to open up to me. Up until that point, they were playing pretty quietly, hardly looking at me, and talking very little. Then, M came across something with a strong odor, and declared :"Uhh, it smells like puke." There was a pause, as both boys looked straight at me as if to gauge my reaction. I burst out laughing. And sudddenly, just like that, I was in the club.

Suddenly, the entire energy shifted. They relaxed, started playing, laughing, looking and interacting with me, posing for me. It all started to come together. It was a blast. They are two amazing little men, one quite energetic, and the other a little more reserved. The idea of photographing two boys ages 6 and 4 at the same time sounds quite challenging, but really, I could not have asked for better models. They were awesome.

Thank you A & M for a fun-filled morning. You have no idea how much you taught me during our short time together.

Overheard

2011-04-01T09:53:00.002-04:00

Eloïse, (while pointing at TV): Mama!
Aurelia: That’s not Mama, that’s a pteranadon.

On The Road

2011-03-28T10:22:00.000-04:00

Yes, I am back! It has been nearly a year since I posted on this blog. I can't believe it. Way too long. Anyway, so much has happened in this last year, particularly for me, creatively. I am not quite ready to talk about it all here. To be honest, I feel quite vulnerable about the whole thing. However, more than anything, I am excited. I am on the verge of something big, and it feels awesome.

Trying Something Different

2010-04-09T08:11:00.002-04:00

So, this week, I decided to try something different. Ben ended his paternity week, and headed back to work on Monday. Since then, I have been trying to get up early (meaning, earlier than the girls), in order to have a bit of time for myself before I start the day. I love the quiet that has settled into the house, looking out the window, even when it's raining. These past few days, I have had an overwhelming feeling of being really lucky that I don't have to run around like I know so many people are doing right now, rushing to start their day, getting themselves and their kids ready, distributing everyone around town, shovelling breakfast in their mouths with one hand on the steering wheel.

Over this past week, I have used this time to eat my breakfast, watch the news, check out Facebook, emails, and my favorite blogs, and, most importantly, sip my hot coffee. I cannot believe what this little bit of me time to start the day has done to improve my mood and my productivity throughout my day.

Anyone who knows me is aware that I am not a morning person. Actually, it's not really that I am not a morning person, but more the fact that I can't get out of bed, because, once I'm up, I'm up. So this new routine is not necessarily an easy switch for me. I need to push myself, but I am realizing that this switch in my routine has made me happier, and infinitely more productive.

Yesterday, I wrote about how I was debating keeping this blog public. I've decided for now, I will leave it as-is and instead try to incorporate writing my entries into my new morning routine. We'll see how it goes.

Questioning the whole public blog thing

2010-04-08T07:37:00.004-04:00

I started this blog as a way to document my everyday life. While I suppose I could also use a word processing program as I often do, what's interesting about a blog, is that I am able to access it anywhere internet is available, which I love.

One of my New Years' resolutions for 2010 is to blog more. Unfortunately, what I am noticing is that I am not drawn to my blog when I want to put down my thoughts. I feel so aware that there is an audience reading this, I find myself editing my thoughts before my fingers reach the keyboard. What is so odd about all this, of course, is that no one actually reads this blog except me. But still, it feels like leaving a personal journal open on a table in a coffee shop.

Up until recently, my blog was private. Maybe I will have to go back to that, if it means I will be less self-conscious when I write here. I don't want this blog to end up like all those diaries I received as a kid with only a couple of pages used.

I want to remember this.

2010-03-11T14:44:00.004-05:00

I want to remember this:
You, after a bath, still slick with water,
Dripping tendrils of baby curls sticking to your neck,
Bolting down the hallway,
Naked and confident,
Shoulder blades protruding like wings-
Bird bones just under the surface.
Screaming with glee.
Febrile and defiant.

I want to remember this:
You, sleeping soundly in our bed,
As only you can
When you are in your parents’ bed
At age two.
Sunken deep into a pillow, assured and secure,
Your breath paced slow and steady,
Your lower lip jutting and relaxed.
Your lashes grazing that tender patch of bluish skin
Just below the eye.
Damp curls lay flat against your pulsing temple.
Your tiny hand, open-palmed and fleshy,
Managing to reach out to me,
Still asleep.

I want to remember this:
You, coming to join me in the morning,
Messy, gorgeous, matted hair
Hiding still-sleepy eyes,
Cheeks rosy and creased from slumber,
Diaper fat and sagging,
Your little voice, cracking,
proclaiming something,
Anything,
As though it were a new-found discovery:
“Look, Mama! A book!”

I want to remember this:
You, delighting in those things otherwise overlooked.
A bubble escaping from the dish soap bottle.
The ant jarred awake by the year’s first thaw.
The way the cat washes its ears.

I want to remember this:
You, looking at me with complete and total trust.
Believing that I know.
Seeing me as I have forgotten how to see myself.

I want to remember this.

Overwhelmed

2010-03-03T00:12:00.002-05:00

Feeling overwhelmed this past while, by so many different things, but, added all up, they are weighing heavily on me. Finances. Parenting. (Lack of) Time. The need to purge all the excess. There have been moments these last few days that reminded me so much of exam time when I was in university, the feeling that the smallest thing could be the one that makes me crack. Luckily, I think I know myself a bit better now, and it helps that I realize that my stress can be minimized by addressing the issues rather than avoiding them. Just taking it all one day at a time.

Blogging & Project 365

2010-02-26T08:33:00.006-05:00

One of my resolutions this year was to blog more regularly. Given the fact that my last blog was a month and a half ago and we are not even two months in to the new year, it does not appear that I have been really making blogging a priority.

The reason I want to blog more regularly is simple. With two little girls to look after every day, and my beloved who works 12-hour shifts, my scrap time is limited. If I were to blog more regularly, when that time does come up, the words and the photos will already have been chosen, and thus, the hard part done, seemingly effortlessly. If I don't write as a go, the thoughts linked to those moments captured are somewhat lost, inevitably tainted by hindsight.

Looking at everyone in cyberland's 365 day project really, really makes me want to try to join in. But I really don't want this to become an unfinished project. I am so inpired by Becky Higgins Project 365 kit. If I commit, I want to commit for the long haul. I know that to have an album to hold at the end of a year-long project like this would be so priceless to my family and me. But, after having worked on the December Daily project, I realize what a huge commitment this is, and I'm not sure I am ready for it.

On Simplicity

2010-01-07T00:38:00.011-05:00

Last year, I decided to follow Ali Edwards' tradition to choose a word to help define the coming year. My word for 2009 was savor. It was a good choice. With Eloïse's arrival in April, my life became infinitely more hectic, and my one little word served as an occasional reminder not to sweat the small stuff. It was more of an idea word, it didn't require much action, except for a sincere attitude shift at times, helping me focus on what really matters, to live in the moment, to take it all in, specifically, the good stuff. Choosing that particular word provided my perspective with the occasional nudge in the right direction on the life I am living.

This year, I am trying it out the one little word challenge again. My choice of word was not something I really had to think hard about. It came to me easily and I think it's really because the evidence of what it should be was obvious and staring me in the face for quite some time. My word is simplify. Simplicity. Simple.

I see simplicity and simplifying as an action theme for me. Having two little children to take care of fills up my days to the brim. There are a countless number of things for me to do on any given day, and if I am at some point sitting on the couch, it is because I have chosen to ignore that endless to-do list rather than the fact that it does not exist. As a result of being so busy, I have come to the realization that having less in my home would mean less work for me. Having less things to manage, juggle, even dust, would allow me the time to do the things I really love, rather than dealing with all the less-than-pleasant aspect of an excess of stuff. We presently live in a really small space for four people, and every little bit of space counts. It does not help that I have a really hard time getting rid of things. It does not help that I have a craft stash. Or that I have a lot of maternity clothes. Or that kids grow out of their clothes before they have even worn them. And beyond the stuff, there is the time factor. Time wasters like the internet and Facebook. The telephone. Countless email mailing lists. All of it.

I know I already presented my resolutions here in my last couple of posts, and so I have briefly touched on the topic. I know reducing and weeding out the unecessary stuff will not be easy for me. It may always be a ongoing struggle for me. To simplify will require not only a shift in my attitude, but also in my behavior, and that is why I see it as an action word. It will require my to make choices. To say no. To ask myself important questions like how certain things add to or diminish our quality of life as a family.

I can say that I am more than up for the challenge. I hope to be able to push myself out of my comfort zone, and arrive at a point where living with less becomes my norm. I think I can do it. I really do. I believe that in recent years, I have slowly begun to realize the benefits of having more white space in my life. To see the simple beauty of it.

First Layout of 2010: Resolutions 2010

2010-01-03T00:32:00.008-05:00

Fonts: Garamond & CarbonType

Kraft & Graphed Paper: KPertiet at Designer Digitals

"Resolutions" Word Art" RFarrer at Two Peas In A Bucket

Brads: PKnox at Designer Digitals

Resolutions 2010

2009-12-31T12:12:00.015-05:00

As 2009 draws to a close, I have started to think about some resolutions for the new year. To be honest, I can't remember the last time I even attempted to come up with some resolutions, but I am looking at this year's attempt as a sort of year-long project. Yesterday, I was over at my friend Melissa's for a few hours of scrapping (not to mention a powerful bloody caesar), and I came up with some goals I would like to achieve in 2010. Later last night, I put them down on paper, and I added a few others.

And so, here is my list of resolutions for 2010:

1. Simplify. Reduce. Get rid of things I do not find either beautiful or practical. Before letting any new items into our home, contemplate how that object will improve our lives, and whether it really is necessary. Learn to live with less.

2. Challenge myself in my role as a parent and "domestic engineer". Strive to step out of my comfort zone when necessary for the benefit of my children and to keep things challenging and interesting for myself.

3. Reach and maintain my goal weight.

4. Reduce/pay off debts and save money in order to reach the financial goals Ben and I have set for our family.

5. One hundred scrapbook layouts. Digital or traditional.

6. Incorporate exercise into my life.

7. Blog. use my bog as a creative outlet, a place to journal for scrapbooking, and a place to document my creative projects.

8. "Clean up" and organize desktop computer. This includes taking care of archiving photo files.

9. Get my driver's license.

10. Read four books.

11. Get a will and other "grown up" responsibilities taken care of.

*12. Wear more skirts. (This was added as an after-thought. Just for fun)

Some of the goals are simple ones, simple tasks that seem to regularly appear on my to-do lists, but never seem to get accomplished. Some have already been worked on in 2009 and the process will hopefully continue in 2009. Others will require some sort of transformation, a breaking of habits on my part, and those will likely be the hardest ones to accomplish, perhaps they may even be impossible to achieve or will always be on-going for me. I am anxious to see where this journey takes me.

Sisters

2009-09-26T22:42:00.006-04:00

Last night, I was downloading my most recent photos from my camera to our PC. As we were scanning through them, Ben and I came across a series of photos I had recently taken of Aurelia and Eloïse one afternoon lying in Aurelia's bed together. The day I took them, I rememeber Aurelia being so excited that the baby was lying in the bed beside her. Eloïse was just going to with the flow, content to be with us. I was happy to have remembered to have taken a few moments in my day to take some pictures of my two girls, aged 2 years 4 months, and 5 months, and to record us "right now". But as I looked at these pictures only days later, I realized something. Aurelia & Eloïse will not always be these ages. Aurelia will not always be the toddler excited to have this little baby lying beside her. This little baby will soon be big and talking back, and it won't always be a question of changing her diaper or holding in order to soothe her. These two will have their share of fights and disagreements. Maybe they will have similar interest, maybe they won't. Maybe they will be close, maybe they won't. There will be successes, failures, moments of happiness and despair in both their lives, and only time will tell if they will be there for these in one another's lives. But there is one thing that will never change regardless of these factors: they will always remain sisters. As I examined one photo in particular, one where each is looking into the others' eyes, I was really overcome by this realization. I don't really know what it was that got to me so much. Part of it was that I realized that I never grew up with a sibling, and looking at that photo made realize what an incredible gift a brother or sister can be. Right before Eloïse was born, I confided in Ben that somehow I felt as though I was betraying Aurelia bringing another baby into our family when she, only 23 months at the time, was oblivious to what was going on. I clearly remember him saying to me that bringing another child into our family was the greatest gift we could be giving her. And it is now, now that I am beginning to really understand what he meant.

Confession

2009-08-19T23:28:00.007-04:00

Eloïse, I have a confession. Before you were born, I had never loved anyone the way I loved Aurelia. The love I felt for her was like nothing I had ever experienced- overwhelming and indescribable are two words that come to mind. People tell you that the love you feel for your children can only be described when you experience it first-hand. Now I knew it was true. She was my purpose. I would die for her. To look into her eyes, the eyes of a person that grew inside me, was the most incredible feeling. And so, I wondered, could I ever love anyone as much as her? I knew her hands, her smell, the feel of her cheek, what would make her laugh. Would anyone else have such an effect on me?

When I became pregnant with you, I was thrilled. Just as with my pregnancy with Aurelia, it was a relief when everything was going smoothly. It was exciting every single time I felt you kick, felt you move, realized how much by belly had grown through those many weeks. Seeing those blurry black and white images of you on that ultrasound machine will remain one of the most wonderful memories for me. I would count down the minutes to getting these too-brief glimpses of you, and we would sigh with relief when the doctor would say you looked like you were growing well. We would come home from those visits, and compare your profile in those grainy pictures with Aurelia’s. Would you look like her? Would you be a girl or a boy? It was just as incredible as when I had experienced it with Aurelia. But, secretly I was worried about something. Despite the fact that I was as overjoyed during my pregnancy with you as with Aurelia, how would I feel once you arrived? I couldn’t imagine loving someone else as much as much as her .

And, then, as an answer to my questions, they put you in my arms.

You were mine. And that overwhelming and indescribable love came over me…for you.

Eloïse, you are now almost four months old. I know your hands, your smell, the feel of your cheek, and yes, what makes you laugh. To look into your eyes, the eyes of a person who grew inside me, well, it’s like seeing heaven.

Eloïse's First Days

2009-08-11T08:31:00.000-04:00

You arrived at 6:42 pm on April 19th,2009, and surprised us all with the speed at which you arrived, your dark hair, and that yes, the fact you were a girl. Around 10pm that night, we were tranferred to the post-partum department, and were lucky enough to get a large private room, with two beds, which was great, except for the fact the heating was still on and it was extremely hot. We were so excited that you were finally here, we had a hard time going to sleep that first night, despite the fact we were very tired. The next day, we had a lot of visitors- Mel, Christina, and Patrick came to meet you. Grand-Maman, who witnessed your birth, came back for several hours, too. Papa went back home for a couple of hours, and when he came back, he brought Grand-Mère & Grand-Père, and your big sister, Aurelia, along with him. This was a very special moment for Papa and I - our little family all together for the first time. Once everyone left, the rest of the day was pretty quiet, and the following morning, we were discharged. You were finally coming home! We arrived home mid-morning, and tried to get settled into some sort of routine. Because you were being breastfed, and we were still waiting for the milk to come in, the next few days were a little tough, as we tried to get into the groove of things with very little sleep. I must admit, there were a couple of nights in that first week where I did cry a little. You would sleep well and be so quiet during the day, but once 10-11 pm hit, you would be very cranky and unsettled, and cry a lot. Even though you are our second baby, I realize that sleep deprivation is still as hard the second time around, especially when there is another little person who needs to be taken care of. Nevertheless, we survived. And once you were eating enough, and we both got the hang of breastfeeding together, things, settled down. You slept for several hours at a time, and we were able to get the sleep we all needed. It is incredible how you just fit right into your spot in our family. We are so glad you are finally here. Welcome home, Our Sweet Eloïse.

Aurelia Turns Two

2009-08-03T08:36:00.000-04:00

My Darling Aurelia, you’ve turned two! This year, we spent a quiet day as a family at home. You did get to go to the park, something you love to do. We had a birthday cake for you, and I’m pretty sure you loved the candles as much as eating it. We re-lit them for you three times, and you insisted on holding the candles once they were blown out and removed from the cake. It was great watching you eat your cake, and taking in the biggest mouthfuls you could. Afterwards, you were in much need of a bath, and then Granda’ came over to give you your gift. A lovely day!
I can’t believe that you are already two years old. In the two years since you were born, you have brightened our lives with your presence, and have made you Papa and I grow into better people. You are our greatest joy. We love you so much, Our Sweet Girl.

Moments Like These

2009-06-17T14:05:00.010-04:00

Aurelia,

Since you have come into our lives, there are moments that, as a parent, make me wonder if we are giving you all you need. Moments in which I question if we are providing you the best possible environment in which to thrive, in which to become your personal best. Are you getting enough sunshine or exercise? Are we providing you with a diet that contains enough fibre and are you eating enough vegetables? Is your level of vocabulary normal? Do you feel secure and safe?Do we play enough with you or read you enough books? And, if so, are they the right games or the best books? Are we nurturing you to become a strong, independendant, and confident person? Are you happy?

And then there are moments like these, when, I just know, the answer is yes.

You at Two

2009-05-29T20:31:00.010-04:00

Goldfish crackers are your favourite snack.You have just become a big sister. When we go get you in your room in the morning, the first thing you do is hand us your empty bottle.You have finally begun giving kisses. You are now eating meat.You have started using the potty. If Mama gets herself a milkshake and gives you a sip, you never give it back. You still love to watch movies- recent favourites are “Garfield’s Fun Fest” and “Happy Feet”. You love bubble baths. Tantrums are a regular occurrence, head-banging included. Your favorite thing to do at the playground is swing, but you haven’t figured out how to lean back.Your favourite expressions are “Oh, wow!” and “What’s this?”. You love the sandbox Grand-Mere & Grand-Pere got you - when you arrive at their house, you beeline for the back door to the yard. You like putting on Papa's slippers. Mega-Bloks, In the Night Garden figurines and Dr. Seuss Flash cards are among your favourite toys to play with, but you are just as happy with some Tupperware, a feather duster,or a pair of IPOD headphones. You are loved more than you know. Love, Mama

On Your Way

2009-04-17T12:55:00.003-04:00

To My Baby in My Belly,

I am sitting here waiting for the hospital to call to let me know they are ready for my induction today. We were supposed to go in at 6am, but they had a busy night, so we have had to wait. I think this was a blessing because I feel more ready mentally for labor. It is how it is supposed to happen.

What I want you to know is that, although we have yet to look each other in the eyes, your Papa and I already love you beyond words. You are the greatest gift we could ask for, and we cannot wait to continue this life's journey, both yours and ours, with you. I can't wait to meet you.

All my love,

Mama

Yesterday

2009-01-23T13:59:00.007-05:00

My Dearest Aurelia,

Yesterday I reached the 26 week mark for this pregnancy. We had an appointment with Dr. Johansson, so Papa finished work early, we packed ourselves into the car, and headed to her office. The last time I was in that office was very nerve-wracking indeed. I had gone in the previous day for my "almost 22-week appointment, and during that ultrasound, the doctor noticed something that could indicate something serious was wrong with the baby, so the following morning, we headed back to the office in a rush to do an amniocentesis. Much to Papa's and my relief, the results for the amnio came back normal. So yesterday, was a much happier occasion for me, and I really tried to enjoy the moment of getting to see your soon-to-arrive brother or sister on the ultrasound machine screen.

You were in Papa's arms during this, and were getting quite restless, especially since the wait to see the doctor was a little long for you. This meant that Papa got to see very little of the ultrasound taking place. He was busy taking care of you. But later, once we left the office he told me of your reaction seeing me laying on the doctor's examination table while Dr. Johansson probed my belly. Apparently, you became very still and were observing everything that was going on. Then, although you made no sound, tears began streaming down your face, and continued even after the examination was over. He is certain you thought the doctor was hurting me, even though you could see me smiling and laughing. Once we left the examination room, while I was talking to the doctor and her secretary and making arrangements for my next appointment, you, still in Papa's arms, kept reaching out to me, holding tightly to my shirt.

It was only after, when Papa told me of your reaction, that I realized how upset you were, and to be honest, it was only last night, while laying in bed wide awake at around 2am with insomnia did it hit me. I am your mama. And you know it. And as much as I live with the fear that something could hurt you or happen to you, you also live with that fear for me. We need each other, and we have a bond that has developed and strengthened every single day since we came into each other's lives. Maybe it sounds strange that such a simple incident made me come to such a realization, but with you, I have learned that the simplest things having become the most incredible blessings. A soft kiss from you. You caressing my eyelashes. Your small open hand on my chest while you fall asleep. These are gifts you give me every day and for which I will never be able to repay you.

January 19th,2009

2009-01-19T20:07:00.005-05:00

This evening, I decided to take a bath around 5pm.Papa was home and about to start supper, and I just had the urge to soak and relax in the tub. I left the bathroom door open because I thought you would get a kick out of seeing Mama in the tub and you out of it for a change. Soon, you were running in to "surprise me" every minute or so. Next, you decided it would be interesting to dip you (clean) paint brush in the water, which meant that within a few minutes, you were wet up to your elbows. It didn't take long for you to start pulling out your bath toys and placing them on the edge of the bath. You even pulled out the three little tub men I use to sing you "Lundi matin, le roi, la reine, et son p'tit prince..." and you motioned to me that this bathtime, regardless of who was actually in the bath, should be no different. At this point, your pants were already off since they had gotten dirty and I had removed them before my bath, but you were still wearing shoes and socks..you had asked me to put them on you this afternoon, a first.Before I knew it, you were trying to get in the tub to join me, shoes and all. So Papa came to the rescue, quickly stripped you down, and plopped you in the tub with me. The water was much deeper than you are normally used to, and you seemed to love it, although you did slip a couple of times. We brought in some of your toys and you seemed to just love being in the deep water and having me with you. It has been quite a while since we have bathed together, and it was even more wonderful than I remembered, playing with you in the tub, listening to music from the kitchen where Papa was preparing us a delicious meal. The bath turned out different than I had planned, but undoubtedly better. It was, a perfect evening.

Saskatoon 2008 (and a wee bit of 2009)

2009-01-12T22:14:00.008-05:00

At the last minute, I booked a ticket for Aurelia and I to head off out west to Saskatoon from December 26th to January 1st. Some people thought I was crazy (including myself) for even considering traveling alone on a plane with a toddler. My worst expectations were pretty much realized on our way there. We missed our flight, but were re-routed soon after, with the only downfall being we arrived in Saskatoon at almost 1am Montreal time. Aurelia refused to sleep on the plane, and as the plane was literally landing in Saskatoon, she was so exhausted, she began to cry uncontrollably. I thoughther ears were bothering her, because as soon as the plane touched ground her crying stopped. But, when I looked down, she had fallen asleep, and slept through right up until morning. Donna and Lindsay picked us up. It was so great to see them. We got back to Donna's place, where Susan was still up, and we stayed up chatting quite late,then finally went to bed.

The next morning, everybody came over to Donna's- Paul, Mark, Grandmother, Norm & Judy, Adam & Natalie, and their significant others, Sandra & Nacona. Since Lindsay was also staying at her mom's, Paul Schoenau was already there, and so was little Tate, who I finally got to see for the first time (although we did peek in on him the night before while he was sleeping). We all spent the day at Donna's just hanging around, relaxing, and it was really nice. We ordered pizza, and later, some of us went to the movies, including myself. Paul S. and Donna were kind enough to offer to babysit, and man, was it ever appreciated. We went to see the movie "Doubt, starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. Not surprisingly, the acting was great, but the movie itself left both Lindsay and I at least with few questions. Apparently, that was exactly what it was supposed to do!

The following day, the Elliot clan and Grandmother came over before the Elliots headed back to Alberta. Before they left, Sandra gave us one of her amazing hula-hooping demonstrations- pretty unexpected and amazing, to say the least. On the Monday, Donna, Lindsay, Paul S., Tate, Aurelia & I headed to the Museum of Western Development. In addition to checking out the permanent exhibit, we also got to see the Eaton's Once Upon a Christmas animatronics display. It was lovely, and Aurelia seemed to like it, too! Donna, Aurelia, and I headed over to Grandmother's house, where Paul and Susan joined us later on.

The last couple of days were spent quietly at Donna's. Donna had to work on Tuesday, so I tried to relax a bit, and stayed alone with Aurelia for a few hours. I was hoping she would nap, but she didn't. There were times during the trip when I found it overwhelming to be alone with Aurelia, who at 19 months, was most interested in playing with all of Donna's breakable trinkets, vintage glass Christmas tree decorations (plucking them off one by one), and, for some reason, squeezing herself behind the furniture everywhere we went. She was also skipping naps, going to bed late, and not sleeping soundly at night. Since we were both sleeping in the same room, this also meant that I was getting the best nights' sleep either. She ate very little while away, and what she did eat, was not the most balanced of diets. Since it was for just a few days, I didn't let it bother me too much, but part of me was indeed looking forward to getting back into our old routine. Later on, after supper, Lindsay, Susan and I headed off to Superstore and McNally Robinson for a little shopping. Donna took care of Aurelia, and it felt nice to get away, even if it was only for a couple of hours.

On New Year's Eve, we all hung out quietly at home. Susan was going out that night, so I straightened her hair for her. She looked great for her evening out! After she left, Paul S., Lindsay, and I all agreed that Donna had done way too much cooking in the last couple of days, so Paul took the initiative and ordered chinese food. He then went out in a snow storm and picked up Grandmother, and we all had a nice meal together. Paul F. came over, too, and later on, I went over to his house just down the street with Lindsay where he gave me the grand tour. What a nice place! We stayed for just a short while since I had to pack, and Mark came back with us. Soon, I went off and started to get my stuff organized, since my flight was for 7:45 the next morning. I was stressed, to say the least, but I got pretty much everything organized. I had just enough time to join everyone in the living room where we welcomed in the new year. Paul drove Grandmother home, and everyone else went to bed. I finally got to bed around 1:15 am, but unfortunately, my sleep was cut short when my favorite little person decided to wake up at 3:15. I was tired, to say the least.

Needless to say, I was ready to go at 5:45, and we got to the airport without a hitch. Because of the snowstorm,however, the flight was delayed, even thought I had checked before leaving Donna's. The good news was, Aurelia was so exhausted by the time we did get on the plane, that she fell asleep almost immediately, and slept all the way to Ottawa, leaving only a twenty minute flight, from Ottawa to Montreal. Adding to our luck, I had a free seat beside me the entire way, so it was nice to have a seat for Aurelia. We got to Montreal around 3pm, and Ben and my parents were waiting for us. It was so nice to see them.

I am so glad that Ben pushed me to go on this trip. There were indeed challenges to travelling alone with a toddler, some expected, others a surprise, but as Lindsay said I would, I do feel such a sense of accomplishment to having done it. What was even more amazing was getting to see almost all of my dad's side of the family (with the exception of him and Olivia) together during the holidays. These are opportunities that don't happen often, not to mention, less and less as we all get older. Ben was so right, it was the chance of a lifetime, and I am glad I took it.

Just in Time

2009-01-05T08:11:00.002-05:00

Eighteen months. Just in case I forget, and one day, you have a baby of your own and ask me how old you started walking at. Yup, eighteen months. That gave us just enough time to start to worry that everything was OK. Just enough time to see you do a couple of steps three months before you actually really started walking. Just enough time to see your pediatrician on November 13th for your eighteen-month checkup, the same morning you really did start walking, and for him to be concerned enough to send you for testing at the Montreal Children's hospital for Muscular Dystrophy because according to him, your thighs were a little overdeveloped (attributable for those months of walking upright on your knees, we assume).

So, no. To answer your question, you were not an early walker. You were eighteen months old. And over the last month and a half or so, since you first started using your feet to get around, you cannot sit still. I imagine these are the first of many blurry photos of you to come.

First Birthday

2008-05-08T20:01:00.011-04:00

Well, here we are. Just four days short of Aurelia's first birthday. I must admit, this anniversary feels a little bittersweet. More than anything, of course, it is a celebration, but it also makes me realize how much time has past since this incredible little person came into my life. I wish I could relive those first moments, not the part of shock in realizing that something, a person, this baby, was growing inside of me, or the moment of finally finding out "it" was a "she", or the coming-to-grips part that I am her mother and that she is my daughter, but rather, to relive that moment with the clarity I have now. To have been able to foresee the scope of the love I would have for her. To have fully realized that my world as I knew it had, in an instant, changed for the better. To have truly understood that motherhood would be the most challenging and most rewarding role of my life. To have grasped the concept that this little person would challenge me in ways I never expected, and, as a result, she would teach me to be a better person.

What I know now is that since Aurelia came into my life, I am infinitely more aware of the wonders of this life, both the beauty and ugliness of this world, and the meaning of unconditional love. I know now that to watch your child discover and learn allows you to experience life from their perspective, with fresh eyes and wonder. Everything seems a little brighter, the small stuff is not as important as it once was, and infinite pleasure can be found in the simplest of things.

While you are pregnant and awaiting the arrival of your first child, many tell you to prepare for the hundreds of diapers, the sleepless nights, a screaming baby. Often, what they fail to mention, is that those diapers will teach you the type of endurance only a parent knows. That during those sleepless nights, while rocking your baby,you will realize, as you stare into your baby's eyes or count her delicate lashes, that you would die for her and do anything to protect her. That a screaming baby will not only teach you patience, but that a parent's worry for their child's well-being is infinite, and that, regardless of her age, she will always be your baby.

On the eve of my 33rd birthday, Reflections of the last year

2008-05-07T13:07:00.005-04:00

1. Gave birth and became Mama to my sweet Aurelia
2. Bought a camera way beyond my budget and fell in love with photography
3. Was diagnosed with kidney stones, gallstones, and a DVT
4. Had way too many visits to the hospital
5. Mastered the art of stain removal
6. Went back to my natural hair color
7. Lost all the baby weight
8. Rediscovered scrapbooking
9. Got my eyebrows professionally plucked for the first time, and realized that I can do a better job
10. Learned how to perform most tasks with one hand while carrying a baby with the other

Solids

2008-03-21T22:32:00.009-04:00

Your initiation to solid foods came in the form of rice cereal on October 26th, 2007. Papa and I were so surprised when you instinctively opened your mouth for the spoon. Obviously, that first attempt to feed you solids was more to introduce you to eating something other than breastmilk or formula rather than nourish you, but it really went well.

Since then, getting you used to solids has taught us a lot of patience. You seem to enjoy cereals, veggies, especially broccoli, cauliflower and carrot mixture, and you absolutely love mangoes. The biggest challenge has been meat. You don't like it. Try what we may to conceal the smallest morsel of meat in a heap of fruit or veggies, and you have no trouble identifying it, and you manage to spit only the meat out while eating the rest. At the end of February, during your routine appointment at the pediatrician, I told him about your meat aversion. He basically told me to salt the meat slightly because, after all, unspiced meat doesn't taste very good. Things have improve, but not dramatically, it is not unusual for you to gag on meat. Only recently does it seem like we are making progress. I think it's only a question of being patient, and not rushing you.

Little Sickling

2008-02-23T23:30:00.005-05:00

Aurelia has been out of sorts this last week. It started with a mild fever, that lasted a couple of days, when, at last, it peaked, and disappeared. It looked as though the coast was clear, when less than two days later, a rash appeared. Since yesterday, it is clear that her ears are bothering her. And so, today, after having consulted, the health line, and her pediatrician (by phone), we headed out to an emergency clinic just to make sure things were okay. It looks as though she has roseola, which is what I suspected, and we just need to monitor her over the next couple days, as her ears to appear irritated. She has a scheduled appointment with her pediatrician on Tuesday, so he'll be able to check if her ears clear up with the virus or if she'll need antibiotics. I am to continue administering Tempra to relieve fever (if it returns) or to help manage her ear pain...

I know that this was nothing serious, but the stress I have felt over the last couple of days, not to mention the lack of sleep, has been overwhelming. I hope this is the worst we will ever have to experience with a child ill. It breaks your heart to see them so helpless, and unable to do much to relieve their discomfort.

7:45 am

2008-02-18T07:46:00.004-05:00

It's early morning, and I forced myself out of bed after being woken by a neighbor slamming the door and the high-pitched continuous meowing of my cat. I would rather be in bed, but am gathering the courage to change another diaper. Sometimes, you just don't feel like it. Then again, if you take a moment, and think of the "why", it seems like a small price to pay.

Almost 10pm

2008-01-29T23:03:00.001-05:00

It is almost 10 pm. You're about 8 1/2 months old, and you should be sleeping. Instead, when I go into your room to check on you, you are wide awake, playing quietly in your crib, and you greet me with this face. This look. I am not complaining.

Holidays...right.

2008-01-04T09:16:00.001-05:00

Ahh, the holidays are over. It strikes me as particularly odd how the most hectic, crazy, sometimes stressful time of year can be referred to as the "holidays". Our holidays over here began on December 24th with a family supper that Ben and I prepared at my mom's for her side of the family,and ended the night of New Year's Eve at around 2am January 1st. All in all, it was a wonderful time, but I did lose my cool a few times with a few projects. Just ask Ben.

The most special part of this Christmas was celebrating with Aurelia, and being grateful for all the good things that have happened for us over the past year. I will write more about what I am grateful for another time, but suffice to say, it was such a wonderful moment to show this healthy little bundle off to our closest friends and family. She hardly slept the entire time, was completely off any sort of schedule, and yet she never made a peep. I suppose this is what she has been making up for over the last two days.

A significant milestone was also reached on Christmas night. After an impromptu fondue supper and Ben's brother's with their parents, we came home and I prepared Aurelia for bed. At one point she was nawing on my finger, and suddenly her gums felt sharper than usual. As Ben was walking into the house, I called him over, desperately trying to get a good look at what I had felt. Lo and behold, there was a little tooth making its appearance in the front of her lower gums. Of course, I cried. That beautiful gummy smile is beginning to disappear. Bittersweet moment.

Unfortunately, a little bit of dread also set in during this time of year. On Christmas morning, I had an instant of cramping pain that I immediately identified as stemming from my kidneys. It didn't significantly rear its ugly head again until January first, when I woke up with a definite aching in my flank. Took it easy that day and since, but am very anxious for the appointment I have with the urologist next week. I just hope I can get these stones out before the agony sets in.

I started taking down our Christmas decorations yesterday. All that is left is the Christmas tree, and I have decided to save that task for either tomorrow or Sunday, since the trash will only be going by Monday morning to pick up the tree. Another task I almost completed yesterday was the sorting of the huge stack of photos I had developed. Looking forward to having that job completed so I can get some creating done with that.

Off to watch a bit of Baby Einstein.

Look Who's Talking

2007-12-11T13:50:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, Aurelia started saying "Dada". We're not entirely certain she is referring to Ben when she says it, but it's still pretty exciting. She started saying "Mama" on October 31st, and I've pretty much come to terms that "Mama" to her is synonymous with "boob milk" or "Feed me".

Last week, she also started shaking her head from side to side. To be honest, we found it a little strange, and were concerned that maybe there was something wrong with her eyes, or maybe something else. But since Sunday, we've started thinking that she is actually telling us "no". Today, she refused to eat, and when I put the spoon in front of her, she refused to open her mouth and shook her head.

These developments may not sound like much, but now I know, that, to first-time parents, these are all tiny miracles. It is truly a wonder to realize that this is the same little being that lived inside me those nine (ten) months, that came out an immobile ball. She is quickly becoming more of a little person everyday.

He's Making A List...

2007-12-07T21:34:00.001-05:00

Ben and I brought Aurelia to see Santa at the St. Bruno mall yesterday evening. She hasn't decided what she thinks of him yet.

Being At Home

2007-12-05T13:50:00.001-05:00

Something this week has come over me, and I feel so grateful to be home with Aurelia. I really feel I am taking so much pleasure in the simpler things, and I feel refreshed and my energy renewed. Appreciating the simple things, taking a genuine interest in doing everyday tasks has truly changed my perspective on things. I hope I will be able to stay home.

On Her Own

2007-12-03T09:17:00.001-05:00

So, it's done. Last night, Aurelia slept in her crib in her room overnight for the first time. It was a last-minute decision, really. I was changing her diaper before bed, and I suggested Ben set up the monitor. Soon enough, she was fast asleep in her crib, and I was weeping. I never thought I would be so sad, but it's just the end of an era, the beginning of another. The night went well, she woke up a couple of times at the beginning of the night, but that has more to do with still being a little under the weather. I think she really enjoyed being able to finally spread her little arms out.

There is a huge snowstorm today, which is also her first big snowfall. I believe Aurelia and I might do some baking.

Oh, and yesterday, got a message from Creating Keepsakes letting me know that my order has shipped. Looking forward to receiving my copies of Ali Edwards' Life Artist and A Designer's Eye For Scrapbooking, in addition to Stacy Julian's The Big Picture. I really can't wait to receive them.

Craft Day

2007-12-01T11:22:00.003-05:00

Today, I plan on at least getting my supplies for some of my holiday craft projects. Can't wait. Plus, someone appears to be feeling so much better.

Buttons

2007-11-30T19:31:00.003-05:00

buttons
Originally uploaded by bethjohnson

This is so weird...Since there were no styrofoam cones left at Walmart yesterday, I thought of using the balls they had, but wasn't sure how it would turn out...now I know...awesome!

Not Feeling Well

2007-11-28T07:38:00.002-05:00

Aurelia had a bad night last night, which means I did also. Her tummy was definitely bothering her, and evidence of that erupted this morning around 6:30. She had a slight fever, so I just gave her some Tempra, and she seems to be doing better already. I am certain she is going to nap most of the day, and I hope to join her. Poor thing, there were no beautiful smiles for me this morning. My heart was aching.

Pregnancy Album

2007-11-27T10:47:00.002-05:00

Just a few pics of my latest "in-progress" project. While I was pregnant, I had the intention that I wanted to create a pregnancy scrapbook, but with illness and getting ready for the baby's arrival, it never got done. Now, just past Aurelia's six-month birthday, I am working on this album, and getting much of it done! I am certain I have forgotten some stuff, but I am focusing on what I do remember, and calling it good enough. Trying to get the pictures and stories down first, and worry about the embellishing later.

Vaccinations

2007-11-27T10:16:00.001-05:00

Last night we went to the CLSC for Aurelia's 6-month vaccinations, in addition to the flu vaccine. My mother came along and held her. Ben and I both agree that we felt like traitors, inflicting pain upon her. In reality, she did not cry at all, and she barely even cringed. I think it was harder on us as parents. What I personally found difficult was the decision of whether or not to vaccinate against the flu. Was it really necessary? I suppose that along with parenthood comes many such decisions, where there are few clear answers and yet choices still need to be made.

I hardly slept all night, on the lookout for any symptoms or side effects from the vaccinations. Today, she is as cheerful as ever, and is babbling at the top of her lungs as I right this. So far, so good.

A Room of Her Own

2007-11-26T11:11:00.001-05:00

I have been putting it off for weeks now. At first I said it was because the mattress in her crib had to be changed. Next, I said it was because we were going away, and it simply wasn't the right time. But, now I know the time has come- Aurelia has outgrown her bassinette where she sleeps in our room, and needs to sleep her nights in her own room in her crib. A couple of weeks ago, I took pics of her bassinette/strolller, the view I have had for the last six months from where I sleep. I guess the reason I don't want to do go through with this change is just because I know it is the end of an era. One day, Aurelia might have children of her own, she might ask me where she herself slept when she first came home from the hospital, and I will have to think back to this moment in time that is coming to an end.

NYC Scrapbook Project

2007-11-26T10:58:00.002-05:00

In February 2007, Mel and I took a three-day trip to NYC. It was awesome. Of course, if I had tried to make traditional layouts for this trip, they probably would have not yet been completed. Luckily, I came across an article in "Simple Scrapbooks" by Stacy Julian, who showed an original and simple way of scrapbooking many pics really quickly. By using a 'two-up album", I was able to scrap all my pics in a simple, yet effective way!

Starting Off

2007-11-25T09:01:00.002-05:00

So, I have decided to start this blog as a means to journal what is going on in Aurelia's life, basically a way to keep track of everything in the everyday. The last six months since she was born have flown by, and I know there is so much I have forgotten already. Hopefully, this will be a great way for me to keep on top of things and to help me get things done when it comes to scrapbooking the thousands of pics I have already taken. I am still working on the pregnancy scrapbook I had planned to create while pregnant, and it is approaching completion. I am trying to focus more on the pics and the story - I know that is what will be most precious to Aurelia later on, not how I decorated a page. This is not always easy.

I have also started sorting my pics to begin documenting her life. This is so exciting to me.Imagine having documentation of your life, not random pics, without dates or names to go with them? I think this thought is one of the biggest motivators for me. I think it is one of the best gifts I can give her.

All this inspiration also means that I have to clean out my workspace in order for me to have a place to scrap when I do have a few minutes, rather than having to pull everything out, work on the living room floor, and then put it all away. This week has had me really contemplate what I need, what I can get rid of to make room for the stuff that inspires me.

graphics

2007-07-29T14:34:00.003-04:00