Project 52 [week 4]

[chatting with my brother on Skype]

[birthday flowers]

[playing around with my camera]

[daddy-daughter playtime]

A Special Birthday Gift

My son has a strong mind and a caring soul. His teacher once told me that she could see him being the next Bill Gates. His caring soul came shining through yesterday when he opened his hand to show me one of his soccer medals. "For your birthday, mom". My heart melted.

Another Trip Around The Sun

I'm not big on celebrating my own birthday but I do love the little treats that come with it -- birthday wishes, sushi lunch with my dear husband, a gorgeous bouquet of my favourite flower from a wonderful little flower shop called Violet Blooms and a little something from Starbucks. It has been a lovely day!

Spasm City

I don't know if this is an MS thing or if my face is bored and has decided to dance to its own beat but I'm having some serious eye spasms over here. It's like pop rock central (loved that candy as a kid)!

You know the Cadbury commercial (which I love) where the kids are on the couch waiting for their picture to be taken and then suddenly their eyebrows start to bust a move? I think I could totally be the stunt double for one of those kids right about now, no editing required.

I am...

enjoying a glass of Ogio Pinot Grigio.

Contigo Travel Mug

I've been on the hunt for a new travel mug. I do have one, not a very good one, but I have one. It magically appeared in my kitchen cupboard one day. I honestly have no clue where the mug came from. I think it might have been a work gift or at least I think it was a work gift. It's functional but it has seen its day. So on the hunt I have been for a new travel mug for when I have to stand waiting for Luke's bus in the freezing cold, oh joy! I scored these Contigo Travel Mugs from Costco the other day -- two for $22! Instead of a flip top or a piece to slide open there is a button you press to open the spout just before you take a sip and then release to close it again. So far the mug has been good to me. No spills and my coffee has stayed nice and warm. Hmmm, maybe I should use them while I'm at home too to avoid reheating my coffee umpteen times (yuck, I know, but it's faster than making a new cup).

I am...

catching up on all of your wonderful blogs!

Project 52 [week 3]

[Has anyone seen my desk?]


[choo choo]


[My angel]

[It's my birthday! Rock on!]

[Mmmm, cake!]

[Bella waiting for a piece of Luke's birthday cake]

[Isabella making pizza for dinner]

The Sweetness Of Snail Mail

I had to run some errands today and on my way back I stopped at the mailbox. Mixed in with the junk and bills was this beautifully decorated envelope from my dear friend Sheba -- a wonderful birthday treat that I promise I won't open until the day comes! I can't wait!

I am...

enjoying 365 Fashion Rehab. I get a thrill out of finding unique and fun blogs. I found this one last week as I was reading the newspaper I had brought with me on our recent trip.

Six

January 15, 2004

Today I had a doctor’s appointment. Dr. El Tayeb said that you haven’t gotten any bigger and I am starting to dilate, about one centimeter so far. She said that it might be better if you came sooner than later so she suggested that I be induced. I said that I would be fine with that if it was better for you to be out in the world rather than in my tummy. The doctor suggested that I be induced tomorrow and an instant smile came on my face. I am still in shock. I am to be at the hospital for 7:30am tomorrow morning and that it might take a little while for you to come. I called daddy as soon as my doctor appointment was over. He is so excited…we all are! I can’t believe that you could be here as soon as tomorrow. YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

......

That was the last entry in my pregnancy journal before Lucas, my first child, was born. A child who would change my world for the better and who would teach me how important it is to enjoy every moment of life, to be patient and not take everything so seriously. He gave my life a new meaning, a new purpose, a new vocabulary. Now I had to get used to the words mommy, daddy, son, grandparents, uncle, grandson, diaper, 3am, poop (and every word you could think of to describe it).

January 16th, 2004 is still so clear in my mind. I remember the noises in the hall at the hospital, when the grandparents arrived, how cold it was outside that day -- I think a snow storm was brewing. I remember being induced at 8:30am thinking I would be hanging around for awhile only to find out I was dilating faster than expected. I asked for an epidural when I was about six centimeters but I think I was closer to eight centimeters by the time I actually got it. I remember telling them that the epidural didn't seem to be working so they pumped it up more. Heaven! That was between noon and 12:30pm. At 1:30pm I was checked again and fully dilated. Wow, that was fast! What happened to this process taking time? The grandparents arrived with little time to spare and made their way to the waiting room. They didn't have to wait long. After three simple pushes Lucas Carter was born at 1:52pm. "That's it?" I recall saying as the nurses and doctors chuckled. I guess I was expecting more. A lot of the shows on TV make labour out to be so dramatic and I guess I thought that should be me too. I'm thankful everything happened the way it did. I had a great pregnancy, a wonderful labour and a beautiful, healthy boy. The next day we brought our son home.

[Lucas at one day old getting ready to leave the hospital]

It's hard to believe that was six years ago. There are days I still can't believe I'm a mom but I can't imagine my world any other way.

Happy Birthday, Lucas!
I love you higher than the moon, deeper than the ocean,
more than there are stars shining above.
Forever and always, I love you xo

[Lucas getting ready to blow out his candles]

Project 52 [week 2]

This was one of my views this past week while sitting on the beach in a lounge chair sipping Pina Coladas at Dreams Palm Beach in Punta Cana. Pure heaven and a much needed rest from the everyday chaos around here!

Stay tuned -- more about our trip to come!

I am...

relaxing on the couch devouring Christmas chocolate, drinking a cup of Warmth Tetley tea and watching a rerun of Glee. Life is good...well, better now -- a stressful day but I know tomorrow will be better!

Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha Latte

I found heaven! OK, maybe just a little taste of heaven but it was heavenly none the less. Oh, what might you ask am I talking about? My new fave latte from Starbucks -- enter the Peppermint Mocha Latte ... ooo, ah, oh!
Simply delicious! And so was the pumpkin scone I had with it. YUM!

I Have A Dream

Have you ever wished you could turn back time -- that you could go back and choose a different path, do it all over again, or maybe just change a few things?

I must admit, I have a pretty wonderful life surrounded by many beautiful things including my family and friends, but I wish I could go back and make a few changes here and there. I wish I would have applied myself more, pushed myself to work harder, traveled more, reached higher, volunteered more, been on school/community councils, and so many other things -- things that I never thought were important to me at the time and only realize now that I look back. And while I have added a few of these items to my life now, it's just not the same as if I would have started earlier in life. At least I still have the chance to do some catching up.

I was thinking the other day about what makes me happy. Happiness to me is watching joy rise on other peoples faces. The thought was sparked by recent articles in the newspaper called The Secret Life Of Girls and 2010's People to Watch. They talked about people following their dreams, their passion, about making a difference in the world. It made me think of my hopes and dreams for the future -- a vision of what I would love to be doing, a dream so big that it just seems so far fetched but I know not impossible. I wish so much that I could make that dream come true, but for now it's just a dream -- a dream that would help others, a dream to work together to make a change. A change that needs to happen. A change to better the lives of others and the world around them, around us.

I have known one of my dearest friends since she was born. I have a picture of me holding her when she came home from the hospital some 32 years ago. She is like a little sister to me, so much so that I even call her my little sister at times. She has a caring heart and a beautiful sole. The thing is, she has been battling health issues for more than half of her life. It has been a difficult road for her, her family, her friends, myself included, but a road that we will all travel with her until it's difficult no more.

I tear up every time I think about what she has to deal with, what she shouldn't have to deal with. I want to make her better but I know I can't, not on my own. It is a battle she has yet to win but not a battle that can't be won. It is something I will help her overcome -- a journey that I have been on with her (and will continue to take with her) every step of the way. I have been there since day one and will always be by her side.

My dear friend is the inspiration for my dream, my vision -- a hope for change that I know others hope for too.

"Be the change you want to see in the world."
-Mahatma Gandhi

I am...

testing out my new Canon Rebel T1i.

Project 52 [week 1]

Have you heard of Project 365? It's been the latest buzz around the blogosphere these days. I've heard so many people say that they're going to give it a try and I think I will too.

I love taking pictures and always have my camera close by. Last year I took almost 2000 pictures with my camera so, aside from my Blurb books, I think this is another great way to do something with all those pictures -- only I'm calling it Project 52. I'm not sure I would be able to keep up with a picture a day but I sure can try to do at least a picture (or a few) a week. It's also an excuse to use my new Canon Rebel T1i, my fist DSLR camera!

So starts Project 52 [week 1]:

Ringing in the New Year: 2010