One Fine Day

Today was a GREAT day! Not that other days aren't, but today was just.plain.awesome!

Started the morning with a smiley Maddi instead of a crying Maddi wanting out of her crib. She ate well at breakfast and then we were off to catch the Aquabus to Granville Island for a Westside Music Together trial class.

Upon disembarking the Aquabus at Granville Island, we walked through the market and picked up "the Jenny" from JJ Bean. Don't go to a JJ Bean and ask for it, they would look at you weird and not know what you're talking about. This is what my friend Krysta, who used to work at the JJ Bean I frequented, had named my drink after having had to explain how I like my coffee every time I went into her store. It's actually not that crazy - it's just a latte with half vanilla, half caramel, light foam.

After I got my coffee, we still had 20 mins before class started. So we decided to stop and enjoy the music in the courtyard just outside of the main market entrance.

The class was an hour long and was UH-MAZ-ING! I don't know if it's just because I'm an emotional Cancerian... but I had to hold back tears towards the end of the class as Maddi gave the teacher a big, long hug when she's just met her for the first time. I think it's been built up from the great morning I've had, the beautiful setting of the class, seeing Maddi getting into the class... and I'm just envisioning how perfect our Summer would be for Maddi and I to have GI days twice a week for a month - and how this will help to put a bit of structure in our schedule (which I've needed, as you can tell from my post yesterday).

Maddi woke up extra early this morning, and the class probably tired her out as well. She fell asleep in the stroller on the way home. Since Maddi was sleeping in the stroller, I decided to meet up with Anne & Marcus at a nearby park. While we were there, I got a text msg from Shaila, one of the moms I met during maternity leave, that she and Zianna were in the area and would like to meet up. I haven't seen them in ages! And when they showed up to the park, they came with Jim, another friend of ours from our parent/infant days, with Hailey in tow of course! It still amazes me to see how much the girls have all grown, I've seen them since they were just a few weeks old!

Can this day get any better?! Well, YES! I think the pictures below sufficiently explain...

Hailey, Zianna & Maddi

We tried to keep their clothes dry...

No amount of hiking up pants or pulling up sleeves will keep their clothes dry when they do THIS!

Maddi's clothes were soaked. Good thing it was a warm day and only a short walk home, because she had to ride home in her stroller with nothing but her diaper on. I guess that's a sign of a spectacular day!

Mother's Day Mini Session With The Cantlies

I met the Cantlies in our prenatal class. The last time I saw Owen was about 10 months ago. When I saw him today, it was incredible to watch his little personality emerge.

Funny that he did the exact same thing Maddi has started doing when I pull my camera up to my face - he sat right down! I think he was posing for me =)

"I'm ready for my close-up!"

This little man is always on the run!

Gorgeous family

Owen sandwich!

Just hangin' out...

Watch out... future heartbreaker comin' through!

Beautiful mommy

The boys

You're just too cool, Owen!

Moving On

I have loved being with Maddi every day for the last eighteen and a half months. No regrets, no wishes for any take backs; although, no doubt there were some very challenging days. However, I think I have been in a bit of a funk in the last few months staying home with her.

Just a couple of months before Maddi turned one, I felt very lucky to have the career option to stay home with her as I watched all the other moms that I have met during maternity leave starting to make adjustments for their return to work - daycare or other child care arrangements in particular. They have expressed feeling anxious, sad and a combination of both as they consider the thought of having to leave their precious babes in the care of someone else after spending every day with them up to that point. Many of the moms I met are also first time moms, not sure if it gets any easier with subsequent children.

Within the last six months, it seems my friends who have returned to work have found a new routine and have adjusted quite well to life back at work and their babes are thriving in whatever childcare they have arranged for them. Me, on the other hand, I feel stuck in maternity leave mode. I miss my mommy friends and their babes who are not as readily available as they were, prior to returning to work. I am supposed to also be "back at work," only my work is at home and I work for myself. Trouble is, it's so easy to blur my time as a mom focused on Maddi as my priority and my work as a photographer and entrepreneur who is preparing to launch her business. I think I'm doing a superb job as a mom (although some days I may not think so), but I've been lousy as an entrepreneur that's starting a business.

I need to be a lot more intentional about being in business. I think some planning, scheduling and organizational changes are in order. Actually, I did have a plan for what I want to do after maternity leave that I was happy about and could work with... I just need to stick with the plan! I am confident that if I do, I will be a lot more efficient and productive during my work hours as well as be more present when I'm with Maddi.

It's time to move on. I don't want to be thinking about work when I'm with Maddi and be inefficient at work, wondering about Maddi when I'm supposed to be working and being productive.

It seems Mother Nature decided to skip Spring and Summer days are here! I want to enjoy these Summer days with Maddi, and the only way I can really enjoy them is if I am fully present when I'm with her... not thinking about work. And if I work when I'm supposed to, I won't have to think about it when I'm with Maddi.

Today, I decided to just enjoy the day with Maddi; not constantly check my emails, left my phone on vibrate, and napped with her next to me. We started the day by going to the dollar store and picked up a pinwheel and a bubble wand, then headed to the park. We made some more friends today and Maddi loved running around in the big open space. She liked the pinwheel when it spun, but then quickly loses interest whenever it stopped and throws it out of her stroller. As for the bubbles, she wasn't quite sure if she liked them at first, but she started to really enjoy them by the end of the day.

Here are some photos from our time at the park. I would've loved to have taken some photos of her with the bubbles, but I couldn't swing the wand and take a picture at the same time. Maybe we'll take some when da-da can come with us next time =)

Mother's Day Mini Session With Sa'a & Aliya

The Traxlers were one of my first clients and have supported me throughout the years as I ventured into making a career out of photography.

I've photographed Aliya since she was just a few months old. It's amazing how fast time flies, how much they grow and change in what seems to be like a blink of an eye. She is now four and such a little sweetheart. She told her mom, "I love you sooooo much!" - that just melted my heart!

Kisses for mama

Pretty like her mama

Such a sweet sight! My heart skipped a beat when I saw this shot.

A Glimpse Of Summer

Whether it's the truth or just my guilt talking... I feel like it's been way too long since we've really enjoyed just being. Too often, there are places to go, things to do and people to see... or we are cooped up at home just putting around; and if we go out, we go to the usual places.

Summer makes me think of endless things and places to experience and enjoy - especially with the company of friends and loved ones. Today felt like Summer. I can't believe how warm it was!

We started the day with Maddi and I meeting some of our mommy and baby friends for a picnic. We haven't seen them for a long time and we were missing them terribly.

After the picnic, Maddi and I had a long walk and stopped in at our friend's gelateria in Coal Harbour, Bella Gelateria - sooo good! I had their award-winning salted caramel flavour and Maddi enjoyed a small cup of vanilla bean.

We met with Sean at the park nearby and just hung out. We laid out our picnic mat and played ball with Maddi. She has a great arm and throws pretty well, but today we taught her how to kick a ball. At first, she kept picking it up and throwing it; towards the end though, she learned how to kick it!

We had to move about 4 times trying to stay in the shade... but had a fun time in the sun, soaked in the fun of having some quality family time.

Maddi also made a friend, she is not a shy kid. Neither was Audrey, the friend she made. Interesting to think that if it weren't for our girls playing with each other, we probably wouldn't have talked to this couple; but because the girls did, we ended up getting out of ourselves and interacted with them. Children are pretty awesome.

I love seeing that smile on her face!

Maddi has a great arm and can throw a ball quite well!

Good throw, Maddi!

I just love those lips! And cheeks! And her cute hands and fingers! And....

Love The Aquabus!

The weather has been getting nicer lately. Yesterday, Sean had the day off work. Instead of going for a walk along the usual routes we take, I thought to take the Aquabus and stroll Granville Island.

It was Maddi's first Aquabus ride! We had lunch at the market, and enjoyed gelato in the courtyard where a lineup of musicians provided entertainment as people enjoyed the place, the weather, the views, their food & their company. It reminded me a bit of that Family Guy episode where there was soundtrack to life! hehe

Maddi has had ice cream several times and really enjoys it... but she's always had it in a bowl with a spoon. Yesterday, I taught her how to lick it from a cone. She liked the novelty of it.

We had planned to go feed the ducks, but we didn't make it there. Maddi was tired shortly after lunch, so we decided to head home to put Maddi down for a nap. It was neat to have caught one of the big ones they call the Cyquabus!

Enjoying the views from the Aquabus

Maddi's super excited to go to Granville Island =P

She might've been tired, she wasn't as friendly toward this girl as she usually is

Enjoying the music and dancing

Got to ride the Cyquabus on the way home!

Cute As Can Bee

Sean and Maddi were quite sick for the week after we got back from our cruise. Caring for two sick babes took it's toll and got really challenging after the 4th day. Maddi was extra clingy, and Sean couldn't help at all. I tried to handle it with as much patience and grace, but I'm afraid I started to crack towards the end. I think what saved me from totally losing it was my dad leaving me with pre-cooked frozen meals that I could just heat up throughout the week before he flew home.

I'm just glad that at least, we had a great trip; and also, that I didn't get sick while caring for both of them - that was freakin' amazing!

Now that they are both feeling so much better and the weather outside is so much nicer, I decided to take Maddi out on our first picnic of the year this afternoon - and she was dressed appropriately, buzzing with cuteness!

Side note: Maddi's hair seemed to have sprouted in the last month... I started giving her pigtails the week after we got back from our cruise to keep it away from her snotty nose.

She started crouching down every time I pull my camera out lately... I hope it's just a phase, I want to be able to take photographs of her!

How did she get so big so fast?!

That's the mischievous smile she gave me before running away from our picnic blanket!

I showed her how to blow on a dandelion

She thought it was interesting

She held it way too close to her mouth, the little bits started sticking to her snotty nose =)