28 Days of Gratitude -Day 24

I am grateful for our fantastic family doctor who has true concern for Madilyn's health.  She tells us how it is but does not make us scared in the process.

I am grateful for modern medicine that will help take the pain away from Madilyn when I can not.

I am grateful for friends and family who will listen to me cry but never judge me.

28 Days of Gratitude- Always playing Catch up

Friday May 25, 2012 - Day 18

I am grateful to have Jacqueline in our lives, She is the sister I never had and a great Aunti to Miss Madilyn.

I am grateful for the time we spend when we visit with friends we have not seen in a long time.

Saturday May 26,2012 -Day 19

I am grateful for the love that John and Corinne have for Madilyn, this reinforces to me that we made the best decision having them both and Jacqueline as god parents to Maddy. I have no worries if anything ever happens to us, I know she will be loved and taken care of.

I am grateful for time spent with family who I do not see enough. 

I am grateful for a relaxing night with the family having drinks on the deck...Saturday night deck beers in Barrie it was.

Sunday May 27,2012 - Day 20

I am grateful for a great night sleep at Mom and Dads house, sleeping like a rock while Adam watches Maddy

I am grateful for Breakfast with Family

I am grateful that Adam drove home to sudbury after a long weekend away

I am grateful take out food for dinner!

Monday May 28,2012 - Day 21

I am grateful for Air conditioning in my truck on hot days

I am grateful for my nice neighbours who always stop by to see how the progress of the house is coming.

Tuesday May 29,2012 - Day 22

I am grateful for Adam coming to my rescue after I lost my keys.  Having someone I can depend on makes me happy on a bad day

I am grateful for Madilyn Sleeping through the thunder storm last night even though Adam and I did not.

Wednesday May 30,2012 -Day 23

I am grateful for the quiet time I get when Madilyn finally falls asleep at night

I am grateful for long naps cuddling with Maddy in bed.

Freelance Friday, May 25 2012

Have you ever noticed that there is never enough quality time when you need it? What do I mean by this?

Well for example, I am home with the baby all week and have to say that I am loving it! I get to see how her smile changes daily and I get to hear the new sounds she makes when she realises that those hands flying through the air are actually attached to the long things coming off her body. I am so blessed that I have the opportunity to be with her all the time.  But sometime I get sad, I get sad for Adam who has to go to work all day and hear about her funny stories from me, I get sad for Adam because by the time he gets home at night she is getting tired and cranky, I get sad for Adam because the weekends fly by just to quickly. I know as a first time mother having to see my little miss grow up this way would be very hard to do.

Weekends just are not long enough, It seems like we look forward to trips home to visit family and friends for weeks, and then the time comes to go and in a blink of an eye the trip is done. Most of the weekend is spent in the car with each other rather than visiting.

I know that quality time is what you make of it, and our family has learned over the past six years of living far away from each other how to make the best of it.  But I can still wish for more, I wish that Adam could be with Maddy any time he wanted to and I wish that my family and close friends could magically appear on my doorstep and stay for just an hour if they so wanted.I wish the dishes and laundry would do themselves and the grass would never grow. I realize these things will never happen , but a girl can wish can't she.

28 Days of Gratitude, Catching up again

Monday May 21,2012

I am grateful for "pop in visits" from friends from all over.

I am grateful that both Adam and I have extra curricular activities that give us time away during the week.

I am grateful for the return of the bachelorette TV show, one of my guilty pleasures.

Tuesday May 22,2012

I am grateful for the help of friends looking after my baby girl, not having family around makes finding babysitters hard.

I am grateful for picnics in the park with the cutest kids around and a great friend

Wednesday May 23,2012

I am grateful for long chats with friends and family.

I am grateful for the feeling of strength and confidence after a good workout


Thursday May 24,2012

I am grateful for the calming effect of a nice bath for Maddy after a long hot day.

I am grateful the scale was in my favour this week at my weigh in.

I am grateful for quiet nights alone with my book and my baby

28 Days of Gratitude - Day 13

May 20,2012

I am grateful that four months ago my healthy baby girl was brought into this world, we have been blessed ever since.

I am grateful for  the opportunity to have dinner out with good friends on this long weekend.

I am grateful for every little smile Madilyn gives me, I may not know what she is smiling about but it sure warms my heart to know that she is happy.

I am grateful for homemade cookies...yumm need I say more?

Freelance Friday - May 18,2012

Yet again life took over and I missed last weeks Freelance Friday.  But just like last time, I am here and ready to write one today.

Along with the nice weather comes my favorite past time with my husband.  For as long as we have been together when the weather gets nice my husband and I unwind ever friday night by having what we call "deck beers" together.  This is the time in the week where it is just about the two of us (and Jacqueline when she was here) We would talk about the week and what we had planned for the weekend.  It is a time where we just talk about everything and anything.  During deck beers, gossip is spilled, ideas discussed and descisions made.  It was during friday night deck beers we decided to build a new house, we designed that house and we discussed trying for a baby after our trip to Italy.

Since the birth of Maddy Friday night deck beers still happen.  Last friday for example Maddy was in her playpen on the deck playing the piano and serinading us with her constant coo`s and laughter intertwined with the ever so annoying music that her piano plays. 
Yes, I am sure that the tradition of deck beers will continue until Adam and I are old and grey.  The concept will stay the same, quality time together to discuss everything and anything, time to reflect together on descisions made and to discuss the ones we still have to make.

Looking forward I can only hope that the only thing that will change about our time together on friday nights will be that our family will grow, we will get older and hopefully have fewer hard descisions to make.

28 Days of Gratitude - Day 12

I am grateful for the fact that Adam got up with the baby last night and saw just how tiring it can be when she decides to have a party at 3am.

I am grateful that I will spend the day and possibly the night with dear friends at their camp even though I have a baby they want us to come and sleep over. True friends don't seem to care if they get up with you at 3:00 with the baby or not.

I am grateful that 4 months ago today I was in the hospital getting ready to meet my little miss, even though she decided to wait many more hours for her appearance.

I am grateful for warm weather on May long weekend

28 Days of Gratitude, playing catch up

Well, yet again life took over and I found it difficult to find time to blog over the last week. With that being said, I made sure to take the time each night to jot down the things in life I was grateful for that day so I didn't fall behind.  Now in one large post I will catch up on the last week of "28 days of gratitude"

Day 3 May 10,201


I am grateful for the ability to run.  Although it has been a while since I ran, the release I feel empowers me to make myself better with every step I take.

I am grateful for the smiles we get from Madilyn during bath time! Her coo’s and laughter are contagious

I am grateful that I am sharing parenthood with a loving husband who allows me to go to sleep early on the days I am tired.


Day 4  May 11,2012

I am grateful for the stability my husband and I have found in our lives. Going to bed each night not having to worry about tomorrow alows us to enjoy life.

I am grateful for the creativity Adam and I have when it comes to designing our new house and the landscaping that needs to be done also.

I am grateful for the what ever insects come out in May and June to eat the blackflies!!


Day 5  May 12,2012

I am grateful for the opportunity to share in Bobby Joe and Pat's love by attending their wedding, What a beautiful way to spend a Saturday

I am grateful for my mother in law and father in law, they drove all the way to watch Madilyn so that Adam and I could enjoy a nice night out together.

I am grateful for the feeling I got tonight when I looked across the table and Adam smiled at me, falling in love with him every day is the best feeling ever!


Day 6  May 13,2012

I am grateful for coffee and sleep after too much wine the night before.

I am grateful for the piolt flying the plane home from Cuba holding most of my extended family, thank you for getting them home safe.

I am grateful for the card my "daughter" (husband) gave me for my first mothers day, so special!

I am grateful for quite time spent with Adam and Madilyn.


Day 7  May 14, 2012

I am grateful for the extra sleep I got today with Madilyn.

I am grateful that someone created the internet and online shopping, I didnt even have to leave my house to buy two new bathing suits.  Now hopefully they fit and look good!


Day 8  May 15, 2012

I am grateful that a dear friend has become such an integeral part of my life "Happy Birthday Kim!!"

I am grateful that Subway makes subs that are low in fat, I was able to buy my lunch in town today and not feel guilyt about it.


Day 9  May 16,2012

I am grateful for the burn I felt today after my Kangoo work out, I guess my muscles really do remember how to work.

I am grateful for the fact that I fit into two pairs of pre baby jeans!!! Only 10 more to work my way into.

I am grateful for unlimited long distance and long chats with my bestest!!!


Day 10  May 17,2012

I am grateful that Roxy is on Mat leave with me, She helps keep me company on my many ventures into town.

I am grateful that Maddy will have a life long friend in Xander, watching them smile and laugh at each other was the cutest thing ever!

I am grateful that Madilyn was delivered and born healthy and happy, not all families are blessed with this, I am reading a book called "Two Kisses for Maddy"  what a touching story of a families devistation after the birth of their little girl and the death of the mother.


Day 11  May 18,2012

I am grateful of nap time, especially after nights like last night when mommy didn't sleep either

I am grateful for maddy's soother, it gives her comfort in a way that I can not.

I am grateful for the romantic dinner Adam and I will share tonight on our new "date night" at home.  Maddy goes to bed and then the date will begin!

I am grateful that the bathing suit gods have been nice to me and the bathing suits I ordered fit!!  They will even look better in another 10 pound loss from here!

28 Days of Gratitude-Day 2

  I am grateful for the trust I have in my loved ones, I know that they will not do anything to intentionally hurt me or my daughter

  I am grateful for the knowledge and understanding I have gained regarding myself since becoming a mother.

  I am grateful for the smell of spring, the cold will be gone soon and I will be able to spend more time outside.

28 Days of Gratitude -Day 1

Recently in my time off I have been searching the Internet reading different blogs and websites.  About a month ago I found a blog that really interested me, the blog is based solely on gratitude and self acceptance. The person who runs this blog encourages its readers to take on the challenge of "28 days of gratitude". I have decided to take on this challenge

Each day, I will post up to five things discussing what I am grateful for and at the end of 28 days I will reflect on my life. I encourage you all to start 28 days of gratitude for yourself, it is so easy to be ungrateful in life and the truth is, we all have a lot to be grateful for.  

Enjoy

Day 1

I am grateful to have such a wonderful group of girlfriends who encourage me to be true to myself and love myself unconditionally

I am grateful for the roof over my head that my husband built with his own hands in order for me to be happy and have a nice place to call home. Many people in this world don't have a place to call home or anyone to share it with

I am grateful for the noises my daughter makes in her sleep because I know she is still breathing and I get to see her smiling face in the morning.

I am grateful for my bath tub, a silly thing to be grateful for but it helps me relax on stressful days

Quote of the week

Many of you know that I am a sucker for a good Quote.  I will often spend long periods of time looking online for that one quote that "just makes sense".  The relevancy of the quotes I find depend on the day I find it. How I am feeling that day may be reflected in the quotes I post for the week.
I have decided that once a week I will post one of the Quotes I find.Depending on how you feel when you read the quote will determine if you agree or disagree with it, Feel free to comment and let me know your thoughts.

Getting Another Year Older

Well, Saturday was my 30th birthday. I have to say I don't feel any older but I do appreciate all the fun times that I have had in my 30 years.

After 15 weeks my loving husband did something for me that was better than any birthday gift I could get...He let me sleep in!!! Oh how great that felt.

I spent the majority of my birthday with Adam and Madilyn, we went to a BBQ with great friends Roxy, Kyle and Xander took a nice walk along the trails then headed to the nurseries.  Most people know that there is no better way for me to pass the time in the summer months than working out in my gardens.
Well, since the move my front lawn has become more of a front dirt pile...But Saturday we started the process of tuning it into a lawn and gardens again.
Saturday night, Aunti Jacqie came over to watch Maddy so Adam and I could have a date night..Dinner and a Movie like we used to, what a nice night out.

Turning 30 did not make me feel old but helped me to realise that I have been blessed with the best gift anyone can ask for.  I have been given a loving husband and a beautiful little girl.

I vow as I start my life in my thirties to love, Cherish and appreciate my family every day for the rest of my life.

Freelance Friday - May 4th 2012

Where has life gone?  I missed my Freelance Friday last week because I spent the weekend with some of my best friends in the world. But now, I am getting back on track.
Friendship truly is something that money can not buy.  I am proud to say that my true friends can be counted on two hands...I have been blessed with some of the best friends anyone can ask for.

Saturday my best friend in the whole world made the four hour drive to come to visit me. Kryssie and I have been best friends for 17 years, wow... how time has flown.  In 17 years we have shared laughter, anxiety and tears together. We have live almost next door to each other and over 4 hours apart. No matter where we live..we always find time for each other. 
I had the privileged of sharing many milestones with Krys, She dropped me off for my first year at college ( and we cried like babies when we had to say goodbye), she stood as my maid of Honor with me in my wedding, She was the first phone call after I found out I was pregnant and she was one of the first people I told about the birth of Madilyn (and If she had lived closer I am sure she would have been here with me)
I have watched Krys grow into the incredibly strong and caring person she is today. Not many people will fall in love with not only a man but his incredible little girl also.  Kryssie is the best step mother I have ever seen and both Jessie and Shaun are lucky to have her in her life. I could not imagine the past 17 years without her.

I was once told a great quote about friendship and I believe in my heart that this quote is true;

"Friends grow up....But Never Apart"

As I approach my birthday tomorrow and join the "thirties" I can only hope that I will always remember and cherish the past 17 years, laugh at the crazy stories that made us who we are and hope that going forward we share another 17 years and embark on new challenges and make new stories together.

"Cheers to all the good times past, and Cheers to all the good times to come"

I love her like a sister and am lucky to call her my friend.

A Goodnight Kiss

Adam was away this week leaving me and Madilyn to spend the week at home together. For a three month old a lot can happen and change week by week, it makes you not want to leave them at all.  After being away,  Adam came home and it warmed my heart to watch him go into Madilyn's room and hold her hand, rub her head and kiss her goodnight.

I found a good quote online from H Jackson Brown Jr

Always kiss your children goodnight - even if they're already asleep. 

Watching in the monitor and seeing Madilyn smile in her sleep after Adam gave her the goodnight kiss let me know that she new Daddy was home and didn`t forget him while he was gone.

Time Flies When You Are Having Fun

Wow, it is hard to believe that three months have passed since the birth of my baby girl.  Before I had Madilyn I was told countless times to "Enjoy every minute because time files and soon they will be all grown up". Well,They were right!! I now understand that people were telling me this because it is true. I look at my little miss now and she is so different than when she was born both in looks and in personality. 

Take a look at the picture story below of the growth of Miss Madilyn during her first three months. 

Month #1

Month #2

Month #3

I am excited to wonder what the coming months will hold for my baby girl and how she will continue to change and grow. 

Let the story of Miss Madilyn continue.....

When things get tough.....

I found this quote and thought it was fitting for days when you struggle emotionally.



Think of all the other days you have been strong.

Freelance Friday April 20 2012

Each Friday I will take the time to write about something that I have thought of this week.  Entries on Freelance Friday's will vary and touch on many different topics.

On Wednesday morning, Adam and I woke up to the sound of sirens and the sight of smoke out our back windows. A bad car accident had closed the highway behind our house.

Thursday we found out that in that car accident a 22 year old girl was killed. Now, living on a highway we unfortunately hear of many accidents but this one hit me hard. Recently having a daughter and family of my own I could not imagine the pain that this accident has caused, this girl was someones daughter.

I have realized just how short life can be and that we have no control over when we leave this earth.

Everyday I vow to take the time to love and be loved, make memories and try new things.I will tell Madilyn every night that I love her and kiss her goodnight. I encourage everyone to live this way also. I hope that no one I love or care about ever has to go through a tragedy like the family of the 22 year old girl.

What is a name?

Below is a description of the name Madilyn.I can only hope that one day these qualities described below will be found in our Madilyn.

Meaning: beautiful tower

Soul Urge: People with the name Madilyn have a deep inner desire to use their abilities in leadership, and to have personal independence. They would rather focus on large, important issues, and delegate the details.

Expression: People with the name Madilyn value community and balance, and are dependable and considerate. They often tend to gravitate to occupations where they can act as peacemakers or negotiators, or fulfil these roles among their friends and family. They tend to be conventional, responsible, family-oriented, warm and affectionate. They sometimes worry obsessively about those they care for. They work for harmony and balance in their lives, and respond positively to beautiful things.

Good Choice on the name Adam!

A New Challange

Having time on my hands is not something that I have been used to over the years.  Growing up as a competitive figure skater, then working in the media followed by moving to a new city and starting my forever with the love of my life made free time almost non existent. 

Anyone who knows Adam and I knows that we don't do anything unless we do it big. So, last year we decieded once we returned home from our trip to Italy we would start to build our own home. Who would have thought that less than one month into the process we would find out we were pregnant!But again, we welcomed this challange and looked forward to the arrival of our little one.

Now, Fast forward to today- wow how much has changed!


Giving birth to my daughter on January 20th 2012 changed my life from unscheduled and fast paced to whatever pace Madilyn wants and very scheduled. With this being said I would not change my new reality for the world. 

Having all this time on my hands I have had to be creative in my ways to keep myself busy. With no work responsibilities, a babies unpredictability and very little stress, my world has become unpredictable but fun!  I have been lucky to share this time with a great friend who is also on maternity leave, together we have shared ways to keep busy and sane all while watching our little angels nap or play.

Going forward I hope to use my blog as a tool to remember all the things in life I am grateful for, time line Madilyn's accomplishments and firsts within the early years of her life,  and document how my life has changed and will continue to change over the next year. What a better way to look back at the highs and lows of motherhood... I hope you all chose to share this time with "Me, Myself and Madilyn!"

Enjoy