Tricks

The other day Adara asked me to call "Yiam" which is what she calls her cousin Liam. So, I went and got the phone, put it on speaker and started dialing. As I dialed I heard the upstairs extension ringing. I figured that I must have miss pressed something and ran upstairs to see what had happened and turn it off. Then, ran back down, turned the phone that I was using on and off, back on speaker phone and started dialing. Immediately, the upstairs phone started ringing again. Thinking "man I'm dumb,how did I do that twice" I ran back up. The upstairs phone stopped ringing, I came back down and started the dialing sequence again. The third time that this happened I came running back downstairs to see Adara, standing at the base of the phone, pushing the page other phone button and smiling like an angel.
Devil Child.

I love my Doctor

I really do,he's an awesome man,and his staff rock too. We went out yesterday and got Adara's H1N1 shot. It was one hour, in and out, no problems, no long waits. But more importantly, in the midst of all of this chaos of fear mongering and worry over H1N1 they were cheerful, joking and human. In discussing last week at Adara's checkup if I should get her the shot, my Doctor started the conversation with "Look, I'm suspicious of "the man" too, but I think that we gotta stop being paranoid and just do it this time". I love that summing up of all of my fears.
I think that we all spend a lot of time putting down our healthcare system and bitching about the people who work in it. I just wanted to give a quick shout out to some truly fantastic people in the lives of my family.

Halloween- First trick or Treat

For Adara's first time trick or treating we were joined by Griffin (in the cowboy Woody outfit) and Diego who was a bumblebee. It was a wild afternoon in our house of babies and families (6 adults, 3 babies, one more on the way) and eating and drinking and food making. But, miraculously we all sat down to dinner at one table at 5:30pm,had a somewhat calm dinner and made it out trick or treating for 6:30pm. Adara loved trotting right up to neighbours houses and saying hello. However, as always, she refused to eat chocolate, so she had three suckers from her candy,and that was about it.

A week of opposites

Good 1) I got to negotiate a contract with a major producer here in Toronto that I've always wanted to work with, and I did a good job
Bad : I wasn't very excited by it and didn't have the energy, time or babysitter to celebrate

Good 2) We're getting to know our neighbours finally after five years here. They speak to us on the street, people are friendly and kind and I'm looking forward to Halloween
Bad: I got pushed down three stairs by an angry woman on the subway who was determined to reach her train. Stupid Toronto, stupidity.

Good 3) Adara is full of out of nowhere statements that "she loves us"

Bad: This morning she walked towards me with her hand raised and said "I'm going to hit you" and then did. And then over the course of the next twenty minutes of being kept in time out in her room, did it four more times. Just because she can.

What a strange week of ups and downs.

The Box Series

I think that every kid has one of these, a favourite box that gets used in a variety of ways. Adara's best loved box activity is to sit in it naked except for her new pink/camoflauge winter boots.

Hello my gorgeous, smart, funny two year old. Happy birthday.
Two years ago today Len and I were in hospital, half asleep watching you sleeping in the isolette beside us. You fit in your fathers hand.
In the past year, the big milestones have all been language. You've gone from "ma ma" to " I kiss the boys and then I chase them". Quite a leap! You are also full of love lately telling me "I love you mamma" but also "go way mama, I do self (myself)". You are sweet and kind and genuine, and occasionally a bit of a monster!
Lately you talk a lot about how you need a "pak pak to go to school" This kind of breaks my heart, because suddenly I can see the day coming when it will be true; and then, I find that I can see all of your days ahead. I want to hold you forever in my arms and sing you "rock a bye, baby" like you ask for all of the time now. Those moments are so precioius as I'm starting to realize just how fleeting they are.
I love you baby and I'm so proud of who you've become this year; gentle and loving, pushy and demanding, you are MY daughter to the core!
Happy Birthday!

My Baby

Is awesome right now. Fun and silly, full of imaginative games. The latest thing is the addition of an imaginary friend Gabrielle. (the name of one of our friends 10 month old baby). Gabrielle is often hungry or wants a "ba-ba" (bottle) or a cuddle. Because he is a baby, we must concede to these requests, and Adara is happy to be the recipient of the things that Gabrielle would like.
There's also been lots of discussion of going to school lately and the need for a "pak-pak" (backpack). She's in such a hurry to be a big girl now, I wish I could reverse time.
Two years old next week...

Swimming, Swimming in my swimming pool...

This is Adara's new "swimming Pool". She pulls the cushion off the chaise, then lays on it on her belly and pretends to swim. Or sometimes just hangs out in her little fort with a pile of books and a nice soft cushion (supplied by dada) behind her back. Ah, the sweet life of a toddler!

Cute things Adara says

Adara's newest thing is calling me by my name. At the park the other day she informed someone as she pointed at me "That my mamma, her name Kwendwa". I asked her what daddy's name was, and she responded "Da-Da". Of course.

Adara's really very early 2nd birthday party

We celebrated Adara's birthday this past weekend as it was the only weekend day that we all had together until mid November. We had some friends over with their kids and just hung out in the backyard and house, had some food, adults drank some beer, kids played with playdough. All in all, very low tech and easy.
The highlight of the event was definitely this cake...
When I asked a week or so a go if she wanted a cake for her birthday she said yes and promptly went and got a magazine that we had been looking at earlier that week and pointed out this aquarium cake that she wanted. Fortunately, it was super easy and Adara loved helping me mix the batter and put on the little fish.
When I lit the candles and everyone started singing happy birthday to her, it was like it was the best moment of her life. She was in complete awe of the fact that she was the centre of attention and this was her moment. I, of course, missed videoing it, because I was busy holding the cake and such.

So, we're going to do the whole cake and candles thing again when my parents come for thanksgiving, only with pie ('cause none of us like cake, except for Adara) and this time with a video camera ready and running. I can't wait to catch some of that two year old pure joy!