Belly Rubs

One morning, Tavish came into our room and noticed a container of Shea Butter cream on the bedside table. "What's that?", he asked. "It's cream for Mommy's belly", Daddy told him. (pause) "Mommy, would you like me to put cream on your belly?" Thus began a most-morning routine of Tavish rubbing cream "on the baby" with the help of Daddy ...

MOMENT: Baby-Belly and Brother Bonding

During my pregnancy with Tavish, Tom and I were very diligent about putting cream on my belly. The second pregnancy, it was often put lower on the priority ... until Tavish learned about it and eagerly participated. It brought a whole new excitement for connecting with the baby and I just love that the second video was taken just days before the baby arrived!

Mother's Day

My last Mother's Day as a mother of one and what a day it was! It started sweetly and excitedly with a special delivery in bed, led to a picnic lunch together and later a lovely meal on our deck made by Daddy. I'm blessed to be a mother of such a wonderful son.

MOMENT: Good morning, Sunshine!

Tavish has been eagerly waiting to show me his presents. I knew what they were and where they were being stored (turns out, 3 year olds aren't great at keeping secrets), but managed to convince him to show them to me the morning of Mother's Day. The wait was worth it - the delivery brightened my day!



MOMENT: The Picnic Adventure

We decided to go on a short 3km+ local adventure to continue the Mother's Day celebration accompanied by Tavish's bike, a soccer ball, and a great spread for lunch. No, seriously, our 3 year old biked and/or kicked a soccer ball that entire way and we all managed to come home feeling positive and excited. Turns out, Tavish's positive energy is contagious!



FLASHBACK: My First Mother's Day, 2009

We were still living in Toronto and we had a lovely day out in the city. Here are two photos taken on our deck that day. My how our baby has grown up - this time next year, I'll have TWO 'babies' to celebrate with! Such a lucky Mommy.

Cultivating the Garden Within

The weekend weather was wonderful and our deck was plant-less. So, the family embarked on a plant purchasing mission to the Market to rectify that, but needed to make a few stops along the way. Fortunately, we had access to Grandpa Mike's little red wagon and a little helper eager to get our garden growing.

MOMENT: Wagoner and Waterer

"Gardening requires lots of water - most of it in the form of perspiration."
- Lou Erickson

This quote is very true - our little gardener was eager to do physical work for our garden and make use of the watering cans. He wanted no assistance in pulling the wagon the entire way to the Market (with a few added detours), for filling it up, nor for pulling the plant-filled wagon home. Indeed, he worked hard for this garden to happen. He also assisted with the planting of our garden, which involved a great deal of watering and some seed planting. We now have many healthy, albeit very wet plants, to show for it! We figure that Ralph Waldo Emerson had it right when he said "the Earth laughs in flowers" because we did have a great time together building our garden.

Bedroom Shuffle

Enjoy yet another move in bedroom furniture. This time, Tavish's big bed gets an upgrade to a bigger room and different furniture, and his old 'baby' room is recreated for his little sister - crib and all.

MOMENT: Big Brother, Big Helper

Tavish used his handy-boy skills to help assemble the crib, move his bed into the former 'office', and ensure the crib meets his comfort standards for his little sister. Please pardon any signs of 'plumber' that Tavish may show you - he was too focused and working too hard to be concerned about a little crack show!

Belly Bliss

Being pregnant is just a twice-in-a-lifetime experience for this Mother. I felt compelled to capture its beauty in photography and wanted to share some highlights of the photos we've taken of Baby Girl Bedford before her debut.

Golfer-in-Utero?
May 19 (37 weeks)

Born Ready to Paddle?
May 20 (37 weeks)

 

MOMENT: A Belly of Beauty

The three of us had a great time playing around and capturing some great moments together on May 6th when I was 35 weeks pregnant. The dandelions were out, the sun was shining and there was a soccer ball, sticks, rocks and chasing games to keep us entertained while the camera shutter captured a precious moment in time. The whole family was celebrating the anticipation of the girl who will join our family.

My belly admirer 

Me and my boy

My boy and my baby-in-belly.

"Weeds are flowers no one wants"
Loving the dandelions...

Such a great kid

The Mom-to-be (again)

Checking out the growing belly

Our family

Always time for some play ...
even if it involves Mommy running!

Gotcha!

Ottawa River Family Photo Op

Me and my belly

Our Expanding Family

Where it all began.
I love this man.

Belly hugs ...

... Belly loves ...

... and Belly touches.

I am so excited to meet you, Baby Girl!

FLASHBACK: Watch Tavish Grow in Utero

When I was pregnant with Tavish, Tom took a photo of me almost weekly in the same location and same outfit, to chronicle the growth of Baby Boy Bedford. We put all of the photos together into a video so we could 'watch' Mommy and Tavish 'grow' together. Enjoy this look back at our boy-in-the-belly!

Malapropism

Tavish has a great vocabulary and clarity of speech for his age. So, when there are the odd words that are misplaced or poorly pronounced, we remember that these things tend to correct themselves quickly and choose to enjoy them rather than addressing them. These moments create sweet internal joy for his parents, so who are were to interfere with these little reminders that he's a toddler learning and making sense of the world around him?

MOMENT: Anyfing, Anybody

You know that eerie moment when you realize that your toddler is out of your sight and that it's been too quiet for too long? Yeah, those moments offer an excellent example of Tavish's malapropism (the use of a word sounding somewhat like the one intended by wrong in the context) that goes something like this:

Us: "Tavish, what are you doing?"

Tavish: "Anyfing" 

This is not a comforting answer, by the way - it's usually untrue that he is doing 'nothing'! It's also entertaining when you inquire about something he did with other people. It usually goes something like this:

Us: "Who did you have your nap beside today?"

Tavish: "Anybody"

One last word development that we have enjoyed but has already corrected itself is "computer". It used to be that we would help him through it by syllable. Tavish would start repeating clearly but provide an entertaining finale:

Us: "com", "com-pu", "com-pu-ter"

Tavish: "com", "com-pu", "com-pu-ter"

Us: "computer"

Tavish: "computeter"

Lately "com-pu-te-ter" has been replaced with "pa-new-ter": "Mommy, let's talk on the pa-new-ter when you're in Toronto." Love it. 

But, alas - all these endearing vocabulary foibles eventually pass. He said to me the other night: "Mommy, I like talking with you on the computer when you're in Toronto." Sigh. The sentiment of the sentence is still sweet, but the word clarity serves as a reminder that everything is a phase that inevitably passes. 

One thing is for sure though, there is "anyfing" (nothing) and "anybody" (nobody) who can say that moments like these aren't worth preserving on the "panewter"! 

The Easter Bunny

The Easter Bunny came to our house this year and left a few treats and a game for Tavish!

MOMENT: Rhyming Riddles

Tavish was a pro at figuring out the Easter Bunny's clues, eating his treats and baking his present. We like it when the Easter Bunny visits ...