Sunday, April 29, 2007

Bath Time

We were invited over to observe the first bath at home yesterday. It was a
heart breaker for Grandma. Smudge didn't like it AT ALL!
First Bath-1
Here she is in the middle of it

First Bath 2
All over and time to dry off now.

After Bath
Ah, that's better. All clean and comfy now. Time to stretch out in the crib
and look at the window

After Bath 2
Hey mom, is it time for lunch now?

Quilted with Love



I went to the mailbox the other day and found a card there informing me that a parcel was awaiting pick-up at the post office. Email is great, but I do love snail mail and little surprises found there. This one was especially heartwarming I must say.

Tucked inside the brown paper package, tied up with string, I found this beauty wrapped in layers of tissue paper. Yes, my very own Grandma Quilt made for me by a dear friend. It is a quilt for me to keep at my house to wrap wee Smudge in when she comes for a visit.

What you can't see clearly in this picture are the thousands of tiny hand-made stitches around every animal, person,tree, flower, letter,and leaf in this scene. The pattern is just as clear on the back of the quilt outlined in white stitches. Truly a work of art and quilted with love.

Thank you dear friend. I treasure this priceless gift.

Saturday, April 28, 2007

For Bug & Puff



Smudge thought maybe Aunties Bug and Puff would like to see that she is cheering for their team too. She's a cute little cheerleader isn't she?

We all miss you guys and wish you were here. Sending love and hugs across the miles to you. Hope you feel them every day.

Thursday, April 26, 2007

Littlest Hockey Fan

Smudge Day8 or 7 Days Old b

We went over to watch the hockey game with the kids tonight and just had to get an outfit for Smudge to wear for luck. She did her best to cheer her team on to victory, but only managed to keep her eyes open for a couple of minutes and then shuffled off to dreamland. Cute huh? Grandpa will post a great picture of "Little Miss Bright Eyes" on his blog on Friday. Be sure to check it out.

That's it for tonight. I am finally "off my rocker" and am about to shuffle off to dreamland now too. I am one weary Grandma I must say.

Nite-nite!

Smudge in action

This "rockin'" granny is one tired trooper! It is past time for a nap but I wanted to post this first. Enjoy Auntie Bug. Wish you were here.

Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Angel

Smudge Day 6

Good morning Auntie Bug. Don't think Smudge did much of this last night and mom is tired this morning, so I am going over to do some "rocking" duty. Talk to you again later.

Do you hear that?

It is the sound of a great big thank you ringing out across blogdom to you, my dear blogging buddies, for all of your warm wishes and notes of congratulation. They say that "Joy shared is doubled", well mine has been expanded beyond measure by sharing it with all of you and getting so much response.

Each day since the 19th I thought I would find time to visit your blogs and post a comment or two here and there, but days and nights have all run together and drifted into the history books in a bit of a blur. Once pictures were posted for the Aunties I ran out of time and steam to write a blog, read yours or make comments. Sigh! One busy but exciting day has followed the next and I have had to move my feet as fast as I can just to keep up. Total, total, total fun though! Little Smudge is the most amazing baby – really! She is THE BEST! How awesome that such a little bundle can change our whole world and make it tilt on its axis.

I can't even begin to put my thoughts and feelings into words. Birth is such a miracle. An absolute miracle! In the blink of an eye the baby emerges from the birth canal, takes her first breath, and a new life begins. I stand in awe!

Oh goodness, we are just about to head out the door to see the new little family this morning and offer to do some expert rocking while mom and dad get a couple more hours sleep. I am lovin' this!

I will try to post a couple of pictures for you Aunties soon. Stay tuned.

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

Auntie's Visit

I know I said that Butterfly would be posting most of the pictures from now on, but things are kind of upside down at her house for some reason. Don't know why!!!!
So, I thought I would post pictures of Auntie Puff's visit so Auntie Bug out in Vancouver could share in the joy too.


Auntie Puff had a total melt down when she first saw Smudge and we were all shedding tears of joy right along with her.


Smudge slept through all the goings on, but grabbed Auntie's finger and held on tight. She was sending her little hug back to Auntie Bug the best way she knew how.


Auntie cooed and Smudge slept...


Mom and dad joined Auntie for a picture and Smudge slept...


Auntie cooed some more, Smudge continued to sleep


Smudge did open her eyes and have quite a chat with Auntie during her diaper change though. I think she really liked Auntie's pink glasses.

We got Auntie back to her hotel around midnight so she would be there for an early morning business meeting the next day and then fly off to Winnipeg the next evening for another meeting and then home to Vancouver. It was quite a whirlwind visit, but we are so glad we found a window of time to squeeze in a little hug and hello so we could send real hugs back to Vancouver with her for Auntie Bug.

Monday, April 23, 2007

First Night


Oh my, this picture tells the tale of the first night home. I hear it was a bit of a howl. Poor mom and dad are not in the mood to post many pictures today, so I thought I would take pity on the Aunties and post a couple.


When we arrived mid-morning to see how things were going, it was a tad quieter. Mom and baby were enjoying a calm snuggle. Now, that's much better.



Grandmere arrived from Montreal this afternoon and is enjoying some snuggle time with the wee bundle.

Auntie Puff's flight was delayed last night so she didn't get here. We are hoping to connect with her later tonight. Stay tuned all you Aunties. I promise to post more pics of her first hug and snuggle with little Smudge tomorrow.

Sunday, April 22, 2007

Home Sweet Home


Just a note to let you all know that Smudge came home today.


Mom dad and baby arrived safe and sound around 11am and Grandpa and I were there to greet them and take pictures. Didn't get many though.


We stayed around to watch the first diaper change...


...and take a picture of the little beauty while her eyes were still open, and then we left the little family alone to get adjusted to home.

Now that Butterfly and the Baby are home, I will pass the "torch" to her and leave most of the picture taking and blog posting of pictures to her, so be sure to check out her blog for lots of pictures from now on.

We are just about to head out the door to pick up Auntie Puff. She is coming to town on a business trip and we are going to try to get her here for a hug and hello. So, must run now. Talk to you all later.

Saturday Photo Op


When we arrived at the hospital this is what I saw when I peeked around the curtain in Butterfly's room. Mom and baby bonding after lunch.


Smudge looks pretty content after her feed doesn't she?


Soon it was time for Grandma to have a little snuggle, but here we are having a little talk first.


I don't think Smudge was listening.


Next it was Grandpa's turn. Don't think he was having any more luck waking her up than I was.


Just for fun.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Strong Foundation

It is Saturday morning and I finally have a few minutes to catch up on blogs and email. I still haven't had time to read many others, but the comments on our blogs have been heart-warming indeed. Thank you one and all for sharing in this joy with us. I can't put my feelings into words, but I know many of you know exactly how I feel – as if I am walking on air. Totally awesome.

Pictures are worth more than words, hence the picture blogs of the past few days. Smudge is a beauty isn't she?


I know that AC has already posted this picture on his blog, but it really stirs my heart so I want to post it here too. Little Smudge is surrounded with love and what a lucky little girl she is to have these two wonderful men in her life. It is such a strong foundation for her to build her life on.


This picture is another favourite of mine. What a look of love from father to daughter. Beautiful isn't it?

Just shortly after this picture was taken Smudge had a very messy diaper and while The Boy was in the middle of changing it, she threw up all over the place. Poor Dad didn't know which end to wipe first. He kept his cool though and tended to one job and then the other. I handed him diaper wipes, but he did all the work - changed diaper, sleeper, sheets and blanket and then dressed her in a new sleeper, wrapped her all up perfectly in a fresh warm blanket, and tucked her in her little bed. It was beautiful to watch.

Friday, April 20, 2007

Pictures for the Aunties to Ooh and Ahh over


When we went up to the maternity ward today this is the sight that greeted us. Mom was up and about, feeling and looking great and Smudge was letting her hair fly freely in the breeze.


It didn't take me long to get my hands on her to get a closer look at her new Do.


Isn't she cute?


We move her from arm to arm


Pass her from Grandma to Grandpa


And still she sleeps on and on and on. What a cutie!

Hope you enjoyed the pictures you Aunties out in BC, over the sea in Korea and those closer to home in Toronto.

Thursday, April 19, 2007

There are hardly any words...

So let me just share a few priceless pictures with you from today...


Just a few minutes old and doing her best to say hello to Grandpa out in the hall


Time to get weighed. Still don't know how long she is, but she is one Long Tall Sally!


All dressed and ready for hugs


Showing off her new outfit


Wrapped around Grandma's fingers and heart.


Cute, cute, cute, cute, cute!

It's a Girl

smudge1

It's a girl - 8lb 6oz! She has lots of dark curly hair and is a real beauty - has all her fingers and toes and is perfect in every way. Mom, baby and dad are doing fine, but Grandma needs a nap!!!!

Things started to move around four am for Butterfly. The Boy called us at 5:20 and said "You don't have to hurry, but you might want to come to the hospital now." Well, I did hurry and I am glad I did. We got to the hospital around 5:45, the doctor arrived 5 minutes later and didn't even have time to put his shoes on. The baby was born at 6:20 (or thereabouts). Butterfly had maybe three or four major contractions and Smudge popped out smooth as glass. Within seconds the baby had a good healthy cry going, and so did The Boy and I. AC/Grandpa was waiting out in the hall, but he could hear Smudge bellowing away, and was shedding a few tears of his own.

By 8am Butterfly was moved to her room, Smudge was all wrapped up in a tidy blanket and was being passed around for hugs from Grandma, Grandpa and of course Dad!!!!

I really do need a nap now, but will write more later and post lots and lots of pictures.

smudge2

Midnight Wednesday

We just got home from the hospital and I am heading to bed, but I thought I would let you know there is NO NEWS YET!! Sigh! First babies do take their own sweet time don't they? Stronger medication will be used tomorrow morning if things don't perk along tonight.

I'll check in again tomorrow.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Still waiting

Well folks, Smudge could care less about what the moon is doing!!! Sigh. She is quite comfy right where she is thank you very much, and is making no moves towards the entrance of this world at all, so the doctor decided to induce Butterfly this morning.

I will keep you posted.

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Tai Chi and the Power of the Moon

5pm Tuesday and all is still quiet on the Baby Watch for all of you blogging buddies who care.

Another long day is about to toddle off into the history books and it doesn't look like it will be marked as Smudge's birthday. Maybe tomorrow.

I am only doing things with half of my brain these days, but am managing to get through each day with joy. Amazing how that works huh?

I must say that Tai Chi class this morning was wonderful, and just what I needed to sooth my rumpled nerves. I am absolutely loving the calm beauty of this artful form of exercise. I didn't know if I would like not having music to move to, but the peace and quiet of the routine only adds to the beauty of it. We all move as one to an inner music and the silent ballet is so moving. I love it, love it, love it. Today's class was especially calming and soothing. Ahhhhhhh, that's better.

Phone calls and emails have been coming in a lot today wondering how Butterfly is doing. One neighbour said that she was sure the baby would come tonight because it is a full moon and everyone knows that maternity wards are full during a full moon. We shall see. Come on Smudge. Grandma and Grandpa are waiting.

I will keep you posted.

Nothing Yet

Another quiet morning at our house and Butterfly's. Sigh! No snow this morning, but no baby either.

I am just about to head out the door to my Tai Chi class so don't have time to write much, but did want to give you a morning update.

I will check in again later today.

Monday, April 16, 2007

Blizzard but no BABY!

What is with this weather? I woke up and looked out the window this morning and couldn't believe my eyes. Thick heavy snow on everything and still more coming down. Am I in the Twilight Zone? Is this really January, and I just think it is April and the baby is due? Sheesh!

Time is dragging for us, so I can only imagine how long the weekend was for Butterfly and The Boy. I ran away into my book and drank gallons of tea and coffee while I traveled forward and back in time with all the characters there. AC watched lots of hockey playoff games to pass the time away but Butterfly found it hard to settle to do much of anything.

So we continue to wait. I will keep you all posted...stay tuned.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Still No News

Just a quick note to let you know it is Sunday afternoon and all is quiet over here in this little corner of the world. Baby is taking her own sweet time and we are still waiting..

Stay tuned

Saturday, April 14, 2007

No News Yet

For all of you waiting for news about the baby I thought it would be kind to quickly check in and let you know that - nothing is happening as of noon on Saturday. Sigh! At this point, no news is not good news, it is just no news, so I thought I would send you some news, to let you know that there is no news!!!!

Butterfly's due date came and went quietly and almost uneventfully yesterday. See AC's blog for more details about our eventful evening.

In the morning we started the day off right by meeting friends for breakfast at the new Sugar Bush Restaurant we found last month.



At 9AM ten of us gathered for a delicious breakfast of pancakes smothered in fresh maple syrup. Yum! Laughter was in abundance, coffee free flowing and a good time was had by all. In the afternoon we stopped by to visit Butterfly, encourage Smudge to come out and play, and then set off for home to snuggle in for the night, watch a movie and maybe munch some popcorn.

I won't spoil AC's story, but let me just say no popcorn was munched and a relaxing evening was not had by all.

We have nothing else on our calendars for this weekend so we are.... waiting.... anxiously.... excitedly... wonderously!!! It is hard to focus on anything else right now so I am sort of at loose ends today. I have a good book for my book club selection this month, Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides, so maybe while the rain falls and makes it difficult to go out for a walk or ride, and time drags, I will make an extra big pot of tea and run away into a good book for the rest of the day.

I hope you manage to find some sunshine to warm your corner of the world on this cold rainy weekend and our "little sunshine" brings some of her own when she enters ours.

Come on Smudge. Come out and play!!!!

Thursday, April 12, 2007

Manes and Tail Feathers

horses1
Yesterday the skies were sunny, winds calm, temps mild, and baby quiet so we took advantage of the perfect conditions and went for a bike ride. Oh joy! This was only our second ride of the season, but we are getting there. It was grand and glorious indeed to be out on our wheels again exploring the quiet country roads just north of town

horses2
We were merrily pedaling along one such road when we came upon this scene that made us chuckle, so we had to stop and take a picture. At first glance, when we zipped by, it looked like both horses were on their knees, but when we stopped and took another look, we saw that they were standing in this ditch munching away on what precious little grass there was to be had. As soon as they saw us they started to move toward us.

horses3
This one was very brave and came right up to the fence to say hello. I was sorry I didn't have an apple or carrot to offer it.

The lack of colour and dull landscape really stands out in these pictures huh? AC even added some contrast to the original pics too. We NEED some green! Come on spring! Come on!!!!

After our wonderful ride yesterday imagine our surprise when we awoke to thick fresh snow covering everything this morning.
Where Are The Worms?
AC captured this poor Robin, in the tree just outside our bedroom window, doing his best to keep his tail feathers dry and his feet warm during this April snow storm.

Hope you are warm and dry today too, and your tail-feathers are not in a knot over the weather.

Wednesday, April 11, 2007

Note to Heather

I don't have time to write much this morning, but wanted to share this joy with you, so thought I would just post a copy of the email I sent to my sister this morning.

Oh, gotta run, talk to you all later.

Hello Sister Dear
Thanks for the little note and heart hugs. This is a tough countdown for sure. Exciting and nerve-racking describes it perfectly. I am rushing out the door to get my hair cut this morning, but my cell phone is on all the time now when I go out and I see Butterfly almost every day. She is looking good, but feeling a bit weary at this point. We are all more than ready to greet little Smudge into this world.

Butterfly stopped by after her doctor's appointment yesterday and invited me along for her ultrasound, so I spent a joyous hour watching little Smudge grab her toes, kick her feet, and wave her hand. I saw her little heart pumping, and other things moving but had no idea what they were. Measurements were taken of her leg bones, amniotic fluid, and head size but the best moment of all was when the technician found a full view of her little face, and printed it out for us. Oh, she is the CUTEST baby! AC has posted the ultrasound picture on his blog and Butterfly has posted one on hers too if you haven't been over there already today.

Well sister dear I must run now. Will talk to you again soon.
Love and hugs

Wednesday, April 04, 2007

First Bike Ride


Pouring rain today, but delightful memories of our first ride of the season last week brighten the morning and fill me with the hope of more sunny days to come.


We stopped in to see Butterfly on the way home from our ride and were greeted with this sight for sore eyes in her side yard.

Ice is still on the lake, but crocuses are popping up in the garden and the bikes have been taken out for a spin. Sweet!