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Proudest Auntie. Introducing Westley Wade. Born a little early at 28 weeks to proud parents Shannon and Ryan.
June 15 2013 was the day Westley made the world a more magical place. {everyone is doing amazing, and they are in great hands} This moment will forever be one of my favourites ever. Where the teenie treasure reached up for his daddys hand.
Life, my friends... is magnificent. Love, is the most beautiful gift of all. Magic, is everywhere. ox more to come xo
Mike Tyson said, "Everyone has a plan 'till they get punched in the mouth."
I can't tell you how much I love that quote! Isn't it true!!! The plan with a newborn baby is to gently help that little baby get more sleep at night and in turn you will get more sleep and everyone who lives in your housewill be much, MUCH happier. I wrote on sleepless nights here when Maisie was a newborn, and the first few months with Elliot at home I read it quite a few times in the middle of the night to remind myself that this too shall pass. I snuggled more, I was less frantic than I was with Maisie. I had some moments of being really hard on myself and then eventually we found a rhythm and routine that worked for us. (Those who know me well are smiling as they know that I am a white noise junkie... like seriously you walk past Elliots room and you wonder how a 3 month old can actually be vacuuming. He sleeps in a swing, often. We just do our own thing. He's been doing really well, even occasionally giving me very good nights {and still a few not so good ones} however, it is manageable and life goes on.
Last night Elliot slept from 7pm until 5:30 am. (with a daddy dream feed at 10) A victory... or... until our girl Maisie was up literally ALL NIGHT with bad dreams about bugs and spiders. This is the second night in a row with the bugs and spider web hysteria. Being tired does something unkind to us all. I was so irritated that she was up, disturbing the whole house, I tried everything from 2am-5am... "bug spray", different night lights, turning lights on showing her no bugs, I let our dog Frank come in bed and guard her from the bugs, a new doll was brought to bed, each time I would calm her down only to have her come unglued again a few minutes later. Finally, I caved and crawled into bed with her... every time she had a bug freak out... I was right there to gently let her know there were no bugs, and everyone was safe and sound. At 2am I was so mad. Irritated. Wanted to loose my marbles. {Don't tell me as a parent you don't know what I'm talking about} Then... I started to think about life... and how being present and enjoying moments in life isn't actually just about the well rested awake moments during the day. She is my little girl. She is driving me wild with the bug talk but... everyone is ok. We are ok. It's just nightmares and if those are our biggest problems right now... then we are blessed. So, I rolled with it and called on the strength of a million tired mommas everywhere. I snuggled that little sweetie and guided her to a sleep full of strawberries, and sunshine and rainbows and happy safe thoughts. I woke up seriously tired from my one hour of sleep at 5:30 to get Elliot back to sleep... but I felt good about my night. Even though it was rough. I felt like I had caught myself in a lesson. Life was giving me a little punch in the face, messing with my plan. But, I made a choice at 2am, to be a better mom. The freedom to choose our actions is probably the most beautiful gift we have. On suggestion of a pal this morning... we may end up 'exterminating' her imaginary bugs today... in hopes of a more peaceful night. It may get worse, it may get better but these are the moments in our lives. There is no finish line. If every single thing that happens in every moment is there to teach us something... to show us something... I just hope I can be as open and receptive as possible to 'get' the lessons as they come. The plan was to get the newborn to sleep... I had no idea that when that happened, the 3 year old would be not sleeping. Right hook. Got it. I wish you peaceful nights without bugs or spider webs. We are all, a work in progress. No one is exempt.
Our son is here.Elliot Patrick arrived safely February 15th 2013 at 9:16am. He weighed 10 pounds 8 ounces and measured 23 inches long.
Today he is 11 days new.
So loved. So precious.
I've heard a lot about "isn't the second one so much easier". To be honest... not really. I don't find it easy. I find it sweet. I find it challenging, just like the first time (in different ways). I feel just as raw, exposed and vulnerable. I feel like it may not be so much "unknown" as with Maisie... but I'm miles from SuperMom. I was so grateful to have Bryce home for the first week, and now with him back at work, we're working at settling into our own rhythms as a family and getting to know how it all works as a family of four.
Here are a few images of our newly complete family of 4 (well Frank is 5, but my anxiety levels weren't ready for him in the photo shoot too). However, don't let the following images deceive you..... I actually still look 3-5 months pregnant (well hidden here). Feeling fragile, feeling like my body has just been through a battle. Feeling a little on the tender side (emotionally and physically). I cry at any and everything. Seriously. Tears galore. Of course, throughout it all... I am still, always, incredibly grateful. Just felt the need to add a disclaimer to all. The photos reflect the deep satisfaction and love I feel... even when we all don't look like this all the time.
Beyond words, beyond expectations, just really feeling the deepest sense of gratitude for my little precious beings.
Thank you all for the kind words and support and love.
Some times... even in the middle of the night, while smelling my sweet baby boys little head of blonde hair... I just can't believe how beautiful life is.
As always, thank you so much to Shannon, for helping us capture these fleeting moments in time, in our life. A part of our story. Seriously grateful. oxxo I am your photo slave for life. oxxo
Just because something this sweet, should be shared. xo
Holy. Wow. It's been a packed few weeks.
I'm literally all over the island. Shooting my heart out.
I'll share more when I can....
but for now... here is a re-cap of a few beautiful moments I've been a part of in the past 4 weeks.
Crazy. Awesome.
And a few amazing weddings.....
Sarah and Blake at Crown Isle in Courtenay...
and Shannon and Ryan in Nootka Sound....
