ruby

i realized that i haven't posted pictures of ruby since she was born. how terrible!

autumn

the season has definitely changed here. our mums are in full bloom and i was able to take a picture of the roses last week before our first frost (which was last night!). we turned on the furnace yesterday just to take the chill out of the air. it was a cool 63 in our house. i pulled out the box of mittens, gloves, hats and scarves this morning before we went for our walk. this change of the season is so welcomed here, at least for me. i love putting on a turtleneck and my fingerless mittens and going for a walk.

welcome fall.

happy 2nd birthday olena

i always have such a difficult time with birthdays. i experience such a range of emotions as i remember my babies birth days and remember the year that has passed. olena's birthday this year is no different.

i remember being pregnant with her in the final days and being so miserable thinking that she was never going to be ready to come in to this world. she was worth the wait.

dear olena

sweet little olena how i love you so. the way you hold my face in your hands makes my heart sing. your independence scares me so but it is also a breath of fresh air.

i'm a little sad that you've fallen in the shadow's of johnathon for most of your life and haven't really been able to be you or perhaps i just haven't noticed the real you. the past week while johnathon has been at school has been such a wonderful thing for both of us. i see you becoming your own little lady and i'm really looking forward to see you in full bloom.

i love you my baby girl.

don't cry over spilled milk

literally.

i went to the washroom and when i got back to the kitchen olena had poured almost an entire bag of milk in her 'bowl'. what a mess. the pictures are terrible because i had to take them quickly and wasn't able to adjust the settings.

my first instinct was to freak out but then i grabbed the camera. while i was taking the pictures i noticed how proud she was that she got her cereal all by herself! i kindly asked her to wait for mama next time and cleaned up the mess.

summer

the leaves are starting to fall and we had to break out our sweaters for our walk yesterday. autumn is definately around the corner. here are a few pictures from our summer.

first day of school

today was johns first day of school. it's still very hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that john is old enough to go to school.

we have been talking to him a lot about going to school. he even went on the school bus for a 'first ride' a couple of weeks ago. he has been very excited about meeting new friends and doing new activities.

he did however experience some big time emotions once the school bus arrived at our stop. he did not want to leave us. he cried. i cried. olena cried. it was hard for all of us to see our boy get on that bus and drive away.

when he came home he had a lot of stories to share. he was happy to be home and i was happy to have him home. the first day of school seems so final in respect to him growing up but it's also a journey he is going to enjoy and so will i.

four!

today is johnathon's 4th birthday! four! i remember his birth day clear as day, it's hard for me to believe that it happened four years ago.

this year has brought us many challenges, laughs, tears, hugs and kisses. i have learned so much about myself thru him -- patience, love and strength are just a few things that come to mind. he has made me grow as a person and most importantly as a mom. he is helping shape me in to the mother that i want to be and the mother that i should be. we are teaching each other many things.

i love my little man. happy birthday johnathon!