More II

"Two year" pictures of Sierra in her birthday dress in my parents back yard.

II

My darling girl is officially two years old. While I was pregnant with Sierra, everyone, and I mean everyone with kids, warned me that time progressed at warp speed as soon as you become a parent. I scoffed those people.

Not anymore.
There's something about watching how much they change from a helpless newborn, to a cuddly baby, to an independent toddler in such s short span that sets time on 'fast' mode.
Two years ago, after 64 hours of labour, Sierra Mary was born at 7 pounds, 6 ounces, and 21 inches long. She was perfect and healthy. We named her Sierra simply because we loved the name, the name Mary came from my maternal grandmother, Trevor's maternal grandmother, and my mother's middle name. I remember marvelling at this tiny creature and seeing immediately how she was so much her own person even though she was also a part of Trevor and me.

3 days old

Sierra has never ceased to display her unique personality; she is very definitive about her likes and dislikes. We didn't start calling her "The Small Boss" for nothing!That assertion is manifesting itself more and more each day, especially now as she has hit the dreaded "two". She frustrates me to no end at times and has even reduced me to tears but I wouldn't wish her any other way. I pray that her strength and gumption carry her through her entire life and are beneficial to her. No one will take advantage of my girl!

3 months old

Sierra is incredibly happy and gleeful. I've said this before, and I'll say it again, she is such a joy to be around. Her enthusiasm for everything is heartwarming. There truly is nothing like seeing things through the eyes of a child.
Around 9 months old

She also oozes sweetness. I want that sweetness and innocence to stay with her forever. Unfortunately I know that life and experience will have to challenge that. I pray that the joy of Jesus takes over her heart and that she draws on Him for everything.

One year old.

I never in a million years thought I would so completely enjoy being a parent.
I never in a million years thought that a child could enlighten me so much.
I never in a million years thought I could love a child as much as I love Sierra.

Nearly two.

We had a birthday party for her last Saturday. My parents, Oma, and some close friends came for pizza, Shrek cake (Sierra's most recent obsession on TV, I was so sick of Big Comfy Couch one day I popped the Shrek DVD in and it was an instant hit) and good times!

No I did not make this, I wish! A local bakery that specializes in cakes came up with this lovely creation.

Blowing out her candles was too much to ask so I had to do it!

Opening presents though...she was right into it!

I love you Sierra!

Sierra--ese

I'm subjecting you to the language of Sierra because I'm her mom and I think it's so darn cute and I feel the need to share!
Burp: belt
Burbur: bellybutton
Moush: mouth
Wee: slide
Jumjum - said with a soft "J" like in Angelina Jolie: swing (not sure why)
Byby: blanket
Soo: soother, although soo-er is starting to emerge.
Chacha: chocolate
'No (besides the obvious meaning which she knows all to well): snow
Hophop: walk, although she's going with wha more and more.
Key: kitty
Tee: t.v.
Schraa: Shrek
Dat: Dad
Hone: home

Sierra melted my heart on Sunday when out of nowhere she started calling me Mom-mee. Now she walks around saying it constantly and it almost drives me crazy but it's way sweeter to hear that than the drawling "Maawm" I got util now.

Because She Can

Sierra has laid claim to a large stuffed bear that used to be mind. This particular bear came outfitted in a sweater, toque, and scarf. Many mornings when I go to get her Sierra is wearing the toque and scarf.

"Weeee!"

Sierra has discovered slides this spring. It began with a little one that was given to us. Then her Granny and Papa introduced her to the ones at the park one evening and opened up a whole new world to her.
Since our weather has finally gotten warm Trevor and I took her to the park yesterday to experience the joy of "wees", as Sierra calls them, ourselves. It was so much fun to watch her. Playgrounds to two-year-olds are like amusement parks to adults!

We started small with the yellow one in the background and worked our way up.
I'm impressed my butt fit on the blue one!

The spiral slide was actually rather slow and it's allure didn't last long.

The tunnel slide was by far the favourite!

Filling Big Shoes

Sierra's discovered my shoes (her Dad's are simply too big) and enjoys trying to walk around in them!

Head Shots

Big Comfy Couch

As you can see, both Sierra and her daddy are equally entranced but the highly stimulating T.V. show
"Big Comfy Couch." It's Sierra absolutely favouritist show. She yells "no!", at the T.V. if anything else is on. I even record "Big Comfy Couch" on our Satalite PVR so we have it for down times. I'm pretty sure Sierra would watch it all day if I let her. Tempting as that is some days...

Want me to sing the theme song for you? I can you know. In fact, I often find myself humming it at work, buying groceries, in church, and every other place I am.
Is this sad?
No, I don't think so. It's called being the parent of a toddler.

Can I hang on to this enthusiam for the next 18 years?

We can barely run water in the sink anymore and Sierra's got a stool pushed over and her sleeves up and she's ready to wash dishes. She's so enthusiastic with her washing that we've taken to removing her clothes for the activity. It's a bit awkward to get the dishes clean but Sierra has so much fun we always give in.

Do(ug)h!

Being a curious and ever learning toddler, Sierra insists on "howping" with everything we do now. Today it was with baking cookies. It is very difficult to hold a 22lb child and attempt to put cookie dough on a pan. (Sierra won't sit on the counter - she stands up which makes me nervous and therefore I don't allow it anymore) So I had the bright idea to take things to her level, the floor. It was during this time that she first experienced the decadence of cookie dough.

Stirring like mommy.

Tentatively tasting.

Enthusiastically eating!

Relaxing and enjoying the end procduct!

Canadian Baby

As I mentioned the other day, frigid, bone chilling, curse inducing temperature highs of -25 have been inflicted upon us.
Trevor asks daily why we live here, which is followed by a
"We're moving to Phoenix!"
or
"I'm pretty sure God is on vacation!"
Anyway, due to blowing snow and ice the roads are practically undrivable with anything but a snowplow or Hummer, niether of which we have. Now our SUV did manage to bring Trevor to work this morning (unlike two semis and four cars that ended up in the ditches on an 11km stretch, comforting) but only because of some old lady , snail driving. I was left with a sports car that has bald tires.
Bald tires + ice = I don't think so.
Translation of the situation: Sierra and I are housebound.
This weather completely took care of my plans for finishing my last hour of Christmas shopping and getting a hair cut, couple those necessary tasks with frantically trying to paint a house - heck start painting a house - and only 7 days left until Christmas...
I am seriously running out of time!
Aaack!!!

(Panic attack ensues)
1 minute passes.
I'm okay now.

It's been cold for almost a week so we're experiencing a bit of cabin fever and the caged-animal pacing is beginning. Since it is not quite as skin biting today, (a balmy -10 which is promised to be short-lived) I had the bright idea to subject Sierra to her first, and assuredly not last, experience of a snowsuit and snow. We needed something to do and I often had fun playing in the snow as a kid myself and thought she might too. We dressed up in eskimo clothes and tramped out into the drifts. At first I took Sierra to the back yard and plopped her in a waist high drift.
Dumb idea.
There was much objection.
Then I had her make a snow angel.
Worse idea.
More objection.
We moved to the front yard because the drifts aren't as bad there. Sierra thought this was okay and ran around tolerantly, although she did ask to go in every few minutes. I decided to shovel half the driveway while we were out in order to feel somewhat productive.
It was rather disheartening to see that by the time I was done the wind had already deposited a thin layer back onto the driveway. Not that productive after all.
I told God I didn't like his sense of humour.

The too big snow suit (her hands aren't even in the mitts).

A picture of:
snot running profusely, eyes tearing, a face assaulted by cold wind and snow, while being encased in a puffy, movement restricting suit
- sounds fun eh?

Making Up

Sierra has this incessant need to be everywhere I am at all times, and I mean everywhere. There's no privacy with her let me tell you! Her being always underfoot and hanging on to my pants makes certain activities rather challenging. Cooking, cleaning, doing my hair and putting on make up etc. all require new skills and innovative methods of appeasing Sierra while I attempt to accomplish such tasks. Simply playing with my makeup brushes and emptying the tampon drawer quickly got boring for Sierra so I came up with the idea of having her sit on the counter while I put on my make up. At first watching was sufficient but being the girl and ape that she is that didn't last long. She wanted to put on make up too. I gave her an old brush and let her at my old makeup and she had a ball!

Apparently her mouth is where makeup belongs! Her makeup looks more like a post-chocolate- ice-cream-face. You may notice that she has a lipstick tube in her hand. She loves to take the lid on and off but has yet to figure out how to turn the lipstick tube which makes it a harmless toy so far. I know I'll have to be careful because lipstick messes are nasty!

This is her face when I tell her to smile for the camera.

Superstore Saga

This morning as Sierra was running around Superstore gleefully pulling items off of their racks and I was attempting to shop I had to take a deep breath and thank God for my healthy, energetic, strong-willed daughter.
All I wanted was fifteen, maybe twenty minutes to look for shoes for her and maybe a bargain outfit.
"Now why would that happen?" I ask myself.
Then again, "Why shouldn't that happen?"
Just because most of my shopping attempts lately that are with Sierra and not grocery related end up being futile why would this one?
Today was the day she decided to figure out she could slide down out of her stroller (no, I didn't strap her in because it was never a problem) and once she's out it's impossible to put her back in without scream-fest occurring. Yeah, like that's a pleasant option in the middle of a store. There I am chasing a giggling one year old in between quickly browsing through racks of clothes. Not fun. It is especially aggravating when it seems like every other mom's kids are sitting calmly in their strollers or shopping carts or standing by them.

Honestly, I felt a bit inadequate as a mother. I felt like one of those mom's that I used to scowl at disdainfully (yes, I shamefully admit I did this in my naivety of a non-mother) who's kids were banshees terrorizing a public place. I felt like everyone was giving me a " look". Serves me right for ever scowling now doesn't it? At least I didn't ignore Sierra and leave the childrens' area looking like a tornado had blown through; I picked everything up. I also managed, somehow to my utter amazement, to find Sierra a pair of $2 mittens, an $8 shirt, and myself a pair of much needed PJ's no (see below, I'm actually wearing them right now - it was only to see if they fit and they are com-fy! I might leave them on.) on sale but it's Superstore so not near expensive either.

I am very grateful for the child I have and wouldn't trade her personality or gumption for life for anything but some days a teeny, tiny, bit of mellow would be welcome.

A Little of This...

Enjoying our unusually gorgeous fall weather last week.

Halloween. Isn't this a wonderful make-do-with-what-I-have costume? (please read that last comment with sarcasm) I wasn't going to spend money on something she really has no clue about so that is why the "elaborate" outfit.
Sierra enjoyed handing candy out and eating Smarties for the first time.

Posing for the camera; man my kid has like a hundred teeth!

Her Vancouver Canucks' hockey mittens - I thought she would pull them right off but instead wore them around the house thinking they were quite neat.

I've had an excellent but busy Monday and this is all I have time for. Have a good week!

Me and My Girl!

We had a miserable few days recently complete with a lot of rain and cold temperatures. It had me dreading the inevitable arrival of winter even more. Then today things improved and I'm enjoying the lovely colours of autumn and the warm air.
Sierra and I went for a nice walk along tree-lined streets this morning. We listened to the crunch of dry leaves beneath the stroller wheels and every time the breeze picked up were showered softly with more as they fell. It was really beautiful.
Upon returning home Sierra played in her sandbox with glee. Sand was thrown everywhere - of course!

Me and my girl on a fall day!

Today happens to be my 31 birthday and last night I was actually apprehensive as to how I would feel. I really hadn't thought about my birthday at all until yesterday. How times have changed from being a kid! I remember intense excitement in the weeks leading up to my birthday. My family always made a big deal of celebrating special events with birthdays being no exception. It was always a special day.
Now that I'm older and married to a man who's family didn't make birthdays as big a deal things have changed. Not that they are any less special - just different.
Today I feel happy and content and loved. I fell asleep last night planning to make the most of every moment today and enjoy them, so far I am succeeding.
I still get a party- of course! - with my family. It's on Saturday evening when no ones' working or anything silly like that!