Happy Canada Day!

One!

My little miss Stella turned one yesterday! At this moment, she loves putting on shoes, being outdoors, baby dolls, and hugs and kisses. She is such a little girl.

It's amazing to sit and think about this last year and all of the challenges we faced. There were little rocky times when I questioned my ability to be a good mother and there were moments of guilt when I realized that Jeremy and I can't do this all on our own. And there were tears. Oh my, lots and lots of tears. But, the year was also filled with moments of pure love and joy and little pockets of time that I would've loved to lock away and replay again and again, whenever I wanted. There were moments when I wished the girls would just stop growing and stay little forever, and moments of absolute happiness and even a few moments of calm. Watching them laugh and grow together just makes all those challenges so worth it. I can't even begin to tell you how proud I am, how happy and how in love I am with these girls. If you are a parent - you get it.

We celebrated Stella's day with a picnic at the spray park. It was hard to get a picture of Odessa standing still. I think she was running the entire time.

Stella is getting quite brave now. Before she would just sit by my side and be content watching things happening around her. Now that she is walking, she wants to be right in there.

Jeremy and I, along with the help of family and friends, purchased this beautiful, wooden kitchen for Stella's first birthday. It was important to me to have something made of wood, as opposed to plastic, and something that would spark a lot of imaginative play. Of course, it is for both of them to use, and, so far, it has been a huge hit.

I made them each their own matching apron and oven mitt to go along with it.

Happy Birthday my little one!

{THIS MOMENT}

Posting a special moment along with soulemama :

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

{this moment}

Posting a special moment along with soulemama :

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Lake

Nice weather means lots and lots of day trips to the lake. Seriously, one of my all time favourite things to do. That, and camping....do we dare?

Crossroads

Where have I been these past two (!) months? Watching these little girls grow, and grow, and grow some more. There has been a lot of knitting/quilting/crocheting as well. Time is flying and I am trying to enjoy every minute.

I have also been at a crossroads lately. My maternity leave was up last month and I had been dreading it since January. Just because I had no idea what I wanted to do. Part of me wanted to stay home with the girls. However, amongst the dreams of being a homemaker, there is still a dream of going back to school and obtaining a career. So back and forth and back and forth I would go with my decision. Anyways, it's back to school I go and I am starting to feel really good about it. I am so grateful to live in a time and place where I am able to make this choice. Both girls love their dayhome (which happens to be Grandma's house) and I really think it is the best decision for our family. Seriously, what would we do without Grandmas?

Until school starts up in September, I am going to be busy:

planning and growing our vegetable garden

exploring

trying to enjoy spring snowfalls

picnicking

making our daily smoothies

and watching this little baby

become a little girl

Recent Vintage Finds

Gosh, have I been lucky when it comes to thrifting lately! We make our way to thrift stores whenever we are in need of new clothes, furniture, and kitchen items. Jeremy and I have always felt it is important to reuse old items instead of immediately purchasing new ones. What better way to recycle!

Odessa recently moved into a twin bed. I found the headboard at Value Village and just painted it white (the footboard matches), and the little bedside table is from the Old Strathcona Antique Mall

Very sweet little dresses. I think they are meant to be pj's, but my girls will be wearing these all summer. They are so light and airy.

I thought this mirror was just gorgeous, and it fits so nicely in the front entrance.

Vintage buttons. I can sit with Odessa for a long time picking out our favourite ones, separating big and littles, and so on. Seriously, buttons make great "un-toys" (under supervision, of course)

I thought this tea pot coaster (is that what they are called?) was so cute, and the colours are perfect!