A Secret Birthday

Today is your 3rd birthday. You've been sick this week, so we cancelled your party and stayed away from your friends. This morning we didn't shower you with gifts, we decided to reserve all the hoopla for next weekend, but unbeknownst to you, I've been celebrating you today. We pulled out the photo album with pictures of you in my belly and I talked to you about the day you were born. I erased all of my plans today, and I let you make all the decisions; you picked what you wanted to eat, what you wanted to play, where you wanted to go and I completely focused on you.

Family and friends are starting to call to wish you a happy birthday, so the secret is out, but while it lasted, I really enjoyed celebrating you quietly, attentively, reverently, just as we did the day you were born. I love you baby boy. Happy 3rd birthday!

Thoughts on Thanksgiving

There's a lot on my mind these days. It's October, a very busy month for our family, many birthdays, Thanksgiving, my father-in-law visiting for a few weeks, travels, and all the household activities related to the changing seasons. My head is running, the washing machine is spinning, the new bed is coming; it's a whirlwind. That is why I enjoy writing for a while, to settle my mind, let thoughts come and go as the sun streams through the window highlighting my son's fingerprints. It's nice to put my brain in neutral for a bit.

I love fall, don't you? Hasn't the weather been glorious? Sunny and crisp, I feel like the air smells and feels like apples. Thanksgiving is this weekend and while most of us are happily anticipating seeing friends and family, some of us are stressing out over recipes and the lack the wine glasses. My mother called and mentioned it might be nice to have Thanksgiving dinner at our place this year... hint... hint... and for two seconds I panicked. Only two seconds. I'm grateful to have a family here to celebrate, and for my father-in-law who has come all the way from Brazil to see his grandson. 

So let me take another look at this seemingly "busy" month. We get to celebrate the birth of 3 wonderful people and eat cake 3 times. We get an extra pair of hands to cook a turkey, put together a bed, and play with the boy. We finally get to take a family vacation and even though we haven't planned it at all yet, it's bound to be an adventure. There's pumpkins to be picked, leaves to be kicked, and local apples to eat. We can appreciate candle light again, now that the sun settles down earlier and wear cozy sweaters. All this is the 'thanks' in Thanksgiving.

fall flowers

Sew Happy!

Okay, okay, I haven't forgotten my art challenge; it's been revived by a brand new sewing machine! Yay! Remember? It's was on my 30 day list of things I want for months and finally on my birthday, it arrived via my loving husband! I've always loved making clothes, even when I was around 4 or 5 years old, I made dresses for my Barbie out of kleenex and remnants of fabrics my mom had kicking around the house. I remember making donuts shapes and slipping my Barbie's legs through the center hole and tying it with tape around her waist to make a skirt.

Over the years, my mom sewed a lot of summer outfits and Halloween costumes for us. She was amazing with the sewing machine and showed me how to use it. In high school I took a sewing class, learned some more advanced skills and made a scary '80s aqua satin bubble skirt. I remember each dress I made, especially a pair of matching ruffled skirts I sewed for my best friend and I for our school dance. I even got her hooked on sewing and she pulled out her mom's machine to make matching penguins costumes for Halloween.

After highschool, I moved out of my mom's house and moved in with friends, but it wasn't long before my boyfriend at the time found me a super retro Swedish sewing machine at a garage sale. It weighed a ton, was noisy like a lawnmower, and worked like a horse. I was back into making things for myself and my new home away from home. I even dragged it across North America and to Mexico because I couldn't part with it, and you never know when you might have to whip up some curtains while a on a road trip right? Sadly, I eventually lost track of this machine somewhere in my travels....

So, now it's come full circle. My son is two and I'm itching to get sewing again. I drove out to Fabricana the first chance I had after my birthday trip to Whistler. Oh, happiness! I didn't even get bummed out by the severe lack of sewing patterns for boys because the printed cotton section was so much fun to sift through!

Like a kid with a new toy on Christmas day, I stayed up too late on my sewing machine and here's my adorable model of a kid in his retro camera pants.

A Prayer for Baby

My sweet Baby.
Today you are 1. For one year, you have grown and amazed us every day. For one year, we have been loving parents. At this very moment last year, as I sat at our kitchen table, I could feel that you were ready to meet us. It was an amazing day! I was so proud of all of us, we worked hard as a new family to make sure you came to this earth feeling welcomed and safe and there you were at 6:40pm on a cloudy January afternoon. Happy birthday Baby! You are awesome! We love you!

How wonderful that today, on your birthday, you will be baptized. You are now part of the Catholic church and of the Christian Faith. All of your sins are forgiven. You are pure and loved by God.

I ask God to take care of you, fill your life with love, happiness, and all the wonders that this planet has to offer. Know that God is with you always and protects you when you are sad and need guidance. Your Godmother and Godfather are there too. You are surrounded by love, and so ready for life!