Boo!

And one more for the day. Why not, right?

Anyway, this is her "wink" - which she does a lot.

The funny thing is that she feels she is hiding if she can't see us. Thus the "boo" when she opens her eyes.

She really is our sunshine. :)

A Dolly!

-- So I have been (obviously) going through video and uploading it. Thought this one would be enjoyable for everyone. :)

We got Peyton a little doll for Christmas (now named "LuLu").

Her gasp is priceless!!! Hope you enjoy at least half as much as we did. Make sure you turn up the volume (and the music is paused) before you watch. :)

Dancing Queen

*Pause the music before you hit play*

She learned that hand/arm-pump thing from me. ;-D

This song always gets her going... she loves to dance around and kinda 'bounce' off of things - as you'll see. And this time, the video camera was in the right place to capture our little interpretive dancer.

- I was closer than the camera angle indicates. The treadmill didn't pose any real danger - in case anyone is concerned. :)

Haiti

I'm shocked at the images I'm seeing on the television. It brings back memories of the tsunami... the total loss is heartbreaking.

When the tsunami hit, I was at a different stage in my life. A student. Poor. No kids. Debt up to my yazoo and still a couple of years away from my degree and paychecks.

And let's face it: I was 6 years less-sanctified. It was a tragedy, yes - but our government would help, right? That's why we pay taxes, after all. :) There was the realization that Saskatchewan is probably the safest place in the world to live - but the intense thankfulness for that fact was missing.

But this time? I look at those little children on the news and tears come to my eyes. I'm a mommy now. And the thought of something like that happening my my precious little girl has opened me up to real compassion. If my daughter were left an orphan, with death and disease and starvation all around her - would someone help?

I am thankful to my core that the floor doesn't shake. It's cold here, I know. But I have a coat! No oceans, no hurricanes, no volcanos - we don't even have poisionous snakes or bugs!

And God has been kind to me in other ways, too. I don't worry about feeding my daughter. We get irritated when all we have left in the pantry is Kraft Dinner. (chuckle) But good grief! It's food - and there is more at the store just down the street!

And don't get me wrong: I'm not feeling guilty that we have peace and safety. I don't think we should feel guilty about gifts - just thank the Giver! But what I do feel is a intense desire to help. To give with the mind that I have been given much... and it's a joy to do.

Abraham Piper linked this site on his blog: I encourage you to not only read but feel.

Donate. Feed babies. Clothe children who have no one else to care for them. And pray for the people whose jobs just got a lot harder.

I am.

Update!

I saw the Olympic torch on Tuesday: SUPER-COOL even for my somewhat cynical nature. The runner went right up to the windows of the nursing home, waved at the residents and lit the flame then ran by us while we screamed and waved little Canadian flags.
I always like the winter Olympics so much more (the danger element, I think) but I am so freakin' pumped to watch them now!!! Own the podium, Canada!! :)
--
Work is busy. Super-busy. But otherwise, pretty satisfying. I have great coworkers, I have shift flexibility, and I'm paid well for what I do. Overall: no major complaints.
--
I've worked off 3 of the extra 5 lbs I gained from all that yummy Christmas food. (I'm not a real scale-watcher... but sometimes it's a good indication.) I'm also getting back into a little resistance training alongside my cardio... so far, so good.
--
I'm a little worried about going to Hawaii in a month-and-a-half. With all this security stuff... and the possibility of no carry-ons? It could be a looooong flight. I'm not worried about being scanned (it's preferable to being patted down, I think), because I'd rather that than have someone trying to lite their underwear on fire while we're over the deep/dark ocean.

*shudder*
--
Kurt got a bread-maker for Christmas which he loves. (thanks mom and dad M!) The house smells pretty good right now - and in the past 2 weeks alone we've probably already saved 15 bucks. We eat a lot of bread. :)
--

(In the arm-chair she got from us for Christmas)

I am daily amazed at my daughter. She is now climbing onto the footstool, placing her hands in the air (like a gymnast presenting) and saying, "Ta-daaahhh!" She's such a little show-off. However, she very rarely cries when she falls down or bumps her body into anything unless she's super-tired. She looks at the falls as almost as much of an adventure as the climb.
I'm also working on teaching her to say, "I'm a TODDLER." To which she replies, "ah-la-LAA-la-la". (she's loving the 'l' sounds these days) Close enough. She's also learned to cock her head to the side and say, "Cheeeese!" which is making for some funny sideways-ish pictures.
--
Okay - must run for now! Thanks for reading!!

In My Kitchen Window

The Willowtree figurine was a gift from my parents for Autumn's 2nd birthday. I have it sitting with a little picture of her on my windowsill so that every day I can say good-morning to both my girls.

I really want to post something!!

*see title*

Happy 2010 everyone!


























I'll get on this thing one of these days: although January filled up pretty quickly with work-related stuff... so I may have to use my days off for non-blogging type-stuff...

Like cuddling my adorable 14 month old who I can hear squirming around at this very moment. :)

Talk to you soon, everyone!