birthday recap - part one

First off, thank you to everyone for all your calls, cards, gifts, emails and celebrating along with us. We had a wonderfully full day. It went very well - two good naps helped the birthday girl sit through lunch, gifts and cake with a bit of time for play in between. She was not sure what to make of everything, but curious none the less at the singing, candle and the people.

We celebrated all day at the birthday and then again at Bib and Jody's annual Halloween bash. Needless to say, we are all a little tired today, so I will keep the post short and get right to the pictures.

Have a great Halloween friends!

one

For twelve months she has roamed this earth, changing everything we thought we knew about ourselves, our hopes and our own lives. What an amazing adventure it has been. One trip around the sun, one whole year....Happy first Birthday Anna Beatrice - we are all SO glad you are here.

first hair cut

A little off the front and a little girl emerged from under her baby hair...gulp. I have to say, Grammy did a great job, it looks really good.

pre-birthday

We are getting ready....new snowsuit from Grammy and Tompa, with matching mitts, boots and hat, as well as her first birthday card in the mail today - from Declan, thanks guys. Anna is getting very close to walking on her own and has discovered that the toilet flushes and the paper is really fun.

grammy and her gals

We are having a fun week with Grammy here - two big developments...first, Anna now waves 'hi' and 'bye' and squeaks a little hi, when you say it. She is also standing on her own and is so ready to take the first step.

Grammy is a huge help, lots of good kitchen meal prep done, pantry got its yearly clean and I was lucky enough to go shopping and get a few key pieces for work. Grammy got to attend playgroup today in preparation for our second intro day at daycare tomorrow. Wish us luck!

happy weekend

Curling up on the couch with a good book, now that's my idea of a cosy, restful weekend.

the phone lines are open

Anna (and I'm sure almost every kid) loves phones and especially the buttons on phones. She loves our phone and with only one portable in the house with two units, I was getting a little worried. They were starting to get noticed, especially when not in use. When we do use them she comes over and wants to push the buttons and a few times she's hung up on people and dropped them. So, with much of our family contact over the phone, I want her to learn how to use the phone (with our real ones staying safe). So yesterday in Nanton (did you think I didn't buy anything?, oh friends, I tried....) we were digging around in a few stores and what popped up under a desk and in a sink....a real play phone! This one is a classic and for $4, I couldn't resist. She now even has her own pretend number...she picks it up when it pretend rings, but she promptly passes it over to me to talk, I'm sure this won't last long.

savouring

With only a few days remaining to ourselves, Anna and I jumped in the car early today for a girls day down in Nanton. I love this town, it is so friendly (Anna made friends in every store we went into) - there are great shops (including an amazing candy store), a cozy main street with fun lunch restaurants, a very interesting playground (my first time visiting, I must say) train store and an air museum. My Dad has been before and always mentions the museum when I say I visit, so I thought we'd check it out. I am savouring these days together, lots of sun and warmth, open roads and just us together - she chats away in the back seat while I take a deep breath and try to freeze time so these moments can last forever.

earlier this morning...

History was made last night - two people I voted for actually won...that never happens!

Calgary just got awhole lot better friends (Anna agrees she's been clapping all morning!)

visits, volunteers and votes

We have arrived home after a fun trip to Edmonton. Both Stew and I had the privilege of helping out at Timeraiser last night, special thanks to Liz and Anil for a fun, well run night which raised over 4000 hours for the community. Another thanks to Grandma and Grandpa who watched Anna for us so we could attend. They have returned after a relaxing trip to Vancouver Island - Anna is sporting her new baby animal t-shirt as a souvenir (we get to enjoy lots of yummy jam made from fresh BC fruit!).

While picking up a few things for Anna's birthday, we have officially found our favourite kids store - they are apart of a new campaign to keep shopping local, this is totally something we can get behind.

On a side note, I have finished my election research. I am very excited to be casting my vote for a smart, accomplished, community leader - Naheed Nenshi - who I am hoping will change the face of Calgary. So, everyone reading this on Monday in Alberta, don't forget to head to your polling station.

birthday prep

When thinking about what we wanted to do for Anna's first birthday, I stood back and thought, it needed to be two things - very special and simple. So, with this in mind we have started doing a little bit of birthday prep at night after she heads off to bed, and oh boy is it fun. We are starting now, mostly because Stew will be away in Banff at a conference the week leading up to Anna's birthday. I also have about a million appointments (okay, 8, but it sure seems like a lot in one week) so Grammy is going to come and help out for the week, which will be wonderful. Just like last year!

We are making a few gifts for her, baking a few treats for her and most of all, celebrating with family, oh this will be fun.

Mozart is downtown for Classical Calgary #yyc on Twitpic

Mozart is downtown for Classical Calgary #yyc on Twitpic

thankful for

A beautiful and very fun weather weekend
Extra hands to help put a teething baby to sleep
A brother and sister successfully cooking the largest turkey in history (which was very yummy, we will be eating it for a week).

Cousins that love to read
Exploring history and going on fun rides that make you giggle

Her love of animals

An almost one year old that has now started using a spoon and fork (which makes for very entertaining meals I must say!) and has slowly started eating broccoli again