CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Not that I'm willing winter back or anything but I've booked us all to Victoria over the Christmas break. I'm super excited that it's all sorted. I love having Steve home on parental, we are catching up on all the admin we let fall behind and the honey do list is getting shorter- I might have to add a few things to it!

STEVE AND ROMILLY- WISE WORDS

Daddy & Romilly

50 Rules for Dads of Daughters

1. Love her mom. Treat her mother with respect, honor, and a big heaping spoonful of public displays of affection. When she grows up, the odds are good she’ll fall in love with and marry someone who treats her much like you treated her mother. Good or bad, that’s just the way it is. I’d prefer good.

2. Always be there. Quality time doesn't happen without quantity time. Hang out together for no other reason than just to be in each other’s presence. Be genuinely interested in the things that interest her. She needs her dad to be involved in her life at every stage. Don’t just sit idly by while she add years to her… add life to her years.

3. Save the day. She’ll grow up looking for a hero. It might as well be you. She’ll need you to come through for her over and over again throughout her life. Rise to the occasion. Red cape and blue tights optional.

4. Savor every moment you have together. Today she’s crawling around the house in diapers, tomorrow you’re handing her the keys to the car, and before you know it, you’re walking her down the aisle. Some day soon, hanging out with her old man won’t be the bees knees anymore. Life happens pretty fast. You better cherish it while you can.

5. Pray for her. Regularly. Passionately. Continually.

6. Buy her a glove and teach her to throw a baseball. Make her proud to throw like a girl… a girl with a wicked slider.

7. She will fight with her mother. Choose sides wisely.

8. Go ahead. Buy her those pearls.

9. Of course you look silly playing peek-a-boo. You should play anyway.

10. Enjoy the wonder of bath time.

11. There will come a day when she asks for a puppy. Don’t over think it. At least one time in her life, just say, “Yes.”

12. It’s never too early to start teaching her about money. She will still probably suck you dry as a teenager… and on her wedding day.

13. Make pancakes in the shape of her age for breakfast on her birthday. In a pinch, donuts with pink sprinkles and a candle will suffice.

14. Buy her a pair of Chucks as soon as she starts walking. She won’t always want to wear matching shoes with her old man.

15. Dance with her. Start when she’s a little girl or even when she’s a baby. Don’t wait ‘til her wedding day.

16. Take her fishing. She will probably squirm more than the worm on your hook. That’s OK.

17. Learn to say no. She may pitch a fit today, but someday you’ll both be glad you stuck to your guns.

18. Tell her she’s beautiful. Say it over and over again. Someday an animated movie or “beauty” magazine will try to convince her otherwise.

19. Teach her to change a flat. A tire without air need not be a major panic inducing event in her life. She’ll still call you crying the first time it happens.

20. Take her camping. Immerse her in the great outdoors. Watch her eyes fill with wonder the first time she sees the beauty of wide open spaces. Leave the iPod at home.

21. Let her hold the wheel. She will always remember when daddy let her drive.

22. She’s as smart as any boy. Make sure she knows that.

23. When she learns to give kisses, she will want to plant them all over your face. Encourage this practice.

24. Knowing how to eat sunflower seeds correctly will not help her get into a good college. Teach her anyway.

25. Letting her ride on your shoulders is pure magic. Do it now while you have a strong back and she’s still tiny.

26. It is in her nature to make music. It’s up to you to introduce her to the joy of socks on a wooden floor.

27. If there’s a splash park near your home, take her there often. She will be drawn to the water like a duck to a puddle.

28. She will eagerly await your return home from work in the evenings. Don’t be late.

29. If her mom enrolls her in swim lessons, make sure you get in the pool too. Don’t be intimidated if there are no other dads there. It’s their loss.

30. Never miss her birthday. In ten years she won’t remember the present you gave her. She will remember if you weren’t there.

31. Teach her to roller skate. Watch her confidence soar.

32. Let her roll around in the grass. It’s good for her soul. It’s not bad for yours either.

33. Take her swimsuit shopping. Don’t be afraid to veto some of her choices, but resist the urge to buy her full-body beach pajamas.

34. Somewhere between the time she turns three and her sixth birthday, the odds are good that she will ask you to marry her. Let her down gently.

35. She’ll probably want to crawl in bed with you after a nightmare. This is a good thing.

36. Few things in life are more comforting to a crying little girl than her father’s hand. Never forget this.

37. Introduce her to the swings at your local park. She’ll squeal for you to push her higher and faster. Her definition of “higher and faster” is probably not the same as yours. Keep that in mind.

38. When she’s a bit older, your definition of higher and faster will be a lot closer to hers. When that day comes, go ahead… give it all you’ve got.

39. Holding her upside down by the legs while she giggles and screams uncontrollably is great for your biceps. WARNING: She has no concept of muscle fatigue.

40. She might ask you to buy her a pony on her birthday. Unless you live on a farm, do not buy her a pony on her birthday. It’s OK to rent one though.

41. Take it easy on the presents for her birthday and Christmas. Instead, give her the gift of experiences you can share together.

42. Let her know she can always come home. No matter what.

43. Remember, just like a butterfly, she too will spread her wings and fly some day. Enjoy her caterpillar years.

44. Write her a handwritten letter every year on her birthday. Give them to her when she goes off to college, becomes a mother herself, or when you think she needs them most.

45. Learn to trust her. Gradually give her more freedom as she gets older. She will rise to the expectations you set for her.

46. When in doubt, trust your heart. She already does.

47. When your teenage daughter is upset, learning when to engage and when to back off will add years to YOUR life. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.

48. Ice cream covers over a multitude of sins. Know her favorite flavor.

49. This day is coming soon. There’s nothing you can do to be ready for it. The sooner you accept this fact, the easier it will be.

50. Today she’s walking down the driveway to get on the school bus. Tomorrow she’s going off to college. Don’t blink. -Michael  Mitchell

EXTRAODINARY

FATHER'S DAY

My beautiful husband deserved so much more than what I was able to do for him yesterday. I promised him a rain-check... It poured buckets all day. I had planned for a picnic at the Ottawa Arboretum. We ended up having lunch at a local pub and Steve enjoyed a pint of Guinness with his fish & chips. 

I had a friend point out to me yesterday that we are pretty lucky girls- we've both married amazing men- "don't I know it," I said followed up with "it's because we are awesome!" *wink*

Here's a few shots from our Father's Day weekend. xo

I KNOW TODAY IS MONDAY

NECKTIE NAPKINS

I saw this super cool idea on Baby Center Blog for our  Father's Day table setting. We are having a low key & restful weekend here. I am looking forward to getting some spring back in my step-recovery for me is always the hard part.

 Yesterday we all went for a "Sunday drive" just to get out of the house. Whenever I am blue or in need of a pick me up, a long drive around a fabulous neighbourhood cheers me up. I love old homes in established areas with beautiful gardens. In Ottawa there are some really great neighbourhoods and the best part is that they are all new to me! When I lived in Halifax I enjoyed a drive out to Eaglewood in Bedford or all the old houses around Quinpool and Dalhousie. In Victoria it's always Oakbay and Beach Drive. In Bristol we would drive out to Westin Super Mare and I would show Steve the fantastic retirement homes they have along the seaside that we could potentially live out our last days in. 

Have an awesome Father's Day Dads!

THROWBACK THURSDAY- BABY STEVE

SWEET WELLY WEDNESDAY

FOR ROMILLY

Romilly Rose Frances Gillespie,

Thursday June 6, 2013:

I went to my weekly OB appointment without Daddy today because his office was having a golf day Since I love golf I was very supportive of this man day. *wink*  ( he did well but bless him it rained all day. )

I was 3 centimeters dilated and the OB, Dr Thorne said that she expected to see me at the hospital tonight or tomorrow. Lucky for me my doctor was also on call Friday. I spent Thursday night having contractions through the night about 20 minutes apart and kicked your father out of bed - he was enjoying sleep way too much - and I figured one of us should get a good nights rest before dealing with me in labour. In the morning, Daddy made pancakes at 8.  I texted the girls back from playgroup letting them know I would definitely be going today as my contractions were still 15-20 minutes apart. By the end of breakfast the plan had dramatically changed. My contractions were 3 minutes apart; I was scared I wouldn't make it to the hospital and in a lot of pain. We all panicked showered, dressed, dropped Euan off with Marianne and made our supposedly 7 minute journey in rush hour traffic ( of course) to the hospital- It's 12 in rush hour! 

I think I had a pretty standard birth. I was miserable, my usual labour state. I said things like: "don't talk to me," "don't touch me" and "we are never doing this again" - the usual right?  I'm a wimp. I read somewhere that red heads have a low pain tolerance (shhhh, I'm originally strawberry brown :) )  I didn't want to talk or even open my eyes, and silly me rejected the wheel chair on the way in. All I wanted was to go on holiday, aka have an epidural asap! So many questions - just give it to me already. The most amazing nurse (Lorraine) came in to help out my delivery nurse (Cindy) and told me to take shallow small breaths not deep crazy ones- it worked making much it easier to deal with the contractions until I was able to see the anesthesiologist.  Standard me regarding needles - IV wouldn't take! -Cindy had to call another nurse to try. I don't care what anyone says both times I've had an IV it hurt so much I wasn't even bothered by the epidural pain; I was too whiny about my hand and my contractions. 

When I gave birth to your brother in England, they let you dole out your own epidural pain medication with a 'magic' button ( I couldn't feel my legs).  Here they do it for you- better idea! I also found out that the epidural works with gravity so I had to turn over twice to get the full effect.  It took a longer, but in the end I could feel pressure as well as my legs and when to push. 

I was ten centimeters dilated and just waiting for Cindy to finish up lunch and Dr. Thorne to come in. My little girl, you may have taken your sweet time coming but once you decided to come it didn't take long. I asked for the big mirror- I could see your head! I don't know why Daddy thought this was such a big deal if everyone else gets to see including him why couldn't I? It was awesome- the most incredible thing I've ever seen although shocking and a little mortifying to be honest. I know your father didn't want me to have the mirror now. I've asked him about a million questions since- bless him. An hour of pushing, Daddy cut the cord and I had my little baby girl snuggled to my chest. You cried before you were entirely out and Dr.Thorne commented on how lovely your round cheeks were. 

My beauty you are an amazing gift and blessing. We gave you a feminine name, Romilly Rose Frances Gillespie. You were 8.6 lbs and 21 inches heavier and longer than your brother but he came early. Your hair is auburn right now and you have blue eyes. As you will one day know Romilly is a Scottish name and sentimental to us as it is  latin for Mommy's maiden name Walker, Rose is Celtic for flower and Frances is my middle name, my great-grandfather's, grandfather's & fathers name. 

You are doing well other than a little jaundice which takes us back to the hospital daily. You've caught on to breast feeding like a pro and sleeps endless hours. I've only seen you open those beautiful blue eyes a handful of times. Your brother loves you- he's only tried to beat you over the head a few times. *smile* I'm not sure he understands yet but he waved goodnight to you last night on his way to bed. It was the sweetest thing I've ever seen. 

We are doing well getting into the swing of things. Dad is taking 9 months of parental and is already started on his honey do list that I've given him. Most of it is projects for your nursery. Your father seems much more relaxed this time around with his new position of stay at home Dad. 

Outside the standard painful healing process I'm feeling lighter, experienced & blissful. In just shy of a month our  family of 2 will become 3 when your big brother C joins us for the summer- It's going to be awesome!

Romilly Rose you are loved as I always was -until you stop counting.... Mommy

I NEED SOME

 JT in my life...

SPLIT SCREEN

GIVE IT A TRY