A month of London

I can't believe we've been here for a month already. The remaining unpacked boxes scattered throughout the house make it seem like we've been here for less time. And yet, it also feels like we've lived here forever. We're pretty comfortable with this new life.

You can't even call Brian's drive to work a "commute" - it's just a 10 minute drive. And the three of us have had dinner together almost every night since we moved. That's a new world record for us!

And Kaylin and I are having a great time. After being home with her for two full months now, I've finally got a good routine down. We try to get out every morning, whether to run errands, go to the park, or join a playgroup. After lunch she naps like a champ, which gives me my precious two hours a day to clean the house and continue unpacking the aforementioned boxes. The afternoon brings either playing in the house or outside. As we don't have our sod yet, this means playing in the puddles or walking down to the pond and trail at the end of our street. Kaylin enjoys saying "Hi geese!" to the geese who frequent the pond.

Today we went downtown to check out a few baby "boutiques" (I couldn't justify paying $250 for a diaper bag, so nothing was purchased) and then we chased squirrels and played with dry leaves in Victoria Park. It was tough, but someone had to do it! I'm glad it had to be me.

(Here's a picture of Kaylin in front of St. Peter's Cathedral, a beautiful church downtown.)

I Have You

I first heard the song "I Have You" while I was on mat leave. It's by Canadian songwriter Connie Kaldor and just listening to the lyrics would make me weep. I'm able to listen to it without crying now, but I still think it's one of the most beautiful songs ever. And it captures how I feel about my little baby girl and my decision to stay home with her. Some days are tougher than others, but overall, I love my new role...even if I am wearing five year old running shoes and jeans with holes in the knees.

Here are the lyrics.

I Have You
by Connie Kaldor

Some have furs and fancy cars
But I have you, I have you
Some have silk and caviar
But I have you, I have you
Some have emeralds set in gold
But they can't sit and rock and hold you
Like I do, like I do, like I do

Some have lace and diamonds rings
But I have you, I have you
They always have the latest things
But I have you, I have you
Some are always dressed in style
But they will never catch your smile
Like I do, like I do, like I do

Some have homes on the finest streets
But I have you, I have you
The finest leather on their feet
But I have you, I have you
Some have wine and a castle keep
But they can't watch you drift asleep
Like I do, like I do, like I do

Four wonderful minutes! (An update on Kaylin's general health)

London is by no means a small town. There are over 325,000 people here. So you'd think that the chances of finding a new doctor for Kaylin, let alone one near our house, are pretty slim.

WELL, not only did we find a great pediatrician for the Kay-Kay, but he is less than four minutes away!! We can walk there on a nice day. This is amazing, considering we used to drive from Ajax to North York -- a 35 minute drive! I can't believe our luck. Yayyyyy London.

In other Kay-Kay health news, our little miss got her first shiner this week after a little too much horsing around on the sofa. (Note, the wacky hair you see has nothing to do with the sofa incident; that's just bad hair.) As the name "toddler" indicates, she's not too steady of her tiny toes sometimes. I'm sure it's just the first in a long line of bruises we'll see.

(By the way, the black eye and the doctor visit were not related, just bad timing on our part. The doctor visit was just a meet and greet. Nothing I like better when meeting a new pediatrician than to have him notice my kid's black eye and ask questions like, "did she lose consciousness when it happened?" and "did she vomit?" Ummm, no and no, but thanks for asking.)

Nineteen months of goodness

Kaylin is 19 months old today! My, how time flies when you're having fun.

You're probably wondering, "what's Kay-Kay up to these days?" Well, I'm pleased to announce that she now knows her colours and she's also starting to learn her numbers. She knows the words "one" through "ten" but doesn't quite have the counting concept yet. And for all you sports fans out there, she can spot a hockey player a mile away and upon seeing him will exclaim "hockey!!"

Oh, and I almost forgot, the "terrible twos" are starting, including mini tantrums and fake tears. But we're just staying calm and not paying any attention to them, hoping they'll go away. Go away tantrums! Go away!

Here's a pic of Kay doing some finger-painting, a new fave activity.

Home sweet home

I've been living in a new house, new neighbourhood, new city, new area code now for five days and it feels...good.

Strangely enough, B and I waited about 18 months for our first house to be built. We picked out every cabinet door and every counter top ourselves. We sat in the decor centre for over two hours agonizing over how we should spend what little money we had set aside for upgrades. After all was said and done, that house should have reflected US.

And yet it took us less than 45 minutes to settle on this house, a house that might possibly be even more US than the house we picked and designed ourselves! We drove to London one sunny November afternoon to look at a new and completed spec house and by 3pm that day we had bought this house. There was very little hesitation on either of our parts. And now I know why. After being in the house for 5 days now, we wonder if this was the house we were always meant to own.

We feel really comfortable here. Our furniture actually matches the decor someone else picked out! The views from both the front and back of the house are fantastic (that is until more new homes are built around us.) It's starting to feel like home already.

Of course, as I realized tonight, anywhere that Brian and Kaylin are with me is home. It's nice to be home.

Good bye Ajax, hello London

(Kaylin tired from all the packing mommy and daddy have made her do.)

(Kaylin celebrating when she heard that London has drive-thru Starbucks.)

It's been fun Ajax! But I gotta go now. Bye!