Tyler,
As Abby gets older, she will come to realize how great of dad she has. Right now, she only knows that she adores you and that you light up her days. I want her to know how invested and in love with her you were from the very beginning. Although this post is dedicated to you, I am writing a letter to her.
Abrielle,
Your daddy loved you before you were born. From the minute we found out that we were pregnant, he walked taller, and had a permanent smile on his face. People told us that he got the pregnancy glow that most women get. We went to Mexico when I was 8 weeks pregnant with you, and let me tell you, everyone in Jalisco and P.V knew that I was pregnant! He was just so proud and excited, and didn't care who knew it.
The first time we heard your little heart beat, at 13 weeks, he was sitting at the end of the doctor's table. The minute the Doppler picked up your little gallop, he squeezed my ankle and a tear or two might have escaped. He proceeded to come to every appointment after that so that he could hear that precious sound one more time, and would talk on and on about how happy it made him to hear it.
At our first ultrasound, I told him he wasn't allowed to peak at the screen until I could see it too, and he promised that he wouldn't. Abby, this is probably one of the only promises that he has broken to me, because he was just too excited and had to see your little body. He teared up when he saw your little black and white picture, and marvelled at how perfect you were already.
He was so excited about you that he downloaded a website on his phone that would update him about your changes in utero week to week. He proudly shared this information with me, and anyone else who would listen to him, and insisted that other father's to be get this application. He would try little tricks that he learned from the website on me (like shining a flashlight on my belly to see if you would kick at it).
As you grew and so did my I, his dreams for you did too. He talked all the time of the things that he wanted to teach you and show you, traditions he wanted to start with you, and things he hoped you loved as much as he did. You Dad is generally great at compromising, but when it comes to you, he really puts his foot down. You are his little girl.
The minute you were born, you were his entire world. The man who often scoffed that people worried too much about their kids would suddenly be sneaking into your room to ensure that you were safe and breathing. His big hands would manipulate your little body into sleepers with ease, he changed diapers with (rarely) any complaints, and cherished your time together when he gave you one bottle a day. He loved to show you off to people, and loved dressing you in his "favourite" outfits. He would call during the day while he was at work just to see how his "little girl" was doing.
Every milestone you hit, he has been there cheering you on all the way, and praising you on your success. Now that you are getting older and developing even more of a personality, his protective side is showing through. You are in for a world of frustration as you get older, and god help your first date. You'll be mad at him then, but just know it is because he loves you so much, and he doesn't want to share you.
When you are older, and think that your father is uncool, unfair, or unyielding, please look back on this letter, and other times from your childhood and realize how lucky you are, and how loved you are. You are the luckiest little girl in the entire world. As you get older, you will probably never have a moment where you realize how much your father loves you, because it will be such a constant in your life you will most likely take it for granted. And that's a good thing.
Showing posts with label Tyler. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tyler. Show all posts
Sunday, 19 June 2011
Thursday, 16 June 2011
4 years ago today
4 years ago today, I married my best friend and soul mate.
After I first met, and to be honest, even after I first started dating Tyler, I never once would have imagined that we end up married. Now, my opinion changed a few months in, but I just thought that we were such polar opposites that the relationship wouldn't ever bloom. What did I know?
Our wedding day was one of the best days of my life. I was completely stress free, I was able to enjoy my whole day and I felt great. My bridal party was amazing and fun, and they really helped to make the day complete.
My day started off early, waking up before the crack of dawn because I was worried that I would over sleep for my hair appointment. Rachel had spent the night with me, and so I tried to wake her up about 9 times before finally accepting that it wasn't going to happen. My sister came over and drank coffee on the couch while we waited for Lindsey to arrive. Once we collected Amanda we piled into my little Hyundai accent (Nancy and Bailey would meet us later). Turns out, I was boxed in, because I was parked on the street and this may or may not have resulted in me backing in to Tyler's truck. No damage!
We picked up some breakfast, got our hair and makeup done at Eclipse (I think it was still called E3 then) and then headed over to my parent's house. I was in my dress and corseted up lickity split, but it turns out the 5 bridesmaids dresses were not already laced. Meaning, we had to thread the lace through 5 full corsets and then do each girl up. It was kind of a funny scene, where one girl would get finished and then go to help the rest. I just went and got some pictures done while I was waiting, ate some fruit, and told my Dad that he needed to relax, because regardless of if we were late or not, they couldn't start the wedding without us.
We arrived at the church and got assembled, and only had a minor skirmish when Bailey decided that she might not want to walk down the aisle by herself (she was my flower girl). We presented her with 3 options: Go by yourself, go with Sara, or we would get Uncle Mike to come back up the aisle and walk down with her. In the end, she pulled it together, told us she was 5 now and was brave, and walked down with an angelic look on her face. It was only before I walked down the aisle that I really started to get emotional, but a few words of wisdom from my dad and we were on our way.
The ceremony....well, it was looooooonnngg. And to be honest, it was boring. I feel bad that my guests had to sit through that, as it was well over an hour. After we were pronounced husband and wife, Fr. Dennis neglected to inform us to kiss, so that resulted in a bit of an awkward moment. Oh well!
Hours and hours of pictures, and then we were off to the reception where the food was amazing, drinks were plentiful, and the band was rocking. I am still told to this day that people had the best food, or the best time or thought we had the best band (my friend Niki even booked them for her upcoming wedding this August). I just had an amazing time all together. In total, we had about 400 guests, so it was a busy night, but a fun one. At the end of the night, Ty and I decided that we just needed to leave without trying to say goodbye to everyone, otherwise we would never get out. So we did!
We spent the night in our honeymoon suite, and then went to brunch at my parent's house the next day with all of our out of town guests. This was a nice chance to spend a little more one on one time with the people who had travelled to be there with us. Then, we went back to the suite for another night, and had an amazingly relaxing time. We drank Coronas, ate pizza and watched great movies that were on TV like Father of the Bride (parts 1 and 2!).
Weddings are for one night only, but marriages are for life. I feel as though our wedding day was the perfect send off into our new life together. Tyler and I lived together before we were married, so people told us that nothing would really change after we made it official. I wholeheartedly disagree with that though. I definitely feel as though something changed when we were married. I felt closer to Ty, and we felt like more of a family. I just felt more complete, I guess.
Throughout our 4 years of marriage, we have had a ton of happy times and some challenging times, but never has it compromised the integrity of our relationship. I feel so incredibly lucky to have found my perfect match, and I can say without any doubt that there is no one in this world that could make me happier, or that I could love more. We have a happy life together, and there is no price tag that could ever be put on that.
And all because of that day 4 years ago, I am listening to an endless stream of chatter from the most beautiful baby in the world. Thank you hun, for everything you do and everything you are. I love you more than I can ever explain.
After I first met, and to be honest, even after I first started dating Tyler, I never once would have imagined that we end up married. Now, my opinion changed a few months in, but I just thought that we were such polar opposites that the relationship wouldn't ever bloom. What did I know?
Our wedding day was one of the best days of my life. I was completely stress free, I was able to enjoy my whole day and I felt great. My bridal party was amazing and fun, and they really helped to make the day complete.
My day started off early, waking up before the crack of dawn because I was worried that I would over sleep for my hair appointment. Rachel had spent the night with me, and so I tried to wake her up about 9 times before finally accepting that it wasn't going to happen. My sister came over and drank coffee on the couch while we waited for Lindsey to arrive. Once we collected Amanda we piled into my little Hyundai accent (Nancy and Bailey would meet us later). Turns out, I was boxed in, because I was parked on the street and this may or may not have resulted in me backing in to Tyler's truck. No damage!
We picked up some breakfast, got our hair and makeup done at Eclipse (I think it was still called E3 then) and then headed over to my parent's house. I was in my dress and corseted up lickity split, but it turns out the 5 bridesmaids dresses were not already laced. Meaning, we had to thread the lace through 5 full corsets and then do each girl up. It was kind of a funny scene, where one girl would get finished and then go to help the rest. I just went and got some pictures done while I was waiting, ate some fruit, and told my Dad that he needed to relax, because regardless of if we were late or not, they couldn't start the wedding without us.
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| All dolled up! |
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| You're up Nancy! |
We arrived at the church and got assembled, and only had a minor skirmish when Bailey decided that she might not want to walk down the aisle by herself (she was my flower girl). We presented her with 3 options: Go by yourself, go with Sara, or we would get Uncle Mike to come back up the aisle and walk down with her. In the end, she pulled it together, told us she was 5 now and was brave, and walked down with an angelic look on her face. It was only before I walked down the aisle that I really started to get emotional, but a few words of wisdom from my dad and we were on our way.
The ceremony....well, it was looooooonnngg. And to be honest, it was boring. I feel bad that my guests had to sit through that, as it was well over an hour. After we were pronounced husband and wife, Fr. Dennis neglected to inform us to kiss, so that resulted in a bit of an awkward moment. Oh well!
 |
| It's official! And as an aside, does my husband not look AMAZING in a suit? |
Hours and hours of pictures, and then we were off to the reception where the food was amazing, drinks were plentiful, and the band was rocking. I am still told to this day that people had the best food, or the best time or thought we had the best band (my friend Niki even booked them for her upcoming wedding this August). I just had an amazing time all together. In total, we had about 400 guests, so it was a busy night, but a fun one. At the end of the night, Ty and I decided that we just needed to leave without trying to say goodbye to everyone, otherwise we would never get out. So we did!
We spent the night in our honeymoon suite, and then went to brunch at my parent's house the next day with all of our out of town guests. This was a nice chance to spend a little more one on one time with the people who had travelled to be there with us. Then, we went back to the suite for another night, and had an amazingly relaxing time. We drank Coronas, ate pizza and watched great movies that were on TV like Father of the Bride (parts 1 and 2!).
Weddings are for one night only, but marriages are for life. I feel as though our wedding day was the perfect send off into our new life together. Tyler and I lived together before we were married, so people told us that nothing would really change after we made it official. I wholeheartedly disagree with that though. I definitely feel as though something changed when we were married. I felt closer to Ty, and we felt like more of a family. I just felt more complete, I guess.
Throughout our 4 years of marriage, we have had a ton of happy times and some challenging times, but never has it compromised the integrity of our relationship. I feel so incredibly lucky to have found my perfect match, and I can say without any doubt that there is no one in this world that could make me happier, or that I could love more. We have a happy life together, and there is no price tag that could ever be put on that.
And all because of that day 4 years ago, I am listening to an endless stream of chatter from the most beautiful baby in the world. Thank you hun, for everything you do and everything you are. I love you more than I can ever explain.
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
It was great...except for the part where I felt like puking.
After an embarrassing 2.5 months away, I am back at the gym! Yay!
It felt so good to get back last night. Kaella and I went at 5:15 and stuck to cardio for a gentle introduction back in (for me...she's been going!). I was able to maintain my usual routine on the elliptical (with much complaining), but once I got on the bike I was able to see the results of my hiatus. I use to be able to pedal with only minimal difficulty on resistance 12, and now I can't even get the bike moving! Oh, so sad what I have done to myself.
Here we are after my first workout back:
This morning, we both pulled it together and met at the gym at 5:30....in the morning. Yes, this from the girl who refuses to get up for the day before 7 am. Don't get me wrong, when my alarm (since when do I use one of those things?) went off this morning, I thought of every excuse as to why I should stay in bed. That is why having someone meet you there is such a great idea, it keeps you accountable. This morning we did a 5 minute warm up on the treadmill, and then lunges (ugh...do these ever get easy? I don't even touch my knee down) while throwing a ball overhead, ball squats, ball slams, triceps dips, triceps weights, mountain climbers, kettle bells, seat belts, v-sit ball bounces, plank wars on a ball, and 15 minutes incline walking. In and out in 50 minutes, just in time to get home so Ty can go to work.
Speaking of which, I have to mention how much I appreciate that I have a husband who helps me to make myself a priority. When I asked him how he felt about me going early in the morning, since that might mean he had to get up with Abby if she happened to wake up, he didn't even hesitate to say yes. He told me that I get up with her all the time, it is only fair if he has to every once and a while. Tyler knows that going to the gym makes me feel better and gives me better self esteem, so I appreciate so much that he is willing to take over childcare duties so that I can make time for myself.
Anyway, everything is WAY harder than it use to be (understandably). I have lost so much strength and endurance and I hate that. I felt amazing afterwards, except for that pukey feeling that you get when you are out of shape! I made a quick breakfast of oats, a scoop of chocolate protein powder and soy milk (so good!) and an apple. I am excited to get back again tomorrow morning, and make this part of my days. I feel like everything gets better when I go to the gym. My back feels better, I feel more awake, I eat better, so I feel better that way too.
Here I am before heading to the gym this morning. Looking good!
It felt so good to get back last night. Kaella and I went at 5:15 and stuck to cardio for a gentle introduction back in (for me...she's been going!). I was able to maintain my usual routine on the elliptical (with much complaining), but once I got on the bike I was able to see the results of my hiatus. I use to be able to pedal with only minimal difficulty on resistance 12, and now I can't even get the bike moving! Oh, so sad what I have done to myself.
Here we are after my first workout back:
 |
| I'm feeling good...not looking good! |
This morning, we both pulled it together and met at the gym at 5:30....in the morning. Yes, this from the girl who refuses to get up for the day before 7 am. Don't get me wrong, when my alarm (since when do I use one of those things?) went off this morning, I thought of every excuse as to why I should stay in bed. That is why having someone meet you there is such a great idea, it keeps you accountable. This morning we did a 5 minute warm up on the treadmill, and then lunges (ugh...do these ever get easy? I don't even touch my knee down) while throwing a ball overhead, ball squats, ball slams, triceps dips, triceps weights, mountain climbers, kettle bells, seat belts, v-sit ball bounces, plank wars on a ball, and 15 minutes incline walking. In and out in 50 minutes, just in time to get home so Ty can go to work.
Speaking of which, I have to mention how much I appreciate that I have a husband who helps me to make myself a priority. When I asked him how he felt about me going early in the morning, since that might mean he had to get up with Abby if she happened to wake up, he didn't even hesitate to say yes. He told me that I get up with her all the time, it is only fair if he has to every once and a while. Tyler knows that going to the gym makes me feel better and gives me better self esteem, so I appreciate so much that he is willing to take over childcare duties so that I can make time for myself.
Anyway, everything is WAY harder than it use to be (understandably). I have lost so much strength and endurance and I hate that. I felt amazing afterwards, except for that pukey feeling that you get when you are out of shape! I made a quick breakfast of oats, a scoop of chocolate protein powder and soy milk (so good!) and an apple. I am excited to get back again tomorrow morning, and make this part of my days. I feel like everything gets better when I go to the gym. My back feels better, I feel more awake, I eat better, so I feel better that way too.
Here I am before heading to the gym this morning. Looking good!
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| 5:15 this morning...and why yes! That is the same shirt as last night! |
Tuesday, 14 June 2011
Hockey Night in Canada
Hockey is a very important thing in our household, and also in Tyler and I's relationship. When we first met, our very first conversation involved hockey. Our teams were facing of in the Western Conference finals for the 2004 Stanley Cup run, and so we had plenty to say about that! You could say that a rivalry and a relationship were born.
When we (subsequently) first started dating, many nights were spent hanging out on the couch watching playoffs. I will never forget when the Flames lost the cup. I was sitting by myself on a love seat, eating a baked potato that he assured me had not touched anything that I considered contraband at the time (like, you know, salt...or butter). When that final horn sounded, I literally lost my appetite.
Going forward in our relationship, I spent many nights at the hockey rink watching his beer league team play. There are many nights that I was one of the only fans! I would come after work a lot, wearing boots and a skirt and stinking like Moxie's food. I loved watching Tyler play. Even though he hasn't played competitively for a long while now, he is a really powerful player. He is big on the ice, skates like a bull charging and has a mean shot from the point.
At our wedding, we had a net and sticks set up so that people had to score a goal if they wanted us to kiss (I am personally not a fan of glass clinking...I think people go overboard). We gave away hockey pucks as favors with this picture on them.
When I was pregnant with Abrielle we had a few heated discussions as to which team insignia she would sport first. Tyler was VERY invested in this conversation, and it is one of the few times he refused to budge. In the end, we compromised and I don't know which she actually put on first. This year, she is definitely getting to wear her Canuck's jersey more! Also, I have always said that I wanted my kids to remember Don Cherry. He has been a part of my life since I was little, and I just love him. I want Abby to have memories of Ol' Grapes as well!
When Abby was first born, my mother in law gave her some Hockey Canada soothers that she used all the time. Given that she looked a LOT like her father than, and was sporting a hockey soother, people would call her a boy all the time. Even if she was wearing head to toe pink. Kind of frustrating!
A few weeks after Abby was born, it was back to the rink to watch Tyler play, only this time I was never the only fan. I think I got more out of this past hockey season than he did, as I got to hang out with girls who are now my best friends. I think we spent more time discussing our Starbucks orders than we did watching the game, and we definitely told a few fibs about seeing our respective player's goals (oops). At the beginning of the season, Abby would just sleep through the games, and by the end she had bounced on all of our knees, waving her bumblebee blanket like a crazy lady.
Abby truly seems to like hockey though. At first I just assumed it was fast movement and bright colours, but now I think that it might be more. One of my favourite memories is when her "Uncle Ricky" was babysitting her while Carman and I were at the gym. We came home and saw through the window that he was holding Abby about 4 inches away from the TV and they were watching hockey. Apparently it was the only thing that calmed her down that night!
Tyler has played hockey all of his life, and I actually gave it a go for a few years while I was in elementary school. I won't force hockey on Abby, but I really hope that she wants to play. I always loved going to WHL games and seeing the little Timbits playing, knowing that this was probably one of the most exciting nights in their lives. I would love for Abby to experience that.
Whether she loves or hates it, hockey is going to be a huge part of her life.
When we (subsequently) first started dating, many nights were spent hanging out on the couch watching playoffs. I will never forget when the Flames lost the cup. I was sitting by myself on a love seat, eating a baked potato that he assured me had not touched anything that I considered contraband at the time (like, you know, salt...or butter). When that final horn sounded, I literally lost my appetite.
Going forward in our relationship, I spent many nights at the hockey rink watching his beer league team play. There are many nights that I was one of the only fans! I would come after work a lot, wearing boots and a skirt and stinking like Moxie's food. I loved watching Tyler play. Even though he hasn't played competitively for a long while now, he is a really powerful player. He is big on the ice, skates like a bull charging and has a mean shot from the point.
At our wedding, we had a net and sticks set up so that people had to score a goal if they wanted us to kiss (I am personally not a fan of glass clinking...I think people go overboard). We gave away hockey pucks as favors with this picture on them.
 |
| The picture on the puck, pictured below |
 |
| That's right, we classed up hockey pucks and gave them away! |
When I was pregnant with Abrielle we had a few heated discussions as to which team insignia she would sport first. Tyler was VERY invested in this conversation, and it is one of the few times he refused to budge. In the end, we compromised and I don't know which she actually put on first. This year, she is definitely getting to wear her Canuck's jersey more! Also, I have always said that I wanted my kids to remember Don Cherry. He has been a part of my life since I was little, and I just love him. I want Abby to have memories of Ol' Grapes as well!
When Abby was first born, my mother in law gave her some Hockey Canada soothers that she used all the time. Given that she looked a LOT like her father than, and was sporting a hockey soother, people would call her a boy all the time. Even if she was wearing head to toe pink. Kind of frustrating!
A few weeks after Abby was born, it was back to the rink to watch Tyler play, only this time I was never the only fan. I think I got more out of this past hockey season than he did, as I got to hang out with girls who are now my best friends. I think we spent more time discussing our Starbucks orders than we did watching the game, and we definitely told a few fibs about seeing our respective player's goals (oops). At the beginning of the season, Abby would just sleep through the games, and by the end she had bounced on all of our knees, waving her bumblebee blanket like a crazy lady.
Abby truly seems to like hockey though. At first I just assumed it was fast movement and bright colours, but now I think that it might be more. One of my favourite memories is when her "Uncle Ricky" was babysitting her while Carman and I were at the gym. We came home and saw through the window that he was holding Abby about 4 inches away from the TV and they were watching hockey. Apparently it was the only thing that calmed her down that night!
Tyler has played hockey all of his life, and I actually gave it a go for a few years while I was in elementary school. I won't force hockey on Abby, but I really hope that she wants to play. I always loved going to WHL games and seeing the little Timbits playing, knowing that this was probably one of the most exciting nights in their lives. I would love for Abby to experience that.
Whether she loves or hates it, hockey is going to be a huge part of her life.
Thursday, 9 June 2011
A day of firsts
Alternately titled: Why I am a terrible mother
Yesterday was a big day for Abrielle, as it entailed a lot of firsts. The first of those was that we said bye bye to the baby carrier, and hello to the big girl car seat!
She loves being in this seat and doesn't even complain when I buckle her in. Not even the first time when I spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out how the straps adjusted prior to calling and getting instructions from Tyler about it. She loves the arm rests, and I think she loves sitting up because she can see more. On the way to swimming lessons, she laughed and babbled the whole time.
Now...swimming lessons. Another first.
Because she is not in her baby carrier anymore, after I got us changed I sat her on the bench (they are about 2 feet high) so that I could put our bag in a locker. I had an arm on her at first, but then I looked away because I needed 2 hands to rearrange some things and shove it in the locker. Suddenly another Mom gasped and dove for her as she plummeted from the bench, her own baby still in her arms.
My heart literally froze.
Abby screamed. I mean, really screamed. I have never heard her sustain a cry/scream for so long. She had a big red mark on her forehead and was just inconsolable. That other mom tried to make me feel better by saying that she probably scared her by gasping. Seriously, so sweet. I had let my baby fall because I wasn't watching her, and she blamed the crying on herself. Super nice lady.
Anyway, long story short, I felt like the worst mother in the world and had to do the walk of shame out to the lessons with my daughter who had a neon red spot on her forehead. Luckily she wasn't hurt and somehow didn't get a goose egg or even a bruise. Today, you would never know that she fell. She was fine for the lessons too, laughing and smiling, and one little boy about her age actually pulled her in and kissed her on the forehead while we were in the pool. So sweet!
I was just writing the other day how I was sure bumps and bruises were soon to come, and little did I know I would be the cause of it. I am trying not to beat myself up about it, but the truth is, it was 100% my fault. I trusted that she would sit there because she always has (when I was watching her) and that proved to be a big mistake. She is fine, but I still feel like such an awful mother.
I managed to keep my emotions together at the pool yesterday and while telling Tyler, but later on I just started bawling about it. Damn, I am getting teary eyed now. I was sitting at the table and looked at Ty and said "I'm sorry I let her fall" and that was about the end of me holding it together. Tyler of course just folded me in his arms, kissed me and reassured me. And then also reassured me that he wouldn't make jokes about it ;-)
I know that this wont be her last injury, and I got lucky that she didn't actually get seriously hurt. I just didn't think I would be the cause of the injury. It's all part of the journey I guess!
Now, on two unrelated notes, check out the picture below, because I LOVE when she does this. She shimmies to one side of her high chair and crouches a little and then peeks around...and check back this afternoon for another recipe.
Yesterday was a big day for Abrielle, as it entailed a lot of firsts. The first of those was that we said bye bye to the baby carrier, and hello to the big girl car seat!
 |
| Check me out! |
She loves being in this seat and doesn't even complain when I buckle her in. Not even the first time when I spent about 10 minutes trying to figure out how the straps adjusted prior to calling and getting instructions from Tyler about it. She loves the arm rests, and I think she loves sitting up because she can see more. On the way to swimming lessons, she laughed and babbled the whole time.
Now...swimming lessons. Another first.
Because she is not in her baby carrier anymore, after I got us changed I sat her on the bench (they are about 2 feet high) so that I could put our bag in a locker. I had an arm on her at first, but then I looked away because I needed 2 hands to rearrange some things and shove it in the locker. Suddenly another Mom gasped and dove for her as she plummeted from the bench, her own baby still in her arms.
My heart literally froze.
Abby screamed. I mean, really screamed. I have never heard her sustain a cry/scream for so long. She had a big red mark on her forehead and was just inconsolable. That other mom tried to make me feel better by saying that she probably scared her by gasping. Seriously, so sweet. I had let my baby fall because I wasn't watching her, and she blamed the crying on herself. Super nice lady.
Anyway, long story short, I felt like the worst mother in the world and had to do the walk of shame out to the lessons with my daughter who had a neon red spot on her forehead. Luckily she wasn't hurt and somehow didn't get a goose egg or even a bruise. Today, you would never know that she fell. She was fine for the lessons too, laughing and smiling, and one little boy about her age actually pulled her in and kissed her on the forehead while we were in the pool. So sweet!
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| You're documenting this for social services, right? |
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| Don't worry Mama, it's not that bad! |
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| Many of the moms exclaimed "Oh no! Her perfectly shaped head!". It's true, my megamind does have a nice round melon. |
I was just writing the other day how I was sure bumps and bruises were soon to come, and little did I know I would be the cause of it. I am trying not to beat myself up about it, but the truth is, it was 100% my fault. I trusted that she would sit there because she always has (when I was watching her) and that proved to be a big mistake. She is fine, but I still feel like such an awful mother.
I managed to keep my emotions together at the pool yesterday and while telling Tyler, but later on I just started bawling about it. Damn, I am getting teary eyed now. I was sitting at the table and looked at Ty and said "I'm sorry I let her fall" and that was about the end of me holding it together. Tyler of course just folded me in his arms, kissed me and reassured me. And then also reassured me that he wouldn't make jokes about it ;-)
I know that this wont be her last injury, and I got lucky that she didn't actually get seriously hurt. I just didn't think I would be the cause of the injury. It's all part of the journey I guess!
Now, on two unrelated notes, check out the picture below, because I LOVE when she does this. She shimmies to one side of her high chair and crouches a little and then peeks around...and check back this afternoon for another recipe.
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| Peekaboo! I'm watching you! |
Friday, 20 May 2011
Daddy's Girl
Thick as Thieves
Abrielle and I have our whole days together. They start peacefully and quietly, generally in the near dark of the morning, with a quick feed around 6:30 or 7:00. Around 8:00 or 8:30 we face the day head on with bright eyes and a new diaper. We have a comfortable routine during the day peppered with cuddles, giggles, sleepy eyes, happy shrieks and the occasional whine. I'm all she could ever want or need.
Until her father comes home.
Yep, around 3:45 every afternoon, Abrielle becomes a complete and utter traitor. She knows the sound of the door opening. She squiggles and squirms and does all sorts of gymnastics so that she can have a better view of the entryway. As soon as she sees her Daddy it is big sunny smiles (from what I can tell, staring at the back of her head and all), and the most treasonous of new moves in her repertoire...she holds her arms out for him to pick her up. Even if I am already holding her.
The nerve! She never holds her arms out for me!
Ok, I get it. She has an amazing Daddy. She's got a guy who is willing to drop everything at the front door after a long day, when all he really wants to do is sit down and relax, and pick her up and toss her in the air.
And blow raspberries on her belly
And talk to her in a silly high pitched voice
And let her paw his face with those little hands
And ask her about her day (as though she had a taxing day at the office and might need to vent)
And look at her with such love that you would think they had been separated for weeks.
I'm not trying to sound put upon, because I know it is a good thing that shedemands wants her Daddy. If he got home and she wanted nothing to do with him, that would be hard on both of us. I am lucky that she doesn't have to be attached to Mama every minute of the day.
But a little acknowledgement would be nice!
After all, I do take care of her all day. That's not a chore or a hard task, but it is a fact. I roast and puree baby food. I change diapers. I change outfits. I bathe her. I cuddle her, sing to her, read to her and nurse her. I kiss her chubby cheeks and give her extra cuddles when she is sleepy so that I can breathe in that sweet baby smell another time. Shouldn't she still want me?
Since my back is still not 100%, Ty has taken over a lot of duties once he gets home. Last night I had taken a pill in the evening and couldn't nurse her, so my sweet hubby bathed, jammied, bottled and put Abby to bed. He brought her out for a kiss goodnight, but that was it.
Shouldn't I be happy to have gotten the break? I am....it just feels strange to not be doing that stuff. I know I am lucky to have such a great husband who can swoop in and make it all look effortless. I just wish that even once or twice she would look at me and hold her arms up when he is home.
I guess I will just have to settle for her undivided attention all day, and sit back and see the beauty in the two loves of my life loving each other like crazy.
Tyler and Abby reuniting after we had been away in Okotoks for the day.
Kisses from Daddy
Ty's absolute favourite thing to do with Abby
Loving his baby, sight unseen
Abrielle and I have our whole days together. They start peacefully and quietly, generally in the near dark of the morning, with a quick feed around 6:30 or 7:00. Around 8:00 or 8:30 we face the day head on with bright eyes and a new diaper. We have a comfortable routine during the day peppered with cuddles, giggles, sleepy eyes, happy shrieks and the occasional whine. I'm all she could ever want or need.
Until her father comes home.
Yep, around 3:45 every afternoon, Abrielle becomes a complete and utter traitor. She knows the sound of the door opening. She squiggles and squirms and does all sorts of gymnastics so that she can have a better view of the entryway. As soon as she sees her Daddy it is big sunny smiles (from what I can tell, staring at the back of her head and all), and the most treasonous of new moves in her repertoire...she holds her arms out for him to pick her up. Even if I am already holding her.
The nerve! She never holds her arms out for me!
Ok, I get it. She has an amazing Daddy. She's got a guy who is willing to drop everything at the front door after a long day, when all he really wants to do is sit down and relax, and pick her up and toss her in the air.
And blow raspberries on her belly
And talk to her in a silly high pitched voice
And let her paw his face with those little hands
And ask her about her day (as though she had a taxing day at the office and might need to vent)
And look at her with such love that you would think they had been separated for weeks.
I'm not trying to sound put upon, because I know it is a good thing that she
But a little acknowledgement would be nice!
After all, I do take care of her all day. That's not a chore or a hard task, but it is a fact. I roast and puree baby food. I change diapers. I change outfits. I bathe her. I cuddle her, sing to her, read to her and nurse her. I kiss her chubby cheeks and give her extra cuddles when she is sleepy so that I can breathe in that sweet baby smell another time. Shouldn't she still want me?
Since my back is still not 100%, Ty has taken over a lot of duties once he gets home. Last night I had taken a pill in the evening and couldn't nurse her, so my sweet hubby bathed, jammied, bottled and put Abby to bed. He brought her out for a kiss goodnight, but that was it.
Shouldn't I be happy to have gotten the break? I am....it just feels strange to not be doing that stuff. I know I am lucky to have such a great husband who can swoop in and make it all look effortless. I just wish that even once or twice she would look at me and hold her arms up when he is home.
I guess I will just have to settle for her undivided attention all day, and sit back and see the beauty in the two loves of my life loving each other like crazy.
Tyler and Abby reuniting after we had been away in Okotoks for the day.
Kisses from Daddy
Ty's absolute favourite thing to do with Abby
Loving his baby, sight unseen
Saturday, 23 April 2011
And they lived happily ever after
No 7 year itch here!
First things first, happy birthday to my Dad!
To the heart of the post. 7 years ago today, Ty and I went on our fateful first date. Here is the story of us:
In April 2004 I was 20. I was working as a pharmacy tech at Shopper's Drug Mart, finishing up my 3rd year of my BSc.Psychology and had big plans of eventually applying to pharmacy in Edmonton or Vancouver. I was living at home, chose not to drink, and although I had a busy social life I wasn't really into the bar scene. Because I was concentrating on school and thought I would be moving, I had a self imposed moritoriam on dating at the time and had zero interest in starting a relationship.
My friend Amber convinced me to come out for a last class bash with her and some other friends and I reluctantly agreed. We started the evening at her place, went to a houseparty, and then went to Spin (which is now Average Joes/Joe's Garage). When I pulled up (I was driving seeing as I didn't drink), I told them I had forgotten my wallet (true) and as such had no ID and was going to go home. I really wasn't in the mood to go in with them, but before I knew it, Amber's boyfriend Paul was dragging me through the VIP entrance with him, and we weren't carded.
We hung out for a bit, but Amber must have sensed that I was about to bolt because as I was making my way closer and closer to the exit, she suddenly pulled this tall blonde guy out of the crowd and shouted in my ear above the noise that her friend wanted to dance with me....and took off.
So, the tall blonde stranger (Ty) and I danced and made as much small talk as possible in a noisy club. My team (the Flames) and his (the Canucks) were squaring off in the Western Conference finals at the time so chatted about that. I asked him how he knew Amber (you know, his friend) and quickly learned that she had literally grabbed him out of the crowd, and he didn't know her from Adam.
That bitch.
Now I was really ready to bolt, but suddenly, there was Amber again, telling me we were heading to the Roadhouse (am I dating myself here?) and that I could drive "what was your name again?" and she and the others would go ahead and get in line. Again, I tried to beg off since I didn't have my wallet, but she helpfully suggested I quickly rip home and get it.
Awesome.
So, there I am with this stranger in my car, thinking about how incredibly stupid it is to be driving to my home with someone I don't know. We pull up and I ran in through the garage, grabbed my wallet from the kitchen, and was back out in 2 seconds flat. To my surprise, I was greated by an empty car, passenger door open. My first thought?
Crap, he stole my stereo.
Suddenly, he saunters out from beside the house, and gets back in the car. After a few minutes of awkward silence he bashfully said that he had to go pee and couldn't hold it, and didn't want to invite himself in.
Ok.....
So, onwards to Roadhouse we went, where I was moderately impressed with him as her offered me his jacket in line. I was even more impressed when he produced a Roadhouse VIP card and got us through the line in no time. Now, anyone who spent any sort of time at the Roadhouse is laughing at me right now, but what did I know? And the Roadhouse was really busy around that time!
We get inside and I instantly locate my friends, and try to dump this guy at the same time. Not too long later, I was trying to sneak out when Ty caught up with me and asked for my number. One of my girlfriends quietly convinced me to give it to him, so he collect the first real number I had ever handed out. Then, the ever helpful Amber suggested that I may as well drive Ty home since I was leaving anyway.
Thanks, Amber.
So, off to his house we go. A little more small talk as I inwardly seethe at Amber. We get to his house and he asks me inside to "play pool".
Um, no thanks. Now, in fairness, there was a pool table in there.
Next thing I know he is leaning over and kissing me, something that I terminated pretty quickly. I think I wasn't two feet out of the driveway when I was already on the phone with Amber reaming her out. Unfortunately, she was too drunk and too interested in the McDonald's that she was eating in bed to really care and basically told me to live a little.
Now, on to Tyler's side of the story (what he remembers, he was pretty intoxicated that evening). His friend Shawn dragged him to Spin (his least favourite club) because his girlfirend at the time worked there. Ty initially refused to go in and wanted to sit in the Jeep, but was eventually dragged in. He was literally making his first lap when Amber grabbed him and told him that her friend (me) thought that he was cute and wanted to dance with him.
A week later, Ty (with much encouragement from his sister and friend Robin) called me and asked me out. Since it was my Dad's birthday, I tried to beg off and make an excuse, but before I knew it I had agreed to go to a late show with him. I figured to myself I would go on one date and that would be that.
When he picked me up that night I didn't even really give him a chance to shut the engine off before I was out the door. Poor guy had picked me up in the Comet and I think I barely gave it any notice. We got to the theater and I went to pull a pack of gum out of my purse. When he noticed that, he instantly insisted that he was going to pay. Now, before you judge me on my response, please remember that I really had no interest in dating and had nothing to lose here. My response was "I know, I am just getting some gum".
We watched Starsky and Hutch and afterwards he asked me out for a drink (I didn't drink at the time). When I told him this, I instantly followed it up with "I'm not Mormon though". I don't think he believed me. After all, my last name was Stewart and I was one of 4 siblings. Ha ha. So, he dropped me off at home and I was unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out pretty much before the vehicle had come to a stop. No way was he stealing another kiss from me!
I figured I would never hear from him again, but I did. Shortly after I went back to PEI for a week, and I told myself that if I was still thinking about him when I got back I would call him. So I did.
A year and a half later we bought the house and moved in together.
2 years later we were engaged
3 years later we were married
6 years later we had our baby girl.
I would say I owe Amber an apology for reeming her out that night!
First things first, happy birthday to my Dad!
To the heart of the post. 7 years ago today, Ty and I went on our fateful first date. Here is the story of us:
In April 2004 I was 20. I was working as a pharmacy tech at Shopper's Drug Mart, finishing up my 3rd year of my BSc.Psychology and had big plans of eventually applying to pharmacy in Edmonton or Vancouver. I was living at home, chose not to drink, and although I had a busy social life I wasn't really into the bar scene. Because I was concentrating on school and thought I would be moving, I had a self imposed moritoriam on dating at the time and had zero interest in starting a relationship.
My friend Amber convinced me to come out for a last class bash with her and some other friends and I reluctantly agreed. We started the evening at her place, went to a houseparty, and then went to Spin (which is now Average Joes/Joe's Garage). When I pulled up (I was driving seeing as I didn't drink), I told them I had forgotten my wallet (true) and as such had no ID and was going to go home. I really wasn't in the mood to go in with them, but before I knew it, Amber's boyfriend Paul was dragging me through the VIP entrance with him, and we weren't carded.
We hung out for a bit, but Amber must have sensed that I was about to bolt because as I was making my way closer and closer to the exit, she suddenly pulled this tall blonde guy out of the crowd and shouted in my ear above the noise that her friend wanted to dance with me....and took off.
So, the tall blonde stranger (Ty) and I danced and made as much small talk as possible in a noisy club. My team (the Flames) and his (the Canucks) were squaring off in the Western Conference finals at the time so chatted about that. I asked him how he knew Amber (you know, his friend) and quickly learned that she had literally grabbed him out of the crowd, and he didn't know her from Adam.
That bitch.
Now I was really ready to bolt, but suddenly, there was Amber again, telling me we were heading to the Roadhouse (am I dating myself here?) and that I could drive "what was your name again?" and she and the others would go ahead and get in line. Again, I tried to beg off since I didn't have my wallet, but she helpfully suggested I quickly rip home and get it.
Awesome.
So, there I am with this stranger in my car, thinking about how incredibly stupid it is to be driving to my home with someone I don't know. We pull up and I ran in through the garage, grabbed my wallet from the kitchen, and was back out in 2 seconds flat. To my surprise, I was greated by an empty car, passenger door open. My first thought?
Crap, he stole my stereo.
Suddenly, he saunters out from beside the house, and gets back in the car. After a few minutes of awkward silence he bashfully said that he had to go pee and couldn't hold it, and didn't want to invite himself in.
Ok.....
So, onwards to Roadhouse we went, where I was moderately impressed with him as her offered me his jacket in line. I was even more impressed when he produced a Roadhouse VIP card and got us through the line in no time. Now, anyone who spent any sort of time at the Roadhouse is laughing at me right now, but what did I know? And the Roadhouse was really busy around that time!
We get inside and I instantly locate my friends, and try to dump this guy at the same time. Not too long later, I was trying to sneak out when Ty caught up with me and asked for my number. One of my girlfriends quietly convinced me to give it to him, so he collect the first real number I had ever handed out. Then, the ever helpful Amber suggested that I may as well drive Ty home since I was leaving anyway.
Thanks, Amber.
So, off to his house we go. A little more small talk as I inwardly seethe at Amber. We get to his house and he asks me inside to "play pool".
Um, no thanks. Now, in fairness, there was a pool table in there.
Next thing I know he is leaning over and kissing me, something that I terminated pretty quickly. I think I wasn't two feet out of the driveway when I was already on the phone with Amber reaming her out. Unfortunately, she was too drunk and too interested in the McDonald's that she was eating in bed to really care and basically told me to live a little.
Now, on to Tyler's side of the story (what he remembers, he was pretty intoxicated that evening). His friend Shawn dragged him to Spin (his least favourite club) because his girlfirend at the time worked there. Ty initially refused to go in and wanted to sit in the Jeep, but was eventually dragged in. He was literally making his first lap when Amber grabbed him and told him that her friend (me) thought that he was cute and wanted to dance with him.
A week later, Ty (with much encouragement from his sister and friend Robin) called me and asked me out. Since it was my Dad's birthday, I tried to beg off and make an excuse, but before I knew it I had agreed to go to a late show with him. I figured to myself I would go on one date and that would be that.
When he picked me up that night I didn't even really give him a chance to shut the engine off before I was out the door. Poor guy had picked me up in the Comet and I think I barely gave it any notice. We got to the theater and I went to pull a pack of gum out of my purse. When he noticed that, he instantly insisted that he was going to pay. Now, before you judge me on my response, please remember that I really had no interest in dating and had nothing to lose here. My response was "I know, I am just getting some gum".
We watched Starsky and Hutch and afterwards he asked me out for a drink (I didn't drink at the time). When I told him this, I instantly followed it up with "I'm not Mormon though". I don't think he believed me. After all, my last name was Stewart and I was one of 4 siblings. Ha ha. So, he dropped me off at home and I was unbuckling my seatbelt and getting out pretty much before the vehicle had come to a stop. No way was he stealing another kiss from me!
I figured I would never hear from him again, but I did. Shortly after I went back to PEI for a week, and I told myself that if I was still thinking about him when I got back I would call him. So I did.
A year and a half later we bought the house and moved in together.
2 years later we were engaged
3 years later we were married
6 years later we had our baby girl.
I would say I owe Amber an apology for reeming her out that night!
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Family Ties, Part 1.
The men in my life
My brother Mike was home from Vancouver for a few days, and as you know if you have met him, he is awesome. I got to thinking how lucky I am that I not only love, but I genuinely like all the members of my family (both blood and inlaw!).
As such, I am dedicating my next two posts to my family.
The Patriarch
My Dad. How does one begin to describe him? Lover of exotic meats and cheeses and foreign grocery stores. My Mom says that they can't afford to retire because of his spice buying habit. He is an amazing cook and never once complains about having to cater to a vegan and a vegetarian every Sunday night, even though he is a pure meat and potatoes man.
He is super smart (he has his PhD) but has no memory for a lot of things which is an endless source of teasing from our family. Running jokes include having him identify his 4 children by name, and pronounce or spell Maier (which he can do now, thankfully!).
He loves to torture car salesmen, and gets up REALLY early every morning and sits in the dark like a creep drinking coffee. He caught me sneaking in late more than once because of this!
He is a devil's advocate, which can be frustrating, but this is something I see in myself that I have inherited from him. He is incredibly generous and giving, although he pretends to be cheap and blame it on his Scottish roots.
He is such a tender heart with his grandkids. He plays the same games with them that I remember him playing with us (such as horsey ride, magic tricks-which I totally get now by the way!, tickle your ribs, do I need a shave, etc). He STILL gets down on his hands and knees to play horsey with the kids.
Dad's a memory maker, and an amazing man.
Mike
Mike's claim to fame is that he was a hellian as a child, causing chaos throughout our home and community from the time he could toddle. You would NEVER guess this as an adult.
Mike is probably the most generous soul you will ever meet. He is constantly putting others before himself and always goes the extra mile to ensure that everyone is happy.
Mike is a great source of entertainment in our family as well because he can be a bit of a trainwreck at times. Famous stories include him getting cut at a bar downtown and walking back to my parent's house (at least an hour away) so drunk that he was still bleeding when he got home. Enough so that he left blood all over the siding of the house.
He constantly loses phones and debit cards and keys, and this usually involves alcohol related times.
Speaking of which, another great story about Mike is the last time we were in Palm Springs, he decided to mix himself a giant drink in an ice cream pail (that involved about 20 oz of spiced rum and 3 oz of Coke) and drink it...in the pool....with a giant spoon.
Classic Mike.
Mike is carrying on the family tradition of getting at least two University degrees, so he is still in Vancouver and we miss him a lot. He is so devoted to his family and especially his nieces and nephews. Goofy as he is, we love Mikey to pieces!
James
James grew up as Jamie and I have a hard time calling him anything but, although I do respect that he wants to be called James now. James is the youngest of the 4 kids and he got pretty much all of the creativity in the family.
Jamie is INCREDIBLY talented. I cannot highlight that enough! He plays electric and accoustic guitar as well as bass. He has been in numerous bands and has toured all over North America. Watching him play is something amazing, and I wish I could do it more often.
He is also wickedly funny. No one makes me laugh more than he does. He just has a quick, dry wit and observationalist humor. He also does some pretty funny voices. To see how funny he is, follow him on twitter (@biodomerulez).
Jamie and I have always kind of been partners in crime. There were a few years were he kind of took a step back from the family and we did likewise, but things are back on track. He has introduced me to so many great movies and directors and even better Youtube clips (see here for a new fave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZkdcYlOn5M)
(Pictured right)
BIL
For privacy purposes,I am not going to uses my brother-in-law's name or picture, so I will call him BIL. Get it? Ha ha.
BIL has been in my life for almost ten years now. He is an east coast boy and is so much fun. One of my fondest memories of him is sitting at the old Tank House, watching him with a pool cue do his impression of Axel Rose. And may I say, it was bang on.
BIL is a great guy. He is a great dad to his three kids and really highlights what is special and unique with each one of them. He has a busy work schedule, but he is very hands on. He is giving and generous and has bailed me out of more than a few jams since I have known him!
Even before he and my sister got married, I considered BIL to be my brother in law, but now I just consider him my brother. He is smart, funny and caring and an all around amazing guy!
Logan
Also known as Ogie, Ogie man, Ogre, and Ogie Monster. My sister's youngest is the most handsome little boy you will ever meet. He is sweet, with a little touch of, well, boy! He loves all things Dino and Toy Story, plays imagination games that I sometimes don't understand, is really starting to talk a lot. He is stubborn as a stone, but a really sweet and fun little boy. He adores his cousin "Baby Abby" and loves his sisters (well, sometimes he loves to rough up his sisters, but what can you do?). Look at this handsome baby!
Stan
Simply put, Stan scared the bejeezus out of me when I first met him. My father in law is a very LOUD person and that takes some getting use to!
Now that I have had 7 years to get to know him, I can see past that booming voice to the soft side of him. Stan is such a smitten Grandpa. He went from "it's going to be a boy" to "where is my little girl?" He swore he would never call Abby by her full name Abrielle, and now I think he is the one that uses it the most. He complained that Terri (my mother in law) would be spending all of their money spoiling the baby, yet he buys her things like a $40 sleeper from a golf pro shop. To watch Stan with Abby is enough to bring tears to my eyes almost every time. That is true love you see!
Stan is so talented. He is an incredible house painter and has done so many cool designs in his house. He is very meticulous and you know if he is involved in any sort of job, it is going to be done right.
Stan is also a creature of habit. You know that if it is nice out and he isn't golfing or putzing in the back yard, he can be found in the garage ready to have a beer with whoever stops by. He cheers for the Bears, and the Islanders (it is good that they have one fan at least) and is unwaivering in his team allegiance. He goes to the Duke pretty much every Thursday, and before an early bed every night he has peanut butter sandwiches.
Stan is always up for a game of pool or darts in his basement, and always dependable. He is such a great guy.
Bo
Of course I had to mention my poochies! They are members of the family too!
Bo, christened Bowen (after Bowen Island Lager) also goes by Bozo, Bobo, Bonehead, Boceifus, etc. He is huge and a huge baby. He is a crier and whiner, and loves to be sitting on someone's lap. Unfortunately since he is about 130 lbs, that doesn't happen!
He loves fetch and refuses to quit, so much like the movie Spanglish, no one is allowed to throw a ball for him. He has a licking problem so severe we think he needs an Intervention with Candy Finnegan.
He is almost 7 years old and he is the sweetest thing ever. As much as he drives me crazy, I love him to bits!
Look at that handsome knucklehead!
Chevy
Chevy is named after the vehicle brand, and also goes by Chev, Chev-chev, Chevron, and His Royal Highness Princess Chevina (as bestowed upon him by my brother James). Chevy is a rescue from a dump on a reservation, and now that he is 3.5 years old, the "i'm so damaged" act is getting a little old! Chevy is a the biggest scaredy cat, yet doesn't hesitate to bark at anything and everything that comes his way. He takes things from Bo, not because he wants them, but just so Bo can't have it. He is a bit of a dick.
That being said, he is a really sweet dog, and he is my puppy. He is so sweet around people that he knows and especially loves Abby, tail grabbing and all.
Being bad as always
Tyler
No, I didn't forget about my husband, I was just saving the best for last! I figured that this might be the longest entry.
My husband...where do I even begin? There are so many great qualities that make him who he is.
First off, Ty is pretty shy. He doesn't like being the one to ask a question in an airport or order a pizza on the phone. He has definitely lost a lot of this shyness since we first met, but some definitely still remains.
He is a great friend. A lot of the people he knows are friends from childhood, both girls and boys. I would say 90% of my girl friends hug him every time they see him. He is the first person there to help someone move, tow them out of a jam, or to help them drink their beer and watch hockey. He is really loyal and values his friendships. Although we were strangers when we first started dating, he quickly became my best friend.
He is an amazing communicator. Ty and I very rarely fight, and if we are being snippy at each other, he is generally the first to acknowledge it and try to make amends. He is a firm believer in not going to bed angry, and is a fantastic listener. The line from the song Bleed Red by Rodney Dunn makes me think of him, when it goes "if we're both fighting, then we're both losing". So true.
He is dedicated. This applies to so many areas in his life. He is very devoted to his family, and although he picks on her constantly, he is very protective of Amanda, his younger sister. He is a devoted Canucks fan and gets really cranky if people beak them. He loves golf and spends the time he is not on the links complaining that he should be on the links. He is an amazing defensemen, and I love watching him play hockey.
He is easy going. Ty lets most things roll off of his back like water. There were a few days where I felt like I was being snippy at him, and I acknowledged it. To this he replied "yeah, you were, but that's ok. I understand". He didn't use it against me or turn it around on me and start a fight, he just chose to let it go. He does this time and time again. Ty genuinely wants to make people happy and there is a very rare occassion where he insists he has to get his way.
He is a fantastic father. I always knew that Ty would be a great dad, because he was so good with my sister's kids. What I didn't know was how great of Dad he would be. From the very second Abby was in his arms, he was not only a father, but a confident and devoted Dad. He changes diapers, he sings silly songs, he dresses her up in Canuck's jerseys, he plays toys. Abby is so lucky to have a man like him in her life. It is a real juxtaposition to see such a big man wrapped around the finger of such a teeny little girl, but it melts my heart over and over every time.
He is an incredible husband. I can't put into words how lucky I am. Tyler sacrificed a lot during our marriage so that he could support me through 2 degrees. He didn't ever once tell me not to go for my second degree, even though he knew it would mean another 4 years of financial hardship. He knows me better than I know myself and claims to be a great reader of my body language...which is true. He has held me and stroked my hair through many rough times, and tells me he loves me countless times a day. He has been there with me through the very worst and the very best and I fall more and more in love with him every day.
Here is us together at 21 and today
My brother Mike was home from Vancouver for a few days, and as you know if you have met him, he is awesome. I got to thinking how lucky I am that I not only love, but I genuinely like all the members of my family (both blood and inlaw!).
As such, I am dedicating my next two posts to my family.
The Patriarch
My Dad. How does one begin to describe him? Lover of exotic meats and cheeses and foreign grocery stores. My Mom says that they can't afford to retire because of his spice buying habit. He is an amazing cook and never once complains about having to cater to a vegan and a vegetarian every Sunday night, even though he is a pure meat and potatoes man.
He is super smart (he has his PhD) but has no memory for a lot of things which is an endless source of teasing from our family. Running jokes include having him identify his 4 children by name, and pronounce or spell Maier (which he can do now, thankfully!).
He loves to torture car salesmen, and gets up REALLY early every morning and sits in the dark like a creep drinking coffee. He caught me sneaking in late more than once because of this!
He is a devil's advocate, which can be frustrating, but this is something I see in myself that I have inherited from him. He is incredibly generous and giving, although he pretends to be cheap and blame it on his Scottish roots.
He is such a tender heart with his grandkids. He plays the same games with them that I remember him playing with us (such as horsey ride, magic tricks-which I totally get now by the way!, tickle your ribs, do I need a shave, etc). He STILL gets down on his hands and knees to play horsey with the kids.
Dad's a memory maker, and an amazing man.
Mike
Mike's claim to fame is that he was a hellian as a child, causing chaos throughout our home and community from the time he could toddle. You would NEVER guess this as an adult.
Mike is probably the most generous soul you will ever meet. He is constantly putting others before himself and always goes the extra mile to ensure that everyone is happy.
Mike is a great source of entertainment in our family as well because he can be a bit of a trainwreck at times. Famous stories include him getting cut at a bar downtown and walking back to my parent's house (at least an hour away) so drunk that he was still bleeding when he got home. Enough so that he left blood all over the siding of the house.
He constantly loses phones and debit cards and keys, and this usually involves alcohol related times.
Speaking of which, another great story about Mike is the last time we were in Palm Springs, he decided to mix himself a giant drink in an ice cream pail (that involved about 20 oz of spiced rum and 3 oz of Coke) and drink it...in the pool....with a giant spoon.
Classic Mike.
Mike is carrying on the family tradition of getting at least two University degrees, so he is still in Vancouver and we miss him a lot. He is so devoted to his family and especially his nieces and nephews. Goofy as he is, we love Mikey to pieces!
James
James grew up as Jamie and I have a hard time calling him anything but, although I do respect that he wants to be called James now. James is the youngest of the 4 kids and he got pretty much all of the creativity in the family.
Jamie is INCREDIBLY talented. I cannot highlight that enough! He plays electric and accoustic guitar as well as bass. He has been in numerous bands and has toured all over North America. Watching him play is something amazing, and I wish I could do it more often.
He is also wickedly funny. No one makes me laugh more than he does. He just has a quick, dry wit and observationalist humor. He also does some pretty funny voices. To see how funny he is, follow him on twitter (@biodomerulez).
Jamie and I have always kind of been partners in crime. There were a few years were he kind of took a step back from the family and we did likewise, but things are back on track. He has introduced me to so many great movies and directors and even better Youtube clips (see here for a new fave http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZkdcYlOn5M)
(Pictured right)BIL
For privacy purposes,I am not going to uses my brother-in-law's name or picture, so I will call him BIL. Get it? Ha ha.
BIL has been in my life for almost ten years now. He is an east coast boy and is so much fun. One of my fondest memories of him is sitting at the old Tank House, watching him with a pool cue do his impression of Axel Rose. And may I say, it was bang on.
BIL is a great guy. He is a great dad to his three kids and really highlights what is special and unique with each one of them. He has a busy work schedule, but he is very hands on. He is giving and generous and has bailed me out of more than a few jams since I have known him!
Even before he and my sister got married, I considered BIL to be my brother in law, but now I just consider him my brother. He is smart, funny and caring and an all around amazing guy!
Logan
Also known as Ogie, Ogie man, Ogre, and Ogie Monster. My sister's youngest is the most handsome little boy you will ever meet. He is sweet, with a little touch of, well, boy! He loves all things Dino and Toy Story, plays imagination games that I sometimes don't understand, is really starting to talk a lot. He is stubborn as a stone, but a really sweet and fun little boy. He adores his cousin "Baby Abby" and loves his sisters (well, sometimes he loves to rough up his sisters, but what can you do?). Look at this handsome baby!
Stan
Simply put, Stan scared the bejeezus out of me when I first met him. My father in law is a very LOUD person and that takes some getting use to!
Now that I have had 7 years to get to know him, I can see past that booming voice to the soft side of him. Stan is such a smitten Grandpa. He went from "it's going to be a boy" to "where is my little girl?" He swore he would never call Abby by her full name Abrielle, and now I think he is the one that uses it the most. He complained that Terri (my mother in law) would be spending all of their money spoiling the baby, yet he buys her things like a $40 sleeper from a golf pro shop. To watch Stan with Abby is enough to bring tears to my eyes almost every time. That is true love you see!
Stan is so talented. He is an incredible house painter and has done so many cool designs in his house. He is very meticulous and you know if he is involved in any sort of job, it is going to be done right.
Stan is also a creature of habit. You know that if it is nice out and he isn't golfing or putzing in the back yard, he can be found in the garage ready to have a beer with whoever stops by. He cheers for the Bears, and the Islanders (it is good that they have one fan at least) and is unwaivering in his team allegiance. He goes to the Duke pretty much every Thursday, and before an early bed every night he has peanut butter sandwiches.
Stan is always up for a game of pool or darts in his basement, and always dependable. He is such a great guy.
Bo
Of course I had to mention my poochies! They are members of the family too!
Bo, christened Bowen (after Bowen Island Lager) also goes by Bozo, Bobo, Bonehead, Boceifus, etc. He is huge and a huge baby. He is a crier and whiner, and loves to be sitting on someone's lap. Unfortunately since he is about 130 lbs, that doesn't happen!
He loves fetch and refuses to quit, so much like the movie Spanglish, no one is allowed to throw a ball for him. He has a licking problem so severe we think he needs an Intervention with Candy Finnegan.
He is almost 7 years old and he is the sweetest thing ever. As much as he drives me crazy, I love him to bits!
Look at that handsome knucklehead!Chevy
Chevy is named after the vehicle brand, and also goes by Chev, Chev-chev, Chevron, and His Royal Highness Princess Chevina (as bestowed upon him by my brother James). Chevy is a rescue from a dump on a reservation, and now that he is 3.5 years old, the "i'm so damaged" act is getting a little old! Chevy is a the biggest scaredy cat, yet doesn't hesitate to bark at anything and everything that comes his way. He takes things from Bo, not because he wants them, but just so Bo can't have it. He is a bit of a dick.
That being said, he is a really sweet dog, and he is my puppy. He is so sweet around people that he knows and especially loves Abby, tail grabbing and all.
Being bad as alwaysTyler
No, I didn't forget about my husband, I was just saving the best for last! I figured that this might be the longest entry.
My husband...where do I even begin? There are so many great qualities that make him who he is.
First off, Ty is pretty shy. He doesn't like being the one to ask a question in an airport or order a pizza on the phone. He has definitely lost a lot of this shyness since we first met, but some definitely still remains.
He is a great friend. A lot of the people he knows are friends from childhood, both girls and boys. I would say 90% of my girl friends hug him every time they see him. He is the first person there to help someone move, tow them out of a jam, or to help them drink their beer and watch hockey. He is really loyal and values his friendships. Although we were strangers when we first started dating, he quickly became my best friend.
He is an amazing communicator. Ty and I very rarely fight, and if we are being snippy at each other, he is generally the first to acknowledge it and try to make amends. He is a firm believer in not going to bed angry, and is a fantastic listener. The line from the song Bleed Red by Rodney Dunn makes me think of him, when it goes "if we're both fighting, then we're both losing". So true.
He is dedicated. This applies to so many areas in his life. He is very devoted to his family, and although he picks on her constantly, he is very protective of Amanda, his younger sister. He is a devoted Canucks fan and gets really cranky if people beak them. He loves golf and spends the time he is not on the links complaining that he should be on the links. He is an amazing defensemen, and I love watching him play hockey.
He is easy going. Ty lets most things roll off of his back like water. There were a few days where I felt like I was being snippy at him, and I acknowledged it. To this he replied "yeah, you were, but that's ok. I understand". He didn't use it against me or turn it around on me and start a fight, he just chose to let it go. He does this time and time again. Ty genuinely wants to make people happy and there is a very rare occassion where he insists he has to get his way.
He is a fantastic father. I always knew that Ty would be a great dad, because he was so good with my sister's kids. What I didn't know was how great of Dad he would be. From the very second Abby was in his arms, he was not only a father, but a confident and devoted Dad. He changes diapers, he sings silly songs, he dresses her up in Canuck's jerseys, he plays toys. Abby is so lucky to have a man like him in her life. It is a real juxtaposition to see such a big man wrapped around the finger of such a teeny little girl, but it melts my heart over and over every time.
He is an incredible husband. I can't put into words how lucky I am. Tyler sacrificed a lot during our marriage so that he could support me through 2 degrees. He didn't ever once tell me not to go for my second degree, even though he knew it would mean another 4 years of financial hardship. He knows me better than I know myself and claims to be a great reader of my body language...which is true. He has held me and stroked my hair through many rough times, and tells me he loves me countless times a day. He has been there with me through the very worst and the very best and I fall more and more in love with him every day.
Here is us together at 21 and today
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