Miriam, you're doing it wrong

*** oh my god. I wrote this so long ago and never published it! So long, in fact, I refer to Miriam as 1 year old and none of this is still true! whoops! well enjoy. I don't think the story has a shelf life. Should still be good, if not a bit stale ***

Miriam is so so so brilliant. She's clever; does very well communicating her wants and needs; easy to understand; patient about her limitations. She's seriously an exceptional child (says the mother) and I hope everyone reading this can be lucky enough to interact with her beautiful personality. 

But. But. She's still a one year old and doesn't quite grasp why or how we do the things she sees us doing. And so she's often doing them wrong. 

Here's a list of examples I've compiled, addressed to Miriam. 

Miriam, my love, You're Doing It Wrong

Using an umbrella: Get under the umbrella. Under. 

Trying to climb over the back of the couch: You feel you need to start from a lie down position on the seat cushions and climb your toes up first. Entertaining and painful to watch. And slow. So slow. 

Using binoculars: No. No. Just no. Backwards and pointed into the couch with your eyes sealed shut.

Sleeping: anywhere but here my dear

Playing with the dollhouse: No it's not your house. 

Giving baby a hug: Looks like choking. Probably feels like it too. 

Eating pizza: starts from the mid point, upside down.

Applying lip balm: you missed your lips but got your eyeballs. Impressive.

Saying Cheese

Washing your hands

Eating yogurt: that's Princess Amber, upside down, serving as your spoon. 

*the post ends here like this. I'm going to leave it as is. I'm sure I was waiting for Miriam to screw up some other simple task and provide more content for the post. And while I'm sure she did do that, I completely forgot what I was doing and here we are. xo

Snow and Celebration

We celebrated Miriam's first birthday yesterday. I miss baby Miriam already. But she's such a sweet and fun little girl I can't complain. 

We had three birthday cakes because I had posted pictures of my failed attempt and two of my friends took pitty on me and delivered cakes!

At one point both girls got stuck under a chair. 

And they played really well while waiting for the party guests to arrive. 

It was a lot of fun!!!!

Miriam really wanted this giraffe for her birthday present but couldn't carry it out of the toy store.

It snowed here this week and it's been beautiful. Georgina got to play in the snow with Gigi today and with her friends at school on Monday. And on our little walk today we found a snowman!

G and Gigi in my parents backyard. 

After playing outside for a bit with Gigi Georgina was pretty cold and I found her snuggled up with Handsome. 

She absolutely loves him. He was purring away so I don't think he minds too much. 

Marlo St James Photography

While we did get outside today we have spent a lot of time this week just looking outside, taking it all in. It's been a lovely week.

**special thanks to my friend Marlo for taking the bottom photo of Miriam and me. More to come from her soon.

HUGE NEWS!

This past week I have been holding onto a secret because I wanted to first announce it when I finally had video evidence to corroborate. And I  finally do!

WOOOOOO!!! Great job Miriam! (for finally doing it while the camera was on). I am one proud mommy. My excitement in the video is more for the fact I caught it on film but it is still so amazing and exciting to see her taking her first steps again and again.
Before this video there were just a bunch of videos of me groaning in disappointment...

Next time you see Miriam she'll be walking like a champ! Uh oh, does this mean I now have TWO toddlers????

Tot Romp

This morning Dave apparently gave Georgina pure sugar for breakfast because she was running around the house in circles just screaming (I'm not positive he did but she was exceptional today). I packed up the girls and brought them to tot romp, an indoor playground organised at the community centre for daily drop ins, in the hopes of burning off all that energy. We met up with Georgina's good friend Jackson and his little brother Oliver.

Miriam drove around

 While G did some climbing

Miriam scooted

While G worked on her balance beam skills. Look at that form!

Miriam played with Oliver

And Georgina played with Jackson

The parachute was the highlight.

Both girls fell asleep as soon as we got home so I would say it was a success! That or G was crashing from her sugar high. Here's a video summery of the day.

**You can click on the video to enlarge it if you would like.

Georgina Dancing

Since she was a baby Georgina has loved music. She would only fall asleep if Dave sang to her for an hour until she was a year and a half. She would only tolerate a car ride if someone was singing Wheels on the Bus nonstop. And still now, if we're having a bad day, turning on some music turns the  whole day around. Check out her moves she's been honing since the day she was born.

A Sunny Park Day With Friends

One sunny day a couple weeks ago - who has time to blog? - we went for a walk to our local playground and met up with Anne, Leo and Max.

Georgina sang and marched merrily to the park.

And she helped push Miriam part of the way. 

She cannot see where she's going but is adamant that you do not help her.
Always the big girl.

Almost there....

It's just at the end of this path...

Through the trees...

 Over the bridge...

Up the hill....

And we're here!!!

Leo adores Miriam. The little dude in red is Max, Leo's brother, who is one month older than Miriam.

Leo played so well with Miriam and she loved every moment.

Georgina and Leo started playing a questionable game of Shove Each Other Off The Stump. 

They LOVED it. So we let it play out.

Action Shot!

And they played Follow The Leader. 

But then it was time to say goodbye.

Those eyebrows!!!!

Goodbye kiss for his favourite

On our way home Georgina stopped to watch the school kids playing at recess. She didn't understand why she couldn't go in and play too. Don't worry Georgina, you'll be old enough too soon. 

Thanks Anne, Leo and Max for a great play date. I'm sorry they don't happen more often!