Awe

Sometimes there are miraculous emotions and feelings that no matter how hard you try, you just can't put it properly into words, but for the sake of this journal, I'm going to try.

The excitement of Christmas Day has been building over the last few weeks, more so for me, then both of my children put together. Because of my upbringing, Christmas was never a big thing and I never experienced the 'magic' or joy of the holiday season. Granted, at the time, it didn't bother me because facts were facts - "there is no Santa, Christmas is the birthday of Jesus Christ and although we don't worship, we can honor that day without gifts." "Christmas is too commercialized as it is."


My husband's childhood was a little different, but due to money constraints, gifts were few and far between.  I guess due to both of our upbringings, gifts at Christmas time is a big thing for us. Every night, after the girls fell asleep, Ray and I wrapped the gifts together.

Yesterday, on Christmas Eve, C, A and I made 2 batches of cookies for Santa. Their innocence and excitement over the whole ordeal, made me cry. I still just can't get over it.

Christmas morning: 7:30 a.m., I'm lying in bed (I know count my lucky stars) and I hear A calling C from her bottom bunk "Nina, can you get up with me" "Nina" "Nina, can you please wake up with me" "Nina" "Nina, can you please wake up with me". Oh my goodness, my poor aching heart! It was so cute! C woke up, climbed down the ladder, turned on the light and played with her sister. Not a word about running downstairs to open gifts, no rushing like mad to wake us up. She let us sleep and played with her toys. About 20 minutes later we all went downstairs and she was thrilled to see that the milk and cookies were gone. Thrilled!

Again, here I am grinning from ear to ear like the Cheshire cat. Watching them, feeling their excitement - there is no better gift. Even when they opened up their presents. Each one was opened carefully, the box was then opened completely, the toy assembled, played with, looked at and then we went to the next gift. There was no "next, next". After the Disney Princess gifts she received, C said, "This is the best Christmas of my life" "I can' believe this, these are all of the things that I wanted so much" "I just can't believe this". As she clutched her hands to her chest and closed her eyes.

 A had a little more trouble opening the gifts "Can you open for me" "Can you do this for me, please I can't do it".  Cuteness overload. We bought her a Cinderella dress to her amazement, and she wore it the entire day.

After today, after spending Christmas together as a family. Laughing, playing, watching - I am in complete awe and wonder. I can't believe that God gave me 2 amazing gifts. I said to my husband, I know most people say this, but our children are truly extraordinary. I can't get over it. I love their souls, I love the people that they are becoming, I love their individuality, I love A's infectious giggling laughter that sends pure joy right through me. I adore C's heart, I adore the way her mind works. Their love and respect for each other amazes me. I honestly don't know how I got so blessed. I feel so honored to be the mother of these two children.

After they fell asleep, I went into their room and listened to their breathing. Looking at them sleeping, I can't believe how much they've grown. It's scary. I'm afraid, it's going to disappear so quickly. Their childhood, these magical moments, their sweet innocence. Time goes by so fast, and I don't want these precious moments to end.


Next year, there will be 3 beautiful souls, sitting on the floor Christmas day. We've been blessed yet again, and I am so incredibly grateful!

My girls

It's already middle of July and my baby is almost 4. I can't believe it.

This parenting gig is quite funny. You think you'll be the one teaching them everything, when the truth is, they teach you. Every day they teach you something. Patience is a virtue I have yet to master and with these two, I hope and pray that one day I will.

This little monkey? She is a ball of fire! A walking, talking, screaming ball of fire. Don't let her looks fool you :). She has the sweetest little chipmunk voice that makes your heart melt every time you hear it.

Oh how I love these two little girls of mine!

Busyness

Life is such a whirlwind. The good, the bad, the busy, the hectic, everything gets the better of you and before you know it a week has gone by, then a month, then a couple of months.

Is it too late to make a New Years resolution? I need to find a balance or some sort of balance between priorities, family, business and everything in between. Lord only knows how I'll do it, but I have to try!

Wowza

Well, this is officially the longest I have ever gone writing on this blog of mine!

Things have been crazy around here! We went on a beautiful vacation to Turks & Caicos islands back in February and I have yet to post pictures and write about that vacation! I will say it was the single best vacation we have ever been on as a family. Amazing!

Alaina is talking! Yes, talking - can you believe it? Mama, Dada, Nina (for Celina), dog, cat, book, pretty, happy, elmo, flower, etc.  There you have it, I have officially leaked my children's names :).

And the big project I was talking about? Well, that is what has been keeping me so darn busy! I launched Child Mode on January 22nd and it took off in a way that I couldn't have imagined. Tori Spelling mentioned us on her Twitter page a couple of days ago which had us on People.com for the last couple of days.

Please come, take a look and if you like what you see tell your friends! Would love to hear your thoughts :).

New Project

With the New Year comes a fresh start and just a couple of weeks ago I started a new project. I'm really excited about it and will share in a couple of weeks when we return from our getaway.

6 more days!! :)

A Mother's Love

Some people are excellent writers and can put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboards) and create stories, news articles and press releases which are all grammatically correct and free of all errors. Then there are others who touch you so deeply with their words, so deeply it can hurt like heck sometimes or touch your heart in ways you couldn't fathom. People who can put into words what you can not, bring to life that which is deep in your heart and compose perfection.

I found this video from the wonderful Sara from tout-est-des-roses. Her blog is one which can't be missed, in fact it has become one of my favourite new blogs (there should be awards for that kind of thing). 

Now, if you have children in the room or if you are easily offended be warned that there is  a teeny bit of language. If you are a mother please watch,  the beauty in this message is truly astounding. 

"C" is getting so excited, well we all are! 2 more weeks until our vacation begins - sunshine, white sand and turquoise waters here we come!

The weather has been milder this winter then previously but all this snow is quite tiresome. My husband has been working day in and out helping his brother with his renovations. I don't know if I mentioned this already but my brother-in-law seriously injured himself at work a couple of months ago and is now unable to return to work. As he was in the middle of renovating his house, we offered to help him out. 2 months later and we are finally nearing the end.

Days, weeks and months have been flying by and I have no idea where the time has gone. There doesn't seem to be time for anything anymore! But, thats how we roll here - busy, busy, busy!

Broke Down

I am slightly embarrassed to admit that last week I caved in and did something I never thought I would do in a million years.

I broke down and read Twilight. Not only did I give in to the hype, I actually quite enjoyed the book and was disappointed when I reached the end. The story is extremely original and highly addicting.

I don't know whats more shocking, the fact that I read a book on vampires or that I'm reading at all. With two little ones the only books I read these days are "Moo Boo La La" , "Goodnight Moon" and every fairytale known to man. Luckily I've been able to squeeze in 20 minutes here and there to enjoy an activity I haven't participated in ages. It feels almost sinful!

New Moon, here I come!

Its Her Birthday!

When she arrived it was love at first sight. Her beautiful eyes and little lips, the way she looked at us, taking in our faces. I remember it all as if it were yesterday.

She is such a joy, such a light!

And today was her first birthday. Happy birthday to the sweetest baby I know!

(She loved her strawberry and vanilla cake as you can see!)

This too shall pass.

Life is like the ocean. Waves crashing and bubbling up. Peaks forming and water churning.
Other days its placid and calm with little ripples. Things are calm now. The storm has ended and the beach is quiet. Waves wash up to touch my toes and then pull back again as if they are playing a game.

My impatience has been getting the best of me lately. Anxiousness, fear all with no grounds, no reasoning. I lacked the strength to dive into the waves and let them wash over me instead of fighting them. It all passes. It all ends and a new day is just around the corner.

Caught Up

I lost myself recently. Lost myself in busyness of sorts. I didn't realize it at the time and although signs around me were pointing to the obvious, I ignored them all. Unfortunately it took a huge tole on my family and my world around me.

It isn't easy for me to lose perspective but this time I did. Thank God I came back.

There are things that must be done yes. Chores, lists, business, important things. But the most important is your family. If you deny yourself that, if you ignore the most important things, you are denying yourself the real reason and the real joy in life.

2010 A New Year

January 1, 2010. Another year has gone by amazingly enough!

Happy New Year my friends! Hoping 2010 is filled with happiness, health and everything you wish it to be.

2009 was an amazing year!