Rabbits Eat Berries and Crackers

After a few days of temperatures down to -30C with the windchill, we were so excited to finally get outside and enjoy the crisp air and the bright sun.  Little One is still catching up on sleep from all the excitement over the holidays and I had to wake him up when we arrived at the Harvey Moore trail just outside of Montague.  Little One still loves to be carried on the trails, especially when there is snow.  With our Toddler Tula, carrying him is a breeze and enjoyable.

The snow had been gently falling over the past 24 hours so there was a light dusting of sparkling snow on the ground and trees.  Little One and I saw blues, pinks and golds shimmering in the snow and it was fun to see the changing colours as we walked through the forest.  After a kilometre, Little One was happier to kick the snow off all the trees.

Usually we try to find squirrels and birds, but with the fresh snow, the animal tracks were very exciting for Little One.  We followed rabbit tracks along the trail, saw puppy tracks that went to drink water, and a squirrel that ate some red berries. I asked Little One what he thought rabbits ate and he replied "berries and crackers."  I guess rabbits have the same diet as Little One!

Little One also thought he saw frog tracks.  I thought this snow covered branch looked a bit like frog legs.  We talked about how frogs actually don't play in the snow as it's too cold for them.  

There's lots to see at Harvey Moore and here, on the bridge, we saw a small fish swimming.  Little One loves looking in the water to see what else he can see.  

Although we didn't see any beavers on the Beaver Lodge trail, we did see plenty of geese on the Goose trail.  I was surprised they haven't flown south.   It was a beautiful day to get out and enjoy the trails together with my Little One.

Tactahs and Neigh-Neighs

How children develop is an amazing and curious phenomenon.  How do little ones become so interested in one or two things?  My little dinosaur LOVES tractors and horses right now.  He will identify tractors and horses (he calls them neigh-neighs) in books, in fields and on TV (gasp, I know, he's too young for TV).  I have made sure that my little dinosaur has been exposed to all toys. He has his cars and tractors, tool kit and every kind of ball you can imagine.  He also has his baby and kitchen toys.  As someone who used to teach kids to play, I follow his lead with all the toys around the house and we play many games with all his toys.

While I'm curious as to how he decided what his interests would be and what he can play with and read about for minutes (not hours, he's only 1 for goodness sake) at a time, I will entertain him and find opportunities for him to explore his current favourite things.

The last two weeks of summer, we were able to head to Old Home Week and the Exhibition, Elmira Railway Museum, the Dundas Plowing Match and Farm Day at Orwell Corner.  I have watched my little dinosaur dance with excitement when he sees tractors and horses.  It is the cutest thing to see how excited he gets and every bit of him is happy.

 Dundas Plowing Match

Elmira Railway Museum

 Reading Good Night Construction Site with Great-Grandma

So in the meantime I'm learning lots about tractors.  Green ones, blue ones, red ones and orange ones.  There are lawn mowers, excavators, dozers and trucks that also seem to fall into this category.  I love finding new places to take my little dinosaur so he can watch and learn about the machines around him.

Back on Track

It's been far too long since I've taken the time to sit and write a post.  Although the intent has been there, I have not made the time.  I'm hoping as the summer winds down and a new 'school' year starts that I'm able to get back into some healthier habits of years gone by.

Little Dinosaur and I have been busy as usual. That does not change. Neither of us enjoy being inside for any length of time. Outside is where we belong.  Thankfully, the island has lots to offer and we have enjoyed the beach, camping, and hikes through our Acadian forests.

Clintonia borealis 

As sitting up became crawling, and crawling became walking, my life in a sense has actually slowed down. I don't trust myself to keep my phone handy when my Little Dinosaur and I are out and about because he is so curious and takes off every which way to learn more about his surroundings.  Because of this, I leave my phone in the car or in the house when we are out. This has slowed down my thoughts and is allowing me to actual be present in the moment.  I'm not usually in the moment, it's a real struggle for me to just be and enjoy what's happening.  So, thankfully my little dinosaur is helping me to be in the moment.

I'll need to start carrying around my plant book as he loves all tees (trees) and plants.  It'll be good to get back to learning names of plants and trees. This is an aspect I miss from the forests and mountains of BC, as well as the marine life off Vancouver Island and the Red Sea.

Here's to a new year! Happy learning to all of us!

My Love Can Fly!

He's here, my sweet baby boy is here! Born in late March, he arrived while the snow was falling and the wind was blowing.  My Little Dinosaur has taken over my heart in just a few weeks.  While he is still sleeping and eating a lot, he is oh so alert and curious about the world around him.  His eyes are wide open and watching our every move. He loves to look out the window at the trees.  Soon we will be able to sit outside in the sun and hear the wind blow rustle the leaves.

For his baby shower, my cousins gave us many more books. One of them I had never read before and it has touched me in a way kids books don't usually do. I believe this book resonates with me because of my most recent experiences abroad and the wonderful opportunities I've had to climb mountains, dive in the oceans and hike through forests.  

Wherever You Are, my love will find you

Nancy Tillman

I wanted you more than 

you ever will know,

so I sent love to follow

wherever you go.

It's high as you wish it.  It's quick as an elf.

You'll never outgrow it... it stretches itself!

So climb any mountain...

climb up to the sky!

My love will find you.

My love can fly!

I won't spoil the rest of this beautiful story.  The words are reassuring to any traveler that love will be there no matter what. Look around you and you will see that nature has a way of letting you know that you are loved.  The pictures are exciting and will only invite Little Dinosaur to dream of when he will see hippos, giraffes and peacocks.  Or when he will be able to climb mountains, swim in the deep blue or spin around in forests.

Dear friends, go out and enjoy the world around you. Visit big cities and country fields.  Remember that while you are traveling and exploring you are loved wherever you are.

Words Are Life

Last week, the island had two winter storms with over 50 cm of snow falling and blowing around each time.  The RCMP discouraged anyone to be out on the roads so the city shut down. With the impending storm, my good friend decided that I shouldn't be alone in the even that something (labour) should happen.  After joking with her that I would be happy if she would be with me to catch the baby, we settled in for a couple of storm days.  Thankfully we did not lose power and were able to watch some TV and a few movies on Netflix.

One of the movies was the "The Book Thief".  This story resonated with me because of my love of books and my own discovery of how words can heal.  Liesel is adopted into a family in another village but is ridiculed at school because she does not know how to read or write.  But her desire to learn is insatiable so she steals books and with her father, she learns to read in the basement of their home.  When the family shelters Max, a Jew, she reads to him and he in return gives her a journal so she can write her own story.  He tells her, words are life.

Words are life. Words tell the story of our existence and express our dreams. Words can make us laugh or cry. Words can be shared with friends or can be written in a private journal.  Words can heal yet words can hurt.  Words describe life around us.

My friends in Egypt gave me a head start on my own children's library as their gift to my baby.  I now have over 30 books of my friends favourite childhood books to read to my own little one.  These words will help to create a life long love of language and books.  Thank you to all my friends in Egypt <3.

One Load at a Time

It's crazy to think that in just a few short weeks I'm going to be a mama.  Time is flying by yet at the same time is just creeping along.  While I have been feeling great and would have loved to continue working, airline policies had me moving back to Canada at 34 weeks.  The extra time I've had at home has allowed me to slowly prepare for this bundle of joy.  Picking up the crib and change table over Christmas gave me the first hints of, 'WOW! This is actually happening!'  And now, my room is filled with cloth diapers, baby clothes (for both a boy and girl because I still don't know what the sex is), receiving blankets, a bassinet, the beginnings of a children's library, and all the little extras that babies need.   Today I picked up a stroller and car seat. I think I have all I need for this baby and me to be comfortable for awhile.

The first load of baby laundry I did was unlike any other laundry experience.  I was filled with mixed emotions. One being, oh my goodness, I'm going to be doing a lot of laundry over the next few years.  The other feeling was excitement for the new baby.  Excitement to hold and kiss my baby for the first time and to not let go for a long time.  Excitement to go on beach walks and forest walks to enjoy nature with my little one.  I'm excited to nurse my baby, both day and night, and to feel that bond that many mothers talk about.  And I cannot wait to read to him/her books that I loved as a child.

The mundane task of folding laundry has also allowed me to spend time in thought.  Thinking about not only the possibilities of the future but also of the challenges that I will face as a single parent.  It's not often that I just sit and think.  As someone who likes to keep busy either by reading or walking, sitting and thinking is not natural for me. I'm slowly learning to just be. This morning I watched a big, black crow just hanging out in one of the trees in the front yard. He had no cares that I could see. He was just sitting, looking out to the water and enjoying the peace of the morning sunrise.  I took his cue, and made a cup of coffee this morning, added my craving of the week, chocolate milk, and just looked out the window at the newly fallen snow and the peacefulness that is all around me.

If you have any advice on how to live in the present and to tame this sometimes, frantic mind of mine, I would greatly appreciate it.  For now, I will continue to fold laundry and just be, one load at a time.

This Moment is Beautiful

The snow is gently falling outside and reminds me that everyday there are new moments just waiting to be experienced and remembered.  Over the past few months I have gone through many life changing moments and will continue to see change in the next few months.  I have never liked change but have longed to experience new things.  Learning to overcome what can almost be called a fear of change has allowed me to move across the country in my 20s and then across the seas in my 30s.  And here I am, fifteen years later, back to where it all began in my childhood town.  I have changed, my friends and family have changed, but the snow keeps falling and the seas keep rolling.  It is these constants that bring me back to the beautiful moment of now and help me to realize that change is what happens when we long to grow spiritually and mentally.