This was one of the traditions I looked forward to the most. Even though I know that Cadi won't remember this, it was so special and sweet to start this tradition with her.
Monday, December 31, 2007
Christmas Eve
Every parent looks forward to their child's first Christmas...for many reasons - the first time their child has their picture with Santa, watching and helping them open their first Christmas presents, waking up Christmas morning, and, of course, cookies for Santa!
This was one of the traditions I looked forward to the most. Even though I know that Cadi won't remember this, it was so special and sweet to start this tradition with her.
This was one of the traditions I looked forward to the most. Even though I know that Cadi won't remember this, it was so special and sweet to start this tradition with her.
Bouchard Family Christmas
What a wonderful evening!! We had Christmas Eve dinner at Jon and Jeanne's house this year and it was SO much fun! I loved catching up with my family - there was good wine, yummy food and lots of laughs!
Acadia's first "cracker" experience
The Paradee Family (aka The Cracker Hat Family)
The Bouchard-Cornelius-Duval-Paradee Family!
Auntie Miche helped her to sleep
Acadia's first "cracker" experience
The Paradee Family (aka The Cracker Hat Family)
The Bouchard-Cornelius-Duval-Paradee Family!
Auntie Miche helped her to sleep
It's been a while...
Here are some pictures of Christmas at Matti's parents house this year. It was so relaxing and fun! I love seeing Cadi with her cousins...it definitely brings a whole new meaning to Christmas!
Our little bow-girl
Daddy shows Cadi her new rattle Santa brought her
Cadi takes a stroll on her new ride
Daddy shows Cadi how to play the harmonica
Cadi is more interested in mommy's ear than taking the picture!
Our little bow-girl
Daddy shows Cadi her new rattle Santa brought her
Cadi takes a stroll on her new ride
Daddy shows Cadi how to play the harmonica
Cadi is more interested in mommy's ear than taking the picture!
Friday, December 21, 2007
Tomorrow is a different day...
Yesterday was a challenging day...I won't get into it, but it was just a mixture of a teething baby, a daddy who worked a 12 hour day and two tired/cranky girls stuck in the house all day. Last night, I had a couple of glasses of wine my friend Liz had brought over and an amazing talk with a good friend about mommyhood, both of which were a great way to end the day.
This morning, Acadia woke up at 7:15 while Matti was still home. I brought her out to the kitchen and when she saw her daddy (this never happens - she normally wakes up after he has left for the day), she broke out into a HUGE grin and started clapping!!! Oh. My. Word. A very good way for us to wake up indeed - your little girl clapping out of happiness to see her daddy. Today is a good day. It is a different day. And when I have another one of those days, I will look back to this one and know that tomorrow is a different day...
This morning, Acadia woke up at 7:15 while Matti was still home. I brought her out to the kitchen and when she saw her daddy (this never happens - she normally wakes up after he has left for the day), she broke out into a HUGE grin and started clapping!!! Oh. My. Word. A very good way for us to wake up indeed - your little girl clapping out of happiness to see her daddy. Today is a good day. It is a different day. And when I have another one of those days, I will look back to this one and know that tomorrow is a different day...
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Paradee Power
Last night I took Matti out to The Rotisserie to celebrate his last night of school for the semester. (Uncle Jimmy and Auntie Miche watched Cadi - thanks guys!!) Please, everybody, please. Do yourself a favor and order a Cosmo Champagne the next time you go out to dinner. I don't know if this is an actual drink or not - my boss served this at his house this past weekend during our holiday party. It. Is. Amazing. Can you love a drink? I mean love. A. Drink? I hope so, because I honestly do love this drink. All it is is a Cosmo, but champagne replaces the vodka. Delicious.
So...the point of this post is not actually about drinking...although that would be a fun post...
Matti and I often talk about our goals - both short term and long term, assess where we are in our lives, how we're doing - financially, emotionally, etc., what we can do to insure Acadia grows up to be a confident, self-assured, happy person. Last night was another one of those talks about my life and my goals - professionally. Am I happy? Do I love my job? What would make me happier? I'm sure you've all had those conversations - whether they be outloud to your partner or just thoughts floating around in your head that you haven't shared with anyone yet.
Don't get me wrong - I do like my job. I am very lucky to work at home, so I am able to be home with Acadia all day. But am I passionate about my job? Do I love it? Well...if my boss is reading this, than yes I do! If he is not reading this, then....well....I suppose I could be a bit more fulfilled. This is putting it nicely. I will never take for granted that my job has given be the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, which is the hardest and most rewarding job in the world. Being a SAHM is my dream job - one I am SO proud to be doing. But let's be honest; as much as I wish it would, being a SAHM doesn't pay the bills.
Which brings me to our conversation last night. I have had this idea for a little while now (more on this later) for a business. Not a large business, but any means, but a business, nonetheless. I discussed this idea with my *new* business manager, Matti, and oh. My. Word. Did he get excited! After I had spent 20 minutes explaining all my ideas and where I would work (turning part of the downstairs into an office will be fun!), where I would get my supplies, who I would sell my work to, etc, etc, etc. Matti got a napkin out and started drawing designs, measurements, and more ideas! He was so sweet and so excited - it reminded me yet again what an awesome partner I have. With each other on our sides, I feel like we can do anything together. I feel like I am capable of the impossible. I am thankful...so thankful that he is my best friend.
So...the point of this post is not actually about drinking...although that would be a fun post...
Matti and I often talk about our goals - both short term and long term, assess where we are in our lives, how we're doing - financially, emotionally, etc., what we can do to insure Acadia grows up to be a confident, self-assured, happy person. Last night was another one of those talks about my life and my goals - professionally. Am I happy? Do I love my job? What would make me happier? I'm sure you've all had those conversations - whether they be outloud to your partner or just thoughts floating around in your head that you haven't shared with anyone yet.
Don't get me wrong - I do like my job. I am very lucky to work at home, so I am able to be home with Acadia all day. But am I passionate about my job? Do I love it? Well...if my boss is reading this, than yes I do! If he is not reading this, then....well....I suppose I could be a bit more fulfilled. This is putting it nicely. I will never take for granted that my job has given be the opportunity to be a stay at home mom, which is the hardest and most rewarding job in the world. Being a SAHM is my dream job - one I am SO proud to be doing. But let's be honest; as much as I wish it would, being a SAHM doesn't pay the bills.
Which brings me to our conversation last night. I have had this idea for a little while now (more on this later) for a business. Not a large business, but any means, but a business, nonetheless. I discussed this idea with my *new* business manager, Matti, and oh. My. Word. Did he get excited! After I had spent 20 minutes explaining all my ideas and where I would work (turning part of the downstairs into an office will be fun!), where I would get my supplies, who I would sell my work to, etc, etc, etc. Matti got a napkin out and started drawing designs, measurements, and more ideas! He was so sweet and so excited - it reminded me yet again what an awesome partner I have. With each other on our sides, I feel like we can do anything together. I feel like I am capable of the impossible. I am thankful...so thankful that he is my best friend.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Jacob's 5th birthday party!
Last weekend, Tim and Wendy had us over for Jacob's 5th birthday party. FIFTH!! I can't even believe it - I feel like he was just born yesterday. How is he five years old already? We had a great time with our friends and Cadi had lots of fun with Jake!
Let's not forget
Daddy and Uncle Jimmy!! I can't figure out how to download more than 4 pictures per post, so I couldn't add these two pics to my last post. Daddy and Uncle Jimmy got a lot of laughs from Cadi with
some clapping...
and from Uncle Jimmy, the wreath-man!!
some clapping...
and from Uncle Jimmy, the wreath-man!!
Grandma's birthday dinner
Cadi and Grandma hang out...
Cadi shows Great-Grandma how to clap...
Great-Grandpa and Cadi have a serious chat...
Sitting on Auntie Sissy's lap...
Cadi shows Great-Grandma how to clap...
Great-Grandpa and Cadi have a serious chat...
Sitting on Auntie Sissy's lap...
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Cute stuff, cute girl
Two new presents from some of our friends that are SO cute!
First, this bonnet. Oh my. What baby doesn't need a bonnet? On this particular day, every time she drank from her sippy cup, she left her pointer finger up. I love it - it looks like she's scolding me. My baby has turned into a pissed off Laura Ingalls!
Wool socks. How. Cute. Handmade wool sock - you can't get any better than that! So sweet - thank you, Lucy!
First, this bonnet. Oh my. What baby doesn't need a bonnet? On this particular day, every time she drank from her sippy cup, she left her pointer finger up. I love it - it looks like she's scolding me. My baby has turned into a pissed off Laura Ingalls!
Wool socks. How. Cute. Handmade wool sock - you can't get any better than that! So sweet - thank you, Lucy!
Friday, December 7, 2007
Cadi's been "Elfed"!
My friend Bonnie sent this to me today and I think it's about the funniest thing EVER!! Thanks Bonnie!
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1223308196
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1223308196
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Pure happiness...
So I'm taking a step back a couple of days to the night we decorated out tree...
Do you ever have those moments in time where you feel pure 100% happiness? I'm not talking about just being "sorta" happy. I mean that split second or two where your heart feels like it will literally burst? Where everything in your life feels perfect for just a minute? Of course I'm happy with my life and my home, family, etc. And I am so content with where our lives are and where they're going. But. Sometimes I am just overwhelmed by the happiness in my life and our little family of three.
Little things make me happy. After Cadi went to bed, Matti said I should gather some candles to light, so we could share a glass of wine and sit in front of the tree together. I went out to our porch to get these candles below, and noticed a small amount of snow had been sprinkled onto the candles. Yum.
We buy our ornaments when we are on vacations to remind us of our adventures. This ornament is a sweet little sweater with a giraffe in it's pocket. A giraffe! Who doesn't need a miniature giraffe in their pockets to make them happy? So sweet. We bought this on our trip to Connecticut to see our dear friend's Wendy and Tim's son be baptized. He's now 5...and every time I take this little sweater to put on our tree, I am reminded of our amazing circle of friends.
Come on. How can a picture of a baby with reindeer ears not make you smile?
And here is that moment. Pure. Happiness. Quite silly of me to try to capture it on film. Have you every tried to take a picture of happiness? It's impossible. But I still love this picture and know that every time I see it, I will be reminded of one perfect night shared with my babes...
Do you ever have those moments in time where you feel pure 100% happiness? I'm not talking about just being "sorta" happy. I mean that split second or two where your heart feels like it will literally burst? Where everything in your life feels perfect for just a minute? Of course I'm happy with my life and my home, family, etc. And I am so content with where our lives are and where they're going. But. Sometimes I am just overwhelmed by the happiness in my life and our little family of three.
Little things make me happy. After Cadi went to bed, Matti said I should gather some candles to light, so we could share a glass of wine and sit in front of the tree together. I went out to our porch to get these candles below, and noticed a small amount of snow had been sprinkled onto the candles. Yum.
We buy our ornaments when we are on vacations to remind us of our adventures. This ornament is a sweet little sweater with a giraffe in it's pocket. A giraffe! Who doesn't need a miniature giraffe in their pockets to make them happy? So sweet. We bought this on our trip to Connecticut to see our dear friend's Wendy and Tim's son be baptized. He's now 5...and every time I take this little sweater to put on our tree, I am reminded of our amazing circle of friends.
Come on. How can a picture of a baby with reindeer ears not make you smile?
And here is that moment. Pure. Happiness. Quite silly of me to try to capture it on film. Have you every tried to take a picture of happiness? It's impossible. But I still love this picture and know that every time I see it, I will be reminded of one perfect night shared with my babes...
New tricks from our sweet one
I knew the days of playing with one or two toys at a time were numbered for Cadi...she's been into everything lately! Yesterday she pulled out every single book and every single toy from her book/toy baskets! I'm sure in a couple of months, I'll be tired of this routine and tired of picking up constantly, but for now, it is just. So. Cute.
She didn't want to play with anything...what she wanted to do was pull out each toy or book, one by one, and touch them all, and crawl all over them and push them around. Oh my. We officially have our hands full!
She didn't want to play with anything...what she wanted to do was pull out each toy or book, one by one, and touch them all, and crawl all over them and push them around. Oh my. We officially have our hands full!
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Girl's rock! (and other life lessons for Cadi)
Ok, I know I said I wasn't going to bore you with all the quotes and details of A Girl's Book, but...I've changed my mind. I looked at this book cover to cover last night and am in love with it! I know that it will be many, many years until Cadi will be able to appreciate all the messages, games and yummy recipes in this book, but even so ~ it brings me such happiness that this is the book sh received from us on her first Christmas.
Some of the reasons I love this book...
~"There will always be dreams grander or humbler than your own, but there will never be a dream exactly like your own...for yu areunique and more wondrous than you know!" -Linda Staten
~"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt
~"No one has ever achievedanything from the smallest to the greatest unless the dream was dreamed first." -Laura Ingalls Wilder
~There is a richness in a life where you stand on your own feet...you set your own ground rules, and if you follow them, there are great rewards." -Margaret Bourke-White
~"If there is faith that can move mountains, it is faith in your own power." -Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach
~"Nobody has a better vision of who you are than yourself." -Sheryl Crow
~"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye." -Helen Keller
~"The joy of being a kid and a girl-kid at that is one that you can hold on to forever." -Judith Harlan
Other reasons I love it...
~Yummy recipes (strawberry corn muffins, french toast fingers, cinnamon snails, blueberry peach parfaits, mulled apple cider, rocky road fudge, oatmeal cookies
~Notes and ideas on keeping a diary, dream book, travel book
~Instructions on how to braid your hair
~Poems and stories
~Spy games, decoder ring and invisible ink notes instructions, magic tricks
I love, love, LOVE this book and can't wait to treasure it though the years with my lovely girl...
Some of the reasons I love this book...
~"There will always be dreams grander or humbler than your own, but there will never be a dream exactly like your own...for yu areunique and more wondrous than you know!" -Linda Staten
~"The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." -Eleanor Roosevelt
~"No one has ever achievedanything from the smallest to the greatest unless the dream was dreamed first." -Laura Ingalls Wilder
~There is a richness in a life where you stand on your own feet...you set your own ground rules, and if you follow them, there are great rewards." -Margaret Bourke-White
~"If there is faith that can move mountains, it is faith in your own power." -Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach
~"Nobody has a better vision of who you are than yourself." -Sheryl Crow
~"Never bend your head. Always hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye." -Helen Keller
~"The joy of being a kid and a girl-kid at that is one that you can hold on to forever." -Judith Harlan
Other reasons I love it...
~Yummy recipes (strawberry corn muffins, french toast fingers, cinnamon snails, blueberry peach parfaits, mulled apple cider, rocky road fudge, oatmeal cookies
~Notes and ideas on keeping a diary, dream book, travel book
~Instructions on how to braid your hair
~Poems and stories
~Spy games, decoder ring and invisible ink notes instructions, magic tricks
I love, love, LOVE this book and can't wait to treasure it though the years with my lovely girl...
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
A new Christmas tradition
Another blogger gave me this idea for Christmas. Matti and I talked about it and decided to incorporate it into our holiday traditions.
We will give our children: "Something you want, something you need, something to play with, something to read."
Something you want...
Now, granted, I know an eight month old can't really "want" anything, but I saw this outfit and....well...I wanted it!
Something you need...
Something to play with...
And last, but not least, Something to read...
We will give our children: "Something you want, something you need, something to play with, something to read."
Something you want...
Now, granted, I know an eight month old can't really "want" anything, but I saw this outfit and....well...I wanted it!
Something you need...
Now I know what you're thinking - doesn't she have the outfit and the book mixed up? Don't you "need" clothes and "want" books? Not in this case - this book kicks ASS. It is a deliciously amazing book with super cool vintage artwork, pictures and games in it. Best of all, it sends an important message to our little peanut about women. Here is the description on the inside cover:
They're clever and capricious. They're tomboys and tree climbers, ballerinas and bookworms. They're little women and big dreamers...they're girls! And this book is especially for them. Filled with the best "girl stuff" imaginable, A Girl's Book is brimming with tons of material guaranteed to occupy, fascinate and delight. Designated with vintage illustrations that are as timeless as its contents, A Girl's Book is destined to become a well-thumbed classic in no time at all.
Throughout the book, there are inspirational quotes. I won't bore you will all of them, but here are some of my favorites:
"Do not stop thinking of life as an adventure. You have no security unless you can live bravely, excitingly, imaginatively." ~Eleanor Roosevelt
"The most important part of the body is the brain." ~Krida Kahlo
"Laugh as much as possible, always laugh." ~Maya Angelou
Something to play with...
And last, but not least, Something to read...
Christmas Tree, Oh, Christmas Tree
We had a perfectly amazing night last night decorating our tree together. I had that overwhelming feeling about my family yet again...I always think I can't love them anymore than I do, and yet...I can. And do. Last night was one of those moments in time where I realized how much they mean to me. Starting traditions of all sorts is going to be an awesome adventure we will share together and I am especially excited for our Christmas traditions to begin.
I so enjoyed seeing Cadi's eyes widen when she saw the beautiful branches and lights on the tree, the brightly colored ornaments and the brand new red and green tree skirt. Holding her in my arms while she stared at the tree made me think back to last year when she was just a little peanut in my belly. We have certainly come full circle.
Every time we go on a trip together, Matti and I buy an ornament to remind us of our trip, so every ornament we took out of the box was yet another story of our past. We are so looking forward to our future ornaments and trips together with our amazing little kiddo and the rest of them to come.
I so enjoyed seeing Cadi's eyes widen when she saw the beautiful branches and lights on the tree, the brightly colored ornaments and the brand new red and green tree skirt. Holding her in my arms while she stared at the tree made me think back to last year when she was just a little peanut in my belly. We have certainly come full circle.
Every time we go on a trip together, Matti and I buy an ornament to remind us of our trip, so every ornament we took out of the box was yet another story of our past. We are so looking forward to our future ornaments and trips together with our amazing little kiddo and the rest of them to come.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Cadi's new clubhouse
You know the saying, "You don't have to spend much money on a baby, because they'll just be happy with a cardboard box?" I thought that was a myth....until tonight...
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