wake up calls...

BC is one hour earlier than Alberta. That makes Ephraim's wake up call come at the crrrrraaazzzy hour of 5am. The nights here have held a lot of wakings & the mornings find me desperately seeking a "snooze" button. Even underneath my droopy eyelids, i can sense his sweetness with his energetically pumping legs & his coos sounding like a little pigeon as he waits for me to open my eyes. When finally my eyes open a crack, his face breaks into the friendliest 'good morning' grin - & i try fruitlessly to nurse him back to sleep. He already nursed twice in the night & . i can't shush him too long - his big brother is sleeping only centimetres away with his tiny bum in the air - & i'd hate to wake him. Ephraim will only be satisfied with eye contact, having his bum changed & experiencing the scenery from my arms as i seek out a cuppa coffee. It appears he has a lot to say... & he wants an audience.
i like those little moments... slinging my fresh bottomed, happy baby onto my hip, going to find the rest of my posse & find out what the day is gonna bring.

what the best days are made of...

i've seen a lot of people have miserable weddings...

Looking for perfection - there was always so much to be be dissatisfied with.

i get that.

i have always wanted to go to Hawaii. The pictures that i see look amazing. The colours, the beaches, the sky... Some kind of otherworldly paradise.

i used to harumph - just the littlest bit - that i might never get to see that.

There is always so much to be dissatisfied with.

But today -

today was what the best days are made of.

Today wasn't striving for perfection.

i wasn't looking for tropical paradise...

i was just taking what came.

Today was spent with the ones i love the most.

& in it's innocent trappings, i was amazed with the treasures that i unwrapped as today unfolded.

i saw a tree that is 9 feet across.

i felt tiny crabs try to escape from under my feet as i walked along a rocky beach taking pictures of my children.

i caught Neil smiling.

Twice.

i had a cinnamon dolce latte & the pleasure of ordering 6 steamers for my tiny crew left chomping at the bit in our Silver Fox to get rolling to coombs & the 'goats on the roof' market that became our destination.

Ephraim fell asleep and his drool ran down the front of my shirt as i carried him in my baby carrier.

i ate a chocolate peanut butter ice cream cone

& bought wooden toys.

My mom took us for a chinese food buffet... & i went back for seconds - cooing at my patient baby in between bites.

The best days -

are made of contentment, gratitude, beauty and and the time to let it all soak in a little.

& today...

Today was one of them.

perfect days... post to come...

i thought of you today...

My 2 that don't get to be in all my pictures...

Maybe it's that i'm visiting such a beautiful place...

makes me think of heaven.

You won't throw stones in the ocean...

or try to wrap skinny arms around tall trees...

You won't trap tiny crabs in seashells...

Or comb the pebbles looking for beach glass...

& yet the ripples from your little lives continue to grow and spread...

i'm so grateful for you.

new tricks

ephraim has a new trick.
It goes with his new pearly whites...
i love this stage.
His brothers and sisters all gather 'round & stick out their tongues "pbblllttt!!"
& he grins his winning grin. Smiling at their goofiness. Revelling in their attention.
He opens his mouth, & then sucks on his lips. Trying to imitate their expressions & the intriguing noise they're all able to make.
His little face is the epitome of concentration, as he works his little mouth tirelessly.
Suddenly his little pink tongue protrudes from his slobbery mouth & he chomps down, "pblt!"
Cheers erupt - & a proud grin spreads across his dimpled face.
Every little milestone reminds me how much i love sharing them with our little crew.
Cheering brothers, squealing clapping sisters...
Oh, baby ephraim...
Could there ever be anything but success with that kind of entourage behind you?