one year down.

how on earth? ONE YEAR? an entire year of having this wee bit of mi-miss in our lives? It simply does not seem possible.

When I look at our sweet little girl and all that she has become in such a short time, I am both overjoyed and slightly saddened. It just went by too darn fast. I feel as if I woke up and missed it all. Sigh. I know I was here for it, I swear I was...I just wish we could have held onto that "baby" for a little bit longer...

Now I sit and hold my tiny little diva...yes I still hold her as she refuses to walk! hehe. She will always be my little baby. My tiny wonder. I will always hold this year dear to my heart and look forward to the future and all that it holds. She is one sweet Mi-Miss I tell yah.

A few of the many things I just cannot help but love about you...

1. Your wild & demanding personality! hehe.
2. The sweet gap in your teeth, just like your brother.
3. How you dance-dance like no one is watching.
4. The way your entire face smiles.
5. The eyes...oh those eyes. Stunning.
6. Your quiet moments where for just a second you will allow me to snuggle you like you are my tiny baby girl again.
7. Your completely wrinkled left thumb and how you will only suck your thumb in your bed, or with your special blanket...such a well trained baby!
8. The signature pony! One day you shall have hair...I promise.
9. The way that you simply know you are loved and recognize the people that love you so.
10. Your clothing collection...you could put many a girl to SHAME I tell yah.
11. Add the shoe collection to #10.
12. The chub...you know, that secret bit of chubb that makes us giggle.
13. How you crawl as though you are on a mission.
14. Your outright laziness when it comes to walking! ha. Okay, maybe I dont love it, but I do find it highly entertaining.

Lastly.
15. YOU. Every square inch of you. Your smell, your touch, your squishy bits, the sweet smile, that hilarious laughter...all of it. I could spend an entire day just loving every bitty bit of YOU!









love you. mean it.

three and counting.

Three years have passed since the day we welcomed our Simon into the world. Three interesting and challenging years. Job changes, schooling, moves, losses, gains...and falling in love all over again when our world changed and you were welcomed into it.

It would take me miles of paper to try and sum you up. You are just one of those personalities. So full of it all. Life, love, frustration, interest...the list goes on. You adore every bit of your big brother and sister and of course have learned to tolerate your mommy & daddy. On top of it all, you have embraced your baby sister and most of the time love her to bits. Well, as long as she is not attempting to play with your toys or touch anything that might resemble something that belongs to you! hehe. You are such a mix of our best parts. Of course, sometimes the traits we would prefer were left behind...also come out in you. Oops. Hey, we are only human.

You Simon, make me proud to be a mommy. I have been at home with you for 3 years and although they have surely had their ups and downs...you have made my life so much more rewarding and allowed me the strength to know I can do anything I put my mind to. Through it all, you are our Super Simonator...my Babaloo...our Mister...the Bubby. You Si are a one of a kind little man and we so look forward to all that THREE has to offer. I would not be telling the full truth if I didnt include that I am a tad bit scared. Yup, scared. I have heard three can do a real number on a Mommy & Daddy. Go easy on us dude!

And a little bit about your year, or just you in general.

1. Potty trained at 2.5yrs. SUPERSTAR.
2. Began preschool with some fear...you were the "baby" of the class...but you warmed up quickly.
3. Counting to 14ish.
4. From chatter, to longer chatter, to sentences, to conversation. WOO HOO!
5. Your L's are W's and your V's are B's. I adore it.
6. Your "bad lion" face. Which honestly looks just like daddy's frown.
7. You are learning your colours like a mad man.
8. You are happiest when you get what you want. But isnt that true for all of us?
9. That smile. That sweet little gappy smile. Melts me.
10. You are right on track for being the most awesomest little man! I swore I would raise you right and so far, I am pretty sure we can all pat ourselves on the back. You rock dude!







Love you. Mean it.

Too fast.

Can someone please stop these kids from growing???

Simon is going to be three this month and the thought of him turning three makes me nuts. Where on earth did those years go? Sigh. I must admit, he is all things THREE. Cheeky, sassy, difficult opinionated and completely lovable despite it all. Watching him grow into a toddler has been nothing short of amazing. I only wish I could hold onto every moment.

Si is counting to 10 no problem and even getting to 15 from time to time. His alphabet is coming together well and although he misses many bits, it sounds adorable. It goes a little something like this...

A, B, C, D, E, F, G...H, HI, A, K, LELLOW, MEN, O, P, how hi are you?

Yah, dont ask. ha.

He has also started to sing himself to sleep. Twinkle Twinkle Little Star is the current fav. I love sitting in my room at night listening to his little voice lulling himself to sleep. It makes me smile. As for other updates with Si. Well, he is all things boy and I mean BOY! Trucks, dirt, digging, sports. His current best friend is Lauango according to him...although he has never met the Canucks Goalie or any other Canuck for that matter.

We love our little Si, even with all his three year old madness, we wouldnt trade him for the world!

Missy.

Our crawling, creeping, nearly walking 10 month old baby girl. In only 2 short months we will be blowing out one candle. ONE. How did we get here so quickly? I wish I could slow this down.

heres a bit of what you are up to...

saying bababa and dadada
sticking your tongue out
bye bye wave
your fake laugh and cough (on demand...hehe)
hooray...makes you clap!

Now stop it. ha. Please stay baby just a tiny bit longer.

miss miss teeth.

I adore the little gap. Adore!

Whats is not to love about this little face I tell yah?

Isla is quite the mover these days and really getting around in a hurry. As for the teeth...the little gap...just like her brother...sigh.

me & my miss

From the moment I found out I was pregnant with the little miss I knew that I wanted to make sure I had a few things taken care of.

1. To have some rockin' maternity photos [check]
2. Mom & babe photos [check].

Lucky for me I have an amazing friend who was able to help accomplish both, even though I am never very motivated to get in front of the camera and often working my "stupid face".

Thanks Michele for ensuring that I had these precious moments to look back on. It means a lot and I know I will forever cherish them...

8 months. potty training. the works.

Little to no rest in this house I tell yah!

Miss miss turned 8 months on the 27th. I cannot believe that 8 months have passed since our little lady arrived into the world. Sigh. Where on earth does the time go? The crawling has also begun...and she is haulin'. Its an "army" like crawl and I am hoping to capture it on video to share. Miss miss you have been an amazing addition to our lives and I cherish every moment.

Yes I am already planning her first birthday. Whats it to yah?

The man. Potty trained. HOLLA! So excited, for us and of course for his amazing accomplishment. My goal was "before three"! He is a dancing machine these days and has a new song...

"Twinkle, twinkle little star. How hi are you?" ha. Its LOUD and hilarious. Love it.

Thats the wee people update. Photos below. Hoping the larger children co-operate for some photos in the near future. Monkey's!

all about the teeth.

Look at those top teeth poking through...dont cha just love them to bits??

four tooth wonder.

How is it that this tiny little creature that arrived into our home only 7.5 months ago...is already a wee diva with mucho personality?? Its as if we woke up one morning and suddenly she was no longer a newborn. Were did it go?

Isla just cut teeth #3 & #4...she was not too keen on the idea, but now that they have arrived, I really think she is lovin' them. I will of course share pictures when they come in a little more. Now if only she would take an interest in crawling [honestly I have NO RUSH]....but possibly sitting might be up for some consideration? As I said...

DIVA!

a post isnt a post without photos!

to blog better.

My new years goal was simply...

To "BE" better. No real guidelines, just all around better.

Part of that goal is to keep up this blog. This is more of a personal journal really. I intend to print it as a book at years end and have all of our happenings printed and bound. I believe that is something that truly matters. Keeping these moments, everyday...simple...silly moments forever. Some of what you find here will likely be pulled over from my business blog...www.brookebowlandphotography.com

So, read...or dont read...but I will be here a little more this year. Just keeping life up to date.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

We had a fantastic day which was spent at home with family. Of course Simon was all over the idea of presents and went into major "pressie overload"! Isla was pretty mellow and would have rather just eaten paper all day long...hehe. The older kids spent Christmas with their Mom in Vancouver and were very much missed...we will be having our own Christmas with them this weekend...YAY!! Can hardly wait...I am sure Simon will sleep for days when this is all over...

Thanks Santa for being so darn good to all of us. What a fortunate bunch we are! Missing all of the fam that was not able to spend the time with us and hoping that you are on the mend Dad...sick on Christmas is just no fun!

Lots of love to all...

life in the kid lane.

Its a crazy life, but I have to say...I love every minute of it. Okay, maybe not EVERY minute. The peeing on the bathroom floor recently simply for kicks I could have done without. It was Simon in case anyone was thinking otherwise!

We are moving quickly towards Christmas. I LOVE Christmas. The giving...yes the giving...LOVE IT! I always way overdue it, and although Mark is constantly trying to tighten the reins on my Christmas spending, I just cannot seem to help myself! Enough of that. Kids...that is what you are reading for...KIDS...

They are amazing. Each and everyone of them!

Isla has cut her first two teeth [she is growing far too fast]. She is rolling from back to front but has little to no interest in going the other way. Oh and she is a CHUNK! hehe. We have a docs appointment tomorrow, so we will see just how big this girl is!

Simon is excellent. He is loving his daycare time...a few 1/2 days per week seems to be just right for him. He enjoys the break from home and playing with his buds...which is awesome. To sum this little man up I would say "booty shakin' chatterbox". ha. He can talk non stop (wonder where that came from)? Oh and his dance skills? Off the hook!

Haley is awesome! The perfectly happy, although at times defient 10 year old. We adore every bit of her. Brought home a fantastic report card...all A's but one and is just all around kickin' butt. She has also started up with swimming again and is on the local team. She loves it and has already been to a meet. Keep it up Haley!!!

Trevor...the little pre-teen...just kidding. He is doing great. Working hard in school and brought home straight A's. How can we not be proud? Sports wise he is right into baseball and doing the indoor thing over the cold months. He also rocked volleyball and I believe he is going to give basketball a go as well...way to go Trev...you just dont know until you try!

Us? Ah...we are great. Busy. Getting ready for Christmas. I could go on...but I wont. Photos of the older kids should be coming soon. Had plans, then Trev fell ill.

Lots of photos below...ENJOY!