Lily and the Art of Zen

I now know why God put HRH Lily into our lives ... she is so Zen!!!

Lily is a very happy, content baby ... ALL THE TIME! She just sits or lays on the floor and plays with her toys. Occasionally she watches a little TREEHOUSE when I am making meals or busy with other things. Lily has given us no sign of crawling or walking, for that matter. She is content to just watch the world from a sitting position on the floor or from the arms of a family member.

The other day, she met a little eight-month-old named Zoe. Zoe crawled circles around her and Lily just watched Zoe in amazement as if her only task was to sit quietly and be entertained. I was thinking, "Jeez, why isn't Lily crawling like that younger baby?" ... Lily was thinking, "Wow, look at that baby go, I'll just sit and watch and be entertained! Isn't this fun?!".

Lily was put into my life to keep me calm and grounded! She truly has been a blessing in our lives. She doesn't buy into the hustle and bustle life or the "Bigger the Better" attitude. I aspire to be more like her :)

On arriving home after our trip ...

I was just going through some posts that I started and never finished. This one is worthy of posting, even though it is in the past tense. It speaks to my frame of mind since having a new baby, and the fact that my memory isn't so good. Like, what was I smoking when I thought a nice little 12 hour drive to Montana was a good idea? And won't it be fun to show Lily off to all of my friends ... won't they think she is just the best baby?!! Yikes! Lily hates strangers and hates leaving home even more! Oh well, I can laugh now. But here is my post from November 2010...

I prayed and prayed that our trip to Montana would be safe and fun! Well, it certainly was! But now that I am home, I think I should have prayed that we would survive the week after our trip ....

I had an MRI booked on Sunday afternoon, which, as all of my Canadian friends know, is a much waited for, event! I had this appointment booked waaaaay back in April. November 14th was the soonest they could get me in. So, my trip was possible only if I could make it back to Calgary for the Sunday appointment at 3 p.m. Well, with the time change and the baby and the children having to go potty along the way, I missed that appointment. They are now booking into July!!!! Dangnabbit!!!!

That evening, Lily started to feel bad and by Monday morning she was a nasal-congested mess. Wanting to be nursed all the time and feeling quite miserable. Meanwhile, I woke up Monday morning with the Green-Apple-Two-Steps; achy all over and with a head-ache to boot.

Tuesday, Sara brings home a note from school that someone in her class had a case of the head lice! And guess what? I decided to look at Sara's hair on Wed. Morning and ... you guessed it ... she had lice too! John and I went ahead and treated ourselves as well cause .... well, just cause!

Meanwhile, my internet was disconnected until Wed. night. And that, right there, was the worst part of my week!

I have a headache ...

I want to be the Poster Child for Beauti Control Spa Products! I don't know if they are hiring, but if a casting call comes, I am IN!

Here's me on a headache day ... Is this not a face that only a mother could love? I've got my Therma del Sol Apothecary Aromatherapy Neck Patch on under my warm, green neck wrap. I've also got some Rejuvenating Eye Treatments on. I'm not sure they are helping my headache but I had them in the freezer, so they felt cold and soothing on my eyes. It never hurts to treat those wrinkles either!

And the MAGIC treatment for headaches that I learned years ago from my good friend Karen .... Wait for it .... Wait for it ... Peppermint Oil! Yeah! Just rub it on the back of your neck underneath the warm, green neck wrap and Whammo ... headache gone!

I'm feeling much better! Was going to take an "after" picture, you know ... one where my hair is done, my makeup is impeccable and I am smiling from ear to ear. But I kinda like my treatments, they feel good ... Gonna wear them the rest of the day. Maybe I can get a few more chores out of the kids with this getup!

Snappis, Bumbos and Baby Wearing

Having a baby in the house again reminds me of how much things have changed since my last babies. I feel like a brand new mom again! Like, you don't use diaper pins anymore, and there's a seat especially for your new baby to sit up in before he/she can actually sit up ... and everywhere I go, parents are wearing their babies!!!
This is Lily at 1 1/2 months in her Bumbo ...

At almost 6 months now, she is not quite sitting up yet so she sits in this seat to eat her rice cereal.

This is me ... wearing Lily!

I even attended a baby-wearing class at "Grow With Us", Airdrie's new children's consignment and retail store! I love that place!

And these ... are Snappis!!!!

They are little magical, plastic-y thingys that are made in South Africa and it enables you to fasten your baby's diaper with one hand! Ridonculous!!!

I am having sooooo much fun having a new baby again! But what I've realized the most from having a baby at an older, more mature age, is that with Lily, I am PRESENT IN EVERY MOMENT of her life. My head is attached and completely focused! Of course, because of my age, I probably still won't remember a lot of things :) but hey, I'm enjoying each and every moment!!!