Lesson's Learned by Laura

Lesson #1: Don't feed a 1-year old sloppy joes. Ever. Even if it's super, duper cute.

Look ma! No hands!

Emergency Bath

#2: And Yoghurt. Avoid that one as well. Deceivingly dirty.

Ummmm - Lily? You missed your mouth. FIY.

Lxo

Sneakymama Part I

After Lily's been asleep for a couple of hours, I sneak into her room and give her kisses between the bars of the crib.

The Sleepy Victim.

Lxo

Experiment in Video

Lily eating with Raffi

One of my favourite clips of Lily - 9 months old.

Let's see if this works.

Lxo

Profilin' Part Deux

Back by popular demand. Profilin Lily at 1.

Likes:

Mama, Papa (screams when he leaves the room), Frozen grapes, Todd (all three), vacuuming, date nite at Craig and Jani's, Parties that she thinks are for her (but aren't), Mac eyeshadow containers, Granma's and Granpa's, cousins, aunts, uncles, eating things off the floor, standing at the top of the stairs, puppet shows, carrying heavy objects, such as bottles of pelligrino and garbage cans around the house (weird), bathtime with Paps, bottles, Dawson, babies (especially Maddock), dogs, barking like a dog and books about dogs, hanging upside down, eating rocks at the park, swings, walking (especially naked), Winnie the pooh (groan), Baby Einstein, Sesame Street (a girl after my own heart), talking to anything that resembles a phone except a phone, sucking on toothpaste tubes, walking with objects in her mouth, Little People, Daycare lady, anything in a fridge, stealing this fairy figurine I have on a shelf in the office and running away with it, even though she gets in trouble for it every time, high fives, putting her finger on the lens of cameras.

Dislikes:

Getting dressed, hunger, being yanked from the top of the stairs, getting her nose wiped and nails clipped, not being able to have a bath with Todd.

Indifference:

Reading anything other than dog books, getting her photo taken.

SABOTAGE!!

LXO

Mom stereotypes

I'm procrastinating again. Should be finishing up a Fengshui report for a client. But writing here instead. This is much better....

Found this quote today on my favourite blog:

"I am not and never will be defined by motherhood, but I will wholeheartedly admit that motherhood has inspired and enabled me to define myself."

I've always had a problem with the 'mom' stereotype. 'Soccer mom', 'minivan', 'mombum', 'mom hair' - I even wince at 'Mommy' - it's my cryptonite. A girlfriend of mine, while I was still pregnant and picking out purses to match my new baby's outfits, called me the 'Antimom', which I kind of liked.

The idea of being a mom, I guess in a way felt like I was settling, like I was expected to give up everything that meant anything to me so I could become this sitcom mom - who would bake homemade cookies, organize my photo albums and throw a fabulous birthday party** while still keeping the house clean and the husband happy. I guess I felt like I would have to redefine myself because of my child. In essence, losing everything that I had taken so long to discover!

Like would I have to stay home on Saturday nights? Drink near beer and order in pizza? Hang out with other mom's and complain about how tired I am? How Lily just won't eat her vegetables and my latest fight with Jason? Would I find endless joy in talking about my daughter's latest ballet recital to anyone who would listen? Would I start saying 'darnit' instead of 'mother f*cker'? Would I feel the urge to take a scrapbooking class, and decoupage my daughter's lunch box? Gain the 'freshmom'*** 15. Shop at Northern Reflections, Rockport? Would I suddenly feel adverse to words like 'spontaneous', 'interesting' and 'adventure'? Would a Hawaiian vacation be considered the new 'Third world country backpacking trek? Would I have to give up my career?

After Lily was born, I was surprised to *quickly* find out that I didn't want to lose myself.

I drink wine with dinner, the house is messy and fights with Jason are brief and very private. Luckily, I'm still totally inappropriate and crude. Lily is completely comfortable with camping and 'sleepovers' and mam and paps friend's houses.

Shhhhh! The baby's sleeping!

She was even out in the field with me starting at two months. And whenever it's a clear night, and I can see the stars, the only place I want to be at that moment is out digging, in the middle of some snake infested semi-desert in Colorado.

But what Lily has brought to me is clarity. Clarity for who I love. Who I want to spend time with. And clarity of what type of life I want to lead. In her short one year, she's taught me that I don't need to define myself as a mom, or a wife, or a daughter, cousin, aunt, grandaughter, or a friend. Or even an archaeologist. Because what Jason and I are to her without all these roles and expectations is perfect and pure in her eyes.

Floor party

So with my trowel in one pocket, a bottle in the other, and her on my hip, we trudge off into the dusty sunset - on a new adventure not quite as clearly defined...

L

**Lily's 1st birthday on January 27th went well. 45 people, 12 kids, 9 of which under 5 and a beaming Lily, toddling endlessly around the party, with her belly in the lead. Food cemented in her hair and jacked-up on her first piece of cake saying 'hi' and 'wow' to anyone who caught her eye. Will update with pictures shortly.

*** I just made that up - damn I'm clever.