A Mother's Arms

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Since we've come back from Scotland, we've had a semi-difficult time getting Kyla to sleep in her crib.  She got very used to sleeping with us in Scotland.  So now we have a "big-girl" night light and a "big girl" pink soother that plays a light show on the ceiling.  I also started rubbing her back for a few minutes each night after prayers and John leaves the room.  Tonight, while I was rubbing her back, Kyla took my arm and started to rub it, then she took my hand, examining it.  She rubbed all along the back of my hand, turned it over examining my palm, feeling each finger.  Then she looked deep into my eyes from her crib.  

And I thought, I know that feeling.  

I

KNOW 

that 

feeling

Comfort. Security.  Safety.  Peace. Love.  Sometimes it's hard for me to shut my eyes and recall my mother's face or voice, but I can remember every detail of her hands and the feel of her arms around me.  I can close my eyes and still feel her hand in my hair gently stroking while I lay my head in her lap.

I

know

that

feeling

A mother's arms, a mother's hands - one of the greatest gifts in life.  To feel them, to know them.  I pray my daughter never knows the loss of her mother until I'm old and grey and she's old and grey.  I pray for that.  I pray she never feels the ache I feel for my mother's arms.  I hope tonight she made a memory.  And makes another tomorrow, and the day after that of us together and of her family.  Ones that will last her a lifetime.  So that when she closes her eyes, she can feel me holding her, gently rubbing her back until she feels safe each night.  

Because

that

is 

an 

amazing

feeling

My First Tatoo

Kyla and her Grandmother

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

I was looking through some old photos of my mother the other day and I ran across this picture that reminded me very much of Kyla.  Take a look and see what you think.

I wish every day that my mother could have been around to see her grandchildren.  I think she would have loved being a grandmother.  She would have been a wonderful influence for them with her kind, gentle, positive and full of life spirit.  We say prayers for "Grandmother Jackson in heaven" each night and she has a picture in her room of my mom holding me newly born, but I know Kyla doesn't know who I'm talking about yet.  I'm looking forward to the day that I can really share my experiences of my mom with her.  I hope through those stories she can get a sense of what an amazing person and mother my mom was.  And how much she wanted to be here today.  

Curly-locks

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

I'm lovin' Kyla's hair these days!  I gave it a tiny trim a few months ago to even out this scraggly bit hanging from the top and ever since, it's started to curl all around and looks so adorable!  So when she isn't wearing pig-tails, she's got her curl-on!  

p.s. and these pics are from after sleeping on them at nap and they still look great!

Solids!

First taste of rice cereal.  Notice how it's mostly on his bib.  Don't blame the poor boy, it kind of tastes like glue.  So we'll be trying some other fruit or veg options in the next few weeks.  He's waking up 3x a night starving, so he seems to need something else in his belly to keep him going.  

Kiddo Update

Updates!  I can't believe how fast my  babies are growing!  Here are some stats from their recent well-check appointments

Weight:  17lbs (90th %)  yes, 17lbs, that's not a typo!

Height:  26" (90th %), thank goodness it matches is weight

Head: 43.5cm (75th %)

Dylan is a BIG boy.  He doesn't eat a lot at one feeding due to his reflux, but I guess in the course of a day he can throw back quite a few bottles (hopefully this isn't a predictor for college frat life).  He's a happy guy and just smiles and laughs at everyone.  Hopefully now that we've gotten the green light to start rice cereal, he'll sleep a bit better through the night.  Please.

Weight:  25.2lbs (25th %)

Height: 34-1/2" (75th %)

Miss Kyla is, as the doctor called her "long and lean."  It's funny to think at her 1 year appointment she was 22.7lbs (90th %) and has only gained 2-1/2lbs the entire year!  She loves to run, jump and play so it's no wonder all the baby fat melted away.  If the whole adult height calculation thing is correct (double her 2 year height) then Kyla will be about 5'7"-5'8" when she's an adult.  That's 3-4" taller than her mum.  Yikes - I can't imagine having to look up at my daughter!  Thank goodness I have a few years until that happens.  

Kyla is doing much better with her speech and is starting to put 2 and 3 words together.  She's quiet like her dad, so we have to work with her to say "sentences" vs. just one word, but she's getting there.  She also very much a 2 year old - challenge, challenge, challenge.  You know when your mom says, "hope you get a child just like you" - someone somewhere writes it down and makes sure it comes true for you.  Because if stubbornness and rebelliousness are inherited traits, she's my daughter!  But she's also sweet and loving - giving lots of tuddles (cuddles) and kisses.  She also loves her baby doll (even though she sometimes drags her by her hair), and "baby" has to do everything that Dylan does.  Very cute!

Kyla's 2 Year Birthday Party

Kyla and her BFF Sophie (born the day before Kyla) shared their two year birthday party  - affectionately called the Two-Tu party!  They both had a fantastic time and I must say a combined party is the way to go - double the friends at 1/2 the work and expense!  And my friend Nicole (Sophie's mom) is so easy to work and plan with, that it really was a breeze to get organized.  Added bonus - it was at the dance studio where Sophie and Kyla take a dance class, so no mess at our houses and the studio set up and cleaned after.  Yes!

The Birthday Girls!

The Johnson's & Scott's

The room set-up for the party

Embroidered Bloomers

Superstars!

Dancing with the ballerina

All the kids having fun

Dylan enjoying the party

Kyla's friend, Lily

Eating their cupcakes

Sophie's method of digging in

Kids at the table

The icing is the BEST part!

Birthday Kisses!

"Sharing" Sophie's new toy

And a video of Kyla dancing with the ballerina doll and the girls blowing out their candles

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Whew...

So now I've finally posted all our Scotland pictures and updates.  Now on to all the things happening around here since we got back - and there have been a lot!  So here comes another barrage of posts.  Thanks everyone for the lovely messages and comments about the posts!

Last Day in Scotland (April 18th)

Monday, May 11, 2009

Our last day in Scotland.  A sad day, but we were also really looking forward to coming home after being away so long!  We had so a good time seeing our family and friends and miss them already.  I especially enjoy looking back through the pictures and videos of Kyla playing with her cousins.  She had a blast as you can see below!  

Checking out Janice's photos in the kitchen.  In the photo are Pamela holding Dylan, Iain, John holding Kyla, Robert and Janice.  Happy memories

The girls playing outside.  It was FREEZING, but I don't think they felt a thing they were having so much fun

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Playing in Scotland (April 18th)

GORGEOUS

Aunt Marion's New House Site

Sunday, May 10, 2009

I've always loved history, even in high school it was my favorite subject.  It's not all just facts and dates.  I like to imagine how people lived in whatever time I'm reading about - how did they dress, what were their day to day lives like?  Scotland of course is full of History, with a capital "H."  But most of what I've seen are heros, kings and queens and castles.  So, it was really interesting for me to visit Aunt Marion's land where she's planning to build a new house.  Not only is the property really beautiful, but there is an old house still standing on the site.  Just a plain small home where ordinary people lived and worked.  It's only a shell, but apparently it was lived in just 30-40 years ago.  And I couldn't help wondering what life was like for the family that lived there...

First Sleep Over (April 17th)

Friday, May 8, 2009

Kyla enjoyed her first sleep over with her cousins Jade and Eva.  Aunt Janice was nice enough to take Kyla for the evening, so John and I could go to dinner with my aunt, uncle and cousins.  They happened to be visiting Scotland at the same time that we were there, so they ended up staying with us for the weekend.  Sadly, I didn't really get any pictures of us together.

But back to the sleep over...  Kyla had a wonderful time playing and having fun with her cousins, dancing to High School Musical and singing nursery rhymes and Girls Aloud songs.  She eventually fell asleep with them before we got home.  So she stayed the night and had breakfast with them the next morning.  She had such a good time, she didn't even want to leave the next morning!

Having dinner

Three angels sleeping

Morning-face