Hanna's Home

My head I rest

As I lay my head to rest,
I am grateful for this day.
I have smiled and lived fully.
I have risen after every fall.
I have explored all I didn't know.
Tomorrow I look forward to,
But now, Daddy, to bed I shall go.

Her own home

Hanna has her own little home. More often than not, it is toppled on its side as she dives in and out of it from the window. Using the doorway just isn't as much fun it seems. Thank goodness the walls are flexible enough to accommodate her aerials.

She often hides in her home and giggles - just waiting for us to come find her. And occasionally she sits and reads a book.

What a great place that is all her own. Everybody needs a space like this in their life. For me, it is my office. For Brad, it is his shop. A place to think, and dream, and play... and just be.

Sun on my face

Boy oh boy do I love being outside. So much to see and do. The best part is the warm sun on my face. Except, when I get the sun directly in my eyes, I'm like my Dido (grandpa)... I SNEEZE!

Mama usually has a hat on my head to shade the sun. But today we went out for a quick visit to see the rock garden my dad built last summer. I can't wait to play in the dirt.

I wonder how dirt tastes.

Wanna dance?

Wanna dance with me?

Now that I'm mastering my walk, I'm starting to run and skip and dance my way through each day.

You should try it too. It's lots of fun.

Enjoy the long weekend. I think we are planning a picnic.

Love Miss Hanna

(Remember to click on the picture to see me up close.)

When nobody's watching

This weekend the husbands in my family treated their wives to an afternoon at the spa for Mother's Day. What a wonderful, relaxing treat. Meanwhile they were supposed to look after the babies.

As you would expect, when nobody's watching, the babies are busy exploring. Who can fault the curious minds?

But wait a minute... Who took the picture?

Little helper

This weekend I had a little helper. Hanna's cousin Jaclynn loves babies. She's busy feeding Hanna, playing with her, helping me change Hanna's diaper and walking Hanna around the house. She's a little momma packaged in the body of a 7 year old girl. She'll be a great mom herself some day. I thought ahead to when these two are 20 and 26. Look out...

It is fun to have family around. Everybody helps out. Everybody looks out for the little ones, with lots of love to go around.

Happy Mother's Day

Dear Katie,

This day wouldn't be complete without sharing these words with you. Each time I stare into Hanna's bright blue eyes, I am reminded of you, the beautiful woman that brought her into this world. In so many ways, Hanna is you. She has your calm, free-spirited demeanor, your warm presence and of course, your amazing eyes.

Today I honour the person that you are. Your gift to us is one that has dazzled our world.

We send much love and kisses to you on this Mother's Day.

Paula, Brad & Miss Hanna

By your side

My dearest Hanna,

Today is my first Mother's Day. How special I feel. When it comes to you, there is nothing I love more than being by your side, no matter what we happen to be doing. Today, it was sleeping as daddy drove us home from Saskatoon. There we had a special memorial service for my mom who passed away 10 years ago.

You see Hanna, I too had a mother who was an amazing woman. Having four girls in five and a half years, she devoted much of her life to raising children. She was always by our sides - every competition, swim meet, music festival or dance concert. Through smiles and tears, she was there. And it occurred to me in this moment that when she saw the beautiful daughters she'd raised, she realized her job was done. And she went away. Yet, as I stood in the memorial service singing my heart away, I felt her to be by our sides. She has never left us.

Although you can't see her, know that she is watching over you, as I am. Feel her whisper in the wind, her tears of joy in the rain, her warmth in the sun.

You, my dear Hanna, have so many people who love you. We are all by your side, cheering you on in this world. In fact, I'm learning that my real job as your mother is simply to witness your unfolding. What a gift to behold. Maybe that is why I smile as I sleep.

Always by your side,
Love Mom

I'm a cruisin'

Hanna loves her new found mobility. It's a sense of freedom she just can't ignore.  I love it for her too, except on the change table. She won't sit still. Our old tricks of giving her a toy, Vaseline container, or a diaper to play with are 'so yesterday mom'. The itsy, bitsy, spider is no fun when she'd rather be cruisin'. And I'm trying to hold her down with one hand while cleaning a poopy bum with the other. And she's off to the races. I noticed yesterday that I didn't want to use force to restrain her because I thought I'd hurt her.

My friend pointed out to me yesterday, "You've taught her to be fun loving and to curiously explore. Now you need to teach her that you require her to sit still for a few minutes while you care for her."

Good point. So last night, with her final change before bed, I put her on the floor and pinned her down with my body while I worked quickly to change her. She surprisingly held in there long enough to get the job done.

I'm curious to see what today brings.

In all directions

Hanna is growing in all directions—her body, her mind, her laugh, her screams, her night-time sleeps, her wake-time adventures, her curiosity, her courage, her self-image. And those big blue eyes.

Despite my continual sweeping of her drawers to pull out the small clothes, she occasionally has a blow out. Check out her big toe (click on picture to enlarge).

Seems the pink lady bugs will need to move along now.