Happy Mother's Day

To all the Ladies who are Mothers/expectant Mothers - Happy Mother's Day!

I know that so many women who do not yet have children, spent another day thinking about their future kids...wondering how long they'll have to wait to meet the little ones, and what their characteristics will be. To these women I say, utilize your time for yourself now, and enjoy what you have in your life at this moment. When they do arrive, a significant portion of your thoughts, and every decision you will make will be involving, and for, them. They will charm you with their sweetness and loving innocence, and in the next moment make you want to rip your hair out....

My sweet little Ava gave me these blooms (also from my Husband and the cat) for Mother's Day. Purple is my favourite colour, and I always like to get flowers. She also made me a gift at Preschool, and yes, I did tear up when she gave it to me. Somehow, over the three and a half years she's been on this planet, I've turned into a woman who can cry upon receiving a homemade card...and watching sappy commercials....

The other day Ava told me that she "...loves me more than the hugest rainbow, the sun, and the stars, and dolphins." She said it with conviction and gave me a big hug. Pretty cute - it canceled out the previous whining.

Seven....

I feel grateful for the funny moments in life. For example, when your spouse comes home from a vintage shop with a 3 ft tall 7. His sheepish look says it all,
"Will anyone else love this 7?"
"Will I have to take back the 7?"

I happen to like the number 7, and I don't mind having some bizarre items hanging on my walls....

Ava excitedly exclaimed, "I've never had a 7 on my living room wall before!" It seems that she's also game for things that are off the wall...or on the wall in this case.

Vancouver's 30 Ultimate Mom Blogs

I am thrilled to have Solo Mommy listed as one of the 30 Ultimate Vancouver Mom Blogs on Vancouver Mom! Thank you to everyone who voted for my blog - I appreciate the votes, and I value the recognition.

Grab a tea, or a glass of wine, and have a read through some of the other blogs that are on the list on Vancouver Mom.

Feeling love....

I have moments in my daily life when I feel pure contentment in my relationship. I smile to myself and continue on with my tasks. This quiet understanding that love can be tranquil and be true, elevates me to move forward to feel more love. Drama, passion, fire, and the push and pull of desire are just as real as peacefulness, contentment, tenderness, and gratitude. Any of these emotions and actions make us feel alive.

My personality is calm and quiet... it makes sense that I feel love in this way.

Let's stop judging our feelings in comparison to how other's experience love, and instead focus on adoring the people in our lives in ways that are unique to each of us.

Ava's adjustment....

Ava is adjusting very well to her new home with Mommy and Daddy. Her nighttime sleeping was a little off kilter for the first week, and now we're back into the swing of things. Not that anything can be swung around here...we still have some boxes to unpack....

If Ava has an upset in the night she can snuggle for a bit with Mommy and Daddy before going back to her big girl bed. She can choose which parent does bath time and bedtime stories (and Mommy can choose if she wants Daddy to do them so she can unwind...).

Sometimes Daddy surprises Ava and Mommy by showing up after Preschool to play in the park and to give a ride home. He also takes her for walks to the grocery store with a list prepared by Mommy...so Mommy can have some quiet time....

Ava will enjoy some Daddy time on Saturday morning when Mommy sleeps in and Daddy prepares her breakfast. She will enjoy some Mommy time on Sunday when Daddy sleeps a little longer. Really, between the child and the cat, no one will be getting any extra sleep - but we're going to stay in bed and attempt it anyway.

Speaking of the cat, he keeps Ava entertained and giggling throughout the day. Sometimes Mommy feels like she's living in a zoo...with the cat rolling toilet paper down the stairs...then pouncing and shredding it...and Ava putting her little stuffed puppy (on a leash) in the cat water bowl for an "Around and Around" (as she aptly named it) leaving cat water all over the kitchen floor.... (Mommy loves post shower surprises - but hey if a t.p. stair runner and an "Around and Around" allow an extra 5 minutes in the shower then so be it.)

Adjustments and relaxation are happening all over the place here....

Reaching out....

It's amazing the potential encouragement we miss out on by not reaching out to other Moms. I've been in many children's classes with Ava over the past two years, and I thought that I was the only single Mom among these Moms.

I recently found out that a Mom in one of Ava's previous classes is a single Mom. Over the last year our daughters have been in several classes together and we missed the opportunity of becoming friends - of being a support to each other. (We have now moved and I won't see this Mom again.)

We never know what doors may open for us if we share just a little more with other women. A single sentence can change someone's day, and a conversation can change a person's life.

I'm going on a vacation!

I'm getting very excited to leave in two days for a much needed vacation. I'm going to visit my sister - she moved across the country in the summer. I know that I'll miss Ava as I haven't spent more than a few days away from her ever, but at the same time I really need some Me time.

I'm looking forward to the quiet of the plane trip - this sounds odd I know. I'll be able to read (a novel or gossip magazines), listen to music, and watch a movie, and my only concerns will be - Do I want to eat this? Should I take a nap?

Ava's Daddy will be watching her for the week and they'll have fun together. She'll have plenty of park time, and he'll have a chance to experience what it's like to spend time with her 24 hours a day again.

Ava has known for awhile that I'm going, and this week she started saying, "I'm going to miss you when you're away". It's very sweet - I'll probably start to feel a physical ache a few days into the trip. I'll be busy though...being an audience member on a couple of t.v. shows, seeing the Ballet, wandering the museum, being a tourist.... Much of my time will be spent shopping, having cocktails, and planning future endeavors.

Before I go I have to pack for the week (for myself and Ava), finish preparing and cleaning my place for viewings while I'm away, and be a parent volunteer on Ava's preschool field trip - this will be my day tomorrow....