A special anniversary

Today is our 6th wedding anniversary! :)

I know that 6 is not one of those traditionally special years, but for Mark and I it couldn't be better! Our years of wishful thinking on having a baby are now reality. I'd say we're doing great as partners in parenting Sasha so far, and we are both very much looking forward to the years to come. I try not to think too far ahead though, as things can change so quickly over the years. what she will experience as a youth is bound to be similar yet so different from our own experience...so I hope I can remain open-minded in guiding her on her own journey!

In our 8 1/2 years together I have learned a lot from Che too (like how to accept his need to make funny faces in every picture! teehee) , so she will gain from her brothers' experiences as well. We've already learned that parenting is a challenge at every age, and it's a challenge for both parents and their children. But the challenges are well worth it for all the positives that children bring to the family...and to our own growth as individuals!

I chose to post the first picture taken of our family of 4 because our family is one of the things I'm most happy to celebrate about our marriage. We truly have so much to be thankful for - two children to love forever, great family and friends, a comfy home environment we have created together, a fulfilling life of activism, and no worries about going hungry - and for today we return to our gratitude to simply have each other.

Granma Penny has offered to babysit little Sasha so we can have a date night! Though it will be so strange to go out without her attached to me or Mark (something that feels totally natural now), we are looking forward to the time out. It's made far easier knowing that she couldn't be in any better hands while we're out!

We've chosen to go for a laugh and see some improv on Granville Island. starting our 7th year of marriage with laughter...and gratitude for everything! :)

Sasha meets Charlie :)

Today Sasha & I had lunch with my friend Anita and her son Charlie. Our due dates had been two months a part, but she was 'late' and I was 'early' so our little ones are only two weeks a part!

It was a wonderful afternoon and I'm feeling pretty lucky to have a friend to experience this special time with. (I am actually lucky to know so many amazing moms with amazing kids, and I continue to learn so much from each of them.)

It will be great to watch Sasha and Charlie growing up and see what kind of friendship they develop together. What kind of choices will they make based on what they learn from their activist parents? Anita and Randy have often inspired me so I am very glad they are a part of Sasha's life, and know they are already great role models for their boy Charlie! :)

Cheers to the next generation!

"Whenever I held my newborn baby in my arms, I used to think that what I said and did to him could have an influence not only on him but on all whom he met, not only for a day or a month or a year, but for all eternity - a very challenging and exciting thought for a mother." ~Rose Kennedy

more random pics

"is that comfortable?"

is it june?...already?!

The month of May has been a blur in retrospect. When I realized yesterday was June 1st I was shocked! When people told me time with a baby passes quickly, they weren't kidding. But, like with most things in life, you just gotta experience it to understand it.

Happy to say she has shared her first official smile with me...her face totally lit up & I knew it was a genuine happy face...not just one of those 'I've just passed gas' smirks. teehee.
Once I'm able to capture a pic of this beautiful new expression of hers I will be sure to post it.

She is now 9 lbs 5 oz and still growing. We've just increased her food intake again! Going up 20 mL about every few days. When she has just finished feeding Mark likes to say she gets a bit 'jabba' faced, but other than that she is certainly not getting chubby with her large appetite.

After 5 weeks I feel like coming up for air and reconnecting with everyone now. The past few weeks I've been pretty tired overall, but my energy is really starting to come back to me. Our inbox is overwhelmingly full of emails I need to reply to (gotta start with at least a few a day!), and there are just so many people I want to talk to. I hope you'll hear from me soon!

Next week I will go to my 3rd meeting since Sasha's birth (the Charter for Public Education Network AGM. The last two I attended were for Kensington community centre) and I hope to start 'doing lunch' more often with friends. Last week I walked to Britannia for a visit and then lunch with a friend and it was a great day. Long walks are nice, and with Sasha getting onto more of a predictable schedule, I'm also ready to start socializing more often again!

I know the next few months will also pass in a blur with so much to do, so many 'firsts' for Sasha and what looks like a hot summer to enjoy! :)