Coming To a Close

2013 has been a whirlwind of a year and I am shocked that it's already coming to a close. Right from the beginning January kicked us off with the birth of our smallest family member. It was a life changing event that left us reeling, exhausted and both stressed out and happier than we've ever been.

Our family really grew and grew up this year. I learned that I will never stop worrying about my son, probably until the day I die; and that my husband is more patient and kind than I ever realized. Somehow, life got harder but better.

We gained new friends, experienced new things, saw new places, and honestly kinda impressed ourselves this year. High fives all around for keeping the baby alive!

iPhone pics are blah, sorry

Our plans yesterday included going to The Burger's Priest, one of the most delicious burger joints in town, and seeing Toronto's new aquarium. The line at the aquarium was too ridiculously long to wait in at -14C with a baby, so that was a no-go. But we still had a great time shopping at the Eaton Centre (cheesy but fun), and had dinner at Drake One Fifty with my cousin Jeffrey. Noah was so good the whole day, I'm very proud of him!

Have a safe and happy new year's eve everyone!

We had to cut this guy off. Party animal.

Back On the Grid

Today was alternately a great day and a crappy day. As you may have deduced from the fact that I am writing blog posts again, we've finally got power after five and a half days of cold and darkness! So: Woohoo!

Another reason to cheer is that I got to see my beautiful and pregnant friend Reese today, who I missed with the fierceness of a Filipino girl who hasn't eaten lumpia (Filipino egg rolls) in over a year.

Now comes the crappy part of my day. I missed my family and friends so much, which is why I took a hojillion pictures over the last week and a half. But when I tried to transfer my pictures from my camera to my laptop a couple hours ago, I accidentally deleted ALL OF THEM.

I won't go into details, but I think I made the whole family nervous with my sudden panic, shock, and sadness. A word to the wise: Do not freak out and cry in front of your baby, it scares them to see mommy lose control.

Anyway, I'm still sad but I have my memories, cheesy as that may sound. Brendan is out right now, but I'm hoping that he's got a lot of the same pics and videos that I had on my camera. Marzi, please send me your pics too! Ugh, sadness.

But hello everyone, it's nice to be back online! Luckily, I took these pictures with my phone tonight.

 Noah horsing around with his Poppa

Burning off holiday meals on the stairs

MIA Wilsons

We're in the midst of a huge blackout in Toronto due to ice, breaking trees over power lines. Don't worry though, Small Human is warm and happy.

Just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas! 

Four Generations

Thursday was kind of a special day because we took Noah to see his dada's maternal grandparents for the first time. He even got to play with some of his daddy's old toys! There were four generations under that roof yesterday, and we left Nonna and Nonno's house with full hearts and stomachs, as per usual!

It's when I see such unabashed, unconditional love like this, that I feel bad about living so far away. Someone please invent a teleportation device, stat.

This coming weekend is going to be filled to the brim with activity! I get to see not one, but two pregnant friends; I get to have a slumber party with my bestie and her family; there's a big Wilson clan gathering; and I get to visit my old office in downtown Toronto! Let's just hope the freezing rain (yikes, welcome to Canada!) doesn't put a damper on the festivities. Have a great weekend, everybody!

Mommy Monday at Julep Nail Parlor

Before we left for our trip, I had the pleasure of going to Julep Nail Parlor near University Village in Seattle with a couple new friends! It was great fun because not only did we get pampered with relaxing manis and pedis, but the salon also features free childcare on Mondays. Genius! You'll have to make an appointment to make sure your child can be accommodated, but when we went Noah was the only bean there.

Julep has been doing this since 2007, so I gather it's doing pretty well. It won't be as relaxing as going to a spa by yourself, but I definitely still felt relaxed, and that Noah was well cared for and safe at all times. For the more concerned mamas out there, your child will be playing about 15 feet away from you, so you can breathe easy.

Did I mention the free parking, and that they use 4-free nail polish? Not only that, but they are dedicated to cleanliness and keeping you healthy, so they send you home with the tools that they used on you for your nail services.

We'll definitely be going back!

Julep Nail Parlor

University District

5001 25th Avenue NE

Seattle, WA 98105

With Aya and Candice! Noah likes the light fixture.

Thanks for taking this pic, Candice!

The Wilsons Have Landed

Yesterday was our big travel day so there was no time to post, but we are safe and sound in freezing cold Toronto! I wouldn't call travelling with an 11 month old easy, but it wasn't bad at all. We got a bulkhead seat so that Noah could have a bit of space to play on the floor, and he slept for almost two hours, thank goodness! There was also no need to bring a boatload of toys because my Small Human prefers to play with garbage, apparently. He loved the plastic water cups and Air Canada napkins, go figure.

Noah got to meet his Lola and Lolo for the first time last night and there was definitely an insta-bond. He shares his Lolo's love for music and dancing!

Noah quickly made himself at home at grandma and grandpa's

Pooped baby

Getting down on the dance floor with his Lolo while Lola played Christmas DJ

Real Talk

We ran out of coffee on Saturday night because we tend to brew two pots a day on the weekends, so I popped out to the grocery store to get some more. It took me under 3 minutes to walk there, which is why I love my neighborhood and really don't want to leave it for another.

Anyway this is really sad, but when I stepped out of the house alone, I felt giddy and exhilarated! I didn't have to lug a stroller with a person in it up and down any stairs, or push anything up and down a hill. I didn't have to talk to anyone and constantly narrate my every move. It was oddly, magnificently liberating.

Honestly, I kinda felt like a caged animal that had just been let loose in the wild. Don't worry, I haven't felt like some downtrodden or oppressed woman, I swear. But it felt so good, which probably means that it doesn't happen very often and needs to happen more!

This might have something to do with Noah's new habit of screaming bloody murder when I'm not in his direct line of sight. Even if his Dada is in the same room! I somehow only just realized that we are always together save for the hour or two in the morning when the boys bond while I get to sleep in. I thought I was fine with not having a break, but I know now that I need more than just relaxing in my house while watching Doctor Who with a face masque on.

Who would've thought that going to the grocery store alone would one day be my special magic getaway?

You know what I want for Christmas? Offers of babysitting while we're in Toronto for 18 days please & thank you hint, hint. :)

Happy Monday everyone!

Co-Sleeping is Definitely Not For Us

The last two nights, Noah has been waking up at around midnight or 1am, ready to party. As I am sure many a parent can understand, this is not an ok turn of events for us. We knew that the 12 hour sleeping couldn't last forever, but we sure wish they would.

I think it's more teething, because my poor Small Human has been so clingy and snuggly. Due to this clingy adorableness, and coupled with the fact that B and I are both dead tired, we've been taking him into our bed with us. I don't think I want to do it ever again. He's free to come sleep with us when he's older and has a nightmare or just cause, but not as a baby. Plus I feel like it's affecting his napping too. I NEED those naps to stay sane.

It is impossible to sleep with a little hand grabbing your nostrils or with a foot kicking you in the throat. Then there are the 70 times I woke up to check that he wasn't suffocating. The whole family slept terribly last night, and later that morning I got rewarded with a headbutt to the face that instantly gave me a huge headache.

Sometimes parenthood sucks so hard. And then your baby will rock out to Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas" (my favourite Christmas song) and the world is rosy again. It's like I'm clinically insane, but it's just the highs and lows of being a parent.

May you all have a wonderful weekend, full of long sleeps, cuddles and pajama dance parties!

Please sleep like a champ like you used to, baby man.

Marriage During Baby's First Year

Sometimes I long for those lazy, cold-weather evenings, when my husband and I could just pop out at 8 pm for a late dinner at our favourite Italian restaurant. Actually, when I think back about the days of just going anywhere at all (near or far) without any preparation other than bringing a small bag and curling my eyelashes, it makes me feel happily nostalgic.

Except if I try to think about life without my Small Human now, I would rather be dead than live that life. You can't fully understand the words to "You Are My Sunshine" until you have a baby. It just sounds like a crazy person wrote the song, otherwise. Which makes sense, cause moms are crazy!

But how do you stay you, as a couple? Winding down for the day now comes with a baby play-by-play complete with pictures and video. It's fun to revel in the baby's cuteness and incredible abilities that become more numerous every day, but you can't forget about your partner. You two are in it for the long haul, long after the kids have left the house.

Don't forget about all the time you invested in each other in the beginning. The dates, the dinners, the snuggles and romance. Don't forget about why you're together in the first place and how you ended up here! Your partner still wants to spend time with you, even if you both feel exhausted and drained. The first year of baby's life is one of the hardest and can end in divorce. Extremely sad, but it's the cold hard truth.

What's even harder is when you live thousands of miles away from your family like we do, and no one can help you raise your child. They say it takes a village, and the work of a village is a lot for two people to undertake on their own.

Anyway, all I am trying to say is, for my expecting friends: relish this time to your heart's content. Be a bit selfish and enjoy your partner all to yourself! Go to all the movies, dinners, couple's massages at the spa, and have couch snuggling sessions with your partner and pets!

To all the new parents: You can do it! While baby can seem all-consuming, don't forget about the person you made that beautiful child with. Try to spend time with them like you used to, even if it's just a speed date of 10 minutes while the baby is distracted by the recycling, or taking the time to show each other you still appreciate each other after the baby is asleep. You can still have date nights in your house, that's what kitchens, sound systems, and televisions are for.

Never forget about your partner. Don't be complacent. Kiss every day.

Christmas Presents For the Small Human

Noah has been feeling a bit cranky the past couple of days, and because of this, I got to witness a very serious little monkey. On more than one occasion today, he sauntered over to me with his hilarious John Wayne gait, locked eyes with mama, and seemingly stared straight into my soul. Sure, you think I'm bonkers, but I speak the truth.

This got me thinking about how much he's actually taking in and understanding now. He has always let me know when he's hungry as most babies do, only now he dances with joy when I go make him a bottle! He dances, chirps, and pats my leg happily. (OMG I love him so much.)

If he can comprehend what we are doing and he's now able to directly react and express feelings about our actions, will he understand Christmas presents? I certainly don't want to teach him that Christmas = presents, but I do want him to partake in the tradition, since his family does.

As a parent we want to give our children everything, but we can't exactly do that without repercussions. We still have to remember that we are raising people who need to be well-adjusted, functioning beings in society one day.

Then there are the practical things, like fitting huge toys in our apartment which is kind of a deal breaker. Either way, we're kinda off the hook this year anyway, because I am not going to lug things for Noah across the continent and back.

Sooo, we're going save the toys for his birthday in January, and he's getting a glockenspiel and one of those peg hammering toys! I am mildly terrified for my ears and feet. Can you imagine getting whacked on your bare foot by one of these??

Or we could save money and give him something from the kitchen cupboard.

First Birthday Planning

In about five weeks, Noah is turning 1. My pregnancy and the first year of his life went by so quickly, I'm not even sure how the time has gone by this fast. We will be celebrating with a tiny, informal gathering at our house and I can't wait!

I want to properly celebrate my Small Human by making it as cute and fun as possible! Baby parties only last 1-2 hours tops, so I wanna make it count. I had started gathering party supplies and ideas months ago, and it's a good thing I did because I forgot about us being away over the holidays.

So far, I've got red and white chevron paper straws, blue Mason jars, mini Mason jars, daisy lids for said jars, a pretty blue cake stand, invitations with picture postage, a birthday bunting banner, mustache napkins (of course), cookie cutters, and favour bags and favours for the babies! The menu is roughly sketched out too.

I'm kinda disappointed though, because I thought I was super on the ball with the cake, but the awesome cake company I was in touch with decided to close it's doors! Nooooooo! So it's back to the drawing board. I might have to make it myself as originally planned, which means that it will be significantly less cute.

Now I've just got to schedule a cake smash photo shoot, find a cute table cloth and we should be all set!

As you may have guessed, yes, his birthday outfit is all ready to go, complete with bow tie à la 11th Doctor.

Birthday sneak peek!

Fashion is Fun

I admit that I have a really fun time dressing my Small Human. A few people have mentioned that dressing up boys isn't nearly as fun as dressing up girls, but I beg to differ! Girls clothes can be a little too frilly, fluffy, and cutesy for my taste, but boys clothes seem to fall into a more tasteful and normal category.

Teeny tiny sweaters and boots just slay me, I am obsessed with them, so I'm relishing Noah's winter wardrobe before he outgrows it all. He doesn't actually have a lot of clothing, but it's easy to mix and match and feel like he's got a ton of different outfits.

I also have a thing for dressing him like us. At first it was all accidental. I'd dress him and then choose an outfit for myself, unconsciously choosing the exact thing I just put my son in. Now, however, it's totally on purpose. Case in point:

Argyle cuties

Mommy & Baby Minnetonkas

I don't go 100% matchy-matchy (except for our matching navy blue pea coats), but I do like to compliment each other when I can. It's the silly little things that you need to take pleasure in day to day. Happy Monday, folks!

Small Human's First Concert!

Do you guys remember a band from the 90s called The Presidents of The United States of America? Well, they were from Seattle and sang a very catchy tune called "Peaches". Much like the rest of us, those dudes grew up and now one of the members goes by Caspar Babypants, a children's performer.

Noah and I had the pleasure of going to one of his concerts this morning! Of course the babe loved it. He danced and clapped and waved his hands. At one point, he decided he needed to be on stage. (Uh oh!) We had a great ol' time!

It was also really nice because the concert was in the hospital where I gave birth to him. It was fun to walk there from our house with my big boy baby. I'm really glad I didn't have to waddle there this time!

Here are some pics from our morning. Have a wonderful weekend, friends & fam. :)

Enjoying the music, so well-behaved.

Getting on stage to crowd surf?

Full Swing, Baby

I think Christmas officially went into full swing when Noah started rocking out to Jingle Bells in his high chair this morning. I also finally caught him dancing to Christmas music on camera! He totally could have been a Christmas baby, but I'm glad he wasn't. It must royally suck to consolidate presents when you're an 8 year old.

It's so cold here, I bet you we'll see some snow in the city. I've got my Christmasy candles lit, fuzzy socks on, and a cute guy to snorgle and watch Christmas movies with! Anyway, this is what Christmas is looking like in our house so far:

I think we need some green garland action on the mantle still

Where I will be snuggling up in a sec with some mini quiche and salad

Like, Woah

I just had one of those moments where you think about your life and it makes you feel kinda trippy. I realized that in my head, I have two lives. One in Seattle, where I am wife and mommy Lilibeth. Another in Toronto, where I am single girl in the city Lilibeth. In less than two weeks those two lives are going to converge, and I'm not sure I can wrap my mind around it for some reason.

I certainly can't imagine what it must be like for our friends and family who haven't seen us since Noah was born. We left with a barely perceptible baby bump and are coming back with a toddler. WTF. It's just bananas.

Or maybe it's just me and I'm thinking too much, like I always do.

Either way, I AM EXCITED. Our bed is completely covered in what looks like detritus, but is actually a carefully laid out smorgasbord of what we will need over the Christmas break. Packing was a lot easier before I had a little man plucking things out of the suitcase that I had just placed there 30 seconds before. It drives me crazy but it's just so darned cute!

Also, I apologize in advance to everyone who gets a crappy Christmas present from us. I tried, but it's hard to find really small, light things that are also amazing.

Today, we practiced for our Canada trip by walking around in the freezing cold. Seattle is getting us ready by showing Noah frost and cold, dry air. I think he likes it!

Random gratuitous photo of Small Human (Eliza Truitt Photography)

Mom Shaming

There really is no other sin greater than mommy shaming among other mommies. Being a mom is hard enough without having to deal with judgement from others. As mothers we worry, we struggle to make the right choices, and we do the best that we can while life is hurling things at us from all directions.

I was on the receiving end of some mom shaming yesterday, and it made me feel bad for the whole day. I try really hard to be kind and considerate of people's feelings, so when someone is thoughtless towards me, it hurts double.

There are obviously two sides to every story, so there is the chance that this other mommy was genuinely concerned (as my husband, Pollyanna Sunshine pointed out), but perhaps her good intentions lacked graceful execution.

As I have mentioned several times now, my Small Human doesn't enjoy the texture of solid food. He usually has no problems with small bites of my meal. We had enchiladas the other night and he ate some beans, rice, chicken and a bit of tortilla and was fine. He's also usually ok with cheese, but during snack time in class on Monday, the cheese made him gag and he puked on himself a little.

While I tried to clean him off, my poor baby cried from the discomfort of the acid in his throat no doubt, I was bombarded with questions like, "Does he always throw up when he eats solids?" "He can't eat any solid food?" "Have you spoken to your pediatrician? What did they have to say about this?" These all seem like harmless questions, but I think that for me, the malice was in the delivery. I felt attacked, and like I was being told that my son was a freak.

Clearly, nothing is wrong with Small Human. He's been walking since he was 9 1/2 months old, is in the 75th percentile for weight, 90th percentile for height, has fat, healthy cheeks, and loves exploring the world and getting into trouble.

I think that many parents focus too much on the short term and need to remember that all of us were babies at one point, yet we're all pretty much on even footing now. My husband had trouble with solids when he was a baby too, and last I checked he just ate two plates of my spaghetti at dinner, as I'm sure Noah will when he's good and ready.

The moral of my story is: Don't be a jerk to other moms, you could ruin someone's day. The end.

What Noah does when I raise my arms in the air and say, "Winner!"

The Hunt For Santa Claus

Sunday was supposed to be the day that we went downtown to see Santa Claus. While we actually did go downtown and get in line to see him at Nordstrom, Noah did not get to sit on his lap. May I just say that Nordstrom Santa was the fanciest one I had ever seen. He was old, very jolly, and had a deep, beautiful actor's voice. I knew this because his room was miked so that the crowd outside waiting for him could hear the action inside. Yes, seriously. Their Santa's Village was so pretty, not cheesy, very beautiful and tasteful, and had an almost two hour wait. A TWO HOUR WAIT. Do you know what it's like to make a 10 month old sit happily in his stroller without moving for even ten minutes? Ya, it wasn't going to happen.

I still wanted to do something fun, so we decided to hop on the Monorail to Seattle City Center and go up the Space Needle! I guess Noah enjoyed it? He liked looking out the window of the Monorail and seeing buildings go by. He seemed rather nonplussed in the elevator and at the awesome view, but mommy and daddy definitely enjoyed themselves. It's a pretty fun place to hang out and people watch.

You know what though? I forgot that there was a Santa in the Space Needle! So Noah got to hang out with Santa after all, and he was fittingly a Space Santa, which was all kinds of awesome hilariousness.

He wasn't scared, he was just bored and squirmy. He may have also been confused about the spaceship vs. sleigh situation. ;)

Here are some pictures from our day, and happy December!

Riding the Monorail in good spirits

Enjoying the view with dada

Toddling around the Space Needle observation deck

Noah's First Thanksgiving

Being a couple of Canadians, Brendan and I never make any plans for American Thanksgiving because it tends to slip our minds. However, this year our very kind and accommodating friends invited us over for an evening of fun, food, and festivities.

We had a wonderful time and I think Noah did as well! It was the very first American Thanksgiving for our baby American. He ended up puking at the table a little bit because of his seemingly never ending aversion to solid food, but I don't think our hosts minded. It always makes me feel like such a mom when my kid pukes up on himself and I'm ready with a change of clean, comfy clothes. (Thanks again for the washcloths and plastic bag, R!)

I'm going to be very honest here, Canadians are so fond of ragging on and making fun of Americans, and I don't think it's always warranted. Since moving here, I have found people to be incredibly polite and welcoming. There's definitely a difference between cultures, but different isn't necessarily bad.

I love that Noah will have dual citizenship and that he will grow up with the inside scoop on being American and Canadian. He'll also grow up with my Filipino and French Canadian influences, and with his daddy's Italian and Irish ones. What a cool and lucky little boy. It's definitely something to be thankful for!

Have a marvelous weekend, everybody! xoxo

Noah's first place card!

Hanging with Uncle J and Carm

Delicious and beautiful dessert spread

Baby Friendly Places

If I'm feeling good and not too stressed out because of life or more likely, something baby related, I like exploring Seattle with my babe. Sometimes you luck out and discover a baby-friendly establishment, or you strike out and find a place where they treat you like you have the plague.

It's completely understandable that not all places are baby or child friendly. Sometimes the space is simply too intimate, or geared toward a certain type of crowd. I get it, and that is cool with me.

When you do find an awesome place though, it feels like winning the lottery! I like going where I know I am welcome, and won't feel embarrassed or shamed for having a baby man who might shriek and throw things across the room.

There are a few places in Capitol Hill that Noah and I enjoy going to. The Wilsons' number one favourite place is Volunteer Park Cafe. I went there all the time when I was pregnant with Small Human, and continue to do so now. The atmosphere is always warm and homey, and the food is delish. Plus, you can burn off your calories by going for a walk in Volunteer Park afterwards! The only thing that makes it slightly inconvenient is that they don't have a change table in the bathroom.

The whole family at Volunteer Park Cafe

Vios Cafe & Marketplace on 19th is also a fun place because they've got a little play area for the beans, and a staff that loves kids. It might be better for more mobile kiddos though. The food here is delicious and Greek. Yummo!

Checking out the Vios play area

I get my blue streaks done at Red Chair Salon on 15th Ave. because not only are they awesome at colouring, but they are 100% cool with babies. During one of my appointments, Noah screamed for 20 minutes before falling asleep, and no one batted an eyelash. The staff usually plays with him when he's in a good mood. :)

Bakery Nouveau just down the street from the salon is small and cozy, but have a couple high chairs, and some really delicious baked goods and sammies. I don't suggest going there on a weekend though, because they often have lines out the door.

Noah with his gf Carmen, at Bakery Nouveau last August

I can't end this post without a shout out to the best baristas in town though. The Starbucks on 15th is the best Starbucks in the city hands down. They know how to make all the drinks properly, no matter how ridiculously I modify my lattes, and every single person that works there is amazingly nice and sweet! No really, I am in love with them. Fun fact: I went into labour at that Starbucks!

You don't have to feel like you can't go anywhere for a meal or a nice cup of coffee when you've got a babe under 1 year, you just hafta know where to go!

Christmas Crazy

I think Noah wants a teepee for Christmas.
Ok maybe mommy wants a teepee for Christmas. ;)

I have launched the Wilsons into full blown Christmas mode and I make no apologies. We're just going to skip over American Thanksgiving entirely and go straight for the holiday prize. The Christmas decorations are all officially going up because we're only going to be in town for three more weeks.

We won't be doing a tree this year, but I found a really adorable laser cut "tree" from Crate & Barrel that now lives on our mantle, as well as a metallic star garland with gold, pink, and white stars from The Land of Nod. All five of us Wilsons have stockings, Pottery Barn Kids for the humans, and little sparkly stockings for the bunnies. I even got Christmas cushion covers from Etsy. I love the holidays!

Our annual family photo Christmas cards are in the works too, I can't wait to show you all. :)

I am way too excited for Noah's first Christmas that I could burst! We've got Christmas sweaters to wear, Christmas pajamas, some special presents in the works, and of course we will be visiting Santa in the next few days too. Wanna know a little bit of trivia? I don't have a single photo with Santa as a child because I was mortally afraid of him.

I wonder if we'll actually have a white Christmas in Toronto this year? I'm dreaming of it! (Yes, I am cheesy, but that is half the fun!)

Are you planning any fun activities or presents for your Littles? Only 29 more days to go...

xoxo

Laser cut tree from Crate & Barrel

Star garland from The Land of Nod

Pottery Barn's Woodland stocking was practically made for me!

Subway style print on chevron of course (Etsy)

Raising Funds for Typhoon Haiyan Victims

The alumnae of the Sacred Heart School of Montreal have decided to join forces, via social media, to help raise funds toward sending aid to those affected by the devastating Typhoon Haiyan/Yolanda, through the work of The Society of the Sacred Heart/Religieuses du Sacré-Coeur de Jésus (RSCJ).

The RSCJ is dedicated to helping the Filipino people, and it has been there for over forty years. Its projects include developing infrastructure, which involves housing and relocation projects for the most needy.

The RSCJ has ministries in areas that were directly in the path of Typhoon Haiyan. The Society sent a letter to the international community asking us for help.

During Typhoon Haiyan, RSCJ buildings served as evacuation centres. In Leyte and Samar, people in the housing and relocation communities survived. However, their homes were destroyed. Rebuilding will take all the resources the RSCJ has in these areas and our help will be greatly needed.

Please consider donating generously. We are trying to raise $5000 to send as quickly as possible. Our actions and generosity need to be felt ASAP.

Thank you and God bless.

You can Donate Here!


Some FAQ's About Donating:

Q: How will we treat the donation?
A: We will be treating it as a group donation to the RSCJ, whose headquarters is now in the United States (the Canadian Province just merged with the US Province).

Q: Am I eligible for a tax receipt?
A: No, we are giving a group donation, so we will not be giving out tax receipts. If you would like to donate independently, you can send a certified check or money order to the RSCJ. (Fund for the Philippines 
Society of the Sacred Heart , 4120 Forest Park Ave., St. Louis, Mo. 63108)

Q: How do I make a donation?
A: Just click on the “Donate Here” button. It will bring you to PayPal. You can pay through your PayPal account balance or linked bank account. You can also pay with a credit card. 

PayPal charges a small fee for credit card and cross-border transactions. Message us (me) if you would like more information about this process.

Q: In whose name will the donation be made? 
A: It will be made on behalf of the Alumnae and Friends of The Sacred Heart School of Montreal.

Q: How will we ensure transparency?
A: Well, the wonderful thing is that Joanne Tupaz ‘97 is a Chartered Accountant. She has helped us in developing a process for keeping track of everyone’s contribution. Just message us if you would like more information on yours or that of the entire group.

Happy Just to Be Nominated

I have always wanted to say that! Of course, I had once hoped that it would be for an Academy Award, but a blogger award is super cool in my book too.

For those of you who have no idea what I'm talking about, a very wonderful person nominated me for the Canadian Weblog Awards in the Ex-pat, and Parenting & Family categories. It's great because it isn't a popularity contest. No clicks or likes or voting necessary, just an old school jury.

I'm mostly excited about this because it makes me feel like I'm still included in Canadian things! But also because it's fun to be recognized in any way. Even if you just high-five me in street for keeping my child warm and alive, I will probably be really stoked and immediately email my husband about it.

Here's the list of nominees:



In other news: WOOHOO, IT'S FRIDAY. It's cold in Seattle, but sunny and feels just like home. There are about a million things I wanna do this weekend because sunny days will soon be few and far between. But maybe I should dial it back a notch so we don't all get sick again. ;)

Have a great weekend everyone!

Noah wants to be oot & aboot