Cloud NINE

Yes, it's been a minute since my last post.

Leeroy turns 9 months in a couple of days and I am LIVING for his incredible growing efforts.

He's crab-walking around our entire apartment as he holds on the any, and all, surfaces. I have to watch him CONSTANTLY (like.. don't blink, girl) if I don't want him to get into any cords or to find unidentified crumbs on our floor. Once he finds his balance.. it's a whole new ball game of mindful watching. Wish me and my reflexes luck.

We got our first real snowfall of the second half of the year this morning. Winter is my favourite time! (Guess I picked a great place to live...) 'Tis the season of Christmas, New Year's, and my birthday (Leeroy's too now), so what's not to love? Our decorations have been up since October 30th. I'll take a slap on the wrist from all the Grinches out there who say that's too early, over daily happiness in my own home ANY *clap* DARN *clap* DAY *clap*.

Riley and I found a daycare for Leeroy, so he'll start transitioning into that lifestyle in 2020. He's such a happy kid that I have no doubt he'll take it like a champ.

These past 9 months have been filled with so many great moments and memories. Watching Leeroy grow in different environments is very entertaining for this mat leave momma. How lucky am I that I live in a place where I get to choose to take a full year off? Forever blessed.

I was listing off things I'd done so far to one of my colleagues at lunch yesterday, and I was surprised at the achievements that were rushing out of my mouth. "I did a 750-piece puzzle, watched countless shows I never would have been able to binge, I knit a baby blanket and am in the process of a mommy look-alike, I've explored so many new corners of my neighbourhood on daily walks, read almost 30 books, ..."

I guess I've done a lot!

It's a strange thing listing off the things you've done over the course of nine months at home.. alone.. keeping a human alive. I would have been proud if I'd have gotten to say even ONE of those things because taking care of a newborn, then crawler, then borderline-walker is no joke. Some days seem long as heck. Let's just say UberEats has saved my life on multiple occasions with prompt doughnut deliveries. Then, some days go by so quickly that I don't even realize it's bath time! In the very beginning, I focused on the negative facets a lot (HOR-MONES), but that doesn't bring any good... If sparking up a diffuser can create a day full of happiness, you best believe that's the first thing I'll do for myself in the morning. If there's one thing I've learned on that train: Starbucks saves MOODS, without fail, every time. It's like magic.

There are a few months left of my leave and I intend to make the most of every opportunity. Some days left will be purely for watching Christmas movies, and others for play dates, trips to the mall, crisp morning walks, and reading stories cuddled up with little Lee. Every day is different and I've been embracing the good moments as often as they come.

Speaking of good moments, Riley reached a new level of husband/father goals this year. He constantly supports what I need to keep my emotional tank full. While we may butt heads in the peak moments of rare sleep deprivation, we always manage to find a way back to our groove. The number of bubble baths he has enabled... wow, I've basically been wrinkly all of 2019.

I didn't think this was going to evolve into a mushy thankful post, but our support system of friends and family who have been there throughout this new chapter of our lives, I raise my hat to you. (You know who you are.) Gracias.

Baby son should be up from his snooze soon, so I'll end this post by saying: I just wanted to capture how I felt in this particular moment in time. Maybe it's because Riley let me have the car two days in a row, but I'm feeling like I'm on cloud nine. Cloud nine is a nice place to be to celebrate Leeroy's 9 months.

<3

#baby #thoughts