28 Years Later

                                          

This is me, approximately 28 years ago..

 This morning at 7:06 I turned 28 years old.  I don't feel older because of my age today. I do however, feel older because I became a mom this year. Waking up this morning, I realize that even though it's my birthday it is still Alina's day. Everyday is her day. She is my number one concern and priority and she doesn't care if I was born 28 years ago today! She still cries when she's hungry and fusses when she is bored.

Alina all dressed up for Mommy's birthday. I wonder who dressed her up....

 I think for my Birthday Post I will list 28 things I have learned about myself and fun facts about me.. After all, birthdays are supposed to be different than any other day. So why not make my blog a bit different today too!

28 Random Facts & Life Lessons:  

1.  I insisted on being married barefoot! 

   

   See- those are my tootsies!

2. Never feel sorry for yourself! It isn't good for you and it feels even worse!!
3. My husband bought me a ring when we first started dating with an aquamarine stone in it. He thought it was the prettiest one. I joked that it was his blue eye watching my every move. I just realized that Alina's birthstone is aquamarine. Talk about foresight there Daddy-O! 
   
4. Dieing is unknown, intimidating and terrifying but I believe that it is the most peaceful experience for the person passing. 
5. I SUCK at feelings. Even when Rob and I watch American Idol or The Voice, I always fast forward a lot of the people's personal stories, and exclaim; "We don't do feeeeeelings!!" (At the same time... I will admit I do watch the heartbreaking stories.. and sometimes cry when they're reeeeeally sad.)
6. When I'm upset I push hugs away- until I am ready. 
7.  I have no sympathy for those that complain about things that they can change! 
8. My best friend has always been and will always be my sister. 

   

   Kyli on her way to see the Dixie Chicks!!

9. Whenever people post pictures of a delicious meal, I can't help but think that the food is now poop. I know..!! Soooo gross!! But I can't help it!
10. I really hope and pray that Alina and I will be close as mother and daughter when she is my age! I think that will have everything to do with me and how I am to her..
    
    
11. The best gift I could receive would be a private reading with Theresa Caputo  (It's a compilation of a number of readings, but the first few minutes should give you an idea of how AMAZING she is!)
12. The only way to get what you want in life is to get up and go for it!
13. I have a cherry, apple and pear tree in my back yard! Oh and a raspberry bush in my back lane against my fence. Luuucky!
14. You can't change your parents- so stop trying to!!!
15. My two dreams have come true.. I wrote a children's story and it is now a published book! I am a mom to a beautiful baby girl! .
16. Be nice. Honestly, I get by really well by being nice MOST of the time. 
17. At the same time: STICK up for yourself when you need to! When I'm nice, people might think that I'm a push over. Well I used to be, but I am certainly not anymore.
18. I'm proud to say that I like my husband. He's my best friend.
19. The smell of freshly cut grass reminds me of Summer. The smell of pine trees reminds me of Christmas and Winter! Smelly dog poop reminds me of Spring. Recently chopped fire wood smells like Fall!
20. My favourite drinks are Strongbow, Iced Tea Coors Lite and Granville Island's Raspberry beer! Yuuuum. OH and any kind of Bellini! 
21. I am Canadian and am totally stereotypical and love hockey.. It's true! My favourite team has always been the Edmonton Oilers because I grew up a few hours from Edmonton, Alberta baby!
    
22.  I don't like getting flowers because they eventually die and then I have to take them out of the vase and throw them in the garbage. I feel like I'm literally throwing money into the garbage! 
23. While I was pregnant last year, I wanted a baby girl. Aaaand, I got her folks! 
24. Delivering a baby isn't as awful and horrible as everyone will tell you. Learn to filter all of the advice received while pregnant. People don't hold back and like to scare the hell out of you. 
25. I look up to my Grannie. She has been through a lot in her life. She has always been nothing but kind and loving towards me and my cousins. She really is the best Gran around. And I used to always brag to kids in my school that my Grandma wore jeans and swore.
    
    
26. When I am up at 2 or 4 or 6 breastfeeding Alina, I often think about how lucky I am. Then I just sit her up and snuggle her furry head, planting kisses all over her brow.
27. I need to learn how to chill out more often. I want so much to worry less and become a more laid back version of me. Hopefully by the time I'm in my late thirty's or forty's I'll be able to say that I did just that... chilled out.
28. And my last thought today.. A perfect evening would be... spent with my sister, drinking whatever.. wine, yummy beers or delicious fruity drinks.. eating all kinds of appetizers; spanikopita, quiche, you name it..watching old episodes of Gilmore Girls and yapping about the past three years until the sun comes up. (Our husbands responsibly taking care of our babies elsewhere)  

   There you have it folks! My list of 28 random things about myself. I got an awesome Samsung Galaxy Tablet 2 for my birthday from my super awesome hubby first thing this morning. (Not so super awesome thaaat early, but I enjoyed playing with it while Alina slept in. Thank you Alina, for sleeping in by the way!)

My girl showing off my birthday present today!

   My mother in law phoned to wish me a happy happy. I am saving her card and gifts sent from Thunder Bay for later. I always like to have something to look forward to all day. Rob's grandma sent me a card that I am also saving. My Gran gave me my yearly 20 buckskins to "Buy yourself some beer.. or something!" (Which I did and am promptly drinking as I type.)

My brother texted well wishes from the shitter at work, I shit you not. Brothers are still gross at 32. But then later he phoned and had a list of cute "Haley Facts" to fill me in on. A couple of examples were that "Haley was born in 1985, I don't remember what time.." and "Haley liked to play with Polly Pockets." It was honestly the cutest thing ever. I will also add that it was probably one of my favourite moments from today.

This was a birthday present from my brother when I turned 10. I have kept it all of these years because it meant that much to me that he went out and bought me a gift with his own money. This year, it was reminiscing with him that made me feel special once again.

  My bestie phoned from work to sing me happy birthday. She is always the first person to phone and this year, she was the first person again!
 All in all, the day has been quiet. I haven't really done anything, other than check the mail for a card from my grandparents in Hinton. (Nope.) I walked around town because it is a gorgeous day, but I didn't have a need to really do anything else. Rob is running around like a crazy, sweaty mess at work trying desperately to get off early so he can spend my day with me. I love that guy.
My bestie calls me Old Balls because she's still the ripe age of 26. It was more fun for me when I was legally in the bar at 18 and she was still her sweet 16 year old self. I believe the tables have turned..
 I am so glad my birthday is in the heart of the summer. I love that I have this birthday off because I am on maternity leave. I don't have to answer to annoying customers, trapped in doors today. So I sit here with my Raspberry beer and smile.. and soak up this gorgeous day of my birth!

Enjoying the sun- on my b'day!

My Answer Is YES!

 The other day the movie "Yes Man" was on tv and I decided to watch it. It's about a guy that doesn't like to commit himself to anything, including his job, love life and friends. So he goes to a seminar about saying YES to everything, literally. The movie itself is alright. The moral of the story is basically that saying yes to life is more beneficial than saying no. After watching the show I decided that for the rest of the day I would say yes if anything came up. Hours pass and I have long since forgotten my little vow to myself for the day. Rob has been on the computer for a little while, he seems distracted, like his wheels are turning and I know that he's up to something. He tellss me to keep an open mind and asks if I would be interested in going to Salt Spring Island over the weekend for some camping. Normally camping is a yes for me. But Alina has been difficult to get down to bed in the evenings and I have been reluctant to do anything out of our schedule. We started the ferber method of getting her to go to sleep at night. It has been working- although I didn't want to change her schedule because Friday would only be her fifth night.. (But that is for another post entirely!) The point is, I wasn't sure about going to another island, for two nights with Alina being somewhat unpredictable at bedtime. BUT- I remembered my little promise to myself and I decided that I would just say YES and not worry about it.
 So this Friday, Rob, Alina and I putt putt-ed in our '85 Westy to Salt Spring Island. I prepped a couple of meals beforehand. I had the van all loaded up by the time Rob got home from work and we were on the road within twenty minutes.
 Rob worked on Salt Spring Island for about eight months last year, helping with the electrical for the new library that was being built. He spent many hours on the island, but was unable to venture off on his own to see what the island was all about. He was very excited to take Alina and I there to show us the beauty of this place.
 Salt Spring Island is in between the mainland and Vancouver Island. It is the largest and most populated of the Gulf Islands. It is also the first of the Gulf Islands that I have visited so far.  After my little vacation I think we'll be looking into visiting a few more. The ferry ride is only about ten minutes, which was perfect for Alina's first.

Alina's first ferry ride!

Our family's first weekend trip.

 We arrived on the island and I instantly felt that Salt Spring is a tight community. It's the beginning of the summer and the island was full of tourists and happy locals soaking up the sun. We went to our campsite and we were a little reluctant at first. The sites were on the small side and the only thing between us and our neighbour was a rickety fence that I could see through fairly easy. Our neighbour was snoozing on a lawn chair when we arrived. I joked that he looked like Father Time or Rip Van Winkle. But once we were settled in, we realized that it didn't matter who was beside us because we were having a good time. We decided to check out downtown Salt Spring while the sun was still out. We walked all around the harbour and decided that this little island reminds us of a more chilled, laid back Victoria. We sat outside by a fire at the Oystercatcher Bar and Grill and had a beer to celebrate our mini holiday. The best part, was that Alina was allowed out there with us.

Sitting outside, enjoying the fire.

The umbrella couldn't have said it any better.

  Saturday was a very busy day for us. We woke and made breakfast in the van and it turned out delicious. Nothing is better than a breakfast made while camping. We decided to check out the Salt Spring market. Talk about a huge turn out! Apparently hundreds of people show up for this market every week during the summer months. We are walking around browsing at different stands and I see a man signing cd's. I recognize the c.d's; "Baby Beluga", "Banana Phone". These are all songs that I have been playing for Alina on her c.d that a neighbour bought for her. It takes me a minute before I realize that the children's songwriter and singer, Raffi is there at the market, signing c.d's! I couldn't believe it. Honestly, before I had Alina I heard of Raffi and knew of his songs. But I didn't care or really think anything of him. But once I listened to the songs a few times, I really started to like his music. It's really upbeat and fun for kids.. and okay, for ME. I enjoy making my coffee in the morning and tapping my toes to "Banana Phone".  It's catchy and Alina really seems to like it. "Baby Beluga" was my graduation song in kindergarten that we had to perform to our proud parents. I sing that song to Alina at her nap times during the day, and she usually drifts off after the second or third time I sing it. I was so excited to meet Raffi!! I couldn't believe that he was there.

Rob making us yummy breaky.

The delicious result!

Alina and I meeting Raffi!!

Rob showed us the library he worked so hard on all of those months ago. It looked like a ton of work was put into the library. What a gorgeous project to be a part of!

Proud Papa showing off his mad skills!

I wish I took pictures inside. What a modern, beautiful place to read in!

 We decided to check out a bunch of beaches and took tons of pictures of our visit. We had a really nice break from regular life and I think that's what we enjoyed so much about our little trip. I'm so glad that I decided to say YES to something I wasn't totally sure about. Alina did do some crying, but fell asleep within thirty minutes both nights. (with us checking in on her frequently of course!) It turns out she can sleep anywhere. She is happy wherever she is, as long as she gets to hang out with her Mom and Dad. We both agreed that this weekend really proved how much she's already growing up. She was out all day Saturday in the warm weather and she was a champ! We joked that she napped whenever she had the chance because there was no telling where her crazy parents would take her next!

Yup, her Dad put her in a tree stump..

Just chillin' on a log.

In another tree.

Happy Little Family.

 So I'm not necessarily going to start saying YES to everything. But I am certainly going to consider saying YES to more in life. I have nothing to lose and it could make for some really memorable stories. I mean, I met Raffi!

A Day To Share

July 10th- my wedding anniversary! I married Rob, my best friend three years ago today! I think back on that day and get the faint flutter of butterflies in my stomach. Our rehearsal dinner was the night before and my sister Kyli and my sister in law Erin and I all packed overnight bags and stayed in the really fancy, old fashioned hotel that Rob and I were staying at on the night of the wedding. Erin, Kyli and I all slept in the same bed, giggling and talking about how excited we were for the upcoming BIG day. It was honestly the sweetest most unique idea to have a little slumber party with my sisters the night before my wedding day. We were a bit tipsy and I remember Kyli being her last minute self;  painting her toesies and Erin and I were sprawled out on the bed gabbing and getting ourselves pumped up for the wedding.

In bed with my sissy's!

 The next morning I woke and Ky and Erin had to do some quick running around before we left for our hair appointments. They returned sometime later with my favourite drink; Koala Mango and Orange Sparkling Juice and mini croissants. They knew I was going to be super nervous and that I would have a hard time downing anything other than that! My hair appointment was for 10, which to me is a fabulous time because then you don't have to be up too early! I remember being really ridiculously nervous when I was getting my make up done upstairs at the hair studio. It was pretty warm up there and the make up artist was really close to my face talking. I felt this sudden panicky feeling, like I couldn't swallow. I had to calmly remind myself that I was probably feeling slight anxiety at the prospect of all of our closest friends and family watching ME walk down the aisle! I never liked the idea of all of that attention fixed on just me. But my sister is my best friend and I believe she made me feel better, by just being herself. The girls were all so amazing that day. My good friend Morgan came to film and photograph the day with her boyfriend Tim. I didn't realize that they would be photographing the wedding as well. So I had my other good friend Sofia there photographing the day as well. I remember feeling VERY overwhelmed with all of the cameras on me and had to politely ask Morgan and Tim to give me some space. (Wow I sound like a huge bridezilla but I can promise everyone that I wasn't!! I just don't like being in the spotlight and there were just a lot of lenses on little old me.)

 After our hair and make up was all done, we returned to the mansion. Oh, yes I should explain.. The hotel we were staying at was originally a mansion built for a family that lived in our quaint, little town many years ago. The mansion has been sold since then and restored into a beautiful hotel. The rooms are immaculate, modern yet old fashioned at the same time. We had a claw bath tub in the room, right in front of the bay window overlooking the golf course (where we were married) !! It was a gorgeous place to stay and I'm still so glad we did.

The girls and I posing for pictures at the mansion.

 The wedding was at 4:00 and we all stuffed ourselves into the Jeep around 3:45. I remember we pulled up to the golf course and just sat waiting for all of the last guests to scurry in. The wedding was outside on one of the putting greens, overlooking the ocean. It was a remarkable setting. So we sat in the Jeep with the air conditioner blasting and watched the guests.. I remember seeing "the boys" and my heart was fluttering like I was on a first date at just the sight of Rob!  I'm not usually romantic, but watching him when he couldn't see me, right before our wedding was special.

The boys.

 I walked out to " Canon in D" by Pachebel - it was the Celtic version with the violin and bagpipes. (Ohhh I just listened to it and tears fill my eyes with emotion!!)
 My mom walked me down the "aisle" which consisted of two big trees, a grassy hill overlooking the ocean below. My dad came from Alberta for the wedding but was at the end of his illness and was too sick to come to the wedding. It was a really hot day and he would never have made it through. Other than that, it was a perfect day.

Rob and I danced on the grass to Otis Redding's "Stand By Me". Our music was all programed into Rob's Iphone. We chose every song and we even timed when the party would really begin by playing more of our favourite, upbeat tunes. The speeches were during dinner, so everyone didn't have to wait to eat. We were served delicious Chicken Cordon Bleu or Steak dinner. We skipped out on a wedding cake because we aren't very traditional. We had cheesecake served with blueberries in a  blueberry sauce. There were appetizers as well but I hardly remember eating much.

My in laws giving their speech.

Our wedding party.

  Once the party started, the wedding just flashed by in a blink. My besties were pulling me up to the bar to do shots with them. At one point I was smoking a cigar with my girlfriends, joking about how classy we all were. We danced and I mostly talked to friends and family about the day. Our wedding guests moved the party to the patio outside and drank and visited while the sun set behind them. It was everything we imagined and more.

 My father in law, Rodney drove us to our hotel. Rob and I hurried inside and got to "business". Afterwards we both crawled into the claw bathtub that was in the bedroom, opened wedding cards and animatedly discussed the entire day to each other. I would have to say that once the day was completed, that moment would be my favourite. It was just the two of us and we were married and so proud of the day we put together for ourselves and our peeps.

End of the night.. Wedding dress hanging in the back.. A great day, always to be remembered and shared.

  So I sit here spending most of my time tonight, recapping the day and night of our wedding. I think it's time I hang out with my hubby and give him some well deserved smooches for being my buddy and marrying me.

View Wedding Video Here

 Video made by my friends from Paper Tiger Media.

Many of my photos were taken by  Sofia Katherine Photography

Happy Belated Canada !!

As of recently I joined Bloglovin.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

 Since then I have started 'following' other bloggers. I have my favourites listed at the bottom of my blog, if you want to check any of them out.  Many of the ladies I follow are from the U.S. and each and every one of them posted a shout out to their country on Independence Day. It got me thinking that I should probably make tribute to my country.
 I love Canada for all of the beauty it contains. We are known for being polite and friendly! (although I know MANY Canadians that contradict that one....!) We may take our hockey seriously but that's because it's AWESOME and fun, fun, fun to watch, especially during the playoffs.
 We have our own problems, like any country. But I am especially proud of the Peace we keep. My name is Haley and I am proud to be Canadian!

My little Canadian showing her patriotism for the Canada Day Celebrations.

A Lifetime of Scribbles

I have been writing in a journal, everyday since December 31, 1996. So I have a record of my life for the past seventeen years come this New Year's. What started as a project between two friends turned into a lifetime of records. When I first started the journal I was eleven and had a lot of time on my hands. My journal entries from back then are lengthily and pretty descriptive. In the last ten years, the entries have turned into a single page and each entry is usually about what I did that day. There are days that I don't write in it, but I almost treat it as homework and fill in the date I missed and write as though it is that day and record what I did. So there are times in the evening where I'm writing in my journal for an hour, trying to remember what I did last Tuesday. I often have to ask Rob and he's actually getting pretty good at recollecting our day to day for me.
 It's strange because I know that I could just stop. I could even just write in it whenever I thought about it. But I can't stop. It is a part of me and what I do everyday. I'm not too thrilled with the fact that Alina will look at my journals once I am gone with her siblings and see how imperfect I am. She'll know all of the bad things I did as a teenager and read about all of the mistakes I made. It was never meant for my children or anyone for that matter. It was just for me. So why am I almost OCD about keeping up with it? My Auntie's mother in law kept a diary for 80 something years. I think that will probably be me. I'll have a book shelf stacked with journals from my life.
 I have each journal numbered and I also have a journal log so that I can find a certain date quickly if I ever need to. The journals have come in handy for us a number of times. Most importantly I can look back at entries I wrote, about people that have passed. It's nice to be able to read about my loved ones that are no longer here. I remember looking through old journals when my step dad Rudi died. I just scanned the pages for his name. I haven't done it for my dad just yet. I visited dad on the weekends and in the summer so I will have weekend long entries about him. I look forward to delving into my past with dad sometime soon..
 I do have a fantasy that one day one of my kids will be into writing like me. I imagine she/he will go through all of my journals and put together a memoir from my point of view and it will become a best seller.  It will be my dream come true, after I am gone. I always said I wanted to be a "famous" author. Emphasis on famous, of course.
 So I suppose it will be a gift to my children, one day to be able to look on their mom's life and really find out who I am.. outside of being their mother.

My trunk full to the brim with my journals and special mementos from my life..

From My Vantage Point

 I sit in my backyard, the sun beats harshly on my freshly shaved legs peeking out from beneath the patio shade. I hear the faint humming of the fan in Alina's bedroom window, blowing cool air towards her as she sleeps in her crib. The back of her neck damp with sweat and the mohawk Daddy fashioned in her hair yesterday after her bath is wilting limply from the heat. There are just a couple of birds chirping lightly in the distance in comparison to the dozen I'd heard early this morning through my open window. Alina coughs and spits out her soother waking her into a temporary panic. I rush into plug her and find her big blue eyes looking up at me in mild confusion. She sees me and closes her eyes knowingly. A close call. I sigh in relief and hear the oven timer beeping urgently. Ten minutes have gone by since I placed one beer into the freezer for me to sip in the sun. The weekend leaves me with a cooler of  forgotten lukewarm brews bobbing in water that was once cool ice chunks. The first sip of a beer is always my favourite. The taste hits your tongue and coats your mouth with that wheat beer taste. It could be colder, but I am too content to return it to the freezer. The lawn is lush and green and needs a good mowing. I would do it myself but I wouldn't be able to hear baby girl if she woke from her siesta.
 It seems as though summer has finally started. The past few weeks were filled with rain and clouds and the occasional sunny or at least warm day. Now the temperatures are in the late twenty's and the house is muggy and warm. Fans are situated in windows in hopes of keeping the house at a decent temperature. I look ahead at the summer that is before me. Most of my company has been and gone already. I have each day off with Alina to enjoy the sunshine and free afternoons. This feeling I have is.. appreciation. I appreciate so many things in my world right now. Alina is my obvious first. She is growing so rapidly and with each day she shows us something new and exciting. Different sounds are coming out of her and just yesterday she stared up at me with her lovey eyes and she gently touched my cheek and then grabbed my nose and we had quite a mommy-daughter moment. I not only love my husband but I like him. I like him a lot. I can definitely say that he's my best friend. I enjoy spending time together with Alina as a family. We do our fair share of laughing and that would probably be my favourite part of us. The laughter. The goofing around and not taking ourselves too seriously. I appreciate the year I get for maternity leave. I can't imagine not having this first year with Alina. I am loving the weather, the blue, clear sky and the nature happening all around me. I love that it is 2:11 in the afternoon and I am sitting outside in the shade, with my legs up, computer in lap and a beer beside me, doing what I love the most; writing. Life sure feels good at this point. I don't have a lot going on but I feel like I have a lot to be thankful for. Things happen in life for a reason and at the time it is so hard to imagine why tragedy strikes. But, then I am presented with all of these gifts now and I can fully understand the why. I'm even grateful for it in a way. If I didn't have loss, I wouldn't have what I am staring out at right now.

My Life.

Flattered

I am an anomaly. When it comes to shopping that is! My husband, Rob LOVE LOVE LOVES to shop. He'll be trying on a dozen shirts and I'm sitting with three guys, all on their phones, holding their girlfriend's purses. My friends say I'm so lucky to have a husband to shop with. Although, it makes leaving the mall very difficult for this girl!  During Christmas I will often bring my Kindle and sit on a bench while he shops. Now that we have the baby, he goes ahead with her to the next store. Once I catch up with him, he'll give me what he wants to buy and I'll buy it for him and he'll move onto the next shop. It gives him a running start at each store. I usually don't take very long to browse.
 Yesterday Rob and I were doing our usual shop at the mall.. He was ahead of me with Alina and I was meeting up with them. A man with special needs in a wheel chair wheels up to me and politely gets my attention.

Man: Do you know why I stopped you? It's because I saw you walking and I just had to let you know that you are absolutely gorgeous.

Me: THANK YOU so much..!

Man: Do you known why I put sunscreen on today?

Me: No, why?

Man: Ssssssssss (He pretends I'm so hot it burns his skin..)

 He is the first person or stranger that has hit on me since I was pregnant and it felt really, really good to be noticed! I don't care if he used a cheesy line either. It was kind of sweet and I took it as a compliment! Besides, I don't think he was hitting on me but just voicing his opinion in a cute sort of way. It just made my day and I had to share.

Christmas Pre-Alina.. Couldn't find a really recent one right before I got pregnant.. So this will have to do!

Alina's 2 days old in this one.. And I'm 2 days after being pregnant for 9 months!!

This was taken last weekend. That's right.. I think I'm sort of bragging. It feels good to be almost at my normal weight again!!