Sadness.

Working Mommy.

Anyone notice my masthead update?
I removed sleeping and replaced it with working. There won't be much sleeping for Mommy once I return to work December 6th. It's crazy how quickly a year goes by. A year ago, I was preparing for a baby and for Christmas and beyond excited. What a difference a year makes. Don't get me wrong, I am excited that Hudson will turn one a couple weeks before Christmas. To commemorate his birthday, we will select a live tree at the local tree lot and decorate it on his special day. It just so happens that his birthday falls on a Saturday! I may leave his birthday prezzies under the tree and start a new tradition for him! Knowing that I am returning into the workforce during the Christmas season makes it hurt a little less.
Transitioning from no routine all year to a work routine is going to suck the life right out of me. I am worried about sleep deprivation {Hudson wakes up 2-3x a night} and the crazy morning/evening scramble. I am worried that lack of sleep will bring on illness for the entire family. I expect that Hudson will catch each and every virus to hit the daycare and eventually pass it along to his sis. I will attempt to maintain my exercise routine to thwart these germs and prevent sickness. I am very worried about Hudson's emotional state in daycare. He cries the entire time due to separation anxiety. No exaggeration. I really thought his behaviour would differ from his sister. Abby cried for three whole months. True fact: her three month crying record remains untouched at daycare! I really don't remember how we got through it. I know we'll get through this rough hurdle too. Please don't take three or more months, Hudson. Please?
On a positive note, I am employed at an exceptional workplace, have supportive managers and an amazing bunch of co-workers {hi guys! see you soon!}. I am looking forward to laughing every day at work and conversing with adults again. {oh, and the "occasional" shopping spree at H&M!} I believe working may be the 'easiest' part of this entire transition.
Bring on the concealer, bring on Tim's Double-Doubles, bring on the Visine, bring on the tears, bring on the grey hairs, bring on a real paycheck. Bring it on! I've endured the back-to-work emotional/physical upheaval four years ago and will do it again. So I say to myself.

Wish me luck. I'm still gonna need it.

Hudson, in happier times. This means being at home with his Mommy.

Snow Days.

A snowball trail.

The snowman & Abby.

It snowed this weekend!
It's hard to believe that we got a small dump of snow. The snow that covered the leaves has yet to melt away. Crazy cold temperatures with a wind chill all week long. It's been a couple years since our last major snowfall. Forecasters predicted a cold winter season. Fun for the kids, not so much for commuting Mommy & Daddy. Plus, we have very old plumbing and pipes that bang bang bang all night long due to the cold temperatures!

Show Me the Mommy (l'exercise l'edition!)

Do you recognize me? I am wearing some lovely 'Sue Sylvester' Adidas striped running pants circa 2005, Nick's landscaping work jacket and, yup, his baseball cap.
I like working out incognito.

Bubbles n' Stripes.

Wild Child.

Reunion.

A 9-passenger van means sister Cathy arrived safely from Chilliwack. I was blow drying my hair and noticed these big bright brake lights shining into the kitchen!

"Baby" Coco (almost a 3 years old) with sister Caroline playing at Abby's table. They were very quiet for the first while...normally it's Abby who plays shy. Eventually they warmed up and the trio played so well together.

Mom brings prezzies from Seattle for us. {Beautiful hand-knit flowers for our winter coats.}

Our beautiful Oma with beautiful sister Amy.

Cousin lunch time. They ate so well together on the floor.

Naturally positioned in birth order.

Abby playing with Colby.

Hudson and Oma. 

Despite the ugly Tuesday weather, our house brought in major sunshine. In no particular order. . . my Oma (my Dad's Mom), my Mom, my older sister Cathy with two of her youngest, and younger sister Amy with Colby. It was one serious AWR: Aporta Women Reunion {my, that's a lot of vowels!}. My Mom brought three big bags full of lunch items and both sisters brought sweet treats. My Mom has become quite familar in my kitchen and swept in .. wa la lunch was served! Oma was in her glory watching her great-grandchildren in action. Two young boys on the floor and the girls being girls.

I love mat leave for days like this. It was a treasured day. Special thanks Cathy for driving all the way out here & back for only two short hours. This time I didn't have to say "I wish you were here too."
xoxo

A Good Weekend.

Friday night started with a bang! A 60th Surprise Party for my Father-in-Law Vann. He had no clue which made the party that much sweeter. My parent's came over to babysit and with them a beautiful rainbow appeared. Pure Happiness.

Group shot of the party people. Enlarge for detail.

Vann cracked up when he opened this from his own Mom.

A shirt he better wear on his actual birthday - in Mexico.

Nick brought me flowers from Safeway {Safeway!}. Abby selected these beautiful ones. I think she has great taste. Hudson couldn't stop staring at them either.

Abby took this photo of me. We just returned from having professional family photos taken yesterday. The weather turned out to be fantastic. Straight up sunshine, nary a wind. My awesome sis Ames came over {with a happy Colby} to curl my hair. I wish she could do this everyday. I am hoping that we'll have a couple photos to choose from for 2010 Christmas cards. Maybe one for our wall.

Daddy looks bald. {not that there is anything wrong with that!}

Nick vs Hudson!

Hallow's Eve 2010

Before the fun started.



Let's go Trick or Treating



Looking at the loot. 





First knock.



Our pumpkin display at our door. Abby was the painted pumpkin, Nick was 'Boo', a personalized 'H' for Hudson and I am full o' holes.

Halloween 2010 at our house. Abby dressed up as a spider again (refer to photos of last year) and Hudson was supposed to dress up as a giraffe. A late nap for him so he missed out on the fun. Next year he will be older to enjoy the festivities. Nick took Abby around the neighborhood. Abby wasn't so interested and home by 6:30pm! She prefered to distribute the treats to the approximate 35 kids knocking at our door. At one point I snuck outside and knocked on our door too...I threw on Abby's toque and bent down to look smaller. Abby opened the door and surprise it was her Mommy. She thought it was pretty hilarious. I tricked her!
Grandpa & Grandma B. surprised us later too...it was nice to have some visitors, especially them!
I woke up this morning to see many pumpkins smashed in our neighborhood...and rainy rainy rainy. We were all very fortunate that the rains held off last night.
I hope everyone had a fun & frightful Hallow's Eve too! How you deal with all the candies that your kids have collected? Nick and I managed to nosh half o' bowl of "leftovers" last night...and this morning they are calling out my name!