Quote of the Day

"God really screwed me. He gave me a dancer's heart, but not a dancer's body."

Scott Johnson

Father's Day Lessons

1. Sweet Potatoes do not require as much time in the microwave as regular potatoes.

2. I should probably always live with 2 firefighters so that the likelihood of one being available to extinguish any fires I may or may not set is increased.

3. A fire in a microwave makes that microwave unusable. Every time.*

4. Do not run for help leaving 1 year old daughter alone in home with burning household appliance. Scott was really insistent about this one.

* This lesson is actually a repeat from my last pregnancy when I managed to light Red River cereal on fire in the microwave. We are now at one microwave per pregnancy. Scott says this is why we're only having 2 kids.

I love Father's Day! What a nice day to remember what a good gift my daughter has in her dear old dad. I have said before that I have never really worried about whether or not Scott would be a good father - you just kind of know he would watching him live his life. But I truly had no idea how great a father he would turn out to be.

Partly it's the practical stuff. He just does it all (why does this surprise me? I knew he could, I just didn't think he would...) He does diapers and every single bath time and most bedtimes. He gets up often in the night (happily, this is required less often these days), and does wake up as often as he's home to do it. He changes outfits and chooses meals and packs a mean diaper bag for excursions out. He tells goodnight stories about dream bunnies and sings Jimmy Buffet hits and rocks out in the car.

But mostly, it's the lovely other stuff. He laughs at her jokes, and snuggles her up. He always says, Hello Talia! as he walks in the door and scoops her up for a big hug. He tells her he loves her and how special she is, every night. He delights in who she is, all the time. What could be a better thing for a dad to do for a daughter?

It is a wonderful thing to watch these two love each other. It is truly a very Happy Father's Day for Talia and me.

A few photo hits from this last year...

Riddle

Q: What has 2 arms, 2 legs, a heartbeat of 158 and is coming at Christmas?

A: Talia's competition.

I'm One!!

Today my sweet girl is one! One whole year since she arrived. Such a lovely year, really. It has gone really quickly and nice and slowly all at the same time.

I remember thinking when I was pregnant with her that she was a funny girl, and she really is turning out to be a jokester. She laughs a lot and enjoys a good trick or two. She likes to dance and sing, either along with music or just all on her own. Our friends in Roots of Empathy all say she is very adventurous and I think that's probably true - she is a climber and a tryer-outer of all things. I think she probably gets that from her dad.

She is still an avid crawler and not too keen on walking yet. She is so efficient crawling that i can't really blame her - walking must seem like a terrible hassle. I don't worry about it too much except when I have to clean her shoes and put her back in pants with holes in the knees.

To celebrate her birthday, we had a family celebration on Sunday with Grandma and Grandpa Johnson, Grandma and Poppa, Auntie Barb and Kenny and Caitlynn and Uncle Terry, Auntie Chelsea and baby Ellie. Quite lovely as it turns out. Then today, the actual day, we went into her room together this morning for first cuddles. Daddy told her the story of the day she was born and then they had breakfast. Later that morning, we went swimming with Cezanne and Bjorn and then she went to spend a few hours with Grandma while Mummy had a pedicure! When we got home, there was a brand-new pool in the living room and a card from Daddy (apparently, he wants all the glory?). And then tonight, dinner at the White Spot in honour of the White Spot burgers we had after she was born which was in honour of the White Spot burgers my mum had after I was born.

And now the photos. These are from her birthday party.

Today she is one. Tomorrow, one and a bit. Love it!