Summer colds are the worst.

I came down with one in the days leading up to Lily's birthday. Of course, Lily came down with it too. Let's just say that it has been a trying 2 weeks.

Lily is usually a great eater, listens well (as well as a 2 year old can) and is generally a happy-go-lucky child. I'm not sure where she went, but that girl has been missing for the last 14 days. I like to call the replacement my Tiger Lily. Along with the congested head, sneezing and snotty nose, we had temper tantrums, hitting, biting, throwing of food and drink, no napping and pretty much no eating. Not the 'terrible twos', just one very cranky child. Only mumma would do, and every action required a lot of hugging. If she felt a little bit off, she would yell "hugging!" at me until I hugged her. Sounds sweet? Well, only sometimes. She yelled for hugging while I was driving. She yelled for hugging when we were at the mall. She yelled for hugging during supper. She yelled for hugging while in her car swing in the yard. She yelled for hugging while in the bath. And was inconsolable until she was hugged. But only by me. If someone else hugged her, she still wanted me. I shouldn't have been frustrated by it, but I was. She's always been an independent child, and while she is affectionate, she has never been a clingy kid. The only time she gets this way is when she's sick, but usually it means she just wants to sit on your lap and cuddle. She's taken it to a whole new level with the hug-on-demand.

I think that the Tiger Lily is slowly being replaced with my sweet Lily. The one that asks to be tickled, that tells me there are monsters hiding in the lights at Safeway and that we need to be quiet because they are sleeping, that yells "Clifford, where are you?" in the back yard, the one that makes nonsense noises as she plays, that says "I running!" when we are out for a walk, that holds her watermelon rind to her ear like a phone and tells me that her Buppa is calling and that he's messy and fixing things. That's my girl. I have missed her, but I think she's back.

The cold is almost gone(hers and mine), she's eating and sleeping again, and she's a happier kid.

But now her dad has the cold, and you all know how men are when they are sick...

Round three?

For lack of a better idea for a post...here is some cake.

Enjoy!

(thanks for the link Allie)

Happy Birthday Lily!

Two years ago, on this very date; my lovely wife and I headed to the hospital. We arrived at 8am, and a scant 15 hours and 47 minutes later; our daughter arrived into this world.
I was the first person to hold her, I remember being overwhelmed, and I still am when I think about it; this tiny person in my arms brought me a joy such as I had never felt before. Joy of course is the only word for it, I lack a more descriptive word for it; hmm perhaps elation, hmm.
But, again, I digress, the long and short of it is, two years ago, to this very date, I welcomed my daughter into my life, and today I was glad to have others here to share the day, so they too, could feel a tiny part of the joy that is my daughter Lily.

Happy Birthday to my sweet girl!

Two years ago, you arrived safe and sound.

You were late, but really, you came right on time for us.

I love your sweet peaceful face - and those cheeks! You still look like this when you sleep.

I love how affectionate you are, and that you will yell "Hugging" when you need extra love. I always have extra love.

I love that you would rather play in the laundry basket than play with a toy.

I love that your Uncle Craig (Teg, in Lilyspeak) came home and gets to see you grow up.

I love how your face just lights up when you smile.

I love how you can sit and play for hours with the simplest things.

I love how silly you are. Silly Lily indeed.

I love how determined you are. It's not always fun for me, but that determination will take you places when you are older.

I love that you want to play with in the garden with me. Even if you lick cream cheese off rocks, drink water from Molly's dish and eat squirrel corn when you think I'm not looking.

I love that you adore your great great Aunties so much. They love you to pieces and you have been such a gift to them. Much more than you will ever know.

I love that you are happy spending time with your family, far and near.

And I love that cheesy smile!

Happy second Birthday Lily. I love you so so much. Hope you have a wonderful day today.

Pool Party!

During last week's heat wave we had a pool installed. We have been doing a lot of landscaping this year, and I thought, why not a pool? I organized the delivery and set up of the pool, and called in a favor or two. It's amazing what cookie bribes will do.

Delivery, installation and assembly were very quick. Filling the pool took a bit longer, but that's because the help was a bit inexperienced.

Apparently, it had too much water in it, so she decided to remove some.

She decided Molly's dish was the best place for the excess. But then she changed her mind and had a drink instead.

She was happy, cool and hydrated. Even if it was water from the dog dish.

And I learned that a great way to cool off in 30 degree weather is to hug a wet clammy toddler.