It's My Birthday, And I'll Cry If I Want To.

By the time this posts, it will be my birthday.

The calendar says I'm 34 this year, but I don't believe it at all. I'm pretty sure I'm much, much, much older.

I feel like I have lots to say right now but I can't seem to come up with any coherent thoughts.

All I want to do is cry.

Not because I'm getting older.

Oh, no.

Getting older is no big deal...

if you have someone to get old with...

if you're raising a family...

if you're happy...

It's Emma's Birthday! (I Think!)

When we got Emma in July 2007, we were told she was 4 months old, and that her birthday would be end of February / beginning of March. So, we decided to celebrate her birthday on February 28th.

Look how much she's grown!

Here she is the day we got her


and here's my big 2 year old!
(photo taken today!)



We didn't do much for her birthday today. But she is getting a ChewLotta bone tonight while I watch a movie or two!

Dear Emma,

I am so thankful that you were born and that you came into my life. I could not imagine life without you. You certainly are the healer of my universe, which is what your name means. I know you have had a tough life. You lost your birth family, your tail, your first home (which was probably not a very great place either considering you were found wandering the streets on a very cold March day) , you spent a few months at the Humane Society, and most recently you lost your Daddy and have to put up with Mommy's emotional mood swings.

You have been such a blessing to me, and I am so fearful of ever losing you. I hope you know how special you are and how much you are loved by me and how much your daddy loved you too.

Happy 2nd Birthday, Emma!

Love, Mommy. xoxo

Photos from Babybear's 3rd Birthday

The Balloons

Family photo
(the bear represents our daughter)

Balloons making their way to Heaven

The Cake.
(my husband baked it, I decorated it)

I Love A Good Bargain!

The last few weekends, I've been yard-saleing. I have found quite a few bargains!

The picture here shows some of the things I have gotten. I got that blue shelf for 5 dollars, the white one for 2 dollars! The ceiling fan was only 10 dollars, now all I need to do is find someone to install it for me. It had never been taken out of the box.

The best deal was that scrapbook case you see at the bottom. I saw that the original price the person was trying to sell it for was 25 dollars, and that she had marked it down to 20 dollars. I went up to her and asked if she would let it go for 10, knowing she wouldn't, then I said "how about 15?" and she looked pained as she said "well.... okay."

Not pictured here are 20 Tupperware containers that I got for a dime each, and a leash that I got for 3 dollars, out of necessity since I made the mistake of taking my pup since it was down the street. She chewed through her leash and I had no other way to get her home. Turns out the leash I bought was a really good one, so it wasn't a total waste of money!

Don't think for a minute that I'm done yard-saleing for the year.... no way!


***********

Also, a very happy birthday to my cousin, pictured right, who is celebrating her 24th birthday in China today. And to my friend, A, who has been there for me so much the last few years.... Happy Birthday!

Somebody's Having A Birthday!

This little guy is turning 29 today!

Happy Birthday to my "little" cousin!

(The candles he's blowing out in this picture do NOT belong to him! The little bugger!)




I would also like to wish a happy birthday to a very special angel who is celebrating her 4th birthday today in Heaven. May your family feel your love as they remember you today and always.

Not So Little Anymore

This photo was taken 17 years ago today. That is me meeting my littlest brother for the first time! I can hardly believe he is not so little anymore, and in fact, he's way taller than I am! I'd post a recent photo but I'm not sure he would let me.

I remember that day quite well. I had to go to school even though I would be too excited to concentrate. At the exact moment my brother was being born, I was sitting in health class watching a birthing video. How's that for ironic?

Well, even though I was hoping for a sister, I'm sure glad this little not-so-little brother of mine found his way into my life. I can't imagine it without him.

Happy Birthday, Kiddo!

Thursday Thirteen - It's Emma's Birthday!

When we adopted Emma in July, we were told that she was born around the end of Feb. So, what better day than to choose Feb. 28 as the day we celebrate her 1st birthday?

Without further ado, here's 13 Emma pics!

Emma the day we brought her home

Emma the day after we brought her home

Emma at Babybear's Angelversary Party

Emma all pooped out

"Let me in!"

Helping Daddy rake the leaves

Thanksgiving Treat

Halloween

One of Emma's favorite pastimes

Getting Ready for Christmas

Supervising as Mommy makes supper

Happy Birthday, Emma!

Yes, that looks delish, doesn't it?

Her special birthday treat

(only enough room to spell "EM" with kibble)

More Birthday Greetings!

Yesterday, Dec. 9 was my auntie's 97th birthday!
Today is my cousin M's 24th birthday and my cousin S's 4th birthday!

Hope you all have a Happy Birthday!

When did I get so old? (A 3-in-1 post!)

It's my birthday! Not that that's anything to get all excited about. Woke up this morning to yet another dumping of snow. It's only the beginning of December and the first "real" snowfall was only a couple weeks ago, yet there's more than enough snow. The worst part is that there's bound to be more since our winters tend to last from October - April.

But anyway, look what the hubby got me for my birthday!



It's an Angel Cheek. He has bought me several of them since our daughter died, but I am quite certain this one is my favorite one (in addition to the refrigerator magnet Angel Cheek) Isn't it adorable? I just love the baby angel!



Some of my regular readers may remember this post. Last week, my husband had the week off (lucky duck) and so he was home with Emma most of it. He left her alone and outside the kennel twice during this time but for only 20 min. She did well, but yet, I worried. Twenty minutes isn't really that long, compared to the 5 - 6 hrs she would be alone on a normal work day.

Bear went back to work very early this morning (Started at 4:30 AM) and so when I left to go to work, I was very nervous about leaving Emma outside the kennel on her own for most of the day, and not confined to the kitchen or other room. (which is what we did at first til she ate through the baby gate) I worried all day, but everything turned out fine. Emma was a good girl all day! Yay! I'm so proud of her! I hope that this means we won't ever have to worry about leaving her home alone and that she can have some freedom within the house while we're away. I think we'll all be happier for it.



Today the Salvation Army pick up service came and picked up 3 boxes and 2 bags of things we purged from our basement! I didn't think to take a picture of it outside waiting, but you can see the pictures of my purge pile in this post!

I feel so good about getting so much out of my house. I look forward to tackling more around my house! (But not tonight.... haha)

Talk about Tuesday

(click above banner to see more participants)

I have a fair bit to talk about today, since I missed last week's TAT and I have some new things to talk about today.

A Thank You

First, I would like to thank everyone for their condolences on the loss of our family dog Scottie. The last time I saw him, he had lost a fair bit of weight and was walking kind of oddly. I knew it might be one of the last times I saw him and I took some photos. It was difficult to take the photos because he kept moving, but I think I got one or two. I'll have to find them so I can send them to mom.

The Day That Never Came...

Today is the second anniversary of what was my due date. When a baby is born, a due date becomes kind of a forgotten fact, as focus shifts to the day the baby was actually born. However, when a baby dies before it is born (as my daughter did at 26 weeks gestation) or when a baby is severely premature, the due date becomes embedded in the parents minds, especially the mother. It is a painful day for me, a painful week, because I know I should be celebrating my daughter's second birthday right about now.

Walk to Remember

On October 20th, the first annual Walk to Remember was held in our town. I am particularly excited about this because I was one of the organizers and we had a pretty decent turn out for the first year (approx. 25 people). The Walk to Remember was organized in conjunction with Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day (Oct. 15th). Here in Canada, it is not yet officially recognized except in New Brunswick, but with more awareness it will eventually be recognized throughout the nation.

Happy Birthday

my brother's 1st bday (1979)

My brother is 29 yrs old today. I know I'm having trouble believing it because, well, he's supposed to be 3 yrs younger than me and *I* am 29... (nearly x 3).

Happy Birthday to my brother.