Freedom

Amelia loves to be outside and a few weeks ago figured out how to step down into the garage, the next thing she realized was that she was then free...the garage door was up and out she ran. Unfortunately, she didn't have shoes on and I spoiled her fun by picking her up and taking her back into the house, mind you, only to put her shoes and coat on. The tears stopped when I opened the front door and helped her get down the step to the garden path. Before I knew it, she was off, running down the street. The only thing that stopped her was the neighbour playing basketball with his dad and then being introduced to the little boy's cat. (The same neighbour boy that sang "boom-chica-bow-wow" to her when she was a tiny baby - another story for another day perhaps).

On her travels she collected a rock, touched the moss in the cracks of the concrete path, fell and scraped her hand a little, and almost picked up a very undesirable gift that a dog had left behind (gross!)

After a little while, she still wasn't interested in coming home, so I ended up carrying her kicking and screaming back to the house for dinner.

She's my outdoors girl!

Hey, Wait A Minute Mr. Postman

Every night when we get home from work, the first thing on Matthew's agenda is to check the mail, Amelia loves to go with him too. I have been known to take my camera out in order to capture the daddy/daughter trip.

Amelia loves to hold the key and knows exactly which mailbox belongs to us.

She patiently waits whilst daddy sees what has been delivered.

It's always good to have an extra set of hands to carry the mail.

Amelia is a very fast on her feet these days and often keeps going right past the house, so we have to chase after her.

Who would have thought that something as simple as checking the mail could be such a special event.

So Blessed To Be Her Mum

I think I truly understand what motherhood means when I find myself staring in awe at the most beautiful girl I have ever seen, my daughter. The way I love her literally takes my breath away, she truly is amazing in every way.

I love the way she sucks in her bottom lip...

...and how her big blue eyes can make me melt.

I am truly blessed to be her mother.

A Wintry Day At The Oregon Coast

On the Sunday of Valentine's Weekend, our family decided to take an afternoon drive to the coast. We are lucky to live just an hours drive or so away, it was a lovely day and we needed to get out of the house. We arrived an hour or so before sunset, bundled ourselves up in warm coats (it is February after all) and headed straight for the beach.

I love walking on the sand and watching the waves crash and it's even more wonderful seeing it through the curiosity of Amelia's eyes. At first she was a little unsteady walking on the sand but soon got the hang of it, she loved to see the kites being flown too.

I took tons of photo's to capture these special moments, like Amelia's first pebble throw, and since I liked them all, here are more photo's than you probably care to see.

"This sand stuff is not the easiest thing to walk on"

"I'll just hide behind daddy to keep out of the wind"

"Oooo, pebbles"

Daddy and Amelia looking at "D River" the shortest river in the world. It flows right into the ocean. We had to watch Amelia like a hawk, she just loved getting right to the edge of the water, and I believe if we weren't there, may have just kept going.

"Okay, I'm off daddy"

"Now, what shall I do with my pebble?"

"Hmm, it's salty"

"I know, I'll skim it across the river, like the other big kids were doing"

Daddy helped Amelia and showed her how to do it.

"This pebble is huge!"

"Maybe I'll take this one home as a souvenir"

And that was that.

We dragged her kicking and screaming back to the car.

Parents are just no fun.

Five-A-Day

Amelia is typically a good eater and especially loves fruit and vegetables. I just couldn't help snapping a few pics of her and daddy with her apple and orange.

Open wide...

Oh my goodness!

Delicious.