How I Met Your Father....

Dear Daughter


I know this is a story that you will ask for when your older so I might as well write it down. This is how I met your Daddy. My one true love. Sappy I know but true.


Funny enough, he and I met at a Tim Horton's Coffee Shop. We were strangers, and he asked if he could take me to a county fair.(It's beginning to sound like a country song isn't it? ) Even better, we never made it to the fair.
I was still in high school, and your father was a student at George Brown in Toronto.  I had never really had a serious relationship before him. You know, the ones were it's S + J = 4eva  with hearts and rainbows. I had gone on 'group movie dates' but nothing that gave me butterflies. He did.


In fact, I thought he was totally out of my league. I'm not ashamed to admit I was a book worm in high school and still am. I was involved in clubs and committees. Volunteered for fun after school, and in my spare time enjoyed crafts, puzzles and reading. Introverted to say the least. Your Daddy, well, he was tattoo's, race cars and piercings. Parties, loud music and a bit of a potty mouth. He reminded me soo much of your Poppy, and I knew right away that he was different. 


He picked me up at my house, (where he found me playing badminton on the front lawn with my little sister)  and we drove all the way to Tim Hortons in silence. I didn't even look at him I was so nervous. We spent the entire evening talking, and well into the night. If there is a book out there that says "What NOT to Say on a First Date"  it was based on this night. I told him how 'geeky' I was and that I embraced my inner nerd by collecting Archie Comics. That I was a virgin and saving myself for marriage. (HA) I talked about wanting to be a wife and mother more then anything in the world, and six children seamed a good number. (You would think that would send him running on a first date) I admitted that I was seeing a therapist, because my Father had passed away the year before and I was still having trouble dealing with it. I also talked about my epilepsy, and how it started and basically gave him a first aid lesson on 'what to do if'. All that, and more just spewed out of my mouth like verbal diarrhea and .......he listened. Not just sat there quietly, but actively listened. He nodded his head, asked questions, made comments and showed interest. In ME! 


I was so blown away that this man. This older, OH MY GOSH Good looking man, was interested in me. Little, quiet, shy  me. When he drove me home later that night I did the unthinkable. Something I had never done in my life and was soo outside my comfort zone. I attacked him. Well not really, but as he was saying good night to me I launched myself at him and kissed him. That's it. Nothing too X rated. Just a kiss. But woweyyy what a kiss. I then admittedly pushed him away, took in his look of shock and ran in the house. 


Now all this sounds as if I was 12, a child, and immature...I wasn't, on all accounts I assure you. I was older, wiser and usually people said I was 'an old soul'. But this night, this man....never mind butterflies, I had bats flying around in my tummy. I won the award for supreme dork that night....and I thought I'd never see him agian.


15 LONNNNNNNNNGGG hours later. He called to ask me out again. I knew, really I did, I knew right then, that this guy was mine. Stick a fork in him he is done like dinner...he just didn't know it yet.


Years later, I found out that after our first date he had said this to someone......."I went on a date tonight with this amazingly, quirky, cute girl. (cute?!?!)  But, I don't know if I will ever see her again.....She is not the kind of girl you kinda date and have 'fun' with. She is the type of girl you bring home to Mom. The kind of girl you marry and have kids with. I don't know ......I just met her.....If I call her.....that's it. She's ....The One."  Now all of that is words he has later told me he said, and the conversation might have gone a little differently but this is how he remembers it. I cried when he told me, because not long after he had this conversation he called me again.......And we lived (mostly) happily ever after!


So there it is.....we were pretty much inseparable after that. He asked to meet your Nanny, Uncle and Aunt the following week (who asks to meet parents one week in) and we moved in together less then a year later. I like to think we have something so rare and so special. Who can say that they met there partner, lover and best friend in high school and are still together many, many manymanymany moons later......well, we can.


I love you Sweet Baby Girl
Always  & Forever
Mama


ps. Next time I'll tell you about when he first said the 'L' word. He said it first....don't let him tell you different!

Photo Blog Post Day!!!

Dear.....Readers!

This blog post is for you! I have received a bunch of requests to see more pictures of MJ. Since none of my  journal entries have pictures, I thought I would make an entire post of them so I could share just a few of my favorite moments/shenanigans that we get into.

I hope you enjoy them as much as we do!

xoxo Shannon p.s. It was very very hard to pick just a few...I have a photo-taking-addiction!!!

 Here is MJ just lying around Daddy's Race Shop!
Future Race Car Driver in the making! And Daddy's Biggest Fan!

What a little Diva we have!!!

Happy Halloween!!!

Meeting Santa!

Merry Christmass!!!

Just sitting pretty!

Where did the balloon go Mama???


Swimming Swimming in her swimming pool!!!








So, here are just a few of my favorite photo's. There are probably hundreds...thousands...did I  mention I take a lot of pictures! I will post more soon!


Thanks again for all your kind words. I pass on how much she is loved, everyday!
xoxo
Mama

You Have Teeth!!!

Dear Daughter


As of right now you have 4 teeth! FOUR!!!
I think this is amazing because it means you are growing up so fast.
Your gums started getting a little red and swollen when you were 3 1/2 - 4 months and on Boxing Day you woke up with your First Tooth!!! It had come out over night, and over the next few hours  another joined in. I was so happy that they came in with pretty much no fuss and that you weren't in any discomfort. 


I'm also thankful for the few teething toys we had already. If I haven't mentioned before you are a little bit of a comfort sucker, and breastfeeding you after your teeth starting coming in was like being milked by a rabid kitten. Little scrapes from your teeth make for an uncomfortable feeding time, but we carried on and you figured  out how to do it without making me loose a nipple or two.


Another thing I have thankful for is a present you got from Gramma and Grampa for Christmas. It was  Sophie the Giraffe! Sophie...which in reality is a $30 rubber dog toy but it has definitely saved our lives. In all honesty I probably wouldn't have bought it for you myself, because I'm chea.......frugal like that. But after seeing how you latched on to that thing and chewed it like a t-bone I am certain it is one of the essential items that the 'What to Expect' book missed out on.


I keep trying to take pictures of your teeth to show everyone, but every time I get close enough with the camera you either a) try to eat it or 2) blow a raspberry. When I do get a shot I laugh out loud at how incredibly cute you are. Your such a happy baby and I love just looking at your beautiful-carnival ride operator -drooly face! (not to insult carnival ride operators, but you do look kinda red-necky)


That's all for today Hunnie Bunnie. I just wanted to write so that I can remind you when you have kids, that a little bite between Mama and Baby is ok. Also, I wanted to apologize for probably scaring the piss out of you when I yelp at your antics. Unfortunately, you think this is funny, and some kind of game....'Lets bite Mama, look up and smile angelically while still holding it in my teeth'....Ya.....Fun!!! (insert sarcastic snort here)


I Love You Baby Girl
Always & Forever
Mama


* Please Note: For those who are new to following..... These entries are incredibly behind in posting. I have always be a journal/Diary/Note person and have a lot of letters to MJ in these books. I am still playing catchup online with my letters though. I find this is a great way to share with all the friends and family we can't see everyday. (we live on the west coast while our family is on the east)  MJ was born in July of 2010 and I began writing letters to her while still pregnant. I will continue trying to get caught up for online entires, as I only do them generally when she is sleeping. (But I know you will all forgive me if I spend my 'free' time drinking coffee, napping or reading a good book)
Thank you all so much for your continued support, well wishes and kind words. I hope you keep reading!
Sincerely, Shannon