Our Little Yogi

Mallory sporadically pulls out her kids yoga book and throws down some asana. Usually it's swan pose and deer pose and then she's off to do something else. But a little while ago Mallory asked me about some of my yoga gear and how to use it...and now I think she's hooked.

I showed her how to use my blocks to prepare for Tolasana. As you can see, she took this very seriously.

Moving into Virabhadrasana A. Note the David Swenson Ashtanga Manual next to her. Gone are the yoga postures shown in cartoon animal form in her kids book. She's into the real deal. Full breath, steady gaze...

Then she decided she was warm enough to move into some backbends. Cohen is pretty stoked at this point. He's really into heart openers.

Lion Pose. Of course she's a natural.
Ummm...Tiger pose? Whatever it is, it looks very therapeutic.
Cohen loves watching Mal do yoga and always has a few pointers for her...he's quite the yogi himself, he's been doing mom and baby yoga for like, 3 months.
So now she's moving on from the books and is into Eoinn Finn videos. This is a 50 minute practice called Twisted Sister....she stayed with it beginning to end. Seriously. I can't get her to brush her teeth for 2 minutes but she can stay on that mat for nearly an hour.

A bound version of Parsvakonasana. Most people bind around their thigh...but not Mal, she's new school.

And, at last, savasana. We did a practice together a few days later and when we went into savasana she reminded me to pretend my mat was a hammock.
I may not have given birth to her but that is definitely my little girl.

namaste.

Little Big Things

So, every now and then...maybe a few times each week, I open my door to this...a newspaper left at my door. Usually the Herald, but sometimes the Sun.
I'm not sure who it is but I suspect Morris, our neighbour down the hall. Morris is my prime suspect as he once left a 6-pack of beer at our door. Apparently he came over to see if he could share them but we weren't home. Most people would take the beer with them but Morris left it, which I think says a lot about his character. As for the beer...you should have seen Jesse's face. We were afraid to drink it at first as we weren't sure it was ours to drink. There was no card or note...just a micro-brewed token of some unknown affection.

It's also occured to me that it could be Dema, the surprisingly abrupt Buddhist Monk next door...Monk's can be into politics, right? Or maybe she only reads the Sports pages...I'll have to ask.

What I love most about my little front door gifts is that it means that, at some point that day, I will find a few moments to sit down with a coffee (or tea...sometimes it takes a while to find a few moments) and enjoy some current events. I make it at least to the comment and editorial pages...my favourite.

So, whoever my anonymous paper-boy (or girl) happens to be, I wish them all the peace and warmth they bring me with their simple gesture.

A Week of Days

RRRRoar! Cohen does his best tiger impression...and it looks like bad news for Melman the giraffe.

Next, the kind of photo that breaks a Momma's heart...and exists as proof to our neighbours that he actually sleeps.

I had to include this because I think these socks are so darn cute. Thanks Margaret.

He really doesn't spend his whole life in this swing, I swear. It's just nice because I can move it around so he can watch me cook or read the paper with me...and he has no choice but to look at the camera.

And proof I actually leave the house...concrete pouring day at the Switzers! Kind of like a barn raising in the city. I went along to help but all I really did was eat and whistle at my husband.

Cohen was stoked to watch daddy work. He was pretty happy as long as we didn't take him away from the window. Or set him down.

Grandma was in fine Grandma form, and Cohen loved every second. Is this a gorgeous picture or is this a gorgeous picture?

And then there's this one....good to be a baby...heck, good to be a Grandma.

Meanwhile, the boys continue to work...in the mud, as the pros call it.

Yup, that's my husband....pretty tough. You should see him open jars.

The work is almost done. I've had two cups of coffee, half a bag of doritos, a quarter turkey and several bowls of Borscht. I too, am almost done.

So then the concrete was all in place and looking totally perfect. But wait...Grandma is still in the house! So, after a few bad ideas were at last shot down, they back the truck up and make a ramp to the passenger seat. But before Grandma makes the trip she sends over her jug of pancake syrup and half a red cabbage ....haha...

Glen tests the bridge...and declares it safe for travel.

And after many tears of laughter are shed...Grandma is safe and ready to go home.

Later that same day (big day, eh?) I skip yoga to watch game 7, Pittsburgh vs. Montreal. This was supposed to be a really sweet picture of Daddy and Cohen watching hockey together...until Jesse decided to play zombie. He really plays a very convincing zombie.

For those of you who know Jesse...today (not the big day of concrete and play-offs but quite a lovely day just the same) was a momentous occasion. After months of mocking his beat-up phone it is finally headed to the cell phone graveyard. Not that vanity got the best of him...it finally got to the point where his phone would only stay on when it was plugged in. Not exactly mobile.

Not quite as momentous, but pretty darn cute...Cohen has clearly hit another growth spurt,as evidenced by his little feet sticking out the bottom of his sleepers.


And for my final picture....when your husband holds your son in such a way that you can feel their love and know that all is well and safe in your world...well, that's when you say a grateful prayer and ask to hold that tiny moment forever.

My New Life

And so the blogging begins.

I've been a mommy for over three months now and I am completely consumed and totally in love with my new life. I am slightly more disheveled and often smell of sour milk but I wouldn't change a thing.

This is the first day we brought Cohen home...just a few hours after he was born. Now that's a proud Grandpa. Cohen was pretty chilled out during his first hours in the world. He came to us through the water and only cried enough to let us know he was okay. Perhaps I'll blog my birth story one of these days...it was incredible.
Mallory was expecting a little sister so Cohen was a big surprise. She was a bit skeptical at first but it only took a few shared smiles before they fell in love. Mal and Cohen often hang out and play or watch Saturday morning cartoons. Cohen thinks Mallory is hilarious.

Seriously...look at that face. What a handsome little beast.
He's done a lot of growing in the last three months and gets cuter by the day. He loves to visit with us and is full of smiles. He's affectionate like his daddy and loves to be held and talked to.
Mom life is pretty good. We try to get out for a walk as often as the weather allows us. Cohen is helpless against the baby carriers...he tries to stay awake to look out at the world but rarely lasts more that a few minutes.

Very into his new book...

Also very into anything he can get near his mouth. He cries when he drops things or can't devour them sufficiently...

And is filled with joy when he gets a good chew on....
Thus concludes my first blog...that was fun...I think I could get into this.