A promise kept

A year ago I blogged about a cultural event that takes place every first weekend in June. 22 cultures either rented a space or opened up their own building to the public for the weekend, serving their delicacies and entertaining their guests with their brand of song and dance. Last year we took Livi to the Irish Pavilion (a curling rink in the winter.....big) and I told her that she will watch mommy dance here one day. Little did I know it would only be a year later. I started dancing with the Irish Club again in September after a 6 year pause to dance with another group and to have Livi. It was unexpected....and a result of somewhat of a dare from a friend and fellow dancer.

I almost quit in January......for many of the same reasons I quit 6 years ago....but that promise I made to Livi haunted me. The thought of her seeing me on stage, as whispered and hoped a year before, made me see the year through. My dad came in for the weekend to take in the festivities and to help with Livi. I'm so happy I made this come true.



My number one fan




Boogieing to the music at stage front.




The one on the right

As for a little update:

We have 11!!! teeth. Her first molars came in early so she had her first pecan tonight. Nibbled very slowly and loved it. Two upper molars and a bottom front tooth came in at the same time so we have had to resort to a cocktail of Advil and Gravol to help to get to sleep and stay that way for a little while.  

Livi is walking and trotting beautifully  (yey!!) I love her Independence.....and that she doesn't stray too far. She still wants to be picked up alot....I made an entire banana cake with her on my hip last week. She is very curious, loves to carry things, especially new things, around the house and tell everyone all about it. Her little chatter just kills me....I can't get enough. She talks like she's having a conversation....all in her little adorable language. I wish I can bottle it.

Her favorite things to do are play hide and seek, play in the back yard, go to the park, hang out on the boat with me and Stef, and when Grandpa's in town, she loves all his attention. Here they are at gymnastics



Hanging 5 on the boat!

She's a great eater.....and loves the once weekly Italian dinners at nonna's. Did I mention her love of ice cream? yes, a seasoned pro....even gets her own baby cone now and licks it like an adult. Too much!!

The cute meter went off the charts when I showed her how to make the cork popping sound by flicking the inside of your cheek with the index finger really fast. She repeated me by putting her finger in her mouth, pulling it out really fast and yelling BAH!. Truly pee your pants kind of stuff.

Sleep on the other hand has become a challenge....and although Livi never has tantrums....mommy had one in the middle of the night last night. I want to apologize....once again....I was the baby in the relationship and poor Livi looked at me, in full blown tears, as if I was insane. She just couldn't sleep and it wasn't her fault. Part of the problem is that her routine is havoc right now. She has gone from 4 naps a day to 2 in a few short weeks and neither one of us can get it together. Every day is different and when I have a hard time reading her tired cues or getting her to take a nap and therefore can't plan my day or our activities together, I get frustrated.....made worse at 1:30 am. But it's a small little hurdle. I just need to focus on this right now and get into a rhythm again.

Everyday is a joy. We're busy but we spend time together and make time for fun. I look at her and my brain still does not register how this sweet, amazing, wonderful, smart, incredible, beautiful girl is mine. How did we get here? How is all this possible. I just thank God that it is.