City by the Bay

Last week we took a trip to one of my favourite cities...San Francisco!

Market Street

This fountain was the highlight of the trip for Esmé

Fisherman's Wharf with Alcatraz in the background

The look of surprise on her face when that horse started moving up and down was priceless.

Many thanks to Grandma and Grandpa for offering their babysitting services!

The Chauffeur

The Crab House overlooking the wharf

She found the chocolate shop!

Soaking up the sun at Pier 39

Watching the sea lions

San Francisco Bath Salt Company

The top of Lombard Street

Looking up at the crazy zigzagged Lombard Street.

San Francisco sour dough

I want to live here please.

Ghirardelli Square

Sunset over the bay

Cinequest 2011

So here's the big news...

Kyle's short film, Hop the Twig, has just had its world premiere at Cinequest Film Festival in San Jose. So last week we headed down to sunny California to watch this little ol' film play on a big ol' screen in front of a whole bunch of people.

It was really amazing to see this film being played along side so many other inspiring films from all around the world. And people really seemed to enjoy this film and gave some very touching praise after the screenings. I think that it helped Kyle realize that he's on the right track and not just some crazy artist making movies about plants!

The whole festival was full of excitement and we had a wonderful time eating desserts in the VIP lounge, attending soirees and luncheons, giving interviews, and mingling with other filmmakers and actors. As Kyle said, "I could get used to this!"

Brusha Brusha

Finally getting in some molars. I hope this will eliminate the periodic gagging on food when her soft gums just don't do the trick.

Nature or Nurture?

The cheap plastic baby doll had been sitting in the corner of her room with the rest of the crowd. A couple of teddy bears, the purple dinosaur, the karate chopping tiger, a mini skirt wearing and midriff showing doll (which is now on it's way to a thrift store thank you very much), and the top of the line organic fair trade environmentally friendly cute as a button bunny rabbit.

Baby doll sat there unnoticed for months. Then one day Esmé walked by, took a look, exclaimed "beebee!" and snatched it up. Now Esmé has become the mother, and she takes her job very seriously. The baby gets fed, gets her diaper changed, her teeth brushed, hugged, kissed, and then put to bed.

I've heard many parents tell of their boys being obsessed with cars and their girls with dolls, but is it really just because she is a girl? What if I had never bought her a doll, never pointed out and gushed over babies in strollers? What if I loved cars and tools myself and pointed those out instead? What if little boys were bought dolls and were encouraged to nurture them? Maybe it's a little of both, I don't know.

Oh yes, and the organic bunny? It's still in the corner, hoping that one day his turn will come.

My Second Job

It is with mixed feelings that I began my first shift back at work. I feel like I am now a mother first and a paramedic second (or third or fourth). But I do love my job and it was invigorating to be back, using my brain again, talking to grown ups again, and venturing out into the world again.

I am one of the few who is blessed with the option of working very part time until I am ready to take on more. So until then, I am mostly at home with the little girl who tires me out more than working the night shifts, who stresses me out more than the lights and sirens, and who has taught me more than any book or job or career or person ever has.

I am a mother. And then I am a paramedic.

Scary Monster

I've been a bit slow getting back into the blog world. But I have been ordered to post this photo of Esmé wearing her super cute Christmas present from Auntie Gillian...

While I'm here, I can also let you know that my grandmother is finally home and doing much better, although recovery will be slow. Thanks for all your prayers over these last few weeks.

I'm Still Here

I apologized for not posting anything for awhile, we just haven't been around much for the last few weeks. My grandmother has been in and out of the hospital in Bellingham several times and we've been very pre-occupied. We have been spending most of our time down there and have only spent a couple nights home since before Christmas. But after a couple different surgeries and several complications, Grama seems to now be improving, although we are still praying for a smooth recovery. Hopefully I'll be back in the next few days with a more uplifting post and even a photo or two!