Sophia May

This weekend we got to meet little baby Sophia May. I have to say that my friend Laura's pregnancy and birth was the most anticipated event of the summer in this household. I don't know if it was how much we love the parents; how nice it will be for Cecelia to have a girlfriend; or Sophia taking her sweet time to come (probably all those things), but I was so so excited for her to get here!
Waiting for a baby can be such a challenge. Those last few weeks of pregnancy are some of the hardest. I've said, since having Cecelia and my own pregnancy experience, that pregnancy is just the right amount of time. You go from anticipating it, to enjoying it, back around to being done with it, and then on to hating it so much that you are actually looking forward with excitement to the day when you get to push a roughly 7-9lbs human being out of the smallest, most sensitive and personal area of your body. If you didn't have the pains and discomforts of weeks 37-40 (or on to 41 and 42), no one would ever look forward to the birthing experience and we would all go into in afraid and uncomfortable. We don't though, we go into it excited and ready and willing. That's how Laura was when I saw her last. She was excited, and ready and willing. Then she had to wait, and wait, and wait.
I thought I had it rough, but my baby was born the day before her due date. Sophia came 8 days past hers, but her parents took to saying "late, but worth the wait". And she sure was. No matter how they come or when they come, each baby is so perfect and there is nothing in the world like welcoming one of them into a family/home. I am so excited for Laura and Jeremy as they embark on this new adventure together. I wish them all the best, and hope they enjoy each moment. I goes too fast - I can't stress that enough. Newborn days are lovely days!

Good Bye Summer - in Canmore

Yesterday I decided I wanted to do something fun with Eric and Cecelia when Eric was home from work today. There are plenty of things we could spend time doing around the house, but I really wanted to get out and enjoy what looks to be one of the last really gorgeous days of this summer. One place Eric and I have always enjoyed is Canmore. We've had a lot of fun times there, including our honeymoon and a family cross country ski trip. It's not far from Calgary, and there is no park entry fee which are also pluses in my books.
We decided to go out a do the Grassi Lakes hike. We went for lunch at a little spot called the Belle Potate that we found in a book of restaurants we have. It was nothing really special, and a pretty disappointing start to the day. That, combined with running late, made us almost miss the chance to hike. I'm so glad we did it though, it was such a good time. It made the whole day wonderful.
Grassi Lakes is a really nice trail if you're looking for something quick and easy - the lakes at the end are well worth the short hike. We just took the short route for today. There is an extension of the trail that makes it longer and a little tougher, but we were ready to quick at the first turn around.
It was a great day spent with my lovely family, and a wonderful way to kiss goodbye the beautiful temperatures of summer.

Throw Back to Europe

 I got an email this week to make a free photo collage from the Black's mobile app. These are the photos I've chosen to include in my collage.
I love Europe, and I really miss our trip. I am excited to get this collage printed, framed and up on the wall. There were so many pictures to choose from, but these are the final few that made the cut.
There's much more from our trip over here, at a time I was fairly good at blogging.