motherhood // Navy at 11 months + NEW YORK

Our little lady turned 11 months the very same day we flew to New York last month. What a treat it was to reflect on nearly 1 year with her sweet soul in our lives while exploring New York.

New York this time around was lovely and different than our previous visits.  Having Navy along for the trip was just the best. Toting her around between boroughs, we would routinely ask one another if this was real life and if we actually have a mini of ourselves who's now joining in on all our adventures (?!?). Amazing.

This time in New York we spent a lot more time out walking, exploring neighbourhoods and the parks... Central Park especially. Though it was a little cooler than we were expecting based on the forecasts, it was still sooo much warmer than our last visit in November (that coastal air gets this landlocked lady every time! Can never trust a coastal forecast based on the dry air I'm so used to). All I can say is thank goodness for layers, blanket scarves and vests haha. And on that note, the family that vests together, stays together. That's our motto anyway ;)

Beautiful Battery Park ↑  Lady Liberty ↓

That rosy cheeked face!! ⇡ I die ♡

⇡ Juuuuuust about nap time :) ⇡

Upper West Side exploring.

Beautiful Central Park with my favourite people.

Eataly!!

⇡ Farmer's Market in the Flat Iron District ⇡

View from our hotel ♡

The Plaza hotel at Christmas...just perfect.

Love this man ♡

NAVY AT 11 MONTHS

Navy, as usual, you are a light that shines so bright. On our flights to and from New York, you amazed us at how composed you were for nearly five hours in the air each way. At home, you don't sit still for more than a couple seconds. So how you managed those flights, and all the time in the stroller or in the carrier while we travelled is beyond us. We worked like crazy to keep you entertained on the flights and you rewarded our efforts with being your sweet, easy going self (we genuinely surprised ourselves with how many games we created to keep you entertained using just a couple food wrappers, the seat pockets of the seats in front of us and all our electronic cables haha). New York was your 11th and 12th flight and like all the ones before, you were such a happy little girl throughout. We can't tell you how grateful we are for your easy going disposition. 

Before we left for New York, you learned how to turn around before going down stairs. I was amazed the first time you did it! Couldn't believe all the times I'd manually turned you around before had actually stuck. Then, when we were in New York, you decided to turn around to get off the bed in the hotel room! Neither of us had taught that to you. I guess you just figured that if it works for getting down stairs, it must work for getting off any other raised surface you might find yourself on :) We were so surprised and proud of you. 

You crawl so fast these days and walk around the living room using anything you can as a support. You want to move so fast and go so far. You are truly the little energizer bunny we always thought you would be (based on your constant acrobatics in utero :) You say 'mama' and 'dada' and are so verbal. Talking in phrases and questions and statements with such impressive intonation. Even though your sentences aren't made up of words yet, it's obvious you are communicating...and passionately at that. Oh how we love it. 

You're a social little butterfly who interacts with everyone we encounter. You take a little time to warm up to strangers or people we don't see as frequently and you cling to my hip as you do. Eventually you warm to most people and by the time we leave the interaction, it's clear you've captured their heart. You're a bright light, that is for sure. 

You have the healthiest little appetite and are eating so much these days while continuing to nurse. We're so grateful for your easy going and hearty constitution. You're a robust little girl who loves her mama, dada and Lincoln so much. You love life and take to adventure like a little pro. We love you with everything that's in us, sweet girl ♡

our life lately // vol. 7

 CHILLIWACK 

Navy, my mom and I were THE luckiest girls in all the land a few weeks ago. Ryan was going to be out of town (in Phoenix, the lucky duck) for work one weekend. Coincidentally, it was my mom's cousin's 60th birthday party that same weekend in Chilliwack. So the three of us flew out to celebrate with our family out there and to enjoy the beautiful BC countryside. 

My mom has said, for years now, that she would love it if I made it out to BC to meet my cousins on her side (technically my second cousins). And while a couple of us had met in passing, yearrrrrs ago, it honestly felt like we'd never really spent any time together. So when my mom invited Navy and I to finally make the meet-up happen, we jumped at the very sweet opportunity, packed our bags and got ready for a weekend of family and fun. 

To say our my cousins in Chilliwack immediately felt like family is an understatement. Kindred spirits is more like it. My mom's family out there are simply the most hospitable people I have ever met. Just the most gracious hosts with the warmest hearts. 

⇡ Our little cabin at Auntie Alma's ⇡

⇡ Martha Stewart eat your heart out, Auntie Alma knows what's up ⇡

⇡ My mom's cousin's daughters, so my second cousins, my mom and I. But let's just call these girls my cousin-sisters, because sisters feels more like it. Though some of us hadn't met until this weekend and others had met only once, it turns out we are kindred spirits through and through. I just love them to bits. ALSO! Danielle has since had her baby!! A sweet little boy named Nash who we can't wait to meet! ⇡

⇡ Navy making herself comfortable in our cozy cabin ⇡

For me, the good life is all about the kind, wonderful people I'm fortunate enough to share mine with. So when you get the change to go on a little adventure and spend time with some especially wonderful people you just happen to be related to, well you gotta count your many blessings, I say. I left this weekend with new friendships forged and a deep gratitude for the loved ones, near and far, that make my life feel so incredibly rich. 

Vancouver

This past weekend my mom and I snuck away to Vancouver with little Navy to spend some time with my brother Chad and his sweet girlfriend Karly. That's right, a Carli and a Karly in the family…woop woop! Anyway, they moved to Vancouver this past August for Chad to pursue his engineering degree at UBC. Karly is an urban planner so Vancouver THE place to be when it comes to her profession as well. They fit Vancouver like a glove but that doesn't make us miss them any less. 

Fortunately Chad was able to come home for Christmas this year, so he met little Navy when she was only 6 days old! He was home for about a week, but we missed Karly dearly. So our little trip out there was momentous, not only because we got to catch up with some of our favourite people, but because Karly got to meet little Navy for the first time!  

Ryan was away in Washington, DC for work the week leading up to our trip and then our weekend overlapped with his return. Oh man did we ever miss him! He and I both agree that a week away from Navy while she is so little was almost unbearable. It feels like she changes every minute. I've never been more grateful for my iPhone and FaceTime that's for sure! All day, every day, I just spammed Ryan with pictures and videos and updates. It took the sting out of him being away for so long I think. At least a little. And on our end, knowing we had a wonderful weekend to enjoy with two people we love so much made his absence a bit more bearable. 

Anyway, pictures! 

⇡ Coffee shop cruising with these two. They know their java's and we love 'em for it ;) ⇡

⇡ Exploring some of the beautiful viewing platforms and art created for the olympics ⇡

⇡ Overalls!! Cutest gift from Chad & Karly ⇡

⇡ Meeting Karly for the first time!⇡

⇡ This. Smile. !!! ⇡

⇡ And a grumpy face while casually lounging with Uncle Chad for good measure ⇡

⇡ Mama bear voguing it out in gas town ⇡

⇡ Little water taxi over to Granville Island. Navy's second little trek out onto the ocean ⇡

⇡ The guy driving the boat assured me this was safe. He was totally chill about it. I, however, wasn't as cool about it. So I took a picture to remember my stroller, diaper bag and camera bag for posterity sake, in case it fell into the water haha ⇡

⇡ Beautiful Karly overlooking the floating homes in the bay ⇡

⇡ The most beautiful floating homes made up this little floating hamlet of sorts. And of course, we had to take a pic of this pup who has THE coolest life, obviously. I will neither confirm nor deny that we later hatched plans to befriend some of the floating home's residents just to get a glimpse into how they live ;) ⇡

⇡ Exploring Granville Island ⇡

⇡ Water taxi back to Vancouver ⇡

⇡ Sweet little girl, airport lounging and travelling like a pro. Almost breaks my heart how easy she is to travel with. I always think 'you know you are a new little baby, you're entitled to a meltdown every now and then.' In response, she flashes me her signature gummy smile and once again, I am a complete puddle on the floor ⇡