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Beach Day

One of the wondrous things about being with a child is watching her experience things for the first time. I imagine Lia having arrived on the planet, her senses primed to soak in every new taste, sound, and sight. I think of her as a protagonist in a science fiction book, visiting another dimension. Everything old is new again, in the eyes of a kid.

Today we took advantage of a free car rental day and drove to the beach at Mooney's Bay, where Shawn used to attend track meets as a kid. As we walked down toward the sand, Lia started chuckling to herself, like she couldn't believe what a beautiful, exciting place this was. Occasional trees provided shade on the hot sand, and to our right stretched a green lawn with pathways and bridges. The water of the bay rippled invitingly.

We suspected that Lia would like the water because she loves her baths, and we were totally right. At first she stood ankle deep in the shallow water, looking down at her toes. Then she started wading deeper and deeper, holding my hand, until she was in past her waist. She reached to touch the stones and seaweed. When Shawn came out to join us, he suspended her on her tummy and she laughed and grunted, trying to keep her head up. Her arms and legs moved instinctively in a baby crawl.

For a while we followed a boy, six or eight years old, who was trying to catch minnows in a plastic cup. He couldn't believe how fast they were. I wondered if he minded us trailing his every move, stirring up the seaweed so it obscured the fish. But then he asked, "Am I going too deep for her?" And I knew we were okay.

Lia would have stayed in the water for hours, I'm sure, but she started shivering, so we retired to the beach towels and fed her pieces of pear. Lia is a watcher, and sat for an hour, fascinated by the high school kids in bikinis and swim shorts strolling by or throwing footballs and frisbees, dancing to the radio.

After the beach we spent a few hours visiting our friend Janet, and then drove to my Ultimate game. Lia toddled around, clapping with us every time we scored a point, and trying to join a group of girls in their sideline soccer game.

Then on the way home we stopped at Pure Gelato and Lia had her first taste of ice cream. She's definitely a fan.

Does life get any better?

A Month in Pictures

Mother's Day

Here's my Mother's Day gift from Shawn: Lia's hand- and footprints preserved for posterity. Lia's gift was sleeping in until eight o'clock!

Family Photo Session

One hour. Multiple wardrobe changes. Three sweating adults trying to get a one-year-old to smile. We're very happy with the results.

Weekend in the Golden Horseshoe

Drove to Burlington. Left Lia with Aunt Jacquie while Shawn, Kevin, and I went to a Joseph Arthur concert (a few nervous butterflies on my part, but all was well). Watched Lia scream in delight while playing with her beloved cousins. Met Uncle Colin and Aunt Amy for the first time. Went to a reunion of our China travel group in Mississauga. Drove to St. Catharines to visit Oma and Opa. Drove home. Everyone happy! Successful roadtrip!

Click here for Colin's "Meeting Lia" photoset.

Church of the Ascension 130th Anniversary

Our church celebrated its anniversary by recreating a service from the 1880s. Costumes, a choir, the traditional Prayer Book liturgy, and a potluck complete with rhubarb cordial. I wore my wedding dress and Lia wore her baptism dress.

Windsor Wedding

My cousin Mark married his sweetheart Crystal last Saturday. We were planning to take Lia, but canceled that plan at the last minute when she had a terrible bout of teething-induced crankiness and insomnia. I went by myself and the other two enjoyed a dad-and-daughter weekend alone. Click here to see the rest of the wedding photos.

Now, I believe we are all caught up!