More O Canada

Thanks, B,K and S, for such a great shirt!!

Shoes

At the beginning of January, Isabelle and I went in the stroller to Breton Village, the little mall close to our house. We went mostly to see the fish and the Christmas train display (which was being taken down), but we ended up at the shoe store. I was curious for her to have a shoe fitting, and then I ended up buying her some. She had been reluctant to walk in shoes, but she seemed to really like these little white and pink running shoes. She wore them home from the store and as she was running ahead of me in the mall I was almost emotional, watching her wear real shoes for the first time. She seemed so big.

She loves to say the word "shoes". Sigh. She gets that from Ben.

Spoon

This is something Ben taught her to do to keep her from spitting out her food. Notice that she is once again using the "camera face".

Sister Dominique

Back in the fall I got an e-mail from Sister Dominique, a dear soul and classmate from Queen's, saying that her choir would be in Grand Rapids in January. It was such a joy to see her again. We last saw each other at graduation 8 years ago. In fact, because of the way our names fell, we walked as a pair to receive our hoods.

Sister Dominique is part of a faith community called The Community of Jesus. Music is a large part of their life, and her choir, Gloriae Des Cantores, was unbelievable. It was a packed out concert, and a privilege to attend. I hope someday to visit her and see her community.

Overheard

Tuesday Night

Ben: You know, now that Isabelle is sleeping during my lunch hour, and I was out so much last week, I hardly got to spend anytime with her. I miss her. Maybe I need to change my lunch hour to fit this new nap schedule.

Wednesday Morning

(Isabelle singing in the background)
Ben: What time is it?
Melody: 6:00am.
(pause)
Melody: You wanted to spend more time with her.

(Ben gets up and plays with Isabelle while Melody stays in bed.)

Green Card

Today Ben and I had our interview in Detroit with U.S. Homeland Security and I was approved for a Green Card, which I will receive in the mail in the next two weeks. This was a very exciting finish to a process that was a lot of worry and paperwork. We actually had a very jolly interviewer who sometimes left me wondering if he was trying to trick me, but he really just was trying to be funny.

Our friends Colin and Kathy and their wonderful kids watched Isabelle today and I'm sure she thought she was at a party that she wished would never end. She was already asleep when we picked her up and then she dozed in the car on the way home. What a sweet girl - we missed her very much today, but I was glad for her sake that she did not have to come.

It's official - I'm a Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States.

Book Worm

Isabelle loves books. She sits surrounded by her mountain of books and reads them intently. Although she sometimes likes me to read to her, she prefers to read on her own. She reads at mealtime, in the car and during diaper changes. Can you say "related to Auntie Ali"?

This is her new camera face which she sports whenever I try to take a picture, showing her disdain for the flashing red light. :) (Outfit from Matt and Melody - love the ruffle cuff pants!)