Friday 30 October 2009

Pumpkins and Dinosaurs

From a mini photoshoot at the Babytime Show today :)





Sunday 25 October 2009

The world is bit dimmer

Martin David Baechler's shining light went out at 6:30am on Saturday, October 24, 2009 and the world a bit less bright now.
Uncle Marty was my mom's oldest brother. He had many, many lives. First born son. Cool older brother (the local paper even covered it when "he came home for his little sister's wedding"!). Musician (The Strato-Tones and The Oriental Mod Squad). Talent manager. Successful businessman. Loving husband. Amazing uncle (he even wore a Chuck E Cheeses shirt for us!). Anyone who knew Marty was better for it.

Since shortly after being diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2001, he and his life partner, Karen, have been retired and making the most of their lives - summers spent at their condo in Oakville and wintering in Florida (where Karen's dad lives).

He was well enough to make the trip to Goderich this summer to see my brother, Jeremy wed his now-wife, Mary. It was a beautiful day.

The change from then until Thanksgiving was pretty dramatic, but I thank God he we were all together at Thanksgiving. All the cousins were there. All the aunts. All the uncles. Every single one of us was well enough to make it that day. No colds. No flus. No stomach bugs. Thank you for small blessings. Those are things that are truly important. Here is a picture of us together just two short weeks ago.
Jeremy and I went to Oakville on Thursday to help Karen put together some pictures for us all to remember Marty. We were able to see him and talk with him for a short while. Again, the change in two weeks was quite dramatic. I'm very glad we went. The last thing I said to him was, "We'll see you again before we go." Well... he was sleeping when we left, so we didn't see him again before we went. In fact, we didn't see him again. That was it.

I am happy that Marty will be at peace now. I am sad for all of us left behind.

Your light touched everyone that came in contact with you, Uncle Marty. My life was made better. Thank you for that.

Friday 9 October 2009

The weather today is just awesome!...

... if you're a 5-year-old girl in rain boots!It was one of those moments as a parent (as a person) where you just let everything else go and. just. be.

I was walking with Alex from school to the car - over the asphalt, through the grass, onto the gravel trail, down the sidewalk and across the street - and it was raining. It had been raining all day. It was raining on the way there, too, but she walked beside me. Under the umbrella. No puddle jumping - at my request.

On the way FROM school, though, it was a different story. I walked under the umbrella, and I gave her the choice this time. She chose to relish the cold, damp weather and embrace the puddles :)

She listened very well and did not jump when anyone was near her. But when no one was within splashing distance? Oh my! Did she ever enjoy herself. The look on her face was sheer unadulterated bliss. She wasn't cold. She wasn't damp. She wasn't wet. She was HAPPY. And you know what? I wasn't cold. I wasn't damp. I wasn't wet. I was happy.

Thanks for that moment, Alex. It wouldn't have happened without you. Thanks for all the moments I get to just. be. because of you. It is an amazing gift to be able to see, taste, feel, hear, EXPERIENCE - in the true sense of the word - the world through children. And I have two amazing conduits.

Ok. This is just cool.


Piano stairs:

Monday 5 October 2009

Invasion of the Body Snatchers, the Disney version


How is this for completely random? Jean-Paul talks in his sleep. Not a lot. Not all the time. Sometimes. Especially when he's overtired. He just came off a weekend with very little sleep. So, last night at 2:39 am he started to speak. In his sleep. Loudly. LIKE DONALD DUCK! WTF?! I have no idea what he said. He said one sentence. I thought he was done. Then Donald spoke again. Did I mention LOUDLY?! This prompted me to kick him and say, "Are you kidding me?". That stopped him from channeling Mickey's jealous partner. Zachary has always been a delayed waker. Meaning, if there is a loud(ish) noise, he doesn't wake right away. The repercussion happens with 5 minutes of the noise. Oh, and did I mention this duck was loud? Anyway, at 2:42 Zach woke up. Of course, I made Jean-Paul tend to him. (Not that he talks in his sleep on purpose, but I was pissed and cranky at this point). From 2:42 this morning until Jean-Paul woke up Zach at 8:00 by snoring then rolling over roughly, we had a Zach in our bed. The little bugger is cute, but not a great sleep partner. Those who share a bed with Zach will inevitably get a foot to the back, stomach or face at some point. Today I'm tired. So is Jean-Paul. I wonder who will appear in my bed tonight?...

And while I was searching for Donald pictures, I came across this? Huh?!