Novah Is One!

My sweet little baby girl turned one nearly a month ago! Novah has been such a joy and light in our lives and has brought so much love and happiness to our family. I am so grateful to call her ours and could not imagine our family without her. It seems that everyone just loves little Novah to pieces, but seriously who wouldn't love her adorable face?

Here are some things that we want to remember about Novah at this age.

1. Novah is Miss Social. Novah loves to play with her brothers and always wants to be a part of the action. Even when they are doing things that seem a little dangerous for a little baby to be involved (like wrestling) Novah is right there trying to join in the fun! She loves to play with her baby friends (Amy, Audrey, Ivey- whom she already misses) and generally likes to be around other people. In fact she really does not like to be left in a room alone and is always quick to follow me when I put her down to try to get things done. She is such a friendly and social little girl!

2. Novah LOVES her belly! This little girl is an eating machine. Honestly I can not believe how much food this little lady packs away. She is not a picky eater and loves just about anything. Some of her favourite foods are blueberries, grapes, bread, cheese, cucumbers, strawberries, spaghetti, beans, scrambled eggs, broccoli and ice cream.

3. Novah loves her brothers. You can tell that they already have a special brother and sister bond and it is so sweet! There is so much love and adoration in her eyes when she looks at them. She gets so excited to see them in the morning when she wakes, she loves to follow them around and loves to join in their fun. She loves to play cars with them and gets excited when they ride their bikes. She loves when the give her snuggles and kisses and sing her songs.

4. Novah has a mind oif her own. It is already very clear that this little girl will not be told what to do. She has a mind of her own and wants what she wants when she wants it. Reminds me a little too much of her older brother Marshal so I'm slightly terrified for the future, but it's good to know that this little girl is going to be one strong force.

5. Novah is in a mommy only phase. For the past few weeks she has become rather stuck on to me which is both nice and challenging. It's nice that she loves me so desperately that when she sees me she cries until I'm holding her in my arms. But slightly challenging that she wants nothing to do with anyone else! Alas this phase shall pass. I should just try to love it while it lasts!

6. Novah LOVES music and she LOVES to dance! Of course it is my hope that she will love dancing the way I do, but I truly think that she has her own natural love of music and dance embedded in her soul. It's adorable to watch her reaction when she hears music of all sorts and genres. She always gets so excited and immediately starts bobbing her head and bouncing her body to the rhythm of the music.

7. Novah likes to clap for herself and wave hello and good bye. One of the cutest things that she does is sit and clap for herself! Anytime she hears praise or sees someone else clapping she just starts clapping her little hands and her face lights up with pride. It's so cute. Whenever she hears, "Yay Novah!" she immediately starts to clap for herself. One of the cutest moments was at her first birthday party when we started singing her happy birthday and she started to clap, it was just too adorable!

8. Novah is a little mover! She is a super speed crawler. She mastered climbing the stairs all on her own in no time and quickly figured out how to go down too. She would like to walk, run probably but she hasn't quite figured out that you need balance. She just tries to walk as soon as you put her on her little feet. I'm pretty sure if we get her a walker she'll be running away in no time!

Here are some photos of Novah on her actual 1st birthday- July 24, 2014

Birthday pancake for the birthday girl! 

And below all dressed up in her special number 1 outfit!

It's fun to be one!

Look at me I'm just so cute.

Whoops!

I love my big brother Marshal!

Check out my two front teeth!!

Later in the day we celebrated with some birthday cake!

At first Novah was a little unsure as to what was happening. 

Then she realized we were singing to her and she liked that so she started to clap. 

She was timid about trying the cake. 

And then she realized it was really delicious!

Novah was very insistent on using a fork to eat her cake. It was really cute and she was really pleased as pie with herself. She felt so happy that she could be like a grown up with a fork.

She really got into that birthday cake and enjoyed herself. It was wonderful to celebrate Novah's first year of life!  

We love you so much little Novah Elle! Happy 1st Birthday!

Jordan

The Time Has Come

*NOTE: I wrote this post about a month ago before departing Calgary, but I didn't get a chance to post it until now. 

The time has come to say goodbye. To reflect on all the memories we have made here in Calgary. To turn the page. To begin another chapter.

I must confess that there has not been much clarity in my mind as of late. I've been plagued with all sorts of thoughts and emotions which have left me a bit of an emotional basket case. I'm everything from anxious, to excited, nervous, terrified, hesitant, scared, frustrated and overwhelmed.

While I am anxious and excited about this new chapter of life that we are about to open I am also really nervous and hesitant about all the changes that are going to impact our little family in such a short amount of time.

We are leaving behind the place we have called home the longest since Dan and I became a family in 2006. We have lived in Calgary for just under 6 years. We have enjoyed so many wonderful things in this city and have made a lifetime of memories to cherish. Dan attend college here and received a diploma. I became a registered teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance. We began a family and have had three lovely children who have taught us so much and brought so much joy to our lives. We started our own business and have faced the success and trials of being self employed. We have vacationed to beautiful British Columbia and discovered many beautiful places we did not know existed. We have become friends with some of the most amazing people, so amazing I never could have imagined being friends with people like them.

I am sad to leave this world and this life behind. We've created a community for ourselves here that I know we will never have the chance to experience again. It has been so special and I am so grateful for all the wonderful things that this community of family and friends have given to us. I am so grateful to have called Calgary home.

As much as I gripe and complain about things here that I don't love, there are so many things that I do love about this city. I have loved the nearness to the majestic mountains, I have loved the strength of our church, I have loved our neighbours and the friends that we have made. I have loved the things that I have gotten to do with my children, and I have even loved the excessive splendor of the stampede! I have loved the friendly people of the west and all the adventures we have experienced here.

I know I am going to miss this city as we head into the great unknown. But as sad as I feel, I know deep down in my heart that this is the right move for our family and the right path for us to take at this time in our lives.

It's going to be scary. It's going to be hard and I know it is filled with uncertainty, but sometimes you just have to take that leap of faith believing that there is something better just around the corner.

So long Calgary.

You will be missed. And forever in my heart.

Jordan