Category — Travel

We stand at intersection. Black suit universal pause, here at Bay and King. She’s staring up at you. Boulder eyes, size of the moon. Seeking face. Your upwards morning mouth, silent words: ‘Yes child, I see you. The world is good.’

Ignore me, I don’t care, but turn your gaze on these innocent eyes because they won’t remain forever so.

Here are a smattering of our summer so far. 

Playing with neighbour Mia at our favourite park.

Helping daddy barbecue on the patio. Sort of. 

Vegas Trip… the three sisters unite!

Me with my lovely 20-week pregnant sister Kristen (who lives there) and my inspiring, world-traveling sister Lynn (who moves to Australia this week and is marrying her Aussie sweetheart next spring)

I gambled a whopping $1 while waiting for our show (Cirque du Soliel’s Ka) to start

Fourth of July party in a gated community with these cute kiddies. Madeleine has little boy crushes. She just loved this guy, and the puppy.

Miss Madeleine discovered Nickelodeon TV. 

Hanging with uncle PJ - the soon-to-be-papa. 

Madeleine and her dolla-dolla bill.

The Bellagio lobby. Everything you see is made of individual flower blossoms.

Auntie Lynnie and Madeleine.

Bellagio lobby. All individual stained glass bowls on the ceiling. 

Paris Hotel and Casino.

Patiently waiting, way past her bedtime, to watch the Bellagio fountain show. 

Baby got free reign on the toilet paper in our hotel room. Toddler heaven.

Ready for the pool.

Green Valley Resort.

View on Vanier Beach this week — en route to the Bard on the Beach tents for a sweet date night. Much Ado About Nothing is brilliantly cast this year!

Playing on Grandma and Grandpa’s lawn at the goodbye dinner for my brother Matt (moving to Calgary) and sister Lynn. We dined on the spectacular 62-pound halibut my dad caught in the Queen Charlotte’s last week. 

Playing with cousin Reuben. Lady loves lego.

Ambling with Uncle James and Aunt Jocelyn - who are expecting a baby next month. Groot baby city. 

Relaxing on Bowen Island with daddy. I think we found our dream house for this winter.

Godfather Matthew catching a snooze on the patio. This’ll be our view soon. 

Family day in Horseshoe Bay. That rhymed. Trolls for dinner. Mmmm…

Meeting my niece two days ago. Her name is forthcoming… Congratulations Michael and Heidi!!

Gorgeous mama and baby.

Proud papa Mike (holding his one-day-old,) watching the Holland v Spain final. 

Madeleine lamenting Holland’s loss. 

Happy Summer one and all!

Life is brimming. 

This past month I had a big birthday and celebrated for a week. First, with a couple of my longest, dearest friends at Raw Canvas where, instead of receiving gifts, I entered into an afternoon of creating a reminder of friendship I can keep for all time. Steph was the daring first to dress the canvas with paint. Then Megan dove in. Then Marisa. Then me. We found a palette, together.

We sipped tea and ate cake and shared hummus. One of us got attacked by a paint gun, all of us dove in to help. Luckily it was acrylic and therefore washable. (Steph you are a silver-haired trooper.) I will cherish this afternoon (and the painting below) for years to come.

Then, the weekend of my actual birthday, Michael, Madeleine and I (and auntie Steph, for the ferry ride!) hopped the smokin’ EARLY ferry (and lucky too! that was the day of the record winds and ferry cancellations) to Victoria. First, we were able to attend the Good Friday service at St. Luke’s where the minister who married us is the rector. (See Madeleine’s first meeting Rvd. Parker below.) 

We spent three luxurious (as luxurious as they can be with a 7-month-old) at the English Inn Resort where they upgraded us from a garden facing room in the main mansion to a two bedroom, two floor town house on the sprawling heritage property. The building out our window was thatched. THATCHED. Crazy.

We spent lazy hours walking through downtown. I even got to spend some time on my own perusing Lower Johnson — the fashion hub of the city. I snagged a sweet chocolate, black and white polkadot dress and a grey knit hat. Michael had his time in the bookstores. We indulged in a private, breathtaking meal at the Rosedale - lamb shank melting off the bone. And Michael spoiled me with thoughtful, thoughtful gifts: a journal from Paper-ya, “Granville Island crack” (aka caramel chocolate brittle) and Bowen Island’s Cocoa West Signature Hot Chocolate from Edible BC, and a beautiful handmade ceramic tile we’d eyed in Vancouver a couple of weeks before. Perfection.

The next weekend some more girlfriends took me out for dinner at Sandbar and topped off the fun with a sparkling cake from Cupcakes (thank you Sara and co!)

The same weekend marked Madeleine’s baptism at our little church: St. Alban’s. Dressed in the Dutch lace gown I wore at my own baptism, she was wonderfully happy as the service took its course. It was a profound morning as the water was sprinkled, symbolizing her joining the family of God. So many of our family and friends were able to attend which was an immense blessing. Thank you to everyone who came. I was able to find time to hand-make little momentos of the day with a type-written thank you from Madeleine and Luke 18:15-17 which reads:

“But Jesus called them to Him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”  

In between all of this, Michael’s parents were in town to take in my sister-in-law Brittany’s grad fashion show. Her technical motorcycle line, Velocity, was amazing, as was the whole show. Michael’s mom also surprised me with a birthday night out at the ballet — Ballet’s BC’s big comeback show, Re/Naissance, which included of-the-moment choreographer Chrystal Pite’s stunning 24. 

Last weekend was the last one out of town for awhile, and I am glad. We spent the better part of Saturday and Sunday celebrating with my dad and stepmom as they marked their 25th wedding anniversary in Whistler. All of the siblings (all seven plus in-laws) were together for what may be the last time for years. One sister is engaged to an Australian (Yay Lynn!) and the other lives south of the border (Las Vegas, baby) and they’re both pursuing permanent residency. The family is spreading its wings… it’s sad but also very exciting as everyone chases love and their dreams.

Cousins Reuben and Jesse Fin with Madeleine

It makes me feel better about our big life plans. Toronto is very much on the table for us. It’s not something I’ve been talking a lot about because, honestly, it makes me extremely sad to consider life away from my family. At the same time, I can see glimpses from time to time of the kind of life and the kind of marriage Michael and I could have in a new place. There is possibility surrounding a huge step like that and it will require a depth of love and trust that I don’t think has been demanded of us yet. This excites me. More on that later.

This has been a whirlwind post, I will leave you with two final shots of Ms. Madeleine.

Have a wonderful day, friends.

“What if the mightiest word is love?”

- Elizabeth Alexander, Praise Song for the Day

A mother lives her life in bursts, or as the book I’m reading aptly puts it, “Between Interruptions.”

I write in between the time Madeleine dozes off and starts rooting around for her next meal. These moments are few, and enormously treasured. 

Madeleine and my first foray into the world was to Starbucks. It was on Day 9. A bright shining day. I read the newspaper for the first time since her birth. This past week she hit the three week milestone and we went to see the Midwife. She clocked in at 11 lb 3 oz. On the way there I filed my nails as Daddy drove. This weekend we embarked on our first adventure, to Victoria, in the safe company of Michael’s parents and the welcoming arms of Island friends. On the ferry deck, as Madeleine slept nestled in a carrier on my chest, I penned these lines:

Forest underfoot, out of sight
ribbons of saltwater taffy
streaming like a
blanket
closing in over
newborn skin.
winds dance over orcas backs
a dozen lazy dominos
waltzing like stars.

We took to our favourite island last weekend for an overnight stay.

We arrived a little tired:

But were quickly whisked down to the promontory to read poetry at sunset:

The next morning we rose to a big breakfast of eggs, coffee, sausages and hashbrowns to sustain us for a couple hours’ kayak:

And then we were glad. 

Image: by By-Your

It won’t be long until I’ll no longer be able to hop in a car at 10 pm and speed up the Sea to Sky for a sunny day spent with my nephews. So tonight I will indulge.

It’s a bit of a theme in my life at the moment. I have two more months before I am officially a mama and I’m basking in every moment. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to motherhood - I am, so much! - rather, I’m trying to fully embrace the seasons of life and for now I’ve got a midnight trip in me. 

Have a happy Monday!

My heart swells. An ocean cresting beneath my skin. The waters rise, then fall. White paper sails waltzing, cradled between sea and icing-dusted peaks.

British Columbia, I am home.  

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I spent my first weekend home with my brother, sister-in-law and adorable nephews in Whistler (while Michael tucked away in Parksville with his best friend Andrew.) Five months without these four is far too long…

The fam: Reuben, Mike, Jesse and Heidi in the village.

Jesse (in a bit of a foul mood) and I. Woah, those glasses are big.

The raddest couple.

The kissing monster about to attack my two favourite boys.

Jesse Fin and Heidi at the skate park. My two and four-year-old nephews were tearing it up on their bikes. 

Michael about to eat a plate-o-poutine for the chance to win a blackberry.

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A weekend well spent.

This post comes to you from North Lodge, Oxford, the beautiful home of Amanda and Dr. Dean Regier and their front lawn (which is actually a sprawling 70 acres of park land. Rough. ;))

Yesterday we visited the Queen’s home of choice: Windsor Castle. Here’s a photo of a 5-month preggy me within the castle gates (I know more than a few of you have been wondering how the bump is coming along.)

One more week and we’ll be walking in our front door… at last.

Love from the Old Country, Christina

I caught up with Canada’s George Stroumboulopoulos, host of CBC’s The Hour, to get his thoughts on true love and his affinity for black (among other things.)

Enjoy this uncut version!

I am off to London tomorrow to celebrate my birthday (April 3,) visit Amanda’s adorable digs, peruse Oxford with the hubby, and savour croissants (pregnancy, the perfect excuse!) in Paris… then home to Vancouver! See you after the 18th.