April Showers Bring Spring Soccer

Nicole wrote a post about soccer a while ago, but it seems to have magically disappeared, so I'll write another one but not as well.

The Van Orman house is in full swing of spring soccer.  Both Nicole and Hunter are playing outdoor soccer this year so soccer is a big part of our lives at the moment.  Nicole plays twice a week and Hunter the same but with a practice as well.

Nicole is playing for the team Purple Rush and so far this season, they've been all wins except one game.  Nicole has also already recorded an assist.  Sophie and I were lucky enough to attend one game and I think Sophie made all the difference as she cheered her mother on.

Also, being the Soccer Mom, I've spent a lot of time at Hunter's games as well.  It's amazing how much his games have changed since U6.

For more soccer pictures, check out this album, they are towards the end.

The Travelling Versa

This past week we packed up the car and headed to Edmonton.  Ryan had some business meetings so I decided to tag along and visit my family.  I had dinner with Mom and Dad Wednesday evening and spent the day Thursday with my grandparents.  It was great to see everyone and I think Sophie enjoyed the visit as well.  She is getting better and better at travelling, which is good since we will be gone almost every weekend once camping season begins.  Click here to see more pictures of Edmonton.

Friday we headed home, did the laundry and relaxed.  Two days later, we packed up the Versa again but this time we headed for the mountains for a romantic getaway (as romantic as it can be with a 3 month old).  The rain held out and we were even able to take Sophie on her first hike Sunday.  Click here to see more pictures of our trip to Banff.

We came home to a rainy Calgary and noticed that all our neighbours had planted their flowers while we were gone.  So we rushed out and got some flowers. The project of the week is to get everything in the ground.

Photo Catchup

Here is a link to our latest photo folder on picasa. It's some pictures from last weekend with Dan and family.

Also not sure if we put this folder up either, but it's pretty. It's from when Denis and Martine came for a visit.

Another Busy Week

We had a very busy week last week.  I had my first soccer game, which we won, my first baby and me class, a trip to Olds, a visit from my brother, Tina and Madeleine and my very first official Mother`s Day.

I was a little nervous at first about playing soccer so soon after Sophie was born.  I realize you get the okay to start exercising 6 weeks after delivery as long as you are feeling up to it, but soccer can be quite intense and I am known to give it my all even if I am in pain.  Also, last time I played ultimate frisbee, I had to quit the team half way through the season because of my hip injury.  But we had a great first game and I even managed to assist a goal.  I am still feeling my hip injury but I am making sure to stretch and ice it after the games so as to keep it from getting worse.  It is great to get out of the house for an hour two times a week and I think Ryan enjoys his time with Sophie, even if he does try to keep her asleep most of the time.

I also attended my first baby and me class Wednesday at the YMCA.  I signed up for this class to meet other new moms in the area, as well as a reason to get out of the house.  I have to say, and I may be biaised since it is my own child, but Sophie is by far the cutest baby there.

Thursday, Sophie and I made a trip to Olds to visit Averley, Ally and Grace.  We enjoyed some chocolate covered strawberries made by Ally and Averley (Yum!) and then went for a walk.  Ally and I practiced our soccer skills since this is her first year playing on a team.  We practiced kicking and passing but mostly I chased after her as she tried to keep the ball away from me.  After we headed back to the house for some snacks and took as many pictures as we could of the girls before Sophie got tired of being propped up.  It was a wonderful day and we look forward to having another get-together with them soon.

Dan and Tina decided to come to Calgary for a visit this past weekend.  Tina and I wanted to treat ourselves to a pedicure but when I called around, they were all booked for Saturday.  So Tina brought everything we needed to have a pedicure at home.  It was a great surprise.  It was also a lot of fun watching the two girls interact with each other.  Madeleine, who is only 4 months older than Sophie, loves to pet her.  Sounds silly but it is actually very sweet.  She also loves when Baron licks her hands.  I am excited to watch Madeleine and Sophie grow up together and I hope they become close friends one day.

To finish off an already terrific weekend, I celebrated my very first Mother`s Day with Ryan and Sophie.  Sophie and I decided to skip the Mother`s Day run since it looked like it might rain on us and we slept in instead.  After seeing Dan and Tina off, we had a relaxing day, cuddling on the couch and watching movies.  Ryan bought me a beautiful pendant. It is an amythyst, which is Sophie`s birthstone. I have to say I was quite impressed; it may be the most thoughtful and romantic gift Ryan has given me since we have been together (although a close second would probably be the gps I got for Christmas).

Top 10 things about being a mom

10 - a great excuse to buy clothes - when you need a minimum of three tee-shirts a day due to spit ups, times 7 days a week, that`s a lot of tops!

9 - not having to get up early for work

8 - no parent-teacher interviews or report cards

7 - the late night feedings when the house is silent and we stare into each others eyes

6 - watching Ryan play with his daughter

5 - knowing what to do - knowing how to make her stop crying and how to make her smile

4 - listening to her coos and gurgles

3 - her huge smile first thing in the morning when I go to get her and she sees it is me

2 - watching her learn and grow 

1 - the love that fills my heart when I look at my child

Almost as Good as First Place

It was 7:30am and 4 degrees with rain on a gloomy Mother's Day, both Nicole and Hunter ended up ditching me (both for good reasons) and so I braved the elements alone.

I ran in my second Mothers Day Run and Walk and finished in a respectable 557th place.  I'm pretty happy with the results, I was able to keep myself to the pace I wanted and had a great time even though at the end I could hardly see with the rain and fogged glasses.

Race results are here, you can search for my name or anyone else's name you want.