Leo turns ONE

Enjoying his chocolate ice cream!

From now on, each year with winter solstice will also come the celebration of Leo's entrance into our world... it's quite a remarkable correlation and an 'exciting' birth story. Since his birthday also falls very close to Christmas, an event we celebrate with abundance in our home, I am committed to ensuring that he always feels that we mark the special moment that is his birthday during this often very busy time of year. So, despite preparing for our family vacation to Canada and the busy-ness of work (currently photography and yoga) this time of year, we still decided to plan a little party in Leo's name just before we left... being that his birth was in Colombia, it seemed appropriate to mark his 1st birthday cheer here also. We tried to keep it small (which is always hard for me) in part because we did not want to overwhelm Leo (and the girls), and in part because both girls, Leo and I all got sick for the two weeks prior to our departure. Never a dull moment...

We managed to bring together a small circle of cherished friends to honour our little man with their presence. I baked a zucchini cake (two, in fact... you will read why) with no icing (i know, i'm so boring). I made some food (sadly no photo of the spread... i always forget that). The kids ran around our apartment and the adults got to share some 'interrupted' conversations, yummy dips & things, and steaming mulled wine (yummy... my first batch and i loved it... i think it cured my cold). For the cake we all sang (in English, in Spanish, and of course in Polish too) as Leo sat proudly in his high chair, blew out his candle (with a little help from his big sisters) and then got to have one of the cakes all too himself. I had to reassure the shocked faces looking at me that there was another cake to share with all the guests... this one was just for Leo.

As each guest left we shared a blue crystal that they could hang in their windows to bring light into their homes and in doing so to let the light of our world grow more brightly for the future (and present moment) of all our children. All in all, it was a lovely afternoon... and very low-key for Colombia, so much so that I actually had one of the young guests (she is four) ask me when the party was starting (meaning: when are the animators coming to make animal balloons, where is the jumpy house, when is the puppet show, when does the face-painting start... birthday parties in South America are huge). Though by the end she too was having a great time and most of the kids did not want to leave as they were having so much fun.

Of course, we also marked Leo's actual birthday on December 22nd in Morin Heights, QC, Canada... in the home that Joshua celebrated his first birthday. This second event was even quieter bringing together two of Joshua's brothers, Joshua's parents, and a dear family friend, Rhonda, to share some cake (gingerbread baked by Mallory... delicious).

Make a wish Leo

Sadly, Leo himself was not in the happiest state of mind. We had just flown in the night before... it was the first time Leo was experiencing snow, cold, and his first flight ever to boot!! The flight went well, other than the landing in Montreal where the plane decompressed too quickly and Leo got massive pressure in his ears... we actually feared an ear infection, but were happily helped by a local (and truly gifted!!!) Osteopath who was able to help release the pressure and bring our happy guy back to his normal, happy, easy-going self. And from here, our adventures in Canada began... but I'll save that update for the next post.

Big Sister Anaïs 

Big Sister Isabel

A very unhappy Leo... so rare, i had to post!

A much happier Leo opening his birthday presents from Nana the next morning... sweet, sweet bunny hugs