When we make a determined effort to get our butt in gear and change our lives, we adopt a stick-to-it attitude. It makes perfect sense. Without continually recharging our motivation, it would be so easy to sleep through one early morning run or scarf down one delicious chocolate bar. Sometimes the motivation comes from within, sometimes…
I Am Not a Runner
I am not a runner. This was true even as a child. I have never actually been someone who particularly liked being active at all. My childhood memories are littered with examples of adults encouraging me to be active when all I wanted to do was sit and read. I’m sure it didn’t help that my…
This Day
I don’t remember everything about that morning. So much jumbles together in my mind. I do vividly remember the nerves, the anxiety, the excitement. I do remember feeling like this day would be one of the most important days of my life. I do remember knowing that this day would change everything. I do remember thinking that this day would be…
Newness
Remember this post? I let slip a little secret about a pregnancy that I was sworn to keep quiet about. I let you in on the entire secret – except who was pregnant. I’ve stayed quiet about it for weeks. Since I’ve shared this little secret, it has become one of the most popular posts…
Picture Me
I would guess that most people hit some sort of “rock bottom” before starting a serious and consistent weight-loss regimen. At least, that is what happened to me. I had previously decided to lose weight a number of times in my life, but never once did I actually do much to accomplish this goal – not until…
Wordless Wednesday: Patriotic Play
From our Canada Day Photoshoot: 15 months, 3 weeks, 4 days old [Click on the photo for more pictures from this series] Laura (@LauraORourke) is a photographer who lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia. A wife to Dan and a mother to Cameron, she spends her free time blogging and reading. Her blog finds its home…
Riding in Planes with Boys
We have done the long, 1778 km trek to my in-law’s three times since Cameron has been born. The first time we drove. Straight. Through. Halifax to Saint John to Toronto. That equates to more than 21 hours of driving, not including stops for food and fuel and bodily needs. Picture us, Nursing Mom, New…
Daddy’s Boy
When I was growing up, I had a great relationship with my father. Daddy’s Girl. Every daughter with a Dad can claim this title at least once in her life. This was the reason I thought I wanted a daughter when I was pregnant. I really wanted my husband to experience this deep connection with his…
Cold Wars
Sunday night? It was not a good night. Not at all. All that love and pride that my husband and I seemed to have for each other last week was no where to be found. There was a cold war going down in the O’Rourke household. After trying to fall asleep next to someone whom…
The Art of Hugging
HUG [huhg] – verb : to clasp tightly in the arms, especially with affection; embrace See also: Something my ridiculously cute 15 month old son does. Cameron wasn’t born knowing how to hug, but he was born with a desire for closeness; a desire that was recognized during those initial skin-on-skin moments. There, while nurses swarmed and…
I’m Proud of You
It was Saturday night. We had just got the boy off to bed and were preparing to hunker down for Game 2 of the Stanley Cup finals. I started clearing the living room floor of Little People, giant plush dogs and a multitude of socks; a clear sign that I was intending to do a…
