Back To School And Stuff

This final week of the children's summer vacation is passing by much too quickly. I don't like it and will definitely be missing them next week.

Julie is very excited to return to school and even has her back to school outfit picked out and backpack ready to go. She has a dry erase board in her room and has been writing down how many days are left until the first day. She is longing to see her friends again and to meet her new teacher.

Sam is dreading it. He's trying to squeeze in as much sleep and relaxation as he possibly can. His main concern is that he not be in a split class, is with his friends, and gets a good teacher.

Have I mentioned that I will miss them when they go back?

Matthew had his check up on Monday and now weighs 13 lbs. Dr L said he was growing and developing perfectly and is right in the centre of the growth chart. He said he was a bit behind at first but has quickly caught up. He was sleeping in my arms when Dr L gave him his first shot. His eyes flew open and he started to mildly fuss as if to say that he knew something happened, he didn't know what, it probably hurt so I'd better say something. The second shot just about caused him to jump out of his skin. There were lots and lots of tears.

His and mine.

Afterwards I met with the accounting manager at the company I worked with on a temp assignment while I was pregnant. He wanted to know if I would consider returning to work now, on a full time basis. We talked about it, and taking everything into consideration, I told him that I could do five hours a day, three days a week. More than that would be too difficult to manage along with my responsibilities at home. Not to mention it would make Ian's job searching extremely difficult. We talked back and forth about how we could make it happen but they decided that they need someone full time. I appreciated that they were willing to have me back and that they continue to be sensitive and considerate of my position.

Did I make a mistake? Possibly. But I need to handle things with the children and around the house so that Ian can focus full-time on finding a job. I believe that if I am to return to work full-time that God will make that clear to us. In the meantime, Ian is getting a lot of bookings for magic shows and that's helping a lot.

Yesterday we took the children back to school shopping. They were given most of their school supplies as well as new backpacks, but still needed a few things like pencils, erasers, glue sticks and lunch bags, so we picked those up at Walmart along with a few other needed items. Our cashier was in training and the woman with her was bagging, and she looked at the children sitting together on the bench and then back at me.

"You got yourself a lot of kids there." she said.

"Yes ma'am." I replied.

"Mmmhmm..." she said, bagging.

As she bagged the guinea pig food, cat food and dog food she spoke again.

"I see you got yourself a lot of animals too."

"Yes ma'am." I said again.

"Mmmhmm." she said. "You get much sleep?"

"No ma'am!" I said and we both laughed and then said together, "Mmmhmm..."

Clothes wise, they didn't need much. A couple pairs of jeans, indoor and outdoor shoes and a new shirt for each that we found in a couple of different stores.

I'm pleased to report that I stayed within my budget.

GO ME!

We were all pretty wiped out after all of our running around. Jordan, however, was on a roll. "More shopping? Please? We do more shopping?" She loves to go out and run errands and see things. If she sees either Ian or me getting ready to leave the house she runs to get her shoes on so she can come with us. No trip is boring for her. She makes a nice errand buddy :-)

Last night I went out for ice cream at the new Dairy Queen with Cindy and my new friend Karyn, who I met at Walmart a few weeks ago. I brought Matthew with me and he was such a good boy the whole time, even letting the girls hold him. He must have had some good time because he ended up sleeping through the night.

YEEHAW!

We're still tired today though! Ha. I figure I'll sleep when they're all off married or in college.

Must run - Sam has Matt in his jolly jumper and I don't want to miss the smiles!

Have a great day, peeps!

The Break Up

Doesn't Everyone Do This?

Looks much more comfortable than a standard beach chair, but I think I'd leave the bunny ears at home!

5QF ~ August 26 - Vloggin' It With Matt

Happy Friday! Today, as usual, I'm participating in the beautiful and talented Mama M's Five Question Friday which she hosts over at My Little Life!





Big thanks to YouTube for freezing this particular frame, thus making me look like an idiot.

Head on over to Mama M's blog My Little Life to join in on the fun!

Home

We arrived home from the beach about 9:30 last night, exhausted and sunburned.

It was a really, really, nice time away with all of my favourite people.

My mom and nephew are there until Friday.

When we left, I was trying - unsucessfully - not to cry. So was my mom.

It was hard to leave.

Today we just hung around the house. Well, the children and I did. Ian had two magic shows to do.

I feel blah today. I can't put my finger on why, but I'm feeling it. I feel as though there is change coming and there is a sense of dread in my stomach.

Maybe it's the post-vacation blues. Is there such a thing?

I took a lot of pictures and will post some of them soon. Tonight I'm just feeling weird and not up to talking about much.

It's storming outside and Ian says we're under a tornado watch. Better log off for now.

Happy

We arrived at the beach yesterday afternoon, just after 4pm. I managed to take two wrong turns before getting fired from driving.

Ha!

But we're here.

I'm happy.

I'm with my mom. My nephew. My husband and my children.

All my people.

As I write this, I'm kickin' back in the golf cart with my feet up, watching the big kids swim and Jordan is playing in the sand.

I feel no stress about life today. Wish I could stay forever!

Gotta go - the kids want to drive around in the golf cart and so do I!

5QF ~ August 19

My plan today was to vlog my five questions but for some reason I can't get the webcam thingy to work and I don't have the time (or knowledge) to fix it right now.

I'm bummed though. I wanted to introduce you to Matthew, who just so happens to be in an awesome mood this morning and very smiley. I am also having an exceptionally fabulous hair day. What a waste.

Anyway, I don't have a lot of time because we are heading off to the beach for a few days. My mom has invited us to spend time with her at the same cottage resort she went to last year and we're really excited. The big kids have been counting down the days - they love being with their Gram and they love this resort.

So let's get cookin' with Mama M's Five Question Friday which she hosts over at My Little Life!



1. Do you close the bathroom door when you are home alone?

I do. I have blinds open in the house and my neighbours across the street could see me you know. With their super sonic see-you-through-the-trees vision she may or may not have.

Also, I don't like it when my dog sits and watches, which he does.

2. You have to walk around with a word on your forehead. That word describes you. One word. What is it?

AWESOME!

Seriously? I guess it would depend on the day. Frazzled would be one I'd wear a lot.

3. What store do you refuse to shop at and why?

Price Chopper. About 12 years ago Ian bought chicken from them and got food poisoning and ended up in the ER. He took the remaining chicken back to the store and the butcher said he'd look into it and call Ian back. He never did, so Ian called him and he said "I smelled it and it smelled ok, so I don't know what the problem was. I threw it out."

WHAT!?

Ian pursued it right to the Head Office level and they gave him $100 worth of gift certificates for his trouble, as well as a sincere apology.

Since then, I made it my personal mission to turn everyone off of Price Chopper. Now they operate under FreshCo, but I still won't shop there.

4. If you participated in arranged marriages for your child(ren), who would you choose for your child(ren)?

I'd choose a Christian mate for my children, and not just a Sunday only type Christian. Someone who truly lived and breathed their faith every minute of every day.

5. If you could pick how and when you would die, would you?

I don't want to know how, and I sure as heck don't want to know when. All I know is that I don't want it to hurt! But... we're all goin' in 2012, right? ;-)

Gotta run! Hope you guys have an awesome weekend!

Head on over to Mama M's blog My Little Life to join in on the fun!

Our Girls Are Enough

It's hard being a mother.

Let me rephrase this: It's hard to be a mother of girls.

Ian and I are very intentional with our children and spend a lot of time telling them that we love them. We are big huggers in our family and "I love you" is spoken freely and often. It's whispered and it's shouted.

There is an abundance of love in our home.

But we don't just tell them that we love them. We tell them why. We tell them they are each special in their own individual ways and have gifts because God crafted them that way. We list their beautiful qualities one by one. We tell them that they have purpose in this world, and that God will use them for great things. That they can do anything through Christ who gives them strength.

We remind them that it is enough to be who God created them to be and that they don't have to try to be something or someone they aren't. They are enough.

But once they step outside of our home, our children - our daughters - are bombarded with messages that tell them otherwise.

The outside world tells them that beauty is what truly matters. Starving yourself to be super skinny. Tons of makeup. Revealing clothing. Drinking and smoking are cool. Everyone does drugs.

Can't afford something you want? Steal it. Want to keep that boyfriend? Sleep with him. Want to feel loved and never lonely again? Have a baby.

Lies. All lies.

I hate standing in the checkout line with my daughters because of the magazine covers they see. Half dressed, half starved, overly made up and under dressed women that define what the world considers to be beautiful.

I see Julie looking at these magazines in the store, then looking at herself in the mirror when we get home, and I want to scream that those women don't look like that in real life! That beauty comes from within, and that type of beauty is what truly lasts. That modesty and self respect are beautiful qualities all on their own.

Would she even hear me?

Did I hear my mother saying the same thing?

No.

Today I learned something that is weighing so heavily on my heart. I wish I could blog it out but I can't.

My heart hurts and I want to cry. I feel helpless.

I hurt for young girls that are faced with choices and situations that they aren't prepared to make. There is so much pressure to be more than what they are. To fill voids in their lives with things that aren't healthy and will change who they are intended to be.

Will you please pray with me not only for our daughters, but every young girl who is believing the lies the media feeds them, and are making grown up choices that they aren't prepared to make?

They need us, my friends. They need us.

My Ideal Day

I love my children and I truly enjoy being with them. I'm not someone who feels the need to take a weekend away from my family to get a break and I hate it when my children aren't sleeping under our roof.

I miss them.

Two children ago I actually passed up the opportunity to vacation in Jamaica with Ian because I didn't want to be away from them.

Dumb!

If I knew then that the Lord was going to bless us with two more children then I think I would have said yes!

Still, I do dream of having one single day to myself.

How would I spend it? Oh I'll tell you.

First, I'd sleep late.



Then I'd enjoy one of these with a large steeped tea while relaxing in bed watching A Baby Story on tv.



I'd grab some of these...



... and read them while soaking in this.



I think at this point I'd like a short nap before spending a few hours with my beloved Sassy Susie...



Then I'd break for one of these.



Eventually I'd take Willow for a walk along the ravine.



I'd go back to bed and lay under the covers reading this for a few hours.



Then I'd order this and eat it with an ice cold Molson Canadian beer while watching whatever shows are on TLC.



And then...Ian and my children would come home and things would continue on as they should be.

If YOU could have a single day to yourself to do with whatever you wanted, how would you spend it?

Puppy Walks And Pedicures

I'm having a pretty good day.

First up this morning was a texted photo of my sweet friend Tyler's brand new baby girl! I'm so thankful that Piper has arrived safely, and that Tyler's pregnancy is over and she can get back to feeling like herself again. Boy is that baby girl in for some serious lovin'!

Next up was a shower and when I went back to my room to get dressed I found that Ian had made the bed for me. Thanks Ian! I don't know what it is about a freshly made bed, but it sure gives me a sense of order. The same goes for my kitchen sink. The rest of the house could be falling apart but I'll be ok just as long as the bed is made and the kitchen sink is empty and clean.

The weather was really nice this morning so I took Willow out for a walk along the ravine. I love walking there. Well, I love it once I get past the oh I hope no one jumps out of the bushes and kills me feeling.

Isn't it restful looking?



It goes on for miles and miles and miles.

The route I take is about 30 minutes if I walk briskly, which is perfect for my current fitness level.

Willow piddled exactly 23 times on our walk. If I didn't know better I'd think he was a pregnant woman in her ninth month with all that piddling! I don't know why he doesn't just do all his business once or twice but I guess there is a method to what he does.

Here is my Wills.



Doesn't he look so mild and obedient?

Don't be fooled. It took me six attempts to get this single picture.

He's a total beast to walk. He criss-crosses, runs ahead and drags behind, darts after leaves and squirrels, and so forth. It's really annoying. I try and try (and try and try and try...) to get him to walk nicely beside me and he just doesn't.

But he does keep me safe on our walks. Like this morning for instance. That supremely elderly couple walking slowly hand in hand sure looked like they might have had a murderous agenda that involved me, but thanks to Willow throwing himself against my body and shoving me into the trees, he certainly let them know he meant to protect me at all costs and thus saved my life. The creepy bike riding dude completely missed his radar apparently, even though he was high on mine.

When we returned home, Willow collapsed on the living room floor and I had just enough time for a bowl of Cheerios and a glass of orange juice before Matthew started fussing and crying. That lasted for over an hour before he finally fell asleep in my arms, completely exhausted. It breaks my heart when nothing I do brings him comfort and all I can do is hold him while he cries.

I'm so excited for 5:30 to arrive. Why, you wonder? Because I'm getting a MUCH needed pedicure, courtesy of my friend Cindy. She gave me a gift certificate a few months ago for me to get a pedicure before Matthew arrived but I wasn't able to get there beforehand. So today is the day and I am e-x-c-i-t-e-d. Cindy is going to meet up with me there to visit. I hope the person working on my feet doesn't die when he/she sees the horror of them. It's been awhile. I could tell you how my feet are so rough that I can pick up a dryer sheet with them, but that would be gross to talk about.

Well, Sir Screams A Lot is calling for me, so I'll wrap this up.

I may or may not post a pic of my revitalized tootsies a little later. Bye for now!

Job Description For Motherhood

JOB DESCRIPTION:

Long term, team players needed, for challenging permanent work in an often chaotic environment.
Candidates must possess excellent communication and organizational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call.
Some overnight travel required -- including trips to primitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities. Travel expenses not reimbursed.
Extensive courier duties are also required; frequently on very short notice.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily, until someone needs $5.
Must be willing to bite your tongue repeatedly.
Must possess the physical stamina of a pack mule and be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat just in case *this time* the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf.
Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges, such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toilets and stuck zippers.
Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars and coordinate production of multiple homework projects.
Must have ability to plan and organize social gatherings for clients of all ages and mental outlooks.
Must be willing to be indispensable one minute and an embarrassment the next.
Must handle assembly and product safety testing of a half million cheap, plastic toys and battery operated devices.
Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.
Must assume final complete accountability for the quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance and janitorial work throughout the facility.

POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:

Virtually none. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you.

PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE:

None required, unfortunately. On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.

WAGES AND COMPENSATION:

Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 because of the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is that you actually enjoy it, and wish you could only do more.

BENEFITS:

No health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered. However, this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth and free hugs for life, if you play your cards right.

Rambling

Sam and Julie have been visiting with their grandparents since Sunday. I'm missing them terribly but they come home tomorrow and I can't wait. I enjoy my children so much and I hate it when they're away from me.

Jordan, for the most part, has been ok with them being gone. She wasn't invited to stay for this visit so we've been trying to keep her busy and give her lots of extra attention. She's used to having everyone's attention but since Matthew's arrival she's had to share her spotlight.

We haven't been able to take her anywhere because our only vehicle is in the shop for repairs. This is our third summer without air conditioning, and the second summer that the passenger side window won't open. Then, on Friday, the driver's side window wouldn't open. We were baking inside! So, Ian ran it over to the shop for them to fix the driver's window. It should be ready to be picked up tomorrow.

Yesterday Mom picked Jordan, Matthew and I up and brought us over to her house to visit for the afternoon while Ian did some contract work. I tend to talk a lot when I'm with my mom. And by "a lot" I mean A LOT. My throat actually hurt by the time she brought me home.

In the evening Ian, the littles and I walked over to Walmart to pick up some painting supplies. Matt's stroller is in the back of the van, so he got to ride along in Jordan's pink and grey stroller.

Poor guy. I tried to make the experience better by dressing him in gender neutral clothing so that people wouldn't notice him in a girly stroller. While I was looking at sewing supplies a woman was looking at him and said "Oh she's beautiful!"

"Thank you!" I said with pride.

Sorry Matt.

We stopped at McDonald's before heading home. Jordan loved walking in the dark. We stopped at the park and she and Ian went down the slide a few times and climbed all over. When we got home Jordan had a few tears when she was taking off her shoes because she was missing Sam and Jules, and said "Sam and Juby come home NOW!" and bawled.

I wanted to do the same.

BUT! They're coming home TOMORROW! YAY!

Today Ian moved Julie's bedroom furniture so that I could paint her walls. Julie picked a lovely shade of blue and it looks so clean and crisp. I am not a fan of painting because I always drip it all over the dropsheets and then I step in it. Lots of oh come on! oh for petes sake! really? REALLY!? comments going on.

By the time I was done I had paint everywhere. Even in my mouth.

IN.MY.MOUTH.

I think it got in there when I was singing like I was Beyonce in the concert of my life.

Anyway, it looks GREAT. Ian is going to move her bedroom furniture and hang a waterfall mural on the remaining wall. Can't wait to see it when it's finished. Julie will be so excited.

And that's the end of today's rambling.

He Wrote Me A Love Letter

After eighteen years together - fifteen of those years married - he's still in love with me.

Never in a million years did I ever think I would have someone who loved me like this.

He wrote me a love letter on his blog. For the world to see.

If you'd like to read it click here.

I love you, Ian. Always and forever.

xo

Don't Touch My Baby, Lady

It never ceases to amaze me how few boundaries some people have.

I am ALL about boundaries. They hold hands with my Control Issues.

This afternoon we went to Costco to see if it was worth renewing our membership. Why I thought going to Costco on a Saturday of all days was a good idea is beyond me, except these days I'm desperate to get out of the house so it seemed like a fabulous idea at the time.

It was a complete zoo.

One of my top pet peeves is (are?) less than intelligent people and today they were all hanging out at Costco. Walking like molasses. Stopping in the aisles to stare off into space. Cutting in front of people with those honkin' big shopping carts.

They sure are big carts, aren't they? I kind of wanted to climb in and ride around. But remember, I am all about boundaries, and one if them is to not make an ass out of myself in public.

(ooh..I said ass on my blog. I feel all badASS now)

I was looking at the meat counter when this woman who would be in her late 50's grabbed my cart (with my baby in it) and jerked it out of her way so she could get in front of me. I would have said something but I was shocked at the way she was dressed. Very inappropriately for a) the location and b) her age. I just kind of stood there with my mouth hanging open. I wish I had said something at the time, and believe me, I've thought about ten things I could have said but you'd just have to have seen her outfit to understand my silence.

I have a very sharp tongue and I have to work very, very, hard to keep it in check. The outfit silenced me. So did the hair and the excessive makeup, but I don't want to talk about those things because then I would sound really mean.

Anyway, whenever I go to Costco I start out thinking that there is no way we need so much of one item and that the prices aren't that great. By the time I get to the checkout I'm thinking how we need all sorts of this stuff and we'll somehow find a way to store it, and isn't $3.99 awesome for that big box of Oreos, Ian!?!

(It was a good price for that big box of Oreos and we did buy it.)

By the time we got to the cash register Matthew was a wreck. He was fussing constantly so I had been carrying him in my arms. Ian wanted to go back to look at one last thing while we waited in line so I put him back into his carseat so I could put my items up on the belt thing.

And this is where we get to the complete breach of boundaries.

It's taken me long enough to get to this point, hasn't it.

So I'm putting things on the belt thingy and Matthew is screaming his little lungs out... and this woman came over from the next lane and started stroking his face with her whole hand, trying to soothe him. His cheeks, his eyes, his mouth... her hands were all over his little face.

I.just.about.died.

I quickly went to his side just as she was jamming his soother into his mouth trying to shush him, all while speaking to him in another language.

"STOP!" I said loudly, then tried to temper myself and be more polite. "He doesn't like that, thank you, but please don't do that ... please let him be...he's fine." and moved myself in between the cart and her because she was continuing to try to touch his arm.

I felt like such a witch but WOW. I would never touch another woman's child like that. EVER.

So now I'm so embarrassed that my kid is screaming himself hoarse that I have tears in my eyes. Then a different woman came over and started rubbing his legs and telling him to stop crying. I asked her to please not do that and pulled the cart out of her reach.

GAH!

Once we were done, we stopped for a cold drink while I fed Matthew. He was so upset. I think he was completely overstimulated by the store and just couldn't settle himself down. Poor little guy.

So here I am, hours later, feeling guilty for speaking so harshly to those women.

What would YOU have done so I can handle it better should it happen again?

5QF - August 5

Anyone else amazed that it's August already? I don't even know where July went.

The children are enjoying staying up late (too late) at night and sleeping in each morning. Sam is our latest sleeper, usually coming upstairs around noon.

I'm jealous.

I find myself saying those words I hated hearing my mom say when I used to sleep in: "You've wasted half your day!!"

Meh. She was right of course.

Ian took the children to see the Smurf movie yesterday and Jordan was driving them all crazy with her "la la la-ing" the theme song. I asked if she liked the movie and she said "I LOVE IT!"

Yesterday I tried my hand at appliqueing t-shirts. It's a ridiculously easy project to do and I can't wait to do more.

Here are the ones I did yesterday. Please forgive the quality of the photos. My beloved camera, MaryBeth, is being fussy right now, so these were taken quickly with my iPhone.

This one is for Jordan.



"J is for Jornan and Jornan is ME!" she said.

And this one is for Matthew:



He didn't say anything because, well, he's a baby.

I think I'm going to stitch along the edges just to make sure the letters stay on.

It's time for Mama M's Five Question Friday which she hosts over at My Little Life!



1. Do you have siblings and are you close with them?

I have one sister and we are not close at all. She can be a very hateful and cruel woman and I have had no choice but to close off all contact with her completely. It's so sad, really. We've never had that warm, loving, sisterly relationship and I've given up waiting for it to happen. She hates me and I've accepted it. Finally.

2. Would you rather be slightly UNDER weight or slightly OVER weight?

I'd love to be slightly under weight just to know what that feels like. I've battled with my weight my entire life so experiencing the other side of things would be a welcome change.

3. What's your favorite State Fair food to splurge on?

We don't have State Fairs here, so I'm just going to tell you what kind of food I like to splurge on.

All kinds.

Except for seafood because seafood is gross.

4. What are your thoughts on your kid(s) going to school in a few weeks?

We're right in the middle of our summer break and it's right about this time that I start wondering (read: obsessing) if I've provided enough entertainment or day trips for them while they've been home.

My mother has rented a cottage at Sherkston Shores again this summer and she's invited us to come and spend a few days with her and my nephew. YAY! That will definitely be the highlight of the children's summer. Mine too. When we were there last year I went to sleep each night so happy because everyone I loved most in the world was (were?) all under the same roof. Can't wait for that to happen again.

Once the last week of August rolls around we're all ready for a new chapter to begin. I'll miss them while they're at school but I'll be busy at home with two little ones to care for, and that will make the days pass quickly until they're home again.

5. Pool or Ocean?

Pool! No one has ever been bitten by a shark or had the flesh stripped off them by a piranha in a pool. No little fish swimming into your leg or creepy, slimy seaweed touching you. Nope. Just glorious, shark/piranha/fish/seaweed free water.

Just a side note... an old neighbour of mine used to have a sign on his pool deck that said "Please don't pee in our pool! We don't swim in your toilet!"

And it makes me laugh to this very day.

Have a great Friday!

Head on over to Mama M's blog My Little Life to join in on the fun!

WhirlyBall Rules

I did a double take on this one...



Gotta love people with a sense of humour!

8 Things

There's always something going on here but I don't always have time to tell you about it. So, here's a quick peek into what's been happening:

{1} I met a new friend last week while shopping at a new Walmart that opened recently, nowhere near my house. You know how I love Walmart and must check out each one.

I was leisurely shopping with Matthew when I crossed paths with a woman who also had a newborn. We started talking and before we knew it 45 minutes had passed! Conversation flowed so easily and we covered a multitude of topics. She is relatively new to the area so I invited her to check out our church. AND we exchanged contact information and we're now Facebook friends!

I tell you. Stand next to me longer than 2 minutes and I'll make you my friend. I don't care who you are.

Creepy, yes?

{2} My clothes dryer died last week.

A moment of silence, if you will.

The poor thing would squeak like crazy, probably crying for mercy in dryer-speak. Laundry for six is no easy feat, and it just kicked the bucket. We ended up buying a new one at Home Depot that day and it's been earning it's keep ever since.

Ian put our old one out on the curb and came in to get a screwdriver so he could remove the door, and by the time he went back outside someone had taken it. I didn't realize we had dryer ninjas hanging around our neighbourhood.

{3} This past weekend was so emotional for me. Between Sam turning 12, my favourite aunt returning home after visiting for six weeks, and packing up Jordan's outgrown clothing... I was a mess. Lots of tears.

Am I the only one who cries on their children's birthdays?? I hate how fast they grow!

{4} Matthew smiled at me! I think he's our earliest smiler. (Is smiler a word?)

{5} Mom invited us to join her on her beach vacation again this year. SO.EXCITED! That's in two weeks.

{6} This morning I took the girls and Matthew to Walmart to see if we could find Jules a new bathing suit. Two Walmarts later and she had a new one piece and a tankini. It's unbelievable how hard it is to find a modest bathing suit for a young girl. I know a bathing suit is what it is, but still... finding an appropriate one that covers a developing young girl was quite a feat. I'm trying to teach her about modest dressing and she is very receptive to it, making good choices when it comes to choosing her outfits. I'm so glad.

I even bought Matthew a pair of swim trunks for three dollars. Three dollars, people! I know better than to take him out in the sun, and I don't think they can go into a pool until they've had a certain vax, but I could be wrong. It's all about the style.

Jordan wanted a new "bayving soup" too, but she has a DRAWER FULL of them. So, no.

{7} Things are staring to settle down here which is nice. I no longer feel like I'm going to lose my mind every day. (now it's just every other!) I'm actually able to get some things done around the house which is good. It might happen at midnight, but I'm getting things done. Sleep is something I grab when I can, and it's broken up throughout a 24 hour period.

Hard, yes. But these are beautiful days.

{8} My newest addiction is Pinterest. I think I'm one of the last people to jump on that train but sweet mercy am I addicted.

And that's about it!

Over and out!

7 Weeks

Matthew is now 7 weeks old.

Well, 7 weeks and 4 days to be precise.

Isn't that crazy?

Last Monday was his six week check up as well as my six week post partum check up. Ian came with me so he could watch Matthew when it was my turn.

When we were in the elevator, Ian and I took bets on what Matthew weighed. He guessed between 11 and 12 lbs. I said no way was he over 10 lbs.

He now weighs 11 1/2 lbs!

WOW!

I hate it when Ian is right! ;-)

Dr L checked Matt all over and pronounced him perfect. He seems to really like him a lot, and will comment on how alert he is, or how much hair he has, etc. I love it. I'm very proud of my little boy. He goes back on August 29th for his next check up and first round of vaccinations.

My portion of the appointment went very well. All my innards have returned to normal, my blood pressure is back to normal and I've lost 25 lbs.

BOOYAH!

I'm seeing numbers on the scale I haven't seen in a very long time and it's really given me a boost to put a sincere effort into losing more. I've got a goal in my mind of what I'd like to lose before Matthew's next appointment and I think it's doable. Not killing myself by any means, but taking it one step at a time so that the results last.

Dr L made me laugh when he said that should I get pregnant again (GASP!) he didn't know who would be more stressed out...him or me. HA! I told him I had no plans for any more children and he said that birth control works best when it isn't left in the nightstand.

WHAAAT!?

A sweet church friend is developing her photography portfolio and a few months ago she asked if she could borrow Matthew so she could practice on him. Of course I said yes and we met up this past week.

Here are my two favourite photos:





I think there might be a small window of time when it's best to photograph a newborn and I think we might have missed it. He has several periods where he is wide awake and very alert, and if he's not in my arms he is very fussy. Unfortunately he fussed for my friend and made her job very difficult. I think she was relieved when we left!

He is so squishy and soft and cuddly. A perfect armful that loves to be held and sung to. I can't believe I was worried about how he would fit in with our family - he just does!

Our family is now complete.

Life is beautiful.