Baby Deacon

Isn't he CUTE!!!!

Pictures As Promised

I'm finally posting pictures from our trip. I've been trying for the past week to upload them to Facebook, but it doesn't seem to work. Don't ask me why, it just keeps crashing firefox. Oh well. But here they are for your viewing pleasure.

For those wanting to know all the latest news in my family.. here goes.

Malachi was checked out at his last midwife appointment. He weighs 12 lbs, 9 oz. Not too shabby. She said he looks great and everything seems to be ok with him healthwise. She kept making comments on what a happy baby he is. He would just look at her and grin. I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest Mom ever to have such a great baby. Last night he slept 11:00 pm until 7 am. Best night ever. I actually don't remember waking up at all, not even to go to the bathroom (insert Handel's Messiah here). Now my big decision is whether or not I can go with Nate on a two day cruise/shopping trip in September. Do I book it and plan to take the baby? Do I book the trip and babysitters for my kids and hope I don't miss them too much and that my baby who breastfeeds like a champ will no longer be so 'champish' upon my return? Part of me really wants to go and just have fun as there are quite a few of our couple friends going along. The other part thinks that my 6 month old will be hard to leave at home and my Mommy instincts kick in and say I shouldn't leave him. And I don't want to take him and have to be off feeding him all the time - he'll also be on solids by that point. I would love to go, I'm just thinking through the best way to make it work.

My sister Megan is scheduled for a c-section tomorrow. She had Riley via c-section as well because he was breeched, but she was hoping to have this one naturally. Apparently this one is breeched as well and she has issues with her joints popping out. They are particularly concerned with her hip, so she's off to get another c-section. I'm hoping to be able to help her out by taking Riley once in awhile. Jericho LOVES playing with his cousin a whole lot more now. Every day he says Riley's name at least once or twice and looks at me as if to say "Is he coming over?" They play fairly well together until one starts taking toys from the other, then it's all downhill. I half expect Jericho to not ask for him anymore, but he still does. I'm really looking forward to this baby. Kai will be less than 3 months older and I hope he gets to enjoy playing with this baby as much as Jericho loves his Riley.

Lately I've been working for Matthew doing some office work and things are getting a little behind. You can imagine how it would be a little difficult with an 18 month old. Kai is really easy, like I mentioned above.. but's its still hard to schedule work when I really want to play with them. So we've hired Janine for a few more hours so I can catch up a bit. That way Jericho is getting to play and he's happy, while I get to work and try and bring things up to speed. He really likes "Nnnnnnnn" and her truck.

Anyways, I should start getting ready to head to Amanda's house. Her daughter Tasia is the closest friend Jericho has that isn't a relative and we're walking over there when Jer is done his nap. I'll put Jericho in his stroller and Kai in the sling. It's quite a workout! Wish me luck!

Mama's Little Helper

Lately when the mail comes, Jericho wants to run downstairs and get it. So today, we let him go down by himself and this is what he brough back.





My next project is to teach him to make me a Spanish omelette with a side of bacon.

Meet My Mother-In-Law

Love you Marie!! More pictures from our trip with Grandma and Grandpa to come...

Signed, Sealed, Delivered.

Why do I feel like I could do ANYTHING right now? I just had my meeting with Frank and Andrew down at City Hall. I brought my mom and my babies. I felt that if I brought them along, maybe the gentlemen would have a better idea of why I have the concerns I do.

They told me that there are plans to develop the area around the park, plans which will include a round-a-bout and new sidewalks. This is good, but not exactly what I wanted. So I brought up two areas that I am most nervous about walking along. Number one is this tiny little patch where you basically have to walk into traffic to walk around this bridge going over the ravine. Number two is the dirt along the road a little further down. For most people this is the easiest area to manuever, but for me in a stroller it isn't always fun. They will send out a crew in the next little while to address both those areas for me.

We also talked about how the new development coming in north of the park will help to pay for sidewalks leading to the park, but at a later date. They said it won't be immediate, but they thanked me for my concern.

Sometimes those who make decisions in our cities and towns don't always know about particular issues with our streets. If you have a problem and you're concerned about your family, call or email the city. That's what they're there for.

For now, I am happy with the results.. I'll wait to see if that crew comes in and if the changes made will help. If not, I have Frank's number. I'm not going about this trying to have my demands made and have them made YESTERDAY, I'm trying to come across as a concerned mother who just wants a better walking scenario.

Home

We're finally back. It was great to see and be with Nate's parents, but I sure missed my house and my busy little life. Nate left for work this morning and I'm a little sad my Mother's Day has been quite lacking. My little men are too little to understand that today is any different.

I'm looking forward to breakfast's with burnt toast and snotty kisses and cards with scribbles. I can't wait for those noisy messy breakfasts in bed with cuddles and smiles of excitement over any little offering they may have. Usually Nate does up a card or sends me somewhere (I say usually, but really I've only had one Mother's Day so far), but we've had a really busy week, so it feels like any other Sunday. I still think it's funny that this is my second Mother's Day and I have two little ones already.

I was hoping to go to church this morning - there's always a treat for Moms and you get to dress up and feel special. But I didn't think ahead far enough and it was important Nate go to work today as he just had the week vacation. Michelle and my Mom already said they would have taken me, but there's this little law about silly carseats... but I know for next time.

Sometimes, like today.. I'm tired and like to remember the days I had no babies. How carefree and sleep-filled my life was. I read this from my sister-in-law Sam's blog and it really made me smile:

It's weird how you can at once be grateful for the many blessings in your life like my amazing daughter who lights up our lives with a flash of that incomparable smile, or the love of my partner who is such a great daddy or that my doggie is still alive and well despite his 17 years of life, and truly the list goes on ... and yet at the same time you can at times get so bogged down and find it hard to breathe even; sometimes because of the very blessings you love so much and wouldn't trade for the world? Does that make any sense?

Like how I miss sleep (I think I just heard angels sing as I typed the word) so much, or how I miss not having to be Cinderella all the time (minus of course that bit with the pumpkin, fabulous dress and shoes) although I did of course find Prince Charming... but then of course there should be a sequel called "Sleepy Cinderella gets Mastitis, loses her short term memory and cleans up after mini Princess & Prince Charming for the rest of her life and they live happily ever after until she dies at the age of 35 from sheer exhaustion" - a reality book for children.

Even though my boys exhaust me, I do love my life and I am better off for being their Mommy.

Tonight we're headed to my sister Megan's house to celebrate my Mommy. My mom does so much for us and I really love and appreciate her. She watches my boys for me at least once a week, buys me stuff just because, offers to take me out for lunch... she basically spoils me. Now I'm off to make her my very own scribbly card.

MASTERS!

We're currently in Minnesota. My wonderful husband was able to present his thesis yesterday. I was lucky enough to go. I knew what he had been working on, but to be able to see it all put together - brought tears to me eyes. He did so awesome. All three professors didn't have much to say afterwards except "well done". I had been so nervous for him, but he did great. Now we just have to wait for the diploma. It feels good to be done. Even though I didn't do any of it, I was just there for the whole thing. Being the spouse of someone as they go through any amount of schooling can be difficult. Nate was really good at making time for us, but there were Fridays or Saturdays where he would be gone at Starbucks for a number of hours to try and hash through thesis work. But he's lucky his full-time job is only 4 days a week.

Minnesota is interesting. It's so dry here I could drink for a week. The climate and landscape remind me of Eastern Canada, seeing as we're just south of Manitoba and Ontario. The people are mostly nice, talk a little different, and seem to stay in one place and not travel much. These two guys Nate and I saw in the hot tub were both from MN and were on holidays in St. Cloud. The waitress at Applebee's in Minneapolis had never been to St. Cloud, and it took us just over an hour to get there!

We've met up with Nate's parents and are just hanging out here for the next few days. Today was the Mall, tomorrow we might head to the zoo. Nate and I would like to head to the tepenyaki restaurant in town, but we'll see. After posting this blog, I'm going to look online for any other fun ideas.

The babies have been fairly good. The roughest night was our overnight stay in Seattle where Jericho took forever to fall asleep. Kai has been pretty good -slept for the entire Mall of America trip today. In fact, he sleeps alot. The last few nights he's slept from about 11 pm - 5 am. I love my sleepy babies.

The aspect of this trip I am sad about is the fact that I am currently missing my baby sister's 22nd birthday. Little Nina is all grown up! Have a really great birthday Nina - Jericho says hi!!