Favorite Photo Friday

6 Month Vaccines

Well six months is fast approaching and we went for the 6 months shots today! Surprisingly Makayla did really well; with a shot in each leg, the first she only made a little peep and the second she cried for about ten seconds, but nurse was able to distract her fairly quickly with a rattle.


Makayla is below the 10th percentile; but the nurse assured me not to worry, she said that everything is in proportion and maybe she is just going to be a "little girl". That statement doesn't really make me feel any better about it though to be honest. I am not worried about her size, more curious than anything, it makes one wonder why she is so small and not growing....

I have decided we might start rice cereal soon. Makayla has strictly been on breast milk, I have never supplemented her with formula. I have noticed in the past month or so that her intake is increasing (especially at night) as well as her interest in my food. She is very keen on grabbing a hold of my plate or reaching for my food, including my beverages - hot or cold! Now, these "beverages" have not included any with alcohol in well over a year...just a little taste might be nice!

Which Screwdriver?

While helping a friend assemble furniture, I asked her five-year-old son to bring me a screwdriver.

"Do you want a 'Daddy' screwdriver or a 'Mommy' screwdriver?" the little boy asked.

Confused but preoccupied, I absentmindedly said, "Bring me a 'Mommy' screwdriver."

The child came back and handed me a butter knife.

Introducing GRAFFITI

Since the day I got pregnant I knew that I didn't want to return to work. Not that I don't like my job, but I wanted to be a stay at home mom; it just isn't a reality in this day in age....at least for us. I have just started looking for childcare (I've only got six months left on maternity leave) and just looking into it puts me in a bad mood, I almost feel depressed when thinking about it to be honest. I know some people work different shifts in order to stay home with their children; dad works during the day and then when he gets home mom runs off to work. That is fine and dandy for some, but for us that probably wouldn't work. Clint doesn't have a set schedule and is sometimes not even in town, so that wouldn't make it very easy for me, never mind the fact that I would hardly even see him. I have been trying to come up with ideas on how I could stay home and still make money. There are so many schemes "Work From Home", "Make Money From Home", "Earn Money From Home" and the list goes on! I have thought about becoming an Independent Sales Consultant for various companies, but there are so many and none really interested me... candles, make up, cleaning supplies, jewellery, dishes, art work and again the list goes on....

I have come across something that I really love, something I would feel comfortable selling, I use myself and would recommend to my friends! I feel that with most of these other companies people usually feel pressured into buying stuff: number 1 - most are expensive, number 2 - you don't need or even want them but you feel obligated to buy, number 3 - that just isn't for me! Well I am proud to announce that I have joined Graffiti! Graffiti is creative lettering that appears hand painted when applied to walls, glass, mirror, tile, plastic, metal or wood. Graffiti is a quick, easy, and affordable way to add personality to any room...dramatic simplicity!

I have ordered my kit, I am just waiting to receive it and I will be on my way! Now of course I am not naive, I know this isn't going to be an income that will sustain our lives, but it will be better than nothing. Right now I am still planning on returning to work but this might be something that I do on the side. Lets all cross our fingers that this will take off and *maybe* I won't have to go back!

If you have any questions, or would like to order, book a home party, catalogue party or a craft party please Contact Me.

Light The Night - Walking For Dub in 2010

On August 14, 2008 one of my friends lost her three year old son "Dub" to leukemia; read his story. This is my third year participating in Light the Night. You can help support me by making a SECURE online donation using your credit card here which will take you to my personal sponsor page. Our walk will take place on September 25, 2010.


For more information on how YOU can participate in Light the Night, please visit these links for Canada and the USA!

Thank you very much for your support!

Favorite Photo Friday

Looking For Childcare.....

So the hunt is on. Makayla is almost six months and that means that I've only got six months left on maternity leave. This makes me very sad, not only is she growing too quickly for my liking, but this means that soon I have to leave her with a stranger all day, every day. It is killing me inside....I don't even know where to start. I can't decide if I should be looking for a dayhome or a daycare. There is positive and negative for each. Your thoughts? I've emailed a few dayhomes, and now just waiting to hear back from them with rates and more information. I really wish that we could afford for me to stay at home, maybe I need to start buying lottery tickets! Seriously...

Summer Is Almost Here!

Today was truly a beautiful day! I am not even sure what the temperature got to, if I had to guess I would say at least +20°C. Makayla wore her first shorts today (overall shorts) and she looked so cute!

Sleeping Babies

Cleo loves to snuggle up with Makayla!

Favorite Photo Friday

Swimming With The Girls!

Makayla has been super grumpy the last three days. She has had lots of gas, I think she is teething, and she must be approaching a growth spurt as she is waking up 3-4 times a night to eat (which she rarely ever does). I thought we would go swimming today as she usually loves it, well not today! Brooklyn was having fun and squealing the whole time and each time Makayla would start crying...We got a few good pics, but my monkey wasn't really into swimming today.

Coupon Shopping Trip

I think I have this figured out! I had everything very organized today, I had written out each item I was going to purchase, where I was price matching it, how much it would be, how many coupons I had and of what value (to make it easier for me to shop and also to make sure everything was put through the till properly). I asked the cashier if she wanted everything that I was going to PM first, she said no that she would do it at the end because it would have to be overridden by a manager. Then I asked her if she wanted the coupons with every item or at the end; she said at the end. She put everything through, bagged it and I had it neatly in my cart when the manager came up to do the override. She said that it had to be done with each item, so she made the cashier void the entire sale and I had to take everything out of the bags and basically start over. Not a big deal except that all my items were not in order anymore of how it was all listed; now that I am back home I noticed that she charged me twice for the Ivory soap.

1 Cat Litter
1 Vitality Toothbrush
1 Satin Care Shaving Gel
2 Mach 3 Disposable Razors
2 Gillette Deodorant
2 Gillette Body Wash
2 Old Spice Deodorant
2 Old Spice Body Wash
3 2pk Toothbrush
5 Toothpaste
2 Gillette Fusion
1 Venus Embrace
2 Bounty Paper Towel
1 6pk Ivory Soap
6 Cascade Gel
7 Cascade Action Packs
1 Flameless Luminary
1 Advance Seal...
1 20pk AA Batteries
1 60pk Breast Pads

Total After Price Matching $258.42
Coupons Savings of $213.56
Total OOP $57.78

Life Can Change In The Blink Of An Eye

It is amazing how one moment, one decision or one mistake can change everything in the blink of an eye. We are always rushing through life so quickly, we don't take time to stop and think that life is a gift and we should be thankful....and careful. Yesterday while hiking in BC, my little brother fell 40 feet head first into a rock crevasse. It took the paramedics four hours to get him out, then he was air lifted to a hospital. He is extremely lucky, very sore, has suffered a concussion and over 50 stitches in his face and head. The below is an email that his friend Josh, who was with him, wrote to his mother explaining what happened and the effect it has had on him.

Yesterday at approx. 4pm Parker, one of my best friends and brother in the Lord fell into a rock crevasse. He was right behind me. I turned around and he was gone. He fell through a moss covered hole falling about 40 feet in total and was unconscious. We were with 14 other students on top of some rock cliffs on the heights of Thetis Island about a 20 minute hike to the nearest help. The cliffs are interwoven with deep caves and crevasses that we were there to explore. We had only 1 cell phone and cell-service was in and out. We yelled "Parker" several times, no response. The next few hours seem surreal and probably always will. Parker survived through the mercies and grace of Jesus Christ with only lacerations to his face and head, a significant concussion and soreness. He was helicoptered out last night from Thetis to Vancouver Island and has already returned to school this afternoon. He has over 50 stitches on his face and head but is walking around on his own power and is in good spirits. That's Parker though, I hope you all get to meet him someday. He's one of the most positive, genuine and friendly people I've ever met.

As for me, I'm simply trying to process through it all, make sense of the jumbled chaos knot of things running constantly through my mind. Parker remembers bit and pieces, but I remember every second burned permanently into my skull. I was first on the scene inside the crevasse. I will never forget what I saw down there... his condition seemed hopeless, blood covering his head and face, looking up picturing his fall in my mind he should be dead or paralyzed. With help from above, our friends Calvin and Zinger joined us a few minutes later. We spent the next 3 hours in that hole praying with him til emergency rescue workers helped him up and out on a stretcher. The entire process took 3 hours due to the remoteness of our location combined with the crevasse factor. This particular crevasse was virtually impossible to get in to, and certainly impossible to get out. I'm sure you're wondering how I got down there and all I can say is I climbed, other than that... no idea. He was pulled out with pulleys and ropes and carabiners just after 7pm. They pulled me up a few minutes after. Physically I'm fine and in good health. Emotionally I'm the most messed up I've ever been. The staff have talked to all of us who were there and don't hold anything against us and are loving us (besides the reckless factor), the student body couldn't be more supportive and loving & God is here and has certainly been with us through it all.

I'm working through a whole heap of emotions. Last night and today has been a lot of replay in my head. I haven't seen Parker since he flew out on a chopper yesterday evening even though he's back at school now. I'm sure I will see him shortly and due to my emotional state I'll probably lose it but thats ok. I love him very much. I'll be talking with Lawrence Jensen (one of the elder staff) later today to talk through the experience and just try to get some of the "stuff" out. Lawrence is a great guy for that type of stuff and a humble man of God.

Please be praying for Parker that his face has a full recovery with minimal scaring. Pray that his life, being given to him in a new light, would be full in years and many good memories. Knowing Parker, he has already turned this new lease on life into sharing Christ with all the nurses and doctors at the hospital. I lived through a miracle yesterday, but I suppose every day, every second, every breath, is a miracle of God's faithfulness. And so the perspective starts to set in... Father teach me the value of "every day" and "every opportunity". Organize my thoughts by your Spirit that lives in me. May I discern what is of You and what is of Satan. Help me understand. Give me wisdom. Make it stick.
Josh

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Here are some pictures of my brother; before and after:

This picture was taken about two minutes before he fell

Waiting to be cleaned up and stitched up

Getting freezing in his head

The most stitches were needed here

All done and sleeping

The next afternoon

I talked to him tonight and he sounds completely normal; he said he has a bit of a headache, a sore arm and sore shoulder, other than that he is fine. This just reminds me that we really need to slow down. I love you brother and if anything good can come from this accident I hope that it is a life lesson and learning experience.

Favorite Photo Friday

Makayla loves to grab hold of the drawstring on my shirt, she is so proud of herself!

Spring....I Don't Think So...

Today Makayla, Brooklyn, Nicky and I went swimming; this was Brooklyn's first time! It was a great day, the girls splashed about while Nicky and I visited. We finished the day off with Nicky making lasagna and garlic bread and we watched"Did You Hear About The Morgans?" it kinda sucks if you are wondering...

Me and Makayla

Brooklyn hanging out

Nicky with the girls

Notice the bulge in Makayla's pants? I forgot to put an extra diaper in our swimming bag, so I used a receiving blanket instead!

When we left the house this afternoon it was beautiful, me with no jacket, Makayla with no socks and no extra blankets wrapped around her car seat; This is what we came home to....am I surprised? No, this is Alberta!

Pregnancy Q & A

Q: What is the easiest way to figure out exactly when I got pregnant?
A: Have sex once a year.

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: How will I know if my vomiting is morning sickness or the flu?
A: If it's the flu, you'll get better.

Q: My brother tells me that since my husband has a big nose, and genes for big noses are dominant, my baby will have a big nose as well. Is this true?
A: The odds are greater that your brother will have a fat lip.

Q: Since I became pregnant, my breasts, rear end, and even my feet have grown. Is there anything that gets smaller during pregnancy?
A: Yes, your bladder.

Q: What is a chastity belt?
A: A labor-saving device.

Q: What is the most common pregnancy craving?
A: For men to be the ones who get pregnant.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: The more pregnant I get, the more often strangers smile at me. Why?
A: 'Cause you're fatter than they are.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q: Under what circumstances can sex at the end of pregnancy bring on labor?
A: When the sex is between your husband and another woman.

Q: What's the difference between a nine-month pregnant woman and a Playboy centerfold?
A: Nothing, if the pregnant woman's husband knows what's good for him.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: What does it mean when the baby's head is crowning?
A: It means you feel as thought not only a crown but the entire throne is trying to make its way out of you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Does labor cause hemorrhoids?
A: Labor causes anything you want to blame it for.

Q: Under what circumstances should a baby not be circumcised?
A: When it's a girl, for starters.

Q: Where is the best place to store breast milk?
A: In your breasts.

Q: Is there a safe alternative to breast pumps?
A: Yes, baby lips.

Q: What does it mean when a baby is born with teeth?
A: It means that the baby's mother may want to rethink her plans to nurse.

Q: How does one sanitize nipples?
A: Bathe daily and wear a clean bra. It beats boiling them in a saucepan.

Q: What are the terrible twos?
A: Your breasts after baby stops nursing cold turkey.

Q: What is the best time to wean the baby from nursing?
A: When you see teeth marks.

Q: Can a mother get pregnant while nursing?
A: Yes, but it's much easier if she removes the baby from her breast and puts him to sleep first.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

5 Months Today!

Happy 5 Month Birthday Makayla! It really is amazing how quickly this time is passing by. I was just thinking back to pregnancy and how it seemed to take forever, and now it is just the opposite! I love watching my baby grow. She can now sit up unassisted for a few seconds, she can nearly roll over, holds onto her own toys and "talks" up a storm!

Makayla's Birth Story - Viewer Discretion Is Advised

I have been asked to share Makayla's birth story, so here it is!

First Easter = One Spoiled Little Girl

I remember as a child getting so worked up over holidays that the night before I could hardly even sleep; as I have gotten older that excitement has honestly faded. Makayla has really brought back that spark in me! As we approach each holiday I get a little bit more excited because it is her first and I can't wait until she is the one not able to sleep at night. As for her first Easter, yes she was too young to dye Easter eggs or go on an egg hunt, but it was a special one. Growing up our family wasn't huge on Easter gifts, just some chocolate and it stopped there. Don't get me wrong I loved it and never thought anything of it, but oh my was Makayla ever spoiled! Between Grandparents and Auntie, Makayla took home quite the haul! We are so blessed and thankful for having such a wonderful and generous family!

First Time Buying Groceries With Coupons!

Some of the items you can't see because they are hiding behind the bread!

1 Soft Taco Kit
3 Boxes of Pasta
2 Books
2L Milk
Yogurt
4 Boxes Granola Bars
3 Bottles of Salad Dressing
Hotdog Buns (behind bread)
2 Loaves of Bread
2 Frozen Pizzas (behind bread)
Strawberries
Coffee Cream
2 Spinach
4 Muffin Shakers
Fuses (for the oven)
Strawberry Jam

Total: $123.87
Minus Coupons Savings of $38.26
Minus $25 Gift Card
Total OOP $60.61

The Baby Bump

Ok, I will admit it - I miss the baby bump! While I was pregnant various mothers told me that I would, I always brushed it off and thought whatever. Clint asked me the other night if I was ready to do it all again. I looked at him like he was completely crazy; but a tiny part of my was screaming "YES"!