tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57273835690352814462024-02-20T08:36:19.224-08:00Just Loving LiamAmandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-68189327741409845762013-06-27T08:28:00.002-07:002013-06-27T08:28:52.976-07:00Dear Liam<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">This week we celebrated your graduation from The Children's Garden Nursery School. Your first school graduation of many in the years to come. But not your first "graduation".... you have already graduated from rolling, to crawling, to toddling, to walking, to running at full speed. From watching the world, to participating in it with eyes wide open. From babbling, to talking in full sentences (non stop I might add! lol). From relying on me for all of your nutrition, to making up your own mind about what you do and do NOT want to eat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>As you graduated</em> <em>from</em><em> Preschool</em></span> </div>
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<em><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Last September. You have already grown so much!</span></em></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Lately I have been more of a sap than usual. Every night before I climb into bed myself, I tiptoe into your room to make sure that you are all tucked in and not sleeping half on and half off the bed (which is often the case). I find myself taking my time lately. Watching how peaceful you are as you dream, and wiping that little piece of hair off your forehead that I love so much. When we first moved you into your "big boy bed," you seemed so tiny. Now you seem to fill up the space. When did that happen? I wish I could bottle up moments in time so that I could always remember things exactly as they are. Remember you exactly as you are right now.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>You had that little piece of hair even then!</em></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You are just....awesome!! And amazing!!! I love the way that you attack the world each day. Like there are SO many things to see and do that you have to get started right away. There is nothing better than your smile and laugh each morning to get me up and going too. You are so much fun to be around. People comment on this all the time. You just have this infectious way about you...people want to make you laugh and smile because it makes them laugh and smile too. You love your morning cartoons, and Eggos with fruit on them. You love to be outside. You could probably stay out there 24/7 if we let you, and be quite content.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsUNcZWaNRPU_IjOcGVeOvbnn2wIkGVluGSoTIJNYQ-Rq-ix_JduN0sVDP_-OPonlOW7Fn-LR3jld7L86-oAxg8aacO27ul2r91BXMB3RNCuf2qAdo-Rr5lTFk9oXFXLHDxHMqJgSiAg/s1600/GradEdit7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjsUNcZWaNRPU_IjOcGVeOvbnn2wIkGVluGSoTIJNYQ-Rq-ix_JduN0sVDP_-OPonlOW7Fn-LR3jld7L86-oAxg8aacO27ul2r91BXMB3RNCuf2qAdo-Rr5lTFk9oXFXLHDxHMqJgSiAg/s320/GradEdit7.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">You are finally able to reach the peddles on your bicycle, so you love to go for bike rides around our neighborhood. You are SO fast though! I can't imagine how you would be without your training wheels. I probably wouldn't be able to keep up any longer! Actually, you are pretty much fast at everything you do. It is very rare to find you walking somewhere. More often than not you are running. And falling. And banging into things. You pretty much always have a few bruises to show for your troubles. Currently you have about 4 on your legs, a scraped knee, and a bruise on your cheek from falling at preschool that does not want to fade away. But one of the things I love about you is that you always get right back up. The first time you rode your bike down our laneway, you wiped out at the end. You cried a little, and then got back on and rode around the block. You made me so proud.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I know every parent probably says this at one time or another, but you truly are just SO smart buddy! The way that you put things together always amazes and delights me. You make connections between things, and you are able to describe the world in words that just seem far too big for your little body. You can count upwards to twenty now (with a little help here and there), you know your ABC's, you can spell three words with confidence: Liam, Mom & Dad and you are always asking me how to spell other names (Chloe, Addy, Nana, etc.), and you are SO good at problem solving (doing puzzles, putting Lego together, building things). Part of me wants to keep you home with me next year, or just send you to another year at preschool, but in my heart I know that you are ready for bigger things. So we have made the decision to send you to Junior Kindergarten. Eek! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Oh how my heart is going to take a hit that first day that I have to leave you in the big, big school and say "have fun!" Just driving by your new school already makes me nervous. lol. But as in all things like this, I will probably just end up taking my lead from you little dude. You seem to just jump right into new things. With a smile and a hug, you are usually on your way. Preschool, swimming lessons....you just love new adventures :) I think you will thrive at your new school. You will also be learning a new language as your school is a French Immersion school. I am hoping you take to this as you take to other things. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">What else about you right this moment Liam? You still have a few "lovies" that you take to bed with you, or hold onto when you are not feeling well. Your monster blanket that I made for you years ago. Your stuffed sea turtle named Squirt (that I often call "Squirty" just to make you laugh and hear say "NO Mom...it's Squirt!!"). Your little bunny that came in the box we took home from the hospital after saying good bye to Oliver. You named him "Baby Brother Oliver Bunny" and there is no short form. You still sleep with your moon light on, and music playing. Water beside your bed is mandatory (we hear about it if we forget! lol). You love fruit and vegetable, but hate pretty well all forms of meat (except pepperoni on pizza, chicken fingers and tacos. All the "<em>nutritious</em>" forms of course...). You love frozen yogurt before bed. You love to read books, and play with your cars. You love going to the park and chasing after the big kids. Lately you have loved taking showers rather than baths (oh my how you are growing up!) and you are obsessed with flossing your teeth. You are funny! And you know it. You are now in the "why" faze and you are full of questions about the world around you. Never stop asking questions ok :) You are also in the "I can do it by myself faze" so I am trying to remember to hold myself back and let you learn some things for yourself. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Like I said before, you are just AWESOME Liam!! I am so, so, SO proud of you and always will be. You have taught me so much already, and I can't wait to see what new things you come up with in the future. I am so blessed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Love Mommy</span><br />
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-42938067884927735602013-03-16T21:18:00.001-07:002013-03-16T21:18:23.652-07:00Hills and Valleys<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have heard it said that the grief journey is like a series of hills and valleys. I am learning this to be true. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After Oliver passed away, and the dust settled, I had about a week or two where I thought..."ok, I can do this. My heart is broken, and I will never be the same, but you know what? I am going to be ok." I had moments during this time where I wondered how the heck I was coping so well. Did this mean I loved my son any less? Why wasn't I curled up in a ball in my room, sobbing? How was I functioning like a normal human being still? Well my friends, this was purely just me on top of a hill. Looking clearly at the new landscape in front of me. Seeing the sadness behind me, and seeing, away in the distance, what was before me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And what proceeds the hills? Why, the valleys of course! And how fun are the valleys? (Insert extreme sarcasm here!). In the two, approaching three, months that Ollie has been gone, I think I have been on a rollercoaster ride of ups and downs. My journeys to the tops of these so-called "hills" do not last very long, but they do afford me a quick jolt of faith and a peak at the journey still left to travel, before I am booted back down again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The last two weeks? Well the last two weeks I have been at the very bottom of the deepest darkest part of a valley. Under the dirt. With a boulder on top for good measure. Okay, so maybe I am being just a tad dramatic. To put it, not so very gracefully, the last two weeks have SUCKED! A close friend ended up having her son early, and due to circumstances beyond anyones control, I ended up at her house, minding her daughter while she slept. I had not slept well (read: at all) the night before, so I was beat before I even showed up at her house that night. And in their haste, my dear friend and her hubby forgot to put away the boxes of baby boy clothes they had been organizing. So I sat there, for hours, in a room of sweet baby boy clothes, knowing that my friend was about to meet her sweet son, and my son would forever and always, still be gone. I returned home the next morning at 3:30am, just mentally and physically exhausted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That same week, I went in to work the night shift with a coworker I hadn't seen in awhile. I was excited to be working with her again, and for the opportunity to just "catch up." Towards the end of the shift she asked me if I would want to know straight up if someone at work became pregnant, or if I would prefer to sort of stay in the dark. Umm...well...didn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who she was talking about. Turns out she is pregnant..with TWINS!! She is about to turn 42, and she and her husband have been trying to conceive for quite awhile...so I am thrilled for her...but also oh so jealous. I believe I managed to put on a smile for her, and eeked out some congratulations, but boy was my heart already wrung dry from my friends sons birth a few days prior.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add in a sick little boy who can't sleep, trouble finding quality childcare while my friend (and daycare provider) is suddenly off for the month of April weeks earlier than expected, some family drama and a flat tire on a brand new van...and you can understand why I am stuck in this darn valley.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now don't get me wrong. Some days I travel up and down this grief path multiple times. I find myself feeling so sorry for myself for a few hours, then shake myself off, give myself a pep talk and a stern "one foot in front of the other" speech, and continue on. But it is hard. The hardest actually. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we are celebrating Olivers memorial. I say celebrating because that is sort of what it feels like to me. A celebration of a life that never truly got to start, but that was so cherished anyways. Ollie was so anticipated by myself and my family. He was, is, and will always be a member of our clan, and I feel like it is right to send him off with all of the love and best wishes that we can muster up for him. I am wondering how I am going to get through the day. But I am guessing it will be much the same as the other 84 days since he passed. A lot of breathing in and out. And for now, if that's the best that I can do, then I give myself permission. We are often toughest on ourselves aren't we? I have decided to give myself a break for a little while. I turn 30 on the 19th, and Olivers due date is the next day, and I don't know what to expect. How I will feel, or how I will cope. Just one foot in front of the other right?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Just because I love his sweet face! No post is complete without it :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Note: I just wanted to add that I am extremely happy for my friends and their sweet little ones that have arrived/are on the way. Sometimes I think I come across as the wicked witch of the west in my "oh no..not another baby!" way of speaking. But the truth is, I LOVE babies!! I want more babies myself. I am just pretty fragile still. And seeing/hearing about babies right now just has this crummy side effect of reminding me that my son is dead. No real good way to sugar coat it sometimes. Seeing facebook feeds of my best friends with their beautiful families, and their "big sister/big brother" t-shirts first time seeing their sibling in the hospital pictures...well those just do me in still. I push myself to be present though. Because that is who I am. And one day I just know that I will see a baby and the first emotion that will spring forth will be pure joy. One day.)</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-9484732966273043942013-02-13T17:58:00.001-08:002013-02-13T17:58:59.115-08:00Feeling Exhausted!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am just tired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tired, tired, tired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel like I am carrying this heavy weight around with me all of the time, and I can't seem to find a way to put it down. I wake up, trudge through my busy days...getting Liam ready for school or daycare, getting us dressed for the frigid weather outside, getting Liam into the van, getting Liam dropped off, work, suppers to prepare (or help clean up after...I don't cook too often. It's better that way!), bathtime, stories to read, clothes to put out for the next day, toys to pick up, dishes to finish. All very normal things. Things I enjoy doing! But lately by the time I am finally able to just "sit" at the end of the day...I am just beat. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emotionally, physically and mentally just exhausted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Is it horrible to admit that I am just tired about thinking of my dead son? I am tired of even having a dead son. I am tired of seeing his perfect face every single time I close my eyes, and knowing that will never see it again in this lifetime. I am tired of feeling so cheated and so defeated. I am tired of seeing reminders of pregnancy everywhere, and thinking "that should be me still!" I am tired of questioning everything I thought I knew about life. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am tired of pretending like I am back to "normal" when I am at work. I am tired of acting "normal" but feeling so completely not normal. I am tired of wondering whether or not today is the day I finally lose it. How can I be coping this well? Should I still be at home, unable to leave my bed like other babyloss mothers I have heard from? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am tired of my heart breaking on a daily basis every single time I read about another mother who has lost her baby. I feel like I <em>need</em> to be a part of this community. This group of woman who have gone down the road I am on, and who have survived (are surviving?). But I pay a price for it. I feel this immense sadness for each and every person touched by the death of their child, and often go to bed with the names of dead babies in my head. Because each of them had weight in this world and their names deserve remembrance.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am tired of talking about death. All of the time. Like it is such a normal thing to talk about. I sometimes find myself discussing things like urns and autopsy's like they are a normal part of conversation, until I catch this glimmer of horror in the face of whomever I am talking to, and I remember that they are still on the other side.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am tired of trying to gauge my emotions. Am I happy right now? Sad? Angry? What the hell am I feeling? Am I ready to start trying to conceive another child? If not now, when? Will I ever be truly ready again? What if this happens again? What if we have a girl next time and Liam is the only boy on Bills side of the family, but he's not really the only boy because of Oliver.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gah! I am just....tired. And cranky tonight apparently. Maybe I will diverge into another happier topic... </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9Olj3fZLIlu8_kB2Km1c_PlJyWSCNAn08V2uyVy_Da-9hwM9E64evYJ3oMHO4im9S-vp9ajSoTfYJF1C7tSB6n_nW0BboajfuxBFdsRKtfHxc7aVTTMAUmy-RQ9_MXHX4tdc1qXpwn4/s1600/12-28-2012+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw9Olj3fZLIlu8_kB2Km1c_PlJyWSCNAn08V2uyVy_Da-9hwM9E64evYJ3oMHO4im9S-vp9ajSoTfYJF1C7tSB6n_nW0BboajfuxBFdsRKtfHxc7aVTTMAUmy-RQ9_MXHX4tdc1qXpwn4/s320/12-28-2012+%25283%2529.JPG" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Valentines Day is tomorrow, and I could care less. Weird. I am more excited that it is pajama day at Liams preschool and I have wrangled my work schedule so that I can at least drop him off. I so badly want to have the picture of him running off in his monster pjs and slippers, to keep me company throughout my day tomorrow. How I adore this boy! I watched him in the tub tonight, all long limbs and big smiles, and wondered when it was that I blinked and he grew into a "boy" and not a "baby." He is such a constant source of amazement and wonder for me. And probably the only true reason that I am coping as well as I am right now. His laughter and zest for life are so contagious, I just get swept up. And I am totally content to live in his world for awhile. On the floor, happily playing with trains and cars, and wondering when it is time for a peanut butter sandwich. How I wish Ollie could join us! He would probably adore his big brother as much as I do. </span></div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-15283499187965397992013-02-10T18:13:00.001-08:002015-04-29T07:21:12.522-07:00Thinking about God...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kind of a deep post tonight...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My relationship with God has never been easy and straight forward. It has always been a twisting path of hills and valleys, bumps and roadblocks. But it is a path that I walk gladly, knowing that I can never truly lose my way. I am learning that the easy paths are not always the best. We learn and grow so much from all of the detours along the way. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I think my personality tends to lean more towards the questioning of things. I like to understand how things are the way they are before I make any decisions. For example, this weekend we stopped in to our car dealership in plans of trading in our existing van for a new model. All was going well until the very end. I suddenly felt like I just didn't have ALL the facts to make such a huge decision. The walls started to close in and I just had to get out of there. Basically, I panicked. I needed to see the numbers and the facts on a page and just mull it over. I pulled my shit together though and we were able to complete our purchase (while I waited in the van with Liam so as not to freak out again!). Kind of a weird example. But there you have it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When it comes to God, I will be the first to admit that I have always had trouble just <i>believing</i>. I believe that Jesus existed. I believe in the fundamental goodness that is innate in all of us. But God. One power. Ruling over everything. I have always had trouble feeling comfortable and at home in that place. As much as I wish I could just get there, it seems to be an ongoing journey for me. I think God is probably okay with that. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lately I seem to be feeling a shift in my relationship with God. Brought on, I am sure, by my son's passing. Where do you turn to when it seems like the whole world is just suddenly out of focus? Who do you yell at and curse when there is no one or nothing to blame for something so unimaginable happening to you? Who do you bring your innermost fears and doubts and questions to when you are ashamed to even say them out loud? For me it has been God.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been trying to go to church more these last few weeks. Trying to find a parish that <i>fits</i> me (and hopefully Liam). I attended mass at Our Lady of Sorrows this morning with a friend and colleague. It was pretty well filled to the rafters with people which I loved. Just walking in the doors you could feel this sense of joy and community as everyone came together to worship. And I found it so fitting that at the front of the church was this beautiful stained glass window depicting Mary. Most often you see Jesus on the cross front and center in Catholic churches (at least the ones that I have been to). Jesus and the cross were certainly there today, but it was Mary that watched over us. During my long night of labor with Oliver, it was Mary that I prayed to and seemed to sense around me. During the next hard days, it was Mary that I wept to. I think this church may be a fit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am praying that this new found devotion to my faith will continue on. Sometimes I "pick up" something only to put it away again for awhile. Cross-stich, sewing, painting, learning Italian, learning French, knitting, crocheting. I am hoping that doesn't happen this time. I feel like I just need Him right now. To help me find my way out of the dark places I often find myself in. To help me find a way to be the new version of myself (I know I can never just go back to the person I was before). To lead me down the path that I should be on, and to ease my burden from time to time. I am praying that there is some greater purpose to all of this happening. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was thinking today about how things in life are preordained by God. That there was never going to be a version of my story in which Oliver lived and we got to spend this lifetime with him. My brain goes over and over what could have been done differently...could we have saved him somehow?...so this thought today brought with it a little peace. <b>There was never a tomorrow that had Oliver alive and well in it</b>. That was not his path. I can't say that I will ever stop imagining this pretend tomorrow, but it helps to know that God has a plan for all of us. For some reason that only He knows, this it what my story looks like. I am hoping he is a little kinder to me in the next few chapters, but if not, then that is already written as well and I know He will be there with me. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So now, I just pray for the future. I pray that God will watch over all of those I love here on Earth and that he will be with us all in the times that we most need Him (and especially in those times that we don't think that we do). I pray that He will grant me peace and help me on this journey. I pray that he will someday bless Bill and I again with another living child. I pray that Oliver's memory will never, ever fade and that I can someday remember him with only a smile. I pray that I can find a way to incorporate Oliver into our daily lives so that Liam will grow up knowing and loving his brother. And I pray, most of all, that Ollie is safe in Heaven and is just waiting for us all to get there.</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-72684799962022022932013-01-18T20:47:00.000-08:002013-01-18T20:47:03.298-08:00On Life<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Life is such a beautiful mess isn't it? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel this so much more poignantly since the loss of our sweet boy Oliver. Since his passing, I seem to look at the world in such a completely different way.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joy is magnified by a thousand. I bathe in the sound of Liam laughing. I breathe in the fresh, crisp winter air and just feel it in my lungs. I relish in all of the little things that make up my day...the smell of clean sheets, the way the windows shine after they are washed, how yummy iced cappuccinos truly are.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sorrow is magnified by a thousand. I cried when I received my Parenting magazine in the mail yesterday and realized I no longer needed to flip right to the "pregnant" advice, or peruse the "newborn" advice section. I ache when I think of my good, good friends holding their new littles, and how empty my arms will feel. I pine for the day when I can see my baby again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">I took this as I was leaving for the hospital on the day before Ollie's birth. I can still feel how happy I was that I was going to spend the morning listening to my baby's heartbeat.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joy, sorrow, happiness, pain, enlightenment, confusion....they combine in this wonderful tapestry of the human condition. These days it is hard to pinpoint what exactly I am feeling at any given moment. When people ask<em> that</em> question....the question that all the grief stricken get many, many times a day..."How are you doing?"...the most honest answer I have come up with is that is depends on the second in which you ask me. I may be sobbing and sobbing as I feel the loss of all the "what ifs/what woulds" (What color would Oliver's eyes have been? What would his voice have sounded like? What would it have felt like to see Oliver and Liam playing together? What would it have felt like to snuggle with both my boys on cold winter mornings? What if this is all just a bad dream? The list goes on and on and on), but as I sob, I am also smiling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I smile because Oliver was <em>here</em>. He had weight in this world. I <em>felt</em> him. I <em>knew</em> him. I smile because he blessed us and I believe his life will continue to be a blessing. They say the Lord works in mysterious ways. Well, I have faith that he will find a way to work miracles through the life and death of my son. I may never know what these miracles were, but that is okay. I am planning to help God out on a few of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This post is a little bit of a rambling of my confused mind. But I guess the point is that YES, life sucks sometimes. Life is cruel, and unrelenting, and often makes us question what the freakin' point of it all is. But life is also SO, so beautiful, and purposeful, and filled with grace. It is NOT fair that I lost my son before he even had a chance to live, it is NOT fair that Liam will never get to meet his brother, it is NOT fair that my heart is broken, it is NOT fair that God chose Oliver to join him so soon.....but I am choosing, each minute of each day (sometimes not succeeding, but boy am I working on it!), to see the joy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am hoping that Oliver, in Heaven you are smiling too right now and that you can<em> feel</em> my love radiating up to you. XOXO Baby Boy!</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-62076652768620700622013-01-13T18:22:00.003-08:002013-01-13T18:22:54.173-08:00A Life in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Dear Oliver,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Baby boy, you were SO anticipated and wanted and loved!! I wanted to show you this...</span> </div>
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<span style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>"They say that time in heaven is compared to 'the blink of an eye' for us on this earth. Sometimes it helps me to think of my child running ahead of me through a beautiful field of wildflowers and butterflies; so happy and completely caught up in what {he} is doing that when {he} looks behind {him}, I'll already be there."</em></span><br />
<span style="color: #4b4b4b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em> ~Author Unknown</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Oh, to hold you again would be Heaven!</span></div>
Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-15848290177145403212013-01-11T20:05:00.000-08:002013-01-11T20:05:15.790-08:00On Being Grateful<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today I am feeling like I am angry at the whole universe. Like I want to scream and curse and throw things. So in honor of this, I am going to write about the things that I was grateful for today (confused? Welcome to my world right now! Where emotions makes no sense, and the road always leads somewhere unexpected.)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: Bill waking up with Liam (once again) so that I could have time to lie in bed for a little longer. It takes me awhile to adjust to my new reality every morning now, so time alone is so welcome.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: Dropping Liam off for a playdate with his best friend Adeline. He has been wanting to see her lately...he asked if she was driving with us to preschool both days this week...so I was so happy that he finally got some good play time in.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: A friend that loves my son like her own, and even though it is hard for me to be around her right now (her son Henry is due one month after Oliver was due...we had had so much fun being pregnant at the same time), she gets it, and is still there for whatever I need.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: The crummy weather today (freezing rain). It allowed my little family to hunker down all afternoon and to just enjoy one another (and some extra nap time!).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: A job to do that requires manual labor. We had just bought paint to freshen up Oliver's room prior to his death, so we have decided to just go ahead and paint the room anyways. It feels nice to just "do" something productive with all of these thoughts running through my head.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: Time off from work! Oh how I would not be able to function there right now.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: Listening to my husband and my son playing together. Liam was laughing so hard he must have had tears in his eyes! I love hearing them together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: My son Liam and my husband Bill. They are the best things in my life, and the reason that I am still moving forward right now. It is so tempting to stay in bed all day and just cry, but my Liam is like a force of nature. He sweeps me up in his path and makes me smile.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: The small amount of time that I had with Oliver. I wouldn't change those months/weeks/hours for the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: My extended family. I can feel how much everyone cares for me, and how much they are all praying for my small family, and though I don't have sufficient words to express myself, I am so grateful to each and every one of them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;"><em>I am grateful for</em>: My faith. I know that my God can take whatever I throw at him, and boy have I been testing that this month. I know that Oliver is safe in His arms and that brings me peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, although my heart is broken, there are SO many things that I am thankful for! I am going to keep reminding myself about these things over and over again.</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-83030732664849076252013-01-07T18:33:00.000-08:002013-01-11T19:29:03.883-08:00Dear Oliver,<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been two weeks and one day since we said hello and goodbye to you. Two weeks since our worlds were rocked. Two weeks. And we will never, ever be the same.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You arrived with the snow, just like your big brother Liam did. It seems as though snow = babies for me. Two nights before your birth there was a crazy snow storm in Petawawa. I remember leaving work around 8:30pm, driving halfway home and having all of the street lights suddenly turn off. The world seemed so quiet and still. Daddy and I lit candles and just snuggled together, safe inside our little house. Unbenownst to us, a candle that was lit beneath our bathroom mirror was slowly heating up the glass above, creating a large crack throughout. Looking back now, this crack was like an omen of things to come. No more <em>perfect</em> after this night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The morning of Saturday, December 22nd was beautiful. The storm had passed and the air was SO clear and clean. The sun shone so bright, making the snow sparkle like diamonds. I spent a stressful morning dealing with Walmart on the phone. I had ordered photo mugs for your Great Grams and Gramps over a week prior (they were supposed to be 1hr photo mugs) and they had lost not one, but both orders at separate times. Christmas was approaching, we were due to depart for Ottawa the next day, and I was determined to get this gift in time. After finally sorting it all out, I said a cheerful goodbye to your Daddy and Liam as I left for the hospital. Your Daddy called out not to take too long as we had lots of packing to do, and I replied that I would take as long as was needed to ensure you were safe (plus I could have spent every day listening to your heartbeat on the monitors at the hospital if they would have let me). Saturdays visit to the hospital was purely supposed to be a double checkup kind of visit. You were absolutely fine on Tuesday, but our doctor wanted to just make sure after a few days had gone by, that things were still looking ok.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I entered the hospital room SO prepared, and yet so vastly unprepared for what was to follow. I had brought my slippers as I had forgotten socks on Tuesdays visit and had cold feet all day (I hate socks...you should know this about your mom!). I had a cold can of ginger ale in my purse just in case you were sluggish again...it would get you moving. I had a magazine to read just in case it took awhile. The nurse put the cold gel on my stomach, and began looking for your heartbeat. I joked with her about how everyone had had trouble nailing down your heartbeat since the very beginning. You always seemed to dodge the monitors. But this time she was having no luck at all. She decided to get the Doppler type of monitor instead. While she was away I pushed at my belly, willing you to roll over or move so we could hear you (no worry yet). She had no luck with the Doppler either so went away to get someone else to try (worry started creeping in). The doctor on duty came in with a small ultrasound machine (more worry!). The moment I saw the screen I knew. You see, I knew you little man. I knew what kind of movements you should have been making, and I knew exactly where your heart was and that it was not beating. I knew. No one said a word. Finally I said, "he's gone isn't he?" and the doctor confirmed that yes, you were gone. How does one react in a room full of strangers when their world suddenly stops? I asked for privacy to call your dad, and your Nana and Poppa. Your Daddy had to be so strong as he was alone with your brother Liam. I am sure he wanted to just break down, but instead he helped Liam paint a picture to help make Mommy strong when she got home. Nana and Poppa, and Grandma and Grandpa arrived from Trenton in record time. While we waited for them we packed on autopilot, and sat down to explain things to Liam. We told him that you had died, and were now safe in heaven with all of the angels. And we told him that we needed to go and say goodbye to you that night, so Grandma and Poppa would stay with him. He seemed to take it all in, and made a comment about how his baby brother had fallen down. Then he continued chatting about Santa Claus. Oh to be in the mind of a three year old!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We returned to the hospital around 5:30pm to start the induction process. Not only were you gone, but I was going to have to deliver you as well. The doctor did one last ultrasound before starting the process to ensure that your heart was indeed no longer beating. I knew it was impossible, but I still prayed for a miracle. There was none to be had at that moment. Your Daddy and your Nana stayed with me as the drugs began their job. The pain started fairly quickly (the same as when I delivered your brother), and continued through the night. I tried a few pain relief drugs, some worked while others did not, but it is hard to tell if the physical pain or the emotional pain was worse. I had just asked for an epidural (finally!) on the morning of the 23rd, and that is when you made your entrance. 9:18am. It was such a bittersweet moment. My body cried out with relief as you were born...the end of the physical agony..but my heart. Oh how my heart cried. I saw the tears pouring down your Daddy's face, but all I wanted was to hold you. I don't even remember my tears at all. I remember looking at you and thinking how truly handsome you were. At only 27 weeks and 4 days, I was apprehensive about the way that you would look when you arrived. I had no need! Your nose reminded me so much of Liam's when he was first born. You had the Vieau toes. You had wavy dark hair like your Aunt Mel's. You had ten perfect fingers and ten perfect toes. You were perfect! I smelled you in (just like I did when your brother was first born). I kissed your features one by one. I tried as best as I could to memorize everything about you. I don't know if it was one of the drugs finally kicking in (I suspect it was), or a combination of the drugs and just pure exhaustion, but I just couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. So I nestled you in my arms and closed my eyes. It was paradise just to feel you there with me. Your precious weight, all 2 pounds and 11 ounces of you, safe in my arms. If only time could stand still.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But time stands still for no one. Eventually it was time to leave you. Our midwife Megan promised that she would stay with you as we left, and that she would take you to where you needed to be. She hugged me and cried with me. I can say without a doubt that leaving you behind in that hospital room was the hardest thing that I have ever had to do in my life. I kept touching your face and had no idea how to tear myself away. Babies are supposed to leave the hospital with their families. This was all wrong! I barely remember the walk to the car or the car ride home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I could recount the next few days, the whirlwind that was Christmas. The calling of the funeral home as we were packing to leave on Christmas Eve (seriously..how does one choose a funeral home? I picked the oldest/nicest looking house). The brave front that your Daddy and I put on as we squeezed as much magic as we could from our broken hearts so that your big brother could have a wonderful Christmas. The way the days blurred into each other as we travelled between families homes. How thankful we were to have our families around us, sheltering Liam and letting us have the moments we needed to grieve.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But what I really want to do is just tell you, sweet Oliver, how much your life has meant to us. How blessed I feel to have known you for the 27 shorts weeks that I did. From the first second that I found out I was pregnant with you, I felt so excited. Like I had this secret inside that no one else but me could feel. As sad as I am that I will never get to see the boy or the man that you would have become, I<em> knew</em> you for every single beat of your heart. As I write this, the tears are falling, but I am also smiling. Because you were, you are, so very special. I relished in every single move you made (although I will admit to a lot of grumbling since you always seemed to find my bladder when you kicked), and will be forever grateful that your Daddy was even starting to feel your movements in the last few weeks we had with you. I was SO sick throughout my pregnancy with you, but I loved seeing my stomach getting bigger and bigger and was finally fitting into pregnancy clothes properly. I loved making plans for the Spring and Summer I was going to have with my boys. Oh how much there was going to be to show you! I hope that in time I can speak to others about you with a smile, and no more tears. That I can find a way to honor your short time with us, and that someones life may be enriched because of you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My prayer is that wherever you are now little man, you can feel how much we love you. That you are happy and safe and waiting for us to join you. We joke that no baby could ever be loved as much as you were upon your entrance to heaven...you have so many beloved friends and family that would be waiting there with open arms to hold you (and maybe even a little bantering about who would get to hold you first...just like your family on Earth would have done). It brings us some peace to know that you will never, not even for a moment, feel any pain or suffering. This world we live in is beautiful and amazing, but it is also filled with suffering and fear. You, my precious one, will never know that. You have known joy and love and peace. And I promise that I will take you along with me for the rest of my life. When I see a sunset that is particularly beautiful, I will remember to take you with me. When Liam learns to ride a bike for the first time, you can run alongside me as we let go. You will live on forever in our hearts and our memories, and in this way, you will never truly be gone. I will cry, and ask why this had to happen to us, and yell at fate, and miss you....but underneath all of this, there is love. And that will get me through.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you Ollie. For touching our lives, and teaching us so much about the nature of true love and loss. I love you more than words can say, and cannot wait for the day that we are together again. Rest in peace my love. My baby boy. Oliver Grayson Adams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With Love, </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Mommy.</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-68169502714767153202012-09-24T17:38:00.001-07:002012-09-24T17:39:56.649-07:00This Week<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This past week was fast and furious.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liam has pre-school on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, so this week my friend (and Liams daycare provider) Pauline drove Liam and her daughter Addy in on Tuesday while I went to work, and I took the kiddies in on Thursday while Pauline packed for an upcoming trip.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom arrived on Wednesday for a visit which was great. Liam loves having visitors, and it was especially nice for him to get some one on one time with his Nana. My mom watched Liam while I went to work on Friday bright and early, and once I got home, it was off to Ottawa!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On Saturday, Liam and I spent a very wet and cold morning planting trees at Andrew Hayden Park in Ottawa as part of TD's Tree Day. My parents, as well as my Grams and Gramps were nice (and brave) enough to visit us there, and immediately got put to work! lol. My dad and I ended up doing the majority of the actual planting, while the others entertained Mr. Liam (who looked MIGHTY cute in his TD shirt and rain boots, with his little Cars shovel and watering can). It felt nice to do something so great for the environment, and it made me proud to work for such an environmentally conscious company.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saturday afternoon was spent at my brother and sister-in-laws house, picking up a few things (Hello pregnancy body pillow...my new best friend!!) and visiting. Liam always walks into their playroom and stops in his tracks with how many fun toys there are! He could probably spend forever there quite happily. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sunday morning we took Liam to his first gymnastics class on base. I had started not feeling well the night before, so it was a bit daunting to drag my butt out that morning. But thankfully Bill was there, and Liam had SO much fun. It was nice to sit back and watch him participate for once, rather than being the one in action with him. I also met an old friend at the class, so it was fun to sit back and just chat. Liam was a superstar on the uneven bars, but has a little work to do learning to actually jump on the trampoline (though his frog jumps were pretty innovative if you ask me! lol). I didn't bring my camera as all of his previous classes have been no-photo zones, but evidently it is ok in this class. So I will hopefully get some shots this Sunday. The rest of Sunday was spent resting on my part, trying to kick this cold to the curb (didn't quite work, still called in sick today).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was a bit of a bust. Sore throat, achy joints, runny nose...the whole works. I feel like it is some unfair punishment that pregnant women can still get everyday colds on TOP of feeling so crummy otherwise (at least this pregnant woman). Bill asked how I was feeling last night before bed, and I told him that I didn't know it was possible to feel so crummy, so many different ways at once. Blah! My next shift is not until Wednesday, so hopefully I feel better before then.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And here is a little update on <span style="background-color: white;">"blueberry</span>" for the week! Still growing up a storm in there :)</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P3Hm-AzzMVRHQOaWZ22BOas4aaJFguyyjBaUMW3SKtI0rPE_OFHv3OFB1YI-Sxb8cQOxqlherevcHb-Az-AgcSEn2EBNHYyZfusrUWLhkMkr3-gsWIa1tKB3XfmJIXR_76lzcfu_Q-U/s1600/14weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6P3Hm-AzzMVRHQOaWZ22BOas4aaJFguyyjBaUMW3SKtI0rPE_OFHv3OFB1YI-Sxb8cQOxqlherevcHb-Az-AgcSEn2EBNHYyZfusrUWLhkMkr3-gsWIa1tKB3XfmJIXR_76lzcfu_Q-U/s320/14weeks.jpg" width="211" /></span></a></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>How far along?:</strong> 14 weeks
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Baby is the size of a:</strong> navel orange (or a closed fist according to one book)
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Total weight gain/loss:</strong> no idea actually..truly! lol
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Well the nausea is slowly subsiding, though that darn morning sickness likes to pop its head in once in awhile still
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Food Cravings</strong>: GRAVY, oranges, pickles, banana popsicles, melted cheese (still weird even to me...I usually hate all cheeses)
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Food Aversions:</strong> Same things still...garlic, icecream, the smell of cooking meat
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Sleep:</strong> What is sleep? I have been sick this past week, so it is more elusive than ever before
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>What I miss:</strong> Sleeping on my back (read that was not so great while one is pregnant)
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Weddings Rings On or Off:</strong> On ! yay!
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Any Names Picked Out Yet:</strong> Not yet..been tossing them around
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Movement:</strong> Not yet
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> Just a few shirts for work, and comfy pants for at home
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Labor Signs:</strong> N/A
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>Best Moment of the Week:</strong> The nausea finally letting up a
smidgen!!!
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<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><strong>What I’m excited about/looking forward to:</strong> hearing the heartbeat at my next midwives appointment, and my ultrasound at the end of October!!</span> </li>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-15810475497148840922012-09-13T18:22:00.000-07:002012-09-13T18:24:39.560-07:00The News<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have been a VERY, very lapsed blogger in the last long while. I have many excuses ready. Here goes: I have a busy little boy who is speeding towards turning 3 (can't even believe it still myself), my said busy little boy just started a pre-school two mornings a week in the neighboring town (which means I spend two mornings a week away from home, commuting and shopping or what not while he is in school), little man is also starting gymnastics every Sunday morning at the end of this month, I have a job at a bank (so that takes up the days I am not at pre-school), I have a puppy (who actually likes going for walks..go figure! We go for walks every day...often stopping at the park along the way), and you know, I just have SO many things I purely just <em>enjoy</em> doing (knitting, editing photos from my new D-SLR, sewing, reading, hanging with my fam). But all that being said...</span><br />
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<span style="color: #3d85c6;"><em> <span style="color: #20124d;">Pretty dang positive! lol</span></em></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We got some exciting news this summer, and I am hoping to keep up with this blog at least once a week as something of a journal for our NEW BABY!! That's right...we are expecting a new little one in March 2013. We are so thrilled, and excited, and just feel so lucky to have been blessed again. Liam will be three by the time the baby arrives, and I just can't wait to see how he is as a big brother. I have been feeling pretty sick up until now (kind of blindsided me as I felt awesome the whole way through my pregnancy with Liam), so that's why it is taking me a little longer to start with the belly pics and whatnot. lol. All worth it...all worth it...all worth it...that is my mantra :)</span><br />
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<em><span style="color: #351c75;">Our little "blueberry" at 10 weeks</span></em></div>
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<li><strong>How far along?:</strong> 13 weeks
<li><strong>Baby is the size of a:</strong> lemon
<li><strong>Total weight gain/loss:</strong> no idea actually..truly! lol
<li><strong>Symptoms:</strong> Nauseous...oh so nauseous. And exhausted. But my hair and nails rock! lol
<li><strong>Food Cravings</strong>: Hamburgers, Oranges, Pumpkin (weird), Banana Popsicles, Melted Cheese
<li><strong>Food Aversions:</strong> Many things...icecream, garlic (sad face), ceasar salad..
<li><strong>Sleep:</strong> Kinda crummy...peeing about 3 times a night currently.
<li><strong>What I miss:</strong> Ceasar Salad!! My favorite. And kind of missed having a few coolers while at the cottage during the summer.
<li><strong>Weddings Rings On or Off:</strong> On
<li><strong>Any Names Picked Out Yet:</strong> Not yet..been tossing them around though :)
<li><strong>Movement:</strong> Not yet
<li><strong>Maternity Clothes:</strong> Have broken out a few maternity pants and shirts for work, but still able to wear my normal jeans and most shirts (the benefits of favoring looser shirts normally)
<li><strong>Labor Signs:</strong> N/A
<li><strong>Best Moment of the Week:</strong> The nausea finally letting up a smidgen!!!
<li><strong>What I’m excited about/looking forward to:</strong> Hearing the heart beat for the first time</li>
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<em><span style="color: #351c75;">The way I announced it to my family...with Liams help</span></em> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I will try my best to post some belly pics soon as per request (Kathy! lol), but for now I will leave you with the cute pic above. Boy I love him!! :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">P.S. Inspiration for the above questionnaire came from a few different blogs I have been reading lately (some great gals..check them out!); </span><a href="http://littlebabygarvin.blogspot.ca/"><span style="font-size: x-small;">http://littlebabygarvin.blogspot.ca/</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;">, </span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.ourlittlecasita.com/p/pregnancy.html">://www.ourlittlecasita.com/p/pregnancy.html</a></span></div>
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Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-48481212142278725272012-03-06T17:50:00.000-08:002012-03-06T17:50:15.945-08:00What a Week (and it's only Tuesday!)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a week, WHAT a week! Hang on...it's only Tuesday right? lol. Okay...well I guess it just feels like life has been on this endless loop lately. I have been trying to find some sort of toe hold, but seem to always be pumelling into whatever the next turn, the next day may bring. Life just gets SO crazy busy sometimes! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am the type of person who needs some quiet time now and again to gather my thoughts and to just get in tune with myself. This "quiet" time has been sorely lacking lately, and it is catching up to me. Don't get me wrong, I adore my life. I love my son such that no words can do it justice. I am always falling more and more in love with my husband (even when he is driving me nuts). My puppy Chloe continues to offer so much unconditional love into our household (even when she is driving me nuts!). It's just the "loving myself" part that needs some nurturing right now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all need to love ourselves from time to time don't you think? Find that one thing that makes us happy and just go for it. Lately my one thing seems to be crafting. I always knew that I had a crafty spirit, but truly didn't give myself enough credit. I CAN KNIT!! Who knew? I've been on a roll lately knitting wool hats for the kiddies in my life. I can work a sewing machine and make actual beautiful things with my own two hands. Didn't know that either. Wish there were more hours in a day to make pretty things! I have all of these different projects floating around my head: finish Liams first year photobook (yeah..you heard me right...first year! And he's in his third year now. I am behind.), organize and label the photos I have taken with my iphone since November (currently they have no rhyme or reason on my computer), learn how to crochet, finish/start my first quilt (I think I started cutting squares for it while I was still in University), etc. etc.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">On a completely different note....Liams first trip to the Nature Museum this past Sunday was SUCH a huge success. My parents ended coming along with us which was fantastic...Liam so enjoyed having his Nana and Papa there. The first room we entered was the dinosaur exhibit. My boy was too thrilled for words. His eyes just got so big and his little pointer finger made its first appearance of the day. He pointed out everything to us, and just kept calling out what he was seeing; "dinosaur...rawr!!!", "Eggs mommy (dinosaur eggs)", "feet". He was a little weary of the actual dinosaur replicas they had and made sure to sort of walk down the center of the room. Like he wasn't too sure if they were going to stay where the were supposed to.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We let him run and explore for most of the day. We did bring the trusty stroller (though in hindsight our Ergo would have probably worked out great too...just wouldn't have been as useful in carrying our lunch bags, diaper bag, and extra coats..lol), but I'm of the opinion that kids need their freedom to see and learn things on their own terms. Of course we made sure that he wasn't running into other people, or touching unappropriate things, but I loved watching how his little mind worked. Loved seeing what things fascinated him and made him stop in his tracks. We learned that he is not afraid of heights. We learned that he truly does adore all things creepy-crawley. Bill and him spent some great quality time in the bug/spider/fish/snake room. </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We learned that 3D glasses are not his thing (we took him to his first in-theater movie...a 3D). But he was so good in the theater....put all my fears to rest (so wasn't looking forward to being "that" mom that takes her child to a theater before s/he is old enough and then wonders why s/he can't stay still or stay quiet). By the end of the trip he was just exhausted! He finally crashed in his stroller with his blankie, his soosie and his belly button and that was that. What a fun day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This week is a busy one (as previously complained about...lol). I work four days straight which is unusal for me, so I am already feeling pretty beat. Though I did just make it home from the gym...kudos to me. Bill is off right now for his March Break, so the timing of my full work week couldn't really be better. I love knowing that Liam is at home having fun with his Daddy. And it doesn't hurt having someone to help with with meals at home either. Or to come home to a clean bathroom, organized hat/scarf/mitten closet. Love my hubby! He is currently off checking out the karate club on the base. He took karate for many years, and I have been sort of pushing him to get back into it. I think it would be great for him to have an outlet outside of home or work, to meet some new people and to just be able to get away from "us" for awhile. lol. Hoping it goes well for him tonight.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This coming weekend Liam and I are off to Ottawa for my niece Devyn's 5th birthday. Seems like yesterday I was living in Ottawa and visiting teeny tiny baby Devyn as much as I could. She is such a sweet, wonderful girl and I am just SO proud to be her auntie.</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Looking like Spring is slowly on its way here in Ontario (though I will miss the cuteness that is Liam all dressed in his winter gear! lol). Today brought with it extremely high winds and temperatures in the pluses finally. It also brought with it lots of slushy roads and power outages. I worked for most of the day, so Liam got to hang out with his Daddy. Bill is now off for his March Break, and it is delightful to say the least. There is just something great about leaving for work with no hurt in the back of my heart for leaving Liam at his daycare. I know he has lots of fun at daycare, and Pauline does such a great job at loving him like I would, but those days that he doesn't want me to leave and clings to my body...those days tug at a mommy's heart strings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tomorrow we are off to Ottawa for the day. I have been wanting to take Liam to the Nature Museum for quite some time now, but circumstances have always seemed to foil our plans. So tomorrow is finally the day! I cannot wait to see my little monkey's face when he gets to see all of the animals, birds, dinosaurs and the like. I think he is going to LOVE it and I can't wait. We are also fitting in a visit with my grandparents and with Bills parents, sister, brother in law and our niece Stephanie. Nothing like a busy day. lol. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liam is such a busy guy these days. I was very happy that Bill got back from Cochrane when he did this week, because I was getting dang exhausted running around after him and Chloe. Liam has sort of got the "no way" thing mastered now, and does not hesitate to make sure we know it. lol. He also loves to throw things all of a sudden, so no toy is safe. Liam is such a smarty!! Today while our power was off, we spent some family time on the couch reading books. I loved listening to him and Bill learning the alphabet and counting out numbers. Liam can pretty well count from 1-10 with no problems now, and is awesome at the alphabet. It's crazy how fast they pick things up at this age.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> So here's hoping that the Spring weather continues around here. I can handle some wind and rain as long as it means that the mountains of snow we have might finally melt. I am SUCH a Spring girl...it can'ts come soon enough for me :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAKCd0AXyxHFVdSJ5-CeytSmYPzNTlFORY5Htyyqp4lrlkrh-ECtn1mUDqOAUk6BsmIOSRp6NOyOhRM8Fgo7r60ta97zpmDKcHQ4-73Mgw823BE4_iyAj1114LyTHO5I9p_QMtIqf9jc/s1600/IMG_0936.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxAKCd0AXyxHFVdSJ5-CeytSmYPzNTlFORY5Htyyqp4lrlkrh-ECtn1mUDqOAUk6BsmIOSRp6NOyOhRM8Fgo7r60ta97zpmDKcHQ4-73Mgw823BE4_iyAj1114LyTHO5I9p_QMtIqf9jc/s400/IMG_0936.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-52649515176432255182012-01-23T18:00:00.000-08:002012-01-23T18:00:55.304-08:00Liam is 2!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXfVzh1YKRkPtRH1LTvbxy-58kGLKSErrjy6FyUelm__qnnxNOR2oWg0K1ENNF_b4bHC151H4abLIIuuBqQWjom53f7gYhGz2HQRtYNgvnXuIzV1m8D8xOEhuddxo0c1ZtBIP6AGSy6w/s1600/IMG_0166.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhXfVzh1YKRkPtRH1LTvbxy-58kGLKSErrjy6FyUelm__qnnxNOR2oWg0K1ENNF_b4bHC151H4abLIIuuBqQWjom53f7gYhGz2HQRtYNgvnXuIzV1m8D8xOEhuddxo0c1ZtBIP6AGSy6w/s400/IMG_0166.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My baby is TWO! Guess I missed a few months since my last post....because did I mention that my baby is TWO?? It is such a cliche to say that kids grow up way too fast, but it is so true. I was sitting in Liams room the other day, rocking him to sleep for his nap (he was getting spoiled...we don't usually do that anymore), and I just kept thinking about the day that he was born and about how tiny and precious he was. At that time it was hard to imagine life outside of sleep schedules and breast feeding, but now here we are, two years later, and life is fantastic!</span> <br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liam is very, very busy these days. He almost always wakes up in a great mood, raring to get going...and doesn't slow down until after bathtime at about 7:30. He is even trying his darndest to give up his afternoon nap, but thus far we have managed to convince him that they are still a good idea. Ha.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">He is VERY car obssessed! Well...pretty much he is obsessed with any sort of machine that moves (think trains, planes, cars...you get the idea).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before Liam was born I had all of these ideas about trying not to push any sort of gender stereotypes onto my child, but little did I know that some things are truly just engrained into them. I am sure that having a father and grandfather who are also car obsessed has played a huge role in Liams love for them, but he has just been a very "boy-y" boy since day one. He likes to push baby strollers, but has no qualms about tossing those poor babies right on the ground as soon as he realizes they are along for the ride. At least we have a Lighting McQueen stuffie that he loves and we work on giving hugs to, etc. So I have at least a compassionate car loving little guy on my hands :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The other loves in Liams life right now would have to be:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Going to playgroup. If we even walk by that building while walking Chloe, he gets really excited.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * CARS 2!!!!!! Seriously, we watch this movie every. single. day. No lie.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * His Lightning McQueen and Tow Mater Stuffies. Sleeps with them every night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Swimming. He continues to be a water baby and actually kicks and swims very well.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Bath time. Goes along with his love of water. He could stay in there forever.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * His Grandma/Nana/ and Poppas. He just loves them all! He's a lucky, lucky little man.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Being outside. He will often bring me his boots to tell me he wants to go out, and hates to come in.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * His belly button. Enough said. lol.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Reading books. He especially loves Clifford books, and seek-and-find books.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Food wise: cheese, crackers, apple juice, cereal, pb and j sandwiches, broccoli, bananas, nutrigrain bars, yogurt, strawberries, cucumber, kiwi, and anything mommy eats! lol</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Playing with Chloe. He loves it when Chloers chases him.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> * Snuggling with mommy or daddy after bathtime. That's our favorite too :)</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnECio_UXXZ-6YPZ6V6fTPHlNdEAFFyL_A_OGRQLw8XGLkhvbzZpi0AdV3LCIASNHyFoeJLDBPp1aLeLVZxOvO2P8z-nXTiNaHuaHK-m8ihPQObvNZNOpU1UHZDPyfukMRKsMdgZ4YMF8/s1600/DSC_0398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnECio_UXXZ-6YPZ6V6fTPHlNdEAFFyL_A_OGRQLw8XGLkhvbzZpi0AdV3LCIASNHyFoeJLDBPp1aLeLVZxOvO2P8z-nXTiNaHuaHK-m8ihPQObvNZNOpU1UHZDPyfukMRKsMdgZ4YMF8/s320/DSC_0398.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-64701023005123881842011-09-28T20:04:00.000-07:002011-09-28T20:05:04.823-07:00Dear Liam...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> You are now 21 months old (soon to be 22 months old) and you are such a joy to me! Somedays I feel like I spend every spare moment just staring at you. Wondering how I got so lucky to have been blessed with having you in my life; wondering how you are growing up so dang fast; wondering what you will choose to do with your wonderful life; wondering how I don't just fall over all the time with how CUTE you are; wondering how you got so funny so fast; wondering what you are thinking about; wondering whether or not to cut that awesome hair of yours (the decision changes daily); wondering how I could ever love another child just as much as I love you. And the list just goes on and on. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> You are SO much fun these days monkey! You smile all the time, you laugh when you think something is funny, you clap and dance along to music or shows on tv. You can point out all of your different body parts, and can even repeat a lot of their names when mommy or daddy tells you what they are. You know SO many words now: purple (pretty sure this is your favorite color right now), mama, dada, nana, papa, truck, moo, dog, puppy, choochoo, train, banana (you say "nana" for banana)....and the list just keeps on growing. I tell you I love you like a thousand times a day and I just can't wait until you can say it back.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> You have such a jest for life. You LOVE, LOVE, LOVE trucks, cars, planes, trains and anything else that moves and makes noise. This summer there was a lot of construction happening in our neighborhood, so you were truly in your glory watching all of the big machines. You get SO excited when "Mighty Machines" comes on the tv. We know now that we just need to stop anything we are doing so that we can stop and be excited with you. You always point at the screen, make a "ooohhh" sound, and then turn back to make sure that we are SO seeing what you are seeing. Too cute! lol.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Mommy recently went back to work, which has been an adjustment for all of us. You are not used to staying with anyone that is not mommy or daddy, but you seem to be having lots of fun with Pauline and Addy of the days that mommy is at the bank. This week Daddy left to go away for week for 6 weeks, and I think that you have picked up on it. When I went to drop you off at Pauline's today, you cried and clung to my leg (not something you usually do). So I came in with you and hung out until you felt more comfortable. It hurt to leave you today, but I knew that you were safe and happy, so we made it through. Needless to say though, mommy's favorite days are the ones that she spends completely with YOU :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I would write about what your favorite foods are...but there are just too many to list! lol. Here are some of your favorites right now: pizza (typical kid!), bananas, grapes, cucumbers, cheese strings, goldfish crackers, mommy or daddy's cereal (whatever that may be...guess it tastes better from our bowls), freezies, watermelon, and cookies (of course). We are SO lucky that you are such a good eater. Thanks buddy!</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We love you to the moon and back Liam, and cannot wait to see what the future will bring!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Love Mommy</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-81903871812252346412011-08-19T16:31:00.000-07:002011-08-19T16:32:11.541-07:00Potty Training Chronicles: Chapter 1<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liam is now 20 months old. Waaaaayyyyy to young to start potty training right? Well I may be bragging here, but my baby officially peed on his potty for the very first time tonight!!! Did you hear that? We had pee, in a potty, successfully....OMG! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bill and I bought Liam his little potty a few months ago, just to introduce Liam to the look of it, and to let him try sitting on it, playing with it..basically whatever he wanted to do with it. A few weeks ago we decided to move it upstairs to the bathroom so that he could start associating the potty with the "big boy toilet" (k..trying to use appropriate words here..lol). Whenever I change a poopy cloth diaper, I have Liam help me bring it to the toilet, and he gets to flush just to see what happens. Gross? Too much information? lol. Wellll...you may not want to read on then! lol</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Every night before I give Liam a bath, I take off his diaper and have him sit on his little potty while I pour the water into the tub. He always used to stand beside the tub while I was filling it, and usually ended up peeing on the floor...so I thought I would hedge my bets and plop him on his toilet. And VOILA! As I was filling the tub tonight, I look over, and there he is, peeing like a big boy. I, of course freaked out (dunno if that's the correct response...haven't read the books yet..lol), praised him like craaaazzzzy and gave him a high five (that's the way we role in our family). Who knew that a little pee in a little potty would bring such a high? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I know it's early, and I won't be pushing the potty thing all the way yet, but it's nice to know that it is right around the corner for my little man. Is it weird that I am looking forward to making a potty chart, getting out the colored star stickers and the smarties as rewards? I can't wait to start doing things like that with Liam :) Fingers crossed for some more potty time tomorrow night...stay tuned. Looking forward to seeing that little tush in some spiderman undies sometime soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Come to think of it...Liam and I watched Elmo's potty training video on </em></span><a href="http://omyfamilyblog.com/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>O, My Family</em></span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em> yesterday. Could Elmo have worked SO fast? If so, WOO to Elmo! lol</em></span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-35100110201351461822011-08-18T19:58:00.000-07:002011-08-18T20:00:01.261-07:00Our Summer So Far<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay...it has been awhile since my last post, but in my defense, it has been such a crazy, hectic, adventure-filled summer so far for the Adam's family. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liam is now 20 months old, and I cannot put into words how much FUN it is to be around him all of the time now. He is one of the funniest little guys that I have ever met. You can't be near him for more than a couple of minutes without cracking a smile. I think his joy and jest for life are just so contagious....I spend my days with him just looking for that next adventure around the corner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I started a new job as a Customer Service Representative at TD Canada Trust about a month ago now, and the most difficult part by far has been leaving Liam for any amount of time. He is being cared for by a dear friend of the family, Pauline, who has a daughter the exact same age as Liam (and by exact, I mean that Liam is literally only a few hours older than Ads), so I know that he is safe and comfortable and having lots of fun while I am at work. But I am so afraid of missing those little moments with him. Like he learned how to say "shoes" sometime over the last couple of weeks, and when I told Pauline, she said that she already knew, she had heard him say it a bunch of times. I missed "shoes"!!!! Working means more financial security for my little fam right now, so it is a necessary evil. And I do get a strong sense of accomplishment from doing something new, and from helping to contribute to the well-being of my family...but dang I miss my baby! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hmm...how about a quick recap of our summer so far? Or at least the parts that my mushy, overworked brain can remember right now. lol. We are very much an outdoor family, so we have spent the majority of our free time in the fresh air. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have gone to our local beaches a bunch of times (we even found a dog-friendly beach nearby that we have loved going to in the evenings after dinner...there is just something about that time right before the sun goes down..magic). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We went to Trenton for a (way too short) visit with my mom and some great friends. My mom and dad moved into a new home this summer, so I had to make a special trip to say goodbye to the old pmq. So many memories...but oh so many more to be made in the new house. We had lots of fun with our friends Amber and Alexis while we were down :)</span><br />
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</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been to Ottawa a bunch of times for different things (ie. getting Liam fitted for his first suit...omg...CUTE x1000!). As much as I am learning to appreciate Petawawa and its natural beauty, it is nice to head on back to the city occasionally. Though we always breathe a little sigh of relief when we exit the rat race there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been to the cottage as much as possible (it's our version of paradise, and I am so pleased to know that Liam will truly grow up there), and have had the pleasure to share it with new friends and old family. We brought Pauline and Addy up there for a weekend with us, our good friend James spent some time there with us, and my dad came up with me last time. I spent my first week away from Liam and Bill (okay..4 whole days...but it felt like a week); I had to work, and Bill was on vacation, so we decided that him, Liam and Chloe would stay up at the cottage with his mom while I returned home. It was such a weird experience to have quiet time to myself...to clean the house and actually have it stay that way for more than 10 minutes was wonderful...but to come home to such peace was a tad unnerving. The look on Liams face when he first saw me back at the cottage was worth it though :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We have been fairly successful growing our first gardens in our front yard. I'm thinking maybe I need to devote a blog to the garden soon, there is so much goodness there. I brought Liam outside with me tonight just before bathtime to water the garden, and the first thing that he did was wander on over to the strawberry plants, point, look at me and said "uhhh" (which in Liam language can mean one of many, many things...apparently Bill and I have the dictionary hardwired into our brains, so in this case I knew it meant that he wanted one). I love that he can do that. Just pop on over to his own garden, and grab a fresh, pesticide free, organic snack. Awesome I tell ya! We even snuck a taste of the carrots that are growing...though they are the smallest ones ever. Not too sure we're going to have much success with them this year. Ok..onwards.....lol</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We spent this past weekend back in our home town of Trenton, Ontario, attending the wedding of my best friend Nichole to her, now husband, Dave (the wedding itself was held in Picton, Ontario). I was a bridesmaid in the wedding, so there wasn't a free moment the entire time I was there...but I hear that Bill and Liam had a great time hanging out with Bills parents and just relaxing. Bill's mom is always at Liams beck and call, so I know that he was well spoiled. And he got to spend an afternoon with my parents, where I'm sure that there was even more spoiling happening. It is all good....family can love and hug on my baby as much as they want! Liam was the ringbearer in the wedding, and he did such a fantastic job. My friend Amber and I worried about how well our children would "perform" that day, and they both did WAY above our expectations. That will teach us to underestimate them! The wedding day was beautiful, and rustic, and so much a reflection of my good friend Nichole. I had the best time, with the best people, and I was a little sad to leave it all behind to return home.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now we are home. Bill is currently working out in the field, which means that he comes home at night for a quick shower and change of clothes, and then is gone again. So it should be an interesting next little while. I work for the next two days, but then get to spend two whole days with my little man which I am so excited for. What with our crazy schedules lately, I have been feeling a little robbed of time with him. And he is changing and growing so very fast these days...I don't want to miss a thing. I took him to his old playgroup today with Addy and Pauline, and I was amazed at how well he was interacting with the other kids, and at how well he was able to concentrate on little things (like playing with the trains at the train table...he played there for a good 10 minute stretch...amazing for my go-getter). We will definetly be going more often now that we see how much the kiddies love it right now. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And that is about it (or all I can recall right now.....fading....fading...lol). I am off to work on a Halloween tutu for my little business Pauline and I have started (because I just didn't have enough on my plate already..HA). Little PAAL's...check us out..just sayin' :) Nightey night ya'll!</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-57316492184782991752011-06-02T18:15:00.000-07:002011-06-02T18:15:33.583-07:00Goals<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm gonna be brave and write these words down so that I can't take them back. I have been finding lately that being a momma is taking up all of my time. I absolutely adore it, don't get me wrong, but I think that I need to try to find some things that make me happy outside my little family. Things that remind me of who I am, who I used to be, and who I want to become. We all have those things that make us unique...that make up who we are...and it is easy to get swallowed up in the everyday, so much that we forget to spend a little time on ourselves.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That being said, here are a few things that I would love to accomplish in the near(ish) future: </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* <strong>Take a French course</strong>. I live in Ontario which is a very bilingual province. Most (good) jobs that I am qualified for require french. Also, the base offers <em>free</em> language courses for military spouses, so I really have no excuse not to take advantage of that!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* <strong>Run a marathon</strong> with my hubby. Not going to be a full marathon, you can bet on that. But I think it would be good for us to train for and accomplish a goal together. And it has always been a secret dream of mine. Time to take a risk.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">* <strong>Go to the zumba</strong> class I recently saw advertised in Petawawa. Have fun getting fit...sounds like a good plan. And on that note, I will just add that I would love to lose a good 'couple' of pounds (leaving it at that..lol).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* <strong>Get CPR qualified</strong>. Again, many of the jobs that I would love to apply for require CPR training. So what is stopping me? Just have to carve out a weekend and DO IT! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* <strong>Do something wild and crazy</strong>!! Like go white water rafting, or ziplining, or hike up a really big mountain. haha. Just something out of the ordinary, that gets my heart pumping...and lets me say "I did THAT" </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* <strong>Take Liam to a zoo</strong>. My little man loves animals...so I really hope that an opportunity arises to take him to see all sorts this summer. Geez..i can already see that big smile of his :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">* Dig out my paints, my easel, and some canvas. Set myself up outside, with a nice cold glass of something, barefoot. And <strong>just paint</strong>. I used to love painting, and I would love to get back to it. There is something so freeing for me in turning something so plain, into something colorful and beautiful. I would also love to get a huge canvas and let Liam walk all over it with some paint. I think it would be so much fun for him to just be creative with no boundaries. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana;">* <strong>Work on my little home business</strong>. My good friend Pauline and I have been getting together every week to work on making homemade hair bows, felt flower clips, and whatever else our crafty brains can cook up. We would love to start selling our wares (since we enjoy making them so much!), but we haven't gotten our butts in gear as of yet. So I need to get on that. We have a name..that's a start.."<em>little Paals</em>" is born (stands for Pauline, Addy, Amanda, Liam..just FYI..lol)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Okay..well that's all that I've got for now. The words are out there..so no turning back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. Bill is finally HOME from the field :) Life can go back to normal again...woo!</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-32917774411835957602011-05-31T17:24:00.000-07:002011-05-31T17:24:40.637-07:00The Perfect Day!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Today was THE perfect day! Crazy, insanely hot out...but we had so much summer fun :) Liam and I were up pretty early, and we headed out after a quick breakfast to go pick up Pauline and Addy. We took Chloe and the kiddies for an early morning walk to Timmies to grab some much needed Iced Capps (seriously...MUCH needed! lol). By the time we got home we could already tell that it was going to be a sweltering day out. So we got Chloe all situated at my place, packed up the van and headed out to the beach. WOO Beach Day!!! There was only one other Mom and bebe there, so we had the whole place basically to ourselves (the other little girl, named Shea, was in love with Liam and Addy).</span> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a97vFylYO8sbJWIsZGaBlI7zVt1mew3zq_fpMIOih5JR6pMhmnVB_6DHKWz5LGRukpp8-ujHSjNZLx4Dp8Tu-4t1KbCFHPkZBNRYQNm2uuJVhzyKfqUJ7Wfi90uejaIeRrgZcekkXSQ/s1600/IMG_8816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_a97vFylYO8sbJWIsZGaBlI7zVt1mew3zq_fpMIOih5JR6pMhmnVB_6DHKWz5LGRukpp8-ujHSjNZLx4Dp8Tu-4t1KbCFHPkZBNRYQNm2uuJVhzyKfqUJ7Wfi90uejaIeRrgZcekkXSQ/s400/IMG_8816.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liam, as always, had to sit back for a little bit to take it all in. By the time we left the beach he was playing up a storm, but my little man takes a little bit to warm up to new situations. Plus he is teething like a mad man these days, so his temperament has been a little off. He love, love, loved playing in the sand...burying his feet and legs in the coolness of it. And I could see the joy in his face each time he discovered something new..like the way the sand felt falling through his little fingers, or the way the mud squished in between his toes. Is there anything better than watching your child experience the world on his own two feet? Normal, everday things just seem all sparkly and new again. Thanks buddy, for showing me the way!</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_nX39rynyAl9xOkdCbUKG9BaAw0CaWPsVMqqZc0ZGSiZg4LizsWmh9jntjJqRCualV_P4OjTq9Ny91OmsmGex2CI73uuEuNm3P89OILLuq3uu1UqP-q0TzZvJWH6z0PjXI485t91MmM/s1600/IMG_8813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_nX39rynyAl9xOkdCbUKG9BaAw0CaWPsVMqqZc0ZGSiZg4LizsWmh9jntjJqRCualV_P4OjTq9Ny91OmsmGex2CI73uuEuNm3P89OILLuq3uu1UqP-q0TzZvJWH6z0PjXI485t91MmM/s320/IMG_8813.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Miss Addy is a "jump right on in" kinda gal. As soon as she spotted the water, she was off. She pretty much hiked right on in, despite how freezing cold it was, and got a little peed off when she realized how dang frigid it was. She was on the go, go, go all morning long. I think she's a beach girl for sure.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZbUtD6amfKp9ijk4MVwI4cm5Im5AT5rjWJtTwP4nucUgn8nkvdnGyMMBTs4jyPV-eXb9X9OBQOuFKQEFi3fJ0Cmg5dNHTTcIeGauzoHDIt1YvoOzWndRCgvSlruK2PHYnHWrWP7s6oA/s1600/IMG_8807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfZbUtD6amfKp9ijk4MVwI4cm5Im5AT5rjWJtTwP4nucUgn8nkvdnGyMMBTs4jyPV-eXb9X9OBQOuFKQEFi3fJ0Cmg5dNHTTcIeGauzoHDIt1YvoOzWndRCgvSlruK2PHYnHWrWP7s6oA/s320/IMG_8807.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is so much fun for me to watch how well my boy gets along with Addy. They are so blessed to have one another, and I am thankful for Pauline and Addy ever single day. Liam and Addy's personalities mesh SO well together...and they are just so funny when they are interacting nowadays. Best pals for sure.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nwEK35UgejPWobwD-ZGOW9ofOv8LxX89j3L24AhYjalSNxTTpUtqXWf6E1vXLuPq_xOEQMmDcyZKuara67Z0Hg7QSQfaGVK1hBVZiHrHbGq71_5AhcvRgR5OF1vbq1IqgXRYGvDimm8/s1600/IMG_8844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7nwEK35UgejPWobwD-ZGOW9ofOv8LxX89j3L24AhYjalSNxTTpUtqXWf6E1vXLuPq_xOEQMmDcyZKuara67Z0Hg7QSQfaGVK1hBVZiHrHbGq71_5AhcvRgR5OF1vbq1IqgXRYGvDimm8/s320/IMG_8844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After our fun at the beach, we headed our seperate ways to give the kiddies some lunch and a chance to nap. Liam didn't eat much..probably due to it being so hot out...and didn't sleep much, probably due to the same thing. I called Pauline at about 4 to say that we were taking the kids out to Kelseys for supper (air conditioning and not having to cook...perfect plan!). It is mine and Bill's 3rd anniversary today, and since Bill is still out in the field, Pauline was his stand in for supper out. lol. The kids were both pretty darn hyper, but we had a good meal anyways.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5II89MNaN7w1D2AQawIUxKxvMFy49yh25c5tiuwZrSvJCEKBqAzLfAziDvTVaia2mKofY7o1OQGDSZRI7posj7DPfz9muzrrh7COb-JtO2pWB13u4sQV7QyS-evCt1ufo9WejwzXaB4/s1600/IMG_8869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx5II89MNaN7w1D2AQawIUxKxvMFy49yh25c5tiuwZrSvJCEKBqAzLfAziDvTVaia2mKofY7o1OQGDSZRI7posj7DPfz9muzrrh7COb-JtO2pWB13u4sQV7QyS-evCt1ufo9WejwzXaB4/s320/IMG_8869.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7chS6GrS174yVuPxgqCQnq5tylTxLU2jk3vKztZGtoh8u5A01YjCGZAdaKf_BrYll85Bm1vq8hEHTGGeNvNZadioidcj2PlBQ52FYW2F35a8gP734q_nRS-9xIqVLB2OQwXAFeeLnvpQ/s1600/IMG_8867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7chS6GrS174yVuPxgqCQnq5tylTxLU2jk3vKztZGtoh8u5A01YjCGZAdaKf_BrYll85Bm1vq8hEHTGGeNvNZadioidcj2PlBQ52FYW2F35a8gP734q_nRS-9xIqVLB2OQwXAFeeLnvpQ/s320/IMG_8867.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><em><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Addy likes to share...and Liam likes to eat. It's a friendship made in heaven!</span></em><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This post would not be complete without a little homage paid to my wonderful husband. Bill and I have been "together" for 5 years now...married for 3...and I feel so wonderfully thankful to have him beside me on this journey. We fight, and whine, and cry....but we go to bed every night loving each other. And that's what matters. He still compliments me each and every day, he is a wonderful father, he loves his family, he works so damn hard to take care of Liam and I...he is just amazing. And I am reminded today about how lucky I am to have found him.</span> <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCux2GtfzRxoJnL9KnmUE6WSfN1XrjOk59JXJVhc8B770iPt1waA_6hJcCEYnIb3AQ-Atubhi2Wdq_ygaqD7y7x6Y_PO0ucM2G5slWxL9fI8gdqo0W-JqLKw7g7miRMZJvE27nU_eB2fY/s1600/n508888861_18267_9019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCux2GtfzRxoJnL9KnmUE6WSfN1XrjOk59JXJVhc8B770iPt1waA_6hJcCEYnIb3AQ-Atubhi2Wdq_ygaqD7y7x6Y_PO0ucM2G5slWxL9fI8gdqo0W-JqLKw7g7miRMZJvE27nU_eB2fY/s320/n508888861_18267_9019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> From those early, lovely, carefree "dating" days...ok, not so carefree. We were both working full time, and I was finishing up my B.A. at Carleton U.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX71AhyFjoNNo_ROiui7xzGChfJsQsxUdRsg9DxEeLhKPGrxAsSdajetKwr6CYZjPFqwuNi2lTJ7OQIcDvsvMMeDjHl9in3yHDz-8emi3mYc2cLlx7hC839-PcGuRaHL12pJHmd0kx85E/s1600/n508888861_18284_9898.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX71AhyFjoNNo_ROiui7xzGChfJsQsxUdRsg9DxEeLhKPGrxAsSdajetKwr6CYZjPFqwuNi2lTJ7OQIcDvsvMMeDjHl9in3yHDz-8emi3mYc2cLlx7hC839-PcGuRaHL12pJHmd0kx85E/s320/n508888861_18284_9898.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIRr_gkTfo1vj7CBD97aNgyHHnp5Lfyv4ZUP1FiRiDPc_6cLuGAoeV3WhQ7M5uOZd5lrxfzOmeKgXJ0ZSBjLRxwNxVBGhRWXGlGJE9vMUV-g5picIq7E9nqVNSKmlZ4xlxvGy_aZ2cfo/s1600/n508888861_18281_8646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFIRr_gkTfo1vj7CBD97aNgyHHnp5Lfyv4ZUP1FiRiDPc_6cLuGAoeV3WhQ7M5uOZd5lrxfzOmeKgXJ0ZSBjLRxwNxVBGhRWXGlGJE9vMUV-g5picIq7E9nqVNSKmlZ4xlxvGy_aZ2cfo/s320/n508888861_18281_8646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> To our awesome summer weekends spent at the cottage...falling more and more in love.</em></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqN7k94bWPfjSATkyX6IaS8nROStgIzbHYsgVusVd86Ph8aLBEtamRksxh9dkWitOaFICRACcBrA3reTlmPXqHXFymAkEZ63VpIyUBCI9OXzW6RgMfwoLbUEbYv4IulMVcuHe1aaDjnvc/s1600/n508888861_18302_6422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqN7k94bWPfjSATkyX6IaS8nROStgIzbHYsgVusVd86Ph8aLBEtamRksxh9dkWitOaFICRACcBrA3reTlmPXqHXFymAkEZ63VpIyUBCI9OXzW6RgMfwoLbUEbYv4IulMVcuHe1aaDjnvc/s320/n508888861_18302_6422.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em> To moving in together and our first apartment in Ottawa (this is us walking to Starbucks on New Years Day)</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka6qn4FyPNzoEbZt-U7C_Snc2CtXrUJ61MgDWUUsY36UcTH-R1kHEzJYzOw9pIcKUG8qwDbZH7CqgPlA-MgG25SPaUHU0OczmLrpimtjEnffKt4_6i5wZILthuJJcTZHy4OjceO3dhjY/s1600/q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgka6qn4FyPNzoEbZt-U7C_Snc2CtXrUJ61MgDWUUsY36UcTH-R1kHEzJYzOw9pIcKUG8qwDbZH7CqgPlA-MgG25SPaUHU0OczmLrpimtjEnffKt4_6i5wZILthuJJcTZHy4OjceO3dhjY/s320/q.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em>To truly, madly, deeply falling in love and getting engaged on Christmas Eve.</em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASn4i09aAJXSpPuLKPnbScQqab0KKbG5tgkZmf_uTABDFLtOK_D0_8XozeQ7ekCGeN4TIs4sXt-uoZ0YFjN3iXzkOPYzAxIaB0JxlQnA8PV9YP6cvUWhyphenhyphen1ATFAHz0A1xJgLePS1IBIAA/s1600/n508888861_655671_6163.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiASn4i09aAJXSpPuLKPnbScQqab0KKbG5tgkZmf_uTABDFLtOK_D0_8XozeQ7ekCGeN4TIs4sXt-uoZ0YFjN3iXzkOPYzAxIaB0JxlQnA8PV9YP6cvUWhyphenhyphen1ATFAHz0A1xJgLePS1IBIAA/s320/n508888861_655671_6163.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>And to living Happily Ever After.</em> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bill, you are my rock, and I love you more everyday. Here's to SO many more years of love, adventure and happiness (and one year closer to our 10th Anniversary where we will renew our vows in Hawaii...ALOHA!! lol). <strong>Love you</strong>.</span></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-80866113749995808372011-05-26T17:12:00.000-07:002011-05-29T15:28:54.194-07:00One sick toddler = One tired mommy<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My son is sick, sick, sick with a cold...which makes me sad, sad, sad because there is not too much that I can do for him. Bill left yesterday bright and early for an 11 day field training exercise, and wouldn't ya know it? Liam fell ill that same night! The last time Bill left for an extended amount of time, Liam got a really nasty stomach bug that lasted for almost the whole week. Sometimes the universe has a mean sense of humor!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLFoODqLHc9l1ikpLlIke2qRJpLGrPq8sX4aSaLoW5uS4CfUirnxB1SvN6PHsixAt7TYNC739jBjDhvObsstAmuPKKuXu-fk3QOXZCsomPzNd9kadE3YpXqSO-QYQ0ZniAwt0-NcSsSw/s1600/IMG_1262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGLFoODqLHc9l1ikpLlIke2qRJpLGrPq8sX4aSaLoW5uS4CfUirnxB1SvN6PHsixAt7TYNC739jBjDhvObsstAmuPKKuXu-fk3QOXZCsomPzNd9kadE3YpXqSO-QYQ0ZniAwt0-NcSsSw/s320/IMG_1262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last night my lil man was up from 11pm onwards, in 30 minutes intervals. I have never been one for co-sleeping (not making ANY sorta comment on it one way or the other...I think it's great to do if it works for your family), Bill and I just move around too much as it is (me especially..I can never seem to get comfortable). But last night after the 6th unsuccessful time trying to get LiLi to sleep in his own crib, I totally caved and brought him in to sleep with me. I figured since Bill was gone it would be okay. And it worked for about 2 hours. Then 6am rolled around, and that was it. We were up. So I stumbled us downstairs, turned on some VERY early cartoons, made some toast and peanut butter...and we chilled like that for a few hours. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know the only reason he wasn't sleeping was because he is so congested, he just couldn't breathe, and I feel for him. But boy oh boy...sick days..alone with a toddler...are THE longest days ever!!!!! I felt like it was 10 o'clock every time I looked at a clock. The seconds just ticked by as I wiped the endlessly runny nose, filled the sippy cup over and over, and thought of things to do inside on this rainy, crummy, cold day (that didn't involve my son watching Handy Manny ALL day long..I'm actually starting to see re-runs..it's that bad! Have I failed parenting one-oh-one? ) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In the end, we survived. Liam had a couple of very short naps which gave me a little time to recoup. We did puzzles, built block towers, colored with crayons, emptied the pot cupboard (lil monkey loves to do that!)..and I even somehow managed to make oatmeal and shortbread cookies. BooYA! lol (Forgive me..I live on an army base). I gave him a warm vapor bath, put some vapor rub on his feet and chest, put some saline in his nose and, blah, squeegeed it out, gave him some Tylenol Cold and Flu for babies, dressed him nice and comfy, gave him some water, and even put a small pillow in his crib with him for the first time (makes me a leetttllle nervous, but many friends of mine have told me how well their children do with it). Fingers crossed this momma gets some sleep tonight.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqTQQ3KdZUxP3jlsYT7MN7endL5CHHxKQ1hnhLQ5TduBCsOqSzA1bNzkRGxTRY6j9oSF2VG_Z8TWwJUk6Ge-Ph4mWZwZPV312vwE0_vHhzRF3-irywhU9ei1nKlMXRTlAaoalwykb9qU/s1600/IMG_1249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqTQQ3KdZUxP3jlsYT7MN7endL5CHHxKQ1hnhLQ5TduBCsOqSzA1bNzkRGxTRY6j9oSF2VG_Z8TWwJUk6Ge-Ph4mWZwZPV312vwE0_vHhzRF3-irywhU9ei1nKlMXRTlAaoalwykb9qU/s320/IMG_1249.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Not a pic from today..but he looks darn cute so I'm posting it in lieu of the runny nose boy today.</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">P.S. Sorry for the sicky post. I swear..my brain is so tired today that even if I wanted to write about something more interesting, the theme song from Max and Ruby would pour out!</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-82277873546009152502011-05-10T17:48:00.000-07:002011-05-10T17:59:41.096-07:00Welcome to the world Blake :)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">For the second time this spring, I am a new aunty. I would like to officially announce that I have my first NEPHEW! <em>Blake Harvey Vieau</em> was born on May 4th, 2011 at 9:50 pm. He weighed in at 10lbs 7oz and was 22 inches long.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ly8BUWdZiW0KHx2ItiuglJ8TGhC1L29t41MuziZai9N2FHBf3hQIXXr5RFTWIXclQu1_Ytme6PuNeG7fNMEN38bz0MuRjZD25oEAhDG2orFAgThm-EjsHqfr7ZNHPbTl4ngSvhL-3Es/s1600/228548_10150181717193909_505428908_6572443_7797663_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ly8BUWdZiW0KHx2ItiuglJ8TGhC1L29t41MuziZai9N2FHBf3hQIXXr5RFTWIXclQu1_Ytme6PuNeG7fNMEN38bz0MuRjZD25oEAhDG2orFAgThm-EjsHqfr7ZNHPbTl4ngSvhL-3Es/s400/228548_10150181717193909_505428908_6572443_7797663_n.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iZXR2DIKXU_C4iqnIJ1DMoVG2yyGiw14gtkzWnCwuKQ27-EtG_hga6N75I40NSxDJ1jqIr8NQPFpPpFGc1MOydQRYN-oSHSTcAxtcToJNVtovIC_vZfrv6mGhYrykvVKMGv7rHyZEfU/s1600/Untitled-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9iZXR2DIKXU_C4iqnIJ1DMoVG2yyGiw14gtkzWnCwuKQ27-EtG_hga6N75I40NSxDJ1jqIr8NQPFpPpFGc1MOydQRYN-oSHSTcAxtcToJNVtovIC_vZfrv6mGhYrykvVKMGv7rHyZEfU/s640/Untitled-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">My sister-in-law, Kathy, was due to deliver Blake via scheduled c-section on May 12th. But due to high blood pressure, and Blake's obvious readiness for the world, she was admitted to the hospital on May 4th. Blake arrived that evening to the joy of all of this family. Liam and I made the drive to Ottawa 2 days after his birth, and were able to visit him in the hospital on Friday evening. I was a little worried about bringing Liam to the hospital due to his high energy levels these days, but my mom and dad lent a hand and I was able to hold the bebe for a little while. Blakester is the CUTEST lil thing ever. He has these sweet chubby cheeks, great skin coloring, and the cutest lil lips. I feel so blessed to have three wonderful nieces and nephews now :)<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1P4sn_BcCYj57hepL1zdE2yHZILdA6Sx2DbW2y86XDEZGQimxD94qBW8aePM0tFHC08HmYAVwMQpu8oqUY-NQ8N5tx087_ZNApLulvdJNknIHpwkKv34rPyyT52GOoHzapbezYClGQMY/s1600/225094_10150611003320201_634810200_18883001_1598166_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1P4sn_BcCYj57hepL1zdE2yHZILdA6Sx2DbW2y86XDEZGQimxD94qBW8aePM0tFHC08HmYAVwMQpu8oqUY-NQ8N5tx087_ZNApLulvdJNknIHpwkKv34rPyyT52GOoHzapbezYClGQMY/s320/225094_10150611003320201_634810200_18883001_1598166_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Liam and I stayed in Ottawa for the weekend to visit with all of our family that was down to meet Blake. On Friday night we visited with Aunt Mary, Uncle Gary and Kelsey. Kelsey just returned from a year long trip to Europe where she went to school. It was SO fun going through all of her pictures. Amazing to see all of the awesome sites she got to visit! I am a little (oh ok... a LOT) jealous! lol.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">On Saturday we sort of hung around my Grams and Gramps house for most of the day. My Uncle Dave and his partner Gary arrived, so we were super happy to get to see them. Liam always seems to take right to Uncle Dave...by the end of their time together they are the best of pals. There is SO much outdoor space to play in at my grams house, so Liam is in his glory pushing a little baby carriage around and exploring the yard. I love to just sit back and watch him taking everything in. On Saturday we also made a "fun" trip to Bayshore to see if we could buy a litle lawnmower for Liam to play with. I loaded Liam up in the van and took off. It took us forever in Zellers to find someone/anyone who knew about the toy department, just to find out that they had already sold out of the lawnmowers. So I figured that we would just explore the mall a little bit since I am mall-deprived in Petawawa. Children's Place was a bit of a bust (I already have the cutest things from there...lol), as was Baby Gap (the cutest things were WAY to expensive for this momma currently). I thought we would do one last stop at HomeSense....bad idea....Liam had had enough of the oh so hot mall and started to get really fussy. I didn't finf anything the whole trip that I wanted to buy, except for a super cute little cooler for Liams friend Addy. Ah well. </div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Sunday it was time to drive back home...and it was also my second Mother's Day. I got spoiled by getting the chance to sleep in a little bit (my dad and Grandpa took control of Liam...though I think the love it just as much as he does...boy time). My grandpa walked to Timmies so I had an iced capp waiting for me when I woke up (LOVE him), and my Uncle Dave and Gary made an awesome breakfast for us all. Very good morning! And Liam was in his glory being loved on by all of his family. After breakfast and a little hurried packing, we were off. We stopped at IKEA and Michaels to do a little browsing (the couch Bill and I want from IKEA is now a $100 cheaper..woohoo), and then we drove out to Matt and Kathys for one last Devy and Blake visit. I am sad that I don't live a little closer as I had so much fun watching Liam and Devyn playing together! I think they are going to be best friends growing up :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Since we returned we have kept busy (as always!). We have been going for daily walks with Pauline and Addy which is great for all of us. The kids get out of the house, Chloe gets nice long walks, and Pauline and I get some exercise. I am trying really hard lately to start living a more healthy lifestyle. Eating better, drinking more water and far less pop, and upping the exercise. Here's hoping that it pays off :) Today we also stopped to let the kiddies play at the park. Fun :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw171kfR3mPJRN3-HlpUNpdljTifWm-AZLcO5dk5kdhyjmgp6KOz6KICXOPB1QrwdB0QpkarQe_6RbBvf37vc05_DSLtjG8CMv8BkDqFt7oK5KLYYUfajo-97WHnCy5j6e6hCvueDOlc/s1600/IMG_8480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiw171kfR3mPJRN3-HlpUNpdljTifWm-AZLcO5dk5kdhyjmgp6KOz6KICXOPB1QrwdB0QpkarQe_6RbBvf37vc05_DSLtjG8CMv8BkDqFt7oK5KLYYUfajo-97WHnCy5j6e6hCvueDOlc/s320/IMG_8480.JPG" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MfV8KUBG_7dgjgUySXYETpiuokZrbj846QY1WTNQjcDM9LCvRdhNeeaAkhGIwDY_vfyczhkgN0rFe2rODc1glbjb7D_efqxQOCD5edlqTI53oWQyciALeHxHWAF4xqB-3pUGs37nAE8/s1600/IMG_8481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9MfV8KUBG_7dgjgUySXYETpiuokZrbj846QY1WTNQjcDM9LCvRdhNeeaAkhGIwDY_vfyczhkgN0rFe2rODc1glbjb7D_efqxQOCD5edlqTI53oWQyciALeHxHWAF4xqB-3pUGs37nAE8/s320/IMG_8481.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKcHgnneElf-5K3hvwO618YOGUpbQt83ye0nyKpOs-FRzx4Qmwjj3DXeCzT_IR-hlUUTzRFc5dfY56gWSrHChmAw-NY1FZICUWSyiqYQeBsrvwyPItmKDXkLIsZbd5h_aBw0cWmhfxTA/s1600/Untitled-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKcHgnneElf-5K3hvwO618YOGUpbQt83ye0nyKpOs-FRzx4Qmwjj3DXeCzT_IR-hlUUTzRFc5dfY56gWSrHChmAw-NY1FZICUWSyiqYQeBsrvwyPItmKDXkLIsZbd5h_aBw0cWmhfxTA/s400/Untitled-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tomorrow it is suppposed to be gorgeous again, so we are heading out for another walk, and probably hitting up the beach for the first time this year. Addy and Liam LOVE the play in the sand now, so I think they are going to be in their glory when they see that beach stretching out around them. I feel like it is Christmas morning so often these days....whenever I know that I am about to show Liam something new and exciting. I get that little flutter in the pit of my stomach, and I just can't wait for that moment of joy in his face. Like the first time he saw that little lawnmower all put together (yes...I finally found one at the Zellers in Pembroke on our drive home on Sunday. Made a little pit stop). Bliss!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZBnk8gDVtk6k36T1ltviT3zYW5CAAp1o-zuaOOGVFV_V_DDwfW9Q-Wn90KUnYUtdzrbMSywtzabWudiCh9fIF7dCNkHZ-PA3btv6v3CiUiEFRNw9xUr8I0-kdIaqvPS29EoJtaJ_IOk/s1600/IMG_8520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhZBnk8gDVtk6k36T1ltviT3zYW5CAAp1o-zuaOOGVFV_V_DDwfW9Q-Wn90KUnYUtdzrbMSywtzabWudiCh9fIF7dCNkHZ-PA3btv6v3CiUiEFRNw9xUr8I0-kdIaqvPS29EoJtaJ_IOk/s320/IMG_8520.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>Yeah...this is about the nicest self-portrait I can get of the two of us. At least he's not blurry in this one..my little mover!</em></span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">P.S. I got my Mother's Day gift in the mail today. An Organic Ergo baby carrier. Can you say EXCITED?? Can't wait to try it out!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7guGuZTwgO2Wuyk5yUSYBSsVx72dSQmcbFzllNfWn5VBpCTdPKop9bl6wSsxDoeN6_rgRvBxGGbrpODLKJKzK1BawGdwfvZnkPNyjsezuUk7pzCx0qxjPFdwv027tHNGY-0AX7uazbnU/s1600/IMG_8514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7guGuZTwgO2Wuyk5yUSYBSsVx72dSQmcbFzllNfWn5VBpCTdPKop9bl6wSsxDoeN6_rgRvBxGGbrpODLKJKzK1BawGdwfvZnkPNyjsezuUk7pzCx0qxjPFdwv027tHNGY-0AX7uazbnU/s320/IMG_8514.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG8ZySMdpgjpRSKrQDfEP8tVEYVdkXbicpM0ShDWL06nIaoOtJDh6yM8h_NCxvgBrR_nzufXMkIn2JyfVHRRwF1MIg3eLeeoz_LCTOrceAC2qNffC_EwDTbTZABOrfHdldxmzEj3MLXc/s1600/IMG_8525.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSG8ZySMdpgjpRSKrQDfEP8tVEYVdkXbicpM0ShDWL06nIaoOtJDh6yM8h_NCxvgBrR_nzufXMkIn2JyfVHRRwF1MIg3eLeeoz_LCTOrceAC2qNffC_EwDTbTZABOrfHdldxmzEj3MLXc/s320/IMG_8525.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-25091005714282670222011-04-15T18:18:00.000-07:002011-04-15T18:19:16.323-07:00Welcome to the world Stephanie :)<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would like to officially announce that I am the proud aunty to a sweet little baby girl named <em>Stephanie Mia Southam</em>. Miss Stephanie was born on April 14th at 7:12 pm, weighing in at a teeny, tiny 4.5 lbs. But her and her momma Mel are doing great! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcC-yV9odd6HUTlSfbLE_xAbPlegi5TSLdOMYxE2OOixsx50VgG1F9GGutEbttkEJ57nE53tFxWBaTT2VscwxOIVYloaYfyUdrnjCr7koLB9S8dMcmxcA9-hC2tmqPs5WmFLrQDX1gLE/s1600/Stephanie1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="265" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcC-yV9odd6HUTlSfbLE_xAbPlegi5TSLdOMYxE2OOixsx50VgG1F9GGutEbttkEJ57nE53tFxWBaTT2VscwxOIVYloaYfyUdrnjCr7koLB9S8dMcmxcA9-hC2tmqPs5WmFLrQDX1gLE/s400/Stephanie1.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There is something so darn special about a new baby being born. You take a look at that little face and you can't help but be amazed at how many possibilities there are for this special little one. Babies always remind me about how good the world is..how sweet, and amazing and fragile it all is. </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBZBZMHr4GSxoaVcmj8Gl7FVyZut_46Psz_SyVt7gFtEeexuWc6ZfweWgSLWryzsMGrd83EbrruDrZPX0a7m0H9hpZXYT4UZUGvJDBEBj1cMi3oBngOByPvJf3YymxZlLepEQ5curpcQ/s1600/Stephanie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdBZBZMHr4GSxoaVcmj8Gl7FVyZut_46Psz_SyVt7gFtEeexuWc6ZfweWgSLWryzsMGrd83EbrruDrZPX0a7m0H9hpZXYT4UZUGvJDBEBj1cMi3oBngOByPvJf3YymxZlLepEQ5curpcQ/s400/Stephanie.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the mom of a 16 month old, I am only too aware of how fast time moves when you are a parent. I remember Liams birth like it was yesterday, and I find myself trying to grab ahold of and remember every little moment of that time. I remember the fear of not knowing what to expect. I remember the joy of hearing Liams first cries and seeing his little eyes blinking for the first time. I remember the first diaper change (of a million and counting...lol) and I remember the first time I sat down to breastfeed him. Each of these moments, and every one that has happened since, I would not change for the world. And I am so happy for Bill's sister and brother-in-law that they now get to experience these kinds of moments too. As Liam gets older and older, I find myself holding on just that much tighter, and rocking him for just those couple of extra minutes...trying to find a way to bottle up the smell and feel and look of him right now. </span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Parenthood. Oh Parenthood. There are no sentences good enough to express how it changes you. How it tests every boundary and limit that you thought you and, and forces you to be better than you ever thought you could. My heart melts a hundred times a day until I feel like I just can't hold any more joy than I am right now. It is the most wonderful, scary, joyful rollercoaster ride that I have ever been on and I just know that there are going to be so many twists and turns and drops and rolls...but man, the view from the top is spectacular!</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiN6r_YZ5_5alzks7xbCvShV8j_8pIZr6g04lsxC38kZmyRCYKXVJUHvusaesUdHotO_cbW98FO7_TF17v2QmBiPldSgBcGdLPfdeKXxPxfGDhP87NX4MvjOGeQ55lPVIJ88stM2cgsLg/s1600/liam+blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="160" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiN6r_YZ5_5alzks7xbCvShV8j_8pIZr6g04lsxC38kZmyRCYKXVJUHvusaesUdHotO_cbW98FO7_TF17v2QmBiPldSgBcGdLPfdeKXxPxfGDhP87NX4MvjOGeQ55lPVIJ88stM2cgsLg/s400/liam+blog.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-21364824548074757292011-03-18T16:52:00.000-07:002011-03-18T16:52:00.076-07:00Happy 28th Birthday to Moi :)<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Alrighty, so yesterdays post was all deep and contemplative...and a little whiney...so I thought that tonight I would get into the brighter side of things. Tomorrow I am going to be 28 years old. Seriously...28 years old?!!! How did that happen? Feels like yesterday that I was turning 18 and going to the Hull Casino for the first time. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtN1gdgrApNNgttE70I1bK2QTGi3yKUftJPDXiZi-ORCpNJu29RSYC3_yKV5mqe-5jU6nOQVt1icT2RhEJvyp7YpI6wbFFHchV1wsjl7CTYfXU2RfSwNzu2_VjJn9vd4XzYwSJ14asqs/s1600/n588505276_2639767_8902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" r6="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtN1gdgrApNNgttE70I1bK2QTGi3yKUftJPDXiZi-ORCpNJu29RSYC3_yKV5mqe-5jU6nOQVt1icT2RhEJvyp7YpI6wbFFHchV1wsjl7CTYfXU2RfSwNzu2_VjJn9vd4XzYwSJ14asqs/s320/n588505276_2639767_8902.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em>A picture of me on my birthday years ago (taken by my great friend Amber).</em></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course there are always things that one would want to tweek in their life. Is anyone's life truly perfect? Probably not. But for the most part I choose to live my days seeing the good in things. You won't often find me in a horrible mood, and I usually have a smile on my face (funny story: the man that works in the Post Office at Carlingwood Mall in Ottawa only ever remembers me for my smile, and calls me that..the girl that smiles. True story! lol). So in honor of my birthday, here is a list of things that I am grateful for right now:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - My super cute, super sweet, fun lovin', smiley son Liam Christopher. Life would not be near as fun without him in it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - My wonderful husband who works so hard to make Liam and I happy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - My puppy Chloe (who is actually 4 years old but will always be a puppy in my eyes). She is my cuddle bug in the middle of the night.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - The fact that Spring is officially on it's way. My birthday is on the last day of winter...so Spring is here this week!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - My awesome awesome awesome family!! Every member of my huge family adds their own unique flair to the whole, so that in the end we are this amazing tapestry of colors.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - My awesome awesome awesome friends :)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - The fact that my niece Devyn thrived during her first week at horsecamp. She's a rockstar!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - I am throughly grateful for Tim Hortons and their sweet sweet iced capps. Mmmmmmm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - My new van which still has that new van smell. Every time I see it I love it all over again.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - The tv show Bones. Who doesn't want to see David Boreanez once a week? lol</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - The smell of roses and carnations. Love!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - The fact that Liams little friend Addy is back from her vacation. Love seeing them together.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - The sound of the rain outside my window. Right about now, I will definetly take rain over snow ANY day</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - Learning how to make felt roses. SO much fun :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So there ya have it. My list of gratefuls for today. And ya know...it's way more fun writing about things I am happy about than things I am not so in love with right now. It's all in how you look at things right? Here's hoping that this year brings some awesome adventures to my little family. I hope that we can learn to appreciate each other even more, and that we can have lots of fun in the process :)</span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-48284084882632242092011-03-17T20:50:00.000-07:002011-03-17T21:44:31.748-07:00Let the Cloth Diapering Begin!!!<span style="font-size:180%;">"For what it's worth: it's never too late or, in my case, too early to be whoever you want to be. There's no time limit, stop whenever you want. You can change or stay the same, there are no rules to this thing. We can make the best or the worst of it. I hope you make the best of it. And I hope you see things that startle you. I hope you feel things you never felt before. I hope you meet people with a different point of view. I hope you live a life you're proud of. If you find that you're not, I hope you have the strength to start all over again."</span><br /><span style="font-size:180%;"></span><em><span style="font-size:130%;">- F. Scott Fitzgerald</span></em><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">I read this quote today on a blog, and it has just resonated over and over again in my mind. I haven't been able to sleep lately...I just lay there in bed for hours and hours, thinking and thinking and thinking about big important things and little teeny things and everything else in between. I feel like I am at a crossroads of sorts in my life right now. Liam is now 15 months old and is surprising me with how much he learns every single day. But he is definetly getting more independent and is needing me a little less each day. Bill is now settled into his new career that he worked so hard to enter and now it is just hard work and waiting for a promotion to Corporal. <em></em></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>And then there is me......</em> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I love being a stay at home mom, don't get me wrong, but I studied my, sorry, ass off for 4 years to get a university degree, and I really want to put it to use doing something constructive. I have this yearning to help people, and to be in a career that allows me to do that. And I am almost there. But I feel sort of stuck in my roles right now. Maybe that's normal? I guess I am just finding it hard to resign myself to "just" being a stay at home mom. Which is totally unfair, because there really is no "just" about it. It is one of the hardest jobs that I have ever had (and my most favorite!!), and I have complete respect for those women out there who are totally comfortable in that role. But as much as I love spending every moment with my son, I feel like I need more to be fulfilled. And right now, my little family could sure use any extra income that I could provide. The problem I face right now: I live in Petawawa!!! There are no jobs here for me, and there are no schools close by (except for in Ottawa which is 2 hours away..a bit of a commute) and so, if I want a job, I will most likely find myself working for one of the, what, 4 stores in the town. That means spending hours away from my son to work at Shoppers Drug Mart or Kelseys. And I just don't know if I am okay with that. But I don't know if our finances are okay without that. I mean, we are doing fine, but I really want to be able to get Liam those little extras that make life fun!! :) So, do I suck it up and take one for the team? Or do I hold off, enjoy my moments with Liam and say buy bye to those extra perks? It's something I will have to work out in the days to come. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I read all these blogs online, and I love all of these strong, confident, capable women that I am meeting, and I know that I want to be more like them. I need to find my niche in the world. Something that makes me happy for being <em>Amanda. </em>Not Amanda the mom, or Amanda the wife, or Amanda the daughter/sister....just <em>Amanda. </em>Sometimes we take on so many roles, that I think we forget who we really are. And by the time we realize that, it's hard to remember who we really were in the first place. Gah....lol....deep thoughts for a Thursday night!! But it's been on my mind lately. Maybe it's because my 28th birthday is approaching this Saturday and I am feeling reflectice. Yey...blaming it on that!! :)</span></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585272072401486802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj308oPqo4Re2fXuGOq4HDnSqqE9cwqhZUAPSOnDXOZubmXpaU_RS2pUlNmYIJeadmZx6CH_5wVpZGsHBJ2_LNXCMUIstrIzDTZxhwpSitPZwP7mz0WGIebEd_4oXlfqoKM17R_GiKfQ1E/s400/03-03-11+%25289%2529.JPG" /><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">In other news, Liam is amazing! Could I really get through a whole post without mentioning that? lol. He has walking down pat now, and has moved on to the climbing everything in sight phase. He also now knows exactly what he does and does not want, and he does not hesitate to share his thoughts (expressed through lots and lots of pointing, whining and "uh, uh, uh"s.). </span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585272107309597266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN67yMZlqHcGWbcGw0d5h0pm8g4Ug3NS7kFwtqEQbMbiJQDBJpYDbOuRAUbdmqYMt6XMxktLd_LA-qlSwhDK8kXfNUjMdBUCTJ_PtEbtO_fcq5KHNTTrbae-A1dUJfoJCApYzrjQ3Okkc/s400/dont+worry+about+it+029.JPG" /><em>Liam loves giving kisses and hugs to everyone lately...including his sock monkey :) </em></span></div><div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Our night time routine has evolved into this heavenly, relaxing thing which I am in love with! We give him his bath (Bill and I take turns), get him all ready for bed, brush those little teeth of his (which now number...hmmm...I think 12) and then one of us sits in his rocker with him while he drinks a warm bottle. Then, while he's still awake but drowsy, we give him a little kiss, say "I love you" and put him in his crib. And that is that. Honestly! It sure beats the hours we used to spend rocking him until he fell asleep. Ahhhhhhh....what to do with the extra hour? </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">As much as Bill and I work at getting Liam to say his first word, he doesn't seem to be ready quite yet. I mean, he does say Mommy, Daddy, Nana and again, but that is about it. This week we have been working on learning the word "car". Not sure exactly why we picked that word...lol...but Liam loves cars so I suppose it's all good. He tries his darndest to say it...he gets the sylabbles rights...but he can't quite get it. I know he will when he's ready, but I SO can't wait to hear his little voice talking away :)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Ooohh...almost forgot! We got the best package in the mail today: our first set of 12 cloth diapers!! We are definetly starting this cloth diapering experiment late in the game, but I am super excited to try it out. I tried one on Liam today just to make sure that they fit, and his little bum looked SOOOOOO darn cute! I'm sure he was wondering why Mommy was making such a fuss about his diaper. lol. I am hoping that we can adjust to the new diapers pretty fast. If so, we will definetly invest in some more fun, funky colors. Can't wait to try them!!!!! We just have to get the new ones washed (a bunch of times) and ready for use, so hopefully we can start our adventure by tomorrow or the next day. </span></div><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585274473343116946" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifZlRlXMQpu5xWS53vMydPeqv0IKWVvMF_cS19LKuymRlpALZsQ4nErrPMTEkD5q4sPMpylONWmFanVqe4ZkrgySWzSc5UnS-UUYqRBA9YtSuBSP5_9mIHTpGa_RcLKp9qwJKmNaGBpdY/s400/IMG_7567.JPG" /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><em>Our stash!!<br /><br /></em><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5585274446632189650" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsyb417u75EHySyOfeiMYeFf-JxVgDKNAMaX15iFWh8t-C01uaGxmOXC4PiGDe6h4zVebljydWYW4iBNBgRPbmJTcifHJ7NZoikyWY-5nZ-SDnnoBAnE9ypXsH-4h0XYTyr8y5TMZLqvI/s400/IMG_7443.JPG" /></span><em><span style="font-size:130%;">Liam is excited about his new diapers too :) (well..and bubbles)<br /><br /></span></em><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:180%;color:#009900;">Happy St. Patty's Day!!!</span></em></div></div></div></div></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-47709020630780129382011-02-22T16:33:00.000-08:002011-02-22T16:41:18.085-08:00Spring, Oh Spring!<a href="http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff403/aadams3/02-15-111.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 408px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 254px; CURSOR: hand" border="0" alt="" src="http://i1234.photobucket.com/albums/ff403/aadams3/02-15-111.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I am starting to sense spring in the air. Despite all of the snow and freezing cold temperatures, it's there...the way the air smells just a little sweeter, the way the birds are chirping more, the way the sunshine is starting to feel a little warmer...just something is saying that spring is around the corner! And I love it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I can't wait to share this spring with Liam. His little legs will be able to take him so much further this year, and will let him explore so much more. We are already planning trips to the zoo, to the park, to the beach...ooohhh...so much fun!! :) </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">And the picture above is of a plant Bill and I have in our living room. Springy ain't it? :) We have no idea what kind of plant it is...we rescued it from Home Depot a few years ago when it was looking like it had seen better days. It only flowers once a year, but when it does, boy is it magnificent!! I guess it can sense spring coming too...<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:arial;"></span>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5727383569035281446.post-19681970863246466082011-02-14T19:11:00.000-08:002011-02-14T20:47:25.253-08:00Sharing the Love<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXENuwhF2thA18m5q5DNVI4s_MnpIUZQBgw_dCHvI8iXi26JDa_XoW6y8zgqKzpBcfpw3es9cN9giKkjjVaOH2ByU-2ZFN5jANHpxCTWNZVYyb-r0h8K03OTo9nlbD2GRqv-A_ImROclw/s1600/IMG_7246.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 299px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573771599476298322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXENuwhF2thA18m5q5DNVI4s_MnpIUZQBgw_dCHvI8iXi26JDa_XoW6y8zgqKzpBcfpw3es9cN9giKkjjVaOH2ByU-2ZFN5jANHpxCTWNZVYyb-r0h8K03OTo9nlbD2GRqv-A_ImROclw/s400/IMG_7246.JPG" /></a><em><span style="font-size:85%;"> Our lovely artwork (Liams is at the bottom and hard to see with the silly gate in the way. Points for trying though right?)<br /></span></em><br /><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Just stopping by to wish everyone a VERY happy Valentines Day. I have found lately that there are two camps of people...those that don't really believe in celebrating vday and those that do. I definetly fall into the second category. But I pretty much love all holidays. Any time I get a chance to dig out the construction paper and sparkles I am a happy girl. I cannot wait until next year when Liam is older and I can sit down with him to make some homemade cards. This year we sent out Daddy's coice...ummm yeah....Shrek Valentines Day cards. lol. But he showed his early Picasso side and did a little scribbling on each of them, so they were special and from his heart. Usually I do some Valentines day baking, but I things have been pretty hectic around here lately and I just couldn't find the time. Thinkin' I may still make some heart shaped cookies, just 'cuz I can. And they're yummy. And mommy surely needs her sugar fix these days! lol </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Last week was one of THOSE weeks. You know those weeks where you just have to hunker down and survive? Yeah..it was one of those. Bill had just left for his training course in Borden a few days prior, when both Liam and his little friend Addy caught some sort of stomach flu. It was brutal. BRUTAL! I am not one to get queasy over, sorry for the graphic information, baby poop and vomit, but man was I put to the test. Poor Liam could not seem to keep anything down, though his personality didn't seem to suffer much, other than a whole lot more whining. I'm not used to having a clingy baby, but spent a lot more time than usual on my lap watching Tree House. And if I didn't pick him up fast enough, I saw some of these faces: </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 160px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573768677250729474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkrWoZrXey-iCCNMrYAoGs5ttHmEN5AvrfywiKdJyEg28Ljzrvwz2oH_66QNmYPrywawEID960JcbUgSdg0tTPdB0dvxyZXikDpVo2juDnLmtPbW99xDEkUyPxInOYeJlqaweK5zaZCY/s400/Untitled-1+copy.jpg" /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I think at one point I had to literally change his crib bedding like 3 times in one day, not to mention the number of outfit changes and diapers that we went through. Not fun! After 5 days of icky poop, Pauline and I decided to take the kiddies into a local clinic. We waited for about 2 hours (thankfully we have angel children who took it upon themselves to charm the whole waiting room), and were told to cut milk out of their diets completely, keep pushing the fluids, and offer them some Pedialyte. Liam loves the suff, so it not a hardship, and after a few days they were back to normal. The one weird side effect has been that Liam no longer needs a bottle before bed. Since I had to cut out milk for a little while, he wasn't getting that before bed bottle, and didn't really miss it. So I am currently undecided about whether or not to re-introduce it. I think at this point it would be more me not wanting to let go of my "baby" then him actually needed it. We'll see.... :)<br /></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 411px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 190px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573765914907188578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBw5Bm9apwFRLXswLFqlITdujbY9MHvIbuPFTvr5EHSvbuh0RTrFShhVaOANwwHIu-eYj95T05g27EzJydLsyyjtYi5UDJIHx1_I5DwUd9tP7MMQKCD6TT53d8HmJ8opVNvIOmzS41ok/s400/TIm+Hortons.jpg" /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">We let Liam and Addy try Timbits for the first time once they were feeling better :)<br /></span></em></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Anywho, we survived the hell week and this past weekend found Liam and I in Ottawa hosting my sister-in-law Kathy's baby shower. It was a crazy hectic day, but it was so great to spend fun-filled time with new friends and old family (well..not old...you know what I mean!). My mom made some awesome goodies, we played some goofy shower games (like pass the dirty diaper..uh huh..that's right) and Kathy got spoiled as all mommys-to-be should. Now we just have to wait until May to meet the man of honour, Blake Harvey, who will make his debut on May 12th. Liam was awesome throughout the whole day, thanks in part to all of the help I had from those around me. During the main part of the shower he hung out in the basement with his Grandpa and Uncle Matt and had some boy time. He slept for a grand total of 20 minutes all day, but whataya gonna do right? And I got to see my niece Devyn that day, and if you've met Devyn at all, you know that she is like pure sunshine. Anytime spent with her is good for the soul :)</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">We drove home from Ottawa on Sunday, after stopping at Bill's sisters house to pick up an old crib that they are donating to the cottage this summer (I am going to deliver it to Bills parents house in Trenton the next time I visit there...probably in March). It snowed the whole way home, but whats new, and Liam fell asleep watching Toy Story with me in the back seat (my dad was driving just in case you were wondering what the heck). </span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Bill is working in the field AGAIN this week (go figure) so Liam and I are pretty much on our own again. I miss my hubby like crazy when he is gone, but one of the worst parts has GOT to be trying to figure out what to cook every night for dinner. Most of the time I would probably just snack on small things, but I have to make sure that Liam is eating a balanced diet, so I am slowing teaching myself how to cook. I am excellent at using the veggie steamer now if I do say so myself. lol. We do get to see Bill for about an hour each night while he runs in for a shower. I like that Liam gets some Daddy time in before bed. It always makes me sad when the two of them have to be apart for any length of time. They have so much fun together. Pauline and I have lots of plans this week as usual, so the time should pass by quickly, but I still can't wait to have him home for a little while.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Ok..well that's it for tonight. It is FREEEEEEZIIINGGG out (I just let miss Chloe out for her before-bed pee... BRRrrrrr) and I just wanna crawl under the covers and read a good book. And with Bill away tonight (poor man!) I can keep the light on as long as I want. Small pleasures right? :) Lots of love to you this Valentines Day!</div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573769581645020114" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYFmn14B6JQu4MbFhzE-sNpgTS-xkO50EQA14HEQue2xceUWydOiKiOCHvya0rjW8IY-AL8uD8G93xkiW74KjqBL3CAmOoJt3VgCQ51v20LEk786r-8roPWkXFltV9eHHieprMFVYCL_8/s400/Heart+Snow+Pic.jpg" /></span></div><div><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Liam and I decorated the window with hearts. That's just how we roll around here. lol </span></em></span></div></div>Amandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01146128345465014469noreply@blogger.com0