when there isn't any parking out front

i get frustrated when I can't park out front at church. Today, I had to park a half block away. Normally, not a long distance...but not so short when hauling a 28 pound toddler who can't walk in the snow yet, an almost 17 pound baby in a bucket car seat and a diaper bag. All while trying to keep a preschooler right next to me. Ya, that's no fun. And I don't think it would be any easier to put Ruby in the sling because she wouldn't be warm enough, because we can't load her up with a heavy jacket in the car seat, so all her warmth is from her fuzzy blue shearling GoCozy and extra blanket. Not exactly the best way to enter into worship...all cranky, sweaty and feeling like your back is going to hurt. Well, at least it was only -7, could have been much colder!

Oh, and then I took all 3 kids to the grocery store. We survived, but thankfully it was a short trip. That was a first, if you don't count the time I put both girls in the double stroller and let Isaac walk. This was a genuine "get a cart and buy some milk" grocery trip.

upgrading....

We're redoing Isaac's bedroom really soon. Ordered him a new bed from Sears today. This is the bed...well, can't get the link to work... His old bed will go to Norah. We're going to paint the old bed and the toddler bed we have the same colour - they are currently different shades of white. Ruby will eventually move into the crib Norah is in, Norah will take over the Ikea bed - it's the VIKARE bed, in white. It folds into a full-size twin, but can be smaller. Nice for a little one.
When Ruby moves out of the crib, she will have the toddler bed. Keeping up with this? Then we won't have to buy a second crib mattress for the toddler bed, since we will only have one crib mattress in use at one time.

Phew! That's tiring!

Anyhow, Isaac gets a new, big boy bed. He's already got some bedding, but we're going to have to buy him some new bottom sheets. I'm wondering what colour to paint his walls. I would like to keep them the wheat tone they are, but he's scratched the paint up...only one coat on there it seems. (suggestions welcome...) He's asking for orange, or red, yellow and blue, but that seems a touch bright.

When Norah moves into the Ikea bed, she's going to need some sheets. I wonder how hard sheets would be to make, given the strange dimensions of that mattress. To be honest, I would love to get matching sheets made for the girls. I saw some gorgeous flannelette fabric in the local fabric store (yes, *I* was in a fabric store, not for fabric mind you). Almost makes me want to take up sewing. Almost....

she's huge!

Ruby was weighed today. At 2 months of age (and five days), she is 16lbs 13oz. That is almost double her birth weight! wow. that's all.

bunnies!

Today, I actually managed to get pigtails in Norah's hair. They were adorable, and no, I didn't get any photos. I snuck up on her during Dora and got them in. Then Isaac asked for some too. So I did. His looked hilarious, sticking straight up out of his head. He then said that he was a bunny, that the pigtails were his ears and that he needed to jump. So we all jumped. Then I needed bunny ears too. (good thing the camera was nowhere to be seen!) Isaac apparently is a carnivirous bunny as he told me his bunny only ate meat and small animals (???).

Rob came home in the middle of this. Was a little surprised to see Isaac with the pigtails...then he saw Norah and just melted. She was pretty cute. That girl has her daddy wrapped around her finger for sure.

freezing rain is no fun

Now, to be honest, I didn't go out in it. The problem is that the freezing rain froze the sliding doors of my van shut! I took Isaac to preschool today, and despite remote starting the van a good 8 minutes before going outside, the doors would not open. So Isaac got into the van from the tail. That was interesting.... Especially interesting to drive with the door beeping at me, telling me it was open...when clearly, it was not. I just couldn't get it fully closed due to the ice!

He had to get in the van that way after preschool too, but by the time he and I made it to the bank, they had thawed. I think despite my earlier reservations, I will park in the garage, as Rob wants me to.

You know, I'm thinking about just how amazing God's timing is. Yesterday, I was having a bit of a mommy meltdown. Couldn't find Isaac's tuque (boy, that word looks wrong...). Had to go to the bank - where I can't fit the double stroller in the door. So I was freaking out trying to figure out how to get out with all 3 kids and only a single stroller. I hadn't slept well, so I was cranky too. Was SO glad Rob was working from home and emerged from the downstairs office just in time for me to hit my worst point...and bailed me out. (wiping brow in relief!) He's such a great dad.

Anyhow, at that moment, the phone rang. A good (but long distance - aren't they all?) friend. Having a worse day than me. Needing a bit of a phone hug and some encouragement. I could do that! And I hopefully did, I'm sure she will let me know otherwise ;) What I learned from this phone call is that really, it could be worse. If my biggest issue is where my kid's hat is and how to manage 3 kids who sleep at night and with a husband who impresses me with his skills with said kids - life is pretty good. Great in fact. Thanks for the opportunity to feel ok with how things are going here. amen.

Ruby at Christmas

something Isaac put on the bathtub....

snow fun!

Yesterday's moments of perfection:

Standing in kitchen, baby in sling, stirring homemade cider. Watching hubby and older kids play in backyard snow. Son comes inside stating "I'm just so cold mom, so cold. Daddy threw snow on me, I'm done". Offer son cup of cider. He is skeptical, asks for hot chocolate. I give cider and urge him to try. He tastes, eyes light up, puts down mug and claps hands "this is delicious mom, thanks".

beautiful moment. These are the times I am beyond thankful that I am a mother.

11 signs your surgery isn't going well...ick

1. When your doctors stop talking to you and start talking ABOUT you in a very official sounding tone
2. When you say quietly "I'm going to be sick" and nobody hears you until you start vomiting
3. When you tell the anesthesiologist that you want to go to sleep now and he tells you "don't you dare close your eyes"
4. You know your blood pressure is really low - last numbers you saw were 54 over 26. That can't be good. Oh, and your heart rate varies every time you look at the monitor - somewhere between 65 and 120...and you can't do the math to figure out how much of a change that is.
5. When the anesthesiologist starts barking at a nurse to order a bunch of things...and you can't tell what they are because everything is going fuzzy
6. Everything goes fuzzy
7. Someone says "hey, that's a lot of blood"
8. The doctors performing the surgery are pushing on your rib cage so hard that, even though everything is fuzzy, you are thankful for being frozen from the chest down
9. A random nurse stops by with a big white cooler, saying "here's the blood"
10. You can tell they are distracting your husband by repeating "baby's almost out...look, here's the baby"
11. The anethesiologist can't get a read of your blood pressure even with a manual cuff...you may casually croak out "hey, so am I dead"...and he's not laughing.

Then, mercifully, the baby is out. And you can breathe again, and you can feel your blood pressure coming back. All of a sudden, things feel ok again. Wow - that was scary. No rush to do that again.

I have 3 kids!

Wow - there are 3 of them. And it is a good thing. Ruby is just a little princess, who isn't really demanding at all. She just fits right in. Isaac always wants to hold her, Norah wants to touch her ("gentle Norah, gentle on her head"). It's great. We have had help here, but tomorrow it's just the 5 of us for the day. Could be interesting!

Thanks to my Mom and Leslie for being here so far. I couldn't have made it this far without them. This is the first time we have had any real outside help for any length of time, and it is such a blessing. My mom is back tomorrow night. Yay! She was back in Vancouver for my Nanny's memorial service. I wish I could have been there, but I had a good excuse.

So strange to have my Nanny die the day before Ruby arrived. Timing is crazy in life. So now she has an extra middle name in tribute.
http://www.legacy.com/can-vancouver/LegacySubPage2.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=15648284
(although, technically, she only had 4 great grandchildren at the time of her death. Ruby arrived the next morning)

3 kids - now to get them all to look at the camera

Isn't she lovely?

and more Isaac issues!

poor little guy. It just doesn't end. This morning, he woke up sick. Feverish, whiney, not his usual self. Then had a nap this afternoon, and woke up wanting to stay in bed. Even turned down juice, wanting water instead. If that's not a sign of being sick... and he wanted me to sit on his bed with him. No talking, no story reading, just sitting. Strange. Hope he's feeling better in the morning - don't want him to miss his preschool Halloween party!

Oh, and the baby comes in ONE WEEK. ONE WEEK from today.

Isaac's new injury

My poor little guy. Hurt again. Broken finger. And from tripping while walking down our hallway! Just walking along, minding his own business...and wham! As soon as he stood up, I knew it was broken...Rob couldn't even look at it, he just turned green. Off to the ER we went. What a little trooper Isaac is. He let the doctor poke and prod his finger without much complaint at all. The doc was sure it was only a sprain, given how Isaac let him move it. Did x-rays anyhow. Thank goodness - because there was the break, plain as anything on the x-ray. Pretty gross actually. He got a splint and then I took him to the hospital cafeteria for lunch (since this happened as we were getting ready for lunch). A woman from our church works in the caf, and she brought Isaac a popsicle. That made his day. :)

So Isaac has managed to do in less than 4 years something that Rob and I have yet to do in our combined 60+ years of life - break a bone. What can I say, he is talented!

Norah, Isaac and Ainsley.

The cousin's kids.  Soon to be added to again. In weeks, there will be 5 of them! 

 

Norah's birthday cake

cuddly mornings in our room

why is it?

Why is it when Rob is away my house is cleaner?

I would like to think it's because we like spending time together and the housework gets pushed aside. Secretly, I think he's as messy as the kids.

I hate this month, simply because Rob is away so much. From Tuesday to Friday this week, overnight too. Next Tuesday for the day, then Synod over the weekend. It's no fun being home alone...especially pregnant with both kids. I'm just tired and so ready for a break come 5 pm.

my daughter, the duck

What is it with Norah quacking all over the house? She happily crawls around, quacking. I don't get it. It's funny - but strange. She is starting to take those solo steps...but doesn't seem to like it much. She's also way into blowing kisses and "ro ro?" (grabbing your hands and wanting to play row, row, row your boat).

I currently have 3 pumpkins turning orange in my living room. I grew them! Also, a whole wine box filled with tomatoes, that I grew, ripening as I type this. Not sure what to do with them though. I just can't believe how well my garden did this year. Apparently, ignoring your plants most of the time is a good thing. Who knew?

Oh, and it's SNOWING. Since this morning, there has been snow falling. It's not sticking though, but it's really pretty to watch. I hope this doesn't mean fall is over...I'm loving the leaves, crisp mornings and beautiful sunlight in the afternoons.

I got my first speeding ticket this past week. Not fun. Actually, sent me into a really bad day overall. Kind of pushed me over the edge of being cranky about life in general. Think I'm gettting over it though. Hope so.