Tuesday, December 14, 2010

The (2nd) Best Christmas Present Ever!

It would be THE BEST Christmas present ever except for the fact that Canaan was born on Christmas, so he has to be the best one. The second best gift, I received today. It's in my kitchen and is going to add hours to my week. It's a dishwasher! It's a long story starting with how we asked for it but then did not think we were going to get it and finally encountered a situation that worked to our benefit and we got it. The work began about 10 days ago when the maintenance guys removed our tiny refrigerator, leaving an empty space just large enough to catch our kids' interest. Canaan managed to pull off a board that used to cover the bottom part of the cabinets. A couple days later, I was facing the stove preparing dinner and Canaan was hanging out in the kitchen with me. I suddenly heard a strange noise, turned around and only saw his feet sticking out of the cave. He was stunned but fortunately not hurt. We ended up sticking our rubbish bins in the hole to keep the kids out. It worked pretty well. So, after 9 days of protecting our kids from the cave of danger, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum received a threat from their boss that made them eager to install our dishwasher. They finished at noon and I finished my afternoon washing up in 5 minutes as opposed to the usual 15 to 20.

I love my dishwasher.

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Snow Day!

Yes, we had a snow day! It's the third year in a row that school's been closed because of the snow. We love it! We, including the kids, slept in, played in the snow and then headed over to make sugar cookies with some friends in the neighborhood. I ended my no sugar until Christmas by indulging in some delicious homemade fudge. Oh, well. I can always do no sugar as my new year's resolution. We ended the day at the Red Lion having dinner with friends...and then got a text later that we'd have another snow day on Friday!

Saturday, November 13, 2010

Here he is...

Canaan's Walking!

He started about two weeks ago with about two careful steps between the sofa and the coffee table. This progress to about three steps between the table and the futon. Now, he loves to walk and does it spontaneously with no extra encouragement from anyone! Today he was so proud because he was able to walk while holding a sippy cup. That wasn't quite as successful as when he has his hands free, but it was fun to watch him figure something else out that he can do. Oh, that reminds me that he also figured out how to shake his head "no." It's a very exaggerated shake that takes a whole lot of effort, but it's adorable. As for Evie, yesterday she was really into saying "Oh, my goodness!" with many different intonations. Pretty cute. And of course, her two favorite questions continue to by "Why?" and "What are you doing?" We also get to review when everyone has their birthday parties...every day!

Here's a video of our snack time... 



Bear Cub Canaan & Froggy Evie ready to brave the cold, windy, rainy day. Thanks for the hats Nanny!

Friday, September 17, 2010

Military Bias Dress

I've decided to release my creative energy again. I began crocheting a sweater for Evie, but it's a slow process because most evenings I'm just too sleepy to pick up the yarn and count stitches. So, I was surfing the net one day and came upon my new favorite crafty blog. There are quite a few tutorials on making clothes for little girls and I decided to make her this super cute dress. I started about a week or so ago when the kids went down for a nap (at the same time!). Their nap lasted a blissful and unusual three hours. I was able to make the dress pattern, cut out the fabric and sew the pockets! I'd planned on the whole thing taking me a few weeks to complete, but was very inspired after getting so much done at once. I finished it over the next few days. However, I only worked on it during nap time, so when I tried the almost finished product on Evie, it was a bit snug. No worries, just more work. I had to let out the side seams and get creative with making the neck line large enough to fit over her head. Eventually, it all worked and Evie loves it...especially the pockets!




Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Yummy Yogurt!

Our son decided he didn't want us to feed him tonight. We tried giving him pureed chicken pasta but he did not want anything to do with it. So, we tried mashed banana with yogurt, appealing to his sweet tooth (yes, he has a tooth now!). He whined and shouted and wouldn't eat. So, we just left the bowl and spoon on his tray and let him have at it. He loved it and ate for about 40 minutes!


Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Snow Day 2010


We were supposed to go to London to get Canaan's passport and show Mom the city today, but the weather changed our plans. It snowed all night and almost all day, so we couldn't get to the train station and were stuck in Thorpe. We made the best of it by having pancakes with the Bowser's and then playing in the snow. Evie and Estie learned how to throw snowballs while Chris, Dad, Chris, and Stacie built our snow family. Mom made sure the snow stayed off Canaan's face so that he didn't get too cold.

Saturday, January 2, 2010

The story of our Christmas baby...

It's long and not the best piece of writing I've done due to the fact it was written during the time of night when most people are sleeping...

Christmas Morning...
At 2 a.m. I was woken up by my contractions. I fell back asleep without a problem and slept between the contractions until about 3 a.m. That's when I came to my senses and realized what was happening. I woke Chris up and asked him to start getting things ready and to take Evie to his parents who were staying at our neighbor's flat. He wondered why we needed to take Evie and I reminded him that I didn't want her to wake up in the middle of my labour. So, he got Evie sorted at his parents, hung balloons out front so the midwifes could find our house, and brought down the towels. Meanwhile, I started to time the contractions and they were already 2 to 3 minutes apart. I rang the midwife and tried to get things ready downstairs between the contractions. Needless to say, I wasn't getting much accomplished other than getting from one contraction to the next. I did manage to get out my medical papers, the tens machine, and snacks for the midwifes. The first midwife, Odette, arrived at about 4:15 a.m. Chris helped her bring in her supplies and they figured out the best places for them in our house. I stayed on the couch and focused on breathing. Chris started the oil burner with lavendar and brought me some Bach's Flower Remedy with water. At that point, I needed him to stay with me and he did. The midwife suggested for me to lean on the birth ball during contractions. I was managing well for a while with only breathing. Chris was so encouraging with his words and massaging my shoulders and feet. I'm not sure what time things changed a bit, but the contractions suddenly became stronger and were not as easy to breath through. This is when someone (don't remember who) suggested I use the Tens machine. I had totally forgotten about it after I brought it out earlier. Odette helped Chris find the perfect position for it on my back. The relief was incredible. It brought me back to where I had been earlier and I continued with clear focus and breathing. Finally, Odette decided it was time to examine me. It must have been close to 6 a.m. She was surprised to find that I was already 8 cm dilated! She immediately called the other midwife, Teresa, because of my quick progression. After the exam, I sat up. Chris asked if I wanted to get in the pool. The contractions were coming on very strong and I could not make a decision. He offered gas and air, and again the pool. I just said, "I don't know. I don't know." Then I had a contraction that was very different from the others and began to feel an urge to push. There was no time to get in the pool, but I was able to move to the plastic under it. The intensity increased rapidly and my water broke. I was on all fours, which was my preferred position to deliver out of the pool. However, after a few minutes my fingers began to go numb because of the pressure I was putting on them. My knees were also unstable and slipping on the tarp, so Odette suggested I lean on the ball. I knew that wouldn't work because it was too bouncy and rolling. It was not the time to be strengthening my core! So, I tried leaning on Chris, but I was distorting his body into too many strange and unnatural positions. Finally, I shifted to leaning over the pool. It was firm and stable, but with soft, cushy edges. Throughout all these changing positions, I was doing my best to push the baby out, convince that he wasn't coming. The pain was so intense and I really believed it wasn't going to end. I was hot and thirsty, but could not communicate anything but that it hurt. Chris continued to encourage me and was always right by my side. By this time, Teresa had arrived. It was as if she read my mind. I knew she was there when a cool damp cloth wiped my face and neck. Heaven. A few more pushes and Canaan was passed into my hands at 6:40 a.m. My first thought - he looks like his dad. I held him briefly, but was still kneeling near the pool. I had so much trouble relaxing and couldn't move without the help of the midwifes. The next few minutes are somewhat of a blur. I remember sitting on the plastic tarp, holding Canaan awkwardly because I hadn't delivered the placenta, yet. Chris cut the cord. The placenta was delivered and surprisingly didn't gross me out. The midwifes stitched me up while I inhaled the gas and air. That's when I was finally able to totally relax. They were joking about how much I liked the stuff, but when I wouldn't continue to breath it, they'd make sure to remind to keep taking it. Chris was holding Canaan on the futon, taking pictures of their first moments together. Finally, I was laying on the couch, holding my baby boy.
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