Archive for the 'milestones' Category

All or Nothing

On the drive home from Saskatoon, Noah and I decided it was a good idea to get rid of the toys that the girls don’t play with anymore, since they were blessed with some new ones at Christmas.

Yesterday afternoon I went into their room to do just that.

I ended up moving furniture around, going through (and organizing) every.single.toy and clothing item, and vacuuming in places that normally don’t get vacuumed.

Noah walked into the girls’ room and just started laughing. “You can’t do anything half way, can you?”

Nope. I can’t.

I ended up with a big box of too-small clothes and toys that hadn’t been played with in a while (along with every single annoying McDonald’s toy I could find. Which is every one of the stupid things.)

Since the girls’ age gap is so large (5 years, 8 months, and 29 days), I did my best (when we first moved in) to make sure that Liliana can play in there freely, and Kaylie doesn’t have to worry about any of her belongings being destroyed. Kaylie’s dresser has a desk built on top of it, and most of her art supplies are in there. When the desk part is closed, Liliana cannot get into it. I also put a baby-proof cupboard closure on it, just in case.

The rest of Kaylie’s toys are in the closet that Liliana also cannot open. Yet. It may also gain a baby-proof cupboard closure soon.

As much as I hate cleaning, I love organizing. I actually enjoyed going though all their clothes and toys; putting like with like and making sure everything had a “home”.

In addition to moving furniture to strategic, space-saving places, I also saved space by getting rid of Liliana’s Pack & Play. Back in September we moved her into the Big Girl Bed for a couple nights, but her naps were just not happening. I couldn’t handle an un-napped Liliana and she wouldn’t stay in her bed for naps, so we put off the transition.

This is take two, and I hope it sticks. There’s so much playing space in their room now! Noah suggested that we get rid of the soother (which she only has at naps and at night) at the same time, but I like my sleep, so I think we’ll wait until she turns two for that one.

She slept GREAT last night. She even slept in. I was nervous about her nap this afternoon, though. After all the bumping and banging stopped, I checked on her.

This is what I found.

IMG_7722-1

Um, that’s her - in the polka dots. I guess I didn’t tell her that she had to sleep in her bed. But, she slept a solid two and a half hours. I’ll let her sleep wherever she wants if she’s going to sleep that long.

Her favorite place to be, though, is on her big sister’s bed. The One Up High.

Top Bunk

(She’s even learned the art of looking at the camera and saying, “Cheeeeese”!)

It makes me quite nervous, but I never leave the room (or the 5-inch radius around the top bunk) while she’s up there.

The kids have been playing in their newly organized room all day, with Dora breaks once in a while. Even with her clean room and new Christmas toys, Kaylie (lover of the outdoors) has been going a little nuts after being cooped up inside for the last month or so due to the -40 ish temperatures. Today it warmed up to about -10 and I finally let her go outside. She was ecstatic. There were even other kids out in the square for her to play with.

FINALLY allowed to play outside!

They spent about an hour cutting up snow with Kaylie’s snow saw and building an igloo. She finally came in when she could no longer feel her fingers, although I know she would have lasted a lot longer if she’d had thicker mittens.

I’m hoping, for her sake, that this “warm” spell lasts a bit longer. But if not, there’s always child labor. I know a toilet that needs to be scrubbed.

Failed

Remember when I said that Noah and I were going to take a picture every day for 31 days? Well we kind of failed at that.  We made it 14 days, and they were not consecutive.

It’s alright though.  I got what I needed.  Maybe we’ll try it again in November, what do you think honey?

***
Had to write this bit, since this blog is also Liliana’s baby book, but she learned to say “Carson” (the little dude I babysit) today. She calls him “Tartin”. Love it. She’s started to mimic absolutely EVERYTHING. Unless we ask her to, of course.

Happy Birthday to my Husband and my First Baby Girl

A belated Happy Birthday to Noah! His birthday was kind of put to the sidelines due to the fact that his sister got married on that day (the 21st). So now, today, I will say a public HAPPY BELATED 25th BIRTHDAY NOAH!

Baby Noah

I’m pretty sure he’s the cutest baby boy I ever did see.

Happy Birthday Sweetie!

And now, he’s the hottest 25-year-old I know. I mean the hottest guy I know. Awkward …

Also celebrating a birthday, yesterday, is my sweet baby girl, Kaylie Jaqueline.

Baby Kaylie

Tied for the cutest baby girl I ever did see. (More proof and Kaylie background here, on her 6th birthday)

My gorgeous seven-year-old

I can’t believe that she’s seven years old already. Seriously. I remember the day she was born, and even though it feels like an eternity ago, it also feels like just yesterday. (Corny, I know, but apparently when you’re older you say things you say you’d never say, like When I was your age …)

For her birthday, Noah took her out for lunch to her favorite place, McDonalds and I took her to Prince Caspian. She totally loved her day and was so thankful to us for making her day special.

Today Noah’s parents and sister came to spend the day with us. Kaylie and I made her birthday cake (with only a few minor incidents) and after Noah got back from the corner store with the matches we sang Happy Birthday to her and cut into the cake. The kid LOVES cake.

Happy 7th Birthday Kaylie. I’ve loved every day with you and I love being your Mommy. I hope and pray that you have an amazing 8th year of life!

***

In other news, I start work tomorrow. For real this time. Third time’s a charm, right? I am excited about it, except for the fact that I can no longer sleep until 10 am. Life has to get back to reality some time, right?

Noah had an interview on Friday and expects to hear back tomorrow. Apparently his potential boss was really impressed with him, so he’s almost sure the job is his, barring some unforseen circumstances. God is awesome. He has totally taken care of us.

I was talking to a Terrace friend of mine recently about my frustration about us not having jobs at that point, and she encouraged me to seek God and that He knows our needs and will take care of us, in His timing, not ours. We sought God, obeyed what He led us to do, and the next day Noah had an interview and I had two job offers. Two! God is awesome!

Our only problem now is that we’re looking for childcare. It’s a lot harder than I thought it was going to be. But, I know that God has this covered too so I’m trying my best not to worry about it. I’ve had a lot help from my blog-friend-turned-real-life-friend Laurie. She has been SUCH a huge blessing to me in the short time that I’ve known her. I also made a connection with a lady when I was looking to get a fingerprint criminal record check for my new job and went to the wrong place. Not only did she lead me in the right direction, she gave me her home number and email and said to call her because she’s got a child in care and may know of someone for me.

We’ve been totally blessed in our short time here, and I look forward to what else God has in store for us. But now, Noah is insisting that I go to bed, since I have to get up at normal-person time tomorrow.  I know!  Before 10 am!  Waaaay before 10 am.

Mute Monday … almost

Non-mute
Liliana is pushing through her 16th tooth.

Kaylie can ride a 2 wheeler without training wheels. (This one is VERY exciting for us! And I didn’t bring my camera!)

Mute

let's go to the park again, mom!

daddy's girl

girls

hi from up high

see this rock?  I'm going to make it disappear ... in my MOUTH!

merry-go-round

first casualty

checking out the damage

all better now

my emo kids

hi again from up high!

my 3

cute but far from innocent

grass hunter

bee nest stuff

***

Noah and I have been having a House marathon lately. Ann has the first three seasons and we’re trying to get through them as fast as we can before we go. As I write this blog, Noah is asleep beside me. I think he’s had a House overdose, because he’s talking in his sleep. “Can you turn it up please … so gross … big fat head drill …”

Summer, 2 teeth, and a bicycle built for three

Another day, another tooth. Well, two if you’re Liliana. She pushed through her top two eye teeth recently. When? I’m not sure, but it sure would explain the grumpiness lately. I noticed two new sparkling things earlier today and took a closer peek.

That kid is a teething machine.

Summer Fun

Miss Ann has provided Kaylie and Michaela (her daughter) with huge amounts of entertainment lately. She set up a pool for them yesterday and they’ve been in it all day today and yesterday.

Summer Fun

The temperature has been in the high 20s (which is high 70s-ish for you Americans) here the last couple days, which is perfect pool weather.

Summer Fun

Between pool parties, the girls have been tanning on the trampoline.

What’s that? You’re too focused on the BIG BRIGHT THING in the background?

Summer Fun

Is that better? This kid is a natural.

She comes by it honestly though, right Ann?

Summer Fun

Kaylie has totally loved having a friend live upstairs. She’s sure going to miss Michaela when we leave. Kaylie absolutely loves being outside, and fortunately for her, so does Michaela.

Every day after school (and when she wakes up), Kaylie asks if she can go upstairs to see if she can play with Michaela. She keeps telling me, We’re best friends!

Summer Fun

A black and white one, just to make things even.

Summer Fun

Does anyone have any advice as to how to keep grass out of a pool?

Summer Fun

No?

Alrighty then.

Summer Fun

Liliana wasn’t as keen as Kaylie and Michaela were on the pool idea.

Summer Fun

I tried to put her in, and she screamed. Kaylie splashed a teeny tiny bit of water on her, and she screamed. I wrapped her in a towel and handed her to Ann.

She was happy.

Little monster.

A bicycle built for THREE

Let me introduce to you, the train. (And my lovely assistants, Ann and Michaela … see Ann, I included the VAN in the picture!) Our newest mode of transportation. We already had the bikes and the jogger/trailer, but I picked up the trailer hitch the other day so that Liliana could join in on the biking fun.

Since it’s been so nice out, I figured it would be fun to take the kids out biking. Since Kaylie has yet to learn to ride a two-wheeler, she’s been on the Trail-a-bike. She totally loves it.

My friend and former boss had done this little set up with his girls, so I figured why not try it out!? We were a little wobbly to start, but once we were going, there was no stopping us.

A bicycle built for THREE

My kids always love it when I take bizillions of pictures of them. They always respond with bright eyes and happy smiles. See?

A bicycle built for THREE

Liliana totally loves it when we’re moving. But when we’re stopped? Not so much. She wants OUT.

That picture seriously cracks me up.

This week is calling for a lot of sun. If you live in our area, I’m sure you’ll see our train pass.

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