My Life in Pink

A Day At the Fair

2011-08-13T11:54:00.000-07:00

The fair was recently in town and I took the girls during the day for a few hours, went home for Meagan to nap, and then when Ryan was home, we all went in the evening for a few more hours. It was great, the girls had a great time. Meagan LOVED the animals - didn't matter what kind, she was enthralled with them all. We also chose to go on Friday so Kaitlyn could go on some rides since they were only $2/ride. Meagan wasn't too thrilled just being strapped in the stroller while her sister went on 5 rides, but overall did really well. When we were finished, we were all starving so we went out on a rare occasion to Boston Pizza for supper. Thankfully we were seated amidst lots of families since Meagan was having a difficult time waiting for her food to arrive. And when it did, she was happy to share with Dad :) It was a great day!

Summertime

2011-07-09T10:23:00.000-07:00

Finally summer weather has arrived! The girls are enjoying playing outdoors all day at their cousins' house and then relaxing on the deck in the evenings. Think it's time to set up a little pool on the deck for them to splash around in :)

Haircut Time!

2011-07-06T20:10:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn was due for her "annual haircut" as her hairdresser calls it. It's the perfect length - can still tie it back in a ponytail, or just leave it loose and light :)

Before:

After:

Preschool Graduation

2011-06-18T15:32:00.000-07:00

Kaitlyn graduated preschool this week. After two years with Mrs. Lynnette, she is moving on. Preschool has been so good for her, both socially and developmentally. She will miss sharing a class with her cousin, Alyssa, but she is sooo excited about starting kindergarten next year.

Random - Not so much an update

2011-06-11T19:46:00.000-07:00

I'm way too behind on the blogging thing to really catch up. So I am going to follow the example of some of my fellow blogging friends and just keep it simple. If I have something exciting to share, I'll share it. If I have the time - lol. If I have a cute picture to share, I will. Trying to keep everyone updated on everything just stressed me out since I have so much else going on, so if you want to catch up, give me a call or shoot me an email. For now, here are some random pictures of the girls from the last couple months. And of course, I HAVE to say:

GO CANUCKS GO!!!

March Update

2011-03-18T20:07:00.000-07:00

Hello out there - if there's anyone that still reads this :)

Life has been crazy busy and we've been dealing with some health issues. I've been suffering from increased fatigue so they sent me for blood tests and confirmed I am B12 deficient, which affects my iron levels, hemoglobin, all kinds of stuff. So I'm back on B12 shots. Right now, once per week until further notice and then hopefully they'll be able to wean me to once every 3 weeks. I received my first shot this Wednesday and it seems today I'm feeling some improvement, despite lack of sleep this week due to Meagan.

Meagan has been in and out of hospital for a few things in the last few months. Last night we were back in the ER again (after being sent directly from the doctor's office yet again) and he highly suspects asthma. She is on 2 inhalers and an antibiotic to try to clear out her lungs, and he warned the blue inhaler may be a permanent feature, but we will need to follow up with our family doctor for more investigation. I'm thankful she's finally getting what she needs and hopeful we can keep her healthy for a while, with the help of her inhaler.

Other than that, Kaitlyn and Ryan are doing great, despite Ryan being super tired as well having to take up the majority of the housework due to my exhaustion. And the kids are calling so I best be putting them to bed. I will try to post more this week, including some updated pics of the girls.

Updated Pictures

2010-12-23T19:22:00.000-08:00

Before we hit picture overload with Christmas, I will follow through with my promise to post some updated pictures from the last few weeks. Enjoy!

1 Week Till Christmas!

2010-12-18T17:02:00.000-08:00

Hi - remember me? Life has been crazy and it's hard to find a few moments to myself in front of the computer these days, but lo and behold, Meagan is napping, Kaitlyn is playing My Little Pony's, and Ryan is working. So here's a bit of an update from us.

I am back to work. For the most part, the transition has gone smoothly. I fell right back into work as if I never left, and remember pretty much everything. The girls have adjusted to spending most days at my sister's house with their cousins and after about a week or two, seem to be doing well there. I was thankfully able to mostly wean Meagan and she now will drink whole milk (with a little strawberry flavour) from her Dora sippy cups no problem. She is still night-nursing, which we plan to break in about a month (more on that in a minute). Do I enjoy leaving my girls everyday? No, but I do love my job, the work I do, and right now my working is a necessity. Hopefully one day I can cut back to some part-time hours, but for now this is our reality, and we are adjusting to it.

The girls are starting to learn to play together, but they are definitely totally different personalities. Meagan wants to figure everything out - how to put things together, take them apart, what's behind that door or in that drawer. Kaitlyn lives in her imaginary princess land where everything is pink.

Meagan saw the ear specialist after her 9th ear infection and tubes are now scheduled for January 13. She is recovering from her 10th ear infection now and sleep is limited in our household. When she has an ear infection, she is up (even with pain killers) anywhere from 4-8 times per night. A regular night without an ear infection is 2 times (although last night was once which is RARE), and the specialist attributes this to constant fluid behind her ear drum, causing irritating pressure which wakes her up. So once the tubes are in, we are expecting a dramatic turnaround, and I will then wean her completely as well.

Well, Meagan is up from her nap and a little crabby, so I better run - hope to post some updated pics later tonight.

Halloween

2010-11-10T19:19:00.000-08:00

Here's a catch up post from Halloween.

Kaitlyn got to choose what she was going to be for Halloween and chose fairy godmother. Not much of a stretch considering Cinderella is her favourite movie, but I was still surprised she didn't want to be a princess and no matter how many times I asked, she didn't change her mind. She chose her outfit - from her dress to her wings and wand - and loved it. And she designed the pumpkin face this year too - it's great seeing her creativity come to life! It definitely was a fun weekend with her preschool party and trick or treating, and Kaitlyn loved being the center of attention which rarely happens with a younger sister these days.

Look What I Can Do!

2010-10-20T20:30:00.001-07:00

Despite fighting yet another double ear infection, Meagan is getting more and more mobile everyday! And yes, looks like tubes are in the future for Meagan (same as Kaitlyn) fairly soon :(

Pumpkin Patch 2010

2010-10-16T17:36:00.000-07:00

Blogging has definitely taken a backseat to a lot of other things right now, including getting ready to return to work, bonding with the girls, sleep when I can get it, being sick with a cold and flu and trying to get better, and trying to wean Meagan, among other things.

Here is a quick post with some photos from Kaitlyn's field trip to the pumpkin patch this week. This year we went to the Apple Barn which was a total hit with the kids and parents. We also lucked out with some great weather and great kids, which really helped. There were so many stations for the kids to learn things and Kaitlyn is at this age where she loves to learn and then tell us all about it at the dinner table. She is definitely a total sponge right now.

So without further ado, the photos :)

Another Month Down, 1 More to Go

2010-09-30T15:09:00.000-07:00

This week I finished filing the paperwork for my return to work following my maternity leave. My official return date is now November 1st. I'm a little sad I won't be home anymore, but excited to return to a job I love. Not many people can say that about their job, but I truly enjoy it. It makes me feel like I am contributing to the world, using my brain, and I learn so many new things in one day at work. I'm afraid I'll be a little rusty on my return so hopefully my supervisor is nice and puts me in some slow courtrooms to adjust!

Life around here is good. We're discovering a few tricks with Meagan's sleep including no covered feet (e.g. no socks for naps, no footed sleepers at nighttime). Last night she woke up twice - first time because she was completely soaked (oops - that would be my fault for not changing her right before bedtime) and the second time because she was very snotty. So we are improving!

I just received my district newsletter from my Avon manager. I am so excited - my sales have been slowly improving and I actually am in the top 20 for this fiscal year - at #16! Considering I wasn't even in the top 20 last month, I'm pretty happy with this! Yesterday I packed Meagan into the stroller and we went for a walk with Kaitlyn and delivered about 40 flyers - hopefully we'll get a bite or two from those.

And here are a few pictures since I've been delinquent in this category lately.

Kaitlyn's first day back at preschool (sorry - she was not in the mood for pictures):

Meagan having fun with some different facial expressions and showing off her teeth:

Wanna Win a Doopsy?

2010-09-29T19:13:00.000-07:00

Go here: http://doopsy.com/blog/2010/09/big-doopsy-celebration-giveaway/

And go here: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/money/consumer/the-new-eco-friendly-and-fashionable-trend-in-cloth-diapers

for your chance to win a free cloth diaper! I've been looking forward to trying a new diaper so hoping I win one!

Another Day, Another Doctor Visit

2010-09-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Last night was brutal.

Meagan woke up from her afternoon nap grumpy. She just wanted to be held and even then, that didn't guarantee she was content. She'd have spurts of happiness where she would run after Kaitlyn in her walker and then suddenly stop and start screaming with nothing provoking it. Something was obviously wrong so we gave her pain medication. That didn't seem to help. So we tried some orajel on her gums. More screaming.

As I was rocking her, I noticed she had a mild rash developing on her neck and face. So I took off her onesie and it was all over her stomach too - not fierce, but there was a rash. Of course, I assumed she was allergic to the penicillin (since my mom, myself and Kaitlyn all are) so off to the drugstore went Ryan for some Benadryl. We gave her the Benadryl and she promptly threw up.

But then, calmness. She fell asleep and slept until 3 AM. Woke up for a quick feed, then slept until 6:30. And woke up happy but still with a rash that was now fading.

So this morning I packed up the girls (Ryan is working) and headed to the walk-in clinic where we met with a fabulous doctor who listened to me, examined her closely, and said it's not an allergic reaction but she most likely had a virus that "broke" last night. Apparently the worst is behind us, continue the penicillin (keeping a good eye on her), and she should be recovering now. I sincerely hope he's right since I don't think I could cope with another night like last night.

I tried to take some pictures of her rash this morning, but she was all smiles so I went for those photos instead :)

Sleep Deprivation

2010-09-09T16:36:00.000-07:00

So Meagan's sleep was getting a lot better. She wasn't even nursing at night, just woke up for a few minutes and then back to sleep with a little rocking. Then it started to get worse. And worse. So I started to suspect teething or even an ear infection? But then it got a little better so I avoided the doctor appointment. Yesterday she was fevered and Miserable. Yes, with a capital M. She just wanted to snuggle and sit in my lap but as soon as I put her down, she would scream. So off to the walk-in we went. Ear infection and either tonsilitis or strep throat. The doctor told me to piggy-back Advil and Tylenol which we've been doing and wow - 2 doses of penicillin and some pain medication - and she sleeps from 9-4, back in bed at 4:10, sleeps until 6 (right when the Advil is wearing off so I give her another dose), and sleeps until almost 9! Suffice it to say, I am feeling much better after finally getting a decent night's sleep.

We did meal plan, but started it earlier than planned when we realized it was no-tax day on Saturday at Superstore. What a zoo though! Between renovations and living in a town with mostly cheap Dutch families (we are included in that), the place was crazy. Thankfully Ryan was with me and took care of pushing the cart and managing the girls while I swiftly went through my list and threw things in the cart. We actually managed to draft a meal plan with almost two weeks' worth of meals on it, so besides dairy and some produce, we don't even have to really shop much for the next while which is nice.

As for other happenings ... not much. I had a record breaking AVON campaign last week (record breaking for me that is). Definitely my best ever and I somehow manage to get new customers each time. My district manager says it will only get busier as we get closer to Christmas so I'm looking forward to it. I definitely enjoy doing it - meeting new people, helping them choose the right product, trying out products, getting my stuff for next to nothing. I get excited when the boxes show up and it's time for me to sort through everything. A couple of my clients have already expressed concern about when I return to work, but if it does become too much for me, I'm sure I could find a helper if needed.

Well that's it from us here. Sorry, no photos - I'll work on that!

Remembering Opa

2010-09-07T08:46:00.000-07:00

On Friday morning we awoke to find out my Opa had passed away the night before. He had been in hospital for a while, battling cancer. He passed away peacefully and is pain-free in his eternal Home. Today as they lay his body to rest, our prayers and thoughts are with Oma, my mom, uncles, aunts, and other relatives in Edmonton.

Grocery Shopping

2010-09-01T14:32:00.001-07:00

Got around to my big shopping trip at Superstore today. Spent $77 (so add that to the chicken I bought the other day and I am still under $100/wk for groceries again). Our grocery store is a bit of a nightmare right now since they are renovating and moving everything around. Which is a pain when you are looking for specific beans for vegetarian chili, find the bean aisle, can't find the ones you're looking for so you settle for a substitute, and then 3 aisles later find the ones you were originally looking for.

But the wonderful thing about Superstore besides prices is both girls will sit in the shopping cart and last almost the entire trip. I start my shopping and try to get as many items as I can before one of the girls starts fussing (usually Kaitlyn) and then we head to the bakery. Kaitlyn gets a cookie from the bakery (free) and Meagan gets a Mum Mum cracker (from my purse). We continue shopping. Usually when I am on my last 2 or 3 items, Meagan is done and fussing off and on and then promptly falls asleep on the way home.

Today she transferred beautifully into her crib once we got home and slept for about 3 hours and Kaitlyn has been painting ever since we got home (with small lunch and bathroom breaks here and there).

All in all, it's been a successful day - I like those :)

This and That...

2010-08-31T11:07:00.000-07:00

Meal planning is done again for the week. I have already made one trip to the grocery store and this time it was Safeway (I know, shocking!). The only reason was club packs of chicken breasts were on sale so I made sure to pick one up to help with the meals this week.

I won't bore you with what we're eating this week, but I'm getting the hang of meal planning on a budget. I'm trying to diversify our plans each week so we're not repeating the same meals over and over. I try to incorporate:
(1) vegetarian meal
(2) soup (served with bread)
(3) close-to vegetarian meal (using bacon or ham)
(4) pasta
(5) easy & cheap meal
(6) chicken meal
(7) beef meal

By first doing inventory of my shelves, fridge and freezer (and possibly some requests from my dear husband), I'm able to stick to this general formula and keep the costs down. And I have to say, I am loving the absence of the 5 PM question of the day - what's for dinner?

In other news, Meagan is still not sleeping through the night but generally doing a lot better. Usually one night waking but back in bed pretty quickly. Last night was 3 times which is a little exhausting, but she's taking a nice long morning nap which is nice too.

Kaitlyn starts preschool again in 2 weeks. I get a little sad when I read the school calendar and know that I won't be able to participate in some of the parties and field trips that I was able to attend last year while on mat leave since I go back to work at the end of October, but I'll definitely be doing my best to try to get those mornings or afternoons off when I am able to.

But for now I am still enjoying being at home for 2 more months and have really had a great year off.

Here are a couple pictures of Kaitlyn "helping" feed Meagan breakfast from this week. And notice the braid? Kaitlyn is finally allowing me to try other hairstyles on her besides the daily pony-tail. Only took 4 years (actually, I should say 2 since she was bald until 2)...

Friday Update

2010-08-27T08:56:00.001-07:00

This week was a pretty good one! Despite Meagan cutting another tooth and 2 more on the way (with multiple night wakings for a few nights in a row and a trip to the doctor only to confirm she was teething), the last half of the week definitely made up for it. Meagan is now waking up once a night around 3 AM, happy but just needing 3 teething tablets and a little snuggle (no night nursing!), back in bed where she puts herself back to sleep quietly - I'm very hopeful this is the new trend and once those top two teeth poke through, hopefully she won't need those night time teething tablets anymore either.

The budgeting/shopping is going well too. Last week I ended up running out of a few things like milk and dishwasher detergent but my grocery budget money was gone and I was determined not to cut into other areas of my budget to buy those items. So I posted a few things that we weren't using for sale and within an hour, I had sold the bassinet for the same price I had paid a year ago. So with $30, I had more than enough money to purchase the few items to make it the rest of the week.

This week I did draw up a rough meal plan, this time with Ryan's input since he wanted healthier meals, and finally managed to get my Superstore shopping done yesterday. This time I did purchase produce at Superstore as well since I only had a few items on my produce list and the girls wouldn't have lasted another shopping trip. So a week's worth of groceries for $77 - not too bad! I'm learning to scour the flyers and match up great prices with coupons for great savings. Example: Special K cereal was on sale for $2.97/each (regular price was over $5/each), limit of 2, plus I had $1 off/box coupons so I was able to get 2 boxes for $1.97/each. Same with Gerber Graduates snack foods for Meagan - on sale for $2.27/each and I had a coupon for buy 2, get $1/off. Great deals when you pair them together and they were items on my list anyway (which is key - I'm not buying stuff just because it's a "good deal" - it has to be on my list!).

Last evening was really great. We had dinner together - Ryan and I had "fiesta rice" (a recipe we made up together using hot sausages, salsa, onion, garlic and rice) and the girls had scrambled eggs. I went to a preschool orientation meeting for 45 minutes, came home to find the girls ready for bed, and Kaitlyn went to bed with no fuss around 8 PM. We let Meagan stay up and crawl around to burn off some energy and she started to crawl slower... and slower... until she found a nice spot under the table and just zonked out. This girl really is her mother's daughter - apparently I used to fall asleep anywhere and everywhere as well.

Anyway, I am feeling refreshed and ready for a good weekend! A few good nights' sleep will do that!

Grocery Update & Meagan is 9 months today!

2010-08-18T08:49:00.000-07:00

So I did my groceries for the week yesterday. Superstore shopping came to $87 and produce shopping was $18 - so I went $5 overbudget. The good thing about that number is I was forced to buy a few things that hopefully next week I won't have to - like coffee, chicken, and some other meats. I also picked up a couple peaches when I saw they were in from the Okanagan and cut some up for Meagan last night - she loves them! If only I knew how to can, I would can a bunch and store them up for later while they're cheap.

Right now I'm reading a book called America's Cheapest Family by Steve and Annette Economides. I'm currently on the grocery shopping chapter and am floored at what they accomplish. They are a family of 7 (including 3 teenage boys) who feed their family on $350 per month (book was published in 2007) and only grocery shop once per month so only 12 times per year. The trip takes 5 hours each time but wow, $350 per month??

My baby is 9 months old today. Crazy! The time is flying by with some ups and downs. I don't have her stats yet but might just go to the clinic today to have her weighed and measured for the record.

At 9 months, Meagan:

- still doesn't really sit unless she's in a chair. She can do it, but doesn't want to - she'd rather be scooting around the room either doing an army crawl or in her walker (she flies across the room in that thing!)

- has 1 tooth on the bottom and another on the way

- usually wakes up once a night for a quick feed and still won't take a bottle or a sippy cup

- loves to feed herself and is trying new tastes and textures everyday. Right now her favourite is Gerber Puffs - doesn't matter what flavour, she loves them!

- is a super happy baby and loves to laugh. By herself, with her sister (those two can really get each other going), or a silly fake laugh just being a bit of a clown

- loves Kaitlyn and Kaitlyn loves her

- is such a joy and blessing to our family :)

Meal Planning Monday! It's Back!

2010-08-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

Due to the new spending restrictions and organizational aspect of it, I am returning to meal planning! This time the menus will be a little different as we are trying to keep our weekly grocery bills less than $100/wk. Without diapers and cosmetics on our list, I think it's doable, but the true test will be when I do my groceries today or tomorrow and get my total. Groceries will be done at Superstore and produce will be done at the produce market (so much fresher and cheaper!).

So here we go...

Monday: Oven steak & vegetables

Tuesday: Beef barley soup & bread

Wednesday: Hot dogs

Thursday: Spaghetti tuna casserole

Friday: Chicken puff casserole

Saturday: Cauliflower-ham bake

Sunday: Brinner (breakfast for dinner) - eggs, bacon, toast and pancakes

Most of the meals were planned around ingredients I already had in my house (frozen hot dog buns, leftover roast for the soup, spaghetti noodles, tuna) or cheap produce and cheaper meats than we normally pick.

I've submitted requests for about 10 books from the library on grocery shopping, budgeting and cooking on a tight budget. If anyone else has any suggestions, tips, etc., please pass them on! And thanks Cecile for your comments!

Getting Proactive!

2010-08-13T14:58:00.000-07:00

After being disappointed for a few days about the loss of opportunities, we decided to start looking at the bright side of things and start working towards our goals. One goal we have is to be debt-free and we have been working hard on figuring out how to do that, especially now considering Ryan's employment may not change anytime soon.

We have started a budget, are cutting out all credit in our lives (besides a van loan that finishes in February and our mortgage), and are going to live as frugally as possible! So, yes, returning to menu-planning, only this time choosing only budget-friendly meals, cutting out everything but necessities, and figuring out wherever we can trim back and doing it.

So if any of you have any tips, websites, book suggestions - anything - please pass them on! We want to make our goal a reality!

Trying Times

2010-08-09T10:29:00.000-07:00

I've been laying a little low in bloggerville as there was a lot in the works for Ryan jobwise and didn't want to blog about it until it was finished. I was hoping it would be a happy blog entry, but it's not. Ryan applied for a job with the university and was very hopeful he would get it. Considering he was considered the favourite going into it, it was a major disappointment when he was not offered the job. Granted, someone with a lot more schooling and experience did get it, but it was still disappointing. And in the same week we received confirmation that due to the provincial government hiring freeze, Ryan would no longer be considered as an applicant for the sheriff program. This was not a shock to hear since I work for the provincial government and knew they were focussing on retention with zero outside hiring, but it was disappointing to hear it in the same week that he didn't get the job he had his heart set on.

Other than that, things are continuing as normal around here. Meagan had a horrific day last week with many bouts of crying and general fussiness. The next day Ryan discovered her firt tooth. And it feels like there is another coming through already. Her sleep is still a battle most of the time, but last night she slept from 11 to 6:30 for the first time. Not that I did. Too many things going on in my head and I was awake from 5 am, just worrying about everything.

And really, what does worrying accomplish? Nothing except added stress. I am sure everything will work out in the long run, but in the short run, it still sucks.

So that's my gripe post for the year hopefully!

Life Semi Crunchy

2010-08-05T13:10:00.000-07:00

Check out the Life Semi Crunchy blog for a great giveaway of Lulu's in the Fluff! Ever since I started cloth diapering, I've been looking for the magic diaper detergent and am excited to try it out soon.

Hanging out at Home

2010-07-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

We're having a bit of a "down" week, mostly hanging around the house and doing errands here and there. We are loving spending time together and have survived a week of Ryan working double shifts (makes for super long days). The girls are starting to play well together and Kaitlyn loves to read to Meagan and sing to her. She also likes to tell her to "stop freaking out" when she gets mad about something. Here are some pictures from the last couple days.

Reading:

Breakfast! Another girl who does NOT like oatmeal!

Meagan Asleep...

2010-07-25T12:59:00.000-07:00

Proof this child can fall asleep just about anywhere.

The other day Meagan was crawling around on the floor and then I noticed she was being super quiet. This is what I found.

And today, slowly the bounces in the jumperoo were getting slower and slower and then I found this.

BUSY Summer

2010-07-15T10:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posts - I know family likes to keep up with us on here but we've been pretty busy the last couple of weeks. Kaitlyn had VBS at the same school she goes to preschool last week, and VBS again this week at my sister's church. It's busy but great and gives me a chance to do things without chasing after a 4-year-old (e.g. grocery shopping, cleaning, etc.).

Meagan is doing really well. She is starting to eat much better and I'm starting to put her in the highchair for 3 meals a day (actually just started yesterday). She eats more when she thinks she's in control, either feeding herself (she loves bananas) or grabbing the spoon and "helping" me put it in her mouth. She loves mixed cereal, berries, bananas, fruit blends, and baby jarred turkey casserole so far. We're trying more each week and she's only improving which is great!

Meagan is also in cloth diapers. I swore I would never, ever do it. But the last package of disposables I bought for her made her break out in a fierce rash across her waist and my sisters both do it, so we tried it. I don't love the laundry aspect of it, but it's super easy to do and really doesn't take much time (it's just remembering to do it before I run out of diapers that's the problem!). My sisters were great and lent me a few different kinds and so far my favourites are the Fuzzibunz one-size with snaps. They seem to fit the best with no leaks for her which is great. Plus they're cute ;)

Here are a few pics from the last week.

Kaitlyn getting her face painted at the Party in the Park (a free event that is held every Friday in our town during the summer):

Meagan helping herself to Dad's breakfast:

Super happy baby :)

Almost 8 months - where does the time go?

SUMMER!!

2010-07-06T15:07:00.001-07:00

Finally! We are having a heat blast that is supposed to last at least this week! I'm thinking steaks, beer and eating on the deck tonight :)

A little under the weather

2010-06-25T11:10:00.000-07:00

The last couple days I've been fighting a cold. I know I shouldn't kiss Meagan when she's sick, but how can I resist? Seriously, I kiss her when I pick her up, when I put her down, when I burp her, after I change her... she's such a fun age right now and despite still fighting a little sickness, such a happy girl :)

Mother's Intuition? Check.

2010-06-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

Well, even though my baby hasn't been fussing too much during the day and still usually has a smile on her face, her night sleeping has been gradually depreciating the last 3 nights. Last night was the worst night we've had in a while with 6 wakings between 11 PM and 2 AM. Meagan would just nurse for a few minutes, fall back asleep, and then wake up again soon after. Frustrating.

So this morning I took her to the walk-in clinic. Double ear infection. Another round of penicillin. Hopefully tonight is better for everyone in this house!

Happenings...

2010-06-18T07:59:00.000-07:00

Time for a family update!

Meagan is very mobile, at least in the rolling department. If she sees something she wants (she's especially fond of the TV cords), she rolls until she gets there, or gets stuck. She has quite the personality and if you laugh at something she is doing, like babbling or singing, she will do it more and even louder to really get you laughing. I seem to have finally gotten rid of her cradle cap for good! I first soaked her head in coconut baby oil, combed out all the cradle cap, and have switched to Aveeno baby wash which is soap-free and seems to be keeping the cradle cap away! Sleep was getting better. Earlier this week she only woke up once per night, then she had one night where she didn't wake up at all, and now the last two nights she is back to waking up every 2-3 hours all night.

We still haven't moved the girls in together but are planning on doing it tonight or this weekend. If it doesn't work, we will have the pack n play set up in either the living room or our room as a backup.

Kaitlyn is finished her first year of preschool. What a difference from her first day of preschool. She was so shy and the class was mostly boys, plus she was the youngest. My heart broke a little leaving her there as I was used to leading her through things, and thought I needed to be there for her to learn new things and make new friends. Nope. She did just fine all on her own. She made some great friends and learned so many new things. When writing out the card to her teacher on the last day, she insisted on writing her own name. I had to guide her through it, but she did it. Something we will definitely practice over the summer since she really wants to do it! The year-end program was disappointing with Kaitlyn standing there, arms crossed, or lifting her dress to flash the audience, but pretty much not cooperating the entire time. Oh well - next year is the big one where she will wear her cap and gown and get her diploma :)

Ryan and I are doing well and catching up which relieves so much stress in the house. Ryan works so hard for this family and still does so much when he gets home, I am astonished somedays that he has the energy for it all. I also overheard a conversation next door where it sounded as if they were contemplating selling. Fingers crossed - if that happens, we will definitely be renting out our suite again to relieve some more financial pressure!

So there is our long overdue update :)

Is it Time??

2010-06-11T13:28:00.001-07:00

So Meagan has been waking up 2 or 3 times per night, and then she is up for the day at 6:30 for a while now. I can usually handle it if she goes right back asleep, and I think the reason she is waking up at 6:30 is because it gets very bright in the living room where she is currently sleeping, plus it's at the front of the house and 6:30 is the time when most commuters start up their cars and head to work. The arrangement right now is when she falls asleep (around 7 or 8 PM), we put her in the pack 'n play in our room until her first waking. Then I feed her and move her to the crib in the living room where she stays the rest of the night.

Last night, she went to bed in the pack 'n play around 8 PM. And slept until 4 AM! No 1 AM and 3 AM feedings like usual. I was thrilled. I fed her and put her back down and she promptly fell back asleep. Then at 4:30 I could hear Kaitlyn sobbing in her room. She was standing in the middle of her room, shaking like a leaf, and I could not get her back into her bed. She said she had lots of bad dreams and could not sleep in her room. So my only choice was to take her to our bed.

Kaitlyn does not sleep in our bed. Despite a big lecture about not moving, not talking and going to sleep, she didn't. She tossed, she tried to start conversations with me, she WOULD. NOT. SLEEP. So, when Meagan woke up at 6:30, I had been up since 4 and knew I wasn't getting back to sleep (although thankfully I did manage to sneak a late morning nap in).

So now what? The idea was always to have the girls sleeping in the same room by the time Meagan was sleeping through the night. But she's not - although last night she almost did. What if they did share a room? Would they have comfort in knowing their sister is close by and Kaitlyn's nightmares would stop and Meagan's night wakings would end? Or will it make it worse? Both girls keeping each other up all night with no sleep for anyone in our house?

Do I keep the system as is, or is it time to move them together and just see what happens?

Happy Tuesday

2010-06-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

The sun is out! Yay :) Apparently it will only be here for a day so we better enjoy it while it is here!

So here is a list of things that make me happy :)

* A beautiful sunny day :)

* Two wonderful, beautiful daughters, who are each so different but so loved

* Preschool - it's a much needed 2 hour break twice a week. Oh, how will I live without you this summer...

* A wonderful, loving husband who does so much for me and his girls

* A glass of white wine, chilled to perfection (I love a good VQA chardonnay)

* A year maternity leave. Getting a year to spend with me and my girls has been great and I can't wait to do lots of fun things with them this summer!

* Wonderful friends and family who I can always count on when I need them :)

* Sleep

Just a bit of an update, Opa has been doing better since admitted to the hospital and is getting hydrated and more socialable again. It's difficult when we only get updates once or twice a week, but according to the last update, the hospital has been good for him, and hopefully my Oma has been able to get some rest as well. Thank you everyone for the kind words and prayers.

Things I Wish I Could Change

2010-06-04T19:35:00.001-07:00

* Our financial situation. Living paycheque to paycheque sucks. It would be nice to find a money fairy to help us, but until then, we are making the best of it and working hard.

* Kaitlyn's picky eating habits. We try all sorts of different foods with her and it becomes a stand off. We lose. She is hungry. I feel bad and give her mac n cheese or a hot dog.

* Meagan's picky eating habits. She doesn't like a single "solid" food we've tried yet. Or the bottle, even when it's pumped milk inside. I need some more freedom, and some more sleep.

* Meagan's sleeping habits. Actually, I shouldn't complain too much. She nurses twice a night and falls asleep quickly after eating, which is pretty norm at this age for a nursing baby. But, added up, night after night, I'm exhausted. And her inability to sit still while nursing (except at night when she's half asleep) is a little overwhelming at times.

* Kaitlyn's confusion over where Grandpa is (he passed away from cancer before she was born). I've tried to explain it to her, but have obviously failed.

* Always thinking about my return to work date at the end of October instead of enjoying each day with my girls for what it is.

* The weather. Come on, it's June, not April. We need some sunshine. Good stretches of sunblock worthy sunshine.

* Not being able to jump on a plane and be with my Opa. And visit with my Oma to let her know we are all thinking of both of them and love them dearly.

There. Hopefully I will have a happier post soon. Just a lot of things on my brain tonight I needed to off-load.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Blah

2010-06-03T17:44:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the lack of posting but I'm just not feeling there's a lot to report right now and feeling a little blah. The weather has me down, and Opa K is not doing well. He's been admitted to hospital and the doctor has now said he will not be going home. It is so hard to let go of someone when their body has failed, but their mind is still strong. Our thoughts and prayers are with Opa, Oma, Mom, and all the family during this tough time.

Kaitlyn is 4!

2010-05-26T16:17:00.000-07:00

Yes, this is a little late, but my "big" girl (Kaitlyn) turned 4 on May 21st. It was a weekend of celebrating and she loved it. Probably her favourite part was going swimming with her Opa and Oma and cousins. I have to say, swimming lessons were SO good for her! She is really brave in the water, especially with her lifejacket on and will even jump to me unassisted now. She really wanted to jump off the diving board, but chickened out last second. It was a big deal that she walked to the end without me!

Her birthday was Friday and once Ryan got home from work, Kaitlyn opened presents from us and we sang to her. She was then off to her cousins as Ryan and I were going out for dinner without BOTH kids (thank you Rebecca!) for our anniversary. It was really nice to have that break, which again makes me want to force the bottle issue a little more forcefully so we can have a true date night out sometime.

Saturday we went swimming with my family and like I said, she had a blast. Then off to Opa and Oma's for a party to celebrate Kaitlyn's, Owen's and Alyssa's birthdays. Definitely crazy busy but Kaitlyn still had fun. On Sunday after dinner, we finally lit a candle on her cake and sang to her again, and she blew out her candle. She's been having lots of fun playing with all her new toys and wearing new clothes from Oma. Definitely a great weekend!

Comparing...

2010-05-22T10:55:00.000-07:00

I've had a few comments that Meagan looks exactly like Kaitlyn. Maybe it's just the Mom in me, but I think they look totally different. So I dug out a couple pictures from when Kaitlyn was 6 months old to compare:

Kaitlyn at 6 months:

Meagan at 6 months:

Meagan - 6 months

2010-05-19T13:31:00.000-07:00

Meagan turned 6 months yesterday. Hard to believe - time is just flying by! Today was her 6 month doctor appointment and Dr D was very happy with her and called her the "perfect Gerber baby". He says she is ahead on almost all her milestones (rolling around, very alert, following objects and people very well, very vocal, etc). She is around 50th percentile on all marks: 15.63 lb, 25.6 inches long, 16.73 inches head circumference. He was very impressed with how well she interacts, follows objects, and studies faces. He's not concerned about the strike on all bottles, but suggests we try to have others give her one and see if that works, and to keep trying. It sure would be nice not to be paged to the nursery every Sunday, or even to have a lengthy date one night! Next is solids and we've gradually started with some rice cereal over the last week, and now we can start introducing more and more. More fun adventures!

Busy, Busy

2010-05-15T10:28:00.001-07:00

We have been blessed with a wonderful week of sunshine! It is so wonderful to be able to bring out the summer clothes and sandals and enjoy being outdoors.

This past week I had a job interview for a promotion at work. I really had no idea how it would have affected my return to work date if I did get the job, but promotions don't come up in our town very often so it was worth a shot. I did not get the job, but was definitely happy with how I answered the questions and it was good to go through the interview process again to work on my skills.

Ryan has been busy again this week, but not overdoing it. This weekend he is doing another big landscape job, even though he is feeling under the weather. Hopefully the sunshine will help the day fly by for him.

Next week is busy! Tuesday, Meagan will be 6 months old, Wednesday is our 9th wedding anniversary, and Friday is Kaitlyn's 4th birthday. Mix in a visit with a high school friend, Meagan's 6 month doctor appointment, preschool, a family get together, possibly a birthday party, and everything else, the week will be flying by.

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T11:28:00.001-07:00

Things that matter...

2010-05-11T21:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, the Canucks lost tonight. But while Ryan was starting to watch the game, I was off to Kaitlyn's preschool for a special "Memories with Mom" evening.

It was great. I was determined to let Kaitlyn know the evening was about her and me so I left Meagan with Ryan. I really think I needed to do that since she must feel constantly overshadowed by her sister, especially after a day like yesterday where Meagan screamed for about 3 hours straight due to teething and constipation pain.

We made necklaces, decorated cookies, played with play-doh and had a snack and tea together. And the class sang some cute songs to the mommies.

The most memorable moment of the evening for me was when they presented their moms with the cards they made. It brought a little tear to my eye when Kaitlyn explained in 3 year-old words and phrases almost exactly what it said on the back of the card. And then gave me a great big hug :)

Mother's Day and Sunshine!

2010-05-10T14:16:00.001-07:00

The sun is here! Yay! This whole week the forecast is great and we're all enjoying it.

Ryan took a much needed day off on Saturday and surprised me with a Mother's Day gift - finally a flower bed out front!

Starting the job:

Working till dark:

Kaitlyn loves it and had to help out:

The finished project (so far - we'll be buying more flowers this week and planting them):

And Meagan's sleep is getting a lot better. Last night she woke up twice, but once was because her sister woke her up. The norm is starting to be one wake-up around 4 a.m. which I can definitely tolerate.

SWAGGER WAGON

2010-05-09T19:14:00.000-07:00

This is hilarious - I don't have a Sienna but I love my minivan and everything it brings along with the ride :) Thought it was a good post for Mother's Day. Happy Mother's Day everyone!

May is Here - Randoms

2010-05-07T10:29:00.000-07:00

The last few nights Meagan's sleeping has been slowly improving. I've been relying on teething tablets and cluster feeding in the evening. She even enjoyed some rice cereal (not that I think it will help with her night time wakings but she's getting to that age already) last night. Her newest trick is getting up on all 4s and threatening to crawl. Which is funny since she can not sit at all yet.

The weather has been depressing lately but today it is beautiful outside which helps my mood and Kaitlyn's too it seems.

Mother's Day is on Sunday and if Ryan is reading this, all I want is a few dollars to spend at the salon. Maybe a pedicure... maybe some facial treatments... anything would be nice :)

Ryan's business is booming. He is constantly out cutting other people's lawns, cleaning their gutters, destroying hot tubs etc. We haven't seen a lot of him this week but it sounds like he'll be home tonight and Saturday (and of course Sunday) which will be nice. Plus our own lawn needs some attention.

I have an interview next week for a job promotion. It will be tough competition and I have no idea how it will affect my mat leave if I do get it. I won't worry about that unless I actually am offered the job, but I am not prepared to cut my mat leave short for a job promotion at this point. I am so looking forward to summer with my girls :)

Kaitlyn's birthday is around the corner and she is definitely becoming more manageable and less "3". She does say the funniest things sometimes. Yesterday I treated her with a mini blizzard which she loved. And I said "we'll do more fun stuff like this when the weather is sunny all the time" and she said "yeah, that's because we have more money now". Really?! Not that I'm aware of. We also went for lunch at someone's house and she was offered soup. She didn't like it (she's used to chicken noodle which it wasn't). As we were getting into the car to leave she looks very serious and says "And Mom, that there? In that house? That was not soup."

Anyway, that's a few randoms from life around here. Better go since Kaitlyn's cousin is here to play with her.

Birth Control

2010-05-03T19:34:00.001-07:00

Anyone considering having children and reads my Facebook statuses on a regular basis is probably seriously reconsidering. Here are a few from the last 2 weeks:

"Teresa really does think watching the sun rising over the mountains from her living room is quite beautiful - but every morning for the last two weeks... could do without."

"Teresa - the baby was up at 2 and 4. Kaitlyn woke up at 5. Woke the baby up at 5:10. Had to walk the baby to sleep until 6:30.... need another coffee right about now..."

"Teresa thinks her daughter has a built in 2-hour alarm clock. 12, 2, 4, 6... how hungry can a 5 month old be??"

"Teresa didn't enjoy having to pack the kids up as soon as they woke up - but we were out of coffee so a Timmy's run was necessary!"

"Teresa was told by her daughter today "no more attitude from you because I'm about done with it". Don't know where she gets this stuff from :P"

"Teresa is really hoping and praying that all the sleep her baby is getting today won't interfere with tonight's sleep. Because, really, could nighttime sleep get any worse than it already is?"

Seriously, who needs birth control when you have me as a friend on Facebook?!

Teething

2010-05-01T10:54:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finally bought some teething tablets. I gave some to Meagan before putting her to bed and again when she woke up 4 hours later. She still woke up every 2 hours but woke up happy and babbling every time instead of screaming. So, I'm guessing she really is teething, but now I have to tackle her constant night waking.

One problem gone, new problem to tackle... such is life as a Mom I suppose.

Update

2010-04-28T08:25:00.000-07:00

Not too much to report on around here... I am now selling AVON as you might notice from the sidebar. I'm working hard on my first campaign and trying to let people in Chilliwack know I'm selling. My Facebook group currently has 29 followers and my goal is 50, hopefully by my third campaign. So if you need anything (or just a brochure), let me know!

Ryan is working hard on his own business as well and is busy, busy. He has 3 lawn contracts so far, a job ripping out a hot tub today, and a landscaping contract later this week. He loves working outdoors and being his own boss, but for now it's just a way of making some extra money to make ends meet.

The girls are doing really well. Meagan is over her strep throat but grew accustomed to getting extra snuggles at night so she still wakes up 1-3 times per night. We're going to slowly start introducing some foods to her, which I'm not thinking will help initially, but hopefully sooner rather than later. It just seems like she's always hungry and not getting enough from me anymore. But maybe that's just me worrying too much??

Kaitlyn's preschool year is almost over and the summer will be a struggle with trying to keep her entertained. She knows her birthday is just around the corner (May 21st) and usually her first question in the morning is "Am I 4 NOW Mom?" She is turning into an easier child, slowly, day by day. One book I cannot recommend highly enough is "1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children 2-12" from Dr. Phelan (amazon). We have never really agreed with spanking and although it took some time and sticking with it, rarely do we have to reach 3 before Kaitlyn listens and responds. I think the last timeout she received was 2 weeks ago :)

Obviously meal planning and weight loss are still on the backburner here. Honestly, I just don't have the energy for either right now, but plan to as soon as I start getting some better night rest.

Thank You Oma :)

2010-04-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

Finally - a picture of Meagan in her Sunday dress that Oma K made for her when she was born. She has been wearing it regularly (and always gets compliments on it too!) but somehow, I always forget to take out the camera. So here it is :)

Day Out With the "Twins"

2010-04-17T13:42:00.000-07:00

On Friday, Katrina and I went to the Ready, Seat, Learn and Safety Fair with our almost-4-year-olds (Owen and Kaitlyn are just a few days apart). The kids had a blast! And it always helps when they are both well behaved :)

Etsy!

2010-04-15T15:48:00.001-07:00

I've made the mistake of discovering Etsy. What a wonderful place to find some truly amazing artists! After our hand-foot-mouth scare at church a few weeks ago, I decided to try and get a personalized pacifier clip for Meagan since I found her soother in another boy's mouth by the time I picked her up from the nursery. The girls I ordered off on etsy (Ritzy Rugrats) were so helpful and made sure I got exactly what I wanted. I was able to pick the fabric on both sides, font type and colour, and it turned out wonderful. Since almost everything Meagan has received was either a gift, hand me down, or from the consignment store, I didn't feel horrible for buying something especially for her :)

Definition of "Rich"

2010-04-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

I teared up a little as I heard this Paul Brandt song on the radio this morning. It reminded me, as I struggle this week with paying bills that we don't really have the money to pay for, about what's truly important and what really makes us "rich". I hope you and your family are "rich" as well.

Rich Man - Paul Brandt

I look in the mirror, don't see much
Fashion sense a little out of touch
The house is run down as the bills pile up
But I'm a rich man

Breakfast table, morning rush
Sometimes it seems we barely have enough
But if it's true that all you need is love
Then I'm a rich man

When she smiles or they call me Daddy
All the worries of the world just seem to fade away
I'm alive and I know what matters
If this is all I ever have
Well, that's ok
'Cause I'm a rich man

So every morning, and brand new day
With each and every single breath I take
I'm blessed and I'm thankful, yeah I've got it made
Oh, I'm so glad life turned out this way

I've loved, I've been loved, show me someone else
With as much as me

Photo Update

2010-04-11T10:32:00.001-07:00

It's been a little while since I've posted any photos so here's a bit of an update.

Kaitlyn had her Easter party at school and loved it. She loved the bouncy castle (and had to be hauled out by one of the other moms since I was holding Meagan), loved decorating cookies, eating cookies, doing crafts and looking for Easter eggs!

Yesterday was a pj day in our house since Kaitlyn had a runny nose and cough and just plain refused to get dressed. So we baked cookies, her favourite thing to do with Mom :)

And Meagan is feeling so much better. She is happy and on her way to being healthy. She is sleeping so much better at night with only 1-2 wakings at night but still running a bit of a temperature here and there.

So that's our update!

1 Time!!

2010-04-09T19:25:00.001-07:00

Just wanted to post that Meagan only woke up 1 time last night! That's right!! Guess the meds are working their magic.

Strep Throat

2010-04-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

I am so glad I took Meagan in (and was able to get in so quickly to her own doctor!). She has strep throat and this morning woke up with a full blown cold as well. She is on amoxicillin and we are dosing her with Tylenol and Advil around the clock. After only 2 dosages and a better night's sleep, she is so much happier today. She still woke up 4 times last night but it's a definite improvement!

Anyway, not much time to post, but thought I would update :)

Lack of Results...

2010-04-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

Last night I tried every trick. I gave her a bath before bed, I fed her a few spoonfuls of rice cereal at dinnertime, I put her sleepsack on, gave her Tylenol, turned on the white noise machine. And Meagan was up at least 7 times. I stopped counting after 5. Her nap yesterday was horrible too. I finally had to go and co-nap with her and she would still wake up screaming after half an hour until I soothed her back to sleep and eventually got 3 hours out of her (in total - meaning half hour x 6).

I'm beginning to suspect something medical and am hoping to get her in to a doctor sometime this week, which might be difficult since I'm pretty sure they're closed this week while they move offices. I still don't feel or see teeth, and am getting concerned maybe it's an ear infection.

On a good note, I'm still losing weight but I think that's just because I'm up 20 hours a day :)

Night 1 Results

2010-04-02T07:44:00.000-07:00

So I didn't follow through on everything on my list. The noise machine was out of batteries and we didn't have any extras. I want to hold off on teething tablets unless I know it's teething.

But what I did do was: tucked her in tight with an extra blanket on top, plus turned up the heat a degree; put something of mine in the crib with her; put a flannel blanket in her hand which she loved; nursed from both sides when I did feed her and changed her diaper each time she woke up. The results? 3 wake-ups. A definite improvement over the 6+ that we've been struggling with for about a week. So today I'll have to get some batteries and I will buy the teething tablets, just in case.

And thanks for your comments yesterday. Nicole, I love Dr. Sears and his parenting approaches. I have The Baby Book, The Baby Sleep Book, and I read plenty of his articles when I have the time. And I still cringe whenever I complain to someone about her sleeping habits and they tell me it's time to let her cry it out. Sorry, I'm just not doing it.

Cecile, we do have a whole stack of sleep sacks (coming from a Dutch family myself) and I will be trying that as well this week. The last time I tried she got really mad, but now that she's moving a lot, maybe it will help keep her a little more still.

Thanks for the encouragement everyone and hoping for progression instead of regression in the coming week! At least I feel better about being proactive about it now :)

Sleep Issues

2010-04-01T16:42:00.000-07:00

Today I came across this article from Dr. Sears: 31 WAYS TO GET YOUR BABY TO GO TO SLEEP AND STAY ASLEEP EASIER and tonight I am going to try some of his tips. I am tired and worn out. I need more sleep and even though Meagan goes back to sleep quickly, the last few nights have been horrendous. She usually wakes at 12 for a feed which is okay. But then 1, then 2, 3, 4... it's brutal and I don't know what's causing it. Her drooling is out of control and I'm constantly changing her undershirts or else she develops a large red drool rash on her chest. So teething is definitely a suspect at this time.

Some of the tips I will be trying tonight: teething tablets (not exactly on the list, but I don't feel okay with giving her Tylenol every night); putting something that smells like Mommy in with her; making sure she is warm enough and tucked in tight; and using the noise machine on the sensor setting. We used this for Kaitlyn and it worked wonders. As soon as Kaitlyn would stir or make a noise, the sensor would go and the machine would turn on.

So wish us luck! We need it!!

Quote of the Day...

2010-03-31T12:36:00.001-07:00

Kaitlyn: "Mom, I don't need a sister. I just need a kitty."

Quite a change from last week when I was explaining to Kaitlyn that I have 3 sisters which she thought was pretty neat and said: "I need another sister Mom! When can I have another sister?"

Excuses... Reasons... Real life...

2010-03-30T18:54:00.000-07:00

The reason for the quick depreciation in posting? I have excuses. I have reasons. But mostly, it's just real life.

First, meal planning Mondays. It hasn't happened in a few weeks but I did make a point of it this week because I miss it. I miss being organized when Ryan walks in the door and not having to pack up Meagan (she's a real Mommy's girl and it's just easier to take her with than hear she cried the entire time I was gone) and head to the grocery store. But I did have a change of heart this morning, which still backfired on me.

I made my meal plan, I made my grocery list, and then last night had another lousy night of sleep. I'm starting to refuse certain feeds at night if it's been less than 3 hours between feeds, but Meagan still wakes up and I have to get up and put her soother back in. I no longer know what deep sleep is like. I nap all night but at least I'm getting some sleep.

So after a doctor's appointment this morning and dropping Kaitlyn off at school, I decided to visit my parents for lunch. Backfire. Mom was out and Dad was with a client. With a sigh and a shrug, I headed out the door and realized I still had my detailed grocery list in my purse. So I headed to Superstore and it really wasn't that bad. It wasn't too busy and I managed to motor through the store rather quickly with a sleeping baby. And now I have a fridge and cupboard full of groceries which I'm happy about.

And weight loss? I'm stalled. Probably due to lack of energy due to lack of sleep but at least I'm not gaining. I've cheated here and there with snack foods and easy meals but this week we are back on track. Snacking at night is still a weakness for me and celery and ranch dip were no longer appealing to me. So I found a couple new recipes for dips and blended them up for snacking tonight. After I bake some whole grain tortilla chips, I should be good to go and at least not feel too guilty while doing it.

Anyway, real life is calling in the form of a crying 4 month old...

Finally!

2010-03-26T09:20:00.001-07:00

The crib is set up! She was the same size as her bassinet and is 4 months old - it was past due. We decided to put the crib in the dining room for now until Meagan eliminates her night waking and then once she's sleeping well, the girls will be sharing a room. Kaitlyn was quite disappointed that we set up the crib in the dining room and not her room, but we told her to patient and pretty soon they will share a room. What I love most about the crib so far? If we lay Meagan down when she's cranky, turn on the aquarium, she will put herself to sleep quickly. Ahhh. I love it.

Cranky Baby & Firehall Fieldtrip!

2010-03-25T15:09:00.000-07:00

Meagan has been super cranky since her shots. Not sure if she's actually coming down with something, going through a growth spurt, or if it's still from the shots, but she's been a real challenge to deal with this week. Last night the poor thing woke up around midnight and just cried and cried. She wouldn't nurse or take a bottle, didn't want to be cuddled or held or put down or put in the swing - nothing would make this child stop crying. We finally gave her Tylenol and a dose of gripe water and she eventually sobbed herself to sleep. It was such an accomplishment, I had to take a picture of her to prove she did finally get to sleep.

Today was Kaitlyn's fieldtrip to the Firehall! She was pretty uncooperative at the beginning (she does not like going places first thing in the morning) but eventually warmed up and wanted lots of pictures in the big firetrucks. I'm so thankful I'm able to go to these things with her and will definitely make it a priority to continue accompanying her on as many fieldtrips as I can when I return to work.

Reminders to Self...

2010-03-23T17:05:00.000-07:00

I sometimes have to sit back and remind myself of certain things. Today was one of those days.

First, babies will be cranky and need extra cuddles after shots. It is better to enjoy those cuddles than be annoyed by the neediness. I enjoyed lots of cuddles today.

Second, Tuesdays are a bit nuts and Kaitlyn does not like to cooperate on crazy days. Whenever I have a ton of things to do, I can bet Kaitlyn won't want to cooperate with any of it. It is better to take a deep breath, come down to her level, and remind her that good things happen when you're good, bad things happen when you don't listen (we use timeouts which work great).

Which brings me to third, Kaitlyn is only 3. I cannot expect when she tries something new to just give it to her and she will figure it out on her own. She wants me to show her and walk her through it. Case in point - new set of play-doh tools. The mess in my kitchen had to wait. It eventually did get done, but after an hour of playing play-doh with my eldest first.

And fourth, it is important to keep myself sane. Tuesdays are my designated shopping days while Kaitlyn is at school. By the time Kaitlyn was in preschool today, I was feeling worn out and useless. Meagan was sleeping and instead of the usual turn into Superstore today, I continued on and walked in the mall for 2 hours. It was nice. It was calming. I had a healthy lunch in the foodcourt while my baby slept, and browsed at things I usually don't have time for when I have a busy 3-year-old in tow.

And the grocery shopping? No, it didn't get done today. It will get done. Eventually. In the meantime, at least my girls have a sane mother.

Meagan - 4 month stats

2010-03-22T15:24:00.000-07:00

Meagan had her 4 month shots today and did fabulous. In total, she cried for about 30 seconds and then was back to her happy self for a while. She got a little crabby when we arrived home so I gave her a dose of Tempra and she's sleeping soundly now.

She's 14 lb, 5 oz now which puts her at about 75 percentile. She is also 27 inches long which puts her around 95 percentile. Not sure where she gets that from since Ryan and I are both short! All in all, she is happy and healthy which is what counts :)

Day at the Zoo!

2010-03-22T08:18:00.001-07:00

At his boss's urging, Ryan took a 3 day weekend this week to spend some time with his girls and to work on the yard. He usually works 6 days a week, so this was quite welcome. Friday we spent the day at the zoo, enjoyed a birthday celebration at my sister's in the evening, and just spent time being a family. Saturday, Ryan and Kaitlyn worked outdoors the entire day, taking down cedars and making multiple trips to the green dump. The yard is still not done, but hopefully one more day will do it. Slowly our yard is getting bigger and we're hoping to get some good use out of it this summer.

Here are some pictures from our trip to the zoo. There are no pictures of Meagan because she slept almost the entire time.

A little hesitant of the scary animals:

The giraffes:

Her favourite - the lemurs:

Picking flowers for me:

Enjoying her Happy Meal after the zoo:

Meagan - 4 Months

2010-03-18T16:26:00.000-07:00

Well, my baby is 4 months old already today. Time is definitely flying by and we enjoy each and every day. No, not every moment, but most days are pretty good around here.

At 4 months Meagan:

- can roll from tummy to back
- can almost roll from back to tummy
- will smile at anyone, anytime
- is starting to giggle but it has to be really funny :)
- has a few gas issues that have come up the last few weeks but nothing gripe water can't seem to fix so far
- can sleep a 9 hour stretch but that doesn't mean it happens every night
- will only nurse and will not take a bottle
- has a cute little mohawk
- loves her sister
- loves her soother and cannot go anywhere without it (not looking forward to getting her off that in the future)
- will not sleep with anything on her feet which means no footed pjs and no socks at naptimes
- loves her stroller and going out and seeing new things
- is overall a wonderful baby and we are very blessed :)

*Note: We are having her weighed and measured on Monday at her 4 month shots so those stats will come on Monday

Update from Us

2010-03-16T11:33:00.000-07:00

I've backed off from blogging this week for a few reasons. Not much new to report, I never did meal plan, and although I still want to lose a few more pounds and get rid of some flab, I'm not going to obsess about it since I'm content with how my clothes are fitting and how I look in the mirror.

Kaitlyn finished her swimming lessons and passed Preschool 1! She is definitely not ready for Preschool 2 yet but we're hoping by summertime she will be. On the last class, the teacher even took the kids off the diving board. The boy in the class jumped with no fear, Kaitlyn would not let go of the teacher's hand and was petrified so he held her in his arms and jumped in with her. I was surprised she even went for that! Now she keeps begging for dancing lessons but we'll see... I'm just not sure I see the value in it. Swimming lessons is one thing because she's learning a lifeskill but dancing? Again, we'll see. I might do some phoning around this week and just see if there's a class that's not too costly and not too great a commitment.

Anyway, it's time to take Kaitlyn to preschool so I'll quickly post this and hopefully be back later this week with another post.

I love this first picture because you can see the instructor is really having fun with the kids. Boy, she is going to miss swimming lessons.

Ready, set:

Jump!

Few More Pics from the Park

2010-03-08T10:35:00.000-08:00

Yes, yes, I still haven't done my menu planning. Quite honestly, I'm not sure it will get done today. I usually do my shopping on Tuesdays when Kaitlyn is at preschool but there is no preschool this week because of spring break. Does this mean I take both kids shopping (= disaster!!) or do it in the evening? It will have to get done at some point, but I'm not going to stress over it right now.

Here are a couple more pictures I took at the park last week.

The extent Kaitlyn will use the big kid swing:

First tried Meagan in the infant carrier and she HATED it:

So we went home and got the stroller which she LOVED!:

Enjoying the Park (again)

2010-03-06T08:16:00.000-08:00

We managed to get out and enjoy some of the sunshine yesterday at the park near our house. Kaitlyn is still very cautious and does not like the idea of using the big kids' swing so she insists on using the baby swing still. So if the picture looks familiar, that's because it is :)

Age 1:

Last year (facing the opposite direction):

And yesterday:

Wednesday Weigh In: Week 8

2010-03-03T09:23:00.000-08:00

Down one more pound! Yesterday I was doing laundry and my favourite jeans were in the wash. I put on another pair that was in my drawer and didn't realize it until I zipped them up that they were my tiny jeans that never really fit me, size 6. And they fit! And I wore them all day :) I think I have a new favourite pair.

Meal Planning Monday

2010-03-01T09:54:00.000-08:00

So the fish dish that was scaring me was really finicky and too much work for the taste. It turned out rather bland, but was very healthy. I knew Ryan wouldn't eat the leftovers the way they were, so I ended up using the leftovers and made it into a soup which we had for dinner last night - which was really good! Funny how those things happen.

Here is this week's meal plan:

Monday: Fillets parmesan

Tuesday: Leftover veggie lasagne from freezer

Wednesday: Best Chicken Dish, rice (new recipe)

Thursday: Beef Barley Soup (different one than last time, this one using leftover roast beef from the freezer)

Friday: Tomato sherry chicken, tangy roasted veggies (yes, we liked it so much we're having it again!)

Saturday: Pizza deluxe (new recipe - can you believe I have never made pizza from scratch?!)

Sunday: Out for dinner (it's either Sat or Sun we're going out to visit so whichever night it isn't, we'll have the pizza)

Monday: Easy Beef Teriyaki (another new recipe)

More Smiles :)

2010-02-27T12:27:00.000-08:00

Meagan loves her new bouncy seat. And of course it's pink!

Wednesday Weigh In: Week 7

2010-02-24T10:42:00.000-08:00

Okay, after falling off the wagon for a couple weeks I'm back on and down 2 more pounds which means I've hit the 10 pound mark. Few more pounds and I'll be halfway towards my goal! I have to admit, I haven't been working out nearly as much as I need to and I'm going to start looking into when babysitting is provided at the gym so I can go during the day. Even if it's only once or twice a week, I need to get this body moving!

The pork chops last night were really good. Growing up, I hated pork chops because they were normally pan fried. Turns out the only way to have pork chops is to bake them and they turn out really nice and tender. Tonight is irish stew which is already cooking in the slow cooker - super low fat, low cal recipe which I'll be serving with a salad since we're not eating enough greens in this house.

Friday's meal is still scaring me a bit because it's quite finicky - sealing potatoes and fish in rolled up parchment paper. I'm still going to try it and will let you know how it turns out!

Meal Planning Monday

2010-02-22T18:04:00.000-08:00

This week I'll be experimenting with 4 new recipes. Hopefully that turns into a good thing and not bad!

Monday: Hash brown pizza

Tuesday: Pork chop and pasta dinner

Wednesday: Irish stew, bread

Thursday: Fiesta rice

Friday: Fish in parchment packets, curried corn (trying to make Friday a little bit special as a date-night in)

Saturday: restaurant for Mom's birthday

Sunday: Fillets parmesan

Monday: tortellini, bread

Our Pink Life

2010-02-21T15:31:00.001-08:00

In case you had any doubts about us living in a world of pink, here's a photo of the laundry I folded Friday.

Meagan - 3 months

2010-02-19T09:47:00.000-08:00

Meagan turned 3 months old yesterday. Amazing how fast this time is flying! Everyone is adjusting well and she is growing wonderfully. She saw her delivery doctor yesterday who said she is very healthy and was quite impressed how happy she was the entire appointment. She is now 22.83 inches long (about 25th percentile) and 12.5 pounds in weight (about 50th percentile).

And boy does she love her big sister!

Wednesday Weigh In: Week 6

2010-02-17T11:34:00.000-08:00

No comment today.

Jumperoo and Swimming Lessons

2010-02-16T15:45:00.001-08:00

The girls at work threw me a fabulous baby shower a few weeks ago and one of the best gifts was a Jumperoo. Kaitlyn had an exersaucer and a jumperoo that attached to a doorframe, but we don't have any doorframes close to the main living area (kitchen/living room) and we sold the exersaucer because it had horrible sound effects (think 80s Atari game) that drove me nuts. So this was the perfect gift. Ryan put it all together the other day and she loves it. She has the neck support but she has super short legs so I've put a stack of blankets underneath it for her feet to touch. She absolutely loves the parrot on top and will sit and coo at it.

The other event in this house is Kaitlyn is in swimming lessons for a few weeks. She loves the water and this gave her an opportunity to have something all her own that was just about her. The first lesson went so well, she didn't want to leave. It was horrible. I was "that" mom that everyone shakes their head at and wonders what I must have done to create such a monster child. Finally I was able to get her out of there and we had a loooonnnngggg talk about good behaviour vs bad behaviour. She seemed to have "gotten it" because I haven't had a problem since. Class is over, she happily gets dressed and she gets to pick an item from the candy machines for being good (thanks Andrea for the idea!). She is doing really well this time the teacher said, although I still don't know if she'll pass. She still doesn't like putting her head underwater but the teacher said she's slowly improving.

So that's the update from us!

Meal Planning Monday

2010-02-15T09:34:00.000-08:00

Well, both kids are sleeping after a bit of a rough night. I should be too considering everytime one of them was up, that meant I was up too. Preschool has been great for Kaitlyn, but it means she catches more viruses than ever. Just when I thought she was better, she was up twice last night, sick. Have I ever mentioned how much I hate changing sheets at 3 AM? Meagan actually did much better last night and was only up once for a quick feed and diaper change so hopefully her growth spurt is done!

So I may as well get this up before one of the girls wakes and needs some attention.

Monday: Leftover soup, bread

Tuesday: Chicken fagioli stew (we bumped this from last week since we ended up doing baked chicken instead of stew last week)

Wednesday: Tacos

Thursday: Salmon with dill sauce, rice (bumped again from last week as I totally strayed from our meal plan one night to make the chicken and veggie meal I blogged about)

Friday: Macaroni and cheese for Kaitlyn, frozen diet dinner for me (Ryan is working)

Saturday: Hashbrown casserole

Sunday: Roast and potatoes

Monday: Irish stew, bread

Tomato Sherry Chicken and Tangy Roasted Veggies

2010-02-13T08:59:00.000-08:00

Last night I cooked an extra special dinner for Ryan and I and we had a date night in - sort of. Between one kid going through a growth spurt and the other with a fever, it wasn't too romantic, but we did have an excellent meal. Ryan said after the meal that it was by far the best thing I have ever cooked for him. Both recipes were from the Company's Coming Low-Fat Cooking cookbook (but was also able to find the main dish recipe online). I know if I pick a recipe from a Company's Coming book, it will always turn out the way it is supposed and I liked the fact that I knew how many calories and how much fat we were eating. In the main dish, Tomato Sherry Chicken, I did substitute white wine instead of the sherry since I wasn't sure if I would react to the sherry since I have an allergy to red wine, and besides, white wine was in the house. I also substituted green onions in place of the shallots since our grocery store didn't have any shallots. Both recipes were soooo good. The sundried tomatoes and white wine created an excellent sauce together for the chicken, and the balsamic vinegar on the Tangy Roasted Veggies really added taste to the vegetable dish.

Instead of a movie (or watching episodes of Lost as we usually do), we watched the 2010 Opening Ceremonies - it was a pretty good show! I'm sure date nights will improve once Meagan takes a bottle again, but for now, it will do.

Wednesday Weigh In: Week 5

2010-02-10T10:36:00.000-08:00

Down 1 more pound. Pretty good considering the amount of cheating I did this week and the fact I have not been moving much. In my defence, Meagan is going through a growth spurt and waking twice a night. She goes back to sleep very quickly (usually), but it still takes a lot of energy to get up twice a night and do the daily routine the next day.

Anyway, hopefully I get some energy back this week and get back to it!

Smile!

2010-02-08T12:24:00.001-08:00

Meal Planning Monday

2010-02-08T10:49:00.000-08:00

Last week's meal plan didn't quite finish the way it was intended. We ended up going out for dinner last night (thanks Mom!) and I did stray from eating according to my diet plan. And tonight we were supposed to have a seafood pasta dish, but Ryan is working a double so I will be pulling some frozen soup out of the freezer and dropping off some leftovers for Ryan at work. So now I have 2 leftover meals from last week I'll incorporate into this week's plan:

Monday: Frozen soup, bread

Tuesday: Fiesta Rice

Wednesday: Chicken fagioli stew

Thursday: Macaroni and cheese (I'm out for a work dinner so it's just Ryan and Kaitlyn for dinner and yes, I'll be home by 8 for Survivor!!)

Friday: Seafood tomato alfredo

Saturday: Veggie lasagne (new recipe I'm trying out)

Sunday: Salmon with dill sauce, rice, beans

Monday: Soup from freezer, bread

Meal Planning Update

2010-02-05T10:49:00.000-08:00

Meal planning has been so wonderful. I understand why I didn't start earlier (work, new baby, etc) but I can't imagine getting through the week the way we used to. And we're trying new, healthy recipes and loving them. Here is the dinner we made last night - so good! We served it with half a whole grain loaf (bought at Superstore, the kind that you "bake at home" from the bread department) and the recipe made so many leftovers, I ended up freezing more than half the recipe. Even Kaitlyn tried it but didn't like the beef and barley.

Fresh Vegetable-Beef Barley Soup

1.5 pounds beef stew meat
1 small green pepper, chopped
3/4 c. frozen green beans (or you can use fresh!)
3/4 c. chopped onion
2/3 c. uncooked barley
2/3 c. frozen whole kernel corn (or use fresh)
1.5 c. water
1 t. salt
1/2 t. dried thyme leaves (or 1 t. fresh)
1/4 t. ground pepper
25 oz. ready to serve beef broth (I used a carton and measured it out)
24 oz. can diced tomatoes
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce

1. Mix all ingredients into slow cooker
2. Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours (or 4-5 on high) until veggies and barley are tender.

We cooked it for 9.5 hours and it turned out perfect. 200 calories and 7 gr fat per serving :)

Pics of the Girls

2010-02-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I've posted some updated pictures of the girls. Meagan especially changes so fast so I have to remember to keep the camera out and ready!

Kaitlyn is loving the basement. She spends so much time down there and really loves having all the space. And I love having her out of my hair so except for the financial aspect, it's been wonderful to have the whole home!

Here she is watching a movie with her friends. The second pic is her singing along with the movie - pretty serious stuff!

And Meagan is just so happy and easy. Last night she slept from 10 PM to 6:30 AM. No wonder she's so happy - she's well fed, well rested. Makes for an easier household.

Wednesday Weigh In: Week 4

2010-02-03T09:21:00.000-08:00

Down another 2!! So happy to be making progress and seeing the results on the scale. Anyway, lots on my to-do list today so this is short and sweet today :)

Meal Planning Monday

2010-02-01T13:47:00.000-08:00

So meal planning last week was mostly a success. I didn't make nearly as many trips to the grocery store as I used to, and it was great not to have the panic every day of what to make for dinner. The end of the week was a bit of a bust and I was forced to go to the store, but this was mainly due to the fact that Ryan was working extra shifts and taking leftover dinner in his lunch, hence no shepherd's pie using leftover meatloaf.

Here is the meal plan for this week. I've extended it to include next Monday as well since I won't be able to do my shopping until Tuesday when Kaitlyn is in preschool. Yes, yes, I could do it Monday but let's just say, it's much easier doing the shopping with just one child who will most likely sleep for the entire trip :)

Monday: Weight Watchers frozen meal for me, leftovers for Ryan and mac & cheese for Kaitlyn (Ryan is working another double)

Tuesday: Chicken fajitas

Wednesday: Chick pea and tomato pasta (new recipe I'm trying out)

Thursday: Beef barley soup (another new recipe, this one in the slow cooker), bread

Friday: Sauced salmon, salad, rice

Saturday: Oven steak and vegetables

Sunday: Fiesta rice (our own super easy recipe for Sunday dinner)

Monday: Seafood tomato alfredo

As you can see, I'm also trying to keep it relatively healthy. I made the mistake of reading the fat content in the meatloaf before eating it this week - yikes! This time I'm reading the nutritional info before planning my week!

Kaitlyn and the Cat: Part 2

2010-01-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

The cat loves to hide outside, just for a break from Kaitlyn is my theory. Today this is what Kaitlyn had to say about it:

"My kitty is still not here. She is outside playing with her kitty friends at the park. I think they have a beach ball."

I guess that's a better picture than the cat hiding under the deck to avoid being sat on.

Wednesday Weigh-In: Week 3

2010-01-27T09:26:00.000-08:00

So I am down another 2 pounds - 7 more and I'll be the same as when I finished the cruise (10 more and the same as when I started the cruise). It's a challenge somedays when the girls don't feel like cooperating and I can't get them moving, to keep myself moving. This week I've been staying active. I took the girls for a walk one day and have been doing lots of moving things from upstairs to downstairs. I haven't gotten back to the 30-Day Shred but hopefully this week I'll get back on it.

Meal planning is going really well. It's wonderful not to have the stress around 3, or sometimes even later, starting to go through the cupboards and freezer and figure out what I can make for dinner. Everything is in the house and ready to go. This morning I had to make sure to get up on time in order to put the roast in the slow cooker, but now I don't have to worry about dinner at all today.

And on another note, Meagan slept from 9:30 to 5:30, back in bed by 6, and up at 8:30 :)

Kaitlyn and the Cat

2010-01-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Kaitlyn and the cat have a love/hate relationship. One minute they're playing nice and Kaitlyn is giving her kisses, the next she's crying because "I sat on the kitty and she got mad at me".

Here she is tucking kitty in for a nap - with Kaitlyn giving her "I know I'm doing something bad but leave me alone anyway" look. I have to say, kitty is much more tolerant than I would be.

Meal Planning Monday

2010-01-25T14:43:00.001-08:00

After reading Beth's blog this morning, I decided to follow suit and actually plan our weekly meals. I'm sick and tired of running out to the grocery store 3-4 times or more per week to grab a couple things we need for dinner or for the next day, so it is definitely time to start planning ahead.

I first started with the grocery flyers and picked one grocery store which had the best deals on meat this week (I don't really have the time and energy with 2 kids to go trotting around town from store to store) and picked recipes based around those meats. Then I wrote down which meals for which days and wrote out my grocery list, trying to pick recipes with ingredients on sale as well as things I already had in the house. Then I rewrote my grocery list according to the layout of the grocery store so I don't have to continuously go back and forth from meats to dairy etc. Hopefully that will make shopping with 2 kids in tow a little easier!

So here is my weekly plan - I'll let you know if we stick with it!

Monday (tonight): Corn chowder with dinner rolls
(Ryan is working a double tonight so it's just Kaitlyn and I for dinner - she may end up having Alphaghetti instead if she doesn't like it)

Tuesday: Lemon-sauced fish, rice and corn

Wednesday: Savoury pot roast (full meal in the slow cooker)

Thursday: Leftovers (work is throwing me a baby shower this day so it's just Ryan and Kaitlyn for dinner)

Friday: Meatloaf, rice and salad

Saturday: Shepherd's pie (using the leftover meatloaf in place of the ground beef mixture), salad

Happy Day Today :)

2010-01-21T10:01:00.001-08:00

The sun is shining, the girls are well rested, which means I am too, and I got lots of big smiles this morning. Thought I would share :)

Wednesday Weigh In: Week 2

2010-01-20T19:44:00.000-08:00

This week has not been good. Lots of sickness in the house, getting lazy, and even a bag of chips entered our home.

But I did weigh in this morning and I'm still just down 3 pounds (same 3 pounds from last week). Amazing that I've maintained considering how bad of a week it's been, but that's probably thanks to the flu.

So this week will be better - back with the healthy food, and continuing with 30-day Shred!

Meagan - 2 months today

2010-01-18T15:31:00.000-08:00

Meagan is 2 months old today. These days are just flying by, it's hard to believe it's been 2 months already. She had her 2 month shots today at the Health Clinic and did so well. She cried for a few minutes and then went right to sleep. Right now it's an hour and a half later, and she's still sound asleep. Kaitlyn didn't much like hearing her sister cry like that and after the first shot (of 3) she hid under a chair until we were done.

We also had her weighed and she is 11 lb, 2 oz which is exactly 1 pound up from 2 weeks ago, and puts her at 75th percentile. I wasn't quite sure what to do with that information since the doctor says they should try to maintain their percentiles for the first year, and Meagan was 25th percentile at birth, 50th percentile 2 weeks ago, and now at 75th percentile. But the health nurse says they're not concerned about tripling percentiles so I suppose all is good!

The other great news is we are not buying any more PullUps in this house for a while! Kaitlyn has woken up dry without them for 2 nights in a row so I am now considering her fully trained. I am sure there will be accidents here and there but that's fine with me.

Other than that, we are almost 100% healthy again, but not much else to report and no new photos since Saturday. Have a great week everyone!

Sick House

2010-01-16T20:55:00.000-08:00

It's been a very down week in this house. First Meagan caught a cold, then Ryan, then Kaitlyn, and today me. The girls have both been coughing and fighting temperatures all week and it's been taxing. Good thing is they are both sleeping very well (maybe the Tempra has something to do with that?) but even Meagan, drug-free, slept from 9-4 and 6-8:30 last night. It's a wonderful thing - if only I could train my body to do the same and not wake up every 2-3 hours. Tonight we are trying Kaitlyn without a pullup for bed. We shall see how that goes! Anyway, here are a few photos from our week home.

Kaitlyn + Marker = Trouble

2010-01-13T21:47:00.001-08:00

My Weight Loss Journey

2010-01-13T16:22:00.000-08:00

Last week Wednesday I stepped on the scale and decided that was the day I would start my journey towards where I was a year ago - back on our cruise where I was finally happy with the way I looked and made sure I was on as many pictures as possible. This time around, I am trying to lose a little more than last time, through proper diet and exercise (like last time) but may stop if I'm happy with what I see in the mirror.

So we are switching the white bread out for whole grain, the ice cream and sweets for... well nothing since we're not big on sweets anyway, and the chips in the evening for celery. Chips at night are a big one since we're so used to snacking while watching TV.

So every Wednesday, I will step on the scale and update my ticker (up there near the top of my page) to hold me accountable to everyone. So far, week 1, down 3 pounds. I'm not expecting that every week, but it's a good start!

Meagan - 6 week stats

2010-01-04T12:31:00.001-08:00

Meagan had her 6 week appointment today. Her weight is now 10 lb, 2 oz and length is 21.65 inches, which puts her at around 50th percentile on all fronts, up from 25th percentile when she was born. She is still eating every 2-4 hours (I prefer the 4 hour stretches at night but it's still normally 2-3 hours round the clock). She's healthy all around but I really need to do something about her nails as she keeps scratching herself :)

Favourite Activity Thus Far

2010-01-02T13:17:00.001-08:00

Meagan loves a nice warm bath - and Kaitlyn loves to help! Smiles are beginning but so far, not too many - and I haven't caught any on camera yet. She looks a little amused in the first photo.

Happy New Year's!

2010-01-01T09:26:00.000-08:00

It's New Year's morning and I'm enjoying my first coffee of the year while Kaitlyn watches some kids cartoons and Meagan is dozing in her swing. Ryan is still fast asleep and that's just fine considering he stayed up until 2 with Meagan while I went to bed and only had to get up with her once last night. Great way to start the new year with some decent sleep!

We were pretty mellow last night. We had a few invites to go places but I was glad we didn't book a babysitter and commit to anything in the end as Kaitlyn wasn't feeling too well and we probably would have cancelled any plans we ended up making. Instead we had a quiet night with just us, some great snack food, and catching up on Lost (we're currently almost done Season 3). It was very nice to do the countdown and then crawl into my bed and fall asleep right away :)

2009 was very good to us - we started the year with a wonderful, relaxing cruise. Then on the day we buried my grandmother, I took a pregnancy test and found out new life was beginning. Ryan received a promotion at work with better family hours. Kaitlyn turned 3 and started preschool, was potty-trained, has a full vocabulary, and graduated to a toddler bed. In October I started maternity leave and in November, Meagan Elisabeth entered our family.

From our family to yours, have a wonderful, blessed 2010!

Christmas 2009

2009-12-30T08:59:00.000-08:00

Opening stockings in front of our new fireplace:

Christmas morning at our place. Her favourite gift was a tie between her flashlight:

And Barbie Cinderella:

Our favourite present this year (sorry it's not a great shot):

Sorry didn't take many shots, but here is one from my parents':

Opening gifts at my parents':

Opening gifts at the Smiths:

Chris and Sam at the Smiths:

Christmas has come and gone - and gone quickly! One thing I discovered this year is holidays are definitely a lot different when you have a newborn, especially a nursing one.

On Christmas Day, I woke up with a lot of pain and was afraid I would end up at the walk-in or emergency, but thankfully with the help of my many baby books, I was able to "unclog" the problem. Definitely not a problem I hope to have reoccur! Unfortunately we missed church but I was able to catch up on some sleep and we had a quiet morning with the girls opening a few gifts. We also were able to enjoy our new electric fireplace which was our gift to each other this year - our first fireplace ever - we love it!

Christmas evening we spent at my parents' with the family and it was a little crazy, but there was no formal dinner which made it a little more relaxed. I missed quite a bit of the festivities and gift openings as I was feeding Meagan and then had to deal with a huge diaper mess which took about 1/2 hour to clean up. Not fun.

Sunday we headed out to White Rock for Christmas with the Smiths. Kaitlyn really enjoyed it and the family get-together should have been called the Kaitlyn show, although Meagan got her fair share of attention too.

Ryan is back to work after Christmas but has a long weekend again this weekend which is so nice. Hopefully we will get everything organized and the downstairs ready for the kids playroom. Looks like we've lined up some free furniture from Ryan's co-worker, just have to find out how to get it here and we will be set.

I am off to have another cup of coffee. And watching the snow fall :)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas and the Lord's blessings to you in 2010!