A little reminder

My dad owns an electrical company that he still does work out of.  In it's prime dad has a crew of guys, but now that my dad is 70 (and should retire but loves what he does), it is just him. He has a few maintenance contracts, one including the condo building he lives at.  2 nights ago they had a power surge and 70+ ballast needed to be changed.  Joel had an early Friday at work since it is the long weekend.  My dad called him not knowing he was off early and asked if Joel wanted to work Friday night since it was too much work for one man and without hesitation my husband agreed.

My family has always been very important to me, so when I started dating Joel it was a relief to know they already liked him.  (my parents knew Joel for years before I did) Today Joel is also helping my dad with a job before we head out to Blue Lake.  3 years ago I began dating Joel on September Long weekend. (sort of for those that actually know our story) Before we were married we celebrated this as our anniversary. For the first one I made Joel a book filled with quotes and pictures of our growing love. Last year I honestly can not remember what we did, but I was pregnant so I deserve a break. :) This year we are headed out to Blue Lake with my in laws to celebrate with Joel's aunt and uncle and friends of the family.

I am often reminded of how much I love Joel with little things he does for me or our family and this weekend was no exception. 

When two hearts are committed

To share Life's ebb and flow,
As days become a lifetime,
The Bond of Love will grow.

Step 2

scratch coat on, stucco likely in a few weeks....

before.....

a little dark, but after so far.....

Remember me?

I feel sick.  To think all those memories are gone for you.  To not recall anything from those days.  To not remember your childhood.  How do you know who you are without knowing where you have been?  How you got to where you are?  How you became who you are today?  I am overwhelmed with emotion.  Mostly for you, but some for me.  To think I have been erased.  I can't help but be flooded with memories, ones that you will never recall.  They are engraved in my mind, and yet empty to you.  So many. I feel sick.

http://www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18527&Itemid=232

http://www.steinbachonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18546&Itemid=232

This was Dan, the owner's son who was involved in the accident.  He was removed from the ventilator yesterday so things are looking up! Great progress Vin, you are doing great. For those who don't know I have been a seasonal at lilac for 20 years, worked there for 7 and was once apart of the family.

Life these days...

Life these days consists of what feels like a loosing battle of cleaning. Our house is under renovation - again and it is starting to get to me.  Not so much the renovation part, I can actually handle that quite well as I get excited for the end project.  It is the man behind the renovation that is driving me crazy... Joel!  Joel is used to working on a construction site where there is a clean up crew that comes in a takes care of the mess that the guys leave.  He forgets that at home that "clean up crew" is his wife and that his wife has enough cleaning without him making a silly mess.  Now don't get me wrong, I don't mind sweeping up the wood chips from where he drilled in our framing, or even the scattered tools all over my dining room table mess. This is not the part of cleaning that bothers me.  I am taking about little things like when he opens a package and then just drops the plastic packaging on the ground when I have left a garbage bag right beside him, or that when he has finished a drink and the can ends up on our lawn instead of in the garage in recycling. I must give him credit though, he is working so hard and has dreamed us into a different house.  His renovations start small, but after many hours of thinking, we end up with major changes to our house.  Removing stairs, changing where our back entrance is, adding floor, removing walls, adding doors, building shelves, new lights and that is just this project!  But all things considered I love the man I married and I love that he takes joy in improving our house. He really is amazing.

my old back door

my new door and a hole where the old was

my old dining room wall

my new dining room still under renovation

The next project.....my old house

stay tuned, new pictures coming shortly......

Another short update

• Possibly found a daycare starting in January 2011 thanks to my mother in law - 2 months before my mat leave is over but I have contacted work about coming back early
• Went camping at Rushing River in Ontario with our friends Chris & Sarah and their little guy Ryan - it was beautiful! We had a great time even with the 40+ minute detour, one small trip to the hospital, a flat air mattress, and a little rain.
• Mika is still not sleeping well - getting to bed is good, it is that she wakes at 2-4am for play time.....
• Mika sat in her high chair for the first time yesterday! So cute
• We have started the first of 2 planned major renovations - removing a wall, building another one, closing up our back door, cutting in a new door, re-stuccoing the house, and possibly tiling the entrances.
• The second reno is planned for late Sept/Oct (although Joel seems to think November) which will include drywalling a room that is currently wood panelling and brick, tiling the brick fireplace, drywalling the ceiling, adding new and more lights, replacing carpet with hardwood and possibly expanding a bathroom to prepare it for a later reno
• It was my sister and Jay's 2nd wedding anniversary yesterday - congrats guys and many more!
• This Saturday I am going to the cirque du soleil show Alegria with my mom. (it was my birthday present) We are getting pedicures first though! (happy mother's day momma)

tummy time

camping at Rushing River

high chair

I thought I was over this.....

Today I spent another morning driving around putting Mika to sleep. (I also had to do this last night and about 5 times in the last 2 weeks) This is week #2 of her sleep problem and I'm starting to loose it.  She was doing so well waking only twice a night to feed and straight back to bed.  All of a sudden like a switch she mixed up her days and nights.  She is taking longer naps during the day - the morning she will sleep from about 8:00am - 10:30am and then her afternoon one is 12ish - 2pm.  She is now up every hour, crying, so I put her back to sleep and like clock work no more than an hour can pass and she is awake again - ALL NIGHT!  Also she has decided the day starts at 4am.... I know the Haywards are early risers, but......   any suggestions?