We’re Home.... well most of us

Joel is back to work in Bissett and will be there until March 22nd.



We arrived safely back from Arizona on February 18th after only a short delay. Unfortunately we flew at night, so coming home even a little late meant we did not make it into our door until 4am. We walked into a cold house, and the dogs shaking, but continued to unload the van. After Joel got every bag into the house he looked at the thermostat as he knew something was not right. Sure enough it was 6 degrees in the house! Brrrrr! So he went downstairs and after about a ½ hour of fighting with the furnace he decided to call someone, which involved telling me to call someone. He had heated up my heat bags in the microwave and I put 3 down comforters, 2 fleece blankets and another comforter on my bed where Meeks and I cuddled. By 9am it had been fixed, but it wasn’t warm until after 1pm.


That being said, we had a wonderful holiday away! We went swimming almost every day, visited the zoo, had a date night which included a night in a hotel, did a ton of shopping, visited where we got married and generally relaxed. It was much needed and spending the time with Joel’s family was nice. It was totally different than the last time we went since we focused so much on the wedding that time, this time was much more relaxed. Meeks did amazing on the plane, I couldn't have asked for better. Her first trip was a huge success which makes me think seriously about going away next year. (but with 2 condos to choose from, what's a girl to do?! haha)


Here are a few pictures from the trip, enjoy ~


(a longer update is overdue, but will have to wait for another day. My little peanut turns one on Saturday so we are busy preparing for that)

I had to see what the deals were everyday, I love shopping!

Kisses to Grandma for taking me swimming, she took me a lot!

At the park the last day with mommy and daddy

One of my new outfits mommy picked out

At the zoo with Flat Stanley, Grandma, Daddy and Mommy

Chillin at the condo

A couple of pictures to update

Life These Days....

Life these days is busy to say the least.  The weekdays have a consistent routine: wake up, let dog out, get dressed, Meeks wakes up, change diaper, put Meeks in her chair, finish getting ready, one more diaper change and off to daycare.  Arrive early, and wait outside for daycare to open. Panic to work and arrive 5 minutes to the plus or minus depending on traffic.  Work.  Panic out of work at 4pm. Pick up Meeks at daycare. Chat with Jackie for a little bit. Head home.  Make Meeks dinner.  Feed her.  Change her. Bathe her. Cuddles and finally bed time.  Dinner for me, chat with Joel and off to bed. Yep, that's life.  Nothing exciting, but it's our day Monday to Friday. 

This weekend was eventful to say the least.  Friday my mom had picked Meeks up for an afternoon shopping trip.  She drove her home and I met them at our house.  Saturday my dad came over and we chalked one portion of Mika's new room.  When he left after shoveling the part of the yard I couldn't do (it was just too heavy and the banks are too high for me to lift it - it's as tall as me!) Mika and headed to Can Tire for ceiling paint and painters tape.  The minute we arrived home, I barely made it out of the van before I was violently sick.  This continued for about an hour when I knew I had to go to my moms for some help. There was no way I could watch a very active 11 month old and be sick, so off we went.  With only a few stops we made it.  My mom suggested I call health links just to make sure I shouldn't be doing anything specific for the baby. (normally I would call my midwife except we had only met one time when I accepted her, so I felt a little weird calling her, but would next time now that she has at least seen me as a patient) After a questionnaire they recommended that I go to the hospital "immediately".  A little scary, but off my dad and I went.  After a few hours in the waiting room (I was in the bathroom) then a few hours in the emergency section I was released just after midnight.  They did a lot of tests on the baby as one of the concerns was that I was in labour.  The next day I literally slept all day, I was awake for about 30 minutes in total.  I was still unable to eat/drink in the morning and was still feeling yucky.  By the late afternoon I could keep down watered down apple juice which was a big improvement.  By Monday I was back to myself which was nice, although I felt bad for Meeks as she missed a weekend with mommy. (although I'm sure she enjoyed her time with nana)

Mika has some more teeth coming in (she has her 2 bottom and 2 top ones in already) which is leaving her a little grumpy and very clingy to mommy. I don't mind though, I actually like it as I miss her during the day. She is walking full time which is exciting.  Her favourite thing these days is pointing - especially to pictures of Joel saying "dada".  Very cute.  My mom showed her that.  She is daddy's girl when he is home, we both miss him like crazy.  She loves putting toys into other toys (cups into other cups, blocks into her car's compartment, fruit into her bucket, etc.) Grandma is good at helping to encourage this.  She is curious about everything and loves climbing the stairs.  She is constantly in my cupboards while I'm in the kitchen.  Her favourite foods change weekly, but they seems to be kidney beans, cream cheese, string cheese, frozen yogurt tubes, fruit of any kind, and peas.  She is stubborn and throws little tantrums when she doesn't get her way which seems funny saying about an 11 month old, but trust me, she knows how to protest.  I just love watching her grow and develop.  It is amazing how many things she has learned in less than a year!  I was planning her 1st birthday party on her birthday, but now Joel will be gone, so I will have to delay it until he is home to celebrate with us.

Work is, well work.  But in 10.5 more weeks I can be done which excites me.  I look forward to having some time off before the baby comes (with Mika I had 5 days off instead of the 2 weeks I planned).  I have another ultrasound booked for Feb 10 which Joel will be able to attend!  The first one was scheduled at 17 weeks, so they were unable to see the heart chambers.  There is no concern, but they would like to see them, hence the second appointment. He (my midwife) has scheduled my appointments until April which makes my life easier as I need to coordinate them with work/daycare/mom.  My triple screen came back negative which is good news, and so far everything is going well.

We leave for Arizona on Feb 11 for one week which we are both looking forward to.  I am keeping it off facebook for a few reasons, at least for now. 

Joel is applying for an out of town permanent position which would good for us.  For a lot of reasons, but mostly because of what it would mean for our house.......

I have planned (actually a long time ago) Sarah's shower and I am seriously excited about it.  I spent a lot of time thinking of all the details, so hopefully it goes as smoothly as I plan.  I think there might be some more showers in the near future I would be involved with.....hmmmm......

Anyways, there is so much to update and just no time, so this will have to do, enjoy ~

P.S. I will upload pictures from my mom's camera this weekend as she has taken the most recent Mika pictures

Delayed!

I don't start work until Tuesday - yay! I know it is only one day, but it is a bonus day to spend with Meeks. 

I had a wonderful evening out last night with Joel. He planned the whole night as a Christmas gift. (long story, but he did well in the end) He took me to Inferno's Bistro.  We have been there once before without a reservation, so we were unable to have the full experience. (our table had a reservation coming in only an hour so they warned us we might be rushed)  It is a great restaurant with lots to choose from ranging from pastas, to bison and elk, to sandwiches and more. We started with frogs legs and duck spring rolls (the frog legs were ok, kind of like chicken thighs, and the spring rolls were delicious!), followed by baked french onion soup, followed by our entrees.  Joel has bacon wrapped bison which I tasted and immediately regretted not getting.  I had a NY strip with scallops.  I know, I know, what a boring choice at such a restaurant!  It was the last special and it threw me off.  I really wanted the elk, but for some reason that's just not what I ordered.  After dinner we headed to Rumor's Comedy Club.  Joel has never been, and I used to go every year for my birthday.  I laughed so hard and remembered exactly why I loved going.

The new room has been started....... oh my how I hate renovations!  I just wanted our front and back finished first, but I guess that will have to wait. Luckily with Meek's new room it is only a matter of painting, we decided not to change any of the baseboards/framing this time.  This makes the whole pregnancy a lot more "real" for me, and as the room progresses, I know it will even more. My goal is to have Meeks in her new room for her birthday, but we will see.  I have recruited my mother in law to help me (she is going to regret it I'm sure) make Meek's new bedding.  I bought a crib sheet so I just wanted a comforter.  More for when she is a toddler since right now I only use sleep sacks.  I also plan to make the wall art and will probably do that with Joel next time he is home. (it is a 2 person job!)  

In other good news ~ I found my double stroller!  I have been debating for a long time about what I wanted in a stroller and I finally found one that meets my needs!  It is WAY too expensive, but it will make my life easier, and therefore I can justify the cost.  I tried out the Graco Duo Glider, but I just wasn't happy with it.  There are some other neat tandem strollers out there, but I am so short that I feel overwhelmed with the size of them. (I know there are not much longer than the stroller I have now, but I just feel that way)  So I finally found a side by side that fits my car seat and is only 5 inches wider than my stroller!  It will fit through doorways and I shouldn't have a problem steering it - especially since it has fully rotating tires in the front.  Anyways, we will not buy it for another month or so, but I am excited that I finally found one.

Still can not find a crib I like (that is not insanely expensive), but one will come up. I just have my eyes out and will keep looking online too.

I am feeling some what unprepared for this birth, which may sound weird since I just went through it 10 months ago.  I can't really explain it any better than that..... maybe once I start working again I might feel a bit more like....well myself I guess. 

Anyways, off to cuddle with my monkey! Enjoy ~

hi ho, hi ho......

So my last post got more comments than I was expecting - people calling me, facebooking me private messages, etc. I really appreciate the support and kind words.  I loved hearing that this happened to them (Thanks Mrs. M), that they wanted this experience to be positive for me (Thanks Mrs. T) and that overall they were happy for me/us (Thanks mom).  Anyways, I am still feeling like some family and friends are more excited for us than others, and I am still hearing some negativity swirl, but just know that I am just as excited for Bug's arrival as I was for Mika's. 

But now the real reason for the post - I am going back to work in one week!  I can't believe 10 months has flown by and that in one week I will have just finished my very first shift back.  My position has changed, and many of my coworkers have as well.  I have been in the office for training this month, and although there are many changes, there are many things that will be the same.  I am looking forward to focusing a little more on things outside my house and enjoying the time I do have with Mika when we are home together. (not that I don't enjoy it now, but you have to be positive about this kind of thing)  My mom will be watching Meeks for the 5 months that I am back which could not be a better situation. (at least for us.........) We are really lucky to have one set of grandparents that is retired and is interested enough to volunteer to do this for us.  I have searched high and low for daycare and nothing has worked out.  I still have my eyes open, and am thinking about a nanny 2 days a week to give my mom a break, but we will see what happens with Joel.

Joel is back to Bissett next Wednesday and will be gone for 2 weeks confirmed.  He believes it will likely be 3 weeks, but we will cross that bridge when it comes.  He will then be home for at least a week.  I did really well while Joel was away and even hosted 2 dinners at my house.  Okay so one was delivery, but I still get credit for having the house "company ready".  I have a new respect for single moms, but overall I think I managed very well.

Mika's first Christmas was more exciting for me than for her, but as a family we really enjoyed ourselves.  I bought everyone some really good gifts this year.  Joel got (among other things) a CAT dump truck, boot warmers, side cutters, the game Risk, and Mario Kart for Wii.  My parents were surprised by their gift and although Barb's was fairly low key in terms of excitement, I had fun picking out Martin's. Walnut even saw a gift or 2 from Auntie Ash and Uncle Joel this year. Mika was beyond spoiled and plays with about 1/4 of her presents.  But I am rotating her toys so she won't see the others for another 2 weeks. I did bring a few over to my moms as well since she will have her 5 days a week I thought it only fair to at least supply some toys that she can return once Meeks is home.

Today we did some much needed shopping for household things - 2 shelving units for Mika's toy room, primer for her new room, the fabric for her new bedspread, new outdoor lights, and some odds and ends.  The only place that was really busy was Walmart, but that's really to be expected.

Anyways, here are a few of my favourite pictures ~ Enjoy!

Mika with her new Black and Decker tool set from GG. Daddy made her wear the safety glasses

My little present!



My 3 monkeys opening gifts together

 

Daddy sharing his CAT dump truck with Meeks

Meeks watching her new train from nana and papa

Meeks preparing for Bug's arrival with a book from Grams and Grumpa

Just saying......

Ok, here is my rant for the week.  It is long overdue as many of these things have been going on for awhile, but today is the day! It is about various comments I have gotten since announcing my pregnancy, which is also why I don't often talk about it..... well, enjoy ~

• Bug was planned.  Just because we always wanted our kids close and you happened to have waited a couple/few years, doesn't mean it our choice was a mistake.
• Thank you for the math lesson, but I have figured out Meeks and Bug will be 15 months apart. I know that is close to some, but it is perfect for our family which is really all that matters.
• I am not crazy and if I hear that one more time, I think I might just go crazy on someone.
• I do get mat leave, I am returning to work early, but even if I didn't, I would still get mat leave.  I called Service Canada myself, so yes I am sure.
• Yes I will be busy, I am now too.
• Yes I look pregnant, you have a kid and stretch everything out and then get pregnant again right away. Your body doesn't hide it well, add to that I am 5 feet tall with a short torso and where do you expect the baby to go.  I have been measured and weighted by the doctor (and continue to every 3 weeks) and there are no concerns.  But thank you for yours.
• We are not finding out the gender.

Well that's some of the comments that drive me crazy. But I hope you have a good day ~

Missing him

Joel was hired back shortly after he quit but was transferred to a new job site.  Unfortunately that new site is in Bissett, MB.  Which means he lives in camp, eats 3 meals a day, has a private room, shared showers, and no computer. Luckily he has cell service, so we text throughout the day, and talk every night. (with the exception of tonight as Joel was very sick and needed to go to bed before I could get Meeks ready) Joel is working 12 hours a day (6am - 6pm) however there have been a few hours spent in the work shack due to how cold it is up there.  Joel is making good money for being away from his family and although I am managing just fine, to him I know it is not worth being away.  He misses his little girl, and tells me throughout the day and on the phone. He was able to hear her say "dada" the other day (she started saying it the day he left) which I think only added to how much he wants to be home.  They aren't exactly sure when they are returning but sometime between the 19th and 23rd.  Luckily it is only a 2.5 hour drive, so he will work his shift then come home assuming the weather is okay. I use to wondered when I was pregnant when Joel would realize this baby was coming as he seemed so disinterested and distant from my belly, but the minute she arrived he couldn't take his eyes off her. He is such a great dad and husband, I just can't imagine life without him. I am looking forward to our Christmas holidays together and am glad we have only committed to 2 days of family events. 


As for bug, everything is going well.  I am feeling great and looking forward to an upcoming ultrasound.  We have requested it be at HSC. Heartbeat has been strong the last 4 weeks ranging from 130 - 135 bpm. I made Bug (my mom helped me because I am not super crafty, which means that she pretty much did it) a shirt today. It is actually a maternity shirt for me, but has little multicolored footprints going up it. I tried to print "You have already left footprint on my heart, and will forever more." but we couldn't get the printer to print it mirrored.


I had to work today, only for a few hours, but it was awful.  I didn't want to go, and seriously considered calling in. But come January I will have to return if I like it or not, so it was okay to be back in the office.  I was fairly new to MTEC when I went on maternity leave (I worked there just over a year), so returning for such a short period is hard as I am kind of "out of the loop".  There are 4 new staff members (out of 10!) who I have only recently met, and the other girls are fairly new to me too as I worked upstairs and will now be working with them downstairs.


I am having the families (mine and Joel's) over for dinner Wednesday. A great excuse to play with Meeks and enjoy some adult conversation.  Plus Martin has a story I am dying to hear!


Everything else is good, just missing my hubby like crazy.  And what's a post without a picture or 2?!

First Santa Visit

Even though it is a yucky old belt of Joel's, their faces are priceless!