Southern Belle

What a month!

2009-11-03T13:40:00.011-06:00

What a month!!! I feel like October just flew bye! I don't even know where to start the update! Well, let's start with Sommer turning 2! AHH!! I have a 2 year old - does that make me old? Because all of a sudden I feel OLD! I know, I am young, but I feel like my baby is gone and now I have a little girl! She had a really fun birthday weekend and was of course spoiled as ever. She had a family party on Friday AND Saturday and then had some little friends over to celebrate on Sunday. She got lots of colouring stuff (a new favorite activity), some play-doh (another favorite activity), clothes, books, a new wagon, and the list could go on!

Here is the birthday girl with Mommy! I love the shirt she wore - my mom bought it for her! I don't think Sommer understood what it meant to be "the birthday girl" but when you ask her how her birthday was she "blew candles" out. Okay, fair enough, you did blow candles out! Turning 2 was not a huge deal to her because ever since she turned 1 she told people she was 2. So now maybe she will tell people she is 3?

Daddy and the birthday girl - what a special bond these two have! For those of you who know James you know he is "all boy!" But this little monkey has Daddy wrapped around her little finger! He will do anything for her! It's a good thing that Sommer loves all his toys. When she sees a motorcycle she will say "Daddy see! Motorcycle! Vrrroooom!" She is a girl after his own heart!

This month we spent some time at the family farm. Papa Sam took us for a hayride (minus the hay) one warm Saturday afternoon. We had such a fun time and Sommer really loved it!

Here is Sommer on the hayride (minus the hay...). She is getting so big! She likes the tractor when it is not running but is afraid of it when it makes noise. If only we could have had horses to pull the hayride....

Here is my little Tigger! She had so much fun at our church carnival! There was a dino bouncer, which she was scared of, but love the face painting and of course the food! I love seeing her with her church friends - seriously, it makes the hard decision of switching churches worth it!

I already know that November will be a BUSY month in our household! I look forward to sharing and keeping you in the loop of what's going on in our house!

I am thankful!

2009-10-11T23:01:00.002-06:00

This time of year reminds of the many things I have to be thankful for in my life.

I am so thankful for my husband James. There are many people who say they could never work with their spouse every day but I am someone who is blessed to work with mine! We share an office, share a home, share a bedroom, and share a bed... wow! Don't get me wrong, there are days when I wish I had a little "me" space but my day just wouldnt be the same if he wasnt there beside me. I am lonely when he doesnt come into the office and I am especially lonely if we are away from each other at home. We are a couple that bickers but that has to be expected when you spend almost EVERY MINUTE together and share physical space 24/7, we don't let it get to us and that's why I love him! He is amazing, a hard worker, an excellent business owner, and goal driven!

I am thankful for my BEAUTIFUL daughter Sommer Lyn. Hard to believe she has been in our family for almost 2 years now - where has the time gone? She is so funny now that she is putting sentences together. Her new favorite sentence is "No buggin' me!" or "Lexis is buggin' me Mom!" Too funny! She has such a beautiful personality and is SO full of energy! She keeps us busy and on our toes but I love her for that! I am excited to see who she will become as she grows up, I know she will touch many people's lives!

I am thankful for my family and James' family! I have such amazing parents and a wonderful sister and brother! We have such fun times together and have travelled to many different places over the last few years. I love exploring new surrounding with them and going new places. I love how we tease each other and love each other at the same time! I wouldn't change my family in any way! I am also thankful to have such a great in-law family. There are many of them (12 of us kids and 3 grandkids) and they are loud but they are so fun and entertaining! No one can say they are bored when we are together because there is always something happening! I love each of my in-laws and I am blessed to have been given such a great second family!

I am thankful for having a job that allows me to work only 3 days a week so I can spend time with Sommer and do things that are important to me! I am also thankful to have a wonderful daycare provider who loves Sommer and cares for her! Going to work is easier when you know your child enjoyes where she is and looks forward to going back the next day!

I am also thankful for friends, many of whom I have been close with since elementary and highschool days. It makes a difference when you have friends that have grown up with you and have seen you through all your phases of life. I am blessed to have friends who I have also gotten to know over the past couple of years. My Friday morning playgroup friends are so important to me and I am so thankful to have them in my life! Every mom needs a group of moms to go to with questions, concerns, or anything - it really has made parenting that much more enjoyable!

There are many other things that I am thankful for but that's all for now! Happy Thanksgiving!

Jermiah 33:3

2009-09-11T14:41:00.006-06:00

Sommer has been a DIVA lately - total DIVA. (I wonder where she gets that from..... certainly not her mother...) We have been having problems with her going to sleep and frankly I have had enough. Up until last week we would lay her down in her bed, say good night, turn off the lights, walk out the door and see her at 9:00 am the next morning. BUT that has all changed. Now we lay her in the bed, say good night, turn off the lights, walk out the door and 1 minute later look up and she is standing there in the hall. GO TO SLEEP!!!!! After 4 night of fights I have nothing to give and no energy to walk her back to bed.... So today when nap time was beginning to be a struggle I set up the playpen! I told her if she came out again she would be treated like a baby and sleep in the playpen. 1 minute later she appeared in the hall so I put the playpen in her room, plopped her in it, and walked out the door. She cried for about 10 minutes but it didn't bother me (I'm a CIO type Mom - your not hurt, not hungry, just mad - get over it!) Then she was asleep!! THANK HEAVENS!!! I couldn't do another minute. I will do the same thing tonight if she puts up a fight!

Our family has also made a pretty big decision this month. After much prayer and thought we have decided to no longer attend the church we have attended for many years. We are at a point in our lives right now where friendships and relationships are very important for us and we need those with people our age. The church we were attending didn't have very many young families and it was getting hard for us to connect with people. Also there were not a lot of kids Sommer's age which was bothering me. Some of my best friends today are people that I have grown up with, some of us go back as far as toddler church!! I want to give Sommer that opportunity - to make long lasting friendships with people who have the same beliefs and standards.

It was a hard decision for us to make, especially since we do love the people there and have many found memories. We did not leave mad or disgruntaled - we just felt God was calling us elsewhere. The church we have decided to attend is one where many of my friends go. It is so refreshing for me to go to church on Sunday and be with people I know well and have close relationships with. It is also so encouraging to drop Sommer off in the toddler class with 20 other toddlers!!! We are excited to see what God has in store for us!

It's hard to believe that summer is over and fall is just around the corner! We had such a fun summer. It was so great to watch Sommer explore the world around her, learn new things, and play outside! I look forward to a great fall season and the year ahead... I wonder what things God will reveal to me. I'll leave you with this verse that has found its way into my heart. This is my new life verse: "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3.

A little lesson in patience

2009-08-28T14:20:00.003-06:00

*DISCLOSURE - I understand that people try for longer than I have been to have a baby. This is my story and a place for me to get my feelings out*

This month marks the 6 months mark of trying for a second baby. Half a year!!! I don't know why it has been taking us so long to get pregnant since with Sommer all we had to do was think about having a baby and I was pregnant. Every month I calculate and we try, and try, and try and 3 weeks later I am met with disappointment and I cry. I have told myself not to stress about it and to let everything happen on it's own yet inside of me it's all I think about. I just feel so frustrated and disappointed... I wish I knew what was going on.

I am a regular cycle gal - 29 days exactly for the past 3 months and before that it was maybe off by 2-3 days. I am a healthy gal, not overweight or underweight, I eat healthy, and my bloodwork all came back normal at my last check-up... I guess it's just not meant to be yet. I honesty try and stay positive because I know that God has perfect timing for my family. I just need to trust Him. Three of my friends just announced they were pregnant and I am truly happy for them. I am just so jealous and wish it was me joining them on the pregnancy journey.

This process makes me appreciate Sommer and how quickly I was blessed with her. I look at her and think how lucky I am to have such a perfect little angel who is so curious about life and loves her Mommy & Daddy with all her heart. Watching her grow up and explore the world around her is so fun. My life is blessed by her!

We will continue trying for our second angel and I will trust that God will deliever her/him when the timing is right. But if you think of it pray for me as I am frustrated and not the most patient person...

Summer time... and the livin' is easy!

2009-07-27T14:08:00.003-06:00

We spent a whole 8 days out at the McCullough Family farm. It is 12 minutes into Outlook and 15 miutes to the lake. We had our trailer out there, as did James' sister's family, his parents and his brother & his girl friend. It was such a great week of relaxation and fun! We went into Outlook and went to the community pool, the SAAN store, for slushes, and played at James' parents house. Papa Sam brought the tempeture down in the hot tub so Sommer spent a whole afternoon floating around in the hot-tub. Sommer found a new obsession - riding the motorcycle around in the yard. No - they didn't go fast since we had no toddler helmet but she loved every minute of it! "More Daddy Please" was what she said everytime they stopped. It has been such a fun summer with her since she enjoys playing and interacting with us. She helps us in the yard and waters the flowers (and us!). She is such a fun little person to be around!

Sommer's hair is finally long enough to put into pigtails! HURRAY! I have been waiting for this day forever!!! This is her on Saturday morning with her pigtails. She is eating a brownie because I had to distract her to do her hair. She left them in all day and was actually very upset when one feel out. She told me "My pretty fell out!" Funny how pigtails make her look so much older and mature!!!

We have now graduated to the big girls bed at our house. We are keeping our eye open for a twin bed but in the meantime our toddler bed does the trick. The first night she fell out 2x but never got hurt. She was sitting on the floor both time when I walked in, I picked her up and back to sleep she went. Not bad! She fell out again the next night but nothing for probably a week now! She looks so mature and old in a bed. So far she hasn't had any problems going down to sleep or naps but maybe she will eventually?

Sommer and I are heading to Vancouver Washington (Portland) to see my family on Thursday. We are really looking forward to the trip. Everytime Sommer see's an airplane she says "Go Papa's! On Airplane!"... someone is going to love the flight!!!

Sommer at the Spa

2009-06-06T14:51:00.002-06:00

Sommer at 19 months!

2009-06-06T14:22:00.003-06:00

Even though spring/summer weather should be here it's clearly not. I have been so frustrated with having to keep Sommer inside the past couple of days that yesterday we decided to go to the Temple Gardens Moose Jaw Spa. Papa Garnet & Nanna Sharon came with us! Sommer enjoyed the warm water so much! She swam around with her water wings on and didnt need me at all. I was so proud of my little fish! She sure has come a long way since last summer!

We have officially (and I say "officially" loosely because it's only been a week...) got rid of Su-Su & teddy during the day. She knows that she can have them for naps & bedtime and when she asks for either of them during the day I have become very creative at distracting her. Mainly she asks for them when she is upset or hurt but things are going well. She is in love with "babies" right now so she takes her baby everywhere with her.

I just love watching her grow-up into such a little girl. She talks all the time and every day says something that makes us laugh. She is a little rough and needs to learn to be "gentle" but it's coming. Hard to believe that I have a 19 month toddler all ready! Where has the time gone??

Twitter, Potty, and unfortunately poop!

2009-04-20T14:08:00.002-06:00

Sommer has been obsessed, and I mean OBSESSED with poop for the past 10 days. She no longer wants to poop in her diaper, which is fine by me, but we are having the hardest time to get her to go on the potty. She will come up to us and say "Poop!! POOP!" and we will run her to the potty. She will last on the potty for 10 seconds, yes 10 seconds. So we put her diaper back on and she will go play. 2 mins later it will all happen again. This will probably happen 10 times in a row. She does know when she has to actually go because finally I will get upset and refuse to put her on the potty and she will go in the diaper within a couple of minutes and come crying to me very upset. UGH!!!
We did have two steps in the right direction this past weekend. One time I was so frustrated with taking the diaper off and putting it back on that I decided to put her on the potty with the diaper still on - and she pooped on the potty! The second time she was yelling poop and I finally put her on the potty and she pooped a little. And man was she soooo excited to see her poop in the potty! She kept peaking, pointing at the poop, and saying "Mommy!! Poop!" Yes Sommer, that's poop, haha.

In other news I am now on twitter. Mostly to creep on celebrities - most people know I am a celebrity junky. I just find twitter a nice outlet to write a quick thought on - like a blog that can only be 140 characters. Perfect! Short sweet and to the point. You can follow me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/mel_mccullough. Join so I can follow your thoughts too!

2009-03-23T15:21:00.002-06:00

I am alive. Don't you worry. This past month has been absolutely crazy it seems. We went to Cuba and had a wonderful time. Warm weather, time with James' sister and her family, the beautiful ocean... oh man. Cuba itself was interesting - not sure if I would return again. BUT if you have never been then I say go for it! I am glad that we went. We learned a lot about the country, saw how the people live and work, hated the boring food, and loved the ocean. Check out my pictures on facebook!

On Friday we are heading to San Diego for a week with my family! I am soo excited to see them again!! We arrive on Friday night, as does my sister Kristi, and my parents and Kevin arrive on Sunday. So Kristi and us will enjoy a weekend in downtown San Diego before my parents join us. We are staying right on the bay so there will be plenty to see and do! Once my parents arrive we will go to Romona (a town just outside the big city) for a week of timesharing! A pool, tennis courts, basketball courts, walking paths... heaven.

We are trying to break Sommer of her Su-Su (soother). It was going really well last week. She only had it for naps and bedtime. She finally gave up asking for it by Wednesday but this weekend we took 2 steps back. We had James' family here this weekend (10 of them) and she is getting two molars. So unfortunately I was tired of all the whining and she was a little overwhelmed by the people so I gave her back the soother. Now, we are going to have to try to break this habit once again. Already today everytime I have snuck it away she realizes it and says "Su su???" Oh that one word is soo annoying! Haha.

Sommer loves Grandpa Garnet (my grandpa who lives right next door to us). Sommer loves all her Grandpa's but she does see Garnet the most. Today I had to wake up Sommer because we were having a playdate at our house and she still wasn't up at 10:30 am (HEAVEN!). I walked into her room to wake her up and she stood right up and said "Papa??" I am not sure why she was expecting Papa to wake her up - he never has before - but it was still super cute! She LOVES her Papa Garnet!

I am currently typing on my new MINI Laptop! My other old one (2 years old) was crapping out and being soo annoying that James bought me a new one. Well, I bought it too but he likes to think that he got it for me for some odd reason. It's sooo small - only a 8.9" screen, it weighs like nothing and I love it!! I am sitting her on the couch while Sommer naps just typing away. It was super cheap too, $299, and it does everything I could ever need a computer to do - blog, facebook, and look at pictures.

My very sick baby!

2009-02-22T14:06:00.003-06:00

What a horrible weekend this has been!!! On Friday afternoon Sommer was really wheezy and had developed a wheezy cough. To be honest I didn't really think anything of it. But later I was talking to my mom and she said that she didn't like the sound of the cough. So I phoned my friend and got her opinion and then I phoned the health line... by the end of all this phoning we were packing up Sommer and heading to emergency at 10 pm at night! UGH! She was really wheezy by the time we got there and often couldn't catch her breath after her coughing spells. They took one look at her and put us right in a room, no waiting in the waiting room! Of course Sommer didn't like the nurses touching her and trying to get her tempature or blood pressure. She hated them listening to her chest but luckily after 3 hours we got to go home with a puffer & puffer chamber and antibiotics. Ends up Sommer has RSV chest infection and also an ear infection (which I had no clue about!).

Yesterday she had a pretty high fever and was super out of it! She spent most of the day sleeping and cuddling with whoever would sit with her. It broke my heart! She was sooo sick! She just walked around crying and hot and all around pretty grumpy! She doesn't like taking her puffer so it's a real fight to get it in her, but usually we can atleast get her to breathe a couple puffs. We are very glad that she got sick this week and not next as we leave for Cuba on Sunday, March 1st! By then her ear infection and RSV should be under control and hopefully gone! Please continue to pray a speedy recovery for her so she can enjoy the vacation! Today she is a little better than yesterday. She actually ate some lunch and is napping nicely upstairs right now. Her fever is pretty much gone and now she just needs to get rid of the RSV.

My interview from a blog friend!

2009-02-22T13:46:00.002-06:00

One of my blog friends, A Little Bit of Us , did an interview and I thought it sounded like fun. She asked if anyone wanted to be interviewed by her and I said yes! Here is what she asked me :)

1) Sommer seems like a sweet little girl. Any more babies in the plans?
Yes! I can't wait to have more babies! We wanted to have our kids 2 years apart but then James got on this kick about babies being born in the beginning of the year. Something about most of the great athletes are born Jan-March and babies born in November & December are disadvantaged in sports. So now our plans have changed to try for a baby that will be born at the beginning of next year... so stayed tuned :)

2) I worked in a real estate office for a few years and loved it. I always contemplated getting my realtor license. What made you decide to go that career path?
My grandparents use to own one of Regina's biggest home building companies so I have always been around the realestate market. I loved the lifestyle that they lived and how flexible it was, so when I wasn't enjoying University I decided to give it a try! I loved being a Realtor but I decided to let my license go since I was focusing on being a Mom and having more kids and the fees you have to pay as a Realtor are very expensive. Now I work for our own new home building company - Trademark Homes - so I am still in the market in a way. New homes has always been where my heart is at so I totally LOVE my job now. Not to mention I only work 3 days a week now :) It's wonderful!

3) How long have you been with James? How did you meet?
James and I have been together since May 2003. We got engaged after 6 months of dating (December 2003) and got married August 2004! We met at Canadian Bible College where we both did our first year out of highschool. We didn't really hang out while at College but at the end of school we started talking and the rest is history!

4) When you get a little bit of kid free time, what's your favorite thing to do?
Hmmm.... kid free time?? Wow... has it really been that long since I had a moment to myself??? I honestly don't know how to answer this question as Sommer is usually always with me :) But I like to go shopping and go to Chapters. I LOVE to read books so that is usually what I do with my "free time". HomeSense is a great place to go for an hour and find some good deals.

5) There are so many new restaurants popping up in the city. What's your favorite place to go and eat out?
I wouldn't say that I have a FAVORITE place to go. But we do like to go to a few over & over again. We like Brewsters for wing night/40% off appetizer night, we like Houston Pizza for their lasagna special, we like Joey's Only Seafood anytime, we LOVE Red Lobsters for special occasions, and if it's REALLY special then we love Golf's Steakhouse!

***********************************************************************************
If you would like to join in on the interview, follow these directions:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me”.
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions

Hoping Winter is Almost OVER!

2009-02-14T20:51:00.003-06:00

Happy Valentines Day! Hard to believe it was exactly a year ago when Sommer started babbling and I was able to catch it on video in a Valentines Special :) Now her vocabulary has come a long way and currently she can say: Mommy, Daddy, Puppy, Baby, Yes, No, Please, Thank You, Uh-Oh, Juice, Socks, Shoes, and probably many more than I can not think of off the top of my head! She does her "s's" backwards by instead of blowing out her "s" she sucks it in. Very cute little twist to words that end in "s". We have had a very low key Valentines day in Outlook visiting James' parents. Sommer was extremely tired this evening and everything was causing a meltdown. Funny how they get so clumsy when they are tired and anything can set them off into a crying meltdown. Its almost 9 and I think she is tucked away in the playpen in our room - hopefully sleeping!

This morning Sommer woke up at 8 am - which is early for us! She was ready for a nap around 11:00 am but I knew if she napped at that time our afternoon nap would be nonexistant. So I decided to take Sommer downstairs and snuggle with her on the bed for a quiet time. I wasn't sure she would stay but we snuggled for 1 hour together under the warm covered. She LOVES "criss/cross apple sauce" on her back and "round and round the garden" on her tummy. She was so snuggly and cute... there aren't too many days like that anymore. She is not a baby anymore and has turned into quite the independant little lady.

We are gearing up for a BUSY March! From March 1-9th we are off to Cuba with James's sister Jenn, her husband Dan and their 6 month old baby named Mara. We have got our twinrix and twinrix Jr. needles to protect again the carribbean diseases. I always watch those commercials about Hep A & Hep B and get nervous so I thought instead of stress about everything we would all get our shots. We are with Jenn & Dan for 4 days as they get there 3 days before us and we stay 3 days after them. It will be so nice to escape this cold weather! We are home for 2 weeks after March 9th and then we leave for SanDiego on March 28th for a week with my family! We are staying in a Condo there and hopefully will take in the Wild Animal Park, SanDiego Zoo, Tijuana Mexico, and hopefully some hot days by the pool.

HOPEFULLY we only have one real week of winter left as March will mainly be full of warm days spent elsewhere!

Baby Bobsledding & Swimming!

2009-01-21T21:13:00.004-06:00

Training for the 2010 Vancouver Olympics - Baby Bobsled

Swimming with her good buddy Dylan!
Yes, Sommer LOVES swimming now!!

Striking a pose at Swimming :)

Cardboard Testimonies

2009-01-18T10:49:00.004-06:00

We went to a Saturday night service last night at a church. Friends of ours are on staff there, well, the husband is. It was a refreshing service and we really enjoyed it. At the end of the service they did Cardboard Testimonies. It was so amazing to see how God has changed people's lives... I know He has changed mine.

Check out the Cardboard Testimonies clip from Youtube:

Happy New Year!

2009-01-08T22:21:00.003-06:00

I feel like so much has happened that I have not had a chance to write about. Before christmas I really had trouble sitting down and writing on here. I felt like I didn't have time and I was soo rushed. I love looking at the calendar in January because there is honestly nothing on it, no plans, no appointments, just free time!!

Sommer had her 14 month check -up today! Honestly, 14 months, where the heck did time go!?!? She weighs 23.5 lbs and is really tall! I am not sure how tall she is because the Doctor put down the same number (46cm) for her height and head circum. What the heck??? She loves to run, dance, climb on the couch (all on her own), and bite. Yes, bite! We are working on the biting thing and have been for a while. The unfortunate part is that her friend at daycare also bites, so they egg each other on. Poor Tanya has a horrible time keeping her daughter and Sommer from biting each other... we hope this is a stage she will soon grow out of! Sommer can say a couple of words: Mom, Dad, Dog, Ball, and her favorite "Yeah!". She will mimmick words if you ask her to copy you which is really cute! She is growing up too fast!!

We had a wonderful Christmas at my parents house in Vancouver, Washington (Portland). We got to see all of my dads side of the family as well as some from my moms side. Of course Sommer got spoiled with lots of presents including a blow-up bounce castle (complete with balls)from my parents. It was too big to bring back on the plane with us so my grandparents will bring it with them when they return from going south at the end of Feb. We didn't buy Sommer lots of gifts as she has no idea what Christmas is. We bought her a housecoat and a potty! No, I don't think I will have her pottytrained by 15 months but she does not what a potty is and she does know when she is going to the bathroom. So I figured it is never too early to introduce her to the potty - no pressure - so we will see.

In other news I have officially retired as a Realtor!!! It was a hard decision to make but I knew that my heart was no longer in that area. I will miss working in the re-sale world of real estate but am still working for Trademark Homes Inc. as their Client Care Rep and also in their office. My heart has always been in the new homes and that is where I enjoy working. We have around 12 homes on the go right now so I am very busy!! Right now I work Tuesday - Thursday (9-5 pm) so I love having my weekends, Mondays, and Fridays off to spend time with Sommer! There isn't a better set-up (maybe not working at all) and if something comes up and I don't go to work then there is no pressure!! I just don't go!

I am happy to be home from vacation and ready to get back to a normal life. I really hate winter - have I mentioned that before!?!?! I just wish it was spring time out and there would be a glimmer of hope that it is almost Summer time!!! I REALLY HATE WINTER! Right now, as I type this, there is a mound of snow piling up in front of my garage door.... I am not impressed!! I know in the spring I will complain on here about the mud we have outside and how we don't have a driveway, etc., etc., but I am still going to wish for that time to come soon. Anything is better than snow, wind and cold weather!

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-23T13:40:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas! Oh my goodness, I have been missing in action for the past month!! I always find tha December is CRAZY busy... christmas parties, shopping, working, and then we didnt have internet at our house for the past week or so. I was going crazy without it!! Here is a little update:

We are at my parents house right now for the holidays. We flew to Abbotsford yesterday and then braved the icy Northern Pacific I-5 to Portland. BRUTAL! It has been really snowy here and they we saying NO DRIVING but we are professional icy/snowy road drivers, HELLO SASKATCHEWAN!?!?! It's nice to be home and relax with nothing to do. We are here until next Friday and then we will head up to James' aunts in Abbotsford and spend the weekend with his family. In Portland they are calling the weather ARTIC BLAST 2008... it's only -3... if they want to see ARTIC BLAST 2008 then they should really come to Regina where it's was -45 one day!

Sommer is doing great! Talking (well, babbling) so much. She turns 14 months on Christmas Day, which is so hard to believe! She new words are "no" and "yeah"... which I find so cute. She loves getting into things and figuring out how they work. She LOVES the christmas tree and the ornaments... which have found their way off the tree and into the toy box. She is in the biting stage right now which is SO FRUSTRATING! It makes me almost scream! When I pick her up from the babysitters I get the daily bite report, ugh! Christmas this year will be fun now that she can open up her own presents. SO CUTE!

I hope everyone has a safe and merry christmas season! May 2009 be a wonderful year for you and your family!

The Big Surprise - Successful!

2008-11-29T00:23:00.002-06:00

I pulled off the big surprise! Tuesday night Sommer and I arrived in Portland to surprise my mom and dad (and siblings) for American Thanksgiving :) We flew to Abbotsford where my sister picked us up and then drove home with her and Kevin. My mom could not believe it when she came out to help carry in the "heavy bags" from the car. She kept saying "No way!! No way!!! Sommer!!" What a fun thing to do for a grandma who doesn't see her grand-daughter that often. Even more special is that we will be down here again in 3 weeks to celebrate christmas! We also surprised my grandparents who were visiting from Orlando as they were in Portland for the holidays too. On Thursday there was 20 of us celebrating thanksgiving in Salem, OR, some of whom had never met Sommer before.

Sommer is being REALLY clingy here. She loves grandma and Aunti Kristi and sometimes Grandpa too. But Uncle Kevin - that is a different story. She gives him high 5's and that is about it. She has really taken to screaming (more shreiking - but not crying) when he goes near her... it's pretty funny to watch!! Good thing he has a good attitude about it and thinks that it is funny too. She doesn't like me to be out of sight which makes things difficult. I can't go to the bathroom or take a diaper outside to the garbage without her crying. Usually she is fine but this is a new place I guess. Slowly we are getting better... we will probably be fine by the time we are to go home.

Tonight Kristi and I went to see 4 Christmases with Vince Vaughn and Reece Witherspoon. Totally recommend it - 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, probably best movie I have seen in a while!! It was super funny, held your attention, and had a happy ending. Better than my last favorite movie (The Break-Up) because the ending was actually good. It is the type of movie that I would go see again if someone wanted to see it.

Today was Black Friday here in America - like Boxing Day in Canada. If you think about it Black Friday makes WAY more sense than Boxing Day because everyone could use the "deals" to purchase their christmas presents instead of shopping after they have received all their presents. I really think Canada should incorporate this hoilday/tradition... it only makes sense! I didn't go shopping though because there was nothing that I needed and not to mention that with our dollar so low it was probably MORE expensive to shop in the USA! But there were some good deals out there that's for sure!

I should head to bed here as it is already 10:30 pm (12:30 am in Regina). I have another long day tomorrow with a Winterhawks hockey game in the afternoon. We are having a great time down here with family and now will look forward to returning for Christmas!

POOP! (WARNING T.M.I.)!

2008-11-19T09:41:00.003-06:00

On Monday Sommer was feeling under the weather. She was acting normal and playing fine but she had the poops. (THERE MIGHT BE T.M.I. COMING.....) She woke up in the morning and I took her downstairs to play while I made her some eggs for breakfast. When I was done the eggs I picked her up and put her in her highchair... I looked at my hand and it was COVERED in POOP! She started screaming in her chair and I tried to calm her down while washing my hands. I went over to her, picked her up, and poop was EVERYWHERE! I am talking highchair, diaper, down her legs, spilling OVER her diaper, up her back... EVERYWHERE! I didnt know what to do... it was like my mind totally blanked! I set her down to stand on her own but all she wanted to do was sit! Bad idea... it spilled all over the floor. Now I have a dog trying to smell everywhing, a baby covered in poop screaming... and I am standing there like an idiot wondering what to do next!! So I took her upstairs (praying that it wouldnt get on my carpet) and plopped her in the tub (diaper and all). Figured that was the easiest place to clean it up. UGH! After cleaning her up in the tub, cleaning the tub, and getting her dressed I went downstairs to tackle the highchair! That took forever! Luckily the rest of the days diaper changing sessions were not that eventful... but still gross. It was the type of day that you think, "why cant you pottytrain a 12 month old!?!"

I am hoping to get some christmas shopping and decorating down this week and next! I am so excited to decorate for Christmas... I dream of decorations :) I am thinking of putting the tree up next week just to get in the whole christmasy mood! I have no ideas what to buy for Christmas presents - except for James. That I have already thought of... now just to go and do it!

I should get to work here! Have a wonderful day!

Baby Fever Has Hit AGAIN!

2008-11-12T10:04:00.002-06:00

I got that loving feeling - BABY FEVER HAS HIT AGAIN! I feel like everywhere I look there is someone who is pregnant or has just had a baby. And now I want one. I am dreaming of that smell - that newborn in swaddling blankets with milk on its tounge smell. Is that really a smell? It's a wonderful smell to me! Sommer would be 21 months if I got pregnant right now. We had always said that we would have our babies 2 years apart so 21 months sounds perfect to me!

James took the 2 year difference literally - meaning the next baby should be born in October as well. WHAT?? That's not what I meant at all... I was talking approximately. Who wants all their kids born in the same month? Althought it would make for easy remembering on the dads part, it would also make the moms job oh so busy! Planning 2 or more birthday parties in the same month!!?? That would be asking for trouble! And what if they were born on the same day??

As some of you know I am a HUGE Jon & Kate Plus 8 fan! The show that comes on after them has also got my attention lately - 17 kids and Counting (with Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar). They have 17 kids and are expecting another one!!! HOLY CRAP! I dont have baby fever THAT bad... I think all they have to do is think about having another child and POP - it appears! I dont need 17 kids but 4 would be nice! If they all were as easy as Sommer was that would be awesome too... my precious angel (atleast she was today...).

I have been blessed with such a good baby that I have to pray that the next one will be the same. Some days Sommer does try me and does press my buttons but usually she is wonderful :) Although she has now learned what a temper-tantrum is we are working on calming down and asking for help from Mommy - I know, I know, she is only 1 but you can't start too early!!

Well I should stop dreaming about babies and pregnancy and get back to work... if I dont get any work done I am not going to be able to convince "the boss" that we need another baby. So congrats everyone who is pregnant or just bringing home that precious little bundle. I am jealous!

Princess Auto vs. HomeSense

2008-11-11T15:09:00.004-06:00

Princess Auto vs. HomeSense.

I hate Princess Auto. James loves Princess Auto. I can honestly say that I dont think there is a more boring store than Princess Auto. James would disagree. He would say Homsense. I love HomeSense. How someone can find HomeSense boring is beyond my imagination.

HomeSense

I could spend hours in HomeSense, heck, I could spend hours in just the picture frame section of HomeSense. I especially love HomeSense at Christmas time with all the decorations - shiney, twinkling, and bright decorations. They have such great deals - 60-80% below retail price (according to their slogan)!! The throw pillow department is 4 isles long and don't even get me started on the furniture department. I can always find a piece of furniture that I long to take home with me. I usually drag James in there to look at mirrior or a rug that I want to purchase but need his "final approval". He complains the whole time but I have learned to ignore him... usually leaving him sitting on a chair in the previously mentioned furniture section.

Princess Auto

Princess Auto on the other hand is full of boring objects. James said if he could spend 8 hours in one store it would be P.A. What the heck could he do there for 8 hours!? I can barely last 8 minutes or even 8 seconds. The past 2 times we have gone to the store I have choosen to stay in the car - leave me here, don't be long! He usually comes out after 25 minutes with special treasures that he talks about the whole way home while I pretend to listen and dream of the new things being unpacked across the street at HomeSense. I watch the people going into the store - Grease Heads I call them - but James says it's just people who love to "work with their hands". Guess I am not one of those people. The place has everything from livestock equipment to snowmobiling... it's a mish-mash of weird odds and ends that only a man could make sense out of.

Maybe I will get him a gift certificate to Princess Auto for Christmas with a piece of paper granting him 8 hours free to waltz around the shop... OH! the treasure he would find! OH... the treasures I would have to "pretend" to be interested in when he returned. There is no comparison between Princess Auto and HomeSense... HomeSense wins hands down :)

Returned to work!

2008-11-04T12:27:00.003-06:00

Today is the day! I am back at work now - 24 hours a week! I put exclaimation marks in my last 2 sentences but really I am not that excited :( I have loved only working 2 afternoons a week, my 8 hours of freedom sometimes. But Trademark needs me as they are very busy! I am now working 3 full days - Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I am going to enjoy my Mondays and Fridays off! Many people would love to only work 3 days a week and I have to remind myself that. I am blessed to be able to work for my husband's company.... there are some perks to sleeping with the boss, haha.

While I am at work Sommer is at a new babysitters. This lady - Tanya - is amazing! She has her education degree, is a mom to a 4 year old and a 1 year old, and is so loving and welcoming. The minute I met her I was excited for her to watch Sommer. She takes them outside to play in the yard, to the park, does crafts and has yummy meals for them. She is just great! Sommer cried when I dropped her off this morning so my heart was breaking. James texted me and asked if I had called yet to check on her - mainly because I think he was missing her - and I told him no. I cant bring myself to call incase something is wrong... but if something was wrong I'm sure she would call me.

I should probably get back to work here before one boss calls to check on me (or ask what's for dinner) and the other boss returns from his lunch meeting....

Karen Kingsbury

2008-10-31T14:15:00.003-06:00

My mom got me hooked on Karen Kingsbury novels and I look forward to each new one that comes out. With great sadness last night I finished the final book in my favorite 3 part series on the Baxter Family. Being a 3 part series I feel like I have travelled and got to know this family so well and I am sad that it has come to an end. I started off reading the 5 book Redemption Series, moved on to the 5 book First Born Series and just finished the 4 book Sunrise Series. WOW - 14 novels dedicated to this family. If you haven't read this series you are really missing out! Truely amazing :) All her books are amazing actually. She is such a talented and gifted writer. Check out her books - they are life changing!

Happy Birthday Sommer!

2008-10-25T22:35:00.005-06:00

Well it happened. Sommer is 1! So exciting and emotional all at the same time. She is so cute!! Today she finally had enough hair to sport the birthday bow :) I have been dying to put one in her hair and I am so glad that it could happen on her birthday. We had a pretty low key day with pancakes for breakfast (James made Sommer a Mickey Mouse pancake), went and did some shopping, had family (and Conrad & Sheena) over for a bbq and then the girls headed to Winners! She got spoiled of course by family... she has more than enough toys now! I put her to bed and kissed her good night... I feel like today she is no longer a baby, welcome toddler! She walks, talks, and has hair. WOW! This year FLEW bye.

Happy Birthday Sommer - Mommy loves you!

I am a Mom

2008-10-22T23:20:00.002-06:00

October 22, 2008

Exactly one year ago today was my due date.
WOW!
I remember how impatient I was to meet her, my daughter, my Sommer.
I just checked her in her crib, all snuggled beneath the MANY layers of blankets, fast asleep.
My angel, my precious daughter, the light of my life.

She has changed me - I am not who I was a year ago.
I am softer, more tender, less harsh.
I pay attention to the small things in life - like the sounds of little feet
I kiss hurts, wipe tears, smile.
I am a Mom.

2008-10-18T14:18:00.004-06:00

This past week I have been once again overwhelmed with the fact that my baby is turning ONE. I keep thinking to myself about where the time has gone. I feel as though I did not cherish enough of the small things and did I write enough stuff down to remember later on. People always told me to cherish every moment/memory because before I would know it she would be turning one, well the time is just around the corner and I am on the verge of tears.

Honestly, it seems like yesterday I was writing her a letter begging her to come out! Hard to believe that was a exactly a year ago tomorrow! I can remember so clearly how bad I wanted to see her and find out her personality. Man, does she ever have a personality!

The video above was the first video taken of Sommer about 1 hour after she was born. James and his parents were in the NICU watching Sommer and marveling in how cute she was. James was such a proud Daddy, he just couldn't get over how "cute" she was. One thing that amazes me was her ability to suck at such a young age... I really wish I could have been there in her first few hours to breastfeed her. Hopefully my next baby will have a safe delivery and be able to spend the first hours of their life in my arms.

One another note - Sommer learned to walk last weekend! So much fun :) She had never stood before on her own and we were sitting in James' sister's living room and all of a sudden we looked and Sommer was standing there. I took her and balanced her while James called her - sure enough she took 6 steps to him! By the end of the weekend she was walking from person to person or object to object. This weekend she is getting much better. She has a bit more confidence now and will walk all over the place. Yesterday she figured out how to stand up from the floor all by herself. So here comes trouble :)

We are at James' parents house this weekend in Outlook. We came to get our piano from them and also to attend an alumni Basketball game (which James' is playing in) at his high school. Every October they have a Home Coming weekend for alumni and present students. Tonight there will be fireworks, so I am excited to take Sommer! We will get her all bundled up for the event... she probably won't even care.

Hope you enjoy the cute video!