Big Kids

When I was nursing Drew he was able to get my chin with his little foot while he waved it around!

Oh my goodness how did he get to be 7mths old!

As we were going to sleep yesterday (yes we still have a family bed) I realized, sooner then I want, I will not have this little baby snuggling up to me and smiling in the morning. What a privileged I have had 3 beautiful and very different babies. I know the baby stage of Jeff and my family life is drawing to an end and it saddens me. However watching Drew, pull himself up on furniture and walk around tables shows me the toddler stage does not me Drew is independent, he still needs me close by as he tests out his limits.

Now if I could only get Thom to realize he doesn't need to grow so quick, luckily Beth shows me it is not all bad to grow up a little as she is very against the growing up idea :)

Last week Beth started to say Thommy! She has only called him brother for the last 1 1/2 years! Now as an added bonus yesterday she said her name for the first time! It was amazing one of the best words I have ever hear said!

Now I just have to wait for 'I love you' and everything I hoped for at the begining of speech therapy will have been accomplished. She has the I and the you so I just need the middle word and I am sure it will be music to my ears, just like hearing her say her own name for the first time was :)

Birdshill park

Almost all the water gone from the lake, means alot more beach to play in

my kids cannot pass a bridge without laying down and checking out what lives in it, I think it is from all the times we have gotten the walking kit from clearlake for the bog trail.

my best group shot

we always have to take the dog Thomas tells me. However about 10min into any trip to the park the kids ditch the dog with me and go racing ahead.

My little monster, he is too cute for words!

We go to Birdshill park fairly often, its çlose, free and there is lots to do. Other then the beach we have not done the same path twice! However I believe the campground playground we will return to alot in the future.

Here are some pics around thanksgiving

Like every child Drew loves the 'office'. My parents bought this exersauser while I was pregnant with Thomas and the child can walk back and forth and it has a keyboard for the feet to play and lots of bells and wistles. It was nicknamed the 'office' 5 years ago and every child big and small that goes to their house loves it (the seat can be removed so toddlers can still use it)

We took the kids to a corn maze (Deer Meadows by birdshill park) for the first time this year. Thom enjoyed being king of the world! We had a very nice visit and I think we will have to make it an annual thing. We planned to go thanksgiving weekend then invited my Mom, sister, Jake and Ava which very fun and a great way to get the kids to run off some energy before thanksgiving dinner!

Andrew realized someone was in the bathtub with him during his first solo bath in the big tub
It was very funny because he kept sitting up looking'and babbling at the baby in the 'mirror. Now when ever I start the bath be it for the bigger 2 or him his legs start kicking and he starts lunging for the bath, loads of fun!

My little celery head getting eaten by her big brother :) They played with the celery for quiet sometime, who knew it could be used as a toy?

Drew's 1st taste of solids (@24weeks) which he absolutly loved. He wanted the bowl, spoon and a quicker hand feeding him. He had mashed up cantalop which he still alway loves. He also likes chicken so pureed it is more like soup and rice cereal but the other cereals he could pass on. He thinks that when people sit down he will be fed and if he isn't he gets frustrated! This is my first child that likes solids at such a young age the other 2 we had to encourage more, perhaps that is why Drew is such a chubber.

where does the time go...

Beth always trys to turn herself into a cat when we paint or use markers... Cute Andrew lovely smile on June 5th

Cuddles before bed

April 20th Drew asleep in his chair

My big girl all ready to go out

Thom's 1st apple pie which he made from scratch even peeling and coring the apples!

Beth helping with laying the flooring in the play room

At the beach in Stonewall this week

Very tanned Thom all ready for bed with his carebear -same one I had when I was little!

1st time siting together in Jeff's car in April -look at the other pictures to see how big Beth is!

Summer is almost 1/2 over I realized today! I was putting away laundry in Thom's room and had to remove some clothes that no longer fit, then it came to me only about a month and a half till Thom starts school (they stagger the start for kindergarden). Wow! Am I ready? I going to miss having him around everyday, he is my big helper with Drew, Beth and getting things I might need. On the flip side, he also argues with his sister and is another person that I am cleaning up after during the day. I am going to miss everything! This chapter of his life is about to end and he will be going to school for the next 13+ years. I am glad that kindergarden is only 1/2 time so I get baby steps befor the everyday full day starts.

Drew is growing like a weed 18lbs and counting and over 26 inches long. Definatley no newborn, he really sped through that stage! He loves; chewing on his hand, fingers, toys, whatever he can fit in his mouth, also holding his feet and talking to them. He rolls over back to front by holding one foot and tipping to the side them letting go of the foot and he's on his tummy! His favourite ryme is patty cake and just in the last 2 days he started laughing for ring around the rosie.

Beth is trying to hold bigger conversations with us and loves to talk about her cloths and acessories- like her honey bee bathingsuit, horse PJ's, Dora pants, monkey purse, basically anything thing on the clothes.Beth runs thru the house to find Jeff and me then start the show and tell! She just this week reaaly started loving the pool! Previously she would only go in with a death grip on Jeff or my neck-now she gets her life jacket and floater and crys when it is time to get out of the pool!

Such changes in all the kids in a small time period!

I think I am started to get over my fears of my children going by water! The kids were allowed to walk down to the dock without life jackets and did not have to wear a jacket when sitting beside someone while watching the fireworks on canada day!!

Nope, I am wrong, I still have water fears, everytime I go to the beach with the kids anxiety levels sky rocket! With the pool no problem since I can see the bottom however lakes and beaches-oh my!

Although I have not posted in a long time I thought I would try leaving a post today. It is suprising hard to sit down and have enough time to complete a post and the ones I start I never go back to finish....

Since I posted last I had another son, Andrew Walter, who was born April 7. Beth and Thom were both born on days ending in 6 so I did hope he would follow the trend but Drew bucked the trend and came the next day.

It wasnt a long labour, I had contractions on and off on the 6th but they went away before I went to sleep that night. I woke up around 3:30am with contractions but wanted to wait to find out if it was real before waking up my Mom. I had slept at her house because my midwife thought it would happen soon and to stay closer to the hospital as my labour from Thom to Beth had decreased in time and she thought I might not have enough time til the baby was born with driving into town (I might wait to long to leave). I woke my mom up at 4:30 and called Gordana my midwife, she said she would meet me at the hospital around 5:30am but call if it seemed to be speeding up.

I texted Jeff because I didnt want to wake up the kids that I was in labour and my mom and sister were going to be my help while in labour. My goal was to try to relax, be happy and enjoy as much of the experence as possible since this was my last time. My mom drove to the hospital (practically flew she was going so fast) picking up my sister on the way. Ang asked a funny question before going 'what should I wear'? (she has never been in a room during natural drug free vaginal labour and delivery before). We got to the hospital around 5:30 and Gordana got there about 5:45am. Once we got thru the nurses station it was 6:10 in my LDRP room (lucky me 3x I got the delux room!). I was skipping stages and Drew as born at 7:04am it was a very intense fast labour. I think I did a pretty good job of enjoying the labour and making note of what was happening at all times. Drew's heart rate plummited during labour and Gordana had the resessatation team called and I was totally aware of that and what was said. (the same thing happened to Thom and I wasnt as aware, I just knew there was a problem, I was consentrating on myself too much). That being said knowing what was going on was better, and although everything was so intense it was a really good labour.
Of course now at home everything is great and although it is hard at times this 3 kid family is not that much harder then 2 kids (just alot more laundry as Drew is a spitup and vomiter). I think the transition from 0 to 1 child was the hardest adjustment so far, however we still have puberty to compare to :)
Thom is a great help he will hold Andrew while I make lunch or help Beth. The potty training for Beth has deceased but once a couple more weeks go by I hope to ramp it up again.
With the beauiful warm spring we have spent lots of time outdoors and the pool was opened up this weekend with Beth Thom and Jeff all swimming. Hopfully we have a lovely relaxing summer.

I miss my Gramma!

Here is a picture of her back in 2002, she is in the pink with the red hair! A very cool Gramma!

I was looking through my gramma's recipe box that she gave me back in 2001 choosing recipes to make today and all day I have been struck with how much I miss her.

My gramma is still alive for anyone now wondering but she doesnt remember me.

I am so fortunate that I have a gramma that I can miss and have so many wonderful memories of doing things with her.

My wish for everyone this Christmas season is that they get to spend time with their loved ones and build wonderful memories that can last a life time.

thommy

Thomas' Christmas that he decorated himself

Pre hair cut (dec 2/09)

new doo (dec 2/09)

Amazingly it has been more than a month since my last post. Not much has changed other then my pant size. I am super excited about Friday for my ultrasound to find out when the baby is coming and the GENDER!!! I am flip flopping on what I think it is so we will hopefully find out Friday if Cletis corporates.

Thommy and I jumped into piles of leaves on Sunday at my parents. The leaf jumping is so much better this year then last as the leaves were more wet and moggie smelling but on Sunday they were crisp crunchy yummy smelling. Yeaa for the sun and warm weather!

Beth

Dancing to Jeffs music on the deck

Thommy blowing out the candles at his birthday party last weekend

Beth trying out Thomas' present

At Ava's birthday party this weekend and colouring at home

Pool

oh course the Barrett's decide to put up their new pool in the rain, why not:)



finishing putting up the wall for the pool

Thom carried all the edge piece outside then Beth got the glory by them to Grandad

last peice!

1st time in the pool, too cold!

still too cold!

The pool was finally the perfect tempature, then we had to drain it due to a slow leak. Luckly we got a new liner with no hassels and Goni and Dave came over again to help set it up!

A few days later after we knew there was no leak this time Jeff set up the solar pannels and the pool heated up to 26C, turns out that is perfect for our family. Amazingly the kids still stay in so long their lips turn blue and they come out teeth chattering!

1st time having guests over in the pool

Last swim -unless, summer comes back!

Oscar??

We were at the Bulk Barn getting supplies for Ava's awesome birthday cake this week and Thommy was talking to the clerk.
Beth went from sobbing to ecstatic because I finally pd for the chocolate and the kids both got some. Thommy explained to the clerk that this baby (as he pointed to Beth) is called 'Baby Beth'. The clerk then asked Thom what his name was which of course he said 'Thomas the Tank Engine', then he walked up to my belly and pointed to it and said 'this baby is called Ol.... Ol.... Mama what is this baby called?' before I could answer he goes 'oh yeah I know, This baby is called Oscar!'

Oscar, really now, I dont think so! but I was chuckling and the clerk, she seemed to believe him!

I am very excited for the weather we have had the last couple days! We went to the beach yesterday like hundreds or thousands of other people and had a super time! Beth looked super cute in he little swim diaper and pink hat, I will try to get a picture today as we follow the masses to the water. Thommy, Ava and Logan were in the water almost the whole time we were there except when the french fries came:)
Our winter holiday (due to unexpected circumstances) became up in the air and we didn't know if we would reschedule, cancel or what we should do about it. We had been talking about getting an above ground pool next fall when they are on sale and have been looking at what we like so we know what to watch for when the sales come. Low and behold we made our decision on our trip, thanks to a great pool sale we decided to cancel our trip this year and buy an above ground pool.
Thommy (and Jeff) are very excited, now that the weather has warmed up we want to get everything and set it all up as soon as possible so that we can all enjoy it befor the swim season ends.

Jeff was going to look at renting a sod cutter for our new lush lawn(thanks to all the rain and cool temps) as we are going to have to remove some of it for the pool -that is probubly the sadest part that after 3 years we have a lovely lawn in the area which we are putting the pool which needs to be cut out. Luckly we have some areas that still need lawn which we never planted so hopfully we can move it to infront of the deck sucessfully.

I will hopefully post some pictures soon of the kids and setting up the pool.

So my parents went away again (first time since Beth's accident). And I thought I would pose a question you all, if something happens while a loved one is away, do you call and let them know? Does the circumstances that you would call vary?

My parents were in Cuba when she almost died and I did not call. Jeff and I different in opinion and he felt I should call, however, what could they have done. By the time we knew what was happening would they even be able to leave the island before their vacation ended? I told them the day they got home which was wretched but worth not ruining the fun they had (I thought). My parents disagree, if anything ever happens they what to know although they know they could not have done anything other than wait for Baby Beth they want to be able to hold our hands, be shoulders to cry on and pray with us. (However they did let me know that evening that if something had happened while I was on vacation they too would not have called)

Before someone you love leaves their home location I suggest you talk with them and find out what their wishes are.

New nephew and pics

Unc took Thommy, Ava and myself to the Reptile Expo to our delight. Thom's very funny response to what Dada would say if he brought one home 'ohhh, throw that out in the garbage' hee hee

fun with the new rope swing at the trailer

Beth is enamored with Jake! the tea party came to an abrupt halt once he came for a visit!

A first responders job stop when on holidays! This sliver needed a professional touch!

boat pictures from 'July long' weekend

So, my sister finally had her baby!

She, Brad and Ava welcomed little Jake to the world June 28th very early that Sunday morning (she was due on the 12th - he was 9lb 7oz).

He is very large, and he makes my heart melt! I am very excited to become an aunt again. I feel so fortunate, since I watch Ava I get to see him almost everyday. With Jackson and Cayman I was working so I didn't see them as frequently and Ava was born while Ang and Brad lived in BC, this situation is so much better!

I had a condensed version of the birds and the bees talk with Thom while Ang was pregnant - yikes. He already knew the boys had penis' and girls had vagina's so we built upon that. When we found out he was going to get another cousin we said the baby will be here once it is beach weather - then beach weather came so we changed to once he doesn't fit in her tummy. So Thom asked how the baby will come out and I figured lets go so I built upon the girls and boys are different and where babies come out yadda yadda. Low and behold Ang had a c-section and now he knows babies like Jake come when Auntie Ang gets cut. Confusing, I think I will try again next time someone we are close with has a baby or when he is 6 or maybe Jeff will try next time and do the full birds and bees - bah, I shudder at the thought of my baby needing to know all the information so early but I would hate for him to learn at school from another little kid. I wonder what the average age children learn about 'the circle of life' is?