The life of the Barrett family. I am married to Jeff and mother of three children, a boy - Thom, a girl - Beth and another boy Drew.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Thom the other day did something cute in the car as we were driving. Beth started to cry and Thom's ever ready response (which he must have learnt from his Dada) 'Beth's hungry Mama feed her'. Well I had just fed her and it was time for her to sleep, which she was fighting. Thom leaned over in his car seat and picked up her hand and as he did this he said 'your little hand in my big hand'. Well, I just thought that was the nicest thing, it makes me abit teary thinking about it.
Beth loves to roll over onto her stomach. Because she doesnt roll back on to her back easily I had been flipping her back onto her back. It is pretty commical because she rolls over, and I wait until she is in a deep sleep. Once I thinks she is sleeping soundly enough I flip her back onto her back. No more than 10 seconds go by and she flips back onto her stomach - she knows how she wants to sleep.
I was going to end this post with some 'pics' as Thommy say however blogger keeps giving an error so, until next time...
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Rolling over
Beth in her sleep when she gets hungery starts to look for me, before she would just wimper and flaile her arms then scoot over to whereever she felt me (if she didnt find me in a couple seconds, sometimes she would go back to sleep). Now she wimpers and rolls over then she gets very frusterated that there is no milk coming from her hands that she wakes up.
This has gone on for the last four nights, I wonder how long it will continue.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
It is so sunny yeah!
The work week started beautifully, Cayman and Christy came by for a visit and we played out side, flew a kite and had the usual wonderful time with them over!
Tuesday, Jeff was working in Brandon, so we joined him for the ride and got dropped off at
Riverbank Discovery Centre and walked some of the 17 kms the non profit group has created since 1995 (Assiniboine River Corridor) and enjoyed the Eleanor Kidd Gardens. It was just beautiful a real shock to find that this wildlife areas and paths all begin right in the city. Anyone going through Brandon stop and enjoy this gem.
Wednsday, Jeff was working in the interlake so we got dropped off at my grandparents trailer at the stonewall quarries trailer/rv park and we enjoyed a lovely day, just relaxing, playing in Thom's kiddie pool and just wasting the day away - again a great day!
Thursday we have baby group so Jeff dropped us off at my parents, then we had breakfast with them, and just bummed around that day (thanks to my grampa lending me his truck every thurday). As we were driving to my parents from Healthy Baby, Thom was counting in the truck and he got all the way to 11! Amazing he cant count higher then 4 when I want him to perform for me but he obviously know. (He also says the alphabet ELLOMNRSTBCD and so it continues - he has letters just not the order, he also goes in the kitchen and asks for dello - which is jello too cute!) Then in the evening I got my minivan back whoo hoo :) Now I just have to get use to filling up a vehicle with gas again ouch! Ava and Ang came to my parents after work so the kids got to play. It was a great evening, Tim was home, my brother in law brad came with pizza and my mom was there, a good visit.
And yesterday we were outside for alot of the day just enjoying the yard. we of course had to water and with at almost 3 year old helper it probubly took about 1 hour extra and we were both wet, luckly Beth slept in her carrier even when she got a little wet. When we were watering the trees we count to 40 before he can move on to the next tree, which seldom works ;) but he got to 28 - good for him!!
On a side note, I barely had to wear Thom in the summer, he was born in late sept and by July he was walking and trying to run. Okay that was just background, what my point is, I am so hot! Everytime we go out side I start sweating, we walk to the store or where ever but I cant take her off when we get there as I have sweat marks! yuck! even the small of my back gets it. We went to visit another little boy in town and I carried her in my arms to prevent this. When we were in Belize, I switched from a front carrier and went around carrying her on the side in a sling however, now Beth does not like being carried on the side and prefers the front as she likes to look around.
Does anyone else like to wear there children as a large accessory to their outfit? (I relate Beth to a large broch as she rarley cries when she in in her carrier and she is very happy and people come up and comment about her (usually asking about him in the navy coloured item) Do anybaby wearers have a suggestions, Jill?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Another Day Goes By...
So often I post about Thom and I feel like she might need a little more blog time. Seeing how she isnt terribly active, no chasing her around greenhouses yet, what to say it a bit more limited!
Amazing how with the first child, every first I would call people and tell them about it.
Lets me write about a couple new things for my beautiful, happy second child.
-Yesterday, I put Beth down directly on the grass, usually I place her on a blanket but I didnt bring one onto the lawn & I just put her down. So that was her first time with grass. She suprisingly did not fuss and just laid there contently while everyone was around her Omi, Thom, Jeff and me. (Thom was unsure about the first time he was on grass Apr, 06)
-I am pretty sure if I recorded the imatations she does as someone talks to her, you would believe she is talking as she repeats you stories. She is just fantastic at imitations, I believe she said 'I love you' the other day - or she at least wanted to I could see it in her eyes :) (Thom was not nearly as much of a talker, he was more of a fusser).
-Her eye lashes seem to be growing longer and thicker! It really showcases her lovely blue eyes (and makes her look more like a girl, as she is a very sturdy looking child)
-I have now packed away all the new born to 0-3mths clothing. It was very sad as Ava has so much clothing I dont think Beth wore 1/2 of it as she is growing so much quicker then her cousin. Also very different body shapes so the clothes look different on Beth then Ava, it is like it is a whole new wordrobe. I was very excited that yesterday, Beth fit a dress I bought for Ava when she was a year old (the dress is size 9mths)- so cute like a dress tennis players wear. Then I felt sad as my baby is almost four months and is growing and changing so fast. I will say she looked so cute with her little nike runners (an impulse buy, totally impractical) and the sporty dress!
-Next week she goes to the doctors for her 4mth checkup and shots. She would not take tylenol at 2 mths and spit it all out so I am interested to see how this time goes. as a side note she also will not take Oval or gripe water if gassy either. only milk from the source for her.
Okay now I will go onto another very exciting topic . . . I bought a new breast pump yesterday and some glass bottles. I had the Avent Isis pump and Avent bottles which I just did not feel comfortable using as they have been removed from the shelves due to BPA's. I still have the pump, as I dont feel right throwing it out but I dont want to use it. (I threw out all the plastic sippy cups and bottles earlier (with a couple exceptions for brands that are okay) Beth will still get BPA's from any store bought canned foods, store grade food wrapings, and who knows then other places she will get them. Although I do not have any other plastics to be worried about in my house she will go to friends and may eat a plastic single serve fruit cup which is a 7. So long story short, I just want to limit the kids exposure as much as 'I' can. Anyways, back to my excitment, I have been looking at a new pump since Beth has been born but havent been able to justify it, since I have one in my cupboard, but since I am not comfortable with it, I have only pumped by hand once and that was far to hard (worring about Thom bumping me or the milk I was expressing). So now if we ever desire, in the future once I have built up a supply and make sure Beth will take a bottle Jeff and I can go out without the kids! I know that Jeff and I did not leave Thom very often when he was a babe and only for very short times as he would not take a bottle. But Thom is very excited to try to feed Beth with Jeff and I think it would be nice if they could try that in the future - I dont know what I will do but I would love to get a pedicure and I would prefer not to bring Beth with all the chemicals in the air.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Yesterday
Yesterday, was a big day for the girl. Usually people ask me about my 2 boys, however at Dollerama, a sales clerk asked me about my 2 girls (how someone could mistake Thom for a girl I have no idea but it was a nice change to have Beth's gender correct) Tim also said after Beth got out of the bath yesterday that she looked like a girl to him aswell. (Tim believes if you paint on a beard and give Beth an ugly shirt she could go a Jeff for Halloween)
Thom went into the sprinkler for the first time yesterday and loved it. he remembered the rule you dont go in the sprinkler with your clothes on so he went to my moms friend and asked her to undress him - he has only me her a couple times very briefly! He also told her to take of her clothes and come play in the sprinkler - however she declined. Very Funny!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Our Weekend
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Now back in the village it is the same old routine. Pick up rocks, pick up more rocks, pick up lots more rocks, then explain to Thom why he cant go to my pile of rocks and move them back on the mud. Thom loves to go outside and is loving that we are trying to get the yard ready for grass. He has his back hoe, 2 dump trucks, a grader, and a bulldozer all set up to 'help' me. He even askes if it is time to go play in the mud. hmmmm I like to think that is a good thing.
Today we did break our routine. We took out the bike trailer for the first time because it was too windy in our yard-days like today the soil blows in our faces while picking at the rock yuck! So I figured it would be a perfect time to start training, I figure that by August I would be able to make it to Evelyn's house and back for a visit by bike- about 32kms round trip.... I am pretty sure I am wrong it will take years to train for that trek who am I trying to kid. It took about 1 hour to get set up then figuring out how to get the car seat with Beth and Thom crammed into the trailer. After we biked to the store because apparently the air disapeared from all of the wheels. Let me tell you I was sucking air to make the .7km to the store (in my defence I had a trailer with 60lbs of kids and kid stuff in it with four very flat tires and I am only 12 weeks post partum). The bike ride did get better after adding air to the wheels and all three of us did have a great time, especially the break that we took at the park :)
On a side note, I realize that my excuse of only 12 weeks post partum is pretty weak and I will continue to 'train' with the bike and trailer. However I am realistic and I think I will be driving to Evelyn's in the future then maybe biking to the park from there. And perhaps I will bike with Beth in the baby carrier on my front and only Thommy in the trailer. I am open to any sugestions people have on how to get my two kids comfortable for the bike riding I see in my near future.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Out of the mouth of babes
Friday, May 9, 2008
Tidying Up Thommy's room
Friday, May 2, 2008
More fun times with the Barrett's
We went to a new group on Tuesday and Thomas and I really enjoyed it. It is called Wiggles Giggles and Munch out of St Andrews C.C. It was a super time, and was so nice for Thommy because it was a time just for him to be crazy - there is free play, crafts, singing, snack and specified play- it is a jam packed hour! Afterwards, we went for lunch with a couple people and their kids from the group (for the second time) and really enjoyed ourselves. Thom is really excited about his new friends lulian (Julian) and Sam. - A big thanks to my new friend Leanne for the invite and letting us know about this super program.
Thom has started something new - he has gotten more clingy recently, and for the first time Thom wanted to leave his Saturday sleepover! He called me Saturday night after I left him at my parents wanting to come home. I with my parents help, convinced him to stay and I would see him the next morning for brunch (as I have Sunday brunch at my parents every weekend). Apparently he woke up during the night and tryed to convince my parent to take him to me again. Since then Thom has begun waking up at night again (2 or 3times) - he had gone 5 days in a row without waking up :(
Beth, is laughing more now - she laughed for the first time March 22 and has slowly begun doing this more. She had laughed first for me and then at my brother. Near the middle of April, Jeff got to hear it for the first time and then during bath time Apr 30 she was laughing at me repeatedly. So much that Jeff could hear it in his office from the bathroom!
Beth also is moving her feet tons! She is still sleeping in our bed, and when she wakes up for her feedings she always sticks her hand in her mouth and trys to get milk. She trys to get closer to her hand (to get the milk she thinks is in it) and wiggles and moves her feet. With her movement she can move quite a bit, she has gone up to 8inches before she has started to cry for milk, I am curious if she wasnt hungry or I didnt feed her how far she could go? However I am not going to find out, I figure I should feed her when she is wimpering for food :)
Beth also has a new group this week - Christy went back to the Healthy Baby site she ran while Thom was an infant! It was very nice almost like coming home, yet the dinamix changed, new women in the group of course but it was more then that I have changed. Before I just worried about me and Thom, this time- though he is in the child care area and (for the time he was in there) I was straining my ears to hear if he was laughing or if he sounded happy. Then when he was out I to watched him, held Beth and tryed to have conversations with other women. I am sure as the weeks go by it will change and we will both have our routine there. Thom did have lots of fun with the other kids, I had fun and well Beth ate and slept.
I am not going to be going to the Beausejour site as it conflicts with Wiggles Giggles and Munch and I would rather go where Christy is, it is a great situation I get to go to baby group and see my bf at the same time. It is so nice that each kid of mine has their own special group, I think I said that above but truly I cant say it enough!
Just one more thing to bring up about one of my children, one of them has begun to run away from me (again)! I thought that was cured however, the running has returned with a vengence!
On the plus side, it keeps me on my toes and may help me lose the rest of my baby weight, there alway must be a plus =)