You know its been awhile when you can't remember your password...

So even though its been about 5months since I've last written, I feel like there isn't much to write about.  Remember when we moved to Kingston and I first started writing this blog?  I'd write like twice a week because I usually had so much to write about!  We were exploring new places, making new friends and  having some "Funky Adventures".  Although everyday is still an adventure, I'm not so sure you guys want to hear about how Hannah peed in her car seat (again!), how James is still not sleeping through the night, how Hannah fell out of bed for the first time or how James is pooping on the potty!  Not quite the adventures we used to have BUT memories are being made!  Even though somedays feel like the mundane routine of diaper changes, meal prepping, nap times and nose wipings, I do try and make a conscious effort to even take joy in these things.  I see how fast my kids little lives are escaping me and realize that one day, I won't have any little noses to wipe. 

    

Hannah

Hannah, my baby girl is almost 2 and half years old!  I look at pictures from Christmas and can't believe how much she has grown even since then!  She's had the odd cold this winter but we've been able to control her breathing issues with the use of a puffer at home when she gets sick.  She was allergy tested and the only allergy that she was diagnosed with is to dust, so this is good!  We are hoping that as she gets older, we won't need the puffers at all anymore.  When I think of Hannahs interests these days the 2 things that pop into mind are babies and exercise.  She loves her baby dolls and is constantly pushing them around in their strollers (even on walks and to the grocery store).  She dresses them up and teaches them the things that she is learning (mostly when is comes to discipline).  Twice a week the kids go to an exercise class with me and Hannah is usually up front with the instructor, teaching the class.  At home, she practises what she has learnt, doing squats, push ups, lunges, etc all day long!  She just finished a music class that she took with her cousin Avery, which she really enjoyed but she is looking forward to soccer class next which starts in April.

Hannah enjoyed carving pumpkins at Halloween

Hannah loved trick-o-treating!

Playing dress up

Hanging out with her fav's, Avery and James

James

My sweet boy is 10months old already.  I'm not sure if its because he's the baby or the second child but I feel like James is a lot younger than what Hannah was like at 10months.  I wouldn't say that he is progressing slower (although he still isn't crawling), he is just still my little baby.  He has been working hard at trying to crawl and I feel like it will come very soon.  He has 6 little teeth and does not cope very well when he gets new ones.  He is a bit of a picky eater and enjoys mostly feeding himself which can sometimes be a challenge.  He enjoys new toys and often likes to play with the same things that Hannah is playing with.  He still wakes up twice at night to nurse but it doesn't bother me enough to try and sleep train him through it.  He loves his big sister who is usually the one that can get the best laughs out of him.  His favourite games are playing peek-a-boo (he holds something in front of his face until you ask "where's James?") and pretending to sleep during meal time (he leans his ear to his shoulder on his tray and likes you to say "sleepy James").

Carl

Carl has been working hard at both work and school and is happy to have this semester coming to an end next week!  On school days (once a week), Carl is gone from home all day.  Recently the kids have been getting up with him though and having breakfast together before he goes to work. Hannah is always a little disappointed on mornings when she has slept in and missed breakfast with Daddy.  Carl has a few projects going on at work that are keeping him busy and learning lots.  He is looking forward to running the Sun Run in April and has been trying hard to train for it (as much as time allows!).   

 

Me

I guess the biggest news with me and is that we have decided I am not going to go back to work in May.  Although I haven't told work this yet (shhhhh!) we are pretty confident in our decision.  We think we can make it work financially and know that for our family, this is the best decision.  I've been looking after a little boy twice a week since December who is Hannah's age and in June, Carl's cousins  little boy who is James' age will come over once a week.  With James getting older, I've recently been able to get out alone or with friends more often which feels a bit freeing!  I've told Carl that if we are going to have more kids, we better think about it soon before I get used to too much freedom :)      

So that's where we are at! Thankful everyday to just be doing life together!

August, September and some October!

I'm looking at these pictures that I'm going to post on on here, thinking where did summer go?!  These photos feel like they were taken so long ago, its almost a blur!  It has been a busy summer!  Although most days I feel like we should be getting out and doing something, looking at these photos, I guess we did!

  

In August, Carl gave notice at his job and had a new job lined up to start September 1st.  He is working for a smaller company doing property development (his last job had him doing more property management).  It's a month in and Carl is finding the job to be much more enjoyable then his previous one and we like the fact that he gets home a few minutes earlier!  We decided it might be nice to have some time together as a family and since vacation time is scarce, Carl gave his notice one week early so we could have a week off as a family!  We went camping with my parents and then headed up to Whistler to visit Carl's parents!

camping in style

Hannah LOVES going for walks ,especially walks with Grandpa!

Hannah's first smore!

Grandma and James

Family hike in Whistler

Hannah, getting some meds from the nebulizer for her breathing while fighting a cold :( 

James and Mamo

As you saw in the picture above, Hannah ended up getting a cold and we decided to use the nebulizer for her breathing again.  We went back to the paediatrician who said that now, maybe it is asthma! Since then, Hannah was sick again but we didn't have to use any breathing aids…So maybe its not asthma?!  We will see the paediatrician again in November and might be able to get some testing done. 

At the end of August and the end of our week of vacation, we celebrated Carls birthday!  But it wasn't just any birthday, it was his 30th birthday!!!  I surprised him with a train ride for him and his friend Alasdair, from Vancouver to Seattle to watch a Seattle Mariners game.  Alasdairs's fiancé and I drove down to Seattle and met the guys there!

In September, Carl not only started a new job but he started another Thursday night class.  He's been taking one course a semester for the past year at BCIT.  Usually Hannah sleeps over at her Grandma and Grandpa's every Thursday night but they were away for the first 3 weeks of September, which meant I was home alone with both kids allllll day long!  We made the best of it!

 

In the photo above, Hannah is holding a timbit from Tom Hortons.  When she gets a special treat or something new, she likes to hold it for a verrrry long time before she eats it.  This timbit lasted a good half hour or more, getting a ride on the swing and a couple slides before it was devoured!  Hannah was recently introduced to her very own Starbucks drink (steamed milk), although we were going to get it "to go", she walked straight to a table, pulled out a chair, put her "coffee" on the table, climbed into the chair and began chatting away, sipping her drink occasionally.  She's already a pro at "going for coffee" and can be quite the little chatterbox when she wants to be (now if only we could understand her…).

We recently celebrated Hannah's second birthday!  I can't believe how much having kids makes time fly by even faster!  We had a great time gathering to celebrate Hannah's birthday, James dedication and welcoming everyone to our new home!

Hannah riding her new bike!

Just yesterday, on Hannah's actual birthday, we had a little party with 7 of Hannah's friends (missing cousin Avery in this photo). It was a little hectic but lots of fun!

As for our Mr. James, he will be 5months old on Saturday!  Although he still isn't sleeping great at night, he's napping well and has overall been a more content baby these last few months.  I recently noticed that his ribs seems to stick out a bit, especially on one side.  When I asked the naturopath if this was normal, she said no and recommended that we see a chiropractor.  So tomorrow, James has his first chiropractor appointment?!  Hopefully it goes well and its nothing more serious than an alignment issue.  James is getting stronger each day and is drooling like crazy!  I have a feeling he is teething already.

So thats been life these last few months for us!  We are looking forward to another trip to Vancouver in these upcoming weeks to house sit for Carl's cousin again but other than that, I guess our next big thing to prepare for is Christmas!!!

Busy Times!

As you can see, it's been awhile since I've written.  Life has been busy, some days I feel like I haven't had time to get anything done yet I haven't done anything besides kept myself and 2 children alive!  Who knew that that would take so much time (insert hysterical laugh here)?!

It's amazing how fast time has flown by!  Our little James will be 3months old on the 11th!

During the last 3 months, James has had the opportunity to meet most of his Great Grandparents!

He also met his 2 uncle's that he had yet to meet

And unfortunately we said good bye to another uncle.  Uncle Dan has moved to Dawson Creek for work. We miss him already!

James has started smiling and laughing, he loves sucking on his hands when he can get them to his mouth but he still won't take a soother or a bottle!  He loves to eat and is already more than half of Hannah's weight, weighing in at 14 pounds!

Hannah loves her baby brother.  She did a few trial bites and pinches on him within the first few weeks but once she learned that that was not acceptable, she stopped and gives hugs and kisses instead!  She loves to play with James,

watches him sleep,

she tries to feed him,

and she loves to snuggle with him!

So what else have we been up to you ask?  During the July long weekend we spent a few nights in Vancouver house sitting for Carl's cousin.  We spent time just walking around, did a bit of shopping and took the kids to the aquarium!  It was a much needed relaxing weekend!

We also went on our first camping trip of the season!  If it weren't for my parents air conditioned trailer and their assistance, I'm not sure we would have attempted camping this year!  We stayed local and just went to a campground in Fort Langley.  Hannah enjoyed her toys and the swimming pool and James enjoyed the air conditioning

In July we visited a paediatrician for Hannah to see if we could figure out why she had to be hospitalized so much over the winter.  The doctor is hopeful that it is not asthma and was instead just caused by Hannah's small air ways.  Although we won't know until this fall if that truly is the case, we were encouraged to know that we are likely in the clear!  To celebrate, Hannah had her first very own ice cream cone!

We recently managed to get out to the zoo with Hannah's cousin Avery.  Both girls had a fun time walking around and checking out the animals!  

During all this, we also took possession of our new townhouse

and moved!  We officially got the keys on June 30th and moved in the following weekend.  I'd be lying if I said it wasn't stressful but after a month of being here, we are starting to feel settled.  We'd still like to find a few pieces of furniture and Carl is going to begin his journey as a "handy man" by building a storage unit in the garage!  Overall, we are really enjoying the place!  Here is Hannah in her new tub :)