Multitude Monday - #3

Thanking God for each of these blessings...

#21 - for my husband who is a wonderful father... who is so loved by me and our son

#22 - for the sudden beaming face and higher-pitched "Hiiii" of my 15-month old gift when I walk in the door after a full day away

#23 - for technology and friends that allowed me to attend and watch Beth Moore's simulcast on Saturday... what a wonderful day of refreshing, challenges to dig deeper in God's Word, singing of praise and worship, and encouragement (err... challenge!) to go all out for the abundant life in Christ

#24 - back to #21 - for my man who happily agreed to take on full-daddy-duty on Saturday so I could attend the simulcast with friends

#25 - watching my son joyfully run and play with the older boys at church. He loves them and I'm so thankful they love him!

#26 - the time to enjoy a coffee visit with three friends last Wednesday

#27 - these beautiful sunny autumn days

#28 - AJ's progress in getting back into sleep routines this past week! Sleep until 8:30am?? I'll take that!

#29 - trying a new restaurant Saturday night and being able to laugh with my Man at our choice... since it definitely didn't make the "do-again" list

#30 - the challenge of trying to find food our picky little eater will eat... (ha, most of the time I find this super frustrating... trying to change my outlook!)

Multitude Monday - #2

Thought this posted this morning - oops.

Another week filled with God's gifts!  Here are ten things from this past week I am thankful for:

11 - A rainy day on Tuesday to make it easier to leave our summer paradise and head home from the beach...

12 - One extra day with my brother and a few extra days with my parents! Unfortunately the reason was a sad one - one of my Dad's dear friends passed away after a long battle with cancer... but ... see #13

13 - My Dad's friend Mark U who left this world peacefully in his sleep and has spent just over a week in the presence of his Saviour! The textbook end to his type of cancer should have been so much worse... God is so kind and good. For Mark and for his family with him. No more cancer treatments, no more pain and discomfort, no more confusion and hurt... How he must be rejoicing! I attended his funeral, and I can only hope I leave such a positive impact and testimony with my co-workers and friends...

14 - A weekend at home and catch-up with some friends after a busy summer.

15 - Starting another bible study tonight!! We're starting Beth Moore's James: Mercy Triumphs. I'm really looking forward to it and hope I can be more faithful with my weekly homework to get the max out of this study. I expect to be encouraged yet greatly challenged... It will be nice to catch up with the girls again too!

16 - Headphones. After a summer greatly lacking in routine and bedtimes, yet including different beds and grandparents... I feel like I'm starting over with AJ's sleep habits... Headphones and music are going to come in handy this week while he "settles" for his naps!!  ;)  Better now than in January just before the baby comes and rocks his little world...

17 - Having a great report from my last ultrasound. Healthy baby and healthy me so far! Yay!

18 - Feeling our baby move more and more... this is the fun part and makes it so much more real.

19 - Being able to enjoy coffee again... it's such a comfort drink for me.

20 - FALL!! According to my trusty iPhone app, it's 11 degrees right now and is supposed to hit a high of 19 today with only 59% humidity. I'm in jeans and a sweatshirt - my FAVORITE uniform! :D  It's supposed to get up to 27 degrees with 88% humidity (feeling like 33) on Thursday, but I'll enjoy the cooler temps while it lasts. Mmmm.... I think a visit to Starbucks might be in order today...

Multitude Monday - starting over at #1

As always, I have great intentions... I have been wanting to participate regularly in posting ten things I am grateful for - Multitudes on Monday! My friend Heidi does it faithfully on her blog and you will also see a button on my blog linked to A Holy Experience - the website/blog of the author of One Thousand Gifts (highly recommend!)... There Ann Voskamp tracks her Multitudes on Mondays.  So after a number of fitful starts over my blog life, I am here starting again.

It's always good to take time and focus on gifts God has given you - both big and small. With a grateful heart today at the end of a perfect long Labour Day weekend, here are my ten Multitudes...

I'm so thankful for:

1 - The perfect summer weather we've had to enjoy this long weekend. Sun, heat and a BREEZE! Oh, and cooler nights - perfect for sleeping.

2 - A long long weekend visit with my parents and brother. It is so wonderful to have them here and we are enjoying every minute.

3 - Beach days! Perfect summer weather plus my family equals finding a beach... I was laughing last Wednesday (they arrived at 2:30 in the morning), that within a "few" hours with my family and we were already at the beach... even in Toronto. We made it down to "The Beaches" for a few hours - just a few minutes away from the CN Tower... We missed Thursday, but have been at the beach Friday, Saturday, Sunday and today! WAHOO :)

4 - The sound of waves... lapping up on the shore... I like the crashing ones too, but the last few days I enjoyed the softer version...

5 - Watching my little man interacting with his grandparents and uncle... he's become such a mimic - has us laughing a lot!

6 - A late night coffee with a homemade dessert... my mom's efforts of course. :)

7 - A short visit on the beach from friends who have moved a few hours away to attend university.  Love "my" girls :)

8 - Fans! While it is the *perfect* temperature outside at the moment, our little place is still very warm...  so having the artificial breeze blowing on me is much appreciated.

9 - A new restaurant just down the road... walking distance... we dined there tonight - yum!

10 - The Beach! I know - I've already mentioned it... but if you only knew how I love feeling the sand between my toes and hearing the water, you'd appreciate that I'm uber thankful. ;) It's such a natural recreation - enjoying God's beauty. Peaceful and relaxing. Even with a 14 month old. :)

There... Got #1 done... on Monday! It's 11pm - still counts.

Join the fun and joy of thankfulness with me?  Write out your own list of 10... it's good homework.

Bedtime

AJ just went down for his second nap (yay!) and I'm sitting here looking at the disaster all around me. I really should be cleaning, tidying, organizing, etc... things that efficient moms do while their children nap. Instead, I'm going to write for a minute (or two... or three...). Best you don't drop in for a visit today! (yah, like that ever happens up here)

Last night I took my turn going to bible study and left the little gaffer home with his Dad. I was so pleased with the report I received when I got home to a quiet house. Except that it never seems like the child misses me when I disappear. What's that mean?!

I know - it's actually a good thing, and I'm thankful he's not pining away at the door thinking I abandoned him. But, I'd like a minute of "Wait - where did Mom go?!"  Nope. Nothing.

Anyway, apparently he played around nicely... then brought a clementine over to Dad who thought he just wanted to play the game of "pass back and forth" (very popular in our household). When Dad didn't seem to get the message, AJ decided to start peeling the orange himself. Little piece by piece.  Finally Dad noticed and did the rest. He also made the elephant face out of the peeling, but was offended AJ didn't see the humour.

This is his morning look.

After filling up on fruit, he did a full blown diaper. AJ that is. Lucky Dad. When he started to get tired, he took his pajamas off the couch and kind of swished them around... Dad, who's getting smarter with the signals, dressed him for bed.

A couple minutes later, AJ kept coming close and standing there, so Dad asks "Do you want to go to bed?" Response? Yup! (I love that he says this frequently in the right context) AJ climbs on the couch with Dad and leans into him... so to make sure, Dad asks "Do you want to go upstairs and go to bed?" Yup! So up they go. Sing a few songs, and AJ is laid down in his crib... he just looks at Dad like, "Yes... this is what I wanted!" Dad walks out the door and all is quiet. Perfect bedtime routine.

Doesn't happen all the time, but I love it when it does. Especially since the child has no idea what time bedtime is after the last month and a bit. We call it "summer hours"...

I know... Your life is so much better now, after reading this edifying post... you're welcome.

So far behind... A summer update

I'm sitting here in our very, very hot little cottage listening to the rain outside and the sporadic thunder crashes, and... praying it cools the air *just* a little. We're here for two weeks with my in-laws (the Mister has gone to pick them up at the airport and I'm waiting for their arrival), and all I can think about is how we might survive the heat and humidity without A/C. I'm guessing *lots* of day trips in the air conditioned van... ;) We are within walking distance of the beach, so we'll hopefully visit there most days... but AJ and his grandparents might not be able to endure for loooong periods of time. ;)

Now where was I... oh yes, feeling the pressure of a "dead" blog... is it really August?? And was June really my last post?! Seems like so much has happened since my little Man's big birthday...

So I'll just briefly bring y'all up to speed.

oops. My company just pulled in ahead of schedule... this will have to wait... it could be January before I get back to it!! ;)

I'm back! And it's only two days later... and since you're all dying to know, the Lord answered my prayer and gave us a much cooler Sunday night and beautiful Monday! I know it will get too hot again, but this has been a nice breather.

Instead of going all wordy like usual, here's a picture montage of our summer so far:

 BEACH DAYS!

Lesson on tools on Father's Day... the question is: Who's teaching who? :) 

AJ wasn't sure he wanted to give the card away...

Meeting up with good friends who up and left us for Vancouver a year ago...

We'll eventually forgive them :)

Not everyone was ready ;)

Fun in the back yard in the Bend!

Quiet cuddles outside

Back home... going around the pond across the street... 

AJ's going to be a horticulturalist I think! 

Sometimes you just have to get up-close-and-personal!

Clearly he knows how to relax...

Fun morning at a petting "zoo"

Back to the Bend for more beach time!

So... this deserves a whole post of it's own... We had a great surprise in June! After 3 weeks + of nausea and *weeks* of extreme tiredness, I surrendered to a pregnancy test... and to our wonderful surprise (yet, not really a surprise after all the signs!), we are expecting again! AJ is "scheduled" to be a big brother the end of January... 19 months apart. Terrifying yet exciting! 

Out for our 5th (!!) anniversary supper... our first real date in over a year. 

Need to remedy that before the next bambino arrives.

My Love.

As you can tell, it was a busy night for the restaurant... Not.

A Starbucks' latte to cap off the evening :)

Back to the Bend for another weekend and beach time. Evening is the best time to go for this little man.

So excited to try the new restaurant just down the street from our place in the Bend... HIGHLY recommend Smackwater Jacks - everything is delicious. And AJ claims they have the best french fries :)

Back home (we made a number of wknd trips to Grand Bend in July, but spent most of the very hot week days at home... in air conditioning) - AJ reveals his treasured rock (of the moment) to the world from our back door :)

That brings us to the last weekend of July, when AJ and I made a flying trip back East for my cousin's wedding and family time. Will try to get the update posted soon!

My Baby is ONE!

And before he's TWO, I better write about it :)

Well.... my baby boy has turned ONE. I don't know how that happened - wasn't he just born last week?

How did THIS happen??

Our sweet AJ has been such an amazing gift to us. I can't imagine life without him and thank our God for this time and this gift every day. Little Man - you are so very loved!

As you know from a previous post, I was a little hung up on how to celebrate his big milestone.  In the end, it worked out wonderfully! 

Saturday after our Sunday School picnic, our friends invited us up for supper and had a little party for AJ. He had special "1-year-old" balloons, a home-made cake (!) and a gift that he is still playing with daily! 

A big milestone occurred at this party... he ate steak. And horseradish. Yes - you read that correctly. Irv said it was mild - I wouldn't know since I don't try the stuff! But he would eat as much as Irv would share with him! Between my plate and Irv's - I think he ate about half a steak!! Not sure either was good for his little gut, but it was funny to watch. Definitely takes after his Daddy with a love for meat.

He wasn't quite sure what to do with this thing in front of him... the kids had to put the icing on him instead of him trying to experiment himself!

A Cookie-Monster that talks and "eats" cookies! :)

Thank you friends :)

Monday evening, June 11th, we had two families over to celebrate AJ's birthday. Unfortunately, we couldn't invite all the special people in his life who shower him with love and attention week after week at church, so we kept it very small. This much is sure - our little man has been blessed with many friends - young and old! And we are so thankful.

Getting into the spirit :)

These kids sure helped keep AJ entertained past his bedtime - he loves them!

A special gift bigger than him!

Getting some help from his little friend

E & B relaxing with coffee after a hard day of work

Thanks guys for making his night!

Aren't boxes the best?!

What IS this stuff? EW - get it off!

Surviving a late night celebration ;)

Daddy's Boy :)

Oh yes - it IS fun to be one! 

A big thank-you to our friends who spent the evening with us and loved on our boy. We appreciate you!

Happy Birthday Little Man - you're growing way too fast, but we're so proud of you. Love you so much!

-----------------------

AJ - Just a few things for me to remember down the road:

- You're walking all over the place now - rarely crawling. You get up from the floor without needing furniture or the wall to get you up. You weave back and forth like you're doing the boogie sometimes to keep your balance - so cute. 

- You love yogurt and bananas. Not a big fan of veggies unless it's in soup. Cucumber is definitely a thing of the past for you - too bad since it's easy and not too messy! ;) You love pasta, rice and it seems like any kind of meat. Especially chicken. You still drink lots of water and like a smoothie occasionally. 

- You love being chased... you love playing peak-a-boo with anything that might work. The corner of the wall, the chair, a ball that covers your face, a book, a blanket... it is so much fun to hear your belly laugh! You even initiated peak-a-boo with Grampie on skype by ducking down below the couch and popping back up... fun!

- You love looking at books, though you don't really go page by page. More like cover to cover - open and close. Really - maybe it's more about the opening and closing that gets you, since you love opening and closing any door or drawer! If you're in a room - the door is happily shut by you within seconds.

- You LOVE outside. This past week has been too hot and humid to be outside, and you definitely got cabin fever. You love the park - going up the stairs to the very top and then down the biggest slide. No little slides for you! I think you'll be giving Mama lots of heart attacks.

- I love watching you. I find it amazing that in such little time you went from laying and not rolling over to walking along carrying things. When you play on the floor on your little knees and bounce up and down - my heart melts. When you go down on one knee to play and then pop back up so easily, I think "You're growing up too fast! But I love watching it!" You have started to talk with your hands a bit... if you get excited, your eyes get big and your hands fly. When you're concentrating on figuring something out, you are so focused. Your eyebrows go down and you breath really heavily. Unfortunately - that's a Ramsay trait and will someday embarrass you. :)

- You talk. A LOT. Not that we can understand anything, but you happily chatter away while you walk around the house playing, while you sit in your carseat, when you meet someone at the grocery store... you seem to love to talk. I see a lot of "Why's" in my future.... already praying for patience! ;)

- You love to watch people. I think that came from your mother's side... it keeps you entertained frequently which is often a good thing when we're out. Even at the beach - you play with your bucket and rocks for awhile, but spend a lot of time watching the other people on the beach.

- You are super ticklish and you love it. And we LOVE your laugh and giggles! :)

I think the list could go on forever... I'm doing my best to be present in each moment and am loving my time with you. You mean the world to your Dad and me - I hope you will always know that. x0x

Grossness

So.... we've been away every second Friday for a bit now, which means we've missed every real garbage pick-up. Consequently, this means our garage has been getting progressively stinkier (spell-check says this isn't a word)... Sorry for the image!

After an unsuccessful trip to the dump a few weeks ago (I misread the hours online - grrr!), I decided it was time to try again. I loaded the trunk with massive garbage bags, the stuck poor AJ in his seat surrounded by the aroma. This was no time for a leisurely drive to the dump - I considered the outing a health hazard! All windows down, speeding down the 407 - the fastest route to the dump. AJ thought he was in a wind tunnel. I guess he was.

Ok. It's been a long long time since I've been to a waste disposal location. I must say, it is the grossest place EVER. I would have taken pictures to prove the grossness, but I was too busy holding my breath and keeping my heaving stomach down as I tossed out the bags while standing in this "muck" they had me back into. Guys there, but no help.

But I couldn't get too annoyed... after all, they have to work in the place all day! I was only there for about 4 minutes. They should a break.

I escaped back across the scale, paid the fee and sped out of there... apologizing to AJ the whole time. Poor kid!!

Grossest. Place. Ever. 

Then... after a little lunch outing, I stop at the grocery store. As I get out and close my car door, my hand slides through recently deposited bird poo. Seriously???? TODAY?!

Yup. I may not be able to eat for a week after those two experiences. At least it will be good for the waistline!

And to top off our outing for the day, with my cart full of groceries, a tired boy and coffee in hand, I reach for my keys on the way to the car. Not there. hmm. I stop, and look again. Nope. I go through my bag - nothing. I look around AJ in case he found them and was playing with them. Nope. Aaahh. Don't panic. I search and search. Nothing. I go back in the store and retrace every step. Nope.  I ask the cashiers and customer service clerk if a set of keys has been turned in. Nadda.

I take deep breaths and refuse to panic. I go out to the car where it won't matter if AJ melts down while I look. Thankfully, after going through every pocket *again*, I found them in a place I never put them. RELIEF!

Just one of those days! It's been a couple hours and things seem to be looking up... let's hope it continues! :)

To compensate for my venting, if you haven't seen this on Facebook - here's a cute video of our happy walker. He is definitely spending more time on his feet than knees these days. I find it exciting! :)