Finding Out The News

November 30 2016

It's been a long and somewhat discouraging 13 months. And I had finally lost hope that we were going to make our family bigger naturally. After many doctor appointments and looking into things, there was a chance I was told, I may not be able to conceive a child naturally. My body had been messed up and so very confused. A period once every 3 months to 2 periods within 30 days. It's been rough. Pokes, ultrasounds, diet restrictions, peeing on tests, accupuncture....we were so discouraged. 

We were happy with our choice to begin looking into adoption shortly after the new year started. I had done different research on the type of adoption available to Quebec residents and we were at peace with where god was steering our life. 

Sam was sick a few days ago. I assumed I was coming down with what he had. I was so nauseous and feeling like the flu. So much so, that I thought I would go home yesterday afternoon for a rest.

I was 3 days away from what would be my first normal period after 28 days in 1 year. I was hopeful that maybe my body had finally been healed. I decided since I had a few internet cheap tests, I would take one after work.

I knew I was crazy when I thought I saw a line. But it was nagging me that there was something there.

This morning I woke up at 4 am and used a more reliable test. Within a minute this is what I see...

Holy crap!

Am I pregnant?? Is this why I've felt like I have the flu?

I wouldn't help but start crying. All of those months of frustration, disappointment and anger  subsided because our prayers had been answered!

Ryan had been gone all night working but I knew he'd be home soon! When he got home, it was time to go and wake Sam up and get him dressed. Lately Ryan has been dressing him and I hand him his clothes. He puts Sam's underwear, socks, and pants on. Then I hand him the shirt Sam will be wearing that day and it says "Big Bro". Sam grabs it and says "Ne pas that shirt!" ha ha!

Ryan notices the message on Sam's shirt right away and at first I think he looked at me like I was crazy for putting him in that shirt for the day. Then it clicked...he just keeps repeating "Seriously" over and over with a very red face. I couldn't answer him because I am on the verge of crying again. Suddenly, he loses it and starts crying and then the flood gates open for me. We just hugged, both of us tearing up and Sam pulling at us with wonder at what was going on. I was obviously aware of the toll of not being able to expand our family naturally had been taking on me, but I was unaware at how much it was effecting Ryan emotionally as well. 

I am so thankful that god has given us this chance to expand our family. We have discussed adoption in the last few months and feel it's in our hearts to go that path one day in the future. But for now, I am so thankful that I get to feel being pregnant again and holding a new born. I had begun to mourn the thought of never getting that opportunity again. Never feeling a baby kick from the inside and the feeling of looking down at your baby and wondering if he/she has yours or your husbands nose. 

And so begins a new journey as we jump into becoming a family of 4! 

xo 

A Family of 4!

Happy Monday everyone! I am SO relieved to finally share our exciting news! No more secrets and no more hiding! We are expecting Baby W #2 in August. 

Truthfully, I've had a really hard time with this pregnancy. Rough beginnings and severe sickness since about 5 weeks. But I will share more in the posts to come! 

For now, thank you to everyone for the sweet words and congratulations that you have passed along to our growing family. 

xo

Fighting Winter Blue's With Weekend Fun!

Happy Monday everyone! The weekend went by way too quickly! I had a very full weekend but nothing too strenuous! 

I think that I am someone who is prone to "winter blues". I do not like winter and wish away the cold days and snow. I long for the warm sunny Spring days. I even crave a week away somewhere warm. I tend to hibernate in my house and not want to go anywhere so I lack the socialization and vitamin D from the sun! If a winter is too long, I tend to get crabby and short tempered. 

I know, suck it up, right? Well I do. But I had been feeling the effects of (to me) an already long winter and days of hibernation. Thankfully, I had a weekend full of plans that didn't involve "enjoying" the great outdoors with winter activities and still lots of fun! 

It started on Friday night with some play time and supper prep for my boys! I then got changed into some comfy clothes, gave them both a kiss goodbye and drove the whole 2 minutes to friends and neighbors for a girls night! A feast of delicious food (pizza, wings, cheese dip, cookies, brownies, candy, chips!) and Bad Moms! A movie I had been dying to see for some time! It was great to sit back, be silly and chat with great friends! 

Saturday we had a quiet yet busy day at home. The boys played outside, I took down the last of the Christmas decorations, we did some more painting in Sam's "big boy" room and then before lunch my parents came by to grab Sam and his stuff. Sam was WAY too excited to go to Nana and Grandpa's for a visit. He had been talking about it all week. 

Ryan and I puttered around the house and then eventually got ready for our little double date. For Christmas friends Amanda and Josh gifted us a night out with Prescott for supper and then a comedy show! 

We had a delicious pizza supper and then took the short walk across the road to the comedy club. It turns out that the head act was someone the four of us had seen before and loved! We loved his new material! Ryan was in awe of the 1 liter Steamwhistle beer he bought and was excited because he was allowed to keep the milk glass but then forgot it behind on our way out! 

We laughed SO much! All three acts were hilarious! I was seriously crying at one point from laughing so hard! It was a super fun night out with friends and a night out Ryan and I needed together after so many evenings and nights away from each other with his night shift. 

Because we are old, we slept in until 7:30! ha ha! Which really does feel like sleeping in to us now! Mom and Dad had offered to take Sam to church so we could rest more and relax. I didn't argue! ha ha! We ended up going out for breakfast just the two of us and then headed home to get a head start on boring house chores. 

When church was over, everyone came to our place for lunch and then Sam and Ryan went down for a sleep. 

I enjoyed hearing all about Sam's adventurous time at Nana and Grandpa's. They really like to play into his helpful nature and come up with little jobs for him like cutting a tree and "snow plowing" their lane way. This kiddo loves the outdoors and spent hours outside with them. He had a great nap yesterday and then a big sleep last night. 

The rest of the afternoon I got supper ready while Sam and Ryan worked on their snow fort. It is a pretty cool little place in our back yard. Ha ha! 

A really great weekend getting out, reconnecting with my husband and visiting with friends and family.

xo

I Wish I Loved Winter As Much As Sam

Happy Friday everyone! I hope that you all had a great week! Mine has been going by really quickly! We are approaching tradeshow season so lots of preparations are being made by me for these events. Hotel rooms booked, dinners, tradeshow supplies, clothes...It's busy! But I love being at the organizing end of this. It's what I specifically excel at. Give me an event to plan and I can execute it and make sure all of the people (in this case, men) are all there, properly dressed and everything they could possibly need is there. I like to make it seem effortless, even though there is a lot that happens behind the scenes. 

When I was a little girl, I use to be a Tomboy and loved being outside playing. I loved the sandbox, making snow forts, going sliding and exploring the farm! As I grew older I still love being outside but only in warmer times. In the winter, my most favorite thing to do is hibernate! 

I look at my son and I see how much he LOVES being outside. In the other warmer months, I love to pack picnics and embrace as much time outside as possible. In the winter months, I dread when he asks me to go outside. And on the days that Ryan is working or sleeping, I have no choice but to be the one to bundle up and take him out for winter fun. 

But he knows I'm not as much fun as Daddy outside in the winter. He asks for Ryan to take him out whenever he's around. Unfortunately, it's been pretty horrible weather this winter and Daddy has been working a lot and it's come to me. 

Weather it be skating, going on walks, GT's, sliding and Sam's favorite shoveling! I've tried bundling up to make sure I'm warm and that does help a little. My last investment will be a good pair of boots as I've already fallen a couple of times on the ice! Apparently my boots are not very good in the ice and not many are good for the ice according to this article. 

My hatred of winter and snow still continues...and yes I am Canadian but I don't need to love it the Northern temperatures! But I do love seeing the smile on my kids face as he is outside with his Dad enjoying the fresh air! 

Happy Friday! 

xo 

Wintery Weekend Recap

Happy Monday everyone! I hope that you had a great weekend! Things officially feel like they are back on schedule since the Christmas break. I loved the holidays but I love schedules and I love the day-to-day regularity that comes with normal routines.

This weekend was a prime example of that. Nothing extraordinary happened but just some fun, normal weekend stuff and time together as a family. 

Last week Ryan and I did a little experiment. Night shift in the winter is hard on us and I keep telling him that he still needs to do one "house chore" a day. That I can't always be the one doing everything all winter long. He argued that cooking isn't a chore. SO I told him last week to plan ALL the meals for last week, get the groceries (under budget) and cook all the meals every night. Well, mid week I think he finally realized how hard it was. He planned 3 pasta meals, not one vegetable was bought and he kept forgetting to take meat out for supper. Friday was a big example of that and he ended up going and getting us food from Gavan's for supper. I think he learnt his lesson. :) 

Memorized by Paw Patrol while we wait on Daddy to go pick up our supper! 

Saturday morning the plan was that Sam and I would go and get groceries while Ryan and my Dad started on Sam's big boy room! Instead I ended up running and doing groceries solo and got back as they were just starting. Sam has been asking all the time when his room would be done and we have just kept putting it off. He would not leave the room as the boys worked! He wanted to be right there and involved! 

My mom ended up coming over and she thought she could get him out of the room! NOPE! So instead they sat and read books while I made lunch for everybody and the boys started on painting! 

Saturday afternoon Sam went down for a nap and Ryan left to go sledding. I got ready for a girls night out and when Sam woke up from his nap, we picked up the babysitter! He was actually very good with her this time and no tears when I left! 

The girls and I headed to supper in Aylmer at The British! It was my first time there! The atmosphere is really nice and I ended up getting the pizza which I wouldn't recommend. But my fried pickle starter was AMAZING! 

Sunday morning after breakfast we decided to bring Sam ahead down to the rink for a little skate. His afternoon naps really dictate what we can do in a day! It would be his first skate ever and Daddy was very excited to get him out there! 

Sam actually did really well. He was focusing so hard on skating that he always looked so serious and we were worried he didn't like it. But he didn't want to stop! 

He asked us next time if he could play hockey with the nets! ha ha! We weren't there for long but glad we got this skate in before the weather turns warm for the next week. 

We all headed to church, than back to my parents place for lunch and we all took a long afternoon nap before getting up and getting ready for the week ahead! 

How was your weekend? 

xo 

Christmas Recap Part 2

We had a great Christmas at home and we were looking forward to celebrating more with family that evening! 

After a nap, we loaded up and headed to my in laws for supper! A delicious turkey dinner that my mother-in-law graciously prepares for everyone! 

We all had a great visit and exchanged gifts with one another. The kids were so excited to open and play with all their stuff right away! We are at the stage were everything has to be taken out of the package RIGHT AWAY! ha ha! 

Nana and Poppa with Soph and Sam!

We had a relaxing day on boxing day. New Christmas stuff is wonderful! Sam was so entertained all day and never asked for Paw Patrol all day! ha ha! 

After nap, we headed to my parents house for our Christmas pizza supper. We decided on an easy meal this year as kids are young and things are a little chaotic. We hardly get to sit and eat our own food with all the interruptions for water, bathroom, Paw Patrol and etc. 

The kids were begging to go and see the tree and the weather outside was getting worse and worse. So we decided to get a start on opening gifts since the boys would have to leave soon to go and deal with the freezing rain. 

I always tell the kids they can't open anything until I get a good picture! Clark could hardly contain his excitement. 

And again with Nana and Grandpa. 

It was fun watching all the chaos and seeing the kids enjoy their new toys! 

Even the little Grace had a fabulous time as you can see...

We had a great couple of days celebrating Christmas with family and friends! It was a particularly fun with Sam this year! 

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas as well! 

xo 

Back At It!

Happy Tuesday everyone! What a glorious Christmas break! Yes, technically I was back last week but I had so much catch up and year end to look at that I didn't even think about blogging. Plus, I wasn't ready to blog about Christmas and then forget about it for another year! I was still hanging onto it for dear life. Oh and yesterday I was off with a little guy with an ear infection! 

It was an especially fun Christmas season this year with Sam. He was SO into Santa and even Christmas eve was excited to put his reindeer food and cookies for Santa. 

Christmas Eve outfit! 

We continued the tradition of fun snack food for after the wonderful Christmas Eve service and then read "Twas The Night Before Christmas". Sam snuggled into bed and I was so excited to play Santa. It's one of my favorite new traditions is setting up everything under the tree! It's one of the fun things about being the parents! We exchange gifts with my parents too so their stuff was under the tree too! 

Christmas morning Sam slept in and we actually had to wake him up at 7:30! He was a little confused when we told him Santa had come in the night. I think he expected to actually see him. 

He enjoyed opening his stocking but I think he thought that was it.

 But was SO excited when he saw the tree! He just wanted to grab every present thinking it was all for him. Ha ha! 

He opened a couple presents and then was over it for a while and just wanted to play. So, we let him and did our gifts to each other and my parents. We had to kind of go with the flow because Sam still doesn't quite get it. Almost there but not yet! 

We stopped for our traditional breakfast of bacon bunnies! Yum! 

We had a very blessed Christmas! Ryan got his Xbox that he has been asking for all year and I got my new work wedding ring that I've been asking for! Sam's big hit was the Kabota tractor! He's been driving it around the kitchen ever since! 

We finished up all the presents right before nap time! We like to go really slow! ha ha! 

We picked up and got ready for Christmas with my in laws while Sammy napped away! 

But more on the Christmas dinners to follow! 

xo