Fun Times... Kinda Sorta

Well friends/family we have news... No we are not preggers again- all I can say when I think about that is EW. There are about a million other things that I would enjoy doing before that ever crosses my mind again, trust me on that one.
Steve-O is currently without job, kinda. It's actually kinda funny how it worked out. My bro-in-law runs a security systems company and we spent the long weekend in Edmonton visiting family and discussing the possibility of Steve working for him for the summer. So on the drive home we decided that Steve would give his notice in the next little while. Well, Steve went into work on Tuesday morning and his boss had a spazz attack because Steve wasn't there on Friday so he fired him! Now some would say this is a bad bad thing, but he fired Steve without "just cause" because Steve had given him notice that he wasn't going to be in on Friday, therefore bossman was in the wrong. So Steve had a man-to-man with his boss and found out some interesting things, and basically his boss apologized and told him to go home and come in in the morning to talk some more. Well Steve went back and told his boss that he'd take the firing, which was surprising to his boss. But luckily for us, the "law" states that Steve gets 4wks pay because his employer chose not to give him termination notice and he's worked there for over 4yrs :) It just happens to be just over 4wks until Steve starts working for our bro-in-law. So that worked out pretty good for us, since he'll be working away for 6wks in Ft.Mac. The girls are really enjoying having Daddy around, and well to be totally honest, it's nice to have a bit of a break when it comes to running the house and picking up after the girls. The only thing that seems to repeatedly allude us is getting every single dish cleaned and put away.
In other news...
Brynlee can roll tummy to back and back to tummy, but not consecutively.
Kalea has cut some of her back molars and we think she's having a growth spurt AGAIN! She's wearing 2T easily now, and her "little" feet are in sz.6 toddler shoes. She never ceases to amaze me with her smarts and holds her own in our newest fun of VERBAL BATTLES
Me: Kalea lie down so we can change your bum.
K: NO (body rolling, legs kicking)
Me: Yes please
K: NO
(I wrangle her to the ground)
Me: Kalea, legs down
K: (kicking wildly) NOOOOOO
Me: It's pretty gross to sit in a soggy diaper Kalea. You don't want to be the gross girl, you're too cute for that...
K: NO NO NO
Me: Seriously, why can't you just go on the potty like Mommy? This is so gross...
K: (high pitched shrill squeals) Noooooooooooooo ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Etc...
I do recognize that I am lucky to get to deal with this kind of behavior, but it is getting so old! It's funny to think about but honestly, does anyone realize how many diaper changes we have a day, and how often this conversation plays out IN ONE DAY??? I will count, for your information tomorrow- oooh I bet you're all so excited!
In Mommy News
Fern my "friend" (after last night I dunno) took me to SpaLady for an Iron Reps class last night. It was my first real workout since Brynlee was born. I say "first real" because I dunno that the Wii Fit really counts as a strenuous workout, but it's a fun way to burn calories. This class involved a barbell and 2.5-10lb weights. Let me first say that the 10lb weights never made it onto the ends of my barbell, no sir. It was an awesome class and went by way too fast. I dare say it was one of the best classes I've ever done, mostly for the fact that it seemed so easy to me while I was doing it, but when I was walking out I was really feeling the after burn. A+ for Iron Reps. Seriously, if you have a membership to SpaLady I highly recommend this one. I don't and therefore, guess what's on the top of my birthday gift list this year? If I only go for this one class, it will be worth it! My body is full-out rejecting me after that workout. Feels good. I won't even tell you how annoying I was last night- I don't think my endorphins have been that high in a LOOONG time, Steve was wondering what they put in the water at that place? Fern and I stopped at the Starbucks drive-thru on the way home- I got an Orange Mango Banana smoothie and it was pure heaven in a cup- with a straw. And might I add, the Starbucks Guy was just as cute as any Starbucks Guy I ever remember encountering. Do they purposely hire that type? I think they must. He offered us free stuff- free food stuff people- that's what cute Starbucks Guys do. I used to flirt with cute Starbucks Guys on a regular basis, I think Tara will remember that from our hot chocolate dates in high school/ysa? It seems like forever ago... Tara, we should hit up this Starbucks ;) Kidding. Steve thinks it's hilarious that I reverted to my high school self for a night because truth be told, the cute Starbucks Guy is probably YOUNGER than me... When did that happen? When did I become OLDER than the cute Starbucks Guy? We'll answer that another time...
Anyways...
I can't believe anyone has stuck around this long to finish reading this post. Sorry for the self-indulgence of it.
Husband Jobless for a few weeks= Awesome-ish
Husband Working far away for a few weeks= Not so awesome-ish
Kids being kids= Awesome
Working Out to the point of Endorphin High= Awesome
Body Aching for days= Not so awesome, but awesome
Husband mocking me about cute Starbucks Guy= Awesome
I honestly love my husband, he is way WAY CUTER than that Starbucks Guy any day of the week, his reaction to me last night was pretty classic. I think he was just wondering what the heck was wrong with me and when would I finally crash, but I dunno that I have yet. When I do I'm sure it'll be pretty epic though. I'm gearing up for a rough day tomorrow- rough as in I don't think I'll be able to move :S Wish me luck!

Mod Events and Co. Blog: Ribbon Holder Giveaway!

Mod Events and Co. Blog: Ribbon Holder Giveaway!

Nice Things

I just read an awesome post on another blog and decided to do my own version. I wasn't going to blog about any of this because believe it or not, I'm a private person when it comes to some things. But I think this is a good opportunity to say thank you, in an unconventional sort of way.

This Christmas was a bit stressful for us financially, so Steve and I agreed not to get anything for each other, but we'll plan something later in the year to make up for it- no big deal. Inevitably, things that I wanted did pop into my head, but I didn't tell a soul. Really, not one person, I'm sure I would've blogged about it! These were just my own "oh it would be nice to have this or that" kind of thoughts. So here's an explanation of the above pix.

#1-HIPPO: For our kids' first Christmases we always make them a bear at Build-A-Bear. So this was basically the only thing we were getting Brynlee since she's so little and lacks the coordination to really play with anything. Besides, we have too many toys! But I did feel bad that it was the only thing she was getting. So we pick her bear and start the process of stuffing, etc... At the critical stage of doing the heart pledge, the store manager comes over to tell us we get to have this adorable blue hippo for free, thanks to a kind man, who bought two and told the manager to "Give this one to the next baby that comes in, and ask their parents to pay-it-forward". Lucky us, on Christmas Eve we were basically the last customers and ONLY BABY that had been in the store that whole day!

#2- WATCH: I have this problem since I've had children and it's the inability to be on time for anything, or to even know what time or day it is. So in my mind one day, while breastfeeding and wondering how long until naptime for a certain child over age one, I thought to myself, man I wish I had a watch! FFWD In Steve's family all the grown-up kids do a gift exchange and my BIL had asked me what I wanted and vice versa. So I knew I was getting a gift card so I could get myself some clothes that fit this oddly shaped mess of post-baby body. What I didn't know was that he had also gotten me a watch that tells me the TIME and DAY!

#3- SALON QUALITY HAIR PRODUCTS: I know I know, how vain. But honestly I need a haircut SO BAD(ask Tara), and until I get one, I thought to myself, at least my hair could smell half decent and be shiny. And salon quality hair products have magical powers that can transform my needy mane into something to be envied. Enter my MIL- my husband can vouch for me on this one, I rarely ask her for anything, so you know I wasn't asking for this. So Christmas day comes and I'm pulling things out of my Santa Sack and can you guess what I found inside? If you can't, I urge you to view the above pictures one more time!

Question from http://blog.cjanerun.com/
What is the nicest thing someone has done for you?
I am pretty sure that it's safe to say that the nicest thing "someone" has done for me would be to answer my "head thoughts" at a time when I wasn't comfortable to share them with Steve or anyone else. The whole experience actually strengthened my testimony that we DO have a Heavenly Father who hears and answers prayers said out loud or quietly in our hearts. I KNOW He is mindful of me, and my rather ridiculous needs. I'm so happy that the people who helped Him help me, were in a place where, when the thought popped into their heads, they went with it, for whatever reason. I don't know that any of them will ever fully realize how greatly their gifts to me this Christmas impacted my life. I am so SO grateful for the nice things I have received and to know that my Heavenly Father loves me.

Just A Few Pix

Bryn's blessing day and Kalea being Mommy's Helper


Christmas Eve jammies and bedtime


Christmas Morning, Kalea as topless Santa & Brynlee meeting Duke


Ready for church- didn't get one of Bryn in her Christmas dress that morning
Playing in the snow & eating an Oreo- she's now going on a sugar free diet :)


Giving Bryn loves= wet slobbery kisses, at least her mouth was closed
Bryn is all smiles all the time it's so awesome.
Practicing "cobra pose" for yoga- she's a fit baby!


I feel bad that we haven't been able to get many pix up lately- trust me I've taken tons. Just seems like I don't have the same time to post as I did when it was just me and Kalea. So enjoy these ones, and we'll get some more up soon!

FRESH

I love the beginning of a new year, resolutions and all. It's strange to think that not only are we ending a year, but beginning a whole new decade?! Ten years of my life just left their markings on a few journal pages and flew right off into the time capsule. Let's review some of the highlights...

1. The Year 2000(ooh ahhh)-'01: turned 16; moved back to Sh.Park; learned to drive without hitting anything- but for those who were wondering, I drove the wrong way down a one-way street and survived to write about it :)
2. 2002: graduated high school; traveled for a glorious summer month; enjoyed an un-parented week in Panorama with Becky, Liv and of course Mandy & Troy- our adult supervision; endured working at Denny's to save for my classes at G-Mac
3. '03-'05: Met a boy in a "skirt"; went to school alternating semesters of working, learning and then doing both at the same time- wouldn't recommend that torture; NCMO'd my way through YSA- not hugely proud of that, but it is what it is; avoided being "set-up" with skirtboy, then found myself hugely interested and took a chance; fam moved to Calgary- not to be closer to skirtboy, but it worked for the relationship; took a mini-vacay to Disneyland with my brother- it was our first sibling trip sans parents and it was really fun; went snowboarding for the first and last (so far) time
   
4. '06-'09: Taught Gospel Doctrine classes in my YSA ward- yikes; endured some less than fun parental counsel sessions; fled to Utah; enjoyed Utah & California- did not enjoy being broken down on a highway just outside of "DEATH VALLEY, NEVADA"- I believe the temp was 116F when we passed the sign; found an awesome job at a chiro office; got engaged to skirtboy; married skirtboy; visited Utah for a cousins wedding & our first cross border roadtrip; had a baby; moved in with the in-laws and all of us survived; started a blog;found out we were having ANOTHER baby; turned 25; found a townhouse to call home; had fun with the cousins at our first reunion; had a baby!

A lot happens in 10yrs. I'm looking forward to watching my girls grow up in the next 10, being a little more fearless and focussing more on developing my "mom-skills". I'm just realizing that I really grew up in the last 10, maybe this next 10 will be more about growing outward and doing more for others? Something to think about I guess :)
I raise my glass of yummy sparkling grapefruit ginger ale to you and yours.
Here's to a fresh 2010!

Babies+Christmas=No Time for Blogging

Sorry this won't be a picture post, although it should be.
First thing's first, this blog has been terribly neglected due in part to lack of internet at my actual residence and in part to the birth of Brynlee. If you would like to see pix of her today go peruse my facebook photos, she is there. If you are patient I will get some up here by the New Year- a gift worth waiting for!
Brynlee was born Nov.4th at 6:04pm. She came 2 days earlier than her ultrasound predicted, however according to my dates she came exactly on time- not like her sister at all! So Bryn weighed in at 8lbs 8oz and was just short of 22 inches long- yeah you read that right. She is and I think will forever be our beanstalk. Bryn has lots of hair- thankfully because I had to endure months of heartburn and desperately wanted it to be worth it, and lets face it, if she had been born bald it could've been a dealbreaker :P Kidding! She was also born with really dark blue eyes and they seem to be getting bluer everyday. I think I really expected that she would come out identical to Kalea, but alas, Brynlee, like Kalea, is her own brand of beautiful. Bryn was luckily born without any twins- you'll remember Kidney Stone from my pregnancy with Kalea. So the doctor thinks that the absence of other stress inducing factors has been the main reason that I've been able to breastfeed- I know TMI, but it's been nice to not have to fork out the cash for formula- and also the main reason that labor did not feel the same. Let me explain further. When I went into labor with K my body went nuts, as in I spent a good few hours of my life in the bathroom writhing in pain, hot sweats, cold sweats, shaking like a leaf on a blustery fall day, hurling etc... I could hardly walk down the apartment stairs to our car and I thought I might actually die from the whole experience. Fast forward to Brynlee. Um... I think I'd describe my pain as, I dunno really bad menstrual cramping... But off and on and I could still talk and laugh and was running errands and cleaning up around the house. I'm serious. It was night and day different. In fact Steve was asking me all day how I felt and I was like, "I dunno, nothing really hurts" then he made the suggestion that maybe we should just go to the hospital and get checked out. So when we got to triage the nurse, bless her heart, told me that since I was so happy and still able to have a smile on my face, they'd check me but I'd probably get sent home or sent for a walk around the hospital until things really got going. Sounded cool to me and to her. So she has a feel and was like "Oh my goodness, you're 5-6cms dilated I need to call your doctor!" I was pretty shocked myself because at that point with Kalea I already had an epidural helping me relax! That's pretty much the story. They got me up to L&D and we had a baby within a few hrs. Oh and yes I had enough time to get the epi, although I had to wean off of it before I started pushing and therefore delivery hurt. The only part of the process that I wasn't smiling through was getting Bryn the heck out of me. And after all I could say was "That really hurt"- in the tone of voice you would expect from a small child, not at all like a grown up and I said it repeatedly, over and over until someone acknowledged the fact that, yes indeed that hurt.
Special thanks to the following individuals:
Steve- for being smart and taking me to the hospital before things got too crazy
Mom- for taking care of Kalea and even making sure she got her H1N1 shot
Dr. Hitchcock- for being the best baby catcher of all time, well 2/2 times and...
Everyone who made me food and helped with the adjustment- I think we are now adjusted.
In other news, Christmas came and went in a whirlwind this year. So quickly, in fact, that the Christmas wreath that I was working so hard on before Christmas is still sitting on my kitchen table :S However, it is finished! I can't wait to put it up next year! LOL I got the tree lights sorted out and back on the tree just in the nick of time ie. the tree got decorated on the 23rd :) We might as well have bought a real tree like Steve wanted to... But my mantle was decorated for weeks before Christmas, and we had indoor lights as well, so it still felt Christmas-y. We'll be taking the tree down ASAP so we can hang pictures, etc... I have big plans for that corner of my home... Anywho, Santa came for a visit- the kids must've been really good because they got spoiled. We enjoyed time spent with family and are looking forward to using our mall gift cards tomorrow :) My wardrobe needs some spice, to say the least. We were gifted with a Wii this year, for which I am grateful because now I can "play" during naptime and get a bit of a work out in- yay for Wii Fit Plus, it is freaking HARD! I lost 5lbs playing Wii Fit after I had Kalea, we'll see how much I can lose this time around.
Steve's off until the 4th, which is good and bad. It's bad for the obvious reasons, his boss is retarded and didn't give the guys a bonus or "a week off with pay" like so many generous employers do, Steve got a hot chocolate and a handshake??? Bah-humbug. It's good though, because we're actually getting a lot accomplished at home :) Like, we finally have pictures hanging in our living room and Kalea's closet organizer is finally getting put up. It's also giving me some much needed rest- Steve keeps asking me why I'm so sleepy? I'm just trying to get as much in as I can now before he goes back to work! It's nice having someone to hand Bryn off too, or to play with Kalea while I'm feeding Bryn.
Anywho, we'll try to post pix right away. Don't get your hopes up for any Santa pix because some little girl was not interested in the man at all this year. I'm talking she death gripped me like a monkey on steroids, so sorry!

On Being Grateful...

Does it seem weird to anyone else when you hear some of the things people are grateful for? Is it horrible of me to make assumptions about a person based on their "gratitude list"? Perhaps... but if you're gonna throw something stupid out there, you'd best be willing to take a little flack for it...
Grateful for gum... GUM? Really, you couldn't come up with something a few steps beyond that?
In hopes that someone reading my blog might want to judge me based on my "gratitude list" here is what I am grateful for these days... In no particular order:
1) Family: Steve's and my own and ours together. We are really lucky to have so much love and support and help from both sides, in varying ways. I'm also thankful for my brother who is 7wks away from coming home. 2yrs goes by so fast, but I have been missing him- I'm sure I can blame both pregnancies on my need to fill the void he left. Kids, well Kalea and Fetus... Kalea is just a bundle of energy and I'm grateful to be able to be home with her- even if somedays she rules the house. Steve... I can't really say enough about this guy that I'm married to. He puts up with so much crud from me, it's not even funny. He is really the most patient person I know and on the days when Kalea has taken over the house, he sends me away to take a break/breather. He does really nice things for me like vacuuming and putting together closet organizers and hauling laundry up and down the stairs... He even splurged on a few desks so that I could have a more organized space for all my scrapbooking/sewing/computer stuff. I would venture to guess that he might love me a lot, and I'm pretty confident that I love him back.
2) Church: Well more specifically my faith and knowledge in and of a Heavenly Father who loves and knows me personally. I am so grateful to have a Savior who willingly took upon himself all my sins and sorrows and bore that burden so that I could repent and oneday return to my Heavenly Father's presence. I'm also grateful for my calling in the RS Presidency. I am learning so much and feel so blessed to be growing alongside some pretty amazing women.
3) Modern Technology and My Ability to Live Happily Without It: We're on a tight budget with this baby coming and obviously the lack of mat leave funds, since I didn't have a chance to really go back to work. So we took some luxuries like internet and cable off of our list of needs. To be honest it was a hard adjustment but I'm not sad that we've done it. We have so much more time to get things done and life is somehow more blissful. We don't spend hours on the internet doing nothing anymore and we don't spend hours in front of the tv. It's been a nice break, although we are considering basic cable through the winter. We have proven that the world didn't end when we stopped wasting our time doing nothing- and thankfully we have parents that let us waste time on their luxuries if we need to :)
4) Safety: It snowed overnight and I had a doctor's appt this morning. The usual 25min drive turned into an hour long event and I was so grateful to arrive safely and get home to mom's safely after. We'll keep our fingers crossed for Steve on his way home from work tonight.
5) Friends: I have awesome friends that I've talked about recently so this will be brief. It's just so nice to know that there are people in this world who really know and understand and still love you. Tara and I went out last week. She wasn't feeling 100% and well, I'm huge so we may have both been a bit out of it. But it was so nice to go out with her and chat and just enjoy the company. I really needed that!
6) All the Other Things That I Forgot... Whatever those are, I'm grateful for them and maybe at the very bottom of my list in the teensiest font size possible, I'm grateful for gum too.