Christmas Flies By!

That's what if felt like, even if it crept along for everyone else. As usual, bouts of sickness sprang up along the way but we made it to the "big day" without any major debilitating injuries and everyone enjoyed the time & food & great company. Many thanks to all those that arrived at our house to share our first real, memorable, Santa's visit - Auntie Millie, Unca Pete, Auntie Sharon, Amanda, Auntie Margo, Grandma & Grandpa Brown AND Gramma & Grampa.. Everyone ate their eggs without complaint and spoiled our girls rotten! And thanks to Auntie Trish & Tink for arriving 'via flowers'! We are a very lucky family.

Can you find the baby in the above picture?

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Shock & disbelief at SANTA having arrived!

Grandma & our Christmas Elf!

Santa's Scary But Those Elves Do Great Art!

Well, we tried to make it to Santa's lap this year and got close enough to Hi-5 him. Thankfully, K wasn't afraid of the lady doing face painting and requested this flower work, in blue. Oh, and she just about forgot the stem until Kyra corrected her..apparently art critique runs in the family..

Happy Thoughts

I was contemplating what I could write in this post today and I reflected upon many of my previous posts.. Now, I don't mean to give the impression that all is bad with our lives or that children are a plague upon our household (even though I feel that way intermittently). But this seems the perfect outlet to rant about it and just 'get it out', sort of speak. So, I really should give the sunnier view of parenthood once in a while.

I was nursing Noelle tonight and trying to stir up some moments that make motherhood special for me and that I can freeze in cyberspace for my kids to read later.. Now, the nursing part of motherhood is a fairly special moment that, while it seems to take SO MUCH TIME, really is just a small fraction of life. I certainly have no regrets choosing that route - as I took the bottle route with Kyra - and I wholeheartedly believe that I have a closer connection to Noelle through it than I ever had with Kyra. I laugh at Noelle's ability now to nurse, fiddle with my shirt, play with her hair (her fuzz, really) and smile at me through her eyes - all at the same time. She's my multi-tasker! While this was going on, Kyra was running up & down the hallway - buck naked - singing to imaginary friends (named Cha-cha & Shiu-sa - don't know where she got those names?) and asking me if her 'hat' looked good on her.. The 'hat' being a huge bath towel wrapped around her head.. Like I always say - if only I could bottle these moments... Makes me smile.

Christmas Approaches and the Germs Just Keep Coming!

I hardly have time these days to prepare (as all good "Santas" should) when I spend every waking moment fighting the FLU or a COLD or some sort of GI disruption.. I mean really, take pity on a new family and let me remain healthy for at least another 3 weeks! That was my plea to the 'cold' Gods.. Today it's only Ernie that's hiding in the bedroom, dozing in self pity - but it could be ANY one of us tomorrow...

Another Day in the Life..

It's been 20 days since I last posted anything and well, it seems like just yesterday.. Time has just flown! It's a blustery winter day outside, the traffic is bedlam and the wind is cold. It's a good day to watch TV and bake cookies - which I'll get to in a minute...

On the kid front, Kyra is firmly entrenched in being the moodswing that she's become in these past few months. For the most part she's a giggly, inquisitive toddler. It's now difficult to watch movies or read stories now without a running questionnaire of "Who's that?", "Where's the other guy?", "Why's that there?". And Hide & Seek is the big activity of the day - which is hard to keep up when the hiding places include under the glass coffee table (plain sight), head under a cushion (butt in plain sight), head in the exersaucer (again, butt in plain sight) - you get the picture.

Noelle is on the move, officially. Today she's Commando-crawling with a bit of a crab-like leg - but it's a forward motion and well, that's as close to REAL crawling as we've seen in these parts! Hoorah!

Toddleristic or OCD??

It's funny, but I don't ever recall in all my minutes of babysitting experience just how weird a toddler can really be. I guess their little heads are learning/absorbing things at mind-numbing speed & capacity - so I suppose LOGIC is just another mind-numbing experience that they file away for better use later in life (some of us just completely file it..period). All this 'oddness' that I'm thinking about today pretty much began around the age of 2 with painstakingly lining up of all her Fisher-Price Little People on the foot of her bed. Tiny little queues of plastic smiling people. It reminded me of those looks into "Weird Homes" that a show took from a few years back on TV. Thankfully, Kyra outgrew this phase and has since moved on to lining up crayons, pillows and finally - cutlery! At least here's a skill that I can see useful for a future as an OR nurse or surgeon... At least she appears proud of her work -

All Hallow's Eve

So, Kyra's first REAL Halloween came & went. And as a newbie mom (I consider Newbie as someone that hasn't got a child in University..) I daftly figured that she wouldn't want to do the 'trick-or-treat' ritual that goes along with the spooky and sugar laden day. HA! She was so into going to strangers' doors that she was rather pouty for at least 15 minutes when I told her we weren't going until Grandpa offered her a chocolate and allowed her (well, she was bullying him anyway) to answer the trick-or-treating of other little ghouls, witches & fuzzy animals that paraded to the door. I did let her timidly call out to a few doors in her ballerina tu-tu until she got cold - thankfully not a flake of snow graced the sidewalks this year.. But let me tell you, we're ready for next year - I'm already planning the giant spiderweb, thunder sound-system and spotlights. Watch out! Halloween will become as celebrated as Christmas..Did I mention that there're about 54 days until that joyous occasion (I'm all a-tingle!)...

Shots!

Today marked Noelle's 6 month immunizations, hooray! We don't have to return to the health clinic for another 6 months..She did very well, remembering to breathe between screamings. Kyra was oblivious to all the goings on (as all caring sisters should be) and concentrated on colouring a halloween picture the nurse gave her. She's quite into colouring and drawing and painting lately - it's like a little artistic switch has just been thrown. And as any proud parent can say, we see some talent! ha ha. She does do a mean (and fairly recognizable) rendering of a happy face with lots of spiky hair. We're so impressed! Noelle's drawings aren't so impressive, as she merely attempts to chew the crayon at this stage. Which reminds me that her third tooth is making its way through her gumline. At this rate she'll be completely dentured by her first birthday! I guess I'd better introduce her to a toothbrush.. and a big steak!

A week of firsts!

It's been a fairly eventful month here at the Brown house! We saw Kyra spend a few fun-filled days with her Grandparents out in the mountains (her first time away from Mom & Dad!) and Noelle got her first succulent nosh of solid food AND her first 2 teeth in one week.. Pretty exciting stuff on the Mom-scale! Yesterday we did a trip to Heritage Park for Railway Days and we all enjoyed the 2 steam engines they had to ride on and all the model railways on display - including an entire LEGO city complete with Lego Calgary Tower and High Speed Lego Trains! Ah, it's nice to see that some people have time for their hobbies..

..From the home of the plague..

Today isn't a really good day to do this - I'm sick like a dog and fairly ornery, so I'll make it short! I can finally get both girls to sit still for some Kodak-y moments so there will undoubtedly be many more in the days to come.. That is, if I haven't sold Kyra to some gypsies by then. Sigh. I also have a few words on potty-training - pthththththththt! and BLAH! Any questions?

Time is Fly-ing!

It seems that it's taking me longer and longer to get to the blog page..possibly because we're getting busier! Phew! This week we've got a visitor from Germany, a camping trip to prepare for, a catering to do and a potentially ill toddler. What next right? Well, I get a call from Ernie (and calls during work always make me cringe) saying that he's on his way to the hospital to get some stitches (eight!!) in his pinky finger. ugh. Running screaming from the house is always an option.. But life goes on and everyone is okay.

Things I've learned this week..

Now I'm not altogether enlightened by having children but a lot of what makes me mad has sure surfaced since the arrival of them. The good thing about this is that I've found DEEP within myself a control switch that can be toggled as seen fit to repress the urge to explode - and I'm toggling a LOT lately. Each day that passes I thank Noelle for being such a good and easy-going baby, as I watch Kyra picking bits of playdough off and squishing them into a chair crevice or when she decides that she can't decide on something and argues both sides of an argument! It's exasperating and would drive anyone to drink I'm convinced. The flipside to these terrible twos (or just the 'years of maturation' - which sounds so fuddy-duddy) is the easy laughter that bubbles up from her chest and the big cow eyes that precede a "please can I?" question or the serious facial expression covered in spaghetti sauce. In spite of all this, I still manage to pick up a few new things from her.

I've learned this week:

• that crayon can be removed from almost anything


• that dishes can take just as long with a toddler rinsing them but with twice as much fun


• that make-believe cuisine can be presented as all manner of items


• that stuffed elephants enjoy tea parties


• that most songs have only 3 lines to be repeated over and over and over...


• that ice cream eating is an art.


• that in spite of eating chocolate twice, it is Kyra's FAVOURITE food.


• that shoes can fit just fine on either foot.

..and there's probably a million more things, but I'm a bit sleep-deprived from learning from the baby too! I do know for sure that when I finally do get to sleep at night, I sleep with a smile on my face knowing that I have a chance to BE a kid everyday now, and for that I'm grateful.

A picture is worth..

Here're some pics from this week & last.

Grandma looks pretty excited to see Noelle, don't you think?

..and in all seriousness - bathtime..

..and here's Kyra beating the summer heat!

Friday..PHEW!

It's been a long week and I'm oh, so glad that it's Friday! Noelle's been fussy, fussy, fussy. Kyra's been a right clutz and a half. And I've been losing sleep over stupid dreams - or dreaming that I'm actually awake (does this every happen to anyone else?). All this to add to the fact that Ernie's been working an afternoon shift (boy do I appreciate him today!) and it's just been a real struggle getting anything done. Although I still had time to fool around with a photo program (you're right, Dad, it's pretty easy to work with!) as you can see.. Thank heavens for Treehouse - it's worth it's weight in Gold to park a kid in front of (bad parent, bad parent!). On that note, I shall change the TV station now and enjoy my Friday time alone! G'night!

Summer's Here!

This weekend we enjoyed a few firsts - 1)Noelle's first mosquito bite. 2)Camping for a whole 5 hours before returning home..

In the first first, Noelle's bite is a tiny one right on her forehead above her right eye, she's not really bothered by it so I don't feel like a bad parent for allowing the tiny mosquito to slip by my watchful eye.. The second first was a unanimous decision to leave partly because of the first instance - the mosquitos were thick like pudding and secondly, the 34 degree heat only added to our suffering. Kyra & Evan (our camping buddies' son) enjoyed the time the most by hanging out in the kiddy pool - ah, to be small and carefree!
Oh. but where did we go for this abbreviated camp, you may ask? Well! Only the 2nd hottest place in Alberta - the badlands valley - Drumheller. The scenery is amazing but being surrounded by rock walls is a bit like sitting under a magnifying glass under the hot sun! Phew! Perhaps we'll try again when there isn't a heat wave..

Obituary

Soochie Brown

2005-2007

This post is in loving memory of our dearly beloved Soochie (aka suckie, shoo-shoo, soo-see). Soochie was laid to rest after almost 2 years of service (in many forms) after comforting Kyra and her family in times of need. Soochie will fondly be remembered by Kyra who now painfully goes to bed & naps without it. E, Pup-ee and Blank-ee will now carry on the comforting tradition, in Soochie's wake.

The kids this week..

June Shots

I keep meaning to post some pictures of life with the kids - so I'm adding in some shots when Aunt Trish was here for a visit. We went to see the steam train at Heritage Park and then had some quality time in the living room! Although, Noelle doesn't look too sure of the goings on there.

Two Months going on Three

Well, she's made it to 2 months and is cruising on as all babies do. As I'm typing I can see her parked happily on the floor next to me, reaching for dangling toys. Now, I don't recall number 1 baby doing these things but Noelle seems to be so much more interested in toys and people than Kyra did - maybe she needs to since she's the second in line and perhaps more often left to her own devices.. or perhaps it's just her personality. Either way, she's a joy to have around and a model baby in our books! Of course, saying that she's decided to get uppity about something and will undoubtedly be appeased by.. a diaper change! (I bet you thought something different?).

But first I see she needs to perform a few kungfu moves and some frantic chewing of the soother. Oo, out comes the dummy - we're off for a new bum. Ah, it's these moments I enjoy.

Lifestyle of the Ordinary

That would be the title of my sitcom I think. I know it sounds rather defeatest but it's how I'm feeling today - ordinary. I think it's my lack of sleep this weekend that's accounting for that. Now, don't get me wrong - the lack of sleep is a direct result of enjoying myself so it's not all bad! Or maybe, as I think about it further, it's the direct result of coming down off a chocolate buzz.. Aunt Trish was here for a visit and plied our household with Purdy's chocolates, the meanie. It's just as well that we (others helped) finished them all off or I'd be sitting here getting little smears of chocolate on the keyboard as I smacked my sugar-coated lips! Mm-mmm good. Of course, the only thing that dulled my enjoyment of said treat was the recent knowledge of 'Chocolate Wars' going on in Africa. A wee bit of politically correct guilt snuck into my diet.. I still try to do the right thing - even when eating chocolate! What a good and perhaps not so ordinary thing to do..?
Oo, the squeaker squeaks - must run..

Nipple Obsession

Well, I thought that'd be a catchy title that fairly sums up my last 2 months of renewed parenthood... Need I say more?
Noelle is growing by leaps & bounds (as much as a tiny human can I think). And I've truly fallen into the new world of nursing, obsessive bowel movement scrutiny and miniature socks. It's kind of a surreal feeling at times, undoubtedly brought on by my new 5 hour naps (which is a REALLY good night's sleep in comparison to other new moms). My introspection this week consists of deciding that (and possibly giving into) parenthood as a series of comfortable repetitive predictabilities. Wow, deep. I've figured that the struggle that new parents have after having their first child is falling into the rhythm under the dictatorship of the new life (even though most of us are already slaves to some sort of routine). The struggle after having a second comes with the realization that 'hey, you ain't getting your autonomy back - for at least 20 years' - it's a very short struggle and more like a few seconds of thought (struggle); followed by surprise (realization); then someone yells 'CHANGE MY BUM'.. What was I thinking about again?

Noelle's First Birthday Party!

Okay, so it's not her first birthday but her first attendance at an organized social gathering celebrating her sister's second birthday.. (whew!). The only slightly exhausting activity for a baby at these functions is to tolerate being passed from set-of-arms to set-of-arms. As a mum, I enjoyed the freedom. Also on this day, we had a silent celebration of being a whole month old - and the entire family being rested enough to enjoy it! Be it luck or be it genetics, the wee one is sleeping a solid 5 - 6 hours at a time during the night and we couldn't be more thrilled. Of course, I have to endure huge uncomfortable breasts as the trade off but hey, what's a little discomfort after enduring childbirth anyhow??

Three Weeks Old..phew

Well, I've finally made it back to the old BLOG to share comments on life as a renewed parent. It's been a pretty good couple of weeks with a newborn I think. I'm only marginally sleep-deprived and I can still handle heavy equipment (okay, so I drive and haven't driven into a parked car yet). Oh, and did I mention a fairly non-rebellious toddler, cranky husband and ultra-neurotic dog are also byproducts of the baby? Yah, well, it really has been a good bunch of weeks. I'm enjoying an entire king-sized bed to myself while my spouse gets acquainted with the couch - it's a good arrangement. At least someone should get a continuous block of time with the sleep fairy. (Besides the baby & her sister of course). We discovered that breast-feeding might not have been the most efficient way to put weight on Noelle; seeing as my hospital hemorrhage diminished my milk supply. But thanks to modern medicine and some funky side-effect of a GI drug - I'm now supplying sufficient amounts of human moo to my offspring (who I'm sure is entirely grateful for my efforts). I guess the lesson here is not to procrastinate and find someone who knows what they're doing. This is my homage to the Public Health Nurse network - they rock!
Oh, the growing baby stirs... so say my nipples! :-)

And she's OUT!!

Yippee! The day did arrive and we didn't need surgical intervention of the inducement sort. As it turned out - Thursday was the start and Good Friday was the day of our blessed addition - Little Noelle Marie. We had a wee visit (2 hours worth!) to the hospital in the middle of it all, at midnight on Thursday; we were sent home of course (the rooms were full). So, taking that as the cue for when we should go back, I endured hours of contractions until procrastination turned to mild panic and we were off. I might add that labour contractions that are 3 - 4 minutes apart aren't much fun when one is strapped to a car seat. That 15 minute drive to the hospital was one of sheer agonizing eternity.. ah, the melodrama of it all. Anyway, Noelle (6 whole pounds of joy!)came into the world with a double umbilicus necktie and then a scream at 13:09 - almost 30 minutes after our arrival to the hospital floor. Nothing like waiting to the absolute last minute huh? Little did we know at that moment that a little hemorrhage would ensue and an extra night at Hotel Hospital was in order. It all seems fairly like a dream at this point - that is - until I hear a little squeakie noise and hold the newest Brown family member. We're smitten!

Who'd a thunk it?

I do believe after many days of griping about it, that this could actually be THE day today! I know that sounds fairly vague to all that have been keeping a finger on the baby pulse at our house - but really it's true.. er, I think. The stopwatch has even been dusted off and started/stopped a few times already with extreme vigilance. I'm limiting my food intake to the "easily digestible" and I continue to slug back water in attempts to ward off any unpleasant digestive issues. Crossing my t's and dotting the old i's per se. Ernie is now on high alert - but I let him know that it still could be some time. All I know FOR SURE is that contractions are happening in a more painful way and in a more regular occurrence. Has the eviction notice been, say, noticed??

Due date followed by Stew Date...

Well, I've made it back to the page - regardless of the recent critiques (my emotions have healed). It's one day post-due-date and there has been no new addition to our family as yet. Emotionally it's a tough thing to swallow but I should just get on with life like it was and continue to complain about aches & pains until labour or a surgeon rears its head to me. Sounds good.

I've also been doing some research into contractions and such. Braxton-Hicks (I wish they could think up a smaller name for them, it would be easier to type) contractions come & go by the dozen in an hour which spurred my recent thirst for knowledge. Anyway, there are no real answers out there for me other than - stop counting them and carry on with cleaning the fridge! (that's what one midwife said). So, I think that those are the wisest words I've heard and will do just that.. Although, my fridge is new and quite clean thank you. Perhaps I'll tackle the fur on top of the cupboards after shoveling the walk AGAIN...