Date Night!

     There are a lot of adjustments involved with having a new baby. I know that it seems like I just stated the obvious...but seriously, there are a lot of adjustments with having a new baby! I knew this before we had PJ...but I don't think I really knew what it meant. No, I am not complaining! I am just stating a fact that I have been reminded of every day for the last (almost) four months. There are adjustments. Some of them are really good adjustments, some are kind of sad adjustments, and some of them are just different adjustments. One of the adjustments that "hit" me this past week was "date night". Before PJ's arrival Mark and I had tons of time most evenings to just hang out and "date". We often would catch a late movie, go out for dessert, grab a 'Timmies', go out for dinner, or visit friends. The first couple of weeks months after PJ's arrival were so busy that we didn't notice the difference in our evenings. We were too busy trying to make sure she was happy, fed, dry and sleeping well. When she was sleeping...so were we...its tiring being new parents! That said, PJ is SUCH a good baby. She quickly settled into some sort of schedule and started to sleep through the night. After a while we, as parents, started to settle down too (we were a little slower to settle down than she was!). Now that we have a routine and PJ is going to bed at 8:30PM every evening, Mark and I have started to realize that we have time together again...but its different. Now, when its all quiet at night...we have to STAY home! We can't grab a coffee or go see a late movie. Its different. Also, now that things have quieted down, in the last couple of weeks I have started to really crave a date. Just to enjoy some Hubby/Wife time. Since its not really possible for us to LEAVE the house to do this...we decided to adjust. This past week we enjoyed our first "at home date night". I made lasagna spirals (an easier cousin to typical lasagna) and we sat down to a delicious candlelight dinner with wine.

mmmmm.....

So yummy! 

   PJ was still up at the time but she was off playing 'quietly' in her swing. It was so nice amazing! We enjoyed our yummy dinner, grown-up conversation, and some much needed devotions. It was such a wonderful date! I love having Mark's undivided attention (I know that makes me sound childish...but I promised to be honest...and honestly, I love having his attention!). This would have been a good time to pull out our Christmas gift from Mark's parents. They bought us a 'date in a box' - a cute box containing place settings for two, nice silverware, candlesticks, and a CD of jazz music - but it was stored in our storage room which is still messy from the demolition that the guys did two weeks ago! 

Somewhere in the back of that mess is our  'Date Night Box'!

What do you mean you want grown-up time? LOL love this girl sooo much!

10,000 Reasons

   I was just sitting here cuddling with PJ listening to one of my new favorite songs: '10,000 Reasons' by Matt Redman. I just love this song so much! Its such a great reminder to us that even on our darkest days there are more than 10,000 reasons for our hearts to sing praise and thankfulness to God. He is so good and he cares for us so well. Have a listen!! 
   10,000 Reasons
   God bless you all on this wintery Sunday!

Sicky Sick Sickos!!!

   Wow! What a couple of weeks it has been! There is a nasty 'something' bug out there and it hit our house HARD. I call it the 'something' bug because it seems to show itself differently in everyone that gets infected. Some get a nasty head cold, some get a sore throat, some get nauseous and some get it all. Whatever they get though...its a bug that last a loooonnnngggg time. Most of my family (especially my parents) had all gotten sick in the weeks around Christmas or just after. I was hoping that Mark, PJ and I would miss it...but no such luck!
   Mark was the first one in our house to be taken out. He woke up one morning nauseous and was down and out for the count...for six days straight! He was extremely tired, nauseous, and lethargic. He could hardly walk from the bedroom to...anywhere. I was the wonderful doting wife and nursed him aaaaalllllll week :). It was strange having him home all week...but not. He was there in bed...but not around to help out with the housework or PJ. It was a looooonnnnnggg week but we survived and by last Friday he was finally back on his feet and able to help out with some dishes (albeit he still didn't have a lot of energy). We thought we were all done with the bug but....
   PJ started struggling to breath and started wheezing. As new parents we weren't quite sure what to do. I had noticed on Thursday that she was more congested and that she was coughing a bit...but she was in a good mood so I prayed that it would pass quietly and quickly. Nope! By Friday it was a full out struggle to breath and she was quite fussy. We decided to take her to the emergency room on Friday night. The hospital staff were so nice...and understanding of us' first time parents'! They quickly got us in and PJ went through some tests. She needed to get bloodwork (I cried) and a chest x-ray (I cried). (Those chest x-rays look like 17th century torture machines the way the baby has to be sat up and squished between two supports with their arms forced above their heads). We were told that PJ had bronchilitis - her small bronchi were inflamed and filled with liquid...but it wasn't too serious. She received two medicated oxygen treatments and then we were sent home. The next night she still hadn't improved and she was wheezing harder than before, so back to the hospital we went. This time the wait was quite a bit longer...but we were finally seen and were told that she also had Strep throat. Yay (sarcastic 'yay'). We received antibiotics for this and once again were sent home. Its now Thursday and she is still not quite her typical happy self...I don't know if she is just being a normal baby (seeing as she has been a super baby up to this point!) but she seems uncomfortable to me. She LOVES her medication though...I guess its the first time she ever tasted anything different. Her breathing is more normal and I think we are on the uphill (praying we are!).
   While spending Saturday night at the hospital I started to feel sick. My head started hurting, I started getting a cold, my throat was achy and I went through waves of nauseousness. By Sunday I was down and out. I was super weak and couldn't stand for long periods of time. I also had a couple of black out (or near black out) experiences. Not a good feeling! Its never fun being sick...but being sick with a baby - that's hard! Even though PJ was sick...she still needed to be fed, changed, and played with. It was very difficult to try to give her what she needs when all I wanted to do was curl up on the couch with the TV and sleep. Mark was super helpful and made sure he was available if we needed him. Its Thursday now and I am starting to feel better...still tired and sore (I can hardly move my neck and my head because they are so sore). I can't wait to be 100%!
   I hope and pray that this is it for my family and being sick. Its not a fun time for anyone...plus nothing gets done around the house - no cleaning, no laundry, no meals..NOTHING! Can't wait to be back on our feet again!

Really can't complain...sick but still in a pretty good mood.

   On another note January has already been quite busy! We are currently staying at the in-laws to help them out by watching Mark's younger sister, their dog, and their house while they are on vacation. I have started a History course on War and Society this semester (and because of the sickos am already behind!), and we have booked a trip to B.C. for February! 2013 is already starting to be a fun year (minus the 'something' bug)! 

Demo Dudes!!

   Now that the Christmas season is finished the men in this house were eager to get back at the home renovations. Last year my sister and her husband bought their Greg's dream home - an older house on 2 acres in the country. It needed a lot of work (think dark red and emerald shag carpets, animal stains, uncleaned for years kind of work) but they were eager to get started. It was also a very large home - during the initial walk through we just kept finding more rooms and hallways...the house seemed to go on forever! Mark and I were trying to wrap our heads around the miracle of becoming parents and providing for a little person and therefore we were rethinking our living arrangements. We had come to the conclusion that we needed to rent a cheaper place in order to accommodate the loss of my income and our goal of one day owning our own house. Danielle and Greg approached us wondering if we would be interested in renting out a basement apartment from them in their new house. Its amazing how God works isn't it? We quickly agreed and the plans were set in motion! We gave our 60 days notice to our landlords and started the looooong process of packing up yet another house. Since the house needed quite a few renovations and an apartment needed to be built in the basement we decided to live with Mark's parents for the month of July with a goal of moving into the apartment sometime in August (just enough time to get ready for PJ's arrival!). July arrived and Mark spent most all of his waking time either at work or helping Greg renovate the house. They first made the upstairs livable as Danielle and Greg (and kids) needed a place to live. Once that was done they started on the basement. I must admit there were times that I wasn't sure if would have a place to put my newborn baby once she arrived. They worked long and hard and built us a WONDERFUL place to call home. Seriously, the transformation is unbelievable from my first view of the apartment to what we are living in right now. This is by far my favorite place that I have called home since being married. And that's saying something because it is our third place in two years! Anyways, they made the basement livable for us so that Danielle and I could have our newborns in comfortable living spaces. Thanks guys!

   Now that the babies are no longer newborns (what?! time flies by!) Mark and Greg have decided to start the next stage of renovations. This includes building a wall to separate the basement into two living spaces (currently we have the entire basement (which is huge) and Danielle and Greg and kids are living upstairs in only two bedrooms!), opening a door into our storage room so that we have access from our apartment, and building a bathroom on our half of the basement (a necessity!). 

The 'before' picture - our dark back hall and the old sauna!

   They decided that Saturday would be a good day to start and were ready bright and early. I had never been around them while they did the work previously as I was pretty much a pregnant blimp sitting on my in-law's couch watching the Olympics the whole time. They seem to have more fun then one would expect to have from home renovations. Like I said, bright and early they were down here with sledgehammers and pry bars tearing down walls, laughing and making witty (wise crack) comments. It was actually quite enjoyable to watch. Since the action was downstairs I also had some very cute and fun visitors - my sister's two oldest kids. All in all, a very fun Saturday! Our apartment already looks different as they have opened it quite a bit. I actually am really loving this as I get to try to start planning how we are going to use our new space and how I am going to make it homey. Mark promises me that we won't be moving in 2013 so I have sometime to make this place really feel like home! 

The DEMO Dudes!

He's so handsome :)!

What it looks like now - don't mind the "mess" that's our storage area :). 

Wedding Bells

   This past Friday evening my Oma got remarried! It was a whirlwind romance! In October my Oma announced to the family that she was dating a widowed man from her church's sister congregation. She told everyone not to worry because, in her words, "it won't lead to marriage or anything!". Ha! Four days later she announced to the family that they were engaged to be married in the beginning of January. 

   She and her "beau" are very much in love. They hold hands as they walk and tease each other as they sit and chat. Although it was (is!) weird to see her with someone other than my Opa (who passed away 5 years ago) it is nice to see her so happy as I know she has been lonely. After their very quick 'courtship' they arrived at their wedding date this past Friday. Mark was able to take the afternoon off of work and we were all in attendance to witness Oma say her vows. My Dad had the honour of walking her down the aisle. It was bittersweet for me to see him do that as I know it must not be easy to give your blessing for your mother to marry someone else. The wedding was beautiful. The reception was a lot of fun. You could see that Oma was very happy! 

 Together Oma and her new husband have 19 children! And quite a few grandchildren and great grandchildren. They see it as quite a blessing:). Most of their children were able to be in attendance. This included quite a few of my aunts and uncles (and cousins) from out West. It was great to see everyone again. This wedding gave us all a good excuse to have a couple of get-togethers on the days surrounding the wedding to reconnect and visit.

   I am very thankful and happy that Oma could find someone to share the next years with. She will no longer be lonely and I think she will have an interesting couple of years as her new husband is a traveller! She is already on her honeymoon heading towards one of the Dutch Islands in the Carribean! I hope and pray that they will be happy together and good for each other! God's blessings on their new love!

All dressed up and ready to go see Great Oma get married!!!

Spoiled

  This Christmas season Mark and I were absolutely spoiled (by everyone) by ourselves. We went out and made the big BIG investment on a brand new camera! We have done a lot of research on cameras in the past year leading up to PJ`s birth. We knew that once we had our little one we wouldn`t be happy with our old point and shoot camera. Our old camera had run its course...it no longer zoomed in or out and took a good minute to take a picture. Although annoying, waiting a minute when you are adults is doable...but trying to catch a baby`s smile, laugh, yawn, open eyes, etc in a full minute is impossible. PJ is 3 months old now and I was getting more and more frustrated with the pictures I was getting of her (I know...my life is hard, isn't it?). All of my pictures were coming out blurry or with extreme red eye (think demon child). I finally succeeded in convincing Mark that a new camera would be instrumental in my life goals of being a scrapbooker, documenting our family life, and of being happy (drama queen much?).  In all reality Mark is a super husband who rarely (ever?) says no to me...which, I promise, I don't take advantage of! So on Boxing Day we were up early (stayed up late Christmas Day) and we purchased a new Canon T3i from Best Buy. It was a really good deal so we were able to also purchase an extra lens (50mm) which is good for potrait shots. I am not a photographer by any stretch of the imagination...but I am SO excited to learn and start capturing more true pictures of my darling PJ (and the rest of my family too!). My sister (the one upstairs) just recently purchased a book about my camera too...so I am sure I will be able to learn from her and probably borrow her book. So excited to capture some of PJ's smiles and giggles as she grows and learns new things!
  Here are a few of my first attempts. :) I still have lots to learn but these pictures are already MUCH better than what I have been able to achieve prior to this!

Smiles!

Couldn't resist a picture of Carli!

Look! I am sitting in my bumbo!

Mommy and Daddy are so interesting!

Laughing at Daddy :).

Can't believe our little angel is 3 months old already! Such a joy to have around!

That's all for now...can't wait to share more and more pictures of my life (and hopefully I'll improve in my photography skills!). 

Happy New Year!!

   Wow! Its already 2013! I can't believe how fast 2012 went! 2012 was such an amazing year. It was a year of many exciting changes and adventures! Mark and I found out that we were expecting a baby, Mark finished up school and began his job as a manager at his Dad's construction company, I received my Financial Services and Advice certification, we went to Michigan on a Babymoon/2nd Anniversary get-a-way, we moved into my in-laws for the month of July, we moved into our newly renovated basement apartment in my sister's house in August, we welcomed PJ into our lives, and, to top it all off, we lived the year in Christ. I can't wait to see what 2013 has in store for us! 
   This post comes after a VERY busy holiday season. We had many family get-togethers, enjoyed our own little family time, had a Friday night wedding, and brought in the New Year with some very close friends. PJ and I were especially blessed this year because Mark was able to take the week of Christmas and New Years off. We got to spend a lot of time enjoying our little family. I always love the holidays so much. The fresh snow, the good food, the wonderful family time, and the reminder of Christ's love for us. I also always dread the end of the holidays...which was today. I woke up with the foreboding feeling that today was the day that Mark had to head back into work. I was not ready to be done with all the festivities! Even so, today ended up being a very good day...Mark kept in touch with me via bbm and I met up with my older sister (not the one I live with) in town to go for a walk with PJ and our dogs. A good day to welcome the year 2013 in and "normal life" back. 
   I am a dork for celebrating New Years. I get so excited and kind of sentimental. I love the idea of a "clean slate" (as my older sister put it so nicely today). The year seems so full of excitement and possibilities. I don't fully know what this year will bring and that excites me. I also feel like its such a good time to start making some changes in my life (yup...the old "new years resolutions"). I have made some resolutions in the past and I've been pretty good about keeping them. In 2011 I decided I needed to read more (its good for your brain!) so I resolved to read a "good" (award winning, etc) book per month. I accomplished this goal and I loved it! Not only did I get to go shopping once a month to buy a new book (incentive enough!) but I learned some new things and enjoyed being lost in a good novel. Last year I resolved to get a bit more 'crafty'. I had wanted to start and finish at least 6 projects over the course of the year. I didn't fully succeed but I was more crafty than I have ever been and I learned a couple new skills. I knit myself a beautiful (if I do say so myself) scarf and PJ's baptism blanket. I also tried my hand at scrapbooking. I am creating a scrapbook for PJ's first year. This is ongoing...but I love it! I also spent a wonderful day with a dear friend learning how to quilt and I was able to finish an entire quilt for PJ's nursery. Its not a difficult pattern...but I love it and it fits her nursery perfectly. Finally, I (sort of) helped my older sister refinish a chest of drawers for PJ's nursery to be used as her change table. My sister did most of the work...but I did a little! I want to try my hand at some more furniture restoring some time soon! It was a lot of fun and the finished project was beautiful!
    This year I made a couple of different resolutions. First, I am starting a '365 Days of Gratitude' journal. Every night before going to bed I am going to write down something that I am grateful for that day. I feel like lately I have been seeing more of the negative side of life and I want this to encourage me to see the positive and the many, many blessings that God has blessed me with. 

My Gratitude Journal!

   Another goal of mine is to keep trying my hand at being crafty. I want to continue scrapbooking PJ's first year. I also want to try my hand at making pillow covers (I have two ugly pillows in my storage room that I would love to cover and use in my living room), making curtains for PJ's room, and finishing up the decor in the nursery. 
   Thirdly, I aim to become more organized. I have implemented the 'bedtime 15' where every night before bed I spend 15 minutes tidying up my house. This might include finishing folding the laundry, wiping up the kitchen, cleaning up toys or doing a quick vacuum. I just love the idea of waking up to a tidy house and I think it makes my day go a lot more smoothly. I also want to fully organize my office space. I have a desk set up in my walk-in (that's right!) closet but right now that desk is just a collection space for junk. I want to organize it and keep it tidy so that I have a nice place to blog, scrapbook, do book-work  and study (I am taking a university course this semester). I always feel so much better when things are organized and in their correct space...hopefully this can be accomplished this year. Another big part of this goal is to stay living in our current home for longer than a year. Mark and I do not have a very good track record when it comes to calling one place home. We have lived in three apartments in under two years of marriage! The plan is to stay in this apartment until we purchase a house for ourselves...so a good two years at least. I think that calling someplace home for longer than a year will help me to feel more organized and settled. I can look around me and make plans instead of looking around me and packing everything up in my head (like I've been doing in the past).  
   Fourthly, I need to work on loosing those final Baby Pounds. Mark has moved my elliptical into our storage room and I aim to use it every day. I am in one of my best friend's weddings in May and I need to fit into my dress! I am so excited to be sharing in her special day and I think its a great incentive and deadline for me to get back into shape and start feeling like I have MY body back!  Also, this will allow me to be ready for soccer season!

So excited for this wonderful lady's wedding in May!

      Finally, I need to start focusing more on my daily walk and relationship with Christ. I want to start putting Him more at the center of my life and my decisions. I aim to open my Bible more (independently and with my hubby), pray continually, and sing praise as I carry out my daily work. 
   So there you have it! My 2013 goals. No matter what, I know that this year is going to be so much fun! I am going to get to spend it with the people I love most in the world. I am so excited to see how PJ grows and changes in this coming year. So far I have loved being a Momma...and I think this year will help me love it so much more! 
   Happy New Year and God's blessings!