Day 9: My Men

Day 9.
Mark and Big C.

When we found out that we were having a boy I was really nervous. I grew up in a family of all girls (4 of us!). I felt comfortable with girls. My first thought after my ultrasound technician told us he was a boy was a memory of the first time I had dinner at Mark's house 7 years ago. After a very loud (and fun!) dinner the three boys (Mark and his two brothers) got up from the table and started doing something that they fondly call "rumbling". They jumped on each other and started wrestling and grunting and laughing and grunting and tackling and grunting. I was shocked. My first thought was that they were going to get hurt, my second thought was "what is wrong with them?", and my third thought was "I am so glad that I only had sisters!". Although over the years I started to understand their rumbling it always was a little out of my comfort zone (I was never quite sure what to do while they threw each other around!). Anyways....fast forward 7 years and there I was on the ultrasound bed hearing that I was going to be the Momma of a BOY! I could foresee a future of bruises, scrapes, and grunts. I was nervous! Fast forward to today and I couldn't imagine my life without my little man. He is amazing. And I love to see him in his father's arms. I know that he has an awesome role model - not just for things like rumbling (Mark was always the champ;)!) - but in important things like faith, respect, responsibility, and love. So today I can say something I didn't think I would be able to say months ago: "Bring on the rumbling!" because I love being the Momma of a boy! :) 

Day 8: Birthday Girl!

Day 8.
My baby girl is 2 years old today. Wow. I cannot believe that 2 years ago I met her for the first time. She was so beautiful and stole my heart with her first breath. She continues to be the most beautiful little girl I have ever met. She has a smile that will brighten a day and a frown that is already pretty scary! She can laugh at the drop of a hat and is just as quick to assert her own will and desires. She is lovably independent and at the same time very eager with her hugs, kisses and cuddles. She is very quick to say "I wuv you Mommy (or Daddy or Tase)". She is just all around fabulous! But I digress, I fully intend to do a proper PJ update this week (today was just too busy with birthday celebrations) and this post is just part of my 30 Day Picture Challenge ;). I guess all this is to say that PJ is a wonderful daughter and she is now a big girl of 2 years! 

This is what an exhausted 2 year old looks like :)! She was up super early to open some presents with Daddy before he headed off to work (at 6am!). And then she spent a couple of hours running around the green space in our backyard with her cousins (such beautiful weather this week!). She was so tired that she caught a loooong nap in the afternoon...on the couch (not normal for her!)...in the middle of all the visiting grandparents. I love how peaceful she looks when she sleeps. Even though she is such a big girl...she's still my baby! Love her! 

Day 7 - 2 Years of One Big Blessing!

Day 7. 

   This is the chair of a big girl who is turning 2 tomorrow! That's right...no more highchair. She has been asking for a while if she could sit at the table with Mommy and Daddy during meal times. So yesterday we picked up this booster seat for pretty cheap and have answered her heart's desire. Of course, it makes sense as Big C will be making use of the high chair sometime in the next 2 or 3 months. I have to admit, it will be strange sitting at the table with her at her own spot. I am not sure I am ready for her to be such a big girl. I can't believe she is 2 years old tomorrow. Seems surreal. All the presents are wrapped, some balloons are hung and we have a busy schedule planned with cousins coming over for lunch and a park date and grandparents coming over for supper. Its going to be a great day :). 

Day 6. Friends.

We spent the better part of tonight visiting with some dear friends - Calvin and Klaarissa. Its been waaaaaaay too long since we last saw them. Especially since they live a whole of only 2 kms away from our new house! It was great chatting, catching up, playing some Xbox Fifa, and playing a game of Euchre (girls won!). They are such a wonderful and easy couple to have over. There is always lots of laughing and memory making happening when the four of us get together. Unfortunately, the only picture I have to commemorate this evening is this picture of a half eaten lemon meringue pie (made by me: that's right...be impressed! Although, not too impressed...Gordon Ramsay wouldn't be!). 

I was really hoping to get a good picture of them with Big C...but I guess this just gives me an excuse to have them over again soon! :) 

Day 5: Canning.

Day 5. Not a very creative title...because, really, how do you "prettify" (yes thats a word) canning. Canning is canning is canning. Ironically after writing that I had to grin because you don't even use cans in canning. How silly is that? Anyways..enough of that tangent. Today Katie came over to can. And can we did! Lets just say that I (hopefully) won't need to buy tomato sauce for the duration of the Winter months (give or take a couple of months depending on how long of a Winter we have - please not another 7 month Winter. Amen? Amen!). So here is my picture of the day: my canned tomatoes. Yum.

Day 4: Too Many Blessings!

Day 4!! I have to admit: when I started this challenge I was worried that I wouldn't be able to find something to take a picture of each day. I know its only day 4 but I am finding that I am having a hard time to figure out which blessing I want to document! Should I post the picture of all the produce we picked up at St. Jacob's Market for canning tomorrow, Big C's first camera captured smile, PJ peering at me through a half chopped green pepper (silly girl!), Big C sprawled out in the most comfortable looking snooze, PJ's sweetness? So many options!! What a wonderful God I have to shower me so lovingly with all these beautiful moments. 

Day 4.
Compromise. Two pictures of sweet moments with my littles. 

This might be kind of a strange picture but it shows PJ's sweet and loving nature. While I was busy nursing Chase she decided she wanted to be close to Mommy as well. She sat at my feet, held onto my toe, and drank her bottle. Getting her cuddles but making sure not to disturb (disclosure: she is not this courteous every time!). (Sorry for the foot picture - not even nicely painted toes!). 

This little man has become quite the smiley mister! He has a smile for anyone who will stop and pay attention to him! He is also VERY ticklish. Its so cute how he tenses up and giggles when we tickle his belly. I am loving getting to know Big C better and better each day. 

I am so blessed to be surrounded by these cute sweeties all day long :)! Can't you see why it is hard to pick only one picture each day??!?

Day 3: Two of my Favorite People

Day 3!

Mark and PJ.

Mark - my wonderful husband. This is his "putting up with Vicki" face. I was definitely standing right in the way of the Maple Leaf preseason game...for a long time...to take this picture. I am still learning my camera so getting a picture that I am not too embarrassed to put on the blog takes me a bit (as in 50 attempts before this one;)!). PJ hasn't been feeling too well this week - she has picked up the viral cold that is going around. Last night I was up with her from midnight (about the time I was attempting to stumble into bed after finishing the TV stand (see here)) until 4:30 when she was finally able to get comfortable enough to fall asleep. That's right...I went to bed at 4:30AM this morning. I kind of thought those days were behind me after leaving university and starting the whole Momma thing. She is quite tired but did have a long nap this afternoon so she's just heading to bed now. Here's praying that we don't repeat last night tonight....this Average Momma is tired exhausted beyond the point of no return. Anyways - I love these two so much and it makes my Momma heart soar to see them snuggle like this. PJ has a healthy love for Maple Leaf hockey already (pause for a proud Momma moment) and enjoys watching a game with Daddy (she cheers "go eeefs go!" so cute!). 

Day 2: DIYer

Well, its day two of my 30 Day Picture Challenge (see here) and I am posting another picture - I have to admit: I am doing better than I thought I would! 

DIYer. 

Here is the BIG reveal of my thrifted dresser turned TV stand!! I LOVE it! I found this dresser at the Restore in Guelph (Habitat for Humanity) and convinced Mark that it would be perfect for our living room. I took it home, painted it using Martha Stewart's Chalk Paint (my new favourite thing!), and here we are! Mark helped turn the top drawers into a shelf to hold our gadgets but other than that - its my baby! I am cheating a bit today and sharing another picture (;D). 

Here is a close-up of one of the four drawers. I spent PJ's naptime today finishing them. I decided to line the bottom of the drawers wiht some fabric that I bought for who-knows-what project 2 years ago! I think that they look fabulous!!! :D So excited about my new piece of furniture! 

30 Day Picture Challenge

   In an effort to truly realize how blessed I am (and to make sure I make use of my camera) I am going to challenge myself to a 30 Day Picture Challenge. Every day, from now until October 22, I am going to post a picture of my day. I hope that this will help me see how wonderful and blessed I really am. 

So. Day 1.
Chase Peter Lodder. Aka Big C. 

This is Big C playing on his play mat while I paint my thrifted dresser turned TV stand. He is such a happy baby - even while fighting an infection. We spent 6 hours in the hospital on Saturday because he had a fever. After some blood work and a chest x-ray we found out that he has some spots showing in his lungs. The doctors think its the beginning stages of pneumonia (which isn't a good diagnosis for anyone but especially a 3 month old babe!). Thankfully we caught it in the early stages so now my little man is on a puffer and some antibiotics and hopefully he'll be healthy soon. We just have to watch him for signs of increasing discomfort (fever, more wheezing, etc). So far, he has been a CHAMP! He is happy, sleeping well and eating well. So thankful to God that we decided to take him into the hospital when we did. We received excellent care and hopefully avoided Big C getting worse. Also, today was the first day that I was convinced that he is grabbing at toys. I have thought it for a couple of weeks (days?) but today I witnessed him look at something, lift his hand, grab a hold and bring it to his mouth. Yay!! Although this means that he is officially not a little newborn anymore :(. 

Single Momma Camping!

   Wow! Another speedy Summer has flown by! Add having a baby and buying a new house to the typical Summer business and I seriously have no idea how it is September already! In August I went camping at Awenda Provincial Park with my two adorable kiddos, my sister and her adorable kiddo and my newly married sister. That's right sans husbands! It was a little intimidating to spend a week with a new born and a strong willed toddler all on my own - but it was actually really great! We had excellent weather (the best warm week of the Summer I believe). We kept ourselves busy with the beach, exploring Penatanguishene, going on walks, and keeping ourselves fed and clean! I took a little "surprise" for each day for PJ to keep her busy and to keep ourselves scheduled to ward off any "crazy" toddler syndromes! We did things like bubbles (I bought a kit of different bubble blowers - they were very fun!), rice bucket, playdo for the first time, Bingo dobbers, colouring, pedicures, and edible necklace making. It was really fun sharing these fun times with PJ. We did them during Big C's morning nap time so she was receiving my full attention which she LOVED (as well as the attention of her two aunties). She also got to do something that she NEVER gets to do at home - sleep in Mommy's bed for nap time and at night time. She was quite the fun cuddler so it was pretty special for me as well. One thing about sharing a bed with her though - she takes up quite a bit of space considering she is the whole of 26lbs and maybe 2.5 ft tall. Also, if she wakes up and sees her Momma sleeping peacefully beside her she HAS to investigate. I woke up to all different things....once she was using her flashlight to light up areas of my face and whispering "yes, Mommy's eyes", "yes, Mommy's nose", "yes, Mommy's mouth". With each highlight and whisper came a little finger poking me. I have NO idea what was going through her mind at the time...lol. Another highlight of the week was that my older sister Katie showed me how to use the Manual setting on my camera! Its been so fun learning how to use my camera and playing around with the settings to get good shots of my kiddos! On the weekend Mark (and the rest of my family) came and joined us and we had our annual Labour Day VanGrootheest Family Camping. It was a great weekend with our annual ice cream date, our worship service around the campfire, lots of walking and hikes, and trips to the beach. 

She adores her little brother!

Nothing gets her quite as excited as blueberries.

My heart breaks! Such love for this little person!

She adores her Aunt 'Kakie"

Big C was a natural camper - so easy!

Give her a bucket and a shovel and she is busy for hours :). She got so dirty so we had bathtime every night - she loved her outdoor baths!

Playing playdo with Aunt "Kakie" and "Accis" (my adorable nephew Atticus) 

She loved playing with the playdo!

He's so adorable!

Handsome little man!

Spending some quality time with Daddy - she missed him so much during the week.

Our super handy stroller got lots of use :) Love the bassinet feature for Big C!