Photography!!

   Earlier this year I mentioned that it was my goal to learn how to use my camera. Well, after playing around with my camera for a couple of months, Mark and I decided it was time to get some actual instruction. I signed up for the beginners photography course with Rita Zietsma of Rita Zietsma Photography. I loved it! I learned so much about my camera. I found Rita to be a great teacher and she was able to explain different aspects of photography to me in a way that I could understand. I have a more thorough understanding of my camera and its different "modes". I also feel more confident when taking pictures (which is huge for me!). Hopefully I can utilize this new-found knowledge and start producing some gorgeous shots of my kiddos and life! Throughout the four week course we had homework to practice what we were learning, to gain some experience and to learn from Rita's critique. Here are some of my pieces:

Working on Aperture:

Shutter Speed:

Having fun with it! 

Christmas Time is Coming!!

   This has been such a FUN holiday season so far! I love having a creative, active, excitable toddler to share these fun times! This year I didn't do a beautiful/creative advent calendar or plan a special holiday activity for each day in December, but I am trying to make this season a little different and special for Pj. I have tried to do a couple of different activities each week. The first week of December we started with decorating Christmas cookies with her cousins at her Aunt Danielle's. Pj loved this activity - mostly for the the spoonfuls of icing and the cookies that 
she got to eat!
  Another fun holiday activity that we enjoyed was that Santa Claus Parade in Fergus. This was both, Pj and Mark's, first Santa Claus Parade! She (ad Mark) had a lot of fun! Pj got to enjoy her first cup of hot chocolate (it was from the health food store, so no judging!), eat a candy cane, and watch all kinds of different floats and people walk passed. She was a little wary of some of the people in their costumes but all in all, she loved it. We, as parents, also learned that it pays to go to the parade with an adorable kiddo - we she received so many candy canes! We have not really introduced the idea of Santa Claus or talked about him a whole lot with Pj so I think she was a little confused about all the hype when he finally went passed. She did feed off of our excitement and squealed and waved at Santa with the best of them though! Mark and I have decided to not do the whole "santa claus" thing with our kids - perhaps a topic for another post! We do still enjoy the "tradition" of seeing Santa in a parade and getting pictures on his lap so it was fun to wave and cheer when he passed us at the parade. 
   After the parade we went home, ate supper, and then decorated our Christmas tree while listening to Christmas music, drinking eggnog and eating candycane icecream. Mark and I have done this every year since we have gotten married, but this is the first time that Pj really got excited and joined in the fun. She LOVED decorating the tree! At the end our tree was definitely bottom heavy, with all of the ornaments at Pj height or below. The OCD in me has had me slowly evening the tree out each day since we put it up - Pj doesn't seem to notice or mind (does this make me horrible?!). When people come over Pj quickly brings them to see our tree and tells them all about how she "made" it. She thinks that the tree is so beautiful! She loves the lights and turning the tree lights on is the first thing we do every morning (even before her bottle, which is HUGE). 

Pj showing Mark the ornament she chose at the store.

Learning how to hang an ornament. She was shown once and then she was good to do it on her own!

My little girlie - its a struggle to get her to smile at the camera sometimes! She's posing with her ornament :).

She decided the tree needed more garland. Don't ask about her outfit. She lately has been walking around pantless and with Big C's socks. I don't question anymore...

Our "bottom-heavy" tree. So cute watching her hang all the ornaments and exclaim "pretty!" each time!

   This week we baked a whole bunch of cookies and squares which we are bringing to our neighbours tomorrow. Pj helped with the baking and with picking out the containers to put the treats in. My hope is that she will actually talk to our neighbours (at the very least say a cheerful "Merry Christmas") when we go to their doors. I really want to stress to Pj the importance of giving and showing love to those in all areas of our lives!

Eating the icing. No worries, we aren't giving away the cookies she decorated :). 

A future baker in the making perhaps?! :D

   We have also done a DIY for Daddy's stocking (which didn't turn out quite the way I hoped so we'll be fixing it up next week). I'll do a post on this after Daddy sees his gift! It was so cute watching Pj make something for her Daddy! She took pride in her work and was quite focused on make it "just so". So excited for Mark to see what his little princess made for him!
   I have a couple of more ideas for the coming weeks, including: making snowflakes, having Pj pick out a stocking present for Big C (its never too early to teach her to give, right?), making a wreath for our front door (not sure if she'll help with this one or just wander off with her cousins), check out the lights display at Riverside Park, and a couple of other things! I try to discuss the importance of this season: Christ. She's still young, and a lot of the story goes over her head...but she ends most stories of Him with an "I love you Jesus" which just breaks my heart. I hope that she will still be saying that in years to come. I also wish (a little bit) that I could just as easily accept and exclaim "I love you Jesus!". Slowly Pj's budding faith is teaching me! 
   This holiday season has been the best that I can remember! I love sharing all these special memories with the three most important people in my life. If you're reading this, I hope you have a wonderful couple of weeks leading up to the celebration of Christ's arrival. Merry Christmas! 

Our finished tree :)!

5 Months!

   In less than 1 week Big C turns half a year old! I know right!?!? Where in the world did that half year go!?
   Before that day arrives I thought I should quickly post his 5 month update. Mostly so that when I if I get around to making his first year scrapbook (I seriously am not even done Pj's first week in her scrapbook - really not holding my breath on getting Big C's done anytime soon!) I will have the information that I need. 
   So, without further ado....here's my little munchkin at the 5 month mark!!

*Big C is super busy and active. He is continually kicking his feet and waving his arms. He rarely will lie on his back and instead prefers to quickly roll to his tummy and will try to grab and investigate anything within his reach. 
*Big C rotates (while on his tummy) in order to watch whoever is around (mostly Pj). He finds Pj a great source of entertainment. 
*Pj adores her little brother. She will often stop what she is doing to cover Big C in hugs and kisses. She is quick to go and comfort him with a "its k Tase, its ok" if he is crying. He always has a soother, his elephant and a blanket because Pj makes sure that he does. Pj can get him giggling by dancing and saying funny words/making funny noises. He greets her with a giant smile whenever she comes close to him. I can't wait to see their friendship continue to grow in the coming months/years!

*Big C loves nursing. He eats so well and is very easy. We have put spoons of food in front of his mouth, but he has no interest in eating anything new. Pj had already been eating for at least 1 month by this time, but Big C is content to stick to what he knows. 
*Big C is a very happy baby. He rarely cries but often laughs! He also has a very high pitched squeal that he uses quite regularly to get attention or voice his enjoyment while playing or interacting with someone. 
*Big C sleeps quite well. He sleeps through the night (most nights). If he does get up in the middle of the night its just for a quick feed and back to sleep. He is still sleeping in our room but his nursery is starting to take shape and this Momma is very excited for him to be in his own room soon!

That's it for now! We love our baby boy and can't believe how quickly he is growing. We see God every day through this little life - I can not explain the amazingness of a baby without attributing it to our awesome Creator. God is good!

Wonder

    Wonder. Pj taught me a beautiful lesson this evening. A lesson on Wonder. When Mr. L reminded me, after supper, that we had to go out to pick up his car from the mechanic's house - I saw it as an annoying ill timed chore. A chore that involved moving a finally-sleeping-baby into his car seat, dressing a cranky-should-be-in-bed-toddler into her winter wear, and a very cold dark drive. To say I was less than excited is an understatement. In fact, I would even say, I grumped. I grumped about how I was tired. I grumped about how Pj hadn't napped and would now probably whine the whole way. I grumped about how Big C would probably wake up and want to nurse...again (because he's into this whole "cluster feeding thing" lately). I grumped.
   I do have to admit here that I have a very patient husband. He apologized...for something that wasn't even his fault! He didn't decide to break the car on Friday, and have it get worked on over the weekend, and need to be picked up on Monday evening (in fact, he would much rather not have his car rusting out around him, thank you very much!). But he apologized anyways. And then he kissed me on my forehead, changed a couple of diapers and helped me get the kids ready to go out into the cold (all the while I was still grumping).
   Anyways, back to my lesson on Wonder. We were almost at the mechanics house when I noticed a house all decked out Christmas style. I pointed it out to Pj as a point of interest but didn't really think anything of it....until I heard the gasp come from her carseat followed by, "Oh wow Momma! Pitty house!!!". She was in awe. To her, the house was dressed like a princess (something she actually said :D). It was dressed up, and she was blessed to be able to witness it. From then on she looked out the window and pointed out each and every decorated house on the street (and on any streets she could get a glimpse of at intersections!). She was mesmerized with Wonder at the beauty of it  all! And I was put to shame. Instead of seeing this little trip as a chore I could have seen it as an adventure with the three people I love most in this world. I could have been open to the Wonder all around me from the very beginning. It took a 2 year old to remind me that every day is filled with Wonder - we only need to stop and notice.
   On the way home I found myself driving slowly up and down the streets in our neighborhood. Pj and I "oohed" and "awed" at all the beautifully decorated houses. I drove basking in the Wonder that Pj was experiencing. Although this is her third Christmas season, to her, its her first. And with this first comes Wonder. I've noticed it a couple of times over this past week - Wonder at the snow slowly falling, Wonder at the frosty windows, Wonder at the need for a hat because the wind is blowing coldly, and now Wonder at the beautiful Christmas lights. The twinkling lights pulled her in and she was so content to be amazed. I want to enjoy that Wonder. My hope is that I can slow down and try to experience life with even a small percentage of the Wonder that Pj greets each day. Hopefully this way I can help Pj to not loose her Wonder. My hope is also that I can teach Pj the true Wonder of this season. The Wonder of our Saviour's coming. Truthfully, there is no greater Wonder than that! Wonder. 

My little Pj - teaching me more than I think I teach her!