7 months

we interrupt this play time to tell you ...

The cousins are back together again ... lots of fun to be had this week, for sure!

project revealed

I can finally explain (and show off!) what paper project I've been working on this week ... as I gave it away as a 1st birthday present to wee Ava's parents, Brandi and Shelby, this morning at her party. (See last 2 posts for Henry-wearing-a-princess-hat photos and the proof of my desk's organized chaos while working on this gift.) I wanted to make a bit of a brag book for my work friend Brandi, but one specifically for showing off Ava as she grew up over this past year. So all Brandi would have to do would be to print off her favorite birth and months 1-12 photos, square them up to a 3.5x3.5, and tape them on to the right pages ... easy as that! Some of my pages were rather simplistic in presentation but, really, Ava is the star of the show here and so adding in her beautiful face will make every page perfect. And for me, I loved how the front and back covers came out as I just can't seem to shake my love of polka dots! I used the Basic Grey Quarter Pint Album, a 6x6, 3 ring chipboard album and with the right glue and my xacto knife each page came out crisp and clean. A fun, quick 2 day project and in the end one Mom was thrilled with the homemade gift and this Mum was happy to have some creative "paper and pens" time to herself!

but no cake for this first timer

We went to our first kids birthday party this morning as an RSVP of Two ... Henry did a stellar job with all the activity and I think he thought the noise was rather amusing. Thanks so much, Brandi, for inviting us - we had a great time!!


Henry checking out Birthday Girl Ava ... 1 year old today!


All the kids for the traditional "on the couch" photo.


Yep, I have a son now and we go to birthday parties!


Now here's the money shot I was hoping for ... a princess hat!

the desk says it all

Today I'm furiously trying to finish up a paper project (to be revealed).



So here's hoping this little guy stays happy playing on the floor!

just in case he needed more love

My Mum's been here for the past few days, soaking up some Henry time and having a "meal-making-free-holiday". And can you see the similarities in Henry and his Gran from the first picture?? - we've finally figured out who Henry takes after in the family! Yep, not his Mum or Dad, but his Grandma. Really, you should see my Mum's own early baby photos ... it's uncanny.
We're back to the airport again early tomorrow morning ... with an all important stop at Starbucks for me afterwards ... and our goodbyes and last snuggles with Gran. Next time we see her, Henry will just have turned 1 year old and he'll have a very wee brother or sister to show off too! Happy travels to Scotland and Israel, Mum and Dad ... we'll see you in 6 months!

here we go again!

a familiar sound

We went for my 14 week prenatal check today ... and experienced the joy again of hearing that fast, whooshing heartbeat. I guess this really is all real! My expanding belly would certainly agree but I needed to hear Baby today. To say hello and to know that he or she is safe and healthy and growing. The heartbeat measured 153 beats per minute, exactly the same as Henry at this age ... another reason why I think we're having another boy! Any early guesses? But we'll have to see what wonderful surprise we're given this time ... waiting for that moment when Sam tells me if we have another son or a new daughter. For now I'm simply content to hear that heartbeat, beat, beat, beating away.

let's just be clear

Avocado was not a hit. (And these were taken before the gagging turned into projectile vomiting!)

do i look like a mum here?

It's just so strange to actually be one!
And does my son look like me at all?
Sam says so, but I just don't see it.
But even as Mr Serious, he sure is kissable.

{Hello, hiding 14 week belly!}

thursday thoughts

• Feels like we've got a newborn again. Sleep for Mum and Dad has been in short supply this past week. Our sweet-cherub-in-the-morning has been a trial during the nights, to say the least. Waking up every hour (and I mean every hour!) not able to simply cry himself back to sleep and so coupled with my insomnia these days ... I'm simply not sleeping. It's agony. 
• But on the flip side, Henry really is too cute for words. I am his mother and so it is completely in my right to say that. Still, someone else thinks so too as you'll find our Future Model sporting his Big Brother shirt on the banner of the fabulous etsy shop {jig} where I had that shirt and his Henry onesies made especially for him. Love etsy! I really should do a blog soon about all my favorite etsy shops ... but then that may give away potential future gift ideas I have in mind ...!
• We have feet, feet, sweet baby feet on the loose now! Henry's Boots and Bar came off on Monday after a quick checkup with our Orthopedic Surgeon (everything's looking wonderful) and so now no more daytime wear. Ever. These past 3 months have felt l-o-n-g ... do you realize that's been half his life? ... and we are so glad to have that done with. Henry celebrated by promptly rolling over, front to back and back to front, on Tuesday for the first time and we were so, so proud of him. 
• Monday was fun too as my friend Tanya and her 7 month old son Isaiah came along for the ride and a bit of time in "the big city". I think we really needed that as we did not stop talking for the entire 5 hour drive! 
• My Mum arrives next Thursday for a visit with her grandboy (oh, and us too!) before her and Dad are off to Scotland for 6 months - with a little 3 week jaunt to Israel tucked in the schedule too. A retirement trip that's been a long time in the making, so we're so glad they're getting some away time in two different countries they love. 
• Easter long weekend and we're so looking forward to having Sam home for a few extra days. But not as happy as he is to have the break from work! 
• Sorry for the lack of blogs again lately ... I've been tired, moody for spring, and caffeine deprived, will that excuse me?

are we April Foolin' you??

Nope, this little boy is telling the truth! We're having another baby!

Time to finally spill the beans on our secret and I know, shock a good lot of you as well. Believe me, we were certainly surprised when we found out ourselves ... apparently once is really all it takes! Ha! (Amazing too after our over 2 year struggle to conceive Henry, so we are really more thankful than anything.)

I am already almost 13 weeks along and so for those of you with quick math skills, yes, that means that this due date is October 9th ... but with a scheduled c-section we're really looking at this baby's arrival within days of Henry's 1st birthday! Oh my ... I never imagined. Still, I am feeling as wonderful as I did with Henry, no morning sickness at all, just brutally tired in the early weeks and insomnia some nights even now.

We're happy, happy, happy around here, a little stunned, and very excited to finally tell everyone!

(Also, I've been busy blogging the past 2 days as well so I hope you're keeping up ... scroll on down!)