Baby Bump Number 2

Wow...where has the time gone? I was so good at posting updates and pictures, documenting every little detail, recording Harrison's famous quotes, sharing his crazy antics and using it as a keepsake journal for him and all of our friends and family to share in our lives. And then....life got in the way, or something did, and here I am, 3 1/2 yrs later, looking back and missing those wonder filled days and my preschool little boy, so full of curious energy and eager to learn and take on life with such zest. And so, I have decided that what better time to get back to my online journal than while I'm expecting baby number 2, who will join our growing family in 6 short weeks! The ups and downs of the last 3 1/2 yrs have lead me here....

Joe and I are expecting our first baby together in March of this year. This baby is my second and will make Harrison a proud big brother, and is Joe's first, making him a proud new Daddy! Although it came as a bit of a surprise to us (or to me....I was in denial for a couple of weeks before we found out officially!) we are thrilled! We found out early on a Sunday morning in mid July, 2010. Joe stayed calm while I freaked out and had my best friend Kathleen come over at 8am to confirm the results....yep, there was no denying it, no matter how you held that test, there were 2 pink lines running across the result window! Appearantly she saw them too and told me there was no need for 5 more tests, like I suggested! After it sunk in and she left (after much hugging & excitement on her part about a new baby to hold!) Joe and I spent the day driving out of town to go for a long walk into the mountains in Kananaskis Country, to be together and talk about what this would mean for us, for Harrison and for our family. There is nothing like the fresh pure air that fills the mountains to cleanse your thoughts and renew your spirit. We came away from there knowing that this baby was meant to be, was destined for our home, and a miraculous gift chosen for us, to be a special part of our family. It may not have been perfect timing, but it was the perfect baby, and we would be the perfect set of parents to raise this little miracle sent our way. We knew that it would all work out and that life is full of wonderful surprises!

Harrison was thrilled when we shared the news with him! He kept hugging me and couldn't stop smiling and asking a million questions about pregnancy and the baby! He told me he was so proud to be a big brother, and promised me he'd take care of this baby...and it could even sleep in his room so as not to wake me up in the night when it cries! How sweet is that?! Knowing full well that would only last about 10 mins...but it's the thought that counts! Both of our families were shocked and surprised by the news, but have been very supportive and are excited to welcome a new family member in the spring. Who doesn't love a baby?

I was sick for the first 16 wks of this pregnancy, but nothing like how sick I was with Harrison, which made the throwing up this time much easier to handle! Since week 16 I have felt great, not so nauseous or tired and besides the movement I feel from baby, didn't even really feel pregnant. Oh how I loved second trimester bliss! We had 2 ultrasounds, one at 13 wks and one at 19 wks...both showing a strong and healthy baby growing inside me. We are so thankful for a routine pregnancy and what so far has proved to be a very healthy baby. We opted not to find out the baby's gender and prefer to have everyone guessing until the very end! There are so few really great surprises in life, and we feel this is one of them that is meant to be kept until that moment in the delivery room, when the doctor announces "It's a....."

We are now just 33 wks along and know that we are having a scheduled c-section on Tuesday March 1st, 2011. Harrison was an emergency c-section due to complications, and the same OB/GYN who delivered him will be delivering this baby too. He said I only have a 20-25% chance of a vaginal delivery and a 75-80% chance of the same complications arising again and needing another c-section, at which point would then become another emergency situation. The odds are not in my favour, and so after much thought and discussion amongst ourselves and with our Dr, we opted for the safer method of scheduling the c-section. The bonus of this allows for perfect down to the last day planning!

And so we head into the last 6 wks of this pregnancy with joy and excitement and much to do to get our house ready for baby number 2, who will be here, in my arms before I know it! We are trying to be patient, but it's hard to wait to meet the miracle that you've created with someone you love so much. We can't wait to watch our family grow and our love expand.

First Day of Kindergarden

As much as I prayed this day wouldn't come, I woke up this morning and here it was. Since Harrison was a tiny newborn, I've agonized over the dreaded day I'd have to send him away to school. Sounds silly doesn't it? Five years ago, five years sounded like a long time. It is not. It is far too short for a mother of only one baby. That, I am finding out, is the worst part of parenting an only child. Every milestone is an exciting new beginning and the sad end, all at once. It's awful really. It's anti-climactic and a bit of a rollercoaster of emotion. You're happy for him and sad for you. You want to let go, but you want to hang on tight. I've been crying for a week and I still can't get all the tears and sadness out!

It's a hard thing, being a Mom and letting go. I just wasn't prepared to have to do it this soon. I remember being in tears last year too, and learning to love Preschool as my son did! However, this is not 3 days/week for 2 hrs, this is big kid school, for 3 hrs/day, 5 days/week. What do they need him so much for? Don't they know I need him more than they do? Who will I play with when he's at school? I missed him desperately today and felt sick leaving him there, and came home to cry. It was horrible...for me. He loved it!!!

His teacher's name is Mme Sarah and she is amazing. She sent him a personal letter in the mail last week, welcoming him to Kindergarden and to her class. How sweet is that!? She is young, kind and patient...everything he needs

in a teacher to have a successful year in Kindergarden. The name of his school is Ecole Elizabeth Barrett Elementary, here in Cochrane. There are 20 kids in his class and he goes in the afternoons, from 12pm-2:48pm. He will be taking the school bus home (not mine unfortunately) with the neighbourhood kids and will be going to the neighbours house everyday after school for 30-45 mins until I get home from my bus route. He is thrilled about this, since that is where his best bud Jonathan lives, and they can hang out every single day! Who needs Mommy when you've got best buds in the cul-de-sac?!

He is so grown up now, and there is nothing I can do to stop it, unfortunately. I know Kindergarden will be good for him and he'll make many lasting friendships, as will I with the other Moms. I spent most of Monday bawling my eyes out, and when Harrison found me on the bed, he crawled up beside me and wiped my tears away and told me that my brain was just turned upside-down! He counted to 3 and told me I just had to turn it right-side up to get rid of the frown and make myself happy again! I love the way kids see the world. How perceptive and true it was...not only my brain, but my whole heart has been turned upside-down this week.

Here he is, in front of the school and in the classroom. Such a big boy now. I want this moment to last forever....but like all the other milestones we've passed, they come and go too quickly, and all you can do is take lots of pictures, write it all down so you don't forget, and tuck it away in your heart forever. That's why Moms have such big hearts....we need room to keep all those special moments, that only come around once in a lifetime, but that leave memories that last forever.

Good luck in Kindergarden my Little Man. I love you. You'll always be my baby, no matter how big you get.

Block Party

I thought I'd include a seperate post with pictures of our block party, that was held Sat Aug 18/07. We moved to Cochrane, population 13,000 and about 20 mins west of Calgary, to escape big city life, and to raise our son in a small community, where everyone knows eachother. Not only did we choose a fabulous community, we got extremely lucky ending up on this cul-de-sac! It is full of families with small children where we all look out for eachother. It is life the way we lived it growing up and the way every childhood should be lived. Here are the pictures of the party held on Quigley Close that started out as a potluck supper and ended up wrapping up in the wee hours of the morning, several drinks later!

Here are only half of the 14 children who call the 200 block of Quigley Close home. They are a pretty cute bunch!

And the cutest Quigley kid of all! Well maybe not according to you, but I think he's pretty special!

Adults and kids enjoying time around the fire pit that we set up on the neighbour's driveway, so the kids could roast marshmellows. It also came in handy for the adults as the night went on....stay tuned!!!

Always practise safe snacks! And that means wearing the right protective gear! Here is Harrison, roasting marshmellows with his bike helmet on. The neighbours couldn't stop laughing about it! I didn't think it was that funny....safety first I kept saying! Too much wine perhaps!?

Remember I said something about the fire and the roasted marshmellows coming in handy for the adults later in the evening!? This is where things get a little crazy! We attempted marshmellow shooters, where you roast a marshmellow just so, pull the outside off the stick, use it as a cup and pour your favorite liqueur into it and shoot it back! Yummy....especially with Bailey's or Creme de Cacao! As you can see from my neighbours' expressions....it's really hardly any fun at all!!!

There's a group of party animals, raising our little cups up and getting ready for yet another round of shooters! Bottoms up!!!

Appearantly total chaos ensues once parents have consumed a certain amount of alcohol and become more slack with the rules about bedtime! Here are the kids up way too late, running around with glow sticks one of the neighbours bought for all the kids! They had a blast! Notice Harrison still wearing his bike helmet!? What a goof! I had no idea he had it on for so long, until I looked through the pictures the next day! Oops!

Harrison and the neighbour girl, under an umbrella, even though it's not raining! I dunno...don't ask! There wasn't a lot of parental supervision going on at this point. For all I know, Harrison could be drinking beer out of that cup!!! Although, in my own weak defense, I really don't think that was the case! However, I can't be sure!

I guess at some point he finally took off his bike helmet, only to replace it with his cowboy hat! Here he is, trying to break some world record I'm sure, for most amount of marshmellows consumed by one child in one night!

I know it's late and way past my bedtime Mom, but I'm not tired. Really, I'm not! I'm going to fight sleep for as long as I can, so I can stay up even later so I don't miss any of the fun at this great party!
Just because I'm yawning, that doesn't mean I'm tired! I know it's 1 o'clock in the morning, but I'm NOT tired!
OK...maybe I'll just close my eyes for one minute....but I'm NOT going to sleep!

Last Lazy Days of Summer

I promised I'd keep up and I haven't! We've been very busy this last month, and here it is, the beginning of Sept, fall is in the air, school is around the corner and summer is gone for another year and I haven't even posted any good stories or pictures! So here they are, our whole summer wrapped up in one entry!

Here is Harrison, no...not in drag! but dressed up in my Stampede Parade costume, as a Hippie! He makes a far cuter Hippie than I did!


Harrison riding his first camel at the Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, AB. He loved it!




My little Hurricane's first time on rollerblades! He promptly fell over right after I snapped the picture!




My little cutie coming through the doggie door at my parents' house! Funny Puppy!
Thumbs up! Riding the kiddie roller coaster at our local amusement park called Calaway Park. He is my little adrenaline junkie and loves the rides!
Hangin out with the big dinos at the Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller, AB. He loves that place!


My boys showing off their muscles for the camera! Lookin good boys! They are pretty handsome if I do say so myself! And such good form!

I hope you had a good summer, that will leave you with wonderful memories as you leave those lazy days of summer behind you and trade them in for the hustle and bustle that the fall brings.

Summer Time

Wow...has it really been nearly 2 mos since my last entry? We have been busy! We are all moved into our new place in Cochrane and we love it! Harrison has so many little friends on the cul-de-sac, that he plays with nearly everyday! He's out there from early in the morning until bedtime, riding his bike or his new scooter, playing road hockey (no wonder he loves it here so much!) or hangin out in his new huge paddling pool on our deck! And if he's not doing any of the above, then he's in one of the neighbour's backyards! He's my little Backyardigan! (one of his favorite TV shows!) I too have made friends with all the moms and enjoy their company, while the kids play. We are having a block party next weekend, which I think will be great fun. And just today I met the neighbourhood Avon lady! It's a wonderful, small town life that I'd be hard pressed to trade now!


Less than 2 wks after our big move, we took off on holidays...which most of you know now was a bit of a disaster! Although, I am excited about getting a new car...now that I'm over the trauma of my perfectly good car getting "murdered in her sleep"...as my Dad put it! I'll be sure to post pictures of the new car once it's in our posession...still not sure when that will be!


We are settling into our "normal" summer routine. Harrison will be in swimming lessons next week, then he starts Power Skating clinics soon to get ready for hockey season. Soon summer will be behind us, and we'll be diving into fall, kindergarden and hockey. I'm still not sure I'm qualified to have a child entering the school system...I still don't feel like an official Mom yet! Wonder when that sets in?! I still feel like maybe I'm a nanny, and have plenty of moments wondering, "is he really mine?!" Is this normal?!


I hope you are enjoying your summer, and I will try to stay up to date here! I have a great video of his sheep ride in Airdrie that I'll have to post! And I won't lie...the main reason I've been so slack here, is because I'm addicted to Facebook and have been posting my pictures there, instead of here! However, since I use this as a journal for Harrison, I'm going to post more pictures, more often! I've got to keep you interested somehow....that is if anybody is still reading this!

Happy 5th Birthday Harrison!

Today my baby turns 5 yrs old. Why is this such a big issue for me? I am an emotional wreck. Perhaps it's because it's a big milestone birthday for a child...and their mother! I just can't believe that I've been a Mom for 5 yrs now. The time is ticking by far too fast, and no matter what I try to do, how tight I squeeze him, how much I hold him in my arms like a baby and pepper his brow with sweet angel like kisses, he just keeps growing up! He has become so independant and grown-up this last year. Preschool helped him to mature and spread his wings, meet new friends and enjoy new experiences. He is growing from a little Preschool boy into a little man, and there is nothing I can do to stop it. I also think that the fact that he starts Kindergarten in Sept, and will be off to big kid school, along with the fact that I desperately want another baby and don't have one to hold and care for while he races off to school, is not helping my emotional state! He had his preschool graduation yesterday and I cried! How pathetic is that?! Enough about me, here are the pictures from Captain Harrison's 5th Birthday Party on the High Sea!

ARRRRR....Mateys and Pirate Princesses, are ye ready for a swashbuckling adventure?!



What's this?! A Pirate's Chest of gold?! Mmmmm...looks good Matey!



Arrrr Captain....looks like ye be findin yurself a nice stash of treasure!





Captain Harrison enjoying his treasure! I made a Treasure Chest cake full of gold and treasure! It was a real hit with the kids and adults alike! And it tasted pretty good if I do say so myself!



Opening his loot!



With his new scooter that we gave him for his Birthday, to enjoy with the kids on the cul-de-sac at our new house!!!



The Party Pirate with his Mateys and Pirate Princesses, noshing on some grub at sea!

HAPPY 5TH BIRTHDAY MY LITTLE PIRATE! I LOVE YOU CAPTAIN HARRISON!!!!

Call Me Coach

Our soccer season is in full swing now and my job as coach is as frustrating as it is fun! My team is full of girls who don't really care where the ball is or where we need to get it! They would much rather hug and skip down the field hand in hand than actually make contact with the ball, even when it's kicked right to them, and are often seen sitting in the middle of the field picking grass! I only have 2 boys on my team, and the other boy is as easily distracted as the girls...usually by the girls!
Thank goodness for Hurricane Harrison! I'm not speaking as the bias mother, but from a strictly neutral coaching perspective here (are you buying that?! I didn't think so, but it was worth a try!!!) but he really is the star of the team! He's so enthusiastic and plays hard every game, giving 110% and covers the whole field, is an amazing goalie (that's him in net in the last picture) and calls out to the other players to pass him the ball when he's open! He understands the game and what needs to be done to score goals....something the rest of the team lacks! In fact, he picks up the slack and covers all positions, including that of the goalie if they are looking weak in the net! My problem is he plays to win, not for the fun or spirit of the game, and ends up in tears at the end of every game and is in a snit and doesn't want to shake hands with the other (winning!) team! We have not won a game yet...nor come anywhere close! Harrison usually gets one goal per game, and that is the extent of the scoring on our side, while I think the score for the other team is in the double digits every time! We are not a skilled team, despite my best efforts! The last 2 games we played, Harrison actually scored on our own goalie, but was so excited to get a goal, that he did his "Happy-Happy End Zone Dance" regardless of the fact that the other team really didn't need any help on the scoreboard! Hey...when you're 4 yrs old, a goal is a goal....no matter whose net you score on!!! So far the parents have been great, are very supportive, relaxed and easy to deal with. Actually one set of parents are from Saskatoon...how could you go wrong?! The Mom went to Evan Hardy (grad of 1988) and the Dad went to Holy Cross (grad of 1990) for all you Saskatoon people who read this regularily! The other coaches are out there encouraging my Black Panthers to score and for my goalie to make a great save, and the kids are having fun and if they learn a little bit about soccer along the way, then that is just a bonus! As for me...I kinda like being called "Coach"!

Mother's Day

I had a nice Mother's Day, not because I got spoiled, but because I got to enjoy cooking a big turkey dinner for my Mother! She works so hard and is always doing things for others, and never anything for herself. So what better day to show her how loved and appreciated she is, than on Mother's Day?!

I made homemade stuffing from scratch(didn't cheat and use a box!), a 10 lb turkey, cranberries, my special garlic mashed potatoes with lots of butter, sour cream and milk (low fat of course!), gravy, steamed broccoli and carrots, steamed asparagus with hollandaise sauce, coleslaw and fruit salad for dessert. It didn't feel like work at all. I put so much love into the meal and made sure it was perfect, just like her! It turned out beautifully if I do say so myself! We also had my Mom's sister Aunt Colleen over, as well as my cousin Evan and his roomate. If you want your food to disappear, just invite two 21 yr old bachelors over for dinner! Too bad they aren't as good at washing dishes as they are at eating turkey!

I got a babyfood jar covered in crepe paper and glitter, filled with candy and a handmade card from preschool, along with a box of chocolates and the cutest card in the history of Mother's Day that his Dad helped him pick out. It said "You deserve a break....so what do you want me to break today? Happy Mother's Day from your son!" How hilarious and appropriate is that coming from my very own Lil Bam-Bam?! That one is a keeper! He also picked the tulips you see in the first picture out of our neighbour's flower bed and proudly gave them to me for Mother's Day! A gift just from him, with nobody's help or inspiration but his own! How could I be mad?! I don't think the neighbours will miss them, do you?!

Here is my little Spiderman. His Dad took him to the circus today and brought him home with his face painted!



Happy Mother's Day!

What did you do for your Mother today? If you are a Mother, what made your day special?