Words.

I don't know if Levi and I are having conversations yet. But we sure exchange some funny words with each other. He's so funny and witty. Here's some things we've heard lately.

Levi's prayers:

thank you for big muscles ( we bribe him to eat saying it makes his muscles big )
thank you mommy happy
thank you cookie store ( what he calls walmart )
bless papa no puke and drink apple juice ( my dad had the flu and Levi was quite concerned about him not drinking enough apple juice )
thank you Zurg ( off of toy story )
thank you cold water


"bowie my brother?" no, bud she's a girl. she's your sister. "no mom, bowie a kitty cat!"

"daddy go dedi house, dedi go to school. dedi go city bus, daddy go dedi house" - this is a daily occurrence explaining why he can't go to school yet. He's always trying to say daddy stay home and Levi go to school.

Just wait. . .

     My friend posted this story on her blog. I wanted to share it.

 

   - As I wait at Target, a young couple pushes a stroller in the line behind me. The stroller, brand new, appears to be on its maiden voyage. I peer at the tiny sleeping newborn, his fingers curled up near his ruddy face.

“You guys do good work!” I comment. The parents beam with pride, but the weariness in their eyes lets me know that they are all still in the process of getting to know each other. The lady behind the couple glances at the stroller as well, and asks. “Is this your first?” They nod proudly.  ”Just wait…” she snorts, and then follows with a comment about unruly teenagers.

Inwardly, I wince. We seem to live in a country overrun by a great lot of negative naysayers when it comes to parenting. I remember hearing comments like that when I was a new (and overwhelmed!) mom.  It seemed that many parents were suffering from a chronic case of disappointment and dissatisfaction called ”Just-Wait-itis,” characterized by the inflammation of impending doom in parenthood…. I felt trapped in a swirl of know-it-alls who were warning me that the worst was yet to come.

Of course, now that my kids are teenagers, I know the truth. Parenting is complicated; it’s wonderful and challenging; exhausting and gut wrenching; heartwarming and heart breaking.

And, at the outset, parenting can be utterly daunting. It just doesn’t help when others douse young parents with stories leading to doubt and despair.

Instead, we seasoned moms could infuse joy into our “just waits…”. As I regard this weary pair, I think of so many things I could say…

Just wait until your preschool son sees you in the hallway at pick up time and covertly grins and waves to you. (It’s the best flirting in the world.)

Just wait until you watch your kindergartener jump off the bus after that first day, triumphant and tired, melting into your arms.

Just wait until your son is up to bat, and strikes out, holding it together despite disappointment. And just wait until the crack of the bat meeting the ball surprises him and he races to first base…safe.

Just wait until your daughter stands up for a classmate who is struggling, and her peers, humbled, apologize.

Just wait until your child, painfully tethered to tubes and machines in the hospital, whispers, “I just want my mommy.” (And you are suddenly aware that your presence is more powerful than any prescription.)

Just wait until your son gets his very first summer job and he is, unmistakably, walking taller and more confidently as a result.

Just wait until your child’s quick sense of humor makes you double over with laughter.

Just wait until you hear your son invite a friend to church.

Just wait until your daughter receives her first college acceptance and you find yourself overcome with tears…not because she’s leaving, but because she’s ready.

The baby in the stroller whimpers, breaking my reverie.

I smile at the couple and look them straight in the eye.

“You have so much joy ahead of you…” I remark.

“Just wait.”

 

     I truly believe that parenting just gets better and better. Nothing bothers me more or makes me more sad then someone saying "haha just you wait" or " you think you're getting no sleep now, just wait". I'm not perfect by any means but I honestly try to be positive in parenting, and not give it a negative cogitation. Because really parenting brings me so much joy and I can't wait for each stage with Levi. I can't wait to hold our next baby and get to do it all over again. 

We truly do have so much joy ahead of us. . .

Another boy, but an opposite pregnancy

I convinced myself we were having a girl this time. Everything has been completely opposite. We were lucky enough to find out right at our ultrasound that its another BOY! We are so excited for Levi to have a little brother!

I documented Levi's pregnancy so well and I feel like I'm falling behind because this pregnancy has been flying by!

I'm now 22 weeks along and had a check up this morning. The Dr was concerned today because my blood pressure was quiet low, its slowly been going down at each appointment. So now we have a follow up appointment that will determine if another Ultrasound is needed. I have dizzy spells when I'm pregnant and they've been getting worse. The Dr had a hard time finding the heartbeat, which seems to happen at every appointment. So my very calm DR is starting to make me a little anxious with his worried faces. His concern is that I hadn't gained any weight and have this month and it seems to be all fluid, I'm measuring 2 weeks ahead of my scheduled due date. So now he's told me to take it easy and be careful.

And my next update I'll be better at a posting a belly photo.

i get to call him grandpa.

  My uncle Kelly shared some of the pictures he had scanned in from my grandparents picture album. Its coming up on their 60th anniversary and their 80th birthdays this next year.

My grandpa is on of my favourite men. Not a single grandchild could say otherwise. He makes each and everyone one of us feel like his favourite. He truly cares so deeply about each one. He teases us, he hugs us and gives us noogies. That's grandpa, and that's how we know we're loved. 

I can remember when we lived in Montana and grandpa hopping on Darren's little dirt bike and riding around the little acreage. I remember him always sneaking our ice cream when we weren't looking. Tricking someone into saving their gum by putting it behind there ear. Always making an effort to ask us how were doing. Grandpa could fix and grow anything.

We didn't always get to be lucky and live so close, but that was always one of the reasons I was grateful to move to Canada is to be closer to my grandparents. I truly feel so blessed to have such a wonderful grandpa and that Levi has gotten to know him too.

I feel so lucky to call you my grandpa.

(picture taken by Darren Roberts Photography)

ROOAAR!

 Our ferocious lion!

 We had our candy all ready to go for when we got trick or treaters. Levi loved it, too bad we only got 1 group of kids. He wanted more!

 All bundled up to go out for our cold halloween! We only went to 2 neighbors houses but he still loved it. We skyped the grandparents to show off his cute face.

Levis loot, not bad for 2 houses eh? What a good boy to pick out the raisins!