Announcing The Arrival Of Emerald Mary Elizabeth!

Emerald Mary Elizabeth was born on Monday Sept 14th, 2009 at 3:05pm. She weighed 8lbs, 1 oz. And is 21 1/8" long!
After about 8 hours of labour and 10 minutes of pushing, she is finally here!
And she is the most beautiful baby girl!! Well at least to us she is.
She has dark brown hair, and blue eyes (for now...) and apparently looks identical to me when I was born! Go figure!

Zacharie and Ethan love her lots! They always want to hold her and kiss her, which I suppose is a good thing... even though they try to take her away from others when they are holding her!

Zacharie calls her Emey (which is her initials, and the shortened form of her name!). I don't think he even realizes that her name is Emerald.

We are so thrilled that she is finally here! Thanks to everyone for your well wishes!

Jellybean!

On Thursday, I went for an ultrasound!! I was so anxious about it, and I'm not even sure why! Anyway, I went for the ultrasound, and got to see many interesting baby developments! And found out that our jellybean is a girl!! We are so thrilled!
I also got to see what the baby looks like too, so very exciting. There are a couple pictures here, one of them is of the baby's face. You can see facial features ( even though they are a little squished by fluid and a hand on one side) and you can also see hair! This little baby already has a curl on her forehead!
I have found that ultrasounds are one of the coolest things. This little one also smiled in the ultrasound, however the technician didn't capture a picture at that time... shucks!

Look who's two!

Well, on June 25th, Ethan turned two!! He is such an energetic young boy! For his birthday we had planned a pool party, but due to the unfortunate situation of living in Saskatchewan, and weather being as unpredictable as it is, we had to cancel that and make new plans!
So we had an indoor "playground" instead. With a ball crawl, slide and a tunnel.

Ethan loves Bob the Builder (Bob Build as he calls him) so we decided it would be very appropriate for us to make him a Lofty cake. My mom and I slaved for a couple hours making the cake, which we think turned out pretty decent! Ethan really enjoyed it, but wanted to pick all the smarties off!

Since he's turned two, he has learned so many new words, that actually sound like what they are supposed to!
The only thing that has really sucked, is that he got the chicken pox the Monday after his birthday party! Odd considering he was vaccinated! So with these itchy spots all over and him not feeling too well, I understand why he's been a bit grumpy! After all I would be too!

Our House!

Well, we have had just the most exciting year so far! With a new baby on the way, we decided that we need to move, that and our house is so very small! So in February my mom suggested that we apply for a Habitat House. So we did. We never thought in a million years that we would ever own our own house. When April came along, we had pretty much given up. We were looking for a rental again, and there was nothing to be found! I kept praying that we would find something. Then we got a phone call! Habitat Regina picked us!!! We were beyond disbelief, and then we got the floor plans for our house. They hadn't given us an address yet, but we were feeling very blessed! When the beginning of this month came along, we were beginning to wonder if something was going to happen to make this whole thing fall through... and then I stopped by the office to pick up something, they had an address for us!!! AND our house was underway! As you can see, it has already been framed! We will get to be working on our house this summer and should be in it in October!!
So with a new baby in September, and a new house in October, we are very blessed, and know that God has heard our prayers for the last couple years and has answered them! Praise the Lord!

Oh the busy-ness continues....

We have been so busy! We, along with my parents, decided to head to Calgary for a mini "vacation". Or what we thought would be a vacation....
So we drove, mom and dad took their trailer which was a blessing as we wouldn't have to pay for pricey hotel rooms, but it meant that the trip would take a bit longer....
We left Regina on Friday evening, stayed the night in Medicine Hat, and then got to Calgary around 11 on Saturday morning.... like I said a bit longer of a drive.... And it wouldn't have been too bad, had we not had a four-year-old asking every thirty seconds, "where are we going??", or " are we going to Calgary???" That made it a very long drive!
We decided to go to the Zoo first. It was beautiful out, and that's what Zacharie really wanted to see! Not the greatest idea for the first long weekend of the summer! It was so congested! And each exhibit, was so stuffy!!! Zacharie really enjoyed it, except that he was afraid of almost every animal he came in sight of. Ethan loved the tigers, and kept calling " kitty, kitty, meow, meow" at them, and they would come by where he was. He loved it!
After the Zoo, we were all tired, and grumpy and hungry! We headed to Olive Garden, which if you have never been there, you should try! It was awesome, and the service there was great too. The only part that was somewhat unenjoyable, was the wait to get in.
So on Sunday we went to Heritage Park. We rode the train, which again the boys loved! Toured around the farm, and all the old buildings. The boys even got put in jail! We rode on the ferrie, and the kids rode on some of the rides on the Midway. We all enjoyed the beautiful day, and only the kids ended up not being sunburned! Next time we go, we will plan for more time, so we get to see everything!
All in all the weekend was great, but not very relaxing!

Almost two!

Ethan is almost two, and is finally talking!!! YAY!!! I know most children talk long before they are two, but for some reason he didn't. I think partially because we didn't push him to do anything, we wanted him to be a baby for a bit.
But now he's talking like crazy, and being a very busy boy! He has sort of started potty training, he keeps his diaper dry most nights, so he gets to go on the potty in the morning! He loves it!! He gets very excited about being like Zacharie. Funny how that is.
His favorite things to do, are play with cars, make a mess, and read books! Especially the book, Mater and the Ghostlight! That's his favorite by far!
He is so much different than Zacharie! Zacharie is so laid back, and outgoing, and Ethan is stubborn, and shy. What a contrast! I would say that Ethan is a little more difficult to handle. But when he does something, it's so exciting to see his progress! Aside from talking, he has learned a lot of things much quicker than Zacharie. Like drinking from a cup. I think it's because he's seeing Zacharie do all these things and wants to do what his brother does.
I am truly blessed that my children play so well together, and want to... for now.....

Growing Up!

Well I have to say that I'm not that surprised that kids grow up that fast! Zacharie turned 4 in March, and he amazes me every day with the big boy things that he can do!
About a week ago, Tyler decided that it was time to get Zacharie out of pull ups at night time, and as he's day time potty trained he figured that this would be an easy task! Well, this is a whole week since Zacharie has worn pull-ups (or diapers) to bed, AND he hasn't wet the bed once!!!
Then yesterday, Zacharie decided that it was time to get rid of the "little potty seat" and use the potty like a really big boy! He has been going on the full toilet seat since that statement yesterday, and he hasn't made a mess! It just shows that my baby is growing up....

Our little jelly bean!

Well, today I went for an ultra sound. My doctor was thinking that I was a bit farther along than he thought. And it turns out that I am a week farther along!
The technician said she wouldn't be able to tell the gender of our baby at this point. But I have been told by my doctor, and by researching it, that if it's a boy, it looks like a turtle ( shaped, item in that area) and if it's a girl, it looks like three lines. Well, I can't see either of those things!
But, the baby is healthy, with 156 heart beats per minute, and is approximately 6 inches long, and is 14 weeks old!
I will go for another routine ultra sound in 5-6 weeks. And hopefully my baby is cooperative and will let us know what it is!

Grow Always

So our days are usually filled with chaos of some kind, Ethan loves to make messes, and Zacharie is more than willing to help make the mess bigger! Well, on Sunday's we usually go to my parents house for supper. Tonight was no exception. Ethan, my mom and I were in the living room watching tv. With all the toys cleaned up, Ethan, as always, had to make a mess. But this time it was different. As he knocked down a toy bin, that came crashing to the ground, he got scolded! He stopped, looked at us, and said, " Zikky, Zikky!!" with his little finger pointed to the kitchen where his brother was! What a shock!! He was blaming Zacharie for what he clearly did!! I never knew children would learn something like that at such an early age! We laughed. How hilarious!
Like I said, chaos.
Zacharie, Ethan and I, occasionally go to a friends house for a play date, so we did that this week. The kids were playing so nicely together, and then it got quiet..... not usually a good sign.... So Tara ( the mom) and I go to where the kids are playing to discover that they were taking turns colouring on each other with marker! By the time we got there, Zacharie's face, back and stomach had been coloured with a variety! Brown, blue and mostly purple! So we laughed! Tara took a picture which I will try to get from her, before we washed it off! Unfortunately, purple marker leaves such a stain on the skin that it wouldn't come off all the way... he had bruise-like colouring on his neck, stomach and face. Boy, was I glad that he didn't have a doctor's appointment this week!
Ethan had his 18 month check up ( yes, even though he's 19 months) this week. He is a very healthy boy! A bit heavy for his age, but nothing to worry about.
I also had a doctor's appointment this week, to find out how far long in my pregnancy I am!!! I am 7 weeks pregnant. Due at the end of September! I have been quite nauseas, exhausted and more exhausted! Aside from that, healthy! Thank goodness.
That's about all for now.

On to another week!

Well, another week is over and a new one begins! We had a thoroughly busy weekend, with youth on Friday, Laser Quest on Saturday and church on Sunday! We can never say we are bored. There is always something to do or get done!
Tyler and I have been helping out at youth on Fridays for a while now. We really enjoy those Friday nights with the teen! You never know how old you are until you chase around a bunch of teenagers who have a lot more energy than you do! We took on organizing a fundraiser! It's a Valentine's Dinner and Entertainment night! If you want tickets let me know.... Ha ha! The youth will be helping prepare the meal and serve the meal, and they will be the entertainment too! I have had so much fun, so far, planning for it! I just have a few more small details to take care of ( or make sure someone will take care of) and I think I will be able to enjoy decorating and planning!
Tyler is "helping" too. Well to the best of his ability....

Our boys, aside from growing, are learning a bunch of new things! Ethan pretends to hide himself, by covering his eyes, when we say " where's Ethan?". He thinks it's quite humorous! Zacharie plays that game with him too! Zacharie has started to learn to write the letters of the alphabet! My Grandma Braun bought him a phonics learning book, and in it you have to trace the letters that spell a word. So he was doing that, tracing "b" then "u" then "g", and he said "BUG!" He then did it again with "d" then "o" then "g" and said "DOG!" Now let me make it clear... we weren't helping him, and there were no pictures on the page to indicate what the letters spell!!! He's so smart!!!

I will get going now. Lots to do, as always!

Happy New Year!

Well a year has come and gone.... So much has happened since the beginning of last year! Christmas 2008 was especially exciting for us! We did our own Christmas Dinner, which I thought would be horribly complicated, but it wasn't! Both our boys were so excited for Christmas, they wanted to open presents pretty much the whole month! Christmas Eve was very exciting. Zacharie sang "Away in a Manger" at the Christmas Eve service at our church. It was very funny! He was so excited to sing, and then when he got up there, he was very quiet, until everyone clapped for him and then he clapped and laughed!
The boys are growing so fast! Everyone says it's time for another one!! Well we have heard your request, but we are not expecting any new addition any time soon! So please stop asking!! ( Ha ha)
But like I said our boys are getting big! Zacharie is almost 4, and is 43" tall, and is 44.5lbs! Ethan is 1 1/2, and is 33" tall and weighs 33lbs!
Zacharie has impecible speech for his age, he always has a "new" big word! Lately his new big word has been "proclaimation"! And he uses it in context too!
Ethan has just started to talk. It's so funny with him, he understands perfectly if we tell him to do something, and he can talk, he refuses to! His newest words are "tickle, achoo, and thanks". We are trying to get him to talk more, especially saying "please".
Tyler and I are doing well. We are currently looking for a new "home". We are hoping to purchase something, but with the market being the way it is, and with zero down-payment gone, we may have to rent for another year. We are praying that we will find something affordable really soon, as the house we are in, has massive issues and we would like to be moved out before spring thaw....
Tyler is still at Winroc, hauling drywall. It's amazing that they are still fairly busy.

We are very excited for this weekend, as we are taking our boys out to Dallas Valley for the church's annual Family Fun Day. We go tobogganing, on sleigh rides, and just have a blast!
Well, I think I will go finish cleaning my house...