Bedtime Fun

Being silly before bed.



Making funny noises.



A rare capture of Judith singing (she will never sing for the camera)!

Princess Kelly

Judith has given me the prestigious title of "Princess Kelly" lately. I am flattered.

Something about hearing her little voice say my first name is so precious! I don't think it's disrespectful at all.

<- She also loves to wear Dave's ear muffs and scream at the top of her lungs. I'm sure most parents would not approve of this, but I think it's hilarious.

The Progression of Post-Carrot Bliss

This is the actual sequence of events.

"Mommy!!!! I don't care if I ate the whole jar! I want more carrots! In my mouth, NOW!!!"



"I'm so upset with you!"



"Hmmm, what was I upset about, again?"



"Hey, my belly feels nice and full and satisfied...YAY!"



"Ooooh, getting that happy feeling!"



"Duuuuuude!"



"I love you, Mommy."

Jewelry

Judith got a little jewelry box at the Artist's Market Collective on Saturday.



So she went and found all of her jewelry, and has been infatuated with it since.



She has also been sharing the love!



Although it isn't always appreciated...



I love how Judith can be so rough and tough and has no problems keeping up with the boys, but also can be SO girly at times! She's awesome.

A Starbucks Moment

The other day I picked up soy chai lattes for all of us at Starbucks, and the quotation on Judith's cup was "Mother-love is not inevitable. The good mother is a great artist ever creating beauty out of chaos." It really spoke to me. I have been struggling lately with my identity as a young mother. So much of what was in my heart pre-motherhood has been put on hold, or forgotten altogether. Some days I wonder if I will ever have the chance to actually be the creative person I know is in there. This simple inscription on the side of my little girl's cup gave me hope that, perhaps, I AM indeed being true to my heart and my purpose in life. It just looks differently than I thought it would. Even just the wording of it spoke to me on many personal levels that I won't take the time to explain here. I will have to remind myself of this next time I get discouraged with my life.

Is It Just Me?

...Or have they grown SO MUCH lately?

Gideon looks SO much like Dave in this pic, but also at the same time SO much like my brother. It's weird! He's seriously grown a couple of inches in the last week or so.



Judith has suddenly grown up too. She now talks in perfect paragraphs, and I just LOVE when she speaks with excellent grammar and a varied vocabulary. She has also learned the art of lying, but we're working on that. And I've noticed her size 3 pants are getting a little short already! We only moved from 2 to 3 in November (but Judith insists that she doesn't really need pants anyway)... Chop Chop is getting really big too! I was looking at some old pics recently, and just realized how much he has grown. He can barely fit under the gate into the kitchen these days. When we first got him, he barely had to duck to get under!



Also, happy 1st birthday to Dragon! His birthday was on the 15th.



***
Here is a video we took on Valentine's Day. Please excuse my horrible singing and the tv in the background, but I just have to show off how Gideon can stand and hold up his own weight now, and also give us 5 on command!

Ghetto or Resourceful?

This is our new solution to keeping Judith out of the kitchen. She knows how to open the baby gate, and we just don't want her in there all the time (or in the furnace room which is accessed through the kitchen).



It's a dog leash, carrabeaner and eye screw. I told Dave it looks ghetto (especially with our messy pantry shelf in the background!). He thinks it's just resourceful. But hey, it works!

He Loves It

We've been mei tai'n it up around here!





Gideon is really enjoying it. He thinks now I just really have no excuse to ever set him down...

We Love Cora's!

Our Valentine's Day family breakfast.

The "men". Gideon thinks he's so big!



Juice!



Fruit!



Judith had a waffle with fruit & English cream.



I had a massive crepe with chocolate hazelnut spread, bananas, and whipped cream. Dave had a veggie omelette with fruit and potato wedges. I didn't get pics of our food, it disappeared too fast. If you haven't been to Cora's, you should check it out sometime!

The ladies. My glasses hide the hideous bags under my eyes so well.

There's 4 Now

Teeth, that is.



Gideon seems happy about it.

Happy Engagiversary to Us!

6 years ago today Dave asked me to marry him.

We met at Bible college (shut up). We hung out at the retreat at the beginning of the year and talked about music, while avoiding any sport-related activities. I thought he was a bit weird and really hoped that he didn't like me. I was dating a guy back home. But I was also desperate to make friends who would go to shows with me. By October we were really good friends, along with our friend Jared. The 3 of us did everything together, stayed out all night, and I had the time of my life. Then in November, Jared and I were at Dave's parents' house, and at one point Dave and I were alone, and it was just one of those "moments" and Dave kissed me. I was both excited and terrified. I really did love Dave, but this meant I would have to break up with my boyfriend, which I was really scared to do. But I did it. I knew it was right.

We started talking about marriage right away. Our dreams and values lined up, and we knew that was what we wanted, so we didn't wait. In February we were helping out with a youth retreat that my mom organized for several youth groups in our area. It was held at the camp that I had gone to since I was 6, and then worked at for 5 summers. It is one of the most special places in the world to me. My dad was there briefly, and Dave had a little chat with him and asked if it would be ok to marry me (awww, so old-fashioned!). So then, during the talent show while my brother was playing his guitar, Dave asked me to marry him. And I said "Of course!"

We planned a cheap but beautiful wedding, and got married August 24, 2003 at my parents' cottage. By the time our honeymoon was over (we went camping with a tent we got as a wedding gift!) we had known each other for a year. If someone had told me when I first met Dave that a year from then we would be married, I would have told them they were out of their mind! Funny how things change in a year.

I honestly never thought I would get married until I was at least 25, and have kids until I was in my 30's. But here I am! I am now 25, married with 2 amazing children. Wow! And I don't regret a thing.

Banana Bread

We got this recipe from Ria.

(We have to do our prep on the stove because we just don't have counter space enough to fit the two of us and all the baking stuff, just in case you are wondering.)

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream 2 tbsp butter and 1 cup brown/raw sugar together. (Judith cooking tip: anything creative is best done without pants!)





Add 1 beaten egg and mix.





(You're not technically supposed to eat the batter after the eggs are added, but Judith insists that it will not make her sick, it will make her happy! P.S. please disregard the recycling in the background)



Add 3 mashed bananas, one at a time.



Or, if you are Judith, add all bananas in whole form all at once and make Mommy mash them all into the batter...



Add 1 tsp. baking soda, and 1 tsp. baking powder.



Add 1 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour, mix.



Add 2 tbsp. milk (we used soy milk).



Mix well! Look at the intensity on that face!



We added 1 cup of chocolate chips!



Ta da!



Just to make sure it's perfect...



The final product! (We added pecans to the top after pouring the batter into the loaf pan, you could use walnuts as well.) Bake 35-45 minutes. I think I might buy another loaf pan, and make a double batch next time. We made this in the late afternoon, and it didn't live past supper...



This banana bread tasted REALLY GOOD, and didn't even need to be eaten with butter! It wasn't as dry as most banana bread I've had.

Today

* Judith refused to go to sleep last night, it was 12:30ish when I finally fell asleep, not sure when she did...
* Judith refused to get up today until after 10, despite trying to entice her with the prospect of going swimming.
* Gideon was up before 7 and wouldn't go back to sleep.
* Gideon was up to nurse about every hour through the night.
* I am very, very tired.
* We didn't go swimming.
* Gideon is very snotty.
* Judith has a persistent cough.
* Both kids are very clingy, whiny and screamy.
* I just want my space.
* I didn't get breakfast made until noon... even though I started trying to get it together at 8.
* I accidentally set a plastic cutting board on a hot burner and melted it. It smelled awful.
* I have chili cooking in the slow-cooker, it took me an hour to assemble instead of the usual 15 minutes because of so many disruptions. Very frustrating.
* Judith fell off of the baby gate going into the kitchen and really hurt herself. I saw the whole thing, and she fell on the side of her head, just above her ear. She screamed and cried worse than ever, and I was so scared that she was seriously hurt. I was scrambling eggs at the time so I couldn't sit with her too long. She cried off and on for 2 hours, and seemed really out of it, although she thankfully didn't have any signs of concussion. We had to go out at 2 and she promptly fell asleep in the van, and at every red light I threw the van into park and checked on her. I brought her health card with us, in case I had to take her to the hospital, which was near where we were going anyway. I was so stressed! I prayed so hard and cried the whole way to my friend's house.
* I sat on the floor and held Judith for a few minutes after she fell, then when I stood up I realized that she had spilled milk on the floor and I was sitting in it.
* When I put Judith on the couch so I could get back to the eggs on the stove, I realized that she had also spilled a whole carton of juice on her blanket on the couch.
* My frying pan has eggs burnt onto it now.
* I wanted eggs so bad for breakfast, but I didn't get to eat them until lunch, and they were gross. The toast was also cold by the time I got to it, so the butter wouldn't melt into it.
* Gideon would not stop fussing and whining ALL MORNING, no matter what. My nerves are shot.
* My house is still such a mess, even though I am making slow progress (we're doing a massive purge). It's still stressful to live in.
* I got honked at twice by impatient people while driving. I wasn't doing anything wrong, people are just selfish. But sorry, I'm not going to risk my life and the lives of my children so you can get somewhere 10 seconds faster.
* Gideon has decided it's more fun to pinch my nipples than eat from them.
* I need to clip Gideon's fingernails.
* I got a call today from my friend back home in Ontario who is 37 weeks pregnant with #2. She has been in and out of the hospital since Christmas because she has been so sick, and has been constantly on IV's. Her husband lost his job this week. She is going to be induced on Monday. It was good to hear from her, but I just wish I could be there to help her.
* I got a chai at Starbucks on the way home from my friend's house because I needed something to get me through the rest of the day. When we got home I was sitting on a chair getting Gideon's coat off and he grabbed my chai off the desk and spilled it all over me.
* My friend made me a mei tai (YAY! I love it), and I had Gideon in it for a bit to practice getting it on and off, and now he doesn't want me to put him down, ever. I don't have a big problem with this, it's just that when I get stressed and frustrated I don't like anyone touching me.
* Dave doesn't have any work for the rest of the week, because there just isn't any work. Then Monday is a holiday here. And on top of that he's had to take a pay cut due to the "economy". I'm not as worried as I could be though. I'm actually looking forward to having him around for that many days. Maybe I will actually get to nap.
* I've been really discouraged with life in general these days.
* I've put a lot of effort into making/developing friendships for the last several months, but they are all still very superficial and I haven't really "clicked" with anyone. There are several friends here that I love, but I know I don't mean as much to them as they mean to me. I feel like they hang out with me just to be nice, and they don't really like me. I don't feel like I can even let myself just be myself when I am out. I don't like this. I hate being so guarded all the time, and that is probably part of the reason it is so hard to connect.
* Judith has been obsessed with unrolling all of the toilet paper off every roll. Yesterday I found a whole roll's worth hidden under her bed sheets. The day before she tried to flush it all down the toilet (and clogged it). Just now it was all hidden behind the toilet.
* Judith screamed at me and slapped me in the face once last night, and twice today. It is the first time she has ever used physical violence. It hurt my heart more than my cheek.
* Judith absolutely refuses to wear clothes these days, it's a fight to keep even her underwear on her. And I find our place COLD, I don't know how she doesn't freeze, she's skin and bones to begin with.
* The tv has been on way too much lately.
* My plants are basically dead.
* I'm so done with winter.
* I haven't showered in several days.
* Lambie has a hole in his foot, and his neck is totally threadbare and I am so scared that he will fall apart soon.
* I've been going through old photos to make a photo post about my parents' dog that just passed away and it makes me so sad.
* I feel like I just don't know anything anymore.

In happier news, Dave just got home and he got a bag of chocolates for 99 cents that I am drowning my sorrows with. And I'm so excited that supper is already ready in the slow-cooker and instead of slaving in the kitchen right now, I am sitting on my butt in front of the computer. Even though this post has taken FOREVER with all of the interruptions. Judith is happy that Daddy is home and they are cuddling on the couch, and Gideon is happily munching on some pineapple that Dave got him.

I also heard a story on Monday at a mom's group that really put my life into perspective. One of the moms has a friend who is a refugee from Sudan. The Sudanese woman has 6 kids, and she left her husband to escape to Ethiopia with 5 kids while pregnant with #6. This was a very dangerous decision, if she was caught she would have been killed. She gave birth under a tree along the way. Apparently, there aren't very many trees, and where there is a tree, there was always labouring women under it who were also fleeing. Also under the trees were the bodies of the mothers and babies that didn't survive the birthing process. Can you imagine? Thankfully this mama survived, and made it to a camp and eventually came to Canada to build a new, safe life for herself and her children.

So my life really, really isn't so bad. Even when I have bad days when everything goes wrong, I am still extremely blessed.

Salma Hayek Breast Feeds African Babies!

Now, I don't use disposable diapers, and haven't vaccinated my kids, but I think that what Pampers is doing here is great. I especially love the end of the video, from 5:15 on, when they talk about breastfeeding.

Would you breastfeed someone else's child? I absolutely would. I have even thought about going to a developing country to help women breastfeed. One of my many secret dreams...

The Bumper Jumper!

Gideon's new adventure.

Not so sure at first...



But then Judith convinced him that it is awesome (sorry it's so dark).



She likes to join in on the jumping action.



Now he loves it!



This is the best video EVER. It's pretty long, but that's what makes it funny.

Peek-a-boo

Gideon's new favourite game.

Yikes!

We were playing with the Mac the other day (it's now Judith's favourite toy too, so now I have to compete with TWO people for the machine...), and this is my absolute favourite shot that came out of it. It was the first set of pics using this effect, and I LOVE how Judith's face gets a little more evil with each shot! Wahahaha. Complete with fist in the last one! She is the most fun kid ever.



I also think it's pretty amazing that she interpreted this effect as "evil" or "scary" all on her own and acted accordingly.

Hehe, I can't stop laughing at this even though I've seen it a million times.

The Kids Love Ikea

They're about the same age here.

Another First

"Woo hoo! Sister gave me a Tim Bit while Mommy was out unloading the van!"



"Hmmm... tasty."