Emily's birthday invitation

I had meant to post this earlier. I love using Microsoft Publisher! So much cheaper to print a picture invitation than actually make or buy invitations!

Can you tell what she is in love with right now?

35 Weeks

It has been awhile since I took a picture of myself and "the belly". I can't believe it, only 5 weeks left!

Happy Birthday Emily!

My little girl turned 2 yesterday! I can't believe how fast the last two years have flown by. She was so cute about the whole thing. For two days before she would randomly say, "Mommy (or Daddy), Happy Day Emmy!" She started after church on Sunday when I said to her that her birthday was coming up and soon we would be singing Happy Birthday Emily! She laughed and started saying Happy Day to everyone. Our friends, the Norris', were unable to come to the party and so Darlene came by earlier and dropped off a gift for Emily. She was sleeping so we opened it when I got home. The card had a picture of Emily on it which she loved. And she loved that when I read it to her it said Happy Birthday. She just grinned and said, "Happy Day Emmy!" She pulled the tissue paper out of the bag and was excited to see a Barbie bucket. She knew from the time I had brought home a Dora bucket that it would contain "popk" (popcorn) from Kernals popcorn. She was stoked! Right away she asked me to "op" (open) and started to chow down. It was so cute!

That night we had a swimming party. We had close family friends and Emily's other friends meet us at the swimming pool and we went swimming. Our pool has a great deal where I can pay for everyone to go swimming and get a room for an hour and a half afterwards for a stellar deal! This is the second year we have done it and it was fantastic. We had a terrific turnout and Emily loved it! My dad picked her up some water wings and she loved the freedom of them. She is still not heavy enough for a life jacket. They just flip her onto her back. I only swam for the last part because I had to run to the store for some last minute things. :) But it was so fun to have so many friends there. Emily just kept grinning. I finally asked her if it was time for cake and she grinned, said, "Cake" and walked out of the pool and into the shower. It was so cute. I got her dressed and then we went back out to get everyone else. She was excited to tell everyone it was time for cake. She loved being able to stand in front of her cake and have everyone sing Happy Birthday to her. She has such good friends (and so do I)! Emily blew her own candles out and ended up blowing them out at least four more times. She kept putting her candle into her piece of cake and "singing" Happy Day to herself. She even sang it to Papa (my dad) which was nice of her because it was his birthday too! She spoiled with lots of gifts and it was surprising how many of them are what she has been pestering me for! I didn't tell anyone. She got the Barbie that sings songs from her favourite Barbie movie plus a Barbie with wings. The one I got her for Christmas got broken a few weeks ago so she was excited to see a new one. She got a minature barbie which she thinks is fantastic and very portable. So many great gifts I can't name them all. Thanks to everyone for helping her have such a great day!

Emily was so excited about her singing Barbie that she had to take it to bed that night and listen to it sing three or four times before she went to sleep!

Emily has been the biggest blessing Landon and I have received in our marriage. I am so grateful for the little person she is and all that she teaches me daily on how to be a better human being and mom! I am grateful for the chance that I am going to have to watch her grow daily. She is going to be a fantastic big sister! We love you Emily!

Cooking with Emily

Tonight I asked Emily if she wanted spaghetti surprise for dinner. She enthusiastically said yes! She got up and tried to pause the Barbie movie she had been watching. She stirred the pasta and reminded me about the hamburger that was cooking. Of course she snitched cheese as well! It was so much fun and rewarding. I love being a mom!

Technology and your kids

The keynote speaker at our district professional development day, on Friday, spoke to us about the good and bad about the internet. It was very informative. I must admit that by half way through the presentation I was wondering if I wanted my children on it at all! :) But at the end it was all brought into perspective. The thing is that the internet is a wonderful and destructive place all at the same time. If we don't educate ourselves on the programs and internet devices (ie computer, cell phone, itouch, etc), then how can we educate our children on how to avoid those destructive places. If we aren't willing to be open with our children about why they need to avoid certain sites (and not just say because I say so), we are allowing children who don't see the whole picture make very important and life changing decisions. Have you actual read the privacy agreements you agree too. To be honest Facebook's policy is kind of scary. Do you know and your children know, that the internet is not private, it is very public!? Do you and your children know what they should and should not post about themselves? What is too much information? Do you know how to set up security and protect yourself? Do you know what your children are doing on the internet? Do your children know that you are available to talk to them about everything, without fear of being punished or having their technology taken away? The world is at their fingertips, and as parents, friends, and relatives it is our duty to make sure they have the tools they need. Get educated and set up boundaries. If you don't you are leaving their education up to those who may not have their best interest at heart. Don't be afraid to talk with your kids but don't forget, you are the parent, NOT their best friend. You can be a friend but if you allow the parent part to go away so that you can be their friend you are allowing someone else to be their parent. It is not an easy job but I have seen first hand what happens when parents drop the ball. I don't want to see that happen with anyone that I love. Trust me! I just wanted to pass this along. If you want more information on websites that can help you, etc please let me know. Part of the solution is educating ourselves and then not being afraid to educate others!

And remember, that the number one biggest threat to your kids on the internet is cyber bullying! And it can be even more hurtful and damaging than bullying at school!

Great Week

I must say that this last week started as being very stressful and not fun and then it decided to go out with a bang! After three nights of not getting home from work until after five and running around on my feet all day, I didn't think that my body was going to make it. This baby is much more demanding than Emily ever was. A few of my coworkers have become quite concerned but I'm still hoping to not have to call it quits yet. As stressful as it is, I love my job! There are parts of it that I could do without but overall I love it. My husband has been very patient. Especially on Tuesday, when my mother reminded me at lunch that I was teaching the RS enrichment night about food storage. (No laughing, I learned lots and I am actually going to work on my storage now....). So I was at school planning my lesson until after 5, home for half an hour and then off to Relief Society for about two hours. Emily was asleep by the time I got home. It definately made me sad. Friday I had a workshop that I was presenting with a coworker. The rest of the week had been filled with trying to get do my job plus try and get ready for my replacement. CRAZY! I am hoping the next week will be better.

But starting Friday my week turned completely around. I love how the Lord looks after me. The workshop went really well. Plus Matt got a call on his cell and shared with me that I had a new neice. We had our friends Bill and Darlene over for dinner and a movie, and it was lots of fun! Saturday, we all went down to Nanaimo for the day. Landon had a stake meeting for church so Emily and I caught a ride down to do some shopping and visiting. We drove down with Matt, my mom and Bro. Kotyluk. We had a blast at the mall. There was a great sale at The Children's Place so we picked Emmy up some clothes. (The prices were so low that Landon was right in there finding stuff and we even let Emmy do some of the shopping... :) We found a Graco playpen with bassinet, etc. on sale in our price range so we got it for the baby. Landon went to Future Shop and Best Buy so it was a successful shopping day. :) While everyone was at the meeting, Emily and I headed over to my friend Rachel's house for a visit. Emily doesn't get to play with a lot of kids except for Ethan so it was nice for her to have other kids to play with. Rachel's daughter Claire is 20 days older than Emily. They got along well for nver playing together before. I did notice a few things that I need to work with Emily on social skills wise but it was a wonderful visit. Rachel's daughter Lauren is three months old so we chatted about pregnancy, etc. It was so fun, the two hours went by like it had only been 15 minutes. Good friends really are hard to come by. And it is hard especially when you only see them maybe twice a year. Thank goodness for Facebook. :) As you see the weekend was so good that I have decided it made up for the other part of the week.

I do know that I need to start taking it easier because I am really starting to feel EVERYTHING! :) Six weeks to go. I am sure it will go by much too quickly. I just want to send out a quick thank-you to all of you who have offered me your friendship through the years. I am sorry that at times I take it for granted. You are always there for me and forgive me my faults. You have made my life and at times it is that friendship that has gotten me through the hardest times. And many times you don't even know that you've helped!

Welcome Little Madelyn!

My sister had a beautiful little girl this morning. She was a few weeks early but a beautiful baby all the same. I am so excited to be an aunt again! Feel free to visit their blog and see the adorable pictures of my nephews and neice holding her. Rita looks fantastic! Their blog is listed on my list of blogs (Peck Family). Congrats Rita and Nic! And Tyson, Russell and Cassie!

Swimming and Pregnancy

I have decided that swimming during pregnancy is a must. To celebrate my "little" brother Matt's 27th birthday, we had a belated dinner and swimming party with the family. My parents took the family out for swimming, reminiscing all the times in our childhood we took Matt swimming for his birthday. Landon, Emily and I haven't gone swimming at the pool since, well actually I can't remember the last time we took Emily to the pool. Maybe September..... Anyways, she feel back in love with water very quickly. (Though she is showing some fear/conciousness of water depth.) She discovered that she is now tall enough to walk either flat footed or jumping on tip toe through 2/3 of the little kids pool. Keeping a life jacket on her after that discovery was impossible. She was hilarious, both she and Ethan were. They are so fantastic together. Watch out world with the two of them together. I have a nice friend who gave me a maternity bathing suit when I was pregnant with Emily. I never ended up using it but it is fantastic! I hadn't realized how much my belly sticks out but it is still probably the cutest bathing suit I have ever owned. No I will not be modelling it in any pictures, you will just have to take my word for it. I floated around and played with Emily in the kiddie pool. I hadn't realized the weightlessness I was enjoying until Emily climbed up the side of the pool and took off for the big pool. I haven't moved that fast in a long time. Very quickly I realized how gravity played on me and the belly. YIKES! How do I live like that everyday? Emily learned to jump and then climb out of the pool, climbing up the side like a monkey. I do believe she is part monkey. Now we have to be even more diligent watching her. Usually she would climb out, look at me, say, "Uh-oh" and then walk (with my verbal reminder about not running) to the steps of the kiddie pool, and crawl backwards into the pool until it was too deep, turn around and walk in. My little grownup....

For an update on the pregnancy..... I did not experience any braxon-hicks with Emily but I am definately making up for it with this baby. Doctor checked me out and said it is because this baby has already decided to sit low. As in low enough that he checked to make sure it wasn't engaged. I am fine, no premie baby, but it means that I have more braxon-hicks, it's harder to stand for long times, and my range of movement is smaller. Wonderful! Makes work and an active toddler that much more fun! :) Except for being tired at the end of the day I am feeling fantastic! Really I have nothing to complain about (another text book pregnancy) and am learning to enjoy this pregnancy as much as I did Emily's. Emily likes to talk to my belly everyday, smacking it and saying, "Hi Baby!" If Emily sits on my lap or next to me than the baby lets their presence be known by kicking towards Emily. I am hoping it is because they are already best of friends and that there is no early sibling rivalry...... is that too much wishful thinking? :) My next doctor's appointment is February 6th. I am excited for it because that is also the deadline for me being able to stay in Powell River to have this baby. I get shipped out if I go into labour before 36 weeks. My belly has started growing in leaps and bounds. I will post a picture soon. One of these days I may even remember to pick up the baby's ultrasound picture which has been in for pickup since beginning of December. When I do, I will post it! I promise it will be before the baby is born! :)

My newest project

Over my wonderful Christmas visits, I was inspired by my sister Rita and my sister-in-law Janie to decorate Emily's room. She hasn't had one picture hung on her wall since she was born. I just never got around to doing anything. Oops! :) I had good intentions but oh well. So while going through boxes I found the vinyl lettering I had my sister's friend do for me and felt that there was no better time than the present. So off to Rona I went, where my dad cut up old shelving for me into the sizes I wanted, bought my self a new drill bit, bought three "box" shelves, bought some craft paint and home as fast as I could drive legally. :) (Thanks dad for the help!) I utilized the new palm sander I got for Christmas and sanded down the shelves and boxes. (Thanks mom for the new power tool. You always know what I want!) Painted the boxes white, and drilled two holes in the shelves and then experimented with paint colours. It was hard to wait for the next day when I could put the lettering on! I have some really cute vinyl "bugs" that go safely on paint but I didn't want to put them up on Emily's walls since we won't be here forever. (Yes, I am putting bugs and butterflies up in my daughter's room. In bright colours no less....) Instead I hand painted my version of them on the signs. Emily LOVED them! Everyday she points to the wall and "reads" the signs to me. She remembers the one that says dance so all four seem to say that. :) I just wanted to post the pictures. I did make a sign with vinyl lettering that says, "Twinkle, twinkle little star," and I painted a star on it. It will go above the baby's bed, but since that isn't set up yet (a whole other story which illustrates how small our house really is...) I haven't taken a picture yet. As soon as the baby's corner of Emmy's room is done I will post a picture. :) And yes, the pictures in the "Angel" picture frame are of Emily when she was two weeks old till she was 5 months old.

Emily - A Guitar Hero!

Emily has decided that she is the ultimate guitar hero! We bought her a guitar with a headset (a toddler one) hoping that she would stop getting ours out. It was wishful thinking. She likes to play with her guitar but she knows that it doesn't work when the game is one so she still insists on wearing one of ours. If it wasn't so darn cute I might be able to say no...... She sings and dances, while continuously pusing the green button. At the end she points to her dad and says, "Rock!"