Easter 2014

Another Easter has come and went.  Easter Sunday - April 20th was Cadence's actual due date.  I'm glad we didn't have to wait until then to meet her.  On Saturday the boys got busy decorating easter eggs.  They always really enjoy this activity and do a great job.  Jason really likes decorating eggs too.  So I'm happy to leave them to it.

Cadence hung out in her new swing while her brothers were busy.

Early Sunday morning the boys looked for their easter baskets.

Then we went to church.  The boys looked so handsome in their suits and Cadence so pretty in her new easter dress.

I accompanied for someone in our ward who was singing O Divine Redeemer - it felt good to get back to the piano.  The speakers gave a nice easter message and it was great to remember the true meaning of Easter and all our Savior has done for all of us.   Cadence was a little angel and didn't make a peep all through church.  Her and I came home after sacrament and Jason and the boys stayed for the rest of the meetings.

The easter bunny didn't forget Cadence either.  She got a new outfit and a little lamb with "My First Easter" on it's tummy.

Later that afternoon we went to Ty and Jill's for dinner.  Jason's mom and brother Mitch were up as well.  We had a very yummy dinner of ham, scalloped potatoes, asparagus, salad, buns, and Jason had made a yummy chocolate pie, and a delicious banana cream pie for dessert.

A happy easter was had by all!

The End!!

Settling In

I'm happy to be home, and we're all settling into our new life with Cadence.  Even though it has been 8 years since we've had a newborn in the house - it didn't take much adjusting to jump back into late night feedings, and all the demands of a little one.

I've taken a couple of weeks off from music students, and Jason took a bit of time off from work.  We've enjoyed the time together and a bit slower pace of life.  It will be interesting to see how we manage when busy schedules start up again.

Everyone enjoys lots of baby cuddles.  Especially the big brothers.

We had lots of visits from family and friends.  I didn't always remember to take pictures.

Our first week was fairly uneventful til I woke up Sunday morning and my blood pressure was spiking a bit out of control.  After checking it a few times and a few tears I called Jason who was already at church for meetings and told him I thought I should go to the hospital.  So we headed to the ER with Cadence and left the boys with Uncle Ty.

After 3 hours at the hospital, it was decided to double my meds and add one additional medication.  It seems to be working and keeping my blood pressure in check.

This past week we visited the boys classrooms at school.  They were so proud to show off their baby sister.

Cadence had her one week visit with the doctor.  She has gained back some of the weight she initially lost and now weighs 6 lbs 15 ounces.  The doctor says she is doing great and is perfect.

I still can't quite believe how blessed we are to have this little one join our family, and I do promise not every blog will be about Cadence.

Also, I think I've got the multi-tasking down pat.  I just blogged one handed while putting Cadence to sleep on my other shoulder.  And even though the recovery has been a bit rougher from the c-section and I'm a bit sleep deprived, I haven't been able to stop grinning!

Introducing Cadence Elaine & the Baby Poll Winner

She's here!!  and She's perfect!!

As you may have figured out from the photo I ended up with a c-section.  To all of you who have had a c-section - I'm sorry!  I was supposed to just be getting induced.  It had been decided at my last doctor's appointment  that it was probably a good time to do it and after an ultrasound on Thursday had determined that the baby was head down I was told to come in Sunday, April 6th at 6:00 p.m. to get things started.

We arrived at the hospital and the nurses couldn't quite decide if they thought the baby was still head down.  After a quick ultrasound it was determined the baby was in fact breech (you've got to be kidding me).  We discussed options with the doctor and it was decided he would try and flip the baby and then break my water to hold in place.  The baby had different plans however when I went into labour shortly after this discussion with the doctor and then it was to late to do anything but deliver by c-section immediately.

So off to the or we went.  I shed a few tears while the doctor and nurses were out of the room - but quickly wrapped my head around the fact that this was the safest and really only option.

The whole process went fairly quickly, with the spinal and getting all hooked up, bringing Jason to my side.  Apparently Jason peeked around the curtain quite often to see what was happening.  I was quite happy not to be able to see, everything I was able to feel was enough for me.  When the baby was almost out Jason whispered to me that it was a girl.  I kept asking him if he was sure.  When the nurse came and confirmed it to me I must admit I burst into tears.  She arrived on Monday morning, April 7th at 1:17 a.m.

I'm not lying when I say that I would have been thrilled with a boy - but what a special blessing to be able to have a little girl in our family.  The boys are just going to dote on her.  They love her to pieces already.

We are loving on our little Cadence Elaine

Trying on her new outfit to come home from the hospital.  It's waaay too big!

Not liking getting into her new car seat.

The Winner of the Baby Poll Contest is

Marisa Smith

Congratulations Marisa - you correctly guessed baby girl at 7 lbs, 2 ounces

she was also 20.5 inches long

Thanks to everyone who played along, and for all your lovely comments here and on facebook.

We are so grateful our little miracle has arrived safely - I hope you all get to meet her soon!!

Ready to Pop & a Contest

I can't believe I am only a week or so away from our baby being born.  I've been feeling good, a bit sore and tired and certainly READY TO POP!!

I'm so excited, nervous, and anxious all wrapped into one.  Just praying for a smooth, easy, healthy delivery and baby.

So I thought we should finish up these 9 months with a contest.

BABY POLL

So to enter you need to give me your guesses as to:

1 - the sex of the baby

&

2- the weight of the baby

Don't be swayed by the colour of the wall behind me or my shirt - we are decorating the nursery in turquoise and red and I happened to be wearing a blue shirt today - we honestly do not know!

So enter your guesses either here on my blog, or on my facebook page.  You have until Sunday at midnight to enter.

What will you win you might be wondering - well .... we thought we'd name the baby after you!

JUST KIDDING!!

You will win a $25.00 gift card to the Bath & Body Shop so you can "baby" yourself.

Good luck to everyone, and wish me luck too!!

Double Digits

While everyone else was celebrating St. Patrick's Day - we were celebrating Ashton's 10th birthday.  I can't believe he is 10 years old already.  We had low key celebrations this year.  Ashton had school and took rice krispie squares that I had mixed mars bars into to share with his class at school.  After school before I started teaching he opened presents.

More nerf guns - yippee!

Now I can find nerf bullets all over the house in assorted sizes!!

For supper we had Ashton's favorite meal - pancakes!!

After teaching we had birthday cake.  We decided it was for both the boys birthdays as with all the excitement with Bowen's birthday/baptism this year we never did have a birthday cake.

This past Saturday we finished off celebration and took the boys to the Cars in Movies exhibit at Heritage Park.  There weren't as many cars as I thought there might be but everyone still seemed to enjoy it.  Here are a few of the cars.

Not sure what Ashton's goofy face is about in this picture - but it makes me laugh!

The General Lee from Dukes of Hazards

The Delorean from Back to the Future

Herbie from The Love Bug

The Munster's Car

Then we took the boys to The Cheesecake Cafe for lunch.  I however seemed to be the only one who was hungry as everyone else brought most of their lunches home.  

I sure love my 10 year old boy.  He is such a great kid and has a fabulous personality that we all enjoy so much.  Happy Birthday Ashton!!

It's Great to Be Eight!

February 26th is Bowen's birthday.  This year was a very special year for Bowen as he turned 8 years old.  We didn't do very much on his actual birthday.  I made cupcakes for Bowen to take to his little friends at school.  The couple that were left at home were gobbled up so this is the only picture I was able to get.

A half eaten cupcake

Bowen had requested Oreo cupcakes.  So I just made a chocolate fudge cake and chopped up oreo cookies and stirred into the batter before baking.  Made a simple butter cream chocolate icing and topped with an mini oreo cookie.  Apparently they were a big hit at school.

I was teaching students the night of Bowen's birthday and we were babysitting Dane and Bennett, so we had one of Bowen's favorite suppers of hotdogs, chips and pop and then opened presents.

Since Bowen turned 8 he also gets to be baptized into our church.  He has been so excited.  This past Saturday was Bowen's baptism.  We sent out invitations to family and a few friends, and I made up a program.

Right after I sent out the invitations the Champion church got word they had to be out a few days before the baptism for renovations so we moved the baptism to the stake baptisms here in Calgary.

It was a wonderful day.  Bowen all ready for his big day.

Jason and Bowen ready at the church.

Bowen was so excited and nervous.  We were last of 5 children being baptized that day.  It went really quickly however.  They had an opening song, prayer and one of the Bishops spoke.  Then they had the moms come up and say a little something about their children.  Then they took the kids one by one to be baptized.  After the baptism our group came back into the chapel.  I handed out cards for everyone to write Bowen a little note (such a nice keepsake for him).  Then after Jason and Bowen had changed.  Bowen and I sang a musical number "When I Am Baptized".  Bowen was very emotional and feeling the spirit so Grandma came up and helped him finish the song.  It was beautiful.   Then Uncle Jared gave a wonderful talk on covenants.  Bowen was then confirmed a member of the church by his Dad and we finished with a song and prayer.

Then we all came back to our house for dinner.

We served chicken pot pie with biscuits, spinach salad and fruit with a candy bar for dessert.

After dinner Bowen opened some presents.  He received new scriptures from Jason and I, money, scripture markers, future missionary pin, sketch book, mega blocks, books, sacrament meeting activity book, bank, and candy.  What a lucky boy!

It is definitely great to be eight!!