Dentist Day

Big first for us today... Sam met his dentist!  He sat in the chair, rode it up and down.  He showed his little front teeth and opened wide to let her see the back ones too.  Sam was super curious about the tools so they opened up a package and let him try out the little mirror for checking back teeth.  He let them put it in his mouth and check out each little tooth.  Such a good boy (thank goodness he wasn't that kid from Walmart!!!!)  He even got a sticky hand toy for being on his best behaviour (PS sticky hands are dumb... he had it for about 6 minutes before it was covered in lint, hair and crumbs.  Then it's garbage... not cool.)  I was so proud of him.  They invited him back in 6 months to get his front teeth polished... fingers crossed that goes just as well as today!

Like an old pro!

Our wonderful and most fabulous dentist!  We are soooo lucky to have her!

Fighting the Good Fight

You know that mom... the one in Walmart?  The one whose toddler has obviously not had enough sleep though she tries desperately to get him to sleep past 5am?  Can you picture her?  Child flaying on the cement floor, refusing to listen to her and the logic that the Walmart floor is not the cleanest (or most private) place to pitch his first tantrum.  She bravely scoops him up, carrying his angry body while pushing a cart and trying to escape all the eyes of the people shopping.  Battered by tiny punches to her head and back, hair being pulled (total bummer on a good hair day) and little legs kicking any part of her possible.  Imagine the highest pitch noise add sobbing and a million "no"s.  Boogers, drool, tears leaving little streaming on his cheeks.  
Can you see me?  Were you at the Walmart today?  Yeah, then, I admit that was me.  I ducked, dipped and dodged to get out of there but I had a feeling I didn't escaped unnoticed.  Sam's fit of rage continued through the parking lot, into the jeep, all the way home, out of the jeep and around my home.  I have never ever seen anything like that and I hope to goodness never to see it again.  Absolutely WILD!  I hope this is not the fate of my next year... perhaps it was a little glimpse of how lucky I've been and how sweet he actually is.  I am praying for the latter.
Moments after the fit... exhausted...

Oh me?  Yeah I'm ok... besides messy hair and a bruised ego, I think I am no worse for wear.  All I have to say is that it's a good thing he's so cute!

Snow Fun

No, it's not the warm sandy beaches of Mexico or the amazing sights of Peru, but it was a pretty great afternoon...

Making snowballs is hard work!!!  We have about 3 ft of snow on our front lawn and about 5 feet where the snow from the sidewalk has been shoveled.  Warm days and tons of snow make for perfect snowman making!!!

PUSH!!!

This is a Sam size snowman and a Mommy size snowman.    This afternoon, maybe we can finish the set and make a daddy one too!!!

Family A Fair

Shaun was able to take one day off to celebrate Spring Break with Sam and me.  Since we aren't really having 'Spring' we found some indoor fun at an event called the Family A Fair.  It was sort of like a trade show with products and services aimed at families with pre-school aged children.  Tons of fun!!!!

Picture taken through the mesh of the bouncy house.  I was busy trying to chase Sam around inside, but it's obviously not built for someone my size and all the poor kids were being pulled into my vortex!!!  I had to get out because I was worried it would become that first childhood memory that Sam had of me embarrassing him.  Low and behold, he did AMAZING all by himself without his mommy hovering over him.  He bounced, he slid, he bonked his way through the obstacle course.  A real survivor... or maybe just not a baby anymore!

Another highlight of this event was the Butterfield Acres booth.  They brought a bunch of their 'babies' in with them.  Some still had their little umbilical cords!  Sam loved the goats.  Little nervous but petted them whenever they turned their backs.  The piglets scared him because they were trying to sniff his shoes and looked like they were going to eat his toes! 

Such a soft little lamb.  Super sweet.  After this we went over to pet some baby bunnies.  As Sam leaned down to touch one, this lamb wondered up and began to nibble Sam's ear.  I may or may not have karate chopped it, but I didn't want to forever have to apologize and explain how I let a sheep eat the tip of his ear at an indoor petting zoo.  Regardless of my cat like mother reflexes, we now have a running joke about a sheep nibble in our home.  Funny!  Sam said "Silly Peep!"

This is the part where we got our baby his first tattoo.  Pretty sweet.  When the man finished, Sam whispered "Thank you" with a huge smile on his face!

Finally, the main event, meeting Bob the Builder.  Couldn't even believe his eyes.  He kept saying "Outside, Bammy, Bob Builder, Meet."  Then when he saw him, he couldn't even speak.  It took until nearly the end of his act for Sam to leave my lap to do a little dancing and get closer to the stage.  For the next two days, he has sung Bob Builder, can he fix it!

Though I do love the sunshine and miss it dearly, I'm glad for this indoor type day that we spent as a family.  No it was not Disneyland or the sandy beaches of Mexico, but it was pretty cool.  I love Spring Break!

Good Bye Lillie!

We have had a really great friend come into our lives for the past 6 months.  Parker's relative from Holland came to stay to be her Nanny for a few months.  It turned out terrifically for us because they would come play once a week.  Fun for the kids and fun for me to have adult company.  She is a super sweet girl, who has now headed off to travel to Vancouver, the States and then back home before going to University in the fall.  We had many really fun play dates, but here are a few pictures of one of the last (and messiest) ones.

So, the craft of the day was painting with shave cream and food colour.  Sounded neat when I found it on the internet... not so much.  GIANT mess.  I couldn't even get a picture of Smith or P "paint" because the was shave cream and food colour EVERYWHERE.  One of those good idea, bad ideas!

Here is Sam and Parker playing hide and seek with Lillie while I put Smith down for his nap.  They were caught red-handed in the panty (note Parker's fingers... apparently next to impossible to get red dye off small hands!)

Busting loose!

Lillie with the kiddos... Sam sure does love her!

Parker kickin' it in Sam's clothes because her outfit didn't make it out of the craft clean.  I think she makes a very cute little tomboy!

Thank you Lillie for all your days with us... the laughs and chats, many cups of team, your love of the kids and time for me... it all was so wonderful.  If you are ever this way again, please don't forget to visit!

Got the Call

After a long day at work, with all sorts of pre-spring break craziness, I arrived home to see there were new messages on my phone.  I was waiting for a few calls, so I went to listen to my messages in private.  There were three and they were all for me.  One regarding Sam, one regarding my best friend (both GREAT news) and another about myself.  I will share the last one with you...
Every few weeks I have to go get my blood checked.  I developed uncontrollable blood clots after Sam was born.  Started small, moved to my lungs and then filled my entire right leg.  It was a long and painful few months with many low-lows.  The anti-coagulation clinic has been following me since.  I get blood work, they call to tell me my levels and how to proceed with medication.  Many phone calls have been frustrating, some in the early days exposed my "new mom" craziness, and most have been very routine.  Just a regular occurrence in my life.  Last night's call was different.  A friendly and familiar voice.  My levels were great, very stable.  Continue same treatment.  Then she said, "Amanda, I'm the nurse that took you on two years ago to the day when all this started.  I can't believe it's been that long.  We are turning your care to your family doctor because you don't need us anymore.  I hope your health and your boy's health continues to be great.  I'm so happy things have turned out the way they did for you two.  I also hope I never have to talk to you again.  Take care of yourself.  Best of luck."  And she was gone.


Through tears and sniffles, I tell Shaun.  It's hard to understand how such a simple message could make me so emotional, but it feels like freedom.  Like I've been released from a body that I thought was going to hold me back forever.  Incredible to think that in all my issues I had effected a stranger enough for her to remember me, care about me and hope for the best for me... she had only ever heard my voice.  There were some super scary days and dark days, but those don't even matter anymore.  The voice told me that she never wanted to have to call me again, and my goal is to make the wish come true.    

March Madness

Here we are, half way through March, and I've finally had the time to sit down for some quality time with my blog.  It's been a busy month of report cards, road trips, birthday parties (both ones we've missed out on and been too), cold weather and now beautiful weather.  I probably have 101 more excuses as to why I didn't blog, but the most important thing is that I'm back in action!
I've tried to start planning theme days with the boys while I'm cooped up.  The freezing weather was getting me down and I felt like I was in a slump.  I spent a few hours planning out activities, fun foods, crafts, etc for each day with the boys.  It was a life saver.  Having a plan gave me purpose and something to really look forward to trying each day.  Love doing it!
Here is a little glimpse into our busy days so far this month... enjoy!

Nothing like a snowy blowy day to motivate us to build a fantastic fort in the living room.  The foam floor mats are perfect for making tunnels, but definitely not indestructible enough for a couple little boys!  

Another adventure we tried was baking cookies together.  I put all the supplies into kid sized bowls and each one took a turn pouring in an ingredient.  Stirring was the hugest hit!

Seriously could be the very best cookies I've ever made... EVER!  I just needed a little toddler magic to make them that much better.  Best little helpers!

Sam working on his egg carton caterpillar.  Though the paint looks like pudding,  from the look on Sam's face after eating it, I can say if does not taste like pudding!  This has been a multi-day craft, but tons of fun.

Clearly nothing is more enjoyable than balloon bouncing.  We've had balloons out for almost the past month.  Yes, someone has bitten or broken one each day but with proper supervision and 'rules' (hahaha, I try really hard to give them rules) they play for many minutes.  Bouncing off heads, playing with static, working on catching, kicking, looking through and bum bouncing... never ending fun!

My little 80s punk!  My Aunt's surprise 49th birthday was 80s theme... and we rocked it!

The baby whisperer... crimped hair and all! (You can't see it well but Sam is wearing jean cut offs and Serry is wearing a shirt that says "No one puts baby in the corner".  Love it!

Kiss for my cousin!

New hair, but equally as rad!

I HAD to post this picture of my sister... look at her and then the baby... EXACT same face.   You are in for a wild ride, Breezer!!! :)

Gramma and 'Kitty' snuggles!

Love this guy... pulled off creepy 80s like he lived it!

Finally some warm weather!!! We have spent almost every waking moment possible playing outside in the past two days.  This little boy loves splashing and crashing!  Freezing fingers, wet pants, snow burned face... nothing stops him from wanting to be outside.  Can't even wait for Spring!
This is our snowman we made today... Sam was inspecting his mustache.  Mr PotatoHead pieces come in very handy for snowman building!