A ONE AND A TWO

Finally the cat's out of the bag and I can share our big news.  It's been killing me (seriously) to keep the secret but now that it's all over Facebook I can tell whomever I want.  Woohooo!

Come February or March we will have nine little grandchildren to kiss, cuddle, and spoil.  Nathan and Emily are going to be the proud parents of two little girls (at least that's what the doctor thinks but the babies were moving around too much to get a clear picture).   I am so excited for them and for me.  The girls are really starting to outweigh the boys so I'm thinking that Brittany and Olivia need to have boys this year. Hint, hint.

CATCHING UP

I am not going to bore you with excuses as to why I have been neglecting my blog for so long but I will give you a glimpse of what has been occupying my time.

Visiting old friends.

William and Maia's first day of school.

 Hosting baby showers and attending some too.

Taking part in a service project.

Maia's 4th Birthday 

(and yes, I made the cake, just don't ask how long it took me.)

Sewing baby stuff for...

  this little beauty who just joined our ever expanding family.  Waverlea Francesca was born to Daniel and Olivia just a week ago.  She is a little doll and I was so thrilled to go and spend a couple of days getting to know her. She already has me wrapped around her little finger.  The cutest part was witnessing Daniel in his new role as a father.  He is also the most attentive husband I have ever seen.  He makes Olivia rest and attends to her every need including preparing all the meals and cleaning up afterward.  Where was that behavior when he was a teenager?  Better late than never I guess.

Welcome Waverlea!

INTRODUCING... & A SUNDAY SMILE

The waiting game is over.  Ammon Benjamin made his way into the world on his actual due date weighing a whopping nine pounds thirteen ounces.  He's a handsome little guy with lots of hair and is already a good sleeper at night.  We're all pretty proud of him.

Ammon 

I have a couple of funny stories to share in the next week or two when I'm not quite so busy with my Nona duties.  In the meantime enjoy this little Sunday Smile.

GENDER CONFUSION

I love how curious and candid little kids are.  The things that come out of their mouths sometimes cracks me up.

 One of my boys watching me change his little sister one morning asked.
"Mommy when will she grow her pee pee?"

 I thought that I had explained the difference between boys and girls pretty plainly but obviously not.  Cute but at least not embarrassing, unlike what happened to some friends of mine.  They were visiting some family with their two boys and while there another family member changed her baby girl in front of the two boys.  They watched intently.

 The four year old boy asked. "Where's her pee pee?"

"Oh she's a girl" said the girl's mother "She doesn't have one."

"I have a pee pee" he replied, then added "my brother has a pee pee, Daddy has a pee pee too, but mommy, she just has hair!"

Awkward.

AT LONG LAST

Introducing......

                                                                            Athen Tane


He was born July 15 while I was away in California at a wedding.  I was a little disappointed that he didn't wait until his due date (tomorrow) because I was invited to be there for the delivery.  I told him that he was starting off on the wrong foot but then he snuggled up to me and smiled (it wasn't gas, I don't care what you say) so we're all good now.  It was probably a good thing that he arrived a little early because he weighed a healthy 7 pounds, 13 ounces.  He would have weighed well over 8 pounds had he baked two more weeks.

Mattew and Kere call him their little Maori baby.  I am not sure if it's because of his dark skin and flat nose or because he makes faces like this.

Do you see a resemblance? 

Athen loves his woombie and sleeps so well when he's wearing it.  I highly recommend it to any new mother.  Seriously, it's the absolute best.  I think this will be the gift I'll be giving at baby showers for years to come.

A baby (not Athen) snuggled up in a Woombie.

Yesterday Athen had a bath in the Spa Baby another highly recommended baby product.  He loved, loved, loved, it.  Did I mention he loved it?   I have never seen a baby so relaxed in the bath before and trust me, I have bathed a lot of babies in my lifetime.  He just lay there and didn't move or make a sound.  

He's a sweet little baby and is a welcome addition to our family.  

AKA (almost known as) SHAGGY DOG

Proof that Nathan was a dream child.  He let me dress him in this without complaint.

We thought we'd let our 4 kids have a hand in naming the latest addition to our family.  They decided if the baby was a boy he should be called Shaggy Dog.  We nixed that idea but the boys got their revenge and called him Nate Dog as a teenager. 

He was a dream child from day one.

• one hour total labour. That's right, one hour only.  Every mom should be that lucky.
• slept through the night at six weeks. Pure heaven when you have four other kids to deal with all day.
• rarely cried. Not even when his brothers inflicted pain that would have made even their eyes water.
• was always singing or whistling.  I was a bit worried when all he would sing was Backstreet Boys songs but he outgrew it. Phew!
• kind hearted.  He once offered his sister his ice cream cone when hers fell on the ground without any hesitation.
• happy disposition.  Not much gets that boy down.
• made friends easily. When he enrolled in a new school he told me he wouldn't talk to anyone for three days, he had a new best friend by lunch time.

That little dream child could also be a bit of a nightmare just so you don't think he was totally perfect.

 

He

• ate poop out of the toilet thanks to an older brother who didn't bother to flush or put the lid down. 
• stole cheese from the fridge all the time.  I was forever finding little bite marks on the cheese block.
• flushed toys and toothbrushes down the toilet. I can now remove a toilet seat and reassemble it in no time now, a skill that has proven handy.
• had a party at the house once when we were out. The only one of our kids to ever do this and get caught.  Don't think I am fooled you guys, I know there were other parties... Brittany....

I can't believe my baby is twenty three today.  Where did the time go?  That sweet, sweet boy is now a man I'm still wrapping my head around that one all married and grown up.  It won't be too long until he's a parent himself this is not an announcement although I wish it was.  When the time does come, he will be a great dad.  His nieces and nephews adore him and it's no wonder to me. 

Happy Birthday Nathan!

Don't worry Emily, those teeth have been brushed thousands of times since the "poop" incident.

BABY POOL

Jump in the pool and see if you can call it.  Brittany is due to have her baby on September 24th.  There will be an awesome prize for the person whose guess is the closest to the actual arrival time.

Here comes the small print even though it's not actual small print because I am too lazy to change the font size and I know a few of you too lazy to get your reading glasses out.  You know who you are.

Yes, I will even send the prize all the way to New Zealand, Germany, USA, Korea, France, UK & Mexico.  If you live anywhere else I probably don't know you and that's kind of creepy.

No there will be no skill testing question if you win... a) Because this is not a lottery regulated under Canadian law and b) that would preclude a few of you from winning.

Prize will be deemed awesome by me the prize giver, not necessarily the receiver.

The parents of the baby can enter the contest as long as it is well before labour begins.

Guesses must be received by September 1st.

Good luck!