I'm officially done...

Today at the grocery store I started off at normalish pace, and by the time I got to the bread and meat, I was was walking like a tortoise. My lower back sides were killing. I had to ask for grocery carry out assistance, and would have accepted wheelchair assistance out of there. The cashier, who is my new best friend, told me that her 1st was 11 days late, and her 2nd was 11 days early. I had assumed that since Paige was late, the second may be earlier, but still late! So I am clinging onto the hope that this wonderful person has given me.

Last night nothing was going right...uncomfortable, had Braxton Hicks contractions anytime I walked around, and had sciatic nerve pain down my left leg.

It's nice out today and in order to go to the park we're going to have to drive. And then I'm going to sit on the bench. Speaking of nice we're up to mid 20's the next few days! Nice for a few BBQ's.

On My Own

Paige started a new class today called On My Own. The premise is that the parents wean themselves out of the class until the kids go by themselves. I wasn't sure how it would work, but the parents were encouraged to sit in the background today, and not participate in circle time. It felt odd and like I was ignoring her, but she went around the room playing with various things. I interjected a few times to try to get her to do the craft as they were putting it away soon and she was the only one who hadn't done one. And I got her snack out for her and sat with her. I needed to sit anyway and didn't want to just sit at the side of the room. The next time we go I will have to leave her with a lunch bag and snack that she will get all on her own from a bucket at the front. There were a few times when she wasn't paying attention to the class, and would wander off before the circle times, but the 2 instructors were great at coaxing her to join the group. I don't feel I have anything to be worried about in terms of her behaviour or social skills, I just hope she will be ok if I am not in the room.

Some kids have been through this program multiple times, and are very clingy/have behaviour issues. Well, 1 boy had behaviour issues. He crumpled up all the colouring sheets just as his mom had been spying through the window and she ran back. Later he dumped and flung sand all over the place and kids were wiping out on it. This is his 3rd round, "on his own". Another little boy said, "I want to go home", and a little girl cried everytime her mom walked away from her. Paige has been very concerned when other kids cry and always asks me why they are crying, and often talks about it for the rest of the day. Today in circle time the girl was crying because her mom wouldn't sit with her and Paige turned around and called to me saying, "why is she upset?". I hope that everyone settles in so Paige can really enjoy herself. Unfortunately there is no class next week due to Easter, so we will have to wait till the next week and hope that someone can take her (I am due that week!).

Bedroom updates...

The picture I painted for above her bed...

A new "Trofast" storage unit for "stuffy guys" and small toys....

Random Comment...

At Bath and Body Works today with Katharine and Christy, a greeter came up to us when we walked in and said "what brings you in here today? Something for the Mom-to-be maybe...some stretch mark creams?"

Funny in so many ways...If I was looking for stretch mark creams, you'd think I would get them before my waist was 15 inches larger than its normal size?
And funny because it's far far too late for that!

??? Strange...

the big buildup...

Some of the things we are doing/have done to get ready over the next 3 weeks (or less, or more):


1. Packed the hospital bag. Now Mike just needs to pack some stuff for himself which includes his requisite out-of-control snacks. Last time he packed tons of snacks from Shopper's, including Red Bull, Orange Juice, completely random chips that no one has heard of, and cookies. When I went in to be induced he started in on the chips at about 8:00am, probably due to nerves!


2. Raising the crib mattress up again and putting the mobile and diaper stacker back on the crib.


3. Tidying up and cleaning out. Nesting, in other words.

4. Bought Paige a few small toys--a colouring book, stickers, book, My little Ponies, and puzzle, for when the baby comes home. Things that are new and fun, and keep her occupied.


5. The "Ladies who Lunch" Luncheon. When Katharine and I were both pregnant we went to
Paradiso (a posh restaurant) for lunch when we both finished work. Now this time Katharine, Christy, and I went to Paradiso again for a super yummy lunch, followed by a brownie at Second Cup and a small amount of shopping at the mall. At the mall I stocked up on the Bath and Body Works soaps I like so we won't have to worry about that for a while.

6. Completing Paige's room. I bought a canvas and some paints and am working on a painting for above her bed. Nothing crazy, just copied a design from her quilt. Mike needs to paint a shelf and put it up, and I need to finish another crafy thing I was working on for her room. Then at least her walls will have something on them.

7. Finalizing our baby name choice! We have the first name down, but aren't sure on the middle name.

When you thought I wasn't looking...

(This poem was in the back of a parenting book recommended by a friend, and it really made me think about everything I do...and made me a bit misty eyed!)

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you hang my first painting on the refrigerator,
and I wanted to paint another one.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you feed a stray cat,
and I thought it was good to be kind to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw you make my favorite cake for me,
and I knew that little things are special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I heard you say a prayer,
and I believed that there was a God to talk to.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I felt you kiss me goodnight,
and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw tears come from your eyes,
and I learned that sometimes things hurt,
but it's alright to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I saw that you cared,
and I wanted to be everything that I could be.

When you thought I wasn't looking,
I looked....
and I wanted to say thanks for all the things
I saw when you thought I wasn't looking.

Anonymous

This just in! New Niece pictures...

Elizabeth Jean Pugsley

After a crazy day and an induction 4 weeks before the due date, Jen and James had a baby girl, Elizabeth Jean weighing 7lbs 2oz, and measuring 18.5 inches long. What a big baby for such an early arrival! Good thing she was early! We are so happy for them and so excited, wishing we could be in St. Albert to see them all. So far, she looks like Jen.

What a whirlwind of emotions this past week with the Grandmas, then the surprise and anxiety of a surprise induction and c-section, and then the happiness of the healthy baby.

She's right in the sand this year!

17 degrees!

Don't let the clothes deceive you, it was HOT! She was probably boiling! First time in the sandbox this year.

All dressed up...

I think my Grandma would have loved this outfit Paige wore to the service this morning.

Maybe it was because a lot of people told her they liked her dress, but she does not want to take it off!

Great Grandma Masoure

Early Saturday morning my Grandma passed away at the age of 85. If you haven't read the previous post, Mike's Grandma also passed away this week. We're hanging in there, and are glad that we have happy things to look forward to, and a constantly happy toddler in the house. We would have liked her to meet the next Great Grandchild, and knew she was looking forward to it. I know she loved to see Paige, and she always brightened her day, which was nice over the last little while. We'll really miss our Grandma's.

Great Grandma Turcsanyi

Sadly, Paige's Great Grandma Turcsanyi passed away this week. She lived in Chilliwack, B.C. and we were fortunate enough to have seen her a number of times since Paige was born. She was in Edmonton for Angie's wedding and Jen's wedding, and we were able to have a nice visit. Her and Great Grandpa Turcsanyi also made it out to Burlington for our wedding. Great Grandma and Grandpa Turcsanyi immigrated to Canada from Hungary in 1957.

My Little Sidekick...

I know I already said it, but Paige is a good shopper. It is just so fun to shop with her and walk through the mall with her holding my hand like my little sidekick. Today we shopped at Gap kids, and then rode the escalator for her first time and had a sandwich and a soft serve ice cream. These following pictures have nothing to do with the shopping, but I thought she looked cute this morning and snapped a few before our playgroup. Paige's hair looks like this all the time now as her bangs are growing out and need to be clipped back to avoid crazy hair.

Paige kissing my stomach. She does this all the time.

This is what I see if she stands up next to me:

Did I ever mention the time...

...When I turned my back for a few seconds at the park and Paige shoved a piece of broken glass in her mouth? She was around 12 months I think. I just remembered this as we were at the same park. All was well, but that made me watch her a bit closer from then on!

Craft-to-go

Yesterday was not a good day for Paige. she is finally getting the last of her teeth in. Well, 2 out of 4 anyway. The skin is all swollen as the molars are poking through. We had been giving her tylenol in the night to help with the pain and fever, but she seemed ok in the morning. We left to go to the library at 10:00 without giving her medicine since it was too early for the next dose. While we were there she suddenly burst into a major pouty lip and said ow and touched the side of her face where the more painful looking tooth is erupting. After that it was time for a snack which she wouldn't eat. She also said her stomach hurt (but might be because i asked if it hurt--some friends have had the flu, and i was worried that maybe it was more than teeth). I told her if her stomach hurt we should go home. "No, I want to go to Book Nook", she said. When we went into the classroom she just stood staring at the name tags and didn't care to find hers. I took off her coat and she was very quiet. "I want to go home", she said. Poor thing. I grabbed the colouring sheet of the day and the instructor gave me the other craft in pieces in a bag to go.

When we got home she wanted to "lie down to rest her owie tummy" after having some medicine(i still think it was teeth, rather than stomach). Once the medicine kicked in she was fine. And throughout the day she would go through quiet patches and perk up once the medicine kicked in. I had a doctor's appointment and she fell asleep on the way. I was able to transfer her into her stroller, luckily, and she slept throughout the entire visit, which she probably needed to feel better.

Today is a better day and we are just sticking around the house this morning. We did the craft-to-go.

Baking

Paige loves to help with baking, and I have been doing quite a bit lately. Just muffins, banana bread and cookies. She stirs wildly and flour and sugar get everywhere. Today I had to strip her down right on the countertop as her foot was covered in batter. In the picture above she is modelling her new apron sent from Great Grandma in Arizona. I had an old Second Cup apron on, which was a good thing since I was pelted with flour at one point.

Love our new purchase...

A "Very Hungry Caterpillar" cookie jar from William Ashley!!