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Well, with the holidays being over we're (kind of) getting back into the swing of things over here. It's been nice to not feel like there's always something I have to be doing...I like it when things slow down a little bit. Gabby's been doing a lot better these past few days, she's actually been willing to eat so that's made things a lot easier. And she's just been so happy, so we love that. And she's been sleeping through the night....we REALLY love that!
I feel like there is always stuff to organize and clean around my house...and no matter how much I organize and clean, there's something else that pops up that needs to "cleaned out". Aaaahhh! Does anyone else feel like this? Anyways, we rearranged our family room last weekend and I love it now...we actually have a clean, functional space. It was so nice to move all of the furniture and clean up in places that you can't get to all the time and dust and vaccum everything. Makes me so happy! We made a little play area for Payton behind the couch which has been awesome...I totally organized all her toys so now she actually can see what she has and she can entertain herself for hours. And the best $30 purchase I've ever made was this little table and chairs from Ikea...she loves to color and will sit there coloring away forever!
And here's Payton in the tub...I went to the movie "Dreamgirls" the other night while Gray watched the girls and this is one of the pictures he took...this little girl can be wild, let me tell ya! But so, so funny. She talks so much...one thing she says lately that cracks us up is "Yee-haw!"...not quite sure where she got that from, but it's funny. And she's awesome at identifying when people are "happy" or "sad"...that keeps her busy for a while when she's in the mood, too. (and if you haven't seen this movie...GO NOW! It was so awesome!)
And here's another picture of my happy little baby...we are just so in love with her. With both her and Payton having been sick on and off since october it's been hard to just sit back and be thankful for my daughters. How lucky I am to have them. How happy I am that I am their mama. How happy they make ME. Gabby has the sweetest personality...she is so easy going...not at all a fussy baby. She is such a blessing to our little family. The other day I watched her and Payton absolutely laughing at eachother. It was so cute and so neat to see them interact...I hope they will be best friends.
Anyways, I'm hoping to get some scrapping done tomorrow...I haven't been able to do ANYTHING in the past month and I'm getting itchy to create. I just want to sit and PLAY. Wish me luck!!
Talia:)
It is hard to believe that the holidays have come and gone, but Christmas and New Years for us was definately busy and fun. All that preparation...and it seems to go by too fast! Like I said, we had lots of fun...and my girls were happy and cute, so that made it all the better. Here is a picture of my happy little Gabby...I love her big smiles!
And this is Payton with her cousin Winter whom she idolizes,,,everyday she asks me "Where Winter go?" and she just babbles away about her. Winter is at that perfect age for playing with Payton...she is so patient and fun with her...I love to see them together.
And me and Gabby at my mom's in front of her (little) tree. (I inherited the big tree this year!)
Do any of you ever shop at Children's place for your kids? I love that store...they have such cute stuff and always have awesome sales. Here are the girls in their Christmas dresses on Christmas Eve...they even had a skirt in Winter's size...so so cute!!
We spent Christmas Eve at my mom and dad's house, just eating, playing games and hanging out...it was nice and low-key. Then on Christmas morning we opened presents at our house...it was nice to do Christmas at our place...every year since we've been married we always do Christmas morning at my mom's, so it was nice to just wake up at home and do the Christmas morning thing. Payton was so cute...she had a pretty good idea of what was going on, and was actually really sweet...we just kept handing her presents and she was just trying to concentrate on one toy, rather than the million that were all around her! haha! Oh, to be a kid again. After that, we headed to Graham's parents to spend the rest of Christmas with them...and let me tell you, there is a full house over there! It was so fun...3 babies, and Payton got to play with her cousins Mya and Kedan...she was very busy. We all just got spoiled this Christmas as usual...just always makes me so grateful for all that we have, and for all the people that love my little family...it was good times. So here's those 3 cute little babies...Gabby, Osh and Jack. I just couldn't get a picture with Gabby and Osh looking at the camera...they just wanted to play with their toys!
So, shortly after Christmas, Gabby got sick AGAIN...we've found that she's just been consistently sick lately. And it's so sad, 'cause she's the happiest baby in the world when she's feeling good. So I took her to the doctor this past Friday and he diagnosed her with asthma. I knew something wasn't right, so I wasn't very surprised to hear this news. I'm just so sad for her...many people are telling me that lots of children "grow out" of their asthma, so I'm hoping that's the case for Gabby...but it doesn't make things easier in the meantime. Luckily we have an awesome doctor and there are medications that can help, so we're just plugging away over here. I'm hoping within the next few days she'll be getting a bit more back to her normal, happy self. Life just never stops, right?
Gray and I also re-discovered our "movie nights" over the holidays...just turning off all the lights, cuddling on the couch and watching movies. It's been so fun...reminds me of when we were first married and had all that time ALONE (hehe!). And seriously, why get ready and go out, when you can just sit at home in your pj's and be comfy? That's the way we see things! So we've had fun.
Now I'm thinking about the new year and what my resolutions should be...the top of my list right now is:
GET MORE SLEEP!!!!!
Hahaha! Happy New Year, everyone!!
...Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you all. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday!
Tal xo
Yup, my baby is two...it is so hard to believe that it has already been 2 whole years since we had Payton. I am having a hard time with the fact that she is growing up. I am so proud of her everyday...she is learning so much and talking so much. I can't believe how quickly she is picking up words and forming her own little sentences. But a part of me is sad...wishes she would just be little forever. But...it is too fun to see her grow and become her own little person. Payton is so full of life...so hillairious. She LOVES Dora the Explorer. She could color for hours (and is just learning that she can only color on PAPER....not my walls and furniture). She loves Barbies, Groovy Girls and any kind of plastic people. She LOVES to dance. I am thinking she will be quite the little dancer. Her favorite color is pink. She ADORES her baby sister and loves to help take care of her. The other night we had Gabby lying on the couch while Payton was playing with her toys. Gabby started fussing, and Graham and I watched as she said "It's otay, Dabby" and covered her up with her blankie and put the soother in her mouth. Then she patted her tummy and jabbered to her until she was happy. Seriously, it made me cry. I was so happy that my little girl cared enough to make her sister happy. Didn't mind taking time away from playing with her toys to take care of her baby sister. These girls kill me, let me tell ya. You never know until you are a parent the plain and simple LOVE that you can feel for these little people. Couldn't live without them.
Sooooo....we had a very fun-filled birthday for Payton. Yesterday after church we went to my mom's for her party...Payton was very excited about her "Dora cake" (she talked about it non-stop) and once she understood that all the present she was unwrapping were for her, she was very happy! Another cute little thing she did...when she opened her present from Gabby (a Dora nightie) she didn't understand that Gabby was giving the present to her....so she opened the nightie and walked over to Gabby and gave the nightie to her. So cute. (I'm gushing, I know!) Anyways, she got way too much stuff, but she's a kid, right? I'm actually going to tuck away a few of her gifts for a rainy day...it's nice to keep some little surprises around! Today we took Payton to West Ed to Build-a-Bear and then on some rides at Galaxyland...she was in heaven. She was so cute stuffing and dressing her bear...and she named her "Bear". Haha! When we got home this afternoon her Aunt Jody and Uncle Ryan stopped by with MORE gifts (aaahhh!) and now she is with her cousin Winter looking at Christmas lights around the city.....and rumor has it that Santa (or "Ho Ho" as Payton calls him) may be stopping by tonight....so we'll see! I wasn't lying when I said this has been a very fun-filled birthday!
We absolutely LOVE you Payton, Happy 2nd Birthday!!!
And for some more very exciting news.....my best friend Kim and her husband just adopted a little baby boy last week. I have been holding this in for about 2 months now and I am just so excited that I can finally share their news! His name is Ryker Fynn Loewen and he is absolutely perfect. I can't even begin to express how happy I am for Kim and Cody. They have waited so long to be parents and just deserve this little guy so much. Seeing Kim as a mother just makes me so happy...to know what they have been through, and to have watched her be so strong through it all...she is amazing. It took me two years to get pregnant with Payton, and Kim was with me every step of the way...we cried together when we felt like EVERYONE around us was having babies...and she supported me and loved both of my babies when they were born. I was so scared to tell her when I was pregnant the first time, and she was nothing but happy for me. She is such an amazing friend....so seeing her and her husband with this new little baby is so very wonderful...like I said, they have been through so much and are such a positive and amazing couple...I love you guys!! I just think that adoption is such a miracle. Kim has shared things here and there with me about the whole process as they've been going through it....to think that Ryker's birth mom loved him SO MUCH that she made such a sacrifice to give him to parents who can give him EVERYTHING and will love him dearly...that is amazing. She wanted Kim there for the birth, she had Kim and Cody go to one of her ultrasounds....how awesome that these 3 people loved this little baby so much and that they got to welcome him into this world TOGETHER, and just in time for Christmas....I love that.
He is a little miracle. Congratulations you guys.
This is my sister-in-law Robin's first baby...isn't he so cute? Jack Foster Kearl was born on Sunday at 3:16pm and weighed 7lbs, 11 oz. Congrats Robin and Dave, hope everyone is doing well and getting lots of rest...or at least trying to!Things have been a little crazy around here, my kids are still sick, so we're just plugging away....can't wait for them both to be healthy and happy again. Makes me really appreciate the times when they AREN'T sick...will I ever see those days again? Hehe!And also, there's a new gallery up at Mosh Posh. The December kit is so cute, go and check it out!Later! T
...and let me tell you, this was no easy task.Take into account sick babies,an accident involving stairs,one trip to the hospital,painting and baseboards being finished up (by the best husband in the world!),moving a couch to the storage unit......the list goes on of all the things we had to get done and deal with this weekend in order to get this tree up! But it's done and it's pretty and it finally feels like Christmas around here. Now I feel like we can slow down a bit. I was getting anxious about getting my decorations up...I mean, come on it's December already! It's by far my favorite time of the year and it just wasn't feeling like Christmas. I usually put my tree up in November so we're a little behind. But like I said, it's done, so now we can just enjoy. And my kids are sick...so we're all tired. I'm hoping that this means they won't come down with anything before Christmas....we'll keep our fingers crossed! Payton is so cute with anything "Christmas"...every tree, decoration, whatever, is "ho ho" to her. So cute. She doesn't really know what's going on, but she gets it enough that it'll be so much fun seeing her on Christmas morning. I can't wait! My Christmas shopping is almost done, so that's another plus, too. Just checkin' things off my list! I have been a bad blogger lately, I'll try to be around a little more! Oh, ya...and somehwere in all the craziness of this weekend I managed to get a little scrapping done with some friends, so that was fun. I love seeing other people's scrap spaces...so cool. Thanks for having us over, Jen! Definately something I want to make a regular thing. It was so nice to just sit and chat and play (all scrap-related) with no distractions...again, thank you to the best husband in the world for holding the fort down while I was gone. Love you!!
I am excited today because I finally got to *DO* something...I feel like since we got home from Texas I haven't really accomplished much of anything. Gray was working nights so that made it hard to do anything in the evenings, but he's done that, so hopefully I can start getting ready for Christmas! So Gray and I took some pictures of the girls yesterday and I made this wreath and our Christmas cards for this year. So much fun. I also was able to get out today and do a little bit of shopping...I got the girls their Christmas dresses and pj's and a few gifts. I'm in the mood to SHOP now! Hehe! My house is coming along...the only thing we need to get done now is baseboards...we'll see if that actually happens before Christmas! I want to start setting up my Christmas decorations though, so, baseboards or not, my tree is going up next week. I'm startin' to feel *Christmasy*!
Sooo.....if you want to make a fun and easy holiday wreath, here's what ya do:
1. Get a cute berry wreath at Michael's, WalMart or wherever
2. Take some cute pictures of you, your kids or family
3. Cut pictures into circles and attach to chipboard circles of the same size (makes pictures sturdier)
4. Sand edges of pictures
5. Attach pictures to wreath with ribbon and you're done!
You can see more images of my wreath here. Have fun!
We're back from Texas! We had a fun trip visitng Gray's parents, it was a very busy week. Graham was helping his dad paint their condo while my mom-in-law and I shopped till we dropped. And ate. And ate. And ate. Definately diet time. Hehe! It was nice to get away and always fun to do some shopping in the states. Graham made fun of me for how many times we had to go back to Target. But I just didn't want to miss out on anything, there's too much fun stuff there! I picked up some fun stuff and a few Christmas gifts...it was weird to Christmas shop in hot, humid weather, though...I'm a canadian girl, I'm not used to being in warm weather in November! Payton had so much fun with papa...she got to play in the water and go on the boat, so she was very happy. And it's crazy how in the one week that we were away, she suddenly started talking. Like, saying tons of words. So very cool. She is just such a little GIRL now, in every way...she is sassy, she has a mind of her own, she is funny and smart. Again...so cool to see her growing up and changing before our eyes. And Gabby was an angel, but that is no surprise. She is such a good baby. She is smiling sooooo much now, and loves to babble away. I love it! And Payton adores her little sister (or "Dabby" as she calls her). The plane rides weren't the funnest, but what do ya do...we probably won't be stepping on a plane with a 2 year old again anytime soon...aahhh! Payton screamed to say the least...i am trying to forget about it. Hehe!
So now I am home and trying to get back into the swing of things. My house still has to be put in order...my walls are empty, but Graham's done all the painting, so it's just time to get my butt in gear and get going on a few things. I am so excited for Christmas...my goal is to get (most) of my Christmas shopping done in November so I can just enjoy December. I hate all the last minute shopping with busy malls and grumpy shoppers all over the place. I want to avoid that if I can! Getting excited to get all my Christmas decorations out and work on a few projects...if I can find the time.
Anyways, you can see more pictures of my Texas trip here. I want to share a few more pictures of when my sister was visiting a couple weeks ago, but I'll get to that soon.
Bye for now!
...to Texas!
Gabby's doing a whole lot better, so we've decided to pack up and go...so Grandma and Grandpa, here we come! Now I'm just busy doing laundry, packing and cleaning the house before we go...all those last minute things.
I'll be gone till the 13th, so I'll post pics soon after that of our first trip as a family of four! Have a good week!!
Tal:)
So, as promised, here are some more halloween pictures of Gabby. She was so so cute in her little pumpkin costume...but what baby isn't cute all dressed up, right? Halloween was fun, but a little bit crazy...I took the girls to their great grandma's for a little visit, and they were quite the hit and the complex that my grandma lives in, let me tell ya. Payton was loving it...waving to all the old people like she was some kind of celebrity (but to them, I guess she kinda was!). Then we headed to my sisters where Payton went trick or treating to a few houses. She was so so cute and probably thought it was pretty cool to be getting free candy for no reason!!
And I've been meaning to share these photos for a while...here are my girls in their matching dresses and cute baby bracelets made by Rebecca Cooper. Aren't they so cute? (the bracelets, I mean) Payton loves being dressed the same as Gabby...I'm sure there will be many, many photos of them in matching outfits in the years to come!!
This has just been another busy busy week. On top of halloween, Graham is (finally!) getting a bunch of painting done inside our house and my sister just arrived with her husband and daughter, Molly today. We spent the day with them and it was so fun...Molly is so cute and Payton adores her. So we'll be doing lots with them over the next few days. And, we're supposed to be leaving for Texas on Monday to visit Graham's parents...they have a condo there...but of course, Gabby has decided to get sick. This ALWAYS happens right before we're supposed to be leaving on a trip...someone gets sick. So we'll see if Gabby and I end up going or not...we still may, but only if she's well enough to fly...these little babies are just too fragile to take chances. So I am bummed and sad...but I gotta do what's best for baby.
And last but not least, there is a new gallery up at Mosh Posh. The November kit is so cute, it was fun to play with. I'll try to be back sooner rather later with more pictures...bye for now! -T
