today

Just some pictures I took of the girls this morning...impromptu photo shoots are always the best. I managed to get everyone dressed and ready this morning so I thought I'd take a few pictures...even Gabby was willing, so I had to take advantage of the opportunity!



Looking at these photos, it's just hitting me that I have three kids...what the heck? It is still foreign for me to say "three kids". It's been almost a month since Kherington was born, and I'm still getting used to the number 3! But it has been fun. I feel like a broken record when I say this, but honestly, this past month has just been a blur...most days I don't even know what day it is...we're just goin' with the flow. It's all good.



Kherington continues to be the dream baby...she is so awesome at night. Of course she wakes up to eat but getting her back to sleep is always easy, so I'm not dealing with being up for hours and hours during the night. I'm still tired, though! I guess that will last for a while, right? Again, it's all good.



I've been taking lots of pictures that I always intend on sharing, but the days just pass me by. I'll try to share more soon...I even have some cute pages that I did before Kherington was born that I've been wanting to share...but it's getting downstairs to the computer that seems to be the challenge! Oh, well...I'll try to post all that stuff soon, kay?



I'll be back as soon as can!
Tal :)

heidi swapp edmonton date change

Just wanted to make sure that all of you who have signed up for Heidi's workshop on April the 28th know about the date change to May the 30th.



Due to Heidi's somewhat unexpected move back to the states, she has switched her Edmonton day of classes to Saturday, May 30th. And lunch is included in your price this time, too!



You can read all about it here!



Tal :)

2 weeks old

I can't believe it. We took these pictures of Kherington when she was 2 weeks old, and now she is almost 3 weeks old! AAAaaahhh! Time is going by waaaay too quickly. I feel like my baby is getting so big and so old already...*sniff*! I always have a hard time when my babies grow...even though I love every stage, I just loooove newborns. At least she is still teeny-tiny. Sleeping and eating like crazy, but still my teeny little baby.



Someone asked me if the novelty of the baby has worn off for Payton and Gabby and the answer is NO...they are in love with her and are ALWAYS wanting to kiss, hug and hold her. Of course that makes me happy, but I find myself being the referee quite often, too. Oh, funny little girls. Love love love them all.



I really don't have anything else to report right now. We're just enjoying Kherington and I am loving taking it easy. Who cares if none of us get dressed till 2pm, right? It's spring break this week and we have no major plans other than going to the mall tomorrow to take the girls on some rides and wander around for a while. Good enough for me!!


Have a great week,
Tal :)

still here...

I'm still here.



Just trying to adjust to life with this new baby girl and maybe catch some sleep here and there.



I'll be back as soon as I can with more pictures of our cute little bundle.



Tal xo

life with Kherington

Just some random thoughts as we're adjusting to this new and wonderful life with baby Kherington...


-I'd forgotten how much time you spend on the couch and in bed when you have a newborn. Catching up on TV shows while the baby eats, then cuddle time after that. I love it.


-The big girls are adjusting amazingly well (knock on wood). I didn't really know what to expect, but they are in love. Payton always wants to hold the baby (she's good at it, too!) and Gabby calls her "my baby" and always wants to "help" when I'm nursing.


-Kherington is the champion sleeper. I'm trying to enjoy it while it lasts.


-I can't believe how much I love this little one already. She is just so absolutely perfect. I love these early days...I want her to stay like this forever.


-My big girls seem very BIG. Makes me sad, but I'm proud of them at the same time for how much love they've shown their new sister. Everyone is trying to find their place.


-Diaper changes are always an adventure. Again, I'd forgotten just how much babies poop..and just when you clean them up, they poop again!!


-I'm feeling surprisingly mellow. Just trying to go with the flow and enjoy this new baby and this time in our lives.


-Probably wouldn't be feeling so mellow if it weren't for all the help my mom and sister have been giving me. Thank you.


-I could sit and stare at Kherington all day long. Every little sound, facial expression and movement is so exciting. I'm sure all of you mama's feel the same way!


-Remembering life with my other two babies as we adjust to this baby...diapers, blankets, nursing, teeny little outfits, soothers, lack of sleep...it's amazing how quickly we're back in baby mode, and how it's exactly the same as with the other two. So cool.


-Not quite sure how I'll ever get anywhere on time again with 3 kids. We'll see how that goes when the time comes.


-Still not used to being a family 5. That seems like a really big number right now!


-Kherington just reminds me soooo much of my other two when they were babies. Gabby's coloring, but Payton's nose. And so very cute.




To sum it all up, I'm just so happy. I'm feeling really good so far, and just doing my best to spread myself 3 ways and enjoy my kids. And thank goodness for daddy...he's the quiet one that's holding us all together, and doing the dishes, too! I'm so grateful that Kherington is here, and healthy and happy...we all survived the 9 months, and now it's a new beginning. We love her so much.



Off to get some sleep.



Tal xo



P.S. And thank you so much to all of you for your sweet comments and congrats on our new baby girl! I love my blogging friends, I was very overwhelmed at all the comments. Thank you!
:)

Heidi Swapp in Edmonton!!

Okay, ladies!

Here is the link to purchase a spot to "Edmonton All Day with Heidi Swapp"!!!

Get a spot while you can!!!

Tal :)

introducing...

Kherington Gray
March 12th, 2009 
9:42am
5lbs, 15 oz
20 inches long

We're still in the hospital and doing great. Kherington is adorable and we're all thrilled that she is finally here. 

Feeling very, very lucky.

Tal xo

the baby's room

Welcome to the baby's room! I'm excited that it's all finished and ready to go. I had so much fun doing this room and it turned out exactly how I wanted it to...take a look!








I had it in my head that I wanted the crib to be hot pink, and thanks to my husband, that's what I got. This is the same crib from Ikea that both Payton and Gabby used, now with a little face-lift! (Gray had to do like 4 coats to get the pink to cover the wood...thanks, sweetie!)

I'm also not bothering with a mobile for now and just went with my tissue pom-poms instead (how-to here). I just loooove the look of them...so girly and pretty and feminine and fresh...I'd put them in my own room if my husband would let me!






And my mom sewed all the bedding...so perfect! I knew I wanted hot pink and green as my color scheme and after some searching this is what I found. I believe that all the fabrics used in the room are Amy Butler. Love her stuff!






I'm all about using up space for storage...so under the crib I have baskets with clothes for the baby to grow into, rather than having them crowd the closet and drawers. Oh, and tulle just makes everything cuter, right?







Yes, the baby will have a "K" name...well, at least we think so! Hehe! If it doesn't suit her, then I guess the K will be coming down! I had both the "K" and the clouds hand-cut, they're not available for purchase. Sorry! (I know people will be asking!) This frame and the one above the crib are both Ribba frames from Ikea.






The rocking chair...my mom sewed the quilt and pillow, and this little Pooh has had a special place in all 3 of my baby rooms.






The change table. Again, Graham painted it pink and I replaced the handles...it's amazing what a difference a little paint and new hardware can do. The little lamp on the top is from Ikea, too. I love it 'cause it's really dim...perfect for quiet times in the rocking chair.






I also got these awesome baskets at Ikea for organizing all of that random baby "stuff" that collects...soothers, hair-things, baby mitts, whatever. Just all those little accessories that you manage to get. Love them! (Oh, and these flowers are for Payton and Gabby, too...just keepin' them all in one place!)






Okay, I am realizing that everything I buy is fom Ikea. Boring! But it's the right price, and just clean and simple stuff. Know what I mean? These little shelves are from there as well, and work perfectly to hold and display favorite books. (Speaking of books, Karen Katz has become a favorite of mine. Cute, colorful, sweet children's books. Love them.)







And last but not least, the closet. Looking quite organized right now...we'll see how long that lasts! The only clothes I have out are newborn to 3 months...if I pull too much out then it just gets to be too much and too crowded. I'm so lucky to have so much for this little one...with a grandma that sews and tons of girl clothes in this house already, we are set. And now we wait.



Oh, and if this baby happens to be a boy, then I have A LOT of work ahead of me. Ha ha!


Thanks for looking!
Tal :)

coming soon...

...I hope!!!



Here I am at 38 weeks. Graham took some pictures of me this afternoon, I figured I better get some pictures before baby comes! It could be anytime now...I had Gabby at 38 weeks, so we'll see!



I'm finally feeling a little bit ready. We finished up the baby's room today (pictures to come soon), so it's just a matter of getting the house somewhat clean and crossing a few more things off the to-do list. Watch me be like, 2 weeks overdue...oh, man that would be awful! I don't even want to think about that! I'm feeling so many things right now...the main thing is SCARED for the labor. Now that it's in the *very soon* future I am scared...trying to tell myself that it'll all be okay. I'm having a hard time believing that at only 4 years old Payton is going to be a big sister for the second time, and that Gabby is just going to BE a big sister. She's been our baby for 2 and a half years, so I'm definatley sad about that. Tonight when we were putting the girls to bed, Gabby was sad (no more bottles!) so I took her with me to the rocking chair and just wrapped her up and cuddled her...she just seemed so tiny to me. It's sad that pretty soon she will seem huge compared to the baby...I need to treasure these last few days with her as my baby, and life with my 2 girls. Of course I am so excited for the baby to arrive...but I'm just at that point that all of this is becoming a reality, and you know what? Sometimes change can be scary. Exciting, but scary.


Thinking back on this pregnancy, it's hard to believe it's almost over. I remember the afternoon I told Graham I was pregnant. He came home from work and I told him and he totally didn't believe me! I could barely believe it myself...such a funny memory. I somehow made it through the 6+ months of nausea, gaining weight, mood swings, aches and pains...aaaahhhh! What a crazy, crazy time. But what you get in the end makes it sooooo worth it.



I can't wait.



T :)

guess who's coming to town?

Yup, you got it! The one, the only, HEIDI SWAPP!



I am so excited to officially share the news that she's coming! Heidi and I have been talking, emailing and facebooking back and forth over the past few weeks about details, so it's going to be lots of fun. Here's some of the info:

When: Tuesday, April 28th/09 at The Greenwood Inn in Edmonton, AB
Time: All Day (specific times to come soon)
What: A full day of classes with classes with Heidi Swapp
Registration: Open on Monday, March 16th/09 (check Heidi's blog)
Cost: Info available at time of registration


Heidi will be opening registration on Monday, March 16th, so start thinking about it and planning ahead...and more info will be coming then, too! Be sure to check out her blog for updates and I'll keep you updated here as well.


And just for your information: (I know you all probably have alot of questions!)


*Heidi has CHOSEN Edmonton as a place that she wanted to come and teach. How cool is that? She knows there is a strong scrapbooking community here and wanted to come somewhere that she knew would have fun and enthusiastic scrapbookers!

*This is Heidi's "event", or rather "Day of Amazing Classes"! This is not a "Creative Escape" or a "Girls Night Out"...just a day to get down and dirty with her concepts, new products and ideas. You will not want to miss it!

*Yes, she's coming on a Tuesday...remember that Heidi lives in CHINA and has a very very busy schedule when she comes home to the states (and in our case, Canada!). Take some time to look at your schedule and start clearing your Tuesday so you can come! It will be so worth it and lots of fun.


I have known Heidi for a few years now and I can honestly tell you that she is one of the industry's best! Not only is she totally sweet and sincere but she has crazy scrapbooking skillz and ideas and concepts that blow everyone away. She is such an awesome teacher...on the "technique" end as well as the "inspirational end". If you've never had a chance to take a class from her, this is your chance. I would highly recommend it...she rocks!



Like I said, I'll be posting info here as it becomes available. Hopefully I'll see you on the 28th of April!




Tal:)

holy cute!

Monday, Monday, Monday...the start of another week. I've lost track of time since I've been so busy and I can't believe it's Monday again already...but that's a good thing. Graham gets home tomorrow night, so I'm counting down. Haha!



I bought these adorable winter jackets for all 3 of my girls (eek! 3!!) at Children's Place this weekend. Regular $55 and they were on sale for $9.99! How awesome is that? Love me a good sale. They're actually for next year, but they were so cute, I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Well, Gabby refused, but Payton let me take a couple. And then I had to scrap them, too. (thanks to Elsie for the inspiration for the title...that's what I say everytime I look at those jackets!) Serious cuteness! I am in love with the hearts and the color combo...so very happy!


Anyways, I'm 37 weeks and counting. Graham thinks we should have the baby this week...if only we could just "decide" when the baby comes, right? Me...well, I'm thinking I could use another week of sleep. I'm ready, but not *quite* ready yet...the two I have are keeping me busy enough!



Okay, gotta run...lots more to come. I'm hoping to finish up the baby's room by this weekend and a fun announcement is on the way, too!



Happy Monday...hope it's a cute one!



Tal:)