Queen to My 3 Boys: 2009

Thankful For Mom & Dad?

Life has been busy.

I've posted very little since Chance was born.

I used to post first thing in the morning, before the chaos started. Now, I sleep every moment I can squeeze in. These middle-of-the-night-feedings will kick a mama's butt!

So, until I find great wads of spare time - we know that won't be happening - I'll keep posting just a tidbit here and there.

Today's tidbit is about Kobe's Sunday School lesson:

Kobe came home from Sunday School with a sheet of paper that said...

"I am thankful for my mom because...she makes baby brothers and lets me play Mario.

I am thankful for my dad because...he works real hard and takes care of me and gives me cake."

Now we know what's important to a three-year-old!

Not Chopped Liver, Totally Steak & Lobster

I need to address an anonymous comment left on my last post.

I was excited about Esther being here. I was relieved to have some long-term help. What I forgot to mention was that my sweet Mom took two weeks off work to help me when I got home with the baby.

When I blog, I leave out a great deal of important things that go on in my life. Mostly, it's because we have a busy, exciting life and I don't have all day to sit at the computer and chat about it. I pick snippets here and there. When I look back at my old posts, often I see huge gaps missing and I hope that when I read this when I'm old and grey, I don't think this was it.

Mom came to the rescue when I was recovering from a complicated c-section with Zane. She stayed with me for four whole weeks - helping with the children, doing laundry, cooking, scrubbing, you name it! This time - a much less complicated recovery - she stayed with me for two weeks. Both times were a large sacrifice to her...time off work and time away from Dad. But she's a trooper and we loved having her.

The reason I blogged about Esther and not her is because I didn't get that panicky feeling this time when Mom's departure was looming - I had a long-term helper coming. Also, with paid help, there is no guilt with asking for toilets to be scrubbed or making special requests. When someone is helping because they love you, you take what they're willing to give. when you're paying...well, it's just different.

So, I'm sorry to sound ungrateful. (Some people's children!) I'm totally not.

But...for the record, I've asked Mom to quit her job and be full-time Granny. She hasn't taken the bait quite yet. I guess we have to wait a little longer for steak & lobster!

I love you, Mom!

Pinch Me, 'Cause I MUST Be Dreaming

Dwayne has been trying to get me to find somebody to help me with my home and with the children.

For months.

Pride - I can do it myself, darn it - and finances have stopped me.

At the end of our first day home with all the children, Dwayne said it again. "I know you can do it yourself, but why? I want to come home to a relaxed wife, children that have had one-on-one time with their mom and a clean house that you haven't had to stress over."

I caved.

I made a call to Esther, an 18-year-old from Ontario that I had met last year. Would she be remotely interested?

Less than 2 weeks later, we picked her up at the airport.

Esther is just what I needed. She helps with my home and and helps with the children. She is chipper and cheerful. She fits right in with our family.

On Thursday, I went to a funeral and took the baby. I came home to happy children, three clean bathrooms and a delicious supper. Somebody pinch me...

And thank you, Dwayne, for being the most understanding and gracious husband ever.

Have You Been Pooped On or Puked On Lately?

We went to the city yesterday. Among our stops was an appointment with our accountant.

Yes, I know, I'm an accountant too. Sometimes, though, with the layerings of companies and tax-planning strategies for the next year, you've gotta pull out the big guns that specialize in the corporate stuff. Our 'big gun' - Ron - is a partner at a great accounting firm.

On the way there, Chance managed to poop and puke on me. For some reason, Dwayne found this hilarious.

"What're you laughing at?" I ask.

"I was just thinking of the days when you wanted to chase your career and now you're in the backseat of the truck, nursing a baby, getting pooped on and puked on."

"If you keep laughing, I'm going to ask Ron for a job and chase my career again!"

During our appointment with Ron, I brought this up.

His response? "Just stay where you are and keep doing what you're doing. We all get 'pooped on' and 'puked on' in our jobs - just in different ways."

I'll have to keep this in mind on those days when the grass is looking a little greener on the other side...

Our Baby Chance

He finally came...

Chance Jaxon

8lbs 4oz

20 1/2" long

1 1/2 hour delivery - start to finish

He didn't even wait for Daddy to get to the hospital!

The Waiting Game

I'm still alive, honest. I am in the 'city', playing the waiting game until this little baby boy decides to make an appearance. I have very limited internet and can not figure out how to post on my new BlackBerry...stupid technology!

I can receive your comments, but can't post. I wanted to at least let everyone know I'm still kickin'...and so is the baby!

No Snow, Not Yet!

I woke up yesterday to the children dancing around and singing something about it snowing. Indeed it was.

They were so excited!

I was not!

I always say that I wasn't meant to be born in this country. I tolerate the winters to 'get to the good stuff'.

Thankfully, the snow didn't last long enough to get to the ground. It's not here to stay yet, but here are some pictures of this summer to look back at wistfully while winter looms...

That's me driving - all big & pregnant.

Isn't this the way all children travel?

My dad, my brother and Dwayne are throwing rocks across the river. I tried and tried to get them in sync, but when the competetive testosterone is flowing, it's hard to get any cooperation...

Kobe rode with my Dad all day - you just couldn't tear him away.

This guy still makes my heart leap...

Aiy, aiy, aiy - I have a love-hate relationship with pregnancy pictures. I want to have them so I can remember, but it is painful looking at all that largeness!

I'm going to pretend I didn't hear Kobe say, "Let's go snowmobiling!" yesterday and enjoy the rest of Autumn before the white stuff comes to stay.

Little Forest Elves

Our forests have always looked so enchanted to me.

When the children started running around on the soft, mossy forsest floor, I couldn't help but think Little Forest Elves!

Fire Prevention Week

This week is Fire Prevention Week in Canada. We will be spending time learning about fire prevention in our home, including making and practicing a family escape plan.

I encourage your family to learn/review fire safety tips this week. I also encourage you do develop/practice a family escape plan. You just never know when you'll need it...

Our Fall Fair

Our fall fair was late this year - although not as late as I'm posting about it. Don'tcha just hate it when life gets in the way of blogging?!

Dylan participated for the first time. He mostly entered homeschool projects that he'd done throughout the year. His Lego display, though, was made specially for this occasion.

Winning so many ribbons caused much excitement around our home. He wore the medallion that he received for many days and pinned all his ribbons up on display. Since then, I have heard this statement more than once: "Oh, this is a good one. I'm going to enter it in the Fall Fair next year."

Kobe entered a scarecrow and a collage that he'd done. He received a 'first' ribbon for each of them, but didn't care much.

I entered my scrapbook and a photobook I did up and had printed by Blurb. It's fun to show the community what happens in this lil' home of ours.