Sometimes Just Talking About It Makes You Feel Better

Last night Micah came into our room in the middle of the night acting really weird. He was crying and didn't want to be touched- very unlike him. I thought maybe he was sick. He wouldn't answer our questions about what was wrong. Finally it occurred to me to ask whether he was scared, and then he told me that he was thinking about a scary part in the movie he'd watched in the afternoon. He told me about what he thought was scary and I listened. At that point I had to go to the bathroom. I told him I'd be right back and I figured we'd talk some more. But just sharing that information had evidently set his mind at ease, because by the time I got back he was sound asleep, and he slept through until morning.

This is a lesson about keeping things to oneself. They tend to get bigger and scarier when they're locked inside our heads. Once we share them with others often we realize that their teeth and nails aren't quite as sharp as we thought they were.

Napper No Napping

Micah has abruptly transitioned to No-Nap Micah. Mostly. He will eventually go to sleep, but it takes me 30 minutes to talk him into it and I just don't have that kind of energy right now. He could still use a nap every couple of days, I think. The other day he fell asleep in front of the tv for the first time since he was newborn. That was cute. But mostly he gets through the day alright.

Today we had our first Double Quiet Time. Eva hung out in the playroom, Micah and I hung out in the bedroom. Micah brought a bunch of toys in and I instructed him not to bother me so I could try to nap. I never expected to have a serious nap, but hoped to get some dozing in, and I did. I think he did pretty well considering it was his first Quiet Time, it was an hour long, and he is only two. We'll keep working on it. I am a firm believer in the value of Quiet Time for all members of the household (perhaps especially me?).

Amigurumi Baby Gifts

It is so hard to buy gifts for people you don't see regularly! You just don't get that same feel for what they might need/want via email/blog/telephone that you would if you saw them in person. Or at least I don't. So I have been agonizing over baby gifts for as long as 11 months. When I started to really get into the crochet animal thing it occurred to me that one of my homemade stuffies might make a good baby gift. So I kicked it into high gear. I was hoping to make eight to honour all the babies born to close friends in the last year, but all I could manage were three. Here they are:

Pink Bunny found her home with Addison

Blue Bunny was made with the same pattern and wool, but a smaller hook and tighter stitches. What a size difference!

Riley has apparently become quite attached to Blue Bunny

Leo the Lion

Koen enjoying Leo

Aerial view of Leo

Mouse in the House

A couple of days before Andrew joined us in Canada, he told me he had seen a mouse in the house. He repeatedly emphasized that it was a small mouse, expecting I guess to reassure me. I don't care if it's a family of small mice making a home in my underwear drawer... I don't want any mice making a home in my underwear drawer!

He put out a couple of traps and some kind of goo tray and left without finding our little friend. Terrific.

I was happy to come home to an absence of tiny turds, but still unconvinced that our small problem was actually solved. Andrew preferred to think that the little guy had just strolled out the way he had strolled in.

Today the mystery of the mouse was solved. Claudia was cleaning behind the guitar cases and came across a Definitely Dead small mouse. The kids were fascinated. Claudia was repulsed. I had her peel it off the wall anyway. Enjoy the photogs.

Home Again, Home Again

Winding up our first full day back at home in Torreon. It is weird and normal all at the same time. We've pretty much stepped back into life. Everything is familiar and routine. Which is good and bad. This is our home after all, and there is a certain comfort to being home. But we MISS our loved ones! And spending the whole day together as a family unit, every day. We sure miss Andrew when he's at work.

This trip to Canada was exceptionally rich. We really focused on spending our time with people, and were so blessed by that decision! We have so many extraordinary people in our lives. Thank you to everyone who carved out time for us. We felt very very loved. (And sorry to those of you we didn't get a chance to see. Vacations are always too short!)

I think I can speak for Andrew when I say that a huge highlight (among very many) was seeing our kids with their cousins. Even at such a young age, the kids just know there's something special and different about family. And it shows in their play and comments. That special bond is so tangible.

You could see that the kids recognized that there was something different about all the loved ones we spent time with, and adjusted their behaviour accordingly to be much more open and comfortable than they are with people we are not as close with.

While we did focus on people, we managed to squeeze in some shopping, and came home with most of the things we needed, including: a new maternity swimsuit for me! Goodbye Ursula the Sea Witch swimsuit, hello much more flattering and form fitting swim dress (not even maternity, but it works). I also bought a boatload of new cloth diapers, and was gifted a boatload of used cloth diapers. Thank you so much Louise and Melissa!!!! I am super excited about my foray into cloth diapering. Ridiculously excited, some might say. I am actually saving the washing and organizing of said diapers as a reward for completing my 'coming home to-do list'.

I could devote a whole post to how much I love and appreciate my bed. We bought it right before we moved here. It has been worth EVERY PENNY. Seriously, almost every night we comment to each other about how much we appreciate that bed. We give thanks to God for that bed. It's worth it to spend a little extra on something you spend 1/3 of your life using.

It's hot here. I don't know why I feel I have to comment on that. Of course it's hot here. It's the middle of summer and we live in the desert. So far though, I'm holding up well.

I'm feeling quite nesty. Have the energy to go that extra mile around the house. Like, if I see something out of place or dirty, to do something about it. Hopefully that lasts for a little while. It is nice to hang around in a neat and clean home.

Our yard is amazingly overgrown. I hope our gardener can come tomorrow.

My van is amazingly coated in dust. I hope I get around to washing it tomorrow.

My ficus tree is still alive!!! Whoohoo!! Last summer all my house plants bit it while I was gone.

Maybe I'll even buy a few more house plants now that our annual lengthy absence has passed. Good to have that extra oxygen in the house. Anybody have suggestions of VERY hearty houseplants that tolerate dry conditions and neglect?

Seattle

On Tuesday we had the privilege of hanging out with Andrey in Seattle. We got down there at 11 or so and spent the next 3 hours hanging out with Andrey, Colleen and Matt. Very fun times. The kids rocked it out on the backyard play structure. They loved the mach 1 slide (it was very fast)...Andrey got a good work out catching the bads. Thanks Colleen for the awesome lunch and snacks.

Here are a few photogs of the day...

This fountain was great. The kids had a lot of fun running around and being scared.


Andrey was teaching the kids how to ride the animal statues...As I recall Andrey is an expert at this....


Guy and I walking to get our coffees from the original Starbucks.


Andrey doing his best Micah impression....


Micah giving away Andrey's quarters....these guys were good singers.


The kids were loving Uncle Andrey....However, Eva was wondering where Auntie Jen was....Andrey had to explain to Eva numerous times why Auntie Jen wasn't there...It was cute.

Already More Than a Week!

Can't believe we're more than halfway through our time here in Abbotsford. We have been keeping very busy and loving all the great times spent with family and friends.

We've had lots of fun times in Al & Alice's back yard: visiting, playing, splashing, eating... The kids are so comfortable here at Grandma & Grandpa's. They love their special beds that Grandma set up for them, and the special activities she does with them. One of their favorite parts about being here is spending time with their cousins. Eva keeps asking how many more sleeps til she sees Megan again. It is a delight to see them running around and playing together and loving each other.

We've also managed lots of local Nerd time (Melissa has written a comprehensive post explaining what and who the Nerds are). It has been awesome. Between four families there are nine kids!! It is mayhem. In a good way. When we all walked to the park the neighbors just kind of stood wide-eyed and watched the parade pass by. All the kids (ages 6 months through 6 years) play together sooo well. Us adults play together pretty well too ;)

Louise somehow ended up ferrying kids from three different families to the park. Her little guy Koen is in the baby carrier, and Torie's Addison is in the stroller with Micah.

Melissa

Eva pulling her weight... at least

Today we headed to Tsawwassen for to visit with a good portion of the B.C. Troniaks. It was so good to see everyone. We also really enjoyed having some time on the beach at Boundary Bay which is a short walk from my aunt and uncle's house.

Tuesday we'll head down to Seattle for the day to see another Nerd who is flying in from the Philippines for a conference. So great. Later in the week we're planning a day trip to Whistler. I've never been there so I'm really looking forward to it.

I know the rest of the trip is going to fly by!

Check out Andrew's blog to see more photos of our time here.