Random Shots

Just a few pictures of Reid from the last few weeks. Mowing the lawn with dad. Worked for a few minutes, then it got annoying.

Popping some Proseco for our anniversary.

Chilling with the caterpillar that he loves and that he got from cousin Paige. Yellow, yellow, yellowKind of stunned, but laughing at grandpa.

Chew chew chewSleepy faceSitting with grandpa. Again with the chewing on anything he can get his hands on. Even if they are his own hands.Such a sweet baby face. In his new sleep sac with one of his many animal friends.

All smiles with grandma

Busy Week

End of July. Cannot believe it. Summer is half over. It's crazy. Less then a week and Christien will be home and we're going to BC for a whole two weeks. Christien has our itinerary with him at work, and we're planning on taking our time getting everywhere. Lots of stops for Reid. That'll just give us loads of picture ops. That's my reasoning. I think that's how patience becomes you... You start to take the bad and turn it into good. Yeah, we might need to stop every hour (the poor baby is strapped into a seat, going backwards in the car), but let's just make it fun.

Either way, I am super stoked to see Jenni and Ryan, and my aunt and uncle in Kelowna. We're going to go to Cedar Creek vineyard. Three years ago we were there getting married and now we're going back with our son. Vancouver is going to be a bit of a quick stop, but I really want to go to Stanley Park. Reid will love the trees. And I want to go to Kitsalano. Get his feet in his first of many oceans. Taking the ferry it going to be so much fun too. I really hope we see some whales. More for me then for Reid, cause he won't get it. I had to force him to look at the shark at Big Al's this week. He thought that it was cool, but it was right in front of his face and it took him awhile to get it. So I'm not thinking that some whale tails will do it for him right now. But for me! I've never seen the whales on the ferry over to the island, so that would be so cool. Then we'll be with auntie Tania and uncle Manfred for a few days. Christien wants to head to Nainaimo for a day to visit a guy that he works with, so that'll be cool too. Auntie Tania and uncle Manfred have a pool in their backyard. Reid is going to LOVE that. Let's hope it helps to tire him out at night. And we're going to see my friend Mel, who moved to England a few years ago. She'll be back in Vernon visiting family while we're there. So excited to see her and Isabelle.

I'm trying to keep busy while Christien is gone. I've only got two more days of strollercize left for this month. I think that I'm going to do mommy and baby yoga at the end of August to keep up the working out. I'm going to a Norwex party on Thursday too. I've always seen the stuff, so now I'm going to look at it up close. Reid had some crazy eczema for awhile there, and I was thinking that this kind of stuff might be pricey but could be good for him. We'll see what they have to offer. Patio on Saturday. Can't wait to meet up with some friends.

We got our toys from the Discovery Toy party the other day. Of all the toys that I bought for Reid, I just gave him one. The other two were for "older" babies. However, he loves his triangle. He totally plays with it! I'm going to host a toy party at the beginning of November as there were a few of my friends who were interested in the stuff that they had to offer. It's a very cool company. Anyways, I thought that the beginning of November would be perfect cause it would give us some time to get our toys before Christmas. Exciting.

Let's pray this baby gives me more then two hour sleep intervals tonite. He's starting on solids tomorrow!

Grandpa and Grandma came for a visit

And what a visit. Sunday night, Christien and I were able to go to a movie together (Inception, so great), and dinner. It was amazing. Amazing to be out of the house by ourselves, and to be able to just have normal conversations. It was a wonderful way to celebrate our anniversary even if it was a couple of days early.

The grandparents stayed until Thursday and it was wonderful. I got to have two naps in two days. It was a great way to refresh, especially after Reid reverted back to only sleeping for two hour blocks at night. I was still feeling pretty exhausted this morning, but I think that it has to do with him sleeping so little as well as the frustrations building within me cause I just don't understand why he's sleeping so little. He's five months old now. I'm not asking for "through the night" but I'd like a little more then two hours at a time. It might sound crazy but I would rejoice at consistent blocks of three hours. That, would be a miracle.

I didn't have to do any cooking while my parents were here either. And they made enough food to last me for a week or two... I even got some chores done that I wouldn't have been able to get done without some help. It was great. Gotta love the grandfolk.

Momma's Night Out

I went out with some girls for the first time since Reid was born, last night. We went to see Kid Rock at the Stampede. Super wicked awesome. It was nice to get out of the house on my own for something other then groceries. Was still home by midnight, but what a fun grown up night. Reid's been a bit fussy lately, so I think that Christien had a bit of a crying baby on his hands for a few hours. I sort of felt that I had to rush home while I was out, but once I really thought about it, Christien is Reid's dad. They're fine, even if he is screaming or crying. It would be more fun if he didn't, but that's what happens sometimes. It happens to me lots when Christien is gone. Sometimes even when he is here. There's no better way to learn patience and how to deal with it, then to experience it. They need their daddy and son time anyways. Tomorrow my parents get here, and Christien and I are going to dinner and a movie for our anniversary. Wow, a whole meal that we'll get to eat together without rushing through it. I cannot wait. And a movie theater... Without the baby?? Exciting!!

What's Been Going On...

July has been a pretty busy month so far. I can't believe that it's already half over. Mum came to visit at the beginning of the month. It was great to only be by myself for one week rather then two this time around. Mum, Reid and I got to spend some really good times together. Just hanging out. She was here for Canada Day. Christine and Cash came over for a BBQ. It was cold and windy all day, but when they got here the clouds sort of disappeared and we got to spend the rest of the afternoon/evening on the deck. It was great. Amber came by for a bit. She had just gotten back from England, so she was a bit jet lagged. Glad that she came over though.

We had our Third Annual Patio Party on the 10th. It's always been a good time, and this time was no exception. Stacey and Ty came down. Which was a surprise. I was expecting Stacey, but not Ty, so that was totally cool for him to come. My cousin Paige and her boyfriend also came down from Edmonton for the festivities. It's always been super nice for our patio party. So hot on the back deck... This year was not so nice. It was gorgeous all week long, and then Saturday hit and the clouds came in. It poured Friday night, and I was hoping that would be it. However, all day Saturday it was just nasty. Dark clouds, but no rain. I kept thinking that I could see them splitting apart and blue skies coming, but that never did happen. As soon as Christien fired up the BBQ the rain started, and I really don't think that it stopped. People were still hardcore and tried to be outside on the deck, but they were coming in soaked. Curtis walked in the house, eventually, with two large tented tarps. We were like "Where did those come from??", "Curtis brought them", "From his truck", "No, he just bought them from Superstore". Way to come through Curtis!! It was awesome. The guys were all out there setting them up in the rain (and probably Alana too). It was a nice warm day, so we did end up spending some time outside under the tarps. No wind, just rain. Either way, it ended up being a super fun time.

We went to Montana on Monday. Were supposed to stay till Thursday but ended up coming back on Wednesday. Reid was having a super bad time. He was not happy in the car the whole way down there, and he was super fussy and in pain (atrocious diaper rash) for the rest of the time. So we figured spending $100 to sit in our hotel was a waste of money, and came back early. We did do some shopping, but were kind of rushed. Now that I am home, I'm looking at all the things that I wanted to buy and never really looked for. But that's okay. Kalispell isn't going anywhere. We're supposed to go to BC in August. I think that Christien is bailing on us (I really hope not). I'm going to trek through, even though we had a bad experience once. We also had a good one when we went to visit Dale in Castlegar. I think that we just pushed Reid a bit too much in the car this time. We broke up the Castlegar trip into two days, and from here to Fernie (which is about a 3.5 hour ride) we stopped three times. We need to think more about that. I don't have any issues with stopping once an hour for 15 minutes or so. Makes the trip longer, but that's what you have to do when you have a little one.

Now we're back, and we have a few days together before Christien heads off to work again on Monday. Mum and dad are going to be here Sunday to watch Reid for us, so that we can go out together for our 3rd anniversary. I am thinking that a nice dinner out will be so nice. No interruptions. Eating at a normal pace... Sounds like heaven.

As Promised...

Here's a couple shots of our little swimmer on his last day of classes. Go figure, we bring the camera to take some shots on the last day, and I get three off and it dies on us. Oh well, there will be more swimming classes for sure. He got his report card on Friday too!! So proud of the little guy.

Lil' Swimmers

Mum has come and gone. And now Christien is back home. The last stint that he was gone went by super fast. I think that I'm keeping myself extremely busy. The week that mum was here, she said that she was exhausted keeping up with me. But I do what I have to do to make the time go by faster. How much fun would we have sitting at home all day long?? Not much, that's for sure.

Reid started his swimming lessons on Monday. It was everyday this week for half an hour. It's been so much fun. We went by ourselves on Monday cause Christien didn't get back till late. And since then it's been the three of us. He's been having a blast. He can float, and kick, and even got dunked. Every class. I'm still weary of it, but he does it, and doesn't freak out. The instructor said that if you can do it with them now, then they won't be afraid of the water when they are older. He always looks pretty shocked when he comes up, but not like he's going to freak out or anything. It's been so much fun. I'm going to look into more swimming lessons for the end of the summer. I think that Lil' Swimmers is just the first of a set of classes for the little guys, but I'm not sure where to go from here. I've got two cousins who swam their whole lives. They both ended up coaching when they got older, so maybe he's got a little of that in him. He sure does love the water though. I can't wait to get him in my aunt's pool this summer.

We're heading to Kalispell on Monday. Got a cute little hotel (I hope) that has a pool, so we can hopefully tire the little guy out. We ended up getting a Junior Suite, so we'll see if it's as nice as the one in Fernie. It'll be nice to be able to put him to bed in one room and still sit up and chat and watch TV in the other without worrying about waking him. I can't wait to hit up Target. I have no idea why I love that store so much. And Costco. They have a great deal on beers and wine. Also, Christien is looking forward to Famous Dave's BBQ. Funny little joint. We're hoping to head to Whitefish as well, and maybe get a hike or two in. Check out the town a bit better then when we were there in October. It was cold when we were there last. And we were there over a weekend so when we went into Whitefish on the Sunday, everything looked pretty deserted. I think that it might liven up in the summer time. We'll see, but I sure am excited.

In August we'll be heading out to BC for two weeks. Stops include Kamloops to see the Witzaney's, Kelowna to see my aunt and uncle, Vancouver to hit up Stanley Park and Kitsalano, Victoria to see some more family, and then Vernon to see my buddy who lives in London but will be visiting her folks in BC for a few weeks. Lucky that our trips will overlap. Sounds like a lot, but we've got about two or three days in each stop so I think that it's going to be mega loads of fun. I can't wait to hit up the ferry with Reid. I haven't been on the ferry in YEARS. Maybe we'll even get to see some whales this time!!

We haven't taken any pictures of swimming yet. Brought the camera today, but Reid was having a bit of an off day and didn't really want to stay in the water any longer then necessary. That's OK. We'll try with some pictures again tomorrow and I'll post them as soon as I can.