Da Room

After months of waffling about which room to put which child in, we finally made a permanent decision. Or to be more accurate, I finally made a decision. We had been planning on leaving Isabelle in her room and putting the new baby in our newly cleaned out study, but I kept going back and forth because of the size of the rooms. Isabelle's room is smaller, and is already set up as a nursery.

When we were at Ikea we chose a color scheme and some bedding. The twin bed is just a reading/sitting area for now because we'd like her to stay in the crib as long as possible! This morning Christy and Dane took Isabelle out for the morning and for lunch so we raced around assembling the furniture (Ben) and buying the remaining linens needed (Mel). While she was sleeping this afternoon I washed all the new stuff and hemmed the curtains. Ben will put the finishing touches on the blinds tomorrow.

BEFORE

AFTER

Isabelle was super excited about "da room" and we had some great play time in it after dinner. She went to bed very happily. I can't believe it's finally done, except for hanging up a few things on the walls.

Ikea

We enjoyed a much needed trip out of town today and headed to the Ikea near Detroit. We had a list of furniture items to complete both the nursery and Isabelle's new room (yes, Mom, I changed my mind AGAIN). We got there at lunch time and ate at Wendy's first before the big shopping trip.

Isabelle did really well. Ben stayed with her most of the time while I tried to go quickly through the store. She really enjoyed the children's room section and kept going through this doorway that had streamers hanging down through it.

Near the end she was quite cranky, because she has a cold and she was overdue for a nap. When we got to the check out, Ben stayed in line with our mountain of purchases while I showed Isabelle the only way I can get her Daddy to come to Ikea - the promise of an ice cream cone at the end. They didn't have utensils and I didn't have a spoon in the bag, so I decided to try the cone with her. After about 5 minutes she said, "I have ice cream.", which meant she wanted to HOLD the cone. It was fine until it was over and she totally melted down, but was asleep 5 minutes after we pulled away from the store.

The first thing she said when she woke up 80 minutes later was, "I like it, that ice cream cone."

Getting Ready

Here's an update on baby #2. I had an appointment on Monday, including an ultrasound. The baby is roughly 7 pounds, and measuring as if it was 38 weeks (I am 36). I am having some contractions, although they always stop, so it's not like we're going to the hospital anytime soon. My prediction is before November 20. But you know how dangerous that is!

This week and last I have been focusing on finishing up church work. It feels good to at least finish SOMETHING, and to be able to mentally let go of at least one part of life. Next week I will turn again to the house and doing more things to get us more prepared for life with two.

In Pictures

I have been fairly depressed about my ability to photograph Isabelle over the last six months, hence the lack of new pictures of her. I need a new camera. The pictures are usually blurry because she's moving most of the time. I can never capture her in a way that truly looks like her!

I have sunk to a new low.
I have begun to photograph my child while she is watching a video.
It's the only time she is still.
She doesn't smile...but at least she's still.


Here's the only other good one (ONE!) from the last three months.

Sentences

"Mummy, look. Cars." (Sally, Mater, McQueen.....)

"I have stinky pants."

"I want....Dane."
(referring to Uncle Dane, when only Auntie Christy was here to babysit)

"What happen?" "MESS!!!!!"
(referring to when she has dumped a tub of plastic fruit or other such noisy toy all over the laminate floor)

"Mummy all wet!" (after she has dumped cupfuls of water out of the bathtub onto me)

"I want talk Daddy's phone."

"Shoot!" (when things on the floor have dropped)

She uses "I have" sometimes when she means "I want" so it results in things like, "I have beads." or "I have pen.". Also, association is played instead of rote repetition, resulting in conversations like this.

Me: Isabelle, can you say "Oma and Opa"?
Isabelle: Chris. (Uncle Chris)
Me: Say "Oma and Opa".
Isabelle: Chris.

Me: Isabelle, Grandma's coming!
Isabelle: Rika! Peppi! (dogs....that live with Grandpa Ed and Grandma Jean)
Me: Can you say "Grandma and Grandpa"?
Isabelle: Rika! Peppi!

Baby, Baby

I'm just getting in under the wire with a post during September.....here's hoping that the next few months will be a little more blog friendly.

Many have asked how my pregnancy is going so I thought I'd do a little recap.

During months 1-5 I was very sick. Tired. Laid down as much as possible. Hungry but little success with finding foods that relieved my nausea. Down. Wondered how I would manage with a nursing baby and an active toddler.

In early July, when I was probably at my lowest point in the pregnancy, my mom announced that she would come visit for awhile and that changed everything. She stayed for 10 days and cleaned, organized, watched Isabelle, cooked and just generally cheered me up. I mean, I appreciated all that she did, but the best part of her visit was her company. Each night at about 8:00pm we would quit working and then play Scrabble, eat snacks and talk. When she left, I felt completely different about facing the rest of the pregnancy and the early days with a newborn and toddler.

My morning sickness finally left in mid-August (around week 25) and that was a welcome relief! I have gotten a lot bigger, faster, during this pregnancy and so in August I started having all the discomforts that I didn't have until month 8 with Isabelle (difficulty finding a sleeping position, tying my shoes, etc.) That has slowed me down somewhat, but also given me an excuse to avoid picking up things off the floor. :)

I continue to feel enormous, and I've both been physically uncomfortable with size/weight of the baby, and also a lot more self-conscious this time around. Last time I felt special and cute. This time I feel huge and awkward.

The baby has been active, but in different ways than Isabelle. She kicked a lot, repeatedly. This one does a lot of large motions, stretches and changes of position. It also gets the hiccups a lot, sometimes four times in one day. Here's the ultrasound photo at 20 weeks (late June). We chose not to find out the gender (again).

This post would not be complete without mention of how amazing Ben has been during this pregnancy. He has cooked a great deal, gotten groceries early in the morning before going to work, helped try to find foods that would relieve my nausea, taken Isabelle outside after dinner to let me lie down, never complained about the state of the house, changed his work hours to allow me to go in during higher energy times, calmed me down during irrational outbursts of fear and exhaustion, rubbed cream into my feet every night and just generally has been a ray of sunshine at all times.

I am currently 32 weeks......
Due Date: November 27

Ice Cream

When Isabelle was younger she did not like ice cream. We tried giving it to her repeatedly and she would say "no, no" and not open her mouth. About a month ago someone took her to our local "Cone Shop" and this person jammed it into her mouth when she wasn't looking.

Then she wanted more. After repeat trips to the Cone Shop, she knows exactly where it is. In fact, when we drive by from multiple directions she still somehow recognizes it, and declares "eee keem".

So tonight I was putting her to bed and singing our current night-time songs (Holy, Holy, Holy and Open the Eyes of My Heart). She joins in on the "holy" part - it's very sweet. It's a wonderful, worshipful moment and all of a sudden in the middle of the song, she perks up and looks at me with intent eyes and says "eee keem! eee keem!".

"Nice songs, Mom, but isn't ice cream great?"

Ontario in June: Ottawa

One day during the trip we traveled to Ottawa to see more family. We spent a morning with the dearest, sweetest niece in the world, Lia. We had a great lunch and went to the park together. The girls enjoyed the swings and slide, and they also chased the birds a little.

Lia is really growing and changing so it was really a treat to see her again.



We ended the day with a delicious dinner at Oma and Opa's house. Lisa and Chris were also there. Isabelle helped Oma and Opa with the dishes after supper and enjoyed dumping water all over the kitchen floor! She also ran up and down the ramp about a million times, and made Auntie Lisa chase the tennis ball many times after throwing it into the flowers.

Ontario in June: Grandma and Grandpa's House

Isabelle was quite thrilled with all the exciting activities at Grandma and Grandpa's house during our visit. She spent many hours in the swing going "whee" at the top of her lungs, playing in the sand with Grandpa, riding her "bike" in the driveway, making chalk marks on everything she could find and trying to splash in Rika's water dish.

Grandpa and Isabelle in the sandbox

Ontario in June: Brother Ben's Grad

Yes my friends, it's been awhile. But we're back after weeks of vacation and general activity. So if you're willing to forgive, then keep reading.

What have we been up to since June? We truly kicked off summer with a week of vacation in Ontario during the end of June. It was brother Ben's high school graduation so we arranged to be there for the grand festivities. Ben introduced the speaker and also played drums for the congregational singing. He looked great and was great. Ben will be living at home next year, while practicing his scads of instruments, attending Frontenac Secondary for a few credits and attempting to save some money for university.

Splash Pad

It has been very, very hot here. Isabelle trots to the door first thing in the morning and says "'side, 'side?" We've been sticking to the basement most days, with the exception of morning walks. Today we met up with some people from church at our neighborhood splash pad.

Isabelle loved it. She got completely soaked and was not afraid of the water at all (must be thanks to Ben's hair rinsing techniques). She did fall at one point while running excitedly and skinned her knee, but after a quick hug got right back out there.




I took the video with my digital camera so it's rough, but I thought it'd be nice to see!

I Want to Ride My Bicycle

We got the bike trailer back at Christmas as a present to ourselves and Isabelle. We've used it LOTS as a stroller, but kept waiting for the right time to try it out behind the bike. Friday morning was it and we had a glorious ride. Isabelle was very happy to have her snack, drink and books with her, and she didn't complain about the helmet until the very end, as you can see in the photo.

We look forward to a lot of good rides this summer.

Wedding

Last weekend we were at my cousin Mark's wedding in Windsor, Ontario and it was a great time with the extended family. We really enjoyed seeing Grandma and Grandpa. Grandma had a stylish new dress with a crocheted sweater.....she looked not a day over 60!

Isabelle was not yet ready to experience a wedding so during the ceremony she and her dad picked rocks in the parking lot. During the reception they went to Swiss Chalet for dinner (their first time at a restaurant alone!!), played at a park and then watched Shrek in the hotel room. Fun was had by all, especially me, who got to eat a sumptuous wedding feast while it was hot and participate in adult conversation. Family - you were a lot of fun to be with!! More pictures from Alison and Shawn.

Ben and Joanna

Picking rocks with Grandpa

Go 'Way

When I began this blog, I never intended that I would post this kind of story, and I won't be making it a habit, but this one just seemed too funny to pass up.

On Saturday we were at a Chapters bookstore with Isabelle. After playing at the train table for awhile she decided to explore the rest of the store. Ben tagged along after her as she darted between shelves. At a certain point she got obsessed with a wooden chair in a corner, and loudly indicated to Ben that she wanted to get behind it. The chair had an open back, so he could clearly see behind it. He moved the chair so she could squeeze behind it and then waited to see what she would do next.

Well, it seems that she was replicating a practice from home that usually occurs behind the living room couch or her dresser. Yes, she wanted to hide behind the chair in Chapters to do her business in "private".

New Pictures

We had a great visit this week with our Toronto friends Eugene and Nancy and their daughters J and T. We went to Meijer Gardens, visited the indoor playgrounds at the malls, ate good food and enjoyed being with each other's kids.

A lovely bonus was the fact that Euge takes very nice photographs and took many pictures of Isabelle. I have not been able to capture her very well over the past months so it was exciting to see these nice pictures. Here's a preview - visit my Flickr site for the rest.

Another Baby

Well, I think the secret is out. Ben and I are expecting a baby on November 27th. We had an ultrasound at 8 weeks after a brief scare, and then an appointment yesterday where I heard the heartbeat, so we're finally ready to spread the news.

I have been very sick for the last 6 weeks....all day long, all night long. This week was finally much better, so I'm hopeful that the bad part might be over. But I'm not holding my breath or anything.

We're excited.

Small Step

One of the things I enjoyed right after Isabelle's birth was my empty calendar. I gave myself permission to cancel everything and just get used to taking care of a baby. I let my Palm gather dust in the drawer and left it uncharged. And for the last 17 months, it has stayed there. As I gradually returned to work and social activities, I kept things minimal and was able to keep everything in my head. But then as months past, even though I began jotting things down on the calendar in the kitchen, I forgot a lot of things. And I felt stressed keeping all of that information in my head.

So today I dragged out my charge cord and sync cable and I booted my old friend up. And she even remembered all my contacts! It was interesting to see what appointments were "weekly" in my pre-baby life.

In the past months and weeks I have felt that there are so many projects to do around the house, let alone the regular work, that I have given up hope of accomplishing anything. Today I made one small step in my attempt to take back control of my house and my time.

So, does anybody want to schedule anything?

Splish Splash

On Sunday night Ben was preparing Isabelle's bath. While the water is running, she usually runs around the house yelling and enjoying various states of undress. But she has become more and more fascinated with the water and trying to get into the tub.

This particular evening she was wearing a dress and sandals since she had been at church. Ben stepped out of the room for a moment to grab something and heard a splash, followed by a lot of howling. He returned to the bathroom to see Isabelle standing in the tub, holding onto the side, fully clothed, including sandals. She was screaming, of course. He rescued her and she did end up having a perfectly nice normal bath.

There are very few instances in which we can now actually leave the room. Pretty much only when she's in the highchair or the crib.

Spring

Well, dear readers, it seems it is time to end the blogging hibernation. Spring is here and we spent most of today outside. Isabelle has been dutifully working in the garden, emptying the beds of all the old mulch.

Here's an update on her latest:

• new words: bib, knee, kids
• she will sign "please" consistently when asking for something or when prompted
• knows how to push a kitchen chair up to the counter and climb up to stand on it
• LOVES washing the dishes with me, insists on using the dish brush, and is very, very sad when it ends
• is having full out "lay on the floor, kick and scream" tantrums
• likes to grab the microphones at church and shout "HA"
• LOVES to be outside
• has begun resisting the stroller and would much rather walk
• in the morning shouts "Da?", in hopes that Ben will rescue her from the crib
• says "Da?" all day long, to which I respond "Daddy's at work."
  

Valentine's Day

Isabelle got two cards that had dogs on them, so that was a highlight. The other hilarious part of the day was her getting too excited about eating Goldfish crackers which ended with her puking all over the Valentine dress and the kitchen floor. Good thing we got a few photos in before that moment.