Halloween Sweet Treat!

Here is a little treat for all your viewing pleasure and if this doesn't just melt your heart than nothing will.

My Baby Pumpkins

Ella 6 Months Old - Halloween 2005

Camden 6 Months - Halloween 2009



Harmony 5 Months - Halloween 2011

Weekend Recap - Halloween Style

     Halloween festivities started Thursday for us with a Halloween open house at the local Children's Centre/Early Years Centre.  We go every year with the kids and its tradition.  The kids had lots of fun exploring the different room and activities.  Friday was trick or treating at the mall.  We used it as a dry run for tonight.  We had a bit of a time getting Camden into his costume but he now loves Halloween. I mean who doesn't love dressing up and getting free candy.  Saturday was adult Halloween.  Babysitters were obtained and out we went.  First stop was a friends birthday party then out to the bar scene which in this small town is sketchy at its best. Sketchy as it was, it wasn't stopping this nurse and doctor from having a good time.  Sunday was Chinese food and pumpkin carving which the 2 youngest could have cared less about so it was left up to Mike as Ella already carved hers last weekend and I was busy baby wrangling.

Can you tell which 2 Mike carved with out any input from me?

     Tonight, we are off to do the Halloween rounds that involves 1 town and 2 villages in 1 night.  Sounds like fun right?  Not to mention that I would kind of like to be home to hand out some candy since we are new to the neighbourhood and all.

      Stay tuned for a sweet Halloween treat posted later this afternoon.

5 Months Already

5 Months old already? Where did the time go, Miss Harmony? Time passes much quicker when wrangling 3 children, a dog and a big move.  Looking back at pictures of my little peanut I realize how much she indeed has grown.  She went from this.

To this.

Its the same doll.  She was smaller than that baby doll at birth and now look at her.  She is still tiny, as pretty much every stranger likes to point out, which I am well aware of.  I always like to look at pictures of the older 2 just to see how they compare at the same age and well lets just say there is a big difference but as I have to constantly remind myself there was a big difference in birth weights and lengths as well ( E - 7lbs 9 oz, 19.5 " C-  8lbs 11 oz, 21" H - 6lbs 4oz 18.5 ")

Harmony at 5 months wears:

• Size 1 diapers
• Size 1 shoes
• 0-3 month clothes, with the odd newborn or 3 month outfit, and maybe if they are a super small fit 3-6 month

Harmony at 5 months eats:

• Primarily breast fed with 2 ,  4 oz bottles of Formula a day since my milk supply isn't the greatest due to her tongue tie and poor latch.
• has tried squash on her first Thanksgiving and once after that, not a huge success. She liked it but none stayed in her mouth, so clearly not ready
• enjoyed her first baby mum mum cookie last night as a Halloween treat, She liked it but more ended up on her than in her tummy

Harmony at 5 months:

• is 13lbs and 24" long
• enjoys her exersaucer, bumbo, bouncer and swing
• has found her voice and likes to yell for attention, squeal and screech in delight, and babbles non stop, usually at 5 am.
• refuses to be rocked, nursed or cuddled to sleep, has to be swaddled tight with her sucky and fish tank on, lights out and that's it.
• loves being talked to by anyone and rewards them with big smiles
• rolls over both ways
• has excellent head control
•  loves tummy time
• excellent hand - eye coordination
•  picks up things and puts them in her mouth
•  loves standing up and will pull up if you hold her hands
• wakes up maybe once a night or sometimes not at all
• loves baths in the jacuzzi tub with the jets on

Harmony's nicknames at 5 months:

• Little peanut
• pumpkin or chunkin (chunky pumpkin)
• Shoulder Monkey (she sort of perches herself like a little shoulder monkey)
• Tune (Papa A)
• Petunia (Grandma J)
• Hazel - her second middle name (Uncle S)

Harmony's favourite people at the moment

• Mommy and Uncle S

Things I never want to forget:

• Your amazing blue eyes and great big toothless grin
• How mad you get when you don't get what you want
• How much you love your sister and brother
• How teeny tiny you are and I love it
• How you love talking to the birds on your mobile/swing
• Your shrieks for attention at 5 am ( not crying just talking)
• How much I love you and enjoy every second with you

Thankful Thursday - BBC April Mommas

I have a group of friends. We have "known" each other for 3 years or so.  Many of us have never met.  Some may think it odd that a group of Women all across Canada from coast to coast could be friends. There is a vast diversity of women in this group from occupations, religions, parenting style, ect but we have much in common.  We are all mothers, we all support one another, we all have good days and bad days.  We share everything and I mean everything, from triumphs to tragedies.  When someone is going through a rough patch, we are all there to support, encourage and lend an ear.  When someone has some amazing news to share, we are usually the first ones to hear.  We talk about everything from potty training, book suggestions and where to find a good deal, anything and everything has been discussed and shared.  I honestly don't know how I would have gotten through the last 3 years with out them.  Being a mom is a hard job and I know these women understand.  When I feel like the worlds worst mom, they are there, encouraging me, telling me I am doing a great job.  I know we all share the feeling that we are so lucky to have this group to come to share openly our thoughts and feelings.  I can't even count the number of times I have started a conversation with " One of my mommy group friends ...." Today and everyday, I am thankful for these wonderful Momma's friendship.  I am thankful that one of them could stop by and visit today for my first of hopefully many more meet ups.  One day it is our collective dream for us all to meet in person, just waiting on one of us to win the lottery or someone to feature our group on tv...Hmmm...Where is Oprah when you need her?

Wordless Wednesday - Photos by Karlee Edition

Argh, doctors and disapointment!

     Well let me start out by saying this may be a tad bit of a rant.  If you don't like hearing about toddlers, babies, breastfeeding, doctors appointments and this Momma's disappointment stop reading now, and what are you doing here anyway?

     Today I packed up the 2 youngest and had us out the door and at the doctors by 9:25 for Harmony's 9:30 appointment which ended up being more like 10:30.  Not a bad wait time, I've waited longer. I was well prepared with an ipod, snacks, a bottle, toys and the resolve to not scream or lose my cool in the crowded doctor's office.  Harmony screamed on and off because she was missing her nap and she likes her sleep. Camden was well behaved until I noticed him throwing things out of the bottom of the stroller while I was bouncing and shushing the baby as the entire waiting room gave me that fake sympathetic stare that all moms hate.  I overheard 2 guys talking about how my baby was pretty new, like 6 weeks old and something along the lines of me handling a new baby.  Thanks guys, she is 5 months old and yes she is little and yes you two are stupid.

     We get into our room and wait for the doctor.  Usually our doctor is amazing but today I am assuming it was her busy day.  She measured the baby an inch and a half taller than the well baby clinic did last week and she didn't grow that much in a week.  They based her development and growth on her being taller than she was and she is now in the 75% percentile for height.  Well no she's not but Thanks anyway.  The doctor said she is doing great and growing very well. *sigh* Fine, OK! She doesn't believe she needs her tongue tie dealt with but will be calling us with a referral at which the next doctor will probably not do anything anyway with her being almost done with bottles and nursing! Ummm...at just 5 months we aren't even close to being done. *big sigh* I will wait for the referral and beg for him to actually do something.  Little miss Harmony got her shots and we were out the door.

     We stopped at the health store afterwards to pick up some supplements to help increase my milk.  Yummy sounding things like Blessed Thistle and Fenugreek.  Oh, I can't forget the Mother's Milk Tea with such appetizing ingredients like goat's rue and nettle leaves.  I am not sure how I will get much else done in the day after I pop 2 capsules 3 X a day for one, 4 capsules 3X a day for another and 2 cups of tea after each meal.  I can't even remember  or have time to shower every day let alone all those pills and cups of tea.  It will be a real treat if I decide to add the Domperidone pills 8X a day. 

    Next and last stop was to Shopper's to get some good deals on diapers, wipes and some other goodies I found.  Camden was having a meltdown for Smarties (I said yes he could buy them but no he could not open them until we got home).  The lady at the cash saw him and said oh he can open them now  and scan them when you check out. Thank you lady for undermining my parenting.  No, he is not allowed to eat an entire box of Smarties, in the store, before lunch, leaving a trail of chocolaty drool that will be deposited on the stroller, car seat, clothes and his sister.

   Now we are home, I'm venting and the kids are napping.  Thank God for Sisters who drop by unexpectedly with a Timmie's Coffee in hand and a real sympathetic ear.

Blessed!

A big THANK YOU to all those who helped us celebrate our new house today! We are truly blessed to have such great friends and family.  Our house was full of people, laughter and food.  We really enjoyed the day and are so glad so many could make it out.  For those that couldn't feel free to stop in anytime and say hello.  The best part of having a house is entertaining and I am happiest when we have a full house.  I am so thankful today ( well and everyday really) for family, friends and a great place to call home. We are Blessed and I Thank God for all that we have.