GrEIGHTful!

Once again a little late, but better late than never!

I take back what I said a few weeks ago about being grateful for the right to vote, because as it stands with our current situation with our government I am disgusted, irrate and angry. Our votes mean nothing and this is far from being a true "democratic" country. I will continue to pray for this lost, confused nation of ours, but I have lost a lot of hope. God please save this country!!!!

On a lighter note, it has been a busy, tiring and eventful week. Lots to be grateful for!

1.) My sister who looked after Zech for a day, so that John could get some productive studying in. Zech LOVES being with his Aunty, and cousin Jonas and of course his Uncle too. She also made us supper!

2.) That another week of work has ended! :o) Lots happening, not always easy to deal with!

3.) A chance to get together with my friend Pamela and go for a nice, adventureous walk! :o) Pam and her hubby are expecting their first and are about a week ahead of us! So excited for them!

4.) Bright NIghts with the Nenasheffs! We had a great time and Zech went nuts looking at all the lights!

5.) A chance to connect with some dear friends! We went to Calgary on Sunday and spent the night with the Moll family! It was so awesome to see them and meet Silas for the first time. It was too short and filled with a lot of excitement. Zech was pretty excited to see Helayna and made a point of showing off. He was so full of energy, he really played John and I out! We really did have a good time and are so thankful that we could stay with them!

6.) A chance to see Vince, one of John's good friends that just recently moved to Calgary. These two have quite the history.

7.) Safe travels and a good reliable vehicle--praise the Lord!

8.) My wonderful husband who gets me up every morning, makes my lunch and drives and picks me up from work. Not to mention all of the work he does around the house, looks after Zech and goes to work and studies hard. He is just an amazing man and I am so blessed to have him in my life!

Jokes from a two year old...

One of the many things I LOVE about my little boy is his amazing sense of humour! Who would have thought (I know that I never did) that a two year old would be capable of joking around.

Now I am sure you must be curious how this little monkey of mine jokes around, well let me tell you!

Every morning when he wakes up this is our conversation!

Mom/Dad: Are you hungry?

Zech: Yeah!

Mom/Dad: What would you like to eat?

Zech: Icecream? (followed by uncontrollable laughter)

Mom/Dad: No, you can't have icecream for breakfast you silly boy!

Zech: Cake? (followed by even more laughter)

Mom/Dad: No, you can't have cake for breakfast (laughing)!

Zech: Cookies? (laughter turns into snorting)

Mom/Dad: No, you can't have cookies for breakfst (by this time it is hysterical laughter and tickles and then we start over....)

Zech: Icecream, cookies? (thinking maybe if I ask for two, I may just get one)

It is pretty funny and he thinks he is just the funniest guy on earth. Maybe we have a comedian in the makings!

The second thing he LOVES to do is pretend to sleep. We'll be playing and right in the middle of playtime, he looks at you and waves and says "night night" and drops to the ground and pretends to fall asleep. The funny thing about his pretend sleeping is that he snores and he even closes his eyes. Then he wakes up and we say good morning and tickle him like crazy. This little game could go on for a good half hour or longer. It just cracks me up that he actually does a pretend snore and if we are talking, he will open his eyes and give us the "SHHH" (he even uses his finger)!! This kid is too funny!!

(His cheeky boy look)

GrEIGHTful!

I know it's already Wednesday!! This week is going by really fast, but I did want to get my GrEightful list up before next week, so I don't have to play catch up again!! :o)

This week I am grateful for:

1.) The fact that I survived my first LONG week at work!! It was hard and I am exhausted!

2.) That we all slept in on Saturday! I was worried that Zech would wake up at 6:30, but we all must have been tired and slept in until 8:30! Those extra two hours were marvelous!

3.) That we made it through the first trimester with no complications!! It has been a LONG, exhausting first trimester and I thought it would never end, but it is getting better already!

4.) Lunch and shopping with the Nenasheffs!

5.) A chance to meet some of John's friends from High School (who live in Alberta now). It is amazing how many people John has re-connected with on facebook (and I as well). This weekend though, we had the chance to meet up with some friends that he has not seen in about 20 years. It was really great and I was so amazed at how they were able to just pick up right where the left off and get into some really deep, encouraging conversations. We look forward to seeing them again!

6.) My sister and brother-in-law and the wonderful supper they came over and made for us! Plus we got to babysit Jonas while they went to the movie. It was nice to have some alone Aunty and Uncle time with him, but he really missed his parents and wasn't too keen on going to sleep! He is a real cutie though--even when he is upset!!! :o)

7.) My beautiful little boy! He is amazing and we are so blessed to have him in our lives. Plus, he is the best darn veggie and fruit eater I have ever seen! This kid thinks that raw broccoli and cauliflower is a treat!!

8.) Photoshop! I wish I could take perfect pictures all the time that never require any editting, but I am far from being that good--yet! ;o) I love Photoshop and don't know what I would do without it. So here are some of the pictures that I took of Zechy after I editted them!

The Inevitable

I wanted to wait just a little longer, but it appears that I just don't have control over everything or most importantly how my body is once again changing right before my eyes.  I honestly didn't think that I was even showing, but it has started, random people coming right out and asking if it is number #2.  I can't lie and soon everyone is going to know, so it is ANNOUNCEMENT time.

Yes we are very happy to announce that Baby G #2 is on its way.  I am 13 weeks prego, with the estimated arrival June 1st, 2009.  We are pretty excited and a little nervous since the first pregnancy was pretty rough! So please do keep us in your prayers!!!

Zech is pretty excited and we are so amazed at how much he understands.  Or misunderstands--he pointed to John's belly and asked if that was the baby and then he lifted up his shirt thinking the baby was in his belly, but then I explained that the baby is only in Mommy's belly and I think he understands now.  He gives me and the baby lots of kisses (it is soooo sweet) and he likes to show the baby his toys, so every night I get trucks, trains and cars driving over the belly!  Plus he has a book on being a big brother and he loves it! So much so, he started ripping the pages out and carries around the picture of the baby that he ripped out---erghhh!

Lots of changes once again, but we are so excited and feel so blessed! And we really do need your prayers!! :o) 

GrEIGHTful!

I am actually posting this on time this week! Yay for me!!! :o)

This week I am grateful:

1) For my Job and the fact that the week is over. It was a short week (only 3 days), but I was exhausted!

2) For my wonderful husband! He is so good with Zech and they had so much fun together (I don't think Zech asked for me once while I was at work)! He has made up a schedule and I am quite impressed with his organization and dedication to his family, his little man, and his studies and of course his devotions!

3) That Zech really likes the snow and is excited about it. Last year when we returned from Australia he HATED it and cried everytime I tried to take him out and play in it. As you can see John and him had a blast! (John was pulling him on his boogie board--and everytime they turned a corner he would whip Zech around so that he fell off and Zech was laughing so hard he had tears coming down)!

After he took a dump! Notice all the snow on his face! :o)

4) That this week is over! John was working crazy hours right until I went back to work and it was just a LONG, tiring week.

5) Safe travels for John and my Father-in-law. John flew to Kelowna yesterday after work to pick up our other vehicle and drive back today. I just talked to them and they are in Cochrane, but the roads have been horrible! Praise God that they have made it this far and pray that they make it home!

6) God's messengers in places I least expected.

7) Stories in Hand course by Jessica Sprague. I have had quite a few technical difficulties and am no where near being caught up, but the course is really great and the system is pretty cool! I know I will make good use out of it!

8) That my little boy posed for me so nicely today. I finally took his two year photos (only a month and a half late)! I got him all dressed up, did his hair and told him that I was going to take his pictures. I hung up my backdrop and he sat right down and started saying "cheese" before I even had my camera out. I was shooting in Manual mode (something I don't usually do) and well some of the shots were not that great at all. I think I forgot what mode I was shooting in and never did the proper adjustments so a few nice pictures did not turn out as clear as I had hoped. Oh well, I really need to practice more and I don't think that Manual mode is a good mode to shoot an energetic two year old who has an extremely short attention span! I should have been on Action mode!

What a little stud muffin (yeah, yeah I now I am biased)!! He loves his pockets now, so when I told him to put his hands in his pockets and smile--he thought that was a pretty good idea! I just can't believe what a little boy he is now--my baby is gone!
This one isn't even that clear! :o(
Notice how blurry this one is!!! :o(

The NO MORE pictures pose!! He had enough by this point!


By the way......I did get some good clear shots, I am just not posting them yet! I have to edit and print them and then I will post them! I was just disappointed that they weren't all clear and that the lighting was a little finicky--I am still learning and need to practice a lot MORE!!!! He is still a cutie none the less--especially with his new outfit and new hair cut!

GrEIGHTful - another extended version

I am so bad at blogging lately, it is horrible! I can't believe October is gone and we are already in November. Some days the time just flies--other days not so much!

This weeks GrEightful list is going to encompass that last three weeks or more (so expect a few more than eight things on the list). I think that is how many weeks I am behind--sigh!!!

1) A visit with my sister and Jonas. After both boys had a nap, they seemed to be eager to play with one another and they were so funny, I wish I had video taped them. Zech would rub his head into Jonas and Jonas would grab his hair and then they would both just laugh hysterically!

2) My wonderful hubby who completely cleaned our place and sorted, moved boxes around, etc. How on earth did I get so blessed!

(one of my favourite pictures of him I took this summer at the beach)

3) Trips to the "lellow Slide" and the "Purple slide"! Although lately, walks collecting rocks, trees and pine cones have been much more interesting. He could care less about the playground!

4) Great phone calls with good friends! I miss these friends so much lately!!

5) Baby Showers! I was at baby Isabelle's (Trish and Trev's little one) shower a few Sunday's ago and it was a lot of fun and tonnes of great food! She got so many clothes--I think everyone loves shopping for little girls!


6) Email to keep in touch with friends all over the world (even though I am horrible at it lately). I got this nice little picture in my email box a bit ago and it made me smile and wish that we lived closer!


7) My inlaws who spent just over a week with us. We had a great visit and Zech was so happy to see his "Gaga" and "Nanny"! They helped me out so much with dishes, cooking, and looking after Zech! We were sad to see them go!

8) My grandparents and a chance to have a great visit and celebrate my Grandma's 85th birthday. When asked what her secret is, her response made me chuckle. She told us that we just need to stay "cool and collective". So there you have it, to live to 85 just stay "cool and collective"!! :o) (She cracks me up)!



9) Date nights with my dear husband. My inlaws graciously offered to look after Zech so we could go out for a couple of date nights while they were with us. It was so nice for just the two of us to get out. We don't get these opportunities often and it was funny because we both felt like we were dating again!! :o)

10) A nice, safe first Halloween for Zech. He went as a horse (thanks Missy for the costume). We took him to the mall for a bit and then had supper and then we stopped in at Halloween Alley. Zech didn't know what to make of this whole trick or treating thing until we let him have a treat, well them he was full bore!



11) Uncle Cor, Aunty Mel and Baby Joe as Zech calls them! We had a nice visit with them on Friday and then yesterday they looked after Zech for a few hours while we went to a friend's surprise birthday.

12) Lunch with the Nenasheffs! We have some great times with the Nenasheffs and we are so blessed to have these wonderful friends in our lives.


13) Finally securing a job. I got my old job back and start on Wednesday! What a huge relief! Lots of changes about to happen in our little family, but it will be good. John is excited to be able to look after Zech and focus on his schooling. I know that Zech and him are going to have a blast together. For some reason my truck and tractor sounds just aren't as good as Daddies! ;o)

Long Overdue...

I know this blog of mine has been so neglected lately, it's pathetic! I do have a lot to share and write about, and record, but never seem to have the time or energy to do anything lately!

So I will play a little catch-up.

At the end of September, right before we moved back here to Edmonton, we had a little birthday party for Zech. I just wanted to share a few pictures. He is obsessed with Choo choo trains, so hence the idea for the cake. I still can't believe that my little boy is two and what a two year old he is.

The boys trying to pick off all of the goodies---okay they were actually discussing which piece of the train they wanted!

I do have to give credit to my wonderful hubby and nephew Cody for helping me decorate the cake! It was a little challenging making a cake when half your kitchen was in boxes! Zech really liked his cake and was so excited about his "choo, choo tain"!

We also had a little get together with my side of the family once we arrived here in Edmonton, but I was on a picture taking strike for some crazy reason and never got one single picture. I am not too overly impressed about that, not very smart on my part!

Now for the next birthday celebration.....my Grandma Halwa turned 85 on Oct. 27. John, Zech and I drove out to Leduc to visit her and bring her some birthday loving! Last time I saw her in September, she couldn't remember who I was, but this time she did! I think it helped that I was with Zech and John-John. She calls John, John-John! As soon as I told her that John-John was with me, it seemed to click and she knew who we were.

Zech was really good and was giving Grandma lots of hugs and kisses. He was "full of beans" as Grandma said and she wasn't joking. It was like we had loaded him up on caffeine or sugar (which we hadn't) and he was just going 100 miles an hour the whole time. My poor Grandma looked like her head was spinning from his flurry of activity, but she really enjoyed the visit. Trying to get some decent pictures was a difficult task, as you can see!

Then we went and visited Grandpa. Zech thankfully calmed down a little and was full of hugs and kisses for Grandpa too. However, he was really interested in rocking Grandpa in his chair and we had to really watch him so he didn't rock poor Grandpa right out of his chair. Even though Grandpa has alzheimer's he is really good at holding a conversation and he laughs at all of John's jokes and even jokes back. When we were leaving Zech and I said goodbye and then John shook his hand and Grandpa grabbed on to it and wouldn't let go. So John kept talking and thanked Gramps for the visit and Grandpa stated that "it was his pleasure and to come anytime"! It was pretty funny and touching!