Renos......Need I say more?

We are up to our neck in reno's. Its a bit of a bummer to see the space. We had some cracks in the foundation. This encouraged us to knock down dry wall and find them. This has in turn encouraged us to refinish the basement properly. So here we are, the brick fire place is 3/4 gone, bare foundation exposed, plumbing exposed, ceiling gone, a closet is gone, on and on. I keep picturing the end product, and that is keeping me encouraged. It will likely be a good month anyways, maybe 2, but in the end it will be a leak free, clean, dry, fresh space. Renovating has its ups and downs. Specially at the end of the day, I'm tired, and it is that much harder to stay positive. Usually I'm crabby, and all I can see is a big mess. But after a good sleep I can see the bigger picture again. Keep in mind too, that most of my working time is when the kids are sleeping. So in the afternoon, (my drowsy time), and about 9:00-10:30pm sometimes. Those are usually wind down times, but instead I am smashing bricks, lugging bricks, ripping down walls, lugging out stinky moldy drywall....you get the idea. We are almost done demo, and the cracks are going to be fixed hopefully towards the end of next week. Then on weekends we can drywall, and start puttying....yuck.....Anyway, here is some pics for you to get the idea!
Oh, and one more thing, thanx to Cheryl for all your help knocking down that fire place. That was fun!

They are Growing, despite my despair!

1. Parker and Bryan, chomp, chomp chomp!

2. Trying out some sweet potatos, he's only nibbling on foods so far.

3. What a face! I'm glad I cought it! check out the cloth diaper.

4. What a sweetie...sometimes!

5. Just playing outside.

5. My big girl went on the train with Daddy.

6. Here is, another face, in his kamono, if you notice his feet, trying to pull up. He is tryng soooooo hard how to figure out to move!


Hope you enjoyed, have a great day!

It Always seems to happen in 3s

That how it seems to be this week for me. I've hit 3, so I should be good for awhile!

1. Last week we began the renos on our basement. 2 lovely cracks. One is huge! $2000 later...that is taken care of.
2. I had a wee bit of a fender bender. Oups. My fault 100%, I confess, do the right thing, offer to pay, and outside of insurance. I am wondering if these people are taking me to the cleaners, another $2000 later...
3. I broke a window. Oh boy! My poor toes. I have this terrible habit of kicking the window if the kids are on the deck and being naughty, or the dog is doing something he shouldn't. Not really hard, just enough to remind them I'm watching. The window has been so strong, never given in to those kicks...until today of course.

Tomorrow is Friday, and I have to say I'm glad this week is coming to an end. I hope for a way better weekend, and productive week next week. I have a basement to work on!

A tooth, and a Check up, and Slap cheek

So, in order of the title,

1. Bryan's first tooth broke through the gums. Yeah! He is my youngest baby to get a tooth. Angelina was 13 months, and Grace was within a few days of her first birthday. Bryan is a week away from being 7 months. We were sitting at my neighbors house the other day, and he was chomping away on my finger. I pulled my finger out of his moth but as I did, I felt a little something sharp. I had to double check, brushing my finger on it a few times, and finally investigating visually. And there it was, a pearly white poking out. It is the bottom right, and the one beside it is just about through as well. No toothless smiles for him on his first birthday!
2. Bryan had a long overdue check up last Friday. His weight was 14lb 13oz, and he was 26 1/2 inches long. His weight is on the low side, but he is happy, and healthy, and reaching all his milestone. I did ask the MD if he was concerned about his weight, and he said "No, he is not a skinny baby."
3. And Slap cheek, or otherwise known as fifth disease. Usually something like this, grumpy moody children, suddenly a high fever along with bright red cheeks. The fever breaks within 24 hours, and the cheeks last a few day. Sometimes they can have a rash as well. Both the girls had it. Grace, first on Sunday, her fever was 103 F, which was scary, but she woke up on Monday, right as rain and happy as could be. Angelina had it Wednesday. Bright Cheeks, high fever, and sleepy. Thursday, she woke up right a rain, and happy as could be. Now I'm waiting for Bryan's turn...

That's it for me, a busy weekend ahead, I'll post again soon.

I Luv My Feet...and Swimming too!

I was commenting to Kristyn that my kids never really 'found' there feet, and wasn't Bryan to old for that? As usual, I spoke to soon, and a week later he was chomping away on those tiny toes. That was all about a month ago. At first he was sitting and would fold himself in half to get them, but then he realized if he was laying down, it was much more fun, and easier to get in his mouth. I had some great pics. Some in his chair, some on the change table, some color, and some black and white. I toke my camera in, and popped my card in...and oups, wrong slot. But the card was gone inside. So I tell the clerk and she tells me I'm was not the first to do this. Another clerk comes along, and proceeds to get it out with some tweezers. Hummmm. When she manages to get it out it is damaged, and I've lost all my pics. So I get a brand new card for free, and am suggested to go to another picture place to see if I can get my pics back. After all that, I finally got some new pics of him with his feet, although at this point its not quit as exciting to him as the first 50 times he did it. So here he is, chomping away....chewing which seems to be the trend as of late.

We went to my mom and dads on Sunday for fathers day, and Bryan went swimming for the first time. At first he really didn't seem to like it one bit. But he did warm up to the idea, and started splashing and smiling and having a great time. Once we got out, the poor guys feet were blue! So we cuddled up, and he nursed and fell asleep, all snuggled up to my chest. It was sweet and lovely.

Graces Mosquito Bite

Gracey got bit by a mosquito. Poor thing, as you can see her whole eye was swollen. She got up Sunday morning, and said, "Mommy, take it off!" Yesterday it looked worse then Sunday, but did get better as the day went on. I am hoping today its all gone. She's tuffed it out well, and hasn't complain at all. My brave girl!! I will post again later to update.

Later....

Its much better then it was. Its still a bit red, and a bit puffy, and she has a red spot just above her eye brow where the actaul bit is. But she can open it now and I'm sure, see out of it!! LOL

Happy Mothers Day

There was once a time I said I was never having children. Yes, believe it or not, I said that. But I was really afraid that no one would love me enough to want to have a family with me. As I grew into adulthood I realized with careful selecting, I could find someone. I met Goran, and there was just something about him. After a few months of marriage, I thought it would be nice to have a baby. At this point I was willing to admit that I wanted children, and so badly in fact I was fearful maybe it couldn't happen for us. There are those people who try for years, and never have children. I was so afraid I would be one of them. I wasn't. No fancy tricks, or doctors visits for us. With in a few months, Angelina was on the way. I had some trouble with spotting, nothing major, but enough for a first timer like me to be very worried. And then, on November 26th, 2003, I became a mom. Angelina made me a mom. There is something about motherhood that changed me forever. I held the life from inside me, in my arms. 2 years later I experienced birth in a whole new light. I labored at home, surrounded by people how supported me, encouraged me, and I pushed my Gracey into this world. 2 years later I did again. Bryan came into our family, at home, surrounded with people who encouraged me, and loved him.
So now, I go out with them and people say, "Oh wow, are they all yours?" I always smile. "Yes, they're all mine," I reply back. They are my children. They have made me the mom I am. I love them so much. I have guilt about things I wish I had done differently for them. But each day for us is a new day. I fresh day with no mistakes. I try again, every day, because I want the best for them. I want them to grow up, kind, loving, intelligent people. I want them to respect their elders, and love each other. I want them to look back on their childhood with fond memories. I want them to know without a doubt that I loved them from the moment they were conceived inside me. I love them for the individual they are. I tell them every day. I hug them, and kiss them goodnight, and whisper it in their ears. But its more then the words.
My mom has taught me that. She has loved me. Through all the grief I gave her, for all the times I pushed her away, she continues to loves me. She taught me love is more then words, it is actions. Getting up everyday, making sure the children are fed, and dressed. Sometimes going without so they get what they need.
So I want to say thank you to my mom. For being my mom, and loving when I didn't want you to. For showing me what it is to be a mom, and how to put your kids first. For showing me you win over more bees with honey then vinegar:) Happy Mothers Day Mom.
Goran, thank you for making this beautiful family with me. Our 2 beautiful girls, and hansom son. I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else.
Angelina, Grace and Bryan, thank you for making me a mom. Thank you for pushing me to far, and forgiving me when I push you to far. Thank you for wrapping your arms around me and whispering "I love you Mommy," in my ear. Thank you for starting every day fresh, with smiles on your faces. Thank you for showing me the love that only you 3 ever could. You are my passion, and inspiration for life. I will do all in my power to protect you, and keep you safe. Every day of my life, I will love you 3 like it's the last.

So to all the moms out there, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY. I wish you the best mothers day of all!