And climbing over this thing...

Then they're off down the slide...wheeeee!

Davey shows off for Grosspapa and shows him just how strong he is. Look at the look of intense concentration on his face. WHOA davey boy!!

Playing follow the leader? Or out for a brisk hike? Either way, they're tiring each other out.

After playing at the park, David and Grosspapa decided to go for a walk around the neighborhood.

The walk was just a wee bit too much for Davey, so he hitched a ride with grosspapa. What a lucky boy!!

One Month Old

Elisabeth is officially one month old today. We took her for her doctor's appointment, and just as I'd thought, she'd gained another pound. She is now 10 pounds 9 ounces and 23 inches long.

I've just finished reading the blogs of the Harnetts and Thoutenhoofds, both of whom had babies the same time we had Tink. I'm having such a hard time right now, especially with nights. She won't sleep during the day for longer than 15 or 20 minutes unless I'm either sleeping with her, or holding her. No matter how deep a sleep I let her get into, she always wakes up immediately. In the evening, there' one period where she fights sleep so hard, but when she finally does crash, I can usually get an hour, maybe two of her in the bassinet. Every subsequent sleep after that has to be either on me, or with me in the bed.

I'm so tired, I just can't fight her any more. Letting her cry it out just results in a very angry baby, and I don't feel like she's ready to cry for two hours so that she learns to sleep on her own yet. Then I read other people's blogs and their babies sleep and eat and go camping and out for walks (their moms actually get to leave the house!) and I feel like, what am I doing wrong?

Well, at least I can grow 'em good, even if the process is extremely frustrating. Thank God they eventually get to be like Davey. Though, once again I find myself torn between trying to cherish every moment with my baby and desperately wishing it was month six or seven when they finally start to be babies and not little screaming, uncomprehendable beings.

His ears had better not suffer any long-term effects from this!!







What you can't tell from this picture is that just moments ago David was tucking in her blankets and making sure that Elisabeth was comfortable. I snapped this just after he gave her a hug and a kiss.

Happy Birthday to you...happy anniversary to us!

Sunday was our fifth anniversary. We tried to think of something special to do, and finally decided on a picnic by the river in Fort Langley. Of course, when you're nursing a ravenous beast, and the park is full of boaters and picnic-ers, then two of you end up eating in the car, while the other two enjoy the sights and sounds outside.


Here they are finishing up. Davey especially loved the boats. He's a lot like his momma.



ahhhhhh...the bride and groom. Don't they look happy? It's the fumes from said boats...and the thought of the gelato they plan on indulging in a few moments from now...



Momma walks around to Davey's side of the picnic table and Davey says, "hey momma, what took you so long? I saved you a place!"



After lunch, we headed off for a walk. The first walk I've had this month. BOY did it feel good!


Andrew had some kind of whiskey gelato. WOW was it ever potent!!


While I had Cherries and Chocolate. A nod to our time in Ascona. Davey, of course, had blueberry. MNNNNNNN

Tink slept through most of our walk. She woke up just as we were about a block from the car. What a great kid, letting us venture out like this on our anniversary. And doesn't she look pretty in her pink dress?


So cute in fact, that we did her four-week birthday pictures in the dress. Here she is going for a "ride" in Davey's wagon.



I can't believe how quickly this month has gone. It's been a lot easier managing with a second child than it was with Davey. Both Andrew and I feel more like we know what we're doing this time around.

Still, there are always challenges. With Tink, the biggest challenge is getting her to stop nursing long enough to sleep. I must confess I get very frustrated during her growth spurts. Some days I really do only get fifteen minute breaks before she's ready for the next round of eatin'. Of course other days I get close to seven hours of sleep (broken up into chunks, but still SEVEN HOURS!)

Yesterday she rolled onto her side. She also smiles whenever Davey or Daddy are holding her. And she's up to about ten pounds judging by our bathroom scale. On Wednesday she'll be a month old, and we'll have the official stats to post.

happy anniversary sweet thing!

David bathes Tink and Baby...

Rinsing her hair....

And now her feet...

You're letting him wash me?

Mum, are you sure that's safe????

Think Stamping is just for Card Making Grannies??

Regular readers will know that my sister is hardcore into stamping and in fact even sells StampinUp! products (and teaches classes in using them). Today they painted Ashlie's room and this gorgeous butterfly stencil is actually done with a SU stampset. The picture of Ashlie is also embellished using SU stuff. My sister is pretty clever!!

Love what you did, Katt!

Last night Tink has a super long nap (at least an hour!) so I got to play outside with Davey. Just me and him! We had SO MUCH FUN!!!

Last Day of Summer...

Jadey wouldn't let me take a picture of her with Ash and Tink till I took one of just her. She is very pretty in it though, isn't she?!

You can't tell, but Davey is carring a spoonful of sand to dump on me. That's why the impish face he's wearing!

Ashlie and Tink played in the treehouse. Tink liked being a big girl!

The three muskateers: On Tuesday, Ashlie starts Grade One. For some strange reason her dad will want to see her this weekend, so today was the last day of summer and the last time all three kids will play together except for holidays, school holidays, and the occasional special occasion (like Sunday/Monday when Davey sleeps over at their house). So sad that they grow up so quickly!

All three of my girls. They're so pretty.