Almost 37 weeks

Some good things to eat

Today I thought I'd try out some new recipes in our church cookbook.

This is what we had for lunch and boy was it ever YUMMY...

Curried Chicken Pitas

1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 tsp. curry powder
1 cup halved grapes
4 green onions, chopped
8 lettuce leaves
1 tbsp. honey
2 cups chicken, cooked and chopped
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
4 pitas, halved and warmed

In a bowl, combine the mayo, honey and curry powder. Stir in chicken, grapes, pecans and onions. Line pita halves with lettuce; spoon 1/2 cup chicken mixture into each pita.
(Thanks to Faith Siebert for this yummy recipe!!)
I must add that Greg bbq's the best chicken ever...so that is how we prepared ours...on the bbq just with some garlic salt and pepper. And to the family...we'll make it for you when you come join us on our deck in SA this summer! Yippee!!

Now I've also got Pineapple and Coconut Muffins in the oven as we speak. I love pineapple and coconut, so this should be good. I'll let you know and share later...
am I making you drool??

Happy Birthday Ava Grace

Today is my niece Ava's first birthday!

Can't believe a year has passed. We made the long drive out last May to meet the little munchkin. We haven't been able to see her very much this year, but hope to see her more as we're moving slightly closer now!!
Hugs and happy birthday from auntie Sarah and the boys!!!!

Sleep?

I've had a relatively "easy" time sleeping in the last 8 months, besides the odd trip to the bathroom or times when I've had a cold.
Now things aren't going so great. I am exhausted by 10pm, but it usually takes me a few hours of laying there while the baby pushes on every side of my achey, itchy belly...as if he is trying to find a way out. If he sticks his bum up too high, the indigestion/heartburn feeling begins. Not so fun. Last night I finally gave in and turned on my light and wrote in my diary for an hour...something I haven't done in ages. I remember this same routine with both Riley and Liam when it was the final month. I'd spend hours hanging over my big red yoga ball, wishing it was possible to catch sleep there. The hardest part is knowing that you need your sleep, but you certainly won't catch up tomorrow as your kids are up at 7am and no longer nap either. I tell you though, it does help you deal well with late night feedings with a newborn, because even though you are awake feeding them...when you're done staring at their cute little face while they eat, and have put them down, then your body is your own and you can actually sleep like a log until the next feed. I do anyway. Looking forward to that.

Time for a new look

I have never changed my template until today. There sure aren't a lot of options with blogger, but I'm just not brave enough to stroll out into the unknown land of my own site yet. WAY too much work, but I know a lot of you have done it and your pages look amazing.
Anyway...lately I've been thinking a lot about genetics. It could be because I'm in the last month of being pregnant and am wondering the common question of "what will my baby look like, and who will he look like more?". So far I think our boys look a lot like a little Sarah (that would be Riley) and a little Greggy (that would be Liam). Riley has these chestnut brown eyes and long lean limbs like an Engel (that's my side of the fam). Then you have Liam with killer big lashes around greeny blue eyes, a really chubby round chin, long back and short legs like a Davidson. But then you get parts on each of them that are distinctly from the other side of the fam, and then a little bit of their "own" features. I find it so cool how nieces or nephews can look more like you than like their own parents?! It's such fun to watch my own boys grow and see them change and imagine how they will look as adults...when they will be looking down at me and speaking with their deep voices. (Oh the grocery bills yet to come!!)
I am quite a combo of my parents. I look a lot like both of them. You know how you hear of body shapes being described as Apple shape, Pear shape etc. I have what I like to describe as a Sponge Bob shape. Kinda square-ish on top, with long stick legs out the bottom. I never really have had a waist. I'm just square with legs. I actually have more curves when I'm pregnant, tee hee. I guess we just don't get the choice of genetics...and how would you choose? and what would you choose?? There are days I love being tall (I'm around 5 ft 8), and other days I wish I could be this petite little thing looking up at everyone who would be the pick to be put at the top of the people pyramid. I've been called a "big girl" and though I know I'm not petite and never will be...who wants to be called a "big girl"? You only want to hear that when you're like 5 and you just got your training wheels off.
You always get the weirdest comments about your babies especially in their first year. Oh, they look just like so and so. Or wow, they sure have a large noggin. Or goodness, do your ears bend like that too? Or man, you can sure tell he's going to be a heartbreaker. It never really ends. We all do it. Even myself. You can't help but try to determine who or what the new little being is like. And we all know the answer...they will just be, well ... themself.

How do I look?

What do you think...Does pregnancy make me look thinner?

Slightly sexy?

Happy?








No...just playin. The real me is at the bottom...at 11:30pm. Why am I awake??




And yes, I'm wearing a headband.

Don't want to forget these...

As you know, boxes really are the best toy. We have a lot around here.
I try to pack a few boxes a week, if I can. It's not the easiest to do, especially if I'm packing toys. Riley especially is always saying, "But mom! I really need this toy...it's my favorite!" I keep reassuring him that the toys are going to our new house, and won't be in storage forever. Man, we've acquired a lot of stuff.
Anyway...when I found the boys in the box this morning, Liam said that he and Riley were ready to go to Salmon Arm. "But we'll need a pillow in the box mom, cuz the box doesn't have one yet." Hmm. Tempting. Maybe I'll leave them in the back of the moving van...(joke only!)
Anyway...aren't they precious??

My new baby

Ha, made you look!
No. Sadly baby has not made his entrance yet. Soon, I hope!!
The new baby I'm talking about is that Greg bought me a new little MacBook last night. So now I won't crash half way through every single post or picture I try to send. Yay! It's been a long time (since Jan.) that I've been experiencing the blue screen, and I won't miss it.
I'm still in my pj's on this lazy Saturday morning at 11am. I guess I'd better get a move on. Enjoy the weekend!

This weather.

It just stinks!! I'm so sick of the snow. I would like to just sit on the couch in my pj's with a hot chocolate and not move most of the day...but alas, I can't. And I'd probably seize. No, we did our usual run to swimming lessons, the store and school. I caved today and drove around the block to pick up Riley from school. I was not going to push Liam through blowing sleet twice in one afternoon. We have a snow warning in effect right now. Isn't it almost May??
Anyway. It makes me crabby and even more tired than I already am. I tried to make myself feel better by picking up a screen tent at Canadian Tire this morning. You know, just cuz we're eating outside in this gorgeous sunshine and are fighting off the wasps from our huge burgers. Ya, no. But we will be. And it felt good just to buy the screen house and pretend we really need it right now. Maybe I'll set it up in the living room, just to help it feel more summery.

Wide load

35 weeks, folks.
There is probably a 7 pounder hiding under all those stripes.
Ok, you can all feel sorry for me now.
I know I'm large.

Make your guesses!

Some days it feels like delivery day will NEVER arrive, and other days I look at the calendar and almost faint while realizing it's in a month or less!! So I guess it's time for you to set up your guesses in a poll.
Go here.
Thanks for playing!!

DELL-ilah

Sorry for the lack of communication lately. I probably haven't made it clear that my computer has still been on the fritz...ever since our Maui trip. Greg had replaced the hard drive, but now it needs a whole new motherboard or something which we're not willing to pour money into. It would be better to buy a whole new computer. So Greg is on the lookout. Hence, here I sit on his computer again. Trying to make sense of this crazy Mac book!! During the day I get on my old computer and attempt to write a blog or email as fast as I possibly can before it crashes on me. Quite irritating. Sometimes it'll last for about 2 minutes, and other times it'll last for an hour. Totally unpredictable. Like a moody teenager, that stupid Dell-ilah (as I like to call her).
I thought I should update you on the BOYS. They are very much keeping me busy and both drive me nuts and make me laugh all the time. I seem to be talking about the house and the baby a lot lately...but really, my 5 and 3 yr old are the ones that take up 99% of my energy at this point.

Liam was keeping me on my toes on Friday. I had a friend over to our place for the first time, with her little two year old. In the 5 minutes while I was busy showing my friend our house, Liam and his buddy had gotten into two bottles of white out and had begun to "paint" my basement. They "painted" the TV, the hope chest, the desk, the mirror and a chair. I can't believe they got nothing on themselves or the carpet. So we cleaned that up and then they were off into some cd's and both ended up cutting our visit short by pooping in their pants. Nice. I rely on Riley quite a bit to tell me if that kiddo is getting himself into trouble. Obviously Riley wasn't around, and it surprised me how quick Liam was to find anything he shouldn't be playing with. What's that quote? "While the cat's away, the mice will play."
But oh man, Liam is definitely the comedian of the family and can talk your ear off. In this next picture, he's busy telling me how he just fell off his bike, and the bike was going ahead of him down towards the water, but a big bush stopped his bike for him. And oh ya, he didn't get hurt, cuz he was wearing his helmet.


Riley is loving spring. He absolutely loves being outside. He is pretty much outside from after school until supper and then again til bed. I remember those days as a kid. Our neighborhood is full of boys, and there is always a good gang of them in the back lane or the park across the street. He usually comes in crying as he just doesn't want to quit. He loves his bike and scooter. I usually let him scooter to school as it'll fold up and fit into my buggy. I am so relieved that where we are moving is perfect for biking and being outdoors.

Today was warm and mostly sunny, so we spent about 6 hours outside. We drove to a park on the river, and had brought their bikes. We had KFC on a picnic blanket, flew kites and played baseball. The boys fell asleep tonight in about 2 minutes.

It's official

Today our realtor is putting up our SOLD sign. The subjects were removed last night officially, meaning all the finances of our buyers are in order. YAY! We weren't really worried that they wouldn't be, as our realtor friend was so confident, but it's nice to hear that all went through. We hired a home inspector for the SA place, and once he's finished (and hopefully nothing too major is wrong with the place), we switch our mortgage over and tada, all done.
Baby 3 is going absolutely crazy right now. Liam just felt one of the hugest kicks ever and looked up at me with astonishment. The space available for the baby is pretty much full from top to bottom. He is grinding my lower left hip, has his back/bum on the right side, and feet kicking constantly on the upper left side. He feels large already. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and she said that I'm measuring smaller than my weeks are. I was the same with the first two boys. I don't think I ever measured larger than 37 weeks, even full term. Yet I informed her that the measurements don't indicate a small baby for me, like they always try to say. So I guess I'm just really good at hiding babies low in my pelvis. I get no sympathy from the doctors until they finally pull out the near crawling 10 lb baby and then say, OH! I thought it was only around 8lbs at the most. This is why folks...I need you to pray that I go into labor early...like in 2 weeks would be great. Thanks

Happy Easter!

We had fun searching in a big field for easter eggs this afternoon. It is a gorgeous and sunny Easter in Salmon Arm today. Hope you're all enjoying some fun with your families. It is fun to explain to Riley the importance of this special day and how happy of a time it is for those of us who believe in God. No, it's not just about chocolate.
Yesterday morning we had all 20 members of our immediate family, plus a few extras, tour the new house with us. It makes us anticipate how much the house will be full of extra company, family and friends. We didn't get so much company out in Calgary. This should be a better house for entertaining too, and we look forward to all the days ahead in it...being actually close enough to our family to have them make use of the place too.
We're ready to head back to Calgary in the morning. When we come back next, it'll be with all our stuff. I think it'll be bittersweet as we tie up things there, finish Riley off in school, have this baby, pack up and say our goodbyes. So much to do, but a lot less stress than there was a week ago as we have the house arrangements under control. And I tell you, I am now almost ready to have this baby. It is getting to the point where there is NO room in the "inn". There is no longer a comfortable position to be had. When baby is awake, there is no sleeping either. I am sore. But hey, almost done.
So I'll catch you all again when I'm back in Calgary. Oh, and two people in SA confessed and say they read my blog all the time but never post...so hi Lana and Brandy! Maybe you'll de-lurk and say hi?? I allow anonymous comments!

Moving!

Hi everyone...I'm writing from sunny Salmon Arm here.
So we drove out of Calgary on the Saturday morning. I was drying the floor with a big beach towel because I had just mopped and the house was going to be shown in the next 15 minutes! I left the house absolutely spotless.
We had a good drive to Salmon Arm and were already on the phone with our realtor about people who were interested in our house!!
Long story short, we were signing papers on Monday night and the house is already conditionally sold!! Huge answer to prayers!!
On Monday we had spent the whole day (while grandpa babysat) looking at 11 houses. We found one we loved and made an offer on it the next morning and heard last night that our offer was accepted!! Can you believe it!?
It should still be on MLS, so you may get a look at it on MLS # 9165844. If not, here's some outside photos.They closed in the garage and made it into a big room there (with the french doors) and a great office space for Greg to the right of the doors. We may need to add a new carport or garage eventually to the right side of the house.

This is the backyard. Between the two trees is a pond and there is a little shed and green house behind that. Very much "in the trees". A nice change from the city.

It is in the Hillcrest area, with a 10min walk to Rileys new school, 12min walk to Luke and Pam's, 10min walk to where my parents will be in August!! We got it at a good enough price that we can spend some money on it for renos (mainly the kitchen). It includes that great office space for Greg (as he'll be working from home)...and is almost the exact floor plan (4-level split) of a house that we wished we could have built. So we are very happy and just have to wait for all the financing to go through.
Thanks for all who have been thinking of us. This house had been on the market since February and we believe no one bought it because God had intended it for us!
Talk to you again soon.....
Sarah