News!!!

I have some news that some of you know and some of you will be just finding out. Kailey is going to be a big sister. My due date is January 11th so that means that I am almost finished my first trimester. We have been keeping this news very private since the last time did not go so well. I am feeling pregnant this time, complete with morning sickness (although it feels like all day sickness some days) and I am showing already. I am cautiously excited. I know now what a miracle it is to be able to carry a healthy baby to term, something I guess I may have taken for granted to a certain degree before. I am excited for Kailey and for us. My first ultrasound is scheduled for July 13th and I am hoping that after I see a beating heart or even hear it at my appointment on the 7th that I can relax a little bit more. I have a new Dr. this time since Dr. Stander is no longer taking pre-natals. I was referred to a doctor I feel very comfortable with and he happens to be the chief of staff too...cool. His approach is more of a 'natural' one which I like and he is very understanding at my guarded excitement. January is a good month to have a baby I think...cold as heck, but it saves me wondering what I am going to do during the looooong winter months.

Kailey is practicing...I wonder how she will feel when it comes out without all the fur and headband though...hahaha.

Small Town Fair !

Just after putting her cheek on the goats (her version of hugging).

This was the sweetest little bunny I have ever seen. So cuddly and just wanted to be held. Kailey held this one for quite a while.

I could have taken this little guy home he was so cu-ute!

Jack wanted to take the kangaroo home instead...hahaha.

Kailey says, 'oh look at his hair'...one of those piggies with the cow licks everwhere.

Getting her face painted. Ice cream cone she picked.

Happy girl with a mouth full of snow cone!

What a great spur of the moment decision we had. Bonnyville's Ducharme Motors had a free family fair to celebrate 50 years in the Lakeland. So glad we went to check it out. Clowns, face painting, huge bounce houses that Kailey was way too scared to do, fair-type games, carnival food, classic car show and BEST OF ALL....a petting zoo. It was the best petting zoo I have been to. Smaller, but way more animals and the kids were able to hold and touch everything with no time limits or a huge amount of people. There were miniature goats and babies, turkey, chickens, rabbits, Guinea pigs, a lamb and even a wallaby. She held every bunny and Guinea pig and loved the goat babies. The BBQ they had was awesome too. ALL FREE!!! She was pretty upset when it was time to go. 'More goats, more clowns, more bunnies....pleeeeeeeease'. She would still be in the zoo if she had her way. I am totally going to have to keep an ear out for other things like this around the area. Sooooo much fun. :-)

Went to the beach tonight.

Talk about taking the lake for granted....we really need to take advantage of what we have here more often. Kailey had a blast!!!

Memories of Disneyland

I cannot believe what Kailey remembers from our trip. She has retained almost everything in detail, details I have since forgotten. We were laying in bed together just talking about everything from the rides, meeting characters to the ocean to Grandpa's owie. I miss that place desperately. I loved everything about that time together. The expression on her face is something that I will NEVER forget. One of the main memories that makes my heart pump a little faster is when we were in California Adventures outside the bus cafe listening to the Beach Boys. She was so happy. I remember the slight chill in the air, the smell of cookies baking and most of all how totally comfortable she was dancing in the 'streets'. Jack took her to the Marina on the weekend and she thought she should be seeing Grandma Joy as she associates the water with her. So sad that we are not closer, but what amazing memories we make when we do see each other. Here is the video of the happy place I go to when I need a lift.

A couple of funnies...

• After supper tonight Kailey tells me that she is going to sweep. While she is sweeping she tells me, 'no Mommy, I can't hold you I am busy sweeping'.
• her story: The mailman fall'did down because his Dora shoes gave him bissers (blisters). He cried and cried and fall'did down on his knees.

New Kitchen Paint.

I have been meaning to post a couple of pictures of the new paint job in the kitchen....loooove it. I am thinking I want the rest of this level painted this color now. Jack did a fantastic job!!!

An assortment of pictures. ;-)

She really really can't wait for this rain jacket to fit. It is a size 5/6 that I got an amazing deal on.

Some pictures of our new fence. It is all treated lumber and will be stained next Summer. What a weight lifted off to know that the main projects we had to do this Summer are finished. Next up...painting the garage door, re-design of the deck and possibly some indoor painting. The fence from start to finish was a 2.5 day project. We hired out for this one and watching a crew of 6 guys tackling this it was the right decision for sure. All the posts are cemented in and they did a fantastic job. :-)

Cute play-dough set in theory. Realistically it is a NIGHTMARE!!! hahah. It is the Ice Cream parlour...tons of pieces. Takes some major muscles to pump out the swirly soft serve. She loooooves playing this though. Our conversation goes like this:

Shari: Hi Kailey what do you feel like doing?

Kailey: Ice cream play-dough

Shari: awww...really?

Kailey: Yup, I really think so.

Shari: How about we color?

Kailey: Ummm, no, not today, maybe another time.

Hi Uncle Ryan...look what shirt I am wearing!!

826 - after school program for school aged kids in San Francisco where Ryan works.

As per request, Kailey sipping her afternoon coffee.

Might be a little much for an outing to the mall. Not sure what the upside down thing is, but doesn't she look fabulous? She met Jack at the door like this the other day...hahaha.

Kailey teaching me to wait my turn...hahaha

This is something we go through every single day. She holds back her toys and does this part counting part alphabet thing so that I wait my turn. I am guessing she is practicing for the day home. I so wish she liked going there still. The novelty has more than wore off that is for sure. Thankfully she is only there for part days, but is still breaks my heart when the first thing out of her mouth in the morning is 'Kailey stay home...Kailey not go see the kids.' Bottom line - she isn't a fan of sharing Kim's attention, toys and is so easily bored that she tends to look for ways to jazz the situation up. There is one little girl there that is like nails on a chalk board for me, so I can see why she is Kailey's target. All Kailey has to do is walk by this little nut job and she starts 'telling' on her and shrieking...'shut it you little whack job'. Not nice and very immature of me I know, but sheesh no wonder she likes to 'tap(nice way of saying smack/hit) her. Oh well, this is all part if learning I guess, but I sure wish this phase would speed up and pass. When the kids go to the park or are outside she is a much happier kid that is for sure.

Happier notes:

1/ Kailey has become a tree hugger - literally. If the leaves are not out on the trees she will hug them and kiss them. She was also pretending to give them strawberries, watermelon and water. She says, 'There you go tree, now you feel better'. Soooo sweet to watch.

2/ We were at the Dr.'s for three and a half hours today and she was a trooper. She was talking on my cell phone that was turned off while we were waiting. She walked in circles with one hand on her hip while telling 'Nana Shirley', 'nan', and 'Gido-man' about life as she sees it. 'Kailey fell down and went boom and then I walked Parker dude and he licked me...hahahahaha'. 'Kailey waiting for doctor he has a telescope and hears me go boom boom boom'...then she ends with a dramatic bye and slap the phone shut. The nurses walking by were killing themselves watching her. They took blood from her and she watched the entire time and didn't cry or complain at all...what? she is tougher than me.

3/ She asks for coffee twice a day and I heat up some milk and sprinkle Cinnamon and some sugar and I give her a fancy cup and straw and she loooooves it.