Diaper free miss!

This is what diaper free - (or elimination communication) is supposed to look like.



This is what happens when you get distracted.

(It even got all over my toes). Yuck!

Otherwise we have had a great week in this department. Major success and communication - really neat to be doing this and actually having him communicate. I'm really enjoying most aspects of this. Sometimes the up-down-up-down during nursing gets annoying but seeing his face after he goes makes up for it for sure.

Mitchell is 4 months!

"My he's growing!" seems to be the big consensus. Otherwise, Mitchell's "significant occurrences" this past month are as follows:

• 16 lbs 13 oz (btw I was 18 lbs at 1 year)
• 26" long
• grabbing
• laughing
• very chatty
• almost pushing himself out of car seat if not strapped in
• uses exersaucer, play archway, swing, bumba chair, slings and mommy
• still mostly has eyes for mom
• could easily win blinking contest
• loves to watch us eat
• first time in swimming pool
• soother introduced for car rides and more =O(
• still not totally on routine for sleeping
• EC going well - most poops caught, peeing slowing down - we have spare diapers!
• nails need cutting every week

Day Camp begins

We had a successful first day at day camp. The kids had a blast on site for the morning (the worship songs are amazing this year - they usually are but we REALLY like them this year it seems)

and then off site visiting a local farm in the afternoon.



We are following Group's High Seas Adventure Programing but we have adapted it to our style. This means that we have an onsite program in the morning with worship, games, scripture, bible story, crafts, and snack. In the afternoons we head off site to various local excursions.


I am the photographer for the group and then have to put together a small slide show to show in the mornings. Other than that I have had a big reduction in involvement with the running of it. (Last year I was Co-Camp Director) What a change!


We aimed to get there early today (and we did), but we didn't have to rush to be there as a staff, and it was nice! Don't get me wrong - I love being involved but this certainly has its advantages, and besides - they are doing a great job without me. Loving it!

Dream a little dream....

I love seeing him like this...

And can I say that he has been making my nights amazing???

Well once I go to bed that is. He is still tending to be up for most of the evening but once we all go to bed he has been doing so well. On Tuesday night he slept 7.5 hours! Most nights it is still somewhere between 4 and 5 at a time but we are also experiencing a lot of EC success. Today we had two poop misses - I was distracted after with guests and didn't think about having just fed him. Yesterday though I caught all of them! He has also had 2 dry nights (me being able to catch him before he goes upon each stirring). The times that we have missed he is just lightly damp which is great. I love this success however it does mean getting up and down a lot. With the side bar now on our bed and Marlee still getting in some nights I have felt a little claustrophobic - even though it is a king! I have found myself sleeping along the bottom of the bed in the early hours. Still, I am happy that he (we) are doing so well in this department. If it all leads to being diaper free earlier then the other two I am ALL for it!

Today he was in the swing, he was fussing, I checked his diaper, he was dry, took him to pee and he went. It is really cool to see him communicating with me this way! So however it works, we will take our sleep as we can and be happy! I know I am!

Can we make this a new tradition?

After we dropped Cierra off at camp on Sunday we decided to stop at the local beach for a quick dip as it was so hot. We were lucky to find one small area of shade for Mitchell and I to sit in while the kids and Drew went in for a dip. I sat off to the side and talked with a few ladies who turned out to be teachers in the area. The kids seemed to have a great time - the lake was very gradual until after the buoy line where it dropped off significantly.

Perfect for them. And of course we were in the quiet area. They then settled in at the edge to play in the sand.

The topper of course was when Matthew asked Drew if we could make this an annual tradition. Drew asked if we could make it even better by adding an ice cream cone? For sure!

We packed up after an hour or so and did get ice cream - running into an old babysitter of mine! Her husband was actually volunteering at the camp that week as well. Too funny. We chatted for about half an hour getting caught up on life while we enjoyed our ice cream.

After our goodbyes we headed to the park down the street. Poor Marlee was suddenly overcome with black fly bites though and with the impending storm we headed out.

Somehow we missed the storm and called my parents on the way into town, conveniently inviting ourselves for dinner where another old friend happened to be visiting. After another great meal and chat it was home to bed. What a day!

And not a bad tradition to be starting if Matt does say so!

Park play...in our pajamas

One of our summer goals (and also one of my 101 things in 1001 days list - ha lol!) is to try to visit a number of "new to us" parks. We decided to stop at this park on our way home from an impromptu swimming party at our friends house. We forgot that the kids were in their pajamas but then said "oh well!" The old style rocking horses were a hit

as well as the monkey bars

My kids have not been huge on the monkey bars but are slowly gaining their confidence.
I think they get that from me =)

Love that shy smile!

Summer Plans

Our summer is officially under way. We have set up our binders, we have Summer goals listed and BINGO plans are under way. It is going to be a full summer.

Summer for me is busier because the kids are home. And more kids at that (1-4 extra daily). I don't have my usual 2 free days from which to choose what to do. Alone (or rather with Mitchell - but sort of alone). I am going to miss my freedom. But I will also enjoy having the kids at home.

I think that these things are going to help:

Summer binders - these will keep us organized and hopefully remind us of all that we can do this summer and keep boredom from settling in. They are laid out as follows:

1: Kidding Around title page

2: BINGO rules

3: BINGO Rewards

4: Journaling books - the goal is to have the kids write 1-2 sentences each day on a variety of topics

5: Reading log - listing the books read over the summer (one BINGO ticket is given for every 10 books read)

6: Exercise papers (aka summer homework) note: we are trying to use up all of those old workbooks that are half full - you know what ones I mean???

and finally - blank page protectors for scrapbooking pages to be done. (and btw - the "dolls" they are holding are their "pals" - more info to come - part of "Kidding Around" below)

We are following a combination of ideas from Stacy Julian (Big Picture Scrapbooking) and Tami Morrison (Big Picture Scrapbooking's Kidding Around).

Kidding Around - this workshop is sending weekly emails encouraging us moms and kids to do some fun activities this summer and also to get us all to do a little scrapbooking along the way. If I can get the kids involved in this fun hobby then I'm all for it.

Some of our summer goals include:

Picnic at local Park
Summer BINGO
Cierra – Visit Mom
Sleepover
Summer Camp
Bus Ride
Water Fountains
Library Readoppoly
Nearby Beach
Pond/ River at Senior's Village
Visit a New Park
Orillia Park
Berry picking
Sleep in tent outside
Park near school
Shopping at the mall
Make a secret hideout
Sleep in the bunky at the farm
Scrapbook our summer
Friend’s Cottage
Fishing
Waterfront Park - with round swings
Purple and Green Dinosaur Point Park
Mini Golf

When I am finished with the BINGO cards I'll elaborate further, otherwise you can see last years info here. We are adapting some of it - changing rewards, changing goals etc.

Snuggles

ahh snuggles... this doesn't happen very often. usually he just falls asleep eating. not in my arms. definitely something to cherish.

Boating

Clark and his girlfriend Alissa entertained our family for the afternoon. He took us all out on his boat for the afternoon around the bay and then they prepared dinner for us afterwards.

Yes - he and his girlfriend are quite brave to suffer with all of us in such close quarters. We actually had a lovely time other then the constant barrage of questions wondering when we were going to stop so they (the kids) could swim. We adults preferred to take our time and look at all of the amazing cottages and homes along the waterfront that we will never be able to afford. They were entertained by their bottomless stomachs - thank goodness we had quite a few snacks on board.

We did stop close to our end of town and Drew, Marlee and Matthew went in for a rather quick dip (it was 16 degrees - Yikes!) I ahhh had to look after Mitchell!

Speaking of Mitchell - he did well with his first boat ride and first time wearing a life preserver.

Much better then his brother did (August 2003 - 8 months old)

Thanks Clark for a great time!

It's a small world

I had to laugh again today.

I was reading one of my favourite bloggers (who I've mentioned before) and as has happened before, her post today on summer organizing was so similar to our life! "Weird - I just did that too!"

Just today I too got out all of our infant toys, and sorted, purged and sanitized them.

I then hung the fabric ones out to freshen up on the line.

And put one to use.

It felt so good to get this done as I'd been thinking about it for the last few weeks. Mitchell has started to grab at things and in particular likes mirrors so there are a few things here which I'm sure he'll really like. It may also help the kids entertain him in the car when I have to drive.

Ah the memories - I can't believe we have hung on to these for 5 years - not knowing that we would have another child.

Strange too, that someone across the country is similar in so many ways. It's a small world.

BTW - I have to remember sometimes to get back to previous posts - I hope my "funk" post didn't sound too negative. Drew was a little ~ concerned? No, not really, but I certainly didn't mean to give that impression. Life IS good! Different now but GOOD!

Happy Canada Day!

Happy Canada Day!

We had a pretty low key day around here (Drew worked and I had extra kids too). We all dressed in red and white though and had a few decorations up.

We headed out to the farm for dinner and some time with Melissa (out from the hospital on a pass - more later). After an amazing steak dinner (thanks Poppa) the kids played in the new bunky

and roasted marshmallows.

Conveniently on the way home the fireworks were going off so even though we didn't stop they were able to see most of them. It's been a while since we've seen them as they are usually so late so they were excited.

June 2010 Recap

Monthly Recap time - a great way to see all that happened at a glance!

Exercise – Still not doing well in this department. I’ve been walking the kids to and from school regularly and a few extra walks with Mitchell in the sling. I attempted a few jogs but they turned into walks as Mitchell was not happy. I finally got air in the tires of the 3-wheeler so hopefully next week we can start jogging…

Books, Magazines Read – Creating Keepsakes magazine; My Sister’s Keeper (Jodi Picoult); Confessions of a Shopaholic (Sophie Kinsella); Black Heels to Tractor Wheels;

Entertainment – TV, Movies, Live events seen – Kate plus Eight; NCIS (What is going to happen to Gibb's dad????); The Office; 19 Kids and Counting; Confessions of a Shopaholic; My Sister’s Keeper; High School Musical; High School Musical the Concert; This Christmas

Special Events – Theoren’s Birthday party (6 yrs); GWL with Williams; Mom's birthday; Don's birthday; Father's Day; Mitchell dedicated (20th); Drew helped open Darryl’s cottage (26th)

Travel – Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls; [mom and dad to Calgary, Banff for Elsie's burial]

Significant/ unusual purchases, gifts / changes – mom's birthday (Lee Valley grater); Don's birthday (meat slicer); father's day (golf balls, photobook); Liam’s birthday party (Matt); teacher gifts – Michael’s, Chapters gift cards

Health
- Marlee lost tooth #3 (23rd) bottom front left