Our Little Fish

Our baby girl is four and a half months old now. 

We figured she was old enough to go for a swim! 

We assumed that she would like the pool, since she relishes her time in the bathtub. 

We were right! 

She LOVED it. 

We planned for a short trip, not knowing what to expect, but we ended up staying for a couple of hours! Our happy girl was looking around, smiling and enjoying every minute! 

Nap time came and went without a peep or a cry. 

The photo from the top left is her very first moment going into the pool :) 

The only unhappy moment was when Daddy dunked her under the water… she said that was scary. But, the sadness quickly passed.. the pool is just too much fun to be sad!

I love soaking up all of these firsts. 

Now I can't wait for the seconds, and thirds… I have a feeling she is going to LOVE swimming with mommy and daddy all the time :) 

{xoxo}

1st Mother's Day

Mother's Day brought a whole new meaning for me this year!
I've always celebrated Mother's Day by honoring my Mother (& recently Mother-in-law), but this was the first year I was celebrated.

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3. Leave Canada - Check?

There are a few obvious advantages of having family in Southern BC: warmth, beaches, and proximity to the border for cheap shopping! 

When our family suggested crossing the border for a little retail therapy, I jumped at the chance. 

Who would say no to that??

Well… maybe my husband would… but he knows how much I like it!

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Travelling with a Baby

We did it again! 

Our first short road trip went fairly well, so when my husband got some time off work we decided to head to BC to surprise some family members and let them meet our daughter :)

This drive feels long and tedious on a good day, so I had no idea what to expect travelling down with a three month old baby. 

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Happy Easter!!

"Before the Passover Festival, Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart from this world to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end." 
-John 13:1

I am excited to celebrate Easter. 

I am excited to celebrate the sacrifice that God made, allowing His only Son to die for my sins. 

I get far too wrapped in decorating my home and baking egg-themed treats this time of year. 

Time to re-focus my prayers and thanksgiving. 

Although I plan to celebrate with my kids by hiding eggs, eating chocolate bunnies, and dyeing Easter eggs, I also plan to share the story of how Christ died for us and rose again. 

I plan to install God's love into their hearts and plant seeds of hope and joy. 

I am excited to celebrate Easter always. 

He is risen indeed! 

Enjoy your Easter everyone :) 

{xoxo}

My Favourite Husband

If you haven't met my husband, you really should. 

You really, really should.

He's amazing. 

Best one I've had so far!

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Love Day

This year marks my third Valentine's day with the husband. 

As were was thinking about our past Valentines we remembered getting all dressed up, going out for a fancy dinner with multiple delicious courses, drinking delicious wines, and being up for hours. 

That's when I said, "we are never going to be able to do that again… <insert sad face>".

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Goodbye!

Well… Oma is officially gone :(

Opa left a week ago, and husband is back at work. 

I was so spoiled to have my husband home for  two weeks, and then get a wonderful couple of weeks with my parents. 

Time flew by incredibly fast. 

I can't believe my baby girl is over 3 weeks old already! Can't believe I have to start cleaning my house and cooking my own meals. Can't believe I'm going to be all alone each day - just me and a baby that can't talk yet... I'm definitely going to miss my family! 

Enough writing for now, here are some lots of snippets from my last couple of weeks:

Warning: the following contains many, many photos of people holding Ellie :) 

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Home for the Holidays

 I'm not quite ready to emerge from my Christmas cacoon yet. 

I'm eating chocolates for breakfast, soaking up time with family that lives far away, savouring the last batch of nuts & bolts, and lounging in my pajamas with a husband that doesn't have to go back to work for a few more days. 

Finally, I'm trying to take in the last couple of weeks without a baby around. 

The last Christmas with just the two of us. 

It was a very peaceful Christmas at home for the holidays. 

Our Christmas in Photos: 

 Baking Christmas pies with my niece and nephew!

Visiting with family :) 

Beppe learning how to text!! 

(sorry it's blurry... but the memory was still worth posting!)

And then it was Christmas day. 

At home. Just the two of us :) 

Reading the Christmas story at home via the iPad :) 

Just look at that smile!! 

Inside his big box was a drill press for his garage! Inside my big box was a sewing machine! 

We both got a bit spoiled this year :) 

 Christmas at Beppe's (Grandmas) involved funny gifts, games, and a delicious turkey :) 

Puppies wearing their new Christmas scarves!

(which to everyone's surprise, stayed on ALL day!)

Merry Christmas!! 

Now back to my Christmas cacoon :) 

{xoxo}

Merry Christmas

I hope you are enjoying the holidays as much as we are! 

I pray your Christmas season is filled with joyful moments and blessings. 

May we all remember the true reason for the season, and give thanks for the grace and love that God, our heavenly Father, displayed for us in sending his one and only son to Earth. 

Joy to the world, the Lord has come!

Merry Christmas from our little family of four (almost 5!) to yours :)
God Bless! 

{xoxo}

Epic Baby Predictions - Baby V

Well… It's December 11th!! 

One month until Baby V's due date! 

We are sooo excited, but I'm definitely starting to get nervous. 

It's all becoming very real all of the sudden. 

Although, the lack of sleep may be influencing my ability to think clearly… 

I feel ginormous already, and as I write this I'm thinking to myself, "How can there possibly be another month to go?!"

But Christmas is coming (and going hopefully!) and then there'll be a baby here :) 

Time for the predictions!! What do you think I'm having?!?

Here are the things you are predicting: 

Birthday

Sex

Weight

Eyes

Hair Colour

I have my predictions... but I'll wait until a couple of you have posted first to share them :) 

Ready, GO!

{xoxo}

Annual Edmonton Trip

This past weekend we travelled back into the BIG CITY! aka Edmonton :) 

We go every year around this time for my husband's work Christmas party, and it just so happened that the trip coincided with Black Friday this year too!

The weekend went by VERY quickly. 

The roadtrip went sloooowly as my pregnant bladder could only last max. 1 hour in the car at a time! 

(sorry for all the breaks honey!)

Any downtime I had at my auntie's (which wasn't much) I spent reading this novel. 

Trying to knock one last thing off my 13 of 13 goal list!

I also finished these two lovely infinity scarves while on the road!
The purple one was a early Christmas present for my Auntie :)
They are long and warm - perfect for winter dog walks.

(Sorry, I forgot to take a picture of us wearing them!)

Then we got all spiffed up to head out to the Christmas party! 

It was a long event - 4pm til ... well... 3am by the time we were home?

Obviously we had a great time visiting with everyone! 

Here I am dressing up my baby bump :)

And here we are together :)
That was the final day of the moustache... its gone now!
Thank you to everyone that supported Mr. A!!!

And in keeping with tradition (like all other E-town trips)... we went shopping! 

Not sure the husband likes this part as much as I do, but this time he got some spiffy clothes! 

Black Friday served us well at a few stores, but mostly we shopped for a few last baby items :)

 Here's a pic of our finds layed out in the baby's nursery.... laundry pail, bathtub, extra change pads and sheets, a few neutral onsies/sleepers, a towel, a picture frame, and some homemade elmo blankets, bibs, and cloths from my wonderful Auntie!!

Pretty much ready for baby now... just 5 weeks to wait! 

{xoxo}

Autumn Musings

Up in northern Alberta we can already tell that our Autumn days are numbered. 

Is there any place on Earth that has Fall for 6 months a year instead of Winter??

If such a place exists I would like to move there... 

I just l-o-v-e this season.

I will soak up a nice walk in this weather whenever I get the chance... although my current circumstances (i.e. being pregnant) seem to limit the amount of walking time I can handle... especially when you stop at Starbucks first! 

I also determined that this is Joop's favourite season. That little dog kicks leaves up every chance he gets! Although I will say that he's equally excited to go for a walk at any other time of the year.

Sunny skies. Warm drinks. Energetic puppies. Beautiful scenery. Handsome husband. Gorgeous colours. No wind. Plenty to be thankful for on these Autumn days. 

Here are some pictures of what we happily soaked up during our fall stroll:

{xoxo)