Diaper Boys

Both boys were wearing the same diaper the other day so I decided to take a few pictures.

Look, the same size!!!

Joel giving Micah pats (burping him)

Joel trying to pick Micah up

Me and the boys

Micah standing up

Cheesy face

So big!

I know its a bit blurry, but I love his expression in this picture

Chef in training #2

Muffin Cart

Joel decided that his golf "bag" would be a good storage place for his zucchini carrot muffin. He dragged it all around the house and in the end, never ate the poor muffin.

Shannon Falls/Stanley Park

On Saturday, we invited Chris, Katrina and their son Asher to join us for a day trip to Shannon Falls just outside of Squamish. The boys were hilarious in the car, with one child laughing and the other copying the laugh. It lasted quite a while and was super funny to listen to.

The boys climbing in the river.

A nice family shot!

At one point in the walk up to the falls, Asher grabbed Joel's hand and they continued to walk up to the falls that way.

It was super cute!

A picture of Shannon Falls

Group shot

Our cute family!

Look at that cute smile!

  

After Shannon Falls, we went to Stanley Park where the kids played in the waterpark. Asher spent a long time in the water, whereas Joel refused to go in. Smart boy--it was super cold water.

A job well done. Sleeping kids=happy parents!

Cultus Lake

We gathered as friends to give a nice send off to Greg and Karmen who are off to Korea and Carlye and Jordan who are moving to East Vancouver.

We enjoyed a beach day at Cultus Lake followed by a BBQ dinner and pie!

 

 

 

 

Prayer

When Joel was born, and for the next 16 months or so, I often felt like I only prayed about sleep.

"Dear God, make him sleep."

"Please God, just two consecutive hours before he feeds again."

"Please let this feeding take less than an hour. I just need to sleep"

"Please let me sleep. I'm so tired."

Now that our sleep patterns are more or less under control, I feel like I finally have time and energy to pray about more than just sleep. Joel is finally sleeping through the night, for the most part. Micah only wakes up once or twice to feed and is super quick (less than 20 minutes). So I finally feel like I have the energy and brain power to pray about something other than sleep.

Needless to say, during one of those 3am feeding/praying sessions, God brought to mind a prayer map. We have a lot of friends doing mission work around the world right now and I thought it might be nice to know where they are. Partly because my geography isn't that great and partly to be able to show Joel where Cody is living.

The map serves as a good reminder to pray for those all around the world, near and far. We have friends serving in Papua, Philippines, South Korea, Jordan, USA and Canada. Some are doing formal missions and others are extending hospitality to those around them. Some are working with MCC, some making music and others teaching English. Still others are serving their families through the daily ins and outs of life. Its a smorgasbord of service.

(Please do not be offended if your picture is not up on our wall. We might not have a picture of you and your family yet!!! Email me one please and you'll go up on the wall.)

It is great to see what God is up to all around the world. To see where God has called his children to serve. To see the giftings that he has given each one of us and see us using them for his glory. Each family is different in how they serve and no one more important than another.

I love looking at this wall in progress and seeing how God has brought so many wonderful people into our lives. I love that our role has been to offer hospitality to many of these people while they serve here in Abbotsford. May this wall continue to grow!

Random Lessons from a semi-experienced mom

These are some of the random lessons I have learnt over the last 19 months. Have I really learned all these things in this short amount of time? These are things that I think every new mom could benefit from.

#1. Do not use the dry weave pads for postpartum bleeding, especially if you ended up with stitches. Your stitches will get caught in the dry weave, causing much pain. Stick with cotton pads. (thankfully this piece of advice was passed on by our prenatal class and NOT by experience)
#2. If you need a breast pump, use one from Medela or Advent. Do not use one from a company that also makes formula. Because if you think about it, does a formula company want you to succeed at breastfeeding? Not really! They will make a ton more money if you need to buy formula. (also a tidbit from prenatal class!)
#3. Babies make a LOT of noise in their sleep. In fact, they sometimes even let out a little cry. Dan and I have labelled this "munching." They move, rearrange themselves, cry, suck, root and even talk in their sleep. We often think that they are awake, but in reality, they are still sleeping.
#4. A good sleep creates a happy baby. A happy, well rested baby sleeps better. Its a cycle. One late night can create a weeks worth of problems.
#5. Babies like to suck before they go to sleep. Breastfeeding them to sleep is not always the answer, since it can create problems in the long run.
#6. Each child is different. What works for one, may not work for the other. Some sleep well. Others do not. Some are active, others docile. Adapt to each child's individual needs. Be thankful if you've got the child that sleeps.
#7. Breastfeeding shouldn't hurt. But the during the learning curve stage, it may (partly to tell you that you don't have it right yet!). It can take up to six weeks or so to learn to breastfeed properly. Seek help if you need it.  Your milk supply will level out at around 3 months.  If you need milk, seek me out. (haha...not a lesson, but merely an offer!)
#8. Do not kiss your baby's feet after changing their diaper without looking at their feet to ensure the aforementioned substance is cleared from their appendage. Otherwise, you may get more than you bargained for. (hey Matt Kok?!)
#9. Trust your instincts. You know what is right for your baby. If not, ask for help. Or google it.
#10. Shrug off unsolicited advice that you didn't ask for. Intentions are good, but the times have changed. What was recommended by our parents and grandparents generation is not always recommended now. Do what is right for you.
#11. Do what is right for you and your family and this time. That may change as time goes on.  Do not feel guilty by your choice.
#12. Drop the mom guilt. It doesn't do anyone any good. If you feel guilty, change things. If there is nothing to be guilty about, drop it.
#13. The first time your baby sleeps after its born, kick everyone out and get some rest. This sleep that they have (the first one after birth) is the LONGEST sleep you will get for months.  They tend to sleep 5-6 hours. Take advantage of it!

Canning Cherries

Joel helping Dan remove the cherry stems and putting the cherries in a bowl. He did keep putting all the good cherries into the discard pile. For an organizer and cleaner like him, we expected better. Just kidding!

The patented McCrimmon jar ring holder. In a small kitchen, you need to do whatever you can to preserve space. So the paper towel holder makes a good ring holder. No more jar rings taking up excessive room on my counter!

Yes, we use both a canner and pressure canner (as a canner) to make things go faster.

Dan immersed in cherries...sorting the good from the bad for dehydrating and canning.

The finished product. Yummy!

Stanley Park

(Reposting since the pictures didn't load the last time)

We went to Stanley Park this past Thursday to walk to the seawall.
We learnt a few lessons throughout the day.

#1. Not really a lesson, but rather an interesting fact. Junior Bacon Cheeseburgers from Wendys smell like baby poop when you first open them. We don't understand why, but after a double butt sniff test, we realized that it was our burgers. We ate them anyways.

#2. Do not wear a skirt on a hot day to go for a long walk. This will result in pain.

Micah's "I'm hungry momma" face...too cute!

 
 #3. A receiving blanket folded up and shoved between your legs will help alleviate the pain. But you may get a few stares. Also, when the sweat drys, the blanket will proceed to fall out or migrate away from the intended area. This will result in adjustments on your part and numerous stares from strangers.

#4. Do not trust my mom for directions (sorry mom!) especially when she is in the backseat and distracted by two lovely boys. This will result in an extended tour of downtown Vancouver, Burnaby, and New West.

#5. Hold gassy baby at arms length when burping to avoid the "BARF-aggedon!"


#6. Bathroom Sinks make great receptacles for puke covered babies

 

Down the front and back....on the carpet and dripping onto the floor.

"Mommy, I don't feel too well!"

Joel Sleeping

Almost every night, no matter how you put him down, or which way he was facing, he seems to end up in this position. With his giraffe head birthed out of his bum. And for those of you who really know our son, yes, we are aware of what was happening BEFORE he fell asleep. We're working on it, we promise!