One year ago...

One year ago today Graham & I were arriving home from the Rockyview without a baby!  Cayden decided to give us a practice run a week before he arrived just to make sure we were prepared.  Last year was such a mixed up Christmas that I am looking forward to us all being together on Christmas day.  Dania was back and forth between our house and Graham's Mom & Dad's and we actually didn't see her until mid-morning Christmas day.  Glad this year will be a bit more normal.

Dania is very excited about Santa coming.  We don't have any presents under the tree, they are all going under tomorrow night once the kids are in bed.  I'm excited to see her face when she comes downstairs and sees all the stuff!  Cayden will enjoy the paper and empty boxes, not even sure why we bothered to get him any presents but, next year will be mayhem in our house!  Then, less than a week after Christmas, we will be celebrating Cayden's first birthday.  Not sure where the year has gone but, it has been a GREAT one!!

We are ready for Christmas and so looking forward to spending it with our family!  Wish I was closer to my family but, that's how life is sometimes.  Sending wishes for a very Merry Christmas to all my friends and family and best wishes to you all for 2011.  Stay safe and enjoy the time with your loved ones!!

Santa Visit - Success!!

I made my first trip to Southcentre with BOTH kids by myself yesterday just to see Santa.  (I do realize lots of Mom's go out every day with multiple children but, it is an accomplishment for me.)  I was a little worried about our visit to Santa this year.  Dania was very excited but, Cayden is at the age when things could go either way.  When we arrived at the mall the line wasn't really that long and we only waited 15-20 minutes so I was pretty happy.  Daddy met us there and he arrived as we were only one family from seeing Santa so it worked out perfectly!!

Dania happily climbed up onto Santa's knee and Cayden checked him out for about 5 seconds and then he was smiling and waving at everybody.  It was pretty cute.  Once the picture was done I asked Dania what she told Santa she wanted for Christmas and she replied, "I didn't tell him anything because I was a little bit nervous".  It was very cute!  I'm pretty sure she meant she was a little bit shy but, nervous was the word that came out.

Not sure how many years we'll get to enjoy having their pictures taken with Santa so I'm taking advantage of it now while I still can.  It was a big tradition with our family and as a kid I always looked forward to my Santa visits.  I hope my children will enjoy it as much as I did.

Today Dania & I had a girl's afternoon and we went to get her "Christmas Haircut".(that's what she called it!)  Our timing was a bit off and we probably should have had her haircut before we got the Santa pictures done but, oh well!  She is really good while she has her hair done but, I think it has something to do with the sucker she gets at the end if she's a good girl! 

Now we are enjoying a quiet evening at home!  Hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and staying warm.  Glad it's a white Christmas out here but, I could do with it being a bit warmer!!  I'm off for now, it's time for supper!

Another milestone...almost!!

Last night Cayden took his first couple of steps.  They were totally the cute, wobbly, what-am-I doing on my feet kind of steps but, his first none the less.  He is still much more into crawling because he can get to where he needs to go faster (for now) but, I'm sure it won't be long until he figures out the benefits of walking and then it's game over.  We've had the tree up for a couple of weeks and have just put pillows around it to keep him away and he's been really good.  Hopefully he masters walking after we've got the tree down or we may need more than pillows to keep him away. 

I can't believe that Cayden will be a year old in only a couple of weeks, feels like yesterday we were waiting, not so patiently, for him to arrive.  I go back to work in only 3 weeks and I'm very sad.  It's so different from Dania.  I could hardly wait to get back to work after I had her and this time I would be very happy just to stay at home.  I'm sure that once I get back to work and into a routine it will be better.  I plan to enjoy my time left at home with my kids!

So for now it's time to get the monsters off to bed so Daddy & I can have some quiet time.  Hope everyone is having a great week!

Booty Camp - Week Eight!!

Yay!! I made it through eight weeks of booty camp. I wasn't so sure after that first class but, I'm so glad I decided to join. I have signed up for another eight weeks starting after Christmas, thanks to my wonderful husband who gave me an early Christmas present!! I am definitely noticing the changes. In eight weeks I lost a total of 7" and my BMI went down 3.3%. My weight is still about the same but, I'm OK with that because I feel great! It's amazing how much better I feel after my workouts. I know I've mentioned that before but, it really is great! Looking forward to seeing the changes after the next eight weeks, I'll keep you posted.

Had a bit of an adventure after I got home from class tonight, had to take Dania down to urgent care to have her elbow looked at. She and Daddy were having a bit of a battle trying to get her pyjamas on and she twisted her arm trying to get away from him. Then she wouldn't lift it up or move it and was crying hysterically for poor Daddy. She fell asleep on the couch so, when I got home she woke up and we tried to get her to move it and, again, more hysterical crying. I do try not to be the crazy Mom but, it's not like Dania to cry like that so we called Graham's parents to watch Cayden and off we went to urgent care. Thankfully it was not too busy and we headed up to the desk to check in. The nurse asked her to try to reach her pen and Dania happily stretched out her "sore" arm and then continued to move it in every direction without even flinching.(much to my dismay but, that's Murphy's Law, right?!?!)

The doctor saw her after only about 10 minutes of waiting, gotta love urgent care in Okotoks, and said she probably dislocated her elbow and relocated it when she reached out for the pen. Thank goodness it wasn't anything serious but, I still felt like a complete moron as I'm explaining the problem to the nurse and my daughter is flailing her "sore" arm around like a typical 3 year old. C'est la vie, I guess!

So, that was my evening and now I'm off to bed, both children are asleep and I'm looking forward to my bed as that last booty camp kicked my butt!! Hope everyone had a great Thursday! Back soon!

Two Years Later...

It is hard to believe that it has been two years since Cindy passed away.  I still have many moments where I just want to pick up the phone and talk to her, I miss her so much.  Cindy was such a wonderful person and I know there are a lot of people missing her as much as I do.  Cindy was one of the few people I knew that lived her life with no regrets.  I was lucky enough to be able to spend some time with her before she died and those moments are very important to me. 

When Cindy was first diagnosed with breast cancer my marriage was falling apart before my eyes at the same time.  When I got the phone call from Cindy about her diagnosis it put my life into perspective and I chose not to tell her about my problems.  They didn't seem that important at the time.  About 6 months later, we were talking on the phone and she asked what was bugging me.  I tried to blow it off and make it like I was just having a bad day but, unfortunately she knows me better than that and pestered me until I finally told her what was happening.  She was not very happy with me for keeping that from her.  The next week a card arrived telling me to keep my chin up, things would get better.  Here was Cindy going through chemotherapy and radiation and she took the time to send me a card just to make me feel better.  That was just the kind of girl she was!  It is one of my favorite memories but, there are many more!!

I am so glad I got to have the time with her before she died, we talked a lot and I tried my best to say everything I needed to say.  I miss her terribly and I'm not sure that will ever go away.  I know it gets easier with time but, I still would rather have her here with us!  I know Heaven is a better place with her in it and I'm glad she isn't suffering anymore.

I miss and love you my friend, I hope you somehow know how much.  Enjoy this snowy weekend everyone!!

Quick Update on Mom!

My Dad called about 20 minutes after I posted my last blog so here is the update!

Mom's surgery went well and the obstruction is not cancer.  She had her appendix removed MANY years ago and apparently scar tissue had formed then attached to her bowel causing it to kink and, there you have it, bowel obstruction.  They had to remove about a foot of her bowel but, they were able to reconnect it so she shouldn't have any more problems. 

I'm just so glad things went well and now she's on the road to recovery.  I'll keep you posted on how she is doing.  Hope everyone is having a great night!

Mom

Have you ever just had one of those weeks?!? My Dad called me Monday and told me Mom was in the hospital.  She'd been sick since Saturday and they finally admitted her to the ER(she was there Saturday & Sunday and was sent home being told she had a stomach flu?!?).  The hospital had no empty beds so she was in the ER until yesterday when she was admitted to a bed.  Today Dad called and she is having surgery as we speak.  I'm sure I've mentioned this in my other blogs but, it is hard to be so far from home.  I love my Dad but, I never get enough information from him so, I never really know what's truly going on.  He knows I'm a worry-wart so he tries to keep the details from me.  What I do know is that Mom has a bowel obstruction and an infection.  She had a bout of diverticulitis a year and a half ago so, if the infection is in the same area they may have to re-sect some of her bowel.  I think the surgery may be partly exploratory just so they can find out what is going on.  My biggest worry is what is obstructing her bowel.  I'm sure it's not normal but, my mind always seems to go to the worst case scenario.  I'm trying to stay positive and send her lots of positive thoughts but, it is so hard when I'm so far away.  I hope the surgery is successful and Mom will feel better soon.  I'll keep you all posted.

Must run and get lunch into my children.  Just want Mom to know her West Coast family is thinking of her and sending all their love to Noni!!  xoxo

Big Day!!

Today was a big day for everyone!  Dania and Cayden had their first day at their new dayhome.  Dania had a great day and seemed to settle right in to what will be her new routine starting in January.  Daddy said she was not happy to leave, that has to be a good sign, right?!  Cayden had a bit harder of a time but, I'm sure he will adjust just fine.  He was pretty sad in the morning but, had started warming up to everyone by the afternoon.  He just wanted to play hard to get, wonder if that will carry on into his teenage years, LOL!! 

I have to admit I shed a few tears myself, it was just so quiet in the house.  I was emptying the dishwasher and I was trying to be so quiet putting everything away when I remembered there were no kids sleeping.  It's funny how we get so caught up in our routine that we hardly notice when there is a change in it.  What is it they say about taking time to stop and smell the roses?!?  At that instant I knew I needed to start getting out of my routine and enjoying every moment.  Looking forward to enjoying the day with them tomorrow.

Today was a big day for me, too.  Today was the last day of my first four weeks of booty camp which meant it was time to be measured.  I was worried I wouldn't see any changes but, I've actually made some progress in four weeks so I'm very pleased.   I'm enjoying the classes and, even though there are times I don't think I'm going to make it, I truly can't wait to get to the next class.  We did a fitness "test" on our first day and then we did one today and I think all of us noticed the change.  I love the way I feel when I finish the class and know that I've made it through one more!  So, four more weeks to go and I'm anxious to see the progress I'll make.

Hope everyone is looking forward to a great weekend!

Booty Camp - Week Two

So, last week went OK! I was super stiff on Wednesday, by about noon it was very difficult to bend down but, after the class on Thursday I actually felt better. (The hot bath again Thursday night probably helped!) Tonight was a super hard class and I sweated like I have never sweated before. About 30 minutes in I was sure my head was going to explode but, I made it through the class again. Remember that game "Duck, Duck, Goose" that we all loved as kids well, that game at Booty Camp not such a fun game!! I'm anxious to see if I'm going to be sore tomorrow or if maybe my body is slowly starting to adapt to the newest form of torture I am putting it through. I'm really glad I signed up for the class. I've met some great women and as hard as it is to get myself there, once I'm there and finish the workout I feel so great. I hate to say this but, I am actually looking forward to Thursday night. (seriously, I must be on crack, right?!?!) Last Thursday we had a different instructor who I really liked and she is a personal trainer so, after my 8 weeks of Booty Camp I think I may sign up with her to continue this journey.

Hope everyone is enjoying their week. I'm off to bed to get a good night's rest. Take care all!!

Boot Camp!

So, apparently I was on drugs when I signed up for Booty Camp and thought it would be a great idea! Had my first class tonight and I think I might drop dead before I finish 15 more classes, LOL!! I am going to persevere, though, because I know I can do it and I really do feel better tonight after having such a "great" work-out! The instructor says it gets easier with each class but, we'll see. If I get really brave I might post some "before" and "after" pictures on here but, I want to be a success story before I start posting those pictures. My mind has been in a bit of a funk lately but, I know a good work-out helps my mental state so, no matter how much my muscles are burning, even the ones I didn't know I had, I'm going to keep going and do just one more exercise until I make it to that last class. I'm like the Little Engine that could and I promise I'll keep you posted on my progress! Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and is enjoying the short week. I'm off for a nice hot bath and hopefully I'll be able to move tomorrow! Take care everyone.

Montana = Success!!

Well, our first family vacation was a success! The kids are great travellers, thank goodness, and Graham is already planning the next vacation, LOL!! We both really enjoyed Montana but, there is still lots we'd like to do there. Dania did a tour of some caves with her Daddy & Granddad. It was a 2.5 hour hike and Daddy only carried her about 15 minutes. All the people in the group kept coming up and telling us how impressed they were with her. She is a trooper!

Her other favourite part was in Helena. Right next to our hotel was an indoor carousel. She took about 10 rides on all different animals. It wasn't the regular "horsey" carousel. In Missoula, we found a corn maze and spent about 3 hours there. Dania and her Daddy had lots of fun but, it kind of freaked me out being lost in the hay! We did some shopping and luckily had no problems at the border.

Cayden had an eventful vacation as well. He got his first tooth and figured out how to pull himself up to standing in his playpen. The first night he stood up he gave us this great smile and was so proud of himself. Now the real trouble begins because I'm sure he won't be long before he's walking. His crawling has improved and now he lifts one leg almost like he's trying to walk. He's figured out he has to move faster than a crawl to keep up with his big sister, it's very cute!

Very happy to be home and glad the trip went well. We are thinking our next trip will be in the spring so, we'll see how everyone does on that trip. For now, we have to get the house ready for our next visitors. My Mom & Dad arrive on Saturday and I can't wait. They haven't seen the kids since February so I'm sure they'll notice some changes!! OK, both kids are asleep and quiet so, I should take advantage and hit the hay as well. Enjoy the rest of the week!

VACATION!!

Isn't it funny how the word "vacation" takes on a whole new meaning when you have children?!? I'm pretty sure that when we started packing we only had two children but, by the looks of how much stuff we have, I think they've multiplied!! It is just amazing to me how much "stuff" you need for two kids under 4 even for just a short one-week trip. Thank God we are driving because we'd never have gotten on a plane!! Dania is pretty easy, comparatively speaking, but, with Cayden, we wanted to make sure we had food and formula for him. We had a previous experience taking Dania into the States when she was only a couple of months old and we weren't able to buy the same formula there. Luckily, we had packed enough for our trip but, it was something I never expected. At least we are prepared this time. Then there is the entertainment because heaven forbid the 3 year old gets bored. She's picked out her favourite movies, stuffies and books but, I'm sure there will be something we forget!

I truly am looking forward to our family vacation. We are headed to Montana and it will be nice to see some different areas. Hopefully I won't have lost my mind before I get back but, I'll try to keep you posted! Hope everyone has a great weekend and I'll check in again soon!

Teething...

The title says it all really!! I do get the logic of not having babies born with a full set of teeth but, really, does it have to be so difficult on the poor little munchkins?!? Cayden has been having a rough go the past few nights. He sleeps for about 2 hours and then wakes up screaming. We've been giving him Tylenol but, even that doesn't seem to help him. The daytime is better and he seems mostly himself but, has his spells of being uncomfortable. Every mother (and father) knows the terrible feeling of helplessness because you really can't take away all the pain. As parents all you ever want to do is make everything perfect for your babies so it is awful to have so little control. He is such a good baby and I am going to have a party once he cuts that first tooth.

Hope everyone has been having a great week so far. Really should get off to bed while I have a rare quiet moment with both children sleeping at the same time. Take care all and I'll be back soon!

Princess Bouncy Castle - PRICELESS!!

Dania's birthday party was a HUGE success! We rented her a Princess Bouncy Castle but, we kept it a surprise for her. We closed all the shutters in the house when they came to set it up but, it's pretty noisy. She asked her Daddy what all the noise was and he just said it was people getting the lawn ready so she could play in the backyard. Unfortunately she is very curious and opened the shutters just a crack. Once she got a peek outside she hollered, "Daddy there's a castle in the backyard!!". At that point there was no chance we could keep her in the house. I had the camera all ready(or so I thought) to capture the magic moment of her first seeing the castle. I hit the wrong button and missed the whole thing! (As Dania would say, silly Mommy!!) The look on her face truly was priceless and I think the bouncy castle may be an annual birthday event. We certainly got our money's worth! We had a few of her little friends over and they bounced for almost all 5 hours that we had the castle! We had cupcakes, sparklers and BBQ'd burgers, it really was a great day! Still can't believe my baby girl is 3. I'm amazed at how grown up she seems and I wonder where that baby went that I brought home 3 years ago!!

Otherwise, things here are good. Cayden is thisclose to crawling and as excited as I am to see him mobile I'd like to keep him a baby for just a little longer. He gets up onto his hands and knees but, hasn't quite got the co-ordination down so he sort of face plants and slides around. He gets to where he needs to be so, for now, that's what matters!

That is about all for now. Cayden has just woken up from his nap and he is hungry right NOW!! Must run and take care of that. Hope everyone's week is going well and I'll be back soon!

Photos - DONE!!!

We had our family pictures done today and it went surprisingly well. It started off a bit shaky with my little man dropping his bottom lip and big tears forming in his baby blues but, a little coaxing from the female assistant (yep, he preferred the girl to our male photographer) and he was all smiles. We had some done as a family, each child individually, the kids together, Graham & I together, and each of us separately. All those shots in 25 minutes!! Not too bad with an 8 month old and a 3 year old who hadn't had a nap!! We went out to supper to celebrate and Dania and Cayden were both in bed by 9pm. That is a record for the Hullah household. An evening to ourselves and Graham is upstairs in his version of the "man-cave" watching a movie and I am downstairs on the computer. Oh, to be newlyweds again when all you wanted to do was be with each other. Now with two children we both appreciate some time to ourselves. Funny how life changes you!!

Tomorrow is Dania's 3rd birthday and I'm still trying to figure out where I lost the last three years. We are surprising her with a Princess bouncy house so, I'm just as excited to see the look on her face when she sees it for the first time. We are all ready for the party! House is cleaned, gifts are wrapped and cupcakes are chilling in the refrigerator. It's time now for Momma to get to bed so she can be bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for the sugar high I'm expecting from everyone tomorrow!!

Enjoy your night and I'll let you all know how the birthday went! Sleep tight!!

Family Photos!

We have booked an appointment to have some family photos done. Poor Cayden is suffering from "second child syndrome", we have pictures of Dania everywhere but, very few of Cayden so, we thought we would get some professional ones done. I hate having my picture taken on a good day and I'm afraid I'm going to ruin these pictures. To make matters worse, I had a dream on the weekend about some girls I knew in University (think the "Mean Girls" movie) and for some reason it has dropped my self confidence to an all time low! I'm in a bit of a "funk", nothing major but, I'm just wondering how long post-pregnancy hormones actually affect us. (I'm blaming it on the hormones.)

I've made a huge decision about my job, I'm stepping down from my old position and will only be going back 3 days a week. I'm excited to have more time at home with the kids but, I'm worried about finding a dayhome. Lots of places only take full-time children, others only take children over a year old and some I just wouldn't leave my children with!! I'm sure that is all adding to the "funk" and things will work out the way they are meant to. I have to believe that or I will make myself totally crazy!

When I had Dania, I suffered from postpartum depression (just a mild case) and couldn't wait to get back to work. I felt so overwhelmed with her and work was truly what I knew. I'd always worked full-time (sometimes even more than full-time) and it was my comfort zone. Lots of people said that once I had kids my priorities would change and I'd want to be home with them. Finally now with Cayden, and Dania being older, I truly understand what they were talking about. I'm excited to be home with them more than I'm away. I still have a few months to go before I'm back to work and am enjoying my time at home while I am so lucky to have it.

OK, so I'm pretty sure I've rambled on long enough for one night. I'm sorry it's such a jumble of things but, it's just where my head is at tonight! Things will all work out and I'll finally be able to exhale! Good night to everyone and I'll be back!

High Expectations = Disappointment!

We were shopping last weekend and I realized how much Dania is like me. We were walking through the mall and she was saying "hello" to everybody she passed. Some people answered, while others carried on about their business. The ones who didn't say "hello" completely baffled her. She would ask Daddy or me, "Why they not talk to me?". It's heartbreaking to hear that from a 3 year old and even harder to explain. I'm like that too. Dania gets over it pretty quickly, there is always someone else around the next corner who is likely to say "hi!". For me it takes a bit more time. I've been thinking about it a lot lately and I just wonder how many times you have to be hurt by someone "not saying hello" before it's time to cut your losses and move on. I'm just not sure being friends should actually be hard work. I get you have to put time into everything that's important but, when you aren't getting anything back isn't that a sign to move on?

I've got a very soft heart and truly just want everyone to like me but, I've learned to accept that it isn't always going to happen. I hope that Dania will learn that sooner than I did. Not sure how good I'll be at healing my baby girl's heart the first time it gets broken. I am very blessed that I have a wonderful group of friends. It is sometimes surprising the people who are there for you. It's like that country song, "you find out who you're friends are...". Mine have certainly become more apparent over time and I am so happy for that.

Hope everyone has had a good week. Enjoy the weekend and I'll be back!

Birthdays and Special Phone Calls

Today is my birthday and it's a bittersweet day for me. I had a great day and I love getting spoiled, don't get me wrong but, it is a day when I miss my girlfriend more than usual. Cindy always called me on my birthday, maybe a couple days late or early but, she always called. It might have been months since we'd talked but, I could count on that phone call and looked forward to it. Last year was my first birthday without Cindy and I was amazed at how much I missed the call. I'm sure every year will be the same and I wonder if it will get easier.



Those phone calls were always so special but, like everything, I took for granted that I'd always get them. How many times are we on the phone and doing what we think we do best, multi-tasking?!? We hear about 80% of the conversation, or at least enough that we can answer appropriately but, if we were quizzed on what was said 10 minutes after the fact I'm sure most of us would fail miserably. Since Cindy has passed I try to enjoy each day and be present in every moment. I spent a week with her a couple of months before she passed away and I can tell you every conversation we had over that week because I didn't want to forget a thing. Do I wish I could go back and have a "do-over" on some of those phone calls? ABSOLUTELY!! Unfortunately, we don't often get second chances so, I try to make up for it now and remember what's important.

I had a great birthday with my wonderful family and got spoiled rotten by my husband. I miss Cindy and wish I could pick up a special phone to give her a call just to have that one last phone call. My birthday wish this year is that I don't take anything for granted - life is too short and you never know what tomorrow will bring. Enjoy your week everyone and I'll be back again soon!

Psst, Karma, I think your aim is off!!

Cayden had his first day at the dayhome today and did great. (Better than his Mommy that's for sure!!) He "chatted", giggled and smiled all day. Our dayhome lady is now in love with my son! I was so excited when I picked him and Dania up at the end of the day knowing that he would be comfortable there when I go back to work. (Just so you know, this is where the karma thing ties in!) I was chatting away to my dayhome lady, like I always do when I pick the kids up, and she tells me that she's decided, as of July 16th, she won't be having a dayhome anymore! I am an East Coast girl but, I kept my tongue in check, smiled and nodded at the appropriate times, told her how sad I was, scooped up my children, drove to my house and proceeded to bawl my eyes out. I was feeling so lucky that I had found a wonderful dayhome and didn't have to worry about my children when I went back to work and now I'm back to square one. I'm lucky at least that I'm off for the summer so I have a little time to get things in order but, really are you kidding me?!?

Not exactly sure what I've done to make Karma so angry but, I am deeply sorry!! Now can you please accept my apologies and move on! I'm sure things will work out but, it was just one thing I didn't really need to have to deal with at this moment! I'm going to think positive and believe that my glass is half full(of what I'm not sure at this point) and know that this is what was meant to happen. Both angels are sleeping right now, they had a busy day, so I better get my butt up there too. Enjoy your day tomorrow everyone and if you get a spare minute can you please send some positive energy out to Okotoks to scare off Karma!! Thanks a bunch! xo

My Nana!

Yesterday my Nana lost her battle with pancreatic cancer. She passed very peacefully at home with my Mom & Dad. (My Mom was with her when she died.) She was 92 and had a wonderful life. Her husband, my grandpa, passed away in 1986 and I know she has been missing him since then so it's comforting to me to know that they are together now. I feel very detached from the whole thing because I am so far away. I'm sure our first visit back home when we don't stop at Nana's on the way to my Mom & Dad's will make it very real for me. I'm sad that my kids won't get to know their great-Grandma but, I'm glad she got to meet both of them. She was out to visit in January and I'm so glad I got to see her and she got to meet Cayden. My only regret is that I didn't take any pictures because we were planning a trip home this fall and I was going to take some then. My advice, don't miss any opportunities to take pictures, you might not get a second chance!

Nana was a wonderful grandmother and she will be deeply missed. I'm happy she didn't suffer too much and I know she is at peace now. I will cherish my memories of her and pass them on to my children as they get older. She might not be here in body but, she will always live in our house through our memories. I love you Nana! xo

Father's Day!!

It has been a busy weekend for us. Dania was out to her first birthday party on Saturday. It was great to see her playing with one of her dayhome friends outside of that environment. Her friend is a year younger and she just sort of followed Dania around the whole party. Our daughter did have a hard time understanding that it was someone else's party and her birthday was still a couple of months away. She didn't try to open any presents, thank goodness, but, she did keep her eyes (and hands) on all of the balloons most of the party. She had a good time and keeps asking if it's time for her birthday party yet! Guess we're getting to the age where birthdays mean a little bit more to her. We had our Father's Day supper after the party, BBQ steak and lobster. Daddy was pretty happy about that! I'm not much of a cook but, I can shell a lobster with the best of them. It was a great way to end a great day!(even the weather co-operated for the most part!)

As a final thought, I hope all the fathers out there had a great Father's Day. Our family had a great one but, I am celebrating with a bit of a heavy heart. A girlfriend from back home lost her 20 year old son in a tragic car accident on Friday. I can't even imagine how she must be feeling. I've been hugging my children a little bit tighter this weekend and saying a lot of "thank you's" for being so lucky to have such healthy, happy babies. It's sad that it often takes a tragedy to make us appreciate what we are so blessed to have. Life really is too short and we have to learn to appreciate EVERY day!

Happy Father's Day to everyone, especially my Dad and my husband!! Hug your children a little closer tonight and try to enjoy every moment! Good night all!

The Next Stage

Cayden is rolling over as of Friday! I'm excited but, now it just means trouble. The first day was the most entertaining - he'd get over onto his belly but, his arm would be caught underneath and he would get so frustrated! By Saturday he had it mastered and is so proud of himself once he gets to his final destination! The worst for me is that he is already trying to get his knees underneath him so he can go and catch his big sister. I'm afraid the little bugger will be crawling soon and we all know that walking won't be too far after that!

Dania made some new friends over the weekend. There are 2 little girls that live two houses down from us and they were playing together all weekend. What a screaming match we had when it was time for our princess to come in for her nap!! I'm sure most of the neighbourhood was peeking out their windows to see what all the commotion was
about! What is the right way to explain to an almost 3 year old that sometimes you have to just stop playing and take a break?!?

We have also entered the dreaded "WHY?" phase. I hate to say that I'm wishing another stage away but, after about 1000 "But why Mommy?", I'm ready for it to be over right now! I'm sure I've got a long way to go so I'll just have to start coming up with better "because" answers, LOL!! The one thing that does balance out all the questions is, after she's done something great (i.e., going to the potty), she looks up at me with her sweet, innocent eyes and asks, "Are you so proud of me Mommy?". It melts my heart every time and makes up for all the naughty times at least for a couple of minutes!

All of these moments make me so happy that I finally did get to be somebody's "mommy". There were definitely moments that I thought the chances of that happening were pretty slim but, here we are and I am loving (mostly) every minute. (To explain the "mostly", there are a few temper tantrum moments that I could do without!!) Right now both angels are in bed and that is definitely where my body needs to be so I'll bid you farewell for now! Good night all and I'll see you again soon!

Tuesday Interrupted!

I'm pretty sure the telemarketers get paid extra for every phone call they make on Tuesday's! Cayden was having a bad day getting his naps, his big sister was overly active today, and twice, after finally rocking him to sleep, the phone rang (telemarketers both times!!) and he was awake and crying. The worst is he is a lot like his sister and once he gets overtired there is not much you can do with him. You have to just cuddle him and let him cry and eventually he just tires himself out. After that second phone call, I turned off all the phones and they only got turned back on when Daddy got home for the evening. I figured if anyone else called wanting a donation, he could deal with them. I do understand they have a job to do but, OMG, how can they always pick the WORST times to call. I checked the house and made sure there weren't any hidden cameras I wasn't aware of and there are not, apparently they just have psychic abilities. I wonder if that is one of the questions when they get interviewed for their job, "Can you predict when will be the worst time possible to call each individual on the list?" If you answer "yes" then you are the successful candidate for the job!! I'm on the "Do NOT call" list but, apparently that was a waste of my time because they keep calling. When I do get fed up enough, after they call 8 times, I answer politely and then briskly tell them to take me off their list again. I don't even let them get into their spiel before I cut them off and tell them I'm not interested. Again, I realize it's your job but, it doesn't mean I have to like it.

OK, so that was my fun Tuesday. Here's hoping (fingers crossed) for a better Wednesday! Must get to bed because my 5 month old hasn't figured out the joys of sleeping past 6 am. Good night all, I'll be back!!

Rice Cereal, YUMMY!!

Cayden had his first taste of cereal tonight and was completely unimpressed. He would open his mouth really wide when the spoon would get close and then, once the cereal was in his mouth, the face was priceless! I'm sure it won't take the growing boy long to figure out how much he really likes cereal but, for now it involves a bib and a big facecloth! It still surprises me that he is already at the point where he is ready for cereal. I'm pretty sure someone came into my house, when I wasn't looking, and pushed the fast-forward button on all my clocks. I'm just not sure where the time is going. I can't believe that Cayden is already 5 months old.

The second time around really has been "easier". (Trust me, I'm using the term loosely but, compared to my first time it's an appropriate word.) It's nice to just enjoy the baby. With Dania, I worried about EVERYTHING!! I still worry with Cayden, I'm a worry-wart by nature, but, it doesn't seem to consume every waking moment this time. I'm enjoying the smiles and the "chatter". My playtime with the kids is the best part of my days!

I remember when I was pregnant with Dania and everyone would tell me to enjoy every minute of her being a baby because it's over before you know it. I listened but, when she was little I was always wishing the time away. (I couldn't wait until she could roll over, couldn't wait for her to sit up, couldn't wait for her to crawl, etc) You keep thinking it will get easier as they master each stage but, it gets harder. There are days when I wish she was my baby again and I could just sit and cuddle with her on the couch. I'm treasuring my moments with Cayden. I am looking forward to his milestones but, I'll take them as they come.

Baby is sleeping but, Dania is still chattering away in her room. This is another great part of my day, just listening to her talking away to all her stuffies. Not always sure what is going on in the conversations but, she is always so entertaining! It's good to have a great imagination and I can definitely say our daughter was blessed with that. She can entertain herself for hours which is great for me when I have things I need to get done either around the house or with Cayden. She'll just play or "read" her Dr Seuss books to the stuffed animals, she loves an audience, and she's quite happy doing it. When you watch her, without her knowing, it could warm the coldest heart!

Alright, I really had better get myself off to bed so I can be ready for the two of them tomorrow. Hope everyone is keeping warm during this wonderful Alberta springtime. Enjoy the rest of the week and take care!

Nap time!

Cayden is asleep, Dania is at daycare today and the house is quiet! I really should be doing some housework but, here I sit at the computer. It's Friday and it's looking like it's going to be a beautiful weekend so the Hullah crew is hoping to go on an outdoor adventure. Dania loves being outside and the fresh air tires her out so maybe she'll sleep better. I think she's having nightmares, not sure what a 2 year old can have nightmares about but, she woke up screaming twice last night. It's a horrible feeling as a parent to hear that noise. To make it worse, when you go in to comfort her, she is so upset that she can't even tell you what's wrong. She usually goes back to sleep in just a few minutes but, last night we had to bring her to our room after the second round just to settle her. She did go to sleep and at 6:30 Cayden woke up hungry and Dania looked over at me and said "Tell him to be quiet!". It was very cute since she's heard that numerous times when he's sleeping, LOL!!

Dania spent the afternoon with her Grandma and Grandad yesterday and you know what they say "out of the mouths of babes"! Grandad was using the binoculars and Dania wanted a turn so he told her to be patient. She got to use them and when Grandad asked for them back she said, "Patience, Grandad!". Honestly, you have to be so careful what you say around her right now because she's like a sponge and you never know when it's going to come back out again. We were talking a couple weeks ago about teaching her to skate this winter and she told Daddy he couldn't teach her to skate because he was "too fat". All because he talks about his "fat belly" all the time. (think Austin Powers, LOL!!)

We took her to the circus on Monday and she rode the elephant, by herself! Graham had taken her down for the ride and as they were about to go up the stairs, she put her hand up and said, "No Daddy, I go myself!". She was gripping the girl ahead of her for dear life but, she wasn't scared at all. Unfortunately the elephant pooped and peed just after the ride and that was more memorable for her than the ride itself. If you ask her what she did at the circus, she'll tell you about that and the cotton candy that she ate but, won't mention the ride on the elephant!!

We've had a good week and I am so looking forward to the weekend with all my family together. Dania is getting a haircut tomorrow so I'm sure that will be interesting! Otherwise we'll probably sit out in our backyard and enjoy the sun! Have a great weekend everyone and I'll be back soon!

The Circle of Life

Let's get right to it, my Nana is sick. It all started a couple of weeks ago and we've gotten the final diagnosis, she has pancreatic cancer. Prognosis is not good. She is at home with my Mom & Dad and they are "keeping her comfortable". It's the phrase the doctor keeps repeating to my Mom. I guess it's nicer than saying "she's dying". My Nana is 92 and has been on her own for over 20 years. It doesn't make it easier but, we did know we would lose Nana someday. It makes me sad at moments like this that I'm not closer to home. My Mom sounds so tired, it can't be easy to take care of your mother while she is dying. I would love to be there to give her a break. My Nana was out for a visit in January and I'm very sad I didn't get any pictures of her with Cayden. My thinking was that we'd be going home for a visit sometime this year and I'd get some then. You know what they say about living in the moment. Why is it we always realize how short our time is here when something bad happens to someone we love?!?

Nana is my last grandparent and I'm sad my children won't have a chance to know her. Dania is too young to really remember her and Cayden will have no memories of her. Even if we were closer that wouldn't change. My biggest hope for my Nana is just that she doesn't suffer. I know pancreatic cancer is not a very nice cancer(are any of them really) but, I do hope she's "comfortable" until the end.

Other than that, today was a good day in the Hullah household. Dania had a great day reading "The Cat in the Hat" to her brother and me. It's amazing how quickly she picks up the story. No more skipping pages to get her to bed quicker! Cayden is still teething but, is happy as can be. (Unless he's hungry and then get the bottle already!!) We are hating that it is still snowing at the beginning of May but, I'm sure it will be gone soon. Dania can't wait to get outside with her skipping rope. I'm looking forward to packing everyone up and going outside walking!!

OK, so I really should be off to bed while both children are asleep. If we're lucky they will both sleep through the night! Looking forward to a nice weekend with my family and I'll keep you posted on my Nana! Take care and don't leave anything unsaid!! xo

Potty Training, Big Girl Beds and Needles!!

So my title kind of says it all. I've had an interesting few days. My daughter is in the process of toilet training and she has moved out of her crib and into a big girl bed. Part of her first night was actually spent in Mommy & Daddy's bed. (She scooted into our room once we put her to bed). We discovered her when we went to bed and Daddy carefully transferred her back. She has stayed in it since and I think she likes it because she has more room for stuffed animals. I'm not sure how she even has any room to sleep she takes so many to bed.

As for the potty training, it is kind of hit-and-miss. One day she does great and the next she wants to wear her diapers again. I'm sure that has something to do with her little brother being in diapers. The biggest problem is that she is such an independent little girl that she wants to do everything by herself but, she doesn't quite get the whole wiping concept yet! Let's just say it was a bigger mess to clean up than if she had just done it in her diaper. We are getting there and she is the type of girl who will just one day decide that's enough of the diapers, I'm going to go to the potty all the time now! I can't wait for that day!!

Last but, not least, needles. Cayden had his second round of vaccinations today and was a real trooper. Cried a bit but, settled immediately with a bottle. He was doing so well that we took a road trip in to see some of the ladies I used to work with. It's only our second drive just the two of us and he did great. Put on a great show for all the ladies, his Daddy would be proud, and then slept the whole drive home. He is such a good baby. Dania was too so I've been doubly blessed.

It is still surreal for me that I have this wonderful little family. I sometimes find myself just looking at my kids and thinking "they are really mine"! I'm sure when they are both in their teenage years I'll wish they weren't but, for now they are all mine, LOL!! I am a firm believer in fate and let me tell you, I am so thankful for everything I had to go through to get me to this place in my life. I know we often think that the grass is greener in someone else's life but, I wouldn't give up my brownish-green grass for anything!!

OK, so I really should be off to bed. Both my angels are sound asleep and tomorrow is another day of adventure for all of us. I need to be at my best to keep up with both of them. Sleep tight!

Mother Nature has a sick sense of humour!

So, here we are at the end of April and we have close to 5" of snow in our backyard. I'm sure spring is just around the corner but, I am sick of this weather. Everyone is feeling housebound and I just can't wait to get out walking with the kids. At least I got all the laundry done. It's one good thing about crappy weather, you can get lots done in the house. Now we just need it to be nice on the weekend so we can enjoy it!

Cayden will be four months old tomorrow and I'm still not sure exactly where that time has gone! I think he's teething already. Dania started early but, she was seven months old before she got her first tooth. She didn't really have any problems with teething, some rosy cheeks and then, BOOM, the teeth would appear. I hope we are that lucky with Cayden. Today has just been an off day for him. He's still smiling and "chatty" but, just isn't himself. I hate more than anything when my kids are "off'. I just want to make it all better for them and it breaks my heart to think they are not 100%.

So my last load of laundry is ready to be folded and my daughter is playing her Dora guitar and screaming at the top of her lungs, "Let's Rock n' Roll". I really must go and enjoy the entertainment.

Take care all and send positive thoughts of warm, sunshiny days ahead! xo

And we're off...

OK, so decided to start my own blog. Not exactly sure how this will work out but, we'll see where it takes us. Today has been a good day other than the CRAZY weather we've been having. I've about had it with the snow and apparently the worst is yet to come. Looking forward to warm spring days so I can actually get my butt outside and wear off some of my daughter's energy.

To give you some background, I have an almost 3 year old daughter, Dania, and a 4 month old son, Cayden, so, life at our house is a little busy. I wouldn't change it for anything but, there are days that I just want that hour of complete quiet! It never fails that if my son decides to have a great nap my daughter does not want to and vice-versa! Dania is a firecracker and I spend most of my day laughing at the things she comes up with. It is amazing to see her little brain working things out in her own way. Cayden is just starting to show signs of his personality and has a smile that would melt anyone's heart! Not looking forward to him being mobile though, I'm afraid he is going to be TROUBLE!!

I look at my happy little life and it is hard to believe that there was a time when I thought I wouldn't have kids. If I could have known then what I know now, I would never have even thought of making that sacrifice but, hindsight is 20-20 and we all need to go through times like that to make us stronger.

OK, so enough preachiness for one night. Both the kids are asleep(for the moment) and I'm going to enjoy some quiet time. Take care everyone, keep warm, stay safe on the roads and I'll be back soon!