Goodbye 2005, Hello 2006

It's the end of another year. This has been quite the year for us. Here are a few of the highlights of 2005.

Adam and Genevieve asking us to be godparents to the at that time "Baby Read"

The arrival of the 2nd most beautiful child in the world, our goddaughter Adelle.

I bought a Cavalier, that I fondly named F.C, after it kept shutting off.

Adam bought a beautiful Silverado, and Rob bought Adam's truck.

I sold the aforementioned F.C

I watched my little brother marry a beautiful woman, and had the honor of photographing such event.

Dad finally received a settlement from Worker's Compensation, a fight he begun 12 years ago.

My Aunt Rosemary came to N.S from NL for the very first time.

I took a pregnancy test as a joke, and the joke was on me.

Colby entered his first year of preschool, and after 2 weeks settled in so well the only time he cried is when he had to leave.

My friend Sandra and I have grown closer much closer, becoming almost like sisters. Her kids have also become like extended members of the family, and coming home from a a Frenchy's run or a yardsale without something for all 3 children is a failed event.

I accepted a new job at the Call centre, which has turned out to be the easiest job I have ever done, and the best paying.

My angel turned 4.

My angel got the chicken pox the day before turning 4.

My cousin Kellie Ann came to visit, and stayed with Colby and I most of the time.

Nicole and I made a scrapbook for her grandmother, and had a great time doing it.

We finally took a family picture this Christmas.

I love this picture

I fell in love with this picture. No question who Colby looks like!

They say a picture is worth 1000 words

We're finally done

Well, it's Christmas eve. The last gifts are wrapped, the stockings are stuffed, Colby is in bed, we're full from food from the Schwartz's Christmas Eve bash, the Game Boy Advance battery pack is charging, the tripod and video camera will soon be set up. I wish Adam, Genevieve and Adelle were closer. I met up with Tawny and Jody today, which was great. Now I'm tired and Miracle on 34th Street still needs to be watched. Merry Christmas everyone!

First kick!

Rob and I were laying in bed last night watching tv and I put my hand on my stomach, as I now do out of habit. Well, didn't I feel a little kick? I couldn't believe it! I grabbed Rob's hand and as soon as he put it on he felt it also! Honestly, he wasn't sure if it was a kick or not, but when he happened again a few minutes later, he was definately sure! They're still light at the moment, and I honestly think it was more of the baby stretching than kicking, but it was definately movement felt from the outside!

We went to Rob's grandmother's 80th birthday party today. What a great day. We spent the afternoon at Brightwood Golf Club, and then off to his Aunt Rose's for a feast. She really seemed to love the scrapbook. Debbie and Trena were down from Ontario, and it was nice to see them. We're almost ready for Christmas. One more day of shopping for me and that's it!

Tough love 101

I finally have 5 minutes to sit and blog so here goes. Colby has become a non-existant eater, and it's extremly frusterating. It began when he got sick, he didn't want breakfast, or he didn't want what I made him so I would make him something else. It came to the point that I was throwing out more than I was feeding him so I thought "Enough is enough! We didn't get to choose when we were kids." Well, let me tell you, I don't know who has done more yelling or crying, me or him. It's very hard to let your child go hungry, but he's got to learn he has to eat what he is given. It's not like I am feeding him stuff he doesn't like. It's the same food he always ate in the past. I'm just varing it. For example, there were times he would eat breakfast, and then want the same thing for lunch and supper. The new rule is all 3 meals have to be different. And, if he doesn't eat breakfast, he has to wait until lunch. That is the hardest part for me. But, here's hoping it works. Getting ready for Christmas has been absoutely maddening in this house. There's just not enough time. I have resorted to shopping online to get my last minute gifts, which is a first for me. Nicole and I have been working like fools trying to get a scrapbook made for her grandmother's 80th birthday, which is Sunday, and getting pictures together has been a nightmare! But, it looks really good and we should have it all done and put together by Saturday. I can't believe Christmas is in less than 2 weeks! AHHHH!

17 weeks yesterday

THIS IS FROM A WEBSITE I AM ADDICTED TO, and yes, to be honest, I'm too tired to actually blog so I'm copying. So sue me. I've provided you wtih reading material.

Mother: Your uterus is now about halfway between your pubic bone and navel. Your secretions all over your body may increase, due to the increased blood volume. So if you are sweating more, have nasal congestion, or are suffering from increased vaginal discharge this is nothing to worry about and will go away after the birth of the baby.

Baby: Your baby is forming brown fat deposits under his or her skin, by the end of pregnancy this will account for 2-6% of their total body weight. This will help them maintain their body temperature when they are born. The baby weighs in at about 5 ounces (142 grams). This means that the baby now weighs more than the placenta. No new structures have formed. Loud noises outside may actually cause the baby to startle.

Can't sleep

Colby had a sleepover at mom's last night and at the last minute I decided to go over there with him when I got off work. Mom said that he hadn't eaten all day and all he did was slept. He was up at about 3:30 and I crawled in his bed with him. I was there about 1/2 hour and he sat up and vomited all over the bed. I got him up, changed him, put him in my bed, stripped his bed, and spent the rest of the night / morning listening for him to get sick again. Dad and mom are both sick, so it's no wonder he picked it up. I managed to catch a couple hours sleep this morning when colby napped with dad in his room, but beyond that I've been awake and going non stop. Mom got her first Christo hamper today, and man, what a pile of food! I can't wait to get mine on Monday. So, I figured, with all this lack of sleep, I would be ready to drop. I was falling asleep around 8:30 in the chair so I got up and started puttering around the house to keep awake until Colby went to bed and I knew he was asleep. Rob went hunting today and thankfully due to today's technology I sent him a text message early this mroning and he was home by 2. We brought Colby home, (I had spent the entire day at mom's) and he slept for another couple of hours, but when he got up it was like he was never sick. The kid is amazing. He had soup for supper, (not a lot, but it's more than he ate in the past 24 hours), 2 big glasses of milk, and a pudding. I gave him some Children's Gravol to help him sleep and prevent him from getting sick through the night to see if he can kick this once and for all. Here's hoping. At this point, I thought I would be sound asleep by now, but no, after a nice long, hot epsom salt / bubble bath, I'm wide awake. *sigh*. Wish I could take something to sleep!

Oh the pressure of not posting!

Again, this is NOT my ultrasound but a picture from a really neat site I visit. I am 16 weeks today, officially 4 months pregnant. And man, do I feel it! I offically have "popped", and we're going to start taking the picture diary to show the "growing belly". But, if I had an ultrasound, today, this is what (s)he would look like! We have also decided that we don't like the original names we have picked out, so like our wonderful friends, right now we have "Baby Schwartz", who I guess could be nicknamed BS? LOL

I can't post from work anymore so my posting has slowed down. I have lots of pictures to scan that I just haven't got to yet. Though, I do have them compiled together.

Yet another vehicle in the driveway

We have another vehicle in the driveway. The Grand Am is still there. So that tells you which vehicle is out of commission. Check out Rob's blog for details. We are aiming to go to the parade of lights tonight. It all depends on if Rob gets the deck done. He's moving the steps from the front to the side for safety's sake. Again, check out his blog for details. Kira and Rebecca are having a birthday party tomorrow. We're going out today to get stuff to finish some christmas presents. Of course, can't put any details on it. I'm off all weekend and will have to post. Kellie was up for the week and had a great time. It was nice to have the company and Colby just loved her. We had our 2nd appointment yesterday at the Grace. Finally heard the baby's heartbeat. I'm also part of a research study about determining the factors of preterm delivery. What that means for me is an extra ultrasound done in the prenatal clinic and not the 1st floor, so here's hoping we get a picture! Rob has also decided that he wants to decorate the baby's room. You're really gotta click here to see it.

How do people function this early??

It's 5:45 and I'm up. Yuck. My cousin Kellie Ann is coming in today from NL for a week. I'm excited about that. But her flight gets in at 6:40 AM. YUCK. We are having Colby's party today. He is very excited about that. Pictures will be posted later as I will be using Dad's digital camera.

Staying up again for Genevieve

I absoutely love the one on the left, as it shows the true Colby. He loves to do that eyebrow thing that just cracks me up. I'm sure my brother is very proud.

Colby went back to preschool today, and when I picked him up he was very upset. Tuesday was picture day, and since he was still sick he stayed home. He was very upset that everyone got a picture but him, and he couldn't understand why. BAD MOMMY AWARD GOES TO TINA.

Denise Ward was the photographer, who I happen to know from the photography club I used to be in. So, I called her when I got home to find out if she was coming back for re-takes. She told me she didn't know BUT I could bring him up to her house and she'd do the pictures for me today. I LOVE HER. So, off we went to Denise's. This is my absolute favorite picture, as the True Colby is very obvious. I spent most of the night at work just staring at it. He has that eyebrow thing down! I'm sure Uncle B is very proud. Needless to say I will be getting copies of this picture! And, to top it off, she is going to photoshop him into the class picture! It's great to know people!

How well I know my friend

Driving home in the car tonight, I just knew there would be a comment from Genevieve about me not blogging. And she's right. Colby is finally over the chicken pox and going back to school tomorrow. I keep forgetting that this is a long weekend so I only have 1 more day of work! Colby and I are going to see Chicken Little on Friday. He's really excited about our date. The Service Engine Light and the Service Vehicle Light have both been off for the last week. I hope that it is finally fixed. My cousin Kellie Ann is flying up this weekend for a visit. I'm going to get her at the airport on Sunday morning, which means she will be here for Colby's party! I had quite a fright coming home tonight. I admit, my mind was wandering as I drove home and on the road to my house I just happened to catch sight of movement and THERE WAS A DEER STANDING IN SOMEONE'S DRIVEWAY! HOLY SHIT! Though, I'm sure if Rob was awake when I got home, that poor little deer would not be there for much longer! The husbands are going out again on Friday, and I truly hope that they do not get a deer, because I will have no freezer space left! We all went out as a family (Rob, Adam, Colby and I) in Adam's truck on Sunday. They took me back where they hunt. Well, let's just say it was an adventure. Adam definately drives that truck LIKE A TRUCK. At one point, they parked straddling a creek, and the only reason they stopped is because the truck could not climb the bank on the other side. Bunch of weirdos. But Colby loves it.

So my dear friend Genevieve, this will have to do for tonight. It's 1:05AM and I'm going to bed. Maybe you should start your own, and not one about how I don't blog enough!

Pictures

I'm going to need many sets of batteries for this.

Thank god for Mr. Clean Magic Eraser as those tires mark the floor! Spider-man, Spider-man, every little boy needs a spider man cake!

Yes, my son received scratch tickets in 3 of his birthday cards and LOVE IT!

Weekend in Summary

This has been a long weekend. I have been off work since Thursday with Colby. His chicken box are in full swing now, but luckily most of them have broken. We put in a long night last night and I'm praying he sleeps through the night. We had a little cake for him last night because, well, it was his birthday. We bought him a race track with controlled cars, which he loves. Mom and dad gave him his West Coast Choppers bike, Poppa came out which just thrilled Colby and gave him a bunch of stuff, including a Sponge Bob writing set which he won't put down. We went out today to get him out of the house and he helped me deliver my Avon stuff. I took him over to mom's frankly, for a break for me but we didn't end up staying long because he wanted to come home and go to bed. My poor little angel.

After much debate and discussion we decided to return Koda to GPAC, to be placed with another family. I contacted GPAC last week and we took him back today. It was a hard day for all of us, especially Rob, but it's the best thing for everyone, most importantly the dog. He was not getting the attention he deserved, and with the baby there would be no room for him. He's better off. The house is very quiet now, and it's weird not to have to fight to get in the door. But it will get easier.

Guess what Colby got for his birthday?

This is how most of my day was spent today. As you can see, my little angel has the chicken pops, as he calls them. I called the Grace to see if there was any danger to me and because I've already had them there's not. Needless to say, his party has been postponed for a week so he can get over this. We're still having a little party here at the house for him tomorrow, because, well I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be a rough day and hopefully that will cheer him up.

Update

Much to post, not enough time, lots of drama. Car is fixed. 5 hours at Forbes yesterday. Details to follow. Here is one of Colby's Halloween pictures. I don't have mine developed yet. Should get those shortly.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Rob was suppose to work tonight, but now has the night off so he's coming home! I'm soo excited! That way, we can both be there to hand out candy and take Colby trick or treating! I'll be taking lots of pictures and will have them posted tomorrow or Wednesday, as I'm going to get the developed when I take Colby to preschool in the morning.

Murderers

My husbands are murderers. I'm sure that there will be lots of gory details. If you want to read about it, click here. I am taking the car back to Forbes on Monday. Should be interesting to see what they say. I am now off for the next 2 days and plan to enjoy it. Colby played Indoor Golf (the glow in the dark one) with Gramma Jeannine today. I didn't think she was ever going to bring him home! I must admit, it was nice to have the afternoon to myself. Sandra and I are going to some taste testing thing tomorrow at some woman's house. All I know is that it's a couple hours out of the house and there's good food! Count me in!

I knew I should not have gotten up

Last night ended really crappy. Rob's dad had my car, and since the truck is running, well, really shitty until it's fixed on Monday I had to get my own way to work. Dad drove me in and I had an arrangement with a friend of mine for her and her bf to drive me home. Well, he's working at the IWK and ended up staying later than normal. So, I thought, it won't cost that much, I'll take a cab home. It only takes me 10 minutes to get home, so how much can it cost? $30.00! and I actually ran out of money before getting back to the driveway and I was afraid he was going to make me walk. He was foreign and I must admit I had a hard time understanding what he was saying. So, of course, I came in, stomped around and was really frazzled. Whatever. So, of course it takes me forever to fall asleep and I was to be at work for 6am this morning. That didn't happen. To find out, I get up to go in for 7 and I left my flippin' keys in dad's car! So, luckily my brother is in town for the weekend (damned if I didn't remember that last night) and he is on his way over with my keys. AND, to top it all off, the flippin' warning lights are back on in the Grand Am. Both the Service Engine Light and the Service Vehicle Light are on. I'm gonna have a fit on Forbes come Monday. Wait, they're open today! WOO HOO! Where's the damn number?