I definitely...

needed to update this blog last week- BUT-I've got a sick little baby and a teething little baby; plus I'm sick too! Thank goodness I'm not teething. So big news though, Hailey's got a tooth...in fact she's probably hours away from cutting her second one. It's there, I can feel it and it looks like it's through, but not quite yet. Let me just tell you though, a 4 month old baby is NOT supposed to get teeth! She's 5 months old today though, so that's a little better, but that first tooth, man oh man was it tough. Also on the good news side of things - she's rolling over! I know it's a bit late, but still pretty exciting! It's so cute too. She's diving all over the place and trying to grab toys too...she so wants to be mobile, but just isn't sure what to do about it. But seriously, if I'm holding her it's got to be one tight grasp because she will do all she can to squirm her way out - she's even mastered the arched back maneuver. I thought I had months before that started...I guess not. Anyway, I have pictures...on my camera though. And I'm too busy right now to transfer them. But I do have this one! It's the magic tooth:

Oh and this one...

my sweet little sleeping baby - who SUCKS HER THUMB!! Ahhh! You won't believe how many people have opinions on that. Everyone tells me that I just have to keep taking it out of her mouth...well I say "my sleep is so much more important than going in her room at night and taking it out" - soooo not worth it. Really if it keeps her asleep at night, which is does, then I don't care. Ask me in two years and I might have a different opinion, but for now I just don't care!

Just had to share....

So maybe I have too much time on my hands, but I couldn't resist. This is my first attempt at making anything, so please...no judging. However, now that I figured out how to do this, they can only get better!

Enjoy:

Tag...I'm it!

Ok...thanks for all your input on the decorating! You've just made it harder though - I was soooo set on the brown and now I'm second guessing the red idea. I do think there needs to be a mantel...and I like the art cover over the TV....although we're thinking of just moving the TV permanently once the basement's developed, that might be an easier solution (thanks for the suggestion Amy...I remember you! It's always fun to know that there are people out there that actually read this blog). So I'll keep you all posted on what we end up doing...hopefully we'll decide on something this week and maybe...just maybe we'll paint on Saturday!

Ok...so onto the regular blogging. I found this little questionnaire on...well... everyone's blog. And since no one tagged me...I'll just do it all my self.

It's all about My hubby:


What is his name? Benjamin McCance

How long have you been married? almost 5 years...Holy Shmokes - where did those 5 years go??

Ok...look at his 'fro - oh man. We thought we were soooo cool. I had crimped hair and he had a bleached blond afro! What were we thinking??

How long did you date? we dated for about 1 year total...9 months of true dating and 3 months engaged...we were young and had to be REAL sure we were making the right decision. So far so good!

How old is he? 27...and a half! He would be so embarrassed that I added the half...I love counting in half years

Who eats more? ME...without a question. I'm a Woodruff..we know how to eat. He's a McCance - they eat like birds. Really, when we have family gathering it's always me and Lauren (another inlaw) going in for seconds. Everyone else is full half way through the meal...light weights.

Who said I love you first? I did...but only after Ben asked me if I loved him...so he kind of made me say it...I was pretty sure I loved him...now I KNOW I love him

Who is taller? Ben

Who sings better? Me...but not because I'm any good...but because Ben doesn't sing.

Who is smarter? Depends...I'm definitely way more book smart - sorry Ben. But he's so much smarter in every other category....so much smarter!

Whose temper is worse? Um me...well I have the louder temper - it's more obvious. He's got one too, you just don't ever no he's mad. Ok...I'm just trying to make myself sound good.

Who does the laundry? Me...unless there's no clean underwear then it's him. I can hold out...Ok that's embarrassing.

Who does the dishes? Me...and only me! I don't even think Ben knows where the dishwasher is!

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? when we're laying down I do. I used to sleep on the left, but then this one night I slept on his side and as luck would have it that's the night my water broke. So, I've been banished to the right side from now on. Ben wants nothing to do with that side now. Sorry...TMI i know (TMI=too much information)

Who pays the bills? I do...he used to until I figured out you could do it online, and since Ben doesn't know how to use the computer (crazy I know) I'm stuck doing it.

Who mows the lawn? He does...I don't think I've ever mowed a lawn ever

Who cooks dinner? Me..always! once in a while he'll make sandwhiches...or Kraft Dinner - but that's it!

Who drives when you are together? Always him...especially in the truck.

Who is more stubborn? ME

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? Usually me...but I don't always mean it. It's just a way to get him to see how humble I am...and guilt him into apologizing. Ahh, the classic guilt trip.

Whose parents do you see the most? Together? Mine. Alone? His. Ben sees his dad everyday because they work together...we see my parents usually once a week.

Who proposed? Ben did...in a helicopter in the mountains - pretty cool I must say.

Who has more friends? We've got to be equal...we're kind of hermits...so equal in not having any friends.

Who has more siblings? Me - I've got six (including me)...he's got four (including him)

Who wears the pants in the family?Totally depends...we both think we do.

Okay...I need help!

So I don't expect much of a response because I'm sure most of you stopped checking my blog a looong time ago...I'm sure you got bored of the lack of posts. Anyway, for those of you that are still reading...I need some decorating advice. Right now our house is sort of boring...when we built it we only could choose one paint colour and that's still what we have. I alway planned on painting, but never got around to it. Well, now that I'm home all day I think it's about time I made this place look really nice. I want to paint an accent wall...here's a picture of what it looks like right now:


What I don't want to change:

• the layout
• the carpet
• the art work
• the furniture
  

What needs to be changed:

• the wall calour
• the art...i.e. it NEEDS to be framed!
• anything that will make it less boring
  

So here is one idea:

And here's another:

What do you think? Please don't pay attention to the horrible editing job...it's rough - but who has time to make it perfect? NOT ME! I think if I were to frame the pictures that's what they'd look like...although they'd be hanging straight and the angles wouldn't be crazy like they are...once again - I just don't have time to make it perfect.

Anyway please....what do you think? I know there are people out there that don't post or comment...now's your time! Please let me know!

thanks!

oh...and watch out, there will be a bathroom decorating post coming soon. I have a stupidly over sized 'powder room' that needs some serious attention. But that'll come next!

Hailey...

(I got this idea from another blog I read...I love it because now I can remember all Hailey's stages)
At 4 months old you:

• are getting bigger by the minute
• are starting to giggle...just a little
• love it when I put you on the floor...you're not a big fan of being held
• can't quite roll over but you sure try
• spit up sooooo much still...but not nearly as bad as before....thank you for modern medicine
• make eye contact with everyone and give smiles away to anyone...but only one per person
• make all the perfect noises every baby should
• play with all your toys...well at least you grab them and try to suck on them
• love your moms finger...it's way better than your thumb
• still won't take a soother...but that thumb sure tastes good
• eat every 4 hours and take three naps a day
• don't wake up at night to eat any more...at all
• loooove your daddy and talk to him all the time and squeal with joy every time he holds you
  
• still fall asleep in the car...but only if mom holds your soother in...or even better, her finger!
• love getting your diaper changed...especially when you poop - that's funny
• you only poop once a week, but when you do...we all duck and hide until it's over
• have mastered the blank stare...you can give a mean glare too
• love to watch tv...even though it's not always on...you're always looking at it
• make your mom and dad so happy....we love you!
  

4 whole months...

Have passed since Hailey was born. Wow...I can't believe she's that old - she's no longer the smallest baby when we go places...in fact she's a bit of a chunker. Here's a quick comparison...
The first one was when she was not even 24 hours old, and that second picture was her yesterday at exactly 4 months old. Can she get any cuter? I remember putting her in that carseat for the first time and thinking how there was no way she would ever fill it out. Now...she's pretty much the perfect size for it...and at almost 15 pounds she's getting closer to being too big for it! We've got a while still...but gosh she's getting big!

Anyway, we've been busy lately. Last week we went to Calgary and had lunch with some old friends...Laura...Dashanne...and Estelle. Hailey pretty much cried the whole time. Laura and Estelle's girls played the whole time, Dashanne's baby just smiled and sat like an angel the whole time and Laura's baby slept the whole time. It was fun though!! Here's one quick pic...so you get an idea of what they girls were like...Hailey had just about had it!

So I didn't put their names on the picture just because I wasn't sure if you girls were comfortable with that...also if you want me to remove this pic from my blog I will...just let me know!

Ok...onto the business at hand. Then the next day Rebecca and Randal came up for a visit with their newest member of the family - Addie! Hailey is very very excited to have a cousin so close in age! They are only three months apart! So we visited with them and got to know their little baby girl...we're very excited to watch her grow up...we know she'll be friends with Hailey!

So then later in the week I hung out with Tan...we're often husbandless on the weekends so we used to get together all the time (before Hailey came around). Anyway, we finally decided to get together again...well I finally got up the guts to spend the evening away... and we had a movie night on Saturday - just for us girls - well and anyone else who wanted to come, but most people have husbands around on the weekends. Anyway, before the movie we got the kids all bundled up and took them for a walk...in the freezing-cold-windy-weather...we were desperate to get out:


And then yesterday Hailey and I went out to Airdrie and spent the afternoon with Becc and my friend Chantelle. We had lunch...ate way too much food and just hung out. It was nice to see them again...Hailey loves watching Chantelle's little girl move around and she loves it when Becc's Bradley pets her head. He's sooo cute! They are all so cute!

And that's it! It's been a busy few weeks for me...although I'm sure that would be normal for most of you...but for the Hailey-babe and me, we're used to just hanging out around the house. It was nice to get out, but we're looking forward to some down time now.

I like Pumpkins

But this one I love!





Ok - I'm not a pro...so not a pro at taking pictures...but I thought I'd play around with my camera and they turned out half decent. But it's definitely not something I plan to pursue...at least not until I get some proper equipment, and maybe a little but of talent.

So we had big plans this year to take Hailey to some little trick or treat thing with Tan and the boys...but Hailey decided to get sick instead. The poor baby had a cold...which of course I got too - but 10 times worse. I'm still fighting this stupid thing. I used to never get sick...and if I did, I was better within a day or two. I guess that's the beauty of being able to sleep all day. But now that I've got a baby around she just sucks all my energy out...literally she's sucking everything I have. So, I'm still fighting this stupid cold and really hoping it's nothing worse. You know I'm not feeling well when I pass up things like: seeing my new little niece Addie in person or celebrating Carson's 3rd Birthday. Seriously it's breaking my heart that everyone is getting together tomorrow and I have to stay home...but I'm sure no one wants me around if it means a three week old Addie gets sick. So that's why I'm not going....but it still makes me sad. I'll just pass the day away by playing on the computer...sleeping when Hailey naps...watching bowling on tv (I'll admit, I watched 2 hours of bowling already this week...can you say white trash???) and maybe....and this is a big maybe...I'll clean my bathroom. I had a little accident yesterday... not that type of accident. I was trying to do the whole mouthwash thing but I was too tired to get a cup and too sick to drink straight from the bottle - so I tried pouring it into my mouth. As it turns out, I never got good at the aiming for my mouth from a distance thing...I must not have played enough sports...or maybe all the time on the bench during basketball games meant I never had to drink any water from a bottle. You know, if you don't even break a sweat, you don't need refreshing. Anyway, I missed my mouth with the mouthwash and poured it all over the floor. And since I was sick I just left it there...my theory was that since it's mostly just alcohol it will just evaporate away and no one will notice a thing. Turns out there's some sort of sticky syrupy stuff in it...seriously how can that be good for your teeth?? If my floor is now sticky...imagine how sticky my teeth must be! Anyway, that's what I plan to do tomorrow.

Another month...another post.

So I'm really slacking...really slacking. Anyway it's almost November and I thought it was about time to post again. So here we go:

Since my last post we have celebrated MY Birthday, Jeff's Birthday, Sarah's Birthday, Thanksgiving and just every day life. Hailey's been growing bigger and getting cuter everyday...she's now 13 pounds 8 ounces...just perfectly normal. She's not rolling over yet, BUT...she's playing with all her toys and is grabbing everything in sight. We go for lots of walks...well at least we did until winter decided to show up...and we spend lots of time just hanging out and playing. She dropped a nap and a feed this month and seems to be acting less and less like a newborn...oh and she's now sleeping 10 hours consistently every night...so nice! She's been sleeping long stretches for a while, but we were never sure if it was just luck or not. Now we know she can do it!! Loooove it! Anyway, here are some pics from the last few weeks:

A little bit of tummy time...and a big goofy grin!

Hailey says "I'm cute hey?? How about a profile shot...you can just add this to my portfolio"

Hailey says "Mom....I can not believe you made me wear this, I'm already chubby enough as it is...look even Sarah's laughing at me. So unfair"

The cutest little lady bug I've ever seen

A little bit of attitude during out afternoon stroll in the park, this is just a glimpse into what my future holds

And another glimpse into her future...I caught her yesterday kissing a new friend...

Then she had the audacity to ask for some privacy...seriously what 3 1/2 month old does that?? I haven't told her dad yet because if he knew, that triceratops would never see the light of day again.

Oh..and here's a pic of me and Sarah and our shared birthday cake. My uncle Doug and and Sue, and mom and dad and Sarah came over to our house for a little dinner and cake...mmmm cookies and cream blizzard cake...mmmm

Wanna host a party??

I do now that I've seen this cute little thing:

http://www.bellababies.ca/content/Host_A_Party/1005

That's it...Haileys modeling debut! She looks so tiny and so cute. I can't believe how much she's changed! Anwyay, that site belongs to one of my friends...have a look around, there is some really cute stuff!

Hailey's Blessing

So, we finally decided to bless this little baby. I know most people seem to do it earlier, but I was just not ready for it. Anyway, she's 2 1/2 months old now and as cute as ever. We invited all our family to come and they all showed up...impressive! We blessed her at our church and then had everyone over after for some dinner. Hailey was so good during the blessing and didn't make a peep, and she was pretty good the rest of the day - considering she hardly napped at all. So by 8pm she finally crashed for the night and boy did she sleep! Maybe we should wear her out like that more often! Anyway, here are some pics from the event:

Just getting home from Church and adjusting Hailey's little bow....what a cutie!

The Happy Family...sorry the picture's blurry

Hailey taking a little snooze in Grandma's arms...she slept in both grandma's arms that day - Grandma's have that special touch!

The Dessert was a big hit

And so was Hailey

Over all it was a pretty long day, but so fun and so worth it. I'm glad everyone could make it!

So the next day I thought I'd try and take a few pictures of Hailey so I could remember this day forever....before I show them to you I must explain. I desperately need a new camera. Mine really is no good - especially when you're taking pictures of squirmy little babies. It's too slow!! I hate using the flash because it makes everything so shiny...but if I don't, every thing's too blurry. I'd rather shine over blur....but really I'd rather neither. Anyway, since this maternity leave budget really is too small, I'm just going to have to deal with my lame camera. It's really good enough, it just seems that everyone out there has some really nice equipment and I can't help but compare. So....with that out of the way, here are some pictures of Hailey:

We had a conversation during the shoot and it went something like this:

Me: Ok Hailey Smiiiiiiile!!!
Me: Hailey can you please give me some more expression?
Hailey: Sure mom, how about this?

Me: Ummmm, no that's a a bit much
Hailey: Ok mom, is this better?
Me: Better, but can you get those hands out of your mouth?
Hailey: Sorry to tell you mom, but the hands sort of come with the baby - it could be worse...see?
Me: Ok I see...can you please just give me one sweet little face with no hands/thumb in the mouth so I can take a picture to keep forever??
Hailey: Sure...but it's going to have to be a bit blurry - you can't have everything you know!

And that's it, one half decent picture of Hailey in her blessing gown...and you can't even see the whole thing! Oh well...I'll just have to make sure I never ever forget how cute she was!

A post from the Past

So, I'm pretty sure I forgot to write all about the amazing photo shoot I had with Ben's sister Rebecca when I was pregnant. I think I was waiting for the pictures to arrive before I posted anything, and then once they arrived I ended up having Hailey pretty soon after. Anyway, I'm trying to make sure I document everything I can...and who can forget this day? Ben and I went down to Raymond for a few hours and let Rebecca snap away. We had lots of fun...you should have seen us - I was 35 weeks and she was 24-ish (which means she is actually due tomorrow!!!) so we were definitely working together. She's a total pro though, she was laying on the ground and moving into all sorts of positions that I couldn't even get into even if I tried...all just to get the perfect shot of my belly. And it worked...there were soooo many good pictures. And I can always count on Rebecca to make a 35 week pregnant girl who gained over 45 pounds to not feel too chubby. She must have worked some photoshop magic, because I was looking pretty good...I'm allowed to say that right? Anyway, here are a few of my favourite pictures from the day...sorry there are lots and they don't even make a dent in how many I have to choose from:











So, I'm pretty happy I had the pictures taken when I did...because just a week later my belly exploded with stretch marks, I got a stupid rash on my tummy (PUPP) and I got way, I mean it, waaaaay bigger! Almost disgustingly big! Anyway, we're definitely looking forward to taking Hailey to see Rebecca soon for her big debut! We tried when Hailey was just a few days old, but I was too much of a rookie and Hailey just cried the whole time. So we'll try again when she's sitting up...I'm looking forward to it!

Retro Dance Party!

So my family's pretty cool...I'd have to say though, I'm a pretty important contributor to that status. Anyway, Tan had a little...well a preety big Retro Dance Part last weekend. Seriously, when I say cool, I mean it! Anyway, Nate rents out community centres for his work (it's furniture related and pretty cool)...so last weekend Nate and Tan hired a DJ (thanks to Becc and her connections), they invited a ton of friends and we had a dance party at the community centre Nate had rented! It was pretty fun. Ben and I dropped Hailey off with Grandma and Grandpa (who by the way were babysitting 4 other grandkids too...a 6 year old, a 3 year old, a 18 month and a 12 month old). So they had 4 boys and 1 girl to watch and put to bed - all by themselves! They were very very succesful...but I'm sure they were hoping at least one of their kids wasn't so cheap. But really, who's better than Grandma and Grandpa? No one - and I really don't think anyone else could have put all 5 kids to bed...all on time too! Amazing!!!

Here's a pic of hailey with three of her cousins. These boys are all tough and fully boys...they play with their swords and in the dirt and they are all some sort of super hero, but...when Hailey's around they soften right up and all you heare from their little mouths is "she's soooo cute" or from Marcus "he's so cute" (he's still working on the whole gender thing).

Anyway, we did a lot of eating, and a lot of dancing...and 3 lucky people won door prizes at the end....two peices of art from the furniture show, two memory foam pillows and one leather ottoman. So, although I didn't win, I'm hoping Nate and Tan have another party so I can try again...I had my eyes on that storage ottoman. So, here are some pics from the event! Oh and just a warning...only the people who actually dressed up or danced get spotlighted on this blog...you have to play along in my fmaily!!

The Girls and our snazzy outfits!! Notice that Sarah's missing? She thought she was too cool!

Becc and some friends dancing up a storm! Oh that's Amy (my cousin) in the red dress!! I would wear that in real life!

Me...Im a real good dancer...I swear! Nice dress hey?

Josh and Skyy - showin' off as always

Tan...now she's a good dancer - as you can tell!

And finally some classic Jeff and Yuka!

Anyway, it was seriously so fun so I'm really hoping Tan does it again! So that's my update for now. Hopefully next week I'll have pictures from Hailey's blessing this weekend. She's going to wear the same dress my sisters and I were blessed in, the same slip that her grandma and her great grandpa and I'm sure some other other 'great' people wore when they were christened. So she's carrying on a family tradition...her initials are even ebroidered into the dress just like everyone else's - and in case anyone thought it through - yes, I know her initials spell H.A.M! I didn't know though until after she was named and brought home from the hospital...she'll be fine.