Life with two little ones...

Life with two little kiddos is a lot harder and a lot easier then I'd expected. First of all, labour the 2nd time around was 100 times easier!! Seriously.

I went into the hospital around 2:30 am - my contractions were 3-5 minutes apart and were pretty painful. I was only 4cm though and the nurses and doctor didn't think it was enough to guarantee a baby that night. So I hung out in triage for a few hours. Around 6:30 am my contractions were unbearable! So I asked for some pain relief...and was given fentanyl, which honestly didn't even touch the pain. It was a waste of drug. The good news though was that I was 6-7 cm...finally some progress! Unfortunately I hung out at 6-7 cms until 7:30am, at which point I begged for an epidural. My nurse wisely took her sweet time calling for the anesthesiologist and when he finally arrive at about 8ish I was in so much stinkin pain - and I was MAD. As he was prepping me I decided 'kindly' let everyone know that I was pushing - so they'd better get the epidural in me right that second because I was not planning on doing this med free. Well, the nurse, in her great wisdom decided to check me - and broke the news that I was still only 6-7 cm's. I don't think I could have been any more mad at the world as I was that second...that is until my water broke while she was checking me. And then the room turned into full on panic mode. The nurse yelled "she's ten, the baby's there, she's pushing, GET THE DOCTOR HERE RIGHT THIS SECOND!!" So I started pushing at 8:15, the doctor ran into the room at 8:20 and Paige was born at 8:22. Seven full minutes of pushing and she was here! No epidural, no tearing, and according to the doc., the easiest delivery of the day!! Yay me! Seriously, anything beats the 3 hours I pushed with Hailey.



So with that, I had a better start to this whole newborn experience. Recovery from labour this time was so much nicer then with Hailey, I was so much more confident this time around and I had more help too. My mom spent the entire first week here just helping out - and it was really really appreciated. I've been 'on my own' this entire last week and it's been a challenge, but it's bearable. The hardest part is timing things - like feeding both kids, or making sure they nap at the same time (so I can nap too). But overall, I'm adjusting pretty well. I'm exhausted, and my house is a disaster, Hailey's worn her Pj's all day long more times then I'd like to admit; but overall things are ok.



Here are some pics from the last few weeks:


My first attempt at a little photoshoot - I was just testing the lighting here, but I love how different the girls look here. They really are sisters!

Cute little Paige - the 'photoshoot' ended up not happening because Paige woke up...but this was still a cute shot

When Paige was 5 days old - our country celebrated it's 142 Birthday (I think). To honour these events, we decided to head out the Kananaskis for the day, have a little camp fire and take the little boat out for a spin. It was beautiful out there, Paige was a doll and Hailey had a blast.

Hailey and her 'munka' (her new word for Grandma)

My idea of a good ketchup ad

Later that night Ben and my dad took Hailey to see the Fireworks in town. Hailey LOVED the "works". Do you like Hailey's shirt? I got this brilliant idea from a friend of a friends...or cousins blog (I can't even remember how I know her anymore - but I do). I would link to the original idea - but I actually haven't told her that I stole the idea, plus she probably doesn't even know that I read her blog. Anyway, I truly am giving credit. But that's Hailey's handprint - cute hey??

Here's another attempt at a photoshoot with the Paigester. That face that she's making? It's pure satisfaction - she just peed and pooped all over.

So...after this final attempt at taking a cute picture of Paige, I decided to leave it to the professionals. We had Ben's sister Rebecca take Paige's newborn pictures on the weekend. All I can say is there is a reason why she charges people to take pictures and I don't. She's actually good!

Here's one of Hailey with Paige's headband...she just couldn't be left out!

Hailey is still so very in love with Paige and asks to hold her constantly! I love it!

We went for a walk to the park the other day - and I carried Paige in this little carrier. Which of course meant that Hailey just HAD to use it the rest of the day to carry her babies around in.

p.s. Hi Tan...you were probably wondering where this carrier went?? Oops, I forgot to give it back to you when I was done using it with Hailey. Anyway, you can totally have it back now if you want!

And finally, as I type, Ben is at the Stampede with Hailey. They have become the best of friends these last few weeks...and I'm so grateful for it.

Here is Hailey - all worked up because she thought dad was going to leave without her.

And her look of relief when we explained that she got to go WITH dad.
And finally a cuddle with a little 'please don't even leave me again' kind of cry.

I hope they're having fun...I know I'm appreciating my little break. I think I'll go have a nap now...I know I need one (that burst of energy I had in week one has definitely worn off)!

Introducing...

Paige Signe McCance - 7lb 15 oz - 18 inches long - June 26 2009 - 8:22AM

I'll share more later, but for now here are some pics. Paige is a complete doll! She came into the world very quickly (i.e. no time for the epidural) and has been sleeping ever since. Hailey's in LOVE - as are the rest of us! We're adjusting really well to the new life - much better then when I had Hailey. It's all wonderful. We're happy.

A Picture Update

Do you ever have months where you take hundreds and hundreds of pictures...and then some where you take next to nothing? Well, June is a hundreds and hundreds of pictures kind of month. We've been busy and I've had my camera...so I thought I'd share.

The month started out with an afternoon in the pool. We've been having WONDERFUL weather lately, so a few days in the kiddie pool are a must around here. Hailey put on last years swimsuit to mark the occasion, it only took 5 minutes of stretching to get into it...but I don't think her ego is damaged.

Then after that we had a week of rainy weather...so out came the finger paints. This was a first in our home and I was sooooo nervous of a huge mess the whole time! But Hailey did really well, and I did ok considering the fact that the paints I opened were not actually finger paints, but 3D paints. And although the packaging said they were washable...they weren't so much. Well after 10 minutes of intense scrubbing they were. But Hailey had fun and I let her do it again a few times that week. And on a fun and exciting note - Hailey learned to say all her colours! She can't quite match them to the colour yet, but she can say them! Only a mom would be proud of such an accomplishment - but it really is so fun to hear her learning new words and trying to apply them.

After the Colouring, we made a few trips to the Zoo. I'm now a proud season pass holder, which means I can go whenever I want! La di da! We've been with friends and family a few times and plan to go many many more times this summer...here is Hailey with her cousins! She's the little one in the white hat - the one that doesn't look like a boy!

After our Zoo trips, we went camping with the Allreds in our ward. We headed out to Writing on Stone and had a blast! It was soooo stinkin' hot there (38C) so I was oh so grateful for the Air conditioned RV...which technically isn't camping, but still fun! Hailey had a blast with Kyka (Kyla) and she just couldn't love Julie anymore! We had fun hiking in the Hoodoo's and Ben had fun freaking me out while he hiked and jumped around - with Hailey on his shoulders.

Dad 'babysitting'. Classic

While we were down at Writing on Stone, we stopped in at the boarder and picked up Hailey's new toddler bed. Oh my, it's sooooo cute! And she's so in love with it. The first night we tried to put her in it didn't work out so well - she came to the door three times whimpering and half crying. So she slept in the crib that night - because you can't not give in to her sweet little whimper. But day two was a breeze and has been since! The novelty hasn't worn off yet - which works wonders at nap time! She's more than willing to give up her fun activities as long as she gets to go sleep in her new bed! Gotta love it!

Let's see...what's next? Oh yeah, we've had a few good afternoon thunder showers which was just so wonderful for me and my little daughter who is starting to become afraid of sounds - sense the sarcasm?? Seriously, all I hear these days is "wuz dat noise??" All day long - for every noise you can imagine! Really. Sometimes she's really good at figuring it out, but sometimes it gets her really really worked up. Hailey did love playing in the rain one afternoon though and even enjoyed hearing the distant thunder - well, once I explained to her that it was the clouds bumping into each other that is.

Then we had a few days of dressing up in mommy's high heels and getting all pretty. I LOVE having a daughter for this exact reason!!



After that we headed up to Ol MacDonalds resort for a camping family reunion with my moms family! It was a lot of fun - even though I hardly slept. Hailey loved the water guns, and the train ride the most! I loved the Air conditioned trailer - again. I must be pregnant! Speaking of which...we now have Central Air Conditioning - ahhhh heavenly! For those of you who say it doesn't get hot enough up here for require it - well you just haven't tried it out. Because seriously, there is nothing better! I'm in LOVE! Anyway, here are the pics of the train...and a mischievous little girls and a water gun!

And finally here is my 39 week belly shot - with my lovely sister in law Lauren who is just 3 months behind me! We live just down the street from them, so we'll be seeing a LOT of each other once our babies are born.

And last but not least - a picture of Hailey in her 'helping dad in the garage' attire. Hailey and her dad are Best friends!! So she gets to help outside a LOT! I'm sure she'll be helping him even more once this baby arrives.

And that's it! I'm 4 days away from my due date, which means I want to have this baby right NOW! Hailey was 4 days early and I was sort of expecting the same sort of luck this time around. We shall see!

I've been sewing!

Yep - I've been busy sewing for this new little baby. I'm in the home stretch now - 28 days until the big due date - which means almost nothing! Anyway, I've been madly trying to get things ready. We just ordered Hailey a new "Big Girl bed" and hope it gets here soon. I'm still not sure if she'll be in it any time soon - since we all love the Crib! Hailey especially loves it. But at least it's on it's way and she will have the choice soon enough. I have all the clothes unpacked, washed and put away. We have diapers and a few other necessities all ready to go. So now we're down to the last few things...like the car seat, the cradle, my hospital bag and a coming home outfit for the little baby. Once those are done, all we have left to do is wait.


So here are two of my blankets:

The minky one - oh soooo soft

And the throw-down quilt (big enough to lay a baby on, too small to cuddle, but small enough that I can lay it on the floor with one hand - PERFECT!) The quilting on this one took HOURS!! It was my first real quilt ever and I've learned quite a few things (like how to cut better then I did, how to sew the pieces together better then I did, how to not quilt so tightly together so it won't take hours and hours to finish the final touch) BUT I think it still turned out kind of cute! Actually I love the quilting I did - it took forever, but I wouldn't change it...at least not on this quilt.



I plan on quilting two more - one for Hailey's new bed and a matching one for the babies crib. Those are less of a priority though - so they'll be done...eventually.



So besides being totally consumed with nesting we've also been trying to get out in the RV a bit before out lives change completely (We're hoping on two more trips before the baby comes). We did take a trip down to Montana on May long. All I can say is there is nothing better then a portable DVD player. Seriously, the 5 hour drive would have been unbearable without it.

Look at how mesmerized Hailey is

Here's one of the little girl in her favourite chair, eating her breakfast in the RV. Pretty cozy.

Hailey and I...and the big-rig (that would be my 34 week belly - after a 5 hour drive). Not the best situation I've been in, that's for sure!

When we're not RV-ing, I'm usually just my regular old white trash self...as shown here:

That's what my lucky neighbours got to see last weekend...in my defense, I was 35 weeks pregnant and needed to do some painting/crafting outside. I have NOTHING that fits that can get really dirty. So, out came the pre-pregnnacy trash clothes. Nice hey?? I honestly should not be sharing...but it is kind of funny.

Anyway, when I'm not totally white trash, or sewing, or nesting, or cleaning; I'm speding my time trying to prepare Hailey for the new baby. We've hit some seriously awful terrible two's. Wow. That's all I can say. The good thing is when she's not being 'terrible' she's really really really sooooo sweet. I'm totally loving her more and more each day. She really is cute. We're just getting a lot of extremes in the mood department...which might just be her personality - she is my daughter you know!

Speaking of cute, here's Hailey new favourite spot, under her new slide (thanks to Chantelle and Sheldon). She LOVES playing with her babies in there. Cute hey?

And finally here is my 36 week belly in all it's glory!

So hopefully I can post a few more times - and then hopefully the baby will be here!! YAY!

Big and Small - Hailey at 22 months

I just love watching Hailey learn new things...seeing the look in her eyes when something 'clicks' and then seeing her use her knew found knowledge in her little world. It's so rewarding and so amazing!

Today was one of those fun moments of learning...or actually, the application of her learning. She has a book called "It's not easy being Big" and it's all about big and small things. We read it a lot and she seems to love it...but I'm never sure if she's actually comprehending the lessons it tries to teach. So, today we were reading books before her nap. I'd already read her a few books and told her that she could choose "One last book." So she wondered over to her book collection and fingered through a few books. She pulled one out, looked it over and tossed it to the side "no...(s)mall". She picked up another small book, tossed and repeated "no...(s)mall". This process went on for a good minute until she found the biggest book she could see and exclaimed "Yeaaaaah!! BIG!" and brought it over to me to read. Which we did.

So not only has she figured out the difference between Big and Small...but she's learned some pretty smart delay tactics. If only she could figure out how to control the speed I read the book to her, then she could really delay nap time...I imagine that skills not far off!

I'm still here...

I'm just busy and lazy! But here's a quick update:

I'm getting fat - I'm about 34 weeks along right now and I'm getting soooooo BIG! I'm half ready to be done and half terrified of the sleepless nights. I wasn't so scared the first time around because I had no idea how hard it would be. But this time I know - and it scares me. The good thing is it doesn't last too long - hopefully! I don't have any pictures though. I'll have to take some and update a bit later.

We had Easter - Hailey totally got it this year! She LOVED the Easter egg hunt and G-ma and G-pa's and she loved the mini one we did here at home. She loved the chocolate too! I wonder where she gets that from??:) Here are some of my favourites of the babe from Easter:

Bubbles

Finding Eggs

Just looking so pretty

Finding Eggs at Grandma and Grandpas

Helping Dad find the eggs

We had the Easter Fireside - I spent waaaay too much time stressing over it all. And in the end it was beautiful! Almost 200 people showed up and the music was perfect!! Seriously, so perfect. There are so many talented people in this world - I'm not one of them, but it was fun to work so closely with them all.

We had mother's day - which was wonderful and busy. We spent half the day in Claresholm and half in Calgary. Hailey LOVES her grandmas!! You should have seen the fit she had when one of our nieces tried to sit on Hailey's grandma's knee in Claresholm. Like she should have known that Grandma is only Hailey's Grandma - and she is NOT for sharing. It was a fun day. My gift from Hailey and Ben was a card, some flowers and some much needed shopping for this little baby that's coming soon. I've been stressing about not being ready for the baby for so long, so it was a nice present when Ben took Hailey and I out to gear up for the baby. It doesn't sound like much - but it was the best present ever!

And that's it. We're now just gearing up for another RV season and a new baby. It seems like life is NOT slowing down. And I wouldn't mind it if it did. Oh - I should also mention something that I think is totally adorable! Hailey has friends - like real friends. She sees them all the time and LOVE's them - even though she cries a lot when they're around (she's having a hard time with the sharing thing). Anyway, if we're not with her friends at the moment she's always asking for them. "Mommy - where's KYKA? Where's HOWIE?? Where??" Over and over and over again. Sooooo cute. She also loves to tell everyone she knows or meets that she has friends and proceeds to repeat their names over...and over...and over again. Gotta love this stage! It's fun! Even with it's challenges - which I'll post about later - I NEED advice!

Anyway, here are two more of my favourite pictures from the past 5 weeks. Hailey's first Popsicle (or pocko as she says) and a ride of the 'wings' as she likes to say.

My computer's slow

Which means I haven't really had a chance to get on here lately. Plus I've been soooo consumed with an Easter Music Fireside I've been planning for my ward at church. I don't know what it is, but it's really taking all I have. It might have to do with the fact that I'm sort of going at it all by myself - that's what happens when you don't have a committee. By the way - for those who don't know, an Easter Music Fireseide is basically and evening of spiritual musical performances at church. It will be beautiful - I know it will be. And it would be 100 times better if I wasn't the one planning it, but really, you can't go wrong with something like this. Some highlights of the night are that my wonderfully talented sister Sarah and brother Josh will be singing/playing the piano. I will be playing the piano - and my wonderfully talented sister inlaw Lauren will be singing. I also have two quartets singing - a male and a female group. Two male/female duets. A piano intrsumental by my bogus brother Jon. And a few pieces by the choir. I'm hoping to snag one more solo for the night - we'll see if I can sweet talk that one into happening. But overall - it's going to be a wonderful night. I'm sooo excited and so nervous!

Ok onto other news...we had my parents and Chris and Lauren over for little lunch/brunch yesterday while we watched conference. At one point Hailey was left all alone to entertain herself...and here's what she ended up doing:

Yep - a bag of Lindor's...and a cute little mouth full of chocolate. What a mischievous but cute little girl. And here's the picture of her in the bathroom getting washed off...she's definitely got the 'I'm busted - so leave me alone' look on her face.

And finally my 28 week belly shot:

Lookin' good hey?? Kidding. Actually in all honesty, my OB put me on a diet because I've gained too much weight. I have three weeks to get it under control or else I have to see a nutritionist. A bit backwards hey? I'm sort of trying - but in all honesty I kind of just want to eat what I want when I want it. Whatever. I just have to try an not gain 50 pounds again!

Baking - with a toddler and a Husband

Well at least my Toddler and my Husband. Man oh man oh man...where do I start?

So this morning I decided maybe I would make some buns....delicious buns. And while I was making buns, I'd also make some BBQ beef to go on the buns for dinner as well as some cinnamon buns. Not such a big deal. The buns are simple, the beef just goes in the crock pot all day, and the Cinnamon buns just take a little more time to roll out and yummify (i.e. add sugar!!!).

Anyway, I should have sensed it wasn't my day to bake when Ben and Hailey were both pulling at me to help them with something from the second I pulled out the flour. The day went like this:

Hailey wants a cookie...and Ben wants me to do some work for the business. So, I try to tend to them both while adding ingredients. No biggie, us moms can multi task like you wouldn't believe. I distract Hailey with some toys, and I agree to help Ben and send off some quotes for a job he wants to work on, and I measure away.

1 cup of sugar
4 eggs
4 cups flour
3 1/2 cups HOT water
1 T salt

and Mix

Then Ben comes to me with the numbers he wants on the quote and a list of things to add as well. I'm still multitasking and trying to make a yeast mixture to add to the other bunch of ingredients that are mixing away while listening to the list of numbers he has for me.

3 T yeast
1/2 cup water
1 tsp honey

Then as I'm letting that sit and work it's magic, Hailey comes and paws at me some more...asking for both a show on tv and some music to dance to. So I turn the music on...which means she then asks for a tu-tu, which I get her. While I'm running down the stairs to get the tu-tu, Ben asks me to send the quotes off in the next 15 minutes because that's what he'd promised. Uh...ok. Shouldn't be a problem. I just need to add the yeast to the other mixture that's been mixing away in the KitchenAid for...uh the last 10 minutes. And then add the rest of the flour. So I do just that...and then start adding flour.

1 cup
2 cups
3 cups
4 cups
and...oops I'm out of flour.

I run down stairs and grab some more. Oops...I'm out down there too. So I run upstairs to find a twirling Hailey and an anxious Ben. Hailey wants me to dance with her, and Ben reminds me that I now have 12 minutes to get the quotes out. Ok...I do a little twirl to please Hailey and promise Ben that he can rely on me. He leaves for work, I pack Hailey up, in her pj's and all, throw my hair in a ponytail and run out the door to buy some more flour. I have 11 minutes to get to the store, buy the flour, add it to my already rising/half finished dough and send off the quotes I promised.

The store is a success...there's flour! And some really cute rubber boots for Hailey that I must have - but I don't buy. I may have spent a bit too much time there deciding whether to buy the boots or not. But it's ok, the yeast is fresh and can handle the extra work it's doing...and there shouldn't be too much to do for the quotes. So I walk in the door, put Hailey down, open the new bag of flour and start scooping away.

5 Cups
6 Cups
7 Cups

and done...the dough looks good. Not too tough, and not too sticky. I put it in the greased bowl I have set aside, cover it and leave it to rise. I head to the laptop to start on the quotes and remember I haven't put the beef on to cook...ok that should take just a minute. Which it does....except for the whole disinfecting the entire kitchen afterwards. You know, raw beef...ugh.

Mental check list: Kitchen clean. Dough rising...wait, dough rising?? I suddenly remember that I forgot to add:

1 cup oil

to the original mixture. Oops. So out comes the dough...and after a quick phone call to my mom for advice, I start hand kneading the oil into the dough. Ugh. 10 minutes later, I'm done.

Ok. Kitchen half clean, dough rising, beef cooking, Quotes waiting, Hailey....wait where's Hailey? I start looking for her and instantly find her in the living room, she's found the flour and the measuring cups and spread the flour EVERYWHERE!! Yikes. I deal with the mischievous Hailey and turn on a show for her. Ah TV - Sometimes that's all I've got up my sleeve. I finally sit down at the laptop to work on my quotes. But of course I have to check my Facebook. I quickly discover that my cousin is on and an old friend from back in the day. I just have to say hi! So I do, and we start chatting. And time just sort of passes. And then suddenly I get a call from Ben asking me where the quotes are...uh right-e-o. I'm on that. I quickly say bye to my chatting friends, and get to the quotes. I'm only 45 minutes late. No biggie. So, I type away, call Ben a million times to confirm all the things he went over with me earlier - when I was forgetting to add ingredients to the dough (and obviously not listening to him). After almost 45 minutes of typing, I'm done. The quotes are done, they've been sent off and things are looking good.

I take 5 minutes to breathe, when I suddenly realize that the dough has been rising for...oh, and hour and a half. Yikes. I run upstairs only to find the biggest bowl of dough ever. I punch it down (hoping that I haven't used up all the rising ability of the yeast) and start shaping buns. 30 buns into the process I look at the clock and realize that it's lunch time and I suddenly understand why Hailey's pawing at me again. Thank goodness for leftover mac and cheese. I throw some in a bowl, warm it up, and sit Hailey down for lunch. While she's happily distracted I finish making the buns...30 more and a dozen cinnamon buns as well.

I cover all million pans of buns and leave them to rise again. Hailey's done lunch and is wanting me to play with her, so I do for a half hour and then I set her up with some crayons and paper and HOPE that she decides to colour on the paper. She sits quietly and colours while I clean the kitchen up...and all the flour spread throughout the house.

Mental Check list: Quotes done - finally, Clean kitchen - again, dough rising - again, and Hailey playing quietly...I hope.

I decide to look over to where Hailey is 'colouring' only to notice that she has not only found a pencil, but also the apples which were so temptingly sitting right in front of her. Being the creative little girls she is, she has managed to poke holes in the apples with her pencil and then stuff the apples with her crayons. LOVELY. Just lovely.

So, I clean the crayons up, think about what to do with the apples and start to get Hailey ready for her nap. I get her changed and ready and then decide to throw the buns in the oven while I'm putting her down. I take the cover off the first pan...perfect; pan two....perfect; and then pan three...uh, oops I forgot the wet the towel covering the buns and now the buns are stuck - completely stuck to the towel. If I peel the towel off it will flatten the buns and they'll need to rise again. At this point though, I'm sure there's no rise left in the yeast. So I give up, I peel the towel off and throw the flat buns into the oven - hoping for a miracle.

I run up to put Hailey down for her nap, and come down to check on the buns. They look ok. not great but ok. Edible at least. The beef's still cooking away, the kitchen is clean, Hailey's taken care of, the apples are ready for apple crisp now, the quotes are done, and I can finally sit back and relax. And I do.

And here I am now, reflecting on why I never get anything done around here...I think I have an answer. The next time Ben asks what I actually do all day, I'll print this off and show him. And the next time I'm at the store and contemplating buying buns, I'll just do it. Sometimes it's just not worth the hassle. And now I'm really wondering how I'm going to handle another kid. We'll have to see. On a positive note - I've now written the bun recipe out...give it a try!