We Finally Moved!!!

Well, after two long months of renovations, exhausting days and nights, and barely seeing each other, we have finally moved into our house! Last night was our first night there, and man did it feel good to finally be in! I unfortunately don't have pics yet, b/c it's a crazy couple of days still getting moved OUT of our old place (cleaning etc...which I'm supposed to be doing right now!:). We won't have internet hooked up until June 10, so that's when I'll put up pictures, which is actually good b/c by then we'll have some more things finished:)!

I'm so excited about our house and just feel so blessed! It's wonderful having something that's our own, that we (Lyndon:) has worked so hard on and turned into something really beautiful! But at the same time, I'm sad to leave our townhouse...this was Kallie's first home, and therefore, a lot of firsts took place here. All that's left right now is a MESS (ahem, again...I should be cleaning:) and our computer (which we're moving tomorrow). Looking around at all the empty rooms, I can't believe an entire year has passed...this was a great place to spend our first year as a family of three!

Well, it's getting late and there's a lot left to do in the next day, so until June 10th...or around then...see you later!!!:)

Good Song

I was driving home the other day and the song 'You're Gonna Miss This' by Trace Adkins came on....totally had me in tears:) Just wanted to share it b/c I love the message...I know I've been tempted to wish away certain moments of life, but it's true, you really miss it once it's gone:) I've really been challenging myself to live in the moment and focus on the here and now, and this song is a good reminder of that.



She was starin out the window of their SUV
Complaining saying I can't wait to turn 18
She said I'll make my own money
And I'll make my own rules
Momma put the car in park out there in front of the school
And she kissed her head, and said 'I was just like you'

You're gonna' miss this You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times so take a good look around
You may not know it now but you're gonna' miss this

Before she knows it she's a brand new bride
In her one bedroom apartment and her daddy stops by
He tells her it's a nice place she says, 'It'll do for now'
Starts talkin' about babies, and buyin a house daddy shakes his head
And says baby just slow down

Cuz' you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times so take a good look around
You may not know it now but you're gonna' miss this

Five years later there's a plumber working on the water heater
Dog's barkin', phone's ringin' one kid's cryin' one kid's screamin'
And she keeps apologizing But he says they don't bother me
I've got two babies of my own One's thirty- six, one's twenty- three (NOTE: that line made me BAWL!!! It's true, they are your babies forever:)

Huh, it's hard to believe But you're gonna' miss this
You're gonna' want this back
You're gonna' wish these days Hadn't gone by so fast
These are some good times So take a good look around
You may not know it now But you're gonna' miss this You're gonna' miss this Yeaahhhh... you're gonna' miss this...

Have a listen (even if you're not a country fan;) it's a good song:)

Just a Quick Update

I realized in writing all the sentimental stuff about Kallie turning one, and about her birthday party, I forgot to give an update on what's new with her! This last month we have seen HUGE changes in her...she's definitely gone from a baby to more of a little girl. Her understanding is so much better, she knows what you're saying to her most of the time, and she's learning more words every week. She now says 'hi' whenever you greet her or she's sees someone (ppl walking past her when we're out...she shouts out hi! and waits for their response...it gets repeated when there isn't one:) and it's almost always accompanied by a wave. She could always say hi, it was just hit and miss as to using it in the right context...now there's no question she knows what it means:) Her newest word is cat, we have two, so that was a pretty easy one to teach her, especially b/c she's so fascinated by them. In general, she's just developing more of a personality, doing things that she knows makes us laugh, fake laughing when she thinks something's supposed to be funny, playing different games, and she's mastered a lot more fine motor skills. She also loves to 'get dressed'. She tries to put on jackets (LOVES zippers:), shoes, socks, shirts, pants....whatever she can get her hands on. And she is also fascinated with buckles...her high chair and car seat are a lot more fun for her now...when we go to take her out, she just sits there and tries to do the buckle back up!:)

Physically she's growing really well! We had been worried about her weight for awhile b/c she had dipped so far down in the percentiles, but she's had a total growth spurt over the past couple of months, and she's right smack dab in the middle for height and weight, which is great. She now weighs just over 20 lbs and is 30 in. long. This past Thursday she just started standing all by herself!!! It was such an exciting thing, I couldn't stop laughing I was so thrilled...walking still seems away off...but it's going to be so exciting when it happens!!!

I think that's about it...it's hard to write everything down b/c some of the changes are kinda indescribable...she's just different. She's definitely still our baby...but wow, she's growing up into a little girl VERY fast!!!

Party Time!!!

For the long weekend, my family came to Thunder Bay from Winnipeg to help us celebrate Kallie's first birthday!!! We had a wonderful weekend with them, I was very sad to see them leave Monday morning, and I know that Kallie's really going to miss them too!!!

Sunday afternoon we had Kallie's party out at Lyndon's parent's cabin. We invited family and a few close friends to help us celebrate this wonderful first year. Avery (2) and Isabel (1) are Kallie's little friends and she had an absolute blast playing with them! They were definitely entertainment for us all:)!

Here are some pictures from the party, my memory card kept running out of space though, so my sister has a lot of pics on her camera, which she'll be emailing me. I'll post those ones later:)

Overall, the weekend and the party were tons of fun, I can't believe it's over already!!!

Kallie just learned to stand all by herself!!!

Such a pretty birthday girl!

Isabel, Avery, and Kallie just hanging out

Isabel and Kallie having a blast on Kallie's new couch, a present from Auntie Dana!
A pink ball from Avery...I made the mistake of opening this first with her, that was the end of her interest in gift opening...it was all about the ball:)

I just love her expression in this one:) So excited!
She loves looking out windows

Before...

AFTER!!! Yum!:)

We had such a great afternoon with our friends and family celebrating our amazing little girl!!!

Happy Birthday Kallie Paige! You're ONE!

Warning: Long-winded ramblings of a first-time mom ahead! Proceed with caution...and with a lot of time on your hands, it'll take awhile to get through it all:)

Well, it actually happened...my baby turned 1!!! I didn't think this day would come, I watched all my friend's babies turn one, but thought I'd somehow escape it and keep my baby a baby forever:) We celebrated both our birthdays today (that's right, I turned 24 while in labor...talk about a birthday experience!!:) at Lyndon's parents house. Lindy made us a delicious dinner, and had some fabulous cakes for us to enjoy. Lyndon's Oma and Opa also joined in the celebration, which was wonderful! We're having Kallie's 'real' bday party next Sunday, my family is coming into town and we're inviting some friends as well...I'll post pics of that next week!

So (here's where the rambling part comes in)..I've had a lot of mixed emotions this past week. On one hand, I am so excited for Kallie to turn one and be turning into a toddler, I just love seeing more and more of who she is and the little girl she is going to become. But part of me is sad too...there were so many firsts (for her and us) this past year that can never be repeated, and our baby is growing up! I think what's made me the most emotional is the sudden realization of how fast this year went by, and that it's just going to pick up pace as the years go on. I'm not ready for that!!! People tell you it will go by way too fast, but you just don't understand until you have a child and watch it (barely) zoom by.

Mmmm...these bath toys from Nana aren't only fun, they're delicious!

A gift from Nana and Papa...just my size! I love it!

This past year has by far been the best of my life! Some of you know that I had a very difficult pregnancy (and the lucky ones REALLY know:), both with physical illness and also with the extreme anxiety I struggled with. I'm not going to go into all the details, but I do want to be honest.
Kallie was a surprise for us, and I didn't feel ready at all. I was in a complete state of panic almost my entire pregnancy, and right up until she was born, I wasn't sure if 'I was going to be able to do this!' The overwhelming repsonsibility that is involved in raising a child is a serious one. I remember thinking at one time, 'why do people even have kids? there's so much to worry about! And plan for! And what if I mess it all up? And I kinda like being selfish, and being able to do what I want, when I want!' I know, great attitude for an expecting mom, huh?!?:) I had so many fears and worries, and if I had only been able to get a glimpse of what being a mom to my Kallie Paige was going to be like, wow, I would've had a much different pregnancy! I still think being a parent can be difficult, and I definitely worry about how I'm doing as a mom and how everything affects Kallie (there is such a thing as being TOO aware, and having TOO much information:), but with God's grace, we're just taking it one day at a time and doing the best we can (and praying a whole lot:)!

And it's safe to say that now, I do get why people have children:) I have never in my life experienced joy like I have with my daughter. The love I feel for her, the way she amazes me, lights up my life, it's like nothing else! There have, of course, been trials through this first year as well, but I would take them on a thousand times more just for an hour with Kallie:) Being with her gives me a happiness and peace like no other.
Before Kallie was born, I didn't know that a little noise, smile, movement, hiccup or sneeze could make me so happy. I didn't know that the absolute best sound on earth was that of my baby laughing:) I really didn't know you could love someone this much, feel so fiercely protective of someone you've just 'met', or actually WANT to stay awake at night to watch a baby sleep!
This year has been such an amazing one. Lyndon and I have grown so much closer, seeing him as a dad has made me fall in love with him in a whole new way. I have learned and grown so much, and I have experienced riches and blessings that God is showering us with in ways I never could have imagined.

Kallie Paige, you are the best thing that could ever have happened to us! You are such an amazing, joy-filled little girl, and we love you so much!!! We thank God every day for you, and how He's changed our life through you! We're so excited for year 2 (and all the ones after that!)

Getting ready for cake...the party dress had to come off!

Kallie was suprisingly cautious and tidy...she actually didn't eat much cake at all!

The 'after party':) Pigtails come out, sleeper comes on! Time to go home and sleep, it's been a long day!

Happy Mother's Day!

Technically this was my second Mother's Day, but since Kallie was born on the Saturday last year, and Mother's day was the very next day, it didn't really count (although Lyndon reminded me that I DID get breakfast in bed...hospital food...but still, breakfast in bed;)~!!! I had a wonderful mother's day this year! I got to sleep in (a much sought after prize in our household:) and Lyndon got a me a very sweet (and of course funny...it's Lyndon:) card and my absolute favorite chocolates from Laura Secord, which I ate half of for breakfast:) Great way to start the day:) We had a great time at church, visited with friends and celebrated all the mommies there, and then just spent the day together relaxing and enjoying each other's company. Lyndon did work on the house, which I'm considering another present, because he's doing everything he can to get all our flooring in, and I know I could never work that hard!
While Lyndon was at the house, Kallie and I went to a Mother's Day Tea, where we got to visit with our friends Amanda and Avery.

And of course today was also a day to celebrate OUR moms...who have done so much for us and loved us through everything! We didn't actually get to see either of them today (Lyndon's mom was working all day and of course, my mom is in Wpg), but we're going to very soon! Happy Mother's Day, we love you so much and are so thankful for you!

And Happy Mother's Day to all the moms I know! Hope you had a great day!

Girls Weekend!

Kallie enjoying lunch at The Crooked Spoon in Grand Marais (I would highly recommend it!)

This past weekend, Lyndon's mom took just Kallie and I on a shopping trip to Duluth. This trip has kind of become a tradition, this was the third time she's taken us to Duluth since Kallie's been born (but the other times daddy and grandpa were there too). It was such a wonderful weekend away, we relaxed, shopped and ate out...such a different pace from day to day life. Lindy bought Kallie a whole new summer wardrobe (Kallie's wardrobe was the inspiration for starting these trips:). And she also gave me an early birthday present of spending money, so I was able to do quite a bit of shopping for myself as well! I got new jeans, new shoes, a new purse, and I got to buy stuff for our new house. My project right now is Kallie's room, so I had lots of fun picking out stuff to decorate her room and I also picked up her bedding that I ordered, which I absolutely LOVE! My friend Erica got it for her little girl Annika and I just loved it so much I had to order it too:)!! Thanks Erica:) The picture is just below...Kallie has a white crib, so it'll look a little different, but still gorgeous!

Kallie having fun playing on the bed:) She kept throwing herself back...she thought it was hilarious!

Good morning sunshine!

Lyndon's mom is so generous, it was such an incredible blessing to have an all-expenses paid mini vacation in the middle of all our craziness right now! The only downside was that Lyndon stayed home...to put our flooring in...it was pretty incredible to come back from the trip to see our entire main floor finished(the hardwood looks amazing...but you'll have to wait until everything's done to see pictures:)! But I felt bad for him, he worked 15 hour days while we were gone! As soon as we're moved in it's going to be his turn for a little downtime!

Kallie and nana having fun together!

SO happy to be home and see daddy(who lets her drive the truck!)...wearing one of her new hoodies:)