Jeff is home!!!

Briar sitting on the counter...
Olivia's first day of preschool...
Olivia and the bees...
The picture Olivia won 1st prize with...

So much has happened since the last time I updated. Let's see if I can remember it all.
Olivia and I didn't end up going to Saanich Fair the other week. Instead, we went to Swan Lake Nature House. We had a great time. We checked out the snakes, turtles, bees and ducks. There is a reading room there and we read many books and did some puzzles. Olivia loved the little science experiments. She says she wants to be a 'bird scientist' when she grows up.
Briar has changed noises from blowing raspberries to growling almost incessantly. He communicates almost every emotion with various pitches of growling. Jeff thinks it's hilarious and they have little growling 'conversations' with eachother.
Jeff is home. We've all been enjoying his return. This week, however, he will be going to school in Comox taking a stability course...Marine stability, not mental stability.
Olivia has started at her new preschool and loves it. They made apple sauce and fed the miniture horses the first day. She is completely enthralled by a tiny door that she found in the side of a tree at preschool and has been asking all about fairies ever since. Olivia wore a purple boa to school on her first day. I thought it was pretty cute.
Briar has become so interested in everything around him that he has begun to not sleep as well as he has in the past. I must admit that I was a bit smug about his sleeping habits. He is waking very frequently this last week and doesn't fall asleep as easily as before. I don't know if it is the change in routine since Jeff is home or if Briar is just switching up due to teething. Kids are a mystery...
Olivia entered the Sooke Fall Fair with her dog, Freckles, a photo, a drawing and a flower arrangement. She won 1st prize for largest pet, 3rd for best dog trick, 1st for her photography, a book with her flower arrangement, and a participation ribbon for her drawing. She won $4 for her ribbons in the pet show. We had one proud little girl here. She loved it and is already talking about what she'll enter next year.
Today, we are taking my mom to catch the bus to the Vancouver airport. She is flying to Australia to visit my brother, Adrian. Olivia is going to miss her Oma a lot.
Well, I think that is about all.

The end of August...

Wow! I can't believe how fast time goes by when you're busy. It's already the end of Summer!
Olivia starts preschool again next week. She'll be going to a new one but this one has mini horses and pygmy goats just like her old preschool. Her little buddy, Angus, will be going there as well. We bought her lunch box the other day. She's pretty happy with her new pink Superman lunch kit.
Briar is doing really well. He seems to love women with glasses on. He laughs hysterically when he is talked to by senior ladies with their specs. Pretty cute.
Briar is now taking his baths in his 'tummy tub'. He loves it. The water seems to stay warm longer and I think he likes sitting up. It does look like he is just sitting in a bucket, though. Olivia thinks it's hilarious how his legs and feet are magnified in the water through the see-through plastic.
Jeff should be home soon. He's pretty homesick for the kids. I can't wait to have him around to share all their new feats with him.
Olivia and I will be going to the Saanich Fair this weekend. My mom will be having some time with Briar while we're at the Fair. Olivia tells me that she wants to go on the ferris wheel.
We celebrated my birthday the other day. Mom came with a cake for after dinner and hung out with Briar while Olivia and I went to the beach. It was a nice quiet day.
My grandparents and dad came out for a visit a couple of days before my birthday for a birthday visit. Dad held Briar who fell asleep on his lap...When Dad got up to leave he had both spit up and diaper leakage on his shirt. Oops!
I have switched to cloth diapers recently. I actually really like it. They are so soft and cozy. Everytime I change Briar's diaper with a cloth one, I feel satisfied that it is one less diaper for the land fill...I do use more water now but...I hear that a baby creates one tonne of diapers for a landfill per year and that cloth can save $1000 on diapering costs.
Anyhow, that is the most recent news.

12 weeks...

Briar is now 12 weeks old. It is going by so fast!! He's a 'bruiser' at 16 lbs 10 oz. He has found the top of his head and is always playing with his hair. I think it's beginning to fall out a bit (which makes me sad). I love his soft black downy fluff. I am wondering what colour it will grow in. I am thinking it will grow in light brown since his eyebrows are quite light. I guess we'll see.
Olivia has been taking photographs like crazy. She's entering the Sooke Fall Fair and has picked out her favourites to put in the contest. She will also be drawing some pictures to enter. She's SO excited!!
We had the kid's pictures taken at Sears the other day to mark Briar's 12 weeks. SO very cute!!!
Anyhow, that's the update for now...

Summer fun...

We've been keeping very busy doing various Summer activities. Yesterday, we walked Whiffin Spit to the lighthouse. It was a beautiful day and we had a picnic at the end of the spit.
Olivia has been running through the sprinkler lately and loving it. She has asked that we have the sprinkler for her next birthday party.
Briar has just been introduced to the world of the Jolly Jumper. He was initially very surprised to be stranding up but warmed up very quickly. His little legs kept walking...It was quite hilarious. He'd lift one leg then the other again and again. A one man marching band.
My mom came out and spent two nights with us. It was great to share these two amazing little kids with her. Olivia loved jumping into bed with Oma for a snuggle in the morning.
The kids and I went to the Sooke Harbour House the other day. They have a birdbath full of bubble juice and some really cool wrought iron bubble wands. We had a great time blowing giant bubbles.
Briar had his first 'playdate' with a another baby the other day. Camille was born on May 3rd and is a real little sweetheart. They held hands breifly while on the playmat but other than that, didn't seem to notice one another.

10 weeks old...

Briar in the Bumbo seat borrowed from our friend, Heather...
Cowgirl Olivia...
A bedtime snuggle...
A bunch of the kids from playgroup at a picnic...

Olivia and Briar are doing really well. Olivia has been playing and learning lots while Briar has been smiling a blue streak.
Olivia told me that Briar was "masticating on your shoulder, Mommy" (chewing) the other day. It always surprises me when she uses these big words and I wonder where she picks them up. She's my sweet little spitfire.
Briar is such a jolly little guy. He loves to be cuddled and held. He giggles and smiles at everyone. He is now 15 lbs 12 oz. I can't believe how fast he's growing.
Other than that, everything is a busy as always and I am always scrambling to keep up....

Funny kids...

I love this...
Briar's big eyes...
Cute little buddies...
When Briar was crying the other day, Olivia said to me, "He sure is enthusiastic about crying, isn't he?" I think she's a pretty funny kid.
At this moment, the two f them are playing in the livingroom. Olivia is trying to teach Briar to use a hammer (a toy one of course). I really hope they always get along like this...
Olivia is excited because tomorrow she will be having a 'sleepover' at Oma's. On Saturday, they will be going to the play of "The Paper Bag Princess". This kid is pretty stoked!!
Briar has found his hand and has begun sucking on it fervently. I can hear these little wet, grunting noises coming from the back seat as I drive. It's great! I don't have to worry that I've forgotten a soother. Now if I could just figure out how to tell strangers to not touch his hands without sounding overly paranoid.
Briar has decided that the dogs are pretty funny. When Eli or Freckles come close, he begins to smile and giggle like they are long lost friends. Maybe he sees the copious amounts of fur as a resemblance to his daddy. ;)

Olivia and cousin, Pam...
Laura and Olivia...
The other flower girl, Hilary, and me...
Smirking Briar with a 'faux-hawk' (a little shout out to my brother, Adrian)...
Olivia and the 'Slip-n-Slide'...

Wedding and Shots...

Well, we survived the wedding day. It was a beautiful wedding on Sprout Lake in Port Alberni... but man, it was STINKIN' hot!! Olivia looked so sweet and cool as we left the air conditioned car but after five minutes outside, she looked so hot with stringy hair, pink cheeks and a drooping dress. Poor kid. She had a GREAT time though and stood up with the bride, Laura, and the groom, Kenny, for the whole ceremony. I was SO proud of her.
Briar is now 8 weeks old. He had his first vaccinations on Monday. He did NOT like it one bit and cried those horrible frantic cries that makes a mother want to knock the nurse over and make a run for the nearest exit with the baby under her arm. I can't believe there are FOUR shots for these little guys. I couldn't handle that!
Anyhow, Briar is 15 lbs now and 23.5 inches long. I can't believe how fast he is growing. He is always pleased to see his big sister as she tells him in this funny cooing voice that he is 'the best Prince Philip ever'.
We went to Adrianna's birthday on Sunday and Olivia was introduced to the 'Slip-n-Slide'. I think she's in love. She played on that thing for 2 straight hours! Needless to say, she one tired little girl when we got home.

Happy little kids...

Smiley little Briar Rabbit...
Briar gets a check-up from his big sister...
A little smirk...
An all out laugh...
Well, although we are all missing Jeff badly, the kids are happy and enjoying their summer. Olivia is going to be flower girl this weekend in Jeff's cousin, Kenny's, wedding. She is very excited. It should be ridiculously hot, however, as it is in Port Alberni. The temp is expected to be 37 degrees. My mom is coming to help my with the kids. I will keep an eye out for Olivia as she walks up the aisle. I'm wondering if she will balk at all the people. Mom will have Briar so I can have my hands free.
Briar is such a happy little guy. He sure loves to sleep!! Unfortunately, he does not like the car. It's pretty hard to drive anywhere with an unhappy little guy crying in the back seat. I am always torn between stopping and calming him down or just driving straight home.

Pictures for the last post...

I had a hard time adding these pictures to the last post. I'll add some more later.

Seven Weeks...

Briar is 7 weeks old today. I am not sure what he weighs this week, but last Monday he was 13lbs 10oz. He is what the doctor called 'the Saint Bernard of babies'. He is back to being calm and mellow. His tummy must have been bugging him, I guess. He has started to giggle over the last two days. It's such a sweet and jolly sound. Two nights ago he slept for 6 1/2 hours in a row!! I kept waking up to chekc on him and he was snoozing away.
Olivia's birthday was last Tuesday. She and I went to the Bug Zoo and had lunch together. It was great!! It was nice to spend time with my little 'Peanut' again. My mom took care of Briar for me so I had free hands for Olivia. She LOVED the bugs and was extremely upset that only the adults could hold the tarantula...so I held it for her. Olivia held every bug that they would let her get her little hands on. Afterward, we went to the Dutch Bakery for a treat.
Jeff left for fishing on Saturday morning. It's been a big adjustment with him gone. He was home for over two months!! I am worried that I will never have a chance to have a shower again! Anyhow, Olivia and I are missing him pretty badly right now.
Anyhow, we will write when there is more news and a free minute again.

Six weeks...

Olivia asleep ON Jeff's arm...
Briar's beautiful smile...
Olivia's 'pretend' birthday cake...

Briar will be six weeks tomorrow. The poor little guy hasn't been very happy over the last two weeks. He seems to have tummy upset or something. I am hoping it stops soon as my happy little guy has been so sad the last little while. He is, however, so smiley in the mornings. He wakes up with a little grin on his face and will smile and coo at all of us until he gets tired. I love his wide gummy grins and his squeals. So cute.
Olivia had her 'pretend' birthday with us the other day. We aren't sure that Jeff will be here on Tuesday for the real deal so we had cake and a few presents. She had told us that she wanted walkie-talkies. She has been glued to them ever since. She has been practicing whistling and she makes a habit of whistling for extended periods of time into the walkie-talkies. We had ice cream cake. She thought that was pretty great.

Busy life...

Olivia at Whiffin Spit...




Briar in the carrier... Briar holding his head up...


Olivia at her old preschool for a visit with old friends...


Well, we've been pretty busy. Olivia and Jeff went for a visit to Olivia's old preschool in Nanaimo for her 'graduation'. She even got a little diploma and pictures in a cap and gown.
Briar has been growing like a weed. He is lifting his head up and even rolled over from front to back yesterday (I know, it was a fluke, but still...). We are being charmed by his little smiles and coos. Unfortunately, we had a week of 7pm - 10 pm crying. I felt so awful for the little guy. Anyhow, we had two nights of no upsets but then last night, he was unhappy again. I wish I knew what exactly was wrong so I could make it better.
Jeff will be returning to work this week. I am extremely nervous about taking care of both kids without his extra set of hands. We are going to hire someone to mow the lawn. I thought we would hire the kid who does most of the houses on our street but he charges $70 a time!!! That seems amazing to me. I wish we had one more month of Jeff home. We have such a great time. Olivia and Jeff have been sleeping in the tent for the last three nights. She loves it.
Anyhow, that is about it for now. I'll try to keep the blog up...