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...

Out and about...

Olivia and Siddon hang...
Olivia and her buddy, Angus....
Olivia's home-made car...
Oma and her grandchildren...
The three baby boys flex their baby muscles...

Briar will be four weeks old in a few days. I can't believe it has already been so long. We have been getting out a bit to playgroup, shopping and to Oma's house. My sister is still here so we have seen her and the boys a few times this week. I really wish she lived close by so that we could do this all the time. Here are some recent pictures of our days this week.

Grandpa Jack and Briar Jack
Oma (my mom) and her bouquet of grandsons
Olivia and Baby Gabe
Grandma and Briar
A morning snuggle with my two kids...

I had meant to include these pictures in my previous post but I couldn't get them to stick. So read the post beneath this one to get the stories....

A family visit...

We've had a few visits this week. My sister, Kirsten, her husband, Todd, and their newborn twin boys, Matty and Gabe, came for a visit from Edmonton. It has been great to see my little nephews and to introduce them to their cousins. Olivia is quite taken with all the babies.
My grandparents came for a visit as well to meet Briar. They had met Briar previously while I was in the hospital, but he had been asleep for the introduction.
Briar is doing well. He was up for four hours today at a stretch!!! He was a pretty crabby boy as time went on, but it was interesting to see him awake for so long. Hopefully, he will sleep through the night...wishful thinking, I know.
I have been sorting through Olivia's clothes that she has grown out of. I had thought that I would use them if I had had a girl. I am finding it quite a depressing job. I can't believe how fast she is growing!! I feel like we only brought her home last week. Needless to say, I have been staring at her while she sleeps and sighing. I feel like the mother in "I'll Love You Forever" by Robert Muncsh. Next time I blink, I will be going through Briar's clothes and he will be three!! Argh.
Jeff has been puttering around the house and yard doing odd jobs. He bought a new weedeater the other week and has been putting to use whenever he can.
Anyhow, I will update again as soon as I can. We are hoping to go for a family walk to the beach tomorrow. I'll be Briar's first outing to the beach. I'll try to remember the camera.

Two weeks old...

Okay, two weeks and two days. Briar is doing really well. As of Monday, he was 10 lbs 6 oz. He is cooing now and then and giggles in his sleep. This boy gets a crazy amount of hiccups!! He is sleeping most of the time still, but has a few hours of wide awake time every day.
Olivia is still besotted with her little brother. She will hold him ANY chance she gets. When we visit her little friends, she proudly tells them that her brother likes her the best and she is the only little kid who can hold him.
Jeff is still home until the second week of July. It's fabulous because he is mainly in charge of Olivia. I don't know how I would have done it without him so far. He even took Olivia to see Dora the Explorer in concert!
I've included the newest pictures of Briar and Olivia. Enjoy!!