Christmas blessings from Christ

I love this time of year and the excitement and all the good that people do. Loved spending time with my family - children, sister, brother and parents. Roast turkey and, stuffing and cranberries is my favourite thing. We had picked raspberries the day before - she picked 4 - none of which were very ripe - she enjoyed the boysenberries as we picked - calling them sour - which the majority were. Mum made a lovely raspberry and white chocolate dessert I love and always associate with Christmas. She loved her wings from Auntie Marena and doll from my parents and beanbag from Uncle Jeremy. She did finally have an afternoon sleep though. I really like this thought expressed by the late Neal A. Maxwell - "Each of us is an innkeeper and decides if there is room for Jesus." I feel that although nice the commercialism detracts from the importance of Christmas. I am so thankful for my beautiful children, must post more photos of my son too:)

I could not live without you both

Loving being a mother of 2 even though some days are kind of trying - but they bring so much joy that I feel completely and utterly blessed by Heavenly Father that loves us and wants us to have joy. Here are some pics taken lately - he is growing like a mushroom almost 2 months old and she will be 21 months. Each day and moment is precious.

November almost over

Another photo Amanda Haynes took. Hape left today for 3 weeks. She hasn't had her daytime sleep and he is all hot and bothered. Took them to Santa Parade today - 21 degrees - this hot weather doesn't agree with me

November - family photo

Taken by Amanda Haynes of Rangiora - fantastic photographer - lots of fun - look forward to future photo sessions - taken in school holidays in 2008 about April? Travelled down especailly really and also visited inlaws. Our girl was a bit distracted but really pleased with photos

Joy in the simple things

Our little girl seems even more grown up now that she has a little brother.
She has been sick but seems to be feeling better and more like herself again. Vocabulary increasing every day. Recent words have been chocolate, bucket, blanket, milk, milo, dinner, toast.
This dress is a bit big for Jordan but its been such a hot day - she loves dressing up as a girl.




Jacob is such a settled baby a lot of the time - unfortunately his long sleeps are mainly during the day - him and Jordan cry at the same time - he gets upset (hungry, wet, starving for attention) and then she gets all sad and cries. But they are awesome and love having them in my life. Jordan loves being outside - here she is sitting out with her grandparents (not in photos) drinking their drinks saying "nice" - Jacob is 2 weeks and 2 days now - time goes really fast.

Another Precious gift from God

He arrived at 515pm October 2008.Worth the wait.Went into labour Friday 10 about 0530am. Had forgotten what that was all like! Dropped Jordan off at mum and dads Saturday when Bronwyn them midwife said to meet her in at the hospital about 1030 am.
I didn't see Jordan again until the Sunday morning. Really missed her while I was in the hospital - the special times we share together in the mornings and evenings.

Jacob in the car seat on the way home - the same one Jordan used. He was 8 pounds when he was born and 50 cm in length - Jordan was 8 lbs 4 oz and was 54cm. First pic of Jacob in theatre - mum and Marena watched from the window. I could feel the stitching and everything this time around.

Well he came a week earlier than expected into our lives - he was nameless from the time he was born on Saturday 11 October 2008 until on the ride home at the roundabout around the corner on Wednesday 15 October when we agreed upon Jacob Samuel - he is well behaved and sleeps fairly well around the clock - just hope it continues along those lines and even improves - feel so blessed to have blocks of sleep overnight - wheras Jordan would wake every 1 - 1 1/2 hours. She loves having a baby in the house/family. She is not jealous at all but full of love - so grateful for that.

There's no one like you - 7 October 2008

This LO was for the sketchbook competition - we had to use a minimum of 3 different sized circles to represent a target (the theme was archery) - as well as include an arrow - pretty basic but harder to put into practice - I wasn't very original and I did it the day it was due on the Monday - sadly I only entered 4/6 LOs but it was good because there wasn't the pressure. I really want to add some more journalling though to make it more personal.

Its 425 am and seems to be the only time I get to sit down and focus and I am up because I can't sleep. I can hear the nice pitter/patter of the rain but it doesn't seem to have helped. Strange, when Jordan has been in the bed I can't sleep - tonight she really didn't want to settle so I told her if she turned the light on one more time I would put her in the cot so emptied the cot and she went in and didn't make a fuss and flicked through some books and eventually fell asleep - this is amazing considering the fact that she would cry when she went in - am I too soft when it comes to her? Perhaps. Yesterday (6th) we had my second obstitrician appointment just to see that things were still in a positive sense and that it appeared safe that I try and have a normal birth and not book in for a c-section and he feels that the benefits at this stage outweigh the c-section. Jordan came with us this time. She has developed this habit of shaking her head no and then grinning when she knows she shouldn't touch something - and then picks it up. Very endearing. She has such a great understanding of things too - little things but she follows what we mean. She'll go and sit at her little table when I say its time for food and she just seems to understand what we are saying even when we try and say things cryptically. I am counting down - 10 days til I am due. It is hard not knowing when it could happen. Bronwyn my midwife is working night shifts that weekend so hopefully she will be around as I really value her experience. Here are some cute pics of Jordan that I took while dad was visiting the other day when he started off watering our herbs and then Jordan wanted to water them and kept saying more and after using the tap outside she was relentless and could have gone on all day - she got completely wet but had the best time.