Monday, March 28, 2011

Sam and Olivia

So we had Olivia, Sam's girlfriend and future wife (we joke!), over today. She and Sam played lots and lots and lots. They really like playing with Sam's house; sometimes it keeps them entertained for an hour.


And then Dave had to bring them both to my work because it was my "almost-last day of work" and my work was having a Coke (instead of a tea) for me! Dave did awesome bringing both of them to my work and I think Sam and Olivia had fun.



This is a picture of Sam and Olivia sitting in my office chair. Sam really liked the mini-broom and wanted to sweep EVERYWHERE!



Sam and Olivia eating cookies at my "Coke." They liked the raisin cookies and I think they ate about 6 each :) They also liked sitting in the same chair.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Sam's second haircut

Sam received his second (professional) haircut yesterday. The story is best told in pictures. A lot of them!

Sam was brave enough to sit on his own, in the cool car chair, this time. He didn't like the cape at first but after a few minutes he was okay with it. I think it helped that he got to watch videos while he had his haircut.




At the end he got some spikes in the front and he got to play in the ball pit at the hair cut place which he LOVED!




And then we randomly decided to go to McDonald's for supper and there was a playplace there too! He was a little small yet but really liked these turn-y games.

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Waiting for Spring...

What do you do when it's cold outside AND
there's still a lot of snow and ice on the ground AND
you just can't wait for Spring?



You blow bubbles indoors and try to catch them.
It was a nice mini-break from Winter.



And we are excited to blow bubbles outside
as soon as it gets warm enough.
Or you know, as soon as it gets warm :)



Friday, March 25, 2011

Cafe O Play

So Sheri's baby isn't here yet and she was looking for entertainment for Naden so a bunch of us went to Cafe O Play. Sam LOVED it! He played and played and played and the only time I saw him was when I went to look for him. He LOVED the train table and he also got into the vehicles along the outside of the play area. I think he finally figured out how they work. I loved being able to sit and drink hot apple cider and visit with good friends -- Sheri, Marcia and Akhila. It was a lot of fun and I bought a 10-visit pass so I think we may be there quite often this spring.





Date night

Dave and I didn't know what to do tonight for date night and then Tash, our babysitter and date night organizer, suggested going to see a movie. We saw The King's Speech and it was SO GOOD!!! I loved it. And Dave liked it too. And from the amount Knut was kicking I think he/she also enjoyed it :) When you only get to see a movie every three months you want to make sure it's good.

We even splurged and got popcorn, Cokes, and Rolos. Yummmmm :) And I forgot to get a picture of Happy Natasha with popcorn and Coke so you'll have to deal with this picture of Dave and a skull. I guess Pirates of the Caribbean Part 732 is coming soon... I don't think that movie will make the list of Date Night Movies. I'm just not that into them.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Knut at 29 (or 28) weeks, 3 days

EDITED TO ADD: OOOPS :( Knut was only at 28 weeks, 3 days this day. I screwed up :(

I am not very good at taking weekly Knut-growth pictures but I try. Mostly I want to take them on a day when I shower, when Dave has time, and when I feel like I look half-decent. Because I know it's really ALL ABOUT ME! Ha ha ha ha ha! Okay, it's not, but still...

Anyways, I love the shirt I am wearing in today's picture because it is one my mom bought at Joe and gave to me to wear as a maternity shirt. But it's not an actual maternity shirt. Also, the fact that I am wearing a t-shirt makes it seem like it is so much warmer out than it is, but it really isn't. My office is so hot at work that once the temperature stays around -5C then I get too hot, and I get a headache, when I wear long sleeved shirts. Thus the t-shirts come out.

Anyways, I've just been feeling Knut move A LOT lately. I am excited because as of now I only have four days left of work before I go on maternity leave and I CANNOT WAIT!!! It feels like a slog to get through these last few days but I am sooooo thankful that I can take early maternity leave and spend some time with Sam and get some good resting (and possibly nesting?) in before Knut comes.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Sam typing

Sam LOVES to imitate his mommy and daddy and I know we spend WAY TOO MUCH time on our computers because Sam loves to get a hold of the mouse, or our computer keyboards. Then he proudly announces, "Sam typing!" Earlier today the mouse wasn't even attached to the computer but Sam was thrilled.



In fact, at one point, the computer wasn't even on the table :)


Monday, March 21, 2011

First day of Spring???

We're not sure about that 'round these here parts! If you look REALLY closely you can see tulip spears poking up. But you have to look pretty closely :)


Sunday, March 20, 2011

New camera and free rides

So we bought a new camera. Yay! It's pink. That is a side benefit I can live with :) We saved $60 on it by buying it at Shopper's and using the Optimum points we've (I've) been saving up :) That was an awesome side benefit. The pictures below were test pictures we took to see if we liked the camera. We did :)



Sam had wanted to go to Cafe O' Play but sadly, it is closed on Sundays for private parties. So we decided to go to West Ed Mall to take advantage of the fact that Sam only gets free rides until he turns two. He had so much fun riding on the train with Daddy, on the balloons with Mommy and Daddy and on the merry-go-round -- twice! He was quite excited about the stamp on his hand (allowing him the free rides) and Twink, the star in the tunnel which he saw from the train.





We also bought Sam new shoes since he had been complaining every time we put his shoes on. He now has size 7 1/2 shoes which have two added features: 1) They are a little big so they hopefully will last him through the summer and 2) They were last year's style so they were only $11! Score!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

More boring blogging!

So last night our MOPS group had a "craft night" and I worked on sorting pictures which I want to print out and writing down recipes. I only got a recipe and a half written out but I did get through a bunch of folders. And mostly I just loved talking with everyone, especially some people I hadn't seen in awhile! Then I drove Emily home and we had a really good conversation. I love connecting with people like that.

Today we went to TBO for Raya's naming ceremony. It was neat to just have her naming be the main event and I think we are going to do the same thing with Knut, rather than tying it into another service. Raya looks sooooo tiny. I hope I remember the newborn stage when Knut comes :)

This afternoon I worked and that's all I want to say about that. I came home and napped on the couch for a couple of hours. Sam tried to entertain me by bringing me his train but I just fell asleep again :) Now I've eaten Raisin Bran for supper and I'm heading off to bed.

Tomorrow I think we're going to buy a new camera and maybe take Sam to Cafe O Play. So hopefully tomorrow the boring blogging ends. We shall see...

Friday, March 18, 2011

Boring blogging

So the next few days are going to be a little boring because our camera died. So I can't take any pictures. Sadness. I don't know when we will get a new one but hopefully it's soon. Thankfully, because of the blog, I've been really consistent in downloading pictures so I don't think we'll lose any. I'm trying to look on the bright side. Can you tell???

Sam is currently upset because he wants one of the 2x4s which are currently holding up our house on the outside. He doesn't understand why I won't go and get him one. The life and unfair times of an almost-two-year-old :)

Wednesday I didn't feel well (as in I was soooo tired I fell asleep between getting out of the shower and trying to get dressed) so I called in "tired, I'll work on Saturday instead" and crawled back into bed. I have been completely WIPED OUT these past few days and I am so looking forward to the beginning of my maternity leave. I only have seven days of work left, not including tomorrow. Yay!!!

Olivia came over for a little on Wednesday and she and Sam wreaked the usual havoc. Then Sam had a good nap -- I think Olivia wiped him out too!

Wednesday night I had my first "Learn to read basic Hebrew" course. I'm not sure what I think but I might have learned something. We'll see how much of it sticks. I don't think I like the method the teacher is using so once I get the book, and go to another class, I might just get Dave to teach me out of the book. We'll see though -- I want to give it a fair chance.

Yesterday morning I took Sam to an observation for medical and dental students at the U of A. We were in a little examining room with a pediatrician who made comments on Sam's development. The students asked questions and Sam showed off, once in awhile. I was actually impressed with how well Sam did. When the students ask if Sam could do something, he usually could and was often willing to demonstrate. I think they thought Sam was cute and afterward I heard the pediatrician we were with tell the coordinators that Sam was "an excellent example and model." That made me feel good. Sam got to take a sheet of cat stickers as a thanks for participating and I won't tell you where all we are finding cat stickers right now. Sam seems to really like them.

I came home from work and had a massive headache so I climbed into bed and Sam and Dave hung out. In the evening it was nice enough that Sam and Dave walked to the library, grocery store and Shopper's to do some errands.

Today I worked in the morning and then Sam and I came home. He had a random lunch of chickpeas, cottage cheese and pancakes. Then I made banana muffins for tonight and put Sam down for nap. Then I put myself down for a nap too! I was so tired. I'm actually getting tired of always being tired. I'm really hoping it will be better when I'm on maternity leave and the only thing I have to do is be with Sam. Although I'm guessing that will be a different kind of tired! :)

I woke up and showered and made supper and then woke up Sam, who wasn't happy. He rarely is when we have to wake him up. Although he was already sitting up in his crib when I walked in. We shared two banana "muffin cakes" as Sam called them. He did NOT like sharing them.

Now Dave is home and we are going to have supper. Then I'm going to a MOPS craft night. We'll see how that goes. I'm going to try and write all the random recipes that are hanging out on random papers in the coffee cookbook in the actual coffee cookbook so that we don't have fourteen million papers falling out every time we try to use it. And I'm also going to try and sort through some of the pictures on this computer. My goal is to try and get a whole slew of pictures printed before Knut is born. We'll see how that goes...!

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Busy day with no pictures

So today was a busy-ish day and we have NO pictures :( Sorry.

This morning I had to go to Grey Nun's hospital and get the WinRho needle because I am pregnant and I have a negative blood type. We dropped Sam off at Olivia's (where else?!?!) and headed to Grey Nun's. Dave wishes he had had a camera to take a picture at the look on my face when the nurse told me that "normally we give these shots in the bum so please roll over." I've had this shot twice before and both times it was in the arm. I asked if I could have it in the arm instead and the nurse was very willing. She just had to "go change the needle"! Yerghks :() And I HATE HATE HATE needles with a passion so this long build-up was very nerve wracking...

Anyways, it wasn't near as bad as I was anticipating -- I could hardly feel it -- so I need to remember that in the week after Knut's birth when I need this shot again. Yay.

Then Dave and I went and had a mini-date at the grocery store. We ended up spending a bit of extra money on things which weren't on our list (Smoothies! Pizza! Baby Carrots!) but it was fun to shop just the two of us again. It's a whole different experience when you're not trying to get in and out of the grocery store as quickly as possible with Sam.

Then we picked up Sam and I got dropped off at work. Dave picked me up at work and I was SUPPOSED to dishes while Dave made Eggplant Parmesan for supper but I was WIPED. OUT. So I napped while Dave did dishes. And then made supper. But I did grate the Parmesan cheese, cut the mozzarella cheese and assemble the Eggplant Parm while Dave did everything else.

Brian and Ghenette came over for supper and fortunately they were entertained by Sam's not-eating conversation! Fortunately they also both LOVED Eggplant Parmesan. I only feel so-so about it so I like when we have company and Dave can make meals that aren't my favourite and get a chance to enjoy them with other people who like them.

After Brian and Ghenette left we talked with Dave's parents about their visit this summer and also about Hebrew middle names for Knut. I think we're getting closer to picking one but who knows? It's kind of complicated and a little difficult for someone like me who has no association with any of the names.

Now Sam is going to sleep and so am I. Good night...

Monday, March 14, 2011

Knut at 28 (or 27) weeks, 1 day

EDITED TO ADD: OOOPS :( Knut was only at 27 weeks, 1 day this day. I screwed up :(

Here is Knut at 28 weeks and 1 day. He/She is growing and moving around A LOT. Last night when I was going to bed I flipped on my side like I always do and Man! Knut did NOT like that, if the amount of squirming was any indication. Also, he/she kicked so hard Dave could see it from across the room. It was impressive!

As a reminder that his/her due date is getting closer (3 months left), tonight Dave and I have a refresher prenatal course. Barb joked that she was getting Dave to teach the emergency childbirth part! Ha ha ha! We will have to pay more attention to the "Preparing for a Homebirth" part though :)

I'm wearing a spring-y shirt today because it is supposed to be a high of +8C and I am CELEBRATING SPRING! Yay yay yay! I'm so happy we're finally getting some "warmer" temperatures. Hopefully we've seen the last of -20C... We shall see. Anyways, here's Knut!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Lazy, Laundry Sunday

It's a lazy Sunday and we didn't do much of anything today.


Sam decided to "help" with laundry. He really wanted to fold things.


And he thought hanging out in the laundry basket was the height of fun!


Especially when Daddy carried him around.


And then Sam napped. And we did nothing.


And that was all we did on our lazy Sunday.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

A busy day and a birthday party

So today Dave had an all-day demo at Grant MacEwan College (he can blog about it in a separate post if he wants), so Sam and Mommy had a day together. We got up early to drive Dave downtown and then stopped at market. Sam walked from the parking lot, all the way across the market and then back. We bought eggs and eggplants.

Then we dropped off library books and went to the post office. The post office lady was nice and opened 10 minutes early for us and saved us a bunch of money on packages by helping us make them smaller so they could go as letters. Yay!

Then Sam had a make up Kindermusik class. He got to play with a hula hoop and he LOVED it. He also liked the "When cows (or insert your own animal here, which is the part Sam likes!) get up in the morning they always say "Good day"" song. There was also a song we sang about running and Sam really liked the running part. It was fun to see the Kindermusik new space. It's lovely!

Then Sam and I stopped at Save-On. Sam walked all around the store. And there was a guy there who said "He is the cutest little kid I've ever seen." I said, "Thank you" while inwardly thinking "I KNOW!!!" :) I actually never know what to say when people say that about Sam. We bought potatoes, avocados, salad and milk so Sam had to walk all around Save-On too.

Then we went to Starbucks. The post office lady was the only one working since her co-worker had called in sick so I wanted to do something nice for her and she mentioned that she would normally get a Starbucks during the day so I told her I'd pick one up for her. I really appreciated the fact that I could get the post office stuff over with before Kindermusik when it wasn't busy. And Sam loved running around the post office.

Jen and Auntie Tasha were at Starbucks so Sam LOVED that :)

Then we dropped off the post office lady's drink and she was very happy. I think it made her bad day a little better. Then we went to buy a present for Stella since it was her party this afternoon. We got sidewalk chalk, bubbles and a couple of things to grow.

Sam was E-X-H-A-U-S-T-E-D by the time we got home, from all the errands and walking, so he wanted his milk and "soos." He slept from 11:30-2:00 and I did dishes, laundry and played some Facebook games. It was good relaxing time.

We picked up Dave and then drove to Millenium Place in Sherwood Park for Stella's birthday party. It was fun. I think Sam's favourite part was the cupcakes.





Just a little preview of his own birthday party in a few weeks :) We played at the play place for about an hour afterward and then came home and ate supper. Now we are all really tired and ready for bed. It's only 7:22 but there is time change tonight (I'll write a whole other post on THAT subject since I'm from Saskatchewan and time change still makes NO SENSE to me!), so really it's like it's 8:22 which is a totally reasonable time to go to bed. Especially since I woke up at 6:30 this morning to get this day underway. I'm looking forward to sleeping in and folding three loads of laundry tomorrow. Until then... Good night!

Friday, March 11, 2011

Do you have any idea...

...what sort of game Sam was playing here? Dave and I were making supper and this is how Sam entertained himself.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Sam's first kiss

So yesterday was a momentous occasion. Sam received his first kiss. From a girl. And one he isn't related to. (Otherwise this would not be very momentous.) And he took it very well. Although supposedly the girl's daddy is wanting to have a talk with Sam!

One of the moms in New Mom's group and I trade a lot of childcare days. They don't live too far from us and we both have flexible schedules which need random bits of childcare. Olivia and Sam are in swimming lessons together on Mondays, see each other at New Mom's on Tuesdays and then sometimes see each other during the rest of the week too. Like this week Olivia was here on Wednesday and Sam went there on Thursday afternoon.

So yesterday when Olivia was leaving she and Sam hugged each other and said "Love you!" and then Marcia asked Olivia if she wanted to give Sam a kiss. So she did. Puckered up and kissed him on the lips. Sam just stood there and didn't seem to know what to do. It was super sweet!!! I love that Sam has such good friends and at the same time I want to cry -- my baby is growing up too fast :)

Here are Sam and Olivia earlier in the day. They had just had a traumatic half hour of injuries and they both needed their soothers.

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Happy 104th Birthday Grandma!

Every once in awhile I try to imagine what it's like to live for 100 years. Can you imagine 100 years in the future? What will be the same? What will be different? The reason I think about this is today is my Grandma Ewert's birthday. She is 104. She lived on her own until September and now she lives in an assisted living place where she gets all her meals and her apartment cleaned and her laundry done. But she doesn't have nurses popping in on her 24 hours a day, so she is still (kind of) on her own.



My two grandmas kissing Dave on the cheek on our wedding day, June 28, 2009.
Grandma Ewert was 101 here. She is on the right in the purple.

She has seven children, twenty-one grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren with a couple on the way this year. She has said good-bye to her husband of almost 60 years, two (oops, make that four) sons-in-laws and two great-grandchildren. She was the oldest of 17 children.



Grandma meeting Sam. Sam is exactly 102 years and three weeks younger than she is.
I never imagined that Grandma would be at my wedding,
let alone get to meet any of my children.

She has an amazing faith in God and loves her family. She will do anything for them. And has. Her grandchildren have been slower to marry and so when she was 98 1/2 she started giving us our "wedding presents" whether we were married or not! I got a crocheted table runner which she admitted she had mostly done in the middle of the night when she couldn't sleep. Because she didn't want to worry her neighbours she would crochet in her bathroom, which was the only room without windows!



Grandma and Sam singing on Christmas Eve 2009.

Grandma enjoys a good game of Scrabble and Dave is always willing to oblige her. Which makes me happy because I can't stand Scrabble! I think she and Dave are pretty evenly matched which gives Grandma a good game :)



Four generations of Ewerts this past Christmas 2010.

Sam loves his Ur Oma ("great-grandma" in German) as he has started to call her. When we dropped her off at home after Christmas Ur Oma offered him a ride on her walker. We went back to visit her in February and Sam insisted that "Sam ride" so Ur Oma walked up and down with him on her walker. Sam LOVED it! And I think Grandma gets a kick out of being called Ur Oma by this little guy :)



I love my Grandma and I'm glad she has been in my life. I know so many people have been inspired by her and I wanted to share a bit about her. She is amazing and I love her. Happy Birthday Grandma!