The Project Creep

I feel like it's been ages since I've blogged, even though it's only been just over a week. We normally enjoy a rather relaxed and non-busy schedule around here but this last week has been something else.........mostly due to me, and a little "disease" I suffer from that I like to call the "project creep".
For instance, I've been meaning (forever) to get out the paint cans and a brush and quickly touch-up a couple spots on the walls where the paint had been chipped. What started out as a one hour job somehow ended with an empty container of DAP and (no exaggeration) the entire lower floor of my house looking like it had the chickenpox, as my husband oberserved.
I ended up spending a total of about 10 hours sanding and DAPing, re-sanding and re-DAPing, then painting, painting and more painting.
The difference is unmistakable but it certainly doesn't leave a lot of time for the things I normally get done in a day!
Then next thing you know we're on the warpath, tackling our dreaded spare room and are on our way now to transform it into Denay's big girl room for a little later on in the year.
It's definitely not difficult for me to take even the simplist task and turn it into a renovation.
So if you're interested, do come back and visit. I'm still kicking around these parts........

Christy's Favourite Things Of 2008

It goes without saying that I am no Oprah, but I've been ispired by her to make my own list of things that I love from 2008. No more needs to be said so here goes....

#1 - Purses. There are a few people who know that there were years of my life that I would never be caught dead carrying a purse. Things have slowly changed and they're now becoming more attractive to me. I've got a couple now including this beauty that I got for Christmas.

#2 - Baby Einstein. Not much more needs to be said. I try not to resort to the movie all the time but when I need to take a shower there's nothing that works better! I also enjoy Baby Faith and Praise Baby. #3 - Stand Mixer. I got this for my birthday and after two years of not having one, I can't imagine life without it!
#4 - Joe Style from Superstore. They have the cutest baby girl clothes and I rarely shop anywhere else for her. Their adult clothes aren't bad either!
#5 - Febreeze Noticeables. Wonderful. I have had countless people come to my house and ask if I've just cleaned. And while I more than likely had, it's nice to know it smells fresh and clean. I keep it plugged in in the bathroom as that is where we keep the cat box.
#6 - All-Bran Guardian cereal. We only buy the cinnamon flavour and it is yummy as well as chalked full of fibre and lots of good stuff!
#7 - Wall-E. Cutest. movie. ever. If you haven't seen it, please do. It is so sweet and hilarious and has a great message to boot!
#8 - Dove's Cream Oil Line. I just started using this a little less than a month ago but it is awesome. I couple the bodywash with the body lotion and I truly notice a difference in my skin. It is a little pricey but I am so not a big spender on cosmetics or beauty products so this is my one little splurge.
#9 - Crock Pot. I've just really started using my crockpot in the last year and it is wonderful. My favourite thing is roasting chickens, pre-stuffed with gravy from the drippings. Mmmm.
#10 - First Years Infant Sleeper. We used this when Denay was first born and we loved being able to have her in bed with us without the worry of rolling on her.

I think that's about it! I'd encourage you all to make a list of your favourite things from 2008......it's always nice to know someone else's opinion on something before you make use of it yourself!

She Is My Sunshine

Took this video on my camera last night......please excuse my voice but I just had to post it!

:: Shabby To Fabby ::

Today was a good day. The last time I had my hair cut, I was about eight months pregnant and now I have a six month old, you do the math. I finally got around to booking in to see my stylist Jen and she worked her magic yet again!
:: Here I am before. I will add that this is hair washed yesterday, slept on damp and just brushed this morning aka NOT "done" ::

:: And the after ::Trevor doesn't love the bangs but I wanted to try them out. I'm going to have to work to wear them like they are but I can also sweep them to the side.

I can't even describe how good it feels! I feel like a new woman!
The new year new me might also include a new piercing but it's still in the air.....be sure if I do, you'll know abou it!

She's My Girl

So great news.......brought Denay in for her six months shots Monday and had her weighed, she gained almost a full pound in two weeks! She still dropped of on the growth chart and is in the 3rd-5th percentile in everything now but I know she's gaining weight so that's all that matters.*picture taken by Tricia R. at B&R's wedding a couple weeks ago*

I feel even more confident now about my supposed 'instinct' as a mom. I had been told by a nurse at the health unit when she was weighed a few weeks ago, to stop the cereal because it was keeping her too full and so go back to exclusive nursing. She had only gained two ounces since November 10th so I knew that nursing wasn't enough for her.

Now we're trying to find a balance of new foods, cereal and formula to meet her needs.

She continues to melt my heart everyday......

:: Six Short Months Ago ::

I know that everyone says this when they have children, but wow, does time ever fly!

I can hard believe that it was six long/short months ago that our world was changed forever. On July 10th 2008, at 9:30pm after about six hours of labor at home, Denay Catherine quietly entered this world all pink and with a full head of hair.

Things have been non-stop ever since and that little girl is the light of my world.

:: A couple collages of the amazing event. Please excuse the bathing suit, I had spent some of my labour in my bathtub and I never ended up getting changed :) ::

The smiley lady in the lower left corner (above) is one of my midwives, Selena, who was completely amazing.

As of right now, Denay........

• is almost sitting up unassisted
• is sleeping from about 8pm-8am
• is almost crawling (yikes)
• rolls easily from her tummy to her back and visa versa (thank goodness)
• is sucking her thumb when she is upset and will not take a soother
• is eating cereal morning and evening, bottle of formula at lunch and nursing late in the afternoon. She seems to be less and less interested in breastmilk
• is very small! We've just recently up'd her cereal and started the formula hoping to put some weight on her. She's still wearing newborn sleepers
• is teething but has yet to pop a tooth
• is starting to "play" more and having extended periods of being content (PTL!)
• loves to "talk" (just like her mommy) and occasionally scream/yell, especially when daddy gets home from work
• has the most beautiful smile in the world!

We(I) are taking her in for six-month shots Monday and will update you on her size and weight.

Happy Weekend!

WANTED: Your Opinion

Attention Moms, Aunties, Grandmas and anyone else that can help me! My mom is looking to buy a stroller, she would like a side-by-side double stroller. She's already been warned to make sure that the front wheel(s) will swivel but what she's not sure about, is the difference between a single front wheel like this Phil&Ted's.......

.....or two front wheel assemblies like this Baby Jogger.

She would use it on roads and sidewalks but also wants something good for hiking trails and un-paved paths.

I'm sure many of you read my blog and have never commented but if you've got an opinion or some light you can shed from experience, friend or stranger, please, let me know! I very much look forward to hearing all different sides so my mom can make the right decision!

Thanks in advance.....

* And Two Will Become One *

There aren't a lot of things I love more than a wedding! On Friday we had the honor of being invited to the wedding of Trevor's longtime friend Brad and his new bride Rae. It was one of the most beautiful weddings I've ever been to, just exquisite.

:: The beginning of the ceremony ::

:: Some of my favourite ceremony shots. I am far from being even a moderately talented photographer but I have to say that I am kind of a few of these ::

:: Taking communion ::

:: Married ::
:: Just as we were heading into the reception, fog started to roll in and the sun started to set ::
:: I think the RSVP's were handled by a third party and they didn't know Denay was a baby. So cute ::

:: Looking out the window through a flower piece ::

:: Candles ::

:: Poor teething baby trying to ease her pain with Jason's beer bottle ::

:: The family (thanks Kristin!) ::

:: Trev and the groom with Joel ::

We had an amazing time including singing for our supper (Ring of fire) and watching a rousing round of the shoe game :) It was also a treat to meet and see again some of my blogger friends that I never get to see as well as other family friends that had yet to meet Denay.

Brad and Rae are leaving for Ireland tomorrow where she will continue medical school with hopes of becoming a doctor. We wish them all the best and much happiness for life!

:: Cousinly Love ::

We arrived at Trev's parents house at around 6:00 on Thursday night for his friend Brad's wedding the next day and just before the boys were off to bed (and Denay got crabby) we put all three on the stairs with a box full of stuffies for a picture.Seriously, could these children be any cuter!?!

* Our Princess *

I've got so many awesome pictures of our gorgeous girl that I had to collage a bunch and post them! As with all my collages, just click on them to get a closer look!

:: Christmas ::

:: Shopping for her first car, trying to drink from her sippy and sitting in a restaurant high chair for the first time (with a little help from her blanket) ::

:: On the ferry going to B&R's wedding ::

:: Finally home from the bustle. We purchased a Phil&Ted's MeToo highchair when we were on the mainland and while Denay is way too small for it, we love it already!

Her nursing habits changed a fair bit over the last three weeks or so and I was a little concerned so I took her to the Health Unit and had her weighed and she's only gained two ounces since November 10th. The nurse I spoke to suggested not feeding her rice cereal anymore but I decided to continue that but just really encourage complete nursing feeds. We take her in for her six month shots in a week and will see where she is then.

We just continue to love her and be amazed by her and watch her grow.....what a blessing and delight she is!

New Years Eve & Day

After a few days of (not) recuperating from Christmas, we decided at the very last minute to host NYE at our house. Even though it was short notice we still had about 15 people show up and we had a blast! There was music, laughter, champagne, games and me frantically hollering during a game of Taboo. Amazingly as us fogies actually made it to mid-night and had a very climatic and loud countdown to 2009. Thankfully I have a very good baby and no neighbours :) * And those are EMPTY bottles in the top left corner. Just making a good picture *

We got to bed around 1:00 (after cleaning the house) and were up again at 8:00 getting ready to host NYD breakfast for 25 people. It went off without a hitch (minus my embarassing and painful slip in a bacon grease spill) thanks to everyone bringing food and as many hands as we could fit at work in the kitchen. It was SO delicious......pancakes, waffles, sausage, bacon, eggs, toast, hashbrown, juice, coffee and fruit and thankfully not too many leftovers!

Our hall, stairs and counter jammed full of evidence of friends and fellowship........and my breakfast plate.

I had a couple moments of near tears......looking around at some of the people I love most in this world enjoying my home. Those people who know me best know I keep this place really clean and there's nothing I love more than cleaning up the mess left after a gathering like this. The mess of a house visited by friends is the best. We all decided that we're going to make it a yearly tradition......I can't wait until next year with more babies and more friends!

:: McClelland Christmas ::

After breakfast Christmas morning at my parents house, we made the trip up the island and across the water to celebrate with Trevor's family. We enjoyed a fantastic dinner then opened gifts.....Denay was so cute, she could "open" her gifts if you ripped a small piece of the paper and then let her grab it.

All (almost) the family members.....Cole and Trevor and I were there (of course) as well as Nanny.

We had breakfast with Trev's parents on Boxing Day followed by Denay, myself and Mum crashing for a "quick" nap that stretched a few hours. Our evening consisted of dinner and games with family friends and unfortunately being beat by the boys at Pictionary. We got home mid-afternoon on Saturday and managed to get unpacked and organized very quickly. It was totally exhausting and Denay and I are both sick as a result but we had such an amazing Christmas and wouldn't have changed a thing!

:: Verhoog Christmas ::

Well the hustle and blur of the Christmas season has passed for another year and now it's time to document, document!

As always, we enjoyed Christmas with my family on the 24th. We did gifts, dinner and church. I actually took surprisingly few pictures but here are a few!

:: Momma reading her card from Ryan ::

:: Opening my gift from mom....two sets of Corelle dishes for the trailer ::
:: Keving opening my gift to him ::
:: Kevin having a cuddle with Denay ::

:: Baby Girl ::

:: Christmas Eve Family Picture ::

:: Me and my baby girl ::

:: Great Grandpa and his great grand daughter ::

We also enjoyed our traditional Christmas morning breakfast with family friends before gallivanting off to the mainland for Christmas with Trevor's family.

Nathan and Brice were not able to make if from Manitoba but Ryan (after 24 hours stuck in an airport) and Kevin were both able to come and it was a treat to see them!