::: A Dad And An Opa :::

......And not just any Opa, the greatest Opa......

{Happy Birthday Dad}
We love you so very much and are so very grateful for you and all you are to our family!

:: It's My Blog & I'll Brag If I Want To ::

This is my husband.

We've been married for four and a half years.

He is amazing.

I don't say that lightly.

Why, you ask, is he so amazing?

Let me count the ways.....

~He loves me and cherishes me

~He adores his daughters....like, really REALLY loves them

~He provides for us and takes much pride in the work he does, even on days when he doesn't want to be there

He is supportive and giving and always thinks about me over himself and constantly encourages me to make time to spend with friends~He got up with Paisley and I every night feed for the first week and a half after she was born and watched movies on the laptop with me so I wouldn't be alone

~He offers to take the girls out in the evening so I can have a little bit of alone time

~He loves me even when he gets home from work and I'm still in my jammies and have absolutely nothing planned for dinner....and he offers to make pancakes

~If he could choose to be anywhere, it would be at home

~He is a true gentleman not only to myself but to all the women in his life (and I know lots of people that read this blog that can affirm this)

~He is a true partner and companion in our parenting journey and chooses to be very involved in his daughter's lives
~He doesn't mind spending hours on end in the evening walking and bouncing and keeping Paisley awake and happy so she sleeps well at night

~He appreciates all the work I do at home just as much as I appreciate the work he does outside the home, and thanks me every day for the routine chores I do

~He helps around the house.....laundry, cleaning, dishes, bathing the girls, taking out the garbage.....you name it, he does it

~He blesses me each and every day and since I'm the one with the blog, I can say that:

1. NO. I love YOU more.

2. NO. I am the luckiest one.

3. NO. I don't deserve all YOU do for me.

I could go on.....but, I think you can get the idea.

{compared}

{Denay at 3-4 weeks old}

{Paisley at almost 4 weeks}

(The picture on the far right is my dad's favourite outfit that I used to wear......"cupcake")

Similar?

Not?

What do you think?

Ye Olde Pumpkin Patch

Last Thursday, after Trev got off work, we made a last minute do-it-before-the-rain-comes visit to a pumpkin patch just down the way from my parents house. We had my mom meet us there so we could get some pictures of all of us. I was amazed at how much more difficult it was to get Denay to smile and look at the camera this year!

:: Just for fun.....last years picture beside the 2010 shot ::

:: I like these people......a lot ::

:: A gaggle of MaC's ::

We timed it well.....just as we were snapping few more pictures, the clouds opened up.

It's so fun marking the growth of my family!

:: Thanksgiving 2010 ::

We took advantage of the Thanksgiving display at church a couple weeks to snap a photo......this was Paisley's big church debut!

Nough said.

:: The Island Princesses ::

I've had two very long picture-less posts.....so I'm going to try and make up for it in the next few.......in keeping with the new blog name and theme, I wanted to brag on our two Princesses!

:: Princess Denay ::

She is almost 28 months old.

She is super-duper smart.

She LOVES to read.

She is very imaginative and creative.

She loves to help .

She is very perceptive.

She could easily live off of homemade Mac n' Cheese and Apple Cinnamon Cheerios.

She dotes and smothers and adores her little baby sister.

She is my big little girl.

:: Princess Paisley ::

She is three and a half weeks old.

She is such a great little sleeper.

She loves being with her daddy.

She looks just like Denay did at around a month old.

She makes us work for her smiles.

She is a crazy sneezer.

She officially has "Denay hair".

She's going to be bigger than Denay was.

:: Victory ::

This post was largely inspired by a very wonderful mamma and fellow blogger who, sadly, lives a province (and an ocean) away but who's blog I read regularly and enjoy.

She shared very openly a few weeks ago about her struggle with PPD (postpartum depression).

She stepped out and got real.

She empowered me and now I want to get real too.

Confession: I was petrified to have Paisley.

I was overjoyed when I found out we were pregnant.

I lived in every moment of my pregnancy and welcomed each kick, punch and bout of hiccups.

I embraced the life in me and celebrated it.

But behind and underneath all of that was a genuine and deep-rooted fear.

Not of labour or pain or delivery or of something going wrong, but of the moment when everyone goes home and I've got a newborn to take care of. Every time I would think about it, my stomach would turn and twist itself into an unfixable knot and I'd be on the verge of being sick.

There were times that I truly believed I wouldn't survive another day after Denay was born, and since that was all I knew, that's what I was bracing myself for when the next one came along. That, coupled with knowing I'd have Denay to take care of on top of dealing with a baby, haunted me for most of my pregnancy, stealing my joy.

I read a book in the summer on a Godly perspective of pregnancy and childbirth that challenged me to take hold of the power of Jesus Christ within me and pray with great expectation.

So I started claiming health over my pregnancy, peace over my body and mind and a restful and easy postpartum period.

But truth be told, I doubted.

I was able to trust that the baby would be healthy, that the delivery would be safe but not matter how much I prayed and wanted to believe, I couldn't help but doubt that my newborn experience would be any different.

I wanted to play it safe and be prepared this time, so I went in to see my doctor in early September to discuss medication options for PPD. She suggested I start taking them right away to give them a chance to be working when the baby came. I decided to wait. We were going to do everything we could to rest well and hunker down and hopefully recover better this time. But deep down I had settled with the idea that I was going to need them.

But my God, is way bigger.

Last night I gave Denay the prescription that was still stuck on my fridge, and asked her to rip it up for me.

I had prayed and begged and claimed freedom and victory over depression.....and completely outside of my strength, God gave me victory.

This is simply a post to give God all the glory. To say that I am weak and He is strong.

This is a post to shed light on the seldom talked about issue of PPD.

I know that God uses medicine and doctors to bring resolve and healing, as I have needed that before. And I know that He answered my prayers for a baby that would be restful and peaceful so that we may have rest.

I know that He is a good God, that, despite how I may feel sometimes, is always with me and will never forsake me.

Needless to say, we're doing pretty good.

I'm doing pretty good.

Denay adores her little sister and I adore them both.

God is bigger.

"For the Lord your God is living among you.

He is a mighty saviour.

He will take delight in you with gladness.

With his love, he will calm all your fears.

He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."

Zephania 3:17

<< Paisley Joy's Story >>

If you aren't into all the wonderful happenings that normally accompany a labour and delivery, this post ain't for you.....this is the story of Paisley Joy's birth.

We will begin the telling one week and a day before, on the 23rd of September. I had my regular 39 week midwife visit and asked my mom to come along, just in case Trevor wasn't able to make it, as I wanted someone there to take Denay out of the room because I was going to ask to get checked and have my membranes swept. We had a full room, as Trev was able to come, and after the routine chat, my midwife asked if I wanted to get checked. I was 2cm dilated and still about a centimetre thick and baby was very low. She gave me a sweep and sent me on my way, hopeful we'd have a baby over the weekend.

We called Trev's parents who then packed themselves up and, along with their new home on wheels, came out late that night.

The next day went by as normal but later in the evening I was feeling a lot of very low pressure so I paged the midwife on call and she came over and checked me. Needless to say, we were a little bummed to find out I was only 3cm and still about a half centimetre thick.

And then, life went on as normal......for a week. I walked, I bounced and may or may not have accelerated over the speed bumps at Walmart. On Tuesday morning, the 28th, I realized that baby's movement was noticeably decreased. I paged my midwife and she set up a NST (non stress test) which showed that baby was perfect and doing wonderful.

Then on Thursday, the 30th of September, I went in again, with mom in tow for my weekly midwife visit, planning to get swept again, only to find out that the on-call midwife had been up all night at a birth and called in to tell the my other midwife not do to anything to put anyone into labour. Bummer.

Just before Trev got home from work that evening I paged the Kate (the on-call midwife) to ask her to come over and check and sweep me. She suggested we do it in the morning but I asked to have it done that night. At around 6:00, she arrived and announced that I was still 3cm and not fully effaced. Bummer.

She gave me a good sweep and told me that if she looked, she could easily see that baby's head, that's how low she was (good sign). It was Trev's parent's anniversary that day (yes, they hadn't given up on me yet and were still in town) so we were to meet them for dessert downtown. I opted to walk, hoping it would encourage something to happen. We enjoyed dessert and then ended up back here for a movie. At around 10:00pm, I started noticing tightenings that were very mildly uncomfortable. I began timing them but there was no pattern at all. We turned in shortly after and I had a very interrupted night of sleep, with the contractions continuing.

The next morning they were still going but still very irregular and not at all unbearable. I enjoyed a lovely chat with a good friend while our girl's played and just as she was leaving, my mom showed up and dragged me out for an hour long walk, during which I had to slow down every 5 minutes to let a contraction pass.

By the time we got home, around 1:30, I was contracting every 3-5 minutes but they didn't seemed to getting more intense and were very sporadic in their length. I called Kate and let her know what was going on and she said to call her back when things get more intense and regular. My mom helped me clean up and get Denay to bed then was off to get groceries, with the promise to come check on me after she was done. I called Trev to tell him what was happening and he was on his way home.

I retreated to my bed with a watch, some Gatorade, a pen and notepad and proceeded to try and time my own contractions. Not easy, in case you were wondering. Trevor got home around 2:30 and jumped in the shower. Just after he was done, Kate phoned to check in and said she was in town and was going to stop by.

When she got there around 3:00, she checked me right away and to my surprise, I was already 7cm. We called my mom, Trev's parents and our birth photographer.

By 4:15 I was on the ball, in the shower; my mom and photographer had arrived, Trev's parents dropped by to take Denay and we were all in the throws on preparation.

I felt cool as a cucumber, alone in the shower, not really needing attention or support. I drained the hot water tank and got into my bright pink birth shirt, and was right back on the ball in my room. Sometime in there, Kate checked me again and I was 8-9cm with bulging membranes.

By 5:02, the second midwife had arrived and that's when things really started to move. My midwife suggested that I use the washroom quickly and get into bed. By now I had gone from cool, quiet and controlled to overwhelmed and in increasing pain....transition.

At 5:11 (and I know all this because our alarm clock in the background of a bunch of the pictures) I was making my way into bed and had another very intense contraction. My mom brought the ball up onto the bed for me to lay over and just as I got settled, I had another crippling contraction and started to break down. I had my "I can't do this, it hurts, make it stop, it hurts, I don't want to anymore" moment, all said in between gasps for breath and sobs. It was during that contraction that my body decided it was time to start pushing. When the contraction subsided, Kate asked me if that's the position I wanted to deliver in to which I responded with a panicky "No!". So she suggested that I lie down. That was around 5:14 and once I was lying down and settled, she asked me to grab behind my right knee when the next contraction came. At 5:15 my water broke and that's sort of the last thing I really recall clearly. Paisley came so quickly the next two minutes blurred into a fog. I remember my midwife grabbing my hand and putting it on her head and holding it there. I remember holding Trevor's hand with my free one, looking away with my eyes clenched closed and hiding my face in his arm. I remember being told to breathe, that I was already holding my baby, that I needed to slow down. I remember not being able to. I remember saying that "I can't, I can't" and right near the end, begging someone to get her out. I remember lots of voices trying to soothe me and comfort me.

All this in just less than two minutes and one long push.

Then I remember Selina, from some where in the room, saying "Christy, grab your baby!"......that snapped me alert very quickly and I reached down and pulled my baby up onto me with a huge sigh of relief.

The only thing I remember after that is relief and my wonderful husband, face streaming with tears, leaning over and kissing my forehead and telling me that I was his hero.

Miss Paisley came out very "dusky" and the midwives worked for a couple minutes with oxygen and suction to get her to pink up with no success. My mom cut the cord and they took her to the table and worked with her for another couple minutes before she finally spat up a small clot of mucus and was nice and rosy in no time.

I remember the air of joy and peace and love in the room.

The placenta was born without complication and I was very happy to find out I hadn't torn at all.

After a weigh, a measure and a little look over, Paisley nursed like a pro and that's when Denay came in. Trevor lifted her up onto the bed and without a stitch of hesitation bent over and gave her new baby sister a big kiss. It still makes me tear up thinking about it.

The rest of the evening was filled with tearful and joyful phone calls and really excited grandparents playing pass with their new granddaughter.

I got my proofs from our photographer early last week and will totally admit that I've looked through them at least a dozen times now. What at gift to be able to see Paisley's arrival from a third party perspective!

Now, almost two weeks later, it feels like forever ago but also just yesterday.

Paisley is such a sweet and beautiful baby.

Our first week home alone went much better than I was anticipating thanks to friends and my momma and I'm trying to be positive about going into week number two.

Oh, and as a side note......how do all you momma's with three or more kids DO it????

:: Project ::

I'm going to try and attempt to catch up on some blogging on this lovely Saturday while my two girls sleep.

My original plan for Paisley's room, once we knew her name, was to order some wooden hand painted letters from Etsy to hang on the empty was above the dresser. Then I had a fantastic idea. I hit up one of the local thrift stores and found six, well, sort of ugly and dated picture frames. I also found two frames lying around the house that needed a face lift. I set up a table outside and covered it with my paint sheet and, armed with a can of white spray paint, gave the icky old frames a clean new look.

:: Before ::

:: After. Paired with some hand-picked letters from Alphabet Photography and mounted on the wall, made for a cheaper and much more personal touch to our angel's room.

I snuck baby girl up just after she fell asleep to get some shots in front of the new wall. I also got a very positive response from dad when he came home from work!

I'll do my best to get some more photos of her nursery up soon......

~ Things I Am Loving ~

I want to highlight, for any expectant momma's out there, a few of my favourite things that I am using almost everyday with Paisley......

:: Baby Buddha Fabric Carrier ::

Check out their website here. I've used it a few times already and unlike the Moby Wrap or Cuddly Wrap (which I found impossible to use and ended up selling mine), it's a three piece that doesn't involve any wrapping and holds Paisley much more secure than my Moby Wrap ever did. I love it!

:: Close And Secure Sleeper by The First Years ::

We bought this when we had Denay and are using it just as much with Paisley. It's small enough to fit in bed with hard sides to give you the comfort of knowing she's protected from tired parents rolling around. We also use it downstairs during the day so she can be with us while she sleeps, with again, the security of hard sides. Get a better look here.
:: Medela Sleep Bra ::
I will say that it doesn't offer as much support as they show it in the picture, but it's just the thing for easy nighttime nursing when you don't want to be fiddling with straps and clasps. Check it out here.

:: Bosom Baby Nursing Pillow ::

L.O.V.E this. One website called it the "Cadillac" of nursing pillows and I'd have to agree. I got mine for half of the retail price off of UsedVictoria and it's definitely seen it's use. It's not only perfect for nursing, but for support for me when I nurse lying down. Their website is here.

So there they are, just a few of my favourite things.....

Help Me!

I have been wracking my brain trying to come up with a new blog name, now that Paisley is here....and, as is clear by the fact that my header hasn't changed, I've yet to come up with anything good.

Soooo.......help a girl out and fire off some fun ideas!

Thanks in advance :)

The First Week

We're here.....and loving each moment with our new angel.

Our little Paisley is a dream! I can honestly say, "For this child, I prayed". She is so content and she SLEEPS, something Denay never did a whole lot of :)

Denay is an amazing big sister. We've had a few rough days of her just not being herself, but a trip to the park and the pool reaffirmed her sense of value and oriented her again and things are great.

We spent the week resting, relaxing and enjoying our baby and big girl.

Don't ask me how in the world I'm going to manage on my own on Tuesday, but it's been done so I'm pretty sure I'll survive :)

I'll be back sometime to share the story of our beautiful girl's arrival!

:: Introducing ::

:: Paisley Joy ::

Born October 1rst, 2010 at 5:17 pm weighing 7lbs 12oz and 18 inches long.

Paisley was born during a very fast planned homebirth attended by the two most wonderful midwives ever.

Mom, baby, daddy and big sister are doing well, spending lots of time at home surrounded by a very supportive family.