Sunny day in the Loops!

In celebration of Arbour Day, and of the arrival of our little angel, Daryl planted a tree in the back 40 of our home. Today, the family set out for a photo opportunity and the weather could not have been better! With snow last week, and cold, windy days since, today's 15C and sun was amazing. Gabrielle got her daily dose of vitamin D...and seemed to really enjoy being outside by sleeping through the entire event!

Proud big brother!

Proud Grandmas!
Sleeping...drunk on milk!
New outfit that dad bought! Everything else is too big!

Pround papa!!

The Last Few Days

Holy Cow...we have a baby in the house! Things have been going amazingly well - we have a precious little angel in our home whom we just can't get enough of! She is eating so well, gaining weight, and becoming aware of her surroundings more and more every minute! She loves staring at the fire...I hope she doesn't become a pyro like her dad!

Here are some photos from the last few days...
Trying out the new car seat...not a happy camper! We found out she does have good lungs!

Coming home from the hospital.


Chow's new baby sister!

Sleeping angel.


Hands up! I surrender...you're too cute!

World...Meet Gabrielle

For those of you who know me at all, you know that I don't wait for anything...I go right after it. Well, low and behold, I went into labour 2 weeks early and we had a little baby girl last night! Gabrielle joined us at 10:11pm, after 45 minutes of labour. Yes, you read that right...45 minutes. At 9pm I was 2cm diilated and then all of a sudden had the overwhelming urge to push...and push I did..and out she came! I didn't even have time to ask for pain medication, even though I didn't really need it. I was spoiled through the entire pregnancy, labour and birth. Now, all we can hope is that rest of our lives is just like this!

Little Gabrielle is just perfect, as any mother thinks of her new baby...but she really is. She has big blue eyes, dark hair, the perfect button nose and beautiful little earlobes. She weighed 7lbs 4oz, 20 inches long and all 10 fingers and toes. I can't describe how perfect she really is...see for yourself with the photos.

More photos to follow in the days ahead!

Fair Warning

So...this is your last chance to vote on our baby pool! Do you think chow will be the big brother to a baby girl or boy? I woke up at 11:55 last night and thought that I had peed myself. Apparently, my water has broken and Daryl and I are going to be parents today! It is still all very surreal - not sure what to make of it!
On Thursday, I was laying out some stuff that I would be taking to the hospital and it was like packing for a trip or vacation but you don't know where you're going, and you're not sure when you're leaving. I mean, I know that I'm going to the hospital - mom said that she could drive me to the airport if Daryl was out of town when all of this happened - but when...we didn't know until a few hours ago...and I'm packing for two. Strange thing is - am I packing for a girl or boy? How big is this little person going to be? I pulled out a sleeper, held it up and realized that this would fit a 6 month old! Now that we're having a baby 2 weeks early, we can expect the size and weight to be a little lower than Dr. O'Connell predicted, so my mom might have to make a mad dash to the store to buy a little outfit. We've got time for that. I guess it's the Virgo in me that just wants everything to be ready and perfect. I know from now on...nothing will ever be the same!
We'll keep you posted - Daryl will update with photos and if all goes well I could be home tomorrow! We'll introduce the world to judo-monkey very soon! Wish us luck!
Oh - and I was suppose to write my Professional Practice Exam tomorrow to become a Professional Engineer, which I am not at all prepared for - so I have a good excuse to defer that to a later date. Fewf! I don't have to fake labour...which wouldn't have been very ethical. Hum...the dilemma with that one!

37 Weeks!

SO any day now, we are going to meet our little monkey. Judo-monkey has now become Tai-Chi-Monkey, as the movements from the underbelly are now more like those of the groups that strike a pose in the gardens around town. I'm still feeling great - still can't bend over to put my socks on...but that's ok!
6 days of work left...but who is really counting! I'm training my temp-replacement these days which makes everything go a bit slower. Daryl is home tomorrow and I'm excited about the Home & Garden Show taking place this weekend. Not that we'll be doing any renovations in the next few months...but the ideas are always there.
My sister and family possibly have a difficult decision ahead of them in the next few days. Jasper, their adorable but psycho 10 year old pooch has been stricken ill with what seems like a hereditary ailment which has cause him to drastically reduce his food intake and leads to terrible bouts of runny-bum. When I spoke to Nadia yesterday, she said that the hardest part is that he is still so spunky and full of life - nothing is slowing him down, but he's just ill. Poor Jasper...I remember flushing his 10" butt wound - caused by the wolf-like fangs of the ever docile Chow - with diluted iodine solution so that it would heal. Although Jasper is nutso - I love him to bits, as does his family. I'm sending them hugs, and a belly rub to Jasper.

Spring is in the Air!

These two giant ravens were found doing the mating dance on our roof-top this morning. They were very loud from the inside and CRAZY loud from outside!

Do they know what the consequences of their actions is!

Weekly Progress Photos

I've been a little slack lately with the blog updates, and I apologize, I've had a monkey on the brain! Life the past few weeks has been awesome. Easter weekend passed so fast with a great visit from our friends the Schuelers from Kelowna who's two daughters were in ski races at Sun Peaks. We had some yummy meals (always focusing on the food aspect!) and a wonderful visit...topped off with an Easter egg hunt on Sunday morning. I'm not sure who was more excited...the parents, kids or dogs!

On Easter Monday, Daryl and I drove down to the coast as he was heading off to Tumbler Ridge for the week (but missed his flight and ended up everywhere else in the province...long story) and my mom and I departed for a few days in Seattle. There were a few things on the agenda that I really wanted to get done, and we were successful for most of them. I bought a braided chenille rug for the nursery which looks awesome! We decided on yellow - as it remains gender neutral but doesn't overwhelm you with green when you walk in the room! The future grand-parents purchased an awesome canvas map of the world for the wall - which is proudly hung over the change table and will no doubt get lots of use!

Daryl and I have recently graduated from pre-natal class and are certifiable...I mean, certified! How these courses are not mandatory is beyond me! There were 15 couples in our class (usually a maximum of 10 are registered) and there was a waiting list of 60 couples! Why the Interior Health Authority doesn't recognize that there is a demand for this service and offer more classes is beyond me! I should be minister of health! Anyhow - the classes were awesome, with a great instructor, and with less than 4 weeks to go we finished just in time!

I haven't uploaded weekly progress photos the last while...so below are the last 3 weeks. The belly certainly is growing! I find myself walking into more things these days...walls, doors, Daryl...watch out world...here comes the belly!34 weeks (brown top)

35 weeks (coral top)
36 weeks (black top)

Judo-monkey has remained active as ever, despite the confined space that s/he now occupies. I am woken up several times at night with bizarre movements and the occasional bout of the hiccups that last over 30 minutes at times. What I still don't understand is how the baby can have the hiccups seeing as there is no air in there! Someone, please explain that to me!

Well, that is the update for today! 13.5 days of work left...but who is counting!

What We're Learning in Prenatal Class