She's HERE!!!

Well our beautiful little daughter has finally arrived! Ty's mom was due to visit on the 27th and this new little one was kind enough to wait til she got here and spent some time with Emma, Austyn & Dagan. Right as we were getting the kids ready to get to bed my water broke. I didn't want to tell the kids because I wanted them to be able to get some sleep. They had been so excited all day with Gram here and had gotten up early to go with Ty to the airport. Well, Emma must have sensed something because she 'couldn't sleep'. We found out later that she was up as soon as we left! About an hour after the waters broke we headed to the hospital, thankfully because she was in our arms less than 30 minutes later! We got there a few minutes past 9 and she was born at 9:35 on 27 December 2008. We named her Meara Joy Russell. Meara (meer-a) in this spelling has Irish origin and means Jolly or Jovial and Joy came from two of her grandma's, Joyce and Betty Jo. Also conveniently enough, she shares a birthday with Grandma Joyce! She is, like her name, truly a joy! She is our biggest baby weighing in at 8 lbs 9 ozs (Dagan was 8lbs even), she has a full head of black silky hair, just like Austyn did and she shares her daddy's nose, just like Emma, Austyn and Dagan do. I'm not exactly sure who she looks like yet.....I'll give her a few days first. Her big sisters and big brother are only the tiniest bit proud of her.....they've been so funny today, doting over every little noise and movement she makes! The dog and cat aren't quite sure what to make of this new addition to the family! Here are a few pictures we took....only a few though! I think at one point today Ty had 4 different cameras he was taking pictures with.....again only a little bit proud! :)

Due date here (and almost gone) but no baby.....

Well I guess technically the baby is 'here' with me she just isn't HERE where we want her! I was so hoping for the baby to be here before Christmas but it sure doesn't look like its going to happen. Today is officially my due date and much to the kid's dismay the fact that it is the 23rd today really doesn't mean anything.....one of the girls asked me this weekend how much longer til I was due. I said well I'm due on Tuesday, she said then what? Well honey then if I don't have the baby on that day then I will be overdue....YOU CAN GO OVER???? Total shock, poor thing! They've been waiting for so long and just can't understand why I can't just push and have her out! they are asking me several times a day (each) has my water broken, I'm not sure that they even know what that means but for some reason that is the question they are stuck on. I guess they know that it means something is going on when it happens. There is no shortage of well wishes and advice too! :o) Today was the last day of school and between today and yesterday I must have had 15 parents or teachers say best of luck and can't wait to hear the news etc.....even Dagan had advice for me.....hold your breath when you push mommy, it helps me when I go to the bathroom.....literally had tears streaming down my face I was laughing so hard! Too cute!!!

Although mentally I'm really ready to be done now, I have truely enjoyed this pregnancy. It has been so fun watching how involved the kids have been, how excited they are and interested in everything. They pray for me every night and for the baby in my tummy, that she is safe and healthy and strong, etc. I get a hug and kiss when they leave for school and each of them give my tummy hugs and kisses and say 'have a good day baby'. They really are so sweet. I'm really looking forward to just how they are with the new little one. I know they will be loads of help, maybe too much at times, but so fun to watch.

I go to the OB at the hospital again on Monday (unless I have had her-they keep telling me I could go at any time...gee thanks!). So far everything has been just fine, scans have all been good so at least I know she's healthy and hope she's not getting too much bigger....I guess we'll see soon.

I guess that's it for now.....Merry Christmas to all!!! Will update again when I have more news...

Getting into the Christmas Spirit...

We actually put up and decorated the tree over a week and half ago now, we always put it up Thanksgiving weekend, I'm just now getting the pics off my camera and on here...don't really have a good excuse so I won't even try!

I wasn't exactly feeling Christmasy at the time but the kids were so excited about decorating that we couldn't put it off any longer! We listened to holiday music and they danced around and debated over which ornament would look better here or there...they had so much fun, it was great watching them.

Dagan's turn to put the Angel on top!

Sassy's new favourite spot!

We added a few more decorations to the house last night too. The kids wanted to make snowflakes (I actually had to look up online how to do it because I coudln't remember! Very sad!!!)

I've been doing a little bit (a very little bit) of crafting lately as well. When Ty was home back in the Spring, he picked up some paper for me to use for my classes. This Christmas themed paper was part of that bundle and I loved the paper so I just had to fit in a class before this baby joined us. So last week I had a Christmas class, it wasn't full so I have some paper left but I at least got to use some of it. These are the two LOs that I did.

Then some of the ladies from the craft forum that I hang out on had a Christmas party online last weekend. There were games and classes/tutorials etc. This card was my take on one of the classes that was posted by Jackie on her blog. The inside of the card I left blank so that I could add a Christmas picture, when we get around to taking one! Thanks for the instructions Jackie!!!

~tfl

My little birdies arrived!

No I don't mean I've had a baby! No one get excited....although I'd really love if that is why I was posting! Don't get me wrong, I love being pregnant....most of the time. The pregnancy overall has gone by very fast, honestly its hard to believe that it is almost over. BUT at the same time I am tired of my ribs, pelvis, back etc hurting ALL the time, walking like a duck, not having room in my tummy to eat much at a time, and the vein in the back of my knee is really sore (and nasty looking to be honest). Ok ok, enough whining! It doesn't sound like I'm enjoying myself at all but I am.......truely!

Ok back to the reason for the post.....you may remember a few weeks or so back I won some lovely little birdies that Heather, a friend of mine makes and gave away on her blog. She really makes lovely things! (go take a look on her blog or on her etsy shop) I was expecting 4 but actually got 6 of them so I was very excited! They were sent to mom first then on to me in a package full of girlie baby stuff (grandma went a bit crazy shopping) and these little ornaments. I hung them on our Christmas tree so they could 'rest' from their long journey!

aren't they cute!

I have loads of crafting stuff to do...have Thank You cards to make from the baby shower and I'd still like to do the paperplay challenge for this week too....hmmmm maybe I can combine the two....trouble is I've no inspiration and it hurts to sit for too long so it might have to wait a few more days.....we'll see!

I'll update again in a day or so with the Christmas decorating the kids did......

Baby Shower

A friend of ours from church threw me a baby shower this afternoon. I asked the girls to go with me and I could not believe how excited they were to be included in a 'big girl' event. They were so cute! We played a couple games and I'm very sad to say I didn't win any of them, Emma did though! Can you list baby/pregnancy related items for each letter in the alphabet....yeah well me either apprently! ha ha ha After a wonderful plate full of very yummy treats (girls are not allowed any sugary treats for at least a week after all that....) Austyn helped me unwrap the presents while Emma played the photographer! Here are the pictures from the day! Thanks to all the ladies that were there. I had a wonderful time (and the girls did too).


The whole group

I think this would be a GREAT Christmas outfit.... ;o)

The three bibs say 'you are my sunshine' 'Grandpa loves me' and 'Grandma's cutie...'

These are the cutest little hand-knitted cardigans! Thanks to Ruth's mom I got 4 of these beautiful gifts!!!

'My First Christmas' stuff.....fingers crossed this will be!

Austyn helping

just chatting...

Look at alll the gifts and yummy treats!

I'm alittle over 36 weeks now so 3 1/2 weeks til my due date.....really hoping she's early though, would love to be home and settled (at least partially) for Christmas!!! Fingers crossed......now...off to make Thank You cards for everyone!!! hmmmmm ok well its after 10pm maybe Thank you's will wait til tomorrow.......

Busy Crafting

Well this week I've been very busy.....the house is a mess and I'm behind on my washing, drying and ironing....so obviously I've been crafting!!!

Here is my contribution to this weeks Paperplay Challenge.....a card or layout using ONLY pink & white.....so I really challenged myself and made it a Christmas card...

Also, worked on this yesterday. A very good friend is having a birthday party for her daughter that is turning one this weekend. This is our gift for her. Its a 10x10 canvas that I painted black around the edges and then decorated. I hope she likes it....

tfl

Its a ................................................

MISSING TOOTH!!!

Yep, Austyn lost her first tooth! She has been anxiously awaiting this day for a REALLY long time!


Ok, Ok, so that's not the only exciting news.....we also had a doctor appointment today and we were finally able to see the sex of the baby! Its funny neither me or Ty really cared either way just healthy! The kids were convinced it was a boy but not really sure why they thought that. Well according to the scan today its a




















ok so I've made you wait long enough.....its a GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are all very excited to have more pink and purple in the house....although Ty and Dagan might end up spending a lot more time in the garage at some point to get away from all the hormones!!! :o)


I also had a class tonight and here are the Layouts I did for them....TFL!!!







And last but certainly not least...I again participated in PaperPlay Challenges blog's challenge this week....we were to use 2 patterned papers, ribbon and a stamped image....here is my contribution! Thanks girls for the challenge!

I Won, I Won, I Won!!!

I can't believe I actually won a prize....and such a cute one at that! A friend of mine back in Estes Park, CO had a little contest on her blog (here) for these adorable little birds that she makes. She makes gorgeous aprons and bags and different home decor type things...check them out on her Etsy shop, Bebe & Alice. I'm so excited!



Not sure if this is the exact ones that I will get but aren't they just adorable!!! Can't wait to add these new little treasures to our Christmas tree this year....

Thanks again Heather!

Challenge.....

Some friends of mine recently started a Challenge blog, PaperPlay Challenges....and this was their first challenge...

This week you are to use the colour combinations of BROWN & BLUE, two beautiful colours together, you are also to use a SCALLOP somewhere on your project too. ...here is my attempt! TFL

Happy Halloween

Well as much as I love Autumn, the fresh crisp air, the beautiful leaves changing colour in front of your eyes, I really don't like Halloween at all...I honestly don't think I ever did. I remember even as a child not wanting to dress up and look 'silly'. Just one of the many weird sides of me I suppose. I try very hard not to project my dislike of the holiday on the kids though. They genuinely love dressing up (and do on almost a daily basis). We have more princess dresses, super heroes, chef, pirate, king/queen and doctor/nurse costumes than most toy stores! They love it! To be honest, they are adorable when they are dressing up too, I love listening to the role playing they do, its great....

For Halloween this year, instead of traipsing all over town looking for the perfect costume...and to save money...'we' decided that they were going to use something that we already had. They could pick whatever they wanted and if it needed to be fixed a little I would do it (from being used all the time, most of them have little tears here and there). Well here is what they came up with..aren't they just the cutest things!

Dagan and his little girlfriend Hannah!

Harvey, neighbors dog...doesn't look too happy to be a ninja turtle!

Ty very very generously offered to take the kids out in the frigid temperatures this year and I got to stay home! With less than 8 weeks before our newest member arrives, I've been really tired a lot lately. It doesn't take much to wipe me out completely. So, I curled up...well ok I didn't curl up, I stretched out :) on the couch and watched a girlie movie and ate pizza, all by myself! It was a much needed break! The quiet house was wonderful....Thanks Ty!

Last weekend we also got together with some friends and all the 'kids' carved pumpkins...well they drew the faces and the dads carved them...not sure who had more fun!

Emma drawing on her face...

Dagan and Austyn fishing out the seeds so they could roast them...

The finished products...

Happy Halloween everybody, hope it was a good one!