First stitches

Well it was going to happen sometime I guess!

Quinn had a nice fall on a sharp coffee table corner Friday morning at our friends house. It went through her lip and bled like crazy. She was freaking mad and I was barely keeping it together as my friend helped get us into the van. I called Ian from work as I knew I couldn't drive and hold a bleeding 2 yr. old. He met us and we sped off to the hospital while Quinn thrashed and screamed and slapped me across the face numerous times. I BAWLED!

We went into the ambulance bay as we thought she would need/get immediate attention. We were mistaken. They sent us to the waiting room with a bloody child and her lip hanging open. 

We waited more than 6 hrs to get in. 

I took Hailey to a friends house within the first couple hours so she didn't have to wait too. 

They took us in to the suture room where they then sent us to do X-rays of Quinn's chest (she had a cold) before they would stitch her up. This was another awful ordeal. If you have seen the contraption they use to get toddler X-rays you know it wasn't pleasant. 

We went back to the suture room waiting at least another 30 min when they did her IV (she was pretty brave), attached her to monitors (her heart rate monitor went off every time a nurse/dr came in) and then sedated her. She really fought the sedation and they kept giving her more. The dr started numbing her lip before she was out with a needle. Poor kid kept pulling away and cried out. He could have waited 30 more seconds. Then Quinn was snoring and they stitched her up. 4 stitches on the inside and 6 on the outside. She was coming out of sedation before they were even finished. She was sitting up in a few minutes and back to normal within 10 minutes. 

It was over 7 hrs when we walked out of there. Congrats Alberta Healthcare on another ER FAIL. I would have opted for private healthcare today!

Quinn has been acting pretty normal and had a great sleep last night.

 We are so grateful for all those who helped out and sent their love and support. It was our first 'big' injury and we all survived it. I sure hope it doesn't happen again soon. That was too stressful for me!

Hmmmm... Is someone turning 2 soon?

It must be getting close to that time as I am seeing some extra "spunk" in miss Quinn. I find it very interesting to see how my girls are different as they encounter each new stage.

I love them to bits and enjoy watching their imaginations develop. Quinn is chatting up a storm now (though I might be the only one who understands her), and Hailey is learning so quickly.

The girls always look for each other after primary class and give each other a big hug. Hailey gets upset when Quinn is upset and Quinn follows Hailey everywhere.

They are too cute. But I am kind of biased.

Yogurt anyone?

I am trying to let Quinn 'self-feed'! 

Of course she has been feeding herself finger foods for a long time but I hadn't yet braved the 'semi-liquid' zone.  YOGURT! 

I put in a little at a time and she was doing great (I was getting ready for work and wasn't exactly supervising the eating process).  I came back after I put the last amount in and it was EVERYWHERE. 

Of course I was already late for work and then had to clean up this messy lady.  I pretty much ran a cloth through her hair and took her over to the babysitter sporting 'au de yogurt".  Come to think of it she still hasn't had a bath (this was yesterday).  She is in her high chair eating breakfast right now... maybe I should just give her another yogurt to 'practice' since she is already wearing it ;)

Are meals a frustrating time at your house?  My girls are terrible eaters!

Quinn walking

This was still about a month ago but it was super cute.  She was trying to jump over the 'monies' just like Hailey (they are poker chips)

August

Our summer continued...

Grandma and Papa's - We went for a weekend visit at my parents house in August.

Tutu's - We (aka -'I') made lots of tutu's for Hailey and her upcoming birthday party.  She has been enjoying dancing in them!!!

Somebody learned to walk this summer!!!!!

She is much quicker and more stable now.  She is trying to master running!  It sure took her long enough as she was almost 15 mths old.

Hailey's 3rd Birthday - There were festivities galore at the end of August as we celebrated Hailey's 3rd birthday.  Just 2 more years until school *only somewhat joking ;)

For her party there was a bean bag toss, fishing, a teepee to play in and tutu's for our dance party.  I left it pretty open with no structured games.  They could just travel about as they chose.  Maybe next year will be the first 'drop-off' party where it is just me and her party guests!

Sunshine

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a day that I could give you
I'd give to you a day just like today
If I had a song that I could sing for you
I'd sing a song to make you feel this way

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

If I had a tale that I could tell you
I'd tell a tale sure to make you smile
If I had a wish that I could wish for you
I'd make a wish for sunshine all the while

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy
Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry
Sunshine on the water looks so lovely
Sunshine almost always makes me high

Thank you John Denver for this music... and thank you to my Dad for always singing it when I was a kid.  A sunny day doesn't pass without this song playing in my head....

This post isn't about the song really but I couldn't get past this topic without a 'replay'.

I have a question (or numerous interconnected questions) in regards to taking photo's in sunlight!

Is it always pretty much bad to be in direct sunlight?
Will the photo's always look over exposed?  or can I adjust my settings to fix them?

Most of these photos I already had to adjust the exposure so they weren't so bright but they were SUPER cute and I was disappointed they couldn't just come off my camera without editting.  It is unfortunate that they look fine on your display screen, until you upload them onto your computer.

So camera friends with DSLR's, please enLIGHTen me ;)

I have been shooting mostly in Av mode. I usually don't change much on the settings except for the light source option (which is probably the problem?)  I know everything is automatic except the aperture which has to do just with what part of your picture is in focus right?  Maybe I should just go back to Auto!!!!

But if I had used Auto in those same lighting circumstances would those photo's still have been over exposed?  I really just need to sit down and read the whole manual!

*I know that white blanket sure didn't help the problem.... it was really only there because Quinn refuses to touch grass!

Here are some more cute pictures!

Chariot

The weather has turned and spring is here, or within sight ;)  We have no snow left on the ground but that doesn't mean we are done with the white stuff.  'Spring' in Alberta is such a tease... really I would say we don't really have spring.  It generally goes from winter straight to.... okay, maybe we don't have summer and we just get spring really late.  It is all so unpredictable.  Whatever the weather we have begun to emerge from our home and get outside to play.  It has been so rejuvenating.

We purchased a used chariot last weekend and have already used it numerous times (though we have yet to strap it to a bike).  It is so easy to push around even with both girls in it.  A huge improvement from our ‘tank’ of a double stroller.

Hailey has been really enjoying the freedom she now has, running a bit further from Mom and playing in the backyard by herself as I watch from the window.  She wants to do everything by herself.  I am trying to be patient as that means everything takes a million years longer ;)  She has gotten so grown up, so fast.  With only her third birthday coming this summer I feel like she is already 5 years old (with the attitude and all), but she really is such a sweet girl.  She may not always like to share her toys with her sister… and she may not always poop in the toilet but she is so full of love.  She looks out for Quinn constantly and loves to laugh with her.  She sets the table for us and says the most beautiful prayers.  I cry every time she speaks her sweet words to our Heavenly Father.  She brings the spirit into our home and reminds me daily that I need to be a better Mom.

Quinn is crawling all over the place.  She has abandoned the army crawl for the more efficient hand/knee crawling.  She is trying to climb up on everything and has the funniest personality.  When we tell her ‘no’ she looks up at us with her chin raised really high and her bottom lip out in a huge pout…. She waits till we laugh (because it is seriously so cute and I can’t help but laugh) and then laughs herself and tries to do what we told her she couldn’t again.  She is such a charmer!  She is super tolerant of everything and has been from the start.  She could wait so long to eat before she got upset and can take a good knock without getting upset.  She says ‘dad’, ‘baa baa’ and ‘uh uh’ (uh oh).  We just love her to bits.  I can’t believe she will be 1 in just 5 weeks.

Ian and I are off to Las Vegas in May for our 5^th anniversary.  It is the first trip away without the girls and we are both SUPER excited.  I know I will miss my girls but I also won’t miss them :)  It is definitely time for a break.  I don’t know how anyone can have children closer together than 21 months apart.  It has been ‘all baby’ for the last 2.5 years and it was hard with a non-sleeper and really sick pregnancies.  I’m looking forward to our planned ‘break’ and hope that no ‘surprises’ pop up in the next 2 years!

*Mom you are seriously amazing to have had 6 kids when you were my age… good heavens, that would have killed me!

We are so blessed and need to show our gratitude more everyday.  It is a constant struggle to truly be a ‘good person’ (at least for me – I can’t speak for Ian).

They are mine...

and I love them!

The Girls at 6 Months

Our little Quinn is officially 6 months old now.

It has amazed me how different she is from Hailey. 
*Top picture is Quinn, bottom is Hailey at 6 mths

Quinn	Hailey
No teeth (but they are coming)	Had 2 bottom front teeth
Won’t eat solids	Ate solids well (rice cereal and fruits)
Doesn’t like bottles (won't touch formula)	Almost fully weaned (nurse 2 times a day)
Usually gets up only once	Woke up in the night often
Just started rolling (back to front)	Crawled (6.5 mths)
Does not hold items well	Drank from a sippy cup
Yells loudly	Said “mum”
	Signed “all done”
Is happy 80% of the time	Was happy 20% of the time
Intolerant to cows milk (Mommy on Goats milk)	Intolerant to cows milk (had soy formula)

I love my girls, I'm thankful for them, they are my life.

Not cut out for this job

2 is hard.... especially when I have a VERY high maintenance toddler.  I never get enough sleep and it affects every aspect of my life.  I am a mean, mean, MEAN mommy when I am tired and cranky (which, right now, is all the time).

I have always needed a lot of sleep.  In high school I always went to bed early because I needed to sleep 10 hrs to feel rested.  I still need 9 hrs for it to be a 'great' nights sleep.  I could manage with 7 straight for an 'okay' nights sleep but that is not even close to what is happening.  I get maybe 3-4 hrs without interuption and am usually up for an hour during one wakeup to feed Quinn.  Last night I was woken up probably every 45 min to an hour.

I am trying very hard to be grateful for my girls, but in all honesty, I don't like them right now.  I always loved babies growing up and thought I would work in daycare and get married at 18 and have 6 of my own kids. Turns out babies are not my specialty.  I can't wait till the girls are more independent (and for crying out loud) will sleep all night without waking me up.

Somehow I need to survive these brutal years of sleep deprivation (which, if you didn't know, is used as a form of torture!)

Heaven help me be grateful for my girls, and more patient and loving..... and please, please, PLEASE teach Hailey to deal with her emotions before I lose my mind.

Quinn's Baby Blessing

We waited longer this time to do our daughters blessing so we could have as many family together as possible.  Quinn was just about two months old when we blessed her at my parents home in Edmonton.  It was special to have her grandfathers and uncle invovled in the blessing.  We also had many friends over to join us for the blessing and dinner.  We were missing a couple of my sisters (one on a mission, a sis-in-law in Africa and the other in Vancouver).  We also missed our Lloydminster friends.

Thank you to all who were a part of it!

I guess I need to crop creepy micheal out of this one ;)

 (my sister and brother-in-law trying to steal my child ;)