Chilliwack and Cultus Lake

 One of the elementary schools near our new house

 Looking for ripe blackberries

 There is a rock in my flip flop Dada

 Beach time at Cultus Lake

 A boy and his bucket

Ordinary Days

 Enjoying the fire truck at the Library

 The Lego Store continues to amaze me with their customer service!  I asked if they had any foliage/flower pieces hiding in the back and they filled a bucket for me ;)  Glad I asked!

 The Pick a Brick wall is awesome :)

 Cold enough for our winter hats

 We went to the gymnastics club down the street for the first time and we both had a blast.  We will be going back once a week if Miko's nap schedule allows for it.

 My homemade light-box setup

 Grocery shopping trips are getting a lot more complicated/difficult now.... By the time we get to the checkout Miko is 'done' and often resorts to tossing numerous items out of the cart.  He can also reach all the strategically placed goodies next to the check out.  I made him a very quick shopping list as a trial run (because I never know if he will destroy it instantly or throw it out of  the cart).  It kept his attention for about 20 minutes, which is great, but we usually end up shopping for over an hour so.... I am open to suggestions for dealing with this stage!

I'm working on a homemade advent calendar this year, will post more on Dec 1st when it is completed and hanging on the wall :)

More Thoughts on Night Waking and Sleep Deprivation

I am one of those people that likes to rationalize everything, I like to find explanations. I am always trying to better understand the world in a way that makes sense to me.  Having a baby has completely thrown me for a loop!  Miko's sleeping patterns are beyond comprehension, the more I try to identify a pattern the more confused I get...

 I have become obsessed with documenting his sleep habits. In fact, I have four different spreadsheets where I record his daily nap schedules, his bedtime routines, and his various night wakings. Every morning I pour over my spreadsheets to try and unlock 'the secret' of his sleeping habits. I even chart his progress in a graph and have become disheartened by a downward trend that has occurred in the past few days. Miko was feeding at regular intervals throughout the night - anywhere from 2.5 to 4 hours between each nursing session.  I was getting between 8 and 9 hours of broken sleep a night and could finally see a light at the end of the tunnel of sleeplessness.  I was starting to feel like a normal human being again and assumed that the worst was over.... Just as thought I had it all figured out, everything changed again. Maybe it's because he got his first immunizations, maybe it's another growth spurt, or maybe its because we had to start using a different swaddling blanket because he outgrew the old one?  Maybe its something else entirely? 

 I will forever be baffled by newborn sleep habits. I may never fully understand the sudden and unexpected sleepless nights.  But you know what, that's okay.  I have grown to accept that fact that I have very little control over this aspect of my life right now. The only thing I can do is adjust my attitudes and expectations, and remind myself that it will get better.

I am so very thankful that this is my only 'issue' right now. Miko is an absolute joy!  He is such a happy baby. He seems so very content throughout the day and night.  There is an hour or two in the evening where he just wants to be cuddled and moved about, but other than that he is such an easy baby.  He breastfeeds like a champ and puts himself to sleep in his bassinet without any fussing whatsoever.  Every morning I am greeted with huge smiles and squeals of glee.  He seems to be doing great and that is all I could ever hope for. If I need to endure more weeks of sleep deprivation for his benefit, of course I will do it in a heartbeat! 

Miko's Dry Erase Board

I decided to use one of the frames for Miko's Nursery as a dry erase board for the time being. It is a great way too keep track of what we've done each day.  I need all the help I can get when it comes to remembering things (sleep-deprivation!) so this has been very useful.

Fatherhood: My Amazing Husband!

 

 

 

Having a baby is a huge, life-changing experience.  One of the greatest benefits of having a child is the potential to use this change as a catalyst for self-discovery and self-improvement. There is no greater example of this than the amazing transformation that has taken place within my sweet husband.

 

Ever since Luke and I got married last summer, I am constantly amazed at how our relationship seems to deepen and become even more meaningful on a daily basis.  Of course, I though he was the most awesome man to begin with, but I had no idea he was capable of becoming even more amazing. The birth of our son has encouraged so many positive changes within him! Fatherhood suits him so much and I just melt watching him interact with our little Miko. I am so incredibly proud of him on so many levels.

 

Here are just a few of the positive lifestyle changes Luke has adopted since we became parents:

 

-He quit smoking a few weeks before Miko was born. He also went off the nicotine patch cold turkey while we were in the hospital.

-He has completely overhauled his attitude about spending money.  He has become so much more responsible in a financial sense that I can hardly believe it!

-He has taken over dish duty without even being asked

-He is constantly making us delicious meals, going grocery shopping and running errands

-He has started working out and is much more focused on improving his physical health

-He is eating a strict Primal diet again.

-He is such an involved father, he is constantly interacting with Miko and is always ready to help meet his needs. And he actually enjoys changing diapers ;)

 

Luke is the most loving and supportive husband and father!  I am so grateful for his presence in my life and for the role he fulfils within our family.  Thank you Luke for making me feel like the luckiest woman alive. We love you more than words could ever express!