Merry Christmas!

I hope you're having a wonderful Christmas celebration today! This is our Shutterfly Christmas card this year! I apologize if you didn't get one, I did NOT print enough and wanted to send so many more - I'll know better for next year! Here's some Christmas pics I've taken this season of my boys, enjoy!

 
 

Harvest is Almost Done

I worried about how I was going to get through harvest well into the 3rd trimester as a "single" mom. With Jay out in the field for 14+ hours every day for 4 weeks and counting, I look back and wondered why I worried. Braden has been better than good, and I'll write more on that later... BUT, for right now...I'm ready for harvest to be DONE. So are the guys. 34 weeks pregnant today, about 4+ weeks of being a "single mom"...yup my harvest tolerance has been maxed! But, when you look at these pics, you'll see why I really do love harvest so much!

We headed out to see the harvest crew at the Rosebud land, which is about 20 minutes away from the farm site, last Sunday when we got back from the wedding. I missed my boy like crazy, I think more than usual because he's at an age where he is keenly aware of all that is going on around him, and missed us and knew where we were and that we were gone.

This is his "cheese" face!

Since it was a gorgeous fall evening, I decided to dress my boy up in his finest harvest duds and do our annual harvest photo shoot. Uncle Craig even said to me "did you have to dress him exactly like me?" But I think he was very flattered! Funny he said that, because I did tell Braden he was going to wear his "Uncle Craig shirt"!

I still love all of my free Pioneer Woman action sets and playing around with them! The effect on the above photo is called Sunshine and below are Vintage, Sepia, & Soft Faded. Also...how adorable is his cowboy hat? So glad Jay bought that for him when we went to the Calgary Stampede this summer! Braden calls it his "Hoody hat" as in Woody, from Toy Story!

This is his "BIG CHEESE!" face!

And, if it's not evident the bond between these two in this photo...I don't know what is! Braden missed riding the combine with his Papa and his Papa missed him just as much!

Best pic I've ever gotten of these 3!

Braden loves everything about harvest. Being with his family, going for combine and truck rides. I'm just so thrilled that he is just so passionate about all things farming, he's just in head first!

Just check out these beautiful harvest skies! This was our last wheat field and the guys are just finishing up the last fields of canola now. We can see the light at the end of the harvest tunnel!

This one I call "The Tweeting Farmer"

Then it was time for a harvest take-out supper in the field. I love these moments and capturing the memories for years to come. Note, this is the FIRST picture of me ever at harvest time. I noted that when James was putting together the movie for our farm, there wasn't a single.picture.of.me in the last 7 years! It's because I'm always the one taking the pictures! So, for the next harvest movie...there can be a picture of me at 33 weeks pregnant with Squishy!

Braden is 2 & 1/2!

Braden celebrated his half birthday chilling at the Okanagan Lake down at Parker Cove today. Playing in the water, building sand castles with Daddy, and playing at the park. He is such a joy, I cannot remember life before him, and as Jay said during our vacation, "what do people do on vacation without kids?" I took these photos of him in the canola last Sunday after church.

Here's a summary of Braden at 2.5 years:

• 29 lbs, 35.5" tall
• Wears 3T shirts and 2T shorts/pants, size 7 shoes/sandals
• Sleeping from 7:00 to 6:30-7 every night and has dropped his nap (tears from mommy!)
• 100% potty trained, hasn't had an accident for a long time, still wears a pull-up at night, but wakes up dry...more for "just in case" for my sake, when we run out of this pack in a couple of months I just won't buy more!
• He is a talker!  He loooooves to talk, and quite frankly, never stops!
• Can sing "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" & "Bob the Builder" all by himself and "ABC's" with a bit of help
• Passionate about farming and always wants to go to work with Daddy & Papa
• He's getting very imaginative with his play - he pretends to be a froggy and hops around saying "wibbit! wibbit!"
• Loves smoovies [smoothies] and nukshakes [milkshakes]
• Swimming or anything water-related is loved, especially with someone else to play with him (Daddy!)
• Very much enjoys dinosaurs and going to Drumheller to see them & play at dinosaur park
• When he wants to try some of your food he asks to "try sasum?" and it's quite hilarious!
• Still loves Thomas, Bob, & George...but also really into Toopy & Binoo & Cailou lately
• Such a kind, gentle, caring little boy
• Loves his Poppy, Papa, and Mamaw (Grandma), Auntie Lala (Laura), & Lukey, Auntie Ben (this is new - calling him auntie!), Auntie Jess, & Baby Abby so much! He loves all his family, of course, but these ones he talk about every day!
• He says to Mommy: "wakey, wakey sleepy head!" and "don't slam a door!" as Daddy has taught him
• He could probably live outside if we let him - loves to be in the garden
• Can name every piece of construction equipment known to man, and point them out on our travels even if you can't see them
• Recently taught cousin Abby to imitate him by sticking out his tongue and babbling
• Has recently dabbled with trying to hit us, playfully mind you, but nonetheless we are teaching him that hitting/kicking/punching is not nice and will not be tolerated
• Has time outs for punishment, the odd time he needs it, and it works really well for him
• Will do almost anything for a sucker

He has just changed so so so much in the last 6 months, I'm excited to see what the next 6 months bring, including how he adjusts to Big Brotherhood!

 Love love love you, little man!

Introducing Abigail

I tell you, if I wasn't already pregnant, I would be sitting here right now probably a little depressed that I wouldn't be (soon enough!) experiencing the joy of my own newborn again! And I also particularly thought I would never want to be a girl mom. I am such a boy mom, and I know my boy mom friends know exactly what I mean. I love little girls...but I feel like I wouldn't know what to "do" with one of them. I'm all about trains, tractors, and trucks right now! But having spent a full day and night with this little sweetheart, has me totally craving a girl!

My brother and his wife are doing really well as new parents. Since Jess had to have a section, my brother has stepped up to the plate and beyond with Abby. He changes her diapers, she is in cloth - by the way!, he was keen on taking notes and asking me lots of questions, I showed him how to give her a bath and how to wash her diapers. Jess is doing wonderfully learning how to breastfeed and pump, and I'm so proud of them both.

Since a newborn mommy is so tired, babies always seem to have their days and nights mixed up, the last thing on Jess' mind is busting out her camera to take pictures. I know she wants to, but I was a happy Auntie to step in and help. May I introduce to you, this perfect little dolly babe, Abigail!

My brother loves Star Wars, just a little bit a lot! A gift from me for Christmas!

Donning her extra small FuzziBunz in complete and utter cuteness!

And wearing one of Poppy The Crazy Hat Lady's (aka Grandma's) hats!

Newborn FuzziBunz drying, how cute are they?

And here is a diaper change and snuggles with Daddy:

Star Wars love continues in the nursery!

And here's a couple from Instagram for those of you who don't follow me!

Hoping to meet up with them all at Mom's place in a couple of weeks! I know GG will be so excited to meet her first great-granddaughter!