It's a BOY! Welcome to the world, Blake Graham!

Error: Time of birth 0624 (oops!)

My awesome, amazing sister-in-law (who's really more like a sister) gave birth to her 2nd baby boy yesterday morning via c-section! She went into the hospital on Monday evening contracting on her own, yet was booked to have a Foley induction anyway. The catheter got her to 5 cm, but no farther during the night so at 0624 they brought Blake into the world the same way Luke came, with a cesarean. Blake and mama are both healthy and doing really well! Words just don't do it justice, so here's some pictures I snapped yesterday!

 



Be still my heart! He really liked his little cousin "Baby Bake"! Braden's Big Brother training continues. Congratulations, Nelson Family! We love you and we're so proud of you!

Summer Fun: Spray Park

Last year I was excited to take Braden to the spray park. Him? Not so much. Just too young, a little too scared. But this year? He was so excited he couldn't contain himself! He was jumping and skipping around to get that extra energy out! We'd been having gorgeous weather all last week so Laura & I took the boys and I went and picked up Danika so they could have some fun.

Braden's feet are still recovering from his HFMD blisters, so every night when I put lotion on them we say "poor little feet!" and "poor little toes!". The kids had a great time, they shared snacks and juice. Well, I actually only brought 2 juice boxes, so I told Danika it was a secret and she had to drink hers fast! Braden didn't go in the water a ton, but in his defense those big spray guns...and big kids? Not so fun for a 2 year old! But he just loved being outside and having fun. Our summer fun continues!

Summer Fun: Heritage Park

So last Thursday, I was debating about joining Laura & Luke at Heritage Park like we had planned to do for a couple of weeks. I had a memorial service I wanted to attend for a coworker who suddenly passed the prior week, but things were looking really busy for Jay and I wasn't sure if I should keep him from work, though of course he was very willing to stay with Braden so I could attend. With a little prayer in, asking for a bit of guidance, I got my answer in the weirdest way. In a desperate bribe, I said to Braden (knowing he had to do it...) "If you poop in the potty this morning, Mommy will take you to ride a big steam train!" I figured - if he doesn't I'll go, if he does it we'll go to the park. We've been having #2 issues since potty training began. He has done it quite a few times in the potty. But for some very frustrating reason, he chooses to do it in his underwear now.

But...

While I was locking the doors in the house so said toddler couldn't escape outside while I was planning to have my shower, I thought I'd better check on him one more time. Low and behold, I went into this bathroom and there was a (TMI, I know) ginormous #2 in his potty. Hip hip hooray! We celebrated! We cheered! I gave him the sucker he had been longing for! We called Poppy & Daddy to spread the good news! And I called Laura to tell her that - yes - we would be going to Heritage Park with them. I texted another coworker and told her I wasn't going to make it, she said "that's what she would have wanted anyway - for you to be spending time with Braden". I hope you're not judging me for making a decision in such a way. She was a dear coworker who will be missed greatly, but reading that my friend wrote that text, I took it as a blessing, and with a tear and a smile, I packed us up and off to Heritage Park we went.

You can see why I knew Braden would love this place, right?

Not only does Heritage Park have the big steam train, it has a mini amusement park for kids and the boys loved the rides!

Surprisingly, to me, Braden's favorite was the mini ferris wheel! He was saying "I high in a 'ky Mommy!"

Doesn't this pic look like it could be from the movie "The Notebook"?

He had a great time on the train, we did 2 full loops of the tracks with 3 stops included...he's still very "2 year old" and does not understand being patient, having to wait his turn, it's time to get off rides...but all in all, he did really really well.

 The boys really wanted to go on a horse ride...but with their mothers 22 & 35 weeks pregnant at the end of a long day in the sun...we said no and got ready to leave!

Within about 10 minutes or less of the ride home...this happened:

We stopped at the best burger place EVER - Peter's Drive In - and picked up supper for the whole family.

My brother and I, have both made special Peter's trips from Edmonton, a little 3 hour jaunt up highway 2, just for Peter's. You're not a Burrell until you've come to Calgary just for a Peter's burger & shake! (Just to reiterate...that's 6 hours of driving round-trip in one day just for a burger & shake!)

I promised myself to make this a really, really fun summer for Braden. His last as a single child and old enough to really enjoy some stuff.

Some more items on our summer bucket list:

• Braden's first camping trip - I so desperately wanted to take him his first summer but the weather sucked, and NOT last summer as he was just way too busy
• More trips to the spray park
• More trips to the zoo
• Trip to BC
• Trip to Banff (maybe we'll stop on our way home from BC to have a mini trip)
• Playing outside as much as possible with friends and family
• Swimming lessons in August
• Trips to the lake & boating

What a post! And lastly - a happy anniversary to Ben & Jess! I can't believe it's been a year!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Family

The challenge: All my photo challenges should be based around your children (pets are always welcome). Family!

Lukey and Braden. They are more than family. These boys are like best friends and brothers! We got third place in last week's "Heart" challenge!!

Go link up with The Paper Mama!

Maui: Beach Bums

We went to D.T. Fleming beach, almost 5 minutes away from the condo, pretty much every day. Braden loved it, but really only wanted to be there for about 45 minutes at a time. He started playing with Luke's sand toys, he loved it when we'd run into the water with him and then turn around and run away as the waves were coming in. He even enjoyed a bit of boogie boarding with Jay. Sad thing, I brought his life jacket all the way to Maui and when he was wearing it...I didn't bring pics! But he did wear it when - I swear! So, here is a MASSIVE photo dump of all our beach pictures!

Oh...and I have this exciting news to share with you all!

Yup! I'm so excited that we will have niece #6 or nephew #4 to meet in August!