a day at the "SPLASH" park!!!

So Adrian and I are driving home one afternoon and we spot tons of kids and parents playing at the splash park, no big deal right? Wrong! We had no idea this park existed, not only is this good news but it's free and it is only 6 blocks from our house. This is exciting!!!! Mammie and I took Jewel there yesterday and we had a blast. Jewel loves the water and she looked so cute in her little hat and swim suit (Thanks NANA!!!).

I love her legs... so rolly polly


Jewel and Mammie running through the ice cold spray!


a self portrait

Jewel reading... what a genius!

She loves to be outside and feel the wind, it makes her sneeze, but she also tries to lick the air.
Jewel can now sit on her own!!! Only for a about 15 seconds, but we are very impressed.
She looks like a monster baby! One that could eat other babies.
Adrian think she looks like she should be sitting on a porch with shotgun, oh sorry he said a pink shotgun.
All tuckered out from a long day at the park... hat has shifted sideways.

A Letter

Happy five month birthday Bug!! These past few months have flown by and yet it seems like I have been a mom my whole life, how does that happen?

Being a mom is certainly the best thing I have ever done (maybe second to being married) and I love it more than I thought possible but it is also the most challenging task I have ever taken on (not second to being married). I don't think anything really prepares you for how your life will change when you become a mom. You are told you don't get a lot of sleep, but who deprives themself of sleep for weeks just to see how they will function when a baby comes? You are told you are never "just yourself", but have you ever taken anyone in the bathroom with you just to see what it's like to lose all privacy?

Young moms rave about how wonderful motherhood is and they look like they are telling the truth! They are beautiful, well dressed with an equally as beautiful and well dressed baby in tow. Now I don't doubt they love motherhood my observation is just that no one mentions that they may be struggling slightly, so we all suffer in silence. "Seasoned" moms tell you it's hard and are always offering to babysit or give you a break. However, we as "young put-together moms" think these breaks are only for frantic moms or moms that don't love their kids as much as we love ours. I am finding after trying to look like I have it all together for the last 5 monts that it is pretty much impossible and I do need help from those that have gone before me. I hope I am not the first to say, "I certainly don't have it all together, I don't think I even have it kinda together". (I know this post is not that great and doesn't have the pictures the family loves to see but I needed to honestly document this journey for myself). Being a mom is REALLY HARD! Don't misunderstand me I wouldn't change it for the world and it's what I have dreamed of doing all my life but I do get really overwhelmed and exhausted almost daily. Every baby book I read while I was pregnant made it seem obvious that I would be overwhelmed and need breaks but once Jewel arrived I felt tremendous pressure to look and act the part of a "veteran" mom. You know what I mean, to look like you haven't had a baby and to look like you aren't taking care of one either (freshly washed hair, nicely dress, well rested, calm etc...). This pressure was probably more from my own need of perfection than anything anyone else did or said. I felt like I needed to take care of the house, take care of the baby, meet for baby playdates looking like we both stepped out of a magazine, get some exercise, prepare all meals (I am home now you know), be a great wife all the while I was barely able to have a daily shower. Maybe in 25 years I will feel like I have it all together but then I will probably be one of those "seasoned" moms that offers free babysitting instead of a smile and false hope;)

I am turning over a new leaf today and I am not going to be ashamed to take the advice of the "seasoned" moms and ask for help when I need it. I will not pretend to have everything together, I will be honest and do what I need to, to stay sane and give Jewel the best family and home life possible.

I would just like to thank all those in our life that have been amazing and have offered to help countless times and those that have helped countless times, I couldn't do it without you, I just may let you help more often;) Thank you to the "seasoned" moms for your advice, reassurance and extended hand. Thank you to the "new" mommies for sharing this wonderfully challenging experience, I just hope we can talk more honestly now. Thank you to my husband for all you patience and love, you know me better than anyone and you still love me! Thank you to my mom and Adrian's mom, you have both been better grandparents and parents than I could ever hope to be! And thank you Heavenly Father for your grace to stand up and try again.



Dear Jewel,

I love you more than you know now (once you have your own babies you will understand, you will also understand why moms can be so crazy sometimes). I have loved getting to know you and watching you grow everyday. I am amazed at what a personality you have already and feel beyond blessed that God picked me as your mommy. I promise to celebrate you and "train you up in the way [you] should go [so] when [you're] old [you] wont be lost"*. I will not be perfect and either will you but we will be family forever and I will love you fervently all the days of my life.

Love
Your Mommy

xoxoxo

*The Bible

Family

Baby Bits

photos from May 28th 2007

Nana & Papa's front yard

summer fun

Now that the weather is so nice, Bug has been exploring the great outdoors. We haven't ventured very far but she did make it out on our patio to BBQ with her dad.

Our couch finally arrived!! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Sparks, we love it! It is the smaller than the other couch and Jewel is smaller than us so we decided it could be hers. - Seen here enjoying the new sofa...
Play time with Nana...

No Gas Left

I think this is what Pastor John means when he says, "we need to live so at the end of the day our tank is empty".

She was playing so hard this happened at about 11am!

(that is Gerry the Giraffe in her clutches)

Jewel Rides Linko

When Grandpa Guay came down for a visit, he brought his doggy Linko. Jewel was facinated and we had to take to opportunity for some great photos. Seen below is a thrilled little girl "riding" a very nervous doggy.

(yes that dish towel is her saddle)

Jewel meets her GRANDPA!!!

So Jewel finally met her Granddad Guay! It was love at first sight. Grandpa Guay drove all the way down from Pouce Coupe (near Dawson Creek) to spend the long weekend with his "Chilliwack" family.

Seen here at breakfast, she was squeeling with joy most of the meal.
Grandpa pushed the stoller for our little "hike" those stroller wheels are not made for gravel walks.
Our Family, minus Jewel, she was too short for the close up. Notice the looks on our faces, very consistant with our personalities. My favorite is Brett... a little sneaky one might say?
This is the "harsh" gravel, I think we wore the wheels smooth.

Jewel making faces at her Grandpa, don't worry he was making faces at her so it wasn't rude ;)

she's so cute

Life Women 2007

Jewel, Mammie and I all attended the Women's Conference for the second time this last weekend. Jewel was there last year but she did miss most of it being in my womb and all.
The Women's Conference is absolutely amazing, it encourages, inspires and unites the women from all generations to live to their full potential. Last year we had some major break throughs in our family and this year was even more powerful. If you are a lady reading this you absolutely must attend next year.

We had tons fun, we chatted, laughed, hugged, ate (chocolate... ice cream bars, Starbucks chocolate covered pretzels, caramel apples and lots of other yummy stuff), sang, laughed some more, connected with one another and generally just loved eachother and life. What ever you do don't miss it!

There were also tons of babies, actually tons would be an understatement. So if Jewel was not interested in attending the sessions there were always plenty of ladies to chat with while feeding, changing or playing. We have documented some of the weekend...

Jewel and Emma Lou

Jewel and her sweet friend Amelie! These girls had a great time together and so did Amelie's mom and I.

Jewel playing with Auntie Michelle.

Michelle is so fabulous to have as a friend and as an adopted Auntie; she even got Jewel ready for bed one night! Thanks Michelle!

Jewel and Michelle reading the bible at Marc and Sanja's.

Thanks again you guys for letting us take over your lovely home with baby stuff.

These next few are of Jewel and her friend Ruby (daughter of our good friends Josh and Destiny). We figure the girls will have to be great friends with names like Jewel and Ruby. Cute story, we put Jewel and Ruby next to one another and they slowly "fell" into one another. They were both very interested in eachother which worked out to be some really great photo opp.s

LOL!!!

getting bigger

Jewel having some tummy time, I must admit she doesn't do this often, she hates it! Shortly after this picture was taken she began to cry and I promptly picked her up.
Sitting on the couch with daddy, I think she just asked when she gets her own "treo", Dad is just checking when her 5th month birthday is.
Sitting on the same couch with a different outfit one week later, but getting bigger by the minute.