As I mentioned in my last post, Brady and I celebrated our fourth anniversary yesterday. It was perfect, except when I tried to leave.

My car was stuck in the driveway. Tires spinning, spinning, spinning. Not even like I was digging myself deeper and deeper, everything was just iced up. There was no possible way I could get out, and I had a few deadlines to meet. After calling Brady bawling, blaming the whole thing on him and acting a fool (such a nice wife, huh?) I ran across the street and recruited my friends husband to help push me out. He was in the process of trying to rock me out when the mayor/town mechanic drove up in his truck. Of course my car is made to be pulled out from the front, and it was not set up that way at all. So the men kind of fought with things and tried to hook everything up in such a way as to not tear anything off. While in the process, even another truck came to see if we needed help. I felt so loved and safe. They took awesome care of me when my husband couldn’t be around. Of course, as soon as I got on the highway, I called Brady and apologized and bawled like a child. We got over it and I made it to my moms on time.

My mom was the perfect parent and offered to take Dekker for the whole day! I had a couple things to do in the city and figured it would definitely be easier baby-free. As I always have to clarify, of course I adore my son and am happy to take him out on errand days with me, but I was so very sick in December and feel like I haven’t really come back from that 🙁 The whole Christmas season took a lot out of me and my body is struggling to catch back up. And let’s be honest – Dekker is not getting any smaller. So I took my mom up on her offer and dropped off Dekker just before noon so I could get to my first errand on time. I got a couple of things done before I had my leg waxing appointment. For those who think I’m crazy, you won’t understand it until you’ve tried it. And tried it a couple more times. It hurts less the more you do it.

Brady was finished work early and we met at Costco, bought Cheerios and new travel mugs, and then headed off for our date. For any occasion that we go out for, we almost always opt for Boston Pizza. Garlic twisty bread and Tropical Chicken pizza. AMAZING! I was completely full! We did a little shopping afterwards, and then went to visit a friend who was working her shift at a mall. She wasn’t very busy so we brought her Starbucks and lounged on the couches by the change rooms. It was awesome. Seriously, the perfect way to spend the evening – with friends. And with pizza.

We had a ridiculous time getting out of the city. I know everyone was sooo pumped that Eric Church was in town but I was sooo not pumped that I couldn’t get past the stupid amount of traffic and actually leave! We arrived at my moms about a half hour later than we bargained for, but as usual, she and Dekker were just playing and reading and having a hoot. We went home fairly quickly and were greeted by a freshly cleared driveway. While Brady and I have dreams of building our ideal house in our ideal town, these times remind me that God put me in a very good place, for right now, for a reason.

We ran out our evening as usual – with a bubble bath and a bad-for-you-especially-before-bed snack. Best. Anniversary. Ever.

Exactly four years ago, my parents happily agreed to “give me” to my husband.

Our ceremony was lovely, complete with music we love.

Our reception was just a short half hour after, leaving everyone enough time to get themselves over to the other church in town, and us enough time to drive around with our bridal party and make a lot of noise, honking the horn and celebrating. I know its ideal for the couple to have a couple of hours in the middle for pictures, but we didn’t want to leave our guests stranded in a small town with nowhere to go, so we opted for photos later. A morning wedding left room for that.

We provided breakfast to our guests. Muffins, bagels, hashbrowns, eggs, sausage, ham, fruit, chocolate fondue, and I’m sure I’m missing things. A HUGE meal that, in my opinion, will always be compared to all other wedding meals.

For our thank-yous, everyone who had a hand in our beautiful received a trophy. I thought it was fun, and I didn’t even get one!

The reception was over by two o’clock in the afternoon, some amazing family cleaned up the entire reception space, and we were off for pictures!

Our wedding party was amazing! Such a fun time we had, just the four of us.

There was a lot of dress to carry from place to place. If you think I’m awkward normally, you should have seen me that day!

And then we went skating. I wasn’t even cold. I was invincible. Best day ever.

We are so happy 😀

 

 

 

I was feeling pretty grouchy yesterday, as you may remember. However, Dekker discovered one of his books today called “Grumpy Bird.” Its a story about a bird who wakes up and is so grumpy, he doesn’t even want to fly. So he starts walking by himself. Through the book, he keeps walking by his friends, other animals, who ask him what he’s doing. His answers get more and more sarcastic and grouchy but his friends follow him anyway. At the end he realizes that if he stopped, they’d stop, and if he’d jump, they’d jump. It became a game and he forgot about being grumpy. Dekker brought that book for me to read to him probably at least twenty times today. I guess he knew I needed the reminder. He would sit all squishy and comfy on my lap while I read the entire book through, turning the pages at the right times. He is not one to sit still for very long at all, or to actually wait to turn pages. Usually a book is over in roughly ten seconds. Not today. He was sooo cuddly, and I just soaked in it. I’m learning that, even though he’s an independent boy, he still needs cuddles with me as much as I need them with him.

Another thing that has helped me look up a bit today is that I’m finally going to be out of the house tomorrow. I have a few appointments to hit in Saskatoon and some shopping to do. Best of all, my mom offered to take Dekker ALL DAY so I could run my errands baby-free, and then have a date with Brady in the evening. Did I mention its our wedding anniversary tomorrow? Four years. Such a wonderful day to remember.

So that would mean that, this time four years ago, I was either in a hot tub with my sisters, or in a hotel room with them eating popcorn and white chocolate macadamia nut cookies watching What Not to Wear before going to bed at a relatively decent time, considering we had a morning wedding. Best Wedding Eve ever! Thanks Caity! I’ll never forget it 🙂

I’m feeling kiiiiinda super frustrated this evening.

I was starving at supper but ate too fast and felt sick after eating not much at all.

Dekker was completely whooped but slept maybe 15 minutes for a second nap.

Then he fought his supper the entire time. I doubt we got one perogie into him. I suspect he’ll either wake up hungry in the night which is no longer solved by a bottle, or we’ll be awake way earlier than usual.

Like I said, today is not a great day for blogging. I’d end this post with something kind of cranky and witty, but I’ve got nothing.

Today ran like I wish everyday would.

Dekker got up for breakfast at 10am. He ate Cheerios and bananas and drank milk while I did the dishes. A friend was coming over for lunch and asked if she could bring me a slurpee. Um…YES! My first slurpee of the year. It was super delicious, paired with egg salad sandwiches for lunch. It was so nice to have a good friend over in the day for some solid girl talk and catching up. She and I used to be relatively inseparable, but as happens in lots of friendships, after graduation, life took us in different directions. Only now, about six years later, has it brought us back together. I can truly say, it doesn’t feel like we’ve been apart for too long. We picked right back up nicely 🙂 If she’s reading this, I love you!!! She stayed for a few hours, but then had somewhere to be.

Dekker went down for a nap pretty much as soon as she left. I watched Dr Phil. Not too long later, Brady texted and said he was on his way home. He went to work nice and early so he could be home at a decent time. It is SUCH a nice system for us! He was home today by 5pm, which almost never happens. Dekker was freshly awake and I had fed him. Brady brought subs and we ate while Dekker played and then napped. My poor boy is pretty tired these days.

When he got up, we watched the Bachelor together and played toys. Now, Dekker is in bed for the night, its only 9pm, and I feel like Brady has been home all afternoon! He hasn’t been at all, but the extra hour or two we get this way makes such a huge difference!

What a beautiful day today was. Sickness has almost given up on our family even! Now if only we could kick Dekker’s diaper rash, we’d all be happy!

Today was like most other Sundays. We lead music in the service, which I guess isn’t something that happens every Sunday, but regularly anyway. Brady and chatted with friends until our pastor actually came and told us to stay as long as we wanted but that he was locking the door so we could leave whenever and everything would be safe. We are so often among the last people at church, haha! We can’t help it! We have amazing friends 🙂 Dekker slept until we left. I love it when he does that!

For lunch, we had burgers with my parents and spent the afternoon watching Larry Crowne and playing cards. I was exhausted and completely a poor sport, and lost every game. Awesome. In the evening, we had big salads and chicken strips, and watched yet another movie, Finding Neverland. SUCH a sweet movie. I don’t love the “message” they try to express in the end, but the entire show is very well done. Dekker slept most of the day away. He’s been sleeping like crazy again recently, and I’ve been attributing it to him still working on his cold, and most likely growing like a weed. However, his appetite is getting less and less. I’m sure he still eats like a horse compared to lots of kids but much less than he used to eat anyway. He’s even started spitting up again. Sigh. Not ok with that. I mean, he’s not even remotely close to how he was a year ago, or even six months ago, but once in a while he’ll all of a sudden spit up milk or fruit. So I assume he’s feeling overfull. But it seems like a growth spurt is a strange time to lose your appetite! I don’t know. He’s getting really great at communicating so I’m just trying to follow what he says. If I ask him if he wants something, he’ll either shake his head or reach for it. So it gets cleared up quick. Just seems strange.

However, this evening when I went in for my nighttime cuddle and said “Dekker, do you want to come cuddle with me?” he gave a sweet little smile and shook his head’no!” Little punk! I teased him and he got all cute and came over. So I guess I don’t always listen to what he wants, but mother knows best 😉

I’m making ham today. I’ve never made it, and I’m kind of nervous about how it’ll turn out. But I put it in at about 1:40-ish and my mom said it shouldn’t be in the crock pot for more than four hours. Maybe I jumped the gun a bit since we’re expecting company for dinner at 6:00, but it still needs to be chopped up and gravy needs to be made as well. I’m hoping that it turns out delicious like my moms, since I’m doing it exactly like she does, or at least trying to. I poked at it a few minutes ago and I’m sad it looks a little dry 🙁 I thought that was virtually impossible with a crock pot! Oh well, I guess thats what gravy is for. Either way, it smells yummy in here. Oh, and I made a brownie, so that smells yummy too. I suppose both smells together are kind of weird but its not everyday my house smells like dinner in the afternoon so I’m just saying that, in general, victory smells sweet.

On an unrelated note, Dekker broke his sleeping record today. He went down just after 8:00 last night and I woke him at 1:00 this afternoon. Seventeen hours. I assumed he’d be energized for the day after that and figured I’d be lucky if he’d nap for me. By 3:30 he was what we like to call “drunk walking” all over the basement, knocking into this, or just falling over from standing still, laughing hysterically. It was time. Its been 20 minutes since I put him in his crib and he hasn’t made a sound. Someone is definitely growing. But seriously, how much bigger can the little guy get?!

Things to accomplish before company comes: Ice the brownie, dress the baby (if he’s awake in time), finish dishes, put on real clothes and try to somehow camouflage the enormous zit growing up on my cheekbone. Seriously, who gets a zit there? Me, I guess. Time for some makeup! But other than that, my house it tidy, floors are swept, toys are picked up, and I don’t really have anything that I have to panic about. Brady had to work today, which is always disappointing, but he’ll be home in less than an hour to help me with last minute details, like actually cutting up the ham, which neither of us have ever done before. But until then, my feet are FROZEN and nothing I’ve done is helping. So I’m going to lay in bed for a few minutes and warm my toes. Bliss.

Woohoo! Good for me, posting in the afternoon. On the weekend!!!!

The forecast is saying that the cold snap is taking a break, right? Its about time. You see, I like having a water bottle in my car…

Its not working very well these days. Time for warmer weather. And capris. And flip flops. And slurpies. And sunshine. And walking by the river with Dekker. And bubbles. Its going to be amazing 🙂

Even though the weather is looking up, I really despise winter and while I’m happy to stay inside my warm house with my baby in our jammies, I am definitely getting cabin fever. Sometimes what helps keep me sane is remembering things I have coming up in the near future so I can remember I don’t just stay home every single day. Most, but not all.

We’re having friends over for the evening tomorrow, which I’m really looking forward to! With their visit, I’ve decided to attempt my first crock pot ham. I know, I know, all of you have probably done it a hundred times and don’t see it as a scary thing, but its new for me, and I’m pretty sure theres an unwritten rule about trying new recipes or foods when you’re having company. Lucky for me, they’re loving people and likely wouldn’t tell me if it sucked. So thats something to keep busy with tomorrow. On Sunday, Brady and I are leading worship at church with my parents, and then we usually spend the rest of the day with them. Then the week doesn’t look busy at all, but I’m going to go do some stuff in the city on Thursday, and hopefully work in a leg waxing appointment. For some, I know they consider that torture, but to me its pure luxury and pampering. I love having my legs waxed, and I look forward to it! So hopefully I can get that appointment and work in a couple fun things that day as well so its not just an errand day. Lets hope those few things keep me alive over the next week and I don’t just dissolve into my couch.

Ok, thats all for tonight. Brady is tidying the house all by himself, so I think I’ll go help. Or play on Facebook…