I keep wanting to make a post of all the things Waverly is saying these days. She has SO MUCH to say! Never before have I had a kid who is talking “enough” to satisfy the verbal standard set by public health at 18 months. In all fairness, she’s about 20 months now, but thats basically the same. And she says EVERYTHING.
She calls everyone in her family by name.
She knows all of the greetings. Hi, hello, bye, ni-night, etc.
She speaks lots of short sentences.
She says please and thank you.
I’m running. I’m dancing. I want that. I don’t want that. More, please. Up, please. Help, please. All done. I wear that.
When she farts, she announces “Poop.” That might be my favorite.
Her vocabulary is too long to really list, but to name a few: Happy. Puppy. Dance. Cow. Boots. Milk. Car. Zoom. Go. Lunch. Diaper. Pony. Book. Bum. Phone. Ducky. Runnin’. Treat. See. Sit. Watch. Mine. Hat. The list goes on and on.
The best thing about Waverly’s language is that she is neck deep in the mimicking stage, so as long as she’s in a cooperative mood (which is basically always) she’ll repeat after us. She is SO on top of it. I’ve never worried for her language skills, because she’s always been solidly babbly and a good communicator. She understands WAY more than I’d expect of a child her age.
But hearing real words come out of her mouth always thrills my heart ❤️
We’re channeling Spring and rocking some barbecued burgers today!
BBQ season never actually ended for us, but today it just feels hopeful and yummy and appropriate. Brady is grilled in a tshirt, as you can see, which I don’t necessarily recommend but is his own personal choice 😆
I’m not complaining. He can smell like BBQ all he wants. I’m a fan.
The ONE thing that would make it better would be some potato salad from Costco, but my mom is here, so thats the next best thing 😆😘 She’s pretty delicious.
I hope you’re all enjoying the warmer moments we’ve been given before the inevitable March and April blizzards show up!
Yesterday produced a lot of super cute photos, so that is going to be this post. I spent a couple of hours just sitting downstairs with the kids, taking pictures and playing. It doesn’t require a lot of words. Just a lot of super cute kids. Enjoy!
Roar!He is loving the “grumpy smile” these days, so this was pretty refreshing!Rowan joined the party last minute 😁This pink thing was so sweet, her sleepies coming in waves.He was sleepy too 😉 I smushed him while he tried to rest. Just a couple of silly kidsHe’s judging me, lolIn case you were wondering, none of them have tongue ties 😆 Not even a little bit! Another wave of sleepy 😴 She is SO soft. The whole daytime crew ❤️ On a non-preschool day anyway.
I don’t always get pictures of the middle boys, so this was a bit of a treat for me 😁 I sure love my crew of littles. All of my littles, for that matter. The big littles, the middle littles, and the little littles. 👦🏼👧🏼🧒🏼🧒🏼👧🏼
Here we are, Monday morning, snow flying. I’m so thankful that its not miserably cold, at least. After a really nice break, having Brady home for a bit, he’s back to work today. I’ll have to tell you guys all about his job soon, because its changed up a bit, as is over quality of life! He currently has confirmed work all March, halfway through April, and even one job scheduled for May! Going from last years incredibly long, challenging, unceasing slump, to this, is a HUGE answer to prayer! I know for a fact some of you prayed actively for us, and God answered! But we’ll get into that all another time soon. All of that was just to say, Brady is back at work today, and I’m back home chillin’ with the chillen. Lol!
Dekker and Laela are off to school, the middle boys are playing downstairs, and Waverly is upstairs with me, dancing to the new playlist I just put together in preparation for our next coffeehouse! Who wants to come?? 🙋♀️ Its at our usual place in Mville, on March 12th, starting at 6pm! We had plans to do a coffeehouse for Valentines Day, but my pain was just not under control leading up to that point, and we took a full hiatus from basically anything extra. Merp. I don’t feel guilty and responsible for that AT ALL 🙄 However, things are under control now and we’re back at it! PLEASE come out and enjoy some super tasty coffee and dessert while we play! We have SUCH a fun time to Clearcut!
Today holds a quiet morning of coffee and music and playing.
I have a lunch date with Cher, and the plan is to finish up a Netflix series we’ve been watching together. So that will be a delicious, relaxed, and somewhat unnerving afternoon 😆 Not unnerving because Cher, but unnerving because Joe Goldberg. Anyone else?
And the evening is band practice! Suddenly our gig is only ten days away! 😳 We have some work to do!!!
All things considered, its going to be a super lovely Monday! I hope you all have the same!
Brady’s been talking about cutting his hair recently. Not that he’d cut it all the way off, but maybe to his shoulders, or somewhere around there. It’s SO much work to get it detangled and cleaned nicely, only for him to wear it down for maybe a half before before it goes back up in a bun.
Now, it’s his hair, this I know. But as I was getting my hair done the other day, I lamented to my hair girl that I would be SO sad to see his hair go. My hair girl actually moved salons a couple of months ago to a place very well versed in curly hair care. I told her I had made a deal with Brady that, before he went for a cut, he should go to her just once and see if she could make him love his hair. She was all for it, and said she would absolutely do her part in helping him along! And if not, she’d cut it for him. A deals a deal!
We were discussing it with Cher over coffee this morning, and all the hair talk got a little out of hand. We rabbit trailed a little bit…
Sooooo the last time Brady had straight hair was when we were at bible school. Brady had recruited Jerilee and I to colour and straighten his hair. That was about 13 years ago. His hair is WAY longer now, and we figured it would be fun to see how it looked! Brady settled into a chair in the kitchen with a coffee, and off I went! It took about an hour. Wavy was OVER it…
We went piece by piece, layer by layer. It took a lot of time. But it was worth it!
It got a lot longer, haha! Surprise!
Bonus! We figured we’d add Rowan’s length in here, too, for comparison.
My long haired boys 🥰
It was pretty fun to play with…
He didn’t hate it, but I think everyone agrees it won’t be a usual thing 😉
Can’t imagine why 🤷♀️ I still think he’s terribly cute ❤️
First of all, thank you for ALL the love on my new hair yesterday! Its completely different than I’ve done before, and I’m feeling a little bit brand new 😁 Which is a good feeling. My kids and husband also really love it, which is a bonus. I’ve toyed with the idea in the past of doing a poll and letting YOU, friends, readers, and people on Insta, choose my next hair colour 🤷♀️ I’m not sure if I trust you folks or not, hahaha! But I’m thinking about it 😉
Second of all, does anyone else feel the eerie anticipating of Spring? I’m holding myself back from getting in too deep, but this beautiful weather is really deceiving. Let’s be real, my prairie province friends. There is another blizzard to come. At least one. Winter is not over. But it really, really seems like its ending, and that would be SO nice! Yesterday, I opted to walk and pick the kids up from school, just because it was so beautiful out. I wore a fall jacket and was more than warm enough. My mukluks took on a bit too much muck and water, because, melting. I should say, though, thanks to this season of pain in my life, and the lack of movement that has come with it, I was winded embarrassingly early in my walk. Its time to get back out there and get moving! Yet I know, as soon as the snow flies again, this will all go out the window. But its fun to get out when we can now.
Today’s plan is really chill. Cher is coming over to spend the day. Kids need baths. I’d like to go for a walk. I’m a little itchy to hit Walmart for some yarn I couldn’t find the other day, but I doubt I’ll get there today. Brady will probably practice songs for our upcoming gig. We’ll listen to music, eat yummy food, and hopefully watch a little Parks and Rec after the kids go to bed. Its going to be relaxed and enjoyable and low key. It is leap year, which comes but once every four years, and we’re celebrating it by really not doing anything 😆 And I’m so ok with that.
Today was hairrrrr daaaaay! I haven’t gotten my hair redone since early September! Since then, we’ve suffered some loss, some pain, and some financial hardship. There just wasn’t time or money to play with my hair. But today, I could get back into it! I spent most of the school day at the salon with my hair girl, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I figured I’d share the ever-flattering photo series with you 😆 So, enjoy this on my behalf.
The “before.” My colour was still looking pretty great, but those roots were LONG. It was time.
First was roots. It was suggested I looked like I was wearing a bald cap. Or perhaps a wig cap/headband. Which is obviously what I was going for.
Then we removed the rest of the colour and toned the heck out of it.
When it was adequately bleached, we dried it up so we could get a good feel for where to put what colour. SO yellow! Hahaha!
Then we threw a bunch of colour in it, and some silvery pieces in the front, too.
Then I sat for SO long while the colour worked itself in. And then it was DONE!
I haven’t had anything like this before, and I’m so happy to have a complete change of pace! Its super strange to be back in the blonde spectrum, but I’m happy to be here, lol! Its fun to mix it up from time to time, and in case my bright hair isn’t already mixing it up enough, this is even more of a change!
It was a really fun day, getting my hair done and being all refreshed in this beautiful weather 🙂 Stay, spring! Staaaaay!
I feel optimistic today. As I sit on the love seat, with Waverly grooving to some Shawn Mendes beside me, I feel hopeful for this year. I don’t always feel that way, but today, I do. I think its worth talking about 🙂
My pain is improving, slowly. About two weeks ago, I tried to barely go down in my meds. I literally cut a corner off of a 1mg pill, and my pain was back in full force for about four days. My pain centres are just in a panic, so I’m on a new medication to calm that part of my brain down, and I feel hopeful about that medication!
I feel on the emotional upswing in terms of my kids.
Dekker’s collarbone is strong, and he is back to himself.
The middle boys are doing better! As far as I can tell, no one has any infection left, and even Solly seems back to himself after that perforated eardrum.
Laela remains healthy, well, and overachieving, as always. She just graduated to level N for reading yesterday! Nothing is going to hold that girl back!
Wavy came through her breath holding just fine and is exactly herself. What a relief! She is SUCH a bright little girl, and is talking more and more.
My heart is so happy to watch the kids heal and develop and become more and more themselves!
Meanwhile, I feel so happy to have our basement finished, and to already have SAVED enough money for a fence to be installed in the spring!! Thank you, Lord, for a change in Brady’s job, making him SO happy, and making our life more feasible. Quality of life has gone up!
I’m really excited to be back playing music with Brady and Carrie every week, and to have an upcoming gig in March, and one in April, too! Its been a while, and we’re dreaming a bit bigger in a few ways this year 😉 Please stand by!
Speaking of dreams, I’m trying to be vulnerable and talk about some dreams and goals I have with people close to me, and my passion for those things is reigniting! Bigger things feel more doable, and important. I’m excited for what this year could bring!
In a simpler window of joy, supper is already in the crock pot! Heyo! Lol! Honey chicken is making a reappearance tonight, and I’m SO looking forward to it!
If you remember from my “to do list” for the year, I mentioned wanting to plan a couple of little weekends/day trips. I’ve been really putting thought into them, and I’m getting very excited for them! Its always nice having something to look forward to! And our whole July is basically mapped out already! Woot!
I am loving the sun and the warmer weather. Its fickle, but I’ll enjoy it while I can!
I have some knitting and crocheting projects I’ve started to pick away at, too, which is a relief for my poor creative outlet. That thing has been neglected since I found myself in all of my pain, and its good to get back into some of it now that I’m healed enough that my hands allow for it.
I feel optimistic about my life. I have joy. Currently – today – feels lighter than many. And I’m grateful for that. I’m grateful for every day, but today is just a little easier somehow.
Tell me something you’re grateful for today, or optimistic about!! ☀️
Thank you, everyone, for your love on yesterday’s post. From comments to Facebook messages to texts, I felt so supported, and that a great deal of people care about Waverly. I am always blown away by people caring and loving my family who aren’t required to. So for that, friends, I thank you ❤️
Onto the next!
Yesterday, we got an itch to run into Saskatoon for some quick errands. In the last few days, a few non-grocery things have graced our lists, and last night seemed like a good night to run out and get that change of scenery with the kids! So we ate hot dogs as an early supper and got the kids out and ready to go!
If you remember, Rowan got a booster seat for his birthday! With that switch, we moved seats around, and absolutely every kid is in a new spot! We worried that one or two would be unhappy, but everyone liked where they landed!!! When does that ever happen??
So Rowan and Solomon are still in the back row, but Rowan is now in that back corner and Solly is out a bit more reachable, since he’s the one who can’t buckle himself up and Rowan can. Then, Dekker used to sit on his own in the middle row, but Laela took that spot. Now Dekker sits up beside Waverly, next to the window. Wavy sits in the middle of the front row where we can more easily buckle her up, aaaaand we turned her around got forward facing! (I know, its controversial. Please no negative comments on the subject!) Everyone – EVERYONE – is happy with where they’re sitting! I don’t have pictures of the back row, because, hindsight, but the front troop was happy!
We didn’t have tons to do in the city, so we just took the straight shot down the highway and went to Walmart.
The kids were SO happy and SO happy to be out after supper, which we basically never do. We started in groceries and got the few items we needed because, while that wasn’t why we were there, it would’ve been silly not to grab it while we were there. We buy a few things only from Walmart, so we got those things, plus milk and bananas, because we always need milk and bananas. Then onto home stuff!
Our living room curtains got pulled down a few days ago 🙄 The curtain rod had already been broken and jimmied back together once, so it was pretty weak. And then a kid chose to sit on the window ledge with the curtains hanging down, sat on the curtains, and effectively tore the curtain rod off the wall. So we went to the curtain section and bought a new curtain rod – a different one that isn’t quite as easy to break. We loved the simple style of our curtain rods, but its a bit too fragile. So, new curtain rods.
We went to the back auto/paint section in search of some things, but were unsuccessful. We needed some drywall anchors, shelf brackets, etc., and they didn’t exist there. Ah well. We tried.
I went to the yarn section to feed my sickness, hahaha! I have a project brewing and I needed a couple of colours. I only found one out of three, but its a start, anyway.
Then we hit the pharmacy area for a thing or two, and headed out!
And by “out” I mean we left Walmart, but Brady ducked into Lowes for some of the things we couldn’t find at Walmart. They weren’t all at Lowes either, but we got a couple, anyway.
We got home maybe fifteen minutes after bedtime, and everyone tucked in and went down super easily. I think the outing had been a total win.
And thanks to that outing, Brady is currently installing our curtain rod, and I plan to feed my creative outlet a little bit this afternoon! Woot! With Walk Off the Earth playing on Spotify, the boys playing nicely together downstairs, and Wavy dancing in the living room, it feels like a pretty good morning! I hope you’re having the same!
