Priceless

Pregnancy+

Birth+

Sleepless nights+

Backaches+

Messes that never go away+

No time to yourself+

Transitions+

Dirty Diapers=

undocumented ever increasing investment

Baby cuddled on your shoulder falling asleep

Priceless

helping again

Definitely one of Josie's favorite things to go around the house. Whenever the dishwasher or refriderator is opened, a little one scuffles her tiny body right to our feet and then pulls herself up to standing position ready to be of service. Hopefully she'll be so excited to help with dishes in years to come! (there was supposed to be a cute video of her helping Dave here, but after 2 days of unsuccessful uploading, a photo will suffice).

Diapers is Josie's other specialty of real helpfulness. Early on we decided to go with a cloth version of diapers and have accummulated about 3 or 4 days worth (with disposable to help with travel and over night) When Josie sees those diapers coming out of the dryer, she scuddles over to help. One by one, she hands them to us as we stuff the inserts in them. And then she might just take them back.

Or suddenly find something else more interesting.

Like the wastebasket for instance.

We just returned from a wonderful weekend on the Sunshine coast. Of course I forgot my camera in the middle of packing everything else (gone are the days of a backpack on my back for the weekend!) but, just to describe this place- it's a little piece of heaven. Last year around this time (May 9th to be exact), Dave traveled to Vancouver and then to the Sunshine coast to be with his friends Simon and Shannon for their wedding. We were able to join Simon and Shannon along with their family to enjoy the long weekend at the guest house on this property. Lovely. A perfect place for a birthday celebration and a relaxing weekend with friends.

Tired Baker

This is apparently me making cakes. I'm not sure when this was, surely not at 17 weeks pregnant, but my friend Marilyn posted it today on Facebook. Funny because I am making cakes today, 2 of them. Dave is turning 30 tomorrow and we're having a rather large gathering of our new friends and all their kids for a celebration tomorrow. This is after Dave runs his celebratory 3 hour run of turning 30. At first he was thinking of doing a 30 mile run, but decided without training that might not be the best idea. I'm pooped already and I'm not the one running!!
We had an early morning, and then after Dave finished class this afternoon we went to the beach for a picnic before I had class for the later afternoon. Then home to make dinner (see previous post- it was delicious, but still lots of prep). And Dave's off watching movies for his film class while I'm baking cakes. And Josie did help too... kind of.
Unfortunately I had already given her a bath before starting the baking process and and seeing the need for Josie to be personally involved. (She had just fallen into the corner of the coffee table and scraped herself good-- she's always falls when she's tired.) But I was in the middle of things and had to find a way to keep her occupied before the nighttime routine.

She didn't mind one bit.

She rather liked helping.

Even though it was past her bedtime... getting tired.

But oh, helping Mommy clean the cake making tools is just so fun! And there's nothing like chocolate to help one go to sleep!!!

So, now they're done. Awaiting frosting, and I think I'm going to fall asleep on the couch while the sunlight (amazing!!) streams in though the windows lights up the trees in front of my view. Tomorrow is a very busy day, and with my afternoon class I'm not able to take advantage of joining Josie during her nap for a snooze. Oh well. Hope you are all well! And, if you think of it, wish Dave a happy birthday!!

peanut sauce stir fry with a kick-- delicious!

http://www.ethnicvegan.com/tempeh_veg_stirfry_curry_peanut_sauce.html

I substituted soy sauce for the miso, sugar for the agave, and added some shredded ginger to the stir fry and cilantro and spring onions for a garnish. We were both delighted with dinner tonight!!! This recipe is definitely going in the rotation!

Happy Mother's Day!

We had a great Mother's Day. It was a slight dejavu experience, as Dave was in Vancouver last year at this time during Mother's Day at his friends' wedding, and I was pregnant. This time, I'm here in Vancouver experiencing the day together with him, and still pregnant. I'm having this feeling that I've always been pregnant now that it's obvious and I've completely switched my wardrobe to the maternity variety (a month earlier than last time!!! )

But, back to Mother's Day. Josie is 11 months today, and spunky as ever. Very sweet too.
Dave made me a waffle breakfast, and after church, prepared a wonderful picnic on the beach.

The beach here is beautiful. You can't get a better view, and it's clean. And very long. There's always room, it seems. Yesterday was a gorgeous weather day and it seemed lots of people had the same idea for a picnic, but we didn't feel crowded. We just enjoyed it.

And of course, Josie enjoyed the sand. And we had to be on constant anti-eating sand vigil.

But she also enjoyed the feel of it on her fingers and toes and she got a little foot dip in the cold ocean which she endured without complain for quite some time. It will soon be summer here in Vancouver.

And it's 8:30 pm here with the sun still rather high in the sky which seemed to have happened overnight! Dave is preparing for his long run to celebrate his 30th birthday on Friday and I'm doing Josie duty:)

Spring courses started today. I'm definitely enjoying taking a class on art and creativity and theology. It's nice to sit in a class of adult artists all interested in engaging the connection of art and the sacred. Actually, it's more about making things, and craftsmanship as a spiritual way to engage the world. Nice because I've thought and taught plenty about this, but now that I'm less of an artist or teacher for the moment and more of a craftsperson, it's fun to be with others who have similar interests. Dave is taking a course on world film and TAing that course as well, so we're both engaging the aesthetic world these next 2 weeks. And it's a gorgeous time to do so-- I can't remember it raining for quite a few days here! It's absolutely amazing here at the moment and I hear that the whole summer is like this! YEAH!!!

Washington State

Washington state, simply put, is lovely. We went there for a 2 night "camping" expedition last week. It wasn't real camping, as we stayed in a rustic cabin and enjoyed staying out of the rain and Josie having her own bed, but it was nice to spend some quality time together at the end of a busy semester. It's hard to believe that we've been though an entire term already! And spring classes start on Monday, but we've had a good 2 weeks off to move, celebrate and enjoy life together.

Peek a boo is a favorite game of Josie's at them moment, as is hiding behind a door or a pillow and playing "where is Mommy?" She laughs hysterically every time.

And is always interested in eating whatever we are. She loved that pizza!
Watch out for turkeys in WA! They might just be crossing the road in town.

And yes, here is Josie pictured with a bottle of formula. I've been weaning her over the last 2 weeks. With the presence of the top 4 teeth coming in, nursing has been a bloody, painful experience. I've tried to keep going, but it's been impossible. Luckily, Josie has become rather attached to her bottle and enjoys it very much. We made it 11 months and 4 of them while I was pregnant so I'd say that's pretty good. I was hoping to make it a year, but unfortunately that's not going to happen. Maybe with #2. Maybe I won't be pregnant for the next year after this one is born!

And yes, our rustic camping experience. A cabin with a view of the sound at Bay View park. Unfortunately, right across the water was some big smoke stacks and factories, and right below the cabin was a road. But it didn't bother us too much. Keeping the rain out was a great exchange!! As was buying a b'bque and using it and getting a pretty good night's sleep. Highly recommended!

So now we are back and working on finding our new rhythm of life here. Classes on Monday, along with play groups and other fun gatherings.

Today we went to the midwife for an appointment which, being a 10 minute drive away is so nice, and so different from my appointments with Josie!! We heard the heartbeat again, nice and strong. And heard him kicking the doppler-- which I could feel too!! I'm referring to this little one at a him because I'm convinced he's a boy. I will be very surprised this child is a female. Very. I will find out for sure in a month. Hopefully.

Dave is watching the Hurt Locker right now. I found I simply can't watch it. My adrenaline goes too high, I can't handle violence and war at the moment. It's a sad truth that it all exists, and watching this movie would probably bring me closer to the realities of our fallen world. But simply put, I'm not emotionally able to watch it. Instead, I'm going to try and get some good hours of sleep tonight. So, goodnight!

Thankful

We certainly enjoy every part of our new place! A lovely view from the dinner table..Yes, this is the view. Amazing eh?
And if you go outside, it gets better!
And we can go outside because we have a nice balcony! Here are just a couple shots from the balcony where we grilled out... with our own grill! We splurged for our anniversary and got one. So, here's looking out at the trees- on the 10th floor we get a great view of the tree tops. We do live in the treehouse.And behind Josie here is the ocean...
Here's a better view
And our grill. Yum Yum YUm!!
There is more than one person here who is excited to live in Hampton Place!!! Thank you Jim and Sally!!!

"Gardening"

My little helper was trying to "help" in her own way as I was planting a few seeds on our balcony. It's all glassed in, so don't worry. As you can imagine, the helping turned into a dirt eating intervention. And Dave was there with the camera to document it. Oh, my little helper.

She's been good at helping with little things. Like handing me her diapers one by one from the laundry basket so I can stuff them.
And if we get to the dishwasher in time to empty out the dangerous stuff, she will find her plastic plates and spoons and hand them to us one by one to put away.
It's pretty cute. But she doesn't like it when we thwart her plans.. not at all. I guess a little dirt can't hurt, but I'd rather she not eat it by the fist full.
Although, I do remember working at a particular camp one summer, where a particular camper had a crush on a male counselor and on an overnight hike she feigned a sprained ankle and asked to be carried by this guy. He told her that he would only carry her if she ate a bowlful of dirt first. She did. And she was fine. He, on the other hand, had quite the load coming down the mountain. So, maybe if Josie eats dirt on her own accord now, it will prevent her from such foolish behavior later in life:

The Cafe'

We went for what ended up being a 2 hour walk this morning, across campus, down hundreds of steps to the naked beach. No one there, luckily. Just beautiful blue skies and waves on the sandy shore. So beautiful. On our way back we found a lovely cafe-- I was tempted to stop and reward ourselves with a treat for our long exercise endeavor. Dave convinced me to come home to our own "cafe". Our 10th floor lookout treehouse with views of mountains and forest. He even had a couple scones stowed away and some tea from Borneo. Not a bad alternative. Not at all.
We are overwhelmed with the beauty that surrounds us here, and the way God has provided for our needs. It has been such a blessing, really. Josie thinks so too. Here she's sporting 2 of the 4 teeth pushing their way though the top gums. And enjoying a scone herself.

Picture-less update

It's been a while since I've posted anything.. well, we've moved into our new place-- it's delightful, truly. Pictures soon, but with views of snow capped mountains, huge pine forest and the ocean from our dinner table, you can't go wrong!!! We are so happy to finally live in our own space after about a year!

We celebrated 3 years of marriage!! Went "camping" in WA state on the pacific coast in a rustic cabin. Also lovely. Such natural beauty surround us on all sides!!

Dave is done with his first semester at Regent!! Summer classes start in a week, but we are enjoying the rest for sure.

Josie is almost 11 months old!! How time flies!!

A real update soon with photos to come as soon as we figure out how to connect internet to our apartment or convince a neighbor to share their wireless connection with us!!

:)