From the Giver of Life

It's amazing how quickly, doubt can be turned to belief.

How fear can be stilled.

How sorrow is turned into joy.

All at the sound of life.

On Sunday I heard a sound I never thought I'd hear.

Tears came quickly, and I praised God.

We heard the heartbeats of our new baby.

I can't actually believe that this little one is still alive, at times.

I could probably count on my hands, the times I've thought about having this new baby. About having three! I almost never let myself hope that it would make it. I didn't want to open my heart to more hurt, if God chose to take it home again. I didn't become vulnerble, and just tried to make it, through the awful sickness (which started as a terrible stomach bug, and continued as morning/all day sickness). But, it's hard to do that without a reason. (you know me, always have to have a reason for why I'm doing something; even if it's throwing up. :) )

But, now everything is starting to change.

(except the morning sickness!)

There is life, and now, for as long as I have this one near me

(...and yes, it may be only another week, 4 months, 6 years, etc...) I want to live in hope and joy. I have to open my heart more to this tiny life, which we are sooo excited over.

We're hoping to meet him/her in November, 10th, 2012.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

We told our family/church family at 7 weeks. Yes, that's at little early as most people believe. :)

 I had been sick with that stomach bug for two weeks, and people were guessing that it was something more...and were asking me if I was expecting. :) I managed to dodge it a bit. :) But I needed prayer, and help, so we shared our news, and everyone loved and prayed. :)

And now that I'm at 3 months, it's legal.....(chuckle)  :) So I can tell all of you now. :) 

This pregnancy is probably similar to Erik's, except a lot more exhausting. Maybe that's cause I have two darlings with me. I love bedtime, and naptime, and couchtime. But, I'm having a hard time not getting much done. I have a touch bit more energy than before, so I'm starting to get back into housework. Honestly, making the bed's and cleaning up the breakfast/lunch stuff, makes me feel like a real hard worker! But that's normal, as I know all of you mothers well know.

God has brought different friends and family into my life to help out, at just the right time. Suppers have been dropped off, the kids have been babysat, and my laundry folded. A friend-Rachel-came and spent the whole day with me, helping me clean the house. And of course, having Anne-Marie here was wonderful . There were (and still are at times) days where I didn't think I'd make it.

James has been so patient and loving. I've got the bestest man ever. He'd clean up the mess of the day, while I go to bed. That meant a lot. :)

So there you go - information you probably don't care if you know, but, I write it to record it, to remember that God is faithful to me, and even when I've been in despair, He brings me through it.

And He gives Life...

Little Bits

Just a few snapshots from around here...(and I'm almost done catching up!)

Katie with her creative tower she made all by herself. 

Oma reading her a bedtime story, after she came home from one of their Ohio trips. 

Love this photo. 

The kiddo's have been loving the trampoline that was given to us from a friend. Since our backyard is not yet fenced in, it works as sort of a large playpen with it's safety net. :)

Visiting Henry & Heather

We went to Henry's and Heather's for Sunday and Monday. So nice to have some time with them in their new home. And so fun to see more changes, since our last visit. Heather did such an amazing job, making it homey, and inviting. I loved it. :)

The kitchen. 

The family photo wall, that Sarah and Heather had put up. I had given the pictures to her, and they made this incredible wall collage of both the Heikoop and Heather's family side. 

Loved it!!! 

And Heather found these cool tree's on Etsy, that she stuck on the wall. And as she decorated on, it seemed that tree's were the theme of the home. :)  

James worked on installing the shower door.

Just before we left, I quickly grabbed a couple pictures of my beautiful nieces. This is Hannah.

Rachel 

Lydia

Packing up - Micah holding Emma the dog for Erik to amused by... he loved her, and was a bit terrified too. So darling.

Then homeward bound.

Her 1st Haircut

Finally.

She got her first haircut!

Just a trim, but it helped. And she even got official bangs. :)

Cutie. She liked getting her hair cut. 

She sat so still, which is always nice for a fumbling haircutter.

My Sister's Visit

In God-'s perfect timing, He sent my sis along. :) My older and cute sis, Anne-Marie.

We had her for 2 weeks - a perfect amount of time. It didn't go too fast, and not too slow.

Me and the kiddo's picked her up at the airport - I have a cute video of the kids welcoming her, and I may post it, when I get the time to upload it. :)

Katelyn and I, were quite excited to see all the "Alberta" goodies/presents the family sent along for us. 

Grandma sent her this cardboard castle, which she adored!! Her first "dollhouse", and she played and played wtih it.  

Anne-Marie was trying to get a picture of the two of them in the p.j.'s, but they thought that bouncing and falling all over the bed was better than smiling. :) 

Sisters - on Sunday morning. 

My cutie bug. 

On one of James' Monday's off, we went biking down to a older farmer's place to meet the foal of their miniature horse. So cute and small. Katelyn enjoyed it. 

Then she got to help feed the chickens!  

We went out for dinner in Port Dover that evening, and this was one of only pictures we got. :)

Katelyn had her first experience with eating fish. 

She saw fish swimming in an aquarium, and wondered if she'd be eating that. Then when the waitress brought her battered fish, she wondered if they were sleeping inside...poor girl. We laughed so hard. She was quite confused, and in the end, didn't care for the fish. :)

 Our church had Diane's baby shower for Elita while Anne-Marie was here. This is Krissandra playing one of the games - muli-tasking while putting clothes on a line.

Another part of the team games, was to drink a whole baby bottle of milk the fastest. :)  

Glenda holding Elita. 

This is James and Anne-Marie's masterpiece. I found the idea, James carved it, and Anne-Marie cut up the fruit. It was cute. :)

The whole family went to Henry and Heather's new home in NY state for Good Friday - and to celebrate Heather and Hannah's birthday. :) It was so exciting to see their house as a home, and we all had fun putting up more decor that were given to them as b-day gifts. :)

This is me. giving my "advice" on putting up a picture. That, unfortunately, is a normal face of mine. :(  

A few of the guys took my camera during the evening.... :) so the following are compliments of others. :)  

Like Son, like Mother. ;)  

Me and Erik, as we're getting ready to go home. 

While Anne-Marie was here, we were able to go to a Steve Green concert near us. That was such a great, and refreshing evening. This is him singing with his wife.

Dick Tunney was his pianist, (incredible musician and composer) and it was neat to meet him as well. (wrote songs like, "In His Presence", "Seekers of Your Heart"...)  

The group of us at the concert.  

Anne-Marie, the amazing auntie that she always is, playing the game she gave to Katie at Christmas. She did so much with the kids, which I really appreciated. Katelyn loved her.  Erik did too, though by the end, he thought he needed more personal space. (the monkey)

I did a quick photo shoot with Anne-Marie one night. (why does it always turn out to be quick...sigh....one day, Annie, we'll take our time.) We got some lovely ones though, and this is just one of many. 

Katelyn making breakfast for Erik, all by herself. 

Eating sour cream and perogies. 

Messy cute thingy. 

Anne-Marie made Chocolate Nest Cookies with Katie. She did so much cooking for me while she was here - our meals were so yummy. Sigh - nice to have a gourmet cook for a sister.

Erik into the yogurt, that I shouldn't have left alone on the table...oops...

Then, we had to take Anne-Marie back to the airport for her trip home. Sad time. But it was so lovely to be together, and get some good talks in. We didn't get to all we planned, (a lot due to the cold weather) but we had fun.... :) Thankful for her sacrifice in coming out. Love ya sis!

While I Was Sick....

In the beginning of March, I got a nasty stomach flu bug, that lasted a couple weeks. (one of the reasons why I'm so behind on the blog) And I was on my back most of that time - super awful. Everything fell apart, that is, the house and me. :) I couldn't do anything, was super achy,cough, fever, throwing up, etc. But God always provides, and different family members helped out when they could, as well as some friends, and my dear James managed everything else just fine. He was so patient, as things couldn't get done like normal, but we made it. (even though I didn't know if I could)

Even Katie did her part. :) She fed Erik, as these pictures show.

Little king and queen on their royal pillows.

Nel took this shot. :) Not really flattering, but a good reminder of how awful being sick is, and thankful for when we are healthy. :)

It took a ton out of me, and a while to get sorta normal, (which I'm not yet anyways)  and the in between time, Anne-Marie came and helped out for a couple weeks. (in the next post!) That visit had been planned a few months earlier - thankful for God's timing...