Before Baby Came...

Here's a bunch of pictures from the last two weeks with Anne-Marie -mostly pictures I hijacked from her camera. :)

 Dancing around one evening - Katelyn in her new shoes and skirt from Grandma Fehr.

 Erik getting his much needed haircut.

 A slight trim for the girl who needs much hair.

 Anne-Marie has been such a servant - taking the kids to the park, doing everything that needs to be done, while I've been resting and getting ready for the baby. She's amazing. :)

On our way to church last week. :)

Isn't he dapper? He loves his hat.

 

 

We got to go see the Daaes on Monday - a special treat! Fun to see them again and catch up.

Anne-Marie gets to see them more often than me, (at different jamborees and such) now that I don't sing with the family, but it's always special to connect with them.  

There were a few sick little ones in the Daae family, so Mrs. Daae was looking after her grandchildren, but the others did a great job without her. (though I missed seeing her)

Dear Shannon - 6 months expectant with their third one! 

I'm so thankful for Shannon - so neat to have a friend that you can just pick up with.

She's such an encouragement to me. 

So, after their concert, and everyone else left, the guys (and gals) decided to play some "bump" in the church gym, which turned into volleyball until midnight....it was fun and crazy! I played bump for a bit (come on baby!)- and then Shannon and I were elected to go for a Timmies Run. :) 

Guess the two pregnant ladies weren't in high demand for volleyball. :)

 James and Michael battling it out.

 Some of us with the Daaes; Crystal and Amanda - Lauren and Shannon were in the bus with their little sick darlings.

Drinking smoothies and ice caps at midnight - a special occasion. :)  

Starting a race - on the cars. :) Katelyn won, Erik second, with Michael and Crystal trailing behind. :)

Such a fun evening with them!

Hide n' Seek

Uncle William was over for a few hours last Sunday evening, and played Hide and Seek with Erik and James... this is where the creative uncle put his little nephew.

(and yes, he took out the garabage bag first)

Waiting for daddy to come find him.

Isn't he terribly cute. :)

"Found you"!

Erik is getting quite good at this game. I am amazed at how quiet he can actually get when he wants to be. :)

Katelyn's Room

Another room that I can finally show you. :)

Katelyn's own room. (for now - she'll be sharing eventually)

Here's the Before - though it's more of the hallway but you can see the end room is Katelyn's room.

(and the nursery - Erik's room for now - is the first door on the right) the bathroom is the first door on the left, and our room is the second door on the left. (with our little linen closet the second little door on the right.

 

BEFORE:

 BEFORE:

AFTER:

Welcome to Katelyn's room!

The bunk bed we got off Kijij and painted it over many nights in our garage. :) The top bunk will eventually be used for more than just jumping...cough...cough... but for now, it's where they like to play. 

 Her "letters" that finally stayed up on the wall. (we ended up using 3M mounting tape)

Don't you just love her bedding? Sigh... me too!

I had seen a picture on pottery barn of this quilt, but of course, they didn't have it anymore. It was one of the only ones that James and I liked, so I searched ebay and found this set - for an amazing deal! It should grow with her for a while. :) Right before we bought it, I found out that the "name" of the quilt is "Katelyn" - amazing eh? :)

The cute polka dot lamp from Auntie Heather Heikoop, and the toy chest and bookshelf are from when I was little. (just a good paint job to update them)

Here's my special "hope chest" that I got from Cameron (and my parents) when I was 8.

Cameron made me a few things for my room.

Now it is super special to pass them along to my little girl.

Here's the before of my hope chest. 

Cameron's first woodworking logo.

And the AFTER:

 

 

I used that blessed Frog Tape to get those pink lines reasonably straight and used hot pink spray paint - a fun project. :)

And the cradle was mine from when I was young too - mom made the pink blanket/pillow that matches the curtins.

The bookself that has housed soo many of my favorite reads over the years.

And yes, I did take my wedding picture down... was just trying out the frame there - decided I may spray paint a wooden one I have for a picture for Katelyn...but that's for another day.

The adorable curtins that my mom made when she was here. Aren't they cute?

Katy's picture.

The artwork we created together - from an idea we saw on pintrest. :)

It has been fun to see what we can make with just using what we have around the house.

I spent an afternoon cutting out butterflies, - they're Katelyn's favorite "animals". :)

And the room being put to use. :)

Auntie Anne-Marie and Katelyn enjoying a book together.

*Updated*

Katy's closet :)

We had a dresser in there before, but switched it up for shelving and pink totes.

 And I mad these artwork "boards" at our church getaway weekend.

Here's what they look like. :)



Lil Moments

A bunch of pictures over the last couple weeks...

Katelyn was helping James put tape on her "letters" for her room...

Excited...

Auntie Sarah stopped by briefly one morning - spoiling us by bringing us coffee and cookies from Tim's - :) before heading up north again. 

Then Anne-Marie came!!

She came at midnight on the 1st of November, and we all went to pick her up. The kids were soo excited! And then next morning, she went through her suitcase and brought out special treasures/presents from back west. Katelyn was excited to get these stickers.

The spikey long hair little boy (who has gotten his hair cut since this picture)

Katy's expression over getting her first "princess" Cinderella book from Aunty Charissa.
See, Charissa - she loved it!

Doing dishes after all the fun baking Katelyn has been doing with Anne-Marie.

We're getting spoiled with all the delicious goodies/buns "they've" been making.

Dishes. :)

 

Lots of Cooks in a Kitchen

 

It was time for Freezer Meal Roundup #2 with some of the gals from our church. :)

We had planned it around the end of October, but I kept switching the dates as it looked like baby would come..but it didn't. :) The ladies were patient with me, and we finally got it in...and baby still hasn't come. :)

We went to the Windmill on their "closed" day - Rob graciously let us use their equipment - and we had a blast as we quickly put together a bunch of meals for our freezers. Two ladies couldn't make it to the Windmill, so they made a meal each on their own. At the end of the day, we all had eight plus meals for our families - and we were done by 4 p.m.

Stephanie - assembling the enchiladas - thankfully she didn't have to deal with chicken this time...

Janice putting the perogi casserole/lasagna together

Krissandra working on...what was it - the onions or the curry chicken?

Kirssy was amazing - as she did all the shopping for us all. She is terribly good at finding deals/couponing, and enjoys it! We all just had to hand her a cheque and she did the bulk of the work!

Shelly working on her delicious soup or making those potatoes boil.

Deanna came too, and then there was me, but we got rather frantic at the end, so the camera didn't stay out for long!

We made...

16 pans of Beef Enchiladas

16 + pans of Pergori Casserole

8 bags of Butternut Squash Soup

8 pans of Coconut Curry Chicken/with Rice

and

Diane and Althea made (on their own - bless em' :)

8 pans Lasagnas

8 pans of Chicken Casserole.

I can't wait to try them all...but I'm hoarding them right now as I await baby's arrival. :)

Another fun day - and we learned a bit more of how to and not to do it.

Pretty soon, we'll be experts at this freezer meal thingy. :)

Lil Miss Beautiful

This little girl brings such joy. :)

She let mommy "practice" on her for a minute this morning, and her little faces are so cute, I had to share. (especially for Grandma)

Being all serious...

our little ragamuffin - after Bible Time...

While I'm Waiting...

Almost there...Saturday is the official due date. :)

Which is crazy. Feels like this pregnancy has gone sooo fast...

...and has taken forever. :)

Especially this last month.

But I know it can't last much longer, which is exciting.

With all the pre-labor that's been going on, it keeps leaving me hanging, and making it challenging mentally, as I get ready for this birth, and then the contractions just stop. My midwives think it will be a bit faster one, but only God knows...(and I am trying to prepare for a long labor, just in case!) so every time something starts, I gear up, and then have to let that all go, as things stop.

So good for me. Being patient that is.

It feels like God is teaching me to rest in Him, and just carry on...

 

"Commit your way to the Lord, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass.  

He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. 

Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." Psalm 37:5-7

 

These lyrics have been going around in my head a bit lately - the whole idea of while we wait, we keep going. We don't just sit down and wait for what we want, need or even for what we dread. But we keep doing what we're supposed to be doing while we wait for God to make the next step visible for us.

 

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

-Jon Waller

 

So, I've kept at some projects, tried to enjoy all the cuddle moments with the kids before a newborn will take more of my time, and had a couple dates with James, and tried to keep a good attitude - but honestly, I'm kinda tired. Tired of waiting, tired of sleeping, tired of keeping going. It's one of those days where motivation barely exists in my life. But I have to keep going!

Having Anne-Marie here the last week has been so helpful. The kids love her and it has made it wonderful as I've been getting more sleep in, and we've been working on things together. Every time this home gets all cleaned up and organized, I think "k, baby, we're ready now" but this baby just doesn't get it! :) I know - really shouldn't be complaining - I'm not even overdue yet - :) Just had to get it out, dear reader. :)

So....now to carry on.

"...While I'm waiting, I will serve You..."

Me and the baby, a couple nights ago - 39 weeks.