Eden is eating

Today is the day. Eden started solids...okay,okay, she actually had a Baby Mum Mum cracker on sat. and sun and really liked them so I decided I should try giving her cereal. She has been trying to grab my plate lately. I wasn't sure if that was b/c she wanted the food, or b/c she just likes to grab things. She did great with the crackers (they pretty much dissolve in the mouth) on the weekend and then had more today. She would get upset if I didn't give her the pieces fast enough. I also gave her some rice cereal today and she loved it. She didn't make any funny faces or gag or anything. She ate all that I had prepared (a couple of tablespoons for sure) and probably would have eaten more if I offered it to her. I should also mention that she is doing amazingly with her sleeping. I decided to put her in last saturday night (after she was wide awake half the night before just for the fun of it). I didn't want to do it, but thought I would see if it made a difference. If it didn't then I was going to bring her back into our room. She slept incredibly the first night. She went to bed around 8pm and didn't get up until 7:45am...I wasn't sure if that was just beginners luck???? the next couple of nights she got up earlier (1am and then around 4am), but after that she has been great. She has been sleeping until around 6:30 (although this morning it was 5:30) so I am extremely happy. I put her to bed and down to nap awake sometimes and most of the time she doesn't make a peep. She just puts her two middle fingers in her mouth and goes to sleep. She is such a dollie :) I just love her. She has such an amazing temperement. Even when she does wake up in the night, she is really happy. Most mornings she will lie in bed with me for an hour or more and just be content with a little toy or something. She gives the huggest smiles (although never when I have the camera....I think she is too busy looking at the camera to smile) and is truly just a happy little girl.

My sweet husband

Joel is away in Montanna on a Mine training course. He sent me the nicest email this morning that I want to remember :)
Hello my most wonderful wife!!

Was a long day travelling, and this more than any other trip I feel home sick. Probably because I haven’t been gone this long in a while, and I feel as though I’ll be missing so much, nothing in particular but just not being there. I’ve thought about you a lot throughout the day, wondered what you were doing, what the kids were up to, wishing I could be there rather than cramped in some plane or sitting on an uncomfortable airport chair. It started to weigh on my last night, I started thinking how harsh I was yesterday and that those were the last things I said and did before going away for a week. I’m really sorry! I wish I was a better parent and husband. Then I started wishing I didn’t have to go so I was in no rush to get packed. I’ve got a pretty nice view of the mountains from my window, but I’d rather be able to see my wife and kids.

Friday wasn’t much better, it was my own fault and I was mad at myself and took it out on you, I’m sorry! I hope you know how much I love you, I wouldn’t be able to get by without you. So much of who I am is because of you and the kids are very fortunate to have such a strong mom.

You’ve done a great job doing your cakes. I’m very proud of you! It’s refreshing to see you take such an interest and initiative in something. I think I’ve always had something, like sports or investing, for me to get into and I’ve always felt kind of selfish and guilty. You’re such a giving person, whether it’s to us, our family’s or friends, or people at church, it’s important to take time for yourself, to do something you enjoy.

You’re my best friend, my greatest love, my Eternal Beloved. Friday can’t come fast enough.

All my love from miles away,

Joel
XO

Kids of Steel Race Day

Saturday was Hannah and Jonathan's "race day". We hadn't made a huge deal out of it in the weeks leading up to it. On Wednesday I Jonathan if he wanted to do the race and he was still interested. They were both really good about it. Hannah did two races last year (one triathalon and 1 duathalon) so she had no problems with it. Saturday morning the kids got up early because they were all excited. When we left the house around 7am it was already hot. We arrived around 8am and got the kids bikes in the transition area, then they got their registration kits and then got their "numbers" on their arm and leg. Jonathan and Hannah were both in the same age group, but Jonathan was number 12 in the first wave and Hannah was number 31 in the 3rd wave. Joel took Jonathan up to the pool and waited with him while I watched with Hannah, Eden. Jonathan seemed fine and was dangling his feet in the water, but as soon as they said "go" he froze. He wouldn't get in the water. Finally Joel got him and they ran around the pool and over the the transition area. Once Jonathan got on his bike he past quite a few kids. I was at the pool with Hannah, but I was watching out the window and saw the first and last part of his bike ride. Joel said he did pretty good with the running part, but by far he was best on his bike. As soon as I came over to him he showed me his medal and said "I won" it was really cute (all the kids get the same medal). He seemed to have fun. As we were leaving he said "next time I want to go in the pool" (except he was using an acusitory tone as if we had said he couldn't go in the pool".

Hannah did great...expect for the start. When they blew the whistle to get in the pool, she stood up and jumped in.....her head went under and she got water up her nose, so she was a little stunned. Once she recovered from that she did really great. I ran with her (and Eden in the snuggly) to the bike transition area and then Joel stayed with her for her run. She is really good on her bike, but she could have been faster if she didn't still have her training wheels. We definitely need to work on that for September. She had no problem with the running...but it is hard to get your kids to be competitive, without making it all about winning. I don't think they really get the concept of a "race" and winning yet, but that is okay.

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Cleaning house

I decided to buy the Mr. Clean mopping system thing to help keep my kitchen floor clean. I wash it once a week, but it really could use it much more (especially under the table). Jonathan and Benjamin are constantly dropping food on the floor. Hannah and Jonathan were excited when they saw it and wanted to help, I explained that it wasn't a toy. A little while later I was on the computer and I heard a noise. I asked Jonathan what he was doing and he told me that he was cleaning and he was almost done. I checked it out a few minutes later and found him in the dining room moping the floor in his underwear, it was a funny site. He had taken the mop out and had washed the living room and dining room floor....except he used way too much of the cleaning solution. I could see it all over the floor (it sprays out the front of the mop). He insisted on finishing the floor. It was really cute, but at the same time he used the entire bottle of cleaning solution! I was hoping it would last more than one day :) He actually really likes helping me clean, or just helping in general. I find that when he is being a little out of control I can get him to calm down by asking him to help me with something. He has been pretty good lately. I have had numerous comments that he seems to have really calmed down lately :) Yeah! He has been really good at "Town Hall". When I picked him up last wee his teacher was telling me how great he was doing. She said that he is a pleasure to work with. It was good to hear that. I always worry how he will behave. I know he can get a little wild with me and Joel, but was pretty sure he didn't get that way for others....it was good reassurance.

Little stinker

Saturday night was not a very fun night for us....mostly me :( Joel had decided to tell the kids that they could have a sleepover in the family room....cute idea, but the kids were a little too excited about it. I had 3 cakes to finish and was upset b/c my new printer (with edible ink) that I was going to use for 2 of the cakes wasn't working (a whole other story), so I was very frustrated. I finally started on the cakes as the kids were watching a movie and then realized that Joel was going downstairs to workout. The kids finally settled down and I got what I needed to done. Hannah was the first to fall asleep, then Jonathan and finally Benjamin. I was up until about 1am finishing the cakes and then went to bed. Just as I was about to get into bed Eden woke up. I think it was b/c of the lights in the washroom...she decided that she was wide awake and didn't finally go to sleep until 3:30am... I was so tired. I tried nursing her I don't know how many times. She was pretty happy, but didn't just want to sit still. I kept having to move her around and give her something to play with. I moved into Hannah's room so we wouldn't wake up Joel. I finally rocked her to sleep and then she woke up again 30 min later. I nursed her and then she slept again until 6am...I was so exhausted. I have no idea what Eden was thinking. Surprisingly enough she wasn't cranky on Saturday. I decided to cut her sleep short (sometimes she will take an afternoon nap that lasts more than 3 hours) and see if she slept better through the night. I couldn't decide if I should put her in the crib or not. I put Hannah and Jonathan in the crib around 5 or 5 1/2 months...as much as I like my sleep, I kind of like my little sleeping buddy, but on the other hand, it would be very nice to not have her wake up multiple times a night. I finally decided to go for it. I put her in the basinet and placed the basinet in the crib. She was wide awake, and she didn't even make a peep. She woke up 12am and brought her into bed to feed her. I would have fallen back asleep, but she had a dirty diaper. After changing her, I decided to try and put her back in the basinet. I fully expected her to cry, but didn't hear a peep. I kept waking up and listening for her, but she didn't wake up until 7:45am :) I am not sure if that was just beginners luck??? I put her in the basinet again tonight. I am constantly amazed that she will put herself to sleep (I have been trying to put her to bed and nap awake for the past couple of weeks). It is amazing what babies can do. She is such a cutie pie. She is such a happy little girl. She gives the hugest smiles....especially to her mommy :)