Summer Holidays

Matlock: Aryana's first time at a beach. She didn't like it very much.
Assiniboine Zoo: Aryana was mostly interested in all the people. The animals were just lying around, they were too boring to keep her attention.

Tinkertown: We thought we would start with something easy...the train. Apparently it was too slow for Aryana, she was just trying to climb out the whole time. She LOVED the carousel.
I love this picture because it looks like Ben in squished into the helicopter all by himself!

Birds Hill Park: Aryana enjoyed the beach more here.

Grandma and Pa-Pa's House (she calls grandpa Papa): Aryana LOVES to play in the kiddie pool.

Life is going to get BUSIER

A lot has happened since my last post. Ben and I enjoyed 2 weeks of holidays. My Aunt and Uncle were generous enough to lend us their cottage for a few days. It was fun. We took Aryana to Tinkertown, Birds Hill Park, and the Zoo. It's refreshing to see things through her eyes. Everything was so fascinating to her. This past weekend Chris, Karen (brother and sister-in-law) and Michelle (sister) were in town for my mom's 60th birthday. I was FINALLY able to give my mom the quilt I made (which had been in the works for 2.5 years). And we got to share some great news...I'm expecting again! I'm due at the end of February (again).

There are a few stressors. I need to have the cervical cerclage done again. The surgery should be at the end of August, beginning of September. I haven't seen my obstetrician yet. I really hope I don't get put on bedrest again because if I do it'll be really difficult to take care of Aryana and pretty stressful financially too. I need 600 working hours to get employment insurance, if I go on bedrest at the end of August I'll miss the cut off by 30 hours! It would be really hard to live solely on Ben's salary. So, I would like to ask for prayers that the baby is healthy, the surgery goes well and that I won't have to go on bedrest again.

Also, due to a miscommunication (I'm trying to be respectful), I did not get hired for a maternity leave but to cover a short disability leave. So I'm out of a job at the end of August. I am still working every second weekend at Concordia Hospital and I had an interview for a casual position at St. Boniface Hospital. I haven't heard back yet about that position. The job market for physios is BRUTAL. I'm seriously thinking of a new career path. I'm tired of scraping together scraps to make ends meet and working with private practice managers. I can safely say (unless I am desperate) I will never work at a private practice clinic again.

My frustration with my career is one reason Ben and I decided to try for another baby, I'm so much happier at home. I enjoy watching Aryana learn new things and explore her environment. It's so much more refreshing than listening to people complain ALL DAY. I am content to maintain our household (although it's in shambles right now).

Ben has also been busy working on our basement. We will need the extra space when our baby comes. I would also like to ask for prayer for Ben, that he doesn't stress too much. Not only will we have the financial stress but he is building our basement, he still has 4 courses to take, his full time job (which is more than full time) and taking care of Aryana. I know he's a hard worker but that is still a crazy work load.

Well Aryana is awake. I'll post some pictures and videos of her soon.

Happy

You know what I love most? Wherever I take Aryana whether it be the supermarket, the park, church, the mall etc. everyone says, "Wow, she's sure happy!" Aryana has the best smiles (especially for the boys) and she is very sociable. I love her personality and watching it develop!

Tea Party

Ben and I have had an eventful May. Ben's parents had an open house, his Oma and Opa and Grandparents were visiting from Ontario, Chris and Karen were in Winnipeg from Minneapolis (although we missed them because I was working), Ben wrote 4 exams, a few prospects have developed with my work, I took a course on exercise prescription for people with osteoporosis, planted flower beds and vegetable garden (which may have washed away with the storms) and of course Aryana is keeping us on our toes!

Aryana is understanding more and more. Fortunately, she says "yeah!" instead of "no" so far. She loves to play outside, which makes all these rainy days a little difficult. The best thing about the rain is the humidity, it makes Aryana's hair SOOO curly! She is very curious and never sits down. She loves to push/pull her wagon/stroller/chairs/tables/toy lawn mower etc. She has even pulled ME in her wagon, which makes me think she has her daddy's strength.

Below is a video of Aryana and I having a tea party.

Video Fest

It's hard to believe I have been back at work for a month now. Aryana seems to be adjusting fairly well. It's really helped that both Linda and my mom have been driving here to babysit. It was a rough start when she was at my mom's for a whole day. I think she would handle it much better now though. She doesn't cry much when I leave but she is MUCH more attached to her soother and blanket now. She sucked on her soother all day today, whereas she only used her soother before bed when I was home. Oh well, I'll worry about weaning the soother at a later date.

Both my jobs are going well. Hunter Physiotherapy seems to be a great place to work. They are very focused on providing client centered care by allowing us to spend more time with our patients. They book only 2 patients an hour when usually it's 4 per hour. So that results to a less stressful day and more satisfied patients. Another great thing is that I'm an employee so I'm earning hours for EI benefits to use if I'm fortunate to have another baby. It is also really great to see people soon after the injury occurred. The hospital has such a long wait list the most the the conditions are chronic that we see, which results in a longer treatment time and poorer prognosis.

I do miss my friends at Concordia though. I was "buddying" on Wednesday so it was great to see everyone. There isn't as much companionship (is that the right word?) in private practice. It's great to have so many people to ask for help or share ideas with at the hospital. Working weekends is going really well.

Aryana continues to entertain us. She does say a few words and is walking around everywhere. She mostly likes to be carried as she points to where she wants to go. Which can be annoying sometimes if she doesn't quite know what she wants because we end up going in circles. Aryana continues to eat and sleep well which I am very grateful for.

The first video is the first time we were able to record Aryana walking. She took her first 3 steps on February 6 and this is on her first birthday, February 27.

The second video is when Aryana discovered how to make her walkie talkies beep. I just love the faces she makes!

The third video is Aryana playing. She was having a blast going from one toy to another. She LOVES the blocks that Oma Linda got her. She's quite good at stacking them (not so much in this video though).

The end...a new beginning

I have not had much time to post lately. I have been busy making curtains for Ben's work, sewing, studying my physio stuff (I can't believe the dates on my note are from 8 years ago!), preparing to start promoting Norwex products, taking care of Aryana, trying to get all dentist/doctors appointments completed before returning to work, crocheting receiving blankets, maintaining a household etc.

I cannot believe my little girl turns 1 year old in 5 days. I asked Ben yesterday, "Could you imagine if we had lost Aryana?" (I was reflecting on my pregnancy, surgery, bedrest) He quickly snapped, "I don't even want to think about it!"

She has been such a blessing. Her smiles and laughter are amazing. My favourite thing about Aryana is her pure joy and wonder of everyday things. For example, she played with broccoli for a whole hour which allowed me to make supper, her highlight every morning is playing with her empty yogurt container, she laughs uncontrollably when she hides in the curtain to play peek-a-boo and her favourite "toy" is a Winnie the Pooh SLIPPER. I'm kinda dreading returning to work and listening to people COMPLAIN all day. I think that was the hardest thing for me to deal with in my profession.

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Aryana is such a good eater. I am so happy about that. Last night she enjoyed a rice dish with mushrooms, onions, spinach and feta! She was getting mad at Ben because her wasn't feeding her fast enough!

Aryana is kissing the monitor receiver. I was in her bedroom speaking into the monitor. She didn't know where I was! She could hear me through the receiver so she gave it a kiss!

She is not so sure about the vacuum cleaner. Ben got this great picture of her peeking aound the bed to watch me vacuum!

Aryana enjoying her empty yogurt container!

Aryana is slowly learning to walk. The longest distance she has walked has been about 6 feet. She is a very determined little girl and knows what she wants. If you're holding her she will steer you to where she wants to go. Below is a picture of her pushing a kitchen chair around as a walking aid.

She also knows a few words "mama", "dada", "jus" (juice) and "sh" (shoe). Although she will not say the words on command or repeat you yet. She still does not enjoy cuddling but she will sit in our laps for a bit to read books, this is another of my favourite things.

I don't have too much else to say. I'm nervous about returning to work next week. I am so thankful it is not full time and Grandma and Oma will be babysitting Aryana and not a stranger. I am also VERY thankful that we are provided with the wonderful benefit of a 12 month maternity leave! I could not imagine returning to work after 6 weeks (like in Minnesota). Thinking back I couldn't even sit when Aryana was 6 weeks old!

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My friend said to me the other day, "Wow, Aryana is the type of child that sucks you into having another!" Well put.

Laundry

Aryana loves to "help" with the laundry. She will ignore the giant pile of clothes/towels and crawl to where I have folded a few items. I have learned to fold a pile for her and then put each individual item away when they are folded. For the video I obviously put the folded towels by her. Notice how she doesn't want the towels when they are in a messy pile.