Scenic Saturday - and then some...

View from our back deck this morning

Its a perfect fallish day here in New Brunswick - overcast, cool, and the trees showing their beautiful colors more and more each day.  I've got the Christmas music playing and the candles burning.  I haven't done that for a week or so because the weather seemed to forget what time of the year it was and we have had a week of quite warm and sunny days.  But, I shouldn't really complain about that because that weather has allowed Matt the ability to get a lot of work done on the house.  Even if it is raining he is out there working, but its just a lot easier when the weather is nice.

Baby #4

Matt has been working so hard on the house, and I am just SO proud of him!  If he isn't studying for a message, or running an activity, or at church, then he is outside working on the house.  Most of the time he is on his own, but several days last week his parents were able to come give him a hand, which was such a blessing.  Actually, as I write this he is out there working on it.  It sure sounds like a quick easy job to replace the siding on your house, but when you are going at it alone, or with just one other person, it sure takes a loooooooonnnnnngggggg time!  But I have a very hard working husband and he now only has one end of our house left to put up.  And let me tell you - the house looks FABULOUS!  I mean, it seriously looks like a brand new house - not one that was built almost 30 years ago!  I am so happy with the color we chose and I just can't get over how good it looks!  Hehe - aren't you all in suspense as to what it looks like?  Soon - maybe even next week, I will officially post the before/after pics.  So you won't have to wait much longer!

My "belly shot" from
about 4 weeks ago.
Only one I have taken! Ha!

So, last week was busy.  Liam has school each day, and I am busy with all the usual stuff, along with trying to rest.  I had a dr. appt. on Tuesday and there is still a concern with the placenta and such.  So on October 11, I am headed to the "big city" and hour from here to see an actual OB and have a high resolution ultrasound done.  See, I live in a smaller town, and we don't have OBs here - just general practitioners.  There is a prenatal clinic that all expecting women go to for their prenatal care.  There is a rotation of about 8 drs. who are on call for 24 hour shifts.  So, you don't necessarily see the same dr. every time - although you can try to work it that way.  I have been fortunate in being able to work it to see my own GP almost every time, which is nice.  But, when you go into labor - you have whichever dr. that is on call deliver your baby.  But really, when it comes to that time, it doesn't really matter who delivers the baby - they are all capable!

But, when there is a concern or you are high risk, they do send you to the OBs in the bigger cities.  Anyway, I am eager (and yes - a little anxious) to see the OB and see what they find on the ultrasound.    I would appreciate your prayers in this matter - that everything would resolve itself, as this often does.  I am not having any problems now - they are just checking what they saw on the 20 week ultrasound.  But I was told to take it easy, to not lift things, and not do anything strenuous.  So I am trying to do that - but its hard with three young ones!

Speaking of young ones - this week we hit a milestone in our house.  My baby boy turned 5 years old on Wednesday!  I still can't believe it!  He is growing up so fast!  He was so very excited about his b-day, too.  We kept counting down the days and he was telling everyone he saw - at church, in the stores, my family on Skype - that he was "4 but going to be 5 on Wednesday."  We had a little party for him last Saturday which was lots of fun.

Well, I will leave you with some pics of Liam's party.  Hope everyone out there in blogger land is having a good day!  Welcome to October!

He made this "whoa" face on every
single gift he opened! I believe
 he even said "whoa" too!

Sitting on the new bean bag chair
we got him.

Testing the new toys.

                                                     

                                                    Katie wasn't too impressed
                                           with everything.

Until next time.....

Our "Baby" Boy

It happened.  No matter how much I tried to convince him to not do it, my little boy grew a whole year older yesterday.  Little Liam turned 4.  I keep asking him if he is my baby boy (which, of course, he is in my eyes) and he always responds, "No, I'm a big boy!"  And that he is.

He has been so excited about his birthday.  It was a little more fun this year since he is more aware of what his birthday is all about and he knew what all was going to happen.  Each day at school we have been counting down the days until his party and the day it arrived (Monday), he was SO excited.  He kept asking when it was time for "everyone to come to my house and see my birthday party."  Well, the day passed quickly and soon, our guests arrived with gifts for him to open.  They played outside for a while, then came in and ate some delicious cake, and then opened the gifts.  He, like most kids at a time like that, was quite overwhelmed with all the new stuff, but was having fun opening it all.  It is fun to see the look on his face and then hear him say thank you to the person who gave it to him.  Since it was a school night, the party didn't go very late and soon all the guests were gone and he was enjoying his new trains, cars, balls, books, etc.  He got to sleep on the floor in his room in his new sleeping bag (since he is sharing his room with Grammy - which he LOVES).  The next day he spent all day going to each new toy and playing with it.  His Grammy and Papa gave him a set of walkie-talkies which we are having fun with.  Yesterday he was in the living room and I was in the kitchen, and we were talking on the walkie-talkies.  I was at the fridge asking him what he wanted to drink.  It was lots of fun.

It is always at this time that I find myself reflecting on how blessed I am to have my precious children(not that I don't at other times, just more often around birthdays or holidays).  I also find myself thinking on all that we went through waiting his arrival - the emotions, the nerves, the planning, etc.  I wrote his birth story last year for his birthday.  If you haven't ever read it, you can do so here.  What a joy he has brought to his father and I.

Liam, you are now four years old and getting so big!  You have such a tender heart.  You are definitely a mommy's boy (in the best sense of the term!).  You still like to get and give hugs, especially to your mommy.  You are a great big brother - although now that Leila is older and follows you around everywhere you all have your fights.  You love to talk to Libby and give her things to play with.  You really love to hold her hand and hug and kiss her.  You admire your daddy and love most anything he loves - hockey, football, GOLF, etc.  You like to wear hats like Daddy and love it when just you and he go out for "coffee" (aka - doughnuts for you!).

You are loving school and if Mommy is behind you are constantly asking her when you can start school for the day.  You listen very well and are learning lots.  You know and recognize all your vowels and their sounds and you are pointing them out everywhere you see them.  You are learning how to properly use scissors, to color in the lines, trace things, and write in cursive.

You love to sing and do so all the time.  You love going to Sunday School and learning all about the Bible.  Lately you have been asking more questions about God, Jesus, and heaven.  Just the other day mommy went through how to get to heaven with you.  I know you don't completely understand it all just yet, but Mommy and Daddy are praying that very soon you will understand and accept Christ as your Savior.

You are such a big boy and we love you so much.  Mommy and Daddy look forward to seeing all that you will learn, how much you will grow, and all the fun things we will do in this next year.

We love you, buddy!

Until next time...