I get by with a little help from my friends

The response from the community has been overwhelming. We have received so many phone calls and emails offering help, support,supplies, everything. We wish we could thank each and every person individually. At such a tragic time, we have never felt more blessed in our lives. Words can not describe how thankful we are to our friends, family, neighbors and community, for reaching out to us like you have. You are all amazing people. I have cried more today at the kindness of our community then I have at the loss of our home.

Fire!!

Early this morning, we lost our home to a fire. It started in our tenant's apartment and just took off from there. Luckily our tenant got out of her apartment just in time, and knocked on our door in time for us to get our family out. Thank god Mike stayed extremely calm because I was a wreck. Not in a crying and flipping out sort of way, but more in a shocked, didn't know how to respond sort of way. I was walking around in circles trying to think of what to grab, but my mind was blank. We left the house, piled in our truck -- at this point, Connor had no idea that our house was on fire -- and crossed the street. Connor was facing away from the house, fiddling in the back asking if our tenant's couch was ok, since he had overheard that that was what caught on fire. Meanwhile, I watched through my rear view mirror as flames violently burst through Carter's window and overtook our part of the house, just ten short minutes after Mike pulled Carter from his crib. 

I'm still in shock. I feel like reality has not set in yet. Every few minutes I'll think of something that we may never get back...baby blankets, ultrasound photos, kids art work etc and I break down. But then I remind myself that the outcome could have been much worse and we are lucky to all be here together. We will have to take it one day at a time.


Here is an article that was in the CBC news today:

Fire destroys Fredericton family's home

A fire caused extensive damage to a house in Fredericton's Lincoln Heights neighbourhood on Friday morning.

The fire started before 8 a.m. at a two-storey house and quickly spread up the exterior walls and into the eaves.

Fire officials say the fire started in a couch in a basement apartment.

Before firefighters arrived, the fire had already caused the basement windows to be blown out, the flames spread up the side of the house from the building's exterior and into the attic

A Friday morning fire destroyed a house in the Lincoln Heights area of Fredericton. (Daniel McHardie/CBC)

"The house was pretty much a write-off. The structure and the roof is pretty much destroyed," Capt. Art Van Horne said.

The family and the downstairs tenants got out safely and emergency workers were able to rescue many holiday presents from the flames.

Christmas gifts are brought out of a Fredericton house after the morning fire. (CBC)"What we're trying to do is avoid putting water in [the house's attic] until we get the contents out, obviously they have everything ready for Christmas," Van Horne said.

"So we want to get everything out of the house and into secured storage. And then we'll go in and put some water into the attic and get the fire knocked down."

Kendall Johnston, a witness to the fire, said the outcome of the fire could have been much worse.

"Everybody is OK. We'll get the [assistance] efforts going. Friends and family will step up," Johnston said.

If you're happy and you know it...

Since Ive had my boys, I've picked up the hobby of sweating. I am SO warm, ALL of the time. So by the time I get through a diaper change with Superman on speed Carter, I pretty much need to change my clothes, I get so hot. But the sweating isn't even the worst part of the diaper change...it's the impossibleness of it all. The second you lay that kid on the floor, his back arches, his left leg goes up, his right leg flips back, his arms twist, his hand turns inside out, he kicks, he does the worm, his head bobs, and it's that VERY minute that he wants that toy that's under the crib REALLY REALLY bad. It's game on for him. And the objective of the game is to make the diaper change the absolute worst experience of your life. Every. Single. Time. So I've come up with the best distraction tactic that I can think of...I sing "If you're happy and you know it".

I feel the whole situation is the epitome of irony. I am so cursed mad when I change him...I have to hold back the profanity. And yet, behold, I am singing "if you're happy and you know it", when I feel like shouting at the top of my lungs;

"WWWWWWHHHHHHHYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!"

Attitude

The boys are sleeping. Mike is painting. I am drinking wine and writing. All is right in the world.

But seriously, I do feel like all is right in the world. Sometimes--well more then sometimes, actually--everyday, I think about how lucky I am. I am so blessed to be living the life that I am living. I have two beautiful, bouncing, bubbly, blonde, baby boys. They are so amazing and despite the hair-pulling they make me want to do on a daily basis, I am head over heals in love with them. Those smiles...those smiles just melt my heart. It's incredible what a child's smile can do to a parent. So much power lies between those lips.

And my husband...he is everything I could have ever asked for in a husband (I would like to bring your attention back to the second sentence of this blog; "Mike is painting". It's 9:24 pm on Sunday night, and he's painting Connor's room. Why? Definitely not because he wants to--I don't even think he likes the color I've picked out--because I want him to. That's why! And THAT, my friends, is love). He is truly my better half, and the reason I love life the way I do. He makes me laugh every single day, several times a day. My dad always jokes that I only encourage Mike's stupid humor by laughing at everything he says. But he is really funny! They say "Distance makes the heart grow fonder", but I believe that it is in fact laughter that makes the heart grow fonder.

I'm getting off topic now... I think there is a lot to be said for the approach we take in life and the attitude we decide to approach life with. I like to think that I am a very positive person, and I truly believe in the power of our words and the power of our attitude. I make it a point to verbalize how happy I am. To tell my kids how proud I am of them, how smart they are, how talented they are, how sweet they are. I make a point to tell my husband how intelligent he is, how happy he makes me, how hard he works. I make a point to not gossip with my girlfriends about how "crappy my husband is", or "how hard life is" or "how tough marriage with young children is". I believe that if you speak it, it will become reality. And it works both ways; for better or for worse.

I know we aren't perfect, but we're perfect to me. And I believe it's because we have made a decision to be happy. Life is hard. Of course it is! We have bad days. Of course we do! But loathing in self pity will get you no where! 

I'm on my second glass of wine and starting to get light headed...I didn't plan on writing on this topic tonight; I sort of just let my fingers lead the way. 

Think happy thoughts. Profess happy thoughts. Be happy!

It's working for me :)

To crawl or not to crawl...

Carter, my baby, you're thinking of crawling. Thinking about it. Not quite doing it yet. I am excited for you to start crawling because I will be that much closer to having two boys that can play together. But NOT crawling is nice too. NOT crawling means I don't have to worry about those little pieces of Lego going into your mouth. NOT crawling means that you can't torture our two fur babies. NOT crawling means I can sit you down in one place, and find you in that same place several minutes later. Life is much easier when you're stagnant. But I can tell you won't be this way for much longer. You're growing up too fast. Seriously.

Update

What's new? Well, Connor just turned a whopping four years old!! We had a ridiculous 3 day celebration and the kid got more then most kids get in their lifetime, but it was a great weekend! He had his first "friends" birthday party. We had it at Kingswood park...the kids did gymnastics for an hour, followed by pizza, cake and presents. He had a blast. The next day, we had a "family" birthday party. All the grandparents came, along with Uncle Chris, Connor's cousins Mickey and Thomas and Chrystal's mom Val. It was really nice. I'll have to post a picture later since I was too busy running around and didn't take any pictures myself.

Carter....Carter is almost 7 months now. He's such a funny little kid. He has such a comedic personality already. He laughs at anyone and everyone and is just so easy going. Thank god, because we all know there would be no time for a fussy baby with Connor in the picture! The boys fit together like a perfect little puzzle...we all do...it's as though we've molded into what is needed to be a happy, functional family unit.

Carter is starting to explore his little world a little bit more. He isn't a crawler yet. He gets really frustrated on his belly. I honestly think he's going to go straight from sitting to walking and skip the crawling altogether. In fact, for the first time today, while standing up, he let go of his support and just stood there for a split second. Of course, he threw a big old smile on his face out of sheer proudness for himself. He is eating baby food very well. He loves everything. Except he seems to find blueberries a little sour. We haven't really attempted any solid finger foods except an arrowroot....which he full out choked on, followed by two incidents of projectile vomit. No more finger foods for a bit...Tv...he LOVES tv. Especially 4 squares. He's obsessed with sucking on apples. Give that baby an apple and good luck getting it back without a screaming match! He's sleeping wonderfully through the night, usually 6:30 to 6:30. However, the last few nights, he's been waking at 5:30...boooo! Not a great napper, but he seems to be improving....


Gotta run...crying baby and heading to the gym soon.

Life is wonderful....

Oh, the innocence...

"Mommy, I got you these flowers for if you ever get married again."

Up to speed

It's been ridiculously hot out these days. We usually walk down to the local park to have a play and a swim. The other day was Carter's first time in a public (pee) pool. He screeched when I first put him in, then he couldn't get enough. And Connor, well he is turning into a regular, old fish.


Heat aside, I thought I would do a little recap on each boy since it's been so long since I've written. First, we have Bubby, or Car-Car or little man...whichever term of endearment suits us best on the day....

Carter is an amazing baby. I dare say he is a better baby (in terms of easy goingness) then his brother was...and we thought Connor was an amazing baby...so we have it pretty damn good. He is just so happy and constantly has a smile on his face. When he does get upset, it's usually because he can't see your face. Once he catches sight of you again...there's that great big, gummy smile. Carter is getting close to sleeping through the night. He goes down between 6:00 and 6:30 pm and is up at 6:30am, with one feeding in between. But he is all business and has been since day one...just up to eat and right back to sleep. No "playing around" for this kid. Now, last night was his best night ever. I fed him at 11:30 after arriving from Moncton and he didn't wake up again until 6:30am.

With regards to food...he has about 5 bottles a day. 7:00am, 11:00am, 3:00am, 6:15pm and one bottle through the night. They are usually 6 or 7 ounces. I've been giving him solids here and there for about a month now, and consistently for about a week. He's had rice cereal, sweet potatoes, carrots, peaches, apples, prunes and bananas. He seems to like it all. He is a comical eater too. He grunts and groans like it's nobody's business...like...so much so, one would think he was in pain. Nope...just hungry. There is no doubt...he is a Waugh!

Carter loves watching TV. No preferences; he likes it all. And he loves pulling our hair
to balance himself whilst he sucks/drools on our faces. Sounds gross. Totally adorable. He loves all of his toys and is especially enjoying Sophie (his teething toy) these days. He loves when his brother rubs his face on his belly, and he laughs like crazy when you say "I'm gonna get your....ARMPIT". You have to practically scare him when you say "armpit"...which leads me to my next point...he likes to be startled.
Let me see. What else? He sat up with no help for the first time about 2 weeks ago. He's getting better every day. And he can get from one side of the room to the other by rolling.
Now onto Connor; aka Big Brother, Con, or Con-Con....
Connor is such a grown up. He is a 3 1/2 year old boy in an old man's body...wise beyond his years. He is sensitive and sweet, but playful and silly. He is absolutely, positively head-over-heels in love with his baby brother. Every morning, he wakes up, comes out of his room, hair sticking up, yawning and stumbling; "Where's my brover?". Once he spots Carter, he goes right for him and plants a big hug and kiss on him. It melts my heart every time.
He is still a picky eater but he is coming around. He's getting more adventurous everyday.
When it comes to sleeping, he's hit or miss. Most nights he sleeps great, but then he'll have a bad few days where he wakes up a few times a night.
I'm going to have to cut this one short...Mike just got home with groceries and I need to go eat my face off help him unload.
Night night.

Gatorade

How is it possible that I have an almost four year old and a five month old? Where has the time gone? It seems like yesterday that Connor was a little baby and now Carter is the baby...who isn't that little anymore. Latley I'm noticing how grown up Connor is. I asked him the other day what has happened to him...'When did he get so big?'...he proceeded to explain that he recently drank some 'big boy juice (which is aparently Gatorade)' and is now offiically a big boy. I don't think I'll give him any more Gatorade. Just in case...

Here's some pics I just took of the boys sleeping. I usually check on Carter first, which makes Connor look like a 6 foot tall man. He really likes to take advantage of his space....



And the wee little one...