When it rains...

An afternoon at Hemlock Ravine

Oh my. I'm not sure how to begin to sum up the ridiculousness that has been the last month and a bit in a blog post, so perhaps I won't even really try.  You kind of expect your first - oh, I don't know - six weeks or so, of your life with a newborn to be hectic, but lovely.  Slowing down a bit to match your infant's schedule, readjusting to all the changes of a brand new family, basking in the miracle that is life... etc etc.  The stars, it would seem, were not aligning for this rather idyllic sounding entry into life as a family of four.  In fact, I can't remember the last time so many stressful things all piled themselves on top of each other.  We've got the usual culprits: sickness (we spent the better part of two days hanging out with Linden in the emergency room a few weeks ago... not for an emergency, per se, but because he was having such trouble breathing.  Diagnosis: broncialitis), and deadlines (Clark has some unforeseen and very poorly timed deadlines at school that he has been working like a maniac to accomplish before the new year).

"Oh my!  Life is so very difficult on the outside!"

 The biggest stresser, however, materialized a month ago, when we found out with some certainty that we were going to have to move.  ASAP.  Move?  Move? " How is that even possible", you ask?  I have been wondering the same thing myself.  The problem is not with our place (oh, how I love this place, and this neighbourhood - it breaks my heart to be leaving it), but rather with the imminent demolishing of the warehouse directly across the street from us, followed immediately by the construction of an extensive condominium complex with underground parking.  And how is this construction to begin?  Two straight months of jack-hammering, Mon-Fri, 7am-5pm.  Obviously an unlivable situation when I'm home all day with one or two kids.
You can not imagine the stress that followed that announcement.  Trying to find a place to live (not freaking easy this time of year, with the restrictions that go along with a one-car family of four with literally no money), budgeting for a move we can't afford, submitting a rental application (almost as stressful as applying for a job!), negotiating for a mid-month move, directly before Christmas.... you get the picture.  At this point, we have a place to live and a moving date - the trick will be how in the world we're going to actually get this place packed up and then unpacked again in the next week and a bit.  It is next to impossible for me to get anything done during the day, as I seem to have birthed a child who will not sleep unless he is being worn and/or walked.  But I have been slowly chipping away, and culling as I go... hopefully it will all come together at some point soon.

Anyway, enough with all that.  This was not intended as a blog post to gripe and make everyone feel sorry for us, but rather to share some pictures and stories from some of the nicer moments in the last month.  Because there have been plenty of those, as well.  Besides, we have had much help, and will have more to come (thank-you to everyone!  You know who you are!) Here are a ridiculous amount of photos.  Enjoy!

EARLY DAYS:

Juniper helps Kelly (our midwife) with a post-natal check-up.

First bath!  (Like his older sister, Linden love the bath)

Juniper, doing a sudoku on the toilet.( Incidentally, the current report is that she hasn't pooped in her diaper for 2 weeks!)

Juniper LOVES holding Linden.

My beautiful babies

The massive fat rolls have begun!

We've had loads of VISITORS:

Auntie Zsofi

"Deb" and Yvon

Josh and Martha (who now have a beautiful baby of their own, named "Freyja")

Christie and Beatrice

Grandpa and Grandma

Pat and Liz

Brad

The gang, out fir dinner at Mezza

Claire

Faye

 HALLOW'EN!

Our little wizard (I knew there was a reason to hang onto that fabric for so many years!)

With her pals, Mickey Bella and Firefighter Patrick

Emptying the seeds...

... drawing the design...

... and the finished pumpkin!

Wait... where did that third pumpkin come from?

MORE RECENT

Linden enjoys a snack, at Hemlock Ravine

Three new mamas - round 2!  You'd think we planned that timing! (wish I was wearing my ring sling)

The boys, chillin'.  (l-r: Aven, Ewan and Linden)

Here they are again, older and wiser (l-r: Ewan, Aven, Linden)

 

Yes, I know - there are a lot of these shots.  But look - they're both smiling!

Go team!

Now there's a smile!

"Oh hi.  Am I not ridiculously cute in this sweater vest?"

Warm weather, following a large snow dump.  Check out my first real pair of homemade overalls!

Four best friends (Isabella, Juniper, Patrick, Calla)

Seriously, look how large this child is.  6 week stats: 12lb, 12 oz; 59.5 cm

"Yup.  Just chillin' with my big sis"

A lovely walk along Frog Pond.  We brought our own frog.

AND FINALLY... (tell me you don't see the similarities!)

Baby Tara....

... and baby Linden