Blake has been tricky at night lately...trying to stay up and play. Up until now he's just been nursed to sleep, but that isn't always working so I have to help him to learn to fall asleep. I am trying to help Blake to learn to self-soothe without him getting too upset. He isn't a soother boy - except when he's really full and falling asleep. He likes to have a fuzzy or soft blanket over his face to snuggle with his hands. I am just getting to know what works for him. I am starting to put him down when I know he's tired, and full. Then I let him fall asleep with me there soothing him, or giving him his soother, or "shhhh'ing" him, or stroking his head, or giving him a soft blaked to cuddle.......

.....sooo frustrating, yet at the same time I know it will be over before I know it! He's almost 5 months old!!!

First Solid Food

Our doctor suggested last week that we start Blake very slowly and occasionally on some rice cereal to help him gain some more iron. So we tried him before the long weekend with a small amount of rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. He didn't seem to care either way. So we have only really given him it once again since then. First solid foods!!!

Sibling Rivalry has OFFICIALLY started!

Last week PJ was put in time out, and she was extremly dramatic over the whole issue. She has turned it to quite a drama queen! She was screaming and carrying on...and I was ignoring her completely (as usual when she's in time out). Then I heard her yell "STOP LOOKING AT ME BLAKE!!!" She was furious and yelling at her brother to "stop looking at her". It was hilarious. I had to take a picture of the way she looked:



He just sat in his Bumbo chair and was totally oblivious that she was even mad at him. He was smiling away, and that just made her even more mad!!

I am trying to make a new post and add some pictures - is anyone else missing the toolbar on the "Creat Post" page that allows you to change font, and add photos??!?!?! Mine is not there?!?! WTF???

We had a fun, fun, fun weekend in the mountains. Paige especially had an amazing time with all the kids. We did two hikes. The first was called Grassi Lakes out side of Canmore. It was pretty long, but not too hard - and it was gorgeous!! We hiked along rocky cliffs, waterfalls and ended up at some beautiful lakes. I have so many pretty photos, I'll post some when I get them uploaded. The second hike on Sunday was greuling. We did the Sulfur Mountain hike outside of Banff. It was on of the hardest things I have done physically in my life!! I wanted to quit, but couldn't...so I just trudged on. Paige was such a good hiker. She almost made it the whole 5.3 km but had to be carried near the end because of the snow. Her poor little legs couldn't navigate the terrain. It was breathtaking once we got to the top. We were lucky we could ride the gondola down.

The weekend went by way to quickly. I wish we'd had a whole week. But to be honest, there were so many people in one cabin (14 adults and 11 children) that I am not sure I could have handled any more nights. LOL

RIP my dear cat Tank

It's with heavy hearts that this afternoon we had to make the decision to put our dear Tanky to sleep. I am full of sadness at the moment. He has been pretty sick since January with his bladder crystals and blockages. Poor guy was in too much pain despite medication and special food. Our vet agreed that he was to uncomfortable to go on.

Sadly, we had to let him go. Goodbye my dear cat, I will miss you.

I have pink eye!

I am not sure if it's because I have been fighting upper sinus something...or if it's from my optometrist appointment. I had an appointment on Tuesday, and I remember thinking that some of the equipment smelled funny - and I questioned the cleanliness internally. I am positive that is where I got my pink eye, or eye infections from. I am going to see my Dr. tomorrow.

Today I am staying home and making chili for our long weekend in Canmore. We are going to a friend of a friend's cabin. I am looking forward to it. I am making lots of chilie - enough for about 12 adults and 10 kids. One batch that's vegetarian, one batch with ground beef, and with ground beef without mushrooms!!!

Happy Birthday and Happy Mother's Day to ME!!

Today I've had a wonderful day, which is what it's all about - isn't it? I am just gearing down to go to bed as I've got a busy day tomorrow. Hopefully the little man agrees and goes to sleep soon!!! I'm sure he's being a bad sleeper because I've gotten a taste of him sleeping through the night and have bragged about it - he's taking it back!!

After a long night last night of not being able to put Blake in his bed - I decided to bail on putting him in his crib after 1am, and bring him in bed with us. He was up to nurse ever 1.5 hrs, so I didn't get too much sleep. The good news is that I can nurse and nap at the same time - it's just not that great of quality of sleep. Paige woke us all up at 8am, I fed Blake one more time and then Darren gave me the best present ever...he took the kids to his mom's and I went back to sleep!! I slept until noon. Then Paige woke me up and was eager to give me my mother's day present. I got a pasta attachment for my kitchen aid mixer. Exactly what I wanted. My mom came and picked up Paige and Darren took me out for lunch at "A Taste of Vietnam". I had my favorite vermicelli bowl, and some salad rolls. YUMMY!

Blake fell asleep before lunch, and stayed sleeping all afternoon. I went shopping, then came home and played my new Nintendo DS game "My Sims" for 2 hrs!!! (Thanks E. I LOVE it!!!)

Then it was off to supper at my mom's...and birthday cake. Lots of family love and visits. I love Sunday dinners at my mom's.

It was a fantastic day, now I am off to bed. Night Night readers.

Lucky Me

Look at my beautiful children. I took this picture today (as a self-portrait) because I can't believe how fast my kids are growing up, and I do not have very many photos of us together. I have lots of the kids, but none of us together.