Our four days in Stouffville

The past few days were so much fun! Wednesday evening Paul and I headed up to my parents (arriving at two in the morning! Oops!!). We stayed until Sunday afternoon and had a very busy and very fun time seeing everyone, going to the fair, and helping celebrate Esther's birthday! =)

The bride to-be! Amanda's got the coolest dresses planned out for her bridesmaids! =) I am excited! We spent Thursday night at the mall, then went to the Mongolian Grill (a place we use to frequent on occassion together, and somewhere Paul had never been. Poor guy, he put up with a lot of wedding talk!!!) Then we went to look at a place I thought would be so pretty for her summer wedding pictures - though we were there at 9:30 pm so it was very hard to see, but I think she liked it :) I think I was helpful :) Hurray!

On Friday we met Grandpa and Grandma Crowe in Orangeville - halfway between their house and my parents. We went to Swiss Chalet - mmm yum! I had been craving their food! We had a nice visit together. Later that afternoon Paul and I went to the Nummy's house to pick up some baby things they had for us - they had everything!! :) We got an infant car seat, a stroller, a playpen, a booster seat and some blankets! It's so exciting!

Saturday Caleb, Essie, Paul and I spent the day at the fair (though we lost Caleb to his cooler-then-us friends) It got SO cold and wet nearer the end of the day, so we didn't stay for the Monster Truck show or the fireworks, but we had fun walking through the exhibits, watching the bike show and the horse show and eating all the samples! =)

Aunt Polly's peanut butter cookies...

Last night I made some peanut butter cookies - using Esther's quick and easy three ingredient recipie! - and it made me think of Aunt Polly's peanut butter cookies. Hers were always my favourite and I have fond memories of, as a little kid, going over to her apartment and having free access to her cookie jar =) One of the things that made her peanut butter cookies so special is that she always did that cool fork thing to the top of her P.B. cookies - just the way it should be!! I think every time I make P.B. cookies I think of Aunt Polly =) Her and peanut butter cookies just seem to fit together.

We picked up our food today and our freezer is sooo full!!! Paul used his marvelous packing skills to fit everything in - there's a lot of steak (yum!!), TEN POUNDS of popcorn chicken, lots of chicken breasts, a pot roast, ribs, chicken cor'don blue, tons of veggies, hot dogs, sausages... we've got a little bit of everything in our freezer!! It's popping at the seams! I think we should have a dinner party soon! I was so proud of Paul fitting everything in I took a picture of our full freezer! :)

Pictures of ultra sound pictures

I know, I know... pictures of ultra sounds are hard enough to make out. Now I am making you look at a picture of an ultra sound picture!!! Paul thought we should post them, so this is my attempt!!! Here is our baby:

^ This is the baby - you can see its head and little eyes and nose.
^ Babies arm!!
^This is babies foot... you can't really tell though!!!

Oh baby

We had the ultra sound today, as well as my second dr's appointment.
Sadly, we do not know the sex of the baby :( The baby is in a breech position and had its legs crossed. Sigh... so much for all the talks we had with the baby telling him/her to be good and let us know what he/she really is!

We did get some cute pictures from the ultra sound - ok, so I had to convince myself that they're 'cute.' Ultra sound pictures aren't something to be oohhed and ahhed over, in my personal opinion. Our baby really just looks like an alien right now. But, of course, the cutest alien-look-alike there ever was in an ultrasound picture!!!

Even though we don't know the gender of the baby there is some great news! My doctor wants me to have TWO more ultra sounds!! HURRAY! It's for a very silly reason, but I don't care - I have TWO more chances of finding out if we're having a boy or girl and two more chances to see the little person in side of me! The reason the doc wants me to have two more ultra sounds is because I have had malaria in the past and he just wants to make sure everything with the baby will be ok - my mother and all other people who have lived overseas for awhile will find that reason dumb - but who cares really!! I get TWO more ultrasounds! My next ultra sound is in three weeks.

Can't keep it in any longer!

I am just so excited about Christmas - and I have kept that in for weeks and weeks now =)
I just can't keep it to myself any longer - Just over three months till Christmas!!!! HURRAY! =) Paul is even excited about it, or at least pretends to be. He's already started saving money for Christmas gifts, and will talk with me about plans for Christmas - We've started planning what to buy people for Christmas gifts, and what we'll do for the family Christmas parties. We're debating whether to have a real tree or a fake one (last years tree was borrowed.) And we're trying to figure out all the baking we want to make this year =) Paul even suggested that we go out and get a freezer just so we have the extra space for our baking!!! He has been converted and loves Christmas (almost!!) as much as I do!

Mmm, yum! And to think, I get to eat for two this holiday!!! I can't wait till Christmas!!!

Spenny the soft hearted

Three cheers for Levi helping to break Spenny's dislike for little kids!! For whatever reason Levi got it in his head that "Spenny" sounded like "Bunny" so that is what he called Spencer all evening long!

Then when Spen flexed his oh-so-impressive muscles Levi was there to admire - which made Spencer realize that his future niece or nephew could very well end up living in awe and admiration of him - which I think made him realize that little kids can be great for boosting ones ego, so maybe they're not so bad after all.

I think Spenny's heart is melting. I think he likes kids. Just a little bit.

yesterday

Yesterday there was a funeral for a police officer that died in Cleveland last week. There were thousands of police officers present at the funeral - from all over the state of Ohio and PA, and some even came from Toronto.

Paul and I were driving to the hospital yesterday for an appointment, and we were on the highway that the funeral procession was going to be taking. There were hundreds and hundreds of people lined up on the side of the highway and on overpasses looking down on to the highway.
It was amazing to see. Police and firefighters in uniform. Men, women, children of all ages. It was incredible to see all the people that were there to honor the police officer that had died, I have never seen anything like that before, and it had me near tears, as it did to Paul too.

On a lighter note... today I found a place that makes near replicas of Tim Hortons Ice Caps. Mmm yum!

Confessions of a pregnant cry baby

I have become such a big cry baby. There is the given - sad movies, sad books, being homesick, getting stuck in traffic and the sad commercials on tv that without question can make me cry. But then there's things like watching Spiderman - the whole thing made me cry - especially whenever Spiderman got hurt or us not having any bacon in the house when I felt like eating bacon, a store not selling any maternity clothes, someone cutting in front of me and beating me to a computer in the library, the fact that there aren't any Swiss Chalet's around here... I am in awe of the silly things that can make me cry. And the funny thing is that sometimes while I am crying I am laughing at myself knowing it's so ridiculous. I am going crazy!! And poor Paul gets to live with it!! He is such a great guy =)

I was at the hospital today and was chatting with a lady who was from West Africa - I didn't catch the country as she had SUCH a strong accent!! West African women are so beautiful though, and she was dressed very similarly to the Nigerian women, so I was pretty sure she was from West Africa. And then when she opened her mouth and spoke I knew for sure that she was from there!!! She is expecting her first baby too, though she is now 7 months along. She couldn't believe I was almost at 15 weeks and she had me pull my shirt up to look at my stomach!! She asked me if I was sure there was even a baby in me as she thought I was so small. It was quite humorous to me! I have gained just 3/4 of a pound so far.

I have lots of shopping to do today as Spenny and Stevie ate most of our food!

"It's because she's pregnant"

At least I have an excuse for my new found 'stupidness'!! From putting dirty dishes up in the cupboard with the clean ones, to 'losing' a recipie card for a full twenty minutes WHILE I was in the middle of making the thing on the card (only to find I had put it back in my recipie binder!!) - I am certainly losing my mind!

Spen and Steven have only been here for twenty four hours, but already the phrase "It's ok. It's because your pregnant" has come out of their mouths more times then I can count. From me finding a huge fat man on a supped up sports bike funny to me craving ice cream enough to treat them both to it if they'd go to the ice cream store with me.
Now that the phrase has been created for me I think I'll adopt it.

These are the lines I am practicing:

"Sorry Paul, none of the laundry got folded, it's because I'm pregnant."

"Lets eat out tonight, again, because I'm pregnant."

"We can only watch chick flicks since I am pregnant!"

"I can't fill up the gas tank because I am pregnant!"

"I need a back rub and foot massage because I'm pregnant."

Baby in the belly

We are now telling everyone so I might as well post it on here too - we are pregnant! We are absolutely thrilled =) I am thirteen and a half weeks right now.
Friday was our first appointment and we were able to hear the babies heart beat!!! It was so exciting! After that they did a whole bunch of blood work, which wasn't very fun, but they shouldn't have to do too much more of that =)
My next appointment is three weeks from this Wednesday and they're going to do an ultra sound!! Hopefully it won't be too early to tell the sex of the baby! We really want to know!!!

My regular clothes barely fit me now - none of my pants do, and only my "big and baggy" t-shirts do. It is so much fun shopping for an entirely new wardrobe of clothes! I have vowed to not wear ugly clothes throughout the pregnancy. I have discovered that there are a lot of very ugly maternity clothes out there - it is my goal to avoid all of them!!! And I am well on my way... my super cool and thrifty sister got me all the (nicely kept and stylish) maternity pants I could possibly need - jeans, dress, khaki, cords, sweats and pjs - from our favourite place - (Markham's) freecycle. And then Natalie and Mrs Beange surprised me with two really nice shirts. I can't wait for the belly to grow and to fit them all properly - I am still at a rather akward size!

This past weekend was tons of fun - we had Eric and Carrie over Saturday afternoon for a fundue supper. Mmm, yum! Paul had made meatballs - he rolled out about 200 of them!! - so we had those, some veggies and bread to dip in the cheese. One of the grocery stores has cheese on sale for $1/half a pound of pre-grated cheese, so it made for an inexpensive and yummy supper. ( I feel the need to defend myself in regards to the fact that my husband was the one to make the meatballs *ahem, mother dear* I mixed up all the ingredients minus the raw meat as raw meat has been making me queasy - I do cook for my husband, and the cooking he does do is because HE enjoys it!!) After supper we played a very fun game of 'Men are from Mars, Women are From Venus.' None of us had ever played it before and it was interesting to say the least. Paul and Eric won the game =)

Sunday morning we went to church with Eric and Carrie, then rushed home to do some grocery shopping and get everything ready for Mr. and Mrs. Beange who were coming that evening for the night. Poor Paul slept through most of their time here (having worked the night shift) but the little time he spent with them, and the time I had with them was really nice =) Other than family and Amanda they're our only Markham guests!!! Come on Markham people!! We would love to have any of you come for a visit - Paul can cook you a very nice meal =)

Speaking of visits... this will be a busy week for us. Spenny and Stephen Barnett may be coming here from Wednesday - Saturday =) I am excited at the thought of that - those two are so much fun, and to think, I can take them grocery shopping with me and have them carry ALL the groceries up the flight of stairs!! I won't stock up on groceries till they're here to carry it all... hmm, maybe pay for it too?! :)

One last picture

Eric and Carrie wedding, originally uploaded by pandjmorris.

This is one of my favourites that Esther took - for some reason it won't load with the other pictures!!!

Eric and Carrie's wedding

Eric and Carrie as husband and wife

The best man and the maid of honor =)



The bridesmaids and the bride


Just being goofy



My sweetheart
Gorgeous ladies =)
Sisters

Eric and Carrie dancing

A wedding

hearts, originally uploaded by susan.marriott.

Amanda and Craig are getting married!!!! Hurray!!!! We are so happy for you both and can't wait to find out more details!! Love you both!!!

Our camping trip

This was our first camping trip together and it was SO much fun!!!

"Us" setting up the tent

"Us" building the fire

"Us" taking down the tent

Us
And us again

Picture time

Max and Sage - the twins I nanny for

Max

Sage

Just hanging out and playing. We played a bit of poker too and Paul beat us all!

On my birthday we went to the park and took some pictures of each other for fun

The picture bellow amused us both greatly... is it a smile or a frown?!

Faith, Carrie, Jenelle and I spent an evening at the zoo. It was fun... even if they did close everything early!!

Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday Spenny!!! =) Sorry we're a day late!!! We hope you had a great day!!!

Just chillin' at the library

Having friends and family that totally forget your birthday (or that are in a thirld world country with an unrealiable mail system) is kind of a cool thing... because even though they forgot your birthday on the day of your birthday, they 1) grovel at your feet apologizing about having forgotten (Heather!!!) and 2) help prolong the birthday celebrations by sending the card/and or gift LATER!!!
I am a sucker for anything that comes through the mail... so fun!!! =) (and I did get your card Aunt Polly - thank you =)

Today was a very exciting day for me. Granted, it doesn't take much to make my day exciting...
I was at the market today and was talking with one of the men selling some veggies. I asked him where he was from - and it turns out he was from Nigeria!!! How cool, eh?! I was so excited!! I had never been to his city, but he knew the village that I had spent the year at, and it was just so cool to chat with him about it.
He told me about this store that sells Nigerian food, so I stopped at it to check it out. I'll have to wait till Angie comes to visit and can cook it for me... or make friends with some Nigerians around here that could make it for me =)

It has been awhile...

It has been awhile since I updated on here. Our internet at our apartment has been giving us problems, and the part we ordered a week ago still hasn't come, so we have been having to hang out at the library to get online. Not so fun.

Lots of things have been going on:

Mum has been in Nigeria for almost a whole month now. Lucky her!!! I am quite jealous!!!

New neighbors moved onto our floor and they are so much fun!!! Rob and Ashleigh are a little older than us, they love games too, and we've done suppers and games together, and tomorrow I am going to the flea market with them =)

The Ladies Time Apart was at our apartment and Anita turned in into a surprise party for me!! How cool is she?? =)

I had my birthday and Paul is the most awesome present buyer =) He's decided every year he's going to buy me a nice purse, so I can keep adding to my collection =) Hurray for husbands who understand addictions!!! He also got me: Spiderman 1 & 2, a book, Victoria secrets 'pretty in pink' body spray, lotion and shower gel (I love this stuff!! Heather bought me a bottle of the lotion over five years ago and I still have some of it - I couldn't bring myself to use it all!!), three belly rings (there's a confession to anyone out there who doesn't know I pierced my belly button in Nigeria... Angie's influence) and a hand held electronic Suduko puzzle. He even had everything all wrapped up nicely!! =)

I had a wisdom tooth removed and two fillings put in - the first dental work I have ever had. The frozen mouth feeling was actually pretty cool =) I am a dork, I know!!!

I have lots of pictures to put on here, but will have to wait till I can do that from our apartment!!!

June 9 - 11

Uncle Tom, Aunt Lois, Julie and Ben crashed at our place Thursday night. They arrived late Thursday night, and Paul left for work early Friday morning, so Paul and the Wheeler's didn't get to see each other!

I woke up Friday morning with a great idea - hitch a ride up to Stouffville with the Wheeler's! The car was rather squishy on the way up, but lots of fun =)

We stopped at Niagara Falls on the way up. Julie and Ben had never seen it before.

Aunt Lois
Me, Ben and Julie

So Beautiful!
Wheeler Family

Uncle Rick, Aunt Laurie, Andy, Kevin and Tanner all drove up from NY to see the family.

On Saturday we spent the whole day together.

All the cousins (minus Tanner) went to the mall. I love you guys!!! =)

Uncle Rick and family drove me to their home, where Paul and Jerry went to pick me up from. It was lotsa fun driving down with them!!

Garage Sales

It's so exciting that Paul shares the same love for garage sales as I do!!! We spent some time yesterday doing that, and then some more time today. We got some great deals today - a juicer for $3 and a Hoover vac for $1 - no more borrowing the vaccum from #8!! (If this one works well!!) Levi, your vaccum is all yours again! =)

Mark and Leah Wheeler

Mark and Leah's wedding was beautiful and lots of fun!! Thanks for inviting us! =)

The whole family - Buchannon's, Wheeler's, Crowe's and Morris'!
Paul and me all dressed up
Leah's parents, the bride and groom, Mark's parents
Julie, Angie, Mark, Leah and Spencer
The bubble walk!!!
More bubble walk!
Julie, me, Esther

Mark and Leah leaving

I am still here.

The last few weeks have been crazy - trips up to Stouffville, trips to North Carolina, lots of work, and midnight visiters =) I have tons of pictures, lots of stories... so many memories!!!
I will have to share them all next time... tonight mum is leaving for Nigeria!!! WOOHOO!! Her visa came through on FRIDAY! Talk about last minute! I am so excited for her, and so jealous too! I had been hoping to go with her. Oh well. It obviously didn't happen.
She will be waiting to get on the plane now... how fun!! Even though you won't be reading this for a long time mum just want to let you know we're praying for you and hope you have a WONDERFUL time over there with g'pa and g'ma, all your old friends and my black babies! =)