Random Thoughts From a Mommy

Dear Mackenzie, Yesterday, I had a 4 year old, a 3 year old, and a 9.5 month old. Then this morning, I woke up, and I now have a 5 year old. 5 years. Something about 5 years that takes my breath away. Awhile ago, I asked you if you could stay 4 just a little bit longer, you said no. You are excited to be 5. And I understand why. 5 means you're just a few more months away from kindergarten. It also means you're a year away from being allowed to have bubble gum. You also asked to have your ears pierced when you turn 5. It sounds like 5 will be a big year. You know what though? 4 was a great year too.  A few months after you turned 4, you patiently waited and waited and waited until Alastair finally arrived. (Believe me, we all waited!) Instantly, you somehow knew that your big sister role suddenly became double the responsibility. Thank you for never complaining when I ask you to grab me a diaper, or keep Alastair entertained, or playing with your sister while I ...

Dear Bryanna, Another year came and gone. And I never stop asking myself - how? This morning, I came downstairs and wished you a happy birthday. You thanked me. Then I put a dress on you, you thanked me again. You seemed extra polite today. Is this what happens when you're 3? You also said, "my heart is pink". You said it with so much love on your face I had to take a picture. I can barely remember a time before you could speak in full clear sentences. It seemed that you have been talking forever. You always have so much to say and so many stories to tell. Sometimes, your brain works a bit faster than your body and you stutter a bit and it's just the cutest thing to listen to. I know this won't last forever, so for now, I am enjoying those moments when you are super excited about something and can't wait to tell us the entire story. We put off potty training you because your brother was on his way and I simply didn't have the energy while pregna...

This holiday season has been extra hectic with us going to Edmonton for New Year's. I haven't had the time to sit down to write down the top 10 for 2015. Better late than never! Here we go! (In no particular order) 10.) My cousin Andrea and I have been preggo together twice. It just happened that way and not on purpose. The first time, it was Mackenzie who came 5 months before Addie. This time around, it was Jackson who came 5 months before Alastair. Jackson was the first boy in the family (Andrea and I both have 2 girls each!) and it was a very big deal! I know Trevor was super excited to have more "men" in the family ;) Although we don't see them often, Jackson has been a joy every time we visit. He brings on tons of smiles to everyone he sees. I love you Jackson! 9.) When one of my best friends moved back to Vancouver from Halifax, it was awesome. Then her husband became an RCMP and got posted to Saskatchewan. Thankfully, distance did not deter us fro...

Today, the world lost a bright little soul. It's hard to imagine what kind of person could be so heartless. We want to believe the good in the world. But news like this...it breaks out hearts, it jades us a little bit more than the last tragedy. Tonight, my Facebook news feed was full of sadness about Hailey. It didn't matter that it had been shared so many times already, it didn't matter that everyone already knew - we shared anyway. And then I was reminded of this quote: "When I was a boy, I would see scary things in the news. My mother would say to me, "look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping." - Fred Rogers And that is what Hailey reminded me tonight. That in the midst of evil, we all gathered the last 2 days to share the amber alert. We all shared the same hope in helping to find her. Not many of us knew how to help except by spreading the news. It seemed so trivial, only it brought thousands of people together. We a...

Dear Alastair, I don't normally write to the kids until their birthdays, but I feel like I needed to do this one early, because there's so much I want to make sure you know already. It's been just over a month since you've graced us with your presence. For awhile there, we weren't sure if you were ever coming out! You were just so incredibly comfortable in my belly that you wanted to stay in there until you were a bit over cooked. With Mackenzie, we wanted to start our family. With Bryanna, we wanted Mack to have a sibling. With you, I just knew I wanted more. To share more love and chaos and tears and laughter. It was an interesting 40 weeks when people asked if we were hoping for a boy. No, no we weren't. We were just hoping for a third! Of course, you ended up being a boy was a bonus. The day I found out that we were having a boy, I just could not believe it. When I told your dad, you should've heard his voice. It was absolute joy. And that was ho...

I haven't had much time to think about writing because well, juggling 3 kids takes up a lot of time! I'm sitting here with maybe 5 minutes to spare before the baby will need attention again, so I better get to typing quick! Each pregnancy has been so different. With Mackenzie, I was miserable for the first 22 weeks with morning sickness, and then I felt like I could be pregnant forever! With Bryanna, I was miserable for the entire 39 weeks. I could not wait for her to get out! With this one, I was miserable for the first 20 weeks with morning sickness, and then great for 17 weeks, and then the last 3 weeks...well, let's just say there were some tears. With it being one of the hottest summers, I could not wait for this baby to get out! Plus the inconvenience of not being able to pick up the girls when I wanted to, or bend down to give them a kiss - I just wanted to be mobile again! So when my first consistent contractions came I was so excited. We even took one last wa...

Dear Mackenzie, Another year has gone by. And here we are. Going to bed tonight, you said to me, "I'm SO excited to be 4 tomorrow!" You are as loving as you were a year ago. Perhaps more so. Your love for Bree is what made the hashtag #theirloveisridiculous. One day, I heard you down the hall yelling, "Bryanna! I will never let you go. I love you so much!" Or that time you said to her, "Bryanna, I will never leave you behind!" And that's you. You love with 110% of your heart. You tell me often how much you love everyone on earth. No judgements, no pretence. You randomly blurt out "I love you all the way back to the moon" to your family. You never hesitate to tell us we are beautiful. You want to invite the whole world to parties not because you are popular, but because you just love everyone so gosh darn much. I was worried about how "soft" you might get being so loving. Would you be trampled on? Would others tak...