Long overdue!!

WOW this update is long over due.

Fast forward 19 months down the line....


Finley is now an active, very active 19 month old who very much likes to test his mommy all day every day. We have had a much harder time with him then we ever did with Eli. I know they say no two children are alike but man this two are polar opposites!! We just had some sensitivity testing for foods and found out gluten may be a problem so we have eliminated that from our diets in hopes that that might be part of the problem. He has pretty much been an unhappy child his whole life crying most days. I am really hoping when he gets more words it will be better.

I never imagined two children would be this hard. Needless to say we will space the next one out a little further in hopes it will not be as hard!!

I cannot believe Eli is almost 4 years old, where has the time gone. We are struggling with his behavior right now and I know it is only a phase but I am at a loss as to what to do to get him to listen and be nice to his brother. He starts back to preschool in a few weeks and he is really excited about that.

In other news our basement is being finished. I cannot wait for it to be done and finally have a complete house!!!We do not necessarily need the extra space but it will be nice when it is all done and so much cooler down there.

I cannot believe how fast this summer has gone by. We have enjoyed some camping trips in our new camper. I am loving being about to take the boys camping. This past week we headed up to the Tetons and Yellowstone and while it was a long time in the car I think the boys had a great time. We didn't get to see any animals which was sad but it was an adventurous trip to say the least. We ran out of gas on the way up there had to wait on a tow truck to bring us some gas. Then Eli got bitten by something and ended up in the ER and had to be put on antibiotics.

Simon has been full time at apple for over a year now and had a chance for a promotion but for one reason or another he was turned down so he has been looking at other openings and is hopefully going to move to another spot within the store soon we just have to pray that this time he gets it!!

I am also looking at a new business adventure and I am really hoping it goes through as I think it will be perfect for me. I will update more once something happens.

Cant think of much else for now but will definitely keep the blog more up to date soon about our adventurous life with two small children. It is definitely very tough right now and most nights I end up going to bed feeling completely deflated and am hoping soon I can find the right way to encourage and love on the boys to mold them into children that have a heart for God.

Well the day I said would never happen has come!!

I always said that I would NEVER NEVER use cloth diapers but we have just gone out and bought some!! We began looking at some diapers that had disposable inserts that were flushable and much better for the environment so we decided to give them a try. Well they were a flop!! They did not fit our little guy at all. One size was too small and the next size up was way to big, it seemed like there should be a size in between but there wasn't. So the Gdiapers were a complete flop but Simon still really like the idea so we looked at other companies but weren't thrilled with their disposable options and neither one of us was really keen on cloth as they just seemed so messy. So we went to a local store to see what they had and ended up buying a brand where the Gdiapers disposable inserts can also work in them. So we have a few cloth ones that we need to build up and will use the disposables when we go out. I am not sure how I am going to like it but it is definitely going to save us some money. So I will let you all know how the change goes!! But for anyone wondering GroVia diapers are amazing and I am hoping that it will work out for us.

New arrival

Better late than never!!

An update long over due.

Since I last posted we celebrated Thanksgiving and Christmas. I took Eli to see Disney on Ice. He is really into Woody and Buzz right now. I am pretty sure he enjoyed it but not sure he enjoyed all the princesses!!

It was so much fun to decorate the tree with Eli this year and he loved looking at Christmas lights. And then there was the joy of seeing him come down the stairs on Christmas morning and see his new train table. He just kept saying wow all the time. He quickly learned how to open the presents and kept asking for more. He was a little spoiled this year.

We enjoyed a nice quiet day at home. It was really warm out so Eli got to take his new scooter outside to test it out. The next day we started to get the house ready for little Finley's arrival. I was determined to get all the Christmas decorations down before heading to the hospital. My aunt and cousin were supposed to arrive this day but because of storms in the south they were unable to get on a flight. This sent me into panic mode as I was now unsure of who would watch Eli the following day while I was having the c section. Luckily some great friends from church offered to watch him but I knew that my aunt and cousin had one last chance to make it out the following morning so they were going to attempt that. So we headed out to do some last minute errands and eat dinner out. Then we came home and got everything ready for the next day. The following morning we found out that my aunt and cousin were able to make it on a flight out and would get here just in time. Now I know that there was a reason for a 1230pm c section rather than one first thing in the morning. Simon went to pick them up at the airport and I drove myself to the hospital so that they could start the pre op work. I am not a fan of needles so I was not looking forward to having the IV put in. It took the nurses three tries of inserting the needles (me throwing up each time) before the anesthesiologist had a successful attempt. Then it was just the waiting game. At 12 30 we headed into the OR and they got everything ready. Finley Michael Mowat was born at 1:16 pm weighing 7lbs 13 oz. He headed into the recovery room with Daddy while they finished me up. Then I headed into the recovery room and got to hold him. He was so much like his brother, came out ready to eat lol. After a little while in recovery they moved me to my room ( a huge upgrade from the NHS!!! my very own room!!!). My aunt, cousin and Eli headed up to meet Finley that afternoon. Eli held Finley the next day and did really well. I was feeling pretty good, I was having a little trouble with food but eventually it got better. Everything else went well in the hospital and I was released three days later. It was such a different experience from that with Eli, much more enjoyable. The day we were released it was very cold and snowing. We went home and warmed up by the fire. Eli enjoyed going out and playing in the snow with Aunt Jenni and Daddy. We spent the next few days just doing nothing around the house. On New Years Day Eli started to look like he had pink eye, my thought was great he was holding Finley last night. I decided we would take him to Walgreens clinic the next day to see what it was. However that night I started feeling horrible with a really bad throat. I did not get any sleep that night. The next day we headed to the midwife so that she could take the staples out. She said I looked a little infected so she put me on antibiotics and took out the staples. She looked at my throat and said it was just a sore throat, I was worried it might have been strep. Then we went home and Simon took Eli to the clinic, turns out he had a double ear infection, poor baby. I however could not find anything to help soothe it. By the evening it got so bad I asked Simon to take me to urgent care as I knew I could not go another night like this. So we headed in and they looked me over and said they could not see anything that would be causing the amount of pain I was in so they took some xrays and saw a little inflammation so he called an ENT who wanted to see me at the local ER. So we packed up and headed to the ER where the doctor determined I had a bad throat infection and would need to be hospitalized (not great news because Simon was supposed to have started back to work the next day). I was not happy about this but they tried to get me placed back on the mother and baby ward but it did not work so we went the other hospital and they admitted me to the med surge ward. I was just hoping Finley would not catch anything while we were there. They luckily got the IV in the first time and got me started on some antibiotics and steroids. I started to feel a little better by the afternoon and that evening I was able to go home which was a huge relief. We had to miss Finley's weight check that day so we rescheduled it for the next day. When we went he had gained nearly a pound, he is a little piggy. I was starting to feel so much better and was finding that this recovery was going much better. I was excited to be able to drive after only two weeks, this was a huge relief. We went and had Finley's newborn pictures done and I am anxious to see how they turned out. We then had his two week check and he weighed 8lbs 14oz still slightly smaller than Eli was at this age but growing fast. I can believe how fast time is going by already. Eli has been coping pretty good he loves his brother and loves to hold him but is still showing some signs of jealousy as can be expected. He is having a hard time understanding that mommy still cannot carry him around. He is throwing some major temper tantrums recently. I am hoping that we can work through it. Today has been a much better day (knock on wood!!). So things are going very well. I am finding going out with two kids a little more stressful and am hoping that will subside soon as staying home cooped up in the house just seems to make things worse. We are still waiting on Simon to be offered a full time position at Apple and are hoping it wont be too much longer. I think that is all for now I will try to keep more up to date!!

Just one of those days!!

Wow it has been one of those evenings. Why in the world does a child eat one food one week but the next week wont touch it??? It drives me mad!!! Tonight Eli decided he did not want to eat chili for dinner even though just two weeks ago he ate it fine, who knows. So I then decided since there was some broccoli in the fridge from the other night so i though since he loves that I would give him that. Well that was a mistake, after one bite he decided he did not want that either. I tried to make him eat one more bite before getting down and boy was that a mistake, up came everything!!! I guess I should learn to just leave it. I put him straight in the bath. I was so tired today has just been a draining day. I decided after the bath I was just going to sit down and relax so I told Eli to go play in the playroom. A little while later he came back saying uh oh. So he proceeded to take me into the playroom where he shows me that he has been sick again. Not sure why this time. I am hoping he is not sick I cannot stand the smell of that stuff. I decided it was then time for him to go to bed so lets hope he sleeps well tonight and all this was just him being goofy.

I am so ready for this baby to be here and to stop being utterly exhausted. We have set the date for December 27th if he is not here yet. Not to mention that I am more than ready for Simon to be offered a full time position at Apple so that he can stop working 7 days a week. Dont get me wrong I am thankful that he has these jobs and thankful for the health insurance that they offer but it would be nice to have some time as a family. He has been working 7 days a week since February so it would be nice if all the hard work paid off soon, especially before the baby is born.

Favorite Holiday Cards

I cant believe that the holiday season is already upon us. We have had really nice weather here in Denver so we went out earlier this week to take a family picture so that we can get our Christmas cards ready. We are going to send these cards out to our close family and friends. I love getting Christmas cards from friends and family and seeing what the past year has brought them. The first holiday cards that we sent out was a picture of Eli (about 4 weeks old) dressed as Santa Claus, it was so cute. Last year was a busy year so we did not get a chance to send out Christmas cards so I am looking forward to sending our one out this year with an updated picture of us, our family is growing and Eli is growing up fast. I think that Christmas cards are a great chance to send out a photo and possibly an update to those you might not talk to much at other times of the year.

Shutterfly has got some great holiday cards this year. It is a great chance for you to take your own pictures and send it to them and they will print the holiday cards and send them to you. I have posted some links below to their website so that you can have a look at all the holiday cards they offer, they also offer all different kinds of cards for other times of the year or other photo related items.

Christmas photo cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery

Holiday cards http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/holiday-card

canvas wall art http://www.shutterfly.com/home-decor/canvas-wall-art

TIS THE SEASON!!!

The last 9 months!!

Well a lot has happened since the last post. I believe we left off we us moving into a rental house in the neighborhood where we tried to buy a house. Simon left the insurance industry as it was not what we expected. He took a job with Starbucks so that we could finally have health insurance. He also took a job with Apple because that is where he really wanted to work but since you cant get insurance straight away he works both jobs. He has been working seven days a week since February and we keep hoping that soon Apple will become full time which will then have health insurance.

Eli is growing up fast and has just turned 2. Unfortunately this means the terrible twos have also arrived at our house. I am find most days are a fight with a lot of things. He will not leave the dog alone and insists on fighting with him. He also seems to love the punishments we give him which does not help, so I am finding most days are a struggle to get him to do things and I am hoping that this phase does not last too long. He also started preschool in September and loves it. Whenever I go to pick him up he says no!! This makes me happy that he loves it but also makes me sad that he does not miss me more. It definitely gives me a chance to get things done which is really nice.

I am still working for the au pair company and things are going good with that. It gives me something to do without it being too much. It however is hard with Simon working seven days a week. I cannot wait for him to get a job at Apple it will be so much better for our family.

We also bought a house, we finally got a mortgage approved. We bought the same model house that we had previously had a contract on. We are loving it and are finally happy to be somewhere that is ours.

In other news we are expecting baby number 2 just after Christmas. Finley Michael will be here around the 27th of December. We are very excited but I am beginning to wonder how Eli is going to handle it. He is recently in a mommy only phase so it should be interesting. So with that news we will be spending the holidays here in Denver this year. It will be our first year by ourselves so it will be a nice quiet holiday for us, especially as Simon will probably be working right up until Christmas.

I am sure that there is more but that is all I can think of for now, I will try to post more in the future.

Long overdue update!!

Well this update is long overdue.

Since the last update, Eli has turned one, started walking, and chatting loads. He can say: dog, please, mamma, da (for daddy). He has said some other words but I cant think of them at the moment. For his birthday we went to the Childrens museum as we had recently had a big snow and it was a little too cold to go to the zoo.
Simon started a job with an insurance company. I started a job from home for an au pair company, I love it!!! We put a contract on a new house in Erie, CO. We celebrated Thanksgiving with my German co worker and her husband. Katrin, my co worker and I then participated in the long missed black Friday shopping day!! Boy had I missed that living overseas, I got so many good deals!!!

Then we got ready for Christmas, we went to Memphis for a week. We had a great time catching up with everyone.

January came before we knew it. In January we had to give up the house we had put a contract on because of difficulty obtaining a mortgage. So we decided that we could not stand living in the apartment anymore. So we started to look for a rental house. And luckily we found one really quick and in the same neighborhood that we were supposed to be buying in. We really love the neighborhood and are pretty much all moved in!! I hate moving and will be glad when it is all done.

I will try to keep more up to date. We are headed back to Memphis next week for one week to see a friend and her new baby girl.