Craft Group!

I'm starting a craft group. There has been lots on interest in my community to start something like this so I have taken it on myself to start. I'm not really sure where i am going with it yet but I think it should be fun just to get together and so a craft or two. For more information go to:

wellingcraftgroup.blogspot.com

First Steps

I never knew how exciting it would be to see Archer walking but yesterday he took his first steps and I think I got more excited than him, although he did get pritty excited himself. Jeff and I just passed him back and forth between us encourging him to walk to one another and the smile on his face was priceless! He always has to have something in his hand in order to balance but he can usually do 2 or 3 steps before falling over. I'm so excited he is growing up but still sad that he is not my little baby anymore. I cant wait for Christmas with the little man now that he will be old enough to play with his cousins and maybe open a gift or two.

Pumpkin Patch

I got the idea for these pumpkin photos from Pinterest. I dont even want to talk about how much of my time has been lost to pinterest but I am happy I found this idea.

I do feel like I am being slightly deceiving though. This is what Archer actually thought about being in that pumpkin. It was cold and the pumpkin was slimy. But the pictures turned out oh so cute!

Across the boarder

I took a little trip across the boarder on monday to drop my mom off at the train station. The highlight of my trip was stopping at Albertsons! I was so excited to get my old USA faves. Well, I got more than I bargained for. I found so many great new things. Starting with the old favorites here they are.

I was introduced to Circus Animals when I was in Jr. High. I was at a friends house and they had a bag of them. I dont know if I was super fond of them then, but over the years they have become an addiction.

I found this gum when I went snowboarding over christmas holidays to the USA. They are all good in their own way but the key lime pie is my favorite!

These next pictures are new finds of mine. Halloween Dots! I have always loved dots so when i found these I was super excited. The candy corn flavored ones are not the greatest but the blood orange bats and the fruity ghosts are awesome.

I think I was breathless when I found the cupcake magic shell! It really does taste like cupcakes!

Every kind of M&M's you could think of but my pick was the coconut.

These I was really unsure of. I didnt get a chance to take a picture of them actually in the jar because the baby boy actually ate them all on the ride home. They looked like little hot dogs in the jar and I was unsure about actually feeding them to my baby but he loved them.

10 Things I know to be True

Sarah Kay: If I should have a daughter ... Video on TED.com

Ok, so click on the link and it will take you to an awesome video. When I saw that it was 18 minutes I figured I would just watch the first few minutes but I got hooked. Aside from being an excellent orator, she says alot of things I agree with. For years I have felt a desire to create and mostly to get what is in my head onto paper. I cant draw so thats out, but I have always wanted to write poetry or songs or something that expresses who I am and where i have been in life. I was never really good at it and that desire has been slightly left behind until I watched this video. I encourage you all to watch it. I think its awesome so I think everyone else should think its awesome too. So, in an attempt to get my creativity going, here are my 10 things I know to be true.

1. Heavenly Father loves me
2. Prayer works
3. I love my family with all my heart!
4. Life can be incredibly awesome and insanely hard all at the same time.
5. 10 month old babies get into EVERYTHING
6. My husband loves me and is stronger than I could have ever imagined
7. Dishes are NEVER done. Even if you JUST did them.
8. I can do hard things
9. I am a minimalist (dispite what some people think) and get stressed out when I am surrounded by to much stuff.
10. My house gets super cold in the winter and in the back of my mind I am wondering how I will keep Archer warm at night when he wiggles out from under his blanket.


What are 10 things you know to be true?

Awesome

I got Jeff 'The Book of Awesome' for his birthday and we have been reading it latley. I think its great to appreciate the little awesome things in life. Here are a few pages from my personal book of awesome.

Sleeping in your own bed after months of being away.
Jeff and I have been up north for the last few months and we left our bed behind. It was a great summer but coming home and sleeping in your own bed is - Awesome!

Making new friends.
While we were up north Jeff and I had the oppertunity to make tons of new friends. To be able to hang out and play games and have fun with others is - Awesome

Your baby boy sleeping through the night for the first time.
A few weeks ago our 10 month old finally slept through the night for the first time. I didnt know how good it felt to get more than 3 hours of sleep in a row. Not having to get up in the night with a baby is - Awesome

The Lake.
This summer was mostly spent at the lake, sitting in the sand under the sun listening to the splashing kids. The summer sun and the cold lake are - Awesome.

This proves it!

I have the cutest child EVER!!

i was born in a cabbage patch

monkey face!

what is more cute than cousins in a tub?

Camping

I'm sure this may be a surprise to some of you but camping and I have a love hate relationship. Before I got married I was an outdoors girl. I loves hiking and being in the mountains and even camping. I did a lot of backpacking and even traveled to Africa and Argentina to go mountain climbing. I even worked at Campers Village when I met Jeff. Since getting married I have been introduced to a different kind of camping. The kind where you have running water and a bathroom in the makeshift home you call a trailer. His family loves this type of camping and no matter how hard I try I cant love it as much as carrying my tent on my back and breathing in the mountain air (with no one else around).
Yesterday Jeff decided he wanted to go out to the lake and camp. That meant setting up the tent right next to the road on the soggy and muddy grass. Why is that so fun for people? After trying and trying to get Archer to sleep he finally went down. With my muddy feet I climbed under the scratchy camping blankets and had an hour long nap before the thunder and lightening started. And then the rain. Archer made it through the whole storm but as soon as it was over I think he missed it because he started screaming (i'm sure waking up the whole campground). Anyway, I could go on but I'm afraid it would never end if I did. I think the moral of he story is that i'm not a campground camper. I love being outside and in nature but just not with 500 other people "in nature" with me. Maybe I can convert Jeff to backpacking.

Cuba

Jeff and I decided that we needed a vacation from all the doctors and medical stuff we have had to put up with for the last year so we got the ok from the doctors to go to cuba! We were super excited and I found a great deal online but just as I was about to book the trip I realized that Archer needed a passport to go to Cuba. We decided to get Archer a passport but wernt really set on going anymore as we wouldnt have received the passport in time. We thought about going to banff for a few days or just staying in a hotel in Calgary to pretend we were getting away but I just couldnt bring myself to actually make any concrete plans. One day I was just browsing the web for some good deals and I found one! I was super excited and since we had Archers passport at this time I was able to book the trip!
Oh the fun we had. The sun was out and hot the whole time and the beach was BEAUTIFUL! The best beach I have ever been to by far! Archer was a total ladys man and EVERYONE had to stop and talk to him telling him how cute he was and he always had a huge smile for them. Everytime we went to the buffet, Archer got stollen from me and was passed from one employee to another. The first day we were there, the ocean was super calm and we were able to take Archer out to swim. I love that he played along with us and was happy where ever we went. I could say more but I think the pictures show just how great our vacation was!

The sand is yummy mommy!

I will bit you will my vampire teeth if you dont take me to the beach right now!

Doctors

Jeff has been finished school for awhile now and he decided to work for his dad up north for the summer but before we could make the trek up north, he had to get all the Dr. stuff out of the way. We went to some doctors a few weeks ago and this it what the day consisted of; sleep over night in Calgary, Wake up at 6am. Drive 30 minutes to the hospital. Wait in the waiting room with a tired baby that doesn’t like to sleep when there is so much going on. Jeff goes into some eye testing. Archer and I wait. Nurses walk by and goo goo over Archer. Archer cries when they walk away and I have to try to entertain him with the same old toys he doesn’t want. I try to feed archer and put him to sleep and just as he is half asleep another nurse walks by and talks to him waking him up fully. They walk away before archer is finished playing with them and he cries. Jeff comes out with eyes dilated not being able to see anything and we wait for more tests. Archer poops, I walk all over the hospital looking for a change table and eventually give up and change him on a chair in the waiting room trying to hide him and not let the others waiting know what I’m actually doing. I walk back to where Jeff is waiting and Archer poops again! I go back to my semi private corner in the waiting room and change him again. Jeff goes back for more tests. Archer poops again. I change him again. By this time its 11:15am and we had been there for 4 hours. We get to see the doctors. They tell us some doctor stuff (basically saying Jeff should get surgery soon but we are unsure if it will happen since the surgery is so risky). We finally get to leave the hospital to drive to another hospital. Eat our lunch on the way to the other hospital and get there just in time to drop Jeff off at the front door and find a parking spot. Archer and I make our way up to the next appointment and this time we are called right in to talk to the surgeon. He tells us he cant tell us anything until he gets an MRI. We go home with the knowledge that we need to make 2 more trips in the next 2 weeks. Most exhausting day of my life!  We love that Jeff has so many doctors and professionals working hard to figure out what to do with him. It just gets hard sometimes. We get to go to Calgary again this week and again next week. I guess it depends on what the news is to determine if they will be good or bad trips. If its good news, the exhaustion will be worth it.

Finished

I finished the binding on my quilt this afternoon and I am done! Here is the finished product.

and just to prove he does have two little teeth. (plus I think this is a really cute picture)

Swimming

When I was young I was in swimming lessons and then in competitive swimming for many years. I remember being in the pool every day sometimes twice a day. I love the water. I love the feel of my arms and legs working as they push me forward and the seclusion and time to ponder as I cut through the water. I have always wanted my kids to love water as well. I want them to feel the joy and almost therapeutic effect that water can bring. So, ever since archer was only a few weeks old we have taken him swimming. When he was smaller, we used to fill the bathtub full and just let him float. Now that he is bigger, it is fun to take him in the pool to slash and play. He doesn't mind getting spashed or dunked. This summer we bought a little swimming pool for archer to play in and I am super excited for the summer sun!

Projects

I have been super into knitting and sewing latley and just keep finding more and more things to make. I may have an addiction, but for now I will just keep knitting and sewing. My owl quilt for Archer is being quilted right now and I am super excited about it. I love the fabrics that I used but in my searching I found the cutest collection EVER, scheduled to come out spetember 2011.

I may just have to make another quilt once september comes along!

My sister let me borrow a book the other day, called "Simple Sewing for Baby" I love it. I made archer some totally cute pants and i'm onto making pouches to keep me better organized. Oh ya, and I found these super cute monsters online.

They are from Rebecca Danger who also knitts and has this super cute book of knitted monsters!

I made a super simple monster (one of the free patterns on her website) and I am itching to get the patterns for more of these little guys.

Last but not least, I fell in love with a new website. http://www.purlbee.com/ check it out. I think it was the colours that drew me in and I love the vintage feel to all of the projects. Are these not the cutest little elephants you have ever seen?

I told Jeff the other day that I want to pick one thing and get really good at it (eg. sewing or quilting or knitting) but I love everything and cant seem to pick one thing to stick with.

Everything

There has been so much to blog about latley but no time to sit down and actually blog! Its the same with journal writing with me. When I have lots to write about in my journal it usually doesnt get written about. I have had so many craft projects on my mind latley but the one I am most excited for is a new blanket for Archer. Since his last one got lost (so sad) I have been searching for the perfect quilt to make, and I found it! A cute little owl quilt that will be awesome. I ordered the fabric online and it should be here in a day or two and then I can get started. I will post pictures when i'm done.
Jeff is in his last week of school and actually only has 3 exams left and he will be done his 2nd year! Jeff is a total miracle in our eyes. He went back to school less than 3 weeks after brain surgery and is actuall getting really good grades. The next step is getting his drivers licence back. We have to wait until June 1st and if all goes well, he will be a driver again.
Archer is growing faster than we ever thought possible and will be 6 months old in a week! He already has 2 teeth on the bottom and chews on everthing! He is a super happy baby and laughes all the time. Archer can sit up on his own and rolls over from his belly to his back. He has rolled over from his back to his belly a few times but will only do it when he is motivated to (he is reaching for a toy). He is in the 98th% for his weight and 95th% for his height and everyone always mistakes him for at least a 10 month old.

Here are some super sweet pictures of the last month.

I tryed to get a picture of his first tooth and his tongue kept getting in the way! I guess you will just have to trust me.

Multi-tasking

 The house was a mess and the dishes un-done. Usually I would leave them for an hour or two but today the home teachers were coming to visit. Jeff was finishing a big report due for school and Archer has been pukey all day and getting sticky and smelly. So I decided to multi-task! Archer helped me rinse the dishes while I bathed him!

Archer loves his Daddy

For the past few weeks, when Jeff came home from school, Archer would get truly excited and happy to see his Daddy. Its a total relief to me, when I am stilling at home with a fussy tired baby that wont sleep, and his Daddy comes home! His mood changes instantly. So today Archer hasn't seen his dad very much since its the day after surgery and he is not up for entertaining just yet. When we were on our way over to the hospital the little man was totally fussy and I wasn't sure what to do with him. When we got up to the room, the instant he saw his Dad he actually gave out a little laugh! So cute! He really really loves his Daddy!!

Hard Things

I saw a picture of a board like this on someones blog and thought it was fitting for our lives right now. So, I put my moms new silhouette to work and hung our new moto on the wall. We CAN do hard things!

P.S. My mom is looking for the perfect quote. If you have one you really like, let me know!

Surgery and Recovery

I have started a private blog for all of those wondering about Jeff and his surgery. Since surgery will only be the start of our journey this time, I will be posting often to update all of you on his progress. If you would like to read the blog, just send me your e-mail address and I will add you. Thank you so much for all of the love and support we have already received. It really means alot to us!

Lost.

I have been having a little issue ever since my little man came along. It started the day he was born and there is no end in sight. Everything I touch gets lost. I could make a list of all the things have have lost in the last 3 months but the list would be way too long. Lets just say I have lost more things in the last 3 months than I have in my entire 25 years combined! No Joke! It all came down to that crutial moment today when I couldnt handle it anymore and I broke down. Usually I HATE losing things but  I had been really good at just saying to myself its only things they arnt the end of the world. Well not today. Today I lost something so dear to me, the blanket I made for Archer. The blanket I spent oh so much time on and the one I LOVED SO MUCH. It was gone and I couldnt handle losing things anymore. I had to break down! It was MY security blanket. After hours of searching an still no luck I resorted to sitting in the car crying like a little baby. Archer didnt mind that his blanket  was missing (other than he was a little cold) but I lost it. I know things are just things are you were all thinking it was my wedding ring or something that I lost by the big issue i'm making out of it. But it was the last straw. It was the acumulation of everything lost over the past while and I was greeving all of it. Now I just need to breath and tell myself it was just a silly blanket. I can make another one. Until then, if anyone is in Superstore and sees a really cute hand quilted flannel and minki blanket please return it to me!

Hats

I love my little boy in hats and when I found a this great hat tutorial I just had to try! Here are the results.

LOVE

A friend of mine just blogged about the month of Love and how she is only going to blog about things she loves this month and it inspired me! I figured I needed a happy post since the mood around my blog hasnt been so happy latley. Jeff and our little family have actualy been having some fun latley. We cant believe how sweet and awesome our little man is! We have the greatest video of him giving us a great big belly laugh that fills me with joy everytime I see it. The video is on my phone and I cant figure out how to get it on my computer or else I would share it with you.

Here are 10 things I really LOVE! (in no partucular order)

10. Baby Massage. Archer and I have been going to baby massage for the past few weeks and we really love it. I learn different strokes to use on my babys face, back, chest, tummy, arms, and legs! It helps us bond and i love rubbing his chubby little legs most.

9. My Bed. A while ago we inherited a memory foam mattress topper and I love it! When I get into bed at night it feels so comfy and cozy and i love that.

8. Sleeping babies. The only reason I can write this post right now is because I have a sleeping baby! It gives me time to do the laundry and tidy the living room.

7. My dish washing husband. I love alot of things about my husband, but one thing in particular is that he does the dishes! We mostly do the dishes together which gives us a little time to talk and joke about the day we have had, but I love that he washes and lets me dry and put away!

6. Fudge. I know I shouldnt be telling you this, but I made fudge the other day and ate all of it! Jeff did eat some but he didnt get very much. I might be addicted to sugar and I dont love that but I do love fudge.

5. Free health care. I cant even think about how much debt we would be in right now if it wernt for free health care. I love that we didnt have to pay for the 1st brain surgery and we dont have to pay for this one!

4. Summer. I have never been a fan of winter but I love how it makes me appreciate summer so much more. I love going out in the warm sun. Not having to bundle up. Swimming in outdoor pools. Being outside! I love everything about summer.

3. Friends. We have received so much support and love from so many of our friends. I love having good friends to talk to and laugh with. It makes life alot more fun when you have good friends!

2. Family. My husband and baby, my parents and brothers and sisters, Jeffs parents and brother and sisters, grandpas and grandmas, and everyone who loves and supports us. We wouldnt be able to make it through this rough time if it wernt for the love and support and prayers of our family! I love them all!

1. The Holy Ghost. I love having the Holy Ghost to comfort me and guide me.

It's my blog

I am supposed to be sleeping and with a 3 month old I'm not sure why blogging right now seems more important than sleep. I guess it's the need to write things down and have them for future reference. In the past I have found myself wanting to blog about something but haven't because I worry about what the people reading it might think. I've decided it's my blog and I will write what I want. My mom has been taking A creative writing class and she has been talking about all the great things they get to write about. It made me think about one of my greatest desires which is to be able to create something beautiful from paper and a pen. I'm not much of a drawer so thats out and I have an issue with getting the things I am thinking to translate well onto paper. I am just hoping that by blogging more, I might be able to better express my thoughts on paper. So, lately I have been thinking about Jeffs brain thing and this second time around is alot like bungee jumping. For those of you who have ever been bungee jumping twice, I think you would agree that the second jump is always harder. The first time, your heart is beating in anticipation, you don't look down because you would rather not see how far it really is, and when your toes come to the edge you know it will be scary but you just can't know exactly what it's really like. That's why you jump. How bad could it really be? Well the second time you stand up there with your toes over the edge, you know! It takes twice as long to get the courage up to make the plunge because the knowledge of what's to come is already in you. That's what it has been like this second time around with brain surgery. I think about what Jeff had to go through after his surgery and I am terrified of having to do that again. Prayer has helped for sure and when I don't think about what might happen it's better. I really do just need to take it one day at a time and have faith that Heavenly Father won't give me a trial I can't handle.

Brain Surgery Take 2

As much as I would love to blog about my little man and how cute he is, I have been given something else to blog about. It has been just about a year since Jeffs first brain surgery and until a week ago we thought we were in the clear. Jeff’s eyes have been progressively getting worse since the surgery and we have been going to different eye doctors to see what the problem was. It wasn’t until last Wednesday when we went to see a neuro-ophthalmologist that we found out a new lesion is pushing on the optic nerve in his brain. The neurosurgeon decided it was in Jeff’s best interest to go back in and get a piece of these new lesions that are growing to try and decipher what exactly is growing in there. This time the surgery will only be the start of our journey. Once they figure out what exactly is growing, they will make a game plan from there. So it looks like we have another year of hospitals and doctors and waiting for answers. For everyone who is reading this, Jeff could use a lot of prayers.

On a lighter note, check out our little cutie!

Has it been that long?

I just realized its been a few MONTHS since my last post! I cant believe its been that long. I guess I can blame it on the baby. He is growing so fast and I dont want to spend a minute without him. The last few months have been great. Christmas day was spent on the ski hill with Jeff and I switching off watching Archer in the lodge. It was wonderful, since it was christmas day there was no one on the slopes to get in my way. Since then I have joined a baby massage class that I love and also joined a gym in hopes that it will help me on my goal to run a half marathon. I know its a huge goal and I'm not really sure I knew what I was getting myself into when I decided on it but Jeff said he would be right there beside me doing it too! Archer is already 2 1/2 months old and growing like a weed. They dont stay little for long.
Jeff went to the neurologist a few days ago and he got cleared to drive again so he is walking on air right now! He is loving having that independance back.
This post is a short one but I will be back soon. Hopfully I dont leave it that long again.