Meer fotos :) (and videos)

But not many...sorry, I'm really getting bad at this! Busy busy busy describes life right now, but things are still surprisingly relaxing (but only because Sam is here!!!). Yesterday we went to Edinburgh to sort out Owen's passport and citizenship only to be turned away because they just changed it that you had to have an "appointment" rather than just walk in... *sigh* I was upset but ah well, hopefully we'll get it done in the next two weeks.

Here is Owen, sleeping away...

And here is Uncle Sam tickling A & A

Your turn Amy!

Congrats to the new babies just arrived in the past week and so on! Lovely to hear all the baby news. :)

I'm discovering (again and again and yet again) that Aaron is a pig. I made popcorn for the first time for the kids and of course, Amy doesn't like it (or thinks its disgusting, so her look suggested!) Aaron looked rather inquisitive, had a taste and then tried to devour the whole bowl full of it...heehee!

And since most of you can't see the wee manny here he is in video.

And now I must go and get lunch sorted and get Owen as he is starting to stir and almost scream. One thing about him, he has good lungs... :)

Owen's Birth Story

I've attempted to start on this sooner but one can't expect to get much done in the recovery days. :) So here is a run down of the events (if Owen doesn't awaken before I end this that is!). Monday I was having irregular contractions throughout the day (fizzzeled out by around dinner time) but again they weren't anything I could really say "this is it". But just in case baby was deciding on coming the next day I made cookies, an extra meal, bathed kids and did a couple of loads of laundry. Saw the midwife Monday afternoon and though things looked "favourable" she mentioned it could be next week before we see any baby, so I tried not to get my hopes up, though I figured since this was the first time I was feeling painful contractions baby was due to come soon (or within days). So the question is did I labour through the night? Heehee...well...keep reading :)

Went to bed not too late but not dreadfully early either :( and slept soundly till 3ish in the morning by a massive contraction that I couldn't do anything but groan, or moan (whichever word you prefer) realizing that this was much more painful than on Monday I thought that this might be the start. I tried laying down again after getting up for a wee while, but that didn't make the contractions go away and they were just as painful...soo, I told Jett to get up since this might be it. I wasn't completely sure myself, as I had contractions like this before and they fizzeled out (previous pregnancies) but for some reason my instinct must have been saying "THIS IS IT!" J asked if he could take a shower which I said yes to, figuring baby wasn't going to come that quick. We got ready to go and I felt as if the contractions were getting weaker and irregular but I still felt we should go in. I called the midwife unit and talked to her and she said to just come in. Sooo off we went... I was beginning to think things weren't going to happen until we got there and I had another really hard contraction. Got up to the unit and I fell in love with the midwife, she was so sweet, quiet and caring! I had fears about previous midwives I had seen that were on my team but obviously I had nothing to fear now. She checked me out and I figured I wasn't as far as I wanted to be (I was right). And so I held off of going into the birth pool for as long as I could. Knowing me I wanted it to be my last resort for pain relief. :) After maybe 45 minutes have no idea about time now, I decided to get in, Jett thought it was a bit early (lol) because as soon as I got in my contractions died down for a while. But it wasn't long and they came back with such force...yikes, don't really want to write more about that stage as it was the toughest part for me mentally. But it wasn't as if contractions were on top of each other like with Aaron they were steady just exceedingly fierce!! Anyways, it wasn't long again, and I was pushing baby out this time around I felt more in control rather than Aaron's birth! I even caught the baby which was something I mentally was thinking of doing previous to the onset of labour. Sooo...labour was from 3am-6:15am. At least all the meaningful labour was then, Monday probably was some sort of labour but nothing to really count as "this many hours" or so.

Anyways, it was probably my best labour and delivery, although the hardest mentally. But here are some pictures of a *very* newborn baby Owen...he wasn't even an hour old here.
Again...

I think he looks more like his sister...more Smith maybe?

And again.

And this was taken yesterday...sorry he was grimacing.

And that is all I have for now! Must run and pick the wee manny up. :)

Announcing the arrival of...

Owen Ernest Smith

born at 6:15am, Tuesday, May 26th.
weight: seven pounds, ten ounces
length: nineteen and a half inches

Mother and Owen are doing very well. Amelia has taken a great liking to the new one. Aaron still has a bit of difficulty when Owen cries--he cries too, in sync with Owen. But when Baby's asleep, then he's cooing over him. Very cute! :)

40 weeks +3days and still waiting :)

This is my last (I hope) post before baby decides to arrive. I have doubts baby wants to come this week, so we'll try to be patient for him or her to come next week. ;) So with that, here is my *last* pregnant photo of me at 40 weeks and 3 days, I'm smiling that way due to my husband amusing me. :) For some reason I *feel* huge and heavy, but when I see this I think, "Hmm, I could be bigger!" If you want to guess how big the baby will be and length nows the time to guess and leave a comment!

This is something I thought I would never do... let my young child feed himself or herself. I wonder how many times I've broken my so called "rules" about raising children! Now, I don't let him do this everytime mind you, but during supper it is nice to not worry about two babies to feed! I've got enough trying to get Amy to eat anything, sooo!

*Sigh* another broken rule...No chocolate for breakfast... does nutella count? ;) This is all I can get her to eat in the morning, unless I force her to get an egg down. "Chocolate toast" is the nowaday thing.

And the wonders of cardboard boxes!! Heehee this one is massive, and perfect for a fort, house, tunnel you name it! :)

And inside...

Doesn't he look cute and happy?

And this is for Grandma Terry. As you can see, this is the "purple" bear that I'm guessing was meant for Amelia but she decided on the white one. Both are well loved by Aaron though, and preferred by any other teddies.

Thank you to...

Anonymous! Whoever you are that has been sending us "maternity allowance" for the past so many months, we want to extend our thank you's! Perhaps this person doesn't look at my blog, but I doubt that, so, thank you thank you thank you! You do not know how much this has helped us pay for just the necessities (children's clothing, maternity clothing, hospital bag items...the list could go on!).

"O thou my soul, bless God the Lord; and all that in me is Be stirred up his holy name to magnify and bless. Bless, O my soul, the Lord thy God and not forgetful be Of all his gracious benefits he hath bestow'd on thee. ....Who with abundance of good things doth satisfy thy mouth; So that ev'n as the eagle's age renewed is thy youth." Ps 103

A few pics

I wanted to post a few pictures up and a video clip of AA & AJ, we'll see how long it takes for the video! I think I get bored in the last week or so of pregnancy, because there just isn't enough to do...or at least I'm getting very tired of waiting. Patience! I thought it would be easier this time around since I know I can go a week over the due date, but I'm finding it not much easier. I've been working on a knitting project lately, and probably should be scrapbooking more too since my time will be greatly reduced when the new baby arrives all being well!

One of my winter projects that I thought would never get done was this baby quilt (every little block was handquilted thats why I thought it wouldn't get done!). I got it completed weeks ago, and is nicely decorating the babies bed. :) I would have made it 4 diamonds if I had enough material, but I was using scraps from two previous quilts and didn't have enough. I haven't got the quilting bug out of my system just yet I have ideas for another baby quilt!

I got Sam to take the kids out one lovely sunny day, and they of course loved it!

Tearing up the grass or ripping it up was a great game...as was throwing it in the air.

:)

And if this clip works I caught my wee ones quietly reading or looking at books by themselves. I was just finished washing the supper dishes. Aaron of course was taking his liberties too far with swatting the camera - sorry about that.

The First Four Years...

On May 12th, 2005 we were married, which makes four years (yesterday). A lot has happened in just a few years...two children born, and one very soon to be born, two years of Jett's divinity course are completed...and the list of course could go on and on.

Oh dear...so, this was my first embarrassing moment with my new husband. :) Don't worry I was naive then, hopefully I've learned some by now, I mean I know I have learned some! If he actually followed through and dug the knife into the top cake...a shocking surprise would follow as the two top layers are styrofoam. :)

So, Jett also celebrated his 34th birthday on Monday the 11th. And no, we aren't sharing his birthday nor our anniversary with the new baby...and no he or she isn't born just yet.

And now I must go and try to get some things done. 39 weeks and counting... *sigh* why does the last part of pregnancy have to be soooo long? :)

At long last a picture post :) And good news!

I just realized how overdue I am with one of these! So instead of me rambling on I'll try to be very brief! First of all, as Jett's wife, I am very pleased to announce that he passed all his exams with good marks! We should be very thankful! As some of you know, I was worried how he would make out since he lost a whole weeks worth of classes (and studying!!) plus a day or so. But he passed, what a relief.

First of all here is mom at 38 weeks (and counting now) frankly, I just want to hold him or her (the baby) and am having a hard time preparing my mind for the pain first...*sigh*

And back to oldie photos from Harris to finish up where I left off somewhere in my blog!

Here we spent a day with Ruth and Hannah in Tarbert, and this is what Amy did for almost the whole day! Hannah taught her to pedal (which was so sweet!).

Still at the house in Northton, a pic of my wee ones and me.

I think the sun was in her eyes but she looked cute nonetheless.

So she wasn't my cuddly baby, she is more so now at least!

Now...a nice pic of Jett, but why couldn't you turn and smile when asked Aaron!!

See? He can smile really nice for the camera! Hmm, he's been sprouting upper teeth just yesterday so take a good look at him here as he will be changing soon.

Who does she looks like? Me? or Jett? Or??

Hard work all packed up in nice little boxes (mostly).

More work...and it didn't through me into labour...*sigh* nope baby probably wants to hang on for a good 3 more weeks.

So, that is all for now, must let Sam on, and perhaps need to wake up Aaron...boy it has been a hectic morning, screaming, cranky kids, nothing pacified them but so far it has picked up. :) Off I go then.

Back in Perth...

We finally arrived! We're finally unpacked! And to top it off the windows are slowly being cleaned (the inside at least)...okay, so the last one wasn't that great. :)

It was a busy first part of this week, with last bits of cleaning the house, bedding and etc to loading the car up and traveling to Tarbert to stay with Ruth for the night. I wasn't sad to say goodbye to the house, but I'm feeling the sadness of not being in Harris...I admit it, I miss being in Harris! What a different life it was, very peaceful and everyone knew everyone. Ah well, life moves on I suppose. So, we got on the ferry the next day, and traveled to Perth...it was a long drive, and not at all good for a pregnant lady (37 week pregnant lady I might add) . We were able to eat McDonalds food. But I lost it all by being horribly sick that night before I fell asleep. My mom thinks I did too much, I think she was right. Anyways, I'm pretty much back to normal, although my feet are swelling a bit and that feels odd, and uncomfortable, at least I can say I really only have a couple more weeks left of this pregnancy...so I can't complain too much.

Friday I got to see the unit that we hope the baby will be born at...not quite what I was hoping for, but not exactly a full dissappointment either...but not homelike enough is just it. Ah well, all I really care about is that HUGE birthing pool they have (2 of them I should say) so I suppose colours and other such things shouldn't matter too much, I won't care about it when the time comes...(not true!! I did when Aaron was nearly born! I thought the carpet looked just awful...heehee). Okay, I'm rambling about nonsense now, so I had best get off.

Tomorrow is the Sabbath, and I'm glad for it, I need a day to be able to sit and relax and meditate, read etc. Will post next week all being well. :)

Congrats!

Ooh, I'm in the midst of finishing the last details of moving...not fun, but must be done. But I just heard about Leah having her baby! So many congrats to the new parents...and I must say I can hardly wait to see photos! :)

Another note...I must correct myself because I said Amy Jane was born 36 +6 and that is incorrect...it actually was 37 +6. Anyways, I can blame that one pregnancy brain :)

Off to clean, pack...and repeat. :)

An update of sorts

Since all of our stuff is packed up and with the movers now, I have lots of time on my hands! I'm kidding of course, I don't have "lots" but a little more time yes. I was taking photos and hoping to post them up but I packed the USB cable, and then asked Sam if he had something to use which I figured he might, but he packed his too! Oh well, that will have to wait I guess. But, on another note, I did find some photos in Sam's many folders of pictures of my dear children playing outside, of which I thought you would enjoy!

Here is Amelia playing around the clothes line.

My sweet little boy ready to conquer the grass. :)

How sweet, they really do love each other!

Attempting to go down a smallish hill.

Not sure if he had success, I can't remember, but he sure thought it was interesting to see his reflection on the car.

So, Monday was filled with packing, laundry, and more packing, and then a meal at John Macleod's (treasurer in Tarbert). Tuesday was much of the same although we went to Tarbert to see the midwife and then stopped at Ruth's to drop off things, and pick up more boxes. Wednesday was the final packing day and by dinner time or should I say just as I was nearing completion of making dinner, the movers came and Jett and Sam had to load the things up...which meant cooking on hold and me taking care of two eager-to-get-outside children!

Jett of course is still in the midst of exams or rather just one exam, but so far he feels he is doing all right (which is good!). Yes, one more to do tomorrow (the Hebrew one)!

Next Monday night we hope to stay with the Jardines and then Tuesday is the actual date we are to leave the Island...where did the time all go?!

Oh, and I'll be 37 weeks on Monday (the time when they can consider you full term 37-42 weeks). Amelia was born at 36 plus 6 days gestation...which would be this Sabbath if this wee one did the same, but I doubt that, Aaron was born 41 weeks and 1 day gestation...soo, lots of time for the baby to decide to come I guess eh?

All right enough said, must get going. :) Next time I post all being well, will likely be in Perth.

Too much to do so little time.

Common saying I know but it is a fact just now as things are getting closer and closer to our moving dates! Next week if all goes according to plan, we should have our things packed by Wednesday so the movers can collect them. And then the following week Tuesday we actually leave ourselves to go to Perth. I really need to start packing don't I? I did a wee bit today but there is still lots to do.

The main concern that I was working on today was where is this baby going to be born! I was talking to the midwife yesterday about it as well as my rhesus negative issue. Well...looks like she overlooked that and oops, didn't take blood to check my antibodies. :S Anyways, hopefully results of the blood test will be fine as I'm almost positive it is. Besides the rhogam/anti-d shot they give you *during* pregnancy is only precautionary anyways it is after wards, depending on the babies blood type, when it is important. Soo, that was a mess to clear up, and then since I was mentioning our move to Perth she checked to see if I was registered and I still am!!! Yeah!!!!! Soo, I did some phone calling to the community midwives there in Perth and was getting an appointment to be seen the 1st of may, all depending on a referral letter from the doctor here (another phone call on my part). Anyways, hopefully everything will be just about in order when we get to Perth.

I need to post pictures. I've just been busy and extremely tired lately that the incentive to get things to make it happen just isn't there. Tomorrow we go up to Tarbert, and Friday probably to Stornoway (uh, I'm not looking forward to the latter trip).

Jett is "locked" away in his room studying away for the exams next week. My poor husband, I think his body is being affected by all of this stress. And I feel there is so little I can do to help him out too, but I do try of course. He has five exams next week, Mon-Fri. I hope he does well.

Anyways, theres a little updater for you all. :)

Thankfulness

We have every cause for thankfulness every moment we breathe, but there are certain times when we have even more cause for thankfulness.

As you all know in previous posts about our car problems I can announce that the car is repaired! The cost was of course cause of worry but the Lord provided the amount needed to repair it. A gracious friend provided needed money for the cost - the Lord is good!

Another cause for thankfulness is the great possibility of getting movers to take our things to Perth! After my mother in law suggested looking into it, Jett asked Mr. Jardine and was given an ad for a removal company...well, it just so happens to be they are moving someones things to London and therefore can do ours as well for...guess!! Only £60!!! I'm amazed! Because it would cost well over that for ourselves to move it all. It just means we have to have everything packed by the 22nd but if it means less driving for Jett, and less cost overall I think we all would agree to do this. :)

And now, we have the communion to look forward to. The first service starts at noon. We were concerned how the kids and myself could go because our car wasn't due to be finished till today and it was done yesterday! So...yes, much to be thankful for.

Must get some things done before we need to leave. Have a lovely weekend!

Just a few photos but nothing interesting really, sorry.

Here was what I saw on that blizzardy morning...
Oh and here is the car that is sounding worse...thankfully tomorrow is the day we take her in to see the Surgeons if she makes it up to Tarbert okay. :S
The ugly flower beds...
And on one of those Mondays back two weeks, I think it was, we had the students and Rev. MacColl over for dinner. Have to send this off to Doreen, but I need your email address!
And that is all, must get the children into bed. Our black out lining came in yesterday and it is EXCELLENT! Complete darkness for the whole night, perfect for children who need there sleep!

Maybe my next post will have a updated bump photo, John's visit...hmm, and anything else that might be interesting. Ok, off I go... :)

This could be interesting!

I think I've discovered something. I do not like "old" cars. Even 10 years is far too old (unless maybe it was taken care of by some elderly person and hardly ever rode around in...). Sam already knows the main bits about the car, which is the motor on the windshield wipers are messed up (causing frustration when you don't need them running fast) and the wipers themselves need replacing, and then hmm...we've been riding around knowingly mind you, with a leaky gas tank every since we got here. And now...it rattles...Jett thinks it is the radiator as it seemed it was leaking fluid...but then again, we're not quite sure. *Sigh* the last thing I want to do is to be stuck in the middle of nowhere (and that is easily done here lol) with a car that won't go. I think it is one of those nightmarish things of mine! Oh, and our MOT is due next week just to make matters worse. I'm not really worried about all of this as it happens to many people, just aggravating to get through it. :)

And then I thought spring was here...and that evening it got cold...and colder...and windy...and what do you know another hail storm...morning arrives and it is a blizzard outside. Hmm...what happened to spring? LOL, I find this amusing, really I do.

So Sabbath we go to church and the morning service went fine. We got home and Amelia started talking about a cow and occasionally I would hear a "moo" well, I thought, that isn't anything new since we have cows, horses, hens, and a million and one sheep around anyways! Oh. The cow happens to be in our backyard!! LOL! Amelia was thrilled!! Jett chased the poor highland cow which kind of looked cute I must admit, to the road. But it just so happened he came back to taste the bush outside our dining room window. Of course Amelia was just as excited and had to look and yell at the cow to come back. During the evening service I ended up taking the kids out to the car just during the second singing and then home by myself in the said car...I wasn't too pleased about the kids being so very bad in church but again these things happen. I put on a psalm cd and was listening to that for the remainder of 30 minutes and it was very nice.

In other news Sam is coming back tonight!! Heehee, poor Sam, I'm sure he gets annoyed with the kids as anyone would after such a long period of time. AND, John comes this weekend too!! Yeah!! Not sure what Amy will think of having two Uncles over at one time...hmm, no, I think she'll love it. Aaron might not like it as much, though he does like Uncle Sam sooo much! Anyways, the time change was Saturday night and it is awful. Why do they do this to us? ;)

I was going to post pictures, but that will have to wait till a better time...when kids aren't up and screaming and wanting something every second. Oh, I'm 33 weeks...hmm, wish I were 40 weeks...ah well, time will go flying by I'm sure this coming month with so much to do so I suppose 33 is just as good as 40 for now.

Bye for now :)

Looking for appropriate DVD's for 2 year olds.

I actually haven't really looked at all, but I thought I might ask if anyone knows of some that are *very* decent, I mean no worldly music, and things questionable - no cartoons etc etc, but rather am looking for educational things, counting, shapes, colours, abc's that sort of stuff.

So far I've only come up with Baby Einstein DVD's but still some of those are questionable like the shapes for example! Anyways, any other thoughts would be appreciated. :)

Induction, Sleeping, Cuts & Blood and anything else I can think of...

I've been meaning to post something here this week but every time I sat down to it I didn't know what to write, and then wondered if even half "so-called" readers would read it. So...I scrapped those plans of posting till now.

This week has been the same as last week and so forth so not much new really to report. Only thing is that yesterday evening was the induction of Rev. Tallach to Stornoway. So, Jett and Sam went up for that meaning they got home *very* late. And the other thing was that this morning began with a late start on the adults side, but the kids were fed, watered, and dressed before we even ate breakfast and then the trouble began...Amy was in her high chair (horrible high chair...NEVER buy cheaply you get what you pay for!!) the straps were SO tight even on the largest setting that I just trashed them, so I was using the tray to keep her in, another bad thing as the tray can be easily forced or pushed off...well, she was warned twice I think and nope, she leaned over too much and the tray gave way causing her to spiral in air hit her head on the table and crash to the floor... then we see blood pouring from her mouth (it was kind of pouring not gushing, just pouring slightly)... off to the doctor we went. Thankfully she didn't go cut through her lip, though it did look like it at first, and no stitches as it would probably tear/rip the lip even worse. I took a picture of her with the cuts but you can barely see the one on the outside (the other is inside). See below...


I'm nearing 32 weeks (right?? I did count right...32 already!?) and wondering where the time has gone! Half of me is wanting it over and done with, but another part of me feels not ready to go through birth/delivery/afterbirth over again.

I decided to go to the doctor about this eczema issue of ours (Amy and me) and got cream for both of us...I'm happy to report evidence to it being under control as it was extremely aggravating to us both. But, I do fear of it just flaring up again once we have used the cream up, or gotten completely rid of the eczema. We shall see.

Here is Amelia Jane first thing one of the mornings this week, she came down with her three little teddy bears (she claimed both that mom in law gave for the kids, and of course John's bear). I thought she looked very sweet here hugging the purple one (Aaron's bear according to Amy!!).And here they both are up still in their night clothes playing with bears.

As far as sleeping is concerned, I must admit my shocking surprises that my son is making! He has been sleeping through the night for quite sometime now (as long as he is fed real well during the day). As well as that, he is learning how to go to sleep by himself in his own playpen/travel cot, without my assitance. I cuddle him for a couple of minutes and then I put him lying down in his bed and he stays that way till he falls asleep (WOW!). He has been an easy baby that is for sure, but this was entirely unexpected, and he has been doing this for at least two weeks if not more - it is wonderful. :)

Speaking of which, here is my little man on the ride-on toy. I put him on, and he loved it, in fact too much because he would get so angry and scream when I took him off...*sigh* human nature comes out so readily.

And then I had to post these. Something else I've noticed different of my boy compared to Amy, is that he likes to get on his tummy to play.

I think it is really cute!

What a cute smile! :)The weather has been lovely here for a good part of the week, what a nice change compared to the winter! So much is coming up in the next week and month (April). Next week (I was properly informed) is the N.Tolsta communion of which Sam will be all being well going to. This monday, Jett hopes to have the students over for dinner, Wednesday a prenatal appointment, and April is covered with Leverburgh communion, the Youth Conference, and our moving to Perth... oh dear, lots to consider and do! But for now, I need to get off and hang up some laundry.